Chapter 95: I am really a good person. [One + two updates]

Chapter 95: I Am Truly a Good Person. (Double Update)

Perhaps due to sheer exhaustion, Jiang Yunran had no dreams during her sleep.

She felt as if she were nestled in warm cotton, swaying gently with the breeze, utterly comfortable and at peace.

By the time she awoke, her entire body felt significantly lighter.

Jiang Yunran exhaled softly and slowly opened her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the scene before her.

It was midday, and for her nap, the four-poster bed was not draped with heavy curtains, but merely veiled with light blue gauze.

Beyond the gauze, a figure in dark robes sat quietly.

Jiang Yunran thought she hadn't fully woken.

She murmured to herself, "Am I dreaming right now?"

"Yes, you are dreaming," the man, having heard her whisper, set down his book and rose, walking slowly to the bedside. "What does your Emperor look like in your dream?"

The blue gauze curtain was gently drawn aside, revealing a handsome face that instantly captivated her.

Jiang Yunran blinked, then suddenly reached out to touch Jing Huayan’s brow and eyes.

Perhaps because she had just woken, her expression was tender and affectionate, brimming with love—

an intensity Jiang Yunran would never display when fully awake.

*Thump*. Her heart skipped a beat.

Jing Huayan leaned in slightly, making it easier for her to reach.

At that moment, he also extended his hand, pressing the back of it against her forehead.

The fever was gone; she had returned to normal.

"Are you feeling better?"

Jiang Yunran curved her lips into a smile, her entire demeanor radiating relaxation.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

Her throat was somewhat dry, making her voice sound a little hoarse, but to Jing Huayan, it was warm and tender.

Jing Huayan gazed into her bright eyes, his heart at ease. "How could I ignore it when my beloved concubine falls ill?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Jiang Yunran smiled again.

Her smile was pure and sweet, radiating the most unadulterated joy.

It seemed utterly devoid of any ulterior motives.

Jing Huayan abruptly averted his gaze.

"Time to get up and take your medicine," he said.

With that, Jing Huayan stood and strode quickly out of the bedchamber.

Once his figure vanished behind the screen, the smile on Jiang Yunran’s face instantly faded.

She lay quietly for a while longer before summoning Qing Dai to attend to her.

"How long has His Majesty been here?"

Qing Dai, having styled her hair, replied softly, "He has been here for two *ke* (approximately 30 minutes)."

Jiang Yunran acknowledged her with a hum and asked, "Did you give him a fresh handkerchief?"

"Your Ladyship need not worry. As you previously instructed, both I and Zi Ye remember."

Jiang Yunran nodded in satisfaction.

The two sifted through a jewelry box, finally selecting a velvet hairpin shaped like a peach blossom. Its soft pink hue, pinned into her bun, added a touch of healthy color to her complexion.

Jiang Yunran wore no makeup today. She simply slipped on a water-red *beizi* (a type of jacket) embroidered with entwined peach blossoms and stepped out of the bedchamber.

A true beauty needed no adornment; she remained captivatingly beautiful without any makeup.

Since her promotion to Beauty, the north wing room opposite had also been allocated for her use. Jiang Yunran moved her study to the inner room of the northern side chamber and relocated the previous canopy bed to the inner chamber, making the entire southern side chamber more spacious and brighter.

At this moment, Jing Huayan sat upright on the *luohan* bed by the window, casually reading.

Jiang Yunran stepped forward to pay her respects, but Jing Huayan immediately said, "No need. Sit and speak."

Only after she sat down did she notice that Jing Huayan was reading "The Tale of the Red Hairpin," a book she had not finished earlier.

This book depicted several romantic affairs of a widowed woman from a prominent family.

Jiang Yunran’s face flushed. "Your Majesty, how could you go through your subject’s belongings?"

Jing Huayan remained expressionless but turned a page.

"May I not read it?"

Jiang Yunran shook her head. "It's not that, but... this book is not suitable for Your Majesty to read."

Jing Huayan neither agreed nor disagreed. Seeing Zi Ye bring in the medicine, he nodded to Jiang Yunran. "Take your medicine first."

