“Don’t you think these people are utterly lawless?” Hu Yue spoke up, wishing she could spit her disdain all the way to the corrupt officials in Luoshui City three thousand miles away.
Jiang Lan said nothing, still sitting quietly at the wooden table, her expression steady as she looked at the scroll in her hand.
Hu Yue was in the middle of her passionate tirade but received no response from the other party. Unable to help herself, she furrowed her brows and poked Jiang Lan.
“Hmm.” Jiang Lan uttered, clearly adopting an indifferent attitude that thoroughly annoyed Hu Yue.
“What do you mean ‘hmm’? Look at those disaster victims—they’re about to flood into Azure Capital City.” Hu Yue spoke again, plopping herself down right in front of Jiang Lan.
This time, Hu Yue’s movements were a bit more forceful, causing Jiang Lan’s gaze to shift from the scroll in her hand to Hu Yue’s face.
“Don’t worry, it won’t get out of hand.” Jiang Lan said, closing the scroll in her hand and placing it neatly on the wooden table.
Hearing this, Hu Yue was taken aback, a complex look flashing in her eyes.
“Is that so?” Hu Yue asked, her voice somewhat low.
Jiang Lan didn’t speak, merely raising an eyebrow slightly as she looked at her.
In the quiet atmosphere, Hu Yue vaguely felt as if she had been seen through.
“I’m heading back first.” Jiang Lan said, then pushed herself up from the wooden table and stood.
Hu Yue remained silent, watching Jiang Lan’s retreating figure with a slight frown.
In the Left Prime Minister’s residence, Qin Jianfu’s expression was extremely grim. Her peach blossom eyes, which bore a striking resemblance to Qin Yuehan’s, were now filled with a chilling coldness.
“These beasts, how could they handle things like this?” Qin Jianfu said angrily, slamming her hand on the table.
The servants standing nearby attending to her were all startled.
“What’s wrong? Why are you so angry?” Qin Linshi cautiously approached Qin Jianfu, her eyes filled with concern.
Hearing this, Qin Jianfu was momentarily stunned. She looked up at Lin Minyu and, seeing how thinly dressed he was, couldn’t help but frown.
“Why did you come out wearing so little?” Qin Jianfu said, reaching out to grasp Lin Minyu’s wrist.
Lin Minyu didn’t speak, allowing her to hold his hand and warm it.
“I heard from the servants that you returned to the residence in a rage. I was worried about you, so I came to the study to check on you.” Lin Minyu said, then his throat tightened, and he couldn’t help but cough a few times.
Seeing him in such discomfort, Qin Jianfu’s initial annoyance vanished, replaced only by concern for him.
“Still feeling unwell?” Qin Jianfu reached out to pat Lin Minyu’s back, waiting until he had calmed down before asking.
Hearing this, Lin Minyu shook his head. He reached out to touch Qin Jianfu’s cheek, his voice extremely gentle as he said, “What happened? You were so angry.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Jianfu reached out to hold Lin Minyu’s hand, pulling him to her side.
“The Luoshui River flood—the disaster victims are already about to flood into Azure Capital City.” Qin Jianfu said, a hint of ferocity between her brows.
Hearing this, Lin Minyu was taken aback and said with some concern, “Then who will His Majesty send to manage it?”
Qin Jianfu didn’t speak, because she wanted to go herself.
In contrast to the heavy atmosphere in the Left Prime Minister’s residence, when Jiang Lan returned to Jiang Manor, she was still composed and at ease.
But Qin Yuehan was acting out of character.
“Where is the Lord?” Jiang Lan looked at the empty seat opposite her at the dining table and asked Qin Zhong with a frown.
“The Lord is in the study,” Qin Zhong spoke, his slightly bowed posture appearing quite respectful.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lan rose and walked toward the study.
Qin Yuehan at this moment was utterly exhausted; the account books on the desk loomed like a dark mountain, pressing down on his chest and making it hard to breathe.
Jiang Lan saw the dim light seeping from the tightly closed study and gently knocked on the door a few times.
Tap, tap, tap.
The rhythmic knocking interrupted Qin Yuehan’s thoughts.
He lifted his head toward the closed door, then quickly stood and hurried to the entrance.
“Wife,” Qin Yuehan called out, his gaze meeting Jiang Lan’s intense stare, his eyelashes trembling slightly.
“Why haven’t you gone to eat?” Jiang Lan asked, her tone rather stern.
At her words, Qin Yuehan stiffened, a faint sense of regret stirring within him.
He had been so overwhelmed with work that he had instructed Qin Zhong earlier not to disturb him.
“Has Wife eaten yet?” Qin Yuehan inquired, his handsome face still wearing a cool, detached expression that made his thoughts unreadable.
But Jiang Lan didn’t feel distanced by his demeanor. She reached out and took his hand, asking gently, “No matter how busy you are, you mustn’t forget to eat.”
Qin Yuehan remained silent, allowing Jiang Lan to lead him toward the dining area.
In the dim light, the warmth of her touch left a deeper impression than what his eyes could perceive.
Qin Yuehan recalled the scenes he had witnessed earlier in the herbal shop.
Surprisingly, his heart felt unexpectedly soothed.
[Congratulations, host, for triggering the soft spot in the male lead Qin Yuehan’s heart. Darkening Level reduced by 4. Current Darkening Level is 15%.] System 009’s voice suddenly chimed in, carrying a hint of sweetness.
Hearing this, Jiang Lan slowed her pace slightly, her gaze lingering on Qin Yuehan’s aloof face.
This man was always so contradictory.