Shen Miao and Luo Tan returned to the initial thatched cottage. Hui Xiang and Ba Jiao stood beneath a locust tree, gazing into the distance, while Cong Yang and Mo Qing sat under the tree with their swords, their brows tightly knitted.

Hui Xiang suddenly said, “They’re coming!” Ba Jiao also hurried forward to meet them. They saw the eccentric priest followed by Luo Tan and Shen Miao walking toward them. Luo Tan looked somewhat fine, but Shen Miao appeared as if she had fallen somewhere, her entire body smeared with dirt, her hair slightly disheveled, and she also carried a strange odor.

Hui Xiang and Ba Jiao exchanged a glance, their thoughts aligned. Ba Jiao asked, “Madam, you…”

Luo Tan was about to speak, but was tugged on the sleeve by Shen Miao. Looking up, she saw Shen Miao almost imperceptibly shake her head, so she swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

Shen Miao said, “Let’s go.”

Daoist Master Chiye, however, said, “Since you’re in a hurry to leave, there’s no need to take the path you came on. Let me show you a shortcut.” He led them on a winding route until they reached a place where an endless expanse of farmland suddenly appeared. Among these crisscrossing fields, there was a small visible path.

Benyue had said that the path the siblings took had fields and a small path. What they saw now matched that description perfectly. It seemed that the siblings hadn’t taken the path that Shen Miao and her party had come on, but this one instead.

Chiye said, “If you follow this path straight ahead, you’ll reach the exit.” Then he looked at Shen Miao and smiled, “This poor Daoist once told Madam that you would face a calamity.”

Shen Miao looked at him calmly. “Is the Daoist Master saying that this calamity is about to appear now?”

“Calamities arise due to heaven’s will, and heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed.” The priest smiled mysteriously. “However, before long, this poor Daoist and Madam will meet again. At that time, I hope Madam can, just like last night, remove all the insects from the Red Sleeve Grass. Only then will there be hope for overcoming the calamity.”

His words were neither clear nor straightforward, leaving the others completely bewildered. Even Shen Miao wasn’t entirely sure what he meant. But there was no time to linger here now. If everything had gone according to plan, counting the time they had left plus the night they had spent here, today was already the sixth day. The Guiyuan Pill could sustain at most ten days, and according to the old Imperial Physician, Fu Xiuyi’s poison had already begun to spread, and he would be in danger in about seven days. There was simply no time to delay.

After bidding farewell to Daoist Master Chiye, Shen Miao and her group set off along the small path through the fields. This path was indeed, as Daoist Master Chiye had said, much easier than the forest they had traversed the day before.

When it was time to board the carriage, Hui Xiang couldn’t help asking, “Madam, what exactly did that priest make you do? And what happened last night?” She looked at Shen Miao’s disheveled appearance, unable to believe that nothing had happened.

Shen Miao said, “Nothing happened. Getting back is the priority.” She was the first to board the carriage. Seeing that Shen Miao was unwilling to discuss further, Hui Xiang and the others, though suspicious, could do nothing. Moreover, Fu Xiuyi’s condition truly couldn’t be delayed, so they spurred their horses and hurried back.

In the carriage, Luo Tan asked Shen Miao, “Little cousin, why aren’t you saying anything?” In Luo Tan’s view, Shen Miao had suffered greatly for Fu Xiuyi, which was undeniably moving. Even in ordinary households, not every spouse could do so much for their partner – a noble young lady humbling herself to work as a herb gardener for an entire night wasn’t something everyone could do. Shen Miao had suffered but chose not to tell others, keeping it to herself instead. What good would that do?

“These things aren’t for showing off to others,” Shen Miao said. “Besides, if word got out, it would damage Prince Yi’s reputation. This matter ends here; you shouldn’t tell others either.”

Luo Tan asked, “Not even Prince Yi can know?”

Shen Miao nodded.

