Finally, Jiang Ruan finished the last stitch, tied off the thread, and tossed the silver needle back into the sewing box. She then sprinkled some hemostatic powder onto Xiao Shao's wound. Tianzhu handed her clean strips of cloth from the room. Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze to look—Xiao Shao's chest was bare, and he glanced at the white cloth strips.
Jiang Ruan picked up the strips and said to Tianzhu, "Help him sit up."
Tianzhu complied, and Jiang Ruan tossed Xiao Shao's soiled clothes aside, instructing him to lower his head slightly.
Xiao Shao was momentarily stunned, then seemed to realize something. The tips of his ears turned faintly red, and he turned his head away somewhat awkwardly.
Jiang Ruan didn’t notice his expression. She wrapped her arms around his back, bringing the cloth strips around to his chest. From this angle, it almost looked as though Xiao Shao was embracing Jiang Ruan—if she lifted her head, she would bump against his chin.
As Jiang Ruan bent to tie the bandage, Xiao Shao looked down at her, so close that the delicate fragrance unique to a young woman filled his senses. His ears burned, torn between the urge to pull away and an inexplicable reluctance to do so.
Zisu and Lianqiao averted their eyes silently, unsure whether to stay or leave. Once the wound was dressed, Jiang Ruan thought for a moment and asked Lianqiao to prepare some sweetened water. These past few days, during her monthly cycle, Lianqiao had been sending her sweetened water daily. It would be good for all three of them to drink some now to replenish their energy.
After everything was done, Jiang Ruan finally relaxed, feeling oddly exhausted from just dressing Xiao Shao’s wound. She sat down by the bed and asked, "How did you end up unconscious here?"
"There were ambushes along the way. This was the closest place," Xiao Shao replied. He had left the capital on business, but the Eastern Barbarian Country had grown increasingly brazen. Already injured, he had encountered more ambushes on his return. The Eastern Barbarian Country had many sorcerers skilled in secret arts and poisons, and the hidden weapons used by tonight’s assailants were indeed laced with poison, confirming his suspicions. Those in the capital had long colluded with the Eastern Barbarian Country, and the Brocade Hero King Manor had faced numerous ambushes along the way. Not wanting to alert the enemy, he had spotted the Jiang residence ahead and, without a second thought, made his way to Jiang Ruan’s courtyard.
Truthfully, he had already taken an antidote for the poison. If he had pushed himself, he could have made it back to his own residence. But in that moment, a thought had struck him—he suddenly wanted to know whether Jiang Ruan would show concern if she saw him injured. He hadn’t expected that one day, he too would resort to such a "wounded hero" ploy.
By now, he was beginning to understand his own feelings. No matter how aloof he had been in the past, this starkly different behavior clearly indicated one thing: this woman before him was unlike anyone else.
Jiang Ruan glanced out the window and then at the hourglass beside her—it was already the third watch of the night. After Xiao Shao, Ye Feng, and Jin Yi finished the lotus seed and honey water, she lowered the bed curtains and said, "Rest here. I’ll step outside."
Xiao Shao refused, "No need, we—"
Jiang Ruan shot him a look. "If you don’t mind implicating me, by all means, sleep outside. There are plenty of spies in this courtyard, and my sisters are just waiting to catch me in a compromising situation. If you’re eager to hand them evidence, I owe you a few favors, so I won’t argue."Xiao Shao was left speechless by Jiang Ruan's sharp retort. He had never been skilled in verbal sparring with women. Though he felt it improper for a man to occupy a maiden's bed, seeing that Jiang Ruan showed no discomfort, he could only let it be.
After Jiang Ruan left the room, the usually silent Tianzhu stepped forward and bowed deeply to her. "This subordinate thanks the young lady for saving my life," she said.
Jiang Ruan remained silent. Tianzhu continued, "From this day forward, my life belongs to you." The true danger of today's events might be lost on Zisu and Lianqiao, but as a member of the Brocade-clad Guards, she understood completely. Jiang Ruan had shown tremendous courage by daring to hide Xiao Shao in her chambers and treat his wounds despite the hidden forces lurking in the capital. Yet throughout it all, Jiang Ruan had remained composed, as if it were the most ordinary matter.
At dawn when the rooster crowed, the man on the bed straightened his clothes and stood up. After a night's rest, and given Xiao Shao's naturally superior recovery ability, he showed no signs of injury. Jin San leaped in through the window, still concerned about his wounds, and hesitantly asked, "Master..."
Xiao Shao waved his hand, and Jin San fell silent before adding, "Miss Jiang is awake and waiting outside."
