Chapter 98:
As summer arrived, the weather grew increasingly hot.
Catching a cold in the summer was especially tormenting.
Jiang Juan’s illness had lasted for over half a month. Unable to tolerate cold or wind, he spent his days lying still like a salted fish, minimizing movement to stay cool.
One day, Lan Ting returned from the county manor and brought many new items for Jiang Juan. She stuffed a small pouch full. Just as Jiang Juan opened it to take a look, Bai Xuechao arrived.
Bai Xuechao gently stroked Jiang Juan’s hair, his concern evident as he asked, “Why hasn’t it fully healed yet?”
Jiang Juan casually put away the small bag, saying nonchalantly, “It should be getting better soon.”
Bai Xuechao had felt quite guilty about Jiang Juan’s illness, given that Jiang Juan had caught a cold from accompanying him to the library and had been unwell ever since, still not fully recovered.
Thinking of this, Bai Xuechao said apologetically, “It’s because I didn’t take good care of you.”
Jiang Juan quickly shook his head, “It’s not your fault, Grandfather. It’s my own fault for sitting down whenever there’s a chair and lying down whenever there’s a table. I really wasn’t being careful.”
“Besides… Grandfather, the Crown Prince hasn’t been able to drag me along to review documents these past few days, so I was actually hoping to stay sick a bit longer.”
Bai Xuechao, hearing this, immediately puffed up his cheeks and said, “He can review documents by himself. Why drag my dear grandson along? If he gets a little tired, so be it. But what if my dear grandson gets worn out?”
Jiang Juan agreed, “Exactly. If I had the chance, I’d rather sleep a bit more than accompany him to review documents.”
Lan Ting: “…….”
Witnessing this exchange, she couldn’t help but feel amused and helpless, “But, young master, the Crown Prince didn’t actually make you review documents. How could it be tiring?”
Jiang Juan asked, “Isn’t it tiring to get up?”
Bai Xuechao added, “Of course it’s tiring. How could my dear grandson, who is so sick, have the energy to accompany him to review documents?”
The grandfather and grandson were united in their criticism, so Lan Ting had to concede, “Yes, the Crown Prince is being unreasonable. Forcing the young master to accompany him to review documents every day is really exhausting him.”
Jiang Juan nodded seriously, “Exactly.”
Today, Bai Xuechao came over not only to check on Jiang Juan but also because he had to go out. Seeing that Jiang Juan was in better spirits, he felt relieved and said, “My dear grandson, I need to go out today to visit some old acquaintances.”
He’s going out?
Jiang Juan glanced outside and felt the intense heat of the sun even from indoors. He wasn’t very eager to go out in the summer, but upon hearing Bai Xuechao’s plans, he said, “Grandfather, I’ll come with you.”
“You’re not coming.”
Bai Xuechao shook his head repeatedly. Jiang Juan looked at him in surprise and asked reluctantly, “Why not, Grandfather? Am I not presentable?”
In the past at Luofeng Mountain, Jiang Juan rarely acted this way with him. Now that they were in the capital, Jiang Juan had become so affectionate, making Bai Xuechao’s heart soften. However, this time, he really couldn’t relent.
“It’s not that you’re not presentable,” Bai Xuechao explained, “I’m going to Qiulu Mountain, and with this heat, you’re still recovering from your cold. Climbing the mountain would make you sweat even more, and you might catch another chill.”
“Furthermore…”
Bai Xuechao smiled, “You’re still weak, and you shouldn’t go to that kind of place to avoid getting hurt.”
That kind of place? What kind of place?
Jiang Juan blinked in confusion as Bai Xuechao patted his hair again. “Rest well. When you recover, I’ll take you there another day. Since you like the Prince Consort, you’ll probably like it too.”
Alright, if I’m not going, then I’m not going. But Jiang Juan didn’t forget to remind Bai Xuechao, “Grandfather, take it slow on the mountain and remember to bring plenty of water.”
Bai Xuechao nodded, “Okay.”
He waved goodbye to Jiang Juan and left. After Bai Xuechao had exited the courtyard, Lan Ting softly said to Jiang Juan, “Young master, Qiulu Mountain seems to be the site of many burials. If Master mentioned a disturbance…. it might be that his old friend has already passed away.”
