Chapter 26 A Ruthless Person

Chapter 26: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Jiang Shuning was still lost in thought on her way back to the mansion.

She had originally thought that in this life, Xiao Lingchuan would not be drawn to Jiang Yaozhen, but she never expected that they had already been carrying on a secret affair.

From the way Jiang Yaozhen calmly entered the private room of Laifu Restaurant, such a secret rendezvous was clearly not the first time.

Xiao Lingchuan was just the same as in her past life; even though Jiang Yaozhen was in love with someone else, it did not lessen his attention and obsession toward her in the slightest.

If she wasn't mistaken, Jiang Yaozhen had come to see Xiao Lingchuan today to discuss how to break off her engagement with the Sixth Prince.

With Jiang Yaozhen's proud nature, she would never willingly marry a prince rumored to have a taste for men.

In this life, Xiao Lingchuan had gained the Empress Dowager's support and earned the emperor's admiration for capturing Nanyue spies. Perhaps he truly could lend her a hand in this matter.

In both her past life and this one, they remained entangled, their connection profound and inescapable.

Jiang Shuning secretly felt relieved that in this life, she had come to her senses and was no longer infatuated with Xiao Lingchuan. Otherwise, she feared she might end up as badly hurt as she had been in her previous life.

As Jiang Shuning stepped into the Jiang residence, Ling Wu hurriedly came to meet her, her brows furrowed with anxiety. "Miss, where have you been? I heard you left the mansion alone, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest with worry! Why didn't you take me with you? What if you had encountered some ruffians?"

Seeing her so concerned, Jiang Shuning felt a twinge of guilt. She took Ling Wu's hand and said softly, "Ling Wu, it's my fault. Next time, no matter where I go, I will definitely take you with me."

Today, she had overheard a maid from Qili Courtyard mention offhandedly that Jiang Yaozhen had left the mansion alone. Out of curiosity, she had secretly followed her.

She wanted to know who Jiang Yaozhen would turn to for help after learning her fiancé was a man who preferred men.

Ling Wu had been learning rules under the matron with the newly arrived maids at the time, so Jiang Shuning hadn't called her to come along.

She hadn't expected Ling Wu to be so worried about her. Jiang Shuning felt both remorseful and touched.

She had always treated her maids with kindness, yet Dong Mei had betrayed her.

Thinking back carefully now, in her previous life, it was after drinking the fertility tonic brought by Dong Mei that she died from poison.

At that time, seeing Xiao Lingchuan's panic and fury, she had deliberately kept the truth from him, allowing him to mistakenly believe she had taken poison.

She valued her life so much; how could she possibly commit such a foolish act as suicide?

"Miss, you must keep your word!" Ling Wu raised her voice, her expression tense and serious.

Jiang Shuning's going out alone today had truly frightened her.

To put it bluntly, if anything happened to Miss Jiang, she would have to answer for it with her head to the Fourth Prince.

Jiang Shuning finally snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "Don't worry, Ling Wu. Although I am a woman, I also know that a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold!"

As if remembering something, she added, "By the way, Ling Wu, teach me riding and archery!"

If she remembered correctly, next month would be the palace's annual winter hunt.

In her previous life during the winter hunt, being unskilled in riding and archery, she could only chat with the noblewomen in the tents. Meanwhile, Jiang Yaozhen galloped across the hunting grounds with the princes and young nobles, stealing the spotlight.

In this life, she also wanted to get in on the action and, incidentally, get to know someone.

Ling Wu was undoubtedly the most patient teacher, and Jiang Shuning was the most diligent student.

Mastering riding and archery in just one month was no easy feat, but Jiang Shuning picked it up extremely quickly. Within a few days, she was riding competently.

Her archery skills, while not yet hitting the bullseye every time, were stable enough to hit the target several times.

"Miss, you're learning so fast. Have you practiced before?" Ling Wu couldn't help but ask on the outdoor training ground.

An accompanying maid chimed in with a smile, "The Eldest Young Miss has a gentle temperament. When would she have learned riding and archery? It's the Second Young Miss who often practiced martial arts with the young masters and the Young Duke."

"Then the Eldest Young Miss must be exceptionally talented," Ling Wu praised sincerely.

No wonder the Fourth Prince held her in such high regard. He had always appreciated intelligent people.

Jiang Shuning smiled faintly without replying. There was no exceptional talent; it was merely due to Xiao Lingchuan's skillful instruction in her previous life.

In the early years of their marriage, Xiao Lingchuan had personally taught her riding and archery.

She had been deeply moved by his attention, blushing and flustered, but he had coldly doused her with a bucket of icy water: "Don't overthink it. This prince is teaching you these skills merely to prevent you from being captured by enemies in the future and becoming a burden."

At that time, he had already secretly harbored ambitions for the throne and faced frequent assassination attempts.

