Chapter 209: A Good Show
“I could have killed her. But I didn’t. Because I wanted to make her life worse than death.”
Jiang Changtian took a leave of absence today and did not go to work.
Everyone expressed understanding; Commander Jiang loved his children as his own life and insisted on grand celebrations for every child’s birthday. Now that his daughter was pregnant, he was too excited to go to work. Everyone understood, and some were already thinking about what gifts to give for the full-month celebration.
Censor He had also stayed up all night.
However, he couldn’t exactly use the excuse that someone else’s daughter-in-law was pregnant and he was too happy to go to the government office.
He still went to the Prefecture City government office.
His complexion was very poor.
After all, even if one took immortal pills, staying up all night would still result in bad skin and eye bags; even celestial beings needed to sleep.
Censor He’s complexion was poor, and he looked quite frightening.
Before this, hadn’t he been getting along harmoniously with Commander Jiang? Could it be that Commander Jiang had offended Censor He?
Censor He knew well that when one was in a bad mood, it was easy to make poor judgments. At such times, it was best to speak less, make fewer decisions, and just watch.
Therefore, he remained reticent.
This caused the official circles of Jingzhou Prefecture City to quiet down a bit.
Jiang Changtian slept for half the day.
When he woke up, it was noon.
Opening his eyes, he saw the familiar bed curtains, a clean and crisp flaxen color. There were two pillows and a thin quilt. It must have been midday outside, as bright light filtered through the gaps in the curtains in streaks.
On the windows and doors of the house that let in light, black curtains were hung. This way, even if one wanted to sleep in the middle of the day, pulling the curtains shut created the feeling of nighttime, allowing for a long sleep.
This was a method thought up by that little brat Mianmian.
He rarely slept during the day.
After sleeping his fill, his brain felt a bit sluggish, so he lazed in bed for a while.
Xia Mei then entered.
Qin Luoxia saw that her husband’s mood was off.
In truth, her husband had been much better over the past few years.
In the past, she felt like she was taking care of a younger brother when she looked after her husband.
Outside, her husband was very imposing, but at home, he was actually quite fragile.
She would never forget the way he looked when she pulled him out of the water—he didn’t want to live. To what extent must a person be in despair to choose death?
Living was bitter, but it was still better than being dead.
Once dead, there was nothing left; while alive, there was hope.
She did not pull her husband up but instead lay down beside him.
There were no elders above them, so they were relatively casual about this.
Qin Luoxia had changed a lot, but one thing remained unchanged: although she had become Madam Jiang in social settings, at home she remained the same as before.
Aunt Yin said that many ladies, upon rising in status, followed the world’s demands for a lady—becoming elegant and dignified, unable to let go of their airs—forgetting the root of it all. Being a lady was for outsiders to see, but life was lived for oneself, so one should be more casual in daily life.
Qin Luoxia lay down, accompanying her husband side by side.
Jiang Changtian reached out and rested his hand gently on Xia Mei’s neck. Xia Mei had many things to do every day, but she still persisted in martial arts training; her frame was large but very well-proportioned.
Qin Luoxia only felt her husband’s hand rubbing against her neck, which was a bit ticklish, so she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Changtian said somewhat dejectedly, “It seems I haven’t bought you any jewelry to wear.”
“The family money is all managed by me. Do you still have secret savings to buy me jewelry? Confiscated.”
“Buying jewelry can be done on credit, I suppose. With the status of Commander Jiang, you can go and pay the bill later,” Jiang Changtian said, laughing as he spoke.
He held his wife, feeling the warmth of her body, filled with a sense of satisfaction.
Although the lingering feelings of sadness, dejection, and powerlessness remained in his body, he was truly alive at this moment.
Someone to manage him, someone to manage his money, manage his life, and bear his children—it was truly good.
The two of them were lovey-dovey for a while before getting up.
Qin Luoxia helped her husband dress.
Jiang Changtian also helped Xia Mei arrange her robes.
