Chapter 11 Seeds of Desire

Chapter 11: A Thought Takes Root

Madam Jiang divided the jewelry bestowed upon Jiang Shuning by the Empress Dowager into two portions, giving one to each daughter.

She also instructed the mansion’s seamstresses to cut the brocade into two sets of garments—one fiery crimson, the other water-green—and had them delivered to Jiang Shuning and Jiang Yaozhen respectively.

Looking at the crimson dress, Jiang Shuning couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Mother, did you perhaps make a mistake? I never wear such bright clothes. This should be for Yaozhen, right?”

But Madam Jiang smiled and said, “No mistake—it’s for you! Look at you—your wardrobe is full of plain, muted colors. You should occasionally wear something brighter to make yourself stand out more.”

“Why would I need to stand out like that?”

In her past life, though she had secretly envied Jiang Yaozhen for winning Xiao Lingchuan’s favor, she had never thought to imitate her style of dress.

She had always adhered to her own aesthetic; even if she never won his heart in that lifetime, she refused to compromise even a little.

In this life, she was determined not to entangle with him anymore—and even less did she need to cater to his preferences by wearing those gaudy clothes.

Madam Jiang, however, wouldn’t relent. Taking her hand, she advised, “Since you’ve given the marriage arrangement with the Third Prince to Zhen, you should dress up nicely and seek a good marriage for yourself!”

As she spoke, she took an exquisitely carved gold hairpin from the jewelry box and gently inserted it into Jiang Shuning’s hair.

Jiang Shuning initially wanted to tell her mother about her interest in forming a match with the Fifth Prince—but on second thought, since nothing was settled yet, it was better to keep it to herself for now.

She removed the overly ostentatious hairpin just as Chancellor Jiang entered the room, his expression gloomy.

Madam Jiang hurriedly stepped forward. “Husband, what did Consort Xi say?”

Chancellor Jiang’s gaze fell on Jiang Shuning as he said gravely, “Consort Xi does not agree to this marriage. She says the Third Prince has his eye on Ning herself—not on the status of being the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter. Even if Zhen is elevated to a Secondary Legitimate Daughter, he is unwilling to marry her.”

Hearing this, Jiang Shuning was taken aback and instinctively tightened her grip on the hairpin in her hand.

At the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, she had clearly seen the Third Prince’s interest in Jiang Yaozhen. Now that Jiang Yaozhen had been elevated to a Secondary Legitimate Daughter, why was he still insisting on marrying *her*?

Was it Consort Xi’s instruction—or had he truly developed feelings for her that day she entered the palace on the fifth?

The thought of the Third Prince’s possessive gaze and the blunt words he had spoken to her sent a chill down her spine, goosebumps rising all over her body.

No—she would rather remain an old maid in the Jiang residence for the rest of her life than marry such a frivolous man!

“Father, your daughter already has someone she favors and does not wish to marry the Third Prince! Moreover, I have already requested an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager—my marriage is my own decision!”

Naturally, Madam Jiang couldn’t bear to force her daughter. She said to Chancellor Jiang, “Since he is unwilling to marry Zhen, then let’s call off the engagement.”

Chancellor Jiang looked troubled and said solemnly, “That would be a slap in the face to Consort Xi. If Ning marries another prince in the future, she will inevitably face Consort Xi’s opposition. Her days ahead would likely be difficult!”

“Then what should we do? We can’t force Ning to marry him, can we?” Madam Jiang asked, her face etched with worry.

“To call off the engagement, the Third Prince himself must speak to Consort Xi,” Jiang Shuning said. “Father, don’t rush to give Consort Xi an answer just yet. I have a plan. The Moon God Festival is approaching. I recall that every year around this time, His Majesty invites ministers and their families to the palace to admire the moon, correct?”

Chancellor Jiang nodded. “Indeed, it is on the fifteenth.”

“Then, bring Yaozhen along when we go. I want to speak with the Third Prince face to face!” She turned to Madam Jiang. “Mother, that crimson dress is quite beautiful. Have it altered for Yaozhen to wear.”

