Chapter 75 Misty Rain in Jiangnan, Soul Resonance

Chapter 75 Misty Rain in Jiangnan, Soul Resonance

The rain in Jiangnan has finally stopped.

After a swift and decisive crackdown over two weeks, the officialdom of Lin'an Prefecture was purged, corrupt officials were brought down, grain was stored in granaries, and the plague subsided. This ancient city, weathered by time, finally regained its vitality under the warm early winter sun.

People began to rebuild their homes, and smoke from cooking fires and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares returned to the streets and alleys.

The people who made all this possible—Regent Shen Jin and Princess Jiang Mianmian—were sitting on a painted boat on West Lake, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.

The lake surface shimmered, and in the distance, a broken bridge lay covered in snow.

Jiang Mianmian leaned back on the soft cushion, peeling a hairy crab in her hand, her expression languid, yet exuding an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

That's wonderful.

She looked at the children playing on the shore and sighed inwardly.

When I first came here, I just wanted to be a lazy bum, living off my meager savings.

But now... seeing these people able to eat their fill and smile, this sense of accomplishment... seems even a little better than eating braised pork?

Shen Jin sat opposite her, brewing tea. Hearing her thoughts, his hand holding the teapot paused slightly, and he looked up at her.

The little woman who used to only know how to call him a "dog of a man" and whose mind was filled with thoughts of "running away" and "male concubines" has now... really changed.

Or rather, she has never changed.

She was still greedy, still loved to eat, and still hated trouble. But beneath these appearances, she had a heart more tender and more resolute than anyone else's.

She would exhaust her supernatural powers to save him; she would clean up filth and mess for the sake of the people; she would stand in court and confront corrupt officials even when she was afraid, all for the sake of justice.

"princess."

Shen Jin handed her a cup of freshly brewed Longjing tea, his voice gentle and warm, "What are you thinking about?"

Jiang Mianmian took the tea, took a sip, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction:

"I'm wondering... have I been assimilated by you?"

"assimilation?"

"yes."

Jiang Mianmian put down her teacup, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at him. "I used to think that national affairs were none of my business, and that if the sky fell, there would be tall people to hold it up. But now... seeing you so busy every day, I can't help but want to help you share some of the burden."

"Chen Jin, do you think I... got the short end of the stick?"

[They came here to enjoy life, but ended up as laborers. Not only do they have to manage the household, but also the plague, and now they have to deal with corrupt officials. This workload deserves more pay!]

He chuckled silently.

Pay more.

She will never forget this.

He put down the teapot, got up and walked to her side, sat down, and then reached out to pull her into his arms, letting her lean on his shoulder.

"It's worth it."

Shen Jin said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the distant lake and mountains, "Because I... have made a huge profit."

"Huh?" Jiang Mianmian asked, puzzled.

“In the past, I thought the world was full of hypocrisy and people’s hearts were full of scheming. The position of regent is lonely and...tiring to sit in.”

His deep, reserved voice carried a rare hint of emotion. It was a sentiment he had never confided to anyone else, yet now it was laid bare before her.

"Until I met you."

"Your inner thoughts are noisy, vulgar, and sometimes infuriating."

Jiang Mianmian: […Hey! Do you even know how to compliment someone?]

Shen Jin chuckled softly and tightened his grip on her hand:

“But that was the most authentic voice I have ever heard.”

"You made me realize that there is such a way of life in this world—to be happy for half a day just to eat a chicken leg, to stand up for things you can't stand, and to still choose to stand by my side even in the most dangerous times."

"Mianmian".

He turned his head and kissed her temple. "You are my medicine, and also my... indispensable soul."

Jiang Mianmian's heart skipped a beat.

Soulmate?

Is this evaluation... a bit too high?

She shrank back a little shyly, her cheeks burning.

Actually, I'm not that great... I just... I just don't want you to be bullied because you're handsome.

【and……】

She silently added in her mind:

[And I've gotten used to having you around. I've gotten used to your domineering nature, your protectiveness, and that occasional vulnerability you show... that makes my heart ache.]

[Shen Jin, I think... I've really fallen for you.]

This last thought, though unspoken, was like a reassuring pill, settling into the calm lake of his heart and stirring up ripples.

We've failed.

He was the same.

The two nestled together at the bow of the painted boat, watching the sunset slowly sink into the lake, dyeing the entire Jiangnan region a golden red.

At this moment, there is no scheming, no killing, only two hearts tightly intertwined.

They are no longer a couple testing each other, nor are they allies bound by shared interests.

They are each other's back, each other's weakness, and each other's strongest armor.

"Your Highness."

Jiang Mianmian suddenly spoke up, "Now that things are settled in Jiangnan, shouldn't we... go back?"

His usually composed gaze sharpened slightly.

go back.

Return to the capital.

There was a scheming empress dowager, a young emperor who hadn't yet grown up, and... those "remnants of the previous dynasty" hiding in the shadows, ready to make their move.

Lin Wan'er's letter, the armory of the abandoned mine, and Xiao Yi who escaped...

All of this foreshadows an even bigger storm that is about to erupt in the capital.

"Um."

Shen Jin tightened his arms, holding her even closer. "It's time to go back."

"This time when I go back, I'm afraid... it won't be peaceful."

Jiang Mianmian snuggled against him, finding a comfortable position.

So what if things aren't peaceful?

Anyway, I'm rich, famous, and I have you as my ultimate weapon.

Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be slain, whether god or Buddha!

"At worst... I'll just hand you another hammer?"

Upon hearing this, the gloom in Shen Jin's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a indulgent and confident smile.

"good."

"You hand me the hammer, and I'll smash it."

"When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can break even metal."

The painted boat slowly approached the shore.

The moonlight over Jiangnan that night was exceptionally gentle.

It witnessed the resonance of souls between a perfect couple, and also witnessed the true beginning of a legend.