"It was I who sent you the invitation, Aunt Qing."
Chang Zaiqing was taken aback and smiled in confusion, "Fifth Young Miss, this is..."
"Last time Aunt Qing came and left in such a hurry, I didn't have the chance to properly converse with you. You said you would visit again another day, but after waiting for so long without seeing any sign of you, I had to take the initiative and send the invitation myself. I feared my personal seal might not be appropriate, so I used my mother's instead. I hope Aunt Qing won't blame me?"
Chang Zaiqing observed the young girl before her—she spoke cheerfully and with such ease that there wasn't the slightest hint of awkwardness. To press the matter further would only make Chang Zaiqing seem petty. She immediately smiled and replied, "Of course not. To receive an invitation from Fifth Young Miss is my good fortune." As she spoke, she subtly scrutinized Shen Miao once more. During her previous visit to Shen Mansion, Shen Miao hadn't been cold toward her, but she certainly hadn't been warm either, even displaying several instances of discourtesy. This sudden, inexplicable invitation made Chang Zaiqing inwardly wary.
"The main hall is too chilly. Aunt Qing should come sit in my room instead," Shen Miao said with a smile as she stood up. "It's not far from here, and I truly can't stand this cold wind any longer."
Chang Zaiqing complied obediently. Upon arriving at Shen Miao's quarters, Shen Miao had the maids serve tea and pastries. The brazier burned brightly, and with the window slightly ajar, she closed the door. The room was warm and cozy without being stifling.
Shen Miao pushed a teacup toward Chang Zaiqing, who smiled and took a sip. Her expression suddenly turned peculiar.
"This is Zhudan tea—bitter and astringent, with little fragrance. Aunt Qing probably isn't accustomed to it," Shen Miao explained gently.
Chang Zaiqing's expression faltered slightly. Shen Miao's actions left her utterly bewildered. Common courtesy dictated serving the finest tea to guests—why would she serve such crude tea? Was it meant to humiliate her? Yet Shen Miao's demeanor didn't seem to suggest that.
"Though this tea is bitter, it's excellent for the body. Drinking it in winter can ward off the cold and warm you up. My father and brothers, being martial practitioners, have always drunk Zhudan tea in winter, and eventually, the entire household followed suit," Shen Miao said, looking at Chang Zaiqing. "Aunt Qing comes from a scholarly family and likely doesn't care for such tea, but in our military household, we aren't so particular."
Chang Zaiqing waved her hand with a smile. "Fifth Young Miss jests. The Chang family is just an ordinary household. Though Zhudan tea is bitter, it's very beneficial. Once you drink it often, the astringency fades."
Shen Miao shook her head. "Enduring it temporarily is easy, but enduring it for a lifetime is difficult."
Chang Zaiqing froze, sensing hidden meaning in Shen Miao's words, and couldn't help but look at her intently.
Shen Miao smiled. "Speaking of which, I heard Aunt Qing is currently staying at Shen Mansion. How are the Shen family treating you?"
"Very well," Chang Zaiqing replied with a smile. "They've all been very kind to me."
"You share Third Aunt's interests, so you must get along splendidly," Shen Miao said cheerfully. "Third Aunt has always loved literature and the arts—it's why Third Uncle holds her in such high regard. You must have noticed how well Third Uncle treats her; she's the sole mistress of the entire third household." She sighed. "It's just a pity Third Aunt has no legitimate son. If she did, she wouldn't have to worry so much."Having stayed in the Shen Mansion for so long, Chang Zaiqing naturally knew that Chen Ruoqiu and Old Madam Shen were almost constantly at odds over the third branch's lack of a male heir. However, she hadn't expected Shen Miao to speak to her about such matters. After all, Shen Miao was an unmarried young lady, and discussing affairs of the third branch's courtyard felt somewhat awkward. Yet Shen Miao spoke with such ease, as if it were perfectly natural, leaving Chang Zaiqing unable to discern whether Shen Miao was precociously wise or simply naive.
"Third Madam is so virtuous; she will surely be blessed with many descendants in the future," Chang Zaiqing replied, following Shen Miao's lead.
