Chapter 30 A Heart Turned to Ash

Chapter 30: A Heart Grown Cold

"My witness? Why should I hand him over to the Fourth Prince?" Jiang Shuning's anger blazed. "Is the Fourth Prince trying to shield my sister Yaozhen's crimes?"

"I can't tell you the reason right now." Xiao Lingchuan's gaze darkened as he glanced at the cowering eunuch on the ground, his tone firm. "Regardless, he's coming with me tonight. Shuning, I promise I'll explain everything later."

Again!

Whenever it involved Jiang Yaozhen, he would always shield her, no questions asked!

In her past life, she had loved him desperately. Even though she knew he constantly protected Jiang Yaozhen, she could only swallow her grievances.

But in this life, she refused to put up with such humiliation any longer!

"What if I refuse?" Jiang Shuning sneered, raising her sleeve crossbow and aiming it at Xiao Lingchuan. "Fourth Prince, if you take another step forward, don't blame me for what happens next!"

"Shuning, this is the second time you've tried to harm me!" A storm cloud settled over Xiao Lingchuan's brow. Before his words faded, his figure flashed like lightning, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Jiang Shuning felt a sharp pain in her wrist as he firmly seized the crossbow. In her panic, she let the bolt fly. It veered off course, grazing his cheek and leaving a trail of blood before vanishing into the night.

The next moment, she found herself trapped in his embrace, her wrist bones feeling as if they might shatter under his grip, leaving her unable to move.

Jiang Shuning, both humiliated and furious, struggled with all her might, her words spilling out recklessly. "Xiao Lingchuan, let go of me!"

He lowered his head, his breath brushing her ear, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable force. "Trust me, I would never harm you. The grievances you've suffered tonight, I'll make it up to you ten times over!"

Jiang Shuning could only feel utter mockery.

Whether in her past life or this one, the one who had caused her endless suffering was always him!

Xiao Lingchuan cast a cold glance toward the shadows in the distance. "Seventh Brother, hurry up and take him away!"

From the bushes, the Seventh Prince emerged somewhat awkwardly, scratching his head and offering Jiang Shuning an embarrassed smile. "Sister-in-law, please don't be angry. I was also forced by Fourth Brother..."

"Enough nonsense!" Xiao Lingchuan's voice was as sharp as a cold blade. "Take him away immediately!"

"Yes!" The Seventh Prince wiped the smile from his face, dragged up the still-moaning eunuch from the ground, and disappeared into the night.

Jiang Shuning watched helplessly as the eunuch who could testify to Jiang Yaozhen's crimes was taken away, feeling as if she had plunged into an icy abyss.

She broke free from his restraint, her gaze fixed intently on Xiao Lingchuan, her voice nearly breaking. "Xiao Lingchuan, you... have you also been reborn?"

The night wind suddenly stilled, plunging the surroundings into a deathly silence.

Moonlight flowed like water, casting his emotions into shadowy obscurity.

After a long while, he uttered a single word in a low voice. "Yes."

Jiang Shuning closed her eyes tightly, despair washing over her like a tidal wave.

No wonder!

Though she had long suspected it, hearing the truth confirmed with her own ears still felt unbelievable. A wave of bitter sorrow even surged in her chest.

So it wasn't just her who had been given a second chance—he had too...

When she opened her eyes again, a calmness born of a heart turned to ashes tinged her features.

"In that case, this humble subject wishes Your Highness the Fourth Prince fulfillment of all your desires in this life!"

With that, she forcefully suppressed the ache in her heart, turned, and walked away.

"Stop." Xiao Lingchuan's voice came from behind, low as if suppressing a thousand pounds of anger.

Jiang Shuning's back stiffened. She halted abruptly but did not turn around.

"Does the Fourth Prince have further instructions?"

"What do you mean by that?" He strode to stand before her, his voice low, carrying a hint of suppressed anger. "Wishing me fulfillment of my desires? Do you know what I want in this life?"

Under the moonlight, her eyes were as clear and cold as frost, her voice sharp as a blade. "Having shared a bed with Your Highness for ten years in my past life, how could this humble subject not know where Your Highness's heart lies? Rest assured, in this life, I will never cling to you with foolish infatuation as I did before, obstructing your splendid future. Nor will I repeat the same mistakes and meet a fate of bodily death and soul dispersal!"

Her words pierced Xiao Lingchuan's heart like a sharp blade.

His breath hitched abruptly, darkness churning in his eyes as if a storm were brewing.

After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice so low it seemed squeezed from his throat. "In our past life... I failed to protect you..."

