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

Chapter 259 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (159)

Just as Lu Liruan saw Zhuang Yuxun out, Ji Shumin sat quietly at the door, watching her back.

"I'm happy," Lu Liruan replied casually, but she didn't hear Ji Shumin speak again. When she looked up, she saw him looking at her with a deep and distant gaze. For some reason, Lu Liruan felt a faint sense of helplessness in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Lu Liruan asked, puzzled.

"What did she say to you? She made you so happy, your face is all red now." Ji Shumin beckoned, and when Lu Liruan came to his side, he gently stroked her face with affection.

"Tell me about the funny things that happened after she got engaged a few days ago." Lu Liruan thought it was already very funny when she read the letter, but she didn't expect it to be even funnier when Zhuang Yuxun told her the story.

“She and Pingyan are truly a match made in heaven.” Ji Shumin nodded: “From now on, when they are together, neither of them will have to worry about the other.”

"After they get married, why don't they stay in the capital?" Lu Liruan thought that now that the war had been mostly quelled, they wanted to settle down. If the two of them stayed in the capital for a longer period of time, they could establish themselves more securely there.

“The two of them were unwilling. General Zhuang told Pingyan that the capital was really boring and that being tied up made her uncomfortable. Even if there was no war, she would not want to stay here.” Ji Shumin tilted his head.

“Pingyan listens to her in everything now.” He said this casually, and for some reason, Lu Liruan found it inexplicably funny.

It seems that He Pingyan is completely under Zhuang Yuxun's thumb, his heart and soul are all devoted to her, but he is not good at expressing himself.

"Didn't you tell me again that you were going to take me with you and wander the world while I wasn't looking?" Ji Shumin suddenly seemed to remember something, his brows furrowed slightly, and a strange smile appeared on his lips as he glanced at Lu Liruan with a sharp look in his eyes.

Lu Liruan: ...

That was so long ago!

It was just a joke written in the letter. After Lu Liruan finished reading it, she put it on the table in her study. Ji Shumin accidentally found it, but he didn't say anything at the time.

But when they went to bed that night, as usual, he held Lu Liruan in his arms. When Lu Liruan was completely unprepared, he lowered his head and, hidden by his loose hair, bit Lu Liruan's neck!

Lu Liruan was startled and tried to dodge by shrinking her shoulders, but the second bite landed on her earlobe...

Hearing Lu Liruan's surprised cry of pain, Ji Shumin calmed down and gently kissed her, as if to comfort and coax her.

"What are you doing!" Lu Liruan's hand went around the back of his neck, grabbed his slightly cold and smooth hair, and tried to pull it back in revenge, but she couldn't let go of the force. She just tugged it gently, and her tone was not very nice.

Anyone who's feeling sleepy wouldn't be in a good mood after being startled like that. He bit quite hard, and Lu Liruan can still clearly feel the stinging pain on the side of her neck where he was bitten.

"Let me interrogate Li Ruan properly. Where are you going behind my back?" His voice was low and soft, his breath falling on Lu Li Ruan's ear, with a hint of resentment in it.

"Huh?" Lu Liruan couldn't figure out what he was up to for a moment.

It turns out that Ji Shumin had a period of unpredictable mood swings. At that time, he suffered both physically and mentally. Although he was stoic and never vented his frustrations on Lu Liruan, he occasionally felt resentful and depressed, and would say a few unrealistic crazy things.

Lu Liruan felt sorry for him, and he was too soft-spoken to argue with her. He would feel apologetic after realizing he had caused a scene, and his crazy yet pitiful appearance made it impossible for anyone to hold a grudge against him.

At that time, Lu Liruan did not indulge him. Once, Ji Shumin was in pain and felt sorry for himself. So he refused to eat or drink, lay on the recliner, and said to Lu Liruan in a low voice that he was such a useless person that he should just starve to death. He made a fuss for a long time.

Lu Liruan tried to persuade him gently, but it was no use. She even offered to brew him some medicine to see if it would alleviate the pain, but he refused. It was as if he was deliberately provoking himself, insisting on enduring the pain. Eventually, Lu Liruan sighed and went about her business.

"Fine, fine, then starve to death. That will save me the trouble of worrying about you." Lu Liruan said calmly, her expression indifferent, showing no sign of being angry with him.

Then Lu Liruan went about her business and really didn't care about him anymore. The next evening, Ji Shumin really didn't have any appetite, but when Lu Liruan had dinner, he sat next to her without saying a word, with a hint of probing and frustration in his beautiful eyes.

