Chapter 258: This Prince Decides His Marriage

Xiao Lingchuan's figure had barely vanished when Wang Qi's suppressed fury exploded in his eyes.

"Too insolent!" he ground out through clenched teeth. "Prince Jing truly looks down on everyone! Our Wang family is related to him by marriage, and he dares behave so arrogantly?"

"His heart no longer holds a place for our Wang family," Wang's Second Madam sobbed as she pressed a cloth to her son's wound. "That vixen has stolen his soul! My poor Shan'er, suffering in Prince Jing's residence, who knows what she's suffering!" Wang Qi said coldly, "Aunt, you may not know, but the woman in his arms is none other than Jiang Shuning! Prince Jing has been completely obsessed with that witch for quite some time."

"Jiang Shuning?"

At the mention of the name, everyone immediately turned to Jiang Yaozhen.

Jiang Yaozhen lowered her lashes, putting on a reluctant, helpless look as if forced to speak: "To be honest, I've only heard rumors that it was Prince Jing himself who snatched my sister from the Dali Temple. That figure just now... it really did look like my sister."

This revelation only added fuel to the fire.

"Fine Prince Jing!" Wang Qi laughed in bitter rage. "Breaking a prisoner out of jail, then parading a murderess around in broad daylight! Absolutely shameless! Father thought the marriage would end our feud, but clearly it was a total joke! If we don't get back at him for humiliating Brother Mo today, we'll lose face!"

Wang Mo gritted through his pain, "But Prince Jing is cunning and powerful. How can we possibly go up against him?"

"Who said anything about going up against him?" Wang Qi's eyes glinted darkly. "It's hard to strike at him directly. But at the woman he treasures... If that siren dies, Prince Jing's attention will return to his household, and Cousin Bishan will have her chance to come out on top!"

Hearing this, Madam Wang and Wang Mo nodded in agreement: "Yes, we must get rid of Jiang Shuning, that plague!"

Then, instinctively, they turned to Jiang Yaozhen.

Wang Mo spoke first: "Sister-in-law, you won't betray us, will you?"

Jiang Yaozhen thought: How could I? I can't thank you enough!

"Don't worry about me. Though we are sisters, she first seduced Prince Rui, causing his hand to be broken and imprisonment; then she caused our cousin Jiang Lian's death... With such a venomous heart, I long to end her myself! If you can act on heaven's behalf and prevent her from continuing her wickedness, I... I would be deeply grateful."

With her words, the Wang family had no further qualms.

Wang Qi's expression turned murky: "Since Jiang Shuning is so vicious, let's teach her a lesson, avenging our cousin!"

Madam Wang wiped her tears and spat through clenched teeth: "Yes, if that little wretch lives, she'll become a thorn in our side! A convict, yet she dares appear so brazenly in public, flouting Daye's laws—she deserves nothing less than death!"

Wang Qi narrowed his eyes, a cold smile spreading: "I'll arrange men to infiltrate the Prince Jing's residence in the next few days. At the first opportunity, we strike, leaving no loose ends!"

Jiang Yaozhen lowered her head, hiding the cold smirk that flickered across her lips, before speaking: "Prince Jing guards my sister like the apple of his eye, and she has a martial maid at her side. A direct attack would be difficult. Moreover, if someone dies, Prince Jing will investigate thoroughly, which would harm the Wang family."

"What does the princess suggest we do?" Madam Wang pressed.

Jiang Yaozhen's face hardened into a sinister expression: "Our aim is to make her lose favor. If Prince Jing witnesses her betrayal with his own eyes, we won't need to lift a finger—he will discard her like rubbish. This matter requires careful planning, so we strike once and ensure she never rises again!"

Madam Wang nodded repeatedly: "The princess is wise! Let's return first to treat Mo'er's wounds, then deliberate fully!"

The crowd hurried away, clustered around Wang Mo.

Jiang Yaozhen stood alone, her gaze lingering on the direction where Xiao Lingchuan and Jiang Shuning had disappeared.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted her handkerchief, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment.

