Chapter 12.1

Jiang Suizhou did not sleep well again tonight.

He was sleepy from reading, not knowing when he fell asleep, and Meng Qianshan also gave him a blanket to prevent him from catching a fever.

But when he opened his eyes, he still felt dizzy and lightheaded, especially because the couch was extremely hard. It was very uncomfortable after sitting for a long period of time. He sat there all night, making his body sore all over.

Jiang Suizhou felt somewhat infuriated.

How did the original owner arrange such a room for Huo Wujiu? With such simple furniture, did he not consider that Huo Wujiu would sleep on the sofa here one day?

He sat up and found that the sky was getting brighter. The aroma of food drifted in. It should be Meng Qianshan directing the people to prepare breakfast.

Jiang Suizhou stood up and glanced at the bed.

It was empty. Where was Huo Wujiu?

Jiang Suizhou had just woken up and was still a bit confused, so he froze and looked around.

He was caught off guard when his gaze collided with a pair of cool, dark eyes.

Jiang Suizhou was startled to see Huo Wujiu sitting by the window in the faint daylight. He was holding the book Jiang Suizhou had read halfway last night, flipping through it at random.

Just by looking at his movements with the book, it was evident that Huo Wujiu wasn’t a man who could read at all.

He raised his eyes to look at Jiang Suizhou, his gaze cold and his face expressionless.

His eyes looked like they could see right through people.

Jiang Suizhou suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. He didn’t do anything, but for some reason, he felt a little guilty.

…Perhaps because of his choice to keep watch all night, his persona was more or less in ruins.

Jiang Suizhou withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened and coldly called out, “Meng Qianshan?”

When Meng Qianshan who was outside heard his call, he trotted inside to wait upon Jiang Suizhou.

Meng Qianshan had always been garrulous. As long as Jiang Suizhou didn’t interrupt him, he could talk like nobody’s business for hours on end. Jiang Suizhou happened to be embarrassed, so he let him nag. Afterward, as if Huo Wujiu was nonexistent, Jiang Suizhou finished breakfast, then fled.

Today, there was no grand court assembly, so he could go to the office. 

Before leaving, he remembered to remind Meng Qianshan, “Don’t forget to move Madam Huo into my courtyard.”

Meng Qianshan repeatedly assured him.

After Jiang Suizhou left, Meng Qianshan returned to Huo Wujiu’s courtyard, bringing some people with him.

The courtyard was remote and dilapidated, and Huo Wujiu didn’t bring anything with him. Furthermore, he only stayed there for one night, so there was really nothing to move.

However, Madam Huo’s status obviously wasn’t the same as when he first entered the mansion. It would be negligent to just bring him to the King’s courtyard, right?

So, Meng Qianshan served Huo Wujiu breakfast with great care. After Huo Wujiu had eaten his fill, he smiled so much that he couldn’t see his lips and asked, “Madam Huo, is there anything else you want to buy? I’ll have someone fetch it.”

Huo Wujiu didn’t speak.

This servant was noisy and always currying favor, a bit of an eyesore.

Even more so because Meng Qianshan already regarded Huo Wujiu as a favored concubine, making him sick.

Meng Qianshan was completely oblivious. Hearing no response from Huo Wujiu, he made arrangements by himself. “Robes for all seasons must be made. I’ll go and invite the tailors in a little while. And Madam’s wheelchair, I’ll also find a carpenter to build a new one, all right? As for the servants who’ll attend to you…”

He met a pair of dark eyes.

Seeing that Huo Wujiu was looking at him, Meng Qianshan hurriedly bowed and stepped forward, only assuming he had something to order: “Madam?”

However, Huo Wujiu only gave him a faint glance with eyes as cold as a bottomless pool, a glance that chilled his heart and lungs.

“I don’t need anything,” he said coldly. “You, just get away.”

Meng Qianshan choked, and his enthusiasm was doused with cold water.

He fled in embarrassment.

…I never thought that Master would like someone as fierce and unreasonable as him.

He was too difficult to serve.

——

Although there was no grand court session, Jiang Suizhou had to go to the government office every day, but the Ministry of rites was more leisurely than other places. In addition, his job was sinecure, so he had nothing to do all day long.

On top of that, his boss, Ji You, was a good old chap.

From the records about this man in history books alone, it was clear that he was an idle official averse to trickery and was only fond of the four forms of poetry. Although the late emperor appointed him Number One Scholar, he was always a lukewarm official and spent his time writing beautiful poetry. 

Ji You wasn’t at all close to Jui Suizhou, and at first glance, wasn’t in their camp, but nor was he hard on him. Even seeing that he looked unwell, Ji You said with a smile that there was nothing important  for the day, and that Jiang Suizhou could go home earlier to rest.

Jiang Suizhou breathed a sigh of relief.

For him, whether it was the imperial court, or his own harem, the water was a little too deep, so he had to always be alert and vigilant.

On the contrary, working his shift at the government office was a rare breather.

For the first time, he took a good rest in the government office with the mentality of a middle-aged man who didn’t want to face the family pressure after work and hid in the car to smoke for a long time before going upstairs.

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