"People have always loved comparing our first branch with the third branch," Shen Miao picked up her teacup, blowing lightly on the tea leaves floating on the surface, and smiled. "One is scholarly, the other martial. Both courtyards have only one mistress, but our household is still better off—at least we have my elder brother. He’s nearly of marriageable age, and soon we’ll arrange a good match for him in the Fixed Capital. Once he has a wife and then children, the house will be lively." Shen Miao seemed rather pleased with herself. "But the third branch won’t be as bustling as ours."
At first, Chang Zaiqing thought Shen Miao was just being childish, holding a grudge against the third branch. But as she listened further, a realization suddenly struck her, and her expression shifted.
Indeed, in Shen Xin’s household, Luo Xueyan was straightforward and guileless, making the inner courtyard easy to manage. But she had nearly forgotten—there was still Shen Qiu. Shen Qiu was Luo Xueyan’s legitimate eldest son, young and accomplished. If he were to marry into a powerful family, even if Chang Zaiqing didn’t compete for anything, she would still be overshadowed.
Noticing the change in Chang Zaiqing’s expression, Shen Miao’s gaze turned slightly colder.
In her past life, Chang Zaiqing had eventually entered Shen Xin’s household as a concubine. By then, Shen Qiu had already fallen into decline, and Shen Miao had married into Prince Ding’s Residence. With no real threats left in the inner courtyard, Chang Zaiqing had seized the opportunity effortlessly.
But now, things were different. Shen Qiu was alive and well—a healthy, legitimate eldest son. As long as he existed, Chang Zaiqing’s chances of becoming the principal wife would remain nonexistent.
What path would this calculating woman, who weighed every advantage and disadvantage with such clarity, choose now?
Shen Miao picked up a pastry from the table and smiled. "It’s such a pity for Third Uncle. Back when Grandfather was still alive, he often said Third Uncle was the sharpest mind in the Shen family. Handsome and learned—if he had a son, the child would surely be just as brilliant. But the third branch only has Second Sister, and she’s already nearing marriageable age. Once she leaves, only Third Uncle and Third Aunt will remain in the third branch. How lonely that will be."
Chang Zaiqing had been listening absentmindedly, but these words stirred something in her heart.
Come to think of it, the situations in Shen Xin’s and Shen Wan’s households were quite similar. Both had only one woman, both were considered devoted husbands. But Shen Yue was two years older than Shen Miao, and with her impending marriage, the third branch’s lack of a son made their circumstances even more precarious."Aunt Qing and Third Aunt share similar temperaments, and even their mannerisms bear some resemblance—both gentle, understanding, and well-versed in refined pursuits. One might mistake you for sisters," Shen Miao said, meeting Chang Zaiqing's probing gaze with deliberate calm. "But in my opinion, Aunt Qing surpasses Third Aunt, for you are younger."
Chang Zaiqing's lips curled involuntarily. She was aware of the comparisons drawn between her and Chen Ruoqiu within the Shen Mansion. Both were delicate, scholarly beauties, but Shen Miao was right—no matter how talented a woman might be, her beauty would inevitably fade with age. In contrast, Chang Zaiqing still retained her charm. Moreover, Chen Ruoqiu carried herself with the haughtiness of a noble-born daughter, while Chang Zaiqing, raised in a humble household, knew when to yield and adapt, earning her universal praise.
Chang Zaiqing's gaze darkened with thought. She was indeed superior to Chen Ruoqiu.
Shen Miao lifted her teacup and took a sip. The bitter taste of the tea might as well have been honey, given the satisfied smile that graced her lips.
Chang Zaiqing was already twenty-six. In Fixed Capital, women of her age seeking marriage were mostly relegated to becoming second wives, expected to raise children not their own—a thankless role. Besides, the Chang family was of modest standing, and even with the Shen family's influence, securing a high-status match would be difficult.
This Chang Zaiqing had abandoned her husband and child in pursuit of a better life—how easily could she be satisfied? She simply hadn't noticed Shen Wan before. Since weighing pros and cons was her forte, Shen Miao laid bare the vulnerabilities within the third branch of the family, placing them plainly before Chang Zaiqing to let her choose.
