Jin Er didn't even glance at her. Instead, he walked over to Chen Xi, took something from his sleeve, and handed it to him. Those nearby who had a clear view immediately recognized it—it was unmistakably a marriage agreement. Jin Er turned back, looking down imperiously at Liao Meng, who was slumped on the ground. "Since you already had a prior engagement, exchanged the marriage agreement, and gained your family's approval, our previous betrothal is null and void. Besides, you..." He left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear—a woman who had lost her purity had no right to become another man's wife.
The people who had initially sided with Liao Meng and held her in high regard now looked at her with entirely different eyes. The image of a delicate, wronged maiden instantly transformed into that of a wanton, shameless woman. It seemed the maid who had been by Jin Er's side before had also been falsely accused—proof that appearances could be deceiving.
After handing the marriage agreement to Chen Xi, Jin Er turned to leave. But Liao Meng, unwilling to accept this, clung to his leg. She couldn't understand how the man from that night had turned out to be Chen Xi. Yet she was certain that Jin Er had orchestrated everything. Over the past days, she had schemed against him, but how could anyone not be drawn to such a charming and handsome man? Some part of her had genuinely cared for him. Now, that affection had been trampled into worthlessness. Unable to accept it, she pleaded tearfully, "Why did you do this?"
Had he felt nothing for her at all? Those days when he had been tender, attentive, and witty—when they had shared such joy—had it all been an act? She refused to believe it. She needed an answer.
Hearing her question, Jin Er turned back and looked at her once more. His gaze was so cold it sent a shiver down her spine. Then, the man before her bent down, leaning close to whisper in her ear, "Perhaps... because of her."
Her? For a moment, Liao Meng was stunned, but realization quickly dawned. The "her" he referred to was Luzhu. He had done all this... for Luzhu? Had it truly been nothing but a performance?
His voice, devoid of its usual warmth, carried a chilling sharpness, almost threatening as it reached her ears: "There's nothing wrong with using any means to protect yourself. But you should never have directed those means at her."
Liao Meng closed her eyes. She came from a noble family—even if her household had fallen from grace, she was still a proper young lady. Yet she had lost to a mere maid. And Jin Er, who had seemed so tender and devoted, had been nothing but an illusion. He had played his role so well, while she had foolishly believed herself the victor in their game. What a complete and utter joke.
"Did you... ever have any feelings for me?" she forced out, her voice breaking.
"No." The answer came as expected—firm and merciless, just like the man himself. Without another glance, he strode away, never looking back.
Chen Xi, overjoyed, reached out to pull Liao Meng up, putting on an affectionate expression. "Meng'er, it's alright. I won't give up on you. Come, let's go home."Liao Meng struggled twice but couldn't break free from Chen Xi's grip. Zhou Mama hadn't woken up yet, and she stood alone and isolated. The surrounding crowd looked at her as if she were the plague, with no one extending a helping hand—in their eyes, Liao Meng was now a notorious figure.
Under such circumstances, Chen Xi effortlessly dragged Liao Meng away, practically hauling her into a low, narrow room by the end. The moment they entered, Chen Xi's expression changed completely. Gone was any trace of his earlier affection as he immediately slapped Liao Meng across the face, snarling, "You bitch!"
Struck hard by Chen Xi, Liao Meng numbly cupped her swollen cheek, utterly despairing and seeing no way out. The marriage contract was signed, and she had already given her chastity to Chen Xi. Even with the vast family fortune at her disposal, her fate was sealed. And Chen Xi was the type to hold grudges—her abandonment of him to flee to the capital and her attempt to latch onto Jin Er was an unforgivable betrayal in his eyes. He would undoubtedly make her suffer even more.
Liao Meng's fears proved correct. After slapping her viciously, Chen Xi suddenly sneered, "Filthy whore, if you're so desperate for men, I'll give you all you can handle right now!" He tore off her outer robe and pounced on her. The room echoed with violent sounds as Chen Xi vented his hatred, showing no mercy. The storm of intimacy was unbearable for Liao Meng, who clenched her teeth to suppress any cries of pain. Yet tears still trickled slowly down her cheeks.
Chen Xi would take her back to Dingxi, and she would be bound to him for life. Given his resentment toward her now, her future would be miserable. Her uncle and aunt would seize the entire Liao family fortune, leaving her with nothing in the end—back to square one, or worse. At least in the past, there had been some hope, but now, only deep despair remained.
On the bustling street, Jin San and Jin Er walked side by side. Jin San glanced at Jin Er and remarked, "That was ruthless. I thought you always had a soft spot for women?"
