Congratulations on receiving a monthly ticket

Silver candles burned with incense, azure smoke curling upward. Even in this secluded courtyard within the capital, the rich fragrance seemed to carry a faint exotic aura. The red-clothed woman reclined lazily on the couch, casually toying with a small bronze bell in her hand. Distant bell sounds seemed to drift from afar – clearly this was a temple. The azure smoke from the temple and the incense burning in the room mingled together, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

At that moment, someone suddenly burst in from outside. The gray-clothed man hurried in, even forgetting to knock on the door. The red-clothed woman was startled, then immediately stood up angrily and shouted: “How dare you!”

“Yuan Chuan knows his crime.” The gray-clothed man hastily admitted his fault, but then suddenly remembering something urgent, quickly said: “Please forgive Yuan Chuan’s offense, but the situation is urgent. May I ask the Saintess, is the imperial edict that was taken from Jiang Ruan still in the Saintess’s possession?”

Now that such a major incident had occurred, Qi Man naturally needed to first find that imperial edict to send to Xuan Li. Who would have thought that after searching left and right, she couldn’t find the edict anywhere. Her heart naturally grew anxious, and Yuan Chuan almost immediately thought of Dan Zhen. Dan Zhen had always avoided contact with outsiders and had always been obedient. Even in this place, she was definitely not someone who would act on others’ orders. Before Qi Man could come to demand an explanation, Yuan Chuan hurried to find Dan Zhen to get to the bottom of things.

“Yes.” Dan Zhen admitted without hesitation.

Yuan Chuan’s heart relaxed, and he hurriedly said: “Then where is that imperial edict now? At present…”

“I burned it.” Before Yuan Chuan could finish speaking, Dan Zhen interrupted him. Yuan Chuan was stunned, his face beneath the mask stiffening for a moment. Usually so composed and at ease, he stood frozen for quite a while before saying: “Saintess, are you speaking the truth?”

“Yuan Chuan, when did you become so long-winded?” Dan Zhen frowned at him.

Yuan Chuan thought for a moment, but ultimately said nothing to Dan Zhen. Even if he told Dan Zhen about this matter now, she probably wouldn’t realize how serious things were. Now that another imperial edict had appeared, there was no way to know what the content of the edict in Jiang Ruan’s hands had been. Xuan Li would definitely want to get to the bottom of it, but if he learned that Dan Zhen had burned it to ashes, Xuan Li – this ally who was already untrustworthy – now that his grand plan was ruined, who knew what he would do to Dan Zhen? For now, he could only go find Qi Man first and explain the situation to her. At least both Qi Man and Dan Zhen were royal relatives of the Southern Frontier country. Before Xuan Li, they were grasshoppers on the same rope – there was no reason to favor outsiders.

With these thoughts, Yuan Chuan hesitated only briefly before giving a bitter smile under Dan Zhen’s questioning gaze: “Just some minor matters that this subordinate can handle. Please rest assured, Saintess, and be sure to pay attention to your safety recently.”

Dan Zhen snorted lightly, and Yuan Chuan turned and left. But before Yuan Chuan could find Qi Man to explain things clearly, Xuan Li had already found Qi Man first.

Qi Man looked at the young man before her. This young prince of the Great Jin Dynasty had long been renowned. Even in his youth, he enjoyed a fine reputation among the people. In terms of talent and temperament, he was excellent – at least on the surface, he appeared flawless. He seemed to hold a very high position in the Emperor’s eyes, but in the end, the name written in the Emperor’s succession edict was not his. This was enough to surprise all those in the know throughout the realm.

But if it wasn’t Xuan Li, then was it that inexperienced youngster Xuan Pei? This story might fool others, but it wasn’t easy to deceive Qi Man. Only she knew what that emperor was truly thinking. This empire might bear the Xuan surname, but the person who should have originally sat on the throne was Prince Hongxi. Therefore, the one ascending to the imperial throne now should be Prince Hongxi’s son.

