Chapter 35
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No matter how worried he was, Jiang Juan still went inside since he was already there.
“Your Royal Consort.”
Seeing Jiang Juan, Chief Steward Wang forced a smile. He was sweating profusely, clearly unable to handle Jiang Qingliang, and was constantly wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
Jiang Qingliang turned his head to look at Jiang Juan but didn’t say anything. Jiang Juan greeted him politely, “Long time no see.”
Jiang Qingliang curiously asked, “Long? It seems like it was just a day ago?”
Jiang Juan was silent for a few seconds, then sincerely nodded and said, “You’re right.”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
What was going on? That familiar, choked-up feeling was back again.
From the moment the medicinal meals were served, Jiang Qingliang didn’t stop talking. Chief Steward Wang, now dizzy from his chatter, took advantage of the brief silence to invite Jiang Juan, “Your Royal Consort, this table is full of medicinal dishes. Maybe it can also help with your heart condition. Shall I serve you some to try?”
Jiang Qingliang opened his mouth, unsure which word triggered his argumentative spirit. “Didn’t you just say—” Jiang Juan interrupted, “You’re right.”
Jiang Qingliang stubbornly finished his sentence, “—medicinal meals can only strengthen the body.”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
He glared at Jiang Juan, “Do you understand social etiquette? Why don’t you let others finish their sentences?”
Being accused of not understanding social etiquette by someone so argumentative was indeed strange. Jiang Juan looked at him, speechless, and finally said two words, “You’re right.”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
Before meeting Jiang Juan, he had never experienced silence in his life. He was always the one who made others too afraid to speak. Being choked up to the point of speechlessness was a first for him, and Jiang Juan only used two words.
—You’re right.
Damn it, did he not care about his dignity?
Jiang Qingliang was very frustrated, but all he could do was express his impotent rage. He asked Jiang Juan, “Can’t you say something else? I said you don’t understand social etiquette, and you don’t even rebut? Why do you let me scold you? Are you just going to let people bully you?”
His tone was quite fierce. Chief Steward Wang enjoyed seeing Jiang Qingliang being at a loss, but he was also afraid they might actually start arguing, so he quickly ladled some chicken soup and cheerfully said, “Please try this, both of you. His Majesty praises it every time he drinks it.”
In fact, Chief Steward Wang’s worries were unnecessary. Jiang Juan had no interest in arguing with someone so contentious; it was too much trouble. If he could solve it with two words, why bother talking in circles? Jiang Juan picked up a spoon and took a sip of the chicken soup.
Jiang Juan: “…”
That sip was a complex mix of flavors, truly a complex mix— the original taste of chicken soup oddly fused with the cooked traditional Chinese medicine, producing sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty flavors, each distinctly present.
Caught off guard, Jiang Juan hadn’t expected Emperor Hongxing to try to poison him with such bizarre cuisine, and physiological tears immediately welled up.
“Hey, you…”
Jiang Juan ignored him, which made Jiang Qingliang feel uneasy again. He couldn’t help but reflect on his words, wondering if he had been too harsh.
Thinking this way, Jiang Qingliang couldn’t help but call out to him again. When Jiang Juan looked over, his eyelashes were wet, and his eyes were glistening.
Damn.
Why was he crying?
It was just a few words, was it necessary?
Jiang Qingliang was dumbfounded. He was quite afraid of people crying, especially when the other party was a little beauty— no matter how much he didn’t want to admit it, Jiang Juan fit his aesthetic perfectly, looking like a celestial being. Seeing him on the verge of tears made Jiang Qingliang feel deeply guilty and unforgivable.
“Don’t cry,” Jiang Qingliang, a master at arguing, was terrible at comforting people. He awkwardly said, “I was just speaking offhandedly. Why are you crying?”
“I… I… I…” Jiang Qingliang was at a loss, “I’m sorry, it’s my bad manners. I shouldn’t have said that. I won’t argue with you anymore, I…”
Jiang Juan: “?”
Did he misunderstand something?
Jiang Juan thought for a few seconds. How could a salted fish have any bad intentions? He glanced at Jiang Qingliang and slowly asked, “Really?”
Jiang Qingliang: “If it’s not true, then—” He stopped mid-sentence, remembering his promise not to argue, and changed his words, “Of course, truer than pearls.”
Jiang Juan responded with an “Oh,” picked up another bowl of chicken soup, and said, “I forgive you. Cheers to our friendship.”
Jiang Qingliang didn’t understand what he meant but knew he was supposed to drink the chicken soup, so he took a sip.
Ugh!
Jiang Qingliang’s face turned ashen, “What is this stuff? Why does it taste like this? Did someone poison it?”
Jiang Juan felt the same distress, “Maybe, it tastes awful.”
Chief Steward Wang quickly explained, “You can’t say that. Good medicine is bitter, but it cures the illness. This medicinal dish follows the same principle. Chicken soup is highly nourishing, and when boiled with medicinal ingredients, it’s even more beneficial.”
