I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 49

Since Jiang Zhou didn’t want others to know about their background, and since Minister Lin was going to be released without charge sooner or later anyway, as a qualified friend, she would simply pretend not to know him.

Look, how considerate she was.

In addition to delivering the imperial decree, Xiao Qi was also commanded by the Emperor to go to Qingzhou to clean up the mess, so he left in a hurry after passing on the decree.

The news of Jiang Zhou being personally designated as the Wuzhuangyuan (top military scholar) by the Emperor quickly spread through Linyang County. It was a huge event for a small county town to produce a Wuzhuangyuan, and people flocked to Jiang Family Village to pay their respects.

The hard-won peace was thus shattered by these visitors, leaving her no time to properly accompany Lin Muwan.

It gave Jiang Zhou a terrible headache.

If this trend continued, she might as well go to the capital city earlier.

But since the Lunar New Year was fast approaching, she would have to wait until after the year’s end.

“Ugh, this won’t do. Let’s shut the door tomorrow. We won’t open it for anyone who knocks,” Mother Jiang sighed, slumping onto a stool. The constant flow of visitors from morning till night was too much for even an iron constitution to bear. She turned to look at Butcher Miao and said fiercely, “You’re not allowed to go out and set up your stall starting tomorrow either.”

Butcher Miao: “…”

This unprovoked disaster came too quickly. Butcher Miao offered a forced smile, rubbing Mother Jiang’s shoulders while coaxing her, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

The scene was a little hard to watch.

Jiang Zhou pouted, letting out a sigh. She wondered when her ‘cheap mother’ would finally acknowledge Aunt Miao’s identity.

Finally, when the scene became unbearable, Jiang Zhou couldn’t help but speak up, “Alright, Mother, what does this have to do with Aunt Miao? But you’re right, starting tomorrow, we’ll close the door to visitors. Since it’s the end of the year, Aunt Miao shouldn’t set up her stall. She can go with you to wander around the shops in the county town.”

Mother Jiang glared, thinking, This brat only knows how to boss her mother around.

Forget it, forget it.

Mother Jiang’s expression was complex. Just as she was about to say a few more words, another round of knocking sounded from outside.

Instantly, four pairs of eyes collectively turned toward the courtyard.

The knocking stopped after a while. Just as the four people breathed a sigh of relief, it started again.

Jiang Zhou pursed her lips, a slight look of disappointment on her face.

How persistent.

Mother Jiang was the first to show impatience, saying to Jiang Zhou, “It must be looking for you. Go open the door.” With that, she pulled Butcher Miao and ducked back into the room, and with a bang, the door was shut tight.

Mother Lin also got up, sighed softly, and said tactfully, “I’m getting old, sitting for a while makes me tired.” After a pause, she looked at Lin Muwan, “Wanwan, why don’t you go back to the room with Mother and chat for a bit?”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

The smile at the corner of Jiang Zhou’s mouth gradually stiffened. She turned to meet Lin Muwan’s smiling eyes, and her face instantly dropped. She pouted, pretending to be understanding, “Wife, go keep Mother company. You can leave this to me.”

See how considerate she is.

A good daughter to her mother, a good son-in-law to her mother-in-law, and a good husband to her wife.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Muwan helped Mother Lin back to the room.

Jiang Zhou stared mournfully at the two closed doors—they had all left.

She sighed, resignedly walked into the courtyard, and asked, “Who is it?”

A response came from outside: “Young Master, it’s me.”

The voice sounded like a middle-aged man and was a bit familiar.

Jiang Zhou’s brow furrowed tighter. She remembered—wasn’t this the Jiang family’s butler’s voice? And only the Jiang family servants would call the original owner “Young Master.”

So, the Jiang family knew she was now the Wuzhuangyuan and had come to claim kinship again?

Thinking of this possibility, a surge of disgust rose in her heart.

She opened the door. A carriage was parked outside. When Jiang Decai saw Jiang Zhou come out, he was helped down by the coachman. He was shaky, his back was slightly hunched, and his hair was gray. He looked ten years older than the last time she saw him.

