Previous Chapter: 138 - Snatch
For several days in a row, Fixed Capital remained unusually tranquil.
At the Qin Crown Prince's residence, even Ming An Princess had been uncharacteristically quiet these past few days. Aside from occasional strolls through the streets of Fixed Capital, she had done nothing noteworthy.
At least, that was how it appeared on the surface. In private, however, things might have been different.
Inside the residence, the beautiful Ming An Princess, dressed in a golden-red gauze dress, idly nibbled on dried fruits from a plate. Kneeling before her were two men dressed as officials, who endured her humiliations without a trace of anger. These two were none other than the two illegitimate sons of Marquis Lin'an Manor—Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao.
Since Xie Jingxing's death, Xie Ding had lost interest in court affairs, delegating his authority to these two illegitimate sons and letting them make their own way in the court. Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao were not without skill—they now served under Prince Ding. Though the prince did not heavily rely on them, he still saw them as useful assets for the future. Both were eager to prove themselves.
If there was one thing that still gnawed at Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao, it was that even after Xie Jingxing's death and the disappearance of Princess Yuqing's descendants, Xie Ding still refused to legitimize Fang Shi. Without her being elevated to the status of a principal wife, the two would forever remain illegitimate sons. Their current desperation to achieve something was driven by the hope that once their accomplishments reached a certain level, they could force Xie Ding to recognize them as legitimate heirs. For the sake of Marquis Lin'an Manor's prestige, he would have no choice.
Their presence at the Qin Crown Prince's residence was also at Fu Xiuyi's behest.
Fu Xiuyi was keen on forging an alliance with the Qin Crown Prince and had been working toward a secret agreement. Naturally, he also wanted to win over Huangfu Hao's younger sister, Ming An Princess. Thinking that she might be unfamiliar with Fixed Capital, he assigned Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao to accompany her.
Though their allegiance to Fu Xiuyi was a secret, their usual duties involved catering to important figures. Thus, no one would find it strange for them to flatter Ming An Princess.
The princess had a fiery temper, and these past few days, she had given Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao no shortage of trouble.
Today was no different.
She looked at the two men before her and sneered, "Following me around all day—don’t you find it tedious? Do all officials of Ming Qi enjoy trailing after foreign princesses? No wonder Ming Qi’s rule seems so effortless."
"Our duty is to ensure Your Highness's satisfaction," Xie Changwu replied. "Only when Your Highness is pleased can we be at ease."
Ming An Princess scoffed. "You are not my subjects. I don’t keep idle men like you in my service. I heard Marquis Lin'an Manor once had a dazzlingly brilliant heir apparent—pity he died young. If it were him, I might have considered making him one of my retainers."
The two men kneeling on the ground lowered their heads, their expressions darkening for a fleeting moment.Some people, even in death, cast shadows that never fade. Since Xie Jingxing's passing two years ago, Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao had thought they would no longer live under his shadow. Yet whenever people mentioned Marquis Lin'an Manor, the first name that came to mind was still Xie Jingxing. They would say, "If that Young Marquis Xie hadn't died, who knows how dazzling he would be now? Marquis Lin'an would surely be bursting with pride."
They forgot that the two brothers were also young masters of Marquis Lin'an Manor. No matter how outstanding they became, it seemed they could never surpass the heroic image Xie Jingxing had left in people's hearts.
Xie Changchao's eyes flickered as he said, "Indeed, our elder brother was extraordinary. He was once quite close to Fifth Miss Shen, the legitimate daughter of the Grand General of Might. It seems fate had its way."
At the mention of Shen Miao's name, Ming An Princess froze for a moment before her delicate brows furrowed, and her tone sharpened involuntarily. "What happened? Tell me at once!"
Xie Changchao looked up, seemingly surprised by Ming An Princess's reaction. "Your Highness, do you recall how Fifth Miss Shen dominated the mounted archery competition at the Ming Qi Verification ground?"
Ming An Princess's expression darkened further. Xie Changchao's words reminded her of the humiliation she had suffered in the tribute banquet's competition against Shen Miao, filling her with the urge to tear Shen Miao apart.
"After Cai Lin stepped down, my second brother intended to challenge Fifth Miss Shen. Had he taken the field, he would have surely defeated her. But then my elder brother suddenly intervened, shielding Miss Shen and taking her place," Xie Changchao said. He would never forget that day. They had hoped to win Cai Daren's favor by avenging Cai Lin, but Xie Jingxing had appeared out of nowhere. Though Xie Jingxing had always seemed carefree, when had he ever stepped forward to defend a young lady? Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao had been convinced then that Xie Jingxing must have harbored some special feelings for Shen Miao—otherwise, why would he have shielded her?
