In her past life, Jiang Ruan had thought Ye Li was the most refined and gentle man she had ever met. Even now, having seen through his true nature, she had to admit that his appearance was indeed pleasing—at least to outsiders, he lived up to the title of "a modest gentleman, gentle as jade." Yet the man before her now, with just a casual gesture, could eclipse Ye Li by miles. Unlike the deliberate facade Ye Li wore, Xiao Shao exuded a natural beauty. The world called her the Nation-destroying enchantress, but in her eyes, the title of "nation-destroying" likely only suited Xiao Shao.
Xiao Shao seemed unable to endure her gaze any longer and finally turned around, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow. "Admiring me so much?"
When someone usually indifferent smiled, his deep eyes seemed to sparkle even brighter, exuding an effortless charm that was uniquely alluring. Jiang Ruan was momentarily stunned, never expecting such words from Xiao Shao. She immediately returned his gaze, scrutinizing him from head to toe before remarking, "A graceful frame, exquisite features, brows like paintings, a robust physique—truly... a beauty."
The expression on "Xiao the Beauty" stiffened. He shot her a sidelong glance, retracting his earlier allure, and pulled out a snow-white porcelain bottle from his robe. "I need to apply medicine."
He tugged open his robe, revealing the scar on his chest—a sight that was nothing short of horrifying. Xiao Shao deliberately coughed twice, and seeing this, Jiang Ruan walked over, taking the bottle from his hand. "Let me do it."
Hearing this, a flicker of amusement flashed in Xiao Shao's eyes, though his voice remained calm. "Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving."
Jiang Ruan replied flatly, "I’ve never thought of you as a man. You might as well consider me one."
At first, Xiao Shao had been quite pleased with the first half of her statement, but by the second half, he sensed something amiss. Looking down at the girl now leaning close to him, he suppressed his irritation and said, "I can take responsibility."
"..." Jiang Ruan pressed down hard on his wound, eliciting a muffled groan from him before leisurely withdrawing her hand. "You should focus on recovering first. In such a frail state, what responsibility can you take?"
Xiao Shao’s expression darkened again. Butler Lin and his subordinates often whispered behind his back, calling him as unfeeling as a stone. Xiao Shao thought they ought to meet Jiang Ruan to see what true indifference looked like.
Jiang Ruan, too, was puzzled. Since when had Xiao Shao become so shameless? She hadn’t remembered him being this annoying before.
Outside the room, the guards lined up with their ears pressed to the door, hoping to catch any sounds. But they didn’t dare be too obvious, and with two doors between them, their eavesdropping was strained at best. One murmured, "Hey, I think I heard the master groan."
"Young Madam is truly a hero," another praised.
"Truly admirable!" they grew increasingly excited.
Inside the room, however, the atmosphere was more ambiguous than intimate. The golden opportunity meticulously crafted by the eager subordinates was utterly wasted. Had Butler Lin witnessed it, he would have sighed again: "Hopeless!"
The night passed without anything happening. Given Xiao Shao’s temperament, it was unsurprising he wouldn’t cross any lines, but at the very least, their relationship should have grown closer. Yet when the doors opened the next morning, both wore indifferent expressions, showing none of the bashfulness or shyness everyone had anticipated.Everyone knew they had made a mistake and obediently went to receive their punishment.
After Xiao Shao left, Jiang Ruan dismissed the others and sat at her desk, pulling out a stack of books. Among them was a rough map of the route from the Eastern Barbarian Country to the Celestial Jin Kingdom. The Eastern Barbarian Country lay to the south of the Da Jin Dynasty, separated by a river from the Celestial Jin Kingdom. Xiao Shao had returned injured from outside the capital the previous night, and though he said nothing, Jiang Ruan suspected it had something to do with the Celestial Jin Kingdom and the Eastern Barbarian Country. Delving deeper, she wondered if something had gone wrong on the battlefield.
Yet, she had no means to go to the battlefield herself. Ever since rumors spread in the capital about the Celestial Jin Kingdom's successful counterattack, Jiang Xin Zhi had stopped sending letters home, likely because the war had intensified. But given Jiang Xin Zhi's nature, he would pretend everything was fine to avoid worrying her. The fact that he hadn’t even sent a letter suggested the situation was dire.
Jiang Ruan frowned. The Celestial Jin Kingdom was restless, and if the court could dispatch reinforcements, it might alleviate the immediate crisis.
