His kiss was scorching hot, yet his silver mask felt cold, as if carrying certain indescribable emotions that came crashing down like a tidal wave. The more Shen Miao struggled, the more firmly he restrained her, locking her in his embrace and claiming her lips with a gesture that felt like a solemn oath.

Winter flowers in full bloom, butterflies dancing in autumn, ice springs in summer, and snowflakes in spring—none could describe the strange sensation of this moment. The wind whistled in her ears, but the handsome young man’s embrace was forceful, his kiss burning, as if she could never escape it even if she spent her entire life trying.

When Jingxing Xie released Shen Miao, she nearly collapsed and could barely catch her breath. In her previous life, she had yearned for Fu Xiuyi, but from beginning to end, it had been a one-sided passion. Even on their wedding night, Fu Xiuyi had merely gone through the motions. She had never experienced such intimate entanglement with a man before.

Feeling that she had lost her composure, Shen Miao became angry with embarrassment. Jingxing Xie supported her to prevent her from falling, while she glared at him furiously.

Yet she was unaware that after being kissed, her eyes were so moist they almost glistened with tears. They were bright and lively, her face completely flushed, and her red lips like flower petals, making others want to cherish her even more.

Jingxing Xie averted his gaze as if to hide something.

Besides embarrassment and anger, Shen Miao felt somewhat at a loss. To be fair, she had more or less anticipated ending up in this situation.

As for why she hadn’t stopped him or let things develop, it was simply her following her heart’s subconscious reaction. Shen Miao didn’t want to delve too deeply into the reasons behind this.

“Tell me about your marriage arrangements,” Jingxing Xie resumed his casual, flippant tone and asked, “What are your plans now?”

Shen Miao looked at him in bewilderment, “What plans?”

Jingxing Xie narrowed his eyes as he watched her, his tone somewhat dangerous: “Crown Prince Luo Ling, Feng Zixian, Su Mingfeng, Pei Lang—which one do you want to marry?”

Shen Miao frowned and pretended to be thinking seriously.

Jingxing Xie’s gaze intensified, his tone unfriendly as he said, “You’re considering marrying someone else?”

“Why shouldn’t I consider marrying someone else?”

“You kissed me, touched me, and now you dare to make me wear a green hat. Shen Miao, you’re quite bold.”

Shen Miao smiled slightly, “You can’t possibly want me to marry you, can you?”

“You’ve finally had a moment of intelligence,” Jingxing Xie said languidly.

Shen Miao was stunned. She had thought about her relationship with Jingxing Xie before. Though they called themselves allies, there was something more intimate between them than mere alliance. When it came to matters between men and women, even if you hadn’t eaten pork, you’d at least seen pigs run. Those heartbeats in the night had made Shen Miao aware of something.

But this didn’t mean Jingxing Xie could marry her. Jingxing Xie was the Prince Rui of Da Liang, and she was the legitimate daughter of a Ming Qi general. Let alone whether Ming Qi would agree, it would be difficult to explain to Emperor Yongle.

Especially now, seeing that Jingxing Xie seemed to hold a high position in Da Liang, the more power he wielded, the more Emperor Yongle valued him. A subject valued by the emperor often had no freedom in many matters.

Including his marriage.

While Shen Miao was lost in thought, she heard Jingxing Xie say, “You don’t need to worry about anything. Just stay at home and embroider your dowry while waiting for me.”

“When did I agree to marry you?” Shen Miao retorted.

“Oh?” Jingxing Xie pondered briefly, then smiled with his lips raised, saying, “I don’t mind turning the uncooked rice into cooked rice tonight.”

Shen Miao looked at him vigilantly, but Jingxing Xie just laughed and said, “You look quite eager.”

Shen Miao decided she couldn’t continue talking with Jingxing Xie like this. This man was fundamentally sly, with every third sentence being a tease, making normal conversation impossible. She said, “Regarding the Crown Prince’s matter, I have a solution.”

