Chapter 157 - Jiang Ying Yue (53)

The female lead, driven by her 'obsession' to Lu Ling, did enact her plans. That night, she managed to get past the guard manning the eastern gate of the Chen Wang Residence by mixing herself with the group of servants who just came back from buying supplies.

Pretending to be a newly hired maid, she asked for directions from one of the old servants she encountered. It didn't take long for her to know where Chen Wang's main residence was. Along the way, she jeered at the security of the place because she easily managed to slip past even the soldiers at the entrance of the compound.

'This place...' She finally reached her destination. 

It was already nighttime and only the candles in the lamps scattered in the hallways were giving illumination to the house. Sheng Lingxin gasped.

Too familiar. The place was just so familiar that she just wanted to cry in nostalgia and happiness. The furniture, the placement of lanterns, the colors of the railings, the rockeries and pond right below the veranda... Everything was the same as the dwelling place she assigned to Lu Ling in the game.

How should she think about it? It was hard not to be moved. In the game, it was up to the player how they would manage their harems, even how they would assign each male concubine's palace. So given that Chen Wang's home was the same as the one she bought in the game for him, how could she not make a connection in her mind?

Her mood became very bright. She was almost skipping and twirling every turn as she navigated the place in search of his room. The exactness of the place's layout gave her the confidence that fate was with her and that there could be a future for her and the general.

'I'll quite be despicable in this move. But I have no choice. I can bear the hate and dislike because it's still better than having no impression at all.'

Sheng Lingxin's thoughts were simple. Once something happened between them, he would have no choice but asked for her hand in marriage. She believed the emperor would grant the request since it would be against Hai Wang. And once it was passed down, since she would be the first wife, she would be Chen Wang Fei, not Hai Wang Fei. As for the beloved game protagonist? Jiang Ying Yue should blame herself for being born the Marshal's daughter and that the current emperor doesn't want his two highest military officers to be connected through marriage. 

As this thought crossed her mind, Sheng Lingxin laughed merrily. The girl's brain had probably been full of water that she hadn't considered the harm her actions would cause to both her and his reputations. 

She was not actually usually like this. Even though most of the times, she was following the game's cutscenes, she was still quite smart, able to come up with brilliant decisions by herself thanks to being born to a place where scientific knowledge had long dominated.

However, the obsession she had in her heart was clouding her mind. Now all she wanted to do was see the man of her dreams, and escape from her clan through his help.

"He's not here." When she took the last turn leading to the corridor where Chen Wang's room should be located, she heard that voice coming from the opposite wall's direction. 

Due to shock and the familiarity of that voice, Sheng Lingxin froze in her tracks. For some time, she didn't dare to look at her left side. 

"Why are you pretending to be a maid?"

The female lead instinctively lowered her head so her pale, almost bloodless, face wouldn't be visible to that person. Her mind was working furiously, mostly asking, how come he was here? This was the Chen Wang Residence, why was he at the general's house? From thinking too much, she forgot to answer his question. 

The subject of her confused thoughts watched the girl fidget and look round, probably for a place to escape to or hide. The disappointment was showing in his eyes, even though his face remained expressionless. His lips were pressed together into a thin red line. 'This Prince's horizon had broadened significantly...'

Chen Heng was not invited to the place actually. He followed this woman upon hearing from his spies that she ordered her servants to buy her some shady items from the marketplace. At first, he assumed she was hatching some schemes against someone in the capital. Yet when one of the people he assigned to watch her movements reported she was heading towards Lu Ling's home, he dropped everything he was preparing for tomorrow's reward ceremony and hurried here. 

Now the two of them were in one of the unlikeliest places they could appear together. The person before him was the only woman who had piqued his interest due to her brilliant mind and captivating smiles. Yet this same woman didn't want to marry him, and would even choose to do something as stupid as this to escape from him. 

The woman frantically replied, "Y-Your Highness, I, this servant didn't know you visited my master. I, this lowly servant will go out now. May you have a good evening." 

Sheng Lingxin lowered her head more and then turned around, planning to take a dash to the back gardens. However before she could run away, the second prince's voice echoed in the dark hallway, forcing her to halt her step and freeze in place again. 

"Tomorrow morning, before the Emperor announced what rewards he would give me, Chen Wang, and Rui Wang, This Prince will request to break off the engagement between us." 

Those words instinctively made her turn around and looked at him. She was stunned and couldn't believe what she heard. A forced smile was on the man's face, yet all she cared for was to confirm his statement. "Your Highness will ask His Majesty to free us both from the marriage agreement?"

Hai Wang nodded. The girl didn't see the unusual glint in his eyes. She was relieved, and this showed on her face. 'Just as expected, my grandfather is merely thinking too much.'

She no longer pretended to be a maid and flashed a wide smile at the man. It was the same beautiful smile, yet Hai Wang only felt that it was too disgusting. Why the hell did he only realize this woman an irredeemable fool? For her own interests, she could be both a genius and an imbecile, doing whatever it takes to achieve her goal, without care for those who would be hurt.

"This one thanks Your Highness' generosity. As long as this one lives, Your kindness will be remembered."

A mocking smile formed on his lips as he beheld Sheng Lingxin's happy grin. However, he didn't say what was on his mind. He only bid farewell with her and wished her long life happiness. But before completely parting with her, he said, "The person you're looking for is most likely at the small house next to this grand residence. Good evening, and This Prince wishes you all the best."