CMWKSD -Chapter 246 Being Stubborn Won’t Get You a Wife

Jiu Yue and Ji Chaomian returned to the Ji residence together.

Suddenly, Ji Chaomian called out to Jiu Yue, who was walking ahead. “Sister-in-law.”

Jiu Yue turned around. “What?”

“I… I want to use Dark Moon Pavilion.”

Jiu Yue narrowed her eyes, sensing that something was off.

She slowly walked up to Ji Chaomian, pinched her own chin with one hand, and began circling him while making clicking sounds with her tongue.

Just as Ji Yiqing stepped into the courtyard, he saw Jiu Yue looking like she was interrogating someone.

And the one being interrogated was his elder brother.

Yet Jiu Yue’s face was full of barely concealed excitement, clearly eager for some drama.

So… had something happened to big brother?

Jiu Yue thought there was something juicy to watch.

And then—

The young couple made identical moves.

Both circled around Ji Chaomian, clicking their tongues, pinching their own chins, shaking their heads, and walking around him again and again.

Ji Chaomian looked at his second brother and sister-in-law, half amused and half helpless. “What are you two doing?”

Shao Qing, standing to the side, was having a great time watching.

Ji Yiqing had no idea what had actually happened.

But that didn’t stop him from standing firmly on Jiu Yue’s side.

Jiu Yue immediately leaned over and whispered to Ji Yiqing.

Except that her “whispering” voice was so loud that even Shao Qing, standing five steps away, could hear it clearly.

“Let me tell you—big brother grabbed a little girl’s hand on the street today. You have no idea…”

Ji Chaomian’s head instantly felt like it was about to explode. He hurriedly explained, “I didn’t!”

Who whispers gossip right in front of the person involved?

Who badmouths someone right in front of them?

Oh—his family does.

Jiu Yue didn’t listen. Ji Yiqing pretended not to see Ji Chaomian spinning in circles with anxiety, and continued loudly whispering with Jiu Yue.

From time to time, the two of them shook their heads together and sighed dramatically.

Then they widened their eyes and glared at Ji Chaomian with righteous indignation.

Their mouths kept letting out various exclamations.

“Really?”

“Oh my god!”

“How could big brother do something like that?”

…

In the end, Jiu Yue summed it up. “So tell me—what do you think big brother wants Dark Moon Pavilion to investigate?”

Ji Yiqing was just about to speak when Jiu Yue immediately cut in.

“I think big brother definitely wants Dark Moon Pavilion to dig up the Su family from top to bottom.”

“Then catch them all in one sweep, lock them all up, and charge them with deceiving the emperor.”

“And then go seize their household.”

As she spoke, Jiu Yue’s eyes lit up.

“Big brother, take me along when you confiscate their property. I’ll quietly grab some good stuff.”

Ji Chaomian: …

Shao Qing: !!!

Ji Yiqing: “Big brother, I… I’ll definitely go back and educate her properly.”

Jiu Yue had finally wised up—but only when it came to him.

He didn’t know whether to feel worried or relieved.

What on earth was this nonsense?

Seeing Ji Yiqing’s conflicted expression, Jiu Yue’s face changed. She crossed her arms and looked at the three men in the courtyard, big and small. “Isn’t that the case?”

Ji Chaomian blushed slightly.

He didn’t know how to explain it.

He himself didn’t even know why he had impulsively told Jiu Yue about using Dark Moon Pavilion.

Seeing Ji Chaomian’s face turn red enough to practically explode, Ji Yiqing kindly stepped in to smooth things over.

But he also couldn’t hurt Jiu Yue’s pride.

After a bit of thought, he said, “What you said does make sense. It’s just that the outcome might not be that.”

“I think big brother wants to check whether that Su Yang is really as Su Cheng claims—”

“That he’s exceptionally good at managing finances and bookkeeping.”

Jiu Yue looked puzzled. “So what if he is good?”

“If that’s really the case, then wouldn’t it be a waste for Su Yang to stay as a judicial officer at the Court of Judicial Review?”

“He should go to the Ministry of Revenue and help His Majesty properly manage the treasury.”

Jiu Yue suddenly grew excited. “Then His Majesty will have even more money, and the rewards he gives me will be even greater.”

Ji Yiqing smiled. “Exactly.”

Jiu Yue happily patted Ji Chaomian on the shoulder. “Big brother, I didn’t expect you to think so far ahead. Not bad, not bad.”

