The night wind was bitterly cold. Xie Jingxing had only brought Shen Miao to the outer gates of the Princess Hall, where the Shen family's carriage was still waiting. Shen Miao wanted to say something more, but Xie Jingxing had already vanished without a trace. Mo Qing and A Zhi, however, were surprised to see her suddenly appear at the entrance. A Zhi asked, "Miss, why did you come out alone? Where are the others?"
Just then, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu came running out, panting heavily. They sighed in relief upon seeing Shen Miao. Jing Zhe said, "We were waiting outside when Yang Gugu said you had already left. We thought she was lying. But when we saw no one inside, we came to check, only to find you really had come out." She looked around, puzzled. "But there was only one room, and we were guarding the entrance the whole time. How did you get out without us noticing? Could there be a secret passage in the Princess Hall?"
Gu Yu quickly coughed lightly to remind her not to speak carelessly. After all, they were still outside the Princess Hall. Even if there were secret passages, they were the Princess Hall's secrets and shouldn't be discussed so openly.
Jing Zhe stuck out her tongue and glanced at Shen Miao, who was frowning deeply, her expression grave. Noticing this, Jing Zhe lowered her voice and asked, "When we went in earlier, the Princess didn’t look too well... Miss, did you argue with her?"
Shen Miao shook her head. Thinking back on everything that had happened today in the Princess Hall, she felt overwhelmed. She climbed into the carriage first. "Let’s go back." Whatever needed to be pondered could wait until they returned to the Shen residence. After all, everything that had transpired today was far beyond her expectations.
Just as the carriage was about to depart, Shen Miao couldn’t resist lifting the curtain to glance back. The pitch-black night concealed everything, and without moonlight, nothing was visible.
She sighed softly.
Yet in a corner not far from the Princess Hall, a young man in a purple robe silently watched the carriage fade into the distance.
Gao Yang’s fan, which he usually flicked casually, was now folded and tucked at his waist. He looked at the handsome young man before him, his expression unusually complex. He asked, "Was it worth it?"
"There was always going to be a day like this," Xie Jingxing replied indifferently.
"Don’t you regret it?"
Xie Jingxing’s lips curled slightly. Though his mask hid his face and expression, one could easily imagine the faintly mocking, disdainful, and cold look in his eyes.
He said, "It was just fate running its course."
Gao Yang fell silent. After a long pause, he shook his head and patted Xie Jingxing’s shoulder.
From the Princess Hall emerged a few maids dressed as servants, carrying something in a basket. They dumped its contents and threw the basket onto the ground.
One of the maids sighed regretfully, "This stuff cost quite a bit of silver. If we’d sold it to a pharmacy, we might’ve made some money. What a waste to just throw it away."
"What do you know?" another maid snapped at her. "Who knows if this stuff is poisonous? If it is, selling it would only bring trouble. Stop staring and let’s go."
The two maids turned and went back into the Princess Hall, leaving only the empty basket lying abandoned on the ground.
It was the medicinal ingredient for Rongxin Princess’s heart condition, "coincidentally" delivered earlier by the clinic. Now, it had been discarded like trash, even branded with the suspicion of being "poisonous."Gao Yang's face showed a hint of pity. Having one's painstaking efforts ruined would leave even the most carefree person in low spirits. He wanted to offer some words of comfort, but Xie Jingxing had already walked away.
Dressed in luxurious robes, his tall and straight figure moved gracefully through the night, exuding an irresistible charm.
Yet, there was an undeniable loneliness in his retreating figure.
Shen Miao returned to the Shen residence, where Shen Xin and his wife were waiting for her. As night fell and Shen Miao still hadn’t returned, everyone had begun to fear something had happened. Seeing her return unharmed, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Shen Miao, preoccupied with her thoughts, excused herself, claiming fatigue and a desire to rest early. No one suspected anything amiss. Back in her chamber, she dismissed Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, sitting alone at the table.
A deep unease settled in her heart.
Xie Jingxing’s appearance at the princess’s residence today, revealing his identity before Rongxin Princess, was a rather reckless decision. And Xie Jingxing was not a reckless man by nature. There was no other reason for his actions except to shield Shen Miao, preventing Rongxin Princess from taking unpredictable actions against the Shen family.
The thought that her situation had inadvertently made Xie Jingxing’s position more difficult was not something Shen Miao wished to see. After all, despite Xie Jingxing’s often sharp words, he had never truly harmed her from start to finish.