Jingxing Xie raised an eyebrow, “You already had a plan?”

“Just thought of it,” Shen Miao emphasized, “I need your help.”

“You need my help?” Jingxing Xie smiled gently, looked at her, and said softly, “Your husband will help you.”

Shen Miao: “…”

By the time Shen Miao returned to the Shen residence from Prince Rui’s mansion, it was almost dawn. Of course, it was Jingxing Xie who “took” her back. When he learned that Shen Miao had climbed over the wall to come, Jingxing Xie laughed so hard that Shen Miao nearly lost her temper. However, after this night, many things had quietly changed.

Planning countermeasures against the Crown Prince’s marriage proposal with Jingxing Xie at his residence gave Shen Miao a strange feeling. All along, she had been alone on the path of revenge. Now, inexplicably, she had gained a strong support behind her, which gave her a sense of security. Especially since this support was quite intelligent, able to spot flaws in her proposed strategies at a glance, and suggest improvements. Shen Miao felt that their partnership was quite harmonious.

Unconsciously, Shen Miao’s mind drifted back to what Jingxing Xie had said that night, telling her to obediently embroider her dowry.

Jingxing Xie was a person who, in certain matters, appeared nonchalant, but as Princess Ronxin had said, he was very clear from the beginning about what he wanted and what he didn’t want. Shen Miao wasn’t sure how much of what Jingxing Xie said was true. But regarding her marriage, Jingxing Xie had displayed absolute strength and dominance, leaving no room for refutation.

Shen Miao sighed. The road ahead was long, and the muddy waters of Ming Qi had not yet been waded through; speaking of love seemed too luxurious. She would face problems as they came. If Jingxing Xie truly had the ability—if he dared to marry a general’s daughter from another country—she had no reason not to marry him.

Because—Shen Miao touched her heart—someone who could make her heart beat again might not appear in the world again.

Her lips still tingled slightly, as if still retaining the lingering heat of their kiss, making her lower her head.

Undeniable hypocrisy, unstoppable heartbeats.

That young man was handsome and beautiful, resolute in his actions, and calmly wise.

It was hard not to be moved.

In Prince Ding’s mansion, the lights burned bright all through the night.

Fu Xiuyi had learned that Shen Miao’s engagement to the Crown Prince had been suppressed due to an “unintentional” remark by Prince Rui. That night, he summoned all his advisors to his mansion to discuss the ins and outs of the matter.

“I previously suspected that the relationship between Shen Miao and Prince Rui was not that simple. Testing with the Crown Prince now has indeed revealed their true colors,” Fu Xiuyi sneered. “As soon as Shen Miao shows any movement, Prince Rui can’t sit still.”

Pei Lang stood below with his head bowed, not saying a word. These days, Fu Xiuyi had changed his former respect for him and no longer consulted him on many matters. The stark contrast was naturally noticed by the other advisors, who thought Pei Lang had offended Fu Xiuyi and were gloating. However, Pei Lang knew that for someone as intelligent as Fu Xiuyi, this unexplained coldness must mean he had discovered something, perhaps even suspecting the relationship between him and Shen Miao. Despite his anxiety, Pei Lang couldn’t show it at all. Fu Xiuyi hadn’t revealed his hand yet, surely for his reasons—perhaps he only suspected but hadn’t confirmed. A performance must be played to the end; it couldn’t be abandoned halfway. Pei Lang knew this principle well and behaved only as a slighted advisor would normally react.

“What does Master Pei think?” Extraordinarily, Fu Xiuyi asked for his opinion today.

Pei Lang’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his head lowered and said, “This servant believes we should immediately investigate what relationship the Shen family has with Prince Rui or Da Liang. Shen Miao has a special status, representing Ming Qi’s most important military power. If the Shen family has reached some agreement with Prince Rui in private, I’m afraid…”

The advisors all began to discuss. Although they were dissatisfied with Pei Lang, they had to admit that what he said was correct. Shen Miao was, after all, just a young girl, not some country-toppling beauty. Rather than saying Prince Rui was infuriated by a beauty, it made more sense that he valued the Shen family behind Shen Miao.

