Chapter 41
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“Die? What are you talking about?”
Xue Fangli’s tone was indifferent. Jiang Juan couldn’t explain the plot to him and could only reply softly, “I don’t think I’ll live much longer.”
Xue Fangli frowned, “Are you still feeling unwell?”
Jiang Juan nodded randomly. Xue Fangli, initially about to brush off Jiang Juan’s hand, ultimately let him hold onto his sleeve.
In the carriage, they rode in silence.
Such quiet moments were not uncommon, usually because Jiang Juan was asleep. If he was awake, he would chat with His Highness, but now Jiang Juan genuinely had no mood for conversation.
He had intended to be cautious and enjoy being a salted fish, but unknowingly, he had offended both the protagonist shou and gong.
Especially the protagonist’s shou. Every time Jiang Juan slept, he was completely unaware of what was happening, and when he woke up, he found himself entangled with the protagonist’s shou.
Jiang Juan felt so wronged, so deeply wronged.
He lamented, “Your Highness, I want to change my name. From now on, I want to be called Jiang Bujuan.”
He was as his name suggested—lazy and weary, endlessly sleeping. He truly couldn’t afford to sleep any more or draw any more resentment.
Jiang Juan was lost in thought and didn’t notice that Xue Fangli had been watching him intently, nor did he see the look in his eyes.
Dark, sinister.
He was displeased.
Displeased that Jiang Juan had people paint him.
Even more displeased that Jiang Juan said he wouldn’t live much longer.
The dark emotions festered within, and Xue Fangli was annoyed by this uncontrollable situation.
He had long known the youth wouldn’t live long.
Whether the youth had someone paint him or not shouldn’t have mattered.
Yet, deep inside, his desires and dissatisfaction never ceased their clamor.
He didn’t want the youth to look at anyone else, nor did he want him to be observed by others.
In the youth’s eyes, there should only be him. He wanted the youth to look at him with full attention, focus, and sincerity.
Xue Fangli closed his eyes slightly.
The youth’s short time left—what does it matter to him?
It was his own desires that were too deep, his cravings that were too great, and his inability to control himself.
When they arrived at the residence, Jiang Juan returned to his courtyard.
On the way, he had sworn not to sleep again, but once he arrived, he soon collapsed onto the bed, defeated once more by laziness.
When Steward Gao came over, Jiang Juan was playing with a jade nine-linked ring, which Lan Ting had found among several boxes of gifts to keep him occupied.
“Your Royal Consort.”
Steward Gao, holding a bowl of medicine, smiled and said, “It’s time for you to take your medicine.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
At that moment, he recalled the fear of traditional Chinese medicine and said slowly, “What medicine? I’m fine, no need to take any medicine.”
“The palace’s imperial physician prescribed some tonic for you,” Steward Gao said. “It was just finished in the kitchen. You should drink it while it’s still hot.”
“Just leave it for now,” Jiang Juan tried to procrastinate. “It’s too hot. I’ll drink it later.”
Steward Gao shook his head, “That won’t do. His Highness instructed me to make sure you finish it.”
Jiang Juan: “…”
He looked down and, even before drinking it, felt a shiver. Steward Gao, noticing his reaction, quickly took out a small bag. “Almost forgot. His Highness also had me prepare some candied fruits.”
Even with such thorough preparations, Jiang Juan still didn’t want to drink the medicine. He ate a piece of candied fruit and asked Steward Gao, “What is His Highness doing?”
Steward Gao replied, “His Highness—” Since returning to the residence, His Highness had been in low spirits, with a sullen expression. However, Steward Gao had long been accustomed to His Highness’s moods and didn’t think much of it. He just had to make sure not to offend him.
“His Highness is resting.”
Jiang Juan said “Oh” and added, “Can you get me something? Then I’ll take the medicine.”
Steward Gao asked, “What do you need?”
Jiang Juan whispered something. Steward Gao hesitated, “That needs to be approved by His Highness first.”
Jiang Juan nodded, “Okay, go ask him.”
Steward Gao hurried back to the Liangfeng Courtyard. Hearing the commotion, Xue Fangli lightly tapped his fingers and asked without looking up, “Has he taken the medicine?”
