Chapter 23 Your Highness, please have some self-respect
A sobbing sound came from the corner. Wei Xichen walked over to Qi Bao, who was fast asleep in her nest. He wondered what the little one was dreaming about, as she kept whimpering pitifully.
Like Jiang Yinyue, no matter how old Qibao is, in his eyes he will always be that tiny little puppy, never wavering.
Beside Qi Bao leaned a worn-out rag doll, patched and mended many times, barely maintaining its original appearance. It was made by Jiang Yinyue herself. In those years, Jiang Yinyue would give Qi Bao all sorts of little toys every now and then, and this scarecrow doll was the last one.
When the attendant from the Eastern Palace handed Qi Bao over to the messenger, he also instructed the messenger to bring along Qi Bao's most cherished doll.
Wei Xichen gently stroked the sleeping Qi Bao, soothing its emotions.
Qi Bao, who didn't understand the concept of parting ways, would always come to him with a plush toy in her mouth during these three years, her round eyes full of expectation.
He knew it missed her, but he ultimately couldn't bring himself to take it to see her.
A physical presence shouldn't exist between two innocent childhood friends. He would also reflect in the quiet of the night, wondering when that physical presence had become an extra element.
The hand that was stroking Qi Bao's head slowly curled up. What explanation did he have for bringing Qi Bao to see her today?
Perhaps the young crown prince hasn't realized that he has already wavered in his initial judgment, merely deceiving himself and afraid to face the truth—his childhood sweetheart hadn't abandoned him to escape alone. Or perhaps, clinging to his initial judgment, he's trying to grasp at something amidst his repeated cycles of reconciliation and unease.
**
A gentle breeze stirred the curtains, and Wei Ying, who had suddenly woken up, was no longer sleepy. She leaned against the window on the second floor of the back building, lost in thought.
She was frail and thin from birth, and always seemed to be a burden to those around her. She didn't want to, but she had no choice.
The sound of horses' hooves pulled her back to reality.
The horse-drawn steed in the stable immediately neighed.
The rear building is closest to the back alley, and from Wei Ying's position, she can look down at the scene in the back alley.
Under the bright moonlight, a man and a horse galloped past. The man on horseback wore a dark robe, and his face was blurred by the night, but Wei Ying recognized him at a glance as the man who had fetched medicine for her by the water that day.
His name was Han Jian, and he was a servant in the Yan family.
Wei Ying's gaze followed briefly, and a moment later, she saw Han Jian ride back on horseback.
This, in turn, caused the lightning to hiss.
It's not even dawn yet. Are we carrying out a task assigned by our employer?
After all, this was someone who had helped her, so Wei Ying was a little curious, but only a little. She looked away, yawned, and finally felt sleepy.
Han Jian, weaving through the night, held the reins in one hand and a paper bag in the other, which contained Yan Zhuyi's favorite shumai.
Fortunately, that noodle shop opened at dawn and sold breakfast.
When Han Jian arranged the steaming hot shumai on a plate among Yan Zhuyi's sumptuous meal, Yan Zhuyi, who had only mentioned the good shumai place the night before, seemed lost in thought.
Around noon, Yan Zhuyi carried a tray of freshly steamed shumai to the inn, only to be pounced on by Qibao as soon as she entered.
"ah!"
"Qi Bao," Wei Xichen, who was having a meal at the table, said, stopping her.
Upon seeing this woman, Qi Bao crawled back to Wei Xichen's feet, reverting to being an indifferent old dog.
After washing her hands, Yan Zhuyi placed the shumai on the table. "This shumai shop is a long-established brand, and the taste is quite good. Your Highness may try it."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Wei Xichen's gentle and polite tone always made Yan Zhuyi feel a sense of powerlessness and alienation. She was used to hiding her bitterness with a smile, and pretended to be nonchalant as she squatted on the ground and teased Qi Bao.
But as soon as she picked up the scarecrow doll, Qi Bao bared her teeth and berated her.
Qi Bao never paid any attention to Yan Zhu Yi, only baring her teeth when Yan Zhu Yi was near her. It was unclear whether she was incompatible with Yan Zhu Yi or disliked her fragrance.
Yan Zhuyi smiled gently, tossed aside the doll, and got up to wash her hands.
To please Qibao, she had given her many trinkets, but the old dog only liked that tattered rag doll. A tattered rag doll, washed and dried, dried and washed again, patched and mended until it was almost unrecognizable, what was so special about it?
A few days later, at the Summer Solstice Banquet, she received a reply from Fu Zhongcai, informing her that His Highness the Crown Prince would not be attending in person. Although disappointed, she would not express any dissatisfaction to his face.
