Ye Mei and Ye Ke jumped into Jin Xingming's carriage. It had to be said that Jin Xingming was quite capable—he had even managed to bribe the servants of the Prime Minister's residence. Despite this, the commotion caused by Ye Mei and Ye Ke was still noticed by the palace guards stationed outside. The carriage raced ahead while the pursuing soldiers chased relentlessly behind.
Ye Ke clung to the carriage window, peering out into the pitch-black night. The rapid clatter of hooves behind them was unnervingly clear, making his heart tighten with fear. He turned to Ye Mei in panic and said, "Sister, what do we do? If they catch up, we're finished!" He then urged the carriage driver, "Can't you go any faster?"
The driver lashed the horses again, and the carriage sped up slightly, easing Ye Ke's nerves a little. Suddenly, he remembered something and asked, "Sister, when did you prepare all this? If you hadn’t arranged the carriage in advance, we wouldn’t have gotten far before being caught."
"Of course, I had to plan everything early," Ye Mei replied. She wouldn’t tell Ye Ke that the carriage had been arranged by Jin Xingming, nor would she reveal that their escape today was meant to be with Jin Xingming. In fact, in her original plan, Ye Ke had never been part of the equation.
As the carriage approached a street corner, Ye Mei glanced outside and said, "This won’t do. With both of us in the same carriage, they’ll easily catch up. We should split up and meet later at Eight Treasures Street."
"Split up?" Ye Ke, already tense, panicked at the idea of separating from Ye Mei. "Let’s stay together. We can watch out for each other."
"Staying together makes it easier for the soldiers to catch us. Don’t worry—you stay in the carriage. I’ll get off first. The driver will take you through a hidden route to Bajiao Street. We’ll meet there, and everything after that is already arranged. Nothing will go wrong."
Hearing that he wouldn’t have to leave the carriage, Ye Ke relaxed and didn’t try to stop Ye Mei. She signaled the driver to pull over at the side of the street, then pulled her hat low to conceal her face before disappearing into the night.
The carriage continued onward with Ye Ke inside.
Once the carriage was out of sight, Ye Mei slowly smiled beneath her veil. She made her way to a small house nearby and knocked. The door soon opened, and she slipped inside.
In the darkness, a voice asked, "Everything taken care of?"
Ye Mei nodded.
Meanwhile, Ye Ke sat alone in the carriage. After Ye Mei’s departure, the driver sped up even more. Gradually, the sounds of the pursuing soldiers faded, and Ye Ke began to feel somewhat reassured. When he could no longer hear any signs of pursuit, the rough ride became unbearable, and he called out, "You can slow down now."
But the driver ignored him, continuing to whip the horses forward. Annoyed, Ye Ke pulled aside the carriage curtain to look outside—and froze in shock.
This was no longer the city. They were in the mountains!
The rugged mountain path made the ride even more turbulent. Ye Ke suddenly realized that even Eight Treasures Street couldn’t possibly be this far. Why had the driver brought them here? "Stop!" he shouted. "Turn back to Eight Treasures Street!"
The driver paid him no heed. Furious but afraid to yell too loudly in case it attracted soldiers, Ye Ke was about to speak again when the carriage gradually slowed to a stop. He assumed the driver had finally decided to halt.
This driver was far too disobedient. Ye Ke resolved to teach him a lesson once they reached Eight Treasures Street. Just then, the carriage stopped completely, and rustling sounds came from the front as the driver stepped down.
Ye Ke pulled the curtain aside and glared at him. "What are you doing? Hurry up and take me to Eight Treasures Street!"
The driver turned to look at him, and Ye Ke finally got a clear view of the man—he was far more robust than an average person. Even among laborers, few were as tall and powerfully built. A sense of unease crept into Ye Ke’s heart, and he instinctively lowered his voice. Though he was a young man himself, he was no match for this driver in size or strength. If it came to a fight, he would surely lose.
The driver walked around to the back of the horses, pulled something from his pocket, examined it for a moment, then suddenly stabbed it into the horse’s hindquarters!
The horse reared in shock and bolted forward wildly.
