Chapter 94 Attracted by Beauty, Lured by Gain

Chapter 94: Lust at First Sight, Motivated by Gain

Jiang Shuning returned to the Chancellor’s estate. The moment Chancellor Jiang saw her, he hurried forward anxiously. “Ning, what did the Fourth Prince say? Is Master Gu’s western journey truly connected to him?”

“Yes, Father.” Jiang Shuning took a deep breath, her gaze as calm and still as placid water. “He admitted he was the one who recommended Master Gu to His Majesty to accompany the Third Prince on the western campaign.”

She paused, then added, “Father, Mother—henceforth, there is no need to worry about finding me a husband. I fear… I may never marry. Otherwise, any man who seeks my hand would inevitably be implicated.”

“This…” Madam Jiang looked distressed. “How can that be? Ning, you have your whole life ahead of you—how can you live it unwed?”

“Indeed, Ning. If the Fourth Prince genuinely holds affection for you and wishes to make you his consort, that may not be such an ill fate. After all, he saved your life.”

Regardless of how Xiao Lingchuan was spoken of beyond these walls, Chancellor Jiang retained the favorable impression formed when the prince had rescued his daughter and safeguarded her reputation with care.

“Father, is a man who plots another’s death merely to court me truly worthy of being my husband?” Jiang Shuning asked. “Moreover, nowhere in this world is it written that a life-saving debt must be repaid with one’s body.”

Seeing her resolve unshakable, Chancellor Jiang could only yield. “Since your mind is made up, I shall not press the matter. Yet the Fourth Prince’s scheming behind the western campaign—sparked solely because Master Gu sought your hand—is grave indeed. We must keep it strictly confidential, lest it be exploited by those with ulterior motives and invite calamity.”

“Your daughter understands.” Jiang Shuning gave a slight nod, then seemed to recall something and turned to her father. “Father, now that the Third Prince has returned triumphantly, it is truly unreasonable for Yaozhen—as his fiancée—to remain confined to her courtyard. Perhaps Father could issue an order lifting her confinement, allowing her to celebrate His Highness’s return and fulfill her duties as his future wife.”

That day at Laifu Tavern, she had personally witnessed Xiao Lingchuan and Jiang Yaozhen meeting in secret—their relationship was clearly far from ordinary.

Now was the perfect opportunity to increase Jiang Yaozhen’s contact with Xiao Xiuzhan. Perhaps she could glean crucial information from him—and secretly pass it to Xiao Lingchuan, stoking his fury further.

“You raise a valid point, Ning.” Chancellor Jiang nodded in agreement. “In that case, I shall issue the order immediately to lift Yaozhen’s confinement. You should also return to your quarters and rest early—you must be exhausted today.”

“Yes, Father.”

In her previous life, she had once felt jealous that Jiang Yaozhen could win Xiao Lingchuan’s favor.

After today, she saw through Xiao Lingchuan completely.

His so-called affection was nothing more than lust-driven infatuation—fueled entirely by self-interest.

Hmph. Men!

—

With Censor Gu—the ringleader—gone from court, the Censorate had grown markedly quieter of late. The Emperor’s ears were considerably more at peace, affording him greater leisure to indulge in the pleasures of the inner palace.

He spent nearly every night in Consort Xiang’s residence.

The Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, having rendered meritorious service in suppressing the bandits, was not only enfeoffed as Prince Rui and granted a fief, but his maternal grandfather also received a noble title.

Xiao Xiuzhan and Consort Xi basked in their newfound honors and paid little heed to Ning Xiang’s rapid ascent and growing favor.

As the first prince to be fully enfeoffed, Xiao Xiuzhan soon took possession of a magnificent mansion situated on a bustling street in the capital.

Having long been constrained within the palace, he was naturally overjoyed to finally have his own princely residence.

In recent days, he had busied himself directing palace servants to relocate the items he favored—from Lin Pavilion Palace to his new Prince Rui Mansion.

That day, a woman clad in resplendent palace robes approached with graceful poise.

Before her face even came into clear view, her distinctive fragrance reached you first—a delicate blend of orchid and musk, captivating and intoxicating.

The palace servants instantly bowed low. “We pay our respects to Her Ladyship Consort Xiang!”

Ning Xiang smiled charmingly and murmured softly, “You may rise.”

She stepped forward herself, greeting Xiao Xiuzhan with poised elegance. “Your Highness Prince Rui!”

Xiao Xiuzhan’s eyes narrowed slightly—he sensed this woman before him had grown even more beautiful than before. Not only was her appearance radiant, but her figure, too, seemed more alluring.

Was this what they called “prosperity enhancing beauty”?

“Consort Xiang is truly transformed—you’ve become almost unrecognizable!” Xiao Xiuzhan teased lightly, his gaze lingering appreciatively.

“Your Highness flatters me!” Ning Xiang’s eyes sparkled, her smile tinged with shy charm. “Speaking of which, Your Highness is truly my benefactor. That I enjoy such glory today is entirely due to Your Highness’s grace!”

