A Dream within a Dream

"What child?" Xiao Shao was momentarily stunned before immediately responding.

"So you still don't know?" Yuan Chuan feigned surprise as he looked at Xiao Shao, then suddenly slapped his forehead as if just remembering something. He spoke slowly, "No wonder you're unaware—I only found out recently myself. The princess consort kept her pregnancy extremely well hidden. Back then, no one knew about it there. She even kept a dog, using the pretense of raising it to secretly take food from its mouth—something utterly unimaginable—probably all for the sake of the child in her womb. Yet in the end, it was still a tragic case of two lives lost. Tsk tsk, how pitiful for the little heir of your Brocade Hero King Manor, dying in his mother's belly before even being born."

Before Yuan Chuan could finish speaking, he felt his shoulder blade violently dislocated. Xiao Shao didn't kill him, but neither did he allow him to speak so lightly. Trained in martial arts, Xiao Shao's move was delivered without mercy, dislocating Yuan Chuan's shoulder blade and drawing a scream of pain from him.

"Third Brother..." Mo Cong was stunned. Yuan Chuan had actually revealed such a thing, and he feared Xiao Shao might lose his composure because of it. But Xiao Shao only said coldly, "You're lying."

Gritting through the pain, Yuan Chuan laughed. "Prince Xiao, why deceive yourself? You mustn't deny the princess consort's death just because you can't bear this news. If my life can be exchanged for Jiang Ruan and the little heir of Brocade Hero King Manor, it's worth it. Whether you kill me or cut me to pieces, I'm at your mercy."

"You want to use my hand to end your own life—I won't grant you that wish." Xiao Shao's gaze was icy, his tone even colder, as if it could freeze the air. "You were loyal to Dan Zhen. With Dan Zhen dead, all you have left is revenge. If what you say is true and your vengeance is complete, why haven't you died? Why instead skulk around, evading Xuan Li's pursuit? Clearly, A Ruan is still alive, and you—you're searching for her whereabouts!"

Xiao Shao's words sent a shock through Yuan Chuan's heart. Indeed, that day he had watched Jiang Ruan fall off the cliff—a certain death. Yet when he sent men to search for her body at the base, they couldn't find it. Soon after, Xuan Li's men caught wind of the situation. Qi Man likely thought he had succeeded and quickly betrayed him. Knowing Jiang Ruan had died by Yuan Chuan's hand, Xuan Li naturally sought Yuan Chuan's life in return. Originally, Yuan Chuan had planned to follow Dan Zhen in death after killing Jiang Ruan. But now, with Jiang Ruan's body still missing, he couldn't rest easy. He couldn't shake the feeling that Jiang Ruan had some last trick up her sleeve. Until he confirmed her death, he couldn't simply die at Xuan Li's hands. So like a stray dog, he dodged Xuan Li's pursuit while searching everywhere for traces of Jiang Ruan.Yet, he never expected that even this detail would be noticed by Xiao Shao. Before Xuan Li's men could capture him, Xiao Shao had already seized him. Once caught by Xiao Shao, there was no chance of escape. The only thing he could do now was to spite Xiao Shao by telling him that Jiang Ruan was dead. He knew Jiang Ruan had been pregnant in her final days. If Xiao Shao learned she had died a tragic death while carrying his child, he would likely never find peace for the rest of his life. Dan Zhen had followed Xiao Shao her entire life, doing everything to bind him to her side, yet in the end, she lost her life for it and was buried in the unfamiliar soil of the Da Jin Dynasty. Since Yuan Chuan couldn’t confirm whether Jiang Ruan was alive or dead, making Xiao Shao live in agony, consumed by guilt and remorse for the rest of his days, would at least avenge Dan Zhen’s suffering.

He thought this way, but he never imagined his intentions would be seen through by Xiao Shao. Yuan Chuan raised his head and met Xiao Shao’s cold, starlit eyes, feeling as though that sharp gaze could pierce straight through his heart. Startled, he forced a smirk and said, "How should I explain this to you? Prince Xiao seems to understand me so well. But I didn’t stay alive just for Jiang Ruan. The Holy Maiden had more than one enemy—Jiang Ruan was merely the most ruthless. Of course, I had to kill her. If you don’t believe me, why not ask the Princess Hall? Oh, and Xuan Li as well. That day, the fire consumed the entire house, and she was burned alive inside. Not even ashes remained. Do you know why Xuan Li is hunting me down? Precisely because of this. Otherwise, if Jiang Ruan were still alive, why wouldn’t Xuan Li have handed her over to you as leverage by now?"

