Chu Zhaohuai did not know whether he had simply grown accustomed to living through difficult days and therefore could not adapt to such delicacies, or whether he was simply unaccustomed to the heavier, richer flavors of the capital after growing up with the lighter cuisine of Jiangnan. In any case, he had very little appetite.
The only thing he could really eat was the tea cake in front of him.
Chu Zhaohuai ate absentmindedly, taking advantage of the veil covering his eyes to openly stare at Chu Jing.
For an ordinary family, a married daughter’s return to her natal home was considered a matter belonging to the inner household but Chu Zhaohuai was different. The return banquet had only Chu Jing present, while Madam Zheng had deliberately avoided the front hall to steer clear of any possible impropriety.
Chu Zhaohuai had always believed that his father was an intelligent man. Regardless of whether the imperial edict had explicitly named anyone, after the scene Chu Zhaojiang had caused in public, it was obvious that this Prince Consort had to be him.
And yet Chu Jing had gone to such lengths to arrange this whole substitute marriage affair. Not only had he risked being charged with disobeying the imperial decree, he had also offended Prince Jing in the process. There was absolutely no benefit to him whatsoever.
Even if Chu Zhaojiang had married into the Prince’s Residence, given Ji Xun’s temperament, it was not as though Chu Zhaojiang would necessarily have lost his life.
What exactly was Chu Jing after?
Hah.
It had only been a short while and his father had already glared at him two or three times.
Glare, glare…
Still glaring!
Chu Zhaohuai ate several more pieces of tea cake and decided that once he was full, he would confront his father directly.
The tea cakes served at the Marquis’s Residence must have been made from fine tea leaves. Their fragrance filled the air, rich with the aroma of tea and even after eating several pieces, they were not at all cloying.
Chu Zhaohuai had originally intended to finish the two small pieces in front of him and then put down his chopsticks.
But after nibbling away for quite some time, why did it seem as though the tea cakes in his dish never decreased?
He was still wondering about it when he suddenly noticed that Chu Jing across from him had finally stopped glaring.
Instead, a look of astonishment had appeared on his face.
Chu Zhaohuai was puzzled. Following his father’s line of sight downward, he saw a pair of jade chopsticks lightly tap against the rim of his bowl.
Ji Xun had placed another piece of tea cake into his bowl.
“Do you like this?” Ji Xun asked with a smile.
Chu Zhaohuai nodded.
He had never eaten tea cakes this delicious before. It seemed the capital really did have good food after all. Unfortunately, the Marquis’s Residence was stingy and only a few tea cakes had been prepared for each table.
Ji Xun withdrew his chopsticks and said gently, “Marquis Chu, the Prince Consort likes tea cakes. Please trouble yourself to have a few more plates brought out.”
Chu Zhaohuai blinked.
He could actually ask for more of the things he liked during a banquet?
For some reason, Chu Jing’s expression became terribly ugly but then again, he had not given Ji Xun a pleasant expression even once since his arrival, so Chu Zhaohuai paid it no attention.
The food served in the residences of princes and marquises in the capital was naturally far more abundant and refined than that of ordinary households. Those two small tea cakes might have looked plain and unremarkable but the tea leaves used to make them had been picked from the high peaks of Baiyun Mountain and were extraordinarily expensive.
If Chu Zhaohuai had known how expensive the things he was eating were, he might have bitten down hard enough to chip his own teeth.
Chu Jing, however, was not distressed over the money.
What truly frightened him was the unusual way Ji Xun was treating Chu Zhaohuai.
Before arranging the substitute marriage, Chu Jing had imagined countless possible outcomes yet he had never considered what might happen if Ji Xun truly were a lecherous man obsessed with beauty. Would he endure the humiliation and accept this marriage simply because of Chu Zhaohuai’s face?
Chu Zhaohuai had left home when he was young and had never been particularly close to the Chu family. If he truly used Ji Xun’s influence to soar into the heavens…
Chu Jing gripped his chopsticks tightly, suppressing the turbulent waves raging inside his heart.
Chu Zhaohuai had no idea what his father was thinking. He was still obediently waiting for the tea cakes.
