Just looking at the expressions of those around, one could guess with their toes just how shocked everyone’s hearts truly were. The smile Jiang Xuening had forced onto her face showed several faint cracks.

She actually wanted to acknowledge him.

But thinking of Xie Wei, thinking of the price of acknowledgment, Jiang Xuening didn’t dare offer even half a friendly smile. She very politely severed the relationship: “I’m not at all acquainted with the heir. Please don’t jest, heir.”

Jest?

Women’s faces truly changed faster than flipping through a book.

Just a while ago she was still saying “I’ll cover you when we get to the capital.”

Xiao Dingfei’s eyeballs rolled. Though grumbling inwardly, thinking with his brain he also knew there was some reason in between. Plus, Jiang Xuening would have to be stupid to “collude as rogues” with him under everyone’s watchful eyes. So understanding, he changed to that shameless scoundrel manner everyone was familiar with, muttering: “Pretty young ladies in the capital are just so proud, so hard to tame!”

Someone behind him changed expression.

Prince Linzi Shen Jie stood in the rear. Having received Yan Lin’s entrustment to look after Jiang Xuening and not knowing the inside details, he only thought Xiao Dingfei was bewitched by lust and taking advantage with his words. His brow furrowed, and he rarely showed some authority, his voice slightly cold: “Second Young Miss Jiang is the study companion most favored by Imperial Sister. She’s the legitimate young miss of Jiang Shilang’s manor. Dingfei heir must not be presumptuous. If you young misses are going to pay respects to the Empress Mother, then go quickly.”

Shen Jie wore an apricot-colored brocade robe today, with gold crown and jade belt—a refined and handsome scholarly appearance.

Jiang Xuening’s gaze passed over Xiao Dingfei to look at him, directly meeting his gaze as he looked over.

The other party also started, then actually nodded slightly toward her.

Jiang Xuening’s heart jumped.

Not because this gaze held any deep meaning, but when this once-familiar face appeared before her eyes, even knowing that in this life she had no connection whatsoever with this person, she would still be pulled back into memories of her previous life by his gaze, giving rise to some sighs of emotion.

In her previous life, Consort Wen Jieyu had a miscarriage, Shen Lang had no heir, and ultimately passed the throne to his full brother Shen Jie.

In this life, Consort Wen escaped disaster. If she successfully gave birth to an imperial son, Shen Lang would have an heir, and the selection of crown prince probably wouldn’t fall to Shen Jie.

Did this Prince Linzi before her eyes know?

His destiny had already, unknowingly, been gently nudged by another’s hand, blown on by a breath, making a great turning detour?

Jiang Xuening timely lowered her eyelids, not revealing any abnormality. She only bowed with everyone in courtesy, passed by this group of noble sons, and headed again toward Cining Palace.

Shen Jie was momentarily stunned.

He couldn’t help looking back at Jiang Xuening. He saw this Second Young Miss Jiang with whom he had only a few meetings had a graceful figure and slender back. Even walking among everyone, she could still be distinguished at a glance. His eyes thus slowly revealed some confusion.

He always felt that glance revealed profound sadness.

Perhaps he was distracted for a moment and saw wrong?

Xiao Shu walked not far out, but her face still held unconsumed anger. Turning her head, she seemed about to say something to Jiang Xuening.

However, Jiang Xuening had long anticipated this.

The moment Xiao Shu turned to face her, a half-smile already hung at her lips. She took the initiative to attack Xiao Shu first, turning the tables: “Originally hearing people say the Duke Manor’s Dingfei heir had a photographic memory in his youth and was a child prodigy. Who would have thought that now returning to the capital he’s a frivolous libertine with loose speech. Why doesn’t the Duke Manor properly discipline him?”

Everyone: “…”

Xiao Shu: “…”

All the words in her belly were blocked back. For a moment, she even forgot what she had originally wanted to say in her anger.

Nearly a month unseen, returning again, Jiang Xuening was still that Jiang Xuening who left people helpless and grinding their teeth in hatred!

*

Jiang Xuening had thought going to Cining Palace she could see Shen Zhiyi, but following everyone inside to pay respects, when she looked up, she didn’t find anyone beside the Empress Dowager.

The old hag, just recovering from serious illness, looked somewhat listless.

After receiving their respects, she only asked Xiao Shu a few questions. Abnormally, she didn’t even mention Shen Zhiyi once, much less admonish them to properly serve as study companions for the Grand Princess. She just waved her hand to dismiss them.

Just emerging from Cining Palace, Jiang Xuening’s brow furrowed.

Clearly she wasn’t the only one puzzled.

