Chapter 43
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Jiang Juan was still waiting for Xue Fangli to look at the painting. After hearing him out, he was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, “I don’t think it’s good.”
Although he said it wasn’t good, Jiang Juan still smiled while resting his chin on his hand. His eyelashes fluttered, and the interplay of light and shadow made him extraordinarily beautiful.
Xue Fangli’s eyelids lifted, a momentary darkness crossing his expression, but it was fleeting. He also smiled and leisurely asked Jiang Juan, “Why isn’t it good?”
His tone was gentle, his smile warm, yet there was an aura of extreme danger about him.
Jiang Juan’s insensitivity to the atmosphere was once again evident at this moment as he slowly replied, “Last time, I asked Your Highness to care about me, and you refused. So now, I’m doing the same.”
“…I have my pride too.”
That last time was at Miaoling Temple, where Jiang Juan learned some things about His Highness and his mother. Not wanting His Highness to be haunted by the past, he asked him to care about him in the future.
But His Highness had refused him.
“I see.”
Xue Fangli smiled again, his crimson lips curling slightly, expressing regret and indifference.
Whether he agreed or not was irrelevant. The moment he asked, Xue Fangli already knew the answer.
Regardless of the youth’s thoughts, he only needed one answer.
Asking Jiang Juan was merely to portray himself as a “good person.”
The only regret was that if the youth had been a bit more obedient and his answer a bit more pleasing, perhaps it would have delighted him, making him more patient.
What a pity.
Xue Fangli lowered his gaze but then heard Jiang Juan ask, “Your Highness, what’s going on with you?”
Xue Fangli: “Hmm?”
Jiang Juan, looking frustrated, said, “I said no, and you didn’t ask again. What if I changed my mind?”
Since Xue Fangli didn’t ask, Jiang Juan had to hint again, “You rejected me once, I rejected you once. Now we’re even. Your Highness, I think you can ask again.”
Xue Fangli was momentarily stunned. Another firework shot into the sky, its brilliance falling in a grand display. Jiang Juan looked up at the fireworks, but Xue Fangli’s gaze was fixed on him.
After a moment, Xue Fangli laughed softly, his inner gloom dissipating. He laughed, feeling both joyful and relaxed.
Jiang Juan turned his head and asked, “Your Highness, what are you laughing at?”
Xue Fangli looked at the painting, “This painting… Have you opened it to look?”
Jiang Juan shook his head. Seeing this, Xue Fangli slowly unfolded the painting before him.
A night of dazzling fireworks filled the sky.
They were watching fireworks, and the painting depicted fireworks as well.
Jiang Juan couldn’t help but say, “What a coincidence.”
Xue Fangli nodded, “Indeed.”
He hadn’t forgotten a single detail of those years. He learned painting to please that woman, creating portrait after portrait to please her.
Because Emperor Hongxing had repeatedly pleaded him so.
—“You are her flesh and blood, her only bond in life. No matter how heartless she is to me, she won’t hate you. For your father, don’t let her go. Only you, Old Five, can soften her heart…”
His birth was merely a bargaining chip, a gamble.
Seven years ago, Emperor Hongxing lost completely. That woman died on the Qixi Festival. That night, the palace was draped in mourning while outside, fireworks lit up the sky. Xue Fangli took up his brush and painted this scene.
In that moment, his meaningless and loathsome life seemed to exist for himself, only to plunge back into endless hatred.
Seven years later, a young man wanted to keep him.
What he once despised and hated softened the youth’s heart and evoked his compassion. He began to feel grateful for his many sufferings, using them to keep the youth by his side day after day.
He should have been submerged in endless hatred and loathing, yet a hand reached out to him, pulling him back to the world.
That was his little savior, rescuing him from the sea of suffering.
“If that’s the case, I’ll ask you again,” Xue Fangli said with a smile, “I will only care about you from now on. What do you think?”
“You may care,” Jiang Juan replied earnestly this time. “Your Highness, you can care a bit more.”
“With your poor health, constant headaches and coughing blood, caring more might let you live longer. Then I can send you off later.”
