Chapter 259: Hard to Resist the Food She Makes

Chapter 259: Hard to Refuse the Food She Cooks

The spring outing that day ultimately ended on a sour note.

Because Xiao Lingchuan insisted on betrothing Jiang Tianze to a concubine’s daughter from the Wang family’s second branch, Jiang Shuning fell into a stubborn, icy silence with him.

Jiang Shuning was simply furious.

Forcing her to stay confined was one thing, but why did he have to meddle in the Jiang family’s affairs as well?

The Wang family’s character and conduct genuinely displeased her. Just thinking about Jiang Tianze forming a marriage alliance with such a family sickened her.

Moreover, what did Xiao Lingchuan mean by saying, “He might not see you as his own sister”?

Was he trying to drive a wedge between her and her cousin, or did Jiang Tianze truly have disloyal intentions toward her?

Just as she was puzzling over this, Jiang Tianze arrived.

He had calculated the timing of Xiao Lingchuan’s morning court session perfectly, yet he was still stopped by the guards at the mansion’s gate.

The young man silenced them with a single sentence: “The prince personally promised that I may visit my elder sister at any time. Are you trying to make His Highness a man who breaks his word?”

With that accusation hanging over them, no one dared to block him further, and so he strode all the way into the main courtyard.

“Tianze? Why are you here?” Jiang Shuning was very surprised to see him.

Jiang Tianze should have been at Lishan Academy at this time, so he must have come specially.

He had run fast, his breathing still unsteady, his bright eyes full of anxiety.

“Elder Sister!” He stepped forward, offering a bamboo basket as if presenting a treasure.

Inside the basket, the pure white little snake had grown noticeably larger since the last time they met. It was now curled up lazily, flicking its tongue gently.

“Xiao Bai missed you, so I brought him along.” The young man held the basket out to her, his features refined and his eyes full of concern. “Elder Sister must be terribly bored, trapped in this mansion day after day. Having him to keep you company might brighten your days.”

Such a clear, warm gaze, like a refreshing spring, instantly washed away the gloom that had weighed on Jiang Shuning’s heart for the past two days.

She took the basket and felt even more strongly that Xiao Lingchuan’s petty, suspicious speculation was utterly ridiculous.

Though she and Tianze were only cousins, this bond was far deeper than that of ordinary blood relatives.

“Since you’ve come specially, there’s something I need to discuss with you.” Jiang Shuning composed herself and carefully chose her words. “Prince Jing… intends to have you marry a concubine’s daughter from the Wang family’s second branch as a concubine.”

The moment she finished, the smile on Jiang Tianze’s face froze instantly, replaced by undisguised resistance and disgust. “I don’t want that!”

“I know you’re unwilling,” Jiang Shuning sighed, trying to soothe him. “But she would only be a concubine, not the main wife. In your future official career… you might not be able to avoid Prince Jing. Perhaps you’ll have to accept this for now.”

“Elder Sister!” Jiang Tianze grasped her hand, his expression anxious. “I only wish to marry one beloved as my wife for life—I will never take a concubine! And I will never let the prince manipulate my marriage for the sake of my career! This move is clearly intentional, using the Wang family to humiliate us. His intentions are wicked!”

She looked at him, her emotions a tangled mess.

Honestly, she also found Xiao Lingchuan’s behavior baffling. Could there be a deeper scheme behind it?

Seeing her deep in thought, Jiang Tianze suddenly lowered his voice and leaned close to her ear: “Elder Sister, a few days ago, I learned a secret from Second Sister… She gave Prince Rui’s tiger tally to Prince Jing.”

Jiang Shuning’s heart shook violently. “Is that true?”

“Absolutely true! The tally is forged from black iron—I saw it with my own eyes! Elder Sister, could Prince Jing have made some kind of deal with Second Sister, using my marriage to curry favor with the Wang family or achieve some other goal?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions about this matter.” Her thoughts were in turmoil, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Let me confirm it first.”

Jiang Tianze concealed the darkness in his eyes, pretending to offer earnest advice: “Elder Sister, you must be very careful. Prince Jing is ruthless. If he finds out you’ve discovered his secret, he won’t let you off!”

Warmth spread through Jiang Shuning’s heart, and she nodded solemnly. “I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Leave Xiao Bai here to keep you company. I’ll head back now.”

Before leaving, Jiang Tianze cast a deep, meaningful glance at Jiang Shuning—a look that held too many obsessions and turbulent emotions for her to fully understand.

He thought to himself, word by word:

*Elder Sister, wait for me a little longer.*

*Once I’m strong enough, I’ll definitely take you away from this cage.*

*For the rest of our lives, it will be just the two of us.*

After Jiang Tianze had left, Jiang Shuning paced back and forth in her room.

