Chapter 26
NO ONE HAD EVER said such a thing to Jiang Suizhou in his entire life.
How could Huo Wujiu be so endlessly confident? Regardless of who he was or what he’d done before his capture, even if he were some supernatural, demon-slaying war god, he was now nothing more than a clay statue. Didn’t he realize that right now, anyone could shatter him with the lightest touch?
“You shouldn’t be afraid either.”
And yet, when Huo Wujiu spoke these words, Jiang Suizhou found them strangely convincing. They carried a weight that made him feel as if Huo Wujiu truly, genuinely meant to protect him.
Following this line of thought left Jiang Suizhou dumbfounded.
Huo Wujiu could tell that Jiang Suizhou’s will to fight was quickly draining. The prince’s expression remained cold, but the dazed look in his eyes betrayed him.
He sighed inwardly and released Jiang Suizhou’s wrist.
The harmless white rabbit still insisted on cloaking himself in the skin of a wolf.
He took the jade bowl from Jiang Suizhou’s hand, which finally snapped him out of his daze. Still safely holding the medicine, Huo Wujiu fixed his commanding gaze on Jiang Suizhou from below.
“Go back to bed,” he said.
His steady, unyielding tone was that of a general giving an order to his soldiers.
Only then did Jiang Suizhou realize that he was clad in nothing but thin sleeping robes. His ankles were also exposed.
Early spring wasn’t especially cold, yet even that was unbearable for his frail constitution. In just a brief moment, his body had been chilled to the core.
Jiang Suizhou sheepishly returned to his bed.
Huo Wujiu used one hand to wheel himself to the bedside, where he placed the medicine bowl on the side table.
However, he didn’t leave. When Jiang Suizhou looked over, he realized Huo Wujiu was still watching him calmly. Though he didn’t speak, his demeanor clearly indicated that he wouldn’t leave until Jiang Suizhou drank the medicine.
Jiang Suizhou silently gritted his teeth.
Who’s the prince here, you or me?! A concubine shouldn’t be acting this imperious. You’re clearly overstepping your station!
Despite grumbling so in his heart, he pursed his lips, picked up the medicine bowl, and drank it down in one gulp.
…It was unbearably bitter.
✦ ✦ ✦
Jiang Suizhou’s illness finally improved. Coincidentally, so did a few other matters.
After that day, he came to the realization that perhaps he really didn’t have anything to fear anymore. After all, what he truly feared was Huo Wujiu holding him accountable for any mistreatment endured while imprisoned in Southern Jing.
But now, Huo Wujiu knew what the emperor intended to do and said he would face it without fear. No matter how disgracefully the emperor behaved, it had nothing to do with Jiang Suizhou.
Jiang Suizhou could rest easy, knowing that Huo Wujiu had recognized his attempts to shield him. He had rejected that protection of his own free will.
Still, he couldn’t help but worry a little bit. Over the past few days, whenever his eyes met Huo Wujiu’s in the room that they shared, he found himself wondering what exactly the emperor had planned.
This was a grand occasion, especially for the emperor himself, so it was unlikely there’d be any bloodshed. In other words, Huo Wujiu’s physical safety was assured. Since the emperor was a brainless fool, the humiliation would likely amount to a few rounds of ultimately meaningless verbal bullying and provocation. Certainly nothing to look forward to, but also nothing to be too concerned about.
But beside the emperor stood Pang Shao. Now that man was a plotter, with a belly full of malicious schemes. Jiang Suizhou knew that Pang Shao would faithfully advise the emperor on the application of some underhanded tactics.
Of course, all of said tactics would be aimed at Huo Wujiu. Since Jiang Suizhou had already distanced himself from the situation, he had nothing to fear.
And yet, his thoughts were dominated by worry. As the birthday banquet drew nearer, his anxiety only deepened.
It was strange, but Jiang Suizhou attributed his nerves to the shared predicament between Huo Wujiu and himself.
They were two men on the same boat, buffeted by the waves and wind, sharing both glory and downfall.
What other explanation was there?
In any case, the three days passed quickly. By the time Jiang Suizhou had fully recovered from his cold, the emperor’s birthday banquet was just around the corner.
The day before the event, the royal physician sent by Pang Shao paid Jiang Suizhou another visit.
When the physician arrived, Jiang Suizhou was not in bed but fully dressed. He sat in the main hall, clad in a thin black cloak while he casually read a book. The physician approached, took his pulse, and then stepped back to kneel before him.
Jiang Suizhou withdrew his hand, picked up the teacup on the table, and glanced at the physician indifferently.
“Congratulations, Your Highness,” the physician said, still kneeling. “Your health has greatly improved. This subject can report to the emperor that you will be able to attend tomorrow’s birthday banquet without issue…”
Jiang Suizhou’s brow furrowed.
In a flash, he slammed the teacup down at the physician’s feet. A loud clang pierced the relaxed atmosphere.
