A Dream within a Dream

Gui Sao had the young wife next door prepare brown sugar eggs, which were quickly brought over. However, Jiang Ruan was in such severe pain at the moment that she had no appetite to eat anything. Unable to resist Gui Sao’s repeated urging, "Miss Ruan, you must eat a little. We’ve all had children and know how serious this is. Giving birth is hard work—if you don’t eat something now, how will you have the strength later? Besides, there’s no telling exactly when the baby will come. I think it’ll be within the next few days. Miss Ruan, surely you don’t plan to starve yourself for days? Don’t let the baby in your belly go hungry."

Jiang Ruan had no desire to eat, but when she heard Gui Sao’s last words, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear. Thinking that she mustn’t let the child go hungry no matter what, she forced herself to endure the discomfort and finished all the food Gui Sao had brought. Even so, the pain in her abdomen showed no sign of easing. And so, the night passed in this manner.

By the latter half of the night, Jiang Ruan was no longer in pain—exhaustion had finally lulled her to sleep. The elders of Qingping Village, along with experienced aunties and young wives, gathered outside Gui Sao’s door to keep watch. Many young men were also present. Jiang Ruan was beautiful, and most of these young men harbored admiration for her, often sending small gifts in the past. Now, they couldn’t help but worry for her, defying their parents’ scolding to rush out and wait anxiously outside Gui Sao’s house.

An elderly woman spoke up, "She won’t give birth tonight." This was Wang Pozi, the village midwife.

"I think it’ll be within the next two days. Her belly is quite large," Gui Sao said with concern. Over the past days, she had grown fond of Jiang Ruan. Gentle in temperament, courteous in her dealings, and stunningly beautiful, Jiang Ruan had won her affection. In this place, free from the rigid formalities of the outside world, the people were simple and sincere. Gui Sao had come to genuinely care for Jiang Ruan as if she were her own daughter, and now she couldn’t help but worry. "With such a big belly, I wonder if the birth will go smoothly."

"Miss Ruan’s body still seems a bit weak," Wang Pozi remarked. "I’m afraid this birth won’t be easy."

"How could she not be weak?" a young wife chimed in. "She’s suffered so much before—even while pregnant, she was hunted by her own husband. Her body must have been weakened long ago. Ah, how pitiful."

This was naturally a condemnation of Jiang Ruan’s heartless husband. The women present all despised such a callous man, while the young men wished they could beat the scoundrel senseless—how could anyone bear to harm such a kind and lovely woman?

Liu Mengmeng was the daughter of Liu Fuzi, the most learned man in the village. At just fourteen or fifteen years old, she was naturally the most talented girl in the village. Fair and delicate, she had been the prettiest girl in the village—until Jiang Ruan arrived. After that, the young men who once vied for her attention turned their affections toward Jiang Ruan, leaving Liu Mengmeng seething with resentment.Today, she had come again, this time accompanying Liu Dashen. Liu Mengmeng immediately spotted the visibly tense Da Shan and his brother sitting outside Gui Sao's doorstep. Da Shan had been stunned earlier when he saw Jiang Ruan going into labor, his heart aching unbearably at the sight of her pain, wishing he could bear it for her. He had initially thought the baby would come by nightfall, but when nothing happened, his heart remained suspended in worry. Unsure of what to do, he could only sit at the doorstep with the other young men who admired Jiang Ruan, staring blankly into the distance.

"Da Shan," Liu Mengmeng approached him, pulling a paper-wrapped parcel from her sleeve and handing it to him. "I brought some Camellia cakes from home. You've been sitting here half the night—have something to eat."

The surrounding young men all turned to look at her, and Liu Mengmeng flushed under their gazes. The entire village knew she had a soft spot for Da Shan, ever since he had saved her life when she and her friends encountered a leopard while gathering herbs in the mountains. Da Shan had been hunting at the time and came to their rescue. Young girls naturally idolized heroes, and Da Shan, being a handsome young man, naturally earned Liu Mengmeng's affection. But it seemed to be a one-sided infatuation—Da Shan appeared indifferent to her advances.

Sure enough, this time Da Shan didn't pay her much attention either. He simply took the Camellia cakes with a smile and said, "It's alright, I'm not hungry. Xiao Shan, you haven't eaten all night—have some." Xiao Shan was genuinely hungry and immediately took a big bite, mumbling to Liu Mengmeng, "These are delicious, thank you."

The young men around them burst into laughter—whether at Da Shan's obliviousness or Liu Mengmeng's futile efforts, no one could say. Liu Mengmeng stamped her foot in frustration and stormed off in a huff. Da Shan, utterly confused, didn't react, but Gui Sao, watching from the side, couldn't help but sigh.

Liu Mengmeng was a good girl, no doubt, but as a mother, Gui Sao knew her son's heart well. Da Shan was clearly smitten with Jiang Ruan. And who could blame him? A girl like Jiang Ruan was hard not to adore—even Gui Sao herself wished Jiang Ruan could be her daughter. If Da Shan wanted to marry her, Gui Sao wouldn't object in the slightest. But as a woman, she could see clearly: Jiang Ruan held no romantic feelings for Da Shan, let alone anything more. Da Shan's affection was destined to go unrequited. Still... Gui Sao reconsidered. Jiang Ruan had suffered great trauma in the past, and it was only natural she'd be wary of men now. Time would reveal true intentions—perhaps, given enough time, Jiang Ruan might change her mind. For now, they could only take things one step at a time.

The hours passed in anxious anticipation for the entire village, but by the afternoon of the next day, nothing major had happened. The villagers gradually dispersed.

When Jiang Ruan awoke, she felt deeply apologetic for causing such a commotion, but Gui Sao reassured her, "Childbirth is a serious matter—it's hardly a wasted effort. You've worked hard. Though this little one in your belly is quite the prankster, teasing their mother like this—must be a boy."

Jiang Ruan smiled at that.

...On the other side, Xiao Shao was rushing over with his trusted subordinates without stopping for rest. After a full day and night, several of their horses had already collapsed from exhaustion, yet no one complained of hardship or fatigue—because Xiao Shao was utterly determined not to pause. Jiang Xin Zhi was the same. Though Qi Feng had considered advising them to rest, he understood their feelings all too well. Moreover, now that there was news of Jiang Ruan, things would naturally take a turn for the better.

The pawnshop owner who had circulated Jiang Ruan’s jewelry recalled that the items had been pawned by a young man dressed as a mountain hunter—and it had been a live pawn. Why would anyone do a live pawn unless the owner of the jewelry was still alive? Perhaps the young man intended to redeem the items for the owner later, or perhaps this was a signal deliberately allowed or even initiated by the owner herself.

Along the way, the Brocade-clad Guards gathered information and finally uncovered, through layers of insider knowledge, the existence of a secluded refuge. The place was incredibly difficult to locate. Back when everyone had assumed Jiang Ruan was no longer alive, only Xiao Shao had persisted in searching for her. Now, with even the slightest hope, how could he possibly give up?

When they reached the edge of the cliff, the path ended. They heard they had to descend the cliff, with only vines to aid them. Xiao Shao and his men dismounted, leaving a few behind to guard the spot. Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi, both highly skilled in martial arts, led the way down, followed closely by Qi Feng and the others. Once they landed, they found themselves surrounded by endless stretches of mountains, indistinguishable from one another. Qi Feng sighed, "No wonder no one could find this place. A village hidden so deeply—without a guide, one would only get lost and perish here."

"Even if it means perishing, we must find her," Xiao Shao said. "Split up and search."

"Wait," Jiang Xin Zhi suddenly spoke up, raising a hand. "Look—who is that?"

Amidst the rolling mountains, a young girl was carrying a basket, seemingly occupied with something. The lush green forest made her stand out even more, especially in her peach-colored summer blouse. The group noticed her immediately. Jin Yi muttered, "A decoy?"

