After Transmigrating Into The Weak Villain Chapter 109

Chapter 109 The Grand Finale 

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>

Looking up at the starless and moonless sky, he lightly patted Chu Xie’s hand, “Wait for me a moment.” After that, he went to Tao Li and asked for an umbrella. 

Holding the umbrella, he ran towards Chu Xie. Unintentionally stumbling, he ended up being caught by him.

“The stone path is difficult to walk on.” Chu Xie held his hand again, gripping it tightly and tugging gently. “Take it slow.”

Jiang Yanchi held an umbrella and followed behind the man diagonally, matching his steps, and unconsciously, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Looking up, he could see the man’s refined appearance, his chin slightly raised, and a faint fragrance of cypress lingering in the air, mixed with the familiar bitter taste of medicinal herbs. 

Chu Xie’s residence was located right in the bustling market of the capital, occupying a large area. Most of the properties were acquired and gifted by those officials who once flattered him. 

The courtyard where he lived was secluded, elegant, but as they approached the outer wall, the bustling noise of people gradually intensified. 

Upon hearing that they were going out, the assistant steward immediately came forward to prepare a sedan chair for them, removing the red wooden plug. However, Chu Xie passed by him without giving him a second glance, not showing any favorable expression. 

Stopping in his tracks, Chu Xie nodded slightly. 

“Steward, you’ve reached the age to know your fate. There’s much work to be done in the mansion. Why not take some silver and return to your hometown?” 

The assistant steward did not understand why Chu Xie suddenly made things difficult for him. He bowed his head and kowtowed, “Lord Chu, has this humble one done something wrong?” 

Jiang Yanchi glanced at Chu Xie, thinking that he was truly unpredictable at the moment. Just as he was contemplating this, he saw Chu Xie walk up to the assistant steward, and although he lowered his voice, Jiang Yanchi could still hear a sentence or two. 

“If you insist on eating this meal, you might as well go back to your Su mansion.” 

This steward turned out to be Su Mingan’s spy. Jiang Yanchi raised an eyebrow, enjoying the drama. He wondered how he hadn’t noticed it over the years and how he suddenly found out. 

Chu Xie coldly instructed the steward who as if facing a formidable enemy, knocked and bowed repeatedly, “My lord, you have truly misunderstood me…” 

“Do I have a few misunderstandings?” The smile at the corner of Chu Xie’s mouth gradually disappeared. “Either you leave, or you become a ghost and get carried out.” 

The familiar tone sent shivers down the spine of onlookers. 

However, to Jiang Yanchi’s ears, it was irresistibly amusing. 

He followed Chu Xie, crossing a high threshold into the bustling market. 

Bright lights and a constant flow of people surrounded them. 

After walking a few steps, snow began to fall. 

It was the first snowfall of the winter. 

The fine snow melted into sparkling droplets on lanterns, disappeared on the stone-paved road, and landed on the low ends of Chu Xie’s hair and fan-like eyelashes. 

Jiang Yanchi’s complexion, however, turned somewhat pale. 

He didn’t like snowy days. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Upon hearing the inquiry, he realized he was holding Chu Xie’s hand tightly. 

At this moment, Jiang Yanchi deeply felt, amidst the sharp stabs of pain in his heart, that he had truly been reborn. 

This wasn’t a dream he had in a drunken haze in his previous life. 

Lifting his head, with a slight redness in his eyes, he caught sight of Chu Xie’s gaze but dared not meet it. 

Everything had truly begun anew. 

Heaven had shown such mercy to him. After numerous fervent pleas, it allowed him to return to his youth, to once again see the person who had captured his heart in his youth and whom he had desperately tried to hold onto with all his might. 

Scenes from his previous life flashed before his eyes, and Jiang Yanchi opened his mouth, wanting to say many things to him. 

He wanted to say, “In my previous life, you handed the throne to me, but I gradually stripped away the last vestiges of your self-preservation.”

He wanted to say, “You will die five years later, on the eve of my ascension to the throne.” 

He wanted to say, “I really like you. But I have spent a lifetime proving that being together will only bring mutual torment.” 

He had arrogantly believed that if there was only one person in the world who could win his heart, it must be himself. 

But in the end, it resulted in mutual erosion and an ending without a good outcome. 

He remembered the night of Chu Xie’s death, the snow falling heavily. When he woke up the next morning, the sun was shining brightly. 

Later, he guarded Chu Xie’s corpse and did not leave the Chengluan Palace for three days. 

At that time, he thought. 

