SWHCBB 56

Chapter 56: My Little Husband Says He Wants to Be with Me for Life!

Although the Empress and the Third Prince hadn’t won any favor, Wen Jue knew that the seed had already been deeply planted in the Emperor’s heart. The Emperor wasn’t that old, yet his body was already breaking down; every cough, every illness, those words from the Empress would echo in his ears.

When that time came, the Empress and the Third Prince would have much more room to maneuver. After all, the Emperor had said anyone would do, as long as the Princess liked them, so why not take the initiative themselves?

In this atmosphere of hidden agendas and false smiles, the night dragged on until it was finally time for fireworks.

Fireworks exploded across the black sky above the palace, booming loudly, red and orange bursting together to light up the night. Palace servants all stopped what they were doing, lifting their heads with the people beside them to watch the joyful display, eyes full of hope for the new year.

Under the glow of the fireworks, Wen Jue looked up at the sky. Others thought he was simply listening to the sounds, unaware he had regained his sight. But he could see now.

So this is what fireworks look like… Stunningly beautiful, brilliant, and fleeting. No wonder poets sang of them and sighed for them. Wen Jue stared, transfixed. Every day after regaining his vision had been full of wonder.

Yunchuan accompanied him through everything, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Things that were routine to Yunchuan felt brand new to Wen Jue.

With even this level of vision, the world already felt so beautiful. If he could see completely clearly, how much more beauty might be waiting?

He didn’t dare imagine. He turned away from the sky and looked beside him, meeting Yunchuan’s gaze. Though he couldn’t see it clearly, he knew it had to be warm and intense. For as long as Zhiyu had looked at the fireworks, Yunchuan had been looking at him.

If only I could see his eyes clearly, just for a moment.

Jiang Chuang brushed his hair back behind his ear and cupped Wen Jue’s face, pressing a kiss to his forehead and murmuring,

“Happy New Year. May you be free of illness and stay safe and healthy.”

Wen Jue pulled his hand forward. Jiang Chuang thought he wanted to hold hands, but then something cool slipped onto his ring finger.

Looking down, Jiang Chuang saw a translucent jade ring, shimmering under the fireworks. Made of imperial green jade, carved with bamboo segments, it looked surprisingly fitting on his hand.

He asked in confusion, “What’s this?”

Wen Jue handed him a second ring, this one carved with a tiger’s head.

“Yunchuan, help me put it on.”

Jiang Chuang did as asked, sliding it onto Wen Jue’s ring finger. Wen Jue then laced their fingers together. The matching rings on their fourth fingers were impossible to ignore, clearly a pair. Jiang Chuang’s smile bloomed.

Wen Jue smiled softly, his voice gentle:

“My sister said that our mother once told her, in her hometown, people exchanged rings during marriage to show they were taken. It symbolized eternal loyalty, a promise to stay together for life.”

Princess Chenyu had said that the Emperor once had a ring too. He didn’t cherish it, and later their mother took it back.

“I’m sorry I waited until now to give it to you.”

Wen Jue tightened his grip. Since regaining his sight, he’d quietly planned this pair of rings. They meant so much, he hadn’t wanted to rush it. Now, in the perfect setting, the timing felt just right.

With his smiling eyes locked on Wen Jue, Jiang Chuang felt like his heart was melting. And just when he was about to burst from emotion, Wen Jue had to say something so heavy with meaning, it made Yunchuan’s eyes turn red.

They say real men don’t cry. Jiang Chuang just wanted to shout, That’s bullshit!

Who wouldn’t cry when their husband was this sweet? Who wouldn’t cry when someone loved them like this?

Wen Jue wasn’t good at saying “I love you” directly. But he always showed it in other ways. Jiang Chuang understood it all.

One arm wrapped around his head, the other tightened around his waist. Jiang Chuang sniffled and said,

“How are you this good? After what you just said, I’m never taking this off. Damn, you’re just too precious.”

His home dialect slipped out in his excitement.

Wen Jue, nearly out of breath in his arms, didn’t push him away.

The promise was real. The love was real. No matter which version of himself Jiang Chuang loved, Wen Jue had already decided, he would never let go.

