The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 13
Yu Weiwan was clearly startled by Jiang Han’s sudden appearance. After regaining her composure, she was about to curtsy when Jiang Han stopped her, saying, “Sister Yu, do you have anything planned for today?”
Yu Weiwan’s brows furrowed slightly as she pondered, “Nothing.”
Jiang Han smiled like a fox, “Then would you like to do something fun?”
Something fun? Yu Weiwan didn’t want to. She had been indulging in this sorrow, numbing herself to the reality that she and that man were worlds apart. She was already married, while he remained as bright as the moon. Yet, she couldn’t let go. Once a person developed a fixation, they would torment themselves. Yu Weiwan was just such a person.
Lowering her eyes, Yu Weiwan replied, “What does the Princess wish to do?”
Jiang Han held up a deck of cards and blinked, “Have you played this before?”
Yu Weiwan shook her head, so Jiang Han said, “Then would you like to play with us?”
Us? Yu Weiwan turned her head and realized there were two other people in her courtyard, both of whom were also concubines in the mansion. Yu Weiwan was slightly taken aback. How did she remember that these two and the Princess merely maintained a “respectful” relationship?
Gu Hanyun pulled Chang Qianjiao over to Yu Weiwan and smiled at her, “Sister Yu, will you play with us?”
Yu Weiwan was stunned but eventually nodded slowly.
Jiang Han was overjoyed, and Gu Hanyun and Chang Qianjiao were also surprised, then burst into happy smiles.
Yu Weiwan, however, was a little afraid to face such smiles. The reason she agreed was also due to her own selfish motives.
Since it was their first time playing, Jiang Han only taught them the simplest version of Landlords. During the game, she intentionally and unintentionally mentioned her three brothers, and every time she mentioned Jiang Mai, she could perceive a different reaction from Yu Weiwan.
Jiang Han had a hunch. While telling amusing stories and playing Landlords with the three of them, the atmosphere was harmonious and joyful. As dusk fell, they finally parted ways.
Jiang Han held Yu Weiwan’s hand and said with a beaming smile, “Sister Yu, let’s play together again sometime.”
Unlike her demeanor when she first saw Yu Weiwan in the afternoon, after this afternoon, the melancholy between Yu Weiwan’s brows had dissipated quite a bit. Jiang Han was really amusing, and coupled with the novel gameplay of Landlords, Yu Weiwan had also gained a long-lost sense of joy.
More importantly, with Jiang Han, she could hear news about that person, so Yu Weiwan agreed quickly, “Okay, next time the Princess sends someone to notify me.”
“Alright!” Jiang Han acted like an older sister.
Everyone laughed again, and then they went back to their respective courtyards.
••••
After finishing her evening meal, Jiang Han found that it was already dark outside. Looking at the pitch-black night, she suddenly thought of Liu Shuwei.
In the original story, when Liu Shuwei returned home, it was after she had married the Prince. By then, the Liu family had already fallen into ruin due to smuggling and owed a large sum of money. Therefore, after Liu Shuwei returned, they tried to offer her to another man. The Liu family’s thinking was that since Liu Shuwei had already married the Prince, her body must have been defiled. Even if she was given to another man, as long as Liu Shuwei didn’t say anything, the Prince would surely be unaware.
And they were certain that Liu Shuwei would never dare to speak out. Then, they could plead with her, using their familial relationship and playing the victim card, and Liu Shuwei would have to swallow this bitter pill. And they, too, could turn their fortunes around by doing so.
When Jiang Han read this part, she was disgusted by the Liu family. Besides Liu Ruqing, there was also Liu Bushan, a gambler who contributed to the family’s financial ruin. It was he who suggested offering Liu Shuwei to another man. He was just as despicable as Liu Ruqing, both wanting to sacrifice Liu Shuwei to other men.
However, they did not succeed. They had planned everything, but they hadn’t expected Qi Ze to send people to protect Liu Shuwei.
But now, the two of them were not married, and Qi Ze had not sent anyone to protect her. Surely, nothing would happen to her? Moreover, the Liu family had not gone bankrupt yet.
Jiang Han should have felt relieved, but she grew more and more uneasy. So, under the cover of night, she changed into men’s clothing and sneaked out of the mansion.
The Liu residence was not far from the Prince’s mansion. It was currently rush hour, so Jiang Han found a carriage and stopped a short distance from the Liu residence.
It was already dark, and many houses nearby had extinguished their lights. Jiang Han found the main gate of the Liu residence by the dim light and then climbed over the wall to the backyard.
