Consort Jing had always been accustomed to throwing her weight around in the palace. Though she was arrogant and brainless, no one dared to provoke her temper—even Empress Xiande usually couldn't be bothered to deal with her. Yet today, unexpectedly, she had stumbled over Shen Miao—or rather, over Prince Rui.
No matter how sharp-tongued Shen Miao was, Consort Jing had the means to punish her, even if it meant fabricating a charge. But Prince Rui was someone she couldn't afford to offend.
When Prince Rui first arrived in Longye, court officials had opposed him openly and covertly, laying traps for him. Seeing his unruly and indolent demeanor, they assumed he was just a troublemaker. Yet within two years, he had made those officials avoid him like mice fleeing from a cat, none daring to provoke him. Consort Jing's father had also warned her not to make an enemy of Prince Rui.
No matter how arrogant Consort Jing was, she wouldn't dare to oppose Prince Rui. Even the Yongle Emperor could do nothing about him, let alone a mere consort like her.
She forced a smile. "Your Highness Prince Rui is far too busy to have time to listen to Fourth Sister play the qin." She then cast a pleading glance at the Yongle Emperor. "This concubine will discipline Fourth Sister properly in the future. Your Highness must not take offense."
"This prince has no time to take offense." Xie Jingxing smiled and pulled Shen Miao closer by the shoulder. "The Royal Consort also has no time to spare. Consort Jing should focus more on sharing His Majesty's burdens."
Consort Jing bit her lip and looked awkwardly at the Yongle Emperor.
The emperor's expression darkened. No matter what, Xie Jingxing repeatedly humiliating his consort was displeasing. Perhaps he wouldn't have minded before, but now he didn't want Xie Jingxing standing up for Shen Miao—such indulgence was unbecoming. He coldly asked Shen Miao, "Royal Consort Rui, is this also your intention?"
Shen Miao lowered her head meekly. "A wife follows her husband's lead."
Empress Xiande gave Shen Miao a surprised glance, seemingly taken aback that she would dare to be so bold even in front of the Yongle Emperor. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she shook her head with a smile.
Hearing this, the Yongle Emperor silently stared at Shen Miao for a long time, his gaze almost fierce. But Shen Miao kept her head bowed—whether feigning ignorance or truly oblivious—her demeanor gentle and unperturbed, as if she didn't notice the emperor's glare.
Xie Jingxing directly took Shen Miao's hand and said, "If Your Majesty has no further instructions, this subject will take his leave." He added, "Newlyweds have many things to attend to."
Shen Miao: "..."
The Yongle Emperor said, "Remember what We told you."
Xie Jingxing smirked. "Oh."
But that single "Oh" didn't sound like he took the emperor's words to heart at all.
After Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing left, the Yongle Emperor seemed extremely displeased. With a flick of his sleeve, he ignored both Empress Xiande and Consort Jing and strode off alone. The two women understood that the emperor was truly angered and didn't dare follow him immediately.
Consort Jing looked at Empress Xiande and said, "Elder Sister seems quite close to the Royal Consort Rui, speaking up for her so insistently earlier. One might think the two of you were already acquainted."
"The Royal Consort Rui is well-read, intelligent, and virtuous—naturally, she is easy to like," Empress Xiande replied with a smile."But sister must not forget, she is from Ming Qi," Consort Jing said harshly. "Who knows what schemes she harbors in her heart, coming from Ming Qi to Great Coolness? If sister insists on helping her, be careful not to drag yourself down with her. When His Majesty holds her accountable, even sister won’t be spared."
"Once married into Great Coolness, she is one of us. Does Consort Jing mean to cast suspicion on Prince Rui's Residence as well? The Royal Consort and Prince Rui are husband and wife—they are one." When it came to verbal sparring, Consort Jing was no match for Xiande Huanghou.
Consort Jing sneered, "Sister is as eloquent as ever. It seems you place great trust in the Royal Consort and are determined to stand by her side."
