Chapter 287: His One-Sided Concern

Chapter 287 His Unilateral Concern

Xiao Lingchuan forced Jiang Shuning into his carriage, making her stumble and crash into the soft cushions.

The carriage was cramped; he squeezed in after her, his tall frame instantly stealing all the light and air.

An oppressive, suffocating weight pressed down on her.

“The prince got what he wanted. He should be happy, right?” Her voice was icy, every word dripping with undisguised hatred.

Xiao Huaijin's desperate scream still seemed to echo in her ears, like a dull knife repeatedly cutting into her heart.

Xiao Lingchuan tore off the black cloth mask from his face and casually tossed it aside.

His handsome face, chiseled in the dim light, cold and lifeless.

“No, not at all happy.” He leaned in, planting his arms on either side of her, trapping her in his shadow.

He yanked her into his arms, so hard it felt like he wanted to crush her into his own body. His eyes, like a hawk's, locked onto her, pinning her in place. “Especially when I see you feeling sorry for that useless Xiao Huaijin, it just makes me even angrier. He clearly couldn't protect you, so why do you still hold onto unrealistic hopes for him?”

Jiang Shuning met his gaze, a contemptuous smirk curled at the corner of her lips.

“Has the prince never heard of ‘betting it all on one last chance’? I was simply at my wit's end!”

He backs me into a corner, then mocks me for grasping at straws.

Xiao Lingchuan's eyes flickered coldly over her face, as if trying to see through her.

“If you're at your wit's end, why not just stay put? Wouldn't that be better?”

“Today the prince has cut off all my escape routes, so I have no choice but to stay put.” Her tone grew calm, but it was even more chilling than her earlier anger—a calm, absolute despair.

Xiao Lingchuan seemed satisfied with her resigned demeanor. He tightened his arms around her, rested his chin on the top of her head, and his voice held a trace of barely concealed pleasure. “Good, you've come to see it that way.”

The carriage lurched violently. Jiang Shuning's stomach churned, and she couldn't help leaning over and dry heaving.

By the time she tried to hide it, it was too late.

Xiao Lingchuan's arms around her instantly stiffened.

He released her, sat up straight, and stared unblinkingly at her pale face, his eyes sharp as knives.

His gaze was as sharp as a knife, making her feel pinned to the spot, her scalp tingling.

“This time, it's not because you find me disgusting, is it?” His voice was low, unreadable.

Without looking at her again, he ordered through the carriage door in a deep voice: “Ling Feng, summon Divine Physician Sun!”

Jiang Shuning's palms instinctively clenched, cold sweat soaking her back.

It was over.

This time, there was no hiding it.

The carriage drove straight into the Prince Jing's residence.

In the bedchamber, calming sandalwood incense was burning. Jiang Shuning was settled onto the bed, and Xiao Lingchuan sat beside her, watching her intently.

As if, if he looked away for even a second, she'd sprout wings and fly off.

Divine Physician Sun arrived quickly. After a thorough examination using the four traditional diagnostic methods, he stood up, bowed to Xiao Lingchuan, who sat with a somber expression, and announced in a clear voice:

“Congratulations, Your Highness! The princess is pregnant—over a month along.”

For a brief moment, Xiao Lingchuan's body went rigid, a flash of wild joy and excitement in his eyes.

But that emotion lasted only an instant. When his gaze fell on Jiang Shuning's expressionless face and cold eyes, that joy quickly cooled into ice.

His face darkened, turning terrifying.

“You knew you were pregnant long ago, didn't you?” He looked down at her, his voice barely containing a raging fury. “How dare you! You intended to run off with my own flesh and blood!”

Jiang Shuning did not answer his question. Instead, she calmly raised her eyes to meet his and asked flatly, “Isn't the prince still going on the western campaign?”

Xiao Lingchuan reached out, his fingertips winding a strand of her hair that lay on the pillow, idly twirling it.

“The western expedition is not as important as my heir.” He lowered his eyelids, his tone seemingly gentle but carrying an indisputable authority. “Since my princess is carrying my child, I'll naturally stay and accompany you through the pregnancy.”

“Does the prince like children?” she asked again, her voice as indifferent as if discussing the weather.

Xiao Lingchuan paused for a moment, then said, “If the princess gives birth to them, I will naturally like them.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Shuning suddenly laughed, a bitter, sorrowful smile that wouldn't fade. “I thought the prince didn't like children. If you really did, why did you give me so much contraceptive medicine in our past life?”

These words, like a poisoned needle, pierced straight into the most hidden corner of Xiao Lingchuan's heart.

The fingers twirling her hair suddenly tightened, then released as he sensed her pain.

The air in the bedchamber seemed to freeze.