“I dare not claim such credit. Consort Xiang’s present status is equally the fruit of your extraordinary perseverance.” Xiao Xiuzhan replied meaningfully.

The Fragrance Pills were toxic—yet she endured them daily. Clearly, she had sacrificed greatly and borne unimaginable hardship to secure the Emperor’s profound favor.

This was something his mother, Consort Xi, would absolutely never do—or even consider doing.

“Exerting effort is only natural. After all, apart from His Majesty’s favor, this consort has no other support within the depths of the inner palace.”

Having said this, Ning Xiang turned and departed. Even after she had walked far away, her lingering fragrance still hung in the air.

Just then, Grand Steward Chen Shun, attendant to the Emperor, arrived. “Your Highness Prince Rui, His Majesty summons you. Please follow this servant immediately to the Imperial Study for an audience!”

Xiao Xiuzhan dared not delay, quickly following Chen Shun all the way to the Imperial Study.

Behind the imperial desk, the Emperor’s face was dark as storm clouds, his expression grim and forbidding.

“Your son pays respects to Imperial Father. May I ask why Imperial Father has summoned your son? What instructions do you have?”

Xiao Xiuzhan performed a respectful bow—but a faint unease stirred within him.

The Emperor’s sharp gaze swept over him like a cold blade, as if seeking to pierce straight through his soul.

“This Emperor has heard that during your recent campaign against the bandits, the army suffered virtually no losses—yet Censor Gu’s sole son, Gu Yiting, perished inside the bandit stronghold. A frail scholar incapable of even tying up a chicken—why did you permit him to venture into danger and infiltrate the bandit lair? Now the Censorate is in uproar, submitting memorials one after another to impeach this Emperor, accusing Me of abusing public office for private vengeance—deliberately assigning Gu Yiting to the western expedition and secretly ordering his demise!”

“This…” Hearing this, Xiao Xiuzhan immediately dropped to his knees, beads of cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

“Imperial Father, please see clearly! It was absolutely not your son’s intention to assign him to enter the bandit lair. Truly, it was Gu Yiting himself—eager for quick success and desperate to earn merit—who disregarded all warnings and charged into the stronghold alone! The situation was urgent; your son didn’t even have time to stop him!”

“At this point, who would believe such excuses!” the Emperor rebuked sternly, his tone thick with displeasure.

“Since Gu Yiting is dead, why did you not bring his remains back to the capital? Now those old fellows in the Censorate are seizing upon this matter, insisting this Emperor find a way to recover Gu Yiting’s remains so the Gu family may give him a proper burial! This Emperor has been vexed and disturbed by their clamor lately—utterly unbearable! I command you to dispatch people back to the Western Yu bandit stronghold immediately—and retrieve Gu Yiting’s corpse without fail! Should you mishandle this matter again, I will show no leniency!”

Xiao Xiuzhan listened, his heart trembling violently, cold sweat soaking through his robes.

Back then, he had deliberately left Gu Yiting’s body behind—fearing that if it were returned and examined by a coroner, incriminating clues might surface, exposing the truth.

Now he was ordered to lead men personally to retrieve it. Wasn’t this placing him squarely in an impossible position?

“Imperial Father, the battle to suppress the bandits that day was extremely fierce. Gu Yiting’s corpse was likely already mangled and disfigured beyond recognition—utterly unsuitable for the long journey back to the capital…”

Xiao Xiuzhan argued desperately, striving to evade responsibility.

“This Emperor cares not for such details. In any case, this troublesome matter was caused by your own hand—you must bear all consequences and manage the aftermath properly!” The Emperor’s tone was icy, admitting no dissent. “Gu Yiting’s death, in the final analysis, was also due to your negligence in supervision and dereliction of duty. You must take full responsibility for the mistakes you have committed!”

Hearing this, though ten thousand reluctances churned within him, Xiao Xiuzhan could only grit his teeth and steel himself to reply, “Your son obeys the decree!”

After leaving the Imperial Study, Xiao Xiuzhan felt a suffocating wave of frustration well up in his chest—as if fire burned there, stifling and unbearable.

As he passed by a palace, he noticed the name plaque on one of its halls had been changed—to “Hibiscus Hall.”

He asked a palace attendant, "Who resides in Hibiscus Hall?"

"Your Highness, this hall is occupied by Consort Xiang. His Majesty said that Consort Xiang is naturally beautiful and carries a mystical fragrance, as elegant and refined as hibiscus, hence he bestowed the name Hibiscus Hall!"

Xiao Xiuzhan sneered, "The Emperor, my father, is truly attentive to this Consort Xiang!"

So what if he is the exalted Emperor?

The woman he now dotes on to such an extent was once merely a plaything in his own bed.

Xiao Xiuzhan recalled Ning Xiang's enchanting face and curvaceous figure.

Suddenly, he knew exactly how to quench the restless fire in his chest.