"So Madam already knows. Indeed, when the master first returned to Longye, he was also sent back in that state. The physicians all said there was no hope left, even Young Master Gao was helpless. Yet in the end, the master pulled through—it was truly a miracle."
Shen Miao lowered her eyes. "There are many in Longye who want his life."
Uncle Tang glanced at Shen Miao with some surprise, hesitated, then shook his head and sighed. "The Great Coolness's throne is not so easily guarded. If it were, back then..." He suddenly cut himself off and said, "In any case, Madam must take good care of your health." With that, he turned to instruct the kitchen to prepare medicine and made to leave.
Just as Uncle Tang was about to exit, Shen Miao called out to him and asked, "Uncle Tang, it seems the late emperor and His Highness did not have a good relationship. Do you know anything about this?"
Uncle Tang stumbled in his steps, paused, then slowly replied, "To be honest with Madam, this servant once served in the Empress's household before she entered the palace. But if Madam wishes to know these matters, it would be best to wait for His Highness to tell you himself. This old servant dares not speak further." He bowed and left the room.
Shen Miao pressed her fingers to her forehead. The secrets of the Great Coolness's imperial family were no fewer than those of Ming Qi. What secrets did Xie Jingxing carry? What was the relationship between the late emperor and the Yongle Emperor? Xie Jingxing had not told her these things, and she did not know their depth, nor could she act recklessly. At this moment, Shen Miao almost wished she were more impulsive, less cautious—perhaps then she might stumble upon the truth by accident.
As she was lost in thought, Gu Yu hurried in, wide-eyed and flustered. "Madam... Madam..."
Shen Miao frowned. The more critical the moment, the more important it was to avoid rashness and haste—panic bred chaos. Prince Rui's Estate could not afford any vulnerabilities now. She asked, "What happened? Why are you so flustered?"
Before she could finish, a familiar voice rang out from outside: "Little cousin!"
Shen Miao froze. Behind Gu Yu, a familiar figure suddenly appeared—who else could it be but Luo Tan? Luo Tan looked anxious. Spotting Shen Miao, she rushed forward in a few quick strides, then glanced at Xie Jingxing, still unconscious on the bed, and murmured, "So he wasn't lying to me..."
Shen Miao stood abruptly. "Why are you here?"
Her tone was sharp. She had always treated Luo Tan with an almost elder's indulgence, but now her cold expression startled Luo Tan, who shrank back and whispered, "It's... a long story..."
After Luo Tan explained how she had come to be there, Shen Miao couldn't help but inhale sharply in disapproval. "This is utter recklessness! Great Coolness and Ming Qi are far apart. Traveling alone and staying in someone else's residence—what if something had happened? What would your parents think? What would my parents think?"
Luo Tan, knowing she was in the wrong, said meekly, "I know I was wrong, but I was so set on following you." Then, even more quietly, she added, "I didn’t know Gao Yang was from Longye either. He lied and said he’d only traveled here once and happened to have an estate..."Shen Miao glanced at Luo Tan, who was keeping her head meekly lowered, and found herself at a loss for words. The incident had already happened, and blaming anyone now would be futile. Besides, everything had turned out safely without any major mishaps. Although Gao Yang wasn’t as simple as he appeared on the surface, given his association with Xie Jingxing, he likely wouldn’t have done anything improper to Luo Tan. Shen Miao wasn’t entirely sure why Gao Yang had acted this way, but judging by Luo Tan’s current state, he must have taken good care of her.
Luo Tan, afraid that Shen Miao might bring up sending her back immediately, quickly changed the subject. “Gao Yang went to the medicine room to refine an antidote for Brother-in-law. I thought he was just making it up, but now that I’ve seen Brother-in-law, I know it’s true.” She looked at Shen Miao. “Little cousin, is Brother-in-law really that badly injured?”
Shen Miao saw no reason to hide it and nodded. “Anning’s Guiyuan Pill can only sustain him for ten days at most. If Gao Yang fails to refine the antidote within those ten days, the situation will be dire.”
Luo Tan paled. “Is there really no other way?”
“I’m still thinking,” Shen Miao murmured, lowering her gaze. “The news has already reached the Emperor, who is secretly recruiting skilled physicians. But… distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.”
Luo Tan fell silent for a moment before reaching out to grasp Shen Miao’s hand firmly. “Brother-in-law is such an extraordinary man—nothing will happen to him. You two will have a long and happy life together. I’m still waiting for you to give me a little nephew. Don’t worry too much. I’ll stay and keep watch with you.”
