Chapter 12
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Jiang Juan lay unknowingly in Xue Fangli’s arms.
After the glass shards were removed and Jiang Juan was bandaged by Imperial Physician Sun, he was instructed, “Don’t walk or touch water for a while.”
Jiang Juan nodded weakly.
He nestled against Xue Fangli’s chest. Originally only his hair tips were wet from the medicinal bath, but now his forehead was also covered in a thin layer of sweat, emitting a faint scent of sweet herbs.
Xue Fangli sniffed his scent, his hand on Jiang Juan’s neck intermittently caressing. His expression was relaxed, with a hint of long-lost ease.
Imperial Physician Sun, having never seen anyone more afraid of pain than Jiang Juan, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Rest well.”
Jiang Juan, feeling tired, lifted his head and asked Xue Fangli listlessly, “Your Highness, how do I get back?”
Unable to walk due to the restriction of not being able to touch the ground, Jiang Juan couldn’t make it back on his own. Asking a girl like Lan Ting to carry him was out of the question.
Xue Fangli responded, “No need. Rest here.”
Jiang Juan didn’t really feel like moving anymore. Upon hearing this, he immediately grabbed onto the armrest of the couch and said lethargically, “Then I’ll just sleep here.”
He slept on the soft couch, not competing with Xue Fangli for the bed.
Jiang Juan nestled into the beauty’s couch, his body also leaning to one side as he left Xue Fangli’s embrace. The scent lingering in the air began to dissipate. Xue Fangli frowned slightly, but then calmly nodded.
Standing up, he relinquished the entire couch to Jiang Juan. Jiang Juan almost immediately fell asleep, but in the drowsiness, somehow, he suddenly remembered a passage from the book.
——”That night, Prince Li stayed at a remote country manor. In the middle of the night, he suffered a sudden illness, coughing up blood incessantly. The imperial physicians accompanying him hurriedly arrived, but they were unable to do anything. Before dawn, news of Prince Li’s death had already reached the capital. The Emperor, upon hearing this, was furious, suspending court for three days and ordering the execution of over a hundred people.”
In the middle of the night, a sudden illness struck.
Before dawn, news of his death had reached the capital.
When Imperial Physician Sun finished treating his foot injury, it seemed like dawn was approaching, didn’t it?
Jiang Juan: “?”
He suddenly opened his eyes.
Lan Ting had just come in and was wiping Jiang Juan’s face. She asked quietly, “Did I wake you up, Young Master?”
Jiang Juan shook his head absentmindedly, turning his head to look outside where the morning light was already faintly shining.
Jiang Juan: “???”
What’s going on with this novel? Even if His Highness’s character is quite different, the plot doesn’t match at all.
In the middle of the night, His Highness didn’t suffer from a sudden illness; instead, a pack of wolves appeared.
Wait a moment. With so many wolves around, if he had arrived late or hadn’t come at all, and had not noticed the abnormality of the young wolf, wouldn’t His Highness also be in trouble?
Perhaps His Highness’s death was actually an accident, not a sudden illness?
He had spent almost half the night with His Highness, and His Highness really didn’t suffer any sudden illness.
Jiang Juan: “…”
That makes sense.
In other words, it seems like he accidentally saved His Highness and changed the plot.
Realizing this, Jiang Juan’s mood became somewhat complicated.
His Highness was a good person, and every time Jiang Juan thought about his fate, he felt regret. Now that His Highness was safe and sound, of course, there was nothing better.
However, Jiang Juan himself wasn’t doing so well. He had come to be a salted fish, and had even planned how to enjoy his life after His Highness’s death.
But now…
His salted fish life was shattered, and his happiness disappeared.
Jiang Juan felt like crying but couldn’t shed tears. He lowered his head in despair and bumped it against the armrest.
“What’s wrong?”
Xue Fangli noticed and spoke calmly.
“Nothing,” Jiang Juan replied wearily, shaking his head.
Xue Fangli looked down at him. Despite Jiang Juan’s light bump, his forehead turned red. Xue Fangli asked, “What’s bothering you?”
Of course, it was that his envisioned life of bliss was no more – being the longest-lasting bachelor, living as the saltiest fish, just loafing around the residence waiting for death.