Ji Chaomian: …So that’s what I was thinking?

Shao Qing: Learned something, learned something.

Jiu Yue immediately beamed and went off with Shao Qing to arrange the investigation into the Su family.

Ji Yiqing watched Jiu Yue leave with an amused expression.

Only then did he turn to Ji Chaomian. “Big brother, are you using Dark Moon Pavilion for Su Yang—or for Su Cheng?”

Ji Chaomian frowned. “Of course it’s for Su Yang. He’s a judicial officer under my command at the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Really?”

“Really!”

“Then why are you blushing?”

“Who’s blushing? Who? When?”

As he spoke, Ji Chaomian even reached up to touch his own face.

Ji Yiqing raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “You’re blushing. Ji Chaomian is blushing. Ji Chaomian is blushing right now.”

A direct hit to the face.

Ji Chaomian shot Ji Yiqing a glance—he actually dared to tease him now?

He’d really been led astray by Jiu Yue!

His upright, refined second brother—since when did he dare mock him?

Then Ji Yiqing slowly added, “Big brother, being stubborn won’t get you a wife.”

Ji Chaomian opened his mouth to retort.

But unconsciously, his mind filled with the image of Su Cheng standing before him.

Neither servile nor arrogant, she had said firmly—

“I dare swear on my life that every case I’ve handled has had no wrongful convictions.”

When she spoke those words, she seemed to be glowing.

Her resolute expression, those obsidian-like eyes sparkling with starlight.

Suddenly, he couldn’t bring himself to argue.

Perhaps it was because of Jiu Yue’s influence.

Neither Ji Chaomian nor Ji Yiqing had ever believed that women should be confined to certain roles.

Just like Ji Chaomian—although he was often on edge because of Jiu Yue causing trouble, wholeheartedly cleaning up after her—

He had never thought that Jiu Yue should obediently remain Ji Yiqing’s wife, trapped within the inner quarters.

Jiu Yue’s strengths completely covered her flaws.

So much so that Ji Chaomian often overlooked her lack of propriety in speech, her recklessness, her disregard for consequences.

And the fact that the disasters she caused grew bigger each time.

Ji Chaomian was never a pedantic person.

So when the matter of Su Yang and Su Cheng came to light, his first thought was—

If Su Cheng had such talent, it ought to be put to use.

She was meticulous and thorough.

It could be seen just from the case files.

When handling cases, Su Cheng always noticed subtle details others missed.

From there, she could unravel the threads and uncover the truth.

That was her ability.

Moreover…

To say something he probably shouldn’t—

Perhaps because Jiu Yue had done so many unconventional things—

Ji Chaomian actually felt that what Su Cheng had done was nothing more than a minor matter.

She hadn’t abused her position as a judicial officer to do evil.

On the contrary, she had uncovered the truth behind so many reported cases.

That was a good thing.

Ji Yiqing watched Ji Chaomian’s expression shift again and again.

He had been teasing him earlier, but now his own expression unconsciously turned serious. “Big brother… do you really fancy that young lady?”

Ji Chaomian glanced sideways at Ji Yiqing. “No. Don’t spout nonsense. If someone with ulterior motives hears it, it could damage the young lady’s reputation.”

Ji Yiqing’s mouth twitched.

With the way Ji Chaomian had looked just now—eyes brimming with spring—

If he wasn’t thinking about that girl, Ji Yiqing would chop off his own head and let Jiu Yue kick it around like a ball.

Ji Yiqing sneered. “Since that’s the case, then I’ll have a good talk with Jiu Yue.”

“If Su Yang truly is that capable, we’ll have Jiu Yue speak to His Majesty about transferring him to the Ministry of Revenue.”

“Then we’ll have Jiu Yue also plead with His Majesty on Su Cheng’s behalf.”

“That way, both Su Yang and Su Cheng can be cleared of trouble.”

“And if His Majesty finds Su Cheng capable, granting her a marriage wouldn’t be impossible either.”

“After all, our emperor isn’t pedantic. If someone is as capable as Jiu Yue, His Majesty would surely welcome it.”

“I’ll go talk to Jiu Yue properly.”

With that, Ji Yiqing turned and left.

Ji Chaomian froze.

Then panicked.

He reached out and grabbed Ji Yiqing by the sleeve of his official robe.

“Second brother!”

Rip—

Ji Chaomian: !!!

Ji Yiqing lowered his head to look at his sleeve.

His official robe!!!