Most of that jar of Shizhou Spring ended up in Shen Miao's stomach. Xie Jingxing tried to stop her, but when Shen Miao became stubborn, even Shen Xin couldn't do anything about it, let alone Xie Jingxing. However, this time, she didn't throw a drunken fit as she usually did. After drinking, she appeared remarkably calm, spoke many words, and then staggered out holding the empty jar. Xie Jingxing escorted her back to her room and instructed Jing Zhe and Gu Yu to take good care of her. The two maids were startled and whispered, "She's just recovered, how could she drink so much? This can't be good for her injuries."
Xie Jingxing glanced at her and then turned to leave the room.
Walking in the courtyard, the summer breeze brushed against his face, sobering him slightly from the alcohol. But he had drunk very little to begin with, and now his mind was as clear as a mirror.
Yet inwardly, he was far from as composed as he appeared.
Shen Miao's words struck him like thunder, suddenly illuminating things that had been unclear before. However, what she said was so shocking, almost bordering on the supernatural—something he had never believed in.
He didn't believe in ghosts or gods, yet he inexplicably believed Shen Miao.
Xie Jingxing knew Shen Miao well. When she truly wanted to deceive someone, she could lie effortlessly with a calm expression. From the moment he met her in Ming Qi, he had seen how she dealt with the second and third branches of the Shen family, Chang Zaiqing, and Jing Chuchu—always smiling while delivering a fatal blow, plotting gently with countless schemes hidden beneath a serene facade. But when she hesitated and seemed uncertain, that was when she was being genuine.
The words she spoke today must have been weighing on her for a long time; otherwise, she wouldn't have looked so relieved afterward. Yet Xie Jingxing could sense her unease, so he maintained his composure, even though his heart was already in turmoil.
If the events in Shen Miao's dream were real, it was far from a pleasant one. Just the thought of her ending up with Fu Xiuyi and suffering such a tragic fate because of him filled Xie Jingxing with uncontrollable rage.
Rain had fallen the day before, and his boots splashed through the puddles, making soft rustling sounds. Xie Jingxing stopped and called, "Tie Yi."
Tie Yi appeared promptly.
"Investigate any connections between Ye Mei and her brother with Ming Qi," he said. If everything in Shen Miao's dream was true, then Ye Mei was her enemy. Yet the leap from Ming Qi to Great Coolness didn't quite add up. Still, it now made sense why Shen Miao had shown hostility toward Ye Mei and her brother from their very first meeting.
Tie Yi was surprised but bowed in acknowledgment.
His thoughts were in disarray. Frowning at the crescent moon in the sky, he couldn't quite define what he was feeling. He wandered back into the courtyard to play with the young tiger.
Jiaojiao, who hadn't seen her master in a while, was overjoyed and leaped around playfully. Xie Jingxing absentmindedly played with the cub for a while until, as the night deepened, the tiger began to doze off. Only then did he return to his quarters.
Yet sleep still eluded him. He walked to the center of the room, removed his outer robe, and was about to sit for a while when he suddenly sensed something amiss. Raising his eyes toward the bed, he noticed a large lump under the covers, accompanied by faint, steady breathing.He frowned, walked over, and pulled the blanket aside, only to freeze in surprise before chuckling. "What are you doing?"
On the bed, Shen Miao was wrapped in his blanket, hugging a pillow, her wide eyes fixed on him.
Earlier, she had seemed calm, as if she hadn’t been drunk at all. But now, the alcohol must have finally caught up with her—her fair cheeks flushed red, and a hazy mist glazed her clear eyes. She declared, "I’m offering myself to you."
Xie Jingxing nearly thought he had misheard. "What did you say?"
"Consort Li once told me that if you want to win someone’s heart or admire them deeply, you must offer yourself. The union between a man and a woman is the most natural thing in the world. I’ve never experienced it, and I suppose neither have you, so here I am, offering myself."
Xie Jingxing’s face burned at her shocking words. Staring at her in disbelief, he finally managed to say, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
He had no idea who this "Consort Li" was, but recalling Shen Miao’s earlier dream, he wondered incredulously—could she be one of those "sisters" from her harem?
Sitting primly on the bed, swaying slightly from intoxication yet maintaining a dignified posture, Shen Miao added, "I wish to discuss this with you."
