Early the next morning, Xiao Shao went out, and Jiang Ruan dressed and freshened up herself. Lianqiao noticed she seemed ready to go out and asked curiously, "Are you going out, Young Madam?" Jiang Ruan hadn't mentioned any plans to go out yesterday, and at this critical moment, it was unlikely she'd have the mood for a casual stroll.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "It's nothing important. I'm just going next door."
Next door? Lianqiao was momentarily puzzled before realizing—the residence next to the Prince's mansion was where Xia Qing and Qi Feng lived. Both Lianqiao and Luzhu assumed Jiang Ruan intended to ask Xia Qing about the Emperor's health. After all, the Emperor's life now depended entirely on Xia Qing's medicine. Without him, the Emperor probably wouldn't last these few days. That must be why Jiang Ruan was seeking Xia Qing.
However, when Luzhu and the others followed Jiang Ruan next door, Xia Qing wasn't home. Qi Feng smiled and said, "Xia Wu has gone to the palace. What did you need him for, Third Sister-in-law?"
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "I'm not here for him. I'm here for you."
Lianqiao and Luzhu exchanged glances. They were well aware of Qi Feng's feelings for Jiang Ruan—those emotions had once caused subtle tension between Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan. Though it was later revealed to be part of Jiang Ruan's own scheme, recalling it still made them uneasy. Tianzhu, however, showed no reaction. Hearing this, Qi Feng was momentarily stunned before replying, "Alright. Come in and talk."
Qi Feng didn't assume Jiang Ruan sought him out for idle chatter. He had discerned the events of recent days—how Jiang Ruan had used him, and he had simply gone along with it. Having been Xiao Shao's fellow disciple for so many years and serving as the strategist of the Brocade-clad Guards, his mind was always sharp. Even with his affection for Jiang Ruan, he hadn't lost his senses entirely and could tell she was deliberately drawing close to him. That he allowed himself to be used willingly was something even Qi Feng couldn't fully explain, but it didn't breed resentment toward Jiang Ruan or create distance between him and Xiao Shao.
This was perhaps what set Qi Feng apart—no matter the situation, he always remained clear-headed about his place and never disrupted the existing balance.
Jiang Ruan sat down with him in the room. Qi Feng poured her a cup of tea. Xia Qing was a commoner miracle doctor, and Qi Feng wasn't one to fuss over formalities, so apart from a few servants and Xia Qing's apprentice, there weren't even any maids in the courtyard. Pouring tea fell to Qi Feng himself, though he did it effortlessly. Smiling, he said, "Freshly delivered Mount Jun Silver Needle. Third Sister-in-law has tasted all kinds of fine teas, so don't look down on the humble offerings of this small abode. I've brought out the best I have."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly, likely recognizing Qi Feng's attempt to lighten the mood. After spending so much time with Xiao Shao, she had become better at masking her sharp edges, appearing more gentle on the surface—though her innate shrewdness remained unchanged. That sharpness, however, was reserved for opponents. She lifted the teacup before her, took a small sip, and smiled. "Very fragrant.""You flatter me so, Third Sister-in-law, it only makes me feel more uneasy." Qi Feng smiled, then changed the subject. "But you didn't come to me today just for tea, did you? Has something happened?" By the end of his words, a trace of concern had involuntarily slipped into his tone. As soon as he spoke, he became aware of it and couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance. Jiang Ruan had Xiao Shao by her side—Qi Feng knew better than anyone what kind of man Xiao Shao was. If Jiang Ruan faced any trouble, Xiao Shao would undoubtedly handle it for her. Where would there be any room for his concern?
While he was still lost in thought, Jiang Ruan spoke up. "I need you to do me a favor."
Qi Feng froze, his gaze fixed intently on her. Jiang Ruan met his scrutinizing eyes calmly, not shying away. After a long pause, Qi Feng finally said, "Third Sister-in-law, Third Brother doesn’t know about this, does he?"
