Chapter 36
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Silence followed, a long silence.
Xue Fangli didn’t respond. Misunderstood in this way, Jiang Juan became even more unhappy. He asked irritably, “Your Highness, do you really think I don’t trust you?”
“…Sorry.”
After a long time, Xue Fangli looked at Jiang Juan and finally uttered two words.
“Why do you think I believed his nonsense?”
“Because…”
The young man was too kind, while he was far from it.
It was his own paranoia, his constant caution, his unease.
It was also—something inside him breaking free, his dissatisfaction, and his desires. But dissatisfaction and desires were just the fruits, without knowing when the seeds were planted, buried deep in the darkest part of his heart, unseen for so long.
Unexpectedly, Xue Fangli recalled a woman’s words.
“Do you know how to keep someone forever?”
“Never, ever fall in love.”
Xue Fangli paused, closed his eyes lightly, and after a long time, slowly spoke.
“I don’t care what they think.”
For a long time, Xue Fangli had been tormented by madness and headaches. His nature was violent; if someone wronged him a little, he would repay them tenfold.
He enjoyed their fear. In some ways, he wasn’t completely innocent—he was vengeful and his retribution was always ruthless.
But these were things he didn’t need to tell Jiang Juan. He enjoyed the youth’s sympathy and pity, even more so the focus and seriousness in his eyes.
Thus, when Xue Fangli spoke again, it was in a soft and helpless tone.
“Too many people think that way,” Xue Fangli said, “I don’t have time to explain to all of them. Besides, no matter how much they hate me, they can’t do anything to me.”
He was fearless and reckless, just a madman. Everyone knew that provoking him was courting death.
Although Jiang Juan was questioning him, Xue Fangli’s words left Jiang Juan unable to stay angry.
“You don’t care, but I do.”
Jiang Juan almost blurted out. Xue Fangli’s expression changed, his gaze dark and intense as he stared at Jiang Juan. His swirling rage and anger were strangely soothed, and he was greatly pleased.
After a long time, Xue Fangli smiled slightly and said to Jiang Juan, “I understand.”
Jiang Juan glanced at him, feeling that the prince was just brushing him off, he sulkily said, “You better really understand.”
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes, “You shouldn’t get angry. I will be more careful in the future.”
After a pause, Xue Fangli added, “This time, it’s my fault for making you angry, causing your heart condition to relapse.”
“Are you still feeling unwell?”
Jiang Juan was about to shake his head but thought that pretending to be sick was quite effective, especially since His Highness agreed not to let people misunderstand him again. He decided to make the most of it.
Jiang Juan touched his chest, “A little.”
Xue Fangli frowned slightly. Jiang Juan slowly said, “Your Highness, besides being angry, I think not sleeping well is also a reason.”
“I’m not in good health, I need more sleep. You can’t wake me up before dawn anymore.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Juan hesitated and then tentatively said, “Your Highness, you shouldn’t carry me all the time. My feet are healed, and I can walk on my own. Walking a bit is actually good for my heart condition.”
Jiang Juan couldn’t understand why His Highness liked to carry him so much. Every time he struggled, he failed, so he had resigned himself to being a human pillow. He seized this opportunity to protest again.
Xue Fangli carried Jiang Juan simply because he enjoyed holding him. He smelled sweet, felt even better, and holding him was an irresistible pleasure. However—glancing at the young man’s pale face, Xue Fangli finally agreed, his voice filled with regret, “Alright.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
He agreed? Just like that?
He fell into deep thought.
Pretending to be sick was incredibly effective.
He should have tried this tactic with His Highness earlier.
Before long, the imperial physician arrived, and Jiang Juan was carried to a nearby palace. He extended his hand, and the physician took his pulse, which confirmed the previous diagnosis.
“Judging by the pulse, His Royal Consort has a congenital deficiency,” the physician cautiously said. “His condition flared up because he was emotionally agitated, causing an imbalance of yin and yang, allowing evil energy to invade.”
