Chapter 100:
This night was destined to be uneasy.
Candle flames flickered as heavy guards stood watch. Jiang Juan had been waiting in the main hall for a long time.
He felt very uneasy.
He didn’t know how His Highness was doing.
Moreover…
It was obvious that he would be used to threaten Xue Fangli.
Jiang Juan sighed softly, feeling that he had to struggle; he couldn’t just sit and wait for death.
Suddenly, Jiang Juan remembered something.
In the afternoon, when he went to the waterside pavilion to cool off, a maid had told him something.
——”This water is mountain spring water, quite sweet.”
Spring water.
Wasn’t it flowing?
Jiang Juan could swim. Before entering the book, due to his heart condition, he couldn’t engage in intense exercise but also couldn’t stay inactive. So, when his condition allowed, he would be taken out to swim slowly for a bit.
He needed to find a way to check it out.
With this thought, Jiang Juan made up his mind.
Looking left and right, Jiang Juan used his trump card.
—Heart condition relapse.
He had been sitting motionless on the chair, but suddenly, Jiang Juan covered his chest with his hand and leaned forward as if in extreme pain, with tears hanging on his eyelashes. “It hurts, my chest hurts, I can’t breathe.”
The “Imperial Guards” standing by panicked and rushed to report.
Meanwhile.
Jiang Nian asked Marquis Anping, “Marquis, they say you’re concerned about my brother. What’s going on?”
Jiang Nian had traveled south with Marquis Anping. He originally thought the marquis would be down for a few more days and would recover only after the flood. But upon reaching Jiangnan, he discovered that Marquis Anping and Su Feiyue had long planned.
—They had already recruited soldiers and bided their time for years, intending to seize the throne!
At this moment, recalling past events, Jiang Nian realized something was wrong.
In his past life, when Marquis Anping went south for disaster relief, soon after, the rebel army suddenly emerged. Later, Marquis Anping, moved by the suffering of the displaced people, chose to abandon the court and join the rebel army, leading them to attack the imperial city.
But now it seemed…
The so-called rebel army was their own people, right?
But regardless, none of this mattered.
Jiang Nian had always cared about one thing.
—He wanted to be second only to one, above ten thousand.
Therefore, on that day, after a brief shock, Jiang Nian tearfully said to Marquis Anping, “No matter what you want to do, I’ll be with you.”
Returning to the capital from Jiangnan, Jiang Nian followed all the way. In the past few days, his previous frustrations disappeared. As long as Marquis Anping took that position, he could—repay those who humiliated him, one by one, with interest!
But today, the confrontation between Marquis Anping and Xue Fangli caught Jiang Nian off guard.
Marquis Anping was concerned about Jiang Juan?
He actually cared about Jiang Juan?
He had never thought about it this way and always believed that Marquis Anping only had him in his heart. But upon learning this, Jiang Nian recalled many past events and details. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became, and finally came to ask.
Marquis Anping was stunned, “What are you talking about?”
Jiang Nian said tearfully, “I know everything the crown prince said.”
Although he had long understood his feelings, Marquis Anping still didn’t want to admit it in front of Jiang Nian, “Do you believe everything he says?”
Marquis Anping frowned, “Xiao Nian, don’t overthink. If I didn’t value you, why would I take you to the barracks and keep you with me all the way?”
In fact, Marquis Anping took Jiang Nian not only because he found him insightful but also out of some guilt.
“Really?”
Jiang Nian looked at Marquis Anping. The marquis’s eyes flickered, “My feelings have never changed.”
Hearing this, Jiang Nian smiled through his tears. Just as he was about to say something, someone came running.
“Marquis, Marquis, something bad has happened! The Crown Prince Consort has had a heart attack!”
Marquis Anping’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this. He turned and left without giving Jiang Nian a glance or a word of comfort.
Jiang Nian stood there, his fingers digging into his flesh. He watched coldly as Marquis Anping’s figure disappeared into the distance, then finally followed.
When Marquis Anping arrived, Jiang Juan was still clutching his chest. His eyelashes fluttered, wet with tears, looking genuinely miserable.
“Marquis, the Crown Prince Consort says he wants to go outside for some air.”
“Quick, help him out.”
Marquis Anping frowned and immediately agreed. The “Imperial Guards” helped Jiang Juan out the door, but he still frowned deeply, almost crying, “No, I feel terrible, I still feel terrible.”