Xie Jingxing hurried to the table and poured himself a cup of cold tea. After a sip, the agitation in his chest eased slightly. Shen Miao’s personality shift when drunk was truly overwhelming, but to even mention "the union between a man and a woman"—what on earth was she thinking?
"I’m not the kind of man who takes advantage of others," he said.
Silence followed. Finding it odd, Xie Jingxing glanced back—only to spit out his tea in shock.
Shen Miao, now inexplicably free of her outer robe, sat there in only a dudou, pouting pitifully. "Do you think I’m ugly? Is that why you won’t touch me?"
Her exposed skin was like winter snow—yet softer, like milk, yet more luminous. Her disheveled hair framed her delicate face, her hazy gaze undeniably alluring.
Xie Jingxing hastily scrambled to cover her with the blanket. "You’re seriously unwell."
Shen Miao argued matter-of-factly, "We’re husband and wife. What’s wrong with consummating our marriage?"
Taking a deep breath, Xie Jingxing avoided her misty eyes. "Your injuries aren’t fully healed… We’ll talk about this another day."
Shen Miao tilted her head in confusion. "Didn’t you say two months was the deadline? I checked—it’s long past."
Xie Jingxing nearly lost his composure.
"I’m not the kind of man who takes advantage of others," he stressed. "What do you take me for?"
"I know," Shen Miao nodded. "I’m here to fulfill your wish."
Xie Jingxing: "…"
"Be good. It’s too late today. We’ll discuss it another time." Tucking the blanket securely around her, he turned to leave. If he stayed any longer, he might truly lose control. He was, after all, a vigorous young man in his prime, with the woman he loved in his arms—it would be unnatural not to react. But he refused to take advantage of Shen Miao in her drunken state. He respected her too much to proceed like this.But the moment he stood up, Shen Miao tugged at his sleeve again, causing the blanket he had just tucked around her to slip off. Shen Miao half-knelt on the couch, yet was still a head shorter than Xie Jingxing. In her impatience, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and declared, "No."
Xie Jingxing: "..."
With her soft, warm body in his arms, he could almost feel her delicate curves, the faint feminine fragrance emanating from her. Though he hadn't drunk much, he now felt a rising heat throughout his body, as if strong liquor had gone to his head, his rationality gradually fading.
"Today is the day. If we miss today, I'll change my mind," she said with utmost seriousness, though it was unclear whether she was truly drunk or merely pretending.
Hearing this, Xie Jingxing paused in his attempt to push her away and glanced at her. "Change your mind?"
Shen Miao seemed to feel dizzy; the half-kneeling position made her uncomfortable, so she shook her head and carefully studied Xie Jingxing before suddenly curling her lips into a smile.
She said, "This Empress finds you exceedingly handsome. It is your fortune to have caught my eye. Wouldn’t it be good to follow me?"
Xie Jingxing: "..."
Here we go again, Xie Jingxing thought hazily, recalling how years ago at the Manor, a drunken Shen Miao had mistaken him for a male courtesan and forcefully kissed him. Now, time had passed, yet this scene felt eerily familiar. His voice suddenly took on a dangerous edge. "Follow you?"
Shen Miao nodded, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially in his ear, "I guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and glory."
Xie Jingxing laughed. Even in her drunken state, Shen Miao carried a youthful innocence, like an unripe fruit—hardly the epitome of charm, and her words were downright absurd. Yet every move she made was lethally alluring to him. The seductive glances of the most beautiful courtesans paled in comparison to her clumsy embrace.
"If you refuse, this Empress will find someone else. You’ll regret missing out on me for the rest of your life," Shen Miao threatened darkly.
Xie Jingxing replied, "You still want to find someone else? Hmm?"
Suddenly, he leaned forward. Shen Miao, who had been clinging to his neck, was now pinned beneath him. Xie Jingxing smiled faintly, lowering his voice beside her ear. "This Empress of yours is quite bold. You want me to serve you, yet you’re still thinking of other men? I’m not pleased. Should you be punished?"
With great effort, Shen Miao freed one hand and pulled out something resembling a booklet from under the bed, her eyes shining as she looked at him. "Look at this."
Xie Jingxing froze. Taking it, his expression shifted dramatically, his voice strained with restraint. "Where did you get this?"
Shen Miao shrank back. "Mother gave it to me. I told you—I wanted to discuss it with you."
Xie Jingxing was silent for a moment before chuckling softly. "Discuss it?"