Before long, the Marquis’s Residence’s kitchen respectfully brought out freshly prepared tea cakes. Six plates were arranged neatly in front of Chu Zhaohuai, their rich fragrance filling the air.
Chu Zhaohuai did not have much money. Even when he had lived in Jiangnan, the tea he drank had merely been the cheap Ku Deng Shu variety of imitation tea leaves. This time, thanks to Ji Xun, he was able to chew on tea leaves worth a hundred pieces of gold as though they were ordinary cakes, thoroughly indulging himself.
Seeing Chu Zhaohuai continuing to eat and eat without a care in the world, Chu Jing could not restrain himself. Taking advantage of the moment when Ji Xun was not paying attention, he gave Chu Zhaohuai a meaningful look.
Chu Zhaohuai swallowed the tea cake and asked, “Father, is there something you want to say to me?”
Chu Jing: “…”
Ji Xun looked over with a smile that was not quite a smile.
Chu Jing forced a smile. “No…”
Before he could finish his attempt to smooth things over, Chu Zhaohuai said, “Oh, I see. So this is something you need to discuss with me privately, away from the Prince. Your Highness, my father and I will step outside for a while.”
Ji Xun’s eyes narrowed slightly and his smile deepened. “The Prince Consort should go and return quickly. Tea cakes will not taste good once they become cold.”
Chu Zhaohuai nodded, gathered the golden sable fur cloak around himself and immediately rose to leave.
Chu Jing: “…”
Chu Jing had been casually forced into an awkward position by Chu Zhaohuai’s two sentences. Now that he had been put in a situation where he could neither advance nor retreat, he could only go along with it and stand up to leave.
No matter how beautifully the formal pleasantries were phrased, everyone present understood what was really happening. It was better not to bother with them.
…..
Outside the front hall, the sunlight was strong and bright.
Beside a plum tree near the hanging flower gate, Chu Zhaohuai exited the hall first and stood there alone, waiting for Chu Jing to come out.
Every piece of clothing the Prince Consort wore had been prepared by Prince Jing’s Residence. Fearing that he might become cold in the harsh winter, they had dressed him in layer upon layer, three layers inside and three layers outside. Even beneath the golden sable cloak, his excessively slender figure could still be seen clearly.
The moment they reached a place where no one else was around, Chu Jing’s expression changed abruptly. Lowering his voice, he snarled harshly, “Chu Zhaohuai, are you trying to drag the entire Marquis’s Residence down with you?!”
Chu Zhaohuai had deliberately played dumb in order to lure Chu Jing out. Before he had even had the chance to question him about the dowry, he had been subjected to a furious scolding right to his face.
He was so thoroughly bewildered by the reprimand that he remained dazed for quite some time before giving a stiff, dry response. “Father is right to reprimand me. Zhaohuai knows his mistake.”
Chu Jing’s anger faltered.
He had not expected Chu Zhaohuai to admit his mistake so readily and decisively.
Chu Zhaohuai murmured, “It was only because of Father that I managed to marry Prince Jing and obtain a marriage that everyone envies. Such a wonderful thing as a sparrow turning into a phoenix yet I was still unsatisfied. I even disobeyed Father in such an outrageous manner, concealed my identity and shamelessly seduced the Prince. I truly deserved to be scolded. You scolded me well, Father. Scold me a few more times and wake me up.”
Chu Jing: “……”
Chu Zhaohuai was not particularly skilled at arguing. If this had happened before, he would probably have been scolded into complete silence, or, unable to stand it any longer, would have snapped back but after being subjected to several rounds of Ji Xun’s refined and elegant verbal barbs over the past few days, he had, without realizing it, picked up a little of that sarcastic, cutting manner.
Sure enough, the moment he said those words with such apparent sincerity, Chu Jing was left completely stunned.
These words… why did they sound more and more like Ji Xun?
Chu Zhaohuai pressed on, “Father, Father, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Chu Jing drew in a deep breath and got straight to the point. “After you return from the Marquis’s Residence today, when you go back to Prince Jing’s residence, you will tell Ji Xun your true identity.”
The smile slowly disappeared from Chu Zhaohuai’s face.
Through the black veil, he stared at Chu Jing for a long while before calmly asking, “Mm and then?”