The Liu residence was not as heavily guarded as the Prince’s mansion, so Jiang Han entered easily. She didn’t know where Liu Shuwei was, so she followed the lights. When she reached a secluded spot, she suddenly heard two low voices.
“Liu Bushan, how much longer do I have to wait? You were the one who said you could offer your sister to me. Do you still want those two thousand taels of silver?”
“Brother Liu, don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon. How about I take you for a drink first?”
“Hmph, I’ll give you a little more time. If you break your promise, you can expect to pay me back!”
“…”
The two walked away, growing farther and farther away. Jiang Han, listening from the side, was furious. Liu Bushan was truly a beast! No, she had to tell Liu Shuwei quickly.
Jiang Han overheard a maid mention that she was going to Liu Shuwei’s room, so she climbed onto the roof and quietly followed her. Once the maid entered Liu Shuwei’s room, Jiang Han climbed onto the roof and carefully lifted a tile.
Through the gap in the tile, she saw a bright interior, and a hazy mist blurred her vision.
Jiang Han had a strange feeling that something was amiss, and this feeling reached its peak when the mist inside began to dissipate. Under the soft yellow light, a large wooden tub appeared before Jiang Han. The tub was filled with hot water, and the steam rose slowly into the air, dissipating the mist to reveal a snow-white beauty with her hair spread out in the water.
Perhaps due to the heat, the skin on the woman’s exposed shoulders was a delicate shade of pink. Her slender arms were like lotus roots in water, inviting fantasies. She slowly raised her hand to tie her hair, and as she did so, the whiteness of her chest gradually became visible in the water.
Jiang Han’s eyes widened. Heaven and earth as her witness, she had come to the Liu residence tonight to protect Liu Shuwei. If she had any other thoughts, may she be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.
The scene was too stimulating. Jiang Han quickly turned her head away, but before she could utter the words “don’t look,” she suddenly felt her footing give way.
Jiang Han: “No way, this can’t be happening.”
The next second, she fell through the tile along with the broken pieces.
Jiang Han: “Heaven, just strike me dead!”
The clatter of broken tiles and the sound of a splash instantly woke Liu Shuwei. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand covered her mouth the next second.
Liu Shuwei’s eyes widened in terror, and she struggled with all her might. Jiang Han winced in pain as Liu Shuwei kicked her. Seeing that Liu Shuwei was about to scream, Jiang Han pulled down her mask and quickly said, “Sister, it’s me, it’s me. Don’t shout, shh.”
Liu Shuwei’s expression went from shock to astonishment to suspicion and finally to annoyance. She stared at Jiang Han with wide eyes, as if questioning why she had fallen from her roof and landed in her bathtub.
Jiang Han couldn’t explain it even if she wanted to, and besides, it wasn’t the time to explain. The noise had been too loud, and the maid outside had already pushed the door open and asked, “Miss, what happened?”
Jiang Han was flustered and instinctively wanted to get out of the tub, but Liu Shuwei suddenly grabbed her and pushed her head underwater. The tub was already quite small for one person, and with two people in it, it was very crowded. Liu Shuwei’s action made it seem as if she was pulling Jiang Han into her embrace.
Jiang Han was caught off guard and pressed tightly against Liu Shuwei’s soft chest. With one eye open, she could see a proud red plum blooming on a snowy mountain. Her head felt like it was going to explode. Jiang Han stared blankly, while listening to Liu Shuwei say calmly, “It’s nothing. A cat jumped through the window and probably knocked something over. I’ll clean it up after I finish bathing.”
Fortunately, the screen blocked the view, so only the silhouettes of the two could be seen. The maid didn’t suspect anything and left.
The moment the maid left, Jiang Han quickly surfaced and then leaned on Liu Shuwei’s shoulder, coughing violently. Liu Shuwei gently patted Jiang Han’s back, and after a while, Jiang Han collapsed weakly against the side of the tub.
Unconsciously, she looked at Liu Shuwei’s rosy face and her gaze swept across her features: her moist, dark eyes, her full, luscious lips. At this moment, she seemed to have lost her usual sickly appearance and was more like a captivating enchantress, stunningly beautiful.
The phrase “a lotus emerging from the clear water, naturally beautiful” perfectly described Liu Shuwei at this moment.
Perhaps her gaze lingered too long, because Jiang Han saw a hint of shyness and annoyance in those eyes. She shuddered and tried to climb out of the tub, but Liu Shuwei gently pressed her down.
Jiang Han looked at Liu Shuwei fearfully, but could only see her slightly upturned red lips through the rising steam. She asked, “Sister, do I look good?”
Author’s Note:
Liu Shuwei: Sister, do I look good?
Jiang Han (with heart-shaped eyes drooling): Hehe, hehe