Su Mingfeng staggered away, looking as though he had undergone a tremendous shock, almost dazed and lost in spirit.
Shen Miao had initially wanted to say a few words to Xie Jingxing, but he had already reverted to his usual careless demeanor, smiling as he urged her to return home and rest early, clearly unwilling to dwell on the matter further. Left with no choice, Shen Miao could only comply with his wishes.
Some people enjoy sharing their painful experiences with others to gain sympathy. Yet the things that truly wound the heart are never willingly exposed—each recollection is like driving a knife into oneself. Someone like Xie Jingxing would naturally dislike revealing his vulnerabilities to others, so in the eyes of outsiders, he remained as strong and invincible as ever.
But Shen Miao had undoubtedly sensed something from his words: "The most important thing is, Ming Qi never nurtured me—only sought to erase me."
Even after returning to the Shen residence, Shen Miao couldn’t stop thinking about it. What did it mean that Ming Qi had only sought to erase Xie Jingxing? Her mind drifted back to the events of her past life.
In that life, Marquis Lin'an Manor had ultimately fallen. Xie Ding and Xie Jingxing had both died in battle, while Xie Changchao and Xie Changwu had instead been promoted, and Fang Shi had risen in status along with them. In this life, though the three Xie sons were gone, Xie Ding at least still lived. As long as Xie Ding remained, Marquis Lin'an Manor could not be considered fallen. If Xie Ding remarried, it was still possible for him to father another son at his age. Though the situation seemed bleak, it was already far better than the previous life.
What exactly was different between this life and the last? The divergence seemed to have begun two years ago. In her past life, Xie Jingxing had not gone to battle in the northern frontier at that time—he had done so several years later. The shift in timing had seemingly altered certain events. But what had prompted Xie Jingxing to make this decision?
Was it because of her? Shen Miao pondered. But what role had Ming Qi played in this?
In her past life, when Shen Miao had learned of the Xie family’s fate, she had sighed in sorrow. She had even privately wondered whether the imperial family had a hand in it, but she had been unwilling to dig deeper. By all accounts, aside from their occasional recklessness, the Xie father and son had never been disloyal to Ming Qi. If they had been erased simply out of fear that their achievements would overshadow the throne, then the imperial family would seem utterly heartless and ungrateful.
Now, that suspicion resurfaced in her mind.
Suppose the imperial family had targeted Marquis Lin'an Manor from the very beginning—the deaths of the Xie father and son in battle, the manor reduced to ashes, had been the ending prepared for them. Then, because Xie Jingxing had volunteered to go to war ahead of time, the imperial family’s "plan" had been set in motion earlier.
The imperial family had gotten their wish—Xie Jingxing had "died in battle." But Xie Ding was still alive, and he still had two sons. The imperial family’s ambitions toward Marquis Lin'an Manor had not yet vanished. Fortunately, Xie Ding had been utterly broken after Xie Jingxing’s death, so the "plan" to completely destroy the manor was no longer urgent.
Two years later, the two illegitimate Xie sons had both died unexpectedly. From then on, Xie Ding had no chance of recovery, and leaving him alive posed no threat. The imperial family then abandoned their earlier scheme, even offering comfort to display the emperor’s benevolence and care for his subjects.If Xie Jingxing had already foreseen everything that would happen in the future, then his decision to go to war two years ago was not impulsive. Just as he had told Su Mingfeng, it was the only way to protect Marquis Lin'an Manor.
However, these were all Shen Miao's own speculations. The truth remained unknown to anyone. She thought to herself that she should find an opportunity to ask Xie Jingxing directly. In her previous life, she hadn’t wanted to delve too deeply, but in this life, she was genuinely curious.
That night, Shen Miao was lost in thought, Su Mingfeng was tormented, and naturally, there were others who found sleep elusive.
Prince Ding's Residence remained brightly lit throughout the night.
Fu Xiuyi sat upright in the high seat, looking at the subordinate who had come to report, and slowly repeated, "Su Mingfeng went to Prince Rui's Residence?"
The subordinate replied, "Indeed. When he left, the Heir Apparent of Pingnan Bo seemed deeply shaken, as if he had suffered a great shock."
