The Daily Life of a Depressed Salted Fish Chapter 37

“Alright.” Jiang Wu felt like his energy was running low and he still needed to head to Dingnan Residence. “Chen Ziyan, get your things ready. Later, I will send someone to bring you into the palace.”

As soon as he said this, Chen Ziyan felt a twinge of regret.

But he had never seen such anger in Yin Wuzhi’s eyes… The angrier he was, the more it showed how much he cared.

As long as he could save his brother from the fire—

He said to Yin Wuzhi, “Don’t worry, once I’m in the palace, I’ll take good care of myself.”

Yin Wuzhi: “…”

Without a word, he strode toward Jiang Wu, picked up the chair Jiang Wu was sitting on, and carried it outside without looking back.

Jiang Wu glanced at his feet, which were now dangling in the air, and then looked up at Yin Wuzhi, who was carrying him.

Yin Wuzhi was incredibly strong.

And he did seem really angry?

This must be the right strategy. Jiang Wu relaxed as he was carried to his carriage, reassured that with more effort, death was guaranteed in the future.

To prevent himself from running out of energy at Dingnan Residence, Jiang Wu napped in the carriage. When they arrived, Yin Wuzhi first cleaned his eyes before lifting him out and placing him in a wheelchair.

Aside from the injured King Dingnan, the entire family came out to greet them, along with a large, jet-black war dog.

The dog, like everyone else, laid obediently on the ground, acting very well-behaved. But the moment Yin Wuzhi appeared, it couldn’t help but wag its tail uncontrollably, its eyes fixed on its master.

“Rise.” Jiang Wu’s gaze also fell on the dog.

He had heard many stories about this black dog before, but seeing it in person, he realized it was nothing special—just an ordinary big dog.

He didn’t linger on the dog.

As the group entered the palace, the dog, which had been pretending to behave, finally couldn’t contain itself. It whimpered as it rushed toward Yin Wuzhi, circling him and rubbing its head against his legs repeatedly.

“Enough, the emperor is here,” Yin Wuzhi said with a chuckle, squatting down to pet the dog while letting it nuzzle his face. “Stop causing trouble.”

“Forgive us, Your Majesty,” Dingnan Wangfei said, watching. “Ah Gui has been with Ah Zhi since it was a pup. He raised it, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. It’s missed him terribly these past days.”

Jiang Wu calmly observed the scene. The dog was so black, making Yin Wuzhi look even whiter by comparison.

Yin Wuzhi met Jiang Wu’s gaze, then patted the dog beside him and said, “Go greet the emperor.”

Ah Gui finally lifted its head from its master and met Jiang Wu’s eyes. It whimpered again, wagged its tail joyfully, and trotted over to him, placing its front paws on the blanket covering Jiang Wu’s lap, nuzzling his face affectionately.

Jiang Wu remained expressionless as the dog acted.

The dog’s nose was wet, and at one point, it even licked Jiang Wu’s lips.

Yin Wuzhi snapped out of it and scolded, “Ah Gui!”

Startled by his tone, the dog looked up pitifully, and Yin Wuzhi said, “Go over there.”

Ah Gui whined in protest, clearly feeling wronged.

“Go on.”

With a forlorn wag of its tail, Ah Gui reluctantly walked a few steps away, turning back to look at Jiang Wu as if waiting for him to intervene.

Jiang Wu said nothing, and the dog sulked off into a corner, curling up in defeat.

Qi Hanmiao hurriedly took out a handkerchief and approached Jiang Wu to wipe his face. “Your Majesty, are you alright?”

Dingnan Wangfei, meanwhile, ordered someone to prepare hot water and said curiously, “Ah Gui usually avoids strangers. This is the first time it’s met His Majesty, yet it’s so friendly.”

Yin Wuzhi, wiping Jiang Wu’s face with a fresh cloth, frowned and asked, “Has Your Majesty met Ah Gui before?”

“I have not.”