Jiang Juan understood the reasoning but couldn’t help saying, “But it really tastes weird.”
Jiang Qingliang gulped down most of a bowl of iced pear soup, finally suppressing the taste. He belatedly realized something and asked Jiang Juan with a stiff face, “So you—weren’t crying because I upset you, but because the chicken soup was too bad?”
Jiang Juan looked at him innocently, “What else? Who would cry so easily?”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
Jiang Qingliang: “……….”
He was so mad.
He started to feel a violent urge.
No, killing is illegal, and he had just been punished by the prince, forced to soak in water all night.
Jiang Qingliang grudgingly picked up the bowl and gulped down the rest of the iced pear soup.
Chief Steward Wang wanted to laugh but managed to hold it in. He served more dishes, “Please try this roasted pigeon.”
The entire table was full of medicinal dishes. If the chicken soup tasted that bad, the rest wouldn’t be any better. As fellow sufferers of the chicken soup, Jiang Juan and Jiang Qingliang exchanged a horrified glance.
“Your Royal Consort, you’re weak. Let me get you some deer antler…”
“Young Master Jiang, try this nourishing porridge. It has a cooling effect and reduces internal heat.”
Despair, Jiang Juan felt utter despair.
But the table was a gift from Emperor Hongxing, and it wouldn’t do to refuse. Jiang Qingliang painfully picked up a bite, and Jiang Juan had to muster the courage to take another mouthful.
No way, he thought. He would rather starve or jump off from here than take another bite.
Only now did Jiang Juan understand why His Highness said he couldn’t eat the food here. After a few seconds of thought, Jiang Juan decided to make his escape.
The next second, the silver chopsticks in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter. Jiang Juan clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain.
Chief Steward Wang was alarmed, “Your Royal Consort, what’s wrong?”
Jiang Juan shook his pale face, “My chest feels a bit uncomfortable, I…”
He trailed off as if he couldn’t catch his breath from the pain. Chief Steward Wang hurried over to support him, gently patting his back to help him breathe.
After a little while, Jiang Juan spoke again, “It’s a bit stuffy, I can’t breathe.”
Chief Steward Wang was terrified, “Then go outside for some air.”
Carefully helping him up, Chief Steward Wang supported Jiang Juan, who staggered slightly. As they passed by Jiang Qingliang, Jiang Juan winked at him.
—Escape quickly.
Jiang Qingliang: “?”
He was stunned for a moment, then smiled. He discreetly gave Jiang Juan a thumbs up and quickly followed him out.
Jiang Qingliang thought, Jiang Juan wasn’t so bad after all—smart and loyal.
To avoid the meal, he pretended to have a heart attack, not only escaping himself but also signaling him to flee.
However—someone so clever, was he really the one who pushed Nian Ge into the lake?
He had doubts before. Jiang Juan could be annoying, especially with his heart condition. He could have secretly sabotaged Nian Ge without being so obvious.
Thinking it over, Jiang Qingliang concluded there could only be one possibility.
—There must be some misunderstanding between Jiang Juan and his brother, Nian Ge.
On Jiang Qingliang’s side, Jiang Juan unintentionally cleared his own name. He had been enjoying pretending to be sick and planned to recover shortly, but before he could, Xue Fangli arrived.
Jiang Juan was still being supported by Chief Steward Wang when Xue Fangli walked in and immediately scooped him up.
“Your Highness, you’re finally here!”
Jiang Juan had a heart condition. He claimed it was nothing serious and that resting for a bit would be enough, but Chief Steward Wang was still worried. Without informing Jiang Juan, he sent for the imperial physician and also notified His Highness at Yangxin Hall.
Jiang Juan: “…”
He didn’t even want to deal with His Highness right now.
“Why is it hurting again?”
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes. Jiang Juan’s complexion was already nearly translucent white, and now, looking so listless, he seemed fragile, as if he could break at any moment.
Jiang Juan shook his head to indicate he was fine, then lowered his head again, his eyebrows slightly drooping.
It was no different from when he was in Yangxin Hall, unusually quiet.
Xue Fangli looked at him for a moment, then closed his eyes to restrain himself. Jiang Juan said nothing, so Xue Fangli, with a dark expression, asked Chief Steward Wang, “What happened to him?”
Chief Steward Wang sighed, “We were dining, and His Royal Consort suddenly said his chest hurt and he couldn’t breathe.”
After a moment’s thought, Chief Steward Wang hesitated, “But before that, His Royal Consort and Young Master Jiang exchanged a few words. His Royal Consort has a heart condition and can’t take any stress. I intervened once, but later, seeing that they were just joking, I didn’t stop them again. I’m not sure if it’s related…”
Jiang Qingliang: “???”
Why was this old eunuch so treacherous?
Afraid of being blamed, he was pinning it all on him.
Jiang Qingliang stiffened as he passed by, thinking this was bad. He tried to walk away quietly, but Xue Fangli said without looking up, “Stop.”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
He was so frustrated.
