A Dream within a Dream

She kept kowtowing to the ground, soon knocking her head until it was covered in blood. Zhao Yi moved to pull her up, but Xiao Shao jerked his sleeve away. Zisu had been gripping it too tightly, and from within the sleeve tumbled out an object that shimmered with dazzling colors. It was a butterfly-and-flower pendant inlaid with bright jade—a butterfly perched atop a magnolia blossom. The craftsmanship was already exquisitely lifelike, and it was further adorned with a high-quality cat's eye emerald, unmistakably a precious treasure.

The item happened to roll right in front of Zisu. Staring at it, she suddenly froze and said, "How do you have my lady's possession?"

The butterfly-and-flower jade pendant lay on the ground. Just as Zisu bent to pick it up, Xiao Shao had already snatched it up first, clutching it in his palm. Zisu's fingers trembled slightly, her voice full of suspicion. "How do you have my lady's possession?"

Xiao Shao also froze, frowning as he asked, "Jiang Ruan?"

"This is my lady's pendant," Zisu said. "It's been missing for years. How do you have it?"

Xiao Shao cast a cold glance at Ye Feng, who stiffened under his gaze.

Zhao Yuanfeng and the others watched him in confusion. Xiao Shao walked to the edge of the cliff and, to everyone's surprise, suddenly lifted the hem of his robe and leaped down. His movements were too swift—no one could stop him in time. Ye Feng only managed to shout, "Master!"

The Cave Suitable Cliff was shrouded in mist, revealing only the dense forests of the mountain gorge—serene and secluded, yet seemingly brimming with infinite danger.

Ye Feng rushed to the cliff's edge, his expression filled with self-reproach. After a moment of shock, Guan Lianghan gradually calmed down and walked over to pat Ye Feng's shoulder. "Xiao Shao's lightness skill is exceptional. He wouldn't act without absolute certainty. You go back first. Magistrate Zhao and I will dispatch troops to search below."

Though he, too, was stunned by Xiao Shao's sudden leap, he knew his martial brother was not one to act recklessly—something must have happened. Hearing this, Ye Feng realized that with Xiao Shao's skills, it was unlikely anything untoward would occur. He composed himself and returned to Guan Lianghan's side. As he passed Zisu, he couldn't help but give her a complicated look.

When Zisu heard Guan Lianghan mention sending a search party, she relaxed slightly and hurried to check on Lianqiao, who lay unconscious nearby. Yet she remained puzzled—why would Jinying Wang, who had no relation to Jiang Ruan, possess that pendant? The butterfly-and-flower jade pendant had once been Zhao Mei's favorite pair of earrings, brought from the General's Residence before her marriage. She had cherished them dearly. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the materials rare. As Jiang Ruan grew older, Zhao Mei had given the earrings to her. At first, Jiang Ruan wore them constantly, but after one outing, only one remained. A single earring couldn't be worn, so it was stored away. Later, as Zhao Mei's memento, Jiang Ruan locked the remaining one in a box, polishing it often.

Now, the earring in the box was still there—yet the other had been with Xiao Shao. What was the meaning of this?

Zisu couldn't make sense of it.

Neither could Zhao Yuanfeng and Zhao Yi, who were present. In their eyes, Xiao Shao had leaped off the cliff for Jiang Ruan's sake. Yet from what they knew of his temperament, he was hardly the type to be moved by chivalry. If the two had some connection, judging by the expressions of Jiang Ruan's maids, it didn't seem so.However, doubts aside, the search for the person must continue. Zhao Yuanfeng waved his hand and said, "I'll take Li An and the Crimson Thunder Army prisoners back to the city. Yi'er, you follow General Guan to investigate Jiang Ruan's whereabouts." After a moment's thought, he added with emphasis, "You must find her."

Though Jiang Ruan had only been close to the Zhao family for a short time, they had truly regarded her as the young lady of the General's Residence. As her uncle, Zhao Yuanfeng was already heartbroken. If Jiang Xin Zhi were to find out... He shook his head with a sigh, fearing another great upheaval would ensue.

...

Deep in the mountain forests, the terrain of the cliff was perilously high, with lingering snow and half-melted ice a foot deep in places. Each step sank into the freezing cold, piercing like needles.

The rain fell incessantly, and the colder the wind blew, the more her body ached with chill.

Jiang Ruan trudged through the valley at the base of the cliff, her clothes long soiled by mud and snow, her appearance utterly disheveled.