Madam Jiang quickly agreed. “Alright, I’ll have the seamstress alter it to Yaozhen’s measurements right away.”

“Thank you, Mother!”

She refused to believe that upon seeing Jiang Yaozhen—a dazzling beauty—again, the Third Prince could remain unmoved.

He was bound to change his mind then!

In Jiang Yaozhen’s courtyard, Qiu Yue hurried in to report. “Second Miss, it’s terrible! Dong Mei says the Third Prince insists on marrying the Eldest Miss. Even though you’ve been elevated to a Secondary Legitimate Daughter, he still refuses to marry you!”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yaozhen’s face darkened instantly, and she swept all the teacups off the table onto the floor.

“At the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, the Third Prince showed me favor and even specially sent someone to deliver a painting of a woman in a red dress. He clearly had feelings! Jiang Shuning just went to the palace once, and he shifted his affections. She must have deliberately seduced him!” She gritted her teeth, hatred churning in her chest. “And she puts on an act of magnanimity in front of Father and Mother, pretending to give the marriage to me. It’s utterly hypocritical and nauseating!”

Qiu Yue hunched her shoulders and asked cautiously, “Second Miss, what do you plan to do?”

Jiang Yaozhen sneered, a ruthless glint growing in her eyes. “Since she has ruined my marriage prospects, how can I let her off easily? I’ll make her marry the Fourth Prince—the one she dislikes most—and I’ll ruin her reputation so she can never recover!”

The day before the Moon God Festival, Jiang Shuning was swamped in the kitchen.

Although she intended to form a good match with the Fifth Prince, Xiao Huaijin, as an unmarried young lady, meeting him alone was ultimately improper.

As for Xiao Lingchuan—the Fourth Prince who had broken her heart in her past life—she didn’t even want to look at him, let alone have a private meeting.

Both Xiao Lingchuan and Xiao Huaijin would attend the banquet tomorrow night, making it the perfect opportunity to fulfill her promise—to give them the almond cheesecakes she had made herself.

Just as the almond cheesecakes came out of the oven, Jiang Yaozhen arrived.

“Sister, you look so busy. Do you need my help?”

Jiang Shuning glanced at the red hairpin swaying in her hair and the gorgeous long dress she wore—clearly not dressed for work—and declined lightly. “No need—Dong Mei and I can manage.”

Jiang Yaozhen didn’t insist. Pretending to be curious, she leaned in to look at the pile of freshly baked almond cakes. Then, seemingly unintentionally, she passed by Dong Mei’s side, slipped a small packet into Dong Mei’s sleeve, and turned to leave.

Unaware of this, Jiang Shuning casually picked up an almond cake to taste. Confirming the flavor was impeccable, she instructed, “Dong Mei, go fetch two food boxes. One should be the carved rosewood one; the other can be any ordinary one.”

Dong Mei complied and left, returning shortly with two food boxes.

Jiang Shuning bent down and carefully selected the plump, golden-brown almond cakes, placing them meticulously into the rosewood box. She even laid a plain silk handkerchief inside before gently closing the lid—her movements carrying a hint of care.

Into the old box, she casually tossed a few cakes with broken edges, appearing quite nonchalant.

Watching from the side, Dong Mei couldn’t help but ask, “Eldest Miss, who are these two boxes for?”

Jiang Shuning turned and winked at her, a light smile on her lips. “You’ll find out tomorrow night!”

Unable to get an answer, Dong Mei could only retreat resentfully and went to report back to Jiang Yaozhen.

“Second Miss, the Eldest Miss wouldn’t say which box is for the Fourth Prince. How should I administer the drug?”

Jiang Yaozhen sneered coldly. “In that case, put it in both! Tomorrow at the Moon God Festival, I’ll find a way to leave her alone with the Fourth Prince.”

She paused, a ruthless curve lifting the corner of her lips.

She wanted to see if the Third Prince would still want to marry her after learning she was involved in a scandal with that unfavored Fourth Prince!