"Li Ruan." He leaned sickly against Lu Li Ruan, who was too heavy to lift her arms because of his weight pressing down on her. "Get up. I don't want to starve to death. You're delaying my meal."

Ji Shumin did not move.

"Don't stick to me. Didn't you complain the other day that I was delaying your suicide attempt? I'm not annoying anymore. Let's keep our distance." Lu Liruan said sarcastically.

Although she understood that Ji Shumin was feeling unwell and experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and sometimes couldn't control his emotions.

But that's not a reason for him to vent his frustrations on himself.

If we continue to indulge him without any temper, letting him vent all his pessimistic and negative emotions on us, what will become of our relationship?

Because of the bond and love, I am willing to share the storms with him and never abandon him. It is my own choice, and I do not need him to be grateful for it. However, my choice is not something that can be squandered at will.

A relationship can only last and be filled with warmth if both people are willing to cherish and care for it. In turn, the relationship will protect the two people involved and give them the courage to face anything.

"Li Ruan, I spoke without thinking that day..." he said softly, his pale, cold fingers gripping Lu Li Ruan's wrist, making her shiver.

Turning to look at him, her thin face held a cautious worry in her eyes, like an animal afraid of being abandoned. The fawning intent was obvious, as if even if Lu Liruan slapped him now, he would still eagerly come to her.

When he's insane, he's truly insane, but when he lets his guard down, he's incredibly cloying, practically hitting Lu Liruan right where it hurts.

Lovers are the ones who know best how to hurt each other, and also the ones who know best how to make each other feel affection and tenderness...

"Ok?"

"I'm not angry with Li Ruan, it's just with myself..." He lowered his eyes and spoke softly and sincerely. Perhaps because he lowered his head like this, a faint blush appeared on his pale cheeks.

"It's no use advising you, and it's no use apologizing to me. I'm not angry with you at all. I'm just keeping my distance from you and leaving you alone when you don't need anyone's comfort." Lu Liruan put down her chopsticks.

"Yes, I was wrong. It's not that I didn't understand Li Ruan's good intentions, I just acted impulsively." Ji Shumin was very clear about what he had done.

Since he knew what he had done, Lu Liruan decided not to hold it against him.

Lu Liruan has never liked arguing or making a scene, but she is by no means the type to compromise and accept things without any bottom line. If her bottom line is crossed, she has her own methods to make Ji Shumin realize his mistakes.

As his health gradually improved, his temperament also became more peaceful. The two of them were both willing to be open and honest with each other, so after a period of adjustment, there was almost nothing that caused them any discomfort.

Ji Shumin hasn't caused any trouble in a long time, so I wonder what caused this commotion today?

Lu Liruan blinked, rolled over, pressed his shoulders, and pushed him back onto the bed: "What are you doing now?"

“Li Ruan seems to treat me like a child…” Ji Shumin sighed softly, raising his hand to tidy up the hair that Lu Li Ruan had messed up.

"Of course not, kids don't bite as hard as you do." Lu Liruan scoffed. "What's wrong now? If someone saw you like this, they'd think I'd done something to upset you!"

"General Zhuang has been back in the capital for some time now. He finally found an opportunity while I was away to come looking for you. What, you two are looking for an opportunity to elope together while I'm not here?"

Lu Liruan: ...

What are you talking about?

Seeing Lu Liruan's astonished expression, Ji Shumin pursed his lips, slightly turned his gaze away, and his face revealed a hint of embarrassment and dissatisfaction, as well as a trace of unease.

"Huh?" Lu Liruan asked in surprise.

“I’m afraid you really will follow her in death.” Ji Shumin murmured, “When I was sick, I was talking to Li Ruan. Li Ruan once said that if she didn’t stay with me, she could enjoy herself, live out her youth, befriend the mountains and rivers, and be extremely happy.”

Lu Liruan frowned slightly. When did she say that?

It must have been when Ji Shumin was seriously ill. At that time, in order to distract him, I talked to him day and night until I was so tired that I didn't even know what I was saying anymore.

It's rare that he still remembered things even when he was so sick and delirious...

Lu Liruan felt that these were words she could say, and they truly came from her heart.

When I was bedridden, my greatest wish was to be able to travel around, go on excursions, and be free and unrestrained, rather than being trapped in one place.

This is now also my wish.

However, a wish is a wish, but it is not an obsession.

The thought of her leaving Ji Shumin behind and wandering the world alone makes her feel lonely...

He's so willing to believe it.

She actually believed that she could leave this place with Zhuang Yuxun, just as the letter described.

