Chapter 189: Shameless Acts

Chapter 189: Engaging in Outrageous and Improper Acts

The poison Su Wan had administered was not particularly potent, but Zhang Yan, being a delicate young lady from a noble household, remained unconscious for three full days and nights before finally awakening.

Minister Zhang, gazing at his daughter’s pale face, said in anguish: “Yan’er, why must you put yourself through this? Your wedding to Prince Su is imminent; you should have let go of the Fifth Prince long ago. Why did you still join forces with Su Wan to conspire against Jiang Shuning? Jiang Shuning is far too clever—even if she doesn’t show it outwardly, she must have seen through everything, knowing full well that you were an accomplice!”

“So what?” Zhang Yan’s pale face curved into a cold, mocking smile. “I never intended to be friends with her. Not just Jiang Shuning—I would never allow even Su Wan to marry the Fifth Prince as she wishes!”

“Yan’er, what else do you plan to do?!” Minister Zhang exclaimed in alarm. “Su Wan has already been publicly broken off the engagement by the Fifth Prince for framing Jiang Shuning!”

“Broken off the engagement?” Zhang Yan finally broke into a genuine smile. “It seems my suffering wasn’t entirely in vain.”

Minister Zhang was left speechless.

Just then, a servant announced from outside the door: “Master, Miss, Prince Su has come to visit the young lady.”

Minister Zhang’s spirits lifted, and he hurriedly said, “Quick! Invite His Highness in!”

Moments later, Xiao Jinyu, Prince Su, was led into Zhang Yan’s private chamber.

“Your Highness,” Minister Zhang stepped forward with a respectful demeanor, “my daughter has just regained consciousness. I was about to send word to you, but I never expected you to come in person…”

Xiao Jinyu interrupted him: “Minister Zhang, I have a few words I wish to speak privately with Miss Zhang. I would appreciate it if you could give us some privacy.”

Minister Zhang’s heart tightened. Seeing the prince’s serious expression, he had no choice but to comply, dismissing all the servants to leave the two of them alone.

“Miss Zhang, are you feeling better?” Xiao Jinyu asked.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am much recovered now.” Zhang Yan replied with a polite but distant tone.

Xiao Jinyu took a deep breath and cut straight to the point: “I came today to ask you two things. First, I want to know—who was it that stabbed you with the poisoned red hairpin behind the rockery at Lingge Palace that day?”

Zhang Yan’s expression shifted. She lowered her eyelids to conceal her thoughts: “I was too frightened at the time to see clearly… I initially thought it was Miss Jiang, but now I realize I must have been mistaken.”

“If you couldn’t be sure, why did you insist, after coming out from behind the rockery, that Jiang Shuning tried to kill you?”

Faced with his relentless questioning, Zhang Yan’s face turned ugly. She lifted her head and retorted coldly: “So, Your Highness, have you come today to interrogate me on Jiang Shuning’s behalf?”

“Of course not.” Xiao Jinyu’s expression was complicated. “I only wish to uncover the truth and find the real culprit who harmed you.”

“Then there’s no need to trouble you, Your Highness.” Zhang Yan’s tone was icy. “I have no intention of pursuing this matter.”

He frowned, unable to hold back: “Is it that you don’t intend to pursue it, or do you already know who the real culprit is? Miss Zhang, did you truly join forces with Su Wan to frame Jiang Shuning?”

Zhang Yan suddenly let out a cold laugh, dripping with sarcasm: “Your Highness still claims you’re not here to interrogate me? Since you’ve already made up your mind, why put on this pretense and ask again?”

Xiao Jinyu stared at her in disbelief, a chill settling in his heart: “You did it deliberately? But Jiang Shuning has no grievance with you—why would you harm her like this?”

“How do you know I have no grievance with her?” Zhang Yan’s gaze turned sharp as a blade, her hatred almost tangible. “You haven’t walked in my shoes, so don’t tell me to be kind. Your Highness, don’t you understand even that principle?”

Xiao Jinyu was stunned.

The woman before him was fierce and sharp-tongued, utterly foreign to him.

In his memory, Zhang Yan was the gentle-eyed girl in a lotus-pink dress he had first met in the plum grove, who had inadvertently wandered into his sight.

He had thought she was a piece of warm jade needing careful tending, worthy of his wholehearted devotion.

Even when his repeated advances were rebuffed, he had taken it for maidenly shyness.

It turned out it was all just his delusion and imagination.

The real her not only held no affection for him but also concealed claws and fangs he had never seen.

Suppressing the bitterness in his throat, he said solemnly: “Jiang Shuning is the one the Fourth Brother holds dear. If you harm her again, you will thoroughly offend him. By then…”

“Prince Jing has already threatened me. You need not involve yourself in this matter, Your Highness.” Zhang Yan cut him off coldly, as if already impatient. “You said you had two things to ask. What is the second?”