Ignoring the eerie surroundings, she pressed on until she spotted a cave in the distance and finally halted.

Tightening her garments, she found the entrance and stepped inside. The cave was narrow, its mouth obscured by dense shrubs that barely blocked the biting wind.

As dusk settled, Jiang Ruan sat against the cave wall in its depths and exhaled softly. Only then did she roll up her sleeve to reveal the wound on her shoulder.

Her plain robes were soaked through, clinging to her arm, the faint scent of blood lingering in the air. With a gentle tug, the fabric slowly peeled away from the wound with a slight tearing sound, exposing the gash beneath.

A deep, jagged cut, the flesh torn open—likely from a sharp bush during her fall. She had brought medicinal herbs, but whether they had been lost in the tumble, she didn’t know. Now, they were nowhere to be found.

Jiang Ruan let the wound remain exposed to the frigid air, her gaze distant as she stared at the cave entrance.

The terrain at Gourd Mouth of Cave Suitable Cliff was treacherous, yet the view of the clouds from the precipice was unparalleled, especially at dawn in spring. Before the mist dispersed, the first light of day painted the sky in crimson hues, the wind crisp, the clouds swirling, the fragrance of flowers filling the air—a true paradise on earth.

In her past life, Ye Li had once brought her here to watch the sunrise.

She had been awestruck by the beauty of that moment, only for Ye Li to suddenly wrap an arm around her waist and leap downward. Her startled cry was met with his hearty laughter. As it turned out, beyond the ordinary lay the extraordinary—beneath Cave Suitable Cliff lay another world of wonder. Hidden beneath the mist were not jagged rocks but a smooth, sloping ledge. Even if one slipped and fell, they would only land on a stone platform not far below.

She had cherished every moment with Ye Li, especially after entering the palace, often reminiscing about that breathtaking scenery. No one knew the layout of Cave Suitable Cliff better than she did.

And so, without hesitation, she had plunged into the abyss below the cliff, through the mist, landing on the stone platform before carefully descending step by step along the path etched in her memory.

The soldiers had descended the cliff from another route, unable to see the platform, and could only call her name as they searched the valley floor.

Along the way, she had torn strips from her skirt and tied them to branches as markers. Anyone sent by the Zhao family would find her as soon as they spotted the signs.She closed her eyes wearily. The crime of privately raising troops with the intent to rebel was more than enough to condemn the Prime Minister's residence beyond redemption. Yet, her own actions might arouse suspicion, so she had no choice but to feign being driven off the cliff by Li An. This way, Li An would bear the additional charge of harming an official's family member, while she could cleanly extricate herself from the matter, free from any suspicion.

However, despite calculating everything, she hadn't accounted for her body failing her at this critical moment, forcing her to seek shelter in a secluded spot.

Since childhood, she had been frail and sickly. After being sent to the countryside for several years and suffering abuse at the hands of Zhang Lan's family, her health deteriorated further. Later, when Chen Zhao pushed her into the water, it was the final straw. In this life, she had returned to the Jiang residence earlier, where Lianqiao and Zisu took care of her, and her health seemed much better than before. But who could have predicted that today's turmoil and the biting cold wind would leave her feeling utterly weak? If she waited for rescue in the woods, she might faint before the soldiers arrived, only to be carried off by wild beasts.

With no other choice, she had found this cave. Though it offered some shelter from the wind and cold, she still felt waves of chills. Her undergarments were soaked through with melted snow, and without any means to warm herself, spending the night in these freezing clothes would be perilous—she had no idea how she would fare.

Jiang Ruan rubbed her temples, considering whether to gather more stones to block the cave entrance more securely, when she heard faint footsteps approaching.

Her expression changed instantly. She sat up quickly, straining to listen to the sounds outside.

The footsteps were light, steady, and deliberate—neither hurried nor accompanied by shouts or other noises. These weren't soldiers. Jiang Ruan's heart sank. It was late, and this was no place for ordinary hunters. Who could it be?

The footsteps headed straight for the cave.

Jiang Ruan's hand slipped into her sleeve, where the small knife she had brought still lay. She gripped the cold blade tightly, pointing it outward, her eyes fixed on the cave entrance obscured by shrubs.

Step. Step. Step. Each one struck her heart like a hammer.

The footsteps stopped just a few paces away, and Jiang Ruan exhaled in relief.

The next moment, the shrubs were pushed aside, and a tall figure appeared at the cave entrance.

The sky was overcast, dusk settling in. In the dim light, his face was etched clearly into Jiang Ruan's vision.

