Shen Miao and Luo Tan returned to the original thatched cottage. Huixiang and Bajiao stood under a locust tree, gazing into the distance, while Cong Yang and Mo Qing sat beneath the tree with their swords in their arms, their brows tightly furrowed.
Suddenly, Huixiang said, "They're coming." Bajiao quickly stepped forward to greet them, only to see the eccentric Taoist priest followed by Luo Tan and Shen Miao walking toward them. Luo Tan seemed fine, but Shen Miao looked as if she had fallen somewhere, covered in mud from head to toe, her hair disheveled, and carrying a faint unpleasant odor.
Huixiang and Bajiao exchanged glances, their hearts sinking. Bajiao asked, "Madam, what happened to you...?"
Luo Tan was about to speak when Shen Miao tugged at her sleeve. Looking up, Luo Tan saw Shen Miao give an almost imperceptible shake of her head, so she swallowed her words.
Shen Miao said, "Let's go."
The Red Flame Taoist, however, interjected, "Since you're pressed for time, there's no need to take the same path back. Let me show you a shortcut." He led them through twists and turns until they reached a vast expanse of farmland crisscrossed with fields. Among them, a clearly visible narrow path appeared.
Ben Yue had once mentioned that the siblings had taken a path through fields and small trails. The scene before them now matched that description perfectly. It seemed the siblings had not taken the same route Shen Miao and the others had come by but this one instead.
Red Flame said, "Follow this path straight ahead, and you'll reach the exit." Then, turning to Shen Miao, he smiled and said, "This humble priest once told you, Madam, that you would face a calamity."
Shen Miao looked at him calmly. "Is the Taoist implying that the calamity is about to manifest now?"
"Calamities arise according to the will of Heaven, and divine secrets cannot be revealed." The priest smiled mysteriously. "However, before long, this humble priest and you, Madam, will meet again. When that time comes, I hope you will be as diligent as last night in removing the insects from the Red Sleeve Herb. Only then will there be a chance to resolve the calamity."
His words were cryptic and ambiguous, leaving everyone else bewildered. Shen Miao herself wasn't entirely clear on his meaning. But there was no time to linger now. If their calculations were correct, including the time spent leaving and staying overnight, today was already the sixth day. The Guiyuan Pill could last no more than ten days at best. Moreover, according to the old imperial physician, Xie Jingxing's poison had already begun to spread, and he would be in grave danger within seven days. There truly was no time to waste.
After bidding farewell to Red Flame, Shen Miao and the others set off along the narrow path through the fields. As the priest had said, this path was indeed much easier to traverse than the forest they had walked through the day before.
When it was time to board the carriage, Huixiang couldn't hold back any longer. "Madam, what exactly did that Taoist make you do? What happened last night?" She took in Shen Miao's disheveled appearance and couldn't believe nothing had occurred.
Shen Miao replied, "Nothing happened. Getting back is the priority now." She boarded the carriage first. Seeing that Shen Miao was unwilling to elaborate, Huixiang and the others, though filled with suspicion, had no choice but to suppress their questions. Besides, Xie Jingxing's injury couldn't be delayed any longer, so they hastened their return.In the carriage, Luo Tan asked Shen Miao, "Little cousin, why didn’t you say anything about it?" In Luo Tan’s eyes, Shen Miao had suffered so much for Xie Jingxing, which was undeniably touching. Even among ordinary couples, not everyone could endure such hardship for their partner—a noble young lady humbling herself to kneel as a herb gatherer, laboring through an entire night. Yet Shen Miao endured the suffering without telling anyone, keeping it hidden. What good did that do?
"Doing these things isn’t for showing off to others," Shen Miao replied. "Besides, if word got out, it would only tarnish Prince Rui's Estate’s reputation. Let this matter end here, and don’t mention it to anyone else."
Luo Tan asked, "Not even Prince Rui?"
Shen Miao nodded.
"I understand," Luo Tan said. Then she added, "You should rest for a while. With all the back and forth, we’ll reach Longye by tomorrow. You were busy all last night and didn’t get any sleep. You look terribly exhausted now. Even if I try to cover for you, your appearance will give you away."
Shen Miao nodded and leaned back against the carriage, closing her eyes. After working through the entire night, she was indeed on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. There was no need to force herself to stay awake—she fell asleep almost the moment her eyes shut, oblivious to the carriage’s jolting.
Her sleep, however, was brief. It felt as if she had barely slept when she was shaken awake. Opening her eyes, she saw Bajiao looking at her and saying, "Madam, Miss Luo, we’ve arrived at the estate."