"My father has always wanted to see Your Highness, but I wonder if Your Highness..."
Wei Xichen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said with a faint smile, "There's no need for that. If the Salt Commissioner has something to report, he can send a memorial."
Yan Zhuyi nodded, smiling without speaking, a bitter feeling welling up inside her. Although she hated her father, she believed in keeping the wealth within the family; her only support and future reliance was her maternal family. But the Crown Prince and her father, besides their relationship as ruler and subject, also had a relationship akin to that of father-in-law and son-in-law. Why couldn't they interact privately?
As she left the inn, she looked up at the open window on the second floor but did not see the white-clad figure. However, as she turned her head, a dark sleeve reached out to her.
He made a gesture as if to help her onto the horse.
Ever since she lost face in front of the accompanying officials and guards, she had been practicing horsemanship diligently in the backyard of the Yan residence for many days, and today she came on horseback.
Looking at Han Jian's thoughtful gesture, she suddenly felt that such thoughtfulness was cheap. "Move aside."
Han Jian froze, then immediately stepped back, his burly body bowing slightly as he silently apologized, even though he didn't know what he had done to offend his master.
Wei Xichen had to go out on business to visit an old salt merchant who had been bedridden for a long time due to a cold. Before leaving, he instructed a trusted confidant to take care of Qibao.
Qi Bao sensed something, raised her front paws and placed them on Wei Xichen's waist, wriggling her furry body in a very urgent manner.
"I'll take you to see her later. You stay here, have a good meal, okay?"
The man spoke gently with a smile, and the guard beside him sensed a hint of coaxing.
**
Early in the morning, Jiang Yinyue took some wheat bran and beans, walked to the stable, and asked Zhu Dian, "What happened yesterday?"
She heard it howling at night. She originally wanted to go out and check the situation, but Wei Qin stopped her, saying that the howling was nothing to worry about.
Wei Ying walked over with a smile, her clothes fluttering in the morning breeze. Her thin body seemed about to collapse under the wind, but her radiant smile added a touch of vitality. "Last night, a man named Han Jian rode by on horseback and frightened Zhu Dian."
Jiang Yinyue was somewhat surprised. Her sister-in-law had only met Han Jian once, yet she was able to recognize him in the deep of night.
She probably had little contact with men outside her circle, and yet she received help from him, leaving a deep impression. However, Han Jian was robust with sharp features and an aura that kept strangers at bay, making him quite conspicuous in a crowd.
Are you afraid of him?
"A little."
Wei Ying was not very bold. She had a feeling that Han Jian had a bad temper. Even if she met him alone, she would not dare to go up and thank him because of the favor of the medicine.
I should have thanked her openly last time, instead of hiding behind my sister-in-law.
Jiang Yinyue poured the wheat bran into the groove, watching Zhu Dian wolf it down, "Han Jian has beaten Zhu Dian."
"ah?"
Wei Ying was even more afraid of the fierce-looking man.
At this moment, the gatekeeper, Uncle Song, rushed over. "Second Young Mistress, news just came from the post station that Qi... Qi Bao has been bitten!"
Jiang Yinyue suddenly turned her gaze.
**
A gentle breeze brought warmth, and as the start of summer approached, Jiang Yinyue, riding her horse through the streets, had a fine layer of sweat on her forehead.
The black horse he rode galloped like a shooting star, carrying Jiang Yinyue straight to the post station.
It was Wei Qin's horse, Zhui Feng.
Jiang Yinyue arrived at the entrance of the post station and was led up to the second floor by a postman. As soon as she entered, a figure in white came into view. It was Wei Xichen, who was kneeling on one knee with his back to the door.
Jiang Yinyue didn't care that this was Wei Xichen's temporary room; in this urgent situation, she couldn't worry about so much.
"How about it?"
Jiang Yinyue stepped past the post station worker, squatted down next to Wei Xichen, and looked at the dejected Qibao.
On the milky white fur, a wound on the side of the neck was very obvious.
It was a deep bite mark left by a canine tooth.
The veterinarian had just shaved Qibao's fur and treated its wounds, and had also given it some calming medicine. The fourteen-year-old dog lay weakly in its bed, but suddenly started wagging its tail.
It slapped against the wall with a "smack, smack, smack".
Jiang Yinyue gently stroked its head and softly comforted it, "It's alright, Qibao will be alright."
But as she spoke, she choked up.
Qi Bao is too old; she might not make it through.