For an instant, they stared at each other—one in surprise, the other slightly stunned.

Jiang Ruan studied him intently. Xiao Shao stood at the cave entrance in dark brocade robes, his striking features accentuated by the shadows, casting an almost luminous glow over the otherwise dark and grimy cave.

Xiao Shao, too, observed the girl before him. Her clothes clung to her body, her hair disheveled, her eyes wary yet astonished. She, who was always composed and gentle, adept at manipulating others with a smile, now looked utterly disheveled—a first.

After a brief standoff, he strode inside.

"Prince Xiao," Jiang Ruan finally spoke, regaining her composure as she looked at him. "What brings you here?"

"It's late, and traveling now would be unwise. You're extremely weak and shouldn't move. It's best to stay here and wait for the soldiers," Xiao Shao replied calmly.Jiang Ruan detected the implication in his words and smiled faintly. "Prince Xiao, are you trying to save me?" She remained skeptical. Xiao Shao was an inscrutable man, his thoughts unfathomable to anyone. Last time, he had helped Jiang Susu, and now he had repeatedly aided her as well. She couldn't quite discern his true intentions.

Xiao Shao turned to look at her, his beautiful eyes like the radiant expanse of an ink-wash painting. "Killing ten thousand enemies at the cost of three thousand—is that your method?"

Observing her tactics against the Prime Minister's residence—calmly tightening the noose, luring the snake out of its hole, and striking the final blow to ensure they could never recover—her ruthlessness and meticulous planning were unparalleled for someone so young. And now, it seemed even leaping off a cliff was part of her calculations. A plan where the slightest miscalculation meant death—ruthless not just to her enemies, but to herself as well. Boldness was one thing, but this was sheer audacity.

"Wrong. It's killing a hundred thousand enemies at the cost of three thousand," Jiang Ruan corrected him. The thought of the Prime Minister's residence in dire straits brought a fleeting satisfaction, but she knew it wasn't enough. The suffering Li Dong had inflicted on her and Pei Er would be repaid in full.

Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. "What deep-seated grudge do you hold against the Prime Minister's residence?"

Initially, he had suspected she was aligned with Ye Li, but after witnessing how her every move left Ye Li flustered and defeated, he realized otherwise. The reservoir incident had directly targeted the Prime Minister's residence. To annihilate an entire household, the enmity must run deep. Yet, even the Brocade-clad Guards he dispatched couldn't uncover any prior conflict between Jiang Ruan and the Prime Minister's residence. In fact, when Li Yang and his son first visited the Jiang residence, it had been Jiang Ruan's first encounter with them. How could she strike so mercilessly from the outset? Was it really that simple?

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "No comment." She found it hard to trust Xiao Shao, but no sooner had she spoken than a violent cough wracked her body. A chilling cold seeped into her bones, and dizziness clouded her mind.

Xiao Shao stood up. Before Jiang Ruan could see what he was doing, warmth enveloped her as his rain-patterned crane-feather cloak settled lightly over her shoulders.

The cloak was incredibly warm yet weightless, as if it carried no burden at all. Still bearing his body heat, it left Jiang Ruan momentarily stunned. Xiao Shao walked away without a word.

Clutching the cloak like a lifeline in the snow, Jiang Ruan felt a sliver of warmth return to her ice-cold body. Moments later, Xiao Shao returned, somehow having gathered dry firewood. In the rain and lingering snow of the mountain cliffs, finding unsoaked kindling was near impossible. Frost dusted his hair and shoulders as he placed the wood on the ground and lit it with a tinder. The crackling flames soon illuminated the dim cave, their warmth soothing to the soul.

"Come sit here and dry your clothes," Xiao Shao said. "Otherwise, the cold will seep into your bones and leave lasting ailments."

Jiang Ruan didn't refuse. Wrapped in the cloak, she moved to sit by the fire. The heat immediately brought comfort, and she instinctively held her hands closer to the flames, eager to warm them.

Xiao Shao glanced at her, his expression shifting abruptly. Before Jiang Ruan could react, he reached out and pressed a finger to the side of her neck, his gaze darkening.

Surprised by his actions, Jiang Ruan asked, "Prince Xiao, is there something you wish to say?"Xiao Shao shook his head, paused, then let his gaze fall upon her shoulder. Jiang Ruan had been injured there, and though she endured it silently, there was still a slight irregularity in her movements. Xiao Shao’s sharp eyes immediately detected the anomaly. After a moment’s thought, he retrieved a small porcelain vial from his robes and tossed it into Jiang Ruan’s lap. She caught it, hesitated briefly, then uncorked the bottle. A medicinal fragrance wafted out. Xiao Shao’s voice remained cool as he said, “Apply it yourself.”