Fu Xiuyi waved his hand, dismissing the subordinate. A strategist at his side stepped forward and asked, "For the Heir Apparent of Pingnan Bo to visit Prince Rui's Residence in the dead of night—could it be that he has some private connection with Prince Rui?"
"The Pingnan Bo family has long withdrawn from officialdom. Even if Prince Rui were seeking allies, he wouldn’t turn to them." Fu Xiuyi's gaze turned cold. "The Su family was originally an excellent chess piece. If Su Mingfeng hadn’t suddenly fallen gravely ill, leading to the Su family gradually withdrawing from the political scene, things wouldn’t have come to this. However," he added, "the Su family also managed to escape disaster because of it. One could say they were fortunate."
The strategist remarked, "Speaking of which, the illness that struck the Heir Apparent of Pingnan Bo back then was truly bizarre. Because of his illness, Pingnan Bo resigned from his post, and now the family has gradually faded into seclusion. There’s hardly any news of them left in Fixed Capital."
Fu Xiuyi chuckled. "Do you really think Su Mingfeng was actually ill?"
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
"Su Mingfeng and Xie Jingxing of Marquis Lin'an Manor were the closest of friends," Fu Xiuyi said. "The Su family’s sudden withdrawal from politics was suspicious from the start. Especially Su Mingfeng—he was at the peak of his career, yet he suddenly fell gravely ill and didn’t even attempt to recover, immediately resigning instead. They claimed he wouldn’t live more than a few years, but look—two years have passed, and Su Mingfeng is still alive and well. The Pingnan Bo family clearly chose self-preservation, retreating before disaster struck. Naturally, someone must have warned them. The Pingnan Bo family and Marquis Lin'an Manor have always been close. Aside from a close friend, who else would bother with such a warning?"
"But," the strategist asked doubtfully, "Marquis Lin'an Manor still has Xie Ding. Why was it Xie Jingxing who warned them, and not Xie Ding?"
"Xie Ding could hardly protect himself," Fu Xiuyi said, taking a sip of tea. "Xie Ding is arrogant and conceited, relying on his military achievements to act presumptuously before His Majesty time and again. His Majesty has long wanted to eliminate him. If Xie Ding had been a little wiser, he would have restrained himself. But look—has he ever shown restraint in Fixed Capital? As for this Xie Jingxing," Fu Xiuyi narrowed his eyes, "he is not to be underestimated."
"But isn’t Xie Jingxing also known for his reckless and audacious behavior?" the strategist said. "When people in Fixed Capital speak of Young Marquis Xie, everyone knows him as a wild and daring figure."
"True, but don’t forget one thing," Fu Xiuyi replied. "From beginning to end, he has never entered officialdom."
"Everyone says Xie Jingxing refused to take office because of Xie Ding, deliberately ruining his own life through his unruly behavior. But I don’t think so. At the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet, Xie Jingxing single-handedly dealt with his two half-brothers, displaying military prowess that left people in awe. He possesses extraordinary talent, yet refuses to reveal it. What does that mean? It means he is hiding his brilliance.""How many years has Xie Ding lived, and how many has Xie Jingxing? Xie Ding, despite his advanced age, was still blinded by the immediate wealth and status of Marquis Lin'an Manor. Yet Xie Jingxing, at such a young age, could soberly assess the situation. Xie Jingxing is the most formidable figure in Marquis Lin'an Manor. Therefore, it wasn’t Xie Ding who warned the Su family, but Xie Jingxing—only Xie Jingxing."
The advisor looked at Fu Xiuyi: "Your Highness, are you overestimating Xie Jingxing? Even if he warned the Su family, it doesn’t prove anything."
"Doesn’t prove anything?" Fu Xiuyi stared back and countered, "What if we add the Xie Family Army into the equation?"
"The Xie Family Army?" The advisor was puzzled, then suddenly realized something and stared at Fu Xiuyi in shock. "Your Highness means..."