Chang Zaiqing's expression flickered uncertainly, her mind in turmoil. Shen Miao's words had stirred another thought within her, bringing to light possibilities she hadn't considered.
Indeed, if Shen Wan favored someone like Chen Ruoqiu, then she, who surpassed Chen Ruoqiu in every way, could surely win his affection. Compared to the rough-and-tumble Shen Xin, Shen Wan was a refined gentleman, his elegance undiminished—far more to her liking.
But how had things taken such a turn today? She had come intending to test Shen Xin on Chen Ruoqiu's behalf, her sights originally set on him. Yet somehow, she had ended up turning against Chen Ruoqiu instead. Was it because Shen Miao kept diverting her with irrelevant remarks? Because of Shen Miao—Shen Miao!
Chang Zaiqing abruptly turned her gaze to Shen Miao.
The girl in the purple robe sat by the window. Outside, the light snow had ceased unnoticed, and sunlight now bathed her flawless, jade-like profile. Her slender neck arched gracefully as she held the teacup, sipping slowly, almost daintily.
Yet there was an unspoken authority about her.
Chang Zaiqing shivered. Only now did she realize—from the very beginning, she had been led by the nose by Shen Miao. The girl's seemingly casual remarks, scattered like random blows, had deftly steered the conversation toward Chen Ruoqiu. Every word from Shen Miao had nudged Chang Zaiqing's thoughts toward the third branch.
This girl was no naive fool. She was more like a monster.Chang Zaiqing recalled the few times Shen Miao had been impolite during her first visit to the Shen residence, her heart pounding uncontrollably. Could it be that Shen Miao had already known her intentions back then, and those discourteous acts were deliberate? Today’s invitation was likely for the same purpose.
Shen Miao smiled at her. "Aunt Qing, why are you sweating so much? Is the room too warm for you?"
Chang Zaiqing snapped out of her thoughts and mustered all her focus to look at Shen Miao, forcing a smile. "Perhaps so."
Shen Miao said lightly, "When the windows are shut too tightly, the room becomes stifling, like a cocoon trapping oneself. It’s much cooler to open them and let the air in." She instructed Jing Zhe to open the windows before turning back to Chang Zaiqing. "Aunt Qing, don’t you agree?"
"Fifth Young Miss is right," Chang Zaiqing replied with a strained smile, though her gaze at Shen Miao now held a trace of fear. She had hidden her thoughts so deeply, yet Shen Miao had discerned them after just one meeting. Such a person was a monster—a terrifyingly shrewd one. Chang Zaiqing was grateful she had discovered this early. If she had truly entered Shen Xin’s inner courtyard and had to deal with such a monster, she would have had no confidence at all.
Shen Miao smiled carelessly.
She had made it crystal clear to Chang Zaiqing: If you want to enter my father’s household, first see if you can handle me. If you can’t, consider yourself dead here—there may not even be a way back. Let’s see who ends up trapped in their own cocoon.
Chang Zaiqing wouldn’t take such a risk. She always sought the safest, most advantageous path.
Sure enough, after speaking with Shen Miao for only a short while longer, Chang Zaiqing excused herself. Shen Miao naturally didn’t press her to stay. After Chang Zaiqing left, Gu Yu remarked in puzzlement, "That Miss Chang was acting so strangely, as if she was fleeing from something. Who could have frightened her like that?"
Shen Miao said, "Tell the servants not to mention today’s events to anyone. Chang Zaiqing never came to the Shen residence. Remember that."
The two maids acknowledged the order and left. Though they didn’t understand why Shen Miao was so concerned about Chang Zaiqing, they knew better than to question her decisions—she always had her reasons.
Only after everyone had left did Shen Miao sit at the table, staring blankly at the bronze mirror.