When it came to taking medicine, Jiang Yunran was never negligent.

To alleviate her menstrual cramps, she no longer found the bitter decoction unpalatable, downing it in one go every time.

Her expression was no different from that of someone facing death with defiance.

Just as she set down the medicine bowl, a candied plum was offered to her lips.

Jiang Yunran lowered her gaze and saw Jing Huayan’s smooth, rounded fingertips.

Blushing, she opened her mouth, and as her lips moved, they brushed against his warm fingers.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

With the sweet and slightly sour plum in her mouth, her eyes wandered. She waved to Qing Dai, signaling for her to lead the palace servants out.

Soon, only the emperor and his consort remained in the bedchamber; even Liang Santai was not present to serve.

Jiang Yunran poured a cup of Pu'er for Jing Huayan and said, "My illness isn't serious. I just caught a chill yesterday and felt a bit dizzy. I was afraid of passing the sickness to Your Majesty, so I reported to have my name removed from the selection roster."

She spoke softly, explaining to Jing Huayan, then lifted her gaze to meet his and pushed the teacup toward his hand.

"Your Majesty's visit truly fills my heart with joy."

Her voice was gentle, her eyes brimming with tender affection.

In that fleeting exchange of glances, everything was conveyed without words.

The careless expression on Jing Huayan's face gradually faded. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

The tea was warm, rich, and bitter, but as it went down his throat, he could clearly feel a sweetness rising afterward.

Just like this moment.

The sweetness seemed to emerge from his heart, making him feel utterly relaxed.

Without realizing it, the corners of Jing Huayan's mouth had lifted, and his eyes softened.

"Knowing you've recently recovered from illness, why are you still so reckless?" Although Jing Huayan was scolding her, his tone was gentle. "If you were worried about Beauty Wei, you could have sent someone to find her. Why did you go out yourself?"

In truth, Jiang Yunran only had menstrual cramps, which could hardly be considered an illness, yet the Emperor made such a production of it.

Jiang Yunran lowered her gaze and sighed. "Sister Wei and Yin Zhui were very close. Ordinary palace maids probably couldn't persuade her."

"Your Majesty, since I entered the palace, I have received much care from Consort Murong and Sister Wei. I naturally don’t want Sister Wei to fall seriously ill, so I had to go out and look for her."

Her words were sincere, reflecting her true thoughts.

"If I didn’t make an effort, I fear I would regret it later."

Jing Huayan looked at the stillness in her eyes and finally sighed.

"Although she was found, still…"

Jiang Yunran shook her head. She looked up with a bitter smile, putting on a brave face. "No matter what, finding her is what matters. Now, with Physician Qian’s exceptional skills, Sister Wei can still recover completely."

Both fell silent.

This idea of a complete recovery was nothing but a deceptive falsehood.

They both knew it well.

After a moment, Jing Huayan said, "I will have Physician Qian provide the best treatment. You need not worry."

Jiang Yunran smiled, the worry between her brows easing slightly. "Your Majesty, is there truly no sign of Yin Zhui?"

The Emperor was busy with affairs of state, working tirelessly every day with the court's political matters. Most matters in the inner palace were reported by the Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Yao, and Liang Santai, among others.

Generally, by this time, the incident had already occurred, and the Emperor’s decision was needed on how to handle it.

A full day had passed since the incident, so Jing Huayan should already know the whole story. However, the disappearance of a mere palace maid didn’t require the Emperor’s attention—Noble Consort Yao could handle it.

He said, "The Noble Consort has issued a verbal order, instructing the Palace Matron Bureau to oversee this matter. Today, the palace staff from the Palace Matron Bureau and the Directorate of Ceremonial have already searched the palace twice with no results."

Jing Huayan looked at Jiang Yunran. "You should understand—she's certainly no longer here."

Jiang Yunran nodded, sighed, and rubbed her throbbing temples.

