"Because there's no reason to stand by and do nothing," Shen Miao said.
Xie Jingxing remained silent.
Shen Miao herself knew this reason was hardly convincing. In the eyes of others, before collaborating with Pei Lang, she and Pei Lang had barely interacted. Even at the Hall of Extensive Learning, where they were student and teacher, the total number of words exchanged between them could be counted on one hand. To entrust such important matters to someone she wasn’t particularly familiar with, without a trace of doubt, would naturally seem strange to others.
Especially since Xie Jingxing was not a careless person. He was adept at noticing details others overlooked, possessing an intimidating sharpness.
But some things were simply inexplicable. She couldn’t possibly reveal her past life experiences—not only would others find it hard to believe, but she herself couldn’t even justify it.
Shen Miao thought Xie Jingxing would press further, but instead, he nodded and said, "Fine."
Shen Miao was taken aback, then let out a sigh of relief.
One of the most comforting things about dealing with Xie Jingxing was that before becoming friends, he would try to uncover all the other person’s secrets. But once they were friends, he respected their boundaries and never forced them to admit things they weren’t willing to share.
Of course, he might still find out through his own methods.
"However," Xie Jingxing mused, "Prince Ding's Residence is heavily guarded. Saving someone right under Fu Xiuyi’s nose won’t be easy."
Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat. "Are you planning to intervene personally?"
"Why not?" His tone was unreadable, carrying a hint of something inexplicable. "Since you personally requested this rescue, I dare not make even the slightest mistake."
Shen Miao hesitated as she looked at him. Xie Jingxing’s identity was already complicated enough with Rong Xin Princess and Su Mingfeng involved. At least those two had some past connection with him, but Fu Xiuyi was another matter. If Fu Xiuyi discovered Xie Jingxing’s identity and didn’t seize the opportunity to stir up trouble, Shen Miao would have wasted all these years knowing him.
"Be careful," Shen Miao said. "I don’t want to become a widow right after entering your household."
Xie Jingxing replied, "How could you curse yourself like that?" Then, with a suggestive smile, he added, "Don’t worry, you won’t become a widow."
Shen Miao: "…" Never mind. His earlier words were surely just teasing her. Xie Jingxing was far too cautious to take such risks himself—she must have overthought it.
After chatting a while longer, Luo Xueyan’s maid came to summon them for dinner. Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing joined the others, and the meal passed harmoniously. Xie Jingxing, who had once charmed even the aloof Rong Xin Princess, naturally won over the cheerful and laughter-loving Luo Xueyan. His broad knowledge and courteous speech even drew Luo Ling’s attention to some of his viewpoints.
Even the usually critical Shen Xin found nothing to complain about. Meanwhile, Shen Qiu, remembering what Shen Xin had told him earlier about sparring with Prince Rui, abruptly declared midway through the meal, "I’ve eaten too much today. Brother-in-law, how about a sparring session later? Sitting around all day isn’t good—us men should stretch our limbs."
Shen Miao paused with her chopsticks. Luo Xueyan scolded, "Shen Qiu, are you itching for a beating? Do you want your mother to spar with you instead?""Mother," Shen Qiu said aggrievedly, "this is a matter between us young people. Please don't interfere." Then he turned to Prince Rui and suddenly seemed to remember something. "Ah, I almost forgot to ask—brother-in-law, you know martial arts, right?"
"I know a little," Xie Jingxing replied with a smile.
Shen Qiu straightened his expression. "Good. After all, as a member of the imperial family, I imagine the martial arts instructors you've had must be quite skilled. Don’t worry, as your elder brother, I’ll go easy on you. But since I’ve spent time in the military, sparring with those rough soldiers every day, I might not hold back enough. If I accidentally..." He cupped his hands in apology. "I hope you’ll forgive me."
He kept calling himself "elder brother" and Xie Jingxing "brother-in-law" with affectionate familiarity, his words dripping with feigned remorse. Yet his expression and tone betrayed nothing but eager excitement. If not for the fact that dinner wasn’t over yet, it seemed he would’ve dragged Prince Rui straight to the training grounds for a match.
Luo Tan and Luo Ling watched from the sidelines. Luo Tan was curious—she had always wondered just how skilled Prince Rui was in martial arts. The world knew very little about the Prince of Great Coolness. Previously, it was only known that the imperial family of Great Coolness was exceptionally beautiful, and this prince was no exception. But beyond that, he remained shrouded in mystery. His martial prowess had never been specifically mentioned, suggesting it likely wasn’t remarkable.
