Chapter 65
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His eyes were deep, dark, and unfathomable.
In this moment, even the usually slow-reacting Jiang Juan sensed a hint of danger.
——It seemed as if His Highness wanted to devour him.
Jiang Juan said anxiously, “I don’t know.”
Xue Fangli’s thumb repeatedly rubbed the youth’s soft lips as he said leisurely, “If you don’t know, then…”
“I’ll just take whatever I want from you.”
With that, Xue Fangli leaned down. The intensity of his presence made Jiang Juan instinctively uneasy. With each inch Xue Fangli approached, Jiang Juan retreated until he was trapped against the soft mat, with no place left to go.
“Your Highness…”
At this moment, lying on the bed with his hair spread out like fine silk and a sweet fragrance in the air, Jiang Juan was very flustered. With no other choice, he looked at Xue Fangli helplessly and nervously.
“Call me husband,” Xue Fangli’s voice was slightly hoarse.
Jiang Juan didn’t understand much, but he instinctively knew how to avoid danger. For instance, at this moment, he knew he shouldn’t call him husband. Jiang Juan inexplicably felt that if he did, His Highness might actually devour him.
“…Don’t look at me like that.”
Jiang Juan murmured, omitting any titles. He raised his hand, his wide sleeves bunching at the elbows, and used his clean fingers to cover Xue Fangli’s eyes. In a small voice, he complained, “It’s like you want to eat me.”
“I’m not tasty.”
“How could you not be,” Xue Fangli caught both his wrists, “I’ve already tasted.”
In the next second, Jiang Juan’s hands were pressed down, and Xue Fangli smiled lazily. “If you weren’t tasty, why would I crave more after the first taste?”
Of course, his “tasting” referred to the unconventional method of applying the ointment earlier. Realizing this, Jiang Juan’s fingers curled slightly, the already pink tips turning a deep red, strikingly beautiful.
Pinned down on the bed, Jiang Juan couldn’t move. He could only ask, “Your Highness, what are you going to do?”
Xue Fangli said slowly, “Claim my reward.”
Jiang Juan responded with an “Oh,” trying to maintain his composure. “What reward do you want?”
“To eat you.”
Xue Fangli’s tone was casual, but Jiang Juan’s heart skipped a beat.
“Your Highness, you’re scaring me again.”
Xue Fangli asked, “How do you know I’m scaring you?”
Jiang Juan replied slowly, “You wouldn’t hurt me.”
Xue Fangli’s smile was ambiguous. “Don’t you know there are many ways to eat?”
Jiang Juan was stunned, unable to think as Xue Fangli moved closer.
Closer and closer, until Jiang Juan was completely enveloped, unable to escape. Even his hands were firmly pinned above him.
Jiang Juan panicked. Desperate measures for desperate times, he closed his eyes.
——As long as he couldn’t see, everything that happened next would have nothing to do with him.
Jiang Juan was too nervous, his eyelashes fluttering with moisture. The quivering lashes were like flower petals in the wind and rain, soft and wet, stirring the heart, and revealing much.
The youth was scared.
Jiang Juan was not ready.
He…
Forget it.
“This time I’ll let you go.”
After gazing at him for a long while, Xue Fangli spoke with a hint of regret. He played with the boy’s soft lips, desire flickering in his eyes, but ultimately, he lowered his head and placed a kiss on Jiang Juan’s forehead.
It was like a dragonfly touching the water, extremely gentle and fleeting.
Xue Fangli tilted his head slightly, leaning close to Jiang Juan’s ear, and lazily asked, “How long do you plan to keep hiding?”
“I…”
Jiang Juan was at a loss. His heart was racing, and his forehead felt hot. Though His Highness’s lips were not warm, they felt soft against his skin.
Xue Fangli glanced at him, “Hmm?”
Jiang Juan couldn’t respond. He even wanted to ask what he was hiding from, but at this moment, His Highness seemed too dangerous. Jiang Juan decided to reclaim his hands and hug him, burying his face in his chest.
Of course, he also buried his face to avoid being kissed again.
This wasn’t right.
And…
Jiang Juan was too flustered.
He was very, very flustered.
There were so many things he hadn’t figured out yet.
Sensing his unease, a hand reached over and pressed against the back of Jiang Juan’s neck, gently stroking it soothingly. Xue Fangli’s actions were gentle enough, but his words were not as tender.
“I did say I wouldn’t push you anymore, but I also said my patience is running out.”
Lowering his head, Xue Fangli’s voice was seductive as he pressed against Jiang Juan’s hair, “If you insist on being stubborn, I can kiss you until you’re soft. But by then, I won’t stop at just a few kisses.”
Jiang Juan remained silent, seriously playing the ostrich. Xue Fangli leisurely stood up and patted him a few more times, “I’ve taken my reward. Now, let’s continue applying the ointment.”
He smiled mischievously, “As you wish, no fingers.”
Jiang Juan: “…”
He regretted it. He really regretted it.