His face was gloomy. He was silent for a long moment, then spoke hoarsely: “I know you resent me for this. But I had no choice. In our past life, when I was contending for power with Xiao Xiuzhan, I escaped death countless times. If you had borne my child then, it would have only become another weakness for me.”

“I see.” Jiang Shuning replied faintly, the mockery in her eyes deepening. “It seems the prince loves power more than his own offspring. But by the time you seize power, I won't be able to raise children for you anymore. After all, drinking that stuff every day for ten years without a break has long since ruined my body.”

She paused, raised her cold eyes to look straight at him, as if she found him laughable.

“But that doesn't affect the prince's ability to sire heirs. After all, you're destined to be an emperor. Once you sit on that throne, I'm sure many young beauties will be vying to have your children, won't they?”

Her words grew sharper, like a knife carving him up piece by piece.

“Would the prince be so kind as to tell me… how many children did you have in your past life?”

Xiao Lingchuan's face had turned extremely grim. His handsome features were taut, as if her soul-searing words had thoroughly infuriated him.

His chest heaved violently, his Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't utter a word.

After a long moment, he suddenly swept his sleeve and turned his back to her, his voice cold enough to shatter ice.

“Get some rest. I'll come see you later!”

Before finishing, he strode out swiftly, heavy with fury and embarrassment.

“Bang!”

The door slammed shut. Jiang Shuning's smirk only grew.

He's furious and humiliated!

Lying in bed, wrapped in the faint, soothing scent of the incense, her consciousness slowly faded, and before she knew it, she was asleep.

She dreamed of a lovely child as pure as jade and snow, toddling unsteadily toward her, babbling "Mama" as he came.

Her heart softened, and she was just about to reach out and embrace the child when suddenly a tall figure appeared before her.

It was Xiao Lingchuan!

He strode over, his face as dark as a storm cloud, and scooped the child up, looking down at her coldly. His voice was low and menacing: "How dare you try to take my child away?"

Jiang Shuning jolted awake from the dream, her forehead covered in cold sweat, her heart pounding as if it might leap out of her chest.

Seeing this, Ling Wu rushed over and asked gently, "Your Highness, what’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Perhaps the dream felt too real, or perhaps the emotions she had been suppressing could no longer be suppressed. Jiang Shuning’s eyes reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She fixed her gaze on Ling Wu, her voice low and hoarse, laced with an indescribable pain: "What exactly did the Prince promise you? Why did you betray me?"

Ling Wu stiffened at the words. After a moment of hesitation, she finally lowered her head, her voice tinged with guilt: "Your Highness, the truth is... I have always been the Prince’s person. Back then, it was also the Prince who, learning that you had been schemed against by a concubine, arranged for me to be by your side, to secretly protect you."

"What? All along you were...?" Jiang Shuning’s pupils contracted sharply, so shocked she could barely speak.

She had originally thought that Ling Wu had been bribed after entering Prince Jing’s residence, but she never expected that he had planted a spy by her side from the very beginning.

Her throat tightened, and a bitter, rueful smile tugged at the corner of her lips: "He always praised me for being clever. I thought I actually had some wits. Now I realize he was mocking my stupidity, wasn’t he? Planting someone by my side so early, knowing every move I made—he must have been so pleased with himself, effortlessly manipulating me like a puppet!"

Seeing her self-mocking and sorrowful demeanor, Ling Wu’s heart ached with bitterness, and she couldn’t help herself and said, "Your Highness, please don’t think that way... The Prince is just overly concerned about you."

"Cares?" Jiang Shuning let out a cold laugh, her eyes filled with mockery and pain. "That’s not caring—it’s the desire to control everything!"

Just like in her past life, when he didn’t want any weaknesses, he intentionally kept his distance from her and even forced her to drink a contraceptive potion, never asking for her feelings or willingness.

Planting someone by her side early in this life was also to satisfy his need for control.

What caring? It was nothing but his wishful self-righteousness!

She took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and fixed her gaze on Ling Wu, her voice tinged with bitter resentment: "I was very discreet this time. How did you still find out?"

Ling Wu shook her head: "It wasn’t me who found out you were leaving, Your Highness. It was Concubine Zhao who overheard your plan with Concubine Cui, and then reported it to the Prince!"

"Her?" Jiang Shuning’s brows tightened. Just then, Xiao Cui’s heart-wrenching cries came from outside the door: "Your Highness, I beg you, save Concubine Cui! I beg you..."

Jiang Shuning’s heart jolted. She quickly composed herself and said in a low voice: "Ling Wu, let her in!"

Ling Wu had no choice but to open the door.

Xiao Cui stumbled in, fell to her knees before Jiang Shuning, and pleaded: "Your Highness, the Prince has locked Concubine Cui in the mansion’s prison. Please, save her!"