Chapter 104: Is He Worse Than This Beast?

Chapter 104: Is He Even Less Than This Animal?

Xiao Lingchuan's icy gaze swept over the little deer in Xiao Huaijin's arms, then landed on Jiang Shuning's hand that had just touched it. His eyes were as if laced with venom, chilling to the bone.

A shiver ran down Jiang Shuning's spine and she instinctively pulled her hand back.

Before she could speak, Xiao Lingchuan had already strode over, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Does Fifth Brother find my Jinghe Palace too desolate, that you've specially brought a beast to liven things up?"

Xiao Huaijin's smile remained unchanged, his tone still gentle. "Fourth Brother, you misunderstand. I merely remembered Miss Jiang mentioning she liked deer, so I brought one for her to see. And you, Fourth Brother, why have you come out? Has your injury improved?"

Xiao Lingchuan let out a cold laugh, his gaze shifting to Jiang Shuning, scraping over her face like a blade. "I thought Miss Jiang had urgent business at home and needed to return quickly? How is it you have the spare time to play with a deer here?"

Earlier, when I pretended to be pitiful, she hadn't been willing to stay with me a moment longer. Yet now, she had lingered outside for so long just to play with this beast.

Could it be that in her heart, he ranked lower than this animal?

Dreading Xiao Lingchuan's questioning, Jiang Shuning hurriedly said, "This subject truly has urgent family matters. Your Highnesses, I must take my leave!"

With that, she hurried towards the palace gate, with a hint of a panicked retreat.

Xiao Huaijin held the little deer, his gaze following her departing figure.

Seeing him watch Jiang Shuning's retreating back like a lovesick fool, Xiao Lingchuan's jealousy seethed. His tone turned icy, as if tempered by frost. "Fifth Brother, I advise you to abandon any thoughts regarding Miss Jiang as soon as possible!"

Xiao Huaijin withdrew his gaze, smiling gently and innocently. "Why would Fourth Brother say such a thing?"

"Since you ask, I'll speak plainly." Xiao Lingchuan's tone held an undeniable arrogance. "Miss Jiang is destined to be your Fourth Sister-in-law!"

It was so in the previous life, and it will be so in this one!

Xiao Huaijin remained completely unmoved. He lowered his head to stroke the deer's head, his tone still unhurried. "Forgive my bluntness, if Miss Jiang's heart belonged to Fourth Brother, I would gladly step aside. Unfortunately, it is clear that Miss Jiang's affections do not lie with Fourth Brother. Since both of us admire Miss Jiang, let us compete fairly."

"You..." Xiao Lingchuan felt as if his words were hitting a ball of cotton, utterly frustrating. He could only angrily retort, "Overestimating your abilities!"

Not an hour after Jiang Shuning had returned home, the gatekeeper hurriedly reported that the Fourth Prince had specially sent a palace servant to deliver something, specifically for her.

Ling Wu stepped forward to receive the heavy paper package. Opening it, she found a golden-brown and crispy roasted deer leg.

"Young Miss, the Fourth Prince is truly thoughtful, sending you a roasted deer leg to eat."

Jiang Shuning was furious. He wasn't sending her a deer leg to eat; he was clearly warning her not to associate with Xiao Huaijin anymore.

The maids in the courtyard were all enticed by the fragrant deer leg. Xia Chan asked her, "Young Miss, this deer leg is best eaten while hot. Would you like to try some now?"

Having just seen an adorably clumsy little deer, how could Jiang Shuning possibly eat venison?

"I won't eat it. You all share it while it's hot!"

The maids were overjoyed, thanking her in unison. "Thank you for your reward, Young Miss!"

They happily carried the deer leg away.

Yet, Jiang Shuning couldn't help but think of the little deer in Xiao Huaijin's arms and the expression on his face when he held it—so gentle it seemed capable of melting ice and snow.

Someone as gentle and refined as the Fifth Prince would surely make an excellent and loving father in the future, wouldn't he?

If in her previous life, her choice had not been Xiao Lingchuan but him, perhaps her life would have taken a different path.

The next day, Jiang Yaozhen, wearing a veil, came to see her, frantic with anxiety. "Sister, I heard the Fourth Prince is recuperating in the palace and refusing all visitors. I happen to have a crucial matter I must discuss with him. Could you take me into the palace?"

Jiang Shuning had just told Xiao Lingchuan the day before that she was busy with family affairs and had no time to visit the palace. If she took Jiang Yaozhen there today, wouldn't that be contradictory?

So she refused. "I don't plan to enter the palace today. I'm afraid I can't help you. Let's talk about it another day!"

Jiang Yaozhen refused to give up. "Then... sister, do you have a way to contact the Fourth Prince and arrange a meeting for me? I truly have an extremely urgent matter that I must discuss with him in person!"

