With that, she held the wine cup out to Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan looked at her and smiled faintly, not accepting the offered wine.
Jiang Quan's expression darkened as he suppressed his rising anger. How would it look if word got out that Jiang Ruan wouldn't even accept wine from her own half-sister?
Jiang Li, hidden beneath her bridal veil and unable to see outside, grew anxious when no one took the wine she offered. Just as she was about to speak, a greasy male voice interjected, "Why won't the Princess of Great Peace accept wine from her own sister? Is she unwilling?"
The voice was slurred, carrying an ambiguous undertone. All eyes turned to Jiang Ruan, who wore a light pink cloud-patterned brocade dress. To distinguish herself from the bride today, she had forgone her usual bright makeup, appearing much gentler than usual. Now, with her faint smile and snow-white skin, she looked both beautiful and graceful.
Seeing everyone's attention focused on Jiang Ruan, Jiang Susu clenched her fists. Jiang Ruan smiled slightly and reached out to take the wine cup from Jiang Li. In the Da Jin Dynasty, it was customary at weddings to accept the bride's toast—refusal would be seen as disrespect to the host. Only by drinking every last drop could one properly bless the newlyweds. Thus, even those who normally abstained from alcohol couldn't refuse the bride's toast.
Especially when it came from a half-sister. Refusing would inevitably invite gossip that she, as a princess, was bullying her half-sister in the household.
Jiang Ruan replied with a half-smile, "Second Sister's words truly move me deeply."
Jiang Li's hand trembled slightly. Jiang Dan noticed but lowered her head, pretending not to see, while a pair of eyes in the crowd gleamed with delight.
Jiang Ruan took the cup, covered it with her sleeve, and drank every last drop before showing the empty cup to the crowd. Then, leaning close to Jiang Li, she whispered, "Second Sister, everyone can bear witness—I drank every drop."
Jiang Li hastily finished her own wine, her voice sweet and coquettish, "Da Jiejie truly dotes on her younger sister."
"Bravo! The Princess of Great Peace has an impressive capacity for drink!" The same greasy voice rang out again as Ye You emerged from the crowd of well-wishers, his eyes fixed intently on Jiang Ruan. "The Princess of Great Peace—a heroine among women." His lecherous gaze roamed over her, making her skin crawl.
Ye You was overjoyed today. He had long coveted this beauty, and now, as if heaven itself were aiding him, the perfect opportunity had presented itself. His eyes lingered on the two empty cups on the tray before shifting back to Jiang Ruan. The skin beneath her robes must be as delectable as it looked. Imagining that exquisite body beneath him, Ye You swallowed hard, his gaze growing bolder and more unrestrained.
With just one glance, Jiang Ruan knew exactly what vile thoughts filled his mind. She smirked coldly inwardly and said, "I feel a bit dizzy. I'll step out for some air." With that, she turned and left the bridal chamber.
Jiang Dan gazed thoughtfully at the wine cups on the tray before suddenly smiling, her eyes glinting with an inscrutable light. Jiang Susu, left standing alone, quickly regained the crowd's attention with her usual theatrical flair.Jiang Ruan stepped out of the bridal chamber and walked straight ahead. The Left Minister's residence was indeed vast, and though she had never been here in either her past or present life, her throat felt tight. Earlier, she had instructed Tianzhu to switch the wine cups with Jiang Li's, yet she had still fallen victim—just a slight touch on her lips was enough to make her feel weak now.
After some thought, there was only one explanation: both cups on the tray had been drugged. Even if she had switched them, the outcome would have been the same. Who else but Ye You would prepare such a double-layered trap? And the one conspiring with Ye You was undoubtedly Jiang Li. Jiang Li was foolish and ignorant, yet conceited enough to believe everyone in the world was as stupid as her. Today's scheme was truly underhanded, but she was merely being used by Ye You. Still, Ye You's audacity knew no bounds—daring to act so brazenly in broad daylight!
Yet there was something odd about today's events. She didn't dare stay long in the bridal chamber as her head was already spinning, but how could such a large minister's residence be devoid of servants? The banquet guests seemed to have vanished in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
Had the minister's residence been involved in this? Why? Jiang Ruan quickened her pace, sensing something amiss behind her. Tianzhu followed closely, alert—assassins were always more perceptive than others. "Master," Tianzhu said, "there's someone ahead." She paused, her expression unusually grave. "We're ambushed."
