It was only then that Yu Ya realized why Xia Cheng had given her such a strange look before leaving and what his final words truly meant. Xia Cheng blamed her for exposing the scandal and tarnishing the Xia Family's reputation. His deep dissatisfaction with her meant he would likely never stand up for her in the future—in fact, he might even go out of his way to make her life miserable. The Xia Family had committed such disgraceful acts, yet instead of reflecting on their own faults, they had the audacity to blame her! Yu Ya almost wanted to laugh.
"You can stay in the manor and atone for your sins against Rou'er and Jiao Jiao," Xia Tian Cai said.
"Xia Tian Cai, you're not even human—" Yu Ya shrieked, lunging at him with such venom that her hands clawed wildly at his face and body. Xia Tian Cai hadn't expected Yu Ya to be so vicious beneath her composed exterior. Though injured, he was still a man and far stronger than her, so he immediately fought back. The two of them became entangled in a chaotic struggle, neither willing to yield.
Amid their raucous brawl, neither noticed the door being quietly pushed open a crack. Xia Jun stood silently outside, his expression cold as he watched the commotion inside. His dark, unblinking gaze fixed on the scene was unsettling, even frightening.
...
The scandal of the Xia Family's eldest son being cuckolded by his own younger brother spread throughout the capital overnight. Xia Cheng, humiliated, feigned illness and requested leave from the Emperor to avoid attending court. Despite this, impeachment memorials from the Imperial Censors piled up like snowflakes on the Emperor's desk, all criticizing the Xia Marquis's household for its disorder—how could a man who couldn't even manage his own wives and children be fit to serve in court?
The Xia Marquis's household had already been tarnished by Xia Yan's adultery, but after the incident involving the second master, the public finally understood. No wonder the Jiang Family's madam had acted as she did—the corruption clearly ran from the top down.
Gossip ran rampant, and by the time it reached Xia Cheng's ears, it had become unbearable. Since the incident, Xia Tianyi had secluded himself in his room, ordering maids to bring him wine and drinking himself into a stupor daily. Gone was his former stern and disciplined demeanor—now he was no different from a common drunkard. Xia Cheng reprimanded him a few times, but this only made Xia Tianyi more agitated. In frustration, Xia Cheng gave up, hoping time would bring his brother to his senses.
Shen Rou's natal family visited once, but knowing such a scandal had brought them shame as well, they declared that since Shen Rou had married into the Xia Family, she was now their responsibility—even in death, she had nothing to do with them. With that, they abandoned her to the Xia Family's mercy.
For now, however, the Xia household was preoccupied with Xia Jiao Jiao's injuries, leaving no one to care about Shen Rou's fate. After being kicked by Xia Tianyi and scalded by boiling soup, Xia Jiao Jiao's face had been permanently disfigured. Despite the many physicians Xia Furen summoned, none could undo the damage—Xia Jiao Jiao was doomed to bear a large, ugly scar on her face. With such a blemish, not only was entering the palace impossible, but even marrying into an ordinary family as a wife would be difficult. Worse still, now that she was known as the child of an uncle-nephew affair, even the capital's most dissolute young nobles scorned her—let alone any respectable family.
Xia Jiao Jiao had always prized her beauty above all else. Upon realizing her face was ruined, she became suicidal, throwing the household into chaos and giving Xia Furen endless headaches.As for Yu Ya and Xia Tian Cai, perhaps spurred by the recent events, Yu Ya underwent a drastic change in temperament, no longer bothering to maintain even the pretense of obedience. Every day, she either quarreled or fought with Xia Tian Cai, transforming into a veritable tigress. Xia Tian Cai's face was covered in red scratches daily, while Yu Ya's body was bruised black and blue, a sight that was truly shocking to behold.
The Xia Marquis's household was now in utter chaos, beset by internal strife and external threats. The common folk outside were eagerly awaiting the spectacle. When Luzhu recounted these events to Jiang Ruan, she laughed so hard she could barely straighten her back. "The Xia Family is reaping what they sowed this time. Let them tear each other apart—it serves them right."
Lianqiao also chuckled. "Isn't there a saying? 'Heaven's justice is cyclical.' The first and second branches of the Xia Family committed such disgraceful acts themselves. Sooner or later, they were bound to be exposed."
Outside, the sky had already darkened. Zisu trimmed the wick of the lamp with scissors, making the light brighter and steadier, no longer flickering. She draped a thin cloak over Jiang Ruan's shoulders and said, "Miss, the night is cold with heavy dew. Be careful not to catch a chill."
It was early autumn. While the days still felt mild, the nights had begun to carry a distinct chill. Jiang Ruan closed the book in her hands and inadvertently caught sight of a small whistle on the table. The whistle was exquisitely crafted, and she couldn't help but pick it up, turning it over in her palm to examine it closely.
