Chapter 34 – Nonsense

Mu Nanjin followed Deng Xingchao to the Right Court, still feeling utterly lost.

The Jinyiwei of the Right Court were an odd bunch, either so busy they couldn’t breathe or so idle they might as well nap standing. Their main duties were to safeguard the capital, handle difficult criminal cases, capture thieves, or oversee palace examinations. Although the Right Court managed more affairs than the Left, its officers somehow still found time to loaf around.

“Hey, have you guys heard that rumor from the Left Court about Lord Deng being afraid of his wife?”

“Of course we’ve heard! They say our Lord’s position at home is pitifully low, he trembles whenever he sees his wife, gets punished to kneel if he does something wrong, isn’t allowed to eat, and even has to tell bedtime stories to coax his wife to sleep before he can rest himself.”

“Come on, Lord Deng, so mighty and brilliant, how could he possibly fear his wife?”

“If it were before, I wouldn’t have believed it either. But since the one who said it is that person, it’s hard not to believe.”

“But how can a man be afraid of his wife? That’s just pathetic.”

Deng Xingchao’s face darkened like a thundercloud as he listened to his subordinates gossiping.

He’d always been a figure of authority in the Right Court, and everyone used to fear him. But ever since that rumor spread from the Left Court, his men had grown bold enough to gossip behind his back.

Just as he was about to lash out, a sharp voice suddenly exploded in everyone’s ears:

【Nonsense!】

The three Captains gossiping about him froze, startled out of their wits, and frantically looked around.

When they saw Deng Xingchao striding down the corridor with Mu Nanjin beside him, their faces went white as sheets.

【You men grow your hair long and your brains short, who says being afraid of your wife makes you weak?】

【Comrade Old Deng is a near Ninth-Rank martial expert and a Fourth-Rank Deputy Commander. Others fear him! How could he possibly fear his wife?】

【What you call ‘fear’ is respect. He knows his wife keeps their household perfectly in order, never once distracting him from his duties. Because of her, he can focus on his work and rise steadily to the position of Deputy Commander. That’s gratitude and wisdom, understand?】

【Look at yourselves, groveling outside like grandsons but acting like tyrants at home. You think that’s impressive? Only bullies who throw their weight around women are truly pathetic.】

The entire Right Court heard her words, not just those three Captains.

Their faces flushed red, then green, their heads drooping lower and lower until they looked like ostriches burying themselves in shame.

Meanwhile, Deng Xingchao’s mood brightened instantly. Grinning from ear to ear, he led Mu Nanjin into his “Room No. 1.”

Mu Nanjin spoke first. “Lord Deng, may I ask why you summoned me to the Right Court?”

Deng Xingchao paused. He had originally brought her here to scold her for gossiping, intending to teach her a good lesson.

But after hearing her inner voice just now, he felt immensely pleased. Perhaps he would let her off this time. The problem was, he didn’t quite know how to explain why he had called her here in the first place.

Just then, his subordinate, Lang Qianwei, entered the room.

“My lord, the envoys from the Great Wei Kingdom and the Great Chen Kingdom are less than fifty li from the capital. Shall we go to the city gates to greet them?”

Deng Xingchao seized the perfect excuse.

He nodded. “Mm. Go make the arrangements. I’ll join you shortly.”

“Yes, sir.” Lang Qianwei saluted and left.

Deng Xingchao turned to Mu Nanjin. “You’ll accompany me to welcome the envoys.”

Mu Nanjin: “…”

【Comrade Old Deng seems to have forgotten I’m not part of the Right Court…】

Ignoring her inner voice completely, Deng Xingchao strode out of the office.

Meanwhile, over at the Left Court,

Captain Liu paced back and forth outside the document room, growing more irritable by the minute.

“Lazy after a long vacation, is she? It’s nearly the hour of Chen (around 7 a.m. to 9 a.m) and she still hasn’t reported in. When she gets here, I’ll make sure she regrets it.”

“Lord Liu!”

One of his men came running into the courtyard, breathless.

Captain Liu frowned. “What is it now?”

“Mu Nanjin was taken by Lord Deng to greet the envoys.”

Captain Liu’s veins nearly popped.

“She’s been home half a month and already forgot she’s part of the Left Court?!”

His subordinate: “…”