I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 67

After a while, they finished watching the play. Guessing that Minister Lin would be returning from court soon, Jiang Zhou needed to send Lin Muwan back to the Minister’s Residence.

She wondered when this furtive life would finally end.

Perhaps sensing her low spirits, Lin Muwan took a shelled peanut and fed it into Jiang Zhou’s mouth, raising an eyebrow as if complimenting her, or perhaps comforting her.

Jiang Zhou’s expression immediately became complex and difficult to describe. If Lin Muwan were to reach out and pat her head at this moment, the scene would look exactly like how she praised her own dog.

She eyed Lin Muwan suspiciously, but the other woman acted completely natural, giving her a gentle smile.

This made Jiang Zhou dismiss her doubts.

Just then, a burst of applause erupted downstairs. The play on stage had reached its finale. The teahouse attendant, holding a tray with both hands, wove through the crowd. To curry favor, audience members would generally reward him with some silver at this time.

The first-floor patrons were mostly scholars, fond of keeping up appearances, so the attendant’s tray would collect a total of two or three taels of silver after one round.

The second floor was for the wealthy; the environment was quiet, and the attendant wouldn’t come up unless a customer ordered food.

Jiang Zhou’s sharp eyes spotted a familiar figure in the crowd downstairs.

She widened her eyes, her mouth slightly ajar, staring down.

The person downstairs seemed to sense the gaze, and their eyes looked up as well. The next second, that person lowered their head, clutching a qin (zither), and hurriedly left the teahouse.

Jiang Zhou: “…”

She asked with some uncertainty, “Wife, was that Li Yan’er just now?”

After all, the person was wearing a coarse grey cloth ruqun (blouse and skirt), a stark contrast to the arrogant, extravagantly dressed woman she remembered.

If not for the identical face, she truly wouldn’t have believed it.

Lin Muwan pensively watched the disappearing back and nodded, “Her father was part of the Crown Prince’s faction. When the Crown Prince was demoted, her father was implicated and removed from his official post.”

After saying this, she let out a slight sigh, a hint of helpless resignation flashing in her eyes.

Jiang Zhou knew Lin Muwan was thinking of her own past ordeal. She reached out and grasped her hand.

Lin Muwan’s hand was slender, slightly cool, with long, graceful fingers. Holding it felt smooth like solidified fat and warm like jade.

“No matter. If we run into her again, I’ll give her some silver and won’t bully her anymore,” Jiang Zhou whispered, her voice breathy, creating an alluring sound in Lin Muwan’s ear.

Lin Muwan tried to pull her hand away but couldn’t. She quickly glanced around and said, her voice unnatural, “No need. We are outside, don’t let anyone see us.”

Jiang Zhou chuckled, “Alright, I’ll listen to my wife. Next time I see her, I will definitely humiliate her properly to avenge the past.”

Lin Muwan: “…”

Is that what she meant?

Lin Muwan looked back at her in disbelief, but upon meeting the face full of playful smiles, she knew she had been tricked again.

Feeling annoyed, she wanted to withdraw her hand, but Jiang Zhou held it firmly, refusing to let go.

Lin Muwan closed her eyes, feeling both angry and amused. After a long moment, she glared at Jiang Zhou and said flatly, “From now on, just treat her like a stranger when you see her.”

Jiang Zhou knew when to stop pushing and agreed, “Alright, I’ll listen to my wife completely.”

It was nearing the Sì hour (9-11 AM). Jiang Zhou took Lin Muwan out of the teahouse. One person entered the Minister’s Residence through the main gate, while the other secretly went around to the back gate. After lurking furtively for a long time, a young maid peeked her head out, looked left and right, and only emerged when she saw no one else, leading Jiang Zhou inside.

As the weather was turning warmer, the Minister’s Residence was filled with blossoming flowers everywhere. The flowers planted along the stone path were all in full bloom. Walking along such a path felt like being immersed in a sea of flowers, the air filled with their fragrance.

Passing through the small path and several moon-shaped gates, they finally stopped outside a small courtyard.

The maid said, “Miss is inside. I will guard the door outside. If Miss and the Master have anything, you can call me directly.”

