Jiang Xinzhi dismounted and quickly walked to Jiang Ruan’s side, subtly drawing her behind him to shield her from Xiao Shao.

Xiao Shao took in this entire maneuver without comment. Guan Lianghan had also approached: “Are you alright?”

Xiao Shao shook his head. Jiang Xinzhi turned to examine Jiang Ruan, seeing her bedraggled state and the bloodstains seeping through her sleeve, his expression grew cold: “A Ruan, you’re injured?”

“Just flesh wounds,” Jiang Ruan comforted him. After pausing, she still stepped forward: “Thank you, Prince Xiao, for saving my life.”

Hearing this, both Guan Lianghan and Jiang Xinzhi’s expressions became somewhat strange.

Guan Lianghan had witnessed it firsthand, while Jiang Xinzhi had heard from others. Regardless, Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan had no connection whatsoever – for Xiao Shao to personally leap down a cliff to rescue someone sounded utterly incredible. Guan Lianghan initially didn’t believe Mo Cong’s nonsense – how could someone as cold-hearted and cold-faced as Xiao Shao like a little girl he’d only met a few times? Moreover, observing Jiang Ruan, though beautiful, she was ultimately young. There were plenty of more alluring women in the capital, and she had no particular charm. Yet thinking of the scene he’d just witnessed, Guan Lianghan felt uncertain.

Jiang Xinzhi differed from Guan Lianghan. He had little contact with Xiao Shao to begin with, and having left the capital five years ago, he knew nothing of current affairs. Jiang Ruan was now his most beloved sister, so immediately his gaze toward Xiao Shao became like looking at a lecher. He pulled Jiang Ruan back, preventing her from advancing further, saying stiffly: “Xinzhi thanks Your Highness on behalf of my sister for saving her life.”

He thought that Jiang Ruan, being young, naturally didn’t understand men. But this Xiao Shao was undeniably a man, and apparently one of high position and great power. With Jiang Ruan’s youth making her easily misled, she might be taken advantage of. Thinking this, his gaze toward Xiao Shao became even more hostile.

Jiang Ruan and Jiang Xinzhi were blood siblings, so she naturally understood what Jiang Xinzhi was thinking, feeling helpless for the moment.

Ye Feng had been holding in his anger, feeling indignant for his master. He thought his master was brilliant and mighty – countless women in the capital wished they could throw themselves at him. What was Jiang Xinzhi’s expression supposed to mean? Clearly Jiang Ruan had taken advantage of their master. Thinking this way, he glared at Jiang Xinzhi, but unfortunately Xiao Shao saw this. Xiao Shao gave him a light look, and Ye Feng suddenly remembered the jade butterfly and orchid pendant matter, shuddered, and meekly lowered his head.

The atmosphere became extremely awkward. Jiang Xinzhi pulled Jiang Ruan back a step: “Your Highness, General, A Ruan has been frightened and injured. Xinzhi will take her home for treatment first. Regarding what comes next, after escorting my sister home, Xinzhi will come see the General again.”

Guan Lianghan was accustomed to Jiang Xinzhi’s sister-loving nature and waved his hand: “Go on, go on. You make us sound like wolves.”

Jiang Xinzhi’s face reddened slightly, but his attitude remained firm.

Jiang Ruan pondered for a moment, then broke free from Jiang Xinzhi’s grasp: “Elder Brother, I have a few words I’d like to say privately to Prince Xiao.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell completely silent, as if a dropped needle could be heard clearly. Everyone’s gazes burned as they stared at the two.

Ye Feng stood in place with lowered eyes and brows, but his ears perked up. His facial expression seemed both sad and happy as he thought: This is bad, Master’s reputation is truly ruined.

Guan Lianghan looked meaningfully at Jiang Ruan, then at Xiao Shao, suddenly raising a mischievous smile. Pretending, still pretending nothing happened – there’s definitely, definitely something wrong.

Jiang Xinzhi stared at Jiang Ruan in shock. After a moment, a flash of pain crossed his face as he looked at Xiao Shao like an enemy.

Everyone wore expressions of “definitely something wrong” as they stared intently at the two, yet these two remained composed and calm. Xiao Shao nodded: “Very well.”

Jiang Ruan glanced at everyone’s gossiping expressions and sighed inwardly.

She didn’t want any entanglement with this person – it would be best if they remained strangers. However, some matters required borrowing his assistance, which inevitably led to misunderstandings.

The two walked toward the forest ahead. Xiao Shao walked in front, and after going quite far, he stopped and turned to her: “This is far enough – they cannot hear us.”