Xue Fangli: “…”
He paused, looking Jiang Juan up and down. The youth was not only earnest in his words but also in his expression, seemingly convinced that Xue Fangli would depart before him and that he needed to see Xue Fangli off.
After a moment of silence, Xue Fangli simply smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll try to delay my departure. As for you, with your frequent heart attacks, you must hold on longer.”
Xue Fangli knew he couldn’t keep him for long. When the time came, he would personally send the youth off, but he didn’t want to do it too soon.
They stared at each other for a long time, and Jiang Juan sighed softly.
—Sigh, with such severe illness, even if Your Highness delays, how long can it be?
Xue Fangli also lowered his gaze, deep in thought.
—With such frequent heart attacks, how long can the youth hold on?
“Bang—!”
A firework soared into the sky, bursting into a brilliant display. The loud noise made Xue Congyun’s hand tremble, nearly spilling his tea.
“Why did Father have the fireworks go on for so long?”
Xue Congyun was puzzled. Tonight’s fireworks display had been unusually lengthy, making his ears buzz nonstop.
Opposite him, Jiang Nian smiled and said, “Perhaps His Majesty is in a particularly good mood today, so he had them light more.”
Earlier today, Xue Congyun didn’t go out for an excursion. Instead, he and Jiang Nian arranged to have dinner at Juxian Pavilion, but Jiang Qingliang and Marquis Anping couldn’t make it, leaving only Xue Congyun, Jiang Nian, and Gu Puwang present.
Xue Congyun sighed, “If it weren’t for these fireworks, with that chatterbox surnamed Jiang not here, my ears would finally be at peace.”
Jiang Nian took a sip of tea, smiling helplessly. Suddenly recalling something, he apologetically said to Gu Puwang, “By the way, I won’t be able to attend the archery competition between Luxing Hall and Guangye Hall tomorrow.”
The Luxing Hall and Guangye Hall were two of the six halls within the Imperial College. The students of Luxing Hall were led by Gu Puwang, while the students of Guangye Hall were led by Jiang Qingliang. The two had a good relationship, so the halls often interacted with each other. Recently, they had even planned an archery competition, and Jiang Qingliang invited Jiang Nian to join them.
With Jiang Qingliang absent, Gu Puwang sipped his tea and said calmly, “It’s fine if you can’t come.”
Gu Puwang and Jiang Qingliang both attended the Imperial College, as one was the son of the prime minister and the other the son of a general. However, Xue Congyun, being a prince, had to obediently attend the Great Hall for his studies, with no one to fool around with, making his days unbearably boring.
After thinking for a moment, Xue Congyun enthusiastically said, “If Brother Nian can’t come, I’ll come to watch your competition tomorrow.”
Gu Puwang responded coolly, “Forget it. Jiang Qingliang talks enough by himself. If you two get together, it’ll be unbearably noisy.”
Xue Congyun wasn’t pleased with this and lunged to pinch him. “This prince graces you with his presence, and you don’t kneel to welcome me? How dare you complain? Reorganize your words!”
Gu Puwang swatted his hand away, not bothering to argue. He just adjusted his clothes. Xue Congyun was about to curse again when he overheard a group of scholars at the next table discussing about Jiang Nian.
“Have you heard? Today in the Baihua Garden, the title of the most beautiful person in the capital has changed hands?”
“Changed hands? Who is it now?”
“Take a guess.”
This sudden topic without any hints left everyone guessing wrong until they urged the speaker to reveal the answer. The scholar continued to tease, “You wouldn’t know, no matter how gentle and refined the Second Young Master is, praised as a minor celestial being, he can’t compare to this person. Even Yang Liusheng said—‘The Second Young Master is a firefly’s light, while that beauty is the radiance of the moon. The Second Young Master simply can’t compare!’”
Jiang Nian’s fingers trembled, and the teacup fell with a “bang.”
He had expected the incident in the Baihua Garden to spread throughout the capital soon, but hearing it personally still hurt. Unlike in the garden, he couldn’t show any resentment now because— “Brother Nian, are you okay?”
