The night was fleeting, and the daylight hours felt even more insufficient. The tent was filled with an intoxicating fragrance, and after a while, the rustling sounds of dressing could be heard.
Jin Xingming gently stroked Ye Mei’s smooth back, his face still bearing the satisfaction of indulgence, as he said, "Mei'er, why not stay with me a little longer? It’s not yet dark—why leave so early?"
Ye Mei, with her back to Jin Xingming, felt a flash of anger in her eyes, but when she turned around, her gaze was once again alluring. She smiled and said, "If Brother Jin is so reluctant to part with me, then hurry and take me away from the Ye family. Ye Maocai keeps a tight rein on me, and these days he’s been pressing me to enter the palace. If I go into the palace, then in this lifetime, Brother Jin and I will be fated to part."
The moment Jin Xingming heard that Ye Mei might enter the palace, he sat up straight and exclaimed, "No!" In the past, Jin Xingming had not yet tasted the pleasures Ye Mei offered, but now, after experiencing such ecstasy, he could never bear to let her go. With her, he felt as if he had ascended to the heavens, and any other woman he might encounter in the future would surely pale in comparison.
What a man sought in life was nothing more than wealth, power, and pleasure. Once one had tasted fine rice, coarse bread would no longer satisfy. Jin Xingming was unwilling to hand Ye Mei over to anyone else and naturally grew anxious.
Ye Mei nestled into his arms and whispered, "I don’t want it either. My heart belongs only to Brother Jin, but now I have no choice. That’s why I want to leave quickly. Once we reach Ming Qi, we can live as carefree immortals, happy and unburdened every day."
Moved by her affection and loyalty, and having already enjoyed her favors, Jin Xingming felt a surge of pride and ambition. He declared, "You’re right. Today, I’ll have everything prepared. To ensure safety, we’ll take the water route. Though it’s risky, it’s faster than other paths."
Ye Mei nodded. "To avoid arousing Ye Maocai’s suspicions, we’ll meet here again in five days. Before then, Brother Jin, you must arrange everything for our departure, and I’ll deal with the Ye household."
Jin Xingming agreed, and after another bout of lingering affection, Ye Mei straightened her clothes and walked out as if nothing had happened. Once outside the Sun family’s gates, she boarded her carriage. The Ye family guards, seeing her unharmed, thought nothing of it. Inside the carriage, Ye Mei lifted her sleeve, revealing jade-like arms marred with scattered red marks.
Jin Xingming had been impatient and rough, leaving Ye Mei utterly exhausted. She gazed at the marks for a moment before lowering her sleeve again.
She had always been one to take advantage of every opportunity, yet today she had submitted to someone like Jin Xingming—all thanks to Ye Maocai. If not for Ye Maocai tricking her onto this path, how could she have come to this? Since she was leaving the Ye household, they owed her some form of compensation. Otherwise, wouldn’t all her suffering and compromises have been in vain?
A flash of ruthlessness crossed her eyes.
...
Five days later, Xie Jingxing returned.
The battle in Ruyang City had ended in the complete defeat of the Lu family.
For years, the Lu family had believed they were secretly amassing power, unaware that their opponent had been doing the same. In fact, their opponent had been even more diligent, plotting the Lu family’s downfall from the very day the Yongle Emperor ascended the throne. With so many years of meticulous planning, how could the Lu family possibly compete?The true power displayed by the Yongle Emperor also shocked those restless ministers in the court, as if doused with a bucket of cold water. They finally realized that the young emperor who had once been suppressed by Emperor Xiaowu and relied on Empress Dowager Jingxian's support had unknowingly grown into a ferocious beast.
Lu Zhengchun was a madman. When Ruyang City fell and he knew the situation was hopeless, in his desperation, he actually charged into the house and slaughtered his own wife and daughter with his own hands, including his beloved Lu Wan'er. At the time, Gao Yang and Ji Yushu were also present, watching as Lu Wan'er's eyes widened in shock before she slowly collapsed, seemingly unable to believe until the last moment that she would die by her father's hand.
Xie Jingxing ended Lu Zhengchun.
As he died, Lu Zhengchun laughed maniacally and shouted, "In my lifetime, I was invincible and roamed the world freely. To die by the hands of a brat is unacceptable!"
Xie Jingxing beheaded him and said indifferently, "Ignorant."
Thus, the Lu family, an aristocratic family that had dominated Great Coolness for two dynasties over a century, vanished without a trace. The remnants of the Lu family fled in all directions, only to be hunted down and executed one by one by the Ink Feather Army.
