Prince Rui's Estate was unusually tense tonight.
Servants hurried through the courtyard with grave expressions, as if the sky itself had fallen. Even the night wind seemed icy, chilling people to the bone and drawing cold sweat from their brows.
Tie Yi approached the young man and said in a low voice, "Master, no traces were found."
Xie Jingxing swept him a glance. The calmer his expression, the darker the storm brewing in his eyes—as if it could swallow a person whole in the next instant. He countered, "None?"
Tie Yi shivered and was about to speak when Gao Yang emerged from inside. The scent of alcohol still clung to him, clearly having been summoned in haste from a banquet, though his eyes remained sharp and sober. He strode over and said, "Sister-in-law is unharmed. The blade didn’t hit any vital points. She’s been bandaged, but the shock must have caused her to faint. She’s been given sedatives and should wake by tomorrow morning."
The tension in Xie Jingxing’s gaze eased slightly, and Tie Yi also let out a relieved breath. But then Gao Yang added, "However, Pei Lang’s injuries are severe. The wound is deep, and he’s lost a lot of blood. I’ve done all I can—whether he pulls through depends on his own will." The implication was clear: whether Pei Lang woke up or not was a matter of fate.
"It seems Master Pei took the blade for Her Highness," Tie Yi ventured cautiously. Though Pei Lang’s position in Prince Rui's Estate was somewhat ambiguous, at this moment, they couldn’t help but feel gratitude toward him.
"This isn’t a good thing," Gao Yang said, glancing at Xie Jingxing’s cold expression. "If he really doesn’t wake up… given Sister-in-law’s temperament, she’ll carry that guilt for the rest of her life."
Shen Miao was someone who drew clear lines in matters of emotion and hated owing favors. If she owed someone, she would repay it without fail. If Pei Lang had truly sacrificed his life for her, and she woke to learn of it—only to find he hadn’t survived—no one dared imagine how she would react.
"Has Longye sealed its gates?" Xie Jingxing asked.
"They’re sealed," Tie Yi replied. "The covert branch of the Ink Feather Army has also been mobilized. But since no one nearby noticed anything, and Her Highness didn’t even have time to call for help, the assailant either had no martial skills or was exceptionally skilled."
Xie Jingxing said, "No need to speculate. Capture them alive, then beat them to death."
"And the mastermind behind this…?"
"Investigate further."
Tie Yi departed on his orders. Xie Jingxing then turned to Gao Yang. "Stay here tonight. If the situation turns critical, there’s no need to rush back and forth."
"I know," Gao Yang said, then gave Xie Jingxing a meaningful look. "You should rest too." His expression remained heavy.
To dare strike at Prince Rui's Consort so close to the Azure Cloud Tower—the perpetrator’s audacity was staggering. Not only that, it seemed they held no regard for Prince Rui's Estate itself. In all of Fixed Capital, only the Lu family would have such nerve. Yet the Lu family had no reason to target Shen Miao specifically, which made the whole affair all the more suspicious.
Whatever the case, this was a signal—the hidden forces lurking in the shadows had finally grown restless and begun to stir. And the first sacrifice they chose from Prince Rui's Estate was Shen Miao.However, Xie Jingxing had no mind to dwell on these matters at the moment. He walked into the room where Shen Miao lay on the bed, her face pale, eyes closed, and lashes casting shadows—she looked utterly frail.
He sighed and sat down by her bedside.
On the table in the room was a food basket, containing the longevity noodles Shen Miao had specially ordered the kitchen at Azure Cloud Tower to prepare for him. Bajiao had mentioned that they were afraid the noodles would spoil, so they had even rinsed them with cold water beforehand. But now, after so much time had passed, even with the rinsing, the noodles had clumped together into a sticky mess.
Xie Jingxing thought for a moment, then reached out to open the basket and pulled out the bowl.
The noodles inside had congealed into a mushy lump, though faint traces of white strands, green vegetables, and a yolk could still be seen. When freshly cooked, they must have been fragrant and appetizing. Now, cold and unappetizing, they were hardly palatable.
Yet Xie Jingxing picked up a pair of chopsticks and began eating them in large mouthfuls.
Bajiao and Huixiang had said that Shen Miao had sent Gu Yu early in the morning to buy fireworks and prepare food and wine. The small pavilion near Azure Cloud Tower, overlooking the lake, was the best spot to watch the fireworks. She had even specifically instructed someone to time the cooking of the longevity noodles—likely as an apology.