She had set Chang Zaiqing loose to torment Chen Ruoqiu because Chen Ruoqiu was truly despicable and had been strutting around for far too long. In her past life, it was Chen Ruoqiu who had "accidentally" discovered the marriage contract between Chang Zaiqing and Shen Xin. It was Chen Ruoqiu who had insisted that Chang Zaiqing shouldn’t be wronged and demanded justice for her. Shen Miao suspected that Chang Zaiqing’s eventual focus on Shen Xin in her past life might not have been without Chen Ruoqiu’s behind-the-scenes encouragement.
Since they were like twin flowers, such close sisters, why not pit them against each other and see whom Shen Wan truly favored? Shen Miao’s gaze turned cold. Handing Chen Ruoqiu over to Chang Zaiqing to deal with would save her the trouble. But Chang Zaiqing wouldn’t let her off easily either.
Yet Shen Miao frowned. What exactly did Chang Zaiqing do in my past life that led to Luo Xueyan’s untimely death? Even now, it remained a mystery.
Preoccupied with thoughts of Chang Zaiqing, Shen Miao spent the entire day calculating her next moves. At dinner with the family, she was still distracted. When the others noticed her absentmindedness, she excused herself, claiming fatigue. Luo Xueyan had someone prepare a bowl of sweet milk soup for her and sent her to bed early.Lying on the bed, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu tucked her in, blew out the lamp, and drew the gauze curtains around the bed. Shen Miao closed her eyes.
As darkness fell, her breathing gradually steadied, and the deep night enveloped the entire Fixed Capital. Shen Miao's body felt light and weightless.
Suddenly, the sunlight outside grew intensely bright. She opened her eyes, finding the light somewhat blinding, and the air seemed to have turned stiflingly hot, as if it were summer.
Yet it was supposed to be early winter—how could it suddenly be summer? Shen Miao sat up, feeling an extraordinary headache. Looking down, she realized she was seated on the soft couch in the room. From the inner chamber came the sound of women talking, and a bitter medicinal scent wafted out from within.
The aroma of the medicine carried an oddly familiar note.
Shen Miao stood up. Strangely, there wasn’t a single maid in the room, but the voices of the women inside grew clearer. After a moment’s thought, she walked toward the inner chamber to look.
Inside the spacious inner room, the windows were tightly shut. The weather was already unbearably hot, and with the windows closed, it became almost suffocating. Combined with the irritatingly bitter medicinal smell, it felt as though something heavy was pressing against her chest, making it unbearably stifling.
Shen Miao took a few steps forward, intending to open the windows, when she heard someone speak: "Go and open the windows. I feel so stifled."
Shen Miao froze. On the bed lay a woman, her face haggard, dressed in a thin apricot-colored cotton gown. The heat was so intense that her hair was soaked with sweat, and the front of her clothes was drenched. Her complexion was deathly pale, her eyes dull and lifeless. Shen Miao’s eyes widened—it was Luo Xueyan.
Luo Xueyan had never looked so worn out before.
"Sister, you should rest properly," the woman sitting by the bed comforted her. "Catching a cold in this weather would only make things worse."
Shen Miao turned to look at the woman. She wore a simple pale-green dress, but the fabric was clearly expensive. Her neat and refined appearance, in the prime of her youth, stood in stark contrast to the lifeless Luo Xueyan. Who else could this be but Chang Zaiqing? At this moment, Chang Zaiqing had her hair styled in a married woman’s bun. Holding Luo Xueyan’s hand, she said, "Sister, you must recover."
"I can’t go on," Luo Xueyan whispered weakly, her eyes devoid of vitality. "My child is gone. There’s nothing left to hope for. Whether I live or die makes no difference—it’s just a waste of medicine."
"Please don’t say such things, sister," Chang Zaiqing said. "If Fifth Miss knew you felt this way, she would be heartbroken."
"Jiaojiao," Luo Xueyan murmured, her expression pained. Shen Miao stepped forward, wanting to grasp Luo Xueyan’s hand, but her fingers passed right through.
As if she didn’t exist at all.
