Ten days later, Xiao Shao led one hundred thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards on campaign against the Jin. Also departing were General Zhao and the three sons of the Zhao family, though the Zhao family army was heading to the Western Rong. Recently, the Western Rong people had repeatedly caused trouble at the border, inevitably harboring other intentions. The emperor’s thoughts were unfathomable—his purpose in dispatching the Zhao family at this time was unknown. The Zhao family now had only Zhao Yi, Zhao Yulong, and Zhao Feizhou—certainly not enough to stir up any great disturbance. But these three were ultimately thin in power. If someone chose this critical moment to kick the Zhao family while they were down, the Zhao family would likely be overwhelmed.
However, no one dared disobey the emperor’s decree. The Zhao family was entirely loyal and righteous, naturally having no reason to refuse. That very day, they departed the city together with the Embroidered Uniform Guards led by Xiao Shao.
Prince Jinying had departed for the campaign, but his fiancée remained at home awaiting marriage. According to the Great Jin Dynasty’s customs, when an unmarried woman’s husband went to war, the woman could live in her future husband’s residence. The Empress Dowager, pitying Princess Hong’an, issued a decree specially permitting Princess Hong’an to reside in Prince Jinying’s residence.
Meanwhile, Princess Hong’an’s natal family, the Minister’s residence, suffered several consecutive incidents. First, Minister Jiang accidentally injured his own concubine, and the concubine eventually damaged her fundamental health and died soon after. Then the missing legitimate Second Miss was found—she had been abducted by bandits and committed suicide to protect her chastity. A generation’s beauty thus perished. Though Jiang Susu’s reputation hadn’t been particularly good when alive, death could forgive everything, and people were always especially tolerant of beauties.
Most shocking was that the Jiang family’s First Madam, who had been ill for a long time, finally died from her illness. Before three months had passed, Madam Xia’s natal family sent over a distant relative—the Jiang residence welcomed a new madam.
Originally, people thought that after First Madam Jiang’s death, the last connection between the Jiang and Xia families would be severed. Unexpectedly, the Xia family personally sent over a new madam. The marriage alliance between the Xia and Jiang families was maintained, leaving many spectators disappointed.
Though the relationship between Xia Yan and the Jiang family didn’t break, Minister Jiang was criticized by the world for this. Censors’ memorials flew one after another to the emperor’s desk, every word condemning Minister Jiang for remarrying before First Madam’s bones were cold—truly not the behavior of a devoted man.
For so many years, the Jiang family had stood firm in the court and enjoyed a reputation for integrity among the people. Now, bit by bit, this was being corrupted. Minister Jiang’s current behavior of taking a new wife had ultimately squandered even the last trace of his good reputation. Henceforth, when people mentioned the Minister’s residence, it would no longer be that upright and honest noble family, but merely a foolish minister with domestic troubles.
These changes permeated the environment drop by drop. Though they couldn’t attract people’s attention and even the family involved seemed unaware, a thousand-li dike could be destroyed by ant holes. All seemingly casual small matters would eventually lead to a chain of events. Now was merely the beginning.
If there was anything joyful in the capital, it was that the former palace structure had been completely disrupted. The three consort positions remained vacant, and a new batch of palace ladies had gradually been promoted. Several were currently extremely favored.
These three were respectively: Wang Lian’er, the legitimate youngest daughter from a Hanlin family; Mu Xirou, a concubine-born daughter from the main branch of Marquis Yingwu’s residence; and Jiang Dan, the fourth concubine-born daughter of the Jiang family.
When an emperor’s foundation was unstable, the women he favored were more or less related to the power and status behind them, representing the influence of a particular residence. When the emperor’s great enterprise was established and nothing could shake his kingdom and position, he would no longer favor women from distinguished families. On the contrary, the emperor would choose women without foundation or even background as his beloved favorites, because they were weak and helpless, unable to stir up trouble, only able to survive in the palace by relying on the emperor’s favor. Since ancient times, emperors were suspicious—only such women were completely harmless and wouldn’t harbor different intentions.
These several women either came from families whose influence was merely an empty shell without real power, or were just minor concubine-born daughters not valued by their clans. So for the emperor, they were precisely the type that posed no threat. These three had indeed stood out among numerous palace ladies. Wang Lian’er best understood poetry and artistic sentiment, serving as the emperor’s understanding flower. Her personality was gentle and graceful, like a spiritual woman walking with an umbrella through Jiangnan’s misty rain, somewhat similar to the former Consort Chen.
