The Salted Fish Has Gotten Over It Chapter 61

Chapter 61

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What is ge afraid of?

What is he looking for?

Jiang Juan froze.

He was afraid His Highness wouldn’t be there.

He was looking for… His Highness.

“I…”

I’m looking for you.

It was only four words, but Jiang Juan couldn’t bring himself to say them.

The horse continued to run, and the wind roared around them.

Thump, thump, thump.

Jiang Juan heard his own heartbeat, louder than the wind, and oddly jubilant without reason.

They rode across the plains, over hills. The world was simultaneously silent and noisy.

“Hmm?”

Xue Fangli waited patiently for a long time before slowly asking again, “Why did you open your eyes?”

He didn’t want to say.

He just didn’t want to say it.

Jiang Juan stammered, “Didn’t you tell me to open them?”

Xue Fangli looked down at him, the youth’s long hair streaming in the wind. He sat up straight, trying to appear calm, but his fingers still clung tightly to Xue Fangli’s sleeve.

A hand emerged from His Highness’s wide sleeve, and Xue Fangli smiled meaningfully. “Why so stubborn?”

The next moment, he gently brushed Jiang Juan’s hand away. Without that grip, Jiang Juan felt utterly lost.

“Your Highness…”

Without His Highness’s sleeve to hold onto, the ride seemed rougher. Jiang Juan instinctively reached for him, but Xue Fangli kept evading his touch. Left with no choice, Jiang Juan anxiously clung to the horse.

“Look.”

Not long after, Xue Fangli calmly uttered a single word. Jiang Juan instinctively lifted his head and immediately regretted it.

A lake.

They were heading towards a lake.

The horse kept galloping with no intention of stopping, and Xue Fangli showed no signs of pulling the reins.

Jiang Juan was frantic, but he tried to reassure himself.

—No matter what, His Highness wouldn’t let the horse run into the lake.

But the horse ran faster and faster, bringing them closer and closer to the lake. The air seemed to grow damp until the horse’s hooves sank into the muddy ground, causing a sudden jolt.

“Your Highness, stop, please stop.”

Jiang Juan couldn’t hold back any longer. “Please, make it stop.”

Xue Fangli asked, “Why should I stop?”

Jiang Juan answered anxiously, “The lake, there’s a lake ahead.”

Xue Fangli asked, “Will you tell the truth now?”

Jiang Juan froze, pursed his lips, and fell silent. Seeing this, Xue Fangli sighed, “What now? It seems like it can’t be stopped.”

His mischievous intent was evident. Jiang Juan looked up at him, stunned.

What now?

What could he do?

His Highness was doing this on purpose.

On purpose to scare him by not letting him hold onto his sleeve and not stopping the horse.

Because…

Because he refused to answer his question? Because he was being stubborn?

But that’s not fair.

Jiang Juan felt inexplicably wronged. Tears welled up in his long lashes, shimmering like dew. His eyes reddened at the corners.

There was no reason to cry; it wasn’t worth crying over. Jiang Juan tried to hold back his tears, but he couldn’t help thinking: how could His Highness be like this?

Unable to hold back any longer, tears fell from his lashes, his face damp with them.

Xue Fangli’s movements paused. He pulled the reins hard, and the horse neighed, finally stopping its charge toward the lake.

Once the tears started, Jiang Juan found it hard to stop.

Xue Fangli watched him for a long time before pulling him into his arms. “Don’t cry.”

Jiang Juan ignored him, his silent tears falling on Xue Fangli’s fingers, warm and wet. Xue Fangli gently wiped Jiang Juan’s tears with his thumb. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have scared you.”

“Nor should I… have pressured you.”

Jiang Juan's eyelashes fluttered, but he remained silent. Xue Fangli continued, "Even if you don't cry, the horse would have stopped. I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

"Why are you so timid? You can’t even tell the truth."

Jiang Juan quietly defended himself, "I'm not afraid to tell the truth, I just..."

He just felt so uneasy.

It was a feeling Jiang Juan had never experienced before, a mixture of excitement, joy, and anticipation.

Jiang Juan realized that without His Highness, he felt insecure.

He also realized that he seemed to rely on His Highness a lot.

But he had an instinct that these hidden emotions shouldn't be explored, let alone revealed.

He hated change.

And he feared the unknown.

Lowering his head, Jiang Juan murmured, "Your Highness, I am timid, and I am scared. Please don't scare me anymore..."

