Chapter 7 Teasing

Chapter 7: Teasing

The Empress Dowager instantly saw through Jiang Shuning's intentions and immediately instructed the attendant beside her, "Prepare an edict! Jiang Shuning of the Jiang family is virtuous, intelligent, and remarkably courageous. Her marriage shall be decided by herself, and no one is allowed to interfere. So it is decreed!"

Jiang Shuning was overjoyed and kowtowed in gratitude, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for this great favor!"

"You may rise," the Empress Dowager said kindly, assisting her to her feet. Her gaze swept over the assembled princes, and she added meaningfully, "A young woman as clever and brave as Miss Jiang would make me happy as the principal wife of any of my grandsons!"

These words undoubtedly elevated Jiang Shuning's status and signaled to the present princes that the Empress Dowager was very fond of her and hoped one of them would make her his wife.

Hearing this, the princes all cast envious glances toward the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan.

The Third Prince smiled with a hint of smugness, as if Jiang Shuning were already his for the taking.

Only Xiao Lingchuan remained, his expression dark and inscrutable, his gaze profound and unreadable.

The matron quickly drafted the imperial edict, stamped it with the seal, and presented it to Jiang Shuning with both hands.

Jiang Shuning received it with both hands, her eyes falling on the bright red seal. The excitement in her heart was beyond words.

With this edict, in this lifetime, she would surely find a good husband, live in harmony with him, and grow old together.

The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Lingchuan, her gaze kind. "Lingchuan, you have rendered great service by saving me. What reward would you like?"

Xiao Lingchuan bowed respectfully. "Your grandson ventures to ask for an edict from Your Majesty, permitting your grandson's marriage to be decided by himself."

As soon as these words were spoken, the other princes couldn't help but cast surprised glances at him.

Even Jiang Shuning felt a pang of embarrassment for him.

Why was he asking for the same edict as she did?

She suddenly remembered that after this chrysanthemum-viewing banquet, Xiao Lingchuan had not come to propose marriage as he had in her previous life!

Was it connected to his request for this edict?

The Empress Dowager smiled. "As a prince, your marriage should naturally be decided by your father, the Emperor. Considering your birth mother passed away early and you have no one to arrange these matters for you, I shall grant your request."

As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, the Third Prince eagerly spoke up, "Grandmother, what if the woman Fourth Brother fancies already has her heart set on someone else?"

The Empress Dowager laughed heartily. "Naturally, it must be mutual. I am granting Lingchuan this edict not so he can force a noble lady into marriage, but so he can find a partner he truly loves."

Xiao Lingchuan bowed again. "Thank you for your grace, Grandmother."

Jiang Shuning's heart was a tumult of mixed feelings: Could it be that he insisted on requesting this edict in order to marry Jiang Yaozhen as his Principal Consort?

Given Jiang Yaozhen's status as a concubine-born daughter, it would indeed be difficult for her to attain the position of a prince's principal consort. Even if Xiao Lingchuan desired it, the imperial family would never agree.

But with the Empress Dowager's edict, everything would be completely different.

To think he would go to such lengths for Jiang Yaozhen...

A sour feeling welled up in Jiang Shuning's heart. She silently comforted herself: Fortunately, in this life, she would not marry him.

That heart-wrenching pain of loving someone you cannot have—she had no wish to ever experience it again.

After handing the edict to Xiao Lingchuan, the Empress Dowager said to the princes with a smile, "The chrysanthemums in the imperial garden are in full bloom. Why don't you go pick a few for me to make tea?"

The princes responded in unison, "Yes, Grandmother!"

The Empress Dowager then turned and gently patted Jiang Shuning's hand. "You go too."

Jiang Shuning understood that the Empress Dowager intended for her to have more contact with the princes. Coincidentally, she also had someone she wanted to learn more about, so she readily agreed, "I obey Your Majesty's decree."

She then went to the imperial garden with several princes. As she was carefully choosing chrysanthemums from among the blooms, a voice suddenly came from behind her: "I never imagined Miss Jiang not only made delicious pastries and excelled at the tea ceremony, but also possessed such extraordinary courage!"