"In a secluded place like this, why would there be a decoy?" Qi Feng said. "She might be from the village. Should we go ask her?"

Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi exchanged a glance and nodded. "Agreed."

Liu Mengmeng was gathering herbs in the mountains. Venturing out alone was unsafe, but today she was acting out of spite. Last night, Da Shan had utterly humiliated her, stripping her of all dignity. She had liked Da Shan for a long time—he was handsome, brave, and an exceptional archer. Yet he had always been indifferent to her. Still, Liu Mengmeng wasn’t worried; she was the prettiest and most educated girl in the village, and Da Shan would surely come around. But everything had changed since Jiang Ruan arrived.

Even Liu Mengmeng had to admit that Jiang Ruan was beautiful—radiant like the sun, so vivid that she made everyone around her seem dull by comparison. Moreover, her demeanor was graceful, every movement exuding the elegance of nobility. Most importantly, she was also highly learned, sometimes even teaching the village children things Liu Mengmeng didn’t know. Even her own father had praised Lady Ruan as a woman of profound knowledge.Jealousy—Liu Mengmeng was jealous of Jiang Ruan, but what she envied most was how well Da Shan treated Jiang Ruan. She had never seen Da Shan be so considerate toward any other woman before. Liu Mengmeng could tell that Da Shan liked Jiang Ruan. But why? Jiang Ruan was already a woman who had been married. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, especially after seeing Da Shan sitting motionless last night, his eyes fixed solely on Jiang Ruan, who was about to give birth in the house. There was no room for anyone else in his gaze. Just the memory of it made Liu Mengmeng feel wronged, so early in the morning, she went into the mountains to gather herbs. She thought petulantly, If I were unlucky enough to encounter a wild beast in the mountains, would Da Shan come to save me? If I were injured, would he watch over me the same way he watches over Jiang Ruan?

Lost in these idle thoughts, she had no mind for gathering herbs. Just then, she suddenly heard someone call out from behind her, "Miss."

Startled, Liu Mengmeng quickly turned around to see a handsome young man standing before her. The man was dressed in luxurious attire and carried an air of martial prowess. Smiling at her, he asked, "Miss, could you tell me how to get to Qingping Village?"

Though she often ventured into the mountains, Liu Mengmeng had never been to the outside world. Her entire life had been spent in the village, and the people she knew were all familiar faces from there. The sudden appearance of strangers naturally startled her.

Then, from behind the martial-looking man, another man in purple robes stepped forward. This man was also exceptionally handsome, and his voice was gentle and courteous: "Miss, we mean no harm. Might you be from Qingping Village? Could you guide us there?"

Liu Mengmeng took a step back. The entire group was dressed in extraordinary finery, and each of them carried an air of nobility. After all, Liu Mengmeng was still a young girl, and since these men were polite, gentle, and good-looking, she couldn’t help but feel a bit more favorable toward them. Still, she hesitated, knowing outsiders rarely came to her village, and asked, "What do you want?"

This time, a black-robed youth emerged from behind the martial man. His features were even more striking than the two men before him—his eyes like pools of ink, his brows like brushstrokes of dark paint. In that instant, Liu Mengmeng could only recall the phrase her father had once taught her. The young man exuded an icy, mesmerizing aura. His voice was cool and detached: "I received word that my wife has taken refuge in Qingping Village, so I’ve come to find her. Since you’re from the village, has any unfamiliar woman arrived there recently?"

With just those words, Liu Mengmeng’s mind went blank, snapping her out of her dazed admiration for the black-robed youth. Almost immediately, she thought of Jiang Ruan—the only outsider currently in Qingping Village. If this black-robed youth claimed Jiang Ruan was his wife, then wasn’t he the heartless, faithless man from her story?

Liu Mengmeng had heard Jiang Ruan’s story before and knew she had married poorly. At first, she had felt indignant on Jiang Ruan’s behalf—after all, any woman married to such a man would suffer a tragic fate. Though she envied Da Shan’s kindness toward Jiang Ruan, the sight of this man now made her resolve instantly: I mustn’t let him find Jiang Ruan. "Miss?" Seeing her remain silent for so long, Qi Feng couldn't help but speak up, thinking they might have frightened the young girl somehow. Little did he know that Liu Mengmeng was completely engrossed in staring at the black-clad youth—she had never seen such a handsome man before, one who carried an innate elegance as fluid as drifting clouds. She couldn't tear her eyes away. Yet this very person was the heartless scoundrel who had seized another's family fortune and now sought to hunt down his own wife. Liu Mengmeng sighed inwardly, thinking that even she might not have recognized the man's true nature at first glance.

She averted her gaze from Xiao Shao and feigned ignorance. "I'm not from Qingping Village. There are several villages in these mountains. This is my first time coming here to explore, so I don't know where Qingping Village is. I also haven't heard of any woman wandering into these parts recently. You gentlemen must have been misinformed."

"How is that possible?" Jin Er interjected. "The lead we have is definitely accurate." He added, "Little sister, you're not lying to us, are you? We're not bad people."

After finally finding this clue, if it turned out to be false, Xiao Shao would be devastated—everyone believed this. How could they trust the girl's words? Seeing this, Jiang Xin Zhi spoke up again, "I'm her elder brother. We've been searching for her for a long time. Please don't hide anything, miss. If anything were to happen to her, I'd never forgive myself."

Liu Mengmeng scoffed inwardly. Jiang Ruan had long since made it clear—she had no elder brother in her family. This was clearly a lie. These men might appear refined, but they were ruthless enough to pursue someone to the bitter end. At this point, she even set aside her past grievances with Jiang Ruan. Blinking innocently, she said, "I'm sorry, I do sympathize with you, but I really don't know where Qingping Village is. Why don't you gentlemen keep looking elsewhere? Farewell." With that, she turned to leave.

"Wait—" Qi Feng reached out to stop her, but Xiao Shao held him back. The others looked at Xiao Shao in confusion. In a low voice, he said, "She's lying. Follow her."

The girl's demeanor was clearly not that of someone visiting the mountains for the first time. Moreover, the Brocade-clad Guards' intelligence was never wrong—there was only one Qingping Village in these parts. The way the girl had looked at him earlier had been peculiar—first with infatuation and awe, then shifting strangely after hearing his words, before her attitude abruptly changed. Though he didn't know why, Xiao Shao was certain his words had triggered some reaction in her. Rather than pressing her here, it would be better to follow discreetly and locate Jiang Ruan sooner. A young girl with little worldly experience would surely rush back to the village to report if she knew something. By tailing her, they would undoubtedly find Qingping Village.

No one objected to Xiao Shao's suggestion, and they complied accordingly.

Meanwhile, after walking some distance, Liu Mengmeng couldn't resist glancing back. Seeing no sign of the black-clad youth and his companions, she finally relaxed. Truly, as her father had said, the outside world was far too complicated. Never had she imagined that the breathtakingly handsome man dressed in black could be such a cold-hearted villain. The thought that he intended to hunt Jiang Ruan down and eliminate her made Liu Mengmeng feel a pang of sympathy for Jiang Ruan after all.However, Liu Mengmeng suddenly realized that these people were so ruthless that they wouldn't stop until they found Jiang Ruan. Since they had already obtained clues, they definitely wouldn't give up easily. It would be best to return to the village early and inform the villagers about this matter, so Jiang Ruan could prepare in advance—ideally by hiding where she wouldn't be discovered.

Liu Mengmeng turned her head to confirm once more that no one was following her before hurriedly clutching her basket and rushing back toward the village. The journey from the mountains to the village would take several hours, and she wouldn't arrive anytime soon. She ran as fast as she could, fearing she might fall behind those wicked men, unaware that Xiao Shao and the others were following her from a distance.

"She really is a cunning little girl," Qi Feng remarked. "But why would she lie to us?"

"A secluded place naturally wouldn’t want to be discovered," Jiang Xin Zhi replied. This reasoning made sense, so the group said no more and continued following Liu Mengmeng.

