Rebirth
Aunt Qin's conjecture was far too audacious.
Shen Wenqiu herself didn't know if there would be any development between her and Jiang Heng, let alone consider the future.
He quickly grabbed Aunt Qin's hand to stop her from overthinking, shook his head, and said, "Mother! Please don't overthink things. His Highness and I are not even close to getting together yet!"
Jiang Heng went out to discuss matters with his subordinates, and Shen Wenqiu had no idea where he was or how far away he was from the room.
After learning of Jiang Heng's hidden secret, Shen Wenqiu guessed that Jiang Heng's martial arts skills were probably quite remarkable, and he might have excellent hearing, having heard Qin Yiniang's very first words clearly.
Therefore, Shen Wenqiu didn't dare to deny anything too definitively, for fear that Jiang Heng outside would hear and pitifully ask him if he was leaving.
But Aunt Qin seemed not to hear Shen Wenqiu's words, and continued with a bitter face: "It's not even a matter of time before it's even started, so it's possible that they'll end up together! If that's the case, then my worries are not without reason!"
At this point, Aunt Qin gripped Shen Wenqiu's hand even tighter, her face filled with even greater worry. She said, "You must think this through carefully! Even if you and the Ninth Prince don't end up like that, as a son of a fallen marquis, if you end up in a prince's quarters, you'll likely suffer if there's any disagreement in the future. And after suffering, the relationship will probably deteriorate even further. In the end, they'll completely ruin you and kick you to the curb!"
Shen Wenqiu was about to speak when she looked up and saw Jiang Heng entering from outside. Her face paled, and she quickly grabbed Aunt Qin, pleading, "Mother, please don't say anything more, His Highness the Ninth Prince..."
Aunt Qin, however, assumed that Shen Wenqiu was blinded by love and refused to listen to his lover's bad words. She interrupted him with a stern face and scolded him, "Wenqiu, you can't let yourself be so blind! Although the Ninth Prince is a good person and not as muddle-headed as your father, who can say what the future holds? You finally passed the exam and are now a good official. If you go to the prince's harem to be a kept woman, it will be difficult for you to return to an official career in the future!"
Shen Wenqiu was extremely embarrassed and tried to stop her several times, but Aunt Qin wouldn't let her speak.
She was convinced that Shen Wenqiu couldn't stand honest advice, which was why she kept trying to stop him.
Shen Wenqiu could only look at Jiang Heng standing behind Aunt Qin, and lowered her head in embarrassment.
He knew Jiang Heng wouldn't be upset, but it was incredibly embarrassing for him to hear them talking about each other behind their backs.
Looking at Shen Wenqiu's expression, Aunt Qin could tell he didn't care. She sighed heavily and said, "You must be careful! Although being with His Highness is a great honor for you, if you think about it carefully, you're actually at a disadvantage. Don't let momentary infatuation cloud your judgment. Think it through carefully! Don't let a few sweet words coax you into giving everything away!"
What do you mean... handing over everything?
What inappropriate language! Something about it sounds off immediately!
Shen Wenqiu squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could faint right now and not have to face what was happening in front of her.
He met Aunt Qin's gaze, not daring to nod or speak, but only tugged at her sleeve and kept giving her meaningful glances behind her.
Aunt Qin seemed oblivious, assuming that Shen Wenqiu disagreed with what she said, and was about to continue her reprimand when she heard Jiang Heng's voice from behind her.
"Mrs. Qin, there is no need to worry. As long as Qiuqiu agrees, I will put Qiuqiu first in everything from now on. Even if I suffer the greatest loss in the world, I will never let Qiuqiu suffer the slightest grievance."
Aunt Qin really didn't expect that Jiang Heng was standing right behind her.
I don't know how long I stood there or how much I listened to.
In the past, if Aunt Qin had seen these princes, she would have been too afraid to speak.
But things are different now. It concerns Shen Wenqiu's lifelong happiness, so no matter how afraid she is, she has to stand tall and protect her son.
