The Salted Fish Has Gotten Over It Chapter 87

Chapter 87

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>

The spineless Jiang Juan decided to put on a display of courage.

He ignored Xue Fangli for a full minute, but wanting to go back and bathe sooner, he reluctantly hugged him, not forgetting to complain softly.

“Why haven’t you…”

It was uncomfortable.

Still uncomfortable.

“Do you really think I can’t handle this?”

Xue Fangli looked at him, his voice slightly hoarse, “If I make you comfortable, you won’t lift a finger. If it’s uncomfortable, bear with it.”

Jiang Juan found him annoying, burying his face in Xue Fangli’s chest. His fingers brushed against something, feeling a wet patch on the dark silk. Instinctively, Jiang Juan asked, “Why is it wet?”

Xue Fangli replied nonchalantly, “You did it. And not just here.”

Jiang Juan: “……….”

“What are you talking about? This, I…”

Jiang Juan almost bit his tongue, unable to speak clearly. Just then, a hand wrapped around his waist. Jiang Juan lowered his head, seeing the thin, pale, bony hand.

This same hand had almost made him cry, always causing trouble.

Jiang Juan: “……….”

His eyelashes fluttered, and he couldn’t help but think of some embarrassing moments. Jiang Juan felt a bit shy, gently bumping his forehead against Xue Fangli, his face flushed a striking red.

At last, he quieted down.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Jiang Juan was shaken awake.

He was literally shaken awake. Lying in Xue Fangli’s arms, he had been sleeping soundly when the hand on his back started shaking him, causing his dreams to crumble and his world to shake. Dazed, Jiang Juan asked, “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

Xue Fangli replied calmly, “After breakfast, you will come out with me.”

Jiang Juan: “?”

He said miserably, “Your Highness, you should go by yourself. People need to learn to be independent. Yesterday, I spent most of the day listening to court documents with you. I’m really tired, I don’t want to…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Juan fell asleep again. Xue Fangli looked at him a few times but didn’t let him off. Instead, he called Lan Ting over, “Get him ready.”

Lan Ting replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”

In no time, Jiang Juan was tidied up. Xue Fangli picked him up to leave, but Jiang Juan reached out to grab the door handle, unusually not sleeping through it all, “…….Your Highness, I don’t want to go out.”

Still groggy, he said weakly, “I used to sleep however I wanted. Now that you’ve got a hold of me, you won’t even let me sleep a little longer. Your Highness, do you have someone else outside?”

“……”

The young man had a mouth, but it seemed he only used it for kissing. Xue Fangli glanced at him a few times, too lazy to argue further, and said with a half-smile, “If you dawdle any longer, you’ll spend the whole day in bed.”

Jiang Juan wondered if there was such a good thing?

If he could avoid going out, of course, Jiang Juan would continue to stall. However, Xue Fangli’s next words made him flip over like a salted fish.

Xue Fangli slowly said, “How about I continue teaching you what we started yesterday?”

Jiang Juan: “………”

He quickly sat up and surrendered, “I’ll go out. I’ll go out with you.”

Xue Fangli nodded but clicked his tongue lightly, “What a pity.”

After breakfast, Jiang Juan was carried into the carriage, and they arrived at a teahouse.

“Why are we having tea so early in the morning?”

Jiang Juan hadn’t slept well and was in a bad mood. Lan Ting, who came along today, found it amusing, “It’s precisely because you’re not in high spirits, young master, that you should have some tea to refresh yourself.”

Jiang Juan disagreed, thinking that sleeping enough would be more refreshing than tea. He leaned back and continued to ask, “Your Highness? Why are we here?”

Xue Fangli answered indifferently, “To meet someone.”

Curious, Jiang Juan asked, “Who are we meeting?”

As soon as he spoke, someone was politely ushered in. Yang Liusheng walked in with a spring in his step, followed by a young boy carrying painting tools. “Yang Liusheng greets the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort.”

Ah, Yang Liusheng.

The master painter who only painted beauties. Last time in the Baihua Garden, this man had mistaken Jiang Juan for the protagonist shou and painted a portrait of him, causing the plot to go off track again.

However——”I had asked you to restore an old painting before, and promised to let you paint a new one, but I forgot.”