The world believed that Prince Hongxi’s son had died long ago in that war, but Qi Man knew he had not died. He hated Prince Hongxi, hated Xiang Xiao Yuan, hated the current emperor even more, but what he hated most was Prince Hongxi’s son. That wretch and Prince Hongxi had actually produced an illegitimate child – she wanted Prince Hongxi’s flesh and blood to die horribly.

Prince Hongxi was a clever man; he would definitely protect his son’s life well. Qi Man lived under an assumed name in the Great Jin Dynasty, completely changing her appearance, even willing to become an unfavored concubine in a minister’s household, preserving her life through decades of petty jealousies and scheming in the inner quarters. Later, she finally found Xiao Shao, so she made her move regarding the old Prince Jinying and his wife, even utilizing the conflict between the Emperor and Prince Jinying’s household.

Unfortunately, Xiao Shao’s identity was never exposed – he was still alive. However, Qi Man also thought this wasn’t bad. Let Xiao Shao’s entire world be turned upside down, let him realize that everything he had lived in was a false lie. Not everyone could bear the truth, especially when losing everything overnight while bearing the reputation of a treacherous subject.

But unexpectedly, Xiao Shao had actually won over the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Qi Man’s heart burned with poisonous hatred, but later she gradually came to terms with it. Rather than alerting the enemy now, wouldn’t it be more painful to let Xiao Shao gain everything and then lose everything? What she hadn’t expected was that Xiao Shao would stay with Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan was a calculating woman. Back in the minister’s household, she had watched as an outsider while the concubines schemed against each other. Jiang Ruan had climbed step by step to her current position. If not for her relationship with Xiao Shao, Qi Man would have actually somewhat admired Jiang Ruan’s unscrupulous nature.

The Emperor had originally intended to install Xiao Shao, but for some unknown reason, it became Xuan Pei in the end. Qi Man had no intention of telling Xuan Li about Xiao Shao’s identity. However, facing Xuan Li’s current accusations, she merely smiled and said: “If Your Highness has come to demand an explanation from me, you’ve found the wrong person. We could only find one imperial edict. The edict in the palace – that wasn’t our doing.”

“Where is that imperial edict?” Xuan Li said coldly. Xuan Pei’s imperial edict had already made him lose face and become the laughingstock of the entire Great Jin court. Even those who had decided to follow him now looked at him strangely in private. More and more people were beginning to choose to join Xuan Pei’s side, as if Xuan Pei had become the legitimate heir to the throne and had a bright, open road ahead. Now Xuan Li only wanted to understand what was happening.

Qi Man’s expression shifted slightly, then she smiled and said: “That imperial edict isn’t actually important. What Your Highness should be asking about now is Princess Hong’an, isn’t it? Your Highness knows in your heart that we’ve been deceived in this matter – Princess Hong’an deliberately did this. And she succeeded.”

Since Xuan Pei still had an imperial edict in his hands, Jiang Ruan’s act of secretly hiding an edict when leaving the palace was almost a diversion tactic. It made people lower their guard regarding Xuan Pei in the palace, then delivered a fatal blow when Xuan Li was at his most triumphant, causing him to lose face. This was Jiang Ruan’s plan – she had calculated it from the beginning. She was the bait, meant to completely draw Xuan Li’s attention.

Xuan Li’s expression fluctuated unpredictably before he suddenly lifted the curtain and strode away. After Xuan Li left, Qi Man’s face gradually darkened. She suddenly put on her outer robe and walked out as well.

Jiang Ruan sat at the table on the couch, leisurely reading a book. Her body below the chest was hidden by the table, so her increasingly prominent belly couldn’t be seen. Though loose clothing could hide it somewhat, her face was becoming more plump day by day. Her daily leisurely reading here was just an act – her mind was naturally on other matters.

Today she had only turned two pages when the door was suddenly pushed open forcefully. Jiang Ruan looked up to see the mute maid’s panicked face, followed by Xuan Li’s grim expression.

