The Salted Fish Has Gotten Over It Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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What does his Fifth Brother hate the most?

Xue Congyun was taken aback for a moment, and not long after, he realized belatedly that his momentary arrogance had touched a sore spot for his Fifth Brother.

Manners.

His Fifth Brother, as described by the Empress Dowager, was the illegitimate child who didn’t follow the rules.

“F-Fifth Brother, I forgot,” Xue Congyun stammered, his lips trembling with fear. He hastily explained, “And, isn’t it true that you’re also dissatisfied with this marriage? I just, I just…”

Xue Fangli asked him, “That’s my concern. What does it have to do with you?”

Xue Congyun faltered, “I, I…”

Xue Congyun was terrified by Xue Fangli’s half-smiling expression, and Zhang Gonggong wasn’t in a good place either. He didn’t expect his flattery to backfire. He immediately knelt down and pleaded, “Your Highness, you are magnanimous, and surely won’t mind—”

Xue Fangli chuckled, and Zhang Gonggong froze, immediately reaching out to slap himself, “Please spare my life Your Highness, it’s this servant’s loose tongue, this servant’s loose tongue!”

*Smack, smack, smack—!* The sound of slaps echoed continuously. Zhang Gonggong exerted great force, not daring to be evasive at all. His face was burning, his mind buzzing, but his hands didn’t dare to stop.

“I am magnanimous?” Xue Fangli said leisurely, “Did Zhang Gonggong get it wrong? I always settle scores.” Zhang Gonggong, upon hearing this, felt a chill run down his spine. He hastily crawled towards Xue Fangli, tears streaming down his face, “Your Highness, spare me! Spare me—ah!” Xue Fangli kicked him away, and Zhang Gonggong’s voice changed tone accordingly. Xue Fangli said calmly, “Someone, pull out this dog’s tongue, sew his mouth shut, and hang him from the rafters.”

The guards obeyed orders and rushed forward to apprehend them. Zhang Gonggong kept stepping back, but it was futile. His shoulders were pinned down, and fear filled his face. He blurted out, “Your Highness, it’s the Emperor who sent the servant! It’s the Emperor! If the servant can’t go back, how will you make the Emperor feel?”

Xue Fangli remained unmoved, only looking down on him from a height and sighed, “Truly pitiful.”

“You are but merely a servant,” Xue Fangli said, “How will the Emperor feel? I’m just teaching you a lesson.”

As the words fell, Zhang Gonggong was surrounded, swordlight flashing across his face. His legs gave out, and his face turned ashen.

He was done for.

Xue Congyun was stunned, and Xue Fangli seemed to remember him just then, slightly apologetic. “Sixth Brother is an esteemed guest, not even offered a sip of tea. It’s my oversight.”

Xue Congyun was trembling like a quail, hastily waving his hands to decline. Tea was the last thing on his mind; he just wanted to slip away.

“Serve tea to Sixth Brother,” but Xue Fangli ignored it. “I remember, just now Sixth Brother mentioned that Royal Consort wears plain clothes, an ominous sign.”

Xue Congyun attempted to explain, “I was just…”

Xue Fangli raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that I misheard?”

Xue Congyun replied reluctantly, “N-no.”

A maid approached to pour tea, and Xue Fangli chuckled. “Why are you so nervous, Sixth Brother? Sit, have some tea.”　

Xue Congyun stared at the tea, his scalp tingling.

During the conversation, Zhang Gonggong had already been suspended upside down from the ceiling beam, directly facing the seat next to the tea cup. His face was covered in blood, a horrifying sight, as he struggled in agony, blood dripping continuously. With a “plop,” it fell into the cup.

The blood spread, a deep crimson.

Xue Congyun dared not provoke Xue Fangli any further. Stiffly, he sat down, wanting nothing to do with that cup of tea.　　

Xue Fangli calmly asked him, “Sixth Brother, why aren’t you drinking the tea? Don’t you like it?”

Under his gaze, Xue Congyun could only endure his nausea and gulp down the tea in the cup. Then, he forced out a smile uglier than tears, “I drank it, Fifth Brother. I like it. I finished it.”

Xue Fangli nodded in satisfaction at his words, staring at the scattered bloodstains on the floor. Then, he asked Xue Congyun, “Sixth Brother, do you still feel ominous now?”　

Xue Congyun shook his head frantically, “Not ominous at all, not even a bit!”

