Chapter 14 Falling into the Water

Chapter 14: The Plunge

The side-hall door swung open, and Jiang Yaozhen rushed in.

Hard on her heels came the Third Prince, Sixth Prince, and Seventh Prince—each flanked by several attendants.

They scanned the dim chamber. Flickering candlelight bathed an empty, silent space; neither Jiang Shuning nor Xiao Lingchuan was to be seen.

“It appears Miss Jiang is not here,” said the Third Prince, his tone edged with impatience as he turned to leave.

But Jiang Yaozhen hurried forward to block his path. “Your Highness, please search more thoroughly—perhaps she’s hiding somewhere!”

The Third Prince halted and glanced sideways at her, letting out a cold snort. “This side hall is no bigger than a postage stamp. The candlelight reveals every corner. If she were here, we’d see her; if not, she’s simply not. Miss Jiang isn’t a mole—how could she vanish so completely that not even a shadow remains?”

No sooner had he spoken than the hall erupted in laughter—echoing hollowly in the emptiness, making Jiang Yaozhen’s ears burn.

She bit her lower lip, seething inwardly.

That wretched Jiang Shuning was a hundred times craftier than a rat!

She herself had watched Qiu Yue lock the two of them inside this very hall—how, then, had they vanished into thin air?

Meanwhile, concealed among the bushes outside the hall, Jiang Shuning and Xiao Lingchuan held their breath, motionless.

Xiao Lingchuan’s breathing remained ragged; his entire body burned with feverish heat.

The person he had longed for day and night now stood within arm’s reach. Desire surged in his eyes like a rising tide—so fierce it threatened to spill over.

He suddenly let out a low, hoarse chuckle, laced with mockery. “Miss Jiang’s brilliant plan was to climb out the window? Even if we escape detection now, returning to the banquet in such disarray would surely raise suspicion.”

Jiang Shuning replied calmly, “Later, only I need return to the banquet. Your Highness may go elsewhere.”

A flicker of suspicion crossed Xiao Lingchuan’s face. “Where?” he asked quietly.

She gave no answer. Only after the group inside the hall had finally dispersed did she abruptly rise. Under cover of darkness, she seized Xiao Lingchuan’s hand and slipped silently toward the lotus pond.

“Your Highness—jump in!” she commanded, pointing at the water, her voice utterly devoid of inflection.

“Have you lost your mind? Why should I jump in?” Xiao Lingchuan frowned, his voice sharp with anger.

“Your Highness is currently suffering the effects of an aphrodisiac. If you leave the banquet prematurely, His Majesty will deem it disrespectful. If you attempt to endure it, others will inevitably notice something amiss. But if you ‘accidentally’ fall into the lotus pond, you may use that as justification to retire to your residence—and summon the imperial physician for treatment!”

Her words were measured, her logic flawless. Yet Xiao Lingchuan caught—just for an instant—a glint of malice in her eyes.

His gaze narrowed; his voice turned glacial. “Jiang Shuning—do you dare swear this is not deliberate revenge?”

“Your Highness worries unnecessarily. We bear no grudge against one another—I merely wish to help you escape this predicament. If Your Highness doubts me, then I shall swear a solemn oath!” She raised three fingers and stepped closer as she spoke. “I, Jiang Shuning, swear upon heaven that this act is truly intended to aid Your Highness in escaping danger—and is in no way deliberate revenge. Should even half a word prove false, then may I—”

“May you *what*?” Xiao Lingchuan instinctively retorted—then froze, sensing a chill behind him.

Before he could react, Jiang Shuning shoved him hard into the pond.

With a thunderous *splash*, water exploded outward, ripples radiating across the surface. The icy water instantly swallowed him whole.

Watching him disappear beneath the waves, Jiang Shuning felt a sharp, satisfying thrill surge through her.

A palace servant heard the commotion and cried out, “Someone’s fallen in! Quick—help!”

Xiao Lingchuan broke the surface, drenched—his hair plastered to his temples, robes soaked through, utterly disheveled.

Gritting his teeth, his voice dripped with icy fury. “Jiang Shuning—you have some nerve, daring to push me in!”

She had never before seen the brooding, aloof Xiao Lingchuan in such a state—and couldn’t suppress a smile.

“Your Highness, please calm yourself. I truly had no other choice! I must also hurry to find the Fifth Prince—to prevent him from eating the almond cakes and ending up just as you have!”

“What?” Xiao Lingchuan’s rage flared hotter still. “You made almond cakes for *another man*? Jiang Shuning—get back here!”