Xuan Li had actually come. Jiang Ruan was slightly surprised, then understood. It seemed things had already happened, and Xuan Li was here to demand an explanation too. These days, confined in this strange place, she had no way of knowing anything about the outside situation. Suddenly seeing Xuan Li and looking at his current expression, it was probably successful. The corners of Jiang Ruan’s lips unconsciously curved upward, and a flash of joy appeared in her eyes.

This joy was so glaring in Xuan Li’s eyes, as if mocking his ridiculousness. He walked toward Jiang Ruan step by step, his movements full of pressure, like a fierce beast facing its prey. He walked to Jiang Ruan’s table, placed both hands on it, and looked down at her from above. Suddenly sneering, he said: “The Princess Consort has been living quite well. You even look more rounded these days.”

“Buddhist sacred ground is a good place for self-cultivation. When the heart is at peace, naturally everything is well.” Jiang Ruan replied with a smile.

A flash of wariness appeared in Xuan Li’s eyes: “You know what this place is?”

“Not hard to guess.” Jiang Ruan also smiled: “But even if I could guess, I couldn’t walk out. Isn’t Your Highness more aware of this than I am?”

Xuan Li looked at her with changing emotions. Among all the women he had met in his life, only this woman was the most cunning and difficult to deal with. This place was Qi Man’s stronghold – no one else could find it. Just the fact that Jiang Ruan could guess it was a temple was already very suspicious. Who knew if she had had a chance to notify Xiao Shao’s people? Though Qi Man had sworn confidently, how could Jiang Ruan be so easy to handle?

But he obviously hadn’t come here for this matter today. Xuan Li looked at Jiang Ruan and asked with a cold smile: “That imperial edict – you deliberately lured me with it, didn’t you?”

Jiang Ruan laughed softly.

This smile instantly struck Xuan Li’s most humiliated and enraged thoughts. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Jiang Ruan’s neck. His hand was large and powerful, and Jiang Ruan’s pale, slender neck was in his palm. His palm slowly tightened, and the woman’s neck seemed about to break in his hand. Xuan Li narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on that beautiful, brilliant face.

Very strange – Jiang Ruan was a strange woman. He had met countless women in his life, but every time he encountered Jiang Ruan, a strange feeling would arise in his heart. Xuan Li could somewhat sense what that feeling was – it was possessiveness.

He had seen countless beauties. Even the Southern Frontier Saintess Dan Zhen was a devastatingly beautiful woman, but in Xuan Li’s eyes, she was just a fool with a prettier appearance. But Jiang Ruan was different. This woman was cunning, calculating, independent, ruthless, and had such a beautiful face. If she stood beside him, they would be well-matched. This woman was qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Xuan Li’s gaze became somewhat dazed and infatuated. His hands tightly gripped Jiang Ruan’s neck, almost leaning into her face.

Jiang Ruan was already having trouble breathing from his grip, but slowly closed her eyes. Xuan Li was suddenly startled and immediately released his grip. Jiang Ruan was still useful now – she needed to be used to make a deal with Xiao Shao. She absolutely could not die now. As soon as he released his hand, Jiang Ruan immediately covered her neck and began coughing. But Xuan Li seemed to suddenly remember Jiang Ruan’s identity – yes, she was the Princess Consort of Prince Jinying’s household, Xiao Shao’s woman. Though this woman was clever, she had been opposing him from beginning to end. She was a menace!

“Your Highness seems to have misunderstood.” After coughing for a long time, Jiang Ruan could finally speak. She was still somewhat uncomfortable, so she retched a bit before finally saying: “That imperial edict was real.”

