When the two entered the palace to see Empress Dowager Yide, she seemed exceptionally pleased. In recent years, the Empress Dowager had shown increasing affection toward Jiang Ruan. Today, seeing Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan arrive together, she appeared thoroughly delighted with the golden match she had orchestrated, repeatedly telling Yang Gugu, "Seeing you two so deeply in love brings this old heart immense satisfaction."
Though Jiang Ruan couldn't fathom how the Empress Dowager had discerned any "deep love" between them.
The fact that Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao had not consummated their marriage was something that must never reach the Empress Dowager's ears. Thus, in Cining Palace, Jiang Ruan played the role of a bashful and tender bride, seemingly cherished by her husband. Her performance was flawless at first glance, though it left Xiao Shao visibly unsettled, his expression stiff throughout.
Empress Dowager Yide was exceedingly generous toward them. Beyond the wedding gifts bestowed earlier, she showered them with another round of lavish presents today, her spirits evidently high. Jiang Ruan noticed the Empress Dowager's gaze upon Xiao Shao was markedly different—not the look reserved for a subject, but rather one a grandmother might give her grandson, brimming with doting affection. Having spent time with the Empress Dowager before, Jiang Ruan had come to understand her temperament somewhat. This sight both startled and puzzled her, though she revealed nothing.
After leaving Cining Palace, Eunuch Li from the Emperor's retinue arrived with a summons—His Majesty wished to discuss matters with Xiao Shao. Likely affairs of state, which gave Jiang Ruan no reason to follow. The eunuch hinted the audience might take considerable time, so Jiang Ruan urged Xiao Shao to go ahead while she returned to the palace gates alone by carriage.
Having once resided in the palace, she needed no maids to guide her and knew the way well. With Lianqiao and Zisu in tow, she made her way toward the exit. Just as they reached one end of the Imperial Garden's covered walkway, two palace beauties appeared in the distance, their elaborate robes trailing behind them. They spotted Jiang Ruan simultaneously, and before she could speak, one cried out joyfully, "Da Jiejie!"
It was Jiang Dan. Today she wore an apricot-colored brocade gown embroidered with cranes poised for flight, her jade ornaments chiming with each step, her jewelry clearly priceless. She appeared to be thriving in the palace—rumors of having won the Emperor's favor seemed true. The woman beside her was dressed slightly less splendidly. Once lively expressions had been replaced by the practiced smiles common to palace women, their sincerity impossible to discern—this was Dong Yinger.
Jiang Dan beamed at Jiang Ruan with startling warmth. "Da Jiejie, I deeply regret being unable to attend your wedding festivities last night to present my gifts in person. But I did send presents—did you like them?"
They had been a set of jewelry which Jiang Ruan had glanced at before ordering stored away. She smiled faintly. "Consort Jiang's gifts were most appreciated. My thanks."
"No need for such formality," Jiang Dan clasped her hand. "We're sisters from the same household—we must support each other. Your becoming Princess of Brocade Hero King Manor brings me great joy as well."Jiang Ruan initially had no intention of wasting words on her, but Jiang Dan was so persistent that she simply stood aside, openly silent. Jiang Dan never did anything without purpose, and today was certainly not just about reminiscing or currying favor—there must be some underlying motive. For now, it wouldn’t hurt to see what she was truly after.
Sure enough, noticing Jiang Ruan’s slight impatience, Jiang Dan suddenly smiled. "Speaking of which, people’s fortunes truly differ. When Da Jiejie returned from the countryside back then—forgive my bluntness—so many were waiting to see you become a laughingstock. Yet you defied expectations, becoming the current Princess of Great Peace and Princess of Brocade Glory. Eldest Brother was forced to leave home for years, vanishing without a trace, only to suddenly return as a celebrated general with illustrious military achievements. Meanwhile, Second Sister and Mother have long turned to bones. Take, for example, the Thirteenth Prince in the palace—once an obscure prince, now under His Majesty’s protection. How can fate change so drastically? It’s truly thought-provoking. If there were another life, who knows what the outcome would be."
At this, Jiang Ruan’s eyes flashed as she fixed her gaze on Jiang Dan and slowly asked, "What did you say?"
