After Butler Lin finished speaking, Jiang Ruan remained expressionless, but Lianqiao and Luzhu behind her were somewhat surprised. In their eyes, Butler Lin was just a somewhat eccentric old man, yet today his words were logical and well-founded. For some reason, he seemed completely different from his usual self.
Jiang Ruan, however, was not surprised. The once graceful and talented Tanhua Lang, who had the wisdom to retire at the height of his glory, coupled with his endurance and patience, was inherently a man of great intellect. Yet Jiang Ruan also noticed that when Butler Lin mentioned the news of Eunuch Li’s death, there was a flicker in his eyes that he could hardly conceal. Clearly, he might have some connection with Eunuch Li. But everyone in this world has their secrets—why dig too deep? Still, Butler Lin’s analysis aligned perfectly with her own, reinforcing her convictions.
“You’re right. Only someone extremely close to Eunuch Li could have plotted against him, perhaps even someone who had been by his side for many years. The sudden move now is partly due to the Emperor’s illness, but more importantly, it might be a signal,” Jiang Ruan said.
“A signal?” Butler Lin frowned. “Does the young madam think they are about to act?” At this moment, Old Lin was discussing strategies with Jiang Ruan, a far cry from his usual unreliable demeanor.
“Not an act. Eunuch Li’s death was too abrupt. If they wanted to act, they wouldn’t start with a chief steward. His death must have been caused by something related to himself. He made a mistake somewhere, and it ultimately cost him his life,” Jiang Ruan mused.
Butler Lin pondered for a while, seemingly convinced by her reasoning. He looked at her and asked, “But young madam, what mistake could he have made? What kind of mistake would lead to his death?”
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. “What is the most pressing matter in the palace right now?”
“It’s… the Emperor’s illness,” Butler Lin replied.
“Then Eunuch Li’s mistake lies there. He was the chief steward, but his significance was tied to the Emperor. The reason he lost his life was because of the Emperor. The greatest value of a chief steward is his proximity to the Emperor—he likely knew many of the Emperor’s secrets. So, it’s quite simple. Eunuch Li learned of a certain decision made by the Emperor, and this decision was inadvertently discovered by someone else. Then, he was killed.”
Butler Lin was inwardly astonished. From just the fact of Eunuch Li’s death, Jiang Ruan had deduced so much. He couldn’t help but feel dazed. Perhaps neither the late Hongxi Crown Prince nor the old Jinying Wang had ever imagined that the Brocade Hero King Manor would have such a young madam. Amid the current chaos, Jiang Ruan could still analyze the situation with such calm and pinpoint the suspicious details. The sense of panic that had been gradually spreading recently seemed to dissipate instantly, and Butler Lin suddenly felt a surge of courage within him.He pondered along Jiang Ruan's line of thought: "Young Madam's reasoning is indeed sound, but what decision from His Majesty could lead to Eunuch Li's death? The perpetrator acted with such haste that even the handling of Eunuch Li's corpse was sloppy. In truth, they could have executed it far more meticulously. This seems like an act of desperation where nothing else mattered."
"Only matters concerning the throne could drive someone to such brutality," Jiang Ruan said. "With the succession crisis imminent and His Majesty yet to appoint a Crown Prince before his collapse, the court officials are all speculating about the Emperor's condition. If His Majesty were to suddenly express his intention to name a future Crown Prince now, the other contender would undoubtedly panic. Butler Lin likely revealed the Emperor's intentions, prompting the one excluded from succession to act like a cornered beast. Since the Emperor would never appoint Xuan Li as Crown Prince, the mastermind can only be Xuan Li."
Butler Lin wanted to suggest that the Thirteenth Prince Xuan Pei might also be the killer, but he hesitated when he saw Jiang Ruan's expression. There wasn't a trace of doubt on her face—just as in her tone, she had absolute faith in Xuan Pei from the start. Butler Lin knew Jiang Ruan was close to Xuan Pei, but it puzzled him why someone as aloof as Jiang Ruan would trust him so implicitly. Still, Jiang Ruan's judgment had always been sound, especially in foresight—she was almost prophetic. Naturally, Butler Lin didn't question her and responded, "In that case, under these circumstances, the Eighth Prince would seize the opportunity to overturn the situation before His Majesty's intentions become clear..."
"Regicide. Alter destiny." Jiang Ruan's voice was icy.
Kill the Emperor before he could reveal his intentions—or render him incapable of doing so—then forge an Imperial Edict. This was the only path left for Xuan Li now.