Qi Hanmiao, ever quick-witted, chimed in, “Ah Gui was declared a war dog by the late emperor, and the people say it has some divine qualities. Since it’s showing such affection for His Majesty, it must be a sign that His Majesty is truly a celestial dragon, the reincarnation of a deity.”

The others quickly echoed the sentiment.

Jiang Wu paid no attention to their flattery and said, “I want to see King Dingnan.”

His initial reason for coming was to check on King Dingnan’s injuries, to see if this was all part of a scheme concocted with Yin Wuzhi. Although Chen Ziyan had unexpectedly become involved, and Jiang Wu had already decided to let Yin Wuzhi return home, now that he was here, he figured he should at least see it through.

Dingnan Wangfei personally led the way to the master bedroom. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The old man has become more and more useless with age—he slipped on a little frost and hurt himself.”

She sighed, though her tone couldn’t hide her worry.

When Jiang Wu arrived, King Dingnan was lying stiffly in bed. Upon seeing him, King Dingnan immediately sat up. “Your Majesty, this old servant greets you.”

“No need for formalities,” Jiang Wu said. “Where did you hurt yourself?”

“I twisted my ankle,” King Dingnan said, though internally he felt humiliated. Just yesterday, he had boasted to Prime Minister Chen that as a seasoned general, he would never slip on some frost. Yet this very morning, he had made a fool of himself. The embarrassment gnawed at him.

“What did the doctor say?”

King Dingnan responded, “I’ll be fine in a few days…”

“Stop lying,” Dingnan Wangfei cut him off, glaring at him before turning to Jiang Wu with worry. “The doctor says it takes a hundred days to heal from bone and muscle injuries. And at his age, he should rest until after the New Year.”

“Nonsense, I’m not that old,” King Dingnan grumbled, unwilling to admit his age. “I can still go to the barracks and wield a spear right now.”

Jiang Wu understood.

Yesterday, when Yin Wuzhi had suggested involving a senior official in their ruse, Jiang Wu had immediately thought of King Dingnan. But Yin Wuzhi had argued that, as a military man, his father would never agree to the humiliation of being injured by a bit of frost.

Looking back now, the so-called damage to their reputation was likely just the Yin family, father and son, unwilling to let go of their power. After all, if King Dingnan were to be bedridden for recovery, the responsibilities in his hands would certainly have to be reassigned to someone else.

For King Dingnan, this would probably feel like being slowly tortured with a dull blade, something unbearable.

Look at him now—his foot is so swollen, yet he still refuses to rest.

Jiang Wu said, “No need to push yourself, my beloved minister. Since you’re injured, you must rest properly. I grant you six months of leave.”

King Dingnan: “?”

Yin Wuzhi also quickly looked at him, “Six months is too long.”

“It’s not long. Whenever you’re fully recovered, you can come find me again.” Jiang Wu added, “I’ll leave your son here with you as well. For the upcoming days, enjoy your family time to the fullest.”

King Dingnan was momentarily unsure whether to be happy or terrified.

As soon as Jiang Wu left, King Dingnan immediately turned to Yin Wuzhi, “What does His Majesty mean by this?”

“…I don’t know,” Yin Wuzhi was also feeling a whirlwind of confusion. Six months really did seem excessively long. Could Jiang Wu truly be trying to weaken the Yin family? But why? He couldn’t figure it out.

Yin Wuzhi rushed out.

Before Jiang Wu could exit, Yin Wuzhi grabbed the back of his chair, “May I have a word?”

Before Jiang Wu could react, he was lifted off the ground once again, carried off to a secluded corner of the royal residence.

Ah Gui, who had been lying on the ground, wagged his tail and stood up again.

Yin Wuzhi leaned on the back of Jiang Wu’s chair, wanting to bluntly ask what he meant, but considering the other’s status, he had to phrase it more tactfully, “Your Majesty, are you truly not taking me back to the palace?”

“No.”

“…Why?”

“I promised Chen Ziyan that he would replace you in the palace.”

Coldness seeped into the corners of Yin Wuzhi’s eyes. “Are you certain that everything I’ve done, he can do too?”

