Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 173 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (77)

Lu Liruan was indeed incapable of making it. Compared to Ji Shumin's skillful hands, after cutting the material for the sachet, Lu Liruan spent half a quarter of an hour just threading the needle by the candlelight, almost making herself cross-eyed.

As the weather turned cold, because Ji Shumin was prone to feeling cold, a brazier was put on early in the evening in the house, covered with a small cloisonné cage, inside which smokeless silver wire charcoal was burned.

Warm incense burned nearby, growing stronger and more soothing as the temperature rose. On the shelf sat a vase made by Ji Shumin himself.

After countless failures, he finally found one that caught his eye; the hand-painted patterns on it left Lu Liruan in awe.

However, it is also suspected that the reason this painting was kept was not because Ji Shumin was truly satisfied with it, but because he happened to be in a good mood when he painted it.

The mind of a lunatic is truly like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

The aroma wafting towards her nose caused Lu Liruan to stop what she was doing and stare blankly at the brazier.

The fragrances I smelled were not only elegant incense, but also vulgar ones... relatively speaking, the fragrances described by Ji Shumin.

It smells like roasted sweet potatoes and roasted chestnuts.

Ji Shumin was born with a lean and elegant appearance, and every bone in his body seemed to have a unique character, although this was only evident when he was not insane.

Unfortunately, this refined person encountered someone as clueless about romance as Lu Liruan.

"What are you looking at? Are you making fun of me in your mind again?" Ji Shumin lazily propped his chin up, glanced at Lu Liruan, put down his book, and flicked his finger, sending a peeled pine nut hitting Lu Liruan squarely on the forehead.

"Hiss—" Lu Liruan instinctively caught the plump, oily kernel in her palm, examined it for a moment, and then stuffed it into her mouth: "Don't play with it if you're not going to eat it. Are you three years old?"

With a long sigh, Lu Liruan came back to her senses and continued to ponder the sachet, which was still just a piece of cloth.

The aroma of the roasted sweet potatoes grew stronger, indicating they were done. They were sweet with a slightly burnt smell, which made Lu Liruan lift her bottom off the chair, ready to eagerly dig them out.

"Tsk." Ji Shumin narrowed his eyes with dissatisfaction and a hint of sarcasm, raising his chin: "Sit there, and if you don't sew something decent, you won't be sleeping tonight!"

The curve of his eyes at the corners was both arrogant and sharp; to an outsider who didn't know better, it would be impossible to imagine that he was arguing with a sachet.

Seeing that Lu Liruan was really worried, Qinghe whispered, "Your Highness, let me help you set it out..."

"Let her do it herself!"

Ji Shumin scoffed and interrupted, "I'd like to see just how stupid she can be!"

After Qinghe left, Ji Shumin raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm thinking about how to please you every day, but you don't seem to care about me at all, do you?"

"I think those roasted sweet potatoes are more important than me."

Lu Liruan sighed: If you keep comparing like this, there's nothing I can do.

In the end, with Ji Shumin keeping her occupied, Lu Liruan finished sewing a sachet, at the cost of several holes poked in her fingers...

The edges of the sachet were crooked, the fabric was not cut properly and was rough, and the closure was loose on one side and tight on the other.

Leaning against the soft pillows, Ji Shumin hooked the sachet strap and examined it carefully. When Lu Liruan lowered the bed curtains and sat on the bed, he waved it in front of her.

"Are you satisfied now?" Lu Liruan was still half asleep. Before washing up, she insisted on eating half a roasted sweet potato and managed to pick out one good one. The rest were overcooked and blackened.

"Hmm." Ji Shumin didn't hide his good mood and leaned closer to Lu Liruan.

"Hiss—" Lu Liruan reached for the blanket, but when she pinched it with her fingertip, the spot where she had been pricked by the needle suddenly stung, making her involuntarily pull back.

Ji Shumin took her hand to check the situation and saw the small wound.

"See? I really don't know how to do it, I'm not trying to fool you..." Lu Liruan held up her fingers and brought them close to his face: "Look what you've done to me?"

Listening to Lu Liruan's complaints, Ji Shumin suddenly said calmly, "It's alright."

"Huh?" Lu Liruan was completely confused.

"I'm the one who got stabbed, what's wrong with you being there?" Lu Liruan was confused by him.

Ji Shumin hooked one arm around Lu Liruan's waist and subtly pulled her closer to his chest. The soft pillow was large, and it was just the right size for the two of them to lie on.

He looked down intently into Lu Liruan's eyes and said, "I said it's okay, I'm not really heartbroken..."

"what?"

Ji Shumin seemed to have thought of something interesting, and the corners of his mouth curled up, his eyes softening: "This is because Li Ruan was in pain for me."