"I said, if there were another life, what would happen? Would fate be entirely different? What would Da Jiejie’s end be then?" Jiang Dan’s voice was sweet, yet deliberately lowered, lending it an eerie quality. Seeing Jiang Ruan’s abrupt change in expression, Jiang Dan giggled lightly and casually said, "Dan’niang has matters to attend to, so I won’t keep Da Jiejie any longer. Safe travels." With that, she turned and left. Dong Yinger, standing nearby, kept her eyes downcast, not sparing Jiang Ruan a single glance, and followed suit.
...
In the carriage on the way back to the estate, Jiang Ruan stared fixedly at the small table before her, while Lianqiao and Zisu watched her nervously. Ever since Jiang Dan had spoken to her, Jiang Ruan had seemed somewhat distracted, her solemn demeanor striking the two maids as unusual.
Naturally, Jiang Ruan was inwardly shaken. Jiang Dan’s words had been laden with meaning—perhaps insignificant to others, but to her, they were like a thunderbolt from the blue. The secret of her rebirth had always been buried deep in her heart, a secret no one could ever uncover. To hear such words from Jiang Dan’s mouth now was utterly shocking. Jiang Dan wouldn’t say such things without reason—had she discovered something? Could she also be reborn?
Lost in thought, Jiang Ruan frowned deeply. To Lianqiao and Zisu, this was highly unusual. Jiang Ruan had always been one to conceal her emotions; even in the face of the greatest crises, her composure never wavered. Yet now, she merely stared blankly at the table, her gaze unfocused, as if caught in a whirlwind of frantic contemplation. Lianqiao could even sense a trace of fear in her. It was all too strange.
"I feel as though the young lady is in some sort of trance," Lianqiao whispered to Zisu. "What did the Fourth Young Lady say to unsettle her so? I didn’t hear anything amiss."
Zisu’s expression was grave. "I don’t know why, but I have a terrible sense of foreboding."Jiang Ruan felt that the more she tried to focus on the key points, the more chaotic her mind became. She couldn't even hear what Zisu and Lianqiao were saying beside her. Jiang Dan's words seemed like a curse, and she frantically recalled the news of Jiang Xin Zhi's death in her past life—how Jiang Quan had pushed her down from the grand hall, how she had tumbled disgracefully down the nine steps, how they had coldly declared her a nation-destroying enchantress, and how she had seen Jiang Susu's frenzied expression. It was the moment she had been turned into a human pig, witnessed Pei Er's desperate cries and struggles before being beaten to death, and sworn a poisonous vow.
The scenes swirled before her eyes, each one stained with blood and tears. The terror of what she had never obtained and what she had already lost overwhelmed her, and she felt an inexplicable agitation tightening around her.
"Young Miss, Young Miss, what's wrong?" Lianqiao patted her back anxiously, but Jiang Ruan's gaze was fixed and her eyes had already taken on a crazed look.
With a sudden "pfft," a sweet metallic taste rose in her throat, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering the pristine white tablecloth in front of her. The shocking crimson stains were horrifying to behold, and the next moment, Lianqiao screamed.
Butler Lin had just obtained a prescription from Xia Qing and was instructing a servant to fetch the medicine when he glanced up and saw the Brocade Hero King Manor's carriage parked at the entrance. Wondering why they had returned so early, he noticed the curtain being flung open from inside as Lianqiao and Zisu half-carried, half-supported someone out. A closer look confirmed it was none other than Jiang Ruan.
Though Butler Lin was past fifty, his eyes were sharp. He immediately noticed the blood at the corner of Jiang Ruan's lips, and his heart skipped a beat. Seeing that Xiao Shao was not present, he hurried forward and asked, "What happened? What's wrong with the Princess Consort?"
"The Princess Consort has fainted," Zisu said urgently. "Please call for a physician, Butler Lin, and have someone help carry her inside."
Butler Lin grew frantic at once—how could such a thing happen on the very first day after the wedding? Remembering that there was a miracle healer in the neighboring estate, he immediately sent someone to summon Xia Qing. Once Jiang Ruan had been settled in bed, Butler Lin turned to Lianqiao and demanded, "How could the Princess Consort faint out of nowhere? How did you take care of her?"