Ye Ke never expected the driver to do such a thing. The sudden lurch threw him violently against the back of the carriage, leaving him dazed. A terrible realization struck him, and he frantically yanked open the front curtain to look ahead.
The last thing Ye Ke saw was a bottomless abyss and the dense, overlapping branches.
The chasm seemed endless. Even as the carriage shattered and tumbled down, the sound of its impact was barely audible.
The night concealed everything, leaving only the wreckage of the carriage at the cliff’s edge.
After a while, footsteps crunched on dry leaves. Soon, two torn pieces of clothing lay near the wreckage.
No one heard Ye Ke’s final, desperate cry for his sister.
Shen Miao was writing furiously in her study.
Her hands moved almost instinctively, never pausing since she had locked herself in the room. Words and maps spilled from her brush, each sheet quickly dried over the warmth of a lantern to prevent smudging. She frowned and pondered, her expression grave.
Just then, someone knocked at the door. Mo Qing let them in—it was Cong Yang, panting heavily.
"Tie Yi and I followed Ye Mei and her brother," Cong Yang reported. "They split up at a corner in the city. Tie Yi went after Ye Mei, and I followed Ye Ke. The carriage driver took Ye Ke deep into the mountains, led him to a cliff, startled the horse, and sent the carriage over the edge. There’s no way Ye Ke survived."
"A cliff?" Mo Qing was puzzled. "Who was that driver? What grudge did he have against Ye Ke?"
Cong Yang wiped his nose. "I rushed back to report, so I didn’t see what happened to the driver afterward. Since Ye Ke is dead, I returned."
"No need to investigate. The driver was Ye Mei’s man," Shen Miao said.
"Ye Mei?" Cong Yang was stunned. "She had her own brother killed? But why bring him along in the first place if she planned to kill him?"
"During an escape, you need a decoy. Ye Ke, being her blood brother, was the perfect choice. I suspect the driver didn’t just kill Ye Ke—he likely left pieces of Ye Mei and Ye Ke’s clothing at the cliff to make it seem like both siblings had fallen to their deaths."
Mo Qing and Cong Yang were momentarily speechless before understanding dawned.
Ye Mei must have planned her escape route long ago. But she feared being hunted like a stray dog, knowing she’d eventually be caught. Better to let the world believe she was already dead. After all, no one would waste effort chasing a corpse. Since Ye Ke was her brother, people would naturally assume she’d fled with him. Finding their torn clothes at the cliff—especially since the soldiers had personally pursued Ye Ke—would convince them Ye Mei had also been in the carriage. Thus, both siblings would be presumed dead.
Ye Mei had turned Ye Ke into her scapegoat, eliminating future troubles in one stroke.
"But he was her own brother," Cong Yang marveled. "If it were a man, I’d understand, but for a woman to be so ruthless…"
"She likely saw Ye Ke as disposable long ago," Shen Miao said indifferently. "Using him to the very end was simply her skill." This was Mei Furen’s talent—in her life, only those who added value mattered. In her past life, Ye Ke’s existence had bolstered her influence in the imperial harem, so she played the devoted sister. Now, with Ye Ke offering no benefits—only hindrances—she discarded him without hesitation.
A fluttering sound came from the window as a snow-white pigeon landed on Cong Yang’s shoulder. He quickly retrieved a note from its leg, scanned it, and exclaimed, "Tie Yi says Ye Mei and Jin Xingming have reached the docks and seem to be taking a ship!" Glancing outside at the gathering storm, he added, "If it rains tonight, they’ll be impossible to catch once they set sail. Should Tie Yi and I go after them now and bring them back for you?"
"No." Shen Miao had just finished writing the last sheet. She dried it over the lantern, sealed it in an envelope, and handed it to Mo Qing. "Cong Yang, as part of the Ink Feather Army, gather a few agile men. Take this letter and follow Ye Mei—all the way to Ming Qi."
"Ming Qi?" Cong Yang frowned. "Why would they go there?"
