Dong Yinger was taken aback for a moment before shaking her head. Chang An had been her childhood sweetheart, and she had originally thought they would spend their lives together like this—there was nothing wrong with that. But ever since she met that god-like man three years ago, no one else had existed in her eyes. Only now did she realize that what she felt for Chang An was never love at all.
Jiang Ruan observed Dong Yinger's distracted demeanor and couldn't help but wonder—had Dong Yinger fallen for someone else? Just moments ago, when Dong Yinger seemed to recall something, the slight upward curve of her lips was unmistakably the shy expression of a maiden thinking of her beloved.
Her heart jolted. What? Could this also be different from her past life?
Dong Yinger suddenly looked up at Jiang Ruan, as if struck by a thought, and asked casually, "Ruan Meimei, speaking of which, your elder brother has been winning battles one after another. Has he written to you this year? Did he mention when he might return?"
Jiang Ruan froze, momentarily overlooking Zhao Jin's odd expression beside her, her body stiffening abruptly.
Could it be...? She studied Dong Yinger, as if trying to confirm her suspicions. Dong Yinger gazed back at her, her bright eyes brimming with unconcealed anticipation. That look was all too familiar—in her past life, she had seen it countless times in the bronze mirror. It was the adoration one held for the person they loved.
Dong Yinger's beloved... was actually Jiang Xin Zhi!
Though this life had largely followed the trajectory of her past one, her arrival had altered many things. For instance, Dong Yinger, who had been deeply devoted to Chang An in her past life, had now fallen for Jiang Xin Zhi. If this had changed, what else might be different?
Noticing Jiang Ruan's distraction, Lin Zixiang nudged her. "What are you thinking about? You're not saying a word."
"Oh," Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "It's nothing. My brother hasn't sent any letters."
A flicker of disappointment passed through Dong Yinger's eyes, and Jiang Ruan, seeing it, grew even more certain of her conjecture. For some inexplicable reason, an uneasy feeling rose within her—one she couldn't quite understand. Lin Zixiang frowned. "If Yinger gets married, I'll probably be next. My father has been pressing me about it lately, and I really don't know what to do."
Jiang Ruan pondered for a moment before replying with a smile, "Has Lord Lin given any hints?"
Lin Zixiang had always been indifferent to worldly opinions and didn't shy away from the topic. "Not really, but I've noticed him frowning a lot recently. It must not be going well. I've said it before—with my temperament, finding a suitable match in the capital who can tolerate my personality is truly difficult."
Jiang Ruan's brows furrowed slightly.
...
Mount Canaan was perpetually blanketed in snow, its towering peaks and deep valleys retaining a wintry appearance even in summer. The mountain streams flowed with icy fragments, washing over brightly colored pebbles along the banks. The pine forests glittered with crystalline frost, creating a scene reminiscent of the northern landscapes.
Xiao Shao traversed the Plum Blossom Formation at the mountain's base, making his way toward Green Willow Villa at the summit.
The Plum Blossom Formation was a defensive array personally laid out by Mr. Yaqi, consisting of eight interconnected rings stretching from the foot of the mountain to its peak. Only disciples of the sect could navigate it—outsiders stood no chance. Xiao Shao had visited many times and knew the path well. As soon as he stepped through the outer gates of Green Willow Villa, the large green-feathered parrot perched at the entrance flapped its wings and squawked loudly, "Someone's here! Someone's here!"Unlike the scenery atop Mount Canaan, Green Willow Villa was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of blooming flowers, as if it were early spring. Xiao Shao walked toward the villa. The vast estate was exquisitely maintained, yet eerily empty. After a moment, a deep voice echoed from the courtyard: "Ah Shao?"
The voice was resonant like a great bell, seemingly right beside his ear, yet upon closer listening, it felt as if it came from a great distance, indistinct and ethereal. Xiao Shao stepped into the courtyard. Beneath a pear blossom tree, a white-bearded old man in gray robes sat at a chess table, holding a box of chess pieces.
"Master," Xiao Shao approached him.
The old man was none other than Mr. Yaqi, now in his seventies, with an immortal-like demeanor, though his eyes remained sharp and wise. Without looking up, he focused intently on the chessboard before him and asked, "Back from the Eastern Barbarian Country?"
"Yes," Xiao Shao replied. Since returning from the Eastern Barbarian Country, he had been occupied with various affairs. Mr. Yaqi had still been in seclusion, so it was only in recent days that Xiao Shao found the opportunity to visit Mount Canaan—just as his master was due to emerge from seclusion.
Mr. Yaqi set down the chess piece box and finally looked up. He had taken eight disciples in total, with Xiao Shao ranked third. When Xiao Shao first came to the mountain, he was a quiet, reticent youth, studying alongside Guan Lianghan—Guan learned military strategy, while Xiao Shao studied the art of poison-making. But within a few years, the old Jinying Wang and his wife met with misfortune, and Xiao Shao's temperament grew even colder. He requested to abandon poison-making and instead focus solely on learning to kill.