If in this lifetime, he had never met Chu Xie. 

If he had never tried to hold onto him, maybe he wouldn’t have died. 

Now, seeing the warm gaze from Chu Xie, the moisture in Jiang Yanchi’s eyes increased, and he silently let go of Chu Xie’s hand. 

Chu Xie knew nothing at this moment. 

If he knew about the many grievances from their previous lives, he would surely distance himself completely, wanting nothing to do with Jiang Yanchi. 

Chu Xie looked down at the suddenly empty palm and glanced at Jiang Yanchi in confusion. 

However, Jiang Yanchi turned away, pointing to the lotus lanterns nearby, “Lord Chu, buy a lotus lantern.” 

Chu Xie took out his purse and bought two lanterns. 

Handing one to Jiang Yanchi, he reached out, “Come, hold it tight, don’t get separated.” 

But the child shook his head, raised his right hand to wave the umbrella, and raised his left hand to shake the lotus lantern. Still smiling, but with a hidden bitterness in his eyes, he spoke quietly, “There’s no hand to hold.” 

Chu Xie smiled and took the umbrella from him, saying, “It’s snowing, you aren’t going to open the umbrella, why are you carrying it then?” He opened the umbrella and had him hold the two lanterns, naturally holding his right hand, “Don’t you like the snow? Are you unhappy?” 

Jiang Yanchi forced a smile, “No.” 

Chu Xie found that the psychological counseling of the past ten days had indeed been effective. 

He could clearly hear the loneliness in Jiang Yanchi’s words and knew that he was not being honest; clearly, he didn’t like the snow. 

It was about emotions. 

Not a comprehensive judgment after someone said or did something. 

But a kind of feeling in their interactions. 

A feeling that transcended logic and reason. 

Chu Xie didn’t expose it. 

He simply took out a golden silk warmer from his waist pouch and hung it on Jiang Yanchi’s belt, then covered him with a long cloak, saying, “Now you won’t be cold.” 

This Chu Xie. 

Jiang Yanchi frowned slightly, wondering why he seemed like daytime but also a bit like nighttime. 

Jiang Yanchi’s eyes gradually darkened, “Lord Chu, are you trying to push me into the position of the heir?” 

Chu Xie was stunned. His slightly bent waist stiffened before straightening, and his tone was indifferent, a bit more distant than before, “Our Second Highness is indeed clever.”

“So that’s why you’re so good to me. You agree to everything I say.” Jiang Yanchi returned the golden silk warmer, stuffing it by his waist, “Isn’t that right?” 

Chu Xie and he stood facing each other, separated by an arm’s length, amidst the crowd of people coming and going. They stood still. 

The faint smile on Chu Xie’s face became somewhat cold and rigid as he observed the calculating look in Jiang Yanchi’s eyes. He thought, this child really is someone who’s been scheming since childhood. In his previous life, he pretended well and was deceived, and now he’s revealing his sharpness so quickly. 

In Chu Xie’s memory, this young Jiang Yanchi was reserved, very gentle, and obedient. 

He wasn’t particularly good at dealing with this side of Jiang Yanchi. 

He had to put on a fake smile again, looking at the lantern in Jiang Yanchi’s hand, “Second Highness, these lanterns can make wishes. Let’s go and release them by the lake.” 

The lake was not large, with a small stream flowing into it and a small river flowing westward. The surface of the lake was calm as a mirror, reflecting the lanterns and the smiling people by the lakeside. 

Chu Xie took out a matchstick, lit it, borrowed two thin brushes from some gentlemen by the lake, removed the paper from the heart of the lotus lantern, and then dipped the other brush in ink, handing it to Jiang Yanchi. 

But Jiang Yanchi didn’t move for a long time. 

He watched Chu Xie’s profile as he held the pen, and his mind flashed back to the posture when he wrote a letter to Xu Chunmu before his death. 

Two scenes overlapped. 

The pen in his hand fell to the ground, splashing ink on his foot. 

Chu Xie had just finished writing on his end and said, “What’s wrong? Could it be that you don’t know how to write?” 

This guy, Jiang Yanchi, wasn’t he just pretending in his previous life, neither good at academics nor martial arts? Was he trying to continue pretending in this life? 

Chu Xie’s mind was clear as a mirror, but he didn’t expose it. He kindly said, “If you can’t write, I’ll write for you.” 

“No need.” 

He picked up the pen and added only two hasty sentences, about six or seven characters. 

Jiang Yanchi wrote, “Wishing Chu Xie a long and healthy life.” 

