Chapter 183: Xiao Shao Returns

Before the two death warriors could see clearly what was happening in front of them, they felt a chill right before a sword pierced their chests. Xiao Shao had thrown his sword, before gathering Jiang Ruan in his arms. He ordered the people behind him, "Kill everyone, leave no survivors."

At the same time, a figure dashed over, who after approaching the entrance, heard the sounds of hand to hand combat. When he saw Jiang Ruan being held in Xiao Shao's arms, his brow furrowed, but he cast those feelings aside as he called out, "Ah Ruan!"

"Dage?" Jiang Ruan was taken aback. Jiang Xin Zhi stood before her, looking quite exhausted as the result of possibly a hurried journey. Jiang Ruan asked curiously, "How is it that you are able to return to the capital so early?" According to their information, it should have taken some time for them to arrive, but the two men unexpectedly returned today. What exactly was going on?

After a glance at Xiao Shao, Jiang Xin Zhi replied, "I kept feeling somewhat anxious, so we hurried back as fast as possible." After a pause, he looked at the melee in the courtyard and grumbled, "You're usually very smart, so how could you do something so foolish at this juncture. If we hadn't been in such a hurry to get home and found this scene, how could I explain it to our mother if something had happened to you today? If you find yourself in a similar situation in the future, don't worry about anything else, save yourself first because you are the most important person to me." Unable to relieve his tension, Jiang Xin Zhi looked at Jiang Ruan and said, "I really don't feel safe leaving you here."

Jiang Ruan patted Xiao Shao and motioned for him to let her go. Xiao Shao released her. Only after Jiang Ruan stood upright did she respond to Jiang Xin Zhi, "They are here for me, and it will be the same wherever I go."

Jiang Xin Zhi still wanted to say a few more words but he was afraid that because Jiang Ruan had suffered quite enough trauma for the day, she might feel aggrieved if he continued. In the end, he endured, then took her hand and said, "Anyway, it's not safe here. Return to the Jiang fu with me."

Xiao Shao grabbed Jiang Ruan's arm; his eyes were icy. "She's not going anywhere. She'll stay here."

Each man held onto her, placing her in the middle of the two of them. The situation had reached a deadlock. Then, Jiang Xin Zhi spoke, "She is still unmarried. What kind of impression will that make if she stays here?"

"She belongs to the Jinying Wangfu." Xiao Shao replied indifferently.

"Stop it!" Jiang Ruan shook off their hands and felt a tinge of melancholy in her heart. She looked at Jiang Xin Zhi and said, "Dage, it's already late and it would be too inconvenient to return to Jiang Fu at this time. Moreover, there are probably spies sent by Xuan Li outside, so I'll just stay here tonight to avoid making things worse."

Xiao Shao's face softened slightly, but Jiang Xin Zhi was upset and concluded that a girl was indeed destined to leave her family[1]; she wasn't even married yet she was already siding with him. He felt slightly wronged, but he knew that what Jiang Ruan said was reasonable. Still, his mind was in conflict.

[1] 女生外向 (nǚshēngwàixiàng) - a woman is born to leave her family (idiom); a woman's heart is with her husband.

Jiang Ruan could tell what Jiang Xin Zhi was thinking just by looking at him, and felt helpless for a moment because she didn't understand how her elder brother had become more and more childish after fighting in a war for several years. She could only comfort him, "I don't think it's safe outside. Please don't leave, Dage. I have a few questions for you. Please rest here tonight."

Just when Xiao Shao was about to resolutely refuse, he heard Jiang Xin Zhi say, "Fine, I'll stay here tonight for your sake."

Xiao Shao, "....."

* * *

The troops brought by Xiao Shao moved at a breakneck speed. The death warriors were nearly annihilated in an instant. His subordinates were extremely skilled, and the courtyard was immediately cleaned, leaving no trace of blood. Jiang Xin Zhi sat under the oil lamp, still somewhat dissatisfied. "It seems like this has happened before. How many people have died in the Jinying Wangfu? Do you really want to live in such an ominous place?"

"What's the matter with you, Dage?" Jiang Ruan asked. From the moment she reunited with Jiang Xin Zhi, he seemed to be treating Xiao Shao in a tit-for-tat manner. It was somewhat obvious. Even though Jiang Xin Zhi disliked Xiao Shao in the past, he was not as hostile as he was now. Jiang Ruan pondered whether something had happened at the border. But, would Xiao Shao bully Jiang Xin Zhi for no reason?

