“What are you hiding from?” the woman snapped irritably. “What bad luck. Time to eat.”
With that, she slammed the contents of the basket onto the table and tucked the basket away, immediately launching into a tirade: “I’m busy all day long and still have to take care of you, a useless waste. What’s the point of guarding such a wretch? The silver is decent, though. Back when that Jiang family’s legitimate daughter was in our courtyard, we got three taels a month. You bring in five taels, but you can’t lift a finger or carry a load, and you can’t even help with embroidery or picking herbs. When you think about it, I’m the one losing out!”
At the mention of “Jiang family’s legitimate daughter,” the figure on the ground shuddered violently and suddenly raised her head, revealing a filthy face. Her emaciated body seemed to be nothing but skin and bones, exuding a foul stench of grime, as if she hadn’t bathed in ages. Only her eyes still faintly retained a trace of her former grace—this was Xia Yan.
Had anyone passed by, they would never have believed this woman was Xia Yan. Covered in filth and looking like a beggar, she bore no resemblance to the once-celebrated top talent of the capital, the gentle and virtuous wife of a minister.
Yet Xia Yan kept struggling toward the woman, mumbling incoherently.
“Hmph,” the woman sneered, a flash of jealousy crossing her face as she looked at Xia Yan with mocking amusement. “But she’s living in glory now, even granted the title of a county princess. Back when she was in our house, she lived worse than a pig or a dog. Who’d have thought she’d rise so high?”
This woman was none other than Chen Fang, the youngest daughter of Zhang Lan’s family. Ever since Imperial Censor Wang had come to the estate to clear Jiang Ruan’s name, Chen Zhao had been imprisoned and never released. Zhang Lan had sold off all their property and land to bribe officials for Chen Zhao’s sake. Her gambling-addicted husband had also been beaten to death over unpaid debts, and Zhang Lan soon suffered a stroke, leaving her paralyzed at home. Left with no choice, Chen Fang had married a widower from the east end of the village. The widower frequently beat and berated her, and under such conditions, she gradually turned into a shrew.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, as if fate had turned full circle. Xia Yan had never imagined that the servant who once tormented Jiang Ruan would now be tormenting her. Nor had she expected that her life would become even worse than Jiang Ruan’s had been back then.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Xia Yan lay dazed on the ground. Chen Zhao had sent her to this estate under the pretense of recuperating, and she had thought it was an escape—only to realize it was the beginning of hell. At first, she had tried to intimidate Chen Fang into treating her better, but the estate was too remote, and she was no match for Chen Fang alone. Against such a vulgar shrew, Xia Yan’s usual scheming and tactics were useless. She was skilled at maneuvering in the inner chambers, but she couldn’t outwit this foolish woman. Chen Fang stole her jewelry, forced her to work, fed her the worst scraps, and housed her in the filthiest room. Every trick once used on Jiang Ruan was now turned against her—and then some.
As Xia Yan remained stunned, Chen Fang shot her an impatient glance, thinking how annoying this woman was. But that official had said she couldn’t be allowed to die—not yet. Still, judging by the official’s demeanor, this woman’s death was only a matter of time.Before Xia Yan could say anything more, Chen Fang turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind her. The room was plunged back into darkness, and Xia Yan stared blankly, a single tear slowly spilling from the corner of her eye.
Early the next morning, Jiang Ruan received an invitation card from Princess Heyi, inviting her to the Bathing Breeze Pavilion for a visit. When Zisu delivered the invitation, she seemed uneasy. Unaware of what Jiang Ruan had instructed Tianzhu to do, she assumed Princess Heyi must be plotting something sinister and couldn't help but warn, "Miss, Princess Heyi's sudden invitation surely hides ulterior motives. You mustn't fall into her trap."
Lianqiao nodded in agreement. "With so many eyes in the palace fixed on you right now, we can't afford any mishaps at this critical moment. Should I decline the invitation on your behalf, saying you're unavailable?"
"No need," Jiang Ruan replied with a faint smile. "Just help me prepare my attire."
Lianqiao and Zisu exchanged glances but, seeing Jiang Ruan's composed demeanor, complied. Meanwhile, Luzhu approached and asked, "Miss, didn't Princess Heyi...? Could it be that nothing actually happened to her?"
A dead person couldn't possibly send an invitation. There were no such things as ghosts or spirits—unless Princess Heyi was still alive, how else could this invitation have appeared out of nowhere?
