The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 33

Han Jiangmu’s sudden appearance was quite baffling, causing Lin Shiyan a bit of displeasure. However, having witnessed Han Jiangmu’s decisive and ruthless actions in Jiang Zuoling’s courtyard before, he didn’t dare show his annoyance. He only smiled and said, “My cousin hasn’t even spoken yet; how can Guard Han answer for him?”

Jiang Chaoyun snapped out of it at this moment and whispered to Lin Shiyan, “Cousin, you shouldn’t say such things carelessly. It will affect my cousin’s reputation.”

Lin Shiyan said, “I’m only saying this to you; why would I speak of it carelessly to others?”

But with Han Jiangmu present, it wasn’t convenient to say more. He could only say vaguely, “Then I will ask you again later.” After saying that, he truly dropped the subject.

Jiang Chaoyun vaguely realized that the Lin family had this intention, but had his mother not told them that his body was unable to father children? Wouldn’t that be a disservice to his cousin? This wasn’t something he could easily say himself; he would have to ask his mother later.

Lin Shiyan didn’t bring it up again, and Jiang Chaoyun didn’t ask, tacitly letting the matter pass.

However, Han Jiangmu’s face was dark and solemn. His entire being radiated an overwhelming presence, which inexplicably made both Jiang Chaoyun and Lin Shiyan fall silent.

They walked in silence until they reached the outside of the courtyard. Only then did Lin Shiyan speak: “Guard Han, let’s go.”

Han Jiangmu slightly tilted his chin, his tone cold. “I have something to say to the Young Master.”

Lin Shiyan looked hesitantly at Jiang Chaoyun. Jiang Chaoyun blinked and said, “It’s too cold, I’m not listening. Besides, weren’t you already dismissed by my mother? Why are you still loitering in the Lin Manor?”

Hearing this, Lin Shiyan breathed a sigh of relief. “So you’ve already been dismissed.”

Then why was he still speaking to the masters of the house with such confidence? This level of arrogance was truly unheard of. However, even though Lin Shiyan was dissatisfied, he didn’t dare voice it. He had seen Han Jiangmu at his most cold and ruthless; as the saying goes, one would rather offend a gentleman than someone with such skills. If he were to provoke him, he might not be able to defend himself if the man decided to pay him a visit with a blade while he slept.

Thus, Lin Shiyan still spoke gently, “In that case, you shouldn’t be wandering around the Lin Manor; it’s not right.”

Han Jiangmu shot him a look, and Lin Shiyan felt a sudden chill run through him, causing him to shut his mouth. With the noisy voice gone, Han Jiangmu finally spoke: “I am now a guard of the Lin family.”

Lin Shiyan: “?” Jiang Chaoyun: “?”

Han Jiangmu looked at him, the corners of his lips curling slightly. “Lin Dongyue hired me.”

Lin Shiyan couldn’t help but frown at the fact that he called the head of the Lin family by his direct name. Jiang Chaoyun also felt it was inappropriate, but at that moment, neither of them dared to correct him.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Chaoyun, Lin Shiyan went straight to Lin Dongyue’s study to ask about the matter. Lin Dongyue was tasting tea; hearing Lin Shiyan’s words, he knit his brows and said in a low voice, “I did indeed hire that guard.”

Lin Shiyan told him what Han Jiangmu had done at the Jiang house, but Lin Dongyue wasn’t surprised. He sighed and said, “He has the command token of Prince Yong. He is only acting as a guard; we cannot refuse him, but I fear he has other motives.”

Lin Shiyan was stunned. “He is actually one of Prince Yong’s men?”

Currently, though the state of Yan barely maintained a semblance of peace, everyone knew it was at the end of its rope. The current Emperor cared only for pleasure, incessantly ceding territory and paying indemnities. Eighteen cities had already been lost, and the annual tribute exceeded a million taels. The emptier the treasury became, the more the common people were squeezed. Taxes were much higher than before, and the number of people selling their children had increased significantly; life was becoming harder by the day.

With such an Emperor, the people had no peace and naturally hoped for a change in leadership; this was the will of the people. Therefore, the rebellions within the country were not just from vassal kings, but also from waves of impoverished citizens forming rebel armies. Yet, despite so many rebels, the Emperor simply moved the capital a few times to continue flaunting his imperial majesty.

Prince Yong was the Emperor’s favorite son, and it was heard that the Emperor intended to make him the Crown Prince. Although the Lin family was a prestigious clan in Nanhua and had produced many officials, they would not easily take sides—at least, none of the Emperor’s sons had made them willing to risk the lives of the entire clan.

Lin Shiyan frowned at this thought. “Then this Han Jiangmu… could he be trying to drag our Lin family into the fray?”

Lin Dongyue said, “We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Lin Shiyan asked again, “And the matter between Chaoyun and Jingxian?”

Lin Dongyue said, “It depends on whether they have the heart for it. If not, it cannot be forced.”

Lin Shiyan could only comply.