Pushing the lotus lantern on the rippling water, it gradually floated towards the center of the lake, reflecting a fragmented light on the lake’s surface, as if creating a lake full of sparkling fireworks. 

In this lifetime, he no longer wished for anything else. 

As long as Chu Xie could live. 

No early death. 

If he didn’t love himself, then don’t love. 

If he didn’t marry himself, then don’t marry. 

Jiang Yanchi turned his head, looked at Chu Xie beside him, holding the burning lotus lantern in his hand, and crouched down, carefully placing it in the pond. 

For some reason, his hand tilted slightly and burned a corner of the tip. Chu Xie blew on it in surprise but accidentally extinguished the entire lantern. 

His hand froze, unmoving. 

Jiang Yanchi clearly saw the astonishment in Chu Xie’s eyes, apparently thinking this was not a good omen. He took the firestarter from Chu Xie’s hand and immediately lit the wick again, “It’s okay, nothing happened. As long as it doesn’t go out after being placed on the water.” 

After that, he held Chu Xie’s hand, and together they placed the lotus lantern firmly on the water. Stirring the water on the lake’s surface again, the lantern floated towards the center of the lake, blending in with many similar lanterns. 

The fire burned steadily, and Chu Xie’s eyes softened a bit.

His gaze followed the lantern as it drifted away, until it merged into a pile of similarly bright lights. 

What could Chu Xie’s wish be? 

Jiang Yanchi’s hand still retained the warmth of the lantern. 

It wasn’t difficult to guess, actually, if the wish he wrote was sincere. 

It must be Xu Chunmu. 

As he was about to turn away, Chu Xie unexpectedly grabbed his hand again. The green umbrella covered his eyebrows and eyes, and Jiang Yanchi could only see the slender and fair chin and the long, delicate neck. “Jiang Yanchi.” 

His heart inexplicably tightened. 

Turning around, Chu Xie’s gaze fell openly on him, with a slight smile at the corner of his beautiful peach blossom eyes, as if reflecting the vibrant flowers of spring. It immediately captured his emotions. 

So beautiful. 

“You’re right. I do want to push you into the position of the heir.” 

His thin lips curled up, reflecting the lake’s light, subtle in color but exceptionally gorgeous. 

Jiang Yanchi’s throat moved, and he averted his eyes. 

After so many years, even if it was just a glance, he would still crazily recall the gentle kisses or the passionate ones from his previous life. He subconsciously remembered the tightly embraced warmth and the bone-chilling entanglement during moments of dependence. 

He still wanted to hold onto him. 

The hand in his sleeve unconsciously tightened, but his tone remained calm, “Lord Chu?” 

Chu Xie bowed, and the peach blossom-like eyes under the umbrella flashed with a cunning and gentle light. The eyebrows at the distant mountains lightly raised, transforming into a different kind of charm in an instant. 

“Not just the heir.” 

“Lord Chu, this statement is presumptuous.” 

“But you must remember. You better obediently listen to me. Whatever I tell you to do, you will do it.” Chu Xie saw Jiang Yanchi’s dazed expression and felt that he had been too heavy-handed. He softened his tone, “This time, you must be a wise ruler.” 

This time. 

Jiang Yanchi frowned slightly, sensing something unusual in his heart. 

“Why do I have to be a good emperor?” 

“Because you can.” 

A group of children came running with kites made of paper in their hands. Jiang Yanchi quickly pushed Chu Xie aside and accidentally collided with two of them, stumbling backward. 

The children apologized repeatedly, and Chu Xie supported his arm. When he saw his feet covered in mud from being stepped on, Chu Xie said, “Your Majesty, lift your foot. Let me check if you twisted it.” 

Jiang Yanchi’s eyelids suddenly lifted. 

Thump, thump, it jumped twice. 

Chu Xie squatted down, carefully examining his foot that had moved in all directions. He then reached out and pinched his ankle. When he stood up again, there was still a faint smile on his lips. “It seems there’s no major issue. Walk a few steps and see.” 

His gaze flickered, sweeping quickly, and then he lowered his eyes to look at his ankle. Changing the subject, he said, “It still seems a bit painful.” 

“It shouldn’t be a bone injury. Walk a few steps first.” 

“Then, Lord Chu, please support me.” 

Chu Xie assisted him, and the two of them got closer. 

The snowfall intensified, shrouding the night in a hazy mist. 

“Come on, don’t be afraid.” 

