The sun dipped westward as Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing walked back to their residence.
Great Coolness was naturally more open and liberal in its customs compared to Ming Qi, so it was quite common for married couples to stroll the streets together. However, because Xie Jingxing was far too well-known, nearly everyone in Longye recognized him, and wherever they went, they were met with astonished gazes.
Rumors had circulated recently that Prince Rui's Consort and His Highness were merely going through the motions, their relationship as cold as ice. Yet now that the two were out together hand in hand, those rumors were effortlessly dispelled. If their relationship had truly been as distant as the rumors claimed, how could they possibly be so intimate on their outing? It was unclear whose loose tongue had been spreading such nonsense.
Since arriving in Longye, this was the first time Shen Miao had properly ventured out like this. Xie Jingxing, on the other hand, was quite familiar with the place, and as they walked, they shopped. She wasn’t usually one for novelty, but today, as if influenced by Luo Tan, she ended up buying a carriage-load of items, large and small. The two of them led the way with their purchases while Tie Yi and Cong Yang followed behind, handling the payments. Even so, Xie Jingxing found Shen Miao somewhat unusual and kept glancing at her suspiciously along the way.
Yet Shen Miao felt an unprecedented lightness in her heart.
It was as though that dream had unraveled all the resentment, anger, and hatred from her past life. Revenge was still necessary, of course, but this second chance at life wasn’t solely about vengeance. Those faintly glittering stars in the darkest of times had shown her that her past life hadn’t been entirely devoid of goodness. And that made this new life all the more precious.
Now, she was braver, firmer, and more candid than before. She could face her emotions openly and embrace this new life with fervor. After all, the person she was now was entirely different from the one she had been before.
With her heart so light, a smile lingered on her face the entire time. She gazed at everything with childlike wonder before turning to Xie Jingxing and saying, "Longye truly is different from Fixed Capital. I imagine every region of Great Coolness has its own unique charm. If one day, I could travel to famous mountains and rivers, taking in all the different sights, that would be wonderful."
Xie Jingxing smiled. "What’s so difficult about that?"
"Easier said than done," Shen Miao replied. "Sometimes I envy those carefree wanderers of the rivers and lakes, unburdened by worldly affairs, living lives of boundless excitement."
Xie Jingxing studied her thoughtfully.
Shen Miao asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He grinned, taking her hand in his. "Once the worldly affairs of Ming Qi and Great Coolness are settled, wherever you want to go, I’ll take you there."
Shen Miao smiled back at him. "Is this you fulfilling my wish?"
Xie Jingxing paused, recalling the wish she had mentioned after waking up. A mischievous smile suddenly played on his lips as he teased, "You’ve been reminding me of that wish all day. Is it because the two-month deadline has passed, and you’re really...?"
Shen Miao turned on her heel and walked away. "I wasn’t thinking anything."
Cong Yang and Tie Yi trailed behind them. Cong Yang looked awkward, while Tie Yi’s dark face flushed red—both of them unable to bear the sight. While it was good that their masters were so affectionate, having the two of them serve at such close quarters was nothing short of torture.
They might as well go guard the Tower Prison.As the moon gradually rose and the streets grew quieter, Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing, having spent the entire day out, began to feel weary. She had been in unusually high spirits today, and Xie Jingxing had accompanied her willingly. Seeing the two return with calm expressions, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Jingxing went to bathe, while Shen Miao returned to her own room. Jing Zhe had already prepared hot water for her and said, "Madam, you should bathe first. The kitchen has prepared food, and it will be ready by the time you finish. You must be tired after being out all day."
Shen Miao agreed. The bathwater was pleasantly warm, so comforting that she felt drowsy the moment she stepped in. Lying on the bed, Gu Yu attended to her and remarked, "It's been a long time since I've seen Madam smile like this."
Shen Miao snapped out of her thoughts. In truth, she smiled often—perhaps a habit from her past life in the imperial harem, where she had learned the principle of never letting the enemy see weakness. No matter how bleak the future or how dire the situation, she would instinctively put on a smile. If the enemy saw her smiling, they wouldn’t be able to guess her thoughts. Even if it didn’t confuse them, it would at least unsettle them.
Since her rebirth, she had grown accustomed to this demeanor. But those smiles were merely reflexive, not genuine. How could they compare to a heartfelt smile?
Now, her eyes curved slightly, brimming with quiet contentment, warm as jade. It accentuated her naturally delicate and beautiful features, making her all the more captivating.