The guard responsible for looking after Qi Bao was drenched in sweat. He had only meant well by taking Qi Bao for a walk in the courtyard of the post station, but he never expected that the guard dog would suddenly break free of its chain and rush over, biting Qi Bao's neck and refusing to let go. It took him a lot of effort to pry the dog's mouth open.
The guard stammered, "Your Highness..."
"Step down."
Wei Xichen had no time to spare, and Qi Bao's condition was not optimistic.
Hearing the woman's sobs, his heavy heart was filled with self-reproach; he hadn't taken good care of Qi Bao.
"Feel sorry."
Whether this apology had multiple meanings or whether it came too late, Jiang Yinyue's eyes were full of the weak Qi Bao, and she was indifferent to the apology.
"It needs quiet."
Wei Xichen silently dismissed the servants present, leaving only the veterinarian by his side.
Jiang Yinyue sat on the ground, staying by his side without leaving for a moment, until Wei Xichen personally brought a stool and pulled her to sit on it.
He stood aside, quietly watching her and it.
To the veterinarian, the scene looked like a young couple caring for their beloved dog.
A light drizzle fell outside the window, pattering against the windowpane, making the inn unusually quiet, with only the sounds of Jiang Yinyue and the veterinarian discussing.
Veterinarians mostly treat livestock such as horses, sheep, and cattle, but they are experts at treating bite wounds. He instructed Jiang Yinyue to clean Qibao's wounds every day to prevent pus from flowing and swelling.
"If recovery goes well, the wound should heal within two weeks. If inflammation develops..."
Since it was His Highness the Crown Prince's beloved dog, the veterinarian didn't dare to continue.
Jiang Yinyue nodded, understanding. She sat back down next to Qibao, smiled faintly as she looked at it, her gentle gaze overflowing with tears welling up in her eyes.
She held the little scarecrow in her hands, stroking it gently. This was the last cloth doll she gave to Qi Bao. The stitches were crooked when it was sewn, but it became more exquisite after being repaired by the skilled craftsmen in the palace. Yet, this worthless little thing became Qi Bao's best "companion".
Perhaps sensing her sadness, the listless Qi Bao suddenly stood up, but Wei Xichen immediately pressed her down and stroked her fur.
Jiang Yinyue suppressed the stinging in her eyes and nose, and smiled as she shook the scarecrow, as if she were soothing a baby in swaddling clothes.
Lying on her side, Qi Bao grinned, revealing her long tongue.
Around noon, Fu Zhong brought two meals and gently placed them on the small table. "Your Highness, it's time to eat."
Wei Xichen raised his hand to signal him to leave, then looked at Jiang Yinyue, "Use some."
"I am not hungry."
"Taking care of Qibao also takes physical effort."
Jiang Yinyue had no appetite. She stared intently at the sleeping little one, ignoring the Crown Prince's words and refusing to say anything more.
If it weren't for Qi Bao's accident, she would never have wanted to live under the same roof as him in her entire life.
Wei Xichen walked to the basin stand, washed his hands, picked up his chopsticks, but his appetite seemed to have been taken away by his peripheral vision, and he had no appetite at all.
Hesitating and struggling through the passing three years, he broke free from his constraints and sat down next to Jiang Yinyue, placing the tray on his lap. "Have some."
"I am not hungry."
"Even if you're not hungry, you should eat."
Wei Xichen's hand, which held the pen that made decisions, gripped the spoon handle, scooped up a spoonful of ginseng soup, and held it suspended above the soup surface, without making a move to feed it to her, frozen in contradiction.
It's easy to lower your pride in an instant, but difficult to put it back on.
In the end, pride strangled that downward-curving vertebra.
Jiang Yinyue saw him hesitate, wondering what he was hesitating about, and had no time to ponder it, until he brought the soup spoon to her lips.
The delicious broth touched my lips, warm and moist.
Jiang Yinyue instinctively looked away, her tone aloof and distant, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect."
The word "Your Highness" widened the rift between them, while the word "self-respect" stirred up the turbulent currents within that rift, disturbing Wei Xichen's calm heart.
She was not only trying to avoid suspicion, but she also misunderstood his intentions, thinking he was a lecherous man taking advantage of her vulnerability.
Wei Xichen withdrew his hand, his jaw tightening.
People who are used to being reserved don't argue easily, especially since Qibao needs quiet.
He got up, put the tray back, and stood by the window, his tense jaw never relaxing.
Jiang Yinyue was the only one who could anger the Crown Prince with a single sentence.
At this moment, Fu Zhong reported from outside the door that Lady Liangdi had arrived with another veterinarian.
"Go back." Wei Xichen clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly, refusing the visitor outside the door.
Qi Bao needs quiet, and so does he.