Qi Feng was no fool. If Jiang Ruan had sought him out specifically for help, it must be something serious—and anything he could do, Xiao Shao could certainly do as well. If Xiao Shao could handle it, why would Jiang Ruan need Qi Feng’s assistance? There was only one possible explanation: Jiang Ruan hadn’t told Xiao Shao about this matter. And why wouldn’t she tell Xiao Shao? A thought struck Qi Feng, and he blurted out, "You’re keeping it from Third Brother? He doesn’t approve?"
In some ways, Jiang Ruan was very much like Xiao Shao—especially in her clear sense of purpose when it came to action. If she hadn’t told Xiao Shao, and given that Xiao Shao was the closest person to her, the only reason she would bypass him was if Xiao Shao outright disagreed.
Hearing this, Jiang Ruan didn’t deny it. She replied softly, "That’s right. Xiao Shao doesn’t know about this, and you don’t need to tell him."
"Third Sister-in-law," Qi Feng shifted uncomfortably, then composed himself and said earnestly, "No matter what, Third Brother truly cares for you. If you’re keeping this from him, I can only assume you’re about to put yourself in danger again. I’m afraid I can’t help you with this." Though he framed his refusal around Xiao Shao’s feelings, deep down, Qi Feng knew it wasn’t just that—he himself couldn’t bear to see Jiang Ruan take such risks. From the moment he’d met her, Jiang Ruan had always been one to defy the odds. While that might sound admirable, every time she did so, it came at great peril, enough to make anyone watching break into a cold sweat. Qi Feng... he simply couldn’t bring himself to let her walk into danger.
As if she had anticipated his reaction, Jiang Ruan sighed lightly and said, "Qi Feng, do you know what the situation is right now?"
"The Emperor is gravely ill, the court is beset by internal strife and external threats, the succession is imminent, and the Jin Dynasty is teetering on the edge of crisis," Qi Feng replied. "But none of that has anything to do with you, Third Sister-in-law.""No, this actually has something to do with me," Jiang Ruan suddenly said. Qi Feng was taken aback as he heard her calm voice continue: "From the day you met me, you must have already noticed that I share an irreconcilable hatred with Xuan Li. If I don’t avenge this, I would be unworthy of being called human. Back when Xiao Shao wasn’t around, you saw how I countered Xuan Li at every turn. It wasn’t entirely for the sake of the Brocade Hero King Manor—in truth, it was because of personal grudges. It’s a long story, so I won’t go into detail. You just need to know that Xuan Li and I are mortal enemies in this lifetime, and it will only end when one of us is dead."
Her words sounded strange, and Qi Feng found them odd as well. For some reason, he felt Jiang Ruan was speaking with absolute seriousness, as if avenging herself against Xuan Li was the ultimate purpose of her life. In fact, long ago, Qi Feng had sensed Jiang Ruan’s hatred for Xuan Li. She always struck ruthlessly against him, brutally obstructing his path to the throne. For the Brocade-clad Guards, it didn’t matter who became Emperor, but now Qi Feng clearly saw that Jiang Ruan had used her influence to sway Xiao Shao. The entire Brocade Hero King Manor—indeed, the entire Brocade-clad Guards—had now taken a stand against Xuan Li. For Xuan Li, this was undoubtedly disastrous. Without the Brocade Hero King Manor’s interference, his path would have been much smoother.
Jiang Ruan had repeatedly thwarted Xuan Li’s grand schemes, and Qi Feng had never understood why. Now, hearing her say it was due to a blood feud, though he didn’t know the specifics, he believed she wasn’t lying. He stared at her in a daze as she continued calmly.
"Now, there are only two princes left in the court—the Thirteenth Prince and Xuan Li. Since I want to ensure Xuan Li never ascends to that position, I must ally with the Thirteenth Prince. In this game, we’ve already placed our bets on the Thirteenth Prince, so I must take action. As you’ve seen, Eunuch Li is already dead. Someone as clever as you must have realized he was killed by Xuan Li’s men. Xuan Li has struck first. What he must do now is either forge an Imperial Edict while the Emperor still lives—or immediately ensure the Emperor’s death and destroy the edict that would have named the Thirteenth Prince as heir."
