The Salted Fish Has Gotten Over It Chapter 40

Chapter 40

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Jiang Juan was dumbfounded.

Everyone else was also dumbfounded.

Only Xue Fangli, who had been indifferent, seemed to realize something and walked over, displeased, pulling Jiang Juan along.

He coldly said, "He is my Royal Consort, not the Second Young Master.”

Yang Liusheng blurted out, "Then where is the Second Young Master?"

His friend elbowed him lightly, nodding subtly, and whispered, "The Second Young Master is over there."

Yang Liusheng: "?"

He turned his head to look and saw the person who had just spoken about overpraise. This time, Yang Liusheng was also dumbfounded.

"Isn't the Second Young Master supposed to be the capital's number one beauty?" Yang Liusheng asked in shock. "How is he a beauty?"

Even the slowest person should understand the situation by now. Jiang Nian, already scheming, felt his face contort for a moment.

This Yang Liusheng had mistaken Jiang Juan for him!

All the praise he had given earlier was actually directed at Jiang Juan, not at him, the Second Young Master!

Having already been humiliated once, Yang Liusheng’s actions only further enraged Jiang Nian. Yet, under the scrutiny of so many eyes, he couldn't lose his temper. He had to maintain the facade of the gentle and dignified Second Young Master of the Minister Residence.

Clenching his hands tightly, Jiang Nian forced a smile, "I indeed cannot compare to my younger brother."

Each word was uttered with gritted teeth and immense effort, masking his unwillingness and hatred. He couldn't let his painstakingly maintained image crumble.

Hearing Jiang Nian's words, Yang Liusheng chimed in, "It's important to have self-awareness. Second Young Master knows his title as the number one beauty is undeserved, so why do you all insist on bestowing such a title on him?"

Not only was Yang Liusheng sharp-tongued, but he was also incredibly straightforward. His friend’s repeated reminders to avoid offending Jiang Nian had been in vain, and Yang Liusheng had indeed offended him deeply.

His friend elbowed him again, whispering, "Say no more."

But the damage was done, and the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.

Jiang Nian’s fingers trembled with rage. He cared deeply, but he had to maintain a nonchalant smile, "Mr. Liu is correct. I have long said the title of the capital's number one beauty belongs to someone else. I am overrated."

Marquis Anping interjected, "Mr. Liu, you are known as a master of painting, yet you cannot discern true beauty from the superficial?"

"The beauty of the skin is fleeting. Only the beauty of the inner self endures. In my opinion, Mr. Liu, you are just a common man obsessed with appearances, unable to appreciate true beauty."

He implied that Jiang Juan's beauty, no matter how stunning, could not compare to Jiang Nian's. Failing to recognize Jiang Nian's beauty meant one was shallow.

After a moment's thought, Yang Liusheng said, "Marquis, I have a question, if I may."

Marquis Anping smiled, "Go ahead."

Yang Liusheng asked tactfully, "Do you—perhaps have an eye condition?"

"How long has it been? Have you seen a doctor?"

Marquis Anping’s comment about his low taste in beauty was met with Yang Liusheng’s subtle jab at his eyesight. The conversation broke down, and Marquis Anping turned away in a huff. Yang Liusheng, meanwhile, stole another glance at Jiang Nian.

Truly, he was unremarkable.

Had he not seen that young man earlier, he might have studied this so-called capital's number one beauty closely. But having seen the moon, why bother with a firefly?

How could the light of a firefly compete with the radiance of the moon?

Yang Liusheng turned his gaze away from Jiang Nian and asked Jiang Juan, “Your Royal Consort, may I paint a portrait of you?"

Jiang Juan: "..."

What’s going on?

He had only taken a nap, and the plot had taken a wrong turn.

Still in shock, Jiang Juan was saved by Xue Fangli’s response, "No."

After a moment, Jiang Juan earnestly said, "You should paint him, my brother—the Second Young Master. He truly deserves it."

Yang Liusheng replied with equal sincerity, "The Second Young Master may be the capital's number one beauty, but you are the world's number one beauty. Between the two, I would rather paint you."

Jiang Juan, with good intentions, tried to steer the plot back, but Jiang Nian took it differently.

To him, it was an insult.

He did not need Jiang Juan’s pity!

Feeling blood rush to his head, Jiang Nian clung to the armrest, his hands already bloodied, now marked with new indentations.

Humiliated.

Utterly humiliated.

Never had he felt so disgraced.

Today's events would soon spread across the capital, and his dear brother had put him in such a position!

He had underestimated him all along!

Jiang Nian's breath came in rapid gasps.

The awkward atmosphere didn't dissipate much. Emperor Hongxing had no choice but to step in and change the subject. "Yang Liusheng, I summoned you because I heard you are skilled at restoring ancient paintings. Can you restore a few paintings for me?"

