These words were a man's teasing towards a woman. Jiang Dan shook her head: "In terms of grace or the art of ruling, this concubine believes that the Thirteenth Prince, the Eighth Prince, or even the Crown Prince cannot compare to the Fifth Prince. I only hope that on the day Your Highness achieves great success, you will not forget the words I have spoken today and grant this concubine a place in the deep palace. I would be eternally grateful."
Ye Hua naturally enjoyed hearing flattery, and Jiang Dan's words pleased him immensely. Not to mention Ye Pei and the Crown Prince, even Ye Li—since childhood, people had always compared them, with Ye Li's natural brilliance making others say Ye Hua fell short. Yet Jiang Dan claimed he was the best, instantly dispelling his last doubts about her and making her increasingly agreeable in his eyes.
"Since you say so, you must already have an idea. Speak your mind," Ye Hua said.
Jiang Dan looked at him and slowly replied, "Doesn’t Your Highness think that in such chaotic times, prolonging the situation only gives others opportunities? It would be better to eliminate rivals now. A true man should not hesitate but act with both courage and strategy." Her tone carried a hint of temptation, and Ye Hua immediately felt a surge of excitement. He was naturally impulsive, usually kept somewhat in check by De Fei's guidance. But these days of adhering to her policy of restraint had pushed him to his limit. Jiang Dan's words struck a chord, and he eagerly said, "Go on."
"From what this concubine knows, my elder sister and the Thirteenth Prince are growing closer. Because of her, the Brocade Hero King Manor will inevitably side with the Thirteenth Prince. The Brocade-clad Guards number a hundred thousand—if they truly align with the Thirteenth Prince, it would be disastrous for Your Highness."
Ye Hua snorted coldly. "The Thirteenth Prince is quite cunning, playing the fool to hide his ambition. No wonder all the good fortune in the world seems to fall to him. Now his true ambition is revealed, and he’s secretly plotting."
Despite his words, worry flickered across his face. After all, no one in the Da Jin Dynasty dared to underestimate the Brocade Hero King Manor. If Ye Pei gained its support, it would be like securing half the empire, making him nearly impossible to oppose in the future.
Jiang Dan whispered, "When my stepmother was still alive, she once told me something: any potential threat is best nipped in the bud. That way, it will never grow, never become a danger to you." These were words Xia Yan had once said to her, urging her to poison Zhao Mei. The seemingly offhand remark had solidified her resolve to also poison Jiang Ruan's food. Back then, she had been too timid to follow through—otherwise, she would have eliminated the threat permanently and wouldn’t need to resort to such measures now.
Ye Hua froze, eyeing Jiang Dan suspiciously. "Are you suggesting...?""At present, the Thirteenth Prince is still just a child. There have been more than one prince of his age who died young in the palace." Jiang Dan's voice was soft, but her words were cruel: "Besides, what if we just make a slight move? The Thirteenth Prince has only recently gained His Majesty's favor, while the Fifth Prince has shared over twenty years of father-son affection with His Majesty. Speaking of which, the Fifth Prince is still closer to His Majesty. While His Majesty's bond with the Thirteenth Prince is not yet deep, it's best to cut the knot quickly."
Ye Hua seemed not to have expected Jiang Dan to say such things. He stared at her for a long time before suddenly laughing and saying, "So Consort Jiang came prepared. What, do you intend to use me as well?"
Jiang Dan promptly feigned alarm: "How would this concubine dare? I merely seek self-preservation."
"Fine. Tell me, what do you want me to do?" Ye Hua now understood that Jiang Dan also had her own motives. However, since her words aligned with his intentions and held some reason, he decided not to dwell on it.
"Since my elder sister is close to the Thirteenth Prince, why not bind them together? In the end, if both commit some grave crime, Your Highness would remove a thorn from your side, and this concubine could also catch her breath." Jiang Dan smiled faintly: "A happy outcome for all."
...
Not long after leaving, Ye Pei and Liu Min stood before the Southern Garden. Ye Pei turned to Liu Min and said, "Grand Tutor, you may return first. I have some matters to attend to today. I will present my studies to you tomorrow."
Liu Min knew Ye Pei had always been decisive and did not insist. He bowed and took his leave. After Liu Min departed, Ye Pei's expression darkened. He summoned Mingyue and said gravely, "Go quickly to where we just encountered Jiang Dan. Find her and keep a close watch. If anything happens, report back to me immediately."
Mingyue obeyed and left. Zhaoyang asked, "Your Highness, do you find Consort Jiang suspicious?"
Ye Pei's gaze darkened. More than suspicious—Jiang Dan had always been meticulous, yet today her emotions had repeatedly surfaced. He was well aware of Jiang Quan's situation and surmised that Jiang Dan could no longer sit still. If the fox was about to reveal its tail, he saw no harm in seizing it. There was no reason to turn away prey that delivered itself to his doorstep, especially when it was courting death.