"Wait," Qi Feng widened his eyes. "Third Sister-in-law, you’ve lost me. What do you mean by the edict the Emperor intended to issue for the Thirteenth Prince? How do you know the Emperor planned to name the Thirteenth Prince as Crown Prince?"
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "As I said earlier, if Xuan Li acted so hastily, it must be because he learned something from Eunuch Li. If he were truly being named Crown Prince, why would he be in such a hurry to silence witnesses? It’s precisely because it wasn’t him. As for the edict, it was inevitable. Moreover, our spies in the palace have confirmed it—there was indeed an Imperial Edict."Qi Feng looked at her with some confusion, as if still doubtful of her words. Jiang Ruan's expression remained unchanged, but her mind was deep in thought. She naturally knew the Emperor would leave behind an Imperial Edict—because that was exactly what he had done in her past life. However, in that life, the edict had ultimately never been found, likely because by then, Xuan Li had already ascended the throne. Perhaps the person entrusted with the Emperor's final edict had already been hunted down by Xuan Li. In any case, Xuan Li had taken the throne with full legitimacy, as by then, the only remaining princes in the palace were Xuan Pei and himself. And at that time, no one had ever considered Xuan Pei as a potential future heir to the Da Jin Dynasty.
Jiang Ruan pulled her thoughts back and said to Qi Feng, "The Imperial Edict left by the Emperor must be in the hands of a certain minister, and Xuan Li will undoubtedly use every means possible to hunt down that minister and destroy the edict."
"But Third Sister-in-law," Qi Feng pressed, "if His Majesty left an edict, why wouldn't he entrust it to the Brocade Hero King Manor? In the entire Da Jin Dynasty, the only force with enough strength to oppose the Eighth Prince now is the Brocade-clad Guards. Leaving it in the Brocade Hero King Manor would be the safest course of action. His Majesty couldn’t have overlooked this, so why would he give the edict to another minister instead?"
Qi Feng spoke unhurriedly, yet his reasoning was clear, and he had already grasped the crux of the matter in the shortest time. Jiang Ruan was momentarily taken aback by his question. The reason the Emperor hadn’t entrusted the edict to the Brocade Hero King Manor was simple: Xiao Shao had no desire to take the throne. If the edict had truly been given to Xiao Shao, it was likely that Xuan Li wouldn’t even have needed to act—Xiao Shao himself would have destroyed it. That Imperial Edict wasn’t written for Xuan Pei at all; it was meant for Xiao Shao. Qi Feng didn’t know about Xiao Shao’s background, so he couldn’t understand the reason behind this, though he sensed something was amiss. Jiang Ruan couldn’t explain this to him, so she merely smiled faintly and said, "Have you forgotten what reputation the Brocade Hero King Manor holds?"
Qi Feng was startled. Jiang Ruan continued, "A traitorous subject—how could the Emperor possibly entrust something as significant as an Imperial Edict to Xiao Shao? Monarchs in this world are inherently suspicious. Even if the edict were genuine, if word got out, the civil and military officials would never believe it, assuming it was a forgery instead."
At these words, Qi Feng finally understood and quickly said, "I had completely forgotten about that." Over the years, Qi Feng had witnessed the Emperor’s care for Xiao Shao, which was why, even as all his colleagues regarded Xiao Shao as a traitorous subject, Qi Feng had never seen him any differently. He hadn’t connected this to the Emperor’s decision, but now that Jiang Ruan had reminded him, he realized the truth. Indeed, while the Emperor might trust Xiao Shao personally, that didn’t mean he trusted the entire Brocade Hero King Manor. And the manor’s reputation as a den of traitorous subjects was too deeply ingrained among the officials to hold any credibility. It was only natural that the Emperor wouldn’t give the edict to Xiao Shao.
