When Jiang Ruan awoke, the sky had already darkened. The room she was in was not spacious and appeared somewhat old, as if it wasn’t frequently occupied. A young maid stood beside her, setting out dishes on the table. Upon noticing Jiang Ruan was awake, the maid silently quickened her pace before grabbing something and darting out in a hurry.
Jiang Ruan didn’t pursue her. She wasn’t sure how long she had slept, but things seemed to have gone more smoothly than expected. During the earlier chaos when Tianzhu (Nandina) rescued Luzhu, several people had suddenly rushed in, seizing the gifts bestowed by Empress Dowager Yide. Jiang Ruan herself had been struck unconscious and abducted. They must have drugged her, which was why she had only just woken up now.
Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze. At the time of her abduction, she had witnessed Lianqiao being slashed with a knife. She didn’t know how severe the injury was now. No doubt, the capital must be in an uproar at this moment.
She had no idea where she was, but the fact that no one had come for her yet—whether it was Xiao Shao’s Brocade-clad Guards, Jiang Xin Zhi’s men, or the capital’s officials—meant this place was extremely well-hidden. Such a concealed location would be impossible for the Southern Borderlands' Holy Maiden to find. Xuan Li was too cunning to act personally, so this could only be the work of the former Southern Borderlands princess, Qi Man.
Jiang Ruan walked to the window and pushed it open to look outside. The darkness outside was profound, the silence almost eerie, as if she were in a desolate wilderness hundreds of miles from the capital. There was an odd tranquility to it. She made no attempt to leave. She knew that the moment she stepped outside, at least a dozen skilled fighters would block her path—this was merely a form of house arrest, orchestrated by Xuan Li and executed by Qi Man.
What should she do now? Nothing. All she could do was wait.
Jiang Ruan felt a pang of hunger. She hadn’t eaten anything since entering the palace earlier that day, and after sleeping for so long, she was utterly exhausted. She sat down at the table, where a few simple dishes and plain porridge were laid out—nothing extravagant. Picking up her bowl, she began to eat slowly.
Xuan Li still intended to use her as leverage in negotiations with Xiao Shao, so he wouldn’t make things too difficult for her before then. There was likely no poison in the food either. After a few bites, however, a sudden wave of nausea rose in her throat. The sensation came so abruptly that she dropped her chopsticks and retched uncontrollably.
No sooner had she started retching than the door was flung open with a loud bang. The same maid from earlier rushed in, her face tense—perhaps fearing Jiang Ruan was up to some trick. She stood to the side, watching Jiang Ruan warily and hesitantly, but said nothing.
Jiang Ruan understood. No doubt, Xuan Li had given strict instructions before sending this maid to attend to her, emphasizing just how cunning she was. In the maid’s eyes, this display must seem like another ploy to escape. But Jiang Ruan had no such thoughts at all. A vague suspicion flickered in her mind, though she showed no outward sign of it. Deliberately nonchalant, she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed her lips lightly before remarking coolly, "This food really doesn’t suit my taste."The maid was taken aback but remained silent. Jiang Ruan paused—could it be that Xuan Li had sent a mute to ensure absolute secrecy? She said, "Prepare another table of dishes. Your master wouldn't refuse if he knew."
The maid hesitated before finally turning to leave. Once she was gone, Jiang Ruan suppressed the nausea rising in her throat and calmly walked to the bed, sitting down with deliberate slowness. She massaged her temples, feigning exhaustion. The room and its surroundings were filled with hidden spies; the slightest misstep could give her away. Leaning against the soft cushions of the divan, Jiang Ruan struggled to contain her shock.
The nausea wasn't unfounded—almost instantly, a thought flashed through her mind: Could it be... that she was pregnant?
Lately, her tastes had grown peculiar, craving sour foods, but she hadn't experienced any nausea. She had dismissed it as a seasonal loss of appetite. Yet today's sudden discomfort tightened her chest. Even now, she couldn't be certain, but the mere possibility was enough to unsettle her deeply.
