Chapter 70: The Heir Apparent's conduct—does it befit the Young Marquis?

"Your Highness the Crown Prince need not test me."

Half of Xiao Jingyuan's face lay in the night's gloom, rendering him inscrutable.

The Crown Prince paid no heed to Xiao Jingyuan's warning, his eyes locked on him as he said, "You refuse to marry her—is it because Song Zhang ordered Yuan Zhenfeng's death, and you won't take the enemy's granddaughter as your bride, or... because of... that Fourth Miss Shen?"

Xiao Jingyuan rubbed the wine cup, saying nothing.

The Crown Prince suddenly chuckled, looked away, and asked again, "You really won't marry her? No matter what?"

Xiao Jingyuan said, "I never repeat myself."

The Crown Prince snorted, "You are truly heartless."

Xiao Jingyuan turned his gaze to the Crown Prince: "It is Your Highness who seeks to exterminate the Song clan, not this humble official; if we speak of heartlessness, Your Highness surpasses me."

The Crown Prince's expression shifted ever so slightly, his gentle features twisting for a moment.

Xiao Jingyuan drank calmly, slowly turning the wine cup, his eyes gazing at the desolate night outside.

The Crown Prince had some understanding of why he wanted the Song clan destroyed.

Twenty years ago, the former Empress's death was closely tied to Song Zhang.

The former Empress had a keen eye for talent; she single-handedly promoted Song Zhang, treating him as a trusted confidant.

The former Empress had shown kindness to Song Zhang, yet he repaid her benevolence with betrayal; when her position as empress was imperiled, he turned to her mortal enemy—none other than the present Empress Wang.

Just as the former Empress struggled to hold onto her power, Song Zhang presented the Emperor with solid evidence of her forming factions for personal gain.

At that time, Song Zhang was the former Empress's main pillar; one could say his betrayal indirectly led to her death.

Faced with total defeat, the former Empress chose to hang herself in the inner chambers to protect the young Crown Prince and the honor of her natal family.

At that time, Di Yu was only five; the frantic cries of the palace attendants and the swaying white silk ribbons in the chambers became a nightmare he could not shake.

The former Empress's death was no secret; as Di Yu grew older, it was easy to uncover the truth of his mother's demise, so he spent years plotting, determined to annihilate the Song clan.

But perhaps the Crown Prince himself never imagined he would fall for the blood of his enemy, which gave him a sliver of tenderness.

Thus, in the Purple Dawn Pavilion, the Crown Prince proactively told Xiao Jingyuan that he would move against the Song clan early, deliberately giving Xiao Jingyuan the chance to tip off Song Xizhi.

Song Xizhi unhesitatingly sold out her own grandfather; the Crown Prince felt relieved, yet he still would not easily let off the Song clan members who trampled on the former Empress's corpse to enjoy prosperity.

If Xiao Jingyuan were willing to marry Song Xizhi, she would have a backing, and then the Crown Prince could freely move to exterminate the Song clan.

But the Crown Prince never expected Xiao Jingyuan to be so heartless.

The Crown Prince drank several cups in succession, his face flushed with strong intoxication, his fingers gripping the cup until his fingertips turned white.

"Do you think Song Zhang is hateful?" the Crown Prince murmured, "His actions harmed both the Song clan and deprived his granddaughter of happiness."

He did not see that the Crown Princess had been standing outside the door for a while.

The Crown Prince suddenly reached out, firmly gripping Xiao Jingyuan's hand, and pleaded, "I beg you, will you protect her? Be a little merciful—she is so pitiful; do not be so cruel to her. All this is Song Zhang's fault, and it has nothing to do with her..."

It was unclear whether those words were meant for Xiao Jingyuan or for himself.

Xiao Jingyuan remained silent.

Regarding Song Xizhi, he had already weighed the pros and cons; if the Crown Prince ultimately still chose to act against the Song clan, he would, on the condition of not harming the Wang residence's interests, protect her to some extent.

But he would not let the Crown Prince know this; only then would the Crown Prince refrain from utterly exterminating the Song clan.

The Crown Princess finally approached.

"'Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't drink anymore.' the Crown Princess leaned down and whispered softly into his ear."

The Crown Prince had already bowed his head deeply, showing no response.

The Crown Princess's eyes were moist; she looked sorrowful, but more so, she felt heartache.

She helped the Crown Prince to his feet, her slender frame straining to support him, and gave Xiao Jingyuan a slightly bitter smile: "When Your Highness is drunk, he likes to spout nonsense, letting the Heir Apparent see the joke."

"'No matter, first help Your Highness back to sober up; this humble official takes his leave.' Xiao Jingyuan set down his cup and rose from his seat."

The Crown Princess's smile belied her strength; the Crown Prince usually held his liquor well, but after only four or five cups he felt a bit dizzy upon standing.

Xiao Jingyuan frowned, raising a hand to rub his temple.

The Crown Princess said, "I have had the sobering soup prepared in advance; you may leave after you finish it, Heir Apparent."

The palace gates had long been locked, but Xiao Jingyuan held the waist tablet bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, granting him the privilege of exemption from summons before the Emperor, allowing him to come and go as he pleased.

However, Xiao Jingyuan did not wish to stay too late, so he politely declined the Crown Princess's kindness.

Seeing this, the Crown Princess did not insist, but turned and ordered the attendants to send the Heir Apparent out.

Leaving the Eastern Palace, Xiao Jingyuan had the attendants return, with no one following him.

At that moment, the side hall of Chang Le Gong was brightly lit.

Shen Shuangning had just finished washing up and was lying on the noble consort's couch, reading a book.

A head of soft, black hair fell over her shoulders, the ends still slightly damp; a snowy white rug was draped over her legs, and her fair feet were bare.