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. “Thank you.” Yet inwardly, her suspicion deepened. Xiao Shao’s assistance seemed increasingly bizarre—this man was known for his ruthless and unfeeling nature, so why the sudden thoughtfulness? Xiao Shao was an enigma; even Ye Li, who had once sought to win him over in her past life, had failed to uncover his true motives. And now, he was being unexpectedly kind.

Seeing that Jiang Ruan had accepted the medicine, Xiao Shao didn’t linger. He stood and left the cave, as if to give her privacy to tend to her wound. Jiang Ruan quickly sprinkled the medicinal powder from the vial onto her injury and roughly bandaged it. The medicine, likely a rare treasure from the palace, burned fiercely upon contact, but the pain soon subsided.

Relieved, Jiang Ruan set the vial aside—though its design struck her as oddly familiar.

After a while, Xiao Shao returned, carrying fresh firewood and a skinned wild rabbit. He tossed the firewood onto the ground, selected two branches to skewer the meat, and began roasting it over the flames.

Jiang Ruan watched his movements in silence.

Xiao Shao focused intently on the task. His appearance had always been beyond reproach, but now, bathed in the firelight, his profile appeared exquisitely refined yet undeniably heroic—his features as flawless as a painting, his thin lips especially striking. Even as he roasted the rabbit like a common wanderer, he carried himself with the elegance of a noble dining in a grand mansion. His black brocade robes accentuated his tall, slender frame. Though usually cold and aloof, the glow of the fire softened his demeanor, lending him a touch of warmth.

This man was truly peerless in both looks and grace.

He handed the roasted rabbit to Jiang Ruan and, noticing her unblinking stare, asked, “What?”

Snapping out of her daze, Jiang Ruan eyed the golden-brown meat, its rich aroma tantalizing. Exhausted and famished, she accepted it without hesitation, momentarily setting aside her wariness of Xiao Shao. “Your culinary skills are impressive, Prince Xiao,” she remarked with a smile.

Xiao Shao continued roasting his own portion, his expression as indifferent as if she were a stranger, offering no further conversation.

Jiang Ruan took a bite and said, “For someone of your noble stature, Prince Xiao, it’s unexpected that you’d be adept at such mundane tasks.”

A noble born with a silver spoon, yet skilled not only in killing but also in such practical matters—it reminded Jiang Ruan of the rumors about Xiao Shao in her past life. At ten years old, after the death of the old Jinying Wang, he had taken command of the Brocade-clad Guards. Back then, everyone had waited to mock the “wet-behind-the-ears” boy, expecting him to make a fool of himself. Yet, with ruthless efficiency, he soon established absolute authority over the Brocade-clad Guards, earning the unwavering loyalty of its hundred thousand members. People often saw only the glory, never the hardship behind it. Xiao Shao’s achievements surely came at great personal cost. Such resilience only made him all the more formidable.She tilted her head to look at the young man by the fire. Though barely over twenty, there was not a trace of impetuousness or arrogance about him—only the composure and restraint that came with the passage of time. Even in the darkness of night, his elegance was unmistakable, and this bleak, frostbitten place seemed to gain a faint sense of security simply by his presence.

Yet, whether he was friend or foe remained unclear.

Had Xiao Shao saved her because of the Prime Minister’s residence?

In her past life, Xiao Shao had later sided with the Crown Prince, while Ye Li was his sworn enemy. If she opposed the Prime Minister’s residence, did that make her Xiao Shao’s ally? Was that it?

Jiang Ruan softly voiced the question she had long wanted to ask: “Prince Xiao, why did you save me?”

…

Meanwhile, chaos reigned in the Jiang residence.

Four identical carriages had set off in four different directions. Aside from Jiang Ruan’s, the other three had crashed into stone walls or towering trees, their occupants tumbling down the mountainside.

The men sent by Guan Lianghan went to the rescue. Jiang Li and Jiang Dan suffered minor injuries, but whether by accident or design, Jiang Susu was found last—and her injuries were by far the most severe.