The incident of Xiao Lingchuan falling into the water instantly became the banquet’s focal point. Noise swelled and receded; palace servants scrambled in panic; guests craned their necks to see.

Jiang Shuning, however, seized the chaos to quietly smooth her robes and adjust her hair—then, with calm, unhurried steps, returned to the banquet.

The Fifth Prince, Xiao Huaijin, sat serenely in his place. The quiet composure in his eyes and brow stood in stark contrast to the surrounding frenzy.

Jiang Shuning approached and bowed gracefully. “Shuning pays her respects to Your Highness, the Fifth Prince.”

“Miss Jiang!” Xiao Huaijin looked up—his eyes flickering with barely perceptible delight. “Just now, your younger sister claimed you’d gotten lost near the lotus pond—and specifically asked the Third Prince and others to search for you. Was that true?”

“I was not lost. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” Jiang Shuning replied with a faint smile. Her gaze drifted to the exquisitely carved food box on the table before him. Softly, she asked, “Your Highness—have you yet tasted the pastries in this box?”

“Not yet…”

“Good.” Jiang Shuning exhaled in quiet relief—and promptly lifted the food box. “These almond cakes were not well-made. I thought to take them back, refine the recipe, and prepare a better batch for Your Highness next time.”

Having spoken, she bowed once more—then turned and departed.

Xiao Huaijin watched her receding figure, the corners of his lips lifting—almost imperceptibly—into a faint, tender smile.

*Next time…*

That meant they would meet again.

Soon after, guests gradually resumed their places at the banquet.

Seeing Jiang Shuning unharmed, Jiang Yaozhen burned with fury and resentment.

The Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, caught sight of her. A drunken grin curled his lips as he declared loudly, “Isn’t Miss Jiang right here? This prince’s search was entirely unnecessary!”

Slightly unsteady on his feet, he strode directly toward Jiang Shuning—fully in view of all—his gaze blazing like fire, locking onto her. “Miss Jiang—don’t think the Jiang family can evade this marriage by promoting a concubine-born daughter to legitimate status. This prince has decided—he *will* marry you!”

Jiang Yaozhen stood aside, watching. Jealousy coiled through her heart like a venomous serpent—nearly driving her to madness.

“The Third Prince is drunk,” Jiang Shuning’s voice was frost itself, her gaze slicing like a blade toward the attendant behind him. “Hurry—escort His Highness back to his seat!”

Cowed by the icy steel in her eyes, the attendant hastily stepped forward—half-dragging, half-supporting Xiao Xiuzhan back to his place.

The Emperor, seated high in the main hall, observed the scene. His brow furrowed slightly; his expression darkened. To Consort Xi beside him, he said, “Zhan’s conduct is utterly inappropriate!”

Consort Xi’s smile stiffened as she hurriedly offered an apologetic bow. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. You may not know—but Zhan genuinely wishes to marry a Jiang daughter. Yet Chancellor Jiang promoted a concubine-born daughter to legitimate status, intending to force her upon Zhan. Zhan resented it—so he drank too much and lost his composure.”

“Is that so?” The Emperor’s tone turned abruptly frigid, laced with wrath. “Chancellor Jiang dares play tricks on the imperial family?”

Nearby, the Empress Dowager spoke slowly. “Consort Xi, you may be unaware—the eldest Jiang girl visited me several days ago, requesting an imperial edict to decide her own marriage. She refuses to wed the Third Imperial Grandson. Fearing offense to you, Chancellor Jiang instead promoted the lesser-born daughter to take her place. At the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, I observed the Third Imperial Grandson clearly captivated by the second Jiang girl’s dancing—and even privately sent her a painting. How, then, has he now changed his mind—and set his sights on the eldest?”

“Mother Empress…” Consort Xi was left speechless—her face flushing alternately crimson and pale.

Though the Empress Dowager spoke obliquely, her meaning was unmistakable: Xiao Xiuzhan was fickle and inconsistent.

“So that is how it stands,” the Emperor said, his tone deceptively mild—but his gaze, deep and unfathomable as an abyss. “Since the edict came from Mother Empress, we shall honor the Jiang girl’s wishes. If she refuses to marry Zhan—we shall not compel her.”

"Your Majesty..." Consort Xi started to protest again, but the emperor raised a hand to silence her.

"Enough. Let's just eat."

Consort Xi had no choice but to fall silent.

She looked over at Jiang Shuning, who was acting so proper at the banquet, and a surge of anger churned within her.

She's merely the legitimate daughter of a Prime Minister. Who does she think she is, acting so high and mighty?

As the noble Consort Xi, was there really a daughter-in-law she couldn't get?