After a moment, she suddenly began to laugh softly, then louder and louder, almost to the point of tears. She said, "I failed to complete that person's task. In the end, he won't spare me, afraid I might expose him. There's only one way left." Before the words had fully left her lips, she abruptly slammed her head against the stone wall. She had already been standing close to the wall, and with Tianzhu—the most skilled in martial arts—guarding Jiang Ruan, there was no time to save her. Zisu had thrown herself into the act with full force, clearly determined to die. A dull thud echoed, followed by Lianqiao's startled cry, as Zisu collapsed limply, the blood on her forehead a horrifying sight.
She gasped heavily, blood continuously bubbling from her mouth, staining the snow beneath her a vivid crimson. Struggling for breath, her voice was torn and hoarse, barely forming a coherent sentence: "I'm... sorry..."
Silence reclaimed the snowy ground, unbroken save for the endless fall of snowflakes, swiftly burying the bloodstains. Jiang Ruan's voice was almost inaudible as she said, "Bury her properly."
She turned and walked out of the courtyard, the long scarlet hem of her dress blending with the blood on the ground. Her expression was icy, her back rigid, her steps cold and resolute—never once glancing back at the figure lying in the snow. Yet she walked faster and faster, almost breaking into a run, until she abruptly stopped outside the courtyard, gripping a vermilion pillar for support. A bone-deep chill seemed to seep through her entire body.
Her lips were pressed tightly together, her mouth stiff, but her eyes were faintly red.
A familiar figure emerged from behind her, standing at her back before gently turning her shoulders and pulling her into an embrace. The young man's handsome features and tall frame exuded an immeasurable sense of comfort, offering a sliver of warmth in the bitter winter.
"Xiao Shao, I'm heartbroken." Jiang Ruan's voice carried a weariness never heard before. She wrapped her arms around his lean waist, burying her face against his shoulder. "Don't betray me."
Xiao Shao looked down at the woman in his arms. Though he hadn't entered the courtyard, he knew exactly what had transpired. He understood that Jiang Ruan, who often seemed indifferent to everything, was simply unaccustomed to showing her emotions. These maids had grown up by her side—she had placed absolute trust in them as lifelong companions. To discover it had all been a premeditated deception was unbearable for someone who could tolerate no deceit. Her grief was unimaginable.
He patted her back gently, saying nothing.Nestled in such a broad and gentle embrace, Jiang Ruan gradually calmed her emotions. In truth, she was most reluctant to doubt Zisu. Among all the people in this life, only Zisu had stayed with her until the end in her past life. Now it seemed Zisu had been Xia Yan's person from the very beginning. Although Xia Yan had never instructed her to harm Jiang Ruan, their stances had been opposed from the start. In the end, Jiang Ruan had entrusted Pei Er to Zisu, hoping she could help the child escape, yet Pei Er still fell into Li Dong's hands. Perhaps Zisu had simply handed Pei Er over to Jiang Susu, or perhaps she truly hadn't managed to escape. Only the Zisu of that past life could answer what really happened. But this matter stuck in her throat like a thorn—whenever she thought of it, she couldn't help but wonder if Zisu had personally sent Pei Er to her doom. By nature, Jiang Ruan was stubborn; once this suspicion took root, she could never truly forgive Zisu. The world was full of such cruel twists of fate—who could have known?
She gently extricated herself from Xiao Shao's arms, feeling she had been somewhat uncharacteristically emotional just then. Noticing this, Xiao Shao remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, "Tomorrow, go to the palace. Visit Ye Pei."
Jiang Ruan froze, momentarily wondering if Xiao Shao already knew the whole story. Tentatively, she asked, "Why?"
"He seems to have something to say to you," Xiao Shao replied, watching her intently. "It's been a while since you last visited the palace."
Admittedly, his words carried a hint of distraction, an attempt to lighten her heavy heart, but they still startled Jiang Ruan. What could Ye Pei possibly have to say to her? In this life, the two of them had almost no connection. Yet Xiao Shao implied that Ye Pei had actively sought her out. The conjecture that had once crossed her mind resurfaced, and though she tried to suppress it, her thoughts kept circling back.