Xiande Huanghou neither confirmed nor denied it.
"But what can be done?" Consort Jing suddenly smiled. "Sister may help her for a time, but not forever. Prince Rui's Residence will not have only one woman. Even if my fourth sister has no chance, someone else surely will." Watching Xiande Huanghou's expression, she added, "His Majesty seems to dislike that Royal Consort very much."
Xiande Huanghou replied, "Matters of Prince Rui's Residence are not for us to interfere with. Prince Rui has his own judgment."
"I dare not volunteer myself," Consort Jing said with a smile. "I merely wish to advise sister: you are no bodhisattva. Even if your kindness extends to helping everyone, you must consider whether you have the capability. Sister’s present is the Royal Consort’s future." Having seemingly regained her footing, she lifted her chin triumphantly and left with her maids in tow.
The gentle smile on Xiande Huanghou’s lips faded, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.
Inside the carriage, Shen Miao asked, "What did the Emperor say to you?"
"Some trivial court matters," Xie Jingxing replied.
Shen Miao knew that if they were truly trivial, the Yongle Emperor would not have summoned Xie Jingxing specifically. Without thinking, she could guess—it must be about her. The Emperor’s attitude today had made it clear: he disliked Shen Miao and resented Xie Jingxing’s regard for her. Perhaps it was because her identity was too sensitive, or perhaps... the Emperor had a better choice in mind.
Seeing Shen Miao silent, Xie Jingxing turned and pinched her cheek, saying, "But today, you surprised me. That fierce side of you—it’s been a while since I’ve seen it."
"Fierce?" Shen Miao retorted.
"Isn’t that so?" Xie Jingxing sighed, reminiscing. "Back in Ming Qi, when I saw you at Crouching Dragon Temple, I thought, ‘The Shen family’s young lady is truly fierce. I wonder which unfortunate young master will end up marrying such a tigress.’"
Shen Miao stared at him calmly. "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
Xie Jingxing’s lips curved. "That’s more like it. This is the Xie family’s way."
Distracted by his teasing, Shen Miao’s earlier displeasure over Xie Jingxing withholding the Emperor’s words dissipated. She said, "Fine, keep the Emperor’s words to yourself if you wish. But who is Consort Jing? The Emperor seems to dote on her, yet..." She hesitated. "I don’t see anything particularly remarkable about her."
Xie Jingxing nearly laughed. Earlier, Consort Jing had called Shen Miao "unremarkable," and now she had returned the insult word for word—truly vindictive. He replied, "Consort Jing is the eldest daughter of General Lu. General Lu... holds a position in Great Coolness equivalent to your Shen family’s in Ming Qi."Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. So it was a family holding military power—no wonder the Yongle Emperor had to show her extra leniency.
"Great Liang is different from Ming Qi. Ming Qi has very few military officials left, with the Shen and Xie families each holding half the realm. Great Liang equally values both civil and military officials without deliberate bias, hence the abundance of military officers makes centralization difficult. General Lu happens to command a substantial number of troops, which is precisely why... he's grown somewhat presumptuous." A cold glint flashed in Xie Jingxing's eyes as he spoke.
"Observing Consort Jing's attitude in the rear palace reveals the Lu family's stance in Longye," Shen Miao remarked. Women in the imperial harem often represented more than just themselves—they embodied their family's reputation and influence. The more powerful the family backing, the more audacious their behavior. Relying solely on imperial favor was rarely enough. Just like her past self—had she not been supported by the Shen family, Fu Xiuyi wouldn't have spared her a glance. As for Mei Furen, whose son Fu Sheng nearly rivaled the crown prince, aside from her own formidable skills, it was largely due to her brilliant brother who carved out his own illustrious achievements.
Thinking of Mei Furen, Shen Miao suddenly froze. In her previous life, Mei Furen had appeared in Qin State several years after Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne. Now that Fu Xiuyi's eastern campaign remained uncertain and she had already come to Great Liang, would Mei Furen still appear?
