Xie Jing Xing glanced at her before looking back at the bright amber wine in his bowl, “To need alcohol to boost up one’s courage to speak to me, is it that you have committed some errs behind my back?”
“Previously did you not ask me what my secret is?” Shen Miao said, “There is no need to exchange it with your secrets. I will tell you.”
Xie Jing Xing’s movements paused as he looked up at her.
“Do you want to listen?” She asked him.
Xie Jing Xing put down the bowl of wine and said, “How is it that it sounds like you are giving me a disadvantage?”
“Then I will take it as you want to know and I will tell you.” Shen Miao ignored his words and only cared about her words.
“Don’t you feel strange ever since you know me? Those words that I send to Su Ming Lang and the actions taken against Prince Yu of First Rank? I seemed to have known earlier the existence of Feng Xian Pawnshop and about the Second and Third household of the Shen family. You are also very curious why I always target Prince Ding as it was odvious that one was still admiring Prince Ding before and it was also too much if love to turn to hate.”
Each single thing that she spoke of were all the things that Xie Jing Xing had doubts with.
Shen Miao said, “At the beginning, you must be very vigilant against me and would have instructed people to investigate me secretly.”
There was a somewhat uncomfortable expression on Xie Jing Xing’s face. After all, like what Shen Miao said, he indeed instructed people to investigate Shen Miao’s background.
“You definitely did not find anything and thought that there was some intelligent person behind me, or to say that there is some expert making arrangements behind the Shen family.”
Xie Jing Xing was silent. Ji Yu Shu’s Feng Xian Pawnshop could detect many unknown secrets of others but for Shen Miao, it was like a stone without an exit. No matter how they lift it, they were unable to find a place to start.
“Even though you are unable to find out my background, you must have investigated all the things that I have experience in those past years. You should also know that before my Father and Mother returned to Ding capital in Sixty Eighth year of Ming Qi, I fell into the water due and it was related to Prince Ding. After falling into the water, my temperament seemed to have changed. For example, previously I used to be obsessed with Prince Ding but after that, I no longer showed any thoughts about Prince Ding.”
There was a light annoyance that appeared in Xie Jing Xing’s eyes. With regards to the matter of Shen Miao once admiring Fu Xiu Yi, it really made him wonder as it could not understand it. If it was not something that the entire city was aware of, he would almost thought that it was Shen Miao that put up an act. Speaking of appearance, talent and status, even though Fu Xiu Yi was outstanding, it was not a level that there was it was so outstanding that there was no second in the world. Shen Miao’s love could actually reach the point of obsessiveness and it made him speechless and also felt somewhat humiliated. Comparing himself to Fu Xiu Yi, that hypocritical person, this was just too devaluing.
“After that fall into the water, there were some estrangement between me towards the Second and Third household of the Shen family and was no longer as friendly towards Shen Qing and Shen Yue. One even seemed to be going against Old Shen Furen.” Shen Miao said, “Don’t you find it strange?”
Xie Jing Xing said, “There is always a time when people will wake up.”
Previously Shen Miao was confused and that was because of her young age, she was only confused for a period of time and perhaps after knowing the truth about certain matters or something else happened that made one grow up overnight. Just like him.
Shen Miao shook his head, “That was because I have awaken too thoroughly. Actually it is very simple. When I fell into the water in the Sixty Eight Year of Ming Qi, I laid in bed and did not wake up for a long time and during those days, I had a very long dream.” She looked at the dancing flame on the table and a sigh of sorrow appeared in her eyes and expression, “That dream was very long and very real, like I am experiencing it myself.”
“Could you believe in those kinds of dreams?” Shen Miao smiled, “It was like a prophecy.”
Xie Jing Xing’s eyebrows gradually raised and his gaze that was fixed on Shen Miao became sharp.
“It is rumoured that a Governor of a Southern Nation was napping under a tree and dreamt that he was the Emperor, from the flower falling till it landed on the soil, he had experience an entire life and suddenly woke up, realizing that it was only a moment. Everything that happened in the dream was just an illusion of wealth and glory. It was just that it was so real that one was unable to differentiate that was the dream real or the current reality real.”
