"Father, are you trying to say you knew nothing about this? It seems there are many things you're unaware of. For instance, on the day my elder brother returned to the capital, he was ambushed in the woods—an attempt to take his life. Had General Guan not arrived in time to rescue him, the outcome would have been dire. Do you know who was behind that, Father? Of course you don't, because it was none other than your beloved concubine, Aunt Xia Yan." Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Father aspires to be an upright and incorruptible official, yet you can't even see clearly the person lying beside you. As your daughter, it truly pains me to witness this."
The surrounding crowd erupted in mocking laughter and pointed remarks. "So the Minister's residence is such a den of vipers! No wonder General Jiang chose the military path—how else could he protect himself and his sister? They'd have been devoured long ago!"
Xia Yan's viciousness had reached appalling levels, targeting not only Jiang Xin Zhi but Jiang Ruan as well. Whatever deep-seated grudge she held against Zhao Mei, such cruelty was beyond comprehension. To claim Jiang Quan, a third-rank official, was completely oblivious was to underestimate him. No one believed it—it was simply a case of turning a blind eye. If Jiang Quan had merely allowed Zhao Mei's death to happen, he'd be labeled heartless. But to feign ignorance even when his own legitimate children were threatened? That defied all understanding. Even a vicious tiger wouldn't harm its cubs—was Jiang Quan's heart forged from iron?
"You—what nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Quan, flushed with anger and fear that Jiang Ruan might reveal more secrets, lashed out. "You're making baseless accusations! Who put you up to this? Who's behind these slanders against my household? What's their motive?"
The old fox quickly redirected suspicion. As the Minister's daughter, Jiang Ruan wouldn't falsely accuse her father without reason—unless someone was manipulating her. Now married to Jinying Wang, the implication was clear.
Tianzhu and Jin San's eyes flashed with anger. Even now, Jiang Quan sought to shift blame—unforgivable. Jiang Ruan smiled calmly. "Father, that's irrelevant. When Aunt Xia poisoned my mother, I obtained evidence. My mother taught me never to make unfounded accusations."
Another wave of laughter swept through the crowd. Jiang Quan thought Jiang Ruan was bluffing—after all these years, with Xia Yan dead, what evidence could remain? Though inwardly confident, he felt his dignity had been thoroughly trampled today. Enraged, he thundered, "You dare go this far? Ungrateful wretch! To accuse your own father—where is your filial piety? Where is your respect for me?"In this world, no matter what, the weight of filial piety pressing down could strip a person of several layers of skin. No matter how heartless and ungrateful Jiang Quan had been, by blood, he was still Jiang Ruan’s father. There was no such thing as a daughter suing her own father in this world. Even if your parents demanded your death, you had to accept it—because this was the moral order, the rule everyone in the world must follow. Seeing Jiang Ruan remain silent, a flash of triumph flickered in Jiang Quan’s eyes. He straightened his back even more, feeling increasingly justified. “Don’t forget, the blood running through your veins is mine! Without me, there would be no you!”
The surrounding crowd fell silent. Indeed, even if what Jiang Ruan said was true, their perception of her was complicated as they condemned Jiang Quan’s cruelty. Suing one’s own father was an outrageous act, and even the Brocade Hero King Manor was viewed with some suspicion. For a child to do such a thing was beyond unconventional. Even if she won this lawsuit, Jiang Ruan would still face the judgmental gazes of the public.
Jiang Ruan remained utterly unaffected by the crowd’s scrutiny. Standing tall and unyielding in the cold wind, her posture exuded an indomitable courage, as if declaring to everyone that she would never compromise. Her words were cold and resolute, slowly sinking into the ears of those present: “Indeed, Father, you gave me life. Without you, there would be no me. You gave me half of my blood and bones. But heaven knows,” she sneered, “how much I despise it.”
Before her words faded, a delicate blue short sword appeared in her hand. The crowd gasped, unsure of her intentions, only to watch as the blade lightly traced the back of her hand. Large drops of blood spilled out, blooming like vivid crimson flowers on the snow.
Her smile was bewitching yet cruel, her words icy and final. Meeting Jiang Quan’s stunned gaze, she parted her lips and said softly, “Now, I return it to you.”
