Chapter 60: Starting a Brand New Life
Jiang Yingnan’s question caused the smile that had just appeared on Chu Ziqian’s face to vanish, replaced by a solemn expression. He felt he couldn’t make any plans right now.
Realizing it was too early to bring this up to Chu Ziqian, whose emotions were still unstable, Jiang Yingnan decisively ended the topic. “It’s getting late today. Go back and rest. Consider these things slowly later.”
“Ah Nan, I want to sleep with you.” Chu Ziqian revealed a look like a spoiling puppy. Seeing Jiang Yingnan’s obvious intention to refuse, he quickly added, “Just sleeping together. I absolutely won’t do anything to you!”
“…Alright.” Jiang Yingnan ultimately couldn’t refuse.
In truth, Jiang Yingnan had long had enough of the taste of sleeping alone.
And in the middle of the night, when he woke from his dreams, for the first time in a long while, Chu Ziqian was sleeping beside him.
Although Chu Ziqian had kept his promise and maintained a certain distance from his body, Jiang Yingnan felt as if he could still sense his temperature and breathing.
To be entangled with Chu Ziqian again undoubtedly added many difficulties to his originally bright future.
What would Chu Lianmo do if he knew? What would Father do? And Jiang Ruobin…
But the warmth he felt at this moment, and the sense of peace he had never felt before when facing Chu Ziqian, gave Jiang Yingnan the courage to face everything.
Early the next morning, Jiang Yingnan went to morning court as usual.
Chu Ziqian, however, had nothing to do.
When he was in a state of extreme decadence, he couldn’t feel the passage of time at all. But now, he began to feel bored to death.
He suddenly understood why Jiang Yingnan had asked him to help get an official position back then.
He could have clearly done it, yet he refused flatly because he was afraid of inviting unnecessary trouble. Thinking back, how selfish he had been.
Now Jiang Yingnan had finally got his wish and had an official position, but unfortunately, it was impossible for Chu Ziqian himself to be an official again.
Chu Ziqian thought it over and felt he might as well learn cooking or something, just like Jiang Yingnan did back then. It would count as doing something for him.
So Chu Ziqian went to the kitchen door.
“Greetings, Master Chu.” Although Chu Ziqian no longer had any status, the servants of the Jiang Residence knew he was someone Jiang Yingnan cared about, so they were very polite to him. “Do you need something? Are you hungry and looking for food?”
“I…”
Chu Ziqian wanted to say “I’m here to learn how to cook,” but he couldn’t bring himself to lower his dignity to say it.
Finally, he said, “There’s still some time before dinner, and I am indeed a bit hungry, so I was looking to see if there were any snacks.”
“Please wait a moment, we will heat up some snacks for you right away.”
The servants began to bustle about.
Chu Ziqian tried to stand there and learn by watching, but the cook said, “Master Chu, it’s very smoky and oily in here. You’d best go back to your room and wait. We’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.”
“…Alright.” Chu Ziqian had no choice but to turn and leave the kitchen.
In the end, he did nothing.
Until evening, when Jiang Yingnan finally returned to the residence. Chu Ziqian hurriedly went to welcome him.
Jiang Yingnan had to admit, the feeling of being welcomed by his beloved upon returning home was very good.
“Ziqian, how was your day?” Jiang Yingnan smiled gently at Chu Ziqian and asked.
“…It was okay.” This question made Chu Ziqian’s expression look a bit heavy. “Just a bit boring. I will definitely try to find something to do tomorrow.”
Jiang Yingnan smiled as he walked towards his room. “Is it hard to find something to do? It’s just that there are some things you aren’t willing to do.”
Chu Ziqian discovered that Jiang Yingnan was indeed the person who understood him best in the world.
“By the way,” Jiang Yingnan stopped suddenly and looked back at Chu Ziqian, staring at his clothes. “The former Crown Prince’s Mansion has been sealed, so it’s inconvenient to go back for your things. You’ve been wearing this same outfit for days. I’ll tell the servants to buy you some clothes and accessories later. Or I can give you some silver, and you can go pick out what you like?”
“…” Hearing these words, Chu Ziqian instantly felt like a male pet kept by Jiang Yingnan. This feeling made him very uncomfortable.
“Sigh.” Jiang Yingnan sighed and gave a bitter smile. “I have to worry about your daily life, and also look after your mood at all times. Sometimes I can’t manage it all; please be a little understanding.”