“What do you mean, ‘and then’?” Chu Jing frowned. “I can see that Ji Xun treats you rather well. He certainly won’t take his anger out on you over such a trivial matter.”
Chu Zhaohuai nodded. “All right, then I’ll tell him later that I coveted the Prince’s handsome face and his crippled leg and when I saw that the imperial edict had bestowed the marriage upon my younger brother, I simply had to throw a tantrum, crying, making a scene, threatening to hang myself, defying the imperial edict and sobbing and shouting that I wanted to be carried into the bridal sedan myself.”
Chu Jing: “……”
Chu Jing said with disgust, “Don’t imitate Ji Xun. Speak like a normal human being.”
“You were the one who stopped speaking like a normal human being first,” Chu Zhaohuai replied. “For the sake of protecting Chu Zhaojiang, when have you ever thought about whether I would live or die? Being married to a man as a man and becoming a laughingstock was one thing but afterward, you pushed the entire matter of disobeying the imperial edict onto me as well… Ask yourself honestly, Father. Did you leave me any way to survive?”
Having his thoughts exposed so blatantly, a trace of embarrassment flashed across Chu Jing’s face. He could only use his authority as a father to force the matter back onto him. “An unfilial son! Is this how you speak to your father?!”
Chu Zhaohuai’s voice was even louder than his. “Then did you ever treat me like your son?!”
……After shouting with all his strength, his throat became unbearably itchy and painful and he nearly lost control and coughed. He forcibly held it back, refusing to let it weaken his momentum.
Wary of Ji Xun, Chu Jing lowered his voice and said grimly, “The imperial edict did not specify a name. Even if Ji Xun and those within the palace learn of your identity, they will not punish you. Ji Xun does not have long to live. Once he dies, your father will find a way to bring you back home. When I am gone, the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s Residence will be yours.”
Chu Zhaohuai was so angry that he almost laughed.
“Do you really take me for a fool, Father? I left home when I was seven and spent ten years in Lin’an being raised by the Bai family to recover from my illness. I only returned to the capital at the beginning of this month and every servant in the residence calls Chu Zhaojiang ‘Young Marquis.’ After you die, how could the title possibly fall to me?”
Seeing that Chu Zhaohuai was completely unmoved by either persuasion or coercion, a rare trace of impatience appeared on Chu Jing’s face.
Chu Zhaohuai was tired of continuing this empty pretense with him and finally tore away the last layer of civility.
“I don’t care about any title. I only want to leave the capital and return to Jiangnan. Father, you should hurry and bring Chu Zhaojiang back, then take advantage of my return visit to make the truth clear to Prince Jing and switch the ‘Princess Consort’ back. Otherwise, if you push me too far, I can assure you that there is nothing I won’t do.”
Chu Jing hissed in a low voice, “If the Marquis’s Residence is convicted of a crime, the Bai family will not escape involvement!”
“I already said it before.” Chu Zhaohuai was in an exceptionally serene state of mind, as though he had seen through all the absurdities of the mortal world. “There will simply be more people on the road to the Yellow Springs. We can all reincarnate as beasts together. In our next lives, we can spend our days doing nothing but eat and wait to die. Think how many worries that would save us.”
Chu Jing’s chest heaved with anger. “You!”
Chu Zhaohuai only wanted to take his dowry and retreat from this place completely unscathed.
Apart from tea cakes, he disliked everything else about the capital: the treacherous hearts, the hidden schemes, the endless maneuvering and struggles for advantage. He had no interest in any of it and even less desire to become involved.
If the matter of switching identities went smoothly today, he might find an opportunity to examine Ji Xun’s pulse and see exactly what kind of serious illness the man who had been described as a “mad dog” actually suffered from. That could also count as repaying the kindness Ji Xun had shown him over the past few days.
Chu Zhaohuai was already happily imagining his future far away from the capital.
Suddenly, Chu Jing said coldly, “Do you still want your mother’s belongings?”
Chu Zhaohuai abruptly raised his head. Beneath the black veil, several threads of blood seemed to spread through his eyes in an instant.
“You… what do you mean?”
