Chapter 113 Physically Disabled, Unworthy

Jiang Zhi has her own opinions and doesn't like to be restrained.

By doing this, Lu Yuan will only push her further away.

Seeing his confident look, Lu Yuan couldn't help but sneer, "Don't assume you know her well just because you've spent a lot of time with her."

"You'll find out later." Shen Ci'an couldn't agree with him on anything.

*

When Jiang Zhi was led into the palace by a young eunuch to express her gratitude, she happened to run into Xiao Yunheng coming out of the imperial study.

After Jiang Zhi finished expressing her gratitude, she came out and found Xiao Yunheng waiting for her in the corridor not far from the Imperial Study.

Jiang Zhi stepped forward and bowed, "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Seeing that Xiao Yunheng seemed to have something to say to Jiang Zhi, the eunuch wisely withdrew.

"No need for formalities," Xiao Yunheng said, his expression unreadable. "I haven't yet congratulated Miss Jiang on her conferment of the title. From now on, I should address you as Princess Qinghe."

"Your subject is terrified."

Xiao Yunheng then said, "I've been waiting here for Princess Qinghe to ask how the matter of copying the scriptures is progressing."

Ever since leaving the Prince Su's residence, Jiang Zhi had been busy collecting evidence against Wang Yuru and hadn't had much time for anything else. So she said somewhat shyly, "This humble woman has been very busy lately and has only just begun. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Xiao Yunheng smiled and said, "It's alright, Princess Qinghe, there's no need to rush. The thank-you gift I promised you last time was delayed because of that accident, so I'll give it to you today."

He took off the string of pigeon-blood red agate beads from his wrist and handed it to her, saying, "Please accept this, Your Highness."

Jiang Zhi repeatedly declined, "No, no, this is too precious. It's just spending some time copying scriptures. How can I accept such a generous gift from the young master?"

Jiang Zhi noticed that he often wore this agate beaded string; its color was a rich and pure red, and it looked extremely luxurious.

Xiao Yunheng insisted, "It's just a string of agate beads. Princess Qinghe has fulfilled my filial piety, and I don't know how to thank you enough. Besides, you suffered such a fright at Prince Su's mansion last time, so consider this an apology."

Jiang Zhi still refused to accept it.

She subconsciously felt that this Prince Xiang was not as approachable as he appeared, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

Seeing her resolute attitude, Xiao Yunheng had no choice but to give up and asked her again, "What about my suggestion to Princess Qinghe to become my heir's wife?"

Jiang Zhi thought the matter was over, but she didn't expect him to bring it up again.

There were too many people around, and she was just about to make up an excuse when a familiar voice suddenly came from there.

"I saw you all from afar. What are you chatting about so happily?"

Jiang Zhi looked up and saw Xiao Xuanyou's figure, and her heart tightened.

I was just relieved that I hadn't seen him in the palace, but I never expected to run into him like this.

Jiang Zhi bowed to him.

Xiao Yunheng's face showed no other expression, he simply nodded in acknowledgment, "It's just that my mother and Princess Qinghe get along quite well, and I was just about to ask when Princess Qinghe would have time to visit the Prince of Xiang's residence again."

Xiao Xuanyou was somewhat surprised.

Princess Xiang is a person who doesn't care about worldly affairs, is devoted to Buddhism, and spends her days eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures. How could she possibly get along with Jiang Zhi?

He smiled and said, "It is the county princess's good fortune that the Princess Consort of Xiang likes her."

Xiao Yunheng nodded, seemingly joking, "My mother also hopes that I can marry Princess Qinghe and bring her back to the Prince of Xiang's residence, so that she will have a companion."

Xiao Xuanyou's expression changed instantly, but he was always calm and composed. In the instant he raised his eyes, the surprise and doubt that had been surging in his eyes had receded, leaving only a deep and unfathomable melancholy.

"Is the Princess Consort of Xiang serious?"

Jiang Zhi inwardly knew something was wrong.

She finally understood why she had found Xiao Yunheng strange.

From the moment they met until now, no, perhaps even back when she went to the Prince of Xiang's residence, he had been subtly probing her in his words.

But what was his purpose in doing this?

“Your Highness is so surprised,” Xiao Yunheng looked up at him, a self-deprecating look on his face, “Do you think that because I am disabled, I am not worthy of Princess Qinghe?”

"How could that be?" Xiao Xuanyou forced an unnatural smile. "Did Princess Qinghe agree?"

Xiao Yunheng glanced at Jiang Zhi, then at Xiao Xuanyou, and suddenly burst into laughter. "It was just a joke, Your Highness. There's no need to be nervous. How could a cripple like me possibly harm a good girl?"

Xiao Xuanyou's face was extremely ugly.

Jiang Zhi sighed and stepped in to smooth things over, "Your Highness is only worried that I am not worthy of the young master and that it would damage his reputation. Your Highness, am I right?"

Xiao Xuanyou stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as dark as unyielding ink. When he saw Jiang Zhi wink at him, he finally nodded slightly, "That's right."

Xiao Yunheng knew when to stop, saying, "Then Yunheng thanks Your Highness for your concern."

He then said to Jiang Zhi, "Is Princess Qinghe about to leave the palace? I'd like to accompany you."

As Xiao Xuanyou watched the two figures leave, his brows and eyes seemed frozen in ice, and the murderous aura around him was almost bursting forth.

He swung his palm hard, and the tree trunk next to him snapped instantly, its leaves falling in a flurry.

Xiao Yunheng? Very good.

As soon as Jiang Zhi returned to the mansion, Qing Xing told her that the Jiang family had sent Wang Yuru's trusted nanny, Granny Song, who had been waiting at the mansion for quite some time.

“Young Miss, Madam is too ashamed to see you. She says she knows she is now beyond redemption and no longer begs for your forgiveness. She only hopes to repent and reflect on her sins before Madam Yuan’s memorial tablet before she dies.”

Granny Song knelt at the lower end, her posture very humble.

Jiang Zhi took a sip of the tea that Qingxing handed her. "Is that really what she thinks?"

“Master already knows everything. He scolded Madam severely and even wants her to pay with her life,” Song Mama wiped away her tears. “Madam only asks that Miss grant her last wish before she dies. After that, she can do whatever she wants with her.”

The Jiang family is now in complete chaos.

Jiang Zhi presented all the evidence to Jiang Zhengting. If Jiang Zhengting continued to cover it up, then the evidence would be sent to the Dali Temple intact.

If this matter blows up, he will not only lose face, but he will also lose his official position.

This forced him to treat the matter with caution.

Jiang Zhi frowned in thought.

She was certainly not foolish enough to believe that Wang Yuru would really change her ways, repent, and die; she must be plotting something else.

However, if Wang Yuru could kneel before her mother's memorial tablet to repent and beg for forgiveness, her mother would surely be comforted if she knew this in the afterlife.

“Alright, but I have one request.” Jiang Zhi looked at Song Mama kneeling below her with a cold expression. “Since she is guilty, she should kneel down the steps of Puzhao Temple before she is qualified to stand before my mother’s memorial tablet.”

"Wh-what?" Granny Song was dumbfounded.

Puzhao Temple has a staircase for ordinary people to climb the mountain on foot, with more than a thousand steps. If the lady really knelt down to climb the mountain step by step, her knees would probably be ruined.

"What, didn't she say she'd do whatever she wanted with me? It's just a matter of kneeling and ruining my knees, I'm going to die anyway. Or is it that she wasn't sincere at all?" Jiang Zhi looked at Granny Song with a half-smile.

Granny Song could only wipe the cold sweat from her forehead. "Yes, Miss is right. This old servant will go back and report to Madam right away."