Jing Zhe noticed the red string on Shen Miao’s wrist. She hadn’t been present when Luo Tan gave it to Shen Miao, so she was curious and asked, "Madam, is this red string newly bought from the street? It’s quite unique, though it doesn’t quite match your outfit."
Gu Yu also saw it and chuckled, "Didn’t the Putuo Temple sell these red strings before? Five strings for a single coin, said to bring good fortune in love."
Jing Zhe laughed. "Five romances for just one coin? That’s far too cheap." Then, puzzled, she added, "But Madam never believed in such things. Why did you buy one? Though, if His Highness sees this string, he’ll surely be displeased again. He’d think, ‘You’re already the Royal Consort—what more could you seek in love?’" Jing Zhe, lively by nature, mimicked Xie Jingxing’s displeased tone, making both Shen Miao and Gu Yu burst into laughter.
Gu Yu scolded her playfully, "You little imp, how dare you tease His Highness?"
Shen Miao waved her hand dismissively. "Have the food brought to Xie Jingxing’s room later."
The two of them had always slept in separate rooms, with Xie Jingxing having his own quarters. Jing Zhe was momentarily surprised, then smiled. "Madam wants to dine with His Highness?" She couldn’t help but feel happy for Shen Miao. The maids had long noticed the separation between the couple but hadn’t known how to intervene. Unexpectedly, after this ordeal, their relationship had progressed rapidly—a blessing in disguise.
Shen Miao said, "This string is very effective."
"Huh?" Gu Yu gave Shen Miao a puzzled look, unsure why she suddenly said such a thing.
But Shen Miao only gazed at the string and sighed softly. This time, however, her eyes were at ease.This day was bound to come. Unlike the past when she was plagued by fears of loss, this time, she was fully prepared. Everything in this life was different from the previous one—people and events alike. So while she still looked forward to the future, she would no longer stake all her hopes on a single person.
Growing stronger, becoming someone who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the one she admired, equally powerful—to protect what she wished to protect, to understand the enmities she needed to understand—it was as simple as that.
She asked Jing Zhe to fetch a towel and said, "Help me dry my hair."
...
Xie Jingxing emerged, clad in his undergarment.
His bath had taken so long that the water had grown cold. When alone, his usual lazy smile was absent, replaced instead by an aloof expression barely discernible in the dim light. Beneath his playful exterior lay a man who was not particularly warm, his detachment born from a cynical view of the world.
Just as he stepped out, he noticed several plates of exquisite dishes and pastries arranged in the center of the room.
Xie Jingxing frowned. "Tie Yi." He disliked eating in his chambers—he was fastidious by nature, preferring strict boundaries between spaces. His bedroom was for sleeping; meals belonged in the hall.
After calling a few times with no response, the door suddenly creaked open, revealing Shen Miao struggling to carry a large wine jar.
The jar was enormous, and she wobbled precariously under its weight. Xie Jingxing stepped forward to take it, placing it on the table before asking, "What are you doing?"
Shen Miao replied, "I searched your storeroom for a long time and found this jar. Judging by the scent, it's probably Shizhou Xiang, and quite aged at that, so I brought it out."
Xie Jingxing paused, then lifted the lid. Indeed, the rich, mellow aroma of fine liquor filled the air. He chuckled. "Impressive. You even recognize Shizhou Xiang? And Uncle Tang didn’t stop you?"
Shizhou Xiang was a rare and exquisite brew, priceless and nearly impossible to obtain even with vast sums of money. Prince Rui's Estate had only three jars in total, and Shen Miao had taken one—the very jar aged fifty years. Uncle Tang was probably silently weeping in distress.
Shen Miao smiled. "I’ve even tasted it before."
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "You’ve tasted it?"
Shen Miao fell silent. During her time as Empress, she had sampled every variety of fine wine at palace banquets. Though Shizhou Xiang was precious, it hardly stood out to her. Unbeknownst to him, her experience as Empress had dulled her awe for such luxuries, while for ordinary folk—even officials—some might never taste Shizhou Xiang in their entire lives.
Shen Miao patted her head. "Ah, I forgot the cups." Her gaze landed on the rice bowls nearby, so she grabbed two and filled them to the brim.
Xie Jingxing stared at her incredulously. "Shen Miao, are you a drunkard?"
"I came to dine with you," she said. "What’s a meal without wine?"
Xie Jingxing crossed his arms and studied her for a moment before recalling something. "Now that you mention it, I nearly forgot. That day at Azure Cloud Tower, you drank a bowl of wine in front of everyone... Shen Jiaojiao, you must learn to mind your manners in the future."When she drank, she was enchanting and graceful, exuding an elegance and boldness that captivated everyone. At that moment in the Azure Cloud Tower, countless men couldn't tear their eyes away from her, and Xie Jingxing had been seething with jealousy. If not for propriety, he might have scooped Shen Miao up and carried her away right then.