How could this be? No matter how meticulously she had planned, she never anticipated this. Her entire scheme was built on the premise of using herself as a bargaining chip—Xuan Li would have to protect her, ensuring her temporary safety. To drive a wedge between Xuan Li and the Southern Borderlands, the key lay in the Southern Border Sacred Maiden. But if the Holy Maiden learned Jiang Ruan was carrying a child... No woman could remain indifferent upon discovering the man she loved had fathered another's child. Especially someone as obsessively possessive as the Holy Maiden. Such news would obliterate any remaining restraint or reason. Jiang Ruan wasn't afraid of death—having faced it once, fear no longer held sway. Yet the memory of Pei Er's tragic end in her past life still haunted her like a nightmare. How could she allow such horror to repeat itself?
Her heart clenched with regret—for the first time, she questioned her decision. Had she known about her condition earlier, she would never have acted so recklessly. This child was conceived in the warmth of her and Xiao Shao's love. Why now, of all times, when danger lurked at every turn?
Closing her eyes briefly, Jiang Ruan reopened them with renewed resolve. Self-pity was futile now. She would adapt as circumstances demanded. Her hand drifted to her abdomen, as if cradling a new life already growing within. The warmth beneath her fingertips softened her gaze.
If there truly was a child, she would protect it at all costs. But what would the child be like? A boy or a girl? Would they resemble Xiao Shao or take after her? A complex mix of anticipation and worry swirled in her heart, but in the end, hope prevailed. Parting her lips, she whispered soundlessly to the life that might or might not exist: "Stay with me, little one, and I'll stay with you."…….
The situation regarding Jiang Ruan naturally did not reach the ears of those anxiously waiting in the capital. Over the past few days, anyone remotely connected to the Brocade Hero King Manor had come to offer their condolences. At the General's Residence, Li Shi had fallen ill from worry, and Zhao Guang was practically ready to turn the entire capital upside down in his search. The sons and young masters of the General's Residence had each used their own resources to look for her, but unfortunately, all efforts had been in vain. Even the usually boisterous Guan Lianghan had visited the Brocade Hero King Manor for several days, hoping to console Xiao Shao.
"Third Brother, don't be too heartbroken," Guan Lianghan patted Xiao Shao on the shoulder. Being a straightforward man, he didn't know how to offer comfort. Scratching his head, he managed only to say, "Look, your wife isn't someone easy to bully. In the past, who among those who opposed her ever ended up well? Maybe this is all part of her plan, and the mastermind behind this doesn't even realize they're being played."
Guan Lianghan had spoken without much thought, but Qi Feng, standing nearby, nearly jumped at his words. If he hadn't known how tightly guarded this secret was—that Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao would never have told Guan Lianghan—he might have thought Guan Lianghan had uncovered the truth. He glanced at the silent Xiao Shao and sighed inwardly. He understood Xiao Shao's feelings all too well. Knowing to trust Jiang Ruan's capabilities was one thing, but acting on that trust was another. No matter how much faith one had, worry was inevitable.
Mo Cong, however, looked around and asked curiously, "Where's Fifth Brother?"
"He's tending to Third Sister-in-law's two maids," Qi Feng replied. "Those two were severely injured and nearly didn't make it. Xia Wu has been busy with them these past few days."
"To be so ruthless even with the maids..." Mo Cong abruptly stopped himself, swallowing the rest of his sentence—"who knows what they might do to Third Sister-in-law"—when he saw the look on Xiao Shao's face.
Meanwhile, Mo Cong had just finished examining Luzhu's injuries. After taking her pulse and tucking her hand back under the covers, he offered her a few words of comfort before stepping out. As soon as he exited, he saw Jin Er waiting anxiously outside.
"How is she?" Jin Er asked urgently.
