Lost in thought, Jiang Ruan was brought back to reality when Xiao Shao reached out and ruffled her hair. "Focus," he said.
Unaccustomed to such intimate gestures, Jiang Ruan turned her head away. "Tianzhu must have told you about this matter. I already have a plan—you don’t need to intervene."
"I know," Xiao Shao replied softly. "Just do as you see fit. I’ll be here."
His words were reassuring. Jiang Ruan lowered her head. "Thank you."
Xiao Shao said, "I’d be happier if you sought my help." Tianzhu was right—Jiang Ruan was used to solving everything on her own and rarely asked for assistance. Even when she did, it was always in the manner of a shrewd merchant, never accepting kindness without repayment. It was as if she had walled herself off from others, rejecting all goodwill and affection.
Xiao Shao gazed down at her. He couldn’t uncover Jiang Ruan’s secrets, nor would she willingly reveal them. But a heart locked away is difficult to reach. Now that Jiang Ruan was his, Xiao Shao didn’t want her to feel like she had to fight alone. At the very least, the Brocade Hero King Manor had the power to protect her. His person would be shielded by him alone.
"No need," Jiang Ruan refused, as expected. "The inner court is a woman’s battlefield. Just as my eldest brother is invincible on the battlefield, I have my own ways to remain undefeated in this palace."
Xiao Shao reached out and finally settled for patting her shoulder. "I’ve said it before—if you encounter trouble, I will help you."
...
The most senior coroner in the palace, Wu Ming, let out a deep sigh as he examined the body of the Princess of Great Peace. Removing the cloth covering his hands, he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Reporting to Your Excellency, Princess Heyi died from a stab wound to the abdomen, resulting in excessive blood loss. The time of death matches what the Fourth Prince stated."
The Minister of Justice, Lord Luo, lowered his eyes in thought before instructing his subordinates, "Record the coroner’s findings in the case file. The rest of you, follow me to the scene once more."
The Emperor had issued a strict order—the trial would begin in three days. But this was no ordinary case. The death of the Princess of Great Peace might seem like a simple royal murder, but it involved multiple factions behind the scenes. One misstep in the verdict could upset the balance of power in the court, bringing endless disaster upon him.
Moreover, in this case, one side consisted of the Emperor, Consort Shu, and the Fourth Prince, while the other included Empress Dowager Yide, Zhao Guang, and Xiao Shao—none of whom he could afford to offend. The thought of being caught in the middle made Lord Luo sigh heavily, his mind weighed down with worries.
Meanwhile, at the Eighth Prince’s residence, Ye Li idly swirled the fine wine in his pristine porcelain cup and smiled. "How did things go?"
The subordinate below hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, everything has been taken care of. The coroner has examined the body, and there are no issues."
Ye Li had spent years maneuvering within the palace and was not without his own capabilities. He had planted his people in every corner. Tampering with Princess Heyi’s corpse was not only possible but effortless for him. A simple sleight of hand to deceive the coroner would ensure his words were believed. With the coroner’s examination serving as evidence and Ye Lang as a witness, securing a conviction wouldn’t be difficult.The hardest thing to endure in this world is unfulfilled desire. For the position he coveted but could not obtain, he would one day seize it. As for the woman he desired but could not have—she was merely a woman. If he couldn't have her, he would discard and destroy her. A true man knows no mercy. Since Xiao Shao dared to contend with him, he might as well ruin Jiang Ruan.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, a faint trace of unease flickered through Ye Li's heart—so subtle he nearly overlooked it. He steadied himself, forcing the strange sensation aside, and slowly tightened his grip on the wine cup, taking a shallow sip.
"My deepest apologies, Princess."
Three days later.
The sun shone brilliantly that day, a rare fine weather even in late autumn. The lazy sunlight spilled over the still-blooming, voluptuous petals of large chrysanthemums, making their vibrant colors appear even more dazzling. In Shufang Palace, a stunning woman clad in resplendent robes sat loftily, her once exotic charm now entirely replaced by naked hostility.
A palace maid handed her tea. "Your Highness, after your tea, it will be time to attend the imperial trial."
Shu Fei accepted the cup and took a slow sip. She had dressed meticulously today, her beauty as striking as a painting, matched only by her aggressive demeanor. The deep red of her robes amplified her imposing presence. The death of Princess Heyi had dealt her a devastating blow.
Over the years, Shu Fei had borne no sons besides Princess Heyi, and thus had long abandoned any ambitions for the throne, relying solely on the Emperor's favor. Though the Emperor had never doted on her as much as Noble Consort Chen, the fact that she had borne a daughter—Princess Heyi, who posed no threat to the throne—meant the Emperor harbored no wariness toward her.
