The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 6

This was the first time Jiang Chaoyun had ever consumed such a thing. However, since childhood, his sickly constitution meant his medicinal regimen often included all sorts of bizarre ingredients. While he had been startled when he first asked what it was, he couldn’t refuse to drink it—it truly was beneficial for his health.

Thus, after his initial wave of nausea, Jiang Chaoyun silently accepted the fact that he had consumed soup brewed from such an organ.

After dinner, Jiang Chaoyun’s father, Jiang Zuoling, came to visit him.

Jiang Zuoling had been only sixteen when Jiang Chaoyun was born, so he was currently only in his early thirties. Having maintained himself well, he still appeared elegant and strikingly handsome; standing with Jiang Chaoyun, they looked less like father and son and more like brothers.

Jiang Chaoyun was deeply attached to Jiang Zuoling. Seeing him visit, he happily called out, “Father.”

Jiang Zuoling stroked his head with a face full of fatherly affection. “You’ve grown taller.”

Jiang Chaoyun replied, “You say that every time, yet I’m still not as tall as you.”

Jiang Zuoling laughed. “You’re still young; there is time to grow. Even I grew a bit more when I was twenty.”

Jiang Chaoyun’s expression shifted slightly, and the smile at the corners of his mouth faded. He knew he wouldn’t live to see twenty.

Noticing the change in his expression, Jiang Zuoling paused and changed the subject. “Have you eaten?”

“I have,” Jiang Chaoyun answered.

Jiang Zuoling offered a few more words of care and chatted with him until the sky was completely dark before preparing to leave.

Jiang Chaoyun asked tentatively, “Father, when will you and Mother make up?”

Jiang Zuoling was momentarily speechless. After a moment, he said, “You needn’t worry about such things. Naturally, your mother and I will be fine.”

Jiang Chaoyun was not fooled. He said seriously, “Father, Mother is so wonderful. Don’t be at odds with her anymore. Women need to be coaxed and pampered.”

Jiang Zuoling paused, then smiled. “You’re quite the little adult, aren’t you? I understand. Rest well; I will come to see you again the day after tomorrow.”

With that, he stroked his son’s head once more and turned to leave.

Jiang Chaoyun felt a bit troubled. His parents doted on him immensely. His mother, Madam Jiang Lin, came from a prestigious family but was never harsh with him; knowing his body couldn’t withstand much stress, she had even abandoned the idea of forcing him to study for a career, wanting only for him to live a happy, carefree life.

His father was the head of the Jiang household and, though busy, often made time to see him. Any delicious food or interesting toys were sent to his courtyard first, and the allowance he had received over the years amounted to a staggering fortune.

They were indulgent and loving toward him, yet this pair of kind, generous parents were not a loving couple.

From as far back as Jiang Chaoyun could remember, he had sensed a coldness between them. While they maintained a facade of affection before the elders, they slept in separate rooms in private.

Yet, Jiang Zuoling had no concubines. His private quarters were clean, and he didn’t even have any “tongfang” maidservants.

Jiang Chaoyun instinctively felt his parents were hiding something from him, though he didn’t know what it was. In his previous life, up until his death, their relationship had not only failed to improve but had grown even more strained.

Jiang Chaoyun wanted to investigate but lacked the strength. He could only offer weak advice to Jiang Zuoling, hoping he would take the initiative to coax Madam Jiang Lin.

Evidently, Jiang Zuoling hadn’t taken it to heart.

Feeling helpless, Jiang Chaoyun planned to take things slow and see if he could do his best to bring them closer together.

That night, Jiang Chaoyun jerked awake from a dream. He was drenched in sweat, his body feeling as though it were trapped between ice and fire. He began to weep uncontrollably. “Bixin… Bixin!”

His teeth chattered and his face was deathly pale. One moment, he felt a chill so deep it seemed to emanate from the marrow of his bones; the next, he was so hot that a deluge of sweat soaked his collar. A heavy sense of weakness and piercing pain radiated through his muscles, making his calls for Bixin grow increasingly faint.

“Bixin!” Jiang Chaoyun reached out a hand. In his extreme agony, his ears rang with a deafening roar. His own voice sounded tiny to him; how could Bixin, who was sleeping on the daybed in the outer room, hear his cry for help?

His voice grew weaker and weaker. His inner robes were saturated with sweat, clinging to his skin, while the heavy quilt only intensified his suffering. He gasped for air, attempting to alleviate the cold and burning pain that was slowly creeping from his lower limbs to his chest. It was futile. Just as he reached the brink of despair, he heard a “crack.”

Through a vision blurred by tears, a faint sliver of moonlight broke into the darkness of the bed curtains. Immediately after, a tall, dark silhouette strode to the bedside.

Jiang Chaoyun parted his parched, feverish lips, his voice thick with tears. “Bixin… a doctor…”

Before he could finish, a hand was placed on his icy forehead, wiping away the sweat. “Young Master, it is I, Han Jiangmu.”

Jiang Chaoyun could hear him clearly now but was past caring. He grabbed Han Jiangmu’s hand. “Han… doctor…”

Han Jiangmu gave a low “Mhm” in response. He pinched Jiang Chaoyun’s chin and fed him a medicinal pill. Fearing he wouldn’t swallow it, he even reached a finger into his mouth to push the pill down his throat, forcing him to take it. Only then did he release his chin and turn to leave.

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t know what pill Han Jiangmu had given him, but as soon as he swallowed it, a warm current surged from his abdomen. it repelled the agonizing chill, and even the burning pain began to slowly recede.

A scream from Bixin echoed from the outer room, but it was quickly suppressed by Han Jiangmu. Soon, Jiang Chaoyun could hear the courtyard bustling with activity.