...

Time passed quickly that day. Just when everyone thought it had been a false alarm, as dusk approached, Jiang Ruan began suffering from excruciating abdominal pain again—this time even worse than before. When Gui Sao entered the room and saw the large wet stain on the blanket beneath Jiang Ruan, she was startled and immediately called out to Da Shan, who was chopping firewood outside, "Da Shan, go fetch Wang Pozi quickly! Lady Ruan is going into labor!"

Da Shan dropped the firewood in his hands and bolted outside. His heart had been uneasy all day, as no one knew exactly when Jiang Ruan would give birth. He had heard others say that childbirth was like walking through the gates of hell, and Wang Pozi had warned that Jiang Ruan’s weak constitution made it even more dangerous. Terrified of any mishap, Da Shan was filled with anxiety.

Wang Pozi arrived swiftly, bringing along two experienced midwives. A large pot of hot water had already been prepared outside, and Gui Sao promptly shooed Da Shan out of the house. Once again, the scene from the previous night repeated itself—many young men and women gathered anxiously outside Gui Sao’s house, listening intently to the commotion inside.

But tonight was different from the night before. Last night, Jiang Ruan’s pain had been bearable, and she had eventually calmed down. Tonight, however, the cries coming from inside the room were piercing and agonizing. Women kept carrying out basins of bloodied water, a sight that sent chills down everyone’s spines. The laboring woman’s screams made them all clench their fists tightly.

"Ah—!" Jiang Ruan gripped the sheets beneath her with all her strength. Wang Pozi urged, "Lady Ruan, don’t panic, stay relaxed. All women go through this when giving birth. Don’t be afraid—come on, push—"

"It hurts so much." Sweat drenched Jiang Ruan’s forehead, her hair sticking to her skin in wet strands. Her face was deathly pale, and her lips trembled uncontrollably. Another midwife pulled Gui Sao aside and whispered, "It’s not good. Lady Ruan’s labor is extremely dangerous. The baby’s head is too big and stuck. She’s too weak to push anymore..."

Gui Sao grew frantic. "What do we do?" She wasn’t new to childbirth, and seeing Jiang Ruan like this, she knew the situation was dire. But Jiang Ruan had stayed with her for so long—these past days, it had felt like she’d gained a daughter. Gui Sao’s heart ached for Jiang Ruan, who had suffered so much at such a young age. If anything were to happen today... she couldn’t bear to think of it."Let's try again..." The woman sighed and turned to help once more.

Time passed minute by minute, and the moans from inside the room gradually weakened. Even the usually mischievous Xiao Shan couldn't help but grow serious, asking Da Shan timidly, "Brother, she won’t be in trouble, will she?"

"She’ll be fine," Da Shan murmured, though it was unclear whether he was reassuring Xiao Shan or himself.

Just then, a clear voice rang out, "Oh no, oh no!"

Everyone turned to look—it was none other than Liu Mengmeng. Liu Dashen immediately scolded, "You silly girl, where have you been running around? Coming back so late!"

"Mother, it's bad," Liu Mengmeng panted. "Today when I went into the mountains, I ran into Madam Ruan's husband. They brought a lot of people, probably to capture Madam Ruan. Afraid they might find this place, I tricked them into going the wrong way and took a long detour to shake them off. That's why I'm only returning now."

"Madam Ruan's husband?" Da Shan asked.

"Yes," Liu Mengmeng gestured, "Tall, very handsome, dressed in black clothes... Ah—" Liu Mengmeng suddenly screamed, pointing at a figure in the darkness. "How are you here?"

The person standing there was tall, strikingly handsome, and dressed in black—exactly as Liu Mengmeng had described Jiang Ruan's husband. Behind him stood several unfamiliar faces. The villagers of Qingping Village all rose to their feet. They knew Jiang Ruan's background well and harbored deep resentment toward the heartless scoundrel before them. Da Shan stepped in front of the man in black and demanded, "What do you want?"

Qi Feng frowned, sensing the villagers' intense hostility, though he couldn't fathom why. Still, he spoke up, "Everyone, we mean no harm. We're only here to find the lady of our household. Once we locate her, we'll leave immediately without causing any trouble or revealing this place."

"Hypocritical scoundrel, get out!" Xiao Shan charged forward with a carrying pole. Jiang Xin Zhi deftly deflected it with a light flick of his hand, bewildered. "What's the meaning of this?" How had they suddenly become villains? Clearly, the villagers held some deep-seated grudge against them.

Da Shan stopped Xiao Shan and glanced around, confirming that the man in black was indeed Jiang Ruan's husband. Though he appeared noble and dignified, he was nothing but a beast in human guise. Da Shan said stiffly, "There's no lady here—only our own villagers. You must have the wrong place."

Before he could finish, a sharp cry rang out from the lit house: "Ah—"

Everyone recognized the voice—it was Jiang Ruan's. Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi's expressions darkened simultaneously. "A Ruan—" they called out, rushing toward the house.

Wang Pozi's anxious voice also rose, "Madam Ruan can't hold on any longer—she's exhausted! What do we do?"

Da Shan blocked Xiao Shao's path, furious. "Don't you dare hurt her! If you harm her, I'll kill you!"

Xiao Shao gave him a cold glance, his own temper fraying. Without hesitation, he seized Da Shan's arm and flung him aside, sending him flying.

The surrounding villagers erupted in shouts, closing in on them. Qi Feng felt exasperated—this didn't have to escalate into violence. Why had it come to this? Xiao Shao ignored the crowd and bolted for the house. Jiang Ruan was too weak to cry out, but in her haze, she thought she heard Xiao Shao's voice. Her fading consciousness sharpened slightly. "A Shao—" she murmured.

Xiao Shao heard her and burst through the door instantly, leaving the villagers no chance to stop him. Seeing this, Da Shan scrambled up to grab him. "What are you doing?" he roared."What were you trying to do?" Jin Er slapped him to the ground, already disliking the young man who acted so familiar with the young mistress, needlessly provoking their young master's anger. He smirked, "What business is it of yours between a husband and wife?"

The women in the room screamed at the sudden intrusion. Jiang Ruan drowsily opened her eyes and saw Xiao Shao. Tears immediately welled up as she whispered, "A Shao, A Shao, you've finally come..."

"I'm late," Xiao Shao knelt by the bed in two strides, gripping her hand tightly. "I'm sorry."

"I... save our child..." Jiang Ruan pleaded, "Save him..." Seeing Xiao Shao, her heart settled completely, her only thought to protect the baby in her womb. She felt her strength and life slipping away, but if Xiao Shao could save their child—their child together—she couldn't bear to lose it.

"A Ruan, hold on. Both you and the baby will be fine. I'm here now, nothing will happen. Don't be afraid, don't give up." Xiao Shao clasped her hand, his usually impassive eyes reddening. His voice trembled slightly, yet his tone was resolute. "A Ruan, stay strong." He turned to the stunned women, the proud young man pleading for the first time, "Save her life!"

Wang Pozi and Gui Sao were initially frightened by the intruder, but seeing how this man must be Jiang Ruan's husband, they were confused. Rumor had it Jiang Ruan's husband was heartless and unfaithful, yet this young man clearly cared deeply for her. As experienced women, they recognized the look of utter devotion in his eyes. As for Jiang Ruan, in all her time in Qingping Village, she had always smiled faintly, but this was the first time they saw her like this—as if she had finally let go of all burdens, placing complete trust in the man before her.

Xiao Shao held Jiang Ruan's hand, whispering in her ear, "You can't leave me alone, A Ruan. I missed you for a lifetime—I don’t want to miss you again in this one. Once everything is settled, I’ll go wherever you want, do whatever you wish. Just don’t leave me..." His tears fell one by one, startling in their heat from someone usually so cold.