He patiently instructed his young wife: "Don't drink outside anymore. If you must drink, I have to be present. Even with me there, don't drink too much, especially not in front of others... Shen Jiaojiao, are you listening to me?"
Shen Miao set down her bowl. She had just taken a large gulp of Shizhouxiang—fragrant and sweet at first, but burning fiercely as it went down, almost bringing tears to her eyes. The warmth spreading through her was exhilarating, and she sighed in admiration, "Truly worthy of being called Shizhouxiang."
Xie Jingxing said, "Are you ignoring me right now?"
Shen Miao glanced at him. "Aren't you drinking?" She picked up the bowl and took another sip.
Xie Jingxing frowned. "Hey, you're not planning to get drunk here tonight, are you? Shizhouxiang isn't meant to be gulped down like that. You're treating fine wine like fodder."
Shen Miao shot him a sidelong look. "No one has ever dared call me a cow chewing peonies."
Xie Jingxing: "..."
He always felt Shen Miao became a different person after drinking. Like years ago, when the Shen family left Fixed Capital and he was about to depart for the northern frontier. Could it be that another person lived inside Shen Miao, released only when she drank? Xie Jingxing was utterly baffled. Normally so restrained and cautious, once drunk, she became utterly unreasonable, doing the most bewildering things.
It seemed the bold, martial spirit of the Shen family only emerged in Shen Miao after she'd had a drink.
Shizhouxiang earned its name for its richness—the richer, the stronger. Only those who had been drunk on it knew its true potency.
Shen Miao pushed the full bowl toward Xie Jingxing. "You drink too."
Xie Jingxing gave her a puzzled look, but she stubbornly held out the bowl until he had no choice but to sit down at the table, accepting it and taking slow, measured sips.
Shen Miao watched him. Xie Jingxing didn't gulp it down like her, nor did he sip delicately like a scholar. There was a dashing boldness to his drinking. Watching him, she picked up her own bowl and downed it in one go.
Xie Jingxing had only taken a few sips when he saw Shen Miao flip her bowl upside down and wipe her mouth, mirroring Shen Xin's manner when drinking with soldiers in camp. "You finished it?" he asked.
Shen Miao coughed lightly. "I have something to tell you."
Xie Jingxing glanced at her, then at the amber-colored wine in his bowl. "You need liquid courage to talk to me? Did you do something behind my back?"
"You once asked me what my secret was, didn't you?" Shen Miao said. "No need to trade your secret anymore. I'll tell you."
Xie Jingxing paused, the bowl at his lips, and looked up at her.
"Do you want to hear it?" she asked pointedly.
Xie Jingxing set down the bowl. "Why does it sound like you're setting a trap for me?"
"Then I'll take that as a yes. I'm telling you." Ignoring his words, Shen Miao continued on her own."Do you find it strange ever since you met me? The things I said to Su Minlang, and how I dealt with Prince Yu. It seems you already knew about the existence of Fengxian Pawnshop, and about the second and third branches of the Shen family. You must also wonder why I always targeted Prince Ding, when before that, I was infatuated with him. If it were hatred born from love, it wouldn’t make sense."
She listed every single thing that Xie Jingxing had doubts about.
Shen Miao said, "At the very beginning, you must have been wary of me, so you secretly had someone investigate me."
A hint of discomfort flashed across Xie Jingxing’s face. Clearly, just as Shen Miao had said, he had indeed ordered someone to look into her background.
"You must have found nothing and wondered if there was someone highly skilled behind me, or perhaps some mastermind guiding the Shen family."
Xie Jingxing remained silent. Ji Yushu’s Fengxian Pawnshop could uncover many hidden secrets, but when it came to Shen Miao, it was like a stone without a crack—there was simply no way to pry anything open.
"Even though you couldn’t uncover my background, you must have investigated every detail of my past. You should also know that before my parents returned to Fixed Capital at the end of Ming Qi’s sixty-eighth year, I once fell into the water because of Prince Ding. After that incident, my temperament seemed to change. For example, I used to be obsessed with Prince Ding, but after that, I never showed any interest in him again."
A faint displeasure flickered in Xie Jingxing’s eyes. The fact that Shen Miao had once admired Fu Xiuyi was something he found utterly baffling. If it weren’t common knowledge throughout the city, he might have thought it was all an act by Shen Miao. In terms of looks, talent, or status, Fu Xiuyi was outstanding, but not unparalleled in the world. Yet Shen Miao had been so infatuated with him that it bordered on obsession—something Xie Jingxing found both inexplicable and somewhat humiliating. Comparing himself to a hypocrite like Fu Xiuyi was simply beneath him.
