The scandal from the Shen family banquet never truly spread beyond the walls—at least not among the common folk. However, among the aristocratic families, who were all intricately connected, whispers traveled fast. One madam would recount it as a joke to another, and before long, the story had made its rounds in private circles. Old Madam Shen’s self-righteous words had backed her into a corner. If she didn’t act according to her own declarations, it would be a blatant slap to her face. But if she did, she’d be sacrificing her most outstanding grandson—a bitter pill to swallow.
Because of this, the rift between the main branch and Old Madam Shen widened irreparably. Previously, the distance had only been between the second and third branches, but the old madam’s ambiguous attitude during the banquet left Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin with a lingering discomfort. Neither was the type to swallow grievances, so they simply crossed their arms and watched the drama unfold.
After Shen Yuan and Jing Chuchu awoke, Jing Chuchu naturally burst into tears again, insisting she had been dragged into the situation by Shen Yuan. Shen Yuan, furious, claimed he had no recollection of what happened—only that he had passed out and woken up beside Jing Chuchu. Since he couldn’t remember anything, he argued, Jing Chuchu might still be untouched.
But whether Jing Chuchu was truly untouched no longer mattered. The scandalous scene had been witnessed by so many noblewomen that Jing Chuchu’s reputation was ruined for life.
Perhaps spurred by the incident or for other reasons, the Jing siblings abandoned their usual meekness and became aggressive, demanding Shen Yuan take responsibility. Old Madam Shen had previously declared that if it had been Shen Qiu, Jing Chuchu would become the first young madam of the Shen Mansion. Now that it was Shen Yuan, logic dictated she should become the second young madam.
Old Madam Shen’s schemes were meticulous—how could she allow this? Shen Yuan was her most outstanding grandson, yet he was being forced to marry a girl from a humble family. She immediately began searching for excuses to delay. Jing Guansheng, though outwardly refined, was shrewd to the bone. Without hesitation, he threatened to take Jing Chuchu to the authorities and sent a letter back to Suzhou. Upon hearing the news, the Jing family in Suzhou, furious at Old Madam Shen’s duplicity, gathered their men and set off for the Fixed Capital to demand justice, determined to confront the Shen family head-on.
The former alliance shattered overnight. Old Madam Shen spent her days cursing the Jing siblings as ungrateful wolves, while the siblings openly mocked her for her shamelessness. The Shen Mansion became a den of chaos. Shen Yuan, too, was seething, but the matter had escalated too far. He couldn’t simply kill Jing Chuchu—too many eyes were watching. If anything happened to her, suspicion would immediately fall on him. Besides, the Jing family was not to be trifled with.
Amidst the turmoil outside, the West Courtyard of the Shen Mansion remained peaceful behind closed doors. Shen Qiu hadn’t actually been drunk that day—Shen Miao had instructed him to feign intoxication. As for how Shen Yuan and Jing Chuchu ended up entangled, even Shen Qiu didn’t know. Though Shen Miao refused to explain and warned him not to tell Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, Shen Qiu could vaguely guess the truth. Upon returning to the mansion, he refused to set foot in the Hall of Glory and Scenery again.
Inside her room, Shen Miao sat at her desk, writing recipes for the kitchen. With Jing Chuchu’s ambitions toward the main branch now impossible, Shen Miao no longer needed to monitor the training grounds daily. However, Shen Xin and his soldiers eagerly anticipated the snacks and soups she prepared. Too lazy to cook herself, Shen Miao simply wrote down recipes for the kitchen. The results were met with daily praise, and the soldiers revered her even more than they did Shen Qiu.
Luo Xueyan once asked, “Jiaojiao, when did you learn so many recipes? Have you taken an interest in cooking?”
Shen Miao brushed it off vaguely. She was not the type to content herself with domestic duties. In her past life, she had stooped to learning recipes from imperial chefs to curry favor with others. Yet no matter how well she cooked, those she sought to please remained unmoved. Now, she shook her head—perhaps this was the difference between pleasing humans and pleasing beasts. Some knew gratitude; others only repaid kindness with betrayal.
Bailu took the freshly written recipes to dry before delivering them to the small kitchen. The West Courtyard had stopped dining with the East Courtyard, opting instead for their own kitchen—a clear sign of distrust.
