Chapter 308 He Went Completely Mad

Chapter 308: He Had Completely Gone Mad

"Your Highness, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please do not act rashly!" Divine Physician Sun was terrified by the madness in his eyes and advised with a trembling voice.

These words seemed to awaken Xiao Lingchuan, who was sinking into delirium.

He released his grip on Divine Physician Sun's collar, slowly straightened up, and the heart-wrenching fury miraculously subsided.

His eyes were bloodshot, his voice eerily calm: "Who says the dead cannot be brought back? I will defy the heavens!"

"Ling Wu."

Ling Wu shuddered, lifting her tear-streaked face, filled with confusion and fear.

"Now, immediately send an urgent letter to Jiang Tianze," Xiao Lingchuan's command was clear and cold. "Tell him I am taking the Princess Consort to Nanyue! He must arrange everything!"

Nanyue?

But the Princess Consort... wasn't she already...

Ling Wu's mind was a mess, clearly unable to grasp Xiao Lingchuan's intentions.

But meeting his bloodshot eyes, her heart tightened, and she could only swallow her fear and doubts.

"Yes... yes, Your Highness. This servant... will go at once."

With that, she stumbled out.

In one night, the sky over the Prince Jing's residence had completely collapsed.

The news of the Princess Consort's "death from illness" hung like a thick dark cloud, shrouding the entire mansion in a lifeless gloom.

Servants walked on tiptoe, holding their breath, afraid to disturb their master, who had gone completely mad.

In the Cangjin Pavilion, Cui Zhilan was stunned beyond words when Xiao Cui brought the news. She even dropped her teacup, which shattered on the floor.

Not only had Xiao Lingchuan rushed back to the mansion, but now he was going to transport Jiang Shuning's "corpse" to Nanyue?

What did he intend to do!

Cui Zhilan's face turned deathly pale, a chill creeping from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She had heard Jiang Shuning say that the effects of the Rebirth Herb were time-limited; the state of suspended death could last at most seven days.

After seven days, the medicine would wear off, and Jiang Shuning would wake up.

If her "corpse" was still by Xiao Lingchuan's side at that time, wouldn't everything be exposed on the spot?

No, absolutely not!

She had to persuade Xiao Lingchuan to have Jiang Shuning "buried" as soon as possible!

Filled with anxiety, Cui Zhilan lifted her skirts and rushed toward the main courtyard.

But just as she reached the entrance, she was stopped by two stern-faced guards.

"Concubine Cui, the Prince has ordered that no one may enter."

"I must see the Prince on urgent business! It concerns the funeral arrangements for the Princess Consort!" Cui Zhilan pleaded urgently, her voice trembling.

The guards stood expressionless, like two emotionless stone statues: "The Prince has said no one is allowed in. Please return, Concubine Cui."

No matter how much she begged, the two guards stood firm.

Xiao Lingchuan refused to see anyone.

He had locked himself and Jiang Shuning's "corpse" inside that icy bedchamber, refusing all contact with the outside world.

The night deepened.

The residence was silent, save for the unsettling sound of chiseling, which came intermittently from the workshop in the back courtyard, lasting the entire night.

At dawn, a coffin entirely made of ice was carried into the main courtyard by several strong men.

The ice coffin was crystal clear, exuding a chill that seemed to freeze one's soul.

Xiao Lingchuan personally opened the lid.

He had not slept all night; the dark circles under his eyes and the bloodshot veins made him look haggard and eerie.

He was quite satisfied with this ice coffin.

The summer heat in Nanyue was unbearable, and only this cold jade ice coffin could protect her body from the ravages of time.

He bent down, with a reverent posture, and gently lifted Jiang Shuning, who had long grown cold on the bed, carefully placing her inside the ice coffin.

His movements were so slow, so focused, as if the person in his arms was not a corpse, but a rare treasure.

The next day, a strange procession quietly left the Prince Jing's residence.

A huge carriage pulled by eight horses, its body tightly wrapped in thick black cloth, was surrounded by a squad of elite guards.

Xiao Lingchuan, dressed in black, rode a horse, personally escorting the carriage.

Cui Zhilan stood by the window of the Cangjin Pavilion, watching the procession disappear into the dust, feeling a chill all over.

