frank
What's the meaning?
What does it mean to just not want to pretend anymore?
Shen Wenqiu's pupils dilated as she stared intently at Jiang Heng before her, a sense of fear welling up within her.
Could it be that... all of Jiang Heng's previous behavior was an act?
All her obedience, pitifulness, and closeness to Shen Wenqiu.
Is it all just an act?
In an instant, Shen Wenqiu felt as if a hand was gripping his throat tightly, preventing him from making a sound.
And then there was that one moment.
Shen Wenqiu thought, since it's all an act, why not continue pretending?
At least... at least don't say it today.
So many changes have occurred today.
She was inexplicably summoned by Jiang Yunyan to revise a letter, inexplicably taken into Jiang Yunyan's palace, and inexplicably locked in bed by Jiang Yunyan.
He was also inexplicably accused of seducing the crown prince and was almost dragged out and beaten to death.
There are just too many inexplicable things.
There were far too many unexpected things.
Why did we have to add Jiang Heng?
Shen Wenqiu choked up a little, her voice hoarse without her even realizing it, tinged with hesitation and a faint sob.
He asked all the questions he had just had.
"What do you mean by 'just not wanting to pretend anymore'?" Shen Wenqiu paused slightly, her voice trembling slightly. "Was everything before a lie?"
As Shen Wenqiu spoke, he tried to pull his hand back, but Jiang Heng grabbed it tightly and held it firmly in his palm, refusing to let him escape.
"No." Jiang Heng was unusually flustered. He quickly explained, "Only that timid appearance was an act. There are many other things I haven't told you. I will tell you everything when we get back."
Many things around.
At this point, Shen Wenqiu had some guesses in his mind.
A prince, having concealed his talents for so long, and hiding so many other things, what could those things be?
It's obvious that this is a struggle for the throne.
Knowing the original work, Shen Wenqiu had even more guesses.
For Jiang Heng, there might also be revenge and the chance to clear the name of the Mu family.
The Emperor could not possibly admit that he was wrong, especially since it was the Emperor who subjectively wanted to take action against the Mu family. How could he admit that the case was a miscarriage of justice?
What would Jiang Heng do? Would he hold a knife to the emperor's neck?
Shen Wenqiu couldn't help but feel curious.
Seeing that Shen Wenqiu remained silent, Jiang Heng felt even more flustered and desperately wanted to make his Qiuqiu believe him.
So he said urgently, "Qiuqiu, believe me, I have never had any ulterior motives towards you."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wenqiu looked up and met Jiang Heng's eyes.
Looking into those sincere eyes, he couldn't help but raise the hand that wasn't being held and gently stroke Jiang Heng's eyebrows and eyes.
He asked, "Is your current appearance real or fake?"
Jiang Heng could feel his tightly clenched hand trembling. He also understood the impact of everything that had happened today on Shen Wenqiu, so he didn't hesitate at all and said, "It's true."
Shen Wenqiu subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
He himself did not realize it, and at first he did not understand why.
After thinking about it carefully, he suddenly realized.
Actually, he didn't mean to blame Jiang Heng.
He just wanted to hear Jiang Heng's answer.
However, there was one point that Shen Wenqiu still didn't quite understand.
Since Jiang Heng is so shrewd, he must have planned many things without anyone knowing when.
Why was Shen Wenqiu chosen as a study companion?
"Then why did you choose me as your study companion? Is it because I look harmless and can cover for you?" Shen Wenqiu asked directly, harboring doubts.
“No, Qiuqiu, you were outside the plan.” Jiang Heng shook his head, his gaze fixed on Shen Wenqiu. “I’ve remembered you since the first time I met you.”
It means to remember, not to covet, nor to regard him as prey.
This discovery brought Shen Wenqiu a great sense of relief.
One cannot be mindful of one's words at all times, yet there is a great deal that can be gleaned from one's words.
What you subconsciously believe, and what you are not even aware of, can all be glimpsed from it.
However, Jiang Heng did not show any disdain for Shen Wenqiu; in fact, one could hear a great deal of caution in his tone.
But Shen Wenqiu didn't understand.