Jiang Xin Zhi looked away and paused for a while before asking, "Are you really going to marry him?" After he had been fighting at the border for several years, Jiang Xin Zhi suddenly learned that Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan had been conferred a marriage. He was naturally very angry. It would have been fine if he had been in the capital, but this happened when he was not around. In his opinion, Xiao Shao was taking advantage of Jiang Ruan's difficulties. It was as if the cabbage he had carefully cultivated had been dug up for no reason, and so his heart was naturally unhappy.

"Dage, it was the Empress Dowager's decree." Jiang Ruan sighed. "I cannot disobey the imperial decree no matter what. Besides, there is no harm in marrying into the Jinying Wangfu. It's peaceful and uncomplicated, no mother-in-law or sister-in-law to serve."

"You are my meimei," Jiang Xin Zhi said. "Although he is young and promising, and born well, he has a bad reputation after all. His personality is cold and forlorn. A girl like you has no idea what it's like to be married, and what's the point of living together with an unfeeling man?" Jiang Xin Zhi naturally felt that everything about his meimei was good while finding fault with Xiao Shao, and thus decided that he wasn't good enough for her. It was impossible to put on a good face in front of him.

"Reputation?" Jiang Ruan asked with a smile, "Has Dage forgotten that I too have been 'bestowed' with the reputation of being a curse and the bane of humanity, doomed to spend the rest of my life alone. But, is it true?"

"Someone framed you. How can you take it seriously?" Jiang Xin Zhi felt suffocated whenever this matter was mentioned. At that time, he only blamed himself for his incompetence. He had no idea that Xia Yan's family had evil intentions and had made Jiang Ruan so notorious that she wrongfully lived in the rural residence for so long.

"Since I was framed, I don't see why it's impossible for him to be framed as well?" Jiang Ruan shook her head. "What's more, Dage has been away at the border for so long. You must have learned something about him from your interactions with him. Do you still have no idea what kind of person he is?"

Jiang Xin Zhi was at a loss for words. Xiao Shao's subordinates respected and obeyed him despite his cold and forlorn personality. You could tell a lot about a person by observing how the people around that person treated them. Consequently, there must be something special about Xiao Shao to have gained such loyalty from his men. Also, this man's bravery on the battlefield was truly admirable. There was no doubt that this young man was very powerful. If Jiang Ruan were with him, he would definitely be able to protect her. It's just that no matter how much he thought about it, Jiang Xin Zhi could not rid himself of the bitter taste in his mouth. And so he said with a scowl, "Ah Ruan, everything you've said is biased towards him. While you may act indifferent, in truth, you've already given him your heart."

It was Jiang Ruan's turn to be speechless. After staring at Jiang Xin Zhi, she finally spoke, "Dage, it makes no difference to me who I end up marrying. Even though the Empress Dowager dotes on me, the Great Jin dynasty comes before my personal safety. The higher my status and the more favoured I am among the royal family, the more likely I am to become a future bargaining chip for the royal family. Do you remember Princess Yuan Rong? Everyone sees that I am now like the second Princess Yuan Rong in front of the Empress Dowager. Who can guarantee that I will not end up the same and become the second Princess Yuan Rong?"

Startled, Jiang Xin Zhi exclaimed, "Don't speak nonsense!"

"Dage understands my meaning." Jiang Ruan shook her head. "Princess Yuan Rong was Empress Dowager Yi De's biological daughter, but she still ended up like that. I have no blood ties to the royal family, but what if one day the situation changes suddenly- what will happen then? As for that father of ours, he loathes and hates us from the bottom of his heart. Therefore, without hesitation, he would gladly use me to pave the way for his aspirations. My life appears to be splendid, but every step has been fraught with peril. Even though Xiao Shao has a cold and forlorn personality, marrying him will save me a great deal of trouble. If I marry someone else, nothing would change, but if I marry him, I will at least have leverage. My alliance with him is stronger than any other relationship."

"You..." Jiang Xin Zhi was shocked and outraged. "What nonsense do you keep talking about? How can marriage be used as a bargaining chip? I will work hard to get you what you want. I will protect you, but you cannot see your husband as an ally. He will be your closest confidante and companion throughout your entire life. Where do you stand after making a statement like that?"