“I heard the young master argued with Old Madam again today,” Jing Zhe said as she tidied Shen Miao’s desk. “It seems the Jing family is already on their way. Old Madam can’t delay any longer—she must be desperate.”
“She’s said all she needed to,” Shen Miao replied, sipping her tea. “Cousin is clever. He won’t let himself be taken advantage of for nothing.”
“The young master is ruthless,” Gu Yu added. “Now he threatens to report to the authorities daily. He knows Second Young Master has just returned to the capital to assume his post. If this gets reported, his career will be ruined. In my opinion, Second Young Master has no choice but to marry Miss Jing. And we have Old Madam’s strict adherence to the family precepts to thank for that.” Her voice rose slightly at the end, barely suppressing her glee.
Old Madam Shen’s hypocrisy was nauseating. Now that she had lifted a stone only to drop it on her own foot, how could people not rejoice?
“But…” Jing Zhe hesitated. “What good does it do Miss Jing to scheme her way into marrying Second Young Master? Old Madam has turned against her, and Second Young Master resents her. Even if she marries into the mansion, their union will be loveless. Isn’t she just making life harder for herself?”
Shen Miao smiled faintly. “Jing Chuchu isn’t marrying a person—she’s marrying wealth. In that case, whether there’s affection or not makes no difference.” In her past life, Jing Chuchu had married Shen Qiu, who treated her well, yet she still betrayed him. For Jing Chuchu, climbing the social ladder was all that mattered—who she stepped on to get there was irrelevant.
“Speaking of which,” Gu Yu pouted, “Miss Jing tried to harm the young master, yet she gets to marry in unscathed. It’s infuriating. After all, this whole mess started because of her. Why do the wicked never face retribution?”
Shen Miao opened the window and gazed outside. “Do you think this is over?”
Gu Yu’s eyes lit up. “Does the young lady have another plan?” The longer she stayed by Shen Miao’s side, the more accustomed she became to her methods. In the past, she might have been shocked by Shen Miao’s ruthlessness, but after witnessing the actions of the other Shen branches, any sympathy or pity had long since vanished.
“Forcing them to swallow their bitterness is just the beginning,” Shen Miao said. “Jing Chuchu schemed against Eldest Brother first. Did she really think she could escape unscathed?”
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu stared at her eagerly. Shen Miao waved a hand. “First, go settle Fuer’s payment.”
Old Madam Shen, preoccupied with dealing with Jing Chuchu and Jing Guansheng, had no time to investigate why the targets had switched during the banquet. Fuer was destined to be married off to the one-eyed son of a steward. Giving her extra silver to help her escape the Shen Mansion was the least they could do.
Gu Yu took the money, smiling. “Understood. Should we also send some to Miss Jing’s maid?”
Shen Miao nodded approvingly. “Exactly.”
The most painful bites came from dogs raised at one’s side—just like Xiao Li Zi in her past life.
She had suffered losses before, but the lessons learned could now be used against others.
Five days later, news of Shen Yuan and Jing Chuchu’s engagement spread throughout the Fixed Capital.
As the Shen Mansion’s most outstanding young master after Shen Qiu, Shen Yuan had returned to the capital after years of training abroad, poised for a bright future. The Fixed Capital had no shortage of noblewomen with good family backgrounds and looks. With careful selection, finding a wife who could support him wouldn’t have been difficult.
Yet in the end, he chose a girl from a humble Suzhou family. Even if she was Old Madam Shen’s relative, no other matriarch would allow such a penniless girl to become a young madam of a prestigious household.
Where there was abnormality, there was deceit. The Fixed Capital’s gossip mill churned relentlessly. The truth was clear: Shen Yuan was marrying Jing Chuchu because he had slept with her while drunk. And the Jing family, no pushovers, had threatened to report him. Marrying a penniless girl was better than losing his official position. Shen Yuan had been backed into a corner.
The incident became a joke among the nobility. For days, Shen Gui endured mocking glances at court, let alone Shen Yuan.
Their reputations suffered, but Jing Chuchu remained unaffected. She lounged in her room, idly sampling snacks.