His first encounter with Jiang Heng was so ordinary.
That was in the palace, when he heard that he was going to enter the palace to be the ninth prince's study companion.
So he went to Jiang Heng and went to Zhaoming Hall with him to study.
It's nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary.
Shen Wenqiu racked his brains trying to find any evidence that Jiang Heng had taken a liking to him, but he couldn't find any.
Perhaps only Jiang Heng himself knew the answer. Shen Wenqiu focused his attention on Jiang Heng's eyes again. He stared into Jiang Heng's eyes and asked, "Why? Are you lying to me again? Our first encounter was nothing special. How could it have made you notice me?"
At this moment, Shen Wenqiu had no idea that his first encounter with Jiang Heng was not the same thing at all.
Jiang Heng had no intention of hiding anything. He first denied Shen Wenqiu's idea, saying, "That's not how it is. I'm not lying to you. Our first encounter was not ordinary either."
Shen Wenqiu was in a hurry. He vaguely sensed that he was about to touch something unknown, so he didn't wait for Jiang Heng to continue and just asked, "Then tell me, what is different about our first meeting?"
Just as Jiang Heng was about to explain, the carriage arrived at Shen Wenqiu's door.
If it were just a matter of arriving at the doorstep, it wouldn't hurt to exchange a few more words inside the carriage. However, it was Aunt Qin's concerned voice that came from outside the carriage.
"Your Highness, have you brought my Wenqiu back?"
Upon hearing Aunt Qin's concerned and anxious voice, Shen Wenqiu lost all interest in asking further questions and hurriedly got out of the carriage to see Aunt Qin.
Unbeknownst to her, Shen Wenqiu had come to regard Aunt Qin as her own family.
I worry that Aunt Qin will be worried, I'm afraid that Aunt Qin will be afraid, and I hope that Aunt Qin can live well and escape from that hellhole of the Marquis of Huai'an's mansion.
Shen Wenqiu stopped looking at Jiang Heng and only looked at the world outside the carriage curtain. He tried to move out, but Jiang Heng stopped him.
He looked puzzled, and before he could ask a question, Jiang Heng simply picked him up and carried him off the carriage without allowing him to refuse.
Shen Wenqiu struggled instinctively, but to no avail.
Jiang Heng glanced down at Shen Wenqiu and said to him, "Qiuqiu, be good."
Shen Wenqiu was stunned, and was carried off the carriage by Jiang Heng.
He dared not look into Aunt Qin's eyes, afraid that she would notice the strange thing between him and Jiang Heng.
He suddenly started having wild thoughts. He wondered if Aunt Qin would think that what they were doing was wrong, or if she would look down on them for being gay.
Shen Wenqiu's body tensed involuntarily, and she buried her face in Jiang Heng's arms.
This action made Jiang Heng pause, but he acted as if nothing had happened and continued walking into the courtyard.
However, from an outsider's perspective...
Shen Wenqiu's action, which seemed to be seeking protection, had already given those around him a signal.
Shen Wenqiu and Jiang Heng are in the same boat; they are accomplices.
Aunt Qin watched in shock as Jiang Heng carried Shen Wenqiu out of the carriage.
She didn't call out to Shen Wenqiu or Jiang Heng again; she just stared blankly at them.
In an instant, she felt that Jiang Heng had become somewhat different.
Aunt Qin, who was used to being proper all her life, didn't dare to step forward at this moment.
She watched as Jiang Heng carried Shen Wenqiu into the mansion before turning around and entering the mansion as if she had come back to her senses.
Jiang Heng carried Shen Wenqiu all the way into Shen Wenqiu's room before putting him on the bed.
Shen Wenqiu glanced subconsciously at the gaps in the escape routes on both sides and considered whether Jiang Heng's skills were sufficient to stop him.
Suddenly he realized that he didn't seem to know how skilled Jiang Heng really was.
Okay.
This has come full circle back to the problem that was initially concealed.
Shen Wenqiu thought to himself.
Just as Shen Wenqiu was lost in thought, Jiang Heng suddenly leaned close to him.
The distance between the two became ambiguous.