Fu Xiuyi said, “Master speaks correctly, but I’ve learned something today.”

Everyone waited for him to continue.

“Shen Miao spent the entire day at Princess Ronxin’s residence today. The princess has always been in poor health, yet she alone stayed until nightfall, and it seems that after Shen Miao left, the princess’s mood was off.” Fu Xiuyi smiled, “Could it be that the princess also knows something?”

After a moment of silence, one advisor said, “Perhaps Princess Ronxin knows some inside information. Your Highness might want to start with Princess Ronxin; maybe you can find some clues.”

“I was thinking the same,” Fu Xiuyi looked at Pei Lang, and it wasn’t clear whether he was intentionally speaking for him to hear, saying only, “Although Shen Miao has the Shen family as a strong backing, she is quite peculiar. Prince Rui specifically helps her with every matter; there must be some hidden story. If Princess Ronxin is also involved, things become interesting.”

“Paper cannot wrap fire; I will uncover the secret between them,” Fu Xiuyi smiled meaningfully. “I’ll have to rely on all of you.”

Everyone hastily declined the praise, while Pei Lang kept his head down, a trace of unease passing through his heart.

That night, the Princess’s mansion was also restless. Princess Ronxin sat in Xingzhi Courtyard for the entire night.

Jingxing Xie was not dead but had instead become Prince Rui of Da Liang—this was something Princess Ronxin had never imagined. Over the past two years, Princess Ronxin had countless times hoped that one day she would discover that Jingxing Xie’s death was just a dream, that she would wake up, and that proud, handsome youth would still stand before her, lazily calling her “Aunt Rong.” Yet when this moment truly arrived, the first thought that surged in Princess Ronxin was not relief.

He wore a noble purple-gold robe, the hem boldly embroidered with flying dragons in gold thread, wore a cold mask, greeted her familiarly, yet bore the title of Prince Rui.

That was the greatest threat from Ming Qi.

Princess Ronxin was initially angry at being kept in the dark, but when she realized Jingxing Xie’s identity, her most instinctive reaction was wariness. This didn’t mean she didn’t care for Jingxing Xie or that their many years of companionship were false. Rather, it was because one must fulfill the duties of one’s position; she was a princess of Da Liang, and the unique pride and suspicion of the imperial family would emerge at times like these.

She sat at the table writing a letter, subtly warning Emperor Wenhui, but halfway through, she abruptly stopped, grabbed the paper in front of her, crumpled it, and tore it to pieces. The complexity and conflict in her heart were indescribable, and she didn’t want to see Jingxing Xie again, fearing how to face him.

What puzzled Princess Ronxin most was how Jingxing Xie, not only alive, had become Emperor Yongle’s brother, Prince Rui of Da Liang. The title of Prince Rui could not be used casually. Was Jingxing Xie originally from Da Liang, or was it just a coincidence that he was recruited by someone from Da Liang? If it was the former, it was somewhat understandable, but if it was the latter, Jingxing Xie had committed outright treason.

Jingxing Xie and Xie Ding had never been close, so asking Xie Ding was certainly not an option. Shen Miao must know something, but she definitely wouldn’t tell, and Jingxing Xie was protecting her, making it difficult for Princess Ronxin to act. After much thought, Princess Ronxin finally thought of someone.

Someone who grew up with Jingxing Xie from childhood, whose family had deep ties to his, and who was considered Jingxing Xie’s best friend in Ming Qi. Growing up together and spending time together, there would have been moments to see Jingxing Xie’s occasional differences.

Su Mingfeng, the heir of the Marquis of Pinnan.

Princess Ronxin called for a servant to bring her a card.

The days were drawing closer to the New Year.

