Transmigrating into a book to save her best friend, her sickly husband vies for her affections every

"Zhang Zhan! Zhang Zhan!" Zhao Siwei went in to see Zhang Zhan and helped him to the other end. Zhao Siwei, who was enjoying the hot spring room, was drinking with Ji Fuguang. The other two young masters of the Ji family were laughing and splashing around, showing no fear of Prince Zhao Siwei.

Ji Fuguang is a natural at making friends. As long as the other party is straightforward, he will definitely open his heart to them. In addition, Tingyao and Ji Anzhi both told him not to play tricks on Zhao Siwei, but to get along well, which is the best way to be sincere.

At the dinner table, he was also told a lot about politics, which he didn't understand but was very interested in. This was very useful for him to observe politics.

Zhang Zhan refused to discuss eating with them no matter what, and the sisters even offered up their dishes, hoping to make Zhao Siwei think that the Ji family was not bad.

Of course, everyone knows that Zhao Siwei doesn't form cliques or private factions, but Zhang Zhan, who is by his side, is someone who will give others opportunities.

Now that Zhang Zhan is no longer following the Crown Prince, he is essentially tied to Zhao Siwei. No matter what others say about the two arguing and having a falling out, it's all false and just rumors.

His father said so.

Zhang Zhan was raised by Zhao Siwei, who took care of all his needs, including food, clothing, and shelter. Even if the palace were to prepare things for Zhao Siwei now, it would also prepare things for Zhang Zhan.

In Zhao Siwei's heart, Zhang Zhan was his own brother, a half-brother.

His father told him to remember clearly that Zhao Siwei was very tolerant of Zhang Zhan. No matter how Zhao Siwei treated Zhang Zhan outside, he would definitely protect Zhang Zhan from the bottom of his heart.

Just now, Zhao Siwei asked Da Shu to call Zhang Zhan several times, but Zhang Zhan didn't come.

He probably still harbors resentment over the Ji family's shop incident.

The main point is that the family genuinely wanted to visit and apologize, but Zhao Siwei said there was no need to worry about it, so the Ji family tacitly accepted it and the matter was over.

Looking at it now, it doesn't seem like it happened at all.

Ji Fuguang suggested, "I brought some leaf cards. Would Your Highness like to play some together later? I don't think the snow will stop anytime soon."

It was really a bad idea to go out like this. The snowstorm is so bad that the carriage can't move. I guess we'll be stuck here for a few days.

That means he was borrowing someone else's house to take shelter from the rain, and what's more, the house belonged to Zhang Zhan.

He said it was so luxurious that he almost thought it was Zhao Siwei's house.

Upon inquiring, it turned out that this was the best room available, and Zhao Siwei's own room was actually smaller than this one.

It was said that the plum blossoms outside the window were beautiful, and Zhang Zhan liked them, so Zhao Siwei gave them up.

This house must have been approved by Zhao Siwei, which means it has displeased Zhang Zhan again.

Ji Fuguang thought it would be better to just find a room and squeeze in.

Zhao Siwei agreed. In his previous life, Ji Fuguang was the most supportive person to him. He was proactive in his work, although he didn't always do it perfectly. However, he was extremely loyal to him and would do whatever he was told, instead of just following Zhang Zhan's instructions. But this time, doing too much gave him a headache.

"Where is Prince Zhang?" Ji Fuguang asked again. "Isn't he coming?"

This hot spring is very comfortable and good for your health. Zhang Zhan has been having bad luck lately, so he should come and soak in it.

Zhao Siwei: "Never mind him." Although he said he wouldn't care, he still called out to the outside, "Where's Zhang Zhan? Is he fast asleep? Wake him up. Don't let him be the only one with energy who keeps everyone awake."

Xiaoshu entered and respectfully replied, "The young master has woken up. He just came by, but left again, saying he was hungry and went to find something to eat."

Ji Fuguang asked in confusion, "Didn't we already serve the young master some food?"

Zhang Zhan couldn't explain, but he felt that Zhang Zhan was holding a grudge about smashing the shop and didn't like the Ji family, so he sent over several good dishes and a pot of good wine.

Lesser Heat: "Your Highness, please..."