Steward Gao hesitated and answered, “The Royal Consort hasn’t taken it yet.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him with a cold expression. “If he hasn’t taken the medicine, why are you back?”
Steward Gao had no choice but to report honestly, “The Royal Consort said he would take the medicine, but he wants a painting from His Highness.”
Xue Fangli’s fingers paused on the low table. He frowned, “My painting?”
Steward Gao nodded, “The Royal Consort said that when you returned, you brought a painting, and he wants that painting.”
Xue Fangli was taken aback.
In the Chonghua Hall, he had taken out a total of eight paintings. Seven of them were handed to Chief Steward Wang to be delivered to Emperor Hongxing, leaving only one, which was too damaged to be unfolded.
There was nothing of particular value in it.
“What does he want that painting for?”
“Uh… The Royal Consort didn’t say.”
Steward Gao shook his head, unsure of the matter. Xue Fangli didn’t respond immediately; he just lowered his eyelids, deep in thought.
In the silent room, Steward Gao hesitated and said, “Your Highness, if it’s not possible, I’ll report back to the Royal Consort.”
Xue Fangli remained noncommittal and unfolded a painting next to him.
With just a few strokes, the figure in the painting came to life.
In the shade of the begonia flowers, a young man sat on a couch, his long hair cascading over his shoulders, with a few flower petals falling around him.
As his fingers gently traced the painting, Xue Fangli knew that if he brushed aside the long hair on the young man’s shoulder, there would be a red mole on his neck, even more vivid than the begonia flowers.
Yang Liusheng truly deserved the title of the master painter.
If he hadn’t taken it by force, and if this painting had been passed around—he would be considered the most beautiful person under heaven.
It would only provoke more envious gazes.
Displeasure rose again, and he crumpled the edge of the painting. Xue Fangli’s expression was shockingly cold. After a long while, he slowly said, “Give him that painting.”
Steward Gao was stunned, knowing that the painting was likely quite significant. After all, His Highness always fulfilled the Royal Consort’s requests. Xue Fangli’s prolonged silence indicated that the painting was quite special to him. However, no matter how special it was, it couldn’t compare to the Royal Consort’s status in his heart.
Steward Gao was about to respond when a guard requested an audience. Steward Gao, with an unusual expression, said, “Your Highness…”
“The bowl of medicine that the steward brought earlier was thrown out of the window by the Royal Consort.”
Xue Fangli: “…”
Steward Gao: “…”
So, this was the reason the Royal Consort wanted the painting?
Just to get rid of him and throw out the medicine?
After a moment of speechless bewilderment, Steward Gao asked Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, should we still give the painting to the Royal Consort?”
Xue Fangli laughed, having realized the situation. Nonetheless, he lazily said, “Give it to him.”
Steward Gao nodded and, after taking a few steps, heard Xue Fangli add, “Keep an eye on him; he’s afraid of bitterness.”
Even if he kept a close watch, it depended on whether the Royal Consort was willing to drink it. Steward Gao, with a pained expression, asked, “Your Highness, what should I do if the Royal Consort absolutely refuses to drink it?”
“Should I call you over?”
Xue Fangli said casually, “We’ll see.”
He was still arguing with him.
Soon, Steward Gao returned with a small box containing the painting.
“Your Royal Consort, here is the painting you requested.”
Jiang Juan showed him the empty bowl and said confidently, “I drank all the medicine.”
Steward Gao: “…”
He said tactfully, “Your Royal Consort, you should know that every corner of the residence has guards on duty. Next time, please avoid using medicine to water the flowers.”
Now, the awkwardness had shifted to Jiang Juan.
He fell silent.
Jiang Juan had informed Lan Ting about the painting. Lan Ting took the box and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask Jiang Juan, “Young Master, you should watch the fireworks before you return today.”
Jiang Juan asked her, “What fireworks?”
Steward Gao knew about this too, and said, “The Emperor is quite pleased after today’s garden tour and thought it would be better to share the joy with others. He ordered fireworks to be set off in the evening.”
Fireworks? Jiang Juan was intrigued.
