Chapter 91 Fate Has Other Plans

Chapter 91: A Fate Not Meant to End

Ning Xiang, having taken that blade for the emperor, lay on the sickbed for over half a month before finally managing to pull through.

Once her injuries had healed, the emperor, moved by her act of saving his life, overrode all opposition and insisted on making her a Consort.

The old ministers of the Censorate submitted memorials one after another, their words vehement: "Your Majesty, which of the consorts in the harem is not a daughter of a noble family? Beauty Su hails from the world of courtesans and pleasure houses. That she could enter the palace to serve Your Majesty is already immense fortune. How can she be placed on equal footing with those noble maidens from families with generations of official honors? We believe that bestowing upon her the rank of *Pin* is already a great reward!"

The emperor exploded in anger: "Ning Xiang risked her life to save mine. Is my life not worth the rank of Consort? In this harem, which consort or concubine has ever taken a blade for me? Which family, which consort, dares to question my decision?"

The ministers were left speechless by the emperor's retort and could only reluctantly accept his decision.

Soon, Ning Xiang was formally invested as Consort Xiang.

On the day of her investiture, Consort Xi flew into a rage in her own palace, smashing everything in sight to smithereens.

"A low-born prostitute is also fit to be a consort? Does His Majesty have any regard for this consort at all? Any regard for this consort's maternal clan?!"

The palace maids were terrified out of their wits, kneeling on the ground, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Her personal maid cautiously approached, softly trying to soothe her: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. Do not harm your own health over a wretched creature! This servant just received news that the Third Prince has achieved a great victory in suppressing the bandits and is now leading the army back victorious, already on the road returning to the capital! At that time, His Majesty will certainly reward the Third Prince for his merits. Your Highness, the day for you to hold your head high and regain the emperor's favor is about to arrive!"

Hearing this, Consort Xi's expression improved slightly.

"A mere prostitute, daring to dream of vying for favor with this consort? Utterly overreaching herself! This consort's son is the most outstanding among all the princes. One day, this consort will be the most honored woman in the harem. When that time comes, this consort will certainly not let that prostitute off lightly!"

In a palace corridor, Xiao Lingchuan encountered the newly promoted Consort Xiang, Ning Xiang, face to face.

Xiao Lingchuan bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Consort Xiang!"

"Fourth Prince, there is no need for such courtesy." Though Ning Xiang's words were polite, the gratitude in her eyes seemed about to overflow. "If not for Your Highness's guidance and assistance back then, how could this consort have achieved today's status? Your Highness is this consort's savior; I owe you a debt I can never repay."

"Your Highness is too modest. It is also because Your Highness is fated for such wealth and honor that you could seize the opportunity and rise step by step." A meaningful smile touched Xiao Lingchuan's lips. He took a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Ning Xiang without a change in expression, lowering his voice, "Next, I wish Your Highness the early birth of a noble son and boundless blessings!"

Ning Xiang took the bottle, tears welling in her eyes: "Thank you, Your Highness. This consort will never forget your great kindness and virtue!"

"By the way." A dark glint flashed in Xiao Lingchuan's *peach-blossom eyes*. "My third brother is about to return victorious. Does Your Highness know what should be done next?"

"Your Highness, rest assured. This consort will certainly not disappoint you."

Having said that, Ning Xiang did not linger further and headed straight for her new palace.

Now, she was Consort Xiang, personally invested by the emperor, with her own palace. She no longer had to squeeze together with those low-ranking women in the Palace of Gathered Elegance.

That knife wound was truly worth it.

—

Ever since Xiao Xiuzhan was ordered to go west to suppress the bandits, Jiang Shuning had been eagerly awaiting news of his death every day.

For the imperial family, this might be tragic news to lament, but for her, it was undoubtedly a cause for celebration, enough to relieve the hatred in her heart.

However, against all her hopes, what she awaited was the news of Xiao Xiuzhan's triumphant return.

On the day of his return to the capital, the common people of the capital lined the streets to welcome him, a sea of people, with gongs and drums clamoring, all regarding him as a triumphant hero, a meritorious official for suppressing the bandits.

Jiang Shuning hid among the crowd, her gaze fixed fiercely on the man riding a tall horse, accepting flowers and cheers from the people, hatred surging in her heart.

"In this lifetime, I've already given the 'A Meng' who took the blade for him to the Second Prince. How can he still come back alive?"

Where exactly did things go wrong?

She pondered endlessly but could not understand.

Could it be that someone as ruthless and vicious as Xiao Xiuzhan was simply not meant to die?

The ones who truly received tragic news were the Gu family.

It was said that on the day of the bandit suppression, Gu Yiting charged into the bandit lair without hesitation and was run through the chest by a bandit's sword, dying on the spot.

Hearing this news brought by Xiao Xiuzhan, Censor Gu was overcome with grief and fainted on the spot.

The emperor, moved by Gu Yiting's merits in suppressing the bandits, not only bestowed upon the Gu family a large amount of gold, silver, jewels, and land, but also established a shrine for him in Xiyu to honor his achievements.

However, no amount of rewards or empty fame could make up for the Gu family's pain of losing their beloved son.

Censor Gu fell gravely ill and did not rise from his bed, while Madam Gu wept all day long. The entire Gu residence was shrouded in an inescapable gloom and pain.

Gu Wanying, grief-stricken, arrived at the gates of the Chancellor's residence with a group of household servants, clamoring and weeping, demanding an explanation from Chancellor Jiang and Jiang Shuning.

