The Salted Fish Has Gotten Over It Chapter 44

Chapter 44

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After watching the fireworks, it was time to return to the prince residence.

The carriage swayed all the way back. Jiang Juan wasn’t sleepy at first, but the swaying made him drowsy. Leaning against Xue Fangli, he started to doze off.

“How can you never get enough sleep?”

Xue Fangli glanced at him and smiled. Jiang Juan seemed not to hear and focused on sleeping. He really could sleep. His cousin used to tease him, saying he needed eighteen hours of sleep and could only stay awake for six.

When they arrived at the residence, Xue Fangli didn’t wake him up but carried him off the carriage. Jiang Juan woke up after a few steps, looked around, and pointed in another direction, “Your Highness, my courtyard is over there.”

Xue Fangli didn’t stop walking, “Aren’t you going to sleep with me?”

Jiang Juan answered honestly, “I can sleep by myself.”

Sleeping with His Highness meant he could lie on his chest, which was comfortable, but His Highness hugged him too tightly. He couldn’t turn over and had to stay in the same position for a long time, which was uncomfortable.

Xue Fangli looked at him. The youth’s eyes were clear, without a trace of impurity or…

Desire.

He knew nothing about it, he didn’t recognize love.

The realization that Jiang Juan wanted him to care for him more out of pity and compassion rather than affection made Xue Fangli pause.

Pity and compassion were already enough, but now, he wanted more.

Everything related to Jiang Juan, he wanted it all.

Xue Fangli lowered his eyes, his expression dark, but his words were gentle, with endless patience, “Didn’t you promise me you’d let me care for you alone?”

“If you sleep alone, what if your heart condition acts up?”

Jiang Juan instinctively answered, “Isn’t Lan Ting there?”

Xue Fangli smiled slightly, his displeasure not showing at all. He said gently, “You have a maid in the side room, but I don’t like anyone serving me. If you don’t sleep with me, what if I cough up blood again?”

Jiang Juan was stumped. Last time at the county manor, even when a wolf came, no one noticed. If His Highness slept alone and coughed up blood again, no one would know.

After thinking for a few seconds, Jiang Juan agreed, “Okay, I’ll sleep in your room.”

Xue Fangli hummed in response, a faint smile on his crimson lips. He carried Jiang Juan step by step into the cool breeze courtyard.

He wasn’t known for his patience, but with Jiang Juan, he had some.

Not recognizing love was fine.

He would eventually pull him into the depths of passion.

The next day.

Xue Congyun arrived at Prince Li Residence early in the morning.

Normally, Jiang Juan would still be asleep. He wouldn’t see anyone. But today, Xue Fangli had business to attend to early and asked Lan Ting to wake Jiang Juan up to have breakfast. Jiang Juan complained, “I don’t want to eat. I’ll eat after I wake up.”

Lan Ting smiled, “Your Highness wants you to eat before sleeping.”

Jiang Juan said gloomily, “But if I eat, I won’t feel sleepy anymore.”

Lan Ting calmly replied, “You love sleeping so much, delaying a little doesn’t matter. You’ll fall asleep as soon as you touch the bed.”

She made a good point. Jiang Juan had no choice but to get up. Just as he was ready, Steward Gao brought Xue Congyun in, “Your Royal Consort, look who’s here.”

Jiang Juan looked up and asked Xue Congyun without much enthusiasm, “Why are you here?”

Xue Congyun: “Why can’t I be here?”

He swaggered over, sat across from Jiang Juan, and casually picked up a piece of cake. Just as he was about to eat it, he noticed something and hesitated, “What happened to your hand?”

Jiang Juan glanced down. He had burned his hand while handling incense, and it hadn’t fully healed yet, so his fingers were still bandaged. With a weary tone, he said, “I accidentally burned it.”

How it happened was quite embarrassing, so Jiang Juan didn’t want to elaborate. Besides, he hadn’t slept well and felt exhausted. Xue Congyun, seeing him like this, thought his fifth brother had bullied Jiang Juan again, making him feel down. He lowered his voice and sighed, “My fifth brother really is something else.”

Jiang Juan: “???”

He looked up in confusion, not understanding why His Highness was suddenly getting insulted. Just as he was about to ask, Xue Congyun remembered something and quickly took out a small object from his robe.

“Look at this.”

Jiang Juan’s attention was immediately drawn, and he asked curiously, “What is it?”

Xue Congyun answered, “A concentric ball. Have you seen it before?”

He placed the concentric ball in his hand. It looked like it was carved from ivory, with intricate patterns on the outer layer and several nested ivory balls inside, all hollowed out. A golden hairpin was inserted in it, making it look exquisite.

Jiang Juan was about to honestly say he hadn’t seen it before but changed his mind, thinking about how Xue Congyun had just insulted His Highness. He said, “I’ve seen it, seen it many times. I used to use these concentric balls to play in the water.”

