Previous Chapter: Chapter 131 - Humans Are No Match for Tigers
The mansion where the people of Qin State resided had likely been recently renovated, its layout differing somewhat from the estates of Ming Qi. As soon as Shen Miao stepped inside, she noticed that the residence in Yanqing Alley had probably been completely refurbished by the Qin people, mirroring the extravagant style of the Qin palace.
The Qin people adored glittering, golden objects—much like Shen Miao in her past life—perhaps believing that gold and silver could best display their nation’s wealth. Even some of the palace bricks were made of gold. Back then, when Shen Miao first visited Qin State, she had marveled at the palace’s exquisite craftsmanship and even felt a twinge of envy. Now, looking back, the Qin imperial family’s tastes were truly questionable. Such eagerness to flaunt wealth only came across as vulgar.
Led by a maidservant into the garden, Shen Miao finally came face to face with Ming An Princess.
Ming An Princess sat at a small stone table in the garden, covered with a delicate silk handkerchief embroidered with butterflies. On it were arranged several plates of exquisite pastries and a pot of tea. Nearby was a small pond, its waters not yet frozen over in this season, filled with red carp lazily swaying their tails. A few maidservants sat by the pond, feeding the fish from small bowls.
Shen Miao stopped before Ming An Princess and bowed in greeting.
Ming An Princess turned her head.
Among the three nations—Great Coolness, Ming Qi, and Qin State—Great Coolness was undeniably the most powerful. In comparison, Ming Qi and Qin State paled, though Qin State still held an edge over Ming Qi due to its stronger military.
Perhaps because the Fu Family of Ming Qi’s imperial court was too eager to consolidate military power under the throne, they dared not delegate authority. Over the years, Ming Qi had struggled to produce outstanding generals. Take Shen Xin and Xie Ding, for example—as these two men gradually declined, no other aristocratic military families emerged to replace them. That was why Emperor Wenhui had hastily summoned Shen Xin back for this tribute banquet, lest Ming Qi lose face before other nations.
Qin State likely knew it could not rival Great Coolness, but it still held itself above Ming Qi. The Qin people carried an innate sense of superiority when dealing with Ming Qi’s citizens—an attitude that was utterly detestable. In her past life, when Shen Miao had traveled arduously to Qin State, even the lowest palace maid had looked down on her with disdain. The Qin imperial family had behaved even more disgracefully, as if trampling her dignity meant trampling Ming Qi’s dignity as well.
Now, seeing Ming An Princess, memories from her past life came flooding back.
“This princess invited you today, half-expecting you wouldn’t dare to come. Yet you arrived alone—your courage is not insignificant.” Ming An Princess swept a glance over Shen Miao, her gaze suddenly darkening. Today, she wore a golden gauze dress embroidered with flowers and adorned with the finest Qin-style hairpins. Yet, compared to Shen Miao’s simple lilac cloak and unpowdered face, she paled in comparison.Princess Ming An was actually quite striking, embodying the quintessential royal beauty of the Qin State—delicately nurtured in luxury, she exuded a unique refinement. Human temperaments vary greatly, and while Shen Miao’s appearance leaned toward gentle elegance, her dignified and imposing aura drew all eyes, leaving no trace of softness about her. She seemed like a woman who had sat upon the lofty palace throne for years, her noble bearing something that could never be cultivated.
"Your Highness jests," Shen Miao replied, her expression unchanged. "As a guest of Ming Qi, how could I decline such an honorable invitation from the Princess?"
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu stood behind Shen Miao, while Mo Qing was stopped by the guards at the entrance. Shen Miao did not protest, for she knew Princess Ming An’s temperament all too well. Since the Princess had extended the invitation today, she would not do anything truly dangerous—merely employ some means to make Shen Miao suffer. Shen Miao had come prepared, but she had no intention of enduring such treatment without retaliation. Whatever Princess Ming An did today, she would repay tenfold.
"Your tongue is sharp indeed," Princess Ming An sneered. "Of course, I know you are bold—otherwise, you wouldn’t have deliberately humiliated me at the tribute banquet." At the memory of that incident, a flash of murderous intent crossed the Princess’s eyes. As the most favored princess of Qin, even the imperial family there feared her. Yet in Ming Qi, a kingdom inferior in every way, she had been tricked by Shen Miao into fainting at the banquet. The thought of her disgrace made Princess Ming An wish she could kill the girl before her. Were it not for the fact that they were still on Ming Qi’s territory and Huangfu Hao had warned her, she would have ended Shen Miao’s life right then.
