Princess Ming An is dead!
Shen Miao was stunned. Though Luo Tan's explanation was jumbled and unclear, Shen Miao managed to grasp most of it. There was no doubt—Princess Ming An's death was undoubtedly Xie Jingxing's doing. As for the two men mentioned, Shen Miao immediately thought of the Xie brothers. The more she pondered, the more she couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. It had to be said—Xie Jingxing was truly ruthless. If Princess Ming An had simply been murdered in an ordinary manner, it likely wouldn’t have caused much of a stir. But by presenting her and the Xie brothers in such a scandalous manner, the public’s focus wouldn’t be on the fact of her murder, but rather on the illicit affair between Princess Ming An and the Xie brothers.
Admittedly, this might all have been the killer’s doing, but compared to a cold, straightforward investigation, a sensational case like this was far more likely to captivate the public’s imagination. No matter what, even if Huangfu Hao or Emperor Wenhui tried to suppress it by force or issue clarifications, no one would believe them. A princess of a nation, displayed like a courtesan for all to see—if this news reached the Qin State, it would surely become a laughingstock.
Xie Jingxing truly had no mercy.
As for the Xie brothers, Shen Miao’s thoughts darkened. Huangfu Hao might be furious, but no one could prove that the Xie brothers had actually forced themselves on Princess Ming An—because they were dead too. Huangfu Hao couldn’t take his anger out on Marquis Lin'an either, as the man had just lost two sons in succession, making his situation tragic enough.
Seeing Shen Miao lost in thought, Luo Tan couldn’t help but ask, "Little cousin, have you figured something out? Who do you think is behind this? How bold must they be?"
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "I’m not skilled in investigating cases. If you want to know the outcome, just wait and see how the Court of Revision handles it."
"Regardless," Luo Tan said bluntly, "I don’t feel the slightest bit of sympathy for her. That princess was arrogant and domineering, and I heard she was also extremely vindictive. If she had lived, who knows when she might have found fault with you, little cousin? This outcome is actually quite good. I wonder which righteous hero did this to rid the people of a scourge." She rubbed her hands together, as if eager to befriend that person.
Shen Miao glanced at her. "You seem quite fond of murderers and arsonists. How broad-minded of you."
Luo Tan retorted, "We of the Luo family have always been clear about gratitude and grudges!" She suddenly paused, then added, "Speaking of which, when you were kidnapped before, I went to ask Prince Rui of Great Coolness for help. At least he rescued you immediately. When you have time later, little cousin, don’t forget to thank him."
Shen Miao: "...Thank you for your concern."
Luo Tan patted her shoulder, but then Jing Zhe entered from outside, smiling. "Miss Luo, Imperial Physician Gao is here to check your pulse."
Luo Tan’s expression instantly changed. She stood up hastily and said to Shen Miao, "Well, little cousin, I’ll take my leave now. Think more about Princess Ming An’s case today. If you come up with anything, heh heh, do share it with me. I really want to find that righteous hero!" With that, she fled like a mouse spotting a cat, lifting her skirts as she ran.
Shen Miao sighed as she watched Luo Tan’s retreating figure, her gaze gradually darkening.
Xie Jingxing had caused such a huge commotion, undoubtedly giving people a great sense of vindication. But after all, this involved the death of a princess and implicated many people. Would it really pass without a ripple? Shen Miao didn’t think so.
...
The news of Princess Ming An and the Xie brothers being turned into ice sculptures quickly spread throughout the Fixed Capital. The authorities soon cleared the area around Wanli Lake and took the three bodies down. When Huangfu Hao saw Princess Ming An’s corpse, he predictably flew into a rage, his fury so intense that even Emperor Wenhui found it hard to handle.
Huangfu Hao’s face was dark enough to drip water. He sneered, "In Your Majesty’s territory, a princess of Qin was humiliated and killed in such a manner. This prince cannot help but question Ming Qi’s intentions. Perhaps I should report this matter to my father immediately and let him decide."