Hearing the immediate change in his tone, Chu Jing knew that he could use this matter to control this son who had long since slipped beyond his control. The anger on his face faded, replaced once again by his usual composed and unhurried expression.
“Besides the Bai family’s dowry, your mother also left quite a few things for you before she passed away. She also left a letter and instructed me to give it to you when you married.”
The trace of “Ji Xun style sarcasm” that Chu Zhaohuai had learned vanished completely. His mind went blank and following nothing but instinct, he took two uncontrolled steps forward.
“Give them to me now!”
Chu Jing said indifferently, “Listen to your father. Go back and continue being your Prince Jing’s Princess Consort. I will naturally have your mother’s belongings sent to the Prince’s residence.”
Chu Zhaohuai stared blankly at Chu Jing, as though he were looking at a complete stranger.
All these years, his maternal grandfather had always told Chu Zhaohuai that he shared the bloodline of the Marquis’s Residence, that Chu Jing had only sent him to Jiangnan to recuperate because of the National Preceptor’s prophecy and that although Chu Jing was far away in the capital, he still cared about him…
He had heard it so many times that Chu Zhaohuai had almost genuinely believed that Chu Jing still held at least a little affection and concern for him.
But now, looking into Chu Jing’s eyes, he could not see even the slightest trace of reluctance at using his own biological son as leverage. There was only calculation and weighing of gains and losses.
In that instant, the small, unnoticed expectation and longing for a father’s affection that had remained buried somewhere in his heart finally vanished completely.
“That’s true. There’s nothing wrong with being the exalted and supremely noble Princess Consort of Prince Jing.” Chu Zhaohuai drew in a light breath and let out a short laugh. It sounded as though he had been angered to the absolute limit yet at the same time, as though he had finally and completely given up hope.
He admitted defeat.
And he willingly accepted the schemes of his own biological father.
Wasn’t Chu Jing going to such lengths because he wanted Chu Zhaojiang to escape the humiliation of being bestowed a marriage that required him to “marry a man,” so that he could rightfully and honorably remain his radiant, dignified Young Marquis?
Chu Zhaohuai nodded.
He understood now.
You want a good reputation, don’t you?
Then he would give Chu Zhaojiang a “good” reputation.
It seemed he would have to keep wearing this veil over his eyes for a while longer.
Chu Zhaohuai no longer wanted to exchange another word with Chu Jing. Gathering his golden sable cloak around himself, he turned and was just about to leave when he heard a familiar voice.
“Has the Princess Consort not finished talking yet?”
Chu Zhaohuai followed the sound and looked over.
Ji Xun had appeared like a ghost and no one knew when he had arrived. He was sitting on the edge of the covered walkway inside the hanging flower gate, a branch of plum blossoms in his hand. Seated in his wheelchair, he smiled at Chu Zhaohuai.
,That heavy looking wheelchair had rolled over without making the slightest sound. Could it be that he had carried the wheelchair over himself?
Chu Zhaohuai could not tell whether Ji Xun had heard what had just been said. Testing the waters, he stepped forward while pretending nothing had happened and said casually, “I’m sorry to have kept Your Highness waiting. We’ve just finished talking.”
Ji Xun raised his head and looked Chu Zhaohuai over. He seemed to notice something and handed over the tea cakes from the little wooden box resting on his lap. “I saw that you liked them, so I brought some more.”
Chu Zhaohuai breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed he really had not heard.
“Are you leaving?”
“Mm. There are still matters to attend to at the residence.”
Ji Xun looked at him and his eyes suddenly narrowed.
Chu Zhaohuai held the tea cake in his hand and took a bite. The black veil concealed his face, which was covered in a red rash, leaving only his pale chin and neck faintly visible.
The warm sunlight filtered down through the gaps between the plum branches. On that small patch of exposed chin, a bead of moisture seemed to have gathered. It trembled precariously twice before suddenly falling.
Ji Xun’s hand, which was wrapped around the head of his dove headed cane, moved slightly.
Chu Zhaohuai hurriedly wiped it away. Still chewing the tea cake, he kept his voice as steady as usual. “That’s right but I still have some things I haven’t brought with me. Could I borrow two people from Your Highness to help me move a small cabinet?”
