Chapter 50: Jiang Ruobin’s Confession
“So,” Jiang Ruobin pondered for a moment, “do you think the Crown Prince still likes you?”
Jiang Yingnan nodded.
“If that’s the case,” Jiang Ruobin smiled faintly, “from an observer’s perspective, I would say that finding someone with whom you share mutual affection in this vast world is truly rare. Why not try to overcome the difficulties together?”
These words warmed Jiang Yingnan’s heart. After being divorced from Chu Ziqian for so long, this was the first time he had heard someone suggest he turn back. The Jiang family was actually on Chu Lianmo’s side, so it was commendable that Jiang Ruobin could discuss this matter with Jiang Yingnan’s best interests at heart.
“However, from an insider’s perspective,” Jiang Ruobin suddenly changed the subject, gazing at Jiang Yingnan earnestly, “I would suggest you try starting a new relationship. That might help you forget the old one faster.”
“…Insider?” Jiang Yingnan was stunned by this word.
“Ah Nan,” Jiang Ruobin stared straight into Jiang Yingnan’s eyes, “do you know why I haven’t married or had children at my age? Because I discovered long ago that I don’t like women. Seeing you today, I am finally convinced that my persistence for so long has been meaningful!”
“…” Jiang Yingnan’s heart pounded. Jiang Ruobin’s declaration of love was already very obvious.
Jiang Ruobin continued, “Marrying a man as a primary wife might be difficult for Father to agree to easily. But, if it’s a great talent like you, Father would surely approve, right?”
Jiang Yingnan gave a bitter smile. “You flatter me too much. My reputation isn’t good right now, and I was once the Crown Prince’s secondary consort… How could someone as impure as me be worthy…”
“I don’t mind!” Jiang Ruobin interrupted him loudly. “Ah Nan, in my heart, you are the best! I swear to you, if you agree to marry me, I will cherish you like a treasure for the rest of my life and never look at another person again. If I break this oath, may heaven strike me down!”
Jiang Yingnan did not doubt Jiang Ruobin’s oath.
Because the Jiang family had an excellent family tradition. Jiang Ruobin’s father had only married one wife in his life, and unlike Liu Hanyue who did so out of fear, he truly had a deep affection and mutual respect for his wife. Jiang Ruobin’s younger brother, who was already married, also only had one wife.
For the first time, Jiang Yingnan felt what it was like to be cherished and held in the palm of someone’s hand.
But he couldn’t just agree to Jiang Ruobin’s courtship.
“I’m sorry, Ruobin. I already told you just now that I still can’t let go of the Crown Prince in my heart. Accepting you rashly under these circumstances would be unfair to you…”
“It doesn’t matter. I expected your answer.” Jiang Ruobin smiled gently. “Then how about this? Let’s just interact as friends for now, and you give me a chance to pursue you.”
Jiang Yingnan nodded.
He truly couldn’t bring himself to refuse such a good person outright.
“Thank you, Ah Nan!” This nod made Jiang Ruobin ecstatic.
From that day on, Jiang Ruobin began to pursue Jiang Yingnan vigorously.
Some time later, he proposed inviting Jiang Yingnan to the Jiang family home as a guest.
Jiang Yingnan hesitated slightly but eventually agreed.
As soon as he stepped through the gate of the Jiang residence, Jiang Ruobin’s father, Jiang Linqing, came out to greet him with a beaming smile. “Master Jiang is here.”
“Hello, Uncle Jiang.” Jiang Yingnan bowed and greeted him politely.
Jiang Linqing looked Jiang Yingnan up and down with appreciation. “I’ve always heard that the third son of the Jiang family is both handsome and spirited. Seeing you today, you really live up to your reputation.”
Jiang Yingnan’s past reputation among the dignitaries of Chu was indeed very good, but after a series of recent events, people’s opinions of him had become controversial.
Seeing that Jiang Linqing could still be friendly to him, Jiang Yingnan felt quite gratified.
“Brother!” Just then, a young man with a bright and cheerful smile ran over. “So this is the person you’ve been liking lately! He’s so good-looking. When can he become my sister-in-law?”
“…Ahem,” Jiang Ruobin looked slightly embarrassed. “Ah Nan, my brother has always been outspoken. Please don’t mind him.”
“…It’s fine.” A blush appeared on Jiang Yingnan’s fair face. So, Jiang Ruobin had already told his family about his affection for him?
“Ah Nan,” Jiang Ruobin said gently again, “my mother should be in the Buddhist hall right now. Would you like to come with me to meet her?”
“Whatever you arrange is fine.” Jiang Yingnan nodded with a smile.
Subsequently, Jiang Ruobin led Jiang Yingnan towards the Buddhist hall of the Jiang residence.
Jiang Linqing followed along.
In the Buddhist hall, Jiang Yingnan saw a kind-looking woman kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, intently chanting sutras.
Jiang Linqing spoke to his wife first, “Wife, look at you, all you know is eating vegetarian food and chanting sutras. Your daughter-in-law is here and you don’t even care?”
Jiang Yingnan was startled again upon hearing this—did Jiang Linqing already consider him a daughter-in-law?
“Sorry, sorry, it was my negligence.”
Mrs. Jiang hurried over to greet Jiang Yingnan, looking him over kindly. “You must be Nan’er? You don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”
Jiang Yingnan quickly said, “Of course I don’t mind.”
Mrs. Jiang smiled with pity in her eyes. “Nan’er, it’s pitiful that you aren’t with your own mother right now. If you don’t mind, I will treat you as my own son from now on.”
Jiang Yingnan’s heart instantly warmed. He hadn’t expected someone unrelated to him to be even gentler to him than his own biological mother.
Just then, a servant came over to pass a message to Jiang Linqing: “Master, Lord Jiang has arrived.”