This was indeed uncertain.

“Your Majesty.”

Jiang Wu tilted his face up, with Yin Wuzhi’s dark lashes just inches away, “Handling government documents, I learned from the senior ministers. Bathing—I know how to avoid your ticklish spots. Sunbathing—I know exactly when to turn you for the best angle. As for meals, I know the exact temperature you prefer. And at night…”

There was a shadowy glint in his eyes. “Just one hum from you, and I understand your every need, taking care of everything without disturbing your dreams.”

He asked ominously, “Can Chen Ziyan do that?”

“He can learn.”

“Learn?” Yin Wuzhi sneered. “Even if he can learn, are you sure he’ll be as good as me? And even if he is, are you really willing to spend the time and effort to adjust to him, when I already know you so well?”

Jiang Wu pondered.

Yin Wuzhi was suddenly desperate not to leave him.

Perhaps it was to protect Chen Ziyan from being humiliated, or perhaps it was the realization that Jiang Wu intended to target the Yin family. Either way, it was a pleasing development for Jiang Wu.

Yin Wuzhi had finally risen up; he was starting to take charge and actively pursue power.

He felt his chin lifted by his hand. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes clouded with mist. “Your Majesty, do you really not need me anymore?”

…He was even starting to seduce him with his looks.

Jiang Wu stared at him and said, “Alright.”

Yin Wuzhi hadn’t yet reacted. “Alright what?”

“I’ll take you back to the palace.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

Yin Wuzhi smiled slightly, his long lashes fluttering. “Then what about Chen Ziyan?”

“We’ll take him too.”

“…”

Jiang Wu heard him grinding his teeth and asked, “Beloved Minister Yin, do you no longer wish to return with me?”

Yin Wuzhi glared at him, hands clenched. After a long pause, he finally said, “I’ll return. I’ll follow Your Majesty back to the palace.”

He shifted his gaze and noticed Ah Gui rubbing against Jiang Wu’s legs again. Jiang Wu quietly looked down at the dog, showing no sign of affection but also not rejecting it.

As they prepared to leave, Ah Gui whimpered, clearly reluctant.

The grand procession returned to the Taiji Palace, and soon after arriving, Jiang Wu fell asleep.

After making sure he was settled, Yin Wuzhi stepped outside and saw Chen Ziyan, who had been brought into the palace.

Their eyes met, and Chen Ziyan looked surprised, “Wuzhi, why are you still in the palace?”

Yin Wuzhi gestured for him to step aside. Once they were in a corner, Yin Wuzhi said, “His Majesty did not leave me in the residence.”

Chen Ziyan’s expression darkened. “That’s not what he said at the mansion.”

“He’s the Emperor,” Yin Wuzhi said. “What can we do about it?”

After a moment of brooding silence, Chen Ziyan angrily said, “I’ll go and reason with him.”

Yin Wuzhi stopped him. “Brother Chen, don’t be rash.”

“You might not know, as you were only in the palace for two days before, but I’ve already been punished several times.” Yin Wuzhi showed him his hand, still swollen from being trampled. “This is a fresh wound. Apart from that, my back is covered in whip and stick marks.”

Chen Ziyan was shocked. “He’s that cruel?”

“Don’t make a fuss,” Yin Wuzhi said. “All these punishments happened when I angered him during private moments. This one on my hand was from Empress Dowager Yao.”

Chen Ziyan was furious.

“Luckily, I’m thick-skinned, so these minor injuries don’t bother me. But if it were you…” He trailed off, and Chen Ziyan’s face went pale. He knew that if it were him, half his life would be gone.

“But there’s no need to worry, Brother Chen. I’ve somewhat figured out His Majesty’s temperament over time,” Yin Wuzhi seriously advised. “Just remember—never, ever, be alone with him.”

“When there’s no one else around…” Images of that lazy, calm face flashed through his mind. Yin Wuzhi’s voice was as dark as his gaze, “He’s truly terrifying.”