SWHCBB 83

Chapter 83: Husband, Are You Mad at Me?

Wen Jue noticed something was very wrong with Jiang Chuang. For one, he talked much less.

They had learned that in just half a month, Jiang Chuang would have to leave the capital for the border. He had already stayed long enough in the capital because of Wen Jue. Though Huang Guang was stationed at the frontier, it still wasn’t secure enough.

This time, Wen Jue couldn’t go with him. Wen Yan had changed her mind, she wanted him to recover properly at the General’s Manor. If he refused, she’d have someone keep watch over him in the residence every day after Jiang Chuang left.

So they only had half a month of time together left.

Wen Jue felt terrible just thinking about it. He couldn’t help but act coy with Jiang Chuang. “When you get to the border, remember to write me every day! Letters from the border to the capital take about seven days to arrive, so if you write daily, I won’t have to wait a whole week to hear from you, I’ll get one every day!”

But Jiang Chuang just held him and replied blandly, “Alright.”

Wen Jue smiled. “I’ll have Changning help me write to you every day too. Even if it’s not my handwriting, every word will be what I personally dictate, things I want to say to you.”

Jiang Chuang held him tighter. “What do you want to say to me?”

Wen Jue looked up at him, but couldn’t clearly make out his expression, only a vague outline. Still, he smiled and said, “How can I say it now? I’ll save it for the letters!”

“You don’t have anything you want to say to me right now?”

Wen Jue shook his head, tugging at his collar to signal him to lower his head. Jiang Chuang complied, and Wen Jue leaned close to his ear, planting a kiss. With a smile as radiant as spring, he said, “That’s what I want to say to you right now!”

But Jiang Chuang didn’t react with the happiness he expected. He only held him tighter, saying nothing at all.

Then, Wen Jue noticed something else, Jiang Chuang had become somber, preoccupied, and physically distant.

In the past, Jiang Chuang wouldn’t let Wen Jue do a thing on his own. From getting out of bed to washing up, brushing teeth, putting on shoes and clothes, so long as he was around, he insisted on doing it all himself. Besides braiding hair, there was barely a thing Changning could touch.

He took it for granted that anything close and intimate belonged to him. Apart from Bai Yuan, he wouldn’t let anyone else see or help, not even Changning. Wen Jue enjoyed being looked after this way and liked indulging Jiang Chuang’s quiet possessiveness.

And when Jiang Chuang did these things, he would often kiss Wen Jue. Wherever he touched, he would kiss. He’d hold his hand and kiss his knuckles when no one was around. He’d hug him tightly, say outrageous things, tease him until he got flustered, then kiss him again to beg forgiveness.

But now, all of that was gone…

Jiang Chuang still took care of him, but that was it. No kisses, no hugs. The lack of physical affection was far more telling than words, it exposed, clearly and painfully, that Jiang Chuang had started pulling away.

On only the second day, Wen Jue already sensed something was wrong. He too grew quiet. The change was too dramatic for him to ignore. He kept wondering: what had gone wrong between them? Or… had Yunchuan discovered something?

He thought back to the ‘Wen Jue’ in the dream, how that Wen Jue and his Yun Chuan had broken apart despite loving each other deeply. If that Jiang Chuang didn’t love him, why would he risk his life to save him?

Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks appeared in front of him, then withdrew. Jiang Chuang’s voice came, a little cold, a little awkward: “Don’t space out during a meal.”

Wen Jue looked at the food, it was fish. So he was still looking out for him.

Then a chilling memory flashed across his mind: ‘Wen Jue’ standing in front of the General’s Manor gates, waiting for someone. A familiar voice echoed: He won’t even pass by the General’s gates when he leaves the capital. What’s the point of you waiting here, Your Highness?

That sentence made Wen Jue shudder. His blood ran cold, and his eyes widened blankly.

Had that ‘Wen Jue’ broken with Yun Chuan when he left the capital?

Jiang Chuang would be leaving in less than half a month. If… if he didn’t break this stalemate, would they end up like that dream?