Luo Tan had also just woken up. The two stepped out of the carriage to find it was already the next morning, with the sun high in the sky. Shen Miao rubbed her temples, but when she noticed that the gates of Prince Rui's Estate were unguarded, her heart sank.
The prince’s estate was always heavily guarded, with sentries handpicked from the Ink Feather Army, known for their strict discipline. Yet now, there wasn’t a single person in sight. Could it be… something had happened?
Luo Tan also noticed and felt a sense of foreboding, but fearing she might upset Shen Miao, she didn’t dare say a word. It was Mo Qing who spoke up: "Madam, let’s go inside first and see."
Cong Yang and the others, being Xie Jingxing’s subordinates, also wore worried expressions. As they entered the estate, they found it eerily empty, deepening their unease. Shen Miao quickened her pace and nearly collided with someone in her haste. The person jumped in surprise, then froze upon seeing her. "Madam, you’re back!"
It was Uncle Tang.
Uncle Tang’s clothes looked disheveled, a far cry from his usual composed demeanor. Shen Miao urgently asked, "What happened? Why is the estate empty?"
"Madam, why have you only returned now?" Uncle Tang said. "Word somehow got out that the master is hanging by a thread. These past few days, many have been probing openly and covertly. The estate has been trying to keep it under wraps, but officials from the court have been circling around—it’s been chaos. Ji Furen came several times asking about your whereabouts, and even the Emperor—"
Luo Tan interjected, "Little cousin was busy finding a life-saving expert for her husband. In fact, we’ve already obtained—"
"Ah!" Uncle Tang suddenly clapped his forehead. "I forgot to tell you the good news—the master has woken up!"
Shen Miao and Luo Tan were both stunned. Shen Miao asked, "He’s awake?""Yes," Uncle Tang said. "Madam may not know, but on the night you left, the master's wound suddenly reopened, and the poison could not be contained. The imperial physicians all said that even the Guiyuan Pill couldn't save his life. Young Master Gao was also summoned, but he too had no solution. They all said the master wouldn't last more than two days, and indeed, he was visibly deteriorating." Uncle Tang's words, filled with twists and turns, made everyone's hearts sink. Luo Tan, being impatient, couldn't help but ask, "And then?"
"Then, news that the master was on the verge of death spread, and somehow, it became the talk of the town. Ji Furen was frantic, and seeing that all of Longye already knew, she decided to post a notice outside, offering a hefty reward to any passing physician who could cure the master. Coincidentally, someone took the notice, came in, and gave the master a medicinal herb. Young Master Gao refined the herb into a pill for the master, and gradually, his wound began to heal. He even woke up briefly early this morning. Both Young Master Gao and the imperial physicians have examined him and confirmed that his injuries are recovering, and the poison has been neutralized."
After finishing his account in one breath, Uncle Tang paused and sighed, "They say the master's fate is not yet sealed. Two years ago, people also said he wouldn't make it, but he pulled through. Now it's the same again. Truly, it's the grace of heaven and the protection of the late Empress watching over him."
Hearing that Xie Jingxing's poison had been cured, Shen Miao finally felt a genuine sense of relief. Bajiao and the others patted their chests, their anxious hearts finally settling.
Luo Tan looked at Shen Miao, thinking how hard she had worked to obtain that medicinal herb from the strict, eccentric Taoist, only for it to be rendered useless by some passerby who happened to take the notice. But then again, that person had cured Xie Jingxing, so she couldn't really blame them. Still, she felt a bit sorry for Shen Miao, thinking she had gone through so much for nothing.
Uncle Tang continued, "When the master first woke up, he asked about you, Madam, wondering where you had gone. You instructed this old servant not to speak of it casually, and with your prolonged absence these past days, I feared something might have happened. I also worried that if the master started overthinking, it might worsen his condition, so I kept it from him."
Shen Miao said, "You did well." She didn't want others to know about her search for the Red Flame herb—partly to prevent others from exploiting the situation, and partly because if someone became too emotionally invested in something, it could become their obvious weakness. If someone wanted to target Shen Miao in the future, they would only need to strike at Xie Jingxing. She didn’t want to expose her vulnerability too soon.
Moreover, she wasn’t sure how Xie Jingxing would view her somewhat reckless actions. She thought it best to wait until his condition improved before explaining everything to him.
"I’ll go see him first," Shen Miao said.
"Madam," Uncle Tang stopped her. "The master has just taken the medicine prepared by Young Master Gao and is resting now. It wouldn’t be good for you to go in."
