Jiang Xin Zhi smiled slightly, thinking she was afraid, and reassured her, "Don't be afraid. Once we cross the Liao River, we'll be safe. Since Xiao Shao sent people to meet us, he must have made thorough preparations."
Jin'er thought for a moment and suddenly laughed. "Prince Xiao's move was truly ruthless. While rescuing you, he also set fire to their granary—there's no saving that now. This is what they call 'paying someone back in their own coin.' If I were from the Eastern Barbarian Country, I'd probably be furious to death right now."
Jiang Xin Zhi didn't understand her mention of "paying someone back in their own coin." Having been confined to his tent, his information was limited. But hearing Jin'er's words, he could roughly guess what had happened. Recalling her earlier performance, he smiled and said, "Your martial arts are quite good, and you're very brave."
In truth, Jin'er's martial arts were far from "quite good." At best, it was clear she had some training—likely because the household pitied her as a delicate girl and didn't push her too hard. Her skills were rudimentary, just enough for self-defense. What was truly admirable was her ruthless decisiveness in combat. Facing the alerted guards who tried to block their path, she showed no fear and struck without hesitation, more like a warrior born of a military family.
Hearing this, Jin'er turned her head and grinned. "Of course, I—" She seemed to catch herself mid-sentence and abruptly stopped. Glancing uneasily at Jiang Xin Zhi, she noticed him staring at her in surprise as he reached out to touch her face. She froze nervously, only to see him peel off a patch of something leathery from her cheek. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Fake?"
The "scar" from the burn was now pinched between Jiang Xin Zhi's fingers. Jin'er exhaled in relief and laughed again. "Naturally, it's fake. Without some disguise, it wouldn't do. Earlier, you didn't recognize me—but now, do you?" Her laughter was bright and candid as she deliberately leaned closer, letting him get a better look.
In the glow of the small torch she held, her skin was clean and fair, free of the scars. Without the blemish, she was indeed a lovely young woman—her features delicate yet carrying a spirited boldness, her every movement open and direct. Jiang Xin Zhi felt a faint stir in his heart and turned his head away, saying, "Back then, you were just a little girl." Now, she had grown into a youthful maiden. He felt an inexplicable joy. Earlier, seeing the scar on her face, he had worried she had suffered some misfortune over the years and didn’t want to pry into painful memories. Discovering it was just a fake scar, he sighed in relief while privately amused at his own concern. Since when had he started paying attention to such trivial matters?
As they moved, the two soon reached the Liao River, where a small bamboo bridge spanned the raging currents below. The waves churned violently, as if a single misstep could swallow them whole. Jiang Xin Zhi and Jin'er dismounted, shooing the horses away before stepping onto the bridge. Once they reached the opposite bank, they indeed found their escorts waiting. Without a word, the leader signaled his companions to draw their blades and sever the bridge's ropes on their side. With a thunderous crash, the bridge collapsed, cutting off any immediate pursuit from the Eastern Barbarian Country. The group swiftly mounted the horses prepared for them and vanished into the night.
...In the grand military camp of the Celestial Jin Kingdom, a man sat in the commander's seat dressed in dark green armor, his demeanor as refined as jade. A guard entered the tent and reported, "Master, Deputy General Jiang and Miss Zhao are safe and will arrive shortly. We’ve also burned down the Eastern Barbarian Country’s grain depot—they shouldn’t be able to cause any trouble for now."
Xiao Shao responded with a faint acknowledgment. Sitting nearby, Guan Lianghan couldn’t hold back any longer and exclaimed, "Third Brother, your men are truly extraordinary! To silently set fire to an enemy camp like that—my men could never pull it off so flawlessly. Only your Brocade-clad Guards could achieve such a feat. Damn, that’s satisfying!"
Clad in a white outer robe, the faint outline of bandages could be seen beneath. Though his wounds had yet to fully heal, he couldn’t resist witnessing how this battle would unfold. Guan Lianghan and Jiang Xin Zhi had previously fallen into an ambush due to Eastern Barbarian spies hidden among their ranks, leaving Guan Lianghan seething with hatred. "Those Eastern Barbarians are nothing but trouble! While we’re fighting the Celestial Jin bastards, they had to stick their noses in—and not even honorably, just sneaky tricks. What kind of skill is that?"
