Two days after Ye Mei and her brother fled, the Yongle Emperor annihilated the entire Ye family for their collusion with Lu Zhengchun and involvement in the rebellion. Dealing with the Ye family was easier than dealing with the Lu family. The Lu family had been the Ye family's backing, and with the Lu family fallen, the Ye family alone could not stir up any waves. Although Ye Maocai had many connections and followers during his lifetime, under the Yongle Emperor's iron-fisted rule, everyone saw the situation clearly and became fearful, no longer daring to act as boldly as before.
Ye Maocai was personally sentenced by the Yongle Emperor and executed at the Meridian Gate. To be fair, Ye Maocai was not wronged. Shen Miao handed over the items exchanged from Ye Mei, specifically those related to the imperial family, to Empress Xiande. Ye Maocai had secretly manipulated many things to control the royal family, and these items became crucial evidence in condemning the Ye family.
The execution at the Meridian Gate was a grand display of the royal family's authority this time.
Meanwhile, the Ink Feather Army, who followed Ye Mei and Jin Xingming, occasionally sent back news. Their escape was going smoothly. Most people believed that the newly recognized Ye siblings had died at the cliff's edge, having fallen to their deaths in a panicked nighttime escape, leaving no remains. Although the Great Coolness officials continued their search, they indeed found no trace of the two.
Outsiders believed no one from the Ye family survived, except for one—Ye Hongguang. Shen Miao had Mo Qing handle the matter, but Ye Hongguang still hadn't woken up. Gao Yang said whether he would wake up depended entirely on Ye Hongguang himself; he might sleep like this for the rest of his life.
As for Xie Jingxing, he returned on a rainy night.
Autumn rains brought increasing chill. Shen Miao was reading by the lamplight as raindrops tapped softly against the window, the weather gradually turning colder. The tea on the table had already cooled.
The door creaked open, letting in a gust of cold, damp wind. Shen Miao turned to see Xie Jingxing step inside and close the door behind him. His clothes were slightly damp from the rain. After removing his outer robe, he noticed Shen Miao staring at him blankly and couldn't help but smirk. Walking over, he pinched her cheek and said, "Not good. My wife has turned foolish."
Shen Miao swatted his hand away. "Why did you only return now? Without even sending a word?"
Xie Jingxing had been gone for many days without a single message. Even someone as patient as Shen Miao was annoyed. At the very least, he should have sent word of his safety. The entire household had no idea of his whereabouts, which was truly frustrating.
Xie Jingxing coaxed her, "I was afraid that if I spoke to you, I wouldn't be able to resist coming back. The matters His Majesty entrusted to me couldn't be delayed." He draped an arm over her shoulder with a teasing smile. "Had I known my wife missed me so much, I would have returned sooner."
"You might as well not have come back at all," Shen Miao retorted, her anger not yet subsided.
Xie Jingxing pretended to think for a moment before putting on a solemn expression. "Alright, to make it up to you, today I'll let you do whatever you want to me. I won't resist at all."
Shen Miao couldn't help but laugh. "You're ridiculous."
Only when she laughed did Xie Jingxing say, "There, you're appeased. But I heard something after returning." He looked at her. "You let Ye Mei escape?""It's not about letting her escape," Shen Miao said. "She's heading to Ming Qi, and she stole the secrets about Great Coolness that Ye Maocai had gathered. No doubt she plans to use them to seek refuge with some noble in Ming Qi. I swapped out her documents and added some things like military defense maps—much more useful. Who knows? With these, she might even manage to become an Empress."
Xie Jingxing was momentarily stunned before understanding dawned on him. His eyes gleamed as he remarked, "Madam, that’s a vicious move!"
Ye Mei, overjoyed, would take these "precious" items to the nobles of Ming Qi. With something as critical as military defense maps, any noble with half a brain would leverage their connections to present them to Fu Xiuyi in exchange for glory and merit. But who would know that those maps were actually drawn by Shen Miao? If Fu Xiuyi followed their guidance in battle, he’d have no idea how he died.
Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. "So I’m a venomous woman, a viper—what of it?"
"Perfect," Xie Jingxing replied leisurely. "I happen to like venomous women."
"Those things I gave Ye Mei—I memorized an identical copy afterward," Shen Miao said. "I’ll hand them to you later. War between Ming Qi and Great Coolness is inevitable. When it comes, these will let you anticipate Ming Qi’s strategies, making things twice as effective." After a pause, she added, "Best to give Fu Xiuyi some early victories, let him believe the intel is genuine. Once he’s tested its accuracy, he’ll double down on the deployments. Then we turn the tables—far more cost-effective."
Xie Jingxing chuckled. "You’ve calculated this well."
"When are you leaving?" Shen Miao asked.
After a brief silence, Xie Jingxing said, "You knew?"
"You thought you could hide it for long?" Shen Miao sighed. When Xie Jingxing remained silent, she laughed instead and said, "Here." She poured him a cup of tea. "A toast in advance, wishing you success."
Xie Jingxing hesitated, then accepted the tea, his gaze fixed on her.
"If you win, remember to grant me a wish when you return," she said.
"What wish do you want?" Xie Jingxing arched a brow, his eyes brimming with amusement.
Shen Miao thought for a moment. "I’ll owe it for now. I haven’t decided yet—I’ll tell you when I do."
"Deal." Xie Jingxing snapped his fingers. "I also have a wish, and you’ll fulfill it now."
"What?"
In one swift motion, he hoisted her over his shoulder and strode toward the back. "Join me for a bath."
Shen Miao: "..."
...
The flowers in Weiyang Palace had withered considerably.
Those that bloomed lushly in spring and flourished in summer now lay scattered in autumn’s decay, a sight both bleak and desolate. The palace maids had brought in chrysanthemums—large clusters of purple, white, and yellow, their buds just beginning to unfurl—as if to soften the chill.
But autumn was inherently ruthless. Could a few pots of flowers truly change that?
A fine drizzle drifted in through the windows, some droplets reaching indoors. Tao Gugu closed the shutters, adjusted the small brazier, then quietly withdrew.
The Yongle Emperor reclined on the divan.He was actually quite handsome, but his perpetually cold and expressionless face made people overlook his good looks. What they saw was the emperor's unapproachable aloofness and his deep, calculating mind. Stripped of his identity as the Yongle Emperor, who Xie Yuan truly was remained unknown to all.
Perhaps, there were two exceptions. One was Prince Rui, Xie Yuan, and the other was Empress Xiande. The late Empress Dowager Jingxian might have also been counted, but since she had passed, it was pointless to mention her now.
Empress Xiande was brewing flower tea.
The petals she had gathered were mixed with the first snow from last year, buried beneath a tree. She added a spoonful of honey and let it simmer gently over a low flame. A delicate, sweet fragrance gradually wafted from the small pot. Paired with freshly baked osmanthus pastries from the imperial kitchen, warm and sweet, it was enough to melt one's heart.
Empress Xiande poured a cup of tea and handed it to the Yongle Emperor.
"The first snow from last year, collected by this humble one and Qiu Shui," she took a sip herself and smiled. "It's very sweet. When winter comes and it snows this year, this humble one will gather more. If Your Majesty likes it, you could come along to see."
The Yongle Emperor looked at her, silent for a moment, then said, "If I'm still here this winter, I'll accompany you."
Empress Xiande's hand trembled, spilling a large drop of tea onto the back of her hand. The scalding pain made her hiss.
Seeing this, the Yongle Emperor casually picked up a handkerchief from nearby, took her hand, and began wiping it while chiding, "How could you be so careless?"
But instead of drying, the moisture only seemed to increase.
Empress Xiande was crying.
Her tears fell onto the back of her hand, warm and almost more searing than the scalding tea. She said, "Why must Your Majesty say such heart-wrenching things to hurt this humble one?"
The Yongle Emperor paused and looked at her. "Qingzhen..."
