The Daily Life of a Depressed Salted Fish Chapter 49

When Jiang Wu announced the news, the first to be struck speechless was King Xiang, his eyes trembling in their sockets, his face full of terror.

By the time the court had dispersed, the news had already spread rapidly across Guanjing. Yin Wuzhi arrived later that afternoon, and the entire city was abuzz.

“Have you heard? The young emperor is going to marry.”

“It’s been half a year since he ascended the throne—time to appoint an empress.”

“If his maternal family had any power, he would have had a consort when he was still crown prince.”

“You’re all missing the key point—he’s not marrying just any woman; he’s marrying that madwoman, Qiu Wuchen.”

Madwoman Qiu Wuchen. Everyone knew she was once engaged to the late Crown Prince Jiang Yuan. After his death, she vowed to remain a virgin in mourning, still referring to herself as the crown prince consort and even proclaiming that she would one day be Empress of Great Xia. Her father, Minister Qiu, was so ashamed he cast her out of the family.

“Is the emperor marrying her out of respect for the late Crown Prince?”

“What else could it be? She always claimed she’d be the future Empress of Great Xia, and the emperor must be doing this to console her. Surely he can’t actually be in love with a madwoman?”

“The emperor is truly kind.”

“A rare saint among men.”

Yin Wuzhi walked his horse through the streets.

His face was pale as frost, the wound near his heart festering, itching, and stinging like an insect bite.

Upon returning to King Dingnan’s residence, Dingnan Wangfei immediately noticed something was wrong and summoned a doctor. While changing the dressing, she gasped, “How did it get so bad?”

King Dingnan glanced at the wound and frowned. “It’s obvious the dressing hasn’t been changed properly. It’s sweating and oozing pus—we’ll have to remove the dead flesh… Have you been rushing without resting?”

“I’m fine,” Yin Wuzhi lowered his eyelashes, “I won’t die.”

“Don’t say that!” Dingnan Wangfei, teary-eyed, was comforted by King Dingnan. “The boy just wanted to come home quickly, so you wouldn’t worry. Don’t cry now.”

The doctor sighed softly. “The young shizi must endure. It may hurt.”

The silver blade scraped the edges of the wound, removing the decayed flesh. Fresh blood quickly filled the injury again, but Yin Wuzhi remained silent, his expression growing paler.

King Dingnan led Dingnan Wangfei away and returned once the dressing was changed. He adjusted Yin Wuzhi’s clothing and said, “Now that you’re back, rest at home and don’t move around too much.”

“I need to go to the palace.”

“It’s already dark. What business could you have there?”

“I have urgent news for His Majesty.” Yin Wuzhi, regaining strength, fastened his clothes and pulled a portrait from his bag. “Father, please look.”

King Dingnan glanced at it and then again, his face changing abruptly. “This is…”

“You recognize it too, Father.”

“Who is this?”

“A person from Zhao, name unknown.” Yin Wuzhi carefully put the portrait away. “I must report this to His Majesty tonight.”

King Dingnan shook his head. “At this hour, His Majesty is surely asleep. Wait until tomorrow—he would likely consult us before making any decision anyway.”

“I must go. This matter is too important.”

Respecting his son’s determination, King Dingnan didn’t stop him.

At this hour, Jiang Wu was indeed already asleep. Fortunately, Yin Wuzhi could freely enter the palace due to his rank. By the time he reached the Taiji Hall, the palace was dark. Qi Hanmiao was keeping vigil by Jiang Wu’s bedside when the dog Ah Gui suddenly bolted out. Following the dog, Qi Hanmiao came out to greet Yin Wuzhi: “Why has the young shizi come so late? Is it about His Majesty’s marriage to Qiu…”

“No.”

Qi Hanmiao blinked.

He had thought perhaps King Dingnan’s family sent Yin Wuzhi to dissuade the emperor, given that Qiu Wuchen was known to be unstable and unfit to be empress.

