Chapter 116:
After all this, Jiang Juan went straight to Liangfeng Courtyard.
What should you do when you’re in a bad mood?
Lie down first.
Jiang Juan lay on the soft couch, pulled a thin blanket over himself, and wrapped himself up like a roll, lying there very peacefully.
Having been deceived for so long, he couldn’t help but feel a bit angry.
He used to think Xue Fangli’s coughing blood was serious and that he truly didn’t have long to live. He had cried several times over it.
But Jiang Juan had lied too. Whenever he didn’t want to socialize, he used his heart condition as an excuse to escape.
Thinking it over, it seemed like they were even.
No, wait, they weren’t even.
He had said he wouldn’t stay with him anymore, yet Xue Fangli hadn’t tried to stop him.
Jiang Juan: “?”
He quickly sat up.
Damn it.
He had said those harsh words, and Xue Fangli didn’t even try to comfort him.
Did he really not want to be with him anymore?
Finally, Jiang Juan came to a conclusion.
—They weren’t even. Xue Fangli not comforting him meant he was at fault!
Jiang Juan hadn’t been that angry initially, but now, thinking about it, he successfully managed to anger himself.
“Young master.”
Lan Ting knocked on the door. She had overheard a bit of what happened and knew Jiang Juan might be in a bad mood. Instead of pushing the door open, she stood outside and asked, “Do you want to see…”
Jiang Juan’s ears perked up at the sound.
Lan Ting said softly, “Do you want to see the Sixth Prince—Prince Jing?”
Why was it Xue Congyun?
Jiang Juan sighed and said dejectedly, “Let him in.”
Lan Ting whispered a few words to someone, and soon, the door was pushed open. Xue Congyun swaggered in.
Times had changed. Jiang Juan had been promoted, and Xue Congyun was no longer just the Sixth Prince but a grand Prince Jing, someone everyone had to address respectfully. He was quite imposing now.
Of course, when he saw Jiang Juan, Xue Congyun still had to call him “brother.”
“Brother Juan, hey hey.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
He looked at him in surprise and said slowly, “Act normal. You’re really scary when you act like this, you know?”
“It’s not my fault,” Xue Congyun said happily. “Brother Juan, you’re really reliable.”
If Jiang Juan hadn’t been in a coma for several days, Xue Congyun would have come to share the good news much sooner.
Back then, Xue Congyun had asked Jiang Juan to put in a good word for him so he could become a carefree prince. Jiang Juan had only said he would ask, but when the imperial decree came, Xue Congyun’s fief was indeed a top-notch place, so good that even his elder brother Xue Chaohua was green with envy.
“Hey hey, hey hey.”
Thinking about it, Xue Congyun couldn’t stop smiling. “Brother Juan, how did you manage to put in such a good word? Fifth Brother really gave me a great place and didn’t make me leave immediately like he did with Eldest Brother. I get to stay in the capital a few more days.”
“Huh?”
Jiang Juan was first puzzled, then felt guilty because he had forgotten about it entirely.
Jiang Juan explained, “I didn’t put in any good word.”
Xue Congyun winked at him, “Alright, alright, you didn’t. You didn’t.”
Jiang Juan sighed weakly, “…I really didn’t.”
Xue Congyun thought he was just being modest and didn’t believe him at all. Jiang Juan looked at him, wanting to say more but not knowing how to clear things up, so he changed the topic: “Why are you alone? Where are Jiang Qingliang and Gu Puwang?”
“Oh, them,” Xue Congyun said, “They’re busy. Not long after you passed out, Jiang Qingliang followed the army to the border, and Gu Puwang is with the Imperial Court of Judicial Review on some case. He’s also left the capital.”
When Jiang Juan asked about Jiang Qingliang and Gu Puwang, Xue Congyun smacked his forehead, remembering something. “They both told me several times to inform them if you woke up. I forgot, so I’ll send them a message when I get back.”
“They’re all out of the capital.”
In the past, they all used to be at the Imperial College, always hanging out together and having fun. But now, both Jiang Qingliang and Gu Puwang had their own responsibilities. Getting everyone together wasn’t going to be easy anymore.
Jiang Juan couldn’t help but sigh.
He remembered that in the original story, Jiang Qingliang would become the renowned General Jiang, making a name for himself on the battlefield and earning respect far and wide. As for Gu Puwang, he was a talented scholar, known for his courage and meticulousness, achieving countless merits and eventually becoming the Prime Minister, the top civil official.
Only Xue Congyun had no grand ambitions, merely wanting to be a carefree prince, living an idle life, which he had now achieved.