After all, Luo Tan was family. In a foreign land, whether it was Gao Yang or Ji Yushu, there was still a degree of distance between them. Even if Luo Tan did nothing, her presence alone was a comfort.
Xie Jingxing couldn’t be left unattended. Since his condition might fluctuate unpredictably, someone needed to care for him at all times, so Shen Miao took it upon herself. She spent nearly every waking moment sitting by his bedside, feeding him water and reading books—specifically, political and historical texts about Great Coolness.
She needed to quickly familiarize herself with the nation of Great Coolness to prepare for future strategies. Being in a passive position was something she absolutely detested.
Luo Tan stayed by Shen Miao’s side as well, sitting with her in the room except when she returned to her own quarters to sleep at night. It was rare for someone as restless as Luo Tan to remain still for so long, though she mostly sat there in a daze.
Three days passed swiftly. During this time, Xie Jingxing never woke. Apart from Gao Yang, who was secluded in the medicine room refining the antidote, Emperor Wenhui also sent the most skilled imperial physician to tend to Xie Jingxing. Thanks to the old physician’s presence, Xie Jingxing’s pulse remained relatively stable.
Everyone pinned their hopes on Gao Yang, praying he could produce the antidote within ten days. Otherwise, they would truly be left with no recourse—heaven wouldn’t answer their cries, nor would the earth heed their pleas.
But on the fourth day, Xie Jingxing’s condition suddenly took a turn for the worse.
First, his pulse became erratic and unstable, his breathing grew rapid, and his face turned frighteningly pale. He could no longer even swallow water. Then, his wounds began to fester, presenting a truly perilous sight.The elderly physician came to examine Xie Jingxing and shook his head with a sigh. He said that the poison in Xie Jingxing's wound had initially been suppressed by Gao Yang's acupuncture techniques, but it was only a temporary measure. Now, the poison could no longer be contained and had begun to spread inward. Without those three Revival Pills, Xie Jingxing likely wouldn’t have survived this long.
Even if he managed to hold on now, and was fortunate enough to last ten days, there was no telling whether Gao Yang’s efforts would succeed.
Xie Jingxing’s sudden deterioration filled everyone with unease, especially Shen Miao. Before, though Xie Jingxing had been injured, his condition had at least been stable, offering her some comfort. But now, she could no longer deceive herself. The possibility that Xie Jingxing might never wake again was laid bare before her.
Though the elderly physician was skilled, his expertise did not surpass Gao Yang’s. If even Gao Yang was helpless, the physician naturally had no solution either. After shaking his head repeatedly, he returned to the palace to report.
Uncle Tang hesitated for a long time before finally asking Shen Miao, "Madam, should we inform Ji Furen…?" His voice was heavy with sorrow, as though weighed down by immense grief.
Since Xie Jingxing’s return from the hunting grounds, Shen Miao had kept the news from the Ji household to spare Ji Furen the worry and avoid alerting any potential enemies. But now, Uncle Tang’s implication was clear—if Xie Jingxing truly didn’t make it, Ji Furen would have to see him one last time…
"No," Shen Miao interrupted firmly. "Not for now."
Uncle Tang was taken aback, and Tie Yi also looked surprised. Pei Lang, who had been silent until now, spoke up, "Regardless, certain matters should be considered in advance."
Consider what? Funeral arrangements? Though Shen Miao knew Pei Lang wasn’t wrong—in such dire circumstances, grief was inevitable, but the most pressing concern was the future—she felt an inexplicable surge of anger. She recalled how, in her past life, after Wan Yu’s marriage, Pei Lang had similarly said to her with detached calm, "The Princess has married, Your Highness should focus on the future."
She shot Pei Lang a cold glare, one that made him freeze, his heart sinking slowly.
Luo Tan had long been unable to sit still. She rushed back to the Gao residence to find Gao Yang, only to be told that he was refining medicine and must not be disturbed—no one was allowed to enter.
Luo Tan was furious. "This isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed—are we just supposed to watch my brother-in-law waste away? Forget about him, but my poor cousin—she’s already grown so haggard in just a few days, her face gaunt. She’s barely married, and now this happens. If the worst comes to pass, she won’t survive it!"
