In Yanqing Lane, within the residence of the Qin State's imperial family, though Qin State was slightly better off than Ming Qi, it still couldn't compare to the extravagant wealth of Great Coolness, which had bought up an entire street's worth of mansions. The location near the street entrance was deliberately set apart from Prince Rui's Residence by a considerable distance.
Ming An Princess sat in her room, surrounded by an array of exquisite pastries and floral teas, yet she had no appetite for any of it. Her brows were furrowed with irritation. That day, several maids had been scolded by her for no reason at all, leaving everyone puzzled as to what had provoked her temper.
"Still no word from Xie Changwu?" Ming An Princess asked her subordinate.
The person shook their head.
With a loud bang , Ming An Princess slammed the teacup in front of her onto the ground, furious. "Useless!"
Those around her were already accustomed to her arrogant and volatile temper, and none dared to breathe too loudly. Feeling stifled, Ming An Princess abruptly stood up and strode out of the room into the courtyard.
She had no idea how Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao had bungled things so badly. They had clearly managed to abduct Shen Miao from the Shen family, yet they delayed taking action until, in the end, Shen Miao returned to the Shen residence completely unharmed. When Ming An Princess learned of this, she was absolutely livid. She immediately sent word to the Xie brothers, intending to blame them for their incompetence. However, Xie Changwu wrote back, assuring her that he had plans for the future.
Caught between the need to prevent Huangfu Hao from discovering the truth and her own house arrest, Ming An Princess had no choice but to wait in frustration for Xie Changwu's next move.
But days passed with no news, and now, her patience had finally run out. Her fury burned so fiercely that she resolved to make the Xie brothers pay dearly—no one who failed her ever got off lightly.
Just as she was about to summon someone to fetch the Xie brothers, a servant hurried over. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, the servant stealthily handed Ming An Princess a letter and whispered, "Your Highness, this is from the second young master of the Xie family."
Ming An Princess was taken aback. She couldn’t believe Xie Changwu had the audacity to send her a letter now. She tore it open and skimmed through the contents—then, in an instant, the stormy expression on her face vanished. She shredded the letter into unrecognizable pieces before suddenly turning to her maids with a bright smile. "Come, help me pick out the most dazzling dress. And bring out all the jewelry from the chest—I must choose carefully."
The maids were bewildered. Since Ming An Princess was confined to the residence, who would even see her dressed like a celestial maiden? And why the sudden need for such finery?
Despite their confusion, none dared to question her. They obediently followed her instructions, meticulously preparing her attire and makeup.
The day passed unusually quickly, as if time itself had turned into flowing water. By nightfall, the winter darkness had already settled in. Snow began to fall—not lightly, but in thick, swirling flakes like goose feathers. The biting cold wind made even the night watchmen hurry through their rounds before retreating indoors. The entire Fixed Capital lay silent.
At midnight, Wanli Lake was utterly still.The taverns and music houses were likely ablaze with lights all night, filled with drinking and revelry, yet the streets outside were deserted, and even the windows of the brothels were tightly shut—on such a bitterly cold night, the wind cut like knives, stinging faces with its icy bite. The ladies feared the gusts would freeze their warmed fine wines, wasting the precious brews.
On Wanli Lake, the usual pleasure boats had long ceased operation. Come winter, the lake froze solid, rendering them immobile. The boats, trapped in the icy embrace of the lake, looked desolate and abandoned.
Yet today, there was a lone figure in one of those frozen boats.
Xie Changwu sat inside, rubbing his hands uneasily. Perhaps it was a guilty conscience, or perhaps Xie Changchao’s warning that Shen Xin’s men were still secretly investigating had left him tense. He hadn’t even brought a hand warmer, let alone dared to light a fire for warmth. Though bundled in thick layers, the proximity to the water made the cold even more biting, and the long-abandoned boat amplified the chill.
Peering outside, Xie Changwu grew anxious when he saw no sign of anyone yet.
Xie Changchao’s letter had arranged their meeting in the dead of night on Wanli Lake, claiming that Fixed Capital was thoroughly searched, with Shen Xin’s spies everywhere, making the outside world unsafe. In winter, Wanli Lake was deserted, ensuring no unwanted eyes would witness their scheme. They would bring a few men to let Ming An Princess personally witness Shen Miao’s humiliation, ensuring her satisfaction. The fierce winds over the lake and the tightly shuttered windows of the nearest taverns meant no one would notice the commotion—perfect timing, location, and conditions for a flawless plan.