"Don't worry," Xiao Shao said, as if sensing her unease. "You'll know once you go. I'll protect you."
He always made it clear, without hesitation, that he stood firmly by her side. Jiang Ruan lifted her gaze to his coldly handsome face—his words carried a conviction that was impossible to doubt. He never made empty promises, but what he said, he did. A faint smile touched her lips as she momentarily pushed aside the unease in her heart and simply replied, "Alright."
...
The snow fell all night, and by the next morning, the fresh layer had covered the bloodstains on the ground. The traces of last night's harrowing events had vanished, leaving everything so peaceful it was as if nothing had happened.
Not far from the prince's residence, a newly erected grave seemed to have appeared overnight. It was neither lavish nor crude, every detail carefully attended to. A stone tablet stood before it, blank, with no inscription to indicate who had placed it there. Two young women knelt before the grave, burning paper offerings in an iron basin. Incense sticks stood upright in a censer.
Lianqiao choked back a sob as she fed the flames. "Zisu, in this life, we were sisters after all. May you be reborn into a good family—don’t be a servant in your next life. Like you always said, even being the daughter of a farming family would be better. At least your fate would be in your own hands."Luzhu was initially angry at Zisu for transferring the poison to Jiang Ruan, but after witnessing the harrowing events of the previous night, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. She had always been soft-hearted, and having followed Jiang Ruan for so long, she had spent countless days and nights with Zisu. Zisu's gentle nature and sisterly care for her made Luzhu's eyes redden at the memory. Her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Sister Zisu, if there is a next life, I hope we can be sisters again when we meet."
Both of them were deeply moved. After finally burning all the paper offerings in the silver basin, the usually lively pair felt unusually somber. Jiang Ruan did not come to pay her respects. After all their years as mistress and servant, it was absurd not to know how to face each other now. Back at the prince's residence, Jin Er noticed Luzhu's despondent expression and, for the first time, refrained from teasing her. Instead, he stood behind her for a long while before finally offering her a handkerchief. "Hey, you look awful when you cry," he said. Luzhu, however, had no energy to banter with him and kept her head down, refusing the handkerchief. Jin Er, usually so adept with women, was at a loss. After a moment's hesitation, he awkwardly stepped forward, clutching the handkerchief himself, and stood in front of Luzhu. Startled, Luzhu looked up at him, and Jin Er wiped her tears away with the handkerchief, muttering uncomfortably, "No one should be crying in the prince's residence. It's unsightly."
Luzhu stood still, as if holding something back, and Jin Er's hand froze mid-air. Worried, he looked at her and, for the first time, softened his voice. "What's wrong?" he asked.
The moment he spoke, Luzhu could no longer contain herself. She grabbed his lapels and buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Jin Er stiffened, bewildered by the sight of Luzhu clutching his clothes. In the prince's residence, Luzhu had always been a cheerful girl, her laughter infectious, as if nothing in the world could faze her. This was the first time he had seen her so heartbroken. Her tears made his heart ache, and finally gathering his courage, he pulled her into his arms and whispered words of comfort.
