Chapter 39 Standoff Regardless of the past, from now on she has nothing to do with you...
"Jiaojiao!"
"Jiaojiao!"
"Your Highness!"
"cousin!"
Countless calls echoed in Shen Yujiao's mind, the noise causing her to have a splitting headache. As her consciousness gradually cleared, intense pain attacked her from all directions, as if vines were tearing at her limbs and bones. Under the intense pain, the scene of the tiger being shot and killed reappeared before her eyes.
"Jiang Chen—"
Seeing Shen Yujiao suddenly open her eyes, Jiang Chen reached out and grasped her hand, immediately replying, "Yes, I'm here, Jiaojiao, I'm here."
Hearing the familiar voice coming from beside her, Shen Yujiao finally regained her composure, but she was still very flustered, as if she were still in a jungle, and the next second she would be in danger of being pounced by a tiger.
"Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician! Go and fetch the Imperial Physician!"
After a period of chaos, the inner room returned to silence. Shen Yujiao finished the last spoonful of her medicine, turned her face away, and frowned: "It's too bitter."
Jiang Chen handed the medicine bowl to Mu Jin, then took a handkerchief from the tray to wipe the medicine stains from Shen Yujiao's lips. His movements were slow and gentle. Looking at Shen Yujiao's injury, he said helplessly, "Good medicine tastes bitter. How can you get better if you don't drink the medicine?"
After saying that, he slowly put down the handkerchief he had been holding. Seeing that he had suddenly fallen silent, Shen Yujiao stretched out her hand, which was wrapped up like a dumpling, and tugged at his sleeve with difficulty. Jiang Chen quickly looked up at her, then turned around and lowered his head, saying in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, I hurt you again."
So that's what it was about. Shen Yujiao poked his waist again and said half-jokingly, "Then you'll protect me next time, won't that solve the problem?"
Jiang Chen's hand, pressed against the edge of the bed, bulged with veins. He nodded silently, and after a long pause, turned around and solemnly promised Shen Yujiao, "I will never let you take risks alone again. There will be no next time."
"Hmm," Shen Yujiao awkwardly reached out to wipe away the moisture from the corner of his eyes, and gently comforted him, "It wasn't your fault this time either, don't blame yourself."
It would have been better if they hadn't mentioned it, but as soon as the incident was brought up, Jiang Chen's eyes flashed with barely suppressed anger. Shen Yujiao noticed this and patted his hand reassuringly: "Has the matter been investigated thoroughly?"
Jiang Chen held the gauze in his hands, folded them together, and carefully removed it with his eyes lowered. His movements were gentle, and his tone was indifferent: "The investigation led to Yongjia, but she refused to admit it and even accidentally injured Yong'an."
The old gauze was peeled off layer by layer. Jiang Chen used a cotton handkerchief dampened with warm water to wipe away the dried ointment from Shen Yujiao. Then he took out a medicine jar to reapply the ointment. The brown ointment felt cool to the touch, but the smell was not pleasant. Shen Yujiao frowned slightly when she smelled it: "Is Yong'an seriously injured?"
“It’s not minor,” Jiang Chen said, putting the ointment back on the small table. He took out new gauze from the medicine box and wrapped the wound again. “The little girl was pushed and hit her back on the corner of the table. She may have injured her spine. She hasn’t dared to move for two days.”
The excess gauze was tied tightly in her palm. Shen Yujiao looked at her hand, now re-wrapped like a dumpling, and her eyes dimmed slightly. "Why did you hurt her?"
"When Mu Jin tried to deliver the message to me, she was stopped halfway and almost arrested as an assassin. It was Yong An who went to plead with the Empress. During the interrogation, it was also Yong An who stood up for Mu Jin. I was there at the time. Yong Jia saw that it was not intentional. It was just an accidental push. She couldn't control the force and bumped into something like this... If she doesn't recover, she might develop a chronic illness."
Slowly drawing her fingers together towards her palm, feeling a tearing pain in her hand, Shen Yujiao pursed her lips tightly. She paused, then asked, "Where is A-Jun, who mysteriously disappeared from Consort Chu's side?"
"The person has already been locked up. When they were found, they were unconscious in the mountains. After waking up, they knew nothing when questioned, only saying that they were kidnapped by a stranger, a guard."
Where is Chu Rou?
"She's more seriously injured than you, and she hasn't woken up yet."
Thinking that Chu Rou was seriously injured while protecting her, Shen Yujiao became somewhat silent. She didn't want to speculate whether the girl who risked her life to save her in a critical moment had ulterior motives.