Luzhu and Tianzhu rushed over upon hearing the commotion. There were no other wounds on Jiang Ruan, so it didn't seem like she had been harmed. Lianqiao said guiltily, "The Young Miss encountered the Fourth Young Lady in the palace and exchanged a few words with her. On the way back in the carriage, she started acting strangely, as if possessed, and then she vomited blood and fainted."
"What did she say to the Princess Consort?" Tianzhu asked.
"Nothing much, just some talk about fate and destiny—nothing that sounded unusual." Lianqiao frowned. Just then, Xia Qing and Qi Feng hurried in. The two of them had been discussing when to leave the capital when a servant from the manor burst in, saying Jiang Ruan was in trouble and that Xia Qing needed to come at once.
Xia Qing had initially thought the people of Brocade Hero King Manor were overly anxious about Jiang Ruan, treating even the smallest matters as earth-shattering emergencies. But when he entered and saw Jiang Ruan lying on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, he froze. Qi Feng's expression changed, and he said, "How did Third Sister-in-law end up like this?""Oh my, Fifth Master," Butler Lin urgently pulled Xia Qing towards the bedside. "Please take a look quickly. It seems the princess consort was angered by someone and just spat out blood. This is serious. At such a young age, she mustn't damage her fundamental health." From Lianqiao's account, Jiang Ruan hadn't suffered any blade wounds but had been provoked by Jiang Dan's words. Though no one understood why she'd been angered to this extent, there seemed no better explanation at the moment.
Xia Qing frowned as he sat by the bed and reached to check Jiang Ruan's pulse. Everyone watched him nervously until he finally withdrew his hand. Qi Feng asked anxiously, "Old Five, how is she?"
"Third Sister-in-law has been overburdened with worries and carries old ailments. Today's provocation caused pent-up emotions, leading her to cough up stagnant blood. The blood clot is stuck in her chest, which is why she remains unconscious." Xia Qing hesitated before shaking his head. "I'll prescribe a formula first. Butler Lin, have someone prepare it immediately for her." Though his tone was calm, his furrowed brow betrayed deep concern—an unusual sight for Xia Qing, renowned as the Golden Mausoleum Master Hand. While the maids might not grasp the severity, Qi Feng clenched his fists seeing Xia Qing's expression.
Butler Lin wasted no time dispatching someone for the herbs. Xia Qing remained seated, his gaze fixed on Jiang Ruan with an inscrutable expression. Qi Feng stood by the window, stealing frequent glances at the unconscious woman. The maids bustled about, but Jiang Ruan showed no signs of waking.
Nearly half an hour later, the door burst open, letting in a gust of winter's icy air. Xiao Shao strode in, his shoulders dusted with unmelted snow. He approached the bed, his face darkening at the sight of Jiang Ruan's closed eyes. Turning to Lianqiao and Zisu, his voice frosty, he demanded, "What happened?"
Exchanging glances, Zisu repeated their earlier explanation: "After parting from you, my lord, the young mistress encountered Fourth Miss in the palace. They exchanged words, and soon after boarding the carriage, she coughed blood and fainted. Fifth Master Xia says it triggered her old illness." She paused before adding, "But what old illness could she possibly have?"
Xiao Shao's frown deepened as he looked at Xia Qing. After a moment, he ordered Lianqiao, "Tell me every word Jiang Dan said to her—without omission."
His tone was icy, his dark eyes burning with suppressed fury. Trembling, Lianqiao recounted Jiang Dan's entire conversation verbatim before venturing, "That's all there was. Forgive my boldness, but nothing in those words seemed unusual. Yet in the carriage, the young mistress acted as if some taboo had been violated—terrified in a way I haven't seen since our return to the capital years ago."
Qi Feng studied Lianqiao curiously at this, while Xiao Shao clenched his fists. After a pensive silence, he turned to leave. Qi Feng grabbed his arm. "Third Brother, what are you planning?"
"To untie a bell, you need the hands that tied it. Since Jiang Dan's involved, I'm going to her." Xiao Shao replied."What can you do now? These few words alone can't condemn her." Qi Feng glanced at Jiang Ruan: "Do you plan to kill her right now? That would only bring trouble for Third Sister-in-law." His words showed genuine concern for Jiang Ruan, but Xiao Shao's expression turned icy as he coldly retorted, "She is my wife. Your concern is unnecessary."