Zhou Baoying’s chubby little bun face was puffed up, also somewhat confused: “Why didn’t we see Grand Princess today either?”

Xiao Shu didn’t answer.

But Chen Shuyi smiled meaningfully: “The palace’s great joyous event—Her Highness will soon go marry the Xiongnu. These past days she’s been making preparations. It’s been nearly half a month since she left the palace gates. Naturally, she hasn’t come to pay respects to the Empress Dowager like us.”

Zhou Baoying covered her mouth with an “Ah.”

Yao Rongrong blinked, not knowing whether she truly didn’t understand or was pretending. She actually said softly: “Even if going to marry, not coming to pay respects even to the Empress Dowager—isn’t, isn’t that somewhat inappropriate…”

Jiang Xuening coldly glanced at her.

You Yue observed Jiang Xuening’s expression, inevitably gloating: “Saying it’s preparing for the marriage, but who doesn’t know Her Highness’s temperament? She’s probably throwing a tantrum with the Empress Dowager. But matters of state—how can Her Highness be allowed to be willful? Alas.”

She sighed hypocritically.

Jiang Xuening only felt her palms itching, wanting to give this vicious mouth two slaps before her heart could be satisfied.

But truly, times were different now.

She forcibly suppressed this anger and sneered coldly, but looked toward Xiao Shu: “We are ultimately Her Highness’s study companions. Having entered the palace after New Year, shouldn’t we go pay respects to Her Highness?”

If it were before, with Xiao Shu’s well-rounded nature, she would definitely agree with Jiang Xuening’s suggestion.

However, the imperial edict ordering Shen Zhiyi to marry the Tartars had already been issued.

For a Grand Princess about to leave this palace who had already fallen out with both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, even though they had indeed been familiar in the past, weighing the pros and cons, she ultimately smiled and said lightly: “Now that Her Highness is troubled, not even seeing His Majesty or the Empress Dowager, why should we disturb her?”

This watertight style truly disgusted Jiang Xuening. She simply stopped even pretending at face and said coolly: “What excuse are you looking for? Miss Xiao’s skill at seeking advantage and avoiding harm is top-notch. If you won’t go, so be it. Does anyone want to go together?”

She turned her gaze to look at the others.

Chen Shuyi always stood with Xiao Shu and didn’t speak out. Yao Rongrong fearfully lowered her head. Zhou Baoying knitted her brows, looking between Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi, seemingly quite puzzled and appearing very conflicted. You Yue snorted coldly and didn’t move at all. Fang Miao quickly fumbled a copper coin from her sleeve, cupped it in her palm shaking it, closed her eyes and muttered something.

Jiang Xuehui’s figure moved, but looking at Jiang Xuening and thinking the Grand Princess was close with her and probably didn’t think much of herself in her heart, she dismissed the thought of stepping forward.

After deliberating a moment, she said: “I’m not on thick terms with Her Highness and dare not presumptuously go. If younger sister Ning sees Her Highness, please convey my respects to Her Highness for me.”

Jiang Xuening glanced at her but didn’t answer.

After waiting a moment, with neither anyone stepping forward nor anyone responding, she sneered coldly and swept her sleeves to leave.

She had walked a good ten-some steps when an urgent shout finally came from behind: “Ah, it came out—due east, excellent divination! Wait, Second Young Miss Jiang, great noble person, please wait for me!”

She looked back and indeed it was Fang Miao.

This properly dressed young lady full of charlatan airs lifted her skirt hem and hurriedly ran toward her, sheepishly raising the copper coin from just now toward her. Slightly out of breath but smiling mysteriously: “The divination told me I should go with you.”

Among so many study companions at Yangzhi Studio, only Fang Miao appeared the least reliable. No matter what she did, she always had to divine and seek omens first before making decisions.

Jiang Xuening’s impression of this person had always been quite subtle.

Could human fate and fortune truly be calculated, or was seeking divine guidance only finding seemingly disinterested excuses for one’s own decisions?

She looked at Fang Miao for a moment and finally gave her a slight smile. Without asking more, she headed directly toward Mingfeng Palace.

*

Jiang Xuening was truly worried about Shen Zhiyi.

During this time in the palace, it had been Shen Zhiyi looking after her and being good to her.

She wasn’t heartless—how could she feel at ease?

The sky darkened.

When she and Fang Miao arrived at Mingfeng Palace, lamps had already been lit outside.

In the lamplight, she saw a female official standing outside the bedchamber quietly wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. Nearly a month unseen, she seemed much more haggard. If not that Su Shangyi who had always been close with Shen Zhiyi, who else could it be?