"Since entering the palace, this humble one has been very understanding in the role of Empress. What to know and what not to know—it's all clear. Whatever Your Majesty does, this humble one has never uttered a word of complaint. But even now, must Your Majesty treat me like this?" Her words were accusatory, yet her tone was eerily calm, as if even with a heart full of grievances, she couldn't muster anger toward the Yongle Emperor. She continued, "Your Majesty disdains to comfort me, insisting I remain clear-headed until the very end. But does Your Majesty not know how painful clarity can be?"
The Yongle Emperor was silent for a long time.
After what felt like an eternity, he picked up the handkerchief again and wiped the tears from Empress Xiande's hand. "Qingzhen, in this lifetime, apart from my mother, you are the only woman I've wronged. You are the only one who can stand by my side."
"The pain of clarity—I know it well too. I have no other choice."
Empress Xiande stared at the flower tea in her cup. "Has Your Majesty made up his mind?"
"I have. My mother once said that in this vast land, heroes rise in every era. I may not be a hero, but in my lifetime, I've managed to uphold Great Coolness to this extent and settled the matters of the Lu and Ye families. That is enough for me. The rest of the journey will be Xie Yuan's to walk. As for what comes after, I cannot control it. But," he paused before continuing, "I still hope, as my mother said, that Great Coolness will flourish, the world will be renowned for its virtue, and the imperial throne will endure for generations to come.""Qingzhen," the Yongle Emperor sighed, "I do not know when I might collapse, nor when I will wake again. If that day comes, you must fulfill what I have entrusted to you. After that, go and live the life you desire. Whether in clarity or confusion, as long as you are happy."
Empress Xiande lowered her head, her fingers tracing the rim of the teacup in intricate patterns. After a long while, she finally looked up at the Yongle Emperor, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Does Your Majesty still remember the first time we met, when I brewed flower tea for you?"
Back then, Empress Xiande's mother had brought her to the palace to meet Empress Dowager Jingxian, who was in the midst of selecting a wife for the Yongle Emperor. That day, several other young ladies from noble families had also come, showcasing their talents in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, all vying for the exalted position before the emperor.
Yet she alone sat quietly in a corner, smiling softly and observing everything with detachment, as if none of it concerned her. Neither the lofty position of Empress nor the striking presence of the young emperor seemed to catch her eye.
Empress Dowager Jingxian asked her what talents she possessed.
How had Empress Xiande replied then? She said, "This humble girl is dull-witted and lacks any remarkable skills. I merely brew tea for my father and brothers at home, and they find it quite pleasing."
The other young ladies had sneered at her response. Brewing tea was a task for servants. How could a noble young lady, without any impressive talents, think herself worthy of attention merely for brewing tea? Did she truly see herself as a maid?
But Empress Dowager Jingxian had been deeply satisfied.
Later, she said to the Yongle Emperor, "I find Qingzhen to be an excellent choice. Brewing tea reveals one's character—she is steady and even-tempered, someone who can walk through life with you, whether through storms or gentle streams, and find joy in it all. This is rare and precious."
Recalling Empress Dowager Jingxian's words, the Yongle Emperor couldn't help but glance at Empress Xiande once more.
She was gently blowing at the flower petals floating on the surface of her tea.
Since Empress Xiande entered the palace, all these years had proven Empress Dowager Jingxian right—she was indeed a woman of serene temperament. Never prying, never meddling, she simply sat in silence. As if no matter how time passed, she remained unchanged from that first day, sitting in the corner with a cup of tea, smiling softly, unshaken by the tides of the world.
Noticing the emperor's gaze, Empress Xiande smiled. "Your Majesty, let us not think of other matters today. Since autumn has arrived, let us relax for once, just as we did in the past—drinking tea, playing chess, strumming the zither, and practicing calligraphy. Would that be acceptable?"
"Very well," the Yongle Emperor nodded.