Luo Tan had read too many operas, including plenty about lovers dying for each other. Though Shen Miao was usually composed and steady, she was still just a girl in her teens, newly married and in the midst of wedded bliss. If her husband met such a tragic fate, how could she bear it? To force a young woman into widowhood was unthinkable.
The servants of the Gao household exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to speak. This young lady from the Luo family was no ordinary figure—she was Prince Rui’s Consort’s own cousin, and her temper was as fiery as her impulsiveness. Even their own young master usually yielded to Luo Tan, let alone mere servants like them.Now that Gao Yang was in the pharmacy and couldn't be disturbed while refining medicine, the servants were left to bear the brunt of Miss Luo's fury.
"He calls himself a renowned physician, famous throughout the land for his miraculous skills and compassionate heart, yet he can't even cure a poison. What if he still can't find an antidote after ten days?" Luo Tan's eyes reddened, her voice choked with sobs. Seeming to feel embarrassed about crying in public, she turned and rushed back into the room, slamming the door shut before throwing herself onto the bed to weep silently.
The Luo family had a deep-seated sense of justice and empathy in their bones. Especially since Shen Miao was Luo Tan's relative, Luo Tan wished she could take her place. Watching Shen Miao suffer while being utterly helpless made Luo Tan feel completely useless. Too ashamed to face Shen Miao and unable to face herself, she shut herself in her room for an entire day, refusing to eat, as if this self-punishment could ease her guilt. No matter how miserable she felt, it couldn't compare to Shen Miao's suffering.
However, Luo Tan's behavior alarmed everyone in the Gao residence. The servants had grown up serving Gao Yang, who had always been gentle and courteous toward women but never brought any into his household. His teasing fondness for Luo Tan was a stark departure from his usual reserved demeanor. Extreme deviations from the norm often signaled trouble, and while Gao Yang was sharp-witted, his servants weren't fools either. They indulged Luo Tan because they all saw her as their future mistress.
Now that their future mistress was upset and refusing to eat, they feared that when their master emerged and saw Luo Tan in such a state, he would be heartbroken—and they would bear the consequences.
After some discussion, the servants decided to send someone to console Miss Luo. After much deliberation, they settled on a young girl named Ben Yue.
Ben Yue was a poor girl Gao Yang had once rescued from a local bully. Had it not been for his intervention, she would have been forced into a brothel. In the Gao household, she served as a maid. Having been kidnapped by traffickers as a child, Ben Yue had traveled far and wide, gaining worldly wisdom and a sharp tongue. Whenever anyone in the household was troubled, Ben Yue was the one to turn to.
Now that Luo Tan was upset, the servants summoned Ben Yue and urged her to persuade Luo Tan to eat.
Luo Tan was sitting in her room, silently weeping, when the door opened. In walked a young girl with two braids tied with red ribbons, carrying a food basket. She set it on the table and began unpacking the dishes inside.
The food smelled delicious, but Luo Tan had no appetite. "Leave," she said. "I don't want to eat."
"Miss, you mustn't harm your health. No matter what happens, your well-being comes first. If you don't eat, you'll fall ill. If you get sick, think how much worse Prince Rui's Consort would feel," Ben Yue coaxed.
Luo Tan shook her head. "I can't eat."
"Miss, there's no need to despair. His Highness Prince Rui is blessed by fortune. Though this ordeal is dangerous, he will surely pull through. They say those who survive great calamities are destined for great blessings—his future will surely be bright." Ben Yue continued her earnest persuasion.Luo Tan gave a bitter smile. "Pretty words are easy to say, but they don’t actually fix anything. If a few auspicious phrases could heal people, what would be the need for doctors in this world? No matter how sweet your words sound now, what use are they? It would be far better to do something practical to help my brother-in-law recover sooner and ease my little cousin’s worries."
Ben Yue was surprised. Luo Tan always seemed careless and reckless, the type who’d be easily fooled. Who knew she had such insight? When people are grieving, they do long for comforting words, but how much those words actually help is something only they themselves know. The fact that Luo Tan wasn’t swayed by sweet talk made Ben Yue sigh inwardly, her expression growing even more troubled.
Ben Yue said, "Miss, having something to say is better than nothing. Hoping for His Highness the Prince to recover is never wrong."
"You’re not wrong," Luo Tan replied. "But the situation is critical right now. Expecting me to relax is impossible. Don’t try to persuade me—I can’t take it in right now. Even if I force myself to listen," she pointed to her chest, "my heart won’t comply."
