One day, an unexpected guest arrived at Prince Rui's Residence.
The visitor carried a long sword at his waist, appearing mighty and imposing. It was clear at a glance that he was someone who had weathered the trials of the battlefield. His resolute features bore the marks of hardship as he stood straight and tall at the entrance of Prince Rui's Residence, giving off an air of hostility.
The guards at the gate stopped this burly man, but the man simply said, "Take me to Prince Rui."
His tone was audacious, but the people of Prince Rui's Residence were accustomed to arrogance—even the servants carried an air of pride. Unfazed by the man's demeanor, they replied respectfully, "Without an invitation, His Highness does not receive outsiders."
Just as the man was about to lose his temper, a surprised voice came from inside: "General Shen!" Looking up, he saw Tie Yi striding over. As Tie Yi approached, he shot a fierce glare at the guard and said deferentially, "General Shen, the servants are ignorant. Please forgive them. This subordinate will take you to see His Highness at once."
The guard's eyes widened, likely just realizing who "General Shen" was, then he cast a doubtful glance at the man, seemingly surprised that he would come at this time.
Shen Xin had been stewing in anger. These past few days, he had tossed and turned, unable to sleep whenever he recalled his earlier suspicions. He had thought that with time, the matter would fade from memory, but instead, the longer it dragged on, the more it weighed on his mind.
Shen Xin was not one to leave things unresolved. Once doubts arose, he had to get to the bottom of them—especially when it concerned Shen Miao's lifelong happiness. Thus, he had finally decided to visit Prince Rui's Residence in person. Whatever the outcome, he needed clarity.
Who would have thought that the moment he arrived, he would encounter an insolent guard, further souring his already uneasy mood.
Fortunately, Tie Yi was perceptive. Noticing Shen Xin's displeasure, he did his best to lighten the mood, mentioning how the entire Prince Rui's Residence was bustling with wedding preparations to ensure Shen Miao's grand and dignified marriage, one that would bring no shame to Ming Qi.
As Shen Xin followed Tie Yi inside, he saw that the residence was indeed adorned with lanterns and decorations, exuding a festive atmosphere. At the very least, it was clear that Prince Rui's household took this marriage seriously, which eased Shen Xin's mind considerably.
When they reached the door of a particular room, Tie Yi stopped and said, "This subordinate is not permitted to enter His Highness's study. Someone has already announced your arrival, General Shen. You may enter directly."
Shen Xin thought to himself that the conversation he was about to have with Prince Rui was highly private and certainly not for outsiders' ears. If even the servants were barred from the study, it would make things much easier. At the same time, he felt a flicker of doubt—why would Prince Rui forbid his own servants from entering yet allow him, Shen Xin, to go in alone? Was he not afraid Shen Xin might attack him? But then he realized—given the martial prowess Prince Rui had displayed during his spar with Shen Qiu, it was unlikely he would be helpless against Shen Xin.
Though his mind was racing, Shen Xin maintained a composed expression. With a nod, he stepped toward the door—only for a furry white creature to suddenly dart out. Upon closer inspection, it was a white tiger with striking eyes, though still small and not fully grown. It let out a playful, kitten-like growl at him.
Shen Xin nearly drew his sword on instinct.It was Tie Yi who immediately stepped forward to carry the white tiger away, allowing Shen Xin to take a deep breath before pushing the door open and entering.
Inside, Prince Rui was seated in a chair, reading a book. His posture was far from proper—lazy and relaxed—and the way he flipped through the pages was casual, as if he were merely skimming without truly absorbing the content.
Shen Xin frowned. "Prince Rui."
Unlike Luo Xueyan, who had taken to calling him "Jingxing" at Prince Rui's affectionate invitation, Shen Xin couldn't bring himself to do the same. Men and women were different—women could rely on intuition to judge whether someone harbored goodwill or malice, but men, especially Shen Xin, preferred to act based on evidence.
