Jiang Ruan was slightly stunned, feeling that Xiao Shao’s words seemed to carry some inexplicable emotion. Puzzled, she raised her eyes to look at him. The young man stared straight at her, his deep and cold dark eyes almost seeming to peer into one’s heart.

Xiao Shao appeared cold and indifferent on the surface, but was actually strong-willed and domineering. For instance, in his current words, there was a hint of wanting to claim her as his own. As Jiang Ruan thought about it, she shook her head inwardly. Xiao Shao had always been reserved, not someone who would reveal emotions so openly. There must be something troubling him. After a pause, she said: “You’re right to say so.” She changed the topic: “Now that you’ve returned triumphant to court, I imagine His Majesty will have a headache again about what rewards to bestow.”

Xiao Shao was already in a position of high authority and power. Among the Great Jin Dynasty’s officials, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he could walk sideways. The so-called “achievements overshadowing the master” was completely unnecessary in his case. Many years ago, the emperor had already bestowed upon him almost everything possible without reservation. Aside from the throne itself, now that he had achieved new merit, he lacked neither gold nor silver, and his official rank was already first grade – there really wasn’t much left to give.

Jiang Ruan suddenly thought of something and smiled slightly: “Thinking it over, it seems the only option left is to grant you some beauties.”

Xiao Shao hadn’t expected Jiang Ruan to suddenly bring up this matter. He glanced at her and said indifferently: “Not needed.”

“His Majesty wholeheartedly supports you,” Jiang Ruan looked at the teacup before her. “Now that you’ve returned triumphant, the Empress Dowager’s edict must be fulfilled. But the Jiang mansion has fallen into decline now. Marrying me won’t bring you any benefits. His Majesty thinks of you in everything, so naturally he wouldn’t be willing to let this happen. I heard that His Majesty once intended to betroth the Yao family’s daughter to you. This time you’ve achieved such merit – exchanging one marriage for assistance would be more direct than any gold, silver, or jewels.”

Jiang Ruan’s words weren’t groundless. Ever since news of the great victory at the frontier arrived, when Jiang Ruan entered the palace, she heard from Nanny Yang beside Empress Dowager Yide that the emperor had begun frequently summoning Governor Yao again. Jiang Ruan knew that Xiao Shao carried many secrets, just as she did. She didn’t understand why the emperor was so protective of Xiao Shao, but it was obvious that the emperor’s heart favored Xiao Shao. The emperor was very dissatisfied with her as Princess Jinying. If not for Xiao Shao’s sake, he probably would have changed candidates long ago. Now that Xiao Shao had returned to court affairs after many years and immediately achieved such great merit, how could the emperor miss this opportunity? Since ancient times, emperors had always enjoyed arranging other people’s lives.

She spoke frankly, seemingly without any unpleasant emotions. Xiao Shao quietly watched her without speaking. His features were handsome, and perhaps from staying at the frontier for some time, all the coldness in his bones had been fully activated. This time upon returning, his temperament seemed even colder, his entire being filled with a sharp aura. However, his brows and eyes were like a painting, his countenance supremely beautiful. Suddenly he smiled slightly, and immediately seemed both cold and wicked.

His voice betrayed no emotion, floating indifferently to Jiang Ruan’s ears: “So, what do you think?”

Jiang Ruan’s hand holding the hand warmer tightened. The young man across from her, dressed in black as ink, pressed the question again indifferently: “Do you hope I’ll take others?”

In an instant, Jiang Ruan’s entire body suddenly froze. She was clearly holding a hand warmer, yet suddenly felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. Because she had heard the same words in her previous life.

At that time, she had just entered the palace and lived each day with thoughts of self-destruction. It happened that the palace was abuzz with rumors that the Prime Minister intended to marry his youngest daughter to the Eighth Prince Xuan Li as a consort. Upon hearing this news, her already dim life became even more hopeless, and she fell seriously ill. During her illness, Xuan Li came to visit her. He leaned close to her ear and whispered: “What do you think? Do you hope I’ll take others?”

Jiang Ruan hazily wondered how she had answered then. She had been confused and miserable, enduring the pain in her heart as she said: “This is Your Highness’s affair. I have no right to interfere.”