Xue Fangli looked at him, the boy seemed like a frightened animal, too subdued to even lash out—normally he was pampered and could throw tantrums without consequence.

Now, he was just crying silently, pitifully asking for reassurance, his tone almost like a child’s, soft and tender.

Xue Fangli moved his fingers, gently tucking Jiang Juan's windblown hair behind his ear, and said casually, "Alright, I won't scare you anymore."

Jiang Juan believed him, "Then it's settled. You can't scare me anymore, or else..."

"Or else you'll sleep alone, and I won't take care of you."

As if he had ever taken care of Xue Fangli. In truth, it was Jiang Juan who had always been taken care of, yet he was the one making the threats.

Having just made him cry, whatever Jiang Juan said went. Xue Fangli responded, "Alright."

Jiang Juan was satisfied.

But there was still one thing bothering him, and he decided to retaliate.

He grabbed Xue Fangli's hand, causing His Highness to raise an eyebrow and look at him. Jiang Juan asked righteously, "What are you looking at?"

—Since His Highness didn’t let him grab his sleeve earlier, he would hold his hand now.

Xue Fangli’s gaze lowered. After a moment, he reversed the grip, interlocking their fingers tightly. He lifted the corners of his lips and said, "Nothing."

Jiang Juan was pleased with his cooperation and solemnly announced, "From now on, I won’t grab your sleeve. I’ll commandeer your hand."

It felt more comfortable and secure to hold.

Xue Fangli smiled, "Alright."

The matter was finally resolved, but Jiang Juan discovered a new problem.

—The saddle was too hard.

Even with several layers of padding, the inner thighs, being the most delicate part of the body, were chafed badly from the bumpy ride, causing unbearable pain.

Previously focused on his fear, now that it had subsided, Jiang Juan belatedly felt the discomfort. He refused to ride any longer, asking Xue Fangli to let him down.

Being outdoors, Jiang Juan couldn’t check his injuries. He could only grumble, "It must be chafed."

Xue Fangli glanced at him, "How delicate."

Jiang Juan didn’t think it was about being delicate. He defended himself, "I’ve never ridden a horse before."

They were by the lakeside and couldn’t return just yet. Jiang Juan had to stay and play around, giving himself some time before resuming the ride.

There were many others by the lake, mainly grooms from the stables. Knowing that two noblemen were present, they paid their respects and then continued their work, careful not to intrude.

Following the principle of sitting whenever possible, Jiang Juan sat on the grass, idly plucking at it.

Suddenly, there was a loud splash—someone had fallen into the water.

"Help!"

"Help—!"

The cries for help startled Jiang Juan. He looked up to see someone flailing in the lake, the waves pushing him farther away as he struggled to stay afloat.

In this urgent moment, Jiang Juan didn't have time to think. Being the closest, he instinctively lay down by the shore, extending a hand toward the struggling person.

"Hold on tight.”

The person in the water reached out desperately, but there was still a small gap between them. Driven by a strong will to survive, the person struggled forward while Jiang Juan inched closer to the edge.

Finally, their hands clasped together.

Jiang Juan let out a sigh of relief and was about to call for help from His Highness when his supporting hand suddenly slipped, and he too fell into the water.

In that moment, Jiang Juan was stunned.

Thankfully, in the next second, someone grabbed him. Xue Fangli's face remained expressionless as he commanded, "Rescue him."

The Emperor was at the stables, so his imperial guards were stationed all around to ensure his and the entourage's safety. Even without Xue Fangli's orders, the guards would have saved him—this was Prince Li's Royal Consort, not just any stable hand. If he fell into the water, the guards would be the first to rescue him; otherwise, they would face severe punishment, possibly even implicating their families.

The guards swiftly jumped into the lake, pushing Jiang Juan towards the shore while Xue Fangli pulled him forward. Soon, Jiang Juan was dragged out of the water. He hurriedly wiped his face and exclaimed, "There's still someone in the lake! Save him!"

His command was heeded immediately. With splashes, the guards swam deeper into the lake. Jiang Juan sat on the ground, watching intently, but suddenly something covered his head, plunging him into darkness.

It was a robe.

Xue Fangli wrapped Jiang Juan in it and lifted him onto the horse.

"...Your Highness?"

Jiang Juan tried to pull down the robe, but as soon as he raised his hand, it was pressed down. Xue Fangli mounted the horse and, without a word, held him tightly. With a kick, the horse began galloping back at an even faster pace than before.

