Chapter 92 Finding Excuses to Take Advantage of Her!

Chapter 92: Always Finding New Ways to Take Advantage of Her!

In Jinghe Palace, the fragrance of tea lingered in the air. Seventh Prince Xiao Qiyu, holding a teacup, finally couldn't resist asking, "Fourth Brother, what do you think of this matter regarding Gu Yiting? He was a frail scholar who never wanted to go on the western campaign in the first place. How could he have charged into the bandits' lair and been pierced through the heart by a bandit, killed instantly? This matter is truly baffling."

Xiao Lingchuan picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and replied with a calm expression, "Not only is Gu Yiting's case baffling. If you investigate carefully, you'll find that the troops Third Brother Xiao Xiuzhan took on this western campaign suffered minimal casualties—almost negligible!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qiyu's expression instantly turned grave.

"That shouldn't be the case. Mountain bandits are desperate outlaws. If Third Brother truly went to their lair to exterminate them, they would surely fight back desperately, risking their lives! Moreover, the bandits know their hiding places like the back of their hands, holding the advantage of terrain. It would inevitably be a fierce and bloody battle. The troops Third Brother took couldn't possibly have suffered such light casualties. Unless... they never truly engaged in combat!"

A meaningful smile curled at the corner of Xiao Lingchuan's lips. "They're all on the same side; how could they fight each other? It was merely putting on a show for Father Emperor and the court."

Xiao Qiyu was dumbfounded. "The bandits on West Elm Mountain are Third Brother's men? He's the bandit leader?"

"If only he were just a bandit leader, it would be simpler." Xiao Lingchuan's smile gradually faded, his captivating eyes growing inscrutable. "Unfortunately, those hiding on West Elm Mountain aren't ordinary bandits at all, but rather... soldiers from Xizhou!"

Xiao Qiyu's face turned ashen. "Is that true? Third Brother actually... colluded with the enemy?!"

Just then, Ling Feng came to report, "Your Highness, Miss Jiang requests an audience!"

Hearing this, Xiao Lingchuan said to Xiao Qiyu, "Your sister-in-law is here. You should step aside for now."

Xiao Qiyu was somewhat unwilling. "Why? I haven't seen Sister-in-law in a long time either; I miss her very much!"

At the last Plum Blossom Banquet, he didn't even get a chance to speak with her!

Besides, he also craved the pastries she made.

Xiao Lingchuan said coldly, "You're just in the way here!"

Xiao Qiyu's mouth twitched slightly: *Brother, you only have eyes for Sister-in-law; there's no room for your own brother at all!*

"Fine, I'll leave!" He walked toward the door, his face full of grievance.

"Wait!" Xiao Lingchuan called him back.

His face lit up with joy. "Fourth Brother, you changed your mind?"

Xiao Lingchuan pointed toward the back door. "Use the back door!"

Xiao Qiyu: "..."

*A brother who values beauty over brotherhood, cold and heartless!*

Only after Xiao Qiyu left was Jiang Shuning brought into Jinghe Palace.

She walked gracefully forward and bowed gracefully to Xiao Lingchuan. Before he could speak, she went straight to the point and asked, "Your Highness, I venture to ask, why did you not volunteer to lead the western campaign to suppress the bandits?"

Xiao Lingchuan looked at her, his deep eyes seeming to see through people's hearts as he countered, "What you really want to ask is, without A Meng from your previous life—the one who took the fatal blow for Third Prince—why Xiao Xiuzhan could still return safe and sound, completely unscathed, right?"

"Yes!" Jiang Shuning had no intention of hiding it and admitted frankly, "A Meng has been bought by me and is no longer in Third Prince's hands. Since that's the case, in this life, no one could take that fatal blow for him. Yet he still managed to return completely unscathed and triumphant. So I boldly speculate that this must be related to Your Highness not volunteering for the western campaign."

They were both reborn. Based on her understanding of him, he always spared no effort to compete for anything profitable or meritorious.

In her previous life, Xiao Xiuzhan's great victory in the western campaign not only earned him a title and a fief but also won the recognition and support of countless court officials and common people, gaining both fame and fortune.

Yet in this life, he gave up this easily attainable opportunity for merit.

Could it be that there was something he feared?

Xiao Lingchuan looked at her tense little face and suddenly spoke lazily, "I'm hungry."