The youth’s pain didn’t seem fake. Moreover, Marquis Anping had always heard about his frequent heart attacks. He angrily said, “Where’s the doctor? Call the doctor over.”
Jiang Juan suddenly grabbed his sleeve, his voice trembling, “Marquis, I want to go there—the waterside pavilion, it’s the most ventilated, it’s too stuffy here, too stuffy.”
Hearing this, Marquis Anping immediately carried Jiang Juan on his back and personally took him there.
At the waterside pavilion, the water flowed gently.
As soon as Jiang Juan was put down, he collapsed to the ground as if he had no strength to stand, but his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, looking a bit better.
Marquis Anping observed him for a moment and felt relieved.
“Thank you.”
Jiang Juan thanked him.
Marquis Anping said nothing, just stared at Jiang Juan with a deep, brooding look. After a long time, he asked, “If the Crown Prince were gone, would you be willing… to be with me?”
Jiang Juan: “…”
Jiang Juan: “???”
Originally faking illness, Jiang Juan was almost frightened into a real heart attack. He stammered, “No, I wouldn’t.”
This was a rejection. Marquis Anping gritted his teeth, remembering what Xue Fangli had said during the confrontation, and grabbed Jiang Juan’s shoulder, “What do I lack compared to him?”
Jiang Juan honestly said, “Your Highness treats me well and didn’t annul my engagement for someone else.”
Marquis Anping was stunned, his grip tightening, “If… if I hadn’t annulled the engagement then?”
This kind of hypothesis was really meaningless. Jiang Juan shook his head, “Marquis, but you did annul it.”
Jiang Juan felt nothing, but Marquis Anping only felt pain.
He often regretted his decision and often wondered what today would be like if he hadn’t annulled the engagement.
But…
He annulled it. From the beginning, he chose to annul it.
Marquis Anping closed his eyes.
“Forget it, we’ll talk about the future later.”
That bastard wouldn’t survive the night anyway.
Marquis Anping clenched his fists, hatred almost spilling from his eyes. He took one last look at Jiang Juan, saw that he had indeed recovered a lot, and then remembered Jiang Nian.
Frowning, Marquis Anping decided to go and comfort him a bit.
But as soon as he turned the corner, Marquis Anping saw Jiang Nian, whose eyes were red and swollen.
“You…”
Jiang Nian’s teeth chattered with anger. “Marquis, you really have changed your heart.”
“I knew it. No wonder when I mentioned the matters of the Eldest Princess’s residence that day, you resented me for being accommodating. You…”
Jiang Nian had followed all the way and had heard their conversation. He couldn’t maintain his composure any longer.
He had thought Marquis Anping was easy to manage, that he was worthy of a lifetime of trust, that he was a good person who would plan for him and defy the world for him. But—he was nothing more than this.
He had changed his heart.
He had long since changed his heart!
Jiang Nian cried and laughed, “Marquis, have you forgotten the past affection? Forgotten our promises? That day, when we were boating on the lake, you said you would be with me for life, that you would enter the palace to ask His Majesty for our marriage, you…”
“I am your fiancé. Hasn’t His Majesty already granted us marriage? Why are you still thinking about him?”
The hopes of years were shattered in an instant, and Jiang Nian was almost driven mad. He knew he should act pitiful to gain sympathy, but Jiang Nian couldn’t help himself. He was truly unable to contain his emotions.
In the end, was it all for nothing?
In his past life, he had married into Prince Li Residence and ended up depressed.
In this life, he decided to take a different path, only to have his brother ruin it for him.
Jiang Nian almost coughed up blood. “Marquis, is it that a wife is inferior to a concubine, and a concubine is inferior to a mistress? My brother, he had an engagement with you, but you were infatuated with me. After he married into Prince Li Residence, and you and I were engaged, you still showed interest in him.”
“Do you particularly like the coldness of others?”
Marquis Anping had originally wanted to comfort him, but Jiang Nian’s words made him feel quite embarrassed. He was also provoked. Marquis Anping gritted his teeth and said, “What are you saying?”
“Wife inferior to concubine, concubine inferior to mistress?”
Marquis Anping said, “That day I went to the palace, His Majesty said it was not appropriate and did not grant us marriage. What are you as a fiancé?”