However, the Zhao family currently held only 200,000 troops, and some had to remain in the capital. The rest of the forces had either been secretly swayed by the Eighth Prince or had aligned with Ye Hua's faction. Ye Li would never willingly send reinforcements. Even if the Emperor issued an Imperial Edict, Ye Li would likely find a way to interfere. Jiang Xin Zhi was now a coveted asset, and given Ye Li's temperament, if he couldn’t be used, he would be discarded and eliminated.
If Jiang Xin Zhi was truly in peril, Ye Li would surely take advantage of the situation.
Jiang Ruan stood up, pondered for a moment, and said, "I need to go to the palace."
...
In the imperial study, the Emperor set down the letter in his hand and tapped the desk before finally looking up at the young man before him. "A-Shao, you wish to deploy troops?"
Xiao Shao remained silent.
"The Empress Dowager will not agree," the Emperor frowned. "Back then—"
"What happened back then, this subject has already forgotten," Xiao Shao interrupted. "Your Majesty need not bring it up again."
"Very well," the Emperor said. "Let’s set that aside for now. I’ve heard you’ve been spending time with the Princess of Great Peace. The night before last, you were injured and rested in her courtyard?"
"Your Majesty already knows everything. There’s no need to ask this subject."
The Emperor’s tone suddenly turned stern. "She is a member of the Jiang family!"
"What of it?"
"Do you truly fancy her?" The Emperor grew agitated, and Eunuch Li hurried over to pat his back soothingly. The Emperor waved him away. "I know you have your own ideas, but Jiang Ruan is not suitable."
"Why?" Xiao Shao asked.
"Why?" the Emperor repeated. "You know better than I what kind of man Jiang Quan is."
"She is also Zhao Guang’s granddaughter," Xiao Shao reminded.
"What does that matter!" the Emperor snapped. "A-Shao, your life cannot afford even the slightest blemish. The Princess of Great Peace is unworthy of you. I am not ignorant—that woman is cunning and calculating. How could she ever be your equal? Moreover, though Zhao Guang holds military power, he is too rigid, and Jiang Quan is a venomous snake. If you tie yourself to her, you’ll gain no advantage and only be dragged into the mire. I’ve already considered this—Governor Cheng’s daughter from the coastal region is around your age, accomplished in both civil and martial arts. The Cheng family’s influence could also aid you. She would be the perfect match for you."
"Your Majesty worries too much," Xiao Shao replied coldly. "This subject’s marriage is my own affair. There’s no need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself.""You—" The Emperor seemed particularly insistent on this matter, his voice cold as he said, "If I insist on you marrying Miss Cheng and issue the decree tomorrow, what will you do?"
Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. "Then this subject will have no choice but to defy the imperial decree and refuse the marriage, even if it costs me my head."
The Emperor was seized by another fit of violent coughing. Before he could speak, Xiao Shao continued, "The affairs of the Eastern Barbarian Country demand urgent attention. Your Majesty need not waste thoughts on trivial matters concerning this humble subject. As for Miss Cheng..." His dark, inscrutable eyes were icy, his tone indifferent. "If Your Majesty insists on the marriage, it would only result in the pointless loss of a life."
With that, he turned and left without another glance.
Eunuch Li steadied the swaying Emperor and hurriedly took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve, feeding the Emperor two pills. The Emperor's complexion improved slightly, though his expression remained desolate. He sighed deeply. "He defies me for that girl."
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Li soothed gently, "You've watched Prince Xiao grow up. Once he decides something, not even nine oxen could pull him back. Your Majesty's words just now must have upset him, hence his sharp tone. But his loyalty remains unwavering."
"Of course I know he harbors no disloyalty," the Emperor said wearily, pressing his temples. "I’ve considered everything for him. Miss Cheng is well-educated, comes from a noble family, and I’ve seen her myself—she’s talented and beautiful. If Governor Cheng becomes Xiao Shao’s ally, wouldn’t the future be much smoother? I’ve paved this path for him, yet he refuses to walk it."
"Prince Xiao is still young," Eunuch Li consoled. "Perhaps he shares a unique bond with the young mistress. He values loyalty and righteousness and isn’t one to seek advantage through connections."
"Rejecting the easy path to take the hardest one," the Emperor snorted. "If Jiang Ruan were an ordinary girl, fine. But I see clearly—she’s cunning, her nature cold. Xiao Shao is already aloof; how could such a woman suit him? Both Jiang Xin Zhi and his sister have strong wills and are hard to control, especially Jiang Xin Zhi. If he were to turn disloyal, the empire would be thrown into chaos."
