Chapter 108:
Jiang Juan regretted it.
If he had known that the price of being complimented would be being stripped down, he would have preferred to be merely brushed off.
There’s no remedy for regret. With his hands firmly pinned down, Jiang Juan couldn’t push Xue Fangli away and could only shake his head desperately, “No…”
“Everything you say is impossible.”
Xue Fangli spoke calmly, showing no intention of letting Jiang Juan off.
The young man was lying on the couch, his black hair spread out, his red robe brilliant against his pale skin, making for a captivating sight. Xue Fangli stared at him for a long time, his slender fingers unfastening the belt.
In the next moment, the intricate phoenix robe fell away, revealing Jiang Juan’s fair skin, with only a red mole on his neck standing out vividly.
Jiang Juan struggled, “This robe is so troublesome. It took so much effort to put it on, and now you just want to take it off?”
Xue Fangli leaned in, his fingers brushing over the red mole, and whispered in Jiang Juan’s ear, “If I don’t touch you daily, I should at least give you some sweetness.”
“…I don’t withhold touching.”
Feeling the warmth, Jiang Juan instinctively turned his head, feeling ticklish and accidentally pinching Xue Fangli’s hand.
Seeing this, Xue Fangli stopped teasing the mole and started to tease Jiang Juan, leisurely asking, “Why do you always pinch other people’s hands?”
The mention of pinching reminded Jiang Juan of some unpleasant memories. Angrily, he retorted, “Don’t talk about it.”
Xue Fangli chuckled, his tone mocking, which only made Jiang Juan more annoyed. “You’re so annoying.”
At this point, Jiang Juan no longer cared about any sweet talk; he genuinely wished that Xue Fangli would stop touching him altogether.
Jiang Juan, typically easy to appease, would usually forgive with a show of vulnerability or a kiss. In this instance, Xue Fangli chose the latter. He grasped Jiang Juan’s chin and leaned in to kiss him.
At first, Jiang Juan was still upset and resisted, but Xue Fangli was unfazed. He pried open Jiang Juan’s lips and deepened the kiss.
Xue Fangli knew Jiang Juan intimately, perhaps even better than Jiang Juan knew himself. He was aware of what kind of kisses Jiang Juan enjoyed and what would make him compliant.
Their tongues intertwined, the kiss intense and possessive.
Soon, Jiang Juan became soft and pliant, too exhausted to resist even if he wanted to.
But then, Xue Fangli’s hand, which was gripping the worn spot on Jiang Juan’s leg, jolted him back to his senses.
Unconsciously, the phoenix robe hung in disarray, creased and crumpled on Jiang Juan.
“No…”
“Yes.”
With one hand pressed firmly on Jiang Juan’s bare back, Xue Fangli held him close, and Jiang Juan struggled to retain a shred of rationality. “Don’t get the robe dirty.”
“If it gets dirty, it gets dirty.”
Xue Fangli was uninterested in Jiang Juan’s protests and kissed him again. Jiang Juan couldn’t speak, only held onto Xue Fangli’s hand, his eyes glossy with frustration.
“…It’s not healed yet.”
Between kisses, Jiang Juan mumbled, his voice muffled.
“What?”
“Last time… the place that got worn.”
Jiang Juan lowered his eyelashes, embarrassed because they hadn’t reached this stage before. But he knew if he let things go on, he wouldn’t accept it, and the outcome would be like last time.
“And… the coronation ceremony is in a few days. If I can’t walk properly, how will I manage?”
Jiang Juan furrowed his brows, genuinely distressed. Xue Fangli observed him for a few seconds, his crimson lips curving up.
“Want to be human?”
Xue Fangli leaned in and whispered a few words in Jiang Juan’s ear. Jiang Juan’s lashes fluttered, and he furtively glanced at Xue Fangli. His pale pink fingertips involuntarily curled up. “But… I can’t hold it.”
“Use both hands.”
