The grand return of Shen Xin and his wife to the capital, coupled with Shen Miao's remarkable performance at the Ming Qi tribute banquet in front of all the court officials, had set tongues wagging. Amidst the gossip, many turned their attention to the former residence of the Grand General of Might.
With the Grand General no longer present, the old general's mansion had long since removed its plaque and replaced it with one simply reading "Shen Mansion." When Shen Xin was demoted and left the capital, the Shen family not only failed to offer help in times of need but also chose that critical moment to propose dividing the family, clearly distancing themselves from Shen Xin. Now that Shen Xin had regained Emperor Wenhui's favor—regardless of the emperor's motives—outsiders viewed the Shen family with a certain schadenfreude. As for the Shen family themselves, they could only swallow the bitter fruit of their own making.
In the Hall of Glory and Scenery, Old Madam Shen sat on the main couch, its fur cover made from wolf pelts Shen Xin had hunted in the northwest during his time there. The passage of years had worn the edges smooth. In the past, whenever Shen Xin returned to the capital, he would bring Old Madam Shen rare animal pelts from his northwestern hunts—luxuries unavailable even in Fixed Capital. Now that Shen Xin no longer sent such gifts, Old Madam Shen had no choice but to make do with these old remnants.
The Hall of Glory and Scenery, too, had lost its former opulence. Even the decorative items on the partitions had dwindled in number. In Shen Xin's heyday, with the emperor's constant rewards, the entire Shen Mansion had prospered. But without Shen Xin's support, and with Chen Ruoqiu now in charge of household affairs, times had become increasingly strained.
"That third daughter-in-law has grown more and more outrageous lately," Old Madam Shen said, her face wrinkling as she sipped her ginseng tea. "With winter approaching, I asked her yesterday to arrange for a tailor to make me a fur cloak, and she kept making excuses. The way she manages this household, all the silver ends up in her own pockets."
The maidservant behind her massaged Old Madam Shen's shoulders with careful movements, keeping her head bowed and saying nothing. The old madam's temper had become increasingly unpredictable ever since Shen Yuanbai's death from smallpox a year ago.
Shen Yuanbai's passing remained an unspoken pain in the Shen family. A year ago, smallpox cases had appeared sporadically throughout Fixed Capital. Though the outbreak was eventually contained and didn't spread further, some lives were still lost—unfortunately, Shen Yuanbai among them.
In the second branch of the Shen family, Shen Gui had originally had two sons. Shen Yuan had already died by the executioner's blade, leaving only Shen Yuanbai as their hope. With Shen Yuanbai's death, Shen Gui went mad, and Ren Wanyun hanged herself with her own belt in the courtyard after her son's passing. Following Ren Wanyun's death, Shen Gui began frantically taking concubines and bringing women into the household, but after a year with no results, Old Madam Shen finally grew suspicious and called a physician to examine Shen Gui. The physician revealed that Shen Gui had been given a child-termination drug that had damaged his reproductive capabilities—he would never have offspring again.Old Madam Shen fainted upon hearing the news, and Shen Gui was left dumbstruck. Shen Gui investigated the matter thoroughly, only to trace it back to the deceased Ren Wanyun. Ren Wanyun had once administered a child-termination drug to Shen Gui in order to secure Shen Yuanbai's position as the legitimate heir. Little did she know that Shen Yuanbai was fated to meet such a calamity. With Ren Wanyun dead, Shen Gui could do nothing to her. In the original second branch of the family, the only remaining descendant Shen Gui had left was Shen Dongling. As a result, Shen Dongling's status rose significantly, and Wan Yiniang suddenly became the only one who had borne a child for Shen Gui.
After learning that he would have no heirs, Shen Gui lost all motivation in his official career. Without anyone to carry on the family line, what was the point of amassing mountains of gold and silver? He spent his days indulging in revelry, living a life of wild extravagance.