After Jin San left, Xiao Shao surveyed his surroundings. In the rush of yesterday, he hadn't noticed much, but now that he was fully awake, the entire room seemed to carry a faint fragrance. Only then did he realize this was indeed a young maiden's bedchamber.
Since taking command of the Brocade-clad Guards, Xiao Shao had undertaken all manner of missions and had seen women's chambers before. Yet in his mind, they had always been just ordinary places, no different from gardens or lakes. Today, for the first time, he became aware of the distinction. Thus, Jinying Wang Xiao Shao, who never wasted time on trivial matters, found himself carefully examining a maiden's quarters for the first time.
Though it was a bedchamber, it didn't quite resemble one. Unlike other women's rooms, there were no flowers or plants, no brightly colored curtains or drapes, nor any delicate and beautiful ornaments. For a girl who had just reached marriageable age, it seemed far too austere. Even Mo Cong's quarters, as a man, appeared more refined than Jiang Ruan's.
Xiao Shao had heard some accounts of how Jiang Quan had sent Jiang Ruan to live in hardship on a rural estate. If this frugality stemmed from those difficult times, her reluctance to decorate lavishly would make sense. Yet the dark, gloomy colors were somewhat unusual.
The Jiang family's eldest daughter typically favored red dresses, and with her enchanting features, she ought to appear as fiery as a red fox. Instead, her temperament was as cold and detached as a green snake. The room was dominated by deep blacks and whites—colors rarely favored by ordinary women. Xiao Shao himself preferred dark hues because they suited his aloof and indifferent nature. But Jiang Ruan was merely a young girl. Lost in thought, Xiao Shao felt as though these somber colors might reveal some profound secret hidden within her heart.The desk was piled with a stack of books. Xiao Shao flipped through them casually—they were all about the laws of the Jin Dynasty and military treatises, rigid and dry materials typically read by older, more seasoned individuals. However, the military book appeared slightly yellowed from frequent handling, clearly a favorite of its owner. Not only that, Xiao Shao noticed these legal texts weren’t just the latest editions; some dated back decades, meticulously collected. He couldn’t fathom why Jiang Ruan would be reading such things.
He stood in the room, lost in thought for a while before shifting his gaze and stepping out slowly.
In the outer chamber, Jiang Ruan sat by the window, the book on the table unopened. She rested her chin on one hand, staring blankly outside, her expression growing colder as if lost in some unpleasant thought.
Hearing footsteps, Jiang Ruan turned and saw Xiao Shao approaching. "Why not rest a little longer?" she asked.
The Ruan Residence was now an impenetrable fortress within the Jiang household, where no one dared interfere. Jiang Ruan disliked excessive rules, so the maids and servants here were more lax compared to other courtyards. At this hour, though she was already awake, some of the maids and older servants in the Ruan Residence were still asleep.
Xiao Shao found it odd. The rooster had just crowed, yet Jiang Ruan seemed to have been up for quite some time. His gaze lingered on her slightly haggard face, and understanding dawned on him. "You stayed up all night for me. I’m sorry," he said.
The polite apology nearly made Zisu, standing nearby, burst into laughter. She lowered her head, quickly excused herself, and retreated to give Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao space to talk.
Jiang Ruan nodded. She had always been a light sleeper. In truth, since her rebirth, though she appeared calm and indifferent, the nightmares of her past life haunted her relentlessly at night. Once awakened by them, she couldn’t fall back asleep. And when preoccupied, her sleep became even shallower.
Last night, Xiao Shao had appeared suddenly. After settling him in, she had retreated to the outer chamber, her mind racing with thoughts, making sleep impossible. If not for Zisu and Lianqiao’s repeated urging, she wouldn’t have slept even those few hours.
Xiao Shao sat down across from her. Jiang Ruan’s eyes fell on his chest. "Is your wound healed?"
He nodded. "I came to bid you farewell."
"So soon?" Jiang Ruan studied him. "Though I don’t have the antidote here. If you want to fully detoxify, returning to your tower earlier is for the best."
Xiao Shao felt a pang of guilt. Jiang Ruan didn’t know that last night’s poison, while appearing severe, wasn’t actually that serious. By now, it was mostly cleared. But having come this far, explaining would make it seem like he’d stayed with ulterior motives—which, admittedly, wasn’t entirely untrue.
Noticing his discomfort, Jiang Ruan found it somewhat amusing and changed the subject. "How long will you stay in the capital this time?"
At this, Xiao Shao’s expression turned serious. Seeing this, Jiang Ruan understood somewhat. "The capital may soon become unstable," he said. "Be extra careful in the mansion. If anything happens, use the whistle I gave you."
