Chapter 58
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That night.
After the banquet, outside the Grand Princess’s residence, the carriages flowed like water and horses moved like dragons.
The carriage from the Minister Residence had not yet departed and was parked in a dimly lit area.
Marquis Anping strode forward, passing carriage after carriage before he lifted the curtain of one.
Jiang Nian was tilting his head back, letting someone treat the wound on his forehead with a cloth. When he saw Marquis Anping, he dismissed the servants and looked at him, lips trembling slightly, but he couldn’t say anything. Only silent tears fell.
“Xiao Nian, you’ve been wronged.”
Marquis Anping frowned, gently holding his hand. “I already know what happened today. Prince Li was truly too much!”
“I should have been at the banquet, but my uncle kept me in the study, so I didn’t attend. If I had been there, you wouldn’t have been humiliated like this.”
Jiang Nian shook his head as if the humiliation didn’t matter to him. He said dejectedly, “Marquis, the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort don’t like me…”
“What do I have to do to gain their approval?”
Marquis Anping consoled him, “Uncle and aunt just haven’t spent time with you. You’re great. If they get to know you, they’ll definitely like you.”
Jiang Nian bit his lip. “But they haven’t interacted with my brother either—” He paused, remembering how he was forced to kowtow at the banquet. The shame and pain were enough to etch the moment into his memory forever.
He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and said with a trembling voice, “…They haven’t met Prince Li’s Royal Consort either. Today was their first meeting, and I saw the Eldest Princess was delighted. The Prince Consort was even more pleased, and they even blamed me for his sake.”
“Marquis, am I truly not as good as him?”
In the dimly lit carriage, Jiang Nian’s voice choked up. His face was wet with tears, looking pitiful. Marquis Anping was about to respond, but then he remembered the way that boy cried.
—Tears wetting his eyelashes, like dewdrops on jade petals, a single blink making the heart melt.
Jiang Nian truly couldn’t compare to Jiang Juan.
“…Marquis?”
After a long silence, Jiang Nian called out softly, bringing Marquis Anping back to his senses. He forced a smile. “Why would you think that?”
“You are who you are. There’s no need to compare yourself to others or overthink it.”
Marquis Anping didn’t answer directly, but Jiang Nian didn’t notice because a small porcelain bottle was pressed into his hand. Marquis Anping explained, “This is a healing ointment I got from my aunt. Use it daily on your wounds so they don’t leave scars.”
Jiang Nian gripped the bottle tightly. “…Alright.”
Marquis Anping continued, “I’ve instructed the household servants not to mention the banquet, but… with so many guests, if someone says something, don’t take it to heart.”
Jiang Nian closed his eyes and murmured, “I understand.”
How could he not? Being punished so publicly at the banquet was bound to cause rumors.
But so what? He had ways to silence the rumors and make them speak highly of the second son of the Minister Residence.
—In his previous life, this summer was anything but peaceful.
What did it matter if Jiang Juan had Prince Li’s protection and the favor of the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort?
Soon enough, not just the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort, but even Emperor Hongxing would treat him with respect. He would crush Jiang Juan underfoot, just as he had always done.
Thinking of this, Jiang Nian smiled, his heart finally at ease.
He casually asked, “Marquis, you said before that you would take the opportunity of the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort’s absence to ask the Emperor for our marriage. Now that they have returned, what about our marriage…?”
Jiang Nian asked just to see Marquis Anping’s reaction. He already knew from Jiang Juan that the marriage had been granted. He endured tonight to avoid embarrassing Marquis Anping; they were in this together now.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Marquis Anping shook and abruptly let go of Jiang Nian’s hand, reacting strongly.
“Marquis?”
Jiang Nian was shocked. Marquis Anping stood up suddenly, stammering, “…There was an accident.”
He looked flustered. Jiang Nian thought Marquis Anping was just embarrassed, trying to surprise him, and felt even sweeter inside. He pretended to be gentle, saying, “It’s alright, Marquis. There’s plenty of time.”
Marquis Anping nodded, looking evasive. “It’s late. You should get some rest.”
“…Alright.”
After they bid farewell, Marquis Anping stepped out, and the coachman cracked his whip, the carriage moving forward. Marquis Anping watched it leave, standing still for a long time.
That day in the palace, he didn’t insist on the marriage, so there wouldn’t be a second chance.
How could he tell Jiang Nian this?