"Because of this pain, you should remember this scene. Does that mean I've left a mark on Li Ruan's memory?" He said this quite seriously, without any hint of joking.

Lu Liruan: ...What a crazy statement.

"So if you want me to remember something in the future, you'll have to prick me with needles? Are you some kind of old hag?" Lu Liruan blurted out.

"What nanny?" Ji Shumin didn't understand.

"It's alright, Your Highness, please don't even think about it. Otherwise, if I want you to remember something, I'll have to stab you, right? I can't bring myself to do it." Lu Liruan felt a pang of sympathy just thinking about it.

"Tsk—" Ji Shumin looked at her wrinkled little face, smiled, and bent down to gently kiss each of her fingertips where she had been pricked by the needle.

“No, I want Li Ruan to remember, and there are countless ways… Li Ruan will always remember what I want you to remember,” Ji Shumin murmured.

"What does Li Ruan want me to remember?" he asked in a low, coaxing voice.

"Remember that I am the one who loves you the most, remember that you promised to stay with me forever, remember... you can't even die without my permission!"

Lu Liruan suddenly rolled over, pushed him onto the cushion, straddled his lap, leaned forward, cupped his face, looked into his eyes, and said each word seriously without a smile.

Even though Ji Shumin acted as usual, spending his days idly in the courtyard, various signs were stirring up trouble.

Lu Liruan could sense that a major change was about to occur.

It's unclear where this turmoil started, or where it will ultimately end.

But this feeling of unease made Lu Liruan very uncomfortable.

The rain is coming and the wind is all over the building.

This solemn and majestic imperial city seems to be shrouded in a layer of leaden clouds and mist. I wonder when the clouds will part and the sun will shine through.

Regardless of others, Lu Liruan wanted Ji Shumin to remain safe and sound amidst everything that was about to happen.

She wanted to hear Ji Shumin's personal assurance.

“I remember.” Ji Shumin’s eyes trembled slightly. He turned his head and gently rubbed his cheek against Lu Liruan’s hand.

"Don't lie to people."

"Well, I won't lie to you."

The next day, Ji Shumin hung the crooked sachet around his waist.

The sachet didn't contain any spices, but rather a jade pendant, or more accurately, half a jade pendant.

The other half is in Lu Liruan's hands.

This jade pendant was accidentally knocked off by Lu Liruan that day and broke straight in two.

Ji Shumin initially felt it was a pity, but he picked it up, slightly polished the sharp edges, added a silver trim, and handed it to Lu Liruan.

"If we are unable to meet again in the future, only when someone holds this jade will it be real."

Ji Shuqin probably never expected that he would return to the palace so soon.

When he visited Ji Shumin again, his expression was somewhat strange: "My father has ordered me to participate in court affairs..."

"Your Majesty is unwilling?"

"That's not my ambition."

"Father's health is currently poor, and I am unable to share his burdens. I'm sure you, my brother, have heeded Mother's teachings and are doing your best, right?" Ji Shumin didn't need to guess; he knew exactly what the Empress would say to Ji Shuqin.

Sure enough, Ji Shumin frowned. He didn't miss that hint of annoyance. It seemed that something must have happened between him and the Empress when he returned this time.

If it were Lu Liruan, she might subtly inquire about what exactly happened.

But Ji Shumin had no interest whatsoever. He didn't care what the Empress thought or did; he only cared that things went according to his wishes.

Why should those who act as chess pieces be bound by whether they are enemies or friends, relatives or strangers? As long as they can be used, that's all that matters. Ji Shumin never acted impulsively.

He once taught Lu Liruan this: "Just treat them as walking corpses. You can manipulate people's hearts, but you can't just manipulate those who are already obedient to you."

Lu Liruan felt that he always took risky paths, but she also had to admit that his strategies had never failed.

"My mother..."

“Your Majesty, there is no need to belittle yourself. Although we brothers have not spent much time together, I know your magnanimity and knowledge, and I will not fail our father and mother’s expectations.”

Ji Shumin smiled peacefully, as if he had never been so peaceful and fair before, but the smile could not be seen in his eyes.

Ji Shuqin seemed puzzled as to why Ji Shumin's attitude had changed so much in just a few days.

“Min’er, I am not returning to the palace to participate in court politics,” he said solemnly.

Before Ji Shumin could speak, he quickly continued, "I returned to the palace only to see that you and Father are both well."

Ji Shumin was taken aback, not expecting Ji Shuqin to only talk to him about this.

Ji Shumin had seen many people who suddenly gained power; they were all kinds of people. Ji Shumin always believed that people had many faces, some were human in person and some were devils in their hearts. It was not surprising that people could be seduced by others and become whatever they wanted.

