The wind at night was really extremely cold. Xie Jing Xing only brought Shen Miao out of the Princess Residence as the horse carriage from the Shen family was waiting outside. Shen Miao wanted to speak but Xie Jing Xing's figure disappeared from her side. It was Mo Qing and Ah Zhi who were somewhat surprised when she suddenly appeared at the residence's doors. Ah Zhi asked, "Why did Xiǎojiě come out alone? How about the rest?"
Just as he spoke, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu ran over panting and only gave a sigh of relief when they saw Shen Miao. Jing Zhe said, "These servants were waiting outside but Yang Gūgū said that you had come out and this servant thought that she was lying. It was only when one saw that there was no one in the room then one came over to take a look. One did not think that Xiǎojiě really came out." She then looked around and said in confusion, "However, it was only a room and these servants were standing guard outside. Why does one did not see Xiǎojiě coming out? Could it be that there is some secret passage in Princess Residence?"
Gu Yu lightly coughed to remind her not to talk nonsense. This was after all outside Princess Residence and even if there were secrets in the Princess Residence, it would be the Princess Residence's secret, so how could it be said so unscrupulously by them?
Jing Zhe stuck her tongue out and looked at Shen Miao. Shen Miao's brows were tightly knitted and her expression was very solemn. Jing Zhe saw it and said softly, "Just now when one went in, Gōngzhǔ Diànxià's expression was not very good. Xiǎojiě, did you quarrel with the Gōngzhǔ Diànxià?"
Shen Miao shook her head and thought about everything that happened today, unknowingly her head got bigger. She climbed up the horse carriage, "Return back first." If there is any matter then one would continue thinking about it upon returning to the Shen Mansion. What had happened today was totally out of her expectations.
Just when the carriage was about to depart, Shen Miao could not help but to lift up the curtains and look back. The dark night had covered everything as there was not even a trace of moonlight, thus nothing could be seen.
She sighed softly.
However, at a corner near the Princess Residence, the purple-clad youth silently watched as the horse carriage left.
Gao Yang no longer moved his folding fan and instead kept it at his waist. He looked at the handsome youth in front and his expression became a little complicated. He asked, "Is it worth it?"
"There will always be such a day." Xie Jing Xing said indifferently.
"Isn't it a pity?"
Xie Jing Xing's lips slightly raised as his mask covered his appearance and expression. Like usual, it made others feel a slight sarcasm and some disdain.
He said, "It is only the end of fate."
Gao Yang no longer spoke and only shook his head after a moment and patted Xie Jing Xing's shoulder.
A few servants came out from the Princess Residence and were carrying some things in a basket. They poured its content onto the floor before throwing the basket on the ground.
One of the servants felt it was a pity, "This thing cost a lot of money and if one sell it to the medical hall, one would even make a profit. It is really a pity to throw it away."
"What do you know." The servant by the side glared at her, "One does not know if this thing has poison. If there is poison then it would be inviting trouble if one were to sell it. Don't look at it any more, let's leave."
The two servants then turned around and returned to the Princess Residence and left the lone basket on the ground.
However, one had known that these were the 'coincidentally' received herbs that the medical hall sent over for Princess Rong Xin's heart illness. However, at this moment it was abandoned like used shoes and even had the suspicion of being 'poisoned'.
Gao Yang had a disturbed expression as one's meticulous effort was being trampled on that no matter how big-hearted one was, they would not be happy about it. He wanted to say some words of comfort but Xie Jing Xing had already walked far away.
His brocade robe, tall stature and leisure walk in the night had an irresistible magnificent style.
It was just that that figure looked a bit lonely from the back.
Shen Miao returned to the Shen Mansion. Shen Xin and wife had been waiting for her in the residence as the skies were already dark but Shen Miao had not returned, making everyone think that something had happened. Seeing that she returned safely, they finally gave a sigh of relief. Shen Miao was troubled and mentioned that she was tired and wanted to rest early, thus, everyone did not suspect anything. When Shen Miao returned to her bed chambers, she instructed Jing Zhe and Gu Yu to withdraw before sitting down in front of the table.
