The city of Fixed Capital was never short of fresh gossip.
Any commotion from the previous day would spread like wildfire by the next. And if it involved someone of note, it would inevitably be the talk of the town for days on end.
Some discussed these matters purely for amusement, while others genuinely pitied those caught in the rumors.
Today’s spectacle revolved around none other than the Grand General of Might, the most celebrated figure in Ming Qi.
Repelling pirates, battling the Xiongnu, campaigning tirelessly in the northwest—never boasting of his merits, yet his military achievements were illustrious, safeguarding the nation and its people. Such was the reputation of the Shen family, a lineage of generals.
Since the days of Old General Shen, the Shen family had earned the people’s admiration through their distinguished service. Unfortunately, among Old General Shen’s three sons, only the eldest, Shen Xin, followed in his footsteps, continuing the family’s martial legacy. Fortunately, a worthy father begets a worthy son—Shen Xin lived up to the prestige of the Grand General of Might, and even his heir, Shen Qiu, was a valiant young commander on the battlefield.
Brothers united in hunting tigers, father and son fighting side by side in battle. Shen Xin carried no airs in the military, always charging at the forefront. His marriage to Luo Xueyan, the fierce daughter of a military family, was hailed as a legendary union. The people of Ming Qi revered Shen Xin from the bottom of their hearts. If there was one flaw, it was that his legitimate daughter had inherited none of her parents’ excellence—instead, she was an Incompetent.
Yet even with an Incompetent for a daughter, the people’s support for Shen Xin never wavered.
But now, with the accusation of deceiving the emperor looming over him, the people were stunned.
This was no minor dispute or domestic scandal—it was the grave crime of deceiving the sovereign, an offense that could lead to the confiscation of one’s entire estate. Early in the morning, imperial officers had surrounded the gates of Shen Mansion, claiming to gather evidence. The people only knew that Shen Xin had been charged with deceiving the emperor, but the specifics of the crime and how he had supposedly betrayed His Majesty remained unclear.
“How could General Shen deceive the emperor? He’s such a good man.”
“Exactly! Last time my child was mischievous and startled Madam Shen’s horse, she didn’t scold us—she even apologized. How could someone so kind have wronged His Majesty? Surely there’s been a mistake.”
“Hah, a mistake? I heard the evidence is irrefutable this time,” someone whispered. “No one knows the details, but it’s said Prince Ding himself impeached General Shen.”
“Prince Ding?”
“Yes. Think about it—Prince Ding wouldn’t fabricate such a thing. Maybe it’s because Fifth Miss Shen once admired Prince Ding and was humiliated. General Shen might have acted against His Majesty to avenge his daughter.”
“Ah, that does make sense. Poor General Shen and his family—ruined by that Incompetent daughter of his.”
The voices of the crowd were far from hushed, and Shen Miao, standing at the mansion’s entrance, heard every word clearly. The household had gathered at the gates to allow the officers to conduct their search. Shen Yue pretended to cower behind Chen Ruoqiu, casting a sympathetic glance at Shen Miao. “Fifth Sister, how can they say such things about you? What does Eldest Uncle’s wrongdoing have to do with you?”
Shen Miao watched the fierce officers with a cold gaze, then smiled faintly at Shen Yue’s words. One moment of blindness in the past had branded her for life as “the Incompetent who adored Prince Ding.” How utterly revolting.Seeing Shen Miao remain silent, Shen Yue thought she had no retort and instantly grew smug, though she stood there without a word. Old Madam Shen, now assured that Shen Xin's troubles wouldn't implicate her, relaxed and assumed the dignified air of a matriarch upholding family morals. She scolded indignantly, "How could the eldest branch commit such treasonous acts? Our Shen family has been loyal for generations—we've never had such shameless people! This has utterly disgraced the Shen name! If the general were still alive, he wouldn't have allowed the eldest branch to tarnish our family's reputation like this!"
