Chapter 9 The Crown Princess Position Is Beyond Your Reach

Chapter 9: The Crown Princess Position Is Not for You to Covet

Naturally, the Seventh Prince didn't want her interacting with any prince besides his fourth brother. Before he could think of an excuse to decline, Jiang Shuning looked past him and called out joyfully, “Fifth Prince!”

The Seventh Prince’s heart skipped a beat. Following her gaze, he indeed saw the Fifth Prince, Xiao Huaijin, approaching them with a gentle smile.

“Miss Jiang, so you’re here. Seventh Brother is here too!” Xiao Huaijin greeted them with a smile.

“Fifth Imperial Brother!” The Seventh Prince hurriedly bowed, thinking to himself, *Speak of the devil!*

“This humble girl pays her respects to the Fifth Prince.” Jiang Shuning curtsied slightly, her demeanor gentle and graceful.

“Miss Jiang, there’s no need for such formalities,” the Fifth Prince said softly.

Fifth Prince Xiao Huaijin was around the same age as Jiang Shuning. He was handsome and upright, with a temperament as gentle and refined as jade.

His maternal family was a prominent clan from Jiangnan, immensely wealthy and influential, forming a world of its own outside the imperial court.

In her previous life, after Xiao Lingchuan ascended the throne, he carried out a large-scale purge of the imperial clan. Only the Fifth Prince was spared.

She figured it was probably because the Fifth Prince had no ambition to contend for the throne, thus posing no threat. Moreover, his maternal family’s immense wealth was the foundation of the entire Daye’s national strength, and Xiao Lingchuan was unwilling to make an enemy of them.

If she could marry the Fifth Prince, stay away from the strife of the court, and live a peaceful and happy life for the rest of her days, that wouldn’t be a bad choice either.

As she was thinking this, the Fifth Prince handed a few chrysanthemums to Jiang Shuning. “These are fresh chrysanthemums I just picked. Please accept them, Miss Jiang.”

Among all the princes, he was the only one who had seriously followed the Empress Dowager’s instructions and picked chrysanthemums.

Jiang Shuning took the chrysanthemums from him, feeling even more well-disposed toward him.

The two walked side by side, with the Seventh Prince following behind them. Though he looked displeased, he couldn’t find an opening to interrupt.

Xiao Huaijin suddenly asked, “Miss Jiang, regarding the almond cakes from the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, I wonder how they were made? They were so fragrant and delicious. I brought some back to my palace for the chefs to taste, but they could never replicate the flavor from that day.”

Jiang Shuning was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “Does the Fifth Prince also like almond cakes? How about I make some almond cheesecakes for you to try another day?”

“How could I trouble you like that?” Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince’s brows relaxed, and a pleased expression appeared on his face.

“It’s no trouble. In my spare time, I enjoy making pastries for fun,” Jiang Shuning replied naturally, thinking to herself that since she had to prepare some for Xiao Lingchuan anyway, she might as well make them together.

“In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Miss Jiang,” Xiao Huaijin said with a gentle smile, feeling very happy.

The Empress Dowager stood by the window, watching the two chatting and laughing not far away.

She said softly to the matron beside her, “My fifth grandson is truly fortunate to have caught Miss Jiang’s eye.”

The matron looked pleased. “Now that Consort Xi enjoys such great favor, noble ladies in the capital who wish to marry the Third Prince are as numerous as carp in a river. Yet Miss Jiang remains indifferent, which is truly rare. It’s clear that the Fifth Prince also holds Miss Jiang in high regard. Your Majesty’s efforts today have borne fruit.”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze drifted toward the distant, somber-looking Xiao Lingchuan, her expression complex. “Miss Jiang may not get her wish.”

Following her gaze, the matron was slightly surprised. “Your Majesty means the Fourth Prince also has feelings for Miss Jiang? Then which prince does Your Majesty intend to support?”

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly, her words carrying hidden meaning. “Let’s wait and see.”

If today’s assassination attempt was real, then both Xiao Lingchuan and Jiang Shuning were her saviors. Naturally, she hoped both could achieve their wishes.

But for now, their hearts were set on different paths. How it would all end was probably up to fate.

Everyone returned to the hall to rest for a while.

The matron serving the Empress Dowager washed the chrysanthemums from Jiang Shuning’s flower basket to brew tea.

Soon, chrysanthemum tea was served. Everyone in the hall was somewhat thirsty and began drinking from their teacups.