Ben Yue thought for a moment, feeling at a loss for the first time. After racking her brains, she finally came up with something that might comfort Luo Tan. "Actually, His Highness the Prince might not be as anxious as you think. It hasn’t been ten days yet. Once, I had a fellow maid whose three-year-old brother fell gravely ill. Everyone said he wouldn’t last three days, and even the young master examined him, declaring the child would surely die within that time. But by sheer luck, my friend encountered a master who claimed he could alter the child’s fate. She took her brother to see him, and guess what happened after three days?"
Ben Yue was quite the storyteller, spinning her tale with the dramatic flair of a teahouse performer. Luo Tan found herself drawn in despite herself and asked, "What happened?"
Ben Yue clapped her hands. "Not only did the child survive, but he became even healthier than before!"
Luo Tan was stunned. "How could that be?"
"Even we servants found it strange," Ben Yue admitted. "The young master couldn’t explain it either."
"Where are that sister and brother now?" Luo Tan asked.
"Too many people grew curious, and my friend found it unbearable. When she reached the age to leave the manor, she took her brother and moved away from Longye. No one knows exactly where they went." Ben Yue added, "Back then, she even drew me a map of where the master lived. I gave it to the young master, who took people to investigate. But they found no trace of the dwelling she described—only an empty wasteland. They assumed the master had moved or that my friend misremembered, so they left. In the end, no one ever met that master."
Luo Tan pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "Do you still have that map of the master’s dwelling?"
"I do," Ben Yue nodded. "Almost everyone in the manor has a copy. Back then, curiosity ran rampant—everyone wanted to find that master to change their own fate, hoping for wealth and prosperity. But in the end, no one succeeded."
Luo Tan said, "Then bring it to me.""What do you need this for?" Ben Yue suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "You don't intend to seek out that master, do you? My friend's younger brother's incident happened many years ago—there's no telling if that person is even still alive. Moreover, even the young master couldn't find him back then, so you..." She continued, "I didn't mean for you to go looking for that master to find a solution." Ben Yue was filled with regret. She had mentioned this to Luo Tan to comfort her—to show that even a child predicted to live only three days could survive against the odds, let alone Prince Rui. Who would have thought Luo Tan would take such an unconventional path and actually want to find that master? If the master were so easy to locate, wouldn't everyone have found him already? There'd be no need for all this effort. Gao Yang wouldn't have had to personally refine the medicine either.
Luo Tan shook her head. "Just fetch it for me to see. I'm not necessarily going to look for that master, but sitting here doing nothing makes me feel terrible. Whether I go or not, whether I find him or not, at least I'll have tried my best for my cousin-in-law and little cousin. I won't feel like such a useless person, and that will make me feel much better."
With things put this way, Ben Yue had no reason to refuse. She quickly left and returned, handing Luo Tan a handkerchief embroidered with a map, embarrassed as she said, "I'm no good at drawing, and I can't read, but I'm decent at embroidery. I stitched this based on what my friend drew. See if you can make sense of it, miss."
Fortunately, ever since arriving in Longye, Luo Tan had spent her days wandering outside, taking a particular interest in the more remote areas. Though she hadn't been in Longye long, she was already familiar with its roads and alleys. At a glance, she jumped up and said, "Isn't this south of Fengtou Village outside the western city?"
Ben Yue was startled. "You know it too?" She added, "My friend said back then that if you go south past Fengtou Village, you'd see a house at the foot of the mountain. But when the young master took people there, and others went later, south of Fengtou Village was just a cliff—no mountain foot, no house."
Luo Tan stared at the map. "Fengtou Village isn't far from here. A day's ride at full speed will get us there."
Ben Yue said, "Miss, you can't—"
"I'm going to find my little cousin," Luo Tan replied. "You stay here."
Ben Yue was worried Luo Tan might actually go looking for that master, whose existence was uncertain. But then she thought—Luo Tan might be unreliable, but Prince Rui's Consort was surely sensible and wouldn't indulge Luo Tan's whims. Comforted by the idea that this would make Luo Tan feel better, she relaxed.
At Prince Rui's Estate, Shen Miao gazed at the unconscious Xie Jingxing, her brow tightly furrowed.
Xie Jingxing's condition was worsening. He only had six days left. Within those six days, aside from praying Gao Yang could refine the antidote, was there really any other way?