"Your Highness overstates it." Jiang Shuning interrupted him, her tone detached yet resolute. "It was my fate to be lacking in fortune, unworthy of the honor of being Consort Jing. In this life, I only wish for us to each follow our own paths, without disturbing one another."

With that, she forcefully held back the tears welling in her eyes and gave him a slight curtsy.

Seeing her restrained demeanor, Xiao Lingchuan was reminded of their past life.

In that life, she had always been like this—restrained and controlled, hiding her emotions flawlessly.

Apart from their intimate moments, he had rarely seen any emotional fluctuations in her.

Did marrying him truly cause her such pain?

By the time he regained his senses, Jiang Shuning had long vanished from sight.

She ran all the way back to her tent, her chest feeling as if weighed down by a massive stone, making even breathing difficult.

She couldn't tell whether she was fleeing from Xiao Lingchuan or from her past self—the one who had loved him deeply yet had been wounded to the core by him.

Before she could step inside the tent, a wave of nausea churned in her stomach. Leaning against a tree trunk, she vomited until the world spun.

That very night, a high fever took hold, plunging her into a muddled, dream-filled haze.

She dreamed of a palace banquet in her past life. Jiang Yaozhen, holding a wine cup, gracefully approached her and struck up a conversation as if by chance.

Just as Xiao Lingchuan began walking toward them, Jiang Yaozhen suddenly splashed the wine onto herself, then tearfully accused, "Sister, why did you throw wine on me? Has Yaozhen done something wrong?"

Everyone at the banquet turned questioning eyes toward Jiang Shuning. She found herself tongue-tied, her explanations sounding like feeble excuses no matter how she phrased them.

Jiang Yaozhen continued to fan the flames. "It is Yaozhen's fault. Yaozhen is merely a concubine-born daughter and should never have dared hope for a prince's favor... It is only natural for Sister to dislike Yaozhen..."

The noble ladies around them whispered among themselves. They all knew that the Fourth Prince, Xiao Lingchuan, had originally favored Jiang Yaozhen. It was she, the legitimate daughter, who had used her reputation to force the marriage, snatching it away from her concubine-born sister.

Now, Jiang Shuning publicly humiliating her concubine-born sister only solidified her reputation for jealousy.

Jiang Shuning didn't care about others' opinions; she only worried that Xiao Lingchuan would misunderstand.

She went to him, trying to explain everything.

"Your Highness the Fourth Prince, do you also believe I intentionally splashed wine on my sister?"

Xiao Lingchuan's expression was cold, his tone piercingly icy. "Miss Jiang, who used her own reputation to force a marriage—is there anything you wouldn't do?"

These words struck Jiang Shuning like a heavy hammer, landing a heavy blow to her heart.

All explanations became completely meaningless.

That night, she wept as if her heart would break, even considering breaking off the engagement. Yet, in the end, for the sake of her family's reputation, she chose to endure.

During their ten-year marriage, Xiao Lingchuan's coldness, neglect, and distance made her recall that heart-wrenching scene at the palace banquet countless times. She regretted not having mustered the courage to break off the engagement back then, leading to a decade of wasted time and even costing her own life.

Fortunately, the heavens granted her a chance at rebirth, allowing her to rewrite the regrets of her past life.

The next evening, she drifted awake to find Xia Yan's anxious face before her eyes.

"Shuning, you're finally awake! If you hadn't woken up soon, I would have had to call for the royal physician!"

"Xia Yan, I'm fine." Jiang Shuning collected herself slightly, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did anything happen during today's hunt?"

"I was just about to tell you!" Xia Yan's expression turned grave. "While His Majesty was hunting with the princes today, assassins attempted an assassination. The Fourth Prince took an arrow meant for His Majesty!"

Jiang Shuning's brow twitched slightly, but she wasn't surprised.

Last night, when he admitted he was also reborn, she had anticipated he would take the arrow for the Emperor today.

Ambitious and power-hungry, how could he miss such a perfect opportunity to earn merit?

By winning the Emperor's favor, even if he couldn't secure the Crown Prince's position, he would still gain the support of court officials and noble clans.

He would achieve everything he desired faster than in his previous life.

Xia Yan's voice sounded again: "Shuning, I heard the arrow was tipped with an unknown, potent poison. The Fourth Prince is now hanging by a thread, and even the imperial physicians are at a loss!"

"What?" Jiang Shuning's pupils contracted sharply, her heart jolting with shock.

In her past life, the arrow aimed at the Third Prince had not been poisoned at all!