Having said that, she turned to the palace maid leading the way and said, "There must be palace matrons in the Imperial Garden, right? This princess left in a hurry and didn’t bring any. Go find a few for me. These two insolent servants have shown disrespect toward me—utterly detestable. Reward them with thirty strokes of the rod."
"You—how dare you!" One of the maids immediately protested to the guide, "This—the matter isn’t clear yet. Your Highness must also be reasonable—"
"If she doesn’t dare, this prince does." A cold voice abruptly cut off the maid’s words as a man in black robes emerged from the shadows, his tone icy. "For servants to dare be insolent to their master—the palace rules have grown far too lax. Jin Yi."
The guard beside him understood at once and cupped his hands in salute. "Understood, Master." With that, his figure flashed, and in the blink of an eye, he had seized the two maids and vanished.
Xiao Shao turned to the stunned guide and said coldly, "Dismissed."
The maid scurried away in haste.
Jiang Ruan turned to look at Xiao Shao. After a brief moment of surprise, she composed herself and asked, as if greeting an old friend, "Prince Xiao, what brings you here?"
Xiao Shao motioned for her to walk ahead. They proceeded until they reached a plum grove beside a rockery in the Imperial Garden before he turned and said, "I’ve just returned to the capital."
Jiang Ruan paused, then tentatively asked, "When did you return from Dongyi?"
"A few days ago," Xiao Shao replied. "Just in time." He glanced at Jiang Ruan, the corner of his lips quirking upward. "You’ve grown up."
Jiang Ruan was momentarily taken aback, lifting her gaze to the young man before her.
The phrase "grown up" felt oddly misplaced when applied to someone who had lived two lifetimes. As for the man before her, compared to three years ago, the passage of time had only made him more devastatingly captivating.
Jiang Ruan averted her eyes and said, "Prince Xiao flatters me."
Xiao Shao’s lips curved slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes—whether it was approval or genuine happiness for her, it was hard to tell. "Now that you’re a princess, have you obtained what you wanted?"
At the mention of this, Jiang Ruan’s brows furrowed slightly, and she replied coolly, "What I sought was not the title of princess."
Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. Previously, observing Jiang Ruan’s meticulous scheming, though somewhat enigmatic, even the Brocade-clad Guards had found nothing amiss. The only inference was that her life in the Jiang household had been difficult, hence her battles against her stepsister and stepmother—all for self-preservation. Now, under Empress Dowager Yide’s protection, with Jiang Xin Zhi rising steadily and the Zhao family’s recognition, she ought to be carefree. Yet, looking at her now, the shadows in her eyes remained undiminished, as if they would never fade in this lifetime.
Jiang Ruan turned away, avoiding Xiao Shao’s probing gaze. "What I want, Prince Xiao will come to know one day." But by then, he would likely have become a stranger to her. The threads of fate in this world were tangled, and no one could guarantee walking alongside another for a lifetime. During her time with Xiao Shao, Jiang Ruan had seen clearly that beneath his aloof exterior, his heart was not cold—he simply disliked closeness, yet his blood ran hot. He valued loyalty and righteousness, and one day, he would see the venomous and monstrous woman standing before him. At this thought, an inexplicable sense of loss and melancholy settled in Jiang Ruan’s heart.Xiao Shao chuckled lightly and said calmly, "If there's something you truly want, I'll help you obtain it." His gaze fell upon the Blood Moon Bracelet on Jiang Ruan's wrist, his eyes flickering slightly. The young maiden before him was no longer as naive as she had been three years ago. Dressed in fiery crimson robes, her delicate features were vivid and enchanting, carrying the unique fragrance of youth. She had truly grown into a young woman now—possessing peerless beauty and an even more composed temperament. Over these years, he had remained in the Eastern Barbarian Country investigating the whereabouts of his old enemies. Apart from his personal shadow guards, he had often been alone. Occasionally, he would receive secret missives from his guards ensuring Jiang Ruan's safety. He had worried about the environment she was in, and it was the first time since the incident at the Brocade Hero King Manor that he had placed a woman's life and death so close to his heart.
At first, it was merely repayment of a debt, then brotherly concern... but now...