Unnoticing Shen Miao's distraction, Xie Jingxing praised, "Well observed. Consort Jing is arrogant, the Lu family oversteps, and though my imperial brother intends to suppress them, it must be done gradually."
"Can't they be balanced?" Shen Miao asked.
Xie Jingxing shook his head. "The Lu family served the late emperor. Most of the late emperor's remaining followers have already been purged by my brother. Apart from two families, the military Lu family and the civil official Ye family—both have deep-rooted influence with numerous allies. Uprooting them completely would damage the imperial foundation. My brother cannot act hastily, and they know this well, hence their audacity."
Shen Miao frowned. Xie Jingxing and the Yongle Emperor were full brothers—the late emperor was their biological father. Why did Xie Jingxing refer to him as "the late emperor" instead of "father"? Moreover, according to Xie Jingxing, both the Lu and Ye families were loyalists of the late emperor. Though a new reign brings new officials, since the Yongle Emperor legitimately inherited the throne, these veteran officials should have supported him wholeheartedly. Yet the Lu and Ye families seemed ambitious, while the emperor sought to curb their treachery.
Did the late emperor not wish to see Yongle govern the country? Or had the Lu and Ye families turned disloyal after his death?
Shen Miao keenly sensed some hidden intrigue.
She suddenly found it somewhat ironic. In Ming Qi, the Shen and Xie families had been dutiful and obedient, yet the imperial family remained suspicious, suppressing them relentlessly even without any daughters in the palace. Here in Great Liang, the situation was completely reversed—treacherous officials ran rampant while the imperial family could only endure and plan cautiously.
"Which family does the Empress belong to?" Shen Miao inquired.
"The Ke family," Xie Jingxing replied. "The Ke family are historians by tradition."
Shen Miao was taken aback. "Historians hold little power, with no real authority. For the Emperor to marry a historian's daughter and even make her Empress shows he must truly love Her Majesty."
Xie Jingxing neither confirmed nor denied this."But..." she continued, "If he truly cared for the Empress, why would he allow Consort Jing to disrespect her? The fact that Consort Jing dared to be so insolent toward the Empress clearly shows she was influenced by the Emperor's attitude." If the Yongle Emperor truly cherished the Empress, out of that affection, no matter how arrogant Consort Jing was, she wouldn't have dared to slight the Empress. Yet Consort Jing openly challenged the Empress without regard for propriety, evidently knowing the Emperor wouldn't reprimand her for it.
If he was willing to marry her without regard for power, why couldn't he even manage the simplest act of protecting her?
Xie Jingxing smiled faintly. "His Majesty and I are different." He then ruffled her hair. "And the Empress is different from you too."
Shen Miao brushed his hand away. "So the fourth daughter of the Lu family admires you, doesn't she?"
Xie Jingxing paused, then laughed. "Why are you still jealous?"
"But one thing is strange," Shen Miao mused. "If the Lu family wanted to control the court or display their ambitions, they've already sent one daughter into the palace—their goal was achieved. Why send another? And," she looked at him, "even if they did, why send her to you? You're only Prince Rui, not the Emperor. Surely the Lu family doesn't intend to control both imperial brothers."
When she glanced up, she froze. Xie Jingxing was gazing at her deeply, his expression unreadable. Before she could ask, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face against her shoulder, half-embracing her.
His low, amused murmur reached her ear: "At this rate, I'll have no secrets left in front of you."
Secrets? Shen Miao's heart skipped. Had she guessed something correctly?
"You still have secrets from me?" she asked pointedly.
"Don't you have secrets from me too?" Xie Jingxing countered.
She stiffened. Xie Jingxing released her, locking eyes with her. His lips curved, but his gaze pinned her in place, making it hard to breathe.
"How about an exchange?" he suggested. "My secret for yours?"
Shen Miao's heart pounded violently, but she quickly composed herself, turning away to hide her reaction. "I don't want to know your secret."