Her heart was somewhat restless.
It was a bit of a rash decision for Xie Jing Xing to appear in Princess Residence today and expose his identity in front of Princess Rong Xin. Xie Jing Xing was not an obtrusive person thus, there was no other reason other than to help Shen Miao out of the impossible situation as Princess Rong Xin would take action against the Shen family.
To create more difficult situations due to oneself was something that Shen Miao was unwilling to see. Even though Xie Jing Xing was said to be difficult to deal with every time, he did not do real harm to her from the beginning to the end.
Shen Miao did not know how deep the relationship was between Princess Rong Xin and Xie Jing Xing was but in Princess Residence, Princess Rong Xin's reaction to Xie Jing Xing's real identity was indeed heart-rending. Xie Jing Xing did not say anything and looked casual as if it did not enter his heart but Shen Miao knew how big the damage was when it was caused by one's loved ones.
Just like in the previous life, Fu Xiu Yi did it to her, the Second and Third Households of the Shen family did it to her, it was because when all pretences were dropped, it was so cold and all those warm and tenderness were such ridicules. If the indifference and damage were from Xie Ding, Xie Jing Xing could care less about it but because it was Princess Rong Xin, he could not.
After all, the first Tiger Head Bracelet that Xie Jing Xing made was given to Princess Rong Xin. After all, upon returning back to Ding capital city after two years and learning that Princess Rong Xin's heart illness erupted, he still sent people to search for the herbs immediately.
In the end, there were emotions that were invested in it.
Shen Miao got up in irritation. She walked over to the windows and pushed it open to look outside. The skies outside the window seemed to have splashed within as the winter night in Ding capital city seemed to reveal a feeling of sorrow.
She thought for a while before turning back to the room and retrieved a dark red brocade cloak to drape around her body. The rope in front of the cloak was tightly knotted before she walked over to the window to call out softly, "Cong Yang."
A black shadow fell from the tree and stood straight in front of Shen Miao before respectfully speaking, "What command does Shào Fūrén have?"
Currently, Shen Miao no longer hears the way Cong Yang called her. She hesitated before saying, "Bring me to Xie Jing Xing."
Cong Yang's jaw dropped and he sucked in a mouthful of cold air. He was born with a serious look and normally had a principled expression on and currently looked somewhat comical.
Shen Miao's gaze was somewhat ashamed into anger, "Do you have a way or not?"
"Shào Fūrén." Cong Yang recovered his senses and looked like he was in great difficulty, "This subordinate does not know where Zhǔzi is at the moment."
Shen Miao frowned. Cong Yang monitored her all day in the Shen Mansion and indeed it was impossible for him to know about Xie Jing Xing's whereabouts. Today, when he came out of the Princess Residence, Xie Jing Xin walked too quickly and before she could even ask, no one knew where Xie Jing Xing had gone.
However, one did not know why but one felt that Xie Jing Xing would be at the residence of Prince Rui at the moment. One could not talk about his happiness or anger and he was used to bottling up his emotions under the mask, thus, Shen Miao felt that if Xie Jing Xing was frustrated, he should be alone.
She made a decisive decision and said to Cong Yang, "Bring me to the residence of Rui Wángzǐ."
Cong Yang's face turned to one of difficulty and Shen Miao frowned, "You cannot even do this?"
Cong Yang quickly explained, "This subordinate can naturally do it by oneself but it is not possible to bring Shǎo Fūrén along."
Shen Miao asked him, "Do you know qīnggōng?"
Cong Yang nodded his head continuously.
"Then it is alright." Shen Miao said, "You can grab me and bring me to the residence of Rui Wángzǐ." She thought it very simply, just like what Xie Jing Xing did to her. Cong Yang was Xie Jing Xing's people and in some degree even easier to move him than Mo Qing and the rest. The most important thing was she did not want more people to know about Xie Jing Xing's identity as an additional person knowing would be an additional risk. Even if it was the people she trusted as one would not know if they would be made used by others.