Xiao Shao had exceptional talent, naturally suited for martial arts, and killing came effortlessly to him. In his first year after leaving the mountain, he braved great danger to pursue rebel forces in the Eastern Barbarian Country and beheaded their leader. Cold and fearless, his strikes were always fatal, and he had no attachments in life. There was no one in the world more suited to be an assassin than Xiao Shao. Yet at the time, Mr. Yaqi had only said, "Ah Shao, you are not the world's greatest assassin." Xiao Shao asked, "Why?"
Mr. Yaqi replied, "Your blood is not cold enough."
Xiao Shao was deeply loyal—a fact Mr. Yaqi understood well. Though outwardly aloof, Xiao Shao often looked out for his fellow disciples. A man of principle could not be a true assassin. Xiao Shao was not the perfect killer.
Mr. Yaqi studied Xiao Shao for a moment before suddenly asking, "Ah Shao, have you met anyone special these past few years?"
When Xiao Shao left the capital three years ago, Mr. Yaqi had still been in seclusion, so they had not bid farewell. In truth, master and disciple had not seen each other for a full three years.
Xiao Shao thought for a moment. "No."
"Think carefully," Mr. Yaqi pressed.
Xiao Shao was puzzled. The concept of "special" held no meaning in his life. Over the past three years, he had encountered countless people—how could he possibly know whom his master was referring to?
"Master, what do you mean?" Xiao Shao asked.
Mr. Yaqi stroked his long white beard. "Three years ago, before entering seclusion, I cast a divination for you. The person who would alter your fate should have already appeared."
"Who?" Xiao Shao asked.
"This person comes for vengeance, yet also for gratitude. Life and death, death and life—she sees clearly through the workings of the world. Destiny shifts because of her. Whether this is a blessing or a curse, even I cannot say."Xiao Shao remained silent. Mr. Yaqi's words were too vague to grasp any clear meaning. After pondering for a while, he finally asked, "What does this have to do with me?"
Mr. Yaqi's expression turned solemn. "Her life is intertwined with yours. The rise and fall of this connection follows its own karma. Because of her appearance, you will escape your solitary and ill-fated destiny in this lifetime. However, your fate will shift to that of nobility and generalship, while the Emperor's Star wanes. You sacrifice your imperial destiny for her."
Such words, if spread, would surely cost someone their head. Yet Green Willow Villa was empty, and Mr. Yaqi spoke leisurely while Xiao Shao listened with composure.
"I understand," Xiao Shao replied. The imperial destiny had always been superfluous to him—he had never cast a covetous glance at that position. Thus, his expression remained entirely unchanged after Mr. Yaqi's revelation.
Mr. Yaqi sighed. "She has already appeared."
Xiao Shao frowned. Yet Mr. Yaqi never revealed divinations too plainly—heaven's secrets must not be fully disclosed, lest one invite retribution.
Mr. Yaqi continued, "Enough. The divination shows that this master still has one meeting with her. One day, I too shall see her face. By then, the karmic cycle of her past life will naturally manifest." He paused, as if there was more he wished to say, but ultimately swallowed his words. Instead, he looked at Xiao Shao and asked, "The Eastern Barbarian Secret Arts are vicious—have you fallen victim to them?"
"No," Xiao Shao answered. "Master's antidote remains effective." As he spoke, a wave of gratitude toward Mr. Yaqi rose in his heart. In the past, he had been determined to study only the path of assassination, intending to discard his former poison-making skills. But Mr. Yaqi had refused, insisting he must not neglect either. Since ancient times, no assassin had ever practiced both killing and poison-making. Now, however, given the perilous nature of his missions and the treacherous, bizarre poisons of the Eastern Barbarian Country, his additional knowledge of toxicology had unexpectedly provided him with much convenience over the years.
Mr. Yaqi smiled faintly. "There is still time. Since you're here, let us play a game first." With a light flick of his sleeve, all the pieces on the board flew neatly back into their boxes, not a single one left out.
Mr. Yaqi picked up a white piece, while Xiao Shao held a black one. They placed their pieces simultaneously.
"This master has warned you—seize the initiative first," Mr. Yaqi's voice carried from afar.
...
The cicadas' relentless chirping on a summer afternoon made it impossible to rest properly. A few third-rank maids climbed the trees in the courtyard to catch the noisy insects. Jiang Ruan had just finished a bowl of chilled fruit syrup when Luzhu hurried over and said, "Miss, Marquis Xia and the Eighth Prince have come to the residence. The master requests your presence to accompany the ladies in conversation."
Xia Cheng had not visited the Jiang residence since the ancestral hall incident, and the matter of Xia Jun remained a thorn in the Xia Family's heart. Having been away from the capital for three years, Jiang Ruan inferred from Luzhu's words that the Xia Family's ladies had also come. Xia Jiao Jiao and Xia Jun hated Jiang Ruan like a thorn in their side—yet now they were stepping into the Jiang residence again. It seemed relations between the Xia and Jiang families had eased somewhat over the past three years.
Luzhu fretted, "What does the master mean by this? The madam is already entertaining the guests outside—what can you do there? Are the Xia Family people even easy to deal with?"
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "It's fine. Tianzhu, what happened to that physician from the other day?"
