Chapter 51 She Hated Him This Much!

Chapter 51: She Hates Him That Much!

When he heard Jiang Shuning had come to the palace, Xiao Lingchuan struggled up from his sickbed and called for an attendant to help him dress.

The sapphire-blue brocade robe accentuated his snow-white skin and features as fine as a painting.

Seeing this, the Seventh Prince couldn't help but tease, "Fourth Brother, dressing up so meticulously... is it for sister-in-law? You haven't fully recovered yet, so you should rest in bed. Perhaps if sister-in-law sees you like this, she'll take pity on you and visit more often in the future."

Xiao Lingchuan shot him a sidelong glance. "Mind your own business."

In a past life, he had once asked Jiang Shuning what she saw in him.

She had shyly whispered, "Your Highness saved my life, and you are so extraordinarily handsome. Naturally, I am devoted to you."

At the time, he had been quite dissatisfied with that answer.

If someone else had saved her that day, would she have also pledged herself and married another?

As for her claim of being captivated by his appearance, it had bothered him even more.

How shallow!

But now, he only hoped that his striking looks might make her glance at him one more time—just one glance would be enough.

Jiang Shuning stormed into Jinghe Palace and, before Xiao Lingchuan could speak, demanded coldly, "Fourth Prince, did you kill Jiang Tianci?"

Xiao Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised. "Jiang Tianci's dead?"

"He's dead! He died in a secluded alley, killed cleanly with a single sword stroke to the throat. The killer was undoubtedly a highly trained assassin. An ordinary family couldn't afford such an expert!"

Xiao Lingchuan's face darkened abruptly. "You suspect me? Jiang Shuning, why would I kill him?"

Jiang Shuning took a step closer, her eyes filled with mockery. "Why pretend you don't know, Your Highness? You deliberately handed evidence to the Third Prince, didn't you? Wasn't it to make all the princes think I'm a vicious, scheming woman? Now you've killed Jiang Tianci—isn't it for the same purpose?"

The Seventh Prince, who was standing by, was terrified.

Heavens, this future sister-in-law is so sharp! Nothing escapes her!

This is terrible!

"Sister-in-law, it's not like that. Fourth Brother truly has his reasons for doing it..."

Xiao Lingchuan suddenly interrupted coldly, his expression grim. "Seventh Brother, leave us. I need to speak with Miss Jiang alone."

The Seventh Prince had no choice but to leave, albeit reluctantly.

It seems finding a woman who is too clever isn't necessarily a blessing. Having all one's thoughts seen through at a glance is utterly mortifying!

After the Seventh Prince left, only the two of them remained in the warm chamber.

In her eyes, Xiao Lingchuan saw anger and accusation.

Once, those watery eyes of hers had looked at him with nothing but love and tenderness.

When did it start to change?

"I didn't kill Jiang Tianci." He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart. "I admit I set the trap for him. I deliberately left flaws so the Third Prince could use them to accuse me before Father. You are right. I don't want you to marry anyone, especially not Fifth Brother."

The way she looked at Xiao Huaijin was clearly filled with admiration and infatuation—a gaze that once, unmistakably, had been reserved for him.

He had once been loved so deeply by her. Knowing her virtues better than anyone, how could he possibly bear to watch her marry another?

"I've already promised you I won't marry the Fifth Prince..."

"What is a promise worth? Feelings can change in an instant." His eyes darkened, a trace of bitterness in his tone. "Even if you say you won't marry him now, what if one day you develop feelings for him? Can you control your own heart?"

Jiang Shuning was momentarily speechless.

If she had such an ability, how could she have been so utterly wounded by him in her previous life?

She gritted her teeth resentfully. "So you deliberately tarnished my reputation to make all the princes avoid me? Fourth Prince, how despicable!"

Xiao Lingchuan lowered his gaze. "Did you come to the palace just to confront me? I've said it before. If you wish to enter the royal family, I can..."

"No need!" Jiang Shuning sneered, her tone resolute. "Even if I remain unmarried for life, I will never marry you!"

Otherwise, wouldn't all the suffering from her previous life have been in vain?

Xiao Lingchuan saw that determination on her delicate face.

His fists clenched tightly within his sleeves, knuckles turning white.

She actually hates him this much!

Indeed, in their previous life, to leave him, she had resorted to drinking poison, choosing the most absolute way to depart.

