Chapter 25 Descendant of the Nanyue Princess

Chapter 25: Princess Nanyue's Descendant

Xiao Lingchuan paid no heed to Jiang Yaozhen's fury.

"Second Miss Jiang, I have arranged your betrothal as promised. Now, it's time for you to fulfill your end of the bargain and bring your mother to meet me."

"After finding me such a marriage, the Fourth Prince still has the nerve to ask to see my mother?" Jiang Yaozhen retorted bitterly. "You are so cunning and underhanded, no wonder my sister avoids you!"

Seeing his darkening expression, a sliver of satisfaction rose within her, fueling her sarcasm further.

"My sister admires gentle, refined gentlemen. Among all the princes, only the Fifth Prince fits her ideal. Fourth Prince, if you wish to become my brother-in-law, you have no hope in this lifetime. You'd better give up sooner rather than later!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, a murderous glint flashed in Xiao Lingchuan's eyes. His hand shot out like an iron clamp, seizing her throat with brutal force. His voice was icy and menacing. "A deal is a deal. If you dare go back on your word, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

In his eyes, Jiang Yaozhen saw unmistakable killing intent. Terror gripped her, and her eyes widened in panic.

Her neck was brutally constricted, cutting off her breath. Her face flushed crimson, and darkness swam before her eyes.

Just as she was on the verge of losing consciousness, a dark figure suddenly shattered the window.

The person seized Xiao Lingchuan's wrist with a death grip, forcing him to release his hold.

It was her mother!

Xiao Lingchuan glanced at the newcomer and resumed his usual languid demeanor, though his tone held a hidden sharpness. "Concubine Jiang, you've finally decided to show yourself."

Jiang Yaozhen coughed violently, her throat burning. She suddenly realized that Xiao Lingchuan hadn't truly intended to kill her; he had used the threat to force her mother out.

This Fourth Prince was indeed terrifyingly cunning!

Her mother's heart ached for her. While patting her back, her fingers flew in a silent rebuke, asking why she had been so reckless as to meet such a dangerous man alone.

Jiang Yaozhen raised her eyes and met her mother's gaze. Understanding instantly, her mother's hand flashed within her sleeve, and a dagger appeared in her palm. She lunged, aiming the blade straight for Xiao Lingchuan's chest.

He, however, seemed prepared. With a swift sidestep, he easily evaded the fatal strike, then lifted his foot and delivered a powerful kick to her mother's chest.

The force was so great it sent her mother flying.

Her body crashed to the floor like a broken kite, and a mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips.

Jiang Yaozhen was stunned. She rushed forward and threw her arms around her mother, crying out, "Mother! Mother, are you alright?"

A flicker of unconcealable fear passed through her mother's eyes.

She hadn't expected that this seemingly frail and neglected Fourth Prince of Daye possessed such formidable martial skills, surpassing even her own.

Xiao Lingchuan narrowed his striking peach-blossom eyes, his voice cold. "Concubine Jiang, how many secrets have you stolen from the Daye imperial palace over the years? Care to share?"

Mother and daughter exchanged a look, both realizing they had provoked someone they shouldn't have.

After a moment of silence, her mother struggled to push herself up from the floor and began to gesture with difficulty.

Beside her, Jiang Yaozhen translated in a trembling voice, "My mother says she does hold many palace secrets, but they were not meant to be sent back to Nanyue. She intended to leave them for the descendant of Princess Nanyue, to give him an advantage in the struggle for the throne."

"Oh?" Xiao Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And where is this so-called princess's descendant now?"

Her mother lifted her hand and slowly pointed directly at him.

Jiang Yaozhen jolted, exclaiming involuntarily, "Mother! How could you…"

Her mother shot her a fierce glare, signaling her to be silent.

Xiao Lingchuan let out a light laugh, his eyes filled with mockery. "My birth mother was merely a lowly songstress from Nanyue, of humble status. To claim she was Princess Nanyue is utterly ridiculous!"

Her mother's gaze fixed on him, and her gestures suddenly accelerated.