Yan Zhuyi, who was standing behind Fu Zhongcai with the veterinarian, was slightly taken aback. This was the first time His Highness the Crown Prince had refused her entry during the day.
Through the thin paper covering the door, she saw a blurry figure sitting next to Qi Bao. It was Jiang Yin Yue, who had been kicked out by His Highness the Crown Prince three years ago. And now, the victor was being turned away by His Highness the Crown Prince three years later.
My hands, folded in front of me, became icy cold.
Is it true that fortunes change every thirty years?
Without hysteria or tearful complaints, the woman, accustomed to being a confidante, bowed slightly to the cold door and said, "This humble servant will take her leave now."
As Yan Zhuyi turned to leave the post station, her unsteady feet made her stumble over her words. But as Han Jian, who was holding an umbrella, approached, she whispered a rebuke: "You dare to challenge me?!"
Han Jian, who was about to step forward to help, froze his outstretched hand. He lowered his head and let Yan Zhuyi walk past him and ride away in the rain.
**
The food by the second-floor window was getting cold, and neither of the two people in the room touched their chopsticks. They looked at each other in silence, back to back, until sunset.
The drizzle had just stopped, and the crimson sunset painted the sky with a magnificent glow.
When Fu Zhongcai knocked on the door for the second time to deliver the meal, Wei Xichen's refusal was still heard from inside.
"Your Highness, please take care of your health."
There was no response from inside the door. Fu Zhong sighed, and as soon as he turned around, he was startled by Wei Qin's sudden appearance.
The same scene is reproduced.
The difference is that on that occasion at the mountain post station, Wei Qin was wearing a ramie shirt, but now he is wearing the official robe that he hasn't had time to change out of.
"How come Wei Yunpan walks so quietly?"
Wei Qin's gaze fell on the tightly closed door, ignoring the steward of the Eastern Palace in front of him.
"Is your wife inside?"
"yes."
Fu Zhongcai sighed again, then turned and reported once more, "Your Highness, Judge Wei requests an audience."
"not see."
Jiang Yinyue, who was just a door away, finally reacted. She got up when she heard the sound, ignored the man by the window, and walked straight to the door.
Footsteps sounded behind him. Wei Xichen slowly clenched his fist behind his back. He had not ordered Jiang Yinyue to stop for the sake of the Crown Prince's dignity, nor had he ever ordered her to.
Jiang Yinyue opened the door and looked at Wei Qin, "You've come."
Fu Zhongcai, standing outside the door, wore a bitter expression and was almost ready to call her "Grandma".
Would this young lady dare to defy His Highness the Crown Prince in front of everyone? His Highness just said he wouldn't see her!
And His Highness didn't say anything to stop it...
Wei Qin stood still and patted his wife on the shoulder, saying, "I'll be waiting for you outside."
Fu Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Wei Qin had the foresight to see things clearly. If he had stepped across the threshold without any regard for the consequences, it would have been like crossing a forbidden zone and trampling on the dignity of the crown prince. That would have been terrible!
Even if the Crown Prince doesn't care, one or two of the guards outside the gate will surely report this to His Majesty. At that point, not only will Wei Qin lose his official hat, but he might even lose his life.
Jiang Yinyue was well aware of the implications. She had no intention of letting Wei Qin defy the Crown Prince and cause trouble. However, it was about time, and she, as a married woman, should go back with her husband.
She turned on her heel and curtsied to Wei Xichen in front of everyone, saying, "This humble woman will take her leave now."
Qi Bao was still fast asleep, with the veterinarian by her side, so she didn't need to take care of her all night.
It's just not convenient at night.
After waiting for a long time without a response from the person by the window, Jiang Yinyue, who had been curtsying, raised her eyes. The person was embedded in the sunset, looking somewhat lonely, but what did that have to do with her?
"This humble woman takes her leave!"
She repeated herself, saying that if it weren't for the presence of others, she would have left without looking back.
Her knees were a little tired and her waist was a little sore. She gritted her teeth inwardly and cursed Wei Xichen over and over again in her mind. In the end, she received a "Be careful on the road."
The man never turned around; only when the young couple appeared on the street did his gaze shift slightly downwards.
In the bustling market, Wei Qin, holding Zhui Feng's hand, walked side by side with his wife through the crowd. As they walked, he suddenly turned around and looked towards the window on the second floor of the inn.
As they got further away, the figure in white became blurry, like a ray of moonlight shrouded in the sunset, "trapped" within it.
Mr. Gong, who had traveled far from home, was writing a story in a speeding carriage. It was a tale of love and hate. As he wrote, the old man thought of a familiar saying: "What one does not obtain in youth will ultimately haunt one's entire life," which perfectly resonated with the story of the man and woman in his tale.