When her words were out, Cong Yang repeatedly shook his head and there was some fear in his eyes as he said, "No can do."
"Whatever is wrong?" Shen Miao's patience was almost exhausted.
Cong Yang said, "It is improper for male and females to have physical contact."
Shen Miao, "…"
She really did not know how Xie Jing Xing found these guards that were more disciplined than females. Afterwards, no matter what Shen Miao said, Cong Yang was not willing to 'bring' her to the residence of Prince Rui.
Now, Shen Miao was in a difficult position. Without letting Cong Yang use qīnggōng, she would need to walk out of the main doors of the Shen Mansion. The main doors of the Shen Mansion were guarded by Shen Xin's army and cannot be alerted. To go out in the middle of the night like this, one feared that before even getting out of the main doors, most of the people in the family would be awakened and at that time, she would not know how to explain.
Shen Miao's head ached a lot.
She looked at the wall outside the courtyard and suddenly there was a flash of light in her mind. When Xie Jing Xing just moved over to Yan Qing Lane, as he did not lack money to spend, he had bought all the houses between the residence of Prince Rui to the Shen Mansion and even claimed to be neighbours. It can be said from this, the residence of Prince Rui was near to the Shen Mansion. It was just that Xie jing Xing's room was a bit far.
Even though it was the neighbouring courtyard, Shen Miao's gaze landed on the tall wall of the courtyard. She said, "Climb over the wall then."
Cong Yang looked at her blankly, seemingly not believing his ears. He was ordered to protect Shen Miao's safety and had monitored every single movement of Shen Miao in the Shen Mansion, thus, he knew what kind of person Shen Miao was. Shen Miao was calm and very disciplined. She was able to withstand quietness at such a young age and looked like one who was from the Palace. Her everyday actions reflected that she was brought up well. Cong Yang had often felt that this Young Madam was different from others and was extremely noble. However, when one heard that this noble Young Madam wanted to climb over walls at this moment, Cong Yang thought that there was something wrong with his ears.
Shen Miao glared at him and said angrily, "Are you not listening to me?"
"Yes yes yes." Cong Yang quickly stood up straight and dared not look at what expression Shen Miao had on.
Afterwards, Cong Yang felt extreme suffering. Initially. he thought that Shen Miao wanted to climb over the walls herself but the climbing over walls that Shen Miao had mentioned was referring to bringing things for her to climb up like stairs and Shen Miao could walk over the walk to the other side.
Cong Yang spent most of the night stealing haystacks from the wealthy people as steps but the problem was that there were over tens of courtyards between Shen Mansion to the residence of Prince Rui. Every courtyard had a wall in between and Cong Yang was so busy that he was perspiring in the middle of a cold day. Seeing that Shen Miao arrogantly walked over another wall, as if she was walking up the stairs in the Palace, he could only lament and sighed on his own destiny.
If one wasn't afraid of tarnishing Shào Fūrén's body and provoked dissatisfaction from his Master, Cong Yang would not spend that much effort. One had to know that his qīnggōng was good and it was more than enough to fly with an additional person, so why was there the need to run around like this? Previously, when Master transferred him out of Mo Yu Army, his colleagues were all envious of his good fortune but they did not know that this job was like being a labourer for others that was even worse off than servants. Cong Yang could only cry silently in his heart.
When Shen Miao finally 'climbed over' the last wall and entered the residence of Prince Rui, Cong Yang was so tired that he did not want to talk.
Because they came in from the direction of the inner courtyard and not the main entrance, there was not a single guard seen in the big residence of Prince Rui. Cong Yang also had a doubtful expression as it was now that sloppy in the past.