Since the second branch could no longer produce offspring, Old Madam Shen had no choice but to turn her attention to the third branch—Shen Wan. Shen Wan had not been given the child-termination drug, but Chen Ruoqiu had his heart firmly in her grasp. Even the two bed warmers Old Madam Shen had forced upon Shen Wan in his younger years were now nothing more than decorations in the third branch.
Old Madam Shen said, "Not only is she a terrible manager of the household, but she’s also jealous—claimed to be a noble lady raised in a scholarly family, yet she acts like a petty commoner. Disgraceful behavior. Instead of thinking about bearing children for her husband, she only knows how to use seductive tricks. Now that the third branch has no legitimate heir, who knows what schemes she’s plotting?"
Mama Zhang chuckled. "Why must you be so upset, Old Madam? The Third Master simply hasn’t yet discovered the charms of other women. He’s a man of deep affection. Once the newly purchased girls arrive in a few days, if you send two of them to him—both in the bloom of youth—he’ll naturally come to appreciate their virtues."
Old Madam Shen had someone procure Yangzhou slender horses. For a man like Shen Wan, mere beauty alone might not be enough to capture his heart. Hadn’t Chen Ruoqiu won his admiration precisely because of her cultivated talents in poetry and painting? These Yangzhou slender horses had been trained since childhood—proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, with looks that were absolutely exquisite. No man could resist them. Old Madam Shen refused to believe that Shen Wan, being a man, wouldn’t crave something fresh. No matter how good Chen Ruoqiu was, she was still getting older.
"Every single one of them infuriates me," Old Madam Shen grumbled. "Even Qiu Jie’er has somehow inherited her mother’s arrogance. I’ve proposed so many matches for her, all from wealthy and prosperous families, yet she turns up her nose at every single one. Does she think she’s going to marry a prince?"
Mama Zhang frowned slightly. Old Madam Shen’s habit of speaking without restraint hadn’t changed in the slightest. She forced a smile and said, "The Second Young Miss is beautiful. Perhaps the Third Master has his own plans—he may be saving her for an even better match."
"Keep saving her, and it’ll turn into resentment," Old Madam Shen snorted. "Just wait and see. I’d like to know what kind of marriage the third branch can arrange for Qiu Jie’er."
In Autumn Water Court, Chen Ruoqiu massaged her temples.
Her personal maid, Shi Qing, said, "Madam, I’ve inquired at the Hall of Glory and Scenery. The Old Madam really did arrange for several Yangzhou slender horses for the Third Master. They’ll be brought to the estate in a few days. Madam, this is the Old Madam slapping you in the face."Chen Ruoqiu closed her eyes and abruptly swept all the books off the table with a violent motion. The loud clattering noise startled the maids in the room, who dared not even breathe too loudly.
Though she remained as gentle and considerate as ever in front of Shen Wan, the servants had keenly noticed that over the past two years, Third Madam Chen Ruoqiu's temper had grown increasingly harsh. Likely because she was managing the household accounts and had to balance the finances between the various branches of the family, coupled with Old Madam Shen's extravagant tastes, Chen Ruoqiu often had to dip into her own funds to make up the shortfall. In the past, she had lived a life untouched by worldly concerns, free to cultivate refinement, but now, burdened with mundane affairs, every day felt like a chaotic mess.
Of course, the most pressing issue was her lack of an heir.
She said coldly, "That old hag, buying skinny horses for her son—she’s utterly shameless."
If Shen Wan had been present, his jaw would have dropped. The woman who was once gentle and soft-spoken, whose voice was always as soothing as a spring breeze, now spoke with such venom.
Hua Yi said, "Madam is too kind-hearted. If things continue like this, the old madam will inevitably force someone into the master’s chambers."
Chen Ruoqiu took a deep breath and turned her gaze to the two maids, Shi Qing and Hua Yi. These were the personal attendants she had promoted, now in the bloom of youth at sixteen, like ripe fruit exuding a honeyed sweetness. Such delicate beauty. She curled her lips and said, "The old madam has truly lost her wits. If she insists on stuffing women into our courtyard, why look for those dubious outsiders with unclear backgrounds? Who knows if they’ll tarnish the family’s reputation? It’d be better to pick someone clean and obedient from within the household—more reliable and easier to manage. I think the two of you would do nicely."