And how had Xuan Li responded? Xuan Li looked at her with a gentle tone, saying: “In this lifetime, the position of principal consort is reserved for you alone. Others cannot enter my eyes, much less my heart. If you’ve heard something, it’s merely acting – it can’t be taken seriously. My heart holds only you. Don’t you understand yet?”

Such sincere and deep words finally shattered the last bit of weakness she had in the deep palace. For his devotion, she walked on thin ice in the palace, willingly becoming his chess piece, only to end up losing everything, not even leaving bones behind. Now hearing these words suddenly, time seemed to flow backward, bringing her back to that day in her previous life when Xuan Li whispered tenderly in her ear. Truly, every word was blood and tears, every needle piercing bone.

Her abnormal behavior was seen by Xiao Shao, who was startled. Xiao Shao had seen Jiang Ruan in various states – gentle and graceful, appearing obedient and docile; bright and charming, yet ruthlessly decisive; disheveled but biting her teeth in stubborn independence. But he had rarely seen her lose composure. At this moment, she sat across from him holding the hand warmer, her eyes vacant and confused, not knowing what she was thinking. Her gaze was filled with desolation and bewilderment, making one’s heart tighten inexplicably. Without time to analyze why Jiang Ruan’s emotions had suddenly changed, Xiao Shao immediately stood up and pulled her to him. The moment he grasped her hand, he felt that her entire body was trembling slightly. He paused, then pulled Jiang Ruan into his embrace.

“I’m sorry, I spoke wrongly. I shouldn’t have asked you like that.” There was a trace of regret in his tone: “I won’t take others. The only mistress here is you.”

Touching Xiao Shao’s cold clothing, Jiang Ruan was momentarily confused. Her head rested against Xiao Shao’s chest, his hand circled her shoulder and gently fell on her back, carefully comforting her with a posture that was somewhat like coaxing a child.

Jiang Ruan stiffly reached out to embrace him back, her arms encircling his waist and slowly tightening, her eyes gradually regaining calm bit by bit.

She thought she had forgotten all those things, thought she could well conceal the hatred in her heart. However, worldly matters weren’t so easily put down after all. Xuan Li’s betrayal and harm to her in the previous life had always been there; she had never forgotten for even a day.

Xiao Shao sensed Jiang Ruan’s emotional agitation. He didn’t know which of his words had caused Jiang Ruan’s abnormal reaction, but he knew the problem must lie in what he had just said. After thinking, he said softly: “I told you that you don’t need to do anything. You don’t need to worry about this matter either.”

“I’m unwilling.” Jiang Ruan suddenly spoke.

Xiao Shao looked down at her. Jiang Ruan’s expression still seemed to retain traces of her earlier confusion, but her gaze had become as calm as before. Her hands were ice-cold, and the arms encircling Xiao Shao’s waist tightened a bit more as she smiled slightly: “I’m unwilling for you to take others.”

The young lady’s smile was like a flower. Already born beautiful and captivating, each time they met she seemed to have grown more mature. Now all her childishness had completely faded, and between her brows and eyes was all charming allure. Every movement carried a stunning beauty carved into her very bones. Her tone was firm and calm: “Since you want me to enter your royal mansion, your mansion and you as a person belong only to me. All women in the world are naturally jealous, and I’m no exception. If other women come to share what belongs to me, I will not hesitate to kill them, even if it’s just acting.”

By the end, her tone already revealed killing intent. Actually, Jiang Ruan herself couldn’t clearly explain why she had said these words. After her rebirth, she had also thought about her marriage, which was nothing more than using her husband’s family’s power to achieve her own goals. Since it was just a tool for revenge, she wouldn’t care about sincerity or falsehood. She might even play the role of a virtuous wife, and if necessary, could actively take concubines for her husband.

Yet now she had spoken her true thoughts. Time overlapped with her previous life, and she didn’t know whether she was answering Xiao Shao’s question or Xuan Li’s question from the previous life. But she was clear in her heart that at this moment, she spoke without thinking – this was her true intention.

Xiao Shao stared at her. In his calm, dark eyes, ripples seemed to flash for a moment, but quickly disappeared. The next moment, he quickly lowered his head and kissed Jiang Ruan’s forehead.

