The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 8

Jiang Yulong didn’t stay in Jiang Chaoyun’s room for long. He soon claimed he needed to return to his studies, leaving behind a Jiang Chaoyun whose heart was filled with complex emotions.

Bixin tidied up the items he had brought and asked Jiang Chaoyun, “Young Master, shall we keep these?”

Jiang Chaoyun said dejectedly, “Keep them. Put them in the study; I’ll go practice some calligraphy when I have the time.”

Bixin complied, but she immediately turned around and recounted every single word Jiang Yulong had said to Jiang Chaoyun to Madam Jiang Lin.

Upon hearing the report, Madam Jiang Lin was incensed. She went directly to find Jiang Zuoling to confront him about the matter.

When Jiang Zuoling heard what Jiang Yulong had told Jiang Chaoyun, he actually felt quite gratified. He said to Madam Jiang Lin, “Yulong is a child who knows how to show gratitude for kindness received.”

Madam Jiang Lin was so angry she laughed. “He is only your nephew. You give him so many things that anyone who didn’t know better would think he was your own flesh and blood.”

Jiang Zuoling’s face darkened with displeasure. “What nonsense are you talking? The family doesn’t lack these things; what’s wrong with giving some to Yulong? He is a Xiucai now. If he passes the higher exams and enters the imperial court as an official in the future, that will be true honor and prestige for the family. You and I would both share in that glory.”

Madam Jiang Lin suppressed her temper and said, “Then what is the matter with that ‘Warm Jade’? You clearly know Chaoyun fears the cold and cannot leave his foot-warmer for a single day, yet you gave such a piece of Warm Jade to Yulong. Jiang Zuoling, what were you thinking?”

Jiang Zuoling hesitated, looking somewhat guilty. “That jade was originally intended for Chaoyun, but Yulong needs to study, and it’s inconvenient to keep a fire lit in the study. So, I let him use it first.”

He then added with a hint of impatience, “Chaoyun is my son; naturally, I won’t mistreat him. In the future, I will find an even larger piece of Warm Jade for him. He won’t blame me.”

Madam Jiang Lin was profoundly disappointed in Jiang Zuoling.

The increasing prosperity of the Jiang family over the past decade was, in fact, inseparable from her assistance.

She was born into a prestigious family and was her parents’ most beloved daughter. Years ago, she had fallen in love with the handsome and elegant Jiang Zuoling at first sight. Disregarding his status as a mere merchant, she had insisted on “marrying down” to him.

At that time, the Jiang family was only moderately wealthy. It was Madam Jiang Lin who used her family’s influence to open doors for Jiang Zuoling. Only then did the Jiang family leap from being ordinary merchants to becoming the wealthiest household in the Jiangnan region, and in recent years, the strongest contender for the title of Imperial Merchant.

Because many of her relatives held official ranks, the Jiang family relied on these connections to the point that even the Prefectural Governor had to show them a measure of respect.

Jiang Zuoling himself was a man of integrity who did not take concubines or visit brothels. By all rights, this should have been a perfect marriage.

However, because of Jiang Chaoyun, many arguments had erupted between them.

When Madam Jiang Lin was pregnant with Chaoyun, she had been terrified by bandits, leading to a premature birth that nearly cost her her life. Although mother and child were saved through timely medical intervention, both were left with permanent issues. Madam Jiang Lin could no longer conceive, and Jiang Chaoyun was left with the root cause of his cold affliction.

Many doctors had claimed Jiang Chaoyun would not live past eighteen. Madam Jiang Lin had devoted herself entirely to caring for him until he was five. By the time she regained her focus, Jiang Zuoling’s heart had already shifted toward the children born of the second branch.

What kind of logic was this? Did they not have a son of their own? Why did he have to dote on children from another branch? Madam Jiang Lin had lost her temper many times over this, but Jiang Zuoling remained indifferent and unrepentant.

Jiang Zuoling was not only good to the sons of the second branch; he cared for the offspring of the third branch as if they were his own, frequently supplementing their needs from his private treasury. Whenever Madam Jiang Lin questioned him, he would fill the air with talk of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, making himself look like a paragon of virtue while painting her as the villain.

This was a long-standing historical issue. Madam Jiang Lin had failed to change Jiang Zuoling at the start, and she certainly couldn’t change him now.

Had she not known that Jiang Zuoling was in the Capital when the second branch’s wife, Madam Zhao, became pregnant, she would have suspected some illicit affair between them.

Realizing she couldn’t make Jiang Zuoling understand, Madam Jiang Lin could only suppress her rage and dissatisfaction, saying calmly, “Chaoyun is your legitimate son. When Yulong takes these things and parades them before him, how will he feel? Prepare another gift—it must be more than what Yulong received, not less—and deliver it to Chaoyun’s room personally.”

Jiang Zuoling agreed readily, but he didn’t seem particularly invested.

