Chapter 70 – It Has to Be Me

Chapter 70 - It Has to Be Me

Wen Yu was utterly shocked, the events unfolding before his eyes overturning all his preconceived notions.

He also couldn't comprehend why, if Zhu Yan and the Tenth Prince had such a close relationship, the Tenth Prince never thought of helping Zhu Yan in his previous life, nor did Zhu Yan ever mention this younger brother outside?

The Second and Third Princes, burdened by those around them, harmed themselves and each other, dragging Zhu Yan down with them. The Emperor fell gravely ill and passed away, Zhu Yan followed suit, descending into madness, causing one prince's death and another's injury. He himself died outside the city. He wasn't foolish; if all this could have been foreseen, wouldn't it mean that he intentionally made the throne easy for the Tenth Prince? Why?

Was the struggle for succession in his previous life truly just a lucky break for the Tenth Prince?

Or was the Tenth Prince actually the most sinister among everyone? Was his harmonious relationship with Jing Yuqing an act as well? Then what he did today...

Wen Yu couldn't make sense of it, nor did he want to think about it anymore. All he knew was that once again, he had messed up.

He no longer dared to meet Jing Yuqing's eyes.

Jing Yuqing was equally perplexed.

Up until today, his impression of Wen Yu was that aside from having a good background, he was also talented. Most importantly, unlike the arrogant and rebellious sons of noble families, he was understanding and considerate, willing to take care of his mother and showing respect to him. Occasionally, he displayed a touch of whimsy, making their conversations enjoyable.

He yearned not only for freedom but more so for a soulmate, akin to the highest level of marital companionship described in books. He had attempted to move in that direction... but clearly, he failed.

Wen Yu didn't align with him in pace or direction, and even their thoughts were vastly different.

Jing Yuqing lowered his gaze. Indeed, how could the ideal state depicted in books exist in reality? It was all just wishful thinking.

How could the future path be left in someone else's hands? It had to be walked by oneself...

He didn't make any excessive gestures, merely taking a step in the opposite direction of Wen Yu.

This single step couldn't create much distance, but the message it conveyed was deafeningly loud.

Wen Yu stared at the man beside him, his face pale, his body swaying unsteadily.

Wen Ruan watched these two people, silent for a moment, roughly understanding the situation.

He hadn't inquired about the affairs of this couple, nor was he interested. But for these two to appear here, saving a prince... With the imperial examinations next spring, every scholar would want to give it a try, and Jing Yuqing was likely no exception. His visit to the hunting grounds today was probably to expand his network and become familiar faces?

These two must have wanted to seize this 'debt of gratitude', but clearly, the Tenth Prince they 'saved' didn't agree, even feeling dragged down by it, turning it into a futile effort.

Looking at the marks on Wen Yu's body...

Wen Yu furrowed his brows and said to Zhu Yan, "I'll go talk to him for a bit."

"Alright." Zhu Yan was just arranging things for Lan Tian. Although he had agreed to help the Tenth Prince find the old eunuch, there couldn't be no one around his master. So, he hadn't moved yet. Zhu Yan took the opportunity to delegate all the planned tasks, finishing everything with Lan Tian before returning.

Wen Ruan approached, and Jing Yuqing, unable to ignore him, retreated to a distance.

"For a man, is it worth it?" Wen Ruan looked at Wen Yu.

Wen Yu's eyes flickered slightly. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Wen Ruan: "You do understand."

He always felt that there was something inexplicable about Wen Yu, always mysteriously appearing at crucial moments. He didn't know why, but he had never considered investigating.

Because Wen Yu always seemed intent on influencing him, yet in the end, nothing was affected. For such an ineffective threat, he didn't want to trouble himself unnecessarily. But since they met today...

Wen Yu sensed Wen Ruan's gaze on him, light and not sharp, without any scrutinizing intent. It was simply a discovery, a casual glance. Yet, a surge of immense shame welled up within him.

Those were the marks left by his body's pleasure for Jing Yuqing, particularly around his neck and collar, fresh and vivid.

He reached out to clutch his collar tightly, his voice involuntarily sharp. "You're doing it for a man too!"

Instead of enjoying the good life in the capital, he went to the seaside to produce salt, returned to act arrogantly in the palace hall, accepted the bet with the envoy, and despite not knowing how to hunt, ventured into the forest to suffer the cold... What was the point of doing all these things if not to tightly grasp onto Prince Jian!