He pressed Jiang Ruan’s head against his chest, his tone carrying unprecedented gentleness: “I don’t like acting. So, there won’t be others.”

Jiang Ruan’s body trembled. He said he didn’t like acting. He and Xuan Li were ultimately different people. Jiang Ruan sighed inwardly and unconsciously held Xiao Shao tighter. He wasn’t Xuan Li. The two of them had never had even a bit of similarity.

Xiao Shao held her, his long eyelashes lowered, concealing the emotions in his eyes. Jiang Ruan was so strange today, but he didn’t know where things had gone wrong. Previously, he thought that perhaps there were some secrets Jiang Ruan didn’t want others to touch, and he didn’t deliberately probe. Now it seemed that if some secrets weren’t unraveled, there would always be an invisible barrier between him and her.

…

The news that Prince Jinying Xiao Shao and Jiang Xinzhi had returned to the capital early spread throughout the capital the next day, not for any other reason but because of two imperial edicts. One was decreeing that Prince Jinying Xiao Shao and Princess Hong’an Jiang Ruan should marry immediately. The second was promoting Jiang Xinzhi to General of Western Lu, official rank second grade, taking control of the one hundred thousand troops previously under General Wu.

For someone born as a civil official who was still young and a rising star in the court, this was already tremendous honor. With this position as a starting point, Jiang Xinzhi’s future prospects would surely be brilliant and beautiful. However, in fact, the Imperial Guards led by Xiao Shao and Jiang Xinzhi had indeed cooperated well and fought a beautiful battle. Guan Lianghan was still on the road with the army and Tianjin Kingdom’s envoys. When the envoys reached the capital, they would write the surrender document. From then on, Tianjin Kingdom would pay tribute annually, cede ten cities, and submit to the Great Jin Dynasty.

The emperor was quite satisfied with this result. That day, Xiao Shao spent a full half hour talking with the emperor in the imperial study. No one knew what they discussed, but after Xiao Shao left, the eunuch who entered to clean found the floor covered with shattered teacup fragments, clearly showing the emperor was quite angry. Yet for some reason, the next day brought news that Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan should marry immediately. Everyone speculated that what Xiao Shao said to the emperor was related to this matter, and couldn’t help but envy Jiang Ruan again.

The wedding was set for one month later, when Guan Lianghan would also return to the capital, coinciding with the New Year – truly double happiness. This heaven-sent good match had been arranged long ago; now it was just the completion of the marriage. However, it still caused quite a stir in the palace, with discussions about this matter audible everywhere.

In the imperial garden, Consort Jiang and several palace ladies sat around a small table discussing this matter. Jiang Dan casually peeled open a honey orange, her hands painted with red nail polish appearing very white and tender against the round orange. She smiled and said: “Eldest sister is truly blessed.”

Beauty Wang, who should now be called Noble Lady Wang, said gently: “Princess Hong’an is naturally intelligent and proper, truly a match made in heaven with Prince Jinying. With the Empress Dowager’s personally bestowed marriage, it’s indeed perfect in every way.”

Jiang Dan smiled, glancing at Wang Lian’er, then at Mu Xirou beside her. This past year, for some unknown reason, while the emperor elevated her, he also elevated Wang Lian’er and Mu Xirou, perhaps thinking they could check and balance each other. Wang Lian’er became Noble Lady Wang, Mu Xirou became Noble Lady Mu, and she herself became Consort Jiang – all three were third rank, with equal status. Mu Xirou was always cold and aloof, not immediately threatening, but Wang Lian’er was very cunning. In the palace, they two fought most fiercely in private.

Jiang Dan smiled and suddenly said to a woman sitting at the lower seat: “Noble Lady Dong, you and my eldest sister were close friends in your boudoir days. For eldest sister’s wedding this time, what congratulatory gift have you prepared?”

