"Junzhu, the Crown Prince's behavior today was utterly unacceptable!" Lin Liang, her maidservant, exclaimed indignantly as they returned to Jiang Lingzhen's quarters.
"Junzhu, despite being the Crown Prince's fiancée, he openly sided with someone else. It's truly disgraceful!" Lin Liang's tone was heated. Jiang Lingzhen's attendants, handpicked and meticulously trained by the Princess Wencheng herself, naturally held no affection for Jiang Yunshan—a daughter born from a servant's indiscretion with her master.
"Second Young Lady always puts on a façade of calmness and virtue. Who would've thought she hid her true nature so well?" Hu Zhu added, her voice laced with contempt.
Gu Shengyin let her attendants vent their frustrations for a while before interjecting calmly, "You may speak freely here, but be mindful not to let these words slip outside these walls."
Hu Zhu and Lin Liang immediately composed themselves, their earlier anger replaced with worry. After gauging Gu Shengyin's serene expression and realizing she wasn't troubled by the events, they visibly relaxed. Smiling reassuringly, they said, "Rest assured, Junzhu. We know how to conduct ourselves beyond these doors."
With a faint nod, Gu Shengyin dismissed the matter, reclining gracefully onto her bed. Hu Zhu, ever-attentive, drew the curtains around the bed and retreated silently, leaving the room in peaceful quiet.
Once alone, Gu Shengyin's thoughts turned inward. "System," she called out in her mind.
A familiar, neutral voice responded promptly. "Host, how may I assist you?"
Gu Shengyin didn't hesitate. "My task is to ensure Jiang Lingzhen fulfills her destiny as the most distinguished woman in the Tian Qi Dynasty. For that to happen, the Jiang family must remain influential. However, with the Crown Prince's temperament, relying on him seems like a recipe for disaster. The Jiang family needs a different alliance—one that can surpass the Crown Prince's influence. Would such a shift disrupt the world's balance?"
The system's figure, composed of flickering white light, seemed to process her query before replying. "The task parameters only require the host to ensure the heroine achieves her destined greatness. The male lead's role is non-essential and can be altered without consequence. The process is entirely at your discretion."
Gu Shengyin felt a wave of relief wash over her. With her main concern addressed, she began analyzing the potential candidates for the throne. The Third Prince, backed by his mother Shu Fei and the powerful Chengguo family, posed a threat to the Jiang family's interests. The Sixth Prince lacked intelligence and refinement. The Seventh Prince was physically incapacitated and politically irrelevant. The remaining younger princes were far too inexperienced.
Her mind circled back, pondering alternatives, until an idea struck her like a bolt of lightning. "How could I have overlooked him?"
Her lips curled into a faint smile. There was indeed one individual, with an even stronger claim to the throne than the Second Prince, who might just fit the bill.
Content with her plan, Gu Shengyin felt the weight of her earlier concerns lift. However, her body reminded her of its current fragility—her head throbbed faintly, a lingering effect of her recent injuries. She allowed herself to drift into a deep, restful sleep.
Meanwhile, in another part of the estate, Princess Wencheng sat in a high-backed chair, her elegant features marred by a frosty expression. Though appearing in her early thirties, her carefully maintained appearance exuded timeless grace. However, her phoenix-shaped eyes now gleamed with cold fury as she listened to the report of the day's events.
"Pretending to be obedient all this time, only to reveal her true nature. She's just like the one who birthed her—conniving and shameless!" the princess spat. Her disdain for Jiang Yunshan's mother, a servant who had schemed her way into the general's bed, was evident.
Later that evening, the princess discussed the matter with her husband, General Jiang. Their relationship was one of mutual respect and deep affection, and over the years, the general had never taken a concubine—except for the one-time incident that resulted in Jiang Yunshan.
Unsurprisingly, the general was incensed upon hearing about the Crown Prince's behavior toward their daughter. Jiang Lingzhen was their only child, the jewel of their hearts, and the general had always been fiercely protective of her.
"I'm no longer comfortable with the idea of Ah-Zhen marrying the Crown Prince," Princess Wencheng declared. "With his temperament, how could she ever find happiness? She'd face endless grievances."
The general, deep in thought, nodded slowly. Originally, they had accepted the engagement due to the Empress's decree at Ah-Zhen's birth, seeing no way to refuse. Now, however, the Crown Prince's behavior provided them with a legitimate reason to reconsider.
Gu Shengyin, unaware of her parents' discussions, had no intention of focusing on her engagement. For now, she was preoccupied with formulating a strategy to shift the Jiang family's political alliances. Little did she know that her parents were already planning to secure her a future free from the Crown Prince's influence.
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