"Dage, I have no intention of being in a romantic relationship," Jiang Ruan replied lightly. "In our youth, we witnessed our mother's ending; in my heart, this is a hurdle that can't be overcome. I'm marrying into the Jinying Wangfu. If he is truly my beloved, then allies will naturally become a married couple over time. But this is all about getting along slowly." She lied to Jiang Xin Zhi. Her resistance to marriage and the emotional blockage in this life did not come from Zhao Mei's ending. After giving her entire heart and love to someone in her last life, all she got was betrayal and death in return. As a consequence, in this life, it was not easy to overcome that shadow. However, she couldn't tell Jiang Xin Zhi that.

Once Jiang Xin Zhi heard this, he didn't know how to further persuade Jiang Ruan. Once his meimei had made up her mind, no one would be able to move her. He sighed, patted her on the head, and said, "Even though you're young, you're like an old woman. I have no idea where you got your temperament from."

Jiang Ruan smiled, and the two siblings moved on to other subjects to discuss.

In the study at the other end of the Wangfu, Xiao Shao sat at a table with Xia Qing and Qi Feng sitting opposite of him. Xia Qing had hurried over with worry but unexpectedly found that Xiao Shao had also returned. Now that he was sitting in the study of Jinying Wangfu, he finally had a chance to ask a question. "Third Brother, why didn't Eldest Brother come back with you?"

"He couldn't come because he is in charge of the troops and has to escort them back to the capital," Xiao Shao said. He had rushed back quickly, but who knew that Jiang Xin Zhi would also follow. The army couldn't be left without a leader, which meant Guang Liang Han had to stay behind.

No one could guess what was going through Qi Feng's mind as he sat in his chair. Seeing this, Xia Qing reached out to touch his arm and asked, "Fourth Brother, what's wrong with you? Why do you seem to be preoccupied and distracted? You dashed out the door as soon as you heard about the fire. Why were you in such a hurry?"

By the time Xia Qing arrived, the Jinyi Guards had already removed the corpses of the death warriors, thus he was completely unaware of what had happened. The question caused Xiao Shao's eyes to flicker, and he cast a glance in Qi Feng's direction without saying anything.

Qi Feng came to his senses. Only he knew how terrifyingly dangerous the situation was, which nearly stifled his heartbeat. Even now, a lingering fear came over him as soon as he recalled the scene. At that time, he was so desperate that he lost his composure but he had no idea if Xiao Shao had seen it. When this thought occurred to him, Qi Feng raised his head and looked up into Xiao Shao's calm eyes, which seemed to pierce through people's hearts and left him with nothing to hide. That made Qi Feng feel so uneasy that he almost bolted.

A reluctant smile crossed his face as he said, "Nothing, I just came out to take a look."He recalled how Xiao Shao had rushed to Jiang Ruan's rescue when she was in imminent peril. He was qualified and able to protect her, but an agonizing pang welled up in his heart. After all, there were some things in this world that could be fought for, some that couldn't be, and even some things that no one had the qualification to fight for. Qi Feng swallowed the bitterness in his heart and said, "Third Brother, I'm afraid the capital will undergo yet another change. Did your trip to Tian Jin yield any clues?"

They began investigating the changes in the southern border kingdom many years ago, and the sudden threat posed by Tian Jin was inextricably linked to South Xinjiang. This time, Xiao Shao was ordered to enter the battle and investigate. Xiao Shao shook his head. "They have a spy in the imperial court, but he has hidden himself too well. This time, the army of Tian Jin was defeated and the South Xinjiang alliance was broken, so they may require some time to recover. They have other plans in the imperial capital."

Xia Qing couldn't understand what they were saying, so he scratched his head and said, "Anyway, it's great that Third Brother has safely returned because recently I made a wager with Fourth Brother about your wedding. Now that Third Brother has returned, when will your wedding be? I'm waiting to drink your wedding wine before returning to Jinling. Because my apprentices are all anxiously awaiting my return, there has been no progress at the hospital for a long time."

Xiao Shao and Qi Feng were both taken aback when he said this. After a period of silence, Xiao Shao finally spoke, "Tomorrow, I will go to the palace to discuss this matter. There will be a wedding - the sooner it is, the better." His eyes briefly lingered on Qi Feng before darting away, his expression as indifferent as ever.