"Mo Qing learned that Jin Xingming has a friend doing good business in Ming Qi, with frequent recent exchanges. Clearly, that’s their destination. Besides, only in Ming Qi can Ye Mei truly disappear without being hunted. Stay close, and watch for anything she carries—a box or hidden item. If you find it, replace its contents with this letter." She handed the envelope to Mo Qing.
Though confused, Mo Qing accepted it.
"Be quick, and don’t get caught," Shen Miao warned.
"But are we just letting them go to Ming Qi?" Cong Yang asked. "Haven’t you always considered them enemies?"
"Enemies, yes, but this isn’t letting them go," Shen Miao said coldly. "On the contrary, it’s sending them to their graves!"
"Hurry. If possible, swap the contents before they board the ship. Once they’re at sea, it’ll be harder. Whatever happens, leave two men to keep following them and maintain contact. I’ll send further instructions if needed."
Seeing Shen Miao’s seriousness, Mo Qing and Cong Yang dared not delay. They took the letter and left swiftly. Shen Miao leaned on the desk, lips pressed tight, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.
She had once wanted Mei Furen dead as quickly as possible, to avoid complications. But now, she thought differently.
Heroes vied for the empire, each craving a share of power. Great Coolness wanted it, Qin State wanted it, and so did Ming Qi.
Fu Xiuyi would surely seek an alliance with Qin State. If Xie Jingxing went to war then, it would be a brutal fight.
With enemies so close, killing them was natural. But before that, letting them destroy each other was even better.
No one understood Ye Mei’s calculating, selfish nature better than Shen Miao. A woman who could abandon her own brother without hesitation would never settle for a losing deal. What Ye Mei sought from the Ye family wasn’t mere wealth—it was lasting power.
After so many years in Great Coolness, what had Ye Maocai accumulated besides the Ye family’s reputation and fortune? The most valuable things were likely the dirty secrets of the imperial court—perhaps involving the royal family or high-ranking officials. Secrets meant leverage, tools Ye Maocai had used to control others. One thing was certain: these secrets were crucial to Great Coolness. In the worst case, they could topple the dynasty.
And this was exactly what Ye Mei wanted.
She could use them as a stepping stone into Ming Qi’s noble circles. But Shen Miao had designed an even grander path for her—a stepping stone into the imperial family itself.
If Fu Xiuyi obtained these, he’d be overjoyed. And a beauty like Ye Mei would seize the chance to worm her way into his heart, just as in her past life.
But… what if these secrets were fake?
Military defense maps, scandals between officials, royal weaknesses—all seemingly key to Ming Qi’s victory over Great Coolness. But if every last one was fabricated?
Ming Qi would make fatal misjudgments—deploying troops in the wrong places, using flawed strategies, until their grand ambitions crumbled.
A single flaw could collapse a mighty dam.
Of course, Ye Mei wouldn’t know her treasures were counterfeit.
Of course, Fu Xiuyi might doubt their authenticity.
But Shen Miao had full confidence in Mei Furen’s abilities. She was a formidable woman. In the end, Fu Xiuyi would believe her.
And thus, the war’s outcome was already sealed.
Shen Miao did want Ye Mei dead. She wasn’t deliberately setting a tiger free.
But she wanted even more to see Fu Xiuyi’s beloved woman from her past life walk into his arms once more—only to hand him a gift that would destroy him.
That would be far more satisfying.
Most importantly, this move benefited Xie Jingxing. The tides of war would shift dramatically because of this small chess piece.
It was perfect.
That night, just as Cong Yang had predicted, a storm raged until dawn. When Cong Yang and the others returned, they were drenched. Ye Mei and Jin Xingming had already boarded a ship bound for Great Coolness. As Shen Miao had guessed, Ye Mei carried a silver box, hidden so tightly even Jin Xingming didn’t know of it—though she hadn’t opened it yet.
The Ink Feather Army had replaced its contents with Shen Miao’s letter. Tie Yi handed her a stack of papers from his pocket. Flipping through them, Shen Miao confirmed they were indeed the secrets Ye Maocai had collected over the years—leverage against officials and even some royal scandals. She decided to let Xie Jingxing handle these upon his return.
The Ink Feather Army was already shadowing Ye Mei to Great Coolness, monitoring her movements. For now, there was nothing more to do.
