Ch 73: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

Jiang Yan was angry.

Rain poured down in sheets. Though nothing could be seen clearly through the downpour, Jiang Ji knew he was angry.

“I saw that you’d been fighting for so long and still didn’t remember anything, so I had no choice but to use this move,” Jiang Ji said, raising his thumb and forefinger to show a tiny gap. “Just a little stimulation.”

“This is little stimulation?” Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes at him and said through clenched teeth, “I thought…”

He stopped mid-sentence, took a deep breath, and stared at Jiang Ji as if he wanted to bite him.

“You thought I was going to die with you?” Jiang Ji asked quietly.

Jiang Yan’s gaze turned dangerous. “Say that again.”

“….” Jiang Ji wisely shut his mouth, patted Jiang Yan’s back, then rubbed his head soothingly. “Alright, alright. Don’t be scared. Nothing happened, see?”

Jiang Yan stared at him without speaking.

Jiang Ji blinked and explained, “It was just to make things more realistic. Look, it worked, didn’t it? You remembered. As long as the result is good, that’s what matters.”

Jiang Yan ground his teeth, then, unable to resist, pinched Jiang Ji’s waist hard.

“Ah—!” Jiang Ji glared at him. “Why are you pinching me? Didn’t we agree you’d listen to me?”

Jiang Yan: “…”

“Young Master, are you alright?”

Chen Feng pulled off his face covering and jumped down from above. Jiang Ji looked at him with deep gratitude, as if he had just been rescued.

Seeing the two lying still, Chen Feng worried they were injured. “Did you get hurt?”

“No,” Jiang Ji shook his head, then patted Jiang Yan again. “Get up.”

Jiang Yan shot him a fierce glare. “I’ll settle this with you when we get back.”

“….” Jiang Ji looked at him with helpless tolerance, like someone humoring unreasonable behavior. “Fine, fine. I’ll wait for you to settle accounts with me. I’m not running away. Just get up first, rainwater’s getting into my eyes.”

Jiang Yan: “…”

Chen Feng: “?”

Jiang Yan pushed himself up from the damp quilts beneath them and pulled Jiang Ji up as well. Wrapping an arm around his waist, he pushed off lightly against the slope and carried Jiang Ji up the broken cliff in a single motion.

Jiang Ji’s eyes widened. “You actually know martial arts?!”

Jiang Yan glanced at him, emotions tangled in his chest. He wanted to stay angry but somehow could not, unsure what to do with the person beside him.

“Young Master! Are you alright?” Lu Jiu and the others crowded around anxiously.

“We’re fine,” Jiang Ji answered. “He remembered.”

“Really?” Chen Feng climbed up after them, excitement clear in his voice. “Young Master, you really remembered?”

Everyone stared at Jiang Yan with eager anticipation.

Jiang Yan nodded. “I remembered.”

“That’s wonderful!”

“The Young Master remembered!”

Despite the heavy rain pouring over them, everyone laughed loudly in relief and joy.

Lu Jiu said happily, “Young Master Jiang Ji’s method really worked. After fighting so long without results, I was getting anxious.”

“Ahem, well,” Jiang Ji quickly interrupted him, “everyone worked hard. Let’s head back first before anyone catches a chill.”

Jiang Yan glanced sideways at him. Jiang Ji guiltily looked up at the sky.

“Oh, right.” Jiang Ji turned to his household guards. “Old Lin, don’t reveal Jiang Yan’s identity.”

The four guards had clearly heard Jiang Ji shout “Your Highness” earlier. They had thought he might have misspoken, but seeing everyone else’s calm reactions, they suddenly understood.

“Eldest Young Master… he really is the regent?” one asked.

In Jiang Ji’s household, the servants addressed Jiang Yan as Eldest Young Master.

Jiang Ji nodded. “Yes. Just keep it to yourselves for now. Don’t tell anyone, and don’t tell my mother yet either. I’ll explain when the time is right.”

The four men were stunned. Jiang Yan was actually the regent.

“Yes, Young Master,” they replied.

The group returned the way they came, retrieved their horses, put their rain capes back on, and rode home. Translated on Hololo novels. The quilts below the cliff could be collected the next day.

By the time they returned, the rain had lessened. Aside from Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei, and the other children, Zhao Ru and the rest were still awake, waiting in the main hall.