Xue Congyun: “?”

His competitive spirit flared up. He almost got angry, “You’re lying! How could you have seen it many times and even used it to play in the water?”

Unable to take any provocation, Xue Congyun retorted loudly, “It’s called a concentric ball, also known as a ghostwork ball, named for its intricate craftsmanship. Look at its carving; each layer has different patterns, all consistent in theme but varied in content. And see how—” He pulled out the golden hairpin, making the four nested ivory balls spin.

“Isn’t it exquisite?”

Xue Congyun was quite proud, but his pride didn’t last a second before he angrily questioned Jiang Juan, “This set of concentric balls is unique to my mother’s collection. How could you have seen it many times and used it to play in the water?”

Jiang Juan wasn’t fazed at all. Slowly, he replied, “I really have seen it, in my dreams.”

Xue Congyun: “…”

Damn it, he felt tricked again.

Realizing belatedly, Xue Congyun felt frustrated. Every time he saw Jiang Juan, he always ended up losing face.

But since Jiang Juan said he had seen it in dreams, it meant he hadn’t seen the concentric ball in reality. This thought made Xue Congyun happy—his competitive spirit was greatly satisfied.

Seeing Jiang Juan’s bandaged hand, Xue Congyun felt pity for him and decided to let it go. He generously waved his hand, “It’s yours.”

Jiang Juan was stunned, “Huh? Why are you giving it to me?”

Xue Congyun’s expression was complex, “Of course, because you…”

…are too pitiful.

Married to my fifth brother, suffering day and night, you are truly pitiful.

Nothing can cheer you up but treasures.

When Xue Congyun first saw this concentric ball in his mother’s collection, he decided to take it and give it to Jiang Juan to cheer him up.

Of course, the main reason was to visit and comfort him, hoping Jiang Juan wouldn’t get too depressed under his fifth brother’s torment.

Thinking of this, Xue Congyun sympathetically said, “Your situation is tough. In the future, any treasures I get, I’ll bring them to you first. Don’t lose hope.”

Jiang Juan: “?”

Huh? What does he mean by ‘lose hope’? Jiang Juan was even more confused. Xue Congyun didn’t explain further and just handed the concentric ball to Jiang Juan, then got to the point, “There’s an archery competition later. Want to join and watch the fun?”

As someone who preferred a lazy lifestyle, Jiang Juan was never one to participate in outdoor activities. He declined firmly, “No.”

Xue Congyun tried to persuade him, “Staying in the residence alone is boring. Come out and play with me.”

Jiang Juan replied strangely, “How can it be boring in the residence? I can sleep whenever I want and eat whenever I want. It’s quite enjoyable.”

Xue Congyun: “But you’re all alone. Let me tell you, today’s archery competition will be lively with students from both Luxing Hall and Guangye Hall.”

Hearing about the crowd, Jiang Juan was even more disinterested. He shook his head repeatedly, “I’m not going. After I finish eating, I want to go back to sleep.”

Still needing sleep, Xue Congyun asked, “Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

Jiang Juan, wanting to save face, thought for a moment and said, “Yes, I didn’t sleep well for most of the night.”

Xue Congyun finally gave up, “Alright, go sleep then.”

After speaking, Xue Congyun popped the piece of cake into his mouth and mumbled, “Last night, I told Gu Puwang I was planning to take you to play, but since you’re not going…”

Jiang Juan: “…”

Gu Puwang?

Good thing he didn’t agree.

Gu Puwang was also part of the main characters group. Unlike the idle Sixth Prince and Jiang Qingliang, Gu Puwang was a talented scholar, known as one of the “Twin Jades of the Capital” alongside Marquis Anping.

He was intelligent from a young age, recognized as a prodigy and now a celebrated scholar, skilled in the six arts. However, his aloof personality meant he was only close to the protagonist shou. Gradually, he also started associating with the Sixth Prince and Jiang Qingliang.

Jiang Juan was already dealing with the Sixth Prince and Jiang Qingliang and didn’t want to interact with the main characters group any further.

Sleeping sounded much better.

Since Jiang Juan couldn’t be persuaded, Xue Congyun went to play alone, eating several more of Jiang Juan’s snacks before leaving. Jiang Juan fiddled with the concentric ball left behind, feeling satisfied and planning to get back to sleep—but that was not to be.

Just as he was about to lie down, Xue Fangli returned and said to Jiang Juan, “I need to go out. Since you’re not asleep yet, come along.”

Jiang Juan: “?”

Why did everyone want him to go out? Jiang Juan shook his head vigorously, “I’m not going. I want to sleep.”

Xue Fangli looked at him and smiled leisurely, “Didn’t you say in the palace that you need to walk a bit for your heart condition? Today I’ll take you for a walk.”