The servants in the room were all startled. Even Huo Wujiu looked over from where he was sitting by the window.
Jiang Suizhou sat slouched in the spacious armchair, with one arm draped over the armrest. His cloak was open and hung loosely from his delicate frame, lending to his air of indolence.
His beautiful features were striking as always, but his mien was one of arrogance and apathy. Though his icy gaze instantly struck fear into the hearts of those it landed upon, he also possessed an inexplicable allure. Like a poppy, he had a dangerous, nearly irresistible charm that captivated and terrified in equal measure.
The teacup shattered on the ground. Hot tea splashed onto the physician’s robe, and he choked back the rest of his words, trembling.
“The birthday banquet,” Jiang Suizhou repeated slowly. “Always something about the birthday banquet. Do you keep reminding me because you think I don’t want to attend?”
He knew that this physician was one of Pang Shao’s lackeys. While ostensibly here to monitor his health, he was also on Pang Shao’s orders to make trouble for him.
Pang Shao was shamelessly taking advantage of Jiang Suizhou’s perceived weakness to flaunt his power, which was unacceptable. There was little Jiang Suizhou could do about Pang Shao monitoring his health, but he couldn’t just let him have his way without kicking up a bit of a fuss at least.
He’d make a little trouble himself.
“Of course not!” the physician replied, visibly shaken. “His Majesty ordered this subject to—”
“Did my royal brother say that we’re on such awful terms that I wouldn’t even attend his birthday banquet?”
This was, of course, the truth. But such truths were meant to be left unspoken, for whoever spoke it first would be labeled as unfilial and disloyal.
And if a subordinate said it…that would be considered sowing discord between lord and subject.
The physician dared not admit it and remained kneeling.
“His Majesty certainly did not!” he blurted out desperately, head bowed. “It’s just that this subject…”
Jiang Suizhou gave a joyless laugh.
“Naturally, His Majesty wouldn’t say such a thing. It’s clearly you, a lowly servant, acting out on your own,” he said. “Since His Majesty sent you to examine me, you should focus on your duties. By speaking out of turn and tarnishing His Majesty’s reputation, you leave me no choice but to punish you on his behalf.”
The physician panicked at these words. He hadn’t expected the powerless Prince of Jing, who had been so meek and submissive during his previous visits, to lash out so viciously. Truthfully, he’d thought the prince to be something of a pushover.
No one respected the Prince of Jing, whether inside or outside the palace. Even Minister Pang, when he’d sent him to examine the Prince of Jing, had told him to remind the prince of his place.
The physician opened his mouth to explain, but Jiang Suizhou didn’t give him the chance.
“Meng Qianshan,” he called.
The eunuch had been waiting at the door and quickly stepped forward.
“Cane him with the board, then personally escort him back to the palace. Tell them that this man deliberately sowed discord between me and His Majesty. I’ve already punished him, so the rest is up to His Majesty to decide.”
Meng Qianshan had long disliked the physician, so he was overjoyed upon hearing this. He immediately summoned the servants to assist in removing him from the premises.
“Beat him far away from here,” Jiang Suizhou added quickly, his tone indifferent. “I don’t need the sound disturbing my thoughts.”
Meng Qianshan gave his agreement and directed the servants to drag the physician out.
Once the room was quiet, a maid quickly stepped forward. She carefully cleaned up the mess and poured Jiang Suizhou a fresh cup of tea.
Jiang Suizhou picked it up.
The physician was one of Pang Shao’s men, so he wouldn’t lose his life upon being sent back. Nevertheless, to maintain appearances, he would inevitably be dismissed from his position and banished from the palace.
As a university professor, Jiang Suizhou had never even disciplined a student, much less been responsible for someone being beaten and stripped of their position simply for offending him.
But he’d had no choice.
Those people were relentless in tormenting him. If he didn’t retaliate, they would only grow more audacious. He’d been dragged into the dire circumstances of the body’s original owner. If he couldn’t bring himself to harm his opponents, then he was as good as dead.
Jiang Suizhou looked out at the ornate rooftops that stretched out beneath the gloomy sky, one after another. Right now, it gave him the impression of a sprawling chessboard, and he was just another piece entrapped by the game.
He let out a slow, imperceptible sigh, then picked up the book he’d placed on the table.
He had long grown accustomed to Huo Wujiu’s shadowlike presence in his room, so he didn’t notice that Huo Wujiu had caught his every move and expression.
This weak fool. Even when he was punishing someone who deserved it, he felt uneasy. How fortunate for him that he’d been born into a peaceful and prosperous era. He’d never witnessed bloodshed, much less stepped onto a battlefield. If he ever saw a killing, he’d be frightened out of his mind.
Huo Wujiu lowered his eyes, concealing the complexity of the emotions within them.
Truly, this man was meant to live his entire life pampered, in an era of tranquility.