Tonight, the Rui Prince’s Mansion was unusually tense.

Servants moving back and forth in the courtyard wore grave expressions, as if the sky had fallen. Even the night wind seemed icy cold, sending chills down one’s spine.

Tieyi approached the young man and said in a low voice, “Master, no trace has been found.”

Xie Jingxing glanced at him. The calmer his expression, the more it seemed like a black storm was brewing in his eyes, as if at any moment it might sweep someone away. He asked in return, “None?”

Tieyi shuddered. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Gaoyang walking out from inside. Gaoyang still smelled of alcohol, obviously having been hastily called from the banquet, but his eyes were clear, not drunk. He walked straight over and said, “The sister-in-law is fine. The knife wound didn’t reach any vital areas. I’ve had it bandaged. She probably fainted from shock and has been given some calming medicine. She should wake up early tomorrow.”

Xie Jingxing’s gaze relaxed slightly, and Tieyi also breathed a sigh of relief. Then Gaoyang continued, “But Pei Lang’s injury is severe. The stab wound is too deep, and he’s lost a lot of blood. I’ve done everything I can, but whether he can pull through depends on him.” The implication was that whether Pei Lang would wake up depended on how tough he was.

“It seems Mr. Pei took the blow for Madam,” Tieyi cautiously said. Although Pei Lang’s position in the Rui Prince’s Mansion was somewhat awkward, at this moment, one couldn’t help but be grateful to him.

“This is not necessarily a good thing,” Gaoyang glanced at the grim-faced Xie Jingxing and said, “If he truly doesn’t wake up… given sister-in-law’s personality, she will feel guilty for the rest of her life.”

Shen Miao was a person with clear emotions who disliked owing others. If she owed someone anything, she would certainly repay it. Pei Lang had saved her life, and if Shen Miao woke up to learn about this, if Pei Lang didn’t survive, one couldn’t imagine how Shen Miao would react.

“Have the city gates of Longyi been sealed?” Xie Jingxing asked.

“Yes,” Tieyi replied, “The Moyu Army’s covert operatives have all been mobilized. However, since no one nearby noticed anything and Madam didn’t even have time to call for help, the attacker either had no martial arts skills or was extremely skilled.”

Xie Jingxing said, “Don’t overthink it. Capture any alive, kill them directly.”

“And those behind it…”

“Continue investigating.”

Tieyi left to carry out the orders. Xie Jingxing looked at Gaoyang and said, “Stay here tonight. If the situation becomes critical, don’t bother coming back and forth.”

Gaoyang said, “I understand.” He looked at Xie Jingxing, “You should rest first.” His expression was extremely solemn.

To attack the Rui Prince Consort so close to Bijiao Tower—the culprit’s boldness was truly excessive. Not only that, but they seemed to hold no regard for the Rui Prince’s Mansion. In the capital, those with such audacity were probably only the Lu family. But the Lu family wouldn’t target Shen Miao, so the implications of this incident were quite profound.

Regardless, this was a signal that the forces hiding in the shadows had finally grown restless and begun to stir, and they had chosen Shen Miao as the first sacrifice in the Rui Prince’s Mansion.

But now Xie Jingxing had no mind to worry about all this. He walked into the room where Shen Miao lay on the bed, her face pale, eyes closed, her eyelashes drooping, looking quite fragile.

He sighed and sat down by Shen Miao’s bedside.

On the table in the room was the food basket containing the longevity noodles that Shen Miao had specially ordered from Bijiao Tower’s kitchen for him. Bajiao had mentioned they might have spoiled, so she had specially filtered them with cold water first. But by now, even after filtering, they had already congealed into a lump.

Xie Jingxing thought for a moment, then reached out and opened the food basket, retrieving the bowl from inside.

The noodles in the bowl had already thickened into a paste. One could vaguely see the white noodles, green vegetables, and a yellow egg yolk. When freshly made, it must have been fragrant and appetizing. Now cold, it was no longer palatable.