Jin Er had long upheld the reputation of a "gentleman among flowers," showing some leniency toward women—but only within his acceptable limits. For instance, if he had to kill a woman, he would ensure she suffered as little as possible and died swiftly. The Brocade-clad Guards were inherently indifferent and cruel toward life. No matter how different their personalities, this principle never changed. Xiao Shao had mastered it flawlessly, and though Jin Er usually seemed carefree, he too adhered to this unshakable rule.However, this time, his methods toward this woman were indeed cruel. That Chen Xi was summoned by him in the first place. When Liao Meng had initially begun deliberately approaching him, Jin Er had already sensed something amiss and personally investigated, instructing his contacts in Dingxi to look into Liao Meng's affairs. The Brocade-clad Guards worked swiftly, and soon they obtained information about Liao Meng, naturally bringing Chen Xi into Jin Er's sight. He had Chen Xi brought over. The incense Liao Meng burned that night did have the effect of clouding one's mind, but she had underestimated Jin Er—especially with Xia Qing still in the capital. Liao Meng had guessed correctly: that night, it was indeed Chen Xi who had shared her bed instead of Jin Er.
Jin Er never felt there was anything wrong with this, nor did he harbor any guilt—except toward Luzhu. Yet, he had no idea how to explain it to her.
Jin San, seeing his distress, sighed and said, "You should explain it properly later. Luzhu isn’t unreasonable. You did this for the sake of the entire manor and out of concern for her safety. She’ll forgive you eventually." Hesitating for a moment, Jin San added, "But deception isn’t something women forgive easily, so you’d better be prepared."
Jin Er didn’t need Jin San to tell him this—he already knew. After all, he had spent years working undercover in brothels and understood women well enough. Liao Meng had lost to him precisely because she underestimated his prowess in matters of romance. If it hadn’t been absolutely necessary, Jin Er wouldn’t have deceived Luzhu. But the stakes were too high—missions carried out by the Brocade-clad Guards couldn’t be revealed even to the closest of kin. For years, the Brocade-clad Guards had adhered to such strict protocols because even the slightest misstep could lead to bloody consequences. By keeping Luzhu in the dark, Jin Er was also upholding his duty to the Brocade-clad Guards. Yet, hurting someone like this left him with an unprecedented sense of anguish. The day he struck Luzhu, he had tossed and turned all night. The turmoil in his heart after their argument wasn’t feigned—his hesitation and grim expression had inadvertently fooled Liao Meng.
Thinking about how to explain everything to Luzhu now gave Jin Er another headache.
Meanwhile, back at the Brocade Hero King Manor, news had already arrived. Lianqiao clapped her hands in delight, laughing, "Truly, the wicked are punished by the wicked! This Liao Meng, claiming to be a noble lady, actually resorted to such despicable methods. Offering oneself like that is something only a concubine or a bedroom maid would do—what unmarried young lady would stoop so low? Tsk, what a joke! But now, at least her false mask has been torn off, revealing her true colors. How satisfying!"
Jiang Ruan remained silent, her gaze falling on Luzhu, who sat with her head bowed, lost in thought. There was no reason to keep Luzhu in the dark any longer, so Jiang Ruan explained the whole situation to her. How to handle it was up to Luzhu and Jin Er, but seeing Luzhu’s dazed expression now, Jiang Ruan couldn’t help but feel another headache coming on.
She asked, "Luzhu, what do you think about this?"Luzhu hadn't expected Jiang Ruan to suddenly ask her and was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words. Lianqiao, who had been speaking beside her, also fell silent and looked at Luzhu. Indeed, now that the truth was out—that Jin Er and Liao Meng had never actually been involved in anything, and it had all been an act to deal with the Southern Borderlands people—Luzhu's resentment toward Jin Er no longer held any ground. So, what choice would Luzhu make now?
"I... I don't know..." Luzhu murmured. The news was still too shocking for her. She hadn't imagined everything had been nothing but a deception, meaning all the heartache she had felt initially was for nothing. In that moment, she truly didn't know what to do or how to face Jin Er, so she instinctively voiced the thoughts in her heart.
Jiang Ruan sighed. This matter wasn't urgent, and she figured Luzhu would need some time to come to terms with it. Just as she was thinking this, she noticed Ye Feng hurrying in, calling out, "Young Madam!"
Xiao Shao had already left, and his current whereabouts were unknown. Seeing Ye Feng's anxious expression, Jiang Ruan asked, "What's happened?"