Having shed all pretense of meekness after her fallout with Old Madam Shen, Jing Chuchu’s true nature emerged. She exploited Shen Yuan’s weakness, enjoying the Shen Mansion’s luxuries without a care.
Her personal maid, Taoyuan, tidied the room. Distrusting the Shen servants, Jing Chuchu now entrusted everything to Taoyuan.
“Master and Madam will arrive soon,” Taoyuan said. “Once the wedding is held, the news will spread back to Suzhou. It’ll be quite the spectacle.”
Jing Chuchu smirked. “All my efforts won’t go to waste.”
“But…” Taoyuan hesitated. “Second Young Master and Old Madam already treat you so poorly. What if they bully you after the marriage?”
“What’s there to fear?” Jing Chuchu examined a box of rouge. “I’ve already looked into it. Second Cousin is dead, and Second Aunt is mad—she can’t interfere. The second branch only has a concubine left, and a concubine can’t meddle in the affairs of the legitimate son’s household. As for my cousin, he won’t be home often. Once I’m in the second branch’s courtyard, I’ll have free rein. Honestly, it’s more liberating than marrying into the main branch.”
“Still,” Taoyuan frowned, “what if Second Young Master takes concubines later to spite you?”
“That’s where you come in.” Jing Chuchu gave Taoyuan a condescending look. “You’ve served me faithfully all these years, and you’re pretty. If it comes to that, I’ll have Second Cousin take you in. You can keep him occupied—consider it a reward for your loyalty.” She smiled smugly. “Not every maid gets the fortune of becoming a concubine in a wealthy household.”
Taoyuan lowered her head. “This servant… will obey Miss’s orders.”
Jing Chuchu closed the rouge and picked up a bracelet on the dressing table, lost in thought.
Taoyuan noticed. “Isn’t that… the bracelet Young Master Sun gave you?”
“Young Master Sun…” Jing Chuchu murmured, her expression distant.
“He treated you so well,” Taoyuan sighed. “I wonder how heartbroken he’ll be when he hears of your engagement.”
“Nonsense!” Jing Chuchu snapped.
Taoyuan pouted. “This servant isn’t wrong. Though you and Young Master Sun didn’t meet often, you hit it off immediately. He went out of his way to give you gifts—he truly cherished you. If not for Second Young Master’s incident, he would’ve found a way to marry you!”
Jing Chuchu froze, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. “The Sun family is noble. How could they marry someone like me?”
“But Young Master Sun genuinely loves you,” Taoyuan pressed recklessly. Jing Chuchu didn’t scold her—instead, she seemed pleased. “If Young Master Sun became the Jing family’s son-in-law, it’d be perfect. Compared to Second Young Master, he treats you like a treasure. If you married him, he’d dote on you endlessly.”
“Enough.” Jing Chuchu cut her off. “Since I’ve chosen the Shen family, there’s no point discussing Young Master Sun.” Yet her voice carried a hint of melancholy.
Shen Yuan and Jing Chuchu had never been close, and the incident had only deepened their animosity. The more she compared them, the more she missed Sun Cainan’s kindness. Sun Cainan was handsome, generous, and tender—it was impossible not to be moved. Moreover, people always yearned for what they couldn’t have. Taoyuan’s words itched at her heart like ants crawling under her skin.
“Miss…” Taoyuan ventured, “why not meet Young Master Sun once? He knows of the engagement but not the details. If he misunderstands, it’d be a shame. If you explain, he’ll only pity your plight. A lifetime rarely brings someone as good as him. If you don’t, he’ll be devastated.” She added, “Last time, he mentioned giving you that dragonfly hairpin with gemstones.”
Jing Chuchu’s eyes flickered. What had won her over most was Sun Cainan’s endless stream of gifts. If she could marry Shen Yuan while keeping Sun Cainan pining for her, her vanity would be thoroughly satisfied.
After a long pause, Jing Chuchu finally nodded. “You’re right. I should explain.”
“But with your engagement, you can’t be seen,” Taoyuan said. “Leave it to me. I’ll find a secluded place where you can speak clearly. At least this way, you won’t have wronged him.”
Jing Chuchu agreed.
Shen Yuan stormed into the courtyard, veins bulging on his forehead.