Jiang Ruan’s eyes narrowed. "Is the Eastern Barbarian Country making their move?"
Xiao Shao was surprised. This was classified palace intelligence; even if ordinary people knew, they wouldn’t connect it to larger schemes. Yet Jiang Ruan seemed unusually sensitive to such matters. Could this be related to the 'secret' in her heart? "Yes," he replied."I understand." Jiang Ruan didn't elaborate further. After a pause, she added, "You're already the target of many. Since the Eastern Barbarians are running rampant in the capital, they'll likely come after you. Be careful."
In her past life, the name of Jinying Wang, Xiao Shao, had often been linked with the Eastern Barbarian Country. Even when the previous emperor was poisoned and Ye Li seized the throne, Xiao Shao had been in the Eastern Barbarian Country and couldn't return immediately. Had Xiao Shao been in the capital at that time, who knew how things might have turned out? Thinking of this, Jiang Ruan felt a pang of melancholy. Noticing Xiao Shao's gaze upon her, she steadied her emotions. Though she didn't know the exact reason, she sensed an inexplicable connection between Xiao Shao and the Eastern Barbarian Country. Whether it was a generational feud or something else, whenever Xiao Shao dealt with the Eastern Barbarians, there was always a faint aura of hostility around him. It was subtle, but as someone who had died once, Jiang Ruan could perceive it clearly.
Xiao Shao curved his lips into a slight smile, his gaze softening. "Alright." After a moment of silence, he asked, "What are your plans regarding the Xia Family? Do you need my help?"
After Jiang Ruan left yesterday, Tianzhu had entered the room and recounted in detail everything that had happened in the Jiang residence during this time. When Xiao Shao heard about Yu Ya's scheme to frame Zhao Feizhou, he was deeply displeased. These people were like flies, constantly buzzing around and causing annoyance. If Jiang Ruan agreed, he could devise a way to eliminate the Xia Family once and for all, removing any future threats.
"No need, I have my own methods," Jiang Ruan replied. Matters of revenge were best handled personally. If she were to let Xiao Shao wipe them out completely, wouldn't that be letting them off too easily?
Seeing her resolve, Xiao Shao didn't insist. "Alright," he said simply.
They continued their conversation, discussing trivial matters unrelated to romance, much to the frustration of Luzhu, who was eavesdropping by the window. Just then, Zisu hurriedly pushed the door open and exclaimed, "Miss, the Fourth Miss is heading toward the courtyard!"
Inside the room, Ye Feng and Jin Yi tensed immediately. "This is bad. She mustn't see us here," Ye Feng said anxiously.
It was unusually early, and Jiang Dan had never visited the Ruan Residence before. Her sudden appearance was highly suspicious. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Since she's so concerned about me, she must have caught wind of something last night. Now she's rushing over to block all escape routes."
She turned to Xiao Shao. "I told you before, my courtyard isn't exactly a safe place."
Xiao Shao's expression darkened. "My apologies."
"It's not your fault," Jiang Ruan said with a laugh. "My fourth sister may seem like a delicate, unassuming flower, but her actions will surely astonish you."
"If she discovers us here, it will damage your reputation," Xiao Shao said gravely. As the Princess of Great Peace, Jiang Ruan was under constant scrutiny. If any scandal arose, the public's condemnation could drown her.
"My reputation isn't exactly pristine to begin with," Jiang Ruan replied, shaking her head. "Besides, why would Jiang Dan come here out of the blue unless she suspected something?"Xiao Shao frowned. He hadn't anticipated so much trouble last night, nor did he realize that even a mere concubine-born daughter in this residence could harbor such complex schemes, constantly seeking to target Jiang Ruan with deadly intent. A faint anger stirred within him. He paused, lowering his gaze as he said, "Then I'll reveal my identity now and leave directly to prove you had nothing to do with this."
"You might as well go out and kill them all to settle the matter," Jiang Ruan replied.
Xiao Shao had considered it, but killing people at the Jiang residence entrance might invite future complications. It wasn't about anything else—just that certain things couldn't be exposed yet to avoid alerting the enemy prematurely.
Jiang Ruan patted his arm and let out a cold laugh. "Don't worry. Since I dared to let you stay last night, I was already prepared."
Xiao Shao stared at her, momentarily thinking she was trying to comfort him with those words.
Jiang Ruan walked to the daybed in her inner chamber and lifted the thick bedding, revealing the solid, heavy bedboard beneath. She tapped it lightly, then ran her fingers along the edges. The seemingly seamless board, under her probing touch, suddenly revealed a crack at one corner. With a firm tug downward, the board lifted cleanly, exposing a small iron door secured with a tiny lock.