"All’s fair in war," Xiao Shao replied calmly, though a slight frown creased his brow. He understood the deeper reasons behind the Eastern Barbarians' interference, but such matters couldn’t be spoken of openly, and Guan Lianghan remained unaware. The Eastern Barbarians' ambitions were clear, and now was the time to lure them out. His relentless suppression of them wasn’t as far-sighted as Guan Lianghan imagined.
Xiao Shao recalled the message delivered by carrier pigeon from the capital—Xia Jun and Jiang Chao had conspired to burn the military pay destined for the border, only for Jiang Ruan to turn the tables on them. Ye Li had suffered a double loss, while Xia Jun and Jiang Chao reaped what they sowed. Qi Feng’s letter had inadvertently revealed admiration for Jiang Ruan, and Xiao Shao couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. But since Ye Li was also colluding with the Eastern Barbarians, and they had schemed against the Brocade-clad Guards in the capital—only for Jiang Ruan to thwart them—the Brocade Hero King Manor had never been one to swallow grievances. Retribution was inevitable.
So without hesitation, he had ordered the Eastern Barbarians' grain depot burned to the ground. The Eastern Barbarians and Celestial Jin must have struck some agreement, and with their military pay now in ashes, the Eastern Barbarians would have no choice but to turn to Celestial Jin for aid. But Celestial Jin was already struggling to survive, a small territory with scarce resources—how could they possibly provide such supplies? Without provisions, the Eastern Barbarians wouldn’t stay stationed here, unwilling to die for nothing. If their alliance with Celestial Jin fractured, dividing and conquering them would become swift and effortless.
As for Zhao Jin, she had volunteered before a suitable candidate could be found, and since she seemed fitting for the task, he had tacitly approved. Now that Jiang Xin Zhi had been safely rescued, there were no more concerns holding them back—it was time to act decisively.Guan Lianghan said, "Now that Old Jiang is back and the Eastern Barbarian Country has been severely weakened, we can focus solely on the Celestial Jin Kingdom. Damn it, I've long been fed up with those bastards from Celestial Jin. Third Brother, with you here, I feel much more at ease. If we don't teach the Celestial Jin Kingdom a lesson this time, we don't deserve to call ourselves fellow disciples from Mount Canaan!"
His words carried a hint of provocation, though Guan Lianghan himself knew it was unnecessary. Xiao Shao's nature was straightforward—so straightforward that his battle tactics required little finesse. With such an invincible army and their master's decisive, ruthless commands, the pent-up frustration from earlier constraints due to Jiang Xinzhi's imprisonment would now find an outlet, unleashing itself without mercy.
The battlefield would soon turn into a slaughterhouse.
On the pristine white woolen rug, the woman's opulent gown trailed behind her, leaving a trail of dazzling red. A crimson veil concealed her face, revealing only a pair of sparkling eyes—eyes of unparalleled beauty, clear and mesmerizing at first glance, exuding an innocent allure that could draw one into an unfathomable abyss with just a single look.
A man in gray stood below her, his voice tinged with barely perceptible tension: "Your Highness, Jiang Xinzhi has escaped. There were people waiting to assist him at the Liao River, and we couldn't catch up."
Silence. After a long pause, a languid female voice finally broke the stillness: "Is that so? You can't even handle such a small matter, Yuan Chuan. You're regressing."
"You are right to reprimand me, Your Highness," Yuan Chuan bowed his head and said. "But although Jiang Xinzhi got away, we haven't come back empty-handed. News from the capital says Ye Li failed in the grain and provisions matter. Their spies haven't uncovered anything yet, but our people have already found a lead. The ones who acted are hiding in the Brocade Hero King Manor."
The words "Brocade Hero King Manor" clearly piqued the seated woman's interest. She tilted her head slightly, her voice laced with faint amusement: "Oh? And who might that be?"
"Before Jinying Wang left, he brought his two fellow disciples, Qi Si and Xia Wu, back to the capital. Both now live near the Brocade Hero King Manor. But Jinying Wang summoned them to protect the Princess of Brocade Glory—the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Xinzhi's younger sister, now the Princess of Great Peace. The way the grain and provisions matter was handled differs from Qi Si's usual style. According to our informants, if we're not mistaken, it was likely the work of the Princess of Brocade Glory herself."
