Previous Chapter: Chapter 132 – This Prince Will Help You
Since the Shen Xin family returned to the capital, this was the first time someone had visited their newly purchased residence. Luo Xueyan sat in the main hall, chatting with a young woman.
When Shen Miao arrived, Luo Xueyan was having tea with the young lady. Whatever they were discussing seemed to have put Luo Xueyan in high spirits, as the two were engrossed in conversation, not even noticing Shen Miao’s arrival.
It was Luo Tan, sitting to the side picking at some pastries, who spotted Shen Miao first and enthusiastically called out to her: "Little cousin, there’s freshly made pastries today—made with milk. Would you like to try some?"
Shen Miao smiled and shook her head, walking over to Luo Xueyan’s side. Her gaze fell upon the young woman as she asked, "Mother, who is this?"
The young woman quickly stood up. She wore a pea-green dress with no extravagant accessories—just a simple wooden hairpin loosely tucked into her coiled-up hair and a plain silver bracelet on her wrist. Though her attire could be considered somewhat plain, there was an air of quiet refinement about her. While her features were merely pleasant, she carried an elegant scholarly aura that commanded respect, making her quite pleasing to the eye.
"This is the daughter of your grandfather’s benefactor, named Chang Zaiqing. Jiaojiao, you probably haven’t met her before," Luo Xueyan said with a smile. "Qing-mei, this is our family’s young lady, Jiaojiao."
Shen Miao gave a faint smile and nodded at her. "Aunt Qing."
Luo Xueyan pulled Chang Zaiqing back down to sit and had Shen Miao nestle beside her, laughing as she said, "Why call her ‘Aunt Qing’? Qing-mei looks so young—calling her ‘aunt’ makes her sound old. If Qing-mei didn’t mention her age, I’d think she wasn’t much older than Jiaojiao. Even if you called her ‘elder sister’ in public, no one would find it odd."
"Madam, please don’t tease me," Chang Zaiqing replied with a gentle smile.
Luo Tan grinned at Shen Miao. "Little cousin, Aunt Qing has come to Fixed Capital and can visit our residence often from now on. I heard she enjoys chess and reading. I don’t understand those things, but you’ll have a companion to share them with."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. Luo Tan had always been straightforward—perhaps all members of the Luo family were this sincere. Both Luo Xueyan and Luo Tan were warm and welcoming by nature. Shen Miao lifted her gaze to study Chang Zaiqing across from her. Even so, winning Luo Xueyan’s favor was no easy feat. Especially since the Luo family were all military officers, and military officers and scholars had always been at odds. The more forthright and bold Luo Xueyan and Luo Tan were, the less patience they naturally had for those who indulged in literary pursuits. Yet, in just half a day, Luo Xueyan was already addressing Chang Zaiqing as a sister and seemed to hold her in high regard. Shen Miao’s gaze cooled slightly.
Noticing Shen Miao’s silence, Luo Xueyan took her hand and said, "Jiaojiao, why are your hands so cold? The weather outside has been freezing lately—don’t catch a chill."
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, standing behind her, lowered their heads uncomfortably. Shen Miao had just returned home, changed her clothes, and finished a bowl of ginger soup before rushing over upon hearing about the guest’s arrival, without even resting properly. Luo Xueyan didn’t know about the incident with Ming An Princess earlier that day, so the two maids felt somewhat guilty.“With winter setting in these past few days, it’s naturally quite cold. My hometown has a type of medicinal sachet filled with warming spices. Hanging it by the bedside at night keeps one warm until morning. If Fifth Young Lady doesn’t mind, I can make a few and send them over,” Chang Zaiqing said with a smile.
“Sister Qing even knows how to make these?” Luo Xueyan laughed. “They say the daughters of Liuzhou are clever and skilled, but I’d never seen it before. Now that I’ve met Sister Qing, I understand. Unlike the girls in our mansion—” She glanced at Luo Tan and Shen Miao, feigning a sigh. “They can’t even embroider a handkerchief, let alone make medicinal sachets.”