Eunuch Li was at a loss for words, knowing Jinying Wang was a stumbling block in the Emperor’s heart. The Emperor was wise and decisive in other matters, but when it came to Jinying Wang, his judgment became clouded. With Jinying Wang’s temperament, how could he tolerate being manipulated? Having made his stance clear today, if the Emperor insisted on the marriage, Miss Cheng would likely vanish from the world by the next day. Eunuch Li had witnessed Jinying Wang’s methods before. If the Cheng family turned against the imperial family, it would spell disaster.The Emperor sighed deeply. "Forget it, we'll discuss this matter another time." From the very beginning, he had instinctively disliked Jiang Ruan. It was quite strange, but those in high positions were particularly sensitive in certain aspects. For instance, whenever Jiang Ruan spoke to him, though nothing seemed amiss on the surface, he could always faintly sense a trace of resentment and hatred. The feeling was subtle, but the Emperor noticed it, and he also found Jiang Ruan rather disagreeable. In his eyes, Princess Yuan Rong was gentle, dignified, considerate, and mindful of the bigger picture—the noblest princess in the world. Yet Empress Dowager Yide had stubbornly insisted that Jiang Ruan bore some resemblance to Princess Yuan Rong. In reality, as evidenced by the incident with Noble Consort Chen, Jiang Ruan was far from the gentle and magnanimous image she projected. On the contrary, she was petty and vindictive, though she hid it well. After learning of Xiao Shao's unusual relationship with her, the Emperor had sent people to investigate Jiang Ruan's past. The more he uncovered, the more he realized how profoundly scheming she was.
The Emperor could not tolerate a dangerous person by Xiao Shao's side. He didn't know why he harbored this faint dislike for Jiang Ruan—perhaps it was some unresolved enmity from a past life. There were always inexplicable things in this world.
...
The conversation between the Emperor and Xiao Shao dissipated like the ambergris incense burning in the imperial study, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ruan had just met with Empress Dowager Yide, exchanged some pleasantries, and was now returning to Princess Hall with Tianzhu and the others.
As she reached the entrance, she encountered an acquaintance—the Fourth Prince, Ye Lang.
Though a prince, Ye Lang was dressed in a somewhat worn, dark brown brocade robe, with only a jade pendant at his waist as an accessory, appearing exceedingly plain. To the discerning eye, however, he might simply seem like an unloved and destitute prince. Upon seeing Jiang Ruan, the Fourth Prince stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Lady Junzhu."
Ye Lang seemed accustomed to ingratiating himself with others, his tone carrying a barely perceptible note of deference. To Jiang Ruan, his mannerisms were nearly identical to Jiang Dan's. Yet, she maintained a faint smile as she replied, "Fourth Highness."
Her lukewarm response caused a fleeting look of hurt to flash in Ye Lang's eyes, but it vanished instantly as he smiled and said, "I heard the war in the Celestial Jin Kingdom has grown tense, and I thought you must be deeply worried. Seeing you in good spirits now puts my mind at ease."
Jiang Ruan raised an eyebrow. She wasn't afraid of his questions—she was afraid he wouldn't ask. Indeed, the matter of the Celestial Jin Kingdom was related to Ye Li. Here was Ye Lang, deliberately "bumping into" her to probe her stance. Perfect—she also wanted to see what schemes these people were plotting and what they were trying to test.
"How could I be at ease?" she sighed softly, her eyes dimming instantly, her tone tinged with melancholy. "My elder brother is fighting on the frontier, while I live comfortably here in peace. With the war so intense, he hasn't sent any letters home in a long time. Whenever I think of it, I feel deeply unsettled."
Ye Lang's eyes flickered as he studied Jiang Ruan's expression closely. Seeing that her distress seemed genuine, he comforted her, "Deputy General Jiang is blessed by the heavens, and he is a natural-born god of war. The Celestial Jin Kingdom is but a tiny land—how could they possibly win? Lady Junzhu, don't worry. Your brother will surely return victorious."Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Thank you for your comfort, Fourth Highness." Yet her smile was somewhat forced.
Ye Lang shook his head. "Speaking of which, I’ve heard His Majesty mention that the current war situation is rather tense. Although the Celestial Jin Kingdom is but a tiny territory, their metallurgy techniques are highly advanced, producing exceptionally sharp and refined weapons—swords, axes, and shields alike. Coupled with their cunning tactics... ah..."