“Heh, he’s finally here.” Jiang Ruobin looked at Jiang Yingnan with a chuckle. “Guess who I invited?”
Hearing the words “Lord Jiang,” Jiang Yingnan’s heart trembled.
In the next instant, he saw his long-lost father appear before his eyes.
“Really,” Jiang Zhenxiong stared at Jiang Yingnan with a complicated expression, “I have to come to someone else’s house to see you.”
“…Haven’t I been at Prince Rui’s residence all this time?” Jiang Yingnan’s eyes reddened slightly. “You didn’t come yourself.”
Jiang Zhenxiong kept a straight face. “Did you expect me to come running to find you?”
“Alright, alright,” Jiang Linqing interrupted with a smile. “I knew both you father and son were proud, so why not let me be the good guy and invite your father over, to give him a way out.”
“…Uncle Jiang, thank you!” Jiang Yingnan hadn’t expected Jiang Linqing to be considerate to this extent and was immediately moved beyond words.
Jiang Linqing looked at Jiang Zhenxiong and smiled. “I should have gone to the Jiang family to propose, but since your son isn’t living at the Jiang family home right now, I decided to invite you over to discuss the marriage.”
Jiang Zhenxiong also laughed. “You’ve gone to great trouble. I have no objections to this marriage.”
“…” Jiang Yingnan was dumbfounded. How did things develop to this point?
“Ah Nan, don’t misunderstand!” Jiang Ruobin hurriedly explained. “I made it clear to Father that right now it’s just my one-sided affection for you, and you haven’t accepted yet… I don’t know why he’s being so hasty!”
Jiang Zhenxiong laughed. “In my opinion, it’s good to settle it early. Many couples only get to know each other after marriage, not to mention you already have an emotional foundation.”
“Please don’t be like this.” Jiang Yingnan finally spoke up with a serious expression. “Father, I know you are thinking of my best interests and want me to forget the Crown Prince sooner, but what if I still can’t forget the Crown Prince after marrying Ruobin? Would that be fair to him? It’s precisely because Ruobin is such a good person that I cannot let him down!”
“…Sigh…” Jiang Zhenxiong sighed upon hearing this. “What is so good about the Crown Prince that you still can’t forget him after being divorced for so long?”
Indeed, what was so good about him?
Jiang Yingnan was asking himself the same question.
Whether it was the person himself or his family atmosphere, he was completely outshone by Jiang Ruobin.
Thinking back to when Chu Ziqian took him to the palace to meet the Empress of Chu, the Empress looked him over coldly as if assessing goods, and then said icily:
“If Qian’er insists on being with you, I cannot flatly refuse, but you must remember, you are a man, and you must never dream of the position of the primary wife.”
“I understand.” At the time, Jiang Yingnan answered submissively, but his heart was full of grievance.
Later, although Chu Ziqian obediently married a woman as his primary wife, he delayed consummating the marriage and having children because of Jiang Yingnan, which made the Empress even more dissatisfied with Jiang Yingnan.
If it weren’t for the fact that he was a son of the Jiang family, the Empress would probably have found someone to get rid of him long ago.
As for Emperor Chu Wen, he was only pleasant to Jiang Yingnan because he was the third son of the Jiang family. He had no excessive interest in understanding the relationship between him and Chu Ziqian, let alone having any deep affection for him.
seeing that Jiang Yingnan refused the marriage, Jiang Linqing said understandingly, “It doesn’t matter. I just brought it up, I didn’t mean it had to be settled right now. Nan’er, you don’t need to feel pressured. I fully respect your own opinions on such matters.”
Jiang Yingnan’s eyes were a little moist.
What a wonderful family this was, where every member from top to bottom was so kind and loving.
It was a pity that he might not deserve such a family.
After all, he was still longing for that heartless man.
The word “love” has never been about reason and conditions.
“By the way, I’m about to turn sixty,” Jiang Zhenxiong suddenly changed the subject. “Zhong’er said he wants to organize a birthday celebration for me. Nan’er, you should come back then.”
Jiang Yingnan quickly said, “For your big day, Father, I naturally won’t be absent.”
Jiang Ruobin interjected with a smile, “If Uncle Jiang doesn’t mind, can I come uninvited? I want to accompany Ah Nan.”
Jiang Zhenxiong laughed. “How could I let you come uninvited? I’m just mentioning it first; I will naturally send an invitation to your Jiang family when the time comes.”
Jiang Zhenxiong’s birthday was five days later.
Invitations were sent to major officials in the court, including the princes.
Jiang Yingnan carefully prepared a gift for his father. It was a painting of pine trees and cranes that he had painted himself, and in one corner of the painting was a poem praising Jiang Zhenxiong, also composed by him personally.
On that day, Chu Ziqian also arrived with a grand gift.
He ordered servants to carry in a group of white jade Guanyin statues. The statues were more than two people tall, made of high-quality jade, and were invaluable.
“Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Upon seeing this generous gift, Jiang Zhenxiong merely thanked him politely but coldly.
“Lord Jiang, no need to be polite. It’s just a small token of my regard.”
While Chu Ziqian was talking to Jiang Zhenxiong, his eyes kept involuntarily searching for Jiang Yingnan in the crowd. He had also guessed that Jiang Yingnan would most likely appear at the Jiang residence on such an important day.
When Chu Ziqian finally found Jiang Yingnan, it was like a bolt from the blue—
Jiang Yingnan was not alone, but was acting intimately with Jiang Ruobin beside him.
“The Crown Prince has arrived?” Jiang Yingnan walked up smilingly, holding Jiang Ruobin’s arm.
“You… You two… ?!” Chu Ziqian’s face turned pale.
Jiang Yingnan replied with a beaming smile, “Let me introduce you. This is my fiancé, Jiang Ruobin.”
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