The bitter summer of the Da Jin Dynasty passed with excruciating slowness. Scorched by the flames of war, it had transformed into a desolate desert devoid of life. Xuan Li's forces had finally retreated from the capital to the city's outskirts, ultimately overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Xuan Pei's faction boasted no shortage of military talents—veterans like General's Residence's Zhao Guang and his three sons, the young but formidable War God Jiang Xin Zhi, civil officials like Lin Wei and Liu Min, and Xiao Shao's hundreds of thousands of Brocade-clad Guards for martial prowess. Xuan Li's troops suffered defeat after defeat, with Jiang Xin Zhi and Xiao Shao's Brocade-clad Guards striking with particularly brutal ferocity, sweeping through like an autumn gale. Even when encountering isolated units of Xuan Li's army with comparable or even inferior numbers, the clashes often devolved into one-sided slaughter.
Xiao Shao had always brought an assassin's instincts to the battlefield—enemies were not foes in the eyes of the Brocade-clad Guards, but prey, making slaughter second nature. Everyone knew the reason behind Jiang Xin Zhi and Xiao Shao's frenzy: Xuan Li had abducted Jiang Ruan and caused her death.
Xuan Li had likely made his move with such audacity precisely because he held Jiang Ruan hostage. As long as the Brocade-clad Guards stayed out of the conflict, Xuan Pei's forces could only fight him to a stalemate. Yet Yuan Chuan's final scheme had ensnared even him, turning Xiao Shao into his mortal enemy. Opposing the Brocade-clad Guards was never wise—it only invited unnecessary hardship in this world.
Moreover, with Xuan Pei firmly in control at court, governance proceeded with meticulous order. Even those wavering officials who had harbored opportunistic hopes during the succession struggle were systematically dealt with by Xuan Pei. He vigorously promoted new ministers, including long-time loyalists, rewarding and punishing with clear distinction. His post-victory reckoning made the court realize this young Emperor was no pushover—their every move had been under his scrutiny long before, though he had bided his time in silence.
Yet no matter how intense the battles or how frequent the victory reports, none of the key figures—whether the Emperor, the General's Residence, Jiang Xin Zhi, or Xiao Shao—showed the slightest hint of joy. Xiao Shao in particular went about his days with icy detachment, colder than ever, as if nothing in this world could reflect in his eyes.
"Still no news?" asked Butler Lin—now Court Minister Lin Wei—glancing at Xiao Shao standing motionless in the pavilion courtyard before turning to his companion.
Qi Feng shook his head. All this time, Xiao Shao had never given up searching for Jiang Ruan. Every branch of the Brocade-clad Guards had been alerted, yet this massive operation yielded nothing—a telling sign in itself. As a rational man, Xiao Shao surely understood the implications, yet he stubbornly clung to the belief that Jiang Ruan still lived. When the Brocade-clad Guards had tried collecting ashes from the fire-ravaged temple to erect a cenotaph in her memory, Xiao Shao had flown into a rage upon discovering it—shattering the memorial with his own hands and severely punishing those who acted without orders. Since then, no one dared mention Jiang Ruan's fate in his presence again.Extreme wisdom invites harm, deep affection shortens life. Since Xiao Shao insisted on clinging to this wish, what could they do? It was just that watching someone stubbornly hold onto hopeless hope made bystanders feel somewhat sorrowful.
Lin Wei also sighed and said, "Let's go." Just as they were about to leave, they saw Jin Two rushing over from somewhere, his expression unusually agitated. He was holding something, even forgetting to use his lightness skill in his haste, and shouted breathlessly, "Master, master, there's news!"
Qi Feng and Lin Wei froze for a moment before immediately striding toward the two. Xiao Shao turned his head, and Jin Two, too excited to mind propriety, blurted out before Qi Feng and Lin Wei could even get close: "Young Master, someone found the Young Madam's jewelry in a pawnshop in the southern part of the city!"
Jiang Ruan bit off the thread after sewing the last stitch on the small jacket, deftly tying a knot. She was quite skilled at such tasks, and even Gui Sao couldn't help but praise her, saying that despite her delicate appearance—like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family who had never done rough work—her needlework was exquisite, even finer than that of the village tailor.