At Ye Lang’s words, Jiang Ruan’s expression shifted again, and she replied weakly, "What Fourth Highness says is true."
Her unsettled demeanor did not escape Ye Lang’s notice, and his confidence grew. He continued casually, "If only General Wu could lead his troops into battle."
"General Wu?" Jiang Ruan looked puzzled.
"Young Mistress likely isn’t well-versed in court affairs," Ye Lang explained kindly. "General Wu is also a military commander with a fine group of soldiers under him—the Wu Family Army, each one a skilled warrior. They were once stationed to guard against the Western Rong tribes, but years ago, when the Western Rong submitted as vassals, the Wu Family Army withdrew. General Wu hasn’t led troops in years and has been lamenting his lack of opportunity to prove himself. If the Wu Family Army were to assist and General Wu were to return to the battlefield, breaching the Celestial Jin Kingdom would surely be a matter of days."
Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze. General Wu—of course she knew of him. In her past life, when Ye Li ascended the throne, he had systematically eroded those who were not his allies. While suppressing the Zhao family at every turn, he had also promoted the Wu family. The Wu family, like the Zhao family, were old meritorious officials who had helped the late Emperor secure the empire. However, after the old General Wu passed away, the current General Wu had become arrogant, self-righteous, and harbored immense ambition, dreaming of becoming the "foremost" figure in the Da Jin Dynasty. When it came to suppressing the Zhao family, he had spared no effort.
In her past life, when she had been imprisoned, she had vaguely heard that it was this very General Wu who had personally led the troops to arrest the entire Zhao family.
Jiang Ruan kept her head down, lost in thought. Ye Lang watched her intently until she finally looked up and said, "What Fourth Highness says is reasonable, but why not have my grandfather and uncles send reinforcements? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?"
"Old General Zhao’s troops guard the capital’s vital points—how could they be withdrawn?" Ye Lang shook his head. "Moreover, given Deputy General Jiang’s relationship with General Zhao... His Majesty would never permit the Zhao family to deploy troops."
So this was an attempt to sow discord? To make the brothers resent the Emperor? The smile at Jiang Ruan’s lips vanished in an instant, replaced by a look of confusion. "Then... what should we do?"
"Don’t worry," Ye Lang said, as if hesitating. "The Eighth Prince happens to be on very good terms with General Wu. If he could speak on our behalf..."
"The Eighth Prince?" Jiang Ruan started, then pressed urgently, "Could we ask the Eighth Prince to persuade General Wu?"
"In the end, it still depends on His Majesty’s will," Ye Lang replied with apparent helplessness, shaking his head. "Besides, His Majesty detests nothing more than officials forming factions. If the Eighth Prince were to speak up so rashly, it might arouse His Majesty’s suspicion."
"Then what can we do?" Jiang Ruan’s voice carried a note of disappointment.
Ye Lang glanced at her, then suddenly leaned closer. "Young Mistress, there’s something I’m not sure I should tell you."
"Speak," Jiang Ruan urged.
"Actually... there might still be a way," Ye Lang said.
"What way?" Jiang Ruan’s eyes brightened as she asked eagerly."The Eighth Prince is now at the age to select a consort. Due to the incident with the Noble Consort in the past, His Majesty has always held some prejudice against him. Fortunately, he recently took the initiative to inquire about the Eighth Prince's marriage prospects. The Eighth Prince once told me that he already has someone in mind." He glanced at Jiang Ruan and, seeing no sign of anger on her face, continued, "If the Eighth Prince were to marry the Junzhu, there is precedent for such a union in the Da Jin Dynasty. At that point, the Junzhu could naturally bring up the matter of reinforcements. As her husband, it would be only right for the Eighth Prince to assist the Junzhu. Even recommending General Wu to His Majesty would seem perfectly natural."
"Me... with the Eighth Prince?" Jiang Ruan asked.
Ye Lang nodded, appearing somewhat hesitant. "This isn’t the best idea, but there are no other options at the moment. If the Junzhu wishes to save Deputy General Jiang, this is the fastest way. The Eighth Prince is deeply devoted to the Junzhu, and I believe the Junzhu could also get along well with him."
"Marriage is decided by parental orders and matchmakers. How could I have any say in this?" Jiang Ruan questioned.
"That’s simple," Ye Lang replied. "The Eighth Prince need only request an imperial decree for the marriage."
