SWHCBB 63

Chapter 63: Lantern Festival

Time flew quickly, barely after New Year’s Eve had passed, the Lantern Festival arrived hot on its heels. But this year’s Lantern Festival was far less peaceful than New Year’s Eve.

On the court, memorials about unrest on the frontier had come in repeatedly. The situation was tense. The western Xige people had been testing the waters frequently. Though they didn’t dare launch a full offensive, if Daling only defended without striking back, they would surely push further and further.

It could come to war, but Daling could not be the one forced into it.

More and more memorials regarding Xige piled up at court, with the conservatives and hawks locked in verbal battle.

One side argued that the peace had only lasted a few years, that the frontier people hadn’t yet settled, and another war would only drain resources and harm civilians.

The other side insisted that only war could stop war: the nation must come first before family. If the country was unstable, how could the people ever have peace?

The arguing grew heated. Though Jiang Chuang never brought up these matters when he returned from court, trying not to bring any negativity to Wen Jue, Wen Jue often knew the situation even earlier than he did. These political squabbles were only surface noise. Anyone with sense could see, sooner or later, war would come. It wasn’t something Daling could avoid just by refusing to fight.

The last time, Jiang Chuang had chopped off the head of Xige’s general and won a resounding victory. Though Xige had withdrawn and ceded territory, they hadn’t truly accepted defeat. After a year of recuperation, they already showed signs of returning in force.

Barely more than a year had passed…

To preserve the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival, no one mentioned the war. But Wen Jue’s forced smile was so obvious even Yuan Xiang could see it.

She made a special bowl of Lantern Festival dumplings, each with a different filling, and brought it to Wen Jue proudly. “Your Highness, do try these! I promise even the palace doesn’t have Lantern Festival dumplings like these! Every single one – yes, every single one – has a different filling!”

At those words, Zhuge Qing looked down at his bowl full of identical black sesame dumplings and suddenly found them unappetizing.

“So special?” Wen Jue widened his eyes in surprise, then softened into a smile. “Thank you. You worked hard.”

The steam curled up, misting his brows and lashes, making Yuan Xiang blush. She twisted her hem and shook her head. “It was nothing, really!”

Changning leaned lazily against a pillar nearby. “Nothing? She spent seven days preparing those fillings, climbing trees, digging roots, trying everything under the sun, just to make this one bowl! All to win Your Highness’s favor. She deserves great merit!”

Yuan Xiang blushed even harder and lowered her head, brushing hair behind her ear to pretend she was busy.

Zhuge Qing clicked his tongue. “Why are you speaking up for a young lady all of a sudden?”

Standing opposite Changning, Chen Lin offered a cool explanation: “Because during those seven days, Yuan Xiang fed him no fewer than ten bowls of dumplings. Now, whenever he sees dumplings, he wants to vomit. He can’t eat even one more.”

Jiang Chuang picked up a hot dumpling, blew on it, and held it to Wen Jue’s lips. “Careful, it’s hot.”

Wen Jue took a cautious bite, chewed slowly, and only after swallowing did he speak: “Is this plum blossom filling? I’ve never had anything like it. It’s very fragrant, surprisingly delicious. Yuan Xiang, you’re amazing. Working as a steward here in the General’s residence really underuses your talents.”

Yuan Xiang tried to suppress her joy. “As long as Your Highness likes it! I’m not underused, not at all. The General’s residence is a hundred times better than the palace. Everyone here is so kind. I can’t sit still anyway, I like experimenting with new things!”

Zhuge Qing pushed away his plain dumplings, standard fare from the kitchen, and flattered, “Yuan Xiang, do you have any extra? I want to try your cooking too!”

Yuan Xiang glanced at him. “No! I! Don’t!”

Still holding a grudge!

Zhuge Qing shook his head and resignedly went back to eating.

She had truly put care into this bowl. Every dumpling Wen Jue ate had a different filling, and every one was delicious. Hearing Yuan Xiang’s story, he couldn’t help but say, “What a pity there’s only one bowl. Otherwise, we could send some to the divine physician.”

Everyone in the General’s residence knew a noble guest resided in a side wing, apparently a divine physician, but no one knew who he really was.

Yuan Xiang hurried to say, “There is! There’s more! If Your Highness wants to gift the guest, I’ll prepare it right away!”

Zhuge Qing: …

Jiang Chuang glanced at Zhuge Qing with a smile. “Let Zhuge Qing go. That divine physician is temperamental. If you go, he might poison you before you even get close.”

Yuan Xiang shrank back in fear. “Ah?”

Zhuge Qing unfolded his fan and walked over to her. “Shall we go, Miss Yuan Xiang?”

Yuan Xiang eyed him warily. “Don’t you dare steal any!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. If the divine physician finds my saliva on the bowl, I doubt I’d live past tomorrow,” Zhuge Qing laughed, then turned to Wen Jue. “Your Highness, I take my leave.”

With that, Yuan Xiang and Zhuge Qing left together.

Wen Jue curled his lips silently, continuing to eat his dumplings. He already knew who Zhuge Qing was going to see, why not give him a little push? No matter his purpose in meeting Bai Yuan, it was ultimately for their sake.

Jiang Chuang fed him another dumpling. Wen Jue shook his head. “You eat it.”

“Full?”

Wen Jue nudged his hand aside. “No, it’s delicious. I want you to taste it too!”

Caught off guard by the sweetness of that gesture, Jiang Chuang let out a dopey laugh and took a bite himself.

Seeing this, Changning exchanged a glance with Chen Lin, tilted his head meaningfully, and quietly slipped away with Chen Lin, leaving the two of them alone.

Wen Jue’s smile slowly faded. His heart sank, and his expression turned strained. “Yunchuan…”

Jiang Chuang: “What is it?”

Wen Jue lowered his eyes. Some things couldn’t be avoided just by choosing not to mention them. “Within three months, His Majesty may order you to take command and return to the frontier.”

Jiang Chuang fell silent. After a moment, he pinched Wen Jue’s cheek. “Don’t overthink it. The unrest is only temporary. The Xige were crushed last time. I doubt they’ve recovered so quickly. It’ll be a year or two before they’re ready for war. What are you so worried about?”

But even Jiang Chuang knew this was an empty reassurance.

In their past life, war had broken out in the third year after their marriage.

But this time, many things had changed. It now seemed even the war had come early. Jiang Chuang didn’t know if that was good or bad, he could only take things one step at a time.

He was about to say more, when he saw Wen Jue’s eyes were already red. A tear slid down.

Oh no, he was crying?

Before Jiang Chuang could coax him, the steward entered to report, “Your Highness, General, Assistant Minister Han Sheng requests an audience. He claims to be here on behalf of Her Highness the Eldest Princess Chenyu to deliver Lantern Festival greetings to Prince Jin.”