A piercing pain spread from his chest. Xiao Lingchuan clutched his chest, and a mouthful of dark blood gushed forth, staining his luxurious brocade robe.

Jiang Shuning was startled by this sudden turn of events and instinctively reached out to support him. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

"Help me... to the bed." Xiao Lingchuan's voice carried a hint of weakness, yet his tone was somewhat forceful.

Jiang Shuning hesitated for a moment, about to call for someone, when he grabbed her slender shoulder and almost forcibly led her to the bedside.

He leaned against the edge of the bed, sitting down with difficulty, and began to unfasten the buttons of his sapphire-blue brocade robe.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuning instinctively wanted to step back, but his low call stopped her. "Come here. Help me apply the medicine."

"Doesn't Your Highness have attendants to serve you?" Her tone was cold, but her feet involuntarily stopped. The faint scent of blood in the air made her heart tighten.

"I have attendants, but I want you to do it." Xiao Lingchuan lifted his eyelids, his gaze profound. "After all, these injuries... are because of you."

"Who told you to..." Jiang Shuning turned her head angrily to glare at him, but when her eyes fell upon the shocking wounds on his back, all words caught in her throat.

The bandages on his back were soaked with blood. Where the gauze had come loose, the wounds looked festering and rotten—even worse than Jiang Tianze's injuries.

"What are you waiting for?" Xiao Lingchuan weakly raised his eyes, a hint of self-mockery in his tone. "Will you only lend a hand after I've bled to death?"

Jiang Shuning bit her lip, picked up the ointment by the bedside, and sat down beside him.

She gently removed the blood-stained bandages and carefully applied the medicine for him, a trace of barely perceptible concern in her voice. "Since you're injured so severely, why aren't you resting in bed?"

And dressing so splendidly to see her—anyone unaware would think he was showing off and being stubborn.

Xiao Lingchuan did not answer, merely closing his eyes quietly.

He already had an old ailment in his chest. After being punished a few days ago, his body was at its limit. Provoked by her, he had started vomiting blood uncontrollably.

Now, he was relying solely on sheer willpower to keep himself from collapsing.

But... he also knew he couldn't last much longer.

Jiang Shuning wiped the residual ointment from his back and applied fresh bandages.

Xiao Lingchuan maintained his initial sitting posture the entire time, motionless.

It was only then she noticed something was wrong—his eyes were tightly shut, his face was deathly pale, and his breathing was so faint she could barely hear it.

Oh no! He had fainted!

In alarm, Jiang Shuning shot to her feet, hurried toward the door, and shouted for the Seventh Prince.

Hearing the commotion, the Seventh Prince rushed over and was just as alarmed at the sight. He immediately summoned the imperial physician.

After taking the pulse, the imperial physician's expression turned grave. "His Highness the Fourth Prince was already suffering from depleted qi and blood due to his punishment. Coupled with the fit of rage that just came over him, causing his qi and blood to churn violently, that's what made him faint."

Upon hearing this, a chill ran through Jiang Shuning.

In her previous life, she had deeply loved Xiao Lingchuan, speaking to him softly and gently, never shouting at him like she had today.

She never knew he was so unable to withstand anger.

Which of her words had made him so furious?

The Seventh Prince looked at Xiao Lingchuan lying pale on the bed, then glanced at Jiang Shuning, and couldn't help but try to comfort her. "Sister-in-law, I know you're still angry with Fourth Brother. What he did this time was truly out of desperation... I know he damaged your reputation, and his methods were indeed somewhat despicable. But it's also because he has feelings for you and wants to make you his own. That's only human nature..."

Jiang Shuning's brows furrowed deeper, feeling more and more uneasy as she listened.

"Did the Fourth Prince tell you all this himself?"

The Seventh Prince nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely true!"

Although Xiao Lingchuan hadn't explicitly said it, it was pretty much the case.

Jiang Shuning looked at the Seventh Prince, her gaze tinged with pity. "Your Highness the Seventh Prince, you are still too young."

That's why he was so easily deceived by Xiao Lingchuan's sweet talk.

A man like him, whose eyes see only power and profit, how could he genuinely care for anyone?

It was merely using the pretense of "having feelings" to carry out his despicable and shameless deeds.

The Seventh Prince was utterly confused. "Sister-in-law, aren't we the same age?"