Chapter 19: The Madly Passionate Prince and the Spoiled, Privileged Princess (19)

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Shu Yao grew weary of her own scheming thoughts, constantly calculating every move. The facade of sisterly affection was purely sustained by mutual interest. Shu Yao had no doubt that if the original person was out of favor and had no use to Emperor Chu An, she would be bullied even more cruelly than Zhao Yang. With nothing but her face to rely on, she would suffer endlessly.

Maintaining her role, Shu Yao gradually sat down beside Empress Dowager Xiao De. Chu Mingjue lay motionless on the bed, his forehead wrapped in bandages, his breathing so weak that even the rise and fall of his chest was barely perceptible. His lips were cracked, peeling, with droplets of water clinging to the dead skin—no doubt the Empress Dowager had sent someone to give him water. Once so arrogant and domineering at court banquets, who could have imagined he would one day lie here on the brink of death?

Heaven’s way is a cycle of retribution.

According to the original storyline, after Zhao Yang saved Shen Jingmu at the palace banquet, this “petty-minded” male lead immediately plotted the horse-riding accident. Chu Mingjue was severely injured; the Third Prince lost a major ally and then turned his attention to An Le. Two months later, the original person was sent by Emperor Chu An to marry into a neighboring kingdom. Empress Dowager Xiao De married An Le to the eldest son of Grand Commandant Li’s family, thereby helping the Third Prince secure the Crown Prince’s position.

But before the crown could be firmly seated, Shen Jingmu, who was held hostage within the palace, disappeared. When they met again, he led the cavalry of the Great Liao to trample the capital. After over a year as a hostage, Shen Jingmu had mapped out every fortress inside the palace, so the Great Liao cavalry passed through like no one’s land.

The bridal convoy was intercepted midway; Shen Jingmu would never allow the original person to leave and pose a hidden danger. So he forced her to return to the capital and stabbed her to death.

Counting the days, only two months remained. She had already completed three plot points and only needed to continue tormenting Shen Jingmu, making him grovel, before marrying off and awaiting death.

“Jia Ning? Jia Ning?”

Shu Yao finally snapped back to reality as Empress Dowager Xiao De looked at her with concern.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Are you feeling unwell?”

Shu Yao pressed her pale lips together and softly replied, “Nothing, I was punished by the emperor to kneel last time and caught a chill; it’s just a slight headache.”

The Empress Dowager gently patted her hand. “Your father only wants what’s best for you. Don’t blame him.”

Shu Yao nodded. “Jia Ning understands Father’s good intentions.”

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly, her tone slow and deliberate. “Good that you understand. Now that our nation’s strength wanes, your fifth brother also...”

“Ah, our fate now rests entirely on your third brother. Let’s just hope he can muster some resolve.”

In front of Shu Yao and An Le, the Empress Dowager did not hesitate to discuss these “treasonous” ambitions for the throne. She used her usual tactic of showing weakness and care to gradually draw the original person into their camp.

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“Your Highness, rest assured, Jia Ning will do her best. Fifth brother is a man favored by heaven; he will be fine.”

Hearing the reassurance in her words, the Empress Dowager smiled bitterly and shifted the topic to An Le.

“And you, you’re not getting any younger. It’s time to arrange a marriage.”

An Le’s face showed displeasure. “Mother!”

The Empress Dowager immediately restrained her smile. “At your father’s birthday banquet, did you see any young noblemen you fancied?”

An Le’s expression darkened, and she replied stubbornly, “No.”

The Empress Dowager said, “That doesn’t matter. I will find a few suitable families for you to meet. You should expand your social circle.”

“Forming a good marriage alliance will also help your third brother.”

Though reluctant, An Le could only bow and agree. She knew that in Mother’s heart, she would never compare to her third brother. Because she was a princess who could not inherit the throne, she could only be the sacrificial pawn.

Half an incense stick later, Chu Lanqing also came to visit, discussing matters with Empress Dowager Xiao De in the inner chamber. Their conversation was not for outsiders, so An Le and Shu Yao remained by the Fifth Prince’s bedside, exchanging glances.

An Le tentatively looked up. “Jia Ning, do you want to marry?”

Shu Yao sipped her tea, responding calmly, “Whether I marry or not is not important to me, but it is what Father most wishes to see. He treats me well; I do not wish to disappoint him.”

An Le bit her lip, conflicted. “But I don’t want Mother to arrange a marriage for me and sacrifice my life.”

She did not want to be a pawn on the chessboard.

If...

If Jia Ning married early and helped third brother seize the throne, then would she still need to sacrifice herself?

“Jia Ning...” An Le hesitated, “I...”

Seeing her expression, Shu Yao knew it was not good news.

“What is it? Speak plainly. What’s the point of hiding things?”

Just as An Le was about to comfort her, they suddenly heard the Empress Dowager’s angry voice from the inner chamber: “This cannot be allowed!”

Then Chu Lanqing’s urgent pleading, though the words were muffled and unclear.

An Le and Shu Yao exchanged puzzled looks.

The argument ended with the Empress Dowager smashing a cup. Soon after, Shu Yao saw Chu Lanqing exit the inner room. His face was grim, his fists clenched tightly, and even his bow was filled with grit teeth.

“Your servant takes his leave first.”

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With those words, Chu Lanqing swept his sleeves and left. The Empress Dowager followed out, her face weary.

“Mother, what’s wrong? Third brother, what’s going on...?”

Meeting An Le’s concerned gaze, the Empress Dowager forced a smile. “Don’t worry, it’s just some court affairs.”

On the way out, An Le kept replaying the recent events in her mind.

Her mother was usually mild-tempered and especially doted on third brother, never once raising her voice at him since childhood.

What had happened this time to cause such a scene?

An Le was filled with doubts, but since the Empress Dowager never let her interfere in court matters, she was completely in the dark.

Once they left, the Empress Dowager finally dropped her mask, collapsing into a chair. Her phoenix coronet nearly fell to the ground, her coiled hair loosened, losing the dignity befitting a queen.

Her attendant hurried to support her. “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said, gripping a porcelain bottle tightly. The surface of the bottle was cold, yet in her palm it felt like a burning coal.

The heat made her heart tremble, throat tightening.

“The eldest son of the Grand Commandant’s family frequents pleasure quarters. If we directly marry An Le off, she would surely resist.”

“Better to use some means, have them consummate the marriage before she can refuse. Even if An Le is unwilling, she will have no choice but to go through with it.”

“Mother, you know well the complicated power behind the Grand Commandant. No one is more suitable. Now that your fifth brother is injured, An Le must be sacrificed.”

“Consider carefully. If it weren’t unavoidable, I would never have designs on An Le. She is my most beloved sister.”

She knew of Li Si’s eldest son, Li Lian—fond of chasing women and wine, lacking any semblance of manliness. Yet his father was the Grand Commandant. For Lanqing to secure the Crown Prince’s position, he would need Li Si’s support.

This was forcing her to choose: the Crown Prince’s throne or An Le.

Empress Dowager Xiao De’s lips moved as she looked toward the faint figure of Chu Mingjue on the couch, life uncertain.

She closed her eyes, feeling a sharp throbbing between her brows, a fine pain tearing at her nerves.

After a moment, her resolve was set. She turned to the attendant.

“In two days, hold a banquet. Invite An Le and the Grand Commandant’s son to meet and consider each other.”

The attendant’s eyes widened sharply. “Y-yes, Your Highness.”