Chapter 260: This Prince’s God Is Himself

Chapter 260: I Am My Own God

Once a thought takes root in the heart, it can no longer be suppressed.

The next day, just as the sky began to lighten and the morning mist had yet to dissipate, the entire Prince Jing residence was still wrapped in silence.

Jiang Shuning changed into a maid’s clothes, deliberately avoiding even her personal maid, Ling Wu. Under Liu Ye’s guidance, she quietly slipped into a secluded courtyard called Zangjin Pavilion.

When Cui Zhilan saw her, an uncontrollable joy lit up her eyes.

"Miss Jiang!" She hurried forward, grabbing Jiang Shuning’s wrist, her voice trembling with excitement, "You... have you made up your mind?"

Jiang Shuning did not answer immediately. Her cold gaze swept cautiously around, confirming that only Cui Zhilan’s personal maid was busy in the distance. Only then did she refocus on her, asking word by word, "Secondary Consort Cui, how certain is Prince Ning’s plan, exactly?"

Cui Zhilan pulled her over to a stone bench under the corridor, leaning in, speaking rapidly in a voice only the two of them could hear, spilling the whole plan:

"My cousin says everything is ready, just waiting for your nod!"

"Three days from now is the Spring God Festival. As a member of the imperial family, Prince Jing must attend the ceremony at the palace and will be away the entire day. The whole city will celebrate, the city gates will be wide open, and the guards will be more relaxed than usual—it’s the perfect time to leave!"

"The residence will purchase supplies for the sacrifice. My cousin has already arranged an inconspicuous carriage that will blend in with the supplies convoy, smuggling you out unnoticed. Outside the city, his people will receive you."

She paused, her eyes filled with longing and hope, as if she, not Jiang Shuning, were about to regain freedom.

"He has already prepared a boat that will take you south by waterway, straight to Nanyang. Nanyang is prosperous and far from the emperor’s reach. Once there, with a new identity, who could find you?"

Nanyang...

Those two words, like a pebble, sent ripples across the dead lake of Jiang Shuning’s heart.

In her previous life, trapped deep inside the mansion, she had countless times dreamed of that Jiangnan water town she had only read about in books.

Small bridges over flowing water, hazy mist and rain, bluestone paths gleaming from the rain, the air thick with moisture and the fragrance of blossoms.

No boxy mansion, no towering palace walls, and no shadow of Xiao Lingchuan haunting her every move.

It was a place where she could breathe freely.

"And you?" Jiang Shuning pulled herself back from that fleeting reverie, looking at Cui Zhilan, "Aren’t you coming with us?"

Cui Zhilan's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she shook her head, her gaze resolute: "You don’t need to worry about me. Once you leave successfully, my cousin will naturally send someone to fetch me. I’m just an unloved secondary consort in the mansion, a nobody. The prince probably wouldn’t even care to keep me. If I left with you, Prince Jing would immediately guess my cousin was behind it. That would drag the Cui family and my aunt into it."

Jiang Shuning’s heart clenched. She nodded: "You’re right. We must be extremely careful and not drag Grand Consort Rong or the Cui family into this."

Cui Zhilan gripped her hand firmly, her eyes earnest: "Sister Jiang, my cousin will be thrilled to know you’re willing to leave the mansion with him! I’ve never... never seen him so hung up on a woman. Please don’t let him down!"

Xiao Huaijin’s feelings...

Jiang Shuning lowered her eyes, her long lashes hiding the storm of emotions inside.

She was grateful for Xiao Huaijin’s help, but right now, her mind was filled only with escape and revenge—no room for love or romance.

"I understand," she replied softly, her voice gave away nothing.

After finalizing everything, Jiang Shuning left hastily, not daring to linger.

Back in the main courtyard’s bedchamber, the moment the door closed, the tension in her back relaxed a little.

Nanyang.

Freedom.

Those two words, like a spell, echoed in her head, sending shivers down her spine.

For a moment, she was almost carried away by this false hope, imagining herself already aboard that boat heading to Jiangnan.

But she quickly calmed down. The plan sounded perfect, but one wrong move and it would be catastrophic.

The biggest unknown was Xiao Lingchuan.

She knew better than anyone how deep his schemes ran and how ruthless he could be.

Escaping right under his nose was like trying to climb to heaven.

The Spring God Festival in three days was her only chance.

She had to ensure that on that day, Xiao Lingchuan would absolutely not be in the mansion.

During dinner, Xiao Lingchuan entered the room, still carrying the outside chill.

Seeing Jiang Shuning sitting at the table, idly poking at her rice, he came over, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?" His warm breath brushed against her ear, bringing that familiar, creepy feeling of being invaded.

Jiang Shuning’s body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. She turned her head to look at him: "I was wondering about the Spring God Festival in three days. What plans does Your Highness have for that day?"

Xiao Lingchuan lazily pulled his arms tighter, pulling her entirely into his embrace, his voice laced with a dismissive smirk: "I don’t believe in gods or ghosts. Why put myself through that boring ceremony at the palace when I can stay here with you?"

Jiang Shuning’s heart skipped a beat.

She suppressed the surging emotions within, turned around, and looked up at him, her eyes brilliant with forced sincerity.

"Your Highness, how can you not believe in gods and ghosts? I used to not believe either, but now I am convinced. If there were no gods and ghosts, how could we have been reborn?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "reborn," and sure enough, his expression flickered.

"In my opinion, Your Highness should go to the palace and pray alongside the high monks," she reached out, pretending to straighten his collar, her expression gentle. "I’ve heard that the Spring God blesses Daye with favorable weather and good harvests. Your Highness will one day take the throne—you have to show the people of Daye that you're sincere, isn’t that right?"

Xiao Lingchuan said nothing, just stared at her fixedly.

Those unfathomably dark eyes, like two deep whirlpools, threatened to suck her soul in.

His gaze was too sharp, as if it could pierce through her skin and see the deepest secrets of her heart.

Jiang Shuning felt her scalp tingle, cold sweat trickling down her back. She almost couldn’t maintain her composure.

Just as she was about to crack, he suddenly laughed.

He raised his hand, his long fingers gently tracing her cheek, the calloused pads brushing against her delicate skin, sending a shiver through her.

"Then I’ll listen to my princess and go pray at the palace that day."

Jiang Shuning’s suspended heart finally settled back into place.

"But," he paused, his gaze turning meaningful, with a condescending arrogance, "I have never believed in gods or spirits. I am my own god."

This outrageously arrogant statement struck Jiang Shuning’s heart like a heavy hammer, nearly suffocating her.

How could someone who considers himself a deity care about the joys and sorrows of mortals?

In his eyes, all beings are but ants.

Jiang Shuning instantly perceived his obsession with her.

She was another anomaly—one who had also glimpsed the cycle of life and death and slipped from his grasp—appearing in his world where he alone reigned supreme.

It was less about love or desire and more about a deity's primal urge to conquer and devour another deity.