"Certainly not," Wen Ruan raised his eyebrows. "Every action I take, every step forward, is to make myself better, to pave a smoother path for my ideals. As for whether there will be companions along the way, whether they are pursuing me, and whether I should accept them—it's all secondary considerations."

"The things I want to do, I won't abandon for anyone. Similarly, the things I don't want to do, I won't force myself for anyone's sake. Mutual benefit is a great direction for progress, but sacrificing solely for someone else, sorry, I can't do it. But you?"

Wen Yu bit his lower lip hard.

Wen Ruan genuinely didn't understand. "Is it worth exerting so much effort for someone else?"

"You know nothing..." Wen Yu's words squeezed through clenched teeth. "You know nothing!"

Wen Ruan didn't know, but he could guess. "For the good days ahead?"

Wen Yu's heart tightened.

Wen Ruan then understood even more clearly. "You have high hopes for Jing Yuqing, firmly believing that following him will lead to the good life you imagine. Perhaps... you think that enduring some hardship now and sacrificing certain things doesn't matter, as eventually, there will be a turn for the better, leading to a boundless future of smooth sailing, peace, and freedom from worry?"

Wen Yu was terrified.

He had clearly tested it before—Wen Ruan wasn't a reborn person, lacking foresight of the future. But how did he know! Could it be... he wanted to compete with him for Jing Yuqing!

Wen Ruan was speechless.

The change in the other's expression was too intense, making it difficult for him to pretend not to understand.

"Rest assured, I never compete with others over trash or worthless things."

As he saw it now, Jing Yuqing indeed possessed a rare scholarly air, perhaps also intelligence, but his eyes weren't clear. There was certainly something troubling him, something he didn't understand. To become accomplished, he needed systematic guidance and enlightenment.

But Jing Yuqing had a noticeable arrogance and stubbornness, a strong sense of self-respect, and appeared very concerned about appearances. Attempting to forcibly guide and enlighten him would be difficult; this person might not listen, requiring skill and thoughtfulness.

Wen Ruan felt that perhaps with the assistance of a benefactor, properly refining Jing Yuqing, this person might reach heights unimaginable to others. If left to develop as such, it would be difficult for him to achieve anything significant.

Wen Yu couldn't believe it. You protected him so much in your previous life, and now you call him worthless?

Wen Ruan couldn't help but feel that Wen Yu's gaze was peculiarly foolish: "I'll only ask you this – were you happy and at ease when you did all these things?"

Wen Yu was taken aback.

Not really. He was thoroughly annoyed by Jing Yuqing's insatiable desires, his unwillingness to speak up, and waiting for him to make the first move. He detested how Jing Yuqing's mother, lacking any sense of propriety or shame, manipulated her daughter-in-law. Every day, he had been enduring unbearable torment...

Wen Ruan: "Are you certain that you will soon welcome brighter days, living happily and at ease?"

It didn't seem so.

Wen Yu knew too well that there was still a long road ahead. Even if Jing Yuqing succeeded in the imperial examinations, their family wouldn't suddenly become prosperous. It wasn't as if he could immediately become a powerful minister; it would take years of careful planning and cultivation...

But right now, he was already struggling immensely.

Wen Ruan sighed. "So don't always rely on others. Mountains can crumble, people can run away; only by relying on yourself can you truly be secure. Shortcuts aren't always easy to traverse. Sometimes, what you think is a shortcut might actually lead to a dead end."

Wen Yu didn't want to be lectured by Wen Ruan, especially since the latter was the victor in their previous life. He had experienced everything; how could he understand what an unsatisfactory life felt like?

"Stop preaching to me! Aren't you also deliberately enduring and showcasing yourself to make men like you!"

"For that, I never force it." Wen Ruan's gaze drifted over to Zhu Yan in the distance.

Wen Yu narrowed his eyes. "But he doesn't like you, nor will he ever!"

"How do you know?" Wen Ruan's sharp gaze locked onto Wen Yu. "As far as I know, you've never seemed close to Prince Jian. Why are you so familiar with his affairs?"

Of course, it was because in his previous life, he had lived under the same roof with that ruthless man!

Wen Yu's chest heaved, but he couldn't reveal the truth.

