Early the next morning, Shen Miao entered the palace.
Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin, worried for her safety, had her accompanied by numerous guards. However, the Shen Mansion guards could not follow her inside the palace and had to wait outside the palace gates.
Before leaving, Shen Miao had adorned herself with nearly all the jewelry Xie Jingxing had given her, large and small. She harbored no illusions about the Ming Qi palace and always prepared for the worst, anticipating any possible mishap.
Upon reaching the palace gates, Gu Yu and the guards remained outside while Shen Miao was led by a palace maid toward Kunning Palace. Along the way, the maid found it odd. The path from the palace gates to Kunning Palace was not straightforward—it wound through several long corridors and gardens—yet Shen Miao navigated it effortlessly, even stepping over loose or worn steps without needing a reminder. The maid wondered how Shen Miao could have memorized the route so perfectly after just one visit, making no mistakes at all.
Little did she know, Kunning Palace had been Shen Miao’s residence in her past life. Every tree and blade of grass was etched into her memory. Thus, the opulent furnishings and exquisite arrangements went unnoticed, and if one looked closely, they might catch a fleeting trace of disgust in Shen Miao’s eyes.
None of this was known to others.
When she arrived at Kunning Palace, the empress was having her hair styled by her attendants. Shen Miao waited for some time before being summoned inside.
Today, Consort Dong was absent—only the empress was present. Dressed in formal court attire, her hair adorned with a nine-phoenix hairpin, her makeup regal, she exuded an overwhelming air of authority.
With one glance, Shen Miao understood.
They truly thought her a naive young girl, intending to intimidate her with imperial grandeur and pressure her into yielding? No wonder they had deliberately kept Luo Xueyan away. If Shen Miao were truly a sixteen-year-old girl, faced with the empress in such imposing attire and veiled threats, she might have felt isolated and panicked, possibly conceding to something under duress.
But Shen Miao was no ordinary girl. The woman before her was an empress, but in her past life, Shen Miao had been one too—more experienced, more formidable, and far more hardened. Such hollow intimidation meant nothing to her. Lowering her gaze, she offered a humble smile.
The empress slowly furrowed her brows. Shen Miao’s reaction was not what she had expected. Unsure whether Shen Miao was feigning ignorance or was genuinely dull, her eyes fell upon the bracelet on Shen Miao’s wrist. With a faint smile, she said, "That bracelet has excellent clarity. Come closer and let me see it."
Shen Miao obeyed, stepping forward as the empress took her hand. The bracelet, made of rare jade, was a vibrant green, smooth and flawless. Just as the empress was about to compliment it, Shen Miao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, my hairpin, necklace, and earrings are also quite exquisite."The Empress was taken aback and actually took a closer look. At this glance, the corner of her mouth involuntarily twitched. The cat's eye hairpin was paired with pearl earrings, the pearl earrings with an amber necklace, and as for the bracelets and various other scattered accessories and hairpins, it was even more of a mess. Individually, they were all exquisitely crafted and valuable pieces of jewelry, but when piled all together on her person, they looked so awkward. Suddenly, the Empress no longer felt like praising Shen Miao's accessories and even lost interest in the bracelet. An indescribable disdain rose in her heart. It was said that the young lady of the Shen family was an incompetent fool who only knew gold and silver. Later, it seemed she had changed, but today's sight proved she hadn't shed her old skin at all. The thought of marrying Shen Miao to the Crown Prince displeased the Empress. If it weren't for the Shen family's military power being a potential asset to the Crown Prince, the Empress would never have agreed to let such a vulgar woman enter the Eastern Palace.
The Empress let go of Shen Miao's hand and said, "I came today to have a word with you." She sighed and continued, "I mentioned it to your mother the other day. You're of marriageable age now and still unattached. I've taken a liking to you and thought of arranging a match for you. Naturally, I wouldn't force anyone. This matchmaking would only proceed if you're willing."
Shen Miao kept her head lowered and remained silent.
The Empress patted her hand. "Do you think I live well? Do I appear glorious?"
Shen Miao sneered inwardly but smiled as she replied, "Your Majesty lives very well and appears most glorious."
"Marrying into the royal family, being cherished and protected by someone powerful—any woman can live well and gloriously. I was just fortunate. Now, you have the same opportunity for good fortune. Wouldn't you like to live well and gloriously too?"
Her words carried an almost seductive tone. Shen Miao's lips curled slightly, but her reply was humble and fearful. She abruptly knelt on the ground and said, "This humble subject already lives very well and dares not aspire to more, much less compare herself to Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to spare my life."