"She's much better now," Mo Cong said. "Her injuries were quite severe a few days ago, but fortunately, Luzhu is resilient and has a strong constitution. The wounds are healing well, and it seems there won't be any lasting issues. For the next few days, she just needs to apply the medicine and take her prescriptions on time, along with careful rest. She'll recover gradually. Just make sure she doesn't do any heavy labor during this time."
Jin Er nodded repeatedly. As Mo Cong turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something and added, "Oh, you should go in and apply the medicine for her. The maids who usually do it are busy giving Lianqiao acupuncture right now and won't be free for a while. Since you're trained in martial arts, you have good control over your strength. And since the two of you are to be married soon, there's no need to stand on ceremony."
Mo Cong, being someone who kept to himself and paid little attention to outside matters, was genuinely unaware of the rift between Luzhu and Jin Er caused by Liao Meng. Moreover, as a practitioner of medicine, he held a rather indifferent view toward physical contact—what mattered was purity of heart, not superficial propriety.
Having said this, Mo Cong saw nothing amiss and simply picked up his medicine chest to head toward Lianqiao's room. Jin Er stood frozen for a long moment before finally snapping out of his daze.Inside the room, Luzhu was lying on her side with her back to the door. These past few days, she had been confined to bed, not overly concerned about her injuries but deeply troubled by Jiang Ruan's disappearance. She couldn't shake the thought that if she hadn't been injured—if Jiang Ruan hadn't sent Tianzhu to protect her—perhaps Jiang Ruan wouldn't have been abducted. Luzhu was consumed by guilt, even wishing she had died instead. The thought of Jiang Ruan in the hands of those ruthless people was too horrifying to contemplate. Xiao Shao hadn't blamed her; instead, he had Xia Qing tend to her wounds. This only deepened her sense of guilt. At times, she resolved that if anything truly happened to Jiang Ruan, she would follow her in death—at least that would fulfill the bond between mistress and maid.
Lost in these dark thoughts, she suddenly heard the sound of the door opening behind her. Luzhu paid it little mind, assuming it was time for her medicine and that the maids had come to apply it. She didn’t turn around.
Only when the footsteps reached her bedside did she speak: "You’ve worked hard today. No need for any preparations—just apply the medicine directly."
The footsteps paused. Then the bed dipped slightly as someone sat on the edge. Luzhu adjusted her position, lying on her stomach to make it easier for the medicine to be applied. A moment later, she felt a cool touch as her clothes were lifted. The sudden chill made her uneasy. Why was the girl so quiet today? Had something happened? Then a hand brushed over her scar.
This hand was different from the soft ones of the maids who usually tended to her—it was slender yet slightly rough, calloused from years of martial practice. A man’s hand. Startled, Luzhu whipped her head around to glare at the intruder.
Jin Er sat before her, looking alarmed by her sudden movement. He quickly pressed a hand to her shoulder and hissed, "Don’t move! You’ll hurt yourself!"
"What are you doing here?" Luzhu was both embarrassed and furious—embarrassed that he had come without warning and seen her bare back, furious because… what exactly were they to each other now?
"I’m here to apply your medicine," Jin Er said softly, picking up the ointment beside him. "Lianqiao is busy with acupuncture, and the maids are assisting her, so I’m filling in. Stay still—if you pull at the wound, it’ll hurt."
So he was just a substitute. Luzhu couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or something else, but she was angry at herself for even caring. Ignoring the pain in her back, she sat up abruptly and shoved him away. "I don’t want you to do it! Get out!"
The sudden movement tugged at her wound, sending a sharp, stabbing pain through her. She gasped, nearly collapsing. Jin Er, startled, grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, careful not to touch her injury. His voice was laced with concern. "Be careful. Your wound hasn’t healed yet—don’t hurt yourself."