At the Eighth Prince's residence, Ye Li tossed the letter he had read into the nearby flames, where the fire instantly consumed the words, reducing them to ashes. His advisor finally couldn't resist asking, "Why did Your Highness reject Consort Jiang's proposal?"
Jiang Dan had suggested forming an alliance with Ye Li to overthrow the Brocade Hero King Manor. The idea was undeniably tempting, and since Jiang Dan had proposed it, she must have had a plan. Given Ye Li's cautious nature, it would have been reasonable for him to at least hear her out. Yet he had refused without hesitation, which was rather peculiar.
"She is desperate now, hence her impatience. She must have some leverage against Jiang Ruan and wants to use me to deal with her, while incidentally targeting the Brocade Hero King Manor. What good strategy could she possibly have? Moreover, it's hardly worth my effort." Ye Li watched the flickering flames. "Besides, this woman is exceedingly cunning and has already entangled herself with the Fifth Prince."
The advisor followed Ye Li's gaze to the flames, realizing it must be a secret report from the palace. That Jiang Dan had connected with Ye Hua in such a short time indeed showed how desperate she was. The advisor pondered for a moment before asking, "Then what does Your Highness intend to do...?""Fools, nothing more." Ye Hua said carelessly, "If these two can join forces to topple the Brocade Hero King Manor, all the better. Xiao Shao's existence has always been a stumbling block. One day, I'll clear away this obstacle myself. If someone else does the job for me, why not let them?" He seemed amused. "If they're outmatched, given Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan's temperaments, do you think they'll come out unscathed?"
Ye Li added, "The Fifth Prince has been an eyesore in court for too long, and now there's Ye Pei as well. If the Fifth Prince were to disappear from this world, it would be a boon for me." He glanced at the golden buttons on his sleeve. "Either way, I lose nothing. Why should I wade into this muddy water?"
"Your Highness is wise," the advisor sighed. "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits. In the end, Your Highness stands to gain." After a pause, he suddenly said, "But Consort Jiang was originally on our side. Now that she's allied with the Fifth Prince, she's no longer of use to us—just a discarded pawn. What about the palace intelligence she provided..."
"She was already useless," Ye Li interrupted. "Yuan Chuan has entered the palace. What need do we have for Jiang Dan? Might as well make one last use of her to accomplish something for me. At least her existence won't have been in vain."
The advisor nodded. "In that case, we need only wait for good news. Your Highness is truly the finest strategist. This game of chess will ultimately be concluded by Your Highness."
...
Jiang Ruan stretched lazily, instinctively tightening her arms around the warm presence beside her. Blinking drowsily, she realized her hands were still wrapped around Xiao Shao's waist, his serene sleeping face mere inches from hers.
Pale sunlight filtered faintly through the curtains, casting just enough light to clear the haze from her mind. Memories of the previous day surfaced—how she had laid bare the tragedies of her past life, and then, in a sudden rush of emotion, Xiao Shao had carried her away in her dazed state. Perhaps passion could dull pain, for in those fervent, sweat-drenched moments, all her anguish had been released.
And then? Jiang Ruan frowned slightly. This man, usually so aloof and composed, became utterly insufferable in bed, refusing to relent until she was left breathless and yielding. How infuriating.
Propping her chin on one hand, she studied the man lying beside her. The young man's lashes, delicate as butterfly wings in spring, cast soft shadows beneath his eyelids. His nose was straight and proud, his lips thin yet softly flushed. In sleep, Xiao Shao looked almost gentle.
Just as she was lost in thought, a hand suddenly yanked her down, pulling her into a warm embrace. Xiao Shao's eyes remained closed, but his voice was alert, laced with the languid satisfaction of Gluttony. "It's still early."
"It's not," Jiang Ruan retorted automatically before realizing. "You're awake?"
The corners of Xiao Shao's lips curved as he opened his eyes to look at her. "Mhm."
Away from his subordinates, this man seemed to revel in mischief, occasionally downright wicked, as if teasing her was an endlessly amusing game. To Jiang Ruan, this behavior bore an uncanny resemblance to Ye Pei's antics—except where Ye Pei was endearing, Xiao Shao's usual icy demeanor made it all the more unsettling."You..." Jiang Ruan pushed at him, but Xiao Shao didn't let go. His strength was immense to begin with, and with just a little skill, Jiang Ruan couldn't do anything about it. So she had no choice but to remain nestled in his arms, though it did remind her of something. She asked, "Yesterday, I told you all those things, but I didn't get to hear what you had to say. When do you plan to tell me?"