The Empress was stunned. She hadn't expected Shen Miao to react this way. Under heaven, there were countless women who longed to climb the social ladder and become phoenixes. The Empress knew that all women had a vain streak. Using herself as an example to entice Shen Miao, she thought the young girl would be easily swayed. As long as Shen Miao showed the slightest inclination to agree, the royal family could rightfully shift the initiative for the marriage arrangement onto the Shen family. Even if they were to act like robbers, they still needed to maintain some pretense.
Who would have thought Shen Miao would react like this—not tempted, not hesitant, but afraid?
The Empress thought irritably, Is being Empress so terrifying? Or is this legitimate daughter of the Shen family actually as timid as a mouse and as stupid as an ox, completely failing to grasp my hints and thinking disaster is upon her?
Truly worthless mud that can't even be plastered on a wall.
For the rest of the time, no matter how subtly, sternly, or gently the Empress spoke, Shen Miao maintained an attitude of humble fear. And precisely because of this attitude, her lips remained tightly sealed—not a single compromising word could be pried from her. In the end, the Empress grew somewhat angry and dismissed Shen Miao with clear displeasure. She could only conclude that this path through Shen Miao was a dead end and that she would have to discuss new strategies in detail with Emperor Wenhui.When the Empress dismissed Shen Miao, her attitude toward her had already turned quite displeased. Even the palace maids of Kunning Palace paid little attention to Shen Miao, simply handing her over to a passing young eunuch outside and instructing him to escort her out of the palace.
The young eunuch naturally complied.
As he led Shen Miao toward the palace gates, they turned several corners. The deep palace was vast, filled with numerous halls—some housing imperial concubines in side chambers, while others were small quarters for eunuchs and maids. The eunuch guided Shen Miao through increasingly secluded paths. After winding around a garden, they faced what appeared to be an abandoned, desolate courtyard when Shen Miao suddenly halted and said, "This isn’t the way out of the palace. Where are you taking me?" Her fingers subtly pressed against the bracelet hidden in her sleeve. No one knew the layout of Ming Qi’s palace better than she did, and she knew exactly which direction would be most advantageous for escape.
The eunuch paused, then lowered his voice. "Master Pei wishes to see you."
Pei Lang? Shen Miao frowned slightly.
After a moment’s consideration, she followed the eunuch forward. Pei Lang had not corresponded with her for a long time, and she had feared that Fu Xiuyi had discovered something amiss. However, when she sent Mo Qing to investigate, it seemed Pei Lang had been spotted at Prince Ding's Residence, appearing unharmed. If Fu Xiuyi truly suspected Pei Lang, he would never have allowed him such freedom.
If Pei Lang sought her out, it must be for something important.
The world was full of coincidences. What Shen Miao did not know was that the imperial family’s intention to arrange her marriage had entangled many people. While Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu, as her family, tirelessly worked on her behalf, others had also stepped forward—some willingly, others by chance. Luo Ling’s heartfelt confession, Su Mingfeng’s unexpected proposal, Feng Zixian’s righteous intervention—all were threads woven into the intricate web of fate.
The connections between people were countless, like the delicate strands of a spider’s silk, each resting peacefully in its place until one day they crisscrossed, forming a tightly woven net that created the most astonishing and unbelievable coincidences in the world.
Princess Rong Xin entered the palace.
Her health had not been good in recent years, and she had grown increasingly frail. Her visits to the palace were rare, but today she seemed particularly urgent. When the palace maids moved to announce her arrival, Princess Rong Xin waved them off. "I did not bring a formal notice, but I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty. There’s no need for an announcement."
The guards at the palace gates dared not stop her. Though Princess Rong Xin seldom appeared these days, she had once been the beloved daughter of the late emperor, known for her unyielding temperament. Provoking her would only invite trouble, so they let her pass without question.
When the maids offered to fetch a sedan chair for her, Princess Rong Xin refused. "Taking the smaller paths will be faster. A sedan chair would only slow me down. Just support me as I walk."Princess Rong Xin was also anxious. She stayed out of court affairs and secluded herself in her princess manor every day. If she hadn’t overheard the servants discussing Shen Miao’s matter while passing through the courtyard, she wouldn’t have known that the imperial family intended to marry Shen Miao to the Crown Prince. Regardless of Xie Jingxing’s involvement, Princess Rong Xin wanted to protect Shen Miao. She herself greatly admired Shen Miao. As a member of the imperial family, Princess Rong Xin understood all too well that while marrying into royalty might seem glorious on the surface, it didn’t necessarily bring true happiness. Moreover, Shen Miao wasn’t a woman who craved wealth and splendor, so such a marriage would be meaningless to her. If she truly entered the Eastern Palace, Shen Miao would never be happy for the rest of her life.