Many of them turned into beasts.

Ji Shumin never made definitive judgments about who was good and who was bad. People are not drawn or written in a book, and they are what they are made to look like.

He was used to observing coldly, watching people become saints and then become ghosts...

Ji Shuqin did not mention the readily available power; he only spoke of himself…

So what if you look at me?

“It doesn’t matter. I’m your older brother, Min’er. Whether you like me or hate me, it’s my own business how I treat you. If you find me annoying, I’ll see you less often.” He was a little embarrassed.

Ji Shumin had really frightened him last time, and after thinking it over, his guilt deepened.

“I didn’t say that,” Ji Shumin scoffed.

"Stay. You can't leave even if you want to." Ji Shumin leaned back listlessly.

Ji Shuqin did not refuse again. Although he did not understand the deeper meaning of Ji Shumin's words, it was true that both his father and mother seemed to be pushing and pulling him in one direction.

"Do you want to go back because you can't let go of your mother?" Ji Shumin asked him.

"nature."

"Why didn't you tell Father Emperor?"

Ji Shuqin remained silent.

Ji Shumin didn't expose him: "Your Majesty truly has many people in your heart..."

Soon, the news came again.

The Emperor ordered Ji Shuqin to continue investigating the case of the robbery of government silver.

This case seems to have reached a point where there is nothing more to investigate.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone privately said that the Crown Prince's deposition was inextricably linked to this matter, and it also involved the feud between the two princes, making it a hot potato that no one wanted to get involved in.

Since being completely defeated by Ji Shumin last time, the Second Prince has not dared to show his face again. He found an excuse to pretend to be busy with other things.

The Seventh Prince was already not very interested, and now that Consort Rong seemed to have fallen out of favor, he and his mother were preoccupied with their own thoughts and couldn't pay attention to this matter.

Only the Dali Temple is still persisting in investigating the case.

This is not surprising, as He Diaoyu has always been a rigid and meticulous person, something the Emperor has always known.

He sent the eldest prince this time because he valued He Diao's incorruptible yet selfless nature, and he didn't expect Ji Shuqin to find out anything.

The main purpose was to use the investigation to help Ji Shuqin understand the various factions within the imperial court and the southern officials.

The Emperor had already decided that since he wanted to keep Ji Shuqin by his side, he needed to restrain him, otherwise he would drift around aimlessly...

The Emperor was still worried about the Empress. What if that mean-spirited woman instigated Ji Shuqin to leave?

Until another way is found, Ji Shuqin must stay by his side. The best way is to give him a job so that he knows his identity as the eldest prince. Staying in the palace is much better than staying in that dilapidated temple!

Although the emperor was displeased, when Ji Shuqin calmly mentioned the empress, he feigned concern for her.

People who used to hate each other could never have imagined that they would become the people who care about each other the most.

Seeing Ji Shuqin come and go, Lu Liruan asked, "What's wrong? Didn't he say anything to upset you this time?"

"There's nothing that could make me angry," Ji Shumin said calmly.

Deceiving.

Lu Liruan chuckled inwardly, but didn't expose him.

"What are you turning over?"

When Lu Liruan saw Ji Shumin enter the newly renovated secret room, she calmly... opened a few bricks on the wall inside.

You... are you really like a nesting doll?

Last time I opened one, and found another one inside. How come there's another little space hidden inside now?

Noticing Lu Liruan's complicated expression, Ji Shumin smiled and tilted his head: "What? Didn't expect me to be hiding here?"

"Couldn't you have gone somewhere else? Even rabbits know to dig three holes." Lu Liruan clicked her tongue.

"A rabbit's hole gets searched once, but mine shouldn't get searched three times," Ji Shumin said, shrugging.

That makes sense, you're right.

Seeing Ji Shumin take out a dusty package from inside, Lu Liruan leaned closer, then took a step back: "Can I look at it?"

Ji Shumin coughed lightly twice from the ash, then pushed towards Lu Liruan, signaling her to open the door, while he calmly dusted off the corner of his clothes.

"Is there anything I won't let you see?"

Lu Liruan opened the package with her fingertips; inside was a stack of booklets.

After opening the cover, Lu Liruan glanced at it a few times. Why did this thing look so familiar?

How come... it's almost identical to the account books I hastily burned at the Marquis of He'an's residence that day? Even the stamps on them are the same!

"You faked it?" Lu Liruan blurted out subconsciously.

Ji Shumin already knew about the affairs of the Marquis of He'an's residence, so he wasn't surprised that Lu Liruan could identify the account book.

He shook his head, his fingers interlaced on the table, calm and collected: "Really."