A Dream within a Dream

Jiang Ruan's voice drifted over softly, "Does Auntie truly not wish to rid Madam of the child in her belly? Why not ask your own heart?"

Hong Ying trembled uncontrollably. Yes, she hated Xia Yan, and she hated the flesh in Xia Yan's belly even more. Without that piece of flesh, Xia Yan would be in a vulnerable position in the household right now, and Jiang Quan would surely devote more attention to her!

Hong Ying gave Jiang Ruan a deep look before suddenly standing up. "This concubine thanks the Eldest Miss for her guidance."

Jiang Ruan smiled without speaking. The human heart was like this—jealousy, resentment, competition, hatred—just a tiny spark could consume one's reason. Hong Ying had already made her choice. Such was the way of the world: to gain something, one must pay an equal price.

Before leaving, Hong Ying turned to Jiang Ruan and said softly, "Eldest Miss, when you gifted me those silk threads, did you truly not know they were mixed with lethal incense?"

Jiang Ruan picked up her tea and took a slow sip. "I did not."

Hong Ying said nothing more and turned to leave.

After Hong Ying departed, Tianzhu approached Jiang Ruan and asked, "Does she really have a way to switch the silk threads?"

"Naturally." Jiang Ruan's gaze deepened. From a courtesan in the pleasure quarters to a concubine who could rival the main wife, and one who had won the favor of the esteemed Jiang Quan—Hong Ying was no ordinary woman. All these years, she had remained unharmed despite being a thorn in Xia Yan's side. Without some skill, she would have been devoured long ago.

Hong Ying was not Zhao Mei. She was far more cunning and ruthless than Zhao Mei had been.

Tianzhu glanced at Jiang Ruan but said nothing. Since this matter required no direct action from Jiang Ruan and had gained them leverage over Hong Ying, it was far better than if she had switched the threads herself.

Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes, a peculiar smile playing on her lips. No mother could lose a child without suffering. Just as she had suffered in her past life, Xia Yan would now experience the same pain—and far worse.

The weather in June was as changeable as a woman's mood. The morning had been clear and cloudless, but by afternoon, a torrential downpour had begun. The fierce rain brought a refreshing coolness to the sweltering summer heat.

Xia Yan sat by the window, which was open, allowing the cool, rain-laden breeze to caress her face. The gloom of recent days had lifted entirely. Because of her pregnancy, she had avoided anything too cold, so even in summer, no ice was used in her room. Today's rain had finally relieved the oppressive heat.

Feicui gently draped an outer robe over Xia Yan's shoulders. "Madam, take care not to catch a chill."

"It's fine." Xia Yan closed her eyes contentedly. Her mood seemed exceptionally good, even her complexion brighter, reminiscent of her former self. The sleeves of her robe were embroidered with a delicate white butterfly, so lifelike it seemed ready to take flight. The embroidery was exquisite, shimmering faintly. Xia Yan glanced down at it, pleased. Since becoming pregnant, her old clothes no longer fit, and she had to wear looser garments. No woman could resist beauty, so she had focused on embellishing her attire with intricate designs. Jiang Susu had shared some of the Silk Fish Silk with her, and she had used it to adorn her sleeves. Not only was the Silk Fish Silk truly beautiful, but with the recent incident involving Hong Ying, suspicions might naturally fall on her. By using it on herself, she could avoid raising any doubts.Thinking of Hong Ying, a smug smile crept onto Xia Yan's lips. The medicine had been purchased at great expense from outside the capital—it wasn't available locally, and ordinary physicians wouldn't detect its scent. Even if they did, the blame would fall squarely on Jiang Ruan. Servants had personally witnessed Hong Ying carrying the Silk Fish Silk back, and Xia Yan nearly laughed aloud—it seemed even heaven was aiding her. Hong Ying had brought this upon herself.

Today marked the second day. If not today, then surely by tomorrow, Hong Ying would miscarry.

Feicui gently fanned Xia Yan as she popped a sour plum into her mouth. Lately, she'd developed a craving for sour flavors and had the kitchen pickle fresh green plums. But before the tartness could spread on her tongue, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. Her hand trembled, and the plum fell from her mouth as she clutched her belly, crying out, "It hurts!"

