I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 56

Coming for a daddy-fight?

Jiang Zhou let out a cold snort. Anyone who dared to covet Lin Muwan, even the King of Heaven, would be stopped.

Zhou Cheng was helped up by the few people who had come with him, leaving a frantic “You just wait for me!” before scurrying away.

“Let me see if he hurt you?” Jiang Zhou pulled Lin Muwan, who was standing behind him, and checked her left and right. Seeing a shocking red mark on her fair wrist, his face immediately darkened.

“I went too easy on him just now.”

The sound was not loud, but it fell right into the ears of the onlookers, who couldn’t help but gasp. He had already crushed the man’s wrist bone, and he said it was still too light?

What a ruthless person. They couldn’t help but be glad that it wasn’t themselves who had gone up against him.

Just thinking about that snap sound made them feel pain for Zhou Cheng.

However, since it was none of their business, they just watched the excitement. It was best not to provoke this ruthless person in front of them.

Jiang Zhou, oblivious to the stares, picked up Lin Muwan’s wrist and blew on it.

Lin Muwan’s cheeks flushed red, and she pulled her hand away, glaring at him.

This libertine is being fresh again.

Jiang Zhou felt an emptiness in his hand, and the woman in front of him stepped away, ready to leave.

What’s wrong? Why is she suddenly angry? It must be because her hand still hurts! Jiang Zhou was certain.

Next time he saw that man, he would definitely give him a severe beating.

Jiang Zhou: “My wife—”

“Shut up.”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

What happened?

Seeing the two about to leave, the neglected Li Yan’er was extremely unhappy. Wherever Lin Muwan was, she always felt like a clown.

Since Lin Muwan was banished from the capital, when had she ever been subjected to such treatment?

She gnashed her teeth in resentment. She and Lin Muwan were the same—their fathers were both ministers, one the Minister of Revenue and the other the Minister of Personnel—yet Lin Muwan always overshadowed her everywhere she went.

In terms of talent and looks, she considered herself no less than Lin Muwan, but the noble young masters in the capital all clustered around Lin Muwan.

How could she accept this? She had finally hoped for the Lin family to fall, but who knew Lin Muwan would reappear before her? If Lin Muwan hadn’t shown up, it would have been her receiving the willow branch from Young Master Zhou today.

Why do noble young masters like Zhou Cheng flock to Lin Muwan the moment she appears? Where exactly am I inferior to her? It wasn’t that she cared for Young Master Zhou, but she was utterly resentful.

Li Yan’er was consumed by jealousy.

And this man in front of her—why did he only have eyes for Lin Muwan? He hadn’t even glanced at her. Didn’t he know that Lin Muwan was the daughter of a criminal official?

The Lin family case was personally presided over by the Emperor. Lin Muwan was banished from the capital, and returning without the Emperor’s decree was a capital offense.

Wait!

A wicked thought flashed through Li Yan’er’s mind: she wanted Lin Muwan dead.

“Lin sister, is that you? I heard that all the Lin family members were banished from the capital. You…” Li Yan’er acted as if she realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly covered her mouth.

She believed that everyone present with a brain could understand her meaning, including the man who was protecting Lin Muwan.

Sure enough, after she brought it up, the crowd, which had only intended to watch the commotion, fell silent. They looked at the couple with veiled expressions. Minister Lin was still in prison, and the Emperor had not issued a decree pardoning the Lin family’s crime. Lin Muwan appearing in the capital was clearly a violation of the imperial decree.

What was the crime for violating an imperial decree?

Those surrounding them were all children of officials; no one was clearer on this than they were.

Lin Muwan turned her head, glanced at Li Yan’er, and, unwilling to be entangled, smiled faintly, gripping Jiang Zhou’s hand. “Husband, let’s go.”

“Mhm.” Jiang Zhou reached out and put his arm around her waist, shielding her in front of him. He scanned the area coldly, scaring the onlookers into retreating a step.

