When the Snow Melts, Nothing Remains

Xie Qinghan × Ji Xuerong

If anyone in the Kingdom of Shen had “dignity” engraved more deeply into their bones than anyone else, it was Ji Xuerong, the young lord of Jiangnan. No one would dare claim second place.

The strange thing was that in all the vast Kingdom of Shen, there was hardly anyone besides the ruler, Shen Zhiyan, whom Ji Xuerong considered worthy of his notice. People gossiped behind his back, calling him arrogant and conceited. When Ji Xuerong heard them, he would merely cast them a cool glance, let out a disdainful snort, and walk straight past with his hands behind his back. Did you think that meant he agreed?

Not at all. If not for the rule that defying an imperial decree could bring disaster upon nine generations of one’s family, Ji Xuerong would have had no qualms about snorting at Shen Zhiyan too, making his disapproval perfectly clear.

That said, Ji Xuerong disliked other people, and most other people disliked him in turn.

There was only one reason: he was far too pretentious.

He walked as if every step could crack the paving stones, raised his hands with the ease of drifting clouds, and even held a teacup with an air of nobility in every finger, as though the slightest sway would disgrace his status as the young lord of Jiangnan. But no matter how many people grumbled inwardly, they could only grit their teeth and put up with him. After all, Ji Xuerong had earned real and renowned military honors. If he hadn’t led the Jiangnan Iron Cavalry to the border in those hard-fought battles, the gates of the Kingdom of Shen would have been breached long ago.

Ji Xuerong never took such idle gossip to heart. In his eyes, these people were no different from fools.

If a dog bites you, are you supposed to bite it back?