After a while, Han Jiangmu returned. Without hesitation, he sat by the bed and looked down at him. “How are you now?”

Jiang Chaoyun’s lips were dry. Noticing this, Han Jiangmu rose to pour a bowl of tea and helped him up to drink.

Jiang Chaoyun was in no state to care that Han Jiangmu was currently holding him in a half-embrace—an exceptionally intimate posture. His fingers trembled as he cradled the bowl and gulped the water down.

Fearing he wouldn’t be able to hold the bowl, Han Jiangmu kept his hand on it, carefully feeding him. Seeing Jiang Chaoyun drinking too quickly, he intentionally pulled the bowl back a little. Seeing Jiang Chaoyun tilt his head to chase after the water like a puppy, the corners of Han Jiangmu’s mouth curled slightly.

However, remembering the boy’s death-like state just moments ago, that curve immediately flattened, and a chilling coldness surfaced in his eyes.

After drinking the water and replenishing the fluids lost through sweat, Jiang Chaoyun’s throat felt moistened. “I want… I want another bowl.”

Han Jiangmu rose to pour another and fed him until he was finished.

Though Jiang Chaoyun no longer felt the chill, he was exhausted. He lay back down, looking at Han Jiangmu with tear-filled eyes. “What did you just feed me?”

“A pill to alleviate pain,” Han Jiangmu replied.

Having received his kindness, Jiang Chaoyun felt a sense of shame. However, he was so weary he didn’t even have the strength to speak.

Han Jiangmu didn’t seem inclined to chat, either. Since the boy didn’t ask, he simply sat there quietly by his side, keeping watch over him.

Jiang Chaoyun drifted back into a daze and fell asleep.

He hadn’t been asleep long when the doctor arrived, accompanied by Madam Jiang Lin and Jiang Zuoling.

The Jiang Manor had a resident physician named Dr. Lai, who was considered a famous doctor in the area. He usually wasn’t around during the day as he worked at an external clinic, but he was always present at night.

Dr. Lai came to take his pulse, his brow furrowing. Madam Jiang Lin’s eyes were red; she had clearly been crying, but she held back her tears in front of Jiang Chaoyun. Seeing the doctor’s expression, she felt a sense of foreboding and asked hoarsely, “Dr. Lai, how is Chaoyun, exactly?”

Dr. Lai considered his words for a moment before saying, “Young Master Jiang’s cold affliction came on suddenly. Fortunately, it was suppressed in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Madam Jiang Lin couldn’t help herself. “Can he not be cured?” she asked through her tears.

She had asked this many times, and every time Dr. Lai’s answer was “no.”

There are too many incurable diseases in this world; no one can guarantee a cure for everything. Dr. Lai had seen this scene many times; he only sighed and said no more.

Fortunately, Madam Jiang Lin quickly composed herself, requiring no comfort from others.

Dr. Lai prescribed some medicine and left. Bixin hurried off to brew it. Once they were gone, Madam Jiang Lin noticed Han Jiangmu standing to the side.

Amidst such a chaotic scene, he actually hadn’t left.

Madam Jiang Lin was somewhat puzzled, but she remembered him. Steeling herself into the posture of the Matriarch, she asked Han Jiangmu a few questions. He answered them with a poised, neither-haughty-nor-humble manner. Madam Jiang Lin felt a sense of relief and her expression softened. “I must trouble Guard Han for looking after my son. You have seen the situation now; I will not hide it from you—my son is frail and often falls ill. Would it be convenient for Guard Han to serve in my son’s courtyard from now on?”

Han Jiangmu lowered his eyes, glancing at Jiang Chaoyun’s pale but tranquil sleeping face. “It would be convenient,” he said in a low voice.

Madam Jiang Lin smiled slightly. “Then I shall trouble you.”

Han Jiangmu lifted his eyelids to look at her. “Why aren’t there more servants and maids arranged to serve by the Young Master’s side?”

Madam Jiang Lin was more open with her emotions now and didn’t mind answering him. “Chaoyun’s body is weak. Those young servants and maids are naturally lively; it would only be distressing for him to see.”

Han Jiangmu’s voice softened. “I see.”

As Madam Jiang Lin and Jiang Zuoling walked out of the courtyard, tears welled up in her eyes again. “The child is only seventeen and always like this. What will we do in the future?”

Jiang Zuoling sighed, equally worried and deeply grieved. Though the couple had many conflicts, they always shared the same heart regarding their son.

Madam Jiang Lin wiped her eyes. “Fortunately, the guard discovered it early, or Chaoyun would have suffered so much.”

Just as she finished speaking, Madam Jiang Lin suddenly froze. Jiang Zuoling looked down at her. “What is it?”

Madam Jiang Lin said hesitantly, “How did that guard know Chaoyun had fallen ill?”

“Martial artists have keen ears and sharp eyes,” Jiang Zuoling said dismissively. “What’s so strange about that?”

Madam Jiang Lin frowned. “Bixin is a light sleeper; that’s why I had her serve Chaoyun. Yet even Bixin didn’t notice anything—how did that guard know?”

Jiang Zuoling, thinking she was being over-analytical, said perfunctorily, “As long as Chaoyun is fine, that’s all that matters. Why do you care so much?”

Madam Jiang Lin’s strong intuition was suppressed by his urging. She didn’t look further and left with Jiang Zuoling.

After she had gone, Han Jiangmu vaulted over the wall from inside the courtyard. His tall figure stood exactly where Madam Jiang Lin had just been. He walked forward a few steps, lowered his eyes slightly, and reached out a foot to lightly smooth over a patch of earth where his own footprint had been left.