Suddenly, she smiled at Shen Miao and said, "I was quite impressed by your archery skills. It seems the Qin palace lacks a sister like you. Why don’t I make a request to your Emperor and have you accompany me back to Qin?"
Shen Miao nearly laughed. In both her past and present life, Princess Ming An seemed to clash with her. These words felt like an echo of the past, when she had willingly gone to Qin as a hostage and the Princess had said to Fu Xiuyi, "Your Majesty need not worry. Since she is the Empress of Ming Qi, Qin will treat her with the utmost respect—as my own dear sister."
Yet in Qin, the humiliation she endured was no less than what she suffered in Ming Qi. Later, when Shen Miao returned to Qin and engaged in prolonged struggles with Mei Furen in the imperial harem, much of her endurance and patience had been forged during those five bitter years in Qin.
"If Your Highness wishes, you may speak to His Majesty," Shen Miao replied indifferently. "Should he agree, this subject will naturally accompany you to Qin."
Princess Ming An had intended to mock and belittle Shen Miao, never expecting her to retaliate so deftly. As the treasured daughter of Shen Xin, even Emperor Wenhui would not dare move against Shen Miao lightly, if only to placate her father. Enraged, the Princess glared. "You—"
Shen Miao merely smiled back in silence."Don't worry, returning just like this would be too unfair to you." Ming An Princess sneered coldly, her eyes filled with malice. "Why not enter my elder brother the Crown Prince's residence as a concubine or a secondary consort? I'm sure the Emperor of Ming Qi would be very willing."
Shen Miao frowned slightly. If Ming Qi wished to strengthen ties with Qin State, marriage alliances were indeed an effective method. If Ming An Princess truly persuaded Huangfu Hao to propose taking Shen Miao back as a secondary consort, Emperor Wenhui would likely agree. Against the will of an entire nation, even Shen Xin, no matter how unwilling, would be powerless to resist.
Noticing Shen Miao's momentary distraction, Ming An Princess curled her lips into a cold smile. Suddenly, she gave a signal to the maid beside Shen Miao, who abruptly reached out and pushed Shen Miao, standing by the pond, into the water.
The push came swiftly and fiercely, catching Shen Miao off guard as she tumbled into the pond. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu screamed in alarm, but it was too late to help. Shen Miao could almost feel the chill of the water splashing onto her clothes, yet her lips were equally cold. Ming An Princess's methods were nothing more than this. Since she couldn't truly harm Shen Miao today, she had to make her suffer in some way. This outcome was almost something Shen Miao had anticipated.
With a loud splash, Shen Miao fell into the water. She knew how to swim, and though the early winter water was cold, it wouldn't render her immobile. Then she heard another splash nearby. At first, she thought she'd misheard, but when she surfaced, she saw another figure flailing in the water—the golden robes unmistakably belonging to none other than Ming An Princess.
Ming An Princess's shrieks were almost ear-piercing. She seemed unable to swim, screaming, "Help! Someone help!"
Her maids panicked at the sight, scrambling to find bamboo poles or other means to rescue her. The guards who could swim were all men, and since Ming An Princess was of noble birth, any man who touched her would likely lose his head the next day. No one dared to step forward. Moreover, Ming An Princess had fallen into the very center of the pond, far from the edge where even the bamboo poles couldn't reach.
Shen Miao, pushed from the pond's edge, had landed close to the shore. But Ming An Princess, who had been standing safely, had somehow ended up in the middle of the pond. The absurdity of the scene almost made Shen Miao laugh. However, now wasn't the time to enjoy the spectacle. While everyone else was in chaos, she calmly swam back to the shore.
As she reached the edge, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, frantic with worry, hurried to pull her out. Halfway up, an angry shout rang out: "What is going on here?"
Two men strode into the garden from outside. One wore golden robes and a jade crown, his handsome face darkened with fury, marring his otherwise striking appearance. The other was clad in a gilded purple robe and a black cloak, his face half-hidden behind a silver mask, yet his noble bearing remained undiminished. He followed Huangfu Hao's steps at a leisurely pace.
"Your Highness, the Princess has fallen into the water!" the servants hastily reported. Taking in the chaotic scene, Huangfu Hao took a deep breath and instinctively glanced at Prince Rui beside him. But with the mask in place and only a faint smile visible beneath it, who could tell what he was thinking?He barked at the guard behind him, "Go! What are you waiting for?"
The guard stiffened but had no choice. He swiftly leaped toward the pond—likely skilled in swimming and martial arts—and promptly fished out the drenched Ming An Princess, dragging her to the shore.
