latelenovela Chapter 188 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (92)
Chapter 188 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (92)
The second prince felt that given Ji Shumin's personality, there was no possibility of any brotherly affection between them; all he cared about was power.
Arrogant and haughty, the Second Prince had harbored a deep resentment towards him for many years, but Ji Shumin didn't even care about that resentment.
A person who is self-deprecating and contemptuous can misinterpret the actions of others as having deeper meanings, thus harboring resentment and suspicion towards them.
"How could I possibly have time to see him?" Ji Shumin said when Lu Liruan asked him about his past grievances with the Second Prince.
"You've never had a disagreement with him? Then why does he see you as a thorn in his side?" Lu Liruan was puzzled. This wasn't the first time the Second Prince had targeted Ji Shumin. As far as Lu Liruan knew, he had harbored wicked intentions for several times.
“At that time, I was the crown prince, and he was an unappreciated prince, utterly mediocre, with a weasel-like face. He looked at me as if he wanted to walk close to the wall, yet he also wanted to pounce on me and tear off a piece of my flesh. Why should I care about such a person?” Ji Shumin was always ruthless in his words when it came to people or things he disliked.
You're observing quite carefully...
Lu Liruan secretly grumbled to herself.
Although she hadn't witnessed it firsthand, based on Lu Liruan's understanding of Ji Shumin, his "turning a blind eye" could be interpreted as him seeing the other man's uncontrollable rage and then going up to pour oil on him, or sensing the other man's resentment and then mocking him, thus deepening the other man's resentment...
Ji Shumin tilted his head slightly, tucked his chin in, and looked over with suspicion, his gaze carrying a hint of sharp indignation.
What is Li Ruan thinking about?
Lu Liruan was amused by the thoughts in her mind and burst out laughing, bending over with laughter.
She explained it to Ji Shumin by speaking and gesturing. But speaking wasn't enough. Her eyes lit up, and her expression changed, making her imitation of Ji Shumin quite lifelike.
“Li Ruan has misunderstood me.” Ji Shumin sighed helplessly, “I was pretending very well back then.”
"Oh?" Lu Liruan raised an eyebrow: "You still need to pretend?"
"Brotherly love and respect, etiquette and filial piety, both literary and martial skills, and the respect for the virtuous and humble—why don't you go and inquire about whether I failed to do any of these things back then?" Ji Shumin's voice was leisurely, seemingly carrying a hint of arrogance.
He had the right to be arrogant. In Lu Liruan's mind, whether in life or after death, historical records have given him mixed reviews, both praising and criticizing him. But no matter what, not a single word says he was mediocre.
He is a figure vividly depicted in history books: a young emperor, exceptionally talented and brilliant.
"Why aren't you pretending with me anymore?" Lu Liruan teased him.
"Li Ruan wants to see?" Ji Shumin didn't answer her question, but instead asked her in return.
"Hmm...of course I want to see." Lu Liruan nodded. She couldn't quite imagine what Ji Shumin would be like as a normal, good person, and she was indeed a little curious.
Ji Shumin was indeed putting on an act for Lu Liruan's benefit.
He acts like a perfect gentleman when he shouldn't be.
As Lu Liruan pressed him down on the couch, his head tilted back, his neck curving into a graceful arc, he blinked, his expression exuding charm and elegance: "What is Liruan trying to do?"
She pretended to be as pure and innocent as if she really were.
The next morning, when Lu Liruan opened her eyes, she saw him resting his chin on his hand, a sly smile on his face, looking at her and saying in a low voice, "I wonder if Liruan was satisfied with my performance last night?"
Lu Liruan blushed early in the morning.
But indeed, that bewildered, helpless, and unapproachable Ji Shumin was something she had never experienced before...
Ji Shumin saw through Lu Liruan's thoughts.
She leaned closer, her long, soft hair brushing against Lu Liruan's face.
"Next time, let Li Ruan perform for me..."
Lu Liruan's mind went blank for a moment, and she asked suspiciously, "What do you want to see?"
"I'll tell you when I've thought it through. We should reciprocate. You can't be unaware of that, can you, Li Ruan?" He touched Lu Li Ruan's lips with his fingertip. As he stood up, a red mark remained on his neck, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.
It was as if subtly reminding Lu Liruan that she had been forced into a sale.
Ji Shumin, like a cunning merchant, let Lu Liruan get what she wanted first before proposing his own terms; he was very deceitful!
Ji Shumin's sharp mind was evident in every aspect of his life.
Lu Liruan never imagined that everything she did with him would be so interesting, so intoxicating, and so unforgettable.
As he put on his clothes one by one, Ji Shumin returned to his usual self. Yesterday, he had begged and coaxed Lu Liruan to stroke his legs again and again, like petting a cat.