Jiang Juan felt a bit embarrassed, while Yang Liusheng’s smile was rather bitter.

Jiang Juan had forgotten, but Yang Liusheng hadn’t. Being an artist who only painted beauties, after seeing Jiang Juan, he found everyone else too plain to inspire him to paint.

However, several visits to Prince Li Residence were met with the steward saying Jiang Juan was not home. Yang Liusheng wasn’t a fool; he knew it wasn’t just bad timing, but someone didn’t want him to paint.

Thinking of this, Yang Liusheng glanced at Xue Fangli, then forced a smile at Jiang Juan, “It’s okay, we can paint today. However, two portraits will take some time, so the Crown Prince Consort will need to stay a bit longer.”

Jiang Juan was confused, “Huh? Two portraits?”

Yang Liusheng: “Didn’t His Highness tell you?”

Jiang Juan shook his head, and Xue Fangli finally spoke in a cold tone, “He is helping me find a beggar.”

A few days ago, a storyteller in a restaurant told a tale about the previous dynasty. However, it was related to Jiang Qingmei. Since then, Xue Fangli had been searching, but the beggar who told the story had disappeared. Still, some people remembered him.

Yang Liusheng, praised as a master painter, was particularly skilled at painting people. Today, he was here to create a portrait of the beggar based on descriptions, but he also wanted to paint Jiang Juan.

When Jiang Juan heard the prince mention a beggar, he knew it was about the teahouse incident. This was an important matter, so even though the prince hadn’t informed him in advance, Jiang Juan generously said, “Alright then.”

Seeing this, Yang Liusheng hurriedly spread out his paper, afraid that if he hesitated, the prince might change his mind and not allow him to paint the crown prince consort.

Jiang Juan sat in Xue Fangli’s lap and soon began to feel drowsy again.

Ordinarily, someone appearing drowsy would seem less spirited, but not Jiang Juan. His sleepy expression made him look like a wilting petal of crabapple, thin, soft, breathtakingly beautiful, yet evoking pity.

Additionally, with his eyes injured, Jiang Juan wore a strip of white silk. When the breeze blew, the light and shadows danced, the silk fluttered, and the youth’s nearly translucent skin looked as clear as glazed porcelain.

When Yang Liusheng looked up, he almost forgot to start painting.

A pale finger tapped lightly on the table, making a small sound. Yang Liusheng instinctively looked over, and seeing what he did, he shuddered—His Highness was staring coldly at him, with a dangerously intense gaze, as if looking a second longer would cost him his eyes!

Yang Liusheng quickly lowered his head, pretending to be engrossed in his drawing.

Was it really such a crime to look at the crown prince consort a few more times?

This prince was too petty!

While he was grumbling inwardly, Lan Ting suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, isn’t that Young Master Gu and his companions?”

Jiang Juan heard but didn’t care, being half-asleep. He was once again woken up by someone pinching his chin, and he couldn’t stand it anymore, “What are you doing?”

“Your Highness, I need to sleep.”

Xue Fangli said calmly, “If you’re tired, drink some tea.”

Jiang Juan shook his head repeatedly. Seeing he was getting a bit upset, Lan Ting said helplessly, “Young master, you shouldn’t always be sleeping. The more you sleep, the less energy you have.”

Even Lan Ting was siding with the prince. Jiang Juan, feeling disheartened, said, “But I like sleeping, and I want to sleep a bit more.”

Though he said this, Lan Ting was still troubled by what Master E’nan had said, and she guessed that His Highness was also keeping it in mind.

In the past, whenever Jiang Juan wanted to sleep, His Highness always let him. But since that day, His Highness seemed reluctant to let Jiang Juan sleep more.

However, Jiang Juan didn’t know that Xue Fangli had taken Master E’nan’s words to heart, and Lan Ting didn’t dare explain it to him. She could only watch silently as Xue Fangli coaxed Jiang Juan into drinking a few sips of tea, finally sighing softly.

His spirit was unstable.

Why was it unstable?

Young master, please don’t let anything happen to you again.

The carriage stopped in front of the pavilion.

Jiang Nian and his maid, Dian Cui, stepped into Lanyue Pavilion.