No! He couldn’t let that happen! Even if it was just a dream, he wouldn’t let it repeat!

Wen Jue summoned his courage. He slowly started planning in his head, unaware that Jiang Chuang was secretly glancing at him from time to time.

He’d ignored Xiao Yu for two days now. Did that fool even realize he’d done something wrong?

Jiang Chuang was both angry and anxious. He even chewed harder than usual.

What was going on? Shouldn’t he be looking up at him with a sweet smile, saying, Thank you, husband?

Why was he even colder than Jiang Chuang now? Jiang Chuang’s expression darkened. What the hell? Wen Xiao Yu had clearly done something wrong, not him! Why was he the one getting the cold shoulder?

Spoiled rotten! Now he didn’t even know how to coax him like he used to!

The more Jiang Chuang ate, the worse it tasted. He kept his head down and sulked through the meal.

But halfway through, he heard something strange, a sniffle. He turned to look and saw Wen Jue lowering his head, the fish he’d just served him untouched, his shoulders trembling.

He was crying!?

Each sniff hit Jiang Chuang like a hammer to the heart. His expression shifted uncomfortably, but he tried to keep his cool. “What’s wrong? It’s just a meal. What are you crying for?”

Wen Jue wiped his eyes and shook his head. “N-nothing…”

“Then why… why are you crying?” Jiang Chuang asked irritably, glaring at the top of his head.

Wen Jue slowly looked up at him, eyes red like a little bunny’s, his expression full of grievance. In a trembling, tearful voice, he asked, “Husband… are you mad at me?”

Oh no. Why the tears? Why the red eyes? Why that pitiful look?

How was Jiang Chuang supposed to withstand that?

He quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Wen Jue’s tears, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to comfort him. “Well… you did make the first mistake! I’ve been waiting for you to come clean. I didn’t mean to get mad. I just wanted you to reflect a little! But no, you’ve been giving me attitude for three whole days, like you didn’t do anything wrong!”

He sighed. “Just look at you, crying like this! Wen Xiao Yu, are you born to make me suffer or what? Fine, it’s my fault, I shouldn’t have given you the cold shoulder. But… I just wanted you to tell me yourself!”

“Tell you what?” Wen Jue sniffled, still tearful.

Jiang Chuang snorted, pressing the cloth to the corners of his eyes. “This injury! You did it on purpose, didn’t you? Just admit it. I already figured it out.”

Ah… so it was that.

Wen Jue secretly sighed in relief and then looked down, ashamed. “It was on purpose. I just… I was afraid you wouldn’t agree if I told you. I didn’t think the injury would be so serious. I was going to tell you before I passed out, but I didn’t make it in time. When I woke up and saw how much pain you were in, I was even more afraid to say it. I didn’t want to make you angry.”

“You think not telling me wouldn’t make me angry?” Jiang Chuang scolded, smacking his palm lightly in punishment. “We promised, no secrets! But none of that means anything to you, does it? All lies!”

“The one who led the soldiers for rescue was Zhuge Qing, right? So he knew? And Changning? He knew too? Bai Yuan knew. Even your sister knew! Everyone knew, except me!” Jiang Chuang got angrier as he went on.

Wen Jue was overwhelmed with guilt. The more he listened, the more ashamed he felt. He quietly begged for forgiveness. “I was wrong. This plan was massive. I couldn’t have pulled it off without their help…”

Jiang Chuang grew even more upset. He pinched Wen Jue’s cheek fiercely. “So I’m of no use to you at all? Not even worth using? I was never your first choice. I was never the person you trusted most. I’m always the one you leave out, you don’t even need me!”

As he spoke, Jiang Chuang’s eyes reddened, his voice thick with emotion, he was barely holding back a sob. “Wen Jue, you have your schemes, your grand ambitions. You’re willing to give your life to help your sister win the throne. But what about me? What am I to you?”

“What are you saying?” Wen Jue’s pupils shrank. He was stunned. “You… how do you know that?”