A Dream within a Dream

The next morning, Jiang Ruan rose early. Seeing this, Xiao Shao asked in puzzlement, "Why not sleep a little longer?"

"I'm going to the palace to see Pei Er," Jiang Ruan replied. "He must have had a tough time these past few days. There are some matters I need to discuss with him."

Naturally, Xiao Shao wouldn't stop her. After a brief silence, he said, "The capital isn't safe right now. Take Jin Yi and Jin Er with you." The Southern Borderlanders' true motives were still unclear, and they might have hidden schemes. However, Jiang Ruan shook her head, refusing his suggestion. "No need. Jin Yi and Jin Er have their own tasks to attend to. I'm just going to the palace today and won't stay long. With Tianzhu by my side, nothing will happen. Besides, the Southern Borderlanders are lying low right now—they wouldn't dare expose themselves. Don't worry, I'll return soon."

Xiao Shao hesitated. Jiang Ruan was insistent, and he always deferred to her wishes, so he didn't press further. He only gave Tianzhu a few more instructions. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and stepped in front of Xiao Shao. He was also heading out today—his duties with the Brocade-clad Guards were even more complex, and he needed to analyze the Southern Borderlanders' covert arrangements. He was going to the Tianji Camp early. Watching him, Jiang Ruan took the initiative to smooth out the wrinkles on his sleeves.

Xiao Shao was slightly taken aback. Though Jiang Ruan was now very close to him, she was usually indifferent to small details except when it came to reading people. Her proactive gesture this morning left him pleasantly surprised.

"You..." He paused, saying nothing more. Jiang Ruan wasn't particularly short, but she seemed especially petite next to Xiao Shao. Tilting her head up, she had to rise slightly on her toes to reach his collar. Xiao Shao looked down at her, noticing how serious she appeared, and his expression gradually softened, his gaze filling with a tenderness he himself hadn't realized.

Once Jiang Ruan finished adjusting his clothes, she looked up to find Xiao Shao staring intently at her. The young man's eyes were naturally striking—deep, bright, and cold as ice. His expression was usually impassive, but when he looked at someone this closely, his beauty was almost dizzying. It was as if all the charm in the world was reflected in those gentle, autumn-water eyes. Such allure was mesmerizing; even though he was her husband, Jiang Ruan sometimes found herself lost in his gaze. She often mused that there was likely nothing Xiao Shao couldn't accomplish—if only he were willing to use his beauty as a weapon.

For instance, at this moment, Jiang Ruan found herself staring blankly at Xiao Shao, who was so close, failing to notice the fleeting mischievous glint in his eyes. Then, Xiao Shao leaned down and lightly pecked the corner of her lips.

"Ahem." Jiang Ruan snapped out of her daze, both annoyed at herself for being momentarily dazzled and unsure how to react to his sudden move. After a long pause, she glared at him and took a step back. "There are people here."

Tianzhu and the others had already tactfully turned away, seemingly stifling laughter. Jiang Ruan sighed helplessly, but Xiao Shao simply patted her head and said, "Come back early. I'm free today and will return soon. We can go out for a walk."

That Xiao Shao, despite his busy schedule, still had time to stroll with her—Jiang Ruan naturally agreed. She smiled and said, "Alright."He said nothing more and turned to leave. Lianqiao smiled and said, "The young master and young mistress are truly devoted to each other. As the saying goes, 'Better to envy the lovebirds than the immortals.' Even the romantic novels sold in bookshops can't compare to such a perfect match made in heaven."

Luzhu also laughed, but her laughter gradually faded into pensiveness as thoughts of her own situation with Jin Er weighed on her mind. Jin Er had already explained the matter to her and apologized. In truth, Luzhu's anger had long since dissipated—she wasn't an unreasonable person. To her, Jiang Ruan would always come first, and her loyalty to her mistress was absolute. Since Jin Er had acted for the sake of Brocade Hero King Manor and Jiang Ruan, she naturally had no grounds for complaint. Luzhu was broad-minded and never dwelled on such matters. But Jin Er... Her gaze dimmed slightly. The real barrier existed within herself, an unspoken membrane she couldn't seem to overcome.

