Jing Chuchu went out with Shen Miao but returned alone, which didn't seem to draw much attention in Shen Mansion. However, that night, Shen Miao unexpectedly visited the side courtyard of the old madam to personally speak with Jing Chuchu.
At the time, Jing Chuchu was fiddling with the jewelry on the table. Among them, a jade bracelet stood out, its color so clear it was nearly transparent, and the quality of the jade itself was exceptionally fine. This bracelet must have cost at least a hundred taels of silver—something Jing Chuchu could never afford on her own. Though Shen Miao had bought her some jewelry at the Treasure Pavilion the day before, this bracelet wasn’t among them.
The moment Shen Miao entered, her gaze fixed on the jade bracelet. Jing Chuchu was startled and hurriedly stuffed it into a box. Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Cousin, that bracelet doesn’t seem like an ordinary piece."
Jing Chuchu asked softly, "Does Fifth Sister know about this bracelet?"
"I’ve seen a similar imported one before, but its quality wasn’t as good as yours. Even so, it was priced at five hundred taels of silver at the time. I imagine yours must have cost at least a thousand taels." Shen Miao fabricated casually. While the bracelet was indeed valuable, it wasn’t worth a thousand taels—one could buy far better jewelry for that price. But given Jing Chuchu’s limited experience, she would believe it even if Shen Miao exaggerated further.
"But cousin, where did such a precious bracelet come from?" Shen Miao asked. "I’ve never seen you wear it before."
"It... it was a gift from a friend," Jing Chuchu murmured.
A glimmer of understanding flashed in Shen Miao’s eyes. Sun Cainan didn’t just rely on his handsome face and sweet words to charm women—he was also generous with money. Otherwise, in her past life, Jing Chuchu, already the wife of a deputy general, wouldn’t have cheated on her husband. Indeed, such an extravagant gift upon their first meeting would be hard for someone as inexperienced as Jing Chuchu to resist.
"It seems this friend treats you very well," Shen Miao remarked.
Jing Chuchu blushed and looked at Shen Miao. "Fifth Sister, was there something you needed?"
Shen Miao leisurely smoothed her sleeves before replying, "I heard someone escorted you home today?"
"I... I met a kind-hearted young master," Jing Chuchu said nervously. "He was so sincere, I didn’t dare refuse, but we strictly observed propriety."
"There’s no need to be nervous, cousin," Shen Miao said with a faint smile. "Do you know who that person was?"
Jing Chuchu froze. "Who?"
"He is Sun Cainan, the only legitimate son of Minister of Personnel Sun Tianzheng."
Jing Chuchu stared at Shen Miao, her eyes filled with shock.
Shen Miao sneered inwardly. Sun Tianzheng kept Sun Cainan under tight control, so while Sun Cainan flirted with women everywhere, he rarely revealed his true identity unless he intended to take the girl into his household as a concubine. He likely hadn’t disclosed his background to Jing Chuchu either. She probably thought he was just a wealthy young master. Now that she knew his true status, how could Jing Chuchu—who was so eager to climb the social ladder—possibly let such an opportunity slip?"Cousin must also know that the Minister of Personnel is a very high-ranking official." Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Their household is no less prestigious than ours. Most importantly, Minister Sun only has one legitimate son, Young Master Sun. For someone of his status to personally escort Cousin back to our residence, could it be..." Shen Miao said lightly, "that he has taken a liking to Cousin?"
"Fifth Sister, don't speak nonsense." Jing Chuchu quickly refuted, but her cheeks immediately flushed red, and her gaze became somewhat evasive. Clearly, Shen Miao's words had stirred some ripples in her heart. She whispered, "Young Master Sun and I are completely innocent."
"I never said there was anything between you." Shen Miao chuckled. "A fair lady is a gentleman's good match. Cousin is beautiful, so it's only natural for noble young masters to admire you. But Young Master Sun is indeed an excellent match—handsome and from a wealthy family. Whoever becomes his wife would be the mistress of the entire Minister's household, especially since Minister Sun has only this one legitimate son."