Hearing this, Shen Miao's heart stirred. She looked at Old Madam Shen and said, "Grandmother, what are these words? Father is also part of the Shen family. The Shen family and Father are inseparable—how can you abandon him now? When Father was praised and rewarded by His Majesty before, didn't you say that having such a son was the Shen family's blessing? Spoken words are like spilled water—has Grandmother forgotten them now?"
The onlookers outside immediately turned their gazes toward Old Madam Shen.
Back when the Grand General of Might had achieved outstanding military merits and received imperial rewards, Old Madam Shen hadn't spoken like this. A family should share both glory and disgrace—why did Old Madam Shen seem like someone who could only share prosperity but not adversity? At the first sign of trouble, she was eager to cut ties—how could this be?
Old Madam Shen also noticed the unfavorable looks from the crowd. Flustered and angry, she didn't know how to respond and could only glance at Chen Ruoqiu for help.
Shen Gui and Shen Wan had gone to court, leaving Chen Ruoqiu as the only capable person present. Chen Ruoqiu smiled and said, "Fifth Miss, that's not what the old madam meant. She was just upset. You know our Shen family has always upheld integrity—this act of deceiving the sovereign is unacceptable. If the old general were alive, he would also blame your father. How can the Shen family face others after what your father has done?"
Seeing Chen Ruoqiu's support, Old Madam Shen felt emboldened and regarded her more favorably. She nodded and said, "Exactly! Your father has made a mistake—does that mean no one is allowed to speak of it?"
Shen Dongling and Wan Yiniang stood to the side. They had never had the right to speak, so they remained silent, watching quietly.
Shen Miao said, "In that case, does Grandmother intend to sever ties with my father and expel him from the Shen family?"
As soon as she said this, Chen Ruoqiu inwardly cursed—it was too late to stop Old Madam Shen, who brightened and declared righteously, "Such an unfilial descendant naturally deserves expulsion from the Shen family!"
"Grandmother is truly so heartless? My father is still imprisoned—won't you help mediate?" Shen Miao lowered her eyes.
Seeing Shen Miao bow her head in apparent weakness, Old Madam Shen felt a surge of satisfaction. The frustrations of being oppressed by the eldest branch in recent days were swept away in this moment. The more pleased she felt, the more righteous her tone became. "The Shen family has been loyal for generations. Even if I must bear the reputation of heartlessness, I will make this decision for the family's sake. Such a person cannot enter the Shen ancestral hall. From today onward, Shen Xin's branch is expelled from the Shen family!"
Old Madam Shen spoke with relish, failing to notice Chen Ruoqiu's suddenly ashen expression. While cutting ties was necessary, Old Madam Shen's blatant display was utterly foolish. Such behavior in front of the commoners—who were no fools—would only turn public opinion against the Shen Mansion.Thinking of this, Chen Ruoqiu forced a smile and said to Shen Miao, "Fifth Miss, Old Madam Shen didn't mean it that way. She was just angered by your father and spoke in the heat of the moment. Once her temper cools in a few days, things won't be like this."
Shen Yue didn't understand why her mother would say such things. Wouldn't it be better if Old Madam Shen drove Shen Miao out? Now that Shen Xin and his family were charged with deceiving the emperor, even if they escaped the death penalty due to their past merits, they would still suffer severe punishment and live in utter destitution. Driving this wretched family out might leave them without even a place to stay—the mere thought brought her joy.
"Third Aunt, there's no need to say more," Shen Miao declared loudly. "Since Old Madam Shen values the Shen family's reputation so highly that she disregards familial bonds, why should I fear anything? It's better for us to part ways now—clean and clear—so each may find their own happiness, lest we tarnish the Shen family's name." Her words dripped with sarcasm as she added, "Though moving out immediately may be difficult. Once the soldiers finish their search, I'll pack my belongings and leave as soon as my parents return. I won't stain the Shen family's reputation any longer!"
Her anger was evident. At first glance, it seemed like the reckless words of a spoiled girl pushed to her limits, but upon closer listening, there was no room left for reconciliation.
