The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 29

The next day, Jiang Chaoyun woke up feeling entirely refreshed.

Outside, the air was lively with the sounds of the escorts having their breakfast. The temple was large enough that it hadn’t disturbed his rest. He rose quickly, and Bixin soon entered, saying, “Young Master, it’s snowing heavily outside. Lord Lin says we might need to pick up the pace. If it gets worse and the snow blocks the roads, it will be even harder to travel.”

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoyun’s face fell. He hurriedly finished his breakfast and returned to the carriage.

It seemed to have snowed all night; a layer as high as a knuckle already covered the ground. This much snow actually reduced the jolting of the carriage, making it the best time to push forward. If the snow grew deeper and filled the potholes, the lead carriages wouldn’t be able to see the road; if a wheel got stuck, it would waste a lot of time.

Thus, the convoy made the decisive call to stop resting for the next few days and travel continuously.

Lin Yuerong ordered Jingrou to bring several more cushions for Jiang Chaoyun, making the interior of his carriage nearly as soft as a bed. She also had blankets fastened to the interior walls to keep him from getting bruised if he bumped against them.

Outside, the weather was freezing. The escorts braved the severe cold on both sides of the convoy, remaining vigilant for any accidents. Meanwhile, Jiang Chaoyun could sit inside, enjoying a warm stove. If he felt peckish, he could take pastries or candied fruits from a hidden compartment. If he felt poetic, he could crack a window and watch the snowy scenery, a rare sight in the South.

However, for some reason, he found himself thinking about the previous night. The casual chat of the escorts had taught him that while most people knew education was the way to succeed, most could not afford it. He, who could afford it, had completely neglected his studies due to his health.

He had been very bright as a child. His tutors always praised him, and his calligraphy was much better than Jiang Yulong’s. But Yulong was already a Xiucai (entry-level scholar), while Chaoyun had never even sat for an exam.

If possible, he also wanted to study properly—not necessarily to stand out, but at least to be someone his parents could be proud of.

He then recalled his conversation with Han Jiangmu from the night before and couldn’t help but bury his face in his hands, feeling that indescribable sense of embarrassment once again.

Bixin entered the carriage at that moment, muttering, “Young Master, I saw that illegitimate son of the Master’s.”

Jiang Chaoyun froze, his gaze fixing on her. Bixin said, “I don’t know what Madam is thinking—why would she bring that illegitimate son along? And the Master agreed to it?”

Jiang Chaoyun asked for confirmation, “Are you sure you didn’t see wrongly?”

Bixin replied, “No. I didn’t know who he was at first, but I saw he looked just like the Master, so I asked Jingrou. She said he’s the Master’s illegitimate son.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

Unable to restrain himself, he got off the carriage and went to Lin Yuerong’s carriage to inquire.

Once she knew why he had come, Lin Yuerong quickly explained, “Mother has a use for him.”

Jiang Chaoyun pressed for details. “What use?”

Before Lin Yuerong could speak, he added quite seriously, “Since his mother has passed away, wouldn’t it be better to leave him with Father so he can show filial piety? It would keep Father from missing me too much. If Mother brings him here, won’t Father be all alone?”

He felt his words sounded a bit like he was blaming her, so he quickly added, “I’m not blaming Mother. Whatever Mother does is right; Mother must have her reasons, I just don’t understand them.”

Lin Yuerong was momentarily speechless. After a while, she toyed with her handkerchief and said softly, “Chaoyun, I have something to tell you. You must stay calm and listen until I finish.”

Jiang Chaoyun sat up straight, ready to listen. “Go ahead, Mother.”

Lin Yuerong said, “In truth, your father and I had a rift between us long ago.”

It was somewhat embarrassing to discuss this with her son, but Lin Yuerong no longer wanted him to live in the fantasy she had created for him. She now knew her son wasn’t as fragile as she had thought, so she didn’t want to hide things from him anymore.

Aside from the matter of the Gu curse, Lin Yuerong told Jiang Chaoyun everything that had happened that day.

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoyun’s relaxed expression gradually solidified. Soon, the rims of his eyes turned red.

Watching him, Lin Yuerong paused. “…Yun-er, Mother didn’t mean to hide it from you. But your father and grandmother… they truly have no hearts. No matter how well Mother treated them, they would never remember it; they took it all for granted. You…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Chaoyun wiped his tears and choked out, “Mother, you must have suffered so many grievances. I’m sorry, I didn’t know anything.”

Lin Yuerong froze. she hadn’t expected him to say that and, for a moment, didn’t know what expression to make.

Jiang Chaoyun sobbed, “Actually, I have memories too. When I was little, Father didn’t really like coming to see me. Every time he came, he would scold Bixin, saying she didn’t air out the smell of medicine. He didn’t like the smell of my room, so he didn’t like coming. I also knew he was very good to Yulong and the others; he would play Cuju and kick shuttlecocks with them. But with me, he’d just say my health was poor and I should rest; he wouldn’t play with me.”