Shen Miao didn’t know how deep the bond between Rongxin Princess and Xie Jingxing was, but the princess’s reaction upon confirming his identity in the residence had been chilling. Xie Jingxing might have said nothing, appearing indifferent as if it didn’t matter, but Shen Miao knew all too well the depth of hurt that could come from those closest to you.
Just as Fu Xiuyi had been to her in her past life, and the second and third branches of the Shen family—how cruel they had been when they turned against her, how mocking the warmth they once showed had become in hindsight. If the disregard or harm came from Xie Ding, Xie Jingxing might not have cared, but Rongxin Princess was different.
After all, Xie Jingxing’s first Tiger Head Bracelet had been given to Rongxin Princess. And two years later, upon returning to Fixed Capital and learning of the princess’s recurring heart condition, he would still send someone to search for the medicinal ingredients without delay.
There was undoubtedly some affection there.
Restless, Shen Miao stood and walked to the window, pushing it open to look outside. The sky was like spilled ink, and the winter night cast a desolate chill over Fixed Capital, inside and out.
After a moment’s thought, she turned back into the room, retrieving a thick crimson fur-lined cloak from a chest and draping it over herself. She tied the cords tightly before returning to the window and calling softly, “Cong Yang.”
A dark figure dropped from a tree, standing straight before her and bowing respectfully. “What orders does the young madam have?”
By now, Shen Miao had grown accustomed to ignoring Cong Yang’s form of address. Hesitating, she said, “Take me to see Xie Jingxing.”
Cong Yang’s mouth fell open, and he sucked in a sharp breath. His usually stern and rigid expression made the look particularly comical.
Under his gaze, Shen Miao grew flustered and annoyed. “Well? Can you do it or not?”
“Young Madam,” Cong Yang regained his composure, looking troubled. “This subordinate does not know where the master is at the moment.”Shen Miao frowned. With Cong Yang keeping an eye on her at the Shen residence every day, it was indeed impossible for him to know Xie Jingxing's whereabouts. When she left the princess's residence tonight, Xie Jingxing had left too quickly for her to ask. Now, there truly seemed to be no one who knew where he was.
Yet, for some reason, she felt that Xie Jingxing should be at Prince Rui's Residence at this moment. His emotions were inscrutable, and he was accustomed to hiding his feelings behind a mask. Therefore, Shen Miao thought that if Xie Jingxing ever felt disheartened, he would likely choose to be alone.
She made a swift decision and said to Cong Yang, "Take me to Prince Rui's Residence."
Cong Yang looked troubled. Seeing this, Shen Miao frowned and asked, "Can you not even do this?"
Cong Yang hurriedly explained, "This subordinate can do it alone, but bringing the young mistress along makes it impossible."
Shen Miao asked him, "Do you know martial arts?"
Cong Yang nodded repeatedly.
"Then it's settled," Shen Miao said. "You can carry me and take me to Prince Rui's Residence." Her idea was simple—just as Xie Jingxing had done for her before. After all, Cong Yang was Xie Jingxing's man, and in some ways, he was much more convenient to use than Mo Qing and the others. Most importantly, she didn’t want Xie Jingxing's identity to be known by more people. The more people who knew, the greater the risk—even if they were people she trusted, because there was no telling when someone might exploit that knowledge.
At her words, Cong Yang shook his head repeatedly, even looking somewhat horrified as he said, "Absolutely not!"
"What now?" Shen Miao's patience was wearing thin.
Cong Yang replied, "Men and women should not touch each other."
Shen Miao: "..."
She had no idea where Xie Jingxing had found this guard, who was more proper than a woman. No matter how much Shen Miao tried to persuade him afterward, Cong Yang refused to "carry" her to Prince Rui's Residence.
Shen Miao was at a loss. If Cong Yang wouldn’t use his martial arts to take her, she would have to leave through the main gate of the Shen residence—but the gate was guarded by Shen Xin's soldiers, and it would be impossible to go unnoticed. Leaving in the dead of night like this would likely wake up the entire household before she even stepped out the door. And if questioned, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself.
Shen Miao was utterly frustrated.
Her gaze fell on the high wall outside the courtyard, and suddenly, an idea struck her. When Xie Jingxing had first moved to Yanqing Lane, he had plenty of silver to spare and bought all the neighboring estates between Prince Rui's Residence and the Shen residence, even calling them "neighbors." In that sense, one could say Prince Rui's Residence was adjacent to the Shen residence—though the particular house Xie Jingxing lived in was a bit farther away.