He had thrown out a bowl of medicine, but another could be prepared. Steward Gao went off to supervise the medicine preparation, and Jiang Juan, thinking it over, decided to go find His Highness and ask him to accompany him to watch the fireworks.
Jiang Juan had been to the Liangfeng Courtyard twice but didn’t remember the exact route. Fortunately, there were maids along the way, and he quickly found his way there.
“Your Highness.”
Jiang Juan knocked on the door and continued knocking for quite a while before there was any response. A cold voice came from inside, “What is it?”
He pushed the door open and entered, excitedly saying, “Your Highness, let’s go watch the fireworks.”
Xue Fangli looked at him. The young man’s face was full of enthusiasm and his eyes sparkled, making it hard to refuse him.
In fact, no matter the reason, Xue Fangli had seldom refused the young man’s requests.
“Have you taken your medicine?”
Without waiting for a reply, Xue Fangli simply asked this one question.
Jiang Juan sincerely said, “… Let’s talk about something else.”
It seemed he hadn’t taken it yet. Xue Fangli, with a neutral tone, said, “Take your medicine, then you can go watch the fireworks.”
Jiang Juan complained, “But it’s so bitter.”
Xue Fangli: “There are candied fruits.”
Jiang Juan: “It’s still too bitter. I can’t drink it.”
“Stop being fussy.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
He felt that saying the medicine was bitter wasn’t really being fussy, and he thought His Highness was being unreasonable. He grumbled, “I’m not being fussy.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him and gave a few instructions to the maid. Soon, Steward Gao brought the bowl of medicine. Xue Fangli asked Jiang Juan, “Will you drink it yourself, or do you need someone to hold you down to drink it?”
Jiang Juan was shocked, “Hold me down to drink?”
Xue Fangli tilted his chin slightly, and two guards stepped forward. He looked down at Jiang Juan and said, “Choose.”
Jiang Juan regretted inviting His Highness to watch the fireworks. If he had gone alone, he wouldn’t have to endure the torment of drinking the medicine.
Xue Fangli: “Can’t decide?”
Jiang Juan: “I’ll drink it myself.”
Jiang Juan sighed deeply, took the bowl of medicine, smelled it, and found it extremely unpleasant. He set it back down and said, “Your Highness, I don’t want to drink it.”
He refused to admit he was being fussy, but with such a soft tone, wasn’t it just being fussy?
Xue Fangli looked at Jiang Juan. He could have held him in his arms and coaxed him into drinking the medicine, but he didn’t really want to.
The youth was always so oblivious.
The youth was always so carefree.
His irritation and anger were constantly restrained but kept surging back. Yet throughout it all, the one causing it all was completely unaware, approaching him innocently and even returning his gaze with innocence.
How infuriating.
Xue Fangli slowly said, “Then let them hold you down and make you drink it.”
Jiang Juan was stunned. Two guards, having received the order, approached him and said, “Your Royal Consort, please excuse us.”
As they came closer, Jiang Juan didn’t want to be forcibly restrained and have medicine poured down his throat; it was too humiliating. He resisted vehemently, “Your Highness…”
Xue Fangli ignored him, lowering his gaze and saying nothing more.
Jiang Juan tried to evade them but, not paying attention to where he was stepping, stumbled and hit his knee.
At that moment, Jiang Juan fell completely silent.
Xue Fangli didn’t want to deal with it anymore, didn’t want to look, but the silence was too pronounced, with no sounds at all.
The youth was usually so delicate, so afraid of hardship, whether it was whining or complaining, he would always make a fuss. It shouldn’t be this quiet.
Frowning, Xue Fangli eventually looked over.
Jiang Juan was sitting on the ground, apparently having hurt his knee. He was looking down at it without making a sound.
Xue Fangli watched indifferently for a long time.
How could a single glance make him get hurt?
How could he end up soft-hearted in the end, while the youth remained clueless?
Xue Fangli stood up and walked over to Jiang Juan, picked him up by his chin, and asked, “Is it only when I put you on a pedestal that you won’t break?”
Author’s note: His Highness: Turning dark. Jiang Juan: Falls down. His Highness: … Come here and get a hug.
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