Chapter 106: Better to Let It Harm Others!

Chapter 106: Better to Let Him Torment Someone Else!

They had just stepped out of Laifu Restaurant when they unexpectedly ran into Jiang Lian.

Upon seeing Xiao Lingchuan, she lowered her head in a respectful bow. "This commoner woman pays her respects to Your Highness!"

Xiao Lingchuan didn't even spare her a glance from the corner of his eye, acting as if she were invisible.

Jiang Shuning asked, "Third Sister, is there something you need?"

Jiang Lian nodded, her expression tinged with a hint of shyness. "Eldest Sister, I have something to say to you."

Jiang Shuning turned to Xiao Lingchuan. "Your Highness, let us part ways here. I have some words to exchange with my younger cousin."

Xiao Lingchuan gave a slight nod, replying indifferently, "Go ahead."

With that, he turned and walked away without another word.

Jiang Lian watched Xiao Lingchuan's retreating figure, an undisguised look of admiration appearing on her face. She murmured, "His Highness is truly exceptionally handsome. I've never seen a man so good-looking. It must be so enviable to have a man like that admire you, Eldest Sister."

Jiang Shuning frowned slightly. "Third Sister, if you have something to say, speak plainly!"

Jiang Lian turned to look at her, her tone sincere. "Eldest Sister, with so many princes pursuing you, it must be difficult to choose, right? Lian'er is willing to lighten your load. If Eldest Sister could just put in a good word for me before His Highness, allowing Lian'er to serve by his side... in the future, if Lian'er gains his favor, I will never forget Eldest Sister's kindness!"

As soon as these words left her mouth, Jiang Shuning felt a wave of nausea churn in her stomach, as if she had swallowed a fly.

She actually wants to serve Xiao Lingchuan?

Is this the real reason she went to such lengths to dress up to look like me?

"Lian'er, do you know that the prince we just saw is the current Fourth Prince?" Jiang Shuning said gravely. "Hasn't Second Aunt always believed that the Fourth Prince is the mastermind behind the hired killing of Second Brother? Do you truly wish to stay and serve by his side?"

Jiang Lian lowered her gaze. "Lian'er knows. If Lian'er can gain the Fourth Prince's favor, Father and Mother will surely understand. Moreover, as Eldest Sister said, there is no evidence proving that my brother's death was orchestrated by the Fourth Prince. Father and Mother are simply overwhelmed by grief and have unfairly blamed him."

Hearing this, Jiang Shuning was furious.

If they all think Xiao Lingchuan isn't the one who killed Jiang Tianci, then why do Second Uncle and Second Aunt keep fixating on her relationship with Xiao Lingchuan, trying to pin Jiang Tianci's death on her?

Is it because she's easy to bully?

Thinking this, her tone grew even colder. "Third Sister, I'm afraid I cannot help you with this matter. If you truly wish to serve by the Fourth Prince's side, go and tell him yourself!"

Sending a woman who looks and dresses almost exactly like her to Xiao Lingchuan's side—how could she possibly do something so repulsive?

Just the thought of it is sickening!

"Eldest Sister, I beg you!" Jiang Lian tightly grasped her sleeve, pleading tearfully. "Father has recently become obsessed with gambling and has racked up huge debts. If I don't find a way out soon, I fear he will sell me off to settle them! Eldest Sister, for the sake of our shared Jiang family bloodline, please help me!"

Jiang Shuning frowned deeply. "The capital is the heart of the empire. How could there be gambling dens here?"

"Not openly, of course, but those illicit underground gambling dens are everywhere! The people there are vicious and ruthless. If the money isn't repaid promptly, Father will likely be beaten to death!" Jiang Lian cried, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain. "Eldest Sister, I beg you, let me go serve the Fourth Prince! I don't want to be sold into a living hell like the Chunxiang Pavilion!"

"You're just grasping at straws in your desperation!" Jiang Shuning said, frustrated by her lack of sense. "How do you know that serving by the Fourth Prince's side isn't just jumping into another living hell?"

"It won't be! The way the Fourth Prince looks at you is completely different from how he looks at others. Since he is so infatuated with you, he will surely treat me well! I don't mind being Eldest Sister's substitute. As long as I can stay by the Fourth Prince's side, I'm willing to do anything!"

By the end, her tone was nearly frantic, carrying a desperate, obsessive edge.

Jiang Shuning struggled to suppress the anger in her heart, barely restraining herself from slapping her across the face.

Second Uncle and Second Aunt, just how did they raise a daughter as foolish and shameless as Jiang Lian?

She said coldly, "I will not send you to the Fourth Prince's side. However, regarding the matter of the underground gambling dens you mentioned, I can have someone investigate. Gambling dens are strictly prohibited in the capital. Once discovered, they will be shut down by the court. At that time, Second Uncle's debts will naturally be wiped clean. Once the debts are cleared, you will be safe!"

Having said this, she turned and left.

Jiang Lian stamped her foot in anger.

After all that, Eldest Sister still won't help me?

Isn't it natural for people to seek a better life? She just wants to live in luxury and comfort—is that so wrong?

When Jiang Shuning returned to the Prime Minister's residence, Jiang Yaozhen had already taken the antidote obtained from Xiao Lingchuan, and her beauty had been restored to its former glory.

She purposely sought out Jiang Shuning, putting on an act of helplessness. "Sister, Lian'er is really something. Ever since she learned that the Fourth Prince has taken a liking to you, she has gone to great lengths to imitate your makeup and style, vainly hoping to win His Highness's favor. Sigh, she truly overestimates herself. How could she possibly imitate you?"

Jiang Shuning looked at her coldly. "Her deliberately imitating me like this—wasn't it your idea?"

"Why would you say that, Sister? How could I possibly do such a thing?" Jiang Yaozhen feigned innocence.

"Stop pretending. Her appearance at Laifu Restaurant today was clearly to find you. If not for you, how would she even know the Fourth Prince? She even came begging me, desperately pleading for me to arrange for her to serve by the Fourth Prince's side. Yaozhen, I truly don't understand why you always do things that harm others without benefiting yourself."

Jiang Shuning's tone suddenly turned icy, her gaze like frost. "Moreover, you know perfectly well who the Fourth Prince truly admires! You deliberately dressed Third Sister to look exactly like me and encouraged her to approach the Fourth Prince. Don't you find this utterly repulsive? Or is this some special... interest between you and the Fourth Prince?"

Jiang Yaozhen's brow twitched. She probed, "Sister thinks... the Fourth Prince admires me?"

"Isn't that the case?" Jiang Shuning retorted.

"Of course... it is!" Jiang Yaozhen pretended to be helpless. "It's just a pity that I am already betrothed to the Third Prince. No matter how much the Fourth Prince cares for me, it is ultimately a missed connection. That's why I wanted to bring you and him together. Sister, I meant no harm!"

In her heart, she laughed wildly. Xiao Lingchuan, ah, Xiao Lingchuan, what's the use of you being so infatuated with Jiang Shuning?

In her mind, the one you love is actually me!

Serves you right! Who told you to poison me? In this lifetime, don't even think about winning Jiang Shuning's heart!

Jiang Shuning detected the smugness in her words and rolled her eyes. "I appreciate your good intentions, but I don't need them. Please refrain from taking matters into your own hands in the future by trying to matchmake me with your admirer. It's rather nauseating!"

She wasn't a collector of discarded trash, to be given the man Jiang Yaozhen didn't want!

In her past life, it was precisely because she accepted Jiang Yaozhen's cast-offs that she suffered so much.

A piece of trash like Xiao Lingchuan—better to let him torment someone else!

As soon as Xiao Lingchuan returned to the palace, he sneezed twice without warning.

Ling Feng, standing nearby, asked with concern, "Your Highness, did you catch a chill on the way?"

Xiao Lingchuan's expression was gloomy, a persistent shadow lingering between his brows. "It's not a chill. I have a feeling someone is speaking ill of me behind my back!"