Jiang Zhou suddenly recalled that in the past few days, she had heard a bit about the Jiang family from the visiting wealthy gentry. Since Jiang Sheng’s incident, the Jiang family’s business had declined significantly. Jiang Decai had fallen seriously ill, and all the shops that could be sold had been sold. Originally, this money could have helped them recover, but who knew that Master Jiang’s concubine had run off with the family’s long-term laborer, taking all the money with them. Jiang Decai made many inquiries before finding the whereabouts of the laborer and the concubine. By the time he found them, the money had been squandered. He also learned from the concubine that the son and daughter he cherished most were actually born to the concubine and the laborer.

At the time, Jiang Zhou was filled with regret upon hearing this.

Of course, she wouldn’t pity this man. She had just listened as an outsider. Now, seeing Jiang Decai again…

Tsk~

Justice truly is served.

She glanced at him indifferently, “Why are you here again?”

“A’Zhou.” Jiang Decai’s face was covered in wrinkles. Supported by the coachman, he came to Jiang Zhou, attempting to reach out and grab Jiang Zhou’s hand, but Jiang Zhou dodged him, a look of distaste in her eyes.

Seeing Jiang Zhou’s cold face, Jiang Decai shamelessly said, “The New Year is approaching. Your father is here to see you and your mother.”

“I have nothing to do with you. Mother divorced you a long time ago,” Jiang Zhou mercilessly exposed his hypocrisy, chuckling inwardly.

She was not the original owner, so there was no need to consider any father-son affection. After the previous incident, she never expected the original owner’s father to have the nerve to show up again.

Whether he came out of guilt for the original owner or because of her current Wuzhuangyuan status was unknown, but she leaned more toward the latter. After all, he hadn’t sought her out during the time the Jiang family was in trouble.

Coming now…

Jiang Zhou sneered, Does he really think I’m a fool?

After a while, seeing that the soft approach was not working, Jiang Decai sternly lectured and half-threatened, “A’Zhou, now that you are the Wuzhuangyuan, are you going to deny your own father? You must know that the current Emperor values filial piety the most. If you get a reputation for being unfilial, will your position as Wuzhuangyuan still be secure?”

How dare he say such things? Jiang Zhou was almost amused by anger. Her expression grew colder and colder, “I don’t have a father. Master Jiang, please go back.”

“You! Jiang Zhou, don’t forget that the Jiang family raised you!” Jiang Decai pointed a finger at her.

Jiang Zhou was too lazy to argue with him further. She turned and threw a sentence over her shoulder, “The severance letter is still with the authorities. Has Master Jiang forgotten?”

With that, without waiting for him to speak, the door slammed shut and was locked, all in one swift motion.

Instead of wasting time chatting with such an irrelevant person outside, she’d rather go home quickly and cultivate her relationship with her wife.

Jiang Zhou turned around and met a pair of eyes filled with worry. The corner of her mouth instantly curved up. She took a few quick steps, took Lin Muwan’s hand, and rubbed her slightly cold fingertips. “Wife, why did you come out? Don’t catch a cold in this snowy weather.”

“Just now…”

Lin Muwan looked at Jiang Zhou, pursed her lips, and her gaze fell on her own hand. This libertine. His fingers were lightly scratching her palm, constantly, making it impossible for her to think clearly.

“An irrelevant person. Hurry inside, it’s so cold!” Saying this, she glanced at Mother Lin’s room and decisively pulled Lin Muwan toward her own small courtyard.

As for the original owner’s father, she didn’t care what he did. She wasn’t the original owner and had no feelings for him at all.

Back in the room, Jiang Zhou half-coaxed, half-dragged her onto the bed and covered them with a quilt. They sat on the bed with Lin Muwan leaning against Jiang Zhou’s chest. Jiang Zhou’s eyes were full of smiles. “This kind of weather is when we should be snuggled in bed. Wife, child, warm kang bed, it’s so comfortable.”

Lin Muwan’s cheeks were flushed. This libertine!

Taking advantage of her daze, Jiang Zhou directly slipped her hand into Lin Muwan’s sleeve and touched her forearm.

“Husband,” Lin Muwan’s body stiffened.