Shen Miao had never liked needlework, considering it a waste of time, and Luo Tan was even worse—her temperament was practically that of a boy. Luo Tan pouted. “Aunt, don’t single out me and Little Cousin. Aren’t you the same?”
Luo Xueyan was left speechless and shot Luo Tan a reproachful look.
“Aunt Qing is from Liuzhou?” Shen Miao turned to her with a smile. “Liuzhou is quite far from Fixed Capital. What brings you here this time?”
Chang Zaiqing’s expression immediately turned slightly awkward. Luo Xueyan quickly changed the subject. “It’s nothing much, just a visit to the capital for leisure.”
Shen Miao smiled. “Where is Aunt Qing staying now?”
Chang Zaiqing replied, “I’m currently staying at Shen Mansion.”
Shen Miao said mildly, “Ah, so you’re staying with Grandmother.” She continued, “Since Aunt Qing’s father was Grandfather’s benefactor, Grandmother must be taking good care of you. That’s reassuring.”
Though Luo Xueyan doubted Old Madam Shen would be particularly considerate toward Chang Zaiqing, Shen Miao’s words still warmed her heart. “That’s true,” she agreed.
Chang Zaiqing’s smile stiffened slightly. Then Shen Miao added, “Aunt Qing originally lived in Liuzhou. I’ve heard Liuzhou is quite interesting, though I’ve never been. But back at the Hall of Extensive Learning, one of my classmates was from Liuzhou—perhaps you know each other.”
“The Chang family is a humble one,” Chang Zaiqing lowered her head. “I doubt Fifth Young Lady’s classmate would have heard of us.”
“No matter how humble the Chang family is, with someone as outstanding as Aunt Qing, it couldn’t possibly remain unknown.” Shen Miao smiled casually. “But since Aunt Qing came to Fixed Capital alone, did your husband not accompany you?”
Chang Zaiqing’s expression grew even more awkward. Luo Xueyan laughed. “Jiaojiao, don’t speak carelessly. Sister Qing is still unmarried.”
Shen Miao paused, then looked at Chang Zaiqing. “May I ask how old Aunt Qing is?”
Asking an unmarried woman her age—especially when Chang Zaiqing was no longer young—was rather abrupt. Even someone as oblivious as Luo Tan stopped eating her pastry, giving Shen Miao a puzzled look. Shen Miao was usually the most proper and well-mannered—why would she say something so impolite today?
Yet Chang Zaiqing answered calmly and without hesitation, showing no trace of embarrassment. “I’m twenty-six this year.”Shen Miao widened her eyes at the right moment, seemingly to cover up, and quickly smiled again, saying, "If Aunt Qing hadn't said that, I would have thought she was only ten years old. Truly enviable." Though she spoke this way, her gaze as she sized up Chang Zaiqing carried a hint of something deeper—not exactly malicious, yet not particularly cheerful either.
Chang Zaiqing smiled without responding, while Luo Xueyan laughed and said, "With someone as wonderful as Sister Qing, how could she fear not finding a good husband? I may not know the men of Liuzhou, but Fixed Capital has countless outstanding gentlemen. If Sister Qing stays here longer, she might just meet her true love."
Chang Zaiqing hastily waved her hands with a smile, urging Luo Xueyan not to tease her. After chatting for a while longer, as the sky gradually darkened and Shen Xin, Shen Qiu, and Luo Ling were due back from the Ministry of War, Chang Zaiqing stood to take her leave. Luo Xueyan tried to persuade her: "The master, Qiu'er, and Ling'er will be back soon. Why not stay for dinner? The master would surely be delighted to see you."
"No need," Chang Zaiqing replied with a smile. "It’ll be hard to walk once it gets dark. I deeply appreciate your kindness, Madam, and will visit again another day. Today, I should really be going—it’s already quite late."
Luo Xueyan glanced outside and saw that night was indeed approaching. Taking Chang Zaiqing’s hand, she said, "In that case, I won’t keep you—it wouldn’t do for the roads to be slippery in the dark. But I must say, meeting you today felt like reuniting with an old friend. I was truly overjoyed. You must come again soon—conversing with you is so refreshing. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone I clicked with so well."