“What?” Xuan Li frowned.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. Though her complexion appeared somewhat pale due to Xuan Li’s attack, she still spoke clearly: “Your Highness, I’m saying that imperial edict – the one in my hands – was real from the start. When I brought that edict out of the palace, I wasn’t trying to act as bait. I originally just planned to take that edict away.” Jiang Ruan looked at Xuan Li’s somewhat stunned expression and continued: “But does Your Highness know why I wanted to take that edict away? Because that edict contained a succession decree, but the name written on it wasn’t the Thirteenth Prince, Xuan Pei. So I had to take that edict away.”

“Why would there be two imperial edicts?” Xuan Li said coldly: “You’re lying to me.”

“I have no need to lie to you, because His Majesty hadn’t made his final decision before that. His Majesty was such a shrewd person – he prepared two imperial edicts, planning to entrust both to a loyal confidant. The court situation could change dramatically overnight. If anything went wrong, he could simply destroy one and present the other to proclaim to the world. Eighth Prince, His Majesty was your imperial father. Your father-son relationship was surely deep. What kind of person His Majesty was – you couldn’t not know.”

Xuan Li’s heart was filled with shock and uncertainty. He knew Jiang Ruan always liked to deceive people randomly, but the Emperor was indeed this type of person. The Emperor was naturally suspicious and good at leaving himself room to maneuver. The practice of leaving two imperial edicts was indeed something he would do. But according to what Jiang Ruan said, the name on that other edict…

He looked at Jiang Ruan, his tone pressing: “The other succession decree – whose name was written on it?”

Jiang Ruan stared into his eyes and smiled: “It was yours, Your Highness.”

Her words were light and airy, yet they fell like heavy iron onto Xuan Li’s heart. How could it be him? How could it be him? If it was him, didn’t that mean he had been holding onto his own imperial edict all these days, giving Xuan Pei the opportunity to seize the initiative for nothing? This was all Jiang Ruan’s deliberate doing!

“I wasn’t being deliberate.” Jiang Ruan seemed to see through his thoughts and continued: “Grand Tutor Liu already had a teacher-student relationship with the Thirteenth Prince. For such scholarly men, only emotional persuasion works. Grand Tutor Liu was already the Thirteenth Prince’s man and would naturally help him. I had originally planned to bring the other edict back to the household to destroy it. As you thought, once these two edicts appeared, the realm would certainly be in chaos. Only by burning one and keeping one – burning the emperor’s path and keeping the imperial path – could order be maintained. But I didn’t expect someone to abduct me halfway. After arriving at this place, I gradually figured it out and guessed that the person behind it was you. Since this accident could still achieve my goal, why not go along with it? So I said nothing. Now seeing Your Highness in this state, I understand. It seems that edict has already been revealed, hasn’t it?”

Xuan Li watched as the woman before him smiled while telling him all this. She didn’t mind her current situation at all, even discussing her plans with Xuan Li without concealment, like old friends. But hearing this made Xuan Li’s heart feel even more stuffed with cotton. He gritted his teeth, thinking darkly that Qi Man had only said the edict was absolutely genuine, and he hadn’t thought much about it. Who knew such a thing would happen? It was Jiang Ruan who had calculated so well – was this his own doing? What kind of situation was this!

His expression suddenly turned sinister, completely different from his usual gentle, jade-like appearance, even appearing somewhat ugly due to distortion. He said viciously: “So what? The edict is still in our hands. As long as we bring it out, Xuan Pei won’t be any legitimate heir to the throne. This empire belongs to me – it has always been mine!”

“Your Highness will probably be disappointed.” Jiang Ruan looked at him with pity, but that pity seemed to contain the mockery of someone watching a spectacle: “That imperial edict no longer exists.”

Xuan Li’s heart jumped, and he grabbed her chin, saying word by word: “What did you say?”

Jiang Ruan seemed somewhat confused, tilting her head. Those seductive eyes seemed to contain a trace of innocence as she said: “Didn’t the Southern Frontier Princess tell you? That imperial edict has already been burned by the Southern Frontier Saintess.” She lowered her eyelids: “At first, the Saintess probably thought it was the Thirteenth Prince’s succession decree and naturally wanted to burn it. She probably wanted to earn Your Highness’s favor and took the initiative. But…” Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “What she burned was Your Highness’s succession decree.”

