The Prince's Daily Face-Slapping - TPDFS 01

In the deep winter of the twelfth lunar month, the snow whipped against people’s faces, its chill seeping through the skin and penetrating to the bones.

When Jiang Zhuo returned from the back mountain, her body was still dripping with melted snow, her damp hair clinging to her temples, her face a shade of frozen blue, her palms scratched, and her body marred with blood.

Su Yun, nearly paralyzed with fear, asked her in a quavering voice, “Didn’t we agree to approach His Highness for a dose of medicine?”

A few snowflakes clung to Jiang Zhuo’s long eyelashes.

She trembled slightly but offered no response.

Instead, she handed the herbs she held to Su Yun.

A small lamp flickered at the head of the bed, and Jiang Huan’s fever showed no signs of abating.

Jiang Zhuo urged Su Yun to prepare the medicine and went to change her clothes. However, once she departed, Jiang Zhuo found herself reluctant to move, choosing instead to warm herself by the brazier beside Jiang Huan’s bed.

The damp fabric clung tightly to her body, yet she felt no chill.

She was numb from the cold.

The agarwood in the incense burner had burned away, leaving only a trace of carbon ash in the brazier.

Heavy snow had blocked the mountain for five days.

Supplies at the Wanshou Temple were dwindling.

If it hadn’t been for the Lin family’s cousin catching a cold the previous day and depleting the last of the cold medicine in the Taoist temple, Jiang Zhuo would not have had to venture into the snow and ice to seek out remedies.

The prince Su Yun had just mentioned is none other than the current Crown Prince, Chen Wen.

Until today, he had still been her fiancé.

He was also the one she truly admired.

Su Yun inquired why she hadn’t approached him for a dose of medicine.

She refrained from revealing that she had done so.

But he did not provide it.

A sharp pain suddenly pierced Jiang Zhuo’s throat. She lifted her head and blinked her slightly reddened eyes, struggling to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

Though she did not harbor resentment toward him, she still felt a deep sorrow for him.

Before seeking the medicine, she had reassured Su Yun, “Even if the marriage falls through, the Jiang family’s connections will ensure the prince does not make things difficult for me.”

Jiang Zhuo approached with hope.

Standing before Chen Wen’s door, she first articulated her purpose.

Who could have anticipated that the nanny, who had always shown kindness, would suddenly alter her demeanor? “Miss Jiang, please refrain from approaching. Not only is His Highness displeased, but we servants have also endured frustration for the past two years.”

As the old woman spoke, the maid from the Lin family’s cousin stood guard at the door.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhuo, she raised her eyebrows, “Miss Jiang, are you not knowledgeable about medicine? If you seek medicinal herbs, simply venture to the mountain to collect them.”

Jiang Zhuo stood in the snow, resembling a clown.

The swirling snow clung to her eyes, obscuring her vision. She turned her head and gazed into the inner room.

The Taoist temple, though not as expansive as the palace, allowed those inside to hear voices from outside.

After standing for a moment, Jiang Zhuo noticed that the occupants within remained unmoved.

She then turned and walked back.

The whispers of the old women behind her reached her ears once more.

“In the past, when she encountered His Highness, it was always due to her own shortcomings—either feeling faint or weak. Today, it is the second young master’s turn. The Jiang family is likely to rush to the Empress to lament this time.”

In that instant, Jiang Zhuo felt her hands and feet grow as cold as the ice and snow.

She realized that throughout it all, the only person who had shown her affection was the Empress.

Chen Wen and those around him all harbored disdain for her.

Once the engagement was annulled, everything shifted. The little schemes she had employed, once praised and encouraged by others, were now perceived as manipulative tactics to cling to him.

At that moment, she felt like a sheep savaged by a wolf, reduced to a state where not even a remnant remained.

She found herself filled with regret. Had she known he held such animosity, she would not have been so naive as to explain the value of the hairpin broken by the Lin family’s daughter.

That was why she had struck Miss Lin.

“Regardless of its worth, does it grant you the right to strike another?” The situation between her and Miss Lin had reached Chen Wen’s ears. His voice, filtered through the beaded curtain, was devoid of emotion, delivered in a slow cadence.