As she pondered this, Luo Tan rushed in again. Without preamble, she asked Shen Miao, "Little cousin, do you still have that compass I gave you on your wedding day? If you do, could you lend it to me?"
Shen Miao eyed her suspiciously. "What do you need it for?"
Luo Tan avoided her gaze. "Just thought of it and wanted to borrow it for fun."At a time like this, even if Luo Tan had the biggest heart, how could she still be in the mood for games? Shen Miao said, "There's no need to lie to me. Just tell me, what do you really want it for?" After a pause, she added, "If you don't tell me the truth, you can forget about getting it."
Luo Tan was both angry and anxious. When it came to serious matters, she always felt a bit intimidated by Shen Miao. Gritting her teeth and steeling her heart, she decided to lay out everything Ben Yue had said earlier.
After finishing, Luo Tan watched Shen Miao's expression carefully and said, "I want to try finding that master. If he could change the fate of a servant's little brother, perhaps he could do the same for my brother-in-law. Right now, we have no other options. Looking for someone is better than not looking at all."
Shen Miao pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "Gao Yang has already been there once. As a physician, he must have been even more eager than you are now to figure out what was going on. If even Gao Yang could find that place, how could you possibly locate it?"
Luo Tan replied, "Little cousin, if this were just empty talk, I wouldn't dare waste your time at such a critical moment. I once heard Grandfather speak of a strange formation he encountered in his youth—from the outside, nothing seemed unusual, but every plant and tree placed within concealed hidden mechanisms. Once people entered, they would unknowingly be deceived by what they saw, believing they were walking in a straight line when in fact they were moving in circles. Going round and round, they could never find their way out. In earlier times, some even thought it was ghostly sorcery."
Shen Miao frowned. "A strange formation?"
Luo Tan nodded. "But Grandfather also said he only saw it once in his youth. Over time, this skill gradually disappeared, and nowadays, it's likely no one has encountered it. I thought, since that master has the ability to alter fate, they might also know this formation. There are even formations specifically designed for martial artists—the stronger their skills, the harder it is to escape, eventually trapping them to death within the array."
"You're suggesting the reason they couldn't find the house mentioned by that brother and sister is because someone set up such a formation." Shen Miao shook her head. "But as you said, it only affects martial artists. Other servants from the Gao residence also went there and still couldn't find it."
Seeing Shen Miao's reaction, Luo Tan grew somewhat disheartened. "After all this, you just don't believe me, do you? You don't believe anyone can save your husband, right?"
"I do believe you," Shen Miao said.
Luo Tan was taken aback.
Shen Miao asked her, "Can a compass remain unaffected by other things and always point south? You mentioned Fengtou Village lies to the south. Human eyes and other senses might be deceived by the formation, but a compass wouldn't be—it's a tool crafted by artisans."
Luo Tan brightened. "Exactly! It's what the military and sailors use for navigation. But I just realized it would be perfect for countering such formations. But—" She looked at Shen Miao, disbelief in her voice. "Little cousin, do you really trust me enough to let me seek out that master?"
"I trust you, and I trust my own luck," Shen Miao said. "We can't just sit and wait for death. Having multiple paths is better than stubbornly clinging to one. No matter the outcome, we must at least try, or I'll never be satisfied." She added, "I'll go with you."
Luo Tan's mouth fell open. "Go together?"
"If there truly is a master in hiding, they must have their own eccentricities or reasons for concealing their whereabouts. How could you persuade them alone? Since he is my husband and I am his wife, this matter is naturally my responsibility—I can't leave it to others."
Luo Tan looked at Shen Miao as if seeing her for the first time. Shen Miao had always been rational, steady, and analytical, and Luo Tan had thought she would never see her gamble on anything or believe in the impossible. Yet this time, Shen Miao was doing just that.
Was it because of Prince Rui?Shen Miao stood up and, in an instant, her demeanor had completely changed, resolute as if this had been her plan all along. She said, "You come with me, and bring the compass." Then she called for Mo Qing and Cong Yang outside and instructed, "You two will accompany me to Fengtou Village. Tie Yi, take good care of Xie Jingxing until I return. If anything arises, you make the decisions, Tie Yi. If the Emperor inquires, I will bear the responsibility."
With that, she grabbed her outer robe and headed out the door: "Prepare the carriage."
Her words left no room for doubt, exuding an air of authority.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Cousin Tan is so adorable, like a little angel, always forcefully playing the wingman...
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