Butterfly and Dragonfly had scraped their foreheads, but Jiang Susu’s carriage had overturned on a steep slope. When it flipped, she was thrown out, landing squarely in a thicket of brambles. The heavy layers of her clothing protected her body from the thorns, but her face—beneath the veil, the nearly healed scar was now a network of shallow wounds—was pierced countless times. By the time the guards found her, her face was covered in blood, her expression horrifying as she screamed hoarsely for help, her appearance ghastly.

Guan Lianghan ordered the injured Jiang daughters to be escorted back to the Jiang residence.

Xia Yan had been waiting in anxious suspense when a servant suddenly rushed in to report that soldiers had brought the carriages back. Her heart sank.

How could they have returned so soon? Even the authorities would take half a day to reach Cave Suitable Cliff. How could they be back already?

But what truly made her blood run cold was yet to come. The servant added, “The Second Young Lady is injured as well.”

Xia Yan shot to her feet. When she saw Jiang Susu unconscious, her stomach churned, and she nearly fainted on the spot.

How could Jiang Susu have been hurt so badly? And of all places, her face! Who would dare marry a disfigured woman as the mistress of a household?

She grabbed one of the soldiers and asked, “Sir, what exactly happened?”

Recognizing her as the Jiang family’s matriarch, the soldier replied politely, “Li An of the Prime Minister’s residence was found guilty of privately raising troops to plot rebellion and has been apprehended. The young ladies were injured, so the general ordered us to escort them back.”

Apprehended? Xia Yan’s face turned deathly pale. Li An had failed? With such elite soldiers, how could he have failed? Then, panic surged within her—if Li An had truly been captured, would he expose her? The mere thought of being implicated as a conspirator against the court made her shudder.

She asked cautiously, “How could he suddenly rebel?”

The soldier gave her a suspicious look, puzzled that she seemed more concerned with trivial matters than her own injured daughters. Noticing his expression, Xia Yan quickly added, “What does this villain’s rebellion have to do with my daughters? Yet they suffered such injustice because of him! I wish I could skin him alive—throwing him into prison is too lenient!”The soldier, suspecting nothing, replied, "They have already been escorted back to the capital. The other young ladies of the household should be safe, but as for the eldest young lady..."

Xia Yan's heart skipped a beat, only then realizing Jiang Ruan had not returned. Suppressing the joy in her heart, she feigned extreme anxiety on her face: "What does the officer mean by this? What happened to Ruan'er?"

The soldier looked at her apologetically: "The eldest young lady of your household was forced into a perilous situation by Li An and jumped off a cliff. The general has already sent people to search for her. Please do not worry too much, madam."

Xia Yan's heart swept away the gloom of Jiang Susu's disfigured face, feeling an overwhelming urge to burst into laughter—Jiang Ruan was dead! Jiang Ruan was dead! How could anyone survive jumping off a cliff? Her corpse was probably devoured by wolves, leaving not even bones behind.

Her expression suddenly shifted, tears streaming down her face as if she had suffered a tremendous blow, murmuring, "My Ruan'er..."

"Madam, do not grieve. If you must worry, perhaps you should be concerned about the second young master of the household."

"Chao'er?" Xia Yan's laughter froze, a foreboding premonition flashing through her heart. "What about Chao'er?"

"The rebel soldiers pursued the four young ladies of the household but did not lay a finger on the second young master. When the general found him, he was leisurely sipping tea in his carriage. The general suspects he colluded with the rebels and has detained him along with Li An."

Xia Yan was momentarily stunned. "What? How could Chao'er be a rebel? You must be mistaken—Chao'er is innocent."

The soldier saluted her. "The truth will only be known after interrogation." With that, he turned to leave but suddenly remembered something and added, "Though the eldest young lady fell into the ravine, Jinying Wang has personally gone down to rescue her. She should return safely, so please set your heart at ease, Madam." Then, without another glance back, he departed.

Xia Yan stood rooted to the spot for a long moment before her vision darkened, and she fainted.

In the cave, the flickering firelight cast dancing shadows, lending warmth to the otherwise crude surroundings.

The entrance was tightly blocked by shrubs, keeping the cold wind at bay. Jiang Ruan leaned against the stone wall by the fire, exhaustion weighing heavily on her as she closed her eyes.

Despite the tense situation of being alone with a man, she was confident Xiao Shao wouldn't take advantage of her. In her past life, his reputation for aloofness and indifference toward women was well-known. Ye Li had repeatedly tried to present him with beauties, only to fail each time. Moreover, she was only twelve now, and in such a disheveled state—if Xiao Shao harbored any improper intentions, he would truly be blind.

