Chapter 97 The Agony of Unrequited Love

Chapter 97: The Pain of Unrequited Love

"I, Gu Wanying, mean what I say. From now on, I will never again blame my brother's death on you!" Gu Wanying said, dismounting and leaning close to Jiang Shuning's ear, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear. "However, can you truly bear the brunt of the Fourth Prince's jealousy?"

Jiang Shuning's heart skipped a beat.

She knew all too well how terrifying Xiao Lingchuan's possessiveness could be.

He was like a ferocious beast lurking in the darkness. The moment he sensed anyone harboring even the slightest covetous thought towards her, he would pounce without hesitation, relentless and unforgiving.

Were it not for Xiao Huaijin still being useful to him, he would likely have already met a tragic end at Xiao Lingchuan's hands.

How could she possibly endure such a man?

"You wouldn't happen to have a way to help me escape this predicament?" Jiang Shuning tentatively asked.

"Naturally!" Gu Wanying replied. "After you've changed, come find me. I invite you for a cup of tea!"

Jiang Shuning gave a slight nod. Though she held out little hope in her heart, she was still willing to see if Gu Wanying truly had a clever plan to help her escape her troubles.

Just as she was about to leave the polo field, she inadvertently looked up and met Xiao Lingchuan's deep, pool-like peach blossom eyes. A shiver of dread instantly ran down her spine.

The feeling was like prey realizing it has been locked in the sights of a predator, wanting nothing more than to flee immediately.

After changing her clothes, Jiang Shuning was about to head to the private booth where Gu Wanying was when she saw Xia Yan gracefully walking towards her. "Are you going to find Gu Wanying? I'll come with you!"

"This..." Jiang Shuning hesitated slightly. The matter Gu Wanying wished to discuss with her might not be something she wanted Xia Yan to overhear.

"I'm just worried about you. Not long ago, Gu Wanying was still making a scene with her servants at the gates of your Prime Minister's residence. I truly don't believe she would suddenly change her nature and become friendly with you! If she dares to harm you, she'll have me to answer to!"

Xia Yan said, clenching her fist, looking indignant.

Jiang Shuning couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling rising in her heart. "Since you're so concerned about me, then let's go together!" The two entered the private booth specially prepared for the Gu family by the Grand Princess. They saw that the adjoining rooms were empty, with only Gu Wanying sitting alone inside.

Presumably, her parents, still immersed in the grief of losing their son, were in no state of mind to attend this polo event.

Seeing Xia Yan accompanying Jiang Shuning, Gu Wanying quickly said, "Miss Xia, could I ask you to excuse yourself for a moment? I have some private words I wish to share with Miss Jiang alone."

Xia Yan, understanding, did not insist. She found a corner where she could keep an eye on them but not hear their conversation and waited quietly.

Jiang Shuning sat down beside Gu Wanying and got straight to the point. "I wonder what brilliant plan Miss Wan Ying has to help me escape my predicament?"

"Miss Jiang and the Fifth Prince are deeply in love. You must be eager to break free from the Fourth Prince's control, right?" Gu Wanying's gaze was intense as she stared at Jiang Shuning, her tone firm. "Right now, you have only one path to take: join forces with me to oppose the Fourth Prince!"

"Join forces with you?"

"Exactly. I have His Highness the Crown Prince and my aunt, the Empress, behind me." Gu Wanying's voice carried confidence. "Our Gu family may not be the most illustrious, but as the maternal clan of the Crown Prince, our position is secure. His Highness the Crown Prince is the future Emperor of Daye. This is an unshakable fact! As long as my father lives, he will never allow the Eastern Palace to change hands! Once we work together to eliminate those who covet the Crown Prince's position and scheme ignobly all day, you can be together with the Fifth Prince!"

Jiang Shuning watched Gu Wanying quietly, her gaze profound.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Gu Wanying frowned slightly.

"It's nothing. I just feel that Miss Wan Ying seems like a different person from before." Jiang Shuning paused, then added, "You've become somewhat... ambitious. It commands respect."

Hearing this, Gu Wanying couldn't help but smile bitterly. "In the past, I truly had no interest in power. I only wished for a peaceful life with my family. If I could marry my cousin, the Crown Prince, I would have been content. However, my brother's tragic death made me suddenly realize that without the protection of power, I couldn't even protect my closest kin. How could I even speak of a peaceful life?"

Jiang Shuning empathized deeply, sighing. "What Miss Wan Ying says is true. Under imperial power, all beings are like ants."

"So, what is Miss Jiang's answer?" Gu Wanying asked, full of anticipation.

"I'm sorry, Miss Wan Ying." Jiang Shuning's expression was calm, her tone light. "I am very grateful that you think so highly of me. But I'm afraid I cannot join forces with you."