To show mutual respect like guests—this was probably it.
In terms of dressing and styling, Qin Luoxia actually had no talent; the clothes she chose for her husband were not outstanding, but Jiang Changtian’s looks were simply too striking—he looked good in everything.
However, Jiang Changtian had a great sense of aesthetics in this regard, as if it were innate.
He would help Xia Mei choose fabrics and clothes.
Other official families would let the cloth shop owner deliver goods to their door to choose from, but not him; he liked to take Xia Mei to choose in person.
Mianmian liked to go too.
Mianmian said this was called shopping.
Some said Commander Jiang liked to put on a show, yet the people in the back courtyards were actually very envious of Madam Jiang.
Their husbands wouldn’t even be willing to put on a show with them.
So, after eating, Jiang Changtian decided to take his wife out for a stroll.
It was just like when the two of them had gone to stay at an inn before.
Jiang Changtian knew how to live well.
After hearing Jiang Wan’s absurd dream, he only felt more strongly that he should live well with his family and cherish every moment.
Fighting and killing, climbing upwards, was all so that one could live happily and freely.
Therefore, one must be happy and free in daily life, rather than waiting until one had climbed to the top to be happy.
Because it was not a day off, the two of them disguised themselves slightly.
Jiang Changtian’s appearance was more low-key, and Qin Luoxia wore men’s robes, giving her the feeling of a wandering martial artist, while Jiang Changtian looked like the scholar friend of a martial artist.
The two of them first went to a restaurant to listen to storytelling.
They ordered a pot of tea, sat in the bustling main hall, and listened as the storyteller clapped his sandalwood block.
He vividly told the story of “The Legend of the Green Snake”… not the Legend of the White Snake, but the story of Old General Meng and General Meng Qingshe fighting the barbarians in the Northern Frontier.
“General Meng roared, ‘I am the reincarnation of the Azure Dragon; killing you is like cutting melons and vegetables with a knife, one slice per row…’ Why is it called the Green Snake if it’s clearly the Azure Dragon? You and I both know—right, that’s to avoid taboo. Then we saw General Meng, raising his blade into the fray, killing his way in and out seven times…”
Jiang Changtian’s cheek twitched slightly.
He never expected that bringing Xia Mei to listen to storytelling would result in hearing such mindless praise for his in-laws.
As for the reincarnation of the Azure Dragon, he knew that Meng Qingshe was named so because snakes had strong reproductive abilities and they wanted him to have more children; people spread rumors, never seeking the truth.
Seeing Xia Mei listening intently, Jiang Changtian felt a tiny bit jealous.
He wondered if he should also change to a more muscular look.
Jiang Changtian couldn’t bear to listen anymore, became a bit distracted, and looked around.
Then he saw a young master looking for someone everywhere.
He stood at the door, looking dejected, asking everyone if they had seen a dignified and beautiful woman. Everyone laughed, saying, “If you’re looking for a beautiful woman, go to the pleasure houses; this is for storytelling, there are only old men here.”
He still wouldn’t give up, pulling people aside one by one to ask.
When he pulled aside a handsome young master, Liu Tong was stunned for a moment, then bowed and asked if he had met a beautiful and dignified woman.
Chu Xi thought this person was ridiculous and looked a bit familiar.
However, being out and about, he still politely replied, “None. I am traveling, and I have not seen the woman you mentioned. If someone close to you has gone missing, perhaps you could report it to the authorities.”
Liu Tong shook his head, disappointed. Qingqing had left a note, so it was obvious she had left on her own. If he reported it to the authorities, he worried it would harm her reputation, but she was just a girl, and having suddenly left a note, he was truly worried.
Jiang Changtian watched the two of them talking.
He took Xia Mei’s hand and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to see a good show; it’s better than this storytelling.”
Qin Luoxia saw her husband’s mood lift and followed him up.
This story was truly mediocre; killing those few people required charging in and out seven times—what a useless waste of time.
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