"In short, the most terrifying figure in Marquis Lin'an Manor isn’t Xie Ding, but Xie Jingxing," Fu Xiuyi said. "At a young age, this man possessed enough ambition and intellect. If given even a modicum of power, Fixed Capital would likely face upheaval. With him around, Marquis Lin'an Manor would forever remain an unconquerable stronghold."
"Fortunately, Xie Jingxing is already dead," the advisor sighed in relief after hearing Fu Xiuyi’s words. "Now, Marquis Lin'an Manor can no longer stir up any trouble."
"Indeed," Fu Xiuyi agreed. "A dangerous enemy must be eliminated before they fully mature. However," he shifted the topic, "what I’m curious about now is why Su Mingfeng has become entangled with Prince Rui."
"Not just that," the advisor added, "Rong Xin Princess also seems to be investigating Prince Rui. Su Mingfeng’s men have even been stationed outside the Shen residence, seemingly monitoring Fifth Miss Shen’s every move. Rong Xin Princess is doing the same."
"Su Mingfeng, Prince Rui, Rong Xin Princess, Shen Miao," Fu Xiuyi mused. "These individuals must share some extraordinary connection. Especially Shen Miao and Prince Rui, who have now been betrothed by imperial decree. I know my father’s temperament well—once he sets his mind on something, he never yields it to others. The Shen family is already within his grasp, so why would he inexplicably bestow Shen Miao upon Prince Rui as his Royal Consort? From Ming Qi’s perspective, this seems like an unwise bargain."
"Your Highness means..." the advisor pondered.
"This marriage must have been initiated by Prince Rui’s side. Moreover, Prince Rui must have employed some method to force His Majesty into this decision." Fu Xiuyi suddenly smiled eerily. "Don’t you find it strange? I previously suspected an unusual relationship between Prince Rui and Shen Miao, yet I thought Prince Rui wasn’t the type to alter grand strategies for a woman. But now, it seems I was wrong—Prince Rui does harbor special intentions toward Shen Miao. That’s why he went to such lengths to secure an imperial decree."
"Nothing in this world happens without reason. Su Mingfeng and Rong Xin Princess have never left Fixed Capital in their lives—they couldn’t possibly know Prince Rui. Yet their attitudes toward him suggest familiarity. Furthermore, Prince Rui and Shen Miao have only met a few times. Why would he go to such lengths for her? Could it be that Prince Rui has visited Ming Qi before?"
The advisor gasped in shock. "Your Highness means... Prince Rui has been to Fixed Capital before, met these individuals, and even formed ties with them?""Coming openly would naturally be impossible," Fu Xiuyi smiled. "Perhaps we were all deceived from the start, or rather, Prince Rui has been living in Fixed Capital as a citizen of Ming Qi all along. Otherwise, why would he wear a mask this time? It's said that every member of Great Coolness's imperial family is astonishingly beautiful—why would Prince Rui dare not show his true face?"
"I think his face must be recognizable to us."
The advisor fell silent, seemingly too shocked by this revelation to speak.
Fu Xiuyi smiled again. "But these are just my speculations for now—nothing is certain yet. No matter, I've already sent people to continue surveillance. It's just that now, I'm even more intrigued by Prince Rui's secrets." He paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "How is Pei Lang now?"
The advisor was taken aback, thought for a moment, and replied, "Still refusing to talk."
Fu Xiuyi chuckled. "Continue then, just don't let him die." He added, "The people the Shen family finds, each one of them, their bones are truly unyielding. It's enviable."
The advisor felt a chill run down his spine but dared not say anything more, respectfully withdrawing.
Several more days passed.
The Shen family finally came to terms with the fact that "Shen Miao is going to marry Prince Rui." Since the marriage had been settled, the betrothal letter sent, and the list of betrothal gifts presented, the bride's side also needed to show some regard for the match. Although Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan weren't actually in favor of Shen Miao marrying Prince Rui, if they didn't prepare properly, others might think they didn't value Shen Miao either.
Determined not to let others look down on his daughter, Shen Xin refused to skimp, but the list of betrothal gifts sent by Prince Rui was truly extraordinary, making the question of how much dowry to prepare a difficult one.