Though reluctant, Xie Changwu had no choice but to comply with Xie Changchao’s arrangements. But as the hour approached midnight with no sign of anyone, his impatience grew.
Just then, a faint noise outside startled him, followed by a surge of relief. He lifted the boat’s window curtain and spotted a distant figure approaching, carrying someone on their back. Assuming it was Xie Changchao bringing Shen Miao, Xie Changwu exhaled in relief and stepped onto the deck to greet them.
As the figure drew nearer, something felt off—Xie Changchao wasn’t this tall or broad. Unease prickled, and Xie Changwu instinctively retreated. Suddenly, the stranger lit a fire tinder, and a familiar voice snapped, “Xie Changwu, what are you up to!”
Stunned, Xie Changwu recognized the man as a guard, with Ming An Princess slumped on his back.
Ming An Princess was furious.
Xie Changwu’s letter had arranged their meeting at Wanli Lake in the dead of night. Accustomed to Qin State’s perpetual spring, she was ill-prepared for Ming Qi’s harsh winter, shivering uncontrollably. To avoid Huangfu Hao’s notice, she had sneaked out with only a few trusted Shadow Guards. Worse, Xie Changwu had chosen a pleasure boat, forcing her to be carried by a guard while the others waited outside. Spoiled and pampered, she would never have endured such hardship if not for the chance to witness Shen Miao’s suffering firsthand. Spotting Xie Changwu, she unleashed her pent-up rage.
Xie Changwu stammered, “Your Highness, why are you here?”"Xie Changwu, have you lost your mind?" Ming An Princess fumed. "Wasn't it you who summoned me here to witness Shen Miao's humiliation? What nonsense are you spouting now?"
Xie Changwu was utterly bewildered. While Xie Changchao's letter had mentioned bringing Ming An Princess along to appease her anger, Xie Changwu had decided against it. He feared that involving the princess might complicate matters if anything went awry. Moreover, with their plan not yet foolproof, what if Ming An Princess arrived only to find Shen Miao unharmed? That would only enrage her further. Thus, Xie Changwu had made no move to invite the princess.
Yet here she stood, claiming Xie Changwu had summoned her. An overwhelming sense of foreboding settled in his heart.
Seeing Xie Changwu's confusion, Ming An Princess grew even more displeased. "Xie Changwu, are you toying with me?"
"I wouldn't dare," Xie Changwu replied, sweating profusely. "But I truly never sent Your Highness any letter."
"Then explain why you're here!" she snapped. "The letter said you'd give Shen Miao a night she'd never forget. Why keep me in the dark?"
Xie Changwu was at a loss for words, inwardly alarmed. The letter had detailed everything—how could anyone know their plans except him and Xie Changchao? If Xie Changchao had written to Ming An Princess, why would he do such a thing? He stammered, "That was indeed my intention, but Shen Miao is currently in my younger brother's hands. I'm awaiting his arrival."
"Xie Changchao?" Ming An Princess frowned. "You're not together?"
Xie Changwu dared not reveal that Xie Changchao had been missing for days. He evaded, "To avoid suspicion, we're operating separately."
Ming An Princess didn't press further. After a moment, she asked, "Is it true what you claimed—that Shen Miao's return to the Shen residence is just a ruse orchestrated by Shen Xin and Rong Xin Princess?"
Xie Changwu's heart skipped a beat. "Yes." In truth, he had doubts—this was all based on Xie Changchao's word alone. Yet now, he had no choice but to trust him. It never occurred to Xie Changwu that the letter on his desk might be forged. After all, who besides him could perfectly imitate Xie Changchao's handwriting? And their secret codes were known only to the two brothers.
Ming An Princess rubbed her hands together, shivering from the cold, and barked, "When exactly is Xie Changchao arriving?"
Xie Changwu couldn't voice his distress. "He said he'd come at midnight."
"What time is it now?" she asked her attendant, who replied, "Almost midnight."
Outside, the howling wind and snow seemed to seep into their bones. For some reason, Xie Changwu's unease deepened. Staring into the pitch-black night, his heart raced as if sensing imminent danger. Tentatively, he suggested, "Perhaps Your Highness should return first. If there's any news, I'll report to you tomorrow.""Do you think this princess is here for amusement?" Ming An Princess erupted in fury. "This princess has come in person, and now you tell me to leave? Xie Changwu, I could have your head at any moment!"