Now, seeing the matured Jiang Ruan standing gracefully before him, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief. It was as though a tender seedling he had nurtured had finally blossomed, and something beautiful had at last borne good fruit.
Jiang Ruan, unsettled by the cool intensity of his dark eyes, averted her gaze. "Thank you," she murmured.
"After your return to the capital, your situation will only grow more perilous. If you encounter any insurmountable trouble, take the Blood Moon Bracelet to the East Wind Pavilion and seek out Ye Feng," Xiao Shao said. Ye Feng had remained at the East Wind Pavilion ever since his mistake three years ago. While the pavilion was an excellent place for gathering intelligence, the work was tedious and dull. Moreover, the positions closest to Xiao Shao were already occupied by Jin Yi and Jin Er. Xiao Shao considered whether it was time to recall Ye Feng and assign a few Brocade-clad Guards to Jiang Ruan's side.
Jiang Ruan was taken aback—so the East Wind Pavilion was indeed connected to him. No wonder she had obtained the Blood Moon Bracelet so effortlessly back then. She pondered silently; the pavilion's discreet operations suggested it was one of Xiao Shao's key pieces. His trust in her left her at a loss for how to respond.
Unaware of Jiang Ruan's thoughts, Xiao Shao strode ahead. Jiang Ruan watched his tall, slender figure for a moment before suddenly shaking her head with a faint smile and leisurely following after him.
The winding path through the plum grove was graced by two figures—one clad in elegant black, the other in resplendent red—complementing each other perfectly, like a poetic painting on a cloud-borne boat, enchanting the heart without reason.
...
A plain carriage came to a slow halt before the Jiang residence. Xia Yan, who had come out to greet it, trembled slightly as two maids helped a delicate young maiden alight from the carriage.
The maiden was none other than Jiang Susu. Compared to three years ago, she had clearly grown taller. Perhaps her prolonged stay at the family temple had imbued her with a serene aura. The former traces of arrogance were entirely gone, replaced by an air of quiet aloofness. A smile graced her lips, and the scars on her face were now completely invisible. Her features were vivid and radiant—though still delicate in appearance, there was an undercurrent of subtle allure. Observing her movements too closely could easily distract the mind.
Xia Yan's heart leaped with joy at the sight of her flawless face. Supporting her waist awkwardly, she took a few steps forward and gazed at Jiang Susu. "Su Su, how did your face heal?" she asked.
The physicians who had examined her back then had declared that the scars on Jiang Susu's face might never fade completely. They had suggested that with rare and expensive medicines, the marks might lighten over time. Yet now, Jiang Susu's skin was as smooth as a peeled egg, without the slightest trace of disfigurement.Jiang Susu looked at her with a faint smile and said, "When the time comes, it will naturally be fine." Her eyes lightly glanced at Xia Yan, who inexplicably felt a strange flutter in her heart. For some reason, the Jiang Susu before her seemed utterly unfamiliar, as if she were a completely different person from before. Yet upon closer inspection, she was still the same Jiang Susu. Suppressing her bewilderment, Xia Yan said, "Su Su, it's good that you're back. For three years, you've been so heartless, refusing to see your mother..."
Jiang Susu ignored her, her gaze drifting past Xia Yan to rest on a palanquin at the entrance of the estate.
It was a begonia-colored palanquin, carried uniformly by four palace guards. The palanquin was exquisitely crafted and ornate, though it bore no markings to indicate the identity of its occupant. A crowd of curious onlookers had already gathered along the way, eager to see which noble household the distinguished guest belonged to.
The palanquin came to a stop in front of the Jiang residence.
Jiang Susu stared at it without a word.
From behind the palanquin emerged two maids in splendid attire, who cheerfully lifted the beaded curtain and assisted the person inside to step out.
A young woman in red, breathtakingly beautiful, moved with a mesmerizing grace. With each unhurried step she took, the marks of Xia Yan's nails digging into her palms grew deeper.
Finally, the red-clad maiden stopped before Xia Yan and spoke with a smile, "Jiang Ruan greets Mother and Second Sister. It's been a long time."