But no matter how much he regretted it, Jiang Juan was still pulled up and continued to be treated in that unconventional way.
The night grew deeper.
That night, the moon was full like a plate.
“Brother Jiang, I toast to you.”
In another tent, Su Feiyue and Jiang Sentao—now the Grand General—were drinking together. He raised his glass, clinked it lightly with the other’s, and downed it in one go. They both set down their cups and exchanged a smile.
“A thousand cups aren’t enough when drinking with a kindred spirit.”
Su Feiyue sighed softly. Jiang Sentao glanced at him and smiled as well. After a long while, he said, “Brother Su, didn’t you say you didn’t want to toil anymore and just wanted to live an easy life? Why is it that recently, whenever the emperor calls, you go? Even to this imperial stable, you’re here with us.”
“I would like to avoid seeing His Majesty, but I really have no more excuses,” Su Feiyue said regretfully. “I’ve used up all the excuses I had, and it’s not good to repeat them, so I had no choice but to face him.”
Jiang Sentao burst into laughter. As a warrior, he had a particularly hearty personality. Shaking his head, he said, “His Majesty has always valued you, both in the past and now. He often mentions you with much regret.”
Su Feiyue didn’t comment on this. After a while, he slowly asked Jiang Sentao, “Brother Jiang, have you ever felt hatred in your heart?”
Jiang Sentao’s fingers trembled as he held his wine cup. He knew what Su Feiyue was asking about, and with a look of melancholy, he said, “What difference does it make to hate or not to hate? The Jiang family has been loyal for generations; we only seek a clear conscience.”
Su Feiyue calmly asked, “And what about Qingmei?”
Hearing this name again after so many years felt somewhat unfamiliar to Jiang Sentao, but his heart still stirred with a deep sorrow. “She…”
Everyone knew that the General Residence had a young lady who was extremely beautiful, the most beautiful in the capital. Unfortunately, she had a short life. Not long after she got married, while on her way to a temple, her horse was startled and ran off a cliff. Her body was never found, leaving only sighs.
But no one knew that on the day she died, a woman of humble origin entered the palace and became Beauty Yu.
“She shouldn’t have been born into the Jiang family.”
After a long time, Jiang Sentao finally spoke.
Sighing, Su Feiyue gently patted Jiang Sentao’s shoulder. “This matter is not your fault. You were at the border at the time and didn’t know.”
Jiang Sentao replied, “Even if I had been there, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.”
“She was a daughter of the Jiang family. If His Majesty wanted her, we had no choice…. but to give her.”
“The Jiang family is indeed loyal through the generations,” Su Feiyue said, lifting the wine pot and filling his cup again. He laughed, “Since you feel guilty about Qingmei, why do you keep persuading His Majesty not to make Prince Li the crown prince? After all, he is Qingmei’s son.”
“In my recent audiences with His Majesty, he has shown an intention to make Prince Li the crown prince.”
Jiang Sentao said sternly, “No, Prince Li must not become the crown prince.”
Su Feiyue asked, “Is it because you blame him for the death of Xiuran, which led to Qingmei’s madness?”
“It has nothing to do with that.”
Jiang Sentao sighed, “Qingmei entered the palace with resentment and took it all out on Prince Li. Growing up by her side, his heart is full of hatred—towards Qingmei and His Majesty. Over the years, he has never reconciled with them. If he ascends to the throne one day, filled with hatred, how can he show compassion to the people?”
Su Feiyue was not surprised. “When His Majesty first asked for my opinion, I shared your views.”
Jiang Sentao asked him, “And now?”
Su Feiyue smiled lightly, “His Royal Consort is quite suitable to be the empress.”
“Why do you say that?”
Su Feiyue waved his hand dismissively. “There’s no point in saying more. He’s a likable child. If you ever get the chance, have a chat with him, and you’ll see.”
“Prince Li is indeed naturally violent and disregards human decency, but his Royal Consort seems to have a positive influence on him.”
Su Feiyue smiled, while Jiang Sentao seemed to remember something. “You’re right. I should meet him personally.”
“Last time at Miaoling Temple, I saw him with Prince Li. The timing wasn’t right, so I only invited Prince Li and asked him to take good care of the Royal Consort. But truth be told, I haven’t met him yet. I should check on him personally, especially since his maternal grandfather has done me a favor.”
Su Feiyue chuckled. “General Jiang, you really are forgetful. How long has it been, and you’re just now thinking of looking after him?”
“Luckily, your nephew adores him. Otherwise, if he suffered any grievances and the old man found out, he’d storm the capital, and you’d have a hard time dealing with it.”
Jiang Sentao laughed and filled his cup with wine. “Let’s not talk about trivial matters. Let’s drink first.”
The next day.
Jiang Juan had been up most of the night applying medicine. When the maid came to wake him, he felt like he had just fallen asleep.
He was tired and in pain. He sat up for a while but couldn’t manage to stay awake, so he lay back down. However, it wasn’t long before he was pulled into an embrace.