Ming An Princess had swallowed plenty of water. The first thing she did upon reaching the shore was to shriek and point at Shen Miao, "This wretch pushed me into the water! Crown Prince Brother, kill her for me!"
Ming An Princess was so enraged that she could utter such words in front of everyone. Huangfu Hao was startled and quickly interjected, "Ming An!"
Only then did Ming An Princess notice Prince Rui standing beside Huangfu Hao. She froze in shock, then flushed crimson with fury. To appear so disheveled before such a peerlessly elegant man—if there had been a hole in the ground, she would have gladly buried herself in it. And all of this was thanks to Shen Miao.
Jing Zhe couldn't hold back and retorted on Shen Miao's behalf, "Your Highness, your words make no sense. It was my lady who fell into the water first. How could she have had a free hand to push Your Highness? My lady isn’t some deity with three heads and six arms!"
"How dare you, a lowly servant, speak to this princess like that?" Ming An Princess laughed coldly instead of flying into a rage. "Are you implying this princess is slandering Shen Miao? Guards! Seize this insolent wench!"
Shen Miao smirked frostily, shielding Jing Zhe behind her. "Your Highness is from Qin State, while Jing Zhe is my servant. This is Ming Qi. Since when can people from Qin State run wild on Ming Qi’s land?"
Her use of the phrase "run wild" was utterly unsparing, making even Huangfu Hao glance at her in surprise.
"How dare you!" Ming An Princess shrieked.
"This subject does not believe she has overstepped," Shen Miao countered, her tone unwavering. She was no longer the meek Empress Shen who had endured humiliation in Qin State. Moreover, if she couldn’t even protect her own maid, this life would have been wasted. Dealing with someone like Ming An Princess, who threw her weight around, didn’t even require much thought.
This was a Qin State residence, and Ming An Princess’s attendants had already brought a cloak to cover her drenched form. But Shen Miao had none—her lilac cloak was soaked through, clinging to her body. Even if Jing Zhe and Gu Yu tried to shield her with their bodies, it was futile. Huangfu Hao stared at Shen Miao, his gaze bordering on audacity.
Just then, Prince Rui let out a soft chuckle. He casually removed his black cloak and tossed it over Shen Miao, enveloping her completely. The gesture stunned everyone present. Since arriving in Fixed Capital, Prince Rui of Great Coolness had kept to himself, showing no particular favor to Ming Qi nor any deliberate attempts to befriend Qin State. Yet now, inexplicably, he had stepped in to help Shen Miao.
Huangfu Hao’s gaze at Shen Miao grew contemplative, while Ming An Princess bit her lip in jealousy.
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu helped Shen Miao to her feet. Unable to contain herself any longer, Ming An Princess snapped, "It was clearly you who pushed me in! If not you, how else would I have fallen into the lake? Unless you’re suggesting my own servants pushed me?"Shen Miao smiled. Though her hair was completely drenched, her composed and dignified demeanor made her appear far more graceful compared to the now furious and flustered Ming An Princess. She said, "My maid has already explained on my behalf. I fell into the water first—how could I have pushed Her Highness the Princess? Perhaps the Princess slipped accidentally herself."
Ming An Princess angrily retorted, "If I had slipped by myself, how could I have ended up in the center of the pond?"
"What a coincidence," Shen Miao replied indifferently. "I am not some Herculean strong man, so it’s truly impossible for me to push the Princess all the way to the middle of the pond."
A soft chuckle suddenly escaped. Everyone looked up to see Prince Rui curl his lips slightly. Though he was smiling, the expression beneath his mask remained unreadable, making him seem all the more enigmatic.
Ming An Princess gritted her teeth and turned to Prince Rui. "Since Your Highness is present—neither a citizen of Ming Qi nor Qin State—would you kindly adjudicate this matter and determine who between Shen Miao and myself is lying?"
Huangfu Hao tried to stop Ming An Princess, but it was already too late. His heart burned with rage. Ming An Princess was spoiled and arrogant, yet utterly lacking in wit. Though he knew she had targeted Shen Miao today, he hadn’t expected her to employ such a foolish tactic. If things went awry, Shen Miao could easily turn this into a victim’s ploy, leaving Ming An Princess with no advantage. To make matters worse, Prince Rui of Great Coolness had inexplicably arrived today and witnessed this chaotic scene. Huangfu Hao could barely suppress the urge to strangle Ming An Princess.
Shen Miao lowered her eyes, while Ming An Princess lifted her chin, gazing at Prince Rui with hopeful expectation. Huangfu Hao’s face twisted with awkwardness as Prince Rui smirked and said, "Why should this prince bother with such trivial matters?"