Xie Jingxing chuckled. "Oh? Well, you're capable of finding out on your own, aren't you?"
Shen Miao turned back, staring at him silently.
Xie Jingxing stretched lazily. "As for my secret, you're welcome to uncover it yourself. But your secret... do you think I already know it?"
For a moment, panic surged through her.
She did have a secret—one from her past life. But she lacked the courage to tell anyone, not even Shen Qiu, Shen Xin, or Luo Xueyan. She guarded it fiercely, not daring to reveal even a hint.
Aside from the fear that people might think her mad for speaking of supernatural rebirth, she was terrified no one would believe her—or worse, that they'd look at her differently.
Too foolish, too cowardly, responsible for the deaths of her children and family—would they blame her? Shen Miao couldn't bear to find out.
And if Xie Jingxing knew she had been married before, that she had once been Fu Xiuyi's wife and had contributed to his ambitions for the throne... how would he see her then?
Shen Miao had always believed she didn't care how others viewed her. But now, a sudden dread gripped her. She couldn't bear the thought of Xie Jingxing looking at her as if she were an enemy.Her unusual expression did not escape Xie Jingxing's notice. His gaze deepened, but he only sighed softly before pulling her into his embrace once more.
"I dislike forcing answers. If you don’t wish to speak of it, I won’t ask," he said.
"But don’t make me wait too long."
……
After returning to Prince Rui's Estate, Xie Jingxing soon left again. He was always occupied with many matters, and Shen Miao did not press him. At present, she still had little understanding of Great Coolness’s political landscape. The explanations Xie Jingxing had given her in the carriage about the Lu and Ye families had made her realize that, at its core, Great Coolness was no different from Ming Qi. Though it appeared prosperous and peaceful on the surface, the undercurrents of unrest beneath that tranquility were likely even more turbulent. And precisely because Great Coolness was a larger nation, the ambitions festering in its shadows were all the more rampant.
After all, the Yongle Emperor and Xie Jingxing’s attitudes toward their father were also quite peculiar. It seemed there was a great deal of history between them. Shen Miao recalled how, back in Ming Qi, when she had first met Xie Jingxing, he had seemed to be searching for something on multiple occasions. At the General’s Manor, he had even stumbled upon her setting the ancestral hall ablaze. And in the secret chamber of Prince Yu's Manor, Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang had also appeared to retrieve something.
But what exactly was it?
Shen Miao had initially assumed it was something like a Military Defense Map, but such documents would hardly be stored in the General’s Manor or Prince Yu's secret chamber. As for what it truly was, she had no way of knowing now.
As her thoughts wandered, another matter came to mind.
Pei Lang had followed Xie Jingxing’s military force all the way to Great Coolness. Bringing him here had been primarily to evade Fu Xiuyi’s pursuit. Liuying had been brought along as well—she was easy enough to settle, but Pei Lang was another matter. Outwardly humble yet inwardly proud, he had initially only assisted Shen Miao for Liuying’s sake. But after being suspected by Fu Xiuyi, he had risked his life to protect her, leaving Shen Miao with no further justification to demand anything more from him.
Finally, Shen Miao stood and walked out of her room, deciding to speak with Pei Lang directly.
Pei Lang’s quarters were arranged in the easternmost wing of Prince Rui's Estate. The surroundings were pleasant—after all, the estate was vast, and sparing a courtyard was no trouble. Pei Lang’s accommodations were quite comfortable. Whether by design or coincidence, however, his residence was positioned diagonally opposite Shen Miao’s, making it the farthest possible distance within the entire estate.
When Shen Miao arrived at Pei Lang’s courtyard, he was seated in the garden playing chess. Two maids in green robes stood beside him, both strikingly beautiful. They occasionally poured tea for him, their gazes lingering on Pei Lang with restrained yet unmistakable admiration.
The sight struck Shen Miao as oddly unsettling. She paused, observing from a distance, her mind drifting to memories of her past life.
