Reborn as the Crippled King s Beloved

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: I Just Feel Sorry for You
 

“I just like him!”

Fu Baozhu bit her lip and spoke loudly.

“They tried to stop me; even you want to stop me, and in the end, they let that freak Murong Jiu become Princess Consort Ling. What is she worth? How is she deserving of Prince Ling!”

Ever since she first saw Jun Yuyan a few years ago, she had been deeply infatuated and unable to extricate herself. At that time, Jun Yuyan had a fiancée, and Murong Man’s fame was outstanding, yet she dared to harbour thoughts of snatching him away. Unfortunately, her family was unwilling to let her demean herself by becoming a mere concubine.

If that weren’t the case, she would have already entered Prince Ling’s Mansion by now, and there wouldn’t be any place for Murong Jiu.

If she had known that Murong Man would have Murong Jiu, that ugly girl, take her place as a substitute bride, she should have declared her intentions earlier, and Jun Yuyan wouldn’t have neglected her as he did today.

She believed that Jun Yuyan must be upset inside, which was why he was openly so tender towards Murong Jiu—it was all a show for the Marquis Mansion and for Murong Man!

Everyone outside was saying that Murong Jiu was vain and had taken over Murong Man’s position as Princess Consort Ling, but she had already learned about the substitution from Nanny Fan.

Nanny Fan patiently advised her:

“Miss, you are the precious daughter of the General’s Mansion. Why should you be so angry over a prince who is disfigured and lame? The person you will marry in the future will definitely be someone better than Prince Ling. Look, isn’t the Second Prince much better than Prince Ling? If he ascends to the throne, even if you are not the Empress, you will be a Noble Consort. Your status will be extremely honorable!”

“What’s so good about the Second Prince? Didn’t he go on a bandit suppression mission a while ago? It was just for show. Look at Prince Ling, without any fanfare, he brought back the head of the bandit leader from Minghua Mountain. Can the Second Prince compare to him?”

Having grown up in the General’s Mansion, with her father being a mighty general and her three brothers all exceptionally outstanding—and based on what her father said about the Second Prince’s bandit suppression—Fu Baozhu had little regard for the Second Prince.

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In the eyes of her family, Prince Ling was the hero, and she felt the same way.

A few years back, when Prince Ling returned triumphantly, leading his soldiers back to the court, he rode a divine blood sweating horse, wore silver armor, handsome without losing his dignity. His tall figure deeply imprinted itself into her mind.

Nanny Fan spoke gently and persuasively:

“Ah, miss, if Prince Ling hadn’t been disfigured or injured his leg, he would certainly be the most suitable match for you. But you know, the Emperor has not appointed a Crown Prince for so long because he is no longer eligible. The Second Prince is the future Crown Prince, the one who will sit on the throne. Even if you don’t mind Prince Ling’s situation, consider this: if the Second Prince becomes Emperor, will Prince Ling still have a way to live?”

If Prince Ling were just an idle prince, that would be one thing, but he has a renowned reputation and is seen as the War God by the citizens of Great Yan. How could the Second Prince tolerate him?

If Fu Baozhu really became Princess Consort Ling, it’s certain that her end would not be a good one either.

But all of this was clear to Fu Baozhu.

She was just too unwilling to accept it. Indeed, there was a time when she had given up, but upon seeing Prince Ling again today, her heart was stirred once more.

Even with Prince Ling wearing a mask, she felt he was extraordinarily handsome and possessed an aura unlike any ordinary person.

Besides, if you looked carefully at his leg, it wasn’t that severe.

“Enough, Nanny Fan. Don’t try to persuade me anymore. A person lives for themselves. I don’t want to marry someone I don’t like,” Fu Baozhu stubbornly said.

Nanny Fan frowned deeply.

“You cannot be so wilful. You are not just the daughter of the General’s Mansion!”

She hinted meaningfully.

When Fu Baozhu heard her say this, her face grew even darker: “Don’t speak of this anymore. I don’t want to hear it!”

“Alright, alright. I won’t talk about it. How about this: Your feelings for Prince Ling might just be admiration. I’ll help you interact more with Prince Ling. Take another look at whether he is worthy of you. How does that sound?”

“That’s more like it,” Fu Baozhu lifted her proud chin: “Tomorrow, you will send a visitation card to Murong Jiu. I want to see Prince Ling, my brother.”

Nanny Fan’s eyes flickered, and she bowed her head in agreement.

Prince Ling’s Mansion.

Murong Jiu stepped down from the carriage, and Jun Yuyan had already dismounted, waiting for her at the side.

Even though she knew that Jun Yuyan was just giving her face as the Princess Consort Ling in public, she couldn’t help the joy she felt. Being cared about truly felt different.

She had never met a man more gentlemanly than Jun Yuyan.

His true Princess Consort in the future would certainly be the happiest woman in all of Great Yan.

As she drew closer, Murong Jiu began to smell a stronger scent of blood.

Her brows furrowed, and she said, “Prince, are you sure it’s just a superficial wound? Where are you injured?”

Jun Yuyan had intended to say it was nothing, but, seizing what seemed like an opportunity for more contact with her, he said,

“My arm was grazed by a sword or knife. It might have opened up again on the ride back.”

He heard Murong Jiu indeed say, “Let me help you reapply some medicine and bandage it, Prince. It’s hot these days, and wounds need to be taken care of.”

Jun Yuyan gave a reserved nod, “Then I have to thank Ah Jiu.”

Murong Jiu smiled, “What is there to be polite about, Prince? You eradicated bandits at Minghua Mountain for the nation and its people. I should be thanking you on behalf of the citizens.”

Seeing her smiling face, Jun Yuyan’s mood also lightened considerably.

That dark birthmark couldn’t obscure her lively smile.

Actually, his campaign to eradicate the bandits in Minghua Mountain was not only for the sake of the people but also out of self-interest.

The Second Prince had reached into his domain of Prince Mansion, and his action was merely a warning to the Second Prince.

He didn’t want to be too assertive, but he was not one to simply endure in silence either.

“You have such a serious wound, and yet you say it’s only superficial?”

Back at Qiyun Courtyard, upon seeing Jun Yuyan’s wound, Murong Jiu’s brows knitted tightly together.

She also noticed that there were many scars on his arm, some of which extended to his back.

That day during his bath, the lighting was poor, and she had not noticed so many old wounds on his body.

Now the wound on his arm was deep enough to nearly require stitches. Jun Yuyan had merely done a simple dressing, without even applying any medicine.

Looking at his expression, he seemed utterly unaware of any pain.

“I’m used to it. In the battlefield, wounds like this were all too common.”

He said nonchalantly.

Murong Jiu felt a tinge of heartache for him. He had joined the military camps for training in his teens and slowly rose from a soldier to a general. Everyone saw only his glory, unaware that it came at the cost of countless brushes with death.

Yet in his past life, he had died due to the Second Prince’s treacherous plot.

She bit her lip and took out medicine from the medical box, applying it to his wound with focused care without a word.

“Did I frighten you?” Jun Yuyan asked gently.

Murong Jiu shook her head, “I just, feel sorry for you.”

Jun Yuyan suddenly looked up at her.

Heartache, no one had ever said those two words to him before.

Neither the Emperor nor the Empress, nor anyone else by his side.

Since childhood, he had been steadfast and stoic, never showing a trace of weakness. To the Emperor and Empress, he was merely a son that made them proud, nothing more.

And now, someone told him they felt heartache for him.