Butler Lin was visibly stunned by Jiang Ruan's words, momentarily speechless. Succession struggles were always bloody; they were never resolved peacefully. Yet just hearing Jiang Ruan describe it made the impending danger feel palpable. In the coming days, the capital would be a whirlpool of hidden currents, every step fraught with peril.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "But it's not that dire yet, Butler Lin. You may leave first. I have matters to attend to and will return later. I'll discuss this with Xiao Shao—we'll find a way to handle it."
Butler Lin said nothing and withdrew silently. The Brocade Hero King Manor was no longer shouldered by Xiao Shao alone—now there was also the Young Madam. Leave it to them, he thought.
After Butler Lin left, Jiang Ruan's smile faded. Her expression grew solemn, no longer as confident as before. Lianqiao and Luzhu exchanged uneasy glances. Hesitantly, Lianqiao asked, "Young Madam... is something wrong?"
"Wrong?" Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze. "Naturally, it's wrong."Seeing this, Tianzhu also asked, "Since the Eighth Prince's scheme has already been exposed, as long as we prevent him from succeeding, that should suffice. Why is the young madam so troubled? Although the Eighth Prince is patient by nature, he's actually somewhat self-conceited rather than truly intelligent. With the young master yet to return, things surely won't take such a bad turn." Back when Jiang Ruan wasn't yet the Princess of Brocade Glory, she had dared to confront Xuan Li. Over time, Tianzhu and the others had grown accustomed to Jiang Ruan's composed and strategic demeanor. Seeing such worry on Jiang Ruan's face now made Tianzhu feel uneasy.
"The truly smart one is naturally not Xuan Li," Jiang Ruan sneered, her smile chillingly cold. "The Emperor is the cleverest one." She didn't continue, leaving Tianzhu and the others exchanging glances, unsure how to respond.
......
Late at night, when Xiao Shao returned, it was naturally deep into the night. Jiang Ruan sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against a fur blanket as she flipped through a book absentmindedly, so much so that she didn't even hear Xiao Shao's approaching footsteps. Xiao Shao paused, then walked right up to her. After a moment's thought, he tapped her forehead lightly and asked, "Why are you still reading?"
"Waiting for you to return," Jiang Ruan replied, tossing the book aside casually. Xiao Shao had just come in from outside, his body still carrying the chill and slight dampness of the night dew. Under the lamplight, his face was exquisitely handsome, almost like an aloof immortal stepping out of an ancient scroll. No matter the time, this man always appeared so radiant. Even though he disliked extravagance and often wore the most subdued colors, nothing could diminish his brilliance. It was as if merely standing there, he couldn't help but draw others' gazes.
Jiang Ruan sighed softly. Sensing something amiss, Xiao Shao didn't immediately go to bathe but instead sat down beside her, asking with concern, "What's wrong?"
"You..." Jiang Ruan hesitated before asking, "Do you want to become Emperor?"
Xiao Shao was momentarily taken aback, seemingly not expecting such a sudden question. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, then frowned and asked, "Did you meet someone today?"
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Ruan chuckled. "The person you're worried about is currently bedridden with illness in the palace—how could he meet me? You're probably worrying too much." Last time, when the Emperor had come uninvited to the Brocade Hero King Manor, Jiang Ruan had stood at the doorway and overheard their conversation, thus learning Xiao Shao's secret. Now, Xiao Shao's tension was undoubtedly due to recalling that incident. Yet, upon hearing her words, his frown didn't ease. Instead, he gazed at her thoughtfully and said, "I've never thought about that position."
"What if... someone forces you? What would you do?" Jiang Ruan pressed.
"What does it have to do with me?" Xiao Shao countered. His tone was calm, yet carried an air of unyielding defiance. If someone forced him, what did it matter? In this world, he did as he pleased and refrained as he wished. No one had ever been able to force him into anything.Jiang Ruan took a deep breath and suddenly said, "The Emperor is now unconscious. Xuan Li's rash actions can only mean one thing—the Emperor intended to appoint a successor, and perhaps the decision had already been made. Xuan Li must have just learned of this and thus sought to sever all clues." She stared into Xiao Shao's eyes. "Xuan Li likely assumed the successor was Pei Er, but both you and I know that isn't the case. The person he wanted to pass the throne to was never his own son."