“This dream of mind is even longer and suffering than the story of Governor of a Southern Nation. I had dreamt of the future.” She said.
“I dreamed that I finally married into the residence of Prince Ding and the Shen family was tied with the residence of Prince Ding. I dreamed of the future disputes in court, the turmoil of the Princes and at the end, Fu Xiu Yi was the final winner. He ascended to the throne and I became the Empress and became the Mother of the nation. It was impressive.”
Xie Jing Xing’s eyebrow raised.
“You will most likely think that this was a sweet dream as I was obsessed with Fu Xiu Yi so my dream had such a happy ending. I also wished that it was a happy dream but this was the most terrible nightmare I had in my entire life.”
“I gave birth to a son and daughter and they were the most sensible and adorable children in the world. Afterwards Great Liang’s power became stronger and strong and there were foreign nations that were invading Ming Qi so Ming Qi borrowed troops from Qin country. Qin country used me as a hostage and one stayed in Qin country for five years.”
“That’s how I encounter HuangFu Hao and Ming An.” Shen Miao said.
Xie Jing Xing’s expression gradually became serious.
“I did not like the Imperial family of Qin country as they always humiliate me. They invented a kind of archery and put a fruit on my head but always deliberate miss it. Afterwards I secretly practiced archery but no matter how good one practice, on the second day, I will not shoot them.”
“Five years quickly passed and I returned to Ming Qi. There was one more favoured consort in the Palace of Ming Qi, by the name of Mei Furen. She gave birth to a son, by the name of Fu Chen.”
“Fu Xiu Yi favoured Mei Furen greatly and doted on Fu Chen. I was treated coldly. Even though I was the Empress, I was secretly sneered at.”
“Fu Xiu Yi started to attack the Shen family and even though I was worried, I could not mangled in politics. My Eldest Brother’s future career was impacted due to the incident of Jing Chu Chu’s innocence and was sent to prison for murder before drowning in a pond. My Mother’s illness became severe due to Cang Zai Qing and she finally succumbed to grief. My Father became older by the day and when his military power was taken back, he drank every day. The Second and Third household rose up step by step and became more powerful.”
“I was fighting with Mei Furen in the Inner Palace and no one spared the other. It was not that I am greedy for the position of the Empress but if I could not even keep this position, I would not be able to protect my children at all.
“At the end, I lost. The Shen family was destroyed, WanYu died on the journey to the Xiong Nu for marriage alliance and Fu Ming’s position of the Crown Prince was abolished and he committed suicide. When I was in the Cold Palace, I was bestowed a white silk and the eunuch strangled me personally. When I opened my eyes, I discovered that I was lying on the bed and had dreamt of a very very long nightmare.”
She said it lightly and faintly of this shocking dream but there was a smile on her face. Even though the smile misty, it seemed to contain endless pain but the pain could not be spoken and thus it was simply replaced with a smile.
Xie Jing Xing did not speak.
She always referred to herself as ‘BenGong’ when she was drunk and Xie Jing Xing always laughed that how deep she scheme at such a young age. Occasionally he would wonder why she was an abolished Empress. So actually it was like this…
Shen Miao said, “Do you believe in my dream?”
Xie Jing Xing instead asked, “Do you believe it?”
Shen Miao smiled, “If I do not believe it, one feared that what is standing in front of you today would be just a grave.”
“After I woke up, I feared that everything in this dream would happen and acted according to convention. One would find some clues to prove that it was just a nightmare. However when one seriously pursued it, the more one discovered that this was not only just a dream as the things that happened in the dream occurred.”
“I reminded Su Ming Lang because the Su family would die not long after due to the Emperor’s jealousy. When the entire Su family was questioned and beheaded, only you went to collect the father and son bodies. Without the lips, the teeth would feel the cold. After the Su family, the next one is the Shen family. I was only trying to protect myself, thus the reminder to the Su family. However I was discovered by you.”
