The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 24

Once Han Jiangmu, that malevolent deity, had departed, many of those present breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Looking back at Lin Rui, they actually felt a slight sense of security—after all, no one was quite like that guard, who would decapitate someone at the slightest provocation!

Although they had not gone outside to see the woman’s final end, the servants in the courtyard had witnessed the gruesome scene. Their panicked voices occasionally drifted into the main hall, making it clear to everyone that the woman had indeed lost her head to that guard’s blade.

While Han Jiangmu was present, even Lin Rui’s sharp edge was suppressed. Only after he left did everyone’s frozen blood begin to flow again; it was as if they had been brought back to life.

At this time, Jiang Zuoling finally dared to speak. Perhaps due to the lingering dread of Han Jiangmu’s deterrence, his attitude toward Madam Jiang (née Lin) was extremely submissive. “Yue-niang, you must believe me. I truly did not betray you. The blood test did not merge; you should believe me after all…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Yaozong walked in and said, “The blood test failed because both you and I are cursed with a Gu. The natures of our Gu repel each other. You are Jiang Chaoyun’s biological father, but if you two were to undergo a blood test, your blood would not merge either.”

Jiang Zuoling: “…”

His expression as he looked at Jiang Yaozong was dark. “I don’t know your mother at all. Are you still trying to frame me?”

Jiang Yaozong replied, “Is it that the number of innocent women you’ve slept with is so vast that you can’t remember a woman who was ordinary in every way? Or have you truly never seen her?”

Jiang Zuoling’s face flushed. “Stop talking nonsense!”

Jiang Yaozong lowered his gaze and reached out to wipe his green cotton robe, which was stained with a large amount of fresh red blood. “Though you do not take concubines or visit brothels, you have touched many women. If Madam had the heart to investigate, she would have found out long ago. The fact that she didn’t only proves she grew disappointed in you a long time ago.”

Madam Jiang wiped her red, swollen eyes and looked at him silently. Once this child cast aside that mocking smile, his features and gaze were much more upright and clear than Jiang Zuoling’s.

But even if this child was a decent person, given his mother—who deserved to be hacked into ten thousand pieces—she would never let him off.

As if sensing her thoughts, Jiang Yaozong knelt before Madam Jiang. “Madam, my mother has already paid the price for her actions. As for me, I am at your disposal. If Madam wishes to kill me, I have no words to say in my defense.”

Madam Jiang covered her face and remained silent.

Lin Rui gave a cold laugh and delivered a savage kick to the boy’s chest. “Don’t try to play the good boy with me. Even if she doesn’t deal with you, I will.”

Lin Shiyan, however, asked him, “Do you know how to break the curse?”

Lin Rui was strong and showed no mercy to Jiang Yaozong. The kick caused Jiang Yaozong to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, but his face showed no sign of resentment. Instead, he knelt upright again and answered Lin Shiyan’s question: “I do not. Only my mother knew.”

Fearing Lin Shiyan wouldn’t believe him, Jiang Yaozong continued, “Although she was my mother, she guarded against me and would not teach me these skills. She even planted a Gu in my own body.”

Lin Rui sneered, “Planted a Gu in you? What kind of joke is that?”

Jiang Yaozong said, “She planted a ‘Heart-Piercing Gu’ in me. Every month on the first and the fifteenth, I endure the pain of ten thousand ants devouring my heart. I do not know how to break this curse.”

Madam Jiang suddenly spoke up and asked, “Why did you smile back then?”

Jiang Yaozong glanced at her and said softly, “I was afraid Madam would let us leave.”

Madam Jiang fell silent, not knowing what to say.

Jiang Zuoling asked, “Yue-niang, is there truly no chance for us anymore?”

Madam Jiang looked at Jiang Zuoling, once again feeling the shamelessness hidden beneath his handsome facade. Before she could speak, Lin Rui walked over and slapped him again. “A chance? When you say that, why don’t you take a look in a mirror?”

Originally, Jiang Zuoling’s only redeeming quality was his good looks. Now, after being slapped several times by Lin Rui, his face was swollen to twice its size, completely losing its previous handsome appearance.

But he now dared to be angry but not speak out. Moreover, the ‘Letter of Release’ had been signed, and the divorce was a settled matter. Looking at Madam Jiang again, she showed no sign of wavering.

This woman is truly heart of iron, Jiang Zuoling thought with no small amount of resentment.

However, he didn’t dare say another word. His face was throbbing with burning pain, and his teeth had been beaten loose; if he pushed them with his tongue, it felt as though they would fall out.

His body also ached from several kicks delivered by that brute Lin Rui, making him unable to stop gasping for breath.

What kind of day has this been? Jiang Zuoling felt quite a bit of despair in his heart.

When Jiang Chaoyun woke up, it was already the next morning. He had actually slept through an entire afternoon and night.

But upon waking, his spirits were actually decent; he didn’t feel the usual exhaustion that followed an episode of his illness. Looking at his clothes, he saw they had been changed.

He called out softly for Bixin. Bixin quickly brought over a pre-prepared copper basin to serve him.

Jiang Chaoyun slowly recalled the events of the previous day and asked Bixin about them.

Bixin said, “The Master and Madam have signed the ‘Letter of Release.’ They are divorced! Lord Lin said that once Young Master is better, he will take Young Master back to the Lin family.”

Jiang Chaoyun hesitated for a moment. “I am going back to the Lin family too?”

