Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing had reconciled, and it seemed as though the entire Prince Rui's Estate collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
A blessing in disguise was that not only had the two of them made up, but they also seemed to have started sharing a room to sleep. This was entirely unexpected by everyone, especially Uncle Tang, who was overjoyed and would brew Xie Jingxing soups made from tiger, deer, and ox penises every day, leaving Shen Miao speechless whenever she saw them.
Xie Jingxing began investigating the Ye family matter, but strangely, Ye Mei and her brother were indeed native-born citizens of Great Coolness and had previously lived in Qinzhou—facts that couldn’t be disputed. Shen Miao couldn’t quite figure out why this was the case. Eventually, she could only assume that her rebirth in this life had inadvertently altered many things—such as Fu Xiuyi’s fortunes and the identities of Mei Furen and her brother.
Yet no matter how much had changed, one thing remained the same: Ye Mei had been her enemy in her past life, and now, having entered the "Ye" family in this life, their positions as sworn adversaries remained unchanged.
Pei Lang’s injuries gradually improved. Shen Miao visited him once but didn’t enter his room, merely glancing at him from afar outside. Seeing that he could already get out of bed and take his medicine on his own, she left. Her feelings toward Pei Lang were complicated, but since he likely had no knowledge of their past life, and she couldn’t face him with a peaceful heart despite knowing everything, maintaining this distance was the only option.
Xie Jingxing, however, was quite pleased with this, praising her for being more sensible than before. Seizing the opportunity, he "rewarded" her generously, as if trying to make up for all the lost time in their marital life. This left Shen Miao utterly drained for days, as if she had been drained of her vitality by some male ghost.
The situation in Longye appeared stable on the surface, but the undercurrents of conflict were beyond anyone’s imagination. After the Imperial Hunt, the Yongle Emperor began tightening the net he had laid out to deal with the Lu family. The Lu family was busy maneuvering against the imperial court, and Xie Jingxing also became much busier.
Naturally, Shen Miao wasn’t spared from the tension either, for a letter had arrived from Ming Qi.
Luo Xueyan’s family letter to Shen Miao had reached her.
There were two letters. The first was from Luo Xueyan, saying that they were all doing well and urging Shen Miao not to endure any grievances silently in Longye—she must write back and tell them if anything happened. She also advised Shen Miao to treat Xie Jingxing with mutual respect and support, and then inquired about her situation in detail.
The second letter was from Shen Qiu.
Shen Qiu’s letter was quite different from Luo Xueyan’s. Before Shen Miao’s marriage, she had spoken to Shen Qiu about certain matters, though not explicitly. She had hinted that he should be wary of the Ming Qi imperial family, describing it as a pit of mud. The Shen family’s priority was self-preservation—by any means necessary, they had to distance themselves from the imperial family, or else they would be dragged down into the mire. If it came to it, even abandoning the family’s reputation was preferable to losing their lives.
This time, Shen Qiu’s letter touched upon the current situation in Ming Qi.
Counting the days, Shen Miao had been away from Fixed Capital for over half a year. The political climate there had always been volatile, with changes occurring daily, let alone over such a long period. Yet the latest development was particularly unexpected.
Emperor Wenhui had fallen seriously ill.First, it was a cough, then the illness worsened, and now it had reached the point where he could no longer attend court. On the rare occasions he did, he was listless, listening to a few words before dismissing the assembly. For some reason, rumors even spread in the palace that Emperor Wenhui was already at death's door and would not survive another year.
When Shen Miao saw these words, she merely laughed. How long could Emperor Wenhui truly live? Just one year? She didn’t believe it. After all, in her past life, Emperor Wenhui hadn’t died this early. Of course, whether there was anything suspicious about his death was hard to say. The Ming Qi imperial family was already tangled in complexity, and the princes were nothing like the straightforward ones in Longye. For one to ascend the throne, many would have to be sacrificed—what was one father-emperor in comparison?
Shen Qiu mentioned in his letter that Emperor Wenhui, despite his grave illness, had inexplicably turned against his once most-favored Consort Xu. She had been demoted to the rank of Cairen, and not only that—the entire Xu family had incurred the emperor’s wrath, dragging down Princes Zhou and Jing as well. The two brothers could no longer manage court affairs, though the specifics were unclear. In short, Consort Xu, along with Princes Zhou and Jing, had fallen out of favor. In the struggle for succession, they seemed to have already lost ground.
Meanwhile, Prince Li’s faction had, unprecedentedly, grown close to Prince Ding.
