SWHCBB 70

Chapter 70: My Husband Is So Handsome~

Outside the gates of the imperial city, a vast sea of troops had been waiting over a li away. Jiang Chuang, was clad in armor and holding a long spear. He flicked his wrist, the spear sliced through the air like a meteor, leaving only a trail of whistling wind behind.

Mounted atop his horse at the city gates, he exuded commanding presence. His eyes swept over the war flag bearing the large characters “Daling” and narrowed with a sharp glint, his killing intent overflowing, his aura unrestrained.

Whatever intentions the Xige held, as long as Jiang Chuang stood at the border, the surrounding petty states would be cowed into submission.

On the other side, Zhuge Qing was also on horseback. Even he had to admit, seeing Jiang Chuang like this left him at a rare loss for words, he couldn’t even utter the word “fool.” When this man got serious, he was nothing short of intimidating.

In front of the carriage nearby, Wen Yan gently brushed the stray hair by Wen Jue’s temples, her eyes full of sorrow and worry, rims red with tears.

For ease of travel, Wen Jue had opted for simple attire even inside the carriage. His hair was tied high into a ponytail, long sleeves and robes cast aside for lighter clothing. Aside from necessities and a few amusements, he brought little else.

Even with such a modest appearance, his natural elegance could not be hidden. On the contrary, the high ponytail lent him a few more degrees of youthful vigor, dispelling the lingering trace of illness. The morning sun bathed his delicate features in golden warmth.

To Wen Yan, he looked for a moment like the Zhiyu of another life, one who had never lost his sight to poison, whose path had never been altered.

She had said all that needed saying, yet still lingered, unable to part. Just as she was about to speak again, Han Sheng beside her spoke up in time: “Princess, the hour draws near. His Highness Prince Jin should board the carriage.”

Wen Yan swallowed her tears and said softly, “Zhiyu, with your elder sister not by your side, if anyone dares wrong you, don’t hold back. No matter who it is, vent your anger first! It’s fine to make mistakes, but never let them walk away! Even if the sky falls, your sister will hold it up for you!”

Still trapped in parting sorrow, Wen Jue couldn’t help but laugh through it. “Sister, how can you teach your brother like this?”

Snatching a handkerchief from Han Sheng, Wen Yan dabbed her eyes and said plainly, “How is this bad advice? What I worry more is that you always put the bigger picture first, silently enduring all grievances.” Wait till some later reckoning? Nothing beats immediate revenge!

She shook her head. “Enough of this…” Then in a lowered voice, still brimming with worry, she added in riddled tones, “Everything you mentioned, I’ve prepared. But,?whatever you do, don’t get hurt! We have time on our side to plan this carefully. None of it is worth your life. Understand?”

Wen Jue lowered his gaze and didn’t respond directly, only smiling faintly. “Don’t worry, Sister. I know what matters.”

Changning glanced at the sky and quietly reminded, “Your Highness, it’s time to board the carriage.”

After parting with Wen Yan, Wen Jue boarded the carriage with Changning’s help.

Inside, Wen Jue lifted the curtain and looked back in Wen Yan’s direction, but stopped himself. He couldn’t reveal that he could now vaguely see. So instead, he let Wen Yan watch only the receding figure of the carriage as it pulled away.

Heading for the border, Wen Jue brought only two people: Changning and Bai Yuan. Inside the carriage, Bai Yuan sat cross-legged with eyes closed in meditation. Changning, not daring to disturb, sat silently at the front with the driver.

Wen Jue, bored, seized the moment to peek out from the window. Everything was unfamiliar to him.

At some point, the road gave way to endless stretches of mountains. The path out of the capital was still relatively smooth, so he leaned against the window, gazing far into the distance, at the very front, by the war flag, a familiar yet blurry silhouette.

Even if he couldn’t see clearly, he knew, it was Yunchuan.

He hadn’t had the chance to really admire how Yunchuan looked in armor before they had set off in haste.