"I know. I harbor no illusions. But if she’s alive, we must see her; if dead, we must see her body. If we can find Yin Zhui’s remains, we can learn what she experienced before death, where she went, who she met, and…"

Jiang Yunran raised an eyebrow and looked at Jing Huayan. "…and who killed her?"

Jing Huayan picked up the preserved plum seeds on the table and began peeling them slowly.

*Crack, crack*—the sound was crisp.

"What does my beloved concubine think?"

Jiang Yunran shook her head. "How would I know?"

Jing Huayan suddenly chuckled.

He put the fragrant melon seed kernel into his mouth, and a sweet-tart flavor spread, refreshing and tangy.

"My beloved concubine met Beauty Wei yesterday. If you don’t know, then how would I?"

Jiang Yunran let out a soft "ah" and sighed. "If Your Majesty doesn’t know, then I certainly have no way of knowing."

They went back and forth, and finally, their eyes met, and they smiled faintly at each other.

"It seems a detailed investigation is needed."

Jiang Yunran nodded. "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

"However, Your Majesty grew up in the palace and is most familiar with the Palace of Eternal Trust. If one were to hide a body, where would be most convenient and least likely to be noticed?"

Jing Huayan was quite candid. "Wells, lakes, the imperial garden, derelict palaces. Besides, if done flawlessly, it could also be smuggled out of the palace."

This surprised Jiang Yunran.

"How could it be smuggled out of the palace? There are inspections at all entrances and exits."

Jing Huayan looked at her. "There are many methods. It depends on whether one is bold and meticulous enough to carry out murder and dismemberment."

Hearing the word "dismemberment," Jiang Yunran shuddered.

She thought that Nanny Xing hadn’t left the palace recently, so she ruled out the fifth possibility. It must be one of the first four.

Where could it be?

Jiang Yunran drifted into deep thought, and Jing Huayan waved a hand in front of her eyes. "What? That concerned?"

"Of course. After all, it’s a human life."

Jing Huayan nodded. "You haven’t been in the palace long. Here, people disappear every few days."

"Some are found after a few days, others only after many years or even decades, leaving behind nothing but skeletal remains that are impossible to identify. Some simply vanish, leaving only the word 'missing' behind."

"Your Majesty, hearing this, it rather frightens me."

Jiang Yunran blinked at Jing Huayan. "What if something happens to me?"

Jing Huayan held her hand and placed the peeled melon seed kernel into her palm.

"Eat more walnuts to sharpen your mind, then no one can harm you."

Jiang Yunran: "..."

So Jing Huayan had been joking with her.

Jiang Yunran suddenly asked again, "Your Majesty, if it turns out that a consort of one of the palaces personally committed the murder, how would Your Majesty handle it?"

The question was so improper that Jing Huayan was momentarily at a loss for words.

Jiang Yunran looked at him curiously, her heart drumming.

Finally, Jing Huayan turned his gaze to her and said, "I can only address it case by case; I cannot give you a definitive answer."

Jiang Yunran understood.

She lifted her beautiful phoenix eyes, staring intently at Jing Huayan without blinking, as if trying to discern his true thoughts through his expression.

"Your Majesty, what if I killed someone?"

For a moment, the elegant room fell into silence.

Even breaths were held; only the sound of water outside the window could be heard.

As the snow melted, the layers of snow on the eaves were warmed by the sun, dripping down.

Drip after drip.

The sound of the droplets and the melting snow seemed to converge in their hearts, making tension spike.

Jiang Yunran was staking everything.

She was betting on her current place in Jing Huayan’s heart, and also betting on…

The Ruan family’s place in Jing Huayan’s heart.

The weights were placed on both ends of the scale; it all depended on how Jing Huayan would balance them.

Jing Huayan turned to look at her serious expression and suddenly chuckled softly. "That would depend on who you killed."

"If it were the Empress Dowager or me, even I wouldn’t be able to protect you," Jing Huayan said calmly, his words chilling. "If it were anyone else, I could protect you."

This was both an answer and a promise.

Jiang Yunran blinked, her anxiety instantly vanished, replaced with elation.