His swift agreement, coupled with the faint smile on his usually stern and rigid face, startled Empress Xiande. Recovering quickly, she rose as if fearing he might change his mind. "Then this humble consort shall fetch the set of jade chess pieces Jingxing sent over. Since their arrival, Your Majesty has only played one game with me, wasting such fine pieces."
The Yongle Emperor chuckled. "Let Tao Gugu fetch them."
"She wouldn't know where they are," Empress Xiande replied. "I hid them. Please wait here for me, Your Majesty." Lifting her skirts, she hurried off with a light step toward the inner chambers.Empress Xiande had always been the epitome of chastity and gentleness, rarely showing such a demeanor, which now revealed a youthful charm unseen in her usual composure. The Yongle Emperor gazed at her, his eyes gradually filling with a pained sorrow.
Suddenly, he frowned and coughed violently twice, pulling a handkerchief from his sleeve to cover his mouth. After a long moment, he removed it—clean, showing no trace of anything.
Yet, as he clenched the handkerchief in his palm, a fold revealed a faint smear of crimson.
Strikingly vivid.
He paused, then tucked the handkerchief back into his sleeve. Watching Empress Xiande run out again with a chess box in hand, he smiled softly.
As if nothing had happened.
...
The days that followed were unusually tranquil.
So tranquil it seemed as if no misfortunes had ever occurred in the steady flow of time. Like dust settling after a long journey, everything was peaceful and serene.
Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao spent these days in Longye, wandering about by day, playing the zither or writing in the mansion. Occasionally, when Xie Jingxing was in the mood, he would spar with Gao Yang, while Shen Miao and Luo Tan explored other pursuits. At night, they would discuss the Military Defense Maps. One excelled in offense, the other in defense—their strategies complemented each other perfectly. Xie Jingxing, domineering by nature, despised drawn-out tactics to wear down the enemy, preferring direct approaches despite the risks. He often clashed with Shen Miao, stubbornly making decisions and slamming the table in resolve, while Shen Miao simply ignored him. By midnight, he would silently slip back into bed unnoticed.
If Shen Miao taunted him, Xie Jingxing would flip her beneath him and "punish" her in another way.
Thus, the days flowed steadily by. Yet everyone knew—they were merely indulging in passion before the inevitable separation. Once war began, parting was certain, and the memories of these days would have to sustain them through the time apart.
That day arrived nonetheless.
On a night of rustling autumn rain, Ming Qi crossed the border between the two nations and launched an attack on the frontier guards. Meanwhile, Qin State approached by water, landing at a fishing village in the north of Great Coolness, slaughtering the villagers and using the site as a foothold to push inland, waging invasion.
War had begun. Whether Ming Qi and Qin State had conspired in secret or deceived the world, they had "lived up to expectations" by abandoning patience and gradual schemes, instead launching a bold offensive—proof of their confidence.
Would Great Coolness fight or not?
Of course, it would fight!
Prince Rui presented the Marshal warrant, and the Yongle Emperor personally appointed the generals, mustering an army of 300,000 to march into battle.
This was not merely a counterattack against the invading nations but a resolve to shatter the long-standing balance among the three states and propel history forward.
Heroes vied for supremacy, the tides of change surged. Legends rose, talents emerged. Since ancient times, chaos bred heroes—and war was no exception.
The morale of Great Coolness’s people remained unshaken. Though initially fearful, seeing the imperial family stand firm as mountains and the prince leading the charge, their hearts swelled with valor, unafraid.
The day of departure was set for tomorrow.Luo Tan watched Gao Yang. During her time in Great Coolness, she had followed Shen Miao through many experiences. There had been misunderstandings between her and Gao Yang before, but they had since been resolved. Though Gao Yang loved to tease others and was far from the gentle, jade-like gentleman he appeared to be on the surface... he had treated her well enough. He could be considered a good person.
Originally, Luo Tan was supposed to return to Ming Qi with Gao Yang, as she had secretly followed Shen Miao to Great Coolness. Now, after so much time had passed, and with Fu Xiuyi beginning to target the Shen family, it was inevitable that the Luo family would also be implicated. Luo Tan wanted to stand with her family through thick and thin.
