Chapter 59 Sweetness to the Core

Chapter 59: Sweet to the Core

Jiang Shuning pulled aside the carriage curtain and stepped down with Ling Wu's assistance.

She had just reached the imposing palace gates, before she could even produce her gold token, when two guards saluted and said, "We greet Miss Jiang!"

Jiang Shuning's cheeks instantly flushed pink.

The guards at the palace gates were frequently rotated, yet now they could recognize her at a glance. It showed just how often she had been entering the palace of late.

Since her rebirth, she had visited the palace more times than in her entire previous life.

No wonder Jiang Yaozhen would always sneer and mock her whenever she returned from the palace.

If she had lived until Xiao Lingchuan ascended the throne in her past life, perhaps she could have lived within these resplendent, gilded halls...

She was startled by this sudden thought that popped into her head.

What madness. In her past life, Xiao Lingchuan had wanted nothing more than for her to make way for Jiang Yaozhen. If he had become emperor, how could he possibly have treated her well?

She probably would have spent the rest of her days in the Cold Palace.

Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a strange sense of gratitude that she had been poisoned early in her previous life.

Otherwise, having to watch him and Jiang Yaozhen being inseparable every day would have been utterly agonizing.

Soon, Jiang Shuning arrived at the Palace of Fortune and Prosperity carrying the food box.

Rumor had it this magnificent palace was specially built by the Emperor for Consort Rong.

During the reign of the previous emperor, the Great Ye dynasty encountered a once-in-a-century plague. Countless commoners perished, and the land was filled with lamentation.

It was Consort Rong's father who, rallying the entire clan's resources, donated a vast quantity of precious medicinal herbs. This ultimately enabled Great Ye to overcome the plague and turn the tide.

At that time, the present emperor, then still the Crown Prince. The previous emperor, grateful for the Cui family's kindness, had intended to bestow upon Consort Rong the title of Crown Princess, but her father politely declined.

Her father stated that although the Cui family was immensely wealthy, they were ultimately a merchant household. A daughter from a merchant family might find it difficult to uphold the dignity of the Crown Princess.

This attitude of neither contending nor grasping, knowing when to advance and retreat, earned the deep admiration of both the previous emperor and the then Crown Prince.

Later, as the kingdom grew increasingly prosperous, after the Emperor ascended the throne, mindful of the Cui family's past contributions, he specifically commissioned the construction of this splendid Palace of Fortune and Prosperity within the palace. He also used the rarest treasures from across Daye to decorate it as a demonstration of his favor.

Within the inner palace, Consort Rong never vied for favor or stirred up jealousy. On the contrary, she often used precious jewels and accessories to cultivate goodwill among other consorts. Therefore, even though she enjoyed favor, she never provoked jealousy.

Jiang Shuning greatly admired Consort Rong.

She appeared not to contend or grasp, yet in reality, she was smooth and tactful in her dealings, perceptive and clear-headed, never coveting things that did not rightfully belong to her. This wisdom and broad-mindedness were truly admirable.

If she had possessed even half of Consort Rong's perceptiveness and wisdom in her past life, she would not have been so infatuated with a man like Xiao Lingchuan who did not belong to her, ultimately meeting a tragic end of fading beauty and a lonely demise.

Jiang Shuning was led by a palace attendant to the front hall, where Consort Rong and the Fifth Prince, Xiao Huaijin, had been waiting for some time.

Seeing her arrival, Xiao Huaijin immediately stood up, his clear eyes filled with delight.

"I pay my respects to the Imperial Consort and His Highness the Fifth Prince!" Jiang Shuning performed a graceful curtsy.

"Miss Jiang, there is no need for such formality." Consort Rong glanced at her son beside her, a smile playing on her lips. "Rong Hua is playing in the rear garden. Let Jin'er take you there."

"Yes, Your Ladyship." Jiang Shuning rose, just in time to meet Xiao Huaijin's slightly flushed face.

She knew that the young man before her was deeply fond of her.

She felt regret for her past self.

If only the person she had chosen in her past life had been him.

Then she wouldn't have wasted ten years, ultimately meeting such a desolate end.

Jiang Shuning and Xiao Huaijin walked side by side, passing through the long palace corridors towards the rear garden.

"Miss Jiang, I am very happy you could come," Xiao Huaijin spoke up first, a note of barely suppressed excitement in his voice.

Jiang Shuning smiled gently.

The youth's affection was like the wind in midsummer—blazing and sincere, utterly unconcealed.

"During the last Moon God Festival, I promised Your Highness I would make another box of pastries." Jiang Shuning handed him the exquisite food box she was holding. "I hope you like it."

"Thank you, Miss Jiang." Xiao Huaijin took the food box, his eyes full of anticipation. "Can I try one?"

"Of course." She shook the other food box in her hand. "I prepared two boxes. One is for Your Highness, the other is for Princess Ronghua."

