Chapter 33 Blame His Own Misfortune

Chapter 33: He Brought His Misfortune Upon Himself

The day after Jiang Tianen’s burial, the Jiang residence received the Sixth Prince’s letter formally severing their engagement.

The very next day, the Emperor’s imperial marriage decree arrived, betrothing Jiang Yaozhen to the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, with the wedding scheduled for the following year.

This should have been a moment of extraordinary jubilation—yet the entire Jiang household lay under a pall of icy gloom, not a single smile in sight.

Having suddenly lost her eldest son, Madam Jiang was utterly shattered by grief and took to her sickbed, gravely ill.

Chancellor Jiang appeared to have aged ten years overnight, his face deeply lined with exhaustion.

By day, Jiang Shuning forced herself to maintain composure; but in the dead of night, she would toss and turn, sleepless beneath the crushing weight of sorrow for her deceased elder brother—weeping silently, night after night.

Only Jiang Yaozhen had her wish fulfilled—and secretly rejoiced.

Meticulously concealing her elation, she fabricated an excuse to leave the residence and quietly made her way to Laifu Tavern in the eastern district.

Inside a private chamber, she sat across from her aunt, eagerly sharing her triumph.

Her aunt gestured with her fingers: “The Eldest Young Master… is truly gone?”

Recalling the incident, Jiang Yaozhen still shuddered: “I don’t know what happened. The Third Prince was furious that day… I thought he’d merely discipline Elder Brother—but who could have imagined he’d strike him down outright?”

Her aunt gestured again, twice: “So young… what a pity.”

Jiang Yaozhen waved it off, her voice laced with cold indifference: “He brought his misfortune upon himself. Now that I am to become the Third Prince’s Consort, he had no fortune left to witness it. He has no one to blame but himself.”

Compared to her own brilliant future, Jiang Tianen’s death seemed trivial.

The marriage she had long coveted was now secured—and the Fourth Prince, Xiao Lingchuan, now hung by a thread. Everything was falling perfectly into place.

Speaking of Xiao Lingchuan—it was, admittedly, somewhat regrettable.

She had once regarded him as a mere pawn, going to great lengths even before the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet to capture his attention.

A neglected prince, solitary and brooding by nature—only a few gentle words and gestures of goodwill were needed to win his heart and bend him to her will.

Moreover, among the conventional noble maidens, she stood out dazzlingly.

Sure enough, his gaze began to follow her.

When, exactly, had he changed?

Ever since he rescued Jiang Shuning at the palace lotus pond, his affections had shifted.

Not only was he unmoved by her charm—he ruthlessly exposed her schemes, even compelling her aunt to serve him.

This seemingly disfavored Fourth Prince proved far more ambitious—and far harder to control—than she had ever imagined!

If that was the case, then let him die!

A sinister curve lifted the corner of Jiang Yaozhen’s lips.

The arrow Xiao Lingchuan had taken for the Emperor was tipped with Nanyue’s deadliest poison.

Without the antidote, he would certainly perish.

—

Consort Xi strode into Lingge Palace, where the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, resided.

The Third Prince looked up, mildly surprised: “Mother Consort—what brings you here?”

Consort Xi’s expression was grave: “Zhan, your mother has something urgent to tell you.”

Xiao Xiuzhan understood immediately and promptly dismissed all attendants, ordering palace servants to seal the hall doors tightly.

“Mother Consort—what matter is so pressing?”

“That group of old fools at the Imperial Hospital has discovered it. The arrow that struck the Fourth Prince was coated with *Duoming Sha*—a lethal toxin unique to Nanyue!”

Hearing this, a faint smile flickered across Xiao Xiuzhan’s lips: “Isn’t this precisely what we wanted? Father Emperor will surely conclude the assassination attempt at the hunting grounds was orchestrated by Nanyue spies—and never suspect us.”

“That was my initial assumption as well!” Consort Xi frowned deeply. “But your uncle just sent word: among the assassins at the hunting grounds—one is missing!”

“What?” Xiao Xiuzhan’s smile froze. He jerked his head up sharply, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Regaining his composure, he asked, “Could it be that the assassin slipped and fell to his death from a cliff during the retreat? The terrain at the hunting grounds is treacherous—such a death wouldn’t be unusual.”

Consort Xi shook her head, profound anxiety tightening the corners of her phoenix eyes: “If that were truly the case, it would be one thing. But if that assassin has fallen into someone else’s hands—and becomes leverage against us—your uncle will have no defense, and may face total ruin!”

Xiao Xiuzhan, too, grasped the gravity of the situation.