"Jiaojiao," Jiang Chen picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped Shen Yujiao's forehead, "You're not better yet. If you're tired, rest. It's not too late to deal with these things after you've recovered."
Shen Yujiao looked up at Jiang Chen, smiled weakly at him, nodded, and slowly lay back down with his help. The moment she lay down, exhaustion washed over her, and before she knew it, Shen Yujiao had fallen into a deep sleep again.
Seeing that she was fast asleep, Jiang Chen withdrew his hand from Shen Yujiao's arm. In order not to wake Shen Yujiao, he gently put her hand back under the covers. Just before covering her with the covers, he looked at Shen Yujiao's hands wrapped up, his eyes welled up with tears, and his eyes reddened slightly.
He didn't know how Miss Shen grew up, but he knew how Shen Yujiao grew up.
Jiang Chen has always liked to call her Shen Jiaojiao since she was a child, not only because she was a girl who was pampered and spoiled, but also because Shen Yujiao was extremely spoiled when she was young.
She cries when she loses a game, cries when she falls while playing, and cries when she loses an argument. Jiang Chen was so afraid of her crying that whenever Shen Yujiao pouted and her eyes reddened, he would immediately raise his hands in surrender.
But later, I don't know when it started, Shen Yujiao stopped crying very often.
If she lost a game, she would start over; if she fell, she would get up; if her dance moves weren't right, she would keep practicing. As for her relationship with him, although Jiang Chen had gotten used to giving in to her, Shen Yujiao rarely joked and played around with him anymore. The older she got, the stronger she became, but for Jiang Chen, he still couldn't bear to see her so weak.
Since arriving in the Xia Dynasty, this is the second time he has failed to protect Jiaojiao.
Jiang Chen sat by the bed for a long time, and only got up and left the inner room when Shen Yujiao's breathing gradually became steady.
The moment he pushed open the door and saw the person standing in the courtyard, Jiang Chen lowered his eyes without showing any emotion, concealing his gloomy expression. His jawline was tightly taut. Huan Wang confronted him silently for a while, then turned around and walked out of the courtyard first.
Watching Prince Huan's departing figure, Jiang Chen stood there and let out a deep breath, feeling an unyielding resentment in his chest. He quietly closed the door and followed Prince Huan out.
Seeing Jiang Chen follow, Jiang Yu didn't say anything more. The two walked in silence to a secluded spot outside the villa. After confirming that no one else was there, he asked, "How is she?"
"What do you mean, how?" Jiang Chen looked directly into his eyes.
"Is she any better?" Jiang Yu's eyes were full of worry.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen's eyes grew cold: "Fine, since you asked directly, I'll be frank with you. Whether she's doing well or not is none of your business."
"Fifth brother," Jiang Yu paused, "you don't need to be so hostile towards me. I know she is now the Crown Princess, but we still have a bond from when we grew up together."
"Your feelings have nothing to do with her."
Jiang Chen did not back down at all. He stepped forward and approached Jiang Yu, his eyes flashing with a cold, sharp edge: "I don't care how you treated her in the past. From now on, please stay as far away from my wife as possible."
Seeing Jiang Chen's sharp gaze, Jiang Yu suddenly laughed: "Brother, are you unwilling? Or jealous?"
He met Jiang Chen's gaze again, without flinching: "If what you say is true, then the past is the past, so... why are you still afraid of what's already over? Could it be that my brother lacks confidence in himself?"
"Oh--"
Jiang Chen turned his head and sneered. If he were talking to He Zhiju, he wouldn't be 100% confident, but since he was standing in front of Prince Huan, his words seemed rather ridiculous.
“Brother, I’ll just say this today: no matter who she chooses, she won’t choose you.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's smile froze instantly. His hands, hanging by his sides, slowly clenched into fists as he said, word by word, "Fine, then let's wait and see who has the last laugh."
After saying that, Jiang Yu walked away. As the two passed each other, Jiang Chen said coldly, "Also, keep your wife in check. If she continues to instigate in secret, I will not let her off just because she is a woman."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu did not reply, but paused for a moment before striding away. Jiang Chen stood alone in the spot, closing his eyes tightly.
Want to have the last laugh? Then let's see who has the best skills.
Since Shen Yujiao woke up once that day, she has been in a state of alternating between unconsciousness and wakefulness. Jiang Chen didn't want to trouble her, so he would feed her the medicine when she was awake and then leave after watching her fall asleep.
