The Salted Fish Has Gotten Over It Chapter 82

Chapter 82

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His consciousness was drifting.

“Your Royal Consort!”

“Young Master! Young Master——!”

“Jiang Juan.”

In the darkness, the calls seemed incessant. Jiang Juan found the noise very irritating and felt extremely tired. He didn’t want to deal with anyone; he just wanted to go back to sleep.

His consciousness gradually scattered, the voices fading away, as he seemed to return to a quiet place, sinking back into the sweet blackness of sleep.

“Jiang Juan.”

Someone called him again, the name almost ground out through clenched teeth. The voice was exceptionally cold and extremely impatient.

It was His Highness.

Jiang Juan thought groggily.

Why was His Highness angry again?

Why is he always angry?

Jiang Juan felt a bit confused, his drifting consciousness slowly coming back into focus. He began to think slowly.

Had he slept too long?

No, that’s not it.

He wouldn’t make His Highness angry just by sleeping in.

So what was the matter with His Highness now?

It seemed like he was—on top of a Buddhist pagoda, the stairs spiraling down. He looked down, the tattered robe brushing past him. Suddenly, a powerful force hit his back, and in that moment of weightlessness, Jiang Juan lost his footing and fell, the world spinning around him.

“Bang——!”

Jiang Juan sat up abruptly.

In the next moment, he was pulled into an embrace.

The night was deep, and the room was dark without any lights. Jiang Juan couldn’t see anything, but this embrace was too familiar. He pressed his forehead against it.

“Your Highness…”

In a weak voice, Xue Fangli sat by the bed, holding Jiang Juan tightly.

The grip was so strong it felt like he might crush Jiang Juan, but Jiang Juan didn’t struggle. He was still in shock, and the tight embrace actually made him feel more secure.

“I think I fell down the stairs.”

“I know.”

Xue Fangli spoke calmly, but his eyes were bloodshot, and his face was flushed.

“I…”

Jiang Juan felt unlucky. He reached up and touched his forehead. It seemed he had only hurt his forehead, and it was already well taken care of.

Xue Fangli asked, “Does it hurt?”

Jiang Juan hesitated, shook his head, and said against his feelings, “It doesn’t hurt.”

Xue Fangli looked at him for a long time before sarcastically smiling, “I would rather you said it hurt.”

“…Sorry.”

Xue Fangli’s eyes closed lightly. “No wonder you’re always so anxious. I really… didn’t protect you well enough.”

Jiang Juan was taken aback, sensing that His Highness’s mood was off. He quickly said, “Your Highness, it’s not your fault.”

“It was my own decision to climb the pagoda, and it was also my own…”

As he spoke, Jiang Juan remembered something.

If it hadn’t been for the old monk and the young monk appearing, if it hadn’t been for the call of Master E’nan, Jiang Juan would probably have been standing on the observation deck, looking around. At that time, if someone had pushed him, he would have fallen from the fifth floor of the pagoda, not just down the stairs.

Jiang Juan’s eyelashes trembled. “Your Highness…”

N-No.

His Highness already blamed himself enough. He couldn’t tell His Highness about this.

It was better he hadn’t remembered. Jiang Juan now felt a chill and tried to calm himself. He said to Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, it’s not your fault. I don’t blame you.”

After a brief pause, Jiang Juan asked in confusion, “Your Highness, it’s so dark. Aren’t you going to light a lamp?”

“Light a lamp?”

“Yes.”

Xue Fangli paused, then lifted Jiang Juan’s face. The boy’s pupils were black but lacked any light. He seemed to realize something and slowly asked, “You can’t see?”

Jiang Juan replied, “It’s so dark, can you see?”

“…”

Silence.

After a long while, Xue Fangli suppressed his irritation and said flatly, “Call the imperialphysician.”

It was noon, and the daylight was bright.

Imperial Physician Sun arrived quickly.

He checked Jiang Juan’s pulse and examined him. Soon, Imperial Physician Sun understood the situation and said with a wry smile, “Your Royal Consort must have hurt his head. The blood has caused a blockage, which is why you can’t see.”

“It’s not a major issue. With a few days of rest, it will recover on its own.”

Since it wasn’t a serious problem, Imperial Physician Sun didn’t even prescribe any medicine, just gave some advice and left with his medicine box.

Jiang Juan sighed in relief.

He wasn’t relieved for himself but because Jiang Juan had a habit of bringing up awkward topics. He really thought he had woken up in the middle of the night, which was why he asked His Highness about the lack of light.

If there had been a real problem with his eyes, Jiang Juan felt His Highness would be even more distressed.

Thinking of this, Jiang Juan gently said, “Your Highness, Imperial Physician Sun said it will get better in a few days.”

Xue Fangli glanced at him and responded with a simple “mm,” indicating he had heard.