Guan Lianghan and the others all possessed martial arts skills with exceptionally keen hearing. Since what she wanted to say needed to avoid the group, it couldn’t be heard by others. Xiao Shao’s consideration of this point was quite thoughtful.

Jiang Ruan raised her head to look at him. The morning sun was just rising in the mountain forest, its golden warm rays making his appearance even more handsome, his jet-black eyes like sparkling gems, elegant and noble.

She was nearly dazzled by this radiance, but it was only a brief moment. She smiled slightly: “Prince Xiao said last night that you owe me a life.”

At that time she had been extremely exhausted and hadn’t had time to consider what Xiao Shao’s words meant before falling into deep sleep. This morning she hadn’t had a chance to ask for an answer before encountering Jiang Xinzhi.

“Yes,” Xiao Shao answered.

Jiang Ruan stared at him: “Prince Xiao wants to repay this favor?”

She changed her mind, no longer asking about the ins and outs. What was the point of knowing the details? She should utilize everything at her disposal, such as Xiao Shao before her.

“Yes,” Xiao Shao answered.

“When Prince Xiao helped Second Sister, did you mistake her for me?” she asked.

Xiao Shao’s previous inexplicable assistance to Jiang Susu had been strange, but later various signs indicated he didn’t seem to be on Jiang Susu’s side. The Linglong Boat incident had many peculiarities, and since then, Xiao Shao had repeatedly helped her instead. Just now, Jiang Ruan realized that if Xiao Shao had previously mistaken Jiang Susu for her, he might indeed have acted as he did then.

She watched Xiao Shao intently. Xiao Shao nodded: “Yes.”

Three “yes” answers – though brief, they seemed extremely firm. Jiang Ruan suddenly smiled: “I understand. Since Prince Xiao wants to repay this favor, there’s an opportunity right now.”

She spoke steadily and quickly, connecting this sentence almost without thought, clearly having harbored these words for quite some time.

Xiao Shao stared at her, also hearing the business-like, transactional tone in her voice: “What do you want to do?”

“The Chancellor’s residence conspired in rebellion and is now unforgivably guilty, destined for death. I want Prince Xiao to spare their lives and deliver Li Dong and his three sons into my hands.”

Xiao Shao looked at her seriously, didn’t even ask why, and nodded: “Very well.”

Now it was Jiang Ruan’s turn to be surprised. Rumors said Prince Jinying was cold and ruthless, yet seeing him now, his temperament was remarkably agreeable. She frowned slightly – did he truly value life-saving grace so highly?

However, this matter had to be done. She had originally planned to entrust it to Jiang Xinzhi, but he was currently only a deputy general. Getting Li Dong and his three sons out of prison would be quite difficult for him. Even if he barely succeeded, if interested parties investigated later and something went wrong, it would bring disaster to Jiang Xinzhi. The Zhao family was even more out of the question – Zhao Guang was stubbornly neutral by nature. Such a risky venture wouldn’t necessarily gain his agreement and might even make him suspicious of her methods.

But simply letting this matter conclude as is would truly be unbearable. This rare opportunity was precious. Though she didn’t understand Xiao Shao well, she knew from her previous life that this person had firm character and always kept his word – in some respects, he was truly a rare gentleman. Moreover, Xiao Shao had extensive connections and great power. With him handling this matter, there would surely be a seventy percent chance of success.

She smiled at Xiao Shao: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

…

On the way back to the residence, Jiang Xinzhi repeatedly probed indirectly about what had happened between Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao the previous night. Jiang Ruan only said nothing had happened, but Jiang Xinzhi looked unconvinced. He kept saying: “A Ruan, you’re still young now and don’t understand many things clearly. In the future when encountering men, you must keep your eyes wide open and see clearly – don’t let someone’s sweet words deceive your heart.”

So this was teaching her how to judge men from childhood?

Jiang Ruan sighed inwardly and said to Jiang Xinzhi: “Elder Brother believes that after seeing Father, what expectations could I still harbor toward men?”

Jiang Xinzhi was stunned.

Jiang Ruan looked at him seriously: “Since my youth, I’ve witnessed the world’s most heartless and fickle man. How could I be easily misled by someone else’s sweet words? Not to mention now – even after I come of age, I don’t want to marry a stranger and spend my life in constant scheming within residential walls. As long as I can stay with Elder Brother, remaining unmarried for life would be perfectly fine.”

This was the truth. In this life she came bearing hatred, only to personally destroy her enemies and send them to hell. The men Jiang Xinzhi spoke of – even seeing one, she neither could nor would entangle with them.

