Chapter 3: Double Rebirth (3)

Jiang Jiang found it quite strange.

Ever since that modest breakfast, her treatment in the residence had noticeably improved.

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That night.

Jiang Jiang was reading a light novel by the lantern when Ji Jin pushed Lu Zheng into the room.

“What are you reading, Jiang Jiang?”

Seeing that he was interested, she handed him the booklet. “Just some little stories to pass the time.”

Lu Zheng glanced at it, and the smile on his face stiffened.

It was just an ordinary tale about a scholar and a fox spirit—popular for relaxation. Even Ji Jin had been reading these recently.

But Lu Zheng suddenly realized something: Jiang Jiang was still young. She didn’t yet understand what love was, or what it meant to truly like someone. She had married him simply because she thought he looked good, and because Prime Minister Jiang had said he would treat her well.

Lu Zheng thought bitterly—she might not even realize what marrying a cripple truly meant. It meant not being able to lift her head in front of noblewomen at banquets. It meant becoming a laughingstock in the capital.

In that sense, what her maid had said wasn’t wrong—this was never something she should have had to go through.

If it were the him from the previous life, Lu Zheng would have let her choose freely. Even if she wanted a divorce, he would’ve taken all the blame to protect her reputation.

But that was the old him.

Now? Lu Zheng thought: since heaven had brought Jiang Jiang to him, then they must be fated to be together.

He would never allow her to leave.

As for these little books that talked about romance and desire…

Lu Zheng smiled at the cover, but his eyes were cold and hollow.

He would carefully screen them. He couldn’t allow his princess to be corrupted by this nonsense.

Jiang Jiang didn’t know what he was thinking while holding the booklet—she simply thought he liked it and was a bit surprised.

But she was tired today and didn’t want to wait any longer. She moved closer to him and said, “Let’s go to bed early.”

Lu Zheng misunderstood and cupped her chin to kiss her.

By the time the kiss ended, both their breaths were unsteady.

Jiang Jiang was truly sleepy. Her head nestled into the crook of his neck as she mumbled, “Tomorrow, okay? I’m really too tired tonight…”

Lu Zheng tenderly touched the dark circles under her eyes. He had indeed gone a bit overboard the previous night. He whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything. Just sleep.”

He carried Jiang Jiang to bed and tucked her in carefully.

Once he was sure her breathing had calmed into the rhythm of sleep, the man—crippled from a fall at age nine—stood up.

Lu Zheng changed into his nightclothes and looked at the woman asleep beside him.

She seemed so gentle. She had no defenses around him.

He smiled, full of contentment, then pulled her into his arms and finally drifted off.

Sleeping with Jiang Jiang in his arms always gave Lu Zheng the illusion of holding the entire world—it allowed him to sleep more soundly than ever.

But not today.

Today was the third day after the wedding—the day Jiang Jiang was to return to her family for a visit.

Lu Zheng glanced at the sky. Though he was reluctant to wake her, he had to gently nudge her.

Jiang Jiang, still groggy, slapped his hand away with a pout and burrowed further into his arms. “Just a little longer… just a little longer…”

Lu Zheng’s heart melted into a puddle. He couldn’t bring himself to wake her again. Instead, he summoned a maid to deliver a message to the Prime Minister’s estate, saying they would arrive later than planned.

Fengxin, used to her lady’s sleeping habits, just smiled and said, “Your Highness and the Princess Consort may rest longer. Her Ladyship has been frail since childhood. The Lord and Madam fully understand—arriving around noon is perfectly fine.”

Lu Zheng was startled. He looked at Jiang Jiang’s blushing, sleeping face and suddenly remembered her early death in the previous life. His heart sank.

He wanted to ask the maid more, but feared waking Jiang Jiang, so he dismissed her.

Jiang Jiang…

Lu Zheng’s eyes traced the contours of her face. As if sensing his intense gaze, she wrinkled her nose and turned her face into his chest.

Lu Zheng remembered now—in the previous life, the Prime Minister’s second daughter had been born prematurely, with a weak constitution. She caught an epidemic illness and died young.

In this life, Jiang Jiang had survived—but her body was still just as fragile.

Lu Zheng had heard from an elderly maid in the palace that children born prematurely and with weak constitutions needed careful care, or they wouldn’t live long. Even if cared for well, their lifespans were often shorter than others.

The thought of Jiang Jiang dying young made his chest tighten unbearably.

His fingertips lightly brushed over her face, heart swelling with guilt.

He thought about how she hadn’t complained even once since entering his household—how she had even eaten that meager breakfast with joy. Yet she was the pampered legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, who should’ve been living in luxury and bliss. And now, because of him…

He closed his eyes to suppress the flood of emotions and carefully tucked the blanket around her.

In this life, even if only for Jiang Jiang, he would not fail again.

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When Jiang Jiang finally woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

She blinked drowsily and saw Lu Zheng sitting by the bed, reading. The moment he saw her stir, he set the book down and said gently, “You’re awake?”

Jiang Jiang rubbed her eyes and suddenly remembered it was the day she was to visit her family. She sat up in a panic. “What time is it? Are we late?”

Lu Zheng placed a calming hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine. I already sent someone to inform your family.” As he spoke, he reached up to smooth her tousled hair. “Take your time—there’s no rush.”

Jiang Jiang stared at him in surprise. Lu Zheng seemed especially gentle today.

After washing and dressing, she found that the carriage waiting outside the residence was much more spacious than usual. Inside, there were soft cushions, a small table set with delicate pastries, and a pot of hot tea.

Lu Zheng personally carried her into the carriage with movements as careful as if handling fragile porcelain.

As the carriage slowly began to move, Jiang Jiang reached for the curtain to peek at the street—but Lu Zheng stopped her.

“It’s windy. You’ll catch a chill.”

He retrieved a fox-fur cloak and gently wrapped it around her.

Jiang Jiang blinked at him, then asked curiously, “Your Highness, why are you being so… cautious today?”

Lu Zheng paused. His eyes darkened for a moment, but then he smiled. “You’re not well. Of course I have to take extra care.”

Jiang Jiang sensed something unspoken behind his words, but since his expression remained calm, she didn’t press further.

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At the Prime Minister’s Estate—

Jiang Yun was growing impatient. “Why isn’t Jiang Jiang here yet?”

She was promptly glared at by Prime Minister Jiang. “Your sister’s health is fragile. Sleeping longer is normal. Why are you so anxious? Did you make plans with the Sixth Prince again?”

Caught red-handed, Jiang Yun flushed with embarrassment. She stomped her foot. “Father! What’s wrong with me wanting to spend more time with my fiancé before the wedding?”

Prime Minister Jiang: “……” Well, that’s not entirely unreasonable.

Still, just thinking about the Sixth Prince constantly showing up like a dog begging for scraps was enough to make his scalp tingle.

He muttered to himself—was that prince trying to get closer to his daughter or him?

He gave Jiang Yun a final warning. “The Sixth Prince’s intentions are not pure. He’s extremely scheming—not suitable to be your husband.”