Ming An Princess froze. Shen Miao rolled her eyes inwardly.
"Your household is quite lively," Prince Rui remarked, his tone impossible to discern as mocking or not. Yet his indifferent manner suddenly stirred dislike in Huangfu Hao. Glancing at Shen Miao, who was draped in Prince Rui’s cloak, Huangfu Hao forced a smile and said, "Today was merely a misunderstanding. I hadn’t expected Miss Shen to suffer as a result. On behalf of my younger sister, I offer my apologies to Miss Shen and hope she will not take offense."
"Elder Brother!" Ming An Princess hadn’t anticipated Huangfu Hao yielding to Shen Miao. Panicked and indignant, she cried out, only to be silenced by Huangfu Hao’s icy glare. She dared not speak further, but her gaze toward Shen Miao burned with jealousy and hatred.
Shen Miao regarded Huangfu Hao coolly and said, "Since His Highness the Crown Prince has spoken, this humble subject dare not disobey." Her words of forgiveness sounded reluctant and forced, reigniting Ming An Princess’s fury. Huangfu Hao was also taken aback, studying Shen Miao with a meaningful gaze.
Shen Miao lowered her lashes, concealing the storm of emotions in her eyes. Huangfu Hao appeared gentle and courteous on the surface, but beneath lay a ruthless cruelty—different from Fu Xiuyi’s brand of ruthlessness, for his loathing was impossible to mask. Back when she was in Qin State, Huangfu Hao had once gotten drunk and attempted to violate her. Had Gu Yu not risked her life to protect Shen Miao’s chastity, she might have returned to the Ming Qi palace only to be greeted by a white silk noose—the imperial family would never tolerate an impure Empress.Yet despite this, Gu Yu had offended Huangfu Hao and was immediately stabbed to death with a guard's sword. Shen Miao would never forget how Huangfu Hao had pierced Gu Yu's lifeless body with several more thrusts, blood endlessly flowing out, before ordering Gu Yu's corpse to be thrown into a pack of wolves.
She could do nothing. In the Qin State, she had lost someone dearest to her, unable even to retrieve Gu Yu's body.
If Shen Miao felt disgust toward Ming An Princess, her hatred for Huangfu Hao was blood-soaked vengeance. But for now, she had no means to make him pay.
Huangfu Hao's gaze grew increasingly suspicious. In the moment Shen Miao lowered her eyes, he seemed to detect a palpable emotion that sent a chill through him. He didn't understand what it was, yet some instinct drove him to probe further.
Just as he was about to speak, Prince Rui suddenly shifted his stance. Towering and upright, his broad frame nearly obscured the petite Shen Miao from view.
"Today's visit was ill-timed," Prince Rui glanced at Huangfu Hao and Ming An Princess. Though his expression was unreadable, both felt an icy sharpness in his gaze. He continued, "We shall return another day."
Huangfu Hao had intended to persuade him further. The current political climate remained unclear, and the Qin State had no desire to antagonize Great Coolness. If Prince Rui, representing Great Coolness, showed even a hint of goodwill toward Qin, it would be most welcome. He had hoped to forge some rapport today, only for Ming An Princess to ruin everything. Shooting her a furious glare, he conceded helplessly, "This prince has been a poor host. When Your Highness returns, I shall ensure a grand reception."
Prince Rui chuckled lightly, his meaning ambiguous, then turned to leave—only to pause abruptly. With a faintly mocking glance at Shen Miao, he said, "Since Miss Shen is also drenched, it would be best to return home soon. Would you care to accompany this prince?"
Shen Miao took a deep breath and offered a composed smile. "Many thanks, Your Highness Prince Rui."
Huangfu Hao and Ming An Princess could only watch as the two departed. Ming An Princess nearly bit through her lip. "Elder Brother Crown Prince, that wretch is seducing Prince Rui! She even pushed me into the water—this cannot go unpunished!"
"Silence, fool." Huangfu Hao shot her a cold warning. "This prince will overlook today's blunder once. Should you bungle things again, even I cannot shield you from His Majesty's wrath." With that, he turned and strode away.
Scolded thus, Ming An Princess dared not retort, but her hatred for Shen Miao deepened further. The sight of those two departing figures carved into her heart like a knife. Spoiled and selfish, she had always prided herself on her beauty and noble status, never deigning to admire any man—until now. Yet the one man who caught her eye seemed to show favor to Shen Miao. How could she endure it? Clenching her fists, she hissed, "Shen Miao, this princess will make you wish you were dead!"
