Chapter 5 Room for Maneuver

Chapter 5: There's Still Room for Maneuver

Upon returning to the Jiang residence, Jiang Yaozhen locked herself in her room in a fit of pique.

Jiang Shuning paid her no mind.

In her previous life, she had suffered greatly because of this younger half-sister. It was time for Yaozhen to learn that not everyone would indulge her willful behavior.

Jiang Shuning was in the kitchen preparing a soothing soup for Madam Jiang when her elder brother, Jiang Tianen, came looking for her.

Although they were full siblings, their appearances and personalities were completely different.

Jiang Tianen had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a tall, sturdy build. He was carefree and uninhibited by nature, having loved practicing martial arts since childhood. However, Chancellor Jiang had forced him to study the classics and literature, and he had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations.

Now past the age of twenty, he still had accomplished nothing.

Seeing Jiang Shuning busy in the kitchen, Jiang Tianen couldn't resist teasing her. "Ning'er is truly virtuous. I wonder which prince will be fortunate enough to marry you!"

Jiang Shuning picked up the finished soup and smiled gently. "This is a soothing soup I prepared for Mother. Would you like to try some too, Brother?"

"Wait, I have something to ask you first." Jiang Tianen helped her set the soup pot aside and probed, "Ning'er, what do you think of the Third Prince?"

Jiang Shuning lowered her gaze slightly. "The Third Prince is naturally a dragon among men. Both his lineage and his appearance are excellent."

Hearing this, Jiang Tianen was overjoyed. "I knew it! Ning'er, you also favor the Third Prince! In that case, I'll go reply to him immediately, saying you are willing to become betrothed to him!"

Jiang Shuning's expression changed slightly, and alarm bells rang in her heart.

"Brother, have you perhaps misunderstood? The Third Prince's preference should be for Sister Yaozhen, shouldn't it?"

"How can Zhen'er compare to you? You are the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor's household. If you become betrothed to the Third Prince, you would be his principal wife when you marry! Zhen'er is merely a concubine-born daughter; at most, she could only be a secondary consort."

Jiang Shuning's heart tightened.

In her previous life, both her father and brother were ardent supporters of the Third Prince's faction.

Given a choice, they naturally preferred that she, the legitimate daughter, become the Third Prince's Consort to solidify the family's ties with him.

Before her death in her past life, although Xiao Lingchuan had not yet ascended the throne, the political situation at the time clearly showed the Third Prince was losing ground.

It was precisely for this reason that Jiang Yaozhen had taken the desperate risk, willing to bear the infamy of adultery with her brother-in-law, to secretly collude with Xiao Lingchuan.

In this life, since she would not marry Xiao Lingchuan, she naturally could not choose his arch-rival, Xiao Xiuzhan, either.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shuning's tone also cooled. "Brother, please don't jest. Although I hold the Third Prince in high regard, it doesn't necessarily mean I wish to marry him. Moreover, at yesterday's Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, the Third Prince was clearly captivated by Sister Yaozhen's dancing skills. Since his heart belongs to her, how could I possibly marry him?"

"What's the problem with that?" Jiang Tianen said dismissively. "One marries a wife for virtue and takes a concubine for beauty. Even if the Third Prince is fond of Zhen'er, he can simply take her as a secondary consort. The position of Principal Consort would always be yours!"

Upon hearing this, a surge of anger rose in Jiang Shuning's heart. "Brother, are you suggesting that Yaozhen and I should share one husband? How can you utter such an absurd statement?"

Jiang Tianen thought nothing of it. "Which royal son doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? Even if he doesn't marry Zhen'er, he will marry other women. As long as you are the principal wife, why should you care?"

Jiang Shuning recalled her previous life. Although Xiao Lingchuan treated her coldly, he had never taken any concubines.

Perhaps it was because his birth mother had passed away early, leaving no one to arrange such matters, or perhaps he was too engrossed in power struggles to bother. In any case, even though noble daughters in the capital flocked to him, he turned them all away.

The Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, was different. In her past life, after marrying Jiang Yaozhen, he successively took in many concubines, and the beauties in his rear courtyard were too numerous to count.

