Xie Jingxing left.
Shen Miao sat alone at the table when Jing Zhe walked in. Having been in the outer room earlier, she had overheard every word of their conversation, as neither had bothered to lower their voices. Seeing Shen Miao’s pale expression, Jing Zhe hesitated but couldn’t help speaking up. “Madam, you’ve been too distant with His Highness.”
Shen Miao remained silent. Jing Zhe continued, “Before you married into the Prince’s residence, you treated His Highness much better than now. These days, it seems like you’re deliberately avoiding him. Those recovering from illness are especially sensitive, and His Highness narrowly escaped death this time—his emotions must be even more delicate. If you show no concern now, he’s bound to feel hurt. If you offer some gentle words tomorrow, things should be fine. Please don’t take it too hard.”
“I understand. You may leave,” Shen Miao replied.
Only after Jing Zhe withdrew did Shen Miao press her fingers to her temples. She was struggling to face Xie Jingxing, yet in all fairness, he was innocent in this. His words—“In truth, you never had any feelings for me from the start, did you?”—sent a chill down her spine.
She couldn’t recall when she had begun to develop feelings for Xie Jingxing. Perhaps it was when he saved her life on Wanli Lake, or when he removed his mask before Rong Xin Princess at the princess’s residence. Maybe it was on their wedding day, when he extended his hand to her from atop his horse. Or even earlier—much earlier—when she set fire to the ancestral hall, when she first met Xie Jingxing and clashed with him.
The sensation of falling for someone felt so distant. In her past life, she had only ever loved Fu Xiuyi, and the price had been devastating. With that lesson etched into her, she dared not give her heart so easily. Even when she did offer affection, it was sparingly, cautiously, always weighing the costs. Yet Xie Jingxing was different. Whether it was his innate arrogance or recklessness, he lavished his emotions without restraint. In this marriage, their investments had never been equal—but Shen Miao had given all she could.
Now, because of her feelings, she couldn’t act without hesitation against Mei Furen. Admiration and suspicion tangled together, leaving her unable to face Xie Jingxing.
And Xie Jingxing? He must be utterly disappointed in her by now.
As she sat at the table, the rare medicinal herb obtained from the Crimson Flame Taoist lay forgotten in its box, tossed aside and gathering dust. In the chaos of recent days, no one had spared it a thought.
The days that followed took on a peculiar rhythm for Shen Miao.
Luo Tan and Gao Yang seemed to have some falling-out—likely over Gao Yang’s deception. With Xie Jingxing’s poison mostly cleared, Gao Yang left the old physician at the Prince’s residence and dragged Luo Tan off to who-knows-where, vanishing without a trace.
Ji Furen and Ji Yushu also returned to the Ji residence. With Xie Jingxing out of danger, there was little reason for them to linger at the Prince’s residence.
Pei Lang, for his part, seemed to have caught a chill and confined himself to his quarters, avoiding any outings.Thus, Shen Miao suddenly found herself alone. The servants of the estate had also noticed the apparent cold war between Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao, treading carefully in their duties. For a time, the entire Prince Rui's Estate was on edge, the atmosphere even more tense than when Xie Jingxing had been unconscious.
It was at this moment that the Ye family arrived.
The Ye family had come to reclaim Ye Mei and Ye Ke.
It seemed the Ye family was aware of Shen Miao's dislike for Ye Mei and Ye Ke, as they had never mentioned the matter to her from the start. Today's visit was merely a notification.
However, as the Royal Consort of Prince Rui's Estate, Shen Miao still had to meet with them.
In the main hall of the estate, Madam Ye was speaking with Ye Ke, while Ye Mei sat to the side with a faint smile. Ye Maocai slightly raised his head, seemingly in the midst of speaking, and facing him in the seat of honor sat Xie Jingxing.
Xie Jingxing wore a silver-purple robe, and perhaps because his injuries were not fully healed, he sat in a lazy, casual manner. He listened to Ye Maocai with a faint smile, though his true thoughts remained unclear.
When Shen Miao entered, Ye Mei was the first to notice her and quickly stood to bow. Ye Ke, however, did not move. Now that they were children of the Ye family, their status had risen, and they no longer needed to bow as commoners would to a royal consort.
Yet when Ye Mei bowed, Shen Miao did not even offer a hand to assist, simply accepting it outright. A flicker of displeasure crossed Madam Ye's eyes, while Ye Ke remained expressionless. Ye Maocai glanced at Shen Miao, taking note of everything.
