The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 33.2
The gate opened, and the wedding procession stretched into a long line. Qi Ze, wearing a red robe, smiled warmly. Seeing Liu Shuwei come out, he hurried to help her. The crowd cheered. Qi Ze didn’t care, letting his guard, Liu Feng, scatter some tips, then smiling as he helped Liu Shuwei into the bridal sedan.
The last glimpse before the door closed was of Liu Shuwei’s white hand resting in Qi Ze’s palm as she entered the sedan.
As Qi Ze left, the crowd gradually quieted down. The people in the courtyard felt a strange sense of sadness. The gatekeeper’s eyes darted around, thinking that these concubines were clearly all deeply in love with the prince.
Jiang Han sighed inwardly, then looked up at her sisters, smiling, “Today is Weiwei’s big day. Why don’t we have some wine to celebrate?”
Gu Hanyun smiled, “Good idea!”
The other two agreed. They went to the woods in the backyard, asked Chun Zhu to buy two jars of good wine, and sat at the stone table under the trees, drinking and chatting.
After a few cups, Jiang Han felt a little dizzy. She sighed, “Sisters, what do you think will happen to us if the prince doesn’t want us anymore?”
Gu Hanyun hiccuped and said excitedly, “Wouldn’t that be great? Without anyone to restrain us, we can do whatever we want. We can open a pastry shop, and we can go to Seven Treasures Pavilion openly. There’s just one problem: my father might kick me out of the house.”
Chang Qianjiao laughed, “My father too.”
Yu Weiwan remained silent.
Jiang Han sighed, thinking, As expected. She could ignore these things, and the general’s mansion would support her, but Gu Hanyun and the others had many concerns. Their families and the prince were deeply intertwined, and they could easily be labeled as unfilial daughters and kicked out of their homes.
Just as Jiang Han was about to change the subject, she heard the joyful sound of gongs and drums. She rubbed her temples, “Weiwei and the others should be back.”
They sat up, and soon they heard someone shouting, “Please have the newlyweds step over the brazier, to ward off bad luck and welcome good fortune, wishing them a prosperous future!”
Jiang Han listened quietly, thinking that the worship of heaven and earth was about to begin.
Suddenly, there was a commotion next door. Jiang Han heard the exclamations of the guests and the screams of the maids. The sounds of footsteps and screams mixed together. At first, Jiang Han thought someone was causing trouble, until she heard a particularly loud shout, “Someone, get the physician! The bride has fainted!”
Jiang Han immediately stood up, the alcohol instantly gone. Liu Shuwei had fainted? How could that be?
Not only Jiang Han, but the others also quickly stood up and rushed to the prince’s mansion next door. When they arrived, Qi Ze and Liu Shuwei were gone. Only some shocked guests remained, saying, “What’s going on?”
Jiang Han suppressed her panic and asked a guest. The guest said, “They were stepping over the brazier, and we were congratulating them, but suddenly, the bride fell straight to the side. If the prince hadn’t caught her, it would have been a disaster. The prince just called for the physician. The bride should have been taken to see him. What’s going on, this kind of thing happening on the wedding day…”
Jiang Han didn’t hear the rest of his words, quickly heading into the prince’s mansion. The guards inside didn’t stop her, letting her go to Liu Shuwei’s courtyard.
Jiang Han didn’t have time to think about why Liu Shuwei had fainted, rushing to Liu Shuwei’s courtyard, breaking into a run.
When she arrived, Qi Ze was yelling at Shui Lu, “Fever? How did you take care of your miss? She was fine a few days ago. How did she get a fever today? And so high that she fainted? What’s your punishment?”
Shui Lu was kneeling on the ground, crying, “I don’t know. Miss stayed in the courtyard all night, and then, later, she suddenly said she was going to find the princess. When she woke up this morning, she looked very pale. Miss said she was nervous last night and didn’t sleep well…”
Just then, Jiang Han entered. Qi Ze turned to her.