Seeing this, Li Yan’er wondered if this man hadn’t understood her meaning. Why was he still so close to Lin Muwan? Was she not afraid of death?

She quickly stepped forward, blocking their path. “Lin sister, you should leave the capital. If this matter reaches the Emperor’s ears, not only will your life be in danger, but it will also implicate Uncle Lin, who is still in prison.”

“Yan’er, why waste words with her? If you ask me, we should notify the authorities right now and have them arrest her for her crime,” said another woman beside Li Yan’er.

Lin Muwan glanced at the woman, recognizing her as the one who usually followed Li Yan’er. This woman was malicious, and many of the things Li Yan’er did were instigated by her from behind the scenes.

She frowned and tightened her grip on Jiang Zhou’s hand.

Jiang Zhou immediately responded, glaring fiercely at the woman. The woman subtly retreated, hiding behind Li Yan’er. She poked her head out, wanting to say something more, but as soon as her eyes met Jiang Zhou’s icy gaze, she shivered and dared not utter a word.

“You—” Li Yan’er also sensed that Jiang Zhou was not to be trifled with. Suddenly glared at by Jiang Zhou, she felt a chill in her heart, swallowed, and couldn’t say a single word.

However, her goal had been achieved. Most of the people around were from noble families. Presumably, the news of Lin Muwan’s return to the capital would soon reach the Emperor’s ears. By then…

She gave a cold snort and stepped aside, yielding the path for Jiang Zhou.

“Wife, let’s go.” Jiang Zhou supported Lin Muwan as they left the pavilion.

Nothing to be proud of. You’ll get what’s coming to you sooner or later.

Li Yan’er watched their retreating figures with resentment.

“My wife, look.” Jiang Zhou suddenly produced a willow branch from nowhere and presented it to Lin Muwan. He chuckled, “Fair maiden, might I have the pleasure of your company for a stroll?”

Lin Muwan curved her lips, amused by him. “I’d be delighted.”

“Oh, fair maiden, you’re not reserved at all!”

Lin Muwan froze, her expression instantly darkening.

“Ouch, wife, I was wrong! Don’t pinch! It hurts, hurts! Wife, wife!”

Jiang Zhou clutched his aching waist where he had been pinched. It was just a joke, why such a heavy hand? He pouted, hurrying to catch up with Lin Muwan, who had already walked far ahead. “Wife, don’t be angry.”

Lin Muwan looked at the person catching up to her, sighed. Forget it, it’s not the first day I’ve known this person has no proper decorum. “Let’s go, I want to go back.”

“Ay, alright.” Jiang Zhou nodded, craned his neck, and looked around, but didn’t find the figure of his cheap mother. He sighed, but wasn’t worried that his cheap mother would get lost, so he simply pulled Lin Muwan into the carriage.

The carriage moved slowly; they did not return directly to the inn.

“Husband, are you going to buy a house?”

Jiang Zhou nodded. They couldn’t stay in an inn forever. Since he had decided to live in the capital from now on, buying a house was necessary.

“You can go to the matchmaker in the east of the city and ask around.”

East of the city?

The streets of the capital were crisscrossed, and shops were lined up. The moment Jiang Zhou entered the city, he felt a bit disoriented.

“Go that way.” Lin Muwan curved her lips, seeing his bewildered eyes, and couldn’t help but chuckle. She really didn’t expect this person to be so directionless.

Jiang Zhou pouted, and following the direction Lin Muwan pointed, they arrived at the east side of the city.

Unlike Xuanwu Street, where shops were neatly arranged and passersby wore silk and satin, Jiang Zhou looked around and saw a distinctly market-like scene, with most people dressed like ordinary citizens.

He truly hadn’t expected such a place in the prosperous capital.

Lin Muwan seemed to notice his confusion and explained, “Although the east side of the city is a mix of people, the news is the most accessible here. Any house for sale, any available property—nothing escapes the eyes of the matchmakers here.”

Jiang Zhou pursed his lips. “Wife, have you been here before?”