Though her words were gentle, her eyes were sharp. The two maids were startled and immediately knelt, saying, "We wouldn’t dare! We only wish to serve Madam wholeheartedly and would never entertain such thoughts."
Chen Ruoqiu studied them for a moment, watching as their legs trembled with fear, before finally saying coolly, "Rise. Since you’re unwilling, I won’t force you."
"Thank you, Madam," the maids said shakily as they stood, both inwardly sighing in relief. Outwardly, Chen Ruoqiu appeared gentle and kind, but as her personal attendants, they had witnessed her methods firsthand. There had been a few pretty maids before who had thrown themselves at Shen Wan. Though he hadn’t shown much interest, he hadn’t outright refused them either. Later, Chen Ruoqiu had found excuses to deal with them—not only did they suffer, but their entire families were implicated. Shi Qing and Hua Yi knew all too well that beneath her gentle facade, Chen Ruoqiu was intensely jealous and ruthless. Getting involved with Shen Wan would mean certain death, with not even bones left behind.
Chen Ruoqiu sighed. "It’s my own fault for being useless, unable to bear the master a son. If I could give him an heir, things wouldn’t be like this."Shi Qing and Hua Yi dared not respond casually, as children were a sore spot for Chen Ruoqiu. Chen Ruoqiu murmured, "Now that the Shen Mansion has fallen into such a state, there isn’t even a single son among the younger generation. Even if the second branch had one before, they’re all dead now. I can’t help but envy Luo Xueyan—she has children below and no in-laws above. Shen Xin treats her like a jewel, without even a single bed warmer. It’s truly enviable."
Thinking of how Shen Miao had stolen the spotlight at yesterday’s tribute banquet, and then looking at Shen Yue—who was clearly far superior in both looks and talent—yet couldn’t secure a good marriage due to the Shen family’s declining reputation, let alone Prince Ding, whom Shen Yue had set her heart on.
A surge of resentment rose in Chen Ruoqiu’s heart. She had spent her life striving to outdo others, yet now she found herself trampled underfoot by the daughter of a crude military officer she had once looked down upon.
Just then, a servant hurried in and said, "Madam, someone is at the mansion gate asking for Old Madam Shen, but your servants stopped them. They say they’ve come to seek refuge with the Shen family."
Chen Ruoqiu frowned immediately, assuming it was some distant relative of Old Madam Shen’s coming to freeload. Thinking that even though the Jing family was gone, there were still these inexplicable people showing up, her expression turned cold. "If they’re here to freeload, give them a couple of silver ingots and send them away. This mansion can’t afford to support idlers anymore. Don’t let just any stray cat or dog in."
"But, Madam," the servant scratched his head, "they don’t seem like freeloaders. They claim to be the daughter of Old General Shen’s old friend. Their family has fallen on hard times, and they’ve come seeking help as a last resort."
Old General Shen...
Chen Ruoqiu thought for a moment, then stood up. "Bring them to the side room. I’ll meet them."
After returning from Fengxian Pawnshop, Shen Miao locked herself in her room early, lost in thought. As evening approached, Luo Tan returned, bringing some jewelry she had bought. She generously shared some with Shen Miao, saying, "Little cousin, we went to a jewelry shop today—the ones in Fixed Capital are huge! Miss Feng and I picked out a few things for you. I hope you like them. Take these for now, and when you feel like going out, we can shop together."
She seemed utterly unwilling to stop.
Shen Miao nodded in acknowledgment. After Luo Tan left, she stared at the half-box of jewelry, calculating how much silver she could pawn them for.
Shortly after Luo Tan’s return, Shen Xin and the others came back as well. They all had dinner together. Perhaps things had gone smoothly in official matters, as both Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan seemed in high spirits. Only Shen Miao appeared somewhat listless. Luo Ling noticed and asked, "Cousin, you seem unwell. Is something wrong?"