Jiang Xuening’s heart sank further. Walking forward, she paid respects: “Su Shangyi, is Her Highness in the palace?”

Su Shangyi’s eyes were still somewhat red. Looking up to see her, she was somewhat surprised: “Second Young Miss Jiang, you are…?”

Jiang Xuening said: “Entering the palace today, coming to pay respects to Her Highness.”

Su Shangyi had always maintained a stern, expressionless face. Hearing this, tears nearly welled up. She led them into the palace, even somewhat choked up: “During New Year, Her Highness still mentioned you, young miss. It’s truly wonderful that you can come see Her Highness.”

Outside, the palace lamps were bright.

Inside Mingfeng Palace seemed somewhat dim, with only two or three lamps lit. Walking in during winter even gave one an illusion of desolate cold.

Jiang Xuening shivered.

A slender figure ahead cast a shadow on the dim, smooth floor.

Shen Zhiyi wore pale yellow palace attire with flying phoenix patterns, standing before a screen. Though only points of light fell on the exquisite embroidered threads of the palace attire, it still brought out radiant flowing brilliance—truly heaven’s pampered daughter, noble imperial blood.

She was looking up at that screen, seemingly somewhat lost in thought.

Su Shangyi announced them inside.

Only then did she slightly turn back. Seeing Jiang Xuening, whom she hadn’t seen in nearly a month, paying respects to her, she showed little surprise, as if she had been the same this whole time. She smiled naturally: “Ningning came.”

At this moment, Jiang Xuening’s heart greatly grieved.

Only because the face Shen Zhiyi turned showed such calm, without ripples. Gone was her past love of play and mischief, even somewhat domineering unreasonableness. She seemed to have lost interest in everything—indifferent either way.

It was a feeling of weariness.

Like peeling away the bright colors on a person’s exterior, leaving inside only bleak gray-white.

Her guilt and remorse suddenly surged out like a tide: With Shen Zhiyi who had been so endlessly good to her still trapped in the palace, how had she dared think of escaping to the ends of the earth during the Tongzhou campaign against the Tianjiao?

In her previous life, she had personally witnessed Shen Zhiyi going to marry the Tartars.

The marriage envoys and guard escort wound from the imperial palace to outside the city.

But what returned was a cold coffin!

Tears unexpectedly fell down Jiang Xuening’s face.

But Shen Zhiyi walked over and took her hand. The scar under her eye was no longer covered with powder. Under the flickering light, it was the scar carved on her cheek by those years of turbulent state power and bleeding mountains and rivers.

She led her to that screen: “Look, very soon I’ll be going to the other side of Yanmen Pass.”

It was actually a map, drawn in ink depicting that territory beyond Yanmen Pass belonging to the Tartars.

Jiang Xuening could recognize the line of small characters beside it was foreign script.

So she remembered that back when marrying the Tartars, envoys had sent a map of Tartar territory, presenting it to Shen Lang. Central Plains had ancient precedent—presenting a map was equivalent to presenting the territory and lands drawn on the map!

Shen Lang was an ambitious monarch.

Merely sacrificing a mere imperial family princess to exchange for Tartar submission—why not?

Only unfortunately, the marriage alliance with the Tartars was ultimately seeking skin from a tiger. Within a few years, the Tartars tore up the treaty and raised troops to invade. The Grand Princess Shen Zhiyi, bearing the blood of the Daqian imperial family, naturally sacrificed under the sword and halberd of power…

Jiang Xuening wanted to speak but couldn’t.

Shen Zhiyi smiled faintly: “I thought you’d come comfort me. Who would have thought that upon seeing me you’d start dropping tears, instead requiring me to expend effort comforting you. I heard today is also your birthday. This crying and weeping won’t do? You’ll cry all the good fortune into bad luck, and this princess won’t stand for it.”

She had palace servants bring in wine and dishes.

Then pulling Jiang Xuening’s hand, also glancing at Fang Miao, she actually didn’t ask why the others didn’t come, only saying: “Since you’ve come, tonight we’ll happen to drink a couple cups. Consider it celebrating your birthday.”

Fang Miao had never really connected much with Shen Zhiyi. After all, among the various study companions at Yangzhi Studio, there were many more capable ones. No matter how one ranked, it wouldn’t fall to her. So even though Shen Zhiyi didn’t pay her much extra attention, she didn’t mind.

Palace servants set out wine and arranged dishes.

She sat down together with Jiang Xuening to drink wine with Shen Zhiyi. Probably also knowing the atmosphere wasn’t good now, she tried to say amusing things to make them both happy, occasionally able to draw out smiles.