The woman on the throne remained silent, but the air grew thick with tension. The maidservants around her all lowered their heads. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as the incense slowly burned halfway down. Yuan Chuan maintained his deferential posture, motionless, until a cold laugh finally drifted down from above: "The Princess of Brocade Glory? What kind of creature is that?"Yuan Chuan cautiously glanced at the woman seated above him. Her bright eyes instantly darkened as a familiar emotion flashed across them. The woman slowly stood up—she wasn't particularly tall, rather petite in fact. The striking red dress she wore perfectly outlined her graceful figure, and every movement carried an alluring charm. Yet this allure wasn't the coquettishness of a brothel courtesan, but one tinged with an air of innocence. As if she had been born this way—like a beautiful enchantress who naturally knew how to beguile.
"He burned our military provisions. The soldiers of the Eastern Barbarian Country can no longer participate in this war," she said word by word, her voice as languid as ever, yet her words were resolute.
"Indeed. News has already come from the Celestial Jin Kingdom—they cannot provide much military pay and hope we can find our own solution," Yuan Chuan replied. "What does Your Highness intend to do?"
With the provisions burned, the soldiers could no longer remain here. The Celestial Jin Kingdom was already struggling with its own troubles and had little trust in the Eastern Barbarian Country to begin with. Naturally, they wouldn't spare extra military funds. How could a meager sum solve such an urgent crisis? If the Eastern Barbarian Country continued to help the Celestial Jin Kingdom against the Da Jin Dynasty, it would only be a thankless task.
"Those who betray trust are unworthy of being my allies," the woman said coldly. "The Celestial Jin Kingdom is about to fall. They know it themselves—that's why they're acting this way. Yuan Chuan, return and issue the order: the alliance is dissolved. Have the soldiers return to the Eastern Barbarian Country at once."
Yuan Chuan was stunned. Hesitantly, he asked, "Your Highness, just like that? What about the Da Jin Dynasty... Are you giving up?" He understood better than anyone why they had allied with the Celestial Jin Kingdom in the first place. Hearing her decision now, he found it utterly unbelievable.
"Yuan Chuan, when have I ever given up?" The woman sighed, but her gaze turned peculiar. "This setback ultimately stems from a mishap in the Da Jin capital. That Jiang family's legitimate daughter you mentioned has truly displeased me. You've held the Da Jin Dynasty's God of War captive for so long, interrogating him day after day—have you uncovered anything?"
Yuan Chuan lowered his head in shame. "This subordinate is incompetent. I failed to extract the truth from Jiang Xin Zhi."
"Wrong," the princess countered, shaking her head. "He already told you—you just didn't realize it."
"Your Highness, this subordinate is dull-witted. Please enlighten me." He looked at her in confusion, only to hear her languid, melodious voice continue, "You interrogated him daily, yet he refused to speak, not even leaving the slightest clue. From what I know, Jiang Xin Zhi is not such a cautious man when leading troops in battle. For him to be so guarded, the person he's protecting must be extremely important. The rumors I've heard say Jiang Xin Zhi shares an exceptionally close bond with this Jiang family's legitimate daughter. When he first returned to the Da Jin capital, it was Jiang Ruan who rescued him from an ambush. Ever since these siblings reunited, Jiang Xin Zhi's official career has soared smoothly. Do you think that's a coincidence?"
Yuan Chuan was startled, countless realizations flashing through his mind in an instant. He looked at the woman and asked, "Your Highness suspects...? But she's just an ordinary woman. How could she know so much about future events?" The world had many extraordinary talents, but a sheltered young lady—that was far too difficult to believe."As a citizen of the Eastern Barbarian Country and a practitioner of the mystic arts yourself, what is impossible?" The voice beneath the princess's veil was melodious and enchanting, yet upon closer listening, it carried a faint undercurrent of lethal intent. "You overlooked these things because you never took her seriously, believing she was no match for you. But from the very beginning, I never intended to let her live."
Yuan Chuan lowered his head. "Your Highness is wise."
"He actually summoned his fellow disciples back to the capital to protect her. I initially thought her intelligence might make her useful to me, but now she’s nothing more than an eyesore. The Jiang family’s eldest daughter—not only did she silently dismantle our spies in the capital, but she even defeated that useless Ye Li. Truly eye-opening. I heard Xiao Shao has conquered Tianjin and will marry her upon his triumphant return?" She suddenly chuckled softly. "How laughable!"