But Jiang Juan couldn’t speak the truth. He replied listlessly, “…. My foot hurts.”
Bringing it up only made things worse. Once the words were out, Jiang Juan realized another issue: the plot had changed, with no casualties in the manor except for his foot.
Jiang Juan: “…..”
How could this be?
Why is the salted fish the one who got injured?
Is this the outcome of not wanting to make an effort?
Jiang Juan lightly bumped against the armrest again, completely feeling like a salted fish who has lost his dreams.
He couldn’t help but wander in his thoughts again.
If His Highness hadn’t passed away, his stay in the residence wouldn’t be as free, and he wouldn’t be able to just laze around waiting for death. There’s a high probability he’d have to become His Highness’s Royal Consort, forced to handle daily affairs and even interact with the main characters.
No way.
He only wants to be a salted fish, not a Royal Consort.
How about slipping away?
According to the plot, he still has a grandfather in the countryside. It wouldn’t be bad to go back and seek refuge with his grandfather. The more Jiang Juan thinks about it, the more feasible it seems. He gathers his spirits once again. “Your Highness…”
“Hmm?”
Xue Fangli casually responded and his gaze lingered on Jiang Juan for a long time, his expression inscrutable.
He was lying.
The reason for the young man’s unhappiness was not his foot injury.
Jiang Juan said nervously, “On the day of the wedding, you were going to send me away and said you would ask me again in a few days. Well, now you can ask me again.”
Xue Fangli’s eyebrows twitched. “What’s the matter?”
“I’ve changed my mind,” Jiang Juan said slowly, “I’ve thought about it, and it seems like I’ve been causing you trouble all along. So maybe… it’s better if you just send me away.”
Xue Fangli listened without immediately responding. There was no change in his expression, just a casual lift of his crimson lips as he smiled. Then, with a hint of regret, he said, “No, you can’t.”
As the young man wept in his arms, every moment earlier, every second earlier, he would have agreed to let him go if he had said he wanted to leave. But he hadn’t, and now it was too late. He had changed his mind.
Xue Fangli lowered his eyelids, smiling gently. “You saved my life. I haven’t even had a chance to repay you, so how could I consider it troublesome?”
“And besides, it’s hardly any trouble.”
Jiang Juan: “…It is.”
He hadn’t given up yet, wanting to make one last attempt. Jiang Juan had a sudden inspiration and continued, “Your Highness, I’ve had a chronic illness since I was young. The masters all say that the age of eighteen is a calamity, and I might not make it through. I’m afraid I’ll burden you with my illness.”
Xue Fangli lifted his eyelids. “It’s nothing. I already have an incurable condition, unrelated to you.”
Pausing for a moment, Xue Fangli asked thoughtfully, “Is that the reason you’re upset?”
Jiang Juan blinked, unable to explain to him, so he just nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid of burdening Your Highness.”
Xue Fangli stared at him for a while, then walked over and reached out a hand towards Jiang Juan. The pale fingertips gently brushed over the red mark on the young man’s forehead. He smiled softly, “You’re injured on your foot, it’s not advisable to wander around. Just focus on recovering, don’t overthink it.”
Jiang Juan: “…Alright.”
He had forgotten about that. So Jiang Juan couldn’t really leave for the time being, nor could he escape.
However—
Was His Highness’s incurable condition coughing up blood? Jiang Juan recalled what he had said on the day of their marriage.
“…Given that my time is short, how would you feel about me sending you away?”
Jiang Juan pondered for a few seconds.
Perhaps, he thought, he could still be the saltiest fish after all.
No, he couldn’t think like that.
Jiang Juan scolded himself loudly in his mind, then honestly settled down.
—Three chapters had already passed, so enduring a little longer shouldn’t be a big problem, right?
.
The Minister Residence.
Jiang Nian picked up a cup of hot tea, lowered his head, and blew gently a few times. The tea leaves swirled in the cup, and the hot steam wafted onto his face, but his thoughts involuntarily drifted away.
In his past life, he was already on his way to the country manor.
— Prince Li passed away.
He dreaded this man so much that even upon learning of his death, he didn’t want to go to bid him farewell or see him one last time. But as the Royal Consort, Jiang Nian had no choice but to board the carriage.
Fortunately, Jiang Nian didn’t arrive in time.
Upon hearing the dreadful news, the Emperor rushed to the country manor himself. Seeing his grief, he couldn’t bear to look further, so he had the coffin sealed and directly sent to the imperial tomb.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Nian came back to himself, but he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
How come his father hasn’t returned yet?
He shouldn’t be attending court today.
In Jiang Nian’s memory, Prince Li passed away late at night. On this day, the Emperor didn’t attend the morning court, so his father should have returned long ago.
A sense of unease suddenly welled up in his heart.
After another two sticks of incense worth of time passed, there was finally some movement outside the door.
“Xiao Nian, what’s the matter?”
Minister Jiang strides in, having heard that Jiang Nian was waiting for him in the study, and hastily makes his way over. “Is there something wrong?”
Jiang Nian shakes his head and asks him, “Father, where have you been? Why did you only just return?”
Minister Jiang chuckles. “Today wasn’t a day of rest, so I attended court.”
Attended court?
Jiang Nian is taken aback, hesitantly asking, “Father, last night… did anything happen?”
Minister Jiang never hides anything from him when it comes to court matters, and he intentionally tries to prepare Jiang Nian in advance. However, there really wasn’t anything significant today. Minister Jiang responds, “Nothing happened, why do you ask?”
Feeling increasingly uneasy, Jiang Nian cautiously inquires, “….Did anything happen at Prince Li Residence last night?”
Mentioning Prince Li Residence seems to jog Minister Jiang’s memory, and he casually replies, “Oh, Prince Li Residence? Nothing major.”
Jiang Nian presses further, “What happened?”
Minister Jiang ‘s tone remains calm as he says, “Someone from Prince Li Residence informed me that Jiang Juan sustained a minor injury last night and won’t be able to return home tomorrow.”
Jiang Nian blurts out, “What about Prince Li?”
Minister Jiang looks puzzled, “What about Prince Li?”
“Is he alright?”
“Why wouldn’t he be?”
Jiang Nian glances at Minister Jiang, seeing his genuine look of confusion, completely unaware of the situation, and can’t help but pinch his hand hard.
How could this be?
It seems that Prince Li is fine, and the Emperor did not cancel court today.
Since his rebirth, Jiang Nian’s experiences have mirrored his previous life without any deviation.
“This shouldn’t be…”
Minister Jiang, seeing his pale complexion, asked with concern, “Xiao Nian, are you feeling unwell?”
Jiang Nian didn’t speak, his brows furrowed tightly.
He had always viewed his rebirth as a gift, and because he had been reborn once, Jiang Nian was able to use the information gap to avoid disasters and obtain what he wanted. But now, an unexpected event had occurred.
How could Prince Li be fine?
He should be dead.
Jiang Nian was afraid of this man, but he wanted to confirm it further. Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly steadied his mind and proposed to Minister Jiang, “Father, let’s visit my younger brother.”
“Visit him?” Minister Jiang frowned. “There’s no need. Even if you make the trip, he may not appreciate it.”
“Father, please don’t say that,” Jiang Nian smiled gently. “My brother has always admired Marquis Anping, but ended up marrying into Prince Li Residence. Surely, he’s been feeling uneasy about it, especially considering Prince Li’s…”
Minister Jiang was well aware of what kind of person Prince Li was, even without Jiang Nian saying it. Jiang Nian paused for a moment, expressing sympathy, “My brother spends his days and nights with Prince Li. It must be an endless torment and fear.”
Minister Jiang shrugged indifferently, “With such a malicious mind, he deserves it.”
Jiang Nian sighed helplessly, “Father…”
For Minister Jiang, Jiang Juan, this son, was dispensable, but Jiang Nian was different. Seeing his insistence on visiting, Minister Jiang had to relent, “Then let’s go see him.”
“It’s just that you’re too kind,” Minister Jiang shook his head, saying helplessly, “Kind people are often taken advantage of. You, think more about yourself.”
Jiang Nian’s eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly, “I understand, Father.”
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