However, Luo Sui’s letter instructed her to stay in Ming Qi. Firstly, Luo Tan’s return wouldn’t be of much help and might even bring unnecessary trouble. Secondly, since Shen Miao was staying in Longye, having Luo Tan by her side would provide some mutual support.
Unable to return to Ming Qi and unwilling to leave Shen Miao alone in Longye, Luo Tan had no choice but to stay. She watched as Gao Yang began packing, carefully placing medical books and medicines into boxes, which were then carried out one by one.
Luo Tan sat silently in a chair, observing his every move.
When Gao Yang finished packing, he looked up to find Luo Tan staring at him unblinkingly. Puzzled, he asked, “You’re usually so noisy. Why so quiet today? Are you in a bad mood?”
“You’re leaving tomorrow,” Luo Tan said. “On the road, make sure to protect the prince.”
Gao Yang choked. “Me protect him? It’s more like he’d protect me.”
“You’re his subordinate,” Luo Tan muttered awkwardly. “But... take care of yourself too.”
Gao Yang paused, then smiled faintly when he realized what she meant.
Luo Tan usually spent her days either bullying Gao Yang or being bullied by him in return. The two of them were constantly bickering, rarely exchanging a civil word. Luo Tan’s carefree nature made it difficult for her to fuss over details or offer heartfelt advice to others. For her to say something kind to Gao Yang today was truly rare.
Gao Yang stepped closer and teased, “Take care of myself? Take care of what, exactly?”
With his handsome features and perpetually refined demeanor, his playful smile seemed especially mischievous up close. Luo Tan inexplicably flushed and pushed him away, grumbling, “What else? Just don’t die.”
“Wouldn’t you be happy if I died?” Gao Yang fanned himself lazily. “You could take over the entire Gao estate. The servants would be at your beck and call, the gold and jewels yours to spend, not to mention the shops and manors—”
“Wait,” Luo Tan interrupted, growing increasingly baffled by his words. “Who cares about your stuff? Our Luo family isn’t lacking in any of that! Besides, do you think I’m an idiot? These are all Gao family assets—what do they have to do with me? If you died, why would any of it fall to me? Are you out of your mind?”
Gao Yang replied, “What does it have to do with you? Don’t you know?”
“Know what?” Luo Tan frowned, then tentatively asked, “Wait... did my father give these to you? Are you actually his man?” She covered her mouth in horror. “Did he send you to spy on me?”
Gao Yang: “...”After a long while, he finally resigned himself with a sigh and tapped Luo Tan's forehead, saying, "You usually seem quite sharp, so why are you acting so foolish now?"
Luo Tan retorted, "Hey, explain yourself first."
Gao Yang suddenly placed a finger on Luo Tan's lips, making a "shh" gesture. Luo Tan froze, feeling the spot touched by his finger slowly grow warm, the heat gradually spreading to her face...
"What our relationship is—you can figure that out yourself. Tell me when I get back." Gao Yang placed a medical book on Luo Tan's head. "For now, help me sort this out." With that, he turned and began tidying up on his own.
Luo Tan watched his retreating figure but, surprisingly, didn't flare up. Pouting, she obediently started organizing as well.
...
"Is it done yet?"
"It's almost done, almost done."
"Ouch, that hurts."
"Just a little more. Don't worry, I'll be gentle."
Outside the door, Cong Yang, Mo Qing, Jing Zhe, and Gu Yu all blushed furiously. Jing Zhe said, "Ah, I just remembered the laundry isn’t hung yet. I’ll go hang it up."
Gu Yu quickly added, "I’ll go help too."
Cong Yang chimed in, "I’ll go air out the quilts."
Mo Qing nodded vigorously.
The four of them scattered in an instant like startled birds.
Only Tie Yi, perched on a tree, remained as steady as a mountain, unmoving.