Jing Chuchu pursed her lips and remained silent. Shen Miao stood up and smiled. "I just came by to chat casually. Cousin shouldn't take it to heart. Most things in this world depend on fate. If there truly is such a destiny, who knows what might happen in the future? By then, Cousin would surely be able to stay in Fixed Capital for the rest of her life." With these words, Shen Miao turned and walked out.
Left alone in the room, Jing Chuchu unconsciously reached into the box and took out the smooth jade bracelet, running her fingers over its intricate patterns. She hadn't expected Sun Cainan to be the son of the Minister of Personnel. As for why he hadn't revealed his identity, it was probably like those stories in operas—he didn't want her to be drawn to him for his family background. Didn't that mean Sun Cainan truly cared for her? Otherwise, why would he gift her a bracelet worth thousands of taels upon their first meeting?
To be fair, Jing Chuchu came from a modest background. Though she had been pursued by many noble young masters in Suzhou, their gestures paled in comparison to Sun Cainan's. Having witnessed the splendor of Fixed Capital, she was even more reluctant to return to Suzhou. Now, Shen Miao's final words had struck a chord in her heart—if she married Sun Cainan, she could stay in Fixed Capital forever.
But... what about Old Madam Shen?
Outside, as soon as Shen Miao stepped out of the courtyard, she encountered Jing Guansheng. Spotting her, his eyes lit up, and he smiled. "Cousin, were you visiting Chuchu?"
Shen Miao nodded.
"Cousin has grown quite close to Chuchu lately." Jing Guansheng tried to approach, but Jing Zhe and Gu Yu shielded Shen Miao like guards warding off a rogue. Considering himself a refined gentleman, Jing Guansheng couldn't bring himself to press forward with a lecherous expression.
"It's fine. We're all family." Shen Miao smiled, then walked past Jing Guansheng without another glance, heading out of the courtyard.
Gu Yu asked quietly, "Does Miss wish to play matchmaker for Cousin and Young Master Sun?" Shen Miao had repeatedly praised Sun Cainan's virtues, which struck the two maids as particularly odd—it almost sounded like she was acting as a matchmaker.
"Since when have you known me to be so kind-hearted?" Shen Miao replied expressionlessly.
"Then why...?" Gu Yu was even more puzzled."We need to unsettle Cousin's heart," Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Old Madam Shen and Cousin shared the same goal before, so naturally they were close. But what if their desires no longer align? What do you think would happen?"
Jing Zhe shuddered: "The dogs would bite each other!" Then she suddenly realized her words and panicked: "This servant didn't mean they're dogs, this servant is illiterate..."
"You weren't wrong," Shen Miao said. "The phrase 'dogs biting dogs' is quite fitting. Also, in the coming days, go befriend Fu'er from the Hall of Glory and Scenery."
"Fu'er?" Jing Zhe was taken aback.
"Old Madam Shen wants to marry her off to the one-eyed son of the steward," Shen Miao explained. "Fu'er is extremely unwilling."
"Heavens," Jing Zhe was stunned. "Fu'er has served Old Madam Shen since childhood, how could..." Even cats and dogs raised for years would evoke some affection—how could they marry a perfectly good young girl in her prime to a one-eyed man? Fu'er was efficient in her work, and though sharp-tongued, she was utterly loyal to Old Madam Shen.
"Old Madam Shen receives annual profits from the steward's fields—naturally, she must reciprocate. Unwilling to part with silver, she parts with people instead. Fu'er is simply unfortunate to have been born attractive."
"Is the Young Lady planning to help Fu'er?" Gu Yu asked cautiously, though she felt something odd. Shen Miao had never cared much for those in the Hall of Glory and Scenery, and she wasn't the merciful type now. The idea of her helping Fu'er seemed unlikely.