Ling Wu hurried in to report: "Eldest Miss, it's terrible! Gu Wanying is outside the Chancellor's residence with a group of servants, making a noisy commotion, repeatedly saying that you caused her elder brother's death and that you must take responsibility for Master Gu's death!"

"Absurd! What does her brother's death have to do with me?" Jiang Shuning stood up. "Let's go and see!"

When Jiang Shuning arrived at the main gate of the Chancellor's residence, she saw Chancellor Jiang and Madam Jiang already standing at the entrance, their expressions anxious.

Outside the gate, a crowd had gathered. Besides Gu Wanying and the Gu family servants, there were also many onlookers who didn't know the truth, eager to watch the spectacle without caring about the trouble.

Just as Jiang Shuning was about to step forward to inquire, Gu Wanying, upon seeing her, immediately pointed at her and accused: "Jiang Shuning, it's all because of you! If not for you, my brother wouldn't have died!"

This baseless accusation left Jiang Shuning somewhat speechless.

"Miss Wan Ying, you can eat carelessly, but you cannot speak carelessly. Master Gu was killed by bandits; this is a fact known to all. What does it have to do with me?"

"My brother, a scholar like him, was utterly unsuited for suppressing bandits. It was the Fourth Prince who petitioned His Majesty, forcing him to go with the Third Prince!" Gu Wanying spoke through her tears. "If not because my brother wanted to seek your hand in marriage, he wouldn't have offended that Fourth Prince, wouldn't have been forced to go on the western campaign, and wouldn't have ended up dying in a foreign land!"

Jiang Shuning was both amused and exasperated by this bizarre logic.

"Miss Wan Ying, you are truly splitting hairs! First, how can you prove that Master Gu offended the Fourth Prince because he wanted to marry me? Second, Master Gu's western campaign to assist the Third Prince in suppressing bandits was by His Majesty's personal decree. I am merely the daughter of a minister; how could I possibly have the ability to influence an imperial decree? Finally, even if the western campaign to suppress bandits was fraught with danger, why would Master Gu, a frail scholar, charge into that bandit lair? Could it be that I forced him to do that too?"

This series of counter-questions left Gu Wanying momentarily tongue-tied.

Just then, a sudden, jarring voice rang out from the crowd:

"It's this Chancellor's legitimate eldest daughter! Her relationship with the Fourth Prince is unclear. My son was also killed by assassins hired by the Fourth Prince because he offended her! She's a jinx! Anyone who gets involved with her is bound to be harmed by the Fourth Prince!"

The speaker was none other than Jiang Shuning's second aunt, Second Madam Jiang.

Her face was contorted, her eyes venomous, looking as if she wanted to see Jiang Shuning dead.

Hearing this, the crowd of onlookers immediately began to murmur and discuss.

Someone shouted loudly: "Since the Fourth Prince cares so much about Miss Jiang, why doesn't Miss Jiang just marry him? Allowing him to act so lawlessly, treating human life as worthless, doesn't Miss Jiang feel even the slightest bit of guilt or unease?"

Once these words were spoken, others chimed in agreement.

"That's right, that's right. Wouldn't becoming the Consort of the Fourth Prince also bring glory to the family?"

Second Madam Jiang, fearing the world wasn't chaotic enough, fanned the flames from the side: "Everyone may not know, but this Chancellor's legitimate eldest daughter has lofty ambitions. She isn't satisfied with just being the Consort of the Fourth Prince. She enjoys having men infatuated with her, driven mad for her! This young master of the Gu family was probably just one of the men she played with in the palm of her hand. It's just a pity that his sincere affection was misplaced, ultimately leading to the tragic end of dying in a foreign land. Truly pitiable and lamentable!"

Chancellor Jiang immediately flew into a rage: "Enough of your nonsense here, sister-in-law! Guards, drive these people out! If they cause trouble again, send them all to the authorities!"

"Yes, sir!" The guards stepped forward, pushing Gu Wanying and her servants, along with Second Madam Jiang and the onlooking crowd, outside the chancellor's estate gates.

After the gates were shut, Madam Jiang was on the verge of tears: "Ning hasn't even been betrothed yet, and she's already being slandered like this. What will become of her in the future?"

Jiang Yaozhen wore a look of schadenfreude: "It's no wonder people are gossiping about Sister. Master Gu had just come to discuss marriage with her, and then the tragic news arrived. If this spreads, those who don't know the truth might say Sister is cursed to bring death to her husband!"

Chancellor Jiang roared: "Zhen! Do you think today's events aren't bad enough already? Guards, escort the Second Young Miss back to her courtyard. Without my permission, she is not to take a single step outside!"

Resentful, Jiang Yaozhen stormed off, but not before hurling a venomous glare at Jiang Shuning.

Jiang Shuning completely ignored Jiang Yaozhen's look and turned to Chancellor Jiang: "Father, this matter started because of me. I promise I'll clear this up for you and the Jiang family! I'm going to the palace now to seek clarity from the Fourth Prince!"

"Ning, your father is heartbroken that you're being smeared with dirt and fears you'll suffer injustice. Rumors about your relationship with the Fourth Prince are spreading everywhere, and they sound utterly vile. It's best you don't enter the palace to see him again, lest you invite more trouble."

"No, I must see him," Jiang Shuning said with unwavering resolve. "Because only he holds the answers to some questions."