Faced with such arrogance and ferocity from Ming An Princess, Xie Changwu could only force a bitter smile and remain silent. Suddenly, faint footsteps could be heard outside. Ming An Princess's face lit up with delight. "They're here!"
The two stepped onto the bow of the boat and saw a line of black-clad figures emerging abruptly on the frozen surface of the lake. These figures were completely shrouded from head to toe, revealing only their eyes, making their appearances indiscernible. Ming An Princess's expression eased slightly. "Quite discreet, I must say." Then, her gaze swept over the dozens of figures, and her brows furrowed. "Where is Shen Miao?"
All the black-clad figures were clearly men, with no sign of Shen Miao among them. Ming An Princess turned back to Xie Changwu with displeasure. "What is Xie Changchao playing at?"
The moment Xie Changwu saw these dozen or so black-clad figures, an instinctive chill ran down his spine. These men clearly bore ill intentions, and worse, Xie Changchao was nowhere to be seen among them.
Xie Changwu wanted to flee, but in this frozen wasteland, the vast Wanli Lake had completely iced over. The slippery surface made movement treacherous, and with no cover in sight, escape was impossible. Seeing Ming An Princess's displeasure, Xie Changwu mustered his courage and shouted, "Who are you people?"
The dozen black-clad figures remained silent, only advancing closer. Ming An Princess finally sensed something amiss and asked Xie Changwu, "These aren't Xie Changchao's men?"
Xie Changwu's heart pounded with panic, unsure how to answer, and could only stammer, "I don't see Third Brother!"
Ming An Princess barked, "How dare you! Kneel before this princess!"
Yet the figures seemed deaf, continuing their approach. The attendants by Ming An Princess's side drew their swords and charged into the black-clad crowd, attempting to protect her as a fierce struggle ensued. At last, Ming An Princess understood—these men were enemies. Suddenly, she thought of something and looked beyond the lake. "Where are the Shadow Guards? Where have they gone?"
When Ming An Princess had been carried in, she had only brought one attendant to avoid eavesdroppers during her conversation with the Xie brothers. The others had not left but were stationed at a distance from the pleasure boat. Yet with such a commotion, they should have arrived by now—why was there no sign of them?
Like Ming An Princess, Xie Changwu was equally frantic. He hadn't come alone either, having stationed some of his men in the other two boats as a precaution. But why was there no movement from them now? Where were they?
Ming An Princess's sole attendant was swiftly tossed aside by the black-clad figures. In the dim glow of a Fire Tinder, blood gushed from his throat—a fatal slash.
The icy wind from Wanli Lake whipped through the air, cutting like knives against their skin. Yet despite the cold, beads of sweat formed on the foreheads of Ming An Princess and Xie Changwu.
"Who are you?" Ming An Princess struggled to suppress her fear. "This princess is of the Great Qin imperial family. Leave now, and I shall spare your wretched lives. If you refuse, do not blame my royal brother, the Crown Prince, for what follows!"Xie Changwu was momentarily torn between fear and the urge to curse Ming An Princess for her foolishness—she had just blurted out her own name without hesitation. But then it struck him that tonight’s events were clearly a trap. The other party must have already known the princess’s identity; otherwise, the letter she had received wouldn’t make sense.
Yet what could they do now? Xie Changwu thought bitterly. Shouting for help was out of the question—even if someone heard them, how could he, a minister of Ming Qi, explain being at Wanli Lake in the dead of night with the princess of Qin State? No amount of talking would clear his name.
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, Xie Changwu forced himself to calm down. He glared at their assailants and sneered, "Harming a princess of a nation is no small crime. If you’re unafraid of death, go ahead and try. See how it feels to be hunted to the ends of the earth, cowering like a stray dog with no place to hide."
Hearing Xie Changwu speak up, Ming An Princess felt slightly reassured. Though she was frightened, she still relied on her royal status to shield her. Lifting her chin, she declared, "That’s right! Someone of my standing is far beyond the likes of you. If you dare lay a finger on me today, the Qin royal family will grind your bones to dust!"
"Is that so?" A man’s voice suddenly cut through the crowd of black-clad figures.