“Besides, what did uncle say wrong at the Eldest Princess’s residence? If it weren’t for your incessant seduction, I wouldn’t have broken off the engagement with Jiang Juan. His maternal grandfather would now be a great help to me!”
Every time he thought of this, Marquis Anping was frustrated. He flung his sleeve and left angrily, while Jiang Nian stood there, feeling like he was caught in a stormy sea.
No marriage granted?
No marriage granted?
Even—Marquis Anping blamed him for seducing him!?
Such a seduction.
This was the path he had chosen, the so-called good person he had believed in.
He was filled with hatred.
He was truly filled with hatred.
Unknowingly, Jiang Nian’s tears streamed down his face. Marquis Anping had already gone far, and Jiang Nian turned back to the waterside pavilion. Jiang Juan was sitting on the ground, resting his hands on the bench, lying down.
He wiped away his tears and walked over.
“Young Master Jiang.”
The “Imperial Guards” stationed near the waterside pavilion greeted Jiang Nian. Jiang Nian smiled faintly, no longer showing his earlier breakdown. He said softly, “I need to ask the crown prince consort something. You may leave first.”
The “Imperial Guards” were surprised. “But…”
Jiang Nian said, “The Marquis’s orders.”
Jiang Nian had followed Marquis Anping, and the “Imperial Guards” knew him and trusted him deeply. They thought it was something confidential that the Marquis wanted to discuss, so they all stepped aside.
In no time, only Jiang Juan and Jiang Nian remained in the waterside pavilion.
“Brother.”
Jiang Nian called out to him. Jiang Juan looked up from his observations. “Huh?”
Jiang Nian walked toward him, grabbing Jiang Juan’s chin and examining him closely for a few seconds. His jealousy almost became palpable. He coldly said, “You really have some skills.”
“Crown Prince was bewitched by you, and the Marquis is also… infatuated with you.”
At the end, Jiang Nian almost gritted his teeth, “I really want to scratch your face!”
Jiang Juan: “…”
Seeing that Jiang Nian was truly angry, Jiang Juan finally felt a sense of crisis. He hesitantly said, “Please calm down.”
“The Marquis is yours. I’m not competing with you, really.”
It was better that he hadn’t said it. As soon as he did, Jiang Nian’s anger flared up even more.
He had meticulously planned, thinking he had Marquis Anping in his grasp, but ended up failing at the last moment!
And the other party was still saying they weren’t competing with him!
Jiang Nian grabbed Jiang Juan’s wrist tightly, “Why is your fate so good? Why do you get everything handed to you without doing anything? What makes you better than me?”
“Marquis Anping is, Xue Congyun is, Jiang Qingshui is, and even Gu Puwang is like this!”
That day, after Jiang Nian had an unpleasant parting with Xue Congyun and the others, he had just sat in the carriage when he saw the usually aloof Gu Puwang staring at the candied hawthorn skewers brought for Jiang Juan, smiling very gently.
Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingshui were fine; small favors they remembered. But Gu Puwang, Jiang Nian had spent so much effort on him. Even when their relationship was the best, Gu Puwang never smiled at him like that.
Yet Jiang Juan was given a candied hawthorn skewer and was rewarded with a smile.
Why?
Why did he have to take everything?
Jiang Nian: “Now it’s good. You’ve taken everything from me, I have nothing, I have nothing left!”
The more he vented, the more Jiang Nian’s hatred grew. He wanted to kill Jiang Juan, but he knew he couldn’t harm him.
No matter what, he and Marquis Anping were in the same boat. If something happened to Jiang Juan, no one could predict what would happen.
But Jiang Nian was unwilling.
He really wasn’t willing to let Jiang Juan go just like that.
Jiang Nian took a deep breath, his gaze falling on the water curtain of the waterside pavilion. He suddenly smiled with a strange expression.
He pulled Jiang Juan and dragged him to the riverbank, his anger almost distorting his face. He whispered, “My dear brother, do you remember that day? I asked you to spare the Marquis. He has no feelings for you, he only loves me. You only cause him pain.”
“I begged you to annul the engagement and let him be free to be with me.”
Jiang Nian sighed lightly, “You were much easier to handle back then. Just a few words, and you were enraged, not even realizing that I fell into the water myself and you never actually touched me.”
“But no matter what, I did fall into the water for you, so today, you owe me one!”
