Chapter 71 Inexplicable Panic

Chapter 71: Unspeakable Panic

Jiang Yaozhen hurriedly covered her face, flustered as she explained, "Your Highness, I merely ate some rich food and developed a rash on my face..."

"A rash?" Xiao Xiuzhan eyed her with deep suspicion. "I hope that's all it is! You have one month. If your face remains like this after a month, I will request an imperial decree from His Majesty to break off our engagement!"

"No! Please don't!" Jiang Yaozhen cried out in alarm. "Your Highness, I am already promised to you. If you break off the engagement, how will I ever marry anyone else?!"

"Should I marry a hideous woman?" Xiao Xiuzhan scowled in disgust. "Apart from this face of yours, what else do you have that surpasses other noble young ladies? Even if His Majesty wishes to save face for the Jiang family, he cannot possibly force me to marry a monster!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left, not even willing to spare her another glance.

Watching his resolute retreating figure, a wave of despair washed over Jiang Yaozhen.

Ever since using that box of Beiling face powder, her face had turned into this monstrous state.

If the blemishes on her face still hadn't subsided after a month, what should she do?

This marriage alliance was something she had worked so hard to obtain. If the engagement were broken off, and she was no longer pure, forget the imperial family, even ordinary families probably wouldn't be willing to marry her!

Who could help her?

A name flashed through her mind—Xiao Lingchuan!

Since he could cure the Nanyue poison, he must have an expert in antidotes behind him.

He must have a way to counteract the poison in the Beiling face powder!

However, Xiao Lingchuan definitely wouldn't help her easily; he probably wouldn't even agree to see her.

Jiang Yaozhen put her veil back on, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes.

It seemed she had no choice but to go all in and use that method!

Jiang Yaozhen hurriedly walked towards the side hall outside the Plum Garden.

On the way, she encountered a man coming towards her. Upon seeing her, he called out joyfully, "Second Miss Jiang!"

Jiang Yaozhen looked up, meeting the refined and handsome face of Censor Gu's son, Gu Yiting.

"Master Gu." Jiang Yaozhen gave a slight nod.

"I never imagined Second Miss Jiang is not only peerlessly beautiful but also possesses such extraordinary dancing skills. I was watching your blessing dance from below earlier, and I was utterly captivated. I have never seen a woman perform the blessing dance so brilliantly!" Gu Yiting praised sincerely.

Remembering how his sister, Gu Wanying, had mocked her at the banquet earlier, Jiang Yaozhen couldn't help but sneer coldly. "Earlier, His Majesty's new favorite, the beauty Ning Xiang, also performed the blessing dance. Doesn't Master Gu think it's improper for me, a noble lady, to dance the same dance as a famous courtesan?"

"How can a woman who trades on her looks be mentioned in the same breath as Second Miss Jiang?" Gu Yiting hastily replied. "Second Miss Jiang's dance is graceful and captivating, while that Ning Xiang is merely clinging to imperial favor and putting on a show. She is utterly unworthy of being compared to you!"

Jiang Yaozhen was well accustomed to the adoring gazes of men.

This Gu Yiting clearly was infatuated with her.

She might as well use him to her advantage; perhaps he would be useful in the future.

"Thank you for your kind words, Master Gu. However, that Ning Xiang is now His Majesty's beauty. If your words were to reach others' ears, it might bring trouble."

Gu Yiting said firmly, "Every word I spoke came from the bottom of my heart. Even if His Majesty were to punish me, I would never take them back!"

Jiang Yaozhen gave a charming smile. "Master Gu indeed possesses some of Censor Gu's moral fortitude. Truly, like father, like son!"

Pleased by her praise, Gu Yiting felt overjoyed.

"You flatter me, Second Miss Jiang."

"Master Gu, I have matters to attend to and must take my leave."

Unwilling to waste more time on him, Jiang Yaozhen had more important things to deal with.

Gu Yiting watched her leave. Seeing her heading towards the side hall, he couldn't help but glance up at the sky.

It was getting late; the evening banquet was about to begin. Where was Second Miss Jiang going?

