Jing Miaoyi saw through the falseness in his eyes; she had already suspected the tea was poisoned the moment she picked up the cup.
She had studied under the divine doctor Hua Yuanhua, where medicine and poison were inseparable. She had encountered this poison in her previous life—gut-wrenching, intestines rotting, a pain worse than death. She tried to recall how long she had lasted.
A quarter of an hour?
She couldn’t remember—only that her entire body felt as if her organs were bleeding, and she could not utter a single word.
“Shen Jueming, you are really impatient. You want to kill me? Pave the way for yourself? How could I possibly let you succeed?”
Her expression remained unchanged as she put down the tea, saying, “Shen Lang.”
With a hint of tears in her voice, she spoke, “Someone wants to kill me.”
Shen Jueming’s expression faltered slightly, his dark eyes darting in their sockets. Even the elegant robe he wore could not conceal the small trace of tension in him.
“Who, Miaoyi? Tell me who wants to kill you. Speak to your husband; your husband will ensure justice for you.”
He gripped her hand tightly, speaking with righteous urgency, his gaze sincere as if he truly intended to protect her.
“It’s… it’s the Princess Chang,” Jing Miaoyi suddenly pulled her hand away, covering her face as she cried. “Shen Lang, have you been hiding something from me?”
Her beautiful eyes were reddened at the corners, shimmering like a thin layer of misty crystal.
Her shoulders shook as she cried uncontrollably.
Shen Jueming watched, feeling his heart shatter—why was he so powerless that he couldn’t even protect his own wife?
He stepped forward to pull Jing Miaoyi into his arms, but she easily evaded him.
“Shen Lang, we are a couple who have shared hardships. When everyone in the world abandoned me, only you dared to marry me against all odds.
Thus, Miaoyi has always been grateful in her heart. But Shen Lang, if your heart belongs to another, I will never obstruct you and will leave on my own accord.
Since you are already the Princess Chang’s guest, why won’t you tell me the truth?
I am not one to throw tantrums or act recklessly.”
Jing Miaoyi cried with such sorrow that it seemed like the weight of the world had fallen upon her. She was soft and fragile, like a little beast abandoned.
Anyone who saw her would feel heartbroken.
Especially since she was the woman Shen Jueming loved most in this life.
Shen Jueming knelt before her, wrapping his hands around her waist, crying bitterly. “Miaoyi, it’s not like that—it’s her, the shameless Princess Chang. She desires me, and if I refuse, she would send someone to kill you.
Miaoyi, you know I gave up my scholarly pride to become a scoundrel. I can endure anything, but I cannot stand by and watch you be murdered.
I had no choice but to become her guest. Every time I touched her, I had to imagine her as you to endure it.
Every time, I felt disgusted, yet I had to play along.
Miaoyi, you know my family was poor, our ancestors tenant farmers. If my master hadn’t seen potential in me, I wouldn’t have had the chance to study, nor to come this far.
I am unwilling, yet powerless. I cannot fight Princess Chang. Someone like her can kill anyone effortlessly.
For your safety, I had to do this.
Miaoyi, can you understand my intentions?”
He gripped her hands tightly, tears in his eyes. “Miaoyi, don’t blame me. You know I love you.
Your family abandoned you out of fear, your senior brothers ignored your pleas for their own future.
Even your childhood fiancé Cui Xiang chose someone else. Only I, from beginning to end, have loved you with all my heart.
Miaoyi, you know, I would give everything for you, even my life.”
Look at that—this was no mere scholar; this was the leading performer of a southern opera troupe, speaking with theatrical intensity.
So convincing that even he believed it.
Shen Jueming, you truly are remarkable.
Jing Miaoyi picked up the tea cup. “Shen Lang, why didn’t you tell me your suffering sooner?”
She held him with one hand and offered the tea with the other. “Shen Lang, drink some tea.”
She pressed the cup into his hand, looking at him tenderly, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve as if to wipe his tears.
Shen Jueming stared at the cup of poisoned tea, unable to comprehend how it had reached his hand.
The hidden cruelty in his eyes surged. Jing Miaoyi had realized this was poisoned tea? Was she deliberately acting in front of him?
“Shen Lang, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you drinking the tea? This is your favorite Yun Ding black tea. Even after leaving the Shen residence, I’ve been preparing the tea you like at Yulan Residence.”
Shen Jueming shook his head, looking at her clear, loving eyes—impossible.
Three years ago, he had carefully cut off all of Jing Miaoyi’s contacts, making her obedient only to him.
In her world, only he existed. How could she betray him? She was completely in love with him.
“I’m… not thirsty,” Shen Jueming excused himself.
Jing Miaoyi calmly dropped a pill into the tea cup.
“If you’re not thirsty, Shen Lang, then don’t drink.” She turned to set the cup down.
But just as Shen Jueming began to relax,
Jing Miaoyi deliberately smashed the cup.
The tea bowl fell on the carpet, hissing like acid, as if Yama himself was knocking at the door.
Jing Miaoyi stood in shock, not giving Shen Jueming a chance to speak, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. “Shen Lang… you want to kill me?”