"Of course I'll help," Shen Miao said serenely. "Every mistake Old Madam Shen makes is an opportunity for us."
"Young Lady wants to bribe Fu'er?" Jing Zhe asked. "But would Fu'er even be swayed? She was always the most loyal to Old Madam Shen."
"The greater the loyalty left unrewarded, the more powerful the betrayal. A dog raised by its master bites the hardest when it turns rabid," Shen Miao said coolly.
...
Several uneventful days passed in the Shen Mansion. Jing Chuchu no longer lingered around the West Courtyard but often went out shopping with a few of the mansion's guards, claiming she wanted to see the sights of Fixed Capital. No one stopped her—those in the West Courtyard were even glad she went out daily, as the guards at their gates could relax a little.
However, Jing Chuchu's attire grew increasingly lavish. Though Old Madam Shen gave the Jing siblings some silver, her inherent stinginess meant it wasn't much. Jing Chuchu's extravagant dressing even surprised Shen Yue, but when questioned, Jing Chuchu claimed it was her own family's money. Even Jing Guansheng became more generous, tipping the mansion's servants more liberally.
Everyone said it was because the Jing siblings had broadened their horizons in Fixed Capital, shedding their provincial habits and becoming more like the city's elite.
While the Jing siblings lived comfortably, not everyone in the mansion shared their ease. In the Hall of Glory and Scenery, Old Madam Shen eyed Jing Chuchu with a sharp glint: "Chuchu, how have you been lately? Are you adjusting well to Fixed Capital?"
"Thanks to Old Madam's blessings, Chuchu is doing very well," Jing Chuchu replied."If you're doing so well, then why haven't you used the medicine packet I gave you yet?" Old Madam Shen fixed Jing Chuchu with a piercing glare from her triangular eyes, her tone heavy. Someone with a weaker disposition might have been frightened to tears by her fierce expression.
Yet Jing Chuchu remained with her head bowed, her voice steady as ever. "Madam, Chuchu hasn't even been able to get close to Cousin Shen Qiu. There truly hasn't been an opportunity."
Old Madam Shen had given the medicine packet to Jing Chuchu long ago, instructing her to administer it to Shen Qiu at the first chance. But days had passed with no movement in Shen Mansion—Jing Chuchu hadn't made any attempt at all.
"You spend all day wandering outside and only return late in the evening. It'd be strange if you could find an opportunity like that," Old Madam Shen couldn't help but sneer. "Chuchu, are you unwilling? If you're unwilling, we can forget this matter."
"Chuchu is not unwilling," Jing Chuchu quickly replied. These days, she had been secretly meeting Sun Cainan outside every day. Pretending not to know his true identity, she had enjoyed his gentle attentions—gifts of fine clothes and jewelry. It was precisely these tokens from Sun Cainan that had made her hesitate. Compared to Shen Qiu, who would be away in the harsh northwest for months on end, marrying Sun Cainan seemed a far more comfortable prospect. But whether Sun Cainan would actually marry her was another question. Jing Chuchu had guarded her chastity carefully, knowing men's nature: let them see but not touch, touch but not taste, taste but never be satisfied—that was how to ensnare a man's heart. She had indeed bewitched Sun Cainan, but as the legitimate son of the Minister's household, and her being from a humble background, even if Sun Cainan was willing, Sun Tianzheng would never agree. Becoming Sun Cainan's concubine was out of the question for her.
Thus, Jing Chuchu wavered. With Shen Qiu, Old Madam Shen had guaranteed she could become his lawful wife. But Sun Cainan treated her with such tenderness and generosity. Human hearts are greedy—never satisfied with what they have, always craving more. Unable to decide, Jing Chuchu had delayed giving Shen Qiu the medicine.
Her inaction had made Old Madam Shen impatient, leading to this confrontation.
"If you're willing, then why the delay?" Old Madam Shen pressed.