“They’re back! Madam, they’re back!” Guihua ran in from the corridor to announce.

“They’re back?” Zhao Ru hurried to the doorway with the others. Seeing them ride in, she quickly said, “Come, go to the kitchen. We’ve prepared ginger soup for you.”

She and the others hurried toward the back kitchen.

Lu Jiu and the others led the horses back to the stables. Jiang Yan’s gaze swept the crowd and landed on the one person dressed differently, Lu Shun.

Lu Shun met his young master’s eyes and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

After a moment’s thought, he realized the problem. This is bad. The young master is going to settle accounts with me.

Jiang Ji and Jiang Yan removed their rain capes. Their clothes were soaked, water dripping onto the floor.

Zhao Ru urged, “Drink a bowl of ginger soup first, then go take a hot bath and change into dry clothes!”

Guihua had already prepared bowls for everyone, and they all gathered in the kitchen to drink the warming soup.

“After bathing, get proper rest. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow,” Jiang Yan told his subordinates.

“Yes.”

Hot water had been prepared in every pot for bathing. Some went to wash immediately, while those waiting changed into dry clothes first.

After bathing, Jiang Yan returned to the east wing and found Jiang Ji missing. Seeing lights still on in the main hall, he went over to retrieve him.

Zhao Ru was just about to close the door for the night when she saw Jiang Yan approach and smiled warmly. “Jiang Yan, I just heard from Xiao Ji that your memories have returned. That’s wonderful.”

“Mm, thank you, Auntie.” Jiang Yan glanced inside the room. “Where’s Jiang Ji?”

“He just went back to sleep.”

Jiang Yan frowned. “He’s not there. I just came from the east wing.”

“Then he’s probably gone to the latrine. You were caught in the rain, so go to bed early and rest well.”

“Alright. It’s late. You should rest too, Auntie. I’ll head back.”

Jiang Yan returned to the east wing and sat in the hall, waiting for Jiang Ji.

Rain continued to fall softly outside, droplets gathering along the eaves and dripping down in steady strings.

Unbidden, Jiang Yan’s mind replayed the image of Jiang Ji rushing out and nearly being killed earlier that night. His fists tightened, his gaze dark and unreadable.

After a while, Jiang Ji returned.

Seeing Jiang Yan still sitting there, Jiang Ji paused. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Jiang Yan lifted his eyes to look at him. “Waiting for you.”

“….” Still angry, huh? Jiang Ji rubbed his nose under Jiang Yan’s steady gaze, turned to bolt the door, and walked inside. “Then let’s sleep. It’s been a long day.”

Jiang Yan picked up the lamp and followed him into the room. He shut the door, set the lamp on the bedside table, and watched Jiang Ji remove his outer clothes and shoes before lying down.

Jiang Yan undressed as well and lay beside him. Just as he turned to speak, he saw Jiang Ji had already closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Jiang Yan laughed in exasperation and pinched his nose. “Stop pretending.”

“…Who’s pretending? I’m tired,” Jiang Ji muttered, turning his back toward him. “Go to sleep.”

Jiang Yan turned him back around. “I need to talk to you.”

Jiang Ji sighed, rolled over, and opened his eyes. “You’re still angry?”

“Shouldn’t I be?” Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Ji thought for a moment. “Everything went according to plan. There’s no need to be angry.”

Jiang Yan looked directly into his eyes and said calmly, “You put yourself in danger. Tonight’s situation, heavy rain, poor visibility, everyone carrying weapons. In a fight, things can’t always be controlled. One mistake and you could have been seriously hurt.”

“I had already discussed it with them,” Jiang Ji replied seriously. “And that was the last resort. If you had remembered earlier, I wouldn’t have rushed out.”

Jiang Yan watched him silently, then took a deep breath. “Jiang Ji, I know your plan worked. But I don’t want you risking your safety like that again. Not even for me. If you had been injured today, I would rather never regain my memories.”

Fear still lingered in Jiang Yan’s eyes. Jiang Ji realized he had truly frightened him again. He wrapped his arms around him and gently patted his back. “Alright. I won’t do that again. Don’t be afraid.”

Jiang Yan cupped his face, locking eyes with him. “Promise me.”