The two of them had been in a cold war for some time, and in the end, it was Shen Miao who had relented first. Bajiao also mentioned that Shen Miao hadn’t been doing well these days, which eased Xie Jingxing’s heart. As a man, he ought to be more magnanimous and not dwell on past grievances. But before the words of apology could even be spoken, he had found Pei Lang and Shen Miao lying in a pool of blood.
The feeling at that moment was indescribable—it was as if, despite being in the height of summer, a chill had seeped into him from head to toe, leaving him without even the courage to step forward and confirm the situation.
Fortunately, in the end, nothing serious had happened.
Xie Jingxing ate the noodles mechanically, barely tasting them, and finally finished the entire bowl. He set the empty bowl on the table and took Shen Miao’s hand, only to be filled with regret.
If he hadn’t been so stubborn with Shen Miao, she wouldn’t have felt the need to apologize. If she hadn’t gone to the pavilion near Azure Cloud Tower, perhaps none of this would have happened.
Outside, Luo Tan, having received the news, was rushing over in a hurry. Spotting Gao Yang, she immediately asked, “What happened to my little cousin?”
“She’s fine,” Gao Yang replied. “Pei Lang took the knife for her.”
“Master Pei?” Luo Tan was stunned. “Then how is Master Pei?”
“Not well,” Gao Yang shook his head.
“Can’t you save him?” Luo Tan pressed.
Gao Yang gave a bitter smile. “I’m a physician, not a bodhisattva. If everyone could be saved, the underworld would be empty.”
Luo Tan said, “I only just found out today that my little cousin had quarreled with her husband. They say it was because she didn’t visit him when he was ill? Those ladies in Azure Cloud Tower all criticized her, calling her cold and heartless. What do they know? Did any of them see how my little cousin begged for medicine from that eccentric Daoist for her husband? Utter nonsense.”
“Eccentric Daoist?” Gao Yang caught the key point in her words and asked, “What eccentric Daoist? What’s this about begging for medicine?”
Luo Tan froze, regretting her slip of the tongue. Remembering that Shen Miao had forbidden her from speaking of it, she quickly said, “Nothing, I was just rambling. I’ll go check on my little cousin first.” With that, she made to enter the room where Shen Miao lay.
Gao Yang grabbed her arm and stopped her. “Don’t go in. Xie Jingxing is inside.”"Ah?" Luo Tan lowered her head, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Are you staying here tonight?"
"I need to stay and monitor Pei Lang's condition," Gao Yang replied. "You should go back first."
Luo Tan shook her head. "I won't go back. I'll stay here until my little cousin wakes up."
Knowing Luo Tan's stubborn nature, Gao Yang didn't press further.
That night, however, felt exceptionally long for everyone.
The assassination attempt on Shen Miao and Pei Lang had been kept secret. The guests at Azure Cloud Tower remained unaware, assuming Xie Jingxing had merely left early. Little did they know, Prince Rui's Estate was in for a sleepless night. The servants waited anxiously, dreading the outcome.
Summer days were long, and nights short. As the first light of dawn crept in and birds began chirping in the courtyard, the two rooms remained eerily silent.
Xie Jingxing looked at Gao Yang and demanded, "What's going on?"
Gao Yang, his brow deeply furrowed, checked Shen Miao's pulse, then Pei Lang's. In front of everyone, he shook his head.
"It's strange. Pei Lang's injuries are severe, yet he shows no signs of distress—he should be reacting, but it's as if he's merely asleep. The Royal Consort wasn't gravely wounded and was given sedatives, so she should have woken by now. Yet, she remains unconscious."
"So?" Xie Jingxing's expression darkened, his piercing gaze pressing down on Gao Yang.
"This... is unusual."
Uncle Tang cautiously suggested, "Could it be another poison? One that you might have missed earlier?"
"Impossible," Gao Yang flatly denied. "Neither of them shows signs of poisoning. Their pulses are faint but steady, with no discernible issues. Yet, they simply won't wake."
"What do we do then?" Luo Tan grew frantic. "My little cousin can't just sleep forever. There must be a reason!"
Gao Yang glanced at Xie Jingxing, whose intense stare made him falter. He could only say, "Let's wait another half-day and see."
For that half-day, Xie Jingxing refused to leave Shen Miao's bedside. But even after nightfall, she still hadn't awakened. Neither had Pei Lang.
Uncle Tang asked Gao Yang, "Young Master Gao, what in the world is happening? Even if Madam and Young Master Pei don't wake, there must be a cause. Can you truly not identify it?"
Gao Yang was at a loss. Shen Miao and Pei Lang showed no symptoms, yet they remained unconscious. A physician needed reactions to diagnose, but aside from their faint pulses, the two seemed no different from ordinary sleepers. How could he determine the problem?
