Yet there was a thrilling sense of exhilaration, as if it were a frenzied release. The faint lamplight in the bedchamber slowly illuminated their figures, while suppressed, low gasps gradually dissipated into the cold night air.
...
Jiang Ruan set down the book in her hands. The scout who had returned with a report had been waiting for some time. Xiao Shao, having just finished bathing, noticed Jiang Ruan sitting on the couch lost in thought—so absorbed that she was even holding the book upside down.
He walked over, took the book from her hands, and placed it aside. Jiang Ruan turned to look at him as Xiao Shao tucked the quilt more securely around her and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
"I was thinking... tomorrow they’ll probably find out that the arrow that wounded the Crown Prince came from our manor," Jiang Ruan said.
The phrase "our manor," though spoken unintentionally, clearly pleased Xiao Shao. He curled his lips slightly and replied nonchalantly, "There’s nothing to worry about." Since he had already made arrangements, nothing unfavorable to the manor would happen. Jiang Dan and Ye Hua had their schemes, but they had always underestimated their opponents, foolishly assuming everyone else was as dim-witted as they were.
Jiang Ruan glanced at him. Having someone like Xiao Shao by her side made things much easier—after all, he took care of everything. She said, "Even if you didn’t interfere and let them have their way, the Emperor wouldn’t blame you in the end." The Emperor was indecisive, capricious, and short-sighted, but one thing had remained unchanged from the beginning: his absolute trust in Xiao Shao.
Jiang Dan didn’t know Xiao Shao’s background, and Ye Hua thought they could pin everything on Xiao Shao to succeed. Little did they know their plan was flawed from the start. If it were truly discovered that the Brocade Hero King Manor was involved, the Emperor’s first thought would be that someone was framing Xiao Shao, and he would instead investigate Xiao Shao’s enemies.
If they went along with the flow, Jiang Dan and Ye Hua might eventually be exposed, but that would take more time.
Xiao Shao said, "If I didn’t do this, you’d be in trouble again." Jiang Ruan was already disliked by the Emperor. Ye Hua had never dared to act rashly against the Brocade Hero King Manor all these years—why would he suddenly strike now? The mastermind had to be Jiang Dan. And why would Jiang Dan goad Ye Hua into action? Naturally, it was because of Jiang Ruan. In that case, the Emperor would once again see Jiang Ruan as a troublemaker, and first impressions were hard to shake. To avoid such complications, Xiao Shao had taken care of the potential fallout in advance.
Jiang Ruan hadn’t expected Xiao Shao to consider this angle. She paused, then smiled. "So you already know about Ye Hua and Jiang Dan?"
Xiao Shao nodded silently in acknowledgment.
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "She really is bold." To her, the idea of Jiang Dan getting involved with Ye Hua was unbelievable. Jiang Dan wasn’t particularly clever or skilled. The reason she had climbed to her current position step by step was entirely due to her patience—much like Ye Li and Ye Lang in the past. Back in the Minister’s residence, she had played the role of a harmless, timid girl, even though she was just a child at the time.Jiang Dan was adept at biding her time, meticulous in her actions to ensure no evidence could be used against her. How could such a person engage in an illicit affair with Ye Hua? Once discovered, it would inevitably bring endless calamities. That Jiang Dan would risk such disaster to be with Ye Hua was utterly inconsistent with her cautious nature. Unless... she sought to gain something from Ye Hua through this? Jiang Ruan's expression turned peculiar. Could it be... for Ye Hua himself?
Jiang Dan probably didn’t even like Ye Hua, but Jiang Ruan had long heard of the romantic escapades of lonely palace consorts who sought excitement outside the imperial harem. Perhaps Jiang Dan was no different from those women, harboring her own desires. After all, the Emperor was old—how could a woman of her age endure it?
Jiang Ruan asked Xiao Shao, "Do you intend to intervene in this matter?"
"Entirely up to you," Xiao Shao replied. "I’ll handle the aftermath."
Jiang Ruan couldn’t help but laugh, eyeing Xiao Shao up and down before musing, "It seems my luck isn’t bad either. Jiang Dan ended up with someone as old as the Emperor, no wonder she turned to a younger man like Ye Hua. As for me, having lived two lifetimes, my combined age... might even qualify me as your elder. In that case, I’d say I got the better deal. No need for any 'straying from the wall' either."
"'Straying from the wall'?" Xiao Shao narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly dangerous.