The court was suddenly engulfed in turmoil, with the struggle for succession imminent. Many ministers openly took sides, but only Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao knew the truth—the Emperor had never intended to hand the throne to Xuan Li or Xuan Pei. The one he wanted to see on the throne had always been Xiao Shao. For years, he had secretly watched over Xiao Shao, protected him—perhaps out of guilt, perhaps because the throne rightfully belonged to the Hongxi Crown Prince. But the most important reason was that he had always regarded Xiao Shao as the future heir.
"My ambitions do not lie there," Xiao Shao embraced her, perhaps as a gesture of comfort. "I will not fulfill his wishes."
"I know," Jiang Ruan murmured against Xiao Shao's chest. The man carried a refreshing scent of grass, mingled with the faint chill of the late-night dew, yet it filled her with an indescribable sense of security. She continued, "But you must understand—the Emperor likely foresaw this day. If he intended for you to become Emperor, he would have prepared for it in some way, ensuring you could ascend to that position. And the most crucial thing, the most vital support, would be—the Imperial Edict."
Perhaps Xiao Shao did not truly understand the Emperor. The Brocade-clad Guards were spread across the land, possessing the most sophisticated intelligence network, yet Xiao Shao was an assassin, their leader—not someone adept at deciphering human intentions. He had always kept a deliberate distance from the Emperor, never seeking closeness despite their blood ties. How could he claim to understand him?
But Jiang Ruan was different. In her past life, the years she spent in the palace—working to aid Xuan Li—had led her to employ every means to study the Emperor. Though it had cost her dearly, it also granted her profound insight. No matter how others perceived him, the Emperor, in his position, was acutely aware of the machinations of the palace. In her past life, he had used the same tactic—drafting an Imperial Edict long in advance. This had sown panic when the Crown Prince was replaced, but Xuan Li acted decisively before the edict could be issued. The Emperor's final trump card, under Xuan Li's ruthless methods, was rendered useless before it could even be played.
Now history was repeating itself. The Emperor intended to issue an Imperial Edict beforehand, and Jiang Ruan was almost certain that Xuan Li's faction had already learned of this—and knew the chosen successor was not him. That was why they had struck so decisively, aiming to silence the Emperor and then, through their own means, ascend to the throne unchallenged. But in her past life, there had been no Thirteenth Prince—Xuan Li faced no obstacles. Now, however, Xuan Pei had emerged as an unforeseen contender."He killed Eunuch Li, perhaps intending to find someone to replace him and uncover the secret of that Imperial Edict," Jiang Ruan said softly. "I think it's not just the edict. Given the Emperor's temperament, he must have secretly instructed trusted ministers to step forward and confirm your identity when necessary." Xiao Shao's identity couldn't be revealed to too many people at once, or he would become a target. While the Emperor was forcing Xiao Shao's hand, he still wanted to do his best to protect his life.
"I'll find the Imperial Edict," Xiao Shao murmured. "Then burn it. No one will ever know."
What he would burn wasn't just an edict—it was a possible future, his path to the throne. Jiang Ruan suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. It shouldn't have been like this. Xiao Shao was destined to be emperor. In her past life, he had ultimately ruled over the Da Jin Dynasty. But in this life, she had willfully altered his fate, and he would no longer be an emperor.
But so what? She didn't want to let go. If Xiao Shao wanted to be emperor, she would release him. If he didn't, she would fight with her life to prevent those people from succeeding. Protecting what she cherished—that was the meaning of her rebirth.
Xiao Shao noticed Jiang Ruan's unusual expression and gently kissed her forehead, his lips curving slightly. "Don't worry. Leave it to me."
"Alright." Jiang Ruan smiled. "I'll leave it to you."
The couple spoke for a while longer before Xiao Shao got up to bathe. What he didn't see was how Jiang Ruan's smile froze the moment he turned away, her gaze deepening as if her earlier cheerfulness had been a facade. Slowly, she murmured to herself, "Since you don’t want to be emperor, then I’ll make sure it happens for you." Lowering her eyes, she whispered, "Leave it to me."
……
That night, there was another person in the Brocade Hero King Manor. Standing in a secluded corner of the garden, he faced a large iron basin from which flames occasionally flickered, mixed with dark yellow or charred paper money. He was burning offerings for someone.
A cold wind rustled through. Though it was early spring, the nights still carried a chill. Yet this man wore only a thin robe, like the plain blue garment of an ordinary scholar. He sat on the ground beside the basin, where a jug of wine and two cups lay—though only one person was present.