This seemingly neutral statement pierced her heart.

Jiang Zhuo vividly recalled that he had not spoken in such a manner before.

At the age of seven, when she was bullied and ridiculed for being an orphan, they had even yanked the hairpin from her hair and toyed with it.

It was Chen Wen who had helped her reclaim it.

He had reassured her, “Do not be afraid. If others harass you, a single ruthless response will ensure they do not dare to do so again.”

She had followed his advice, yet he deemed her actions wrong.

She hesitated for a moment.

However, Miss Lin approached her without hesitation, offering an apology with a curtsy, “Your Highness, please do not blame sister. It was my fault from the beginning.”

Jiang Zhuo found her hypocrisy intolerable and wished for an unobstructed view. She pushed her aside and caught a glimpse of Chen Wen raising his head within.

However, before she could discern his expression, Miss Lin collapsed in front of her.

Miss Lin gasped, revealing scratches on her palm.

Jiang Zhuo observed her kneeling on the ground, softly weeping.

Chen Wen’s voice from behind the beaded curtain suddenly turned icy as he questioned, “How long do you intend to create a scene?”

Jiang Zhuo felt a wave of grievances wash over her.

Clenching her fists, she could only hear her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

After a labored exhale, she cautiously reminded him, “About that hairpin…”

“It’s merely that I’ve grown accustomed to you in our marriage.” Upon finishing his statement, even Miss Lin momentarily ceased her sobbing, and a hush fell over the room.

Chen Wen did not disappoint; his words left everyone in shock.

He declared, “If that is the case, this marriage contract is rendered invalid.”

A row of beaded curtains obstructed her view, and Jiang Zhuo could not clearly see his face. As tears filled her eyes, his expression became even less discernible.

In comparison to the heart-wrenching pain that followed, the initial onset of tinnitus left her feeling increasingly unsettled.

Her legs wavered momentarily, prompting her to step back and lean against Su Yun. Once she steadied Jiang Zhuo, she fell to her knees, imploring Chen Wen through her tears.

She could not discern the specifics of Su Yun’s plea to him.

In the vast room, while everyone else spectated, only she and Su Yun remained standing as observers.

“Let us leave,” Jiang Zhuo said, unable to endure the scene any longer.

She gently pulled the sobbing and helpless Su Yun to her feet, her voice barely a whisper as if only her lips were moving.

She could not bear to witness Su Yun kneeling on the ground, pleading for assistance.

If it no longer holds significance, then so be it.

He likely forgot about the hairpin long ago, or if he remembered, it was merely a childhood jest; she alone took it to heart.

Given his disdain for her, she let it go.

There was no need for her to plead for her emotions.

Just like the medicine, if he chooses not to provide it, then so be it.

Hadn’t she gathered some for herself?

When Su Yun entered with the medicine, she found Jiang Zhuo sitting there, drenched and unchanged. Overcome with concern, she set the bowl down and attempted to pull her inside.

Jiang Zhuo showed no interest and insisted she assist Jiang Huan instead. Ignoring the wound on her hand, she personally fed the medicine to Jiang Huan.

Just as she finished, a series of knocks sounded at the door, followed by Yan Qing’s voice, “Miss Jiang, are you awake?”

Yan Qing, a guard in Chen Wen’s service, was recognized by Su Yun.

Stunned for a moment, she turned to Jiang Zhuo, puzzled by Yan Qing’s presence at such a late hour.

“Just tell him I’m asleep,” Jiang Zhuo replied wearily.

Su Yun nodded and moved to open the door.

Who would have thought that the visitor was not only Yan Qing, but also the Crown Prince?

In the snow, a figure clad in dark blue stood with his hands clasped behind his back on the steps before the entrance. He stood tall and resolute, like a pine tree, while the snow illuminated his face, which bore an expression of unyielding coldness.

Su Yun swiftly returned to the room to inform Jiang Zhuo, “His Highness has arrived.”

Jiang Zhuo lifted her head from her arms, a fleeting surprise flickering in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by composure.