Shen Wenqiu watched as Aunt Qin stood up, protecting him like a mother hen guarding her chicks, facing off against Jiang Heng, whose eyes were full of sincerity.
It didn't feel like a confrontation; it was more like Aunt Qin testing her son-in-law.
Shen Wenqiu shuddered at the thought in her mind and dared not look up at Jiang Heng.
“Your Highness, you are a good person, and you have been kind to my family. Wenqiu and I remember it all. But marriage is a very important matter, and we cannot be careless in the slightest,” said Aunt Qin.
“What Madam Qin says is true. Qiuqiu’s marriage is indeed a matter of utmost importance,” Jiang Heng said respectfully, lowering his eyes.
"Your Highness spoke so many kind words just now. And now you see how well Your Highness treats my Wenqiu. But life is long. My Wenqiu has had a hard life. He finally got into officialdom, but now he has to give up everything for Your Highness and go to your side. What will he do if Your Highness suddenly wants to marry and have children and doesn't want him anymore?" Aunt Qin said, her voice choked with emotion.
Shen Wenqiu wanted to say something, but he understood that Aunt Qin was doing it all for his own good.
In any case, he couldn't undermine Aunt Qin at this time.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng looked up at Aunt Qin.
He understood Aunt Qin's concerns, and he needed to reassure her.
“Madam Qin, you’ve misunderstood.” Jiang Heng paused slightly, met Madam Qin’s questioning gaze, and continued, “In this world, it’s not that when two people are together, one of them has to give up everything and be confined to the inner quarters.”
"Your Highness means..." Aunt Qin looked at Jiang Heng in confusion. She vaguely understood, but dared not believe it.
In Aunt Qin's mind, even if two men were together, one of them should stay at home.
How could they possibly continue to hold official positions? Unless these two don't intend to act openly and plan to do so secretly...
That won't do.
Aunt Qin did not object to Shen Wenqiu being a homosexual, but she did not accept him being a homosexual without a proper status.
If the feelings are gone by then, and the other person takes advantage of him and then dumps him, wouldn't that be even easier?
Upon thinking this, Aunt Qin immediately frowned and said to Jiang Heng, "If Your Highness wishes to be Wen Qiu's lover in secret, then I will not agree."
Shen Wenqiu understood that Aunt Qin didn't want him to suffer a loss, and he himself didn't actually have a definite idea about making it public.
But he also had to consider that this was still an ancient society, and what would happen if they made their relationship public?
Rumors are more dangerous than tigers. Would it be good if everyone pointed fingers at us and accused us of being gay?
and.
Why doesn't anyone ask for his opinion?
Weren't we clearly talking about his marriage?
He didn't even say whether he agreed or not, so how did he fast-forward to the future?
Shen Wenqiu glanced at Aunt Qin's retreating figure, then at Jiang Heng, and couldn't help but mutter a few complaints in her heart.
Jiang Heng hadn't expected Aunt Qin to think that way, so he quickly explained, "That's not it. Madam Qin, if I were to be with Qiuqiu, I would make sure the whole world knew. Don't worry, I promise I won't let Qiuqiu suffer any injustice."
Just as Aunt Qin was about to speak, Shen Wenqiu couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "None of you...didn't anyone ask for my opinion?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng and Aunt Qin both looked at Shen Wenqiu.
Aunt Qin looked surprised and asked, "Wen Qiu, don't you like him?"
Jiang Heng looked sad and asked Shen Wenqiu with a wronged expression, "Does Qiuqiu hate me?"
Jiang Heng's gaze was too intense, and Aunt Qin was watching from the side.
Even someone as thick-skinned as Shen Wenqiu couldn't withstand it.
His face flushed, and he avoided Jiang Heng's gaze, as if he were running away from her and pretending she wasn't there.
However, Jiang Heng was right in front of her, and she asked that question again.
Shen Wenqiu couldn't help but think about the answer to Jiang Heng's question.
Shen Wenqiu clearly knew that Jiang Heng's pitiful and obedient appearance before was an act, but now that Jiang Heng was putting on this pitiful look again, he still felt sorry for Jiang Heng.