As she was lost in thought, Butler Lin entered, carrying a stack of account books. Seeing Jiang Ruan and the others preparing to leave, he paused in surprise and asked, "Is the young mistress going out?"

"Just a trip to the palace," Jiang Ruan replied with a smile. "Leave the account books on the table. I'll review them later."

Butler Lin acknowledged, but Luzhu stared at him in a daze, as if pondering something. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and exclaimed, "No wonder you look different today! Butler Lin, you seem much younger—even your wrinkles have lightened, and your complexion looks fairer. Did you apply rouge?" She reached out playfully to pinch his cheek. "Which shop did you buy this rouge from? It works wonders! Wait, could it be that you've taken a fancy to some lady and dressed up for her? Hey, if you have, I can play matchmaker for you!"

Luzhu's rapid-fire teasing left Butler Lin momentarily speechless. After a pause, he huffed, "What nonsense are you spouting, you cheeky girl! Haven't I told you before? In my youth, I was a dashing and handsome man—countless maidens and young wives pined for me. Rouge? Pah! A man like me has no need for such things. This is simply natural beauty that refuses to fade!"

Luzhu stuck out her tongue and giggled, choosing not to engage further. Jiang Ruan, however, studied Butler Lin more closely. Indeed, he did appear noticeably younger today. Though the change wasn't drastic, it was enough to catch one's eye. Knowing Butler Lin's past, Jiang Ruan mused that his former elegance must have been something to behold. Yet, as all beauty eventually turns to dust and appearances are but fleeting illusions, the fact that Butler Lin could relinquish the vanity so prized by the world spoke of great wisdom—a trait worthy of admiration.

Her thoughtful gaze lingered on Butler Lin, sending a shiver down his spine. Unnerved by whatever schemes might be brewing in Jiang Ruan's mind, he quickly excused himself to prepare her carriage, muttering a few hasty words before retreating.

...When Jiang Ruan and her party arrived at the palace, they first paid a visit to Empress Dowager Yide at Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager appeared as decisive and vigorous as ever, yet an air of weariness could no longer be concealed between her brows. The woman who had once brandished her sword during the rebellion of the Eight Princes in the previous dynasty was finally showing signs of aging under the ravages of time. With the Emperor now gravely ill, Empress Dowager Yide had to set aside her identity as a mother and focus first on pacifying the court officials and disciplining the imperial harem. Beneath the calm surface, the storm of succession raged. The Empress Dowager couldn’t possibly be unaware of how difficult it was to maintain stability under such circumstances.

Jiang Ruan harbored little affection for Empress Dowager Yide. Initially, she had approached her merely to elevate her own status. But now, the situation was different. After all, the Empress Dowager was Xiao Shao’s biological grandmother. Whatever she might have done in the past, it was clear now that she had never forced Xiao Shao into anything. Through subtle probing, Jiang Ruan had also discerned the Empress Dowager’s stance—she would not push Xiao Shao to take the throne.

After conversing with Empress Dowager Yide for a while, Jiang Ruan proceeded to Xuan Pei’s palace. By now, the entire court knew of the deep bond between Jiang Ruan and Xuan Pei. What kind of affection could there be between half-siblings who had only recently acknowledged each other? Everyone saw through it—it was merely Jiang Ruan, representing the Brocade Hero King Manor, standing on Xuan Pei’s side. Today, as she entered the palace to visit the Southern Garden, countless eyes would undoubtedly be watching her covertly. Jiang Ruan was well aware, but this was precisely the effect she intended.

Upon entering the Southern Garden, she found Xuan Pei still practicing calligraphy. Spotting Jiang Ruan, he first looked surprised, then overjoyed, immediately dropping his brush to greet her: "Mo—... Wangfei."