Jiang Zhou nodded, pushed the door, and entered.

This was not her first visit here; in fact, she was quite familiar with the way. Of course, every time was a secret, furtive visit. If she were to use the main entrance, Minister Lin would surely stop her, and she would have no chance to speak with Lin Muwan.

Jiang Zhou carefully pushed open the window and slipped half her body inside.

“Why didn’t you use the main entrance?” Lin Muwan frowned at her. The person smiled, and in the time it took to speak, she had already deftly leaped in through the window.

Jiang Zhou patted her clothes and laughed, “This way it feels more like an affair.”

Lin Muwan froze. The next second, a cry of surprise rang out in the room, “Ouch, Wife, that hurts…”

“Wife, I was just kidding…”

“Let’s talk this out, don’t pinch anymore, it’s already turning blue, ouch…”

Jiang Zhou bit her lip, holding her waist with one hand, her eyes watery with an aggrieved look as she gazed at the heartless woman before her.

The woman’s face was slightly flushed, looking at her with annoyance.

After a moment, seeing that playing the victim was useless, Jiang Zhou lifted her clothes to expose her waist. A distinct red mark was visible on her fair skin. She accused, “Look, it’s all red. It will definitely be blue by tomorrow morning.”

Seeing the clear mark, Lin Muwan couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. However, the thought of this scoundrel made her turn her face away and refuse to look at her.

Jiang Zhou said, “As expected, once you get it, you stop cherishing it.”

Lin Muwan: “…”

The guilt that had just arisen instantly turned into a wisp of smoke, lightly blown away by the wind.

Scoundrel!

Lin Muwan was mortified. She clenched her fingertips, pursed her lips, and glanced at Jiang Zhou, then sat down at the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and ignored her completely.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhou leaned forward, grabbed her other hand, and began shaking it while whining, “Wife, don’t be angry. Getting angry during pregnancy is bad for the baby.”

Lin Muwan glared at her and put down the teacup.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhou shook her hand with even more effort.

“Let go first.”

Jiang Zhou quickly shook her head, “No.”

At a time like this, whoever lets go is the fool.

She played the rogue, her lips slightly pouted, revealing a unique, youthful coyness. Lin Muwan stabilized her mind. She thought about how Jiang Zhou should have been a bright and cheerful girl, but now she would have to live here as a man. Thinking of this, Lin Muwan’s heart instantly softened. She pressed down on Jiang Zhou’s hand, curved her lips, and said, “If you let go, I won’t be angry anymore.”

Letting go is an option.

Jiang Zhou raised an eyebrow. The next second, with a cry of surprise, she fell into a familiar embrace scented with wood.

Jiang Zhou smiled wickedly, kissed her on the corner of her lips, and used a little force to lift and place her on her lap. Before Lin Muwan could react, she buried her face in her neck, took a deep breath, and murmured, “Wife, please don’t be angry. Let me hold you for a while. I have to leave when Father-in-law returns. I wonder when we won’t have to be so secretive anymore.”

She felt wronged. They were married, yet they couldn’t live together, and it felt like they were having a secret affair. When would this life end?

Lin Muwan naturally understood her grievance. Her father had just been released. He suddenly had a son-in-law, and this son-in-law had resigned from his official post without consulting him. It was understandable that he was having difficulty accepting it. He would naturally come around in time.

Besides, she also wanted to spend more time with her parents. Since her husband had resigned, the Seventh Prince was now the undisputed heir apparent. In the future, how could she leave Jiang Zhou, a potential liability who knew her secret, behind? It would be better to leave this place of trouble early.

Her husband loved a free and unrestricted life, and she would accompany her. Anywhere would be fine.

At noon, the maid came to announce, “Miss, the Master is back. Please come to the front hall for lunch.”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

So early. She glanced at the sky outside the window. The sun was high, shining straight in, casting a long, but not too long, shadow. Feeling a pang of reluctance, she sighed softly and whispered, “Wife, I’ll come again tonight.”

Lin Muwan was just as reluctant to part with her. She stroked her cheek, leaned in, and actively kissed her on the lips. “If something comes up, don’t come.”