Yet Luo Tan trusted her instincts. When she had gone to Prince Rui’s Residence to seek his help before, she had sensed that he was an extraordinary man.
What would happen when Shen Qiu faced Prince Rui? Luo Tan, never one to shy away from a spectacle, was more than happy to watch.
Luo Xueyan was so furious she could barely restrain herself from smacking Shen Qiu right then and there. But with Prince Rui present, she had to maintain her dignified composure as the lady of the house. She turned to Shen Xin, her tone laced with warning. "Aren’t you going to do something about this?"
To her surprise, Shen Xin—who usually obeyed her every word—didn’t even lift an eyelid. He picked up a bite of food, chewed, and swallowed before responding with an air of detachment. "Do what? Let the young people settle their own matters."
Shen Miao saw right through it. Shen Qiu wouldn’t dare provoke Luo Xueyan’s patience so brazenly unless Shen Xin was backing him. Did Shen Xin want to test Xie Jingxing’s martial skills?
She glanced at Xie Jingxing beside her. Noticing her gaze, he turned his head slightly, the corner of his lips quirking up.
How did this man have such a talent for stirring up chaos even with something as simple as delivering a wedding dress? Shen Miao couldn’t help but admire it.
With Shen Xin’s tacit approval, Luo Xueyan’s further objections would only make her seem unreasonable. So after the meal, Shen Qiu eagerly dragged Xie Jingxing to an open space in the Shen residence’s courtyard.
Worried something might go wrong, Luo Xueyan had no choice but to follow. Shen Xin naturally went to watch, Luo Tan pulled Luo Ling along for the spectacle, and Shen Miao had no choice but to join as well. Soon, a crowd had gathered in the courtyard, as if they were spectators at an arena match.
Luo Xueyan warned Shen Qiu repeatedly—both openly and subtly—not to let anything happen. He was to be gentle, as Prince Rui was a scholar, a pampered imperial who had never endured hardship. He wasn’t to treat him with the same rough attitude he used on his soldier comrades, nor frighten him.
Shen Qiu let the words go in one ear and out the other, too excited to care. He eagerly ordered his subordinates to bring out a row of weapons and asked, "Brother-in-law, which one would you like? Take your pick."
He spoke as if offering a grand favor.
But when the weapons were laid out—good heavens! There were spears, halberds, iron rods, curved sabers, nine-section whips, giant hammers, longswords... and even a few enormous battle-axes.At first glance, it was an extremely cumbersome and unwieldy weapon.
Luo Xueyan was so exasperated she didn’t even want to look anymore.
Prince Rui’s gaze flickered slightly in surprise.
Shen Qiu said smugly, “Brother-in-law, these weapons are all very well-balanced. Feel free to pick whichever one you like—consider it your elder brother going easy on you.”
Shen Miao: “…”
For some reason, though Shen Qiu had never been particularly quick-witted in social situations, he still possessed the stern, iron-willed demeanor expected of a military man. But today, compared to Xie Jingxing, he seemed almost childishly clumsy.
Shen Miao could practically imagine how ridiculous her elder brother must look in Xie Jingxing’s eyes.
Xie Jingxing swept a glance over the weapons and casually picked up a short dagger.
“This?” Shen Qiu was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Xie Jingxing to choose a dagger. With a meaningful look, he said, “Good choice, brother-in-law. But the shorter the blade, the greater the risk. Not many dare to wield such a dagger. Don’t pick it just because it’s light—why not take this longsword instead? It’s a bit rusty, but not too heavy. You can lift it.”
“Thank you, elder brother,” Xie Jingxing replied with a smile. “I’ll take this one.”
Shen Qiu snorted. “Then don’t blame me for not holding back. It’s your own fault for choosing such a lousy weapon.”
Xie Jingxing’s lips curled slightly.
Though he wore a mask, the faint smirk at the corner of his mouth carried an air of indifference and mockery—enough to provoke anyone. Shen Qiu immediately hefted a long spear and pointed its tip straight at Xie Jingxing.
Luo Xueyan covered her face.
“After you, elder brother,” Xie Jingxing said courteously.
“Such arrogance!” Shen Qiu charged forward, spear in hand.
Many years later, the renowned and formidable young General Shen would become an old veteran, his illustrious military career the envy of countless, his victories too numerous to count, hailed as a god of war and revered by all martial practitioners… Yet he would still remember this warm, sunlit afternoon with perfect clarity—a memory, and a humiliation, that would never fade.
