Chapter 3

Jiang Suizhou stepped back involuntarily as the red veil floated down to the ground. 

He felt his heart beating rapidly with shock, and even the blood in his ears surged in the wake of it.

…Just a mere glance.

His eyebrows are sharply shaped and low set, so his eyes appear especially cold and hostile, with a splash of undisguised bloodthirstiness and ruthlessness.

In the midst of his panic, Jiang Suizhou seemed to be looking at a dying beast. Although he was prostrate in front of him, he could pounce on him at any time, bite his throat and die with him.

A bloody smell mixed with the sweet fragrance of the red candles wafted in the air, a little bit like the putrid and cold smell of a cell.

Now, he knew who this person was without asking.

…Wasn’t he the famous God of War of Great Liang, who was crippled by the Hou Zhu of Southern Jing, who would chop his head off and hang it out to dry on the city walls three years later?

Jiang Suizhou pursed his lips and suddenly wanted to apologize to that student of his.

Let him go, please. He wanted to leave.

Jiang Suizhou stalled in place, while Meng Qianshan who was beside him was about to go crazy with trepidation.

What was His Highness doing?! He lifted the veil, but threw it away. At this point, Jiang Suizhou did not utter a single word and stared at Huo Wujiu coldly.

Meng Qianshan cautiously glanced at Huo Wujiu.

He once only heard that the only son of Marquis Dingbei was a young hero rarely seen in the world. Right now, it seemed that the rumors were true. The emperor caught him back and locked him in the imperial dungeon. Those who were locked in there usually did not survive more than three days before being tortured to death.

Yet this Madam Huo survived inside for more than a month.

His lips were abnormally white, and bruises adorned the corners of his lips, along with some dried bloodstains. Not to mention, he was indeed good-looking. He had deep set facial features, exuding aggressiveness. He was the image of a strategic general. Even with injuries, he didn’t look pitiful, but rather conveyed a sense of decadence and fragility.

A visible scar peeked out from a dip in the neckline of the wedding robe. Its muted shade of dark red wasn’t easily discernible against the crimson robes he was wearing.

He decided to take the risk to conclude the ceremony.

With this in mind, Meng Qianshan carefully bowed in respect and brought Jiang Suizhou the nuptial wine.

“Your Highness.” He bowed beside Jiang Suizhou.

When Jiang Suizhou glanced sideways, he saw that the tray held in Meng Qianshan’s hand had two golden cups with wine in it.

He did need to get over his shock.

So, he picked up one of the cups, tilted his head, and drank the wine in the cup clean.

Meng Qianshan’s eyes almost popped out.

…Your Highness! That’s the nuptial wine, the nuptial wine!

Meng Qianshan looked at Jiang Suizhou and then at Huo Wujiu in panic.

One looked as indifferent as a statue, and the other was cold and arrogant as Yanwang. They stuffed the words that were pouring out of his mouth back into his throat.　　

At that moment, he saw his master turn around and put the golden cup back into the tray.

“Withdraw,” he ordered.

Meng Qianshan froze. “Uh, Master…”

He saw his master glance at him lightly, and the flickering candle light illuminated the small mole at the corner of his eye.

“All of you, withdraw.”

——

After the cup of wine was downed, Jiang Suizhou finally calmed down.

By now, he was all but certain that he had become that unfortunate Jingwang who had married Huo Wujiu in the unofficial historical records described in that student’s paper.

After he was sure of this fact, he calmed down a bit.

All in all, this person he suddenly became would die early no matter what. Being killed by Huo Wujiu, on the contrary, was a good thing for him.

After all, an illness was uncontrollable, but relationships between people could be mended.

Huo Wujiu was also regarded as an illustrious figure in history. He defeated the world, but his uncle went to sit on the throne. After his uncle died, it was also his uncle’s son who inherited the throne. On the other hand, Huo Wujiu led his troops back to Yangguan alone and remained there for life.

He believed that if he didn’t humiliate such a righteous man and respected him a bit, Huo Wujiu definitely wouldn’t kill him three years later.

It was just…

He looked at Huo Wujiu.

His identity at present was that of Southern Jing’s prince, and the Huo Wujiu in front of him was an enemy, a traitor.

If he stepped forward and deliberately expressed goodwill, it would certainly attract suspicion, which would be counterproductive.

So…

Jiang Suizhou slowly took a breath and spoke coldly.

“You reek of blood; it’s disgusting,” he said with a sneer.

Although his childhood wasn’t happy, his upbringing was quite strict, so he grew up courteous and polite. He had never uttered such words to anyone.

Thus, he sounded strangely awkward and lacking in confidence.

Fortunately, his voice was cold and carried a dab of condescending arrogance, so he barely covered it up and bluffed his way through.

Huo Wujiu didn’t take up the thread of the conversation.

He looked down and faintly glanced at the red veil that fell to the ground.

He was exceedingly indifferent, with an innate pride. He was obviously at anyone’s disposal, but he was so awe-inspiring that he deterred anyone from taking a single step forward.

