On the third day of the seventh month, it was Xie Jingxing's birthday. The entire Prince Rui's Estate should have been bustling with activity. It was said that although Xie Jingxing himself didn't particularly care for it, the Yongle Emperor insisted on hosting a banquet at the Azure Cloud Tower every year to celebrate. The more importance the emperor showed toward Xie Jingxing, the more respect the court officials accorded him. Of course, Xie Jingxing's own conduct over the past two years had also given them much to ponder. A birthday banquet was naturally an opportunity for sycophancy, and from early morning, gifts had been streaming into the courtyard.
Uncle Tang was busy recording these gifts in a ledger before presenting it to Shen Miao for review. After all, as the Royal Consort of Prince Rui's Estate, even though she and Xie Jingxing were currently in the midst of a cold war, she still had to oversee the accounts. Shen Miao skimmed through the list, her eyes glazing over at the dizzying array of names—whether high-ranking officials or minor functionaries, all were eager to curry favor. The Lu and Ye families had also sent gifts.
Shen Miao couldn't help but reflect that it was only because of the close relationship between the Yongle Emperor and Xie Jingxing that such a display was possible. Had this been Ming Qi, any minister who received so many birthday congratulations would have immediately aroused the emperor's suspicion. Yet here in Longye, the celebration was practically flaunted, which struck her as rather peculiar.
Uncle Tang pointed out which gifts were to be stored in the treasury and which could be used immediately, then asked Shen Miao, "Madam, don't forget to dress early today. Tie Yi will send someone to escort you to the Azure Cloud Tower."
Shen Miao was puzzled. "Me?"
Uncle Tang smiled. "Madam is the Royal Consort of the estate and His Highness's wife. Naturally, you must attend his birthday banquet." He hesitated before adding haltingly, "Couples quarrel, but they make up just as quickly. His Highness may seem angry, but if you don't attend today, who knows how long he'll sulk? So..."
"Understood. I'll go," Shen Miao said.
Only then did Uncle Tang relax, offering a few more careful reminders before taking his leave.
After he left, Shen Miao finished reviewing the ledger, tidied it up, and prepared to return to her room. Jing Zhe approached with a sheepish expression, cautiously asking, "Madam, you will definitely go to the Azure Cloud Tower tonight, won't you?"
"Prince Rui's Estate is under scrutiny. Since I've only just arrived in Great Coolness, there are bound to be people eager for a spectacle. If I refuse to attend, it’ll give them fodder for gossip. Better to face it head-on—meet the challenge as it comes, don't you think?"
Jing Zhe nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Let them see clearly what the Royal Consort from Ming Qi is like. A lady from the General's Manor doesn’t become a Royal Consort by mere chance!"
Gu Yu tugged at Jing Zhe's sleeve and shot her a warning look, whispering, "You're getting carried away."
Jing Zhe pouted. Seeing Shen Miao already heading inside, she leaned closer to Gu Yu and muttered, "Madam is still being stubborn. If she wants to make up with His Highness, she should just say so—no one would laugh at her." She sighed dramatically. "At least she's finally willing to yield. His Highness really has a way with her."
Gu Yu chided, "Keep your voice down."
Shen Miao returned to her room, followed by Jing Zhe and Gu Yu. Gu Yu asked, "Madam, would you like to pick out your attire for tonight? That way, I can plan your hairstyle accordingly."Shen Miao said, "Leave those tasks for later. Grind some ink for me now."
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu exchanged glances, both puzzled as to why Shen Miao suddenly had the urge to write. Truth be told, Shen Miao was not particularly fond of calligraphy or painting, but as servants, they naturally obeyed their mistress’s orders. It wasn’t until Shen Miao spread out the letter paper that Gu Yu and Jing Zhe realized she intended to write a letter.
Shen Miao asked Gu Yu, "Cousin Tan should be returning soon, right?"
Gu Yu replied, "Young Master Gao sent word earlier—she’ll definitely make it back in time for tonight’s birthday celebration at Azure Cloud Tower."