How can it be?

They were engaged, and General He was so amused by her that he blushed and didn't know what to do with his hands and feet. He followed her closely and didn't want to leave her side. How could he possibly interfere?

Lu Liruan silently composed a sentence in her mind.

"It was just a joke, why did you take it seriously?"

Lu Liruan didn't realize when she said it that her words were usually reserved for scumbags.

Ji Shumin stared at her intently for a moment, then seemed to smile, but it felt like he hadn't really taken her words to heart.

The two of them pressed together, and after all that fussing, with the night still light, Ji Shumin leaned in and kissed Lu Liruan's lips.

……

Looking at Lu Liruan's peaceful sleeping face, Ji Shumin's expression darkened: Liruan would often casually mention her younger sister who had gone to Jiangnan, and the unrestrained and dashing General Zhuang. Although she seemed nonchalant this time, Ji Shumin knew that it was indeed he who had trapped Liruan.

With his frail body, with his burgeoning ambition, and with his uncontrollable possessive love for her.

Ji Shuqin looked at the letter Ji Shumin had written to him and remained silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed and his expression became firm.

It's almost Chinese New Year, so there are some things we shouldn't put off until next year.

It was only when Lu Liruan chatted with Zhuang Yuxun later that she learned exactly which day she had arrived in the capital.

"I thought you had already figured it out," Zhuang Yuxun said with a smile. "Actually, I gave myself away."

"Oh?" Lu Liruan indeed hadn't noticed.

"I received Li Ruan's letter halfway there. At that time, I replied to Li Ruan in the same way I wrote when I was at the border. It wasn't until after the messenger left that I realized that I am now much closer to the capital. In that case, Li Ruan will receive my letter sooner..."

"If someone were to calculate the time interval between these two meetings, they could even determine where I am now."

Lu Liruan was astonished. No matter when, there are always cautious and resourceful people who can discover things that ordinary people do not know from the smallest details.

On the 30th, Zhuang Yu arrived very early. When she entered the room, Ji Shumin was taken aback: "Why isn't General Zhuang resting at his own residence?"

Zhuang Yuxun and he exchanged a glance, both sensing a hint of caution in each other's expressions: "I came to see Li Ruan. My parents are not in the manor now, what use is it for me to be alone?"

Last month, Mrs. Zhuang packed her bags and went back to her hometown to visit relatives. However, she kept delaying her departure, saying that her eldest sister's son was getting married before the new year and she wanted to celebrate with her at home.

Many ladies in the capital knew this reason, and some even teased, "Yes, she married a great and valiant general, but that's the downside. He's never home, year after year. It's better to go back to her parents' home for a lively time!"

The other ladies around them laughed and joked, and no one took it seriously.

But according to Zhuang Yuxun, she had already secretly returned to the capital and met with her mother at that time.

Lu Liruan handed her an orange.

There was hardly any festive atmosphere at the mansion this year. Lu Liruan wasn't stupid; with these preparations, it was obvious what was going to happen.

Not only the Zhuang family, but even the three children from the Marquis of He'an's family who said they would come back for the New Year this year have all stayed in Jiangnan. After expressing their sympathy with Ji Shu at the Marquis of He'an's residence, they wrote a letter to inform them.

The few remaining people in He'an Mansion rarely ventured out, and the mansion was always surrounded by guards who were secretly arranged to protect its safety. In fact, the mansion had become even more vigilant after the Second Prince had caused trouble at He'an Marquis's mansion last time.

This year, Ji Shuqin presided over the ceremony in the palace, following the usual procedure. The only difference was that on the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, court officials were arranged to enter the palace to meet the Emperor and pray for his well-being.

This was proposed by the Second Prince's faction in the imperial court, but it was reasonable and Ji Shuqin did not refuse.

But not every court official wanted to see the Emperor. They didn't know the Emperor's current condition, but those who had seen him last time were all quite frightened, especially during the New Year...

The various aristocratic families have been behaving much better on the surface lately, and Master An has also been behaving himself. He has also expressed his support for the matter of meeting the Emperor this time.

Although he didn't have any real abilities, just because he was the uncle of the First Prince and the Third Prince, even if others looked down on him, they had to pretend to respect him.

But Master An no longer cared about other people's opinions. He was extremely anxious and could hardly close his eyes for several days. Whenever he closed his eyes, he was plagued by nightmares.

But now that things have come to this, there's no room for him to back down even a step.

On New Year's Eve, the emperor suddenly opened his eyes: "Immortal...Immortal, have you come to take me away!"