Jiang Ruan looked at Huijue sitting in the hall. Since the last time he helped clear her name of the ominous Eight Characters accusation at the Jiang residence, Huijue's reputation had grown even more. These days, many must have sought him out, and his current good complexion suggested he was living quite comfortably.
Yet when Huijue saw Jiang Ruan, he felt no joy—only fear and unease. He said, "Miss Jiang, this old monk already assisted you last time. Why have you come again?"
"You misunderstand, Great Master. Today, I've come to repay a favor." Jiang Ruan spoke lightly. "I dislike owing debts in life. Since you helped me once, it's only right I return the kindness." Seeing Huijue's puzzled gaze, she smiled faintly. "Didn't I say before? Even if you're to be a fraud, you should be the most revered fraud in the world. Right now, you've only gained trivial benefits. Your son's illness is merely managed, not cured—can you truly be satisfied?"
His son was Huijue's greatest worry, and Jiang Ruan always used him to press her point. Though he had earned much silver these days and bought expensive medicines, his child's condition remained stable but showed no signs of improvement. Huijue lowered his head. "This is his fate. This old monk is powerless to change it."
"You don't trust me?" Jiang Ruan said. "No matter. One day, you'll believe my words. Today, I only came to say what I must." She continued, "The capital has recently suffered severe floods. The Eighth Prince and Second Young Master Li were tasked with flood control. Though the reservoir seems stable now, in three days, the rains will intensify, the dam will collapse, and countless lives along its banks will be lost."
"This is your opportunity. I'm giving you this prophecy. All you need to do is announce publicly that the dragon's energy is in chaos, the reservoir will fail, and the Eighth Prince must relocate his flood control efforts. Of course, you must find a way to make the Eighth Prince insist on his own stance. He will surely punish you—the harsher his punishment, the more unshakable your status will be once the prophecy comes true."
At first, Huijue didn't understand her meaning and stared at her in confusion. Jiang Ruan waited patiently until realization dawned on him, and even his usually serene face betrayed shock. "You... What are you saying? Why would the reservoir collapse? How could the floods worsen? Absurd! Preposterous!"
"Why panic, Great Master?" Jiang Ruan smiled. "Do you doubt my words? Didn't I tell you? There exists an ability in this world—to know the past and foresee the future." She enunciated each word. "If you think I lack such power, then consider another possibility. For instance... how to ensure a reservoir will collapse?"
Huijue shot to his feet, his mask of compassion forgotten as he exclaimed in alarm, "Have you gone mad? If discovered, it would mean losing your head!"
Jiang Ruan merely smiled, watching him in silence.
She was deliberately guiding Huijue. To make someone believe in prophetic abilities and willingly act for her was far too risky. But what if Huijue thought she was merely a front, with a mastermind behind her? Prophecies could fail, but human schemes would not. If Huijue believed someone intended to sabotage the reservoir, his resolve would waver."This is too audacious," Huijue murmured. The reservoir was a matter of great importance to the nation's livelihood, yet Jiang Ruan spoke of such treasonous acts so casually. If anyone found out, even nine lives wouldn't be enough to atone. Yet at the same time, another voice in his heart clamored—agree to her, agree to her!
Jiang Ruan watched the shifting expressions on Huijue's face with a faint smile, knowing he was tempted. Without hesitation, she fanned the flames further: "Master must think carefully. This is a foolproof plan—just a few words from you. When that day truly comes, the world will revere you as a deity. You’ll enjoy endless wealth and honor. If His Majesty takes notice and summons you to the palace, you could secure a bright future. With countless imperial physicians at your disposal, your son’s illness would surely be cured."
Huijue’s eyes lit up, and Jiang Ruan continued, "Of course, this isn’t without risks. After this, the Eighth Prince will undoubtedly despise you. But you needn’t worry. Once you’ve gained His Majesty’s favor, you’ll be untouchable. Though the Eighth Prince has many supporters, the throne doesn’t yet belong to him. Master, you’re nearing sixty—forgive my bluntness, but who knows what will happen in ten or twenty years? What matters is that your life remains secure while you live. Besides, if you insist on living cautiously, that’s your choice. But can your son afford to wait?"