Thinking about this made Jiang Ruan extremely uncomfortable. Yesterday, her emotions had been in such turmoil that when Xiao Shao carried her back to their room, it must have been witnessed by the manor's servants. What would they think? That the moment the princess consort returned to the manor, she couldn't wait to indulge in daytime dalliances with her lord—wouldn't that make her seem too desperate? As for Butler Lin, he was probably even more puzzled. How did a serious conversation about secrets end up leading to the bed?
Now, with both dignity and face completely lost, Jiang Ruan felt it would be even harder to command respect in front of the servants and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Xiao Shao, however, paused slightly before saying, "Yesterday, you were too eager. I thought you wanted to do something more important."
"More important?" Jiang Ruan glared at him coldly. "What do you mean by 'more important'?" Clearly, this man had ulterior motives. She had only intended a gentle comfort, but he had taken advantage of the situation.
The corners of Xiao Shao's lips curled up. Jiang Ruan looked at him for a moment, then smiled as well. She pushed at him again. "Alright, let's get up first. I don't have anything to do today, so whatever you want to say, I can listen." She teased, "Even if you tell me you're like me—someone who's died once before—I won't hold it against you."
"If you want to hear it, I'll tell you." Xiao Shao stroked her hair. "Let's get up first."
After breakfast, Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao walked to the courtyard. The pavilion in the yard bordered a pond, its clear green water revealing red fish swimming about, adding a lively touch to the monotonous winter scenery. Jiang Ruan was preoccupied with Xiao Shao's words, and now, seeing his expression no longer as relaxed as it had been in the morning—even somewhat somber—she realized this matter might be significant and quietly stayed by his side.
Truthfully, long before this, Jiang Ruan had sensed that Xiao Shao might harbor a secret no less profound than her own.
"A Ruan," Xiao Shao began, "you've paid respects before my parents' memorial tablets."
"Yes," Jiang Ruan nodded. "On our wedding day." The day she married into the Brocade Hero King Manor, she had personally bowed to her parents-in-law before the tablets of the old Jinying Wang and his wife. Hearing Xiao Shao mention it now brought the memory back.
"Actually, you never paid respects to them." Xiao Shao lifted his gaze to the distance, his eyes tinged with melancholy. Lost in thought, he continued slowly, "There was nothing for you to pay respects to."
Jiang Ruan froze, studying him intently. The implication of his words was deeply thought-provoking. Did it mean the tablets enshrined in the ancestral hall weren't actually those of Jinying Wang and his wife? Or was there another meaning?
"Do you remember one day when you came to the manor and saw me paying respects to someone else here?" Xiao Shao stood with his hands behind his back, his tall frame now exuding a sense of desolation. "Those are the ones you should have been honoring."Jiang Ruan was startled, recalling that there had indeed been a day—the very day when Xiao Shao, drunk, had kissed her—when she had seen him paying respects to someone. At the time, she had found it strange because it wasn’t the memorial day of Jinying Wang and his wife. Yet she couldn’t think of any other reason. The suspicion she had harbored then was finally confirmed at this moment. As she pondered Xiao Shao’s words, she heard his voice beside her:
"I am not Jinying Wang’s son."
Jiang Ruan looked up. Xiao Shao’s dark eyes were unreadable as he said, "My father was Hongxi Crown Prince."
Jiang Ruan froze, and then a storm of shock surged within her. Hongxi Crown Prince—Empress Dowager Yide’s eldest son, the current Emperor’s elder brother, who should have been the ruler of the Da Jin Dynasty—had died beneath the trampling hooves of ten thousand horses while quelling the rebellion of the feudal lords on the eve of the dynasty’s founding. And he was Xiao Shao’s father?
Xiao Shao glanced at Jiang Ruan before turning away, standing at the edge of the pavilion as he slowly began to recount the past.
Empress Dowager Yide had borne two sons and one daughter. The eldest, Yuan Rong Gongzhu (Princess Yuan Rong), was intelligent, gentle, and dignified. The second, Hongxi Crown Prince, had also earned widespread fame in the capital from a young age. The current Emperor was the youngest, spoiled by his elder siblings, but he was clever nonetheless. The three of them had always been close.
During the reign of the late Emperor, Empress Dowager Yide’s assertive style of governance had made him wary, to the point where he suppressed even her maternal family. Though the Empress Dowager was decisive and politically astute, the greatest blow had come from her own husband. Fearing her monopolization of power, the late Emperor had favored a consort exclusively and even sought to elevate other princes to balance the court’s factions. While this did prevent the dominance of the Empress Dowager’s relatives, after the late Emperor’s passing, the delicate equilibrium was shattered, plunging the Da Jin Dynasty into an unprecedented crisis—the Rebellion of the Eight Princes.
(End of Chapter)
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