Wife is hell

Chapter 96 My Man, the Hard Candy, Must Be Protected (6,000 words)

It was already dusk when I left the patrol office.

The sky was a pale blue, and the sunlight, as if filtered through an old veil, fell softly on the eaves and street stones.

A cool breeze swept by, causing the hem of Jiang Mu's robe to flutter.

It also dispelled the little bit of irritation in his heart.

Jiang Mu's suggestions to Tang Jinxian were simple: first, investigate women in Yancheng whose birth dates and times were compatible with Wen Xiuniang's; second, have the patrol officers lead people with spiritual weapons to search for places with strong yin energy.

After all, such evil magic as body swapping usually has to be performed in that kind of place.

The next day, the details of the widowed neighbor that Mo Hai'er had mentioned were finally uncovered.

The woman's surname was Hua, and her given name was Hua Xiaohe.

Originally from Taohuadu in Xinghua Village, Qingxi County, she later married into Baishigou in Linqu County, Qingzhou, a hundred miles away.

According to the case file, she died seventeen years ago due to an accidental drowning.

What shocked Jiang Mu was that Baishigou, where Hua Xiaohe and Mo Haier lived, was actually his hometown!

wrong.

To be precise, it is the hometown of "Mujiang".

Even the courtyard of her old home was not far from Hua Xiaohe's house.

After his parents died at a young age, Mu Jiang was taken to Yancheng by his fourteen-year-old brother when he was only three years old, and settled there.

He was not adopted by An Chenghu until his elder brother passed away.

In other words, Mu Jiang and Hua Xiaohe can be considered close neighbors.

"That's quite a coincidence."

Jiang Mu said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I didn't expect that perverted Mo Hai'er is from the same hometown as me. Brother, you should have said so earlier. Maybe I would have just castrated you and spared your life."

Unfortunately, Hua Xiaohe's birth date and time were not compatible with Wen Xiuniang's.

This clearly does not meet the conditions for body swapping.

"Could the murderer not be Hua Xiaohe?"

Jiang Mu rubbed his temples, looking somewhat helpless.

It seems that this clue is broken.

Indeed, what a coincidence! The neighbor that Mo Hai'er casually mentioned just happened to be the real culprit.
However, the investigation into Wenxiuniang's line can continue, so it's not entirely fruitless.

……

In the afternoon, Jiang Mu and Shi Baolu patrolled the streets as usual.

An Chenghu then went to handle a theft case.

Recently, many women's underwear has been stolen. The county government arrested many thugs, but it was no use. Only An Chenghu could handle the situation.

"Wood, why did that thief have to steal women's undergarments of all things..."

Shi Baolu mumbled as he gnawed on a sesame seed cake, "That stuff can't be sold for money, and it can't be eaten either."

"But it can waste your semen."

Jiang Mu smiled.

"What is waste semen?" Shi Baolu didn't understand.

Jiang Mu was pondering whether to take this simpleton to a brothel to experience it. Suddenly, a dark shadow swept across the rooftops, staggered, and fell onto the street.

He was an old man whose clothes were stained with blood.

He was thin, with a particularly fierce look in his eyes.

If Zhang Huan, the patrol officer, were here, he would definitely recognize this old man as the Third Elder of the Spiritual Sect.

The old man staggered forward, pursued closely by several men in black.

The one leading them was Gan Yuanyuan.

Seeing this, Jiang Mu understood that Gan Yuanyuan, as a Xuan Envoy, was hunting down the remnants of the Spirit Cult.

That woman is something else; she actually managed to find out who she is.

Seeing that he couldn't shake off his pursuers, the fleeing old man deliberately overturned a roadside stall, scattering fruits and vegetables all over the ground, overturning steamers, and sending steamed buns flying everywhere...

Chaos erupted as people cried out and scattered in panic.

Gan Yuanyuan and the others kept shouting at each other.

The old man grinned maliciously, and several black ribbons suddenly shot out from his sleeves, coiling towards the people on the street like long snakes.