Huijue’s expression wavered, his inner struggle evident. Jiang Ruan smiled. "I’ve said my piece. You have tonight to consider it. The reservoir will collapse in three days—you have only three days. Your son’s future depends on what you decide tomorrow."
...
On the way back to the estate, Lianqiao and Zisu remained silent. Though countless questions swirled in their minds, none were voiced.
Jiang Ruan leaned her head lightly against the carriage window, closing her eyes. The faint shadows beneath them betrayed her exhaustion.
Today, she had deliberately steered Huijue. Whether he acted tomorrow depended on his courage—the bolder he was, the greater his gains in this game.
In her past life, Jiang Ruan remembered that three days later, after the rains had begun to ease, they suddenly intensified. The Bo Chang Reservoir, the largest in the capital, had been stabilized under Ye Li’s management. But fate was unpredictable—at dawn on the third day, the reservoir collapsed. The surging waters became a torrent in an instant, drowning every resident in its vicinity and turning the surrounding area into a vast sea.
Though the disaster occurred under Ye Li’s watch, the Emperor did not punish him severely, considering his earlier flood control efforts and the fact that it was a natural calamity beyond human control. Later, when Ye Li spoke of it in the palace, there was a trace of regret in his tone. At the time, Jiang Ruan thought he mourned the lives lost. Only later did she realize—Ye Li regretted that the flood had washed away all his previous achievements. He was unwilling to accept it.The wheel of fate turned with a thunderous roar, and in the blink of an eye, the day arrived. In Ye Li's previous life, he had merely lost his merits due to an unintentional mistake. But in this life, as Huijue had foretold, the reservoir was on the verge of collapse. Someone as suspicious as Ye Li would inevitably suspect a conspiracy by his long-standing enemies in the court, aimed at stripping him of his achievements. Ye Li was arrogant—the more sincere Huijue's words, the more infuriated he became. He would never heed Huijue's warning and might even accuse him of spreading heresy to deal with him.
When the reservoir truly collapsed, Ye Li's actions would be deliberate, disregarding the lives of thousands of villagers downstream. This crime—could the Eighth Prince, who had always meticulously maintained his flawless reputation, bear such a stain?
Undoubtedly, it would be far more regrettable than in the previous life.
Jiang Ruan's eyes remained closed, but the corners of her lips curled slightly. And this—was only the beginning.
The carriage continued straight toward the Jiang residence.
In the alley where Huijue lived, knocking sounded at the door once more. The young attendant who answered was slightly puzzled by the visitor but led them into the hall. Huijue looked up and met a pair of eyes as dark as ink.
Those eyes were too cold, like unmelted snow atop a mountain peak—devoid of warmth, only an icy chill.
"What did she tell you?" The young man was tall, his black robe embroidered with gold shimmering like a fleeting light in the dark, exuding an aura of opulent desolation.
"This humble monk is but a man of the cloth—we spoke only of the Buddha," Huijue replied softly, his face as compassionate as ever.
With a swift "shua," a flash of silver light streaked before his eyes—beautiful yet deadly, moving at an impossible speed. Huijue felt only a cold chill at his throat as the tip of the visitor's sword pressed against his chin. From this angle, he could only see the sharp, angular profile of the man's face.
"Speak." A single, terse word.
Beads of sweat broke out on Huijue's forehead.
...
In the Prime Minister's residence, Li Yang, who had been unconscious in bed for a long time, finally awoke.
These past days, his mind had been muddled, waking only briefly before slipping back into unconsciousness. Today, however, he woke early. The physician checking his pulse sighed in relief before stepping out to prescribe medicine. But no sooner had he left the room than a sharp "crack" rang out from inside—the sound of something shattering.
The maids guarding outside paled and rushed in. Inside, they found Li Yang with bloodshot eyes, growling in a low voice, "What happened? Why don't I have—"
He swallowed the rest of his words.
The space between his legs was empty, and a cold draft seeped through. When he reached down, a dull, throbbing pain lingered near his thighs. As a man, he understood all too well what had happened. Shock, fury, despair, hatred—all surged through him at once. Li Yang couldn't accept this reality. Seeing the knowing looks in the eyes of the maids before him, who stood as if facing a great enemy, his rage flared. He grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it at one of them.