"Jiaojiao hates me," Luo Xueyan closed her eyes. "But what could I do? The Shen family couldn’t be tied to Prince Ding. Prince Ding might deceive Jiaojiao, but he couldn’t deceive me. Now Jiaojiao despises even me and A’xin, refusing to see us. With Prince Ding’s current actions, what will become of Jiaojiao in the future? There’s no way out either way. I—" The more she spoke, the more her heart ached. Suddenly, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed violently several times. When she lowered the handkerchief, it was stained with bright red blood."Sister, don't dwell on it." Chang Zaiqing supported her while comforting: "The Fifth Young Lady is just momentarily misguided. Perhaps Prince Ding truly treats her well. Besides, there are no lasting grudges between parents and children. The Fifth Young Lady will understand in time—this hatred is only temporary."
Shen Miao glared furiously at Chang Zaiqing. Though her words appeared consoling, they were actually adding fuel to the fire, solidifying the notion that Shen Miao harbored hatred for Luo Xueyan. In her past life, though she had resented the Shen family for refusing to help after she married Fu Xiuyi, it had never escalated to hatred. Now, with Luo Xueyan lying weak and hearing that Shen Miao hated her, how could she not be heartbroken?
Shen Miao's vision blurred momentarily, and then she saw the woman sitting across from Chang Zaiqing, dressed in an autumn-green gown with gold-threaded borders, her expression impatient. The woman was young, naturally delicate-featured, but her heavily applied makeup gave her an odd appearance. Shen Miao's lips parted—wasn't this herself?
Chang Zaiqing smiled and said, "Fifth Young Lady, don't be angry with Madam. It's just that military forces have always been a matter of great importance. The General and your sister likely have their own considerations, hence their stance."
"We're family. Since I've married into Prince Ding's Residence, the Prince is half a member of the Shen family. Why do Father and Mother still treat him as an outsider? I know—they never liked me from the start, abandoning me in Fixed Capital and even dragging His Highness into this."
Chang Zaiqing chuckled again. "Fifth Young Lady, what are you saying? Though the General and your sister may not be as close to you as they are to the Eldest Young Master, blood runs thicker than water."
"I don't care," the young Shen Miao said petulantly. "They say Aunt Qing is the cleverest. Can you think of a way to make Father and Mother agree to lend troops to His Highness?"
Chang Zaiqing seemed hesitant before finally replying, "Since the Fifth Young Lady is Madam's own daughter, she surely dotes on you. If nothing else, if you were to act spoiled and complain to her, perhaps she might agree to your request. If that doesn't work, you could even throw a tantrum like a child." She laughed. "But these are just my ramblings. The Fifth Young Lady should think it over carefully."
Watching from the side, Shen Miao's face darkened with rage. Chang Zaiqing wasn't mediating—she was outright provoking!
Shen Miao remembered now. In her past life, Luo Xueyan had kept her pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage a secret, intending to announce it only after the pregnancy stabilized. But unforeseen events had intervened. At the time, Prince Ding had sought to borrow troops from Shen Xin, who naturally refused. Shen Miao had confided in Chang Zaiqing, who then manipulated her into quarreling with Luo Xueyan.
Unaware that Luo Xueyan had just lost the child, Shen Miao had gone ahead. What might have seemed like ordinary words to her at the time had, in Luo Xueyan's fragile state, been nothing short of a deathblow. To Luo Xueyan, Shen Miao's declaration of hatred meant everything—no mother could bear to hear her child say such words. Worse, Shen Miao had also made ambiguous remarks about Prince Ding mistreating her, adding to Luo Xueyan's distress.
Overwhelmed by grief and worry, with Shen Xin away from Fixed Capital and Luo Xueyan already mourning the loss of her child, even the strongest heart would have shattered under such blows.
Shen Miao wished she could claw the hypocritical smile right off Chang Zaiqing's face.The scenery shifted once more, arriving at another courtyard. The courtyard was elegantly maintained, with Chang Zaiqing dressed in an emerald-green long skirt while a maid leisurely fanned her with a chilled fan. Even the summer breeze carried heat, but the fan had been soaked in ice, making the air refreshingly cool.
"I heard the madam is nearing her end," the matron beside Chang Zaiqing said. "The physician estimates it will be within these few days."