Jiang Ruan's eyes reddened too—she couldn’t bear to leave Xiao Shao. Sometimes, one only realizes the value of what they have after losing their way once. In this life, Xiao Shao was her most unexpected gift. How fortunate she was to have met him. If she died, leaving him alone in this world, he would suffer terribly. Jiang Ruan clenched her fists, steeling herself.

Even Gui Sao and the others couldn’t hold back their tears. Wang Pozi, sharp-eyed, noticed the change in Jiang Ruan and shouted encouragingly, "Madam Ruan, yes, just like that, push!" She assisted with the delivery while urging her on. Xiao Shao never let go of Jiang Ruan’s hand, continuously offering his support.

The night seemed endless, but as dawn broke over the eastern sky, the first cry of a newborn pierced the air. Everyone inside and outside the room exhaled in relief.Da Shan and the villagers were surrounded by the Brocade-clad Guards and couldn't get close, but Wang Pozi's delighted voice rang out from inside: "It's twins! What a blessing for Madam Ruan!"

"A Ruan..." Jiang Xin Zhi felt a wave of relief and immediately moved toward the house. Just then, Gui Sao came out, instructing some young women to prepare some sweetened water. Jiang Ruan had been in labor all night, and everyone had feared the worst. That she had survived such a perilous ordeal made their hearts clench with tension. If not for the black-clad young man in the end, no one knew if she would have made it.

Gui Sao sighed, recalling how, after the babies were born, the young man hadn't even glanced at them—his gaze had been fixed solely on Jiang Ruan. The intensity of his concern had been heartbreaking to witness. Right then, she knew this young man shared a deep bond with Jiang Ruan, far beyond what Jiang Ruan had let on. If he was her husband, he was surely one who cherished his wife dearly.

Inside the room, the newborns had just been cleaned and swaddled in the prepared cloths, looking utterly adorable. A boy and a girl, placed right beside Jiang Ruan. Though still weak, Jiang Ruan smiled and said, "I want to see the babies."

"Don't move," Xiao Shao frowned, stopping her. He picked up the babies himself to show her, his movements still awkward and his hold not quite right. Fortunately, the twins weren't fussy and didn't cry. Still, newborns were wrinkled and scrunched up, their tiny faces all bunched together. Xiao Shao blinked at them, then clicked his tongue. "So ugly."

Jiang Ruan glared at him as their children were insulted by their own father the moment they were born. Xiao Shao brought them closer, and she reached out to gently tease their little hands, her heart overflowing with joy. The pain of the long night was now entirely soothed, as if everything had been worth it. Life was truly miraculous—these were her and Xiao Shao's children. "I haven't named them yet," she said. "I wanted to wait for you to choose." When Xiao Shao didn't respond, she looked up to find him gazing at her intently.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Jiang Ruan asked.

"I'm sorry," Xiao Shao murmured. "All this time, you were alone... It must have been so hard. I came too late—I almost..." Almost lost her. His hand brushed over her hair. The thought of losing Jiang Ruan was unbearable.

Jiang Ruan smiled softly. "It's nothing. This place has been good to me. But... I get the feeling you don’t really like these two?" A thread of unease wound through her. Since arriving, Xiao Shao had been indifferent toward the babies. Why did he seem so detached? Did he dislike children?

Xiao Shao hesitated, glancing at the two wrinkled little monkeys in their swaddles, then buried his face in the crook of Jiang Ruan's neck, inhaling deeply as if to etch her scent into his soul. "A Ruan," he said, "no more after this... No more children."

Watching her in labor, teetering on the brink of death—he never wanted to relive that again. The helplessness, the terror, knowing the woman he loved was suffering and being powerless to stop it. What did children matter? As long as Jiang Ruan was alive, he couldn’t bear to see her endure such pain again.Jiang Ruan felt a wave of relief, finding it somewhat amusing yet deeply touching. She knew she must have frightened Xiao Shao this time as well, so she scolded lightly, "How childish!"

Finally settling down, Xiao Shao remained by Jiang Ruan's side, their child nestled close, painting the picture of a blissful family. Da Shan, who had followed Jiang Xin Zhi to the doorway, halted abruptly at the sight. He was no fool—he had never seen Jiang Ruan wear such a carefree, genuinely joyful expression before, so utterly unguarded. It was all because of that man.

Jin Er patted Da Shan on the shoulder and said, "Brother, let's step out for now. Our young mistress and young master haven't seen each other in a long while. This room should be left to them, alright?"

Jiang Xin Zhi also stepped out. As long as Jiang Ruan was safe, his worries eased. Though he longed to see her and his two little nephews, he knew Jiang Ruan was still weak and likely needed Xiao Shao by her side more. Moreover, he had witnessed firsthand how Xiao Shao had tormented himself these past days. With a sigh, Jiang Xin Zhi turned and quietly closed the door behind him as he left.

Qi Feng was still tirelessly explaining Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao's relationship to the villagers of Qingping Village. He had always found their reception strange until he finally realized Jiang Ruan had spun such a lie. Truthfully, Qi Feng couldn't fathom why she had done so—he could only imagine how Xiao Shao would react upon hearing it. The villagers had initially been skeptical, but after Gui Sao recounted Xiao Shao's behavior in the room that day, many of the younger wives were deeply moved. Over the following days, witnessing Xiao Shao's meticulous care for Jiang Ruan in every little detail, their doubts gradually dissipated.

Liu Mengmeng was furious. She hadn't expected Jiang Ruan to deceive her, nor that such a strikingly handsome man could be anything but a villain—let alone treat Jiang Ruan so well. However, seeing Da Shan's recent despondency, she eventually let it go. With such a good-looking and devoted husband, it was clear Jiang Ruan would never have eyes for Da Shan.

Jiang Ruan's recovery progressed faster than anticipated. Since the environment was conducive to recuperation, they extended their stay for many more days, only preparing to depart after a month. On the day of their farewell, Jiang Ruan said to Gui Sao and the brothers Da Shan and Xiao Shan, "I deceived you all initially, but it was out of necessity. I apologize. We are deeply grateful for your hospitality these past days."

"If there's ever anything you need in the future, don't hesitate to ask," Xiao Shao added.

Watching the couple's harmonious display, a pang of bitterness flashed through Da Shan's heart. He knew exactly how much he adored Jiang Ruan, but he also saw clearly how deeply she and Xiao Shao cared for each other—leaving no room for outsiders. Besides, what right did he have to compete? Still, the young man couldn't help saying, "If you ever... face any difficulties in the future, you can always come stay here.""You" naturally referred to Jiang Ruan. Xiao Shao's expression darkened instantly. He merely said, "She won't," then added, "Farewell." Turning, he took Jiang Ruan's hand and left. Jiang Ruan shot him a glare before hurriedly bidding farewell to Da Shan and Gui Sao, then followed Xiao Shao's entourage away. Long after they had departed, Da Shan continued staring in the direction they had gone. Gui Sao sighed, thinking to herself that her foolish son would likely be heartbroken for quite some time.

After leaving the mountains, Jiang Ruan boarded a carriage back to the capital. Inside, she leaned against Xiao Shao while holding the child. Xiao Shao's expression remained somewhat displeased, prompting Jiang Ruan to ask, "Since when have you become so petty?"

Xiao Shao didn't respond. Jiang Ruan chuckled and held the baby up to him. "You still haven't said what names we should give them."

Only then did Xiao Shao's expression soften slightly. "Ming Sheng, Nan Xu."

"Hmm? 'Ming Sheng' evokes autumn winds, and 'Nan Xu' brings to mind spring catkins by the southern streets. Lovely names—so you'd already thought of them," Jiang Ruan remarked. "Why are you so stubborn? You had them in mind but didn't say anything. But which name is for the older one and which for the younger?"

"Either is fine. They can choose for themselves when they grow up."

"..."

...

