Chapter 49 A Morbid Obsession

Chapter 49: A Morbid Obsession

Upon hearing that Jiang Tianci had gone to the West Courtyard to cause trouble, resulting in Jiang Tianze being severely beaten by Third Master Jiang, Jiang Shuning's heart sank. She hurriedly brought Ling Wu with her and rushed to the West Courtyard.

As soon as she stepped into the courtyard gate, a heavy smell of blood hit her.

Inside the room, Jiang Tianze lay prone on the bed. The clothes on his back were soaked through with blood, and the hideous wounds resembled winding centipedes, a shocking sight.

Third Madam Jiang sat by the bedside, weeping bitterly.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Shuning recalled the state Jiang Tianen was in before his death—also beaten until his back was a bloody, mangled mess, barely clinging to life. Her heart tightened painfully.

"How could Third Uncle hit him so hard?"

Third Madam Jiang just kept shaking her head, too choked up to speak.

Then, Jiang Tianze's weak voice came: "Eldest Sister, it was I who struck Second Brother first... Second Brother said... once he is adopted into Uncle's lineage, he will kick our Third Branch out... That's why Father beat me..."

Jiang Shuning's heart instantly sank.

She took the ointment handed to her by Third Madam Jiang, sat by the bed, dipped her fingertips in some ointment, and applied it gently to Jiang Tianze's wounds.

The cool ointment touched the burning flesh, causing Jiang Tianze to suck in a sharp breath. His back twitched slightly, but he gritted his teeth and made no sound.

Jiang Shuning's hand paused. Her gaze fell on those hideous scars, and guilt washed over her.

If she hadn't asked Xiao Lingchuan to set a trap for Jiang Tianci, Chancellor Jiang wouldn't have tried to compensate Jiang Tianci by promising him the heir's position.

Without this newfound confidence, how would Jiang Tianci dare to swagger into the West Courtyard and throw his weight around?

Ultimately, it was she who had pushed Jiang Tianze into this disaster.

She had given the Third Branch hope, only to crush it herself.

How was this any different from what Xiao Lingchuan had done to her?

He was the one who gave her hope, only to personally push her into the abyss.

"Eldest Sister..." Jiang Tianze bore the pain, trying to comfort her instead, "Don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault. Second Brother has never liked me. Even if it weren't for the adoption matter, we would have come to blows over something else. I've been beaten by Father since I was a child; I'm used to the pain."

Jiang Shuning's movements halted. She looked up at him. Their eyes met, and in his gaze, she saw a mix of complex emotions—gratitude, dependence, and a flicker of something she couldn't quite decipher.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, saying softly, "Third Brother, focus on recovering first. Regarding the adoption matter, I will definitely give you an explanation."

Jiang Tianze said nothing more. He closed his eyes, feeling the gentle touch of Jiang Shuning's fingertips. The pain in his back seemed to lessen slightly.

At this moment, he felt the beating was worth it.

Jiang Shuning's concern made even the man he called "father" seem less hateful.

After carefully applying the medicine for Jiang Tianze, Jiang Shuning left detailed instructions before leaving with Ling Wu.

Jiang Tianze's gaze followed her retreating figure, ripples of emotion shimmering in his phoenix eyes.

Third Madam Jiang witnessed all of this, her lips parting as if to speak, but she ultimately remained silent.

In the following days, out of guilt and pity, Jiang Shuning visited Jiang Tianze in the West Courtyard daily. She even personally prepared blood-replenishing tonics for him in the small kitchen.

Several days passed like this, but the wounds on Jiang Tianze's back showed no signs of improvement. Instead, he developed a high fever.

Frantically, Jiang Shuning summoned the estate physician.

After examining him, the physician was puzzled: "The decoctions and ointments I prescribed are all of the highest quality. Why has Third Young Master's condition worsened instead of improving?"

"Perhaps Third Brother has a weak constitution. Should we try increasing the dosage?" Jiang Shuning suggested.