Jiang Xinzhi looked at his sister’s serious expression, his heart shaking. Though Jiang Ruan showed no particular expression, in that moment he sensed a bone-deep desolation. Even as blood-related siblings, he couldn’t share even the slightest bit of it, only watching Jiang Ruan’s lonely figure as if she might disappear from this world the next second like a ghost.

After a moment, he said quietly: “That still wouldn’t be proper… Though men in this world are all the same, if you compromise a bit, you can always find one or two who aren’t so bad… In any case, remaining unmarried for life just won’t do.”

Jiang Ruan: “…”

The two returned to the Jiang residence. Lu Zhu and Bai Zhi had already received news and were waiting at the gate. Seeing Jiang Ruan, their eyes reddened: “Miss!”

Lu Zhu and Lian Qiao stepped forward to support Jiang Ruan. Seeing her soiled clothes, they exclaimed: “Miss is injured!”

Bai Zhi examined her somewhat panicked. Jiang Xinzhi said: “A Ruan, I’ll find a doctor. You rest in your room first. You two maids go find some ginger sugar water – she spent the night outside and mustn’t catch cold.”

Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao quickly agreed and helped Jiang Ruan return to her room. Back in the courtyard lying on the couch, Bai Zhi went to find ginger sugar water while Lu Zhu helped Jiang Ruan change into clean clothes. Jiang Ruan asked: “How is Lian Qiao?”

Lian Qiao had been struck by Li An and spat blood – she didn’t know her current condition. Lu Zhu said: “Sister Lian Qiao is fine. The young master brought a doctor to see her, who said she needs half a month’s rest. Miss, are you injured?” She carefully cleaned the wound Jiang Ruan had roughly treated the previous night with water, saying curiously: “Eh, this wound has actually scabbed over. Good thing it healed so quickly instead of getting worse.”

Jiang Ruan followed her gaze and indeed saw that the wound from last night’s cut had formed a light scab. After thinking, she took out the azure porcelain bottle Xiao Shao had given her from her sleeve and told Lu Zhu: “This is wound medicine – put it away.” Such effective medicine might be useful in the future.

Lu Zhu saw the medicine and immediately recognized it as something valuable after smelling it. Without another word, she took the porcelain bottle to store it safely. Bai Zhi returned with a bowl of ginger sugar water. Jiang Ruan took it and drank a sip, feeling her cold limbs warm up somewhat. She asked: “How are things at Yanhua Courtyard?”

Hearing this, Bai Zhi smiled: “It’s turned upside down. When Second Miss returned yesterday, her face was covered in blood – apparently the carriage overturned and she fell into a thorn thicket. The officials found her much later, missing the opportunity, and the doctor said she’ll likely have scars.”

Missing the opportunity? Jiang Ruan raised an eyebrow. Yesterday’s search party consisted of Guan family and Zhao family troops. The Zhao family need not be mentioned, and the Guan family troops also followed Jiang Xinzhi’s orders – could this have been deliberate? She naturally felt no sympathy for Jiang Susu. She heard Bai Zhi continue: “This still isn’t the worst part. That Second Young Master is truly useless – sitting safely alone in his carriage that day, so he was arrested as a rebel collaborator. Yanhua Courtyard is currently in chaos, thinking of how to rescue Second Young Master.”

Jiang Ruan was somewhat surprised at this, setting down her bowl: “He was actually captured.”

“This is reaping what he sowed,” Lu Zhu said, having returned from storing the medicine. “I heard Second Young Master sat in his carriage leisurely drinking tea that day, quite comfortable. When the officials searched and found him, his face turned green.” She found this amusing and laughed with a “puchi” sound.

Jiang Ruan pondered silently. With Jiang Chao’s personality, he was indeed capable of such behavior. He was naturally arrogant and didn’t understand restraint. Once feeling the situation was slightly favorable, he would become overconfident. He probably thought that day that something would definitely happen to Jiang Ruan, and their carriages’ panic was just for show. He never expected the officials to arrive so quickly – so fast he didn’t have time to pretend to be frightened by bandits.

Truly a complete fool.

But Jiang Ruan also knew that this alone couldn’t make Jiang Chao guilty of colluding with rebels. Without concrete evidence, no one could convict Jiang Chao. Though the crime wasn’t capital, escaping from that man-eating prison wouldn’t be so simple either.

Xia Yan would probably have to rack her brains over this matter again.