The wheels rolled on, leaving two parallel tracks in the muddy ground.
Just like two lives filled with love and hate, they will never intersect again.
**
The setting sun casts its golden rays upon the water, creating shimmering patterns like floating flowers adorned with green jade, drawing people to stop and admire the sunset over the water.
Jiang Yinyue, who happened to be passing by, raised her face to meet the rosy dawn, trying to dispel the sorrow caused by Qi Bao.
"Wei Qin, I'm hungry."
There were many food stalls along the roadside. Wei Qin tied his horse to a weeping willow by the water, bought some bamboo leaf cakes and mint cakes, and then took out a white handkerchief, bent down, wet it in the water, and wiped Jiang Yinyue's fingers.
Jiang Yinyue sat on a rock on the shore, looking very tired, letting Wei Qin wipe her down lazily.
Wei Qin asked, "Are you worried about Qi Bao?"
Jiang Yinyue described Qi Bao's situation in detail: "Don't let its big size fool you, it's very timid. It's afraid of even frogs and mice. It must have been terrified after being bitten like that."
"Anything else?"
"Um?"
You look very tired.
Seeing Wei Qin kneeling in front of her, Jiang Yinyue leaned forward, resting her forehead on his shoulder, and closed her eyes to release her fatigue and tension.
You guessed it.
Living under the same roof as Wei Xichen, she felt exhausted in the stalemate. Fortunately, she had Wei Qin, who could understand her joy and sorrow without her having to say much.
Wei Qin raised his hand and rubbed her head, his dark eyes stretching along the shimmering water to where the water meets the sky.
Distant and long.
In his darkest year, he witnessed a young girl slowly piecing together her shattered dreams and broken spirit amidst insults and doubts, only to find herself trapped in a mirage.
The illusory dreams of youth cannot be pieced together, nor can the youthful spirit be restored.
What he could do was accompany her out of the illusion and into the real world, to see the true nature of human relationships.
restart.
Her father-in-law protected her too well, and the crown prince dealt her a heavy blow, leaving the naive young girl confused. While the pain of being wounded is undeniable, she shouldn't only see the coldness of the world; beauty is eternal, and it's up to her to discover it.
Jiang Yinyue pulled through, took it all in stride, and didn't succumb to the Crown Prince's ruthlessness.
What sustained her was not his companionship, but her own heart turning towards the warmth of the sun and her belief in the good.
The sky was reflected in Wei Qin's eyes, stretching endlessly across his vision.
Last time at the tavern, when he was alone with the Crown Prince, he asked him a question.
"If Yan Hongchang is guilty, how does Your Highness intend to deal with Consort Liangdi?"
While there was no strong evidence to directly bring down Yan Hongchang, the fragmented evidence collected all pointed to him.
The crown prince did not answer, but smiled and pointed out, "What is the unspoken meaning?"
He rarely cares about people who are not important to him, which is obviously a veiled reference.
The Crown Prince initially believed Jiang Yinyue was the only one who could save her life, so he deserted the battlefield and severed his ties with her, becoming the heartless person the Emperor spoke of. So what about Yan Zhuyi? If Yan Hongchang is truly involved in the irregularities in the salt administration accounts, and Yan Zhuyi is also implicated, will the Crown Prince be impartial or lenient?
He wanted to determine whether the Crown Prince was truly unaffected by his emotions by observing his attitude towards Yan Zhuyi. In other words, whether Yan Zhuyi had replaced Jiang Yinyue in the Crown Prince's heart.
But the prince did not answer.
He knew what the Crown Prince cared about most.
betray.
The childhood sweetheart cried out that she was wronged, but the ruler, fearing the betrayal of those who cannot see into one's heart, chose not to trust and severed the relationship, just to prevent being betrayed by the person he would share a bed with in the future.
Wei Qin had considered this: if he were the one being hunted down, and if Jiang Yinyue had truly abandoned him, would he, like the Crown Prince, harbor resentment and even seek revenge against Jiang Yinyue?
He thought he wouldn't, much less retaliate.
How can an innocent young girl withstand the blade of an assassin?
Fear is an instinct.
His wish was that she would have the skills to survive in dire situations.
Some people's condemnation is ultimately just empty talk; if they were in their shoes, driven by fear, they might have run even faster. Of course, given Jiang Yinyue's personality, Wei Qin didn't believe she would escape alone.
He believed what she said.
-----------------------
A note from the author:
Updated early! The next update will be at 8 PM tonight. [Applause]
A wave of small red envelopes dropped
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