Chapter 59 Cold War Crisis
On the carriage returning to the city, the air pressure was so low it felt like you could wring water out of it.
The warm atmosphere that had been there, where "as long as she's by my side, I'm not afraid of wolves," vanished the moment Shen Jin got into the car. It was replaced by a suffocating, inexplicably oppressive atmosphere.
Shen Jin sat upright on the cushion, holding a military book in his hand. His back was straight, and his eyes were fixed on the pages. He didn't even glance at Jiang Mianmian next to him.
He exuded a chilling aura that seemed to say, "I am very displeased, and the consequences will be severe."
Jiang Mianmian huddled in the corner, holding the half-eaten Sachima in her arms, unsure whether to eat it or not.
What happened?
[Weren't they just fine a moment ago? They were spouting those domineering CEO quotes like "unless you have to step over corpses," how did their attitude change so drastically as soon as they got in the car?]
[Is it because you got your hands dirty while squeezing that bone whistle and are unhappy about it?]
Jiang Mianmian tentatively extended a finger and poked Chen Jin's arm:
"Your Highness?"
Shen Jin stiffened slightly, ignored her, and turned a page of his book.
"Your Highness~" Jiang Mianmian increased the pressure, her voice softening slightly, "Are you thirsty? Shall I pour you a cup of tea?"
Shen Jin finally spoke, his voice as cold as if he were talking to a stranger:
"I'm not thirsty."
Only two words. Not a single word more.
Jiang Mianmian was rebuffed and withdrew her hand dejectedly.
【Tch, fine, don't drink then. What's with the attitude?】
[This is ridiculous. I was perfectly obedient; I didn't even want the whistle, and I even joined you in complaining about it. Who are you trying to fool with this attitude?]
[Could it be because... he felt the whistle was too expensive? No, that can't be right. Shen Jin is incredibly wealthy; tens of thousands of taels of silver are nothing to him.]
Why is that? Is it my period? Hormonal imbalance? Premature menopause?
As Shen Jin listened to her series of outrageous guesses, his knuckles turned white as he gripped the book.
Menopause? Uncle? Does this woman even have a heart?
The look in Xiao Yi's eyes before he left—it was the look of someone wanting to snatch him away! It was a look of covetousness!
Not only does she lack any sense of crisis, but she's still heartbroken over how much that broken whistle is worth! She cares more about money than about her husband!
“If the Princess Consort feels bored,” Shen Jin suddenly said coldly, “she can get out of the carriage and ride a horse. Anyway, the Northern Yan people haven’t gone far, and maybe we can catch up with them and ask for a token.”
Jiang Mianmian: ? ? ?
【Huh? What does this have to do with anything?】
Why would I chase after the Northern Yan people? Am I crazy?
Wait... there's a hint of bitterness in those words...
Jiang Mianmian sniffed, finally realizing what was happening.
Holy crap! This jerk is still jealous?!
【Seriously, bro? I publicly declared my loyalty! I said I only love you! How can you be so jealous? It's been half an hour, and you still haven't digested it?】
Seeing her look of sudden realization yet also feeling "incomprehensible," Shen Jin became even angrier.
He slammed the book shut, closed his eyes, and began to rest.
Since she doesn't understand, let her figure it out herself.
I don't understand, so don't expect him to hug you tonight.
...
Back to the Regent's Palace.
This eerie "Cold War" atmosphere persisted until dinner time.
The dining table was filled with Jiang Mianmian's favorite dishes: sweet and sour pork ribs, braised pork belly, and steamed sea bass.
At this time, Shen Jin would usually have already picked up his chopsticks and skillfully helped her remove fish bones and pick up ribs. He would even occasionally feed her a bite, enjoying her kitten-like satisfied expression.
But today.
He ate quietly and deliberately, his movements elegant, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Jiang Mianmian couldn't reach the braised pork that was far away, and looked at him longingly.
[Hey! Can't you be a little more observant? That piece of meat is too far away! Hurry up and get it for me!]
[You would have acted by now at this point in the past! Did you break your hand today?]
Shen Jin heard it.
But instead of picking it up, he reached out with his chopsticks and put the piece of braised pork that Jiang Mianmian had been staring at for so long into his own bowl.
Then, he ate it without any expression.
Jiang Mianmian: !!!
[The hatred of having food stolen! An irreconcilable enmity!]
[Chen Jin, aren't you childish? Fighting your wife for meat? That's domestic violence! Emotional abuse is also domestic violence!]
Jiang Mianmian angrily pushed her bowl away: "I'm full!"
【Fine, I won't eat it! I have a small kitchen! I'll cook for myself!】
She stood up angrily, turned around and left.
Shen Jin paused, his hand holding the chopsticks still.
They're... gone?
Aren't you going to try to coax him? Aren't you going to act cute?
Even just calling him a "scumbag" would be fine, right?
Watching that resolute departing figure, Shen Jin felt the braised pork in his mouth instantly lose its flavor, like chewing wax.
...
It was late at night. Inside the main bedroom in the courtyard.
After washing up, Jiang Mianmian went to bed early.
