The journey these days was always long, and after three months, they finally arrived on the land of Great Coolness.
Xie Jingxing’s carriage and horse team moved at a swift pace. For ordinary people, such a journey might take half a year, but Shen Miao arrived in Great Coolness much earlier. The capital of Great Coolness was Longye.
In both her past and present lives, Shen Miao had never been to Great Coolness. In her impression, Great Coolness was a very prosperous country, and she had heard that Longye was also exceptionally bustling. When Fu Ming was studying, he had once told her that if he ever had the chance, he would like to see the splendor of Longye and whether Great Coolness was as peaceful and flourishing as the books described.
Now, time had passed irreversibly. Fu Ming and Wan Yu had already turned to dust, yet she had stepped into the city of Longye in Great Coolness, carrying Fu Ming’s unfulfilled wish.
During these days, Shen Miao had long since changed out of her wedding attire. Xie Jingxing had specially prepared clothes for her, seemingly tailored to the rank of a Royal Consort in Great Coolness. When their carriage and horse team reached the gates of Longye, the guards at the entrance barely glanced at the token before letting them pass. The grand procession drew many onlookers as they traveled through the streets of Longye.
The common people exclaimed loudly, “Prince Rui has returned with his Royal Consort!”
Shen Miao’s heart stirred. Xie Jingxing had married her in Ming Qi, yet the people here seemed to know the whole story without the slightest surprise. It seemed that long before this, Xie Jingxing had found a way to spread the news in Great Coolness.
As for Xie Jingxing’s claim that the Yongle Emperor had already known about this matter, Shen Miao found it hard to believe.
Just as she was lost in thought, the carriage curtain was lifted. Xie Jingxing, riding his horse outside, asked, “Would you like to see the sights of Longye?”
By now, he had removed his mask. In Great Coolness, he likely no longer needed to hide his identity. His demeanor was also different from when he was in Ming Qi—the lazy, carefree attitude had faded slightly, replaced by a sharper, more formidable edge.
Shen Miao looked outside.
Just as the books had described, the scenery of Longye was entirely different from that of Fixed Capital. Though Fixed Capital was lively, its liveliness was mostly confined to the wealthy households. What did it matter if taverns were everywhere? Ordinary people could hardly afford to enter them. Yet on the streets of Longye, the common people walked about with smiles on their faces.
Shen Miao noticed that the clothes these people wore were made of fine fabric, and their expressions and postures exuded health—it seemed everyone was doing well. She pondered: the people of Great Coolness lived in contentment and prosperity. Indeed, the rumors of the world had not deceived her.
Longye was vast. The buildings in Fixed Capital were mostly delicate and ornate, while the shops and taverns of Great Coolness were grand and imposing, exuding an air of majesty. Shen Miao had also been to Qin State, but even Qin State did not inspire the same longing as Longye.
Despite her extensive experience, she couldn’t help but gaze around with curiosity.
Seeing her like this, Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow and said, “No need to rush. Whenever we have time, I’ll take you out to explore. Longye is large—getting familiar with it will take time.”
His voice wasn’t deliberately lowered, and some nearby commoners curiously glanced at Shen Miao, commenting:
“His Highness treats his Royal Consort very well—he’s so doting.”
“No wonder he refused all the marriage proposals from His Majesty before. Turns out he was devoted to his Royal Consort.”
“The Royal Consort is very beautiful too. They make a perfect match.”
“It won’t be long before they have a little heir apparent.”Shen Miao also overheard these discussions, her face flushing crimson in an instant. The people of Longye seemed genuinely kind-hearted, with most of their conversations filled with congratulations or praise. Shen Miao felt somewhat dazed. She had always believed that human nature was inherently wicked—that people were quick to comment on things they knew nothing about, unaware that such remarks could ruin a person’s life. Coming to Longye and marrying Xie Jingxing, she had assumed that as someone from Ming Qi, she would inevitably face the same criticism as before. Yet, she heard none of it, leaving her both surprised and inexplicably moved.