What she burned was Your Highness’s succession decree.

Jiang Ruan’s words echoed in his ears, sometimes distant, sometimes near. In an instant, Xuan Li’s entire mind was filled with this single sentence repeating over and over. He suddenly felt his chest violently constricted, as if all the blood throughout his body had frozen solid. Though it was clearly a warm spring day with flowers blooming, it felt as cold as the depths of winter. He knew Jiang Ruan wouldn’t lie about such things. Jiang Ruan’s smile showed genuine joy – that imperial edict was truly gone…

He released Jiang Ruan’s hand in a daze, turned and stumbled toward the door. Just as he stepped outside, he suddenly felt sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of blood sprayed onto the azure stone path before the door. But he seemed not to see it at all and continued walking forward.

Jiang Ruan returned to her original seat, her abdomen beginning to ache slightly. Xuan Li had used too much force – it had ultimately disturbed her pregnancy. She had just forced herself through such a performance with Xuan Li. That edict naturally didn’t have Xuan Li’s name written on it, but rather was an edict passing the throne to Xiao Shao. However, only by telling Xuan Li it was his succession decree would someone with such strong pride as Xuan Li feel utterly devastated. More importantly, telling him that the Southern Frontier Saintess had burned the edict would ensure Xuan Li wouldn’t spare the Southern Frontier Saintess.

During these days of confinement, Jiang Ruan could see the situation clearly – Qi Man and Dan Zhen’s relationship wasn’t very good. When Dan Zhen had burned the edict that day, Qi Man couldn’t stop it in time, but she would definitely learn about it afterward. Yet Qi Man hadn’t even come to find her, acting as if nothing had happened. Why was this? Perhaps Qi Man also knew that if something really went wrong, Xuan Li would definitely cause trouble for Dan Zhen.

A former princess and current saintess of the Southern Frontier country – their relationship was already delicate. Moreover, given Dan Zhen’s personality, she might not acknowledge this princess who had caused the Southern Frontier’s destruction. Qi Man and Dan Zhen had different personalities – one was best at lurking and enduring. In this case, perhaps even the burning of the edict was something Qi Man had deliberately allowed.

The alliance between the Southern Frontier country and Xuan Li had to be broken. If Xuan Li could be used to punish Dan Zhen, that would be best. But… Jiang Ruan covered her stomach as large drops of sweat rolled down her forehead. She also felt some fear. In her previous and current life, she was Pei’er’s mother, but Pei’er wasn’t her biological child. This was her first pregnancy, the first time she would have her own child. In the palace, she had personally witnessed countless pregnant consorts who eventually miscarried in various ways. Though some were due to others with evil intentions causing harm, it also showed how fragile children were.

Now her abdomen was in excruciating pain. Covering her stomach with one hand, she was almost about to faint from the pain. Gritting her teeth, she hesitated whether to call for help. If she called out, her pregnancy couldn’t be hidden, but if she didn’t call out and miscarried, she would never forgive herself.

Just then, she saw the mute maid hurrying in. Upon entering, she immediately turned back to close the door, carrying a food basket she usually used for bringing meals. She lifted the basket’s cover and took out a bowl from inside.

The mute maid then ran to Jiang Ruan’s side, helped her up, and brought the bowl to Jiang Ruan, whispering: “Drink quickly.”

Jiang Ruan was startled. At this moment, she couldn’t be surprised about when the mute maid had learned to speak. Looking at the medicine in the bowl, her heart turned cold as she immediately recalled scenes from her previous life of watching palace consorts being forcibly fed safflower. She looked warily at the mute maid: “What is this?”

“Pregnancy-stabilizing medicine.” The mute maid also seemed urgent: “Drink it quickly. We don’t know when their people will arrive.”

