"Junzhu, the Crown Prince's behavior today was utterly offensive!" Lin Liang exclaimed indignantly as she followed Jiang Lingzhen into her chambers.
"Junzhu, even though you are his fiancée, the Crown Prince openly took someone else's side. How can he act so disgracefully?" Lin Liang's tone reflected her deep frustration. The maidservants attending Jiang Lingzhen had been carefully selected and educated by Lady Wencheng herself. Naturally, they harbored no goodwill toward Jiang Yunshan, the daughter of a servant who had schemed her way into her master's bed.
"Second Young Lady usually pretends to be gentle and virtuous," Hu Zhu added, her voice dripping with scorn. "Who would have thought she was hiding her true nature so well?"
Gu Shengyin allowed her attendants to vent for a while before interjecting calmly, "You may speak your mind here, but make sure these words don't leave this room."
Hu Zhu and Lin Liang exchanged glances, their earlier frustration giving way to composure. After noticing Gu Shengyin's serene demeanor, they relaxed and replied with small, reassuring smiles, "Of course, Junzhu. We know how to act appropriately in public."
Satisfied, Gu Shengyin lay down on her bed. Hu Zhu, ever considerate, closed the curtains and quietly retreated from the room. The space fell into a peaceful silence.
In the privacy of her mind, Gu Shengyin called out, "System."
The familiar, neutral voice of the system replied promptly, "Host, how may I assist you?"
Gu Shengyin's thoughts were sharp and calculated. "My mission is to ensure Jiang Lingzhen fulfills her destiny as the most distinguished woman of this dynasty. For that to happen, the Jiang family must remain powerful. However, with the Crown Prince's temperament, aligning with him seems like a dangerous gamble. Would supporting another faction disrupt the balance of this world?"
After a brief pause, the system's presence flickered. "The task requires the host to elevate the protagonist to her destined greatness. The Crown Prince's role is non-essential. You are free to proceed as you see fit to achieve your goal."
Reassured by the system's response, Gu Shengyin's mind began weighing her options. The Emperor's sons came to mind, one by one.
The Third Prince, with the support of his powerful maternal family, posed a threat to the Jiang family's influence. Aligning with him was out of the question. The Sixth Prince was inept, lacking both intelligence and refinement. The Seventh Prince's poor health and lack of political presence rendered him irrelevant. The younger princes were all too inexperienced to be contenders for the throne.
Gu Shengyin frowned, feeling a trace of frustration. None of the Emperor's sons seemed like suitable allies.
Then, a sudden realization struck her. How could she have overlooked that person?
A faint smile spread across her lips as she considered him—someone whose claim to the throne surpassed even that of the Second Prince. Her mind began to craft a plan.
Relieved to have a potential solution, Gu Shengyin let her body relax. The lingering pain from her recent injuries reminded her to rest. Before long, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Elsewhere in the estate, Lady Wencheng sat in a high-backed chair, her elegant features marred by a frosty expression. Though appearing youthful, her sharp, phoenix-like eyes were now ablaze with anger.
A servant knelt before her, recounting the events of the day in a trembling voice. As the report concluded, Lady Wencheng's tone was icy. "So that's her true nature. For years, she's pretended to be meek and humble. Just like the one who bore her—scheming and deceitful."
Later that evening, Lady Wencheng discussed the incident with her husband, General Jiang. Their marriage was built on mutual respect and genuine affection, and the general had remained devoted to his wife, never taking concubines. The only exception had been a single incident that resulted in Jiang Yunshan's birth—a lasting source of tension for the couple.
As expected, General Jiang was furious upon hearing about the Crown Prince's behavior. Jiang Lingzhen, their only child, had always been cherished as the treasure of their hearts.
"I cannot bear the thought of Ah-Zhen marrying the Crown Prince," Lady Wencheng declared firmly. "With his disposition, she will suffer endless grievances in that household."
The general fell into deep thought. From the beginning, the couple had been reluctant about the engagement. It had been decreed by the Empress shortly after Jiang Lingzhen's birth, leaving them no choice. Now, however, the Crown Prince's behavior provided a valid reason to reconsider.
Unaware of her parents' deliberations, Gu Shengyin had little interest in her engagement. Her focus was entirely on strategizing a new path for the Jiang family's future. Little did she know that her parents were already making plans to free her from the Crown Prince's influence.
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