At that time, Xie Jing Xing was suspicious of her because of Xu Ming Lang’s words and repeatedly probed. The two of them confront each other many times but they did not know each other’s thoughts.
“Then in that dream of yours, what kind of ending do I have?” Xie Jing Xing stared at her and asked.
Shen Miao said, “You are very good.”
“The Xie family gradually declined and afterwards the Marquis of Lin An died in the battlefield. You represent your Father for battle and one heard that you are buried in a horse hide (aka gave one’s life on the battlefield) but after many years, you returned to Ming Qi with the identity of Prince Rui of First Rank.” Shen Miao smiled slightly, “And afterwards, took over the Imperial power with troops.”
Xie Jing Xing frowned, “Just like this?”
“Just like this.” Shen Miao nodded her head.
“Like this.” His brows were raised, “I actually thought that in that dream of yours, there would be some involvement between you and me.”
“Do you really treat it as a dream? Or do you think that it is gibberish nonsense that I speak when drunk?” Shen Miao’s gaze slightly darkened as she continued, “But it is also good like this. I would rather that it was just a dream.”
“You may not believe some of the things that were spoken but I truly saw Jing Chu Chu, Cang Zai Qing and the rest. Before that, I have never seen them before. Because of the reminder of the nightmare, I have already guard against them. In fact, thinking about it, there are many matters that were accomplished because of that dream.”
Xie Jing Xing smiled as he looked at her and that smile was gentle and comforting, “You did well.”
“The things in the past have passed and I always do my all to avoid the ending in that dream. But there was one thing, the two children in that dream are gone.”
Xie Jing Xing gently stroke the fingers holding the wine bowl, “We will have children too.”
Shen Miao took a deep breath and look at him, “Now I have something to say and you have to listen clearly.”
“In that dream, the Mei Furen that I fought for an entire lifetime, the Consort Mother of the new Crown prince and at the end the female that controlled the court, was called Li Mei. She was a daughter of an official that Fu Xiu Yi encountered during an expedition to the East, that was charming and knew another’s heart. Currently I have encountered her again. Are you not curious that after you woke up, after the Imperial Hunt, I was cold towards you? It was because at that time I was flustered as I have encountered Li Mei again.”
“Now she is called Ye Mei.”
“Do you understand what I am saying?” She asked.
Xie Jing Xing did not speak for a long time.
One did not know how long had passed when he looked at Shen Miao, “She is the enemy in your dreams?”
“I ended up hating her to the bones but could not end the enemy personally. In this lifetime’s encounter, she had become the daughter that the Ye family of Long Ye found. Xie Jing Xing, I can tolerate my hatred but there is one point that needs to be addressed. Ye Mei is not a kind hearted person as she would climb up the ladder by any means possible for the sake of power. She will not do any unnecessary things and since the residence of Prince Rui has accepted her favour, one would become the knife in her hands. You have to guard against her.”
Xie Jing Xing picked up the wine bowl again and drank everything in it. Even though he was smiling, his eyes were cold, “Is it Ye Mei? Fu Xiu Yi’s way of seeing females have always been vulgar. I am different from him.”
“No matter if your dream is real or not.” Xie Jing Xing said, “The enmity in the dream is still considered as enmity. Just the point of him turning his back on you, one cannot forgive that. Give your enmity to me, I will avenge for you.” He then interrupted Shen Miao words, “Not mentioning about ending the enemy personally, you are my woman, your enmity is my enmity. In this world, there are innumerable enemies for both you and me so there is no need to separate them between yours and mind. If there is a day where you meet my enemy and you want to avenge for me, then it would be considered even.”
Shen Miao frowned, “You have enemies? Who is it?”
Xie Jing Xing looked at her for a while and suddenly reached his hands out to stroke her head, “So adorable for believing everything one speaks of.”
“Impudent.” Shen Miao said.
When she drinks, she would habitually bring out the bearing of an Empress. Xie Jing Xing paused in his action and Shen Miao was also startled a little. He stared at Shen Miao, “You still want to be an Empress?”
“I do not want to have a second dream like that.” Shen Miao said, “I do not want to be that kind of Empress the second time.”