The crowd fell into stunned silence, staring at Jiang Ruan in disbelief. There had been fierce and resolute women in this world, but none had ever acted with such decisiveness. To shed blood and sever ties with her father—since the founding of the Da Jin Dynasty, Jiang Ruan was the first.
Jin San and Tianzhu stood quietly behind Jiang Ruan, their eyes flickering with emotion, yet neither stepped forward to stop her. Jiang Ruan had already shared her plans with them beforehand. This was precisely why she hadn’t immediately informed Xiao Shao—had he known of her decision, he would have undoubtedly intervened. Though Jin San was originally Xiao Shao’s subordinate, she now obeyed Jiang Ruan wholeheartedly. As a husband, Xiao Shao would naturally want to protect his princess consort. But Jin San also understood that Jiang Ruan’s approach was the best course of action. It was a bold declaration to the world, severing all ties with the Minister’s residence. Jiang Quan’s attempt to manipulate her with blood ties would no longer hold any power. She was cutting away the last threads connecting her to the Jiang family—an act that required immense courage, yet also revealed just how deeply she loathed the fact that she bore the Jiang name.Jiang Quan clenched his teeth tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. If not for the public scrutiny at this moment, he might have wanted to kill Jiang Ruan outright. Not only that, Jiang Ruan's actions had stirred a trace of panic in his heart. The way she had calmly drawn a blade against herself, her gaze filled with nothing but cold indifference and hatred—she clearly cared not a whit whether she was part of the Jiang family or not.
All along, Jiang Quan had regarded Jiang Ruan as a dispensable daughter. Born of Zhao Mei, she was a constant reminder of those oppressive days when he had been suppressed by others. He despised Jiang Ruan, deliberately neglecting her. He knew her nature was soft and easy to manipulate, like the cats and dogs kept in the mansion—raised idly, only to be of use someday. A little kindness, and she would come wagging her tail eagerly.
But at some point, this pet cat or dog had grown sharp claws and fangs. It must have started when she returned from the estate. She became strangely tempered, seemingly composed and calm, no longer dependent on the Jiang household as before. Jiang Quan didn’t care. Even if the incidents involving the Xia family and Jiang Susu seemed connected to Jiang Ruan, he firmly believed that no cat or dog would destroy its own home. Jiang Ruan would always need her maternal family—her only kin aside from Jiang Xin Zhi was Jiang Quan himself. As long as this blood tie existed, Jiang Ruan could never stir up much trouble. As long as filial piety was invoked, she would always be at a moral disadvantage.
But how dare she? Jiang Quan’s eyes reddened like those of a cornered beast nearing its end. The woman’s smile was like the legendary manjusaka flower—beautiful yet cruel, as if a painted skin had emerged from a pile of bleached bones. Blood dripped steadily from her wrist, silently blooming into a vast expanse of crimson flowers on the snow, yet she seemed to feel no pain at all.
Someone who disregarded life and death would never be bound by something as trivial as filial piety. In that moment, Jiang Quan knew—Jiang Ruan had no intention of turning back. The blazing light in her eyes was hatred. She loathed this Minister’s residence and truly despised the Jiang blood flowing in her veins. For once, Jiang Quan was at a loss for words. He didn’t know how to react, could only stare unblinkingly at Jiang Ruan.
By the time the blood on the ground had nearly dyed the small patch where Jiang Ruan stood completely red, her face had grown increasingly pale. Suddenly, the rapid clatter of hooves approached from afar. A figure, accompanied by snowflakes whipped up by the wind, flashed to Jiang Ruan’s side in an instant. The man, who seemed to have just rushed from the military camp, was still clad in armor, his features stern and weathered. Jiang Xin Zhi grabbed Jiang Ruan and roared, “A Ruan, what are you doing?”
Before his voice faded, another figure appeared beside her. Xiao Shao’s gaze was chillingly cold. He shot Jiang Quan a sharp glance but said nothing, yet Jiang Quan felt an overwhelming pressure. Without a word, Xiao Shao took Jiang Ruan’s hand, accepted the medicine bottle and bandages from the shadow guard, and swiftly stopped her bleeding.He said nothing, but the calmer his gaze appeared, the more one could sense the fury he was suppressing. Some young ladies in the crowd recognized him and began whispering, "Isn't that Jinying Wang? He must have come specifically to stand by his wife's side."