Under Xie Jingxing's increasingly cold and sharp gaze, the pressure weighed heavily on him.
Eventually, Ji Yushu rushed over upon hearing the news, and the group collectively fretted.
Unable to bear it any longer, Luo Tan grew so anxious she nearly burst into tears. "Has something cursed us these days? First Jingxing, now my little cousin. If anything happens to her, how will I face my aunt and uncle?" She wiped her nose. "I swore I'd protect her when I came here, yet now she's in this state. I’m utterly ashamed!"
Gao Yang patted her shoulder. "This isn't your fault.""If I had been by her side, at least no one would have taken advantage of the situation." Then, as if remembering something, she angrily added, "And my brother-in-law too—if he hadn't been quarreling with my little cousin, she wouldn’t have been followed and attacked for no reason."
Gao Yang sighed helplessly. The matters between Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao were truly not something he could interfere with. But Luo Tan was in a fit of rage at the moment, and the fact that Shen Miao refused to wake up only fueled her anger.
"If my little cousin never wakes up, he’ll regret it," Luo Tan fumed. "Those ladies only listen to what they want to hear, but he’s her husband—how could he not believe she truly cared for him?" She clenched her fists. "After thinking it over, there’s no reason to keep this from him. My little cousin has sacrificed so much for him, only for others to take credit. If she really doesn’t recover, at least she should have the chance to speak her mind. If she won’t say it, I will."
"What are you going to say?" Ji Yushu asked curiously.
Luo Tan glared at him. "Something far greater than the so-called contributions of those siblings from the Ye family!"
Luo Tan stormed off to find Xie Jingxing, with Gao Yang hurrying after her, afraid she might cause trouble. At the door, they saw Xie Jingxing emerge with a dark expression. Ever since Shen Miao’s accident, his face had remained grim.
"Prince Rui," Luo Tan addressed him, abandoning the familiar "brother-in-law."
Xie Jingxing glanced at her. With Shen Miao unconscious, his mood was foul, and his patience with others had worn thin, his demeanor icy.
But Luo Tan had always been fearless, and once her temper flared, even the heavens couldn’t stop her. "My little cousin didn’t want me to tell you before, but now she’s lying in bed, unable to speak for herself. If she won’t say it, I will. I have no reservations, nor do I overthink things like she does. Why should her efforts go unnoticed? It’s too unfair!"
Uncle Tang and Tie Yi, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, stood nearby, looking at Luo Tan in surprise.
"Those ladies said that when you were bedridden, my little cousin rarely visited you. You felt neglected, thought she was heartless, and that’s why you were angry with her, right?" Luo Tan stared at him. "But what you didn’t know is that she couldn’t visit you because she was outside the city, seeking medicine for you."
Seeking medicine for Xie Jingxing? His gaze shifted to Tie Yi, who lowered his head nervously, not daring to meet his master’s eyes.
Earlier, Shen Miao had ordered the servants to keep it a secret. After her return, she inexplicably fell into a cold war with Xie Jingxing. Once Xie Jingxing hardened his heart, no one dared to provoke him. They had planned to explain later, but then this incident happened.
"Explain clearly," Xie Jingxing demanded, stepping forward.Luo Tan said, "You wouldn't know this, but there's a rumor that Phoenix Head Village has a master who can defy fate and alter destinies." She glanced at Gao Yang. "At that time, Gao Yang was refining the antidote for you. Little cousin gave you all three of her Life-Returning Pills, but they could only sustain your life temporarily. If a cure wasn't found within ten days, you wouldn't survive. Yet by the fourth day, your condition had already become critical. The imperial physician said you wouldn't last seven days. When little cousin heard the legend of that master in Phoenix Head Village, she took me and a few guards there immediately."
Xie Jingxing's gaze trembled violently.
Shen Miao was someone who rationally and shrewdly weighed pros and cons, and she especially seemed to disbelieve in supernatural tales. For her to actually believe in something as absurd as defying fate to alter destiny—she must have been truly desperate and frantic.
"Phoenix Head Village isn't far from Longye, but the master's dwelling was extremely hard to find. That day, we rushed there overnight and nearly got lost in the woods. There were even wolf packs, but little cousin wasn't the slightest bit afraid. She insisted on lighting torches to search for the path through the night, terrified we wouldn't make it back in time to save you."
"On the second day, we found the master. Due to some mystic arts, he only took me—who has no martial skills—and little cousin into the valley. He said there was a miraculous herb that could cure all poisons, but little cousin would have to pay a price. The price wasn't particularly difficult—it didn't demand gold, silver, or lives. Instead, it required someone to pick out worms from every single Red Sleeve Herb in the entire valley, one by one, and then fertilize each plant individually."
