Chapter 760 – Is the Lady Back? (Part 2)
Qiqi’s expression held a hint of admiration as she sincerely remarked, “The Governor truly is no ordinary woman.”
“And neither is the Lady,” Jiang Pengji replied, lowering her gaze to scan the pile of gifts and then glancing at the sword-bearing Maidservant following Qiqi.
The Audience was bewildered; despite the distance of the screen, they could sense something was off in the atmosphere portrayed.
【Yue Tong】: Um… Can anyone explain what Huang Song’s loli wife means? I’m feeling a bit lost. Is she mocking? She sends rouge and jewelry but it doesn’t seem like it would trouble the streamer. Is she trying to win her over? That feels a bit strange—
Normally, if it were another woman sending rouge powder and fabric jewelry, it wouldn’t have such a strong sense of dissonance.
But when it came to Jiang Pengji, even the dullest of viewers picked up on the oddity.
Rouge, powder, and fabric jewelry… those are things girls love, but they seem so out of place for the streamer’s style.
【Chuhe Rirong】: Haha, maybe she’s just jealous? Think about it, back when the streamer was hanging out with Huang Song, how many times have they visited flower houses? Sitting around with pretty girls, listening to songs and enjoying dances—what great bros they were. If I were Huang Song’s wife, I’d feel uncomfortable too. But sending rouge and powder seems a bit naive given the palace and household struggles.
Many figured this was just typical girl jealousy, nothing major.
Yet, quite a few viewers held a different opinion.
【Shen Jia】: Saying Huang Song’s wife is naive, I don’t agree. She seems reckless, but she’s actually quite clever. It’s not just jealousy—it’s also provocation and testing. Have you ever seen anyone visit another’s home to express gratitude with a sword-bearing Maidservant? As for the gifts from Huang Song’s wife, they’d be fine for any woman, and the streamer herself said they were all good items. So, can you say those gifts lacked thought? But the problem is—Jiang Pengji isn’t just any woman; sending rouge and powder as gifts is a clear provocation.
【Old Driver Alliance】: To put it bluntly, it would be like Zhuge Liang sending women’s clothing to Sima Yi’s camp. Would that be appropriate? Sending rouge and powder to the streamer is clearly inappropriate; it would be better to swap them for medicinal herbs or jade—neutral but still proper. Huang Song’s wife must have known this, or she wouldn’t have shockingly asked the streamer, ‘Is the Governor not angry?’ Clearly, her actions were deliberate.
Deliberate?
The Audience was taken aback.
If it weren’t for others pointing it out, they wouldn’t have noticed the detail about the sword.
After all, who goes visiting to express thanks fully armed?
Most viewers supported the streamer and instinctively defended Jiang Pengji, leaving them with a slightly negative impression of Huang Song’s wife.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Qiqi shook her head, waving her hand to signal all four sword-bearing Maidservants to step back.
Once the Maidservants retreated, Qiqi lifted the knife at her waist and pushed it a few feet forward, away from her reach.
“The Governor has praised me; I suppose in your eyes, I’m merely a mundane woman, prone to jealousy and pettiness?”
Jiang Pengji calmly watched her actions.
“Why would the Lady say such things? If all you could do was be jealous, the gifts you brought wouldn’t be good ones. Some ordinary items would do better. The Lady dared to bring these here, did she not expect you could achieve your purpose and still come away unscathed?”
Knowing Jiang Pengji could dismember someone with an ivory tablet and still having the courage to come and test her—it was far more than just boldness.
However, boldness didn’t mean reckless; to Jiang Pengji, this Lady was quite shrewd.
While the Audience thought Qiqi was provoking her for Huang Song’s sake, Jiang Pengji didn’t share that belief.
Her intent seemed more exploratory than provoking; jealousy was merely a side note.
To put it bluntly, any woman would like the gifts sent by Qiqi.
If Jiang Pengji expressed great delight, it would only demonstrate she was an ordinary woman with a taste for colors.
A woman who loves beauty and has a slight vanity is easy to handle since that’s a weakness.
If she were to explode in anger, Qiqi wouldn’t be surprised. It would signal Jiang Pengji’s future achievements would be limited, even though she was already a Governor. Being constrained by her gender and lacking enough breadth and vision, how far could she truly go? Even more reassuring for Qiqi.
Instead, Jiang Pengji’s reaction was neither of those.
She didn’t get angry and gladly accepted the gifts, intending to pass them on to someone special, in a sense of borrowed glory.
It showcased her generosity and grace while also saving Qiqi’s face.
The more this happened, the less Qiqi dared to underestimate her, so she ordered her Maidservants to step back and removed the knife from her waist to show goodwill. She was certain that despite Jiang Pengji being a woman, her strengths wouldn’t diminish, and her future achievements wouldn’t stop at merely being the Governor of Wanzhou.
She must be a formidable rival!
Qiqi said, “Compared to my small cleverness, it’s the Governor’s breadth and tolerance that’s truly chilling.”
Jiang Pengji stated plainly, “These gifts should not have been prepared at Huang Song’s request.”
“Huang Bugal isn’t aware of this matter,” Qiqi replied. “This was solely my decision. I hope this won’t affect the Governor’s friendship with Huang Bugal.”
“I guessed as much. Huang Bugal has the heart to test, but he lacks that boldness.”
Regardless of whether conflicts would arise with Huang Song in the future, at least they were still on friendly terms for now.
Jiang Pengji smiled and teased, “Is the Lady no longer worried?”
Qiqi fiddled with the napkin, her eyes darting about.
“I was a bit concerned before coming, but now I feel at ease,” she confessed with an embarrassed smile. “I know Huang Bugal isn’t that great, but I have my admiration for him. We’re a couple who have shared a drinking ceremony, and in my eyes, he is the best husband in the world. However, the Governor’s breadth and tolerance are poles apart from the usual lovesick women. If the Governor were a man, I might have considered a love affair. Someone so outstanding would surely not look highly upon Huang Bugal. I won’t be so deluded as to think Huang Bugal can attract the Governor’s attention.”
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “If he hears you say that, he’ll try to fight me.”
She gestured for the Maidservants outside to retrieve the gifts from Qiqi.
Qiqi, intrigued, asked her, “Earlier, the Governor mentioned borrowing flowers to present to the Buddha. I’m curious—who is the fortunate lady?”
“In my view, every daughter in the world is an unmatched beauty; how can that be called luck? It’s only as it should be.”
Hearing this, Qiqi’s face burst into a smile, half-jokingly complaining, “I think it’s a pity the Governor is a woman, but I’m also relieved.”
“Why do you say that?”
“If the Governor were a man, how lucky would the woman be whom you would cherish and treat with great care? But for the women who admire you yet cannot attain you, how pitiful that is?” Qiqi said. “Luckily, the Governor is a woman.”
Jiang Pengji narrowed her eyes, wickedly digging a pit for Huang Song, “That’s not entirely true; for all the men out there, you might just be a nightmare. A man whose actions can’t even measure up to a woman’s careful and considerate touch—what a husband he is…”