Luzhu’s heart ached. Even during their closest moments, Jin Er had always teased her, enjoying her anger. When had he ever been this gentle? Now, his tenderness felt like mockery. She let out a cold laugh. "Jin Er, what exactly do you want? Do you find it fun to torment me like this?"Liao Meng's matter was something Luzhu never took to heart, for it was merely a means to an end, and she was not an unreasonable person. People in this world pursue flawless emotions, but where can one find so many flawless emotions? If one were to dwell on every little thing, wouldn't life become unbearably exhausting? Though she didn't take it to heart, Jin Er did, and he hadn't shown any intention of reconciling. Luzhu had always wanted to give him time, assuming the Brocade-clad Guards were perhaps overly strict with themselves. But before that time came, this incident occurred.
"Luzhu." Seeing her emotions suddenly flare up, Jin Er could no longer hold back. He pressed her into his embrace, one hand holding hers against his chest, and spoke urgently, "I'm sorry, Luzhu. It's my fault. I was too cowardly. I thought I wasn't good enough for you anymore and didn't know how to face you. I thought waiting a little longer, giving it more time, would be enough. But I never imagined Heaven would grant no time to wait. That day you returned covered in blood, I... I felt as though I was no longer myself. I was so afraid of losing you. Right then, I thought, if you were gone, my whole life would never be right again." His lips pressed against Luzhu's forehead, radiating an unfamiliar heat. "Thank goodness you're still here. It doesn't matter what state you're in. If you're angry, I'll wait, wait until the day you forgive me. Luzhu, I'm sorry. Please don't be angry anymore. If you must be angry, hit me, scold me, just don't hurt yourself."
Jin Er's words were clumsy and cautious, devoid of the smooth-talking eloquence he usually displayed. Even in his youth, he had never been this tongue-tied, yet now it was all laid bare before Luzhu. Jin Er knew if his colleagues saw him in such an awkward state, they'd laugh for years, but he didn't care. Because every word he spoke now came straight from his heart.
That day, watching Luzhu being carried back drenched in blood, Tianzhu only said she had been stabbed. The sight of all that blood was horrifying, and Xia Qing's grave expression instantly turned Jin Er's limbs to ice. He stood outside Luzhu's room, watching Xia Qing work for hours. During those hours, he thought of nothing else but: if something happened to Luzhu, what would he do?
In a lifetime, one may meet countless people, many of whom one may like. But how rare is it for the one you like to like you back? And how many of those mutual affections endure till the end? The phrase "grow old together" is easy to say, but achieving it is far too difficult. With so many hardships in life, why not cherish the present?
Jin Er couldn't describe what he was feeling now, only that Luzhu was still here, alive and well—perhaps the greatest luck and mercy Heaven had granted him. Suddenly, he realized how foolish he had been before. All those external concerns and pride, those baseless guilt and fears, were truly insignificant. What could possibly matter more than the two of them?Luzhu closed her eyes. In the past, she would have been deeply moved by such words, but now... She slowly pushed Jin Er away, forcing back the tears in her eyes. "What's the use of saying these things now?" she said. "Between us, it's already impossible."
"Why?" Jin Er looked at her urgently. "If you're angry, that's fine. I don't expect you to forgive me right away, I—"
"It's not about you," Luzhu steadied herself. "You're the young master of the Huang family. Even if you follow our master now, you're still a free man. But I'm just a maid who hasn't been released from servitude. Our statuses don't match. And besides..." Her voice faltered. "I have that terrible scar on me. You could find a better girl. We were never meant to be together—perhaps we're just fated to be apart in this lifetime."
For an unmarried woman, having a scar was unacceptable. Even for married women, a scar could be reason enough to fall out of favor. Even if the scar was on her back, it might as well be considered disfigurement. Who would want to see an ugly scar marring skin that was once smooth as jade? Moreover, Luzhu's wound had been extremely deep—Xia Qing had personally said it would inevitably leave a scar. If the Golden Mausoleum Master Hand said so, there was absolutely no room for doubt.
Jin Er hadn't expected this to be what weighed on Luzhu's mind. He froze for a moment, as if suddenly understanding, then burst into laughter. Luzhu was taken aback and glared at him in annoyance. Jin Er coughed and reached out to tousle her hair. "Silly girl, I don't care about that at all."