Chang Zaiqing smiled. "How could I refuse such warmth from you, Madam? I can only humbly accept your invitation."
Luo Xueyan ordered someone to prepare a carriage for Chang Zaiqing, while Shen Miao and Luo Tan followed behind. Luo Tan sighed, "Though Aunt Qing comes from a modest family in Liuzhou, her manners are even more refined than those in the palace. She’s so gentle and kind—it’s hard to believe she’s still unmarried at her age. I wonder who will be fortunate enough to wed her."
Shen Miao silently watched Chang Zaiqing’s retreating figure. Noticing this, Luo Tan suddenly whispered in her ear, "Little cousin, don’t you like this Aunt Qing?"
Shen Miao was slightly surprised that someone as blunt as Luo Tan could discern her feelings. Raising an eyebrow, she replied, "She’s done me no wrong—why wouldn’t I like her?"
"Ha! Others might not notice, but I see right through you," Luo Tan said smugly. "You act polite to everyone, but it’s always distant. Today, though, you asked Aunt Qing so many questions—and even slipped up in etiquette. You never make such mistakes unless it’s deliberate. Plus, the way you look at her is strange, different from how you look at others."
Shen Miao chuckled. "You’re overthinking it."
"I’m not imagining things—that’s just how you are," Luo Tan insisted. "But even though Aunt Qing is wonderful, winning over Auntie so quickly, being so frank and sincere... something still feels off."
"What feels off?" Shen Miao asked."You think about it, that Aunt Qing's father was both a subordinate and benefactor of Old General Shen, surely a fierce general. A tiger father does not have a dog daughter. Even though you appear gentle and mild every day, at your core, you're just as bold and fearless as your uncle, unafraid of the Turks. But this Aunt Qing, her temperament is far too mild. Though she's also straightforward and unaffected, why is there not a trace of a military family's bearing about her?"
A cold smile played at Shen Miao's lips. Not a trace of military family bearing? Wrong. Chang Zaiqing resembled a young lady from a military family more than anyone else, having mastered military strategy to perfection, advancing step by step with meticulous planning. The reason one couldn't detect Chang Zaiqing's ferocity was simply because her acting was flawless.
Shen Miao looked at Luo Tan but didn't correct her assessment of being "bold and fearless." She merely said, "Who says those from military families must be bold and fearless? Since Aunt Qing grew up in Liuzhou, perhaps Madam Chang also hailed from an aristocratic family of scholars. Aunt Qing might simply take after her mother's temperament."
Luo Tan pursed her lips. "Maybe. Actually, I quite like her. But if you don't like her, then I won't like her either. I stand with you."
Shen Miao replied, "Then I thank you."
"But why don't you like her?" Luo Tan asked curiously. "Are you jealous she knows more than you?"
Shen Miao glanced at Chang Zaiqing, who was being escorted to the carriage by Luo Xueyan, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Nothing of the sort. I'm overjoyed to meet someone so intelligent."
Not long after Chang Zaiqing left, Shen Xin and his party returned. Luo Xueyan told him about Chang Zaiqing. Shen Xin was first surprised, then sighed with emotion. When Old General Shen was alive, he often spoke to Shen Xin about the loyal and brave Chang Hu. The Shen family valued repaying kindness above all. But after the old general's death, the Chang family moved to Liuzhou, and for many years, there was no news of them. Unexpectedly, they reappeared now. Shen Xin had met Chang Zaiqing before when she was just a little girl. He said that if Chang Zaiqing ever faced difficulties, they should lend a helping hand.
Naturally, Chang Zaiqing had difficulties, but such matters couldn't be discussed in front of the younger generation. After dinner, Luo Xueyan hurriedly pulled Shen Xin back to their room, presumably to discuss Chang Zaiqing's affairs.