She had to confirm whether the tiger tally of Prince Rui’s private army was really in Xiao Lingchuan’s hands.

But Xiao Lingchuan was meticulous and left no openings—any direct probing would be like walking into a trap.

After thinking it over for a long time, she finally devised a plan.

She went to the small kitchen herself, slowly simmered a bowl of calming broth, and when the night was deep and still, carried the bowl toward Xiao Lingchuan’s study.

The study was brightly lit; Xiao Lingchuan was frowning over official documents.

After two days of cold war, he had been barely restraining himself. Now, seeing her come to him voluntarily, a flicker of surprise crossed his deep eyes.

“Your Highness, it’s late. Have some calming broth.” Jiang Shuning set the white jade bowl on his desk. The herbs’ scent mixed with her own unique fragrance, immediately filling the study.

It felt like going back to a past life.

How many nights had she soothed his stomach with warm broth like this when he was in the study?

Smelling the rich aroma, Xiao Lingchuan’s appetite was whetted.

He could hardly ever refuse the food she made.

But…

“Isn’t my princess still angry at me? Such a thoughtful gesture… could it be…” He drawled the words, a playful smirk lifting the corner of his mouth, “that you’ve poisoned the soup?”

Jiang Shuning had anticipated his suspicion.

She didn’t flinch; instead, she stepped forward, looking at him with a half-smile, her gaze alluring: “If I really had poisoned it, would Your Highness dare to drink it?”

Xiao Lingchuan’s breath caught sharply.

He had never seen her like this before. All her usual gentleness had vanished, and now she looked like a captivating siren. Though he knew that approaching her meant falling into an abyss, he still couldn’t resist the urge to lose himself for her.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. Without another word, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace, settling her on his lap.

The scorching heat of his body seeped through the fabric, sending a shiver through Jiang Shuning.

“What my princess prepares for me,” he lowered his head, his nose almost brushing her cheek, his voice low and dangerous, “even if it were poisoned, I’d drink it like honey.”

As his voice trailed off, he picked up the still-warm bowl of soothing soup and drank it all in one go.

The warmth of the soothing soup slid down his throat into his stomach, as familiar and comforting as he remembered.

Xiao Lingchuan instinctively tightened his arms, holding the soft, warm figure in his embrace even closer, but his consciousness gradually blurred in the cloying fragrance, giving rise to a feeling of surreal dizziness.

His thoughts seemed to be violently yanked away for a moment.

The next instant, he came to with a start, and alarm bells went off in his mind!

The warm, soft figure was still in his arms; on the table, the empty bowl remained, and the official documents were untouched.

Everything was exactly the same as before he lost consciousness.

But that momentary sense of disconnection made him restless and uneasy.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Jiang Shuning's concerned voice pulled him back from his shock and confusion at just the right moment.

"I just..." His eyes darkened, his words carrying a hint of inquiry, "seem to have dozed off."

"Your Highness just dozed off for barely a few minutes. You must be too tired," Jiang Shuning said, as she stood up from his embrace, composedly picked up the empty bowl, and added, "Since Your Highness is weary, I'll take my leave so you can rest."

She turned and left without any hesitation.

And the moment the door closed, the last trace of tenderness in Xiao Lingchuan's eyes vanished completely.

He abruptly pulled open the drawer, activated the mechanism, and stared intently at the secret compartment that had popped open.

Everything lay inside exactly as before.

A flash of surprise and confusion crossed his face.

Could it really be that he had just been too tired and dozed off?

At this moment, Jiang Shuning walked toward the sleeping chamber, her whole body tense.

She had added a herb that causes temporary fainting to the soothing soup, and while Xiao Lingchuan was briefly unconscious, she secretly opened his secret compartment.

Inside, there was indeed a dark iron tiger tally hidden.

Jiang Yaozhen had actually given Xiao Lingchuan the tiger tally he had long coveted—the one that could mobilize Prince Rui's private troops!

Jiang Shuning's heart tightened. As in their previous life, Xiao Lingchuan and Jiang Yaozhen had inevitably become entangled again.

Would Xiao Lingchuan, having gained the benefit, truly take Jiang Yaozhen's life as he once promised?

She didn't dare take that risk.

For now, as long as he could restrain the Wang family, Xiao Lingchuan could successfully bring those private troops Xiao Xiuzhan had raised under his command.

No wonder he wanted Jiang Tianze to marry the concubine-born daughter of the Wang family's second branch.

In his eyes, the Jiang family was merely a tool to achieve his ambitions, just like in the previous life.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shuning's expression turned grave.

She could no longer sit idly by and let her father and Tianze become pawns in Xiao Lingchuan's hands.

It was time to give Concubine Cui an answer.