Shen Miao was looking at the layout of the residence of Prince Rui. It was as luxurious and beautiful as in the rumours. It was just a temporary place to stay but it was renovated beautifully. One really did not know how extraordinary Great Liang's Imperial Palace would be. Just as she was thinking about it, a middle-aged male clad in black appeared in front of her.
"Tie Yi." Cong Yang shouted and immediately asked, "Where are the rest?"
The guard by the name of Tie Yi was startled upon seeing Shen Miao and asked her with cupped hands, "Is there something urgent for Shen Xiǎojiě to come over personally?"
Shen Miao looked at the other's appearance and he seemed to know her. Seeing that Cong Yang greeted him, she guessed that he was Xie Jing Xing's people and said, "I am looking for Rui Wáng as one have some words to say."
Tie Yi seemed to know that she would say that and nodded his head, "Zhǔzi is in the inner courtyard. Do come with me."
When winter comes to Ming Qi, no one was willing to walk around outside. If it was at night, there would not be a single person on the streets and even the bird, cat or dog would stay in its warm nest and not willing to move one bit.
The water in the pond was already frozen. The thick layer of ice had completely covered the scenery, the entire summer scene of lotus flowers and koi were swimming. It was as if no matter how good the days were, it would always pass. Just like the flowers that bloom in Spring would always wither one day.
The purple-clad youth lazily slept on top of the tree with both hands behind his head, without taking off his mask. There was a lantern hanging on the tree and under the weak halo of light, his expression seemed to be somewhat not of sorrow but it was not happiness and instead somewhat lonely.
It was like the wind that passes through the tree. Hoveringly light but was also cold and heavy. Quiet and silent.
The white tiger was lying under the tree and from time to time it would scratch its claws at the trunk and occasionally bit the ice on the ground. The crushing of the ice was clearly audible at night.
This scenery was what Shen Miao saw when she entered. The youth and white tiger slept on but it made her thought of her past lifetime self, walking in the Imperial Gardens in the middle of the night, seeing the remnants of laughter from Fu Xiu Yi and Mei Fūrén during the day. It was somewhat agonising as she walked around without any goal.
The white tiger suddenly realised that someone was approaching and immediately got up and looked at her vigilantly as it growled warningly. But because it was after all too small, there was no deterrent from its voice, making it adorable instead.
"Jiao Jiao, shh." Xie Jing Xing said, "Be quiet."
Shen Miao, "…"
She walked to the tree and looked up at the person sleeping on the branch and said, "Who are you calling?"
Xie Jing Xing moved and suddenly looked down. When he saw Shen Miao, he was startled for a moment before he asked, "Why are you here?"
"The conversation in the Princess Residence was not finished, thus, one came over to take a look."
Xie Jing Xing took a glance at her but did not come down from the tree and instead chuckled, "You came over because you are concerned for me?"
"What you think is your business." Shen Miao answered.
"Could it be that you thought that I would be sad?" Xie Jing Xing seemed to have heard a joke and his expression became interested, "Really naive."
"It is best if there is none." Shen Miao did not pay any attention to his ridicule and said calmly.
Xie Jing Xing stared at the skies and waved his hands lazily, "Go back. I am fine."
Shen Miao did not return.
The white tiger on the ground seemed to be aware that Shen Miao had no malice and moreover, its' master had not shown any hostility, thus, it gradually relaxed its vigilance before cuddling at Shen Miao's feet and called out.
Shen Miao quickly looked at the youth up on the tree.
After a long while, she asked, "Xie Jing Xing, you want to wipe out Ming Qi?"
The air became silent in an instant and it seemed that there were tiny lingering sparks that came out from one of the hanging lanterns.
In the dim light, the branches concealed the youth's expression that even if one could see him, one was unable to see his expression due to the mask. One could only see the corner of the gorgeous purple robe that was hanging down with the golden threads that were shining under the light. Those lines interlaced and waved but seemed to be vaguely outlining a picture of a beast.
Seemingly a Dragon.
The silence made one apprehensive and he did not answer.