Jiang Ruan, who was usually sharp in reading emotions, certainly noticed the shift in his voice but continued nonetheless, "With your beauty, how could I bear to stray?"
The next moment, Xiao Shao pinned her to the bed, his gaze deep and his voice laden with meaning. "In that case, I’ll just have to work harder so you won’t have the energy to stray."
Jiang Ruan: "..."
...
The night passed in silence. Jiang Dan adjusted her robes—the man beside her had left at some point. Her body ached faintly, the remnants of last night’s frenzy lingering in the air of the chamber. In Ye Hua, she had found novelty and pleasure, finally feeling distinct from those aging women in the palace.
It made her feel, for now, that this flower of hers was still alive.
Ye Hua was utterly different from the Emperor—young, impossibly vigorous. Once she had tasted desire, she craved more. Jiang Dan thought it wouldn’t be so bad to continue like this.
In the throes of passion last night, Ye Hua had whispered, "A woman as clever and beautiful as you... I find myself reluctant to let go. Once my grand plans come to fruition, you may stay by my side under a new name."
At the time, Jiang Dan had dismissed it as a jest, but now she began to seriously consider his words. Indeed, she had no intention of remaining with the Emperor for life. After his death, consorts like her would either be buried with him or sent to convents. Why not plan for her own future? The throne would ultimately fall to either Ye Li or Ye Hua. Ye Li had already cast her aside, but Ye Hua... he was an excellent alternative.
Jiang Dan summoned her attendant. "What news of the Crown Prince?"
"It seems they’ve found the arrows," Zhu'er replied. "But His Majesty appears furious. No further news has spread."Jiang Dan first frowned, then seemed to think of something, and her brow gradually smoothed. No news was good news. It had taken them considerable time to obtain arrows identical to those from the Brocade Hero King Manor. Everyone had seen the arrows Xiao Shao used to shoot the white tiger that day. Moreover, walking back with Ye Pei had drawn many sidelong glances. With the Brocade Hero King Manor and the Thirteenth Prince conspiring to murder the Crown Prince in an attempt to usurp the throne—such charges pressed upon them, and with the manor's past precedents—even if they wanted to clear their names, it would be extremely difficult.
The Emperor must be furious now, but since it involved his own son, outsiders couldn't be allowed to hear, which was understandable. That little bastard Ye Pei, relying on his status as a prince, had always mocked her with sarcasm. Now it was time for him to pay the price. Jiang Dan smiled faintly, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She removed the ornate hairpin and replaced it with a simple silver hairpin, saying, "Let's go. Since something has happened to the Crown Prince, I am deeply concerned. It would be a gesture of goodwill to visit him."
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince lay with his eyes closed, while the Empress sat beside him, her expression filled with worry and agitation. The Crown Prince's injuries were severe, and the imperial physicians had declared there was little hope of recovery. They had reached a desperate situation. Though the Crown Prince had long been out of favor with the Emperor, the Empress knew the Emperor was not entirely indifferent to him. Now, after going out perfectly fine for the royal hunt, this had happened. Even though the Empress had stayed out of palace affairs for years, she couldn't suppress her anger. The Emperor had grown distant from her, and she was determined to uncover the mastermind behind this. In the Empress's view, though Ye Pei was currently favored by the Emperor, he lacked strong maternal family support and was still young, so she didn't pay him much heed. But Ye Li and Ye Hua—their mothers, Noble Consort Chen and De Fei, had fought with her for a lifetime. Now these two youngsters wouldn't even spare the Crown Prince's life. Surely, one of them was behind this.
Just as she was thinking this, a eunuch announced Jiang Dan's arrival to see the Crown Prince. The Empress turned, and Jiang Dan had already stepped forward. She glanced at the pale-faced Crown Prince on the bed, then took the Empress's hand, saying, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is blessed by heaven and will surely recover. These past few days, I have been praying for him in the palace's Buddhist hall, hoping he recovers soon. The Da Jin Dynasty cannot afford to lose its Crown Prince."