Shen Qiu set down his chopsticks. "Little sister, what’s the matter?"
Shen Miao was startled to find everyone at the table staring at her. She smiled and said, "It’s nothing. I’m just not used to being back in the capital after leaving Xiaochun City. I’ll adjust in a few days."
Shen Qiu laughed. "What’s there to adjust to? If you’re not used to it, I’ll take you on a tour from the east to the west and the south to the north of the city once I have time. A few trips, and you’ll feel right at home."
"Cousin Qiu, take me too!" Luo Tan chimed in eagerly. "I can protect little cousin as well!""Nonsense," Luo Xueyan said. "If your sister really goes around the Fixed Capital with you, she'll be exhausted. Besides, the capital is so big—what if something happens?" She glared at Shen Xin, expecting him to back her up.
Shen Xin chuckled and said, "Let the children have their fun. It's fine. Brat, if you take your sisters out, bring a squad of your old man's soldiers. If anyone dares cause trouble, beat them to death. Don’t hold back."
Luo Xueyan angrily pinched him.
The couple's playful bickering showed how close they were. Though Shen Xin was formidable outside, at home, he obeyed Luo Xueyan without question. Shen Miao had been watching with a smile, but as she continued, her expression gradually darkened. She quickly lowered her head to avoid drawing attention to her troubled expression. Beside her, Luo Ling, who had been observing her every move, paused thoughtfully and also looked down.
After dinner, they chatted for a while in the hall before retiring to their rooms. Shen Miao prepared to return to her courtyard, while Luo Tan, whose courtyard was ahead of hers, skipped back first. Just as Shen Miao was about to enter her own courtyard, Luo Ling called out to her.
"Cousin, wait a moment."
Shen Miao turned to look at him and asked, "What is it, Cousin Ling?"
Luo Ling hesitated for a moment before finally pulling out a neatly folded square object from his sleeve. He said gently, "When I went out with my cousin today, I happened to see a shop selling these. It seemed popular, so I bought one. I heard you often have restless dreams at night. This is infused with incense and has a calming effect. If you don’t mind, please accept it."
Shen Miao was momentarily stunned and raised her eyes to look at the young man before her.
Luo Ling was handsome—though not as martial as Shen Qiu, as striking as Xie Jingxing, or as delicate and charming as Ji Yushu—his innate gentleness made him deeply comforting. Among the younger generation of the Luo family, Luo Ling was the most outstanding, not just because of his steadiness, but because he could shoulder the responsibilities of the family with sincerity.
In the dim light, Luo Ling's face seemed slightly flushed. He added awkwardly, "If you don’t like it—"
Shen Miao deftly took the object from his hand and smiled. "How could I refuse such a thoughtful gift? Thank you, Cousin."
Luo Ling smiled. "I’m glad you like it."
His gentle demeanor and caring words would have warmed any ordinary girl’s heart, if not stirred deeper feelings. But Shen Miao took a step back and said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll head inside now."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Luo Ling’s eyes, but he quickly masked it. "I won’t keep you," he said before turning to leave.
Shen Miao watched his retreating figure for a long moment. She was no naive girl unfamiliar with matters of the heart. Even if her time with Fu Xiuyi had lacked tenderness, years in the palace had taught her much. Luo Ling was a good man, and dragging someone so kind into her life of schemes and calculations would be selfish. Though he would make an excellent match, the Luo family had treated her well—she couldn’t repay their kindness with betrayal.She turned and went back to her own room. After washing up, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu both withdrew, leaving Shen Miao sitting at the table where she spread out the item Luo Ling had given her earlier.
It was a handkerchief, coincidentally a piece of double-sided embroidery. Such handkerchiefs were currently the most sought-after in Fixed Capital, so Luo Ling must have spent quite a sum to acquire this one. Embroidered with a white crane—fitting for his typically detached and indifferent nature—it emitted a faint, soothing fragrance that indeed calmed the mind upon first whiff.
