Chapter 217: Competing to Care for the Drunken Her

Chapter 217: Competing to Care for Her While Drunk

Xiao Huaijin, caught off guard, took the punch squarely. The force of it sent him staggering back several steps, and the metallic taste of blood instantly filled his mouth.

Before he could steady himself, the warm, soft figure in his arms was yanked away by Xiao Lingchuan, who held her tightly against his chest with a possessive, almost brutal grip.

"Fourth Brother, what are you doing?" Xiao Huaijin exclaimed, shocked and furious.

"That's what I should be asking you!" Xiao Lingchuan's voice was as cold as ice, each word dripping with murderous intent.

Holding the unconscious Jiang Shuning in his arms, he shot a chilling glance at Ling Feng.

Ling Feng understood immediately. He turned around, and with a soft *click*, locked the door from the inside.

When it came to Miss Jiang's reputation, the fewer people who knew, the better.

"Just now, a maid from the mansion reported that Miss Jiang had collapsed here, drunk. Worried about her, I brought some hangover soup prepared in the manor, hoping to help her sober up and avoid embarrassing herself in front of guests."

Xiao Huaijin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, suppressing his rising anger as he tried to explain.

"Were there no maids available that you, Prince Ning, had to feed her yourself?" Xiao Lingchuan sneered, his voice suddenly sharpening. "Fifth Brother, don't play games with me. Do you really think I don't know what you're up to?"

Accused like this, Xiao Huaijin's face turned cold as well. "Fourth Brother, what do you think I'm plotting? To ruin Miss Jiang's reputation and force her to marry me?"

"Isn't that the case?" Xiao Lingchuan's gaze grew more dangerous. "If I hadn't arrived in time, who knows what you would have done!"

"You're judging a gentleman by your own petty standards!" Xiao Huaijin laughed in fury. "I think it's you who truly wants to do that!"

Watching two noble princes argue fiercely over a woman, their faces red and voices raised, Jiang Lian felt an indescribable wave of envy and jealousy.

If she too had such high-born men vying for her affection, she wouldn't have ended up in this pitiful state, at the mercy of others.

Since they wanted to fight, she might as well add fuel to the fire and make it burn brighter!

With that thought, Jiang Lian dropped to her knees with a loud thud, the abrupt sound successfully interrupting their quarrel.

She wore a look of profound guilt. "Your Highnesses, it's all my fault! I failed to dissuade Elder Sister and let her drown her sorrows in drink... After she collapsed, I thought of seeking Prince Jing's help..."

"Drown her sorrows?" Xiao Lingchuan and Xiao Huaijin asked in unison. "What happened to Miss Jiang?"

Jiang Lian lowered her eyes, seeming reluctant to speak. "Elder Sister... she harbors feelings for Prince Jing but cannot express them. She's been troubled, so she drank a few extra cups. Seeing her like this, I felt heartbroken and took the liberty of asking Prince Jing to come..."

"Nonsense!" Xiao Huaijin looked as if struck by lightning, his composure instantly shattered. "That's impossible! The one Miss Jiang loves cannot be Fourth Brother!"

Xiao Lingchuan's expression darkened. "Fifth Brother, what do you mean by that? Why can't the one Miss Jiang loves be me?"

"Fourth Brother, think back. You've proposed marriage many times. If Miss Jiang truly loved you, why would she repeatedly refuse?" Xiao Huaijin stared at him, speaking each word deliberately.

He would never forget the sincerity and shyness in Jiang Shuning's eyes when she said "I have feelings for you."

Nor would he forget the determination and helplessness in her voice when she declared she would never marry.

He could accept that she no longer harbored feelings for him now, but he would never, ever believe that she could love Xiao Lingchuan!

Impossible!

"Concubine Jiang," Xiao Lingchuan's gaze fell on Jiang Lian like a hawk, probing. "Did Miss Jiang truly tell you that she has feelings for me?"

Jiang Lian dared not meet his eyes. She pressed her forehead against the cold ground and pleaded, "Yes... Please, Prince Jing, take good care of Elder Sister until she sobers up."

Xiao Lingchuan's peach blossom eyes narrowed. "Since she says she has feelings for me, did she tell you why she has repeatedly refused my marriage proposals?"

"This..." Cold sweat soaked Jiang Lian's back. "Elder Sister... she didn't say directly. She only said... it was the cruelty of fate..."