Xiao Shao remained silent, but Yuan Chuan felt the dagger pressed against his throat tremble slightly. Even if only for a fleeting moment, Yuan Chuan sensed it—Xiao Shao was tense.

The man known to the world as cold-hearted and unfeeling, once he had someone to care for, would carry that burden for life. Dan Zhen had loved Xiao Shao, so Yuan Chuan had naturally gathered plenty of information about him. He knew Xiao Shao’s feelings for Jiang Ruan ran deep. No matter how composed and rational a man might be, faced with the possibility of losing his beloved forever, he could not remain indifferent. Xiao Shao was, after all, only human—not a god. He had emotions and desires. Yuan Chuan’s words must have stirred unease in his heart.

When the fire broke out that day, Xuan Li’s men had been drugged unconscious by Yuan Chuan, leaving only his own people behind. Qi Man had long since disposed of those witnesses, so by the time Xuan Li’s men awoke, all they knew was that Jiang Ruan had perished tragically in the blaze. The scant remains left in the fire were convincing enough. To avoid Xuan Li’s wrath, the guards naturally distanced themselves from the incident. Since Qi Man had pinned the blame on Yuan Chuan for starting the fire, they had a scapegoat. Unsurprisingly, they all pointed their fingers at Yuan Chuan. And Yuan Chuan, even in death, would never reveal the possibility that Jiang Ruan might still be alive. If Xuan Li learned there was even the slightest chance she had survived, he would move heaven and earth to rescue her.

Thus, all Xuan Li knew was that Yuan Chuan had set fire to Jiang Ruan’s residence, and Jiang Ruan had burned to death inside.This was precisely the outcome Yuan Chuan sought to achieve. Confirming Jiang Ruan's death would not only ensure Xiao Shao suffered a lifetime of agony but also completely sever any possibility of Xuan Li gaining anything from Xiao Shao regarding Dan Zhen. Jiang Ruan had spoken the truth—if it could be said that she had schemed to have Dan Zhen burn the Imperial Edict, leading to her own untimely demise, then Xuan Li was the direct murderer of Dan Zhen. Yuan Chuan had no means to confront Xuan Li head-on, but he would never allow Xuan Li to reap any benefits either. As long as Jiang Ruan was dead, Xiao Shao and Xuan Li would inevitably become sworn enemies. For the rest of his life, Xiao Shao would seek vengeance. What could be more satisfying than watching his enemies tear each other apart?

"Third Brother," Qi Feng stepped forward quickly, glancing at Yuan Chuan. His heart was also unsettled by Yuan Chuan's words, but he still retained some rationality. Xiao Shao had been looking at Jiang Ruan with the eyes of a husband gazing at his wife, naturally believing she must have endured immense hardship. But in Qi Feng's eyes, Jiang Ruan was not so fragile. If she could die so easily, it wouldn't be her. And if she were pregnant, she would fight even harder to survive. So he looked at Xiao Shao and said, "This man's words are likely deceitful. Third Sister-in-law isn't someone who could be killed so easily. If she were with child, she would only grow stronger. We need to investigate his claims further. As for now..."

"Take him away." Xiao Shao suddenly withdrew his dagger, looking down at Yuan Chuan with an icy gaze. Yuan Chuan had initially been smugly watching Xiao Shao, but under that stare, he felt an instinctive fear rise from the depths of his heart, an urge to flee. It was a coldness devoid of all human emotion, as if Xiao Shao were looking at a corpse—or something even less than that. What was he planning?

Xuan Shao said indifferently, "The Brocade-clad Guards have their methods for interrogating prisoners. Use them all. Don’t let him die." With that, he turned, mounted his horse, and rode off without a backward glance.

"Hey—" Mo Cong moved to chase after him but was pulled back by Qi Feng, who watched Xiao Shao's retreating figure with a complicated expression. "Let him be alone for a while."