At the back of the procession, Ji Yushu said to Gao Yang, "Third Brother has gone to great lengths. To make the people of Longye accept our sister-in-law, he started spreading favorable words long ago."
"Even heroes falter before beauty," Gao Yang sighed, fanning himself. "But what can be done?"
"Still, His Majesty must be furious. And those young ladies from noble families, who’ve been pining for Third Brother—our sister-in-law will likely have her hands full."
"What’s there to fear?" Gao Yang replied. "Shen Miao is no ordinary woman. Who’s tormenting whom remains to be seen." He then added wistfully, "Now that we’re returning to our original positions, I find myself somewhat nostalgic for our days in Ming Qi."
"Who isn’t?" Ji Yushu sighed as well, patting Gao Yang’s shoulder with a tone of shared hardship. "Let’s go."
The palace of Great Coolness was vast, with buildings and side halls stretching endlessly, adorned with golden glazed tiles and crimson pillars. The imperial family seemed particularly fond of gold and red, giving the entire palace a majestic and imposing aura.
The stone lions at the entrance stood proud and formidable. On the golden dragon throne, a coiled dragon was intricately carved, its head resting atop the throne’s back, embedded with two red gemstones for eyes. Its tail wound around the armrest, every scale on the tip meticulously detailed, as if it might leap from the throne at any moment and soar into the heavens.
At this moment, the grand hall stood empty save for the man seated on the dragon throne. He sat upright and regal, yet as the sun set and the palace candles remained unlit, the fading light cast his imposing silhouette in an especially lonely and desolate hue.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall as a woman approached slowly, her long train trailing behind her. She wore a phoenix crown, her smile gentle as she walked step by step toward the man on the throne.
"Your Majesty sits here alone again," she said, "without even informing your consort."
The man finally looked up, as if noticing her for the first time. "Ah, it’s the Empress."
Empress Xiande smiled softly. "What troubles Your Majesty?"
"Jingxing has returned today," the Yongle Emperor said, rubbing his temples. "And he’s brought back that woman from Ming Qi. I’ve told him countless times to sever ties with her. Not only did he refuse, but he also intercepted my men, acted without permission, married her, and brought her back to Great Coolness—to Longye, no less—as his principal consort."
"Does Your Majesty dislike Shen Miao?" Empress Xiande’s voice was tender.
"Those not of our kind will never share our loyalty," the Yongle Emperor replied with just eight words.
Eight words, yet they conveyed his stance clearly. If she was not of Great Coolness, she would never be loyal to it."Your Majesty does not like Shen Miao, but Jingxing does," Empress Xiande said. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to marry Shen Miao and bring her back to Longye, wouldn't have sent ninety-nine betrothal gifts, nor would he have paved her reputation among the common people." She paused before continuing, "And he certainly wouldn't have defied Your Majesty."
"A fox-spirit bewitching her master," the Yongle Emperor muttered darkly, his voice laced with suppressed anger.
"Perhaps Shen Miao truly has some extraordinary qualities," Empress Xiande soothed. "Jingxing has always been a child with his own mind. Your Majesty has selected so many beauties for him, yet none caught his eye. Now that he is willing to go this far for Shen Miao, there must be a reason. Your Majesty, won't you trust Jingxing just this once?"
"It's not that I don't trust him—it's Shen Miao I don't trust," the Yongle Emperor replied.
"But Your Majesty has no choice, do you?"
The Yongle Emperor frowned at her displeasedly. "Is the Empress suggesting that I am powerless?"
"Of course not." Empress Xiande smiled. "Your Majesty has never been able to harden your heart against Jingxing. That's why he dares to act so recklessly—he knows that even if you are furious, you won't truly punish him."
"You're not wrong," the Yongle Emperor admitted after a long silence. "But there is no more time."