Feicui and Lin Lang rushed to her side in alarm. "Madam, what's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

The pain in Xia Yan's abdomen intensified, sharp as a knife's twist, and she tumbled from her stool, writhing on the floor in agony. The maids paled with fear. Feicui stammered, "Could Madam be going into labor? But it's not time yet!"

"Ah!" Lin Lang shrieked, her body shaking uncontrollably. A pool of blood had already seeped from Xia Yan's lower body. They weren't sheltered young misses—they knew what this meant. Feicui, panic-stricken, blurted, "What do we do? Madam, hold on! I'll fetch the master and summon a physician!"

"W-wait!" Xia Yan gasped, sweat beading on her forehead despite the pain. Though she vaguely understood she might be miscarrying, her heart clenched with anguish and dread. Yet, through gritted teeth, she managed, "Keep it quiet. Don't let anyone else in the manor know." Another scream tore from her lips as she curled into herself, rolling in agony.

...

Jiang Ruan closed the book before her as Tianzhu hurried over, whispering, "Xia Yan has miscarried."

"The medicine's potency is indeed ruthless," Jiang Ruan remarked coolly.

"But she hasn't alerted anyone else," Tianzhu added after a pause. "She only called for an outside physician. He just left—likely paid handsomely for his silence."

"Do you have allies?" Jiang Ruan turned to Tianzhu. "Find a way to protect that physician. Xia Yan will surely silence him, but I still have use for him."

"Understood. I'll go at once," Tianzhu replied.

After Tianzhu departed, Jiang Ruan's gaze settled on a small, unripe plum in the basket of pastries before her. Luzhu had plucked it earlier for amusement—tiny, green, and pitifully underdeveloped, far from its time of harvest. Jiang Ruan cupped the plum in her palm, a slow smile spreading across her lips.

In Delicate Splendor Courtyard, Xia Yan lay on her bed, her face ashen as a corpse. The room reeked of blood. Lin Lang shuddered at the sight of the mangled mass of flesh in the wooden basin.

The physician had said Xia Yan had been carrying a fully formed male child. But today, she'd inhaled some potent abortifacient fragrance, triggering the miscarriage. The fragrance was vicious—not only had it ended the pregnancy, but it had also damaged her fundamentally, ensuring she could never conceive again.Xia Yan already had Jiang Chao and Jiang Susu. Even if she couldn't bear more children in the future, she still had a foothold in the household. But they all knew where that incense had come from—it was clearly the Silk Fish Silk that Xia Yan had given to Jiang Ruan, the very same intended to deal with Hong Ying!

Xia Yan's gaze was vacant, staring fixedly at the intricate patterns on the canopy above. If not for the occasional flicker of her eyes, one might have thought her dead.

Silk Fish Silk? Silk Fish Silk? Xia Yan let out a bitter laugh. So that was it. That bitch Hong Ying had switched the Silk Fish Silk? Could there be a traitor in the courtyard, working from the inside to swap the two batches of silk? Now that bitch Hong Ying still had the bastard in her belly, while her own child had paid with its life! Such a blood feud could never be forgiven!

The thought of the child in her womb twisted Xia Yan's heart like a knife. The child had been with her for so long, almost ready to be born, only to perish halfway. And it had been a boy! What would Jiang Quan think when he found out? He would surely be devastated. How could she break the news to him? If she told him, wouldn't that bastard in Hong Ying's belly gain even more advantage? Her child was dead, and she would make sure Hong Ying's bastard followed it to the grave!

Lin Lang timidly stepped forward. "Madam, should we inform the Second Young Lady—"

"Don't tell her about the miscarriage," Xia Yan said with difficulty. "Just say there's something wrong with the silk and tell her not to use it." Her voice was as thin as a thread. "If anyone finds out about this, your families' lives will be forfeit."

Feicui and Lin Lang shuddered, bowing their heads in unison. "We understand, Mistress."

"Get out." Xia Yan clearly had no desire to speak further. Just as Feicui and Lin Lang were about to leave, Lin Lang cautiously asked, "Then... what about the little master's remains?"

Xia Yan froze, glancing out the window. Given the current weather, the body wouldn't keep for long. But the sight of that bloody mass in the wooden basin filled her with inexplicable irritation. She sneered coldly. "Dead is dead. Just throw it out." She turned her head away in disgust. "Make sure it's done cleanly. Don't leave any evidence."