Luo Tan said, “I understand.” Then she said to Shen Miao, “You should rest for a while. Coming and going, we’ll reach Longyi by tomorrow. You worked all night yesterday without rest, and now you look very haggard. Even if I help you keep it secret, your appearance will give it away.”

Shen Miao nodded and leaned back against the carriage, closing her eyes. Having been busy for an entire night yesterday, she was indeed both tired and weary, almost at her limit. There was no need to persist, and she fell asleep almost immediately upon closing her eyes, regardless of the carriage’s bumps.

This night’s sleep was very brief; it seemed as if she had barely slept before Shen Miao was shaken awake. Opening her eyes, she saw Ba Jiao looking at her, saying, “Madam, Miss Luo, we’ve arrived at the mansion.”

Luo Tan had just awakened, too. The two of them jumped off the carriage, and it was already the second day’s morning, with the sun already high in the sky. Shen Miao rubbed her forehead, but when she saw that there was no one guarding the main gate of Prince Yi’s mansion, her heart sank.

The Prince’s mansion had always maintained strict security, and the guards were selected from the Ink Feather Army, usually very strict. Now, with not even a person at the gate, could it be that… something had happened?

Luo Tan also noticed this and had a foreboding feeling, but she was afraid of upsetting Shen Miao and didn’t dare say a word. It was Mo Qing who said, “Madam, let’s go in and see.”

Cong Yang and the others, being Fu Xiuyi’s subordinates, naturally showed concern. When they entered the Prince’s mansion, they found it eerily empty, which increased their suspicion and unease. Shen Miao walked briskly, and not paying attention, she almost bumped into someone. The person was startled, turned to look at Shen Miao, and was stunned: “Madam, you’re back!”

It was Uncle Tang.

Uncle Tang’s clothes looked very disheveled, unlike his usual meticulous appearance. Shen Miao hurriedly asked, “What’s happened? Why is there no one in the mansion?”

“Madam, why have you only returned now? Somehow, news that the master’s life was hanging by a thread got out. These days, many people have been testing the waters openly and covertly. The mansion has been trying to conceal it, but people from the court keep coming around. It’s been chaotic. Madam Ji has inquired about your whereabouts several times, and then there’s the Emperor’s side…”

Luo Tan said, “My little cousin has been busy finding a master who could save her husband. Speaking of which, we’ve now obtained…”

“Oh right!” Uncle Tang slapped his forehead. “I forgot to tell you the good news. The master has awakened!”

Shen Miao and Luo Tan were both stunned. Shen Miao asked, “Awakened?”

“Yes!” Uncle Tang said. “Madam doesn’t know, but on the night you left, the master’s wound suddenly opened, and the poison couldn’t be contained. Even the Imperial Physicians from the palace said that the Guiyuan Pill couldn’t save the master’s life. Young Master Gao was also brought in, but he had no solution either. They all said that within two days, the master would be beyond help.” Uncle Tang’s convoluted narrative made people’s hearts race. Luo Tan, being impatient, couldn’t help asking, “And then what?”

“Then news that the master was near death spread, somehow reaching every street and alley. Madam Ji was anxious, and seeing that all of Longyi knew, she simply posted a notice outside, requesting that any passing doctor who could cure the master’s illness would be richly rewarded. As luck would have it, someone took up the notice, came in, gave the master an herb, and Young Master Gao processed the herb into a pill for the master. The master’s wound began to heal gradually, and he even woke up briefly this morning. Young Master Gao and the Imperial Physicians from the palace have examined him and confirmed that the master’s injuries are gradually recovering, and the poison has been neutralized.”

Uncle Tang finished in one breath, paused, and then sighed, “They say the master was not fated to die. Two years ago, others also said he wouldn’t make it, but he pulled through. Now it’s the same again. It’s truly heaven’s benevolence, and also the late Empress Dowager’s blessing from heaven.”

Hearing that Fu Xiuyi’s poison had been neutralized, Shen Miao finally let out a sigh of relief. Hui Xiang and the others also patted their chests, their suspended hearts finally returning to their stomachs.

