Chapter 50
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With a loud thud, Marquis Anping slammed his wine cup onto the table and abruptly stood up. He strode toward the woman and grabbed her shoulder, yanking the jade pendant from her.
After confirming it was indeed the token he shared with Jiang Juan, Marquis Anping stood in shock, numerous thoughts racing through his mind. He gritted his teeth and asked, “How did this jade pendant end up in your possession?”
“Did you steal it?”
The sudden change left the woman stunned. It took her a moment before she hurriedly shook her head. “Lord Marquis, it wasn’t stolen…”
Marquis Anping’s voice grew stern. “Be honest!”
The woman quickly knelt, her face pale with fear. “Lord Marquis, it truly wasn’t stolen. If it were, how could I dare wear it so openly?”
Marquis Anping clenched the pendant tightly, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he didn’t press the woman further but looked at Jiang Juan with a complex expression.
If the pendant wasn’t stolen, there was only one other possibility.
That possibility would mean losing his last shred of hope, rendering his recent actions a complete joke.
Taking a deep breath, Marquis Anping asked Jiang Juan, “How did this pendant end up in her possession?”
Jiang Juan was equally confused. “I don’t know.”
He recognized the pendant.
Previously, when Marquis Anping mentioned their token at the bookstore, Jiang Juan had thought of selling it. The value was high and could fetch a lot of silver. However, His Highness said it was unnecessary and could be stored in the palace treasury. So, Jiang Juan handed it over to His Highness.
Seeing Jiang Juan’s bewildered expression, it was clear he didn’t know anything. Marquis Anping’s frantic heart finally settled back into place. His expression softened a bit, and he asked Jiang Juan again, “Did she steal it from you?”
Jiang Juan had no idea. He turned to look at Xue Fangli, seeking his input.
“Do you not know your own belongings?”
Jiang Juan truly had no idea, but Marquis Anping was unaware. He just found Jiang Juan’s reaction irritating and almost uncontrollably said that.
Jiang Juan: “………”
He felt wronged by the accusation. Even the most tolerant person would be annoyed by such behavior. Jiang Juan responded slowly, “Lord Marquis, you said it yourself, it’s my possession. Why are you more concerned than I am?”
“I——” Marquis Anping hesitated, but he managed to hold back his irritation. He asked once more, “Did she steal the pendant from you?”
As Jiang Juan was about to answer, Xue Fangli spoke leisurely, “It’s just a piece of jade, Marquis. No matter how many times you ask, if he has no impression on it, he simply doesn’t. Why bother?”
He paused slightly and then raised his chin. “If you truly want to know, why not ask her?”
No impression?
How could there be no impression?
Just as his emotions had started to settle, they surged violently again at those words. Marquis Anping looked at Jiang Juan intensely, gritting his teeth as he continued to question the woman, “If you didn’t steal it, then where did you get this jade pendant!?”
The woman, of course, dared not conceal anything. She stammered, “I—I have an old acquaintance. He is a steward in Prince Li Residence, named Gao, and often comes to Hongxiu Pavilion for pleasure. This pendant was also a gift from him.”
“He said—said it was given by the master as a casual reward.”
Casual reward.
Casual reward.
Jiang Juan said he didn’t know, and Prince Li said he had no impression. Could it truly be—casually given to a servant!?
He thought Jiang Juan kept the pendant out of affection.
Because Jiang Juan kept the pendant, he assumed Jiang Juan still had feelings and that he, himself, was the cause of his discontent.
In reality, Jiang Juan had long since passed it on.
Jiang Juan received the pendant but casually gave it to a servant.
From beginning to end, it was all his own misplaced sentiment.
No wonder Jiang Juan no longer showed any affection.
No wonder Jiang Juan seemed to regard him as a stranger.
With his emotions constantly shifting, the last shred of hope was shattered, and overwhelming shame filled his heart. Marquis Anping felt both anger and frustration.
If that was the case, why didn’t Jiang Juan just let the pendant be broken on that day?
Why keep the pendant, sending him false signals, making him feel needless guilt, and leading him to try to make amends!
Marquis Anping felt a surge of blood rush to his head, his vision blurring. He clenched his fists so tightly that he nearly bit his teeth to pieces, “Did you keep the pendant just for today?”
“Just to humiliate me today?”
Marquis Anping threw the pendant to the ground, glaring at Jiang Juan with a look of resentment and said slowly, “You—are truly something.”
“Lord Marquis, you seem to have forgotten something.”
Xue Fangli’s voice was indifferent, “My Royal Consort, whether good or bad, is not for you to judge. You—— Who even are you?”
As he finished speaking, he lifted his eyelids. Xue Fangli’s smile was sarcastic, and his gaze carried a hint of warning. The Marquis of Anping met his eyes and, in that moment, felt a chill pierce through his heart, sensing extreme danger.
No matter how much resentment or anger he harbored, when confronted with Xue Fangli’s gaze, all that remained was endless fear. No matter how unwilling or how much he gritted his teeth in hatred, the Marquis of Anping could only say, “Your Highness is right.”