After applying Xiao Shao's medicine and eating, her body gradually warmed. Having run around all day, she was utterly exhausted and soon drifted into a deep slumber.

Before falling asleep, she wondered—how had Xiao Shao answered her earlier question?

He had said, "Xiao owes you a life."

What did that mean?

Jiang Ruan fell into a deep sleep. After a while, the young man who had been staring absently into the fire turned his gaze toward her, his expression complex.

Stripped of her usual sharpness and hostility, the girl now appeared gentle and beautiful. Her striking features, illuminated by the firelight, carried a subtle allure, hinting at the breathtaking beauty she would become in time.

Yet, the sight before him stirred nothing in Xiao Shao's heart. He merely lowered his head and retrieved an object from his sleeve—the butterfly-and-flower hairpin inlaid with bright jade.

His long fingers traced over the hairpin as an inscrutable emotion gradually surfaced in his eyes.

Time seemed to rewind six years.

Six years ago, shortly after taking charge of the Brocade-clad Guards and leaving his master's tutelage, he had been tricked into accepting a mission. His target was a ruthless commander from the Eastern Barbarian Country who had come seeking revenge upon learning his identity. The commander himself was no threat, but he was accompanied by a sinister sorcerer with bizarre methods. To establish his authority within the Brocade-clad Guards and complete the mission, Xiao Shao had no choice but to engage them alone.

After seven days and nights of struggle, he killed both the commander and the sorcerer. But before dying, the sorcerer, familiar with the local terrain, had poisoned him.The Eastern Barbarians would not provide him with the antidote. The fourteen-year-old youth rode back to the capital, narrowly escaping death at every turn. Countless people in the capital were waiting to take his life, and his enemies had spread the news of his severe injuries, filling the city’s shadows with deadly threats.

Yet, no matter how formidable his martial skills, he couldn’t withstand the ferocity of the poison. Weak and exhausted, he endured ambushes along the way, sustaining injuries worse than any he had suffered in his life thus far.

With enemies lying in wait ahead and pursuers closing in behind, in desperation, he sought refuge in a meditation room at the Precious Light Temple.

But to his surprise, someone was already inside.

Under the moonlight, a little girl no more than five or six years old gaped at him in shock. Xiao Shao frowned, his sword gleaming in his hand.

Yet the child clumsily rushed over and exclaimed, “You’re hurt?”

His dark robes were soaked through with blood, though the color concealed it, the metallic scent unmistakable.

In his dazed state, the girl had already knelt beside him, pulling a small porcelain bottle from her pocket. “This is medicine,” she said. “Are you alright?”

The medicine was nothing special, just a common remedy. The girl carefully parted his robes. Though wary, he found her clumsy movements almost amusing. Such a tiny child—likely a servant girl from some household.

He assumed she was a servant, given her plain attire and simple, lively speech. When the moonlight spilled over her, it illuminated her face—round and delicate, radiant with an innate charm, her large eyes bright and clear.

A servant, yet she didn’t look like one.

He was slightly taken aback.

The girl persisted in tending to his wounds. Too weak to move, he resigned himself to his fate, certain he would die that night—whether from the poison or his pursuers. With nothing left to lose, he let her fuss over him.

As his breathing grew faint, tears welled in the girl’s eyes. Suddenly, she stood and ran out.

He thought she must have gone to alert others, but he lacked the strength—or the will—to stop her. Leaning against the wall, he waited for death to claim him.

The waning moon cast its pale light over the youth’s peerless features, his expression cold. He had walked through fire and blades, climbing higher and steadier with each step, yet the higher he rose, the lonelier he became. He didn’t know the meaning of life, nor why he lived at all.

But before long, the girl returned.

In her hands were a few pieces of pastry and a bowl of clean water. Her face bore fresh smudges, as if she’d been struck. Timidly, she pushed the food toward him. “Would you like something to eat?”

Xiao Shao looked up, noting the marks on her face. Someone had hit her. How could anyone harm such a bright, lovely child? Frowning, he glanced at the food and slowly understood—this little servant must be of very low status. In wealthy households, young maids often suffered under cruel masters. It wasn’t uncommon.

Something stirred within him. The girl watched him curiously, and when he didn’t move, she earnestly lifted the bowl to his lips. Thirsty, he drank. Though her movements were labored, they were practiced—likely from serving tea often.

“Don’t die,” she said softly. “I won’t tell anyone you’re here.”

Xiao Shao remained silent.