Feicui and Lin Lang both felt a chill in their hearts. To treat one's own flesh and blood so callously was truly heartless. But there was no other way at the moment. They didn't understand Xia Yan's intentions but had no choice but to comply and leave the room.

Xia Yan lay on the bed, a single tear slipping from the corner of her eye. She turned onto her side, and the tear vanished without a trace, replaced by a flash of venom in her eyes.

Her child had met such a tragic end. The bastard in Hong Ying's belly would suffer a thousand—no, ten thousand times worse!

...

That night, a small room in Delicate Splendor Courtyard was lit. The weather had just cleared after rain, and a faint breeze made the candlelight flicker ominously, casting eerie shadows.

A woman's voice spoke. "How did the disposal go?"

"To avoid suspicion, we wrapped it in coarse cloth. It was handled cleanly—no one noticed," another voice whispered in reply.

"Good. Ah, the sky looks so gloomy tonight—it feels eerie. Do you think... could it be vengeful spirits...?""Go away, what nonsense are you spouting in the middle of the night?" The maidservant's voice sounded deeply superstitious as she hurriedly cut off the other's words, saying, "It's so late already. Since everything's been taken care of, I'll head back first."

"Alright," the other voice replied, followed by the sound of footsteps fading away. The candlelight in the room faintly illuminated the figure at the table—Lin Lang, Xia Yan's personal maidservant. Earlier that day, she had handed the stillborn infant to an old servant woman in the household, claiming it was the illegitimate child of a promiscuous maid from the courtyard, and instructed her to bury it far away. Though the matter was somewhat taboo, Lin Lang had given the woman a generous amount of silver, and the old servant had readily agreed.

Despite everything being handled smoothly, Lin Lang couldn't shake an inexplicable unease, as if something ominous was about to happen. However, Xia Yan couldn't be left unattended—she was still pretending to be pregnant, maintaining the facade of a stable pregnancy while secretly recovering from the miscarriage. Lin Lang had to brew her restorative medicine in secret.

After parting ways with Lin Lang, the old servant woman gleefully patted her heavy money pouch. Though Lin Lang had paid her well, the stillborn infant could fetch an even higher price elsewhere. The placenta still attached to the dead child was a valuable commodity—a certain apothecary in the capital discreetly dealt in such goods. They often procured stillborn infants to resell to wealthy households, where noblewomen secretly consumed placenta for beauty treatments. Though the practice was gruesome and done in secret, demand remained steady.

That day, the old servant had obtained the stillborn from Lin Lang and resold it to the apothecary, earning double the profit. Overjoyed, she immediately went out to buy wine and celebrate.

Meanwhile, in Plain Heart Courtyard, Butterfly carried a delicate crystal bowl to Jiang Susu, who reclined on the couch. "Miss, drink it while it's hot."

The steaming bowl emitted a nauseating hue despite its fragrant aroma, stirring an inexplicable discomfort in the stomach.

Jiang Susu set aside the newly purchased rouge and carelessly took the bowl from Butterfly, stirring it lightly with a jade spoon. "There's more today?"

"It's been scarce in the capital lately," Butterfly replied calmly. "The apothecary owner said this was freshly obtained today. I had to spend twenty taels of silver to secure it."

"Understood. Go collect the silver from the accounts later," Jiang Susu said, lifting the bowl to her nose and inhaling deeply, her expression one of rapture. She had been consuming placenta for quite some time—thanks to it, the scars on her face had healed remarkably fast. Though the substance was rare and others shied away from its bloody nature, she had no such qualms. For the sake of her beauty, what did it matter? Now that she could even forgo chicken blood, her complexion must be more radiant than ever. It seemed the right time to make an appearance again.

As Jiang Susu slowly savored her "delicacy," Butterfly suppressed her own urge to retch. Near the servants' quarters in Plain Heart Courtyard, a piece of coarse cloth lay quietly among the discarded items—stained with dark brown marks, as if it had once wrapped something unspeakable.

...At night, fearing the chill, Luzhu closed the windows, leaving only a small gap to prevent too much cold wind from entering while still allowing ventilation. The weather was pleasantly cool today, so there was no need for ice. Tianzhu entered from outside and walked over to Jiang Ruan, who was preparing for bed, whispering a few words into her ear. Jiang Ruan's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled faintly. "So that's how it is."

