SWHCBB 81

Chapter 81: The Eldest Princess’s Original Wish Was Only to Protect You

Wen Yan arrived in a hurry this time, a trace of weariness between her brows. Dressed in palace attire with a simple hairstyle, she had come straight from court after finishing the morning assembly and discussions with officials. Han Sheng followed closely behind.

However, this time, the number of guards accompanying her had clearly increased. Some stood at the entrance of the General’s Manor, others inside.

Wen Jue noticed it all and didn’t think much of her display. He was more concerned that the number of people attempting to assassinate his sister and himself was clearly growing.

Han Sheng smiled warmly and bowed first. “Greetings, Prince Jin, General Jiang.”

Jiang Chuang also bowed to Wen Yan. When Wen Jue made to bow as well, Wen Yan spoke lightly, “Sit down. There’s no need for you to bow to me.”

Then she nodded to Jiang Chuang. “No need to be so formal. If it’s truly too much to handle, I can extend your leave on my own authority.”

After all, he had been her brother-in-law for a year, and he had behaved decently. Nothing could be picked on. Both publicly and privately, Wen Yan had a favorable view of him.

Jiang Chuang didn’t think too deeply about it. Upon hearing this, he immediately said excitedly, “Thank you, Elder Sister!”

Wen Jue smiled helplessly. “Why do you dislike attending court so much? So many people would give anything to wield power, yet you avoid it like the plague.”

Han Sheng, still smiling as he stood behind Wen Yan, spoke with a tone that made others feel like a spring breeze: “General Jiang’s ambitions lie on the battlefield, not in the court. Besides, court has been quite noisy these days. If he went, he’d only find it annoying. It’s just a show, whether he attends or not doesn’t really matter.”

Jiang Chuang nodded solemnly. “When those pretentious scholars start arguing, where’s their sense of decorum? They give me a headache. And when they disrespect Her Highness, it just infuriates me. I’d rather stay home and accompany my delicate little husband, isn’t that better?”

Wen Jue couldn’t help but pinch Jiang Chuang and chided him gently with a smile, “You dare to speak like this in front of my sister?”

With someone backing him up, Jiang Chuang got carried away and completely forgot he was teasing her brother in front of the elder sister. He quickly coughed twice, trying to act like nothing had happened.

But Wen Yan didn’t scold them. She just looked silently at Wen Jue, making his heart tremble with unease. Without saying a word, she raised her hand and gestured for the imperial physician behind her to step forward and take his pulse.

Here we go again, this was exactly what happened last time when she got angry after he took it upon himself to request the marriage edict without her permission.

Wen Jue dared not say another word. Han Sheng, standing behind her, acted like nothing had happened at all. Wen Jue couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Chuang, who was also silent and cautiously standing to the side. Neither of them dared to make a sound.

The room grew tense under Wen Yan’s every movement. She silently observed Wen Jue’s eyes, then looked away expressionlessly.

After checking his pulse and examining his wound, the imperial physician reported, “Your Highness, Prince Jin’s wound is healing well, and his overall condition has greatly improved. Given some more time, he should fully recover without needing any more medicine or medicinal meals.”

Hearing this, Wen Yan’s expression eased. “You may withdraw and collect your reward later.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Highness!” the physician replied and packed up to leave.

Wen Yan glanced at Han Sheng, who immediately understood and motioned slightly to Jiang Chuang. “General Jiang, may I borrow a moment of your time?”

Of course Jiang Chuang understood what this meant. “Then we’ll step outside for a while.”

Once they left and only Wen Yan and Wen Jue remained in the room, Wen Jue finally spoke slowly, “Elder Sister…”

He called out carefully, with a touch of grievance, trying to stir up her sisterly affection.

Wen Yan rubbed her temples and sighed in disappointment. “First, you lost your judgment. Then you married a man. And now, you nearly lost your life.”

“I…”

“Zhiyu, sometimes I wonder…” Wen Yan’s eyes filled with sorrow. “Did I choose the wrong path? If, because of my ambition, you keep getting hurt. If you even lose your life, then when I finally reach the position I’ve been plotting for over a decade, won’t I be standing on your blood?”

