Chapter 20 Assassination Attempt

Chapter 20: Assassination Attempt

Jiang Shuning stared wide-eyed in terror, almost certain she was about to meet her end under the gleaming blade. In the nick of time, a second sword shot out, blocking the fatal strike.

Two masked figures in black fought fiercely before her—one intent on killing her, the other risking his life to protect her.

She quickly dodged to the side, fearing she might be caught in the flurry of blades.

Having died once before, she now valued her life all the more.

Amidst the flashing swords, the slighter black-clad figure gradually lost ground. He cast a resentful glance at Jiang Shuning before vaulting onto the rooftop and fleeing.

The more powerfully built black-clad figure started after him but was stopped by Jiang Shuning's voice: "Might I ask the hero's name? How might this humble girl ever repay your life-saving grace?"

Upon hearing this, the black-clad figure's gaze swept toward Dong Mei not far away. Without uttering a word, he leapt nimbly onto the roof and vanished.

Only then did Dong Mei rush over, feigning panic: "Eldest Miss, are you alright? I was scared to death!"

Jiang Shuning shook her head: "I'm unharmed."

Yet, a sense of unease settled in her heart. Something seemed off, but she couldn't piece it together. She could only instruct: "Back to the manor, quickly!"

Jiang Manor, Qili Courtyard.

"What? Someone in black was protecting Jiang Shuning?" Jiang Yaozhen stared incredulously at the woman before her.

This woman bore a fifty percent resemblance to her, of dazzling beauty, yet carried the imprint of the years.

Clad entirely in black, without a close look at her face, it was hard to tell if she was a man or a woman.

"Mother, who could that black-clad person be? Could it be... sent by the Third Prince?" Jiang Yaozhen pressed urgently.

The woman she called mother was none other than Concubine Jiang, who had faked her death and escaped years ago.

Hearing this, she lightly shook her head, her fingers tracing two strokes in the air, her expression placid, indicating she didn't know either.

"That wretch Jiang Shuning has been snatching what's rightfully mine since childhood. Now, someone is secretly protecting her too. Why does all the good fortune in this world favor her?" Jiang Yaozhen grew angrier as she spoke, then began to sob again. "If she doesn't die, Father will still only have eyes for her and spoil her. Sooner or later, I'll be sent to Xuzhou. What am I to do?"

Upon hearing this, the concubine gestured rapidly with her hands twice.

"You want me to seek out the Fourth Prince? But he turned me down flat!"

The concubine gestured twice more, her gaze firm.

Jiang Yaozhen sighed helplessly and nodded: "At this point, this is the only way."

She wrote a line on a slip of paper, then called for Nanny Song and instructed: "Make absolutely sure this note is delivered directly into the Fourth Prince's hands. Do not make any mistakes!"

"Yes, Second Miss!" Nanny Song acknowledged and withdrew.

Within the bedchamber of Jinghe Palace.

Xiao Lingchuan's face was like a thundercloud. Before him knelt a masked figure in black—the very shadow guard who had just saved Jiang Shuning.

"To think someone truly dared to threaten her life!" Xiao Lingchuan's voice dropped, cold and dangerous. "Have you discovered who is so bold?"

"Subordinate is incompetent; I failed to catch up with that person." The black-clad figure bowed his head in apology, then added after a pause, "However, that person was slight of frame, likely a woman."

"A woman?" Xiao Lingchuan drummed his long fingers lightly on the table, his eyes dark and unfathomable as an abyss. "It seems some people are losing their composure. Continue guarding Miss Jiang. She must not be placed in danger again!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" The black-clad figure accepted the order, his form flickering as he slipped away through the window.

Just then, the Seventh Prince strode into the chamber, his tone urgent: "Fourth Brother, I thought I heard Ling Feng's voice just now. Where is he?"

"Gone." Xiao Lingchuan coldly uttered two words.

"Why so fast? I wanted to spar with him a few rounds!" the Seventh Prince muttered, somewhat disappointed.

Xiao Lingchuan shot him a glance, his voice stern: "Miss Jiang was in danger today, nearly killed in an assassination attempt."

"What?" The Seventh Prince's eyes widened in disbelief. "Who did it? How dare they!"

Xiao Lingchuan didn't answer, his gaze instead falling on the object clutched in the Seventh Prince's hand: "What is that?"

"Oh, this is a note sent by Second Miss Jiang. I received it outside the hall." The Seventh Prince casually handed the note over.