No one quite saw what happened. Shen Qiu rushed forward with his spear, and the two became a blur of motion—only to separate moments later. Shen Qiu’s spear clattered to the ground, while Prince Rui’s dagger rested steadily against Shen Qiu’s throat, held between two fingers.
The Shen family: “…”
Prince Rui withdrew his hand, twirling the dagger deftly between his fingers before giving Shen Qiu a faintly amused look. “Thank you for going easy on me, elder brother.”
Six words—and Shen Qiu’s face turned beet red.
The Shen family exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to make of it. Luo Tan murmured, “Cousin Qiu… lost?”
The crowd froze.
Among the younger generation of Ming Qi, Shen Qiu’s martial prowess was second to none. First, he had been personally trained by his father from childhood, and the Shen family’s generations of military experience meant their home was filled with martial manuals—Shen Qiu’s foundation was rock-solid. Second, he had been taken to the battlefield at a young age, gaining real combat experience. With these advantages, Shen Qiu’s skills were honed to perfection, without a single weak point.
Yet Prince Rui had disarmed him, and now his dagger was at Shen Qiu’s throat. By all appearances, Shen Qiu had lost.Shen Qiu gritted his teeth, unwilling but forced to admit, "A fair loss is no disgrace."
Luo Tan was the first to clap and cheer, "Brother-in-law is amazing! You can even defeat Cousin Qiu. You must be the best fighter in Ming Qi!"
Luo Ling quickly covered Luo Tan's mouth. After all, Luo Tan was Shen Qiu's cousin, yet she was cheering for an outsider. Hearing this would only make Shen Qiu feel worse. He glanced uneasily at Luo Xueyan, thinking she must also be upset that her son had lost to an outsider. But when he turned to look, he saw Luo Xueyan had already hurried over to Prince Rui, who had just returned, and said, "Jingxing, your martial skills are truly impressive!"
"Just some amateur skills picked up since childhood," Prince Rui replied modestly. "Nothing compared to Brother Xin's solid foundation. I'm ashamed."
"Young people shouldn't always be so humble," Luo Xueyan said. "If you have the ability to be proud, then be proud. That's what youth should be like."
Shen Miao thought to herself, Xie Jingxing is already the proudest person in the world. If he becomes any prouder, he might as well ascend to heaven...
All in all, the meal was a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests. Luo Xueyan and Luo Tan asked Xie Jingxing many questions about martial arts. Xie Jingxing's attitude was perfectly humble, yet he seemed to know everything, quickly earning Luo Xueyan's admiration. After Xie Jingxing left and everyone dispersed, Luo Xueyan kept murmuring, "Prince Rui is quite a good young man. Setting aside his status, his courage, talent, appearance, and character are all exceptional in this world."
"Who can tell what he looks like with that mask on?" Shen Qiu grumbled. "Mom is too biased. What if he has ugly scars on his face? And how can you judge his character? I don't think he's that great."
"What do you know?" Luo Xueyan retorted. "A cultivated mind shines through one's demeanor. Even though I can't see his face, his bearing is excellent. Even if his face isn't perfect, his demeanor makes up for it. Besides, I've walked more bridges than you've walked roads. A person's character can be seen in their eyes—it's something you can't fake."
Shen Qiu pouted. "Just biased."
"Shen Qiu, that's enough from you today," Luo Xueyan shot him a look, recalling the earlier events and instantly growing irritated. "What's your problem with him? Instead of being jealous, why not practice your martial arts? You couldn't even last a few moves before his blade was at your neck. Do you even care about saving face?"
Shen Qiu quickly said, "I get it, Mom. I'll go train with Dad right now—immediately!" With that, he dashed off.
Luo Xueyan looked at the wooden box on the table, which contained Shen Miao's wedding dress. Thinking such a valuable garment should be locked away for safekeeping, she picked up the box to take it to the storeroom herself. But then she noticed what seemed to be a hidden compartment on the lid.
Suspicion arose in her heart. She opened the compartment, and a small booklet wrapped in red cloth fell out.
Meanwhile, Shen Qiu was speaking with Shen Xin."Father, Prince Rui must have practiced martial arts for far more than just a few years. Judging by his skills, he likely started training since childhood. Otherwise, he couldn't have defeated me in just a few moves." Shen Qiu pondered for a moment before adding, "Moreover, his techniques are extremely ruthless—far surpassing those of ordinary soldiers. Logically, a member of the royal family shouldn't need such skills." He then muttered resentfully, "This time, I underestimated him. Next time, I'll make sure to beat him so thoroughly he'll have to look at me with new respect."