Tianzhu couldn't help but frown. Xia Yan had ordered the stillborn child she delivered to be disposed of, but by some twist of fate, it had been bought back by someone from Plain Heart Courtyard. Jiang Susu had unknowingly consumed the placenta of her own younger brother. The mere thought of it sent a shiver down one's spine.

Jiang Ruan remarked, "The world has its own way of balancing karma."

Tianzhu asked, "Xia Yan concealed the news of her miscarriage. Could she be planning to pass off someone else's child as her own?"

"After suffering such a great loss, how could Xia Yan simply accept it? If she were to pass off another child as hers, wouldn't that make her seem too kind-hearted?" Jiang Ruan tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, revealing jade-like earlobes that gleamed even more strikingly.

"And the young lady...?"

Jiang Ruan shook her head. "No need to worry. Right now, she's entirely focused on Hong Ying, and Hong Ying is just as determined to cling to her. We need only sit back and watch the show." She wouldn't act rashly unless the time was right.

After a moment's thought, Tianzhu nodded and left the room.

Once Tianzhu was gone, Jiang Ruan pressed her fingers to her temples and sat for a while longer, lost in thought. Just as she was deep in contemplation, a soft sound came from the window behind her, followed by a familiar voice. "...Miss Jiang."

Jiang Ruan turned abruptly, instinctively reaching for the Blood Moon Bracelet on her wrist.

A figure leaped in through the window, stopping a few steps away from Jiang Ruan. Dressed in black robes that somehow still carried the elegance of brocade, with a face of unparalleled handsomeness—who else could it be but Xiao Shao?

This uninvited intrusion made even Jiang Ruan, who was usually composed and smiling, unable to suppress her anger. She snapped coldly, "What is the meaning of this, Prince Xiao? Is this how the imperial family teaches its members to behave?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Though she now held the title of Princess of Great Peace, Xiao Shao was the leader of the hundred thousand Brocade-clad Guards and the current master of the Brocade Hero King Manor. In terms of rank, she was still far beneath him. Yet, his sudden appearance had startled her. Moreover, Xiao Shao had never deliberately asserted his authority in front of her, so Jiang Ruan had almost forgotten the immense power he wielded in the Da Jin Dynasty. Only now did she realize how impudent her words had been. But spoken words could not be taken back, so she simply feigned anger and glared at him boldly, though inwardly she felt a twinge of unease.

Xiao Shao was accustomed to Jiang Ruan's calm and collected demeanor, her ability to remain composed and smiling in any situation. Seeing her bristle like this caught him off guard, and he froze momentarily. Over the years, most of his dealings had been with men, where interactions were more casual. Now that he regarded Jiang Ruan as one of his own, he had momentarily forgotten she was an unmarried young lady. Feeling somewhat guilty, he said, "My apologies. I didn't think it through." He then raised his eyes to meet Jiang Ruan's gaze, noticing how she was clearly avoiding his eyes yet still pretending to glare at him. This amused him, and he couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.The esteemed Prince Xiao of the Da Jin Dynasty personally coming to apologize left Jiang Ruan in no position to put on further pretenses. She silently chastised herself for losing composure earlier today. After calming herself for a moment, she walked to the table and sat down, pouring tea for both herself and Xiao Shao. "For Prince Xiao to barge into a lady's chambers in the dead of night," she remarked, "there must surely be a matter of utmost urgency."

Xiao Shao seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in her words, his expression turning grave. "I heard you used the Silk Fish Silk sent by Xia Yan?"

Jiang Ruan paused, surprised that Xiao Shao had come for this reason. It must have been Tianzhu who reported it to him. Tianzhu had only recently come to her side, and with Xiao Shao being her benefactor, Jiang Ruan hadn't expected absolute loyalty from Tianzhu yet. She nodded in acknowledgment.

Xiao Shao frowned disapprovingly. "It was laced with incense. You shouldn't have been so reckless."

"Tianzhu already neutralized the toxicity in the incense," Jiang Ruan replied dismissively. At the time, to lower Hong Ying's guard, she had Tianzhu detoxify the portion of silk she used, ensuring it posed no harm.

"Even Tianzhu can make mistakes. Accidents happen," Xiao Shao cautioned.

Tianzhu, standing guard outside the window, had trained in martial arts since childhood and could hear the conversation clearly. She felt somewhat aggrieved at Xiao Shao's words—while she might not be the top expert in detoxification, such minor poisons were hardly a challenge for her.