That woman raised her head, revealing a beautiful face – it was indeed Dong Ying’er. Now her appearance was unchanged, but her expression no longer held the liveliness of her maiden days. This past year she had also received the emperor’s favor and was promoted to Noble Lady, third rank. How ironic fate was. When she was a young lady, she was the legitimate daughter of the Capital Magistrate’s mansion, while Jiang Dan was only a concubine’s daughter from a Minister’s mansion. In terms of status, Jiang Dan was far below her. Now in the palace, their positions were reversed – she had to bow to Jiang Dan. At this moment, hearing Jiang Dan’s sarcastic words, Dong Ying’er only smiled faintly: “The Princess is of noble birth. How could this humble consort presume to such heights?”

“Noble Lady Dong speaks wrongly. I remember you were once very close to my eldest sister. Oh yes, wasn’t there also that young lady from the Zhao family? Speaking of which, I’m reminded of something. Elder brother has now been promoted to General, quite a prestigious reward. When news spread that elder brother had lost his life, who could have imagined he would have such glorious days? So I say, human calculations cannot compare to heavenly arrangements. Elder brother’s opportunity this time must have disappointed those with ulterior motives. When elder brother was in trouble, how many who wanted to form marriage alliances with him immediately drew clear boundaries when they saw which way the wind was blowing. Now they must be regretting it deeply.”

Dong Ying’er’s body stiffened slightly, her head lowering, her throat involuntarily tightening. Jiang Dan’s words sounded very much like they were directed at her. When Jiang Xinzhi’s whereabouts were unknown, hadn’t her parents seen the situation was unfavorable and forced her to enter the palace using her as leverage? At that time, with no way out and seeing Jiang Xinzhi’s fate uncertain, she had despaired and entered the palace. Who knew there would be today? When news of Jiang Xinzhi’s rescue came out, her heart was filled with both joy and sorrow – joy that the man still lived, sorrow that she had become another’s wife and there could never be anything between them again. Now that Jiang Xinzhi had become the young General of Western Lu, momentarily without equal, while she was a palace consort scrambling for position, hearing these words from Jiang Dan’s mouth was truly ironic.

Seeing this, Wang Lian’er smiled slightly: “Indeed so. General Jiang is truly young and accomplished, with outstanding merit, and so handsome. I wonder which family’s daughter will be fortunate enough to catch his eye in the future.”

“Where’s the need to wait for the future?” Jiang Dan smiled even more happily: “Isn’t there already some interest now?”

Dong Ying’er’s body stiffened. Wang Lian’er was startled and asked: “What does sister mean?”

“Does Noble Lady Dong still remember the Zhao family young lady who was once very close to eldest sister?” Jiang Dan smiled: “The three of you were extremely close back then. I heard that General Jiang’s beloved is precisely the Zhao family young lady. He has already sent someone to the Zhao mansion to inquire. Speaking of it, it’s truly an excellent match. I imagine eldest sister is also very happy about it.”

Dong Ying’er’s face had turned completely pale. If she hadn’t remembered this was the imperial garden, she would have almost swayed and fallen. Zhao Jin? Actually Zhao Jin? She had been in the palace so long and had long seen clearly that Jiang Dan wasn’t someone to trifle with. Originally she wanted to dismiss this as Jiang Dan’s random slander, but anything involving Jiang Xinzhi made her heart race uncontrollably. Jiang Xinzhi’s beloved was actually Zhao Jin? When did they get together? When did Zhao Jin catch Jiang Xinzhi’s eye?

Dong Ying’er felt her heart go completely cold. Back then, her favor toward Jiang Xinzhi hadn’t been hidden from Zhao Jin at all. Zhao Jin knew her feelings yet got together with Jiang Xinzhi. And Jiang Ruan – she had been so heartless to her back then, yet helped Zhao Jin and Jiang Xinzhi. As the same friends, why did Jiang Ruan treat them so differently?

Deep unwillingness and anger surged in her heart, along with the heartbreak of being betrayed. She felt as if everyone was laughing at her, her entire being no longer seeming like herself. She couldn’t hear clearly what Jiang Dan was still saying.

“The Zhao family young lady and elder brother are indeed well-matched,” Jiang Dan said with a smile. “Elder brother is a general, and the Zhao family young lady comes from a military family. They look suitable in every way. No wonder eldest sister would help them too.”