Princess Rong Xin hurried to see Emperor Wenhui, hoping to change her imperial brother’s mind. She took a shortcut through a small path.
Shen Miao arrived at a secluded pavilion.
The pavilion was nestled among the trees, backed by a long corridor with several rooms, making it convenient for hiding. Pei Lang emerged from one of those rooms.
A young eunuch stood guard outside for the two of them. Shen Miao nodded slightly to Pei Lang as a greeting and asked, “What urgent matter does Master Pei wish to discuss here?”
“Prince Ding has sealed off his residence, making it impossible to send you a message,” Pei Lang said. “The idea of marrying you to the Crown Prince was proposed by Prince Ding.”
Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. Seeing her lack of surprise, Pei Lang asked, “You already knew?”
“I guessed it was his doing,” Shen Miao replied coolly. “The Crown Prince’s mind wouldn’t suddenly turn to me without reason.”
Pei Lang was puzzled by Shen Miao’s tone, which seemed to suggest she was extremely familiar with both the Crown Prince and Fu Xiuyi. But as a young lady from the inner chambers, Shen Miao had no opportunity to interact with the princes—how could she understand their temperaments? Even Shen Xin might not know them as well as Shen Miao did.
This desolate garden was rumored to be haunted, so hardly anyone ever came here. Thus, Pei Lang wasn’t worried about passersby. Frowning, he asked, “What do you plan to do about the marriage?”
Shen Miao was slightly surprised. Pei Lang was usually someone who analyzed pros and cons without personal bias. It was rare for him to ask about her marriage, as her stance on it seemed irrelevant to the bigger picture.
“Let things take their course,” Shen Miao said.
“You cannot marry the Crown Prince,” Pei Lang insisted.
“Whether I marry or not isn’t important,” Shen Miao retorted coldly, disliking Pei Lang’s confident demeanor—as if he had everything under control and couldn’t see others’ struggles, only acting on what he deemed “right.” “Even if I marry him, I might not live poorly. I’ll find my own way to achieve my goals. Paths are carved by oneself, and there’s more than one way to walk them. Surely, Master Pei doesn’t believe there’s only one path in this world?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Pei Lang sighed. “Marrying into the Eastern Palace might allow you to walk your path, but at the cost of your marriage—that’s too cruel for you and hardly worth it.”
Shen Miao’s heart stirred slightly as she looked at Pei Lang.Pei Lang actually said, "At the cost of your marriage—that would be too cruel for you." One must remember that in her past life, when Wan Yu was to marry the Xiongnu, Shen Miao had once pleaded with Pei Lang. Because Pei Lang was Fu Xiuyi's confidant, his words always carried some weight with Fu Xiuyi. Yet at that time, Pei Lang had told Shen Miao, "Your Highness, isn't it a good thing to exchange the marriage of one princess for the peace of Ming Qi and the well-being of its people?"
Pei Lang, who was adept at viewing matters through the lens of the greater good, had now placed that greater good second.
Unaware of Shen Miao's expression, he continued, "The royal family has spread the news. No one in Fixed Capital dares to form marital ties with Shen Mansion."
Shen Miao replied, "So what?"
"If nothing else works, marry me," Pei Lang said.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Yet, contrary to Pei Lang's expectations, Shen Miao's gaze held no surprise, no bashfulness, not even the slightest flicker of emotion. Upon closer inspection, it even seemed somewhat icy. She asked, "What did you just say?"
It felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over Pei Lang's head, chilling him to the bone. Though he had made this suggestion purely out of pragmatic considerations, under Shen Miao's clear gaze, it seemed as if some hidden desire within him had been exposed. In an instant, he felt utterly discomfited.
Avoiding her eyes, Pei Lang steadied himself before continuing, "If you cannot marry into the Eastern Palace, you must marry someone else—that is the only way to survive. Marrying me might buy you some time."
"Why would you help me, Mr. Pei?" Shen Miao spoke softly, her tone laced with something inscrutable. "Our relationship is merely a transactional one born out of Liuying—or perhaps a master-servant relationship. I am the master, you the servant. From start to finish, it has been me who has been coercing you. If I were to be confined, wouldn’t that suit you perfectly? Serving Fu Xiuyi is a thousand, no, a million times better than serving me. For you to help me like this, anyone unaware might think you were sincere."
