Jiang Ruan sat down in front of him, thought for a moment, then noticed the teapot on the table and poured herself a cup of tea.
Xiao Shao watched her silently, the atmosphere growing somewhat peculiar. It was Jiang Ruan who finally broke the silence, saying, "Thank you for last night."
Such polite words only darkened Xiao Shao's gaze, his tone turning slightly cold. "Between us, there's no need for such formalities."
He seemed odd. Jiang Ruan noticed his unusual demeanor and asked curiously, "Has something happened?"
Xiao Shao turned his head away, pausing before speaking. "I've returned to the capital, and the wedding preparations should begin. Today, I must enter the palace to inform His Majesty. Have you made up your mind?"
Jiang Ruan was taken aback, not expecting him to bring this up. She smiled faintly. "I have. Just tell me when."
Her straightforwardness, without the slightest hesitation, eased Xiao Shao's expression slightly. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he said, "Jin Er told me about last night. Thank you for guarding the Brocade Hero King Manor in my stead. But you needn’t do so in the future." His gaze turned icy. "The most important thing in this manor isn’t honor or secrets—it’s you."
Jiang Ruan was momentarily stunned, a strange feeling stirring in her heart. She chuckled. "Since I’m the mistress here, it’s only natural I take on some responsibilities. Actually—"
"You are my woman," Xiao Shao interrupted her. "You don’t have to do anything."
Jiang Ruan blinked, sensing an inexplicable emotion in his words. Puzzled, she looked up at him. The man was staring straight at her, his deep, ink-black eyes holding an unfathomable intensity.
Xiao Shao appeared cold and indifferent on the surface, but in truth, he was domineering and possessive. His words just now carried an unmistakable claim over her. Jiang Ruan shook her head inwardly—Xiao Shao had always been reserved, not one to wear his emotions so openly. Something must be troubling him. After a pause, she replied, "You’re right." She changed the subject. "Now that you’ve returned victorious, His Majesty must be racking his brains over what rewards to bestow upon you."
Xiao Shao already held immense power and prestige. Among the officials of the Da Jin Dynasty, he practically walked unchallenged. The saying "merits overshadowing the ruler" didn’t apply to him—years ago, the Emperor had already exhausted all possible rewards short of the throne itself. With each new achievement, gold and treasures were meaningless, and his rank had long reached the highest tier. There was simply nothing left to give.
A thought suddenly occurred to Jiang Ruan, and she smiled faintly. "After much consideration, it seems the only thing left is to bestow you with beauties."
Xiao Shao hadn’t expected her to bring this up. He glanced at her and replied coolly, "Unnecessary."
"His Majesty has always supported you," Jiang Ruan mused, gazing at her teacup. "Now that you’ve returned, the Empress Dowager’s Imperial Decree must be fulfilled. But the Jiang family is in decline—marrying me won’t bring you any advantages. His Majesty, who has your best interests at heart, would naturally oppose this. I once heard he intended to betroth the Cheng family’s daughter to you. With such great achievements now, a marriage alliance would be far more valuable than any riches."Jiang Ruan's words were not without basis. Since the news of the great victory at the border arrived, during her visits to the palace, Yang Gugu by Empress Dowager Yide's side had mentioned that the Emperor had begun frequently summoning Governor Cheng again. Jiang Ruan knew that Xiao Shao carried many secrets, just like her. She didn’t understand why the Emperor was so protective of Xiao Shao, but it was clear that the Emperor’s favor leaned toward him. The Emperor was very dissatisfied with her being the Princess of Brocade Glory, and if not for Xiao Shao’s sake, he would have long replaced her. Now that Xiao Shao had re-entered court affairs after many years and achieved such great merit, how could the Emperor let this opportunity pass? Since ancient times, emperors had always enjoyed arranging marriages for others.
She spoke candidly, seemingly without any negative emotions. Xiao Shao watched her quietly, saying nothing. His features were striking, perhaps honed by his time at the border, which had drawn out the innate coldness in him. Since his return, his demeanor had grown even colder, exuding an icy aura. Yet his brows and eyes were like a painting, his face handsome, and when a faint smile suddenly touched his lips, it carried a chilling, almost wicked charm.
His voice, devoid of emotion, drifted lightly to Jiang Ruan’s ears: “So, what do you think?”
Jiang Ruan’s grip on the hand warmer tightened. The young man before her, clad in dark brocade, pressed on with quiet insistence: “Do you wish for me to take another?”
In an instant, Jiang Ruan froze. Though she held the warm stove, she suddenly felt as though she had plunged into an icy abyss. Because she had heard those very words in her past life.
Back then, she had just entered the palace, resigned to a fate of withering away. Yet rumors spread through the court that the Prime Minister intended to marry his youngest daughter to the Eighth Prince, Ye Li, as his consort. Hearing this, she felt her already bleak life grow even darker and fell gravely ill. During her illness, Ye Li came to visit her. He leaned close to her ear and whispered softly, “What do you think? Do you wish for me to take another?”