Remembering Ye Hongguang, Shen Miao dismissed Mo Qing and the others to rest before going to check on the boy in the next room.
Gao Yang was still there. He told her Ye Hongguang’s life was out of danger, though he remained unconscious. Whether he would recover fully or suffer relapses was uncertain—his injuries had been severe. If not for Mo Qing and Cong Yang bringing him from the Ye residence in time, he might not have survived.
Finally, Gao Yang glanced at the boy and asked, "What are you planning to do? The Emperor clearly intends to wipe out the Ye family, yet you’ve taken their young master into your home. Do you mean to raise him?"
"What are the Emperor’s plans for the Ye family?" Shen Miao asked.
"What else?" Gao Yang smiled. "Uproot them completely." Then he added, "You’re not feeling sympathy, are you?"
"Of course not. The Emperor is right—cleansing the Ye and Lu families will stabilize the court. But…" She looked at Ye Hongguang. "This child had no part in Ye Maocai’s schemes. His only crime was being born a ‘Ye.’ We’ll see how things go. If he recovers, I may ask the Empress for a favor."
"You’re strange," Gao Yang said, puzzled. "Why show such mercy to this Ye boy? Back in Ming Qi, I never saw you act so kindly. What’s so special about him?"
"His face," Shen Miao replied with a faint smile.
"His face?" Gao Yang studied Ye Hongguang’s features but found nothing remarkable. He shook his fan. "I don’t understand."
"No matter. It’s not urgent now." She lowered her voice. "Xie Jingxing is going to war with Ming Qi, isn’t he?"
Gao Yang turned sharply, as if to speak, but hesitated and simply watched her in silence.
"I knew this day would come, just not so soon. He’s been in Ruyang lately, but the matters there are nearly settled. Even if remnants remain, his presence isn’t strictly necessary. Meanwhile, the situation in Longye is escalating, yet he’s absent." Shen Miao sighed. "And the sudden move against the Ye family… Is the Emperor’s condition worsening?"
"I could lie, but you’d see through it and be displeased. And if you’re displeased, Miss Luo will scold me." Gao Yang nodded. "You’re right. The Emperor is failing. The Prince has likely told you about the succession edict. Right now, the Emperor is arranging for trusted aides to accompany the Prince to Ming Qi." He paused. "Or rather, not just to Ming Qi. Spies in Fixed Capital report that Fu Xiuyi has allied with the Emperor of Qin to attack Great Coolness. If they succeed, they’ll split the territory equally."
"His ambition is vast—let’s hope he doesn’t choke on it," Shen Miao said coldly. Fu Xiuyi was the type whose appetite grew with power. Once submissive and polite to Great Coolness, now that he had Qin’s backing, he dared to dream so grandly.
"He’s not entirely delusional," Gao Yang said, though his smile held tension. "The conflict between the Lu family and the royals may have ended cleanly, but it still cost us. The Lu family was once a military asset. At this critical moment, Great Coolness’s forces are nearly matched by the Qin-Ming alliance. It’ll be a hard fight."
"But the real issue is Fu Xiuyi knows about the Emperor’s illness. He can exploit that to crush our morale. I believe in the Prince, but this won’t be easy."
"I never thought it would be," Shen Miao murmured. "War is always difficult."
"So the Prince will lead the troops. But Ming Qi has already begun provocations at the border—small skirmishes for now, but a full declaration of war won’t be far off. The Prince has little time left to prepare. He likely didn’t tell you to avoid distracting you."
After a moment, Shen Miao said, "I understand."
"Then… will you go with him to Ming Qi?" Gao Yang asked.
Shen Miao tilted her head. "Can I?"
"Why not?"
She gazed ahead, her voice calm. "The Emperor’s health could fail at any moment. The war’s duration is uncertain. If the worst happens, the succession edict will be announced to the world."
"The Empress cannot leave her own land, for she must answer to the people of the realm. I am not so noble, but neither do I wish for him to bear the name of a tyrant."
"In terms of reputation, he has already suffered enough. So, I shall guard the lands of Great Coolness in his stead for now."
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