Chapter 43-Part 1

Jiang Xiurun had no idea that some people were inwardly accusing her of coming from a den of foxes; her heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave.

If the Crown Prince had looked over suspiciously, she would have felt more assured, but Feng Liwu acted as if nothing had happened.

Could it be that he thought the dancer was a stand-in found by a subordinate?

Jiang Xiurun remained anxious until the banquet ended. She first instructed the driver to take her brother Jiang Zhi back home and then returned to the Crown Prince’s residence.

Since Feng Liwu was still in the palace talking with the Empress, Jiang Xiurun felt on edge even after returning to the residence.

However, due to the large amount of alcohol she had consumed at the banquet, despite her resolve to stay awake and wait for the Crown Prince to question her, she soon felt her eyelids growing heavy and eventually fell asleep fully clothed.

When Jiang Xiurong groggily opened her eyes, she saw that it was completely dark outside. She asked Xian’er to find out that the Crown Prince had already returned to the residence.

Jiang Xiurun was surprised that the Crown Prince had not called for her. Could he really be that oblivious?

With this unexpected relief, Jiang Xiurun finally felt her anxiety lift. She realized she was starving, having eaten nothing since the banquet and having been too preoccupied to eat.

After a nap, her appetite returned, and she asked Bai Xian’er to find some food in the kitchen.

Soon, Xian’er brought her some meat soup and fried cakes made by the cook. The cakes, filled with mashed red bean paste, were delicious, and Jiang Xiurun ate two before falling back asleep.

It wasn’t that she was careless, but the day’s emotional roller coaster had exhausted her. If the Crown Prince was also too tired to question her tonight, it was a blessing. Being constantly on edge was draining, and a good night’s sleep would help her face Feng Liwu more confidently.

She slept dreamlessly through the night.

The next morning, following her usual routine, Jiang Xiurun washed up and went to greet the Crown Prince. After serving him breakfast, she would accompany him on his morning departure. He would drop her off at the academy on the way to the palace for court.

Though her schedule had been disrupted while they were in hiding, things had returned to normal since their return to the residence—someone as meticulous as the Crown Prince disliked changing his routine.

But today, when Jiang Xiurun, dressed and groomed, went to greet the Crown Prince, the guards told her he had already left for court.

Jiang Xiurun was momentarily stunned but didn’t suspect the Crown Prince of avoiding her. There could have been an urgent military matter that needed his attention.

As she prepared to take the carriage to the academy, a guard stopped her, saying the Crown Prince had ordered her to stay in the residence to rest, as she was not well.

Jiang Xiurun frowned, puzzled by the order.

She didn’t feel unwell?

But the Crown Prince’s command was absolute. No matter how eager she was to study, she had to stay put.

This confirmed her suspicion that the Crown Prince was indeed angry with her for taking her sister Jiang Xiuyao’s place in the dance at the palace.

So, she waited obediently in the residence for the Crown Prince to return.

This time, he returned very late. Despite her exhaustion, Jiang Xiurun stayed awake, finally seeing him at the hour of Hai (between 9 and 11 PM).

She hurried to the entrance to greet him and tried to take the whip from his hand, but Feng Liwu, without even looking at her, handed it to a servant and strode towards his study.

Jiang Xiurun, stung by his coldness but undeterred, quickened her pace to follow him. Her legs, though not short, couldn’t match his long strides, so she had to walk briskly to keep up.

At the study door, before she could enter, the door slammed shut in her face.

Fortunately, she stopped just in time to avoid hitting her nose.

Unable to enter, she kneeled outside the study and quietly apologized.

Inside, the lights were lit, but there were no scolding or dismissive words or any invitation to enter.

Jiang Xiurun remained on her knees in the corridor, ignoring the coming and going of servants bringing tea and hot water to the Crown Prince.

After a long while, when the servants had stopped moving, Jiang Xiurun’s knees were numb, and the cold made her entire body shiver. Unconsciously, she sneezed three times in a row.

This disturbed the Crown Prince’s peace, and his cold voice came from inside: “Get out!”

Jiang Xiurun did not leave but instead moved closer on her numb knees.

In this city of Luo’an, she and her brother could only rely on the Crown Prince’s favor.

After already having escaped once, the spies around her and her brother had increased significantly, making another escape impossible.

To live comfortably, she could not lose the Crown Prince’s favor. His single sentence had resolved their predicament at the palace yesterday.

She had to hold on to this support at all costs!