Jiang Ruan looked at the maid. The anxiety on her face didn’t seem feigned. During all these days, she had never shown anything special, always appearing unable to speak. Jiang Ruan had thought this was a mute person Xuan Li and the others had found to serve her. She had deliberately hidden things from the maid, but now thinking carefully, it seemed the maid had never done anything to harm her. Many times, she had even unintentionally helped her.

Jiang Ruan steeled her heart. She wasn’t someone who easily trusted others, but for the child in her womb, she had an intuition. Without another word, she drank the bowl of medicine.

After some time, Jiang Ruan finally felt the pain in her abdomen ease somewhat. The mute maid had already tidied up the bowl and chopsticks, laid out the remaining food and dishes, and personally helped her sit up in the chair. Jiang Ruan asked: “Are you sent by Xiao Shao?”

The mute maid was startled and shook her head.

Now Jiang Ruan could tell the medicine was indeed pregnancy-stabilizing medicine. The maid must have long ago noticed her pregnancy. This was understandable – even with all the concealment, someone living together day and night would notice her unusual condition. Those people hiding in the courtyard to monitor were one thing, but wanting to hide it perfectly from someone sharing the same room would be difficult. But the maid said she wasn’t Xiao Shao’s person. If she wasn’t Xiao Shao’s person, why would she help her like this?

“Then who are you?” Jiang Ruan asked suspiciously.

The maid stood beside Jiang Ruan serving food while facing away from the window. Leaning down, she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Xuan Li destroyed my entire family. I want revenge.”

Jiang Ruan was slightly startled – she never would have expected this reason. “What deep hatred do you have with him?”

The maid said: “My father worked for Xuan Li. When things were exposed, Xuan Li killed my entire family of ninety-three people to protect himself and prevent anyone from tracing connections to him. I was away at the time and luckily escaped disaster. Ninety-three lives – I will collect this debt from him eventually. These years I’ve spent all my family wealth just to find an opportunity.”

Jiang Ruan frowned: “Then how did you end up here?”

“I infiltrated Xuan Li’s household servants, pretending to be mute. When I heard the steward was recruiting people to serve an important person, I was chosen. Mutes are good for work. This was my plan from the beginning – pretend to be mute and perhaps find opportunities to access Xuan Li’s secrets. Heaven has eyes – finally I’ve waited for this chance.”

Jiang Ruan understood. She had thought this was Xiao Shao’s person, but unexpectedly, this person had a grudge against Xuan Li. As they say, those with grievances seek grievance, those with grudges seek vengeance. Xuan Li’s evil deeds were bringing their own retribution – she had gained an unexpected ally. Thinking of the maid’s background made her sigh. Xuan Li appeared gentle on the surface but was ruthless inside – this wasn’t his first time exterminating entire families. Thinking of something, Jiang Ruan asked again: “Then why are you helping me?”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Whoever has a grudge against Xuan Li, I help.” The maid said: “Now I’m alone. Though I’m doing my best to find opportunities, I don’t know if I’ll succeed in the end. I know you’re the Princess Consort of Prince Jinying’s household. Prince Jinying’s household has considerable power, and you’re capable too. Otherwise, Xuan Li wouldn’t be so wary of you, even keeping you confined like this. I know you must have ways to deal with him.”

Jiang Ruan said thoughtfully: “So what – you want to help me?”

“This place is too far from the capital,” the maid said. “Prince Xiao can’t find this place, and there are guards everywhere. I can’t send out information either. But now you’re pregnant – if people knew, it would be an even bigger weakness to use against Prince Xiao. I want to help you, so I’ll try to find opportunities. Once there’s a chance, I’ll help you escape. But you must promise me – if you escape, you must avenge my entire family. I’m alone and weak, unable to accomplish it, but you definitely can. Kill Xuan Li.”

Jiang Ruan was silent for a moment, then said: “Agreed. It’s a deal.”