"After that incident, I began to distance myself from the second and third branches of the Shen family. I was no longer as friendly with Shen Qing and Shen Yue as before, and I even started opposing Old Madam Shen." Shen Miao asked, "Doesn’t that seem strange to you?"
Xie Jingxing replied, "People always wake up at some point."
Shen Miao had been foolish before, but that was because she was young. At a certain point, perhaps due to some revelation or other reason, a person could grow up overnight—just like he had.
Shen Miao shook her head. "But my awakening was far too thorough. Actually, it’s very simple. When I fell into the water in Ming Qi’s sixty-eighth year and lay unconscious in bed for a long time, I had a very long dream." She gazed at the flickering candlelight on the table, her eyes gradually clouding with a distant, misty expression. "That dream was long and vivid, as if I had truly lived through it."
"Can you believe in such a dream?" Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Like a prophecy."
Xie Jingxing’s brows gradually furrowed, his gaze sharpening as he stared at Shen Miao.“There’s a legend from the southern states about a governor who dozed off under a tree and dreamed he became emperor. From a life of splendor to one of ruin, he lived a long and full life in his dream, only to wake and find mere moments had passed. The myriad events of his dream were but a fleeting illusion. Yet it felt so real that he couldn’t distinguish whether the dream was reality or his waking life was.”
“My dream was longer and more bitter than that governor’s. I dreamed of the future,” she said.
“I dreamed that I finally married into Prince Ding’s Residence, binding the Shen family to it. I dreamed of the court’s strife, the princes’ rebellions, the struggle for the throne—and in the end, Fu Xiuyi emerged victorious. He ascended the throne, I became Empress, ruling with grace and dignity, basking in glory.”
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow.
“You probably think it was a sweet dream, since I was infatuated with Fu Xiuyi, and everything ended perfectly in my dream. I wish it had been a sweet dream, but it was the most terrifying nightmare I’ve ever had.”
“I bore a son and a daughter—the most sensible and adorable children in the world. But as Great Coolness grew stronger, Ming Qi faced invasion from foreign tribes. Ming Qi sought military aid from Qin State, and Qin demanded me as a hostage, forcing me to stay there for five years.”
“I met Huangfu Hao and Ming’an,” Shen Miao said.
Xie Jingxing’s expression gradually darkened.
“I despised Qin’s royal family. They humiliated me constantly. They invented a mounted archery game where I had to balance Herb Fruit on my head while they deliberately missed their shots. So, I secretly practiced mounted archery in private. No matter how skilled I became, I never managed to hit them the next day.”
“Five years passed quickly, and I returned to Ming Qi. In Fixed Capital’s palace, there was now a favored concubine—Mei Furen—who had borne a son named Fu Sheng.”
“Fu Xiuyi doted on Mei Furen and adored Fu Sheng. I was neglected, and though I was Empress, people mocked me behind my back.”
“Fu Xiuyi began targeting the Shen family. Though I was frantic, I couldn’t interfere in politics. My eldest brother ruined his career after being accused of defiling Jing Chuchu’s virtue, then was imprisoned for murder, ending up crippled before drowning in a pond. My mother’s illness worsened because of Chang Zaiqing, and she soon died of sorrow. My father aged rapidly, stripped of his military power, drowning himself in drink. Meanwhile, the second and third branches of the family rose steadily in power.”
“Mei Furen and I fought bitterly in the harem, neither willing to yield. It wasn’t that I clung to the title of Empress—but if I lost even that, I wouldn’t be able to protect my children.”
“In the end, I lost. The Shen family fell. Wan Yu died of illness on her way to marry the Xiongnu, and Fu Ming took his own life after being stripped of his crown prince title. In the cold palace, I was given a white silk cord, and a eunuch strangled me with his own hands. I opened my eyes and found myself lying in bed—it had all been a long, long nightmare.”
She recounted this harrowing dream lightly, almost casually, a faint smile on her face. The smile was ethereal, as if concealing boundless sorrow—but since words couldn’t express it, she replaced it with a laugh.
Xie Jingxing remained silent.
Whenever she was drunk, she always referred to herself as “This Empress.” Xie Jingxing would tease her for scheming so deeply at such a young age. Occasionally, he’d wondered why her dreams always cast her as a neglected, deposed empress. Now he knew.
