Chapter 46
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Xue Fangli: “…”
Unexpected.
At first, he really thought the marriage was unnecessary. The three arrows were shot at Jiang Juan as a way to express his displeasure, using the “three arrows decide the fate” as an excuse.
Jiang Juan asked, “Your Highness, why aren’t you speaking?”
Xue Fangli remained expressionless, “I indeed did it on purpose.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
He was shocked and said, “Your Highness, at that time you said you missed your mark and apologized so sincerely, I believed you.”
Xue Fangli: “I have an incurable illness and did not want to delay you.”
“People already had many rumors about me in the capital—violent by nature and ruthless in methods. I thought that after shooting three arrows at you when you just got out of the carriage, you would have no more concerns about staying in the residence. But…”
Jiang Juan believed this explanation and even handed his hand to him without hesitation.
“Sorry.”
Xue Fangli lowered his eyelids, his expression full of regret.
He had a naturally good appearance, with red lips and white teeth. Facing Jiang Juan, he deliberately hid his previous hostility, appearing gentle and approachable. Now with this apologetic look, it was almost impossible to blame him.
Jiang Juan: “…”
So, His Highness’s intimidation was also for his own good.
But he was really scared at the time.
Jiang Juan felt a bit soft-hearted, and Xue Fangli, noticing this, slightly raised his red lips and said softly, “If you’re truly concerned, you could shoot a few arrows at me to get back at me for the fright I gave you. How about that?”
After a pause, Xue Fangli spoke sincerely, “You have a heart condition and cannot bear anger. I can do anything, as long as you no longer dwell on this matter.”
Jiang Juan glanced at him, “But I don’t know how to shoot arrows.”
Xue Fangli said, “I can teach you.”
Jiang Juan shook his head, “I don’t want to learn.”
Xue Fangli asked again, “Should I have Old Six shoot for you?”
Hearing this, Jiang Juan shook his head even more vigorously, “No.”
He was worried about something, and Xue Fangli could easily guess what.
— Xue Congyun was idle all day, only indulging in eating, drinking, and playing. His archery skills were poor, and he couldn’t even hit the target. He might really end up hitting the person.
After thinking for a moment, Xue Fangli suggested another name, “Jiang Qingliang?”
Jiang Qingliang had practiced martial arts since childhood and was good at archery, but Jiang Juan still didn’t agree, “I don’t want that either.”
None of them would do. Xue Fangli looked at him without showing any impatience and asked gently, “Then what do you think should be done?”
Jiang Juan lowered his eyelashes, thought for a long while, and rarely showed a bit of stubbornness, “I need some time alone.”
“Hmm?”
“Your Highness, I’m upset with you. Please step away for a moment.”
“……”
Xue Fangli looked at him for a moment. Jiang Juan was saying he was upset, but he didn’t really seem to be angry. Xue Fangli smiled lightly and finally agreed, “Alright, I’ll wait for you to calm down.”
He turned and walked away. Jiang Juan didn’t look back; he simply lowered his head to sip the sour plum soup he had set aside for a while. After putting down the cup, he happened to make eye contact with Gu Puwang.
“You…”
Gu Puwang frowned slightly, seeming to have just woken up. With a puzzled look, he asked Jiang Juan, “Was that Prince Li you were talking to just now?”
There was no need to hide it, so Jiang Juan nodded, “Yes, it was His Highness.”
Gu Puwang: “…”
Jiang Juan wondered, “What’s wrong?”
Gu Puwang slowly shook his head, “Nothing. I was just thinking that maybe I’m still not fully awake.”
The famous Prince Li actually said things like “I have an incurable illness and don’t want to delay you,” and “I can do anything,” and even apologized sincerely, as if his temper had been taken over.
Could this really be true, or was he still dreaming?
Gu Puwang said to Jiang Juan, “Pinch me.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
Jiang Juan looked puzzled, and as he wasn’t able to pinch himself, at that moment, Jiang Qingliang sneaked back onto the shore and came over to call someone. Gu Puwang then raised his hand and pinched him hard.
“Ah, that hurts—!”
“Gu Puwang, what are you doing!?”
Jiang Qingliang jumped three feet high, and his loud shout made everyone look over. Gu Puwang glanced at him and sighed, “It’s not a dream.”
Jiang Qingliang: “?”
He scolded angrily, “Surnamed Gu, are you crazy!”
Gu Puwang ignored him. After Jiang Qingliang finished his tirade, he said gruffly, “Move a bit, stop daydreaming, and go shoot arrows.”
Only then did Gu Puwang adjust his clothes and slowly get up. Before leaving, Jiang Qingliang asked Jiang Juan, “Are you going?”