"Jingxing can marry whomever he wishes—I have no intention of restraining him. But he cannot bring variables back with him. That woman's identity is far too unusual. If Jingxing heeds her words, it may alter the course of events in the future. I will never allow such a thing to happen."
"There is no more time," the Yongle Emperor's voice deepened abruptly. "For the sake of the empire, I can sacrifice anything, and there is nothing I cannot harden my heart against."
He declared, "Tomorrow, summon the two of them to the palace. I want to see what kind of woman has bewitched his mind. And I must remind him not to forget his identity—just because he spent two years in Ming Qi doesn't mean he should forget his true nature."
Empress Xiande's brows furrowed slightly.
"I allowed him to take a principal wife—I can also make him take a secondary consort." With that, he rose and descended the long staircase, leaving the silent hall behind.
Empress Xiande remained where she stood, her gaze tinged with sorrow. After a moment, she sighed and followed him out.
Great Coolness had only one prince—Prince Rui, the Yongle Emperor's own blood brother. This Prince Rui was a figure shrouded in mystery. It was said that at a young age, he had traveled far and wide with a master, so from childhood to adulthood, almost no one had ever seen what Prince Rui looked like. Even Duke Deng, who had served the Yongle Emperor the longest, knew nothing about this Prince Rui.
Until two years ago, when news suddenly arrived that Prince Rui had returned to Longye. During a ceremony at the altar, the people finally caught a glimpse of Prince Rui's true appearance—indeed, he was a man of unparalleled grace and beauty, exuding elegance and nobility. The hearts of Longye's young maidens and married women alike were instantly captivated by Prince Rui.
Of course, when a Prince Rui suddenly appeared out of nowhere, there were initial doubts—could this man be an imposter? But later, people reasoned that the imperial family was far too strict and meticulous to make such a mistake. Moreover, Prince Rui bore a striking resemblance to the late Empress Dowager and shared some likeness with the Yongle Emperor. The Xie family of Great Coolness's imperial line was known for their beauty—this was an indisputable fact, beyond any doubt.After returning to Longye, this Prince Rui regained his royal status and immediately began attending court with the ministers. Some court officials voiced opposition, arguing that since Prince Rui had stayed away from politics for so many years and knew nothing about the situation between Longye and Great Coolness, how could he be allowed to participate in state affairs? This was simply reckless. The Yongle Emperor was furious and even punished several particularly vocal ministers, but with most court officials opposed, the emperor couldn't possibly punish them all.
Later, it was Prince Rui himself who stepped forward and successfully resolved several difficult matters that the court had been dragging its feet on. Gradually, the voices of opposition weakened. To say he knew nothing about state affairs? Impossible—he clearly understood them well. Though he hadn't been in Longye or participated for many years, his competence spoke for itself. Truly a man of extraordinary talent.
In short, in the eyes of Great Coolness's people, Prince Rui was a young man with good looks, a pleasant temperament, and outstanding abilities. Most importantly, he was also exceedingly wealthy.
Take Prince Rui's Estate, for example—built so lavishly it nearly rivaled the imperial palace.
However, the Yongle Emperor was a wise ruler and showed great leniency toward his younger brother, so he didn't reprimand Prince Rui for this. Passersby would occasionally stare slack-jawed at the estate's grand gates, wondering which fortunate family's daughter would one day enter as Royal Consort—a position even more enviable than becoming an imperial concubine.
Who could have guessed that after all the speculation, Prince Rui would end up marrying a girl from Ming Qi?
As soon as Shen Miao stepped through the gates of Prince Rui's Estate, a group of uniformed guards stood at attention and bowed to her: "Welcome, Royal Consort."
Xie Jingxing wrapped an arm around Shen Miao's shoulders and led her inside, calling out to the servants, "Carry the things in. Is the bridal chamber ready?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, everything is prepared," replied a kindly, honest-looking steward in his fifties who hurried out from within. "Would the Royal Consort care to inspect it?"