Luo Tan looked at Shen Miao, thinking that Shen Miao had gone to great lengths to obtain the herb from that harsh eccentric priest, but now the herb was rendered useless, all because some passerby happened to take up the notice. But then again, that person had cured Fu Xiuyi, so there was nothing wrong with what they had done. She just felt that Shen Miao’s efforts had been in vain.

Uncle Tang continued, “When the master first woke up, he asked about you, Madam. He asked where you had gone. You had instructed this old servant not to speak freely about this matter, and since you were away for so long, this old servant was worried and feared that the master would worry too much, which might worsen his condition, so I kept it a secret.”

Shen Miao said, “You did well.” She didn’t want others to know about her seeking out Chiye for several reasons: first, she feared others might take advantage of this information; second, if a person is overly distressed about something, that thing becomes an obvious weakness. If one day someone wanted to deal with Shen Miao, they would only need to target Fu Xiuyi. Shen Miao didn’t want to expose her weakness too early.

Moreover, she wasn’t sure how Fu Xiuyi would view her somewhat rash behavior. She thought she would explain everything to him once his condition improved.

“I’ll go see him first,” Shen Miao said.

“Madam,” Uncle Tang stopped her, saying, “The master has just taken the medicine prepared by Young Master Gao and is now resting. It wouldn’t be good for Madam to go now.”

Shen Miao pondered and then looked at Uncle Tang. “Why is there no one guarding the mansion gate? It seems so chaotic. There aren’t many people around either. What’s going on?”

Uncle Tang smiled ruefully, “Too many things have happened these days, and this old servant forgot to inform Madam. Although everyone in Longyi now knows that the master has been saved and that he came back from the brink of death unscathed, Madam Ji and Young Master Ji still couldn’t ease their minds and have been staying in the mansion these past days. This old servant has also been concealing your whereabouts from them, only saying that you went to seek help from physicians. As for those who saved the master’s life, they are also the master’s benefactors, so this old servant has accommodated them in the mansion. Today, when the master woke up, Madam Ji and the others went to see him. The benefactors are now sitting in the main hall, with Madam Ji and Young Master Ji there as well, saying they want to properly thank them. However, the benefactors are not greedy for power or status; earlier, we tried to give them thousands of gold, but they wouldn’t accept it.”

“Then what do they want?” Luo Tan asked. “Didn’t they take up the notice? If not for seeking a reward, why would they take it up?”

Uncle Tang looked at Luo Tan and smiled, “This old servant is also confused. Madam Ji asked the benefactors, and they said they happened to be passing by that day, saw the notice, and remembered that the benefactors had an herb passed down from their ancestors that could cure all poisons. Thinking that this herb could save a life, they didn’t think much of it and took up the notice, coming to our mansion.”

Luo Tan shrugged, “That’s truly noble and upright. I couldn’t do that. Ancestral heirlooms should be carefully considered. To save a stranger… it requires a certain spirit.”

Uncle Tang also smiled, “Indeed.” Then, looking at Shen Miao, he said, “Madam Ji is also troubled by this matter. This old servant is unsure what to do, but now that Madam has returned, it’s good. Madam should take a look and decide what would be appropriate to gift them.”

“Since they’re life-saving benefactors, I should meet them first,” Shen Miao said, lowering her eyes. “Are they in the main hall now?”

“Yes,” Uncle Tang said. “This old servant was just going there. It’s perfect, Madam can go there with me.”

Shen Miao nodded, and Luo Tan quickly followed.

On the way, Uncle Tang suddenly seemed to remember something and said, “Speaking of which, those two benefactors seem to have just arrived in Longyi and aren’t very familiar with it. They said they came to find relatives. Madam Ji was thinking that in a few days, she would help arrange something for the two of them. Our Prince’s mansion can also contribute some effort. If we could post some notices outside to help find their relatives, that would be good.”

“Two benefactors?” Shen Miao asked. “There are two of them?”