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. Though everyone in Xuan Pei’s palace was trustworthy, their presence was still somewhat intrusive. Xuan Pei waved his hand, dismissing the attendants. Jiang Ruan also instructed Lianqiao and the others to wait outside before sitting down with Xuan Pei.

Xuan Pei was delighted—it had been a long time since he’d seen Jiang Ruan, and he couldn’t contain his excitement, bombarding her with questions: "Why hasn’t Wangfei come to see me? The palace has been so lively lately, with something happening every day. I thought Wangfei would surely take the opportunity to visit me, but I waited and waited, and no one came. That Jinying Wang, though—he occasionally barges in uninvited! How dare he just waltz into my Southern Garden as he pleases!" By the end, his tone had turned indignant, clearly holding a grudge against Xiao Shao. Xuan Pei and Xiao Shao were truly a pair of adversaries. Jiang Ruan didn’t understand why Xuan Pei was so critical of Xiao Shao, but she simply attributed it to childishness and chuckled. "I didn’t want to visit rashly and cause trouble for you. Since His Majesty fell ill, I imagine you haven’t had an easy time. Has he given you any trouble?"

The "he" naturally referred to Xuan Li—both mother and son knew this implicitly. Xuan Pei raised an eyebrow, his expression triumphant. "How would he dare trouble me? He’s always been a coward, and now he’s practically hiding in his shell. At such a critical juncture, he wouldn’t risk making a mistake. Even if I spat on him right now, he’d just preach about brotherly harmony and refuse to punish me."

Jiang Ruan: "......"Xuan Pei now spoke with an unintentional air of banditry, though it was unclear who he had learned it from. Jiang Ruan's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Mingyue, who stood nearby. Although Mingyue had been assigned to Xuan Pei by Xiao Shao, Mingyue was formerly a member of the Brocade-clad Guards—a group that had crawled through piles of corpses. Spending every day with Xuan Pei, it was inevitable that Mingyue would rub off on him. Xuan Pei’s outward image was that of a refined and noble young royal, yet his words carried the tone of a bandit. Jiang Ruan couldn’t help but wonder why Xiao Shao had sent Mingyue in the first place.

But Xuan Pei wasn’t wrong. Xuan Li had always been a cautious man. Precisely because his ascension to the throne had not been entirely legitimate, he was all the more concerned with public perception. He would never leave any room for criticism, and now, more than ever, he had to maintain the facade of a wise ruler. Even if he were to act against someone, he would never dare to do so openly or make too much noise.

Xuan Pei looked at Jiang Ruan and suddenly remembered something. "Mother," he asked, "did something happen for you to come see me today?"

"Pei Er," Jiang Ruan pulled her thoughts back and gazed at the young man before her. "Do you want to become Emperor?"

The palace was full of ears, and such a bold question spoken so openly was audacious. But Jiang Ruan wasn’t worried—Xuan Pei was no longer the naive and ignorant boy from their past life, and the Southern Garden’s defenses were impenetrable. After speaking, she fixed her eyes intently on Xuan Pei’s.

Xuan Pei froze for a moment, then lowered his head and gritted his teeth. "Mother... I... I want to be Emperor."

"Good." Jiang Ruan nodded. Xuan Pei was stunned again and looked up at her. He had expected her to be angry or show some other reaction, but he never imagined she would be so calm. In their past life, they had suffered so much in the palace, all because of human greed. Now, he wanted to become Emperor because he wanted to grow stronger—perhaps only then could he protect those he cared about and fully shield Jiang Ruan under his wings. But to outsiders, it would seem like mere ambition and selfishness. How would Jiang Ruan see him? Xuan Pei didn’t dare to think about it.

Yet Jiang Ruan had simply replied with a casual "good," without even a hint of disapproval. Bewildered, Xuan Pei asked, "Mother, aren’t you angry?"

"In this world, if you want something, take it. If you can’t take it, fight for it, seize it. But Pei Er," Jiang Ruan looked at him, "what you desire, I will fight for you."