Jiang Han, her cheeks flushed and forehead sweaty, asked, “How is Weiwei?”
Qi Ze narrowed his eyes, remembering what Shui Lu had said about Liu Shuwei going to find Jiang Han before sleeping, and the gatekeeper’s report that Jiang Han was saddened by his marriage to Liu Shuwei. Could it be…
He stared at Jiang Han, like a dangerous animal on the verge of rage, “Did Weiwei go to your place before she went to sleep last night?”
Jiang Han was taken aback. She thought Qi Ze was talking about their meeting in the courtyard. Thinking about what had happened in the courtyard, Jiang Han paused slightly, her eyes flickering, “Yes… Weiwei did meet me last night…”
That’s it, it must be her. That damned woman, Jiang Han. Because she likes me, she can’t bear to see me marry someone else, so she used this trick. She must have done the same thing before, slandering Weiwei behind her back. After being taught a lesson, she became smarter, pretending to have a good relationship with Weiwei, but actually trying to harm her.
Qi Ze’s eyes turned sinister. He stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Han’s neck, asking, “So, what did you do to Weiwei? Why did she suddenly faint today?”
Jiang Han had just run over and hadn’t even caught her breath when Qi Ze suddenly grabbed her neck. He was so strong that he almost choked her to death. Jiang Han struggled, trying to pry his hand off, but couldn’t.
Qi Ze was furious, the veins on his forearm bulging, showing how much force he was using.
Jiang Han rolled her eyes, kicking him in the crotch. He immediately released her, his face dark and his forehead veins throbbing, “Do you want to die?”
Jiang Han coughed violently, but glared at him, “Weiwei came to me to ask some questions. If I wanted to harm her, I would have done it long ago. Why would I wait until yesterday and leave a clue?”
Before Qi Ze could speak, Gu Hanyun and the other three arrived, and the physician came out of the room.
Qi Ze and Jiang Han looked at the physician. The physician was an old man. He walked to Qi Ze and, seeing his pained expression, was puzzled, then spoke about Liu Shuwei’s condition.
He shook his head, “Madam Liu has a high fever, probably from a cold. I’ve stabilized her, but the fever hasn’t gone down. As for when she’ll wake up, it depends on her.”
Then, as a physician, he looked at Qi Ze reproachfully, “Madam Liu is already weak. She needs to be taken care of. It’s the changing season, and people are more susceptible to colds. Plus, it’s getting colder. If she’s not taken care of, she might have lasting health problems.”
Qi Ze looked annoyed. After the physician finished, he looked at Qi Ze again and continued, “Because she’s already weak and has such a severe cold, Madam Liu will probably have difficulty conceiving.”
Qi Ze’s breath hitched, “Physician Wang, is there any way to help her?”
Physician Wang looked at him, “There is, but she’ll have to take medicine every day and take care of herself. More importantly, the medicine is extremely bitter. It will be very unpleasant…”
Qi Ze’s eyes flickered, “Prescribe two doses first. If it’s too unbearable, she won’t take it.”
Physician Wang nodded and said, “The patient needs to rest now. Don’t make noise outside. I’ll check on her when she wakes up.”
“Okay,” Qi Ze replied, “Thank you, Physician Wang.”
Physician Wang shook his head, saying it was his duty, and slowly walked away with his medicine chest.
They stood at the door, looking at each other. Jiang Han, seeing Qi Ze’s pained expression, rolled her eyes and turned to go see Liu Shuwei.
Qi Ze had finally calmed down. He remembered the physician’s words and what Jiang Han had said. He guessed that she might have caught a cold last night. Liu Shuwei was already weak and prone to colds. Maybe it happened while she was looking for her, or something else. Jiang Han’s concerned look didn’t seem like she was trying to harm her.
“Stop,” Qi Ze said coldly, stopping Jiang Han.
Jiang Han stopped, giving him a cold look, “I’m going to see Weiwei.”