"But Third Sister-in-law, what exactly do you intend to do?" Qi Feng asked, his expression turning serious.Jiang Ruan looked at him: "Xuan Li intends to seize the Imperial Edict. His influence should not be underestimated. While Xuan Li himself may not be particularly fearsome, he has spent years preparing for this, weaving a vast network of connections beyond what either of us can imagine. I fear there might be oversights, so I must take action—make Xuan Li believe he has found the Imperial Edict. From then on, we can buy some time for the Thirteenth Prince. During this period, we can plan and arrange to eliminate Xuan Li in one fell swoop."
Qi Feng was stunned into silence for a long moment before finally speaking: "You mean... you intend to create a fake Imperial Edict to deceive Xuan Li, making him think he has destroyed the real one, while the genuine edict remains with someone else. Is that it?"
"Exactly. However, Xuan Li is exceedingly cunning—a fake edict likely won’t fool him. So, we must exchange it with a real one. But this edict is not the one appointing the Crown Prince. What he destroys won’t be the true decree." After finishing, Jiang Ruan slowly set down her teacup and looked at Qi Feng. "I know you have people planted in the court as well. You are the strategist of the Brocade-clad Guards. What I need from you is to ensure that word spreads—the edict is now in my hands."
"You intend to use yourself as bait!" Before Jiang Ruan could continue, Qi Feng couldn’t help but stand up. He seemed to realize his reaction was too intense but couldn’t suppress it, exclaiming, "This is unacceptable—it’s far too dangerous! A man’s wealth is his own ruin by another’s envy. Do you realize what this could lead to? They will kill you."
Jiang Ruan frowned. "They won’t kill me."
"How can you be so certain—"
"Because the Holy Maiden hates me," Jiang Ruan interrupted. "The Southern Border Sacred Maiden loathes me to the bone and is infatuated with Xiao Shao. Because of a woman’s jealousy, she won’t let me die so easily. And precisely because she hates me, spreading the news that the edict is in my possession will make it all the more convincing. Right now, the Southern Borderlands and Xuan Li are allies. Certain decisions from the Southern Border will inevitably influence Xuan Li—including suspicion." Seeing Qi Feng gradually calm down, she continued, "I’ve told you before—the Brocade Hero King Manor and the Thirteenth Prince now share a common fate. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. To ensure the Thirteenth Prince ascends the throne smoothly, this is the only way. Xiao Shao’s focus is on the Southern Borderlands. While he could intervene in court affairs, it wouldn’t be as seamless as Xuan Li’s maneuvering. Only this plan—using me as bait—can achieve the best outcome."
"And what, exactly, is this 'best outcome' you speak of...?" Qi Feng forced out the words with difficulty."Xuan Li will undoubtedly believe that what I hold in my hands must be the Imperial Edict, and he will personally destroy this edict, thereby ceasing further pursuit of the real one. The time and opportunity gained from this must be seized by Xiao Shao and you. As for me, in the hands of the Southern Border Sacred Maiden, she will want to torment me, but Xuan Li must keep me safe and sound. Given his scheming nature, he will use me to bargain for greater benefits—he wants to trade me with Xiao Shao, preferably to secure the support of the Brocade Hero King Manor." Jiang Ruan's gaze was profound, her tone calm, as if these life-threatening matters had nothing to do with her. She continued, "This way, Xuan Li and the Southern Borderlanders will clash. I’ve met the Southern Border Sacred Maiden—she is ruthless and will never concede easily. Their alliance was never stable to begin with; once conflicts arise, he’ll have a headache. Watching tigers fight from a safe distance—the ones who benefit will always be us."
Qi Feng listened silently to Jiang Ruan’s words. His expression gradually settled, as if he had returned to his former role as the composed strategist. Yet only he knew that his hands inside his sleeves had long clenched into fists. Slowly, he asked, "And what about you? What price will you have to pay?"
His words laid bare his emotions. Qi Feng’s eyes were filled with pain, heartache, shock, and sorrow—a tangle of complex feelings that made Jiang Ruan pause in surprise. Until now, Qi Feng had concealed his emotions well, unwilling to disrupt the status quo. But faced with this woman before him, he could no longer suppress his feelings.