[Hmph, if you don't want to talk to me, then don't. Who cares!]
[Perfect! Tonight, no one will fight me for the blanket, no one will press me down to sleep, I can have this huge bed all to myself! I'm going to sleep in a starfish position!]
She deliberately wrapped the blanket tightly around herself, turning her back to the outside and leaving Shen Jin with only a cold, indifferent back of her head.
A moment later, Shen Jin entered.
He glanced at the obvious "silkworm pupa" on the bed and paused slightly.
Normally by this time, she would have already clung to me, calling me a "human-shaped hand warmer".
Today, things are really getting worse; we can't avoid it at all.
Shen Jin felt a surge of anger rising within him, but even more so, a sense of inexplicable grievance.
Whom am I jealous of? Whom am I anxious about losing?
That heartless woman.
Shen Jin blew out the candle, took off his shoes, and went to bed.
Instead of pulling her into his arms as usual, he lay down on the far side of the bed in a huff, separated by that long-lost "Chu River and Han Border".
The room was pitch black and deathly silent.
The two lay back to back, ignoring each other.
Jiang Mianmian originally thought she would be very happy, after all, she was finally free.
But……
Why is it a bit cold?
This silk quilt is nice, but it doesn't seem... as warm as him.
[And...it's too quiet. I can't hear his heartbeat, and I'm actually having trouble sleeping?]
Am I a masochist? I used to want to stay as far away from him as possible, but now I'm actually starting to miss his embrace?
Jiang Mianmian turned over, quietly opened her eyes, and looked at Shen Jin's back in the moonlight.
Broad and upright, yet it exudes a stubbornness that says, "I'm very angry, come and coax me."
Sigh... Men are sometimes harder to deal with than women.
[He's clearly just a jealous elementary school kid, but he insists on acting like a high-and-mighty regent.]
[Fine, fine, I'll let it go since he's handsome and rich.]
Jiang Mianmian stretched out a finger and quietly, tentatively, poked Shen Jin's back.
"Your Highness?"
Chen Jin remained motionless.
But the tip of his ear twitched slightly.
"Are you asleep?" Jiang Mianmian asked softly.
Shen Jin remained silent, but his breathing became erratic.
"Your Highness~"
Jiang Mianmian moved closer to the middle, "I'm cold."
This is a killer move.
In the past, whenever she said she was cold, he would immediately turn around and hug her.
But today, Shen Jin still had his back to her, and coldly uttered a sentence:
"If it's cold, have the maid add a blanket."
Jiang Mianmian: [...]
Good! Very good! You've got guts, Chen Jin!
[You want an extra blanket? Fine! You'll regret it!]
Jiang Mianmian also has a temper. Since I've already offered a way out and you won't take it, then don't blame me for being impolite!
She angrily turned over and went back inside, pulling her blanket tighter around herself.
[Go to sleep! Anyone who talks to you is a puppy!]
That night, the two slept in the same bed but dreamed different dreams, and neither of them slept well.
As Shen Jin listened to the gradually calming breathing behind him, he felt even more aggrieved.
She actually fell asleep?
Heartless!
He resisted the urge to turn around and hug her, enduring until dawn. He got up for court with dark circles under his eyes, his oppressive aura making all the servants in the palace tremble.
"Where is the Princess?" Shen Jin asked before leaving.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort... is still sleeping," the steward replied cautiously.
Shen Jin snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Still sleeping.
It seems she really doesn't care about this cold war at all.
...
Three poles in the sun.
When Jiang Mianmian woke up, she looked at the empty space beside her and felt a little empty inside.
"Your Highness, you're awake."
Xiao Tao brought in water for washing his face. "The prince looked very unwell when he left this morning, and he didn't even have breakfast. Did you... make the prince angry?"
"Who upset him? He's just going through menopause!"
Jiang Mianmian muttered, "What a petty man. It's just a broken whistle, why is he still so angry?"
But... how can he skip breakfast? He already has a stomach problem; if he gets even hungrier, I'll be the one who feels the most sorry for him.
Jiang Mianmian sighed.
Although this cold war is inexplicable, since Shen Jin is such a proud and arrogant person, shouldn't she, as a "virtuous wife and loving mother," take the initiative to give him a way out?
"Xiao Tao".
Jiang Mianmian suddenly jumped out of bed, her eyes hardening. "Go, tell the kitchen to prepare the ingredients!"
"What would the Princess like to eat?"
"It's not that I want to eat it."
Jiang Mianmian rolled up her sleeves, revealing an expression that said, "I'm about to unleash my ultimate move."
"I'm going to cook an all-spicy feast!"
[Hmph, since you're so angry you can't vent it, I'll vent it for you!]
[I'll burn you to death! Serves you right for being so stubborn! I'll make you give me the silent treatment! Let's see if you can maintain your aloof mask in front of this insanely spicy food!]
There's nothing a hot pot meal can't solve; if it can't, then add another pot of boiled sliced pork, spicy diced chicken, and Mapo tofu!
[Chen Jin, prepare for this! This is a counterattack from a Sichuan woman!]
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