When Shen Miao heard about this, she was deeply moved. The rise and fall of an aristocratic family may seem simple, but in reality, the signs had been there long before. The Lu family's arrogance and rebellious intentions led the imperial family to spare no effort in exterminating them.
Xie Jingxing said, "However, when I returned, I heard a rumor circulating in the streets—a 'Letter to Compatriots Under Heaven'..." He glanced at Shen Miao, the corner of his lips curling. "All the scholars in the world wish to meet its author. I wonder which talented hero it is?"
Shen Miao suppressed a laugh. "I don't know."
"The Ink Feather Army should find out," Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "If it's a man, I'll become sworn brothers with him. If it's a woman, then..."
"Then what?" Shen Miao stared at him coldly, as if sharpening a knife in preparation for an unsatisfactory answer.
Xie Jingxing said solemnly, "Then drag her out and behead her. Who dares to be more talented than my wife?"
Shen Miao couldn't help but laugh.
Seeing her laughter bloom like a magnolia flower, gentle and charming, Xie Jingxing felt a stir in his heart. He suddenly stood up, scooped her into his arms, and carried her to the bed. Shen Miao struggled. "You haven't bathed yet."
"Don't move. Let me hold you for a while." He rolled over, and Shen Miao ended up lying on top of him. Xie Jingxing embraced her, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Shen Miao felt ticklish from his breath but then heard him say, "Ming Qi might attack soon."
Shen Miao froze, asking skeptically, "What?"
"Before he died, Lu Zhengchun revealed His Majesty's secret," Xie Jingxing's voice was unreadable. "It seems Fu Xiuyi also knows. Fu Xiuyi won't miss this opportunity."
It turned out that before his death, Lu Zhengchun had said one last thing to Xie Jingxing: "Guess—when will the Emperor of Ming Qi send troops after learning that your short-lived elder brother won't live past this year?"
Shen Miao was shocked. "How did Lu Zhengchun know?"
"Thieves are hard to guard against, especially in the complex environment of the palace. The news likely leaked from there," Xie Jingxing said. "The Lu family probably wanted to use this information to blackmail His Majesty, but for some reason, they changed their minds and chose to inform Fu Xiuyi instead."
"Betraying the country to the enemy?" Shen Miao frowned.
"Not exactly," Xie Jingxing replied. "Given Lu Zhengchun's personality, he likely wanted mutual destruction."Upon hearing this, Shen Miao found herself somewhat in agreement. Previously, Lu Zhengchun had plastered notices everywhere, accusing the Yongle Emperor of regicide and usurpation, merely to tarnish the imperial family's reputation. At the time, he hadn’t revealed the secret that the Yongle Emperor wouldn’t live much longer—perhaps he intended to keep it as his trump card, a fatal blow to be delivered at the last moment.
But Lu Zhengchun was never one to hold his temper. Somehow, Xie Jingxing had provoked him, or perhaps he believed the Xie family was beyond saving and decided to divulge this secret to Xie Jingxing before his own demise.
Shen Miao said, “Indeed, Fu Xiuyi would never pass up such an opportunity.” Fu Xiuyi’s nature was to seize—people, situations, and chances that could be exploited. In his eyes, an emperor with little time left would plunge Great Coolness into chaos upon his death, making it the perfect moment to strike. She pondered for a while. “But as things stand, Ming Qi isn’t yet strong enough to oppose Great Coolness. Fu Xiuyi must have been scheming something in secret, waiting until he had enough confidence to act.”
Xie Jingxing said, “Before that, let’s deal with the Ye family first.”
“The Ye family?” Shen Miao asked. “Do you plan to wipe them out completely?”
Xie Jingxing snapped his fingers. “Why keep them around for the New Year? I’ll capture Ye Mei and her brother and hand them over to you. Do as you please with them.”
Shen Miao took his hand. The red thread she had tied around Xie Jingxing’s wrist was still there. She said, “Be careful.”
Their speculations about Fu Xiuyi were confirmed the very next day. No one had expected Fu Xiuyi to act so rashly, almost recklessly.
A letter from Shen Qiu arrived.
Unlike previous letters, which mostly recounted daily life and reassured Shen Miao that the Shen family was doing well, this one was hastily written, its contents scrawled in urgency. Judging by the date, it had been delayed for a long time before reaching her.
Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing skimmed through the letter swiftly, and after finishing, both fell silent.
Fu Xiuyi had made his move.
Not against Great Coolness, but against the Shen family.
Emperor Wenhui had fallen gravely ill, entrusting Fu Xiuyi with full authority over court affairs. Fu Xiuyi fabricated evidence to frame the Shen family and launched a direct assault. The Shen Family Army, which had been stripped of its military power by the Ming royal family and thoroughly reshuffled—now riddled with spies—was effectively crippled.