Jiang Ruan smirked coldly. An ambush in a minister's residence, and targeting her. Would the Left Minister really risk his career for a lecherous prince? If anything were to happen, her reputation would be ruined, but the Empress Dowager would surely be furious, and everyone involved would face consequences. Yet today's events suggested the minister's residence might indeed be complicit.
Tianzhu suddenly unfastened her belt, revealing a silver soft sword hidden beneath. At the same time, guards sprang out from all directions. These guards looked strange—nothing like the Left Minister's usual retinue.
"Kill the maid, but don't harm the princess," the leader commanded. Before he could finish, Tianzhu leaped high into the air, her movements swift and light. A silver streak flashed, and the guard closest to her staggered, a bloody gash appearing on his neck before he collapsed with a thud.
The remaining guards froze. They had assumed the maid was merely skilled in martial arts, never expecting such brutality. Losing a comrade so quickly, they had no idea Tianzhu was a trained assassin. Their eyes darkened with malice as they surged toward her without another word.
By now, Jiang Ruan was shielded by Tianzhu but couldn't flee herself—the drug was too potent. She frowned. Something was wrong. There must be something she had overlooked. Today's wedding banquet was clearly a trap set for her. Why was Ye You so bold? And how had he bribed a powerful official like the Left Minister?
Could Ye You truly command all these guests alone?
One guard, seeing the others occupied with Tianzhu, crept toward Jiang Ruan. When he reached her, he whispered, "Princess, my apologies," and reached for her arm.Jiang Ruan did not dodge, her expression eerily calm. She looked at the guard and asked, "Are you Noble Consort Chen's man?"
The guard stiffened, a flicker of disbelief flashing through his eyes. Before he could speak, his body slowly collapsed to the ground.
No one had clearly seen Jiang Ruan's movements. They only witnessed the guard stiffen and fall, his body showing no visible wounds, just a trickle of blood slowly seeping from the corner of his mouth.
The remaining guards grew wary, staring at Jiang Ruan in shock. That an ordinary-looking maid could strike so viciously was one thing, but how could this seemingly defenseless princess also possess such lethal skills?
Steadying herself, Jiang Ruan twisted the Blood Moon Bracelet on her wrist. It contained only nine needles in total, each one coated with deadly poison. The mechanism was indeed exquisitely crafted—once deployed, there was no room for retreat. Yet it had one fatal flaw: the poisoned needles had to be fired at close range.
In that moment of crisis, a memory from her past life surfaced. In her previous life, Left Minister Zuo Jiang had enjoyed great political success, accomplishing several remarkable feats for the Emperor. Back then, it wasn't Jiang Dan or Jiang Li who had married Zuo Jiang, but a cousin from Noble Consort Chen's maternal family.
It was as if a thread had woven the entire scheme together. Thinking it through now, the pieces began to make sense. Ye You alone wouldn't have the influence to command the entire Left Minister's residence—but if it were Noble Consort Chen, who still basked in the Emperor's favor? In her past life, even Ye Li had praised Zuo Jiang's talent. If Zuo Jiang had aligned himself with Ye Li's faction, serving Noble Consort Chen would have been a natural extension.
If so, then Ye You and Jiang Li were merely pawns in Noble Consort Chen's scheme. But why would Noble Consort Chen harbor such deep hatred for her? Even if she intended to strike, why now, and with such ruthless methods? It seemed more like an attempt to utterly ruin her reputation and destroy her. If it had been Jiang Susu and Xia Yan's doing, it would have made more sense.
Noble Consort Chen was different from Xia Yan—once she made a move, there would inevitably be a series of follow-up strikes. How could she escape so easily today? Noble Consort Chen had gone so far as to use the entire Left Minister's residence to set a trap for her. She truly had to admire the woman's audacity.
The more perilous the situation, the more relaxed Jiang Ruan appeared. She stood composedly in the open garden of the Left Minister's residence, her smile radiant and enchanting.
