Chapter 250: Not Jealous

Inside and outside the Kunning Palace, palace attendants bustled about.

Zheng Bao was directing them to redecorate the palace chambers—moving out what was no longer needed and bringing in what was.

Jiang Xuening didn’t need to lift a finger. After giving a few instructions, she sat in a side hall with Fang Miao, who had come to visit the palace. They peeled oranges by the fire, chatting about recent gossip in the capital.

The hall was warm and cozy.

For the hundredth time, Fang Miao couldn’t help but exclaim, “From the first time I saw you, I knew you were someone destined for greatness. And look—I wasn’t wrong, was I? Just look at this palace. In the past, noblewomen would have done anything to live here. Now, Her Highness the Princess handed it over to you without even blinking. Whether or not you become empress, you’re still the mistress of Kunning Palace.”

Although Shen Lang had passed away, the royal family hadn’t collapsed, nor did the court officials intend to dismantle it. So Shen Jie was still the Prince of Linzi, and Fang Miao remained his princess consort.

But no one mentioned “revenge.”

The massacre of the “Three Hundred Righteous Youths” over twenty years ago—right or wrong—was a matter of personal judgment. Besides, one had to consider whether they had the power to seek vengeance against Xie Wei. Even Shen Zhiyi, who held military power, hadn’t brought it up. Anyone with sense could see how the situation stood.

Fang Miao, naturally, didn’t meddle.

Though she was married, her demeanor hadn’t changed much from their days studying together at Yangzhi Zhai. Even the hem of her dignified gown secretly held a small string of copper coins, which she would occasionally touch in secret.

Her gaze still carried a hint of whimsical curiosity.

But after a moment, she sighed deeply. “Ah, what a pity…”

Jiang Xuening rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Here we go again. She’d heard this so many times lately, her ears were growing calluses.

Sure enough, Fang Miao continued in a tone of exasperated regret, “It’s such a shame! What is this Kunning Palace, really? You were this close to holding the entire imperial palace in your hands! The world was within your grasp. If you had just nodded back then, who knows? The empire might have had a new mistress!”

Jiang Xuening didn’t respond.

Fang Miao’s eyes filled with even more regret. “If that had happened, maybe I could’ve been like that Yuanji monk—mooching food and drink, riding your coattails to become a national preceptor. Wouldn’t that have been wonderful?”

Jiang Xuening popped an orange segment into her mouth and laughed. “It’s just getting dark—perfect timing for you to start dreaming.”

She wore a light blue gown.

When she lifted her hand, the fine silk cascaded down her smooth skin in soft folds, revealing a slender, fair wrist. Loosely hanging from it was a string of translucent, amber-yellow beads that shimmered gently in the light.

Though called “amber yellow,” it wasn’t actually amber—it was a rare variety of Hetian yellow jade, even more precious than mutton-fat jade. It resembled amber in appearance, but its value was worlds apart. Aside from a few pieces owned by immensely wealthy families, the rest had been offered to the royal family.

Fang Miao still remembered that Shen Jie had once brought back a piece.

She had been delighted at the time, torn between turning it into a small pendant or a forehead ornament. Unable to decide and unwilling to waste it, she had simply locked it away in a box.

But now, looking at Jiang Xuening, she wore an entire bracelet of such exquisite jade on her wrist. Twelve perfectly polished beads, smooth and delicate, elegant and graceful—at first glance, one might mistake them for amber.

After all, no matter how wealthy someone was, they wouldn’t squander jade like this.

Using a whole piece of yellow jade to make a seal or a pendant was one thing. But to cut it into beads? That would waste an enormous amount of high-quality jade—an outrageous extravagance. Not to mention, the uniform color and flawless texture of the beads must have taken immense effort to match.

Fang Miao had first noticed the bracelet a few days ago. At first glance, she hadn’t paid much attention. But when the light hit it just right, she realized it was Hetian yellow jade—and nearly had a heart attack from the shock.

She had then said, with genuine admiration, “That bracelet is truly beautiful.”

Jiang Xuening had been busy with something else at the time and replied offhandedly, without much care:
“Xie Ju’an gave it to me last month, just casually. I didn’t think it looked that nice, so it sat on my dressing table collecting dust for over half a month. I only picked it up to wear because I chipped my old purple jade bracelet the other day.”

Casually given.
Collected dust for half a month.
Picked up reluctantly.

Yeah… maybe people really are just born different.

At the time, Fang Miao had been left speechless.

Now, catching another glimpse of the bracelet, she remembered that frustrating moment and this time spoke with genuine sincerity:
“Only someone like Second Miss Jiang could be so blessed. All the hardship you endured in the past—you’re finally reaping the rewards. A peaceful life like this, others wouldn’t even be able to handle such a fortunate fate.”

Jiang Xuening looked at her and asked, “That sigh of yours came out of nowhere. What’s bothering you at home?”

Fang Miao and Shen Jie were a classic pair of bickering lovers—fighting first, then making up.
Now, they were in the “quarrel at the head of the bed, make up at the foot” phase.
The affairs of a young couple didn’t need outsiders meddling.

But Shen Jie was kind and soft-hearted. In the inner residence, there was still Jiang Xuehui.
Though she didn’t fight or compete, and life with her was passable, it was far from being a “match made in heaven.” At best, it was just a bit better than average.