But Xie Jingxing took a pair of chopsticks and began eating in large mouthfuls.

Bajiao and Huixiang had said that early this morning, Shen Miao had sent Guyu to buy fireworks and prepared wine and food in the small pavilion not far from Bijiao Tower—watching fireworks by the lake would be perfect. She had also specifically instructed someone to cook longevity noodles at the right time, clearly intending to apologize.

They had been at odds for some time, and Shen Miao had been the first to concede. Bajiao also mentioned that Shen Miao hadn’t been well these past days. Xie Jingxing felt relieved; as a man, he should be more magnanimous and not dwell on past matters. Who would have thought that before the apology could be made, he would find Pei Lang and Shen Miao lying in a pool of blood.

It was difficult to describe the feeling at that moment—perhaps like being in the height of summer yet feeling a chill from head to toe, lacking even the courage to step forward and confirm.

Fortunately, she was ultimately unharmed.

Xie Jingxing ate the tasteless noodles and finally finished the bowl. He placed the empty bowl on the table and held Shen Miao’s hand. He felt regretful.

If he hadn’t been angry with Shen Miao, she wouldn’t have thought to apologize to him. If she hadn’t gone to the pavilion near Bijiao Tower, perhaps this incident wouldn’t have happened.

Outside, Luo Tan received the news and hurried over. Seeing Gaoyang, she first asked him, “What happened to my little cousin?”

“She’s fine,” Gaoyang said, “Pei Lang took a knife for her.”

“Mr. Pei?” Luo Tan was stunned. “Then how is Mr. Pei?”

“Not good,” Gaoyang shook his head.

“You can’t save him?” Luo Tan asked.

Gaoyang smiled bitterly, “I’m a doctor, not a Buddha. If everyone could be saved, the King of Hell’s palace would be empty.”

Luo Tan said, “I only learned today that my little cousin had quarreled with my brother-in-law, supposedly because she didn’t visit him when he was ill? Those ladies at Bijiao Tower were all blaming my little cousin, saying she was cold and heartless. What do they know? When my little cousin was seeking medicine for my brother-in-law from that strange Taoist, did any of them see? So unreasonable!”

“Strange Taoist?” Gaoyang caught the key point in her words and asked, “What strange Taoist? And what do you mean by seeking medicine?”

Luo Tan froze, regretting her slip of the tongue. She had spoken impulsively, remembering that Shen Miao had told her not to mention it, so she said, “Nothing, I was just saying. Let me see my little cousin first.” With that, she began walking toward the room where Shen Miao lay.

Gaoyang grabbed her and said, “Don’t go in. Xie Jingxing is inside.”

“Ah?” Luo Tan lowered her head, suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Are you staying here tonight?”

“I need to stay and monitor Pei Lang’s condition,” Gaoyang said, “You should go back first.”

Luo Tan shook her head, “I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here until my little cousin wakes up.”

Gaoyang knew Luo Tan was stubborn and didn’t try to persuade her further.

That night felt exceptionally long for everyone.

The news of Shen Miao and Pei Lang’s attack was kept secret; the guests at Bijiao Tower were unaware, assuming Xie Jingxing had simply left the banquet early, not knowing that the Rui Prince’s Mansion was experiencing a sleepless night. Throughout the night, the servants anxiously awaited the outcome.

Summer days are long, and nights are short. When the sun began to shed some light and birds started chirping in the courtyard, both rooms remained utterly silent.

Xie Jingxing looked at Gaoyang and asked, “What’s happening?”

Gaoyang’s brows were tightly knit as he checked both Shen Miao’s and Pei Lang’s pulses. Before everyone in the room, he shook his head.

“Strange. Pei Lang’s injuries are severe, but so far there’s been no response. He should have shown some reaction, but he’s like he’s just sleeping. The Princess Consort’s wounds didn’t reach bone or flesh, and she’s taken calming medicine. She should have woken by now, but she hasn’t.”