The girl began feeding him the pastry.She began to speak slowly, talking about how in a few days when the weather improved, the pear blossoms on the western hills would bloom, and the peach blossoms on the eastern hills would too. She wanted to go see the flowers and grass with her parents, to make new clothes and shoes. The girl next door had a little hunting dog, and she wanted one too. Her brother's recent essay had earned praise from their father, and he was surely destined to become the top scholar in the future.

She rambled on, desperately trying to say something interesting to keep him from falling asleep. Her intentions were so naive, and Xiao Shao understood them well. Though he wasn’t particularly interested, he listened to her chatter as if it were a joke.

He thought this child must have come from a happy and loving family to be so kind and warm-hearted. Even the ordinary things she spoke of seemed unusually delightful.

That night, the deadly poison unexpectedly didn’t flare up, and the simple wound medicine and food gradually restored his strength. In the meditation room behind the Precious Light Temple, bathed in moonlight and spring breeze, the young man and the little girl sat together—one in silence, the other chattering—creating a surprisingly harmonious scene.

She talked all night long. By the next morning, when the temple bells rang and someone outside called softly, "Miss, miss," the little girl suddenly stood up. "My maid is looking for me. Once your wounds heal, leave quickly. Be careful not to be discovered."

So she wasn’t a maid.

Xiao Shao said softly, "Thank you."

The girl, already at the door, turned back upon hearing his words and smiled at him. "No need to thank me. Today, I saved your life. If someday I’m in danger and you happen to pass by, just save me in return."

That day, he ultimately didn’t die. After recovering at the Precious Light Temple, he sent a signal to the Brocade-clad Guards. Upon returning to the city, he swiftly and decisively dealt with those who had attempted to assassinate him, securing his position as the leader of the hundred thousand Brocade-clad Guards. For a time, no one in the capital dared to underestimate him.

From then on, he became feared in the court, earning the name "Traitorous Subject."

He didn’t know who the little girl from the Precious Light Temple was, only picking up the earring she had dropped. The Xiao family always repaid their debts, so he sent Ye Feng to investigate. Ye Feng discovered that the Jiang family’s young lady had visited the temple that day—specifically, the second daughter of the Jiang family.

Thus, when Jiang Susu found herself in dire straits on the Exquisite Boat, he remembered her words—"If someday I’m in danger and you happen to pass by, just save me in return"—and helped her once.

Xiao Shao had lived a life of bloodshed since his youth, enduring what others could not and experiencing what others never would. His instincts were uncannily sharp. After saving Jiang Susu, he already sensed something amiss.

Jiang Susu had an impeccable reputation in the capital, hailed as a fairy—gentle, innocent, and exceptionally talented, the cherished jewel of the Jiang family. On the surface, she seemed to match the kind-hearted little girl from that night.

But he saw through her falseness and affectation at a glance, finding it hard to connect the two.

And then, Jiang Ruan appeared.

Jiang Ruan’s eyes bore a striking resemblance to the little girl’s, yet they were also different. Jiang Ruan’s gaze was heavy with killing intent and ruthlessness. She was cunning and merciless, adept at using others to do her dirty work. Such calculation made her seem like a completely different person from the little girl of that night.

Moreover, Jin Yi and Jin Er’s investigation revealed that Jiang Ruan had been neglected in the Jiang household since childhood. Jiang Quan disliked her, her mother had died young, and her brother was perpetually disheartened. How could she have had the happiness the little girl had spoken of?Intuition and reality were poles apart.

Now that the truth was revealed, everything became clear—Jiang Susu was indeed not the girl from that night.

Since Jiang Ruan was the one from Precious Light Temple back then, how had she changed from her once innocent and kind nature to become so aggressive? Could six years of oppression in the village estate and the torment from her birth father and stepmother truly alter someone's temperament so drastically? Even if her temperament had changed, how could a young girl possibly wield such methods?

And then there was her mystery—Huijue's prophecy was bestowed because of her, and she had even foreseen the flood in the capital. Who exactly was she? Xiao Shao tucked the pendant back into his sleeve, his gaze as profound as the dazzling stars in the night sky.

With this pendant as proof, he owed Jiang Ruan a life, and he would repay her in due time.

"Thank you," he murmured softly.

...

Jiang Ruan had a dream.

The dream was so distant in time that she could barely recall it clearly. It seemed to be from six years ago.

Six years ago, Zhao Mei was bedridden with a severe illness. The physicians who examined her all declared her beyond saving, advising the family to prepare for her funeral. Seeing Zhao Mei's emaciated figure lying in bed, Jiang Ruan was overwhelmed with grief.