Jiang Ruan smiled. She had once lived in the countryside for a long time, where endless embroidery work had honed her needlework skills. After returning to the Minister's residence, she rarely touched a needle, but now, filled with joy at the thought of the child in her womb, sewing had become a pleasure. She had started in spring and continued into summer, recently finishing a few small cotton jackets for the hot weather—soft to the touch and comfortable.
Gui Sao said, "Even though you sew well, Madam Ruan, you shouldn’t overdo it. Your time is near, and we mustn’t risk any mishaps. Rest well these days—it’s hot out, so leave these tasks to me." She gazed at Jiang Ruan’s belly, unable to resist reaching out to touch it. "Look how big it is—it must be a plump little boy."
Jiang Ruan also looked down at her belly, gently stroking it as if she could feel the baby kicking. Life here was far more relaxed than in the outside world. Perhaps because this place was remote and isolated, the people here lived without scheming. In any case, it was the perfect place for her to nurture her pregnancy.
Just then, a scolding voice came from outside, accompanied by a child’s quiet sobs. Jiang Ruan and Gui Sao exchanged glances before Da Shan dragged Xiao Shan inside. Xiao Shan hung his head, tears still clinging to his cheeks.
"What happened?" Gui Sao asked. "Da Shan, did you bully Xiao Shan again?"
"Mother, I didn’t bully him!" Da Shan said angrily, glaring at Xiao Shan. "Tell Mother and Madam Ruan yourself what you did!"
Gui Sao and Jiang Ruan shared another look—this matter seemed to involve Jiang Ruan. She smiled gently. "Da Shan, don’t be so harsh. Xiao Shan is still young and doesn’t know better—you’ll frighten him. What’s wrong, Xiao Shan?"
During her stay here, Jiang Ruan had been lodging with Gui Sao’s family. The two brothers, Da Shan and Xiao Shan, were her saviors and had treated her with sincere kindness. She owed them gratitude, though for now, she had no way to repay them.Xiao Shan burst into loud sobs upon hearing this, which left Jiang Ruan even more bewildered. Da Shan sighed, standing before Jiang Ruan with a look of shame, and bowed to her, saying, "We apologize, Miss Jiang. This boy stole your jewelry and sold it."
Gui Sao sprang to her feet, her expression darkening as she glared at Xiao Shan. "Xiao Shan!" she shouted angrily. "What have I always taught you? We don’t steal or rob, and we don’t do sneaky things! How could you be so shameless? Have you no respect for your father?" Her eyes reddened with fury, and she was so enraged that tears nearly spilled out. Overcome with anger, she raised her hand to strike Xiao Shan.
"Gui Sao, don’t be angry," Jiang Ruan quickly interceded. Given her pregnancy, she couldn’t physically shield Xiao Shan, so she added, "Xiao Shan surely didn’t mean it. Let’s hear what the child has to say first."
Xiao Shan sniffled and choked out between sobs, "Qionghua’s grandmother is sick and needs expensive medicine to stay alive. Doctor Wang doesn’t have those medicines—they’re only available in the capital. Qionghua’s family is poor and can’t afford them. I... I thought Miss Jiang’s jewelry might be valuable, so I stole it to pawn. But I only did a live pawn! Once I have money, I’ll definitely buy it back for Miss Jiang."
Having lived here for a long time, Jiang Ruan was familiar with Qionghua’s family situation. Qionghua and her elderly grandmother were the only ones left in their household, barely scraping by. The grandmother was already frail with age, and Qionghua must have confided in her young friends about their struggles. Xiao Shan, who had grown up with Qionghua, couldn’t bear to see her suffer but had no money himself. Noticing that Jiang Ruan had brought jewelry when she first arrived—later removing it due to her pregnancy—he had taken it in desperation.
Gui Sao froze, clearly not expecting Xiao Shan’s theft to be motivated by such a reason. While his actions were inexcusable, they stemmed from kindness. She fumed, "But you still shouldn’t have stolen Miss Jiang’s jewelry!"