Hearing his question, Lin Muwan froze, a trace of melancholy flashing in her eyes. She tightened her fingers and smiled, shaking her head.

Jiang Zhou scanned the area, withdrew his gaze, and said, “Wife, wait for me in the carriage.”

Lin Muwan smiled and nodded, watching Jiang Zhou leave. Her eyes slowly turned cold. In fact, she had just lied to Jiang Zhou. She had been here countless times; this was perhaps the most familiar place in the entire capital to her.

But it was also the place she least wanted to come to. Lin Muwan pursed her lips, leaning against the carriage wall, her thoughts drifting far away.

After getting out of the carriage, Jiang Zhou asked around and quickly found a matchmaker. He selected a few houses he liked from the matchmaker and then returned to the carriage.

Since it would be their future home, he couldn’t decide on such a major matter alone. He described the houses he had liked to Lin Muwan.

Lin Muwan pondered for a moment, her expression slightly pausing, and then said, “Let’s take the one behind Mingpin Tower. It will be more convenient for you to go to Mingpin Tower later, Husband.”

Jiang Zhou thought about it carefully. That house was more expensive than the others, but it was a two-courtyard compound, enough for a family to live in. He smiled and said, “Then I’ll listen to my wife.”

He went to the matchmaker, paid the money, and also selected two small maids. After they arrived in the capital, he would have his own things to do and couldn’t constantly look after them. Although he didn’t know what this Military Champion could do, the Emperor had issued a decree. He planned to settle things down and then go see Xiao Qi for an update.

After purchasing the house, they sent the maids to the house to tidy up, and the two then returned to the inn. As soon as they stepped inside, they bumped into Xiao Qi.

“Brother Jiang, you’re finally back,” Xiao Qi said.

Jiang Zhou looked at the several imperial guards behind him and asked curiously, “How did you know I had arrived in the capital?”

Xiao Qi directly handed her the imperial decree, smiling. “Not only do I know, but His Majesty knows as well.”

The Emperor knows too?

Jiang Zhou was startled. His first thought was that the Emperor had sent people to monitor him!

If so, wouldn’t his every move be impossible to hide from the Emperor’s eyes? What was the point of being this Military Champion if he didn’t even have personal freedom? As a modern person, he fundamentally could not accept this.

Xiao Qi seemed to notice his confusion and chuckled. “Don’t worry, the Emperor has secret agents in the capital. Once you entered the city, they naturally had to report to His Majesty. As for the rest, you are overthinking things.”

Overthinking?

Jiang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, taking the imperial decree from Xiao Qi’s hand. “Thank you for making this trip, Seventh Prince.”

It’s best if he’s not monitoring me.

Xiao Qi: “It’s His Majesty’s verbal decree, asking you to enter the palace immediately.”

“Your Highness, do you know why His Majesty summoned A’Zhou?” Lin Muwan frowned slightly, her worry unconcealed.

Xiao Qi smiled. “Don’t worry, His Majesty just wants to meet Brother Jiang; he won’t make trouble for her. I guarantee I’ll bring her back to you without a scratch.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Lin Muwan pursed her lips, her anxious heart not settling at all. Serving the sovereign was like accompanying a tiger. This person was used to being unrestrained, and she worried he might unknowingly offend the Emperor. She repeatedly cautioned Jiang Zhou until Xiao Qi urged them to go.

“Wife, don’t worry. Didn’t the Seventh Prince say it’s nothing? Just rest assured.” Jiang Zhou placed the imperial decree into Lin Muwan’s hand, leaned in, embraced her, and patted her reassuringly, then followed Xiao Qi onto the carriage.

Inside the carriage.

“What exactly does the Emperor want to see me for?” He didn’t believe the Emperor would suddenly want to meet him at this hour.

Xiao Qi smiled, not wanting to conceal the truth from him. “At noon, the Minister of Rites submitted a memorial to His Majesty, basically regarding the Lin family members’ unauthorized return to the capital. His Majesty held back the memorial.”