Shen Qiu lavishly praised Xie Jingxing in front of Prince Rui. Normally, when someone is unfavorably compared to another person so mercilessly, their expression would turn unpleasant. Prince Rui’s mask prevented others from seeing his face clearly, but everyone could see that his lips remained slightly upturned, and his voice remained polite and gentle. Most importantly, his eyes couldn’t lie—in Prince Rui’s eyes, there was a hint of pleasure.

Pleasure?

Shen Qiu talked until his mouth was dry, but not only did Prince Rui not show any embarrassment, he seemed to quite agree, saying, “Indeed, it’s a pity.”

Shen Qiu was greatly disappointed but became more wary of Prince Rui in his heart.

Luo Xueyan, however, was very satisfied. She wasn’t as childish as Shen Qiu, nor like Shen Xin who’d find fault in an egg. Looking at Prince Rui, who didn’t get angry at Shen Qiu’s antics, she realized people often prejudge whether someone is good or bad. But after spending this short time with Prince Rui, Luo Xueyan felt he was quite decent. He looked refined and elegant, yet his speech wasn’t affected or pretentious, but rather had a casual boldness that made people like him.

They say a mother-in-law grows fonder of her son-in-law the more she sees him. Prince Rui quickly climbed to the top in Luo Xueyan’s heart. In her mind, he was steadier than Su Mingfeng, more straightforward than the Crown Prince, more generous than Feng Zixian, and more than Luo Ling—well, Luo Ling was family, so she wouldn’t compare.

Not only was Luo Xueyan pleased with Prince Rui, but Luo Tan was also very satisfied with her new brother-in-law. Her mind full of curiosities, she asked Prince Rui many questions about fascinating sights in Da Liang. Though Prince Rui had been impatient with Emperor Wenhui at the tribute banquet, coming and going as he pleased, he answered all of Luo Tan’s questions. Luo Tan had already been grateful to Prince Rui for saving Shen Miao’s life, and now she increasingly felt that only Prince Rui was worthy of Shen Miao. She said, “I think brother-in-law and little cousin are indeed well-matched. Little cousin has that kind of temperament—only brother-in-law’s good disposition could handle it.”

The moment the words “brother-in-law” were spoken, the room went quiet. Prince Rui was, after all, of royal blood. By comparison, Luo Tan’s status wasn’t worth mentioning. Luo Tan was naturally straightforward and hadn’t realized what she’d said, but Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin instinctively looked at Prince Rui for his reaction.

Prince Rui’s lips curved slightly, going along graciously: “Thank you for your affection, cousin.”

Cousin?

Shen Qiu said furiously, “Who’s your cousin? Don’t call her that!”

“Brother Qiu, what are you saying?” Luo Tan glared at him, smiling. “Well, I’m younger than you, so it’s strange for you to call me cousin. You’d better call me Cousin Luo instead.”

Shen Qiu glared at Prince Rui furiously. This man, with his handsome face and noble status, was attracting women everywhere. Luo Xueyan and Luo Tan had fallen for him—it was truly infuriating!

Luo Ling, watching the chaotic scene before him, found it somewhat amusing. But as he laughed, he thought of something and couldn’t laugh anymore, instead looking at Shen Miao with a bitter expression.

Shen Miao was thinking about what Luo Tan had just said, finding it almost unbelievable. What kind of wrong impression did Luo Tan have of Xie Jingxing to think he had a good temperament? Little did she know that previously, Xie Jingxing had threatened her and mocked her. Every interaction with him was like walking a tightrope, never able to grasp his thoughts. If Luo Tan saw Xie Jingxing killing someone without changing expression, she probably couldn’t speak those words again.

Seeing Luo Xueyan and Prince Rui chatting more and more warmly, Shen Xin felt uncomfortable. He deliberately coughed twice, forcibly interrupting their conversation, and dryly asked Prince Rui, “Didn’t you say you came to deliver the wedding dress? What, do you now find our Shen family’s tea so good that you’ve come to freeload?”