Luo Tan and Gao Yang had disappeared for the past few days. Luo Tan had a fiery temper, and since Gao Yang had deceived her before, it would take quite some time for her anger to subside. In the end, Gao Yang simply whisked her away to settle some trivial matters in the countryside. Shen Miao wasn’t worried, knowing Gao Yang’s character well enough to be certain he wouldn’t harm Luo Tan. If anything, Gao Yang was the one in greater danger. Today was Xie Jingxing’s birthday, and as his right-hand man and close friend, Gao Yang naturally had to return for the occasion.
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Miao picked up her brush and began writing. She hesitated, writing a few lines before crumpling the paper and tossing it into the wastebasket, dissatisfied. She started again, only to discard it once more. By the time she finally set down her brush, countless sheets of fine stationery had been wasted. She sealed the letter in an envelope and handed it to Jing Zhe, saying, "Later, when you see Tie Yi, give this to him and have him deliver it to Xie Jingxing during tonight’s banquet."
Jing Zhe’s eyes widened in surprise. She had assumed Shen Miao was writing a letter to Shen Xin and his wife, which would have been odd since she had already sent one just a couple of days ago.
Shen Miao then turned to Gu Yu. "Gu Yu, run an errand for me." She tore off another sheet of paper, scribbled a few words, and handed it to Gu Yu. "Buy these items for me."
Gu Yu quickly agreed.
The two maids hurried off, leaving Shen Miao alone in the room. She let out a sigh of relief.
Yielding was something she rarely did. Especially in this lifetime, her innate pride made it nearly impossible for her to bow her head to anyone. But this time, she had been in the wrong. Besides, Xie Jingxing was just as proud as she was. Between the two of them, someone had to take the first step—and since Xie Jingxing knew nothing of the matter, she saw no reason to make him do it.
With so many gifts being presented at the birthday banquet, she felt she ought to offer something as well. However, Prince Rui’s Estate lacked nothing in terms of gold, silver, or jewels, and her embroidery skills were far from exquisite. After much deliberation, she settled on something simple. She could only hope that, as Bajiao had said, Xie Jingxing might appear fastidious on the surface but was actually quite easy to please.
What concerned her most, however, was the guest list for Azure Cloud Tower. The Ye family would be in attendance, which meant Ye Mei and her brother would be among them. Whenever those two were present, Shen Miao made sure to keep a close watch, wary of any schemes they might hatch. She certainly couldn’t allow Xie Jingxing to interact with them unsupervised.
Time passed swiftly, and before long, evening arrived. Tie Yi had already sent someone to escort them. As Jing Zhe fastened the last hairpin into Shen Miao’s hair, she smiled and said, "There, all done. Madam will surely outshine everyone tonight.""I'm not an Imperial Harem Maiden being selected, what's the use of this?" Shen Miao chuckled wryly, glancing at herself in the mirror before removing the pearl hairpin and replacing it with a purple-red jade crabapple flower.
Jing Zhe blinked. "This actually matches better than the previous hairpin."
Yet Shen Miao's mind drifted to the first time Xie Jingxing had given her this jade crabapple. Back then, they had been wary and suspicious of each other, filled with mutual distrust. At that time, Shen Miao hadn't fully understood Xie Jingxing's true nature, only feeling that he didn’t quite match the rumors of the unruly youth from her past life.
Life was full of too many coincidences and unimaginable twists. Now, she and Xie Jingxing were husband and wife, and they had even come to Great Coolness together—something she could never have foreseen back then. Wearing this jade crabapple might help soothe Xie Jingxing’s temper and remind him that they had already come so far, from strangers to spouses. Perhaps unnecessary suspicions and estrangement were needless after all.
Shen Miao stood up, a faint smile on her lips. "Bajiao and the others are waiting outside. Let's go."
The group stepped out, and sure enough, the carriage was already prepared at the entrance, with Bajiao and Huixiang standing guard. Jing Zhe asked curiously, "Is His Highness not accompanying Madam?"