Qi Feng's throat tightened, leaving him speechless, his expression visibly flustered. Xia Qing also stood up, his youthful face unusually grave for his age: "Stop arguing. Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law wasn't provoked by others' words—that might have been the trigger, but the real reason for her condition is poisoning."
Qi Feng's grip on Xiao Shao loosened as he asked in disbelief, "Poisoned?"
"Impossible," Xiao Shao said. "No one could have poisoned her within the manor." Everything in the residence was personally overseen by Butler Lin, and the guards would never betray them. Poisoning Jiang Ruan was even more difficult than outright killing her.
"The poisoning didn't happen in the manor," Xia Qing shook his head. "This poison is strange—it didn't seem fatal at first, but it accumulated in her body. Now, someone has triggered its release. As for what these maids said about her being upset by words in the palace, that only accelerated the spread of the toxin." He hesitated before adding, "And this poison is unusual—I feel like I've seen it somewhere before, but I can't recall."
"Fifth Brother!" Qi Feng, no longer focused on opposing Xiao Shao, pressed urgently, "Then does the prescription you just wrote work? Can you cure Third Sister-in-law?"
It wasn't that he lacked faith in Xia Qing, but after years as fellow disciples, Qi Feng could read every expression on Xia Qing's face. As a miracle healer, Xia Qing usually displayed excitement and confidence when treating patients. But this was the first time he looked so anxious and grave, which unsettled Qi Feng deeply.
Xiao Shao also fixed his gaze intently on Xia Qing, while Zisu and Lianqiao watched with bated breath, as if they would burst into tears the moment he declared the case hopeless. Xia Qing swallowed hard before saying, "Truthfully, I've never encountered this poison before. For now, I'm using a general antidote formula. I need a few more days to observe before I can properly treat it."
"How long?" Xiao Shao demanded. "Her life is not a game."
"Two days," Xia Qing quickly assured. "Just two days. If the poison isn't under control by then... I fear there's nothing more I can do."
Xiao Shao stared at Xia Qing for a long moment, making him shudder under the intensity, before giving an almost imperceptible nod. "You have two days."
Xia Qing wiped his sweat, realizing for the first time how terrifying his usually aloof Third Brother could be when truly angered. The pressure was overwhelming, so he quickly excused himself to study the prescription further. After Xia Qing and Qi Feng left, Butler Lin entered and reported, "We've investigated everything the princess consumed yesterday. There were no issues within our manor."Upon hearing this, Lianqiao anxiously said, "Yesterday, fearing the young lady might be hungry, I fetched some pastries from Baoyuezhai for her. But those pastries couldn’t have been the problem." Zisu also nodded in agreement, "That portion was taken from a larger batch, and the rest was shared among the maids in the courtyard. Everyone ate them without issue, so it’s impossible for the poison to have been in the pastries."
Investigating this matter thoroughly would indeed be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Xiao Shao waved his hand, and Ye Feng immediately understood his intent, saying, "This subordinate will go to Baoyuezhai now."
For such an incident to occur on the very first day of their marriage was hardly an auspicious sign. Xiao Shao gazed at Jiang Ruan’s pale face, his expression darkening. Lianqiao nudged Zisu, and the two quietly stepped out together. Xiao Shao walked over and sat beside Jiang Ruan, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his eyes flickering with heartache.
The immediate priority was to detoxify Jiang Ruan. Xia Qing’s words reminded him that years ago, he had also noticed something unusual about Jiang Ruan’s condition. However, as his expertise lay in crafting poisons rather than the intricate art of healing like Xia Qing, he had dismissed it as a minor issue. Moreover, since those capable of such poison in the Eastern Barbarian Country had vanished years ago, he assumed he had been mistaken. Little did he know this toxin had lurked like a venomous serpent within Jiang Ruan, only to be triggered now. Though Qi Feng and Xia Qing claimed Jiang Dan had no involvement in Jiang Ruan’s poisoning, Jiang Ruan’s fearful reaction after speaking with Jiang Dan suggested otherwise. Jiang Dan was certainly not innocent in this matter.