He still had a little low cabinet left behind at the Marquis’s Residence. Since he could no longer return to Jiangnan, he might as well take that with him too.
Ji Xun said, “Of course.”
Yin Zhongshan selected two guards and followed Chu Zhaohuai to move the cabinet.
After they left, Ji Xun lazily pinched the delicate tea cake between his fingers, seemingly studying the thing to determine just how delicious it could possibly be to make Chu Zhaohuai cry while eating it.
Having been persuaded by Chu Zhaohuai, Chu Jing was no longer as frightened and agitated, jumping at every little thing as he had been during the banquet. He walked over and said calmly, “Will Your Highness not stay a little longer?”
“No.” Ji Xun was still examining the tea cake that Chu Zhaohuai had bitten into, speaking absentmindedly. “It has already been the length of a meal yet neither the water jade nor the dowry inventory requested by the Princess Consort has been sent over. It seems the Marquis’s Residence must be terribly busy. This afternoon, perhaps you’ll either be receiving the Imperial Carriage or welcoming the Jade Emperor himself. My Princess Consort and I shall not impose any further.”
Chu Jing: “……”
Chu Jing forcibly suppressed his anger. “Your Highness is joking.”
“I never joke.” Ji Xun took another bite of the tea cake and savored its flavor. Discovering that it was unexpectedly delicious, his mood improved considerably.
He finally deigned to raise his head and look at Chu Jing, smiling as he said, “Although I, as a noble prince of imperial blood, am naturally precious beyond compare and becoming in laws with the Marquis’s Residence is somewhat of a loss for me, the wedding has already been completed and the matter is already set in stone. Naturally, this return visit gift cannot be lacking, Zhongshan.”
Yin Zhongshan acknowledged the order. He led the guards in carrying three large chests of return visit gifts over.
Chu Jing’s eyelid twitched violently.
For some reason, he suddenly had a very bad feeling.
The six guards who had followed Ji Xun into battle on the battlefield were all strong and powerfully built. Even standing there silently, they carried an unmistakable air of murderous severity.
Their expressions were as indifferent as if they were marching into battle to slaughter an enemy. Carrying the chests, they approached step by step. Just as they were about to reach Chu Jing, the guards suddenly stumbled in perfect unison.
“Clang!”
The chests abruptly tilted and crashed onto the ground. Their wooden lids slid open and the contents inside came tumbling out with dull, rolling thuds.
Chu Jing lowered his eyes for a glance.
His face instantly turned deathly pale.
The three enormous chests used for the return visit gifts were made of even the finest golden thread nanmu wood yet what they contained were not gold, silver, or precious jewels.
Instead, there were dozens of severed assassin heads.
Their eyes were still wide open in death, bulging grotesquely from their sockets as the heads rolled across the ground.
In an instant, the stench of blood spread through the surrounding air.
The warm sunlight remained exactly as it had been yet this place suddenly seemed to have become a living hell.
Ji Xun sat languidly in his wheelchair. The nauseating, blood soaked stench did not seem to affect his appetite in the slightest. His long, jade like fingers delicately pinched another exquisite tea cake as he ate it slowly and unhurriedly.
Chu Jing’s stomach spasmed violently. The hand hanging inside his sleeve could not help but tremble uncontrollably.
This madman!
One of the heads rolled in no particular direction until it reached the side of Ji Xun’s wheelchair.
Ji Xun lifted his foot and gave it a light kick. There was still a smile on his face but his eyes were filled with icy coldness.
“Marquis Chu doesn’t like the generous gift I specially prepared? These were carefully selected from the dowry that was sent here from the Marquis’s Residence.”
Chu Jing gritted his teeth so hard that his jaw ached.
If Ji Xun had deliberately provoked him with such a crazed and utterly ruthless display under normal circumstances, he would have already drawn his sword.
But now, he could only swallow his anger along with the blood from his broken teeth, forcibly suppressing both his fury and fear before squeezing a sentence out through his clenched teeth.
“Perhaps, in the midst of the wedding preparations, the wrong dowry chests were carried over. Once the missing ones are found this afternoon, I will certainly have the remaining dowry sent to the Prince’s residence.”