So what if I tricked him? I already love him. I’m not going back now!

Even if Jiang Chuang one day realized he wasn’t as pitiful or kind as he appeared. No matter how angry he might be at all the schemes, he’d never escape. They were bound for life, even if it was through love and hate.

Jiang Chuang couldn’t hold back. He grabbed Wen Jue’s face and pecked him like a woodpecker, twice.

Wen Jue said, “I won’t take it off either. You put it on me. That’s your promise to me!”

“I’ll never taking it off! Cut my hand off if I do!” Jiang Chuang gripped his hand tightly, face firm with determination.

From the side came laughter. Jiang Chuang turned, it was the Second Princess laughing out loud at their exchange. Others were watching too, like the Emperor, Empress, and Third Prince.

Jiang Chuang didn’t care how they looked at him. They were a royal match by imperial decree, a perfect couple. The more affectionate they were, the better. Let someone try to say otherwise.

But just because he didn’t mind didn’t mean Wen Jue didn’t. Wen Jue quickly pushed him away. The fireworks had faded, and the faint candlelight barely hid his reddened face.

The Emperor laughed,

“Look at you two! Your affection’s so intense I feel like I’m ruining the mood just by standing here!”

Of course he was pleased. If Jiang Chuang loved Wen Jue this much, he wouldn’t take concubines. Wen Jue wouldn’t allow children by other women either. The Emperor found Wen Jue more and more pleasing, nodding nonstop.

When the Fifth Prince had come begging for an audience, promising to win over the General, the Emperor hadn’t believed he’d really do it. But he did. Jiang Chuang was now so devoted he’d willingly leave no heirs, problem solved.

The Empress was about to speak when Princess Chenyu cut in,

“Mother once told me, fireworks should be watched with the one you love. I never understood until now. Seeing Zhiyu and General Jiang, now I finally do.”

Mentioning Consort Chen dulled the Emperor’s smile. He sighed.

“Yes. Your mother always loved a lively scene. She’d always pester me to set off fireworks for her.”

The Empress swallowed her words. Whenever Consort Chen was brought up, she had to tread carefully, lower her tail, as it were, to keep from drawing attention.

Even though Consort Chen had been dead for years, she hovered like a ghost, haunting the Empress’s every move. In the Emperor’s presence, the Empress never dared speak her name without shame. If soul-summoning rituals were real, she’d resurrect Chen just to tear her to shreds.

She’d cursed the dead woman countless times in her heart, glaring now at her two children with burning hatred. Yet her face still wore the kind smile of a gentle elder.

Her gaze shifted to the Emperor. Truly, if anyone deserved to die, it was him. He had betrayed her, and the entire Xiang family.

But she couldn’t kill him. She still had to please him, flatter him, guess his thoughts, curry favor. It made her sick.

She lowered her gaze. All the love and dreams she’d once had for her husband had been crushed to dust.

She still remembered the seventh day after Consort Chen’s death. The Emperor came to her Fengluan Palace drunk. She had rushed to greet him with joy, only for him to seize her throat with bloodshot eyes and a twisted face, like he’d been possessed by a vengeful ghost.

“Don’t think I don’t know, it was you! If not for you, she wouldn’t have died! She wouldn’t have left me so heartlessly!” He choked her with all his might, eyes full of murderous rage, veins bulging.

She trembled all over, trying to plead, but couldn’t speak from the lack of air.

The Emperor had looked at her like she was his mortal enemy, venting all his guilt and hatred on her.

“Bitch! You damn bitch!”

To this day, she didn’t know how she survived. When she came to, her body was limp, her throat aching, and the Emperor looked at her like she didn’t even deserve to be buried with the dead.

“You’re not even worthy to die with her.”

She knew then: the husband she once loved and hoped would return to her had died with Consort Chen. She thought he would abandon her, but instead, out of obligation to the Xiang family, he kept her as Empress. Aside from never sharing her bed again, nothing else changed.

Ha. So this was it. A ruler’s love and hate, so easily swayed by interests. No matter how touching or sincere it looked, it was all just a performance to please himself.

If she’d known earlier, she should have killed Consort Chen outright, along with her bastard children.