"Not necessarily," someone countered. "They say Jinying Wang is heartless and indifferent. But look at how he treats his wife—it doesn't seem unfeeling at all. That 'heartless' reputation must be false."
Jiang Ruan was surprised to see Xiao Shao arrive so quickly. However, she was determined to see today's matter through, and even Xiao Shao's presence wouldn't change her resolve. She shook her head and said, "No need for trouble. I must return this half of my blood to him after all."
Her words were dripping with sarcasm. But as soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Xin Zhi took a large step forward. Though his features inherited Zhao Mei's bright and handsome elegance, years in the military had tempered him with a steely, unyielding demeanor. Now, standing in the snowstorm like a statue, he immediately shielded Jiang Ruan like a mountain. His unwavering gaze bore into Jiang Quan, who couldn't help but falter under its intensity. Suddenly, Jiang Xin Zhi smiled and said, "Why didn't you call me for this, little sister? I'm also a son of the Jiang family, carrying half of its blood. And I, too, despise it. As a man, I won't stand by and let my sister shed blood." He cupped his hands toward the crowd. "I ask everyone here to bear witness—I'll return my sister's blood for her!"
With that, Jiang Xin Zhi decisively snatched the dagger from Jiang Ruan's hand and slashed it across his own palm. His cut was deeper than hers, and blood sprayed out instantly. Jiang Ruan's heart lurched, and she instinctively reached out to bandage his wound.
The crowd fell silent for a few seconds before someone suddenly clapped and cheered, "Bravo! A true man of honor!"
"Well said! Protecting his sister like this—truly worthy of being Da Jin Dynasty's God of War!"
Jiang Xin Zhi already had an excellent reputation among the people, and now, with his righteous and fearless demeanor, his act of shielding his sister from injustice earned even greater admiration. While Jiang Ruan's earlier actions might have seemed slightly excessive to some, Jiang Xin Zhi's intervention changed everything. The crowd now believed that if even this upright and noble God of War despised the Jiang family so deeply, the Minister's residence must indeed be a place of corruption and oppression.
Jiang Quan was nearly driven to the brink of fury by Jiang Xin Zhi. He stared at the tall young man before him—the timid child who had once sought his approval was long gone. Now, Jiang Xin Zhi was a force to be reckoned with, a court official whose reputation alone was enough to intimidate even Jiang Quan. But the siblings joining forces against him struck at Jiang Quan's deepest insecurities. Clutching his chest and gasping for breath, he pointed at Jiang Xin Zhi and spat, "Treason... This is treason!"A trace of disdain flashed across Jiang Xin Zhi's face. Such a father might as well not exist. From the moment he was born, this man had never fulfilled a father's duties. All he had given their mother and the two siblings was endless humiliation and suffering. And now, he dared to use the concept of filial piety to suppress Jiang Ruan. His heart ached for his sister, who had been driven to harm herself just to sever ties with the Jiang family. Since this was what Jiang Ruan wanted, how could he not agree?
Jiang Ruan frowned slightly. She hadn’t expected Jiang Xin Zhi to come. His actions were understandable, but as the commander of an army, today’s incident might later be used against him by his court colleagues. If someone deliberately wanted to kick him while he was down, they might seize this opportunity. The thought made her feel somewhat guilty. She should have found a way to keep him in the dark earlier—she hadn’t expected the news to spread so quickly.
As she was lost in thought, Xiao Shao gently patted her hand. Jiang Ruan looked up at him, and Xiao Shao stepped forward unhurriedly. His dark blue brocade robes did not clash in the slightest beside Jiang Ruan’s crimson dress. The intertwining of blue and red created a strikingly cold yet dazzling elegance. Jiang Quan had no desire to confront him directly, but he couldn’t swallow his anger either. His tone was sharp as he said, "Does Prince Xiao have something to admonish this old official about? But this is merely a family matter—teaching my own children. There’s no need for Prince Xiao to trouble himself."
"A Ruan is my princess consort," Xiao Shao said coldly, as if he hadn’t heard Jiang Quan’s words. "Husband and wife are one. If she must repay Lord Jiang’s blood, I will take her place." With that, he drew the sword at his waist and swiftly slashed the back of his own hand.