Jiang Ruan remained unaware of what had transpired between Luzhu and Jin Er. When Lianqiao returned to the residence, Jiang Ruan took her and Tianzhu to the palace. She hadn't been to the palace since the poisoning incident, and even Empress Dowager Yide would find it strange. Today, she seized the opportunity to visit. Jiang Ruan first went to Cining Palace to see Empress Dowager Yide, who was surprised by her long absence. Jiang Ruan explained that she had caught a cold and had been recuperating in the prince's residence for over ten days. Relieved, the empress dowager then inquired about her relationship with Xiao Shao, and Jiang Ruan answered each question patiently. Empress Dowager Yide was pleased to hear that the couple was getting along harmoniously, likely delighted by the successful marriage she had arranged. She insisted Jiang Ruan stay for lunch, but now that Jiang Ruan was married and the Princess of Brocade Glory, it was no longer appropriate for her to stay in the Princess Hall. When the empress dowager retired for her afternoon rest, Jiang Ruan bid farewell to Yang Gugu.She did not leave the palace directly, still remembering Xiao Shao's words. Instead, she headed straight for the Southern Garden to see Ye Pei. Having spent much time in the palace in her past life, Jiang Ruan knew exactly where the Southern Garden was. Back then, Ye Pei had been an unfavored child, living in a remote and gloomy courtyard before being raised by her side. Now, however, Ye Pei's status in the palace was vastly different—deeply cherished by the Emperor. The Emperor's favor could be a poison, placing him in a position visible to all, with countless hidden arrows and knives aimed at him. Yet, at the same time, it was also the most effective talisman. As long as the Emperor favored him, any covert attacks would lose much of their sting.
The closer she got to the Southern Garden, the more nervous she became. Since her rebirth, such moments of tension were rare, and both Tianzhu and Lianqiao, who accompanied her, noticed Jiang Ruan's unusual demeanor. Tianzhu stopped and asked, "Young Madam, is something wrong?"
Jiang Ruan snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "It's nothing." She forced herself to calm down. Everything now was just her overthinking—no one could say for certain what the truth was.
When they reached the entrance of the Southern Garden, the young eunuch guarding the gate spotted her from afar and immediately bowed in greeting. "This servant greets the Princess Consort."
Jiang Ruan was momentarily taken aback. Most of the time in the palace, the servants addressed her as the Princess of Great Peace. Hearing herself called "Princess Consort" so abruptly carried deeper implications. Just as a princess, even after marriage, would still be referred to by her royal title in the palace, the fact that the palace staff now called her "Princess Consort" subtly conveyed one message: the title of Princess Consort of the Brocade Hero King Manor was more prestigious than that of the Princess of Great Peace. It also underscored Xiao Shao's standing in the palace.
A delicate-looking palace maid emerged and, upon seeing Jiang Ruan, first glanced at Tianzhu before smiling and saying, "This servant is Mingyue, serving the Thirteenth Prince. His Highness has instructed me to welcome the Princess Consort inside. Please follow me."
Jiang Ruan naturally noticed Mingyue's glance at Tianzhu. At first, she found it inexplicable, but then she understood. Yet she also felt a sense of disbelief—why would Xiao Shao send his shadow guard to Ye Pei's side? However, since it was someone Xiao Shao trusted, she had no reservations. She followed Mingyue into the Southern Garden, passing through the front hall and taking in the opulent furnishings, which confirmed that Ye Pei was indeed highly favored by the Emperor and living comfortably. She relaxed slightly. Mingyue stopped in front of the study and smiled. "His Highness is waiting for the Princess Consort inside." With that, she stepped back, signaling for Jiang Ruan to enter alone.
Lianqiao was still nervous, fearing Jiang Ruan might fall into another trap, and wanted to follow her inside. Unexpectedly, Tianzhu grabbed her arm and shook her head. As a former member of the Brocade-clad Guards, Tianzhu's skills were exceptional, and Lianqiao trusted her judgment. Though puzzled, she no longer insisted on entering. Jiang Ruan herself was indifferent—she trusted Xiao Shao's people. Moreover, in her heart, Ye Pei would always remain the beautiful and delicate child from her past life. No matter how he changed, in her eyes, he would always be like a child. She never worried that Ye Pei would harm her—it was a mother's instinct.
So Jiang Ruan merely paused briefly before pushing the door open and stepping inside without looking back.The light in the study was dim, the curtains already drawn shut. The room was somewhat hazy as Jiang Ruan turned to close the door and walked toward the desk. On the wide chair before the desk sat a small figure, holding a brush as if writing something with an earnest expression. The child's diminutive size made the scene somewhat comical, inadvertently masking the usual sense of detachment and alienation.