Jiang Ruan hazily recalled how she had answered then. Trembling with sorrow, she had suppressed the pain in her heart and replied, “This is Your Highness’s matter. I have no right to interfere.”
And what had Ye Li said? Ye Li had gazed at her with tender warmth and said, “In this lifetime, the position of my principal consort is reserved for you alone. No one else can catch my eye, much less my heart. If you hear anything, it is merely a pretense, not to be taken seriously. My heart belongs only to you—don’t you understand?”
Such sincere and passionate words had finally dispelled the last of her unease in the depths of the palace. For his love, she had schemed step by step in the palace, willingly becoming his pawn—only to lose everything in the end. Now, hearing those words again, time seemed to reverse, dragging her back to that day in her past life when Ye Li had whispered sweet nothings to her. Truly, each word was drenched in blood and tears, each phrase a stab to the bone.Her unusual state did not escape Xiao Shao's notice, and it startled him. He had seen Jiang Ruan in all sorts of moods—gentle and demure, pretending to be obedient; radiant and alluring, striking with ruthless precision; disheveled yet stubbornly independent, gritting her teeth—but rarely had he seen her so unsettled. Now, sitting across from him with a hand warmer in her grasp, her eyes were distant and unfocused, filled with a mix of anguish and confusion that inexplicably tightened his chest. Without pausing to analyze why her emotions had shifted so abruptly, Xiao Shao immediately stood and pulled her up. The moment he took her hand, he realized her entire body was trembling faintly. Frowning, he instinctively drew her into his arms.
"I was only joking earlier," he said, a trace of tension in his voice. "I won’t take anyone else. The only woman in my heart in this lifetime is you."
The cold fabric of Xiao Shao’s robes pressed against her, and for a moment, Jiang Ruan was dazed. Her head rested against his chest as his arms encircled her shoulders, his hand gently patting her back in careful reassurance—almost as if soothing a child.
Stiffly, she reached out to return the embrace, her arms tightening around his waist little by little, the turmoil in her eyes gradually settling.
She had thought she had forgotten those things, believed she could perfectly conceal the hatred in her heart. But some matters in this world were not so easily let go of. Ye Li’s betrayal and cruelty in her past life had always been there—she had never forgotten, not even for a day.
Xiao Shao sensed the turbulence in Jiang Ruan’s emotions. He didn’t know which of his words had triggered such an extreme reaction, but he was certain it stemmed from what he had just said. After a pause, he murmured, "I told you before—you don’t need to do anything. You don’t have to worry about this matter either."
"I refuse," Jiang Ruan suddenly said.
Xiao Shao lowered his gaze to her. Though traces of her earlier distraction lingered in her expression, her eyes had regained their usual calm. Her hands were icy, but the arms around his waist tightened slightly as she smiled faintly. "I refuse to let you take another woman."
The girl’s smile was radiant, her beauty already striking, and with each encounter, she seemed to grow even more captivating. Now, all traces of childishness had faded, replaced by an alluring charm in every glance and gesture—a breathtaking allure that seemed ingrained in her very bones. Her tone was firm and composed: "Since you want me in your palace, then your palace—and you—belong only to me. All women in this world are jealous by nature, and I am no exception. If another woman comes to take what is mine, I will not hesitate to eliminate her. Even a pretense is unacceptable."
By the end, her voice carried an unmistakable edge of killing intent.
Truthfully, Jiang Ruan herself wasn’t entirely sure why she had spoken those words. After her rebirth, she had considered her marriage prospects—merely as a means to use her husband’s influence to achieve her goals. Since it was only a tool for revenge, she hadn’t cared about sincerity or deception. She had even been prepared to play the role of a virtuous wife, and if necessary, she would have willingly arranged concubines for her husband herself.Now, however, she voiced her thoughts aloud. Time seemed to overlap with her past life, and she couldn’t tell whether she was answering Xiao Shao’s question now or Ye Li’s from her previous life. Yet she knew clearly that at this moment, her words were spoken without hesitation—this was her true intention.
Xiao Shao stared at her, a ripple of emotion flickering in his dark eyes before vanishing swiftly. The next instant, he abruptly lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Jiang Ruan’s forehead.
He pressed her head against his chest, his tone softer than ever before: "I dislike feigned affection, so rest assured—there has only ever been you."
Jiang Ruan trembled slightly. He said he disliked feigned affection. He and Ye Li were truly different people. She sighed inwardly, unconsciously tightening her embrace around Xiao Shao. He wasn’t Ye Li—the two of them had never shared the slightest resemblance.
