Chapter 48 Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Chapter 48: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Ling Wu helped Jiang Shuning as they left the study and ran into Jiang Yaozhen in the corridor.

Jiang Yaozhen’s eyes held a mocking glint, her lips curved in a half-smile. "Who would've thought my always-so-gentle and dignified older sister would scheme to frame her own cousin, even implicating His Highness the Fourth Prince and got him punished.

Poor Fourth Prince, who had finally earned His Majesty’s favor, only to lose standing in the Emperor’s eyes because he helped you with such a disgraceful deed!

Sister, wouldn’t you say you’re a femme fatale? Oh, wait—sister’s looks are rather plain, I’m afraid you don’t quite live up to the term ‘femme.’ At most, you’re just ‘fatal’!"

Faced with her sarcastic taunts, Jiang Shuning ignored her and walked on with Ling Wu’s support.

Ling Wu fumed indignantly. "The Second Young Lady delights in others' misery; she must have had a hand in fueling this incident! If His Highness the Fourth Prince catches flak from His Majesty, the one who benefits is her future husband, the Third Prince. No wonder she’s so pleased!"

Jiang Shuning had already guessed as much.

It seemed that the matter of Jiang Tianci being framed by Xiao Lingchuan had reached the Emperor’s ears, and the Third Prince had likely played no small part in it.

Who'd have thought that affairs within the Chancellor’s residence would become tools for two princes to vie for favor and scheme against each other.

What worried her most now was the matter of adoption.

If Jiang Tianci truly became the heir to the Chancellor’s estate, that would be a real disaster for the family!

Only a fool like Jiang Yaozhen would focus solely on stepping all over her, paying no heed to the future of the Chancellor’s residence.

Returning to Cuizhu Courtyard, Jiang Shuning asked Ling Wu, "When you traveled the jianghu before, did you happen to meet anyone who could help me investigate Second Brother’s activities in Xuzhou? Money is no object; I urgently require evidence of his gambling habit to dissuade Father from adopting him."

Ling Wu hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Young Miss, why not seek help from His Highness the Fourth Prince…"

"He is not someone to rely on, and besides, he’s in hot water himself now," Jiang Shuning said coldly.

She had been too naive before, actually turning to Xiao Lingchuan for help.

He was never any good!

Ling Wu sighed inwardly. If His Highness the Fourth Prince knew that the Young Miss distrusted him so much, he would surely be really hurt.

After a moment’s hesitation, she said, "I'll do my best."

She had secretly decided to inform His Highness of the Young Miss’s urgent predicament and ask him to assist as soon as possible.

Jiang Shuning said gratefully, "Thank you, Ling Wu."

—

In the palace, at Jinghe Palace.

The Seventh Prince looked at Xiao Lingchuan’s bruised and battered back and sighed helplessly.

If the Imperial Clan Court officials hadn’t shown mercy, those forty blows would have left him either dead or crippled.

"Fourth Brother, why go to such lengths? This matter could have been handled flawlessly, yet you deliberately left loopholes. Now look, you’ve just handed Third Brother a win. He and Consort Xi are probably secretly thrilled right now!"

Xiao Lingchuan lay prone on the bed, his face pale, yet he was still handsome.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly in a faint smile. "Do you think I endured these blows for nothing? I had my reasons."

"What reasons?" The Seventh Prince’s eyes darted around before suddenly lighting up with understanding. "You want to cut off Miss Jiang’s marriage prospects, so other princes wouldn’t dare marry her! Fourth Brother, that move of yours is truly ruthless!"

Xiao Lingchuan shot him a glance. "Regarding the hunting ground assassination attempt, Father is already suspicious of me. I deliberately let him find faults to ease his suspicions toward me."

The captured assassin from the hunting grounds spilled everything about the assassination process but knew nothing about the source of the poison on the arrow.

This led the Emperor to suspect that Xiao Lingchuan was the mastermind behind the scenes, and the hunting ground assassination was merely a staged attack he orchestrated.

"So that’s it! You wanted Father to think you’re a lovesick fool, thereby lowering his guard against you. That’s a brilliant plan!" the Seventh Prince praised. "Someone who strategizes so meticulously wouldn’t slip up over such a trivial matter. Fourth Brother, what a masterstroke of turning the enemy’s plot against them!"

Xiao Lingchuan’s eyes darkened. "As for ruining Miss Jiang’s marriage prospects… that was merely seizing the opportunity, not my original intention."

The Seventh Prince smiled meaningfully. "Fourth Brother, you’re clearly killing two birds with one stone! Now Father no longer holds a grudge against you, and no one dares marry Miss Jiang. Isn’t that the best of both worlds?"

"Don’t talk nonsense!" Xiao Lingchuan warned in a low voice.