Jiang Ruan approached slowly. The child, engrossed in writing, held the brush in a strangely familiar manner. The delicate nose and rosy lips visible from the lowered head made the child resemble an exquisitely carved jade doll. Jiang Ruan watched silently, and as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she finally discerned the characters on the paper—four characters in total. Two names: Jiang Ruan and Ye Pei.
Jiang Ruan froze as if struck by lightning, her mind suddenly tearing open a scroll of memories that unfurled before her. In a shabby palace chamber, a child dressed in ill-fitting clothes but with strikingly delicate features clumsily held a brush and asked, "Mother, look, Pei Er has learned to write his name and yours!"
The child's joyful words carried an undertone of sorrow. A prince of the realm, yet neglected to the point of not even having a tutor. Perhaps no one cared whether this unfavored prince was educated, but as his mother, Ye Pei's calligraphy had been taught by her own hand. The first time she taught Ye Pei to write their names, he had said those very words.
Now, on the pristine paper, those same two names appeared again, the handwriting identical to that of their past life—every detail perfectly replicated. The scene before her overlapped abruptly with the memory, leaving Jiang Ruan momentarily unable to distinguish past from present. Was this reality, or merely a fleeting dream?
Ye Pei set down the brush, seemingly having heard her, and finally looked up. Recognizing her, he smiled sweetly and said, "Mother, Pei Er has been waiting for you for so long."
Jiang Ruan's steps faltered, and she took two abrupt steps back. Her usually composed and steady eyes were filled with dazed confusion, disbelief, and shock. She murmured, "What did you say?"
"Does Mother still intend to acknowledge me? I am Pei Er," Ye Pei replied.
Jiang Ruan's eyes widened, her mind blank as she stared at the beautiful youth before her. He looked exactly like the Pei Er from their past life, yet his smile was refined and laden with meaning—nothing like the naive, kind-hearted child of before. This Ye Pei was far more astute than his past self.
With a bitter smile, Ye Pei tilted his head to look at Jiang Ruan. Slowly, he let the facade of childish innocence fade. "Mother died under a hail of blows in our past life, and Pei Er followed you to the underworld soon after. I thought that was the end, but fate granted me another chance—and I never imagined I'd see you again in this life." His gaze fixed on Jiang Ruan, he asked, "Even now, Mother, won't you acknowledge me?"His words struck Jiang Ruan's heart like heavy hammer blows. No one else could have known these things—he wasn’t lying. Even the slightest disbelief she had harbored earlier now vanished entirely. Jiang Ruan didn’t know whether to feel joy or sorrow, only an overwhelming sense of something lost and found again. She strode forward, reaching out to touch Ye Pei’s face, but her hand abruptly halted before him. For the first time, she hesitated, a flicker of doubt surfacing: "You... are you really him?"
"Mother taught Pei Er how to write his own name. Pei Er wrote Mother’s name and his together, so they would never be separated again," Ye Pei said with a tearful smile.
Jiang Ruan froze. Back then, when she had taught Ye Pei to write their names, he had indeed said those very words. Now, hearing them again from his lips, she finally pulled him into a tight embrace. "Yes, it’s you. You are Pei Er. How could I not have realized? If I could come back, then so could you. Pei Er, it’s all my fault. I should have found you sooner. If only we could have reunited earlier... You must have been so afraid, alone in the palace."
Her voice trembled with emotion, a side of her even those closest to her had never seen. She was like a cold, unyielding stone—Ye Pei had always been her only softness. In this life, after his death in the past, she had hardened completely, leaving no trace of tenderness behind. But now, with Ye Pei returned to her, that long-buried gentleness resurfaced—the part of Jiang Ruan that had died in her past life.
"I wasn’t afraid," Ye Pei reassured her softly. "I lived well in the palace. I knew how to protect myself, and I wanted to avenge Mother. I thought this life’s Mother was different from the one before. When Mother stood up for me in front of Princess Heyi, I decided then that in this life, I would protect Mother at all costs. But I never imagined... It wasn’t until Mother was poisoned, and Jinying Wang spoke of it, that I realized... Mother was still the same Mother."
