That night, someone deliberately stirred the tranquil waters, causing chilling flowers to bloom even in the winter's cold wind. Naturally, there were also those whose plans fell through, raging in their mansions.
Prince Zhou and Prince Li found themselves in the same predicament.
Late that evening, someone knocked on Prince Zhou's door. Assuming it was a servant, he called out for them to enter, but no one came in. Prince Zhou got up to open the door himself, only to be met with two cold corpses flung at him. No one knew how these bodies had ended up in Prince Zhou's residence. Enraged, he severely punished all the night guards and meticulously searched the premises, suspecting a traitor within, but his efforts proved futile.
The two corpses were later identified as the assassins sent to kill Shen Miao earlier that day.
Uneasy, Prince Zhou immediately sent word to Jing Wang, and the two brothers planned to thoroughly investigate the matter.
As for Prince Li, the situation was even more brazen. Someone had simply thrown two corpses over the wall into his estate, startling his guards. They gave chase but found not even a shadow of the culprit. Upon discovering that the bodies were those of the assassins he had sent after Shen Miao, Prince Li was both furious and unsettled. Clearly, the killing of his assassins was a direct challenge, marking the perpetrator as his enemy. That such a skilled adversary existed among his foes in Fixed Capital—one who could evade his entire guard—left Prince Li deeply dissatisfied.
Meanwhile, Prince Zhou and Jing Wang were deep in discussion.
Prince Zhou asked, "Who do you think is behind this?"
Jing Wang pondered for a moment. "Perhaps Prince Li."
"I thought the same," Prince Zhou nodded. "Maybe he's trying to threaten me, or perhaps he shares my intentions."
"But Prince Li has always maintained a facade of civility. He wouldn’t do something so blatant," Jing Wang shook his head. "It might be the Crown Prince's doing."
"The Crown Prince?" Prince Zhou paused, then nodded. "All these years, he's claimed illness. Who knows if it's just a ruse? None of us have seen his methods. If he’s trying to pit me against Prince Li, he could reap the rewards."
"Exactly," Jing Wang sighed. "But there's someone else you shouldn’t forget—the Ninth Prince."
"Don’t bother with him," Prince Zhou waved dismissively. "The Ninth Prince is all talk and no action. He barely moves in court circles—where would he get the connections? To pull off such a stunt in my residence unnoticed, the perpetrator must have formidable skills."
"Somehow, I feel the Ninth Prince isn’t as simple as he seems," Jing Wang cautioned. "Don’t underestimate him."
"Regardless," Prince Zhou sighed, "this matter isn’t straightforward. Whether it’s Prince Li or the Crown Prince, they’re both formidable. I’ll investigate further. Let’s see who’s really pulling the strings behind the scenes."
Jing Wang nodded in agreement.
Little did Prince Zhou and Prince Li know, the one who had eliminated their assassins and returned them in such a manner was neither the Crown Prince nor each other, as they suspected, but someone entirely unrelated. Yet, this ploy to divert trouble eastward proved remarkably effective. Unbeknownst to them, the rivalry among the Ming Qi princes was intensifying.As time passed, while the Shen family anxiously sought a "suitable candidate," the imperial decree from Ming Qi's royal family remained conspicuously absent. The reason was none other than Emperor Wenhui, who had recently been plagued by a matter that left him deeply troubled.
He turned to the Crown Prince beside him and asked, "What does Great Coolness mean by this? Are they deliberately opposing Ming Qi? I have never encountered such audacity!"
The Crown Prince could only murmur in timid agreement. Prince Rui of Great Coolness had visited the palace once, and whatever he discussed with Emperor Wenhui left the latter in a towering rage after the prince departed. The emperor slammed tables and hurled teacups, nearly overturning the entire imperial study in his fury.
The Crown Prince surmised that Prince Rui must have said something insolent, for nothing else could have provoked such an uncharacteristic outburst from Emperor Wenhui.