Gao Yang and Ji Yushu looked astonished, while Uncle Tang and Tie Yi were even more shocked.
They had never heard these details from anyone else and had no idea about these origins. Uncle Tang suddenly understood—no wonder Shen Miao had returned to the residence in such a disheveled state that day, appearing far less dignified than Ye Mei in comparison. At the time, they hadn't known the reason, but now it made sense. Shen Miao hadn't slept at all that night, instead toiling as a gardener to beg for medicine to save Xie Jingxing. He couldn't help but sigh—to humble oneself to such an extent for another, beyond mere adaptability, was truly a testament to one's sincerity.
Luo Tan, however, seemed to grow more indignant as she spoke. "It doesn't sound like much, does it? But she was raised in privilege since childhood. The entire valley was so vast that even seasoned peasant women couldn't finish the task alone. She hadn't slept beforehand but immediately set to work, laboring through the entire night. You pampered nobles have probably never even touched a manure-carrying pole in your lives. Since she could do this, how could she be any lesser than that pair of siblings?" Luo Tan stared at Xie Jingxing and said, "It's true that the Ye siblings saved you—they do hold a life-saving debt over you. But my little cousin is no less deserving."
"You say she wasn't by your side, but go ask the servants of this prince's residence—how many days did she keep vigil by your bedside before she left? Did she ever step away? She cared for you without rest—could that really be inferior to the Ye siblings, whom you only met once?""Now that my little cousin has fallen into such a state, I can't help but feel aggrieved for her. What promises did Your Highness make when you brought her from Ming Qi back to Great Coolness? Yet you couldn't even bring yourself to trust her. She may have many flaws, but one thing is beyond doubt—her sincerity is unquestionable."
After speaking, Luo Tan's face flushed red, as if she had finally vented the pent-up anger in her heart. She then looked at Xie Jingxing's expression. He showed neither sorrow nor joy, his face calm, but the more composed he appeared, the more chilling it felt. Beneath that tranquility, it seemed an endless storm was gathering.
"Finished?" he slowly retorted.
His tone was so cold that Luo Tan couldn't help but shrink her neck.
Gao Yang quickly stepped forward and said, "Now isn't the time to dwell on these matters. The priority is to figure out how to wake the two of them."
Xie Jingxing sneered, "Isn't it simple? Just capture the Ye siblings."
Ji Yushu was stunned. "Third Brother, what are you planning?"
"If she's acting unusual because of the Ye siblings, then they must be the problem. Whether they're behind this or not, there's no reason to spare them." Xie Jingxing turned to leave but was grabbed by Gao Yang, who said, "You can't! They're not the powerless Li family anymore—they're the Ye family. Do you know the consequences of provoking them?"
"Let go," Xie Jingxing said coldly.
"Calm down," Gao Yang urged. "If the Royal Consort truly hated the Ye siblings, she wouldn't have endured so much hardship just to avoid harming herself. Aren't you just dragging her down?"
"That's right, Third Brother," Ji Yushu chimed in. "The Ye family in Longye isn't some humble household. If you act recklessly, you might bring trouble to the Prince's residence as well."
"She can endure it. I can't," Xie Jingxing said. "The Ye family has crossed the line."
"Third Brother..." Ji Yushu was about to persuade him further when Bajiao's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard. The usually cheerful maid now sounded slightly panicked as she said, "Master, someone is here."
Tie Yi frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with Bajiao's lack of composure, and asked, "Who is it?"
"It's... that Taoist priest we met with Madam at Fengtou Village the other day," Bajiao hesitated.
"What?" Luo Tan's eyes widened.
Even Ji Yushu, who had been gripping Xie Jingxing's sleeve, couldn't help but let go and look at Bajiao. "A Taoist priest?"
Bajiao nodded.
In the hall, the shabbily dressed eccentric Taoist was touching this and examining that, as if it were his first time entering a noble residence, his eyes filled with curiosity. Huixiang and Cong Yang stood awkwardly to the side. They were acquainted with Master Chiyan, but the way he had entered and immediately started chatting with them in such a familiar tone made them uncomfortable.
By the time Xie Jingxing and the others arrived in the hall, Master Chiyan was about to pry the gemstone eyes off a crane-shaped vase, asking Huixiang, "Can this poor Taoist take this with me?"
"Master Chiyan!" Luo Tan exclaimed as soon as she saw him.