Jiang Dan spoke happily, but didn’t expect someone to approach from behind. Just as she finished speaking, she heard a clear voice ring out from behind: “This prince originally thought that only ignorant women in the marketplace would gossip about others, never imagining that noble consorts in the deep palace would do the same. What an eye-opener. Fortunately, the Zhao family young lady and General Jiang aren’t here today, otherwise hearing their reputations being destroyed so casually, they wouldn’t let this go easily. Grand Tutor Liu, wouldn’t you agree?”

Everyone was suddenly shocked. Jiang Dan stood up to see a young man behind her with a handsome youth. That delicate youth had an exquisite face and jade-like features, his tone smiling and teasing, but his eyes held hidden coldness – it was none other than Xuan Pei.

“Thirteenth Prince.” Wang Lian’er and the others quickly rose to bow. For imperial princes, even third-rank consorts had to lower their heads. Moreover, this Thirteenth Prince was currently much favored by the emperor, even having Grand Tutor Liu Min, who had been the Crown Prince’s tutor, assigned to him. The young man beside him had clear, handsome features with a hint of aloofness. At this moment, anger flashed quickly through his eyes, but he said impassively: “His Highness speaks correctly.”

This was agreement.

Jiang Dan secretly gritted her teeth, not knowing when Xuan Pei had appeared. She felt she had lost face before everyone because of Xuan Pei and was somewhat privately annoyed. She immediately smiled: “Thirteenth Prince, these palace gossips are merely women’s affairs. For Thirteenth Prince to get involved would invite ridicule.”

For some reason, she extremely disliked this Xuan Pei. She could handle other princes with ease and didn’t stint on flattery, but treating this Thirteenth Prince, even maintaining a pleasant expression was quite forced. Whether it was her imagination or not, she always found traces of Jiang Ruan in Xuan Pei, especially those eyes like ancient wells – when looking at people, they were identically cold, making one’s heart palpitate.

Wang Lian’er secretly cursed her as a fool. Everyone knew the emperor currently valued Xuan Pei, yet Jiang Dan still spoke so rudely. Didn’t she think that if these words reached the emperor’s ears, how would he react? The emperor could scold Xuan Pei himself, but would never allow a consort to lecture an imperial prince.

“How can this be considered palace affairs?” Xuan Pei smiled slightly: “General Jiang is a hero of the Great Jin Dynasty. The consort, residing in the palace, yet knows General Jiang’s private affairs so clearly – you must be very concerned about General Jiang. If a consort, a palace woman, can care about General Jiang, then this prince, as an imperial son and the emperor’s child, should naturally care more about General Jiang.”

Jiang Dan was left speechless, secretly cursing Xuan Pei’s cunning. These words were truly pointed at the heart. For a palace woman to pay attention to a young general’s private affairs was somewhat overstepping. Jiang Dan said with difficulty: “After all, he’s my elder brother…”

“The consort is truly strange,” but it was Mu Xirou, who had been coldly observing, who spoke. She was beautiful but too proud. At this moment she still said coldly: “I heard that General Jiang entered the palace to receive rewards, but never heard of him visiting Consort Jiang to reminisce. No one from the Jiang family has come to visit the consort either. I really don’t know where the consort obtained this information. Even the Empress Dowager and His Majesty haven’t spoken about it. It seems Consort Jiang has greater abilities than His Majesty.”

No one had expected that the usually cold beauty Mu Xirou would speak so sharply, almost leaving Jiang Dan speechless. The palace was full of the emperor’s people everywhere. Today’s conversation here might well reach the emperor’s ears. How the emperor would think was unknowable, but Jiang Dan was now anxious: “I never said such things. Noble Lady Mu, why do you speak of me this way?”

Mu Xirou sneered and said no more.

Xuan Pei on the side laughed, and Liu Min standing beside him also slightly raised his lips, a flash of amusement in his eyes. Jiang Dan had inadvertently offended Xuan Pei and had isolated herself. No one would offend an imperial prince favored by the emperor. No one spoke up for Jiang Dan, leaving her in quite an awkward position.

Xuan Pei smoothed his sleeves. The youth with delicate features wore gorgeous, exquisite clothing, his lips holding a gentle smile, but his tone carried undisguised coldness: “Consort Jiang, illness enters through the mouth, disaster comes from the mouth. You must remember this.”

For an instant, Jiang Dan felt a chill.