"Thank you for your hard work," Xie Jingxing said.
"No trouble at all," the old steward replied cheerfully. "It's good to have Your Highness back." He then curiously peeked at Shen Miao.
Shen Miao faintly sensed that this steward held considerable status—otherwise, someone as difficult as Xie Jingxing wouldn't speak to him so politely. She met the steward's gaze with a gentle smile.
The steward seemed flustered, his face instantly turning red.
Xie Jingxing pulled Shen Miao forward impatiently. "Stop staring."
When Shen Miao arrived at the bridal chamber the steward had mentioned, she couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
The bed was large enough to sleep seven or eight people, covered in soft blankets and bright red bedding—which was to be expected for a festive bridal chamber. But what was the meaning of the walls covered in erotic paintings?
Not to mention the various suggestive lamps and scented incense burners placed around the room.
Shen Miao said, "I think I'll find somewhere else to sleep."
"Is there something about this room that displeases you, madam?" the steward asked. "Please let us know, and this old servant will have it changed immediately."
Xie Jingxing shot the steward a glance. "What's all this nonsense on the walls? Take it down.""That won't do," the old steward insisted. "These are all very meaningful, after all, it's His Highness and Madam's wedding ceremony. I heard the two of you haven't even entered the bridal chamber yet. The first time is always full of uncertainties. This old servant searched for these things for quite a while."
Shen Miao: "..."
The servants of Prince Rui's Estate were really too blunt! Even if she wasn't some shy young maiden, hearing such unrestrained words would still make her blush.
Xie Jingxing put down the dagger in his hand and stared at the old steward with a gaze that could kill, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Tang."
"But no need for instruction." He gritted his teeth. "I know how."
Uncle Tang was taken aback but then said, "One should still pursue learning without limits."
Shen Miao flicked her sleeves and walked out the door—this was truly a conversation not meant to be heard.
The day passed in this chaotic manner. As a newcomer, Shen Miao didn't display any signs of being delicate. Moreover, Longye was a place of outstanding people and spiritual energy, leaving little to complain about. The servants here treated her with great respect, though being addressed as "Royal Consort" at every turn still made her somewhat uncomfortable.
She just hadn't gotten used to it yet.
Even the evening meal included a few light dishes specially prepared by Uncle Tang to suit the tastes of someone from Fixed Capital in Ming Qi. In the afternoon, Xie Jingxing had gone out—likely he was usually quite busy. After all, unlike during their time in Ming Qi, upon returning to Great Coolness, Xie Jingxing was the politically occupied "Prince Rui."
After washing up, the sky had already darkened. Shen Miao returned to the bridal chamber—not because she wanted to, but because Prince Rui's Estate hadn't prepared any other rooms for her. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu still attended to her, while Bailu and Shuangjiang had been promoted to senior maids.
As Jing Zhe combed Shen Miao's hair, she said, "Before coming to Longye, this servant was worried about being in an unfamiliar place and felt a bit afraid. But after arriving, my worries were put to rest. The people of the Prince's Estate treat the young lady with utmost respect. It must be because the young master has trained them well."
"Still calling her 'young lady'?" Gu Yu said. "It should be 'Madam' now."
"Ah, yes, it should be 'Madam,'" Jing Zhe quickly corrected herself, then added, "No wonder everyone says Great Coolness is wonderful. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation. Not just Madam, even this servant has grown very fond of it."
"Oh?" Shen Miao teased her. "Was life in Fixed Capital not good? Why do you prefer it here?"
Jing Zhe thought for a moment. "It's not that it wasn't good, but it feels like people treat Madam better here. Upon arriving in Longye, Madam came as the Prince's Consort—a good beginning. It feels like things will only get better from here."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. Back in Ming Qi, the second and third branches of the Shen family harbored ill intentions, and Old Madam Shen was no friend to the main branch. Her situation, and that of the Shen family, had been precarious. In the eyes of her maids, her life had seemed quite difficult. Coupled with the rumors of her being an "Incompetent," resentment had festered in their hearts.