Yin Wuzhi patted Ah Gui’s head but didn’t linger on the gesture. “I have urgent business with His Majesty.”

“But… His Majesty is asleep.”

“This matter cannot wait. I’ll stay until he wakes.” Yin Wuzhi sat at the table in the hall. Qi Hanmiao warmed a pot of tea but heard him ask, “Do you have any alcohol?”

“Alcohol?” Qi Hanmiao sniffed the air. “This servant can smell the medicine from your highness’s body. If you’re injured. You should avoid alcohol.”

“It’s cold at night—a little alcohol won’t hurt.”

Qi Hanmiao thought for a moment. “I’ll fetch some fruit wine then.”

“En.”

The alcohol was soon placed in front of him, and Qi Hanmiao stoked the fire. “It’s cold; warm yourself with this.”

“Thank you.”

“Why thank me?” Qi Hanmiao smiled. “The young shizi traveled far to deal with bandits and now returns to care for His Majesty. It’s this servant who should be thanking you.”

Yin Wuzhi tugged at the corners of his mouth, though his face showed little emotion.

Thinking he was stressed over state matters, Qi Hanmiao asked, “Shall I wake His Majesty now, if it’s so urgent?”

“Let him sleep.” As the warm alcohol filled the air with its aroma, Yin Wuzhi gazed at it quietly and added, “There’s no need for so many people to stay here. You should rest as well.”

“It wouldn’t be right to let you, after traveling and being injured, sit up all night watching over His Majesty.” Qi Hanmiao suggested, “Why not lie down for a bit? This servant will wake you when he stirs.”

“No need.” Yin Wuzhi took a sip of alcohol and calmly said, “You go sleep, I’m used to this.”

Qi Hanmiao had already been up for half the night and started yawning in the second half. Unable to refuse Yin’s insistence, he bowed and said, “Then I’ll be in the next room. If anything comes up, shizi can have Ah Gui call for me.”

Ah Gui, lying at Yin Wuzhi’s feet, barked softly.

After Qi Hanmiao left, Yin Wuzhi downed the rest of the warm alcohol in the vessel. One pot wasn’t enough, so he poured another.

After finishing both pots, he told Ah Gui, “Go wait by the door.”

Then, he went straight to the dragon bed, lifted the bed curtains, and looked at the person inside, sleeping soundly.

Yin Wuzhi, slightly emboldened by the alcohol, climbed onto the bed. He propped his limbs on either side of Jiang Wu, staying motionless like a ghost.

His eyes, along with his face, were flushed red from the alcohol. His gaze toward Jiang Wu was filled with restrained emotion and unspeakable grievance.

“Why are you smiling?” He stared at the upward curve of Jiang Wu’s lips. Because his arm was supporting his body with great effort, his wound hurt more, causing his voice to tremble slightly. “Is marrying Qiu Wuchen making you this happy, hmm?”

He shifted his position, placing all his weight on his right arm, and ran his fingertips along the side of Jiang Wu’s face. Whether from pain or the effects of the alcohol, his breathing became uneven. “Do you even deserve it, Jiang Wu? Do you deserve to marry her?”

His voice was so low it resembled a ghost whispering in the night. He leaned closer to Jiang Wu’s face, his eyelashes thick and curly. “Someone like you… do you deserve to take a wife?”

He pressed his lips against Jiang Wu’s cheek.

Yin Wuzhi closed his stinging eyes for a moment, then said, “You don’t even care about me. I treat you so well… but you don’t care at all. What makes Qiu Wuchen better than me? Just because she can sew clothes for you?”

He grabbed Jiang Wu’s collar and said, “You’re not allowed to wear the clothes she sews. You’re not allowed to wear them…”

He furrowed his brows and struggled into various positions. Cold sweat slid down his forehead. After much effort, he finally managed to strip the clothes off.

Jiang Wu, half-asleep, felt a sudden chill. The blanket felt heavier, and then he experienced a sensation similar to sleep paralysis, feeling suffocated and short of breath.