Her expression was sincere, and her words were comforting. Praying was easy to say but hard to do, especially in the treacherous harem where women were eager for the Crown Prince to fall and vacate his position. Who would think to pray for him? Hearing this, the Empress felt even more favorably toward Jiang Dan. Since entering the palace, Jiang Dan had always been proper—neither seeking favor nor boasting, humble and amiable. The Empress regarded her as one of her own and said, "You are thoughtful. Forget about the future of the Da Jin Dynasty—I only hope he recovers fully. Whoever wants the Crown Prince's position can have it. At least then he won't be schemed against to the point of losing his life."When the Empress spoke these words, her tone couldn't help but carry indignation and resentment. It was clear she held grievances against the Emperor for taking the Crown Prince out only for him to meet with misfortune. Jiang Dan was taken aback, then quickly said, "Your Majesty must not speak like this. The Crown Prince will surely be fine. Moreover, the mastermind behind this has yet to be caught. Your Majesty must still seek justice for His Highness."
The Empress seemed reminded by Jiang Dan's words and said, "You're right, absolutely right. This mother must avenge her son. Whoever reduced him to this state shall repay it a thousand, no, a hundred-thousandfold." After saying this, she turned to Jiang Dan and asked, "I know you were present that day. Did you notice anything unusual?"
Jiang Dan froze, then withdrew her hand as if recalling something. Avoiding the Empress's gaze, she stammered, "N-no, nothing."
The Empress frowned. Jiang Dan's behavior was undeniably suspicious. She had only asked casually since Jiang Dan had been at the hunting grounds that day, but the reaction before her suggested Jiang Dan knew something—something undoubtedly peculiar. The Empress seized Jiang Dan's hand, gripping it tightly, and pressed urgently, "Tell me now. Don't be afraid of anything. I'll protect you no matter what happens. Just tell me who wanted to harm the Crown Prince?"
Jiang Dan let her hold her hand and finally sighed softly. "Your Majesty, these are matters I shouldn't speak of. But since entering the palace, you have treated me with utmost kindness. Moreover, the Crown Prince is sincere and guileless. I did see something, and keeping it hidden has left me restless. Very well, whatever the consequences, I'll accept them. Your Majesty, the person who harmed the Crown Prince is someone even His Majesty yields three feet to—that's why they dared act so brazenly."
"Who is it?" The Empress could no longer restrain herself, her teeth nearly grinding to dust.
"Jinying Wang."
Jinying Wang? The Empress's expression shifted several times. Jinying Wang—this was a name she was far from unfamiliar with. From the time she married into the imperial family, later becoming Empress, to gradually falling out of favor and becoming a figurehead in the harem, the name Jinying Wang had always been known to her. She had witnessed the downfall of the Brocade Hero King Manor back then, thinking it would be completely eradicated. Yet, for some reason, the Emperor showed mercy, even sparing Xiao Shao's life. Not only that, in subsequent affairs, the Emperor repeatedly aided and promoted Xiao Shao, and even Empress Dowager Yide displayed an unusual attitude toward him.
Having been in the palace for many years and having been the Emperor's wife for so long, the Empress was no fool. She naturally understood there must be deeper reasons behind this. Wisely, she had never probed further—imperial matters had their own logic. But now, hearing Jiang Dan claim Jinying Wang was the mastermind behind the Crown Prince's plight, the Empress found it hard to believe. She didn't particularly dislike Xiao Shao because he had always remained neutral in court. While other ministers began aligning themselves with Ye Li and Ye Hua, Xiao Shao subtly indicated his support for the Crown Prince.
If Xiao Shao stood with the Crown Prince, why would he strike against him? The Empress frowned. "How could it be him?"Noticing the doubt in the Empress's eyes, Jiang Dan said, "This concubine believes that the Brocade Hero King Manor has always been law-abiding all these years and truly had no reason to harm the Crown Prince, but..." Jiang Dan hesitated here, glancing at the Crown Prince on the couch. Seeing this, the Empress urged anxiously, "But what? Speak your mind boldly. This palace has its own judgment. If something truly happened, before the Emperor, this palace is not entirely powerless."
No woman could remain indifferent when her child was harmed. The Empress was an empress, but before that, she was first and foremost a mother. She might have turned a blind eye to the petty jealousies in the harem all these years, but she could not tolerate her own flesh and blood being plotted against. If the mastermind behind this were truly uncovered, even at the cost of her own life, the Empress would seek vengeance for the Crown Prince.
"Jinying Wang wouldn't do it, but this concubine knows that the Princess of Brocade Glory and the Thirteenth Prince are very close," Jiang Dan said slowly.
