"Here to marry you, Shen Jiaojiao."
His tone was casual, yet the way he reached out from atop his horse was utterly sincere. So dashing and unrestrained, treating propriety as nothing, yet it felt as though the entire world had fallen silent, leaving only the image of this man deeply engraved in one's heart—unforgettable at a glance.
The crowd around them quieted.
Shen Miao, veiled beneath her bridal cover, could see nothing. She could only hear the voice from ahead. Instinctively, she tilted her head up, and the next moment, she felt someone lift her hand and slip something onto her finger.
The touch was cool and gentle, leaving her momentarily dazed.
The onlookers, however, gasped in shock.
Every prince of past generations had his own signet ring—a symbol not merely of adornment but of identity. With this ring, one could freely command subordinates. Of course, the imperial nobility were recognized wherever they went, so the ring was hardly necessary. Yet never before had anyone seen a prince gift his signet ring to another.
This was not just a ring—it meant Prince Rui had handed Shen Miao the authority to mobilize his forces at will. With this ring, people would regard her no differently than they would Prince Rui himself.
He had surrendered his power—and to a woman, no less.
Many had seen men dote on their wives, but never like this. The young ladies in the crowd burned with envy. Though Prince Rui wore a mask, his elegance was boundless. Noble in status and generous in gesture, the only solace these women could take was that a man so outstanding would naturally attract countless admirers. Shen Miao was no peerless beauty—surely, he would tire of her soon.
Yet the groom promptly proved them wrong with his actions. In this world, it was likely the first time anyone had witnessed such devotion to a wife.
How had the fifth young miss of the Shen family been blessed with such fortune? What virtue had she cultivated in her past life?
Yet fortune and misfortune were intertwined, and none could have imagined the trials Shen Miao had endured in her previous existence.
After slipping the ring onto Shen Miao’s finger, Prince Rui’s lips curved slightly as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
The tingling sensation left no doubt in Shen Miao’s mind what had happened. Her face flushed, though thankfully, the veil concealed her embarrassment.
As Prince Rui straightened, Madam Mei promptly announced with a smile, "Present the betrothal gifts and carry the dowry!"
Once the dowry was displayed, it was customary for the bride’s mother to feed her sweet glutinous rice balls.
The small dumplings, filled with peanuts, lotus seeds, and sesame, symbolized the wish for early childbirth. Luo Xueyan scooped one with a small spoon, and Shen Miao lifted a corner of her veil to accept it. Luo Xueyan’s eyes glistened. "Jiaojiao, after marriage, never let yourself suffer."
Shen Miao’s heart stirred. "I understand, Mother."
Shen Xin turned away, discreetly wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. A man of his stature, a general who had led countless soldiers, could hardly be seen weeping in public. Yet his heart ached with sorrow. To Shen Xin, he owed Shen Miao far too much—especially after that conversation with Xie Jingxing, when he realized that while they had believed they sheltered her in a greenhouse, they had failed to see the snakes and insects lurking within. Unnoticed, she had grown up in those years.Before they could make amends or do anything more, Shen Miao was already getting married. From a helpless infant to a babbling little girl, and now to a graceful bride, Shen Xin was filled with emotion.
Shen Qiu walked over—it was the bride's brother's duty to carry her to the bridal sedan.
As Shen Miao lay on Shen Qiu's back, he walked exceptionally slowly, murmuring in a low voice as he went, "Little sister, you're too thin. If you lose even a fraction of your weight after marrying into Great Coolness, I’ll go and settle accounts with Prince Rui when I see you next."
Shen Miao: "..."
"Hurry up and give me a niece—or a nephew will do," Shen Qiu said in his simple, honest way, a far cry from his iron-willed bravery on the battlefield. "I’ll come to see you."
Shen Miao buried her head in Shen Qiu’s neck, just like when she used to act spoiled as a child, and said, "You must."
From atop his horse, Prince Rui watched this scene, his brow twitching slightly.
Once Shen Qiu had carried Shen Miao into the bridal sedan and the curtains were lowered, Madam Mei began her song:
"Of all the grand occasions under heaven, none surpass the joy of marriage.