Zhuge Qing, uncomfortable both on horseback and in carriages, was forced to ride with Huang Guang. He still tried to maintain a calm and collected front. Looking toward Jiang Chuang, he teased, “I haven’t seen you dressed like this in ages. I almost thought you’d actually gone stupid!”

Jiang Chuang shot him a glance, unbothered. “Keep treating everyone else like fools and you’ll end up scheming yourself into a trap.”

Zhuge Qing clicked his tongue. “General, haven’t you heard? To lay a good trap, you’ve got to step into it yourself first.”

Jiang Chuang ignored him. He had no patience for this kind of nonsense.

Zhuge Qing, too, fell quiet. He knew he was in the wrong. If Jiang Chuang ever found out that his precious little husband… had done what he did because of him…

He’d probably skin him alive. Better to shut up, if neither Prince Jin nor he said anything, no one would ever know.

After more than two hours on the road, the scouts returned with a report: “General, we’re ten li away from the Huazhou post station.”

Jiang Chuang nodded and raised his hand, calling out, “We’ll rest the night at the Huazhou post. Recover well, tomorrow, we press on!”

Behind him came the soldiers’ loud and unified response: “Yes, General!”

Ten li later, they arrived.

Their troops had split from the supply convoy, lightening their burden, so their pace had been much faster.

Huazhou, just days ago, the Sixth Prince had left the capital on an official mission to this very place and had yet to return.

Wen Jue gently touched the medicine hidden in his robes and glanced at Bai Yuan, only to find the man already watching him, gaze assessing. Wen Jue lowered his eyes slightly.

Bai Yuan said, “Go ahead. It won’t kill you.” He couldn’t let this one die.

Wen Jue offered a faint apology. “Sorry to trouble you.”

Bai Yuan withdrew his gaze and shut his eyes again. “The medicine’s mine. If you’re really sorry, trick Zhuge Qing a few more times for me.”

Wen Jue smiled and nodded. “If I get the chance, I won’t go easy on the strategist. But don’t go too far, Yunchuan only has one military adviser. Other people would treat him like a treasure.”

Just as he said Yunchuan, he arrived.

The carriage was knocked on twice, and Jiang Chuang’s excited voice came from outside. “Zhiyu! Come out quick! There’s a lake here by the post station in Huazhou, beautiful mountains and waters! I’ll start a fire later and catch a pheasant to roast for you!”

Hearing his excitement, Wen Jue’s heart sank a little, but he lifted the curtain with a hopeful smile. “We’ve marched about four hours. Aren’t you tired?”

Changning had already been sent away by Jiang Chuang. Now, only Jiang Chuang stood outside the carriage.

He reached in and lifted Wen Jue down gently. “Are you tired? Tomorrow we leave here, and the road ahead is rough, no more nice scenery. If I don’t show you some fun now, who knows when we’ll get another chance?”

Wen Jue took his hand and said nothing, just stared at him.

As Jiang Chuang spoke, his voice gradually softened. He raised a fist to cough lightly, scanned the surroundings to make sure no one was watching, then bent down and planted a kiss on Wen Jue’s lips. He grinned foolishly. “I’ve been thinking about that all day, finally got one!”

Wen Jue licked his lips, still focused on him. He hadn’t expected that to be Jiang Chuang’s motive.

Seeing Wen Jue still staring, Jiang Chuang leaned in for another kiss, but was stopped by Wen Jue’s hand. Jiang Chuang blinked, wronged. “What? You don’t want a kiss? You’re staring at me like that, don’t you want me to kiss you to death?”

“We’re still outside! Someone might see!” Wen Jue explained, then tiptoed to whisper in his ear, “I’ve been staring at you because… it’s my first time seeing you in full armor.”

Even if all he could see was a vague silhouette, the presence was undeniable. Before Jiang Chuang could smugly ask, “So? What do you think?” Wen Jue whispered breathily into his ear:

“My husband is so handsome~”

Jiang Chuang immediately felt steam shoot from his ears, his face flushed red.

Bai Yuan (from inside the carriage): …Sometimes having good hearing really sucks.