SWHCBB 62

Chapter 62: After Being Kicked in the Face by His Little Husband, He Took the Opportunity to Kiss Him

Speaking of which, Jiang Chuang was puzzled. “Why would he be willing to stay by your royal sister’s side for so many years? And she has so many others around her too.”

Jiang Chuang’s question echoed the doubts many had from the start. Scholars across the empire all admired the virtuous and noble Han Sheng, the Assistant Minister, who had never taken a wife or concubine for years. Why would someone like that willingly become the male favorite of the Eldest Princess, stay by her side without any title, yet conduct himself with the grace and poise of a spouse, gentle and benevolent?

“Here, wipe your hands.” After washing his own hands, Jiang Chuang changed the water, soaked a cloth, and carefully wiped each of Wen Jue’s fingers, his movements practiced, just like a husband of many years.

Wen Jue obediently let him fuss over him, smiling as he said, “My royal sister is the favored daughter of Heaven. The Grand Preceptor once praised her: ‘The Eldest Princess Chenyu is bold and wise, well-versed and talented, decisive and clear-sighted. She beheaded corrupt officials in court, personally tested poisons to combat plagues, and at seventeen led troops on horseback to repel enemies three times in a row!’”

Jiang Chuang had heard of Wen Yan’s accomplishments and admired her, even without having met her in person. “She’s truly remarkable!”

Wen Jue’s tone then grew a little wistful. “But all I know of her is secondhand… Even though she and I are the closest, I’m the only one among those who’ve seen her who doesn’t actually know what she looks like. I’ve heard she looks very much like my mother consort. From what little I can see, I can tell my royal sister must be a great beauty.”

Why did he say must be? It was still because he couldn’t truly distinguish beauty from plainness, he could only vaguely sense who looked pleasing and who didn’t.

Jiang Chuang, helped him remove his elaborate accessories and letting down his hair, he glanced down at his long, thick lashes and smiled. “What about you?”

Wen Jue fell silent. His reflection in the bronze mirror was already blurry to begin with, and what he could see was even blurrier. He truly didn’t know what he actually looked like.

“Why the hesitation, Prince Jin?” Jiang Chuang rubbed his head. “You and your royal sister are full siblings, you must look very much like her. She may be famed for many things, but not for her appearance. You, on the other hand, though modest and reserved, can’t hide your looks. Everyone who’s seen you is astonished.”

Wen Jue shook his head. “Being beautiful isn’t always a good thing. My mother consort was brought into the harem by the emperor because of her beauty, and in the end, she didn’t come to a good end. If my royal sister only had beauty and nothing else, how could she have attracted so many talented men who would do anything just for one glance from her?”

Jiang Chuang could tell he was proud of Wen Yan, or he wouldn’t be tilting his chin up with that proud little expression.

Wen Jue added, “So if Assistant Minister Han doesn’t want her, there are plenty of others lining up for the chance to be at her side. No one she takes into her household is ordinary.”

At the mention of “taking into her household,” Jiang Chuang suddenly grew wary. “But still, that’s not ideal, is it? It’s not fair to those men. It’s no different from a man taking concubines, if not handled well, it could lead to chaos in the household, maybe even deaths.”

Wen Jue said, “You’re right, but with Assistant Minister Han around, nothing goes wrong! He’s capable and reliable. He’s managed her inner household smoothly for years without incident. My royal sister favors him the most!”

It was said that whenever jealous spats broke out among the Princess’s male companions, Han Sheng would always resolve them peacefully. The other men in the household all respected him.

The Eldest Princess favored him above all others. No matter the occasion, she always had him by her side.

At first, people mocked Han Sheng for stooping so low, but the Eldest Princess publicly rebuked and punished those people, her domineering protection of him leaving others envious.

Eventually, the mockery turned into jealousy. Out of all her companions, she only shielded and trusted him, took him everywhere. How could others not be jealous?

But Han Sheng remained unmoved by the outside world, always standing steadily by her side. Never overstepping, never presumptuous, he accompanied her year after year.

Sometimes Wen Jue admired him. He knew clearly what he wanted and where he stood. Back then, many of his sister’s companions had tried to win his favor, but Han Sheng never did. That’s why he had stayed by her side for so many years.

As he thought this, he didn’t notice how silent Jiang Chuang had become. Eventually, Jiang Chuang couldn’t hold back anymore and muttered, “Even if the main wife is generous, that doesn’t mean she never feels stifled, right?”

“That’s true,” Wen Jue nodded. “I wonder if Assistant Minister Han feels wronged.”

Jiang Chuang said, “That’s why taking concubines or keeping lovers only ever hurts the other partner. If it’s true love, how could you let anyone else come between you?”

Wen Jue could hear the sour jealousy in his tone and smiled. “My royal sister doesn’t need true love. She and those men each get what they want. That’s why she doesn’t care what they think.”

Before Jiang Chuang could get angry, Wen Jue quickly soothed him. “I’m not like her. I need true love, having General Jiang is enough for me!”

Jiang Chuang was somewhat appeased. “That’s more like it!”

Now that the storm had passed, Wen Jue sighed. “My royal sister is truly someone who does great things. But no matter how outstanding she is, people still pity her, still look down on her just because she’s a woman.”

“What’s wrong with being a woman?” Jiang Chuang shot back at once.

Wen Jue was startled. “What?”

Jiang Chuang gently wiped his face clean and repeated with a smile, “I said, what’s wrong with being a woman? Among the Third, Fourth, and Sixth Princes, which of them can match her? But…”

Wen Jue was already surprised by his perspective and happy that he wasn’t like those narrow-minded fools. But then he heard:

“She’s still far behind Prince Jin!” Jiang Chuang declared with all seriousness.

Wen Jue frowned, displeased. “Why?”

Jiang Chuang put the cloth away, looked at Wen Jue’s freshly cleaned face, and tapped his nose with a smile. “Prince Jin is blessed with extraordinary talent and beauty, grace and charm. You couldn’t find another like him even with a lantern. In my heart, Prince Jin is better than the Jade Emperor himself!”

Realizing Jiang Chuang was teasing and sweet-talking him, Wen Jue raised his foot and kicked him with a laugh. “Nonsense!”

Jiang Chuang caught his foot, it had already been wiped clean, but he pretended to keep cleaning it anyway. His fingers brushed the sole, making Wen Jue squirm from the ticklish sensation. He tried to pull back but couldn’t, so he kicked harder.

Unexpectedly, the kick landed squarely on Jiang Chuang’s face. Wen Jue froze in place. He knew better than to hit a man in the face. Face was everything to a man. Embarrassed, he stammered, “Yunchuan, I didn’t mean to–”

Just as he tried to apologize, he felt Jiang Chuang gripping his calf. Jiang Chuang’s lips brushed against the sole of his foot, then trailed up to his ankle in a series of kisses. A strange tickle spread from his foot upward, and Wen Jue’s face turned crimson.

“You…”

Jiang Chuang let go, stood up, tossed the cloth back into the basin, and asked calmly, “What about me?”

Wen Jue couldn’t find any words. Jiang Chuang smiled playfully, leaned in close, and trapped him between his arms in a forceful stance.

“It’s late, my Prince Jin. Are you sure you still want to keep talking to me about your royal sister?”

A piece of silk fabric was suddenly stuffed into Wen Jue’s hands. Just by touching it, he knew exactly what it was. They hadn’t even done anything yet, but the atmosphere was already turning sultry.