Have you not heard of the sage, who with a single bowl of rice and a gourd of water, in a humble alley, remained joyful despite others’ sorrow, unwavering in benevolence for three months? Such is the groom.
Ah, how splendid is the fifth daughter of the Shen family! Like Nüwa at the dawn of time, who tempered stones to mend the heavens, refining brilliance on the surface and lushness within—truly a graceful and virtuous maiden.
Heaven begets the people, with form and order. The groom is dignified in bearing, his conduct as poised as the Wild Goose Pagoda, unshaken even amidst the bustling crowd. The fifth daughter of the Shen family, hailing from Fixed Capital of Ming Qi, is known for her nostalgic tenderness, gentle virtue, and unparalleled grace. Her dignified beauty and measured poise surpass even the legendary Xi Shi.
Today, they join in matrimony, pledging love and unity for eternity.
With the first stirrings of yang, two families unite in harmony, celebrating abundance, embodying perfection, and heralding prosperity for five generations.
The six rites complete, the seven sages gathered, the eight assembled, singing in ninefold harmony, achieving flawless perfection.
A pair of jade-like figures leave their mark, a matchless union forged in destiny."
"Raise the bridal sedan, the wedding is complete!"
Madam Mei’s voice, naturally bright and festive, carried the beautiful lyrics to perfection. As she finished, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Outside, the servants began tossing gold-foiled coins into the air, handfuls of them gleaming brilliantly. The crowd surged forward, shouting blessings as they scrambled for the lucky coins and candies.
The scene was nothing short of jubilant.
Inside the bridal sedan, Shen Miao couldn’t see the spectacle outside, but she could hear every sound clearly—the lively clamor made her heart flutter with nervous excitement.
She reassured herself—this wasn’t her first time in a bridal sedan, so why be nervous? Yet even so, her hands trembled slightly. Lowering her gaze, she caught sight of the white jade ring on her finger, its surface glowing softly. Unable to resist, she reached out to touch it.
Outside, the bearers began lifting the sedan. Naturally, Xie Jingxing had chosen the finest bearers—the sedan was carried steadily, without the slightest sway.
Prince Rui sat atop his tall horse at the head of the procession, the animal adorned with red silk flowers, looking every bit the dashing figure. His posture was relaxed yet elegant, and wherever he passed, the people cheered and laughed in delight.This was indeed quite remarkable, for Prince Rui was not a native of Ming Qi, and the relationship between Great Coolness and Ming Qi was currently quite delicate. Yet despite this, the common people seemed to hold Prince Rui in high esteem—perhaps because he was generous, or perhaps because some people naturally exuded an air of comfort. In any case, Prince Rui's marriage could be considered a joyous occasion for all.
Behind Prince Rui was the bridal sedan chair carried by bearers, flanked by the procession from Prince Rui's Residence, which continuously scattered celebratory coins along the way. It was said that Prince Rui's wedding procession would circle the entire Fixed Capital, and with coins being scattered all along the route, it was undeniably extravagant.
Following behind was the dowry procession of the Shen family. The Shen family was not as ostentatious as Prince Rui—their dowry chests were neatly arranged, and the crowd counted a total of fifty chests, exactly half the number of betrothal gifts Prince Rui had sent. Though the dowry couldn't compare to Prince Rui's betrothal gifts, it was by no means meager. After all, when the Crown Prince married, his consort's dowry had only amounted to forty-two chests, while the Shen family's exceeded that by eight. Most importantly, the Shen family was not a wealthy merchant household—though comfortable, they were far from rolling in riches.
This gesture was enough to demonstrate Shen Miao's standing in the hearts of Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan.
At the rear of the crowd, Luo Xueyan, who was riding alongside the dowry procession, quietly turned her head and whispered to Shen Xin, "Is this really alright?"
Shen Xin replied, "Since he dared to send them, we dare to accept them. Besides, he sent ninety-nine chests. Our household can't afford a dowry of that size, and if we sent too few, we'd become a laughingstock."
Luo Xueyan fell silent.