“No… no.”
Shen Jueming was stunned. Wasn’t it supposed to be tasteless and colorless? This woman was deliberately framing him.
“I don’t know.”
Jing Miaoyi’s beautiful face instantly went pale, collapsing to the ground. “Shen Lang… you wouldn’t hurt me, would you?”
Shen Jueming quickly knelt, raising his finger. “I, Shen Jueming, swear to heaven this poison is not mine. If I lie, may I be dismembered alive and die a terrible death.”
Before he could finish, Jing Miaoyi hurriedly covered his mouth with the handkerchief. “Shen Lang, no, I believe you.”
Shen Jueming, feeling guilty, held her tightly in his arms.
Jing Miaoyi’s eyes concealed a cold laugh. Sniffling, she pushed him away. “It must be Princess Chang.
She sent assassins before, but I happened to be in the palace finishing Fifth Sister’s painting, so I avoided them.
Those assassins met the Duke of the Nation who came to find me—they were all killed.
But someone with a grudge against the Duke dumped the bodies at Princess Chang’s residence.
The Emperor was furious upon learning this and demanded the culprit be found.
Princess Chang must have known you would come see me today. She deliberately wanted to poison me, framing you.
Even if the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicature traced the culprit to the Duke, Princess Chang could claim you, Shen Lang, sought revenge for the Duke’s interest in your wife.
When your revenge failed, you supposedly killed me and planned to commit suicide with me.
Perhaps as soon as you leave, Princess Chang’s people would try to kill you.”
Jing Miaoyi spoke vividly, trembling like a fragile little white rabbit at the mention of death.
She held Shen Jueming’s hand. “Shen Lang, you must be careful. The Duke serves the princess, and he has the Emperor’s trust. If the Duke and you are harmed, who will Princess Chang protect?”
Shen Jueming’s brow twitched sharply. He lowered his head, hiding all expression, his hand trembling under his sleeve with anger.
Cunning Princess Rongchen, burning bridges behind me—you treated me like a pawn, risking my beloved wife.
Did you think I’m a ball anyone can kick around?
“Ah—pain.” Jing Miaoyi let out a soft cry.
Shen Jueming snapped out of it and quickly released her. “Miaoyi, I remember what you said. Stay safe. I will protect you.”
He stood up.
Rongchen, you want me to let your lackey Ruan Xi take the fall? Impossible in this lifetime.
Since the Emperor ordered the Ministries to find the culprit in ten days, as an official, how could he remain indifferent?
I will tear a layer of skin off you myself.
Jing Miaoyi coldly watched his retreating back, feeling disgusted at the places he had touched.
“Baozhu, boil some water for me. I’m going to bathe.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Inside, the steam obscured most of the view. Jing Miaoyi wore a thin white undergarment.
Baozhu gently undressed her from behind, revealing her snow-white, jade-like back.
Baozhu couldn’t help swallowing at her flawless form.
Who said only men admire beauty? Women do too.
Miss, if not for your modesty, you would surely be the unrivaled beauty known across the world.
She remembered a line of poetry:
“In the north there is a beauty, peerless and independent. One glance topples a city, another glance topples a kingdom.”
Baozhu quietly withdrew.
Jing Miaoyi closed her eyes, opening her palm to reveal pale yellow petals—flowers from her homeland.
Jade Jinlan, which cannot bloom or survive in the capital.
Was this a warning?
Suddenly feeling a wave of heat, she opened her eyes to meet a pair of cold, serpent-like eyes. Startled, she instinctively clenched her palm.
She tried to rise but quickly covered her chest in fear, her fair face flushed by the steam.
Her collarbones rose and fell with each breath, like a lotus about to bloom.
“Duke… Duke, you have no shame.”
Ruan Xi chuckled lightly, unmoved. “Bodhisattva, are rituals meant to bind scholars? I am merely a soldier scoundrel.”
His large hand cupped her neck, easily covering it.
He effortlessly pulled her forward.
“Don’t move.”
He whispered a warning.
Ruan Xi pressed his head to her forehead. “Mm, the fever’s down.”
Jing Miaoyi froze slightly, pushing him back and stepping away to keep distance.
“Turn around.”
Ruan Xi laughed at her shy, angry expression, arms crossed, raising his eyebrows, not moving an inch, eyes scanning her body.
“Truly beautiful.”
“Shameless!” Jing Miaoyi’s eyes reddened with anger. “Turn around.”
“Bodhisattva, are you ordering me?”
Ruan Xi laughed arrogantly. “Bodhisattva, you are truly defiant.”
He stepped closer. “Do you know you were given to me by Shen Jueming?
You belong to me, Ruan Xi. Even if I were to take you, you could not resist.”
Ruan Xi was a soldier rogue, less educated than a child, unconcerned with subtleties.
Jing Miaoyi’s delicate body trembled. “You… shameless… scoundrel.”
“Get away!” She shouted toward the door, “Bao—”
Ruan Xi did not get angry but laughed, stepping sideways. The cold blade glinted ominously in the candlelight.