“……”
Xue Fangli asked, “Unwilling?”
He laughed softly, his tone full of regret. “Then I’ll just have to use you.”
As Xue Fangli continued to kiss Jiang Juan, he began to be more forceful, and Jiang Juan’s eyes grew misty. Not wanting to embarrass himself, he eventually surrendered, his voice soft as he agreed,
“I’ll help you. I’ll use my hands.”
To avoid humiliation, Jiang Juan really tried hard, enduring sore hands for several days as a result.
When he was nearly recovered, the day of the coronation arrived.
The sky was clear and bright.
Jiang Juan got up early, and Lan Ting helped him into the phoenix robe.
— A few days prior, Lan Ting had entered the palace willingly. Jiang Juan had confirmed multiple times, and Lan Ting had insisted that after years of serving him, she was eager to stay by his side in the palace.
“Young Master, why do you look… so unwell?”
Jiang Juan, drowsy and slumped in front of the mirror, had Lan Ting styling his hair. She glanced at him in the mirror and frowned, noting how pale he looked.
Jiang Juan didn’t pay much attention. “Haven’t I always looked this way?”
Lan Ting shook her head. “It’s different.”
Although Jiang Juan’s complexion was often poor, especially his lips, which were very pale, there was usually a hint of color. Today, however, even that faint color was missing.
Lan Ting asked, “Young Master, are you feeling unwell?”
Jiang Juan did feel a bit off, his head was spinning slightly, but since he always felt this way when he woke up early, he didn’t think much of it. “I’m fine.”
Lan Ting was still concerned, her brow furrowed tightly. “If….you do feel unwell, make sure to tell me.”
Here is the translation using natural language while capturing the essence of the original text and employing past tense:
Jiang Juan nodded and was about to respond when someone walked up slowly. The person asked Jiang Juan, “Not feeling well?”
The person’s jet-black robe flowed elegantly on the ground like clouds, and a hand with defined joints reached out to Jiang Juan, checking his forehead temperature. Jiang Juan gently pressed his hand down and shook his head, “No.”
“Lan Ting said I looked unwell and asked if I was feeling sick.”
Xue Fangli lifted Jiang Juan’s face and examined him for a moment, then touched Jiang Juan’s lips. “Here, the color is too pale.”
Jiang Juan couldn’t see the difference from his usual self. He said casually, “Maybe I didn’t sleep well.”
Xue Fangli made a noncommittal sound, not sure if he believed him. He asked Lan Ting for a box of rouge, dipped his finger in it, and gently applied it to Jiang Juan’s soft lips.
“…I don’t want it.”
Jiang Juan pushed his hand away, saying, “I’m not a girl.”
Xue Fangli ignored him, lowered his gaze, and evenly spread the powder on Jiang Juan’s lips. Though his demeanor was cool, making Jiang Juan seem a bit impatient, his touch was tender and his expression focused.
Lan Ting couldn’t help but smile. After a while, she remarked, “Your complexion looks much better now.”
Jiang Juan looked at himself in the mirror and found it odd. He glanced at Xue Fangli, feeling somewhat envious.
He needed rouge to improve his complexion, but Xue Fangli’s lips were naturally a vivid red.
Thinking about this, Jiang Juan reached out and touched Xue Fangli’s lips. Xue Fangli asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Juan blinked and said, “Let me put some rouge on you too.”
Xue Fangli gave him a glance, uninterested in responding. Jiang Juan took this as consent and climbed onto Xue Fangli’s neck, leaning in.
— Instead of using his finger to dab the rouge, Jiang Juan pressed his lips against Xue Fangli’s, playfully rubbing them together.
After a while, Jiang Juan pulled back, but then his face fell again. “It didn’t work.”
Xue Fangli: “Hmm?”
Xue Fangli’s lips were so red that even with the rouge applied, it was completely hidden and couldn’t be seen.
“You can’t see the rouge.”