"Chuchu... Chuchu wanted to ensure absolute success before acting. The guards in the West Courtyard are very tight, and Chuchu has found it difficult to seize the right moment. If we alert them prematurely, it will be even harder to act later."
"Chuchu, I favored you," Old Madam Shen said slowly. "But if you continue like this, I will be disappointed. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you're this timid, I fear you'll never accomplish anything in the future."
Jing Chuchu bowed her head in acquiescence.
Old Madam Shen glanced at her, a hint of disgust in her eyes. "You may leave."
Jing Chuchu hastily retreated.
Once she was gone, Old Madam Shen slammed a cup onto the table, shattering it. "Useless trash!" she fumed.
Mama Zhang quietly instructed a maid to clean up the fragments while soothing her mistress. "Madam, there's no need for such anger. The young mistress is likely just a bit timid. For a young lady to do such a thing, it's natural to have some reservations.""How can I not be anxious?" Old Madam Shen said furiously. "Yuan'er came yesterday to tell me that the eldest household has been looking around for potential matches for Shen Qiu everywhere. If they really settle on one, it will be even harder to act later. I originally helped that Jing Chuchu because she seemed ambitious, but who knew she'd be such hopeless mud that won't stick to the wall!"
Zhang Mama patted Old Madam Shen's chest to soothe her: "The young mistress is still quite young. And she does have a point - the eldest master's family is on high alert now. If we're not careful, we might startle the snake and tear apart both appearances and reality, which would be disastrous."
"Then what do you suggest?" Old Madam Shen snapped. "Time is pressing, and that girl refuses to act. Are we to just watch as Shen Qiu marries some noble young lady?"
"Madam," Zhang Mama pondered, "the young mistress is indeed too young for this task - it would be risky. Why not have our own people handle it instead?"
"Our people?" Old Madam Shen looked at her.
"Exactly," Zhang Mama said. "Our people would be more thorough than the young mistress. If anything goes wrong, we can still keep her out of it as a backup plan. Though there shouldn't be any problems - we've done this sort of thing smoothly many years ago, it should be as easy as turning over one's hand."
Old Madam Shen's eyes flickered with thought. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, "You're right. Since that girl doesn't dare act, let's have someone help her. Call Fu'er and Xi'er in."
...
These developments in the Hall of Glory and Scenery naturally went unnoticed, though whether those who knew would speak of it was another matter entirely. On the surface, everything continued in perfect order.
One day, when Shen Miao was returning to the West Courtyard from outside, she happened to run into Shen Yuan.
Ever since the Jing siblings arrived at Shen Mansion, Shen Yuan had been rarely seen, busy with who-knows-what. Returning to Fixed Capital only to leave early and return late displeased Shen Gui, who thought Shen Yuan was avoiding him because of Ren Wanyun's affairs. They'd quarreled several times, always ending badly, but these arguments didn't affect Shen Yuan, who continued his absences from the mansion.
And now they met here.
Seeing Shen Miao, Shen Yuan slowed his steps and greeted, "Fifth Sister."
"Second Brother."
"I've heard Fifth Sister has been spending much time with our cousins lately," Shen Yuan said with a smile. "Just returning from cousin Guansheng's place?" He deliberately mentioned only Jing Guansheng, as if implying something between Shen Miao and him. Bailu and Shuangjiang both frowned - Shen Yuan's words carried an unpleasant tone.
Shen Miao glanced at Shen Yuan and didn't answer his question, instead saying, "It seems Second Brother just returned from Second Aunt's place. I've heard Second Aunt's episodes have become much less frequent recently - is she almost recovered?" Ren Wanyun hadn't been seen for a long time, with all affairs of the second household handed to Wan Yiniang. Even Old Madam Shen, who had always looked down on Wan Yiniang, said nothing. Everyone in Shen Mansion understood clearly that Ren Wanyun could never regain the glory of her former days. And her merchant family, though wealthy, lacked political influence and could offer no real help.Shen Yuan's expression faltered for a moment as he sized her up before smiling. "Fifth Sister seems to be in excellent spirits lately. Could there be some joyous occasion approaching?"