Luzhu shook her head. "You might not mind now, but one day you will. I don't want you to regret it later—that would shame us both..." No matter how strong a woman appeared on the outside, when it came to the man she loved, she would always feel timid and insecure, wishing she could be better, wishing she could present her best and most beautiful self to him. There was nothing wrong with that. Fear and hesitation in love were natural.
"I won't regret it," Jin Er said seriously, his smile fading. "I know I seem unreliable—always making you angry, always teasing you. But Luzhu, you're the first girl I've ever liked. I don't know how to say it, but seeing you get mad at me, bullying you... that was the only way I felt like you'd notice me, like you'd talk to me." The infamous playboy, who once roamed pleasure houses without a care, had one day met a girl who couldn't be bothered with him—and to his dismay, he'd fallen for her. Naturally, he'd resorted to childish antics to get her attention. "But what I love is you, not your appearance. Beauty fades with time; no one can escape that. Even if that scar were on your face, you'd still be the most beautiful girl in my heart. As for status... you're right, we don't match now. How about this—I'll ask our master for a favor and have him make me a servant of the manor too?"Luzhu was deeply moved by the first part of his words, but when she heard the last sentence, she couldn't help but be shocked. She immediately raised her head to look at Jin Er: "Are you crazy?" But what met her eyes was Jin Er's mischievous grin, and she instantly realized he was teasing her again. Angrily, she said, "You're lying to me again!"
"Careful!" Jin Er steadied her shoulders. "Don't pull on your wound. Let me apply the medicine first. If you want to hit me, you can do so later. Once the medicine is applied and you're healed, I'll come to your room every day and let you hit me to your heart's content."
The man was being glib again, but this time, Luzhu didn’t argue with him. Instead, she silently turned away, her face slightly flushed as she muttered under her breath, "You rogue." Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to outright refuse him.
Jin Er was terrified of losing her, and she was no different. In that life-and-death moment, every past event flashed before her eyes—all the grudges and calculations suddenly seemed insignificant. Only after losing something does one learn to cherish it, and life itself is something worth treasuring. As for those trivial matters, let them be.
……
In the palace, everyone went about their duties with solemn expressions. Even the usually cheerful young eunuchs wore bitter faces, not daring to breathe too loudly for fear of provoking the displeasure of their superiors.
Ever since the Emperor fell ill, nothing in the palace had gone smoothly. One crisis followed another—first, Eunuch Li died, and now the Princess of Brocade Glory had gone missing. Though the princess was from the Xiao family, before her marriage, she had been recorded in the imperial registry and granted the title of Junzhu (a noble rank). Moreover, she was Empress Dowager Yide’s favorite. Since Jiang Ruan’s disappearance, people from the General’s Residence had been coming to the palace every few days to discuss the matter with the Empress Dowager, who was furious and had dispatched men to search for Jiang Ruan—all to no avail. Thinking of this, the young eunuch felt another headache coming on.
After walking a few steps further, he happened to see Eunuch Chen ahead, flicking his horsetail whisk as he gave orders to a few eunuchs. Spotting him, Eunuch Chen asked, "Where are you off to?"
"To the imperial kitchen to fetch the medicinal tonic for Lady Xiuyi," the young eunuch replied with an ingratiating smile. Truly, fate was unpredictable. Just half a month ago, this Eunuch Chen had been no different from him—a lowly eunuch with no status in the palace, clumsy with words and slow-witted, always making mistakes. If not for Eunuch Li’s backing, he would have died long ago. Yet after Eunuch Li’s death, this little Chen had risen to prominence. His filial devotion to Eunuch Li had caught the eye of the current overseer, Dong Xiuyi, who promoted him to chief eunuch. Empress Dowager Yide had raised no objections. To say the young eunuch wasn’t jealous would be a lie, but he knew better than to offend the man now—flattery was the only option. He sighed inwardly. They say a new ruler brings new ministers. With the Emperor gravely ill and Eunuch Li dead, replaced by Eunuch Chen, who knew if even the crown prince of the Da Jin Dynasty might be changed next…
Lost in thought, he was startled by Eunuch Chen’s sharp voice: "Go on, then."