Wen Jue froze. He had thought she was angry and about to scold him. He didn’t expect her to start regretting the path she had chosen.

Wen Yan, now stripped of her arrogance, lowered her eyes as if she had done something wrong. “But my original wish… was only to protect you. To avenge our mother. Now I find myself more and more unable to turn back. If I can’t even protect you, then what’s the point of taking that throne?”

Wen Jue’s eyes widened slightly. His hands clenched the robe over his body, trembling faintly.

This idea overlapped with the dream he had. In the dream, Wen Jue was ultimately saved by Yunchuan. But given the terrain and the Third Prince’s military strength, would they even survive long enough for Wen Yan to send help?

Maybe he and Yunchuan would both die. Then what about his sister? How would she take the news?

A sting gripped Wen Jue’s heart. Tears quickly brimmed in his eyes and spilled out. “I… I’m sorry, Elder Sister. I didn’t think it through. I was too rash. Besides, I had a physician with me, he wouldn’t have let anything happen to me! I knew that if… if I told you, you definitely wouldn’t have agreed to let me go through with it!”

“I have no right to blame you.” Wen Yan wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes with her fingertips. Her vulnerability lasted only a moment before she quickly steeled herself again. “Forget it. What’s done is done. There’s no point in dwelling on it. Just focus on healing, and leave everything else alone. Do you understand? I’ll make sure Wei Xiuzhu cuts ties with Changning. I’ve already taken in Zhuge Qing, and Jiang Chuang doesn’t need to attend court either. The two of you, husband and… husband, just enjoy being carefree good-for-nothings, understand?”

Hearing this, Wen Jue laughed through his tears and nodded obediently. How could he dare question her anymore? But… “Elder Sister, at least tell me, did our plan succeed or not? I’m dying of suspense!”

Wen Yan gave him a warning look. “This is the last time!”

After the Sixth Prince’s death, he and Wen Jue were both brought back to the capital. Wen Jue returned to the General’s Manor to recover, while the Sixth Prince’s body was taken directly to the Judicial Court.

After the physicians confirmed Wen Jue’s injuries to the Emperor, verifying that they were severe and only survivable due to luck, the Emperor became suspicious: who would dare so brazenly attack two princes at once?

So he sent people to investigate Huazhou. Unexpectedly, they discovered that the Xiang family had been colluding with the governor and prefect of Huazhou, controlling everything behind the scenes. The people were suffering, and they even found that the Xiang family had been raising a private army outside the city, funded by the money they had funneled from Huazhou.

They were immediately charged with treason, and both the Xiang family and the Empress were imprisoned. During the investigation, they found a token left behind by the assassins. The pattern on the token matched exactly the emblem on the Third Prince’s jade pendant.

Thus, the Third Prince was placed under house arrest in his residence, not permitted to leave unless summoned. Meanwhile, Gongsun He was working to firmly pin this black mark on the Third Prince.

The Emperor, enraged by the likelihood that the Third Prince was the mastermind, fell ill and handed over the imperial jade seal to Wen Yan, naming her as regent.

Wen Jue was overjoyed when he heard this, beaming with delight. “Zhuge Qing is amazing! I never thought this plan would work so perfectly!”

Jiang Chuang, estimated that the conversation must be nearing its end, and decided to head back.

Though Han Sheng was good at making conversation, Jiang Chuang didn’t know him well and only wanted to return to where Zhiyu was.

Just as he approached, he heard Wen Yan’s voice.

“Don’t celebrate too early. If the Third Prince escapes this trap, you’re not allowed to get involved again!”

Jiang Chuang froze in place. In that instant, something seemed to click in his mind.

“I understand ~!” came Wen Jue’s playful voice from inside.

But Jiang Chuang felt like he’d fallen into an icy abyss. He turned to look at Han Sheng, who remained calm and composed, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

“General Jiang, looks like the Princess and Prince Jin aren’t quite finished. Shall we walk a bit more?”