She could clearly feel Xiao Lingchuan's undisguised protectiveness and partiality toward Jiang Shuning.

A tenderness she had never seen in any man's eyes, let alone from the cunning and venomous Prince Jing.

Why was he only cold and cruel to her, while pouring all his gentle affection upon Jiang Shuning?

"Jiang Shuning..." she murmured through gritted teeth, venom dripping from her voice. "You're so fortunate. Why does everyone revolve around you? Just wait—I'll see how long you can gloat!"

——

On the way back, Jiang Shuning could clearly sense that Xiao Lingchuan was in an exceptionally cheerful mood.

Had teaching one of the Wang youths a lesson made him this happy?

Suddenly, he spoke with a casual, nonchalant tone: "That Wang Mo just now, I recall he has a half-sister born to a concubine?"

"Yes, a daughter from the Wang family's second branch, one year younger than Wang Mo." Jiang Shuning replied.

In her past life, she had known much about the Wang family's affairs.

"Splendid." Xiao Lingchuan's tone seemed to decide a trivial matter. "I've been wondering what kind of match to arrange for your third younger cousin. With the Wang family's values like that, their daughters must have a certain flavor. Let that concubine-born daughter from the second branch be your cousin's concubine."

Jiang Shuning's brow twitched sharply, and she almost immediately retorted: "Impossible! My lord knows well that our Jiang family has a grudge against Prince Rui's residence. The Wang family is Prince Rui's maternal clan—how can we form that kind of marriage connection?"

Xiao Lingchuan seemed to anticipate her rejection and laughed lightly: "A mere concubine, hardly a marriage connection. You're overthinking it."

In his heart, he had already calculated: Jiang Tianze was not of Jiang blood; giving him a concubine from a noble family's side branch was already an honor.

More importantly, he needed a woman shrewish enough to tie down Jiang Tianze, to keep him from getting any wrong ideas about Jiang Shuning.

And the Wang family was best at raising such women.

But Jiang Shuning refused to yield: "Our Jiang family upholds propriety. Tianze has not yet been betrothed a principal wife; there is no reason to take a concubine first."

"Is that so?" Xiao Lingchuan's face turned cold. "Is it truly propriety you value, or are you afraid that your cousin marrying a Wang woman would be a slight to him?"

"Both." Jiang Shuning took a deep breath. "My lord knows well the Wang family's wicked nature. To make their concubine-born daughter Tianze's concubine is to ruin him! I, as his elder sister, cannot agree, and I'm sure my parents will not either!"

The moment she finished, the arm around her waist tightened abruptly, and Xiao Lingchuan's tone turned dangerously icy: "You are truly fiercely protective of this 'cousin' of yours. But perhaps he does not regard you as a true sister!"

Jiang Shuning's heart shook: "What does my lord mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said." Xiao Lingchuan's voice was sharp as ice, each word deliberate. "His marriage is mine to decide. Instead of pleading for him here, you would do better to warn him not to harbor any improper thoughts. Otherwise, I would not hesitate to take care of the matter myself!"

The bloody threat sent a chill through Jiang Shuning, though she found it baffling.

She wanted to question him further, but Xiao Lingchuan gave her no chance.

He abruptly lifted her veil, and his hot lips pressed down fiercely upon hers, punishingly.

Her breath was stolen, shame and anger intertwining in her heart.

Just then, Ling Feng and Ling Wu's excited voices came from not far away: "Your Highness! Your Highness! We've found you—"

The voices drew near and then abruptly stopped.

Jiang Shuning took the chance to shove him away, frantically straightening her askew veil, her cheeks burning hot enough to ignite.

This madman! Daring to do this in broad daylight...

The two uninvited guests, upon seeing their prince's face—dark with unfulfilled desire and fury that could curdle milk—froze in their tracks.

Ling Feng and Ling Wu exchanged terrified glances, lamenting in unison: Oh no, we've interrupted His Highness's fun again!

Xiao Lingchuan slowly turned, his gaze as if he would skin them alive: "You two certainly know how to pick your moments!"