“They’re a pair of siblings,” Uncle Tang said with a smile. “They’re about the same age as you, Madam, and are quite striking in appearance. Madam Ji, being kind-hearted, even suggested introducing some talented young men and noble ladies to them. They seem very sensible; during their few days in our mansion, they’ve gotten along well with the servants.”

The servants in Prince Yi’s mansion were all trained by Fu Xiuyi’s Ink Feather Army. Even those who weren’t from the Ink Feather Army were people of firm mind. During her days at the Prince’s mansion, Shen Miao had observed that these people all had their own set of rules in their actions. It was surprising that Fu Xiuyi, who disregarded rules and acted casually, had trained a batch of subordinates who were strict with themselves to the point of almost being masochistic.

To get along well with these people was not something an ordinary person could achieve. Even with the most generous heart, there would still be a basic level of caution and boundaries between people, especially with the people of Prince Yi’s mansion. Shen Miao couldn’t help but feel that these “benefactors” were somewhat unusual, though she wasn’t sure if it was just her intuition.

Luo Tan was curious, “It sounds like these siblings are truly good people.”

“Perhaps,” Uncle Tang smiled. “Regardless, having saved the master’s life, they will always be honored guests at the Prince’s mansion.”

As they were talking, they reached the entrance of the main hall. As soon as they stepped in, they saw Madam Ji and Lord Ji seated in the center of the room. Lord Ji was turning his head to say something to Madam Ji when she saw Shen Miao following behind Uncle Tang. Madam Ji jumped up, walked quickly to the front, and said, “Jiaoniang, you’ve finally returned!”

There were also some ladies in the hall whom Shen Miao had never met before. Shen Miao looked at Madam Ji with some confusion. Madam Ji noticed her gaze and said in a low voice, “These are ladies who came to visit Jinghang… It wasn’t appropriate to send them away during the day, so I had to let them sit here.”

Shen Miao understood. Fu Xiuyi’s position in Longyi was truly delicate. His life and death concerned the lives and interests of many people in the court. To see if he was dead, those court officials couldn’t come themselves, so they sent their wives under the pretext of comforting Madam Ji, to see for themselves. Comfort was the excuse; the real purpose was to see Fu Xiuyi’s condition. Fu Xiuyi had woken up this morning, and these ladies had probably rushed over to ascertain the truth.

Madam Ji said, “Where have you been these days? Uncle Tang said you went to find doctors, but you couldn’t be found anywhere. I almost couldn’t handle these people. You’ve finally returned.” Towards the end, she added a small reproach, “I understand you were anxious and went to find doctors before Jinghang woke up, but regardless, you should have stayed by your husband’s side. This morning when he woke up and didn’t see you, he was quite disappointed. You’re no longer a young lady from an official’s family but the Princess Consort of Prince Yi’s mansion. Consider the cause and effect of your actions. Many eyes are watching.”

The words weren’t very pleasant to hear, but Shen Miao knew that Madam Ji meant well. Moreover, by all rights and reasons, it was Fu Xiuyi, not Shen Miao, who was related by blood to Madam Ji. Before explaining her reason, her action of leaving without a word indeed seemed excessive and inconsiderate. Therefore, Shen Miao didn’t feel wronged by Madam Ji’s reproach.

Just as Madam Ji had finished speaking softly to Shen Miao, a woman in the hall looked at Shen Miao and smiled, “The Princess Consort has finally appeared. These days, when we came to visit the sick, we didn’t see the Princess Consort. We thought the Princess Consort might be so heartbroken over the Prince’s illness that she couldn’t face visitors, and we were quite worried, fearing something might have happened. Now, seeing that the Princess Consort is fine, we can rest easy.”

These words, both explicitly and implicitly, were criticizing Shen Miao for not being a qualified Princess Consort. As a Princess Consort, with her husband seriously injured and bedridden, she neither stayed by his bedside nor appeared to receive guests. Her whereabouts were mysterious, which was bad enough, but she also seemed cold-hearted and unfeeling.