Fu Xiuyi deceived the people of Ming Qi and acted brutally against the Shen family. But this time, Shen Xin had been prepared. He had long been quietly rallying other disgruntled court officials, though they were minor figures, their combined strength was still greater than going it alone. Moreover, Luo Lianyin and Luo Liantai from Xiaochun City had led the Luo Family Army to Fixed Capital. The Luo Family Army, nurtured by the Luo family, obeyed no one but them. Having trained under Shen Xin for years, Shen Xin wielded them with ease. In addition, there were the forces Xie Jingxing had left behind in Fixed Capital.
At last, the Shen family finally learned Xie Jingxing’s true identity.Though shocked, Shen Miao didn't feel repulsed given the current circumstances. Moreover, Xie Jingxing had already been honest with Shen Xin earlier, so there was no room for blame. Xie Jingxing's forces, though few in number, were exceptionally elite—especially outstanding in intelligence gathering.
Fu Xiuyi likely thought he could swiftly crush the gradually weakening Shen family, but he hadn't anticipated that the Shens had long been preparing for this day. Far from wiping them out as expected, he seemed to have stumbled into a deadlock, draining his own military strength.
In his letter, Shen Qiu mentioned that the Shen family was now openly defying the royal family and had left Fixed Capital. Though Fu Xiuyi's forces pursued relentlessly, the Shens had managed to evade any significant losses. Currently, Shen Xin was discussing with his ministers whether to overthrow the corrupt imperial power.
As for the final outcome of this matter, Shen Qiu didn't elaborate. Shen Miao understood—the Shen family had always been loyal, especially Old General Shen, whose heart was steadfast in devotion. Turning against the imperial power was already an act of treason. Even if they succeeded in overthrowing it, who would take the throne? Installing a new ruler? The princes of Ming Qi were all ruthless—would they simply declare independence? Shen Xin would never entertain such thoughts.
At the end of the letter, Shen Qiu brought up one more thing.
The Shen family was no longer in Fixed Capital, as the city was swarming with Fu Xiuyi's men, putting them at a disadvantage. They had retreated to the Hanguan Valley area, where they discovered many people from Qin State in the surrounding villages.
The letter ended there.
After a long silence, Shen Miao finally spoke: "Fu Xiuyi has begun to act. The appearance of Qin people in Hanguan Valley suggests Qin and Qi may have already allied—or at the very least, Fu Xiuyi is certainly plotting it."
Xie Jingxing nodded, then looked at her: "Aren't you worried about your father?"
"Worrying is pointless," Shen Miao replied. "I'm thousands of miles away. Even with careful planning, I can't account for all variables. Besides, when it comes to strategizing against enemies, I trust my parents and eldest brother are no amateurs. As long as they no longer blindly serve the royal family as before, victory is within reach."
Xie Jingxing smirked: "Actually, it's all the same."
Shen Miao frowned at him: "What do you mean?"
He pinched her cheek and said, "If Qin and Qi ally, it can only mean one thing—they'll swiftly attack Great Coolness, starting from the borders. In that case, your father and we are on the same side."
"If your father doesn't want to install a new ruler or establish his own imperial power, then let him swallow Ming Qi, annihilate Qin, and unify the three kingdoms. Then there'll be no need for choices."
Shen Miao's heart stirred. She had long foreseen this scenario. In her past life, hadn't Great Coolness eventually conquered Qin, marched to Fixed Capital, and seized Ming Qi? The future would see the three kingdoms' territories united under Great Coolness, with only one emperor ruling the land.
"But can you handle it?" Shen Miao asked. "The Emperor's secret is already known to Fu Xiuyi. Without a doubt, he'll spread the news. Longye will fall into chaos, and you'll have to shoulder countless burdens. Even if Qin and Qi ally, I believe Great Coolness will ultimately prevail—but the process will be arduous."
Xie Jingxing glanced at her: "Little girl, has anyone ever told you not to question whether a man can handle something?"Shen Miao paused. Even at such a moment, Xie Jingxing still had the energy to joke around, leaving her truly speechless.
"Just watch," he said.
...
The downfall of the Lu family sent shockwaves throughout Longye. However, due to the "Letter to Compatriots," the common people applauded the outcome. After all, the Lu family had committed such treasonous acts and could hardly blame the imperial family for showing no mercy. The court officials, on the other hand, found themselves in a new political landscape. Those who had previously sided with the Lu family, those who wavered between the Lu family and the imperial court, and those who had firmly opposed the Lu family—all now had new schemes to consider. Those who had chosen the right side were naturally jubilant, while those who had backed the wrong horse were filled with unease and doubt.