Prince Rui lifted his gaze and carelessly set the book aside. Shen Xin caught a glimpse—it was a military treatise, and an exceptionally abstruse one at that. Such texts were usually studied by seasoned veterans, yet Prince Rui was only twenty-two. If he was reading this, it was either an affectation or a sign that he was far more formidable than he appeared.
Before Prince Rui's visit, Shen Xin had regarded him as nothing more than a frivolous, arrogant prince who relied solely on his status as the Yongle Emperor's younger brother. But after witnessing his match against Shen Qiu that day, Shen Xin couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this man.
Perhaps this was a man's intuition.
"General Shen, how about a game of chess with me?" Prince Rui didn’t address him as "Master Shen" or any other familiar term—there was an unspoken implication in his choice of words.
Shen Xin replied, "I don’t play chess."
"War chess." Prince Rui reached over and retrieved a board, placing it on the table. He handed Shen Xin a jar of white pieces while keeping the black ones for himself. "General Shen, let’s treat the board as our nations, the moves as borders, and the pieces as soldiers. How about a match?"
The mention of military strategy piqued Shen Xin’s interest, but seeing how young the other man was, he couldn’t help but feel slighted. "Fine, let’s do it," he said.
The two arranged their pieces and began the game.
Contrary to Prince Rui’s outward demeanor, his playing style stunned Shen Xin—it was ruthlessly cunning, far beyond his years. War chess was mentally taxing, requiring careful consideration of each move, as one misstep could affect the entire game. Yet Prince Rui played as if he didn’t need to think at all, placing his pieces wherever he pleased with apparent nonchalance. Yet upon closer inspection, each seemingly random move turned out to be ingeniously calculated.
Shen Xin had always considered himself skilled at war chess, but against Prince Rui, he found himself repeatedly outmaneuvered. He even had the eerie sense that they had played before—otherwise, how could Prince Rui seem to anticipate his every move?
When the game ended, the outcome was unsurprising—Shen Xin lost.
Prince Rui said, "You lost."
Shen Xin waved a hand dismissively. "Again!"
"Again, and the result will be the same," Prince Rui replied.
"What do you mean?" Shen Xin frowned.
"You’ll lose," he said.
In all his years, even Emperor Wenhui had shown him due respect. Aside from Luo Xueyan, no one had ever dared speak to him like this. Anger flared in Shen Xin’s expression, but before he could erupt, Prince Rui added lightly, "General Shen, you didn’t come to Prince Rui's Residence today just for a game of chess." He tilted his lips in a faint smile. "What is it?"
Shen Xin’s furious words lodged in his throat.Prince Rui always seemed to possess a certain skill—provoking others to the point of fury, then effortlessly diverting the conversation as if nothing had been said. This ability bore an uncanny resemblance to someone else: Xie Ding, the young Marquis Lin'an. Whenever Xie Ding quarreled with Shen Xin, he wore the same insouciant expression. Shen Xin, being straightforward and earnest by nature, often took things seriously, only to be toyed with by the unruly Xie Ding.
The thought of Xie Ding suddenly reminded Shen Xin of his purpose for visiting Prince Rui's Residence today. At this realization, even his anger toward the prince dissipated. He fixed his gaze on Prince Rui, scrutinizing every subtle shift in his expression, and asked slowly, "That move you used during your duel with Shen Qiu at the Shen residence—the dagger pressed against his throat—where did you learn it?"
Hearing this, Prince Rui smiled. "General Shen, are you referring to the 'Dagger Lock Throat'? I executed it so slowly, I assumed you had a clear view. Would you like me to demonstrate it again for you?"
Shen Xin was momentarily stunned, his heart suddenly unsettled. So Prince Rui had done it deliberately.
He had thought as much—that day, the dagger lock throat had seemed deliberately slowed, as if to ensure he could see the move clearly. Now that Prince Rui had admitted it, Shen Xin felt an indescribable mix of emotions, though suspicion dominated. He pressed, "You know it's called 'Dagger Lock Throat.' How did you learn it?"