As she spoke, a hint of a sob entered her voice.

Jiang Shuning frowned slightly, wondering to herself. Was Jiang Yaozhen so frantic because she had learned some secret about Xiao Xiuzhan and urgently needed to inform Xiao Lingchuan?

Thinking this, she dared not delay. "Alright, where do you want to meet him?"

"You... just tell him to go to Laifu Tavern!" Jiang Yaozhen added, "Whatever you do, don't mention it's me looking for him. Say it's you who asked him to go!"

Jiang Shuning pondered. Was she being so cautious because she feared Xiao Xiuzhan would discover her private contact with Xiao Lingchuan?

She didn't ask further and nodded in agreement. "Fine, I'll arrange it now."

She called for Ling Wu and instructed her to immediately take a letter to the palace, saying that she had asked Xiao Lingchuan to meet at Laifu Tavern.

Unexpectedly, in less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xiao Lingchuan replied that he would set off immediately.

"The Fourth Prince has agreed to go to Laifu Tavern. You can go see him!" she told Jiang Yaozhen.

Jiang Yaozhen hesitated for a moment, then pleaded in a low voice, "Sister, could you accompany me?"

She knew perfectly well that the reason Xiao Lingchuan agreed to go to Laifu Tavern was that he thought the one inviting him was Jiang Shuning.

If he went to Laifu Tavern and only saw her without Jiang Shuning, he would surely fly into a rage.

The deadline for her and her mother to take the antidote had arrived. Signs of festering had begun to appear on their faces and bodies. They truly couldn't wait any longer.

No matter what, she had to see Xiao Lingchuan today and get the antidote from him!

Jiang Shuning frowned. "Are you sure I can really go with you?"

Jiang Yaozhen nodded vigorously. "Of course! Between His Highness and me, there is absolutely nothing that needs to be hidden from you, sister!"

Jiang Shuning thought, had Xiao Lingchuan even told Jiang Yaozhen about their alliance?

His heart was truly vast!

Jiang Shuning accompanied Jiang Yaozhen to the designated private room at Laifu Tavern, only to find Xiao Lingchuan already waiting there.

When his eyes fell upon Jiang Yaozhen, his expression instantly darkened, his brow furrowed with displeasure. He asked coldly, "Why is it you?"

Jiang Yaozhen quickly said, "Your Highness, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you! Perhaps... we should speak in private!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingchuan cast a complicated glance at Jiang Shuning standing to the side.

She had actually helped Jiang Yaozhen trick him out here!

A moment later, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his voice cold enough to freeze. "Come in!"

Jiang Yaozhen sighed in relief and hastily turned to Jiang Shuning. "Then I'll trouble you, sister, to wait outside the door for a moment. I'll come out as soon as I finish speaking with His Highness!"

With that, she quickly stepped into the private room, closing the door tightly behind her.

Left standing outside the door, Jiang Shuning: ...

Didn't Jiang Yaozhen just claim that there was nothing between her and Xiao Lingchuan that needed to be kept from her?

Every word out of her mouth is a lie!

The moment the private room door closed, Xiao Lingchuan’s expression darkened like ink, his gaze icy and sharp: “Jiang Yaozhen, you have some nerve, daring to use Shuning’s name to trick me into coming here!”

Jiang Yaozhen, however, showed no fear. Meeting his gaze, she retorted coldly: “If Your Highness doesn’t want my sister to know about the underhanded tactics you used to control me, you’d better hand over the antidote as soon as possible!”

Xiao Lingchuan sneered: “Are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. It’s just that I don’t wish to ruin Your Highness’s image in my sister’s eyes. Your Highness also knows that my sister has always admired refined gentlemen like the Fifth Prince. If she were to find out that you poisoned my aunt and me to force her into serving you, how do you think she would view you?”

Her voice was low, yet every word cut like a knife, striking straight at Xiao Lingchuan’s heart.

Xiao Lingchuan’s expression grew even colder, but he couldn’t help recalling the scene outside Jinghe Palace yesterday—Jiang Shuning and Xiao Huaijin playing with a fawn together, her brows relaxed, a radiant smile on her face, revealing a sense of ease and joy he had never seen before.

It was an expression she had never shown in front of him.

Whenever she faced him, she was always tense, her body stiff, like a bowstring stretched to its limit, ready to snap at the slightest provocation.

Meanwhile, Jiang Shuning, waiting outside the door, happened to catch sight of a woman whose makeup and attire were uncannily similar to her own.

Curious, she quietly followed the woman, to get a better look.

As she drew closer, the woman’s face grew increasingly familiar, and Jiang Shuning couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

Unexpectedly, the woman seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Jiang Shuning. Her eyes flashed with surprise before she blurted out: “Eldest Sister?”

“Third Sister?” Jiang Shuning was equally astonished. “What are you doing here?”