"Why?" Gu Wanying's face changed abruptly, her voice turning sharp. "You and I are the same—we've both lost the brothers we could rely on. I thought we could work together! Whether you want to deal with the Third Prince or the Fourth Prince, relying on His Highness the Crown Prince is the only way, isn't it?"

Naturally not.

Jiang Shuning couldn't bear to tell her that although the Crown Prince would indeed ascend the throne in the future, by his second year, his health had deteriorated so much that he was already powerless to contend with Xiao Lingchuan, Xiao Xiuzhan, and others.

Expecting His Highness the Crown Prince to overthrow the Fourth and Third Princes was nothing short of a fool's dream.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Shuning carefully chose her words. "Miss Wan Ying, if His Highness the Crown Prince truly has the ambition to seize power, perhaps he could try forming an alliance with the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince, or seek support from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Furthermore, it is of utmost importance to take meticulous care of His Highness's health. As the saying goes, 'As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood.'"

Gu Wanying was momentarily speechless upon hearing this.

The Crown Prince's frail health had always been a point of criticism, a persistent worry in her heart.

She had been too impatient, solely focused on avenging her brother, and had overlooked the most crucial point.

Jiang Shuning's words reminded her that preserving the Crown Prince's health was the top priority.

"Thank you, Miss Jiang." Gu Wanying looked at her. "My offer of alliance today remains open. If you ever change your mind, you can come find me anytime! I hope we have the chance to become allies fighting side by side in the future!"

Jiang Shuning gave a slight nod. As she left, she was lost in thought, sighing inwardly.

In her previous life, after Gu Wanying became Empress, Jiang Shuning had seen her a few times.

Back then, though she often wore a worried expression due to the new Emperor's illness, her temperament remained gentle and graceful, showing none of the sharp, ambitious demeanor she displayed today.

It seemed that her brother's untimely death had struck her too hard, forcing a woman who was originally weak and dependent to plan for her own fate and gamble everything.

She and Xia Yan walked side by side on their way back to their booth.

Xia Yan said with anticipation, "Next is the men's competition. I wonder which prince will win the tournament this year?"

Jiang Shuning understood her meaning and smiled. "His Highness the Second Prince is highly skilled in horsemanship and polo. I'm sure he will undoubtedly win the championship!"

Hearing this, Xia Yan's face instantly flushed red. "When did I mention him?" she retorted playfully.

As the two were chatting and laughing, they suddenly saw a familiar figure ahead.

"It's His Highness the Second Prince!" Xia Yan recognized him immediately, feeling somewhat puzzled. "The competition is about to start. Where is His Highness going?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but quicken her steps, wanting to find out.

Jiang Shuning had no choice but to follow.

They saw the Second Prince stop near a private booth, his back to them. He took a brocade box from his sleeve and handed it to a young woman, saying gently, "Miss Zhang, this hairpin is something I specially picked out for you at the silver shop. I wonder if you like it?"

The woman looked frightened and repeatedly declined. "Your Highness the Second Prince, this humble subject's daughter dare not accept Your Highness's gift so casually!"

Jiang Shuning looked closely and realized this woman was none other than the daughter of the Minister—Miss Zhang Yan—who had tried to poison Jiang Tianze during their meeting that day!

"Miss Zhang, please accept it." The Second Prince said sincerely. "When I achieve success and fame in the future, I will definitely ask His Majesty the Emperor to issue an imperial decree and marry you with great honor and ceremony!"

Hearing the Second Prince's words of deep affection, Xia Yan felt as if an invisible hand had tightly gripped her heart. The pain made her whole body tremble, and she almost couldn't stand steady.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuning quickly stepped forward to support her, whispering, "Let's go back."

Staying here any longer would only make things more painful.

After all, unrequited love is the most unbearable pain in this world.

On the way back, Xia Yan wore a bitter expression as she said self-mockingly, “So, he likes gentle and elegant women like Zhang Yan, the daughter of Minister Zhang. I thought he enjoyed sparring with me because he admired women skilled in martial arts, and I even practiced many weapon techniques to show him. Shuning, was I just being foolish?”

Hearing this, Jiang Shuning felt a pang in her heart, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

She said softly, trying to comfort her, “Xia Yan, everyone has their own unique charm and brilliance. Even if the Second Prince doesn’t appreciate you, you must never let that make you doubt yourself.”

However, Xia Yan wasn’t hearing any of it.

In a daze, she murmured despondently, “Could it be that he summoned me to the palace after the Chrysanthemum Banquet because my name is the same as Miss Zhang Yan’s? What does he take me for—a substitute for Miss Zhang Yan?”