Thinking of it this way, Jiang Juan felt a bit better.
Everyone was busy but doing well, achieving remarkable success in their chosen fields or living the life they desired.
Jiang Juan’s tone was tinged with regret, but Xue Congyun misunderstood. He said, “It is a pity. Fifth Brother plans to remarry you, but they can’t make it back in time.”
Jiang Juan was stunned. “How do you know?”
Xue Congyun replied proudly, “Of course I know. You don’t have any brothers—oh, you do, but it’s like you don’t. Anyway, I’ll be the one carrying you to the sedan chair.”
At this point, Xue Congyun wasn’t regretful at all. He was actually glad the other two weren’t around; otherwise, they’d end up fighting over who got to carry Jiang Juan.
Xue Congyun started laughing foolishly again. “Hehe, Brother Juan, hehe.”
Jiang Juan: “…”
“Calm down,” Jiang Juan said honestly. “We just had a fight. He doesn’t even want to be with me anymore, who knows if we’ll remarry.”
Xue Congyun’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
Jiang Juan thought for a moment before explaining the whole situation to Xue Congyun.
“Anyway, I lied to him, and he lied to me.”
After listening, Xue Congyun fell silent.
Xue Congyun: “…”
Xue Congyun: “…………”
Jiang Juan glanced at him, seeing Xue Congyun biting his lip, frowning hard, his face twisted. Jiang Juan had to say, “You can laugh.”
Xue Congyun couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into loud laughter. “Hahahahahahahaha.”
To Xue Congyun, his Fifth Brother, who had always been so astute, had finally made a mistake this time. But what was his Fifth Brother thinking, pretending to cough up blood to deceive the person?
The more Xue Congyun thought about it, the funnier it seemed, and he laughed even harder.
Jiang Juan said gloomily, “Why are you still laughing?” Xue Congyun wiped tears from his eyes, “It’s just too funny, hahaha.”
After a pause, Xue Congyun asked Jiang Juan, “So… Brother Juan, all those times your heart condition flared up, it was all an act?”
There was no point in hiding it now. Jiang Juan nodded, “Yes, it was all an act.”
Xue Congyun gave him a thumbs-up, clicking his tongue in admiration. “You acted so convincingly.”
Of course, Jiang Juan was a seasoned heart patient; faking an episode was no big deal. But there was no need to explain this to Xue Congyun. Jiang Juan pursed his lips.
Xue Congyun chuckled to himself for a while longer before cautiously saying, “Brother Juan, don’t be too upset. You lied to my Fifth Brother, and he lied to you. Isn’t that even?”
Jiang Juan knew what Xue Congyun said made sense, but he was uncertain about Xue Fangli’s thoughts.
When Jiang Juan said he wouldn’t live with him anymore and even walked out, Xue Fangli didn’t stop him.
Jiang Juan feared Xue Fangli was angry.
But Jiang Juan also felt, why should Xue Fangli be angry?
After all, Jiang Juan was the one who had been deceived more.
Seeing Jiang Juan not speaking, Xue Congyun hesitated before tentatively asking, “Brother Juan, do you know what my Fifth Brother did during the days you were unconscious?”
Jiang Juan knew a bit. “He had people smash the temple and had many monks kidnapped.”
Xue Congyun said, “That’s not all.”
“There’s a tower in the capital called Jinghua Tower,” Xue Congyun continued, “It’s thirty-six stories high. It’s said that if one prays all the way to the top, a living Buddha will appear and grant their wishes.”
Jiang Juan was startled. He had some impression of this tower.
“What are you saying…”
Jiang Juan had a guess, but he wasn’t sure. Xue Congyun told him, “That day, when the imperial physicians were at a loss, Fifth Brother went to Jinghua Tower and prayed all the way to the top for you.”
Even now, when Xue Congyun recalled that day, it felt like a dream. His Fifth Brother, kneeling and praying step by step in the tower, all for the health of one person.
“How could he kneel…”
Jiang Juan’s eyes widened.
Jiang Juan disliked kneeling, and although Xue Fangli never explicitly said it, Jiang Juan knew he also disliked it. Xue Fangli was proud and haughty; no one was worthy of his bow.
Moreover, Xue Fangli didn’t believe in gods or spirits.
How could he kneel?
How could he kneel? Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered. He thought he knew the answer.
Xue Congyun said, “For you.”
Yes, for him.
If not for him, Xue Fangli would never kneel to anyone, let alone pin his hopes on gods or spirits.
This scoundrel seemed to be passionate about only two things: bullying him and being good to him.