The slender fingertips seemed to be on fire, hot, causing a shiver with every patch of skin they passed over.

“Husband…” Lin Muwan suddenly pressed down on the mischievous hand, slowly regulating her disorderly breathing. She forced herself to remain calm and said, “Stop trying to be licentious during the daytime.”

“Hmm?” Jiang Zhou’s eyes lit up. She blinked, realizing what she had caught. “Does Wife mean that tonight is fine?”

Yes, right? That’s what Wife meant, right? Her comprehension skills are excellent.

Lin Muwan’s eyelids fluttered. She lowered her gaze, “Do not twist my meaning.”

Jiang Zhou turned slightly, encircling her entirely in her arms. She bent down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “Wife said it herself just now. I didn’t make it up.”

“You,” Lin Muwan’s body was rigid, her breathing quickened, and the hand pressing down on his used a little more force.

Her body was a little overwhelmed. As Jiang Zhou’s warm breath sprayed on her ear, she gradually softened in his embrace.

Jiang Zhou chuckled, deliberately pinching her arm, feeling the delicate, smooth skin beneath her fingertips.

“Mmm~, Husband…” The sound was captivating, especially coming from someone as reserved as Lin Muwan, which caused Jiang Zhou’s breath to hitch.

If this continues, who could resist?

However, she also knew that she couldn’t tease her any further at this moment, or Lin Muwan might lose her temper, and the nighttime benefit she had just secured might be retracted.

Therefore, she quickly withdrew her mischievous hand. As it pulled away, she lowered her head and kissed Lin Muwan’s earlobe.

Lin Muwan’s body trembled. Her ear tips visibly turned red, looking plump and ready to drip. She bit her lip, turning her face away, not wanting to deal with Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou leaned back on the bed, feeling completely satisfied and willingly serving as Lin Muwan’s soft cushion. She knew Lin Muwan was shy. They could talk about it tonight. Her wife had promised her.

Even if they couldn’t go all the way tonight, it was good enough to satisfy her craving a bit.

Dinner was prepared by Jiang Zhou and Butcher Miao together, and they also warmed a pot of wine. Everyone drank a little except for Lin Muwan.

After eating their fill, the winter night was cold, and no one wanted to stay in the main hall. They all returned to their respective rooms early.

Jiang Zhou helped Lin Muwan walk in the courtyard. The snow hadn’t been swept for a while, and a thick layer had accumulated on the ground, crunching softly under their feet. “Wife, let’s go back quickly. What’s so good about this snow? If you like it, I’ll build you a snow sculpture tomorrow.”

“A snow sculpture?” Lin Muwan turned to look at her.

Jiang Zhou smiled, explaining, “It’s built with snow, as tall as a person.”

She gestured with her hand to her forehead. Jiang Zhou was tall, nearly half a head taller than Lin Muwan. Seeing Jiang Zhou say the snow sculpture would be taller than herself, Lin Muwan’s eyes showed a hint of expectation, and she smiled at Jiang Zhou.

“Wife, if you want to see it, I’ll build it for you tomorrow. See, it’s too cold today, let’s go back quickly,” Jiang Zhou’s tone carried a hint of urgency. Lin Muwan frowned, looking at her with a somewhat confused expression.

She…

Jiang Zhou reached out and put her arm around Lin Muwan’s waist, carefully shielding her in front of her body and leading her toward the house.

Lin Muwan was stunned, and her face suddenly turned red.

She quickly reacted. This libertine!

She gritted her teeth. Why did she suddenly feel the urge to bite him?

“Wife—” The door opened and closed in a fluid motion. By the time Lin Muwan reacted, she was already lying on the bed.

“Jiang Zhou!” Lin Muwan gnashed her teeth, “The child… Mmph~”

Jiang Zhou quickly blocked her mouth, lightly biting her lip in a punishing manner. So soft. She completely immersed herself in the moment. After an unknown amount of time, she reluctantly let go.

Lin Muwan’s cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were hazy.

Jiang Zhou’s breathing hitched, especially at the red, slightly swollen lips that had just been kissed, which looked like a blooming rose. She leaned down, just about to continue, when a pair of hands pressed against her chest. “Stop…”