Qi Feng also smiled and said, "They're just some novel trinkets. With all the fine things in the Prince's residence, Third Sister-in-law must have seen everything. I'm merely making a fool of myself." He paused before continuing, "To be honest, I heard something has happened in the residence."
Since Qi Feng had brought it up, he must have already learned the ins and outs of the matter. As fellow disciples under the same master, he had been managing affairs for Xiao Shao's Hundred Zhang Tower and naturally had many connections with the Brocade-clad Guards. Being aligned with the Brocade-clad Guards meant taking their side, so in this matter, Qi Feng might very well stand with Jin Er. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and said, "Oh? Could it be that you're here to demand an explanation too?"
The incident with Luzhu had indeed affected her deeply. Normally, she was accustomed to speaking gently, but perhaps due to her recent low spirits or because Qi Feng was a familiar face—someone before whom she needn't wear a mask—her words carried a hint of sarcasm.
"No need for that," Qi Feng gestured vaguely toward the stone table in the courtyard. "Why don't we sit and talk?"
Jiang Ruan nodded, and the two took seats at the stone table. Lianqiao served tea and pastries before retreating to the side. Jiang Ruan glanced at the tea, her face still wearing a smile, but her tone turned chilly. "Could it be that you also believe this was entirely my maid's fault? That I was the one who sent someone to ruin the reputation of that Liao family's young lady?"
"Given Third Sister-in-law's nature—so vehement against evil—it's entirely possible you might do such a thing." Qi Feng stroked his chin with a smile. He had since shaved off his beard, but the old habit remained, making the gesture seem somewhat abrupt. Unbothered, he continued to gaze at Jiang Ruan's unchanged expression. "But if Third Sister-in-law had acted, how could that Liao girl have escaped? Your methods never fail. So, the mastermind behind this couldn’t possibly be you."
The words were cleverly phrased, and Jiang Ruan laughed. "Are you saying that if I were to play the villain, I’d do it thoroughly, and thus lack the qualifications to be a half-hearted one?"
"No, no," Qi Feng hastily waved his hands. "I meant that Third Sister-in-law is bold and meticulous. Such a clumsy, hole-riddled scheme could never be your doing."
Jiang Ruan looked at him with a half-smile. "Are you trying to flatter me? Aren’t you afraid this will reach the Brocade-clad Guards' ears?"
"One can't please both sides," Qi Feng sighed. "Do I really seem like a two-faced opportunist in your eyes?" He grinned smugly. "Since Third Sister-in-law and the Brocade-clad Guards are at odds, I’ll stand unconditionally with you. After all, we once set fire to a granary together—that counts as camaraderie in adversity. Rest assured, I’m a man of absolute loyalty." Seeing Jiang Ruan's silent smile and noticeably softened expression, Qi Feng inwardly sighed in relief before adding, "But has Third Sister-in-law considered who might truly be behind this?""The mastermind behind this?" Jiang Ruan said coolly, "I'd like to investigate, but Third Brother is hardly ever at the residence these days. There's nothing for me to discuss with him about this. After all, the Brocade-clad Guards are his men—I can't command them. Besides, if even his subordinates can't uncover anything, what hope do I have? It wasn't me who did it, anyway. Perhaps that woman staged the whole thing herself."
"Staged it?" Qi Feng was taken aback. "That... That is certainly possible, but a woman's reputation is more important than her life. If that Liao girl really orchestrated this, wouldn't the sacrifice be too great? It seems like a losing deal."
"A losing deal?" Jiang Ruan chuckled softly. "This is why men and women see things differently. Reputation is indeed important to a woman, but if she can gain what she truly desires, then reputation becomes secondary—worth the sacrifice. Though it may seem to you like a reckless move, harming the enemy ten thousand while losing three thousand herself, over time, you'll realize it costs her nothing. Even if people talk, it's just idle gossip, nothing more."
"So you're saying she comes out ahead? But I still don't understand," Qi Feng said, puzzled.
Jiang Ruan glanced at him. Even someone as brilliant as Qi Feng, who thrived in court politics, couldn't grasp the intricacies of the inner chambers. The battlefield of the harem was different from that of the court. Men could never truly discern a woman's schemes. If even Qi Feng thought this way, one could imagine how Xiao Shao and Jin Er would see it. This was perhaps the difference between men and women. She smiled faintly. "Very well, let me ask you—what is the Liao girl's current situation?"
"Both parents deceased, alone in the world, burdened with family wealth, and surrounded by covetous relatives," Qi Feng replied after a moment's thought. Then he added, "Her only lifeline now is her betrothal to Jin Er."
"Exactly. If you were her, what other options would you have?" Jiang Ruan pressed.
Jin Er faltered, stammering, "Third Sister-in-law, I'm not a woman. Your analogy is... rather odd."