Xuan Pei’s eyes burned, and tears nearly fell, but he knew he couldn’t cry. He was a grown man now—he couldn’t be as lost and helpless as in their past life, causing Jiang Ruan to worry. He clenched his jaw and forced the tears back. In the palace, warmth and coldness were fleeting, and people abandoned you the moment you lost power. But here was someone telling him: What you desire, I will fight for you. How rare and precious were such words.

Mother, what you desire, I will fight for you too. Xuan Pei silently vowed in his heart. Just then, Jiang Ruan’s voice came again: "Then, Pei Er, can you tell me where you hid the Imperial Edict?"Xuan Pei was startled and looked at Jiang Ruan somewhat helplessly. With just that one glance, he knew the news he had been trying to conceal could no longer be hidden. He said dejectedly, "How did Mother Consort know?"

"Just by observing your plans. Your arrangements in court have always been aggressive, but these past few days, they’ve slowed down. It couldn’t possibly be because Xuan Li changed your mind. I know you’re a child with strong convictions—once you’ve set your mind on something, you pursue it relentlessly. I suppose from the very beginning in this life, your goal has been that position." Jiang Ruan paused before continuing, "And a few days ago, Xuan Li’s subordinates killed Eunuch Li. After some thought, it must be because of the Imperial Edict. But if the edict named you as Crown Prince, there’d be no reason for you to be so unsettled."

"Pei Er, the name on the edict isn’t yours, but Xuan Li doesn’t know, does he?" Jiang Ruan asked calmly.

Xuan Pei met her gaze. In their past life, Jiang Ruan had always looked at him tenderly, her eyes filled with unwavering protection and affection. But now, the woman before him had been reborn in this life, shedding all traces of her former timidity. Though she appeared warm on the surface, her heart was cold—except when facing him. Even now, despite the sternness mixed into her gentleness, Xuan Pei knew he couldn’t lie to her. No amount of concealment would work.

"That’s right, but Mother Consort only guessed half of it," Xuan Pei said softly. "Father Emperor’s edict did indeed name me as Crown Prince, but..." He gritted his teeth. "He drafted two edicts."

Jiang Ruan was taken aback. "Who was named in the other edict?" she asked, though she already had a suspicion. It was as if all her previous doubts had suddenly connected, forming a complete plan. And as expected, Xuan Pei revealed the answer: "Jinying Wang, Xiao Shao."

"So that’s how it is..." Jiang Ruan murmured. At last, she understood the Emperor’s entire scheme. That ruler was far from the incompetent figure he appeared to be—or perhaps even that incompetence was merely an act. He might have even detected Xuan Li’s earlier poisoning attempts and was now turning the tables.

But why? The answer, of course, lay with Xiao Shao.

Two edicts—one naming Xuan Pei, the other naming Xiao Shao. If Xiao Shao truly refused to accept the decree no matter what, the Emperor would ensure Xuan Pei ascended the throne as a fail-safe. But Xuan Pei’s edict would never see the light of day unless absolutely necessary.

No wonder. No wonder in their past life, Xuan Li had resorted to poisoning. Back then, Xuan Li had already eliminated most obstacles in court, yet the Emperor still showed no intention of naming him Crown Prince. The reason was Xiao Shao. Xuan Li had sensed the Emperor’s intent—that he had no plans to make him heir—but unaware of the specifics, he slaughtered all his brothers. Then, before the Emperor could announce the edict, Xuan Li struck the fatal blow. A flawless move, allowing him to ascend the throne smoothly, without a single whisper of dissent.But he never expected that the Emperor had no intention of appointing any of his sons as the future crown prince—his gaze had always been fixed on Xiao Shao. Thus, when Xuan Li ascended the throne and Xiao Shao returned to the palace, the prepared ministers presented the Imperial Edict. Xiao Shao eradicated the treacherous officials, proved his identity, and unified the empire with rightful legitimacy.

Now, the Emperor wished to repeat the same trick, but this time, everything was different. Xuan Pei had grown into someone capable of rivaling Xuan Li, and Xiao Shao had no desire whatsoever to take the throne.