Indeed, the emperor was seething with anger. He understood Ming Qi's current national strength better than anyone—it was no longer as formidable as it had been during his predecessor's reign. Faced with the slightly superior Qin State and the prosperous and powerful Great Coolness, Ming Qi had little to boast about. The grand display during the recent tribute banquet was merely an attempt to mask their insecurity, to show Great Coolness and Qin State that Ming Qi still had some prowess.
But this was nothing more than self-deception. Huangfu Hao of Qin State treated him with superficial respect, but in reality, their relationship was strained. Over the death of Ming An Princess, Qin State continued to pressure the Court of Revision, forcing Ming Qi's officials to busy themselves with clearing the princess's name—a laughable situation if word got out. Yet Emperor Wenhui dared not refuse, as he still hoped to ally with Qin State against Great Coolness.
As for Great Coolness, it was even worse. Prince Rui operated entirely on his own terms. While Huangfu Hao at least maintained a facade of respect, Prince Rui showed not the slightest deference. Emperor Wenhui had consoled himself by attributing this to the prince's inherent temperament. But when Prince Rui visited the palace the previous day, their discussion in the imperial study took a turn for the worse. The emperor had intended to foster goodwill with Great Coolness, only to be subtly yet unmistakably rebuffed.
Though nothing was stated outright, Prince Rui's attitude left no room for courtesy. Emperor Wenhui, as a sovereign, naturally took offense at the slight and grew visibly displeased. Yet Prince Rui seemed utterly indifferent to whether the emperor was angered or not. Casually, he brought up several cities along the border between Ming Qi and Great Coolness, hinting at reclaiming them.
Emperor Wenhui's expression darkened immediately.
Those cities were not particularly large, but they housed several mines rich in ore—essential for forging heavy weaponry. Situated precisely on the border, these cities had long been inhabited by Ming Qi's citizens, and Great Coolness had never shown interest before. Now, this sudden mention could only mean one thing: Great Coolness intended to seize them.
No matter how inept Emperor Wenhui might be in other matters, he was acutely sensitive when it came to territorial sovereignty. If Great Coolness took these cities today, who knew what they might seize tomorrow? Today it was these few, tomorrow it might be others, and soon enough, they could set their sights on Fixed Capital itself. Before long, they might even march their armies straight into Ming Qi!
With Ming Qi's current military strength, resistance against Great Coolness was impossible.Prince Rui was an envoy sent by Great Coolness, representing the will of the Yongle Emperor. His seemingly casual remarks revealed certain ambitions of Great Coolness. What pained Emperor Wenhui most was that despite recognizing their ambitions, he dared not detain Prince Rui—this rebellious figure—for fear of provoking the Yongle Emperor's wrath. Only with an alliance with Qin State might he gain some confidence, but with Ming Qi standing alone... he had no choice but to endure.
Being an emperor without even a shred of dignity left Emperor Wenhui seething with frustration.
"With Great Coolness harboring such ambitions, who knows what they’ll do next? Your marriage with Shen Miao can wait," Emperor Wenhui said. "Right now, I cannot afford to anger Shen Xin. This is a critical moment. If Shen Xin becomes dissatisfied with me, it would only give Great Coolness an opening."
The Crown Prince felt disappointed but knew better than to argue. He understood Emperor Wenhui’s temperament—now was the time to yield. "This son is in no hurry. Naturally, state affairs take precedence. Who would have thought Great Coolness hides such ill intentions? We must remain vigilant."
Pleased by his response, Emperor Wenhui patted his shoulder. "I know. Rest assured, though Great Coolness may have ambitions, I will not sit idle. Tomorrow, I will discuss an alliance with the Qin Crown Prince. Once Qin State learns of Great Coolness’s schemes, they will surely be alarmed. An alliance with Ming Qi will follow naturally. When that time comes, we need not fear Great Coolness anymore. Then, I will personally decree it—both the Shen family’s military power and their daughter will be yours." His words treated Shen Miao as nothing more than an object, certain to fall into their grasp.