With a "bang," the maid was struck, blood streaming down her face, yet she dared not move, standing rigidly in place with clenched teeth. Li Yang, seeing this, was about to throw another when a deep voice sounded from outside: "What's wrong, Elder Brother?"
The door curtain was pushed aside as Li An strode in. At the sight of him, a complicated expression flickered across Li Yang's face. Li An's gaze was gloomy as he stared at him. "Why stop throwing?"
Li Yang said nothing.Towards this younger brother who had always been more outstanding than him yet had an extremely peculiar temperament, Li Yang harbored mixed feelings. On one hand, he was intensely jealous, as Li An's excellence only highlighted his own incompetence. On the other hand, he felt a strange dependence on Li An, because with his peerless intelligence, there was no problem Li An couldn't solve.
Li Yang said furiously, "Are you happy to see me like this? Now there's no one left in the Prime Minister's residence to compete with you! Are you satisfied now?" His tone grew increasingly agitated towards the end.
Li An sat down on a nearby chair, looking at him as if watching a clown perform. Under that mocking gaze, Li Yang's earlier excitement gradually subsided.
"Your attacker was at the Jiang residence. If you want revenge, tell me exactly what happened without leaving out a single detail," Li An said.
Though Li Yang was furious at Li An's cold attitude, he didn't dare openly oppose him. Moreover, he currently needed Li An's help to exact revenge. He carefully recalled the events of that day and slowly recounted them to Li An.
After he finished, Li An asked, "Did you get a clear look at the person's appearance?"
Li Yang thought again and shook his head, "I was too drunk at the time and didn't see clearly. But I think that person was wearing red clothes."
Red clothes? Li An narrowed his eyes. The one in the Jiang residence who loved wearing red clothes the most was none other than Jiang Ruan. Though he was already seventy percent certain that Jiang Ruan was the one who framed him, hearing Li Yang say it still surprised him.
She actually dared to, in broad daylight, just a wall away, castrate Li Yang and then shamelessly frame Jiang Susu without any remorse.
On the surface, it seemed like an impulsive act without any logic, but upon closer thought, this easily sowed discord between the Li and Jiang families, and even quietly weakened the Eighth Prince's power. It was indeed a brilliant plan that killed two birds with one stone.
No, it should be three birds, as it also managed to bring misfortune upon Jiang Susu.
Li An smiled. How truly interesting.
"You know who she is?" Seeing Li An's expression, Li Yang asked urgently. These past few days, he had been lying in bed in a daze and had just woken up, unaware of what had happened. All he wanted was to capture the bitch who had reduced him to this state and make her suffer, ensuring she paid the price for her actions!
"Eldest Miss Jiang framed Second Miss Jiang." Li An had no intention of hiding it from him and directly revealed the culprit's name.
Eldest Miss Jiang? Li Yang frowned. When he went to the Jiang residence, he had wanted to see the famous Jiang sisters, but that day he only saw the peerlessly beautiful Jiang Susu and didn't get a glimpse of Jiang Ruan. Hearing Li An's words, Li Yang instinctively said, "That bitch! Why would she do this?"
"She naturally has her own schemes. Big Brother just happened to be unlucky and became the sacrifice in her game." Li An showed no sympathy for his elder brother's plight, instead speaking in a completely indifferent tone, which only made Li Yang feel more stifled.
"I will definitely kill her!" Li Yang gritted his teeth. "That bitch, I'll make her wish she were dead!"“She’s mine.” Li An cut him off. “You’d better behave.” Such an interesting prey, such an intelligent woman—how could he let Li Yang waste her? He would toy with her like a caged beast, slowly stripping away her claws and fangs, making her watch helplessly as her loved ones died before her eyes. That face, always adorned with gentle smiles, would surely look utterly captivating when twisted in terror and grief. She would beg for mercy under his hands, weeping and sniveling, while he shattered her proud spine bit by bit, forcing her to moan and sob, kissing his feet.
She was the most exquisite pet, the finest prisoner.