Prince Li’s faction was also a strong contender in the succession battle, yet Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi, had no prior connection to them. That they would now ally was suspicious enough, but what was even more alarming was that Prince Li himself seemed to be deferring to Fu Xiuyi’s leadership.
At this point, Shen Qiu’s handwriting grew messy, clearly reflecting his unsettled emotions.
He then summarized the situation: in the Fixed Capital, among the original contenders for the throne, the one who now appeared most prominent was the once indifferent Ninth Prince, Fu Xiuyi. His mother, Consort Dong, had also become Emperor Wenhui’s constant companion.
When an emperor was gravely ill, those he favored were naturally his closest confidants. Some speculated that, given this trend, the crown prince position was as good as gone—Emperor Wenhui was likely to pass the throne to Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi.
Thus, a wave of officials defected to Fu Xiuyi’s side. Whether by their own volition or external pressure, it seemed Fu Xiuyi was destined to become Ming Qi’s future heir.
And Fu Xiuyi had gradually begun targeting the Shen family.
The Shen family’s military power had already been reclaimed by Emperor Wenhui, yet Fu Xiuyi now sought to grant Shen Xin new authority, assigning him and his son to lead a brand-new army. It was clearly a trap—Fu Xiuyi had dug a pit for the Shen family to stumble into. If they failed, they would fall right into his scheme.
Shen Qiu wrote that the Shen family was currently using Shen Xin’s illness as an excuse to avoid accepting military command, but it was uncertain how long this pretext would hold. Since Fu Xiuyi had set his sights on the Shen family, he surely wouldn’t stop at just this one tactic. Fortunately, the Shen family wasn’t entirely without allies. Fu Xiuyi’s hostility also extended to the Feng family—Feng Anning’s household. The Feng and Shen families planned to join forces, along with other Ming Qi officials, which should be enough for self-preservation.
Yet there was an undertone of bewilderment in his words, as if lamenting that the Shen family, loyal for generations, now found themselves in a standoff with the imperial family, mired in mutual suspicion—a truly lamentable turn of events.Shen Miao finished reading the letter, folded it carefully, and put it away, her expression troubled. Xie Jingxing had read it alongside her and, noticing her worried demeanor, asked, "Are you concerned?"
"Fu Xiuyi has begun targeting the Shen family," Shen Miao said gravely. "His rise has been alarmingly swift. In less than a year, there's no one left in Fixed Capital who can oppose him. Prince Zhou and Jing Wang, who were once so arrogant, have fallen along with Consort Xu. Even Prince Li has been subdued by him." She frowned. "His methods are far from simple." Though she had known Fu Xiuyi would become the emperor of Ming Qi in her past life, this time, without the Shen family's support, he had still managed to turn the tables despite initial disadvantages. It made her wonder if her arrangements for the Shen family had been too hasty—perhaps she had underestimated her enemy.
"Not surprising," Xie Jingxing remarked with a faint smile. "He's been preparing for the succession struggle for years. Prince Zhou and Jing Wang may have had advantages, but they were too slow to act. As for Prince Li, without maternal clan support, he was never a contender."
"But why is he still fixated on the Shen family?" Shen Miao furrowed her brows. "Logically, now that the Shen family has lost their military power, they pose no threat to him—just like Marquis Lin'an Manor. He wouldn't waste effort on the latter, yet he refuses to let go of the Shen family..." Fu Xiuyi never wasted time on meaningless pursuits. Suppressing the Shen family now seemed redundant. Why bother?
Xie Jingxing pondered for a moment before answering, "Perhaps because of you."
"Me?" Shen Miao looked at him.
"You married into Great Coolness. Fu Xiuyi previously suspected my connection to you and thought Great Coolness was the Shen family's backer. After returning to Longye, I had people monitor Fu Xiuyi's movements and found him investigating Marquis Lin'an Manor for any ties to me. He might have discovered my identity. He could be under the misconception that the Shen family has allied with Great Coolness or has other schemes." He paused, then added, "Fu Xiuyi is ruthless and paranoid. The moment he senses any threat, he'll eliminate it without hesitation. If the Shen family unsettles him even slightly, he'll spare no effort to crush them."
"That much I understand." Shen Miao's gaze turned cold. Even in her past life, hadn't Fu Xiuyi wiped out the main branch of the Shen family for their military power in the end?
"But there's no need to worry," Xie Jingxing said, pinching her cheek lightly. "I've stationed people in Fixed Capital. At the very least, I can ensure your family's safety."
"You arranged for people already?" Shen Miao asked. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Xie Jingxing chuckled. "Should I have boasted about it? They're my family too. If I hadn't made proper arrangements, how could I have left them in Fixed Capital?"