Of Shen Miao's fifty dowry chests, twenty had been provided by Prince Rui. On the day Prince Rui came to deliver the dowry, a slip of paper had fallen out from one of the chests. When Luo Xueyan took a closer look, she realized it was the dowry list for Shen Miao.
Prince Rui was well aware that his betrothal gifts were far too extravagant, and the Shen family would never be able to match them with a dowry. So he had taken it upon himself to resolve the issue by providing twenty chests of his own—each one packed to the brim. In this way, Prince Rui had effectively gifted the Shen family a total of one hundred and nineteen dowry chests.
It was precisely because of this that Shen Qiu's impression of Prince Rui later improved somewhat. After all, the man had spared no expense in Shen Miao's marriage, proving himself to be a truly generous person.
The streets were filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and the atmosphere was jubilant. Fu Xiuyi, who had blended into the crowd, did not follow the procession further. He found the scene unbearably glaring and turned away with a cold expression, leaving the bridal sedan behind him.
Equally aggrieved was Emperor Wenhui, who had long since heard from his subordinates about the grandeur of Prince Rui's wedding—more splendid than even an emperor's. This was nothing short of a slap to his face. The more lavish Prince Rui's celebration, the more it highlighted the Ming Qi imperial family's poverty.
But what displeased Emperor Wenhui the most was not this. He had been deeply unwilling to approve this marriage in the first place. Had Prince Rui not threatened him with several border cities, he would never have consented. Though he loathed the idea of Shen Miao's marriage, he had been forced to issue the imperial decree himself, placing it in Prince Rui's hands. And just like that, the Shen family—a valuable chess piece—had been rendered useless.Whenever Emperor Wenhui mentioned Prince Rui's wedding that day, the scene of the prince threatening him in the imperial study to grant the marriage would flash through his mind. His chest would tighten with stifled anger, and he certainly wouldn’t seek out more displeasure for himself. So, he had the palace eunuchs receive the wedding gifts sent by Prince Rui, closed the palace gates, and retreated to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to lie down, forbidding anyone from disturbing him.
The wedding was to take place in Ming Qi, with the bridal sedan chair paraded around Fixed Capital for a full circle. Yet, a wedding was fundamentally a matter between two parties. Prince Rui’s home was in Great Coolness, and after circling the city gates, the sedan should have headed straight out of the capital. But Prince Rui insisted on completing all the rituals within Fixed Capital.
Thus, the ceremony of paying respects to the parents was held at the altar in Fixed Capital.
The Fixed Capital Altar—a place reserved for the emperor’s own wedding to an empress. Needless to say, this was yet another extra favor Prince Rui had demanded from Emperor Wenhui. No matter how unwilling the emperor was in his heart, he had no choice but to agree.
At the altar, Madam Mei carefully helped Shen Miao down from the bridal sedan, while Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin, who had accompanied them, sat at the other end.
They bowed to heaven and earth, to the parents, and finally to each other as husband and wife.
Since this was in Ming Qi, Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin naturally received the bows from Shen Miao and her groom. But Prince Rui’s parents had long since passed away. The couple could only pour wine onto the ground as a symbolic tribute.
Finally, the couple bowed to each other, completing the ceremony. From this moment onward, it was declared that Shen Miao was now the Royal Consort of Prince Rui. As the saying goes, "Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog." She was now, after all, a person of Great Coolness.
Amid the cheers and laughter of the crowd, Ji Yushu stood at a distance, speaking to the person beside him.
"Ah, who would have thought Third Brother would actually marry Miss Shen?" he sighed deeply. "Two years ago, I could already tell Third Brother treated Fifth Miss Shen differently. But I never imagined she’d become my sister-in-law. Still, it’s quite good. I always thought Third Brother’s temperament would be too much for an ordinary girl to handle. But Fifth Miss Shen is different. With her around, I can rest easy."
Opposite him stood a man dressed in the attire of Prince Rui’s household, with an unremarkable face—Pei Lang in disguise.