Xue Fangli: “Is it serious?”
Physician: “This…”
The physician hesitated. Heart conditions were unlike other ailments, influenced by both internal and external factors. Given His Royal Consort’s congenital deficiency and recent frequent episodes, the physician dared not make any guarantees.
“To be honest, Your Highness, it’s hard to say.”
The physician’s voice was low. “His Royal Consort’s heart condition is congenital, incurable, and cannot be healed with medicine alone. It can only be managed with care and maintaining a good mood. There’s no telling when it might flare up again.”
“Today, it’s not serious, but in the future… I cannot promise anything.”
Xue Fangli responded with a “hmm,” and the physician prescribed some tonics before taking his leave. Xue Fangli asked Jiang Juan, “Why are you so frail?”
As soon as he asked, Xue Fangli recalled what the young man had said to him in the carriage.
“I like many things, but no matter how much I like them, I can only look at them because when my illness is severe, I can’t even lift them. In the future, it will be even worse. I feel like having or not having them doesn’t make much difference.”
Was the young man’s future referring to his death?
He was indifferent to everything, not desiring anything because he believed he would die eventually?
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes, his expression dark.
He wanted to keep the young man, but he couldn’t keep him completely.
The physician’s words were too grave. Even Jiang Juan was startled, feeling guilty as he spoke, “Your Highness…”
Xue Fangli looked at him, “Hmm?”
Jiang Juan said softly, “It’s not that serious.”
But in Xue Fangli’s ears, it sounded like meaningless comfort. He didn’t take it to heart and calmly asked, “Shall we return to the residence now?”
Jiang Juan nodded, “Okay.”
Chief Steward Wang, who had been following them, quickly interjected, “Your Highness, that wouldn’t be wise.”
He expressed his concern, “His Royal Consort’s heart condition just flared up. He can’t endure the rigors of travel. The emperor has also said that you both can stay in the palace tonight so His Royal Consort can rest well.”
Jiang Juan was fine with staying anywhere. He quietly held onto a thin blanket without saying anything. Xue Fangli glanced at Jiang Juan, and after a moment’s thought, he agreed with a “hmm.”
Chief Steward Wang was overjoyed and said, “I’ll inform His Majesty right away.”
Despite his words, Chief Steward Wang couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Juan a few times, feeling quite astonished.
His Highness rarely stayed away from his mansion since its construction, let alone stayed in the palace. Especially considering his youth…
Chief Steward Wang shook his head, not wanting to think further. Before leaving, he remembered something and asked, “Your Highness, do you and His Royal Consort wish to dine?”
Xue Fangli asked Jiang Juan, “Do you want to eat?”
Jiang Juan wanted to eat but was a bit apprehensive. He asked nervously, “It won’t be medicinal food, will it?”
“Dinner, with a light taste, no medicinal food.”
“Very well, I’ll arrange it and have someone supervise the preparation.”
Chief Steward Wang bowed and left. Jiang Juan looked around curiously and asked Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, is this where you used to live?”
Xue Fangli responded indifferently, “No.”
Jiang Juan let out an “oh.” He was just asking casually, but Xue Fangli asked, “Do you want to see it?”
Jiang Juan wasn’t particularly eager but nodded out of curiosity, “Yes.”
Xue Fangli said, “I’ll take you to see it after dinner.”
Content with the arrangement of eating and then taking a walk, Jiang Juan agreed. However, his happiness was short-lived as he heard Xue Fangli say, “Tomorrow, when we return to the residence, I’ll have the abbot come to help with your recuperation for a few more days.”
Recuperation meant acupuncture.
A few more days of recuperation meant a few more days of acupuncture.
Jiang Juan: “…”
He looked up and protested weakly, “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Xue Fangli didn’t respond, only looking at Jiang Juan steadily. At this moment, he wasn’t wearing his usual cheerful expression, nor was he cold and distant as when displeased. He simply lowered his eyes and stared at Jiang Juan, exuding an inexplicable sense of dominance.