Shen Miao examined it for a long while. The embroidery patterns were unmistakably the work of Liuying, whose craftsmanship was among the finest in Fixed Capital. Moreover, this was one of the rare double-sided embroideries in Ming Qi. It seemed Liuying was doing well. As Shen Miao studied it, her mood, which had been dampened by the people she encountered in the rain earlier, lightened somewhat.
Feeling somewhat weary, she removed her outer robe, leaving only her undergarment, and walked to the bed to sit down. Just as she was about to take off her undergarment to rest, a soft chuckle sounded: "Hold on."
Shen Miao's hand paused. When she turned her head, the blazing fury in her eyes was now impossible to conceal. She looked at the uninvited guest outside the window and enunciated each word: "Xie Jingxing."
The man entered the room, casually closing the window behind him as if he were strolling through his own backyard. This time, he wasn’t wearing a mask, and his strikingly handsome face was fully exposed under the lamplight, devastatingly alluring—though Shen Miao only wanted to drag him out and behead him.
"Under the heavens, only you can call me by my courtesy name now," Xie Jingxing remarked nonchalantly as he pulled over a chair and sat down not far from Shen Miao’s bed, smiling breezily. "It’s an honor reserved solely for you."
He was tall, and even seated, he still towered over Shen Miao. His imposing presence refused to yield an inch.
Shen Miao glared at him coldly. "Prince Rui must have a lot of free time, to be so familiar with the route from Yanqing Lane to here."
"Simple," Xie Jingxing propped his chin on his hand. "I bought all the properties from Yanqing Lane to here. The residence next to yours is now also my courtyard. Good neighbors should visit each other, so I’ve come to pay my respects."
Shen Miao inhaled sharply. Yanqing Lane was close to the Shen residence, but there was still some distance. If Xie Jingxing had bought all the properties between Yanqing Lane and the Shen residence, didn’t that mean nearly half the southern district was now his private estate? Even the courtyard next to the Shen residence had been purchased by him. Xie Jingxing had money, but was this how he spent it? Had he brought the entire treasury of Great Coolness with him? Did the Yongle Emperor of Great Coolness know he was squandering wealth like this?
When she saw the careless smile on Xie Jingxing’s face, her anger flared anew. Xie Jingxing was shameless—what kind of neighborly visit happened in the dead of night without an invitation or even a calling card? Was this how the imperial family of Great Coolness behaved, with no sense of propriety?
"You don’t seem very happy," Xie Jingxing observed with interest. "If you’re facing any difficulties, you can tell your big brother here. As Prince Rui, I can still be of help—consider it a favor for an old acquaintance."
Shen Miao rolled her eyes. She was increasingly unable to fathom what Xie Jingxing was up to. His words, however, reminded her of her earlier conversation with Ji Yushu at Fengxian Pawnshop. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she deliberately asked, "Xie Jingxing, what do you think of Fang Shi from Marquis Lin'an Manor?"Fang Shi of Marquis Lin'an Manor, the birth mother of Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao, had some involvement in Princess Yuqing's death back then. Everyone knew Princess Yuqing was a taboo subject for Xie Jingxing, yet Shen Miao deliberately brought it up.
Xie Jingxing looked at her with an amused smile: "Trying to fish for information?"
"Would you tell me?"
"Might as well." Xie Jingxing said lazily: "In my eyes, she's less than an ant."
Shen Miao studied him: "Why haven't you killed her for revenge then?"
Xie Jingxing narrowed his eyes. After staring at Shen Miao for a moment, he suddenly laughed. His voice was like peach blossom wine buried in spring and unearthed in winter - intoxicatingly mellow yet bracingly cold. He said: "Shen Miao, are you worried Shen Xin might become the second Xie Ding?"
Shen Miao lowered her gaze: "Exactly." After a pause, she added: "If I were in your position, I'd use every means to take revenge. Kill Fang Shi, then her two sons - only then would it count as vengeance, only then would life not be wasted."