Jiang Nian reached out, about to push Jiang Juan into the water. Suddenly, with a splash, someone emerged from the water, brushing the water off his face and staring blankly at Jiang Nian and Jiang Juan.
Jiang Qingliang: “……”
This was quite absurd.
He had been punished to stay in the water for days, searching for nonexistent items for that annoying crown prince. This time, he had come to scout around and stumbled upon such a big catch.
Jiang Nian’s expression changed. Reacting quickly, he said, “Come—” Jiang Qingshui quickly interjected, “Brother Nian, wait, let me explain!”
Jiang Nian instinctively looked at him. Jiang Qingliang leaped onto the waterside pavilion without hesitation and struck Jiang Nian!
Jiang Nian fell unconscious.
Jiang Qingliang glanced at Jiang Nian with a complicated expression. He had naturally heard Jiang Nian’s words and spoke to Jiang Juan with frustration, “Brother Juan, what’s going on? You weren’t the one who pushed him, yet you haven’t even explained.”
Jiang Juan, feeling annoyed, said, “I only just found out that it wasn’t me who pushed him.”
Jiang Qingliang: “……Forget it.”
No matter what, they had found Jiang Juan. Jiang Qingliang said, “Brother Juan, come with me quickly—do you know how to swim?”
He said cheerfully, “As long as I save you, we can sort things out. Otherwise, if you fall into their hands, we won’t even dare to fight.”
Jiang Juan hesitated, “I know a bit. But… are we just leaving? The Sixth Prince is still here.”
Jiang Qingliang waved his hand, “It’s okay, don’t worry about him. Fools usually have big luck.”
Jiang Juan: “……”
Seeing Jiang Juan still hesitating, Jiang Qingliang added, “Saving one is better than none. Besides, they’re using you to threaten the Crown Prince, demanding that he commit suicide before the evening to force His Majesty to pass the throne to Marquis Anping.”
Jiang Juan’s heart tightened, “Then let’s hurry.”
Jiang Qingliang nodded, lifting his clothing corner for Jiang Juan, “Hold on to me.”
Jiang Juan agreed with a “Mm.”
With several splashes, in the waterside pavilion, besides the unconscious Jiang Nian, no one else remained.
The time of You (5-7 PM) was approaching.
The two sides faced each other.
“Your Highness, have you considered the matter?”
Su Feiyue, riding a horse, slowly approached the front of the line. Marquis Anping followed him, his face appearing calm, but his hand gripping the reins trembled slightly, as if he were extremely excited.
Xue Fangli ignored Su Feiyue and spoke to Marquis Anping, “Marquis Anping, I have confirmed something just now.”
Marquis Anping turned to look at him, “What is it?”
“Years ago, when Jiang Qingmei went to Miaoling Temple to offer incense, it was because her son with Qi Xiuran fell seriously ill. Jiang Qingmei went there to pray for him,” Xue Fangli said, “After Jiang Qingmei entered the palace for a year, the child suddenly died. Soon after, Qi Xiuran and Jiang Qingmei planned to escape.”
“I asked General Jiang. He said that when he rushed over, the child had already been buried by Qi Xiuran. I had people dig up the grave—it was an empty grave.”
Marquis Anping frowned, “Your Highness, what are you saying? If it’s to delay, there’s no need.”
Xue Fangli continued, not paying attention to the question, “Besides this, there’s another matter I find quite puzzling.”
“Marquis Anping, you seem to know so much about what happened years ago—how Jiang Qingmei went from being a Jiang family young lady to becoming Beauty Yu, how Jiang Qingmei was married and had a child, you know it all.”
Marquis Anping’s expression changed. “Your Highness, what exactly are you saying? Beauty Yu is the Emperor’s consort. What does that have to do with Jiang Qingmei?”
Xue Fangli gave him a half-smile, opening a scroll and asking him word by word, “Marquis Anping, who exactly are you?”
“Very few people know about Jiang Qingmei. The people who fabricated her status as an orphan were dealt with by my father long ago. Now, only a few people know the truth. They naturally wouldn’t inform someone as inconsequential as you, unless… you already knew about this.”
Xue Fangli lifted his lips, “It was just a guess at first, but then it became clear. This explains the hostility of the Marquis.”
“Ordinary people, even if they curse me privately, are still afraid of me when they see me. Only the Marquis is different, his hostility is plainly visible. It seems you really hate me.”