Old men, women, men... were all thrown into the pursuit by him.

Clearly, this black silk is a spiritual object.

The companions chasing Gan Yuanyuan were initially distracted, catching the civilians being thrown at them. Seeing the distance between them widening, Gan Yuanyuan shouted sharply:
"Ignore them! Chase them!"

After a moment's hesitation, the several envoys indeed stopped paying attention to the panicked and crying people in the air.

This caused several people to fall to the ground.

The cries of pain were constant, and some even broke their arms and legs.

Jiang Mu originally pulled Shi Baolu to hide at the alley entrance.

He frowned slightly as he watched this scene from afar.

When Jiang Mu saw the old man roll up a black silk cloth and toss a woman's baby into the air, he cursed under his breath, shook the bell in his hand, and suddenly appeared several feet away.

At the same time, the Ghost God Spear at his waist snapped straight with a clang.

The tip of the purple-gold spear moved like a shooting star chasing the moon, gently touching the infant just as it was about to touch the ground, and then flicking it upwards.

The swaddled baby was lifted into the air again and landed in Jiang Mu's arms.

The baby in the swaddling clothes paused for a moment, then giggled and reached out to grab Jiang Mu's chin.

When Jiang Mu landed, Gan Yuanyuan and the others had already engaged the old man in combat.

The old man's black silk sleeves fluttered wildly.

Gan Yuanyuan's crescent-shaped scimitar flashed up and down, its blade gleaming like a ribbon.

Some of her companions behind her coordinated the attack, while two of them took out a net that shimmered with silver light and tried to cover the old man.

But the old man's movements were unpredictable, and he narrowly avoided them each time.

In the heat of battle, Gan Yuanyuan's scimitar suddenly split into three moon-shaped blades that spun and intertwined, attacking the old man in different directions.

This is her sacred object.

Seeing this, the old man immediately threw out a ribbon, wrapped it around a young girl, and pulled her in front of him, preparing to use her as a human shield.

Gan Yuanyuan's blade thrust remained undiminished, slashing straight at the girl's face!

The woman was terrified and turned pale.

Just as innocent bystanders were about to be harmed, a long spear suddenly appeared from the side.

"Ding--"

With another metallic clang, the purple-gold spear thrust horizontally, its butt deflecting the curved blade.

He pressed down with the gun barrel, shielding the woman behind him.

"what you do!?"

Gan Yuanyuan glared angrily at Jiang Mu, who had suddenly intervened.

The old man tried to escape, but Jiang Mu had already thrust his gun at him.

The spear tip was aimed straight at the old man's throat.

In his haste, the old man used a ribbon to block, but with a hiss, the ribbon was torn by the tip of the spear.

The gun whistled through the air, its purple light flashing like lightning, forcing the old man to turn around and parry.

The old man was both shocked and furious.

I never expected this young constable to be so skilled.

Jiang Mu's attacks were fierce, with each strike—pointing, stabbing, chopping, and entanglement—ruthless. Black silk ribbons intertwined with the spear tip, and shredded cloth filled the sky.

Meanwhile, Qingyi floated to the side, her fingertips gently conjuring a ball of fire.

The flames were transparent and invisible to everyone.

call out--

The woman in green flicked out a flame.

The old man was already seriously injured and was panting heavily when he suddenly felt a burning sensation in front of his eyes, as if a fire needle had pierced his pupils.

"A hidden weapon!?"

The old man instinctively lowered his head to avoid it.

Jiang Mu seized the opportunity, and with lightning speed, the tip of his spear pierced directly into the old man's shoulder.

The old man cried out in pain and was about to struggle when the three men in black robes holding the net seized the opportunity and suddenly slammed the silver net down on him.

The net ropes tightened, binding the old man like a rice dumpling.

As the net-like lightning flashed, the old man twitched a few times and fainted.

Gan Yuanyuan walked over, pointed at Jiang Mu, and angrily scolded, "Do you know you almost ruined everything!"