Madam Jiang Lin’s disappointment grew day by day. However, knowing that Jiang Chaoyun held nothing but admiration for his father, she could only nag Jiang Zuoling repeatedly, urging him to show more concern for their son.

Tiring of her constant talk, Jiang Zuoling said impatiently, “I know Chaoyun is my son. No father is unconcerned for his son. Fine, rest assured; I will handle it.”

That very day, Jiang Chaoyun received several large crates of Zaihua paper, a “Cloud-Swallow” inkstone that was no less refined than the work of the Jiangnan workshop, a wolf-hair brush made of mutton-fat jade, and a piece of Warm Jade carved into the shape of a small carp.

Bixin looked at the size of the Warm Jade and knew it was likely a remnant piece from Jiang Yulong’s jade. However, Jiang Chaoyun was happy once he held it in his hand, tiny dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Bixin said somewhat insincerely, “The Master still remembers the Young Master. Look, this paper is far more plentiful than what Young Master Long received, and this inkstone is much more precious.”

Clutching the tiny piece of Warm Jade, Jiang Chaoyun felt that the little carp suited his tastes far better than Jiang Yulong’s teardrop-shaped jade. By comparison, his father was clearly more thoughtful toward him—he had even carved a little carp for him!

That evening, Jiang Chaoyun showed the little carp to Han Jiangmu. He asked with a beaming smile, “Look, what is this?”

Han Jiangmu looked at the jade, then his gaze drifted to the little dimples on Jiang Chaoyun’s face. He paused slightly and asked, “What is it?”

Jiang Chaoyun had been dejected all day, but now he was putting his quick wit to use. He said to Han Jiangmu, “This is Warm Jade. As the name implies, it can dispel the cold. You’ve never seen such a treasure, have you?”

Han Jiangmu nodded. “I indeed have not.”

Jiang Chaoyun raised his chin in a refined, noble posture. “I don’t blame you; you’re only a guard, after all. It’s normal that you haven’t seen it. I can lend it to you for a look.”

As he spoke, he actually handed the little carp over.

A faint light flickered in Han Jiangmu’s eyes. He reached out to take it, and as he grasped the small carp, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against Jiang Chaoyun’s soft, tender palm, causing the boy’s hand to twitch slightly.

Jiang Chaoyun withdrew his hand and couldn’t help but rub it against the quilt. Once the slight tingling in his palm had dissipated, he looked up at Han Jiangmu and said, “Be careful; this is very expensive. If you break it, you won’t be able to afford the replacement.”

As he spoke these words, Jiang Chaoyun was a bit impressed with his own ability to improvise. I’m so clever; if I were a normal person, I could surely pass the highest imperial exams.

Looking back on Jiang Yulong’s words, Jiang Chaoyun felt the boy had been showing off. But since he wasn’t lacking those things anyway, and his father had sent him gifts as well, his dejection quickly vanished.

Jiang Chaoyun’s current mood was quite buoyant.

Han Jiangmu stroked the small carp and said in a low voice, “I heard Young Master Long visited today?”

“He did,” Jiang Chaoyun said. “What of it? Why are you asking?”

Han Jiangmu said, “I heard Young Master Long also has a piece of Warm Jade.”

Jiang Chaoyun froze. Before he could speak, Han Jiangmu added, “It is much larger than the one in the Young Master’s hand.”

Jiang Chaoyun was momentarily speechless, then he immediately asked maliciously, “How do you know? You’re just a guard; aren’t you knowing far too much?”

The corners of Han Jiangmu’s mouth tilted up slightly. “I heard it from the maidservants by your side. Why, does the Young Master wish to silence me?”

He paused for a moment and said calmly to Jiang Chaoyun, “If that is the case, the Young Master should perhaps discipline that maidservant of yours first. Her mouth cannot keep a secret.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

He vaguely detected a hint of banter and playfulness, leading him to wonder if he truly understood this man named Han Jiangmu at all.

Jiang Chaoyun feigned anger. “Give the jade back to me!”

Han Jiangmu was very obedient this time and returned the small carp to him.

Jiang Chaoyun took it and placed it inside his collar with great care and affection. Without a word, he lay back in bed and covered himself with the thick quilt.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The previous night he had been too exhausted, but now his spirits were much better. Having such a large man standing right there in his inner chamber was simply impossible to accept.

Jiang Chaoyun whipped around and said crossly, “I can’t sleep! It’s all your fault!”

Han Jiangmu looked at him with an innocent expression.

It was strange; the Han Jiangmu in Jiang Chaoyun’s dreams was always shrouded in shadows. Aside from leaving a somber and terrifying impression, he possessed no qualities that would make anyone feel close to him.

But the current Han Jiangmu gave Jiang Chaoyun the illusion that no matter what he did to him, the man wouldn’t get angry. This illusion made Jiang Chaoyun feel uncharacteristically lost. By nature, he was not an arrogant or unreasonable person, so behaving this way inevitably made him feel guilty.