Shen Miao walked to the other side, taking the seat of honor beside Xie Jingxing. Ye Maocai stood and said, "During their stay at the estate, Mei'er and Ke'er have caused much trouble. We are endlessly grateful for the Royal Consort's care."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "The word 'trouble' is too strong. In truth, Miss Ye and Young Master Ye are His Highness's saviors. To call it trouble would be excessive."
Ye Maocai chuckled and smoothed things over with a few polite words, but then Shen Miao abruptly changed the subject, asking with feigned confusion, "However, how did Miss Li and Young Master Li become Miss Ye and Young Master Ye? That the relatives they sought turned out to be the Ye family is quite unexpected."
As she spoke, Xie Jingxing merely toyed with his teacup, neither stopping her nor agreeing, as if observing from the sidelines. Ye Maocai found it difficult to gauge Xie Jingxing's stance and hesitated before laughing awkwardly. "It's rather embarrassing—this is a matter from over a decade ago. At the time, my wife was in labor, but the midwife harbored ill intentions, acting on the orders of a villain to switch our children. In truth, they were a pair of siblings, but they were replaced with a stillborn girl. For years, we kept this family shame hidden, only investigating in secret. This time, when they came to Longye and stumbled into Prince Rui's Estate, later mentioning their search for relatives, the pieces fell into place." Ye Maocai, with his clean-shaven, scholarly appearance, spoke with utmost sincerity, as if baring his heart. He smiled warmly at Shen Miao and said, "They say Mei'er and Ke'er saved His Highness's life, but in truth, our Ye family should be the ones thanking His Highness. If not for this twist of fate, our family would never have been reunited."“That’s exactly the point.” Madam Ye also laughed along. Since Shen Miao had first met Madam Ye, this was the first time she had seen her laugh so heartily, as if genuinely overjoyed. Anyone who saw it would not doubt that Ye Mei and Ye Ke were her long-lost children.
But Shen Miao simply couldn’t believe it. In her past life, those who had become the children of a minister’s daughter in Ming Qi were now people of Great Coolness in this life. The tangled origins behind this were likely not so simple.
Ye Mei and Ye Ke sat to the side—Ye Mei beautiful, Ye Ke shrewd—clearly rare talents among people. What was even more commendable was their restraint; they neither spoke out of turn nor acted presumptuously despite being Xie Jingxing’s saviors. Because of this, others found it hard to dislike them.
Indeed, someone as calculating and nearly ruthless as Fu Xiuyi, who was selfish enough to harm even his own children without hesitation, had shown Mei Furen exceptional favor. This alone proved she must have had her own unique qualities.
“What a coincidence,” Shen Miao remarked with a faint smile, her tone casual. “Qinzhou isn’t too far from Longye, yet the Ye family searched for over a decade without success. And then, the moment they step into the prince’s estate, they find them.” She looked at Ye Mei. “It must be fate, don’t you think, Miss Ye?”
Ye Mei smiled. “Naturally. The prince’s estate is a blessed place.” She seemed oblivious to the underlying meaning in Shen Miao’s words, responding smoothly instead.
Shen Miao shifted her gaze to Ye Maocai. “And today, Lord Ye has come.”
Ye Maocai quickly replied, “I’m here to take them home.” Then, with a hint of embarrassment, he added, “As their birth father, it’s my fault that they’ve been wandering outside for so many years. Now that we’re finally reunited as a family, we can’t let them endure hardship any longer. Today, I’ll take them back to the estate, and soon we’ll register them in the Jade Register. From now on, they are descendants of the Ye family.” By the end, he seemed emotional, and even Ye Mei and Ye Ke’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
But Shen Miao found this performance clumsy and dull.
Ye Maocai then flattered Xie Jingxing a few more times, seemingly trying to build connections on account of Ye Ke and Ye Mei. The attitude was somewhat peculiar.
The Great Coolness imperial family had intended to ally with the Ye family to counter the Lu family. The Ye family’s pivotal position had kept them neutral so far. Logically, with Ye Mei and Ye Ke’s return, the Ye family should have even more leverage against the Lu family, making it unnecessary to submit to imperial authority. Yet their current stance hinted at siding with the Yongle Emperor. After all, Prince Rui’s Estate was closely tied to the emperor, and currying favor with it was tantamount to declaring loyalty to the throne.
Shen Miao’s heart gradually sank. This was not what she wanted. If the Ye family truly aligned with the Yongle Emperor, undermining them would mean weakening the emperor’s support. Not only would the emperor oppose it, but even Xie Jingxing might disapprove.
Yet forming an alliance with the very people who had killed her children in her past life would forever taint her with disgust.