He struggled hard but couldn’t push it off, eventually falling back asleep, grumbling with frustration.

However, because he was uncomfortable, he woke up earlier than usual.

Opening his eyes, it slowly dawned on him that the “blanket” on him was actually Yin Wuzhi.

“Yin Wuzhi.” He called out, but there was no response. Hot breaths puffed against his ear, and Yin Wuzhi’s face was burning hot. Jiang Wu twitched his nose, catching the scent of medicinal herbs.

Yin Wuzhi was injured.

The heat was likely due to his wound, and he had developed a fever.

Push—

So exhausting.

Yin Wuzhi weighed over a hundred jin. Jiang Wu simply couldn’t muster the strength to push him off.

“Yin Wuzhi, Yin Wuzhi,” he said, “Wake up.”

He raised his arm with difficulty and saw the red stains spreading on Yin Wuzhi’s white robe. Jiang Wu stared at the spot for a while, wrinkling his nose.

Blood.

A lot of blood.

Was Yin Wuzhi dying?

“Yin Wuzhi.” Jiang Wu was prepared to call Sixteen to summon the imperial physicians if he didn’t wake up. Finally, the person on top of him stirred slightly.

But as he moved, his shoulder wound bled even more.

Jiang Wu said, “You’re hurt. Don’t move.”

Yin Wuzhi propped himself up and looked down at him, his face as pale as paper.

Jiang Wu informed him, “You’re bleeding.”

“Does your heart feel pain?”

Jiang Wu instinctively checked his own heart and replied, “No.”

Yin Wuzhi’s lips were dry and cracked, forming bloodstains as he pulled them into a smile, saying, “I don’t feel pain either.”

Jiang Wu looked at his shoulder, then back at his face, confused. “It doesn’t hurt?”

Yin Wuzhi pinched Jiang Wu’s face. Jiang Wu’s cheeks were yanked outward, making his face slightly contorted. “That hurts.”

Large beads of sweat dripped onto Jiang Wu’s face. He blinked as Yin Wuzhi sneered. “You haven’t even bled. What are you complaining about?”

Jiang Wu noticed his mood. “You’ve disturbed my pleasant dreams, and I’m not even mad. Why are you?”

“Right, why would I be mad? What reason do I have to be angry?” Yin Wuzhi muttered, “What reason do I have to be angry?”

Jiang Wu was forced to tilt his face up as Yin Wuzhi gripped both his cheeks with one hand, causing his lips to pout like delicate petals under his palm.

Jiang Wu: “?”

Yin Wuzhi bled and sweated, his eyes reddened. “Why should I be angry? Someone as heartless as you doesn’t deserve my anger.”

Jiang Wu understood.

Yin Wuzhi liked him but had been stood up by him, so now he was furious.

Jiang Wu tried to pull his lips back, but Yin Wuzhi suddenly tightened his grip.

“…” He couldn’t speak.

Jiang Wu’s pale skin and red lips made him look especially pitiable when pinched like that.

“Mmn hrng nn,” Jiang Wu mumbled, “You’re hurting me…”

Yin Wuzhi brushed against his lips.

Jiang Wu’s eyes were clear and bright.

Yin Wuzhi’s eyelashes fluttered as he seemed to restrain himself, but after one touch, he couldn’t hold back and pressed his lips again for a second time.

Finally, Jiang Wu’s scrunched-up face was released. But the next moment, Yin Wuzhi leaned down and kissed him on the lips.

It wasn’t how Jiang Wu imagined. Yin Wuzhi kissed him gently, carefully, one hand resting on the top of his head, while his eyes shimmered with tears.

Afterward, Yin Wuzhi held him tightly, resting his chin on his bloodstained left shoulder.

“Yes,” Yin Wuzhi murmured into his neck, his expression stiff and lips tightly pressed for a long while before he finally spoke again. “I’m injured.”

“…It really hurts.”