Xia Yan felt a surge of stifled rage rush to her face. News of Jiang Ruan's grand reception in the palace had already spread through the gossip of loose tongues. The thought of it made Xia Yan wish she could tear Jiang Ruan to pieces. Why couldn't such good fortune have fallen upon Jiang Susu instead? Now that Jiang Susu had just returned, Jiang Ruan had chosen this very moment to appear. The stark contrast between the two would surely fuel fresh rumors in the capital by tomorrow. People always trample on the fallen and flatter the rising. Both had entered the family temple, yet Jiang Ruan returned in glory while Jiang Susu arrived in nothing more than a simple carriage. Fuming inwardly, Xia Yan was certain Jiang Ruan had done this deliberately!
Jiang Susu quietly observed Jiang Ruan before suddenly smiling. "Da Jiejie, it's been so long. You've grown even more radiant." Her expression was serene, almost ethereal, yet there was an inexplicable allure about her that even women couldn't help but find captivating. If one had to describe it in a word, it would be "enchantress." Yes, Jiang Susu still carried the scent of sandalwood, dressed in plain, unadorned garments without a trace of makeup, giving her the air of a celestial maiden. Yet her every movement... carried an inexplicable seduction. One shouldn't look—a single glance could steal one's soul.
Jiang Ruan withdrew her gaze and smiled faintly. "Second Sister, having been away, you may not know that Her Majesty the Dowager has conferred upon me the title of Princess of Great Peace. Though we are sisters, and Mother and I share a mother-daughter bond, we must not disregard propriety. Lest rumors spread of disrespect toward the royal family, I must boldly remind you that from now on, proper decorum must be upheld. It would be unfortunate if the Imperial Censors caught wind of any impropriety and submitted another memorial against Father."
Jiang Susu's composed expression faltered at these words. The muscles in her cheeks twitched violently, twisting unnaturally for a moment. She slowly raised her head to look at Jiang Ruan, her eyes swirling with turbulent emotions before settling back into calm. With a faint smile, she curtsied deeply to Jiang Ruan. "Su Su greets the Princess."Jiang Ruan smiled and motioned for her to rise. Xia Yan nearly gritted her teeth to pieces. Jiang Ruan paused briefly, her gaze contemplatively settling on Xia Yan’s abdomen. "Mother need not stand on ceremony. Now that you are with child, any harm to your health would surely be my fault."
Xia Yan, noticing her gaze, was startled and instinctively shielded her belly, eyeing Jiang Ruan warily as she forced a smile. "What nonsense."
Jiang Ruan’s smile grew even gentler. "Mother guards it so tightly—one might think I intended harm to the child in your womb. You worry too much." She turned her head just in time to catch Jiang Susu staring at Xia Yan’s belly, her eyes unnervingly bright, sending a chill down one’s spine. Jiang Ruan inwardly grew cautious but maintained her smile. "Second Sister seems quite fond of the little one in Mother’s belly. It seems the household will soon welcome a little brother." Without waiting for a response, she motioned for her maids to follow her into the residence.
Xia Yan instinctively glanced at Jiang Susu and was immediately taken aback. There was no trace of tenderness or affection in Jiang Susu’s gaze—instead, it was as if she were staring not at a belly but at a sumptuous feast, ready to devour it whole in the next instant.
Xia Yan now regarded the child in her womb as her lifeline. Seeing Jiang Susu’s terrifying expression, she immediately took a step back. The abrupt movement snapped Jiang Susu out of her trance, and the greed in her eyes vanished instantly. She smiled sweetly. "Mother, I’ll go in first as well."
With that, she cast a meaningful glance at Xia Yan’s belly before leisurely entering the residence. Xia Yan stood frozen, haunted by the look in Jiang Susu’s eyes, an inexplicable chill settling in her heart.
...
Several days passed in the residence without incident. The dowager empress’s subsequent rewards were delivered in batches to the Jiang household, and no one dared lay a finger on them. Jiang Chao was busy outside with Ye Li and had not returned to the residence. Jiang Quan, of course, had no intention of seeking out his daughter Jiang Ruan for a heart-to-heart. Luzhu learned that over the past three years, Jiang Dan had grown even more reclusive, her temperament increasingly introverted. Old Madam Jiang’s health had also taken a noticeable turn for the worse—on the day of Jiang Ruan’s return, she had only summoned her for a brief conversation before growing weary.