On the way back, the horse ran like the wind, almost flying.

Jiang Juan remained exceptionally quiet.

Though the horse ran fast, Jiang Juan wasn't afraid as he was held securely. Yet, he sensed something was off—Xue Fangli seemed angry. After hesitating, Jiang Juan decided not to remove the robe and stayed obediently hidden beneath it.

—If he couldn't see, then His Highness wasn’t angry.

Drenched from the fall, Jiang Juan's hair, sleeves, and hems dripped water continuously as the horse sped along, leaving a trail of water droplets behind.

"What happened?"

The Emperor was still strolling with Su Feiyue when he saw the scene, both of them stunned. Chief Steward Wang observed closely, forming a hypothesis. He said worriedly, "Your Majesty, there’s water dripping along the way—it seems the Royal Consort has fallen into the water."

"Fallen into the water?" The Emperor frowned. "Send for the royal physicians immediately."

Chief Steward Wang hurried to comply. Su Feiyue, watching the horse race away, stood dazed. The Emperor patted his shoulder, "Go check on them for me."

Already concerned, Su Feiyue naturally agreed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Jiang Juan was carried back to the tent and placed on the couch.

"Boil some water.”

Xue Fangli ordered. Jiang Juan took a deep breath and pulled the robe down a bit, intending to sneak a peek. But as soon as his view was unobstructed, he locked eyes with Xue Fangli.

Already feeling guilty, Jiang Juan almost jumped in surprise.

"...Your Highness."

Unlike his usual gentleness, Xue Fangli's expression was cold, almost sinister.

Jiang Juan sighed; His Highness was really angry. He could only admit his mistake, "I'm sorry, I was wrong."

"I should have been more careful and not fallen into the water."

Xue Fangli grabbed his chin, looking down with unreadable eyes, "You think that's your mistake?"

"Ah?" Jiang Juan asked cautiously, "It's not?"

After a pause, Jiang Juan grumbled softly, "It's not my fault. Everything was fine, I even grabbed the person, but my hand slipped..."

Xue Fangli glanced at him. Even when admitting fault, the boy looked innocent. Suppressing his frustration, Xue Fangli finally said slowly, "Be more careful?"

“Do you know the saying, 'A child of wealth does not sit by the eaves, and a child worth hundreds of gold does not ride a dangerous path'?”

Jiang Juan honestly didn’t know. He whispered, “I know now, but…”

“It’s different. Someone fell into the water; shouldn’t we help them?”

Xue Fangli’s tone remained steady, “Who are they, and who are you?”

“In the imperial stables, the guards are everywhere. If you weren't here today, and a stable hand fell into the water, some might help, but others wouldn't. If he drowned, no one would be held accountable. The guards wouldn’t budge because he’s just a servant, a nobody. Alive, he’s insignificant; dead, he’s unmissed.”

Jiang Juan was stunned.

After a long pause, he said blankly, “Even if he’s a servant, he’s still a person, just trying to make a living…”

“Making a living.”

Xue Fangli repeated, his eyes closing briefly.

He didn’t want to recall that moment—Jiang Juan leaning over the bank, then falling into the water. He had been watching coldly, irritated from the moment Jiang Juan reached out his hand. He had thought the youth meddled too much and perhaps deserved a lesson.

But when Jiang Juan fell in, the usually fearless Xue Fangli felt a surge of fear and panic.

“Do you always have to meddle in others’ business?”

The more he feared losing Jiang Juan, the greater his anger became. Xue Fangli's expression darkened, his voice cold as ice. “You really have a saint's heart.”

Then, as if remembering something, Xue Fangli sneered, “Of course, how could I forget—you are a little saint.”

“Servants are people too, just trying to make a living…”

His deep-seated rage surged, but Xue Fangli forced himself to stay composed. “Little saint, you came to this world truly to save everyone, didn’t you?”

Suppressing his anger, Xue Fangli turned and left, only to find someone waiting outside the tent.

Su Feiyue had been there for an unknown amount of time, listening. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, a deep smile playing on his lips.

That day, the Emperor had summoned him to the palace, asking his thoughts on appointing His Highness as heir. His response had been:

——“Even now, no one can restrain His Highness. How could anyone do so in the future?”

Tsk.

Perhaps he had been too decisive at the time.

Author's Note:

1. This phrase is from "Records of the Grand Historian"

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