She never raised her voice, maintaining the same languid, gentle tone as before, even lacing it with a sweet, coquettish charm. Yet Yuan Chuan felt a chill run down his spine. Having served the princess for so many years, he knew all too well what she intended. The more composed she seemed, the deeper her hatred and the more ruthless her actions. Finally, he couldn’t help but ask, "Your Highness, shall we move against her?"
The woman glanced at him. "Someone will be more desperate than us. Find a way to leak information to Ye Li—tell him the burning of the granaries was the Jiang family’s eldest daughter’s idea. For now, I cannot leave, but it’s time to set things in motion in Jin. Yuan Chuan, when Jinying Wang’s army returns victorious, infiltrate their ranks and follow them back to the capital."
"Your Highness...?" Yuan Chuan hesitated. "We’re acting so soon?"
"The Jin faction grows weaker by the day. Among those I trust, only you remain." She gazed at Yuan Chuan with a radiant smile, her beautiful eyes glimmering like precious gems, as if she were a maiden looking upon her beloved. "Yuan Chuan, beyond the tasks I’ve assigned, you have one more mission. Ye Li is utterly incompetent. If he fails to kill the Jiang family’s eldest daughter, do it for me. I don’t wish to see her live much longer." Slowly, she enunciated each word: "A grand wedding upon his triumphant return? I’d like to see what it looks like to marry a corpse."
Yuan Chuan shuddered inwardly but bowed in assent before turning to leave the tent.
Time seemed to pass swiftly. No further ill tidings came from the border. Deputy General Jiang, it was said, had been rescued by Jinying Wang, his body covered in wounds, yet he gritted his teeth and refused to surrender. Such unyielding resolve greatly pleased the Emperor, dispelling earlier rumors. The courtiers who had been wavering now began scheming anew, wondering if their daughters might secure a marriage alliance with the Jiang family.
The Jiang family was an odd case. Once a respected scholarly clan, they had fallen into inexplicable misfortune in recent years—first the scandal of the wife cuckolding Lord Jiang, then the disgrace of the once-fairy-like Second Miss Jiang, followed by the Second Young Master Jiang conspiring with the Xia family to burn the granaries. Seeing the family’s decline, the Emperor deemed Lord Jiang’s political career all but over, and the Jiangs teetered on the brink of ruin.To say the Jiang family had declined would be inaccurate, for they had produced the Princess of Great Peace, deeply favored by Empress Dowager Yide, while the eldest young master Jiang was the Da Jin Dynasty's war god with an immeasurable future. Even a mere concubine-born fourth young lady had now climbed to the rank of third-grade Consort Jiang. From this perspective, Lord Jiang's life was far from difficult. Gossipers had learned that Lord Jiang had originally doted only on Jiang Chao and his sister, born of Xia Yan, while neglecting Jiang Xin Zhi and his sister, children of his deceased principal wife. Jiang Dan had been treated even worse. Yet fate had turned the tables—the once least favored siblings were now living the best lives, bringing glory to the Jiang family, a situation that truly evoked sighs of irony.
Winter had passed, and spring was about to arrive, yet the weather remained as cold as ever, with snowflakes drifting down from the sky. Jiang Ruan stood in the courtyard, watching the snowflakes melt as soon as they touched the ground. Her light red dress blazed like fire against the snowy backdrop, radiant and dazzling.
Qi Feng stood beside her and suddenly said, "Third Brother will be back soon."
The war between the Celestial Jin Kingdom and the Da Jin Dynasty was finally coming to an end this spring. The Celestial Jin Kingdom had provoked the Da Jin Dynasty's wrath and was now retreating in defeat. The Brocade-clad Guards, led by Xiao Shao, had fought with ruthless brutality, nearly pushing into the enemy's cities. The Celestial Jin Kingdom was now at its last gasp, and its surrender to the Da Jin Dynasty was only a matter of time. With no strength left for resistance, once the war ended, Xiao Shao would undoubtedly rush back without delay.
Jiang Ruan gave a slight nod. Qi Feng continued, "Once Third Brother returns, the two of you will wed." As he spoke, a trace of bitterness crept into his voice. He turned his head, taking in the sight of the young woman before him in her light red attire, as if all brilliance in the world had been cast upon her. Her features were as bright and enchanting as a flower, appearing as fiery as a blaze—yet only upon drawing near would one realize she was but a block of ice. Over these days, he had stayed by her side, watching her strategize and foresee events with an air of indifference, as if nothing in the world truly mattered to her. Occasionally, he wondered if anything could ever capture her attention. Now, as he mentioned Xiao Shao's impending return and observed Jiang Ruan's thoughtful expression, Qi Feng understood immediately.