Xia Yan’s pregnancy had passed the critical first three months, and with careful nurturing, the rest should proceed smoothly. In her past life, the child in Xia Yan’s belly had never been born—she had miscarried a month later. At the time, Fifth Concubine Hong Ying had been exposed as the culprit. Enraged, Jiang Quan had locked Hong Ying in the woodshed, where she had hanged herself with a rope. Now, however, the incident seemed riddled with inconsistencies. While Hong Ying was certainly capable of such an act, suicide was entirely out of character for her.
In this life, even if events followed the same trajectory, Xia Yan’s child would not survive. But as for Hong Ying... Jiang Ruan was curious—had she truly been the one responsible?
Lost in thought, she was interrupted as Lianqiao lifted the curtain and announced, "Miss, Fifth Concubine is here."
Jiang Ruan raised an eyebrow. Hong Ying had acted faster than expected.She ordered someone to bring Hong Ying in. Compared to three years ago, Hong Ying's attire was much more refined now. Though still not overtly luxurious, the fabrics and jewelry were all of excellent quality. It seemed Jiang Quan had treated her well these past three years. Come to think of it, this was the same time in her previous life when she had just returned to the Jiang residence. Back then, Hong Ying had already reached a point where she could rival Xia Yan. Now that Xia Yan was pregnant, Hong Ying's service to Jiang Quan had become even more convenient.
Hong Ying sat down cautiously opposite Jiang Ruan. These three years had been extremely pleasant and comfortable for her. Xia Yan's past actions had already created a rift in Jiang Quan's heart, making them less intimate, which gave Hong Ying the perfect opportunity. Over these three years, Jiang Quan had grown increasingly fond of her. Who would have thought Xia Yan would become pregnant at such a critical juncture?
Fortunately, Jiang Ruan had returned. Hong Ying always felt an inexplicable awe toward Jiang Ruan. Ever since witnessing the seemingly gentle young lady's formidable methods three years ago in the residence, she had been eager to ally with her. Now, her judgment had proven correct—Jiang Ruan had gained Empress Dowager Yide's favor, Jiang Xin Zhi was steadily rising in rank, and Zhao Guang also held her in high regard. Now that she had become a county princess, with her skills, wouldn't the residence soon be under her control?
Thinking of this, Hong Ying adopted a humble and submissive expression, saying meekly, "This lowly concubine greets the County Princess."
"Auntie, there's no need for such formalities." Jiang Ruan picked up the teapot in front of her. "Auntie and I are like family—no need for empty courtesies." She smiled at the woman before her. "After three years apart, Auntie seems to be doing well."
"It's all thanks to the young lady's blessings," Hong Ying replied with a smile. "The young lady is the truly fortunate one."
Jiang Ruan exchanged pleasantries with her, and before long, Hong Ying tentatively asked, "Does the young lady know about Madam's pregnancy?"
"Father is blessed with a child in his later years—who in the residence doesn’t know? I’m neither deaf nor blind." Jiang Ruan's tone carried a faint mockery, making Hong Ying's eyelids twitch. But the show had to go on, so she quickly feigned worry. "Forgive this lowly concubine for speaking out of turn, but this is precisely what troubles me."
"Oh? What does Auntie have to worry about?" Jiang Ruan asked with a smile.
"Since I regard the young lady as a confidante, I’ll speak frankly despite my shame. While Madam's pregnancy is a joyous matter, over these years, due to the master's favor, Madam has harbored many misunderstandings toward me. If she gives birth to a young master, who knows how she might retaliate against me?" Hong Ying wore a look of genuine distress, as if deeply unsettled.
"Auntie exaggerates." Jiang Ruan smiled reassuringly. "Mother has a compassionate heart—why would she retaliate against you? Besides, Father wouldn’t stand idly by. If Auntie were wronged, he would be the first to intervene."