Inside the room, Xie Jingxing rubbed his temples helplessly as Shen Miao finally tied the last string and patted his hand in satisfaction. "Done!"
Xie Jingxing looked at the series of red strings tied around his wrist and felt a headache coming on. What was he, a grown man, doing wearing so many feminine strings? Meanwhile, Shen Miao rested her chin on her hands, smiling sweetly. "With so many, none of them will break."
Before he could respond, Shen Miao suddenly stood up with a clatter and plopped onto his lap, startling Xie Jingxing.
The wine jars in the room were all empty, filling the space with a heady aroma. Shen Miao’s face was flushed from drinking, radiant as a flower, her smile unusually sweet as she cupped his face and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
Xie Jingxing had grown accustomed to this. From the moment Shen Miao got drunk, she had probably kissed him dozens of times. When she drank, she became a completely different woman—more like a rogue teasing a maiden.
Prince Rui, having lived so many years, had flirted with countless women intentionally or otherwise. But being the one flirted with? That had only happened once, and with a heartless woman who would deny everything once sober.
"This consort is quite handsome," Shen Miao declared. "He could be a courtesan."
Xie Jingxing stared at her expressionlessly for a long moment before replying, "Thank you for your praise, madam."
Shen Miao, pleased, said, "Here’s some silver as a reward. Go buy yourself some clothes." She rummaged through her sleeve and tossed something into Xie Jingxing’s hand.
It was the jade token he had given her back in Ming Qi.
Before Xie Jingxing could get a good look, Shen Miao hastily waved her hands. "No, no, wrong one. This was given to me by my husband." She quickly took it back.
"Husband?" He raised an eyebrow. "You remember you have a husband?"
Shen Miao looked at him. "Of course. My husband is even better-looking than you."
Xie Jingxing: "..."
"But he’s going off to war," she murmured, burying her face in his shoulder and nestling into a comfortable position. Yawning sleepily, she mumbled, "That’s why I got drunk. If I stay drunk, I won’t wake up to see him leave."
"Why don’t you want to see him go?" Xie Jingxing frowned.
Her voice grew faint. "Because I don’t want him distracted by sentimentality... but if I watch him leave, I won’t be able to bear it..." Her breathing soon evened out as she drifted into deep sleep.
Xie Jingxing chuckled at first, but his smile gradually faded. He looked down at the woman sleeping in his arms and, after a pause, whispered softly, "You could afford to be a little more willful."
Shen Miao didn’t answer.He picked up Shen Miao, placed her on the bed, and tucked her in. Yet he reached out to hold her hand, sitting by the bedside, doing nothing but gazing at her sleeping face as if this alone satisfied him.
In the latter half of the night, Tie Yi knocked on the door outside. "Master, it's time to depart."
He paused for a moment, then leaned down to press a kiss on the woman's forehead.
Then, he strode out the door.
After the door closed, Shen Miao on the bed slowly opened her eyes.
She couldn't bear it.
She couldn't bear to stay awake and watch him leave, yet she also couldn't bear to remain oblivious and miss it.
Parting, after all, was always a sorrowful and reluctant affair.
Let him go without burden, then return like a peerless hero.
Footsteps sounded outside the door—light yet steady, mingled with others, yet somehow she could always distinguish the one she longed to hear.
As the footsteps passed by the room, they paused ever so slightly before gradually fading away.
The long night was about to pass. Dawn approached, and a new day was about to begin.
She didn’t know how long she had lain in bed before finally sitting up. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, Jing Zhe entered carrying a basin of water. Seeing her sitting lost in thought, she exclaimed, "Madam, you're awake?"
"Mm," she replied. "I need to go to the palace."
–––––– Author's Note ––––––
This chapter is done. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be taking leave to write the grand finale. The break will last until the 16th, and the finale will be posted in the morning on the 16th. That’s the plan for now, since I’m not sure if I can finish before the 16th. If there are any changes to the schedule, I’ll announce them on Weibo and in the comments section.
See you all on the 16th!
OpenNovel