Gu Puwang: “He’s not going.”
Jiang Juan: “No, I’m not going.”
Jiang Juan and Gu Puwang exchanged a knowing glance, both feeling a mutual understanding.
— If you can lie down, why stand up?
Jiang Qingliang: “?”
He looked at Jiang Juan, then at Gu Puwang, and somehow felt these two got along quite well, even having a kind of unspoken understanding. Not wanting to seem too out of place, Jiang Qingliang gave up on trying to drag Jiang Juan away and simply said, “Alright, if you’re not going, then I’ll go win the Autumn Dew White for you. The wine is really good.”
Jiang Juan: “… Thank you?”
Jiang Qingliang and Gu Puwang left, leaving Jiang Juan alone at the spot. He finally couldn’t hold back his curiosity and turned to look. The royal carriage was parked not far away, and he didn’t see His Highness, guessing that he must be inside the carriage.
What was His Highness doing now?
He was the one who had driven him away and was also the one who was curious. After thinking for a moment, Jiang Juan said to Xia Gonggong, “Gonggong, could you help me deliver a jar of sour plum juice?”
Xia Gonggong, a trusted confidant of Xue Congyun, was aware of Jiang Juan’s identity and quickly agreed, “Certainly, Your Royal Consort. I’ll go deliver it right away.”
“And you…”
Jiang Juan whispered a few instructions to him. Xia Gonggong looked surprised and asked, “Really?”
Jiang Juan nodded, “Yes, that’s right.”
Xia Gonggonglooked hesitant but still said, “…Alright, I’ll go now.”
Inside the carriage.
The guard said in a low voice, “Your Highness, the farmer has been questioned.”
Xue Fangli asked without looking up, “What did he say?”
The guard took out an item, “He said… the person who instructed him to steal the wolf did not reveal his identity. Both times they met, he wore a mask, so his face was not visible. After the task was completed, he was rewarded with a jade pendant.”
As he spoke, the guard respectfully presented the jade pendant. Xue Fangli lazily took it, examined it for a moment, and said with a half-smile, “My elder brother truly isn’t the sharpest, but I wouldn’t have thought him to be this foolish.”
With a “clink,” he tossed the jade pendant onto a low table. The fine quality white jade was smooth and delicate, with a character carved on the lower right side — the character “Hua” representing the eldest prince, Xue Chaohua.
The guard bowed his head in silence, and Xue Fangli seemed deep in thought.
The matter of the wolf’s blood was full of oddities, yet there were no clear leads.
Whenever there was a clue, those involved either met with accidents or committed suicide shortly afterward. Today’s prolonged investigation was meant to lure the enemy out, but it seemed the other party had sensed something and had not sent anyone further.
Considering this, Xue Fangli said calmly, “Continue the investigation.”
As for this jade pendant…
It seemed he would have to find time to visit his elder brother’s residence.
Xue Fangli closed his eyes lightly, his expression weary, and said, “You may leave.”
The guard saluted and had just lifted the curtain when a Gonggong asked in a high-pitched voice, “Is this the carriage of Prince Li? His Royal Consort sent me to deliver sour plum soup.”
Xue Fangli raised his eyebrows and opened his eyes.
He was angry but still had someone bring him sour plum soup — what kind of anger was that?
His words might be harsh, but his heart was soft.
Xue Fangli smiled and glanced at the guard. The guard nodded in understanding and was about to fetch it when the Gonggong added, “His Royal Consort said that the gentlemen who guarded the carriage this morning worked hard, so this sour plum soup is specially for you.”
The guard paused and instinctively asked, “What about His Highness?”
Xia Gonggong lowered his voice, “Shh, keep it down.”
He frowned and repeated Jiang Juan’s exact words, “There’s no portion for His Highness. His Royal Consort said that only these few gentlemen are allowed to drink, and not a drop is to be given to His Highness.”
The guard: “…”
Xue Fangli: “…”
No matter how low the voice was, the message was still clear. Once Xia Gonggong finished speaking, he tried to leave but was stopped, “Xia Gonggong, wait.”
The man’s voice was charming and quite pleasant to hear, but to Xia Gonggong, it felt like a death knell. His legs gave way, and he immediately knelt on the ground, panicking as he asked, “Y-Your Highness, do you have any instructions?”
“If you’re also thirsty, I can bring you a jar of sour plum soup.”
Xue Fangli: “No need, just pass on a message for me.”
Xia Gonggong: “Ah? What message?”
Xue Fangli calmly said, “Ask the Royal Consort if he has calmed down. If not, I’ll ask him again later.”
Xia Gonggong: “?”