"Cruelty of fate..." Xiao Lingchuan murmured the words, a familiar bitterness welling up in his chest.

The reason was too vague, yet it perfectly explained all her distance and struggle.

He believed it.

"I understand." He waved his hand, his voice betraying no emotion. "You may withdraw. I will take care of her."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Jiang Lian felt as if pardoned and hurriedly withdrew.

Jiang Lian's words were full of suspicious elements; Xiao Huaijin did not believe a single word.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and said coldly, "I am the host here. Miss Jiang got drunk on my estate, so I am responsible. I will stay here and care for her alongside Fourth Brother!"

Xiao Lingchuan looked at his bruised handsome face and smirked with undisguised sarcasm. "Fifth Brother is quite eager. But shouldn't you first find someone to tend to your face?"

"A minor wound, nothing serious." Xiao Huaijin refused to yield. He raised his voice and called toward the door, "Someone! Bring another bowl of hangover soup!"

A maid soon brought in a warm bowl of herbal soup.

Xiao Huaijin said coldly, "Fourth Brother, for the sake of Miss Jiang's reputation, please release her. Let the maid feed her."

"Didn't you hear just now?" Xiao Lingchuan raised an eyebrow irritably. "Concubine Jiang personally entrusted me to take care of her sister. Feeding the medicine is naturally my duty."

"What Concubine Jiang said might not be true. Let's wait until Miss Jiang wakes up to ask her!" Xiao Huaijin insisted.

"It seems Fifth Brother cannot accept the fact that Miss Jiang has feelings for me." Xiao Lingchuan chuckled. "Do you think Concubine Jiang has any reason to deceive us both on this matter?"

"Unless Miss Jiang admits it herself when she wakes, I won't believe a single word!" Xiao Huaijin was resolute. "Fourth Brother, let the maid feed her!"

Xiao Lingchuan stared at him for a long moment. Amid the unconscious woman's soft moans, he finally relented.

"Fine. Let the maid feed her." His tone softened, but his arm tightened around her. "But she will remain in my arms. What if she chokes in this position? Will you take responsibility?"

"You..." Xiao Huaijin's chest heaved with anger, but he forced himself to calm down and addressed the trembling maid, "Hurry and feed Miss Jiang the soup!"

He didn't believe that when Miss Jiang woke, she would agree to remain trapped in Fourth Brother's arms!

The maid felt the weight of their gazes pressing down on her. Her hands trembled so much she could barely hold the bowl steady.

Shakily, she scooped up a spoon of soup and carefully brought it to Jiang Shuning's lips.

But the sleeping Jiang Shuning's teeth were clenched tight, making it impossible to swallow. The warm liquid trickled down her chin and soaked into her clothes.

This happened several times in succession.

"This servant is useless..." The maid knelt in fright.

"Forget it. I'll do it." Xiao Lingchuan took the bowl from the maid impatiently.

He took a mouthful of hangover soup into his own mouth, then, without hesitation, leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against Jiang Shuning's.

The sight shocked Ling Feng and the maid, who instinctively looked away.

Xiao Huaijin's face flushed bright red, blood rushing to his head. He could barely speak coherently. "Fourth Brother, how... how could you be so disrespectful to her!"

Xiao Lingchuan finished feeding a spoonful of soup slowly, then lifted his head and retorted, "Fifth Brother, if your heart is dirty, everything looks dirty. I was merely feeding her soup."

"Who feeds soup like that? ... Anyway, I won't allow you to treat her this way anymore!"

"And why can't I? Back when I was ambushed on the pleasure boat and couldn't swallow the medicine, Miss Jiang fed me the same way." He glanced at Ling Feng beside him. "Ling Feng, tell Prince Ning—isn't that right?"

Ling Feng: "?"

How could he possibly know about that?

But he quickly caught on and started fabricating with a straight face: "Prince Ning, it is indeed true! I recall that during that period, every time I saw His Highness, his lips seemed particularly swollen. It must have been from Miss Jiang feeding him the medicine too hard!"

Xiao Lingchuan: "..."

I only asked you to agree, not to embellish—talk about gilding the lily!

Xiao Huaijin: "..."

He had finally seen through it—Fourth Brother was so shameless, and the subordinates he raised were just as shameless!