The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 35
Prince’s Mansion.
Qi Ze had taken a leave of absence for a period of time, but he couldn’t break his years of habit and got up early.
At this moment, Qi Ze stood in the courtyard, quietly watching the round water droplets condensed on the withered yellow leaves. Crystal clear and with a hint of coldness, they slowly flowed down the leaf stems. It was already autumn.
He stared blankly at the water droplets gradually falling from the leaves, his thoughts drifting away. When was the last time he took a vacation? He couldn’t remember. He only remembered that after he started serving in the court, he became busier day by day, so busy that he didn’t even notice the changing seasons.
His emperor brother valued him, not only because he had been raised by his emperor brother since childhood, but also because several of his emperor brother’s sons were incompetent. Except for the fourth son, who was a shrewd businessman, the others were hopeless.
Therefore, his emperor brother valued him and wanted someone to assist the successor prince after his death, whoever it might be. But at the same time, he was also wary of him. Over the years, he had never allowed Qi Ze to take charge of military affairs and had kept a close watch on his movements.
Qi Ze never complained and just did his own thing. He had ambitions, but he also knew that the time wasn’t right. So, he pretended to be foolish, pretending that he had no interest in the throne. Because he had done so much for the emperor without complaint, the emperor became more and more tolerant of him.
As long as it wasn’t excessive, he would agree.
And now, his emperor brother was old, and his sons were incompetent. He should help out.
Qi Ze thought quietly. Today was the first day of his leave. The emperor would probably send someone to monitor him. So, he would stay at home and accompany Weiwei, not going anywhere. He would leave the investigation of last night’s attack to Liu Feng. He would personally investigate after finding some clues.
Qi Ze reached out and plucked the leaf, crushing it into pieces before turning and walking towards Liu Shuwei’s courtyard.
It was still early. Knowing Jiang Han and the others, they probably wouldn’t be up yet. That meant he could take a quick look at Liu Shuwei and leave without running into them.
As for why he didn’t want to run into them, it was naturally because he had a bruised face and didn’t want to explain the embarrassing reason.
The sun gradually rose, and the sky gradually brightened.
Qi Ze saw that it was almost time, gently tucked Liu Shuwei’s quilt, and gave her one last lingering look before turning and leaving the room.
Then, at the door, he met Jiang Han and the others walking towards him.
Qi Ze: “…”
Qi Ze instinctively wanted to avoid them, but Jiang Han had already spoken, “Hey! Your Highness, why didn’t you go to court today?”
Qi Ze couldn’t avoid them, his face bruised and swollen, exposed to them.
Even though Jiang Han knew Qi Ze was injured last night, she almost laughed when she saw his bruised and swollen face. She tried to hold back her laughter, pretending to be concerned, “Oh my! Your Highness, what happened to you?”
The others also looked shocked, as if they had never imagined that the prince would be so disheveled.
Under their curious and shocked gazes, Qi Ze was tormented, finally gritting his teeth, “I was ambushed by a group of thugs while investigating a case.”
Jiang Han looked regretful, “Who did it? That’s terrible. Look at your handsome face, it’s turned into a pig’s head.”
“…” Qi Ze gritted his teeth, glaring at Jiang Han.
Jiang Han looked sad, “I’m so heartbroken to see Your Highness like this.” Hahahaha, I’m dying of laughter, Big Pig Head Qi.
Qi Ze couldn’t see any concern in Jiang Han’s expression, but her words were full of it.
Qi Ze was impatient. Their expressions constantly reminded him of what happened last night. He wanted to make a quick excuse and go back to his room. At this moment, a servant suddenly ran over, saying that the emperor’s decree and men had arrived.
Qi Ze’s expression turned serious, wondering what had happened.
As soon as the eunuch came in, he expressed concern for Qi Ze, saying, “His Majesty is very concerned about what happened to Your Highness last night. In broad daylight, under the emperor’s feet, someone dared to put a member of the royal family in a sack and beat him. It’s truly lawless…”
Qi Ze didn’t want to hear what he said next. How did the emperor know? Qi Ze thought of Jiang Yun, who had also been beaten and was taking a day off today…
He rubbed his temples irritably, glancing at the women behind him, who looked like they had just realized something. Wait, how did he explain his injuries to them?
Investigating a case, a group of people, ambushed.
