SWHCBB 47

Chapter 47: Wen Xiao Yu, Do You Like Me?

Inside the side chamber, Wen Jue lay quietly on the bed with his eyes closed, his long, ink-black hair spread behind him. His face was deathly pale.

If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might have thought he had already passed. A streak of blood still clung to the corner of his mouth, red against his snowy skin.

Bai Yuan finished bandaging the knife wounds on his own hand and wiped the blood from his lips. He picked up the medicinal broth from the table, lifted Wen Jue slightly, and slowly poured it into his mouth, one sip at a time, all the while transferring spiritual energy into his hand.

Expressionless, Bai Yuan watched as the color slowly returned to Wen Jue’s face. But his own hands began to tremble. “If you don’t get better soon, I won’t even be able to maintain human form anymore.”

After wiping the blood from Zhiyu’s mouth, he didn’t let go. Instead, he reached for a basin and placed it in front of him.

“Ascend to immortality and leave me behind, make mistakes and leave me to clean them up,” Bai Yuan muttered under his breath. “Truly…”

He was about to continue grumbling but held his tongue, afraid that his petty old ancestor would overhear. Still, his hands moved deftly, catching the black water Wen Jue vomited.

Wen Jue slowly opened his eyes. His whole body ached. His head throbbed. His throat felt like it was on fire. Then he felt someone gently wipe his mouth with a cloth.

He took the cloth and opened his mouth to thank Bai Yuan, but even trying to speak made his throat feel like it was being cut. He could only let out a rasping breath. “Divi–…”

Bai Yuan handed him water. “Rinse. Then you can go.”

Wen jue did as he was told. Bai Yuan added, “Don’t speak. I’ve drawn out some of the poison hidden in your body. It passed through your throat, damage was inevitable. Rest it for two or three days, and you’ll recover.”

Wen Jue nodded to show he understood. Unable to speak his thanks, he got up, put on his boots, and bowed deeply in Bai Yuan’s direction.

Bai Yuan, whose steps were light and silent, had already moved to the other side of the room. Watching Wen Jue bowing toward empty air, he muttered, “…You can go now. No need to be so formal.”

So polite, every time. Humans and their endless etiquette.

Wen jue walked out with his cane. Jiang Chuang was already waiting nearby and quickly scooped him into his arms.

He called into the room, “Thank you, Divine Physician! We’re grateful!”

Then he looked down at the man in his arms, worried as ever. Zhiyu looked frail every time he came out. “What’s wrong this time?”

Wen Jue leaned against his shoulder, nuzzled his cheek gently, and took a moment to relax. Then he pointed to his throat and shook his head.

“You lost your voice?” Jiang Chuang panicked and turned to rush back in to find Bai Yuan, but Wen Jue gripped his arm tightly, forcing out a rasping whisper to stop him.

“Don’t…”

Jiang Chuang halted. He could tell this was within the Divine Physician’s plan. Still, his heart ached. His little husband, his eyes hadn’t been cured, and now he couldn’t even speak.

Was it painful? Jiang Chuang didn’t know.

He carried Wen Jue back to their room, poured him water, and insisted on feeding him personally. Wen Jue tried to hold the cup himself, but Jiang Chuang wouldn’t allow it.

If he could speak, he would’ve protested. I lost my voice, not my hands. But since he couldn’t, he could only let Jiang Chuang treat him like fragile glass. Perhaps it was the only way Jiang Chuang could feel reassured.

Jiang Chuang checked his forehead, then pressed his own to it to confirm there was no fever. Wen Jue sat silently in his chair, obediently letting him stroke his head and nuzzle his cheek.

His skin was porcelain-pale, hair flowing like ink, lips now tinged with red again. He sat there quietly, sightless eyes empty, like a delicate and lifeless glass doll.

But perhaps because he could sense Jiang Chuang’s presence nearby, a faint smile always lingered on his face. That smile softened his otherwise cold and glassy appearance.

Changning hadn’t helped with his makeup in a long time. Jiang Chuang had noticed, Zhiyu no longer cared so much about appearances. Sometimes he didn’t even wipe his face in the morning unless Jiang Chuang did it for him. The little mole at the corner of his eye hadn’t been seen in ages.

