Chapter 213: Rivals in Love, Eyes Burning with Envy

Chapter 213: Rivals Meet, Sparks Fly

After getting the invitation to Prince Ning's housewarming, Jiang Shuning went straight to the western courtyard to find Jiang Tianze.

Since the late emperor's sudden death, she had developed an unprecedented fear of Xiao Lingchuan.

He had once promised to promote Jiang Tianze, but now she realized that being promoted by such a ruthless and venomous master was nothing to hope for.

Even if Jiang Tianze truly rose to prominence one day, the price might be becoming a puppet pulled by the strings of his power schemes, or a blade used to clear his path.

She couldn't let the future of the Jiang family be dragged into that storm of blood.

Before Jiang Tianze formally stepped into the murky waters of officialdom, she needed to help him make connections with truly upright gentlemen and pave a cleaner path for him. That was her duty as his elder sister.

Jiang Tianze was practicing calligraphy by the window. When he saw her enter, he set down his brush.

"Elder Sister, you're here!"

"Third Brother," Jiang Shuning handed him the invitation, "accompany me to a banquet. Prince Ning is holding a housewarming, and all the capital's elite will be there. It's a good opportunity for you to meet people."

"Prince Ning?" Jiang Tianze raised an eyebrow, clearly unfamiliar with this newly conferred title.

"The former Fifth Prince," Jiang Shuning explained. "The late emperor's decree appointed him Prince Ning. You should remember him."

"Oh, the one who used to just lead a little deer around the palace paths?"

The corner of Jiang Shuning's eye twitched. "...That's him."

—

Prince Ning Xiao Huaijin's housewarming banquet drew a crowd of dignitaries.

The front gate was bustling with carriages and horses, as imperial relatives and high-ranking officials came and went.

Although the banquet had been deliberately simplified due to the national mourning period, the intricate dark patterns carved into the ebony beams and the servants' Suzhou embroidered silk garments all revealed the understated luxury of the imperial family.

As host, Xiao Huaijin greeted guests personally at the gate.

He wore a moon-white brocade robe, which made his handsome features appear even more gentle and jade-like, drawing gazes of admiration from the noble ladies present, their eyes filled with undisguised infatuation.

He exchanged pleasantries with guests, a polite smile on his face, but his gaze kept involuntarily drifting over the crowd toward the end of the street.

Beside him, Princess Ronghua covered her mouth and laughed, teasing, "Fifth Brother, you're staring so longingly—are you waiting for Sister Jiang?"

Xiao Huaijin smiled but didn't answer. The slight curve of his lips was answer enough.

Finally, a familiar blue-canopied carriage came into his view.

His eyes instantly lit up.

Just as Ling Wu jumped down and turned to help Jiang Shuning out, a slender hand with distinct knuckles had already reached the carriage curtain first.

"Miss Jiang, be careful."

Xiao Huaijin's voice was filled with barely concealed joy.

Jiang Shuning was about to step down, but paused at the sight. "Your Highness Prince Ning, why are you personally..."

"I've been waiting for you." He gazed at her, his smile bright and sincere. "Come, let me help you."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Shuning felt a piercing gaze from somewhere in the crowd, cold and penetrating.

Her heart tightened. Instinctively, she sidestepped, avoiding his outstretched hand, and her voice turned cold and aloof: "Thank you, Your Highness. I can manage on my own."

With that, she lifted her skirt and jumped nimbly off the carriage.

Xiao Huaijin's hand froze in midair for a moment before he slowly withdrew it, the light in his eyes fading slightly.

Jiang Tianze descended from the carriage behind her and bowed to him. "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Ning."

"Young Master Jiang, no need for formalities." Xiao Huaijin quickly recovered his cheerfulness and offered, "The grounds are quite lovely. How about I personally guide you two for a tour?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble you, Your Highness," Jiang Shuning immediately declined, her tone polite but firm. "Your Highness has many distinguished guests. My brother and I will just explore on our own."

She then grabbed Jiang Tianze and Ling Wu, rather quickly, and walked straight into the residence.