Mu Xirou had the best appearance, like a secluded orchid blooming in a mountain valley, though her temperament was rather too cold. She treated the emperor with the same coldness. But this aloof demeanor precisely aroused the emperor’s greatest interest—she was the palace’s famous cold beauty.
Among these three, Jiang Dan’s appearance was least outstanding, and her temperament wasn’t simply gentle and understanding. Her initial encounter with the emperor was somewhat coincidental. One night, she was in the courtyard praying to the moon for blessings, every word seeking her family’s peace and prosperity—her words were quite simple and honest. The emperor, accustomed to seeing various beauties, rarely encountered such naturally simple and innocent women. He actually concealed his identity and talked with her all night, increasingly feeling this woman’s character was pure. The next day, he had someone send a promotion edict to her.
Now these three had all leaped from minor palace ladies to fourth-rank beauties—truly reaching heaven in one step for concubine-born daughters. Currently, Wang Lian’er was most favored, the emperor was most interested in Mu Xirou, while Jiang Dan hadn’t received the emperor’s summons after her promotion. However, she felt no discouragement whatsoever and continued living quite happily. Jiang Dan’s palace servants were all anxious, hoping their mistress could gain favor. They advised her to find ways to meet the emperor again, lest her favor be seized by others. But Jiang Dan pretended not to know, daily continuing her own affairs, living carefree and content, leaving her palace servants frantically worried.
This day, Jiang Dan was admiring flowers in the palace garden. Perhaps tired from looking, she walked to a pavilion to sit and rest. Seeming somewhat weary, she suddenly became interested and had servants collect fallen flowers here, also seeing if they could gather morning dew to brew hundred-flower wine later. Perhaps feeling the palace servants weren’t doing this wholeheartedly, she simply lifted her skirts and stood up, joining the palace servants herself.
She searched happily by herself, not noticing that at the other end of the garden, someone stood in the distance, staring intently at her movements.
Jiang Chao lowered his head and said to Xuan Li standing before him, “Has Your Highness decided? Is it truly her?” He hesitated somewhat, “Your Highness might consider changing candidates. Jiang Dan is really… Using her is truly too risky.”
Xuan Li slightly narrowed his eyes and said slowly, “Oh? You say risky—what’s your opinion of her?”
Jiang Chao thought for a moment, seeming to strain to recall matters related to Jiang Dan, but unfortunately his relationship with this fourth sister had always been distant, and he couldn’t think of anything. After a moment, he shook his head, “This fourth sister of mine—being concubine-born, was raised by the former madam since childhood. Her temperament is quite weak. Normally in the residence, even raising her voice would frighten her—truly not suitable for important use.” He paused, then added, “And she’s not very intelligent. Why would Your Highness choose her as our person?”
Xuan Li shook his head, “Jiang Chao, do you know why after following me for so long, you still repeatedly fail to reach better positions? Why can’t you firmly grasp every opportunity I give you, instead letting others take the initiative?”
Jiang Chao’s heart trembled as he said seriously, “Please instruct me, Your Highness!”
“Your heart is cruel enough, and you have methods in doing things, but unfortunately, you’re overly arrogant,” Xuan Li shook his head. “You never seriously observe the people around you, thus underestimating them. For instance, you’re underestimating this Jiang Dan right now.”
“Your Highness, I don’t understand,” Jiang Chao said. “Even if my fourth sister entered the palace and became a beauty, that’s just my father’s maneuvering and her own good luck. But she has no ambition. Didn’t Your Highness say that people without ambition can’t be put to great use? This fourth sister of mine clearly received the emperor’s promotion edict but doesn’t know to fight for herself, wasting good opportunities. So now among the three beauties, both Wang Lian’er and Mu Xirou are more favored than her.”
Xuan Li shook his head, “This is where you’re wrong. You only see Minister Jiang sending Jiang Dan into the palace, but don’t see how much effort Jiang Dan put in herself. Don’t you think that encounter between Jiang Dan and Father Emperor, as others describe it, was merely coincidence—that Jiang Dan was just lucky?”
