Chapter 40 His Highness's Preferences
Jiang Zhishui took off one of the hairpins from her hair and replaced it with the hairpin that Jing Qianheng had given her before. She turned around and smiled at Liu Chuxi: "Senior sister, your hatred for me is only temporary. You see, he used to hate me too, but once he lost his memory, he forgot everything. Maybe after this, he will forget me again."
Liu Chuxi shook her head helplessly and said, "Then you must be careful in everything. The Crown Prince's movements are also very strange. He sent people to capture a lot of spirits, but we don't know what they are for. Lin Ye has already gone to investigate."
Jiang Zhishui knew that Lin Ye was still very angry about her decision to marry Jing Qianheng. Even after she explained that it was just a fake marriage for mutual cooperation, he didn't really believe her.
But forced by circumstances, he couldn't go against Jiang Zhishui's wishes, so they had no choice but to do their own thing.
He followed Shen Minghuai to secretly investigate the situation of the Crown Prince and Zhou Linyuan.
Jiang Zhishui stood up and took Liu Chuxi's hand, saying, "I know what Senior Sister is worried about. I know what I'm doing. I won't hurt him, nor will I hurt myself. Given Jing Qianheng's current status, it's almost impossible for him to escape unscathed. Not only will the Demon Clan not let him go, but the Immortal Sect and the people of Jin Kingdom won't let him off easily either..."
Liu Chuxi's expression was solemn, and she lowered her eyes slightly.
"I will do my best to protect him, but I can't guarantee what will happen in the future. Senior sister, you and senior brother must be careful. Neither the Crown Prince nor Zhou Linyuan are easy to deal with."
Liu Chuxi knew that Jiang Zhishui was always carefree and unrestrained, and never thought that she could also have such a steady and determined side. She already had a plan in mind, and everything was clear. Even when it came to designing Jing Qianheng, she could be sure of her conscience and act without hesitation.
In the study of the Ling Prince's mansion, Jing Qianheng was playing with a bracelet when the person who came in finished speaking, and his hand, which was turning the bracelet, suddenly stopped.
He looked out the window and saw people running back and forth in the mansion. The place was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the atmosphere was festive. The once lifeless mansion had suddenly become much more vibrant because of this wedding.
Directly in front of the desk, Sheng Yuchen, dressed in men's clothing, walked straight up, slammed his hands on the table, and said angrily, "Your Highness, did you understand what I said? You cannot marry that woman."
“I understand.” Jing Qianheng looked up at her, his face expressionless, and said, “You said that she and the Crown Prince joined forces, pretending to be on good terms with me, just to stay by my side and do things for the Crown Prince.”
"Since you understand, why do you still want to get married!" Sheng Yuchen clenched his fists. "Do you know how many people are watching you? They all want to eat your flesh and drink your blood, they wish they could tear you to pieces. The immortal sects and the demon race are all eyeing you covetously. His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and even Zhou... You just casually keep enemy spies by your side, what are you thinking?!"
Jing Qianheng put on the bracelet. "So many people want my life, one more won't make a difference. She might not even harm me; maybe she'll help me and save me from this misery."
Sheng Yuchen couldn't persuade him, and could only watch helplessly as he went to prepare for the wedding.
The year she entered the palace, she was bewitched by ghosts and went to a secluded lake in the palace and jumped in. If Jing Qianheng hadn't saved her, she would have become a water ghost in the lake long ago.
The hand that pulled her out of the water was slender and thin, but it was covered with terrifying black lines. He was very small, yet he pulled her out with just one hand.
Countless arms gripped her from the bottom of the lake, pulling her deeper into the abyss with a strange, agonizing force. In that desolate, secluded courtyard of the palace, she was filled with utter terror.
Jing Qianheng easily pulled her back from the clutches of those ghosts and monsters. The boy stood by the lake, his ankles chained, a very long chain wrapped around his back. He wore filthy white clothes, his long hair hanging down to his waist, and looked at her indifferently.
He always had bloody wounds on his body, and no one bandaged them, nor did he care. Within this palace, he was like a ghost, his hands dripping blood, walking again and again, purifying the evil spirits from the palace grounds.
Sheng Yuchen was young at the time, and she met Jing Qianheng only after being secretly brought into the palace by the Sixth Prince, Jing Chengrui. Afterwards, news of her nearly falling into the lake and losing her life spread, Jing Chengrui was punished, and she was subsequently confined by her father, making it impossible for her to enter the palace again.
The sixth prince, Jing Chengrui, had been practicing martial arts with Sheng Yuchen since childhood. Sheng Yuchen always dressed as a man and trained with the young masters of noble families in the training ground. Jing Chengrui always thought she was a boy. He almost lost her that time. When he was searching the palace in a frenzy, he finally saw Sheng Yuchen, soaking wet, by the lake.
Her long hair, which had been tied up, came loose. She wrung out the water from her coat and met Jing Chengrui's eyes.
"Have you seen enough? If you have, Your Highness, please take me out of the palace. I'm lost."
Later, when General Sheng returned to the southern border, Sheng Yuchen followed him without even saying goodbye.
Jing Chengrui held a fan to his chin, glancing sideways at Sheng Yuchen, who was looking at Jing Qianheng. Over the years, every time Sheng Yuchen came to the capital, she could only stay for a few days. Every time, she would go to see Jing Qianheng and never remembered to visit him, her friend. He felt frustrated and didn't want to make a fool of himself by going to see her.
He thought they would drift apart, but unexpectedly, Sheng Yuchen appeared in time to help him when he was in danger.