Xiao Shan cried harder. "You taught us that even a drop of kindness should be repaid with a flood. After Father left, when the three of us were struggling, Qionghua’s grandmother often helped us. Now that she’s in trouble, how could we stand by and do nothing? But I had no money, and those jewelry pieces are just lifeless things. I was only borrowing them from Miss Jiang—I swear I’ll return them!"
Jiang Ruan pondered for a moment before asking, "Xiao Shan, this place is far from the outside world, and the capital is over ten miles away. How did you get there?"
Tears still clung to Xiao Shan’s lashes as he answered, "I walked. It took me several days. A few days ago, when I said I was going to the mountains to play with Er Gouzi, I was actually going to pawn the jewelry."
Gui Sao gasped. Xiao Shan was still just a child—walking for days on end must have exhausted him. No mother could bear to see her child suffer, especially Gui Sao, who relied on her two sons for survival. Her anger quickly dissipated, replaced by exasperation. "You foolish boy!" she scolded. "Why didn’t you tell me or your elder brother?"
"I... I was afraid you and Da Shan would refuse. But only Miss Jiang’s jewelry could save Qionghua’s grandmother."Jiang Ruan smiled and said, "It's alright, Gui Sao. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Those trinkets weren't worth much anyway, and besides, I can't wear them now that I'm with child. They're just lifeless objects—better to exchange them for silver to treat someone's illness. My life was saved by Da Shan and Xiao Shan, and you, Gui Sao, gave me shelter. You've all been taking care of me all this time, and I have nothing to repay you with. I was already thinking of giving those trinkets to you as a small compensation for the trouble I've caused. Xiao Shan is just a child—what matters is his kind heart. He didn't steal them on purpose. I think you shouldn't scold him anymore."
Xiao Shan rubbed his eyes and looked at Jiang Ruan without speaking, while Gui Sao appeared somewhat embarrassed and quickly replied, "How could we accept that? Miss Ruan, it was only right for Da Shan and the others to save you. Talking about compensation makes it seem like we're strangers. We really can't take these things. Later, let Xiao Shan tell me how much silver he got, and we'll redeem them back."
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "They're just worldly possessions—nothing important. There's no need to redeem them. But Xiao Shan, when you went out, did you run into any danger? Did you meet anyone?" What worried her was something else entirely. Fearing that Yuan Chuan's men might still be lurking outside, she hadn't dared to show her face, lest she fall back into the tiger's den. Had Xiao Shan been spotted while carrying her jewelry?
Xiao Shan shook his head. "No."
Jiang Ruan thought for a moment. "Has anything happened in the capital recently?"
Xiao Shan pondered before answering, "There's fighting in the capital. People everywhere." Living in seclusion, they had little knowledge of the court's power struggles and naturally hadn't heard of Xuan Li's name.
Gui Sao grew anxious upon hearing this. "You went out while there's fighting? Didn't you think about what would happen to me and your brother if something went wrong? Are you hurt?" Her earlier fury melted into concern for her child's safety. Growing increasingly uneasy, she grabbed Xiao Shan by the ear and dragged him toward the house. "No, I need to check you over." She instructed Da Shan, "Da Shan, keep an eye on Miss Ruan. Don't let her carry anything heavy." With that, she led Xiao Shan away.
After Gui Sao and Xiao Shan left, only Da Shan and Jiang Ruan remained. Da Shan fidgeted awkwardly before finally mustering the courage to speak. "I'm sorry, Miss Ruan. I didn't teach Xiao Shan well enough."
Jiang Ruan snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "What does it matter? Xiao Shan didn't mean any harm. Besides, it was all to save someone. You shouldn't dwell on it, Da Shan." As she spoke, she recalled Xiao Shan's words about the situation in the capital. He had mentioned fighting but hadn't elaborated. She wondered how Xiao Shao was doing now. And what about Xuan Pei and her elder brother?