Princess Heyi might have been domineering, but she was still flesh of Shu Fei's flesh, raised in luxury all these years. Yet for some reason, she had met a gruesome end. Shu Fei, inherently proud and impulsive, had nearly torn Jiang Ruan apart upon hearing Ye Lang's confirmation that Jiang Ruan was the murderer. But Jiang Ruan had already been imprisoned by the Ministry of Justice, leaving Shu Fei no opportunity to act.
Yet there had never been anyone Shu Fei couldn't outmaneuver. Through cunning and beauty, she had secured her place among the four consorts—no pushover by any means. Even Noble Consort Chen, her lifelong rival, was now at a disadvantage. What was Jiang Ruan? Merely the daughter of a minor official. Killing Princess Heyi was a crime she could never atone for. Having calmed down, Shu Fei was in no hurry.
The case had far-reaching implications. After weeping and pleading before the Emperor, he had promised to seek justice for Princess Heyi. After so many years as husband and wife, Shu Fei could read the Emperor's moods well enough to discern his growing displeasure toward Jiang Ruan. Moreover, with both witnesses and evidence in place, Shu Fei didn’t even need to lift a finger to ensure Jiang Ruan met a ruinous end.Precisely because this case involved members of the imperial clan, and even Empress Dowager Yide had intervened, the Emperor agreed to personally preside over the trial. Since the founding of the dynasty, such imperial trials had occurred only once or twice, and those were all related to major court affairs involving founding elders. For a royal dispute like this to be brought before the Emperor was unprecedented. Consort Shu knew that aside from Zhao Guang’s family and Empress Dowager Yide, even Jinying Wang Xiao Shao, the Crown Prince’s tutor Liu Min, and the young master of the Commander-in-Chief’s residence, Gu Yi, had pleaded for Jiang Ruan. Every time she thought of this, Consort Shu gnashed her teeth in hatred.
Back when Princess Heyi was in the palace, she had befriended a group of young noblemen and ladies due to the Emperor’s favor. Yet now that Princess Heyi had died tragically, not a single one of them spoke up for her—even those who had once been close to her had all turned into cowards. Admittedly, some might have been warned off, but it was clear that Princess Heyi’s so-called friends were nothing more than fair-weather companions. In contrast, Jiang Ruan was merely the daughter of an official, not even a true member of the imperial family, yet so many rushed to protect her. Truly, even at such a young age, she was already a seductress!
"Is Jinying Wang also present?" Consort Shu set down her teacup, her tone venomous. In truth, this entire matter had been sparked by that man.
"Your Highness, Jinying Wang has already gone ahead," the palace maid replied.
Consort Shu slowly clenched her fists. She didn’t know exactly how Princess Heyi had died, but she knew everything had started because of Xiao Shao. Since Princess Heyi had lost her life over him, then Jiang Ruan, as the woman he loved, must pay with her life no matter what. What did it matter if he held great power in court? Under the watchful eyes of all, could Xiao Shao really defy an imperial decree? Just imagining Xiao Shao’s furious gaze and Jiang Ruan’s despairing expression as she met her tragic end filled Consort Shu with a deep, perverse satisfaction.
...
Jiang Dan had entered the palace with the newly selected palace ladies and now resided in the courtyard where all the candidates stayed. The courtyard was filled with a lively group of sixteen-year-old girls, each as lovely as a flower, their laughter and chatter creating a vibrant atmosphere. Some were daughters of influential families, others were legitimate daughters of modest households—all sent to the palace in hopes that one day they might rise to prominence and bring glory to their families. Such ambitions were nothing new. Yet these young girls, still unaware of the palace’s dangers, carried an innocent exuberance that was almost dazzling.
Jiang Dan sat quietly in the front room, watching the excited girls chatter away. She maintained a lively yet slightly shy smile—an expression least likely to arouse suspicion. Even though she rarely interjected, the girls quickly accepted her as one of their own.
One of them, the daughter of a vice-minister, suddenly said, "Ah, sisters, have you heard? Today is the day of the public trial for the case of the Princess of Great Peace, the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, who murdered Princess Heyi."
"Oh, that’s right! Now that you mention it, it is today," another girl chimed in. "What a pity we’re stuck here and can’t go see what’s happening."Hearing the regret in her tone, the young women, naturally curious at their age and intrigued by such matters, couldn't help but feel disappointed, their enthusiasm dampened.
Jiang Dan watched the scene before her with a faint smile, her expression unchanged, as if she hadn't heard the news at all.