Madam Ji’s expression became somewhat displeased. Shen Miao smiled slightly and turned sideways to the lady, saying neutrally, “The household was in chaos. Thank you for your concern, madam.” The implication was clear: my household affairs don’t need your, an outsider’s, concern.

Shen Miao had always been someone who matched strength with strength. She would yield to someone as unfathomable as Fu Xiuyi, but for a woman without much wit, she didn’t need to think too much. Therefore, her words were particularly sarcastic, leaving that lady speechless.

But as she turned sideways, her appearance was exposed to everyone. Suddenly, another lady exclaimed, “Princess Consort, what happened to you? Why are your clothes so dirty? Did you fall somewhere?” Then she quickly covered her nose, showing an extremely uncomfortable expression.

Madam Ji and Lord Ji were startled, as was Uncle Tang. All eyes in the hall “swoosh” focused on Shen Miao, and they realized that Shen Miao’s clothes were covered with soil and dust, filthy. Looking closely, her hair also seemed somewhat disheveled, despite having been arranged. She looked quite bedraggled. And her body emitted a faint, strange odor that seemed like… it seemed like the smell of fertilizer.

Those ladies, who already didn’t like the foreign Princess Consort, immediately began chattering, suggesting that Shen Miao might have been anxious and therefore acted inappropriately, or perhaps she had suddenly fallen somewhere.

Luo Tan, standing behind, was fuming as she listened. Only she knew how Shen Miao had come by this bedraggled appearance, yet Shen Miao had warned her not to tell anyone about it.

Uncle Tang was somewhat surprised. When he had seen Shen Miao, he was focused on the main issue and had overlooked her appearance. Moreover, Shen Miao had always been dignified and noble, dressed impeccably. When had she ever been so disregarding of her appearance? Madam Ji’s face also showed some embarrassment. Shen Miao was her nephew’s wife, and criticizing her was like slapping Madam Ji in the face.

Amidst the whispers, Shen Miao’s expression remained the calmest. She didn’t find anything inappropriate. These ladies were exclusionary and didn’t see her as one of them. For those determined to find fault, even if she were dressed in the most expensive attire today, they would not change their opinion of her. Therefore, she didn’t feel particularly embarrassed by her disheveled appearance in others’ eyes.

After all, they wouldn’t be sitting together drinking tea in the future.

Just as Madam Ji was about to say something to smooth things over, they suddenly heard a man’s laughter from the outer hall, saying, “Brother Li truly has great talent. I couldn’t solve this Nine-Linked Rings, but you solved it in less than half an incense stick’s time. Besides my third brother, no one has been faster than you.”

It was Ji Yushu’s voice.

Following that, another voice sounded, seemingly from a young man, very clear but also somewhat hoarse. Combined, it sounded quite distinctive. The person said, “Brother Ji is too kind. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to His Highness the Prince.”

Shen Miao felt a jolt in her heart, and involuntarily, her heart suddenly tightened into a ball. The clear, hoarse voice was very familiar, but she couldn’t recall who it was. Yet her soul trembled at this moment. She looked down at her hands; the sleeves were long, only exposing the fingertips. Those delicate fingertips, showing several blood marks from her night of toil, were now trembling violently.

The next moment, Ji Yushu’s voice sounded, “Don’t say that. When my third brother wakes up, he’ll want you two to have a match. My third brother loves intelligent people, and if you go, he’ll certainly appreciate you.”

The curtain of the main hall was lifted, and two people walked out. Ji Yushu walked at the front, suddenly saw Shen Miao, and was startled. Then, regardless of the presence of the various ladies, he took three steps in two and came forward, asking, “Sister-in-law?” Then he lowered his voice, “You’re back. These days you weren’t here, I asked Tieyi, but he wouldn’t tell me where you went.”

Shen Miao didn’t answer his words, her gaze fixed firmly on the person following closely behind Ji Yushu.

