Chapter 60
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Xue Congyun: “Do you want it?”
Who wouldn’t like something fluffy?
Jiang Juan liked it.
A cat with four ears sounded interesting. “I’d like to see it.”
Xue Congyun grinned, “No problem, I’ll get it for you later.”
Outside the tent, Jiang Qingliang said in confusion, “What’s wrong with him? When he needs to use his brain, he’s a fool. When he should act foolish, he gets smart.”
“We sent him to ask about important matters, and he starts offering a cat.”
Jiang Qingliang commented, “Shameful, truly shameful!”
After speaking, Jiang Qingliang pretended to dust himself off and said to Gu Puwang, “I’m leaving.”
Gu Puwang asked lazily, “Where to?”
Jiang Qingliang: “Just a walk.”
Jiang Qingliang hadn’t walked far when Gu Puwang said, “You’re going the wrong way, the racecourse is in the other direction.”
Jiang Qingliang stopped, corrected his path, but muttered, “I really am just taking a walk.”
Gu Puwang remarked, “Shameful, truly shameful.”
Jiang Qingliang: “…”
He was slightly annoyed, and said righteously, “With Xue Congyun’s riding skills, I’m afraid he’ll make big promises and fail to bring back the cat, which would be even more shameful.”
Gu Puwang glanced at him and couldn’t be bothered to reply, walking in the opposite direction. Jiang Qingliang asked curiously, “Where are you going?”
“Fishing.”
Xue Fangli finished talking with Emperor Hongxing and was led by a palace servant to the tent, while Xue Congyun was still telling Jiang Juan about the four-eared cat.
“This cat is a royal tribute,” Xue Congyun said. “It’s very rare and considered a divine cat in the local area.”
Jiang Juan responded with an “Oh,” and the next second, the tent flap was lifted. A man walked in gracefully. Jiang Juan greeted him, “Your Highness, you’re back.”
After a brief pause, Jiang Juan asked him, “Your Highness, can I keep a cat?”
A cat?
Xue Fangli glanced at him. The youth’s eyes were sparkling with anticipation. Usually, when Xue Fangli was looked at like this, he would grant his wishes, but this time, he said calmly, “No.”
Jiang Juan, disappointed, asked, “Why not?”
Xue Fangli, with a hint of a smile, said, “In the prince’s residence, there’s already someone who needs to be fed, carried, and lies in bed all day. We can only afford one.”
Jiang Juan: “???”
Jiang Juan: “…”
Damn, he felt targeted.
Jiang Juan argued, “Your Highness, you don’t have to take care of it. I’ll feed it, carry it, and it will only lie in my bed. Is that okay?”
Xue Fangli, with a tone of regret, said, “Still no.”
“Cats are too clingy.”
These little creatures are always acting cute and needy, never wanting to be away from people, constantly demanding attention.
He didn’t want the youth to be distracted by a cat, let alone hold it all day, taking his attention away.
Seeing that His Highness wouldn’t relent, Jiang Juan had to give up. After all, keeping a pet wasn’t just his decision. Jiang Juan turned to Xue Congyun and said, “Your Highness doesn’t like it, so let’s forget about it.”
Who cares if his fifth brother liked it or not? Xue Congyun whispered to him, “It’s okay, I’ll keep it at my place. When my brother isn’t around, I’ll bring it over for you to play with.”
Was there such a good deal?
Jiang Juan brightened up again. Xue Fangli, noticing this, gave Xue Congyun a cold glance. “Old Six, since when have you been so kind-hearted?”
Xue Congyun almost jumped at the look. Bracing himself, he said, “Fifth Brother, I’ve always been this kind-hearted.”
“Really?”
Xue Fangli stared at Xue Congyun lazily and said, “If that’s the case, help me with something.”
Xue Congyun had a bad feeling, “… W-What is it?”
Xue Fangli curled his lips. “If nothing changes, we’ll be staying at the royal stables tonight. I don’t like furry things. Since you’re so kind-hearted, help me pluck the fur off this blanket.”
With that, he tossed over a blanket.
Xue Congyun: “???”
Xue Fangli: “Remember to use your hands. Scissors won’t do a thorough job.”
Xue Congyun was stunned.
He knew his fifth brother could be torturous, but he never expected him to come up with something like plucking fur. On the verge of tears, Xue Congyun asked, “Fifth Brother, what did I do to offend you?”
Xue Fangli said slowly, “How could you think that way, Sixth Brother? If it weren’t for you, I would have almost forgotten how much I dislike furry things.”
Xue Congyun: “…”
What else could he do? He picked up the blanket and forced a smile more pitiful than crying. “Fifth Brother, no problem, leave it to me.”
Xue Fangli nodded. “Thank you, Sixth Brother.”
Xue Congyun glanced at Jiang Juan with a heavy heart. He didn’t see his fifth brother often, but every time they met, he was sure to get into trouble. He couldn’t imagine how Jiang Juan managed to endure living with him day and night.
Thinking of this, Xue Congyun’s gaze became even more sympathetic, and he tried hard to convey a message to Jiang Juan with his eyes.
——Leave the cat matter to me!
“Fifth Brother, I’ll be going now.”
“Alright.”
Not daring to stay any longer for fear of more misfortune, Xue Congyun dashed off with the blanket. Jiang Juan curiously asked Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, why don’t you like furry things?”
“Don’t you find them comforting to hold?”
Xue Fangli replied leisurely, “Can they be more comforting than holding you?”
Jiang Juan was stumped by the question and instinctively said, “How would I know what it’s like to be held?”
“Very soft and very sweet.”
Xue Fangli looked at Jiang Juan, his voice lingering, “Why else would I never want to let go?”
Soft and sweet.
What a strange description.
Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered, feeling inexplicably nervous, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Xue Fangli raised his eyebrows slightly, “Come here.”
Jiang Juan looked at him, “What for?”
Xue Fangli didn’t say anything, just looked at him. After thinking for a moment, Jiang Juan walked over. Xue Fangli reached out, pulling Jiang Juan into his arms, and said slowly, “Let me hold you.”
Xue Fangli lowered his head, smelling the scent on Jiang Juan, and smiled contentedly, “Indeed, you are soft and sweet.”
The warm breath fell, making his ears feel as if they were enveloped in a dampness. Jiang Juan felt ticklish and covered his ears with his hands, slowly saying, “Not soft and not sweet, not at all.”
“Your Highness, have you ever held a cat? Cats are so soft that they can turn into a puddle of cat or a strip of cat.”
Xue Fangli responded indifferently, “Is that so?”
“But I still prefer the feel of my wife.”
With that, Xue Fangli’s hand slipped under Jiang Juan’s knees and lifted him up, “Let’s go horseback riding.”
The sudden sensation of being airborne startled Jiang Juan. He quickly clung to Xue Fangli, his forehead pressing into Xue Fangli’s chest and unconsciously rubbing against him several times. Xue Fangli chuckled lightly, “I do feel like I’m raising a cat.”
Jiang Juan was confused, “Huh?”
Xue Fangli lowered his eyelids. “Born delicate, with a big temper. The slightest displeasure and he scratches me. But when he’s obedient, he’s really well-behaved, lying in my arms all day.”
Jiang Juan understood and clarified seriously, “I’ve never scratched you.”
Xue Fangli asked, “Who was it throwing a tantrum at me last night?”
Jiang Juan played dumb, “Who was it, Your Highness?”
Xue Fangli glanced at him. Since Jiang Juan wouldn’t admit it, he spoke softly and gently, “It must have been the cat I’m raising.”
Riding a horse started with picking one.
Xue Fangli brought Jiang Juan to the stables. “Pick a horse you like.”
Jiang Juan didn’t know much about horses, so he could only choose by color. He asked Xue Fangli to put him down, looked around, and finally pointed to a completely black horse.
“Your Highness, I like this one.”
Xue Fangli nodded, and the stable master immediately brought the black horse out.
After getting briefly acquainted with the horse, Xue Fangli mounted it and extended a hand to Jiang Juan. “Get on.”
Jiang Juan exclaimed in surprise, disappointedly asking, “Your Highness, are you going to ride with me?”
Xue Fangli raised an eyebrow, “You want to ride alone?”
Jiang Juan nodded honestly, “I do.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him, “Too dangerous.”
Alright, riding together it was. If they fell, they’d hurt together. Jiang Juan handed his hand to Xue Fangli and was pulled up onto the horse.
It was Jiang Juan’s first time on a horse, and he found everything fascinating. He touched the saddle and tugged at the reins. Xue Fangli asked, “Are you sitting comfortably?”
Jiang Juan nodded, “Yes.”
The next moment, the horse started moving.
Considering Jiang Juan, Xue Fangli didn’t let the horse run too fast, but even so, Jiang Juan was startled and grabbed Xue Fangli’s sleeve tightly.
“Scared again?”
“I…”
That “again” was really annoying. Jiang Juan initially wanted to bury himself in Xue Fangli’s arms, but catching that word, he forced himself to sit up straight and pretended to be calm. “I’m not scared.”
“Really?”
Xue Fangli chuckled, looking down at Jiang Juan’s clenched fingers.
The youth’s fingers were fair, with beautiful pale pink tips. But he was too tense and gripping too hard, causing his fingertips to turn white.
“What’s there to be scared of,” Jiang Juan said. “Your Highness, can’t you go a bit faster?”
“Then let’s go faster.”
With a slap to the horse’s flank, the horse picked up speed, galloping as Jiang Juan wished.
But it went too fast.
On the vast grassland, the horse sped up, and Jiang Juan couldn’t see anything clearly, only hearing the whistling wind. He felt unsteady, as if he could be thrown off at any moment, so he closed his eyes in a panic.
Jiang Juan gave up pretending, “Your Highness, it’s too fast, too fast, slow down a bit.”
Xue Fangli said leisurely, “Weren’t you the one who wanted to go faster?”
Jiang Juan shook his head, finding an excuse despite his fear, “I wanted a little faster, but you went twice as fast.”
“Open your eyes.”
“Slow down first.”
They were talking, with the wind whistling by their ears. The horse suddenly leaped over a waterhole with a splash, and Jiang Juan’s heart jumped, “Your Highness…”
This time, there was no response.
“Your Highness?”
He called once, no answer. Twice, still no answer. Jiang Juan started to panic.
More than the horse running fast, he feared Xue Fangli’s silence. He knew the horse hadn’t stopped, so Xue Fangli couldn’t have gone anywhere, but the lack of response unnerved him.
With no other choice, Jiang Juan took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.
He looked up, only to find Xue Fangli looking down at him.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Juan met his gaze and slowly furrowed his brow, almost accusingly saying, “You heard me, but you ignored me.”
Xue Fangli responded nonchalantly, “Yes, I heard you. So what?”
He asked, “Are you scared?”
Jiang Juan slowly admitted, “Yes, I’m scared.”
Xue Fangli inquired, “Of what?”
Jiang Juan replied, “…The horse is running so fast.”
Xue Fangli said slowly, “No, that’s not it. You’re scared because the horse is running fast, so you closed your eyes.”
He raised his crimson lips and in a voice as soft and coaxing as a lullaby, asked, “Now that you’ve opened your eyes, what are you scared of?”
“Or perhaps I should ask… what are you looking for?”
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Obrigada pelos capítulos!! 🥰😘