Originally, both Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan came from military backgrounds, having earned numerous rewards for their outstanding military achievements in earlier years. Since they were rarely in Fixed Capital, apart from the portion given to Old Madam Shen for household expenses, these rewards had hardly been touched. With only two children in the family, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan didn't favor one over the other—each got half. It was quite a generous arrangement.
But during those two years in Xiaochun City, they invested a considerable amount of silver into The Luo Family Army, and the Shen family's wealth was no longer as substantial as before. The strange thing was, the list of betrothal gifts sent by Prince Rui was so extravagant that even at the height of the Shen family's prosperity, they couldn't have matched it.
Initially, Shen Qiu thought Prince Rui was boasting, as the list was enough for an official to marry ten high-born brides. Prince Rui might just be joking with the Shen family. But the next day, Tie Yi, under Prince Rui's orders, delivered two golden geese, nearly startling Shen Qiu into stumbling.
These were treasures even the Empress Dowager would cherish. Yet Prince Rui sent them over as mere "auspicious tokens" of the betrothal gifts, casually packed in a box.
From then on, everyone believed that Great Coolness was truly wealthy, and Prince Rui was indeed extravagant beyond measure. This list of betrothal gifts was no joke—Shen Miao's dowry had become a serious matter.Shen Qiu took the initiative to offer the money he had saved for his future marriage to Shen Miao, saying, "Poverty should not weaken one's resolve. How can we let my sister's dowry be less than half of what Prince Rui has offered as betrothal gifts? If word gets out in Great Coolness, she’ll be looked down upon. The daughters of the Shen family must always strive for the best. If Prince Rui sends such lavish betrothal gifts and our dowry is meager, won’t he look down on us? We can’t be careless about this. At worst, I still have some antique decorations in my room—we can pawn them all. Though we may be poor, we mustn’t lose face."
Shen Xin wholeheartedly agreed.
Shen Miao: "..."
The Shen family was, after all, one of the most prominent households in Fixed Capital. How had Shen Qiu made it sound as if they were destitute, even to the point of selling off their furnishings to scrape together a dowry?
If word got out, it would be laughable.
As it was the New Year's season, matters in Fixed Capital had eased considerably. Shen Miao’s marriage had been personally decreed by Emperor Wenhui. Perhaps aware that the Shen family harbored much dissatisfaction with this match, the emperor had granted Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan a period of leave to accompany Shen Miao until after the wedding.
Even without the emperor’s leave, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan’s thoughts were entirely focused on Shen Miao, so they were naturally pleased with the arrangement. Shen Qiu and Luo Ling, stationed in the military department, had also mostly wrapped up their duties by year-end. These days, they stayed at home, helping Luo Xueyan prepare for the New Year or assisting Shen Miao.
The family was chatting idly in the hall. The chef had just prepared some pastries, and the charcoal fire burned warmly in the room. Luo Tan smiled at Shen Miao and said, "Little cousin, once the New Year passes, you’ll be married. Though there’s no time now to embroider your wedding dress, you should still prepare yourself. Tomorrow, let’s have the seamstresses from the Pavilion come to take your measurements. Once the sizing is done, they can work swiftly to finish the gown."
In Ming Qi, it was customary for brides to embroider their own wedding dresses. Those who were betrothed early would start years in advance. For those betrothed later, tailors would prepare the dress, and the bride would symbolically add a few stitches to the patterns, signifying that it was her own handiwork. This was believed to bring harmony and happiness to the marriage.
Originally, the Shen family had not been in a hurry for Shen Miao’s marriage. They had planned to start looking for suitable young talents after the New Year, giving Shen Miao ample time to embroider her wedding dress. But Emperor Wenhui’s imperial decree had thrown everything into disarray. Now, there was no way Shen Miao could embroider a wedding dress herself, so these arrangements had to be made early.
Luo Xueyan slapped her forehead in dismay. "I nearly forgot about this in all the busyness these days. Tan’er is right—we must start preparing Jiaojiao’s wedding dress. I’m not very familiar with the seamstresses in Fixed Capital, but I’ll ask a close friend later. She knows best where to find good dresses and jewelry. We can’t cut corners with Jiaojiao’s wedding gown." She then looked Shen Miao over and smiled. "Jiaojiao has such a slender figure—she’ll look beautiful in a wedding dress."