Xiao Lingchuan had gone mad.

This man had been completely consumed by his obsession.

Oh, Jiang Shuning, you truly underestimated his obsession with you.

He wouldn't even let go of your corpse!

—

After five days and nights of relentless travel, both men and horses were at their limit.

The wind and sand had carved Xiao Lingchuan's face like rock; his lips were cracked and bleeding, but his eyes were like two burning ghostly flames, stubbornly fixed on the border of Nanyue ahead.

On the sixth morning after Jiang Shuning's "death," when the border checkpoint of Nanyue was in sight, a group of riders came galloping from the opposite direction.

The leading youth, dressed in the luxurious brocade robe characteristic of Nanyue, had spirited eyebrows and a bold aura.

Seeing Xiao Lingchuan's procession from afar, a bright smile broke across his face.

It was Jiang Tianze.

He spurred his horse closer, his impatient voice echoing across the wilderness: "Where is my eldest sister?"

He reined in his horse, dismounted, and hurried towards the huge carriage wrapped in black cloth, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

Xiao Lingchuan said nothing, just stared at him expressionlessly, his eyes deep and impenetrable like a dry well.

The guards silently made way.

The smile on Jiang Tianze's face froze gradually as he lifted the black cloth and saw the crystal-clear ice coffin.

The woman lying inside the coffin had a serene expression, her skin deathly pale without a trace of color.

She lay there quietly, as if merely asleep.

But the bone-chilling cold seeping from the ice coffin, together with the lifeless stillness of her body, grabbed Jiang Tianze by the throat like two invisible hands.

The color instantly drained from his face. He stood frozen on the spot, his pupils shrinking sharply.

"No... this can't be happening..." he murmured, his voice trembling uncontrollably, reaching out but not daring to touch the icy coffin wall.

He whipped around, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Xiao Lingchuan as if he wanted to eat him alive.

"Xiao Lingchuan, is this how you take care of Big Sister?!"

A heart-wrenching, soul-tearing roar.

Jiang Tianze, as if drained of all strength, staggered and collapsed onto the ice coffin, tears streaming down his face, hot and heavy, splashing on the frozen surface.

"Big Sister... Wake up! Tianze has come to take you home!"

He had barely managed to quietly eliminate all the princes of Nanyue eligible for succession, becoming the sole Crown Prince of Nanyue.

He was just one step away from having the power to rival Xiao Lingchuan.

But she was dead!

If she's dead, what meaning is there in everything he's done?!

Overwhelming grief turned into bone-deep hatred. Jiang Tianze suddenly sprang up from the ground, drawing his longsword and pointing its tip straight at Xiao Lingchuan's heart.

"I'll kill you!"

The sword's energy was fierce, carrying a determination to die together.

Xiao Lingchuan's eyes narrowed as he sidestepped to dodge, his movements like a phantom.

He didn't even draw his sword, easily parrying Jiang Tianze's frenzied attacks with just the scabbard.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang incessantly. After just a few moves, Xiao Lingchuan found an opening, twisted his wrist, and struck precisely Jiang Tianze's wrist with the scabbard.

The longsword flew out of his hand and landed in the sand a few steps away.

The next moment, Xiao Lingchuan's own sword was drawn, its icy tip pressed firmly against Jiang Tianze's forehead.

There was no fear in Jiang Tianze's eyes, only utter despair.

He even stepped forward, letting the cold tip cut his skin and draw a bead of blood.

"Go ahead and kill me! I don't want to live anyway! If I die, I can go see Big Sister!"

Xiao Lingchuan looked at his desperate expression, with not a trace of sympathy in his eyes, only bone-chilling coldness and impatience.

"This is not the time for your useless words!" His voice was hoarse, but each word was like ice. "Quick! Send Shuning to Qiyue Mountain. I need to see the elder there!"

Jiang Tianze's brow twitched violently as he looked at him in disbelief: "What do you want to do?"

Xiao Lingchuan stared at the tranquil sleeping face inside the ice coffin, the madness and obsession in his eyes almost becoming tangible.

He spoke slowly, each word, his voice not loud but striking his ears like a thunderbolt.

"Naturally... to resurrect my princess!"