SWHCBB 28

Chapter 28: Want to Be a Happy Pair of Useless Nobodies with Yunchuan

Wen Jue’s expression turned awkward, and he quickly changed the subject. “Let’s get back to business.”

Wen Yan noticed his unease but didn’t press the matter further. She spoke evenly, “Right now, rumors are spreading all over the city that our mother consort was a demon in disguise who bewitched the emperor and endangered the empire. That you and I are little monsters born of a great demon. As long as we live, the nation is doomed.”

Wen Jue said, “There are also whispers that I used sorcery to beguile the emperor into naming me Prince Jin and marrying me to Jiang Chuang.”

Wen Yan laughed. “Absurd rumors. They’re spreading even faster and wilder than I expected. The Sixth Prince is naïve, he just wanted to block your path to becoming a prince. But it’s Prince Yi who’s truly ruthless. He fanned the flames, hoping not only for our deaths but also to use the Sixth Prince’s hand to do it. Poor Sixth Brother, so many schemes, yet in the end, he’s just paving the road for someone else.”

Wen Jue also smiled. “Sixth Brother is indeed a useful blade. The board is already set. Don’t worry, Royal Sister, even if I’m ill, they won’t have their way.”

Wen Yan said, “Your health is in no shape for it. It might be best if you skip the upcoming family banquet.”

Wen Jue looked thoughtful. “I can’t. They won’t let the family banquet pass so easily. If I don’t go, it’ll only stir up more trouble. Better to face them head-on and turn their plot against them,,let them suffer the consequences.”

Wen Yan sighed. “You’ve always been decisive. If you’re ready, then do it. Father’s health these past two years has… Zhiyu, we don’t have much time. We need to speed things up.”

“According to Eunuch Tan, Father’s been murmuring Mother Consort’s name in his sleep these days. He even called her name while lying beside the Empress several times, which enraged her so much she’s been storming about Fengluan Palace.”

Qingci… how cruel you were…

In his sleep, the emperor’s voice was filled with sorrow.

Wen Yan gave a cold laugh. “If Mother Consort knew this from the underworld, she’d only feel it was bad luck. Even in death, she finds no peace.”

Wen Jue suddenly asked, “Royal Sister, was Mother Consort really human?”

Wen Yan was caught off guard. “Of course she was! Who told you otherwise? Why would you ask something like that? If Mother wasn’t human, then what are we?”

Wen Jue shook his head. He didn’t know. Ever since Bai Yuan arrived, he’d become confused—he was starting to believe those rumors about his mother consort.

“Royal Sister, I… I want to cure my eyes now,” Wen Jue said hesitantly. “Whether it works or not, I want to try.”

Wen Yan was taken aback. In the past, Wen Jue had always comforted her by saying that not being able to see was fine, he had no desire to look upon such repulsive people.

Later, when she brought him imperial physicians, he showed no interest. And when the physicians said there was no hope at all, he seemed even relieved.

That made Wen Yan worry he might one day lose the will to live and go looking for their mother consort in the afterlife once her plans succeeded.

But now, he was saying of his own accord that he wanted to try to be cured. Wen Yan’s eyes reddened as she asked, “Why?”

Wen Jue hesitated for a moment, then admitted shyly, “Because… I want to see Yunchuan’s face. He said that if my eyes can be healed, he’ll take me to see the sunset over Xiang Lake, to drift together on a boat, to ride horses and roam the world. He wants to resign after peace is restored at the borders and travel the realm with me.”

Wen Yan’s expression turned complicated, and she couldn’t respond for a while.

So it was… because of Jiang Chuang?! It was both surprising and somehow expected. Her throat tightened, like a thorn was stuck in her chest, dull, aching.

They were no longer just family who relied on each other. Someone else had become more important in Zhiyu’s life. He was going to spend the rest of his life with Jiang Chuang. He was going to leave her.

Wen Yan had never imagined this moment. She always believed she and Zhiyu would be each other’s most important people, forever. She had never thought he would value someone else more than her.

Now she truly had an impulse to kill Jiang Chuang, but it was also Jiang Chuang who had made Zhiyu this happy.

Zhiyu had always been well-behaved and obedient around her. Even though he was calculating, in Wen Yan’s eyes, he was always pure and kind.

But he had never smiled as freely with her as he did with Jiang Chuang. He had never been this relaxed. And now, he was even proactively asking to be cured, he was starting to value his own life.

None of the things Wen Yan had feared came to pass. Jiang Chuang treated him very well. She had no right to kill him. In fact, she should thank him.

Her thoughts churned, then finally settled.

Seeing that Royal Sister hadn’t spoken for a long while, Wen Jue explained, “Royal Sister, I’ve been in the palace struggle for so long… I’m tired. I don’t have great ambitions. I just want to live peacefully with you. When your plans succeed, if I really can regain my sight, I want to become a happy pair of good-for-nothings with Yunchuan and travel the world.”

Wen Yan heard the uncertainty in his voice and patted the back of his hand. “Don’t worry. If you want to be healed, then from now on, I’ll search the world for the best physicians, until your eyes are cured!”

Wen Jue let out a breath and shook his head. “Royal Sister, no need to rush. Yunchuan is already having people search on my behalf. Right now, this isn’t our most urgent concern.”

Wen Yan gave a bitter smile. “Now it’s ‘Yunchuan’ this and ‘Yunchuan’ that. You’ve made me jealous.” Before Wen Jue could comfort her, she asked, “Are you and he serious? And what about Prince Yi… If he truly helps us, then that’s ideal.”

At that, Wen Jue fell silent.

“I… don’t know,” Wen Jue said slowly. “This is no trivial matter. Even if he treats me well now, we can’t let our guard down. I’ll still do what needs to be done. But, Royal Sister, I… I don’t want to hurt him. Could you… not hurt him either?”

“I understand,” Wen Yan said. “Unless absolutely necessary, I won’t lay a hand on him. But if he really conspires with Prince Yi and becomes a threat to us… Zhiyu, I hope you’ll have the heart to take him down yourself.”

Wen Jue said nothing, but Wen Yan believed he could do it.

“Rest well. I’ll have someone send you a few crates of medicinal herbs later.” Wen Yan stood up to leave.

Suddenly, Wen Jue called out, “Royal Sister, even if my eyes are cured, I will still stand firmly by your side, planning with you and helping you ascend the throne. In my heart, that position belongs to you alone. For your sake, even if it costs me my life, I will not hesitate.”

Wen Yan turned back and looked at him. For a moment, she was speechless, and a vague sense of unease crept over her. Her phoenix eyes widened slightly, something had just occurred to her.