Chapter 205: The Amazing Angle

Chen Wuji rarely woke up late.

When he opened his eyes in the morning, outside light and shadow had already fallen on his quilt.

"I suspect my husband has someone outside." Shen Youwei's voice rang out in the courtyard.

Chen Wuji jerked upright with a start.

Did he talk in his sleep last night?

"Stop guessing nonsense, don't talk randomly, Wuji is just tired; there's been a lot going on lately." Huo Sanniang said softly.

Hearing Huo Sanniang's defensive words, Chen Wuji suddenly felt uneasy.

As for his affair with Qin Zhanhong, there's no reason to hide it from anyone, especially not from Huo Sanniang.

"Sister, you're just being partial." Shen Youwei let out a dissatisfied hum.

"Although things have indeed been busy lately, we together should, by rights, be quite… stimulating. This is something my husband has always tried to bring about."

"So, my husband still lacked strength last night. My grandmother once said, when a man has this condition, it's definitely because he's overindulged outside."

"I don't feel it either. Hongdou, do you feel it?" Huo Sanniang asked.

Xue Hongdou didn't speak; she probably either shook her head or nodded.

"It's true, my husband is clearly not as… strong as before." Shen Youwei whispered.

In such matters she's usually uninhibited, but hearing this tone still made her shy.

Huo Sanniang said, "Actually, even if he had someone else… it would be normal."

Shen Youwei fell silent for a while, then let out a lament: "Ah, damn it, how did I forget that… but sister, aren't you curious who the person my husband is seeing outside is?"

"Stop saying that, you shameless little hoof—such things can just be blurted out!" Huo Sanniang snapped, saying, "My face is burning, I don't know what to do—just stop."

Shen Youwei chuckled twice, "Among family, talking about this is perfectly normal, sis."

"I have things to do." Huo Sanniang said irritably.

Chen Wuji sat on the kang, hesitated a moment, then decided to speak frankly.

Since Huo Sanniang and the others already suspected, even though this era permits such things, he didn't want to plant a thorn in the hearts of these gentle women.

Especially Huo Sanniang.

Getting off the kang, Chen Wuji pushed open the door, with no padding, and said directly: "Youwei guessed right, but this matter is complicated to explain—not that I intended to conceal it, but the other party's identity is special; they are a trusted aide of the Emperor."

Huo Sanniang and the two others were dividing meat in the courtyard; hearing Chen Wuji's words, they all lifted their heads in unison, looking a bit dazed.

"Wuji, you, you just said… what identity does that woman have?" Huo Sanniang asked in disbelief.

"You saw her the day before yesterday." Chen Wuji said, "She's an official of the Imperial City Department; the reason we're involved is more complicated. We fought, she didn't cause me trouble, and then we became what we are now."

Shen Youwei exclaimed, "My husband, you're fierce—you actually dared to hit an Imperial City Department official?"

Her father had once been a capital official, so she naturally knew the Imperial City Department.

Precisely because she was familiar, Shen Youwei understood just how shocking Chen Wuji's words were.

That's the Imperial City Department—a thorn in the side of the upright officials.

Chen Wuji gave a helpless laugh; not only did he hit her, he even seized her body.

But he dare not say the truth, for saying it would affect his image in those three women's hearts.

"This matter has developed in a convoluted way; all I can say is I might really have been favored by luck." Chen Wuji said, "Originally, because of her identity, I wasn't keen to talk about it, but since you all suspect, I have to speak—you deserve to know the truth."

Shen Youwei narrowed her eyes, eyeing Chen Wuji suspiciously, then asked, "Husband, you couldn't have been the one forced, could you?"

"How could that be!" Chen Wuji shouted immediately.

Shen Youwei's gaze instantly resembled a mouse that had stolen lamp oil, "Husband, you don't need to shout like that; we know you definitely wouldn't. Hehe… is being forced fun?"

Chen Wuji's face turned completely black, "Someday I'll have her come to the house to explain it to you personally; in short, I am absolutely not the one who was forced."

Although…

Qin Zhanhong's addiction is relatively strong; at first it was indeed her…

Please.

It's that woman who has leverage over him to exert power.

Of course, considering what he does in the mountains, her doing this can already be seen as very generous and gentle.

So the fault still lies with him—Chen Wuji cannot deny that.

In this matter, he can only say he feels fortunate.

"Wow, husband, you were really drained by her yesterday, so you're lacking strength before us?" Shen Youwei asked, her bright eyes flashing with a mischievous gleam, laughing.

Chen Wuji suddenly didn't want to speak.

Women being too clever isn't a good thing either.

He muttered, "Yesterday it was our new county magistrate who plied me with drink—I had at least five jars of liquor, and that had nothing to do with it. Speaking of which, there's a piece of good news I must tell you: your husband I have become an official. Now I am the Provincial Troops Brigade Commander, commanding a hundred military households."

Change the subject, must change the subject.

"Wuji, is it really true?" Huo Sanniang asked delightedly.

Hearing that Chen Wuji had become an official, she felt genuine joy.

After all the earlier hardship and perseverance, they have finally awaited a blissful union.

Chen Wuji nodded heavily, "The court also granted a thousand taels of silver; our family is finally getting back on its feet. From now on, don't stint on the money for you—spend as you like, and pile in as many clothes you love as you want."

Shen Youwei nodded thoughtfully, "My husband really is impressive—he drank five jars with the county magistrate and even fought that woman at least once, no wonder he's lacking strength."

"Recently my husband has been busy in the city, probably helping that woman; this favor must be crucial, so she spoke a few good words for him before His Majesty the Emperor, which earned him the reward. So yesterday my husband went to fetch his reward from that woman, and incidentally got at least a meal, right?"

Chen Wuji: …

You can't get past this, can you?

You guessed it right—don't guess again next time!

Still repeatedly emphasizing at least once.

This little girl looks like she'll need special attention from now on; at the very least, we can't let her be sour all day over this.

Don't guess wildly—these matters are fairly confidential; if we speak of them, our lives will be at stake. Chen Wuji said in a low voice.

As for today's talk, you just need to listen; not a single word can be spoken outside, including how I came to be this minor official.

Shen Youwei raised her chin, speaking with a touch of pride: "I'm not that stupid. Older sister and Red Bean don't even like to talk when they're out, let alone spill anything. So rest easy, husband—how many times did you guys come yesterday?"

"Why are you so obsessed with this matter?" Chen Wuji was somewhat exasperated.

They seem not to be angry, but their way of thinking is a bit too tricky.

Shen Youwei said, puffing her cheeks: "I want to know your true strength, husband, so that if you ever get involved with someone else out there, I can figure it out—hehe."

Chen Wuji: ……

What a strange perspective.