Jiang Mu stood with his arms crossed, tapping the ground lightly with the butt of his spear, and said coldly, "Instead of blaming me, Lord Gan should think about why so many people couldn't take down a wounded old codger."

"you……"

"It is my duty to patrol this street and protect the safety of the people."

Jiang Mu interrupted her, his gaze sweeping over the groaning wounded on the ground. "But you lot treat human life like dirt."

Gan Yuanyuan sneered: "What does it matter if a few civilians die? When the Spirit Cult wreaked havoc, tens of thousands died! If this person escapes today, you, Mu Jiang, will be a sinner for all time! You pig-brain!"

A cold glint appeared in Jiang Mu's eyes.

It seems I've been too busy investigating the case these past few days and have neglected this woman.

How about we resolve this tonight?
Jiang Mu stroked the two characters "Ghosts and Gods" on the hilt of the gun with his fingertips, and a murderous intent quietly spread.

At this moment, a man stepped forward from among Gan Yuanyuan's companions, holding a commander-in-chief's plaque, and said in a deep voice:

"The gun in your hand is a spiritual object, isn't it? Why do you possess a spiritual object? I am the Chief Envoy of the Mysterious Realm and have the right to inquire."

Jiang Mu raised his eyes and said calmly:
"This gun was handed over by Steward Tang; it's a spiritual item approved for me by higher authorities. If you have any doubts, you can verify it yourself."

"Approved by higher authorities?"

The man was startled.

He carefully examined the spear in Jiang Mu's hand, unable to hide his astonishment.

Such a high-quality spiritual object has always been reserved for high-ranking officials. It is unheard of for an ordinary yamen runner to receive such a generous gift.

"In that case, I will verify it myself."

The man took back the token, but his eyes remained suspicious.

Gan Yuanyuan believed Jiang Mu's words, after all, she had experienced Tang Jinxian's protectiveness and love for him.

"take away!"

Gan Yuanyuan signaled to her companions to take the old man away.

Jiang Mu suddenly blocked his way with his gun, saying calmly, "This person is related to a spiritual disaster murder case I am investigating. I must take him to the patrol office for questioning first."

"absurd!"

Gan Yuanyuan's eyes flashed with anger.

“These remnants of the Lingjiao sect are wanted criminals we have been pursuing for a long time. What right do you, a mere yamen runner, have to stop us?”
Even if Tang Jinxian came, given the involvement of the Spirit Cult, they wouldn't have the right to snatch it from us!

The others also glared angrily.

I've never seen a mere yamen runner so arrogant.

Jiang Mu stood his ground without yielding an inch, the tip of his spear striking the ground with a resounding clang:
"This street is under my jurisdiction, and I captured this person with my own hands. If you want to take him away today, you'll have to step over my body first!"

"You think I don't dare?"

Just as Gan Yuanyuan was about to step forward, a figure flashed before her eyes.

Swish!
The purple gleam from the spear tip caused the woman's pupils to contract.

When she came to her senses, a strand of hair that had been cut off was slowly falling down.

"If you go any further, don't blame me for not showing any consideration for my colleagues."

Jiang Mu's expression was cold and stern, and the tip of his spear emitted a purple glow.

Gan Yuanyuan's chest heaved with rage, her lips turning pale with fury: "Attack! Kill him, and I'll take responsibility!"

The envoys around her gripped their weapons tightly.

Just then, a soft laugh suddenly broke through: "You have quite a temper, Mu Yacha."

A man walked out from the crowd.

The man was about thirty years old, dressed in a white silk robe with a jade belt around his waist. He had a handsome face, lips like painted vermilion, and pale skin. His eyes had a gentle, watery quality about them.

Jiang Mu narrowed his eyes and sneered inwardly: "I was fishing for you. I thought you were hiding and wouldn't come out."

The effeminate man raised his hand and pressed down on the back of Gan Yuanyuan's knife.

"Yuan Yuan, step back."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable chill.

Gan Yuanyuan bit her lip and finally withdrew her sword.

"Lord Ke!"

The other envoys quickly bowed.