Qi Ze sneered, “The physician said she needs to rest. Who allowed you to go in?”
Jiang Han gritted her teeth. If she could beat him, she would kill this idiot now. She took a deep breath and said sweetly, “I promise I won’t make any noise. I’ll just take a look and come out. Is that okay, Your Highness?”
Qi Ze, seeing Jiang Han’s annoyed look, felt pleased. He glanced at her and said, “I haven’t even gone in. Why should you? I’ll go in first, then you can go.”
He turned and entered the room. He even asked Liu Feng to guard the door to prevent Jiang Han from entering. Jiang Han was furious. She couldn’t take it anymore.
This male lead kept going crazy. He could go crazy all he wanted, but he was taking it out on her, grabbing her neck. What did he think she was? A punching bag?
I’ll endure it for now. Once Weiwei is better, I’ll divorce him. Then I’ll be free to go wherever I want. Goodbye to this dead male lead.
With the male lead inside, the others dared to speak. Gu Hanyun, seeing the red mark on Jiang Han’s neck, asked, “Princess, did the prince pinch you again?”
Jiang Han nodded, not caring that Liu Feng was guarding the door, “He was just angry and needed to vent. I happened to come at the wrong time.”
Jiang Han didn’t say how much it hurt, but the other concubines felt sorry for her. Jiang Han smiled and changed the subject.
Soon, Qi Ze came out. They stood up. Qi Ze glanced at them and suddenly said, “Stay here.”
Jiang Han was exasperated, “What is it, Your Highness?”
Qi Ze didn’t speak, walking around them, smiling coldly, “You’ve been drinking?”
Before Jiang Han could speak, Qi Ze said coldly, “Weiwei is sick and can’t stand the smell. You can’t go in today.”
Jiang Han: “?” Damn it, you dog male lead.
Although he was doing it on purpose, Jiang Han knew that the smell of alcohol could irritate the patient, so she endured it, “We’ll go sober up and come back. Is that okay?”
Qi Ze snorted, glancing at them, and left.
Jiang Han, seeing his awkward walk, rolled her eyes, thinking, I should have kicked him harder. He should have been castrated.
••••
That night, they were busy for a long time before they finally saw Liu Shuwei. Jiang Han felt heartbroken seeing Liu Shuwei’s pale face.
It was late when they left Liu Shuwei’s room. Many maids were taking care of her, so they weren’t needed. They returned to their rooms.
Jiang Han, looking at the situation, decided she would definitely get a divorce. But from what she had seen that morning, she might get a divorce, but Gu Hanyun and the others had many concerns. As for Liu Shuwei, Jiang Han wondered how to get her to divorce Qi Ze.
The night was long, and many sleepless people had their own worries.
Now that Liu Shuwei had married into the prince’s mansion, Jiang Han and the others had no reason to stay in the courtyard next door. They moved back to the prince’s mansion.
At night, Yu Weiwan looked at the letter she had received and sighed inwardly. She opened it and quickly read it, frowning.
Her father was urging her to have the prince’s child as soon as possible. He also said she had to have a child before the princess and Liu Shuwei. If the other two had children, she should get rid of them.
Yu Weiwan put down the letter, sighing helplessly. If only they could live like the princess said. They could live together, open a pastry shop, make pastries every day, sell them and go out for a big meal, or eat them themselves. That simple life was what she wanted.
Yu Weiwan quickly dismissed the thought. She wasn’t the princess. She didn’t have the general’s mansion to support her. If she divorced the prince, she would be alone.
With that thought, she wrote a reply to her father. In the past, Yu Weiwan had always listened to her father. She would read his letters carefully and write long replies. But now, she didn’t see the point.
She treated him as a father, but he only saw her as a shortcut to promotion.
On the other side, Gu Hanyun sneaked out of the mansion under the cover of night, heading straight for Seven Treasures Pavilion.