Xiao Lingchuan unfolded it. The handwriting was delicate yet carried a sense of urgency: "I humbly beseech the Fourth Prince to devise a strategy for me. If a prince is willing to marry me, I will arrange for you to meet my mother."

The Seventh Prince glanced at it and couldn't help but laugh: "Is Second Miss Jiang treating princes like cabbages at the market? Picking whichever one she fancies?"

No sooner had he spoken than he saw Xiao Lingchuan staring directly at him, sending a chill down his spine.

"Fourth Brother, I—I can't! My prince's consort position is reserved for the girl I love. I really can't help with this!" The Seventh Prince hastily waved his hands, his face full of alarm.

Xiao Lingchuan's eyes darkened, his voice cool: "When did I say I wanted your help?"

Only then did the Seventh Prince break into a smile, with a hint of ingratiation: "I knew it! Fourth Brother wouldn't sacrifice my happiness for Daye! So... which prince does Fourth Brother plan to... persuade to marry Second Miss Jiang?"

"I have my own plans." Xiao Lingchuan coldly tossed out the phrase, his tone brooking no argument.

The Seventh Prince's curiosity was killing him. He desperately wanted to know which unlucky prince Xiao Lingchuan had chosen and how he would turn someone's lifelong matter into a bargaining chip for his deal with Jiang Yaozhen.

But one glance at Xiao Lingchuan's face, dark enough to drip water, made him swallow all his questions. He didn't dare say another word.

Jiang Manor, Cuizhu Courtyard.

Having nearly lost her life to the black-clad assassin today, Jiang Shuning still felt lingering fear upon reflection.

Her father had many political enemies from his years in office, but none would be so deranged as to target a child like her.

This assassination attempt must have come from her exceptionally skilled concubine-mother.

If she died, Jiang Yaozhen would become the family's only daughter. Naturally, Father would be reluctant to send her far away to Xuzhou.

Jiang Shuning had long known Jiang Yaozhen was two-faced and hypocritical, but she hadn't expected her to be so vicious as to not even spare her own half-sister.

In her previous life, she had died from poisoning. Could that poison have also been administered by Jiang Yaozhen?

The thought had just arisen when she dismissed it herself.

In her past life, she posed no threat to Jiang Yaozhen. Xiao Lingchuan had even promised the empress's position to Jiang Yaozhen. There was no reason for Jiang Yaozhen to harm her.

This life was different. She had stolen the spotlight that originally belonged to Jiang Yaozhen, and with Chancellor Jiang intending to send Jiang Yaozhen to Xuzhou, it had completely ignited her murderous intent.

Even though she saw through Jiang Yaozhen's sinister motives, Jiang Shuning still felt a bone-chilling cold.

In Jiang Yaozhen's heart, blood ties and kinship were far less important than her own interests.

If not for the other black-clad figure saving her today, she likely would have already lost her life.

Who saved her? And how could he have foreseen her peril?

Since her rebirth, she had thought everything was under control, yet she found herself entangled in layers of mystery, like falling into a bottomless whirlpool, leaving her more and more lost.

A thought suddenly struck Jiang Shuning. She pushed open the door and walked out.

Dong Mei hurried forward, asking with concern, "Miss, where are you going?"

"I'm going for a walk in the back garden. Don't follow me," Jiang Shuning replied calmly.

"Yes," Dong Mei responded, bowing her head and stepping back.

Jiang Shuning did not head toward the back garden. Instead, she turned and went straight to the stable.

The coachman, Lao Yang, saw her and hurried over with apprehension. "Miss, what brings you here? The stable is dirty and messy—it might stain your clothes."

Jiang Shuning remained composed. "Lao Yang, the carriage wheel broke on the way today. Take me to see it."

Lao Yang paused, startled, then nodded. "Miss, please follow me."

Soon, Jiang Shuning spotted the replaced wheel in a corner of the stable. It had a fresh mark on it, clearly man-made.

Many people could have damaged the wheel, but very few knew her whereabouts.

She sneered inwardly but kept her face neutral. Turning to Lao Yang, she asked, "Dong Mei is a year older than me. It's time to find her a good match. Who in the estate do you think is suitable?"

Without hesitation, Lao Yang blurted out, "Why, Da Niu, of course! Miss, you may not know, but they've been getting quite close lately, often whispering together. They're both servants of the estate—if they could become a pair, it would be a good match."

"That's true," Jiang Shuning said, a faint smile curling her lips, though it gradually faded.

Da Niu was the coachman who had escorted her out of the estate today.

The one secretly colluding with Jiang Yaozhen was none other than her most trusted personal maid, Dong Mei!