Hearing him speak so rudely, Luo Xueyan glared at Shen Xin, then turned to Prince Rui, using a gentle tone she hadn’t used with Shen Xin in decades: “Jingxing, did you come today specifically to bring Jiaojiao her wedding dress?”

“The imperial marriage decree came in a hurry. I thought Jiaojiao wouldn’t have time to embroider her wedding dress. Coincidentally, when I first came to the capital, my royal brother had me bring along the best embroiderers and tailors from Da Liang. He said if I met a girl I liked, when I married her, I should give her the best wedding dress in the world.” His smile was subtle, his eyes increasingly gentle as spring: “The wedding dress is already done—it took three months. Now I’ve brought it here for Madam to review.”

Three months? Shen Miao was stunned, suddenly remembering how Xie Jingxing had hugged her a few days ago, saying he needed to take measurements. Now, since the wedding dress had been in the making for three months, he must have already known her measurements, so there was no need for that extra step. Sure enough, he was talking nonsense again, yet she had believed him and let him take advantage. Thinking of this, Shen Miao glared at him angrily. Xie Jingxing smiled slightly.

This small interaction was noticed by Luo Xueyan, making her even happier. This marriage couldn’t be changed now, so they could only find ways to comfort themselves. Who knew that upon meeting Prince Rui today, she would find him quite decent, which made her feel much more reassured. Now, seeing the interaction between these two, wasn’t it just like young people playfully bickering? Her daughter always maintained a mature facade, without the innocence and liveliness of a young girl, yet she showed this girlish side in front of Prince Rui. Prince Rui also seemed very doting on Shen Miao. Perhaps this marriage was indeed a match made in heaven.

In Luo Xueyan’s heart, Prince Rui now ranked above Fu Xiuyi by a thousand Luo Lings.

Just as she was thinking this, Shen Qiu called out from the side: “Three months? The imperial marriage decree only came down recently. You’re lying. Did you predict this three months ago, knowing you would marry my sister? And how do you know my sister’s measurements? No matter how beautiful it is, she won’t wear a wedding dress that doesn’t fit!”

Shen Miao also looked at Xie Jingxing, curious to hear how he would handle Shen Qiu’s questions.

Xie Jingxing, indeed a master at this, simply said, “Three months ago, I happened to see Jiaojiao on the street. At that fleeting glance, I made up my mind that I wouldn’t marry anyone but her. My royal brother only told me to send a wedding dress to the girl I loved, but didn’t say I had to wait until after marriage to send it. Fortunately, in the end, I did marry her.” By the end, his voice was full of joy, but as he glanced at Shen Qiu, it seemed like a deliberate provocation.

When it came to verbal exchanges, Shen Qiu was no match for Xie Jingxing. Once again, Xie Jingxing spoke eloquently, while Shen Qiu gained nothing.

“As for the measurements,” Xie Jingxing smiled, “if one is determined to find them, one can always find a way.”

He signaled Tie Yi to come forward. Tie Yi ran out “thump thump thump,” and soon returned “thump thump thump” carrying a huge box, which he placed on the table.

The box was quite large, seemingly made of fragrant wood, emanating a faint scent of pear blossoms that was refreshing. Everyone unconsciously gathered around the table, assuming the wedding dress was inside.

Even Shen Miao, who was typically calm, felt a sense of anticipation.

In her previous life, her wedding dress had been embroidered stitch by stitch by herself. She had been extremely attentive to her wedding with Fu Xiuyi. She had wanted it to be lavish and gorgeous—after all, a woman’s most beautiful moment seemed to be when she was a bride. But Fu Xiuyi was still hiding his abilities then and wanted simplicity, saying the wedding shouldn’t be too extravagant. So she had to suppress her desire for luxury and embroider the wedding dress in a simple style with modest patterns.

But as a girl full of aspirations for the future and a love for beauty, she had devised a method. She embroidered conjoined lotus flowers on the red skirt using dark red thread. She also embroidered small peach blossoms inside the gauze robe. Since the gauze robe was inside the outer garment, others couldn’t see it. The conjoined lotus on the red skirt was embroidered with red thread, so ordinary people couldn’t notice it at all. The entire outfit maintained a simple and modest style.