Because of Xie Jingxing's interference, the brothers had been utterly defeated on the Verification ground, becoming a laughingstock. It was a humiliation they could never let go of.
"So that's how it was," Ming An Princess sneered. "It seems Xie Jingxing was no saint either. Since he was entangled with that wretch, his death was well-deserved—a fitting end."
A flash of satisfaction crossed Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao's eyes. Slandering Xie Jingxing and hearing others speak ill of him brought them immense gratification, as if it could somehow ease the resentment festering in their hearts.
"That Shen Miao is an eyesore to me as well," Ming An Princess said irritably. "If not for my brother's protection, I would have killed her ten times over by now." The words Prince Rui had spoken that day in the Eastern Palace still echoed in her ears:
"Such a fine lady—I, too, would like to have her."
Jealousy burned within her. Old grudges and new hatred intertwined, fueling her desire to tear Shen Miao to pieces. But Huangfu Hao had placed her under house arrest, and even when she went out, his guards followed her closely, leaving her powerless. Now, with Xie Changchao bringing up Shen Miao again, those venomous emotions surged uncontrollably from the depths of her heart.
Ming An Princess had lived her life in arrogance, never denied anything she desired. Now, Shen Miao stood in her way—how could she be allowed to remain?
A thought suddenly struck her, and she turned her gaze to Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao.Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao knelt on the ground. Unless Ming An Princess permitted them to rise, they dared not stand. They had been obedient like this all day, as if ready to execute any command without question.
Suddenly, she laughed. Ming An Princess picked up a piece of pastry, examining the delicate patterns on it carefully, and said, "Xie Changwu, Xie Changchao. You've been serving Prince Ding for several years now, haven't you? How is it that you're still just errand boys?"
The Xie brothers froze, not expecting Ming An Princess to suddenly turn on them. Her words struck a nerve—their deepest sore spot. For two years, they had secretly worked for Fu Xiuyi, yet all they were given were trivial tasks. Now, they were reduced to the same level as palace servants, forced to fawn over and serve a princess. In their eyes, the reason they hadn't gained Fu Xiuyi's favor had nothing to do with their own abilities. Both Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao believed themselves exceptionally talented in both civil and military affairs. The only thing holding them back, they thought, was their status as illegitimate sons.
Ming An Princess's words dripped with mockery. Though they remained silent, their faces betrayed their resentment.
Ming An Princess continued, "You must be desperate for a promotion, to stand by Prince Ding's side and earn his favor. You must long for the day you rise to prominence and shed that humiliating label of 'illegitimate sons,' don't you?"
The Xie brothers said nothing.
"I have a way to grant your wishes," Ming An Princess said leisurely.
Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao exchanged glances before bowing in unison. "We beg Your Highness for guidance."
"That would be me," Ming An Princess replied with a radiant smile. "I am the princess of Qin State. Right now, Prince Ding has requests of my elder brother, the Crown Prince. That's why he sent you two to please me. If I put in a good word for you before my brother, ensuring his cooperation with Prince Ding, Prince Ding would surely remember your contributions." She admired her nail-polished fingertips. "Isn't this exactly what you've been bending over backward to achieve all this time?"
Xie Changchao and Xie Changwu remained silent. Generally, that was the case, but when they were assigned to entertain Ming An Princess, they never actually expected her to speak well of them. Everyone knew Ming An Princess was arrogant and domineering—avoiding her wrath was already a blessing; who would dare hope for her favor? The Xie brothers were no fools. They understood Ming An Princess wouldn't bring this up without expecting something in return, so they stayed quiet.
Seeing their silence, Ming An Princess grew impatient and cut to the chase. "A single word from me is something countless people beg for. You two are neither my kin nor my friends. For me to speak up for you, naturally, I’d need some compensation in return."
Playing dumb now would be pointless. Xie Changwu said, "Your Highness, please instruct us."
"As you know," Ming An Princess said, lifting her little finger, "I’ve always been benevolent. In Ming Qi, I’ve tried to maintain goodwill with others. Yet, there are always some blind, wretched fools who insist on provoking me." Her voice suddenly turned sharp. "Right now, the one I despise most is that little wretch from the Shen family."The discord between Shen Miao and Ming An Princess was well known to both Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao. Ming An Princess was known for her vindictiveness, and having suffered a loss at Shen Miao’s hands, she would certainly not let it go. However, they were now in Ming Qi’s territory, and Shen Miao was no insignificant young lady from an ordinary family. If anything were to happen, Ming An Princess herself would face considerable trouble.