The Crown Prince smiled in agreement, though inwardly he resented Prince Rui for speaking up at such an inopportune moment. The timing was too precise. Prince Ding had finally devised this clever plan, only for Prince Rui’s words to ruin it, leaving the Crown Prince deeply frustrated.
Yet there was nothing he could do.
...
News soon arrived from the palace—Shen Miao’s betrothal to the Crown Prince had been postponed. Though the reason remained unclear, Rong Xin Princess breathed a sigh of relief.
That day in the palace, she had met Shen Miao and sent her out with her personal maid before going to see Emperor Wenhui herself. The emperor still treated Rong Xin Princess with courtesy, so she expressed her fondness for Shen Miao and pleaded with him to reconsider the marriage arrangement.
To her shock, Emperor Wenhui flew into a rage, even reprimanding her with "women should not meddle in state affairs." Unyielding, Rong Xin Princess retorted, "Shen Miao’s marriage is a matter of personal affairs—how is it related to politics?" The argument escalated until Emperor Wenhui, furious, had her "escorted" out of the palace.
That night, her heart condition flared up from sheer anger.
Fortunately, Emperor Wenhui did not suspect her motives. Shen Miao had crossed paths with Rong Xin Princess several times before, always receiving her aid. To outsiders, it merely seemed the princess had taken a liking to Shen Miao, making her favor understandable. No one could guess that Rong Xin Princess’s protection of Shen Miao also stemmed from her promise to Xie Jingxing to watch over her."That's better now," Princess Rong Xin said to Yang Gugu beside her. "I thought I wouldn't be able to help her this time and felt deeply guilty. Now that it's temporarily suppressed, there's room for maneuver. I can go and give her a reply. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the face to meet Jingxing even in the afterlife."
Yang Gugu quickly reassured her, "The young marquis would surely be comforted knowing of Your Highness's efforts."
As they spoke, a palace maid entered, curtsied, and softly reported, "Your Highness, the medical hall has sent the medicinal ingredient."
Princess Rong Xin was slightly taken aback. "I thought there was none left?"
Her heart condition had troubled her for years, requiring a specific prescription. However, one of the ingredients was extremely rare and hard to find. The Fixed Capital medical hall's supply of that ingredient had almost entirely gone to the princess's residence. When Xie Jingxing was still around, he somehow managed to procure large quantities from outside every year, so Princess Rong Xin never had to worry about it.
After Xie Jingxing's death, the supply of that ingredient returned to its previous state of scarcity—sometimes available, sometimes not. As winter approached, it became even harder to find. Princess Rong Xin had been taking the medicine without the crucial ingredient for a long time. Just a few days ago, she was told there was none left, so she was surprised to receive it today.
The palace maid happily explained, "The physicians at the medical hall said a distant merchant came yesterday to sell herbs, and among them was a large basket of this very ingredient. The medical hall bought all of it. The physicians say it should last until next year—what a fortunate coincidence!"
Yang Gugu also smiled. "It seems luck is on our side."
Princess Rong Xin waved her hand dismissively. "Take it to the kitchen."
The palace maid promptly obeyed. After she left, Princess Rong Xin let out a bitter laugh and sighed. "When Jingxing was here, he used to send baskets of this ingredient too. How has it now become such a rare stroke of luck?"
Yang Gugu knew she was reminiscing about Xie Jingxing and feeling sorrowful. Just as she was about to steer the conversation elsewhere, Princess Rong Xin suddenly said, "Help me to Xingzhi Courtyard."
