The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 38
Liu Shuwei’s breath paused slightly, her eyes flickering. She clearly hadn’t expected Jiang Han to discover and ask this question. Many thoughts and excuses flashed through her mind, but they all gradually disappeared under Jiang Han’s gaze.
She slightly opened her red lips, “I…”
“Sister Jiang, Weiwei!” Before Liu Shuwei could speak, a voice interrupted their conversation, “I think the weather is fine today. How about we go for a walk?”
The words that were about to come out were swallowed back. Jiang Han and Liu Shuwei both came back to their senses, their eyes meeting and quickly separating.
Seeing Gu Hanyun and the others enter the room, Jiang Han sat up from the bed, getting up and saying, “Good, Weiwei has been in the room for so long, let’s go for a walk together.”
“Alright,” Liu Shuwei said, “After I drink my medicine, we’ll go.”
Just as Shui Lu brought in the dark medicine, Liu Shuwei reached out to take it. At this moment, the maid guarding the door came in to report that the third young master of the Jiang family had come to see Jiang Han.
Jiang Han said unhappily, “Did he say what he wants?” Surely he didn’t come specifically to laugh at her.
“Reporting to the princess,” the maid said, “The third young master came to bring honey.”
Everyone in the room was stunned, then looked at the bowl of medicine Liu Shuwei hadn’t drunk yet. Jiang Han said, “Weiwei, don’t drink it yet, I’ll go get the honey.”
Honey, also known as winter brew, was very precious in this era of scarce resources. It was usually supplied to the royal family. The reason the Jiang family had it was that the emperor had once gifted it to them. Qin Mother found it delicious, so Jiang Mai, who was doing business outside, found a way to bring some back.
However, this thing was very precious and rare, so Gu Hanyun and the others were a bit stunned. In short, the Jiang family’s ability to bring honey to send the next day showed their love for Jiang Han.
Jiang Han returned to the room with the honey. The clear yellow, thick liquid was contained in a transparent jar, which was very appetizing to look at. Gu Hanyun didn’t hide the green light in her eyes, almost writing “I want to try it too” on her face.
Jiang Han, seeing the curious faces of the others, asked Chun Zhu to get a few bowls of hot water, smiling, “Everyone can try it.”
After saying that, she unscrewed the jar, took the spoon from Shui Lu, scooped a spoonful and put it into the dark medicine. The honey melted, and Jiang Han stirred it a few times with the spoon.
The smell of the medicine seemed to have faded. Jiang Han didn’t know if the bitterness was gone. She subconsciously put the spoon to her lips and licked it lightly. A modern person wouldn’t think much of it, but this action seemed a bit intimate to others.
Liu Shuwei was slightly stunned, her face quietly blushing.
Jiang Han was completely unaware. After tasting it and finding that the bitterness was almost gone, she scooped a spoonful of medicine and brought it to Liu Shuwei’s lips, “It tastes okay, not as bitter as before.”
Gu Hanyun was the first to react, hesitating slightly, “Sister Jiang, you used that spoon.”
Jiang Han was stunned, slowly realizing what Gu Hanyun meant. The spoon she was holding to Liu Shuwei’s lips trembled. Jiang Han subconsciously wanted to withdraw her hand, but a slightly cool finger grabbed her wrist.
Jiang Han looked up, seeing Liu Shuwei holding her arm, her eyes filled with an ambiguous light. Under everyone’s gaze, she slowly brought her red lips closer, drinking the medicine from the spoon, saying, “It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
The medicine stained her lips, making them look moist. Her eyes, like a pool of spring water, met Jiang Han’s, then looked away, obediently waiting for the next spoonful.
Jiang Han’s face inexplicably flushed. Looking at Liu Shuwei’s obedient appearance, she quickly scooped another spoonful, saying, “That’s good, drink the medicine quickly, let’s go for a walk.”
Spoon after spoon, Liu Shuwei drank the medicine quickly, not like the previous days when she drank the whole bowl. Instead, she let Jiang Han feed her, her face looking very calm, but only she knew what she was feeling inside.
Gu Hanyun and the others, after the initial shock and thought, felt that it was okay. Although sharing a spoon was something only intimate people did, who could say that their relationship wasn’t intimate?
The medicine was finished. Jiang Han couldn’t help but praise, “Weiwei is so good.”
Gu Hanyun and the others couldn’t help but laugh at Jiang Han’s words, which were like coaxing a child, saying, “Yes, little Weiwei is so good.”
Liu Shuwei’s face, which had just calmed down, blushed again. She gave Jiang Han a slightly annoyed look, but didn’t say anything.
Jiang Han smiled happily. After a short rest, they went out for a walk hand in hand.
••••
On the other side, Qi Ze woke up from bed, opening his eyes groggily, but found something was wrong. He sat up abruptly, looking at the woman beside him, his expression suddenly freezing. How could it be Liu Ruqing?!
Qi Ze felt a headache. He tried to recall what happened last night. He went to Seven Treasures Pavilion, ordered a pot of wine, drank some, then met a man. Then what? What happened after that? And why was Liu Ruqing in his bed?
He looked at his naked body and the woman’s sleeping face beside him, feeling a surge of anger. What was going on?
The woman beside him seemed to feel his movement, slowly opening her eyes. She was startled by the man’s expression.
“Prince… Your Highness!” Liu Ruqing was shocked, looking down at her naked body, hurriedly wrapping herself in the quilt, her face instantly flushed, “You…”
“Why are you here?” Qi Ze asked, suppressing his anger.
Liu Ruqing’s eyes instantly reddened, “Your Highness… have you forgotten? Last night, you… you brought me here, and then you… you…”
Tears rolled down her eyes. Qi Ze’s forehead twitched. He brought her here? He had no recollection of what happened after that. Besides, wasn’t he at Seven Treasures Pavilion? How could he meet Liu Ruqing?