Huixiang replied awkwardly, "His Highness has already gone ahead and sent us to fetch Madam."
This was somewhat improper—a prince and his Royal Consort not leaving together but separately would make it obvious to any discerning observer that something was amiss. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu felt indignant on Shen Miao’s behalf, but Shen Miao merely said calmly, "Enough, let’s set off."
She knew Xie Jingxing’s temperament well—proud at his core, yet sometimes as stubborn as a willful child. She didn’t dwell on such things, but the thought of her "apology" tonight filled her with an uneasy restlessness.
The Azure Cloud Tower was the largest and most extravagant restaurant in Longye. Even for high-ranking officials, hosting a banquet here was a matter of great prestige. Therefore, holding a birthday feast here—not just one or two tables, but nearly the entire establishment—was an incomparably grand affair. The more lavish the display, the heavier the cost, and the fact that Prince Rui's Estate had hosted banquets here for three consecutive years spoke volumes about its immense wealth.
At the head seat, a young man lounged casually, his lips curled in an indifferent smile as he listened to the flattering congratulations from the guests. His violet-gold robe draped luxuriously over the seat, resembling a flowing night sky studded with stars—a vision of dazzling splendor. As the toasts piled up, a faint flush of intoxication colored his features, yet his peach-blossom eyes held a teasing glint, both seemingly drunk and perfectly clear, making it impossible to tell whether he was truly inebriated or not.
Among the guests were noblewomen who couldn’t help but cast admiring glances at the young man. Prince Rui was young, breathtakingly handsome, exuding an air of charm tinged with roguishness—precisely the kind that women found most enthralling. Add to that his lofty status and boundless wealth, and it was no wonder they would scramble for even a moment of his attention.It was a pity that such a young man was already married, and to a Royal Consort at that, wed through proper ceremonies. But even though he had a Royal Consort, the position of a secondary consort was still vacant. Even if one couldn’t become a secondary consort, just being a concubine would surely have women fighting for the spot.
Lu Wan'er sat beside Madam Lu, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward Xie Jingxing. Two years ago, when she first laid eyes on him, she had fallen in love at once. The men of this era were all vulgar and unremarkable; only he could make her heart flutter. Yet the position that should have been hers by his side was occupied by that foolish woman, Shen Miao. The mere thought of it filled Lu Wan'er with uncontrollable rage, making her wish she could tear Shen Miao to pieces. She longed to approach Xie Jingxing and exchange a few words, but at the moment, he was surrounded by officials offering their flattery. After all, she was a young lady from an official family—no matter how bold she was, she couldn’t openly fawn over him in front of so many people. She couldn’t help but feel sullen.
Then, in a fleeting glance, she caught sight of Ye Mei speaking with Ye Ke, and Lu Wan'er’s expression darkened instantly.
As a woman, she was naturally most sensitive to the beauty of other women. Lu Wan'er prided herself on being raised in luxury, dressed in the finest clothes and eating the best food, so she always looked down on other women with a sense of superiority. In all of Longye, she considered herself nearly as noble as a princess. Even the Ye family, which was on par with the Lu family, didn’t merit her attention—after all, the Ye family had few descendants and no daughters to speak of.
But now, she had heard that the Ye family had reclaimed a son and daughter who had been lost outside. Initially, Lu Wan'er had been eager to witness the spectacle, but upon seeing Ye Mei’s appearance, she found herself unable to feel the slightest bit of joy.
Ye Mei was too beautiful—not just in appearance, but with a unique charm that irresistibly drew people’s gazes toward her. She was enchanting, yet with a touch of innocence; seemingly naive, yet exuding a mature allure. Most importantly, Ye Mei was also intelligent. Despite having only just been recognized by the Ye family and meeting many of the noble ladies for the first time today, she was already engaging in lively conversations with them.
A woman who was beautiful, clever, and knew how to carry herself—now also bearing the title of a Ye family heiress. Seeing how Madam Ye doted on her out of guilt, and considering that Ye Mei’s status and influence were already comparable to her own, Lu Wan'er felt an overwhelming sense of threat.