She took Jing Huayan’s hand, her smile radiant. "I was merely jesting, Your Majesty."

Jing Huayan clasped her hand in return, his palm searingly warm and firm. "I am serious."

"But…" Jing Huayan looked at her deeply, "unless absolutely necessary, do not dirty your hands."

"Killing is never righteous."

Jiang Yunran was stunned.

She instinctively asked, "Has Your Majesty killed someone before?"

Jing Huayan’s face went still, his eyes dark and unreadable, betraying no emotion.

He slowly curved his lips into a smile. "Guess?"

————

Jiang Yunran, of course, wouldn’t venture a guess.

She chuckled softly, gently patting the back of Jing Huayan’s hand, and said in a tone one might use to comfort a child, "Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. It’s all in the past."

Jing Huayan’s eyes were deep, fixed on her without a word.

Even the flawless smile on his face remained unchanged.

Jiang Yunran was not afraid of his expression; her smile remained just as bright, her eyes filled with solace.

"Your Majesty, I am actually quite glad that you were able to protect yourself in those days," Jiang Yunran said earnestly. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in the palace now, nor would I be able to stay by Your Majesty’s side."

"I would never have met Your Majesty."

With Jiang Yunran’s intelligence, she understood everything without Jing Huayan having to say more.

That was why she comforted him this way.

Perhaps Jing Huayan’s heart was strong enough that the past did not linger in his mind, becoming an unresolved burden.

But he still deserved comfort.

Just as when her mother passed away, it was Zhao Tingfang and Mo Li who stayed by her side, supporting each other through the difficult times.

Jing Huayan was the emperor, the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler, with countless people beneath him. He could reign supreme.

But anyone, no matter who, needs friends and someone to confide in.

Jiang Yunran didn’t know if Jing Huayan truly needed it or if she could be that person, but she still had to show sincerity.

Whether he accepted it was his decision; whether she offered it was hers.

To make Jing Huayan let go of his suspicions and trust her completely, to ensure she could move through the palace unchallenged, no matter what she did or who she killed, without fearing the emperor’s wrath.

This was also why Jiang Yunran had waited until today to make her move.

First, because Wei Xinzhu’s condition could not wait much longer, and second, because she gradually understood Jing Huayan’s indulgence of her.

As he himself had said.

As long as she did not commit regicide, he could protect her.

That was enough.

So, after he showed his sincerity, Jiang Yunran wisely became his confidante.

Whether the emperor wanted to discuss the matter or not, she had to first show eagerness to hear him.

Jing Huayan looked down at her, then chuckled softly after a moment.

"Yun Ran, you are truly sharp."

Jing Huayan released her hand, pinched Jiang Yunran’s delicate chin, and gently tilted it up.

"But sometimes, your cleverness and tests are too transparent."

The man’s fingers brushed against her lips, and Jiang Yunran felt unable to move them.

"Yun Ran, between you and me, there’s no need for such formality."

Jiang Yunran, with him gripping her chin, could only look up at him, unable to look away.

Her voice was slightly husky.

"Your Majesty, since I care for you, it is only natural to show it—it's not just empty flattery."

Jiang Yunran’s eyes lifted, her gaze swimming with emotion.

As if the two of them were truly a deeply devoted couple.

"Otherwise, how would Your Majesty know that someone cares about you this much?"

Jing Huayan chuckled, then suddenly released her hand. His laughter grew louder and louder, until he was holding his stomach and laughing heartily.

"Haha."

Jiang Yunran did not know why he was laughing, but this emperor, no matter how upright he appeared on the surface, was deceitful and unrestrained in private.

Fortunately, he still knew to pretend to be a benevolent ruler. Jiang Yunran dared not imagine what the court would be like if one day he decided to stop pretending.

She sat quietly to the side, calmly waiting for the emperor’s sudden good mood.

She showed no signs of unease or panic, merely watching him with a smile.

She maintained this consistency in every word and action.

Jing Huayan laughed for a while, seeming in better spirits. He exhaled and picked up his teacup again.