“But despite that, he still came to see me often and sent good things to my room. So I thought he loved me.”

Lin Yuerong’s heart ached. She had later asked Jiang Yaozong, and the boy told her his mother had known Jiang Zuoling detested Jiang Chaoyun, which was why she specifically cultivated the Ice Gu—the more Jiang Zuoling detested his son, the more violent Chaoyun’s flare-ups would be.

Thinking of this, she felt like killing Jiang Zuoling. As a father, how could he detest his own child?

Because Chaoyun was sickly? Because he wouldn’t bring glory to the family name? Or because he was Lin Yuerong’s son?

Lin Yuerong’s eyes also turned sour, and she couldn’t help but tear up.

Seeing her cry, Jiang Chaoyun quickly reached out to pat her shoulder. His own voice was still choked with tears, yet he began to comfort her. “Mother, don’t cry. If Father doesn’t like us, then we won’t like him either. Since you don’t like him, I won’t like him either. Once we reach the Lin family, I won’t write to him. Even if I did, he probably wouldn’t read it.”

Lin Yuerong thought it over and felt that was indeed likely, which only made her feel sadder.

Once their emotions stabilized, Jiang Chaoyun asked with some confusion, “Mother, are you bringing Jiang Yaozong along to get revenge on Father?”

Lin Yuerong was at a loss for words. In truth, keeping Jiang Yaozong had been Guard Han’s suggestion. He said that since the boy had been with the Gu-woman for over a decade, even if he didn’t know her methods, he was certainly familiar with her style, which would be a great help in breaking the curse. Lin Yuerong knew nothing about such things and thought he was right, so she brought the boy along.

But Lin Yuerong didn’t plan on telling Jiang Chaoyun. If the curse couldn’t be broken, she would rather be the only one in despair; it was better not to let Chaoyun wait on a slim hope.

In this, Lin Yuerong and Han Jiangmu were in complete agreement. They both kept the secret.

After a moment, Lin Yuerong said vaguely, “Yes.”

Jiang Chaoyun looked at her expression, unable to gauge her true attitude toward Jiang Yaozong.

Truthfully, he was somewhat curious about the boy, but showing that curiosity would only hurt his mother, so he suppressed it. However, it was also a struggle to view the boy as an enemy. Thus, since finding out, he hadn’t shown his curiosity.

This curiosity is inappropriate, Jiang Chaoyun told himself.

Nevertheless, he still asked softly, “Mother, what are your plans for Jiang Yaozong?”

Not knowing his thoughts, Lin Yuerong answered seriously, “It depends on his behavior. If he behaves well, I can settle him properly. If not, I’ll give him some silver and let him find his own way.”

Jiang Chaoyun gave a soft “Oh” and asked, “What counts as ‘behaving well’?”

Lin Yuerong looked at him. Seeing that his clear eyes held no hatred for Jiang Yaozong but rather a trace of curious interest, she froze. After a pause, she answered somewhat dazed, “Behaving in a way that is good for you.”

Jiang Chaoyun asked, “Good for me?”

Lin Yuerong was thinking that if Jiang Yaozong were truly useful for Chaoyun’s curse, she wouldn’t mind settling him well afterward. If not, she would at most just cast him out.

The Gu-woman had even cursed her own son; Lin Yuerong didn’t think killing the child would bring her any satisfaction. Perhaps she was just soft-hearted.

Her thoughts were complex, and she even wondered if Jiang Yaozong was also capable of casting spells, making her feel a bit foolish. At this thought, her expression immediately became stern. “You are not allowed to have contact with that Jiang Yaozong. Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the son of a mouse knows how to dig a hole. His mother was not a good person; how could he be any better?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoyun immediately stifled his curiosity and said obediently, “I understand, Mother. I won’t have contact with him.”

Lin Yuerong breathed a sigh of relief. “Good boy.”

Jiang Chaoyun got off Lin Yuerong’s carriage. As he was about to return to his own, he happened to see Jiang Yaozong. The boy was wearing a green cotton robe that wasn’t very thick; his face was cold, and his eyes were clear. From a distance, he looked like a perfectly normal youth.

He was walking alongside the escorts on both sides of the carriages, appearing to fulfill a guard-like role.

Dragons beget dragons… the son of a mouse knows how to dig a hole.

Jiang Chaoyun locked eyes with Jiang Yaozong and felt that the boy didn’t seem to have any hidden schemes. But he had always been poor at judging people—from his father to his grandmother and aunt, he had never judged anyone correctly.

At this thought, Jiang Chaoyun withdrew his gaze and walked quickly toward his carriage. Just as he was about to step onto the mounting stool, he hesitated. He turned back, walked a few steps to Jiang Yaozong, and asked, “Why don’t you get on a carriage? Aren’t you cold?”

Jiang Yaozong looked at him, his eyes flickering slightly, but he didn’t speak.

Before Jiang Chaoyun could ask again, Han Jiangmu strode over, blocking his view. He said in a low voice, “Young Master, he isn’t cold—but I am.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”