Xiao Jinyu looked at her icy face, his throat tightening with difficulty as he finally forced out the words: “…I have confirmed that our engagement was orchestrated by my third brother. I want to know—if the Third Prince no longer harasses you and your father, would you… still be willing to marry me?”

“No.” Zhang Yan’s answer was immediate and resolute. “I agreed to the marriage back then only to protect myself, to avoid being forced into becoming the Third Prince’s concubine and suffering a fate worse than death. If Your Highness can ensure I don’t have to go down that path, I am willing to… dissolve the engagement!”

“Very well.” A bitter smile touched Xiao Jinyu’s lips. “If only you had been honest with me from the start, I wouldn’t have harbored false hopes.”

Zhang Yan lowered her eyes, a flicker of guilt crossing her face: “I took advantage of you, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. We haven’t married yet; everything can still be undone.” Xiao Jinyu steadied himself and said, “I will petition the Emperor to issue a decree. Dissolving the engagement won’t be difficult. But… it may harm your reputation.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Zhang Yan looked up and smiled, a smile of relief and liberation. “Marrying someone I don’t love, sitting together day after day like sitting on pins and needles—better to be alone and free.”

Seeing her resolve was firm, with no room for turning back, the last shred of hope in Xiao Jinyu’s heart dissipated.

He suppressed his melancholy but couldn’t help offering one final warning: “I don’t know what grudge you hold against Jiang Shuning, but everyone knows how the Fourth Brother protects her. His methods… are always harsh. Take care of yourself.”

Zhang Yan seemed not to hear, pressing instead: “When can you dissolve our engagement?”

Xiao Jinyu gave her a long, deep look, then turned and left, leaving only a promise: “I will do it as soon as possible.”

After leaving the Zhang residence, Xiao Jinyu went straight to the palace.

Outside the imperial study, he explained his purpose to Grand Steward Chen Shun, but noticed a forced awkwardness on Chen Shun’s face. The steward bowed and said, “Prince Su, His Majesty is… not available today. Perhaps you could come another day?”

“It’s fine,” Xiao Jinyu said, standing with his hands behind his back, his tone calm but unyielding. “I will wait here.”

“This…” Chen Shun’s forehead beaded with sweat, but he dared not argue further. “Then… this servant will announce you again.”

Yet the wait stretched on for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Xiao Jinyu frowned slightly, suspicion rising in his heart.

The imperial study was a place of state affairs. Which high official could be discussing matters with the Emperor for so long?

After another moment, the doors finally opened, and Chen Shun bowed to usher him in.

As soon as he stepped inside, a cloying, warm fragrance hit him—not the usual calming sandalwood of the study, but a powdery, unsettling scent.

His heart sank, but he showed nothing on his face.

“Your son, Jin Yu, pays respects to Your Majesty.” Xiao Jinyu looked up at the Emperor, whose face was flushed, cheeks tinged with a drunken, ruddy hue. He asked instinctively, “Father, have you been drinking?”

Chen Shun quickly interjected: “Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty has been taking elixirs to regulate his health, hence his excellent complexion.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Jinyu’s gaze swept the room, feeling that this familiar study, along with his father, exuded an indescribable strangeness.

“Second son, what brings you here?” The Emperor half-reclined on his dragon throne, his tone lazy and impatient.

Xiao Jinyu composed himself and stated his purpose: “Your son begs Your Majesty to grant permission to dissolve the engagement between me and the daughter of Minister Zhang’s household.”

“So that’s what this is about.” The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “Granted. I will issue the decree immediately. In the future, such trivial matters need not be brought to me personally; have Chen Shun relay the message.”

"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave."

Xiao Jinyu bowed and retreated, but as he turned, the lingering sense of unease compelled him to cast an instinctive glance beneath the imperial desk.

In that single glance, he felt as if struck by lightning, his blood running cold.

Nestled quietly under the wide drape of the imperial desk lay an exquisite embroidered soft shoe.

So that was it.

The cloying fragrance filling the room, the flimsy pretext about medicinal pills, and the unnatural flush on his father's face—it all suddenly made sense.

In the imperial study, where state affairs were conducted, such depraved and shameful acts were taking place!

Xiao Jinyu lowered his gaze, concealing the shock and fury surging within.

Since childhood, he had been taught to serve his sovereign with loyalty, but at this moment, the glaring embroidered shoe beneath the imperial desk was a blade, shattering his long-held convictions.

Was the man on the dragon throne, who indulged in sensual pleasures and neglected state affairs, truly deserving of his unwavering loyalty?