Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

"My husband has worked so hard, I feel sorry for you."

Wang Yuanji tugged at the quilt, covering her graceful figure, leaving only her shoulders and arms exposed. She gently stroked Xiahou Xuan's angular face and whispered, "That's true. The prefect is under the governor's jurisdiction, so how can he compete with the governor for power? It's not easy to be bullied like this."

Xiahou Xuan sighed again: "That's how it is!"

Wang Yuanji glanced at Xiahou Xuan's expression and asked again, "My husband is facing such difficulties in Danyang. Is His Majesty aware of this?"

Xiahou Xuan shook his head slightly: "I, Xiahou Xuan, have always been proud of my talent. Your Majesty trusts me so much, how could I trouble Your Majesty with such a trivial matter and disappoint you?"

Wang Yuanji asked again, "Has my husband offended Lord Jiang in any way?"

Xiahou Xuan pursed his lips and slowly said, "Why would I want to offend my superior? I hardly ever even see Lord Jiang!"

"However, there is one thing to mention. My uncle, the Prince of Hejian, sent me a letter from Wuhan a few months ago, saying that Lord Jiang had recommended Wu Yuanxia to be the Prefect of Danyang and Sima Ziyuan to be the Magistrate of Jiangning, but His Majesty appointed me and Zhong Zhishu instead... Lord Jiang wouldn't be displeased with me over something like this, Wu Gai, Sima Shi, and I have been friends for many years!"

“My husband is in the thick of it, so it’s understandable that he wouldn’t be able to tell.” Wang Yuanji patted Xiahou Xuan’s chest as if in reproach. “My husband is a gentleman, but Lord Jiang may not be. Since my husband hasn’t seen Lord Jiang much, then this can only be the reason!”

Xiahou Xuan frowned: "In the war against Wu, Lord Jiang coordinated logistics and came up with many strategies, and was awarded the title of Duke. How can he not be a gentleman?"

“A gentleman should be judged by his character and moral integrity, what does it have to do with rank and emolument?” Wang Yuanji raised an eyebrow and said, her voice becoming sharper. “My husband trusts others too much. If he is suppressed by the governor every day, how can his reputation in the prefecture be outstanding in two, three, or five years? At that time, His Majesty and the Prince of Hejian will probably be disappointed in you!”

“What can I do?” Xiahou Xuan sighed. “He is my superior, and also a duke…”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuanji immediately sat up from the couch and looked directly at Xiahou Xuan: "You are still the Marquis of Changling Township, the nephew of the Prince of Hejian, and a confidant of His Majesty! The difference between a prefect and a governor is only one rank. You are twenty years younger. In what way are you inferior to Lord Jiang?"

When she noticed Xiahou Xuan's gaze slowly shifting downwards, fixed on her upper body which she hadn't fully covered due to her hasty sitting up, she pursed her lips, pulled up the quilt to cover herself, and her cheeks immediately flushed red, but her mouth didn't stop moving:
“When I was in Luoyang before, I knew that His Majesty had appointed you as the Prefect of Danyang, and I never understood why His Majesty had given you this position. Today I understand. His Majesty must have been dissatisfied with Lord Jiang’s recommendation of Wu Gai and Sima Shi, which is why he sent you to Danyang! If you were to be obsequious and subservient under Lord Jiang, then why would His Majesty have placed you here?”

Xiahou Xuan was merely gullible and somewhat indecisive, but his intelligence was unparalleled. Upon hearing this, he frowned and asked, "Did the master tell you these things?"

“Father never said any of this to me.” Wang Yuanji shook her head, then became even more shy. “Father only told me to reunite with my husband as soon as possible, saying… saying that after being separated for several years, we should have a child after arriving in Jiangning…”

Xiahou Xuan let out a long breath and nodded in response, "If it weren't for Yuan Ji's guidance, I wouldn't have been able to think of this. Now that the clouds have parted and the sun is shining, things will be much easier from here on out."