In truth, the Lin family had this idea not purely because Lin Jingxian had come of age, but because it happened to coincide with the power shifts beneath the dark undercurrents. The matchmakers came from other prestigious families, but those families all had various secret ties to the many princes. Once Lin Jingxian was married off, the Lin family would be tied to a prince even if they didn’t want to be. A simple marriage into an ordinary house would also be a grievance to Lin Jingxian. Looking at it from every angle, Jiang Chaoyun was the most suitable.

However, matters of the heart truly couldn’t be forced. Lin Shiyan, knowing he had been too blunt, feared he had startled Jiang Chaoyun and felt a bit of regret.

Jiang Chaoyun had no idea of their schemes. Hearing Lin Shiyan’s sudden words had indeed startled him, but he had no thoughts on it now. Han Jiangmu followed him directly into the room, and Jiang Chaoyun, acting bashful and hesitant, didn’t drive him away either.

Bixin tremblingly brought in two bowls of ginger tea and didn’t dare speak to Jiang Chaoyun before retreating. Jiang Chaoyun held the ginger tea and took a sip, remaining silent.

Han Jiangmu was the first to speak: “Lin Jingxian is very beautiful, is she not?”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

He knit his elegant brows and said, “Whether my cousin is beautiful or not, what does it have to do with you?” He then added incredulously, “You actually called my cousin by her given name, and just now you called my grandfather by his name as well. You are too impolite.”

Han Jiangmu’s tone was flat, but his words were utterly twisted. “Names are given to people to be called.”

Jiang Chaoyun held his breath for a moment, his gaze falling on the man’s face before recoiling as if burned. “Twisted logic.”

For some reason, there was a strange emotion in his heart, a restless feeling he couldn’t describe. He continued to drink the ginger tea in a daze and soon finished it. The warmth returned to his cheeks, which had been reddened by the cold wind, and his whole body felt warm. The winter at the Lin Manor seemed colder than at the Jiang house, but it was also easier to pass.

Han Jiangmu said, “Young Master, you haven’t answered me. Is that Lin Jingxian beautiful?”

Jiang Chaoyun corrected him, “You should call her ‘Miss.’ You are only a guard; you cannot call people by their names as you please. You must know your place.” He then added in confusion, “You know to call me ‘Young Master,’ so why do you call my cousin by her name?”

If he was going to pretend to be a guard, why didn’t he do a better job of it?

Han Jiangmu looked at him, his gaze somewhat cold. “So the Young Master didn’t listen to a word I said. Is the Young Master thinking of starting a family? Marrying Lin Jingxian?”

Jiang Chaoyun felt he was being inexplicable. Why did he keep mentioning Lin Jingxian? This made him unsure of how to answer, so he simply issued a dismissal: “I am going to rest. Leave quickly; do not disturb my rest.”

Han Jiangmu didn’t leave, saying flatly, “With a body like yours, Young Master, can you truly marry and have children?”

Jiang Chaoyun was struck in his sore spot, and his expression froze.

Seeing him like this, Han Jiangmu’s tone softened slightly again. “The Young Master should take good care of his health. Even Dr. Ma said you cannot touch women, did he not?”

It was one thing for a doctor to say it, but another for a peer to say it. For some reason, hearing it from Han Jiangmu made Jiang Chaoyun particularly miserable. His eyes grew red. “My business is none of your concern! Are you leaving or not?!”

Han Jiangmu: “…”

He lowered his eyes and said, “Rest well, Young Master.” With that, he stood up and left.

Jiang Chaoyun wanted to slam the table, but the memory of the pain in his palm from doing so stopped him halfway, and he instead slapped his own knee lightly. This action actually managed to push back the tears.

He was still a man and already seventeen; why was it that he just couldn’t, why was there just nothing? He unfastened his clothes, sat on the bed, and reached out to touch himself—it was indeed limp.

Jiang Chaoyun dressed himself in dejection and collapsed onto the bed. Han Jiangmu was right; he was incapable. A person like him truly couldn’t marry or have children. But knowing it in his heart was one thing; having it said out loud was another. Especially coming from Han Jiangmu, it gave him an intense feeling of shame and annoyance. He didn’t know what to do.

That night, Han Jiangmu came to keep watch. This time, he entered through the front door. He didn’t enter the inner room directly but asked in a low voice from behind the bead curtain of the outer room:

“Young Master, have you calmed down?”

Jiang Chaoyun’s tone was stiff. “No. Do not come over today. I do not want you to keep watch; Bixin can take your place.”

Han Jiangmu said, “I have something I want to give to the Young Master.”

Jiang Chaoyun said, “I don’t want it. Get lost.”

Han Jiangmu said, “If the Young Master doesn’t look, how will you know if you want it or not?”

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t speak.

Han Jiangmu’s tone now seemed somewhat tender. “Young Master, it was my overstepping, my lack of propriety, and my reckless words. I apologize to you and hope the Young Master will not take offense.”

Such tender humility was something Jiang Chaoyun had never seen from him. In an instant, the frustration in his heart vanished.

Jiang Chaoyun said somewhat awkwardly, “Do you know you were wrong? Will you do it again in the future?”

Han Jiangmu answered, “I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”

Jiang Chaoyun paused for a moment before saying softly, “Then come in.”