Shen Miao's back was leaning against a tree as she said faintly, "If you, at the end, want to wipe off Ming Qi, then, everyone that one come across can be adopted or discarded. There is little common ground for understanding between people of differing principles. Some people are good but are destined not to be on the same route. Since there are different routes, why be bothered about them?"
Xie Jing Xing laughed and his voice was heard on top, "You are comforting me?"
"No. I am comforting myself." Shen Miao answered.
She could understand Xie Jing Xing but she was somewhat different from Xie Jing Xing. Xie Jing Xing was a man and had to be even more decisive, thus, one believed that after tonight, he would still be the confident Prince Rui and nothing was difficult for him and there was nothing that could stop him. He was like a lion who had a powerful existence but it's just that when he was licking his own wounds alone, she so happened to encounter him.
"You also have matters to grieve?" Xie Jing Xing scoffed, still using the frivolous tone as before. However, Shen Miao knew that in his eyes, there was no smile at this moment.
This was because there were some emotions that even he was unable to hide, thus, he went up to the tree where no one could see and was even unwilling to take down the mask and sit there quietly.
"My grieving matters are no less than yours." Shen Miao smiled gently, "At least, Rong Xin Gōngzhǔ is still alive. Shouldn't the most painful thing in the world be that the person who had misunderstood and blamed is gone? Some mistakes can be compensated but some wrongs cannot be abrogated."
Like her Wan Yu and Fu Ming. She could save many people but only these two could not be saved. Even if one's entire life was exhausted, one could not save them at all. No matter if she could take her biggest revenge in the future, or even if the entire Shen family could live on splendidly, there would not be any opportunity to make up for this regret and one could only think about it at night.
Even dreaming about it was a luxury.
"You also knew that there would be such a day sooner or later, so why be concerned about it? Doing everything to know destiny, the things that have been done had been done with all kindness, and the rest is too much, but fate has come to an end." Shen Miao said, "No one would walk with anyone on the same road for an entire lifetime. Just like my marriage."
"Fu Xiu Yi is not on the same road as me, Tàizǐ is not on the same route as me. Huangfu Hao is not, Feng Zi Xian is not, Luo Ling is not and Pei Lang is also not."
Fu Xiu Yi and the Crown Prince were people in the Fu family and naturally, they were enemies and it was impossible to be on the same route as Shen Miao. Huangfu Hao strived sinister motives. Feng Zi Xian grew up smoothly without any bumps in life like a flower in a greenhouse and it was different from her. Luo Ling's personality was straightforward so how would he understand the schemes and calculations in her heart? As for Pei Lang, it was a complicated entanglement since in the past lifetime, he had been involved in the destruction of Shen Miao's life. This itself would always separate her from him, so much so that she could never treat him honestly.
"If you say it like that, there is no one under the skies that are on the road with you." Xie Jing Xing reminded her.
"The truth is like this."
Shen Miao sighed in her heart. For a person who crawled out of the grave and lived for the second time around, there were some parts, in some ways, that was almost like a ghost. She had been travelling on the road of revenge alone and it had always been so.
"Then with you comforting me like this, it would make me have the illusion." Xie Jing Xing smiled gently, "That you and I are on the same road."
The wind picked up the leaves on the ground and blew it onto the pond. The surface of the pond was frozen till it was as hard as a rock and unshakeable.
It seemed that one was able to see through the surface of the pond as one was able to see the breeze blowing in the spring and water flowers blooming. The ice in the pond was slightly glittering and the red flowers and green willows scene was indeed a great scenery to look at.
Winter days would always pass and Spring would always come.
Shen Miao's voice was so light that it was even lighter than the wind in the night as it filled the air.
She said, "Who says it is not?"
Then with you comforting me like this, it would make me have the illusion that you and I are on the same road.
Who says it is not?