"I've known it for a long time," Prince Rui replied lazily. "Haven't you seen it before, General Shen?"
Haven't you seen it before, General Shen?
The words struck Shen Xin like a thunderclap, reverberating through his entire body, leaving him trembling uncontrollably.
Many years ago, on the streets of Ming Qi, he had once witnessed the heir of Marquis Lin'an Manor—Xie Ding's son—use this very move on someone. At the time, he had thought to himself, "Xie Jingxing's execution of this move is far more formidable than his father's."
Now, Prince Rui was saying, "Haven't you seen it before, General Shen?"
Prince Rui had never been to Ming Qi before. And Shen Xin had never seen anyone else use this move.
A storm of emotions raged within Shen Xin. For a moment, he was at a loss—unsure whether he should outwardly express shock or horror. Yet, beneath the turmoil, a strange calm settled over him. The sleepless nights and restless thoughts of recent days had finally found their answer. His suspicions had been correct.
He asked, "Are you Xie Jingxing?"
Prince Rui removed his mask without hesitation.
Shen Xin drew a sharp breath.
The Shen family and Marquis Lin'an Manor had never been on good terms. Yet, precisely because of this, Shen Xin knew the Xie family better than most. Xie Ding had sired a son who seemed born to defy him, and Shen Xin had once taken secret delight in this, quietly admiring Xie Jingxing. Despite the young man's rebellious nature, he possessed a sincerity and freedom rarely seen among the noble youths of Fixed Capital.
Thus, Shen Xin remembered Xie Jingxing's appearance vividly.
The man before him now was more mature and handsome, but traces of his younger self lingered in his features. In that instant, everything clicked into place. The questions that had plagued him finally had their answers.
He said, "What is going on here? Don't you owe me an explanation?"His tone was unmistakably that of an elder disciplining a junior, to the point where Shen Xin even had the absurd illusion that it was as if he was helping Xie Ding discipline his son.
Xie Jingxing smiled faintly, pouring Shen Xin a cup of tea. "Father-in-law, have some tea and listen slowly."
For the next half-hour, Shen Xin heard an earth-shattering secret from Xie Jingxing’s lips—one he had never imagined.
Shen Xin never expected Xie Jingxing to be a prince of Great Coolness, with such a bizarre and tumultuous background. Even more shocking was Xie Jingxing’s audacity—having become Prince Rui of Great Coolness, he still dared to swagger into Ming Qi so boldly. Didn’t he fear the trouble his exposed identity might bring upon himself?
After listening to Xie Jingxing’s words, Shen Xin was overwhelmed with fury, indignation, regret, and hesitation—all tangled together in a storm of emotions. Yet, he quickly grasped what decision he must make now. He declared, "Given your identity, Jiaojiao cannot marry you."
"Why?" Xie Jingxing asked.
"Your purpose here is certainly not just to pay tribute to Ming Qi," Shen Xin’s words were sharp, cutting through all pretense. "Great Coolness’s ambitions won’t stop there. One day, they will turn against Ming Qi. When that time comes, you and I will inevitably face each other on the battlefield. If Jiaojiao marries you, how will she bear it? Must she be torn between you and Ming Qi? Even if I defy the imperial decree or find another way, I will never put her in such an impossible position!"
"Father-in-law worries too much." Xie Jingxing chuckled dismissively. "She knows my identity and understands the situation better than you do. Perhaps you should consider the relationship between the Shen family and Ming Qi."
Hearing the insinuation in his words, Shen Xin frowned. "What do you mean?"
Xie Jingxing snapped his fingers, his gaze falling on the chessboard from their earlier game. The remaining pieces showed Shen Xin’s white ones nearly wiped out, while Xie Jingxing’s black ones still dominated the board. Shen Xin had lost miserably, yet the game hadn’t seemed particularly intense. Xie Jingxing remarked, "This game we just played—I played it as a member of Ming Qi’s imperial family. Didn’t you notice anything?"
