Chapter 42 His past held no warmth whatsoever…
On the anniversary of the Crown Prince's death, Jiang Song, who had just personally interrogated a serious criminal, walked out of the Ministry of Justice prison and bowed his head to wipe the bloodstains on his hands.
Seeing several sorcerers carrying magical implements entering the palace in the distance, Jiang Song did not rush to take a carriage back to his residence. Instead, he stood by the incense burner next to the palace gate and looked at the pomegranate tree that Empress Yide had planted in the incense burner before her death.
The pomegranate tree symbolizes the continuation of offspring, but her only son was regarded as an evil spirit by the emperor.
The magical implements held by the sorcerer are used to exorcise evil spirits and ward off evil.
On this day, the imperial harem is filled with sorcerers who perform exorcisms, especially in front of the emperor's bedchamber, where sorcerers take turns chanting incantations from morning till night.
Jiang Song recalled that rainy night seventeen years ago, when the four-year-old eldest prince was escorted to the Northern Garrison Prison by the imperial guards.
It was personally overseen by him as the garrison commander.
In the still of the night, the firelight flickered, and a little child huddled silently in the corner of the cell, his face stubborn.
He sat on a bench outside the cell, dismissed the other guards, and asked the child a question.
"Has Your Highness considered the consequences of acting impulsively?"
If he weren't so young, plotting against the emperor would surely have led to his death.
Although tigers are said to be ruthless even if they don't eat their cubs, royalty can easily drive tigers mad. A mad tiger doesn't care about humanity or family ties.
"Is Your Highness listening to me?"
"Um."
His childish voice held a depth that was beyond the reach of children his age.
Perhaps out of a father's compassion, Jiang Song did not bring up the heavy topic again.
Just then, a jailer jogged over and said, "Sir, the lady has brought the young lady with her."
Jiang Song rubbed his forehead. Children should avoid such a dark and gloomy place as the Imperial Prison, but his daughter had relied on him since she was little, and he was the one who put her to sleep.
The two-year-old girl cried and fussed, but immediately smiled when she saw her father sitting in front of the prison cell.
"Daddy, hug me."
Jiang Song strode to his wife, took the little girl who was reaching out to him, and hung her on his arm. He said with a mix of helplessness and amusement, "Since Dad isn't home, you're bullying Mom, aren't you? Making a fuss over Mom so late at night."
The beautiful woman had intended to tease the father and daughter, but her gaze inadvertently fell on the child in the prison cell.
She tugged at her husband's sleeve, then moved her chin, silently asking a question.
Jiang Song whispered to his wife, which elicited a sigh from the beautiful woman.
Holding her father in her arms, little Niannian stared at the older boy shrouded in darkness. With a soft "ee-yah," she stretched out her tiny hand and said haltingly, "I want to go in too."
“You can’t go to jail for food.” Jiang Song held his daughter and faced the cell, introducing her to the children inside, “This is my daughter Niannian, about the same age as Your Highness. She is mischievous, please don’t be offended, Your Highness.”
Wei Yihe glanced at it, "A child? How can they be about the same age?"
In the eyes of a four-year-old, a two-year-old is indeed too young. However, one of them was forced to grow up by Emperor Shunren, and the other was pampered by Jiang Song, who couldn't bear to expose his daughter to the wind and sun and wished that his daughter would never grow up.
The two children are vastly different in terms of their mental development.
That night, Xiao Niannian leaned on her father's shoulder, staring curiously at the older boy in the cell. She nodded sleepily, but eventually succumbed to drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up, the cell was empty.
Before night had fallen, the imperial guards were ordered to take Wei Yihe away, and Jiang Song never saw the child again.
The next time I heard news of Wei Yihe was in the form of an obituary.
Many times, Jiang Song would imagine that if that child hadn't blown up the carriage back then and had survived the thorns, he would have grown into a strong and resilient person, full of heroic spirit.
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".
**
Early in the morning, when Wei Xichen and his men passed by the gate of the Huaijin County Princess's mansion, they saw that the ever-burning lamps were lit again.
It was the aunt reminiscing about her nephew whom she had never met.