It was a young man, about twenty-some years old, with very plain features, so plain that it seemed difficult to discern any particular characteristics. Yet, strangely, he attracted attention, perhaps because he exuded an aura of being a “clever person.” He wore a pine-scented robe, blue cloth boots, and his eyes were like the summer sun, warm and intoxicating, yet with a hidden fanaticism.

Shen Miao’s body tilted, almost falling. Luo Tan was quick to support her waist from behind, thinking she was too tired from the night before and couldn’t stand any longer.

Seeing her looking at the young man, Madam Ji said, “This is one of the benefactors who saved Jinghang, Young Master Li.”

The young man bowed to Shen Miao and smiled, “I am…”

“Li Ke!”

Shen Miao screamed in her heart. She would never forget this name, never forget these seemingly warm, childish eyes. This man, who, in just a few short years, grew to become Fu Xiuyi’s right-hand man, almost on par with Pei Lang; this brother of Madam Mei, Li Ke!

She never imagined that after that long life had passed, in this life, she would meet this man again, here in this foreign land, in her mansion, in front of a room full of people. Li Ke had just appeared so openly before her.

Her face suddenly turned pale. On one hand, her reason reminded her not to make strange movements in front of these ladies; on the other hand, she glared fiercely at Li Ke, wanting to rush up and tear this person to pieces, to drink his blood and eat his flesh!

The Madam Mei siblings—the reason her previous life ended so tragically was all due to this brother and sister. Madam Mei captured Fu Xiuyi’s heart, and Li Ke rode on her coattails to be promoted. Li Ke served Fu Xiuyi diligently, while Madam Mei, with strong backing, became increasingly favored. The siblings relied on each other to advance: Madam Mei found ways to marry off Princess Wanyu, while Li Ke found ways to depose the Crown Prince. Madam Mei caused the entire Shen family’s first branch to be executed, while Li Ke had deep friendships with Shen Gui and Shen Wan from the second and third branches.

This evil fate couldn’t be escaped, whether in the previous life or this one. But Shen Miao never imagined it would be here, with him posing as Fu Xiuyi’s benefactor!

She suddenly recalled what Uncle Tang had said: “They’re a pair of siblings.”

Shen Miao’s fierce gaze momentarily stunned Madam Ji, who asked, “Jiaoniang…”

“Weren’t there two benefactors?” Shen Miao smiled slightly, slowly shifting her gaze, her tone containing an eerie quality that even she didn’t detect. She said, “Where is the other one?”

“A maid spilled tea on her earlier, so I asked her to change into different clothes. Jiaoniang, you have plenty of clothes, and there are no other women’s clothes in the mansion. It wouldn’t be appropriate to use the maids’ clothes, so I took some of your clothes for her to wear,” Madam Ji explained.

Just as she was speaking, Ji Yushu looked at the doorway and said, “Here she comes.”

The woman had a lotus face, a willow waist, and a beauty that rivaled the heavens. Dressed in light, thin garments, she approached slowly. The midday sun entered as she lifted the curtain, making this young lady appear even more stunningly beautiful. She smiled lightly, dazzling, as if across a lifetime, the radiance Shen Miao had seen before her death.

Shen Miao stood in the room, her clothes disheveled and bedraggled, her face pale, staring at the woman like a hungry wolf, like a fierce tiger, like a poisonous snake or wild beast lurking in her heart, waiting for an opportunity.

That person, wearing her clothes, had come to her mansion, saved her husband, and now appeared before her, flaunting herself.

The enemy from her previous life, the mortal foe of this life, an evil fate that couldn’t be cut off and kept getting more tangled, once again pushed to the edge of destiny.

“Mei Niang pays respects to the Princess Consort,” the woman said.

Mei Niang?

No, you’re not Mei Niang, you’re… the heart’s blood of Emperor Fu Xiuyi of Ming Qi, the mother of the new Crown Prince Fu Ming.

And also my irreconcilable enemy, Madam Mei.