Ke Linyue's gaze swept over the purple-gold spear in Jiang Mu's hand, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her voice was gentle: "I am Ke Linyue, Deputy Commander-in-Chief. How about this, we will take him away, and you can accompany us to observe the interrogation. Is that acceptable?"

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow: "To the patrol office?"

"No."

Ke Linyue gently shook her head, "The Chief Envoy of the Mysterious Realm has a special place for interrogation."

Jiang Mu sneered:
"I'm afraid of the dark, and even more afraid of being framed. If there's to be a trial, let it be held openly and fairly at the police station. If you'd like to come, please do. If not, I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you."

Ke Linyue's eyes flickered slightly, as if she hesitated, but after a long while she smiled and nodded:

"Very well, then so be it, Lord Mu."

Gan Yuanyuan cried out urgently, "Lord Ke—"

"Ok?"

Ke Linyue raised her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her upturned peach blossom eyes revealing a hint of sharpness.

Gan Yuanyuan was unwilling, but she could only give up in frustration.

Jiang Mu clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Lord Ke."

-

A group of people escorted the old man, who was wrapped up like a rice dumpling, to the police station.

Just as he stepped inside, Zhang Huan came running towards him.

When he saw the unconscious old man bound by the silver net, his expression changed slightly.

He immediately greeted her with a beaming smile:

"Lord Ke, you have come from afar. I have failed to greet you properly."

Comende greeted him in a low voice:
"Master Zhang, what a coincidence! We just caught a big fish. This man is a remnant of the Spirit Cult, and we happened to discover him while he was out. And, thanks to..."

He pointed at Jiang Mu and said, "Thanks to Master Mu for his help."

Zhang Huan gave Jiang Mu a deep look, his smile gentle and refined:

"Brother Mu is very capable. Not only is he good at solving cases, but I never thought he could even capture the remnants of the Spirit Cult."

Jiang Mu smiled but didn't reply.

After Ke Linyue and her group escorted the old man away, Zhang Huan stood with his hands behind his back on the steps, the smile on his face gradually disappearing.

He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

This idiot!

I warned him to stay put and hide in the inn, but he insisted on showing himself!
……

Deep inside the prison of the Patrol Office, a damp atmosphere filled the air, and the iron bars stood imposing.

An oil lamp hangs from the beam.

The flickering lamplight cast long shadows, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The old man was bound to a "well" shaped rack with iron chains.

A pierced scapula.

The spiritual items on his body were also torn off.

The spirit object looked like an ordinary rag.

Ke Linyue held a snow-white handkerchief, gently covering her mouth and nose, her delicate peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, seemingly extremely uncomfortable with the environment.

Upon hearing the news, Tang Jinxian rushed over.

The woman was still not in her official uniform, but wore a pale white, narrow-sleeved, front-opening long dress with a crimson palace sash tied around her waist, making her slender waist appear almost too small to grasp, and her chest heaving with rapid breathing.

"Mu Jiang? What's going on?"

She spotted Jiang Mu standing outside immediately.

Jiang Mu touched his nose and briefly recounted the conflict on the street and the capture of the man.

Tang Jinxian was speechless for a moment.

Those captivating phoenix eyes glanced at Jiang Mu, and she thought to herself:

"Did this guy stir up a hornet's nest? How come he always seems to run into all sorts of weird things?"

Jiang Mu coughed softly and asked in a low voice:

"Manager Tang, that seems to be the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. I offended him, but it should be fine, right?"

Tang Jinxian found it amusing: "Now you know fear?"

"The main reason is that I really dislike Gan Yuanyuan, and I did capture her. If we give her to them, I'm afraid it will be very difficult for us to get any clues out of her."

Jiang Mu analyzed the pros and cons.

Tang Jinxian rolled her eyes, said nothing, and went into the cell.

The woman glanced at Ke Linyue, who stood silently to the side, her red lips slightly parted, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm:
"Who do you think it is? It turns out to be Vice Governor Ke from the General Headquarters."

"Chief Tang."

Ke Linyue nodded slightly.