Jiang Juan exclaimed softly, “Ah,” and fell silent.
With nothing to do and feeling the heat, Jiang Juan lay back down on the bed. Seeing that his forehead was sweating, Lan Ting fetched a hand fan and gently waved it to cool him.
“I want air conditioning. I want cold cola.”
Jiang Juan lay on the bed, his hands dangling by his sides, nostalgically recalling his lost comforts.
“Cold milk curd?”
Xue Fangli entered with a calm tone.
From Jiang Juan’s angle, he could only see Xue Fangli’s elaborate garments. Xue Fangli slowly approached him, and Jiang Juan reached out to hug his leg. “Your Highness, I’m so hot.”
Xue Fangli looked at him for a moment, clicking his tongue. “If you want cold milk curd, just ask someone to make it for you. Is this worth a little fuss?”
Jiang Juan: ”?”
He wanted cola, not milk curd!
No, he wasn’t even fussing.
Jiang Juan felt frustrated, but if he could have something cold, he would grudgingly accept it. He asked Xue Fangli, “Can I have some cold stuff?”
Xue Fangli: “Eat a little less.”
Jiang Juan immediately perked up, “Then I want to have some.”
“Gao De.”
Steward Gao responded, “Yes?”
Xue Fangli tilted his chin slightly, “He wants cold milk curd. Have someone make it for him.”
Steward Gao: “???”
Steward Gao knew what cold milk curd was—it’s a cold dessert made by boiling milk into cheese, then breaking it up and chilling it for several hours. The process was complex, and mastering it was difficult. There were hardly any places in the entire capital that could make it.
“Where can I…”
Steward Gao, with a troubled expression, began to ask, but Xue Fangli gave him a look that was both amused and slightly impatient. Steward Gao had no choice but to swallow his discontent and forced a smile, “I’ll prepare some cold milk curd for the Crown Prince Consort right away.”
Xue Fangli nodded, “Hmm.”
Jiang Juan, unaware of how rare cold milk curd was, said, “Can you ask him to make it faster? I’m practically melting.”
“…Alright.”
Steward Gao smiled sadly. He left the Liangfeng Courtyard, and despite the blazing sun, his heart felt desolate.
Where could he possibly find cold milk curd for the Crown Prince Consort?
Why was his life so difficult?
With the prospect of cold treats, Jiang Juan’s mood improved considerably. However, he still lay lazily by the bed. Eventually, Xue Fangli had to reach out and turn him over. Just as Jiang Juan was about to roll into Xue Fangli’s embrace, there was a sudden knock at the door.
“What’s the matter?”
The visitor, pale and sweating profusely, stammered, “Your Highness, it’s terrible! His Majesty… His Majesty—he seems to be on the brink!”
On the brink?
The Emperor, Hongxing, was about to pass away?
Jiang Juan felt a daze.
In the story, the Emperor’s death was attributed to his obsession with health practices. Jiang Juan recalled that when he and Xue Fangli first entered the palace, the Emperor was drinking deer antler blood wine. It was this very wine that had nearly cost Xue Fangli his life.
Previously, when the Emperor was recuperating, Xue Fangli could avoid visiting. Now that the Emperor was gravely ill, Xue Fangli could no longer avoid it. He calmly instructed, “Prepare the carriage.”
“Yes.”
The messenger ran off, but Jiang Juan, feeling like a mere salted fish, knew he couldn’t avoid going either. With a sigh, he said, “My cold milk curd…”
Xue Fangli replied, “You can have it another day. You’re still ill, and you won’t be able to eat much anyway.”
Jiang Juan sighed, accepting this, but grumbled, “If I can’t have the milk curd, I really will have to pout.”
“Your Highness, hug me.”
Xue Fangli chuckled softly, holding Jiang Juan around the waist and lifting him up. Jiang Juan rested his head on Xue Fangli’s shoulder and suddenly asked softly, “Your Highness, if His Majesty really doesn’t make it, will you be sad?”
Xue Fangli’s tone was steady, “What if I said I wouldn’t be sad?”
Jiang Juan looked at him, nuzzling his neck, and hugged Xue Fangli tighter, “If you won’t be sad, then fine. Anyway, he’s just a minor figure. I’m more important.”