Jiang Ruan’s words caught in her throat. Xiao Shao’s actions were undoubtedly for her sake, but more than that, they prevented anyone from using this incident to target Jiang Xin Zhi in the future. With Jinying Wang involved, Jiang Xin Zhi would no longer be the focus of public criticism—at the very least, the world would not first think of the siblings as the aggressors.
The two men stood side by side in the snow, blood blooming on the ground beneath them. One was peerlessly handsome, noble and refined; the other bright and gallant, steadfast as a mountain. The scene was strangely harmonious. The heavy snow fell silently, and among the crowd, some tender-hearted women had tears in their eyes. Covering their mouths, they murmured, "To have such a brother, such a husband—what more could one ask for?"
Jiang Ruan slowly lowered her gaze. The wound on her hand no longer hurt, but a bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart. Two of the most outstanding men in the world had shed blood for her. What had she done in this life to deserve such sacrifice?
When she raised her eyes again, her expression had returned to calm. With a faint, mocking smile, she looked at Jiang Quan, who was now at a loss for how to end this. Softly, she said, "Father, now that the blood has been repaid today, my brother and I will have no further ties to the Jiang family. From now on, we are no longer Jiangs. The bond between father and child is severed—our kindness and righteousness are exhausted!"
The blood that bloomed in that heavy snowfall became a tale that, even many years later, would evoke sighs whenever the capital’s people spoke of it. The radiant face of the woman in red, the resolute figures of the two men—these images were deeply etched into the memories of all who witnessed them. The fleeting glimpse of their extraordinary grace was enough to be recounted for a lifetime, never fading no matter how much time passed.That evening, when Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi returned, their faces were only slightly pale, with no other visible signs. Both had endured years of hardship and had martial arts foundations, so even if they had lost half their blood, how could one truly determine it? It was all just a gimmick—best to quit while ahead. Jiang Ruan never engaged in losing deals. Earlier, she had secretly prepared extra blood pouches in her sleeves. Even if Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi hadn’t shown up in the end, she had a way to retreat unscathed.
Later, she had Tianzhu and Jin San slip the blood pouches into place while helping Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi, ensuring that in the end, it appeared as though they had truly lost "half their blood." Jiang Quan was furious but could do nothing, forced to watch helplessly as they left in a carriage after declaring, "No further ties remain."
Jiang Xin Zhi no longer resided in the Minister's residence. The new mansion bestowed by the Emperor was still under construction, so he simply went to the General's Residence. Nowadays, he and Zhao Guang got along quite well, often discussing military strategy like kindred spirits despite their age difference. After Jiang Ruan gave him a few words of advice, Jiang Xin Zhi departed, leaving only Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao in the carriage. Xiao Shao remained silent, his expression unreadable, which made Jiang Ruan feel somewhat guilty.
Finally, they returned to the manor. As soon as Xiao Shao entered, Butler Lin hurried over to greet them, but before he could speak, Xiao Shao said, "The Princess Consort has suffered a knife wound. Have Xia Wu prepare a prescription and brew some medicine."
Butler Lin froze, his face instantly crumpling in distress. "Injured again? Oh dear, my Princess Consort, how do you keep getting hurt every day? If the heavens above see this, they’ll surely blame our Brocade Hero King Manor for failing to take proper care of you! Jin San, Tianzhu—do you two not want to stay in the Brocade-clad Guards anymore? If you can’t even protect the Princess Consort properly, how can you take on missions in the future? The reputation of the Brocade-clad Guards will be ruined in your hands!"
Jin San and Tianzhu silently averted their gazes. Jiang Ruan, however, had no patience to bicker with Butler Lin and simply lowered her head, following Xiao Shao back to their quarters. Jin Er dropped down from a tree and remarked, "Did the Princess Consort provoke our lord? Look at his expression—seems a bit dangerous."
Jin Si, who had just finished eating a fruit, wiped his mouth casually and immediately pulled out a silver bowl from his sleeve upon hearing Jin Er’s words. "Let’s place bets! Big or small? Who’ll apologize first?"
"I bet on our lord," Tianzhu, usually a rather serious person who rarely participated in such gambling, unexpectedly took out a silver coin from her sleeve. "The Princess Consort is someone with remarkable composure, and our lord dotes on her dearly. Naturally, he wouldn’t stay angry with her for long. The moment the Princess Consort frowns, all his anger will vanish." She spoke with such earnestness that Jin Er couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Tianzhu, ever since you became the Princess Consort’s maid, you’ve been seeing everything through her lens. I don’t recall you ever admiring our lord this much before."