It was even said that Ye Mei had once saved Prince Rui’s life, naturally forging a closer connection with Prince Rui’s Estate. The thought made Lu Wan'er grind her teeth in frustration.
For the longest time, Lu Wan'er had regarded Xie Jingxing as “hers.” Even with Shen Miao in the picture, she had never once abandoned her ambitions. A foreign official’s daughter, with no relatives or backing in Longye—given the Lu family’s influence, it wouldn’t be difficult to make her disappear someday. Thus, Lu Wan'er had never even considered Shen Miao a threat. But Ye Mei was different. The Ye family had always maintained a delicate relationship with the Lu family—neither friends nor enemies. If the Ye family sought to form a marriage alliance with Prince Rui’s Estate… Lu Wan'er shuddered, biting her lip tightly as she fell into silence.As she pondered, Madam Ye spoke up in surprise, "Speaking of which, we haven’t seen the Royal Consort at all. Why hasn’t she come today?"
The ladies immediately began whispering among themselves. In truth, none of them were blind—they had all noticed Shen Miao’s absence long ago but had refrained from mentioning it simply because no one had broached the subject. Now that Madam Ye had brought it up, the discussion naturally unfolded.
Madam Ye continued, "Could she be ill? When I went to pick up Mei'er and Ke'er the other day, the Royal Consort looked quite haggard. It’s understandable—with His Highness Prince Rui being ill, as his wife, she must be deeply worried. It seems she wasn’t even well enough to tend to His Highness then."
Her words caused an uproar. With this statement, Madam Ye had subtly flaunted her visit to the Prince’s Estate, implying a close relationship between the estate and the Ye family due to Ye Mei and her brother. At the same time, she had ruthlessly disparaged Shen Miao. When Prince Rui was hanging by a thread, Shen Miao hadn’t even bothered to care for him. Even if she truly was ill, it was utterly heartless.
Xie Jingxing, seated at the other end, was sipping wine offered by a colleague. Whether he heard Madam Ye’s words or not was unclear—his lips held a faint smile, and his gaze never once drifted in their direction.
Someone ventured, "Could they have quarreled?"
"Oh, surely not," Madam Lu said with a gentle laugh. "Didn’t the Royal Consort herself declare that Prince Rui’s Estate would never take in another woman? That proves their affection is deep. With such strong feelings, they couldn’t possibly quarrel. Let’s not overthink it." Madam Lu still harbored resentment over Shen Miao’s words to Lu Wan'er back then. The more she spoke like this, the more it made Shen Miao seem like a hypocrite—boasting so arrogantly, only to end up estranged from her husband. Truly, one should never be too haughty.
Hearing this, Lu Wan'er, who had been irritated by Ye Mei earlier, felt slightly better. Though she disliked Ye Mei as well, she was more than happy to see Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing at odds.
Ye Mei glanced at Madam Ye and asked, "The Prince’s Estate won’t take in another woman?"
Madam Ye shook her head and whispered, "That’s what the Royal Consort herself claimed."
Luo Tan was seething. She had rushed back, only to find Shen Miao absent. She didn’t know any of the ladies or young misses here and couldn’t recklessly speak up to cause trouble for Shen Miao. But hearing them grow increasingly malicious was unbearable.
"Could she not be coming at all?" one of the ladies asked.
Just as Luo Tan was about to retort, a warm, smiling voice came from the doorway, saying, "My apologies, everyone. I’m late."
Instinctively, all eyes turned toward the entrance.
A young woman pushed aside the beaded curtain and stepped inside with a smile.