But in her heart, she was quite proud of her little design. She had imagined that at night, after the wedding chamber, as husband and wife whispered to each other, she would let Fu Xiuyi guess and see if he could discover the pattern on her wedding dress. Fu Xiuyi would eventually see her clever and skilled side and gradually come to like her.

But in the end, on that night of brilliant lights, she waited in the bridal chamber for an entire night, until the red candles burned out, her heart growing cold, but Fu Xiuyi never came. Early the next morning, she was told that Fu Xiuyi had gotten drunk and slept in his study. She hadn’t slept all night but still had to enter the palace to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress. In her drowsy state, she made a fool of herself, which further displeased Fu Xiuyi.

He neglected her for nearly three months before finally touching her.

That wedding dress marked the beginning of her suffering. From the disappointment of her wedding night, countless grievances began to overwhelm her.

Shen Miao had always believed that if one person is good to another, the other’s heart would eventually warm up. Even if there wasn’t initial affection, there would still be emotional impact from such selfless kindness. But there are people who comfortably enjoy everything given to them, yet still find fault with others’ efforts.

That wedding dress, Shen Miao’s girlish, secret thoughts, ultimately remained unknown to anyone. The question she wanted to ask: “Husband, look carefully at my wedding dress, have you noticed anything?” was never asked despite a lifetime of opportunity. The person she wanted to see in her wedding dress never looked at her throughout her life.

She was lost in her reverie until Luo Tan’s exclamation brought her back to reality.

Luo Xueyan slowly took out the garment from the box and shook it open, allowing everyone to see it.

Her movements were extremely careful, as if fearing she might damage it.

It was an intensely bright crimson red, with extremely fine silk threads, as if woven from tens of thousands of thin silk threads into brocade, then tailored by the best embroiderers—neither too much nor too little.

Within the crimson fabric, fine and dense brilliant golden light flashed, whether from gold dust or some other means of incorporating these golden elements, making the entire garment seem to shimmer.

The red silk blouse was made of sea-shark brocade, as thin as cicada wings, in a scarlet flowing radiance. Embroidered over the golden-flashing red material of the embroidered red robe were intertwining patterns of dragons and phoenixes created with twelve-colored threads. The golden dragon was majestic, the colorful phoenix ethereal. Looking closely, the eyes of the dragon and phoenix were adorned with small black gems. The dragon scales and phoenix feathers were all fine-cut cat’s-eye stones threaded through needles, embroidered one stitch at a time.

The red skirt and pants were integrated, pure in color, made wide but flowing as if a fairy walking when touched by a slight breeze. Yet these too were thoughtfully designed, with small lotus flowers embroidered at the hem, symbolizing auspiciousness.

The ceremonial cape was even more extraordinary, with filigree inlay, chiseled carving, and kingfisher feather inlay, scattered with several hundred pearls that dazzled the eyes.

There was also a descendant’s pouch, a gold and silver demon-revealing mirror, and an official’s lock.

Most attractive was the phoenix crown.

The gold band at the base of the crown was decorated with jewels and ornaments around the circumference, with gold trim along the edge, and 12 gems embedded in the middle. Each gem was surrounded by 6 pearls, with jeweled flowers spaced between the gems. The ornamental fans on each side each featured 1 golden dragon, 2 jeweled flowers, and 3 pearl flowers, with pearl strings hanging from the edges. Shen Qiu even mindlessly counted—the entire phoenix crown had a hundred colored gems, while the red gems that adorned the phoenix’s eyes were too numerous to count.

Luo Xueyan held the heavy phoenix crown, feeling indescribable emotions. Even if Prince Rui was putting on an act, he had gone far beyond anyone’s expectations. This phoenix crown was probably what every woman in Ming Qi dreamed of, comparable even to the Empress’s crown. She anxiously asked, “Jingxing, is it appropriate for Jiaojiao to wear this crown?”