"That's great!" Xia Qing never suspected there might be another reason. He was bubbling over with excitement as he continued, "I have to think about what gift to give you!"

* * *

It had started to lightly snow early in the morning, but eventually it had gotten so deep that it was almost up to a person's knees. The weather was unusually cold, but the enthusiasm in every street and alley did not dim in the slightest. People were having animated discussions about the fire that had ravaged a street in the northern part of the city the night before. The peddlers eagerly discussed how they had all heard from the owners that there appeared to be bandits, but after the guards in the fu dared to go out and investigate, there was no movement. Even though the entire row of houses was destroyed, those who lived in the northern part of the city were wealthy and noble and unconcerned with money. Still, they felt uneasy and viewed the situation as calamitous.

In the Eighth Prince fu, Xuan Li supported his forehead, his expression showing a bit of anxiety. There had been no reports from the night raid, and the spies that were sent out had never returned. He knew what this meant, but he wasn't ready to accept that disaster was inevitable. Even if all the men he sent were killed, someone should have still reported back about the Jinyi Guards. But could Jiang Ruan, a mere woman, really issue a command to kill anyone who put up resistance? Additionally, the night raid had been a sudden attack, and Jiang Ruan would have been blindsided and unable to escape or retreat unscathed.

Xuan Li was certain of these facts, but there was no news after a night of waiting. Moreover, spies were stationed outside the Jinying Wangfu, but they were also unable to find anything. The Jinying Wangfu was so impenetrable that not even a fly could enter. Getting information was even more difficult. After they returned multiple times without success, Xuan Li's heart grew increasingly uneasy. The news of a fire in a northern city street had spread like wildfire this morning; it must have been related to the Jinying Wangfu. Although Xuan Li was aware that this was Jiang Ruan's strategy for creating confusion, it was beyond his control.

He was thinking this over when two manservants entered with a box, set it down in the middle of the room and told Xuan Li, "Zhang Daren has sent this gift with his respects, Your Highness. Please take a look."

It was normal for officials under his command to send some gifts from time to time, but he wasn't in the mood for that today, so he just waved his hand impatiently. "Open it."

The box was slowly opened. Before Xuan Li could take a look, he heard the two manservants and the guards around him gasp. Maybe they didn't scream because they were afraid to alarm him, but Xuan Li still frowned. He turned his head and then stiffened up, unable to look away.

Several severed heads were neatly arranged in the box. The sight of these mutilated and bloody heads would make anyone feel suffocated. Furthermore, the distinct features of several individuals could be made out. There were five spies, one of whom was the leader of the assassins. These carefully arranged heads seemed to mock his incompetence.

Suddenly, Xuan Li felt something rise in his throat. An oppressive feeling of sickness welled up in his chest, making him come dangerously close to vomiting. After forcing a mouthful of blood back down his throat, he turned his head and looked grimly at the two manservants who had brought the box. "How did this thing get here?"

The two manservants were already trembling in fear as a result of the unexpected mishap. When they heard his words, they knelt and begged for mercy repeatedly. "Please, Your Highness, spare our lives. Zhang Daren's men left the box at the door. That's how we brought it in. Please, Your Highness, spare our lives!"

Xuan Li exerted pressure on his hand, shattering the cup in his palm. The porcelain shards scratched his hand, and blood oozed from between his fingers, but he did not seem to notice. The guards standing at one side were afraid to breathe because of Xuan Li's contorted face. The corners of his mouth were turned up, but his muscles were trembling uncontrollably. He was obviously very angry.

To say that Xuan Li felt aggrieved would not be an exaggeration. When Xiao Shao was guarding the Jinying Wangfu, they had no way to locate the exit. But now Xiao Shao was away, and only Jiang Ruan could make decisions in the Jinying Wangfu. Was he defeated by a weak woman? What's the reason for these severed heads? Sending them in such a direct manner was obviously goading him! Even though Xuan Li appeared magnanimous, he was extremely narrow-minded. This move almost completely revealed his heart's dark baser emotions. The person who did this had really committed a transgression that couldn't be forgiven!

As Xuan Li thought about these matters with a grim expression on his face, another guard came in to report. Upon seeing Xuan Li, he immediately announced, "Your Highness, this subordinate has just received the news. Jinying Wang has returned to the capital."