Hearing Xie Jingxing refer to them as "my family too," Shen Miao felt as though she had tasted honey, sweetness flooding her heart. A smile touched her eyes as she said, "Speaking of which, I didn’t expect the Feng family to ally with Eldest Brother." Back then, to prevent Feng Anning from repeating the mistakes of her past life, she had specifically asked Shen Qiu to look after the Feng family. She hadn’t realized their relationship had grown to this extent. But with this development, Feng Anning likely wouldn’t end up marrying that outwardly refined but inwardly rotten cousin as she had before.
"However, there's one thing I need to tell you," Xie Jingxing suddenly turned serious. "Fu Xiuyi has been secretly communicating with the emperor of Qin State."Shen Miao was taken aback and asked, "Are they borrowing troops?" At the mention of this, she recalled the five years she had spent as a hostage in Qin State. Now, Fu Xiuyi had yet to marry—had he found another hostage instead?
"Perhaps they've reached some private agreement, most likely involving territorial concessions," Xie Jingxing said.
Shen Miao frowned. "Is it to help him seize the throne? But relying on foreign forces for succession would lead to many complications later. Fu Xiuyi wouldn't go that far."
Xie Jingxing's gaze darkened. "It's to deal with Great Coolness."
Shen Miao looked at him. "They want to deal with Great Coolness? That's madness." Although an alliance between Ming Qi and Qin State would significantly boost their strength, Great Coolness's power was undeniable—it would at least result in mutual destruction. After years of peaceful coexistence, why would they provoke a conflict now?
"It's the nature of those who can't tolerate thorns in their sides," Xie Jingxing chuckled. "Besides, Longye is currently in slight chaos due to the Lu and Ye families. They see an opportunity and won't let it slip."
Shen Miao pondered Xie Jingxing's words carefully before saying, "You're right. This day was bound to come sooner or later." However, starting a war now might not be the best timing for Great Coolness.
"Don't worry about it," Xie Jingxing said, ruffling her hair. "Leave this to me."
"I'm the Royal Consort of Prince Rui's Estate too, you know," Shen Miao glared at him, clearly displeased with his remark.
Xie Jingxing looked at her leisurely. "Oh? From Empress to Royal Consort—don't you feel shortchanged?"
"What's done is done. There's no point bringing it up now," Shen Miao snorted.
Just as Xie Jingxing was about to speak again, Huixiang knocked on the door outside, signaling to enter. Huixiang glanced at Shen Miao, then at Xie Jingxing, her expression conflicted.
"Do you have something to tell me?" Shen Miao asked, puzzled. "If so, just say it." She clearly didn't mind Xie Jingxing's presence.
Huixiang said, "Around noon today, Young Master Pei mentioned he wanted to go out for a walk. We recalled that Young Master Gao had also said that walks would aid his recovery, as long as he didn't go too far. Young Master Pei wanted to go alone, so we didn't think much of it. He usually returns after a short stroll outside, but today, he still hadn't come back by nightfall."
Shen Miao frowned. "Did something happen?" Pei Lang had no martial skills—if he encountered danger, he wouldn't be able to defend himself at all.
"That's what we thought too," Huixiang said. "But Bajiao found this on the table in Young Master Pei's room." She pulled out what looked like a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Shen Miao, adding, "Some of his clothes and valuables are missing. If we're not mistaken, Young Master Pei must have left."
Shen Miao paused as she was about to open the letter.
Xie Jingxing's expression also shifted slightly.
"Did he say anything before leaving?" Shen Miao asked Huixiang.
"Nothing at all. He acted as usual and even remarked on the nice weather today," Huixiang replied.
Shen Miao was momentarily stunned. Xie Jingxing said, "Let's see what the letter says," and started to rise to leave, but Shen Miao grabbed his sleeve.
Xie Jingxing turned back, and Shen Miao said, "Let's read it together."
He hesitated, then sat back down, though a faint smile eventually reappeared at the corner of his lips.Opening the letter, Pei Lang's handwriting came into view. His script was as refined as the man himself, carrying the elegant flair of renowned scholars. He appeared just the same, making it hard to imagine that such a free-spirited and unworldly person had been deeply entangled in power struggles in his past life.
The letter began by expressing gratitude for the long stay at Prince Rui's Estate, acknowledging the trouble caused and thanking the couple for their hospitality. He also hoped Shen Miao would honor her promise to ensure Liuying's well-being for the rest of her life.