Xue Congyun asked cautiously. Jiang Nian shook his head, smiling weakly, “I’m fine.”
Despite his words, he clearly wasn’t fine. Xue Congyun, deeply worried, wanted to comfort him but didn’t know what to say. Meanwhile, the scholars at the next table continued their conversation.
“Such beauty, is it true?”
“Do you not know who Yang Liusheng is? He is the famous master painter, known for his love of painting beautiful women. The praise you just heard came from him. Do you think it’s believable?”
Amidst the exclamations, someone suddenly said, “Speaking of which, the first time I saw the Second Young Master, I wondered how he could be the most beautiful person in the capital. His face, even if praised to the skies, is merely delicate. Yet, both the Marquis and the Sixth Prince praise him as unparalleled, so I could only go along with saying he’s beautiful.”
“Brother Wang, you too? To be honest, I felt the same!”
“You two as well? I thought it was only me with poor taste, unable to appreciate the beauty of the Second Young Master. Turns out it wasn’t just me?”
Nobody yet knew who “Bright Moon” was, but a group of people had already started agreeing. They usually accepted the Second Young Master of the Minister Residence as the most beautiful, praising him endlessly. Today, however, they discovered they all had doubts—his face wasn’t that extraordinary.
His temperament was good, but not exceptional.
As for the so-called beauty of the bone structure, that was even more elusive.
The Second Young Master of the Minister Residence wasn’t really beautiful at all, yet they insisted on talking about the beauty of his bone structure. Honestly, whether it’s bone structure or appearance, true beauty should be evident. You can’t just ignore an unremarkable appearance and force another aspect.
“So, who is the most beautiful now?”
Someone couldn’t help but ask. At the same time, Xue Congyun slammed his chopsticks down and said to Jiang Nian, “Brother Nian, I’ll be right back.”
Jiang Nian’s face was pale, but his tone was gentle, “Why are you going? Is it because of me? Let them talk. I… don’t mind.”
Xue Congyun looked at him, then stood up, “I want to hear for myself. If you’re not the most beautiful, then who is? Do they truly deserve the title?”
Jiang Nian hurriedly reached out to stop him but failed. Xue Congyun stormed over, while Jiang Nian frowned, watching his back, his eyes flickering.
He had spent so much effort, flattering endlessly, not just for the title “Brother Nian.” They were very useful, especially at this moment.
Thinking of this, Jiang Nian smiled, slowly retracting his gaze, only to meet Gu Puwang’s eyes unexpectedly, making his heart tremble.
He was close to Xue Congyun, Jiang Qingliang, and Gu Puwang. Among the three, he had invested the most effort in Gu Puwang. Yet, it was Gu Puwang who often frustrated him—he was too clear-headed. He seemed close to him but never truly opened his heart. Sometimes, Jiang Nian felt Gu Puwang could see through him.
Jiang Nian smiled at Gu Puwang, who said nothing, just watched as Xue Congyun approached the table of scholars.
“Hey, you—” “The most beautiful person now is the new Royal Consort of Prince Li, also the Third Young Master of the Minister Residence!”
Xue Congyun: “…”
They spoke at the same time. His hand almost landed on the speaker’s shoulder but froze in mid-air.
How could it be him?
That country bumpkin—no, now he’s Brother Juan. He cried a lot, but he really was quite good-looking.
Giving Brother Nian’s number one beauty title to him, well…
It didn’t seem like much of an issue.
It actually felt quite fitting.
Xue Congyun fell silent.
The most talkative scholar hadn’t noticed someone behind him, but his companions did. Their eyes widened, frantically signaling him. The scholar, repeatedly receiving the hints, turned around in confusion and almost fell off his chair.
The Sixth Prince!
It was the Sixth Prince!
Everyone knew he was close to the Second Young Master!
“S-sixth Prince…”
Recalling the bad things he had said about Jiang Nian, the scholar called out tremblingly, fearing Xue Congyun would confront him. But Xue Congyun said nothing, just stared at him, creating an incredibly awkward atmosphere.