Shen Wenqiu's breathing became rapid, his pupils trembled slightly as he stared at Jiang Heng in front of him.
He had a gut feeling that Jiang Heng wasn't the kind of person who would do those things like Jiang Yunyan; he must have something to say.
“That night, I saw you, so I arranged for you to become my study companion.” Jiang Heng’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Wenqiu.
That night?
Shen Wenqiu was taken aback, pondering the meaning behind Jiang Heng's words.
It happened before he was chosen to study with a companion, at night, and after he had left the Marquis of Huai'an's residence.
Before Shen Wenqiu came into this world, the original owner of this body had only left home during scientific expeditions.
And it wasn't nighttime.
There is a curfew in the capital city at night.
Given that it happened the night before the selection of study companions, it must have been the night Shen Wenqiu arrived and the night they fled the Marquis of Huai'an's residence.
But that night, Shen Wenqiu did not meet Jiang Heng.
Shen Wenqiu frowned in thought.
Could it be...?
Shen Wenqiu's eyes widened suddenly, staring at Jiang Heng in shock.
Upon closer inspection, when Jiang Heng got so close to him...
That appearance.
Gradually, his image overlapped with that of the person who saved his life that night.
In an instant, Shen Wenqiu felt as if he had returned to that night.
He fell off the wall and landed in the arms of his savior. What he saw when he looked up…
It was as if Jiang Heng was wearing a veil.
Shen Wenqiu was utterly shocked, a shock mixed with gratitude. He stammered, "You...you...?"
Jiang Heng neither admitted nor denied it.
He moved even closer to Shen Wenqiu, wrapped his arms around Shen Wenqiu's waist, buried his head in Shen Wenqiu's neck, and inhaled the other's scent.
At this moment, it felt as if I had obtained everything.
Shen Wenqiu was somewhat frightened, and began to tremble involuntarily when Jiang Heng got so close.
He didn't dare look at Jiang Heng's expression. He just lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Do you want to be like the Crown Prince?"
Jiang Heng froze, quickly shaking his head, but did not let go. He softened his voice and said, "No, I'm not like him. I won't lock you up."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wenqiu breathed a sigh of relief for a moment.
He himself didn't realize that he was actually just afraid that Jiang Heng would be like Jiang Yunyan, not that he rejected Jiang Heng.
However, neither Jiang Heng nor Shen Wenqiu noticed this.
Seeing that Shen Wenqiu had relaxed, Jiang Heng continued what he was about to say.
“But if you want to leave me,” Jiang Heng paused slightly, meeting Shen Wenqiu’s surprised gaze, and continued, “then it’s hard to say.”
It would be a lie to say that Shen Wenqiu wasn't shocked.
But surprisingly, they weren't very averse to it.
Shen Wenqiu couldn't help but think about what Jiang Yunyan's feelings were when he did these things today.
It is repulsive, extremely repulsive.
So, Shen Wenqiu began to think about why.
Perhaps it's because Jiang Yunyan's coercion is certain.
It completely disregards his feelings and wishes.
But Jiang Heng is different.
Shen Wenqiu never intended to leave Jiang Heng, so the assumption that leaving would be forced is simply not true.
But I was still very shocked.
Shen Wenqiu didn't expect Jiang Heng to say it so directly.
Perhaps it was the unease in his heart that made Jiang Heng feel uneasy when he saw Shen Wenqiu's shocked expression.
He immediately put on a wronged look and asked, "Qiuqiu, are you really going to leave me?"
When Shen Wenqiu came to her senses and saw Jiang Heng's appearance, she felt a pang of heartache.
He shook his head and said, "No, I didn't want to leave you."
Shen Wenqiu was about to continue speaking when Jiang Heng interrupted him.
Jiang Heng revealed a sly smile and said to Shen Wenqiu, "Since Qiuqiu has said that she will never leave me, then you can't go back on your word in this lifetime."
Shen Wenqiu frowned slightly, feeling as if she had been tricked by Jiang Heng.
Something was wrong, but he couldn't quite figure it out for the time being.
Shen Wenqiu didn't want to delve into the details.
By the end of the day, he was utterly exhausted, his head throbbing, and he didn't want to think about anything anymore.