The next day.
At Prince Li’s residence.
In his spacious single bed, Jiang Juan slept until noon. Even after naturally waking up, he didn’t open his eyes, feeling he could sleep a bit longer. He rolled over to find a more comfortable position, but found he couldn’t move.
Jiang Juan: “?”
He reached out and felt a hand around his waist. Pushing it several times to no avail, his fingers were then caught, forcing him to open his eyes.
Someone was there.
“Who let you sleep here?” Jiang Juan frowned.
“Last night, you wouldn’t let me sleep,” Xue Fangli, lying in bed fully clothed, lazily played with Jiang Juan’s hand. “It’s already daylight, isn’t it?”
Jiang Juan: “???”
“I didn’t agree.”
“It’s my own courtyard; do I need your permission?”
Jiang Juan retorted on purpose, “Well, I’m quite controlling. I control your smiles, who you meet, and when you meet them.”
Xue Fangli raised his eyebrow and tightened his grip around Jiang Juan’s waist, pulling him closer. “Do you know what did aunt say to me?”
Jiang Juan was used to being held by him, so he didn’t struggle. He only raised his head and placed his hands on his shoulders upon hearing what he said, “What did the Eldest Princess say?”
Xue Fangli chuckled, “She said—’I didn’t expect, but it turns out I’m also henpecked.'”
Jiang Juan was stunned, his hands weakened, and he fell into Xue Fangli’s embrace.
Henpecked.
Henpecked?
Jiang Juan’s heart pounded, beating rapidly, but his ear pressed against Xue Fangli’s chest heard a steady and strong heartbeat, so different from his own turmoil.
“What’s wrong?”
He had been silent for too long, and Xue Fangli’s calm inquiry made Jiang Juan shake his head, his voice muffled, “Your Highness, why is your heartbeat so steady?”
He accused irrationally, “…Can’t it beat faster?”
Xue Fangli: “Look up.”
Jiang Juan: “Huh?”
Confused, Jiang Juan felt his chin being lifted, and his hand placed somewhere.
Xue Fangli looked down at him, “How about now?”
Jiang Juan blinked, still puzzled, but then he felt it—a heartbeat against his palm.
Thump, thump, thump.
Not very strong, but Jiang Juan’s fingers trembled in response. The heartbeat seemed to speed up, or maybe it didn’t. His ears filled with the sound, indistinguishable whose heartbeat it was, just a continuous rhythm.
At this moment, silence fell all around, yet it felt loud.
They looked into each other’s eyes.
Xue Fangli slowly asked, “Is it faster?”
Jiang Juan, dazed, replied, “It seems…”
“Thump, thump, thump.”
Before he could finish, a knock on the door startled Jiang Juan, making him retract his hand and instinctively hide, his sudden and strange feelings making him uneasy.
—Of course, no matter how he hid, it was still in Xue Fangli’s embrace, unwilling to be seen.
“Come in.”
Xue Fangli’s face darkened as he spat out each word.
Outside, Steward Gao, hearing the tone, knew their master was in a bad mood and nervously entered, “Y-Y-Your Highness…”
Glancing at the bed, Steward Gao saw the Royal Consort nestled against Xue Fangli, seemingly asleep, and lowered his voice, “Your Highness, His Majesty went to the Imperial Stable today and, in high spirits, decided to hold an equestrian competition. He’s inviting guests to the palace.”
“His Majesty wants you and the Royal Consort to relax.”
Jiang Juan immediately stopped pretending to sleep, “I’m not going. I don’t need to relax. I’m in a great mood.”
Steward Gao was about to say something, but seeing Jiang Juan’s face, he forgot his words and exclaimed, “Your Royal Consort, are you unwell? You seem feverish.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
He touched his forehead, not feeling hot, and looked at Xue Fangli with curiosity. Xue Fangli, seeing Jiang Juan’s confusion, felt his previous irritation dissipate and laughed softly, holding Jiang Juan tenderly.
—Under the youth’s eyelashes was a blush, like a fragment of the mundane world, breathtakingly beautiful.
Steward Gao asked worriedly, “Your Highness, should we call a physician for the Royal Consort?”
Xue Fangli’s fingers brushed Jiang Juan’s face lightly, dismissing the concern, “No need.”
If the master said no, Steward Gao couldn’t insist, but asked, “Your Highness, then…. will you still go to the Imperial Stable?”