The Yongle Emperor was by no means a lenient and benevolent ruler who only knew how to dote on his consorts. When his heart hardened, it was harder than anyone else's—truly the son of Emperor Xiaowu, never hesitating to strike ruthlessly when necessary. Consort Jing had once been the most favored concubine in the harem, yet now, as the Yongle Emperor dealt with the Lu family, he showed not the slightest regard for past affections, let alone the child in Consort Jing's womb. Observant individuals could even discern that the emperor had likely been biding his time for years to take down the Lu family.
A ruler with such tactics and resolve was truly fearsome. The court officials grew increasingly intimidated by him, and many became more subdued.
Meanwhile, the Ye family, once on par with the Lu family, was now like ants on a hot pan—frantic and restless.
No one had expected the Yongle Emperor to act so swiftly, nor had anyone anticipated the Lu family's rapid collapse. Even Ye Maocai, who prided himself on his shrewdness, suddenly sensed something amiss. He now regretted not pledging allegiance earlier when the imperial family had sought to recruit the Ye family. By now, the opportunity had slipped through his fingers.
Indeed, the chance was lost, for Ye Maocai realized that the Yongle Emperor had already begun targeting the Ye family's influence.
Unlike the Lu family, who were military officials with their own forces, the Ye family were civil officials who mostly played a supporting role. Their connections and networks had once been highly sought after, but now, with the fall of the Lu family, these too crumbled.
If even the Lu family, with their deep-rooted influence and military might, had fallen to the Yongle Emperor, what hope did the Ye family have? Observing the situation and understanding the emperor's methods from the Lu family's downfall, Ye Maocai grew increasingly desperate, knowing the emperor would show no mercy—he would eradicate them completely. Ye Maocai seethed with anger at the Lu family's earlier arrogance and empty boasts, but it was too late for regrets.
Ye Maocai began preparing for escape—at the very least, he had to send Ye Hongguang away. He had little energy to spare for Ye Mei and Ye Ke, but Ye Hongguang was his only heir, and he had to ensure the Ye family's lineage survived.
While Ye Maocai busied himself with these preparations, Ye Mei was not idle either.
Today, she had returned from the residence of the Sun family after another passionate rendezvous with Jin Xingming, who had promised to take her away in three days. Recently, Ye Maocai's supervision over her had loosened considerably—he hardly seemed to care where she went or whom she met. Far from being pleased, Ye Mei grew increasingly anxious. It was clear Ye Maocai was too preoccupied with his own survival to spare a thought for hers. The Ye family must be in dire straits indeed.Regarding the matter with the Lu family, although Ye Mei didn’t fully understand what had happened, she vaguely sensed that Ye Maocai was afraid—afraid of suffering the same fate as the Lu family.
That day, she returned home rather late. As soon as she entered her room, she saw Ye Ke pacing around, seemingly waiting for her.
Truth be told, Ye Mei hadn’t seen Ye Ke for several days. Lately, she had been preoccupied with planning her escape with Jin Xingming to Ming Qi, and she hadn’t given much thought to Ye Ke’s fate. In fact, from the very beginning, Ye Ke had never been part of her escape plan.
Someone who had become useless, a burden, and even harbored selfish intentions toward her—Ye Mei had discarded him without hesitation.
When Ye Ke saw her return, he asked, "Sister, where have you been? Why are you back so late?"
"Miss Sun asked me for an embroidered handkerchief last time. I finished it yesterday and delivered it to her today."
Ye Ke grumbled, "You’re now a young lady of the Prime Minister’s household. How dare a mere Sun family girl order you around?"
Ye Mei ignored his complaints and sat down. Noticing the restlessness in Ye Ke’s expression, she asked, "How have you been these past few days? Didn’t Father take you around to meet his colleagues?"
"Don’t even mention it," Ye Ke sighed dejectedly. "That was only at the beginning. Lately, he’s been busy with something—whenever I ask, he brushes me off with excuses. I’ve been bored stiff at home." He then looked at Ye Mei. "Sister, when will you talk to Father about entering the palace? I think he’s just making excuses to delay. If you enter the palace and win the Emperor’s favor, Father will surely start currying favor with me, and the Emperor will value me too. If my career prospers, won’t it benefit you as well?"
Ye Mei inwardly sneered but kept her expression neutral, smiling as she replied, "We’re siblings—of course I’ll help you." After a pause, she added, "Speaking of which, you’ve been closer to Father than I have lately. Have you noticed anything unusual about him?"
"Unusual?" Ye Ke looked puzzled. "Nothing out of the ordinary."
