The young man's ears flushed slightly red, but moments later, as if remembering something, his face turned ashen. He abruptly stood up—how dare Liu Min do such a thing?
...
In the Dream Reflection Hall of the palace, Noble Consort Chen reclined on the divan, but her usual serene and ethereal demeanor was nowhere to be seen. A half-finished colorful tassel lay discarded beside her, its tangled threads looking utterly vexing.
"Old Chen, how is my father faring?" Noble Consort Chen pressed her temples and asked.
Eunuch Chen bowed his head and replied softly, "The old lord... is not doing well. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War have been finding ways to oppose him these past few days. The old lord is furious."
Noble Consort Chen accidentally shattered a Snow Jade Porcelain Bottle in front of her. "That old fool Zhao Guang!" she spat. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Zhao Guang was behind the recent setbacks for the Chen family. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War had longstanding ties with the General's Residence, especially a few stubborn old-timers who had always opposed the Chen family. Their sudden and blatant provocations these past few days must have been orchestrated by Zhao Guang.
Eunuch Chen frowned slightly, hesitating to agree with Noble Consort Chen's assumption. "This servant dares to suggest... it may not have been the General's Residence behind this."
"Oh?" Noble Consort Chen cast him a sidelong glance, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Then who else in the court would dare to openly obstruct the Chen family like this?"
Only those obstinate warriors from the General's Residence would oppose the Chen family at every turn. They didn't seem to realize that one day, the empire would belong to her son, and crushing the General's Residence would be as easy as squashing an ant.
"The General's Residence has always acted directly and recklessly, lacking finesse. According to the old lord, these recent incidents have been executed with precision and aggression. Your Ladyship can only suspect but has no proof. The people of the General's Residence lack such cunning. This servant dares to speculate... it was Jinying Wang who orchestrated this," Eunuch Chen analyzed.
"Jinying Wang?" Noble Consort Chen's voice suddenly sharpened, losing its usual gentle refinement as her emotions flared. "Impossible!" After a pause, she continued, "Jinying Wang has always remained neutral in court matters. Why would he oppose the Chen family without reason?"
Eunuch Chen sighed inwardly. Was Jinying Wang truly neutral? Having navigated the palace for decades, he knew Noble Consort Chen, as a woman, had limitations in understanding court dynamics. Though Xiao Shao bore the label of a "traitorous subject," the Emperor's regard for him was hardly that of a remnant rebel. For reasons unknown, Xiao Shao had maintained an enigmatic presence in court—seemingly impartial yet wielding unfathomable influence. Who could truly discern his intentions? Recently, Xiao Shao had shown unusual interest in Jiang Ruan, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. When Noble Consort Chen made her move, Xiao Shao had sent Ye You's severed head as a clear message: he was protecting Jiang Ruan. Given this, wasn't his suppression of the Chen family simply vengeance for the Princess of Great Peace?
What Eunuch Chen could deduce, Noble Consort Chen naturally realized as well. After a moment of silence, she gradually calmed down. The mere thought of Xiao Shao targeting the Chen family for Jiang Ruan's sake filled her with inexplicable resentment. "What a remarkable Jiang Ruan," she hissed through gritted teeth, "to have caught Jinying Wang's special favor!"Eunuch Chen kept his head lowered without speaking. Noble Consort Chen was one who concealed her thoughts deeply in the palace. As her close attendant eunuch, he was aware of her hidden sentiments. Ever since learning of Xiao Shao's close relationship with Jiang Ruan, Noble Consort Chen had frequently lost her composure—something that boded ill for her. Though he wished to advise her, she had always been strong-willed and unlikely to heed his words.
...
Meanwhile, the person who had unsettled those in Dream Reflection Hall was currently staying in a quiet corner of the palace. Everywhere in the imperial palace was filled with scheming individuals, something Jiang Ruan had already experienced in her past life. Now reborn as the Princess of Great Peace, even those concubines who once trampled upon her now flattered her. Jiang Ruan herself cared little for such matters, finding the people of the Jiang household all ugly in character and the palace fraught with danger, making it difficult to find a peaceful place.
Empress Dowager Yide, knowing Jiang Ruan's preference for tranquility, had cleared out the side hall where Princess Yuan Rong had resided before leaving the palace and arranged for Jiang Ruan to stay there. This was quite convenient, and the empress dowager's actions made those in the palace who enjoyed watching drama speculate even more—now it was clear that the Princess of Great Peace truly held favor in Empress Dowager Yide's eyes.
After moving in, Jiang Ruan had not altered a single thing in the hall. It remained exactly as it had been before. Though Empress Dowager Yide appeared aloof, she had never truly let go of her daughter who had died young. Even after all these years, the items were still pristine.
Luzhu and Tianzhu attended to her daily. After recovering from her injuries, Tianzhu had trained even harder, always carrying a large number of hidden weapons to guard against unexpected incidents. Luzhu had gone out early in the morning to pick flowers but returned shortly after.