Prompted by Chu Xie, Jiang Yanchi finally came to his senses, slowly extending his foot and taking a couple of steps. “Hmm, it seems like no bones are injured.” 

“In that case, let me support you back, or I can send someone to deliver a message and bring a sedan chair to pick you up.” 

“No need to trouble Lord Chu, just supporting me is enough. I can walk back.” 

Initially leaning on Chu Xie, after a while, it seemed to hurt a bit, so he pressed closer, causing Chu Xie to furrow his brow, wondering if he had indeed twisted something. 

Finally reaching the entrance of the mansion, Tao Li was standing outside with an umbrella, waiting for them. Seeing the two walking with unusual slowness, he lit the lantern in his hand to illuminate the stairs for them, expressing his concerns, “What’s going on? Didn’t we agree on one hour? Look at how heavy the snow is now! And what’s wrong with your foot?” 

“Oh, it’s alright. Let’s go see a physician,” Chu Xie ordered. “Take a small sedan chair. The road is slippery in the snow; don’t risk falling.” 

“No need, it’s not that serious.” Jiang Yanchi now knew to let go of Chu Xie’s hand and walked a few steps. It was much more stable than before. “It was just that I couldn’t exert much force earlier because of the pain. Now it seems fine. It’ll be better tomorrow.” 

Seeing Chu Xie still frowning, he asked, “Lord Chu, are you really worried about me?” 

“As the Second Prince, it’s natural for me to be concerned about your well-being,” Chu Xie replied in a dignified manner. 

Jiang Yanchi didn’t continue the conversation. He waited until Chu Xie had fallen asleep before quietly leaving the mansion in the middle of the night. It was precisely at the second quarter of the Hai hour, and the once lively lakeside was now silent, illuminated only by the glow of lanterns. 

Most of the lotus lanterns were resting by the shore, with many already extinguished. 

The snow had stopped, and the clouds cleared. 

The moonlight enveloped the lake, making everything clear. 

Stepping into the cold lake water, the winter’s freezing water, mixed with ice fragments, reached the young man’s knees. He bent down, searching for something, turning over one lantern after another. 

Nearly half an hour passed, and he finally stood up. 

He was looking for Chu Xie’s lantern. Relentlessly pushing aside the lotus lanterns, he spent two hours circling the lake, and his clothes were almost soaked, making him look pitiful in the winter’s cold. The old man who was fishing in the morning called out, “Hey, kid, what are you looking for? Let me give you a fishing net. Stand on the shore and look slowly; don’t go into the lake.” 

Why was it like this? He had circled along the lakeside already, but he still hadn’t found that lantern. 

“What are you looking for?” The old man had put on his small shoes and was paddling towards the lake shore. “Are you looking for your lantern? Ah, there are over a thousand of them, and lotus lanterns all look almost the same. You won’t find it. Go home early.” 

“No, that one is different.” 

“It’s a lotus lantern with the edges of the petals slightly burnt.” 

The old man didn’t say anything, just knocked on the boat with an oar, asking, “How about you go to the center of the lake to look? There might be a few stuck in the remnants of the lotus and dry leaves.” 

Jiang Yanchi immediately jumped onto the small wooden boat, and the old man took him to the depths of the withered lotus. The bow of the boat pressed through the crisp lotus branches, making a crisp sound. The sky gradually turned a bit white. 

In the depths of the withered lotus, there were indeed a dozen lotus lanterns entangled. 

Among them, only one lantern still had a flickering flame. 

For some reason, he reached out towards that lantern, flipping it over. Upon closer inspection, one petal was indeed burnt black. 

This was the one.

When he wrote it, he couldn’t have imagined that someone could accurately find his lantern from among thousands of lotus lanterns. 

Chu Xie cared a lot about this lotus lantern. 

So, what he wrote must be a genuine wish. 

He wanted to personally confirm what he had written on it. 

Suppressing his excitement, his hands trembled slightly. Without extinguishing the flame, he carefully took out the small scroll of paper from the lotus lantern and slowly unfolded it. 

His pupils quivered. 

On it was written: 

“In this life, I wish to have a true life of my own.” 

This life. 

The previous life. 

Therefore, he seemed like the night, yet also like the daylight. Hence, he involuntarily uttered the words “Your Majesty.” 

At this moment, he recalled the gaze and the complicated expression from that first encounter in the evening. That seemingly unexamined question and the intricate eyes. 

Chu Xie, you actually— 

He was also reborn. 

Such a thing still existed in this world. 

The faint light on the horizon spread, gradually illuminating half of the sky and dispelling the darkness. 

