SWHCBB 73

Chapter 73: Prince Jin’s Husband Is a Crybaby

When Wen Jue awoke, it was already the third day. As soon as his eyes and fingers twitched, someone tightly grasped his hand.

“Zhiyu? You’re awake?” came a hoarse voice.

Wen Jue felt weak. Though his vision was still blurry, the figure before him was unmistakable. “Yunchuan… how long was I asleep?”

Jiang Chuang gently helped him sit up, letting him lean against the bedhead. He brushed all his hair to one side. “Two days. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? The divine physician said once you woke, you could take the medicine. I’ll go get it brewed and call him over.”

Wen Jue didn’t let go of his hand, stopping Jiang Chuang from leaving. Limp in both body and voice, he murmured, “Don’t go. Stay with me a little longer.”

He looked at Jiang Chuang with innocent eyes. The pallor that had hung on his face the past two days finally faded, and some vitality returned. He even raised his arms to circle them around Jiang Chuang’s waist, leaning in with a faint frown and a soft sigh. “I’m so tired…”

Jiang Chuang finally relaxed, the tension in his body easing. He sat beside him and pulled him gently into an embrace. His tired eyes reddened, and he exhaled. “It’s okay… you’ll be fine. Bit by bit, everything will be okay!”

He wasn’t sure whether he was comforting Wen Jue or himself.

Wen Jue smiled faintly. “Of course I’ll be fine! We made a deal. Once I get better, you’re taking me to travel the mountains and rivers, remember?”

Jiang Chuang nodded, sniffled, and patted the back of his head. His voice remained raspy. “Good. Be good, I’ll go get the physician. You just woke up; he needs to check you.”

Hearing him shift, Wen Jue pulled back from his arms, cupping Jiang Chuang’s face in his hands. He studied him carefully and noticed the tear tracks at the corners of his eyes. With guilt, he asked, “Were you crying?”

Jiang Chuang wiped his eyes quickly. “I was scared…”

Wen Jue couldn’t help feeling both guilty and heartache. Everyone knew about the plan, except Jiang Chuang. Because they all knew: Jiang Chuang would never have agreed.

But there was no better excuse to infiltrate Huazhou, to catch the Sixth Prince and his men off guard. And he couldn’t feign illness without risking exposure, which might alert the enemy.

So Bai Yuan prepared a special medicine. After ingesting it, Wen Jue’s meridians would appear frail and erratic, mimicking the signs of a terminal illness. It wouldn’t endanger his life, and the effect would only last five or six days.

At most, he would suffer some discomfort. But there was no real danger. Bai Yuan would remain by his side throughout.

“Yunchuan…” Wen Jue guided Jiang Chuang’s hand to his chest, where his heart beat steadily. His brows curved in a smile. “Can you feel that? I’m alive. I’m fine. After finally being able to love you openly, how could I bear to leave?”

Jiang Chuang could feel the faint thump beneath his palm, and it only made him more anxious. He stared at Wen Jue, who was trying so hard to reassure him, but he couldn’t say a word.

Wen Jue smiled again. “Actually, I was thinking. If something really happened to me, I’d cling to you even as a ghost. I’d haunt you day and night, never let anyone get close. Whoever dares covet you, I’ll scare them to death!”

“Don’t say that!” Jiang Chuang quickly cut him off. He couldn’t help but recall the past life, when Zhiyu had died in his arms, breath fading bit by bit.

Unless they survived this year, he would never be free from that past. In countless nightmares, he still saw Zhiyu blood-soaked in his embrace, and woke up in panic, body drenched in cold sweat.

Only when he saw Zhiyu sleeping peacefully beside him, breathing steadily, could he finally breathe a sigh of relief. He’s still here.

Wen Jue, mimicking what Jiang Chuang had once done for him, used his finger to gently flick the tip of his nose. He smiled and coaxed, “Whose husband is such a crybaby, hmm? You’re like a little sobbing dumpling.”

Jiang Chuang pulled him tightly into his arms, mumbling, “Then let me cry. Crying in front of my own husband isn’t shameful.”

If Zhiyu were truly gone, then he wouldn’t have anything worth staying in this world for. His second life had always been lived for just one person.

Wen Jue was nearly smothered in his bear hug. Still, he reached out to pat his back and gently soothed, “Alright, alright, it’s not shameful.”

Once Jiang Chuang had calmed down, he finally went to fetch Bai Yuan. He also tactfully left and closed the door once the physician began treatment.

But this time, Bai Yuan specifically kept Zhuge Qing in the room. Jiang Chuang was confused. “Divine Physician … do you need him as an ingredient?”

Zhuge Qing rolled his eyes. “Get lost! What kind of nonsense is that? I’m apprenticing under the divine physician now. Learning, alright? Don’t be too jealous.”

Jiang Chuang was about to snap back when Bai Yuan coldly ordered, “Shut the door.”

Zhuge Qing didn’t dare disobey. He quickly closed it.

Jiang Chuang stepped outside and saw Changning still standing guard outside the courtyard, unable to enter either. That made him feel slightly better, until he noticed Changning’s eyes were red too.

Jiang Chuang said, “He’s alright now. He’s awake. Just a bit tired from lying in bed too long.”

Changning exhaled, pressed his palms together, and closed his eyes in prayer.

Though he knew the plan, it had scared him half to death. Scheme or not, he prayed earnestly to all the heavens and Consort Chen: Please protect our prince!

Zhuge Qing said, “We can’t delay. The situation is tense. I’ve been watching closely these past few days. Ever since we entered the city, the rats have stopped crawling out of their holes. But no matter how they hide, if their lair is still there, they can’t run.”

Bai Yuan withdrew his hand after checking Wen Jue’s pulse and quietly continued treatment.

Wen Jue nodded, though he remained uneasy. “In that case, why rush? Should we wait two more days? They’ve stayed quiet this long… yet the moment we arrive, everything starts unraveling. It’s expected that the Xiang family would suspect us. But… if the emperor starts suspecting Yunchuan, it would be completely unfair to him.”

Zhuge Qing chuckled, shaking his head. “And here I thought Prince Jin was ruthless and calculating. Ready to cut ties the moment it was needed. Turns out, the moment you run into that fool Jiang Chuang, you’re all hesitation and fear. Suspicion? The emperor’s always had doubts about Jiang Chuang, one more won’t make a difference!”

“I…” Wen Jue paused and composed himself. It was true. In the past, he wouldn’t have worried so much. But now, he wanted to help his sister, and make sure Yunchuan stayed completely safe.

But how could the world give you everything?

He sighed. Only once my sister ascends the throne… can I stop worrying about anything else.

“You’re right, Strategist. I was being shortsighted.” Wen Jue admitted his fault sincerely.