The Crown Prince, who had spent four years with the eldest prince, had never lit an ever-burning lamp for his elder brother.
When he was five years old, he hid in the East Palace's sleeping quarters and secretly blew on a tinderbox, but his mother forcibly extinguished it.
The unlit eternal lamps were also taken away by the palace servants.
"The greater good must come first, my son. You must not let personal feelings get in the way."
“But that is my elder brother.”
"There are no brothers in the royal family."
The Emperor and Empress's teachings to the Crown Prince were either that he should not be sentimental or that he should not be ruthless towards his own family. Fu Zhongcai, who had accompanied the Crown Prince as he grew up, was relieved that His Highness was a man of his own mind and showed no signs of becoming a tyrant.
When Wei Xichen passed the residence of the County Princess of Huaijin, he paused briefly and ordered Fu Zhongcai to offer his greetings.
Fu Zhongcai, who had almost been turned away, returned dejectedly. He didn't embellish the story, only saying that Princess Huaijin expressed her gratitude for His Highness the Crown Prince's concern.
The feud between the Dong and Cui families runs too deep. Even as an outsider, Fu Zhongcai feels sorry for their children and doesn't want to stir up any more trouble.
Wei Xichen did not delve into whether Cui Shihan expressed gratitude for his concern, nor did he want to speculate on the girl's true thoughts. Apart from Jiang Yinyue, he was not interested in the feelings of any other woman.
The group continued onward toward the Wei residence. As they entered the market, Wei Xichen noticed a young man carrying a white lantern passing by.
The eerie sight of people carrying white lanterns in broad daylight frightened away the children who were playing and blocking the street.
As the young man stepped onto a stone arch bridge, he turned in the wind, and the scroll under his arm was caught in the wind as his dark hair was blown up.
The painter surnamed Xie left the market and entered a small courtyard.
The burly man practicing martial arts by the well glanced at it, rolled his eyes, and said, "I thank you on behalf of the young master."
The painter hung the lantern on a tree branch and said lazily, "Can't I light it for myself?"
"Ah! I just remembered, it's almost the anniversary of your death."
"You'll be here soon too."
Yan Yi, with a scar on his face, came out holding a spatula and pointed at the painter, "Don't say such unlucky things so early in the morning, it's creepy to hear."
The artist sat down on the stone bench with his legs crossed. "Believe it or not, once that old man kicks the bucket, we'll be reborn from the ashes."
"Hey, there's a fire in the stove! Come over and warm yourself?"
"Let's warm two jugs of wine and raise a toast to our young master today."
"Hey Xie, I thank you on behalf of the young master."
The painter didn't take it seriously. He took two large jars of yellow wine, warmed them in an iron pot, and filled three wine bowls with the wine at breakfast.
"Come, may we all be like resilient grass, unyielding to raging fire, and coexisting with the spring breeze."
Yan Yi gulped down a few mouthfuls. "Why are you always so sentimental on this day? Come on, let's deal with whatever comes our way. What's there to worry about? Drink up!"
The artist also took a big gulp, saying, "You haven't been with the young master for as long as I have, and you haven't witnessed firsthand the hardships he went through after his tribulations."
The cracking sound of whips echoed in the wind that seemed to pierce through time.
The young master is being whipped with a horsewhip.
Covered in wounds.
"I brought you back, not so you could disobey me! You little bastard, won't you call me 'Dad'? Let's see how stubborn you can be!"
The painter no longer drank heavily, but instead drank alone in sullen silence.
Fabricated experiences will inevitably be exposed at some unguarded moment; only genuine experiences will remain flawless. To make their background more believable, their young master set his sights on a merchant family whose head was a horse farm owner and a gambling addict. To escape debts, he and his wife frequently moved around, returning to their old ways and running horse farms for others.
The couple had been married for many years without children, and at the same time they took a fancy to a little child who had been wandering the streets. In order to save face, every time they moved to a new place, they would tell everyone that the child was their own.
This also perfectly aligns with the requirements of the young master's birth background.
But the gambler's nature was hard to change; he was violent and irritable. He used to beat his sick and weak wife, and later he beat the child he had taken in. After his wife died, his physical punishment of the child became even more severe.
