161: Chapter 161 Li Shimin

"This..."

Jiang Xun was a bit hesitant; he still didn't want to have any contact with Li Shutang.

Although he hadn't done anything wrong to her in the game,

he truly lacked the mental energy and the desire to engage in nostalgic banter with a thousand-year-old monster.

In the game, Li Shutang was a cute little loli and fun to be around.

But now she had grown up, and after such a long period of refinement, her schemes and shrewdness were likely deeper than the ocean.

If she wanted to plot against him,

ten Jiang Xuns wouldn't be enough to survive her.

Li Shutang's fingers were still hooked onto Jiang Xun's sleeve.

She had a look of complete sincerity on her face.

She said, "Young Master, you must have business with my father. You helped me, so naturally, I must help you."

Jiang Xun tentatively tried to pull his arm back.

But instead of taking the hint and letting go, she moved a few steps closer to him.

He feared that if they continued to tangle for a while longer, the neighbors would see them and start spreading gossip.

Jiang Xun sighed inwardly and could only turn back to face Li Shutang.

"In that case, I shall trouble you then."

It was lucky it was Li Shutang; if it had been any of the others, he wouldn't have had much room for negotiation.

"Young Master, please come in." Li Shutang let go of his arm, smiling lightly as she stepped aside from the doorway.

"Mm."

Since he had made the decision, Jiang Xun no longer hesitated and stepped inside.

The courtyard was spacious, with many flowers and plants growing in the corners.

Entering the front hall, there were many grandmaster chairs lined up on both sides. Jiang Xun found a random spot and sat down.

He noticed that the entire house felt a bit too empty, as if many things were missing.

It seemed that County Magistrate Meng had left in a great hurry.

Li Shutang walked ahead, her pale yellow dress shimmering with fragments of light under the sun. With every swaying step, it was hard to look away.

"Please sit for a moment, Young Master. I will go brew some tea."

"Thank you, Miss."

Jiang Xun sat up straight, appearing very stiff.

He didn't know why Li Shutang was pretending to be an ordinary person, just like White Fox Jiu.

But one thing was certain.

She must have reached some kind of shady deal with that fox.

Otherwise, Jiang Xun wouldn't believe that Li Shutang couldn't sense White Fox Jiu's presence.

"Here." Li Shutang handed over a cup of tea.

Jiang Xun took it. "Thank you."

Li Shutang sat in the chair next to Jiang Xun.

She held her own cup with both hands, blew on it gently, and took a small sip.

"Young Master, you're looking for my father because of your wife, right?"

"Mm." Jiang Xun nodded. "This was all my fault to begin with."

Li Shutang set down her cup and looked at him.

"I've heard some things. Ximen Shu died in your shop, you were injured, and your wife was locked in the dungeon."

"Constable Wang said that your wife intended to have an affair with Ximen Shu, and he was killed after you discovered them..."

Jiang Xun's fingers trembled slightly.

He set down the teacup. "That's not it. Ximen Shu tried to rape my wife. My wife and I acted in self-defense and killed him by mistake."

"Then do you have any evidence?"

Jiang Xun fell silent. If it really came down to evidence, he would have to go in as well.

Seeing that he was unwilling to answer, Li Shutang changed the subject.

"Young Master, how did you and your wife meet?"

Jiang Xun was silent for a moment.

"I don't remember."

Li Shutang said with slight surprise:

"You don't remember?"

"I encountered mountain bandits on the road before. After being knocked unconscious, I suffered a serious illness," Jiang Xun said.

"After I woke up, I didn't remember anything from before."

Li Shutang still held the teacup with both hands.

"So... you have no memory at all of your past with your wife?"

"None."

"Then why do you still protect her so much? Just because she says she's your wife?" Li Shutang said jokingly, "If I said I was your wife, would you believe that too?"

Jiang Xun raised his head and looked into her eyes.

There was a hint of anger on his face.

"She saved my life," he said seriously.

"I was very ill. She brewed medicine for me, took care of me, and didn't despise me."

"At that time, I had lost all my memories and was like a useless person without a single penny to my name," Jiang Xun's tone became agitated. "I ask you, facing such a woman, how could I not believe her?"

Li Shutang placed the teacup she was holding with both hands on her lap.

She hadn't expected that old demoness to deceive Brother Dao Xun so deeply.

"Young Master, aren't you afraid your wife is lying to you?"

Jiang Xun looked at her.

"Lying to me about what?"

"For example, that she isn't your wife at all."

Jiang Xun's heart skipped a beat. He naturally knew, but no expression showed on his face.

Right now, he didn't know what kind of feelings Li Shutang held for him. If it was just reminiscing, that would be fine.

But if it was about repaying a debt of gratitude or something similar, it would be troublesome.

Therefore, the shield that was White Fox Jiu could not be removed.

"Miss Li, what do you mean by this?"

"It's nothing," Li Shutang smiled. "I just feel that the Young Master is too easy to trust people."