Hearing this, Shen Miao’s mind flashed back to the day Xie Jingxing had pulled her into his arms and said, "One hug and I’ll know." Her face grew warm at the memory.
Shen Qiu asked, "Sister, why is your face so red? Should we call a physician?"
Luo Ling’s gaze darkened, and he lowered his head without a word.Luo Tan was cheerfully discussing auspicious embroidery patterns for the wedding gown with Luo Xueyan when a servant hurried in, announcing, "Madam, Master, there's someone requesting an audience at the gate."
"Didn't we say we're not receiving guests these days? Why wasn't the gate closed?" Shen Xin said irritably. He wanted to cherish what little family time remained, so he had refused all visitors to the Shen residence.
The servant looked close to tears. "It's... it's Prince Rui of Great Coolness."
Luo Tan's eyes widened. Shen Qiu stood up abruptly, radiating hostility as he demanded, "What does he want?"
The servant stammered, "This lowly one didn't dare ask—"
Before he could finish, a deep, pleasant voice sounded from behind him.
"To deliver the wedding gown."
From behind the servant emerged a tall, imposing figure. The attendants of the Shen residence, though not exceptionally handsome, were all upright and dignified, having acquired some martial bearing from following Shen Qiu. Yet compared to this man, they suddenly seemed rather ordinary.
His flowing purple-gold robes swayed as he moved. His smile carried a hint of arrogance that wasn't offensive—a touch of rakishness, yet the cold gleam of his silver mask lent him an air of inscrutable depth. Even with his features concealed, his profile was striking. His leisurely stride exuded an innate elegance, a lazy nobility that nonetheless radiated undeniable authority.
"Prince Rui," he announced.
Even his self-introduction was audaciously bold.
Shen Qiu looked ready to draw his sword. He slammed the table, making the dessert plates rattle, and demanded, "So you're Prince Rui?"
Prince Rui nodded.
"Why do you want to marry my sister? What's your scheme?" Shen Qiu roared.
Luo Tan's jaw nearly dropped. Shen Qiu's hostility toward Prince Rui was extreme. While everyone shared similar suspicions, voicing them so bluntly seemed terribly impolite.
"Jiaojiao is gentle, sensible, dignified, and gracious. I've long admired her and sought her hand with trepidation. Fortunately, the Emperor's boundless grace has allowed me this honor," he said slowly, his words laced with amusement.
Shen Miao couldn't help but shiver. Xie Jingxing speaking in such a tender tone was unsettling. In their early acquaintance, every encounter had been marked by probing glances, cold indifference, and sarcasm.
Shen Xin and Shen Qiu immediately flew into a rage. On the surface, Prince Rui's words praised Shen Miao and expressed his admiration, but the undertones grew increasingly dubious. What did he mean by "the Emperor's boundless grace"? What "honor" was he referring to? Others might not know, but they understood perfectly—Prince Rui had forced Emperor Wenhui to issue the imperial decree. This so-called grace had been extorted, and the "honor" served whose purpose?
Shen Qiu and Shen Xin were like two powder kegs, needing only a spark to explode. After all his underhanded deeds, how dare Prince Rui come here playing the virtuous suitor?
Yet Luo Xueyan's gaze softened.Women and men perceive men differently. Women observe men through details. Prince Rui did not use "this prince" but rather "I." He addressed Shen Miao not as "Fifth Miss Shen" but as "Jiaojiao." If his sole purpose was to exploit the Shen family's influence, Prince Rui had already achieved his goal—there was no need for such gestures. Whether genuine or an act, the fact that he was willing to put in the effort was commendable. Take Fu Xiuyi, for example. Back when Shen Miao adored him, Fu Xiuyi would string her along—neither outright rejecting nor accepting her advances, unwilling to invest effort or show affection. Thus, the Shen family's reluctance to allow Shen Miao and Fu Xiuyi to be together stemmed not only from Fu Xiuyi's status potentially dragging the family down but also from the fact that he never truly loved her.