For days, he had endured strange looks. People weren’t blind—they could tell Shen Yuan had been framed. Drunken indiscretions with young ladies weren’t unheard of in the Fixed Capital, and discerning intent from accident was nothing new. What baffled them was how a promising young man like Shen Yuan could fall for such a crude trap—one seemingly orchestrated by the Shen family’s “incompetent” legitimate daughter.
Fu Xiuyi hadn’t reprimanded him, but his attitude had cooled noticeably. As Fu Xiuyi’s secretly groomed subordinate, Shen Yuan was meant to step into the light eventually. But with this stain on his record, even Fu Xiuyi’s face was tarnished. For a perfectionist like Fu Xiuyi, Shen Yuan’s blunder was inexcusable.
Shen Yuan was fuming. After being made a laughingstock, he now had to marry Jing Chuchu—a shallow, money-grubbing girl from a lowly family. No noblewoman would want to marry into such disgrace.
He took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto the figure approaching from the garden.
Shen Miao walked toward him with her maids. These days, she stayed secluded in the West Courtyard, untouched by the chaos in the second branch, looking more refreshed than ever.
Spotting Shen Yuan, she stopped and greeted him. “Second Brother.”
Shen Yuan clenched his fists. Since the incident, he and Shen Miao hadn’t met. He knew she was behind it, but the arrangements had been Old Madam Shen’s doing—he couldn’t interfere. Right now, placating the troublesome Jing family took precedence over assigning blame.
Yet knowing his current misery was entirely Shen Miao’s doing made him want to strangle her on the spot.
When Shen Yuan remained silent, Shen Miao smiled. “Congratulations on your engagement to Cousin. I haven’t had the chance to say it—may you enjoy marital bliss.”
Her sarcasm was unmistakable.
Shen Yuan sneered. “Thank you, Fifth Sister.” He studied her. “You’ve grown quite capable.”
Shen Miao accepted the praise with grace—her serene demeanor only infuriated him further.
“Fifth Sister,” Shen Yuan said coldly, “the tallest tree catches the wind. Best learn that sooner rather than later.”
“I’ve never considered myself tall. Everyone knows I’m incompetent.” Shen Miao tilted her head. “But Second Brother has always been outstanding. If anyone’s at risk, it’s not me.”
“Is that so?” Shen Yuan’s smile turned eerie. “Do you think you’ve already won? That because I’m marrying Jing Chuchu, I’ve lost?”
“Of course not.” Shen Miao was modest. “I know Second Brother is resilient. Such trivial matters wouldn’t faze you. The game is far from over.”
“Perhaps not as far as you think.” Shen Yuan’s grin twisted. “Maybe it’ll end sooner than you expect.” The sinister expression made Jing Zhe and Gu Yu frown, but Shen Miao only raised a brow.
“Are you plotting against me again?”
“Scared?”
Shen Miao nodded. “I don’t fear being plotted against—I fear when people don’t plot against me.” Her eyes were clear, childlike in their innocence. “If no one schemes, how can I seize opportunities?”
“Then pray for luck.” Shen Yuan turned away. “Let’s see if you’ll still be smiling then.”
After he left, Shen Miao’s smile vanished. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu exchanged uneasy glances.
“Young Lady, is Second Young Master planning something?” Gu Yu asked.
Shen Miao shook her head. Shen Yuan wasn’t one to make empty threats. But what could he possibly have up his sleeve that would leave her no room to counter? A flicker of unease rose in her chest, but she suppressed it quickly. Watching Shen Yuan’s retreating figure, she murmured, “The game is far from over… but it’s also nearing its end.”
In the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion of the Fixed Capital, music and laughter filled the air. The scent of women and the sound of silk strings wove an intoxicating spell, drawing envious glances from passersby—though none could afford the extravagance of buying a courtesan’s favor.
In a secluded tea room, the tea on the table had long gone cold. The guard stationed there dozed off, nearly knocking over the teapot before jerking awake. With a deft flick of his foot, he caught the falling pot and set it back on the table.
Mo Qing exhaled in relief. Even the most unassuming cup in the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion was crafted by master artisans—breaking one meant paying a hefty price. Though Shen Miao had given him plenty of silver notes, those were for hiring courtesans, not covering damages.