There was a hint of mockery in her words, which inexplicably unsettled Pei Lang. He didn’t understand why Shen Miao was sometimes courteous to him and other times seemed to harbor hostility. Perhaps women were simply this capricious?
But he had no answer to Shen Miao's question. Because he himself didn’t know why he was doing this.
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Even if I were to marry you, Mr. Pei, it would only be a last resort. What identity would you use to marry me? How would you explain it to Prince Ding? You wouldn’t expose your own identity for my sake. You are a valuable piece on the board, Mr. Pei, and I wouldn’t want to use you so carelessly."
"Besides," she lifted her chin slightly, "marriage and a husband are not as important to me as you all seem to think. It’s just a person to share a bed with—someone to eat with, to sleep with. Beyond that, what difference does it make from a stranger? I don’t care whom I marry. I don’t care if I’m forced into marriage. My happiness or joy does not depend on such things."Pei Lang shook his head repeatedly, wanting to refute Shen Miao's words. He thought she was still too young and didn’t understand how important a lifelong commitment was for a woman. He believed she was merely acting out of spite now, and only when she realized the consequences and suffered would she regret it deeply. Yet when he looked up and saw Shen Miao’s expression, the words died in his throat.
Shen Miao’s expression was serious—cold and indifferent, carrying a faint weariness toward the world, as if even mentioning it would evoke instinctive disgust. She truly didn’t care.
But how could a woman not care about the person she would spend her life with?
Pei Lang stared at Shen Miao in a daze.
As the atmosphere grew tense, a malicious sneer suddenly came from behind them: "Who would’ve thought there’d be such a romantic scandal here?"
Shen Miao whirled around and saw two masked men in black, each wielding a long sword, lunging toward her.
Pei Lang quickly pulled Shen Miao aside to dodge, while she demanded sharply, "Who are you?"
"Don’t blame us, Miss Shen. Blame yourself for standing in someone’s way," one of them sneered. One assailant charged at Pei Lang, while the other thrust his sword straight at Shen Miao.
They showed no mercy, striking with lethal intent.
Shen Miao’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected that the secluded spot Pei Lang had chosen would make it so convenient for someone to silence them. Her fingers brushed against the bracelet on her wrist, but it was only effective at close range. At the critical moment, two stones shot through the air, striking the knees of the black-clad men with perfect precision. They cried out in pain and collapsed.
"Swish—swish!" Two flashes of swordlight followed as two more figures suddenly appeared, swiftly turning the assassins’ own blades against them, driving the swords into their chests.
Everything happened too quickly, leaving no room to react. The newcomers were dressed as palace guards and bowed respectfully to Shen Miao.
Before Pei Lang could speak, another figure descended from the rooftop—tall and imposing, clad in a violet-gold robe, wearing a silver mask, his peach-blossom eyes sharp as blades.
It was Prince Rui.
"Your Highness, Prince Rui…" Pei Lang murmured. Quick-witted as he was, he immediately deduced that the two guards must be Prince Rui’s men. As for the assassins who had tried to silence them, their origins remained unknown. Though unsure of Shen Miao’s relationship with Prince Rui, Pei Lang dared not be careless. His heart filled with vigilance, but he forced a polite smile and cupped his hands in salute. "Thank you for your timely intervention, Your Highness."
Prince Rui said nothing, only sweeping him with a cold glance. Though half his face was obscured by the silver mask, Pei Lang felt an icy chill from that gaze, sending shivers down his spine.
Shen Miao frowned as Prince Rui grabbed her arm and turned to leave. Startled, Pei Lang called out, "Your Highness, you can’t—!"
But the two guards blocked his path.
Their murderous auras were overwhelming. Pei Lang, a scholar with no martial skills, could do nothing to help. Meanwhile, Shen Miao stumbled along, dragged unceremoniously, before turning back with calm composure. "Master Pei, you should return first. Prince Rui and I have matters to discuss."
Prince Rui’s steps only quickened.Pei Lang watched the two figures disappear into the distance. The two guards in front of him gave him a puzzled glance before finally leaving as well.
However, there were still two corpses lying on the ground, and Pei Lang couldn’t linger for long. He didn’t know what connection or fate existed between Shen Miao and Prince Rui, but… for a moment, his heart felt inexplicably hollow.
……
Shen Miao’s arm ached from being dragged along by Xie Jingxing. He strode forward in silence, moving so swiftly that she struggled to keep up. His long legs made it impossible for her to match his pace, and she nearly stumbled several times.