"Xia Yan sent people to kill him, but this subordinate rescued him. He's now locked in the storage room of the servants' quarters. Does Miss wish to use him?""Prepare yourselves," Jiang Ruan stood up. "Since she's invited the Xia Family today, this is perfect—I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."
In the main hall, Jiang Quan was conversing with Ye Li and Xia Cheng. Over the past few years, Ye Li had been diligent and achieved outstanding political merits, while also excelling in interpersonal relations. The Emperor, who had once held a grudge against him due to the Li An incident, gradually began to view him in a better light. Coupled with Noble Consort Chen's efforts to cater to the Emperor's preferences, she grew increasingly favored. In recent years, the Fifth Prince had gradually lost ground, while Ye Li's reputation had risen once more. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, repeatedly made mistakes, and the matter of deposing him seemed imminent—it was only a matter of time. The issue of appointing a new Crown Prince had become a major concern for the court officials, with factions forming accordingly. Naturally, the Xia and Jiang families stood firmly with the Eighth Prince's faction.
Ye Li smiled warmly, his words humble yet brimming with ambition. The more Xia Cheng and Jiang Quan observed him, the more convinced they became of their choice. Ye Li possessed unparalleled talent for governance and was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate to rule the realm.
Meanwhile, Xia Yan was chatting with Shen Rou, the wife of the Xia Family's eldest son. Shen Rou glanced at Xia Yan's belly and chuckled, "Your belly is growing more pronounced, sister-in-law. When I was pregnant with Jiao Jiao, it wasn't this large—perhaps you're carrying twins."
Xia Yan stiffened, a bitter laugh hidden in her heart. Twins? Her child had already perished—how could there be talk of twins? Just the thought of that night's miscarriage made her wish she could tear Hong Ying and Jiang Ruan to pieces. Though she didn’t know how the two rolls of Silk Fish Silk had been switched, she was certain those two were behind it. Xia Yan's eyes flickered briefly. Let them laugh now—soon, they wouldn’t even be able to cry.
Shen Rou, though already a mother, had grown even more radiant and voluptuous, exuding the charm of a young matron. In contrast, Xia Yan, who had recently suffered a miscarriage, looked sallow and haggard, as if she had aged ten years overnight.
Shen Rou studied Xia Yan with suspicion. By all accounts, Xia Yan should have been living comfortably in the Jiang residence—why did she look so worn out? Gone was the poised, refined air of the talented gentlewoman she once was. Recalling the rumors of Jiang Quan's favoritism toward the brothel-born concubine in his household, Shen Rou understood. It seemed Xia Yan lacked the skill to keep her husband's affection. Shen Rou had always despised Xia Yan's pretentious airs, and now, while offering superficial comfort, she secretly reveled in her misfortune.
Just then, a young girl suddenly spoke up. "Why hasn’t Jiang Ruan arrived yet? Is this how the Jiang Family treats its guests?" The girl wore a light-purple butterfly-patterned cloud dress and was strikingly beautiful, though her tone was impatient. This was Xia Jiao Jiao, the daughter of the Xia Family's eldest branch and Shen Rou’s biological child.
"This princess was not informed of the invitation beforehand, nor was she aware of any guests to entertain. How, then, could she be expected to receive them?" A voice rang from outside the door. Everyone in the room looked up to see Jiang Ruan gracefully entering.Xia Jiao Jiao clenched her lower lip tightly, her eyes fixed intently on Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan wore a simple Suzhou Embroidered Moonlight Brocade Shirt, her skin fairer than snow, lips red and teeth white, with eyes so captivating they were startling. Xia Jiao Jiao, who originally possessed seven-tenths of beauty, now seemed to have less than one-tenth when compared to Jiang Ruan. Furious beyond measure, what angered her even more was the mockery in Jiang Ruan's words. Indeed, they had neither sent an invitation card nor ever mentioned requiring Jiang Ruan's company, yet now they blamed her for arriving late—utterly unreasonable.
"Ruan'er, you've finally come. Jiao Jiao has been longing to see you for quite some time," Xia Yan said with a smile, deftly steering the conversation away. Yet inwardly, she was puzzled. She had thought it would take considerable effort to get Jiang Ruan to come out and had prepared numerous excuses, only to find none of them necessary—Jiang Ruan had agreed readily. But this was just as well, making her next move all the easier.
Xia Jiao Jiao curled her lip, indifferent to Xia Yan's words. Shen Rou, too, scrutinized Jiang Ruan carefully. When Jiang Ruan first arrived at the Xia residence, Shen Rou had dismissed her as an orphan girl easy to manipulate. Yet this seemingly pliable young girl had managed to outwit Xia Jun. Now, she had transformed into a court-appointed princess. Over the past three years, it was said she had won the Empress Dowager's favor, likely amassing considerable wealth. Shen Rou began calculating in her mind. Xia Cheng intended to arrange a marriage between Jiang Ruan and Xia Jun—partly because Xia Jun still harbored resentment over past events and had vowed to marry Jiang Ruan to torment her, and partly because whoever married Jiang Ruan would gain significant influence, not to mention the possibility of a substantial dowry.
(End of Chapter)
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