A slow clap sounded from the bed. The beauty there watched him with a cold, unimpressed gaze.
“Impressive skills. Truly eye-opening.”
Mo Qing averted his eyes from her bare shoulders, focusing instead on the sunlight outside. Dawn had broken—the night was over, and he had three days of respite ahead. Relieved, he stood to leave.
His obvious delight only deepened the courtesan’s frosty glare. Before he could take a step, Liuying planted herself in front of him.
“Young Master Mo.”
Mo Qing stared at her blankly.
Liuying looked him up and down. Mo Qing had been coming to the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion to request her company for over a month now, visiting every three days. He paid generously, yet each time he summoned her, he did nothing but lean against the window and sit through the night. At first, Liuying thought it was just some peculiar game of his. Having spent years in the brothel and trained by the madam since childhood, she knew some clients had their own eccentricities. Mo Qing was likely one of them. But as it happened more often, she found it strange.
She had once tried to tease him. If he were truly incapable and only there for visual pleasure, he would have remained unmoved. Yet Mo Qing would blush furiously under her provocations, stubbornly maintaining a facade of composed indifference—clearly a virgin. However, his martial skills were formidable, and Liuying couldn’t get close to him. Accustomed to being fawned over by men, this was the first time she had to chase after someone, and it made her feel cheap. Eventually, she stopped these futile attempts.
But every time she saw Mo Qing’s relieved joy the next morning, she couldn’t help feeling irritated. She wasn’t some monstrous beast—was it necessary for him to avoid her like this?
"If Young Master Mo finds Liuying unclean, you could always request another girl from the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion," Liuying said coldly, her pretty face stiff with resentment. "There are new girls every year, all fresh and untouched, plenty of virgins too. Young Master Mo needn’t waste your silver here and invite misunderstandings."
Mo Qing felt awkward and avoided her gaze. The task Shen Miao had assigned him was truly agonizing—he’d rather stand guard outside Shen Mansion all night than linger in this den of pleasure.
Seeing Mo Qing remain silent, Liuying grew even angrier. "Young Master Mo, don’t bother coming next time. Liuying can’t bear the weight of your silver. Taking money without doing anything—don’t ruin the reputation I’ve worked so hard to build!" With that, she turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Mo Qing rubbed his nose, knowing nothing he said would help. After all, coming here every few days to do nothing—even he felt like a fool. The Fragrant Treasure Pavilion wasn’t a teahouse, and in Liuying’s eyes, his behavior must be incomprehensible. Without another word, he placed a silver ingot on the table and left.
After Mo Qing departed, Liuying’s maid entered to tidy up. Noticing her mistress’s displeasure, she comforted, "Don’t be upset, miss. At least Young Master Mo always pays." Seeing the extra ingot on the table—meant solely for Liuying, without splitting with the madam—only stoked her fury. She turned to the window and snapped, "Who cares!" Yet her gaze lingered on the figure outside. Mo Qing awkwardly pushed away a girl who tried to throw herself at him by the door before walking down the street.
"Young Master Mo is a good man, isn’t he?" the maid murmured.
"Who knows?" Liuying was about to look away when her eyes caught a figure standing in the shadows at the street corner, looking up—directly at her, it seemed.
She froze. The distance was too great to make out his features, but his plain blue robe stood out even as a silhouette, exuding an air of refinement.
"Hmm," Liuying fanned herself lightly with her round silk fan. "Have I grown more beautiful lately? One after another, satisfied just by looking at me?"
"Miss is stunning. Plenty of people would love just a glimpse of you," the maid flattered sweetly.Liuying pouted. "What a bunch of odd people," she muttered, closing the window with one hand.
At the other end of the street, Mo Qing stopped in his tracks, frowning as he stared at the figure in blue robes standing in the corner.
The man was looking directly at Liuying's small residence. However... Mo Qing's gaze shifted slightly. The blue-robed man looked extremely familiar. He remembered seeing him once when escorting Shen Miao back to the mansion in her carriage. Jing Zhe had mentioned that he was Shen Miao's teacher at the Hall of Extensive Learning.
His name seemed to be Pei Lang.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
The weekend is coming soon~\（≧▽≦）~ Going to get a haircut this weekend~
...
OpenNovel