Tang Jinxian crossed her arms, making the already extraordinary creature appear even more exaggerated and astonishing, and said calmly:
"Lord Ke is so busy with important matters, how could he have time to personally come to such a small place as Yancheng?"

Could it be... because I recently submitted a memorial to the Chief Commander impeaching Envoy Gan Xuan, and Lord Ke has come specifically to support your trusted general?

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the dungeon suddenly became strange.

Gan Yuanyuan's face instantly turned bright red as she glared at Tang Jinxian.

Ke Linyue's smile remained unchanged, but her peach blossom eyes became even more profound.

He gently waved his folding fan, his voice still soft and gentle:
"Master Tang is joking. The remnants of the Spirit Cult have appeared, which is of great importance. Lin Yue will naturally have to personally oversee the matter. The affairs of the Spirit Cult are of paramount importance, and Master Tang should understand this."

"Really?"

Tang Jinxian neither confirmed nor denied it.

At this moment, the Xuan Envoy who had questioned Jiang Mu on the street earlier felt more confident seeing Vice Governor Ke present.

He stepped forward, past the river, and bowed to Tang Jinxian, saying:

"Officer Tang, I am Zhao Ke, the Chief Envoy of the Mystic Realm. May I ask, is the magical spear in the hands of this constable Mu truly approved by higher authorities?"

However, Tang Jinxian didn't even glance at him, completely ignoring him.

Zhao Ke's face turned a deep purplish-red.

He was, after all, the Chief Envoy of the Mysterious Realm, whose status was far higher than that of local officials, yet he was so blatantly ignored.

He took a deep breath, raised his voice, and asked again:
"Chief Tang! I have a question for you! This matter concerns the ownership of the spirit object, so please answer me directly!"

Ke Linyue stood by with a smile, not stopping her subordinates from questioning her, as if watching a play that had nothing to do with her.

"what are you?"

Tang Jinxian's gaze finally fell on him, her head slightly tilted to the side.

A few strands of hair fell across the woman's snow-white neck, appearing in the dim light like light ink spreading on white porcelain, cold and alluring.

Upon hearing such insulting words, Zhao Ke's expression changed.

He was about to speak, but when he met Tang Jinxian's cold eyes, he couldn't utter a word.

Tang Jinxian parted her lips slightly:
"Who gave you the right to bark here?!"

"me……"

Cold sweat beaded on the man's forehead.

Tang Jinxian turned away, ignoring him, and looked at Gan Yuanyuan:
"Now that Vice Governor Ke has come in person, I presume there has been a conclusion regarding my report about Gan Yuanyuan's defiance of her superiors and her deliberate attempt to kill my subordinate. Tell me, how do you intend to deal with this?"

Gan Yuanyuan was furious and gripped the curved sword at her waist tightly:

"Tang Jinxian, don't make false accusations! It was clearly your subordinate who brought this upon himself, what does it have to do with me!"

Tang Jinxian ignored her roar and just stared coldly at Ke Linyue, waiting for his answer.

Jiang Mu clicked his tongue inwardly in amazement.

He had heard An Chenghu mention that the patrol office system was very strict, with the chief and deputy chiefs wielding immense power, and the heads of the local branches showing them utmost respect.

I didn't expect Tang Jinxian to be so tough, daring to confront me directly.

Jiang Mu couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

This big piece of gummy candy is indeed hard on the inside. Being "taken care of" by her definitely makes me feel very safe.

Ke Linyue hadn't expected Tang Jinxian to create such a tense atmosphere as soon as they met.

He coughed lightly, closed his folding fan, and began to speak in an official tone with a sense of helplessness:
"Chief Tang, the General Headquarters has already opened a case on this matter. However, the investigation and evidence collection will take time."

"Oh?"

Tang Jinxian smiled gently, her fingertips brushing against the stray hairs at her temples, her fair wrist gleaming white under the lamplight.

"Is the Chief Inspector's efficiency really that low? Why don't you go find that Lord Mo? He was there too, and he saw Lord Gan about to draw his sword against me. Or, should I take you to him?"