Ming An Princess turned her gaze to Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao, her expression uncharacteristically amiable for the first time. She said, “I know both of you are among the most outstanding young talents in Ming Qi, bold and resourceful. I wonder if you’d be willing to do me this favor?”
Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao were taken aback. Xie Changchao tentatively asked, “What does Your Highness intend to do?”
“Rest assured, I am merciful—I don’t want her life,” Ming An Princess replied with a smile. “But you must sell her to the lowest brothel in Ming Qi. Once she has grown accustomed to life there, arrange for the authorities to rescue her.”
The Xie brothers drew a sharp breath.
Selling someone to the lowest brothel would effectively ruin a woman. The clientele of such places were the roughest soldiers and bandits, whose methods of torment could make life worse than death. Many maidservants punished by their masters died within a single day there. Yet Ming An Princess had specifically ordered that Shen Miao not be allowed to die. By the time she was rescued after enduring such torment, reduced to a mere shell of herself, it would be a mockery of justice. Everyone would know that Fifth Miss Shen of the Shen family had become a common prostitute, and the scorn alone would drown her.
For a noble young lady to be defiled by the crudest and most savage men—for Shen Miao, death might be preferable.
Xie Changwu forced a smile. “The Shen family’s guards are all highly skilled in martial arts. How could we possibly sell Fifth Miss Shen to such a place?”
“That is your concern,” Ming An Princess replied, reverting to her usual haughty demeanor. “Since I’ve acknowledged your boldness, it’s up to you to figure out how to abduct Shen Miao. If I must plan every step for you, what use are you to me?”
Seeing their hesitation, Ming An Princess softened her tone and coaxed, “However, if you succeed, I will put in a good word for you with Prince Ding. At the very least, he could secure you both respectable positions, sparing you from your current state of mediocrity. Such a favorable deal—how can you refuse?”
Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao exchanged glances, each seeing the conflict in the other’s eyes.
Fortune favors the bold. For men like them, perpetually on the fringes of officialdom, the greatest desire was to rise to prominence one day. Ming An Princess was offering them a shortcut—a chance to grasp their dreams in a single stroke.
Yet abducting Shen Miao was no easy task. Though they had some men of their own, the Shen family had military roots, and their guards were extraordinary. Even an ordinary guard around Shen Miao would be highly skilled. Moreover, if Shen Miao went missing, Shen Xin would undoubtedly lock down the entire Fixed Capital. Hiding her and transporting her to a brothel would require considerable effort.
Success would bring wealth and glory; failure would leave them with nothing but illusions. The stakes were high, and the two men wavered.Seeing this, Ming An Princess sneered coldly: "Since the two of you hesitate, then consider this matter never mentioned. Opportunities come but once - I won't offer it again. You may leave. Ming Qi has no shortage of courageous men. I believe someone will be willing to gamble for this fortune."
"Your subject is willing!" Before Ming An Princess could dismiss them, Xie Changchao spoke up first, pulling at Xie Changwu's sleeve. Seeing his brother had already committed, Xie Changwu had no choice but to bow and say: "Your subject is willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness without hesitation."
This meant they were willing to make the deal.
Ming An Princess smiled. "Rise. Since you're willing to serve me wholeheartedly, I won't treat you poorly. I'll await your good news here in my manor." She said with a smile.
After leaving the princess's residence and returning to Marquis Lin'an Manor, the Xie brothers closed their door to discuss the matter. Xie Changwu complained: "Third Brother, you were too hasty. Agreeing right before the princess - this matter is extremely dangerous. The slightest mistake could be disastrous."
Xie Changchao disagreed: "Second Brother, the princess said if we don't do it, she'll find others. What we lack now isn't capability but opportunity. If we succeed, we'll soar to great heights. Isn't that what we both want?"
"But Shen Miao isn't an ordinary girl," Xie Changwu sighed. "Even if we manage to abduct her, what then? When Shen Xin searches the entire city, where could we possibly hide her safely?"
"Isn't there our own manor?" Xie Changchao smiled.
Xie Changwu looked at him: "You mean..."
"No matter how thoroughly Shen Xin searches the city, he'd never think to search a colleague's home. Outsiders would never suspect us - what motive would we have to abduct Shen Miao when we bear her no grudge?" Xie Changchao grinned. "Flawless."