Now that Xiao Shao was away, matters concerning the Brocade-clad Guards could be handled by Jiang Ruan. She was prudent in her approach—if something was beyond her ability to resolve, she would set it aside and wait for Xiao Shao's return. Without hesitation, Ye Feng replied, "The fake Yao Niannian has been rescued."
"Have you found her?" Jiang Ruan frowned.
"No, but the guards stationed in the western part of the city saw someone enter a residence. Suspicious, they rushed in, only to find it empty. Upon searching, they discovered signs of recent habitation—it must have been the Southern Borderlands leader," Ye Feng answered.
"From what you say, it must be their reinforcements. Xuan Li hasn't made any moves yet, so it couldn't be him. No other officials in the Jin Dynasty would have the capability," Jiang Ruan mused. "In that case, it can only be the Southern Borderlands people themselves. To escape under such a tight net, they must be extremely familiar with the capital's layout. I suspect this person is likely a Southern Borderlands spy who has long infiltrated the capital—perhaps hidden for many years—to pull off such a rescue right under our noses. To remain undetected for so long, they must be a very valuable asset to the Southern Borderlands."
Ye Feng was momentarily stunned by how much she had deduced from just this incident, then said admiringly, "Young Madam is right. Some of our men saw a person in the western part of the city, but at the time, they didn't pay much attention due to the haste. Later, upon reflection, they realized the person bore a striking resemblance to someone."
"Who?"
"Da Yiniang of the Jiang residence—Yi Shuang," Ye Feng replied.
Yi Shuang—the name felt almost unfamiliar, and the Jiang residence seemed like a thing of the distant past. Hearing these two words from Ye Feng's mouth, Jiang Ruan was momentarily dazed. But she quickly snapped back to reality. Yi Shuang? The image that surfaced in her mind was of that quiet, nearly invisible Da Yiniang who had always blended into the background of the residence.Over the years, this Da Yiniang had occupied a seemingly insignificant position in the Minister's residence, yet she stubbornly remained there. From the time Jiang Ruan and her siblings were driven out and Zhao Mei died, she had been present. Now that the Jiang household was no more, she had managed to escape unscathed—an almost unbelievable feat. Jiang Ruan had once suspected her, but after the fall of the Jiang family, she had vanished without a trace. Now, she had suddenly reappeared in such a manner.
Since Ye Feng mentioned the western part of the city, it indicated suspicion regarding Yi Shuang's connection with the Southern Borderlands people. Jiang Ruan's eyes flickered—this suggested that her earlier suspicions hadn't been entirely unfounded. Who was this Yi Shuang, and what had been her purpose in lurking within the Jiang household for so many years? And the timing of her appearance... Jiang Ruan's heart skipped a beat as a thought flashed through her mind.
"First, send people to continue monitoring the western part of the city. If they're planning to leave, they won't get far. That fake Yao Niannian must hold a significant position among the Southern Borderlands people; otherwise, she wouldn't have infiltrated a family like the Yaos. It's highly likely she's their leader. As for the person who rescued Yao Niannian, anyone capable of such a feat wouldn't be ordinary. Acting under such scrutiny shows they have no fear of us. There's no such thing as baseless arrogance, so I believe they must be fully prepared. If she is Yi Shuang, given her nature of lurking in the Minister's residence for so many years, her taking action now can only mean their plans are complete. It's time for them to make their move, and it's likely coming soon."
"But..." Tianzhu said doubtfully, "Hasn't this scheme already been foiled?" The fake Yao Niannian's identity had been exposed, Luzhu and Jin Er's situation had been clarified, and Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao were not only not at odds but had cooperated seamlessly. The Southern Borderlands people had already been forced into retreat—how could they still act?
"Confronting us was never their goal," Jiang Ruan said, her tone unreadable, though her expression showed rare solemnity. "Or rather, it wasn't her goal. These Southern Borderlands people are clearly divided into two factions—though I don't know why. One faction is targeting me, while the other..." She paused briefly before continuing, "is aiming for that position. Now that Yao Niannian, who was after me, has failed, the Southern Borderlands people will follow the orders of the other faction. And what that faction wants is simply to wait for an opportunity. Now, that opportunity has arrived."
"Opportunity?" Tianzhu still seemed puzzled, but Ye Feng seemed to grasp something from her words, his expression shifting slightly. Jiang Ruan ignored him and turned toward the study. "Ye Feng, has anything unusual happened in court recently? Come in and brief me."