It was still early, and the pavilion was nearly empty. Jiang Nian looked around and then walked up the stairs. Dian Cui followed closely behind, speaking softly, “Young master, you’ve been in a foul mood these past few days. Seeing the Sixth Prince today should lift your spirits.”

Jiang Nian had indeed been in a bad mood recently.

The reasons were none other than Marquis Anping and Jiang Juan.

Since he heard that Marquis Anping had gone mad, some time had passed. Despite feeling embarrassed, Jiang Nian still frequently visited. However, Marquis Anping always appeared gloomy, showing signs of utter despair, which greatly displeased Jiang Nian.

Yet, no matter how displeased he was, Emperor Hongxing had already arranged their marriage. Jiang Nian and Marquis Anping were inextricably linked, so he could only console himself that the marquis would become emperor someday, and enduring now would yield rewards later.

As for Jiang Juan, Jiang Nian almost went mad because of him!

First, Xue Fangli became the crown prince, and Jiang Juan, following him, was elevated to the status of crown prince consort.

Then there was his brother’s maternal grandfather, who turned out to be the renowned Bai Xuechao!

Jiang Nian should have been worried about the Eldest Prince Xue Chaohua’s lack of support. This was the second major change since his rebirth, following Xue Fangli’s unexpected survival. However, after learning that Jiang Juan had become the Crown Prince Consort and his maternal grandfather’s extraordinary background, Jiang Nian was completely consumed by jealousy. He tossed and turned at night, repeatedly trying to console himself—come midsummer, with the arrival of the heavy rains, everything would improve.

So what if his brother was now the Crown Prince Consort? So what if his maternal grandfather was Bai Xuechao?

In his previous life, the Eldest Prince met a tragic end due to the heavy rain, and Xue Fangli would only repeat the same fate!

Unless…

Unless he could find Xie Bailu to manage the water.

But how could that be possible?

Only he knew this in advance and how it would end. He would take advantage of this heavy rain and the ensuing east wind to rise to prominence.

As for Xie Bailu, Jiang Nian planned to seek him out personally after the storm.

Only after enduring a disaster and then receiving aid would people be truly grateful to him.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Nian calmed himself. No matter what, Dian Cui was right. No matter how despondent Marquis Anping was recently, seeing Xue Congyun and the others would cheer him up.

After all, he had spent many years interacting with them, making them—Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingliang—revolve around him. Now was the time to reap the rewards.

Today, they had arranged to meet him, and Jiang Nian had a good idea why.

In a few days, it would be his birthday.

Putting aside Gu Puwang, Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingliang were very attentive to him.

As he walked up the stairs, he saw three people already seated by the window. Jiang Nian walked over, smiling gently, “Why so early?”

After a pause, Jiang Nian continued with a warm smile, “Let me guess, you’re here today to… discuss how to celebrate my birthday?”

“I told you last year, there’s no need to trouble yourselves,” Jiang Nian said, not noticing the strange expressions on Xue Congyun and Jiang Qingliang’s faces. “This year, let’s just celebrate at our place. The few of us can gather and have a good time, alright?”

“Brother Nian…”

Xue Congyun mumbled, and Jiang Nian looked at him, “Hmm? What’s wrong?”

When asked what was wrong, Xue Congyun didn’t reply immediately. Jiang Nian didn’t think much of it and jokingly said, “And you. No need to go overboard. Every year you give me precious gifts, and this year you went even further, boasting at the beginning of the year about giving me the most extraordinary gift, outshining Jiang Qingliang. Just do what you can.”

Jiang Nian’s words seemed like a gentle rebuke, but he was subtly provoking Xue Congyun.

In the past, Xue Congyun would have immediately protested, but today he remained unusually calm. After a long while, he finally said with difficulty, “Brother Nian, it’s not about your birthday, it’s…”

Xue Congyun opened his mouth but didn’t know how to continue. He scratched his head and looked at Gu Puwang. The atmosphere became almost palpable.

Jiang Nian would not have noticed anything unusual if it weren’t for Xue Congyun’s hesitation and Jiang Qingliang’s uncharacteristic silence. Realizing something was off, he asked, “What is it?”

“I want to ask you something.”

Gu Puwang spoke slowly, “Brother Nian, was it really you who saved me at Luofeng Mountain five years ago?”

If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>