The voice was deep, slightly hoarse, yet as smooth and intoxicating as fine wine warmed on a winter’s night. Ming An Princess and Xie Changwu turned to see one of the black-clad figures step forward.
Amidst the indistinguishable sea of black, they hadn’t noticed him before. But now, under the faint glow of the fire tinder, it was clear this man stood taller and more imposing than the rest. Even dressed identically, his innate nobility was unmistakable—as if he could be singled out at a glance.
"Who are you?" Ming An Princess demanded angrily. "Do you not know who I am? I am the princess of Great Qin! With a single command, I could have all your heads!"
The black-clad man paused, then chuckled softly. Though his face was hidden behind a cloth mask, his laughter carried unmistakable mockery, as if Xie Changwu and Ming An Princess could see his derision right through the fabric.
Ming An Princess flushed crimson with rage—never had she been treated with such blatant disregard. Yet something about his voice nagged at her, familiar yet elusive. "What are you laughing at?" she snapped.
"At your overestimation of yourself."
"You—!" Ming An Princess seethed.
"What does a mere Qin princess amount to?" The man’s voice remained melodious, but his words were cruel. "Dead, you’re just another pile of bones."
"How dare you!" Ming An Princess shouted.
"I dare," the man replied leisurely. "What will you do about it?"
I dare?
Ming An Princess froze. In a flash, she thought of another man—one whose voice was just as mesmerizing. She looked up, but the mask concealed his face. Only his eyes were visible, intoxicating like peach blossom wine, seemingly brimming with warmth, yet upon closer inspection, utterly cold.
"You—you’re… Prince Rui!" Ming An Princess gasped.Prince Rui? Xie Changwu suddenly turned to look at the black-clad man. He too felt a sense of familiarity from this person, as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he never would have imagined it was actually Prince Rui of Great Coolness.
The black-clad man neither admitted nor denied it, which in their eyes was tantamount to confirmation. Xie Changwu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your Highness, what brings you here?"
No matter how hard Xie Changwu racked his brains, he couldn't fathom why Prince Rui would appear here. After all, Prince Rui had no connection whatsoever to him, nor did he seem to have any dealings with Ming An Princess. So why was he here? And what did he want?
Since recognizing the man before her as Prince Rui, Ming An Princess's earlier fear had completely dissipated, replaced now with tender affection. She said softly, "Your Highness, what brings you here so late at night?"
Xie Changwu thought Ming An Princess was truly foolish. Since the other party had already killed the guards they brought, it was clear he wasn't here for a friendly chat. Moreover, this Prince Rui gave off an extremely dangerous aura, making Xie Changwu's heart tremble with fear.
Prince Rui ignored Ming An Princess and instead looked at Xie Changwu, saying, "You seem to have something to ask me?"
Xie Changwu forced a smile. "May I ask Your Highness if you've seen my third brother?"
The letter bore Xie Changchao's handwriting, yet the person who came was Prince Rui. Could it be that Xie Changchao had fallen into Prince Rui's hands? What grudge did Xie Changchao have with Prince Rui?
The black-clad man smiled. "I have."
Xie Changwu's eyes widened. "He—"
"Was killed by me."
At these words, both Ming An Princess and Xie Changwu froze, involuntarily shuddering.
After a long pause, Xie Changwu finally asked, "Why did Your Highness kill my third brother?"
"He provoked someone he shouldn't have."
Provoked someone he shouldn't have? Xie Changwu was puzzled. Who could it be? Could it be Shen Miao? The only person Xie Changchao had offended recently was Shen Miao. But why would Prince Rui stand up for Shen Miao? Did Prince Rui have some private connection with the Shen family? Xie Changwu felt as though he had glimpsed the tip of an enormous secret, but without seeing the whole picture, his mind was thrown into chaos.
"Your Highness, may I ask why you've come here?" Ming An Princess, jolted awake by the news of Xie Changchao's death, seemed to finally sense the danger lurking in the night. She spoke tentatively, her heart beginning to pound violently.
The man's voice was as gentle as the wind, yet it carried the chill of ice falling from the sky onto Lake Wanli—beautiful to behold, but bone-chilling. He said, "Isn't such a beautiful scene perfect for a burial ground?"
Xie Changwu said, "Why are you doing this? I have no enmity with you. Can't you let us go?" Knowing full well the other party intended to kill them and with no way to retreat, Xie Changwu could no longer suppress his fear and cried out.
