Chapter 3 Jiang Yanzhou

Chapter 3: Jiang Yanzhou

The Jiang family was vast and prosperous. As a sickly individual with no energy to compete with other heirs, he certainly never missed a meal. In fact, fearing that his early death would bring bad luck to the family's reputation, they provided him with the finest clothing, food, and amenities.

But that was the treatment reserved for the Little Young Master Jiang. What did it have to do with the current Jiang Yanzhou?

He had inherited the sickly constitution, but not the memories of Young Master Jiang. Having grown up relying on the kindness of strangers for meals, he had truly never tasted anything so exquisite.

The extravagant luxuries enjoyed by ancient nobility were beyond the imagination of many modern people. Even the wedding cakes from yesterday were made with premium ingredients, but at that time, his sense of taste was impaired, so he hadn't noticed.

Jiang Yanzhou ate the fish chowder slowly with a small spoon. His throat was hardly sore anymore. If not for feeling a bit embarrassed, he would have quite liked another bowl.

The warm chowder heated his stomach, restoring a bit of vitality to his entire being. The lingering bitter taste of the medicine in his mouth also vanished. Satisfied, he used the towel handed by the attendant to wipe his mouth.

Propped up in bed in a thin undergarment, Jiang Yanzhou appeared even more frail and slender, his waist so narrow it seemed one could grasp it with a single hand.

It was early spring, and the underfloor heating was no longer in use. However, the charcoal fire burned vigorously in his room.

Xiao Yunlang, being a martial artist, found it uncomfortably hot sitting there. The heat made him irritable, worsening his mood.

When Xiao Yunlang spoke, his voice was even colder and harder.

"This courtyard is named Yan Gui Xuan. Young Master Jiang will reside here from now on," he said, neither using his name nor his consort title, making the distance clear. "I have assigned five servants for your use. If you find it insufficient, more can be added. For matters within the residence, you may inquire with Steward Wang."

The implication was that they would live separately.

Jiang Yanzhou breathed a sigh of relief: Good, no need to worry about consummating the marriage.

"As for the two attendants you brought from the Jiang residence—"

Xiao Yunlang spoke casually, but his tone brooked no argument. "They served inadequately, causing you to fall gravely ill on your wedding day. They are unfit to remain. A few strokes of the cane and then expulsion. What do you think?"

Jiang Yanzhou was someone he was forced to keep, but Xiao Yunlang absolutely would not allow too many Jiang family spies within his residence. Although his last sentence was phrased as a question, his tone clearly left no room for negotiation.

If Jiang Yanzhou was sensible, he shouldn't openly oppose him.

But Jiang Yanzhou asked instead, "Has Your Highness already driven them out?"

Xiao Yunlang thought he was about to plead for leniency, his eyes narrowing instantly. "Not yet."

He wanted to see what approach Jiang Yanzhou would take to persuade him to change his mind.

Would it be deep scheming, or arrogant and domineering tantrums? Either way, Xiao Yunlang had methods to deal with it—

"Then I request Your Highness to let them stay," Jiang Yanzhou chose neither, speaking bluntly. "I still need them to send messages to the Jiang family."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was shocked!

The attendant holding the wooden tray trembled, causing the dishes on it to clatter. His pupils constricted in horror as he looked at Jiang Yanzhou: Do you even hear what you're saying?!

Is that something that can be said aloud?

Even Xiao Yunlang was momentarily taken aback by Jiang Yanzhou's completely unconventional approach.

He placed his hand down heavily, reassessing this Young Master Jiang.

He possessed a face capable of toppling kingdoms. While asleep, he appeared delicate and docile; but upon waking, his words seemed like a death wish.

Though emaciated to little more than skin and bones, his spine was held straight and upright, standing tall and graceful.

At first glance, he resembled a fragile willow, yet his bones were surprisingly like a pine tree's.

This was somewhat interesting.

Xiao Yunlang abruptly raised a hand. The attendants in the room hastily withdrew, leaving only the two of them.

Before leaving, an attendant thoughtfully placed a low table with tea by the bedside.

Xiao Yunlang's black boots landed heavily on the floor. His gaze was sharp, piercing directly at Jiang Yanzhou. "Do you know what you are saying?"

Jiang Yanzhou's hands, hidden beneath the quilt, subtly tightened. He had never seen such a gaze before; it was nothing like the angry or sorrowful looks he had received in the past.

It was like a blood-stained, unsheathed cold blade, chillingly pressed against one's throat. Meeting those eyes, an awe-inspiring pressure descended from above, making one's heart and courage tremble, daring not to look directly.