Tianzhu shot him a glare. "The Princess Consort is someone worthy of my respect.""Alright, alright, whatever you say." Jin Er waved his hand and said, "I bet on the Princess Consort making the first move to reconcile." As he spoke, he pulled out a banknote and tossed it into the bowl. "Our master is still a man after all. No matter how much he dotes on his wife, a man has his pride. How could he take the initiative to coax a woman? That would just spoil her. Besides, he's still our master—when have you ever seen him admit fault to anyone?"
Jin San thought for a moment, then took out a few pearls and dropped them into the bowl. "I bet on our master. The Princess Consort isn't an ordinary woman—I have a feeling she's got our master wrapped around her finger. Why are you all looking at me like that? I'm a woman too, and my intuition tells me so."
Jin Yi, who had been silent nearby, picked up his sword and started to leave, only for Jin Si to grab him. "Hey, hey, say something! Jin Yi, who are you betting on?"
Jin Yi glanced at the bowl, silently pulled out a gold ingot from his sleeve, and uttered just three words: "Backing master." Then he turned and walked away, sword in hand.
"Now that's loyalty." Jin Er gave a thumbs-up, only to be smacked aside by Butler Lin. Seeing the pile of gold, silver, and jewels in the bowl, Butler Lin immediately flew into a rage. "I told you not to gamble in the manor and create such a terrible atmosphere! I'll have the master dock your monthly pay! Now hurry up and go brew the medicine!"
No matter how the Brocade-clad Guards carried on in private, Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao were naturally unaware. After entering the room, Xiao Shao remained silent, simply sitting at the table with a book in hand. Jiang Ruan couldn't help but feel he was displeased. Though Xiao Shao rarely showed his emotions on his face, she could still sense the chill emanating from him.
She thought it over and realized that this was indeed her fault. Anyone would be upset to be kept in the dark by their own wife. She had always been straightforward about such matters, and knowing she was wrong, she wanted to apologize. But Xiao Shao had refused to speak to her, leaving Jiang Ruan at a loss. She couldn’t help but feel that Xiao Shao now resembled Ye Pei from her past life when he threw tantrums. Back then, all it took to placate Ye Pei was a few sweet pastries and some praise—calling him a good boy would do the trick. But now, should she go up to Xiao Shao and say, "You’re my sweet little darling"? Jiang Ruan shuddered at the thought.
After a long silence, she finally stood up and walked over to Xiao Shao, who didn’t even lift his head, his gaze fixed on the book in front of him. Jiang Ruan pulled up a chair and sat beside him, speaking softly, "Xiao Shao, how did you know I went to the Minister’s residence?"
"Jin Er investigated it," Xiao Shao replied, still not looking at her.
Jiang Ruan nodded. "I was wrong today. I shouldn’t have kept it from you." She admitted her mistake quickly, without hesitation. She had always been direct with those she was close to, never one to hide things.
Xiao Shao turned his head slightly. "You weren’t wrong."
"Are you angry?" Jiang Ruan asked.
"No."
He clearly was. Xiao Shao was being so stubborn. Jiang Ruan moved her chair closer to the table, resting one hand on the surface while propping her chin with the other, almost leaning halfway over the desk as she stared unblinkingly at Xiao Shao. The man’s expression remained indifferent, utterly unaffected by his surroundings, his profile so strikingly handsome it seemed otherworldly.
Jiang Ruan observed him with an appreciative gaze. Beauty, especially that of someone she didn’t dislike, was always a pleasant sight. But the one feigning aloofness couldn’t endure such a direct stare. After a moment of resistance, he finally set the book aside and looked up, meeting Jiang Ruan’s eyes for the first time since returning home.
"I shouldn’t have kept it from you," Jiang Ruan said before Xiao Shao could speak. "Today, I acted selfishly without considering your feelings. I’m sorry." She sighed. "But Xiao Shao, if I had told you, you would never have allowed it. I thought it would be fine to inform you after the deed was done. I was mistaken... I’m used to handling such matters alone and forgot that you’re my husband. I didn’t think about how worried you’d be."
(End of Chapter)
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