"For an amnesiac person to wake up and believe someone who tells them 'I am your wife' is a bit too rash."

Jiang Xun was silent for a moment.

"Even if she is lying to me," he said calmly, "she still saved my life. Without her, I would already be dead."

Li Shutang's fingers tightened around the teacup.

"Young Master is truly a person of great sentiment and righteousness."

"It's not about sentiment or righteousness," Jiang Xun said. "It's that I owe her."

Li Shutang wanted to say something more,

but footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

Jiang Xun turned his head toward the entrance.

A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties walked in. He was tall, wearing a dark cyan official's robe with a jade belt tied around his waist.

His face was elegant and upright, with a neatly trimmed, thick long beard. Each hair of his beard looked as if it had been measured with a ruler.

His gaze fell upon Jiang Xun.

"Is there a guest?"

Li Shutang stood up, walked to the middle-aged man's side, and took his arm.

"Father, this is Young Master Jiang Hu, the proprietor of the Shili Xiang Tavern."

"It was he who drove me back that day."

He felt sorry for Brother Song for two seconds.

Jiang Xun waved his hand and said, "That carriage belonged to my friend."

The middle-aged man nodded, his gaze sizing up Jiang Xun for a moment.

"I am Li Shimin," he cupped his hands. "The new Magistrate of Lean County."

Jiang Xun stood up and returned the gesture.

He said respectfully, "Jiang Hu pays his respects to the Lord Magistrate."

He was inwardly shocked.

Good heavens, Jiang Xun remembered that he had told Li Shutang many stories in the past, many of which included historical information.

But he hadn't expected Li Shutang to actually call Li Shimin over to be her father.

Moreover, it didn't seem like someone was just playing a role; his temperament was truly similar.

Jiang Xun remembered.

Because ethereal immortal fate was a text-box game,

when he told stories or described a person, he mostly just copied and pasted directly from a browser to tell her.

Li Shimin waved his hand and sat down in the main seat.

Li Shutang poured him a cup of tea and refilled Jiang Xun's cup.

"Young Master Jiang, for what matter have you come to see this official?"

Jiang Xun sat down and leaned forward slightly.

"Lord Magistrate, I have come regarding my wife's matter."

"Your wife? Bai Jiu?"

"Precisely."

Li Shimin picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Regarding this case, this official has already reviewed the files," he said heavily.

"Constable Wang's report is very clear. Bai Jiu wrote a letter inviting Ximen Shu to the shop late at night. The two were alone. After you discovered them, a dispute broke out with Ximen Shu, and Bai Jiu killed Ximen Shu to help you."

"Is there a problem with this?"

Jiang Xun said anxiously:

"It was Ximen Shu who tried to rape my wife. I walked in on it, and I was the one who accidentally killed him." He stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed.

"So if you're going to arrest someone, arrest me."

Li Shimin said calmly:

"When this official handles a case, I rely on evidence. The various pieces of evidence clearly written in the files all point to Bai Jiu having killed the man, and it has nothing to do with you."

"You must not treat the laws of our Great Tang as a joke just to save your wife."

Jiang Xun was momentarily speechless.

If Ximen Shu hadn't frozen in place like an idiot, he really wouldn't have been able to kill him.

Furthermore, he didn't really want to take the blame upon himself.

In the end, Jiang Xun could only say feebly, "I... only ask that the Lord Magistrate handle the trial fairly and not blindly believe the Ximen family's side of the story."

Li Shimin glanced at him.

"Are you suggesting that this official would accept bribes?"

"I wouldn't dare." Jiang Xun lowered his head. "It's just that the Ximen family is powerful, and I fear..."

"Fear what?"

Li Shimin set down his teacup and looked at him.

"Rest assured, when this official handles a case, I only recognize the law. Whether your wife is guilty or not will be decided after the investigation is complete."

"Before then, she will not suffer any grievances in the dungeon."

Jiang Xun raised his head and said gratefully:

"Thank you, Lord Magistrate."

Li Shimin took another sip of tea. "It is getting late. Young Master Jiang should head back early."

Jiang Xun stood up, preparing to take his leave.

"Young Master Jiang, wait a moment." Li Shutang suddenly spoke.

Jiang Xun stopped in his tracks.

"Does Miss Li have something else?"

Li Shutang walked up to him. "In two days, Lean County will hold the Youlong Lantern Festival. Will you go?"

"Youlong Lantern Festival?"

"Mm." Li Shutang explained, "You should know about the manifestation at the Empress Temple on Mount Tao, right? You were there at the time."

Jiang Xun nodded.

Li Shutang continued:

"Overnight, the entire mountain's peach blossoms bloomed. People from the surrounding counties have all come to see it, saying it is a blessing from the Empress."

"Our Lean County is where Mount Tao is located, so naturally, we must hold a lantern festival to celebrate."

"At that time, there will be ten miles of dragon lanterns, wandering from the county seat all the way to Mount Tao." Li Shutang's eyes sparkled. "Will the Young Master come?"