Before Jiang Ruan could respond, Xiao Shao suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist. As a man, his strength far surpassed hers. Jiang Ruan's gaze fell on the hand gripping her wrist. Unlike Jiang Xin Zhi's rough, sun-darkened hands honed by battlefield training, Xiao Shao's fingers were long and elegant, his knuckles well-defined—hands that appeared accustomed to playing the qin and sipping tea, yet capable of taking lives without a trace.

Jiang Ruan asked, "Is there residual incense?" Truthfully, she wasn't overly concerned about the incense—at worst, it would render her infertile. In this life, she hadn't even considered marriage.

"Not the incense," Xiao Shao shook his head, studying her. "Do you often have nightmares? Struggle to sleep at night?"

Jiang Ruan's heart skipped a beat. She didn't answer immediately. Since her rebirth, this had been a constant affliction. She'd always attributed it to the trauma of her past life, but now, hearing his question, she asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I'm no physician, but having spent time in the Eastern Barbarian Country, I know a little about incense poisons. I mentioned before that you seemed to have a heart condition. Now, considering your nightmares and insomnia, it closely resembles a type of incense poison used in the Eastern Barbarian Country's royal court."

Jiang Ruan fell silent. In her past life, when she returned to the Jiang residence from the manor, her body had been frail, emaciated to the point of being nearly unrecognizable. She spent years bedridden in the Jiang household, taking medicine constantly, yet her health never improved. Had the Emperor's decree selecting concubines not arrived, she might have remained "ill" for years longer.

She had always assumed Xia Yan was behind it. So in this life, upon returning from the manor, she had been meticulous about her food and necessities, daring not to entrust them to others. Though unafraid of death, she couldn't afford to lose her life without cause—she needed it to exact vengeance.

But how could it be poison from the Eastern Barbarian Country?Xiao Shao noticed Jiang Ruan's gaze drifting past him as if lost in thought. He suddenly felt the girl before him had become distant again, and for some reason, an unfamiliar discomfort rose in his heart. Staring at her for a moment, he said, "If there's a chance in the future, I'll take you to my master's mountain. He excels in both medicine and poison—perhaps he could discern what's truly going on."

Jiang Ruan was pulled back to reality by Xiao Shao's words. Meeting the young man's dark, intent gaze, she paused briefly before replying, "Thank you."

It seemed "thank you" was what she said most often when with Xiao Shao. He stood up. "It's getting late. I should head back—you should rest early." With one last glance at her, he took his leave.

He comes and goes as he pleases, as if the Minister's residence were his own backyard. Jiang Ruan was stunned for a moment before suddenly wondering what Xiao Shao had come for today—just to ask about the Silk Fish Silk? Was the man out of his mind? Jiang Ruan blew out the lamp and lay down, but the drowsiness that had been there earlier had long since vanished into thin air after Xiao Shao's disruption. Now, she couldn't sleep at all.

Seeing the light in the room go out, Xiao Shao curved his lips slightly and turned to leave.

...

It was just a summer rain, and by the next day, the sun was shining brightly again. Unlike the heavy gloom of the previous days, the weather had been clear and sunny for several days in a row. The household was orderly as usual. Fifth Concubine Hong Ying rested peacefully in her courtyard, while Xia Yan, with her swollen belly, often strolled in the garden. On the surface, everything seemed unchanged.

But outward calm did not mean true peace. Take Fifth Concubine Hong Ying, for example—far from resting peacefully in her courtyard as the servants claimed, she was instead anxiously questioning the maid before her: "What exactly is going on? Could you really find out nothing?"

"Reporting to the concubine," the maid replied, "this servant inquired at Plain Heart Courtyard but heard nothing about anyone in Delicate Splendor Courtyard suffering a miscarriage. No doctors have visited these past few days, and the medicine the madam ordered from the pharmacy was just some standard pregnancy tonic."

"How is that possible?" Hong Ying muttered. These past few days, she had been burning with impatience, waiting to hear news of Xia Yan's miscarriage. Yet, for some reason, Delicate Splendor Courtyard had become as impenetrable as cast iron—not even a fly could get in, let alone any useful information. She had even tried probing Plain Heart Courtyard, thinking that if anything had happened to Xia Yan, Jiang Susu would surely know. But the maid returned with such news—how could Hong Ying accept it? Had Xia Yan discovered something?

(End of Chapter)