With Shen Xin and his wife's return, Shen Qiu had been finding new ways every day to curry favor with Shen Miao. The current Shen Miao was no longer the dull and unremarkable girl she once was. With her elevated temperament and radiant complexion, she could no longer be overlooked wherever she went.
"What joyous occasion could I possibly have?" Shen Miao replied. "It's Second Brother who seems exceptionally busy these days—perhaps he has good news coming."
At this, an unmistakably cheerful expression surfaced on Shen Yuan's face. "Oh? You noticed? There were some troublesome matters recently, but I've been finding ways to resolve them. Seeing things go smoothly now, I suppose I'm in high spirits." He then gave Shen Miao a meaningful look. "But Fifth Sister shouldn't underestimate yourself either. I believe your own joyous occasion isn't far off."
Shen Miao remained silent. Shen Yuan clasped his hands in a casual salute. "I have matters to attend to, so I won't linger here with Fifth Sister. Farewell." With that, he strode away.
Bailu fumed, "Second Young Master is truly too impudent!" The hostility in Shen Yuan's words and his insinuating tone were obvious to anyone.
Shen Miao frowned deeply, watching Shen Yuan's retreating figure without speaking.
"Young Lady?" Shuangjiang asked worriedly.
"There's something odd about him," Shen Miao murmured. She knew Shen Yuan well—one should never underestimate him. Though he appeared indifferent to household affairs, he was in fact the most ruthless of them all. Shen Miao was now certain that Shen Yuan had played a key role in Shen Qiu's tragic fate in her past life.
Though Shen Yuan remained unaware that certain events had already been altered by Shen Miao's arrangements, his earlier words seemed to hint that he still had tricks up his sleeve.
"Should we have Guard Mo follow Second Young Master?" Shuangjiang suggested.
"No need. Mo Qing isn't skilled enough for that," Shen Miao shook her head. Fu Xiuyi alone wasn't a concern, but those behind him required caution. "We'll wait and see."
Upon returning to the West Courtyard, the moment she stepped inside, she saw Gu Yu and Jing Zhe waiting anxiously. As soon as Shen Miao entered, Gu Yu quickly closed the door and guided her to sit on the inner chamber's daybed. Jing Zhe then whispered, "Young Lady, a message came from Rong'er at the Hall of Glory and Scenery."
"What is it?" Shen Miao asked.
"The Old Madam plans to take action personally—set for two days from now," Jing Zhe said angrily. "The Old Madam is truly wicked! Master and Madam treat her so well, yet she schemes against the Eldest Young Master. And that cousin—I always knew she was no good. Shameless creature!"
"Enough," Gu Yu cut in. "Young Lady, what should we do now?"
"Why two days later?" Shen Miao asked.
"In two days, there's a family banquet. Coincidentally, Second Madam's close friends will be visiting..." Jing Zhe left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear. Old Madam Shen intended to use the gathering to publicly force Shen Qiu into taking responsibility for 'defiling' Jing Chuchu's virtue before a crowd. How could Shen Qiu refuse?
The exact same method as in her past life. Even reborn, Old Madam Shen's schemes remained just as crude."Alright then, tell Fu'er to arrange it." Shen Miao beckoned Jing Zhe closer and whispered a few words in her ear.
"But we still need someone to keep an eye on it," Shen Miao added. "This must not go wrong."
"This servant understands," Jing Zhe replied, her eyes flashing with eagerness. "This servant will surely handle it well."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "This is a good thing. Don’t mess it up—ruining someone’s marriage brings retribution." She lightly tapped the teacup before her with both hands, her composed demeanor resembling that of a lofty superior.
...