If they were neighboring estates... Shen Miao's eyes fixed on the tall wall in the courtyard. She said, "Let's climb over the wall."
Cong Yang stared at her blankly, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. Tasked with protecting Shen Miao's safety, he had been observing her every move in the Shen residence and knew exactly what kind of person she was. Shen Miao was dignified, composed, and extremely proper. Despite her young age, she could endure solitude, carrying herself like a noble from the palace. Every small gesture of hers reflected impeccable upbringing. Cong Yang often marveled inwardly at how different this young mistress was from others—how innately noble she seemed. So when he heard this noble young mistress suggest climbing over a wall, he thought his ears must be deceiving him.
Shen Miao glared at him, her authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. "Are you deaf to my words?""Yes, yes, yes," Cong Yang straightened up with a start, not daring to glance at Shen Miao's expression.
The following days proved torturous for Cong Yang. Initially, he thought Shen Miao intended to climb the walls herself, but what she actually meant was stacking stepping aids on both sides of each wall to form makeshift stairs, allowing her to walk from one side to the other.
Late at night, Cong Yang had no choice but to steal straw stacks reserved for fertilizer from wealthy households. The problem was, there were over a dozen residences between Prince Rui's Residence and the Shen residence, each separated by walls. Despite the freezing weather, Cong Yang worked up a sweat from the exertion. Watching Shen Miao stride haughtily over wall after wall, as if she were ascending the lofty steps of a celestial palace, he couldn’t help but sigh in admiration while inwardly lamenting his miserable fate.
If not for fear of sullying the young mistress’s dignity and incurring his master’s displeasure, why would Cong Yang go to such lengths? His lightness skill was more than sufficient to carry a person effortlessly over the walls. Yet here he was, running back and forth like a common laborer. When his master first transferred him from the Ink Feather Army, his comrades had envied his good fortune. Little did they know this "privileged assignment" reduced him to a mere errand boy, worse than a servant. Cong Yang wept silently in his heart.
By the time Shen Miao "climbed" over the final wall and arrived at Prince Rui's Residence, Cong Yang was too exhausted to speak.
Since they had entered from the rear courtyard instead of the main gate, the vast Prince Rui's Residence was eerily devoid of guards. Cong Yang frowned in confusion—such lax security was unusual.
Shen Miao took in the residence’s opulent decor, which lived up to its legendary extravagance. Even a temporary dwelling was so meticulously adorned—she could only imagine how magnificent the actual palace of Great Coolness must be. As she mused, a middle-aged man in black robes appeared before her.
"Tie Yi!" Cong Yang called out, then asked, "Where is everyone else?"
The guard named Tie Yi stared at Shen Miao in surprise before cupping his hands respectfully. "Miss Shen, has something urgent brought you here?"
Shen Miao studied him—he seemed to recognize her, and given Cong Yang’s familiarity with him, he was likely one of Xie Jingxing’s men. "I’ve come to speak with Prince Rui," she replied.
Tie Yi nodded as if he had expected this. "The master is in the rear courtyard. Follow me."
When winter’s chill gripped Ming Qi, few were willing to venture outside. At night, the streets lay deserted—even birds and stray animals huddled in their warm nests, unwilling to stir.
The pond had frozen over, its thick ice concealing the scenery beneath. The summer’s elegant lotus blooms and playful koi had vanished, leaving only a vast expanse of white. Even the finest days must pass, just as spring blossoms inevitably wither.
A purple-robed young man lounged lazily on a tree branch, hands cradling his head. His silver mask remained in place, and a wind lantern hung from the tree, casting a faint glow. His expression was neither desolate nor joyful—only faintly lonely.
Like the wind rustling through the branches, light yet heavy with cold. Quiet and wordless.
Beneath the tree, a white tiger lay sprawled, occasionally scratching at the trunk with its claws or gnawing on fallen icicles. The crisp crunching sounds echoed sharply in the night.Shen Miao was greeted by this scene the moment she stepped in. The sight of the youth and the white tiger sleeping peacefully reminded her of her past life—walking through the imperial garden late at night, the remnants of Fu Xiuyi and Mei Furen’s laughter from the day still lingering in the air, bitter and endless.
The white tiger, sensing an intruder, immediately stood up, arching its back warily as it eyed her, emitting low warning growls. Yet, being still so small, it lacked any real intimidation, its sounds more like soft "purrs," oddly endearing.