At this thought, a chilling intensity flashed in Xiao Shao’s eyes. He stroked Jiang Ruan’s hair once more before standing and stepping out of the room. Jin Er and the others stood solemnly outside, awaiting orders. Xiao Shao looked into the distance and coldly commanded, "I want to know every single detail of everything that happened in the Jiang residence after the Princess Consort was born."
Jin Yi and the others straightened, replying firmly, "Understood," before departing to carry out their task.
...
Night fell swiftly. Xiao Shao remained in the room, reviewing document after document without showing the slightest hint of fatigue. Butler Lin came several times to urge him to rest early, but Xiao Shao merely claimed he had matters to attend to. It was clear to anyone that he was simply using it as an excuse to stay by Jiang Ruan’s side. Yet, as servants could not override their master’s will, they eventually gave up after repeated attempts.
Luzhu entered with a bowl of medicine in hand. Seeing Xiao Shao still present, she said, "Your Highness, the medicine prescribed by Miracle Healer Xia is ready. Tianzhu and I oversaw its preparation—no one else touched it." Given Jiang Ruan’s poisoning, the entire household was now extra cautious with food and medicine, wary of further schemes. Until the one who had triggered the poison was found, Jiang Ruan remained in danger.
Xiao Shao glanced up and said, "Leave it. I’ll feed her."
Not daring to argue, Luzhu placed the bowl on the desk and quietly exited. Once alone, Xiao Shao picked up the bowl and approached the bed, carefully lifting Jiang Ruan to lean against him. He blew on the dark-brown liquid before slowly tipping it into her mouth.
His movements were tender, as if afraid of hurting her even slightly. Had anyone witnessed the usually cold and aloof Xiao Shao displaying such gentleness, their jaws would surely have dropped in astonishment.Helplessly, Jiang Ruan remained unconscious, the medicinal liquid trickling from the corner of her mouth and splashing onto the bed, dampening a patch on Xiao Shao's chest. Oblivious to this, he gently wiped the traces of medicine from her lips with his hand. Feeding her medicine this way wasn't effective, so Xiao Shao paused, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly took a sip from the bowl himself. He tilted Jiang Ruan's chin slightly upward, leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers, slowly transferring the medicine into her mouth.
The young girl's beauty was unparalleled. Beneath her usually gentle demeanor, there was always an imperceptible aloofness in her expression. But now, her lips were soft, carrying the bitter fragrance of the medicine. Under normal circumstances, such an act might have stirred romantic thoughts. Yet, at this moment, Xiao Shao's heart was free of distractions, filled only with heartache as he gazed at Jiang Ruan.
The bowl of medicine was gradually fed into Jiang Ruan's mouth. Finally, Xiao Shao set down the empty bowl and was about to help her lie back down when he suddenly felt someone clutch the front of his robe. Startled, he looked down to meet Jiang Ruan's wide-open eyes.
"You..." For a moment, there was embarrassment, followed immediately by joy. Xiao Shao grasped Jiang Ruan's shoulders and said, "You're awake?"
But Jiang Ruan didn't answer him. Her eyes were wide open, yet her gaze was anything but calm—it was filled with helplessness and panic. Xiao Shao froze; such an expression was unfamiliar on Jiang Ruan's face. She seemed completely unaware of his presence, clutching tightly at his lapel while muttering something under her breath.
Xiao Shao frowned and leaned closer. Jiang Ruan's words reached his ears clearly—she was murmuring, "Save me."
Startled, Xiao Shao watched as Jiang Ruan curled into herself, her grip on his clothes unrelenting, as if clinging to her last lifeline. Softly, over and over, she repeated, "Save me, please save me."
"A Ruan," Xiao Shao softened his voice, as though afraid of frightening her, and gently patted her back. "Don't be afraid, it's me."
Jiang Ruan stared at him with wide eyes, yet it seemed she was looking through him at something else entirely. Xiao Shao's outstretched hand paused as Jiang Ruan frantically scrambled backward. Her gaze was filled with despair and desolation, as if she had seen something utterly terrifying. In a voice brimming with fury, she demanded, "Ye Li, how dare you treat me like this!"
(End of Chapter)
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