Qi Ze narrowed his eyes, sizing up Liu Ruqing. Liu Ruqing, seeing him look over, her eyes flickered, tears continuing to fall.
Qi Ze, feeling annoyed, tried to recall. He saw a man before he passed out last night. A man?
Qi Ze’s eyes flashed. He threw off the quilt, preparing to get out of bed. Liu Ruqing exclaimed. Qi Ze turned back impatiently, seeing a few red spots on the white sheet.
His pupils dilated, then he turned back and grabbed Liu Ruqing’s wrist, “Are you saying I did that with you last night?”
Liu Ruqing nodded shyly, looking like she had been humiliated.
Qi Ze’s eyes flickered. That meant his “little junior” was better? He looked down, his eyes flickering, not knowing what he was thinking. After a moment, he released Liu Ruqing’s wrist, saying calmly, “Let’s pretend this never happened. I’ll give you any compensation you want, except marrying you.”
Although Qi Ze was very busy, he still cared about Liu Shuwei. He had heard about what happened before. This Second Miss Liu was probably scheming. He wouldn’t marry her and couldn’t marry her.
Liu Ruqing’s eyes flashed with jealousy and resentment, then she said tearfully, “I don’t ask Your Highness to give me a title, I just ask Your Highness to take responsibility for me. Even if I’m an outside wife, I’m willing. Besides, I’m already ruined. Which gentleman would want me in the future? Please have mercy, Your Highness.”
A hint of coldness flashed in Qi Ze’s eyes, “I said, let’s pretend this never happened. When I get back, I’ll have someone send you a hundred taels of gold. If you dare to pester me again…”
Liu Ruqing, seeing the coldness in Qi Ze’s eyes, shrank into the corner, tears sliding down her face.
Qi Ze ignored her, putting on his clothes and leaving.
Liu Ruqing was left alone in the room, sobbing. After confirming that Qi Ze had left, she stopped crying, wiping the tears from her face, her eyes filled with resentment.
She looked at the red spots on the bed, then at the wound she had made on her wrist, thinking. Since the prince wouldn’t marry her, she had to force his hand.
••••
On the other side, after leaving the prince’s mansion, they went to a famous maple forest in the capital. It was the golden autumn season, and the maple leaves were falling from the trees, covering the ground with red leaves. At first glance, it looked like layers of red waves on the ground. The crunching sound underfoot added a unique charm to autumn.
They got off the carriage. The maple forest was full of tourists, mostly scholars and young ladies enjoying the scenery, or ordinary people bringing their children to play. Some were reciting poetry, some were whispering secrets, and many children were laughing happily.
The scene was lively. Jiang Han and the others stood on the maple leaf-covered ground, looking at the towering trees on both sides and the endless red maple leaves, feeling refreshed.
Jiang Han asked Chun Zhu to put a cloak on Liu Shuwei, smiling, “It’s always more comfortable to walk outside than staying at home. Weiwei, walk slowly, be careful not to fall.”
Chang Qianjiao glanced at her, raising an eyebrow, “It’s not raining outside, why is the princess so worried?”
Gu Hanyun, who was staring at the candied hawthorns in the hands of a passing child, replied without thinking, “Sister Jiang is always most concerned about Weiwei, doesn’t Sister Jiaojiao know?”
Yu Weiwan’s eyes flashed, smiling, “That’s right, anyone who doesn’t know would think Weiwei married our princess.”
Jiang Han immediately felt guilty. Although she knew they were joking, she still restrained herself. She secretly glanced at Liu Shuwei, only to see Liu Shuwei turning her head to smile at her.
Jiang Han’s heart instantly fluttered. She turned her head, pretending to be angry, “What’s wrong? You make it sound like I treat you badly.”
Gu Hanyun giggled, “Yes, yes, Sister Jiang is the best, so can Sister Jiang buy me a candied hawthorn?”
Jiang Han: “…All you think about is food.”
Gu Hanyun: “Hehe, a person who doesn’t love food isn’t worthy of being a person.”
Jiang Han sighed helplessly, taking out some money to buy some. Liu Shuwei and Gu Hanyun naturally followed her, while Chang Qianjiao and Yu Weiwan waited for them to return.
At this moment, a scream suddenly came from deep within the maple forest, accompanied by the desperate neighing of horses and a young man’s shout, “Get out of the way! The horse is out of control!”
People screamed and ran away. Jiang Han, hearing the shout, realized something was wrong. She pulled Liu Shuwei and Gu Hanyun away, turning to see the horse rushing towards Chang Qianjiao and Yu Weiwan like a gust of wind.
“Jiaojiao! Wanwan!”
The frantic horse neighed angrily, kicking its hooves. In that instant, Jiang Han saw Chang Qianjiao suddenly push Yu Weiwan away. The horse was almost upon her, its large hooves raised high, as if to crush the petite human in front of it.
Yu Weiwan watched in panic as Chang Qianjiao pushed her away, shouting, “Jiaojiao!”
Chang Qianjiao’s face turned pale, the sudden terror making her close her eyes tightly. Just as the hooves were about to fall, the young man on the horse gritted his teeth, released the reins, and jumped towards Chang Qianjiao.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment. The young man flew towards Chang Qianjiao, grabbing her and rolling away before the hooves fell. At the same time, a pair of strong hands wrapped around Yu Weiwan, who was about to fall, and gracefully retreated.
The horse, having missed its target, became even more frantic. At this moment, a small stone hit the horse’s side, causing it to stumble and fall to the ground, moaning.
Everything happened so fast that everyone was almost scared to death. Jiang Han, seeing the figure suddenly appearing behind Yu Weiwan, exclaimed, “Third Brother?”
Author’s Note:
I’m here to pay my debt.