Ke Linyue lowered her eyes to hide her smile, her fingertips tracing the folding fan as she softly said:
"Since Chief Tang has just taken charge of the Yancheng branch, some things... are best done step by step. The overall situation should be the priority, and I believe Chief Tang understands this principle."

These words were undoubtedly a warning from someone in a position of authority.

Anyone else would have already backed down.

But Tang Jinxian scoffed:
"The big picture? Deputy Governor Ke, dragging this out will only lead to officials protecting each other and muddling through. In that case, we might as well have Gan Yuanyuan apologize to my subordinate Mu Jiang first."

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

Zhao Ke and the others were dumbfounded, and Gan Yuanyuan was so angry that she was trembling all over.

Why should a high-ranking Chief Envoy apologize to a lowly clerk in a local branch office?

This is simply a shame!
"Tang Jinxian! You've gone too far!"

Gan Yuanyuan screamed.

Tang Jinxian ignored her and just stared at Ke Linyue with a half-smile.

The smile on Ke Linyue's face finally faded completely.

A hint of coldness flashed in his peach blossom eyes:

"Chief Tang, is this truly the case?"

He took a half-step forward, lowered his voice, and said in a volume only the two of them could hear:
"You'll ruin this kid by doing this. He's just a yamen runner, not even your official subordinate. Why send him to the executioner's block?"

Besides, you are a widow after all. Aren't you afraid of gossip and damage to your reputation if you defend him so much? And what about explaining it to your in-laws?

Upon hearing this, Tang Jinxian laughed instead.

Her smile was quite alluring:

"Let others say what they want. When have I, Tang Jinxian, ever cared about others' opinions when I do things? If she doesn't apologize today and chills the hearts of her subordinates, who will dare to work for me in the future?"
Besides, Mu Jiang provided crucial clues in the first two cases of spiritual disasters, making invaluable contributions. What wrong have I done by protecting my meritorious contributor?

Ke Linyue gave her a deep look.

It turns out that this woman was using this incident to establish her authority and win people's hearts.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Tang Jinxian, as the newly appointed head of Yancheng, was new to the city and had no way to compete with Zheng Qing and the others.

If we don't establish our prestige this time, we'll have even fewer capable people left.

Ke Linyue had a headache.

He knew this woman's temperament well; she took after her grandfather and was as stubborn as an ox.

It seems that trying to smooth things over today will not work.

Right now, interrogating these remnants of the Spirit Cult is the priority, and he doesn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

He sighed softly and turned to Gan Yuanyuan:
"Yuan Yuan, apologize."

Gan Yuanyuan looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

She bit her lower lip, clenched her fists, and said hatefully, "Impossible!"

"Apologize."

Ke Linyue narrowed her peach blossom eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

Gan Yuanyuan trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Under Ke Linyue's immense pressure, she finally gave in and walked step by step toward Jiang Mu, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.

She walked up to Jiang Mu.

His cheeks were contorted with shame and anger, his chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with a hatred that seemed to want to devour Jiang Musheng alive.

"sorry!"

The three words were practically squeezed out through gritted teeth.

Jiang Mu looked at her, who seemed to want to kill him, and suddenly smiled knowingly, stroking his chin as he said, "Lord Gan, the way you're looking at me makes me a little scared."

"You're not planning to send someone to assassinate me tonight, are you?"

Jiang Mu feigned fear and said,
"Oh dear, if that's the case, then I'll have no choice but to... take action in advance to prevent future troubles."

When these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

Ke Linyue frowned, then chuckled softly.

The other Xuan envoys around them burst into laughter.

No one took Jiang Mu's words seriously.

After all, it's simply unbelievable that a mere yamen runner would dare to kill the chief envoy.

They simply took it as Jiang Mu's provocation, a case of feigning innocence after getting a good deal.

Gan Yuanyuan was taken aback, then sneered, "If you really have the guts, I'll be overjoyed."

(End of this chapter)