"Shh, Jiaojiao," Xie Jingxing said. "Quiet."
Shen Miao: "..."
She walked to the base of the tree and looked up at the figure nestled among the branches. "Who are you calling?"
Xie Jingxing paused, then glanced down. Spotting Shen Miao, he seemed momentarily taken aback. "Why are you here?"
"The conversation at the princess’s residence wasn’t finished. I came to check on you."
Xie Jingxing swept a glance over her but didn’t climb down. Instead, he chuckled softly. "Did you come because you were worried about me?"
"How you interpret it is up to you," Shen Miao replied.
"Do you think I’d be upset?" Xie Jingxing’s expression grew even more amused, as if he’d heard something laughable. "How naive."
"If not, then all the better." Shen Miao ignored his mocking tone, speaking calmly.
Xie Jingxing gazed at the sky, lazily waving a hand. "Go back. I’m fine."
Shen Miao didn’t leave.
The white tiger on the ground seemed to sense no hostility from her, and with its master showing no signs of aggression, it gradually relaxed. It sidled up to Shen Miao’s feet, purring softly.
Shen Miao quietly observed the young man in the tree.
After a long silence, she asked, "Xie Jingxing, do you want to destroy Ming Qi?"
The air instantly stilled, as if tiny, lingering embers had escaped from the lantern, drifting faintly in the wind.
The dim light and the branches obscured the youth’s expression. Even if visible, the mask he wore made it impossible to discern his emotions. Only the corner of his luxurious purple robe was visible, embroidered with gold thread that shimmered under the light. The intricate patterns intertwined, faintly outlining the figure of an auspicious beast.
It resembled a dragon.
The silence was deafening. He didn’t answer.
The white tiger let out a soft whimper before turning and darting back into the grass.
Shen Miao leaned against the tree and said coolly, "If your ultimate goal is merely to destroy Ming Qi, then everyone along the way is expendable. Those who walk different paths cannot work together. Some people are good, but they’re simply not meant to share the same road. If they’re not on your path, why bother with them?"
Xie Jingxing let out a soft "hmph." His voice drifted down from above. "Are you comforting me?"
"No," Shen Miao replied. "I’m comforting myself."
She understood Xie Jingxing, though they were different in some ways. Xie Jingxing was a man, decisive and ruthless. She believed that once this night passed, he would still be the confident Prince Rui, unstoppable and undeterred. He was like a lion—a formidable presence in his own right. This moment of solitude, licking his wounds, was simply a fleeting vulnerability she happened to witness.
"Do you have sorrows too?" Xie Jingxing teased, his tone still flippant. But Shen Miao knew—there was no laughter in his eyes now.Perhaps it was because some emotions were too overwhelming even for him to conceal, that he sought refuge in the treetops where no one could see him, unwilling to remove his mask, sitting there in silence.
"My sorrows are no fewer than yours," Shen Miao said with a faint smile. "At least Princess Rongxin is still alive. The greatest pain in this world should be when the person you wish to be misunderstood and blamed by is no longer here. Some mistakes can be atoned for, others cannot."
Like her Wan Yu and Fu Ming—she could save many, but these two were beyond her reach. In this lifetime, no matter how hard she tried, she could never save them. Whether she would eventually achieve her vengeance or live a life of splendor with the Shen family, this regret would remain forever unfulfilled, gnawing at her in the quiet of the night.
Even dreaming of them was a luxury.
"You know this day would come sooner or later, so why cling to it? Do what you can and leave the rest to fate. You’ve already done all you could, and anything beyond that is simply the end of the road." Shen Miao continued, "No one is destined to walk the same path as another forever. Take my marriage, for example."
"Fu Xiuyi and I were never on the same path. Neither was the Crown Prince, nor Huangfu Hao, Feng Zixian, Luo Ling, or Pei Lang."
Fu Xiuyi and the Crown Prince were from the Fu family—natural enemies who could never align with Shen Miao. Huangfu Hao harbored ulterior motives, Feng Zixian had grown up sheltered and privileged, his nature fundamentally different from hers. Luo Ling was upright and righteous, incapable of understanding the shadows and schemes in her heart. As for Pei Lang, their history was tangled and complex. In her past life, he had played a significant role in her downfall, leaving an indelible mark between them that made true openness impossible.
"By that logic, there’s no one in this world on the same path as you," Xie Jingxing remarked.
"That’s the truth."