Aside from that, Xue Fangli had little interest in anything.
No one enjoyed bullying Jiang Juan more than Xue Fangli.
And no one treated Jiang Juan better than Xue Fangli.
“I didn’t know…”
Jiang Juan suddenly felt deep regret. He shouldn’t have lost his temper at Xue Fangli, and he definitely shouldn’t have said those things, even if he was afraid of being taken advantage of.
Jiang Juan knew he had been spoiled by Xue Fangli. All his bad temper and tantrums were reserved for Xue Fangli alone.
He shouldn’t be like this.
As he thought about it, Jiang Juan suddenly jumped out of bed, running barefoot outside.
“Brother Juan, where are you going?”
Xue Congyun was stunned and instinctively followed. But as soon as Jiang Juan pushed the door open, Xue Fangli was standing outside.
It was unclear how long he had been there, with one hand raised as if to knock but hesitating to do so.
“Sorry…”
Jiang Juan suddenly hugged him, burying his face in Xue Fangli’s chest.
“Running around barefoot like that.”
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes, put his arm around Jiang Juan’s waist, and lifted him up.
He intended to put Jiang Juan back on the bed, but after just a few steps, Xue Fangli paused and asked, “Why are you crying?”
Jiang Juan didn’t lift his head, only asking, “Are you tired?”
“Thirty-seven floors of the pagoda, praying at each step. Were you very tired?”
Xue Fangli glanced at Xue Congyun, whose shoulders shrank as he guiltily lowered his head, practically confessing without being questioned.
Xue Fangli never intended for Jiang Juan to find out about his prayers at the pagoda. He knew Jiang Juan’s character well enough to predict that if he found out, he would surely cry. Yet, he found out anyway.
“I’m not tired.”
Xue Fangli closed his eyes briefly. “I was just a little scared. Scared that even after praying on all thirty-seven floors, it wouldn’t make a difference.”
Jiang Juan didn’t say anything, his pale fingers clinging to Xue Fangli’s robe, trembling slightly.
After a while, he slowly lifted his head and reached out to touch Xue Fangli’s forehead, asking, “Does it hurt?”
Xue Fangli replied, “It doesn’t hurt.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Juan got a bit angry. “How could it be neither tiring nor painful? You never tell me anything.”
“You don’t cough blood, yet you keep using that to soften my heart. When something really happens, you hide it from me. What are you trying to do?”
Jiang Juan was confused; he genuinely couldn’t understand.
“I want to soften your heart, but I don’t want to see you cry.”
“But because of your coughing blood, haven’t I cried before?”
Xue Fangli said, “That’s why I regret it.”
Jiang Juan was taken aback.
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes, “Sorry.”
Jiang Juan had heard his apologies many times, but this time he didn’t immediately accept it as he usually did. Instead, he slowly asked, “Does it really not hurt or tire you?”
“I don’t know,” after a moment of silence, Xue Fangli said, “When I prayed at the pagoda, I only wanted my wife to come back. With each floor, I chanted his name, with each bow, I thought of him, leaving no room for anything else.”
Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered, and a few tears fell. He lowered his head and wiped them on Xue Fangli’s chest, muttering, “And you said I could sweet talk. You are the one, speaking so sweetly.”
He had apologized, so Jiang Juan naturally should too. “Sorry, I was also always lying to you.”
Xue Fangli responded with a hum, “It’s okay.”
While speaking, Xue Fangli glanced at Xue Congyun out of the corner of his eye. Xue Congyun wisely slipped out and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
Xue Fangli carried Jiang Juan to the soft couch and placed him there.
Jiang Juan’s eyes were red, and his nose even redder. He looked up at Xue Fangli with a pitiful expression.
“Sorry.”
Jiang Juan apologized again, reflecting seriously, “I shouldn’t have lied to you or kept losing my temper. I…”
Xue Fangli glanced at him and said flatly, “Since when did acting spoiled count as losing your temper?”
Jiang Juan: “…”
What acting spoiled? He was clearly throwing a tantrum. Jiang Juan frowned and said, “Let me finish.”
Xue Fangli reached out to wipe away Jiang Juan’s tears, casually saying, “Since you don’t have a heart condition and insist on apologizing, why not try a different way?”
Jiang Juan looked at him in confusion, “Huh?”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, leaning close to Jiang Juan’s ear, his voice husky and seductive, “Do you remember how many times in bed you refused me, using your heart condition as an excuse to escape?”
“You know what I want.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
He was still in the middle of his self-reflection?
Can’t he just be good?
Author’s note: His Highness: No.
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