Ch13 - Salt Trade Certification

The next day, Mu Hanzhang woke up in Jing Shao’s embrace. Warm breath fluttered on his neck, and a slender leg rested on his body, pressing on one of his legs until it felt a little numb. 

Out of sorts, he shifted a little, and the person holding him slowly woke up, gently exhaling: “Jun Qing…” His dazed call had a languid, nasal sound.

“En, it’s time to get up.” Mu Hanzhang moved again. Unexpectedly, the person who hugged him didn’t let go, but actually hugged him closer.

“Don’t even have to go to morning court, what’s the hurry?” Jing Shao buried his face into the person in his embrace and rubbed a few times.

“Doesn’t Wang Ye have an appointment with Li Daren today?” Mu Hanzhang wanted to say that after breakfast, the other consorts would come to pay their respects, and he didn’t know what he would do if they saw that the two of them were still in bed. 

Jing Shao, still unwilling, dawdled for a while before he got up. In his previous life, after he started the third expedition against the three vassal states, he basically never had the chance to sleep leisurely like this. After being put in prison, there was even less of a chance. There was only the ice-cold limestone slab and the filthy hay. Therefore, he found that now, he is more and more inclined towards warm and clean things.

Looking at Mu Hanzhang gracefully putting on his outer clothing, today wearing snow white garments from head to toe, he felt that this person was not even tainted by a speck of dust. Jing Shao supported his head with one hand, lying down sideways on the bed watching a ray of sunlight illuminating that person who seemed like an exiled immortal from heaven. As if in a trance, he thought, this person must be this world’s warmest and cleanest existence!

The time agreed upon with Li Yanqing was from 11AM-1PM, so after eating breakfast Jing Shao didn’t rush to go out. He sat on the Luohan couch and accompanied his family’s wife to drink tea.

“Fu Ren and the two concubines have come to give their greetings.” Zhi Xi came in to report.

After Mu Hanzhang nodded, Song Lingxin and the two concubines walked in, giving the Wang Fei salutations and paying their respects. Seeing Jing Shao was also there, naturally, they gave him their greetings first.

When Concubine Liu rose, she was a little slower than others. It seemed as if she was unwell, her body swaying before falling forward.

Mu Hanzhang subconsciously reached out to catch her, but unexpectedly Jing Shao reacted even faster, with one move hauling her up. What a joke, falling like this, she almost fell headfirst into the arms of Jun Qing!

“Wang Ye…”  The beautiful Concubine Liu lifted her pair of beautiful, autumn-water like eyes and looked at Jing Shao, “This lowly concubine’s body is unwell and accidentally collided with you.” 

Mu Hanzhang’s hand that was stretched out took a sharp turn, picking up the tea cup on the table, and sipping a mouthful, as if he had not seen anything.

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The concubine, seeing Wang Ye staring at her, couldn’t help but feel happy in her heart.  On the surface, however, her appearance still seemed as if she were too weak to stand up to the wind. Song Lingxin, who was watching this, was clenching her teeth–this seducing fox spawn!

Concubine Li looked at the situation and rolled her eyes, retreating to the side and standing there, not speaking. 

“Wang Fei, the thing Qie mentioned yesterday…” Song Lingxin stepped forward, breaking the strange atmosphere in the room.

“I have already given it to Duo Fu,” Mu Hanzhang lowered his eyes, blowing at the tea foam on the surface and lightly sipping a mouthful of hot tea. “I discussed it with Wang Ye. You are still in charge of the household matters for this month, on the second day of next month, give me all the account books in your hands.”

The smile on Song Lingxin’s face suddenly became stiff, and in the blink of an eye, she looked towards Jing Shao. Jing Shao just turned his head and looked at Mu Hanzhang. “Then won’t you start to get busy next month?”

“There are many matters of different kinds. If Wang Fei wants to take over next month, I am afraid that it will be very busy for a long time.” Seeing Jing Shao’s interruption, Fu Ren Song’s eyes ignited with hope again and hurriedly went along with it. 

“Naturally I will be a bit busier than I am now, but either way I have nothing to do right now.” Mu Hanzhang said to Jing Shao.

“Then I will take advantage of you not having anything to do to take you out to play for a few days.” Jing Shao knit his brows. As they were in the presence of the concubines, he also did not say too much.

Song Lingxin’s smile became more rigid, her complexion a little blue, and she brought the two concubines to retreat. When they exited, she ferociously pulled at the handkerchief in her hands. The two concubines looked at each other, and Concubine Li stepped forward to say: “The scented tea we had at sister’s place before, I have been thinking about it a lot.”

Song Lingxin glanced at them. She used to think that these two women’s presence was irksome. Now, she had met a formidable enemy, and must win these two over to her own side first. Thus, after saying a few courteous words, she invited the two to go to the small pavilion for tea. 

“A man, getting mixed up into the inner court’s wifely duties! And he still doesn’t feel like he’s losing face for scholars!” In the small flower pavilion, Song Lingxin put the tea cup down on the table heavily.

“He is being favored right now. I’m afraid that sister won’t be able to compete with him.” The Fourth Rank Concubine narrowed her pair of fox eyes. The difference between her previous demeanor and her demeanor now was extremely big.