After talking for so long, the Pu'er tea in the cup had cooled somewhat, but it just happened to wash away the bitterness in Jing Huayan’s mouth.

"Jiang Yunran, you know very well in your heart," Jing Huayan said, draining the cup in one go and pouring himself more tea, "what your true purpose is in your deceitful charm and attempts to bewitch your ruler."

"There’s no need to speak meaningless pleasantries."

Jiang Yunran, however, retorted, "But Your Majesty, have you been bewitched by me?"

Rarely, Jing Huayan’s hand holding the teacup faltered slightly, but he continued his movements naturally, not letting Jiang Yunran notice anything unusual.

Jiang Yunran smiled. "Since Your Majesty has not been bewitched by me, then I must continue striving to make you devoted to me and me alone, so that I am all you need."

Jing Huayan finished the tea in his cup in one gulp and set it down heavily on the table.

"When I was six years old, I still lived in Kunhe Palace."

The young emperor changed the subject, beginning to recall his childhood.

But his brow was etched with severity, showing no nostalgia for the past.

Because his childhood truly held nothing worth remembering.

"At that time, the new empress had already been established, and the Second Prince had just turned three, so naturally he moved into Kunhe Palace as well with the empress dowager."

Prince Rong Jing Zicheng was exactly six months older than Prince Li Jing Zixuan, and both were three years younger than Jing Huayan.

Jiang Yunran had seen both princes at palace banquets; neither was particularly remarkable. If she had to compliment them, she could only praise their youth and handsomeness.

Both had inherited their parents' good looks, though they were not quite as striking as the Emperor.

At this stage, Jiang Yunran felt that this state of testing each other yet growing closer with Jing Huayan was good. Unless Jing Huayan brought it up himself, she never asked about his relationships with the empress dowager, the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort, or his younger siblings.

Thus, Jiang Yunran did not know what the emperor thought of these two imperial princes or whether the brothers were close.

Only the youngest, the fourth Imperial Uncle, Prince Jing, seemed to share a brotherly closeness with Jing Huayan.

Or perhaps, the young prince, who lost his father at ten, saw his eldest brother as a father figure.

He felt both reverence and fear, yet was unable to resist drawing close.

Jiang Yunran’s mind was racing, but Jing Huayan’s next words had already reached her ears.

"Back then, the empress dowager had just become empress and was extremely busy with palace affairs. Although after my mother’s passing, she had temporarily managed palace matters as the imperial noble consort, being empress was still different."

"Throughout the court, inside and outside the palace, including the imperial clan and noblewomen outside the palace, there were countless matters awaiting her attention. At that time, the empress dowager was too preoccupied, only wanting to do her best as empress."

Jing Huayan paused here. "After all, with such a shining example before her, she had to exert all her effort to avoid being judged as inferior to the late empress."

Jiang Yunran was stunned.

She had never imagined that the now noble empress dowager would have felt such pressure from outsiders' eyes and words back then.

"How could that be?" She couldn't picture the scene at all.

Jing Huayan looked at her meaningfully. "After all, the empress dowager had always been smooth-sailing. After entering Yuqing Palace as a secondary wife, Emperor Father treated her with great care. Later, when Emperor Father ascended the throne, she was named Imperial Noble Consort and successfully gave birth to an imperial heir."

"She had never experienced hardship. Perhaps she was too young at the time, valuing reputation and dignity above all else."

Jing Huayan spoke briefly about Empress Dowager Renhui before moving on.

"Setting aside the empress dowager, at that time in Kunhe Palace, because she had no time to spare, not only I but even the Second Prince were raised by nannies."

Empress Dowager Renhui was busy with palace affairs, leaving the children to be raised and taught by palace servants, without playing favorites.

Jing Huayan looked at Jiang Yunran and smiled. "At that time, my nanny was a very kind woman. She had taken care of me since I was born. I thought we had a close bond, and I relied on her greatly."

Jing Huayan sighed. "Ah, I don’t remember her name anymore."

Most nannies in the palace served their young masters for many years. Imperial children were usually weaned around one year old, but nannies continued to care for their daily needs.