"Make sure she is well attended to," Chang Zaiqing replied. "Don’t give anyone reason to gossip."
The matron acknowledged her words and added, "The concubine has finally endured to see her day."
"Indeed," Chang Zaiqing said, plucking a purple grape from the jar to eat. "After all these years, she has finally endured to see her day."
"Only, we don’t know about the master’s stance yet."
"The general loved his sister deeply, so naturally he is heartbroken." Chang Zaiqing smiled faintly. "But what does that have to do with me? All I need is to secure my position as the sole mistress of the main household. Even if the general doesn’t acknowledge me, as long as the servants do, that’s enough."
The old maidservant nodded in agreement. "Madame is right. I originally thought the lady would hold on a little longer, but who knew she’d go so quickly—"
"Her heart was shattered, and she worried day and night. Surviving this long was already a testament to her strong will." Chang Zaiqing spoke indifferently. "Luo Xueyan was born with good fortune—married into such a fine family, with no other women in the household. What a pity that giving birth to a daughter like Shen Miao ruined all her good luck."
Shen Miao froze as Chang Zaiqing continued, "Believing whatever she was told, Prince Ding’s methods were truly masterful, making Shen Miao utterly devoted to him. She even abandoned her own parents. But if Shen Miao hadn’t been so foolish, how could she have paved the way for my good fortune?"
Standing opposite Chang Zaiqing, Shen Miao felt as though her heart had plunged into an icy abyss despite the sweltering summer heat.
"The New Year’s gifts and food Shen Miao sent from Prince Ding’s Residence—all of them were tampered with, yet she remained oblivious. She was foolish, but Luo Xueyan doted on her dearly, consuming every last bite of those medicinal dishes. Little did she know her own daughter had sent her poison. That day, you saw it too—Shen Miao feeding Luo Xueyan medicine, spoonful by spoonful, all of it poison. And yet, Luo Xueyan drank it with joy."
Shen Miao trembled, nearly collapsing where she stood.
Back then, to help Fu Xiuyi persuade Shen Xin, she had tried to win Luo Xueyan’s favor by learning to prepare medicinal dishes and bringing them to Shen Mansion. Luo Xueyan, who had always felt Shen Miao was distant toward her, was overjoyed by the sudden warmth and ate every last bite. Little did she know those dishes had been tampered with...
Luo Xueyan would never suspect her own daughter of harming her, but Shen Miao never imagined that those around her had already seized the opportunity to betray her. A bone-chilling cold swept over her, her mind a chaotic mess of anguish.
From an outsider’s perspective, how cruel and foolish she had been—so much so that she didn’t even deserve forgiveness. She had personally pushed her own mother toward death. She was the most unfilial daughter of all.
"Luo Xueyan was strong all her life, only to be undone by her own daughter. In a way, I should thank Shen Miao." Chang Zaiqing laughed heartily. "She handed her mother’s fate right to me. From now on, the Shen family’s inner courtyard will be under my control. Luo Xueyan lived a life without regrets—if there was one mistake she made, it was giving birth to Shen Miao. Truly, Shen Miao is nothing but a curse."
Suddenly, a maid came running from afar, her shadow stretching long under the summer sun. Her voice was sluggish, drenched in sweat as she cried out:
"Madame Chang! The lady—she just took her last breath!"
"The lady is gone! The lady is gone—!"
A deafening clap of thunder split the heavens, illuminating the night over Fixed Capital. The rain and thunder drowned out all the wails and cries from inside the house.
Tears streaked Shen Miao’s face as she screamed, "Mother! Mother! It was my fault—it was all my fault! I shouldn’t have loved Fu Xiuyi! I’ll never love him again! I was wrong—I was wrong, Mother—!"
By the bedside, the winter thunder cast its light on her deathly pale face, twisting her expression into something ghastly and despairing. A young man in purple robes stood beside the bed, his expression complicated as he watched Shen Miao struggle in the throes of her nightmare.
After a long moment, he finally sighed softly and reached out a hand toward her.
This chapter got a bit intense :3
OpenNovel