News of Jiang Ruan's safe return to the capital spread throughout the city that very day. As the former Princess of Great Peace, she was now considered the Emperor's sister, making the young master and young lady of Brocade Hero King Manor highly coveted. Upon her return to the manor, nearly everyone with any connection to her came—Zhao Guang's family, Zhao Jin's family, Wen Feifei, Jiang Xin Zhi, and others. This was a momentous occasion, and each visitor lavished praise on the twins, leaving Butler Lin grinning from ear to ear. Luzhu, Lianqiao, and Tianzhu were also relieved, their hearts light with joy every day.

Their happiness wasn't solely due to this event, however, but also because Xuan Li's rebellion had collapsed like a landslide.

This might seem strange at first glance, but upon reflection, it wasn't surprising at all. Though Xuan Li's forces were numerous, they were scattered too far from the capital. Xuan Pei's forces, on the other hand, weren't solely reliant on military power—he had also cultivated influence in other areas, such as commerce, to rally support. While Xuan Li's men struggled with shortages of troops and provisions, Xuan Pei effortlessly resolved the issue of military pay.

Nor were all of Xuan Li's followers blindly loyal—many defected over time. As Xuan Li's strength dwindled, Xiao Shao and Jiang Xin Zhi's forces, driven by their connection to Jiang Ruan, fought with relentless ferocity. Thus, it was only a matter of time before Xuan Li's faction was completely crushed.

As Jiang Ruan had not yet fully recovered, she needed to rest for a while longer. Meanwhile, Xuan Pei was occupied with palace affairs and couldn't leave to visit her, so the two hadn't seen each other in quite some time. Nevertheless, Jiang Ruan's return stirred considerable waves among the capital's populace. Everyone knew she had been abducted, escaped, and was rescued by kind-hearted people—not only saving her own life but also preserving the twins in her womb. People widely agreed that she was blessed with great fortune, and that good deeds were rewarded. Even the Brocade Hero King Manor, once branded as the den of Traitorous Subjects, saw its reputation shift among the common people due to its role in resisting the rebellion.Three months passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the rebels in the capital were gradually subdued, while the remnants of Xuan Li and the Southern Borderlands forces scattered elsewhere were merely making their last, desperate struggles. However, Qi Man and Xuan Li remained at large, never showing themselves.

Jiang Ruan was in her room, coaxing the children. The elder was Mingsheng, and the younger was Nanxu. Xiao Mingsheng and Xiao Nanxu had finally shed their wrinkled, newborn appearance and now looked like adorable little dolls of jade and snow. The elder brother, with features as striking as Jiang Ruan’s and captivating eyes, had a temperament identical to Xiao Shao’s—no matter how adorable he looked, he rarely smiled, carrying himself with an air of restraint even as a tiny bundle. The younger sister resembled Xiao Shao more but had a sweet disposition, always reaching out to be held by anyone she saw. Naturally, Xiao Shao doted more on his daughter, carrying her around every day, while showing far less enthusiasm for his temperamental son. Jiang Ruan had grown accustomed to seeing the father and son sitting on the bed, glaring at each other in silence, a sight that never failed to amuse her.

That evening, just as she had finished putting the children to sleep, Xiao Shao returned. Before Jiang Ruan could even rise to greet him, he pinned her against the wall, his lips descending upon hers.

"The children..." Jiang Ruan reminded him.

"Never mind them," Xiao Shao replied, his tone tinged with grievance. "You only care about them."

"How old are you, competing with children?" Jiang Ruan laughed, pushing him lightly. "Tomorrow is their full-month celebration. You should prepare properly."

These two children were now the darlings of everyone’s eyes, and the full-month banquet was a must—otherwise, Butler Lin would never let the matter rest. In truth, the actual full-month day had long passed, but with so many affairs to attend to, it had been delayed until now. One thing about Xiao Shao was certain: ever since Jiang Ruan’s return, he spent nearly every waking moment by her side. Even when she urged him not to worry about her, he remained steadfast. Perhaps because of what had happened before, Jiang Ruan could hardly protest further.

Early the next morning, Jiang Ruan brought out Xiao Mingsheng and Xiao Nanxu. Butler Lin, who now effortlessly balanced his roles as a court official and household steward, doted on the two new additions to the family even more than Xiao Shao did as their father. He personally had the tailors from Nanfeng Garden craft two tiny outfits—one pink, the other blue. Whether intentional or not, the pink one was given to Mingsheng, while the blue went to Nanxu. Nanxu, ever obedient, was cheerful no matter what she wore. Mingsheng, however, wore a stern expression, his delicate features clad in pink. Jiang Ruan rested her chin on her hand, feeling as though she were looking at a miniature version of Xiao Shao’s face, the little one clearly displeased.

When Xiao Shao came to see him, Mingsheng barely acknowledged his presence, while Nanxu stretched out her arms, eager to be held by her father. Xiao Shao picked her up without hesitation. Watching this, Mingsheng turned to Jiang Ruan, who understood and lifted him into her arms. Mingsheng planted a soft, milky kiss on her lips. Xiao Shao glanced over and gave his son a cool look. Mingsheng ducked his head, turning away as if oblivious to his father’s gaze.

Used to these frequent standoffs between father and son, Jiang Ruan shrugged and said, "Let’s go out and take a look. The guests will be arriving soon."Xiao Shao carried Nanxu and walked out with Jiang Ruan to the hall, where indeed some impatient guests had already arrived. The hundred-day banquet for the little prince and princess of Brocade Hero King Manor was naturally an event that would shake the entire capital. Everyone knew the current Emperor was on good terms with Jiang Ruan - pleasing these two treasures meant pleasing the Emperor. Thus, an endless stream of lavish gifts poured into the manor without restraint. Butler Lin held his chin high, quite troubled about which storage room to pile these additional presents in.

The people from the General's Residence arrived early. Zhao Guang and Li Shi couldn't put the children down, and the same went for the other ladies of the Zhao family. Immediately, the gifts became increasingly extravagant, each more precious than the last. Zhao Guang laughed heartily, declaring that Mingsheng clearly had the makings of a fine martial artist and must be properly trained in the future.

Lin Zixiang looked at Jiang Ruan and said, "This little one looks just like you, but his expression is a carbon copy of your husband's. So haughty at such a young age—what will he be like when he grows up?"

Jiang Ruan laughed along. "Nanxu has a sweet temper."

Indeed, Nanxu was cheerful, happily burrowing into Qi Feng's arms. She was utterly adorable, with fair skin and eyes as dark as Xiao Shao's, yet more endearing than Mingsheng. She smiled at everyone and now clung to Qi Feng's neck, trying to kiss him. Qi Feng grinned and waited, but Xiao Shao snatched the child away, gave him a look, and walked off.

"...What's that supposed to mean? Hey, Third Brother, you can't be that stingy! She's my goddaughter too!" Qi Feng protested angrily.

"Did you give birth to her?" Xiao Shao retorted.

Qi Feng was left speechless as Xiao Shao carried his daughter away, lecturing her as he went. "Don't get too close to just anyone in the future. There are bad people out there."

"What kind of person is this?" Qi Feng muttered, feeling thoroughly wronged.

The guests gradually arrived, and the hundred-day banquet proceeded smoothly. Xiao Mingsheng and Xiao Nanxu were so strikingly beautiful that even Mingsheng's icy demeanor did nothing to dampen the admiration of the ladies present. Many young wives couldn't help but imagine him as their future son-in-law.

Jiang Ruan also greeted everyone with a smile. Since giving birth, she seemed gentler, as if happiness had smoothed away her edges.

The banquet lasted until evening, with Brocade Hero King Manor bustling like never before. Everyone noticed Xiao Shao's attentiveness to Jiang Ruan, and they were all envious. Just as Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao stood at the entrance to bid farewell to the guests, a scream from the wet nurse holding the children startled everyone. Before anyone could react, Xiao Shao's figure flashed past. Jiang Ruan, alarmed, immediately turned and ran back frantically.