No wonder the Royal Consort wouldn’t let His Highness have any sour plum soup.
It seemed he was upset with His Highness.
But the problem was—this was the infamous Prince Li, known for his brutality and readiness to harm others at the slightest provocation!
His Highness actually cared so much for the Royal Consort?
Xia Gonggong was dazed as he got up. He was so disoriented that he didn’t hear Xue Fangli’s next words, which were delivered in an indifferent tone.
“Bring the sour plum soup in.”
Although Xia Gonggong had clearly said the sour plum soup was meant for the guards, not a drop was to be given to His Highness, Xue Fangli ignored this and, with a hint of coldness, told the guards, “If you’re thirsty, there’s a stream up ahead. Go drink from it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he poured himself a full cup of sour plum soup and sipped it slowly. He then lifted the curtain leisurely, and Xia Gonggong was talking to Jiang Juan. Jiang Juan looked up.
Xue Fangli met his gaze with a smile, but Jiang Juan slowly shook his head.
— Still angry, stay there by yourself.
Xue Fangli: “…”
Soon, the archery competition concluded, and indeed, Jiang Qingliang had won the Autumn Dew White. He came over holding a jug of wine, and Jiang Juan wasn’t surprised at all.
Jiang Qingliang was from a family of military generals and had practiced martial arts since childhood. He was quite skilled in archery, and even his father, the General of the Cavalry, felt inferior in comparison. In the future, he would join the military and likely take heads among a million troops.
Of course, no matter how brilliant the future might be, Jiang Qingliang was just an immature and boastful kid now. Together with Xue Congyun, they made the world a lot less peaceful.
Jiang Qingliang cheerfully said, “Brother Juan, try the Autumn Dew White.”
Xue Congyun rolled his eyes at him, “Brother my ass, it’s Your Royal Consort.”
Jiang Qingliang: “Why don’t you call him ‘Your Royal Consort’?”
Xue Congyun: “What’s my relationship with Brother Juan? And what’s your relationship with him?”
The two argued back and forth. One was highly competitive, and the other was stubborn. It didn’t take long before they were bickering intensely. Jiang Juan watched them with a look of exasperation, finding the noise bothersome.
Gu Puwang, clearly accustomed to this kind of behavior, calmly pushed a cup of wine toward Jiang Juan. “Try this.”
Jiang Juan wasn’t very familiar with alcohol and was curious about the Autumn Dew White. He lowered his head, sniffed it lightly, and found it had a crisp and slightly sweet fragrance.
Gu Puwang explained, “Autumn Dew White is brewed from dew collected on osmanthus petals during the golden autumn. This jug of Autumn Dew White is made from late dew collected over five years, yielding just this small jug.”
It sounded like quite a complicated process, so Jiang Juan took a small sip and savored the taste.
The wine had a genuine osmanthus aroma, sweet but not cloying, with a lingering sweetness that was quite enjoyable. The dew’s natural crispness made it especially refreshing.
Jiang Juan had never had such delicious wine before and couldn’t resist pouring himself several more cups. Seeing him enjoy it so much, Gu Puwang didn’t stop him. By the time Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingliang finished their argument, Jiang Juan was quite tipsy.
Xue Congyun looked over and was immediately startled. “What happened to him?”
Gu Puwang glanced at him and said, “He’s drunk.”
Xue Congyun asked, “Drunk? Already? How much has he had?”
Gu Puwang nodded towards Jiang Juan. Xue Congyun looked over and saw that Jiang Juan was no longer using a cup but was holding the jug and drinking directly from it. So, only Jiang Juan knew how much he had consumed.
Xue Congyun: “…”
He was worried about his fifth brother finding trouble and quickly tried to grab the jug from Jiang Juan’s hands. However, Jiang Juan was disoriented and still tightly clutching the jug, lifting his head in discontent.
Jiang Juan’s complexion was very pale, and his natural, ethereal beauty was marred by the flush of alcohol. His eyes were moist and misty, making his gaze seem even more captivating. Just a glance from him could make one’s heart flutter.
Xue Congyun froze. Both Jiang Qingliang and Gu Puwang were stunned as well. But the next moment, a hand wrapped around Jiang Juan’s waist, lifting him up and pressing his face into the embrace.
Wearing a black and gold robe and a cold expression.
Xue Congyun jolted, “F-Fifth Brother…”
Jiang Juan fidgeted in the embrace, but Xue Fangli ignored him, casting a cold glance instead. Seeing Jiang Juan in his drunken state displeased him more than the fact that Jiang Juan had been drinking.
Xue Fangli said with a cold tone, “We’ll settle this another day,” and carried Jiang Juan away. Xue Congyun gasped in shock, his face pale as he muttered, “I’m doomed.”