Xue Fangli replied with a hint of amusement, “Shameless.”
Jiang Juan retorted, “What’s there to be ashamed of? You’re always touching me; I don’t see you feeling ashamed about that.”
Xue Fangli smiled and held Jiang Juan as they got into the carriage.
The carriage swayed as it moved, but Jiang Juan, unusually, did not fall asleep.
“Your Highness, talk to me.”
Although Jiang Juan knew that Xue Fangli did not have strong feelings for Emperor Hongxing, he was still concerned that Xue Fangli might be upset and wanted to distract him.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Anything will do.”
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Juan asked, “I haven’t seen the Sixth Prince and the others for a while. Do you know what they’ve been up to lately?”
Xue Fangli looked displeased, “Why do you keep concerning yourself with such trivial matters?”
Jiang Juan urged, “Come on, tell me.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him, “Gu Puwang seems to have gone to the Imperial Court of Judicial Review and solved a few cases. It’s decent.”
Cases handled by the Imperial Court of Judicial Review were usually very significant. Gu Puwang’s solving a few cases received only a “decent” evaluation, which Jiang Juan noted, saying, “Your Highness, you’re so strict.”
“Anything else?”
Xue Fangli: “Jiang Qingliang… has gone to the military camp. Recently, there have been rampant bandits, and General Jiang is leading the troops to fight them. It seems he hasn’t caused any problems.”
Not causing problems meant he must have performed well. This had been mentioned in the books, but Jiang Juan was curious if their paths had changed again. Fortunately, the trajectories of Gu Puwang and the others hadn’t altered.
As for Xue Congyun, Jiang Juan figured it was unnecessary to ask. Like him, the Sixth Prince spent his time indulging in pleasure. Nevertheless, Jiang Juan still inquired, “What about the Sixth Prince? He hasn’t come to see me for a while. It’s quite strange.”
“When you were ill with the wind-cold, Father’s condition worsened, and he went to the palace to recuperate. The Sixth Prince stayed with him.”
Jiang Juan nodded, “No wonder.”
Xue Fangli casually remarked, “What, do you miss him?”
Jiang Juan: “?”
“…No.”
Jiang Juan sighed and then pretended to ask again, “Well, there’s one more person. What about the Crown Prince? Your Highness, how has the Crown Prince been recently? I’m closest to him and am most worried about him.”
“You’re closest to him?”
Xue Fangli lowered his gaze, “Is that so?”
Jiang Juan tilted his head back, “More true than pearls.”
Xue Fangli snorted softly, “I don’t believe it.”
Jiang Juan pondered for a moment and decided to prove it through action.
He turned around, wrapped his arms around Xue Fangli’s neck, and leaned in to brush his lips against Xue Fangli’s red lips. “I’ve never done this with anyone else, only with the Crown Prince.”
“And…”
Jiang Juan fluttered his eyelashes, “Every part of me, only the Crown Prince has seen and touched.”
Xue Fangli held Jiang Juan with one arm, his gaze serious, though he just looked down at him, “And then?”
Jiang Juan replied, “There’s nothing more. Isn’t this the best?”
Xue Fangli: “Not really.”
He lowered his head, his voice sultry, “It’s only the best if you’ve shared a bed.”
Jiang Juan, feeling that Xue Fangli was pushing too far, said, “…Then forget it. I don’t want to be the best with you. It’s better this way.”
Xue Fangli laughed softly, kissing Jiang Juan with force and prying open his lips.
What started as a conversation turned into Jiang Juan being thoroughly indulged. By the time the carriage stopped, Jiang Juan leaned against Xue Fangli’s shoulder, lightly panting as Xue Fangli adjusted his clothes.
Jiang Juan pulled aside the curtain and looked out. The palace was situated at the foot of the mountain, majestic and luxurious.
As he gazed, a wave of unease suddenly surged within him.
In the novel, Emperor Hongxing was supposed to pass away only after Marquis Anping declared himself emperor, but it was only June now.
Jiangnan River floods had not yet occurred, and Marquis Anping had not gained any popularity among the people. Yet, Emperor Hongxing was already gravely ill ahead of schedule.
It seemed like… something was about to happen.
Jiang Juan slowly furrowed his brow.
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