Zhao Siwei raised her hand, knowing that Zhang Zhan had probably smashed it, and told her to shut up and not say anything more, otherwise he would really get angry. "Okay, I know what happened. Don't give him any food, let him go hungry."

Xiaoshu gratefully withdrew.

That night.

Zhao Siwei had intended to squeeze in with Ji Fuguang, but he found that Ji Fuguang didn't dare to sleep at all once he lay down, so he had no choice but to come back.

"Oh, who was that back then, afraid of crowding the young masters of Ji?"

Zhao Siwei grabbed a small teacup and threw it at the person leaning against the bed reading a book, saying, "Believe it or not, I'll throw you out."

"You are a prince, why must you be thrown away? With just a word from you, do you think I wouldn't leave?" Zhang Zhan flipped through the pages of his book.

Zhao Siwei pulled the blankets over to the small bed next to him. "You know I can kick you out, so you'd better shut your mouth."

Zhang Zhan smashed the book on his head, saying, "What kind of drug did the Ji family give you? Why are you so kind to their whole family? I've never seen you show any favor to the Marquis's mansion."

"To elevate the Marquis's mansion?" Zhao Siwei tidied the small bed, sat down, and looked him in the eye. "Are you sure you want me to go and help your father, your stepmother's family, your younger brother, and your younger sister?"

Zhang Zhan said coldly, "I'm asking you about the Ji family. You have to promise the Ji family something, right?"

Zhao Siwei rarely spoke, mainly because Zhang Zhan was cunning and his lies were easily exposed, so it was better not to say anything.

"Zhao Jiu!"

Zhao Siwei turned the tables.

"Zhao Siwei!"

Zhao Siwei pulled the blanket over his head.

"You're so eager to burn down a house just because I gave it to you. If I were to offer the Ji family any other benefits later, wouldn't you kill me?"

Zhang Zhan grabbed the small teacup and smashed it back at him.

The wound was still a little sore from the anger.

Zhang Zhan took off his clothes to look and saw that the wound had healed, but it left a horrifying scar. Although he used the medicine given by Zhong Youling, it still itched sometimes.

It's especially warm now.

As the night deepened, the howling wind could be heard crashing against the eaves and windows, and the cold wind rushed into the house through the small gaps, making a terrifying whooshing sound.

The noise kept Zhang Zhan awake, and he was eventually woken up by hunger, his stomach growling loudly.

Unable to fall asleep no matter how much he tossed and turned, Zhang Zhan resigned himself to his fate and got up to find something to eat.

"Oh, is the young master hungry?"

Hearing the sarcastic voice, Zhang Zhan looked at Zhao Siwei, who had opened her eyes while sleeping on the small bed, and said, "Go apologize to Ji Fuguang, and I'll take you to find something to eat."

"Why should I?" Zhang Zhan put his finger to his forehead, letting him see clearly and think it through, wondering how his mind had become like this. "The Ji family didn't apologize to me either. They said that if you say you won't hold it against them, everything will be fine? What gives you the right to make decisions for me?"

"Then tell me how you want the Ji family to apologize. You yourself said that it was Xu Tutu's people who smashed you."

Zhang Zhan choked up; it was indeed what he himself had said.

"You won't admit your mistake, huh?" Zhao Siwei turned over and said, "Let's go out and eat snow."

Zhang Zhan is very stubborn. His gentle and refined demeanor is all an act, because he knows that others are more likely to fall for his act. In reality, if anyone really offends him, he will definitely resort to underhanded tactics, both overtly and covertly.

It doesn't kill people, but it disgusts and infuriates them.

Therefore, Zhang Zhan's admission of his mistake means that he will not cause trouble for the Ji family later.

Did he really manage to starve Zhang Zhan?

Zhang Zhan pushed open the door and went out. His guard, Xu Yuan, was also standing guard at the door. "What's wrong, Young Master?"

Zhang Zhan said he was hungry.

Xu Yuan looked at Da Shu and saw that he looked away and his face was not good, but he could not show it. These were all Zhao Siwei's people. If they really fought, he would suffer a loss. Moreover, it was very likely that Zhao Siwei would say that the two sides were on good terms, but Zhang Zhan would say that he was too irritable.