Family matters behind closed doors are difficult for "bystanders" to know, but the scars left on them are clearly visible.
As an "observer," the painter had murderous intent towards the tyrannical merchant multiple times, but the young master said to endure it a little longer, to consider it an ordeal upon an ordeal. The more painful the wound, the deeper the memory, and in the future, no matter how he is tested, he can justify his actions.
**
When Wei Xichen led his men into the Wei family home, he felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he were revisiting an old haunt. He had fainted in front of the Wei family home the last time, and he never imagined that he would step into this poor family's home again.
Jiang Yinyue was nowhere to be seen in Hanlan Garden, and the person who led him in was not Jiang Yinyue's mother-in-law, Gu, but the head of the household, Zhang.
"Your Highness, please come in. Be careful of the threshold."
Zhang, who was usually eloquent, was on tenterhooks. She tried to remain calm, not wanting to lose her composure and incur the contempt and disdain of these distinguished guests.
Wei Xichen walked into the east wing, his snow-white robe sweeping across the dilapidated threshold. He subtly surveyed the small, simple room, which had no partitions and could be seen from beginning to end.
He did not mean to belittle the Wei family. In order to attract hermits, he went into the even simpler thatched hut more than once, sat around the stove with people, brewed tea, and chatted amicably.
However, this is where Jiang Yinyue lives, which is somewhat unfair to a proud daughter born into a wealthy and powerful family.
Wei Xichen quickly glanced around and looked at Wei Qin, who was struggling to get up from the bunk bed. "Wei Qing looks very unwell."
Madam Zhang brought over a stool, and Wei Xichen thanked her with a faint smile, then sat down, his robes fluttering as he sat down, only three inches away from the bed.
A faint fragrance could be smelled wafting from the curtains.
The scent of pear is refreshing and delicate, and it is a fragrance that Jiang Yinyue would use.
On this canopy bed, Wei Qin and Jiang Yinyue have engaged in illicit relations countless times.
Wei Xichen unconsciously tightened his grip on his knees.
How could such an absurd idea come to mind...?
Wei Qin said weakly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine and will be alright after a few days of rest."
Standing at the foot of the bed, Madam Zhang couldn't help but wipe away her tears. "Please, Your Highness, have mercy on our Wei family, which has so few members. We have an elderly father-in-law, a mentally challenged eldest son, a frail, sickly man, and a lame second uncle. We cannot afford any more loss of offspring!"
Zhang covered her face with her handkerchief and sobbed, “My nephew has worked diligently for the salt administration in Yangzhou, making countless enemies. He absolutely cannot be appointed as the salt transport commissioner. This is like putting him on the hottest fire!”
Fu Zhongcai, who was accompanying her, glanced at her and realized that the woman's crying was genuine and not fake.
Wei Xichen did not interrupt the woman with the shrill voice, but he also did not say anything. He carefully observed Wei Qin, whose face was pale and whose lips were bloodless, and said with a faint smile, "Sometimes, I have to envy Wei Qing's luck."
The assassin surnamed Xu presented Wei Qin with a generous gift.
luck?
Wei Qin, who was born without good fortune, did not argue. He coughed, his weak state catching the eye of the visitors.
After giving his instructions, Wei Xichen got up to take his leave. Looking around, he still couldn't see the woman. Even Qi Bao had been hidden away by the woman.
"Let's go."
Wei Xichen strode forward, followed by the crowd in perfect unison.
As Madam Zhang bowed slightly and returned to Hanlan Garden, she patted her chest, nearly bursting into tears.
Jiang Yinyue, who appeared in the courtyard, released Qibao and massaged her aunt's shoulder, saying, "Tears streaming down her face, quite skillful."
To ensure everything went smoothly, everyone in the Wei family except Jiang Yinyue was kept in the dark, believing that Wei Qinzhen's injuries were serious. Madam Zhang was also still shaken and felt emotional, which is why she cried so bitterly after her nephew suggested using her to confront the Crown Prince.
When Jiang Yinyue entered the east wing, she saw Dujuan changing the bedding and curtains. She asked in confusion, "Didn't you just change them a couple of days ago?"
Du Juan explained, "It was the second young master who asked me to change it."
Moreover, at Wei Qin's request, Du Juan cleaned the east wing room inside and out.
In the evening, Jiang Yinyue sat on the edge of the bed and nudged the man who was pretending to be asleep, both amused and annoyed. "Stop acting."
If they keep acting like this, they'll start to believe it themselves.
She took the wrung-out damp cloth and wiped away the dark rouge that was meant to make him look haggard. "Wake up."
"Wake up?"
Sensing something was wrong, Jiang Yinyue knelt on one knee beside the bed and leaned close to Wei Qin's face. "What's wrong?"
The man, who was feigning sleep, had his eyelids tightly closed and his brows furrowed, as if he were trapped in a nightmare.
"Wei Qin, Wei Qin!"
Jiang Yinyue shook the sleeping Wei Qin vigorously, her tone filled with concern.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her waist and pulled her to the inside of the bed.
Woman on top, man on bottom, rotate half a circle.
Lost in his sleep amidst a sandstorm, Wei Qin, with his exceptional sense of direction, was disturbed by wave after wave of incantations.
He saw a black dragon trapped in a birdcage torture device.
Fires broke out all around.
The black dragon feared fire and kept ramming against the torture instruments, leaving it covered in wounds.
As the black dragon weakened, a bloody taste rose in his throat. Wei Qin clutched his neck, bent over and gasped for breath. Just as he was feeling suffocated, he suddenly felt a gentle breeze.
Gentle and warm.
He reached out to grab it, but his palm missed, so he simply opened his arms to hug it.
Embrace the last glimmer of hope, a warm hope.
Those who have never felt a shred of warmth since childhood probably yearn for it deep down.
He embraced the source of warmth and felt its tangible warmth.
Like cotton or fluff.
Curled up inside, my tense body and mind were able to relax.
"Don't go."
The tangible "warmth" struggled in his arms, and he tightened his arms, burying his head in it, his face regaining a healthy flush.
Trapped, Jiang Yinyue was still trying to wake the sleeping man, but he had already buried his head in her arms and was rubbing against her with his high nose.
"Can't......"
The touch of the nose left a lingering, tingling sensation.
In her panic, Jiang Yinyue bit her lower lip, afraid of letting out a strange groan.
She pushed him away shyly, "Wei Qin, you're awake, aren't you?"
But Wei Qin's panting was accompanied by suffocation, and even the most accomplished actor could not portray the body's instinctive cry for help.
Jiang Yinyue denied her guess.
"Don't go."
Wei Qin turned the woman in his arms over, pinning her beneath him, and continued to bask in the warm breeze, inhaling the fresh air.
The warm breeze carries the sounds of rolling hills, the refreshing scent of fruit, and the soft, sweet chirping of birds.
His breathing grew heavier as he greedily inhaled, trying to banish the distractions of his dream.
The black dragon in the cage regained some of its strength and hovered inside, howling at the middle-aged man outside the cage.
Wei Qin saw the man's face clearly.
What a hideous face!
His slightly recovered vitality was damaged again, but the blood energy stirred up by anger surged wildly. He used all his strength to hold back the warm breeze that was about to disappear.
The black dragon broke free of the birdcage and soared into the sky on the wind.
Jiang Yinyue, whose waist was about to break, let out a painful whimper. She tried to pull at Wei Qin's iron-like hands, like an ant trying to shake a tree.
"Wei Qin, wake up."
Unable to move, Jiang Yinyue twisted her knees and barely managed to turn her body to the side, but in the next instant, she was firmly locked into Wei Qin's chest.
Wei Qin bent his legs and pressed down on her.
The intense heat and danger settled on her lower back.
Jiang Yinyue couldn't help but recall the embarrassing experience of that night in the village hut, when she was trapped between Wei Qin's knees while he was unconscious in the fire.
This time it's even more awkward and urgent.
Jiang Yinyue dared not struggle any longer; each struggle only tightened the entanglement.
She was also about to suffocate.
Her slightly parted lips revealed her pearly white teeth trembling slightly.
-----------------------
Author's Note: [doge]
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