So he pushed Jiang Heng away to end the topic and asked about something else, saying, "Your Highness, why don't you tell us what exactly happened? Those things...were they also Your Highness's doing?"
Shen Wenqiu did not initially suspect Jiang Heng.
Even when asking that question, she didn't really connect everything that had happened during this period with Jiang Heng.
Having said all that, Jiang Heng naturally wouldn't hide anything from Shen Wenqiu anymore.
His gaze was frank as he looked only at Shen Wenqiu and said, "Yes, it was all my doing. From the moment you became my study companion, everything has been related to me."
Shen Wenqiu was shocked. He had only asked casually, but who knew it was actually Jiang Heng's doing.
But.
Why?
These things are all things that are not in the original work.
Something's really not right. Even without considering the timeline in the original novel, Jiang Heng is just a prince who has only recently been released from Yaoyue Palace.
Even if he is truly exceptionally intelligent, where will he find the manpower? At this point, where will Jiang Heng find so many capable and skilled people to use?
Moreover, many of these things are aimed at dealing with Jiang Yunyan, the main character.
To be able to fight against Jiang Yunyan, who has the protagonist's aura, Jiang Heng's subordinates must have extraordinary strength.
Could it be that... Jiang Heng had already contacted the former Mu Yan and Mu family members when he was still in Yaoyue Palace?
Shen Wenqiu raised his eyes and stared intently at Jiang Heng in front of him, trying to discern some clues from him.
But he couldn't figure it out in the end, so he had to open his mouth and ask a few more questions to find out why.
Just then, a male voice came from outside the door.
"Your Highness, I have something important to report."
Hearing that they were Jiang Heng's subordinates, Shen Wenqiu knew that anything that could disturb his master must be very important, so he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and did not ask any further questions.
Jiang Heng gently patted Shen Wenqiu's hand, his tone reassuring, and said, "Qiuqiu, rest for a moment, I'll be right back."
Shen Wenqiu nodded and watched Jiang Heng leave.
Although she didn't ask it aloud, the doubt she had just felt still left a seed in Shen Wenqiu's heart.
Not long after Jiang Heng left, Aunt Qin hurriedly came in.
His steps were hurried, his gaze was darting around, his expression was panicked, and he kept glancing towards the door.
Seeing this, Shen Wenqiu asked curiously, "Mother, what's wrong with you?"
Upon hearing Shen Wenqiu's voice, Aunt Qin hurriedly ran to the bedside and sat down, grabbing Shen Wenqiu's hands and asking anxiously, "Wenqiu, I saw His Highness carrying you back outside the mansion just now."
Shen Wenqiu wasn't blind, so he naturally knew that Aunt Qin had seen it.
But at first he didn't think Aunt Qin would take it to heart.
Now it seems that Aunt Qin not only took it to heart, but even felt that the relationship between Shen Wenqiu and Jiang Heng was quite unusual.
But Shen Wenqiu didn't know how far Aunt Qin's guesses had gone, so she asked, "Mother, what's wrong?"
When Aunt Qin saw that Shen Wenqiu was still asking this question, she wiped away her tears, her voice choked with sobs, and said with great concern, "I'm just worried about you! That Ninth Prince is a good person, he has helped us a lot. But... but he is a prince!"
ah?
How did it suddenly become... fast forward to the point where Jiang Heng is a good person?
Shen Wenqiu stared blankly at Aunt Qin, not yet having figured out how to respond, when she saw her continue speaking.
"You've had a hard life since you were little, and I've seen it all. It's not a big deal that you like men, and I can accept that. But the royal family is full of heartless people, and you won't have a choice in what you do when you marry or take concubines. You're a man, and you can't have a child to rely on. What will you do if he gets tired of you in the future and leaves you to waste your time in the palace, or even banishes you from the palace?" Aunt Qin said in a lot of worry.
Shen Wenqiu was even more shocked after hearing these words.
He was shocked by Aunt Qin's ability to fill in the blanks.
Seeing Shen Wenqiu being carried back by Jiang Heng, she even imagined that he would be abandoned by Jiang Heng, a prince, in the future.
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