Shen Xin and his wife doted on their daughter. If they learned that during their absence, she had been nearly driven out of the Shen family, they would undoubtedly settle the score.
The surrounding onlookers erupted in murmurs, never expecting to witness such a spectacle. Old Madam Shen's behavior was truly distasteful, while the so-called "Incompetent" Fifth Miss Shen, delicate and lovely, was forced into such a pitiable state that sympathy naturally swayed in her favor.
Chen Ruoqiu was inwardly alarmed but remained silent. It was too late now. With so many witnesses, the news would spread across the entire Fixed Capital within half a day. Although cutting ties with Shen Xin might benefit the Shen family, an uneasy feeling crept into Chen Ruoqiu's heart.
Shen Miao had been steering everyone all along—whether it was provoking Old Madam Shen to declare Shen Xin's expulsion from the family or swaying public sympathy to her side. But why would Shen Miao do this? Why did it now seem like she was using Old Madam Shen's words to help Shen Xin break free from the Shen family?
Chen Ruoqiu couldn't help but recall the recent dispute over dividing the family estate. Old Madam Shen had naturally opposed letting the eldest branch take their wealth, but Shen Xin and his wife were unyielding. They had even begun house-hunting when this incident occurred. Just when it seemed the matter had been dropped, it was now being brought up again—and in front of so many witnesses, making any future retraction impossible.
Old Madam Shen, displeased with Chen Ruoqiu's defense of Shen Miao, only grew satisfied when Shen Miao rejected the olive branch and severed all ties with the family. With a cold snort, she ignored the scornful gazes of the crowd and retreated inside with her maids. After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ruoqiu took Shen Yue's hand and followed.
Wan Yiniang also intended to enter but saw Shen Dongling release her hand and walk straight to Shen Miao.
"Fifth Sister," Shen Dongling called out to her.This seemed to be the first time Shen Dongling had called out to her since leaving the courtyard. Shen Miao lowered her gaze and replied indifferently, "Third Sister."
"Fifth Sister, don't worry," Shen Dongling appeared delicate and frail, but her smile was gentle. "Uncle will surely be fine. Uncle is not the kind of person to deceive the emperor. The truth will come out in the end."
Shen Miao's expression remained unchanged as she said, "Thank you, Third Sister."
Only then did Shen Dongling smile, turning to walk over to the stunned Wan Yiniang and leading her back inside.
"Miss," Jing Zhe approached and asked, "What does Third Young Lady mean by that?"
After Shen Miao's willful outburst earlier, it had almost severed her relationship with the rest of the Shen Mansion. Yet here was Shen Dongling extending goodwill—wasn't she afraid Old Madam Shen would blame her?
Shen Miao didn't answer, watching Shen Dongling and Wan Yiniang's retreating figures with a thoughtful shake of her head.
Inside, seeing that no one was around, Wan Yiniang whispered, "Ling'er, what was that just now? How could you still show kindness to Fifth Young Lady? If Old Madam sees this, she'll report it to your father." Shen Gui already disliked the main branch of the family. If Shen Dongling went out of her way to please them, Shen Gui would hardly be pleased.
"Don't worry, Yiniang," Shen Dongling smiled. "They can't win against Fifth Sister."
"What?" Wan Yiniang was taken aback.
Shen Dongling pursed her lips and tugged Wan Yiniang forward. "Don't ask. Let's go back."
The Shen family's scandal was so significant that even the common people were alarmed. Naturally, the court was now in an uproar.
In the Golden Luan Hall, Emperor Wenhui sat high on the dragon throne, his face dark with fury. He glared at the assembled ministers and flung the memorial in his hand at the face of the nearest official.
The minister, struck by the memorial, dared not utter a word and immediately knelt.
Shen Xin and his wife, along with Shen Qiu, had not left the palace since their arrival. While outsiders remained unaware of the specifics, the ministers knew all too well—Shen Xin and his wife had clearly been detained by Emperor Wenhui. The reason for detaining a minister was obvious: the minister was problematic, and the emperor intended to deal with him.