After much effort, she finally got her turn to see Kui’er. As soon as she entered, Gu Hanyun heard Kui’er say, “This gentleman, what song would you like to hear tonight?”
Gu Hanyun chuckled, deepening her voice, “No songs tonight. Tonight, I want the young lady to do something interesting with me…”
Kui’er frowned. There had been such customers before, but after a noble young man was beaten and thrown out by the strong guards of Seven Treasures Pavilion, daring not to utter a word, such customers had become rare.
Kui’er sneered, watching the thin figure approaching behind the screen. She thought, This little shrimp dares to play the rogue. I can handle him myself.
So, when Gu Hanyun walked behind the screen with a sly grin, she was greeted with a blow to the head. Gu Hanyun screamed, revealing her true voice, “Kui’er, are you trying to kill me?”
When Kui’er saw it was Gu Hanyun, she put down the stick, rolling her eyes in both exasperation and affection, “Serves you right. You learn everything bad.”
Gu Hanyun pouted, taking out a box of pastries from her sleeve, “Here, I brought you pastries out of kindness, and you hit me.”
Kui’er looked at the pastries, then at Gu Hanyun’s aggrieved face, softening, pulling her over, “Come here, let me see how you are.”
Gu Hanyun moved over, looking pitiful. Kui’er pulled Gu Hanyun closer, feeling around her head, “Where is it? Let me see.”
Gu Hanyun always smelled of sweet childishness, which others might find immature, but Kui’er found it as sweet as her own scent.
After searching for a while, Kui’er finally found the bump on her head. Gu Hanyun hissed in pain, and Kui’er became gentler, “See if you dare to imitate those rogues again.”
Gu Hanyun’s head was held by Kui’er, her face buried in her bosom, already lost in the tender embrace. Hearing the words, she grinned, “I dare.”
Kui’er raised an eyebrow, pressing harder on the bump, making Gu Hanyun yelp.
Lin Kui released her and turned to eat the pastries Gu Hanyun had brought. Gu Hanyun watched her eat, smiling, “Kui’er, I’ll be able to buy your freedom soon. Wait for me.”
Lin Kui paused, her eyes flickering as she looked at Gu Hanyun, “Thirty thousand taels of silver, you’ve raised it so quickly?”
Gu Hanyun grinned, “Yes, I’ve raised three thousand taels already. It’ll be soon.”
Lin Kui was amused and annoyed, tapping her forehead with her fingertip, her narrow, seductive eyes fixed on her, “How long did it take you to save three thousand taels? I think you’re wasting your time.”
Gu Hanyun said, “Not long. A month. Hehe, I opened a shop with others, and this month I got three thousand taels in dividends. I’ll be able to buy your freedom soon.”
Lin Kui’s eyes softened, then she turned away, “What about after you buy my freedom? Where will I go?”
Gu Hanyun was taken aback, hesitating, “I’ll buy another house?”
Lin Kui’s red lips curved into a smile, her face charming, “And what about you? Once you buy my freedom, I’ll be yours. Don’t you want to taste me?”
Although Gu Hanyun hadn’t eaten pork, she had seen the books about men and women, so she immediately understood Lin Kui’s words. She blushed, stammering, “Kui…Kui’er, what are you talking about? How can women…do that kind of thing?”
Seeing her stammering, Lin Kui leaned closer, her lips curling, “What kind of thing? I didn’t say anything about women doing anything. Does Yun’er know?”
Gu Hanyun: “…I don’t know.”
Lin Kui suddenly laughed, cupping Gu Hanyun’s face in her hands, gently stroking it. She then wrapped her arms around her neck, forcing her to lean back until she was sitting in the chair. Lin Kui straddled her lap, whispering in her ear, “Don’t know? Then I’ll teach you how?”
Author’s Note:
Jiang Han: Wow, you’re faster than me.
Gu Hanyun (shyly): Just Chinese speed.
Proving with my strength that I can do it! I’m capable!