Commoners were busy starting to prepare for the New Year, and the streets and alleys were bustling every day. Life always proceeded so smoothly; ordinary people couldn’t imagine what those in high positions were thinking, just as eagles and sparrows were destined to see different skies.

Since being shocked by Prince Rui’s “casual chat” about ambition some days ago, Emperor Wenhui had become increasingly interested in allying with Qin. However, because the true reason behind Princess Mingan’s case had not yet been uncovered, there was still a line of separation. Nevertheless, as Emperor Wenhui showed more and more sincerity, Huangfu Hao’s attitude had also softened.

Ming Qi’s official offices were all at Huangfu Hao’s disposal, and even the Court of Justice had to periodically submit to Huangfu Hao’s questioning. Regardless of the outcome, Emperor Wenhui had certainly given Huangfu Hao enough face. Even now, the cause of Princess Mingan’s death remained undiscovered, and Huangfu Hao believed it wasn’t that Ming Qi was deliberately covering up, as he had personally witnessed the progress of the case. Perhaps Princess Mingan had offended some important figure at some point; otherwise, how could there be no trace left at all?

Setting aside Princess Mingan’s matter for now, what Prince Rui had said to Emperor Wenhui eventually reached Huangfu Hao’s ears. If initially Huangfu Hao, representing Qin, clearly intended to ally with Ming Qi but deliberately put on airs to seek more benefits for himself, upon hearing Prince Rui’s words, Huangfu Hao became somewhat restless.

If Prince Rui, representing Da Liang, truly wanted the few cities where Ming Qi produced ore, just as Emperor Wenhui feared, Da Liang’s ambition wasn’t limited to a few cities but extended to the capital and even the entire Ming Qi, then Ming Qi was in danger. When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. Even Qin alone was no match for Da Liang, let alone if Da Liang absorbed Ming Qi’s military power, weapons, and wealth, making it even more formidable. At that time, when Da Liang came to deal with Qin, Qin would be powerless to recover.

The purpose of Qin and Ming Qi’s alliance was simply to restrain Da Liang.

Huangfu Hao relayed this news back to Qin, and although the Emperor of Qin was also annoyed that a princess had been wasted in Ming Qi for nothing, a princess was insignificant compared to the great enterprise of Qin’s rivers and mountains. The Emperor of Qin only asked Huangfu Hao to temporarily suppress the matter of Princess Mingan and to ensure an alliance with Ming Qi at all costs.

Having received the message from the Emperor of Qin, Huangfu Hao had been visiting the Ming Qi palace more frequently these days. One eager for an alliance, the other worried about having no help—they immediately hit it off. On the surface, all was harmonious, and the relationship between Emperor Wenhui and Huangfu Hao had grown considerably closer.

Emperor Wenhui had the heart to support the Crown Prince and had previously intended to marry Shen Miao to him. Who would have thought he would suddenly glimpse Da Liang’s ambition and not dare to make a move against the Shen family? Now with Huangfu Hao’s arrival, it was the perfect opportunity to have Huangfu Hao interact more with the Crown Prince, allowing the Crown Prince to gain a favor from Huangfu Hao.

In this world, everything is intricately connected. Relationships that normally seem poles apart become linked through various intersections. Clever people are good at finding points they can utilize within these relationships, while ordinary people can easily get lost in the various intersections if they’re not careful.

At the Outer Bureau Counselor’s residence.

Shen Dongling was drinking tea.

The finest Ye’er Qing, grown on treacherous peaks in the south, with a small pinch worth several hundred taels of silver. Her tea-drinking posture was graceful and leisurely. Dressed in a cotton jacket and skirt of Jiangnan brocade, with tinkling jade pendants, she was quite pretty. At a glance, one could tell she was a pampered and alluring young woman.

Who would have thought that not long ago, she was still an unremarkable concubine-born daughter in the Shen household, not leaving her courtyard for an entire year? The servants didn’t even recognize her as the young lady of the Shen family, let alone when Ren Wanyun was in charge—she wouldn’t see meat or oil in her meals for ten or half a month.