Jiang Chao didn’t speak. It wasn’t that he’d never suspected, but Jiang Dan seemed so useless in his heart—so useless that he couldn’t harbor any suspicion about her. With Jiang Dan’s temperament and methods, how could she scheme against the ruler of a nation?
“You see, this is your fault,” Xuan Li sighed. “I think Minister Jiang is quite good at raising daughters. Both the eldest and fourth daughters of the Jiang family are truly one in ten thousand.” He looked at Jiang Chao with a half-smile, “This fourth sister of yours is a poisonous snake, probably even better at patience and lying low than you. Look—” He nodded toward Jiang Dan’s direction.
Jiang Chao followed his gaze and saw Jiang Dan laughing with the palace maids, showing none of a palace beauty’s airs. Having no airs, his heart stirred, and he saw a bright yellow figure slowly approaching behind Jiang Dan.
It was the emperor.
Today the emperor was merely passing through the garden randomly, but from far away heard women’s laughter—that sound was clear and pleasing like silver bells, making one feel infected by the joy within just by listening. His heart moved, and he deliberately took a detour to come over, wanting to see who it was.
This glance left him somewhat stunned. He saw a woman standing among palace maids, holding a flower basket in one hand and a complete crabapple that had just fallen from a branch in the other. Her face wore a shallow smile, her eyes smiling into crescents, bright and sparkling, very cute. She wore a peach-colored embroidered jacket and skirt with a jade-colored vest over it—vivid and compelling, naturally possessing youth’s unique charm. Her appearance could only be called pretty, but every movement seemed to carry unique charm. Yet this charm didn’t appear affected—natural and full of vitality. Even among numerous palace maids, she could immediately catch one’s attention.
The emperor approached and asked, “What’s your name?”
The woman seemed startled, turning around. The moment she saw the emperor, her face reddened. Perhaps from laughing and playing for so long, bright beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead, making her appear quite adorable. She lowered her head, seeming somewhat at a loss and flustered. After pausing, she said, “This subject… this subject is called Jiang Dan.”
“It’s you—” While she spoke, the emperor had already recognized her face. “You’re the one who talked with me all night that evening.”
The emperor handled myriad affairs daily and had seen far too many beauties. Those with both beauty and talent were countless. The palace’s three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two consorts—which one wasn’t top-quality when selected? Therefore, few could leave traces in his heart. That night’s naturally simple young girl was merely a fleeting glimpse in the emperor’s heart. Though he promoted her rank, he had forgotten her afterward. Today’s sudden meeting again gave him another stunning feeling. At this moment, it would be difficult for the emperor not to notice Jiang Dan. If the previous time was merely a preview, the current Jiang Dan had already left a unique impression in the emperor’s mind. This impression was completely different from Beauty Wang and Beauty Mu. Having grown accustomed to understanding flowers and ice beauties, the emperor would now begin to find this cluster of charming vitality refreshing.
He smiled and said, “Rise. Accompany me for a walk.”
In the distance, Xuan Li raised his eyebrows, “Did you see? These are your fourth sister’s methods.”
Jiang Chao stared incredulously at Jiang Dan walking shoulder to shoulder with the emperor in the distance. Just that moment, her charming and cute smile even shocked him when he saw it. This fourth sister only had one expression in the residence—fear and timidity. But just now he was almost confused, nearly thinking that wasn’t the same Jiang Dan he usually saw.
“She’s not failing to fight for favor—she’s brewing her moment,” Xuan Li smiled. “She’s skilled at lying low. She won’t do things unless she’s completely certain. Just watch—this Beauty Jiang will soon be favored.”
“But,” Jiang Chao suppressed his inner shock and asked, “How would she cooperate with us?”
“She has ambition in her eyes,” Xuan Li said. “People with ambition aren’t small in courage. Jiang Chao, when you have time, interact more with this fourth sister of yours. She’ll definitely be moved, because she wants to reach higher positions. And we also need someone who can speak before Father Emperor.”