After a moment of silence, Xuan Pei finally spoke, "Mother, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you, but... I just didn't know how to handle it." His emotions were complicated. If Xiao Shao became Emperor, Jiang Ruan would naturally be Empress, which was also a good outcome. Yet, an inexplicable reluctance stirred in Xuan Pei's heart. After striving for so long, was he to simply hand everything over to someone else? And he, who had sworn to protect Jiang Ruan, would end up watching her be protected by another? Moreover, Xuan Pei didn't trust Xiao Shao in the slightest—what if Xiao Shao mistreated Jiang Ruan once he held absolute power? All these conflicting thoughts tangled in his mind, which was why Jiang Ruan had noticed something amiss.

"There's no need to worry," Jiang Ruan patted his head. "Xiao Shao has no intention of becoming Emperor. The throne still belongs to you. I will help you, and the Brocade Hero King Manor will stand behind you." It was a promise.

Though he had anticipated this possibility, hearing it from Jiang Ruan's lips still stirred uncontrollable excitement in Xuan Pei. Suppressing his emotions, he looked at her in confusion and asked, "But Mother, why did Father want to appoint Jinying Wang as the crown prince?" When he had seen that Imperial Edict, his shock had been beyond words. Yet, no matter how much he investigated, he couldn't uncover the reason. It was as if all traces had been erased, leaving not even a hint of possibility. Xuan Pei continued, "Mother, could it be... that he is also Father's son?"

After much deliberation, this seemed the most plausible explanation. The Xuan family's empire could not be seized by an outsider, and if the Emperor had chosen Xiao Shao, it could only mean Xiao Shao was of royal blood. But how had Xiao Shao become the Emperor's illegitimate son? Could it be that the Princess of Brocade Glory and the Emperor... Xuan Pei's thoughts wandered too far. Suddenly, Jiang Ruan flicked his forehead, likely guessing what he was thinking. Amused and exasperated, she said, "It's not what you're imagining. Stop making wild assumptions."

"Then..." Xuan Pei still wanted to ask.

"It's a long story," Jiang Ruan interrupted him. "If you truly want to know the reason, go ask Xiao Shao yourself. If he agrees, then I'll tell you." Xiao Shao's origins were not a light topic, and Jiang Ruan felt it inappropriate to disclose them to Pei Er without Xiao Shao's consent.

Xuan Pei's face fell at her words. "Must everything depend on him? Mother, surely you're not bound by those so-called 'Three Obediences and Four Virtues,' are you? He's just a mere Jinying Wang—I don't care about his secrets. I'll find out on my own," he retorted stubbornly.

Jiang Ruan smiled. "Alright, what I need to ask you now is: where is that Imperial Edict, and who exactly is the person you planted beside the Emperor?"Xuan Pei could obtain the news of the Imperial Edict so easily, undoubtedly because someone close to the Emperor had tipped him off. Initially, Jiang Ruan had thought Xuan Pei had won over Eunuch Li, but now Eunuch Li was dead. If it had truly been Eunuch Li, the secret would likely have been discovered by Xuan Li's people. Yet Xuan Li's faction had taken no action, leaving no doubt—Eunuch Li was not Xuan Pei's informant. So who could it be?

"It's Mu Xirou," Xuan Pei said. "The Imperial Edict is with her. Father trusts her, so hiding the edict by her side wouldn't arouse suspicion."

"Mu Xirou?" Jiang Ruan was somewhat surprised. The famously cold beauty of the palace—Jiang Ruan had once doubted Mu Xirou's identity. A stunningly beautiful woman who was excessively icy yet still managed to retain the Emperor's favor surely had some tricks up her sleeve; it couldn't be that simple. But later, seeing that Mu Xirou never caused any trouble and didn't involve herself in the murky waters of the harem, Jiang Ruan had relaxed, assuming she was merely a woman who had unwillingly entered the palace and was stubbornly clinging to her principles.

Now, Xuan Pei was saying that Mu Xirou was his person?