Jiang Juan didn’t want to go. Xue Fangli, intending to follow his wish, suddenly reconsidered and said thoughtfully, “Go, of course. Why not?”
“You can go yourself.”
Jiang Juan had no need for relaxation. If anything upset him, sleeping was his solution. Jiang Juan firmly said, “I’m not going.”
“Fine,” Xue Fangli smiled slightly, “But do you remember what you owe me from last night?”
Jiang Juan: “Huh? Owe what…”
Halfway through his words, he remembered, his body stiffening. Xue Fangli lazily continued, “You said today. Today has come. Say it. I’m listening.”
Jiang Juan: “…”
Husband.
How could he say that?
Jiang Juan pursed his lips, trying to be sly, “…Your Highness.”
Xue Fangli smirked, “Acting cute won’t help.”
“I wasn’t acting cute.”
Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered as he tried to speak, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Steward Gao glanced at him and gasped.
Their Royal Consort was already exceptionally beautiful, ethereal like a celestial being. Now, with his eyes glistening and his face radiant, he looked even more stunning, truly a national beauty.
At the same time, Steward Gao realized something.
The Royal Consort wasn’t feverish after all.
He was teased by their master.
This beautiful young man was teased to this extent by their master. Their master was truly ruthless.
“I can’t, I really can’t.”
Jiang Juan tried several times but failed, eventually slumping back into Xue Fangli’s arms, rubbing his forehead against his shoulder. Xue Fangli patted him gently, “Then come with me to the Imperial Stables. I’ll teach you how to ride a horse.”
Jiang Juan had never ridden a horse before and was a bit curious. He asked Xue Fangli, “If I accompany you to the Imperial Stables, can I…. avoid calling you that?”
Xue Fangli glanced at him, “Just postponing it for a day.”
Jiang Juan felt deflated, “Your Highness, can’t you be more generous?”
Xue Fangli smiled nonchalantly, “No. I can’t be generous with you.”
Jiang Juan had no choice but to get up and recall the plot.
The protagonist shou was humiliated at the Eldest Princess’s residence, marking a low point. Rumors would spread in the capital, but it wasn’t a big deal.
The protagonist shou’s life was full of ups and downs, but he always had a chance to rise again, especially with the main characters group supporting him.
In the original novel, this equestrian competition was mentioned.
Xue Congyun, Jiang Qingliang, and Gu Puwang went to the Imperial Stables, learned about the events at the Eldest Princess’s residence unable to leave so Xue Congyun threw a tantrum, forbidding any mention of it.
However——in the novel, Jiang Juan’s character had already committed suicide by biting his tongue. Therefore, no matter how much the Eldest Princess and the Prince Consort scolded the protagonist shou, it had nothing to do with him. But now, the protagonist shou’s humiliation last night was due to Xue Fangli, the EldestPrincess, and the Prince Consort standing up for him.
Would the main characters group also target him?
Jiang Juan frowned, feeling uneasy.
Despite his unwilling involvement, he found these people interesting. But now that the protagonist shou was involved, they would likely turn against him.
Jiang Juan sighed.
What a pity, especially Gu Puwang. He had finally caught a wild salted fish.
“What are you thinking about?”
Xue Fangli’s calm voice broke Jiang Juan’s thoughts, and he instinctively replied, “…Gu Puwang.”
The next second, his face was pinched, and Xue Fangli’s smile was dangerous, “What about him?”
Jiang Juan, oblivious to the danger, wrapped his arms around Xue Fangli’s neck, nuzzling closer, “Your Highness, I’m going with you, so…”
“You have to protect me, don’t let anyone bully me.”
Especially Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingliang.
Despite feeling displeased about Jiang Juan mentioning Gu Puwang, the youth’s soft and affectionate behavior greatly pleased Xue Fangli.
Xue Fangli closed his eyes slightly, “I will naturally protect you.”
The youth seemed as fragile as porcelain, easily shattered.
“You were scared at the Eldest Princess’s residence, and now you’re afraid of the Imperial Stables. What are you so afraid of?”
Xue Fangli lazily lifted his eyelids, “When have I ever let anyone bully you?”
“As my Royal Consort, you are always afraid. Would you stop being afraid if you were made Empress?”
Author’s Note: “When have I ever let anyone bully you?”
The heartless man who just bullied the salted fish said this.
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Obrigada pelos capítulos 😘💕