After a long while, Xue Congyun’s suspended hand came down, and he slowly revealed an awkward but polite smile, “I’ve recognized the wrong person, see you.”
Then he left.
Scholar: “???”
That’s it? He didn’t come to defend the Second Young Master?
The scholar, narrowly escaping trouble, was bewildered. Jiang Nian was even more shocked. He knew Xue Congyun’s personality, always fiery and arrogant. Normally, he would have overturned the scholars’ table by now.
Jiang Nian clenched his hand, suddenly feeling uneasy. He asked calmly, “Today, you’ve changed your tune. I was worried about you.”
Xue Congyun felt quite guilty. He didn’t dare to tell Jiang Nian the truth. He thought Jiang Nian was still quite suitable for being the most beautiful person, so he muttered softly, “My fifth brother is too scary. When I heard it was his Royal Consort, I didn’t dare to say anything.”
Jiang Nian was taken aback but understood. Xue Fangli protected Jiang Juan so fiercely, and since Xue Congyun had to deal with both of them, if it got back to Xue Fangli, Xue Congyun wouldn’t fare well.
Jiang Nian had thought that Xue Congyun’s outburst today would make him tone it down a bit, but his calculations were off. Still, Jiang Nian couldn’t say much, so he just smiled gently, “It’s good that you didn’t cause any trouble. You won’t be reprimanded by His Majesty when you return to the palace.”
Xue Congyun waved his hand and picked up his teacup. Jiang Nian, thinking about the phrase “moonlight and fireflies,” felt stifled. He wasn’t truly indifferent, so he said softly, “I’m going outside to get some air.”
After Jiang Nian got up and left, Gu Puwang stared at Xue Congyun and slowly asked, “What’s going on between you and Prince Li’s Royal Consort?”
Gu Puwang was perceptive; even the slightest clue couldn’t escape his sharp eyes. Xue Congyun leaned over the table and whispered, “I caused him some trouble before, but later I felt…”
Xue Congyun scratched his head and asked Gu Puwang, “Have you met him? Anyway, I think he and Brother Nian might have a bit of a misunderstanding. He doesn’t seem like someone who would push Brother Nian into the lake.”
Gu Puwang thought for a moment. He didn’t have much impression of this Prince Li’s Royal Consort and had only occasionally heard Jiang Nian mention him. Gu Puwang shook his head, “No, I haven’t.”
As for whether there was any misunderstanding between the two, Gu Puwang was even less clear. He just reminded Xue Congyun, “Don’t ask Brother Nian about misunderstandings.”
Xue Congyun asked in confusion, “Why not?”
Gu Puwang didn’t answer.
He had a calm temperament, unlike the impulsive Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingliang. He knew Jiang Nian was not as gentle and detached as he seemed.
Jiang Nian had ambition and cunning. Since he had mentioned Jiang Juan, it was clear he didn’t like him.
After a pause, Gu Puwang added, “Time reveals a person’s heart. You’ve only met His Royal Consort a few times, but you’ve known Brother Nian for years. How can you be so sure he’s innocent?”
Xue Congyun said, “He just… I don’t know how to explain it to you.”
The drawback of being uneducated was not knowing how to express himself when needed. Xue Congyun thought for a moment and suddenly had an idea, “How about this? Tomorrow, there’s an archery contest. I’ll bring him along to play.”
“You’ll understand once you see him. He’s quite interesting.”
Whether or not he was interesting, Gu Puwang didn’t know, but he knew this Prince Li’s Royal Consort had some skills.
Xue Congyun always mentioned Brother Nian and was often led by him. This was the first time he didn’t stand up for Jiang Nian.
Gu Puwang didn’t mind. Seeing him could be interesting, and he could see what was so special about this Prince Li’s Royal Consort. He said, “Do as you like.”
Author’s Note:
Salted Fish Juan: I’m going to send him off.
His Highness: I’m going to send him off.
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I’m going to send you both ◉‿◉