"Then what about him?" Mo Cong asked, glancing at Yuan Chuan on the ground.

A strange smile appeared on Qi Feng's face. He was naturally handsome and usually carried himself with grace and courtesy, but this smile suddenly lent his features a hint of murderous intent, eerily similar to Xiao Shao's demeanor moments ago. He said slowly, "Didn’t you hear what our lord said? Take him to the Brocade-clad Guards and give him a thorough... welcome."

At this, even Jin Yi and Jin Er exchanged odd looks.

The Brocade-clad Guards were a group of assassins by trade, never claiming to be virtuous. Their methods of interrogation were endless and far from pleasant. Xiao Shao, however, had always preferred swift and decisive kills, rarely resorting to the torturous techniques established by the old Jinying Wang. Now, with explicit orders, Yuan Chuan was in for a world of suffering.

Several Brocade-clad Guards stepped forward, first crippling Yuan Chuan's martial arts and breaking his limbs to prevent suicide. They meticulously searched him for hidden poisons, stripping him nearly naked before tossing him onto a horse. Only then did they cheerfully set off back to headquarters.

...That night, it was already the third watch when Xiao Shao finally returned. Upon his return, he said nothing, locking himself in his study and forbidding anyone from entering. Butler Lin stood at the door, watching with a sigh. Qi Feng approached, staring blankly at the light in the study.

After capturing Yuan Chuan, Xiao Shao had immediately led the Brocade-clad Guards to investigate the temple Yuan Chuan had mentioned. The temple was dozens of miles outside the capital, a long and arduous journey, yet Xiao Shao had rushed there without hesitation. The place was originally a leper colony, with a dilapidated temple where all the monks were lepers. The Southern Borderlands people had killed the local patients and disguised themselves as both patients and monks, easily deceiving the inspectors. After all, no one would expect anyone to hide there—one careless mistake could lead to contracting leprosy, ruining their lives.

By the time Xiao Shao and the Brocade-clad Guards arrived without rest, the Southern Borderlands people had already fled, leaving behind only hastily buried corpses of the original patients. The temple itself had a section that was charred black, nearly reduced to ashes.

Xiao Shao froze upon seeing the ruins. He personally entered to inspect, accompanied by the Brocade-clad Guards. The interior was scorched beyond recognition, but faint marks on the walls revealed deep scratches left by someone before death—clearly the fingernails of a woman. The bed curtains and such had been completely burned away, but the room’s layout unmistakably indicated it had been occupied by a woman. Moreover, there was an iron chain for tethering a dog.

Yuan Chuan had once mentioned that Jiang Ruan kept a dog to conceal her pregnancy, even using the dog’s mouth as a cover. This dog chain undeniably confirmed something.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng, who had been searching for other clues, eventually found medicinal herbs for stabilizing pregnancy in a servant’s room.

All these signs pointed to one conclusion: Jiang Ruan’s current situation was far from optimistic, perhaps even dire. The Brocade-clad Guards present all knew this truth, but none dared to voice it. In the end, it was Ye Feng who couldn’t bear the sorrow and approached Xiao Shao, saying, "Master..."

Everything had turned to ashes. Even the bones had mingled with the debris—how could they hold a proper burial? Would they have to settle for a cenotaph? No matter what, Xiao Shao must have been enduring immense grief. Yet, he merely glanced at the ruins and said calmly, "The Princess is not here. Keep searching."

If Jiang Ruan wasn’t here, where else could she be? Xuan Li hadn’t sent anyone to search for her, which left only two possibilities: either Jiang Ruan was in Xuan Li’s hands, or she was already dead. But if she were still with Xuan Li, he wouldn’t hide her from others. The scene before them seemed to confirm that Yuan Chuan hadn’t lied. Every Brocade-clad Guard shared the same thought—Xiao Shao was deceiving himself.

This man, always composed, rational, and strong enough to face any situation with unshaken calm, was now terrified of confronting the truth. So he was avoiding it. Yet no one had the heart to expose this reality; they couldn’t bear to cruelly shatter Xiao Shao’s illusion.