Jiang Juan couldn’t see Xue Fangli’s face and had no idea of his expression. After a moment’s thought, Jiang Juan raised his hand, intending to touch His Highness’s face, but couldn’t reach it. Jiang Juan had to say, “Your Highness, could you come over here?”

Xue Fangli didn’t move closer but, understanding what Jiang Juan wanted, took Jiang Juan’s hand and placed it on his own face.

Jiang Juan’s hand roamed around without finding much. Frustrated, he said, “Your Highness, are you feeling any better now?”

He emphasized, “The injury… I don’t blame you. The eye problem is just due to blood clots; it will get better in a few days.”

Despite being the one injured, Jiang Juan was still trying to comfort others. Xue Fangli looked at him for a long time, his expression dark and troubled. “But I… blame myself.”

After saying this, he put Jiang Juan’s hand down and stood up.

As his hand fell away, Jiang Juan instinctively reached for him, but his fingers grasped only air. Jiang Juan sat on the bed, unable to see anything, and called anxiously, “Your Highness.”

“Your Highness, wait a moment.”

Jiang Juan felt anxious and, without thinking, tentatively got out of bed. His feet tested the ground, and he finally stood. Jiang Juan held onto the bed to stand up, but before he could take many steps, he was suddenly tripped by something.

He fell back into an embrace.

“Where are you running off to?”

The man’s voice was cold, his expression more sullen than ever. Jiang Juan, however, didn’t notice anything and even actively hugged him.

“What are you running for,” Jiang Juan said seriously, “Your Highness, I really don’t blame you. Don’t blame yourself either.”

Xue Fangli said nothing, just held Jiang Juan. The person in his arms felt light, almost weightless. He glanced at him.

Jiang Juan had been in bed for three days, and he had lost a lot of weight. His jawline was sharp, his skin almost translucent, looking as fragile as paper.

How could he not blame himself?

Xue Fangli thought.

The youth was indeed a troublemaker, adept at both whining and injuring himself. Xue Fangli knew the youth’s nature but still allowed him to climb the pagoda. He had promised to protect him but let him get hurt like this.

“Your Highness, don’t be ungrateful. Don’t leave me alone.”

Xue Fangli didn’t speak. He placed Jiang Juan back on the bed, but Jiang Juan clung to him, unwilling to let go, rubbing against him like a small animal. “Your Highness, did you hear me?”

Still whining.

Why does he love to whine so much?

Xue Fangli lowered his eyes and, after a moment, said in a normal tone, “I heard.”

“I have no intention of leaving you. I just need to handle a few things.”

Jiang Juan, hearing this, responded with an “ah,” not realizing that His Highness’s “handling things” was just a softened excuse. Jiang Juan genuinely thought His Highness had important matters to attend to and immediately released his hold, “Alright then, Your Highness, go ahead.”

Well…”

Jiang Juan’s world was engulfed in darkness. He wasn’t used to it yet, and despite knowing that there were many maidservants around and he wasn’t alone, he still felt uneasy because His Highness was not present. He said slowly, “Your Highness, I can’t see anything. I’m a bit scared. Can you please handle things quickly and come back to be with me?”

Xue Fangli: “…”

Jiang Juan was truly anxious, his expression blank and helpless. He sat on the bed, afraid to make any sudden movements, looking pitifully obedient.

Xue Fangli didn’t respond immediately. Jiang Juan wasn’t sure if he was still there, so after a brief wait, he hesitantly asked, “Your Highness? Are you still there?”

“Your Highness, are you still there?”

Xue Fangli was about to speak when hurried footsteps approached. Lan Ting had met with Imperial Physician Sun on the way and learned that Jiang Juan had woken up but was temporarily having issues with his eyesight. She hurriedly returned.

“Young Master! Young Master!”

Lan Ting silently greeted Xue Fangli and walked to the bedside. Jiang Juan turned his head, “Lan Ting, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Jiang Juan breathed a sigh of relief. Though His Highness wasn’t there, Lan Ting’s presence was comforting. However— “Lan Ting, I need to tell you something. Please don’t tell His Highness.”

Lan Ting was taken aback and turned to look at Xue Fangli, who glanced at her with a cold and indifferent expression, effectively silencing her.

She was about to say that His Highness was indeed present.

“I met Master E’nan.”

On Jinghua Tower, Jiang Juan had felt that Master E’nan’s name was familiar, which prompted him to investigate further. Later, he suddenly recalled why the name sounded so familiar.

Lan Ting had mentioned this person before and said that the master had once read his fortune.

— “He said that in your eighteenth year, you would face calamity. If you survived, you would gain both fortune and blessings, but your temperament might change. If you didn’t survive… Fortunately, you’re fine.”

Lan Ting was astonished, “Master E’nan? Young Master, you met him?”

Jiang Juan nodded, “He… seems to have saved my life.”