“Why not?”
Jiang Juan hesitated, then decided to avoid confrontation for now. He said evasively, “Alright.”
Pretending to be sick worked everywhere, but acupuncture was painful.
He needed to find a way to avoid more acupuncture sessions.
Soon enough, Jiang Juan discovered a new source of discomfort besides the pain of acupuncture.
—The medicine prescribed by the physician was ready.
Xue Fangli said, “Drink it while it’s hot.”
Jiang Juan: “…”
The bowl of medicine was pitch black, and Jiang Juan, after a quick sniff, couldn’t tell which was more deadly, the medicine or the chicken soup. Reluctantly, he said, “Your Highness, I want to eat something first.”
“Tonics should be taken on an empty stomach.”
As the ultimate lazy person, Jiang Juan hated bitterness and hardship above all else. He feared all kinds of bitterness, both literal and metaphorical. Shaking his head vehemently, he protested, “It smells terrible.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him. Seeing Jiang Juan’s strong reluctance, he took a sip himself. “It’s tolerable.”
His expression unchanged, his tone calm, he said, “It just smells bitter; it doesn’t taste that bad.”
Jiang Juan was skeptical, “Really?”
Xue Fangli looked at him, “Shall I taste it again for you?”
As he spoke, he seemed ready to take another sip. Medicine, after all, can be toxic to some extent. For Jiang Juan, it was a tonic meant to nourish his congenitally weak heart. For Xue Fangli, it might have unknown effects. Believing Xue Fangli’s words, Jiang Juan reluctantly agreed, “Alright, I’ll drink it.”
Jiang Juan took his hand, looked down at the medicine, and sighed deeply before mustering the courage to drink it from Xue Fangli’s hand.
Jiang Juan: “…”
Damn, it’s bitter.
Really bitter.
He only managed a small sip before trying to push Xue Fangli’s hand away. But instead of letting go, Xue Fangli used his other hand to hold Jiang Juan’s jaw, forcing him to drink the entire bowl.
After Jiang Juan finished the medicine, Xue Fangli handed the empty bowl to a maid. She asked, “Your Highness, shall we serve the meal now?”
“Hmm.”
As the maid hurried to prepare the meal, Xue Fangli turned back to find Jiang Juan in a state of utter dejection, playing dead in protest.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s so bitter.”
Jiang Juan complained incessantly. He knew medicine couldn’t be anything but bitter. However, Xue Fangli had seemed so earnest, even willing to take a second sip, that Jiang Juan had believed him and thought it wouldn’t be that bad.
But it was so bitter it made his head spin, and he had been forced to drink the whole bowl.
Xue Fangli glanced at him and said in a gentle voice, “No matter how bitter the medicine is, you have to drink it.”
He wanted to keep the young man close. Even if he couldn’t keep him for long, he wanted to hold on to him for as long as possible.
After speaking, his fingers touched the corner of Jiang Juan’s mouth, and Xue Fangli said, “Open your mouth.”
Jiang Juan thought he was going to check if he had swallowed the medicine and didn’t cooperate. Xue Fangli, using a bit more force, pried his lips open.
Already holding a grudge, Jiang Juan felt betrayed by Xue Fangli, who had tricked him into drinking the medicine and now didn’t trust him. The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. Unable to contain his anger, he bit down hard on Xue Fangli’s finger.
Despite the painful bite, Xue Fangli lowered his head, his crimson lips curling into a gentle smile.
“Still bitter?” Xue Fangli looked at him. “If you’re really upset, you can bite me a few more times.”
“Take out your frustration on me rather than sulking.”
Of course, it was still bitter. If biting would help, Jiang Juan was ready to take another bite, but a sweet taste suddenly spread in his mouth.
It turned out that Xue Fangli had fed him candied fruit when he pried open his lips and tongue.
Author’s Note: Lazy Jiang Juan: Pretending to be sick is so tough, I was wrong, but I’ll do it again next time.
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