Maybe I don't dislike it, or perhaps I can accept it.
He thought to himself, lowered his head, and did not answer.
Seeing that Shen Wenqiu did not answer and even lowered his head, Jiang Heng and Aunt Qin couldn't help but worry.
The two men moved closer to Shen Wenqiu, but Shen Wenqiu, noticing their movements, looked up and said to them, "You two go out first."
Jiang Heng knew that all these events today had a significant impact on Shen Wenqiu, and that Shen Wenqiu should be allowed some time to calm down.
Without hesitation, he agreed and turned to leave.
Aunt Qin looked worried. After listening to Shen Wenqiu's words, she hesitated for a moment by the bed before sighing and turning to leave.
After the two left and he heard the door close, Shen Wenqiu curled up on the bed, hugging his knees.
His hand unconsciously reached his ankle. He looked down at the marks left by the shackles on his ankle and sighed.
Having finally entered officialdom through the imperial examinations, he thought that everything would get back on track after leaving the Marquis of Huai'an's mansion.
Who would have thought that such a change would happen?
If Shen Wenqiu is not mistaken, given the current situation, it is not far from the court being unable to maintain even the superficial peace and falling into complete chaos.
As Shen Wenqiu was lost in thought, the door was opened.
He was slightly startled and looked up to see Jiang Heng walking towards him with ointment in her hand.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't embarrassed.
Whenever Shen Wenqiu sees Jiang Heng, she can't help but think of what Aunt Qin had said earlier.
Gossiping about someone behind their back led to them getting caught, and it turns out... it was so embarrassing.
But just as Shen Wenqiu looked up and met Jiang Heng's eyes, and the two locked eyes, he found himself unable to look away.
Why? He didn't know himself. But he knew that he didn't hate it when Jiang Heng looked at him, nor did he feel any disgust towards Jiang Heng's return.
Jiang Heng didn't say much from the moment he entered the room. He simply took the medicine and walked step by step to Shen Wenqiu's bedside. After glancing at his expression, he carefully sat down and said, "Qiuqiu, let me apply the medicine for you."
It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because now that it was being brought up, Shen Wenqiu felt a pain in the mark on her ankle.
This slight pain brought him back to his senses.
Shen Wenqiu suddenly felt a little awkward.
He lowered his head to avoid Jiang Heng's gaze, got off the bed properly, and bowed to Jiang Heng respectfully.
However, just as Shen Wenqiu bent his knees, Jiang Heng stopped him.
"Qiuqiu, what are you doing? There's no need for these formalities between us." Jiang Heng's tone was somewhat sad. Thinking of Shen Wenqiu's momentary aloofness just now, he put on a wronged look. "Qiuqiu, you didn't think about these etiquettes in the palace just now, why did you suddenly remember them now? Are you trying to distance yourself from me?"
"No." Shen Wenqiu kept her head down and shook her head in denial.
“These useless things will no longer be needed in the future, so that others won’t mistakenly think that Qiuqiu is inferior to me,” Jiang Heng said, his words revealing a touch of childishness.
Shen Wenqiu noticed this subtle difference, looked up at Jiang Heng, and met his aggrieved eyes, which softened her heart even more.
“If one of us has to yield, it should be me,” Jiang Heng continued, as if seizing every opportunity to make a promise to Shen Wenqiu.
Shen Wenqiu noticed it.
But he didn't intend to respond to Jiang Heng's words. He simply looked at Jiang Heng and asked, "Your Highness, why do you like me?"
Jiang Heng looked at Shen Wenqiu but did not answer immediately. Instead, he walked step by step to Shen Wenqiu, pressed on the other's shoulder, and wanted the other to sit down first.
Shen Wenqiu did not resist. The moment Jiang Heng touched his shoulder, he understood the other's intention and sat down as he wished.
Then, Jiang Heng squatted down and carefully and tentatively lifted Shen Wenqiu's foot, as if preparing to apply medicine to Shen Wenqiu, but he hesitated.
