Chapter 28: A Conversation in the Study

Meanwhile, inside the county magistrate’s office, Lin Changhe and Wang Mingyuan sat across from each other in the study. Resting on the desk between them was a bar of soap.

Wang Mingyuan toyed with the compact object. "I have already tested this. It is far superior to the soap locust pods we typically use. I wonder how that young man managed to invent such a thing?"

Lin Changhe chuckled. "I’ve had some people buy a few to try; it’s incredibly convenient for bathing. I should thank the lad, though it is a pity that someone with such a sharp mind isn't pursuing his studies."

"At his age, it is perhaps a bit late to start formal schooling. Besides, once one truly enters the scholarly path, how much of these classics of the sages is actually practical, and how much is entirely useless?"

"For you to say that, Magistrate Wang, is truly an insult to scholars. If the books of the sages were truly useless, why would everyone under heaven feel compelled to read them?"

Wang Mingyuan paused for a moment before replying, "I have pondered this question myself, but I have yet to find an answer. If one day I do, I will certainly tell you."

Lin Changhe laughed heartily. "You, my friend, have always thought too much since we were young. You overthink everything and always end up trapping yourself. As for this Ning Ye, what is your true assessment of him?"

"We are in this godforsaken backwater, so we might as well find some amusement in the idle time. Surely no one would dare to meddle here, would they?"

"That is unlikely. Those bastards probably don't have the spare energy. The state of the world is growing increasingly chaotic, and we two exiles sent to guard the frontier are likely not worth their concern."

A flicker of melancholy crossed Wang Mingyuan’s eyes. The more he understood, the more he felt that this world was no place for a human to live. Reading the classics of the sages could not save the world from its plight; everything felt utterly exhausting.

"As for Ning Ye, provide him with some help if you can. As for other matters, do not interfere too much. How far he can go will depend on himself; no one else can decide that for him."

Lin Changhe nodded. "I know how to handle it. What about the person sent from the Chen family? Should we deal with him or ignore him? Shall we just let him wander around Qingyuan County like that?"

"What does the Chen family have to do with me? Whatever they are doing, it has nothing to do with me. Since he hasn't approached us directly, we shall do nothing. I want to see what kind of medicine the Chen family is selling."

"There is one final matter. The barbarians near Tianshui Mountain are stirring again. I suspect they will strike before long."

Wang Mingyuan said, feeling a headache coming on, "I truly have no peace. Who is the current garrison commander at the border?"

"Li Ruochen. He is holding the line. Honestly, I am more at ease with him there, so there shouldn't be any major issues. It is just that he only has five thousand men under his command."

Wang Mingyuan’s eyes dimmed with sorrow. A mere five thousand men for a vital fortress of the Great Qin Dynasty—the number was pitifully small.

"It seems that when the time comes, you may have to provide support. Do what must be done; help where you can. After all, we are all colleagues."

While Magistrate Wang was fretting, Ning Ye had already finished dinner and was holding his wife in his arms.

Ning Ye felt that Lin Qinshu was truly irresistible today. Ever since dinner, she had dragged him into the bedroom, remained silent, and firmly pushed him onto the bed.

A faint, lingering fragrance filled Ning Ye’s nostrils as Lin Qinshu lay quietly against his chest, doing nothing at all. In such a situation, doing nothing was actually more agonizing. If he were to act, it would make a mockery of his previous words; if he didn't, it was nothing short of torture.

Truth be told, Lin Qinshu was just as nervous, unable to utter a word. Otherwise, she would have proceeded to the next step as Xiaoqing had advised. But the thought of shedding her clothes and becoming intimate left her paralyzed with hesitation.

Ning Ye placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "My dear, what exactly are you planning?"

"Husband, you promised that once we moved into the new house, we would share a bed. Yet here you are, still avoiding me."

Lin Qinshu suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed intently on Ning Ye. "Husband, I don’t want you to say anything else today. I only want to become your true wife."

Principles? Promises made in the past? Forget it. Before such a delicate and warm beauty, everything else had to step aside.

*As if a spring breeze had arrived overnight, ten thousand pear trees burst into bloom.*

Yet, Ning Ye only thought that no matter what kind of flower it was, none could compare to the beauty of his own wife.

Early the next morning, Ning Ye snuck out of the room and went to the kitchen to personally prepare some chicken soup to replenish her vitality. Lin Qinshu was still lying in bed, unable to rise, let alone go to the shop.

Ning Ye brought the hot soup to her, feeding her one spoonful at a time. "This is my own recipe. I hope it suits your taste."

Lin Qinshu leaned against the bed frame. "Anything you make, I like. But what about the shop today?"

"Don't worry, I can handle it. Besides, Xiaoqing is there. Now that we’ve opened, you don’t need to go every single day. Just checking in occasionally is enough."

Lin Qinshu said nothing more, sipping the soup until the bowl was empty. Only then did Ning Ye leave for the soap shop. He walked with a spring in his step; he had to admit that some things couldn't be truly understood until one had experienced them.

When he arrived, the shop was already open. The guards had admitted the staff, and business was officially underway. Ning Ye didn't strictly need to be there, but he wanted to see if that person from yesterday would return. To pass the time, he chatted with Xiaoqing.

"Xiaoqing, don't let my wife come here for the next few days. You’ll have to shoulder the work here on your own."

Xiaoqing replied with a knowing look, "Don't worry, Young Master. There isn't too much to do here. I can handle it alone; I guarantee everything will be fine."

"Xiaoqing, how have you been feeling lately?"

Ning Ye’s sudden question caught her off guard, and she looked at him, not quite sure what he meant.