Chapter 78 Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Chapter 78: Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Ling Wu stepped into Jiang Shuning's room. "Young Miss, you called for me? What can I do for you?"

Jiang Shuning took out a pair of exquisitely crafted deerskin gloves from her dressing case and handed them to Ling Wu. "I received the sleeve crossbow you gave me last time, and I've felt bad about not returning the favor until now. I made these deerskin gloves myself. They are exceptionally warm in winter, so please accept them as a token of my gratitude."

"Young Miss, this is too generous. I really can't accept such a valuable gift," Ling Wu hurriedly declined.

"Was that sleeve crossbow cheap?" Jiang Shuning chided gently. "Just take them! I made them specifically to fit your hands. Try them on and see if they fit properly."

Ling Wu finally took the gloves and put them on.

The soft deerskin conformed to her palms, warm and comfortable. She was instantly taken with them and said gratefully, "Thank you, Young Miss!"

That sleeve crossbow was actually crafted by the Fourth Prince himself for the Young Miss, merely presented in her name.

Now, because of it, she had received a pair of precious deerskin gloves. She couldn't help but feel secretly grateful to the Fourth Prince.

Jiang Shuning hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice to say, "About me going to the palace today, you must not tell anyone, especially Father."

If Chancellor Jiang discovered that the person who ordered Minister Zhang to administer the poison was within the palace, he would likely resign and return to his hometown again.

She hadn't yet avenged her elder brother; how could she easily leave the capital?

Even if this path of revenge was paved with thorns, she would personally slay her enemies, using their blood to avenge her brother's spirit in heaven!

Ling Wu recalled the faint trace of blood at the corner of Jiang Shuning's lips when she emerged from the palace. She quickly nodded solemnly in response. "Young Miss, rest assured. I will be absolutely tight-lipped and will not reveal even half a word to anyone!"

Jiang Shuning let out a relieved sigh and stood up. "Let's go, let's go see those two little rabbits."

The young lady and her maid arrived at the backyard, only to find Jiang Tianze standing nervously beside the bamboo cage, holding a half-eaten carrot in his hand, his eyes filled with helplessness and remorse.

"Third Brother, you're here too?" Jiang Shuning said with a smile.

"Elder Sister..." Jiang Tianze looked up, his eyes rimmed red, on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault... I didn't know how to feed the little rabbits properly, and accidentally... I choked them to death!"

Hearing this, both Jiang Shuning and Ling Wu were startled.

Ling Wu hurriedly opened the bamboo cage. Inside, the two rabbits lay motionless, already lifeless.

A complicated feeling washed over her.

Just as Jiang Shuning was about to step forward to examine them, Jiang Tianze suddenly grabbed her sleeve, his face full of guilt, his voice choked with sobs. "Elder Sister, it's all my fault! I killed your beloved rabbits. How about... you hit me a few times to vent your anger!"

With that, he took Jiang Shuning's hand and forcefully struck his own chest.

Seeing Jiang Tianze's reddened eyes and his deeply remorseful appearance, Jiang Shuning's heart softened. She sighed and said, "Alright, they're just two little rabbits. Don't blame yourself too much."

"Elder Sister doesn't blame me?" Jiang Tianze looked up and asked cautiously.

"This is my first time raising rabbits too. I had no idea they could choke to death. It seems these two rabbits and I were simply not fated to be together." Though feeling regretful, Jiang Shuning still comforted him.

"But I still feel very guilty inside. How about this: I'll compensate you with two other pets, so my heart can feel a little better." Jiang Tianze persisted.

Seeing him so insistent, Jiang Shuning nodded. "Alright then, as you wish."

She turned and instructed Ling Wu beside her, "Bury these two little rabbits in the backyard. They are pitiful creatures."

Xia Chan, standing nearby, suddenly interjected, "Young Miss, Sister Lingwu, how about we skin the rabbits and roast them! I've heard rabbit meat is delicious!"

"No!" Jiang Shuning and Ling Wu refused in unison.

Jiang Shuning said, "These two aren't meat rabbits; even roasted, they wouldn't taste good! Ling Wu, just do as I said and bury them!"

If Xiao Huaijin ever asked about the whereabouts of these two rabbits one day, and she said they were roasted and eaten, he would surely think her a monster.

"Yes, Young Miss!" Ling Wu withdrew, carrying the bamboo cage with the two dead rabbits.

She went to the backyard and, seeing no one around, secretly hid the bamboo cage.

As night fell, Ling Feng arrived at the rooftop of the ministerial residence as usual to meet with Ling Wu.

Ling Wu lifted the bamboo cage to show him.

Seeing the dead rabbits inside, Ling Feng smiled and said, "The rabbits are taken care of? I was worried you wouldn't be able to bring yourself to do it!"

"It wasn't me. It was the Third Young Master Jiang," Ling Wu explained.

"Oh? Isn't that even better? Saves you the trouble of racking your brains to fabricate an excuse to deceive your Young Miss."