Jiang Ruan ignored his protest and continued, "A vulnerable woman like her, weighed down by family wealth, has only one way to protect it from her relatives—find a powerful backer. Jin Er's lineage and estate are excellent. For Liao Meng, there's no better choice than him right now. To put it bluntly, it's now or never. Naturally, she'd cling to this opportunity with all her might. Someone determined to cross a mountain will find a way, no matter how many paths there are. Likewise, Liao Meng is determined to marry into Jin Er's household. No matter what she does or sacrifices, as long as she achieves her goal in the end, the trade is worth it."Qi Feng listened without blinking as Jiang Ruan's voice, soft and pleasant yet clear and composed, continued: "Very well, let's examine the potential consequences of this matter. Now that Liao Meng's assault has spread far and wide, the entire capital knows she's the victim, the one deserving sympathy. If Jin Er doesn't cancel the engagement now, he'll gain public admiration throughout the capital. Even if a few say Liao Meng isn't good enough for Jin Er, they're a tiny minority. Later, when Jin Er and Liao Meng marry, people will call them a match made in heaven. Conversely, Luzhu and I have already become the villains. Since Jin Er suspects I orchestrated this, he'll show more concern for Liao Meng. Qi Feng, tell me—sacrificing just one's reputation, with the worst outcome being criticism from a handful, yet gaining public blessings and a husband's pity while completely eliminating the woman who had ties to him—isn't this a profitable deal for Miss Liao?"
Qi Feng was utterly stunned. After a long pause, he shook his head with a bitter smile. "I used to think I was clever, but compared to Third Sister-in-law, I seem like a fool. Now I see it's not just Third Sister-in-law—even that Miss Liao could easily manipulate me. To stake her own reputation as a bargaining chip... she's truly no ordinary person." He suddenly looked at Jiang Ruan. "But Third Sister-in-law, since you saw through her scheme early on, and as you say, it's likely Liao Meng set this trap, why didn't you tell Third Brother?"
Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes. "What's the point of telling him? Xiao Shao is confident and makes his own judgments. Since he trusts his own conclusions, why would he believe others? It would only add unnecessary trouble."
"Third Sister-in-law, that's not right," Qi Feng interrupted. "You know perfectly well Third Brother isn't like that. I think... you just don't want to." Though not as adept at reading people as Jiang Ruan, Qi Feng had spent enough time with her to understand her temperament. Jiang Ruan was somewhat stubborn—when marital discord arose for the first time, she refused to yield or even explain. Perhaps it was another form of pride. Someone more thick-skinned and smooth-tongued could easily mend things with sweet words, but alas, her counterpart was the reticent Xiao Shao. The thought made Qi Feng sigh inwardly.
Noticing his expression, Jiang Ruan feigned annoyance. "If you're not here to speak well of Liao Meng, then you must be here to speak for Xiao Shao. If that's the case, save your breath. I've no time to entertain you over tea.""Hey, hey, hey," Qi Feng quickly touched his nose and said, "No, no, how could I be that kind of person? What I meant was, Third Brother is really too much. Don’t be angry, Third Sister-in-law. Look at the little trinket I brought for you." Qi Feng then opened a small box beside him, inside which lay a wooden carved round container. Jiang Ruan took it and noticed a tiny figure carved on the lid, which could be lifted. She instinctively opened it, and immediately, a smooth melody flowed out. Startled, she looked inquisitively at Qi Feng, who grinned and said, "My friend just returned from a sea voyage. This thing comes from a Western country, called a music box. It plays tunes inside. Interesting, isn’t it?"
Jiang Ruan couldn’t help but smile. In truth, in both her past and present lives, though she had lived in different circumstances and never had the chance to own such delicate items, she had seen many rare treasures. But the curios Qi Feng had found through unconventional means were different. This item wasn’t particularly valuable, but its novelty and charm made it special. After being here for so long, Qi Feng finally saw Jiang Ruan’s genuine smile, not the polite and reserved one, and he sighed in relief. "Do you like it, Third Sister-in-law? If you do, why not go there yourself?" He seemed to recall something and added, "He also has many things displayed at the Treasure Exchange Pavilion. Have you been there, Third Sister-in-law? If not, why not take a look now? After all, the Treasure Exchange Pavilion is our own place. You might find something else that catches your eye."
Jiang Ruan paused. The Treasure Exchange Pavilion—it had indeed been a long time since she last visited. She knew it was Xiao Shao’s business. Thinking back to when she had gone there before, she and Xiao Shao hadn’t even been married yet. She had wandered inside with Dong Yinger and Zhao Jin, stunned by the prices, and had even considered buying a precious shield for Jiang Xin Zhi. Now, it all felt like a lifetime ago. After a moment’s thought, she smiled at Qi Feng and said, "Alright."
This time, it was Qi Feng’s turn to be dumbfounded. He had only been joking casually, after all. Jiang Ruan was now a princess consort—how could she always wander around with an unrelated man like him? Though their relationship with Xiao Shao wasn’t so distant as to require strict avoidance, he had always felt that with Jiang Ruan’s sharp mind, she might have noticed his feelings. Yet someone like Jiang Ruan, who couldn’t tolerate the slightest impropriety, could so calmly say "alright." For a moment, Qi Feng just stared at her in silence.
"What’s wrong?" Jiang Ruan seemed to notice his gaze and smiled. "Are you too busy to accompany me? I’ll trouble you this once. At most, I’ll reimburse your expenses later."