The path to seizing the throne was like licking blood off a blade—perilous in the extreme. If he lost power, the best outcome he could hope for was a life on the run.

Although Jiang Shuning disdained imitating Jiang Yaozhen, she also didn't want to hold him back. So, she practiced diligently day after day, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

It was rather ironic to think about it now. In the end, she didn't die at the hands of his enemies. Instead, when his power was at its peak and he was just one step away from the throne, she died from a bowl of poisoned fertility tonic.

Realizing she was thinking about Xiao Lingchuan again, Jiang Shuning quickly shook off the thought and focused her gaze on the target ahead.

She drew the bow with force, and a feathered arrow shot through the air, striking the bullseye!

Ling Wu and the maids cheered in unison. Facing the biting cold wind, a faint smile bloomed on Jiang Shuning's lips.

In this life, she too would shine brightly on the hunting grounds and showcase her skills to her heart's content!

Inside the palace, Jinghe Palace.

The Seventh Prince entered the hall and saw Xiao Lingchuan sitting alone at the table, a slip of paper held between his fingertips, lost in thought.

"Fourth Brother, what has you so engrossed?" the Seventh Prince asked curiously.

Xiao Lingchuan finally snapped back to attention. "Ling Wu reported that Miss Jiang is diligently learning riding and archery. It seems she wants to showcase her skills at the winter hunt."

The Seventh Prince was taken aback and lowered his voice. "This... won't it disrupt our plans?"

"Absolutely not," Xiao Lingchuan's tone was icy, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I know my limits."

The Seventh Prince breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Then let her go. If Fourth Brother is too busy, I can look after sister-in-law for you!"

Xiao Lingchuan didn't reply, but his thoughts were churning.

Jiang Shuning had never been fond of riding and archery. Why was she so determined this time?

Could it be because she had once lost to someone else in this regard?

The Seventh Prince spoke again, his tone hesitant. "Fourth Brother, are you truly confident? I've heard Nanyue's poisons are exceptionally insidious. If that spy doesn't hand over the antidote..."

"It's merely a test," Xiao Lingchuan's lips curved slightly, but there was no trace of a smile in his eyes. "I want to see if that mother and daughter are truly worth using."

A chill ran down the Seventh Prince's spine, and he was secretly alarmed.

Using his own safety as bait, just to test the loyalty of his pawns.

His fourth brother is a real piece of work!

On the day before the winter hunt, Ling Wu handed Jiang Shuning a sleeve crossbow and instructed, "Young Miss, I won't be able to accompany you on the hunt. This crossbow is small and exquisite, easily concealed in a sleeve. In danger, just pull the trigger, and it can hit a target accurately from dozens of yards away to ensure your safety."

Jiang Shuning's eyes lit up. She eagerly took the sleeve crossbow and examined it carefully.

Crafted from precious sandalwood with an elegant grain, the crossbow was a masterpiece of workmanship. It felt light and comfortable in her hand, and she couldn't put it down.

In her previous life, Jiang Yaozhen also had a sleeve crossbow, specially commissioned by the Young Duke from skilled artisans in the Ministry of Works. It was exceptionally refined.

Jiang Shuning had seen it and liked it very much, wanting to borrow it for a look. However, Jiang Yaozhen sneered coldly, "Sister doesn't know the first thing about archery. Looking at it is a waste. You'd better go back and play your zither!"

She never expected that in this new life, she would also possess a sleeve crossbow of her own.

"This sleeve crossbow is truly beautiful, even more exquisite than the one the Young Duke gave Yaozhen!" she exclaimed joyfully, her face lit up with a smile.

Hearing this, Ling Wu's lips curved slightly upward. "I'm glad the Young Miss likes it."

If the Fourth Prince knew Miss Jiang praised the sleeve crossbow he personally crafted so highly, he would surely be pleased.

In previous years, on the eve of the winter hunt, Jiang Yaozhen would diligently practice riding and archery to make a good showing on the hunting grounds.

Although her hunting skills were not on par with men's, among women she was in a class of her own, even earning praise from the Emperor himself.

However, this year she couldn't have been less interested.

On the night before the winter hunt, she was still anxiously waiting for her mother in the Qili Courtyard.

Finally, in the dead of night, a dark figure silently slipped in through the open window.

Jiang Yaozhen urgently stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Mother, did you get it?"

The concubine nodded slightly and handed her two porcelain bottles.

Jiang Yaozhen took the bottles and frowned. "Why only two bottles? Where is the antidote?"

The concubine looked at her, her eyes deep and inscrutable.

Jiang Yaozhen understood instantly, and a cold, sinister smile slowly curled at the corner of her mouth.

"Since the Fourth Prince knows Mother's identity, he cannot be allowed to live. So what if he has half Nanyue blood flowing in his veins?" she sneered coldly, her eyes filled with contempt. "He's nothing but a lowly half-breed!"