Pei Lang had ultimately agreed to follow Shen Miao to Great Coolness. Just as she had said, he had thoroughly offended Fu Xiuyi. Staying in Ming Qi would not only bring him no benefit but might also implicate Liuying. Fu Xiuyi had eyes and ears everywhere, and one day, he might uncover Pei Lang’s secrets. It was better to take Liuying with him to Great Coolness—cutting the problem at its root. Even if Fu Xiuyi discovered something, there would be nothing he could do.
On one hand, it was for Liuying’s sake. On the other, it was because Pei Lang himself wanted to do this.
As for learning that Prince Rui’s true identity was Xie Jingxing, that had only happened a few days prior. While recuperating at Prince Rui’s residence, Pei Lang had stepped into the courtyard at night and happened to see the prince’s back. When he approached to greet him, he caught a glimpse of Prince Rui’s true face.
Prince Rui wasn’t wearing his mask.
Pei Lang knew that someone like Prince Rui, if he wanted to hide something, would never be so careless. Clearly, he had intentionally "let slip" his face to Pei Lang—perhaps using his identity to signify something.
Now, Pei Lang understood why Prince Rui had done it.Pei Lang had been urging Shen Miao to carefully consider the marriage with Prince Rui. After all, her understanding of a prince from Great Coolness was still too shallow. But when Prince Rui turned out to be Xie Jingxing, many things became even more different. Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao were acquainted, and they even seemed to share some camaraderie.
Since Shen Miao had long known Xie Jingxing’s identity as a prince of Great Coolness, their relationship was undoubtedly extraordinary.
He raised his eyes to the altar, where the pair stood in their wedding attire—a perfect match of talent and beauty, an impeccable couple. An inexplicable pang of bitterness welled up in his heart.
Someone like Shen Miao, though always scheming and leveraging everything around her, was also an extremely stubborn person. Once she made up her mind, no one could change it. For example, her hatred for Fu Xiuyi drove her to use every means possible, even at the risk of her life, to sever ties with him.
In truth, unless she was willing, no one could force her.
His gaze then fell upon Prince Rui.
To orchestrate such a grand spectacle, forcing the Ming Qi imperial family into retreat—who would believe that Great Coolness would forever remain content in a corner of the world?
She was a golden phoenix destined to soar the heavens, and he was the true dragon capable of summoning wind and rain.
Ji Yushu glanced at him and patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Fair ladies are gentlemen’s good matches, but don’t take it too hard, Mr. Pei. Once we return to Great Coolness, with your grace, many young ladies will surely admire you. I’ll even ask Miss Shaoyao to introduce her sisters to you then."
Though Ji Yushu still remembered being imprisoned in the Tower Prison because of Pei Lang, seeing him so despondent today, he refrained from adding insult to injury.
Pei Lang felt a flush of embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed, yet he stubbornly kept his eyes fixed on the radiant couple, unwilling to look away.
Ji Yushu sighed quietly to himself.
Gao Yang was also set to return to Great Coolness today, but nominally, he was still a physician of Ming Qi, with some status and belongings to pack. If Emperor Wenhui knew Gao Yang had swept the Imperial Hospital’s precious medicinal herbs clean to take back to Great Coolness, one could only imagine the look on his face.
By the time all was done, and the intricate and tedious rituals had been meticulously completed, it was already afternoon—time to leave the city.
Shen Miao’s marriage to Prince Ding was considered a "distant marriage." Departing from the gates of Fixed Capital in Ming Qi, she would henceforth traverse mountains and rivers, becoming a person of Great Coolness.
Naturally, the entire Shen family was to accompany her.
Luo Tan, however, did not go. She claimed Shen Miao had refused to take her to Great Coolness, leaving her sulking. She had spent the day touring Fixed Capital but adamantly refused to witness the farewell scene at the city gates. Unable to persuade her, everyone had no choice but to let her be.
In the Princess Hall of Fixed Capital, Rong Xin Princess paced restlessly in her chamber.
"Your Highness, Prince Rui’s wedding procession is about to reach the city gates," reported a messenger.
Rong Xin Princess waved her hand irritably, dismissing the servant. She collapsed into a chair, biting her lip anxiously.