"What should we do?" Wang Yuanji asked, puzzled.

Xiahou Xuan suddenly reached out and pulled Wang Yuanji back into his arms, causing the beauty to gasp in surprise. He then laughed and said, "There's no need for you to worry about what to do, Madam. Since you have given your orders, I will certainly obey!"

“Hmm…” Wang Yuanji was caught off guard.

……

The following day, in the Yangzhou prefectural government, Jiang Ji ate breakfast in silence, and then, as usual, listened to the daily report from Prefect Li Ying on the affairs of the prefecture.

"Did Prince Yong's daughter arrive in Jiangning yesterday?" Jiang Ji asked.

"Yes." Li Ying nodded: "He brought ten guards and six maids, and was escorted by boat from Shouchun by Wen Zhongrang, the Prefect of Huainan. They arrived at Longzangpu Wharf yesterday at noon. Afterwards, he and Xiahou Taichu returned to the backyard of the prefectural government, and the two of them did not come out again." "Good." Jiang Ji nodded slightly: "Later, select some coral and tortoiseshell that were brought in by the Wu people from the private treasury and send them to the prefectural government in my name."

Li Ying nodded: "My lord, how many items would you like to choose?"

"Choose two pieces each of coral and tortoiseshell, select some good ones, not too big or too small, and wrap them in a delicate lacquer box," Jiang Ji casually instructed. "Prince Yong will likely remain in the cabinet for several more decades. Now that his daughter has arrived, I should try to establish a good relationship with her."

"Yes, Your subordinate will take care of it immediately." Li Ying bowed and agreed.

Just an hour later, Li Ying hurriedly returned from outside, cupped his hands in greeting to Jiang Ji, and said:

"My lord, the gifts have been politely declined by the prefectural government."

Jiang Ji, who was working, didn't seem to care: "It's normal that they don't accept them. Go to your private treasury and select another pair of jade discs and a pair of pearls to send along with the coral and tortoiseshell from earlier."

"Just say it's a gift from an elder, and let him and his wife accept it."

Li Ying nodded: "I will try again."

Jiang Ji waved his hand, signaling Li Ying to leave, and then went back to looking at the official documents.

This time it was even shorter, only a little over half an hour, before Li Ying returned to report again.

"My lord, Prefect Xiahou still refuses to accept it. He and his wife thanked you for your kindness and said that Prefect Xiahou will come to the prefecture to pay you a visit early tomorrow morning."

Jiang Ji clicked his tongue, threw down his ink brush, stood up, walked outside, opened and examined the boxes carried by the four minor officials, and then said to Li Ying:
"How strange! I myself am reluctant to use such fine things, yet they refuse them when I offer them to them! How inhuman!"

Li Ying seemed somewhat embarrassed: "My lord, please don't get angry."

"Why should I get angry with him?" Jiang Ji snorted coldly. "Tell Xiahou Xuan that I am going to Zhongshan Copper Field tomorrow and will not be in Jiangning City. Tell him not to make a wasted trip to the prefecture."

“I have noted it down.” Li Ying then asked, “If Governor Xiahou asks when I may come to pay my respects, what should I say?”

Jiang Ji turned and walked into the hall: "I don't know how many days I'll be outside the city. I'll talk about it when I have time!"

"Yes." Li Ying followed Jiang Ji into the hall and bowed in response.

After Jiang Ji sat down, he squinted and remained silent behind the desk for a long time. He shook his head, finished writing the last line of the unfinished document in his hand, carefully checked it twice, and then pushed it forward.
"I have finished writing this form. Once sealed, I will immediately send it to the Secretariat in Luoyang Palace."

"What is this...?" Li Ying was puzzled for a moment.

Jiang Ji stroked his beard and laughed, "The Kingdom of Wu has been completely destroyed. In my opinion, Your Majesty can go to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony! Others dare not say it, but I will!" (End of this chapter)