Jiang Ruan was taken aback. How did Xiao Shao know about this? She wasn’t certain—perhaps she had muttered something in her unconscious state. Mr. Yaqi had mentioned as much. Xiao Shao was clever; he could have pieced together fragments of the truth. But to have told Ye Pei... Had he already guessed their connection?
Her thoughts were still unclear. Slowly, she released Ye Pei and led him to sit beside her on the hard couch, just as they had often done in their past life. "Pei Er, what happened to you at the end of our past life? How were you captured?"
At this, Ye Pei bit his lip. Though his mind was now as mature as an adult’s, the gray memories of that time rushed back, chilling him to the bone. After a pause, he said, "Mother had Zisu take me through the secret passage to escape. But halfway, people rushed in... Zisu was killed. I was captured, and then..." His voice faltered as the humiliating memories resurfaced. He closed his eyes briefly. "After Mother was beaten to death, I bit off one of that man’s ears. He flew into a rage and... stabbed me to death."Jiang Ruan suddenly pulled him into her arms: "Alright, don't say anymore." She took a deep breath. "It was my fault for not protecting you well enough."
"This has nothing to do with Mother," Ye Pei said through gritted teeth. "This is all Ye Li's scheme. If not for him, how could Mother have been wronged and ended up with such a fate? So ever since I was reborn, the only thing I've wanted to do is defeat Ye Pei and prevent him from securing that position."
The youth's brows were set with determination, and the coldness in his voice when mentioning Ye Pei was identical to Jiang Ruan's. Looking at him, Jiang Ruan felt an indescribable pang of melancholy flash through her heart. She asked, "Then tell me, what have you done in this life? How have you been all these years?"
"I discovered I'd returned many years in the past and initially thought it was just a dream," Ye Pei said slowly. "Later I realized it wasn't a dream, but I couldn't change the fact that my birth mother had already passed away. It happened to be during Noble Consort Chen's most favored years, when princes who had gained even slight favor from the emperor mysteriously died one after another. Others didn't know why, but I knew it was the handiwork of that mother-son pair." Ye Pei gave a cold laugh. "Unfortunately, I was still too young then and far too weak to confront them directly. So I pretended to be foolish and dim-witted, content to be an unfavored prince, just like in my previous life—at least to preserve my life first."
Jiang Ruan gently stroked his head. "Pei Er did very well. You're very clever."
"But this is just too slow," Ye Pei murmured. "I can't just focus on survival—I must avenge my mother and myself. Ye Li has always placed his bets within the court, but I don't want things to go too smoothly for him. Over the years, I've secretly cultivated my own faction. Some are in the court, while others operate outside the palace. Even if Ye Li has his people planted everywhere in the court, at least when it comes to commerce, tripping him up would be as easy as turning over my hand." At this point, Ye Pei flashed Jiang Ruan a sly smile. "To secure his throne, he needs a steady flow of silver. But if I control the money, his path won't be so smooth."
Jiang Ruan suddenly understood. No wonder Ye Li had thrived effortlessly in their past life, while in this one, his fortunes had been steadily declining—even worse than they had been years ago in their previous lifetime. While Jiang Ruan had certainly played a role, she hadn't realized Ye Pei had also been pushing him toward his downfall. With the enemy exposed and themselves hidden, Ye Li was destined to stumble no matter what.
"You," Jiang Ruan couldn't help but laugh. "When did you become so cunning?"
"In our past life, my mother protected me, yet I could only watch helplessly as she died before my eyes," Ye Pei's gaze turned icy. "In this life, I will be the one to protect her. If anyone dares trouble my mother, I will make sure they pay a hundred—no, a thousand—times the price!"
Jiang Ruan studied Ye Pei. The young boy was still short, his delicate face retaining traces of childishness, making him appear fragile, like an exquisite doll. Yet the determination in his brow was impossible to ignore, and his words carried undeniable conviction. He was still the same Ye Pei, yet fundamentally, he was no longer that Ye Pei.
(End of Chapter)
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