Shen Miao nodded eagerly, like a chicken pecking at rice.
"This humble servant will naturally ensure Her Majesty’s complete satisfaction," he said meaningfully, his gaze suddenly turning wolfishly dangerous. "Are you truly certain you won’t regret this?"
"You’re the one who’ll regret missing out on me for a lifetime," she muttered.
Xie Jingxing said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, the candles in the room extinguished instantly.
In the darkness, his deep voice resonated.
"You’re right."
Missing you would be the regret of a lifetime.
...The sun had climbed high, and even with the shade of the trees, the summer rays still filtered through the leaves and windows, casting golden dappled patterns on the floor. Birds chirped on the branches, their cool, joyful songs filling the air.
Shen Miao felt a splitting headache and instinctively turned over, only to find something blocking her way. Groggily opening her eyes, she froze in shock.
She was lying in a man's embrace, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist. Lifting her gaze, she was met with an extraordinarily handsome face, his peach-blossom eyes brimming with amusement and a teasing smile.
Shen Miao's mind exploded in chaos.
What had happened last night? Why couldn’t she remember anything?
She tried to sit up instinctively but winced as a dull ache spread through her body. The blankets slipped away, revealing unmistakable marks on her skin.
Shen Miao: "?"
Clothes were strewn across the floor, wine bowls haphazardly piled on the table, and the room was thick with an unmistakable atmosphere. Even the most oblivious person could guess what had transpired.
"Awake?" Xie Jingxing arched an eyebrow.
Shen Miao struggled to maintain her composure, but no matter how hard she tried, traces of panic flickered across her face. Xie Jingxing found her reaction both amusing and exasperating.
He said, "You were quite bold last night. Why so timid now?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Whenever she drank, her memory became a blank slate, clearer than untouched paper. The last thing she recalled before blacking out was telling Xie Jingxing about her past life. She had thought explaining it as a dream would be the most believable approach. Otherwise, claiming she had died and come back to life would sound absurd, no matter how true it was.
She had drunk a little to bolster her courage and remembered Xie Jingxing seeming to believe her without reacting negatively. But... how had they ended up in bed together?
Xie Jingxing glanced at her disheveled state and said leisurely, "Do you know what you did last night?"
Avoiding his gaze, Shen Miao stared at the blankets and replied calmly, "What else? Sleep."
"You slept with me," Xie Jingxing said. "And demanded I serve you well."
Shen Miao nearly choked on her own saliva.
That was her?
The dignified and virtuous Empress Shen, who commanded the six palaces? Xie Jingxing must be lying to her. How could such shameless, indecent things have happened?
Xie Jingxing continued, "You said you wanted me to follow you, promising me a lifetime of wealth and boundless prospects."
"Drunken words shouldn’t be taken seriously," Shen Miao retorted. "Besides," she shifted tactics, "how do I know you’re not lying? I would never say such things." She outright refused to acknowledge it.
Unfazed, Xie Jingxing calmly pulled out a booklet-like object from under the pillow and flipped through it. "Oh? You even took out something your mother gave you, wanting me to explain and enlighten you. Remember?" He waved the booklet in front of her.
Shen Miao initially gave it a cursory glance, but upon recognizing it, she nearly spat blood in disbelief.
No way. This too?
This was something Luo Xueyan had given her before her wedding, teaching her... ahem, the secrets of the bedchamber. She had kept it well-hidden—Xie Jingxing couldn’t have found it on his own. Which meant... she must have taken it out and shown it to him herself?Then what else had she done to Xie Jingxing before? Did she really make him "serve her well"?
Shen Miao felt as if she'd been struck by lightning.
Xie Jingxing seemed intent on making her embarrassment worse, casually remarking, "Last night, you insisted on discussing it with me. We only went through the first few pages, and I thought there was no rush since we had all the time in the world. But you were unusually eager to learn, even wanting to try the most difficult positions..."
"Stop!" Shen Miao hastily interrupted him, her face already burning red. "Alcohol leads to trouble. You should have stopped me."
"How could I dare?" Xie Jingxing put on an aggrieved expression. "If I refused, you threatened to chop off my head."
Shen Miao: "..."
She felt utterly mortified. The thought of her coyly seducing Xie Jingxing... it seemed all the dignity she'd accumulated over two lifetimes had been completely lost.