Bixin asked in surprise, “Does Young Master intend to stay in the Jiang family?”

Jiang Chaoyun frowned slightly. He wasn’t willing to stay in the Jiang family either; if Madam Jiang wasn’t there, there was no point for him to remain.

Under Bixin’s care, he finished washing and got out of bed to eat breakfast.

It was at this time that Han Jiangmu arrived.

Jiang Chaoyun clearly noticed that Bixin’s expression became very stiff the moment she saw Han Jiangmu. Her eyes held a trace of terror, as if she were deeply afraid of him.

Seeing his gaze linger on Bixin, Han Jiangmu reached out and tapped on the table to bring him back to his senses. “Young Master.”

Jiang Chaoyun withdrew his gaze and looked at him. “What is it?”

Han Jiangmu glanced at Bixin. “You, get out.”

Bixin finally knew why this guard could order her around; this man was simply a great demon!

One could not blame Bixin for her sudden change in attitude toward Han Jiangmu. Although Madam had intended not to let word of yesterday’s events spread, one only needed to inquire slightly to find out what had happened.

For instance, Guard Han had decapitated the Master’s mistress right in the courtyard!

Bixin wanted to tell Jiang Chaoyun about this, but she didn’t dare; she feared he would be frightened.

After all, they were currently facing an executioner!

Now that Han Jiangmu was telling her to leave, Bixin was very hesitant. Although it was Han Jiangmu who had brought Jiang Chaoyun back yesterday, what if his bestial nature flared up and he did something inhuman to the Young Master?

At the thought of this, Bixin trembled and said, “I want to stay here and look after the Young Master!”

Jiang Chaoyun saw her shoulders shaking and couldn’t help but feel confused. “Bixin, are you cold?”

Bixin replied, “N-no, no, Young Master, I am not cold.”

Jiang Chaoyun asked, “Then why are you shaking?”

Just as Bixin was about to speak, her gaze shifted, and she saw Han Jiangmu flash a cold smile at her. Her legs suddenly gave way, and she knelt directly onto the rug.

Jiang Chaoyun: “…? Bixin, why are you kneeling to me?”

Bixin tremblingly tried to get up, but because her legs were weak, she almost couldn’t. It was only when Jiang Chaoyun reached out to pull her that she managed to stand.

Bixin stood up and looked as if she wanted to say something to Jiang Chaoyun. But under Han Jiangmu’s gaze, she couldn’t say a word, only murmuring, “Young Master, call me if you need anything. I’ll be right at the door.”

With that, she dragged her limp legs and went out.

Jiang Chaoyun said, “Bixin is so strange today. Is she sick?”

Han Jiangmu replied, “Yes. She has contracted a case of ‘weak-bone’ disease.”

Jiang Chaoyun frowned and glared at him. “Why are you insulting her?”

Han Jiangmu said nothing.

After a moment, Jiang Chaoyun said, “You come to find me but don’t speak. Have you become a mute again?”

Han Jiangmu spoke: “Young Master, how is your body?”

Jiang Chaoyun snorted and said, “Quite well.”

Seeing that Han Jiangmu didn’t react, he could only quietly lower his guard, hiding his awkwardness in his heart. “Um, what happened to my father and mother yesterday?”

Han Jiangmu said, “Young Master, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing his serious expression, Jiang Chaoyun also sat up straight. “…Go on.”

Han Jiangmu lowered his gaze, reaching out to hold a porcelain white teacup, his fingers gently rubbing the delicate rim. “If I were to say that there is a possibility for Young Master’s illness to be completely cured, but it requires a certain price, would Young Master be willing?”

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t believe his illness could be cured, but at this moment, he followed the thought. “Of course I would be willing. Who would like such a sickly body?”

Han Jiangmu asked, “Young Master doesn’t ask what the price is?”

Jiang Chaoyun replied, “Isn’t it just money? I have plenty of money; any medicinal herb can be bought.”

Hearing this, the corners of Han Jiangmu’s lips curled up slightly, and he said no more.

Seeing him fall silent again, Jiang Chaoyun was almost indignant. “Were you a mute in your past life?! Fine, I won’t talk to you anymore!”

Even when he raised his volume, his voice lacked any force and was quite soft. Furthermore, after finishing, he gave a soft “humph” that little nasal sound was also soft, making one feel a sudden urge to tease and bully him.

Han Jiangmu remained as steady as a mountain, but the gaze with which he looked at Jiang Chaoyun was quite dark. He masked the emotion in his eyes and said to Jiang Chaoyun, “Young Master should rest well today. The day after tomorrow, Madam will take you to the Lin family in Nanhua. You will make your home there in the future.”

With that, he rose to leave. Jiang Chaoyun hurriedly called out, “Wait a moment!”

Han Jiangmu stopped and looked at him. “Does Young Master have something else?”

Jiang Chaoyun hesitated before asking, “What about you?”

Han Jiangmu’s eyes flickered slightly, and he spoke in a measured tone, “I am but an ordinary guard with no fixed abode, drifting like duckweed. To have a bite to eat is already excellent. Therefore, I will naturally stay with the Jiang family.”

“Ah?” Jiang Chaoyun was visibly stunned and blurted out subconsciously, “You’re not coming with me?”

Han Jiangmu gazed at him, the corners of his lips curling up slightly. He lowered his voice and asked, “Does Young Master want me to go with you?”

Jiang Chaoyun realized his slip and immediately said, “I don’t!”