Shen Xin’s head snapped up, furious. "Nonsense!"
"Whether it’s nonsense or not, we both know the truth." Xie Jingxing’s playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a razor-sharp edge. "Ming Qi’s attitude toward the Shen family—don’t tell me you haven’t noticed even a hint of it. In fact, if not for Shen Miao’s maneuvering behind the scenes, the Shen family wouldn’t have managed to stay unscathed as they are now. I’m no saint, but I can’t stand watching Shen Miao alone shield your family while you remain oblivious. She plays the villain—just a young girl. I can’t bear it."
Shen Xin’s mustache bristled with anger, but he seized the key point in Xie Jingxing’s words. "What’s wrong with Jiaojiao? What did you mean by that? Explain yourself clearly!""My father-in-law and mother-in-law are stationed in the northwest all year round, concerned with the affairs of the world, naturally too busy to look after Shen Jiaojiao. But I happen to know a thing or two. Do you really think the second and third branches of the Shen family are any good? They once colluded with Prince Yu to try and deliver Shen Miao to his bed, drugging her with incense at the Crouching Dragon Temple. How did Shen Yuan die? How did Ren Wanyun go mad? What happened to Shen Gui and Shen Wan? Jing Chuchu and Jing Guansheng? The Shen family schemed against Shen Miao, but the Ming Qi imperial family never hesitated to threaten your life either."
"Do you think it was mere coincidence when you retreated to Xiaochun City, and Su Yu of the Su family suddenly intervened, inadvertently persuading the emperor to show mercy? That the Shen family’s repeated escapes were just blessings from heaven?"
He looked at Shen Xin’s stiff expression and sneered, "Two years ago, when my father-in-law returned victorious, coinciding with the old lady’s birthday, it was Shen Miao who set fire to the Shen family ancestral hall—just to make you see their ambition. She risked her life to warn you, General Shen. Can you honestly say you can still protect her without fail?"
Shen Xin felt as if struck by lightning.
These events had unfolded one after another since he and Luo Xueyan returned to Fixed Capital. He had suspected something amiss, but every investigation led to dead ends. Later, with the Ministry of War’s heavy workload, he had no time to dwell on it and eventually let it go.
Shen Miao never mentioned it, and Shen Xin had overlooked it. Now, hearing the truth of these matters from Xie Jingxing’s lips, he couldn’t tell whether he was more shocked or furious—rendered utterly speechless.
"The second and third branches of the Shen family have reached this point entirely due to Shen Miao’s schemes. Don’t blame her for being ruthless, General Shen. If not for her, the grass on her grave would already be a zhang tall." Xie Jingxing’s words were mocking, but his gaze grew sharper, almost suffocating. "To the world, my father-in-law may be a great general, but to Shen Miao, I think not. I don’t know why she shouldered these burdens alone, as if she owed the Shen family. But in my eyes, General Shen is not a good father, though the Shen family is fortunate to have raised a daughter like Shen Miao."
"She has been working for you, doing everything to protect the Shen family. The Ming Qi imperial family is her next target. And now you say Shen Miao will be troubled by this? I don’t understand," he said coldly, scornfully. "Do you really know Shen Miao at all?"
Shen Xin sat in his chair, suddenly feeling ashamed.
"On the contrary, though my bond with Shen Jiaojiao may not run deep, we’ve shared hardships. We’ve listened to the sorrows of the night together, plotted under the stars. I’ve saved her life and rescued her from peril." Xie Jingxing said, "Why shouldn’t I marry her?"
An overwhelming weariness rose in Shen Xin’s heart. The Shen Miao Xie Jingxing spoke of was unfamiliar to him, a stranger. Even the trials she had endured were unknown to him. As Xie Jingxing said, he had prided himself on doting on his daughter, yet he hadn’t even grasped the most basic understanding of her. What had he truly done all these years?