"Princess of Great Peace?" The Empress was puzzled. The Princess of Brocade Glory was the Princess of Great Peace. The Empress had no particular feelings about Jiang Ruan initially, but once, the Crown Prince had even unprecedentedly mentioned Jiang Ruan in front of her, calling her an interesting woman. Later, when she visited Empress Dowager Yide, she had a few chances to see Jiang Ruan in person. She remembered her as a quiet and gentle woman, exceptionally beautiful, yet without a trace of frivolity in her beauty—a rare quality at her age. Thus, the Empress couldn't help but take a few more glances. Her impression of Jiang Ruan was quite favorable.
"Your Majesty may not know," Jiang Dan sighed at the right moment, "She and this concubine are sisters born of the same father. It shouldn't be said, but... alas, she has a strong personality. Outwardly obedient, she is actually the most intolerant of others. When the late madam passed away, Father elevated Concubine Xia, and Second Sister became the legitimate daughter, while she was sent away to the countryside. Now, Your Majesty, look at the Shangshu residence—Concubine Xia is dead, Second Sister is dead, Third Sister is dead, Second Brother is in trouble, and now even Father has been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. If not for this concubine entering the palace, who knows what fate might have befallen me? Now she is rising step by step. To say something inappropriate, how could the Thirteenth Prince and the Princess of Great Peace, unrelated as they are, have such an intimate sibling bond? Their closeness is truly hard to explain."
The Empress frowned deeply and said, "Don't beat around the bush with this palace. Speak plainly."
Jiang Dan hurriedly complied, "In truth, on the day before the hunting party set out, this concubine once saw the Thirteenth Prince and the Princess of Brocade Glory talking about something. As this concubine passed by, I happened to overhear words like 'arrow' and 'dense forest.' When this concubine approached, they stopped talking. At the time, I didn't notice anything amiss, but now, looking back, there are many suspicious points. It's highly possible this incident is related." Jiang Dan glanced at the Empress's expression and continued, "Later, after the hunt ended, on the second day when everyone returned to camp, the Thirteenth Prince came back with Jinying Wang and his wife. Everyone saw it that day—under the public eye. Your Majesty can verify this with a simple inquiry."After listening to Jiang Dan's words, the Empress slowly exhaled and said, "So you believe it was the Thirteenth Prince and the Jinying Wang couple who brought the Crown Prince to such a state?"
"This humble concubine dare not make baseless assertions," Jiang Dan lowered her head. "The Brocade Hero King Manor now wields immense power, and committing such an act would naturally be thankless. But if the Princess of Brocade Glory shares a deep bond with her younger brother, the Thirteenth Prince, and wished to assist him, the situation would be entirely different. You must understand that the Thirteenth Prince now holds significant sway in court. To speak out of turn, should anything unfortunate befall the Crown Prince, the remaining princes would vie for the throne. Yet, as long as the Thirteenth Prince holds the Brocade Hero King Manor as his trump card, he would never lose, no matter what."
The Empress bowed her head, and Jiang Dan could not discern her expression. After a long pause, the Empress finally looked up and asked, "Are you certain of this?"
Jiang Dan felt a wave of relief inwardly and replied with utmost sincerity, "Absolutely true. Today, this humble concubine has dared to speak boldly before Your Majesty, which is indeed presumptuous. But I simply cannot stand by and watch evildoers escape justice. The Crown Prince is the future ruler of the Da Jin Dynasty, and I must consider the dynasty's welfare, ensuring those with sinister ambitions do not continue to harm others behind their masks."
The Empress scrutinized Jiang Dan carefully. Her no-longer-youthful eyes did not reflect the furious, uncontrolled rage Jiang Dan had anticipated but instead held a measured scrutiny. Jiang Dan's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately regretted her haste in speaking so much, which might arouse suspicion. She should not have speculated so openly about the royal succession and should have used a more subtle approach. Fearing her thoughts might be exposed, Jiang Dan forced herself to remain composed and met the Empress's gaze steadily.
"You've worked hard," the Empress suddenly said with a weary tone. "I thank you for speaking these words."
Jiang Dan carefully observed the Empress's expression, and only then did the weight in her heart lift. She offered a slightly awkward smile and said, "If Your Majesty does not blame this humble concubine for speaking out of turn, I am already deeply grateful."
"That will be all," the Empress said. "I wish to remain here a while longer. Lady Jiang, you may leave now. It would be inconvenient when the imperial physician arrives."