However, he was being used by Sheng Yuchen to repay a debt of gratitude, so he had to obey her. Jing Qianheng was fighting with the Crown Prince, and Sheng Yuchen demanded that he take sides and help Jing Qianheng deal with the Crown Prince.
Jing Chengrui thought he had misheard. He laughed and said, "Hahaha, what are you talking about? I also have a chance to sit on the throne. Why would I hand it over to Jing Qianheng and ask me to help him deal with the Crown Prince? Are you out of your mind?"
Sheng Yuchen looked at him like he was an idiot, remained silent for a moment, then turned and left without saying anything.
Jing Chengrui neither agreed nor disagreed; from that day on, he simply followed Sheng Yuchen around like a puppy, going wherever he was told and doing whatever he was told.
According to him, he didn't want to owe anyone a favor; he had to repay the debt of gratitude before they were even.
Jing Qianheng changed into red clothes, took off the bracelet on his wrist, stared at it for a long time, and finally put it into a wooden box and locked it.
Su You ran over, covered in sweat, and patted his wrinkled clothes, looking disheveled. Today was His Highness's wedding, and he had changed into a new outfit, which was a rare occurrence. When he went to the front hall, he was bombarded with questions and pulled around by several nannies and maids, and his perfectly good clothes were all wrinkled.
Many people came to the wedding. Zhou Linyuan liked a lively atmosphere, so he sent several palace maids and matchmakers to oversee the wedding banquet and other celebrations. He even specially designed and prepared many nice things for the bridal chamber.
Su You was constantly bothered by several people, and she was busy like a spinning top all day. Her mind was still dizzy, and she didn't even know what she had done.
These people ask him about everything, big or small. He doesn't know anything about it, but he can't refuse. The nanny says, "In the entire Lingwang Mansion, only he knows His Highness's preferences well." This puts him in a difficult position, so he has no choice but to bite the bullet and greet them.
Su You followed Jing Qianheng to the Marquis of Chengyi's residence.
Jiang Zhishui was helped into the bridal sedan chair by her maids. Marquis Chengyi and his wife saw her off at the door. Firecrackers went off in the street, and petals from the flower baskets rose with the wind, fluttering around the sedan chair.
The weather is cool today, with a gentle breeze and a refreshing fragrance on your face.
Liu Chuxi, wearing a veiled hat, stood in the crowd, listening to the whispers of the young men in front of her:
"What's the Marquis of Chengyi up to by suddenly marrying his daughter to the Seventh Prince? Could it be...?"
"Is the rumor about the true form of that demonic dragon true? Does the Marquis believe that the Seventh Prince is the real dragon?"
"How could that be? The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, and he also possesses the dragon spirit that transforms into a demon dragon. How could His Majesty allow that foreign half-blood, the Seventh Prince, to inherit the throne?"
A private tutor stepped forward and said, "But which of the two of them has spiritual blood? Only those with spiritual blood can transform."
Several young masters turned to look at the private tutor, and Liu Chuxi also looked over. One of the young masters asked, "What spirit blood? Does the tutor know something about it?"
The private tutor, holding several books, felt awkward as the group stared at him. He chuckled awkwardly, "No, no, I was just reading a few storybooks for fun. And you know what? They contain a lot of strange and wonderful things..."
The young master who asked the question scoffed, and his companions instantly lost interest as well.
Over the years, countless fictitious stories about demonic dragons have been fabricated, and countless folk tales and illustrated books have been published, but what credibility do they have?
Jiang Zhishui was also married in her first life, but at that time she was on an assassination mission and her wedding ceremony was not sincere.
She was marrying the same man again, and he still harbored ill intentions. Her heart was heavy, and in the solemn atmosphere, she slowly followed Jing Qianheng into the main hall.
Zhou Linyuan, Jing Qianheng's uncle, shamelessly sat in the high seat and accepted the newlyweds' bows with a clear conscience.
After the ceremony, Zhou Linyuan went home early. Jing Chengrui, along with a few others, pestered Jing Qianheng. He had been wronged by Jing Qianheng last time and was still resentful, so he was determined to get Jing Qianheng drunk.
Jiang Zhishui was helped back to her room by her maid. She sat on the bed, and the maids left after tidying up her things. The door was closed, and in an instant, it became extremely quiet.
She had covered her head with the red veil three times, and her feelings were somewhat complicated at that moment.
Jiang Zhishui's mind was filled with countless thoughts. Belatedly, she realized that she had really married Jing Qianheng.
Upon realizing this, her next thought was: What do I do now?
Previously, all she thought about was completing the mission, but now that they've successfully gotten married, how should she face Jing Qianheng in the future?
Do I really want to be his wife?
Is it okay if I don't do it?
What is he thinking? Would he be willing?
Jiang Zhishui thought he probably didn't want to. The marriage was rushed, and Jing Qianheng only got married because she urged him and he reluctantly compromised.
The curse is hard to break; keeping her by my side is much easier to control than letting her roam outside.
Furthermore, he has acquired a new bracelet, which gives him the ability to control her at any time.
Jing Qianheng must have thought it through very thoroughly before he indulged her nonsense.
Jiang Zhishui understood and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Jing Qianheng entered. As Jiang Zhishui heard the approaching footsteps and smelled the familiar fragrance, her body tensed up abruptly. At that very moment, something she had been trying to forget flashed through her mind.
In the cave at night, intertwined bodies cast overlapping shadows that slowly extended along the cave walls, while a strange, cool, faint fragrance swirled and permeated the entire cave.
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