Chapter 44 Forbidden Desires

Chapter 44: An Improper Fancy

After that day, Jiang Shuning kept to the Chancellor's residence and rarely went out.

As long as she didn't go out, Jiang Tianci would have no opportunity to ruin her reputation.

But she wasn't idle either. Every day, she would set aside time to visit the Third Household, overseeing Jiang Tianze's studies and observing his progress in martial arts.

Regardless of whom she married in the future, Jiang Tianze, as the future heir of the Chancellor's estate, required her dedicated nurturing.

One day, after finishing his martial arts practice, Jiang Tianze smiled and said to her, "Elder Sister, you're going to such lengths. What if Uncle and Aunt ultimately decide to let Second Brother inherit the family business? Wouldn't all this be a waste?"

Jiang Shuning responded with a faint smile. "Even so, you are still my younger brother. As your elder sister, it's only natural that I should care for you and help you develop."

Hearing this, a bright light shone in Jiang Tianze's beautiful phoenix eyes. "Elder Sister, you're truly wonderful!"

He had been intelligent since childhood, but his birth mother was a prostitute who only knew how to fawn over his father. His father, who wasn't his biological parent, was temperamental and unpredictable. No one in the family truly cared for him.

Now, for the first time, he felt genuine concern from someone else. Besides gratitude, an improper fancy stirred in his heart.

Jiang Tianci had made several scenes before Madam Jiang regarding the adoption matter. Madam Jiang, soft-hearted, had wavered a few times, but Chancellor Jiang remained firm, and the matter was eventually dropped.

Several days later, the steward hurried in, looking frantic. "Miss, it's terrible! Second Young Master was caught gambling in an underground gambling den and has been arrested by the authorities. He's now in prison!"

Jiang Shuning knew at once—this was Xiao Lingchuan's doing.

He had merely brought forward the mistakes Jiang Tianci had made in her previous life, without taking his life. That was already being lenient.

"Don't let Mother know about this to keep her from getting upset. Also, inquire about the second branch's intentions. If they wish to remain in the capital, find them another residence, but from now on, they must cover their own expenses. If they want to return to Xuzhou, give them three hundred taels of silver."

According to the laws of Daye, gambling carried a three-year sentence and a criminal record, which would absolutely disqualify him from becoming the heir to the Chancellor's estate.

With their son serving a sentence, Second Uncle and Second Aunt naturally couldn't continue staying at the Chancellor's residence.

But living in the capital was expensive. Jiang Shuning guessed they would accept her second proposal—take the money and return to Xuzhou.

After all, their son was a lost cause. It was more practical to take the money back to their hometown and live off the ancestral estate.

"Yes, Miss." The steward bowed and withdrew.

Jiang Shuning watched the steward leave, then turned to meet Jiang Tianze's probing gaze. Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Although this cousin had delicate, pretty features, his gaze was too sharp, that one dared not meet directly.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Third Brother?"

"Elder Sister doesn't seem the least bit surprised about Second Brother's arrest for gambling?"

Jiang Shuning was taken aback.

In her previous life, she had heard from Madam Jiang that Jiang Tianci had gambled, accumulating massive debts, forcing Second Aunt to come to the capital to borrow money from them.

So when the steward mentioned it just now, she wasn't surprised at all.

But in this life, Jiang Tianci hadn't yet shown any signs of a gambling habit. Her lack of surprise seemed abnormal.

Jiang Tianze was more perceptive than his peers and had noticed.

"When Father and Mother were considering adopting Second Brother, I did some digging. I discovered he had already developed a gambling habit back in Xuzhou. So when the steward told me today, I wasn't surprised. After all, gambling isn't an easy addiction to break."

"I see." Jiang Tianze looked at her, his eyes filled with admiration and appreciation. "Elder Sister is truly far-sighted and admirable."

"You flatter me, Third Brother." Seeing that he believed her, Jiang Shuning secretly sighed in relief. "From now on, the Jiang family can only rely on you. You must study diligently and practice martial arts well. Don't let anyone look down on you."

"I will live up to Elder Sister's expectations." Jiang Tianze promised solemnly.

When Second Madam Jiang heard her son had been imprisoned, she was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan.

She rushed to Chancellor Jiang, weeping and pleading, "Brother-in-law, Tianci is still young and hasn't even married. Now that he's in prison, what family would be willing to marry their daughter to him? You have wide connections, Brother-in-law. I beg you, save Tianci! We'll pay whatever it costs!"

Chancellor Jiang had always prided himself on his integrity. He had insisted on separating from the second and third branches precisely because he disdained his two younger half-brothers' lack of character.

