Chapter Thirteen: Tit for Tat
Before Chu Lianmo arrived, Chu Ziqian had already found Jiang Chengjin.
“Didn’t you ask me to teach Chu Lianmo a lesson? I hired assassins to kill him. Unfortunately, they failed.”
“What?! Assassins?!” Jiang Chengjin leaped from the bed in fright. “Your Highness, when I said ‘lesson,’ I didn’t mean murder!”
“You should have said so earlier; the assassins have already been,” Chu Ziqian said innocently. “Fourth Brother might ask you about this. Don’t mention me; just take responsibility.”
“…No, no, no!” Jiang Chengjin shook his head frantically, his face pale. “Attempting to assassinate a prince is a capital crime! How can I confess to it?!”
“What?” Chu Ziqian’s face darkened. “I’m helping you, and you want to implicate me? Your father won’t let you die; you’ll just get another beating.”
“Your Highness, I can’t take another beating!” Jiang Chengjin rubbed his still-aching buttocks.
“Jiang Chengjin,” Chu Ziqian’s gaze turned cold. “I know you have a favorite concubine who recently bore you a son, only a few months old. Think about their safety. It’s easy to take the lives of a mere concubine and illegitimate son.”
“…!” Jiang Chengjin’s face turned ashen. He had two concubines, and he favored the one who had just given birth to his son. Although the son was illegitimate, he was his only son, his most precious treasure.
Only then did Jiang Chengjin realize that the previous kindness and gentleness of the man before him were likely all fake!
However, it was too late. He could only nod obediently, “I… I’ll take full responsibility…”
“Good. Don’t disappoint me.”
After saying this, Chu Ziqian left Jiang Chengjin’s room.
He met Jiang Yingnan.
Jiang Yingnan looked at him with a complex expression, “You never think to visit me first.”
“Heh, I had to take care of important business first,” Chu Ziqian’s eyes softened, and he gently embraced Jiang Yingnan. “How’s your injury?”
“…I’m fine. Mother didn’t hit me hard that day.”
This beating was much lighter than the one Jiang Yingnan received years ago when he first told his mother he wanted to be the crown prince. But Jiang Yingnan felt even more distressed.
That was probably because his mother’s words echoed in his mind: If the man you marry can’t protect you, what do you love about him?
“Ziqian…” Jiang Yingnan couldn’t bring himself to push Chu Ziqian away, leaning against his warm chest, his tone somewhat resentful. “I used to feel alone in this world. Mother didn’t love me, and while Father seemed to spoil me, he never supported what I truly wanted to do. Until I met you…But now, I feel that perhaps you and I aren’t entirely of one mind.”
“How could that be?” Chu Ziqian comforted him softly. “I want this world, and I want you. I believe we both want the same thing.”
Jiang Yingnan sighed softly, unsure what to say.
“Alright, Anan, I can’t stay tonight. That shrew has been causing trouble these past few days; I’ll come see you again later.”
“I know.” Jiang Yingnan immediately left Chu Ziqian’s embrace, pouting. “I don’t want anyone to beat me awake from my sleep again.”
Seeing his aggrieved look, Chu Ziqian’s heart softened, and he gently put his arm around his shoulders. “It’s not suitable for me to stay long at the Jiang residence. Let’s go for a walk.”
Jiang Yingnan hummed in agreement and followed Chu Ziqian out.
A short while later, Chu Lianmo and Qi Xiaojun arrived.
Chu Lianmo directly pushed open Jiang Chengjin’s door.
Seeing Chu Lianmo’s furious expression, Jiang Chengjin shrank into the corner of the bed, “Rui… Rui Wang, Your Highness…”
Chu Lianmo didn’t waste words, asking directly, “The assassin who attempted to kill me confessed that you ordered it. What do you say?”
“Your Highness, spare me!” Jiang Chengjin scrambled off the bed and knelt, kowtowing repeatedly. “I was momentarily confused! I know I was wrong! Please don’t tell my father or anyone else!”
“So, you admit it?”
Chu Lianmo frowned deeper.
Jiang Chengjin’s cowardly appearance didn’t seem like that of someone capable of hiring assassins.
Moreover, as far as he knew, this man was spoiled, at most bullying commoners and harassing women. Due to the strict Jiang family upbringing, he had never forcibly married anyone. Much less commit murder.
“Heh.” Chu Lianmo sneered. “Murderers must be punished according to the law. You dare ask me to cover for you? You two,” he turned to his bodyguards, “take him to the Jiang family’s main hall. I want to speak to Lord Jiang.”
Since Murong Ying was still recovering at the Rui Wangfu, Chu Lianmo was accompanied by two other guards. They weren’t gentle, grabbing Jiang Chengjin’s arms and dragging him out roughly.
“Slower! Slower!” Jiang Chengjin cried out in pain. “It hurts! It hurts so much!”
Qi Xiaojun, observing this, also felt that Jiang Chengjin didn’t seem capable of murder.
At the Jiang family’s main hall, Chu Lianmo sat down in the central seat without ceremony.
Soon, Jiang Zhenxiong was brought in.
Seeing Jiang Chengjin kneeling on the ground, guarded by two guards, Jiang Zhenxiong’s heart sank. “Greetings, Rui Wang, Your Highness…What has my son done wrong?”
Chu Lianmo said coldly, “Your son has admitted to hiring assassins to kill me.”
“What?!” Jiang Zhenxiong gasped. “Your Highness, is there a misunderstanding?! My son is indeed mischievous, but he doesn’t have the guts to kill!”
Chu Lianmo sneered at Jiang Chengjin. “Tell your father again; did you hire the assassins?”
“…Yes…” Jiang Chengjin’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, but he had to nod. “Your Highness, I know I was wrong! Father, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me this time!”
“Forgive you?” Chu Lianmo sneered. “A life for a life, that’s only right. I’ll report this truthfully to the Emperor. According to Chu’s laws, even if you don’t die, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison, never again having the chance to harm others.”
“Your Highness! I truly dare not do it again, Your Highness!” Jiang Chengjin was terrified, kowtowing frantically, his head bleeding.
Chu Lianmo watched him coldly without pity. “If you really hired the assassins, I won’t forgive you. Unless, there’s another culprit.”
“…” Jiang Chengjin hesitated—
He could endure another beating; but to sacrifice his life for his concubine and son, he wasn’t that noble!
Jiang Yingnan, observing from the side, felt a sense of foreboding. He knew his brother’s character well. If he implicated Chu Ziqian, it would be troublesome.
“Rui Wang, Your Highness!” Jiang Yingnan knelt beside Jiang Chengjin, seemingly interceding for his brother. “My brother is not very bright and only made this grave mistake due to a moment of anger…If Your Highness is willing to settle this privately, the Jiang family will repay your kindness in the future!”