CMWKSD -Chapter 89 Hiring Jiu Yue for Protection

Shen Zongnian, supported by his bodyguards, shakily climbed down from the carriage.

Ji Chaomian and the others hurriedly stood up—not in a sycophantic way, but with genuine respect. This was the Shen family’s young general, who had fought bloodily to defend his country. He deserved respect.

Looking at him… well, okay, his beard was unkempt, his appearance disheveled, and his face rough to the point of being almost unpleasant. One could only, with a guilty conscience, call him “wise and valiant.”

Judging roughly, he probably wasn’t much older than Ji Chaomian.

Shen Zongnian coughed twice. The wounds on his arm didn’t seem to bother him at all. He raised his hand in a salute and said, “I am Shen Zongnian. I thank you all for your righteous rescue.”

Ji Chaomian and the others responded, giving their names and whatnot.

But when they mentioned that they were just scholars on their way to the imperial exams, the expressions on the faces of all Shen family soldiers present were priceless.

Were scholars really like this now?

Or was it just the Ji family’s scholars who were so… surprising?

Shen Zongnian was about to speak when his gaze fell on Ji Yiqing’s wife, Jiu Yue, who was looking at him with eyes full of earnestness.

Shen Zongnian: …What is this about?

Under Jiu Yue’s earnest gaze, Shen Zongnian suddenly choked up and stammered, “For Madam Ji’s life-saving kindness, I, Zongnian, shall forever remember and repay it…”

As he spoke, he noticed Jiu Yue’s eyes seemed to sparkle.

“Forever remember and repay?” That meant silver! Quickly, quickly!

A bodyguard hurriedly leaned toward Shen Zongnian and whispered, “Madam Ji said we could give silver.”

Shen Zongnian’s expression darkened. He shouted at the bodyguard, “How dare you speak of Madam Ji in this way! Madam Ji is noble, righteous, and above worldly wealth. How can you use such yellow and white metal to repay her?”

Shen Zongnian was speaking righteously.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jiu Yue’s face growing darker and her small hands on her hips, giving off the unmistakable aura of “If you dare not give silver, I dare take it myself!”

Shen Zongnian’s mind raced. He quickly shifted his tone and added to his previous words, “Hah? To truly honor Madam Ji’s great virtue, it must be a rare treasure.”

Jiu Yue, beaming, tugged Ji Yiqing closer. There was no way she was going to concern herself with some “rare treasure” in the ancient world; she viewed such things with skepticism.

“What rare treasure?”

Shen Zongnian had only spoken casually. He had no idea what was actually in his treasury!

Ji Yiqing, seeing Shen Zongnian looking dazed, quickly tugged Jiu Yue’s sleeve: “Jiu Yue, the young general hasn’t even reached the capital yet. Even if he has some treasures now, you won’t be able to see or touch them. It’s better to wait until we reach the capital.”

Jiu Yue pouted, thinking that made sense. With his scruffy beard and shabby appearance, there probably wasn’t anything of value on him. Better to wait until the capital.

Shen Zongnian sent Ji Yiqing a grateful glance, mostly because he couldn’t handle the intensity of Jiu Yue’s gaze just now.

But he could tell that Jiu Yue was a straightforward, sincere person who said whatever she thought. That was good; soldiers like him often disliked people who spoke in convoluted ways. You never knew when you might offend them unintentionally.

Jiu Yue showed everything on her face. As with today’s matter—she believed that since she had saved them, their thanks should not be empty words.

Shen Zongnian could accept that. It gave him clear boundaries on how to properly repay Jiu Yue without confusion. This was excellent.

He recalled past interactions with those pretentious scholars: even when presenting lavish gifts, they would say it was an insult. But if one didn’t present gifts, they would feel looked down upon. Truly enough to burn one’s brain.

Shen Zongnian laughed heartily. Looking at Jiu Yue and her group—five powerless scholars and one woman—it was a manageable distance from the capital.

Shen Zongnian cupped his hands: “Brother Ji, since you’re heading to the capital, why not let us accompany you? It will be safer on the road. My bodyguards…”

Originally, he thought these scholars would be in danger on the road, possibly encountering bandits.

Seeing Jiu Yue, he realized he had misjudged. They should rely on her. Returning would still take several days, and if they encountered northern barbarians’ assassins along the way… with their current combat ability, it would likely be a one-way trip.

Fortunately, Shen Zongnian could adjust. Seeing Jiu Yue and Ji Yiqing looking at him with astonished eyes, he quickly corrected himself: “We are escorting urgent border reports to the capital and may face dangers along the way. Might I invite Madam Ji to accompany us? I, Zongnian, would be grateful.”

He hurriedly added: “I will ensure Madam Ji’s labor is rewarded; upon arrival in the capital, a generous reward will be presented.”

Silver again!!!

Hearing this, Jiu Yue’s eyes curved into crescent moons: “All right, all right. Reward or no reward, just give me some silver bills.”

Shen Zongnian laughed at Jiu Yue’s candidness. That was proper—if greedy, be openly greedy. Much better than those who pretended virtue while coveting wealth.

The group grew larger. Along the road, Shen Zongnian’s men had lost many of their supplies while chasing someone. Their winter clothes were scarce.

No choice—they had to rush to a nearby town to buy warm clothes.

Yet, Shen Zongnian and his thirteen bodyguards didn’t have fifty taels of silver.

Ji Chaomian, seeing Shen Zongnian reaching for his jade pendant, quickly stepped forward and handed over a hundred taels.

Facing Jiu Yue’s intimidating gaze, he said: “Young General, there’s no need to use your jade pendant. Consider this one hundred taels as a loan from me. Once we return to the capital, you can repay it.”

Jiu Yue mumbled: “And with interest.”

Ji Chaomian smiled. Shen Zongnian would never give up his jade pendant, but he couldn’t let his men march in the snow with thin clothes.

Since Ji Chaomian offered silver, Shen Zongnian accepted it and, at a cloth shop, asked the shopkeeper for paper and ink so Ji Chaomian could write an IOU.

All smooth, all smooth!

Jiu Yue thought, “There really are perceptive people in the world.”

Since some of Shen Zongnian’s bodyguards had serious wounds, they couldn’t ride horses. Using the remaining silver, they bought a carriage so Shen Zongnian and his men could ride inside.

Jiu Yue also bought some medicinal herbs. After all, only she understood medicine; wounds wouldn’t heal well in winter. If Shen Zongnian and his men didn’t use them, their injuries would linger.

No matter—one sheep or two, you herd them anyway.

Jiu Yue secretly noted it all down: when they reached the capital, all this silver would have to be repaid!