This was none other than Butler Lin. Staring absently at the dancing flames, he seemed lost in memory before suddenly chuckling. "Old Li, I always said you were too foolish. After climbing to such a position, how could you still fall for someone's trap? See, now you’ve gone ahead before I could even share a drink with you. Drinking alone is just pathetic." His tone was light, his face wearing a smile as if untouched by grief. Yet within that smile lingered traces of loneliness and sorrow."Back then, the three of us—you, me, and the Crown Prince—were quite the sight in the capital. Ah, though you were a eunuch, you weren't bad-looking. Not as handsome as me or the Crown Prince, of course, but still, when the three of us went out, many a maiden would turn her head. Ah, what a shame you were a eunuch." Butler Lin muttered to himself, seemingly amused by his own words as he chuckled involuntarily. His gaze drifted through the flickering flames before him, as if seeing scenes from long ago.
In those days, Hongxi Crown Prince was still a dashing young noble, he himself was the dashing Tanhua scholar, and though Xiao Li was a eunuch, he made up for it with his clever and endearing nature, not to mention his delicate features. Whenever Hongxi Crown Prince sneaked out of the palace, he would always bring the two of them along, and the three of them would have a grand time, almost like the "Three Gentlemen" from the storytellers' tales. The Crown Prince had always been approachable, but after meeting Crown Princess Xiang Xiaoyuan, he completely disregarded rank and protocol in their presence—before Hongxi Crown Prince, the three of them were equals.
Truly equals. So when news of Hongxi Crown Prince’s death arrived, both Xiao Li and Butler Lin were genuinely heartbroken. But while Butler Lin chose to resign and retire, vowing to protect the only bloodline of his dear friend, Xiao Li remained in the palace. This wasn’t because Xiao Li was ungrateful—perhaps it was his own way of honoring his friend. By staying, serving the Emperor, even if it was just pouring tea and water, he could contribute to the empire his friend had fought so hard to secure.
And so the years passed. Butler Lin became a true butler, as if he had forgotten all his former literary and martial prowess, devoting himself entirely to trivial daily matters and pouring all his energy into Xiao Shao. Meanwhile, Xiao Li, relying on his wit, eventually rose to become the Emperor’s chief eunuch—Eunuch Li.
All these years, they had never contacted each other, yet they knew the other was doing well. Each had chosen their own path. Butler Lin tilted his head back, filled the two cups before him to the brim, then clinked them together before pouring the contents of one onto the ground.
"The three of us—you and the Crown Prince are reunited now, but not me. I still have to see the young master live well, see the young mistress bear a little heir, see the young master and mistress thrive. No, even that’s not enough. I have to keep living, keep watching. I always said, neither the Crown Prince nor you had the fortune I do. Old Lin here gets to see them flourish day by day—you two just weren’t lucky enough to see it!" Butler Lin chuckled, and for a moment, he seemed like his old self again. But if one looked closely, in the firelight, a glimmer of moisture flashed at the corner of his eye.He said, "Although the young mistress didn't make things clear today, I understood her meaning. Crown Prince, you'd be pleased—this daughter-in-law is exceptionally clever. If you were still here, you'd surely approve. But your younger brother still seems intent on passing that position to the young master. The young master would certainly refuse. Ah, Crown Prince, if only you were here—you wouldn't stand by and watch your son be treated this way." He took another swig of wine. "Old Li, you're really something. Calling yourself the chief steward after all these years, yet you can't even influence a single decision of his. Couldn't you have persuaded the Emperor properly? What was the point of making him emperor in the first place? Where's that cleverness of yours from back then?"
No one answered Butler Lin. He sat alone in the night, muttering to himself like a madman. Yet he sighed again and said, "This old man was once a dashingly handsome gentleman too." He thought for a moment, then pulled out a small vial from his robes. Clutching it in his hand, he suddenly smiled. "Now that things have come to this, I understand. I want to see the young master live well, though I don't know if I'll have that chance. The capital is about to change. Though our Brocade Hero King Manor isn't the Eastern Palace, after all these years following the young master, this place has long been Old Lin's home. So many are watching covetously—today, I must protect it." He tilted the vial into his palm, and a single pill rolled out.
The pill appeared utterly unremarkable, yet Butler Lin smiled. With great vigor, he shouted at the flickering flames before him, "Even after all these years, this old man remains as dashing as ever!" He tossed the pill into his mouth and swallowed it in one go, then waited a long moment before lifting the wine jug to take another drink.
After swallowing the pill, Butler Lin didn't seem any different—only his expression relaxed, as if he had finally made up his mind.
"It's time to show my true colors." Butler Lin silently tossed another handful of paper money into the burning brazier. "This time, I'll protect the young master properly. Leave the Crown Prince to me."
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