Only then did Qi Feng snap out of it. He was an open-hearted person, and if Jiang Ruan, a woman, could be so straightforward, his refusal would seem odd. Besides, the Da Jin Dynasty wasn’t overly strict about married women’s conduct—as long as there were no intimate actions, it was fine. Thinking that Jiang Ruan had been in low spirits at the residence lately, a trip out might lift her mood. He chuckled and said, "How could I refuse? I’ll go prepare the carriage."Lianqiao still hesitated. If Jiang Ruan were to go out with Qi Feng like this, it might seem as though Qi Feng was deliberately trying to steal her away. Every time Qi Feng looked at Jiang Ruan, there was something unusual in his gaze, and Lianqiao, as Jiang Ruan’s personal maid, couldn’t help but notice, stirring unease in her heart. Luzhu, however, had fewer reservations and simply said, “The young mistress has been cooped up in the mansion for so long—it’s good for her to go out for a walk. Since Young Master Qi is the young master’s friend, he’ll surely know his limits.”
Tianzhu (Nandina) added, “I’ll protect them. Lianqiao, you come with me. Luzhu should stay in the mansion. If we encounter Liao Meng on the street, it might cause trouble again.” Tianzhu’s words were always brief. As a former Brocade-clad Guard, her firm stance on Luzhu’s side during this incident had surprised everyone. In her view, Liao Meng had ulterior motives, and this matter was most likely aimed at Luzhu. It was better for Luzhu not to go out these days—who knew what schemes that woman had up her sleeve? It was safer for Luzhu to stay behind to avoid falling into a trap.
Luzhu understood Tianzhu’s concern for her and felt a warmth in her heart, smiling as she agreed. Once everyone was ready, they finally stepped out of the mansion gates.
...
In a room, a young man sat before a chessboard, playing against himself. From a distance, his profile was strikingly handsome, especially his sharp, delicate chin, exuding an air of beauty, while his lips were as vividly red as freshly applied rouge. Yet, upon closer inspection, this beauty was abruptly shattered by his pair of jade-green fox-like eyes.
Half of his face was concealed behind a mask as he leisurely studied the chessboard before him. At some point, a figure appeared in the room and whispered, “My lord, Jiang Ruan and Qi Feng have left the mansion.”
The room fell into silence for a long while. The chess-playing man frowned, carefully examining the board as if pondering where to make his next move. After a moment, he smiled faintly and placed the piece right in the center of the board, saying, “Go.”
The figure in the room quickly withdrew. The man gazed at the chessboard, his smile growing increasingly alluring, as if laden with profound meaning. He stared at the board for a while before suddenly sweeping his sleeve across it, scattering all the pieces onto the floor. The crisp clatter of the falling pieces filled the room, and the man seemed to relish the sound, closing his eyes and tilting his head slightly to listen. Only after a long pause did he reopen his eyes and turn his gaze toward the windowsill.
On the sill sat a pot of orchids, their pristine white petals gently unfurling as if imbued with life, trembling faintly. In the dimly lit room, they seemed to emit a strange, ethereal fragrance, like a beam of light. The man smiled softly and murmured, “To conquer the heart is the highest strategy—even for a woman.”
This time, his tone dripped with unmistakable disdain.
...While rumors swirled in the capital, the palace remained eerily calm. The Emperor carried out his daily routines as usual—attending court sessions, reviewing memorials, reprimanding or even executing unruly ministers, while promoting and rewarding those he favored. However, astute officials noticed that the Emperor had long ceased to involve himself with the affairs of the only two remaining princes in court. Even his previous enthusiasm for the Thirteenth Prince, Xuan Pei, had waned, leaving both princes in a state of complete neglect, as if forgotten by all, both in court and beyond.
This left the ministers perplexed. Those with daughters in the imperial harem sought to have them relay messages, hoping to discern the Emperor's intentions. Yet the news brought back by these women was even more disheartening—not only were the two princes ignored, but the Emperor had also grown distant from the harem. Few consorts could approach him now, with only the aloof beauty Mu Xirou and the low-ranking Xiuyi Dong Yinger managing to stay close—the latter solely due to her culinary skills.
While the palace women lamented their fading beauty and wasted years in the gilded cage, the court officials sensed something amiss. These seasoned ministers recognized that the Emperor's seemingly minor actions might carry deeper implications. His sudden indifference toward the two princes, though puzzling, did not deter their support. It was now a gamble—choosing the wrong side could spell disaster, but backing the right one promised unimaginable wealth and power. Thus, memorials urging the Emperor to change the Crown Prince continued to pile up on his desk like snowflakes.
Inside a quiet chamber, Mingyue watched Xuan Pei practicing calligraphy at his desk. While others were busy taking sides and Xuan Li employed every means—coercion or bribery—to win allies, Xuan Pei appeared unusually at ease. Unsummoned by the Emperor, he seemed content, spending his days refining his handwriting and cultivating tranquility, like a prince genuinely devoted to self-improvement. Had Mingyue and Chaoyang not been his trusted confidants, privy to his hidden ambitions, they might have mistaken this smiling, handsome youth for nothing more than a slightly clever noble boy, devoid of schemes or grand designs.
OpenNovel