Tianzhu was puzzled. "Where are the flowers?"
Luzhu, empty-handed, scratched her head and stammered, "The flowers... flowers... Miss, Prince Xiao is here."
Jiang Ruan nearly spat out her tea. Sure enough, a figure emerged from behind Luzhu—dressed in dark brocade robes with a silver belt—none other than Xiao Shao himself.
Tianzhu was also stunned. Luzhu rubbed her nose sheepishly and said guiltily, "Miss, I couldn't stop him."
Given Luzhu's limited skills, stopping someone like Xiao Shao was indeed a fantasy. Jiang Ruan set down the book in her hand and said, "I see."
Luzhu winked at Tianzhu, who quickly added, "We'll take our leave now." Without waiting for Jiang Ruan's response, the two maids hurried out together.
The door closed, and Jiang Ruan watched the departing figures of her maids with some irritation. These two were becoming increasingly bold, no longer treating her as their mistress. Her gaze then fell upon the handsome man before her. Had he lost his mind? Wandering into the palace so brazenly—what if someone saw him? Moreover, now they were alone together in this room, and he seemed to come and go as he pleased.
Xiao Shao didn't notice Jiang Ruan's expression. He walked to the small table and sat down, then paused before taking out a package from his sleeve and placing it on the table.
"What is it?"
"Medicine for your injuries," Xiao Shao replied. "The last batch ran out, so I had new ones delivered."
Jiang Ruan was momentarily taken aback, not expecting him to come specifically to deliver medicine. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.Xiao Shao calmly averted his gaze. Truthfully, he hadn't come specifically to deliver medicine—it was more that after hearing Jin San's words, he'd somehow found himself here. At least he hadn't run into Liu Min, which improved his mood somewhat. After a moment of silence, he said, "The selection of new imperial consorts is about to begin. Jiang Quan has prepared Jiang Dan's portrait."
Recalling the report from his spies about Jiang Quan's words in the residence, Xiao Shao felt another wave of anger rise within him. Jiang Quan had said that if Jiang Ruan weren't already a princess now, she would have been the best candidate for entering the palace. With the Emperor explicitly demanding a daughter from the Jiang family for the selection, Jiang Susu—his most beloved daughter—couldn't possibly be sent to suffer. Jiang Li and Jiang Dan were merely concubine-born daughters, while Jiang Ruan, bearing the title of legitimate daughter after all these years of being raised by the Jiang family, should repay them accordingly.
Yet fate had other plans. Now that Jiang Ruan held the prestigious title of princess, she could no longer enter the palace. Jiang Susu's reputation was in ruins—even if he were willing, the imperial family wouldn't tolerate such an insult. Jiang Li was already married. After all calculations, only Jiang Dan remained useful. Reluctantly, he had submitted her portrait.
Xiao Shao frowned deeply. He knew Jiang Ruan's life in the Jiang residence hadn't been easy—otherwise, why would she have been sent to the countryside estate right after her mother's death? But he hadn't expected Jiang Quan to be so heartless. This wasn't how one treated a daughter—it was how one treated an enemy.
Jiang Ruan said, "Fourth Sister is entering the palace. That's fine. With her capabilities, she'll surely secure a promising future there."
Jiang Dan was someone skilled at playing meek while being utterly ruthless—outwardly harmless but truly despicable. Such a person was perfectly suited for survival in the imperial palace. A faint smile surfaced on Jiang Ruan's face. Jiang Quan was personally unleashing a wolf cub, unaware that he might one day be bitten to death by the very beast he set free.
Xiao Shao glanced at her and said, "Consort Chen now sees you as a thorn in her side. I'll leave both Jin Er and Jin San by your side."
Jiang Ruan was taken aback. Honestly, this was undeniably tempting. After the last incident, she had already been considering her position. While she currently appeared to have the upper hand, her status still couldn't rival Consort Chen's. Without reliable allies or the ability to command forces, she might not fare well in a direct confrontation. Tianzhu alone might not be enough, but with Jin Er and Jin San present, they could at least relay messages if anything happened—an extra layer of protection.
She owed Xiao Shao too many favors already. Hesitantly, she said, "I have a question for you."
Xiao Shao looked at her calmly.
"What did you mean when you said you owed me a life?" Jiang Ruan asked.
Xiao Shao was momentarily stunned, not expecting her to suddenly ask this. For once, his usually cold expression showed a hint of hesitation. There was nothing particularly complicated about it, but faced with Jiang Ruan's serious inquiry, he found himself at a loss for words.
"Never mind." Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Ruan's voice came again. "This isn't the time to dwell on such matters. Thank you, Xiao Shao."She had always addressed him as "Prince Xiao" this and "Prince Xiao" that, but now she no longer used that stiff and distant title, directly calling him "Xiao Shao" instead. This should have been unreasonable, even verging on audacity. Yet, inexplicably, Xiao Shao felt a strange sensation in his heart, as if a tiny pebble had been tossed into a tranquil deep pool, stirring faint ripples.