Jiang Juan recounted the events after he climbed the tower, including how Master E’nan had called him back to the tower, the three calamities, and his unstable spirit. Lan Ting covered her mouth, unable to speak for a while, repeatedly murmuring, “Fortunately, fortunately.”

Jiang Juan was still quite shaken, “I almost lost my life.”

Lan Ting was also deeply frightened. When she looked up, her hands and feet went weak, and she let out a startled cry.

A man stood at the door, his aura chilling, with his eyes bloodshot, looking like a demonic figure.

Jiang Juan asked, “Lan Ting, what’s wrong?”

Lan Ting trembled and said, “N-nothing. I just remembered that you almost got pushed off the tower, and I…”

She was so scared, let alone His Highness. Jiang Juan said, “Lan Ting, don’t tell His Highness. It would make him even more upset.”

“…Okay.”

As Lan Ting agreed, Xue Fangli turned and walked away, his expression fierce.

Master E’nan?

What kind of master is that? He just a charlatan.

There was nothing to deal with before, but now, Xue Fangli suddenly had matters to handle.

Find this Master E’nan.

And—find the person who injured Jiang Juan.

The youth had nearly been pushed off the tower.

He nearly… lost his life.

Xue Fangli closed his eyes, a surge of crimson anger in his gaze.

He had promised to return quickly to be with Jiang Juan. However, when His Highness finally came back, Jiang Juan felt like a lot of time had passed, enough for him to have slept for a long time.

Held in a familiar embrace, Jiang Juan drowsily opened his eyes to darkness again. He closed them once more and weakly complained, “Your Highness, why did you only come back now?”

And you woke me up right when you returned.

Xue Fangli gently stroked his back and smiled slightly, “The situation was a bit complicated.”

Jiang Juan responded with a soft “oh.” His Highness had just bathed and smelled pleasant, but there seemed to be an additional scent.

Jiang Juan immediately became alert, his sleepiness fading. He moved around in His Highness’s arms, sniffing for a while. After confirming that it wasn’t someone else’s scent, he still felt puzzled.

“Your Highness, am I mistaken? Why do I smell a hint of… rust?”

Xue Fangli maintained his indifferent expression and asked, “Is there?”

With his question, Jiang Juan wasn’t sure anymore, so he asked, “Where did you go?”

Xue Fangli replied calmly, “To the study.”

The study should smell of ink.

Jiang Juan was perplexed. He wanted to ask more, but his chin was lifted, and Xue Fangli’s lips lightly touched his. The kiss was soft and unspoken, a silent threat.

Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered. Normally, he would have immediately complied, but at that moment, he suddenly wanted to be kissed. He licked his lips and hesitantly said, “Your Highness, I’m somewhat ready to sleep now.”

Xue Fangli looked at him thoughtfully. Jiang Juan waited for a while, feeling increasingly unhappy. “Your Highness, if you can’t hug me, then why can’t you kiss me? Wasn’t I being clear enough?”

“…”

Xue Fangli asked with a smirk, “How come your mouth is so good at provoking people?”

Jiang Juan touched his face and said, “It provokes, but it’s also sweet. Don’t you really want to kiss me?”

Xue Fangli drawled, “If I can’t, how can I kiss you?”

Jiang Juan, frustrated, said, “….. You refuse to kiss me when I want you to, but insist on kissing me when I don’t. Your Highness, you’re really out of sync.”

It seemed that His Highness just couldn’t get it right. Jiang Juan concluded that if His Highness didn’t move, he would take the initiative. Jiang Juan’s hand explored around before he leaned in to kiss.

He missed the mark.

His fingers roamed, and his soft lips brushed around. Jiang Juan’s animal-like kissing only made Xue Fangli more desirous. With a soft click of his tongue, Xue Fangli held Jiang Juan’s chin and finally kissed him back.

Unlike Jiang Juan’s inexperienced kisses, Xue Fangli’s kiss was aggressive, almost devouring him, hot and intense.

Xue Fangli seemed accustomed to massaging Jiang Juan’s chest while kissing him, his hand in constant motion.

Jiang Juan was almost melted into a puddle by the kiss, feeling dizzy. He forgot that his heart condition had not flared up again and didn’t need to be massaged. He also forgot— even if he needed his chest massaged, there was no need for fingers to probe inside his clothing.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the sound of wind and the half-open window slamming shut startled Jiang Juan awake.

He instinctively reached out to push Xue Fangli away but then realized his clothes had been removed and were crumpled around his elbows. The kiss had gone beyond his lips and was approaching other areas.

Jiang Juan: “…”

Jiang Juan: “…..…”

He was both angry and embarrassed and bit Xue Fangli’s shoulder.

A metallic taste spread across his tongue. Jiang Juan frowned. He wanted to complain but suddenly remembered something, his body going stiff.

It wasn’t rust.

The smell on His Highness wasn’t rust.

It was the diluted scent of blood.

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