They found the wet nurse on the ground, Qi Man standing nearby, and—surprisingly—Xuan Li lying on the floor.

Xiao Shao held both children protectively. Jiang Ruan rushed forward, her mind blank except for ensuring Mingsheng and Nanxu were unharmed. Nanxu blinked up at her, seemingly unaware of what had happened.

Ye Feng explained, "They appeared suddenly and acted too fast. Qi Man tried to kill the children, but Xuan Li... took the blow instead." Even Ye Feng sounded bewildered. Everyone knew Xuan Li was a sworn enemy of Brocade Hero King Manor—why would he shield the children? It made no sense.

Xiao Shao kept the children safe as guards surrounded Qi Man. Qi Man stared at Xuan Li in disbelief. "Why?" she demanded. Then her voice rose sharply, almost painfully shrill. "Why? Why? Why?"Why? She had infiltrated this place today with the sole purpose of killing these two bastards—Xiao Shao's sons, Xiang Xiaoyuan's grandsons. She hated them. The Southern Borderlands' attempt to seize the Da Jin Dynasty was already impossible. As long as she killed these two bastards, her efforts wouldn’t have been in vain. She had staked everything, endured immense sacrifices to sneak in, only for Xuan Li to ruin it all at the last moment. Why had he suddenly rushed out to take the blade meant for those bastards? Why? Why?!

Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze to Xuan Li, who lay half-collapsed on the ground, looking utterly disheveled, the knife embedded deep in his chest. Her eyes held suspicion, wariness, and confusion—but not a trace of affection. It was the cold, resolute gaze one would give a mortal enemy. Xuan Li let out a bitter laugh. Why? Could he even explain why? He coughed up blood and said, "So... you really do hate me."

Jiang Ruan's eyes widened sharply. What did he mean by that? She stared at him, an unbelievable thought surfacing in her mind.

"You really hate me..." Xuan Li repeated.

"I never understood why things ended up like this. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Why Xuan Pei? But then I realized—you were the variable." Xuan Li's words might have been incomprehensible to others, but Jiang Ruan knew exactly what he meant. He was talking about rebirth—about their past lives. He knew.

Jiang Ruan kept her eyes fixed on Xuan Li, silent. Meanwhile, Qi Man, thwarted in her scheme, lunged forward again, though her expression had grown increasingly frantic. Xia Qing, who had just arrived upon hearing the commotion, was stunned by Qi Man's frenzied state. "Why does she seem so deranged? It’s as if she’s lost her mind."

Qi Man wouldn’t have gone mad for no reason. If she had managed to infiltrate this place, she was no ordinary foe. Yet Xia Qing grew more intrigued. "I’m not mistaken—she’s ingested a gu. A mother-child gu. She took the mother gu, and the knife just now—" His gaze snapped to Xuan Li on the ground. "Thank goodness!"

In just a few words, everyone understood. Qi Man had intended to plant the child gu in the children. Qi Feng asked, "What kind of gu is it?"

"A heart-devouring gu," Xia Qing replied. "If she had succeeded, we’d have no choice but to spare her life. If she died, the hosts of the child gu would perish as well. Moreover, this gu is vicious—those infected suffer excruciating pain, and only the gu master can concoct the antidote. Once controlled..." Once controlled, Mingsheng and Nanxu would fall into Qi Man’s hands.

"What a ruthless woman!" Butler Lin fumed. "Just like back then!"

Xiao Shao held the child tightly, his brow deeply furrowed. Nanxu, oblivious to the danger, giggled as if amused by the chaos. The laughter seemed to enrage Qi Man further. Her eyes locked onto Nanxu, and she suddenly let out a shrill laugh. "Xiang Xiaoyuan, you must be so proud!"The name Xiang Xiaoyuan was not unfamiliar to everyone, but only a handful knew about Xiao Shao's origins. It was still strange for Qi Man to call Nan Xu by the name Xiang Xiaoyuan. Xiao Shao's expression turned cold, but Qi Man continued heedlessly, "I refuse to let you have your way. No matter how much you please him, I've said it before—one day, I will take him from you! Now it's perfect—he's dead, so why are you still alive?"

"The Heart-Devouring Gu is backfiring," Xia Qing said. "But what exactly triggered her? Why does she seem to have suddenly become so agitated?"

While the others were clueless about what was happening, Jiang Ruan understood perfectly. Qi Man had come today with a death wish, only to have Xuan Li ruin everything at the last moment. Having gambled her life and gained nothing, someone as unyielding as Qi Man would never accept such an outcome. Moreover, seeing Nan Xu safe and sound in Xiao Shao's arms must have touched upon the deepest source of her hatred.

The guards were all on alert in case Qi Man suddenly attacked, but she now seemed to have lost her mind, appearing more like a deranged woman than a threat.

"You want to harm my child? That depends on whether I allow it," Jiang Ruan said coldly. "For that alone, you deserve to die ten thousand times over."

Jiang Ruan never showed mercy to those who sought to hurt her child. Yet Qi Man seemed to regain some clarity, studying Jiang Ruan intently before finally recognizing her. "Ah, it's you—Jiang Ruan. I know you. Back in the Shangshu Mansion, your mother died so easily, all thanks to me."

"What did you say?" Jiang Ruan stiffened, stepping forward sharply. "Explain yourself!"

"A Ruan," Xiao Shao grasped her hand, signaling her to stay calm. Qi Man's mocking voice continued, "I thought your mother was a devoted woman—pitiable, to be with someone like Jiang Quan. But I can't stand devotion in others. So when Xia Yan in your household wanted to eliminate her, I provided a certain drug. It was meant to kill you as well, but somehow you escaped. Lucky you—otherwise, you wouldn't be here today! Still, you should thank me. Without my drug, Xia Yan's methods would have been ten thousand times crueler for your mother!"

"You—" A chill ran through Jiang Ruan's heart. She had always found it odd how undetectable the poison had been, even for someone as resourceful as Xia Yan. Now it made sense. After steadying herself, she asked, "Why did you do it?"

Why? Qi Man had hidden her identity in the Shangshu Mansion to carry out her plans undisturbed. In such circumstances, staying unnoticed was paramount. So why had she stirred trouble? In the Shangshu Mansion, she had no conflicts with any faction.Qi Man smiled again. After all these years, she had used a potion that completely altered her appearance, leaving her with an utterly ordinary face—nothing remained of the once radiant princess she had been. Yet, even so, the grace of the Southern Borderlands princess still lingered in her bones. In this moment, with every frown and smile, she seemed to return to those dazzling, carefree years, almost bewitching in her demeanor. She said, "Why? I just find such a life rather dull. I despise love-struck fools—what’s so good about devotion? Since that woman was so stubbornly deluded, why not make her pay with her life? Wouldn’t that be amusing? What’s so great about being the lawful wife? In the end, she could only wither away alone."

Xiao Shao understood her words. Xiang Xiaoyuan had once been the Crown Princess, but Qi Man had been determined to marry into the Eastern Palace. Xiang Xiaoyuan, however, had always enjoyed an impeccable reputation among the common people and had even declared to Hongxi Crown Prince in Qi Man’s presence that in this world, she believed only in a lifetime with one partner—no concubines, no mistresses. That was true happiness. Perhaps it was at that very moment that the hatred for the lawful wife had been deeply engraved in Qi Man’s heart. All these years, she had never forgotten.

"There are too many love-struck fools in this world. Even if they are punished, it is fate’s decree—you cannot act as fate’s agent," Jiang Ruan said coldly. Qi Man was also the murderer of her mother, of Xiao Shao’s parents, and had even attempted to harm her child. Such a person, no matter how tragic or pitiful, deserved no sympathy. She scoffed, her eyes and brows filled with mockery. "Moreover, you should know this—Hongxi Crown Prince never loved you. Your so-called self-pity is nothing but your own wishful thinking, your own unrequited affection. Why must you degrade yourself like this?"

