Chapter 46

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiren turned pale with fright. “Why would Your Majesty say that?”
Chen Fashan's face was ashen as he said, “I just passed by Xiao Changyuan's house, and he suddenly attacked me with a snowball to test me. It must be because of what happened between me and Jiang Cuicui a few days ago that aroused his suspicion. That's why he suddenly made a move against me today.”
Chen Fashan's expression was dark, his gaze gloomy.
Fear was like an invisible hand gripping his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
He began to carefully recall every word, every action, and every glance from the day he confessed to Jiang Cuicui, trying to figure out which detail had gone wrong to make Xiao Changyuan suddenly suspicious of him.
The more Chen Fashan thought about it, the more uneasy and fearful he became.
Every sound seemed like a threat, every shadow a danger.
Zhou Qiren hesitated and said, “Could it be that Jiang Cuicui said something to Yun Pianpian?”
Hearing this, Chen Fashan was slightly taken aback.
He frowned and looked at Zhou Qiren.
“Jiang Cuicui?”
It had been a long time since Chen Fashan had thought of this woman.
Zhou Qiren lowered his head, speaking with trepidation, “Jiang Cuicui and Yun Pianpian are close friends, very intimate. Your Majesty hasn't visited Jiang Cuicui for a while. Could it be that Jiang Cuicui told Yun Pianpian about this, which then aroused Xiao Changyuan's suspicion?”
Upon hearing this, Chen Fashan's face gradually darkened, like storm clouds gathering.
“So it's because of Jiang Cuicui.”
Hearing the chill in Chen Fashan's tone, Zhou Qiren worried that Chen Fashan still intended to kill Jiang Cuicui. He quickly advised, “Your Majesty, now that Jiang Cuicui is connected to you, if she were to die under suspicious circumstances, Xiao Changyuan would surely suspect you.”
“I naturally know we can't kill Jiang Cuicui now.”
Chen Fashan frowned impatiently and raised his hand, cutting off Zhou Qiren's words.
Zhou Qiren had no choice but to close his mouth and swallow the rest of his unspoken words.
After a moment, Zhou Qiren cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, what should we do now?”
Chen Fashan's gaze was dark and somber as he said, “I will go find Jiang Cuicui.”
To untie the bell, one must seek the one who tied it.
Since Xiao Changyuan had grown suspicious of him because of Jiang Cuicui, he would use Jiang Cuicui to dispel those doubts.
The next day, Chen Fashan sent Zhou Qiren to Jiang Cuicui’s home to arrange a meeting.
The two met in the small woods at the edge of the village.
After that day, Jiang Cuicui had not seen Chen Fashan again. She had thought he had given up on her and didn’t dare to see her, which had left her feeling disheartened for a long time. She never expected that Chen Fashan would come looking for her again today.
Jiang Cuicui’s heart leaped with joy.
She put on her prettiest dress and walked through the winter chill, her heart brimming with happiness as she went to meet him. The dress was thin, and soon she was shivering all over from the cold, but the thought of Chen Fashan waiting for her made her feel not the slightest bit of chill.
From afar, she saw Chen Fashan standing alone in the woods.
Her heart raced wildly.
She didn’t realize it was an animal’s instinctive reaction to danger, she mistakenly believed it was the stirrings of love.
During her idle moments at home, Jiang Cuicui often thought of Chen Fashan, his words from that day, his bitter tone, his shy and timid expression. Every time she recalled him, her heart would beat uncontrollably fast.
This was a feeling Jiang Sheyu had never given her.
Jiang Cuicui had always thought she liked Jiang Sheyu, but it wasn’t until the day Chen Fashan confessed that she realized her feelings for Jiang Sheyu were merely admiration and infatuation, while her feelings for Chen Fashan were true affection.
Her racing heart gave her this illusion.
Jiang Cuicui slowly approached the man destined to bring danger.
A shy smile graced her small face.
“A’Shan, I’m here.”
Chen Fashan was a born emperor, skilled at concealing his emotions and manipulating hearts.
He could tell that this village girl named Jiang Cuicui liked him.