The animal on this crown was a phoenix, the king of all birds, which only an empress or princess could wear. Although Shen Miao was marrying Prince Rui and would be a princess consort, that didn’t reach the level of a princess. The crown should feature a pheasant instead.

Prince Rui smiled, “Madam, rest assured, my royal brother knows about this crown. In our Da Liang royal family, there are only two brothers. When Jiaojiao marries into the royal family, she becomes part of the royal family—a phoenix is merely appropriate, she can bear it.”

Shen Xin looked at Prince Rui thoughtfully. Luo Xueyan was about to say something when Luo Tan called out, “What beautiful embroidered shoes!”

Luo Tan carefully took out an embroidered shoe from the bottom of the wooden box, holding it in her palm.

These embroidered shoes were made very delicately, also in red, with small phoenixes embroidered on the surface. The shoe upper was already small, making it extremely difficult to embroider an entire phoenix, especially with tiny gems adorning the phoenix’s feathers. Yet the sole of the shoe also had a pattern—lotus flowers blooming, symbolizing “lotus with every step.” At the top of the shoe were two large, round South Sea pearls.

Shen Miao was slightly stunned when she saw them.

South Sea pearls were very precious. Because pearl divers could only collect pearls from shallow waters, deep-sea pearls were difficult to retrieve. Only the most skilled pearl divers could enter slightly deeper waters, and even then, encountering such pearls was rare.

Shen Miao recalled that currently, only the favored Concubine Xu had one, which she wore daily on her head to show her distinction. Yet here were two pearls, casually placed on shoes.

If she knew, Concubine Xu would be furious.

Shen Xin remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, “You’ve put thought into this.”

Such grandeur, such an exquisite wedding dress, could truly be called unique in all of Ming Qi. Prince Rui didn’t need to go to such lengths, but he did. Regardless of anything else, this would ensure that when Shen Miao got married, she would receive envy rather than mockery.

Prince Rui smiled, “As long as Jiaojiao is happy.”

Shen Miao’s heart stirred as she looked at the exquisite, beautiful phoenix crown and ceremonial cape, those alluring red embroidered shoes, thinking that wearing such garments would certainly be glorious.

In her previous life, she had never worn such magnificent clothes.

When she married Fu Xiuyi in her previous life, he had not yet risen to prominence, so simplicity and modesty were her daily habits. Later, after Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, she became a hostage to Qin, making lavish clothing even more out of the question. By the time she returned, the palace already had a beautiful and intelligent Madam Mei. Trying to compete with Madam Mei in charm would have been asking for trouble. After that, as Empress, she needed to dress in dignified, elegant, and mature, somber colors and formal styles. Although she was a young woman, compared to Madam Mei, she seemed many years older.

Looking back, her girlhood seemed to have completely ended on the night she married Fu Xiuyi, followed by painful, forced rapid maturation.

Was Xie Jingxing sent by heaven to fulfill her previous life’s wishes? Shen Miao laughed inwardly. It seemed that some of her regrets were being filled by Xie Jingxing unconsciously.

Perhaps this was also a kind of destiny.

After seeing the wedding dress, even the picky Shen Qiu had nothing to say.

To be fair, if it were Shen Qiu, he couldn’t have made such elaborate, such fine and expensive wedding attire. Although he would wholeheartedly give everything he had to the girl he loved, some things were simply beyond his capability. Prince Rui could do it because he was Prince Rui, nothing more.

Shen Qiu couldn’t help but look at Shen Miao. If she followed such a man, enjoying glory and wealth, and if this Prince Rui’s temperament was truly as good as he had demonstrated today, then perhaps Shen Miao’s life would be worthwhile.

After talking for a while longer, Luo Xueyan enthusiastically invited Prince Rui to stay for dinner. Prince Rui didn’t refuse, smiling, “But I’d like to speak with Jiaojiao alone for a moment. Would Madam permit this?”

Shen Qiu immediately became alert, “What do you want to say to my sister? You can tell me too. Come, let’s go to the courtyard and spar a bit.”