Xie Jingxing, however, seemed in excellent spirits, smiling at her. "You also said we'd continue the discussion tonight."
"No need for that tonight," Shen Miao quickly cut him off, scrambling to jump off the bed and flee. But Xie Jingxing grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms. He looked down at her, the lazy amusement on his face suddenly replaced with seriousness.
Frowning, he asked, "Do you regret it?"
Shen Miao froze.
Xie Jingxing's eyes were extraordinarily beautiful. Sometimes Shen Miao found it strange—why did a grown man need to have such captivating eyes? They seemed to brim with endless affection, which was why, back in Ming Qi's Fixed Capital, countless hearts had fluttered around him. Yet he himself was cold and aloof. A man like this was far too dangerous, someone you absolutely shouldn't provoke.
For a woman, falling for such a man would surely be a calamity. But to be loved by such a man—that was probably the greatest fortune one could attain in a lifetime. He knew how to respect, had his selfish moments, yet was also adorably domineering.
Now, as he stared intently at Shen Miao, even his usual arrogant, audacious gaze held a hint of caution. That caution made one feel as though they were cherished by him, protected from harm, the most important person in his life.
Shen Miao's gaze fell on the red thread tied around Xie Jingxing's wrist.
Despite his complaints, he still hadn't taken it off.
Shen Miao looked up and answered honestly, "I don't regret it."
She was just a little embarrassed, that's all...
Xie Jingxing's eyes brightened.
She added, "What's done is done. Why regret it? It's not like it was with someone else." Still, she avoided meeting his gaze.
Xie Jingxing turned her face toward him, forcing her to look at him. "Really?"
"Really," Shen Miao said.
Xie Jingxing studied her for a long moment. Shen Miao grew increasingly flustered and tried to escape, but Xie Jingxing pulled her back. "Let me see."
"See what?"
"Last night, you wouldn't let me stop, so I didn't get a good look at your wound. Even if it's just a scratch, I should check it properly." He dragged her into his arms. Shen Miao noticed he was only wearing his undergarment, his chest mostly exposed, and her face burned even hotter. Pushing against him, she said, "N-no need. I can do it myself."
"That won't do..." Xie Jingxing murmured, pulling her down onto him again.
This time, Shen Miao couldn't escape.
Outside, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu swept the floor while straining to hear the commotion inside. Unfortunately, neither of them had martial skills, and with a door separating them, they couldn't make out a single word.Cong Yang squatted by the door, teasing the bird in its cage while remarking, "You two have been sweeping here for an hour already. If you keep at it, you'll wear through the stone slabs at the entrance."
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu paused, startled, their brooms halting mid-motion. Jing Zhe glanced at Cong Yang, seemingly wanting to ask something but too embarrassed to voice it, her cheeks flushing crimson as she hesitated.
Cong Yang, far thicker-skinned, immediately guessed her thoughts and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry, everything went perfectly smoothly."
Though still bashful, both maids simultaneously exhaled in relief. Jing Zhe shot Gu Yu a triumphant look, only to receive a mildly reproachful glance in return.
Shen Miao had gotten drunk the previous night. While Jing Zhe and Gu Yu were tidying her room, they happened upon the manual Luo Xueyan had given her—one that Shen Miao had carefully stored away. When Shen Miao asked what it was, Jing Zhe had a sudden inspiration. Knowing her mistress never remembered her actions after drinking, and eager to facilitate things between Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing, she seized the opportunity. Before Shen Miao's marriage, Luo Xueyan had repeatedly instructed the two maids to gently guide her daughter in marital matters. Yet despite the couple's apparent affection, they still hadn't consummated their union. Jing Zhe wondered if perhaps both her mistress and Prince Rui were simply clueless.
So, taking advantage of Shen Miao's drunken state, Jing Zhe coaxed her: "The contents of this manual... only His Highness Prince Rui can explain them to you, Madam."
Looking back, Jing Zhe realized her expression at that moment must have been indistinguishable from a brothel madam's.
Too intoxicated to understand, Shen Miao took the manual and walked out. Gu Yu tried to stop her but was too late, so both maids followed anxiously, keeping vigil outside all night until dark circles formed under their eyes. But Shen Miao never emerged from Xie Jingxing's chambers.
Now, hearing Cong Yang's reassurance, they finally relaxed, congratulating themselves on a job well done. Even if their mistress and lord were initially inexperienced, such matters were said to become pleasurable with practice—once started, they'd naturally grow accustomed.