Chu Xie was also reborn. 

But he didn’t hate himself. 

Could it be that, before taking his last breath, what Xu Chunmu said to him wasn’t a lie? 

Even if it was just a little, Chu Xie, in the previous life, indeed— 

Had some feelings for himself. 

It was just fate playing tricks, just the world being cruel. 

Just his younger self being too young and impulsive, not knowing how to love someone gently. 

Holding the warm light in his hands, Jiang Yanchi’s eyes, now tinged with red, shed tears one by one. Afraid of extinguishing the light, he carefully rolled up the paper and placed the lotus lantern back in its position. 

Just a little bit. 

Even if it’s just a little bit. 

Even if the world becomes more difficult, even if the capital becomes more perilous. 

Even if this time, he is genuinely scared and may head towards the same ending. 

He is still willing to gather courage again and take another chance at the possibility of growing old together. 

Chu Xie yearns for a new life. 

He will give him a new one. 

Even if separated by mountains, rivers, lakes, and plains, as long as that person takes a step towards him. 

The rest, climbing mountains and crossing waters, he will also run towards him. 

On that day, in broad daylight, Jiang Yanchi developed a high fever that lasted for two days, leaving him in a delirious state. 

Chu Xie thought it was quite serious, so he went to the palace early to summon the royal physician, who said it was due to catching a cold. 

Pondering on this, they had gone out together to the night market. How come he only got a little cold from the wind, while Jiang Yanchi ended up burning with fever and losing consciousness. 

Sitting by the bedside, the boy suddenly woke up, reaching out with his burning hand, gripping Chu Xie’s wrist and saying in a soft, plaintive voice, “I’m cold.”

Duan Se went to prepare the medicine and would not be back for a while. Chu Xie had to tightly wrap the blanket around them and said, “Like this?” 

However, Jiang Yanchi held onto him even tighter, snuggling up to him. His burning forehead pressed against Chu Xie’s leg, “Cold.” 

Chu Xie fetched two golden silk warmers and tucked them into the bedding, asking, “Is it a bit better now?” 

“Still very cold.” 

Once again, Chu Xie hardened his heart. He instructed someone to close all the windows and doors, leaving only the two farthest ones open. He had two charcoal braziers brought in and asked, “Is it warmer now?” 

Jiang Yanchi shook his head, his voice choked, whether due to illness or some other reason. “No, still… very cold.” 

Helpless, Chu Xie removed his outer garment, got on the bed first, and embraced the child who seemed like a bundle of fire. Jiang Yanchi circled his waist with both hands, pressing his whole body against him, rubbing against his chest. 

“Is it still very cold?” Chu Xie asked. 

Jiang Yanchi gradually tightened his arms, smelling the familiar scent of cypress on him, and tears dampened Chu Xie’s chest little by little. 

Lifting his head, he looked very obedient. 

“Not cold anymore.” 

Chu Xie breathed a sigh of relief. 

Jiang Yanchi was burning hot, like a big warm stove, making Chu Xie feel warm all over. The Jiang Yanchi from his previous life was rigid and uncomfortable to be around, but this thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy had a good figure, fitting perfectly against his chest. 

Chu Xie, who was always afraid of the cold, found it quite comfortable to hold this warm bundle. Before long, he felt a bit drowsy. 

After brewing the medicine, Duan Se entered the room and saw the two tightly cuddled, already asleep. Jiang Yanchi, who couldn’t sleep well the previous night, was now sleeping soundly with closed eyes. 

Duan Se took the medicine back to the kitchen to simmer on low heat, planning to wake them up in a couple of hours. 

Raising her eyes, she looked at the warm sunlight outside, a change from the cold days of the past few days, even the breeze felt refreshing. 

A relieved smile appeared on her lips. 

The medicine pot made a bubbling sound, and white steam rose gently. Unusually, the cheerful singing of magpies could be heard outside, one after another, melodious and loud. 

Just now, the two, one big and one small, lying on the bed seemed genuinely tired. 

Let them. 

Rest well. 

In the future, it will surely get better. 

The author has something to say: The main text ends. 

This is truly the hopeful beginning. 

It’s a warm and healing ending. 

Child Chu’s illness cannot be completely cured in a day or two, but Child Jiang will accompany him and gradually emerge from true despair. 

Child Jiang also learns to fight against his own anxiety. In a love where feedback is possible, he truly gently likes someone. 

There will be an afterword and extras

End of the story, throwing flowers~

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>