Marquis Anping was stunned for a long time. He had long known that Xue Fangli was extremely perceptive, but seeing him so quickly piece together the clues still shocked him.
He could refuse to admit it, but he had been playing the role of Marquis Anping for too long, and he had endured too much. Years of lurking had been for this day.
“I only hate that the bowl of wolf’s blood didn’t kill you!”
Marquis Anping said with hatred.
He had thought that bowl of wolf’s blood would eliminate Xue Fangli, making him suffer from wolf bites, but it had let him escape!
Even that time at the inn, he had intentionally spread the news there, thinking that such a blatant feature would soon lead someone to mention Prince Li and think of Emperor Hongxing, planting a seed in their minds. But it once again fell through!
Marquis Anping hated Emperor Hongxing even more and hated Xue Fangli.
Over the years, he had harbored a deep blood feud and had been forced to endure repeatedly. Yet Xue Fangli could act recklessly.
He was the one who had caused his mother’s death!
“Wolf’s blood…”
Xue Fangli laughed with a mocking expression, “Marquis, the matter of the wolf’s blood should be the work of the Prince Consort, right? Truly meticulous and careful. I have pursued it for many days with no results. It was unexpected that the Marquis would personally disguise himself as a beggar.”
“You—!”
Marquis Anping could not miss the sarcasm in Xue Fangli’s words and his face grew angry.
Seeing this, Su Feiyue had to press down on Marquis Anping and sighed, “Your Highness, there’s no need to delay any further. The mountain roads are long, and General Jiang will not make it back in time.”
Xue Fangli merely smiled and glanced at him, “Prince Consort, it seems you already knew he was not the Marquis Anping. Given this, why did you still recognize him as your nephew?”
Su Feiyue did not hide the truth, “If His Highness wishes to know, I will explain. Years ago, I was investigating a case, but the Emperor had all the evidence burned and forbade further inquiry. I fell seriously ill upon my return, and my teacher had a friend take care of me. At that time, my teacher saved a man…”
“That man was Qi Xiuran. The archers thought he was dead and threw him into the moat. My teacher found him and took him in. During his recovery, I conversed with him extensively. Unfortunately, he did not survive, but before he passed, he entrusted his only son to me.”
With a sigh, Su Feiyue added, “He was indeed a pitiable person.”
Xue Fangli gave him a sidelong glance but remained silent.
“Enough, Your Highness, no more idle talk. The urgent matters at hand take precedence.”
Su Feiyue asked, “Your Highness, have you made your decision?”
“If you commit suicide, once the decree is issued, the Crown Prince Consort will be safe. Teacher only has this one grandson; I truly do not wish to harm the Crown Prince Consort.”
Xue Fangli smiled, “What if I do not commit suicide?”
Su Feiyue sighed, “In that case, we would have to trouble the Crown Prince Consort a bit.”
“Someone, bring the Crown Prince Consort here.”
Su Feiyue gave the order, and soon, the messenger returned empty-handed. He looked panic-stricken and reported, “L-Lord Su, it’s terrible. The Crown Prince Consort—he’s missing!”
Su Feiyue’s smile vanished as he looked up at Xue Fangli. The man’s robe fluttered, his expression nonchalant, and he lazily asked, “Hmm? What’s this? My Crown Prince Consort has been lost by you?”
“How careless of me not to remind the Prince Consort. My Crown Prince Consort must be closely monitored at all times. A single lapse, and he could cause trouble, making one anxious.”
Without Jiang Juan, Su Feiyue wasn’t overly angry. He merely sighed, “I thought that with the Crown Prince Consort here, we could avoid a battle and reduce many troubles. But—”
“Your Highness, your Imperial Guard has only a few thousand men, while I have tens of thousands. No matter how well-trained your guards are, the odds of victory are slim.”
“Then there’s no need for the Prince Consort to worry.”
Su Feiyue nodded, “In that case, Your Highness, be careful with the swords and arrows.”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, “I will take care.”
“Your Highness, I apologize for the inconvenience!”
As the words fell, Su Feiyue gave a command, but just then, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the air, stirring up dust. It seemed as if a thousand troops were marching, shaking the earth.
“Your Highness, I have arrived!”
Jiang Sentao, clad in armor, rode in first.
Behind him was a sea of troops. Jiang Sentao dismounted and smiled at Xue Fangli, “This time, I arrived in time and was not delayed!”
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