The letter she had sent revealed Xie Jingxing’s true identity. She had intended to deliver it to Emperor Wenhui in the palace—it was her duty as a princess of Ming Qi.Since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness have been hard to reconcile, forcing a choice between family and country. Xie Jingxing and she indeed shared an unbreakable bond closer than that of mother and son, yet the distance between their two nations rendered this affection ultimately impure.
If Xie Jingxing were to die because of this, Rong Xin Princess would grieve. But if she did nothing and allowed Xie Jingxing to return to Great Coolness with this secret, she would regret it forever.
Thus, at the critical moment, she chose to sever this lingering attachment and affection herself.
What would happen after Xie Jingxing’s identity was exposed? Rong Xin Princess knew her imperial brother all too well. Perhaps, given Great Coolness’s national strength, he wouldn’t do anything drastic enough to kill Xie Jingxing, but ruining a person’s reputation and subjecting them to public scorn was entirely possible. Bearing such a stain, even if Xie Jingxing returned to Great Coolness, his life would be far from easy.
Rong Xin Princess chose to explain everything through a letter rather than face Emperor Wenhui in person, as if this could absolve her of the betrayal—as if she hadn’t been the one to expose Xie Jingxing.
But why had Emperor Wenhui still taken no action?
Now, the wedding procession was already approaching the city gates. Next, Shen Miao would step out of the bridal sedan, board the carriage, and leave Fixed Capital with Xie Jingxing for Great Coolness. Such delay was unlike her imperial brother’s temperament.
Doubt crept into her heart, followed by unease, yet Rong Xin Princess couldn’t bring herself to step forward and see what was happening.
In the end, she couldn’t face Xie Jingxing—or rather, she couldn’t bear the shame of facing him.
“Go and investigate again,” she summoned another subordinate and ordered.
The bridal sedan of Prince Rui’s Royal Consort had reached the city gates. The matchmaker, Mei Niangzi, completed her duties, while Jing Zhe and Gu Yu helped Shen Miao alight from the sedan.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan gave Shen Miao careful instructions: “Great Coolness is different from Ming Qi. Once you arrive, remember to take good care of yourself. Add more layers when it’s cold, and always stay well. Write to us often, and if you ever face hardship, be sure to let us know.”
Shen Xin then turned to Xie Jingxing and spoke a few words.
Both sides were well aware of each other’s identities. Since Xie Jingxing had been forthright, Shen Xin’s opinion of him had improved somewhat. He warned Xie Jingxing that no matter what, Shen Miao must never suffer any mistreatment in Great Coolness. Xie Jingxing naturally agreed.
Shen Qiu, on the other hand, threatened fiercely that if he ever saw Shen Miao looking thinner or haggard, he would lead the Shen Family Army to raze Prince Rui’s Residence to the ground.
Prince Rui merely scoffed in response.
Had Luo Xueyan not intervened, Shen Qiu might have started another fight with Xie Jingxing on the spot.
The appointed hour had arrived. After exchanging a few more words with Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, Shen Miao prepared to leave Fixed Capital. Many matters in Ming Qi would now be beyond her reach, so she could only offer a few final reminders.
Luo Xueyan wiped her tears and said, “Jiaojiao, you must write to us.”
The carriage curtain was lowered, and the long procession of guards moved forward in unison, carrying the heavy dowry with disciplined grandeur.
At the forefront, Xie Jingxing sat tall on his horse, keeping pace beside the carriage. From time to time, he spoke to Shen Miao through the curtain, eliciting giggles from the maids Jing Zhe and Gu Yu.The journey was naturally quite long, taking several months by carriage from Ming Qi to Great Coolness. In her past life, she had also left through the gates of Fixed Capital, traveling far to Qin State. Yet the carriage she rode as a nation's empress was not as comfortable as the one she was in now. Back then, the servants and palace maids accompanying her were few, let alone people who would protect her and keep her company like this.
Faintly, a sense of joy stirred in Shen Miao's heart.
By evening, it was time to find a place to rest for the night. Just as she was pondering this, the convoy suddenly came to a halt.