"You’re lying!" Qi Man seemed to have been struck where it hurt most. She lashed out, as if she wanted to attack Jiang Ruan, but Jin Er swiftly intercepted her movement. Qi Man nearly stumbled, steadying herself against a nearby table before letting out a chilling laugh. "What do you know? You have his favor, living high above, never needing to worry about anything. A mere flick of your finger, and countless people would rush through fire and water for you. You’ve never struggled alone, never tasted the bitterness of unrequited love, never experienced anything at all. What right do you have to judge me?"

"I have," Jiang Ruan said calmly. "I’ve struggled alone in the darkness, been betrayed, faced times when no one could be trusted and the path ahead was invisible, loved and lost only to realize I was a joke. As for your so-called betrayal, all I can say is that the trust I once placed in someone for a lifetime ultimately cost me dearly. Thanks to him, you see the person I am now. What I have gained now is equal to what I lost then. None of it can ever be an excuse." Jiang Ruan’s voice was indifferent. "If you want to gain as much as I have now, in this lifetime, you’d likely have to pay a terrible price too."

Xiao Shao tightened his grip on Jiang Ruan’s hand. He understood what she meant. Qi Man, however, did not. Suddenly, she let out a bitter laugh, clutching her chest where the gu poison had begun to stir. At the same time, Xuan Li, lying on the ground, also showed signs of agony on his face.The mother-child gu simultaneously began to take effect. Qi Man's eyes widened as if she wanted to cry, but her dry sockets held not a single tear. She had concealed her identity in the capital for so many years, all for the sake of revenge. Back then, Hongxi Crown Prince had not only humiliated her but also made her the scapegoat for the fall of her kingdom. She wanted to reclaim the dignity and land she had lost, but from the very first day she allied with Xuan Li, she knew this ally was utterly untrustworthy.

Xuan Li was cunning and suspicious; both were merely using each other. Though the Southern Borderlands had regained some power, it was still difficult to rival the Da Jin Dynasty. Qi Man understood better than Dan Zhen that this was a hopeless endeavor, yet she persisted—because without the belief in revenge, she didn’t know if she could go on living.

She knew that even if she helped Xuan Li achieve his ambitions, the first thing he would do was discard her. Yet Qi Man still went through with it. She watched as Xiao Shao fell in love with Jiang Ruan and sneered inwardly. She saw clearly that Jiang Ruan was even more cold-blooded than she was—a woman who could feign compliance toward her own father had no trace of warmth left in her heart. She wanted to witness Xiao Shao’s tragedy and downfall, but to her dismay, he succeeded. Jiang Ruan married him, and their deep affection as a couple pierced Qi Man’s heart like a knife. It even hastened her vengeful plans, exposing more flaws in an already flawed scheme.

This time, all she wanted was to do her utmost—to kill Jiang Ruan’s two children. No woman could bear the loss of her own child. Back then, Xiang Xiaoyuan and Hongxi Crown Prince had been prepared to die, yet they still left behind protectors for Xiao Shao. If the children were gone, Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan would suffer for the rest of their lives.

But even this final wish was thwarted. What Qi Man never expected was that the one who blocked the fatal strike was Xuan Li—the same Xuan Li who had once shared her hatred, who had now lost everything to the Brocade Hero King Manor. Why would such a man save Jiang Ruan’s children? Qi Man couldn’t understand, nor did she want to anymore. There was no antidote for this gu. She knew that unless she died, she would endure this heart-wrenching, bone-piercing pain every day. She let out a bitter laugh, suddenly unsure what her life had even been for. From the moment she fell in love with Hongxi Crown Prince, her life had been a mistake—one she could never turn back from. She knew she was wrong, but there was no way out. She couldn’t turn back.

And so, in the end, she lost her identity as a princess of the Southern Borderlands, lost her homeland, and wasted her flower-like youth in a foreign land. The man she loved never spared her a glance, let alone a place in his heart. The woman she hated died early, but she died with that man’s love. Qi Man had lost from the very beginning.

With a piercing scream, Qi Man suddenly pulled out a handful of smoke-like powder from her robes. Xia Qing shouted, "Watch out—it's poison!" The Southern Borderlanders were masters of poison, and everyone quickly covered their mouths and noses. Xiao Shao immediately shielded Jiang Ruan, pressing her and the children’s heads against his chest. By the time the smoke cleared, Qi Man was nowhere to be found."She got away. Young Master, should we pursue her now?" Jin Yi asked.

"No need. She's been infected with the gu. As long as the mother gu is here, she’s under control." Xia Qing glanced at the person on the ground.

Xuan Li had also been affected by Qi Man’s poisonous smoke and was writhing in agony. Qi Feng studied Xuan Li curiously and said, "Is this the real Xuan Li? Why did he suddenly turn good? Could this be some kind of scheme?" Xuan Li had stepped in to save the two children, which was something utterly incomprehensible. Xuan Li was not the type to act out of kindness—especially not toward the children of his enemies.

Jiang Ruan stared coldly at Xuan Li on the ground. Did he know about their past life? What was his intention now? Was he trying to atone for his sins? How presumptuous. Not everything could be forgiven so easily.

She smiled faintly. "Thank you for your intervention just now, Eighth Prince."

Xuan Li turned his dazed gaze toward Jiang Ruan and murmured, "Ruan'er."

Jiang Ruan took a step back as Xiao Shao shielded her, his dagger already drawn. Qi Feng looked at Xuan Li in surprise. What did he mean by that? Though he had heard rumors that Xuan Li had once taken an interest in Jiang Ruan, such an intimate address was... unusual.

Xuan Li said, "You... must hate me."

Hate him. Hate him for how he had treated her in their past life—using her, hurting her, and ultimately leading her to a tragic death. Xuan Li finally understood why he had always felt that Jiang Ruan harbored deep resentment toward him. It hadn’t been an illusion. His downfall had been swift and merciless. He had abandoned his once-glorious life as a prince, fleeing in disgrace, carrying the weight of infamy. Then, after a single night’s sleep, it was as if he had dreamed of ten long years, only to wake and find the world irrevocably changed.

That dream had shown him a completely different life—one where he had gained everything, ascended the throne, and stood at the pinnacle of power. But that position had come at the cost of one person’s sacrifice. In the dream, Jiang Ruan had been gentle, beautiful, and sweet, loving him wholeheartedly—until he had exploited her until nothing remained.

Even after achieving his ambitions in that dream, he had often felt an inexplicable loneliness. The mere memory of that once-tender figure had filled him with an ache he couldn’t explain.

He was no saint, nor did he feel guilt for his actions. So why the pain? Perhaps because, in those days of manipulation, he had unwittingly given away fragments of his own sincerity. Those fragments had seemed insignificant to him at the time, yet they haunted him relentlessly in his nightmares. By the time he realized their worth, it was too late—she was already gone. There would never again be someone who loved him so unreservedly.

He suspected it hadn’t been just a dream. Perhaps it had been a revelation. Now he understood why, in this life, he had always felt that Jiang Ruan belonged to him. And she had—once. But just as he had awakened from that dream, so had she. Now, clear-eyed, she had turned to Xiao Shao. She fought him without mercy, treating him as her mortal enemy, leading to an ending entirely different from the one in his dream.Xuan Li followed Qi Man to this place. He knew Qi Man intended to kill Jiang Ruan's two children, and he also wanted to reclaim Jiang Ruan. By now, he realized his grand ambitions had crumbled, with no chance for a comeback. Xuan Pei held all the opportunities tightly—what did he have left? Nothing remained. But he was Xuan Li, the Xuan Li who never admitted defeat, who knew how to endure and bide his time. If it were the Jiang Ruan from his dreams, even if he had nothing, she would follow him without hesitation.

So he couldn't accept it. He had left nothing behind—but what if he could leave Jiang Ruan? That woman had always belonged to him.