“So?” Xie Jingxing’s face was as cold as water, his gaze toward Gaoyang intimidating.

“This… is quite strange.”

Uncle Tang cautiously suggested, “Could there be another poison that Doctor Gao hasn’t discovered yet?”

“Impossible,” Gaoyang firmly denied, “Neither of them shows symptoms of poisoning in their pulse. Their pulses are faint, showing no obvious problems, yet they simply won’t wake.”

“What are we going to do?” Luo Tan grew anxious, “My little cousin can’t just sleep like this forever. There must be a reason.”

Gaoyang glanced at Xie Jingxing, whose gaze was so intense that even he could barely withstand it. He could only say, “Let’s wait half a day and see.”

During that half-day, Xie Jingxing stayed by Shen Miao’s bedside without leaving a step. But even after half a day had passed, night fell again, and Shen Miao still hadn’t awakened. Pei Lang was the same.

Uncle Tang asked Gaoyang, “Young Master Gao, what’s going on? Even if Madam and Mr. Pei don’t wake up, there must be a reason. Can’t even you determine the cause?”

Gaoyang was truly frustrated beyond words. Shen Miao and Pei Lang showed no symptoms whatsoever, yet they simply wouldn’t wake up. Even as a doctor, he needed to diagnose based on the patient’s reactions, but aside from their barely perceptible pulses, they were just like ordinary people asleep. How could he determine the cause?

Yet under Xie Jingxing’s increasingly cold and sharp gaze, Gaoyang felt considerable pressure.

Eventually, Ji Yushu also hurried over after hearing the news, and everyone fretted together.

Luo Tan couldn’t help it, growing so anxious she was about to develop a fever. Nearly in tears, she said, “Have we offended something these days? First my brother-in-law, and now my little cousin. If anything happens to my little cousin, how will I face my aunt and uncle?” She blew her nose, “I came along promising to protect my little cousin, but now I’ve protected her into this state. I’m truly ashamed.”

Gaoyang patted her shoulder, “This isn’t your fault.”

“If I had been by her side, at least I wouldn’t have let anyone exploit the situation,” she said, then thought of something else and angrily continued, “And my brother-in-law too—if he hadn’t been angry with my little cousin, people wouldn’t have followed her and targeted her for no reason.”

Gaoyang was helpless. The matters between the couple, Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao, were indeed beyond his intervention. However, Luo Tan was currently agitated, and the fact that Shen Miao wouldn’t wake up was indeed a reality.

“If my little cousin doesn’t wake up, then he’ll truly regret it,” Luo Tan said angrily, “Those ladies, with their biased views—he is her pillow companion, yet he doesn’t believe she has genuine feelings for him.” She thought for a moment and clenched her fists, “Thinking about it, there’s no need to hide this from my brother-in-law. My little cousin has done so much for him, only to have others take advantage. If my little cousin is truly unwell, at least she should have a chance to clarify. If she won’t say it, I will.”

“What do you want to say?” Ji Yushu asked curiously.

Luo Tan glared at him, “Of course, it’s about accomplishments greater than those of the Ye siblings!”

Luo Tan angrily went to find Xie Jingxing. Gaoyang, fearing she might cause trouble, quickly followed. At the doorway, they saw Xie Jingxing walking out of the room with a grim face. Since Shen Miao’s incident, Xie Jingxing’s expression hadn’t changed.

Luo Tan said, “Rui Prince.” She didn’t use the affectionate “brother-in-law” anymore.

Xie Jingxing glanced at her. With Shen Miao not waking, he was distraught and had no patience for others, his face forbiddingly stern.

But Luo Tan had always been reckless; once her temper flared, she feared no one, not even the highest authority. She said, “My little cousin wouldn’t let me tell you before, but now she’s lying in bed ill. If she won’t say it, I will. I have no reservations and don’t overthink things like she does. Hiding what she’s done without letting anyone know is too unfair!”