Shen Miao asked, “Do you believe my dream?”
Xie Jingxing countered, “Do you?”Shen Miao laughed softly, "If I didn't believe, what stands before you today might just be a grave."
"After waking up, I was terrified that everything in this dream would come true. I lived cautiously, trying to find any clues to prove it was merely a nightmare. But the more earnestly I searched, the more I realized this wasn't just a dream—the events from it were happening one by one."
"I warned Su Minlang because the Su family would soon fall victim to the emperor's suspicion, leading to their complete execution. Only you went to collect the bodies of the father and son. With the Su family gone, the Shen family would be next—it's a case of mutual dependence. I only warned the Su family to protect myself, never expecting you'd find out."
At that time, Xie Jingxing had grown suspicious of her due to Su Minlang's words and repeatedly tested her. They clashed multiple times, yet neither could discern the other's true thoughts.
"In that dream of yours, what was my fate?" Xie Jingxing stared at her and asked.
Shen Miao replied, "You did well."
"The Xie family gradually declined. Later, Lin'an Hou died in battle, and you took up your father's mantle to campaign again. It was said you were wrapped in horsehide, yet years later, you returned to Ming Qi as Prince Rui." Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Then, you led your military force and overthrew the imperial power."
Xie Jingxing frowned. "That's it?"
"That's it," Shen Miao nodded.
"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow. "I thought in your dream, there would also be some entanglement between us."
"Do you truly regard it as just a dream? Or perhaps drunken ramblings?" Shen Miao's gaze dimmed slightly before she added, "But that's fine too. I'd rather it were just a dream."
"There are things you might not believe if I told you, but I truly dreamed of Jing Chuchu, Chang Zaiqing, and others. Before that, I had never met them. Because of that nightmare's warning, I was wary of them beforehand. Looking back now, many things were only accomplished because of that dream's guidance."
Xie Jingxing looked at her with a smile—one filled with tenderness and reassurance. "You've done well."
"The past is in the past. After all, I did everything to avoid the dream's ending. But there's one thing—the two children in that dream were both gone."
Xie Jingxing's fingers, which had been tracing the rim of the wine bowl, paused slightly. "We will have children too."
Shen Miao took a deep breath and looked at him. "Now, what I'm about to say, you must listen carefully."
"In that dream, the woman who fought me for a lifetime—Mei Furen, the new crown prince's mother, the one who nearly controlled the court—was named Li Mei. She was the daughter of an official Fu Xiuyi encountered during his eastern campaign, gentle and alluring, skilled at reading people. Now, I've seen her again. Weren't you puzzled? That day when you emerged from the Royal Hunting Ground, I was cold toward you afterward. It was because I was flustered myself—I had seen Li Mei again."
"Now, she's called Ye Mei."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" she asked.
Xie Jingxing remained silent for a long time.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally looked at Shen Miao. "She's the enemy from your dream?"
"I hated her to the bone for my entire life, yet couldn't personally avenge myself. In this life, we meet again, but she's now the long-lost daughter of the Ye family in Longye. Xie Jingxing, I can endure my hatred, but one thing is certain—Ye Mei is no kind soul. For power, she'll climb by any means necessary. She doesn't act without purpose. Since Prince Rui's Estate owes her a favor, it will inevitably become a blade in her hands. You must be wary of her."
Xie Jingxing picked up the wine bowl again, draining it in one gulp. Though he smiled, his eyes were cold. "Ye Mei, is it? Fu Xiuyi's taste in women remains as vulgar as ever. I'm nothing like him.""Whether your dream is real or not," Xie Jingxing said, "the grudges in your dream still count as grudges. Just for the fact that he betrayed your feelings, it's unforgivable. Leave your vengeance to me—I'll avenge you for you." He cut off Shen Miao before she could speak: "Don't say you want to kill your enemies yourself. You're my woman, and your grudges are mine. In this world, the enemies of you and me are countless, so let's not distinguish between yours and mine. If one day you encounter my enemies and want to avenge me for me, we'll call it even."
Shen Miao frowned. "Do you have enemies? Who are they?"
Xie Jingxing looked at her for a moment, then suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair. "You believe everything I say—how adorable."
"Audacious!" Shen Miao said.
Her drunkenness brought out a hint of the Empress's authority, a habit she couldn't shake. Xie Jingxing paused, and Shen Miao froze as well. He stared at her. "Do you still want to be Empress?"
"I don't want to have that dream a second time," Shen Miao replied. "And I don't want to be that kind of Empress again."
[Author's Note]
Drunk Liangliang automatically switches to cute mode~ \▽≦~
...
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