Thinking about it now, Xiao Lingchuan wasn't entirely without merit. At the very least, he wasn't like other princes with their hordes of wives and concubines, forcing her, the principal wife, to spend her days scheming against a crowd of concubines.

"Regardless, I have no affection for the Third Prince. Please, Brother, do not let the Third Prince misunderstand. Mother's soup is getting cold. I must deliver it now. We can talk another day."

With that, she picked up the soup pot and strode out of the kitchen.

Jiang Shuning had initially thought the matter of the Third Prince's marriage proposal was just something her brother mentioned casually. To her surprise, the very next day, the Third Prince sent someone to the Jiang residence to formally propose marriage, specifically naming her as the intended bride.

Alarmed, Jiang Shuning hurried to find Chancellor Jiang.

Before she reached the study, she encountered a tearful Jiang Yaozhen in the covered walkway.

"The Third Prince actually wants to marry Sister! Gu Wanying has been designated as the Crown Princess. Even a tomboy like Xia Yan was invited to the palace to spar with the Second Prince. Yet I have nothing! Clearly, my talent was the most outstanding at the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet!"

Hearing this, Jiang Shuning instinctively clenched her fist. It seemed her display at the banquet had indeed been too conspicuous, attracting the Third Prince's proposal.

Jiang Yaozhen soon noticed her and stormed over, accusing her tearfully, "The Third Prince wants to marry you, Sister. Are you satisfied now? You knew I liked the Third Prince, yet you deliberately stole the spotlight at the banquet to catch his eye. What kind of sister are you?"

Jiang Shuning frowned slightly. "Yaozhen, believe it or not, I never intended to compete with you for the Third Prince."

On the contrary, in her past life, Jiang Yaozhen, fully aware of her elder sister's deep love for Xiao Lingchuan, had still entangled herself with him, breaking her elder sister's heart.

Jiang Yaozhen was about to say more when her maid, Qiu Yue, tugged at her sleeve. Her expression immediately changed, and she suddenly knelt before Jiang Shuning with a thud, tearfully pleading, "Congratulations, Sister, on gaining the Third Prince's favor! Please, for the sake of your younger sister's admiration for him, beg for a position as his secondary consort for me!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Chancellor Jiang approached.

Looking at Jiang Yaozhen kneeling on the ground, he said gravely, "Zhen'er, return to your room first. I have words to speak with your sister."

"Yes, Father!" Jiang Yaozhen stood up and replied. The moment she turned, her gaze shot a venomous glare at Jiang Shuning.

So, that kneeling act just now was deliberately performed for Chancellor Jiang to see.

Jiang Shuning had no time to dwell on Jiang Yaozhen's duplicity. She followed Chancellor Jiang into the room and asked urgently, "Father, have you accepted this marriage proposal on my behalf?"

Chancellor Jiang sensed her reluctance towards the match and spoke earnestly, "Ning'er, in matters of marriage, it is the parents' command and the matchmaker's words. The Third Prince's proposal is a blessing for you. However, as your father, I must also consider your feelings. If you truly are unwilling, I will naturally find a way to decline. But we must have a proper reason; otherwise, offending the imperial family and Consort Xi would be detrimental to both you and the Jiang family."

Jiang Shuning secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Good, there was still room for maneuver in this matter.

She enjoyed the Empress Dowager's favor. Even if her appearance wasn't what the Third Prince desired, she had certainly caught Consort Xi's eye.

Moreover, the Third Prince was no fool. Although he was fond of beauty, he valued power even more.

And she, a legitimate daughter of the Chancellor's household favored by the Empress Dowager, was naturally the ideal candidate for principal wife.

After a moment's thought, she said to Chancellor Jiang, "Father, at the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, I observed that the Third Prince was quite taken with Sister Yaozhen's dancing. I suspect his intention to propose to me is primarily due to my status as the legitimate daughter. Sister Yaozhen was raised by Mother's side, and Mother has always treated her as her own. Why not elevate her to the status of a Secondary Legitimate Daughter? That way, if the Third Prince marries Yaozhen, it would save face for both families."

Upon hearing this, Chancellor Jiang's eyes lit up. "Ning'er is indeed clever. I will discuss this matter with your mother immediately!"