Hong Ying took out a handkerchief to dab at her eyes, wiping away nonexistent tears, and sighed bitterly. "The master treats me well, and that is my fortune. But childbirth is always perilous for women. To speak bluntly, if something were to go wrong during Madam's delivery and the blame fell on me, I’d have no way to defend myself. In this residence, I am alone. If I were falsely accused of such a crime, I fear... I fear I wouldn’t even be left with a whole corpse in death."Jiang Ruan gazed quietly at Hong Ying. Regardless of how much truth lay in Hong Ying's words, it was evident she was an intelligent woman to have considered this point. Yet if she had been this perceptive, how had she fallen victim to Xia Yan's schemes in her past life? Jiang Ruan also didn't believe Hong Ying had caused Xia Yan's miscarriage in the previous lifetime. In truth, Hong Ying was an extremely shrewd woman who knew how to assess situations—she wouldn't act on anything risky or uncertain. If so, then the miscarriage had merely been a false accusation Xia Yan pinned on Hong Ying. But then, how had Xia Yan lost her child in that past life?
Though these thoughts raced through her mind, Jiang Ruan still offered Hong Ying a gentle smile. "Auntie, your words are far too alarming. With so many in the manor protecting the child in Madam's womb, what could you possibly fear? In my opinion, your priority shouldn't be concerning yourself with Madam's pregnancy, but rather securing a child of your own."
Here she was, an unmarried young maiden, openly discussing childbirth with a concubine without the slightest hint of embarrassment, as though it were the most natural thing. Though shocked, Hong Ying couldn't help but blush. "Young Miss, it's not that this lowly one doesn't wish for a child, but... but..."
Women raised in brothels were required to take a certain medicine from childhood. This drug not only made their skin fair and smooth but also gave their bodies an exotic fragrance—naturally, all to captivate patrons. However, this medicine came with a side effect: it made conception extremely difficult in later years.
When Hong Ying first entered the manor, her sole ambition had been to please Jiang Quan and win his favor. She had succeeded. But the longer she stayed in the household, the stronger her desire for a child grew. A man's affection might be fleeting, but with a child—especially a son—her status would rise significantly. She didn't expect to overthrow Xia Yan in one move, given the Xia family's backing, but if she could make Jiang Quan view her as Xia Yan's equal, that would suffice.
Every time Jiang Quan stayed in her courtyard, Xia Yan would send Li Momo with contraceptive tea, watching until Hong Ying drank it. Each time, after Li Momo left, Hong Ying would force herself to vomit it all up. Despite this, the excessive use of brothel medicines in her youth had taken its toll. She had secretly consulted physicians, who told her chances of conception were slim.
This inability to conceive had become a thorn in her heart. Now, just as Xia Yan was pregnant again, it seemed all her painstaking efforts might be undone. She couldn't accept it.
But what could she do? She simply couldn't conceive.
Jiang Ruan leisurely sipped her tea before remarking calmly, "How could you not conceive? In this world, there's no woman who cannot bear a child."
Hong Ying froze, lifting her head to stare at Jiang Ruan. "Young Miss, what do you mean by this?"
Jiang Ruan looked at her with pity. "What's to be done, Fifth Auntie? I sympathize with you deeply. But to live safely in this household, you must first have a child. Do you understand? If you want a child, then you will have a child."
It took Hong Ying a long moment to grasp Jiang Ruan's implication. When realization struck, she stared at the young woman before her as if seeing her for the first time, utterly shocked. "Young Miss...?"Jiang Ruan smiled faintly, "After all, it's your life, Auntie. Jiang Ruan has no right to interfere."
Hong Ying's mind was in turmoil. The implication in Jiang Ruan's words vaguely revealed one meaning: substitution!
If this succeeded, her position in the household would indeed rise to a higher level. But the risk was too great—if discovered, it would be the grave crime of confusing the lineage's descendants, punishable by death by beating. She was shocked that Jiang Ruan could speak of this so lightly, finding it unbelievable. Jiang Ruan was also a daughter of the Jiang family—how could she propose using someone else's bloodline to inherit the Jiang family's status?
Had she ever truly considered herself a member of the Jiang family?
Hong Ying was so unsettled that she couldn't gather her thoughts. Although Jiang Ruan's words were frightening, they inexplicably stirred something in her. Yet she couldn't make a decision right away and could only say hastily, "This humble concubine has heard the young lady's words. This humble concubine just remembered there are some matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you further."
Jiang Ruan didn't try to stop her, smiling as she said, "Auntie, take your time to consider it. There's no need to rush—just... make sure it's before my mother meets with an accident."