She was youthful, with delicate, refined features—eyebrows like crescent moons, eyes like autumn waters, clear and serene, her lips faintly curved. She wore a twilight-purple dress with lily and ruyi motifs in subtle patterns, a lilac gauze blouse embroidered with misty clouds, her hair styled in a "returning clouds" updo, and dark purple gourd-shaped earrings adorned with the Eight Treasures. Her attire wasn’t particularly lavish—one might even call it simple—yet her presence seemed to brighten the already opulent hall. The dignified shade of purple didn’t overwhelm but instead accentuated her snow-white complexion and picturesque features. With each step she took, her skirts flowed gracefully, her beauty radiant and arresting.That was a beauty entirely different from Li Mei. True beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. Li Mei was beautiful, but this woman's beauty was like a spring brook, summer's thin ice, autumn's crescent moon, and winter's pristine snow—her allure lay in her grace and demeanor. It was as if adding a touch more would be excessive, and taking away a bit would be insufficient, captivating yet intimidating, leaving one unable to indulge in fantasies, only able to gaze up in admiration.
Shen Miao slightly lifted her chin and walked to the center of the women's seating area, just below the host's position. Her bearing was dignified, and compared to her, the noblewomen and high-ranking ladies in the room seemed to pale in comparison.
She took the wine Luo Tan handed to her and smiled, saying, "I arrived late—I'll punish myself with a drink." She drank it gracefully in one go.
Neither submissive nor arrogant, neither biased nor partial—she carried herself with both boldness and elegance. Among the attendees were also Xie Jingxing's followers, who had come to flatter, but Shen Miao's demeanor won them over instantly. They raised their cups in response, laughing, "The Royal Consort has such poise—let us all drink together!"
Luo Tan blinked, feeling that Shen Miao looked exceptionally beautiful today, her bearing unusually striking. No matter what, it made her feel proud, as if she herself had gained prestige, and she unconsciously straightened her back even more.
Shen Miao smiled faintly, sweeping her gaze over the crowd, recalling how Jing Zhe and Gu Yu had been busy preparing her for most of the afternoon. She had to attend as Prince Rui's Consort to acquaint herself with the officials of the Longye court. More importantly, Mei Furen was present.
She would not allow herself to show the slightest weakness in front of Mei Furen—this was the dignity she carried for her children. No matter how badly she had lost in her past life, this life would not be the same. She would not yield an inch.
Li Mei also stared at Shen Miao in a daze, her gaze tinged with surprise.
Shen Miao gave her a faint smile, though her heart was as cold as ice. These siblings truly dared to appear before her so brazenly, again and again. Did they really think the Ye family made them invincible?
Luo Tan tugged lightly at Shen Miao's sleeve and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Little cousin, did you quarrel with your husband? You seem a bit off today."
Shen Miao glanced toward Xie Jingxing. He was listening to a bureaucrat toast him, his expression indifferent, not even sparing a glance in her direction—utterly aloof. Shen Miao felt a pang of sorrow. She didn’t know if Tie Yi had delivered that letter to him, but if he had and this was his reaction, tonight... she wasn’t sure if she could even explain.
Just as she was lost in thought, a minister spoke up: "Now that everyone is here, let us all toast to His Highness's birthday!"
The crowd raised their cups in celebration. Xie Jingxing smirked in acknowledgment and drained his cup. Then, a noblewoman remarked, "Speaking of which, Madam Ye has just reunited with Young Master Ye and Miss Ye. Miss Ye is so beautiful—she must be talented as well. Given her connection to Prince Rui's Estate, why not grace us with a performance to celebrate His Highness's birthday?"
The remark carried a hint of belittlement. For a young noblewoman to perform before a crowd outside of a formal competition seemed somewhat frivolous. Moreover, Ye Mei had been raised in a merchant family—who knew what talents she possessed? This noblewoman was clearly here to provoke. The Ye family had no shortage of political enemies in Longye.Ye Ke looked displeased, and Madam Ye was about to retort when Ye Mei spoke up with a smile, "It's not entirely impossible, but I fear I might dampen everyone's spirits with my poor performance. I wouldn't dare embarrass myself."
The lady who made the suggestion was precisely hoping she would "embarrass herself" and immediately chimed in, "How could that be? I'm sure it won't. Don't you agree, Your Highness?"
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow, finally glancing over with a faint, mocking smile curling at his lips. "Dance, then," he said.
His tone was casual, as if commanding some entertainer meant for others' amusement.