As they mused, Uncle Tang appeared from behind and immediately scolded Cong Yang: "Loitering here instead of working in the morning? Get moving!" He then smiled politely at Jing Zhe and Gu Yu—being Shen Miao's personal maids, they couldn't be reprimanded as harshly—and asked, "You both look exhausted. Why is that?"
Cong Yang snorted at the unequal treatment and stalked off. The maids mumbled excuses to Uncle Tang before hastily retreating.
Left alone outside Xie Jingxing's door, Uncle Tang suddenly broke into a wide grin. After chuckling to himself for a while, he murmured, "I should prepare some tonics," and hurried away.
The night's events at Prince Rui's Estate had clearly brought much amusement, and though the Ink Feather Army seemed universally aware, everyone maintained discreet silence. Only Bajiao and Huixiang remained oblivious—they were temporarily occupied caring for Pei Lang.Pei Lang's injuries were much more severe than Shen Miao's. Although he had narrowly escaped death, the knife wound had reached the bone, and even Gao Yang didn't dare to be careless. Bajiao and Huixiang kept watch over Pei Lang, ready to call for Gao Yang if his condition took a turn for the worse.
Pei Lang would wake several times during the night, though only briefly before drifting back to sleep. This constant waking and sleeping left Bajiao and Huixiang too busy to keep track of what was happening with Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing.
As noon approached, Huixiang brought in a bowl of thin porridge—Pei Lang’s injuries meant he couldn’t eat anything else. Upon entering, she was surprised to find him sitting by the window, staring absently at the branches outside.
“Young Master Pei?” Huixiang paused, then walked over cheerfully, setting the bowl aside. “You’re finally awake.”
Pei Lang turned his head slowly, studying her as if only just recognizing her as a maid from Prince Rui’s Estate. “The Royal Consort must have woken too,” he said.
Huixiang found his certainty odd but replied, “She woke yesterday. Madam wasn’t seriously injured, but you were badly hurt. Thanks to you taking that knife for her, you saved her life.”
Pei Lang lowered his head, letting out a quiet, almost bitter laugh. “Saved her life? More like I owed her one.”
Huixiang didn’t catch his words clearly. “What did you say?”
But Pei Lang had already slipped back into his thoughts.
He had finally remembered.
After taking that knife for Shen Miao, teetering between life and death, he had dreamed—a long, vivid dream that brought sudden clarity.
Why had Shen Miao always treated him with distant hostility before?
Why had he always felt an inexplicable guilt toward her?
So this was why.
The abbot in his dream had said: Sacrificing one’s life for a chance to start over was merely a “maybe”—it might all be for nothing. The abbot had also said: If given another chance, some opportunities would be disrupted, and he might suffer for it.
Pei Lang had accepted it.
He had once loved a woman, but his love was no different from Fu Xiuyi’s indifference—both had pushed Shen Miao step by step toward ruin. He had pitied her, yet coldly weighed the pros and cons before abandoning her.
A person’s life was spent constantly letting go of things. Both he and Fu Xiuyi had cast Shen Miao aside, so in this life, she had discarded them just as decisively.
Xie Jingxing was the lucky one, but then again, perhaps that was only fair.
Now that he knew the full story, he could no longer face Shen Miao. Staying by her side to help her? Looking back, it was nothing but guilt from their past life—his way of repaying her. But he couldn’t face his own heart.
This tangled web of fate left him torn, unable to sort through the mess. It was time to end this mistake. Some thoughts should never have arisen in the first place—they were wrong from the start, and now he had to sever them himself.
Huixiang spoke again. “Young Master Pei, have some porridge first. You still need to recover. Master Gao will come later to administer acupuncture. Now that you’re awake, with his skills, you’ll be fine after some rest.”
Pei Lang was silent for a moment before saying, “Thank you.”
“No need for thanks,” Huixiang replied. “You saved Madam’s life. You’re a benefactor to the estate.”
“Could you fetch me paper and a brush?” Pei Lang asked. His lips were pale, his gaze dim, but his tone was firm.
－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－Now, each chapter can only be reviewed once a day. If it fails the review, you have to wait until the next day to try again. In other words, if it doesn't pass the first time, the update is broken ╯‵□′╯︵┻━┻
I need some peace and quiet...
...
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