Jiang Suizhou pulled himself together and then said, “They sent you to benwang right after dragging you out of prison? Does my Emperor brother really think that benwang has no preferences and can swallow anything in my mouth?” 

He tried his best to be harsh but after these cutting words left his mouth, he felt a shiver down his spine from the unease.

Huo Wujiu’s gaze moved away from the red veil on the ground and swept lightly over Jiang Suizhou.

He saw the man standing in the light, his back straight, his gaze sullen and cold. His pair of fox eyes with upturned tails were brimming under the red candles, and his red attire set off the small red mole at the tip of his eye, making him even more enchanting.

His tone was quite fierce, awkwardly fierce, even with a dash of regret and shame, as if he had never been mean before.

He has fought with Southern Jing many times, so naturally he has also heard of His Highness Jingwang’s name.

He was an invalid, born from a concubine who devastated the country. He was filled with evil tricks and was in no way a person of good character.

Jingwang had a long-standing reputation for being a sinister and vicious man. As early as when he was twelve or thirteen years old and still a young prince, there were always corpses being dragged out of his palace, and their cadavers were totally ghastly. Once he was suddenly enlightened as a cutsleeve, a lot of the male pets he gathered in his backyard died for his entertainment, and there weren’t many left alive now.

But now it seemed…those were exaggerations.

Meanwhile, Jiang Suizhou was only concentrating on deliberating his words, and did not notice Huo Wujiu’s fleeting gaze.

He paused and then said, “I’ll find a physician to examine you tomorrow. If you’re going to die, do not die in my place.” After saying that, he turned around and added, “Thereafter, stay here honestly and give benwang less trouble.”

After speaking, Jiang Suizhou secretly sighed in relief.

…That should have been mean enough, right?

Not only must he retain the ferocity to the enemy and not really hurt him, he must also find excuses to heal his injuries.

It was so difficult. 

Naturally, he was thinking of treating Huo Wujiu’s injuries tonight.

After all, he had only just come out of prison, and Hou Zhu would never extend him medical treatment. Skin trauma wasn’t fatal, but it was unwise to delay treatment. Moreover, Jiang Suizhou, as a modern man who had never seen any bloody scenes, was a bit frightened even by the smell of Huo Wujiu’s blood.

But he knew that was out of the question.

As the only prince in the dynasty, he was still not sure what kind of people were in his manor. It was for this reason that he ordered everyone to retreat just now.

It was naturally unreasonable for him to rush to treat the enemy’s injuries as soon as he was sent in. But if they have spent the night alone, it would be reasonable enough to request a physician for him tomorrow.

So…

Jiang Suizhou looked around without leaving a trace.

This was a chamber specially used for wedding events. Except for the red lacquered bed with gold edges, there was only a narrow couch left for people to lie on.

There was no other place to sleep.

The couch was delicate and unique, with carved corners and a total width of no more than two handspans. It was more like an ornament than a piece of furniture.

Jiang Suizhou’s eyes showed a sense of resignation.

He knew that he could only spend the night on this couch tonight.

Before lifting his steps, he did not forget to turn around and give Huo Wujiu a cold look.

“Go and lie on the bed. Stay away from me, and don’t taint me with your bloody smell,” he said. 

Unbeknownst to him, his condescending and arrogant countenance, coupled with his overly delicate face, made him appear more or less seductive beneath the flickering red candlelights.

After speaking, Jiang Suizhou turned around and went straight to the couch and laid down.

He had to make do with it all night.

He faced the wall and didn’t notice that after he laid down, Huo Wujiu’s gaze fell onto his back.

His cold scrutiny was as icy as a blade buried in the snow and ice of Yangguan.

A moment later, Huo Wujiu withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes. His left hand, which had been resting on his knee, slowly turned over, then he unfurled his palm.

That hand was stained with fresh blood. Under the swaying light of the red candles, he held a wood chip as sharp as a blade in the palm of his head.

It was something he broke off from the inner wall of the palanquin on the way here.

Originally, the wood chip should have been used to slash Jingwang’s throat at an opportune moment earlier on.

But…

He glanced faintly at Jiang Suizhou’s back.

Just now, at the moment he was about to make a move to kill him, he met those eyes.

Bright, clean, yet totally flustered, as if he was scared of him.

Huo Wujiu closed his eyes.

He had clenched the wooden chip tightly in his palm, but at that moment, he made no move.

He seemed to have never had a penchant for bullying the weak.　　

After a few moments, he slowly opened his eyes. He placed both hands on the sides of the wheelchair, and with a little force, moved himself from the wheelchair to the bed.

Pain erupted all over his body, causing his muscles to tremble uncontrollably. He was not aware of it at all. With a slight movement of his hand, he hid the bloodstained wood chip under the bed, concealing the sound amidst the rustling of his garments from when he transferred himself to the bed.

His gaze swept over Jiang Suizhou and saw that he was lying uncomfortably. His back was stiff, as if forcing himself to sleep.

…Tch.

Huo Wujiu withdrew his gaze smoothly.

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