Shen Miao pondered, then looked at Uncle Tang again. "Why is the manor gate so unguarded and chaotic? There don’t seem to be many people around. What’s going on?"Uncle Tang smiled apologetically and said, "There have been too many incidents these days, and this old servant actually forgot to inform Madam about this matter. Although the news of the master's rescue is now known throughout Longye, and everyone knows he narrowly escaped death but ultimately emerged unscathed, Ji Furen and the young master Ji remain deeply concerned. They have been staying at the estate these past few days. This old servant also kept Madam's whereabouts from them, only saying that Madam had gone to seek a physician's help. As for the person who saved the master's life—truly the master's benefactor—this old servant arranged for them to stay in the estate. Today, when the master woke, Ji Furen and the others went to see him. The benefactor is now seated in the main hall, with Ji Furen and the young master Ji present as well, saying they wish to properly thank them. However, the benefactor is not one to covet power or wealth. Earlier, when we offered them vast riches, they refused."
"Then what do they want?" Luo Tan asked. "Didn't they answer the challenge? If not for seeking something, why would they have done so?"
Uncle Tang looked at Luo Tan and smiled. "This old servant was also puzzled. Ji Furen asked the benefactor, who said that they happened to pass by that day and saw the challenge. Recalling that their ancestors had passed down a miraculous herb capable of curing all poisons, they thought the herb could save a life and, without much deliberation, answered the challenge and came to our estate."
Luo Tan shrugged. "That's truly noble and selfless. I couldn't do such a thing. An heirloom passed down from ancestors—one must weigh its value carefully. To use it to save a complete stranger... that truly requires courage."
Uncle Tang also laughed. "Indeed." Then, turning to Shen Miao, he said, "Ji Furen is also troubled by this matter, and this old servant is uncertain how to proceed. But now that Madam has returned, it’s all the better. Madam can decide what would be appropriate to gift them."
"Since they are life-saving benefactors, I shall go meet them first," Shen Miao said, lowering her gaze. "Are they in the main hall now?"
"Indeed," Uncle Tang replied. "This old servant was just about to head there. It’s perfect—Madam may accompany me."
Shen Miao nodded, and Luo Tan quickly followed.
Along the way, Uncle Tang seemed to suddenly remember something and added, "Speaking of which, the two benefactors seem to have only recently arrived in Longye and are not very familiar with the place. They mentioned they came to seek relatives. Ji Furen thought that in a few days, we could help arrange things for them. Our Prince Rui's Estate could lend a hand—perhaps even posting notices outside would be helpful."
"Two benefactors?" Shen Miao asked. "Why are there two?"
"They are a pair of siblings," Uncle Tang explained with a smile. "About the same age as Madam, and quite striking in appearance. Ji Furen, with her warm-hearted nature, even considered introducing them to some promising young talents and well-bred ladies. They seem very sensible and have gotten along well with the estate’s servants these past few days."
The servants of Prince Rui's Estate were all trained by Xie Jingxing’s Ink Feather Army. Even those who weren’t part of the army were individuals of strong resolve. In the days Shen Miao had been at the estate, she had observed that these people followed their own strict protocols. It was remarkable that Xie Jingxing—someone so disdainful of rules and so casual in his ways—had trained such a group of subordinates who were almost masochistically strict with themselves.Getting along well with these people was not something an ordinary person could achieve. Even with the most warm-hearted individuals, there was always a basic sense of caution and boundaries between people, especially those from Prince Rui's Estate. Whether it was Shen Miao's intuition or not, she couldn't help but feel that this pair of "benefactors" seemed somewhat unusual.
Luo Tan asked curiously, "So, you're saying this brother and sister are exceptionally good people?"
"Probably so," Uncle Tang chuckled. "No matter what, saving the master's life means they'll forever be honored guests of the estate."
As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the main hall. The moment they stepped inside, they saw Ji Furen and the elder seated in the center of the room. The elder was whispering something to Ji Furen when she caught sight of Shen Miao following behind Uncle Tang. Ji Furen immediately stood up and hurried over, exclaiming, "Jiaoniang, you’ve finally returned!"
There were also several other ladies in the hall whom Shen Miao didn’t recognize. Shen Miao looked at Ji Furen with some confusion, and Ji Furen, noticing her gaze, lowered her voice to explain, "These are ladies who came to visit Jingxing... It wasn’t appropriate to send them away during the day, so we had to let them stay here."
Shen Miao understood. Xie Jingxing’s position in Longye was indeed delicate—his life or death was tied to the fates and interests of many in the court. While the officials couldn’t come themselves to verify whether he was truly alive or dead, they had sent their wives under the pretense of comforting Ji Furen. Comfort was merely an excuse; seeing Xie Jingxing’s condition with their own eyes was the real purpose. Since Xie Jingxing had woken up this morning, these ladies had likely rushed over to confirm the truth.