Qi Ze watched the eunuch continue to deliver the decree. The more the eunuch spoke, the more Qi Ze’s expression changed. The eunuch quickly stopped his nonsense, saying, “Your Highness, this is a serious matter. His Majesty requires you to find out who did this within half a month. These people are specially sent by His Majesty to protect you.”
As he spoke, the group of people behind him stood in front of Qi Ze.
Qi Ze’s mouth twitched, his anger building up. What protection? This is just open surveillance. Thinking of this, he thought of the people from last night. If not for them, would there be so much trouble now?
Qi Ze nodded with a dark expression, “I obey the imperial decree.”
The eunuch nodded respectfully, glancing back at Qi Ze’s face as he left. Tsk, that’s a heavy beating.
After the eunuch left, Qi Ze called for Liu Feng, told the people left by the emperor to get ready, and said to the concubines behind him, “I’m going to investigate the case. Take care of Weiwei at home.”
Jiang Han nodded. Before she could say anything, Qi Ze had left like a gust of wind. If he didn’t leave, their eyes would pierce him. Damn it, why did the emperor’s decree come after he lied to them?
Qi Ze was furious, blaming everything on the people from last night.
On the other side, after Qi Ze left, Jiang Han and the others exchanged glances, raising their eyebrows knowingly, then sighed. That damn male ego!
They had planned to visit Liu Shuwei anyway, so after this little incident, they turned and entered Liu Shuwei’s room.
Perhaps Qi Ze had really taken the physician’s words to heart. As soon as they entered, they felt a wave of heat. Jiang Han looked at the braziers in the room and then at Liu Shuwei, who was still unconscious in bed, and sighed.
Liu Shuwei had been asleep for several days. If she didn’t wake up today, it would be a big problem.
Jiang Han sat down by Liu Shuwei’s bed, looking at her tightly closed eyes, a complex look flashing in her eyes. She had also thought about why Liu Shuwei had caught a cold.
That day in the courtyard, they hadn’t stayed for long. It shouldn’t have been so severe, severe enough to be unconscious for several days.
Until one day, she sat at the stone table and found a piece of cloth in the plants by the pond. She had compared it to the dress Liu Shuwei wore that day and found it was indeed hers.
A ridiculous thought popped into her head. Liu Shuwei had fallen into the water, or rather, had deliberately gone into the water. The night before her wedding to Qi Ze. But why?
Why did she do this?
Jiang Han was puzzled, unable to figure out the key. She vaguely felt that it might have something to do with the prince.
She looked at Liu Shuwei, sighing silently. No matter the reason, she was hurting herself, which made Jiang Han feel both sorry and angry.
She had been so careful to take care of Liu Shuwei, but Liu Shuwei had jumped into the lake. It was a waste of her efforts. When she woke up, she would definitely scold her.
Jiang Han thought angrily, reaching out to wipe the sweat from her forehead, when she suddenly noticed Liu Shuwei’s eyelashes fluttering. Jiang Han didn’t dare to breathe, watching Liu Shuwei’s eyelashes flutter faster and faster.
Finally, under her expectant gaze, she slowly opened her eyes.
Jiang Han: “!”
Jiang Han quickly leaned closer, urgently calling her in a low voice, “Weiwei, Weiwei? Are you awake?”
The others, who had been sitting on the rug by the bed, quickly gathered around, shouting, “Weiwei…” when they saw that she had indeed opened her eyes.
Liu Shuwei felt a splitting headache, her body weak. The people in front of her gradually became clear. She saw Jiang Han opening her mouth, calling her with concern.
Liu Shuwei opened her mouth, unable to speak, her throat dry as if it was stuffed with wood.
Jiang Han quickly said, “Water… get some water!”
Gu Hanyun hurried to get water, while Chang Qianjiao and Yu Weiwan helped Liu Shuwei sit up.
When Jiang Han took the spoon, Liu Shuwei was already leaning against the pillow, her face weak and pale, but her eyes were fixed on her.
Jiang Han didn’t notice anything strange, scooping water and bringing it to Liu Shuwei’s lips. Liu Shuwei was really thirsty, almost drinking a whole bowl of water.
Jiang Han put down the bowl, gently wiping the water stains from Liu Shuwei’s lips with a handkerchief, saying, “Weiwei, you’re finally awake. You’ve been asleep for a long time. If you didn’t wake up, the prince would have gone crazy.”
Jiang Han imagined Qi Ze’s increasingly furrowed brows these past few days and the servants in the mansion being scolded from time to time. She also thought about how even the four of them had been scolded several times, feeling a bit emotional.