“I don’t feel anything when I touch it myself… it’s different when Li Ruan touches it.” Ji Shumin pressed his palm on the back of Lu Li Ruan’s hand, his expression upright, but the blush at the corner of his eyes made his words sound inappropriate no matter how you looked at them.
Lu Liruan was completely bewildered by his smooth talk, her mind going blank, and she foolishly did as he said.
When I touched the delicate skin behind his knee, his voice trembled violently, it was hard to tell whether it was from pain or sensitivity.
"Does it hurt?" Lu Liruan asked, her fingertips brushing against his pale skin.
"It hurts," Ji Shumin said in a breathy voice.
Lu Liruan felt that he was made of porcelain, and she had to be careful wherever she touched him.
"Li Ruan..." Sensing that Lu Li Ruan wanted to pull her hand back, Ji Shu Min glanced at her and instantly returned to his original self.
Lu Liruan didn't notice.
"I was afraid you'd be upset..." Lu Liruan thought she had hurt his pride, so she explained softly.
In fact, Lu Liruan did not feel that she had to be close to Ji Shumin, but since the two were together all day long, there were bound to be moments when they couldn't help themselves. Lu Liruan was afraid that being intimate with him would hurt him, and she was also worried that if she wasn't close to him, Ji Shumin would feel that she wasn't treating him like an ordinary person.
"But you feel uncomfortable being with me?" he suddenly asked.
"Does Li Ruan find me boring?" Ji Shumin's expression suddenly turned cold. He stared at Lu Li Ruan intently, as if determined to get an answer.
Lu Liruan didn't understand how the topic had suddenly veered to this.
The Third Prince, who is usually very capable in everything, was now pursing his lips, looking quite nervous.
"Why do you think that?" Lu Liruan sat up straight.
The heat from their intertwined bodies hadn't subsided, but the atmosphere had become somewhat stiff.
"I know I'm not in good health, so I've tried everything to please Li Ruan, hoping you won't get tired of me." Ji Shumin glanced sideways at Lu Li Ruan and sighed.
Lu Liruan was completely bewildered. What was going on here? She felt like a beast who had forced himself on her.
Ji Shumin kept saying he hoped Lu Liruan wouldn't tire of him, but the ruthlessness in his eyes made it seem like he would cause a complete upheaval if Lu Liruan said something he didn't like!
A prince of such high status is actually planning to use his body to please people.
“In my heart, your body is the most important. Surely Your Highness wouldn’t be so insecure as to think that I only like your face?” Lu Liruan touched his cheek, which was cool and thin like jade.
Lu Liruan didn't have any ulterior motives. On the contrary, Ji Shumin, who had never felt resentful about his physical changes and defects before, occasionally felt dissatisfied after being with Lu Liruan.
He always strives to be the best, yet he falters in front of the person he cares about most, forced to show his most vulnerable side.
Ji Shumin was always a competitive person.
He didn't hide it; he coaxed Lu Liruan into having sex with him, begging her to touch his scars and kiss his broken leg.
He used this to prove himself, to seek protection, and to force Lu Liruan to tolerate him in the way he liked, in order to fill the ever-dissatisfied rift in his heart.
But he still had to act weak, wanting her to pity him and make her feel like she was the most pitiful one. Ji Shumin felt utterly despicable.
Like a gluttonous wild dog.
Ji Shumin gazed longingly at the sudden look of panic and helplessness on Lu Liruan's face. He wanted to kiss her eyes, lick her lips, and devour her whole, but he had to restrain himself.
“But I will not be able to have children with Li Ruan in the future,” he revealed his most shameful side.
Having children is practically impossible for someone who takes medication regularly.
Lu Liruan was taken aback.
She had never thought about this question, or rather, Lu Liruan had never considered that step.
Seeing Lu Liruan hesitate, Ji Shumin misunderstood.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking softly, and his eyes revealed an increasingly feigned sadness.
"Please don't blame me for this... I beg you."
Lu Liruan felt a pang of pain in her heart; she had never seen Ji Shumin show such weakness before.
He should always be a master strategist, sitting high above others, not like this, losing his self-respect and pleading pitifully. Lu Liruan should have felt elated that someone like him was bowing his head and begging for pity.
If he doesn't want to, no one can break his pride. It's truly inspiring to think that he can be made to willingly submit.
Lu Liruan didn't feel excited, only sad.
"You think about a lot of things." Lu Liruan leaned in and kissed his stubborn brows.
"If you disregard emotions and feelings and only think about reproduction, what do you become? A beast?" Lu Liruan's words seemed to be a metaphor for many people.