Uncle Tang, Tieyi, and the others standing nearby all looked at Luo Tan in surprise when they heard this.

“Those ladies say that when you were bedridden, my little cousin rarely visited you. You felt neglected and thought my little cousin was heartless, so you were displeased and angry with her, right?” Luo Tan stared at him and said, “But you don’t know that during those days she didn’t visit you, it wasn’t because she didn’t want to see you, but because she left the city to seek medicine for you!”

Leaving the city to seek medicine for Xie Jingxing? Xie Jingxing’s gaze fell on Tieyi, who lowered his head, not daring to meet Xie Jingxing’s eyes.

Previously, Shen Miao had told the servants to conceal this. Later, after Shen Miao returned, for some reason, she and Xie Jingxing began their cold war. Once Xie Jingxing hardened his heart, no one around him dared to touch his sore spot at such a time. They had planned to wait a few days before saying anything, but they didn’t expect such an incident to occur.

“Explain clearly,” Xie Jingxing stepped forward.

Luo Tan said, “You probably don’t know, but it’s said there’s a powerful person at Fengtou Estate who can alter fate and modify one’s destiny.” She glanced at Gaoyang, “At that time, Gaoyang was refining the antidote for you. My little cousin gave you all three of her Returning Yuan Pills, but they could only sustain your life temporarily. If a remedy wasn’t found within ten days, your life would be in danger. But on the fourth day, your condition became critical. The Imperial Physician said you wouldn’t last seven days. My little cousin heard about this master at Fengtou Estate and took me and several guards there.”

Xie Jingxing’s gaze shook violently.

What kind of person was Shen Miao? Rational and shrewd in analyzing pros and cons, seemingly particularly skeptical of supernatural claims—yet she would believe such absurd talk of altering fate. She must have truly been desperate and anxious.

“Fengtou Estate isn’t far from Longyi, but the dwelling of that master was extremely difficult to find. That day, we rushed there overnight, nearly getting lost in the forest where there were wolf packs. My little cousin wasn’t afraid in the slightest, insisting on lighting torches and searching through the night, fearing we wouldn’t make it back in time to save you.”

“The next day, we found that master. Due to some esoteric reason, he only took me and my little cousin, both of us without martial arts, into the valley. He said there was a spiritual herb that could cure all poisons, but my little cousin had to pay a price. The price wasn’t particularly difficult—it didn’t require gold or silver, nor one’s life. Instead, she had to pick out insects from red-sleeved grass throughout the entire valley, one by one, and then fertilize each plant.”

Gaoyang and Ji Yushu showed surprise, while Uncle Tang and Tieyi were utterly shocked.

They had never heard these things from others and didn’t know the origins of this story. Uncle Tang now suddenly understood—no wonder Shen Miao looked so disheveled when she returned to the mansion that day, appearing undignified compared to Li Mei. At the time, they didn’t know the reason, but now they understood. Shen Miao had gone without sleep that night, busying herself as a gardener for someone else to obtain medicine for Xie Jingxing. He felt both admiration and sorrow. To humble oneself for another’s sake required not only the ability to be flexible but, more precious, the heart to do so.

Luo Tan seemed to grow more indignant as she spoke, “It sounds simple, right? But she was raised delicately from childhood. A whole valley full of plants—even a peasant woman couldn’t do it alone. She hadn’t slept before that and immediately started working, toiling for an entire night. You privileged people have probably never even touched a carrying pole for fertilizer in your entire lives. Since she could accomplish this, why should she be considered inferior to those siblings? The Ye siblings saved you, true enough. They certainly have life-saving grace towards you, but my little cousin is no less deserving!”

“They say she wasn’t by your side, but ask the servants of this Prince’s Mansion—before she left, how many days did she keep vigil by your bedside? Did she ever leave your side? Didn’t she care for you without rest? Is she still inferior to the Ye siblings whom you barely know?”