“…I didn’t mean to blame you.” In Chu Ziqian’s view, Jiang Yingnan was already considerate and understanding enough; it was purely his own sensitive self-esteem, shattered into pieces, that was acting up. “Ah Nan, how about I go out tomorrow and look for work that I can do to earn money?”
Jiang Yingnan smiled brightly. “That is as it should be. If I said ‘I have plenty of silver to support you,’ then I would be no different from the old you.”
“…” Chu Ziqian felt once again what a jerk his past self had been.
“Then, I wish you success.”
“I will try my best.” Chu Ziqian smiled back at Jiang Yingnan.
The next morning, Chu Ziqian began wandering the nearby market, looking for opportunities to work.
He walked into a bookstore, and the shopkeeper greeted him enthusiastically. “What book would you like to buy, sir?”
Chu Ziqian hesitated, but finally spoke up. “Do you need a copyist here?”
“Hmm?” The shopkeeper looked Chu Ziqian up and down. “Judging by your attire, sir, you look either rich or noble. You don’t look like someone who needs to do this kind of work.”
At that time, most copyists were poor people. Those with a bit of talent went to take the imperial examinations to become officials and disdained earning money by copying books.
“I…” Chu Ziqian thought for a moment and found an excuse. “I had a falling out with my family and want to learn to support myself.”
“I see.” The shopkeeper smiled knowingly. “We do happen to need copyists. If you are willing, give it a try. By the way, how should I address you?”
“My surname is Chu.”
“Heh, the national surname.”
Chu Ziqian mocked himself inwardly: I am the former Crown Prince; isn’t that the national surname?
“Then what is your given name?” the shopkeeper asked, seeing he had only given his surname.
“My name is…” Chu Ziqian made up a name on the spot. “Chu Munan. ‘Mu’ as in admiration, ‘Nan’ as in south.”
“Alright, Munan. You can copy books in our shop from now on.” Saying this, the shopkeeper handed a thick book to Chu Ziqian. “Look, there’s work right now. Wages are settled daily; I won’t short you a single coin.”
“Many thanks!”
Chu Ziqian picked up the book and began to copy diligently.
Seeing his neat and beautiful handwriting, the shopkeeper was completely relieved, feeling that having this person do this work was perhaps a waste of talent.
After copying for a day, Chu Ziqian felt sore in his waist and hands, but he was finally able to receive his wages for the day.
In the past, he wouldn’t have even looked at such a small amount of money, but now he felt it was hard-earned and cherished it deeply.
In the evening, Chu Ziqian returned happily to the Jiang Residence to share the fruits of his labor with Jiang Yingnan. “Ah Nan, I earned fifty wen today.”
Fifty wen—this petty cash couldn’t have bought even a corner of his clothes in the past, yet now he appeared overjoyed.
Jiang Yingnan also revealed a joyous smile. “That’s wonderful. It seems you’ve started on the right track for your new life, Ziqian.”
Chu Ziqian smiled. “From now on, in front of people who don’t know me, you can call me ‘Munan.’ Chu Munan—that is the new name I gave myself today.”
Jiang Yingnan was startled, then immediately understood the meaning of the name, and his heart felt sweet.
After that, several days of calm passed.
Jiang Yingnan felt that Chu Ziqian’s current state was relatively stable, so he went to mention to others his intention to start over with him.
Since Jiang Ruobin had facilitated this, he simply smiled and said to Jiang Yingnan, “I wish you happiness.” Of course, that smile concealed a great deal of loneliness.
Jiang Zhenxiong looked displeased when he heard, but didn’t say much, only remarking, “This is the path you chose yourself. Just be mentally prepared to bear all the consequences.”
The most agitated person was Chu Lianmo.
He widened his eyes. “You’re rejecting such a good man as Jiang Ruobin to go back to a heartless lover? Is there something wrong with you?!”
“Perhaps there really is something wrong with me,” Jiang Yingnan replied with a bitter smile.
“You are now the Vice Minister personally appointed by Zhen. If you get entangled with a deposed Crown Prince, what will the civil and military officials think!”
“Then, I can resign as Vice Minister.”
“Do you think this is a game?!” Chu Lianmo was even angrier upon hearing this.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty. This subject has failed you.” Jiang Yingnan knelt to apologize. “Please punish me.”
