SWHCBB 55

Chapter 55: The Green Tea Couple Team Up to Cheat and Scheme

The Empress cautiously glanced at the Emperor and Wen Yan’s expressions, then awkwardly tried to smooth things over:
“His Majesty favors Chenyu the most, how could he bear to see her married off? Naturally, the longer she stays by his side, the better.”

The Third Prince wore a look of sincere concern:
“But all women must marry someday. Only by marrying, supporting a husband, and raising children can they find stability in life and achieve a harmonious future.”

Even the long-silent Fourth Prince chimed in,
“Eldest Royal Sister isn’t exactly young anymore. Her residence is full of pretty boy companions, certainly carefree, but those companions are just playthings anyone can have. How can that last?”

Wen Yan said nothing in the face of their jabs, merely let out a cold chuckle and took a casual sip of wine.

Wen Jue also remained quiet, waiting for them to expose their intentions, curious what they truly wanted to accomplish.

But Jiang Chuang couldn’t bear listening any longer. He furrowed his brows and was about to speak, when he felt a warm, soft hand tug gently on his sleeve.

Wen Jue’s voice whispered by his ear,
“It’s fine.”

Seeing he wasn’t bothered, Jiang Chuang relaxed.

It wasn’t hard to guess: the Empress likely intended to use the issue of marriage to pressure Wen Yan. But she wouldn’t dare openly propose a candidate for prince-consort. When it came to Wen Yan and Wen Jue, no matter what she said, it would be seen as scheming.

So she and the Third Prince played good cop and bad cop to slowly wear down the Emperor’s resistance.

But what exactly was the Third Prince aiming for? That was harder to tell. Did the Empress know what he was planning?

“Outrageous! Is that how you speak to your royal sister?” the Emperor rebuked the Fourth Prince, his tone disapproving even if what he said was true, just to save Wen Yan some face.

The Emperor looked to Wen Yan.
“Ah-Yan, is there someone you like? If you do, no matter who he is, I’ll grant you a marriage decree. Would that be alright?”

His words implied: if she fancied someone from her residence, that man could be elevated as prince-consort. That way, Wen Yan would have control over him, could still keep her male companions, and no one would dare criticize her.

For the Second Princess, this kind of favor was unthinkable. But Wen Yan didn’t care at all.

Wen Yan said,
“This daughter is content as things are. I have no interest in taking a consort. Father, please don’t worry about me.”

The Emperor knew her temperament, if she didn’t want something, no one could force her.

Just as the topic seemed to be passing, the Empress refused to let it go.
“His Majesty’s love for Chenyu is plain to see. But she is grown now. As the Third Prince said, a husband provides support for life. Parents can only walk with their children so far. Without a proper marriage and protection, can Your Majesty really rest easy?”

Protection…

The Emperor fell silent. His health was deteriorating, and Wen Yan had always been willful because of his indulgence. Once he was gone, would any new Emperor tolerate her? Without a husband’s protection, her future would indeed be difficult.

He didn’t favor any of his sons for succession. If he had to choose, only the Third Prince was passable. But recent events had proved even he was unreliable.

This was the first time Wen Jue realized just how crafty the Empress could be. She’d struck exactly at the Emperor’s sore spot, cloaking it so convincingly in maternal concern that it roused no suspicion, only gratitude.

A flicker of ridicule passed across Wen Jue’s face before he said,
“Royal Sister is noble and refined, with unmatched character. If she were to marry, it should be to the very best man in the world. I trust that any man Father deems worthy must be exceptional.”

The Emperor’s face softened a little, but the Empress cast Wen Jue a wary glance.

Wen Jue rarely spoke so directly.
“No matter what, the prince-consort must be absolutely loyal to Father and to Royal Sister, not someone with hidden motives who would exploit the opportunity to control her for personal gain. What do Mother and Third Brother think?”

The Empress jolted visibly and instinctively looked at the Emperor, only to meet his unreadable eyes. The suspicion in them sent a cold sweat down her back.

The Third Prince forced a smile, resentment flashing briefly beneath it. Still wearing his usual warm and humble expression, he said,
“Is Fifth Brother implying something? We’re merely chatting over dinner, marriage is a major life event. There’s no harm in bringing it up. Why get so worked up?”

“Worked up?” Wen Jue lowered his head with a bitter smile, deliberately apologetic:
“After Mother passed, Royal Sister protected and raised me. Although Mother Empress did ‘care’ for me as well, Royal Sister is one of the most important people in my life.

So I got anxious and spoke out of turn. I hope Mother and Third Brother can forgive me.”

This deliberately submissive posture was truly beneath contempt. The Third Prince’s eyes gleamed with scorn.

Jiang Chuang immediately pulled Wen Jue close and snapped back at the Third Prince with restrained fury:
“He lost his mother at a young age and later went blind. Without Royal Sister, could he have survived? All he did was speculate a little, he didn’t accuse anyone by name. Why are you being so aggressive?”

Wen Jue leaned into Jiang Chuang’s shoulder, face buried in his neck, even trembling as though in tears, when really he was trying not to laugh out loud!

Wen Yan looked to the Emperor.
“Father, people keep trying to stir trouble using my marriage. I can’t even tell who around me is genuine or false. Zhiyu was just worried I might choose poorly, does he deserve to be humiliated like this?”

The Fourth Prince indignantly retorted,
“Third Brother only said one thing…”

The Emperor’s face darkened.
“Enough! What the Fifth Prince said isn’t unreasonable. Why are you all so anxious? Unless you do have guilty consciences and fear being exposed?”

Silence fell instantly. No one dared say another word.

The Emperor said,
“Third Prince, you were in the wrong. When you return, be sure to apologize to your Fifth Brother!”

Wen Jue wiped away nonexistent tears and said pitifully, full of generous understanding,
“Thank you, Father, for being considerate. Third Brother meant well, he doesn’t need to apologize. It’s Zhiyu who should say sorry. I hope Third Brother won’t hold it against me!”

The Emperor’s face darkened even more. He glared at the Third Prince, whose smile had completely collapsed.

With a heavy slam of his hand on the table, the Emperor roared,
“What, you’re really going to let your Fifth Brother apologize to you? Do you expect him to bring you gifts too?!”

The Third Prince hurriedly stood and bowed deeply.
“Your son never intended that! Fifth Brother, it was my fault. I apologize. I’ll have a gift sent to the General’s residence later.”

Still with his arm around Wen Jue, Jiang Chuang accepted the bow with a straight face, then added,
“I heard Third Highness recently obtained a Tianshan snow lotus heart. It’s highly medicinal. Zhiyu’s illness keeps recurring… Might you…”

He trailed off meaningfully. Wen Jue clutched his chest and burst into another round of coughing.

The Third Prince ground his teeth.
“Then I’ll give it to Fifth Brother!”

The Third Prince, internally: Damn these scheming green tea husbands.