The difference between past and present was like that between clouds and mud. People strive for better, and water flows downward. Although the Outer Bureau Counselor’s residence didn’t seem as grand as other official residences, it was certainly wealthy enough. No one ever relied solely on the government salary for their livelihood. Before marrying into the Outer Bureau Counselor’s family, Shen Dongling had always thought the Wang family was affiliated with Prince Zhou, but later she learned that the Wang family’s true master was the Crown Prince. For a family at the Outer Bureau Counselor’s level to have such abundant assets was only because the Wang family had dealings with salt smugglers, and the money naturally flowed continuously into the Crown Prince’s mansion. It was just like plucking feathers from a goose—the few feathers they kept were enough to spend without much consideration in the capital city. It’s worth noting that the salt smuggling business was incredibly profitable.

If the financial situation was already an unexpected joy for Shen Dongling, Wang Bi himself also greatly satisfied her. Wang Bi appeared honest but was shrewd, considered one of the Crown Prince’s capable generals. Initially, Shen Yue had looked down on Wang Bi, not knowing she was the one being shortsighted. Shen Dongling was pretty, and her nature was gentle. More importantly, she could always offer some suggestions regarding Wang Bi’s affairs, yet she never excessively interfered, carefully maintaining distance. The more she acted this way, the better Wang Bi treated her. When taking a wife, one should take a virtuous one, especially if that wife, besides being virtuous and intelligent, was also charming, attractive, and understanding—that was even more precious. Wang Bi had always been grateful that Shen Dongling and Shen Yue had switched marriages. As the only son in the Outer Bureau Counselor’s Wang family, and being very capable, Wang Bi was practically in charge of the Wang family. Naturally, Shen Dongling became the mistress of the Wang household. The servants all treated her with great respect. If Ren Wanyun were still alive today, she would probably be angered beyond words. The concubine-born daughter she had viewed as an ant was now living more comfortably than Ren Wanyun had, and Concubine Wan had naturally risen with the tide, living a truly wealthy life.

Today was the same.

Wang Bi returned from outside, casually handed some pastries to the maid, and said, “Passing by Guangfu Zhai, I bought you the cloud cake you like.”

“My husband is so thoughtful.” Shen Dongling smiled sweetly while pouring tea for him. Her every movement revealed a sense of boneless softness, perhaps because she was, after all, Concubine Wan’s daughter, carrying some special charm in her bones. She smiled and said, “My husband seems very happy today. Has something good happened?”

Regarding Shen Dongling, Wang Bi didn’t hide most matters from her, because Shen Dongling wasn’t loose-lipped and could occasionally help him share his worries. Now, Wang Bi and Shen Dongling were newlyweds, in the honeymoon phase, and Wang Bi said, “His Majesty has asked Huangfu Hao to have more contact with the Crown Prince, presumably to establish good relations with Qin. Such a favor from His Majesty being given to the Crown Prince clearly shows his intention to support him. When one person gains the Way, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Since we are the Crown Prince’s people, when the Crown Prince inherits the throne in the future, we will be credited for our service.” He smiled at Shen Dongling, “Don’t you think that’s worth celebrating?”

Shen Dongling’s thoughts turned quickly, but she immediately bloomed with a delighted smile, saying, “Really?” Then, looking at Wang Bi with a somewhat admiring gaze, she said softly, “My husband is truly formidable. For me to have married you is truly my blessing from a previous life.”

Being looked at with such admiring eyes by a charming and beautiful woman would satisfy any man’s vanity. Wang Bi smiled, “Is this easy to satisfy?” He sighed regretfully, “If His Majesty had bestowed Fifth Miss Shen to the Crown Prince in the previous period, with the support of the Shen family’s military power, the Crown Prince would have been more advantaged. Our chances of victory would also be higher. Although we now have a temporary friendship with Qin, in terms of military power…” He sighed, “Strength is often the most important thing.”