Only then did she rise and begin to arrange her appearance.

Su Yun presented the white gauze.

The wound on Jiang Zhuo’s palm, inflicted by a sharp stone, had embedded gravel into her flesh.

Su Yun gasped upon seeing it. Although Miss Lin’s staged fall had also grazed her palm, it paled in comparison to the severity of Jiang Zhuo’s injury.

With tears welling in her eyes, Su Yun gently cleaned the pebbles from the wound one by one.

However, Jiang Zhuo found her movements too slow. She seized the white gauze, closed her eyes, and wrapped it around her arm directly. A sharp pain surged through her limb, causing her face to blanch.

Yet, this did not deter her in the slightest.

She had previously dismissed Su Yun’s advice, but now she not only changed her attire but also meticulously groomed herself in front of the bronze mirror, applying rouge and lipstick, and inquired several times whether she looked presentable.

Su Yun nodded, tears brimming in her eyes.

It was said that she appeared exceedingly beautiful.

Jiang Zhuo then tucked her gauze-wrapped hand into her sleeve and stepped outside.

In the past, when meeting Chen Wen, she would adorn herself splendidly, eager to present her best self.

This time, however, her motivation was different.

She merely wished to ensure he did not perceive her as seeking sympathy.

Jiang Zhuo stood by the threshold.

Chen Wen remained on the steps of the courtyard.

The distance between them was five paces.

She bowed her head slightly, avoiding his gaze.

Upon returning from the cold, she had felt no chill, but now, emerging from the warmth of the house, the night wind struck her with a sudden coldness.

Chen Wen approached her side and halted in front of her.

In a low voice, he said, “Take this.”

Jiang Zhuo clearly saw what he offered.

A packet of medicine.

Her eyelids fluttered.

No response.

Noticing his proximity, she took a step back, her heels pressing against the threshold, and bowed to him once more.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Jiang Huan is doing well now.”

She had once exerted every effort to draw near to him.

Now, she simply wished to avoid him.

The medicine bag hovered momentarily in the air before being retracted.

Chen Wen did not depart.

He stood before her in silence.

Jiang Zhuo longed to retreat inside, yet the wind outside was too fierce.

“There’s still some charcoal left in my room. I will have Yan Qing bring it to you later.”

She lifted her gaze, meeting a pair of dark eyes that mirrored the chill of a mountain spring, devoid of any warmth.

She felt a sudden tightening in her heart.

Miss Lin had once remarked that forced melons are never sweet. At the time, she failed to grasp the meaning, but now it resonated deeply.

Even if he does not seek her out tonight, she would remain silent before the Empress.

Love requires mutual affection.

In hindsight, she recognized her past mistakes; she should not have pursued him so relentlessly.

A hint of apology flickered in Jiang Zhuo’s eyes.

With a smile, she remarked, “I am not cold, Your Highness; you should keep it for yourself.”

Chen Wen’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment.

He offered no further words.

Then, he turned and vanished into the night.

Jiang Zhuo retreated to her room.

Upon entering, Su Yun swiftly guided her to sit by the brazier, unwrapping the white gauze from her hand and delicately extracting the stones embedded in her flesh.

“Human beings are composed of flesh and blood; how can they remain untouched by pain?” Su Yun said, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve and speaking with a slight quiver in her voice, “The palace staff are already clearing the mountain path. Please endure for just two more days, and we shall return home.”

Su Yun refrained from pressing further.

The young lady had lost her parents at a tender age, and while the Jiang family offered some protection through the eldest son and the matriarch, it could never compare to the love of her parents.

The young lady had always been remarkably mature.

Yet, her sensibility only deepened the sympathy others felt for her.

Jiang Huan awoke in the middle of the night.

As his eyes opened, he noticed the wound on Jiang Zhuo’s hand and asked anxiously, “Sister, what happened to your hand?”

Jiang Zhuo smiled gently, responding, “It’s nothing. The snowy path was slippery; I simply fell.”

However, as soon as she turned away, the emotions she had suppressed throughout the night surged forth, and silent tears streamed down her cheeks.