Jiang Yanzhou's hands were actually trembling slightly, but after only a slight contraction of his pupils, he did not retreat in the slightest, forcefully meeting that gaze head-on.

Facing such a fierce stare, he was also afraid. But soon, another thought rapidly gained the upper hand, forcefully suppressing the fear—

This was how Xiao Yunlang should be.

Without such spirit, how could he later restore order to the court? A generation's emperor should possess the majestic dignity to look down upon the world.

Jiang Yanzhou's shoulders still trembled, but his eyes were already filled with admiration. His snow-white neck moved slightly. "I know."

"I wish to make a deal with Your Highness."

Oh?

Xiao Yunlang: "Let's hear it."

Jiang Yanzhou: "The Jiang family pushed me into a fatal situation. I wish to exchange information about the Jiang family for a chance to live under Your Highness's protection."

The Jiang family was about to employ schemes, but who would believe it?

A blade-like cold smile curled at the corner of Xiao Yunlang's lips. "And if I refuse, what will you do?"

Jiang Yanzhou was momentarily stunned. The hands he had been clenching tightly under the quilt suddenly relaxed.

It wasn't despair, but rather a feeling of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.

The person who had been somewhat tense just moments ago suddenly relaxed his brows and eyes, his posture becoming at ease. He moved his hands out from under the quilt and picked up the tea from the bedside table.

Premium Yunwu Baiya Tea. Such a fragrant aroma, another thing he had never encountered before.

A strand of dark hair fell beside his pale cheek. Jiang Yanzhou, who had been sitting upright just moments ago, now leaned back against the soft pillow behind him.

The graceful, upright bearing of a gentleman vanished, leaving only the languid beauty of an invalid. A subtle, alluring charm seeped through the gauzy garment.

Jiang Yanzhou's bright eyes held a faint, clear smile amidst the rich tea fragrance. "Nothing."

He looked up. "My body is like duckweed, my fate not mine to decide. I am at Your Highness's disposal."

When faced with life and death, even the hardest bones would turn to mush, kneeling and begging with tears and snot. Xiao Yunlang had seen plenty of that. But it was the first time he had seen someone as composed and indifferent as Jiang Yanzhou.

It wasn't the calm acceptance of death after fear and realization, nor was it heroic disregard for life and death. It was a kind of composure completely detached from the mortal world.

With Jiang Yanzhou's looks, he looked every bit an immortal banished from the Moon Palace.

But the phrase "my fate is not mine to decide" struck a nerve in Xiao Yunlang. His hand tightened around the edge of the cup, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Human effort shapes destiny. If you don't strive, how dare you say who decides your fate?"

Jiang Yanzhou naturally detected the anger in Xiao Yunlang's tone. He didn't know where the Crown Prince's sudden fury came from, but to be reasonable, he *had* tried. Wasn't proposing a deal just now an attempt to strive?

But you didn't agree.

He was too ill to even leave his bed. If Xiao Yunlang was determined to kill him, it wouldn't be any harder than crushing an ant. If bargaining was useless and escape impossible, what else could he do but lie there and await death?

He certainly couldn't bring himself to weep and beg for mercy.

As for relying on his beauty to seduce, that was even more unthinkable. Jiang Yanzhou wouldn't do it, and if Xiao Yunlang could be swayed by mere looks, he would have died a thousand times over long before ever touching the dragon throne.

But Jiang Yanzhou offered no defense.

Although Emperor Wu could tolerate blunt advice, Jiang Yanzhou was not his subject now. Trying to justify himself might only provoke Xiao Yunlang further.

So, Jiang Yanzhou stroked the dragon's scales: "Alright, then I'll strive a bit more. Actually, I'm afraid of pain and can't bear torture. I beg Your Highness to grant me a swift end. Thank you."

*Crack!*

The fine porcelain cup in Xiao Yunlang's hand was crushed to pieces!

Jiang Yanzhou: "..."

Why did the Crown Prince seem even angrier?

Truly, Emperor Wu's grip is formidable.

Just a bit wasteful.

That porcelain looked very expensive—an antique, a fine piece. And the tea inside it wasn't cheap either, was it?

Apart from Emperor Wu, Jiang Yanzhou was also quite interested in ancient poetry, paintings, jade, porcelain, architecture, and the like.

He silently took a sip from his own cup.

He didn't understand tea, but it was truly delicious.

Jiang Yanzhou's eyelashes fluttered again as he tasted something delightful, his eyes blooming with joy.

Xiao Yunlang had been stirred by a nameless, dark anger. He believed in exhausting all human effort before submitting to fate, and he despised nothing more than those who passively awaited doom, blaming heaven and others for their plight.