Wen Ruan moved closer. "I've actually been quite curious. How is it that you always seem to know things... things that even the parties involved don't know?"

Such as the existence of Zhu Yan's 'white moonlight', the affairs of Lady Liang's household, and many other matters related to him that hadn't yet occurred.

"I heard... heard about it!"

Wen Yu's eyes flickered. "Don't drag me into your failures. Let me tell you, Zhu Yan is heartless and cruel, a man without feelings. He's hard to deal with. That... that young man once saved his life. They are true loves. You barged in and stole his love; you're the one who's an intrusion. No matter how hard you try, it won't work!"

The more he spoke, the more confident he became, his voice growing louder. "Yes, I need to make great sacrifices and efforts to live a good life, but you don't have that chance. You and Zhu Yan will never have a genuine relationship. You two will only share a bed while harboring different dreams until the day he dies!"

Wen Ruan caught onto the key phrase. "The day he dies?"

Wen Yu nearly bit his tongue. "Don't pretend to be a good person with me. Don't say you're kindly advising me; I won't believe you!"

"It's not like that. Although I'm not that vengeful, I'm not that generous either. After all the times you've tricked me, it's already good enough that I haven't plotted against you," Wen Ruan narrowed his eyes. "I just see you in this pitiful state, as if you won't live much longer. We're blood relatives, and I don't want to be implicated."

Wen Yu: "Rest assured, even if I die, I won't burden you!"

After shouting, he ran off, not wanting to say another word to Wen Ruan.

Jing Yuqing held him back and bowed from afar towards Wen Ruan, seemingly apologizing for his wife's impolite behavior.

Wen Ruan had merely stumbled upon them and decided to chat, hoping to glean some information. Since Wen Yu clearly wouldn't say anything more, pursuing him would be futile.

Zhu Yan approached. "What did he say?"

Wen Ruan silently observed his features for a long time before casually turning away. "He spoke about Your Highness' romantic exploits... Look, everyone knows except me."

Zhu Yan: ...

"Really not."

"Fine," Wen Ruan tilted his chin slightly. "Then, Your Highness, tell me about the lute?"

Zhu Yan looked at Wen Ruan. Due to the cold weather, his cheeks were slightly flushed. Despite wanting to raise his chin in arrogance, he couldn't part with the furry collar around his neck. The snow-white fox fur was incredibly soft, and his delicate chin buried within it looked warm.

And adorable.

This was how his Ah Ruan should be – someone who evoked tenderness at first sight, making one irresistibly want to touch him.

He knew that Ah Ruan was jealous.

Regardless of how pleased he felt inside, he didn't dare show it on his face. Only his overly gentle voice betrayed his emotions. "I told you before that I once desired a perfect lute, but now, I no longer do."

Wen Ruan knew it was because of him.

What Zhu Yan truly sought wasn't a lute capable of producing perfect emotions, but someone who understood his emotions.

Wen Ruan knew everything, and he knew that Zhu Yan was trying to placate him, but he still felt unhappy.

He decided to be straightforward. "Yesterday evening, someone delivered a lute to you. You weren't here, so I received it. The one who brought the lute was a youth, with exquisite features and a refined demeanor. From the lute itself to the bag it was in, everything was meticulously chosen – pinkish light blue, elegant bamboo patterns, very beautiful."

He then shot a glance at Zhu Yan. "He said that Your Highness has been searching for a fine lute, and he offers this one, hoping you will be satisfied."

Zhu Yan felt wronged. "My fondness for lutes is known throughout the world. Over the years, countless people have tried to curry favor with me by sending lutes. Why does this person think his lute is suitable? I've never had any intimate relations with anyone. This person is deliberately causing trouble, tarnishing my reputation, and affecting our marital harmony. He deserves immediate execution. Ah Ruan, you mustn't doubt me and condemn me based on this!"

Wen Ruan grunted but remained silent.

He wasn't a fool. How could he be manipulated by others without question? Even if such an incident truly occurred, he would still ask Zhu Yan about it, and they would discuss it before making a decision. Last night, he didn't bring it up precisely because that person wasn't important – at least, not as important as Zhu Yan's rest.

How could Zhu Yan not understand? Struggling to control his emotions, he embraced Wen Ruan and lowered his head—

Wen Ruan pushed him away in disgust. "I'm still angry!"