But soon, Xue Congyun came to a belated realization and shouted, “What does it have to do with me? Jiang Juan drank the wine, and it was Jiang Qingliang who won it. He drank so much, and it was Gu Puwang who didn’t keep an eye on him. Why should I be held responsible? Why are you blaming me?”
Jiang Qingliang and Gu Puwang exchanged a glance, and they both pretended not to hear. Gu Puwang took a sip of wine and sighed, “Prince Li’s Royal Consort is truly the most beautiful person in the world.”
Jiang Qingliang agreed wholeheartedly, “Yes, he’s beautiful.”
Fortunately, he was Prince Li’s Royal Consort.
With such a face, it would truly attract envy.
Only Prince Li could protect him properly.
After expressing his thoughts, Jiang Qingliang picked up his wine cup but suddenly stopped, exclaiming, “Where is the Autumn Dew White? The one I won? I haven’t had a sip yet!”
Gu Puwang, having finished the last sip of Autumn Dew White, said leisurely, “His Royal Consort took it with him.”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
He slowly turned his head and glared at Gu Puwang.
Xue Congyun was getting scolded by his Fifth Brother, and Jiang Qingliang had worked hard only to not have had any of the wine. Gu Puwang, who had meddled in everything, had enjoyed the wine and avoided trouble. Jiang Qingliang quickly turned against him, joining Xue Congyun to confront Gu Puwang, “Damn it, why do you always get away with everything!?”
If Jiang Juan had been there, he would have answered that this was a special skill of a salted fish.
But right now, Jiang Juan was still wriggling in Xue Fangli’s arms.
Once in the carriage, Xue Fangli released his hold on Jiang Juan. Jiang Juan lifted his head, feeling dizzy. It took him a long while to recognize Xue Fangli, and he said slowly, “Your Highness, I’m still angry with you. Go away.”
After finished speaking he tried to push Xue Fangli away, but in his drunken state, he couldn’t manage it. He looked down at his hand.
It turned out he was still holding a jug of wine.
It was Autumn Dew White, so sweet. He raised the jug to Xue Fangli and said, “Your Highness, I stole this wine to give to you. Try a sip; it’s delicious.”
Though he was offering it to Xue Fangli, Jiang Juan, unable to resist the wine’s aroma, took a small sip himself. The wine spilled over, wetting his pale lips, which he licked. Unconsciously, Jiang Juan’s hair became even more disheveled, but he didn’t appear at all troubled. Instead, he looked drowsy and flushed, resembling a begonia flower that had been crumpled and softened into water.
“Your Highness, try it.”
Xue Fangli lowered his gaze to Jiang Juan, and after a moment, he took the wine jug from Jiang Juan’s hand. “You’re drunk.”
Drunk people never admit they’re drunk. Jiang Juan shook his head. “I’m not drunk.”
He reached out to grab the jug again, but Xue Fangli held it out of his reach. Jiang Juan, feeling unsteady, draped himself across Xue Fangli’s lap and settled into his embrace.
Jiang Juan’s eyes were fixed on the jug of Autumn Dew White, and all he could think about was the wine. He said softly, “Your Highness, I want more.”
Xue Fangli, with a casual air, responded, “Didn’t you want me to try it?”
Jiang Juan, still in a daze, replied, “Then you should try it quickly.”
Xue Fangli’s gaze lingered on his lips, and with a subtle movement of his throat, he took a few sips of the Autumn Dew White. Jiang Juan, belatedly realizing something, quickly shook Xue Fangli’s hand. “Your Highness, save some for me.”
Xue Fangli raised an eyebrow and spoke with a hint of regret, “It seems to be finished.”
Jiang Juan’s face fell, his brows knitting together slowly. “It’s finished?”
He tried to reach for the jug again, and Xue Fangli let go. Jiang Juan shook the jug, but it was indeed empty. He looked disappointed and murmured, “There’s not a drop left.”
Xue Fangli smiled, holding Jiang Juan’s chin and tilting his head up. With deliberate slowness, he said, “There’s still a drop left.”
Jiang Juan’s eyes widened slowly. “Where?”
Xue Fangli gazed at him with a smile, his lips a deep red with traces of the wine. His voice was soft and slow, as if coaxing, “Find it yourself.”
“… I can’t find it.”
Jiang Juan shook the jug again, but it was truly empty. He looked up in confusion, and suddenly, his fingers were grasped and lifted, placing them on Xue Fangli’s wine-stained lips.
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes and asked, “Do you want to drink?”
“If you want it, you have to come get it yourself.”
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