Jiang Ruan inwardly sneered. Easy for him to say—an imperial decree would ultimately depend on Empress Dowager Yide’s approval. If she truly refused, the Empress Dowager would not force the matter. This was precisely why Ye Li had sent Ye Lang to persuade her, ensuring she wouldn’t reject the proposal outright.
She had been wondering what scheme Ye Lang was circling around, only to realize he had set his sights on her. What a cunning plan.
Marry her, then absorb the Zhao family into his faction. The Jiang family was already under his control—wasn’t Jiang Xin Zhi at his mercy? Even the matter of deploying General Wu’s troops would be facilitated through her influence. If they succeeded in the end, wouldn’t all the credit fall squarely on Ye Li’s shoulders? A deal where he stood to lose nothing!
But... even if Ye Li truly intended to send General Wu to aid Jiang Xin Zhi, she couldn’t trust it. The moment Jiang Xin Zhi showed the slightest reluctance to submit to Ye Li, General Wu wouldn’t hesitate to stab him in the back. And even if Jiang Xin Zhi displayed no such hesitation, given General Wu’s petty, envious nature, he might still harbor ill intentions upon seeing the young and accomplished Jiang Xin Zhi.
Ye Lang believed his words were flawless, knowing Jiang Xin Zhi was Jiang Ruan’s weakness. The siblings shared an exceptionally close bond, and Jiang Ruan, being a woman, was prone to emotional decisions. Hearing this involved Jiang Xin Zhi, wouldn’t she immediately panic? Yet after a long wait, Jiang Ruan still hadn’t responded. Ye Lang grew impatient, but when she finally looked up, her expression was not the helpless distress he had expected. Instead, her gaze was cool and composed, her slightly upturned eyes laced with mocking understanding—a look that could almost make one flee in shame.
"Junzhu..." he began.
"So the Fourth Prince is so well-versed in statecraft," Jiang Ruan said with a faint smile, her words instantly causing Ye Lang’s expression to stiffen. She regarded him with amusement. "Such eloquence and strategic insight into court affairs—truly, His Majesty ought to witness it for himself."
Her tone was light, almost sighing, yet it sent a cold sweat down Ye Lang’s back.Who was he? The most incompetent and mediocre prince of the Da Jin Dynasty. Anyone could look down on him—utterly incapable, yet also the safest. Back when several princes had met with more or less violent deaths, why had he alone survived? Not because he was lucky, but because he was stupid!
Even if that stupidity had to be feigned!
In truth, though mediocre and lacking grand ambitions, he wasn’t as foolish, weak, or servile as everyone assumed. What good had come to his more intelligent and quick-witted brothers? Nothing but a pile of bones in the end.
The Emperor knew he was unfit for great responsibility, and the court officials were well aware of his incompetence. In the whirlpool of succession struggles, he had always been cast aside. Bowing low and playing small, he alone among his brothers had set his sights on Ye Li.
Outwardly, he appeared close to the Crown Prince, but in reality, he was Ye Li’s man. No matter how incapable, after pretending to be a fool for over a decade, even a royal like him still yearned for power. Though he knew he had no right to vie for the highest throne, rising just a little higher than his current station would still be an improvement.
Ye Li wore the mask of a gentle and refined gentleman, but did he not have one as well? Only, his mask wasn't as handsome as Ye Li's—his was humble, cowardly, timid as a mouse. Yet like venomous snakes and insects lurking in the shadows, seemingly insignificant but capable of delivering a fatal strike at the crucial moment.
He was a transparent sword wielded by Ye Li within the palace.
But what did Jiang Ruan's words just now mean? If the Emperor were to learn of his keen interest in current affairs, even a fool would realize his usual dull-wittedness was all an act. Wouldn't that ruin everything? And if things went awry, not even Ye Li would let him off easily.
Ye Lang forced a smile. "Princess, my knowledge is shallow..."
"Not at all," Jiang Ruan replied breezily. "The Fourth Prince is clearly sharp-eyed and quick-witted, responding with ease. If the Crown Prince were to learn he had such an intelligent person by his side, wouldn't even the Grand Tutor become redundant?" She smiled as she watched Ye Lang's panicked expression. "Perhaps the Fifth Prince would also be delighted to know his brother is so talented."
The tone of the person before him was light and amused, with not a trace of the earlier distress. If Ye Lang still didn't understand now, he would be a fool. He realized Jiang Ruan had deceived him—she had never been worried about Jiang Xin Zhi at all. This woman!
(End of Chapter)
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