“Now that my little cousin has fallen to this state, I feel wronged on her behalf. When the Prince took her from Ming Qi to Da Liang, what did you promise? Yet you couldn’t even trust her. She may have many flaws, but one thing is beyond doubt—her sincerity is beyond question!”

After finishing, Luo Tan’s face was flushed, as if she had swept away all the pent-up anger in her heart. Looking at Xie Jingxing’s expression, he showed neither joy nor sorrow, his face calm, but the calmer he appeared, the more chilling it felt. As if beneath that tranquility, a boundless storm was gathering.

“Finished?” he asked slowly.

His tone was so cold that even Luo Tan couldn’t help but shrink her neck.

Gaoyang quickly stepped forward and said, “Now is not the time to investigate these matters. The most pressing issue is figuring out how to wake them up.”

Xie Jingxing laughed coldly, “That’s simple enough—just arrest the Ye siblings.”

Ji Yushu was stunned, “Third Brother, what are you planning to do?”

“Since she behaves unusually regarding the Ye siblings, they must have problems. Whether they instigated this or not, there’s no reason to spare them.” Xie Jingxing turned to leave. Gaoyang grabbed him and said, “You can’t! They aren’t the powerless Li family anymore; they’re the Ye family. What would be the consequences of disturbing the Ye family?”

“Let go,” Xie Jingxing said coldly.

“Calm down,” Gaoyang said, “If the Princess Consort truly hates the Ye siblings, she has been compromising for so long, surely not wanting to use self-damaging methods. Wouldn’t this just undermine her efforts?”

“That’s right, Third Brother,” Ji Yushu chimed in, “The Ye family in Longyi is not some small household. If you act like this, it might bring trouble to the Prince’s Mansion too.”

“She can endure it, I cannot,” Xie Jingxing said, “The Ye family crossed the line.”

“Third Brother…” Ji Yushu was about to persuade him when suddenly Bajiao’s voice came from outside the courtyard. The usually smiling maid now seemed somewhat panicked, saying, “Master, someone has come!”

Tieyi frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with Bajiao’s loss of composure, and asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s… the Taoist priest that Madam and we met at Fengtou Estate,” Bajiao hesitantly replied.

“What?” Luo Tan’s eyes widened.

Ji Yushu, who had been holding Xie Jingxing’s sleeve, couldn’t help but let go and look at Bajiao, “Taoist priest?”

Bajiao nodded.

In the hall, the shabbily dressed strange Taoist was touching this and looking at that, as if it were his first time entering a noble mansion, his eyes full of curiosity. Huixiang and Cong Yang stood awkwardly to the side. They were acquainted with Master Chiyan, but this Master Chiyan had entered and immediately spoken to them in a familiar tone, which made them somewhat uncomfortable.

When Xie Jingxing and his group arrived at the hall, Master Chiyan was about to pry the gem eye from a crane on a vase, asking Huixiang, “Can this poor Taoist take this?”

“Master Chiyan!” Luo Tan called out as soon as she saw him.

Chiyan looked at her and smiled, “Miss Luo, it’s been a long time.”

Luo Tan thought to herself, it hadn’t been that long at all, but right now she couldn’t worry about that. She said, “Have you come because you know my little cousin is in trouble, specifically to change her fate?”

Although Luo Tan thought this Master Chiyan was quite demanding, he seemed to have some real abilities, otherwise, Shen Miao wouldn’t have trusted him so much.

Master Chiyan looked at the silent Xie Jingxing behind Luo Tan and smiled, “This poor Taoist cannot change fate, only divine it. Young man, what do you think?”

“I don’t believe in the ways of heaven,” Xie Jingxing said.

“The ways of heaven are inherently without belief, so why should people stubbornly seek answers from them?” Master Chiyan shook his head and said, “This lady’s destiny is unique; others cannot fathom it, and it all depends on her own choices. You and I, we can do nothing.”