This simple logic was understood by all. Generally, it was best to remain silent. But today, Emperor Wenhui's demeanor was unusual.
"Count Pingnan, you speak!" Emperor Wenhui commanded.
Count Pingnan, Su Yu, shuddered. The other courtiers turned their gazes toward him. Recalling the words Su Mingfeng had spoken to him the previous night, Su Yu hesitated no longer. He drew a memorial from his sleeve and stepped forward, respectfully handing it to the eunuch beside the emperor, who then presented it to Emperor Wenhui.
"Your Majesty, this humble official also believes the Grand General of Might's actions are audacious and show no regard for the imperial family. I implore Your Majesty to severely punish Shen Xin and execute his entire clan!"
Those ministers friendly with Su Yu remained composed, but those who usually had no political ties with him were stunned. Count Pingnan had always been known for his mild-mannered approach in court, almost a peacemaker. Who would have thought his first words would demand the annihilation of Shen Xin's line? Such severity was unexpected.
Emperor Wenhui's hand trembled as he took the memorial, his piercing gaze fixed on Su Yu.
Su Yu held his head high, his expression fervent.
"Your Majesty," Marquis Lin'an, Xie Ding, who had remained silent until now, also spoke. "Shen Xin has amassed military power for himself and dares to defy Your Majesty's orders abroad. It is likely he has long harbored rebellious intentions. This humble official concurs with Lord Su—the Shen family should be executed to the ninth degree!"All eyes turned to Xie Ding and Su Yu. Everyone knew that the Su and Xie families had always been close, while the Shen family stood in stark contrast to them. Now that Shen Xin was in trouble, the Su and Xie families, already tied together, would surely jump at the chance to kick him while he was down.
Emperor Wenhui's expression was unreadable.
Originally, he had been extremely pleased with the evidence Fu Xiuyi had presented. He had long coveted the Shen family's wealth and influence but lacked an opportunity to act. Fu Xiuyi's evidence, regardless of its validity, made it easy to at least strip the Shen family of their military power. However, when he brought the matter up in court this morning, the ministers overwhelmingly demanded severe punishment for Shen Xin.
Shen Xin had spent years fighting in the northwest and had little interaction with the court officials. Emperor Wenhui had expected many to oppose Shen Xin, but not to this extent. Surprisingly, few spoke up in his defense.
A ruler's heart is ever suspicious. Had many ministers pleaded for Shen Xin, Emperor Wenhui might have suspected him of forming close ties with them. But the more ministers who denounced him, the more reassured the emperor felt—a rebellious minister would not have so many enemies.
If the ministers' unanimous condemnation of Shen Xin gave Emperor Wenhui pause, the demands for the "extermination of the nine clans" by the Earl of Pingnan and the Marquis of Lin'an only deepened his suspicion.
The Shen, Su, and Xie families were all thorns in Emperor Wenhui's side. It wasn't about the individuals but the prestige and military might these great families wielded, which kept the emperor restless at night. How could one sleep soundly with others sharing the bed? Emperor Wenhui would not tolerate any family surpassing imperial authority.
The Su and Xie families were tightly intertwined, but fortunately, the Shen family was at odds with both. Otherwise, they would have posed a serious threat to the emperor. If he followed the Su and Xie families' suggestion and exterminated the Shen clan, there would be no force left in Ming Qi to counterbalance the Su and Xie families. Allowing them to grow unchecked would only make his throne more precarious.
For the first time, Emperor Wenhui felt trapped. He had only intended to strip Shen Xin of some military power, leaving the Shen family as a check against the Su and Xie families. But now, with no one willing to speak up for Shen Xin, the emperor's head throbbed with frustration.
Slowly, he countered, "Exterminate the nine clans?"
Such a question would usually prompt ministers to notice the emperor's displeasure. Yet, for some reason, Xie Ding stubbornly insisted, "Yes."