After three rounds of wine, worries were all cast aside.

All three became tipsy.

Fang Miao had the worst alcohol tolerance and was the first to collapse on the table.

Shen Zhiyi’s wine had also gone to her head. Seeing Fang Miao fall, she laughed heartily, then pulled Jiang Xuening to walk out the palace gates to view the sixteenth day’s moon. But her feet floated beneath her, and she tumbled sitting onto the steps outside.

Deep night with heavy dew, the steps were damp.

Jiang Xuening had drunk quite a bit. After passing out once, she became increasingly sober the more she drank. She also sat on the steps, accompanying her together, raising her head to gaze at that cold frost moon in the high heavens.

Shen Zhiyi seemed to feel somewhat cold and lightly hugged her arm.

A blurred voice escaped: “Ningning…”

Jiang Xuening didn’t dare look back, afraid of meeting tearful eyes. She only said: “Your Highness, I’m here.”

Shen Zhiyi murmured: “So afraid that once I go, I won’t see you again.”

Jiang Xuening gazed at that pale moon, allowing it to illuminate her wine-stained face until it too was pale. For a long time, she didn’t speak.

Tears wetted her neck hollow.

It was Shen Zhiyi sighing with a smile: “Sometimes I truly hate being born in an imperial family…”

Jiang Xuening trembled, but at this moment, immense courage also surged in her chest, making that crazy thought in her heart emerge again, tempting her to speak: “Your Highness, don’t go marry. I’ll help you escape far away, alright?”

Shen Zhiyi’s face nestled against her neck hollow.

The person seemed drunk, hazily letting out a laugh from her throat: “Mm, Ningning take me far away.”

Her shoulder grew heavy.

Shen Zhiyi had finally fallen asleep like Fang Miao.

Jiang Xuening sat stiffly on the steps for a long time. When the icy dew wet her lashes, Su Shangyi beside her walked over to support the drunken Shen Zhiyi. Only then did she take a palace servant’s hand and rise. Together with Fang Miao who had been awakened, she drank half a bowl of sobering soup and was escorted back to Yangzhi Studio by palace servants from Mingfeng Palace carrying lanterns.

Fang Miao stumbled deep and shallow, long since not knowing east from west. Returning to her room, she collapsed to sleep immediately.

Entering her room, Jiang Xuening’s consciousness was exceptionally clear.

She lit a lamp, drew water to wash her face, and stood before the gradually calming water in the copper basin, but stared at the reflection in the basin, lost in thought for a long time.

Until very light knocking sounds awakened her.

“Knock knock.”

In the dead of night, someone actually stood outside her door, asking in a low voice: “Has Second Young Miss Jiang retired?”

It was a somewhat high-pitched voice—one could tell at a glance it was a palace eunuch.

Jiang Xuening’s face still bore water droplets. Her pupils suddenly contracted: “Who?”

The eunuch outside said: “Bringing you longevity noodles.”

Jiang Xuening was immediately stunned.

Longevity noodles?

Her heart held doubts. She stepped forward to open the door and indeed saw a young eunuch. His face was unfamiliar, wearing clothes from the Imperial Kitchen, holding a food box that was also of Imperial Kitchen design.

In the dead of night, who could command the Imperial Kitchen? How many could there be?

Moreover, in these deep palace forbidden quarters, who knew today was her birthday?

She took the food box from the young eunuch’s hands, her eyes again feeling hot and moist. She only lowered her eyelids and said: “Thank you for the trouble. Please thank Her Highness the Princess for still remembering.”

That young eunuch had originally been somewhat timidly keeping his head down. Hearing this sentence, he looked up somewhat surprised, opened his mouth as if wanting to say something, but in the end tightly closed his mouth again.

He made no sound and quietly withdrew.

Jiang Xuening originally hadn’t noticed this detail and naturally wouldn’t think deeply. She only closed the door, sat at the table, and removed the food box lid.

A simple bowl of noodles. The noodle soup was made with simmered chicken broth, a poached egg nestled beside it, tender green scallions scattered on top, knife-cut fine shredded meat stirred within.

Steaming hot, floating with a layer of fragrance.

Jiang Xuening picked up the silver chopsticks placed in the food box, lifted some up and ate several bites, but actually couldn’t taste what flavor it was. Only those teardrops fell like broken threads into the bowl, mixing into the noodle soup, growing saltier the more she ate.

In the end, holding that empty bowl, she actually cried bitterly.

Only the crying was soundless.

Sitting in the cold, lonely night, listening to the jade water clock outside dripping through the third watch past midnight—it was already a new day.