Her fingers slowly turned the pages, reading intently; as she lifted her hand, the sleeve slipped down, revealing a wrist as white as jade.

A breeze blew in through the window, gradually growing biting; she was about to ask Ah Heng to close the window when she looked up and saw Xiao Jingyuan standing outside the beaded curtain, she knew not when he had arrived.

It was no different from seeing a ghost.

Shen Shuangning's expression shifted slightly; she immediately sat up, seeing that he remained motionless where he stood, and tentatively called out, "Heir Apparent?"

Xiao Jingyuan finally stirred, his fingertips lifting the hanging curtain, the sound of his boots pressing against the floor heavy and slow.

His tall figure cast a shadow, the surrounding air seeming to be compressed by an invisible weight, even the furnishings appearing cramped.

Just then, a crossdraft swept the lingering alcohol scent from his robes and blew it inward.

Shen Shuangning's pupils trembled violently; she blinked and asked, "You've been drinking?"

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his gaze to her; the faintly swaying warm candlelight fell on her cheeks, making her look charming and lovely.

In his sight, she alternated between fixing him with a cold, wary stare and suddenly seeming to become someone else——

becoming the woman from his dream who looked at him with eyes full of affection, wholly relying on him as her wife.

Xiao Jingyuan narrowed his eyes slightly; the world around seemed shrouded in mist, only the woman before him clear.

Shen Shuangning suddenly felt his gaze was dangerous right now; as she was about to rise, he pressed a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to sit back down.

"Heir Apparent, what are you doing?" Shen Shuangning frowned, lifted her little face to look at him, quite displeased.

Xiao Jingyuan suddenly leaned forward and shoved her into his arms with such force it almost broke her bones.

Shen Shuangning immediately raised her hands to push him, not even calling him "Heir Apparent," and snapped, "Xiao Jingyuan, let go of me!"

"Look clearly, I'm not Song Xizhi! Don't come here to throw a drunken fit!"

Yet she didn't dare shout too loudly, fearing to attract outsiders' attention.

If a palace maid discovered her and the Heir Apparent embracing in the dead of night, her reputation would be utterly ruined.

Even if Xiao Jingyuan were unwilling to marry her, public opinion would demand she be carried in a sedan to the Prince's Mansion side gate and given the status of a concubine.

Soon after, he would take Song Xizhi as his wife; Song Xizhi would be the principal wife and she the concubine, thus fulfilling Song Xizhi's wish to share a husband with her!

Thinking this, Shen Shuangning flared with anger; seeing she couldn't push him away, she opened her mouth to bite his shoulder.

She bit down hard, through the cloth into the flesh.

A faint gasp sounded in her ear, yet Xiao Jingyuan did not loosen his grip.

He buried his face in her neck, his voice low and pleading: "Could you call me 'husband' once more?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuangning's movements froze instantly, her pupils constricted, utterly incredulous.

For a moment she thought Xiao Jingyuan had also been reborn.

In the flash of her thoughts, she suddenly recalled that when he had saved her at the Drunken Cloud Pavilion, she had mistaken him for her former husband and unintentionally called him "husband."

But logically, Xiao Jingyuan should have taken that "husband" as an offense; why would he...?

Immediately, an unbelievable idea sprang up.

Shen Shuangning released her bite and suddenly laughed.

Yet this laugh was mostly mocking.

All the earlier oddities now seemed to have an answer at this moment.

Xiao Jingyuan actually likes her?

In her previous life she exhausted her fervor chasing him, accommodating him, yet gained not a glance; this life she no longer likes him, strives to keep her distance, draws clear boundaries—yet he ends up interested in her?

So how foolish she must have been in her previous life to debase herself for a man who didn't love her.

Shen Shuangning laughed and laughed, but her eyes grew wet, her mouth full of bitterness.

She ached for herself.

Shen Shuangning lowered her hands, closed her eyes, and calmly said despite her hatred, "Xiao Jingyuan, you're truly not human."

The one he truly likes is clearly Song Xizhi, yet he comes to provoke her—what does he think she is?

Xiao Jingyuan felt moisture on his cheek, not his own; his arms instinctively loosened, and upon lifting his head he saw she was actually crying.

A sudden prickling pain stabbed his heart.

He leaned in to kiss the tears on her cheek, bit by bit, salty and astringent.

Both hands gripped her shoulders tightly, as if fearing she might flee.

Xiao Jingyuan's strong wine scent enveloped Shen Shuangning's nose and mouth like a prison, his breath scorching hot as a branding iron, his lips cool as shards of ice, each press upon her cheeks and neck carrying an irresistible force.

Shen Shuangning's tears flowed uncontrollably, her whole body rigid, unmoving.

"Don't cry..." he coaxed, his voice hoarse with a faint tremor.

Why cry? Who made her suffer injustice?

Xiao Jingyuan didn't understand, only feeling a stifled breath in his chest, very uncomfortable.

Yet at the same time another desire surged like tide after tide, breaking over him and destroying his reason.

Even a usually cool and composed man can be controlled by desire.

Xiao Jingyuan's breathing quickly grew ragged; he laid Shen Shuangning on the Imperial Concubine's Couch, loomed over her, his fingers lightly stroking her cheek, then slowly moving down her neck, his actions somewhat clumsy, fingertips trembling.

"Ningning, don't be afraid."

He didn't know where he was, only aware that the woman beneath him was his wife, who rightfully belonged to him, and that wanting her was natural.

Yet he did not see Shen Shuangning's cold, somewhat numb face.

Just as Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head to kiss her lips, she finally stirred, speaking with a calm expression.

"Heir Apparent, does this behavior befit the Young Marquis?"