Zhu Yan gritted his teeth. "I'll go out and kill that person—"

"Come back!" Wen Ruan pulled him back. "Everyone thinks we'll cause chaos. Must you fulfill their expectations?"

Zhu Yan didn't move a muscle. "They wish for it too much."

He thought the same as Wen Ruan; if others insisted on believing something, they might as well play along and see who truly needed to be disciplined. If they really killed someone, how could they continue with the charade?

Wen Ruan also noticed that Zhu Yan was still trying to placate him, putting on quite a convincing act!

He snorted. "When did you realize I wasn't really angry?"

"When you asked me to do work for you," Zhu Yan pointed at his eyes. "Your eyes showed annoyance and irritation, but no hatred. If I had truly done something wrong that you discovered, you wouldn't have even let me see such an expression."

Wen Ruan shook off his hand and walked forward by himself. "So remember this: in the future, be more careful. If I catch you again..."

Zhu Yan held him, steadying his arm, and helped him onto the horse. "Yes, everything is up to the princess's wishes."

Wen Ruan: ...

"I can ride a horse myself! I can get on by myself!"

Zhu Yan whistled, calling his horse over, and mounted it, leading the way. "Shall we go?"

Wen Ruan glared at him and followed.

As the two of them traveled through the forest, away from prying eyes, Zhu Yan spoke again. "But I must admit, I was once saved by a young man."

Wen Ruan was taken aback. "Huh?"

"Three years ago... or rather, two and a half years ago, I was ambushed and severely injured. I was in dire straits when a mysterious person intervened, diverting some of the assassins. I couldn't hold on any longer and passed out. While unconscious, I was rescued, treated, and managed to survive..."

Zhu Yan turned back, looking earnestly into Wen Ruan's eyes, his emotions complex. "I am indeed greatly indebted to that young man, a debt I have yet to repay."

...

Meanwhile, Fang Rui searched in the direction Wen Ruan indicated, finding nothing. He nearly reached Mount Lengfeng, Wen Ruan's estate, without any discoveries!

So why did Wen Ruan ask him to do this? Was he finally making a mistake in judgment?

Fang Rui was pondering this, planning to tease his young master upon return, when he suddenly noticed something amiss.

Oh no, a Beidi!

Despite the person's disguise, dressed like a local from the capital, their physique and facial features were different. They were stocky and strong, with rugged features. Fang Xiao Hou saw right through the disguise!

This Beidi was sneaking around, directly infiltrating Wen Ruan's estate, and the people there hadn't noticed!

What was the estate manager doing!

Fang Rui picked up a pebble and threw it at Liu Dahai.

"Which naughty brat has an itchy bottom—"

Liu Dahai turned around with great momentum, ready to scold a child, only to suddenly notice another person. "You, what are you doing here!"

He knew everyone in the estate, and this unfamiliar face had silently approached. Liu Dahai immediately felt something was off and blew a whistle to gather people.

"I'm not a suspicious person, nor do I have ill intentions," the person raised their hands, smiling apologetically. "I just accidentally wandered nearby and got lost."

Lost?

Lost enough to wander from the hunting grounds all the way here, precisely finding Wen Ruan's estate and heading toward the backyard?

Fang Rui didn't believe a word.

Liu Dahai laughed coldly. "Don't try that on me!"

His young master was too capable, casually creating lucrative opportunities with perfumes, new wines, salt, cement, and more. Outsiders were drooling with envy, sending people to pry for secrets. Some came openly, easy to reject, while others tried to sneak and steal. How could that be tolerated? They had to be driven away!

"Another one trying to steal our young master's treasures, old men, attack! Don't let him escape, bind him for the young master to deal with!"

"Yes!"

The men were about to charge.

Fang Rui realized this was bad. This wouldn't do...

This Beidi clearly had exceptional martial arts skills. They couldn't just send people to their deaths!

"Everyone, step back, don't advance, I'll handle this!"

Fang Rui charged forward, brandishing his sword.

Ah Ruan was true to his name, soft-hearted, and cherished the servants on his estate. His good brother's servants were his servants, and he had to protect them!

Besides, they were ordinary civilians who shouldn't be hurt like this.

Sigh, in critical moments, no one else could be relied upon. It was up to him, the invincible, brave, wise, and strategic Fang Xiao Rui!