The young eunuch hastily wiped his sweat and hurried toward Dong Xiuyi’s chambers with the tonic. When he arrived, however, he found only a few palace maids inside.
"Elder sister, is Lady Xiuyi not here?" he asked with a smile.
"Her Ladyship has stepped out," the maid replied, spotting the food basket in his hands and taking it. "Is this the tonic? I’ll inform Her Ladyship later. You may go."The little eunuch couldn't help feeling somewhat dispirited upon hearing this. He had gone to great lengths to secure this assignment, even spending one of his silver hairpins, all for the chance to make an impression before Dong Xiuyi. After all, she was currently the only one managing affairs in the imperial harem. If he could gain her special favor, there might be an opportunity for advancement. But now, that possibility was gone. Though disappointed, the eunuch maintained an enthusiastic smile on his face, exchanged a few more words with the palace maid, and then departed.
Meanwhile, Dong Yinger stood in a long corridor of the palace, accompanied only by her personal maid. Her circumstances had changed dramatically—now that she was fully in charge of the Emperor's affairs and Mu Xirou had completely withdrawn from management, she practically held sway over the entire harem, save for Empress Dowager Yide. Dressed in luxurious attire with exquisite makeup, her mind was not on harem intrigues. Her goal had never changed from the beginning. She had come here to wait for one person.
Before long, a figure hurriedly approached from the other end of the corridor. As the person drew near, Dong Yinger smiled slightly and stepped forward to greet them, saying, "Long time no see, General Jiang."
The man paused, stopping in his tracks, and gave her a puzzled glance as if trying to recall who she was. That single look immediately pierced Dong Yinger's heart—had she truly left no impression, no mark at all in this man's memory?
Biting her lip, Jiang Xin Zhi seemed to finally remember and nodded politely, "Dong Xiuyi."
His tone was restrained and courteous, which only deepened the sting in Dong Yinger's heart. She gazed at the man before her, the one who had long occupied her thoughts. Compared to before, he appeared even more mature and handsome, his scholarly elegance perfectly blended with a resolute strength, exuding a unique charm. He was a stark contrast to the Emperor, a man old enough to be her father, radiating youth and vitality instead. Dong Yinger realized that even after all this time, her stagnant heart could still flutter for him.
"Do you still remember me?" she asked with a reserved smile. "Back then, I was very close with Ruan Meimei."
Jiang Xin Zhi frowned slightly. He was no naive young man and could tell there was something odd about the way Dong Yinger looked at him. Her mention of Jiang Ruan inexplicably irritated him. He knew his sister well—though she might appear aloof, she was genuinely kind to those she cared about. Lin Zixiang and Zhao Jin were Jiang Ruan's friends, and she often spoke of them, sometimes even discreetly assisting them. But she had never mentioned this Dong Yinger. Jiang Xin Zhi never doubted his sister's judgment, so Dong Yinger's claim instantly displeased him. Besides, he truly had no recollection of her. Thus, Jiang Xin Zhi merely replied coolly, "Ah, my memory must be failing me."Dong Yinger's heart ached. How could Jiang Xin Zhi say such words so lightly? To her, wasn't this tantamount to admitting that he didn't remember her at all? Why must he humiliate her like this? A torrent of complex emotions surged through Dong Yinger's heart. She knew Jiang Xin Zhi had entered the palace today to discuss Jiang Ruan's kidnapping with Empress Dowager Yide, so she deliberately waited for him on this path. She wanted Jiang Xin Zhi to see her, not ignore her like he had in the past.
But even though she was now a high-ranking imperial consort, feared and respected by all in the palace, why did this man still ignore her? Why? Was it because of... that woman?
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Dong Yinger struggled to keep her expression from twisting into something ugly. She said, "I heard General Jiang... is to marry the Zhao family's young lady?"
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