CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 36: THE SLACKER PRINCESS REFUSES TO BE CANNON FODDER

As clever as Jiang Ling was, she realized that Jiang Lai might not actually like Murong Dun as much as she appeared to.

Otherwise, with Murong Dun’s current feelings for her, he definitely wouldn’t have refrained from touching her.

Jiang Ling had many doubts, but for now, she could only endure and wait for Jiang Lai to calm down.

The dishes she passed over were all pushed to the side, but Jiang Ling was undeterred and continued to serve her, while constantly talking to her.

"I’m about to lead the troops to Liangzhou. Three commanders have already lost their lives in the Liangzhou uprising. Once I go, if all goes well, I estimate I won’t return until spring of next year."

Jiang Lai raised her eyes to look at him, speaking with a severely hoarse voice.

"What about my father?"

"He’s the Great General, naturally, he has to lead the troops as well."

Jiang Lai nodded, put down her chopsticks, and looked thoughtfully outside the door, her big eyes vacant, revealing many concerns.

"Jiang Lai, last night was my fault, my mistake. You can hit me, scold me, but please don’t ignore me."

Jiang Lai shook her head.

"What happened yesterday wasn’t your fault, you were poisoned, forced into it."

"Jiang Lai, the reason I sought you out is because only you can."

Seeing the male lead speak such deeply affectionate words to her, Jiang Lai’s heart stirred with a strange sense of Mary Sue.

She blinked, displaying a somewhat surprised and frightened expression to fit the character’s persona. After a delicate shift in emotions, all that remained was a face full of helplessness.

"Ling, I only see you as a brother."

"It’s okay, you can continue to call me brother, but I only see you as my woman. Once everything settles down, I will marry you."

Jiang Lai widened her eyes and shook her head frantically.

"This isn’t proper!!"

"Jiang Lai, if you’re only refusing me because of reputation, I can soon resolve that issue. I will marry you openly and rightfully."

Luckily, Jiang Lai’s mind was clear, or she’d almost be led astray by him.

It’s not just about reputation, the original character has always seen him as a brother from start to finish, where would the romantic feelings come from that would make her willingly marry him?

Seeing Jiang Lai’s confused expression, Jiang Ling continued his low voice persuasion.

"By then I’ll come to marry you with a different identity. Anyway, you and I have always had good feelings, I’m the man who cherishes you most in this world. People always need someone to spend a lifetime with, why not find someone who can take good care of you and whom you don’t dislike to live with? You know my character, my abilities are obvious to all, I can let you live a life of luxury. I spend all day in the barracks with a bunch of men, you won’t have to worry about me getting too close to other women...

Jiang Lai, whether a couple likes each other is secondary, the main thing is practicality. Think about it, who else in this world is more suitable to marry you than me?"

"..."

It’s a pity Jiang Ling doesn’t go into sales.

With his eloquence, he could talk the dead back to life.

Even someone as clear-minded as Jiang Lai was a bit tempted.

Indeed, a good-looking, healthy, single-minded person who is the closest to oneself, aside from the identity, Jiang Ling is indeed a good candidate for a husband.

Jiang Lai shook her head in confusion, looking somewhat struggling and puzzled.

Jiang Ling didn’t give her a chance to recover, his body slowly leaning closer, silently taking hold of her hand.

"We already have the reality of husband and wife. If you don’t want me, no one else in this world will ever want me. Marry me, and you can keep living at home, stay with your mother. I’m usually in the barracks and only come home for a few days now and then. You won’t need to care for parents-in-law or entertain guests. All you have to do is be yourself, I’ll provide for your leisure and entertainment.

Jiang Lai, promise me, won’t you?"

"I... even if I agree, dad won’t agree, once he knows he’ll kill you."

"He won’t kill me."

Jiang Lai resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

This Jiang Ling is truly greedy, wanting the woman as well as not forgetting his revenge plan.

The key is, he’s not even thinking well, if he really kills Jiang Xiong for revenge and one day she finds out, could she still continue to live with him?

Or was Jiang Ling confident she wouldn’t find out?

Jiang Lai didn’t withdraw her hand, but frowned and muttered.

"I’ve been married once already, you should marry someone better."

"I want the best, I only regret not killing that bastard Murong Dun earlier."

Jiang Lai said nothing.

Jiang Ling smiled cunningly, leaned forward, gently embracing her, greedily sniffing the scent on her.

"Jiang Lai, wait for me to come back."

Jiang Lai nodded and coughed a couple of times, which startled Jiang Ling, who asked repeatedly.

"What’s wrong?"

"If you had been half this considerate yesterday, I wouldn’t have ended up like this."

Jiang Ling struggled to suppress the impulse aroused in his heart, gently stroking Jiang Lai’s hand, soothing her in a low voice.

"I’ll be careful next time, if you’re uncomfortable you can hit me."

"I wouldn’t bother, hitting you would tire my hand."

For the next few days, Jiang Ling stayed with her every day, except for going to the study at fixed times, all the rest of the time he was by Jiang Lai’s side, asking if she was feeling better, if she was sleepy and wanted to sleep.

At night when he went out, Jiang Lai simply locked the door, to avoid being restless all night even if nothing happened.

Afraid of scaring her, Jiang Ling continued to be patient and restrained, until the night before he set out, he climbed in through the window, pretending to be drunk and unconscious, and achieved his wish once again.

Early the next morning, Jiang Ling got up early, without any trace of tiredness despite almost no sleep all night, instead looking refreshed.

Jiang Lai, on the other hand, seemed as if her energy had been drained away, lying dazed on the bed quietly asleep, her throat unable to speak now, listening to him moving about as he dressed, sensing him approach once he was almost done, bend down and cautiously kiss her forehead.

Jiang Lai opened her eyes.

"It’s okay, go back to sleep, later I’ll arrange for someone to send you back to the General Mansion, to have your mother accompany you."

"Wait, I have something for you."

Struggling to get up, Jiang Lai took out two small incense bags from the drawer and handed them to Jiang Ling.

"One for you and one for dad, for protection. I hope both of you can come back safely. Especially dad, he’s getting old and has an old injury on his right arm that can’t withstand constant effort, by then you must protect him well, and of course, protect yourself."

Jiang Ling took the incense bags, a trace of hesitation and inner conflict passing through his eyes.

He shouldn’t have a shred of compassion or hesitation concerning revenge.

But now, looking at Jiang Lai’s eyes filled with concern and hope, Jiang Ling felt fate’s irony, actually making himself fall for Jiang Lai.

Knowing all too well that liking her would only invite trouble, yet now there’s no way to pull himself out.

He packed away the incense bags, nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave.