Chapter 118: Shooting Oneself in the Foot

Chapter 118: Hoisted by Her Own Petard

Everyone knew Jiang Yaozhen’s birth mother had once been a courtesan at Chunxiang Pavilion—hence her lifelong hypersensitivity about her origins.

Even after being elevated from a concubine’s daughter to a secondary legitimate daughter, she could never truly shed that past, constantly fearing others’ contempt and behind-the-back gossip.

Xiao Xiuzhan had once publicly mocked her, declaring she was merely a “half-elevated” secondary legitimate daughter—unfit to be a principal wife.

Now, with these shoddy betrothal gifts—was this his way of putting her in her place?

“Of course not,” Xiao Xiuzhan replied gently in response to her questioning. “Zhen, you must understand: marrying this prince is not merely about becoming his consort. You are destined to become the nation’s future Empress. Whether the wedding is grand or the betrothal gifts lavish—these are fleeting concerns. What truly matters is cultivating a benevolent heart that embraces the world.”

Suppressing her inner resentment, Jiang Yaozhen murmured softly, “Your subject is foolish and fails to grasp Your Highness’s meaning.”

“Zhen, Nanyue has repeatedly violated Daye’s borders lately, displacing our people and inflicting great suffering. Were we to indulge in extravagance and host a lavish wedding banquet at such a time, would that not chill the hearts of the common folk? Thus, this prince consulted with my mother, the Consort, and decided to scale everything back—including the betrothal gifts.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yaozhen’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.

“Your Highness… why did you not inform your subject earlier? We could have postponed the wedding until after the war with Nanyue concludes!”

She could bear waiting longer to marry—but she could not bear a wedding lacking splendor.

Xiao Xiuzhan lovingly cupped her face and said tenderly, “That simply won’t do! This prince has long yearned to marry Zhen and spend every day together, sharing a lifetime!”

Gazing into his devoted eyes, Jiang Yaozhen had no choice but to swallow her grievances and reply insincerely, “Your subject feels the same…”

Returning to the Chancellor’s residence, the more she reflected, the more resentful she grew.

Why could Gu Wanying’s wedding be infinitely glorious—while hers had to be rushed through?

A woman marries only once in her life. If she couldn’t outshine everyone and leave the capital’s noble ladies green with envy, what was the point?

Coincidentally, Nanny Song and Chun Hua from her courtyard were organizing her dowry at that moment.

Seeing the lavishly prepared dowry chests meticulously arranged by the Chancellor’s residence, a bold idea took root in her mind.

She glided gracefully to Chancellor Jiang’s study, tears welling like pear blossoms in the rain: “Father, your daughter knows your resentment toward the Third Prince stems from my late brother’s death. How could your daughter feel any differently? Now that I am about to marry into the Third Prince’s residence, I truly fear he may treat me poorly in the future.”

At the mention of Xiao Xiuzhan, Chancellor Jiang’s expression darkened.

“This marriage was personally decreed by His Majesty. Should you suffer any injustice in the Third Prince’s residence, His Majesty will naturally ensure justice is served.”

“How can we trouble His Majesty with trivial family matters? Father, please—add more to my dowry. With wealth to rely on, your daughter can marry with greater glory and dignity, compelling the Third Prince and Consort Xi to hold me in higher esteem!”

“Your mother has always doted on you. The dowry she prepared for you certainly won’t leave you wanting.”

“Father, what your daughter means is—give me my elder sister’s share as well! After all… Elder Sister has already declared she won’t marry, hasn’t she?”

“This…” Chancellor Jiang looked troubled, his expression complex.

Jiang Shuning *had* indeed declared she wouldn’t marry—but he always suspected it was merely an excuse forced upon her by the Fourth Prince’s relentless pressure.

As a father, he still clung to a sliver of hope—that she might yet find a good husband and marry into a reputable family.

“In this matter, you must first seek your elder sister’s consent.”

Chancellor Jiang was merely stalling—but Jiang Yaozhen was determined to use her family’s wealth to elevate her wedding’s prestige. So, shamelessly, she went to Cuizhu Courtyard and made the same request to Jiang Shuning.

“Certainly—you may have it.” Unexpectedly, Jiang Shuning agreed immediately.

Jiang Yaozhen could hardly believe things would go so smoothly; her excitement overflowed: “Thank you, Elder Sister! Rest assured, if any concubines in the Third Prince’s rear courtyard bear children in the future, I will ensure he names the child your legal heir—so you’ll have someone to rely on in old age and someone to perform your funeral rites!”

“Sister is truly thoughtful—exactly what I had in mind!” A flicker of something unreadable passed through Jiang Shuning’s eyes. “By the way, our cousin Jiang Lian recently married too. I was considering allocating part of the dowry Father left me to supplement her trousseau. After all, we are sisters of the same clan—what do you think?”

“Lian’er married?” Jiang Yaozhen was stunned. “Who did she marry?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself. Sister, why don’t you ask Second Uncle’s family directly—and while you’re there, deliver this congratulatory gift for me?” As she spoke, Jiang Shuning signaled Ling Wu to bring over a heavy wooden box.

Jiang Yaozhen no longer cared about the box; her mind was consumed by the news of Jiang Lian’s marriage, and she hurriedly departed.

Watching her frantic retreat, a cold smile curled at the corner of Jiang Shuning’s lips.

Two days earlier, Xiao Lingchuan had secretly informed her that Xiao Xiuzhan had taken a high-ranking concubine—and that noble concubine was none other than their cousin, Jiang Lian!

Jiang Yaozhen had schemed so fiercely to create a substitute for Jiang Shuning—never imagining that, in the end, this very substitute would be claimed by her own fiancé.

Beside her, Ling Wu gleefully remarked, “This Second Miss harbors ill intent—actually attempting to use her own cousin to seduce the Fourth Prince! And now look—Third Miss has instead become the Third Prince’s noble concubine. She truly lifted a stone only to drop it on her own foot!”

“She brought this upon herself—she cannot blame others!” A flash of disgust crossed Jiang Shuning’s eyes. “It’s just that thinking of Jiang Lian having to pretend to be me daily—posturing and preening before Xiao Xiuzhan—makes me physically ill!”

Ling Wu quickly comforted her: “Don’t let anger harm your health, Eldest Miss. No matter how much Third Miss imitates you, she cannot hold a candle to you. A counterfeit remains a counterfeit—how could it ever be mentioned in the same breath as the genuine article?”

Only then did Jiang Shuning smile: “Ling Wu, your tongue grows more eloquent by the day!”

“You flatter me, Eldest Miss!”

On the other side, Jiang Yaozhen stormed furiously to Second Master Jiang’s residence.

She cursed inwardly: *That wretched Jiang Lian—before I could even make proper use of her, she dares to marry off on her own! Who gave her the audacity?*

The moment Second Master Jiang and Second Madam Jiang saw her, they immediately plastered on fawning smiles and rushed forward to greet her.

“Yaozhen is here! We’re so grateful to you—if not for your mediation, how could our Lian’er possibly have married into the imperial family!”

“What? Third Cousin married into the imperial family? Who did she marry?” Jiang Yaozhen pressed urgently, disbelief coloring her tone.

Second Master Jiang and Second Madam Jiang exchanged glances, seemingly surprised by her reaction: “You… you actually don’t know?”

“How would I know? Tell me—quickly—who exactly did she marry?” Jiang Yaozhen demanded anxiously.

Second Madam Jiang hesitated a moment before stammering, “It’s… it’s the Third Prince!”

Those words struck like lightning—shocking Jiang Yaozhen speechless, her face draining of all color.

“The Third Prince? That’s absolutely impossible!” She jabbed a finger at Second Madam Jiang’s nose and shrieked hysterically, “You’re utterly delusional—daydreaming! The Third Prince hasn’t even married *me* yet—how could he possibly take Jiang Lian?”

Hearing this, Second Madam Jiang’s face instantly fell, her tone turning icy: “Why would we lie to you? Our Lian’er *did* become the Third Prince’s noble concubine just days ago. The betrothal gifts he sent remain stored in our treasury—would you like me to show them to you?”

With that, she stood and led Jiang Yaozhen straight to the treasury.

Upon arrival, Jiang Yaozhen immediately spotted the betrothal gift boxes bearing the imperial emblem, piled in a corner.

Opening them, she saw the gold-plated silver jewelry, the phoenix crown adorned with cheap pearls, the coarse silk…

They were *exactly* the same as the betrothal gifts the Third Prince had sent *her*!

Jiang Yaozhen instantly lost all reason—and completely broke down.

Ignoring Second Master Jiang and Second Madam Jiang’s attempts to restrain her, she violently hurled the betrothal gifts onto the ground, roaring like a madwoman: “What *is* Jiang Lian? How *dare* she receive the same betrothal gifts as *me*? Is she even *worthy*?”

It took all of Second Master Jiang and Second Madam Jiang’s strength to finally drive the失控 Jiang Yaozhen out of the residence.

Sitting alone in the carriage, Jiang Yaozhen grew angrier with every passing thought—a raging fire burning in her chest: “Xiao Xiuzhan—you may be a philanderer, and perhaps I could overlook that—but you *cannot* humiliate me like this! I, a secondary legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s residence—how can I tolerate my betrothal gifts being identical to those of a lowly concubine? Since you treat me like a fool—don’t blame me for finding someone to deal with you!”