"Impossible," Jiang Ruan said. Tianzhu had already investigated yesterday—Princess Heyi had returned to her palace the previous evening, not even stopping by the Shufang Palace. Despite orchestrating such a major event, she had mentioned nothing about it. According to palace maids, Princess Heyi had behaved strangely, as if unwilling to speak much.
This suggested that the "Princess Heyi" who had returned to her palace was likely an imposter. This invitation must have been sent by that fake "Princess Heyi," though the true mastermind behind it was someone else entirely.
Since the invitation had already arrived at the Princess Hall, why not attend? It might even save her some trouble. Raising an eyebrow, Jiang Ruan pulled a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Tianzhu. "You can't show yourself. Find an opportunity to deliver this to State Preceptor Huijue."
Tianzhu nodded. After changing her clothes, Jiang Ruan set off for the Bathing Breeze Pavilion with Zisu and Luzhu in tow.
Though the Bathing Breeze Pavilion boasted splendid scenery, it was located perilously close to the Cold Palace. Most palace consorts avoided it, fearing bad luck, while eunuchs and maids were too busy with their duties to admire the view. Since their masters seldom visited, neither did they. Yet Princess Heyi had always been fond of this place.
As Jiang Ruan reached the pavilion's corridor, she spotted a figure slumped over the table in the distance. The attire unmistakably belonged to Princess Heyi, flanked by her two personal maids. Luzhu frowned at the sight, thinking to herself—had Princess Heyi really not died? Could Zisu have been right? Was this some new scheme to harm Jiang Ruan?Zisu was more observant than Luzhu and quickly noticed something odd about the way Princess Heyi was slumped over the table. She couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly was strange, but the princess’s posture was stiff, like a puppet stuffed with cotton, and even the movement of her shoulders seemed unnaturally rigid. Zisu grew wary, an inexplicable sense of unease creeping into her heart. She couldn’t help but want to warn Jiang Ruan again, only to see Jiang Ruan walking toward Princess Heyi without so much as a blink.
She moved unhurriedly, as though this were nothing to be cautious about—as if she were merely attending an ordinary afternoon gathering among friends.
When she approached, the two palace maids beside Princess Heyi bowed their heads in unison and greeted, “A thousand blessings to the Princess of Great Peace.”
Jiang Ruan cast a cool glance at Princess Heyi. Now that she was closer, she could see clearly: at the stone table, Princess Heyi had her face buried against the surface, as though she had fallen asleep, her features obscured. The nearer Jiang Ruan got, the stronger the heavy fragrance emanating from Princess Heyi became.
It was common for noblewomen in the palace to favor perfumes and powders, but the more refined ones prized subtlety in scent. The lighter the fragrance, the more elegant it was considered. Yet Princess Heyi’s perfume was overpowering—almost like that of a famed courtesan from the pleasure quarters.
Luzhu first gave Princess Heyi a puzzled look, then widened her eyes as if realizing something. Afraid the maids might notice, she quickly lowered her head, her heart pounding with shock. Why would Princess Heyi wear such a strong scent? Normally, she wouldn’t have understood, but after Jiang Ruan’s words the previous day, it now seemed like a clue. The fragrance was so intense that it didn’t seem like adornment—more like an attempt to mask something.
Mask what? The smell of blood, the stench of decay!
Luzhu’s heart skipped a beat. A dead Princess Heyi seated here, an invitation sent in her name to Jiang Ruan—what other purpose could there be? This was clearly a trap set for Jiang Ruan!
“Miss,” Luzhu called out in urgency.
Jiang Ruan turned to look at her, and the calm understanding in her gaze made Luzhu pause. Somehow, that single glance swept away Luzhu’s earlier unease, steadying her. She reminded herself that her mistress was always several steps ahead—she must have anticipated today’s events. It was best to wait and see.
Zisu, too, didn’t fully grasp what was happening, but her instincts told her that Princess Heyi’s invitation was suspicious. However, she was naturally more composed and simply kept her eyes fixed on Jiang Ruan, refusing to let her thoughts spiral.
The two maids stood silently in place. Jiang Ruan arched a brow and smiled faintly. “Has Princess Heyi fallen asleep?”
One of the princess’s personal attendants nodded. “Indeed. We dared not disturb Her Highness.”
“Then shall I wake her?” Jiang Ruan replied with an enigmatic smile.