Finally, her temper flared, and she snapped, “Let go of me!”
Xie Jingxing didn’t stop until they reached a deserted corridor. He abruptly released her, and Shen Miao, who had been tightly gripped for most of the way, nearly toppled over from the sudden release. Once steady, her anger surged uncontrollably. “Have you lost your mind?” she demanded.
This garden was slightly more exposed than the desolate one earlier, and Shen Miao worried about being seen. She tried to walk away, but Xie Jingxing yanked her back by the arm, pinned her against the wall, and held her wrists firmly in place, his cold gaze boring into her.
His silver mask revealed only the sharp contours of his face—his refined jawline and tightly pressed lips. Gone was the usual roguish amusement in his eyes, replaced instead by blazing fury. He spoke slowly, each word deliberate, “Shen Miao, is this all you’re capable of?”
Shen Miao frowned at him.
Xie Jingxing gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. He loomed over her like a predator surveying its prey, and Shen Miao despised the feeling of being looked down upon. She struggled to break free.
But she was, after all, just a woman—how could she match Xie Jingxing’s strength? Her feeble resistance was like scratching an itch to him. He effortlessly subdued her struggles, even pressing his knee against her leg to immobilize her completely.
Yet this position only made the situation all the more ambiguous.
Shen Miao asked, "What exactly do you want?"
Xie Jingxing's tone was unreadable: "Luo Ling, Su Mingfeng, Feng Zixian, and now Pei Lang. So many heroes coming to your rescue—I've underestimated you."
Shen Miao remained silent.
His grip suddenly tightened, pinching her chin painfully enough to make her frown slightly.
But the young man gritted his teeth and said, "You don't care who you marry, don't care if it's forced. Do you want to marry into the Crown Prince's household?"
Shen Miao's heart skipped a beat. It seemed Xie Jingxing had overheard her conversation with Pei Lang. This man loved nothing more than lurking in the shadows, observing everything. Normally, she wouldn't have minded, but at this moment, a surge of anger rose within her. It was as if someone had seen a secret she wished to keep hidden, or witnessed her at her worst—an anger born of shame and indignation.
She sneered, "What's wrong with marrying the Crown Prince? You know I want to be Empress. The Crown Prince will ascend the throne eventually. Who's to say I won't enter the Eastern Palace, outmaneuver the Crown Princess, and become Ming Qi's future Empress Shen? What's so bad about that?"
Her words were deliberately venomous, and Xie Jingxing's expression darkened further.
He laughed too, but his laughter was icy. "Unfortunately, the Crown Prince will never sit on the throne."
Shen Miao didn't understand the source of Xie Jingxing's inexplicable anger, but being interrogated in such an awkward position filled her with humiliation and resentment. Perhaps emotions in the heat of the moment were hard to control—she didn't know where this sense of grievance came from, but she wanted to vent all the frustration and unhappiness she'd been passively enduring these days.
Xie Jingxing held her chin, pressed against her legs, and restrained her hands. He was impossibly handsome, his anger lending him a dangerous allure. The aura of wickedness surrounding him made Shen Miao believe for a moment that the carefree, indifferent Xie Jingxing was only one side of him—the other was cold, rigid, and chilling in his fury.
No matter how striking the sight, Shen Miao had no heart to appreciate it.
She said, "Even if he never becomes Emperor, it's none of your concern." She raised her head to meet his gaze, forcing her voice to remain steady. "Why is Prince Rui interrogating me? Our relationship isn't close enough for this. Who I marry or don't marry—what does it have to do with you?"
At this, Xie Jingxing slowly smiled.
With a mocking curl of his lips, he pulled her closer by the chin and said, "When you were haggling with me, negotiating deals, or using me to kill, you were quite capable. What's this? Is this all you've got now? Hmm?"
Shen Miao's eyes stung. She detested Xie Jingxing's attitude at this moment, yet she couldn't break free, hating how powerless she felt. Her vision blurred uncomfortably.
Xie Jingxing frowned. "Don't cry."
Her tears hovered on the brink of falling, and she felt utterly humiliated. After living two lifetimes, how could she be reduced to tears by a few words from Xie Jingxing? Yet the grievance in her heart refused to dissipate, leaving her in complete turmoil.Unwilling to lose face yet unable to break free, in her desperation, Shen Miao glared at Xie Jingxing and angrily said, "Xie Jingxing, don't go too far!"
"Xie Jingxing?" A surprised exclamation suddenly came from the bushes nearby.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Even arguing has to be flirty ╮╯▽╰╭
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