SWHCBB 40

Chapter 40: The Little Husband Said He Wants to Protect Me!

The pavilion fell silent for a moment. Zhuge Qing narrowed his eyes, watching Wen Jue warily. That confession, rather than feeling relieved, he suddenly sensed danger, trying to guess what scheme this man was playing at again.

Wen Jue waited calmly for their reactions. Jiang Chuang still hadn’t spoken, so Wen Jue reached out and found his forearm, slid down along it, and laced their fingers together.

“Yunchuan, are you angry with me?” Wen Jue looked up, appearing apprehensive as he awaited Jiang Chuang’s response. His eyes lowered with a hint of grievance. “If you want to know anything, I’ll tell you everything, just don’t be angry, alright?”

Jiang Chuang looked down at him. He wasn’t angry. Even if everything had truly been orchestrated by Zhiyu, he wouldn’t be surprised. He didn’t care about those things.

What he had refuted was Zhuge Qing’s assertion about Zhiyu’s motives. Even in his past life, Zhiyu had never once truly hurt him.

No one understood better than Jiang Chuang what kind of person Zhiyu was. He had seen him in glory, and he had seen him in despair.

Now, the seemingly obedient and apologetic Zhiyu had clearly raised his quills once more, putting back on the hard-earned mask, ready to stab anyone who might harm him.

Jiang Chuang wasn’t afraid of being pricked, he was only afraid those thorns would cut both ways. If Zhiyu hurt him, then Zhiyu himself would suffer just as much.

Jiang Chuang sighed softly and crouched down in front of him, lowering himself, holding his hand and coaxing him: “I’m not angry. So what if it was you? Do you think I’d believe you’d hurt me? Are your people even reliable? If you’re short on men, just tell me.”

Zhuge Qing: “…You!”

Zhuge Qing was almost laughing from sheer anger. He thought Jiang Chuang had been bewitched by Wen Jue. “Do you even understand what his words mean? Do you realize who this entire scheme is aimed at? You say he won’t hurt you, and maybe he won’t, but what about everyone else?”

Without turning his head, Jiang Chuang replied, “Prince Yi.”

Zhuge Qing froze. “You knew?”

The hand Wen Jue held trembled slightly at those words. So Jiang Chuang knew, he’d always known…

He had planned to take the passive route, to feign pitiful submission, make Jiang Chuang feel guilty and protective, and that would be enough to let the matter slide. So what if Zhuge Qing had found out?

But after sensing Zhuge Qing’s stance, Wen Jue quickly changed his strategy. If Zhuge Qing’s loyalty lay solely with Jiang Chuang and not with Prince Yi, then things were much easier to handle.

In that case, why not turn defense into offense? Lay everything out openly and avoid being held hostage by Zhuge Qing. As for how to say it and in what tone, those were his decisions to make.

In the few short lines Zhuge Qing had spoken, Wen Jue had already formed a new plan.

Yet what happened next was entirely beyond his expectations, Jiang Chuang knew what he was trying to do? Since when? Where had he slipped up?

If Jiang Chuang had known all along and still indulged him, pretended not to notice, and even protected him so fiercely…

Wen Jue suddenly wanted to change his plan again. He wanted to act worse, push further, and see where Jiang Chuang’s bottom line really was.

He maliciously thought: no matter how pretty the words, no matter how much someone claims to love, if I’m not the person he imagined, how long will that love last?

He almost couldn’t help but tear off all his masks and let Jiang Chuang see the truth, just to see how he’d react.

But he couldn’t.

He could gamble with himself, but he couldn’t gamble with his imperial sister.

If Jiang Chuang ever grew to hate him, then everything he’d worked for would be ruined, and they didn’t have much time left.

Wen Jue grew despondent inside. In the end, he still had to wear that soft, sweet skin. He had to be the frail and pitiable little bunny, the alluring yet unaware little fox, the thoughtful, heartwarming confidant, someone Jiang Chuang couldn’t help but fall deeper for, someone he couldn’t live without.

Jiang Chuang didn’t look back and said casually, “I don’t know anything. I just don’t care about Prince Yi.”

Zhuge Qing was at a loss for words. He looked at Wen Jue, then back at Jiang Chuang, suddenly tongue-tied, only to realize the truth.

“So be it. I was the fool this time,” Zhuge Qing suppressed his anger, shaking his head with a bitter smile. “Compared to Prince Yi, Prince Jin is indeed the better choice. His Highness is lying low, seemingly uninterested in politics. When his eyes recover, he’ll strike for the throne, there’s still time.”

If it was Prince Jin who wanted to ascend, then Jiang Chuang would be a great asset. He couldn’t possibly harm Jiang Chuang. In fact, he’d need him.

It seemed Prince Jin had succeeded. Married just a few months, and he’d already taken Jiang Chuang’s heart, so much so that not even Prince Yi, to whom Jiang Chuang owed a debt, mattered anymore.

Zhuge Qing sighed inwardly. Prince Jin’s mind was far too deep. Had this all been plotted before the marriage? Or only after Bai Yuan offered to treat his eyes? Or… was marrying Jiang Chuang part of his plan from the beginning?

To everyone else, he had lost all right to inherit. He was the least threatening of them all, especially compared to the Empress, who was consumed with past grudges, and the Sixth Prince, that man-child attached to his mother.

But he had the most legitimate bloodline. From ancient times, the victor took all, who could say what the future held? Who could be sure he wouldn’t one day sit on the throne? When that day came, history would be rewritten.

This was no ordinary man. Not even blindness could hold him back.

Jiang Chuang had just opened his mouth to speak when Wen Jue interrupted. His expression was no longer aggrieved, and he said calmly to Zhuge Qing:

“You flatter me, Strategist. Yunchuan treats me very well. He cherishes me, loves me, and I know it.”

At that, Jiang Chuang looked a little embarrassed. He met Zhuge Qing’s eyes, couldn’t suppress a smile, and turned away, rising to stand behind Wen Jue. His hands naturally settled on Zhiyu’s shoulders, silently confirming his words.

Wen Jue continued, “No matter what I plan to do, I would never put him in danger. And I understand your concern. You were anxious, that’s why you spoke that way. It’s my fault, for letting you misunderstand… I…”

His lips curved up slightly. He raised his hand, seeking Jiang Chuang’s hand, which was instantly taken and held tight.

Wen Jue said, “My feelings for him are no less than his for me, and certainly no less than yours for him. Even if I throw myself into the game, I’ve never once thought of dragging him in. I may have my own strategies, that’s true. But I also have someone I want to protect. That person is Yunchuan.”