Yang Gugu was startled. Xingzhi Courtyard was a residence within the princess's estate. After Princess Yuqing passed away, Princess Rong Xin, furious at Xie Ding's actions, had brought Xie Jingxing to live at her residence for a time. Xie Jingxing was so adorable that Princess Rong Xin had a courtyard specially built for him—Xingzhi Courtyard. Later, when Xie Ding took Xie Jingxing back, Princess Rong Xin never had the courtyard dismantled. As Xie Jingxing grew older, he occasionally stayed at the princess's residence for a few days, always lodging in Xingzhi Courtyard.
But ever since Xie Jingxing died in battle two years ago, Princess Rong Xin had ordered Xingzhi Courtyard sealed off. Aside from daily cleaning by servants, no one was allowed inside. She herself avoided the place, fearing it would stir painful memories. Yet today, for the first time in two years, she wanted to visit.
Not daring to disobey, Yang Gugu supported Princess Rong Xin with some concern as they walked toward Xingzhi Courtyard. Princess Rong Xin murmured, "Lately, I keep dreaming of Jingxing..." Her expression grew increasingly strange as she spoke, puzzling Yang Gugu.
Princess Rong Xin felt uneasy in her heart.In recent days, she had been dreaming every night of a young man in a purple robe, his face half-covered by a silver mask. Not knowing who he was, she reached out to remove the mask, only to find a face identical to Xie Jingxing's, yet the man called her "Rong Xin Princess."
It was the voice of Prince Rui of Great Coolness.
Each time, Rong Xin Princess would wake with a start, her back drenched in sweat. She wondered if it was because she had witnessed Shen Miao's entanglement with Prince Rui that day, and the similarity in their names had blurred Xie Jingxing and Prince Rui in her mind, driving her to such delirium at night.
The more she thought about it, the more she missed Xie Jingxing, and she decided to visit Xingzhi Courtyard that very day.
Lost in thought, she soon arrived at Xingzhi Courtyard. The guards outside were surprised to see her—Rong Xin Princess had not set foot here in two years, nor had she allowed anyone else to enter. The guards stepped aside, and Rong Xin Princess walked in with Yang Gugu.
The furnishings inside were exactly the same as they had been two years ago. Dusted daily, not a speck of dirt could be found, making everything appear as pristine as if time had frozen in place. It gave Rong Xin Princess the fleeting illusion that if she turned around, she might see that handsome young man lounging on the bed, carelessly eating an apple.
The shelves were lined with trinkets Xie Jingxing had loved since childhood, and an old robe of his was draped over a chair.
Rong Xin Princess walked over to the robe, picked it up, and traced the patterns with her fingers, murmuring nostalgically, "Just like before."
Yang Gugu, unsure of what to say but afraid Rong Xin Princess would sink into sorrowful memories, remarked, "The gold thread on it still looks brand new."
Rong Xin Princess chuckled. "Jingxing was always particular. As a child, he refused to wear brightly colored clothes, insisting on purple. I thought purple was too somber for a child and wanted to embroider flowers on it, but he hated that too. In the end, the palace seamstresses had to stitch subtle patterns with gold thread along the hems and collars before he’d wear it. He wanted elegance but didn’t want it to be ostentatious—always full of clever ideas."
Yang Gugu laughed along. "Young Master was noble and refined. Purple suits only those of high status, and he wore it so well. When Your Highness took him to the palace back then, people mistook him for a prince."
"That demeanor was indeed regal—even Yuqing never carried himself with such grace," Rong Xin Princess agreed, stroking the gold-threaded patterns on the robe. But as she laughed, her mirth gradually faded.
Her expression grew solemn.
Just as she had told Yang Gugu, Xie Jingxing had been extremely particular about his clothes. He loved wearing purple, favored elegance, but disliked overt flamboyance, insisting on dark gold thread embroidering subtle patterns on the hems or collars. His standards were so high that the thread had to be fine, and the designs uniquely intricate.