Ji Furen continued, "Where have you been all this time? Uncle Tang said you went to find a physician, but we couldn’t locate you anywhere. We almost couldn’t handle these people. Thank goodness you’re back." She ended with a hint of reproach, "Jingxing hadn’t woken up yet. I know you were anxious and went to find a doctor, but no matter what, you should have stayed by your husband’s side. When he woke up this morning and didn’t see you, he was disappointed. You’re no longer just an official’s daughter—you’re the Royal Consort of Prince Rui's Estate now. You must consider the consequences of your actions. Many eyes are watching you."
Though her words were somewhat harsh, Shen Miao knew Ji Furen meant well. Moreover, by blood and reason, Ji Furen’s loyalty lay with Xie Jingxing, not Shen Miao. Without explaining her reasons, Shen Miao’s sudden disappearance did seem inconsiderate and heartless. Thus, she didn’t feel wronged by Ji Furen’s reprimand.
Just as Ji Furen finished speaking quietly to Shen Miao, one of the ladies in the hall looked at Shen Miao and smiled, "The Royal Consort has finally appeared. We came to visit these past few days but didn’t see you at all. We thought perhaps you were so grief-stricken by His Highness’s illness that you secluded yourself, and we were terribly worried something might have happened to you. Now that we see you’re well, we can rest easy."
Her words, both overtly and covertly, implied that Shen Miao was far from being a competent Royal Consort. As the consort, her husband lay severely injured, yet she hadn’t shown her face—neither staying by his sickbed nor receiving guests. Her mysterious absence not only seemed suspicious but also cold-hearted and indifferent.Ji Furen's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. Shen Miao smiled faintly and turned slightly to the woman, saying indifferently, "The household is in disarray, troubling Madam to concern yourself." The implied meaning was clear: matters of my own household need not trouble an outsider like you.
Shen Miao had always been the type to meet strength with strength. Against someone as unfathomable as Xie Jingxing, she might yield, but there was no need to overthink when dealing with a woman of little wit. Thus, her words were particularly biting, leaving the woman speechless.
However, as she turned, her own appearance was clearly exposed to the crowd. Suddenly, another woman exclaimed, "Prince Rui's Consort, what happened to you? Why is your dress so dirty? Did you take a fall?" She then abruptly covered her nose, looking extremely uncomfortable.
Ji Furen and Ji Daren were stunned, as was Uncle Tang. The gazes of everyone in the hall instantly focused on Shen Miao. Only then did they notice that her dress was covered in dirt and dust, utterly filthy. Upon closer inspection, her hair also seemed slightly disheveled, as if hastily tidied, giving an overall impression of disarray. And there was a faint, lingering odor about her—something akin to... fertilizer.
The women, who had never taken a liking to this outsider, Prince Rui's Consort, now seized the opportunity to chatter away. They speculated whether Shen Miao had been so anxious that she had acted carelessly or perhaps had taken a sudden fall.
Luo Tan, standing behind her, was seething with anger. She alone knew the true reason for Shen Miao's disheveled state, but Shen Miao had warned her not to reveal it.
Uncle Tang was taken aback. When he had seen Shen Miao, his mind had been preoccupied with urgent matters, and he had overlooked her appearance. Moreover, Shen Miao had always carried herself with dignified grace, her attire immaculate. Never before had she appeared so indifferent to her appearance. Ji Furen's face flushed with embarrassment—Shen Miao was her niece-in-law, and any criticism of Shen Miao was a direct slap to her face.
Amidst the murmurs, Shen Miao remained the most composed. She saw nothing wrong with her state. These women had always been cliquish, never accepting her as one of their own. For those determined to find fault, no matter how exquisitely she dressed today, their opinions would not change. Thus, she felt no shame in their judgment of her disheveled appearance.
After all, they would never be the sort to sit down for tea together in the future.
Just as Ji Furen was about to say something to smooth things over, a man's laughter rang out from the outer hall. "Brother Li, your skill is truly remarkable. I couldn't solve the Nine Interlocking Rings, yet you untangled them in less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Aside from my third brother, no one has ever matched your speed."
It was Ji Yushu's voice.
Then another voice spoke—a young man's, clear yet slightly husky, creating a unique blend. The man said, "Brother Ji flatters me. I dare not compare myself to His Highness the Prince."Shen Miao's heart stirred uncontrollably, suddenly tightening into a knot. That clear yet slightly hoarse voice was hauntingly familiar, yet she couldn't recall whose it was. Her very soul trembled at this moment. She looked down at her hands—her sleeves were long, revealing only her fingertips. Those fair, delicate fingertips, marked with a few bloodstains from last night's busy work, were now shaking violently.