Jiang Shuning turned around and was surprised to see the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, standing behind her.

"Your servant greets the Third Prince!" She gave a slight curtsy.

"There's no need for such formality, Miss Jiang," Xiao Xiuzhan said, reaching out to help her up, but she subtly avoided his hand.

"You flatter me, Third Prince. Pastry-making and tea ceremony are merely minor skills. As for courage..." She smiled faintly. "I believe if Your Highness were by Her Majesty's side, you would also shield her from the blade."

"Well said!" Xiao Xiuzhan's eyes gleamed as he took a step closer. "Truly a woman worthy of this prince's admiration!"

Jiang Shuning was slightly startled by his directness and fervor and couldn't help but take a step back.

She thought to herself that bringing up the matter of breaking off the engagement now would surely embarrass this confident prince.

She lowered her eyes and said politely, "Please forgive me, Third Prince. I must continue selecting chrysanthemums for Her Majesty. I shall take my leave."

With that, she hastily picked up her flower basket and walked away quickly.

Xiao Xiuzhan watched her retreating figure and chuckled softly. "Is she actually shy?"

He remained completely unaware that a pair of deep, penetrating eyes had long observed everything from a distance.

Due to the Third Prince's determined attitude toward Jiang Shuning, the other princes tactfully kept their distance from her.

As Jiang Shuning picked chrysanthemums, she felt unsettled. Her flower basket slipped from her hand, scattering the chrysanthemums on the ground.

Just as she was about to bend down to pick them up, a hand with distinct knuckles had already picked up the basket first.

Seeing that hand, her heart raced. She hurriedly bowed her head in greeting. "Your servant greets the Fourth Prince!"

Xiao Lingchuan's slightly magnetic voice sounded. "Miss Jiang, how did you know it was me?"

Jiang Shuning was speechless. She looked up and met his peach-blossom eyes that seemed to hold a hint of a smile. Her cheeks couldn't help but flush.

In her previous life, she had shared a bed with him for ten years and was intimately familiar with the skill of his long fingers. A single glance was enough to recognize his hand.

But in this life, they were not that familiar.

She took a deep breath to calm her disordered thoughts and answered softly, "I recognized Your Highness's boots. Among the princes, only the Fourth Prince's boots are the most simple."

The other princes' boots were either inlaid with gold or jade. Only the boots of the Fourth Prince, whose birth mother had passed away and who was not favored, were notably plain.

Jiang Shuning thought her answer was appropriate. Unexpectedly, Xiao Lingchuan chuckled lightly. "So Miss Jiang pays such close attention to me, even secretly memorizing what boots I wear. Could it be that Miss Jiang has feelings for me?"

Jiang Shuning looked up at him in disbelief, actually seeing a hint of teasing in his smiling eyes.

In her previous life, Xiao Lingchuan was handsome but serious, often wearing a cold expression in front of her. Only during moments of intimacy could one see any emotional fluctuation.

And now, he was actually teasing her.

Didn't he have feelings for Jiang Yaozhen?

Is this any way to treat your future wife's sister?

Jiang Shuning's expression instantly shifted from astonishment to anger.

Her voice was icy. "Your Highness misunderstands. I have absolutely no such intention. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Just as she turned away, Xiao Lingchuan's voice floated over, low and deliberate. "Miss Jiang, is this how you treat your savior?"

Jiang Shuning turned back, her face wearing a mocking expression. "Don't be ridiculous. Today's assassination was merely the Empress Dowager's method of testing the martial skills of the princes. Your Highness merely passed the test; it hardly counts as saving my life!"

"I am not referring to today's incident." Xiao Lingchuan took a step forward, his expression inscrutable, and enunciated each word clearly. "I speak of the favor from that day when I rescued Miss Jiang from the lotus pond, an act that nearly ruined your reputation."

Jiang Shuning's face flushed crimson in an instant. The man standing before her suddenly seemed a complete stranger.

In her past life, he had been so eager to distance himself from her. Why was he now being so... forward and rude?