Hearing this, Hong Ying's heart skipped another beat. Without lingering any longer, she hurriedly left with her maidservant.
Lianqiao, watching her flee in panic, pushed the door open and entered. "Why is Fifth Auntie so frightened?"
Zisu stood silently to the side without speaking, so Lianqiao rubbed her nose and said, "She must have been scared by the young lady's imposing presence."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. Just then, Luzhu pushed the door open, her face a mix of excitement and fear. She quickly locked the door behind her, closed the windows, drew the curtains, and approached Jiang Ruan.
The others were baffled by her behavior. Luzhu bent down and whispered, "The young lady asked this servant to investigate matters at Plain Heart Courtyard, and I've found out something."
Jiang Ruan looked at her. "With that expression, something must be amiss. What is it?"
"Well, it's not exactly amiss," Luzhu said mysteriously. "This servant just heard from the kitchen staff that the Second Young Lady has been living austerely in the family temple and her health has weakened considerably. These past few days, her maids Butterfly and Dragonfly have been having the kitchen prepare hens, making chicken soup daily to nourish her."
"What's so strange about that?" Lianqiao asked.
Luzhu shook her head. "This servant remembers the Second Young Lady used to hate chicken soup. Besides, if she's truly living such an ascetic life in the family temple as they claim, she must be very devout. But if she's so devout, why would she immediately start slaughtering and eating meat upon returning home? Isn't that... breaking her vows?"
Jiang Ruan chuckled, giving Luzhu an approving look. Luzhu's ability to read situations had grown remarkably, and it was impressive she could deduce so much.
Pleased by Jiang Ruan's reaction, Luzhu continued, "This servant found it odd, so I looked into it further and discovered something truly suspicious. Guess what?"
Luzhu was treating the place like a storytelling hall, and Lianqiao, unable to wait, urged, "What is it?"
"Butterfly and Dragonfly said they were making chicken soup, but aside from the hens, they took nothing else. To make nourishing soup, you'd need angelica root, wouldn't you? And red dates? Surely they wouldn't just toss a whole chicken in as is?" Luzhu said. "So this servant gave a cleaning maid from Plain Heart Courtyard two taels of silver to let me inside. I brought along Little Huang, the gatekeeper's dog—his nose is sharp. He actually dug up dead hens from under a patch of roses in Plain Heart Courtyard, all drained of blood, their feathers torn to shreds." Luzhu shuddered. "The wounds were ghastly—just looking at them scared me. I quickly buried the hens again and rushed back."
Lianqiao and Zisu fell silent, their expressions grave. After a long pause, Lianqiao asked, "Young Lady, could the Second Young Lady be possessed by some evil spirit? Otherwise, how could she practice such dark arts?"
"Young Lady, since the Second Young Lady is acting so strangely now, perhaps you should stay in the palace for a while? At least she wouldn't dare follow you in front of the Empress Dowager," Zisu suggested.Jiang Ruan looked at Luzhu and asked, "When you saw the dead chicken, was its body slashed with a knife and drained of blood?"
"No," Luzhu frowned. "When I was a child, I was mischievous. A neighbor's speckled hen pecked me, and I chased it down and bit it back. I clearly remember the wound—it wasn't from a knife, nor did it look like an animal bite. It seemed more like a human bite."
Zisu and Lianqiao gasped in shock.
Jiang Ruan lowered her head in thought.
Ever since encountering Jiang Susu at the Jiang residence's gate a few days ago, Jiang Ruan had sensed something off about her. Though she couldn't pinpoint it exactly, it was as if Jiang Susu had become a completely different person, exuding an eerie aura. Moreover, Jiang Susu hadn't left Plain Heart Courtyard these past few days and rarely visited Xia Yan. She stayed in her courtyard all day, doing who knows what—it was highly unusual. Jiang Ruan had ordered Luzhu to investigate, but she never expected such a bizarre outcome.
"This servant also finds the Second Young Lady extremely sinister," Luzhu added. "That day, I saw clearly—there wasn't a single scar left on her face. After suffering such severe injuries, there's no trace of them now. If she isn't some kind of monster, how could she have changed like this?"