Xie Changwu's worried expression gradually eased. Xie Changchao continued: "Though how to actually abduct Shen Miao requires careful planning between us."
Shen Miao knew nothing of this agreement between the Xie brothers and Ming An Princess. In Fixed Capital, winter nights came early - darkness had already fallen not long after dinner. Court affairs had kept Shen Xin and others extremely busy recently, which ironically worked to Shen Miao's advantage.
Tonight, however, she was writing replies by lamplight.
Feng Anning had sent her several invitations, but preoccupied with Chang Zaiqing's matters, Shen Miao had declined them all, sending Luo Tan to accompany Feng Anning instead. After repeated rejections, Feng Anning's aristocratic temper flared - today she'd sent an ultimatum demanding Shen Miao join her shopping in two days, threatening to end their friendship otherwise.
After much consideration, Shen Miao decided Feng Anning could still be considered a friend. To preserve this "hard-won" friendship, she magnanimously prepared to accept the invitation.
Having written the reply and handed it to Gu Yu, she watched as Jing Zhe and Gu Yu closed the door behind them. Yawning, Shen Miao decided to retire early and moved toward her bed.
Just as she reached the bedside, she noticed something lumpy moving beneath her blankets.Shen Miao was startled. Just moments ago, both Jing Zhe and Gu Yu had been in the room, yet neither had noticed when this thing had appeared. For a brief moment, bizarre and supernatural thoughts flashed through her mind, sending an instinctive shiver down her spine. But after a moment of silence, she calmed down. After all, she herself had already died once—what was there to fear even if she truly encountered ghosts or spirits?
She immediately walked to the bed and lifted the covers.
Beneath them lay a creature resembling a large cat. Its fur was an exceptionally rare snowy white, curled up into a fluffy ball. Startled by the sudden exposure, it paused for a moment before tilting its head to look at her.
For a second, Shen Miao was stunned.
The little creature scampered playfully across her bed, happily tugging at the sleeve of her undergarment. Only when it came closer did she realize—it was a white tiger.
Shen Miao was horrified. In the dead of night, where had this white tiger come from?
Then, from the shadows, came a low chuckle, followed by a call: "Jiaojiao."
Shen Miao instinctively turned toward the voice, only to see the white cub, still gripping her sleeve, suddenly stand up and dart in the other direction.
Under the lamplight, his purple robes were gradually illuminated, the gold-threaded dragon embroidery reflecting tiny, dazzling glimmers. His features, bathed in the warm glow of the candlelight, looked so ethereal he hardly seemed of this world.
Xie Jingxing bent down to pick up the white tiger, which had turned to gnaw at his sleeve, and casually tucked it into his own sleeve. "Naughty," he remarked.
Shen Miao blinked, suddenly realizing something. Staring at the white tiger peeking out from Xie Jingxing's sleeve, she asked incredulously, "What did you call it?"
"Jiaojiao," Xie Jingxing replied, raising an eyebrow as he leisurely walked over. He even added, "Doesn’t it suit her?"
Shen Miao was so furious she didn’t want to speak to him. Using her childhood nickname for an animal—was Xie Jingxing even human?
Xie Jingxing had already made himself at home, sitting down by the small table and pouring himself a cup of tea. "The tea’s still warm," he commented. "Seems you’ve been thoughtful on my behalf."
"Shameless!" Shen Miao retorted.
How could someone be so utterly brazen? Yet Xie Jingxing even glanced at the chrysanthemum cakes on the table and remarked, "Tsk, you even prepared snacks. Though I’m not hungry—thanks all the same."
Those snacks had been left by Jing Zhe in case Shen Miao got hungry at night. Did Xie Jingxing really think she had prepared them specially for him? Shen Miao glared coldly at him. With him acting like this, it was better not to engage.
"I’ve been exhausted these past few days," Xie Jingxing said. "It’s a relief to rest here for a while. Thank you."
Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat. Xie Jingxing hadn’t visited in quite some time. Though she had grown somewhat unaccustomed to his unannounced nighttime visits, his words now sparked another thought. She asked, "Where have you been?"
Xie Jingxing gave her a knowing smile. "Trying to pry information out of me again?"
Shen Miao neither confirmed nor denied it.
"This isn’t fair," Xie Jingxing mused leisurely. "You know quite a few of my secrets, yet I know nothing about you. Why don’t you share something about yourself?"