In that life, Pei Lang’s talents had been boundless. After Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, he had been elevated to the position of Imperial Advisor. Pei Lang himself was handsome and aloof, often dressed in a green robe, exuding an air of serene detachment that gave him an almost immortal aura. The court officials, aware of Fu Xiuyi’s deep trust in him, dared not oppose him. Throughout Ming Qi, Pei Lang had been a figure of considerable renown.Yet he was also very young and exceptionally handsome. Fu Xiuyi had once attempted to arrange a marriage between him and the daughter of a high-ranking official, but Pei Lang politely declined. Such a genius likely had his own temperament and was a man of strong emotions. Fu Xiuyi thought Pei Lang probably disliked being controlled, so he let him be. Before Shen Miao was taken as a hostage to the Qin State, she had a fairly good relationship with Pei Lang and had even asked him if there was a woman he fancied.
How had Pei Lang responded back then?
Shen Miao’s expression grew distant.
Pei Lang had said: "Your Highness, my ambitions lie elsewhere." Those four words—"my ambitions lie elsewhere"—seemed like a deflection, yet they clearly conveyed Pei Lang’s stance. Pei Lang was a man of reason, so rational that when assisting Fu Xiuyi in decision-making, he would eliminate any possibility of emotional interference to ensure the outcome remained predictable.
Come to think of it, even up until Shen Miao’s death in her past life, Pei Lang had remained alone, never rumored to have any woman he favored.
Now, seeing Pei Lang standing with two women, Shen Miao felt a strange sense of unreality. Even back in the Hall of Extensive Learning, Pei Lang had attracted many female students with his charm. Now that he was at the prime of his youth, it was only natural for people to speculate.
As Shen Miao mused, the maid beside Pei Lang, who was fanning him to ward off butterflies and insects, noticed her. The maid froze for a moment before quickly bowing and saying, "This servant greets the Royal Consort."
The other maid in green robes also hurriedly bowed.
Pei Lang finally looked up and saw Shen Miao. Smiling, Shen Miao walked over and said to the two maids, "You may leave."
The maids hesitated, glancing at Pei Lang for confirmation. He waved his hand, and only then did they retreat as instructed. Watching their graceful figures disappear, Shen Miao felt an uncharacteristic urge to tease Pei Lang and asked, "How rare to see Master Pei in such a romantic setting, accompanied by beauties."
The way those two maids looked at Pei Lang barely concealed their admiration.
Pei Lang shook his head with a bitter smile but did not refute her. When under someone else’s roof, one had no choice but to lower their head. These two maids had been assigned to him by Prince Rui’s Residence. In the past, Pei Lang would have found a way to dismiss such openly infatuated servants, refusing to keep them around. But this was not Ming Qi, and they were not his subordinates. Whether this was Xie Jingxing’s doing or not, no matter how displeased he was, Pei Lang had no choice but to endure it.
Yet seeing Shen Miao seemingly unaffected by any of this, Pei Lang couldn’t help but feel a faint pang of bitterness in his heart.
"Master Pei, your coming to Great Coolness with me was an act of necessity," Shen Miao said. "Now that we’re in this awkward situation, what are your plans for the future?" She paused before continuing, "Back then, the matter with Liuying was something I forced upon you. You had no choice, and I’ve burdened you with exile from your homeland. I truly feel guilty. If you wish to leave, you may do so."
Hearing this, Pei Lang gave Shen Miao a surprised look.
From the very beginning, Shen Miao had always faced him with an air of righteous confidence. Starting from when she had threatened him using Liuying, Pei Lang had vaguely sensed a certain subtle emotion in Shen Miao toward him—something akin to hostility, yet not entirely so. Perplexed, Pei Lang had once investigated thoroughly, but in the end, he had found nothing.At this moment, Shen Miao faced him without any trace of hostility. It was as if she had let go of something, appearing very calm, yet Pei Lang felt a vague sense of loss. It seemed that something special had dissipated along with Shen Miao's release.
As Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang, she couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion in her heart.
She had always defined Pei Lang as "someone who owed her a great deal," but that day when Xie Jingxing mentioned that Pei Lang was imprisoned in Fu Xiuyi's dungeon, enduring torture yet refusing to reveal that she was the mastermind behind the scenes, her perspective on certain matters shifted once again. Shen Miao knew all too well how Fu Xiuyi dealt with traitors. Under such circumstances, Pei Lang still did not expose her identity. Shen Miao couldn’t quite articulate what she felt.
Looking back now, the reason she hated Pei Lang and harbored so much resentment toward him was because he had always stood firmly on Fu Xiuyi’s side. When Fu Xiuyi targeted the Shen family, Pei Lang chose to stand by and do nothing. He didn’t even speak a word in Fu Ming’s defense during the deposing of the Crown Prince, nor did he attempt to stop Wan Yu’s forced marriage alliance.
But in this world, helping someone is a matter of sentiment, while refusing to help is a matter of principle. No matter what, the relationship between Pei Lang and her had never reached the point where he was "obliged to help."
As for this lifetime, Pei Lang was no longer Fu Xiuyi’s man. In fact, he had turned against Fu Xiuyi and become his enemy, leaving him no reason to seek refuge there again. Thus, those lingering grudges no longer needed to be held onto.
Revenge, after all, must be achieved through one’s own efforts. Mere hatred or resentment serves no purpose at all.
Suppressing the disappointment in his heart, Pei Lang asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Shen Miao was taken aback. "Me?"
Pei Lang’s gaze sharpened once more, as if reverting to the astute and unparalleled Imperial Advisor he once was. He said, "The position Prince Rui’s Estate occupies does not seem as unshakable as it appears on the surface. I suspect there are variables within the Great Coolness imperial family as well."
He looked at Shen Miao. "Even if the affairs of the Great Coolness imperial family have nothing to do with me, and Prince Rui’s Estate has its own means of self-preservation, your path may not necessarily be smooth sailing."
Shen Miao frowned slightly. "That’s true. But why bring this up now, sir...?"
"I can lend you a hand," Pei Lang said.
Shen Miao: "Sir?"
"I may not be a talent of extraordinary caliber, but I can still contribute my modest efforts. Both Liuying and I now rely on you to establish ourselves in Great Coolness. The better your life becomes, the firmer your footing, the better ours will be. Even if only for my own sake, I must help you. I wish to remain in Prince Rui’s Estate." He paused. "If I could also participate in Great Coolness’ court affairs or offer counsel in your endeavors, it might be even better."
After a long silence, Shen Miao finally said, "Sir Pei, think carefully. You owe me nothing. There’s no need to tie your life to mine. You don’t have to rely on me—with your abilities, you can live well on your own. And as for those excuses, there’s no need for them either. You were never one to chase fame or profit."
Pei Lang smiled bitterly in his heart. Shen Miao seemed to understand him better than he understood himself. Even he didn’t know when this inexplicable obsession had taken root, but he was stubbornly unwilling to sever ties with her.
He said, "This is my choice."
Shen Miao took a deep breath and was about to respond when Jing Zhe walked in from outside, holding an exquisitely decorated invitation. "Madam, the invitation for the Colorful Summer Banquet has arrived. It’s addressed to Prince Rui’s Consort. I’ve accepted it on your behalf. Please take a look."Shen Miao had just arrived in Great Coolness when someone sent her an invitation. This would be her first appearance among the noble ladies' circle in Longye, and the sender clearly had ulterior motives.
She asked, "Who sent the invitation?"
"Madam Lu from the General's Pavilion in Longye."
Shen Miao paused her movements.
The Wenye family for civil affairs, the Lu family for military matters - the two great aristocratic families of Great Coolness maintained an extremely delicate relationship with the imperial family.
This visitor was indeed ill-intentioned.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
A new month begins, full of energy ↖w
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