Just like now—Jiang Chaoyun felt he had been far too unreasonable, yet Han Jiangmu’s gaze remained calm and filled with tolerance, which instantly extinguished his fire.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?” Jiang Chaoyun’s voice grew soft.

“I am keeping watch, Young Master,” Han Jiangmu replied.

Jiang Chaoyun said, “Well, you can’t just keep staring at me. I don’t like you looking at me.”

“Very well, Young Master,” Han Jiangmu said steadily.

When Jiang Chaoyun looked at him again, he saw that Han Jiangmu had closed his eyes.

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

He’s that obedient?

Jiang Chaoyun felt a bit embarrassed, but then he thought: This tyrant being so obedient now only proves that he has feelings for me. And he has fallen quite hard.

Jiang Chaoyun began to feel the situation was becoming tricky. What exactly does Han Jiangmu like about me?

Muttering to himself, he found he was no longer sleepy. He bolstered his spirits and said to Han Jiangmu, “I was very angry today.”

Han Jiangmu tilted his head, turning his ear toward him in a listening posture.

Jiang Chaoyun said, “When Jiang Yulong came today, I was very angry and very jealous. I’m jealous that he is stronger than me, smarter than me, and more likable than me. If my health were good, I would certainly be better than him!”

Jealousy makes one ugly; my face must look truly hideous right now, he thought.

Han Jiangmu said nothing.

Jiang Chaoyun pressed on: “His Warm Jade is even bigger than mine! I’m furious! And you actually dared to mock me. None of you are good people.”

Han Jiangmu opened his eyes and gazed at him, his pupils dark.

Jiang Chaoyun felt a bit intimidated by his gaze and nearly stammered. “W-Why are you looking at me like that? Was I wrong? —I told you, you aren’t allowed to look at me!”

Han Jiangmu stood up and walked toward him. Jiang Chaoyun subconsciously clutched his head and shrank into his blankets, saying nervously, “Don’t you dare do anything reckless! I am your master; can’t I even say a few words to you?”

Han Jiangmu: “Young Master, I have heard that a treasure like Warm Jade will grow larger when it encounters water.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “?”

Han Jiangmu said with a serious face, “If the Young Master wants a larger piece of Warm Jade, you could place that jade in a basin of water. Over time, perhaps it will grow.”

Jiang Chaoyun was speechless. “…Guard Han, are you taking me for a fool?”

Han Jiangmu said, “Warm Jade is a rare treasure of the world, worth a fortune. It isn’t strange for there to be such rumors. Why doesn’t the Young Master give it a try?”

He added another “stab”: “A piece of jade only the size of a fingernail is of little use anyway. You have nothing to lose.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

Jiang Chaoyun said nothing. Han Jiangmu reached out his hand, his lips curling into a slight, somewhat cool smile. “Young Master, let us try.”

Looking into those obsidian-dark eyes, Jiang Chaoyun seemed to be overawed and followed his instructions. By the time he realized what was happening, he had already taken off the carp-shaped jade and placed it in Han Jiangmu’s broad palm.

Just as he was about to regret it and take it back, Han Jiangmu closed his hand first, gripping the Warm Jade tightly.

Jiang Chaoyun felt a bit annoyed at his own lapse in judgment, but his face showed only suspicion. “You aren’t planning to keep it for yourself, are you?”

Han Jiangmu’s tone was quite calm. “So that is the kind of person I am in the Young Master’s heart.”

Jiang Chaoyun felt guilty but said steadily, “That remains to be seen. One can never know what another is truly thinking.”

The curve of Han Jiangmu’s lips deepened. He went to fetch a basin of water and, before Jiang Chaoyun’s eyes, placed the Warm Jade into it. He set the basin by the window and said to Jiang Chaoyun, “Sleep, Young Master.”

At that moment, Jiang Chaoyun suddenly understood how Han Jiangmu had become Emperor. He seemed to possess a natural quality that made people follow his arrangements without realizing it.

Just like now—he clearly didn’t want to sleep, but as soon as Han Jiangmu spoke, he felt as though he must sleep.

Jiang Chaoyun actually followed his words and closed his eyes. After a short while, he fell asleep.

The next morning, Bixin entered the room quietly with water. She set the basin down and was about to go to the bedside to wake Jiang Chaoyun when her gaze fell upon the basin by the window. She froze instantly.

After a long moment, Bixin reached into the basin and pulled out a carp-shaped jade pendant the size of a palm. And in the basin, there were four more identical pendants!!

Bixin let out a cry and hurried to the bed to wake Jiang Chaoyun. “Young Master! Young Master!”

Jiang Chaoyun woke up in a daze. Bixin placed the four carp pendants before him and stammered, “Young Master, it seems all five of these are Warm Jade!”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

His mouth fell open as he stared blankly at the five carp pendants.

After a long time, he regained his senses. He reached out to touch one carp, then another, chanting in his head:

I’m an idiot, I’m an idiot, I’m an idiot!