One morning, Jiang Chuang teased him on purpose, snuggling up while pretending to be half-asleep. “I remember you had a mole near your eye. Where did it go?”

Zhiyu had paused for a moment, then replied with wounded dignity, “Did I? I don’t know… Husband, I haven’t seen what I look like in years. How would I know if I have a mole? Changning never mentioned one. Husband… are you sure you didn’t mistake someone else for me?”

That was a full-on reverse trap. Jiang Chuang couldn’t even defend himself. He had to swallow his laughter and admit defeat. Zhiyu then generously forgave him.

You just couldn’t out-scheme this little fox. Jiang Chuang gave up, no match at all.

Thinking of that, Jiang Chuang couldn’t help but laugh. Zhiyu tilted his head in confusion.

Jiang Chuang quickly explained, “Nothing, just looking at you makes me happy. Did Divine Physician say when you’ll recover?”

Wen Jue held up three fingers. Jiang Chuang frowned. “Three days? That long? What’ll we do? You’ll burst from not talking!”

Wen Jue nodded, then waved his hand, pointed at Jiang Chuang, waved again, paused, and gestured a few more times.

Jiang Chuang scratched his head. He couldn’t understand. “Should I call Changning? He’s been with you so long, he’ll understand.”

Wen Jue sat quietly, head slightly lowered, feeling utterly powerless for the first time. Blind was one thing, but now mute, even temporarily?

It cut him off from everyone. He’d been blind for so long he couldn’t write much. Even if he tried tracing words in someone’s palm, they’d struggle to decipher them.

Let alone helping his sister with her plans, he couldn’t offer anything and only became a burden. Even if Yunchuan didn’t mind, he felt defeated and frustrated, like he’d been shut out from the world.

When Jiang Chuang found Changning, the boy was covered in bruises, half of one arm limp at his side. Apparently, he’d gotten into a serious fight with Chen Lin, Chen Lin wasn’t doing any better.

Changning was good at Qinggong and martial arts. He had learned deadly killing techniques. Jiang Chuang knew that if Changning had truly wanted Chen Lin dead, he would’ve made it happen, even at the cost of his own body.

Fortunately, it had just been a duel. Changning was even excited. “Once I heal, I’ll fight him again! Let’s see who ends up worse!”

Yes, it was a good fight.

Jiang Chuang relaxed and told him about Wen Jue’s condition. Changning panicked, threw aside his medicine, wrapped himself in two outer robes to mask the smell of herbs, and followed him back.

The moment he stepped inside and saw Wen Jue sitting quietly, he burst into tears and knelt with trembling lips. “Your Highness, don’t tell me that Divine Physician is working for the Empress? How did you end up mute?”

Wen Jue quickly shook his head. Jiang Chuang hurried to explain, “I forgot to tell you, Zhiyu’s voice will recover in three days.”

Changning sighed in relief, wiping his tears. “Thank goodness.”

Zhiyu had already smelled the medicine on him. He frowned and reached out, but Changning backed away quickly.

Jiang Chuang noticed him pointing at Changning, then at himself, then covering his nose and wrinkling it.

“Zhiyu wants to say something. Can you understand him?” he asked.

Changning nodded, but of course he wasn’t going to admit to getting injured in a brawl. That would only worry Zhiyu.

So he lied without blinking: “His Highness says… I stink. The smell is bothering him.”

Wen Jue: …

Then Jiang Chuang saw him gesture again and looked to Changning.

Changning lied again, eyes wide: “His Highness says… he only wants to be alone with the General now, doesn’t want to be disturbed. I’ll take my leave.”

Wen Jue: …

Jiang Chuang watched Changning’s retreating back and shook his head, then turned to Wen Jue. “He’s gotten unruly. Not very reliable. Forget it, I’ll stay with you. It’s alright, Zhiyu. If you can’t talk, I’ll talk for you. You just need to nod or shake your head.”

Jiang Chuang leaned over and looked at him straight in the eye, and asked with a smile: “Does Wen Xiaoyu like me?”  He didn’t usually say such sappy things, but Jiang Chuang loved hearing them from Zhiyu.

As he watched his pale face slowly turn pink, Jiang Chuang waited patiently.

At last, after a long pause, Wen Jue nodded lightly.