Chapter 120: All Wisdom Lost

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pulled the reins, his eyes filled with confusion: "Miss Zhang, is something wrong?"

He did not understand why this woman, usually cold as ice toward him, had suddenly approached him.

Had he offended her somewhere?

But after thinking carefully, he felt he had done nothing excessive.

As for the title of "corrupt official," he was long used to it; anyway, she was not the first to call him that.

Zhang Zhang Jiani bit her lower lip, looking somewhat embarrassed: "Um... you saved Liu Liu Yifei; I should properly thank you."

As she spoke these words, a blush rose on her face, stirring something in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart.

He did not expect that this woman, usually so arrogant and domineering, could have such a shy side.

He could not help but want to look at her a few more times, only to find she had already lowered her head.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart tightened; could she be hinting at something?

He quickly adjusted his emotions, trying to keep his tone calm: "Miss Zhang, if you have something to say, just speak directly."

"Your sudden behavior has made this official truly uncomfortable."

He said this tentatively.

Hearing his words, Zhang Zhang Jiani felt anger rise; she lifted her head and glared at him: "Do you think I wanted to find you?"

"If it were not for you, for Liu Liu Yifei's sake, recklessly mobilizing the army without authorization, this Miss would not have bothered to pay you any attention, you ungrateful wretch."

She said this in a huff.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately understood; she had come to cause him trouble.

His heart sank, yet he also felt somewhat helpless.

He had only wanted to save his close friend Liu Liu Yifei; where could he have imagined it would involve so many things?

He also knew his actions were somewhat risky, but if it were Zhang Zhang Jiani, what would she have done?

He could not help asking: "Miss Zhang, if it were you, what would you do?"

Zhang Zhang Jiani, asked this by him, also hesitated.

She actually admired women like Liu Liu Yifei very much; although they had not exchanged much, they were considered friends.

If it were her, she might have made the same choice.

But she was unwilling to admit she had wrongly accused Jiang Jiang Mingyu; after all, she still had many grievances against this corrupt official.

She thought for a moment, then snorted coldly: "Of course I would save Liu Liu Yifei."

"But I would not mobilize troops and dispatch soldiers recklessly as you did."

"Do you know how much trouble your actions will bring to the City Defense Camp?"

"What if the enemy discovers the true situation of Shangmu?"

"What if your superiors discover you mobilized the army without authorization?"

"What if..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's head spun from listening; he quickly interrupted her: "Enough, enough, Miss Zhang, stop talking."

"I know I did wrong; please do not scold me further."

"Since you came to find me, it certainly was not to argue with me, was it?"

"What exactly do you want?"

He asked, somewhat impatiently.

Seeing him like this, Zhang Zhang Jiani felt even more angry.

She had originally come to speak with him properly, but she did not expect him to be so tactless.

She sneered: "You truly are an ungrateful fellow."

"This Miss originally intended to lead troops in the City Defense Camp for you; I did not expect you to be so unappreciative."

She deliberately revealed news that surprised Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes widened instantly: "Really?"

He never dreamed that Zhang Zhang Jiani, who had previously refused to budge even under death, would simply nod like this.

This was truly too unexpected.

He could not help but suspect he had misheard.

And for some reason, Tu Tu Kesiluo's effeminate face also showed an extremely excited expression.

He seemed to have already seen the scene of his plan succeeding.

Zhang Zhang Jiani then switched back to her tsundere manner: "If you don't need it, then fine; this Miss does not care for it anyway."

"If it were not for you, for Liu Liu Yifei's sake, recklessly mobilizing the army without authorization, this Miss would not have bothered to pay you any attention, you ungrateful wretch."

Having said this, she turned her horse's head and prepared to leave.

How could it end like this? Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly, in a panic, blocked her: "Miss Zhang, wait."

"Happiness came too suddenly; this official simply did not dare to believe it; there is no other meaning."

"With Miss Zhang's help, the City Defense Camp will absolutely be like a tiger gaining wings, as easy as turning over one's hand, in the palm of..."

Seeing the tone of his words was slightly off, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had been shaking his head and swaying, quickly shut his mouth in time.

On the opposite side, Zhang Zhang Jiani, extremely impatient, rolled her eyes again: "Corrupt official, where do you get all this nonsense?"

"Tell me, when this Miss arrives at the City Defense Camp, what do you plan to have me do?"

Speaking of serious matters, Jiang Jiang Mingyu became serious: "Just now, this official saw that Miss's Shangshan Jian Fa is superb, almost piercing the willow at a hundred paces."

"At present, the City Defense Camp's archers are lacking a leader; I wonder if Miss would condescend?"

He asked cautiously.

The tsundere Zhang Zhang Jiani said, quite carelessly: "Anything is fine; anyway, it is to repay you for saving Liu Liu Yifei."