Emperor Wenhui closed his eyes briefly. When he looked at Xie Ding again, it was as if he could see the man's treacherous ambitions beneath his skin.
Su Yu felt uneasy but showed no sign of it, maintaining an expression of agreement with Xie Ding.
Finally, a young officer stepped forward and said, "Although General Shen acted recklessly this time, his crimes do not warrant death. Given his past contributions to the court, he could atone for his mistakes. Your Majesty is benevolent. I implore you to consider the Shen Family Army's years of service on the battlefield, defending our homeland, and show leniency."
This officer was on good terms with Shen Xin. Seeing the overwhelming opposition against him, he could no longer stand by and spoke up in his defense.Emperor Wenhui had been waiting for someone to speak these words, but whether due to poor rapport or otherwise, Shen Xin had no one to speak up for him. When the young officer finally spoke, the emperor's expression softened. "You speak wisely, dear subject. Although General Shen has committed offenses this time, he has also rendered meritorious service in the past. To exterminate his nine clans would make Us appear ungrateful."
"Your Majesty, this must not be!" Su Yu immediately knelt in protest. "If General Shen dares deceive the throne, who knows what else he might do in the future?"
Xie Ding quickly added, "Exactly so! Your Majesty must reconsider!"
The more they protested, the more suspicious Emperor Wenhui grew. Ignoring them both, he addressed the young officer—or rather, the entire court—saying, "Old General Shen risked life and limb alongside Our late father. The Shen family has been loyal for generations, and Grand General of Might Shen Xin was once extraordinarily valiant. His recent New Year's victory over the Western Rong could be considered atonement. We are no tyrant to punish innocent relatives. How are Shen Xin's family members guilty?"
"Your Majesty is most wise," the young officer promptly knelt again.
Emperor Wenhui waved his hand. "Yet Shen Xin must still be punished. By decree: the Tiger Seal of the Shen Family Army is to be reclaimed. Shen Xin's salary is suspended for one year. Only the vanguard of the Shen Family Army shall remain under his command—the rest shall be incorporated into the Imperial Guards."
The court collectively drew a sharp breath, exchanging uneasy glances.
To call Emperor Wenhui cruel would be unfair—he'd spared the Shen family's lives. Yet to call him lenient was equally untrue, for he'd immediately seized the Tiger Seal. To a military commander, losing the Tiger Seal that commands armies was like a warrior losing his life on the battlefield.
The so-called Shen Family Army vanguard consisted merely of inconsequential support troops like cooks, while the true Shen Family Army was absorbed into the Imperial Guards. In effect, all the forces Shen Xin had cultivated over years now served as the imperial family's dowry.
The ministers shared silent understanding—no wonder the emperor had been so magnanimous. He'd seized control of Shen Xin's lifeline. Even if Shen Xin survived this ordeal, his title of Grand General of Might would be but an empty shell, stripped of all deterrent power. Preserving the Shen family's reputation was likely just to maintain balance among the aristocratic families.
After speaking, Emperor Wenhui waved impatiently. "Court is dismissed." He turned and left in a sweep of sleeves. With these words, the imprisoned Shen Xin, his wife, and Shen Qiu would soon be released from the palace—though whether they could truly rejoice when facing their stripped military power remained doubtful.
As the emperor departed, he left behind a court of bewildered officials.
None had anticipated such a thunderous affair would conclude so simply. Yet this "simple" resolution had quietly reduced Shen Xin to a commander without troops—would he be cursing in fury?
Su Yu brushed dust from his knees and stood, noticing Xie Ding straightening his robes nearby. He approached and whispered, "What was that earlier? Why did you suddenly speak up?"Although Su Yu had received Su Mingfeng's message and agreed to impeach Shen Xin, he ultimately did not want to drag his close friend into this mess. The Xie family faced an even more complicated situation than his own, and if things went wrong, implicating the Xie family would leave Su Yu filled with unbearable guilt. Therefore, Su Yu only informed colleagues he was acquainted with about the matter, deliberately keeping Xie Ding in the dark. Unexpectedly, today Xie Ding had followed his lead in speaking, nearly drawing Emperor Wenhui's wrath.