Masking the emotions in his eyes, he teased, "Third Sister-in-law, on that day, I reckon all the brothers from Mount Canaan will return to toast your happiness."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Her attitude was always like this—polite yet distant. Qi Feng averted his gaze and found an excuse to leave, leaving Jiang Ruan alone in the courtyard. Winter had passed, and spring arrived, bringing with it another year of many events. News had come from Xiao Shao at the border—Zhao Jin had unexpectedly gone there, rescuing Jiang Xin Zhi in the process. This had taken Jiang Ruan by surprise. Zhao Jin, hailing from a military family, carried herself with the boldness of a man. When Jiang Ruan informed Zhao Jin's mother of this, the lady was relieved, and Zhao Jin's two elder brothers proved reasonable, raising no objections. However, Lin Zixiang, upon learning of this, had stormed into the Brocade Hero King Manor to reprimand Jiang Ruan, blaming her for Jiang Xin Zhi "casually stealing Zhao Jin away," which she found utterly outrageous. This left Jiang Ruan somewhat exasperated.Speaking of Lin Zixiang, she now frequents the Brocade Hero King Manor quite often, though not to visit Jiang Ruan. Her intentions lie elsewhere—she had initially developed some feud with Xia Qing over unknown reasons, but after the misunderstanding was cleared, the two somehow began getting along splendidly. Xia Qing seems quite fond of Lin Zixiang, but both are so straightforward in temperament that recognizing their own feelings appears to be an uphill battle.
Lianqiao and Ye Feng have also grown closer recently, with Lianqiao occasionally sending him pastries. After all, Ye Feng was once Xiao Shao's right-hand man—a man of considerable status elsewhere—yet he now finds excuses daily to exchange a few words with Lianqiao, disregarding his position. Even a fool could tell what that means.
Compared to Lianqiao and Ye Feng's gentle interactions, Luzhu and Jin Er are constantly bickering and squabbling. The moment they meet, arguments erupt, though discerning eyes can easily see the truth behind it. Unfortunately, one plays the rogue all day while the other remains carefree and blunt, making it uncertain when these two will finally come to an understanding.
Jiang Quan now refused to even visit the Brocade Hero King Manor. Ever since Jiang Chao's incident, when Jiang Quan had ordered Jiang Ruan to find a way to rescue Jiang Chao, she had ignored him. After Jiang Chao's death, Jiang Quan seemed to have aged ten years overnight, and when he looked at Jiang Ruan again, it was as if she were a complete stranger. Jiang Ruan understood his thoughts clearly—he harbored resentment toward her. Now, Jiang Quan had taken in several concubines, seemingly trying to secure an heir for the Jiang family—he had never acknowledged Jiang Xin Zhi as his son. Jiang Ruan sometimes found it strange. From the perspective of her past life, Jiang Quan was a man obsessed with power, willing to climb to the top by any means. Now, both she and Jiang Xin Zhi could elevate the Jiang family to greater heights, yet Jiang Quan had never once considered currying favor with them, instead continuing to hate them as always. Perhaps some people were simply born as adversaries, their hatred innate. No matter what Jiang Ruan and Jiang Xin Zhi did, as long as they were Zhao Mei's children, Jiang Quan could never like them. His paternal side was reserved solely for Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao.
Since the grain and provisions incident, Ye Li had remained eerily silent, with no further movements. Clearly, the downfall of the Xia Family had dealt him a heavy blow. Over the past year, he had vanished from the scene, behaving as a dutiful and obedient prince in court, not making any moves even in secret. Most of his former influence had been destroyed, and with the Xia Family gone, he could hardly find a suitable replacement. Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince, Ye Hua, had grown increasingly steady in his actions, and even the Thirteenth Prince, Ye Pei, had gained the Emperor's favor, along with Empress Dowager Yide's affection. The Crown Prince, too, seemed to have grown wiser, no longer as reckless as before. With so many rivals emerging at once, Ye Li must have been deeply unsettled. However, this did not mean he intended to give up. On the contrary, Jiang Ruan knew him all too well—Ye Li was merely biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity. He excelled at concealing his ambitions, but once the chance arose, he would strike without hesitation.
(End of Chapter)
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