Her tone, both playful and inscrutable, momentarily stunned the two maids. They hadn’t expected Jiang Ruan to agree so readily—it saved them the trouble. Yet something about her voice unsettled them, as if they were being watched. Exchanging a glance, they both lowered their heads.Jiang Ruan slowly reached out and placed her hand on Princess Heyi's shoulder. The touch confirmed the stiffness beneath her fingers, and a faint smile curled at the corners of her lips before she abruptly shoved Princess Heyi backward.
With a loud "thud," Princess Heyi toppled from the stone bench, rolling onto the ground and landing face-up. The sight was unmistakable now—a delicate dagger was embedded in her abdomen, its blade gleaming with fresh blood that obscured any previous stains. Princess Heyi's eyes were wide open, her lips pale, clearly having been dead for some time.
Luzhu, already mentally prepared, only gasped in shock, while Zisu screamed in fright. Princess Heyi's lifeless eyes seemed to stare directly at Jiang Ruan, filled with the venomous resentment and terror of someone who had endured immense suffering and disbelief in their final moments, like a vengeful ghost.
"Princess!" the two palace maids cried out in unison, their faces instantly paling. One of them pointed accusingly at Jiang Ruan. "You—you killed the Princess!"
Jiang Ruan remained impassive, her tone indifferent. "Oh? And what proof do you have?"
From the moment she had first laid eyes on Princess Heyi's corpse, there had been not the slightest change in her expression. Whether it was due to her profound cunning or because she had anticipated this outcome, both possibilities were chilling. Yet Jiang Ruan's composed demeanor only deepened the mystery, leaving the two maids no choice but to stubbornly stick to their script despite their fear. One of them spat angrily, "Princess of Great Peace, how cruel! We both witnessed you arguing with Princess Heyi before you murdered her in cold blood. Even before His Majesty, you are the murderer!"
"Witnessed it, did you?" Jiang Ruan chuckled softly. "You two may have seen it, but I also have two maids here. While you claim to have seen me kill Princess Heyi, my maids might have seen something quite different."
Zisu, having overcome her initial terror, now grasped the situation. Hearing the maids brazenly lie to frame Jiang Ruan filled her with fury. She immediately caught on to Jiang Ruan's implication and retorted, "Exactly! What nonsense are you two spouting? When our lady arrived, the Princess was already dead."
"That's right," Luzhu added. "You two may have two mouths, but we have three pairs of eyes here—none of us are mistaken."
The maids hadn't expected Jiang Ruan to remain so composed, even engaging them in a war of words at such a moment. Stunned into silence, they were interrupted by a voice from behind. "The Princess truly has remarkable courage, remaining so composed and even jesting in the face of such accusations. This prince cannot help but admire you."
Jiang Ruan turned to see a figure approaching gracefully from the corridor, dressed as usual in simple brown robes—none other than the Fourth Prince, Ye Lang.
Though she hadn't yet uncovered the mastermind behind this, this encounter wasn't entirely fruitless. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince."
"Princess, now it's no longer just two witnesses," Ye Lang said with a warm, almost delighted smile. "This prince also witnessed your act of murder firsthand. If the words of two maids aren't convincing enough, perhaps my testimony will suffice?"Luzhu and Zisu both glared at Ye Lang with resentment. Even if he was the least favored prince in the palace, his status and position remained undeniable. If Ye Lang were to testify, Jiang Ruan would have no advantage whatsoever. Especially now, with Jiang Xin Zhi missing, many in the court were closely watching Jiang Ruan's every move, eager for her to make a mistake. If she were truly accused of this crime, everyone would take the opportunity to kick her while she was down. It would be extremely difficult for Jiang Ruan to rise again.
"Fourth Highness, why not speak plainly?" Jiang Ruan sighed. "Beating around the bush like this is truly exhausting."
Ye Lang nodded. "This prince feels the same way. This prince believes the County Princess acted impulsively just now, not intentionally. In fact, Eighth Brother has long admired the County Princess. Since you are his beloved, this prince will not make things too difficult for you."
Jiang Ruan remained silent, simply watching Ye Lang with a faint smile. Her refusal to respond left Ye Lang somewhat awkward, but he was not as fragile as he appeared. In certain matters, Ye Lang was far more persistent and shameless than Jiang Dan. Undeterred by Jiang Ruan's cold reception, he pressed on, "Though things have reached this point, all is not lost. If there is anyone in the palace who can protect the County Princess now, it is Eighth Brother. With his shelter, resolving this matter perfectly would not be difficult."
(End of Chapter)
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