Xie Ding shook his head. "The moment you said that, I knew you had other motives. Since you want to help Shen Xin, I’ll lend a hand—but only for your sake." Xie Ding was an old fox who had navigated the court for years. Unlike Shen Xin, who only knew warfare, Xie Ding was far more adept at understanding the intricacies of court politics. He could see that Su Yu was helping Shen Xin by going against the grain, so he simply added fuel to the fire.
Hearing this, Su Yu felt somewhat helpless. He thought his friend’s impulsive nature was strikingly similar to Xie Ding’s son, Xie Jingxing. The mention of Xie Jingxing suddenly reminded Su Yu of something. "By the way, I heard from Mingfeng that Jingxing personally requested the Marshal warrant. Is it true?"
"Mingfeng knows about it too?" Xie Ding sighed and shook his head. "Yes, it’s true."
"Jingxing must be out of his mind," Su Yu said incredulously. "The Northern Frontier is no place for games. Old Xie, are you really at ease with this?"
"What does it matter whether I’m at ease or not?" Xie Ding replied helplessly. "When has he ever listened to me once he’s made up his mind? Now, all I can hope for is his safety. This is the retribution for my sins, and I must bear it now."
"Actually, it’s not your fault," Su Yu said, his heart aching. One misstep led to another, and over the years, Xie Ding had suffered greatly for past events, tormented by guilt and estranged from his son. Even as an outsider, Su Yu found it painful to witness; Xie Ding himself must be in even greater agony. He changed the subject. "I heard the memorial accusing Shen Xin was submitted by the Ninth Prince, Prince Ding. Why didn’t we see him today?"
"I believe His Majesty sent him to inspect the Ministry of Works," Xie Ding frowned. "Who knows how he’ll react when he finds out."
"What else can he think?" Su Yu sneered. "With everything he wanted now in his grasp, those few heads are hardly worth keeping."
Seeing Su Yu like this for the first time, Xie Ding was taken aback. "By the way, you still haven’t told me—why did you suddenly help Shen Xin? When did you become acquainted with the Shen family?"
Su Yu glanced around. Seeing they were alone and far from eavesdroppers, he sighed softly to Xie Ding. "Ah, it’s not me. It’s my son, Mingfeng. Last night, he told me that the Shen family is merely the Emperor’s first target. Once they’re dealt with, it’ll inevitably be our Su family’s turn next."
News from the court spread quickly through the mansions. Emperor Wenhui had spared Shen Xin and his family, merely issuing a demotion in rank, which led the common folk to marvel at the Emperor’s mercy. Moreover, seeing how lenient Emperor Wenhui was toward Shen Xin, many speculated that Shen Xin’s prestige remained undiminished and his standing in the royal family was still significant—far from the dire rumors that had circulated earlier.
Outsiders see the spectacle; insiders see the truth. While the common people remained oblivious, officials understood clearly: the Shen family, stripped of military power, was like a toothless tiger—impressive in appearance but no longer the formidable force it once was.
In the Shen Mansion, Shen Gui and Shen Wan were discussing the matter. Though the punishment for Shen Xin wasn’t as severe as they had hoped, the loss of military power left them thoroughly satisfied. It meant Shen Xin’s reputation and influence had now fallen far below theirs.
In the West Courtyard, Jing Zhe delivered the news to Shen Miao just as she had finished her lunch."Miss," Jing Zhe looked at Shen Miao's leisurely demeanor and felt slightly reassured. She asked, "You don't seem worried at all. Does losing military power not actually be as bad as people say outside?"
Shen Miao wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "No need to fear. What's yours won't run away, and what's not yours can't be taken by force."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Su Yu and Xie Ding are a great pair of buddies. PS: My face was swollen for a whole day...
OpenNovel