Unnoticed, more guards had arrived, now divided into two groups. One group surrounded Tianzhu. No matter how skilled Tianzhu was, she was outnumbered, and these were no ordinary guards—they were Noble Consort Chen's handpicked men. The other group slowly closed in on Jiang Ruan. Seeing her sudden smile, they hesitated, wary of advancing further. Their comrade's gruesome death had taught them not to underestimate this princess, lest they fall victim to some hidden weapon.
She said coolly, "Did your master consider the consequences of today's actions?"
The guards' eyes flickered with surprise at her words. Noble Consort Chen's involvement was supposed to remain secret—after the incident, Jiang Ruan would have blamed Ye You. Yet the Princess of Great Peace had immediately pointed the finger at the Noble Consort, without even suspecting the Left Minister's residence. How could they not be alarmed?If it weren't for Noble Consort Chen's order to deliver Jiang Ruan to Ye You's bed, these guards would likely have killed Jiang Ruan to silence her. Noble Consort Chen had never shown her face in the palace throughout this entire affair, and there was no apparent connection between her and this matter—yet Jiang Ruan had somehow guessed it! No, judging by the look in her eyes, she was certain.
Without delay, several guards rushed forward to surround Jiang Ruan. But faster than their movements was the dim blue light that flashed from her bracelet, followed by a series of sharp whooshes . Some were struck and immediately collapsed before her. However, no matter how swift her actions, the drug's effects had left her physically weakened. One guard managed to slip behind her and pin her arms behind her back. Though they couldn’t clearly see what hidden weapon Jiang Ruan had used, seeing her now powerless, they gradually relaxed. Tianzhu, witnessing Jiang Ruan fall into their hands, grew frantic, her strikes turning increasingly ruthless—but this also left openings, allowing the enemies to exploit them. She soon bore several wounds.
Tianzhu was trained to kill, but assassination was typically one-on-one; facing a large group of guards was a struggle. At this moment, she was also shocked—so many people mobilized just to deal with Jiang Ruan alone? Was this an overreaction? Or was their master so consumed by hatred for Jiang Ruan that they wanted to ensure absolute success?
Taking advantage of Tianzhu's distraction, one guard stabbed her in the waist. Staggering, Tianzhu turned back—but Jiang Ruan was already gone.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ruan was being dragged away by the guard, his hand covering her eyes. She bit the tip of her tongue, her body burning with unnatural heat. It was as if sparks were igniting from deep within her, spreading until her entire body trembled. The hotter her body grew, the colder her heart became.
After what felt like an eternity, the guard finally stopped. The hand over her eyes lifted, revealing an opulent room filled with an oddly suggestive fragrance from the incense burning within. Jiang Ruan was no stranger to this scent—in her past life in the palace, many beauties burned this very incense, Nongqing Xiang , to prolong the fleeting favor of the Emperor during his visits.
Already under the influence of a potent bewitching drug, the scent of Nongqing Xiang made Jiang Ruan feel as if she were burning from her toes to the roots of her hair. Yet she had always been one to endure—only a faint flush colored her cheeks. Had others not known of the drug's effects, they might not have believed she was under its influence at all.
"Princess of Great Peace," a slimy voice called out, like a disgusting maggot crawling along her bones. The guard bowed and retreated. Jiang Ruan, now too weak to stand, collapsed to the floor, her icy gaze fixed on the man leering at her with a grin.
Ye You's eyes roamed over Jiang Ruan. Ever since their encounter in the palace, he had dreamed of pinning the Princess of Great Peace beneath him. Once he had seen such peerless beauty, the concubines in his own residence seemed utterly dull in comparison. These past days, he had been unable to eat or sleep, consumed by desire. Who would have thought that the seemingly upright Zuo Jiang would prove so accommodating—and his lovely wife, Jiang Li, had even created such a perfect opportunity for him.
Of course, Ye You didn’t realize that the guards he assumed were Zuo Jiang's men were not actually under Zuo Jiang's command—he had vastly overestimated his own influence. But now, with Jiang Ruan trapped and unable to escape, the thought of the night ahead filled him with excitement.He stepped closer to Jiang Ruan, one slow pace at a time. Jiang Ruan swiftly drew the cyan dagger strapped to her calf—the precious blade Xiao Shao had gifted her never left her side. Yet the more her head spun, the clearer her mind became. She knew if this continued, she'd be in trouble long before any rescue arrived. Her vision was already blurring, making even Ye You appear indistinct.