Jiang Ji nodded and raised three fingers. “I promise.”

Jiang Yan lowered his hand and held it tightly. “No matter what happens, I want you to put your own safety first. Alright?”

Hearing that, Jiang Ji felt as if his heart had been squeezed, aching and warm at the same time.

Jiang Yan really loves me, he thought.

He held Jiang Yan’s face and looked into his eyes with unusual seriousness. “I promise you.”

Jiang Yan’s gaze was deep and dark, filled with worry and affection. Without thinking, Jiang Ji leaned forward and gently kissed him on the lips.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” he murmured.

He had barely pulled back when Jiang Yan suddenly held the back of his head and kissed him again.

Jiang Ji froze for a moment. Translated on Hololo novels. He had only meant to comfort him and hadn’t expected Jiang Yan to respond so directly. A flicker of joy rose in his chest, and he soon closed his eyes and returned the kiss.

At the same time, he reminded 2977 in his mind, “2977, close the livestream. From now on, whenever intimate things happen, please disconnect automatically. Thanks.”

[Livestream closed. Settings updated for the host.]

It was Jiang Ji’s first time kissing like this, clumsy and exploratory, guided mostly by instinct.

Jiang Yan, however, kissed him with urgency and intensity, almost fierce, as though trying to confirm something.

He was confirming that this person was still here, still in his arms.

Jiang Ji sensed the lingering fear in him and gently stroked his back, responding with patience and tenderness.

After a long while, Jiang Yan’s fierce kiss gradually softened, though it did not stop, shifting instead into something deeper and more heated until Jiang Ji was left breathless.

When Jiang Yan finally released him, Jiang Ji realized at some point Jiang Yan had moved over him, eyes burning with unmistakable intent. As another man, Jiang Ji understood exactly what that look meant.

Jiang Yan leaned down to kiss him again. Jiang Ji snapped back to awareness, braced his foot, twisted his waist, and reversed their positions.

Now lying atop Jiang Yan, Jiang Ji touched his face, kissed him again, and slipped a hand beneath his clothing, tracing along his waist and abdomen before reaching lower, only to have Jiang Yan catch his wrist.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ji asked, pausing. “You don’t want to?”

“I do,” Jiang Yan said, nodding, but he still did not release his hand.

Jiang Ji kissed him lightly. “Shy?”

Jiang Yan paused, his gaze deep. “We aren’t married yet.”

Jiang Ji blinked. “What do you mean? We have to be married first?”

Jiang Yan nodded.

Jiang Ji said, “…We’re both men. Does it matter?”

“It does. It would be improper,” Jiang Yan replied.

Jiang Ji thought about it. In this era, reputation and propriety were taken seriously. Since he wanted to marry Jiang Yan, he really should follow the customs and rules of the time.

“I’m sorry. I was being too forward,” Jiang Ji said. “Before we’re married, I shouldn’t cross the line.”

Jiang Yan felt there was something subtly off about what Jiang Ji had just said.

“Once I’ve told Mother, I’ll go to your family to formally propose marriage,” Jiang Ji said, kissing Jiang Yan lightly on the lips. “Before we’re married, we’ll just stick to kissing.”

“…?” Jiang Yan’s expression turned slightly strange. “Propose marriage?”

“Mm. I’ll explain everything to Mother as soon as possible. I just don’t know whether your family will accept me,” Jiang Ji said with some concern. “They don’t even know you like me yet.”

At last, Jiang Yan understood why Jiang Ji’s attitude toward him had sometimes felt a little unusual.

He looked at Jiang Ji with a complicated expression, his gaze deep and unreadable. He did not point it out directly, only saying, “Once I finish dealing with matters in the south and return, I will inform my parents.”

“Will they make things difficult for you?” Jiang Ji asked, watching him. “You’re the Regent, with such status and authority. Will they expect you to continue the family line?”

Jiang Yan rested a hand against his waist and back. “I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Ji then asked curiously, “Did you always like men, or…?”

Jiang Yan shook his head. “Before this, I never had such thoughts. Toward either men or women.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. Delighted, he leaned in and kissed Jiang Yan on the lips again. Jiang Yan caught the back of his head, not letting him pull away, deepening the kiss.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

Thandar: Finally kissed after 70 something chapters 😂😂😂😂