If one loves someone, they are willing to make the effort. If they can't even spare a little thought for the person now, how can one expect anything more in the future?
Luo Xueyan studied Prince Rui carefully. The fact that Prince Rui was willing to put in effort was already much better than she had imagined. Moreover, when it came to appearance and temperament, Prince Rui was truly someone who made it difficult for others to dislike him.
Compared to Fu Xiuyi, who was as gentle as a spring breeze yet always carried himself with the air of a prince—smooth, tactful, and diplomatic—Prince Rui was unrestrained and lazy in his actions, yet one could still see traces of genuine character in him. Such authenticity was especially rare coming from royalty. Luo Xueyan hoped that the man Shen Miao married wouldn’t spend every day wearing a false mask in front of her.
She said, "Your Highness, Prince Rui—"
"My given name is Yuan, courtesy name Jingxing," Prince Rui replied. "Madam may address me as Jingxing."
Shen Miao nearly choked on her tea.
Luo Xueyan was taken aback. Members of the imperial family were the most particular about propriety. Even among brothers, they had to be mindful of this and that. The people of Great Coolness were considered highly distinguished guests in Ming Qi, especially since Prince Rui was the Yongle Emperor's younger brother. She hadn’t expected him to allow others to address him by his courtesy name.
Allowing someone to use one’s courtesy name was something only done among the closest of friends.
Luo Xueyan’s gaze softened further as she looked at Prince Rui. "Jingxing, please have a seat," she said, then instructed Jing Zhe, "Serve tea."
Shen Qiu and Shen Xin immediately stared at Luo Xueyan in shock, unable to comprehend why she had grown so fond of Prince Rui in such a short time. Luo Ling, standing nearby, also eyed him with scrutiny.
"Jingxing," Luo Tan suddenly spoke up. "Isn’t that the name of the heir apparent of Marquis Lin'an Manor in Fixed Capital?"
Shen Miao held her teacup, feeling utterly drained.
Xie Jingxing was truly audacious—how dare he reveal his courtesy name here? Did he think that since Su Mingfeng and Ming An Princess already knew his true identity, it wouldn’t matter if more people found out? Anything related to his identity might arouse suspicion, yet instead of avoiding attention, he was practically inviting it.
Even though she was only drinking tea, Shen Miao felt as if she were getting drunk.
Shen Qiu, already displeased that Luo Xueyan had offered Prince Rui a seat and ordered tea for him, seized the opportunity when Luo Tan spoke up. "That’s right. Your Highness must not know who the heir apparent of Marquis Lin'an Manor is, do you?"
Prince Rui turned to him. "Oh? Who might that be?"
"His name is also Xie Jingxing, the eldest legitimate son of Marquis Lin'an. People say 'Southern Xie, Northern Shen'—the Xie family is a military aristocratic family on par with our Shen family. Xie Jingxing was the young marquis of the Xie family, a rare prodigy of his generation. Back then, he could defeat multiple opponents single-handedly, not to mention his mastery of both civil and martial arts. He also had an incomparably handsome face. Truly a young hero revered by all in Ming Qi—no one who knew him had anything but praise for him!" Shen Qiu sighed deeply. "Alas, heaven envies the talented. He perished far too young on the Northern Frontier Battlefield." His tone shifted as he challenged Prince Rui, "I wonder how Your Highness feels about sharing a name with such a man? That one was peerless in both civil and martial arts, with looks that overshadowed the world. How do you measure up against him?"
Shen Miao: "..."
"From General Shen’s words, it seems you greatly admired that Young Marquis Xie?" Prince Rui asked leisurely.
"Of course!" Shen Qiu declared passionately, completely ignoring Luo Xueyan’s repeated warning glances. Instead, he noticed Shen Xin’s encouraging gaze and continued, "He was the hero of my heart, irreplaceable by anyone!"
Shen Miao facepalmed.
If possible, she really wanted to pretend she didn’t know Shen Qiu.
As for Xie Jingxing—he must be secretly reveling in this.
Author’s Note:
Big Brother Shen Qiu can never stay cool for more than three seconds.
Xie CEO is secretly gloating: (￢‿￢)
New achievement unlocked: One million words!
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