Pei Lang wrote that although he had initially followed Shen Miao to Longye, it was merely a temporary measure—a refuge from Fu Xiuyi's influence. However, staying indefinitely at Prince Rui's Estate posed many inconveniences. He had his own plans to travel and broaden his horizons while he still could, hence his sudden departure without notice.
Given their former teacher-student relationship and the camaraderie that developed later, especially during his time at Prince Ding's Residence, Pei Lang had come to understand some of Prince Ding's affairs. Sensing Shen Miao's wariness toward the prince, he compiled information that might prove useful to her in the future.
With this letter and its contents handed over, their ties would be settled. Neither owed the other anything. Pei Lang wrote that he didn’t know if they would meet again in this lifetime, leaving only a simple farewell.
The letter was strikingly plain, almost deliberately impersonal, as if Pei Lang sought to distance himself from Shen Miao. Its tone was polite yet detached, reminiscent of their early days in the Hall of Extensive Learning—teacher and student, nothing more.
The accompanying page, however, was densely packed with details about Fu Xiuyi—his trusted aides, schemes, future plans, allies to recruit, and enemies to overthrow.
Xie Jingxing, who had initially glanced at the page with mild disinterest alongside Shen Miao, grew solemn as he read further.
The letter meticulously documented every aspect of Fu Xiuyi's operations, laying bare all his secrets. With this information, dealing with Fu Xiuyi would be like gripping a snake by its vital spot—every move striking at his core.
"How could he possibly know so much?" Xie Jingxing wondered.
Even if Pei Lang had been a spy within Fu Xiuyi's circle, the latter's trust in him couldn’t have extended this far. Yet Pei Lang had listed even Fu Xiuyi's most deeply embedded agents—details so precise they could only come from a long-serving confidant with intimate knowledge of his master's affairs.
Shen Miao's fingers trembled slightly.
Some of the events described wouldn’t unfold until years later. Even now, Fu Xiuyi hadn’t yet met certain individuals—how could Pei Lang know them?
Unless Pei Lang also carried memories of a past life, allowing him to foresee Fu Xiuyi's "future" allies, pawns, and schemes in the present.
When had Pei Lang realized this? He had seemed oblivious before.
Could it be... Shen Miao's thoughts raced. She had dreamed of her past life after the assassination attempt on Xie Jingxing's birthday. Had Pei Lang experienced the same?She turned to Huixiang: "Has Mr. Pei been acting differently these days?"
"Differently?" Huixiang thought carefully. "Not particularly. He just often sits there lost in thought, though he's always been quiet by nature, so it's probably just how he is while recovering from his injuries."
Shen Miao couldn't make up her mind and wanted to ask Pei Lang if he remembered their past life. As the person who had stayed by Fu Xiuyi's side the longest, Pei Lang naturally understood him best. But just as she was about to speak, she stopped.
What would it matter? If Pei Lang truly recalled their past life, just as Shen Miao couldn't face him, he surely couldn't face her either.
The two of them were neither fated enemies nor confidants. There had been blood debts between them, yet they had personally settled them. Trapped in the depths of the palace, they had no choice but to commit wrongs. They couldn't pretend nothing had happened, yet neither could they speak of it clearly.
Seeing her unsettled expression, Xie Jingxing asked, "Do you need me to have someone bring him back?"
Shen Miao snapped out of her thoughts. "No need. If he wants to live his own life, let him." It was better not to meet. Pei Lang leaving like this was for the best. She clenched the paper in her hand, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
Noticing this, Xie Jingxing said, "What's written on that..."
"Is true," Shen Miao replied. "We need to give this to Eldest Brother. Since we're not in Fixed Capital, holding onto it won't do us any good. Let Eldest Brother and Father handle it. With this, the Shen family will at least have more leverage." Then she frowned. "But this is valuable. If it's intercepted on its way back to Ming Qi..."
"Let the Ink Feather Army handle it," Xie Jingxing said casually. "They've been delivering messages for years without ever being intercepted."
Shen Miao felt slightly reassured, but before she could speak, Xie Jingxing snatched Pei Lang's letter from her hand. He tossed it aside as if it were nothing and said, "It's late. Time to rest."
"Late?" Shen Miao said, puzzled. "It's barely dark." She added, "Even if we don't bring Mr. Pei back, we should at least ensure his safety. He was stabbed for no reason that day—what if he's targeted again—"
Before she could finish, Xie Jingxing swept her up into his arms. He threw her onto the bed, looming over her with a dark expression. "Care to keep worrying about Pei Lang?"
Shen Miao: "..."
...
In the palace.