Outside the Qin State residence, Shen Miao's carriage still waited. Seeing her emerge draped in an unfamiliar man's cloak, her hair soaked, Mo Qing tensed immediately. "Miss—"
"It's fine," Shen Miao waved a hand. "Let us return home first.""Miss Shen, I helped you, yet you don't even say a word of thanks. That's rather heartless," Prince Rui said leisurely, arms crossed, which took Jing Zhe and the others by surprise.
Shen Miao eyed him coldly. "Did Your Highness enjoy yourself today?"
"That depends on whether you enjoyed yourself." He chuckled, and even through the mask, Shen Miao could imagine the mischief in his expression.
"Did you push Ming An Princess into the water?" she whispered, stepping closer to Xie Jingxing. "Why did you do that?"
Xie Jingxing looked down at her. She was petite, so he had to bend slightly to whisper to her at eye level, bringing them uncomfortably close—almost intimate. His voice was deep and pleasant, laced with amusement. "What kind of person is she, to dare bully you?" After a pause, he fixed his gaze on Shen Miao and added, "Aren't I yours? Helping you is only natural."
Shen Miao abruptly took a step back, putting distance between them, and said indifferently, "Then I thank you."
"Thanks aren't just a matter of words," Xie Jingxing smirked. "This prince will have to think carefully about it."
Shen Miao had no patience for further conversation and boarded the carriage without another word. Worried she might catch a chill, Mo Qing wasted no time in rushing back to the Shen residence, and soon their figures vanished from the alley.
Gazing at the distant spot where the carriage had disappeared, Xie Jingxing suddenly sensed the presence of a tall man behind him. His eyes turned cold as he ordered, "Investigate whether Huangfu Hao has ever visited Fixed Capital before."
The man bowed and left. Xie Jingxing turned his head, glanced once more at the gates of Prince Qin's residence, and curled his lips, though his eyes gleamed with a frosty light.
On the way back, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu dared not speak. None had expected Shen Miao to face such harassment today. The audacity of Ming An Princess was truly staggering—she had dared to push someone into the water in broad daylight. Jing Zhe's eyes reddened with emotion. In the heat of the moment, she hadn't considered the other's status, but now it struck her: that woman was a princess of Qin State, while she was merely a lowly servant. If Ming An Princess had truly wished to retaliate, Jing Zhe would have been powerless. Only now did fear begin to creep in.
Shen Miao, however, remained calm. She had long known Ming An Princess harbored ill intentions, but given the larger stakes, even if no one had intervened today, the princess would have eventually ordered her fished out of the water—not truly intending to take her life. Unexpectedly, the God of Carnage had appeared, pushing Ming An Princess into the water as well.
This was undoubtedly Xie Jingxing's doing. Lawless and arrogant, he had openly schemed against Ming An Princess right in front of Huangfu Hao. Likely, upon reflection, Huangfu Hao would realize something was amiss. After all, Ming An Princess had fallen straight into the center of the pond—something impossible without martial skill. And the only outsider present with such ability was Xie Jingxing. Even if the truth remained unclear, suspicion would inevitably arise.
Still. Shen Miao's eyes flickered with amusement. Xie Jingxing's move, which had left Ming An Princess equally disgraced, was deeply satisfying. Had he not intervened today, she would have retained the moral high ground but suffered the consequences. Now, she kept the advantage and endured the ordeal, yet seeing Ming An Princess humiliated made the hardship worthwhile.
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu had been watching Shen Miao with concern, but now they noticed her lips curving slightly, as if pleased by some thought. They exchanged puzzled glances, unable to fathom how she could find joy after being pushed into the water.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, Shen Miao, drenched as she was, had to slip in through the back door. Jing Zhe hurried to fetch a towel to dry her hair and helped her change into clean clothes, while Gu Yu went to the kitchen to order ginger tea. After sitting for a while, Shen Miao asked, "Where are Bailu and Shuangjiang?"
Before leaving, she had instructed Bailu and Shuangjiang to wait at the residence for news, yet neither was present. Just then, Bailu returned from outside and, upon seeing Shen Miao, exclaimed with relief, "You're finally back, miss! Just now, Madam asked where you had gone and why you hadn't returned yet."
"What does Mother need?" Shen Miao, having finally dried her hair, inquired."I heard it's the daughter of an old benefactor of the general who came calling. Madam is chatting with the young lady outside and wishes for you to join them."
Shen Miao's hand holding the handkerchief paused abruptly, her gaze suddenly sharpening. "What is her name?"
Bailu was taken aback, finding Shen Miao's stare rather chilling, and answered instinctively, "I heard her surname is Chang."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
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