Is she coveting my brother's status and position, yet looking down on his notorious reputation?
Shen Xihe was both angered and amused. Who did these people think they were, to dare nitpick her brother?
Sensing his sister's shifting emotions and immediately catching the chill in her eyes, Shen Yungan pressed her shoulder, quietly helped her up, and shook his head at her with a faint smile.
He was rather curious to know how the capital's elite truly viewed him.
"If it weren't for that, would you even have a chance?" The woman sneered. "No matter how bloodthirsty he is, once you marry into the Shen family, you'll be the Northwest Prince Heir's consort. Even if you die in the northwest, it would still bring glory to the Yuan family."
The Yuan family?
Shen Xihe quickly ran through the possibilities in her mind. There were two Yuan families in the capital—one civil officials, the other military officers—both merely minor fifth-rank officials.
The daughter of a fifth-rank official dared to aspire to become the Northwest Prince Heir's consort?
So, in their eyes, had Shen Yungan fallen so low that he would marry without regard for status?
If her brother truly liked someone, status and position would indeed be irrelevant. But these people, blind to their own standing, dared to throw themselves at her brother. Shen Xihe's gaze sharpened, gathering a hint of murderous intent.
The two women muttered a few more words, mostly about needing to find Shen Yungan quickly and leave a deep impression on him.
"Find out who they are," Shen Xihe ordered. After their maids returned to report they hadn't found him anywhere, the two women decided to wait at the main gate.
"Youyou, don't be upset. Your brother won't marry just anyone," Shen Yungan chuckled softly, soothing his clearly irritated sister.
He was both worried she might upset herself over this and secretly pleased that she was angered on his behalf.
He adored his sister, which made it difficult to find a suitable wife. Few young women would tolerate such devotion, and he couldn't change this part of himself. Rather than waste anyone's time, he'd resigned himself to staying unmarried. Fortunately, their father hadn't pressured him, hoping he would find someone who truly understood him.
"Your Highness, it's Lady Yuan, the wife of Duke Xie, with her niece," Moyu reported upon returning from her inquiries.
"Lady Yuan, wife of Duke Xie?" Shen Xihe let out a soft, derisive laugh.
Wasn't this the very woman Xie Yunhuai's father was so eager to marry as his second wife?
This Lady Yuan's father had once held the position of Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but after his death, her eldest brother died young while serving outside the capital, and her second brother was mediocre, only passing the imperial exams in his forties and remaining a lowly fifth-rank Doctor in the Ministry of Works.
"Let's go see what peerless beauty could possess such confidence," Shen Xihe said, grabbing Shen Yungan's wrist and leading him away from Pingzhong Court straight toward the main gate.
Before they even reached the main hall facing the gate, they heard a piercing scream—one that sounded familiar, likely belonging to that Miss Yuan.
Exchanging a glance, Shen Xihe and Shen Yungan quickened their pace, following the crowd gathering toward the main hall entrance.
They saw people backing away in alarm, making it easy to view the scene at the gate: a young woman clutching half her face, blood seeping through her fingers.
A richly dressed woman stood nearby, her face a mix of shock and fury, though she too had paled from fright.
A few steps away stood Xue Jinqiao, poised and striking in a dark ruqun. Beside her was a large, powerfully built leopard. She was crouched, patting the leopard's head as if calming it.
"Kill that beast at once!" Lady Yuan shrieked, having regained her composure, ordering the guards she had brought from the Duke's residence."Who dares!" Xue Jinqiao stood protectively in front of the leopard that had sensed threat and prepared to attack. "Diandian was bestowed by His Majesty! Harming him would be defying Imperial Authority!"
"Seventh Miss Xue, you let this beast attack people! Even if it's a gift from His Majesty, I can kill it without facing punishment!" Yuan Shi hadn't been a Duchess for years without learning to hold her ground, her presence equally formidable.
"My Diandian has always been gentle. This isn't my first time bringing him here - he's never harmed anyone before. Today he went mad at the sight of Miss Yuan, so she must be carrying something unclean." Xue Jinqiao spoke with a sweet smile. "Caocao, search her!"
"How dare you!" Yuan Shi's face twisted with rage as guards from both households faced off.
"Amitabha." Xu Qing arrived and first directed people to treat Miss Yuan's injuries. "This is sacred Buddhist ground. Please both withdraw your weapons."
Xue Jinqiao nodded, and the Xue family guards sheathed their blades first. Yuan Shi gritted her teeth and ordered her guards to stand down.
"Master Xuqing, you know how gentle Diandian is - he wouldn't attack without reason." Xue Jinqiao's eyes brightened upon seeing Shen Xihe. While appearing to address Xu Qing, she actually moved closer to Shen Xihe. "If someone brought unclean things into this holy Buddhist site, wouldn't that defile the Buddha?"
Xu Qing knelt to examine Miss Yuan's injuries personally. Three deep claw marks reaching to the bone covered half of her delicate pale face, with one stretching from her right brow across the bridge of her nose to behind her ear.
Judging from the other half of her face, Shen Xihe confirmed this Miss Yuan was indeed quite beautiful.
Xu Qing's gaze swept over the scented sachet at Miss Yuan's waist before he rose expressionlessly. "Madam Xie, the fragrant spices in Miss Yuan's sachet provoked the leopard's frenzy."
"Master Xuqing!" Yuan Shi stared in disbelief.
But Xu Qing's gaze remained stern and cold.
"I have some knowledge of fragrant spices. Perhaps I should examine it." Shen Xihe stepped forward.
This matter concerned a woman's entire future. Unless Miss Yuan was truly at fault, the Xue family would need to give the Yuan family an explanation.
Xu Qing yielded, though his grim expression made everyone nervous. They all wondered what could make the usually benevolent and respected Master Xuqing so quietly furious.
When the sachet reached Shen Xihe's hands, a faint fragrance wafted out. After carefully sniffing it, she handed it to Yuan Shi. "Madam Xie, this contains otter bone powder."
Yuan Shi didn't understand, nor did the surrounding commoners. Shen Xihe explained, "Madam Xie, take Miss Yuan for medical treatment. Ask the imperial physician and you'll understand. As for whether you should demand accountability from Seventh Miss Xue, decide after you've learned the truth."
Hearing this and seeing Xu Qing's displeased expression, Yuan Shi didn't argue further and immediately left with Miss Yuan.
After the crowd dispersed, Shen Xihe fixed her penetrating gaze on Xue Jinqiao. The previously formidable Xue Jinqiao now fidgeted like a guilty child, stroking her Diandian.
Otter bone was an aphrodisiac. Otters were known for their lustful nature, and if this substance were given to a man, the consequences would be unthinkable.
For an unmarried maiden to carry such things in her sachet - if this became known, no daughter of the Yuan family would ever make a good marriage.
When Yuan Shi learned what otter bone was, how could she still dare to demand justice from Xue Jinqiao?
Miss Yuan's beauty was ruined for nothing. But how could an official's daughter possibly carry such things in her sachet? Especially since even Yuan Shi didn't know what otter bone was - Miss Yuan would have been even less likely to know.Taking another look at Xue Jinqiao's earnest little expression, what else could Shen Xihe fail to understand?
"You!" Shen Xihe tapped her forehead with a finger before striding away.
Shen Yungan moved to follow, but was stopped by Xue Jinqiao. She bared her teeth in a hushed warning: "Until I decide I don't want you anymore, you're not allowed to flirt around!"
Shen Yungan: ???
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