But Jiang Yanzhou wasn't blaming anyone at all. He was openly resigned. Even if Xiao Yunlang vented his fury, it would likely be like punching cotton.

However, seeing Jiang Yanzhou's delighted expression over a cup of tea, Xiao Yunlang suddenly seized upon a weakness.

The world is full of mortals; there are no true immortals. Where there is mortality, there is desire—be it great things like power, wealth, fame, or small things like wine, lust, greed, or obsession. There is always something one craves.

Could attachment to the mortal world be so easily discarded?

Xiao Yunlang didn't believe it.

"Yunwu Baiya Tea, worth a thousand gold per liang. This year's finest tips yielded only two jin, all presented to the palace by the Wei family. I doubt even the Jiang residence has had the chance to taste it," Xiao Yunlang said, releasing the porcelain shards and wiping the tea from his hand with a cloth. "Does Young Master Jiang like it?"

A thousand gold per liang!

Though aware of the provocative tone, Jiang Yanzhou still nodded.

Something so expensive!

Xiao Yunlang's mocking smile deepened.

"The Jiang family's wealth rivals the state's. The people of Ningzhou and Cangzhou suffer bitterly. Last year, the Jiang residence held a grand feast. Ningzhou delivered the world's freshest 'Tianshui Fish' via an eight-hundred-li express relay. That fish dies within half a day of leaving the river, yet the fish sent to the Jiang residence, packed in ice and rushed over, arrived with its freshness barely diminished. Even the Emperor couldn't forget that taste."

"Jiang Yanzhou, if you die, you'll never taste or touch such things again. All your gold and jade will be handed over to others. Can you bear that?"

Xiao Yunlang had no intention of letting someone named Jiang enjoy something as fine as Yunwu Baiya Tea. He hadn't served it as hospitality but as mockery.

Ah.

Jiang Yanzhou understood. In the end, Xiao Yunlang was still angry at the Jiang family.

But truly, Emperor Wu—even in an argument, his anger was for the people's sake, concerned for the nation and its citizens, a sage's heart!

Even if his temper was peculiar and his thoughts hard to guess, it wasn't a major issue.

The Emperor Wu from the history books, devoted to his country and people, was already taking shape, becoming more vivid.

Jiang Yanzhou's gaze shifted, the clear light in his snow-reflecting eyes growing even brighter in the face of Xiao Yunlang's stormy rage: "Chancellor Jiang's gold and jade have nothing to do with me."

"As for the dowry I brought, Your Highness can convert it into gold and silver to buy provisions and aid the people."

Xiao Yunlang's mocking smile froze at the corner of his mouth.

Jiang Yanzhou continued.

"As for this Yunwu Baiya Tea, I've never had it before. I do like it. It's true I won't get to drink it if I die, so—"

Jiang Yanzhou lifted his teacup, finishing the last of the tea. The nectar moistened his lips, leaving a fragrant taste.

After finishing, Jiang Yanzhou poured himself another cup.

If he'd known it was this expensive earlier, he might have been reluctant to drink it.

But, since he was going to die anyway, he might as well have one more cup before death.

After finishing the second cup, Jiang Yanzhou set down the cup. Sitting obediently, he lifted his chin, his neck forming an elegant curve, offering it for execution, calmly awaiting death: "I've finished drinking. Your Highness may issue the decree."

Xiao Yunlang: "..."

Xiao Yunlang: "......"

This wasn't punching cotton; this was clearly running into a foul, hard southern wall!

But if you dared to charge at it, he would just say, alright, don't bother exerting force, I'll shatter myself for you.

Outside the window, birds chirped cheerfully. Inside, the charcoal fire crackled heartlessly. The Crown Prince, who had been seething for a while, felt his volcano frozen, his smoke signals drenched by rain. All his towering rage and thunderous fury became like the burnt-out charcoal in the room—

Completely extinguished, devoid of temper.

Unable to summon anger, his immense fury was smothered into speechlessness.

Xiao Yunlang thudded back heavily into his chair.

Jiang Yanzhou tilted his head.

Xiao Yunlang rubbed his temples fiercely. After a long moment, he finally found his voice again. "...What information can you offer in exchange for your life?"

"And stop mentioning your dowry," Xiao Yunlang ground out through clenched teeth. "Who wants it?"

If word got out that he'd touched his wife's dowry right after marriage, what kind of man would he be?

The nerve of Jiang Yanzhou to say that!

Those treacherous Jiangs!

Jiang Yanzhou blinked, his eyes beautiful and innocent. Weren't you just unwilling to listen? How did we suddenly do a 180?

No wonder they say serving a ruler is like walking alongside a tiger.

Jiang Yanzhou sighed inwardly. Really, an emperor's mind is so hard to read.