Yet when he saw Qi Man about to harm Jiang Ruan's children, he suddenly recalled the final scene of Jiang Ruan from his dream. She knelt atop the towering nine-layered steps, her hair disheveled, her beautiful face filled with despair, while the child in her arms—Xuan Pei—stared blankly. She held the child tightly, refusing to abandon them even at the brink of ruin.

If Jiang Ruan's children died, she would live on like a walking corpse, wouldn't she? Xuan Li suddenly wondered—in his dream, Jiang Ran had lost everything. Would he destroy her all over again this time?

He hesitated. But Qi Man had already struck. In that moment, Xuan Li acted without thinking, stepping forward to intercept. He didn’t even know why he did it. As he fell, his gaze was still clouded with confusion.

"Of course I hate you," Jiang Ruan said. "Even if you save my child now, I still hate you." There wasn't the slightest trace of softness in her beautiful eyes. Xuan Li suddenly remembered—yes, in his dreams, Jiang Ruan had never looked at him with such coldness. She had always smiled, speaking to him gently, always yielding unconditionally to his wishes.

"Ruan'er, I didn't mean to..." He wanted to say something, to explain that he hadn't meant to use her, but the words caught in his throat. From dreams to reality, every time he saw Jiang Ruan, his thoughts had been about exploitation—using her to gain fame, fortune, and that unparalleled position. Yet when he finally obtained it, he realized it wasn't as wonderful as he had imagined. He regretted it, but the bitter fruit was his alone to swallow.

"Xuan Li, there's no need for you to say anything. What you owed me, I've already taken back myself. Your empire, your schemes, your grand ambitions—they're all ruined now. All that's left is your life. Once that's settled, we'll be even. If we meet again on the road to the underworld, we'll be strangers, with no ties left between us." Her words were resolute, yet she made it clear—she wanted Xuan Li's life.

Had the tenderness of the past now turned to blades and spears? There wasn't a flicker of emotion on her face. Xuan Li thought perhaps it had truly been just a dream—an absurd dream at the end of his life. In truth, he wished it had only been a dream. If Jiang Ruan had been his enemy from the start, if she had always schemed to overthrow him, if she had never harbored any affection for him—how much better that would have been. No exploitation, no harm, no regrets. If they had met with blades in hand instead of flowers, that would have been the right way.

Yet he also knew it hadn't been just a dream. She had once belonged to him and then left. He didn't know what he was doing anymore. "I loved you once," he said.

A vein throbbed on Xiao Shao's forehead. Xia Qing and Qi Feng were stunned—had Xuan Li lost his mind, declaring his feelings for Jiang Ruan right in front of Xiao Shao? But was Xuan Li really such a sentimental man?

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly, tilting her head to look at him. There was an almost innocent allure in her gaze, but deep in her pupils, coldness shone through. The words she spoke next were cruel and merciless: "What does that have to do with me?"

What does that have to do with me? Indeed, what did it have to do with her? Xuan Li himself didn't know why he had done this. His body felt heavy. He thought back to the end of that dream—he had indeed realized he had loved a woman once. But the woman before him now, cold and striking, couldn't possibly be the same one.

Either it had been an insignificant dream, or the woman in that dream had long since died. The one standing before him now was someone else entirely. Suddenly, he let out a self-mocking laugh, though he didn't know what he was laughing about. As he laughed, tears fell. The victor becomes king; the defeated, a bandit. In this game, he had lost. And even in death, he wouldn't understand where he had gone wrong. Perhaps that dream could have given him answers, but he refused to believe in it.

"Xiao Shao, I am not your equal," he said.

"Take him away," Xiao Shao said coldly, turning to take Jiang Ruan's hand. In a low voice, he added, "Be careful with your health."

...Three days later, the missing former princess of the Southern Borderlands, Qi Man, was found. She had appeared on the city gate tower herself, dressed in bridal attire. The Heart-Devouring Gu had ravaged her appearance, leaving her gaunt and haggard, even somewhat terrifying. Yet, in such a state, she still acted like a young girl, creating an eerie and chilling sight.

Standing atop the city wall, Qi Man laughed wildly, though no one knew what she found so amusing. In the end, she leaped down from the wall. There was a certain fierceness befitting a Southern Borderlands princess, but given her many atrocities, the common people held no sympathy for her. Instead, they cursed her, declaring that evil had met its rightful retribution. At the same time, Xuan Li, imprisoned in the dungeons, died as the Mother-Child Gu took effect.

As a rebel and the murderer of the late Emperor, Xuan Li was denied burial in the imperial mausoleum. Out of mercy, the Emperor permitted his burial, but an exorcist was summoned for the occasion—though the meaning behind this remained unclear. Some speculated that the young Emperor sought to seal Xuan Li’s soul, preventing his reincarnation. While some deemed this too cruel, citing the bond of shared blood, others praised the decision, given Xuan Li’s unforgivable crimes of patricide and treason.

Shortly after, the Emperor conferred upon the Princess of Brocade Glory the title of First-Rank Imperial Mandate Lady and granted the Brocade Hero King Manor a hereditary noble title. Xiao Mingsheng and Xiao Nanxu, though still young, now held a status in the Da Jin Dynasty that even imperial descendants dared not challenge—an honor beyond that of royalty.

The officials who had supported the young Emperor also found new prospects, particularly the rising stars of the court, such as Liu Min and Mo Cong, who swiftly became the new pillars of the dynasty. As for Lin Wei, after assisting the Emperor’s ascension, he gradually withdrew from public life, claiming he wished to return to being a butler. Most assumed this was another of his old tricks and paid it little mind.

Preparations for Jiang Xin Zhi and Zhao Jin’s wedding were in full swing, though Xia Qing and Lin Zixiang faced more difficulties. Lin Zixiang remained unimpressed with Xia Qing, leaving his pursuit of her a long and arduous journey. Meanwhile, Luzhu and Lianqiao’s wedding plans were also underway, filling the manor with joyous celebrations. Yet, the greatest delight came from the two little ones.

Xiao Mingsheng and Xiao Nanxu grew quickly and were utterly adorable. Mingsheng often mimicked his father’s aloof demeanor, refusing to smile at anyone except Jiang Ruan. Butler Lin remarked that he was exactly like Xiao Shao in his childhood. Nanxu, on the other hand, was always grinning but had a mischievous streak. The two little troublemakers turned the Brocade Hero King Manor upside down daily, leaving everyone both exasperated and amused. Jiang Ruan, kept constantly busy, soon found spring arriving.

One day, as Jiang Ruan was tidying up scraps of paper torn by Mingsheng and Nanxu—who, in their growing phase, had taken to grabbing and shredding everything—she suddenly felt a pair of arms encircle her waist.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Ruan turned her head, only for Xiao Shao to nuzzle against her neck. He had grown increasingly clingy lately, especially in his rivalry with Mingsheng. The father-son duo competed openly at home, forcing Jiang Ruan to soothe both—a headache in itself."In a few days, come with me to Jiangnan," Xiao Shao said. "The Emperor has sent people for an inspection tour." Though called an inspection, it was actually for leisure. Xuan Pei had arranged it specifically, and Xiao Shao naturally accepted without hesitation.

"What about the children?" Jiang Ruan asked. "Taking them along might be inconvenient."

"We won’t bring them," Xiao Shao replied, pulling her closer and lowering his voice. "They’re old enough to stay in the manor. Just the two of us will be fine."

"Old enough?" Jiang Ruan laughed and scolded. "How old are they, really? How can you say that? They can’t even speak yet! I’ve heard this is the age when they start learning to talk, and I want to hear them call me 'Mother.'"

Just as she spoke, there was a soft thump from the nearby crib. Both turned to look—the twins, who had been sleeping, had somehow woken up. Xiao Mingsheng glared coldly at Xiao Shao, who returned the stare. Then, Nan Xu suddenly grinned and sweetly called out, "Daddy—"

[The End]