"It's not that simple," Ling Wu's expression turned somewhat grave. "The Third Young Master said he accidentally choked them to death, but I had already fed them. They weren't hungry, so how could they have choked from eating too fast? Later, I discovered..."

Ling Wu took out a slender silver needle from her sleeve, inserted it into one of the rabbit corpses, and pulled it out. The tip of the needle had turned black.

"These rabbits were poisoned?!" Ling Feng was also greatly surprised. "This Third Young Master Jiang actually knows how to use poison? Could it be he's long known about his mother Nanyue Poison Master's identity?"

"Ling Feng, haven't you realized the key issue here?" Ling Wu looked at Ling Feng, her expression serious. "Why would the Third Young Master Jiang poison two rabbits for no reason?"

Ling Feng didn't think much of it. "What's so strange about that? Perhaps he's just mischievous by nature? He has a mother proficient in poison-making; influenced by her, he naturally enjoys using poison to toy with small animals. Maybe he was just helping his mother test a newly developed poison!"

Although Ling Wu felt Ling Feng's explanation was plausible, she still felt something was off, yet couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

"Perhaps... it really is as you say, he's just mischievous by nature..."

Ling Feng patted Ling Wu's shoulder and said, "You handled today's matter well! I'll take these two poisoned dead rabbits back for His Highness to see. You must also be extra careful yourself. Be sure to guard against Nanyue Poison Master and the Third Young Master Jiang!"

With that, he lightly tapped his toes, his figure shooting into the night sky like an arrow, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

The next day, as dawn broke, Jiang Tianze arrived early outside the Cuizhu Courtyard and knocked on the gate.

"Young Miss, the Third Young Master is waiting outside. He says he wants to accompany you to the market to choose pets," Xia Chan walked into Jiang Shuning's room, yawning as she spoke.

Ling Wu's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "It's just buying two pets. Is it necessary to get up this early? Young Miss stayed up late reading by candlelight last night; you must be quite tired. How about I decline the Third Young Master's invitation on your behalf, so you can sleep a little longer?"

Jiang Shuning gently rubbed her sleepy eyes. "No need. Third Brother's kind intentions shouldn't be disregarded. Moreover, yesterday's incident with Miss Zhang's poisoning must have left him feeling depressed and unsettled. Accompanying him to the market today for a stroll might help lift his spirits."

Ling Wu thought to herself, that Miss Zhang truly overestimated herself, daring to poison this wolf cub. Wasn't she afraid of being killed by him instead?

After Ling Wu helped Jiang Shuning wash up and dress, the mistress and servant finally walked out of the room.

Jiang Tianze had long been waiting outside the door, his smile warm and gentle, like the spring sunshine of March.

Ling Wu found it very difficult to connect the seemingly harmless youth before her with the person who had mercilessly poisoned a pair of rabbits the day before.

Indeed, appearances can be deceiving!

She couldn't help but mutter, "The Third Young Master came too early, didn't he? Could the pets at the market grow legs and run away? Going later would still allow us to buy them!"

Jiang Tianze smiled and retorted, "Miss Lingwu, you are mistaken! The market is naturally better the earlier you go. If you go late, those pets of superior quality will have already been picked by others! Elder Sister, don't you agree?" Jiang Shuning smiled gently and concurred, "I also want to see what interesting things the morning market has to offer. Let's hurry and set off!"

So, the three of them boarded a carriage together and headed toward the most lively and prosperous East Market in the capital.

The East Market was every bit as lively as its reputation suggested.

There was a dazzling array of goods on display, from silks and satins to fruits and vegetables, from cosmetics and powders to pots and pans—truly a feast for the eyes.

Moreover, not only were the goods here diverse in variety, but their prices were also a better deal than in regular shops, which explained why it was so attractive.

Jiang Shuning darted excitedly between stalls, buying fancy pastries one moment, selecting the latest cosmetics the next, and then becoming captivated by the dazzling array of jewelry.

Unconsciously, she was already holding a pile of things and regretted not bringing more servants to help.

"If I had known the East Market had such an abundance of goods, I should have come here with Mother last time to do our New Year's shopping!" she sighed with a hint of regret.

Seeing how much she enjoyed browsing the market, Jiang Tianze smiled and said, "If Big Sister feels it's not enough, tomorrow we can bring more servants and go on a real shopping spree."

He knew that no woman could resist the joy of shopping at a market, and his elder sister was no exception.

As the three of them grew somewhat tired, they found a clean roadside stall, ordered three bowls of steaming hot noodle soup, and took a short rest.

Just then, a cart slowly passed in front of them.

On the cart stood several men, their hands bound with coarse hemp ropes. In the harsh winter, they wore only thin trousers, their muscular torsos bare and shivering.

Jiang Shuning knew these were slaves being publicly sold.

When her gaze swept over one of the men, she jolted as if struck by lightning and abruptly stood up.

"Big Sister, what's wrong? Is something amiss?" Jiang Tianze quickly asked.

Jiang Shuning pointed to the most robust and muscular man on the cart and said urgently, "I want to buy him!"