But Longye was different. She had come here married under the title of Prince Rui's Consort, and Xie Jingxing's attitude toward her ensured that those around her dared not show disrespect. A good start always brought joy. People instinctively chose to forget and discard the unpleasant past, embracing a new beginning instead.But would things truly get better? Shen Miao didn’t think so. Leaving aside the situation in Ming Qi, Xie Jingxing’s schemes were unlikely to be simple. The dangers in Great Coolness might not be any fewer than those in Ming Qi—perhaps even more perilous and complicated.
Now that she was in a situation where retreat was impossible, like riding a tiger or venturing into a dragon’s den, she had no choice but to brace herself and push forward.
Yet, for the first time in a long while, she felt an unexpected lightness in her heart.
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard Jing Zhe and Gu Yu speak up: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Shen Miao looked up to see Xie Jingxing enter. "You may leave," he said. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu quickly withdrew.
He walked over and sat down at the table, waiting as Shen Miao finished her hair, then asked, "How are you adjusting?"
"No issues," Shen Miao replied. "Longye truly lives up to its reputation."
Xie Jingxing poured himself some tea. "But you’ll need to stay sharp."
Shen Miao eyed him suspiciously. "What trouble have you stirred up now?"
"My elder brother has issued an edict summoning us to the palace tomorrow," he said. "He’s rigid and severe by nature and is quite displeased with my marriage. He’ll likely try to intimidate you."
Shen Miao shot him a sidelong glance. "Oh? So he’s unhappy about your marriage. You really did act behind his back, then. And yet you lied to my parents, claiming he had already given his consent."
Xie Jingxing chuckled. "A necessary deception. Besides, what does it matter if he disapproves of you? There are plenty in the world who do. In Ming Qi, they were as numerous as fish in a river, yet didn’t you—" He mimed a beheading motion, lazily adding, "send them on their way?"
Shen Miao laughed. "Are you hinting at something?"
"Not at all," Xie Jingxing said. "We of the Xie family are different from the Fu family. We don’t engage in fratricide."
Shen Miao remarked, "I hadn’t realized you were such a sentimental and righteous lot."
"Don’t believe me?" Xie Jingxing asked.
Shen Miao shook her head. "Royal families have never been known for affection. The closeness you share now is only because there’s no conflict of interest between you, or perhaps because you stand on the same side. But if the day comes when your stances diverge, or you must fight over something, you’ll still strike to protect your own interests. When that happens, there’ll be no talk of brotherhood." Though she spoke calmly, an unmistakable note of disdain seeped into her words.
Xie Jingxing studied her intently for a long moment. Shen Miao grew uneasy under his gaze. "Why are you staring at me?"
He shook his head and sighed with a faint smile. "You seem to have very little faith in familial bonds within royalty."
Shen Miao pressed her lips together and said nothing. It was no wonder she didn’t believe. In her past life, she had lived deep within the palace as the mistress of the imperial harem, witnessing countless unspeakable things. In this world, the suffering of women often stemmed from men. Even Mei Furen, who had schemed against her for half a lifetime, had done so all for the favor of one man. But the men of the palace were different. She had seen princes who doted on their concubines one day only to gift them to subordinates the next, all to secure alliances. She had seen men force their childhood sweethearts into accepting secondary wives to balance political factions, then welcome the daughters of high officials in eight-bearer sedans. Men discarded women like worn-out shoes, and they were no more likely to sacrifice for their brothers—open-hearted camaraderie was rare. Fratricide and patricide were far from uncommon.
After witnessing so much, talk of royal affection was something Shen Miao found hard to believe. Perhaps it existed—but she simply refused to trust it."You'll understand in time." Xie Jingxing shook his head and changed the subject. "My imperial brother isn't much of a person, but he's still a good emperor. Though for you, he's probably not someone to befriend."