Shen Dongling’s thoughts turned rapidly, and she naturally snuggled into Wang Bi’s embrace. She placed her hand on Wang Bi’s chest and said softly, “My husband is being too hard on himself. Being able to achieve this much is already extraordinary.”

This was exactly what Wang Bi wanted to hear. He smiled, “You’re content.”

“I am content with a man like my husband,” Shen Dongling laughed coquettishly, then asked as if unintentionally, “Is it not possible to have my fifth sister marry the Crown Prince now?”

“Fifth sister?” Wang Bi was startled, then said, “I almost forgot, you’re sisters.”

His words were unintentional, but in Shen Dongling’s ears, they were particularly harsh, as if saying she was a concubine-born daughter while Shen Miao was legitimately born, distinguishing between the legitimate and the concubine-born. People’s greed grows with changes in their environment. In the past, Shen Dongling had been busy preserving herself in the Shen residence and seeking a good path for herself; she could endure those taunts and sarcasm without having time to care. However, now that she had become the Outer Bureau Counselor’s wife, she became particularly sensitive to these matters.

She buried her head in Wang Bi’s chest, not letting him see her somewhat gloomy expression, and asked, “It’s not possible?”

“It’s not that it’s not possible,” Wang Bi said. “It’s just that with Da Liang’s ambitions unclear now, all other matters have been postponed, and Shen Xin’s reputation is still needed. However, Shen Miao is not young anymore, and I’ve heard the Shen family doesn’t want her to marry into the Crown Prince’s mansion. The key to this matter is that it needs to be done as quickly as possible. If it drags on too long, changes will inevitably occur. Shen Xin will likely find a marriage for Shen Miao and marry her off. At that time, the Crown Prince’s plan will fall through.”

“Can’t the marriage be settled first?” Shen Dongling asked.

“Silly,” Wang Bi said. “His Majesty doesn’t want Shen Miao to marry the Crown Prince, and Shen Miao herself is unwilling. If some extraordinary measures were used now, it would not be good if Shen Xin became dissatisfied at this time.”

“Isn’t this just using one’s power to bully people?” Shen Dongling pouted. However, her words showed not the slightest concern for Shen Miao; rather, they portrayed those who disregarded others’ wishes and imposed their demands as the ones being wronged, like bandits.

“You could say that,” Wang Bi smiled.

“Then why can only they use power to bully people, and the Crown Prince can’t also use power to bully people?”

Wang Bi laughed, “The Crown Prince is virtuous and cannot commit such acts of oppression.”

“The Crown Prince can’t do such things, but can others? For instance, ordinary people, common folk. If all the people in the world demanded that my fifth sister marry the Crown Prince, wouldn’t that be using the people’s power to bully someone?”

Wang Bi had initially thought Shen Dongling was speaking out of pique, but as he listened to the end, his expression gradually became serious. He looked at Shen Dongling, who sat in his lap with a coquettish demeanor, as if she had just spoken casually.

But Wang Bi was a clever man, and he could detect some subtle details in Shen Dongling’s words. He asked, “You wouldn’t happen to have some mischievous idea, would you? Tell me.”

“My husband is so cunning. What benefit do I get if I tell you?” Shen Dongling asked.

“Hmm.” Wang Bi pretended to think for a moment, then said, “If what you say is good, I’ll find a way to get you an official title.” He thought, if Shen Dongling had a way to make Shen Miao marry the Crown Prince, then he would have done a great service. If the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future, he would have to be grateful for his help. Getting an official title for Shen Dongling was worth it.

Hearing this, a glint of satisfaction flashed in Shen Dongling’s eyes.

She said, “I’m not doing this for the title of Madam, but for you, my husband. Whatever my husband wants to do, I naturally support. If my husband wants to assist the future monarch, this little woman can only offer her humble contribution.” She spoke playfully, which pleased Wang Bi greatly.

“This method is very simple; as long as the Crown Prince of Qin cooperates, it will work,” she said.