Luo Xueyan grabbed Shen Qiu’s ear and pushed him aside, saying, “What nonsense are you talking? How could Prince Rui spar with a rough person like you?” Looking back at Prince Rui, her eyes filled with uncontainable happiness, she said, “Let Jiaojiao take you to her room to talk. Don’t talk too long, it will be dinner time soon.”

Shen Miao and Shen Qiu: “…”

Mother, do you still remember who your flesh and blood are?

Luo Xueyan increasingly felt that Prince Rui was excellent. As a noble prince of Da Liang, he still specifically asked her permission to speak with Shen Miao, showing he was respectful. Luo Xueyan also wanted Shen Miao and Prince Rui to spend more time together. She had noticed the eye contact and small gestures between them earlier. Women understand women’s hearts best—Shen Miao’s manner clearly showed she had feelings for Prince Rui. Why hadn’t she seen her glare at Luo Ling, Su Mingfeng, or Feng Zixian like that?

Such happy little quarrels between sweethearts were just like what was written in storybooks.

Luo Xueyan happily went to instruct the kitchen, while Shen Miao, though somewhat speechless, glanced at Xie Jingxing and said, “Follow me to my courtyard.”

Shen Qiu eagerly wanted to follow, but Shen Miao turned back and said, “Big brother, you shouldn’t come.”

Shen Qiu widened his eyes in disbelief: “Sister?”

“Cousin Qiu,” Luo Tan grabbed the corner of his robe. “The young couple wants to have a private conversation. What are you, a grown man, eavesdropping for? If you want to spar, find Cousin Ling.”

Luo Ling came back to his senses, gave a bitter smile, but still said, “If Cousin wants to spar, I’m at your service.”

For the first time today, Shen Qiu was simultaneously rejected by all the women in the house, feeling extremely wronged. He naturally wanted to test his sister’s future husband thoroughly, but how could they be so easily deceived by sweet talk and a face they couldn’t even see clearly? Women were truly easy to fool. He looked at Shen Xin, displeased, “Father, are we just going to let that guy off?”

Shen Xin was looking down, lost in thought. Hearing this, he glanced at Shen Qiu: “After dinner, spar with him a bit, test his martial arts.”

Shen Qiu’s eyes lit up as he eagerly said, “Yes!”

Sure enough, Shen Xin was on his side. He had to make Prince Rui understand that women of the Shen family weren’t easy to marry!

Shen Miao led Xie Jingxing to her courtyard. Bailu and Shuangjiang were outside with the young maids tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard. When they saw Shen Miao bringing a large man back, they were all startled. It wasn’t until Guyu and Jingzhe greeted Prince Rui that the maids came to their senses and all curtsied.

Shen Miao directly led Xie Jingxing to her boudoir.

She wasn’t afraid of being seen—after all, it wasn’t the first time Xie Jingxing had come to her room. He came every few days to drink tea and eat snacks, having become familiar with the paths of the Shen residence. Turning back, she saw Xie Jingxing looking around and couldn’t help feeling annoyed, “It’s not the first time, what is there to look at?”

“It’s the first time entering through the front door,” Xie Jingxing smiled, sitting down at the table and looking at her. “Coming through the front door feels different.”

Shen Miao mocked, “Are you complaining that before you didn’t have official status, so your coming was improper?”

“Smart,” Xie Jingxing drank his tea.

“You came on your own, no one invited you,” Shen Miao said through gritted teeth.

Xie Jingxing looked at her with a smile, “Madam is very kind to me, and Cousin is also nice.”

Shen Miao mentally rolled her eyes. That was because they hadn’t seen Xie Jingxing’s cruel side. If they had, they wouldn’t be so kind to him.

She asked, “What did you want to tell me?”

“The matter you asked me to investigate last time—I’ve found out about it,” Xie Jingxing said.

“Investigate what?” Shen Miao had been too busy these days and had forgotten what she’d asked Xie Jingxing to help investigate, so she asked in confusion, “What matter?”