Xu Yuan blinked and said, "There's taro, would the young master like some?"

Zhang Zhan said he wanted some, since he wasn't picky about food, so he followed Xu Yuan to the small house next door.

Once inside, the room was small, and Zhang Zhan huddled by the brazier to warm himself.

It's really cold outside. I haven't had such a cold winter in many years. If it keeps raining for several days in a row, I'm afraid many people will freeze to death.

Xu Yuan handed him some taro, then remembered something. "There's some leftover food. Do you want some? It's not really leftovers, it's just the food His Highness ordered to be thrown away. We found it was fine. This is all the food that ended up for us servants. We divided up the leftovers. I haven't used any yet."

Zhao Siwei didn't know what was wrong with him, but he wouldn't allow Zhang Zhan to leave the courtyard. How was he supposed to find food?

Zhang Zhan's appetite had been poor these days, so he ate even less, and he couldn't possibly be hungry.

He left the food and soup that had been given to him.

Everyone cherishes their own master.

Zhang Zhan was so hungry he was seeing stars. He ate half a taro, and when he heard there was hot food, he immediately nodded, "Okay, sure."

He wasn't a picky eater. Before he met Zhang Zhan, he ate leftovers, but he still grew up and was quite good-looking. It was only after he met Zhao Siwei that he started eating better, so he grew taller and gained weight.

Xu Yuan immediately said, "Then I'll heat it up for the young master."

Zhang Zhan nodded.

Xu Yuan hesitated for a long time before asking tentatively, "Your Highness, has the Ninth Prince distanced himself from us?"

Zhang Zhan nodded. "Yes, he still hates me a little."

Xu Yuan could also sense that he was Zhang Zhan's closest bodyguard, so he spoke without much restraint.

"Then you should stop associating with the Ninth Prince. He's getting close to Ji and Meng now, isn't it just so he can find a suitable replacement for you?"

"I've scolded you so many times. You clearly didn't do anything wrong, so why should we put up with it? When you were injured, the Crown Prince sent you a lot of things, both openly and secretly. But the Ninth Prince has nothing and just comes to cause trouble."

Zhang Zhan hummed in agreement, nodding as he munched on a taro, "That's right, that makes sense."

Xu Yuan could tell he was just going through the motions. Whenever someone spoke ill of Zhao Siwei in front of him, he would just say, "I know, I heard it, okay, I'll do it."

He said earnestly, "You also need to think about yourself. If the Ninth Prince goes to his fiefdom in the future, you will have to establish yourself in the capital on your own. It would be better to get along well with your father. The Marquis has always regretted not treating you well in the past and wants to mend your father-son relationship."

Zhang Zhan couldn't stand hearing the name of the Marquis of Pingyang. This father didn't protect him when he was beaten, and even after he entered the palace as a companion to the emperor, he found that Zhao Siwei hadn't driven him away, and actually wanted his other son to replace him.

"If it weren't for Zhao Siwei, I would have died in the Marquis's mansion."

Countless times they wanted him to take the Marquis's mansion with him, but they wouldn't allow him to study in the palace or play with Zhao Siwei.

"When my teacher called me stupid, it was Zhao Siwei who stayed with me and coaxed me to eat."

"Everyone in the Marquis's mansion said I was a shorty. It was Zhao Siwei who made me jump around and forced me to eat meat and milk to grow taller."

“Whenever my younger siblings from the Marquis’s mansion bullied me, it was always Zhang Zhan who came to my aid.”

"And Prince Fan, if it weren't for Zhao Siwei, what do you think I would be now?"

Upon hearing the name Fan Wang, Xu Yuan fell silent.

"At that time, I really thought I was going to die. Prince Fan, the royal uncle who even Zhao Siwei's father had to give face to, when Zhao Siwei came to cut me with a knife, I was really scared to death."

"So there's no need to persuade me anymore. I know what I'm doing. I don't think Zhao Siwei would harm me; he just..."

Xu Yuan knew he couldn't even convince himself anymore, so he handed him the hot soup, saying, "Young Master, be careful with the soup."

Zhang Zhan blew on the taro, his seriousness evident, and put the last bite into his mouth, saying slowly, "I know what I'm doing, and I know you're doing this for my own good."