Several days passed in this way. On this day, Jiang Chen had just finished changing Shen Yujiao's dressing when Mu Jin came to report that Chu Liangdi had woken up.
Thanks to her bed rest, Shen Yujiao's external injuries had mostly healed, and she no longer needed to be bandaged. Jiang Chen nodded upon hearing this and left only after settling Shen Yujiao in properly.
When did you wake up?
"Just now, Liangdi woke up and asked the Crown Princess, and then said she wanted to see His Highness."
When Jiang Chen saw Chu Rou, she was leaning against the pillow with a pale face. When she saw him come in, she tried to get up and bow, but Jiang Chen raised his hand to indicate that she should not.
This was the second time he had seen Chu Rou from this era. At this moment, Chu Rou was pale and exhausted, as if she only had one breath left. She was completely different from the noble lady he had met for the first time.
"You want to see me?" Jiang Chen sat down in the chair opposite her.
“Yes,” Chu Rou nodded, facing Jiang Chen with an extremely respectful posture. “Your Highness, I know I have made a grave mistake and wish to beg Your Highness for forgiveness. I will accept whatever punishment I deserve, but… my maid, A-Jun, has always been straightforward and doesn’t know how to speak. She only knows how to think of me. I would like to ask Your Highness to spare her life for my sake. I owe Your Highness a favor for this matter.”
"You're negotiating with me? But why should I spare her life because of you?"
"Because of what you and your servant caused, the Crown Princess is still ill, and Princess Yong'an has also been injured innocently. How many people have been implicated? Now that you are not telling me the truth, do you still expect me to let you off the hook?"
"Consort Chu, do you think you have face or substance in my eyes?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Rou coughed violently a few times. The pain in her chest was connected to her heart. A layer of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. She gripped the railing in front of her tightly with both hands for support, leaning over the bed railing and breathing heavily. She knew all too well in her heart: she had neither face nor substance.
“Your Highness, my father was once the Vice Minister of Works and has some connections in the court. These people may not be able to accomplish great things, but in the future, if Your Highness needs anything from the Ministry of Works, they will be there without hesitation.”
After she finished speaking, she saw that the Crown Prince was still looking at her indifferently. She waited for a long time before she heard the Crown Prince speak again: "Miss Chu really dares to speak so boldly. The pillars of the court actually all follow the Chu family's lead?"
Chu Rou breathed a sigh of relief when the Crown Prince agreed to talk. He was a smart man and wouldn't play word games with her on this matter. But the next moment, she heard him say, "Besides, what makes you think that such a bargaining chip can be used to get rid of the Crown Princess's injury?"
She was direct, but the crown prince didn't even consider the offer she made.
Chu Rou pressed her hand against the pain in her chest and spoke again with difficulty, "If Your Highness is not satisfied, you may make your demands. I will grant you whatever you have."
"Just who is this palace maid? Why would a concubine go to such lengths to save her?"
"The bond we share since childhood is like that of Eunuch Zhu Yu, who serves Your Highness. Although we are master and servant, we are as close as brothers."
Seeing that she was still hiding something in her words, Jiang Chen stood up impatiently and flicked his sleeves. "Enough, Consort Chu. If you're not going to be honest, then there's no need to waste my time anymore. As for that palace maid..."
"Your Highness!" Chu Rou leaned forward, trying to grab Jiang Chen's robe. "Please! Spare A-Jun! She was rescued by me when I was a child. I raised and cared for her since she was little. We have a deep bond. If Your Highness is willing to spare her, you may do whatever you want with me."
“Alright,” Jiang Chen stopped and turned to look at Chu Rou: “Then explain clearly, who exactly was that palace maid contacting? And what message was she passing on?”
Seeing the Crown Prince's sharp gaze, Chu Rou suddenly recalled the day she first arrived in Jiande. In the afterglow of the setting sun, the Crown Prince looked at the Crown Princess with tenderness, treating her like a precious treasure. This was completely different from how he treated her now.
Chu Rou's lips were filled with bitterness. She had miscalculated; she really didn't understand the Crown Prince at all.
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Author's Note: Mini-Theater:
Springtime was perfect, with a gentle breeze. At noon that day, Jiang Xiaochen had just finished his homework when he heard laughter coming from the yard. The girl's voice was soft and light, with a hint of mischief in her coquettishness.
Jiang Xiaochen looked out through the glass window and saw Shen Jiaojiao flying a kite with some friends. He curled his lips and looked displeased: "It's the middle of the day and there's no wind. Why are you flying a kite?"