Perhaps it was because of his accidental confession that day, which had touched her heart.
Winning over an innocent young girl was, for Chen Fashan, an emperor well, versed in the art of manipulation as easy as breathing, requiring no effort at all.
Chen Fashan lowered his gaze to the clothes Jiang Cuicui was wearing.
The color was tacky, the fabric looked cheap, fitting for a village girl.
A trace of disdain flickered in his dark, somber eyes.
Chen Fashan furrowed his long brows slightly, a worried expression appearing on his pale, sickly handsome face.
“Cuicui, it’s so cold out, you’re not wearing enough…”
Jiang Cuicui’s heart raced even faster at his words.
A’Shan, was he concerned about her?
Her small face flushed slightly, and her voice became hesitant and stammering.
“Th-then, I’ll wear more next time…”
The implication was that she wanted to continue meeting Chen Fashan.
Chen Fashan knew exactly what she was thinking, and it only deepened his disdain for this village girl. He took off his outer coat and draped it over Jiang Cuicui’s shoulders, asking in a gentle, shy voice, “Cuicui, are you warmer now?”
Jiang Cuicui stiffened, stunned as she looked up at the tender expression on Chen Fashan’s face.
The clothes on her body still carried the warmth of his body heat.
At this thought, Jiang Cuicui's cheeks burned hot, and she said with a flushed face, “I can't wear your clothes. The weather is so cold, what if you catch a chill and fall ill?” Jiang Cuicui knew that Chen Fanshan was frail. Back when her grandfather was ill, she often went to Doctor Zhou's house to fetch medicine, and she frequently saw Chen Fanshan taking his own medicine. According to Doctor Zhou, Chen Fanshan had been prone to illness since childhood.
As she spoke, Jiang Cuicui made to return the clothes to Chen Fanshan.
But Chen Fanshan's attitude suddenly turned firm.
“You wear it. I'm not cold.”
Hearing his resolute tone, Jiang Cuicui had no choice but to accept his kindness, her face still tinged with pink.
“Thank you, A’Shan.”
“No need.”
Chen Fanshan took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
He asked softly, “These past few days, since I haven’t come to see you, you haven’t resented me, have you?”
Jiang Cuicui quickly replied, “I haven’t.”
“That’s good.”
The corners of Chen Fanshan’s lips lifted slightly, revealing a shy smile.
“I thought you might be angry with me.”
Jiang Cuicui looked up, staring blankly at the smile on Chen Fanshan’s face.
The young man was delicately handsome, frail and slender. His skin was pale and smooth, and there was always an inescapable melancholy between his brows that made one’s heart ache with pity. Even when he smiled shyly, his smile carried a touch of bitterness and a heavy dose of sorrow.
A sudden warmth surged in Jiang Cuicui’s chest, and she quickly lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “I’m not angry with you.”
Seeing that the conversation had reached a natural point, Chen Fanshan cut straight to the main issue.
“That day, when Miss Pianpian came after us and saw me talking to you, she seemed very displeased. It appears she doesn’t like me being with you. You and she are so close, I was afraid you might feel the same way and dislike me too.”
Jiang Cuicui immediately lifted her head and said anxiously, “I don’t dislike you.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Cuicui’s face flushed red. For a young girl, such a statement was far too bold.
She stared down at the tips of her shoes and whispered, “Is that why you haven’t come to see me?”
Chen Fanshan lowered his lashes, his voice tinged with bitterness. “I’ve been frail since childhood, scorned by everyone. It’s only natural that Miss Pianpian despises me. But I feared that Cuicui might see me the same way, so I didn’t dare come to see you. Confessing my feelings to you that day took all the courage I’ve mustered in my entire life. I didn’t have the courage to face your potential disgust, which is why I’ve been hiding and avoiding you all this time.”
Jiang Cuicui said urgently, “I would never despise you.”
Chen Fashan probed indirectly, “But Miss Pianpian dislikes me. I'm worried she might have said something to you.”