Then let it be that Jiang Ruan was still alive. The Princess of Brocade Glory was still alive—after all, her body hadn’t been found, had it? If there was no body, perhaps she still lived. They could only console themselves this way."Young Master Qi," Butler Lin said, "you... should still try to persuade the young master."

"Butler Lin, you overestimate me. I can't persuade him," Qi Feng replied with a bitter smile. "I regret it so much now." I can't even persuade myself , he silently added. Jiang Ruan's plan had been discussed with him, and he had agreed to it. When the news from the Brocade-clad Guards reached him, Qi Feng felt as though time had frozen. All he could see was the resolute look in Jiang Ruan's eyes that day—he couldn't stop her, and in the end, he even thought it was a good plan. He hadn't tried to stop her at all. So, in the end, he had simply watched as Jiang Ruan walked the path to the underworld.

Xiao Shao couldn't forgive himself, and neither could Qi Feng. Especially after learning that Jiang Ruan had been pregnant, he realized he had failed not only her but also the child in her womb—and Xiao Shao. The living suffer ten thousand times more than the dead, and Qi Feng understood this better than anyone.

When Jinying Wang and his wife had died, Xiao Shao had already endured that kind of pain. He had completely shut himself away. Meeting Jiang Ruan had finally pulled him out of that darkness, but now, facing such a blow again—for Xiao Shao, this might mean the last trace of tenderness in his life had been erased. From then on, he would no longer truly be a "person."

How could Jiang Ruan bear to do this? Qi Feng closed his eyes. The spring wind felt especially cold, and the lamplight in the study seemed dim, as if it might flicker out at any moment.

Butler Lin fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "This old man has grown foolish. He’s just like his father—both of them hopelessly devoted. Back then..." He didn’t finish. Back then, Hongxi Crown Prince had lost all will to live after Xiang Xiaoyuan’s death and had followed her in the most tragic way. The Xiao family—no, the Xuan family—was full of such deep love. Father and son were the same. Hongxi Crown Prince had been gentle as a lotus, while Xiao Shao was cool as water. He seemed even more unyielding than his father, but in truth, his heart was softer than anyone’s. And now, was even that last shred of softness to be taken from him? Butler Lin looked up at the sky and silently prayed: Your Highness, if you have any mercy, don’t let your only son suffer like this.

Inside the room, Xiao Shao sat at the desk, still wearing his dark gold outer robe, damp with the cold dew from outside. He had no mind to change, simply sitting there in a daze.

The brush on the table—she had touched it. The paper—she had used it. The teacup—she had drunk from it. The chair—she had sat in it. Every corner of the room seemed filled with her bright smile. She had always waited here for him by the lamplight when he returned late at night, and each time, he had scolded her to sleep earlier. Now, such scenes would never happen again.

Xiao Shao stared blankly, thinking of Yuan Chuan’s words—that Jiang Ruan had been carrying their child. A sharp pain pierced his heart. He suddenly realized he had never truly fulfilled his duty as a husband. She had always seemed so strong that he had taken it for granted, forgetting that she, too, was just an ordinary woman.

Jiang Ruan had suffered terribly in her past life, and he had vowed to protect her in this one. But was this how he had protected her?Xiao Shao suddenly raised his hand to cover his face. The wind in the room was bitterly cold, and the small study suddenly felt vast and empty. He felt profoundly alone.

Slowly, he lowered his hand and picked up a sheet of letter paper from the desk. From the brush holder beside it, he selected a brush, ground the ink, moistened the tip, and began to write.

He wrote: "To my beloved wife, A Ruan..."

He wrote with meticulous care, the lamplight casting long, straight shadows of his lashes. His profile was handsome and striking, yet it bore an unmistakable sorrow.

After finishing each word with deliberate precision, he finally set aside the fully written letter. He folded it into an envelope, rolled it into a small metal tube, and whistled. A snow-white pigeon flew in through the window. Xiao Shao fastened the small tube to the pigeon's leg, stroked its head with his finger, and then raised his hand, sending the pigeon soaring out the window.

He gazed absently at the window.

Outside, Qi Feng and Butler Lin both turned their eyes toward the snow pigeon that had flown from the house, watching as it disappeared into the night. They sighed softly in unison.

Where would this snow pigeon carry the letter from the man inside? And would it ever reach its destination?