Shen Xin waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. You're no match for him."
"Father!" Shen Qiu was shocked. "You're not going to look down on me forever just because of one mistake, are you? I truly underestimated him this time. Who would've thought that a seemingly delicate, fair-faced scholar like him could hide such skills? I—"
"Is that all he's hiding?" Shen Xin interrupted, his expression turning complicated.
"Father?" Shen Qiu was puzzled. "What do you mean by that? Is there something else he's keeping from us? Is he... not a good person?"
"Enough. Go outside," Shen Xin said. "Stop overthinking things and focus on your training."
Shen Qiu: "..."
He had only lost once—why was he suddenly being treated like some weak, powerless scholar?
Grumbling, Shen Qiu stormed off, resolved to spar with others at the training grounds every day from now on. However... before leaving, he couldn't help but glance back at Shen Xin.
Why did Father seem so troubled?
Indeed, Shen Xin was deeply troubled. The weight of his worries had grown so heavy that it was almost impossible to conceal. He wanted to distract himself, but the more he tried, the more his mind stubbornly fixated on the matter.
Yet he couldn't speak of it to anyone. Revealing it might trigger unpredictable consequences.
He had sent Shen Qiu to test Prince Rui's martial skills, intending to see if the prince was worthy of becoming the Shen family's son-in-law. Until today, Prince Rui had merely been a name on Emperor Wenhui's imperial decree—no one in the Shen family had any expectations of him. They had regarded him as a scheming, ambitious man with ill intentions, making Shen Miao's marriage arrangement an unfair one.
But today, seeing Luo Xueyan conversing so warmly with Prince Rui, Shen Xin knew his wife well—she was genuinely pleased with the prince.
If Prince Rui had already begun to win Luo Xueyan's approval, then he could no longer be treated as just a name on an imperial decree. To become the Shen family's son-in-law, he would have to endure all manner of rigorous and exacting tests.
Martial prowess was one such test. He didn't need to be peerless, but he had to be capable of protecting Shen Miao's safety. As a woman's husband, at the very least, he should be able to shield her from harm.
This was Shen Xin's reasoning. Yet this sparring match had unexpectedly revealed something deeper.
The younger generation might not have noticed, but he and Luo Xueyan had seen it clearly—especially Shen Xin, who could even discern the techniques used during their confrontation. That dagger move Prince Rui had used to lock onto Shen Qiu's throat—Shen Xin had seen someone else use it before.
Xie Ding.The discord between the Shen and Xie families over political views had been passed down for generations. The Shen family emphasized discipline and military decorum in warfare, while the Xie family advocated for unconventional tactics to secure victory. Their ancestors had feuded for years, and by Shen Xin's generation, it had almost become second nature. Yet no one truly remembered why these two aristocratic families had become sworn rivals.
The saying that "your greatest enemy knows you better than your closest friend" held true. Since his youth, Shen Xin had secretly competed with Xie Ding. The Shen family had their signature spear techniques—each thrust precise and deadly—while the Xie family had no such tradition. Yet Xie Ding's dagger-lock throat move was something others could only envy, perfect for assassinating enemy commanders. Imagine being locked in fierce combat on horseback, only for a dagger to suddenly emerge from the spear shaft and aim straight for your throat—how terrifying was that?
With this move, Xie Ding was nearly invincible.
Xie Ding never taught this technique to anyone except his sole legitimate son, Xie Jingxing—not even his two illegitimate sons. When Xie Jingxing used it in a duel during his youth, Shen Xin happened to witness it. He was astonished that someone so young could execute the move with such mastery, even refining Xie Ding's original technique to make it even deadlier.
And today, when Prince Rui faced Shen Qiu, he used that very move.
Or rather, the modified version Xie Jingxing had perfected—identical in angle, yet deliberately slowed, as if to ensure Shen Xin saw it clearly.
Shen Xin couldn't hide his shock. Silence was his only refuge—he didn't know what to think.
Xie Jingxing was dead, fallen on the Northern Frontier Battlefield two years ago. So how could Prince Rui of Great Coolness know Xie Jingxing's dagger-lock throat technique, down to the exact same motion?
Even when two people perform the same action, there are always subtle differences. Yet in that moment, Prince Rui and Xie Jingxing overlapped perfectly in Shen Xin's eyes.
A bizarre thought surfaced: Could Prince Rui be Xie Jingxing?