The appearance of this Nanyue-poisoned arrow was deeply suspicious. Either a Nanyue spy had infiltrated the ranks of the assassins dispatched by his uncle—or someone had known of their plot all along, deliberately planting this arrow to frame them.

Either possibility spelled doom for the Wang family.

“Tell Uncle to dispatch more men immediately—to search for that missing assassin. We must find him: alive, to identify who holds him; dead, to confirm his corpse!” Xiao Xiuzhan declared, voice hard and unyielding.

Consort Xi sighed: “For now, that is all we can do. Let us pray that assassin is truly dead—and that no further waves are stirred.”

Seeing her anxious expression, Xiao Xiuzhan gently reassured her: “Mother Consort, do not trouble yourself over this. Uncle has always acted with meticulous care—this matter will surely be handled properly.”

Consort Xi nodded, masking the worry in her eyes, and changed the subject: “Is everything regarding the Jiang family settled?”

Xiao Xiuzhan’s expression shifted subtly—a cold smile curling his lips: “Father Emperor has already bestowed the marriage upon me. The Jiang family’s legitimate heir, Jiang Tianen, also died a few days ago.”

“Zhan, your actions this time were reckless. Chancellor Jiang remains highly useful to us. Why did you have to take his eldest son’s life?”

Xiao Xiuzhan replied with resentment: “Had Jiang Tianen not instigated Second Miss Jiang to bring wine to my tent that night, how would I have lost control after drinking? Father Emperor reprimanded me harshly before the entire court, declaring me *obsessed with beauty*, unfit for great responsibility! Since childhood—when have I ever endured such humiliation? Does Jiang Tianen not deserve death?”

Consort Xi’s gaze sharpened, thoughtful: “The Jiang siblings indeed disrupted our plans. Yet upon reflection—if you had taken that poisoned arrow for your father that day, *you* would be lying bedridden now. Viewed this way, it may yet prove a blessing in disguise.”

Xiao Xiuzhan gave a cold laugh, ruthlessness flashing in his eyes:

“Precisely because of that, I took *only* Jiang Tianen’s life. Had I not considered the Jiang family still retains some utility, I could have reported to Father Emperor that the siblings, in pursuit of their ends, drugged the wine to seduce me—exposing to the entire world just how shameless the Jiangs are in their lust for power!

Then—not only would I be spared marrying that Second Miss Jiang—but Father Emperor would severely punish the Jiangs, cutting off their very foundation! Taking only Jiang Tianen’s life now—I have already shown extraordinary leniency!”

Consort Xi offered no reply.

Her son was born with the bearing of an emperor—resolute in character, ruthless in method—far from weak.

She had originally been eager to arrange a marriage between the Jiang family’s legitimate eldest daughter and Zhan. Who could have foreseen the Jiang siblings taking matters into their own hands—allowing that Second Miss Jiang to become the Third Prince’s Consort?

Such ingratitude naturally warranted punishment.

“Enough. Since Jiang Tianen is dead, the Jiang family has lost its legitimate heir. From now on, they will pin all their hopes on their daughter—and grow ever more dependent on us.” Consort Xi’s tone was calm, edged with quiet certainty. “This serves a dual purpose.”

Xiao Xiuzhan smiled. "You speak wisely, Mother."

Meanwhile, at the Jiang residence.

Jiang Shuning heard that Chancellor Jiang had been eating little and locking himself in his study lately.

Mustering her resolve, she personally prepared a bowl of light porridge and brought it to the study.

Pushing the door open, she saw Chancellor Jiang hunched over his desk, writing furiously. Jiang Shuning glanced down and was shocked to see he was drafting a resignation memorial.

"Father, why are you resigning?" she asked in alarm.

Chancellor Jiang looked up, his aged face etched with exhaustion. "Ning'er, I have served as an official for decades. I prided myself on my strategic mind and held some standing among the civil officials at court. Yet in the end, I couldn't even protect my own son. The imperial throne is a terrifying, dreadful thing! I have already lost En'er. I cannot lose you as well. Now, the only way to protect the Jiang family is to withdraw from officialdom!"

"Father!" Jiang Shuning's voice trembled. "Brother's death was clearly an injustice! If you resign, his death will truly become dust, meaningless! Moreover, Yaozhen is now the Third Prince's designated consort. Do you really think you can just walk away from the court? Would the Third Prince and Consort Xi allow you to withdraw?"

Chancellor Jiang was taken aback, murmuring, "Then what am I to do?"

"Father, rather than flee, we must face them head-on!" Jiang Shuning's eyes were filled with hatred and resolve. "We must feign compliance, scheme in secret, plan each step carefully, and push them into the abyss to comfort our elder brother's spirit in heaven!"