“Nothing will,” Jiang Zhou pursed her lips. Her mouth was full of Lin Muwan’s taste. She lingered a moment, savoring it again, as if the flavor had faded a bit. How could that be? Before getting up, she exerted force with both arms, wrapping them around Lin Muwan again, tilted her head back, and kissed her passionately.

Perhaps because the maid was still outside the door, her kiss was restrained. Soon after, she let go of Lin Muwan. After watching her leave, she followed the path she had taken to leave through the back door.

Lin Muwan followed the maid to the front hall. Madam Lin and Minister Lin were already seated. Beside Minister Lin sat a man she didn’t recognize.

The man looked to be about twenty years old, with an elegant temperament. Seeing her arrive, he stood up and bowed slightly, “Miss Lin.”

Lin Muwan frowned and returned the greeting slightly.

Minister Lin laughed heartily, “Sit down and talk, all of you. Young people shouldn’t be so reserved. Wanwan, let me introduce you. This is the current Tānhuā (Third Rank scholar), a promising young man. The essay he wrote in court today was truly exquisite. I know you’ve always enjoyed poetry and prose, so I invited Young Master Chen to tutor you.”

Hearing his words, Lin Muwan’s expression darkened slightly. She glanced at her father, knowing full well that he had reservations about Jiang Zhou’s background and her resignation from office, yet he had done such a foolish thing.

She sighed softly, “Young Master Chen,” acknowledging him. She sat down next to Madam Lin, placed one hand on her lower abdomen, gently stroking it. Her eyes were full of maternal tenderness. “Thank you for your kindness, Father. But unfortunately, I have plans to go out with my husband today.”

Husband?

Young Master Chen was startled. Following the movement of her hand, he finally noticed Lin Muwan’s slightly protruding abdomen. He had been a little reserved and hadn’t dared to look closely earlier, but now he saw that the woman before him had her hair tied in a matron’s bun, and her bulging abdomen clearly showed she was pregnant.

He looked at Minister Lin, a hint of unwillingness flashing in his eyes. He had been secretly happy when he suddenly received an invitation from Minister Lin at the palace gate today. He was from a poor background. Without money or connections, getting an official position in the capital was impossible. If he married the daughter of the Minister’s Residence, the outcome would be different. Not only could he stay in the capital, but his future career would also be bright.

He had even envisioned his future before coming.

Who knew…

What good was unwillingness?

The woman before him, with her beautiful and refined appearance, like a celestial fairy, was already married.

He sighed, quickly adjusted his mindset, politely exchanged a few pleasantries with Lin Muwan, and then began talking with Minister Lin.

After lunch, he left the Minister’s Residence.

Madam Lin looked at Minister Lin with disapproval. “How could you do such a thing? Don’t forget how you got out of the Ministry of Justice’s prison. If it weren’t for Ah Zhou, our family wouldn’t know when we could be reunited.”

It was fine until Madam Lin brought it up, but when she did, Minister Lin became furious. He paced around the hall twice with his hands behind his back. “How many sons of aristocratic families came to our residence to propose marriage? Which one wasn’t better than Jiang Zhou in talent and looks? Yet none of them caught our daughter’s eye. What does that boy have? If he hadn’t taken advantage of our Lin family’s misfortune and forcibly married my Wanwan, how else would my daughter have…”

He’s married, so I accept it. But this scoundrel resigned from his official post! Did he know how many people envied that position? He just up and resigned. How would he support their daughter in the future? All he did all day was immerse himself in petty romantic affairs; what kind of future could he have? Did his precious daughter and precious grandchild have to suffer with him?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He shouted, “Someone!”

A maid heard her master’s command, entered the hall, and bowed.

“Pass down the order, today no one is allowed to let in…” He paused, feeling even angrier. What should he call him?

Son-in-law?

Esteemed Son-in-law?

He gritted his teeth, “No one is allowed to let that scoundrel in.”

The young maid was startled but quickly realized who the Master meant by the ‘scoundrel.’

“Yes.”

The maid bowed and was about to leave when Minister Lin’s furious voice sounded again, “And keep a close watch on the Miss. She is not allowed to go out.”

Madam Lin sighed, wondering how long this old fossil would continue to make a fuss.