"What?" Jiang Shuning thought she had misheard.

Who would say such an inappropriate thing in a serious atmosphere?

"I said, I'm hungry." He looked at her, a smile touching his picturesque brows and eyes. "If you can fill me up, I'll solve your mystery for you."

Jiang Shuning: "..."

*What a detestable fellow, always finding ways to take advantage of her!*

She forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Your Highness, rest assured. As long as you are willing to tell me truthfully, not only will I fill you up, I could even stuff you to death without a problem!"

Xiao Lingchuan wasn't angry but instead laughed.

Somehow, he absolutely adored her sharp-tongued, witty manner.

"Then make three dishes and one soup! Miss Jiang, please proceed!"

Jiang Shuning gritted her teeth, swallowing her dissatisfaction, and walked toward the kitchen in Jinghe Palace.

Xiao Lingchuan had a picky palate. In their previous life when they were still husband and wife, she had already adapted many dishes to suit his taste.

Over time, this made his palate even more discerning.

Now he always complained that the food made by the palace chefs was bland and tasteless.

He eagerly awaited her needing a favor from him every day, seizing the chance to have her cook something for him to satisfy his cravings.

Xiao Lingchuan quietly made his way to the kitchen, watching her slender figure busying herself before the stove from a distance. Though his face remained as calm as water, his heart was already surging with waves.

Most noble maidens were unwilling to hover around the stove, getting stained with cooking fumes. They preferred to spend more time and effort on elegant pursuits like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

She had been no different from other women before. But after marrying him, in order to please him, she willingly lowered herself and proactively learned cooking skills.

In the early days of their marriage, he thought he could never develop feelings for her in this lifetime.

But as time passed, he came to realize how comfortable it felt to have one's internal organs soothed and satisfied.

He even began to envy his previous self, who had been loved so unconditionally by her.

And now, those once-taken-for-granted, easily attainable comforts could only be obtained through transactions.

Jiang Shuning was quick and efficient. In less than an hour, three dishes and one soup, complete with color, aroma, and flavor, were ready.

"Your Highness, please enjoy!"

Xiao Lingchuan sat at the table and handed her a bowl and chopsticks. "Together."

"No, thank you. Please finish your meal quickly, Your Highness, and inform me of the answer sooner!" Her attitude was polite yet distant.

"No need for such formality. Sit down; we can talk while we eat." Xiao Lingchuan's tone carried a trace of undeniable insistence.

Seeing him so persistent, Jiang Shuning felt helpless inwardly and had no choice but to comply, taking a seat beside him. Silently picking up her bowl and chopsticks, she ate a bite here and there.

Yet an indescribably strange feeling welled up in her heart.

In their previous life when they were still husband and wife, the moment she looked forward to most each day was sharing meals together.

Only then did she feel that Xiao Lingchuan belonged to her.

She had no idea how she'd endured ten years like that.

Noticing her strange look, Xiao Lingchuan asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Your Highness, will you tell me now?” Jiang Shuning suppressed her chaotic thoughts and calmly steered the conversation back on track.

Xiao Lingchuan’s heart sank.

He wanted to simply have a meal with her, yet she was only eager to learn why Xiao Xiuzhan had not died on the battlefield during the western campaign against the bandits.

In this life, revenge filled her heart, leaving little room for him.

Suppressing his disappointment, he slowly replied, “I didn’t go to suppress the bandits because if I had, I would’ve certainly died.”

Jiang Shuning looked at him, signaling him to continue.

“In both his past life and this one, Xiao Xiuzhan would never die in the campaign against the bandits, because those hiding on Xiyu Mountain, harming the merchants and people of Daye, were not true bandits—they were soldiers from Xizhou.”

Xiao Lingchuan spoke word by word, “Back when Xiao Xiuzhan’s uncle, the General of State Stabilization, was guarding the western border, he had already colluded with Xizhou. They secretly raised an elite army on Xiyu Mountain, but recently, due to insufficient funds, they ordered the soldiers to frequently descend the mountain to rob merchants and ordinary people to meet their urgent needs.

This western campaign was merely a show for Xiao Xiuzhan, all for show. His true purpose was to swindle enough money from the emperor to continue funding his privately maintained army.”

Jiang Shuning felt her ears ringing, unable to regain her composure for a long time.

Xiao Xiuzhan actually had such a powerful and terrifying backing?!