He looked up at Shen Wenqiu and asked, "Shall we apply the medicine first?"
Shen Wenqiu, unusually, disagreed. He shook his head and said, "Let's make things clear first."
Jiang Heng had no choice.
He couldn't force Shen Wenqiu, nor did he want to see Shen Wenqiu unhappy.
Jiang Heng lowered his eyes to hide his emotions, then looked up at Shen Wenqiu with a bitter smile, and said in a low voice, "Qiuqiu, you're all I have left."
Shen Wenqiu was taken aback and looked at Jiang Heng hesitantly.
He admitted that seeing Jiang Heng like this made his heart ache.
Aunt Qin's worries were not unfounded. What would happen to Jiang Heng if he fell in love with someone else in the future?
He knew he wasn't someone who could easily let go, especially since he had come into this world all alone.
For him, the only people he could call family were Aunt Qin and Jiang Heng.
If his relationship with Jiang Heng develops cracks in the future, will he be able to accept it calmly?
The answer is definitely no.
Shen Wenqiu doesn't consider himself a sentimental person, but he's also not someone who can easily let go.
Therefore, he hesitated, was afraid, and wavered.
But Shen Wenqiu couldn't just keep these worries to herself.
Communicate more when there are problems, so as to avoid that day from coming to a greater extent.
So, Shen Wenqiu looked at Jiang Heng, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and said to him, "Jiang Heng, you like me now only because you've met too few people, and I'm the only one by your side, so you've become dependent on me. If you see a wider world in the future and meet all kinds of people, you might find that your feelings for me may not actually be love."
Jiang Heng shook his head anxiously, wanting to grab Shen Wenqiu's hand, but also wanting to apply medicine to him first. He was so flustered that he couldn't do anything for a while, and could only say, "No, I've... seen too many people."
What's the meaning?
Have you seen too many people?
Shen Wenqiu recalled the people Jiang Heng had met since leaving Yaoyue Palace. If you don't count those people he only met once during the disaster relief in the south, there were very few people at all.
Surely Jiang Heng couldn't have had dealings with many other people without Shen Wenqiu's knowledge?
Shen Wenqiu suddenly became curious; he felt that Jiang Heng was still holding back something.
Jiang Heng was also hesitant.
The idea of being reborn is too absurd, but upon closer examination, Shen Wenqiu has many differences from his previous life.
Perhaps Shen Wenqiu can understand? Perhaps Shen Wenqiu won't find it strange?
Jiang Heng wanted to tell Shen Wenqiu that he had been reborn.
He has lived so many lives and met so many people, but he has only set his sights on Shen Wenqiu, and he will never change his mind in any lifetime.
But he was also afraid. He was afraid that Shen Wenqiu would think that the idea of rebirth was nonsense and that his words were irresponsible and perfunctory.
He was even more afraid that Shen Wenqiu would think he was a demon after hearing about the rebirth.
People say that those who are reborn are from another world.
They are all evil spirits and must be tied to pillars and burned to death.
Jiang Heng wasn't afraid of death; he was afraid that Shen Wenqiu would reject him and despise him.
He couldn't stand the look of disgust in Shen Wenqiu's eyes.
Therefore, a rare look of unease appeared in Jiang Heng's eyes.
This made Shen Wenqiu even more curious. He moved closer to Jiang Heng and asked hesitantly, "Jiang Heng, is there... something else you're hiding from me?"
Jiang Heng looked up and met Shen Wenqiu's eyes. His lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything.
This reaction alone is enough to confirm that Jiang Heng is indeed hiding something from Shen Wenqiu.
But Shen Wenqiu couldn't quite understand what could be making Jiang Heng hesitate like this.
This hesitant look was even more indecisive than when he stopped pretending today and let Shen Wenqiu know that Jiang Heng liked him.
Shen Wenqiu grasped Jiang Heng's hand, patted it reassuringly, and asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me, okay?"
Jiang Heng's pupils trembled slightly. He opened his mouth, then opened it again, before tentatively asking, "Qiuqiu, do you believe in being reborn?"
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