A perverse fervor ignited in Li An’s eyes, and Li Yang, witnessing it, couldn’t suppress a shiver. Li An shot him a disdainful glance before turning and walking out the door.
Li Yang sat frozen on the bed for a moment, only clenching his fists slowly after Li An had left, his face darkening with resentment. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, his expression shifted abruptly, and he began to chuckle lowly.
The maidservant, still trembling from the earlier bloodshed, stood rooted in place, finding Li Yang’s laughter utterly horrifying.
Li Yang suddenly threw off the covers. “Help me up. I need to see Father.”
…
Upon returning to the Jiang residence, Jiang Ruan headed straight for her courtyard. But as she passed through the garden beside the corridor, she unexpectedly ran into Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao. Jiang Susu, mid-conversation with her brother, spotted Jiang Ruan and smiled sweetly. “Da Jiejie.”
Still pretending! Jiang Ruan watched her coldly, her body already weary, unwilling to indulge in this farce of sisterly affection. Without so much as a glance, she moved to walk past.
Jiang Susu froze, her eyes instantly welling with pitiful hurt. “Da Jiejie, has Su Su done something wrong?”
Zisu and Lianqiao exchanged disdainful looks, but Jiang Ruan remained indifferent. Due to the recent floods in the capital, Jiang Susu had been spared her punishment—her exile to the family temple had been postponed. These days, she had been exceptionally well-behaved, more cautious than ever, dutifully attending to Old Madam Jiang and treading carefully around Jiang Quan. Jiang Quan, already fond of this daughter, grew even more tender-hearted seeing her like this, and his earlier resolve began to waver.
Jiang Ruan’s aloof demeanor, however, grated on Jiang Susu. For some reason, despite Jiang Ruan having grown up as a rustic village girl, she carried herself with more grace and poise than Jiang Susu, who had been raised in luxury with the finest tutors. Every time she stood before Jiang Ruan, she felt inferior—an unbearable humiliation for someone like her, who always demanded the best.
Jiang Chao stepped in front of Jiang Ruan, his voice dark. “Is this how you speak to your younger sister?”
“What kind of speech is ‘this kind’? What would Second Brother prefer to hear?” Jiang Ruan smiled faintly at him. “Honeyed words laced with malice—I’ve heard plenty. But I’m no parrot, trained to mimic them flawlessly.”
“You—!” Jiang Chao choked on her sharp retort. “You’re utterly insolent!”
Jiang Ruan regarded him, her lips still curved in that faint, mocking smile. Sooner or later, the facade would shatter. Pretending harmony wouldn’t bring peace—especially now that the siblings had lost their former glory. What made them think she’d humor their tiresome act of familial devotion?"Da Jiejie, where did brother say anything wrong? If you have any grievances, direct them at Su Su, don't take it out on brother." Jiang Susu stepped in to mediate, yet her words were clearly meant to stir trouble.
"Disgusting." Jiang Ruan looked at her and said.
Jiang Ruan had always maintained a gentle demeanor in front of them. Even when they clashed in private, she had never been so blunt. But today, she spoke out plainly. Jiang Susu looked up in shock, meeting Jiang Ruan's undisguised loathing gaze—it was as if she were looking at a filthy insect in a rotten ditch.
Jiang Chao could no longer hold back. Jiang Ruan had repeatedly crossed the line, and with a furious swing, he raised his hand to strike her down viciously.
But before his hand could land, he was sent flying like a kite, crashing into a doorpost with a loud "thud."
Jiang Xin Zhi strode over, his expression icy. Though handsome, his every movement exuded the iron-blooded aura of a soldier. Step by step, he advanced, and the surrounding servants dared not utter a word, nor did anyone dare help Jiang Chao, who had been knocked down by Jiang Xin Zhi.
Jiang Susu covered her mouth, staring at Jiang Xin Zhi in terror.
Jiang Xin Zhi walked to Jiang Ruan's side, his cold demeanor instantly melting away. He gently touched her forehead and asked, "Are you alright?"
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "Elder brother, does your hand hurt?"
The siblings' casual exchange, as if no one else were present, nearly made Jiang Chao and Jiang Susu choke on their anger. Jiang Xin Zhi then approached Jiang Chao. His steps were steady, and no matter how imposing Jiang Chao might seem, he was merely a scholar—no match for Jiang Xin Zhi's strength. A flicker of fear crossed Jiang Chao's face, and he instinctively tried to retreat.