As if possessed, he followed her.

Inside the side hall, Xiao Lingchuan sat quietly at a table, sipping tea.

Silver-bone charcoal burned in the hall, making it as warm as spring; the fragrance of eaglewood incense wafted through the air—precisely the scent Jiang Shuning loved.

A knock sounded at the door. Xiao Lingchuan spoke up. "Enter."

When he saw the visitor was Jiang Yaozhen, dressed in red, his expression instantly darkened. "What are you doing here?"

The note he received clearly bore Jiang Shuning's handwriting!

Jiang Yaozhen's gaze fell on the note crumpled in his hand, then quickly withdrew. She said softly, "Fourth Prince, it was I who asked to meet you here. I was afraid Your Highness wouldn't be willing to see me, so I dared to imitate my elder sister's handwriting."

A surge of jealousy and resentment filled her heart. So, simply using Jiang Shuning's name could so easily get Xiao Lingchuan to come.

In what way was she inferior to Jiang Shuning?

"You have quite the audacity, daring to impersonate her to trick me into coming!" Xiao Lingchuan crushed the note in his hand into pieces. "You'd better disappear from my sight right now. Otherwise, bear the consequences!"

"Your Highness!" Jiang Yaozhen fell to her knees with a thud before him, tears streaming down her face. "I truly have nowhere else to turn, which is why I dared to come seek Your Highness's help. My elder sister was jealous of my beauty. She poisoned the Beiling face powder and then gifted it to me, causing my face to become festering like this."

As she spoke, she lifted a corner of her veil, revealing the shocking, festering sores on her face.

"Jealous of your beauty, poisoning you?" Xiao Lingchuan scoffed. "Jiang Yaozhen, do you think all women in the world are as scheming and vicious as you?"

"Whether Your Highness believes me or not, I only beg you, for the sake of my mother who once served you, to grant me the antidote so my face can recover quickly. I would be eternally grateful!"

"What use do I have for your gratitude?" Xiao Lingchuan's handsome face was covered in frost. "To me, you are merely a pawn to control your mother. Don't overestimate your importance. I can let this slide. But if there is a next time, if you dare to play tricks on me using her name again, you'll regret it!"

With that, he stood up to leave.

Seeing that her pleas were useless, Jiang Yaozhen stood up with a gloomy expression. Addressing Xiao Lingchuan's retreating back, she said, "Your Highness truly refuses to help? I know a renowned Poison Master. The poisons she develops have no known antidote. If I were to use the new poison she developed against my elder sister, does Your Highness think she would survive?"

Xiao Lingchuan's expression changed drastically. He whirled around, grabbing Jiang Yaozhen's wrist. His peach-blossom eyes flashed with fury. "How dare you!"

Suppressing the fear in her heart, Jiang Yaozhen met his ruthless gaze. "What else do I have to fear, looking like this now? My elder sister and I live under the same roof; I have plenty of opportunities to poison her! Moreover, this poison is colorless and odorless. Even if she dies, the Dali Temple wouldn't be able to determine she died from poisoning!"

An unspeakable panic surged in Xiao Lingchuan's heart.

That Nanyue Poison Master was currently at the Prime Minister's residence. If she colluded with Jiang Yaozhen, harming Jiang Shuning would be as easy as pie.

In his past life, he had already lost her once. In this life, he absolutely could not let such a tragedy repeat itself!

At this moment, Gu Yiting, who had arrived outside the window, happened to witness this scene—Xiao Lingchuan tightly gripping Jiang Yaozhen's wrist, his expression aggressive, as if threatening her.

A man and a woman alone in a room, with incense and silver-bone charcoal burning... Could it be that the Fourth Prince had feelings for Second Miss Jiang?

This wouldn't do!

Second Miss Jiang was already engaged to the Third Prince. The Fourth Prince's actions would ruin her reputation!

Gu Yiting wanted to push the door open and enter, but then he remembered the Fourth Prince's frosty demeanor and couldn't help feeling a bit timid.

Forget it. Better to find someone else to stop him!