Xue Fangli smirked and said casually, “You didn’t kiss long enough. Kiss again, and make it longer. Then you’ll probably see it.”
Jiang Juan wasn’t fooled. “No more kisses. Go away.”
Lan Ting found the situation amusing but continued to finish styling Jiang Juan’s hair. When everything was nearly ready, Chief Steward Wang entered with a smile, announcing, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, the time is approaching. Please, let’s go.”
Xue Fangli nodded slightly and extended his hand to Jiang Juan. As Jiang Juan took his hand and attempted to stand, a wave of dizziness hit him, causing him to collapse into Xue Fangli’s arms.
Xue Fangli held him steady and asked again, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Recently, Jiang Juan had been experiencing bouts of dizziness, but they were usually brief and he had forgotten about them quickly. With the coronation ceremony approaching, he didn’t want to delay anything.
He fought against the discomfort and replied, “I’m fine. I just… stumbled a bit.”
Xue Fangli scrutinized him for a while before ordering, “Call for the imperial physician.”
Jiang Juan shook his head. “I’m fine. Let’s go. The time is almost here, we can’t delay.”
He tried to stand up again, but the dizziness was overwhelming, making it impossible for him to support himself. He had to rely on Xue Fangli for support.
Xue Fangli lifted him effortlessly, feeling Jiang Juan’s body was cold. Seeing the situation, Chief Steward Wang, worried about any potential problems, hurriedly ran out. “Imperial Physician! Quickly, call the Imperial Physician—!”
With Jiang Juan’s forehead resting against Xue Fangli’s chest, his heart raced and his chest felt tight.
Perhaps it really wasn’t a big issue. After resting for a while, Jiang Juan’s condition improved. By the time the imperial physician arrived, he had already recovered.
“I’m fine now.”
The rouge still coloring his lips, Jiang Juan’s face remained as vibrant as a blooming flower. He pushed Xue Fangli’s hand away and stood up slowly, explaining, “It was probably just because I stood up too quickly.”
After a pause, Jiang Juan urged, “We really need to go.”
Xue Fangli replied, “We’ll wait for the imperial physician to examine you first.”
“But it’ll take a while for theimperial physician to arrive. What if we’re delayed?”
“Delay if we must.”
Xue Fangli’s tone was firm, showing no room for negotiation. “Don’t move around. Rest properly.”
Jiang Juan felt he was overreacting. He frowned and proposed, “Then… I’ll wait for the imperial physician to arrive. You go ahead first.”
Xue Fangli remained silent, his attitude clear. Jiang Juan sighed and grumbled, “What’s this about?”
“It’s not just a morning court; you’re skipping the coronation ceremony.”
Ignoring Jiang Juan’s complaints, Xue Fangli kept him firmly in his embrace. When Imperial Physician Sun arrived, breathless from running, he quickly retrieved his medical kit and, gasping for air, addressed Jiang Juan, “Your Highness, I—”
Jiang Juan rolled up his sleeve, extending his arm to him. Imperial Physician Sun gratefully placed his fingers on Jiang Juan’s pulse.
After a moment, Imperial Physician Sun asked, “Your Highness, what exactly happened?”
Jiang Juan answered, “Just a bit of dizziness.”
Imperial Physician Sun hesitated. “But your pulse shows no abnormalities.”
Jiang Juan glanced at Xue Fangli. “I told you it was just because I stood up too quickly.”
Xue Fangli didn’t respond, only looking at Imperial Physician Sun. Understanding his concern, Imperial Physician Sun checked Jiang Juan’s pulse again, saying, “There are no abnormalities.”
With no issues detected, Jiang Juan breathed a sigh of relief. He took Xue Fangli’s hand and pulled him forward. “Your Majesty, we really need to go.”
Despite Jiang Juan’s apparent lack of concern, Xue Fangli kept a watchful eye on him and instructed Imperial Physician Sun, “You come with us.”
Imperial Physician Sun acknowledged, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Outside the Huagai Hall, all the officials had arrived.