“Zhao Shi—means nothing.”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, glancing disdainfully at his disheveled state and arrogantly nodding. “It’s good that you understand.”
Marquis Anping gritted his teeth and looked down. He felt utterly drenched and pitiful, like a drowned rat—every bit as ridiculous and miserable as one could imagine.
But no matter how humiliating, nothing compared to the intense, indelible shame of having his dignity trampled on.
It was all his own misplaced sentiment.
From beginning to end, it was all his own misplaced sentiment.
Since that was the case, he wanted to see just how long the favor of Prince Li could last!
Jiang Juan would regret it sooner or later!
He clenched his fists tightly.
Xue Chaohua glanced at Marquis Anping and then at Xue Fangli, feeling that today’s events were exceedingly awkward.
He quickly waved his hand, signaling for the dazed Marquis Anping to be removed, and forced a smile as he spoke to Xue Fangli, “Fifth Brother, today’s events have truly been…”
Unfortunate, extremely unfortunate.
He had intended to have Marquis Anping act as a mediator, but not only did that fail, it ended up causing displeasure all around.
Xue Chaohua even suspected he had fallen into a trap.
Given today’s situation, his fifth brother’s Royal Consort clearly had no interest in Marquis Anping. Instead, it seemed like Marquis Anping was persistently seeking his attention. Was it possible that he, unable to see him, was deliberately trying to come here and offer some nonsense scheme?
The more Xue Chaohua thought about it, the more it seemed likely.
Devious, truly devious!
He cursed silently in his heart but suddenly heard Xue Fangli’s half-smiling voice say, “Eldest Brother, you help others and secretly arrange a meeting with my Royal Consort?”
Xue Chaohua immediately realized that Old Five was holding him accountable. He replied vaguely, “… I just wanted him to help with a request.”
Xue Fangli’s voice remained indifferent as he said, “A request? Eldest Brother, perhaps you should first make a request on your own behalf.”
As he spoke, Xue Fangli tossed a jade pendant to him. “Not long ago, I was schemed against. After investigating for several days, I obtained this jade pendant.”
Xue Chaohua took it and his face immediately changed. “This matter has nothing to do with me.”
Xue Fangli said coldly, “I originally thought the same. Even if you were slow-witted, you wouldn’t award a jade pendant engraved with your own name. However, today’s events have opened my eyes. It’s entirely possible that it was your doing.”
The implication of calling him foolish was clear, and Xue Chaohua picked up on it. But there was nothing he could do but force a smile and say, “Fifth Brother, this matter has nothing to do with me. Give me a few days, and I will investigate thoroughly and provide you with an explanation.”
Xue Fangli didn’t respond directly but asked Jiang Juan, “Do you like Lotus Leaf Soup?”
The change in topic was so abrupt that Jiang Juan was momentarily taken aback but nodded honestly, “I do.”
Xue Chaohua seemed to grasp the hint and cautiously asked, “If you like it, I’ll have the cook write down the recipe for you.”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, “The taste varies depending on who makes it.”
Xue Chaohua was silent for a moment, then asked tentatively, “Then… will you take the cook with you?”
Xue Fangli asked leisurely, “Eldest Brother, are you willing to part with him?”
Xue Chaohua: “… Of course.”
What the hell.
It was bad enough that he was being treated like a restaurant, but now, on top of that, Xue Fangli wanted to take the cook with him, all while putting on a pretense.
If he wanted the cook, just take him; why ask if he was willing to part with him? Was he even human?
Xue Chaohua maintained a perfect smile, though he felt quite reluctant. After having offended Xue Fangli badly today and with the matter of the jade pendant, he had no choice but to accept.
Xue Chaohua, feeling distressed, waved his hand and said with a heartache, “Take him away, take him away.”
Xue Fangli: “In that case, I better comply.”
Xue Chaohua: “…”
Damn it, this was infuriating.
Not only had he failed to get the favor he sought, but he also ended up losing out and incurring more loss.
Xue Chaohua felt his frustration rise, while Jiang Juan was quite pleased.
He knew that the mention of Lotus Leaf Soup and taking the cook was because of him. Jiang Juan couldn’t help but say to Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, you’re really kind.”
Xue Fangli looked him over for a moment, then smiled slightly. “Hmm.”
Regarding Marquis Anping’s jade pendant, Xue Fangli had thought Jiang Juan would ask him a few questions. Seeing that Jiang Juan seemed to have completely forgotten about it, Xue Fangli decided not to bring it up.
After a while, Jiang Juan said, “Your Highness, come here a moment. I have something to discuss with you.”
Xue Fangli lowered his gaze, noticing Jiang Juan’s sparkling eyes. His thoughts went back to how Jiang Juan had called him “husband.” Xue Fangli bent his head towards Jiang Juan and casually asked, “Hmm? What is it that you need to say so privately?”
Jiang Juan suddenly grabbed his face and asked in frustration, “Your Highness, what’s going on?”
“The Marquis’ jade pendant—I said I would exchange it, but you wouldn’t let me. You also said it would be put away in the treasury, but it wasn’t.”
Jiang Juan slowly said, “I think you need to explain this to me properly now.”
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