The next moment, Ji Yushu's voice rang out: "Don't say that. When my third brother wakes up, I'll definitely have you two compete. He admires intelligent people the most—if you go, he'll surely appreciate you greatly."
The curtain of the main hall was lifted as two figures emerged from within. Ji Yushu walked at the forefront and suddenly spotted Shen Miao. He froze momentarily, then disregarding the presence of the noble ladies, hurried forward in quick strides. "Sister-in-law," he said in a lowered voice, "You've been back these days, but no one would tell me where you'd gone. Even Tie Yi refused to say. Where exactly were you?"
But Shen Miao didn't answer him. Her gaze was fixed unwaveringly on the person following closely behind Ji Yushu.
There stood a young man, likely just past twenty, with features so plain they seemed unremarkable at first glance. Yet, inexplicably, he drew attention—perhaps because his entire being exuded an air of sharp intelligence. He wore a rosin-colored robe and blue cloth boots, his eyes blazing like the summer sun, fervent and intoxicating, yet tinged with a hidden fervor.
Shen Miao swayed, nearly collapsing, but Luo Tan swiftly steadied her from behind, assuming she was still exhausted from the previous night.
Noticing Shen Miao’s gaze fixed on the young man, Ji Furen said, “This is one of the benefactors who saved Jingxing—Young Master Li.”
The young man bowed to Shen Miao with a smile. “I am—”
“Li Ke.”
The name roared in Shen Miao’s mind like a thousand screams. She would never forget it—never forget those seemingly warm, innocent eyes. This was the man who, in just a few short years, would rise to become Fu Xiuyi’s right-hand man, nearly rivaling Pei Lang in influence. This was Mei Furen’s blood brother—Li Ke.
She had never imagined that after that long, torturous life, she would face this man again in this lifetime—here, in a foreign land, in her own residence, before a room full of people. Li Ke stood before her, bold and unashamed.
Her face paled abruptly. Reason warned her not to act strangely in front of these noblewomen, yet her gaze bore into Li Ke with such ferocity that she longed to tear him apart, to drink his blood and feast on his flesh.
Mei Furen’s brother. The siblings who had orchestrated her ruin in her past life. Mei Furen had won Fu Xiuyi’s heart, while Li Ke had risen to power on her coattails. Li Ke served Fu Xiuyi loyally, while Mei Furen thrived under his protection, growing ever more favored. The siblings had climbed together—Mei Furen scheming to marry off Wan Yu, Li Ke plotting to depose the crown prince. Mei Furen had ensured the Shen family’s main branch was exterminated, while Li Ke had fostered close ties with Shen Gui and Shen Wan of the second and third branches.
This cursed fate—inescapable across lifetimes. Yet Shen Miao had never expected to encounter him here, of all places, posing as Xie Jingxing’s savior.
Suddenly, she recalled Uncle Tang’s words: “They were a pair of siblings.”
The intensity of Shen Miao’s glare left Ji Furen momentarily stunned. “Jiaoniang…?”
“Weren’t there two benefactors?” Shen Miao smiled faintly, slowly shifting her gaze away. Her tone carried an eerie edge, one she herself didn’t notice. “Where is the other?”
“A maid spilled tea on her earlier, so I had her change. Since there are no other women’s clothes in the residence, and servants’ garments wouldn’t do, I lent her some of Jiaoniang’s,” Ji Furen explained.
Just then, Ji Yushu glanced toward the door and said, “She’s here.”
The woman had a face like a lotus, a waist as slender as willow branches—a beauty that could rival the heavens. Clad in a delicate blouse, she stepped forward gracefully. The midday sun streamed in as she lifted the curtain, illuminating her breathtaking radiance. Her light laughter dazzled, as if from another lifetime—the same brilliance Shen Miao had seen in her dying moments.
Shen Miao stood in the center of the room, disheveled and pale, her gaze fixed on the woman like a starving wolf, a fierce tiger, or a venomous serpent coiled in her chest, waiting to strike.The person wore her clothes, came to her residence, saved her husband, and flaunted herself right before her eyes.
A nemesis from a past life, a sworn enemy in this one—this twisted fate, tangled and unbreakable, had once again pushed them to the brink of destiny.
"Mei Niang pays her respects to the Royal Consort," the woman said.
Mei Niang?
No, you are not Mei Niang. You are... the beloved of Ming Qi's Emperor Fu Xiuyi, the birth mother of the new Crown Prince Fu Ming.
And also my mortal enemy—Mei Furen.
...
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