“That’s good then,” Xue Fangli glanced at him and issued the order to dismiss the guests, “It’s getting late, Sixth Brother, should go back now.”

Xue Congyun couldn’t have asked for more. He jumped up, “I’ll leave right away!”

But before he could take a few steps, Xue Congyun was stopped again, “Wait a moment.”

Xue Congyun’s heart skipped a beat, slowly turning around. “F-Fifth Brother?”

Xue Fangli: “Imperial Father sent you to attend the wedding. Sixth Brother, didn’t you prepare any gifts?”

Xue Congyun: “…”

Of course, he hadn’t prepared anything. However, before leaving the palace, Xue Congyun finally managed to obtain the prized clam bird he had long coveted from Imperial Father—a bird statue placed inside a clamshell, which, over time, would develop a radiant and precious luster.　　

This item was incredibly intricate and labor-intensive to make. Until now, only a few were in possession, and this bird was the most exquisite among them. Xue Congyun had originally planned to play with it for a few days before giving it to his Brother Nian. He had even informed him in advance.

But now…

“I have prepared,” Xue Congyun dared not admit he had come empty-handed. Tears of frustration welled up as he fished out the clam bird. It hadn’t even warmed in his hands yet. “This… I managed to obtain it from Imperial Father’s hands with great difficulty.”　　

Xue Fangli didn’t even glance at it. “Sixth Brother is thoughtful.”

Xue Congyun felt a pang of pain, but he had to force a smile. “As long as Fifth Brother likes it.”

Then, Xue Congyun suddenly remembered something. “By the way, Fifth Brother, now that the marriage is settled, don’t forget to visit Imperial Father in the palace tomorrow.”

Xue Fangli responded with a nonchalant “Hmm.”

When Xue Congyun arrived, he had walked with confidence, but as he was about to leave, not only was he reprimanded, but he also lost his precious possession. He walked out disheartened, only to hear someone from the residence ask, “Your Highness, what about these boxes…?”

Xue Fangli lowered his gaze, his expression tinged with weariness and a chilling coldness beneath it. “Take them away.”

His indifferent attitude towards gifts was not unusual, but just as he was about to give an order, Xue Fangli changed his mind. With a pensive expression, he said, “Since it’s a gift, then give them to the Third Young Master.”　　

“Immortal beauty,” Xue Fangli thought of how Xue Congyun described him. Jiang Juan’s face truly seemed otherworldly, as if untouched by earthly desires. Intrigued, Xue Fangli remarked, “I’m curious to see if he truly lives up to that description, if he truly is untainted by earthly desires.”

Steward Gao complied. Initially, he thought His Highness had a favorable attitude towards the Third Young Master. Now, it seemed the Third Young Master merely happened to pique their Royal Highness’s interest. The last person to capture his interest was already long forgotten.

Steward Gao shook his head.

Xue Fangli tossed another small item. “Send this clam bird along with them.”

No matter how rare the items from the palace were, he was indifferent to them. Steward Gao received it and began to bustle about. Xue Congyun couldn’t bear to listen anymore; it felt like a knife in his heart.

Giving them to that bumpkin.　

Imperial Father’s gift, along with his clam bird, was given to that bumpkin.

Why does he feel so sour?

Xue Congyun hurriedly walked out of Prince Li Residence, feeling more and more distressed and unequal as he thought about it. He scratched his head in frustration and decided to visit Jiang Juan tomorrow.

Of course, having just been severely reprimanded, Xue Congyun didn’t dare to do much. His intentions were quite humble.

—to see his clam bird one more time.

To be able to touch it again would be even better.

Sob, sob, sob.

—

Jiang Juan was escorted back to his room.

Prince Li Residence was quite large, and Jiang Juan followed the servants as they turned left and right, passing through corridors and crossing ponds. By the time they arrived, he was completely disoriented and couldn’t remember the way.

As the servant pushed the door, someone rushed forward anxiously, asking Jiang Juan with concern, “Young Master, are you alright?”　　

Her voice was familiar to Jiang Juan. After a few glances, he recognized her as Lan Ting, the maid who had pleaded for him when he had just woken up. Jiang Juan remembered that Lan Ting had been by his side when he and his grandfather still lived in the countryside.

As the servant left him in the room and closed the door, Jiang Juan shook his head in response, “I’m fine.”

But Lan Ting couldn’t help feeling deeply saddened. “When has Young Master ever suffered such grievances?”