“But I heard, in the two days that Wang Ye stayed overnight in the East Court, they did nothing together,” Concubine Li smiled. “The morning after in the bridal chamber, he already fell ill, and I heard that the injury wasn’t light. In my opinion, he formed some sort of agreement with Wang Ye.”

“What do you mean by this?” This time, Song Lingxin’s heart became spirited. Concubine Li’s relationship with those servant girls was good, and the people in Wang Ye’s house would also pass  on information to her. 

“I heard that when he was taking medicine that day, Wang Fei and Wang Ye had a quarrel in the room, and also said something about divorce papers.” Concubine Li relayed the news she had inquired about with full confidence.

“If it’s like this, then is Wang Ye planning to find a suitable opportunity to divorce him?” Fourth Rank Concubine timely added in her thoughts.

“Hmph, if this is the case, then once he is taking over the household duties, the opportunity to find a reason to divorce him will be easier to find…” A smile reappeared on Song Lingxin’s face. Then, within this month, she will take advantage of it and leave a “perfect” set up of operations for the Wang Fei!

The prince, who was being discussed by the group of concubines, was currently sticking to his family’s Wang Fei, watching the other paint. 

“Why did Wang Ye go out to practice martial arts yesterday?” Mu Hanzhang saw him staring fixedly at himself and looked for a topic to chat about with him.

“I went looking for someone to fight with,” Jing Shao rested his upper body on the table, very inquisitive about Mu Hanzhang’s deft brush nib. “What are you painting?”

“A painting for a birthday offering.” The weasel bristle brush between his fingers freely stroked across the fine paper like moving clouds and flowing water. “Next month is my father’s birthday.”

“Previously, I didn’t let him get involved with the salt certifications, and instead had him go Northwest to trade horses.” Jing Shao remembered that matter when they went to visit his parents, and blurted it out. 

“Trade horses?” Mu Hanzhang’s brush tip paused, and an extra black dot was formed on the mountains at the bottom, so he hurriedly added a few strokes, turning it into moss.

“En,” some things couldn’t be discussed right now. Jing Shao didn’t plan to explain more, getting up he picked up a brush, “When painting a birthday offering, no need to take so much trouble, I’ll paint one for you.”

Mu Hanzhang spread out a piece of paper for him, curious about what he wanted to paint. He just saw Jing Shao brandishing his brush with vitality, swishing down a few strokes, and then an ugly turtle vividly appearing on the paper

“This…” The corner of Mu Hanzhang’s mouth twitched. “Is this a birthday offering?” 

“A thousand-year-old tortoise, or an 80,000 years old softshell turtle, isn’t this more like an offering for the elderly?” Jing Shao was immensely pleased with himself.

“Pff~” Although this was disrespectful to his father, Mu Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh out. “If Wang Ye gave this painting to Father, I’m afraid others would make a joke out of him.”

“Then just send your painting first. Wait until it’s the North Marquess’ birthday and then you can just send mine,” Jing Shao raised his painting up and looked at it. He said to Yun Zhu standing by the side, “Go mount it.”

“Yes.” Yun Zhu choked back his laugh and rolled up the painting. 

Seeing that it was almost noon, and Jing Shao was still hanging around in the small study room without moving, Mu Hanzhang urged him to go out and properly go forth with his business.

“You go with me, I’m just explaining something to him, just a couple of sentences. In the afternoon, I will take you to the outskirts of the city to play.” Jing Shao wanted to take Jun Qing to taste the snacks in the south of the city, and then go see if the peach blossoms in his brother’s manor had blossomed yet. These things were things he had liked in the last life, yet after he awoke he had still not seen them. He really wanted to go take a look with Jun Qing.

Mu Hanzhang was unable to convince him otherwise, so he could only change his clothes and go with him.

At the Immortal Assembly restaurant, Li Yanqing happily rubbed his hands: “Wang Ye…this is?” Seeing the unfamiliar face behind Jing Shao, the smile on his face was somewhat cautious. 

“This is my residence’s guest, Mister Jun. His presence won’t hinder anything,” Jing Shao did not mind and pulled Mu Hanzhang to sit down. “Today I let you come in order to tell you that in the future this kind of business can’t be done anymore.”

“Wang Ye!” Li Yanqing turned pale with fright. He looked left and right, and lowered his voice, asking,  “Did something happen?”

“There were some rumors in the imperial court, so it is better to exercise restraint,” Jing Shao poured himself a cup of wine. “You go find Ren Feng, I have told him about the specific regulations. He will tell you what to do in the future.” Yesterday, when he was going to his villa, while he was there, he also dealt with the matter of the salt certification business.

After Li Yanqing left, Mu Hanzhang was silent for a moment and said: “What issue did Wang Ye come across in court?” 

Jing Shao looked at him and his lips hooked up, smiling: “There is nothing wrong right now, but has Jun Qing heard the rumors in the capital?”

Mu Hanzhang lowered his eyes and thought about it: “Is it about the rumors that the Cheng Wang will come to punish the children who cry at night?”

“En.” His Jun Qing is really such a smart person. Jing Shao felt that talking to him required the least effort.

“This matter has its effects and its causes, and they must be dealt with separately, but for now we must deal with the so called effects first.” Mu Hanzhang played with the wine cup in his hands and slowly rubbed along the edge of the cup.