Ye Mei's eyes flickered, but she still rose to her feet. First, she bowed respectfully to Shen Miao and said, "Since everyone is in such high spirits today, and I’ve only just arrived in Longye, I’m afraid I might not be familiar with the customs here. I’m still quite inexperienced, but I’d be happy to make a fool of myself if it brings everyone joy. After all, it’s all in good fun."
Her words were proper and considerate, carrying a hint of naive innocence, yet laced with a coquettish provocation.
But Shen Miao saw the challenge in Ye Mei’s eyes.
"I once learned a water-sleeve dance from my foster mother in Qinzhou. Today, I’ll perform it for everyone," she said.
Shen Miao lowered her head slightly, a cold smile flashing at the corner of her lips.
Ye Mei soon returned, having changed into a new outfit. Naturally inclined toward a bewitching beauty, she now wore a snow-white gown, its wide sash cinching her waist so delicately it seemed it might snap with a touch. The saying went, "To look charming, dress in mourning white," and indeed, the pristine dress accentuated her delicate, graceful allure. Four folding screens were set up with rice paper, brushes, and ink prepared, while a maid began plucking the strings of a zither. As the first note sounded, Ye Mei shook out her long, trailing sleeves and began to dance.
Shen Miao’s nails nearly dug into her palms.
The Ink Dance was Ye Mei’s finest performance. Skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she excelled in every art, each one enough to outshine others. In the imperial harem, such singular favor naturally stemmed from her charm. The Ink Dance was merely one of her talents—a dance where ink-dipped sleeves painted upon rice paper, completing a masterpiece by the dance’s end. Elegant, unique, a fusion of beauty, scenery, and art, it was nothing short of enchanting.
Yet this water-sleeve dance was Shen Miao’s heart’s blood, the thorn in her eye. Every time she saw it, the pain was unbearable.
Back then, when the Xiongnu came seeking a marriage alliance, Fu Xiuyi intended to send Wan Yu. Shen Miao had tried every tactic, even threatening the Shen family’s influence, but Fu Xiuyi remained unmoved, his heart as unyielding as stone. After much deliberation, Wan Yu came up with an idea—she learned a song and played it for Fu Xiuyi herself.
That song was one Wan Yu had searched long for, later refined by Shen Miao. Every word Wan Yu wished to say was woven into the melody—a plea for Fu Xiuyi to remember their father-daughter bond, to not be so ruthless, to spare her life and abandon this cruel plan.
That day, Shen Miao invited Fu Xiuyi to the Kunning Palace, where Wan Yu played for him. Just as the last note faded, just as a flicker of emotion appeared in Fu Xiuyi’s eyes, Mei Furen arrived uninvited. Smiling as if no one else were present, she said, "So this is where Your Majesty is. This concubine has just learned a new dance and wished to perform it for Your Majesty. Since Her Majesty the Empress is also here, why not enjoy it together?"
She danced with enchanting allure, and he watched with deep affection, completely forgetting Wan Yu and Shen Miao, who still waited. The disappointment in Wan Yu’s eyes was something Shen Miao would never forget—a girl barely in her teens, the light in her eyes dimming bit by bit until it faded into resignation.
The next day, Wan Yu came to kowtow before her and said, "Mother Empress, don’t waste your efforts on me anymore. I am willing to go for the marriage alliance."How could anyone be willing to marry for political alliance? It's just that Wan Yu saw Fu Xiuyi's cruelty and Mei Furen's schemes earlier and more clearly than she did. Perhaps Wan Yu felt that even rushing toward an uncertain future was more comfortable than remaining in the palace, surrounded by conspiracies and hidden daggers.
In the end, Wan Yu was freed.
But Shen Miao could never let it go.
The snow-white sleeves danced gracefully before her eyes, yet Shen Miao felt that what stained those sleeves was not ink—drop by drop, it was Wan Yu's heart's blood.
It was also the thorn in her eye, the nail in her bone.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
The poor little princess ┭┮﹏┭┮
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