This was the whistle Xiao Shao had given her in the prison cell that day. At the time, she had been in too much of a hurry to take a proper look. Now, she noticed that the whistle seemed to be made of some unusual material, emitting a faint, delicate fragrance. The body of the whistle was engraved with silver Bat Patterns, intricate and beautiful. As Jiang Ruan brought it closer, she could detect a crisp, refreshing scent.
Xiao Shao had been absent for over twenty days. Something must have happened to him. Just as Jiang Ruan set the whistle down and was about to head into the inner room, she suddenly saw Tianzhu, who had been sitting by the door, stand up abruptly, her expression unusually grave.
Jiang Ruan found this odd, but then she noticed several shadowy figures swaying near the window and the door. Her heart tightened, but the figures soon stepped forward—three people in total. The one leading them had a cold, strikingly handsome face. Who else could it be but Xiao Shao? Behind him were Ye Feng and Jin Yi, both looking disheveled.
Tianzhu called out in a low voice, "Master!" Her tone was uncharacteristically anxious. Only then did Jiang Ruan realize that their footsteps lacked their usual lightness, seeming somewhat unsteady. Though Xiao Shao's expression was as composed as ever, his face was paler than usual, and even his lips lacked their usual rosy hue.
"What happened?" she frowned.
"Nothing," Xiao Shao uttered two words. But as soon as he spoke, his strength seemed to fail him—he collapsed onto the soft couch in Jiang Ruan's outer room.
Ye Feng and Jin Yi behind him were equally startled. "Master!" They then turned to Jiang Ruan. "Miss, we were ambushed on our way back to the capital. The master has been poisoned!"
Tianzhu didn't dare say anything else, only anxiously adding, "Miss, this..."
Jiang Ruan stared at the unconscious figure on the bed for a moment, then glanced at Ye Feng and Jin Yi's disheveled state. Frowning, she finally said, "Close the doors and windows. Have Lianqiao and Zisu fetch a pot of hot wine from the small kitchen. Luzhu, guard the door. Tianzhu, do you know how to treat poison?"Tianzhu was about to speak when she caught sight of Ye Feng giving her a meaningful glance from the side. She froze momentarily before enlightenment struck, shaking her head earnestly. "This subordinate's knowledge of poison identification was learned from the master. If the master cannot find an antidote, this subordinate certainly wouldn't be able to either."
Jiang Ruan felt somewhat troubled. "Then what do you usually do in such situations?"
"Endure," Tianzhu replied. "Endure until we return to the tower, then make plans."
Assassins couldn't possibly be mindful of their injuries at all times. If they truly valued their lives so much, they wouldn't be engaged in such dangerous work. Jiang Ruan's heart sank. After a moment's thought, she said, "Alright then. Ye Feng, Jin Yi, come with me to the inner chamber first. Let's see if there's anything we can do to help. Once you're well enough to move, I'll escort you out so you can return to the tower as quickly as possible for medical treatment."
Ye Feng and Jin Yi still hesitated—this was the future princess consort's inner chamber, after all...
"Hurry up," Jiang Ruan didn't give them time to dawdle. "Any slower, and you risk being discovered by those outside."
Given the urgency of the situation, Ye Feng and Jin Yi dared not delay. Hearing her words, they suppressed their thoughts and helped Xiao Shao into Jiang Ruan's inner chamber together.
Outside, Luzhu stood guard at the courtyard gate, dutifully watching the entrance in case of any mishaps. Yet her mind was preoccupied with what was happening inside, and she kept urging Jin Er, who was perched on the roof peering in. "What's going on in there?"
Jin Er lounged lazily on the roof tiles, lifting one to peek inside. "Nothing much," he remarked with a click of his tongue. "Just that your young lady had my two brothers carry our master onto her bed."
"Ah—" Luzhu covered her mouth. "How could the young lady just let men onto her own bed like that?"
"I think your young lady wants to take advantage of my master's unconscious state to have her way with him," Jin Er said matter-of-factly. "A dark and windy night—perfect timing. Look, she even drew the bed curtains. Isn't that—"
"Shut up!" Seeing him grow increasingly outrageous, Luzhu flared up. "You foul-mouthed scoundrel, how dare you slander my young lady's virtue! What's so great about your master anyway? My young lady is peerlessly beautiful and brilliant—why would she need to do such a thing? If anything, it's your master who's suspicious, fainting in our young lady's courtyard of all places. What are his intentions?"
Luzhu's sharp tongue left Jin Er at a loss for words. Moreover, her wild accusations had hit close to the mark, and in his momentary guilt, he couldn't come up with a good rebuttal.
Meanwhile, Jin San, who had been watching the spectacle from a tree, burst into laughter. He couldn't help but think that Jin Er and Luzhu were truly a match made in heaven—a pair of jesters whose antics were rather entertaining.
However... Jin San's expression gradually turned serious again. The fact that the enemy had managed to injure their master, Ye Feng, and Jin Yi meant they had underestimated them before.
...