Xu Yuan sighed.

Zhang Zhan said, "If it weren't for Zhao Siwei, I might still be eating rotten taro right now. People should always be grateful."

Xu Yuan: "The young master is intelligent; he certainly didn't die from hitting a brick wall."

Zhang Zhan smiled, took a small sip of the soup, and said, "It's not bad at all; it tastes pretty good."

"Then Your Highness, please drink first. I'll go heat up your food. From now on, when we go out, we should bring our own meals. We can't assume that His Highness will prepare everything for us, can we?"

Zhang Zhan nodded and said that what he said made sense.

**

Hearing that there was no more noise outside, Zhao Siwei sat up and called out, "Zhang Zhan? Zhang Zhan!"

Dashu said, "I went to eat taro with Xu Yuan."

"Taro? There's no food left?" Zhao Siwei said. "Who told him to eat taro?"

When Zhang Zhan started studying with him, breakfast was actually prepared for him. According to the rules for accompanying students, the young masters and ladies from noble families who accompanied students had to get up early, so they would be given food.

As a result, Zhang Zhan always stood outside the palace gate. Once, when it was raining, he went out to look and saw Zhang Zhan squatting at the palace gate, gnawing on a rotten taro.

When asked, they said that the Marquis's mansion had provided food, and they were eating with their younger siblings. They didn't manage to get any, so all that was left was a taro, which was still edible.

He asked Zhang Zhan, "Is this all the Marquis's mansion serves you?"

Zhang Zhan said there was plenty of food, but he didn't say anything else and continued eating taro with his head down.

Zhao Siwei had never seen anyone so miserable, and Zhang Zhan was also a coward, so he smashed some taro and took him inside to eat, and even sent someone to the Marquis's residence to explain.

If he sees Zhang Zhan eating rotten food again, he should report it to the Emperor and let the whole capital see how the Marquis's mansion is mistreating its heir.

That's good, we actually ate it again today.

Da Shu: "I found some noodles. You said to hide them well so the Crown Prince's people wouldn't know, and to get them for him after he apologizes. I was planning to take Xu Yuan to eat noodles even though he hadn't said anything, but then he said..."

"Where did he get the taro?" Zhao Siwei had already gotten up and dressed. If this got back to Old Master Zhang and Old Madam Zhang's ears, it would definitely cause some trouble.

Years ago, when he fought with Zhang Zhan, Old Master Zhang said he would take Zhang Zhan away from the capital and back to his hometown, which scared his father half to death. Only then did he realize that Old Master Zhang had played a big role in securing his father's throne.

He even twisted his ear and warned him that while he could fight and make a fuss, if he brought Zhang Zhan's grandparents to the palace again, he would definitely become the first prince to be banished from the capital.

Although it was said in anger, Zhao Siwei understood at the time.

Old Master Zhang knelt before him because he was a prince, but if he were to injure Zhang Zhan, even a prince would be useless.

During the Great Heat, it was said: "The hot spring resort said that the wind and snow might be too heavy, and people might not be able to leave for a while, so food has been rationed, and the people below are just making do with taro and sweet potatoes."

"Is there nothing left to eat?" Zhao Siwei thought that if Zhang Zhan were really squatting by the fire pit eating taro and sweet potatoes in the dead of winter, he would definitely hate him after he finished eating. Then he thought that he was eating and drinking well with Ji Fuguang, and if he was made to eat this stuff in a small room, he might kill Ji Fuguang first!

Yes, that's what Tingyao meant by "turning to the dark side".

“There are still some,” Da Shu said. “The food you said you took away to throw away was made by the Empress, and we didn’t mind eating it, so we’ll keep it for the brothers who will come back later.”

Zhao Siwei's expression hardened. "Where's the food?"

Da Shu let out a cry, followed by Xu Yuan's voice.

"Young Master! Young Master! What's wrong!"

Zhao Siwei's heart skipped a beat, knowing he was doomed. He rushed over and saw that Da Shu hadn't put on an outer robe, so he hurriedly went in to get him a cloak.

When Zhao Siwei entered, he saw Zhang Zhan's condition and then looked at the food and dishes next to him, including half a taro and a soup bowl that was still lying on the ground.