“Your Highness.”
Jiang Qingliang unwillingly stopped and respectfully greeted him. Xue Fangli lifted his eyelids, looking at Jiang Qingliang with an expressionless face.
The person in his arms was very light, almost weightless. Xue Fangli held Jiang Juan so carefully, fearing he might break in his embrace. Yet, after hearing Chief Steward Wang’s account, he could hardly contain his anger.
Jiang Juan wouldn’t talk to him, but he was willing to joke around with others?
Didn’t he say he trusted him? Then why was he acting so distant?
Xue Fangli coldly asked Jiang Qingliang, “Did you find my small sandalwood bracelet in the lake?”
Jiang Qingliang stiffened and answered, “No.”
He wasn’t stupid. The prince had never attended Beauty Yu memorial service , so how could he have dropped his bracelet in the lake? Making him look for the bracelet was purely to torment him.
Xue Fangli nodded, speaking casually, “I’ve just remembered. If it’s not at Miaoling Temple, the bracelet might be in Weiyang Lake in the palace. Since you’re good at swimming, go look for it there.”
Jiang Qingliang: “???”
What did he do wrong?
Just because his name was Jiang Qingliang, did that mean he had to stay in the water all the time?
Note: because liang means cold so can be related to this.
Jiang Qingliang was devastated, but Xue Fangli was the prince. He held a high status and had the final say, so Jiang Qingliang had no choice but to reply painfully, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Suddenly, the sleeve was tugged a few times, the person in his arms moving. Xue Fangli looked down, and Jiang Juan, with his head tilted, softly said, “It has nothing to do with him.”
“Even if it was really due to the stress that my heart condition acted up, it wasn’t because of him.”
Jiang Qingliang, hearing this, was quite moved and looked at Jiang Juan.
A good brother saved him from trouble.
Jiang Qingliang knew that Jiang Juan was faking his heart attack, but he couldn’t say it out loud. Now that Jiang Juan took the initiative to clear his name, Jiang Qingliang felt relieved and grateful.
But as he met Xue Fangli’s cold and fierce gaze, Jiang Qingliang’s back went cold, and his heart nearly stopped.
Why was he so intimidating?
Was it just because he looked at his Royal Consort a few times?
Wait.
It seemed like his cousin, the prince, cared a lot about his Royal Consort. Yet, Jiang Juan just spoke up for him.
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
Seriously? This is enough to make him unhappy?
Jiang Qingliang was completely frozen in place. After a few seconds of thought, his strong survival instinct made him decide it was better to take a cool dip in the water. Jiang Qingliang forced a smile and said, “It’s quite hot. I’ll go into the water to cool down, Your Highness. I’ll find your bracelet.”
This time, when Jiang Qingliang left, Xue Fangli didn’t stop him. Lowering his eyes, he met Jiang Juan’s gaze and after a long silence, spoke in a cold voice.
“If it’s not because of him, then it’s because of me?”
Xue Fangli asked, “What are you upset about?”
“Is it because I turned someone into a human swine and threw them into a pigsty, or because I skinned a hunter alive, and you couldn’t stand it?”
Jiang Juan’s brows slowly knitted together. Xue Fangli touched his face, his expression indifferent, “Hmm? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
After a pause, Xue Fangli smiled nonchalantly, “How could I forget, my Royal Consort has a heart of gold. Surely, he can’t tolerate any of it, right?”
Jiang Juan was taken aback, “I…”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly. He didn’t expect Jiang Juan’s next words to be something he would like to hear. Xue Fangli asked Jiang Juan again, “Didn’t you say you trusted me?”
“Is this what you call trust?”
He had overwhelming anger and endless hostility, but nowhere to direct it—holding a fragile beauty in his arms, who was weak and delicate, he couldn’t use force or get angry.
Emotions churned within him, the madness inherent in his bones raged, but Xue Fangli forcibly suppressed it. Ultimately, he only said in a cold tone, “Forget it.”
Whether the young man trusted him or not, it didn’t matter.
As long as he wasn’t angry, as long as he was safe.
Xue Fangli half-closed his eyes and slowly spoke, “You have a heart condition and shouldn’t get angry. There’s no need to be upset about it. That woodcutter, he was trying to assassinate—” He paused as a hand covered his lips, Jiang Juan preventing him from speaking further.
Jiang Juan realized he was angry, but His Highness had misunderstood. He had to explain, “I didn’t believe his nonsense. Even he said it was just a rumor.”
“Your Highness, don’t you really know why I’m angry?”
Jiang Juan lowered his eyelashes and softly said, “Why do you let others slander you for things you didn’t do? What happened at the bookstore can’t be blamed on you, but you say nothing, you explain nothing.”
His Highness was also a victim, Jiang Juan knew he shouldn’t be angry with him, but he couldn’t help it.
Jiang Juan raised his eyes, his clear eyes serious, “Your Highness, I don’t want you to be misunderstood.”
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