Chapter 5: If Not This Time, Then the Next

After returning home from court, Xia Wentao’s expression was grim, not a trace of a smile upon his face. Lady Lin Baixue brought a bowl of lotus and silver ear soup to the table, assisting Xia Wentao as he removed his court attire. She asked, “Why are you so gloomy, my lord? Xia Jiujang’s entrance into the Prince Jin’s residence is a dead end. Once she is gone, our daughter will be the rightful heiress, and her path to becoming an imperial consort will be smooth and certain…”

Lin Baixue hadn’t finished her words when Xia Wentao snapped, “Seeing me unhappy, you dare mention Xia Jiujang again?” Lin Baixue was taken aback. “My lord, what’s the matter… Isn’t Xia Jiujang’s move to Prince Jin’s residence something to be happy about?”

Xia Wentao, his temper flaring, replied, “I’d thought that with Xia Jiujang entering Prince Jin’s residence, she’d be doomed. That’s why I so eagerly orchestrated it. But today, the blockade of Prince Jin’s residence was lifted.”

Had Emperor Zongkang not suddenly issued an imperial decree bestowing Xia Jiujang, the legitimate daughter of the Xia family, as Princess Jin, catching Xia Wentao completely off guard, he would never have considered poisoning her as a means to be rid of her.

Five years ago, Lady Jiang Ruan’s death was abrupt. The Xia family claimed she died of melancholy. If Xia Jiujang were to die soon after, suspicions would surely arise regarding the Xia residence. Thus, Xia Jiujang was kept, bearing the title of legitimate daughter, living under the roof for so many years.

Xia Wentao was puzzled. Daughters of noble families abounded, and there was no shortage of princesses and duchesses. Prince Jin, commanding the Imperial Guards, was a target for all factions. How could such fortune fall upon Xia Jiujang?

The imperial decree was issued, the emperor’s intentions unfathomable, but Xia Wentao had set his sights on Prince Jin’s residence.

He hated Xia Jiujang; her resemblance to Jiang Ruan constantly reminded him that his current status was built atop the Jiang family’s wealth, her face a perpetual reminder of the sins he had sown.

How could he allow Xia Jiujang to become Princess Jin? As long as she lived, she held the title of legitimate daughter, relegating his and Lin Baixue’s own daughter, Xia Yue’er, to mere concubine-born status. Xia Jiujang was the stumbling block to his daughter’s future.

Xia Yue’er was exceptional in every way—music, chess, literature, painting. She was destined to ascend as an imperial consort, to become the mother of the nation. Thus, Xia Jiujang had to die.

Before Xia Jiujang’s wedding, Xia Wentao secretly added a colorless, tasteless poison to her tea. After entering Prince Jin’s residence, not only did she succumb, but even Jun Buwen became gravely ill, leading to the lockdown of Prince Jin’s residence—a certain death!

Yet today, during court, news arrived that the lockdown had been lifted; everyone was unharmed. Stranger still, rumors spread that Xia Jiujang had cured Jun Buwen’s illness?

Absurd! It was impossible. Xia Wentao had raised Xia Jiujang to be a useless fool. How could she possibly cure any illness? Ridiculous.

Lin Baixue whispered in his ear, “Why worry, my lord? Xia Jiujang, by some stroke of luck, survived the poisoning… When she returns to the Xia residence, we’ll have plenty of time to deal with her.”

He nearly forgot— in a few days, Xia Jiujang would return for her first visit home. Then, he’d have ample means to drag her down. A useless fool was nothing to fear; if not this time, then the next.

Yet, an unease kept spreading within Xia Wentao, as if he had missed something. What of Xia Jiujang could possibly trouble him so?

Some plotted for her to become Princess Jin, some tried to poison her, others wanted to use her to harm Jun Buwen. Everyone harbored their own schemes, but when these machinations collided, it left him enshrouded in fog, unable to untangle his thoughts.

When news of Xia Jiujang’s survival reached Lingxiang Court, Xia Yue’er was with Third Miss Xia Chan. Xia Chan, daughter of Madam Wei, had taken to visiting Xia Yue’er to gossip since Xia Jiujang’s wedding and the subsequent poisoning that even affected Jun Buwen.

She was always saying how Xia Jiujang lacked the fate to be Princess Jin, that she was doomed from the moment she entered Prince Jin’s residence.

Xia Chan eagerly hoped for Xia Jiujang’s early death, but the servants brought word that her illness had healed, and in a few days she would return to the Xia residence for Grandmother’s birthday banquet.

Upon hearing this, Xia Chan’s face changed, and she leapt up. “What! Xia Jiujang isn’t dead? How can that be? She brought illness to Prince Jin—she’s a curse upon the residence. Even if she’s alive, the prince couldn’t possibly keep her!”

Xia Yue’er clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly pierced her skin. She drew a deep breath and said, “Don’t be upset, sister. Eldest Sister was poisoned at Prince Jin’s residence—the imperial physicians tended to her, so it’s only natural she recovered. This was always a possibility.”

Xia Chan stomped her foot in anger, “What do you mean? Watching me mock Xia Jiujang these past days—were you just laughing at me?”

Laughing at Xia Chan? Xia Yue’er had no such leisure. She herself was desperate for Xia Jiujang’s death. As long as Xia Jiujang lived, Xia Yue’er would remain the second miss of the Xia residence, never the legitimate daughter.

Xia Yue’er took Xia Chan’s hand and said, “I only feel sorry for you. You are the one who truly admires Prince Jin; you knew him first, and yet all the advantage went to Eldest Sister. She merely holds the title of legitimate daughter, but a useless fool becomes Princess Jin—how could you not feel bitter?”

Prince Jin, Jun Buwen, was a figure of ethereal charm, the kind to stir any woman’s heart. Yet Xia Yue’er’s ambitions soared higher. Prince Jin was never to inherit the throne; she wanted a greater position, so discarding such juvenile affection meant nothing.

Xia Yue’er spoke gently, “In a few days, Eldest Sister will return home for Grandmother’s birthday banquet. Prince Jin will escort his bride, and won’t that be a knife to your heart?”

The thought of Jun Buwen and Xia Jiujang appearing together, radiant in their affection, made Xia Chan’s face turn green.

Xia Yue’er deliberately added, “But Eldest Sister has always been foolish and dull—who knows what trouble she’ll make at the banquet? If… But it’s done, she’s already Princess Jin, there’s no point in discussing it further and upsetting you.”

Upon hearing Xia Yue’er’s words, Xia Chan’s eyes suddenly brightened, as if she had caught an idea. Grandmother’s birthday banquet, Jun Buwen and Xia Jiujang returning home—wasn’t this her chance? If she could approach Jun Buwen, she too might enter Prince Jin’s residence!

Once inside, dealing with Xia Jiujang, that useless fool, would be easy.

Xia Yue’er watched Xia Chan’s scheming expression, the corners of her mouth lifting as she sipped a cup of delicate pear blossom tea, its fragrance soothing. Let others do the dirty work, she thought—she would merely watch the drama unfold from afar.