When Consort Chen was present, he was invincible. Because Consort Chen only needed to whisper pillow talk, and the emperor would feel some pity for him. But now that the consort had fallen from favor, the remaining empress and virtuous consort couldn’t possibly speak well of him. The emperor’s attitude toward him grew increasingly distant. Xuan Li, who had always acted calmly, already felt anxious.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Jiang Chao lowered his head. “Prince Jinying and Zhao Guang have been gone over two months and should have reached the battlefield by now. Yesterday’s scouts reported that the war situation has been brought under control. If this continues…” He didn’t finish—the smoother the front lines went, the more disadvantageous it was for them. They couldn’t allow such tremendous merit to go to Prince Jinying. Xiao Shao had now almost clearly indicated he wouldn’t stand with them. Such a person couldn’t be used and could only be destroyed.
“Don’t worry,” Xuan Li said lightly. “They can’t win this battle—it’s a certain defeat. Why worry about it?” A certain murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he smoothed his sleeve cuffs, “Notify Xia Cheng—he can act now.”
“Your Highness?” Jiang Chao was alarmed. “So soon?”
“Long nights bring many dreams,” Xuan Li sneered coldly.
…
In Prince Jinying’s residence, Jiang Ruan sat reading in Xiao Shao’s study.
Having lived in Prince Jinying’s residence for two months, the servants here found every way to make her comfortable. Perhaps because she lived too comfortably, she almost unconsciously grew accustomed to life here. During these two months, she had returned to the residence to observe mourning for Xia Yan and Jiang Susu, wearing hemp and mourning bands. She had also met the Jiang residence’s new madam, Xia Wei—a smiling tiger beauty. However, since she no longer lived in the Jiang residence, these matters no longer concerned her.
Xiao Shao’s study was like a treasure trove, containing all kinds of books. The place Jiang Ruan spent the most time was Xiao Shao’s study. She had read Xiao Shao’s handwritten notes, and the more she read, the more she felt regret. Some things she had previously doubted gradually showed traces. However, she didn’t continue speculating—everyone had their own secrets, and Xiao Shao had his. What concerned her more now was the war situation with the Jin country.
In her previous life at this time, she had been in the midst of palace struggles and hadn’t paid much attention to the Jin country’s war situation. The letters she’d written to Jiang Xinzhi contained everything she could remember that might help him. For other matters, she was truly powerless.
However, one thing she could now be certain of was that Xuan Li would definitely act at this time. Now the Zhao family was thin in power, and Xiao Shao wasn’t in the capital. Given Xuan Li’s nature of taking advantage of others’ misfortunes, he definitely wouldn’t miss this good opportunity. The court’s structure was at a sensitive time—even the slightest move could bring earth-shaking changes. She could roughly guess what Xuan Li intended to do.
While pondering this, she heard the guard outside say, “Hey, Fourth Young Master, the young mistress is inside.”
A slightly low male voice replied, “It’s fine, I’ll just go in and see.”
The door opened with a creak, and Jiang Ruan quietly looked at the newcomer. The person came suddenly and was somewhat curious about the rumored young mistress. Upon opening the door, he immediately saw a young girl sitting properly at the desk, quietly watching him against the light. Her appearance seemed somewhat unreal under the sunlight, only her eyes clear and intelligent, seemingly containing some mockery of reality, calmly and indifferently observing him.
Unable to withstand those eyes, the newcomer touched his nose and coughed, “Third Sister-in-law? I’m Qi Si. Third Brother sent me.”
Jiang Ruan’s gaze flickered as she also examined the person across from her. This was also a young man in his twenties, wearing a purple robe embroidered with lotus flowers. He was quite handsome and refined, though for some reason he had grown a circle of beard on his chin and around his mouth. It was as if a beautiful young man had been deliberately ruined, appearing somewhat abrupt. However, his smile was warm, and his elongated eyes had the suggestion of peach blossom eyes, though his gaze showed no frivolity—quite proper in appearance.
This was Xiao Shao’s fellow disciple Qi Feng, ranked fourth, who had learned court politics at Mount Jianan. Unfortunately, though he had learned this skill well, it couldn’t be easily displayed. These years he had been secretly helping Xiao Shao and assisting the Embroidered Uniform Guards. For Xiao Shao to summon him back to the capital now was unexpected.
Qi Si carefully examined Jiang Ruan, then suddenly smiled, “Third Sister-in-law is indeed devastatingly beautiful. Originally I wondered if Third Brother was making too big a deal of things by summoning both Xia Wu and me back to the capital to protect Third Sister-in-law. Now I see it’s Fourth Brother’s good fortune.”