Xiao Huaijin eagerly opened the food box, picked up an almond cake, and placed it in his mouth. He savored it carefully, a look of delight spreading across his face. "This is exactly the taste! Only Miss Jiang can make such delicious almond cakes!"

Seeing how much he liked them, Jiang Shuning also felt very happy and blurted out, "If Your Highness likes them, I will in the future..."

"In the future, what?" Xiao Huaijin's eyes lit up as he pressed for an answer.

Jiang Shuning was filled with regret, nearly biting her tongue.

This time, making the almond cheese cakes for Xiao Huaijin was already done secretly, behind Xiao Lingchuan's back.

If he found out, who knows what madness would possess him.

But looking into Xiao Huaijin's expectant eyes, she couldn't bear to disappoint him.

"In the future... when I have time, I will make some more for Your Highness," Jiang Shuning said with a hint of shyness.

Hearing this promise, the smile on Xiao Huaijin's face deepened.

He picked up an almond cake and gently offered it to Jiang Shuning's lips. "Miss Jiang, you should try one too."

Jiang Shuning initially intended to take it with her hand, but his fingers holding the almond cake did not let go.

Helpless, she could only lower her head and take a small bite from the almond cake in his hand.

Unexpectedly, he then placed the remaining piece of the almond cake into his own mouth right in front of her, savoring it slowly.

Jiang Shuning's cheeks instantly turned crimson.

Having lived two lifetimes, she had never been teased by a man like this before. Her heart fluttered like a startled deer.

That small piece of almond cake she had just tasted was simply sweet to the core.

Princess Ronghua and her female official stood not far away, secretly watching this scene.

"Teacher, am I about to have a sister-in-law?" Princess Ronghua asked playfully.

The female official covered her mouth with a light laugh. "In my opinion, it's practically a certainty."

They smiled at each other, completely unaware that another pair of eyes was watching from the shadows.

In Jinghe Palace, Ling Feng came hurrying in and reported, "Your Highness, Miss Jiang is in the palace. She is currently at Fulu Palace, partaking of almond cakes with the Fifth Prince..."

*Crash!* The teacup in Xiao Lingchuan's hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

"She promised me she would no longer have any contact with Fifth Brother!" he gritted his teeth, his peach blossom eyes blazing with jealousy.

Seeing this, Ling Feng quickly explained, "Your Highness, actually, Miss Jiang went to teach Princess Ronghua archery. Yesterday, I saw with my own eyes how the princess wheedled and begged Miss Jiang to teach her. Miss Jiang had no choice but to agree. As for the almond cakes... they were also something Princess Ronghua specially begged her to make!"

Xiao Lingchuan recalled that in his previous life, Jiang Shuning seemed to have a particular fondness for children.

Whenever she attended banquets, if there were children present, her eyes would always stray toward them, revealing a gentle expression.

Given her love for children, it was no wonder she was easily swayed by Princess Ronghua's childish pleading.

"Xiao Huaijin is utterly shameless! How dare he use my younger sister and resort to such underhanded tactics!"

Ling Feng promptly chimed in, "Exactly! The Fifth Prince's behavior is truly unbecoming. Your Highness, you are much more honorable..."

"Since he uses my sister to cling to Miss Jiang, I'll have Black Panther cling to her instead!" Xiao Lingchuan called for Black Panther and gently stroked its head. "Go to Fulu Palace. Once you see Miss Jiang, stick to her side and don't leave until I arrive!"

As if understanding his command, Black Panther leaped up, nimbly jumped out the window, and dashed toward Fulu Palace.

Xiao Lingchuan turned to Ling Feng and ordered, "Come, accompany me to Fulu Palace. I want to see how Jiang Shuning explains her actions today!"

Ling Feng: "..."

Your Highness, your approach isn't exactly honorable either!

Jiang Shuning was teaching Princess Ronghua archery in the back garden when a black cat suddenly leaped down from the roof and landed steadily in her arms.

"Black Panther? What are you doing here?" Jiang Shuning cried out in delighted surprise.

The sudden appearance of the black cat startled Princess Ronghua and the female official beside her.

Especially Princess Ronghua, who, upon seeing Black Panther's emerald-green, glass-like eyes, turned pale with fright and retreated repeatedly, crying out, "A cat... a cat..."

Seeing this, the female official quickly stepped forward, shielding Princess Ronghua, and anxiously said to Jiang Shuning, "Miss Jiang, Her Highness is afraid of cats. Please, quickly get rid of it!"

No sooner had she spoken than several palace servants rushed out of Fulu Palace, their faces filled with terror as they stared at Black Panther, shouting, "There's a cat! Quick, kill it!"

This sudden turn of events took Jiang Shuning aback.

She tightly held Black Panther and sternly shouted, "Stop! Don't harm it!"