"There are no such things as evil spirits in this world," Jiang Ruan said coolly. Even if there were, she wouldn't fear them. She herself had died once—if others knew, wouldn't they see her as a monster too? But Jiang Susu's abnormality was so extreme that it unsettled her, forcing her to remain vigilant.
Yet there was little she could do about this matter herself. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly said, "Luzhu, prepare a carriage. I need to go out immediately."
"Where are you going, Miss?" Zisu asked curiously.
"East Wind Pavilion."
...
In the imperial study, the Emperor, who usually appeared muddle-headed, was frowning deeply as he stared at the memorial before him, as if facing an extremely thorny issue. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "So, according to you, there are already spies from the Eastern Barbarians within the palace."
Standing before the desk, the young man in dark robes replied coldly, "Yes."
"It seems I’ve been careless these years," the Emperor suppressed his simmering anger. "I haven’t even settled accounts with them, and yet they dare to plot against me first. They truly have no regard for their lives!"
"Not only that," Xiao Shao said, "but the sudden military mobilization by the Celestial Jin Kingdom is also closely linked to them."
"Those Eastern Barbarians are ruthless, cunning, and brutal. I never imagined they could be so scheming. If they’ve persuaded Celestial Jin, they must have promised them significant benefits. Jinying Wang, remain in the capital and thoroughly investigate the matter of the spies. Even if I have to turn the entire city upside down, I will find that traitor!"
Xiao Shao nodded.
The Emperor’s gaze lingered on him, and he suddenly sighed. "These three years in the Eastern Barbarian lands, you’ve faced death countless times. I understand your thoughts. But now, look—" A shadow of worry crossed the Emperor’s brow. "Everyone in this palace is eager for me to die sooner. I see the ambitions of the Eighth and Fifth Princes more clearly than they think. The Crown Prince is hopeless—he can’t be protected forever. As for the court officials, in my eyes, they’re nothing but clowns. Do they truly believe I don’t know their schemes? Ah Shao, you—"
"Your Majesty," Xiao Shao interrupted, "if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave."If anyone were to pass by this place, they would surely be astonished by the relationship between the Emperor and Jinying Wang. The Emperor's voice paused for a moment before he weakly waved his hand and said, "Enough, you may withdraw."
Xiao Shao walked to the door when the Emperor's voice came from behind: "You've now reached the age to marry. If you have your eye on any young lady, tell Us, and We shall arrange the marriage for you."
The figure in black robes neither stopped nor hesitated as he stepped out of the imperial study, leaving only the Emperor's sigh behind.
...
Though the East Wind Pavilion was the largest treasure shop in the capital, it saw few visitors. While its wares were dazzling, their prices were exorbitant—each item a rare treasure. Only the wealthiest nobles could afford to purchase anything here.
Today, however, a carriage stopped directly in front of the East Wind Pavilion.
Passersby curiously turned to see which noble scion had arrived, only to catch sight of a stunning young woman in red descending from the carriage. Understanding dawned on them—it was none other than the Princess of Great Peace, currently the most talked-about figure in the capital. Not only was the Princess exceptionally beautiful, but she had also gained the Empress Dowager's favor, receiving endless rewards. Naturally, she could afford to visit the East Wind Pavilion.
After a moment of envious murmurs, the crowd watched as the red-clad young woman entered the shop with two maids in tow.
No sooner had Jiang Ruan stepped inside than a beautiful attendant approached and asked, "Would the young lady like to browse our jewelry?"
Jiang Ruan glanced at her and said, "I wish to see Ye Feng."
The attendant was taken aback and shook her head. "Has the young lady come to the wrong place?"
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and extended her wrist, waving it before the attendant. "Does this change your answer?"
The attendant's expression shifted the moment she saw what was on Jiang Ruan's wrist. She immediately bowed respectfully. "Please follow me, my lady."
Jiang Ruan lowered her sleeve, concealing the Blood Moon Bracelet on her wrist, thinking to herself how useful it truly was.
Upon reaching the second-floor weapons section, the attendant pressed a blue porcelain lion's head on the wall. A small door slid open, revealing an elegant chamber beside it. The attendant curtsied and said, "Please enter, my lady. Chief Ye is inside."
(End of Chapter)
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