At this point, Lan Ting’s expression grew even more downcast. “Master Jiang refused to even send a few more people to serve Young Master.”

When a man gets married, even if he doesn’t bring any dowry, he should at least have a few of his own people by his side. But Minister Jiang had even waived this. He only instructed Lan Ting to pack Jiang Juan’s belongings and bring them over. It seemed less like a marriage and more like shedding a burden.

Jiang Juan didn’t quite understand all of this. Just as he was filled with doubts, he asked Lan Ting, “Do you know what Xue Fangli is like?”　

Lan Ting, who had come from the countryside with him, naturally didn’t know much. However, she had heard some rumors about Xue Fangli. She whispered softly, “The servants said… His Highness is fierce and cruel, having killed many people for no reason.”

It matched the description from the novel, but Jiang Juan was still perplexed. Throughout the day, Xue Fangli had been very considerate, not only showing concern for him but also expressing belief in him when he was accused. It was completely…　　

Jiang Juan: “But I feel like he’s a good person.”

Lan Ting gasped, and Jiang Juan couldn’t help but speculate, “He’s been portrayed as so terrifying, but is it possible that it’s just a misunderstanding?”

Lan Ting wouldn’t know. Uncertainly, she replied, “Maybe?”

Jiang Juan pondered over it. In the original plot, there were too few mentions of Xue Fangli, and he hadn’t even formally appeared. So, there was no way to truly investigate what kind of person Xue Fangli was.

Perhaps he had indeed been misunderstood and misrepresented?

Outside the door, Steward Gao, who was about to knock, paused.

A good person?

Their Royal Highness?

Steward Gao: “?”

A hint of disbelief crossed his face.

After a while, Steward Gao knocked on the door with complex feelings. Lan Ting quickly opened it, and Steward Gao respectfully said, “Your Royal Consort, His Highness has instructed me to bring several boxes of gifts to your side. Please feel free to use them as you wish.”

Finishing his words, he presented a list of gifts. “Your Royal Consort, you may check them off according to this list.”

Jiang Juan glanced down at the list, the handwriting dense and hard to decipher. He managed to make out a few lines.

Emerald lotus.

Jadeite carp.

Coral jade bird.

Lotus seed pendant.　　

　　……

Jiang Juan: “?”

Just by the names, these items seemed to belong in a museum’s top-tier collection.

He looked at the boxes again. Perhaps the locks had been jostled loose during transport, as a vivid and intense green hue could be vaguely seen. Jiang Juan felt like the imperial green color was piercing his eyes.

These items were too precious. Jiang Juan didn’t dare to accept them. He shook his head hastily. “I don’t need them, I don’t need any of them. Please take them back.”　

The manager glanced at him and said with a wry smile, “Your Highness, please don’t make things difficult for me. If I take back what His Highness has sent out, it will be me who suffers.”

It seemed impolite to directly return the items. After hesitating for a while, Jiang Juan could only say, “Then, just leave them here for now.”

Steward Gao nodded and added, “His Highness had a severe coughing fit tonight and was afraid it would disturb your sleep, so he rested in another room. Tonight… Your Highness, you need not wait for him to return to your room.”

Jiang Juan wasn’t surprised at all.

It was just like in the novel. In the memories of the protagonist shou, he and Xue Fangli also slept in separate rooms on their wedding night.

“Oh, His Highness also asked me to pass on something,” Steward Gao said. “Tomorrow morning, Your Highness needs to accompany His Highness to the palace for an audience.”

“Alright, I understand.”

After briefing Jiang Juan, Steward Gao didn’t linger any longer. He bowed and left. Jiang Juan continued to read through the gift list, growing more and more shocked as he read on. The more he read, the more he felt his speculations were accurate.

Xue Fangli was truly a good person.

He had helped Jiang Juan so much and even sent him such precious gifts.

But according to the direction of the plot, Xue Fangli would pass away tomorrow night.

Thinking of this, Jiang Juan couldn’t bear to continue reading the gift list in his hand.　

He remembered that Xue Fangli had died suddenly. Even if the imperial physician had arrived promptly, it wouldn’t have been enough to save him.

Jiang Juan sighed, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt.

But there was nothing he could do to help.

Jiang Juan made a decision. From now on, on every memorial day, he would burn several stacks of paper for Xue Fangli, making him the richest ghost prince in the underworld.

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