“That would be wonderful.” Ji Xun smiled. “Since Marquis Chu is so sincere, I shall also prepare another return visit gift.”
Chu Jing froze.
His eyelid twitched again.
Yin Zhongshan once again produced a small chest from somewhere. He walked up to Chu Jing and gestured for him to open it.
Judging by the size of the chest, it seemed just large enough to contain a single human head.
Although the title of Marquis of Zhenyuan carried the words “Pacify the Frontier,” Chu Jing himself had never set foot on a battlefield. Faced with the heads scattered across the ground, he was already close to vomiting. The moment he saw this small chest, his first instinct was to retreat.
But then his gaze landed on the chest.
His pupils abruptly contracted and even his breathing seemed to freeze.
At the iron clasp of the chest, a bloodstained object hung from a red cord, swaying gently in the wind.
It was an exquisite and beautiful piece of water jade.
The blood on it was still fresh and above the stains, one familiar character could be vaguely seen.
【Jiang.】
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(っ˘ڡ˘ς) ☕ please feed the translator
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Substitute BrideChapter 2 · Chu ZhaojiangChapter 3 · Very safeChapter 4 · He is the prince’s manChapter 5 · It was really hard to refuse their kind invitation.Chapter 6 · Thankfully it was just poisoning.Chapter 7 · Haha, I spit on “golden and jade hall”!Chapter 8 · Are you not satisfied with the homecoming gift?Chapter 9 · You must keep your identity hidden.Chapter 10 · I like whole fish banquetChapter 11 · BankruptChapter 12 · Add some funChapter 13 · FightChapter 14 · Three taels of silverChapter 15 · Go back to restChapter 16 · They’re all spendthrifts.Chapter 17 · Enough for branches and leavesChapter 18 · Rumors can kill peopleChapter 19 · I want to get closer to the prince.Chapter 20 · Why not move in and share a room?Chapter 21 · Ha, I’m not stupid.Chapter 22 Part 1 · Liang Fang’s prescriptionChapter 22 Part 2 · Liang Fang’s prescriptionChapter 23 · Be more cautious and vigilantChapter 24 Part 1 · Don’t touch meChapter 24 Part 2 · Don’t touch meChapter 25 Part 1 · Golden NeedleChapter 25 Part 2 · Golden NeedleChapter 26 · To avoid suspicionChapter 27 · Committing numerous evil deedsChapter 28 Part 1 · May I receive the worst possible fortuneChapter 28 Part 2 · May I receive the worst possible fortuneChapter 29 · I really didn’t mean to kill youChapter 30 · Protect the prince!Chapter 31 · The bird that fell into the trapChapter 32 · Embracing someone on the couchChapter 33 · The miracle doctor is going home!Chapter 34 · I shouldn’t have wanted to hurt himChapter 35 · A bout of madnessChapter 36 · NightmareChapter 37 Part 1 · SpecialChapter 37 Part 2 · SpecialChapter 38 · Being hunted downChapter 39 · Cause and Bitter FruitChapter 40 · Is he honest and kind?Chapter 41 · I am flattered and overwhelmed.Chapter 42 · No, I want to buy.Chapter 43 Part 1 · When the city gate catches fireChapter 43 Part 2 · When the city gate catches fireChapter 44 · It’s the face of a notorious thiefChapter 45 · Are you trying to comfort me?Chapter 46 · Thank you, Your Highness!Chapter 47 · Thank you, Your Highness!Chapter 48 · It’s delicious!Chapter 49 · SeducingChapter 50 · By imperial decreeChapter 51 Part 1 · Potent MedicineChapter 51 Part 2 · Potent MedicineChapter 52 · Wasn’t it impotence?Chapter 53 · I’m not busy todayChapter 54 Part 1 · Break his legs directlyChapter 54 Part 2 · Break his legs directlyChapter 55 · I really didn’t mean to mess with youChapter 56 · Don’t play the victim when you’re having a medical episodeChapter 57 · Let’s do it one more time!Chapter 58 Part 1 · I’ve got you!Chapter 58 Part 2 · I’ve got you!Chapter 59 · A doctor’s dutyChapter 60 Part 1 · Are you at peace with yourself?Chapter 60 Part 2 · Are you at peace with yourself?