Shen Miao sighed inwardly. Someone who had crawled out of the grave to live a second life was, in some ways, no different from a ghost. On this path of vengeance, she had always walked alone.
"Then comforting me like this will give me the illusion," Xie Jingxing said with a faint smile, "that you’re on the same path as me."
The wind swept up scattered leaves, brushing over the frozen lake, its surface as unyielding as stone.
Yet through the icy veneer, one could almost glimpse the spring breeze rippling the water, sunlight dancing on the waves, the vibrant colors of blossoms and willows painting a scene of renewal.
Winter would always pass, and spring would always come.
Shen Miao’s voice was soft, lighter than the night wind, dissipating into the air.
She said, "Who says I’m not?"
Then comforting me like this will give me the illusion that you’re on the same path as me.
Who says I’m not?
A shadow flickered among the trees as someone leaped down. The young man’s figure was tall and striking. In the distance, his white tiger, seeing its master descend, bounded over joyfully, nuzzling against the hem of his robe.
"Tell me," he asked, "do you see me as Prince Rui of Great Coolness, or the Marquis of Lin'an Manor?"
Shen Miao leaned against the tree, her hands clasped behind her back, watching his silhouette. "Does it matter?"
"I used to think it didn’t." Xie Jingxing stood by the pond, his voice calm, almost devoid of inflection, as he spoke plainly. "But ever since I learned of my identity, people have never stopped reminding me—that it does.""Lin'an Hou is weak and incompetent, indecisive and unworthy of being a father. Even if the real Young Marquis Xie hadn't died young back then, he would have still perished at Fang Shi's hands."
"Rong Yi treated me very well."
"I thought I mattered to others, but to her, my identity didn't matter at all."
"But now it seems I've made a grave mistake."
He said calmly, "To the people of this world, this issue has always been important from the very beginning. There are no exceptions."
Thinking that some emotions could break the shackles of status, that familial bonds could surpass everything, only to end up with a slap as harsh as Drawing one's own face. Most importantly, it was that profound sense of disappointment.
Shen Miao stared at his back for a long time before finally saying, "It doesn’t matter to me."
Xie Jingxing chuckled softly.
He turned and walked toward Shen Miao, stopping right in front of her. Looking down at her from his height, he asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"You’re just Xie Jingxing, that’s all." She raised her head defiantly, as if trying to suppress his imposing aura.
"Just?" He sounded slightly displeased.
"You can deceive others, but not me." Shen Miao looked at his mask. "From the moment I met you until our alliance ended, you were just Xie Jingxing. Nothing more."
Xie Jingxing let out a meaningful "Oh."
He took another step forward. Shen Miao instinctively retreated, but since she was already leaning against a tree, her back pressed against it with nowhere else to go. Xie Jingxing then lifted her chin with his fingers.
Xie Jingxing asked, "Do you think I’m cruel?"
"I don’t. I’m the same," Shen Miao replied.
"Then do you know I’m not a good person?" His voice was low and captivating, carried by the cold night wind into her ears, making her skin burn.
Shen Miao shrank back further but refused to be looked down upon. "I know. I’m the same."
Xie Jingxing held her waist and pulled her toward him. His mask obscured his face, lending his handsomeness an air of bewitching mystery. He said, "Then I can answer your question now."
"What question?" Shen Miao was puzzled.
"You asked me if I intend to destroy Ming Qi."
Shen Miao stared at him. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with brilliance, so deep they seemed capable of pulling one in.
"Then what’s your answer?" she asked.
"If I say yes, will you expose me?" Xie Jingxing smirked mischievously.
Shen Miao answered slowly, "No."
"Because I’m the same."
Just one phrase, three repetitions of "I’m the same," yet Xie Jingxing’s gaze shifted subtly.
It was as if sparks had bloomed amidst a frozen wasteland. His expression remained unreadable as he asked, "Do you know what you’re saying?"
Shen Miao stayed silent.
Gritting his teeth, as if he wanted to devour her whole, he said, "Shen Miao, don’t regret this. Once you board my ship, you’re never getting off in this lifetime."
Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her.
Shen Miao instinctively tried to pull away, but Xie Jingxing gripped her waist and pulled her into his embrace. His cold mask brushed against her face as he held her firmly, roughly pressing his lips to hers.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
My computer broke and I had to get it repaired. I typed this on my phone, so I’m requesting to update less these past couple of days—my hands are about to fall off and my eyes are dying qaq~ Search for "blue" to read the full text of the following chapters.
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