Xiao Huaijin watched her retreating back, his disappointment almost spilling over.

"Fifth Brother seems to be avoided by Miss Jiang, doesn't he?"

A low, lazy, slightly mocking voice sounded behind him.

Xiao Huaijin turned and saw Prince Jing Xiao Lingchuan and Seventh Prince Xiao Qiyu standing not far away.

The remark came from Xiao Lingchuan, a faint, almost-smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were cold.

When rivals meet, there's fire in their eyes.

Xiao Huaijin's friendly expression faded, replaced by a cool demeanor: "Fourth Brother is joking. Miss Jiang is merely considerate, unwilling to let me neglect the other guests on her account."

"I think that attitude fits you better, Fourth Brother. After all, you're about to be betrothed to a noble lady from an aristocratic clan. Miss Jiang knows her place, so she naturally keeps her distance to avoid giving people something to talk about."

With that, he turned and left, not giving Xiao Lingchuan a chance to retort.

"You—" Xiao Lingchuan was furious, but on second thought, he saw some truth in them.

Could Jiang Shuning's recent distance from him not be out of fear, but because she thought he was going to marry a noble lady and wanted to avoid gossip?

Or... could it be jealousy?

Seventh Prince Xiao Qiyu saw his displeasure and comforted him, "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother is just trying to get under your skin. Don't take it to heart."

"No, he makes sense. Shuning has indeed grown distant with me lately," Xiao Lingchuan said. "She's probably mistaken me for wanting to marry a noble lady and is upset. I need to explain things to her and put her mind at ease."

Xiao Qiyu nodded eagerly: "Fourth Brother speaks wisely. May you win the beauty's heart soon!"

But he was secretly startled: The address had already changed from "Miss Jiang" to "Shuning"—where was the coldness?

—

Jiang Shuning rushed Jiang Tianze along, walking briskly.

Jiang Tianze held her soft hand, his heart melted, and he couldn't help but say, "I didn't realize you dislike Prince Ning so much that you'd avoid him like that."

"It's not about Prince Ning." Jiang Shuning stopped, breathing slightly heavily, her face still showing lingering fear. "It's just that... I saw Zhang Yan."

Just as Xiao Huaijin was about to help her down, she felt a cold, malicious gaze on her. That was Zhang Yan, glaring with jealousy.

"Zhang Yan?" Ling Wu exclaimed. "You mean the Zhang family's young lady who broke off her engagement with Prince Su for Prince Ning?"

Jiang Shuning nodded with a grave expression.

That face, twisted with jealousy, was a nightmare she couldn't shake off.

Zhang Yan's reckless madness over her unrequited love—how she threw all caution to the wind—made Jiang Shuning shudder just thinking about it.

At this, Jiang Tianze's eyelashes fluttered slightly. He asked softly, "Elder Sister, was it her who poisoned you at the little princess's one-month celebration?"

"It was her."

At her confirmation, the light in his eyes slowly turned cold and hardened into ice.

So she had also been in league with Jiang Yaozhen to scheme against Elder Sister back then.

He lowered his eyelids, concealing the brief murderous look in his eyes.

He had been so focused on dealing with Jiang Yaozhen and her mother that he had... overlooked her.

When he looked up again, his expression returned to normal. Smiling, he said to Jiang Shuning, "Elder Sister, I'd like to wander around the mansion alone for a while. I'll come find you and Sister Lingwu later."

"Alright." Jiang Shuning, unsuspecting, instead advised, relieved, "I'm not in a position to be too close to Prince Ning now, but you have no such concerns. Many talented young men gather around him. Try to make connections with them; it will benefit you greatly in the future."

"Yes, Elder Sister. I'll remember, Elder Sister!"

Jiang Tianze nodded obediently, smiling with an innocent and harmless look.

But the moment he turned around, the feigned gentleness washed away like a tide, replaced by a sinister and ruthless demeanor that belied his age.

The gu worm he had been cultivating recently—it was time to put it to the test.