Xie Jingxing’s eyes flashed, “News of Pei Lang.”

Shen Miao suddenly remembered and recalled that there had been no news of Pei Lang for days. Now she became genuinely anxious and asked, “What did you find out? Has something happened to him?”

“You’re very worried about him?” Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow.

“He’s a person working for me,” Shen Miao frowned.

“Fine,” Xie Jingxing shrugged. “He’s not doing well right now. Fu Xiuyi seems to have discovered his identity and locked him in Prince Ding’s dungeon, torturing him severely to force him to reveal the truth.”

Shen Miao’s heart tightened slightly, “He’s still alive, right?”

“Fu Xiuyi hasn’t gotten the answer he wants, so he won’t let him die so easily,” Xie Jingxing said, then stared at Shen Miao and added, “You don’t seem worried that he might betray you.”

“He won’t,” Shen Miao replied.

Xie Jingxing frowned slightly.

Shen Miao thought that Pei Lang, although sometimes too rational—rational to the point of being inhuman—was never questionable when it came to loyalty. In her previous life, when he worked for Fu Xiuyi, he was always loyal to Fu Xiuyi. Pei Lang was a man of great talent. Later, Prince Zhou and others had tried to pull him away from Fu Xiuyi. At that time, Prince Zhou’s faction had the upper hand and could offer Pei Lang more than Fu Xiuyi could, but Pei Lang never wavered.

Pei Lang was a man of principle, and these principles were above everything in his heart. For instance, in her previous life, he assisted Fu Xiuyi wholeheartedly to secure his position, using everyone around Fu Xiuyi who could be used, including her. Although later, because of Fu Ming and Princess Wanyu, Shen Miao knelt and begged Pei Lang for help, Pei Lang remained unmoved, even watching the Shen family fall with his own eyes, perhaps contributing to it. But Shen Miao had never doubted Pei Lang’s loyalty.

Fu Xiuyi had been impatient in dealing with her. After their marriage, he was mostly cold toward Shen Miao. Apart from occasional concern and inquiries to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband, most of the time Shen Miao spent alone in Prince Ding’s mansion. Shen Miao wanted to please Fu Xiuyi, and knowing that Fu Xiuyi valued Pei Lang the most, she sought guidance from Pei Lang, hoping to make Fu Xiuyi see her in a new light.

Pei Lang had indeed taught her patiently, never showing impatience. Much of Shen Miao’s understanding of Ming Qi’s political landscape, besides occasionally hearing Fu Xiuyi speak of it, mostly came from Pei Lang’s guidance.

Pei Lang was her teacher at Guangwen Hall, and in a way, he was also her teacher in Prince Ding’s mansion.

Therefore, Shen Miao would not doubt that Pei Lang would betray her.

“Fu Xiuyi has many methods,” Shen Miao rarely showed anxiety. “Especially toward those who betray him. Once he discovers such people, he will never trust them again and will personally eliminate them in the end. Since Pei Lang has already been discovered, Fu Xiuyi might keep him alive now to get answers, but that doesn’t mean he won’t do other things. What if he mutilates him?” Shen Miao shuddered.

Shen Miao had witnessed firsthand how Fu Xiuyi treated those who betrayed him. She had also seen with her own eyes what the dungeon was like.

Perhaps from that time, in addition to admiration for Fu Xiuyi, she also felt a thread of fear and dread.

After all, someone who was restrained and gentle in public but ruthless in private was truly enough to make one feel chilled.

Xie Jingxing’s gaze was sharp: “How do you know how he treats those who betray him?”

In the past, Shen Miao would have noticed the oddity in Xie Jingxing’s words, but now, her mind wasn’t focused on this. She didn’t care about these things. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Xie Jingxing and said, “You have a way to rescue him, right?”

Xie Jingxing put down his teacup and said, “Give me a reason.”

Shen Miao looked at him. His gaze was sharp, unyielding, making one’s heart shrink.

“Because there’s no reason to stand by and do nothing.”