He stared at the remnants of the chess game on the table for a long, long time, until his eyes ached. Finally, he whispered, "Tell me everything.""You know, tell me everything about Jiaojiao."
When Pei Lang woke up, he found himself in an unfamiliar place. Around him were many well-dressed maids attending to him as he drank medicine. His last memory before losing consciousness was in the dungeon of Prince Ding's Residence, where a black-clad, masked figure had rescued him from the flames. Perhaps it was a rescue, since he was still alive now.
He didn’t know who had saved him or why. When he asked the maids serving him medicine, he only learned that this was Prince Rui's Residence.
Pei Lang faintly sensed that there might be some connection between Shen Miao and Prince Rui, though he didn’t know how far it went. He thought to himself that Prince Rui wouldn’t shelter him without reason—if he had, it must have been because of Shen Miao. The thought that Shen Miao hadn’t abandoned him stirred something in Pei Lang’s heart.
It was as if everything he had endured suddenly felt worthwhile, though he couldn’t quite explain where this inexplicable feeling came from.
Just as he was lost in thought, the door to the room opened, and a young man walked in carrying a medicine chest. He sat down in front of Pei Lang, seemingly preparing to take his pulse.
At first, Pei Lang didn’t pay much attention, assuming this was a physician Prince Rui had summoned for him. But when he got a clear look at the man’s face, he froze momentarily before exclaiming, "Imperial Physician Gao!"
The sudden movement tugged at his wounds, making him hiss in pain. Gao Yang quickly pressed on the injury and said, "No need for such surprise. Be careful not to strain your wounds."
Pei Lang studied Gao Yang, his mind racing with thoughts. Gao Yang was the youngest physician in the Imperial Hospital, reputed for his medical skills—though no one could say for certain. The royal family, however, adored this young physician, likely because he was exceptionally eloquent and often pleased Emperor Wenhui with his words. His handsome appearance also made him far more agreeable to the imperial concubines than the grizzled old men of the Imperial Hospital.
Since he was a palace physician, he wouldn’t casually treat someone outside the palace, let alone here in Prince Rui's Residence. Pei Lang’s first thought was that Prince Rui might have borrowed Gao Yang from Emperor Wenhui for his sake—but he quickly dismissed the idea. While skilled physicians were rare in Fixed Capital, Gao Yang wasn’t the only one. There was no reason for Prince Rui to specifically request him and draw the royal family’s attention.
That left the second possibility: Gao Yang and Prince Rui had some private connection.
This possibility was truly shocking. Pei Lang looked up at Gao Yang with uncertain suspicion, though his expression remained gentle and polite as he smiled and asked, "Why is Imperial Physician Gao here?"
Gao Yang, while checking Pei Lang’s pulse, replied, "Prince Rui summoned me to treat you, so I came." After finishing the examination, he added, "Your condition has stabilized somewhat. However, Prince Ding previously tortured your legs, damaging the muscles and bones. I’ll need to apply acupuncture, or your legs will be useless before long."
Pei Lang was stunned. Fu Xiuyi had been ruthless with him, as if he despised betrayal deeply. Though he hadn’t taken Pei Lang’s life, he likely hadn’t intended to leave him whole. Pei Lang hadn’t cared much about losing limbs—in fact, if not for the person who rescued him from the fire, Fu Xiuyi would have had his kneecaps dug out in the next few days, as promised.Hearing Gao Yang speak at this moment, even Pei Lang, who was usually composed, couldn't help but feel a sense of relief after narrowly escaping disaster.
"Fu Xiuyi's hand was truly ruthless," Gao Yang said as he took out a row of golden needles from his medical kit. He motioned for Pei Lang to sit down, rolled up his trouser legs, and began slowly applying the needles. "Outwardly, one wouldn’t have guessed he could be so cruel."