But Xie Jingxing was dead.
Shen Xin found the idea absurd, even laughable—yet he couldn't shake it. He even suspected Prince Rui had slowed his movements during the duel with Shen Qiu just to make sure Shen Xin noticed.
Was Prince Rui trying to reveal the truth to him?
Shen Qiu was equally unsettled but had no one to confide in. He decided to investigate first, waiting until things became clearer.
After all, he didn’t want to see Shen Miao hurt. And if Prince Rui truly was Xie Jingxing, the implications would be far from simple.
...
Days passed, and the New Year was just around the corner. For ordinary people, the year's end was the happiest time—a chance to indulge in good food, drink, and merriment. But fleeting joy always made time feel all the more precious.For Pei Lang, each day was like a slow execution by a thousand cuts, tormenting him bit by bit, stripping away a small piece of his flesh before returning the next day to continue the agony. Sometimes he wished for a swift death the following day, if only to escape this prolonged suffering.
He had lost track of how long he had been imprisoned in the Dungeon of Prince Ding's Residence. Apart from the guards who tortured him, even Fu Xiuyi no longer visited. The torment grew worse with each passing day, leaving his legs drenched in blood and sweat. It was said that after today, his kneecaps would be gouged out.
Having his kneecaps gouged out meant a lifetime of kneeling before others—for someone as proud as Pei Lang, this was undoubtedly a lifelong nightmare. Fu Xiuyi truly understood the weaknesses of human nature. A young man in the prime of his life, brimming with talent and boundless prospects, would now have to live on his knees. Even if he were to see the light of day again someday, his life would be utterly ruined, likely worse than death.
Strangely, even at this point, Pei Lang still had no intention of betraying Shen Miao.
Though his rationality kept urging him—just say it, and everything would be over. Even death would be better than this endless torment. He and Shen Miao weren’t even friends; she had merely used Liuying to coerce him into working for her. Shen Miao, though always fierce in her words, never harmed the innocent. Even if he did betray her, she would never take it out on the blameless Liuying.
After all, this suffering was simply too unbearable.
Yet, though his mind reasoned this way, every time he was on the verge of speaking, he clenched his jaw at the last moment. As if uttering those words would make him guilty of some unforgivable sin. Pei Lang wondered—had he owed Shen Miao some enormous debt in a past life? Why else would he willingly endure such agony for her?
But… it had been so long, and no one had come to save him. Pei Lang couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.
Shen Miao had probably forgotten about him. Or perhaps, in her grand scheme, sacrificing an insignificant pawn wasn’t worth a second thought.
Just as he was lost in these thoughts, a sudden commotion erupted outside—shouts, clamor, and the sharp crackling of something breaking.
A wave of heat surged toward him.
Someone yelled, "Fire! Fire!"
Fire?
Pei Lang was stunned. This was Fu Xiuyi’s dungeon, a place only visited by his trusted aides and prison guards. Under such strict surveillance, even the slightest mishap was unthinkable. Yet now, a fire had broken out—though it would likely be extinguished soon.
But this time, Pei Lang was wrong. The fire wasn’t put out; instead, it grew fiercer. Black smoke seeped in, and the chaotic footsteps outside gradually faded, as if moving farther away.
Pei Lang’s cell was the deepest and most isolated, rarely seen by others. When the fire started, his location made him the most vulnerable. The deeper the flames spread, the more dangerous it became, splitting the dungeon into two sections. No one would dare venture into the perilous depths.
And certainly no one would risk their life to save a condemned prisoner like him.
As the scorching heat rolled in, Pei Lang felt an odd sense of déjà vu, as if he’d witnessed this scene before. Yet, instead of fear, a strange relief washed over him.
This is it… ending like this isn’t so bad.
Just as he closed his eyes, an unfamiliar voice rang out before him: "Hey, you dead yet?"Pei Lang opened his eyes in astonishment to find a black-clad figure standing before him. The person's face was concealed by a black cloth mask, revealing only a pair of eyes—brilliant and shimmering—that showed not the slightest hint of panic despite the raging fire around them. When Pei Lang didn't respond, the figure seemed impatient and, producing a key from somewhere, unlocked the cell door directly.
This person had actually come to rescue him.
A sense of disbelief rose in Pei Lang's heart. Yet given this attire and demeanor, it couldn't possibly be for any other purpose.
Still, something stirred within Pei Lang—why did those eyes seem so familiar?
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Brother Xie showing off his skills, while Big Bro's been slapping faces left and right these past few chapters...
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