Xiao Shao held her close, masking the emotions in his eyes. Jiang Ruan had been acting strangely today, but he couldn’t pinpoint the reason. Before, he had assumed some secrets might be things she didn’t wish others to uncover, so he hadn’t deliberately pried. Now, however, it seemed that unless these secrets were unraveled, an invisible barrier would forever stand between them.
...
The news of Jinying Wang Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi’s early return to the capital spread throughout the city the next day, not for any trivial reason, but because of two imperial decrees. The first ordered Jinying Wang Xiao Shao and Princess of Great Peace Jiang Ruan to wed immediately, while the second promoted Jiang Xin Zhi to General of Luxi, a second-rank military position, granting him command over the 100,000 troops previously under General Wu’s authority.
For a young rising star in the court, especially one from a civil official background, this was an extraordinary honor. With this position as his foundation, Jiang Xin Zhi’s future prospects were bound to be splendid and boundless. In truth, the Brocade-clad Guards led by Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi had indeed fought a brilliant battle together. Guan Lianghan and the envoys from the Celestial Jin Kingdom were still on their way back. Once the envoys arrived in the capital, they would submit their surrender, agreeing to pay annual tribute, cede five cities, and henceforth bow in submission to the Da Jin Dynasty.
The Emperor was quite pleased with this outcome. That day, Xiao Shao had spent a full half-hour speaking with the Emperor in the imperial study. No one knew what was said, but after Xiao Shao left, the eunuch who entered to clean found the floor littered with shattered teacups—clearly, the Emperor had been furious. Yet, for some reason, the very next day, the decree ordering Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan’s immediate marriage was issued. Many speculated that Xiao Shao’s conversation with the Emperor was related to this matter, and they couldn’t help but envy Jiang Ruan once more.
The wedding was set for a month later, by which time Guan Lianghan would also have returned to the capital, coinciding with the New Year—truly a double celebration. This heaven-sent match had been arranged long ago; now, it was merely a matter of formalizing the union. Nevertheless, it stirred quite a commotion in the palace, with discussions about it echoing everywhere.
In the Imperial Garden, Jiang Zhaoyi and several other palace ladies sat around a small table discussing the matter. Jiang Dan casually peeled a tangerine, her fair hands adorned with painted nails contrasting vividly against the plump fruit. She smiled faintly and said, "Da Jiejie is truly fortunate."
Wang Meiren—now to be addressed as Wang Zhaorong—replied gently, "The Princess of Great Peace has always been wise and dignified, a perfect match for Jinying Wang. With the Empress Dowager’s blessing upon their union from the start, it’s nothing short of perfection."Jiang Dan smiled, casting a glance at Wang Lian'er before her gaze swept past Mu Xirou nearby. Over the past year, the Emperor had, for some unknown reason, elevated her while also raising Wang Lian'er and Mu Xirou, perhaps intending for the three of them to keep each other in check. Wang Lian'er became Wang Zhaorong, Mu Xirou became Mu Zhaohua, and she herself was promoted to Jiang Zhaoyi—all three holding the same third-rank position, equal in status. Mu Xirou, with her perpetually cold and aloof demeanor, was not much of a threat for now, but Wang Lian'er was cunning, and the two of them had been locked in a fierce, covert rivalry within the palace.
Jiang Dan chuckled before suddenly addressing a woman seated below her, "Dong Xiuyi, you and my Da Jiejie were once close friends in the inner chambers. I wonder what congratulatory gift you've prepared for her upcoming wedding?"
The woman lifted her head, revealing a delicate and beautiful face—none other than Dong Yinger. Though her appearance remained unchanged, the vivacity she once had as a young girl was long gone. Over the past year, she too had received the Emperor's favor and was promoted to Xiuyi, a lower third-rank position—a bitter irony of fate. In their youth, she had been the legitimate daughter of the Capital Governor's household, while Jiang Dan was merely a concubine-born daughter of a Minister's family. In terms of status, Jiang Dan had been far beneath her. Yet now, within the palace, their positions had reversed, and Dong Yinger was the one who had to bow to Jiang Dan. Hearing Jiang Dan's mocking words, Dong Yinger merely smiled faintly and replied, "The Princess is of noble birth. How could this humble consort dare presume to be her equal?"
"Dong Xiuyi, you speak wrongly," Jiang Dan said. "I recall you and my Da Jiejie were once very close. Ah, wasn't there also that young lady from the Zhao family? Speaking of which, it reminds me of something—my elder brother has now been promoted to Great General, a reward of considerable prestige. When rumors spread that he had been beheaded, who could have imagined he would one day enjoy such glory? That's why I say man proposes, but Heaven disposes. My brother's unexpected fortune has left those with ill intentions at a disadvantage. When misfortune befell him, how many families who once sought his hand in marriage immediately distanced themselves, swaying with the wind? Now, I imagine they must be gnawing their guts out in regret."
(End of Chapter)
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