When I awoke, my whole body ached, suffering from an excessive processing syndrome of resentment, shame, and anger. An Jin hadn’t gone to the morning court, smiling and propping his head to look at me.
I glared at him fiercely and turned over to face away, deciding to express my indignation at being unilaterally processed through silence.
“A Yao is so heartless, draining me and then turning away?”
He gripped my fingers so tightly that they hurt, but I only felt a sourness in my heart. “That’s right, you are selfish,” I turned over, pinching his face, which had become stiff from trying to suppress his sorrow, and said with a smile: “But fortunately, my family has abundant good fortune. My great-grandparents had six children and lived to be eighty; my grandparents had four children and are still doing well; my parents—as you’ve seen—had three of us children, and they’re in good health. I’m sure I’ll be fine too, so I’ll share some of my good fortune with you. On average, we should be able to live together until we’re sixty-five and have two children. How’s that?” He was stunned for a moment and then gradually began to laugh. “Okay, I’ll go along with your arrangement.”
Chapter Twenty-Two: A Scandalous Impersonation
After cuddling for a while, they finally got up reluctantly.
An Jin claimed illness and did not go to the early morning court session. He originally didn’t need to go to the Personnel Department office, but suddenly someone from the Personnel Department came saying there was an urgent matter that required An Jin to come.
“I cannot be certain if it was done by An,” Duan Chang sighed. “This is why I came to find him.” I understood that this matter was of great significance, and if not for our past friendship, he would never have mentioned it to me. But I was equally puzzled about whether this was done by An Jin, and if so, for what purpose?
Duan Chang had deduced through some clues that this matter was related to Su Xi, and the official had almost admitted it, yet left no statement and had no other witnesses. Now that the official flatly denied everything, with the truth about to be buried, he was naturally anxious and had come knocking. Duan Chang was not a rash person. Since he had come, he must be at least 70-80% certain that An Jin was involved. I knew well that given An Jin’s cautious nature, if this was truly his doing, Duan Chang would never find any clues. However, he would not rest until he saw An Jin.
I could only ask him to wait a moment while I went to wake An Jin from the bedroom. Duan Chang suddenly called me back, saying softly, “Please do not worry, madam. I will find a way to investigate this thoroughly before reporting, and will not wrongly accuse an innocent person.”