Fang Miao curled her lips. “You don’t know, do you? A couple of years ago, there were rumors about naming him Crown Prince. Lately, everyone in the capital is speculating about who the next emperor will be. Some clueless people have started guessing it might be him. Now the prince’s residence is a circus—not just gold and silver pouring in, but all kinds of seductive women and concubines being sent to the back courtyard. Today it’s a ‘chance encounter while admiring the snow,’ tomorrow it’s a ‘moonlit rendezvous.’ They can stir up drama out of nothing. It’s a mess. I really don’t want to go back and deal with that tonight. If you don’t let me stay here, I’ll go beg Her Highness for a place to sleep.”

She said it lightly, but there was a hint of bitterness in her tone.
When feelings are real, it’s hard to stay calm.

Jiang Xuening laughed. “You’re jealous. But if he truly has no interest in those women, then it’s just them lighting lamps for the blind—wasted effort. You don’t need to take it to heart. It’s just a temporary annoyance.”

Fang Miao replied, “I know he’s not at fault. But I still don’t feel happy seeing it.”

These things rarely made sense.
It was hard not to let the frustration spill over.
Saying she wasn’t upset would be a lie. She just wished she could drive all those scheming women out and stop them from parading in front of her.

But when she looked up and saw Jiang Xuening, she suddenly froze.

Jiang Xuening asked, “What is it?”

Fang Miao blinked. “You’ve never felt this way?”

Jiang Xuening didn’t quite follow. “Felt what way?”

Fang Miao sat up straight, looking at Jiang Xuening with a more serious and curious gaze.
“In plain terms,” she said, “have you ever been jealous—like me? For example, when another woman gets close to him. Even if it’s not his fault, you just feel unhappy, can’t help it, and might even take it out on him. Has that never happened to you?”

Jealous?

Jiang Xuening thought carefully—and realized, no, it hadn’t.

So she shook her head.

Fang Miao’s face immediately showed surprise. “How is that possible?”

She couldn’t help wanting to ask more.

But just then, someone outside came to report that Master Xie was on his way over.

Fang Miao instantly fell silent, suddenly looking a little guilty and nervous. She quickly stood up and said,
“It’s getting late. I just remembered I’ve been chatting with you all this time and haven’t gone to pay respects to Her Highness yet. I’ll be off now!”

And with that, she slipped away like oil on glass.

She looked exactly like a student who hadn’t done her homework and was trying to avoid the teacher—eager to get as far away as possible. After all, back in their days at Yangzhi Zhai, Fang Miao had been a master of coasting through, and she definitely didn’t want to be caught now.

So when Xie Wei came walking through the falling snow, holding an umbrella, he saw Jiang Xuening in the side hall, holding half a peeled orange, looking at him with a rather helpless expression.

A newly arrived palace maid immediately stepped forward to take his umbrella.

But Xie Wei slightly furrowed his brows and, as if he hadn’t seen her, leaned the already-closed umbrella gently against a pillar himself before walking inside.

Xie Ju’an had always preferred to do things himself—something Jiang Xuening was used to and had never paid much attention to. But perhaps because the maid was new and unfamiliar, she noticed it this time.

Fang Miao’s earlier question suddenly flashed through her mind.

Jiang Xuening blinked, watching him walk toward her.

Coming from the Cabinet Office in this bitter cold, Xie Wei’s features—already refined and elegant—were now tinged with a trace of chill. When his eyes fell on someone, they carried a particularly focused and profound intensity.

His white Daoist robe was spotless, untouched by dust.

From her past life to this one, Jiang Xuening had nearly grown used to Xie Wei’s otherworldly, aloof demeanor. It was as if, aside from her own bold and reckless self in their previous life, no other woman had ever dared throw herself at him. It was as if he was naturally indifferent to women, and women, in turn, instinctively avoided him.

But really—how could that be possible?

Xie Ju’an held immense power and influence, and with such a striking appearance, even if he had no intelligence or talent (which he certainly did), he would still be the dream suitor of countless young women. It was obvious that there must be many who harbored feelings for him.

And yet, she had never heard of any.

Never even seen it.

Naturally, she had never been troubled the way Fang Miao was.

Because Xie Wei was not Shen Jie.

Jiang Xuening wasn’t someone incapable of jealousy. On the contrary, if she ever decided to make a fuss, she had no shortage of tricks up her sleeve.
But ever since she had been with Xie Ju’an—or even before they were truly together—she had never once felt that way.
Those little tempers and petty moods had simply never surfaced again.

It wasn’t that she had restrained herself or chosen not to use them.

It was because Xie Ju’an, quietly and without a word, had done everything so well—never giving her the slightest reason to feel troubled.
So whether it was jealousy or a tantrum, she never even had the chance to use them.

Her eyes softened with a hint of moisture. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, asking,
“What brings you here?”

He had just come in from outside, still carrying the chill of the cold air.
But she had been warmed by the brazier inside the hall, and as she nestled into his embrace, some of that cold was driven away.

Xie Wei held her close and chuckled.
“If I hadn’t come, with the way you’re working yourself to death for Shen Zhiyi, who knows how many nights you’d end up sleeping in the palace?”

Jiang Xuening bit her lip and smiled.
“Well, who told you not to come pick me up?”

She had always been good at twisting logic to her favor, and said it so righteously that Xie Wei didn’t even bother arguing.
He simply picked up the snow fox–trimmed cloak beside them and wrapped it around her, covering her whole body until only her small face peeked out.

Then he said, “Let’s go back.”

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