The physician quickly reassured her: "Young Miss, there's no need to worry. Third Young Master's injuries did not affect his bones or tendons; they are merely superficial wounds. He only needs rest to recover. I will increase the dosage immediately."

Jiang Shuning gazed at Jiang Tianze lying pale on the bed, her eyes overflowing with concern.

Ling Wu, standing nearby, felt conflicted.

A few days ago, Ling Feng had told her that the Fourth Prince had received a caning, his injuries far more severe than Third Young Master's. Yet, when the Young Miss learned of it, she had only coldly remarked, "He brought this upon himself. What does it have to do with me?"

If the Fourth Prince knew that the Young Miss paid him no mind but visited Third Young Master daily, Ling Wu couldn't imagine how heartbroken he would be.

After Jiang Shuning left, Jiang Tianze, who had appeared to be sleeping with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. An unusual light flickered in his gaze.

He poured out the unfinished medicinal soup on the table, then removed his clothes and used his fingernails to tear at the scabs that had already formed on his back.

This scene was witnessed by Third Madam Jiang as she entered the room. She gasped in shock and rushed forward to stop him: "Tianze! What are you doing?!"

Jiang Tianze's face was as pale as paper, but a bewitching, eerie smile curled at the corner of his lips: "As long as the wounds on my back don't heal, Eldest Sister will come to see me every day..."

"You're insane!" Third Madam Jiang stared at him in disbelief, her voice trembling. "No wonder your injuries haven't been healing! How could you be so foolish? Do you think Shuning will develop other feelings for you out of guilt? In her heart, you will always be her cousin!"

"Why can't it be?" Jiang Tianze's smile widened, tinged with a morbid stubbornness. "Haven't you, Mother, endured all these years precisely because of your guilt towards Father? This proves guilt is a powerful tool for controlling people's hearts. All I seek is for Eldest Sister to come see me every day."

Third Madam Jiang looked at her son's nearly deranged state, feeling both heartache and regret.

If she hadn't chosen this path of clinging to a shameful existence back then, would her son have ended up in such a state?

Late at night, when all was quiet, she stealthily slipped out of the Chancellor's estate. Using a specially crafted whistle, she blew a series of strange notes.

Moments later, a figure clad in black appeared before her like a ghost.

"I agree to continue developing poisons for you, but I have one condition," Third Madam Jiang said, her gaze burning as she stared at the black-clad figure, her tone resolute. "I want Jiang Tianci dead!"

The black-clad figure gave a slight nod, then leaped onto the roof and vanished into the vast night.

Third Madam Jiang returned to the West Courtyard. Gazing at the sleeping Jiang Tianze, tears silently streamed down her face.

"My son, all those years I endured humiliation by your father's side, it was for you. And now, taking this dangerous risk again, it is also for you."

Her son, who should have possessed a noble status, was now willing to harm himself just to receive a woman's pity, merely to obtain that meager bit of attention.

As a mother, how could her heart not ache?

Since he wished to become the Chancellor's estate's heir, then she would spare no effort to help him achieve his wish!

Even if the cost was great, she would not hesitate!

The night was deep. Chancellor Jiang had just finished reviewing the last official document and was about to blow out the lamp and retire.

Suddenly, a gust of sinister wind burst through the window, scattering the papers on his desk. An envelope, as if appearing out of thin air, landed on his desk.

Chancellor Jiang's heart jolted. He hurried to the window and leaned out to investigate.

Outside the window, aside from the thick, ink-like darkness of the night, there was nothing. Only the cold wind rustled.

Full of suspicion, he returned to the desk and picked up the envelope that had appeared so abruptly.

Inside was an IOU from a gambling den in Xuzhou. The date was from last year, and it bore Jiang Tianci’s signature, personal mark, and a bright red fingerprint.

Jiang Tianci really was a gambler after all!

Chancellor Jiang frowned slightly, staring intently at the IOU.

Who had delivered this letter at such a critical moment?

And what was their goal?