Xuan Li stared angrily. Unconsciously, his palms tightened as he looked at the man, and his blood began to trickle down.

* * *

Two flowers bloomed, each representing a branch[2]. The Jinying Wangfu was full of vitality at the time, and the fu rejoiced at Young Master's return. Everyone assumed that there would have been a fierce battle last night because the situation was so dangerous; however, right at the most critical moment, Xiao Shao unexpectedly returned. Now, with his arrival, everyone was not just happy but also overjoyed. After spending the last year becoming acquainted with Jiang Ruan, the Jinying Wangfu's servants were very fond of her. Even though the young woman seemed indifferent, she never made too many demands and was always very generous to her servants during the Spring Festival and other celebrations. It was obvious that she did not have any petty whims or caprices. And in addition, this Young Furen was easy to get along with and practically had no arrogance. On top of that, Jiang Ruan's image had soared in the hearts of the people following her display of tenacity the previous night. She had completely won over the hearts of the people at that time, and subsequently became the well-deserved mistress of all of Jinying Wangfu's servants.

[2] 花开两朵,各表一枝 (huā kāi liǎng duǒ, gè biǎo yīzhī) - the story develops into two, but only one will be revealed first.

As a result, now that Xiao Shao had returned, the servants would now create every opportunity for the future virtuous couple to get along

After Jiang Ruan had breakfast, Lu Zhu came. "It's snowing outside, Miss. Would you like to take a look?"

During the snowy days, there was nothing to see that was interesting, and she was stuck inside the room with nothing to do. Jiang Ruan stood up. Lian Qiao immediately took a fire-rat fur cloak and draped it on Jiang Ruan and shoved a silver base flower carved heater into her hand. "Be careful, don't catch a cold."

After leaving the room, several of them ventured out into the courtyard, where they noticed a man sitting in the pavilion. Lu Zhu blinked, pretended to be surprised, and said, "Ah! Isn't that Guye? Miss, Guye is over there. Would you like to go there and have a look?"

Her voice was so loud that the man in the pavilion heard it and turned to look their way, so even if they wanted to pretend not to see it, it was now impossible. Jiang Ruan glared at Lu Zhu, who was touching her nose and staring up at the sky. Jiang Ruan sighed and gathered her skirt, heading for the pavilion. The maids purposefully stayed far away, waiting outside the pavilion.

Xiao Shao sat in the pavilion. This morning he was dressed in a green official robe embroidered with silver qilins, while the cuff was meticulously embroidered using golden threads. The garment suited him perfectly so that his handsome looks even more resembled jade. A cloak the colour of ink was draped on his tall and lean figure. Nobody could guess what was going through in his mind at the moment. His long eyelashes drooped slightly as he made a slight frown. His face was elegant and handsome, his demeanour was refined and forlorn. He was indeed very attractive.

Jiang Ruan sat in front of him. After giving it a thought, she saw the teapot on the table and reached out to pour herself a cup of tea.

Xiao Shao stared at her silently, and for a moment, the atmosphere was a bit strange. At long last, Jiang Ruan spoke up, saying simply, "Thank you for last night."

Her polite words made Xiao Shao's frown deepen. "There is no need to say these things between you and me," he stated in a slightly chilly tone.

He seemed a little out of the ordinary. Jiang Ruan noticed his abnormality and asked in bewilderment. "Did something happen?"

Xiao Shao averted his gaze. After a pause, he said, "Now that I've returned to the capital, it's time to prepare for our wedding banquet. I'm going to the palace today to discuss it. Have you made up your mind?"

Jiang Ruan was taken aback because she didn't think he would talk about this. She said with a smile, "I have. Just let me know when."

She was so straightforward, without a trace of bashfulness. Xiao Shao appeared to be more at ease. He suddenly said, after recalling something, "Jin Er told me about last night's situation. Thank you for keeping the Jinying Wangfu safe for me. But there is no need to do so in the future," His eyes were cold, and his thin lips were pursed as if they were carved with a knife. "The most important thing in the Wangfu is not its honor or its secret, but you."

Jiang Ruan was startled, and with an inexplicable feeling in her heart, she smiled. "Since I am the mistress here, I do have some responsibilities. Actually..."

"In the end, you are mine. Xiao Shao's woman." Xiao Shao interrupted her. "You have no obligation to do anything."