Chiyan turned to her and smiled. "Miss Luo, it's been a while."Luo Tan pondered silently in her heart. It hadn’t been long, but there was no time to dwell on other matters now. She asked, “Have you come because you knew something would happen to my little cousin and wanted to alter her fate?” Although Luo Tan found this Red Flame Taoist rather difficult to deal with, he seemed to possess some genuine skills—otherwise, Shen Miao wouldn’t have trusted him so much.
The Red Flame Taoist glanced at Xie Jingxing, who stood silently behind Luo Tan, and smiled. “This humble Taoist cannot alter fate, only divine it. What do you think, young man?”
“I do not believe in the will of Heaven,” Xie Jingxing replied.
“The will of Heaven is inherently faithless, so why should man stubbornly seek answers from it?” The Red Flame Taoist shook his head. “This lady’s destiny is peculiar—beyond the grasp of ordinary people, entirely subject to her own choices. Neither you nor I can interfere.”
Luo Tan couldn’t make sense of the Taoist’s cryptic words and pressed anxiously, “Taoist, what should my little cousin do now?”
“Does she still have the spirit herb I once gave her?” the Red Flame Taoist asked.
“Huh?” Luo Tan was puzzled. “When we returned, the prince’s poison had already been cured. Naturally, the herb was useless, so I don’t know where my little cousin put it.”
“This servant might know,” Jing Zhe said, leading everyone to Shen Miao’s room. Sure enough, beneath the dressing table, they found a dust-covered box. When opened, inside lay an unremarkable-looking medicinal herb.
Luo Tan spotted it first and said, "This is the one."
"Take it to brew," Chi Yan stroked his beard.
"Wait." Xie Jingxing looked at the eccentric Taoist. "Why should I believe you?"
"You don’t have to believe me, but you also have no other choice." Taoist Chi Yan sighed deeply. "This herb was found by this lady, but when she first obtained it, I told her it would be futile. Even without this herb, you would have been unharmed. Your fate does not carry this calamity. Her efforts were in vain from the start."
The group was stunned into silence.
"However, it wasn’t entirely in vain." The Taoist’s face softened with a hint of satisfaction. "Those who love are loved in return; those who save others are saved in turn. Had she shown even the slightest insincerity or half-heartedness in the valley, she would never have obtained this spiritual herb, and today would not have come to pass. Though this herb was sought to save you, in truth, it was meant to save her. Her sacrifices for you were, in fact, her own salvation."
Luo Tan seemed to grasp something and asked, "So you already knew this herb wouldn’t be used on the prince but on my little cousin instead. You foresaw that she would face this life-and-death trial, and exchanging the herb was actually for her own sake?"
The Taoist smiled at Luo Tan. "The pupil is teachable."
Xie Jingxing glared at him. "You made her a herb gatherer?"
His eyes held murderous intent. The Taoist took a step back, hiding behind Gao Yang, and coughed lightly. "This trial was destined in her fate. I’ve already minimized its severity. Compared to losing her life, isn’t gathering herbs a far lighter burden?"
"But why hasn’t she woken up yet?" Gao Yang frowned. "As a physician, I’ve examined her condition but found no discernible cause. She appears unharmed and should have awakened by now. Why the delay?"
The Taoist replied, "As I said, this is a trial ordained by her fate."
"All this talk of trials is confusing," Luo Tan interjected. "Why not just tell us—when will my cousin wake after taking that herb?"
Chi Yan chuckled. "That herb wasn’t meant for her. It was for another injured person."
Another injured person—could it be Pei Lang?
Xie Jingxing muttered darkly, "If you’re playing tricks, I can end your life right now."
"Too much hostility." Chi Yan shook his head. "That man gave his life for the lady due to karmic entanglements. The herb she sought happens to settle this debt of fate."
"Then what about my sister-in-law?" Ji Yushu asked.
The eccentric Taoist turned to Shen Miao, lying on the bed. Her expression was serene, as if asleep, yet her pallor gave her an ethereal fragility.
"In my valley, she picked insects from my fields of Red Sleeve Herbs, but she couldn’t rid herself of the insects in her heart."
"This trial is both fortune and misfortune for her."
"I’ve crossed paths with her three times, bound across two dynasties. This final meeting is to conclude that connection."
"Human affairs are never complete—there are regrets, there is unwillingness. She sought an answer, but no one could give it to her." The Taoist narrowed his eyes.
"Now, she has found a way. The answer she pursues is within reach. No one can help her—not you, not her, not even me.""So, wait patiently." The Taoist priest looked at Xie Jingxing.
"That is your destined fate."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Tomorrow I'll write about the fate from the previous life—it's one of my favorite scenes in the entire story~
...
OpenNovel