Still, Xie Jingxing’s attitude was intriguing.Ye Maocai's words were met with Xie Jingxing's casual listening and indifferent responses, skillfully avoiding any questions that required a stance—neither here nor there, leaving everything ambiguous. He had Ye Maocai running in circles. Both Ye Maocai and Madam Ye took turns speaking at length, seemingly covering every topic, yet upon reflection, it appeared Xie Jingxing had revealed no stance at all.
The Ye family's overtures to the imperial family should have been met with at least some reciprocal courtesy, if not immediate gratitude. Yet Xie Jingxing's current attitude was as if he were merely watching a play—languid, indifferent, even making one wonder if he had truly grasped the implications in Ye Maocai's words.
This left the Ye couple somewhat anxious. Observing Xie Jingxing again, their expressions shifted. It was said that Prince Rui of Great Coolness was slippery and formidable, leaving no gaps to exploit. Today, even after such a direct approach outside the court, he remained inscrutable. His attitude left them unable to muster anger, yet gave them no reason to relax. Originally intending to maintain their dignity, they ended up unsure who had truly held the upper hand—somehow, Xie Jingxing had taken control, leading them by the nose without them even realizing it.
Shen Miao was also slightly surprised by Xie Jingxing's attitude. Upon reflection, the Ye family's sudden goodwill was suspicious in itself, and Xie Jingxing was no fool—naturally, he would investigate thoroughly. Still, this eased her mind somewhat. As long as Xie Jingxing did not explicitly show favor toward the Ye family—or, more specifically, treat Ye Mei and her brother with undue regard just because of a life-saving debt—she felt much calmer.
In the end, neither side convinced the other. It seemed Ye Maocai had encountered a stubborn yet unyielding obstacle in Xie Jingxing for the first time. As dusk approached, with no clear stance from Xie Jingxing, they realized their visit had been in vain. Staying longer would be pointless, though their intentions had been conveyed. Thus, they prepared to take their leave with Ye Mei and Ye Ke.
Xie Jingxing instructed Uncle Tang to see them out. Just as they were about to exit the main hall, Madam Ye seemed to recall something and turned back to ask, "In a few days, it will be His Highness's birthday, won't it?"
Shen Miao froze. Xie Jingxing's birthday—she didn't know it. The one from their time in Ming Qi was certainly not real. As for Great Coolness, Xie Jingxing had never mentioned it.
Madam Ye, sharp-eyed, noticed Shen Miao's slight surprise and asked with a smile, "Why does it seem the Royal Consort is unaware?"
Ye Mei and Ye Ke also paused, with Ye Mei casting a peculiar glance at Shen Miao.
For a wife to be ignorant of her husband's birthday, only to hear it from outsiders—this was rather strange for a married couple.
Xie Jingxing remained seated in the hall, sipping tea as if he hadn't heard Madam Ye's words. Shen Miao smiled faintly and replied lightly, "Does Madam Ye still remember Miss Ye and Young Master Ye's birthdays?"
Madam Ye hesitated, "This—"
Shen Miao didn't give her a chance to speak further, smiling as she said, "After missing them for over a decade, Madam Ye should first consider how to make up for their birthdays." The implication was clear: mind your own business before meddling in others', and don't stir up trouble where there is none.
This blunt humiliation left Madam Ye visibly displeased, while Ye Maocai appeared somewhat embarrassed. Ye Mei, however, took Ye Ke's hand and bowed to Shen Miao once more before hastily taking their leave.Watching the retreating figures of their group, Shen Miao took a deep breath.
Ye Mei and her brother had ultimately succeeded. Before she could act, they had already secured the protection of the Ye family. From now on, suppressing Ye Mei and Ye Ke would first require dealing with the entire Ye family—a far more difficult task than simply assassinating the siblings. Especially since this involved the intricate web of interests within the Great Coolness's imperial family, where pulling one thread could unravel everything, making it even more challenging.
It was truly frustrating and disheartening.
Lost in thought, she hesitated for a moment before turning to look at Xie Jingxing. Recalling how she had let anger cloud her judgment the previous day, blaming him because of Wan Yu and Fu Ming, she realized that today he had treated Li Mei and her brother with impartiality, showing rationality. Perhaps they should have a serious talk. Lately, she had indeed behaved poorly.
But just as she turned around, she saw Xie Jingxing stand up expressionlessly, walking past her without even a glance, as if she were a stranger.
Not a single word was spoken.
Shen Miao's intended words, "I have something to say to you," stuck in her throat, impossible to voice.