Just then, Ling Feng arrived.

"Your Highness, a letter from Ling Wu. Miss Jiang wishes to find evidence of Second Young Master Jiang’s gambling in Xuzhou to stop Chancellor Jiang from adopting him."

Xiao Lingchuan instructed calmly, "Send the evidence I’ve gathered anonymously to Chancellor Jiang."

"Yes!" Ling Feng accepted the order and left.

The Seventh Prince, Xiao Qiyu, was puzzled. "Fourth Brother, since you already have evidence of Jiang Tianci’s gambling habit, why go through the trouble of setting him up? You’ve only given Third Brother a chance to report on you."

"I did it on purpose," he paused, then added meaningfully, "Father doesn’t like sons who are too shrewd."

The more one stood out, the more likely one was to attract suspicion.

Sometimes, hiding one’s brilliance is also a form of wisdom.

—

In Qianqing Palace, the Emperor sipped tea and asked casually, "How is Lao Si’s injury?"

"I instructed the Imperial Clan Court to show mercy. Although the forty strikes broke skin and flesh, they didn’t damage bones or tendons. He should recover after a few days of rest," Chen Shun replied with a bow.

"Send some high-quality golden wound medicine over. He once saved me; we mustn’t let him suffer lasting effects."

"Yes." Chen Shun hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Your Majesty previously suspected the Fourth Prince of colluding with Nanyue. Should we continue investigating that matter?"

The Emperor gave a cold laugh. "No need. To act like this over a woman shows he’s merely a lovesick fool, not worth fearing."

The emperors of Daye throughout history have all been cold and unfeeling. A prince who indulges in romantic entanglements—how could he have the ambition to contend for the throne?

This son of his was not worth fearing.

—

Chancellor Jiang, feeling guilty after learning that his daughter had sought help from the Fourth Prince to frame his nephew, personally informed Jiang Tianci of his intention to make him the heir.

Jiang Tianci, swelling with pride, went straight to the West Courtyard to boast.

Seeing Jiang Tianze bent over his desk studying, he sneered, "Third Brother, no need to put on airs anymore! Uncle has decided to adopt me as his heir. Even if you read ten thousand books, you can forget about inheriting the Chancellor’s estate!"

Jiang Tianze looked up, a cold glint flashing in his captivating phoenix eyes. "Congratulations, Second Brother. However, Tianze studies not for the sake of inheriting the family estate, but simply because he enjoys reading. If Second Brother has nothing else, please leave."

"Enjoy reading? You, the bastard son of a prostitute, think you can pass the imperial exams? Wishful thinking!" Jiang Tianci stepped forward and patted Jiang Tianze’s face mockingly. "With looks like yours, you’d be better off performing at the Nanfeng House. At least you could earn some silver!"

Jiang Tianze flew into a rage and threw a punch, landing squarely on Jiang Tianci’s face.

He had practiced martial arts since childhood, and recently received guidance from his master. This punch was powerful, punching Jiang Tianci so hard he saw stars.

Jiang Tianci covered his face and howled, bringing Third Master Jiang and Third Madam Jiang.

Third Madam Jiang hurriedly grabbed the furious Jiang Tianze, while Third Master Jiang repeatedly apologized to Jiang Tianci.

Jiang Tianci refused to relent, threatening viciously, "Once Uncle adopts me, the first thing I'll do is kick you third-branch losers out! Just you wait!"

As soon as he left, Third Master Jiang vented his anger on Jiang Tianze.

He grabbed a thick stick and struck Jiang Tianze hard on the back, cursing as he beat him:

"You useless thing! I've raised you for nothing all these years, hoping you'd amount to something and inherit the prime minister's estate, and now Tianci gets to take it all! What's the point of raising you?!"

Seeing this, Third Madam Jiang, heartbroken for her son, wept bitterly and tried to intervene, but was frozen in fear by Third Master Jiang's furious roar: "He's my son, what's wrong with hitting him a few times? If you can't bear it, take him and get out of here!"

Third Madam Jiang instantly fell silent, reduced to silent tears as she watched her son being beaten.

Jiang Tianze clenched his teeth, his face pale, but he didn't make a peep.

Third Master Jiang grew tired from beating him, threw down the stick, and stormed off in a rage.

Only then did Third Madam Jiang dare to approach. Trembling, she gently touched her son's bruised and battered back, sobbing, "Tianze, does it hurt? Let Mother apply some medicine for you..."

Jiang Tianze looked up at his mother's haggard face, a bitter smile appearing on his pale lips. "Mother... who is my real father? Why did he abandon us? Does he know how we've suffered all these years?"

This heart-wrenching question pierced Third Madam Jiang's heart like a sharp knife. She covered her face, unable to contain her grief any longer, and broke down in heart-wrenching sobs.