He understood in his heart that Jiang Ruan had, without realizing it, already regarded him as "one of her own," though she might not yet be aware of it herself.
Seeing his silence, Jiang Ruan looked up and happened to catch a flicker of amusement in those beautiful eyes. She paused, asking, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Xiao Shao replied, in high spirits. After a moment's thought, he took out a bracelet from his sleeve and handed it to her. The bracelet emitted a faint blue glow—it was none other than the Blood Moon Bracelet from before. Xiao Shao explained, "I've refilled it with needles, all poisoned."
He had thought of everything. Jiang Ruan took it, examined it carefully, and found any words of thanks unnecessary. She simply slipped it onto her wrist.
Xiao Shao lowered his gaze. Truth be told, there wasn’t much he could do for Jiang Ruan. When the Brocade-clad Guards were dispatched, death was the only outcome. He had no desire to entangle himself in the court’s power struggles. If he truly acted, it would be a single, decisive strike—the Chen family wouldn’t leave a single soul alive. He could kill, but Jiang Ruan might not approve. The darkness in her gaze ran too deep. Only by personally slaying her enemies could she wash it away with blood.
...
Outside the door, Luzhu widened her eyes in shock. "Prince Xiao sent you to protect the young lady?"
Jin Er crossed his arms, leisurely studying Luzhu. "That’s right, little girl. We’ll have plenty of fun from now on." Heaven knew he’d been brooding ever since Luzhu had unhesitatingly kicked him in the groin last time. Originally, Xiao Shao had assigned Jin Yi and Jin San to guard Jiang Ruan, but Jin Er had insisted on switching tasks—all for the sake of avenging that kick.
Luzhu spat, "Shameless! How could Prince Xiao send a pretty boy like you to protect the young lady? You’d be lucky to protect your own family jewels, let alone the young lady! Dream on!"
Jin Er nearly choked on his own blood. As a distinguished member of the Brocade-clad Guards, renowned for his grace, to be called a "pretty boy" by a little maid! This girl was so sharp-tongued, fiercer than even the female Shadow guards in the Brocade-clad Guards, like a little ruffian from the streets! His expression darkened, and he suddenly leaned in close to Luzhu, smirking wickedly. "A pretty boy is still better than a bean sprout like you."
Jin Er wasn’t bad-looking to begin with, and Luzhu was, after all, just a teenage girl. She had already flushed slightly at his approaching smile, but upon hearing his words, she nearly twisted her nose in anger. Without hesitation, she kicked out again. This time, however, Jin Er was prepared. He caught her foot with one hand and said, "Little girls shouldn’t be so rough. Be careful, or no one will marry you in the future."
"Scram, you lecher!" Luzhu fumed, swinging her hand to slap him. Jin Er had only managed to grab her leg, never anticipating the unfathomable ways of a woman’s mind—and so the slap landed squarely on his face.
A leader of the Brocade-clad Guards, struck in the face by a maid who didn’t know the first thing about martial arts? What an utter disgrace!Jin Er was also furious: "Who's the lecher here? Even if I were, you'd be the last one I'd pick! With that stick-thin figure of yours, you're not worth my attention!"
Jin San and Tianzhu stood to the side. Tianzhu remained composed as always, while Jin San was thoroughly amused. She flicked her long hair, her alluring eyes brimming with schadenfreude: "Tsk tsk, the young mistress's maids are truly extraordinary. It's rare to see Jin Er so flustered—what a pity Jin Si isn't here to witness this."
Her eyes darted mischievously as she thought to herself, The young mistress's arrival seems to have brought spring to the entire Brocade-clad Guards...
...
Unlike the lighthearted cheer in this corner of the palace, other places were shrouded in gloom. For instance... the residence of the Imperial Physician.
Inside a room in the courtyard, Jiang Li sat quietly in a chair. A maid beside her placed a bowl of medicine on the table, swaying her slender waist as she said, "Madam, your medicine."
The maid wore a peach-red jacket, her waist so narrow it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. Her makeup was flawless, accentuating her delicate, youthful appearance. Her attitude, however, was far from respectful. All ten of her fingers were painted with bright red polish as she set the bowl down and glanced at the figure on the bed, her voice dripping with false sweetness: "Madam should take your medicine sooner rather than later. Wouldn't want the master to see and get upset again."
Jiang Li struggled to look at her, her voice hoarse as she spat, "Get out."
The maid rolled her eyes and gave a half-hearted curtsey before leaving, muttering under her breath as she went: "Who does she think she is? Acting like the lady of the house when she's nothing but a used-up—"
The words, faint but unmistakable, reached Jiang Li's ears. Furious, she hurled the medicine bowl to the ground with a crash!
(End of Chapter)
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