Ji Shumin smiled slightly in her arms. He was right; Li Ruan only cared about him.
Ji Shumin didn't care about dignity or face, as long as he could get what he wanted, especially anything related to Lu Liruan.
He was willing to open up, willing to humble himself, and use his own shortcomings to win the other person's love and pity.
He turned all of these into bargaining chips.
"What child... Ji Shumin was just saying that."
The thought that such a small creature would take away Li Ruan's attention from him made him feel uncomfortable.
He cared little for what happened after his death; Ji Shumin remained lucid even in his madness.
"Is Li Ruan sincere?" Ji Shumin looked up at her.
"Of course!" Lu Liruan practically swore an oath.
Ji Shumin suddenly laughed and said lightly to Lu Liruan, "Then it's just me and Liruan for the rest of our lives, it's settled."
"Mmm." Lu Liruan was so charmed by his string of words that she felt she would have to work hard to get the stars in the sky if he wanted them.
There was no reason not to agree, so she nodded hastily, wanting only to stop him from continuing to be troubled and upset.
Having achieved his goal, Ji Shumin lazily embraced Lu Liruan, looking completely satisfied.
I felt great all day the next day.
When Ji Shumin finished carving the third hairpin for Lu Liruan, the events in the palace came to a conclusion.
The second prince was placed under house arrest, and his mother was also confined to her quarters.
The Emperor praised the Crown Prince for solving the case of the robbery of official silver, and everyone immediately sensed something unusual.
The eldest prince never interacted too closely with others, and he didn't even care much about matters of the court.
Unable to get close to Ji Shuqin, the residence of his twin brother, the former Crown Prince Ji Shumin, becomes lively once again.
A large crowd rushed off to inquire about the news.
They didn't come to my housewarming party, but now they've practically worn out my doorstep.
Ji Shumin didn't see any of them and stayed indoors.
The Third Prince always made excuses that he was unwell and unable to receive guests, and no one could do anything about it.
Only when Ji Shuqin, who had not shown up during this period, arrived did the gates of the Third Prince's residence open.
Ji Shumin poured him a cup of tea, and the two played a few games of chess.
Ji Shuqin shook his head: "It's still quieter here."
Ji Shumin was outmaneuvered and lost a few pieces. He picked up the white pieces that were trapped in the game one by one, and paused slightly when he heard Ji Shuqin's words.
"Still not used to it?"
Ji Shuqin gave a wry smile.
"I thought you'd been engrossed in the battles and enjoying yourself these past few days because you haven't come here," Ji Shumin said, pushing the last piece to the center of the chessboard with a soft thud.
"Brother, how does this power feel? How does it feel? It can change your life with a flick of your wrist, and destroy it with a snap," Ji Shumin asked him.
Ji Shuqin did not flinch, but met his gaze earnestly.
His expression remained unchanged, without the slightest wavering: "Min'er, I don't like it."
Ji Shumin smiled but remained silent.
Ji Shuqin didn't say much. He stayed and had his meal. When he heard that Ji Shumin's leg had improved, he showed the happiest expression of the day.
"Have you told the Empress Dowager...?"
He stopped talking halfway through his sentence.
Ji Shumin seemed oblivious, whispering something to Lu Liruan, neither of them paying attention to Ji Shuqin's frozen words.
After he left, Lu Liruan's face showed worry: "How could you tell him? What if he really told the Empress?"
Ji Shumin sighed: "Who knows?"
Lu Liruan lived in fear for several days when suddenly the Empress's men arrived, ostensibly to visit Ji Shumin.
Lu Liruan already recognized Granny Ma's face.
"This old servant has come to deliver some things to His Highness the Third Prince on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress."
"Thank you for your trouble, Granny." Ji Shumin didn't even look at the things.
It wasn't until Granny Ma took out a small box and carefully placed it on the table in front of Ji Shumin that things started to get interesting.
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself. This old servant will take my leave now." Granny Ma still had that harsh and unsmiling look on her face.
He didn't linger and turned to leave.
Lu Liruan opened the box, looked at the contents, and narrowed her eyes slightly.
It's a pill...
But wasn't the Empress already breaking Ji Shumin's back to punish and control him, waiting for him to submit?
Why did you suddenly bring it over on your own initiative?
Until I saw a letter inside.
"Can I see it?" Lu Liruan asked Ji Shumin.
Ji Shumin raised his hand, indicating that she could do as she pleased.
Lu Liruan opened the book and read a few lines, then felt like she was about to explode with anger.
The elixir sent by the Empress was actually a reward for Ji Shumin for obeying her and helping Ji Shuqin gain a foothold in the palace, thus giving him such a meritorious service.