“…” Chu Lianmo didn’t know what else to say for a moment. He waved his sleeve. “Withdraw!”
Jiang Yingnan silently rose and left.
That night, when Chu Lianmo angrily told Qi Xiaojun about this, Qi Xiaojun expressed understanding instead. “Feelings are often unreasonable. Since they are still in love, if they can resume their relationship, it might be a beautiful thing. Ah Nan is my friend; as long as he lives happily, I am happy for him.”
Chu Lianmo snorted. “You are truly generous. For a person like Chu Ziqian, Zhen feels he doesn’t deserve happiness.”
“Alright, he has already received significant punishment,” Qi Xiaojun soothed.
“Forget it. Zhen has no mind to manage his affairs anymore. But there is another matter that must be resolved quickly.” Chu Lianmo changed the subject. “Ah Jun, did you know? Every day at court, people are pushing Zhen to establish an Empress as soon as possible.”
At the mention of this topic, Qi Xiaojun gave a considerate smile. “Sister Jiang is the principal wife you married with proper ceremony, and nominally she has borne you a son. She should be the Empress. I don’t care that much about titles.”
Not long ago, Jiang Wan had successfully given birth to a baby boy.
And Murong Ying, who had decided to pull himself together and work hard on rehabilitation exercises every day, was finally able to move normally.
“But Zhen cares.” Chu Lianmo said seriously. “Ah Jun, you know that letting Ah Wan conceive and give birth to this child was an expedient measure. The child cannot live as my son forever; that would be unfair to Ah Eagle and Ah Wan, and unfair to you.”
“But the lie has already been told. It might be very difficult to circle back now, right?”
“We don’t necessarily have to circle back completely.” Chu Lianmo gave a sly smile. “Zhen has an idea…”
In fact, this matter had been brewing in Chu Lianmo’s mind for some time.
So he had previously started to release rumors that the only person he wanted to establish as Empress was Qi Xiaojun.
Naturally, most of the old ministers who supported orthodoxy disapproved of this. After all, there had never been a male Empress in the history of the dynasties.
Chu Lianmo turned a deaf ear to these objections and organized a lavish celebration for Qi Xiaojun’s twenty-sixth birthday.
Even if they were dissatisfied internally, outwardly everyone had to curry favor with the new Emperor, so they came one after another to congratulate Qi Xiaojun and offer gifts.
At this birthday banquet, which should have been lively, someone suddenly rushed out to cause a scene.
This person was surprisingly the usually gentle and proper Jiang Wan.
Holding her wailing son in her arms, Jiang Wan rushed into the banquet and began shouting abuse:
“Chu Lianmo, you heartless man! You and I have been husband and wife for so many years, yet you never once held a birthday celebration for me. Now you spend money like water for someone who started as a male concubine!
“That I could tolerate, but I have just borne you a son, yet you want to make someone else Empress! Tell me, do you have a conscience?”
“I apologize…” Chu Lianmo looked apologetic. “You and I have always treated each other with respect. Zhen respects you, but indeed has no love for you. The candidate for Empress in Zhen‘s heart is truly only Ah Jun.”
“I spit on that!” Jiang Wan spat fiercely. “In that case, there is no need for me to stay with you! I want to divorce my husband!”
“Since when is there such a thing as divorcing a husband in this world?” Chu Lianmo maintained a peaceful attitude. “How about Zhen writes a divorce agreement today, and we separate peacefully?”
As soon as these words came out, everyone began to whisper.
For someone of the Emperor’s status, there was only deposing a consort or Empress; generally, there was no such thing as a peaceful divorce.
Jiang Wan, however, continued to rage, “That would be letting you off too easy! Divorce is fine, but I want to take my son! You don’t love me, so naturally you won’t love our son and certainly won’t treat him well. I will take him and remarry, letting him take another man’s surname and call another man father! This is my revenge for your years of cold neglect, Chu Lianmo!”
“Sigh…” Chu Lianmo sighed. “If you insist, then let it be so. The child is so young; indeed, he is not suited to leave his mother. I hope you and your son will live well in the future.”
In the next instant, Jiang Wan stormed out of the palace holding her son, without looking back.
This incident left the onlookers astounded, and for a time, it spread throughout the streets and alleys.
Recommended Reads
![Does A Broken Mirror Reunion Exist in Esports? [Esports]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/esports-225x300.png)
