SWHCBB 100

Chapter 100: Yunchuan, I Finally See What You Look Like

All the past grievances had scattered with the wind, neither of them wished to dwell on them anymore. Living well in the present was what mattered most.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms and had a restful, dream-filled night.

The emotional turbulence of the past days had left them exhausted. They hadn’t had proper rest, and when they finally did, they slept well past sunrise.

Until Zhuge Qing came to visit…

The two were jolted awake by Yuan Xiang’s terrified scream. Before they could even fully wake, her shrill cries rang out again from outside.

“No–! Help! Your Highness! Changning! Save me!”

The voice was piercing, cutting straight through the inner courtyard. Wen Jue, already groggy, had no chance of falling back asleep. Just as he opened his eyes and tried to get up, Jiang Chuang gently pressed him back down and dropped a soft kiss on his forehead.

Jiang Chuang said, “I’ll go see what’s going on. If you’re still sleepy, go ahead and sleep more.”

Then he got up, put on his outer robe, and left, unaware that Wen Jue was staring blankly after him, lost in thought.

No sooner had Jiang Chuang stepped out into the courtyard than a small stone flew at him, almost hitting him. He reached out and caught it just in time. Tracing its trajectory, he saw it had come from Changning.

A faint scent of blood lingered in the air, and Jiang Chuang frowned. “Changning, what happened?”

Changning turned, saw him, and awkwardly withdrew his hand, still clutching a few stones. He pointed toward Zhuge Qing. “General… ask him! It’s all his fault!”

Jiang Chuang followed the direction of his finger and sure enough, there was that troublemaker Zhuge Qing, along with Yuan Xiang, who was currently clinging to a tree. Her arms and legs were wrapped around the trunk, feet dangling off the ground, her face pale with terror.

Zhuge Qing showed not a shred of guilt. He just protested indignantly, “Hey hey hey, don’t throw stones! What if you kill my little mice?”

“Little mice?” Jiang Chuang repeated the words in disbelief.

The inner courtyard door creaked open behind him. Jiang Chuang turned in surprise, stepped forward, and took Wen Jue’s hand.

“Zhiyu? Why did you come out alone? Aren’t you afraid of falling without your walking stick?”

Wen Jue shook his head, swept his gaze across the crowd, then lowered his eyes. “What happened?”

Seeing someone who could actually rein in Zhuge Qing, Yuan Xiang looked like she had spotted her savior. She became even more animated and began to complain loudly, “Your Highness! That devil Zhuge Qing, he actually brought dozens of mice to visit the general’s manor! Sinister intentions! He’s completely malicious! Most of the mice got loose! Wuwuwu… it’s over, my chickens, my flowers, they’re all going to be chewed to death! Wuwuwu…”

Zhuge Qing shrugged helplessly. “I warned you not to open my cloth bundle, little steward. You brought this on yourself.”

Jiang Chuang: “What?”

Wen Jue: “Mice?!”

Suddenly, there was a chorus of squeaking and rustling. Yuan Xiang let out another scream. Wen Jue’s face instantly drained of color. Instinctively, he leaned closer to Jiang Chuang, his entire body trembling.

Jiang Chuang noticed something was wrong and whispered, “You’re afraid of mice?”

Wen Jue was shaking so badly he could barely stand. His fingertips ached as if remembering past trauma. It felt like mice might crawl over him any second. Nearly suffocating, he trembled out an explanation: “I… I was bitten by one before.”

Ever since, even the word ‘mouse’ made him shiver. He hadn’t dared to touch any furry animals for years, and the fear never faded.

Jiang Chuang remembered this, it was the Fourth Prince’s doing. Damn him.

Cursing silently, Jiang Chuang scooped Wen Jue into his arms. “Don’t be scared. Your husband will take you back. I won’t let a single one of those things come near you!”

Then he glared at Zhuge Qing. “If you don’t clean up every last one, don’t even think about going home!”

Zhuge Qing looked wronged. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone! I brought them to give to Divine Physician Bai for medicinal use!”

Jiang Chuang ignored him, he hadn’t even settled the score yet for frightening Zhiyu. “Changning, mobilize everyone in the manor. Get rid of all of them. Now.”

Changning bowed immediately. “Yes!”

Zhuge Qing exclaimed, “Wait, can’t we catch them alive?!”

Yuan Xiang sneered. “You still claim you’re not up to something? Since when does medicine need live mice?”

Zhuge Qing raised an eyebrow and gave Yuan Xiang a mischievous look. “Little steward, hugging that tree so tightly, don’t you know? Mice can climb trees too.”

Just as Jiang Chuang closed the door carrying Wen Jue, they heard another piercing scream and Yuan Xiang shouting, “ZHU! GE! QING!”

Wen Jue finally let out a breath, but then frowned. “That military strategist of yours really keeps people on their toes.”

Zhuge Qing truly was the most obnoxious troublemaker he’d ever seen. Fortunately, they weren’t enemies. Even in his past life, Zhuge Qing hadn’t harmed him, perhaps out of respect for Yunchuan.

“I’ll punish him later!” Jiang Chuang fumed. “He must be crazy, bringing so many disgusting things here, and live ones, no less!”

“Forget it…” Wen Jue looked at his striking features, tall and handsome. Just being by his side brought a sense of peace. Even if the sky fell, he had Yunchuan to hold it up. What was there to fear?

“Don’t worry. He just needs a good beating!” Jiang Chuang hadn’t noticed Zhiyu’s gaze. He poured him a glass of water and thoughtfully brought it to his lips.

Wen Jue took a sip, then held the cup himself, fingers stroking the rim. He looked down slightly, reining in his emotions to keep from staring too obviously, and said softly, “Yunchuan, didn’t I tell you before, I dreamed of my past self?”

Jiang Chuang tensed immediately. “Wh-what about it?”

“There’s something I hadn’t planned to say, because I didn’t want to upset you. But… I was thinking, if there’s even a one-in-a-thousand chance that past and present might intersect, then wouldn’t it be tragic to miss the moment we could save Zhuge Qing?”

His words confused Jiang Chuang, who scratched his head. “Save Zhuge Qing? Isn’t he doing just fine?”

Wen Jue shook his head. “I saw… in the past life, after you saved me, Zhuge Qing was killed, by Wen Yu. He did it himself.”

“What…” Jiang Chuang was stunned. He looked at Wen Jue for a long time, seeing the guilt and sorrow on his face. Eventually, he whispered, “Then… I guess we’ll let him off this time.”

Wen Jue gently patted his head, voice soft. “It’s alright. This time is different. Everyone will be safe. Even if he’s fated to die four years from now, we’ll find a way to change it.”

Jiang Chuang forced a smile. He knew Zhiyu was trying to comfort him, but he couldn’t shake the unease from his heart.

Until Wen Jue cradled his face, lifting the corners of his lips with his thumbs. “Husband, I still like it best when you smile.”

Jiang Chuang let him do as he pleased, trying to smile again.

Then suddenly, something struck him. He stared at Wen Jue wide-eyed, noticing that the once dull pupils now shimmered with light, and within them, his own reflection.

Their eyes met. Wen Jue lips curved upward, a smile full of joy and love.

“Yunchuan,” he said, “I finally see what you look like.”