The imperial garden was in full bloom with summer lotuses, their emerald leaves nearly covering the entire pond.
Xiande Huanghou sat in the pavilion. Though there was no moon tonight, the stars were bright, and the cool breeze rippled the water, creating a pleasant scene. She had ordered floral tea to be brewed—a small cup in summer was most soothing.
Tao Gugu stood behind her, smiling. "The lotuses are especially beautiful this year."
Xiande Huanghou glanced at them. "We changed the seeds last year, and indeed, they've flourished more this season." She added, "It's quite refreshing in the summer."
As they spoke, someone approached from a distance. Noticing Xiande Huanghou and her attendants, the figure paused briefly before turning toward the pavilion.
As they drew closer, it became clear—this was none other than Consort Jing.Compared to Consort Jing's usual domineering and flamboyant appearance in heavy makeup and ornate attire, today she looked much more disheveled. Or perhaps it shouldn't be called just today—Consort Jing's condition hadn't been good for several days now. She seemed to have no heart for dressing up, and even her normally delicate and beautiful face showed signs of fatigue.
However, upon seeing Xiande Huanghou, that weariness instantly transformed into hatred.
She said, "I spotted someone from afar and wondered who could be in such high spirits. So it was Her Majesty the Empress."
Xiande Huanghou responded with an indifferent smile, "I'm here enjoying tea. Would Consort Jing care for a cup?"
Consort Jing sneered and shot her a disdainful glance. "Elder Sister has the leisure for tea, but this younger sister has no such inclination."
The Yongle Emperor had begun suppressing the Lu family. While those in the inner palace didn't understand court affairs, they could discern the emperor's attitude. The once most favored consort now found herself pleading tearfully without moving the emperor's heart in the slightest—the implications were profound indeed.
"Whether Consort Jing has the inclination is beyond this palace's concern," Xiande Huanghou replied with a smile, leisurely continuing to pour tea. "The tea remains here regardless."
Consort Jing trembled with rage.
Madam Lu had entered the palace to seek her out, saying the Yongle Emperor was targeting the Lu family without the slightest regard for past affections. She'd also mentioned that since Consort Jing held the emperor's favor, why couldn't she even sway him with pillow talk? She was to probe the emperor's intentions and, if necessary, plead for mercy.
But Consort Jing had tried, to no avail. In truth, over the years, the Yongle Emperor had indeed doted on her greatly. Even within the inner palace, Xiande Huanghou had to show her deference. No matter how arrogant she'd been, she'd always emerged unscathed. Yet she had never once altered the emperor's decisions.
At times, it seemed the Yongle Emperor saw through everything—her deliberate flattery and sycophancy. Sometimes Consort Jing even felt a twinge of shame, yet at other moments, she truly believed in his affection. Now that the Lu family was in trouble and needed their daughter's help, when she approached the emperor, she was met with icy indifference.
Consort Jing had sailed smoothly through life, never tasting hardship. Entering the palace with the Lu family's backing, she'd effortlessly risen to consort rank. Now that the Lu family faced calamity and she suffered by association, she realized that over all these years, aside from throwing tantrums and making enemies in the palace, she'd accomplished nothing.
In contrast, Xiande Huanghou, whom she'd always looked down upon, could now sit leisurely in the pavilion sipping tea. Consort Jing's heart swelled with resentment.
She thought, the Yongle Emperor doesn't even love Xiande Huanghou, yet as Empress, she commands everyone's respect. It was utterly unfair. If not for Xiande Huanghou standing in her way, had she become Empress, the emperor wouldn't dare slight the Lu family, and she wouldn't be suffering such headaches now.
A venomous hatred surged within Consort Jing.
Noticing Xiande Huanghou seated by the lakeside pavilion—where steps led down to the water for feeding fish, elegant yet precarious—she edged closer unnoticed.
"Sister has brewed tea for so many years and naturally understands its principles," Consort Jing said. "But this younger sister dislikes tea—bitter and unpleasant. Why bother brewing it?" With that, she suddenly cried out, "Oh!" feigning a twisted ankle as she lurched toward Xiande Huanghou. Seated by the water's edge, the Empress would inevitably be knocked into the lake by this "accidental" shove!What kind of person was Xiande Huanghou? While Consort Jing might be foolish, Xiande Huanghou was not. Such petty tricks were beneath her notice, and she had long been on guard. Seeing Consort Jing approach, she immediately took a step back, neatly avoiding her.
There was only a loud "splash" as water sprayed upward.
The palace maid by Consort Jing's side let out a startled cry of "Ah!"
OpenNovel