It happened to be the annual day for offering incense at Precious Light Temple, where the prayers were said to be most efficacious. She wanted to go and pray, but Jiang Quan insisted that as Zhao Mei's daughter, she should stay in the mansion to tend to her mother.

At the time, she was seething with resentment but dared not openly defy Jiang Quan. So she decided to secretly follow the carriage of Xia Yan and her daughter, disguising herself as a maid from the Jiang household to blend in. Once at Precious Light Temple, she planned to beg the abbot to let her offer the first incense stick, praying for Zhao Mei's recovery.

She asked Lianqiao to accompany her and had Zisu impersonate her in the mansion. Changing into a maid's attire, she successfully mingled among the Jiang household's servants and made her way to the temple.

For her, it was the boldest thing she had ever done. She was quite proud of herself for pulling it off, unaware that her success was only because Xia Yan had already known she was among the crowd and deliberately let her pass.

Then, when no one was looking, she hid in the meditation room, waiting for a chance to slip away.

Since she had sneaked in, she couldn't join the servants for the vegetarian meal, lest she be discovered. She had no choice but to steal food from the temple's kitchen. Unfortunately, she was caught and handed over to the head maid of the Jiang household, who was told to "discipline" her properly.

And discipline her she did. Jiang Ruan was beaten black and blue but dared not make a sound, fearing her identity as the Jiang family's eldest daughter would be exposed. Bruised and battered, she barely managed to get a bite to eat.

But the ordeal didn't end there. The next day, she failed to offer the first incense stick. Even in a grand temple like Precious Light Temple, priority was given to those who donated generously. Xia Yan had donated a considerable sum, so the first incense stick was hers to offer.

No doubt, Xia Yan's prayer back then was for Zhao Mei and Jiang Ruan to meet a miserable end. In her past life, that prayer had indeed come true.

On the way back, Xia Yan "accidentally" discovered Jiang Ruan among the crowd. The ensuing panic spread throughout the mansion upon their return. When Jiang Quan learned that Zisu had impersonated Jiang Ruan in the mansion, he flew into a rage. He forced both Zisu and Jiang Ruan to kneel in the main hall, where they were subjected to corporal punishment in front of all the servants, as a warning to others.Shame, humiliation, anger, and resentment—those myriad emotions from back then could only dissolve into useless tears in the end. Jiang Xin Zhi had stood up to Jiang Quan for her sake, only to be punished by Jiang Quan in a fit of rage, ordered to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days. When Zhao Mei heard of this, her condition worsened, leaving her on the brink of death.

The incident had stirred up such a storm that Xia Yan and Jiang Susu came to plead for leniency on her behalf.

Looking back now, she wished she could have skinned those two mother and daughter alive.

It seemed that from then on, she had been confined to the house, and the people of the capital only knew of the Jiang family's second young miss, unaware of who the eldest daughter was.

The Precious Light Temple became her nightmare from that point onward. In this lifetime, if Xia Yan still sought to scheme against her at the Precious Light Temple, she would have to see if Jiang Ruan would allow it. If the temple had been her execution ground in her past life, in this life, it would be the starting point of her vengeance. The Prime Minister's residence was merely the beginning.

At the very end of that dream, however, there seemed to be a sliver of moonlight—a pair of eyes as serene as an ink-wash painting, gazing at her with detached gentleness in the soft night.

Who was that?

It was as if, in the memory of stealing food, she hadn’t actually eaten it in the end. Something unusual must have happened in that meditation room.

Time was like an old, faded veil draped over a treasure, quietly shrouding memories. If one day a spring breeze happened to pass by, lifting a corner of that veil, the memories would emerge anew, still faintly gleaming.

A soft voice seemed to whisper in her ear: "Thank you."

Who was it?

...

Sunlight gradually pierced through the dense thicket, scattering into the cave. The faint rays painted dappled patches of green within.

The long-lost warmth of the sun bathed the verdant mountain forest. In the quiet valleys, the crisp chirping of birds echoed— tweet-tweet —before they suddenly flapped their wings and took flight, their tail feathers skimming the tranquil green lake, sending ripples across its surface.

The rain had stopped.

Jiang Ruan slowly opened her eyes. The moment she did, the long-missed sunlight streamed into the cave. After a night of peaceful sleep, her spirits were surprisingly refreshed. She tilted her head slightly—then suddenly froze.

(End of Chapter)