Seeing Jiang Ruan draw the dagger, Ye You paused momentarily before laughing. "Princess of Great Peace, why bother with such futile resistance? You have no strength left to oppose me. If you wish to deal with this prince, let's take it to the bed—I'll let you handle me however you please." His grin widened, his gaze growing increasingly repulsive. "Be careful not to hurt yourself. Save your energy—what we'll be doing later requires considerable effort."
"Get lost," Jiang Ruan said coldly.
"Why so cold, Princess?" Ye You chuckled as he advanced. "This prince genuinely admires you. After tonight, I'll personally request His Majesty's permission to marry you. We're not blood-related, and there's precedent in Jin Dynasty. You'll be my imperial consort—isn't that perfect?" His murmurs grew more fervent as he closed the distance. "This prince will serve you well."
Jiang Ruan gave him a scornful laugh, her eyes darkening abruptly as she drove the dagger into her left arm without hesitation. The ruthless, almost suicidal move startled even Ye You. The pale pink fabric of her sleeve was instantly soaked with blood, a shocking crimson stain.
The sight of blood made Ye You freeze momentarily before anger surged through him. "You bitch! Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" He stormed toward her. In his eyes, this woman was utterly ungrateful—being favored by him was an honor, yet she'd ruined his mood. If he didn't make Jiang Ruan beg on her knees today, he wouldn't be Ye You!
The dagger was exceptionally sharp, a rare treasure from the Treasure Exchange Pavilion. Though Jiang Ruan hadn't stabbed deeply, the pain was intense—enough to clear her mind. When she looked at Ye You again, her vision was no longer blurred.
As Ye You reached her and grabbed to haul her up, Jiang Ruan suddenly raised her hand, pressing it against the Blood Moon Bracelet on her wrist.
"Third Prince," she said, "take one more step, and don't blame this princess for showing no mercy. If your life ends here, you'll have to complain to the King of Hell yourself."
Her words gave Ye You pause. He eyed her suspiciously before bursting into laughter, though fury simmered in his gaze. "Princess, I advise against tricks. My men are right outside—what could you possibly do?"
Jiang Ruan stared at him icily, raising the bracelet slightly. A cruel smile curved her lips, but her voice was like frozen mountain springwater. "Do you know what this is, Third Prince?"
Ye You's gaze dropped to the bracelet on her wrist. The blood-red jade emitted a faint blue glow, clearly no ordinary ornament. He'd initially assumed it was merely valuable jewelry, but now he wasn't so sure.
"It's called the Blood Moon Bracelet, crafted by the Treasure Exchange Pavilion in the capital," Jiang Ruan said calmly. "Inside are nine needles, each tipped with lethal poison—instant death upon contact with blood. You're standing too close, Third Prince. This princess fears she might accidentally press the mechanism and send you to your grave."Ye You was first stunned, then furious, bursting into laughter as he said, "You dare threaten me?"
"Whether it's a threat or not, Your Highness the Third Prince can test it for yourself," Jiang Ruan replied.
Ye You looked at Jiang Ruan in disbelief. This legendary Princess of Great Peace, renowned for her peerless beauty and the favor of the Empress Dowager, showed not a trace of fear at this moment. She was different from all the women he had toyed with before—so different that it immediately piqued his interest. He smirked and said, "This prince knows the princess is afraid, but there's no need to bluff with that bracelet. If something happens to me, how could the princess escape blame? Harming a member of the royal family would surely cost you your life." His gaze lingered on Jiang Ruan's snow-white neck. "Don't be afraid, princess. This prince will be gentle."
The reason Ye You dismissed Jiang Ruan's words was his certainty that she wouldn't dare harm him. After all, he was still a prince, and the crime of killing a prince would be punishable by death, even for someone like her, the Empress Dowager's adopted granddaughter.
Jiang Ruan let out a derisive laugh, looking at Ye You as if he were a joke. Her sleeve was already soaked with blood, the pale pink fabric dyed a deep crimson. Her smile was radiant, eerily enchanting, exuding a cruel beauty.