Luo Tan couldn’t understand Master Chiyan’s mysterious words and urgently asked, “Master, what should be done about my little cousin now?”

“Is the spiritual herb I gave her still available?” Master Chiyan asked.

“Eh?” Luo Tan was confused, “When we returned, the Prince’s poison had already been neutralized, so that herb was naturally useless. I don’t know where my little cousin put it.”

“This servant might know,” Jingzhe said, and led everyone to Shen Miao’s room. Sure enough, they found a dusty box under her dressing table. When opened, inside lay a herb that didn’t look particularly special.

Sharp-eyed Luo Tan said, “That’s it!”

“Brew it,” Chiyan stroked his beard.

“Wait,” Xie Jingxing looked at the strange Taoist, “Why should I trust you?”

“You can choose not to trust this poor Taoist, but you have no other options,” Master Chiyan sighed deeply. “This herb was sought by this lady, but when she found it, this poor Taoist had already said the word ‘futile.’ Even without this herb, you would have been safe. In your destiny, this calamity did not exist. Her actions were, in fact, in vain.”

Everyone was stunned by this.

“However, it wasn’t entirely in vain,” the strange Taoist’s face showed a hint of satisfaction, “Those who love others will be loved in return; those who save others will be saved in return. If, back in that valley, she had shown even the slightest insincerity or perfunctoriness, she wouldn’t have obtained this spiritual herb, and today wouldn’t have happened. This herb was sought in your name, but it was actually to save her. Her sacrifice for you was saving herself!”

Luo Tan now vaguely understood something and asked, “You mean, you already knew this herb wouldn’t be used on the Prince, but on my little cousin? You foresaw that my little cousin would face this life-threatening ordeal, so you had her exchange for the herb, actually for her own sake.”

The strange Taoist looked at Luo Tan and smiled, “The child can be taught.”

Xie Jingxing stared at him, “You made her work as a plant caretaker?”

There was killing intent in his eyes. The Taoist stepped back, hiding behind Gaoyang, coughing lightly, “She had this calamity in her fate. This poor Taoist has already minimized that calamity as much as possible. Compared to one’s life, isn’t being a gardener much easier?”

“But why hasn’t she woken up?” Gaoyang was puzzled, “I am also a healer, and I’ve examined her condition but can’t find the source. She seems to have no ailment. She should have woken up today, but she hasn’t. What’s the reason for this?”

The Taoist said, “This poor Taoist has already said, this is a predestined calamity in her fate.”

“All this talk of calamities is confusing,” Luo Tan said, “Why don’t you just tell us directly—if my little cousin takes this herb, when will she wake up?”

Chiyan smiled, “That herb is not for her to consume, but for the other injured person.”

The other injured person—could it be Pei Lang?

Xie Jingxing said quietly, “If you dare to deceive us with supernatural pretenses, I can take your life right now.”

“Too much hostility,” Chiyan shook his head, “That person sacrificed his life for the lady due to some entanglements in fate. This lady seeking the herb happened to be able to settle this debt.”

“Then what about my sister-in-law?” Ji Yushu asked.

The strange Taoist looked at Shen Miao lying on the bed. Her expression was peaceful, as if asleep, but her face was pale, giving an unreal impression.

“In my valley, she picked insects off an entire mountain of red-sleeved grass, but she couldn’t pick out the insects in her own heart.”

“This calamity is both fortunate and unfortunate for her.”

“This poor Taoist has had three encounters with her, with concern across two dynasties. This last meeting with her is for the sake of this karmic connection.”

“Human affairs are never perfect; there are regrets, there are discontents. She seeks an answer, but no one can tell her.” The strange Taoist narrowed his eyes.

“Now, she has found a way, and the answer she seeks is right before her. No one can help her—not you, not her, not this poor Taoist.”

“So, wait patiently,” the Taoist looked at Xie Jingxing.

“That is your karmic law.”