Seeing his confusion, Ye Mei rephrased her question with a smile. "Not like that—I meant, does Father have any valuable possessions or secrets? Maybe you could find out something?"
Ye Ke stared at her blankly for a moment before asking, "Sister, what are you planning?"
Ye Ke was ambitious but not particularly bright—clever enough in small ways, yet easily blinded by superficial things and too greedy to make decisive moves. Ye Mei had warned him about this countless times since childhood. But it was precisely his arrogance and greed that made it so easy for her to deceive him now.
She sighed and said, "You know as well as I do that we aren’t truly of Ye blood. I’ve heard Father has been secretly searching for the real descendants of the Ye family these past few days. If he doesn’t find them, fine—but if he does, where does that leave us?"
She lied effortlessly, but Ye Ke was stunned and immediately believed her, stammering, "R-really? Father’s really looking for the true heirs of the Ye family?"
Ye Mei nodded.
Ye Ke’s expression twisted with a mix of rage and jealousy. "How could he do this? Use us and then cast us aside? What right does he have?""That's why I can't accept it," Ye Mei said. "Forget about me, but you're different. If that true Ye family bloodline doesn't return, a cripple can't compete with you for anything. The Ye family will be yours in the future. How can I just stand by and watch what's rightfully yours be handed over to someone else?"
Ye Ke was already nine-tenths furious, but Ye Mei's words pushed him straight to twelve-tenths. He said, "Exactly. This won’t do."
"So, I’ve thought of a solution. We must find Ye Maocai’s weakness. As the Prime Minister, he must have secrets. If we uncover them, we can use them as leverage against him."
Ye Ke nodded in agreement, then frowned after a moment of deep thought. "Father never truly confided in me. Looking back now, it seems he never shared any secrets. But..." His eyes suddenly lit up as he remembered something. "Once, in his study, I saw a portrait of a beauty hanging on the wall. I thought it was well-done, so I touched it—only for him to scold me harshly. At the time, I suspected there was something special about that painting."
Ye Mei pressed, "And then?"
"Father told me there was something hidden in the painting, but since I wasn’t an official yet, it wouldn’t be useful to me. He said he’d give it to me once I became one." Ye Ke shrugged. "That’s the only valuable thing I can think of. He seemed sincere, so I didn’t press further. Does that count?"
A glint of satisfaction flashed in Ye Mei’s eyes. "It counts."
"Then I’ll find a way to steal it," Ye Ke declared, standing up at once.
"No!" Ye Mei quickly stopped him. Seeing his suspicious look, she explained, "Since this was my idea, I should be the one to threaten him in the end—even if it’s for your sake. If you were the one to do it, he’d resent you and might only pretend to comply. It’s better if I steal it and use it against him. That way, in Ye Maocai’s eyes, you remain innocent—still his loyal son."
Ye Ke found her reasoning flawless and clapped his hands. "Sister, you’re so thoughtful!" He gazed at her gratefully. "You’re so good to me. When I rise to greatness in the future, I’ll never forget your kindness. I’ll repay you, I swear."
Ye Mei smiled faintly, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she replied warmly, "I’ll hold you to that."
After Ye Ke left, Ye Mei closed the door and slowly darkened her expression.
She had been thinking—during her time in the Ye family, she had gained nothing she truly wanted. On the contrary, she had been constantly manipulated and exploited by Ye Maocai. To escape, she had even been forced to sacrifice her body, submitting to someone like Jin Xingming. No matter how she looked at it, this deal had been a loss.
And Ye Mei never accepted a losing deal.
Now that the Ye family was headed for ruin, she had to leave before the ship sank—or she’d drown with them.
But before that, she had to take something back from the Ye family, something to compensate for all she had lost.
If Jin Xingming was heading to Ming Qi, then one day, she too would climb her way into the circles of Ming Qi’s nobility, reaching the pinnacle of power where she could turn the world upside down with a flick of her wrist. That was the life she truly desired.
As the Prime Minister of Great Coolness, the Ye household must hold secrets—secrets tied to the fate of the nation.
No country would turn away another’s hidden truths.
These secrets were Ye Maocai’s life’s work, and they would be her stepping stone into the halls of Ming Qi’s elite.
This was what would make up for all she had lost in the Ye family. Now, what exactly had she lost?
Her freedom. Her forced submission. And... a foolish younger brother.
Xie Gege: "All scholars under heaven wish to meet him—I wonder what kind of prodigy he is?"
Liangliang: "No idea."
Xie Gege: "I’ll have the Ink Feather Army look into it."
Liangliang: "If you find me... I’ll let you... hehehe :3∠"
This chapter was originally titled "Qi and Qin Join Forces"... Feels a bit off, somehow...
OpenNovel