Times had changed, Jiang Juan earnestly said, “That was the old me. The current me doesn’t want to move at all. I won’t walk. Your Highness, you go by yourself.”

Xue Fangli raised an eyebrow, “You don’t want to move?”

He approached Jiang Juan, leaned down, and scooped him up from the bedside, “You don’t need to move. I’ll move for you.”

Jiang Juan: “…”

Taking him for a walk? His Highness just wants a human pillow.

Afraid of falling, Jiang Juan had no choice but to hold onto Xue Fangli’s neck. He then asked quietly, “Your Highness, do you remember you promised me you wouldn’t just carry me around anymore?”

Xue Fangli asked with a half-smile, “Do you want to walk by yourself?”

Jiang Juan was silent for a few seconds, then held onto him tighter, making his choice immediately.

— No way he was going to be tricked into walking more.

He could have just lain flat, but His Highness insisted on bringing him along, so His Highness had to take responsibility. Next time, he wouldn’t let His Highness carry him around anymore.

The carriage left the capital.

All the way, Jiang Juan performed his duty as a human pillow, sitting in Xue Fangli’s arms. However, when they arrived, Jiang Juan lifted the curtain and didn’t want to get out of the carriage.

“Your Highness, what do you want to do?”

Outside the capital, in the fields, with streams flowing gently, it was an ideal place for outdoor activities. Jiang Juan was shocked, “You really brought me here to take a walk?”

Xue Fangli came here because there was some news about the deer’s blood wine being replaced with wolf’s blood.

As for bringing Jiang Juan, it was just a way to tease him. But once he had him in his arms, Jiang Juan clung to him, so Xue Fangli thought it wouldn’t hurt to bring him along.

There was no need to tell Jiang Juan this. Xue Fangli smiled and asked, “If you want to walk, I’ll accompany you after I handle my business.”

Jiang Juan quickly shook his head, “No, I don’t want to walk at all.”

Fearing he might be tricked into walking, Jiang Juan’s fair fingers gripped the cushion tightly, refusing to get out of the carriage. Xue Fangli didn’t force him and simply said, “Wait here for me to return.”

As long as he didn’t have to move, Jiang Juan agreed immediately, “Okay.”

Xue Fangli glanced at him and left a few guards behind.

In the end, Jiang Juan didn’t know why they came out this time, but he didn’t think much of it. With His Highness gone, he was alone in the carriage, first lounging back, then lying down bonelessly, trying several positions before falling asleep again.

After several naps, when Jiang Juan woke up again, His Highness still hadn’t returned.

Jiang Juan lifted the curtain in confusion, looking around, but didn’t see His Highness. Instead, he spotted a young man sitting by the riverside, fishing.

The spring sun was warm, but the young man was sitting directly under it, squinting against the light but not moving to a shadier spot.

Jiang Juan couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you getting sunburned?”

The young man seemed aware of someone in the carriage and wasn’t surprised by the voice. He didn’t turn around and answered slowly, “It’s fine.”

Jiang Juan, curious, asked, “What’s fun about fishing?”

Ripples appeared on the water, and the hook bobbed up and down, as if a fish had taken the bait, but the young man didn’t reel it in. Jiang Juan had to remind him, “It looks like you’ve caught a fish.”

The young man acknowledged with a hum but didn’t move. Only when the water calmed did he answer Jiang Juan’s previous question, “Fishing is relaxing and allows you to clear your mind.”

Jiang Juan thought for a few seconds and asked him, “Then why don’t you just take a few more naps?”

“…”

The young man paused, slowly turning his head.

Silence, a long silence.

Jiang Juan admitted, “Sorry, I was just talking nonsense. Go on with your fishing.”

The young man, however, said, “I think you’re right.”

Then he spoke plainly, “But I have to get up before dawn every day.”

Waking up so early seemed miserable. Jiang Juan asked, “Why do you get up so early? Why not sleep in?”

The young man looked at him and asked, “You don’t recognize me?”

Jiang Juan shook his head, “No, I don’t.”

Understanding dawned on the youth—this was Gu Puwang. He said to Jiang Juan, “Since I was five, I’ve been called a prodigy. My father feared I’d lose my talent and made me get up at the third watch to study, a routine that hasn’t changed.”

The third watch was around three or four in the morning. Jiang Juan sympathized, “That’s too early. How can you study well without enough sleep?”

Gu Puwang nodded in agreement. He gave Jiang Juan a rather cool smile and said, “Actually, I was just sleeping.”

Jiang Juan: “…”

Gu Puwang: “Weren’t you sleeping just now too?”

Jiang Juan nodded. The two of them looked at each other, recognizing a kindred spirit in each other. If there was one word to describe their current state, it would be:

— Salted fish comrades.

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