"It's just a murder case, nothing worth seeing," said one girl whose father worked in the Ministry of Justice and likely knew a thing or two. She nodded and added, "I heard from my father that Princess Heyi's case is practically closed. The coroner has examined the body, and with a witness like the Fourth Prince, there's no room for appeal. Even if the Princess of Great Peace enjoys Empress Dowager Yide's favor, so what? Harming a royal descendant is a capital offense—no one can save her."
"The Princess of Great Peace is truly audacious. Who would have thought she'd dare to kill?" someone remarked, then turned to Jiang Dan. "Wait, isn't she your elder sister? What do you think really happened?"
Jiang Dan seemed momentarily taken aback before shaking her head. "I... I don't know much about it. I'm just a concubine's daughter—how would I have any say in such matters?"
"Was she always this violent in the household?" another asked curiously. "Did she ever hit or scold you?"
Jiang Dan shook her head again, though a flicker of fear flashed in her eyes. "No, Da Jiejie has never laid a hand on me."
The more she denied it, the more her evasive gaze seemed suspicious. The others, seeing her timid demeanor, almost shuddered at the mere mention of Jiang Ruan's name, drawing their own conclusions. Soon, the chatter was filled with nothing but criticism of Jiang Ruan. As women, they harbored some envy—over the years, Jiang Ruan's striking beauty and extraordinary luck, from Empress Dowager Yide's protection to having a war hero for a brother, had already stirred jealousy. Now that she was in trouble, those who had long resented her were quick to kick her while she was down.
In an inconspicuous corner of the room sat another girl, quietly observing. She was delicate and pretty, but her expression was indifferent, even disdainful. As she listened to the gossip about Jiang Ruan, a look of disgust crossed her face. This was none other than Dong Yinger.
In the end, she had entered the palace. Now, Dong Yinger found that what she had once vehemently opposed didn't seem so difficult after all. With so many beauties in the palace, it would take sheer luck for the Emperor to remember her, let alone favor her. If the Emperor never noticed her, living out her days peacefully in the palace might not be such a bad fate.
Dong Yinger had heard about Jiang Ruan allegedly killing Princess Heyi from her father earlier. She didn't believe it—not because of anything else, but because she felt that even if Jiang Ruan wanted to kill someone, she wouldn't be foolish enough to do it in front of the Fourth Prince. The magistrate was a smart man, and Dong Yinger had caught wind of his analysis of the case's pros and cons, though it was beyond her reach to intervene.
Now, sitting here and listening to these women belittle Jiang Ruan while Jiang Dan hypocritically slandered her, Dong Yinger felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach. In the past, given her friendship with Jiang Ruan and her usual temperament, she would have stepped forward to defend her. But now, she merely sat aside, coldly watching the spectacle unfold without joining in.What came to mind was the time when she was about to be sent into the palace. She had tearfully pleaded with Jiang Ruan, only for Jiang Ruan to coldly reply, "What does it have to do with me?"
The affairs of this world are ever-changing and unpredictable. For some reason, Dong Yinger felt a faint sense of satisfaction in her heart. Just like now, with Jiang Ruan imprisoned and falsely accused of murdering the Princess of Great Peace—doomed to calamity as the palace maids whispered—what did it have to do with her?
...
Yet, no matter how the palace affairs unfolded, the trial in the grand hall had to proceed.
The Emperor, clad in bright yellow dragon robes, sat high above, surveying the assembled civil and military officials with an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger.
This imperial trial before the Emperor was less about demonstrating fairness to the officials and more about making an example to warn others. In recent days, certain factions in the court had grown restless, their ambitions barely concealed—all of which the Emperor had noted. It was time to rein them in. For those fence-sitters still hesitating, the Emperor would use this trial to crush their arrogance and show the world who truly ruled this land!
Eunuch Li sat quietly to the side, eyes downcast as he flicked his horsetail whisk. The Chief Justice, Luo, stood nearby, having already ordered the accused to be brought in. Then, a voice boomed from outside: "The accused has arrived—"
Jiang Ruan entered, dressed in a plain white prisoner's robe, escorted by soldiers. Whether someone had given orders or because she offered no resistance and remained composed, the soldiers did not restrain her but merely flanked her. Yet, as she walked step by step toward the golden hall, her movements carried an inexplicable grace, as if treading on lotus flowers. Her serene smile and calm demeanor made it seem as though she were not facing a life-or-death imperial trial but rather strolling leisurely with two attendants in tow.
Shu Fei, seated to the side, observed this scene. Her eyes flickered briefly, a trace of resentment flashing through them as she slowly clenched the handkerchief hidden in her sleeve.
(End of Chapter)
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