Behind her, Gu Yu and Jing Zhe exchanged uneasy glances. They knew Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing had been in a cold war lately, and when their masters were unhappy, the servants naturally couldn't be at ease either. Just moments ago, Shen Miao had clearly shown signs of wanting to reconcile, but Xie Jingxing's coldness had likely wounded their lady's heart.
Having served Shen Miao for so many years, especially in the past two years, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu had come to understand her strong sense of pride. With Xie Jingxing acting this way, even if Shen Miao wanted to make amends, she wouldn't take the initiative. Jing Zhe whispered, "This is bad. If this continues, how will they live together after just getting married?"
Gu Yu pondered and said, "We need to think of a solution."
Returning to her room, Shen Miao grew increasingly unsettled. Xie Jingxing's indifferent attitude, treating her like a stranger, was deeply upsetting. Back in Ming Qi, she had been the Empress for many years. Apart from the times she had to curry favor with Fu Xiuyi for Fu Ming and Wan Yu, she had never yielded to anyone else. Her strong-willed nature was precisely why she had clashed with Mei Furen for so many years.
Xie Jingxing's current demeanor made her lose the desire to talk things out. Both of them were stubborn—Xie Jingxing usually disdained conflict, while she concealed her emotions well. But when they both dug in their heels, the result was almost unbearable.
Just as she was lost in thought, someone knocked on the door. It was Bajiao who entered, holding a plate of pastries.
With a cheerful smile, Bajiao placed the plate on Shen Miao's table and said, "These are freshly made pastries from the kitchen, specially prepared to suit Ming Qi's tastes. Please try them and see if they suit your palate."
Given the tension between Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing, the servants in the residence had been treading carefully. The Ink Feather Army naturally sided with their master, just as Jing Zhe and Gu Yu stood firmly with Shen Miao. Bajiao and Huixiang had already left, so it was unexpected for Bajiao to return now.
Shen Miao suspected there was more to this visit than just pastries. She looked at Bajiao and asked, "Do you have something to say to me?"Bajiao immediately laughed, scratching her head. "This servant is foolish. Before I could even speak, Madam already saw through me. Madam, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu asked me to come and persuade you."
The expressions of Jing Zhe and Gu Yu outside the door instantly turned peculiar. Bajiao claimed she was foolish, yet she usually seemed quite clever. But if she were clever, why would she spill everything like beans from a bamboo tube, exposing both of them? It was truly hard to know what to say.
Shen Miao chuckled. "What do you want to persuade me about?"
"They all say Madam has a very cold temperament. The master was injured and ill for so many days, yet Madam disappeared without a trace and didn’t come to see him. After the master woke up, Madam only visited once. Everyone feels the master has been wronged, so they’ve been neglecting Madam these days. Please don’t blame them."
Shen Miao shook her head. "What they say is true."
"But Madam’s temperament isn’t cold at all," Bajiao said with a smile. "Madam just doesn’t like to speak about it. Otherwise, why would Madam have taken us wandering through the forest all night, determined to find that master and seek medicinal herbs for the master? But why didn’t Madam tell the master about this?"
Shen Miao replied calmly, "I wasn’t the one who saved him. In the end, the herbs were useless. A futile effort that bore no results doesn’t count as merit. What’s there to boast about?" In the imperial harem, she had also done many things for Fu Xiuyi—simplifying and economizing to win him a reputation for integrity. Yet in the end, it couldn’t compare to the political decrees Li Ke issued for Fu Xiuyi. Speaking of it would only invite ridicule and pity. Better to leave it unsaid.
Bajiao frowned. "But that was all your sincerity!"
Shen Miao looked at her. "Sincerity?"
Bajiao nodded. "Whether or not you ultimately saved the master, even if the herbs were useless, your sincerity was real. If you hide and conceal your sincerity, how can the master know? When Madam wandered through the forest all night, insisting on pressing forward—those were all acts of sincerity. In this servant’s eyes, Madam’s sincerity is more precious than the herbs. If Madam hides her sincerity just because the herbs were useless, isn’t that like throwing away the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed?"
Shen Miao was stunned.
Bajiao smiled. "Madam, your sincerity is more effective than herbs. It can cure the master’s illness."
"Must sincerity be spoken aloud to be known?" Shen Miao lowered her gaze. "If one is attentive, shouldn’t they understand?"
Bajiao shook her head. "For others, perhaps. But for the master, it’s different."
"Oh?"