This beautiful woman was adept at exploiting human weaknesses, seeing through desires, excelling in schemes, and thriving on strategy—yet she repeatedly put herself in danger. She was like a masterful chess player, holding everyone in her palm as pawns, even including herself in the game. She had already set the board, ready to become the lone soldier crossing the river, isolated and fighting alone on the other side of the battlefield.
Qi Feng suddenly felt a pang of frustration. He cursed himself for being so astute, for becoming the strategist of the Brocade-clad Guards, because he knew all too well that Jiang Ruan’s words were flawless—this was indeed the simplest, most direct method, and there was no better plan for now. Precisely because of this, from a broader perspective, Qi Feng had no reason to refuse. In his heart, he had already agreed to Jiang Ruan’s plan. But why did it have to be her?
Of all the people in this world, she was the last one he wanted to see in danger.
Jiang Ruan ignored the depth of emotion in Qi Feng’s eyes and said lightly, "What I must sacrifice is merely playing a role—it poses no real threat to me. Qi Feng, your task is far more arduous. Compared to me, the true burden of this matter falls on you and Xiao Shao. I know you and Xiao Shao are martial brothers—he would never agree to this. But I trust you both. No matter how much the Southern Border Sacred Maiden hates me, as long as Xuan Li is there, she won’t be able to harm me for now. You just need to find me before I’m injured. I trust the Brocade-clad Guards, and I trust you."She had once acted recklessly and charged ahead without hesitation, which was why she treasured her life all the more after her rebirth. Although she often took risks, in truth, those were all meticulously planned and rehearsed countless times—she could deeply foresee their outcomes. But this time was different. Though she had spoken confidently to Qi Feng, the truth was that human hearts were ever-changeable. In matters of life and death, no one could predict what might happen next.
Yet she still had to do it—not for anything else, but for Pei Er and for Xiao Shao. Xiao Shao had no desire to become the ruler of the Da Jin Dynasty, but the Emperor had still left a backup plan. Rather than saying this was a confrontation with Xuan Li, it was more like a game of chess with the Emperor. Her seemingly fearless charge ahead was, in reality, only possible because Xiao Shao stood behind her. Because he was there, she could rely on him completely and trust him wholeheartedly. At this thought, a faint smile flickered across Jiang Ruan's face, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
When Qi Feng saw that smile, he mirrored it, though his was tinged with bitterness. He knew why Jiang Ruan was smiling—when it came to Xiao Shao, that man was truly fortunate.
Qi Feng took a deep breath and said, "Third Sister-in-law, I promise to help you with this." He smiled slowly, enunciating each word, "Don’t worry, we will find you—and soon."
Jiang Ruan also smiled, raising her teacup to lightly clink against Qi Feng’s. "Thank you."
...
That evening, after Xiao Shao returned to the residence, he naturally heard from Butler Lin about Jiang Ruan’s visit to Qi Feng. Butler Lin wasn’t deliberately stirring trouble—he was just frustrated by his master’s obliviousness and worried that the young mistress of their household might slip away to someone else. This was his way of reminding Xiao Shao not to focus solely on official matters and to pay more attention to his wife.
True to expectations, Xiao Shao didn’t disappoint. Later, he brought it up with Jiang Ruan. After bathing, he draped his outer robe over his shoulders and sat beside her, casually remarking, "I heard you went to see Qi Feng today?"
"I wanted to find Xia Qing, but he was in the palace, so I spoke with Qi Feng instead," Jiang Ruan replied, flipping through a ledger in her hands. Suddenly, the ledger was tugged away from her grasp. When she looked up, Xiao Shao’s strikingly handsome face was right before her—though his expression seemed somewhat... awkward and displeased?
"...What could you possibly have to say to him?" Xiao Shao said quietly, the displeasure in his tone so palpable that even Tianzhu outside could sense it through the curtains.
Jiang Ruan set down her book and looked at him helplessly. "What do you want to say?"
"..." Xiao Shao used his actions rather than words to express what he wanted to say.
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