Liu Shuwei’s eyes finally moved, noticing the absence of the prince. She didn’t ask, but Jiang Han took the initiative to say, “Weiwei, you just woke up. You don’t know, the prince had a bad experience last night.”
Liu Shuwei hadn’t spoken for a long time, her voice a bit hoarse, “What happened?”
Jiang Han, thinking of Qi Ze’s bruised and battered appearance, couldn’t help but laugh, then quickly turned her smile into a look of grief, “The prince was ambushed and beaten with clubs. It was terrible, his face is all bruised and purple.”
Liu Shuwei’s eyes flickered, hiding a smile. The prince was beaten, and the princess seemed very happy.
Liu Shuwei asked, “Is it serious?”
Jiang Han thought for a moment, “He can still get out of bed, so it shouldn’t be too serious.”
Liu Shuwei: “…”
After saying that, Jiang Han quickly changed the subject, “Weiwei, are you still uncomfortable?”
Liu Shuwei nodded, “I still have a bit of a headache.”
Jiang Han said, “Then lie down and rest for a while. The physician will be here soon, and he can take a look at you.”
Liu Shuwei obediently lay down. Jiang Han and the others took off their shoes and socks, sitting on the thick carpet. Jiang Han skillfully took out a deck of cards, saying, “Let’s play a couple of rounds of Landlord?”
A moment later, the physician arrived at Liu Shuwei’s room. Jiang Han and the others straightened their clothes, their eyes following the physician’s movements as he took Liu Shuwei’s pulse, their expressions changing with the physician’s.
Finally, the physician put down his hand, slightly relieved, saying, “She’s much better now, but Madam Liu just woke up, so she still needs to keep warm. She shouldn’t go out these next few days.”
Liu Shuwei, hearing the physician’s address, paused slightly, then lowered her head, hiding the emotions in her eyes. Why didn’t the address she had once wanted so much make her happy now?
Jiang Han didn’t see Liu Shuwei’s expression, nodding quickly at the physician’s words. The physician then looked at Liu Shuwei, saying, “Madam Liu, the prince must have told you that you’ll have difficulty conceiving now, right?”
Liu Shuwei came back to her senses, her eyes flickering. It was impossible to tell whether she was sad or something else.
The physician continued, “But there are ways to help. However, the prescription is very bitter and needs to be taken for a long time. I asked the prince’s opinion…”
“What did the prince say?” Liu Shuwei interrupted, looking up at the physician.
The physician paused, “The prince’s opinion is that you should try it for a while.”
“Okay,” Liu Shuwei’s eyes flashed, “I understand.”
After the physician left, Jiang Han and the others gathered around Liu Shuwei again, looking at her hesitantly. Liu Shuwei smiled gently, “I’m fine, just a little sleepy.”
Jiang Han quickly said, “Okay, then you should rest for a while.”
She then led Gu Hanyun and the others out. Liu Shuwei lay in bed, thinking about the physician’s words, slightly relieved. The prince must be disappointed with this news. That’s good. At least he won’t touch her while she’s recuperating.
••••
Qi Ze was busy all day but found nothing. His expression was a bit dark, but when he returned to the mansion and heard the servants say that Liu Shuwei had woken up, he was overjoyed.
But thinking about his face, he hesitated for a moment before going to Liu Shuwei’s room.
Liu Shuwei was sitting at the head of the bed. Seeing Qi Ze return, her face first showed surprise, then concern. Her face was pale, but she still tried to care for Qi Ze, “Your Highness, are you in pain?”
She didn’t ask how he got injured, just if he was in pain. Qi Ze almost shed tears. Only Weiwei truly loved him.
Qi Ze shook his head, “I’m fine. Weiwei, are you feeling better now?”
Liu Shuwei’s face was still pale, her beautiful eyes carrying a sickly beauty. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, contrasting sharply with her jade-like skin. Perhaps it was because of the candlelight, but Liu Shuwei was shrouded in a layer of hazy gauze, like a sickly fairy, not only arousing pity but also other desires.
Qi Ze was almost infatuated with Liu Shuwei. He could clearly feel the changes in his body. He knew it wasn’t the right time. He looked away, about to say something else, but his face suddenly changed.
His “little junior” seemed to be on strike.
Author’s Note:
Jiang Han a second ago: When she wakes up, I’ll definitely scold her.
Jiang Han a second later: How are you, Weiwei? Wuwu, I was so worried about you.