Yet that day in the palace, Prince Rui, who had been tugging at Shen Miao, wore a purple robe with gold accents—the very same gold thread Xie Jingxing had always favored, identical in every detail.Princess Rong Xin was frail in health, but her eyes were not blind. That day when she saw Prince Rui and heard Shen Miao call him Xie Jingxing, for a moment she had also mistaken Prince Rui for Xie Jingxing. But later, observing Prince Rui's demeanor and bearing, she found them utterly unfamiliar. After hearing Prince Rui's explanation, she dismissed the thought. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, and after returning to the princess's residence, she frequently recalled Xie Jingxing and Prince Rui.
She had always thought her lingering unease was due to Prince Rui and Xie Jingxing sharing the same childhood name, but in a flash of realization, she understood it had nothing to do with names—it was simply because she had glimpsed the edge of his sleeve.
Having spent over a decade with Xie Jingxing, Princess Rong Xin regarded him as her own child. A mother is always deeply attentive to her child's affairs, even the smallest details. She remembered the pattern on his sleeves clearly, but since Xie Jingxing's death two years prior, she hadn't seen that pattern again and had momentarily forgotten it. Today, however, she recalled it—the exact same pattern as Prince Rui's!
Some things are fated in the unseen threads of destiny. Sometimes, all it takes is a single clue, like stringing together scattered beads, for everything to fall into place.
The same preference for purple robes, the same sleeve patterns, the same name "Jingxing," the same—special connection with Shen Miao.
Princess Rong Xin suddenly remembered that basket of medicinal herbs.
Why had there been none before, and now they appeared? Was it because she had suffered a heart attack in front of Prince Rui a few days prior, and shortly after, distant merchants came to sell medicinal ingredients?
Too many coincidences cease to be coincidences.
Once the seed of doubt sprouts, there is no turning back. It grows rapidly in the heart, shooting up into a towering tree, its roots digging deep into the soil until it stands unshakable and indestructible.
Now that she thought about it, even as a child, Xie Jingxing had carried an inexplicable air of nobility. She had assumed it was innate refinement, unaware it might have been a matter of bloodline. Though his demeanor and appearance had changed, some things remained unalterable—small habits, for instance, or... the bond between kin.
Princess Rong Xin suddenly crouched down, clutching her chest. Yang Gugu was startled to see the princess's face turn deathly pale, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She cried out urgently, "Someone! Fetch a physician! The princess's heart ailment has flared up again!"
A hand suddenly gripped Yang Gugu's wrist. Princess Rong Xin's expression was pained, but her tone was resolute as she said, "Help me to the study. Bring me a letter."
She had to verify something personally.
...
When Shen Miao awoke, Luo Xueyan joyfully informed her that the matter of her betrothal to the Crown Prince in the palace had been temporarily postponed. Shen Xin had pulled strings in the palace, and it was all related to Prince Rui.
It was said that during a casual conversation with Emperor Wenhui, Prince Rui had inadvertently mentioned several border cities. The emperor, worried that Great Coolness might have ill intentions, decided this was a critical moment to secure the loyalty of a formidable general like Shen Xin. Thus, the matter of Shen Miao's betrothal was shelved for the time being.
Luo Xueyan said, "Prince Rui's timely intervention has relieved Jiaojiao's immediate crisis. With more time, we can carefully select a suitable match for her."Luo Xueyan spoke without intention, but Shen Miao listened with purpose. She naturally understood that Prince Rui had not "casually" brought up the matter of the city, causing Emperor Wenhui to change his mind. While relieved, Shen Miao couldn't help but marvel at Xie Jingxing's methods.
Xie Jingxing's tactics weren't particularly ingenious, yet they were remarkably effective. With just a few words, he had stirred the emperor's hesitation, making him reluctant to act. The crown prince's marriage plans collapsed, Prince Ding's schemes fell through—one arrow felled several targets, truly satisfying. No wonder Xie Jingxing had seemed so indifferent when discussing the matter earlier—he had always possessed such capability.