Inside the chamber, Tianzhu had already examined the injuries. Xiao Shao, Ye Feng, and Jin Yi were all wounded, with Xiao Shao being the most severely hurt. His wounds were poisoned, but fortunately, he usually carried antidotes on him. After taking some, his condition had improved slightly. Still, the external injuries needed to be treated.According to Tianzhu and the others' methods, they would simply tear open the wound and bandage it to stop the bleeding. While this might be convenient in the short term, over time the wound was prone to fester. Seeing that Tianzhu couldn't be relied upon, Jiang Ruan had no choice but to take matters into her own hands.
Jiang Ruan sat down by the bedside and looked up at him. This man, who usually seemed capable of anything, now appeared in such a sorry state. Yet... for some reason, she felt this scene was somewhat familiar, as if something similar had happened many years ago.
Lianqiao, who had just returned with hot water, was startled by the sight and exclaimed in alarm, "Miss, Prince Xiao looks—"
Jiang Ruan's gaze fell on the face of the man lying on the bed. Even now, poisoned and barely clinging to life, his expression remained as indifferent as ever, as if this were not a matter of great importance. Only the slight furrow of his brows betrayed any discomfort.
Jiang Ruan took a clean cloth from Zisu, soaked it in the hot water, and first wiped the sweat from his forehead before peeling off his clothes.
Jin Yi and Ye Feng, who were applying medicine to their own wounds nearby, simultaneously drew in sharp breaths.
Though her hands were steady, Jiang Ruan still held her breath, focusing intently on the task. Tianzhu, observing this, showed a flicker of emotion in her expression.
After finally removing all the blood-stained clothing, Jiang Ruan pulled open Xiao Shao's robe, exposing his chest.
Zisu and Lianqiao blushed furiously at the sight. Though they knew their mistress was not one to shy away from such matters and generally paid little heed to the sensitivities expected of women, the directness with which she had bared a strange man's chest still shocked them. After all, Jiang Ruan was an unmarried young lady—how could she so casually look upon a man's body? Zisu and Lianqiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but Jiang Ruan's indifferent expression showed not the slightest hint of perturbation.
In truth, Jiang Ruan was not as composed as her maids imagined. Xiao Shao might appear slender at first glance, but beneath his robes, his body was lean and well-defined, the muscles clearly delineated—likely from martial training. His skin was pale, but upon closer inspection, one could see the numerous small scars scattered across it. Some were old and faded, while others were fresh, likely recent injuries.
As Jiang Ruan stared at his scars, Lianqiao suddenly began coughing violently beside her. Jiang Ruan looked up and met Xiao Shao's unwavering gaze.
He had woken up at some point, and here she was, holding a cloth and staring at his body like some lecherous rogue. Jiang Ruan glanced at him nonchalantly and asked, "How did this happen?"
"Ambushed on the way back to the capital," Xiao Shao replied. After a pause, he added, "It's been dealt with."
Jiang Ruan hesitated for a moment before wringing out the hot cloth and carefully cleaning the wounds on his chest. Now that she could see clearly, it appeared he had suffered a sword wound—the flesh torn open and bloody, a gruesome sight.
Xiao Shao followed her gaze to the wound on his chest and, after a brief silence, said softly, "Ye Feng, help me...""I'll do it." Jiang Ruan interrupted him. "Your wound needs stitching, or it will fester quickly. Ye Feng clearly doesn’t look like someone who knows how to handle a needle. If you dare to leave it to him, he’ll probably embroider a mess on your chest."
Ye Feng: "..." He hadn’t even said a word yet, so why was the young mistress already throwing shade? Though it was true he didn’t know how to embroider.
With that said, Xiao Shao could no longer refuse.
Lianqiao brought over the needle and thread and asked, "Miss, are you going to stitch Prince Xiao’s wound?"
"It has to be done." Jiang Ruan looked at Xiao Shao. "Are you afraid of pain?"
Xiao Shao smiled faintly and shook his head.
"Don’t worry, I’ll be quick." Jiang Ruan passed the silver needle through the candle flame, found clean silk thread, and though hesitant, she began the task. She didn’t treat Xiao Shao’s skin like fabric for embroidery, yet she worked with utmost care. Years ago, when she had embroidered pieces for Zhang Lan to earn money on the estate, her needlework had already been exceptional. But never had she been as solemn as she was now. Lianqiao watched as beads of sweat formed on Jiang Ruan’s forehead, her own heart tightening in sympathy.
Xiao Shao endured the stitching without a word—no anesthetic, not even a sound. He simply watched Jiang Ruan silently, his thoughts inscrutable, his eyes deepening like the night sky.
Many years ago, when he was still a youth, on a night much like this, a little girl with a scarred face but a warm smile had illuminated his lonely, cold evening—just like tonight.
For a moment, past and present overlapped, making it almost impossible for him to distinguish between then and now.
Even though Zisu and Lianqiao had reservations about Jinying Wang fainting in their young mistress’s courtyard, seeing him like this, they couldn’t help but admire him. There were few men in the world who could endure such pain, and even fewer who could bear it as stoically as Xiao Shao.
(End of Chapter)
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