Shen Miao's heart tightened. Bandits often roamed the roads outside the city—could they have encountered highwaymen? But then she reconsidered: Xie Jingxing's subordinates were highly skilled in martial arts and numerous in number. Even if they met robbers, they could surely handle them.
Though unafraid, she couldn't shake her curiosity. She decisively lifted her veil, pushed aside the carriage curtain, and jumped down before Jing Zhe and Gu Yu could even exclaim in surprise.
There, she saw Xie Jingxing reining in his horse at the front. In the middle of the road stood a figure in a black bamboo hat, holding the reins of his horse, blocking their path.
The man called out, "Hey, brother, don’t you owe me a wedding gift?"
That was Su Mingfeng's voice. He had likely donned a cloak to conceal his identity, making it difficult to discern his features. Either he had followed from a distance or arrived here early, staying far enough away to avoid being overheard.
Shen Miao was momentarily taken aback, but Xie Jingxing had already dismounted and walked up to Su Mingfeng. Su Mingfeng pulled a letter from his chest and abruptly threw it against Xie Jingxing’s chest, saying, "My congratulatory gift." Then he lowered his voice, "A letter from the Princess’s residence. I intercepted it."
"I know," Xie Jingxing replied with a smirk. "Still, thank you."
Su Mingfeng froze, then his voice turned furious. "Of course you knew. With your far-reaching influence, you must have spies everywhere. Every move in the Princess’s residence probably never escapes your notice. Even if I hadn’t intercepted this letter yesterday, you’d have found a way to take it."
Xie Jingxing neither confirmed nor denied it.
"You—" Su Mingfeng suddenly grabbed Xie Jingxing by the collar, raising a fist as if to strike. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu were startled, but Tie Yi and the others made no move to intervene.
Then Su Mingfeng abruptly released him, growling, "Bastard!"
Xie Jingxing arched an eyebrow. "I’m glad you came to see me off."
Su Mingfeng fell silent before finally saying, "This is the last time."
"The last time I’ll see you off." He lifted his head. "Loyalty and righteousness cannot coexist, but this time, I choose righteousness. After this, we are no longer brothers."
He continued, "I know your plans, so don’t try to persuade me or hold me back. One day, you and I will inevitably face each other on the battlefield. When we meet again, we’ll be enemies, with no trace of our past bond." Slowly and deliberately, he added, "But for now, you are still my brother, Su Mingfeng’s brother."
Some things in life are simply beyond one’s control. Fate, with its twists and turns, often turns the closest of kin into strangers. To gain something, one must inevitably lose something else. What remains is always the most precious.
Through these two young men before her, Shen Miao seemed to glimpse a scene from many years ago—two childhood friends laughing carefreely as they wandered from one end of Fixed Capital’s streets to the other, then conspiring to play pranks on their tutor.
Su Mingfeng slowly clenched his fist and extended it toward Xie Jingxing.
This was a gesture they had often shared as boys. The youths of Fixed Capital used it as a symbol of brotherhood. Su Mingfeng had once found it dashing and insisted Xie Jingxing join in. As they grew older, they came to see it as foolish and overly sentimental, so they rarely did it anymore.
Xie Jingxing looked at him, suddenly smiled, shook his head, and then bumped his own fist against Su Mingfeng’s.
Su Mingfeng threw his head back and laughed heartily. "This feels right!"
Then, in one swift motion, he mounted the horse he had arrived on. From the saddle, he called out to Xie Jingxing, "After today, we are brothers no more. But for now, before the sun sets and the moon rises, you and I are still the closest of friends." He spurred his horse, and with a long whinny, Su Mingfeng turned and rode away.
"Today, I’ll congratulate you one last time—may you never want for food or clothing, may your descendants flourish, your home be filled with friends, and your life be boundless!"
The voice of that gentle, ever-smiling young man rang out bright and clear, its echoes gradually fading into the glow of the setting sun, leaving behind only the silhouette of a distant figure.Xie Jingxing's lips curved into a smile, but his eyes gradually turned cold as he mounted his horse once more and raised his whip.
"Move out!" he commanded.
---Author's Note---
Volume 2 concludes here~ New arc begins~
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