Thinking this, a third-rank maid timidly knocked at the door. Jiang Ruan gestured for her to enter. The maid said: “Miss, Sister Lin Lang from Madam’s side wants you to come to Yanhua Courtyard.”

So they’re setting their sights on her?

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly, sarcasm flashing briefly in her eyes. She gently lifted the ginger sugar water before her and swirled it, the warm-colored sugar water creating wisps of steam that obscured her gaze.

Bai Zhi’s eyes widened as she imitated Lian Qiao’s usual feisty manner: “Are you all blind? Can’t you see our miss just escaped death and is injured and weak? She probably doesn’t even have strength to walk and is waiting for the doctor to treat her illness. Madam has a compassionate heart – how could she be so inconsiderate of our miss? You dead hoof must be spouting nonsense.”

The third-rank little maid was stunned and shook her head repeatedly: “This servant dares not lie.”

Lu Zhu said impatiently: “What are you still doing here? Hurry back and report that our miss currently needs quiet rest – don’t let you harm her health.” Without waiting for the maid’s response, she pushed her out the door and cleanly shut it.

“Miss, did we do well?” Lu Zhu asked with a grin. “Let Yanhua Courtyard worry by themselves. Miss was frightened last night and should eat something nourishing today to restore her health. What medicinal cuisine would be good?”

…

In Yanhua Courtyard, after hearing Lin Lang’s report, Xia Yan angrily smashed the teacup in front of her, gritting her teeth: “How dare she!”

To actually say such shameless words! Who didn’t know she returned today with only minor injuries? That day she fell from the cliff but was personally rescued by Xiao Shao. Now Jiang Xinzhi brought her back with such fanfare – what exactly did this mean? She looked at Jiang Susu lying on the bed, pain flashing in her eyes. Jiang Ruan claimed physical weakness – what about her Su’er, now disfigured and bedridden? What would happen when she woke up?

Xia Yan clenched her fists. There was also Jiang Chao, currently in prison – who knew his condition? Jiang Quan had already gone to negotiate with officials there, but colluding with rebels wasn’t a minor charge. She had thought that since Jiang Ruan’s relationship with Xiao Shao seemed good, perhaps she could use Jiang Ruan to get Xiao Shao’s help. Using the reason of being Jiang residence sisters, even for reputation’s sake, Jiang Ruan would have to seek Xiao Shao’s assistance.

Who knew she would refuse people at her door using such high-sounding reasons – bodily injury? Weak condition?

Bitch! Xia Yan gripped her fists tightly. This matter was of great importance. Even Xia Cheng wouldn’t rashly wade into such muddy waters for self-protection. What should she do? After struggling internally, she finally seemed to make a decision: “Go get my storehouse keys.”

“Madam intends to…?” Nanny Li asked.

“You can’t catch wolves without sacrificing the child. Right now Chao’er’s life is most important,” Xia Yan said through gritted teeth.

…

In Prince Jinying’s residence, Ye Feng suddenly knelt down: “This subordinate erred – please punish me, Master.”

Having mistaken Xiao Shao’s life-saver and treating his life-saver’s enemy as the life-saver – even ten lives wouldn’t be enough for Ye Feng’s death. He wasn’t afraid of dying, just afraid Xiao Shao wouldn’t let him stay by his side anymore. He felt somewhat dejected. Who could have imagined that Jiang Ruan had disguised herself as a maid that night and mixed in with the group, while publicly it was said only Second Miss Jiang went to offer incense? Truly an evil fate.

Xiao Shao said flatly: “Go to Hundred Zhang Tower for punishment.”

Ye Feng’s heart relaxed slightly, then heard Xiao Shao add: “Your position will temporarily be filled by Jin Yi.”

Ye Feng: “…”

Ye Feng left dejectedly. Just outside the door, he saw Butler Lin eavesdropping at the entrance, looking at him sympathetically: “A Feng, how did you anger His Highness? Hey wait, don’t walk so fast – tell me what happened last night between His Highness and Miss Jiang? How did he end up jumping down to rescue her?”

After Ye Feng left, Xiao Shao picked up his brush and wrote a few characters on the paper before him, then rolled the paper into a small scroll and placed it in a straight copper tube. He rang the bell on his desk – “coo coo” twice – and a snow-white pigeon flew in from the window, landing on the desk before him.

Xiao Shao tied the copper tube to the white pigeon’s leg. The pigeon tilted its head to look at him and pecked his fingers a few times with its beak. Xiao Shao stroked its head and with a wave of his hand, the white pigeon flew out the window.

He lowered his head, his gaze falling on the jade butterfly and orchid pendant on the desk.