Some nannies would return home once the princes or princesses grew older, but they would often ask the emperor for special favors as a gesture of grace and filial piety. If they did not return home, the nannies would follow the princes or princesses for life. When the latter left the palace to establish their own households, the nannies could be appointed as sixth-rank Court Ladies, and some might even be graciously named Honorary Ladies.

Thus, most nannies served their young masters sincerely, and after years of care, they developed real affection.

Decades of companionship, even if initially rooted in duty and status, could eventually foster some sincerity.

For Jing Huayan, who lost his mother at four, those two years that followed were nominally under Empress Dowager Renhui’s care. But with the Second Prince only a few months old at the time, she was not only busy with palace affairs but also caring for her own son, so she was naturally less attentive to Jing Huayan.

It could be said that the young Jing Huayan relied on that nanny for survival.

Hearing this, Jiang Yunran suddenly felt a twinge of pity.

It wasn’t that she sympathized with Jing Huayan or harbored feelings of admiration for him—she simply suddenly realized that Jing Huayan back then was only six years old.

Just a child.

Noticing her expression, Jing Huayan couldn't help but smile.

He calmly picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of tea.

"Although I was young at the time, I had experienced too much; I was wise beyond my years. I don’t know when it started, but I noticed that the nanny had changed."

"She would whisper bad things about Second Imperial Brother in my ear, deliberately egged me on to bully him. On two or three occasions, she urged me to push my second brother, who was playing by the lake, into the water."

Jiang Yunran felt chills run down her spine.

"If it were only that, it wouldn't have been such a big deal," Jing Huayan’s voice was almost icy. "My second brother was about the same age as me, and his mother had become the Empress, making him a legitimate imperial son. He posed the greatest threat to my position."

"Perhaps my wet nurse was genuinely thinking of me, wanting me to quickly eliminate Second Imperial Brother to protect my own status."

Hearing Jing Huayan say such things was even more chilling.

He had said it himself, and Jiang Yunran had cursed him countless times—Jing Huayan was a cold-hearted, ruthless villain. But now, hearing this, she clearly understood the depth of his evil.

Although Jing Huayan was just recounting the past, his tone was unmistakably clear. Everything he said reflected what he had thought at the time.

He was six years old that year.

A six-year-old child saw nothing wrong with scheming to harm another, even younger child.

Jiang Yunran’s expression stiffened. She lowered her eyes, avoiding Jing Huayan’s ice-cold gaze.

Jing Huayan seemed not to notice Jiang Yunran’s evasion and continued, "Although I understood why she wanted me to do those things, I was, after all, a decent person. How could I possibly harm my young brother? Besides… even if I succeeded, what good would it do me anyway?"

Jiang Yunran: "…"

You call yourself a good person? Do you even believe that yourself?

"If the matter were exposed, my position would be jeopardized."

Jing Huayan said, "So I didn’t listen to her. I never followed through even once."

"But she couldn't wait any longer."

"By that time, Liang Santai was already serving by my side, though he had just entered the palace that year. He was only about ten years old and not yet worldly enough, so at first, he didn’t notice her unusual behavior."

"It wasn’t until I began having trouble seeing at night, constantly suffering from fevers and fainting spells, that Liang Santai grew alarmed and secretly discarded the meals she brought."

Jing Huayan paused and said, "It was around then that my stomach problems began."

So, this was the origin of the past Liang Santai had mentioned.

Outside the hall, the sound of water dripping continued.

Inside, a segment of incense stick had burned away—a *ke* had passed.

In that moment, Jiang Yunran’s emotions churned uncontrollably, unable to settle.

After a long silence, Jing Huayan finally spoke, "After going hungry for so long, I became resentful. Finally, I deliberately picked a rainy day…"

He enunciated each word slowly, "I personally pushed her into the Yinsheng Creek."

A flawless smile reappeared on Jing Huayan’s face.

He slowly turned his head, his dark eyes locked unblinkingly on Jiang Yunran.

"I gave her the death she wanted most," Jing Huayan sighed. "I really am a good person."