“What time is it?”
“Where is the Emperor? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”
“What’s going on?”
As the time approached, the new emperor was still missing, leaving the officials puzzled. They were all present and had no idea what was happening, so they could only continue to ask around.
For a moment, the hall was filled with murmurs.
However, some knew the reason for the delay.
“It must be Brother Juan.”
Although Xue Congyun, Jiang Qingliang, and Gu Puwang were spread out in different places, they exchanged a knowing glance.
There could only be one reason why Fifth Brother would be so delayed.
What happened to Brother Juan?
Xue Congyun felt quite worried.
Fortunately, not long after, a sedan chair was carried in, and Chief Steward Wang announced loudly, “The Emperor has arrived—!”
“Long live the Emperor!”
The previous whispers vanished immediately. All the officials prostrated themselves on the ground and looked in the direction of the voice.
A black robe swept past, adorned with golden embroidery, and Xue Fangli stepped out of the sedan chair. He did not immediately proceed; instead, he extended his hand back into the sedan chair.
In full view of everyone, he carried someone out.
Jiang Juan buried his head in Xue Fangli’s arms, feeling utterly despondent.
He had insisted he wasn’t dizzy anymore and that he was fine, but Xue Fangli refused to let him walk and insisted on carrying him.
He hadn’t wanted to embarrass himself, but now he was making a grand spectacle of it at the coronation ceremony.
Jiang Juan, having lost all hope, kept his eyes down, pretending that nothing was wrong.
With Xue Fangli carrying him, they walked past the prostrated officials, ascended the steps, and reached the highest platform. Only then did Xue Fangli set Jiang Juan down.
With a calm expression, Xue Fangli said, “Rise.”
“Long live the Emperor—!”
“Long live the Empress—!”
The officials bowed and expressed their respect.
Xue Fangli gave a slight nod. Noticing Jiang Juan’s displeased expression, he knew Jiang Juan felt embarrassed. Xue Fangli chuckled softly and finally spoke to his officials. His first words were, “The Empress is unwell, which is why we were delayed. I had to carry him up myself.”
The new emperor arrived late. The court officials were initially unaware of the situation, but with his statement, they understood everything.
— The empress was unwell.
Even such an important event as the ascension could be delayed, which highlighted the empress’s significant position in his heart and further confirmed his affection for Jiang Juan.
The officials were quite surprised and looked at Jiang Juan with even more intense curiosity.
Jiang Juan: “……”
It seemed like it would have been better if no explanation had been given at all.
The coronation ceremony required not only announcing to the heavens but also to the ancestors, making incense burning an essential part of the ritual.
Chief Steward Wang handed over several incense sticks. Xue Fangli casually took them and slowly inserted them into the incense burner.
Chief Steward Wang, seeing this, smiled and declared, “The ceremony is complete—!”
The officials bowed once more and said, “We pay respect to Your Majesty—!”
Jiang Juan should have joined in the bowing, but he disliked kneeling and, since Xue Fangli had not insisted, he took the opportunity to stand aside and watch.
Xue Fangli glanced over and called out to Jiang Juan, “Come here.”
Jiang Juan mumbled a reluctant “Oh,” and started walking towards him. However, before he reached Xue Fangli’s side, the familiar dizziness struck again.
This time, the dizziness was much more intense than before.
It felt as though Xue Fangli was speaking from a distance. Jiang Juan could hardly hear him, and his vision was becoming increasingly blurred. Everything around him was covered in a gray haze, making it difficult to see anything clearly.
As the world spun around him, Jiang Juan felt lost and helpless. He tried to grab onto something, but the world was swaying, and he couldn’t hold onto anything.
“Jiang—Juan.”
“Brother Juan! Brother Juan—!”
The last thing he was aware of was someone’s hand gripping his tightly and numerous urgent voices calling out to him.
Then, Jiang Juan fell into a quiet, dark abyss.
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