Jiang Yaozhen took a deep breath and continued translating, "My mother says the Fourth Prince's birth mother was a princess sent from Nanyue for a marriage alliance. Back then, the Daye Emperor, to humiliate Nanyue, forced her to dance publicly in the court hall. In front of all the ministers, he mockingly called her a songstress, deliberately refusing to grant her any title, trampling on her dignity…"

Xiao Lingchuan's expression remained indifferent, as if listening to a story about someone else.

Seeing his lack of reaction, her mother's gestures grew even more fervent, and the words from Jiang Yaozhen took on a heavier weight. "...The princess endured endless humiliation and torment in the Daye palace, a life worse than death. On her deathbed, she instructed my mother to gather the secrets of the Daye court and, when the time was ripe, deliver them to the prince she bore. One day, he would lead Nanyue's iron cavalry to crush the mountains and rivers of Daye, to avenge her disgrace!"

Hearing this, a ripple finally crossed Xiao Lingchuan's frosty countenance.

"So, I truly am the descendant of Princess Nanyue?"

Her mother nodded frantically, her gestures urgent, fearing he wouldn't believe her.

Jiang Yaozhen added, "Fourth Prince, my mother has no reason to lie to you!"

Xiao Lingchuan gave a slow nod, his gaze sweeping over the mother and daughter like a sharp blade, his demeanor cold and arrogant.

"Since I am the descendant of Princess Nanyue, why don't you kneel?"

Just as Jiang Yaozhen was about to speak, her mother immediately stopped her with a look.

She could only watch as her mother slowly lowered herself, performing Nanyue's distinctive kneeling salute to Xiao Lingchuan—upper body and forehead pressed tightly to the ground, a posture of reverence bordering on subservience.

After a moment's hesitation, she reluctantly followed suit and knelt as well.

Xiao Lingchuan looked down at them, a faint smirk at the corner of his mouth. "Rise. From now on, I permit you to pledge your loyalty to me."

Her mother stood up and continued gesturing. Jiang Yaozhen said, "Fourth Prince, my mother asks, now that we have pledged loyalty to you, could you please find me a more suitable fiancé? Marrying me off to a cut-sleeve—are you deliberately trying to ruin me?"

Xiao Lingchuan idly twirled the teacup in his hand. "Since you've already been betrothed by imperial decree, finding another husband will be next to impossible. Unless…"

"Unless what?" Jiang Yaozhen pressed.

He smiled meaningfully. "Second Miss Jiang should know better than I what method could force the Third Prince to marry you."

Thinking he was mocking her again, Jiang Yaozhen snapped angrily, "If I had such ability, would I need to beg you? If the Fourth Prince is unwilling to help, just say so. Don't speak in riddles!"

"The method you used during the last Moon God Festival was quite effective," Xiao Lingchuan said, his smile deepening, tinged with a sinister edge. A cold light gleamed in his peach blossom eyes, like frost forming. "If Second Miss Jiang is willing, I can lend you a hand to help you and the Third Prince successfully… consummate the relationship."

Jiang Yaozhen's cheeks flushed crimson instantly.

He knew! He knew it was her who drugged the almond cakes that night, scheming against him and Jiang Shuning!

How despicable! It must have been Jiang Shuning who told him!

No wonder the Fourth Prince held such hostility toward her after only a few meetings.

A flash of anger crossed her mother's face, her hands moving urgently to stop her daughter. But Jiang Yaozhen grasped her mother's hand and said softly, "Mother, it's alright. Compared to the suffering you've endured all these years, this sacrifice of mine is nothing."

Then, turning to Xiao Lingchuan, she said, "I must trouble the Fourth Prince to make the arrangements for me. Yaozhen will be eternally grateful!"

Her mind was made up. No matter what means she had to use, she would marry the emperor's most favored Third Prince and ascend to that coveted high position.

Xiao Lingchuan gave a slight nod, signifying his agreement.

After the transaction was complete, Jiang Yaozhen and Xiao Lingchuan emerged from the private room of Fortune Restaurant one after the other, completely unaware of the pair of eyes watching them from a corner.

Jiang Shuning stood not far away, struggling to suppress the shockwaves crashing within her—Jiang Yaozhen actually had private dealings with Xiao Lingchuan!

Their connection ran far deeper than she had ever imagined!