"Jiang Xiaochen!" Shen Jiaojiao turned her head and met Jiang Chen's gaze. She stretched out her hand and waved in that direction, calling out, "Come out and help me! I can't outrun them by myself!"
"All you do is order me around..."
Although she was grumbling and complaining, she was quick and efficient at packing up her homework. Jiang Xiaochen pulled a short-sleeved shirt out of the closet, put it on haphazardly, and ran out the door in a pair of slippers.
The school just took the children on a spring outing a couple of days ago. They didn't have enough fun with the teachers that day, so today, on the weekend, several children in the compound brought out their kites. Shen Jiaojiao's kite is a little cat, which looks adorable at first glance.
"Why did you bring this out? Where's your swallow?"
Jiang Xiaochen didn't quite understand. This cat was just cute to look at; it couldn't fly very high at all when actually released.
Shen Jiaojiao hugged the cat kite with a slightly aggrieved expression: "I just like this one!"
"Alright." Jiang Xiaochen, afraid that she would cry, reached out and took the kite from her.
The children in the compound were always lively, and they all put in a lot of effort to fly the kites. When a little boy blew his whistle, they all ran quickly. Just then, a gust of wind came, and several kites took off one after another, with an airplane kite flying the best.
"Jiang Xiaochen, give it your all! We can't lose!"
"Okay, okay, stop rushing me!"
Jiang Xiaochen was a master kite flyer. Although he couldn't fly as high as others at the start, he knew how to use his skills. After a while, another gust of wind came, and with a flick of his wrist, the kite flew even higher.
Wow! Jiang Xiaochen, you're amazing!
Shen Jiaojiao rarely praised him directly, but seeing her blushing face, Jiang Xiaochen was very pleased. So he made even more dazzling movements with his hands, but unexpectedly, the cat and the airplane got tangled together in the air. After several entanglements, the two kites finally spun and drifted down.
Unfortunately, it got stuck on the artificial hill in the yard.
The artificial hill was two meters high. The little kids looked at each other, none of them daring to climb it. Jiang Xiaochen, who rarely made a mistake, thought of Shen Jiaojiao's cheers earlier and didn't dare to look back.
"How about we ask an adult to come and get it?"
I don't know who said it first, but today is the weekend, and most of the people in the courtyard are elderly people and children, so it's really hard to get the kite out. So, an afternoon passed, and the kite was still stuck.
"Jiang Xiaochen, hold me up, I'll go get it." Shen Jiaojiao was skilled and daring. Seeing that it was getting dark, she couldn't wait for her parents to come back, so she stepped on the artificial hill and started to climb up.
"You, you be careful!" Jiang Xiaochen was standing on Shen Jiaojiao's feet below. Seeing her climbing up shakily, he was really worried, so he followed her up.
Although the artificial hill was high, there were plenty of places to step on and use for support. The two children struggled to climb up the artificial hill and then worked hard to take the kite down and throw it back to the ground. After finally finishing their work, they got stuck halfway down the hill.
The climb up was relatively easy, but going down was incredibly difficult, with no way to find a foothold. Shen Jiaojiao was so anxious that she was almost crying. Her eyes swept across the residential building opposite and she shouted at one of the windows, "Brother Zhiju, come and save us!"
Fortunately, He Zhiju did not go out today. Hearing the commotion in the yard, he quickly ran downstairs, but he was still a step too late.
"Xiao Chen! Jiao Jiao!"
As soon as He Zhiju came downstairs, he saw this scene: Jiang Xiaochen was lying on his back on the ground, wincing in pain, while Shen Jiaojiao was kneeling beside him, crying her heart out. Even the usually composed He Zhiju was frightened.
He carried Jiang Xiaochen on his back and ran quickly toward the military hospital. Along the way, Shen Jiaojiao followed behind, crying miserably.
When Jiang Xiaochen woke up again, he saw Shen Jiaojiao standing in front of the hospital window with red eyes. He tried to sit up, but it felt like his whole body was about to fall apart.
"Jiang Xiaochen, I'm sorry..." Shen Jiaojiao's voice trembled with tears as soon as she opened her mouth.
Seeing that the little pearl was about to fall, Jiang Xiaochen immediately said, "Shen Jiaojiao, if you keep crying, you'll turn into an ugly monster!"
Sure enough, Shen Jiaojiao, who was crying halfway through, immediately held back her tears and retorted loudly, "Jiang Xiaochen, you're the ugly one!"
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