"What wouldn't I dare? Your Highness the Third Prince is lustful and immoral, having toyed with countless women. If I fall into your hands tonight, my only fate would be a white silk noose. Since death is inevitable either way, what does it matter if one more person joins me?" She lifted her chin, her laughter almost wild. "If Your Highness doesn't believe me, feel free to come closer. But I’d also like to see whether your movements are faster or the poisoned needles in this Blood Moon Bracelet are."
Ye You had intended to mock the woman for overestimating herself. Over the years, he had played with countless women—no matter how fiercely chaste or virtuous, they all ended up yielding to him. But when he met Jiang Ruan's gaze, his steps froze. Her clear, glistening eyes were like a deep pool of ice, a look so familiar it reminded him of the man-eating demons painted on temple murals.
How could a woman have such a ferocious glare?
Ye You was caught in a dilemma.
Large beads of cold sweat formed on Jiang Ruan's forehead. The longer she stayed in the room, the more of the potent incense she inhaled, intensifying the drug's effects. Even the pain from the wound she had inflicted on her arm could barely suppress the burning heat rising within her.
And in truth, the Blood Moon Bracelet held no poisoned needles. She had exhausted all the silver needles earlier when the guards closed in. Her words now were merely a bluff to intimidate Ye You. But why hadn’t Tianzhu arrived yet? Had something gone wrong?
A sudden, unbearable itch crawled through Jiang Ruan’s heart, as if an ant were skittering beneath her skin. A moan nearly escaped her lips, but she bit down hard on her lower lip, forcing it back.Ye You was at a loss for what to do when he noticed Jiang Ruan's flushed face and increasingly rapid breathing. He immediately understood. Having been through countless romantic encounters over the years, he would have wasted his life if he couldn't recognize that Jiang Ruan was aroused. His heart leaped with joy—he knew better than anyone the potency of the drug's effects. At this thought, Ye You became unhurried. He stepped back until he reached the edge of the bed and sat down, watching Jiang Ruan with ease as he said, "Since the princess is so resolute, this prince won't force the matter. But when you come begging for me later, I may not be so generous."
Though his desire burned fiercely, he still valued his life above all. The drug was extremely potent—even a single taste could cloud one's judgment. Jiang Ruan had remarkable self-control, but given time, as her desire grew, she would inevitably lose her senses and plead with Ye You to take her.
Thinking of that, Ye You sneered coldly, waiting for the show to unfold. After all, there were guards outside, and Jiang Ruan couldn't escape. He just had to wait for the drug to take effect.
What he could think of, Jiang Ruan naturally could as well. But now she had no means to protect herself, and the blood jade bracelet had no more poisoned needles left. As the drug's effects intensified, her entire body felt unbearably uncomfortable. Her gaze fell on the short sword before her, and with a hardened heart, she prepared to stab herself again.
But with a loud "bang," the entire door was practically kicked in from the outside. A tall, slender figure stood amidst the swirling dust. Jiang Ruan recognized the familiar silhouette and froze in surprise.
Ye You was also startled, leaping up from the bed in shock. The figure strode into the room, clad in dark robes as fine as brocade, his gaze as sharp and cold as a blade. He walked to Jiang Ruan's side, his eyes falling on her bloodied arm. Those usually deep and serene eyes were now filled with a storm of darkness.
"Xiao Shao," Jiang Ruan murmured, staring at him in a daze.
"It's me." Xiao Shao bent down and lifted her into his arms. As the dust settled, Jiang Ruan and Ye You finally saw that the guards outside were all sprawled on the ground, their throats slit with a single clean stroke. The strikes were swift and precise—Xiao Shao's longsword at his waist was still dripping blood.
"J-Jinying Wang, what—what are you doing? Are you rebelling?" Ye You's legs trembled in fear. If he was the number one playboy in the Da Jin Dynasty, someone no one dared to oppose, then this Jinying Wang was no pushover. He was the leader of the hundred thousand Brocade-clad Guards, someone even the Emperor dared not contradict. Who in the world would dare underestimate him? "Guards! Guards!" he shrieked, his face pale with terror, all traces of his earlier arrogance gone.
(End of Chapter)
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