Yang Liusheng replied, "I can, but—"

Emperor Hongxing interrupted, "But what?"

Yang Liusheng glanced at Jiang Juan and mentioned again, "Your Majesty, restoring paintings is quite labor-intensive. I’ve traveled a long way to get here and haven’t had a chance to rest. I might not perform well unless—"

Jiang Juan had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, the next moment, Yang Liusheng said, "Unless His Royal Consort agrees to let me paint him. That would boost my spirits."

Emperor Hongxing: "..."

Jiang Juan: "..."

This person was quite shameless. Emperor Hongxing found it amusing after hearing this. He looked at Jiang Juan and asked for his opinion. Before Jiang Juan could say anything, Xue Fangli spoke up coldly.

"No need."

Yang Liusheng persisted, and Xue Fangli grew increasingly impatient. He grabbed Jiang Juan's hand, intending to leave, but Jiang Juan suddenly had an idea and, in a moment of resignation, said, "Your Highness, let him paint."

Xue Fangli looked at him, his expression unclear.

Jiang Juan, oblivious, was about to withdraw his hand when it was suddenly tightened.

He looked up in confusion. "Your Highness?"

Xue Fangli asked, "What’s there to paint?"

Jiang Juan didn't want Yang Liusheng to paint him, but he had something to ask of Yang Liusheng, so he could only shake his head helplessly. "Your Highness, please let go."

Xue Fangli not only did not let go but tightened his grip. He lowered his gaze to Jiang Juan's face and said meaningfully, "The world’s number one beauty?"

It was better if he hadn't said anything, but once he did, Jiang Juan felt all hope vanish. "It's not me, it's not me. You’re mistaken."

Xue Fangli looked at him for a long time and said in a cold tone, "I don’t think you’re beautiful either."

Regardless of whether he was beautiful or not, the pain in his hand was the main issue. Jiang Juan tried to pull his hand away but couldn’t, so he said, "Your Highness, please stop squeezing. It hurts."

The young man's eyelashes fluttered, his face exquisite. Xue Fangli looked at him and felt more and more irritated. His anger was uncontrollable.

—Why are there so many people admiring him?

If his wings were broken and he was locked in a cage, no matter how beautiful he was, only Xue Fangli would be able to appreciate him.

But...

….

He cried too much and was too hard to comfort.

Dark, frantic thoughts arose but were forcefully suppressed. Xue Fangli, with a neutral expression, glanced at Jiang Juan a few more times before finally letting go of his hand.

Jiang Juan didn’t think much of it. He released his hand and returned to his place, saying to Yang Liusheng, "I’ll let you paint me, but you must promise me one thing."

Yang Liusheng, without asking what it was, immediately responded with delight, "Sure, you can name it!"

As long as Jiang Juan agreed to be painted, Yang Liusheng was willing to comply with anything. He even had the theme ready: a painting titled "Begonia Spring Nap." Yang Liusheng quickly responded to Emperor Hongxing’s request, took his leave, and hurriedly urged Jiang Juan to sit for the painting, fearing he might change his mind.

Yang Liusheng: "Your Royal Consort, how about a painting of the Begonia Spring Nap? Just—just—" His friend, looking down, whispered, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Didn’t you see His Highness's look? He looks like he wants to skewer you alive."

Yang Liusheng had not paid much attention to others, but upon hearing this, he looked up and met Xue Fangli’s extremely cold gaze. His heart skipped a beat. What he saw wasn’t just a look of wanting to skewer him alive but a look that seemed to suggest he would be dismembered piece by piece and thrown into a pot.

Terrifying, too terrifying.

Yang Liusheng shivered and dared not continue with the Begonia Spring Nap theme. He backed down, saying, "Your Royal Consort, you choose."

Yang Liusheng’s brush moved swiftly. Soon, the work was completed. When he looked up again, a curtain had fallen, obscuring the young man’s face with a light veil, making it impossible to see clearly.

Yang Liusheng: "..."

What kind of prince is he? Is he Prince Li or Prince Cu*?

Note: Prince Cu = Jealousy Prince.

He wouldn’t even let him look one more time. How stingy.

Jiang Juan instinctively tilted his head up but couldn’t see anything before being pulled up.

He was about to say something when he unexpectedly locked eyes with Jiang Nian from a short distance. The venomous look in Jiang Nian’s eyes made Jiang Juan stumble, and he grabbed Xue Fangli’s sleeve.

"…Your Highness."

Xue Fangli glanced at the guards, seemingly giving some orders, then casually looked down again. Jiang Juan, however, was completely oblivious.

The look in Jiang Nian’s eyes filled him with growing fear. Remembering the plot from the book after Marquis Anping's power grab, Jiang Juan murmured, "Your Highness, I think I’m going to die."

"I might not be able to see you through."

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