Shen Qiu had been busy handling matters in the capital these days, and Luo Ling, who had just arrived at the Ministry of War, was also swamped. The two would discuss matters whenever they had time. As for Luo Tan, exhausted after a day out, she retired to her room early. By late night, the only light still burning in the entire Shen Mansion was in Shen Miao's room.
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu had long been dismissed by Shen Miao to sleep. The two maids, seeing Shen Miao showed no intention of retiring to bed, thought she was worried about today's incident with Ming An Princess. After everyone had left, Shen Miao rubbed her temples, the book pages before her remaining untouched for a long time.
As for Ming An Princess, she wasn't worried at all. Huangfu Hao had lost face in front of Xie Jingxing, which served as a warning to Ming An Princess. For the near future, Ming An Princess would likely lay low. What troubled her was Chang Zaiqing's visit to the Shen Mansion today.On the day she went to Fengxian Pawnshop to test Ji Yushu, Shen Miao had caught sight of a figure on her way back that startled her. When she looked again, it had already disappeared into the crowd. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but now she realized it was real—she had indeed seen Chang Zaiqing that day.
Some things had changed, yet certain people, whether by fate or coincidence, still appeared at this very moment.
From the moment the Shen Xin branch of the family began to collapse, the most critical factor, aside from the loss of military power, was the betrayal within the household. Shen Xin was a man who refused to admit defeat; his battlefield prowess made him fearless in the face of any challenge. Yet, when Fu Xiuyi eventually cornered him, it wasn’t solely due to Fu Xiuyi’s oppression.
Shen Qiu had died because of Jing Chuchu, and Chang Zaiqing’s appearance would later cost Luo Xueyan her life.
It was true that Luo Xueyan was from Liuzhou. In her past life, around this time, Luo Xueyan had also appeared before the Shen family. Back then, the Shen Mansion had not yet split, and Chang Zaiqing, with her gentle and graceful demeanor, won the hearts of everyone in the household—including Luo Xueyan.
Luo Xueyan was a military officer. Among the women of the Shen Mansion, Ren Wanyun was too shrewd, and Chen Ruoqiu was aloof. Though they maintained a surface harmony, Luo Xueyan’s temperament made it impossible for her to grow close to them. But shortly after Chang Zaiqing’s arrival, Luo Xueyan became very fond of her.
Shen Miao had once believed Chang Zaiqing was undoubtedly a good person. By then, she had already married Fu Xiuyi and returned home a few times. Whenever she met Chang Zaiqing, their conversations were always pleasant. Chang Zaiqing had a way with words—she discussed poetry with the likes of Chen Ruoqiu, military strategy with Luo Xueyan, and with Shen Miao, she offered advice on how to please one’s husband. She was thoughtful and always had solutions, making Shen Miao quite fond of her.
Later, it was revealed that Chang Zaiqing had remained unmarried until the age of twenty-six because a young master from a powerful family in Liuzhou had declared he would take her as a concubine. The family’s influence was so great that no one in Liuzhou dared to oppose them. No matter how outstanding Chang Zaiqing was, no one risked proposing to her family to avoid provoking them. Years passed, and the family’s actions grew increasingly outrageous. With no other options, Chang Zaiqing had no choice but to seek refuge in Fixed Capital under the protection of her father’s old acquaintance.
Shen Miao deeply sympathized with Chang Zaiqing’s plight—such a refined and intelligent woman, yet unable to find a good match. She had assumed Chang Zaiqing would continue living in the Shen Mansion as a guest. But then Chen Ruoqiu produced a marriage contract—one between Shen Xin and Chang Zaiqing, likely written long ago by Old General Shen and Chang Hu. The details were so old and unclear that it might as well have been a joke.
Yet this marriage contract undeniably altered certain things.
Rumors spread that Chang Zaiqing had remained unmarried all these years not just because of the young master’s coercion, but also because she was preserving herself for Shen Xin.
But Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan shared an unshakable bond, making this marriage contract all the more awkward.At that time, Chang Zaiqing knelt before Luo Xueyan, claiming she had no ulterior motives toward Shen Xin. The betrothal letter was merely a jest among elders, and she herself had never taken it seriously. For the rest of her life, she wished only to live quietly, free from worldly concerns. As for marriage, she had long abandoned such thoughts. If the Shen family found her presence inconvenient, she could easily shave her head and become a nun, ensuring she would never trouble them again.
A perfectly respectable young woman seeking refuge—especially the daughter of a benefactor—could not possibly be allowed to become a nun. The Shen family members, particularly Chen Ruoqiu and Ren Wanyun, urged her to reconsider. Eventually, for reasons unknown, Old Madam Shen proposed that Shen Xin take Chang Zaiqing as a concubine.
Shen Xin naturally refused. His household was pristine—why introduce another woman? Chang Zaiqing also resisted. Yet, surprisingly, the one who agreed in the end was Luo Xueyan.
Luo Xueyan, a woman of fiery temperament who could not tolerate the slightest impurity, had demanded when she married Shen Xin that his household include no other women. Shen Xin had honored this promise faithfully. Yet now, she was the one insisting her husband take Chang Zaiqing as a concubine.
Left with no choice, Chang Zaiqing reluctantly consented—but only in name. She would not fulfill the duties expected of a concubine. Her agreement was merely to resolve lingering concerns, and she intended to remain uninvolved in daily affairs.
At the time, Shen Miao thought Chang Zaiqing was the epitome of reasonableness. How could such a virtuous person exist? A concubine who did not vie for favor, content merely to occupy the title. In Prince Ding's Residence, the concubines sent by officials often vexed Shen Miao, but Chang Zaiqing seemed utterly dependable.
Thus, Chang Zaiqing became Shen Xin’s nominal concubine, maintaining a relationship with him akin to siblings. Surprisingly, she grew close to Luo Xueyan. Initially wary, Shen Miao eventually found the arrangement agreeable.
Not long after, Luo Xueyan became pregnant. Chang Zaiqing attended to her day and night. Yet inexplicably, Luo Xueyan suffered a miscarriage in her own courtyard. Afterward, she sank into melancholy and soon passed away from illness.
Shen Xin was devastated. His hair turned nearly white overnight. With Luo Xueyan’s death, he seemed to lose all vitality, aging rapidly. He became indifferent to military affairs, leaving him defenseless against Fu Xiuyi’s schemes and vulnerable to exploitation by the second and third branches of the family.
What Shen Miao despised most was Chang Zaiqing’s methods. Luo Xueyan, a valiant heroine, would not have withered away so abruptly. The only person constantly by her side, the one who spoke with her daily, was Chang Zaiqing. She could not be innocent in this matter.
Shen Xin had ordered an investigation, but no evidence implicating Chang Zaiqing was found—she appeared blameless. After Luo Xueyan’s death, Shen Xin never remarried. Chang Zaiqing retained her nominal position as concubine, but with the household needing a woman’s management, she naturally assumed the role of the first branch’s lady in the eyes of the servants. Subtly gentle, she swiftly won their loyalty, exuding the bearing of a matriarch.
This was what Shen Miao found most terrifying.Chang Zaiqing was very clever. She knew Shen Xin's heart could not accommodate another woman, and she had no intention of trying to win his affection. Instead, she targeted Luo Xueyan, gaining her trust and making Luo Xueyan regard her as family—only to stab her viciously in the back. Words could wound, and someone like Chang Zaiqing only needed to "accidentally" let slip a few remarks to cause Luo Xueyan pain. During Luo Xueyan's prolonged illness, Chang Zaiqing had no idea how many of her so-called "comforting words" were laced with lethal poison.
It didn’t matter if Shen Xin refused to acknowledge Chang Zaiqing, because all she ever wanted was the perception of outsiders. Once Luo Xueyan died, she would be Shen Xin’s only woman, the rightful Madam Shen, ensuring a life of comfort and security. Chang Zaiqing was the most pragmatic of all—she never chased after fleeting emotions.
She was a lucid, cunning, and utterly detestable woman.