Jiang Dan hastily complied and withdrew.
After Jiang Dan left, the Empress's personal maidservant hesitantly asked, "Does Your Majesty believe Lady Jiang's words?"
The Empress's expression shifted instantly. The gentle and kind gaze from moments ago vanished as if turning a page, replaced by an icy detachment. She said, "She is merely a woman who thinks herself clever, daring to parade her ignorance before me. Does she truly believe I am some short-sighted woman, easily frightened by her shallow words? If she wishes to use me against the Brocade Hero King Manor, she had better possess the capability." The Empress had spent many years in the palace. Though she remained aloof from harem affairs, it was not only due to the Emperor's stance but also because she was no fool—she simply chose to conceal her wisdom. A newly arrived concubine and a woman who had held the position of Empress for years—the former's only advantage over the latter was youth and beauty. The provocation in Jiang Dan's words was far too obvious. If she had truly made such a discovery, why wait until now to speak? And if she had resolved to remain silent, why display such an expression to invite suspicion?
"Then, what does Your Majesty intend to do...?""She did remind me," the Empress sneered, the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on her head swaying slightly. "This matter may not necessarily be targeting the Crown Prince. Since someone is intent on framing him, they must be involved as well." She glanced at the Crown Prince lying on the couch, his eyes tightly shut and lips pale. Recalling the imperial physician's words that the Crown Prince was now at the end of his strength, her heart ached with sorrow. Clenching her teeth, she vowed, "I will see who dares to be so bold. Even if it costs me my life, I will uncover the mastermind behind this and have them torn limb from limb!"
...
The Emperor slammed the memorial in his hand onto the face of the minister below. "Useless!"
The minister hastily knelt and begged for mercy. The Emperor gave him a cold glare, unable to suppress his fury any longer. "If this matter isn't resolved within three days, you can forget about remaining as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—your head won’t be staying on your shoulders either! Get out!"
Sweat dripping from his forehead, the minister scrambled to retreat.
The Crown Prince's entire entourage of guards had been ambushed and annihilated in the hunting grounds. Now that the case had been handed entirely to the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple, there was still no progress. The Emperor couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in his chest. As he grew older, his health wasn't what it used to be, and the Da Jin Dynasty's throne would ultimately have to be passed to the younger generation. But looking at his sons—the undercurrents between Ye Li and Ye Hua, while Ye Pei seemed decent enough now, though his background was unfortunately too lowly. If only Xiao Shao were willing... At the thought of Xiao Shao, the Emperor sighed heavily again. What the world fought over meant nothing to him—what kind of karmic retribution was this?
...
Jiang Ruan entered the palace to visit Empress Dowager Yide. When they spoke of the Crown Prince's injuries, both sighed with emotion. The Empress Dowager had always maintained an impartial stance toward the Emperor's sons in the palace, as if her grandsons weren't truly grandsons but merely candidates to be evaluated as qualified rulers. Though the Crown Prince was far from ideal as the future heir of the Da Jin Dynasty, Empress Dowager Yide saw through people clearly—he was actually the most straightforward and sincere among the current princes. His misfortune naturally saddened her. In old age, one tends to place greater importance on descendants. Perhaps recalling events from many years ago, the Empress Dowager had been feeling rather unsettled these past few days.
Empress Dowager Yide then inquired about matters at the Brocade Hero King Manor, and Jiang Ruan answered each question in turn. Previously, Jiang Ruan hadn't understood why the Empress Dowager showed such unusual concern for Xiao Shao, but now that she knew his true origins, it made sense. No doubt the Empress Dowager harbored deep guilt toward him. The Hongxi Crown Prince's family had been torn apart because of the Da Jin Dynasty's throne, and Xiao Shao had endured such upheaval at a young age. As a royal descendant, he couldn't reclaim his heritage—and likely had no desire to. As both a mother and grandmother, Empress Dowager Yide must have suffered greatly.
No wonder, when Xiao Shao proposed to marry Jiang Ruan, the Emperor had vehemently opposed it while the Empress Dowager had agreed almost without hesitation. Perhaps it was due to her debt toward her eldest son. Knowing that the Hongxi Crown Prince's fate had been tied to Xiang Xiaoyuan, she feared Xiao Shao might follow his father's tragic path. Thus, she poured all her remorse for the Hongxi Crown Prince into compensating Xiao Shao.
(End of Chapter)
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