The Crown Prince hesitated slightly, then also picked up his cup and took a small sip. Suddenly, he began coughing incessantly, his already pale face looking even more sickly.

“Has the Crown Prince’s old illness flared up? Someone, quickly bring the Crown Prince’s medicine!” the Empress Dowager exclaimed in alarm, instantly tensing the atmosphere in the hall.

Attendants immediately rushed out to fetch the medicine. The Crown Prince forced himself to sit upright, struggling to maintain the dignity befitting the Crown Prince.

Watching the Crown Prince’s frail state, Jiang Shuning couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.

This Crown Prince had been weak since childhood. In her previous life, shortly after he ascended the throne, he became seriously ill. The throne was coveted by both Xiao Lingchuan and Xiao Xiuzhan, ultimately triggering the struggle for succession, which led to the deaths of the Second and Sixth Princes.

If the Crown Prince could remain healthy and safe in this life, the Daye empire would surely be stable and peaceful, avoiding widespread suffering.

So she spoke up discreetly to remind him, “Your Highness has a constitution prone to cold. This chrysanthemum tea is too cooling in nature; I’m afraid you shouldn’t drink too much of it.”

“It was my oversight. I forgot your constitution is prone to cold and shouldn’t have given you chrysanthemum tea,” the Empress Dowager said, a trace of guilt flashing across her face. She hadn’t expected this simple flower tea to cause the Crown Prince such discomfort.

“Imperial Grandmother, please don’t blame yourself,” the Crown Prince said with a weak smile. “Your grandson looks forward to the fifth day of every month, not only to see Imperial Grandmother but also to see all my imperial brothers. It brings me great joy.”

His words carried a noticeable tinge of sorrow, yet the expressions of the other princes remained indifferent and unmoved.

Jiang Shuning could see that although they were brothers by blood, their feelings for each other were quite distant.

She took the initiative to speak. “This humble girl happens to know a warming and nourishing recipe that might benefit Your Highness’s health. If Your Highness doesn’t mind, I can write it down now. If taken daily, results should be seen within half a year.”

Upon hearing this, gratitude flickered in the Crown Prince’s eyes. “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Miss Jiang.”

The Empress Dowager ordered someone to prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Jiang Shuning picked up the brush and wrote down the recipe. Soon, a sheet of paper was densely filled with various ingredients.

In her previous life, after marrying Xiao Lingchuan, she often used these ingredients to nourish his constitution. Over ten years, Xiao Lingchuan’s health gradually strengthened, and her efforts played no small part in that.

The Empress Dowager took the recipe and discovered it was actually a list of food ingredients. She felt a wave of relief. “I thought it would be some bitter medicinal prescription, but it turns out to be all nourishing ingredients. I happen to have the Eight-Treasure Cake mentioned here in my palace. I’ll have some sent to the Eastern Palace for the Crown Prince later.”

“Thank you, Imperial Grandmother!” The Crown Prince’s eyes lit up, actually showing delight.

Only then did Jiang Shuning realize that the Crown Prince’s birth mother, the Empress, had always been at odds with the Empress Dowager, resulting in the Crown Prince having few opportunities to experience his imperial grandmother’s affection.

It seemed that, to him, the Eight-Treasure Cake was not just food but also a rare warmth.

She couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. This vast imperial palace, though splendid on the surface, had such distant and cold relationships among family members, far less warm than those found in ordinary households.

After leaving the palace, she took a carriage back to the Jiang residence. Unexpectedly, on the way, someone stopped her carriage.

Dong Mei, who was accompanying her, hurriedly got off to check, then returned to the carriage looking nervous.

“Young Miss, it’s the Fourth Prince!”

Xiao Lingchuan, why was it him again?

Jiang Shuning felt annoyed but had no choice but to get off the carriage to see him.

Xiao Lingchuan was exceptionally handsome. Even dressed plainly, he stood out strikingly on the street, causing passersby to steal glances frequently.

Jiang Shuning felt a moment of daze, wondering if in her previous life she had been bewitched by this overly attractive appearance, becoming obsessed and determined to marry no one but him.

She collected her thoughts and curtsied slightly. “This humble girl pays her respects to the Fourth Prince. May I ask why Your Highness has stopped my carriage?”

“I only want to remind you of one thing.” Xiao Lingchuan frowned slightly as he looked at her, his voice low. “The Crown Princess position is not for you to covet!”