That night, in a manor hundreds of miles away from Fixed Capital, a figure sat alone in the main hall.
The people standing in the hall were all dressed in black robes and long boots, their uniform appearance exuding an imposing aura. The leader among them clasped his hands and said, "This subordinate failed in the task—the news got out. Punish me as you see fit, Master."
"Enough." The young man lounging in the main seat waved his hand lazily. Clad in a purple robe with delicate golden dragon patterns embroidered at the hem, the flickering candlelight made the golden dragon seem ready to soar from the flowing purple clouds. Twirling a woman's hairpin in his hand, his strikingly handsome face bore a roguish smile, like a carefree noble scion from a prestigious family. Yet upon closer inspection, those intoxicating peach-blossom eyes held a clarity as cold as ice, utterly sober and unmoved.
"You can't keep it hidden," Xie Jingxing said. "I never intended to hide it in the first place. It was just about buying time. Now that the news has spread, time is even more pressing."
"Master," the lead black-clad man frowned, "matters in Fixed Capital haven't been settled yet. With time so tight, what does the master plan to do?"
"To leave no loose ends," he tilted his head slightly in thought before replying indifferently, "find an opportunity to deal with Xie Changwu and his brother first." Though Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao shared half his blood, Xie Jingxing spoke without the slightest hesitation, as if they were mere strangers—or even stray cats and dogs.
"Master?" The black-clad man was taken aback, hesitating before asking, "After all these years... why now?"
"I couldn't be bothered before," Xie Jingxing said. "But now those two are getting restless. If they're not removed, I won't leave with peace of mind."
"But Marquis Xie has already brought them into official circles," the black-clad man said. "These days, the brothers stick close to the Marquis, who has introduced them to his colleagues and asked for their support. It wouldn't be hard to act, but it would inevitably draw attention."
"That fool Xie Ding!" Xie Jingxing's expression darkened, his voice tinged with anger. "More trouble than he's worth."
His blunt use of Lin'an Hou's name didn't faze his subordinates in the slightest—it seemed entirely natural to them.
The black-clad man coughed lightly. "Since the master has delayed entering officialdom, Marquis Xie fears having no successor. That's why he's pushing those two forward first."
Xie Jingxing's rebellious nature was nothing new. Clearly, Xie Ding had truly run out of ways to handle him—otherwise, with Lin'an Hou's blatant favoritism, he would never have given up on Xie Jingxing and turned to Xie Changwu and his brother as heirs.
"Forget it." Xie Jingxing frowned. "Put matters at Marquis Lin'an Manor on hold for now. As for the Princess's residence, from today onward, send people to secretly protect Rong Xin Princess."
"Master," the black-clad man hesitated, as if steeling himself before speaking bluntly, "if this is how it must be in the future, wouldn't it be better to cut ties with Rong Xin Princess now—"
"Since when do you tell me what to do?" Xie Jingxing's light glance silenced him instantly, sending chills down his spine. The next moment, the voice above continued coolly, "Whether I act is my business. Whether she appreciates it is hers. I've already done my part."
The words carried a detached ruthlessness, paired with his breathtakingly handsome face, creating an eerie, chilling effect.
Rising to his feet, his robe brushing against the seat, he said amid the shimmering golden light, "Proceed as planned.""Buying time in Fixed Capital, I heard Shen Yuan has already gathered most of the evidence," the man in black said. "I'm afraid once the New Year passes, Shen Yuan will have collected all the evidence, and then the Shen family will undoubtedly be the first to be targeted."
"Good." Xie Jingxing shrugged. "If Shen Yuan encounters any difficulties, lend him a hand in secret."
"But Shen Yuan is Prince Ding's man," the man in black reminded.
"Of course I know he's Prince Ding's man." Xie Jingxing waved his hand dismissively. "I just want the Shen family to take the first blow for us."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Unconsciously, we've already reached 100 chapters with 400,000 words~
...
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