Da Shan guessed Jiang Ruan's distraction stemmed from Xiao Shan's words. However, he assumed she was thinking of her husband—the cruel man who had abused, deceived, and even tried to kill her. In Da Shan's eyes, Jiang Ruan was gentle and kind-hearted, so she must still be pained by thoughts of her husband. Feeling indignant on her behalf, he thought she deserved someone better and said, "Miss Ruan... actually, you don't have to dwell on the past. You should look forward. Let go of those who don't cherish you."He mustered up the courage to finish speaking, his face immediately flushing red. Jiang Ruan looked at him in surprise. She could naturally discern the young man's affection for her. Over these days, he had been exceedingly attentive, but Jiang Ruan had politely maintained her distance. Yet this boy was rather single-minded, living in such a simple and honest environment, and his feelings remained steadfast and unchanged.
Da Shan gazed at Jiang Ruan's radiant face and said, "Lady Ruan, you could actually stay here. I... Xiao Shan also likes you very much. As for the child in your belly, I... I can help take care of him too. I can teach him archery..."
This reserved confession was practically the limit of what Da Shan could express. It was the first time he had ever spoken such words to a woman. To him, it didn't matter that Jiang Ruan had been married before or that she already had a child of her own—he genuinely wanted to care for this woman.
Jiang Ruan was momentarily stunned. In the outside world, someone of her status would be considered nothing short of a discarded wife. No matter how pitiable her circumstances, no respectable man would be willing to take her in. But this place was different. And Da Shan was so young—he could have found a better girl, yet he had still confessed his feelings to her.
Jiang Ruan looked at the young man before her, vibrant like an untouched sunflower, and smiled gently. "Thank you, but Da Shan, I can take care of him myself."
Her tone was calm, without the slightest fluctuation. Clearly, her heart had not wavered in the slightest because of Da Shan's words. She was unmoved.
Da Shan stared at her in disappointment and asked unwillingly, "Is it because... Lady Ruan still can't forget him?"
Jiang Ruan gave a faint smile and was about to reply when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She couldn't help but press a hand against her belly, but the pain only grew more intense, becoming almost unbearable. Unable to hold back, she let out a soft moan and bent over, leaning against a nearby pillar for support.
"Lady Ruan?" Da Shan was startled at first, but seeing her distress, he panicked and hurried over, disregarding propriety as he reached out to steady her. "Lady Ruan, what's wrong?"
"It hurts," Jiang Ruan said through gritted teeth, her face instantly turning as pale as paper. Sensing the urgency, Da Shan immediately called out loudly, "Mother! Mother, something's wrong with Lady Ruan!"
Gui Sao had been inside scolding Xiao Shan when she heard Da Shan's shout and rushed out. Seeing Jiang Ruan's condition, she was alarmed and quickly asked, "What happened?" As she helped support Jiang Ruan, she took in her expression and gasped. "Oh no, she must be going into labor." She turned to Da Shan. "Go to the village and fetch Granny Yu. Tell her Lady Ruan is about to give birth. I'll take her inside first."
Da Shan nodded and dashed out the door. Gui Sao carefully helped Jiang Ruan to the bed inside. By now, Jiang Ruan was sweating from the pain, biting her lip to keep from crying out. Gui Sao's heart ached at the sight. "Lady Ruan, don't hold back too much. The baby's just starting to move—we don't know how long it'll take. Don't exhaust all your strength now. I'll have someone prepare some brown sugar eggs for you. You must eat a little to keep up your strength so you can deliver the baby smoothly later."This was Jiang Ruan's first time giving birth in both her past and present lives. No matter how composed and steady she usually was, it would be a lie to say she felt no fear at all. Yet she had always been rational and calm, so she obediently nodded to Gui Sao and said, "Alright."
Gui Sao hurriedly called the young wife next door to help boil eggs while she personally sat by the bed to accompany Jiang Ruan. Holding Jiang Ruan's hand, she comforted her not to be afraid. Jiang Ruan, dazed from the pain, unconsciously called out Xiao Shao's name: "A-Shao..."
At that very moment, Xiao Shao, who was rushing toward them from outside the capital, whipped his horse faster. For some reason, his expression suddenly froze. Jiang Xin Zhi, riding beside him, noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Shao pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Nothing."
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