Had nothing gone awry, Chang Zaiqing might have continued living under the guise of a wronged victim, and even Shen Miao might have pitied her. But secrets cannot stay buried forever. Two years after Luo Xueyan’s death, Chang Zaiqing’s husband and son from Liuzhou came knocking at her door.
Indeed, it was Chang Zaiqing’s husband and son—a gambling addict for a husband and a sickly son. Chang Zaiqing had married long ago, perhaps out of mutual affection at the time. But poverty-stricken couples face endless sorrows. How could someone as proud as Chang Zaiqing tolerate a life of raising peonies in a clay pot? She took the money, abandoned her husband and child, found an excuse, and fled to Fixed Capital.
Her husband searched for a long time before discovering that Chang Zaiqing was now in Fixed Capital, serving as Shen Xin’s concubine. He brought their son to confront her. The public was scandalized. No matter how gentle and refined Chang Zaiqing appeared, the fact that she could abandon even her sick son revealed her true nature—far from the virtuous image she projected. Her lies were despicable.
Chang Zaiqing was taken away, but Shen Xin became the laughingstock of Fixed Capital. Raising another man’s wife for so many years—did that count as wearing the cuckold’s hat?
Shen Miao closed her eyes.
The past was like fleeting smoke. She had always guarded against history repeating itself, yet she was still too late. Chang Zaiqing had appeared, just as in her past life, and once again quickly won Luo Xueyan’s affection.
In terms of deception, Shen Miao had encountered two formidable women: Chang Zaiqing and Mei Furen. Mei Furen at least occasionally revealed her true, unrestrained nature, but Chang Zaiqing was so cautious that she left no traces to expose her.
But this life was not the last. Shen Miao would never let Chang Zaiqing off easily. How to use this pawn effectively required careful planning.
As she pondered, the lamplight flickered, and suddenly a voice whispered in her ear, “What are you thinking about?”
Shen Miao startled, instinctively leaning back and nearly falling. The person grabbed her arm and steadied her back before letting go and standing straight.
Under the lamplight, his face was impossibly handsome, wearing that familiar roguish smile as he looked down at her. “So lost in thought. Planning how to repay me?”
“Why are you here?” Shen Miao couldn’t even muster anger at Xie Jingxing anymore. But a sliver of unease crept in—she had ordered Mo Qing to increase guards outside the courtyard, yet Xie Jingxing still came and went as if it were nothing. If his subordinates were this capable, it spoke volumes about Great Coolness’s formidable methods.
Xie Jingxing smirked. “I came to retrieve my clothes.”
That afternoon at Ming An Princess’s place, Xie Jingxing had draped his black cloak over Shen Miao to help her out of a predicament. Only now did she remember. Xie Jingxing glanced at the floor, his gaze meaningful.
Shen Miao had returned in a hurry that afternoon, then rushed off to see Chang Zaiqing. After changing clothes, she left with Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, carelessly tossing the black cloak onto a chair. Somehow, it had slipped off and now lay crumpled on the floor in a pitiful heap.
Xie Jingxing crossed his arms and remarked coolly, “You really don’t hold back.”The robes of Prince Rui of Great Coolness were, after all, quite valuable. To casually toss them aside as if they were no better than a dishcloth—under heaven, only Shen Miao would dare such a thing.
Shen Miao truly didn’t stand on ceremony with him. "Your Highness’s cloak is on the ground. My thanks," she said, not even bothering with polite formalities. In any case, the Great Coolness imperial family had money to spare—what difference did one or two cloaks make? As she thought this, Shen Miao swept another glance at Xie Jingxing. With such striking looks, yet changing into new clothes every single day—she wondered how Great Coolness could afford to keep such a wastrel. Were all the imperial treasury’s funds spent on clothing? Was that why they didn’t go to war—because there was no military pay?
Xie Jingxing studied Shen Miao for a moment before speaking with amusement. "You’re acting strange today, throwing a tantrum for no reason. Such a temper." He arched a brow. "Is it because of that woman in your residence—what was her name? Chang Zaiqing?"
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