Jiang Cuicui replied, “Pianpian hasn't told me anything. She always encourages me and never interferes with anything I do.”
Chen Fashan continued, “Then have you told Miss Pianpian about us?”
Jiang Cuicui blushed and said, “No, I haven't told anyone.”
That's good.
Chen Fashan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as she hadn't mentioned him to Yun Pianpian, he was safe.
Chen Fashan looked at Jiang Cuicui, his long brows slightly furrowed, a worried expression on his delicate, pale face.
“Cuicui, I don't know how far we can go, but if we don't end up together in the future, this matter could still harm your reputation. Please don't tell anyone about our meetings, okay, Cuicui?”
Jiang Cuicui was taken aback, her face flushing as she asked, “Will you still meet with me in the future?”
Of course, he had to keep an eye on this village girl to prevent her from revealing what happened that day to Yun Pianpian, lest it arouse Xiao Changyuan's suspicions.
Chen Fashan's eyes curved slightly, a gentle and shy smile appearing on his pale, sickly handsome face.
“Of course, I want to see Cuicui every day.”
Jiang Cuicui saw the harmless smile on Chen Fashan's face.
Her heart raced wildly.
She even dreamed of his gentle smile in her sleep.
After that day, Chen Fashan often met with Jiang Cuicui in the small woods at the village entrance.
The winter weather was cold, with howling winds. Despite his frail health, Chen Fashan insisted on meeting Jiang Cuicui and eventually fell ill. Though bedridden, he remained determined and did not forget to write love letters to Jiang Cuicui, conveying his feelings through them.
After receiving Chen Fashan's love letters, Jiang Cuicui was deeply moved. Even in his illness, he still thought of her, what a devoted and good man he was. She lit an oil lamp at home, bent over her desk, and secretly wrote back to him.
Many days passed, and Xiao Changyuan did not confront Chen Fashan. The ever-suspicious Chen Fashan finally felt at ease.
Xiao Changyuan had no idea that a snowball he casually threw could lead to such a tangled fate.
He was completely unaware of Chen Fashan's paranoia and didn't give him a second thought.
To Xiao Changyuan, someone like Chen Fashan was nothing more than an ant he could crush under his foot, hardly worth his attention.
Xiao Changyuan's heart was very small, capable of holding only his wife.
On Laba Festival, it was customary to eat Laba porridge. Early in the morning, Yun Pianpian cooked a pot of porridge with red dates, walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, longan, red beans, peanuts, and lotus seeds. She drank several bowls, Xiao Changyuan had two, and the rest was fed to Buling Buling.
Yun Pianpian felt that Buling Buling seemed to be an omnivore, it ate whatever she fed it.
It even ate bamboo shoots.
As the saying goes, after Laba, the New Year is near.
After Laba Festival, the days rolled by like a snowball, and the festive atmosphere grew stronger.
On Minor New Year, Yun Pianpian ate sacrificial stove candies, shortbread, and sugar melons. Buling Buling also had quite a bit of candy.
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
Yun Pianpian and Xiao Changyuan put up couplets together. She made the paste herself, and they quickly finished pasting the couplets and door gods to ward off evil, decorating every corner of the house with paper, cuttings and red banners. Yun Pianpian prepared a large table of dishes, and the two sat together to celebrate the New Year.
That evening, Yun Pianpian excitedly pulled Xiao Changyuan outside to set off firecrackers.
Against the dark night sky, dazzling fireworks bloomed, radiant and colorful, they resembled flowers blossoming in the night.
Yun Pianpian lifted her head, watching the fireworks with excitement.
Meanwhile, Xiao Changyuan's gaze remained fixed on Yun Pianpian's face.
The shimmering, flickering light of the fireworks reflected in the girl's clear and captivating eyes, surpassing any scenery in the world.
Xiao Changyuan had no interest in the fireworks themselves, but he adored the fireworks in Yun Pianpian's eyes and the world they reflected.
Yun Pianpian turned her head and noticed Xiao Changyuan looking at her.
Her heart stirred.
Under the fireworks, her face flushed, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
“Husband, Happy New Year!”