"Tomorrow morning, this Miss will report to the City Defense Camp; have your soldiers make preparations."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not be happier: "Excellent. I will notify them shortly."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at Zhang Zhang Jiani with slight hesitation and spoke softly: "By the way, Miss Zhang, I have already called Miss Liu Liu Yifei by her given name, so... could I also call you Zhang Jiani?" His voice carried a hint of awkwardness, as if he were overstepping.

Zhang Zhang Jiani raised her hand, lightly tapped the sword hilt on the saddle, and said with a smile: "If you do not wish to live, call me whatever you like."

Although her words were a threat, her tone and expression appeared very casual, with not a trace of anger.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt as though his neck had been pinched; he coughed awkwardly: "Better to call you Miss Zhang, it shows more respect. Yes, exactly, respect."

"Respect between people is very important, isn't it, Miss Zhang?" He smiled awkwardly, as if trying to cover his recent loss of composure.

Zhang Zhang Jiani shook her head lightly and said with a touch of amusement: "Respect is certainly important, but with you saying that, I feel a bit embarrassed."

A hint of ease permeated her tone, as if she did not take this farce seriously.

After Zhang Zhang Jiani left with Liu Liu Yifei, Tu Tu Kesiluo slapped his thigh, excited like a foolish dog that had found a meat bone: "Excellent, excellent!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was startled by him, thinking, What is this fellow shouting about? He seems determined to let the whole world know he is as happy as a madman.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned and said: "Hey! Why are you howling suddenly, like a cat whose tail has been stepped on? My ears are about to go deaf."

Tu Tu Kesiluo grinned sheepishly and scratched his head: "Your subordinate is just happy for my lord."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sized him up from head to toe, looking as if he could not be fooled: "Oh, speak up. Do you have your eyes on that Miss Zhang? Confess honestly!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo's face turned as red as a boiled lobster, mumbling "um, ah" incoherently.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily: "Alright, alright, I guessed wrong, didn't I? Your face is red as dried seaweed! I was originally going to ask Miss Liu Yifei to speak a good word for you, but now it seems I worried for nothing, ha ha!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo spoke in a panic: "My lord misunderstands, misunderstands! How would your subordinate dare to harbor thoughts about that Miss? Please do not let them misunderstand!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted: "Very well. Since you are not interested, I will not worry blindly. But speaking of which, Miss Zhang is quite pretty; being fierce like you fits her well, fierce yet beautiful!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo stammered: "Um... my lord, actually, your subordinate quite likes Miss Zhang."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spread his hands: "If you like her, then pursue her. A brother won't steal your woman. But tell me, why do you like her? She draws her sword at the slightest provocation; I think you two fighting every day would never get boring!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes sparkled: "My lord, you do not know. That day Miss Zhang kicked me; that sensation of suffocation was too wonderful! I was completely intoxicated by it; she must be my wife!"

He continued, his face full of excitement: "Later, when she pressed her sword against my throat, I was so happy I felt I would fly to the sky! When she called me 'lecher', I felt not anger, but warmth and intimacy, like the first ray of sunlight in spring."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu rolled his eyes: "Damn, did she kick you right into your heart? You fellow must be a pervert! And the first ray of sunlight in spring? That's enough. If you are together with her, you probably will never see next spring."

He warned: "With your small frame, before you even win Miss Zhang Zhang Jiani, you will likely be chopped into pieces by her first." He was both concerned and worried about Tu Tu Kesiluo's happiness.

Tu Tu Kesiluo grabbed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's hand and would not let go, chattering: "My lord, can you understand my feelings?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shuddered, thinking, What is going on? Only then did he realize someone had firmly grasped his wrist; he immediately shouted: "Hey! Take your paws off! Who chases whom is your business; do not cling to me!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo adopted a posture of stubbornly saving face: "If my lord does not speak a good word for me to Miss Liu, I will hold your hand tightly and never let go!"

Two grown men squirming on the street drew glances from passersby: "What are you looking at? What are these two lords doing?"

"I heard Lord Tu has had his eyes on Lord Jiang for quite some time; now it seems it is true!"

"This is a great joy for Shangmu, but why does it feel so awkward?"

"What is awkward about it? Besides not being able to bear children, in what way is Lord Tu inferior to a woman?"

Hearing the three words "bear children," Jiang Jiang Mingyu's old face turned red with embarrassment; he was so ashamed he wished to crawl into a crack in the ground. He anxiously shouted at Tu Tu Kesiluo: "Alright, alright, big brother, I will go do it right now! Take your hand off quickly; this will ruin my lifelong reputation!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo still would not let go: "Promise first that you will speak a good word for me!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly begged for mercy: "I promise, I promise! I promise to fulfill all your requests; let go of my hand quickly!"

Back at the prefectural yamen, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ground his teeth, thinking, I am not done with you, you masochist.

At that moment, the guard reported that Che Ting had been escorted here. Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a long breath, quickly drained the cold tea, and said: "Take me to see him quickly, to avoid this annoyance!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought to himself, At last I can temporarily cast this awkward matter aside.