Shen Miao mentally rolled her eyes at him. Xie Jingxing had Fengxian Pawnshop, a veritable intelligence hub—wasn’t all of Ming Qi’s affairs already in the palm of his hand? And he had the nerve to claim he knew nothing about her? If anything, Shen Miao thought Xie Jingxing was the far more dangerous one."Prince Rui can ask Shopkeeper Ji whatever he wishes to hear," Shen Miao said coolly. "Shopkeeper Ji would be more than happy to tell Your Highness."
"Shopkeeper Ji doesn't concern himself with matters of romance," Xie Jingxing replied. "What this prince wishes to know, Shopkeeper Ji cannot answer. Only you can tell me."
Shen Miao asked, "What do you want to know?"
Xie Jingxing rested his chin on his hand, leisurely studying Shen Miao. After a moment, he suddenly said, "What do you like about Fu Xiuyi?"
Shen Miao froze slightly.
She had expected Xie Jingxing to ask her some inexplicable questions. Over the years of dealing with him, she had come to clearly realize that her understanding of him in her past life had been shallow. Describing him as a talented youth who died young was far from the best portrayal. Xie Jingxing was a clever and dangerous hunter—misjudging the boundaries would easily allow him to seize upon a fatal weakness.
She was aware she had revealed too much information, and some of her mistakes had aroused Xie Jingxing's suspicions. She had even considered how to answer if he asked how she knew so much about future events. Yet she never imagined he would ask such an irrelevant question.
What did her liking for Fu Xiuyi have to do with the grand scheme of the world?
Shen Miao asked, "Why ask this?"
For a long while, Xie Jingxing did not respond. Shen Miao turned her head and happened to meet his gaze.
Under the lamplight, Xie Jingxing was staring at her with his head slightly tilted. He was already devastatingly handsome, but now, under the glow of the lamp, his dark eyes shone like stars, as if even the vast night sky paled in comparison to their brilliance. Yet within that radiance lay a sharp edge, piercing enough to ensnare anyone who met his gaze, rendering them immobile under his scrutiny.
His eyes seemed to hold something else—perhaps accusation, or something more—three parts dominance, seven parts arrogance, yet the intensity beneath burned so fiercely it was impossible to ignore.
Why ask this? He didn’t answer.
Shen Miao heard her own heartbeat thunder violently in her chest. For a moment, she felt flustered. This long-forgotten, vivid sensation rising from her chest left her unsettled and bewildered—yet she felt no real resistance.
In the cold winter night, the dim candlelight cast a warm glow. The young man’s sharp gaze seemed to see through everything, and the corners of his lips slowly curved upward.
"Achoo!" The white tiger in Xie Jingxing’s arms, perhaps irritated by some tiny speck of dust, sneezed, startling the two out of their silence.
Shen Miao snapped back to reality and said, "Your pet is sick." She deftly sidestepped the question.
Xie Jingxing didn’t press further either. Instead, he lifted the white tiger from his sleeve, examined it for a moment, and remarked, "Fussy." It was unclear whether he was referring to the tiger or someone else.
Shen Miao took a deep breath, convinced that Xie Jingxing had named the tiger after her childhood nickname with malicious intent. In the future, if anyone cursed the beast, she would inevitably think of herself. The thought made her resent the tiger, and by extension, Xie Jingxing himself.
"If it’s so fussy, have Imperial Physician Gao examine it later," Shen Miao said sarcastically. "After all, Physician Gao’s medical skills are superb—treating humans or beasts makes no difference to him."
Xie Jingxing chuckled. "Jiaojiao doesn’t like Physician Gao. She only likes clinging to me."
Shen Miao glared at him.
Xie Jingxing was definitely doing this on purpose.
"Prince Rui, aren’t you leaving yet?" Shen Miao said. "I need to rest."
Xie Jingxing frowned. "You spend an entire day out with Feng Anning, yet you chase me away after just a short visit. How heartless." Despite his words, he rose from his seat and walked to the window. As if suddenly remembering something, he turned back to Shen Miao, who stood by the bed, and said, "That question from earlier—you’ll tell me the answer someday."
His figure vanished beyond the window.
Shen Miao walked over to close the window, extinguished the lamp, and climbed into bed.
The room fell into silence, as if the earlier visitor had been nothing but an illusion. Only the teacup left on the table, still holding remnants of tea, served as proof that it hadn’t been a dream.
Everything felt real. Except—
On the bed, Shen Miao pressed a hand to her chest.
There, the violent pounding from earlier had yet to subside.
It wasn’t an illusion.
–––––– Author’s Note ––––––
Truth be told, Her Majesty is a tsundere. What can she do? Brother Xie is just too good at flirting. o(≧▽≦)o
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