The shadow of the tree flashed and someone came down from it. The youth's back was tall and handsome and when the white tiger who was in a distance saw that its owner had come down, it immediately ran over with joy and even licked the corner of other party's robes.
"Do you think that I am Rui Wáng of Great Liang or the Little Marquis of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An?" He asked.
Shen Miao leaned against the tree and placed both of her hands behind as she looked at his back view, "Is this important?"
"I too thought that it was not important." Xie Jing Xing stood by the pond. His voice was calm, as if there were no waves at all as he said, "From the moment I knew about my identity, there would be people who would remind me constantly that it is important."
"The Marquis of Lin An is weak, incompetent, indecisive and is not worthy to be fù. Even if the real Little Xie Marquis did not die at the beginning, he would still die in Madam Fang's hands."
"Rong Yí treats me well… I thought that it was important to others but to her, my identity is not important. But now it seemed that I had made a big mistake."
He said dully, "To the people under Heavens, this issue had been important from the beginning to the end. There are no flukes."
Believing that all of one's feelings would be able to break through the shackles of one's identity and family feelings would be above all but at the end it was a slap to one's face. The most important thing was that feeling of deep disappointment.
Shen Miao stared at his back and only spoke after a long time, "To me, it does not matter."
Xie Jing Xing lightly laughed. He turned around and walked towards Shen Miao before stopping in front of her. He looked down at Shen Miao and asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"You are just Xie Jing Xing." She refused to admit defeat and seemed to be pressing down the other party's momentum.
"Just?" He was slightly dissatisfied.
"You can deceive others but cannot deceive me." Shen Miao looked at his mask, "From the beginning, I know what kind of person you are. Ever since I knew you till when the alliance concluded, you are just Xie Jing Xing, nothing more."
Xie Jing Xing gave a long and meaningful 'oh' sound.
He took another step forward and Shen Miao unconsciously retreated. She was leaning against the tree and this time, her back was up against the tree and there was no way to retreat and Xie Jing Xing lifted her chin up.
Xie Jing Xing said, "Do you find that I am cruel?"
"One does not think so as I am also the same." Shen Miao answered.
"Then do you know that I am not a good person?" His voice was very deep and pleasant to hear and with the cold wind blowing by one's ear, it made one's entire body feel hot.
Shen Miao backed up but she was not willing to be looked down upon and said, "I know, I am also the same."
Xie Jing Xing held on to her waist and pulled Shen Miao to him. The mask was blocking his face, making his handsome appearance a bit mysterious. He said, "Then, I can now answer your question."
"What question?" Shen Miao did not understand.
"You asked if I want to wipe out Ming Qi."
Shen Miao stared at him and in that beautiful pair of eyes, they were filled with bright glittering gems as if one could be sucked in.
"Then what is your answer?" she asked.
"If I say yes, will you report me?" Xie Jing Xing smiled devilishly.
Shen Miao slowly said, "No."
"Because I am also the same."
It was like sparks suddenly appeared on the sheet of ice. One was unable to see if he was happy or angry when he asked, "Do you know what you are saying?"
Shen Miao was silent.
He gritted his teeth as if he wanted to swallow Shen Miao whole, "Shen Miao, you better not regret. Once aboard my ship, one cannot alight from it in this life."
He suddenly leaned over and kissed Shen Miao.
Shen Miao unconsciously wanted to avoid it but was held by the waist by Xie Jing Xing. His cold mask touched Shen Miao's face as he held Shen Miao's hands and kissed her lips roughly.
Translator remarks: And I expect all hell to break loose in the comments below… LOL… Tbh, if I am XJX, I will fall for SM at this moment. Because of his identities and goals, he is always alone but now someone comes out to tell him she only sees him as just XJX and his identity does not matter.
HidAnas: I once had someone who believed in "ME"... but I let him go because I guess I was too afraid. Afraid that it was enough. Afraid "I" was not enough. And now, it's too late. He has moved on and has his own family… without me. So, my advice… if you already have that person, never let go. No matter what you feel or think.