Her words were chillingly indifferent, as if completely unaware of their cruelty. Xie Jingxing showed no surprise, merely chuckling as if amused by her naivety. Xie Jingxing said: "Not killing Fang Shi is simply beneath me, and too troublesome. Xie Ding and Princess Yuqing mean nothing to me - why should I seek revenge?"
Shen Miao was taken aback.
She had already heard from Xie Jingxing that Xie Ding and he were not father and son, so that didn’t surprise her. But how could even Princess Yuqing have no relation to him? If the blood flowing in Xie Jingxing’s veins wasn’t from Xie Ding or Princess Yuqing, then how had he become the legitimate heir of the Xie family?
A thought struck Shen Miao, and she asked Xie Jingxing, “Then what about Princess Yuqing’s son?”
“Dead,” Xie Jingxing replied indifferently. “Died at birth.”
Died at birth—yet there had been no news of it at the time. It seemed Xie Jingxing had been slipped in as a replacement, a case of swapping the dragon for the phoenix, and no one had noticed. Even Princess Yuqing herself probably hadn’t known.
“If Xie Ding’s son had lived, he wouldn’t have survived past three years,” Xie Jingxing said nonchalantly. “It’s only because it was me that Fang Shi didn’t dare act. Because—” He smirked, a hint of wickedness in his expression. “Those she sent would mysteriously disappear.”
Shen Miao suddenly understood. She had wondered—since Fang Shi had once driven Princess Yuqing to such a wretched state, even causing her to wither away like a flower, she must have been ruthless and ambitious. How could such a person, in the end, live in seclusion so peacefully and allow Xie Jingxing to grow up unharmed? So this was her last resort—those she sent out would always vanish inexplicably. Fang Shi herself must have found it eerie, forcing her to retreat and settle for less. As for why those people disappeared, since Xie Jingxing was Prince Rui of Liang, he surely had capable people around him at all times. Dealing with a mere household schemer like Fang Shi would have been effortless.
The confusion in her heart suddenly cleared, and she forgot the earlier unpleasantness. Xie Jingxing glanced down at her and said, “You don’t need to worry. Shen Xin is different from Xie Ding.”
Shen Miao replied, “And I’m different from you.”
Xie Jingxing paused, listening as Shen Miao continued, “You disdain it, and you don’t need to. But I’m different. If someone like Fang Shi tries to shake my family, I’ll use every means to make her suffer the consequences. If anyone with ill intentions like her attempts to destroy us, I’ll tear them apart inside and out, drag them to the mass graves, and feed them to the dogs.” By the end, she lowered her head, but turbulent emotions surged in her eyes.
Then she felt a weight on her head—Xie Jingxing’s hand resting there. “If such a person exists, just tell me,” he said. “As a good neighbor, I’ll kill them for you. No loose ends.”
Shen Miao shook off his hand, and Xie Jingxing watched her with amusement. His expression was casual, his words playful, as if spoken offhandedly, yet his eyes held a seriousness.
For Xie Jingxing, killing someone—someone like Fang Shi—was truly an easy task.
Shen Miao said, “When it comes to killing, I can do it myself.”
“Acting yourself isn’t the best move unless it’s the last resort,” Xie Jingxing replied. “If you really feel bad about it, you can give me something as payment.”
Shen Miao scoffed. “Prince Rui is far too noble and precious. I couldn’t possibly afford your fee.”
Xie Jingxing grinned. “I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.” He stood and strolled to the table, where the handkerchief Luo Ling had given Shen Miao lay neatly unfolded. Xie Jingxing picked it up casually, brought it to his nose, and raised an eyebrow. “The scent is cheap, but my dog hasn’t been sleeping well lately. This’ll do.” Before Shen Miao could react, he tucked it into his sleeve. “This’ll be the payment.”
Author’s Note:
Brother Xie, with his looks, wealth, and long legs, is utterly shameless: “This, this, and this estate—I don’t want them. Wrap up all the other land for me.” (╯°□°)╯
Cousin Luo, handed a “nice guy” card, is heartbroken: (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ)
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