From beneath the opposite side of the bed, Jiang Ruan retrieved a small silver key, unlocked the iron door, and flipped the panel upward. "Get in," she said to the group.
It was unmistakably a small hidden passage.
"This..." Ye Feng and Jin Yi were stunned.
"It's not a secret tunnel," Jiang Ruan explained, seeing their bewildered expressions. "I don't have the capability for that. It's just a storage compartment. Hurry inside and hide."
This storage compartment had been meticulously prepared since her return to the residence. In her past life at the palace, she had once seen a noblewoman create something similar—though that one was an actual tunnel. With enemies lurking everywhere in the Jiang residence, there was always the risk of someone searching her room in her absence. While she wouldn't leave any incriminating evidence behind, this compartment could serve as an emergency hideout when needed.
Xiao Shao and the others were momentarily startled by Jiang Ruan's sudden reveal of the compartment, but at Zisu's urging, they wasted no time jumping inside. Jiang Ruan restored the bedboard to its original state and let the bed curtains fall back into place.
Lianqiao's voice carried a note of urgency: "Fourth Miss, our young lady hasn't awakened yet. Please wait until she's dressed and presentable—she's not properly groomed at the moment..."
"We're all sisters here," Jiang Dan's voice floated in from a distance, as sweet and gentle as usual, though a closer listen revealed a barely concealed hint of delight.
Lianqiao's anxious demeanor only bolstered Jiang Dan's confidence. She had been keeping spies watching Jiang Ruan's courtyard daily. The previous night, they had seen Lianqiao hurriedly leave the neighboring Ruan Residence and order the kitchen to prepare three bowls of honeyed water.
This in itself wasn't particularly strange—Jiang Ruan might have been suffering from menstrual discomfort and wanted lotus seed honey water to soothe herself in the middle of the night. What was odd was the request for three bowls. A maid found it peculiar and later mentioned it casually to Jiang Dan. Being shrewd, Jiang Dan took note and had someone investigate. Sure enough, after bribing an old cleaning woman at Ruan Residence, she learned that Zisu had disposed of a basin of water—water that carried the faint scent of blood.Not only that, but the spies sent out also reported hearing what seemed to be a man's voice coming from Jiang Ruan's room. Jiang Dan speculated—could this be Jiang Ruan's "lover"?
Not daring to act rashly, she kept a close watch on Jiang Ruan's quarters, intending to catch the person red-handed when they emerged. Yet after waiting all night, no one came out. So she decided to go herself, prepared to catch them in the act.
Normally, Xiao Shao's guards would have prevented such a scheme. But coincidentally, Jin Yi and Ye Feng were injured last night, while Jin Er and Jin San had returned to the tower in the latter half of the night to retrieve the remaining antidote. Tianzhu was busy assisting Jiang Ruan, leaving an opening for Jiang Dan's people. The gatekeepers, having stood watch all night without seeing anyone leave Jiang Ruan's courtyard, became even more convinced that the "adulterer" was still inside.
Jiang Dan felt a surge of satisfaction—with her reputation in ruins, what bright future could Jiang Ruan possibly have?
Thinking this, she quickened her pace. When she reached Jiang Ruan's door, before Tianzhu or Luzhu could speak, she lifted the beaded curtain with a flourish and called out cheerfully, "Da Jiejie."
The room was eerily silent. There was nothing—not even a cabinet where someone could hide. For a moment, Jiang Dan was stunned.
But soon, unwilling to give up, she took a few steps inside. "Da Jiejie?"
"Fourth Young Lady," Luzhu said loudly, "our mistress is still resting. Please come back later."
Suspicious, Jiang Dan smiled and replied, "What nonsense is this? Just now, Lianqiao said Da Jiejie was already awake, only not yet dressed. How could she be asleep again? Surely she wouldn’t refuse to see me." As she spoke, she shot a glance at her maid, Yu'er, who immediately grabbed Luzhu and laughed, "The eldest and fourth young ladies are sisters—would they really quarrel over such a trivial matter?"
"Exactly," Jiang Dan said, already stepping beside Jiang Ruan's bed. A flash of triumph crossed her eyes as she boldly looked toward the bed.
The pale blue bed curtains were drawn aside. Jiang Ruan lay sideways on the bed, dressed only in a light inner robe, her hair slightly disheveled, eyes closed in rest.
Hearing the commotion, she opened her eyes—clear and bright like a mountain spring, yet with an unfathomable depth swirling within them.
(End of Chapter)
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