SWHCBB 27

Chapter 27: Getting Exposed by Royal Sister for Already Having a Beloved

After feeling Wen Jue’s pulse, Imperial Physician Li gave the same conclusion as before: the Fifth Prince was physically frail and needed proper nourishment and rest. Medication should be taken sparingly, as too much would harm his health.

Wen Yan let out a breath of relief. She knew that Zhiyu had always been weak and could only recover slowly. There was no rushing this.

“In that case, I’ll transfer a chef from the imperial kitchen to your manor to help nourish your body,” Wen Yan suggested.

But no sooner had she spoken than Wen Jue immediately refused, “Absolutely not.” Bai Yuan was living in the manor, if that chef discovered anything, Royal Sister would find out sooner or later. That couldn’t be allowed.

Wen Yan raised an eyebrow. “Why not? Are you afraid the chef will tattle to me that you’re picky with your food?”

Jiang Chuang quickly tried to smooth things over with an awkward laugh. “Of course not! Zhiyu isn’t picky at all. He’s just not used to having strangers in the house.”

Wen Jue added, “Right, right. And I’m also worried that Father might…”

He trailed off intentionally, pretending to be troubled. Wen Yan, who adored her brother, would definitely side with him over the emperor.

Wen Yan patted his head. “One day, your royal sister will make sure you don’t have to worry about any of this anymore. No one will dare look down on you again—they’ll have to respect and honor you.”

Wen Jue nodded. “Sister, what brings you here so suddenly?”

At this, Wen Yan finally explained, “Not long ago, someone in the western outskirts of the capital dug up a strangely shaped bone. There was a prayer bead bracelet wrapped around it, etched with scripture, very eerie. Rumors have been spreading like wildfire. Later, someone recognized it as…”

Wen Jue finished for her, “The bracelet of the long-missing abbot of Guiyuan Temple? And the bone was his right thumb, the one he used when he passed into Nirvana?”

“Exactly.” Wen Yan looked at him and gave a helpless smile. She knew it, this had to be a trap that Zhiyu set ahead of time.

It wasn’t something she had expected, and she had a hunch that it was Zhiyu’s doing. She’d initially intended to ignore it, but with all the gossip swirling through both the common folk and the court, she couldn’t believe Zhiyu was unaware, and yet he showed no reaction.

Wen Yan had thought this would be the perfect moment for him to act. But after waiting in vain for any signal from him, and growing suspicious of Changning’s odd behavior, she had come storming in herself.

Only Jiang Chuang looked thoroughly impressed. “Just a few vague details and you guessed it right away. Zhiyu’s so smart!”

Wen Yan gave a snort. “Your husband attends court every day and still has no idea what’s going on. This morning, a minister brought it up in the Golden Hall—he didn’t catch a word of it?”

Jiang Chuang cleared his throat awkwardly. “Those civil officials have been unusually harmonious lately. They all talk so slowly and gently, it nearly rocks me to sleep. If I missed it, that’s not really my fault, is it?”

Wen Jue reached up and tugged on his cheek. “Looks like from now on, you’ll need to report back to me after court and tell me what was said.”

Jiang Chuang’s face was pulled into a strange shape, his voice muffled like a lisp as he protested, “Court’s not a classroom, why do I get pop quizzes now?”

Wen Jue patted his face playfully, ​Read on​clearly enjoying himself. “Then should I call you my student?”

“Ahem,” Jiang Chuang teased loudly on purpose, “Save that for after Royal Sister leaves, we’ll do that one in private.”

Wen Yan deadpanned, “…I’m still here.”

Wen Jue’s face flushed red, as if she’d just caught them in some private moment. He pinched Jiang Chuang’s face a little harder. “Why are you so shameless with your mouth again?”

Jiang Chuang was about to apologize, but Wen Jue quickly covered his mouth, afraid he’d spout nonsense again. “Alright, alright, stop talking. I don’t want to hear it. Yunchuan, go out for now, I want to speak to Royal Sister in private.”

Talk in private? Without him? Did they not trust him, treating him like an outsider?

Jiang Chuang looked a little hurt, but couldn’t say anything in front of Wen Yan. And Wen Jue, unable to see his expression, didn’t catch it either. So Jiang Chuang simply cupped Wen Jue’s face and gave him a deep kiss right in front of Wen Yan before leaving in a rush.

Wen Jue’s face turned beet red. As the door closed behind Jiang Chuang, he awkwardly touched his damp lips, too shy to speak.

Wen Yan’s displeased voice followed, “Tch. Makes me want to have someone toss a sack over that brute and beat the hell out of him.”

“Royal Sister?”

“Relax. He’s the man you risked everything to marry, how could I dare touch him? I’d be afraid of you throwing down your life for him.” Wen Yan teased.

Wen Jue shot back, “Then why did you stop me when I wanted to deal with that Han fellow?”

Wen Yan chuckled and answered calmly, “I’d let you. If you don’t like him, do whatever you please. No matter how fond I am of him, he’s not worth even one of your fingers. There are countless handsome and talented men in the world, but I have only one little brother.”

Wen Jue was struck silent. Then Wen Yan reached out and tapped him on the forehead.

“Silly, aren’t you? Comparing that Han Sheng to your beloved? How’s that even a comparison?”

“What beloved…” Wen Jue mumbled, trying to deny it. In front of Royal Sister, he really had no secrets.

All his so-called calculation and composure evaporated before her. In front of Wen Yan, he was forever the little Zhiyu trailing after her, calling out “Wait for me!”

Wen Yan said, “I must be an idiot for only figuring it out today. You didn’t marry him just for me, you did it for yourself too. Come on, when did you start falling for him? I remember, you barely met him a few times before the wedding, didn’t you?”