Thinking of Shen Miao, she felt a surge of indignation. The crisis she had found so difficult to resolve had been effortlessly handled by Xie Jingxing, making her seem utterly incompetent. The memory of his audacious actions that night flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but wish she could give him a good beating.
Luo Tan said, “Little cousin, why are you gripping the book so tightly? You’re about to tear the pages.”
Shen Miao snapped out of her thoughts and quickly loosened her grip, slightly embarrassed. Lately, whenever she thought of Xie Jingxing, her emotions seemed to spiral out of control. It was all because of his unexpected actions that day—only she was still brooding over it.
Luo Tan rested her chin on her hands and teased her with a mischievous look. “Hey, are you thinking about Brother Ling, Young Master Su, or Brother Feng? All three are outstanding in their own way, and you can’t decide whom to choose?”
Shen Miao replied, “You’re overthinking it.”
Before Luo Tan could say more, Luo Ling walked in from outside. Luo Tan stuck out her tongue and greeted, “Brother Ling.”
Luo Ling smiled. “What were you two talking about?”
“About little cousin’s marriage prospects,” Luo Tan said bluntly. “She hasn’t decided whom to marry yet, so I came to gather some information.”
Shen Miao sighed inwardly. Couldn’t Luo Tan be a little more tactful, like a proper young lady? She had just blurted it out so openly. Fortunately, Shen Miao was worldly enough not to be flustered—an ordinary girl would have died of embarrassment.
While Shen Miao remained unfazed, Luo Ling looked slightly awkward. He cleared his throat and glanced around before asking, “Cousin, did you like the peace pendant?”
“Peace pendant?” Shen Miao frowned. “What peace pendant?”
Luo Ling was taken aback. “The one I gave you yesterday—”
Before he could finish, a servant interrupted from outside, saying Luo Xueyan wanted Shen Miao to come to the front hall.
Luo Ling swallowed his words and smiled, gesturing for Shen Miao to go first. She gave him an apologetic smile and said, “We’ll talk later, Cousin Ling.”
When she arrived at the front hall, she learned that someone from the Princess’s residence had come to the Shen household. Rong Xin Princess had sent an invitation, summoning Shen Miao to her residence.
Rong Xin Princess had saved Shen Miao several times, and Shen Xin and his wife were deeply grateful to her, so there was no reason to refuse. Shen Miao certainly couldn’t object either. She accepted the invitation with a smile, though her heart was unusually heavy.
In the past, if Rong Xin Princess had sent an invitation, Shen Miao would have accepted without hesitation. To be fair, the Princess had treated her well, showing her favor in many ways because of Xie Jingxing. When Emperor Wenhui had intended to betroth Shen Miao to the Crown Prince, the Princess had even spoken up for her, earning Shen Miao’s gratitude.
But why had Rong Xin Princess chosen this moment to send an invitation? If it were about the Crown Prince matter, she could have simply sent a message. An invitation to her residence clearly meant she wanted to discuss something face-to-face.
But what could be so important? Important enough for the reclusive Rong Xin Princess to personally invite Shen Miao for a visit?Shen Miao couldn't help but recall that day in the palace when she and Xie Jingxing had been caught together by Rong Xin Princess. At the time, she had called out Jingxing's name, and though he had managed to brush it off later, she couldn't shake a lingering unease. If someone truly knew and loved another deeply, no matter how much they changed, there would always be traces of their former self to be found.
Shen Miao's intuition had always been sharp. She never believed that after both she and Rong Xin Princess had encountered Xie Jingxing, he could continue hiding his identity without consequence. Yet this suspicion was too terrifying to contemplate, its potential consequences unpredictable, so she avoided dwelling on it.
But avoidance wasn't a solution—trouble had come knocking.
Shen Miao suspected that Rong Xin Princess might have noticed something suspicious. Yet she couldn't refuse this invitation, because refusal would be tantamount to admission.
The holiday passed in a flash—so unhappy! ╭(╯^╰)╮
This book is first published online—do not repost!
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