“Keep sleeping.”
Xue Fangli’s voice was calm. Jiang Juan responded with an “Oh,” nestled into his chest, and closed his eyes again.
Pale, slender fingers brushed Jiang Juan’s black hair off his shoulder. Xue Fangli was about to stroke the back of his neck when he noticed a red mole on his white skin.
His hand paused, then he repeatedly rubbed the mole.
Jiang Juan was ticklish, especially on his neck, which was extra sensitive. He pushed away Xue Fangli’s annoying hand, but soon it was back.
His sleep disturbed again, Jiang Juan grumbled, “Your Highness, stop playing. Let me sleep, please?”
“You sleep, and I’ll play with you.”
Xue Fangli’s tone was leisurely and teasing. Jiang Juan could only cover his neck and struggle to fall asleep.
But in the next moment, his fingers were tightly gripped and pulled away. The man’s fingers again rubbed his neck, and Jiang Juan, too ticklish to bear it, had to push his hand away once more.
“Your Highness…”
Jiang Juan looked up, feeling weak and drained from lack of sleep. “Let me sleep, and you can play when I wake up, okay?”
Xue Fangli raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice, asking softly, “Any way I want?”
Jiang Juan suddenly felt alert. “Of course not…”
Thinking it over, he realized the word “play” was inappropriate. He corrected himself, “You can touch me however you like.”
“But rather than touching, I’d rather…”
Xue Fangli’s lips curved up. “Bite.”
Jiang Juan: “???”
Jiang Juan was taken aback. “Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”
Xue Fangli glanced at him, half-smiling. “Why didn’t you say it was inappropriate when I was applying medicine last night?”
“This is different…”
Applying medicine was a special case. He was afraid of the pain, and the skin at the base of his leg was particularly tender. It hurt no matter how it was touched, which is why… which is why he let Your Highness use his tongue.
By the end, Jiang Juan’s confidence waned. He didn’t want to be bitten, so between continuing to sleep and having His Highness play with his mole, Jiang Juan chose to get up early.
He had never gotten out of bed so quickly or so early without complaining. He sat up, and the maid came to comb his hair.
While combing, the maid suddenly asked, “Your Royal Consort, do you remember the stable lad you saved yesterday?”
Jiang Juan nodded. “Yes, I remember.”
Since she brought it up, Jiang Juan quickly asked, “How is he?”
The maid replied, “He woke up yesterday and wanted to thank you, but was stopped.”
Jiang Juan acknowledged with an “Oh.” “Can you tell him it’s alright and to be more careful in the future?”
The maid hesitated. “He came early this morning, wanting to thank you in person. Your Royal Consort, do you wish to see him?”
“If not, I can convey your message to him.”
Meeting him wasn’t a big deal, but Jiang Juan remembered how His Highness got angry with him for saving the person. Hesitantly, he asked Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, can I see him?”
Since Jiang Juan got up, Xue Fangli also sat up. Seeing Jiang Juan ask, he pulled him into his lap and lazily said, “Why ask me?”
Jiang Juan squeezed his fingers. “You’re so hard to please, who knows if you’re still mad.”
“Shouldn’t you know how to please me?”
Xue Fangli laughed softly, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Didn’t I just tell you what I want?”
What did Your Highness want?
To bite him.
No, that was really not okay.
Jiang Juan quickly told the maid, “Never mind, don’t see him.”
Xue Fangli looked down at him, and Jiang Juan innocently asked, “What?”
“What do you think?”
His slender fingers pinched Jiang Juan’s face as if to punish him, squishing his cheeks. Jiang Juan, annoyed, pushed his hand away, but Xue Fangli said, “Let him in.”
Jiang Juan looked at him, unable to help but smile. “Your Highness, you’re so kind.”
Realizing how that sounded, Jiang Juan quickly added, “…….. Except when you’re bullying me.”
Xue Fangli didn’t respond, releasing Jiang Juan’s face and instead grabbing his fingers.
With Xue Fangli’s order, the maid hurriedly went outside and quietly instructed, “Bring that stable lad—Xie Bailu in. His Highness and His Royal Consort wish to see him.”
Jiang Juan: “???”
Xie Bailu?
How could it be Xie Bailu?
In the novel, Xie Bailu was a significant character.
In the mid-to-late stages of the story, political upheavals and natural disasters occurred one after another, and this was when Xie Bailu made his appearance.
He had no interest in the Four Books and Five Classics, preferring to read miscellaneous books, especially those on hydraulics. He even managed to create several inventions on his own.
In the original plot, the protagonist shou, relying on memories from his past life, knew about this person. He and Marquis Anping personally visited him, even paying three visits before finally persuading Xie Bailu to come out of seclusion.
Where did the protagonist shou and Marquis Anping find him again?
It seemed to be… the Imperial Stables.
Jiang Juan: “???”
Did he accidentally steal the protagonist shou’s role?
The author had something to say: Your Highness: My wife is really fun to play with.
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