"No enmity?" The man seemed to find this amusing. "You are far too forgetful."
"Xie Changwu, all these years, you and your foolish brother have remained just as unimproved," he said.
Xie Changwu found these words somewhat familiar. Then, he watched as the black-clad man slowly removed the cloth covering his face.Even the faintest glow of the Fire Tinder could not overshadow this man's brilliance. His long brows extended to his temples, his nose was straight and bold, and his thin lips carried their usual mocking smile. Yet his peach-blossom eyes seemed to gaze across vast stretches of time—though the smile in them appeared gentle, it carried a faint trace of disdain.
This was the nightmare that haunted Xie Changwu his entire life.
"Xie Jingxing!"
The Ming An Princess had been utterly captivated by the man's mesmerizing beauty, lost in thoughts about how Prince Rui's face beneath the mask truly lived up to the rumors. But her reverie was abruptly shattered by Xie Changchao's shout.
Xie Jingxing? Wasn't he the legitimate son of the Xie family from Marquis Lin'an Manor, who died on the battlefield two years ago, a loss that made people sigh in regret?
"It's touching that you still remember me." Xie Jingxing smiled slightly, but that handsome grin seemed utterly terrifying in Xie Changchao's eyes. He turned to flee—an instinct carved into his bones, like prey reacting to danger without a second thought about whether escape was possible.
His body was pinned down, his mouth covered, every limb immobilized. Ming An Princess suffered the same fate.
The painted boat floated at the center of Wanli Lake. At midnight, the streets were deserted, and even the distant taverns glowing with lanterns were drowned in revelry, masking the subtle commotion. It was like tossing a stone into a pond—not a single ripple stirred before it slowly sank.
Xie Changchao and Ming An Princess were held down by black-clad figures, watching helplessly as their leader turned and stepped off the boat.
Even on the icy surface, he moved with effortless grace. His voice, carried across the snowstorm over Wanli Lake, chilled them to the bone like winter's frost.
"The game is over."
...
Shen Miao jolted awake from her dream.
For some reason, she had slept restlessly tonight and now found herself wide awake. Outside, not a sound could be heard—likely the depths of night when sleep came easiest.
Rubbing her temples, she felt a dull ache in her head but knew sleep wouldn't return. The brazier in the room burned fiercely, yet her chest felt stifled. After a moment's thought, she grabbed an outer robe and draped it over herself, walking to the window to open it and let out the suffocating feeling.
The window swung open, revealing the swaying shadows of the large tree outside. Snow fell in thick flakes, some drifting into the room. Shen Miao extended a hand, watching as the snowflakes melted in her palm.
An inexplicable loneliness crept over her.
On such a night, sleepless and alone, wrapped in robes to watch the snow—it felt somewhat theatrical. Yet her mind involuntarily wandered to memories of her past life—Wan Yu, Fu Ming—and the old wounds she had deliberately buried began to throb faintly.
A small flower drifted down from above, landing perfectly in her outstretched palm. Shen Miao blinked in surprise. By the light of the wind lantern hanging from the tree, she saw it clearly—not a snowflake, but a crimson begonia.
At this time of year, where would begonias come from? And this tree didn't even bear begonias.
Instinctively, she looked up. Amid the dappled shadows, a figure lay sprawled on a branch, arms folded behind his head, lounging with the ease of youth. Noticing her gaze, he tilted his head down to look at her from above, his handsome features etched with playful arrogance. Raising an eyebrow, he teased, "What are you staring at?"
Shen Miao: "What are you doing here?"
For Xie Jingxing to casually sleep in someone else's courtyard tree—Prince Rui of Great Coolness certainly had peculiar hobbies.
"Couldn't sleep," he sighed. Suddenly, he leaped down from the tree, landing before her window—one outside, one inside. He nodded toward the flower in her palm. "I picked a blossom to bring you, but worried you were asleep. So I waited in the tree for you to wake up.""Stop talking nonsense," Shen Miao shot him a glare, yet noticed that despite his smiling face, he didn't seem as energetic as usual today.
Her heart stirred inexplicably, and before she knew it, the words slipped out: "Come in. There are some leftover pastries inside."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
When Brother Xie gets angry, he goes straight to silencing witnesses—how wicked =￣w￣=
Go for it! The girl is waving at you!
...
OpenNovel