Pei Lang's heart stirred. Gao Yang was, after all, a subject of Ming Qi and an imperial physician dedicated to serving the royal family, yet he directly addressed Prince Ding by his personal name. Not only that, but when speaking of Fu Xiuyi, his tone lacked even a trace of respect, as if commenting on some insignificant person. For someone of Gao Yang's status to act so boldly instead of cautiously was indeed quite strange.
Gao Yang didn't even look up, focusing intently on applying acupuncture needles to Pei Lang when he suddenly spoke: "You must be wondering what connection I have with Prince Rui."
Pei Lang paused before smiling. "If Imperial Physician Gao is willing to tell me."
"To be honest with you, I am Prince Rui's man," Gao Yang said.
This time, it was Pei Lang who fell silent. He was shocked by Gao Yang's identity, but what surprised him most was that Gao Yang had revealed this secret to him so openly without any concealment. What did that make Gao Yang now? A spy sent by Great Coolness to infiltrate Ming Qi's royal family? To poison Emperor Wenhui? Or had he simply been bribed and turned by Prince Rui?
"You must be surprised why I would tell you such a big secret," Gao Yang continued, as if reading Pei Lang's thoughts.
"Indeed," Pei Lang admitted frankly. "I truly don't understand."
"What's so difficult about it?" Gao Yang chuckled. "After the fire at Prince Ding's Residence is extinguished, Fu Xiuyi will send people to search for remains. If they don't find your corpse, Fu Xiuyi isn't stupid—he'll know someone rescued you. The rescuer even burned down his dungeon. Naturally, Fu Xiuyi will hold you accountable for this. Once you've provoked Prince Ding's Residence, the only place in Ming Qi that can protect you is Prince Rui's Residence. Whether you're willing or not, you're tied to Prince Rui's Residence now. Since we're all on the same side, what secrets can't be shared?" Gao Yang looked up at Pei Lang with a smile. "We're all grasshoppers tied to the same rope."
Pei Lang didn't even know what had happened before being forcibly tied to them, and now they were talking about being "grasshoppers on the same rope." He didn't know whether to feel frustrated or not. However, he quickly grasped the key point in Gao Yang's words and asked, "Was the fire at Prince Ding's Residence set by you?"
"Of course," Gao Yang replied.
Pei Lang drew a sharp breath. That dungeon was arguably the most important place in all of Prince Ding's Residence, holding people who were extremely valuable to Fu Xiuyi. To have it burned to the ground—Pei Lang could easily imagine the raging fury in Fu Xiuyi's heart. Who in the world would dare do such a thing? Gao Yang was right. In all of Fixed Capital, the only one who could make Fu Xiuyi hesitate was Prince Rui's Residence, and the only place that could protect him was Prince Rui's Residence.
After hesitating, Pei Lang finally asked the question he most wanted to know: "Did Prince Rui save me?"
"Who else would have the capability to rescue you?" Gao Yang said. "And who else would dare take such a risk?"
"But why would he save me?" Pei Lang probed cautiously. "Did someone else ask him to?" He didn't know if Gao Yang was aware of Shen Miao's involvement, so he didn't dare mention her name, fearing it might bring her trouble.
Gao Yang gave him a meaningful look and inserted a golden needle into his knee. Pei Lang frowned slightly as Gao Yang said, "Indeed. Because our Royal Consort requested it.""Royal Consort?" Pei Lang was stunned. "Prince Rui's Royal Consort?" He had never heard of Prince Rui having a royal consort, let alone any connection between himself and this royal consort. He asked, "Why would Prince Rui's Royal Consort—"
"Perhaps it's because of your past teacher-student relationship," Gao Yang said with a thoughtful smile. "After all, Prince Rui's Royal Consort was once your student."
Pei Lang: "She is—"
"Shen Miao."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Probably just one more chapter until the wedding! throws confetti
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