That night, when Xiao Shao returned, it was already very late. Normally, Jiang Ruan would have been asleep by then, but tonight the lights in the room were still on. Xiao Shao paused slightly upon entering, then walked over to her and chided gently, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I was waiting for you. There's something I need to discuss," Jiang Ruan said, looking up. Xiao Shao was taken aback—Jiang Ruan's face showed traces of exhaustion, which was rare for her. Without leaving, he sat down beside her and asked, "What's wrong?"Jiang Ruan recounted to Xiao Shao what Ye Feng had told her earlier. After listening, Xiao Shao furrowed his brows slightly in thought before finally saying, "I understand."
"No, that's not what I wanted to say." Jiang Ruan tugged at his sleeve and looked at him. "Xiao Shao, this might sound strange, but I have this intuition... I suspect Yi Shuang is actually Qi Man." As the words left her mouth, Jiang Ruan felt a weight lift from her chest. She didn't know why she had this thought. Ever since her rebirth, she had always harbored a peculiar feeling about Da Yiniang Yi Shuang—an instinctive wariness born from having died once before. But Yi Shuang had concealed herself too well, her patience reaching terrifying levels. Compared to her, Xuan Li seemed almost naive. Over all these years, Yi Shuang had done nothing overt, leaving Jiang Ruan unable to discern her intentions. Yet now, Ye Feng's remark about her possible connection to the Southern Borderlands acted like a key, unlocking the door in Jiang Ruan's mind. The thought emerged naturally.
Xiao Shao looked at her but remained silent. Seeing his composed expression, Jiang Ruan frowned. "You don't believe me? I admit the idea sounds absurd, but my conclusion isn't based solely on intuition. I've been thinking about it all night. The time of Qi Man's disappearance, as you described it, seems to align closely with when Da Yiniang entered the household. And if she has ties to the Southern Borderlands, someone who could command their loyalty even after years of absence—only the status of a Southern Borderlands princess could achieve that."
"It's not that I don't believe you," Xiao Shao said, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. "I've been suspecting her as well."
Jiang Ruan was taken aback. "You knew all along?"
"It was just a suspicion," Xiao Shao replied. "For years, the Southern Borderlanders have pursued me relentlessly. I've tried to track down Qi Man from back then but found nothing. She must still be alive. Despite multiple deep incursions into the Southern Borderlands, there was no trace of her. Given her vindictive nature, if she knew of my existence, she would surely remain in the capital, waiting for revenge. So I've always had people searching the capital." He sighed. "It's only recently that I've found a lead. I never imagined she would hide in the Minister's residence."
A noble Southern Borderlands princess, peerless in beauty, reduced to an unloved concubine in the Jiang household. While appearances could be disguised, maintaining such a facade for decades was nothing short of terrifying.
Jiang Ruan studied Xiao Shao carefully. After all, the Southern Borderlanders were his blood enemies. Everyone carried their own burdens—Jiang Ruan bore the hatred from her past life, while Xiao Shao shouldered the blood debt of this one. This was his fate. Xiao Shao's current circumstances were entirely orchestrated by Qi Man. Both his birth parents and adoptive parents had perished because of the Southern Borderlanders, the depth of his enmity evident. Yet now, as he spoke of Qi Man, his expression remained calm and composed, easing Jiang Ruan's heart. After a moment's thought, she took his hand and said, "Now that we know who's behind this, I think they'll make their move soon. We're in the shadows while they're exposed—we have the advantage. This time, let me help you take revenge, alright?" She wanted to lift his spirits.
Xiao Shao couldn't help but smile, gently stroking her hair. "Alright.""But there's still something strange," Jiang Ruan said doubtfully. "I can see that the people from the Southern Borderlands are now divided into two factions. One is the fake Yao Niannian's group—these people have just arrived in the capital and are still unfamiliar with many places, which is why they were chased by the capital's officials with nowhere to hide. The other faction is Qi Man's. She has been lurking in the capital for years and has long mastered many of its secrets, which is how she could so smoothly rescue the fake Yao Niannian. Their goals are also different. Qi Man has likely been hiding all these years for revenge, while the fake Yao Niannian staged that whole act with Jin Er and Luzhu, seemingly to drive a wedge between us. But I can't help feeling she's targeting me specifically. What deep-seated grudge could she have against me? Even if it's guilt by association, she should hate you first."
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Xiao Shao's odd expression and immediately sensed something amiss. Grabbing his sleeve, she demanded, "What's going on? Explain this to me. Don't tell me you've attracted another admirer, bringing me new trouble?" The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Jiang Ruan glared at Xiao Shao, looking as if she could devour him whole.
"Ahem." Unable to withstand the pressure, Xiao Shao coughed lightly twice and stood up nonchalantly, saying, "Well, I'm going to take a bath."
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