Seeing Jiang Chao like this, Jiang Susu's eyes flashed with irritation. Jiang Chao glared at Jiang Xin Zhi. "You actually hit me!"
"Yeah, I hit you. What about it?" Jiang Xin Zhi's words were startling. "Want to go cry to Father? Jiang Chao, are you a three-year-old? Go on, call Father to save you."
His mocking tone and blatant sarcasm made Jiang Chao flush with humiliation. The servants around them struggled to suppress their laughter. Jiang Chao stammered, "You're provoking your own brother—"
"Don't lecture me with your hypocritical morals," Jiang Xin Zhi cut in. "Just answer me—are you a man or not? Jiang Chao, let me make this clear today: I hit you, so what? If you ever lay a hand on A Ruan again, I'll beat you every single time. But I'm just a rough man, not some refined gentleman raised in this household. I don't know my own strength—might accidentally kill someone."
Jiang Xin Zhi's rogue-like demeanor left the servants gaping in disbelief. Even Jiang Chao was stunned. The Jiang Xin Zhi of the past had been the epitome of gentleness and elegance, the dignified eldest young master of the Jiang family. But now, there was no trace of that past self in his actions. Such a blatant threat was completely unlike the Jiang Xin Zhi they once knew.
He really is like Guan Lianghan. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly as she watched the scene. It seemed that six years in the military camp had taught Jiang Xin Zhi more than just warfare under Guan Lianghan's guidance.
Lianqiao couldn't help it—she burst into laughter. Jiang Chao's face burned red. Just then, Jiang Susu suddenly gasped, "Father!"
Jiang Quan emerged from the other side of the garden. Seeing Jiang Chao sprawled on the ground, his expression darkened. "What happened here?"Jiang Susu stood up, her eyes brimming with tears: "Su Su doesn't know what I did to upset Da Jiejie. When I greeted you, not only did you ignore me, but you also spoke harshly. Second Brother couldn't stand it and said a few words to you, but who knew that when Eldest Brother returned... without a word, he knocked Second Brother to the ground."
Jiang Susu looked at Jiang Ruan with a pitiful expression: "Da Jiejie, if Su Su has done anything wrong, I apologize to you. But Second Brother did nothing wrong. Please don't let Eldest Brother hurt him like this anymore."
What a masterful performance of feigned grievance—every word was a pointed accusation!
Jiang Xin Zhi coldly stared at the tearful Jiang Susu. Her skill at twisting the truth was indeed not exaggerated. With just a few carefully chosen words, she painted a vivid picture of their siblings bullying others.
Lianqiao and Zisu couldn't hide the disdain in their eyes. Just as Jiang Xin Zhi had said, this pair of siblings knew nothing but tattling! Tattling! Tattling! It was truly something only a three-year-old child would do!
Upon hearing this, Jiang Quan immediately flew into a rage and shouted at Jiang Ruan and the others, "Ungrateful son! Ungrateful daughter! Kneel down!"
A flicker of disappointment flashed in Jiang Xin Zhi's eyes. He knew Jiang Quan had never favored their siblings since childhood, but he thought it might be because he, as a son, could potentially block Jiang Chao's path that Jiang Quan acted this way. Jiang Ruan was just a completely non-threatening girl, yet Jiang Quan actually allowed Jiang Chao and his sister to bully her like this!
So this was how Jiang Ruan had been living all these years!
A flame of anger ignited in Jiang Xin Zhi's eyes as he pulled Jiang Ruan behind him protectively, glaring coldly at Jiang Quan.
Seeing this, Jiang Quan roared, "This is rebellion! Rebellion!"
Jiang Ruan stepped out from behind Jiang Xin Zhi and said, "Father only listens to Second Sister's one-sided account. Isn't that too biased? If it were just A Ruan alone on ordinary days, such words might be excusable. But today, Eldest Brother is also here. There are two of us siblings and two of them—equal in number, all children of the Jiang family. Why don't we have the right to speak?"
(End of Chapter)
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