Shen Miao thought that only Xie Jingxing would dare speak of the Yongle Emperor like this.
"If he threatens you, don't be afraid. With me here, no one would dare lay a finger on you," Xie Jingxing continued. "The empress is a good person—you can befriend her. If you get the chance in the future, you should talk with her more."
Shen Miao's heart stirred. It seemed Xie Jingxing was explaining certain matters to her.
"Won't you be going tomorrow?" she asked.
"What, scared to go alone?" Xie Jingxing asked as he noticed her furrowed brows. "I'll go with you. But my imperial brother will definitely try to separate us. Whatever nonsense he says to you, just treat it like dog shit."
Shen Miao was silent for a long moment before replying, "Understood."
Xie Jingxing smiled, propping his chin on his hand as he gazed at her. "Shen Jiaojiao."
"What?"
"You've become much more obedient since coming to Longye," he said, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Don't worry, your husband won't abandon you."
Shen Miao took a deep breath, set the comb down on the dressing table, and stood up. "I'm going to sleep. When are you leaving?"
"Leaving?" Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "This is my bridal chamber. Why should I leave?"
Shen Miao's eyes widened as Xie Jingxing also stood up and casually sprawled across the bed.
Shen Miao: "..."
Shouldn't this be mutually understood? In all the stories, fake couples always slept separately—one in the study and one in the bridal chamber—to keep up appearances. How could Xie Jingxing be like this?
"Then I'll sleep outside," she said.
Before the words had fully left her mouth, her arm was suddenly yanked. Shen Miao lost her balance and tumbled onto the bed, only to be caught by a pair of strong arms that pulled her snugly into an embrace.
The crisp scent of bamboo filled her senses, mingling with the rise and fall of his chest and the heat of his breath. For a moment, she didn’t dare look up to meet his gaze.
After what felt like an eternity, Xie Jingxing’s deep voice sounded above her.
"Two months."
"What?" She instinctively lifted her head, meeting a pair of peach-blossom eyes that gleamed with amusement—yet held an intensity so overwhelming it made her heart pound uncontrollably.
Xie Jingxing held her lazily. "I’ll give you two months. After that, I won’t hold back anymore."
Shen Miao froze. The corner of Xie Jingxing’s lips curled into a roguish, knowing smirk. "Playing the gentleman isn’t my style. I’ve never been a good man."
Shen Miao abruptly scrambled up. "I’ll sleep in the study."
Xie Jingxing grabbed her wrist. "I’ll sleep outside."
She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
Back in Ming Qi, with her household around, Xie Jingxing had at least restrained himself. But here in Longye, she had no allies—and more importantly, no grounds to refuse him. They were husband and wife, after all. Anything between them would be expected.
Xie Jingxing pushed the door open and left, seemingly in high spirits.
Shen Miao pressed a hand to her chest, her heartbeat still erratic. Ever since returning to Great Coolness, Xie Jingxing had grown increasingly unrestrained. In Fixed Capital, he had at least tempered his nature, but now he showed his true self without reservation.
How did other couples in the world interact? Shen Miao wondered. In her past life, she had never known what a real marriage was like. Though she had experience in other matters, in this, she was as naive as a child.
After a long silence, she snapped out of her thoughts, yanked the blanket over her head, and flopped down.
When the cart reaches the mountain, a path will appear; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself out. For everything else, she could rely on her past life’s knowledge—but for this, she would simply let nature take its course in this lifetime.
Two months later, they could go wild— censored :3∠
Today, I suddenly noticed the monthly votes have reached 11th place. Though it didn’t break into the top 10, I’m still deeply moved. I’ve always been aware of my own limits and never campaigned for votes, let alone expected this result. (◕‿◕✿) Thank you, everyone~~ Search for "blue," and you can read the full text of the following chapters.
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