Previously, because Jiang Tianci resembled his deceased eldest son, Jiang Tianen, he had felt some fondness for him. But now, learning that Jiang Tianci had been imprisoned for gambling, he felt immediate disgust. "A child's faults reflect the parents' failures! You can only blame yourselves for not raising him properly. His imprisonment now serves as a lesson. If we spend money to get him out, he might cause more trouble in the future!"

After being rejected by Chancellor Jiang, a desperate Second Madam Jiang cried and made a scene for a long time before going to plead with Jiang Yaozhen.

Jiang Yaozhen was already dissatisfied with Jiang Tianci's incompetence and was unwilling to get involved.

But Second Madam Jiang wept bitterly and pitifully. "Yaozhen, if you don't help Tianci, his life is ruined! He only wanted to get a courtyard from Shuning. Who knew it would lead to such a disaster? Wuwuwu, my poor child..."

Jiang Yaozhen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Second Aunt, are you suggesting Elder Sister caused Second Brother's imprisonment?"

"It must be her! Think about it. With your Second Brother in prison, he's no longer eligible to be adopted by your father, right? She's always disliked Tianci, running to the third branch every day, being so nice to that brothel-born bastard! Upon hearing your Second Brother was imprisoned, instead of trying to get him out, she offers us three hundred taels to send us back to Xuzhou. With her scheming step by step, if it's not her plotting against Tianci, then who could it be?"

Her eyes gleamed thoughtfully.

Was Jiang Shuning truly so threatened by Jiang Tianci that she would scheme to have him imprisoned?

But she was just a sheltered young lady. Where would she get such capability?

Could it be the Fourth Prince helping her?

Jiang Yaozhen originally had no affection for Jiang Tianci, but the thought of causing Jiang Shuning displeasure immediately made her want to get him out of prison.

As long as it made Jiang Shuning suffer, she was happy.

"I can ask His Highness the Third Prince for help to get Second Brother out of prison. However, from now on, your second branch must work for me. Otherwise, I'll make sure you regret it!"

Second Madam Jiang immediately knelt before her, holding up three fingers. "I, He Shi, swear to heaven: if you help me get Tianci out of prison, from now on, I, my husband, and my two children will all be at your command!"

A faint smile curled at the corner of Jiang Yaozhen's lips. "Very well."

Now that both she and her mother were under the Fourth Prince's control, she needed to find some allies for herself quickly to escape this predicament.

Good fortune shouldn't all fall into Jiang Shuning's lap alone.

It wasn't easy for Jiang Yaozhen to arrange a meeting with the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan.

She didn't have a gold token like Jiang Shuning to enter the palace freely, nor was she willing to lower herself to beg Jiang Shuning to take her into the palace.

Fortunately, Xiao Xiuzhan often enjoyed disguising himself as a young nobleman and spending time at the Chunxiang Pavilion to listen to music.

Upon learning this, Jiang Yaozhen disguised herself and went to the Chunxiang Pavilion.

Since the engagement was bestowed, Xiao Xiuzhan seemed to have lost interest in her.

Men were always like this—they didn't cherish what came too easily.

But Jiang Yaozhen didn't care. What she wanted wasn't Xiao Lingchuan's love, but to make him a pawn in her hands.

Xiao Xiuzhan spent lavishly, each time he visited Chunxiang Tower he would rent out the whole place and insist on having the top courtesan, Ning Xiang, play the zither for him.

Miss Ning Xiang lived up to her name, with skin as smooth as jade and a faint, elegant fragrance her body carried.

It was said that countless young nobles would spend fortunes just to catch a glimpse of her beauty and experience the unique scent she carried.

However, she sold her talents, not her body, making an exception only for Xiao Xiuzhan.

Every time Xiao Xiuzhan visited, he enjoyed an experience beyond anyone else's reach, greatly satisfying his vanity.

Wasn’t being in a high position all about enjoying such exclusive privileges?

On this day, as Ning Xiang was playing the zither, a woman in red, wearing a veil, suddenly floated in through the window and began dancing gracefully in the room.

Ning Xiang was startled and was about to call for help when Xiao Xiuzhan raised his hand to stop her.

A faint, elusive fragrance wafted from the woman, growing more intense as she twirled and danced.

Xiao Xiuzhan understood—this was the natural scent of a woman’s body!

Ning Xiang’s so-called body fragrance was merely a gimmick; her scent was artificially added.

Since she had never been intimate with any other man, no one but Xiao Xiuzhan knew the truth.

But a woman who truly possessed a natural body fragrance was a rarity in this world!