"As you know, the master’s life hasn’t been smooth sailing. The Ink Feather Army was built by the master’s own hands, and we servants have followed him for a long time. Every day, the master faces schemes—but those come from outsiders, from enemies, which is to be expected. But from family, one always hopes for honesty." Bajiao looked at Shen Miao earnestly. "Madam, you are the master’s wife, the person closest to him. If even you don’t express your sincerity, the master might sense it, but he won’t be certain. The more precious something is, the more demanding one becomes. The master values your sincerity, which is why he’s upset. He isn’t doubting you—he’s doubting himself."
He isn’t doubting you—he’s doubting himself.Shen Miao jolted abruptly, as if a piece of ice in her heart had melted into blossoms from these simple words, giving birth to fertile soil, trickling streams, and the endless green fields of spring.
"Even masters will doubt themselves—doubt their own worth, doubt they're inferior to others, doubt your dissatisfaction with them. These doubts pile up until they become doubts about your sincerity. Given this, do you still wish to conceal your true feelings?"
Shen Miao lowered her gaze slightly, yet her heart began to stir with turbulent waves.
Xie Jingxing was a man of immense pride, one who could pass through a battlefield of ten thousand horses with a careless smile. He navigated the filthiest and most chaotic political struggles, bearing burdens far too heavy for his young age. His kin, brothers, and friends remained at an ambiguous distance—his sincerity met with disbelief, making him appear as someone who cared little about anything.
Yet people forgot that beneath it all, he possessed the most straightforward sincerity, an almost boyish innocence. This was evident in how he treated Su Mingfeng, Rong Xin Princess, and even Lin'an Hou.
Too proud to explain himself, he instead acted silently behind the scenes. Such a man, in both past and present lives, would never entangle himself with the likes of Li Mei and Li Ke. She should never have doubted him in the first place. Her distrust stemmed from her own lack of confidence, just as Xie Jingxing's suspicions of her arose from his own self-doubt.
Shen Miao closed her eyes.
As Bajiao had said, people become overly demanding when it comes to what they cherish most. She had fallen for Xie Jingxing, which was why she feared any connection between him and Mei Furen. And Xie Jingxing's regard for her had turned her recent coldness into a thorn in his side.
She seemed to have made some mistakes, but fortunately, there might still be time to make amends.
Bajiao, observing the shifts in Shen Miao's expression, suddenly smiled. "Madam, you should try to coax His Highness a little. He's been particularly stern these days—even the Ink Feather Army can hardly bear it."
Shen Miao shook her head with a smile. "I understand."
"But..." Bajiao hesitated before asking, "Madam, do you have any grievances with that pair of siblings from the Ye family?"
Shen Miao was taken aback. "Why do you ask?" Her coldness toward the Ye siblings was well-known throughout the Prince's residence. Many speculated about the reason, but since it was their first meeting, most assumed it was jealousy over Ye Mei's beauty—an absurd notion, yet no other explanation could be found. Why would Bajiao bring this up?
"You've been too distant with them. His Highness has had people investigating their backgrounds these past days, but nothing suspicious has turned up. So, Madam..."
Shen Miao's heart stirred. First, she was surprised that Xie Jingxing had been privately investigating the Ye siblings. Second, if even Xie Jingxing couldn't find anything amiss, their backgrounds must be impeccably clean.
"There is some history between us," Shen Miao admitted. "But the matter is significant, so let's not discuss it for now."
Bajiao nodded thoughtfully, then grinned at Shen Miao. "Well, it's good that Madam has come to her senses. You mustn't hide your feelings anymore. His Highness is too upset to notice now, but that day when we accompanied you to find the eccentric Taoist, it was clear to everyone—your feelings were obvious. There's no need to conceal them." She winked. "His Highness's birthday is on the third of next month. Every year, he hosts a grand banquet at the Azure Cloud Tower in Longye. I secretly asked the stewardess, and it's the same this year. If Madam wants to prepare a gift, it's best to do so in the next few days."
Before Shen Miao could respond, Bajiao added, "His Highness is easy to appease. If all else fails, just make him a bowl of longevity noodles yourself—he’ll surely forgive you. But most importantly, don’t hide your feelings. He’ll be even happier!" With that, she darted away.Shen Miao stared at the two doors swinging open and shut from her collision, momentarily dazed, then suddenly burst into laughter.
Her heart felt much lighter than it had in the past few days.
Some things simply couldn't be avoided—they had to be faced head-on. Like blood feuds that couldn't be severed. Like... feelings that couldn't be put into words.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Bajiao has mastered the classic TVB line: "Are you hungry? Let me make you some noodles."
...
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