Emperor Wenhui rubbed his temples. Huangfu Hao’s thinly veiled threat displeased him greatly, as if the Qin prince didn’t even regard him, the emperor of Ming Qi, with any respect. But this matter had come out of nowhere—even Emperor Wenhui himself had no idea why such a thing had happened. Xie Ding, Marquis Lin'an, knelt down as well, tears streaming down his face. "Your Majesty, I beg you to investigate this thoroughly! Give my sons justice and clarity!"
The civil and military officials in the Golden Luan Hall sighed in sympathy. The Marquis Lin'an’s household had once been flourishing, and in his youth, the marquis had been so high-spirited that he could even find excuses to ignore imperial decrees. In the end, he had married the noble Princess Yuqing of Ming Qi. But after Princess Yuqing’s death, the Marquis’s household seemed to lose its vitality, gradually declining. Xie Jingxing, Princess Yuqing’s flesh and blood, had been a rare young talent, but he too had been buried in the sands of the battlefield. Emperor Wenhui had once intended to deal with the Marquis’s household, but after Xie Jingxing’s death, seeing that the marquis himself was nearly broken, he gradually lost interest in the matter. Now, with the marquis’s two remaining illegitimate sons dead in such a tragic manner, the once-great Marquis Lin'an household had no heirs left. It would soon vanish into the currents of Ming Qi’s history. Recalling its past glory and comparing it to its current desolation, everyone couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.
Huangfu Hao glanced subtly at Xie Ding, a trace of malice in his eyes. Whether the Xie brothers had been victims or had been posed in that manner after death, one thing was undeniable—Princess Ming An’s chastity and dignity had been destroyed because of them. The mastermind behind this was despicable, but the Xie family couldn’t be let off either. When had the Qin imperial family ever suffered such humiliation? Huangfu Hao had already made up his mind as he looked at Xie Ding.
Emperor Wenhui, plagued by a headache, waved his hand to silence the crowd and said solemnly, "This matter is extremely heinous. For someone to commit such an atrocity right under the emperor’s nose is to disregard Ming Qi’s laws and regulations—a crime of the highest order. I have already ordered the Court of Revision to investigate thoroughly. Rest assured, the culprit will be caught, and justice will be served!"
Despite his words, Huangfu Hao remained unsatisfied. He cupped his hands and said, "Since it was a Qin princess who suffered, I request Your Majesty’s permission for Qin personnel to participate in the investigation. Otherwise, when I return home and my father questions me, I will have no explanation to give."
His words implied that he didn’t trust Ming Qi to conduct a proper investigation.
Suppressing his anger, Emperor Wenhui said, "Very well. Permission granted."
After Emperor Wenhui left, most of the officials, unfamiliar with Huangfu Hao, didn’t approach him. But Marquis Lin'an was, after all, a prominent aristocratic family of Ming Qi, and having suffered such misfortune, many came forward to offer condolences.
Amid the condolences, one person walked past Huangfu Hao and said gently, "My condolences, Your Highness."
This person was none other than Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi.
Huangfu Hao was still seething with anger, and his expression didn’t soften upon seeing Fu Xiuyi. He cupped his hands and was about to leave when Fu Xiuyi spoke softly behind him, "Regarding the princess’s murder, I have some thoughts. Would Your Highness care to hear them?"
Huangfu Hao paused. At this moment, the officials were busy comforting Marquis Lin'an, and the two of them happened to be at a corner where no one could see their interaction. Huangfu Hao sneered, "Does Prince Ding have some brilliant insight to share?"
"I’ve merely noticed some oddities," Fu Xiuyi said with a faint smile. "If Your Highness is interested, when you have time, I’d be happy to discuss it in detail."
Huangfu Hao turned back. Fu Xiuyi smiled and walked away. Huangfu Hao stood still for a moment, then glanced at Xie Ding, surrounded by the crowd, and snorted before striding off in a huff.
...
The investigators assigned to Princess Ming An’s case quickly sprang into action. Since a Qin princess was involved, the Court of Revision dared not be careless. But for some reason, this time, not a single clue was left behind. No matter how they combed through the scene, the only conclusion they could draw was that Princess Ming An and the Xie brothers had been involved in an illicit affair. Of course, this result couldn’t be presented to Emperor Wenhui—if it were, never mind the emperor’s reaction, the Qin crown prince would surely fly into a rage.
The case seemed to have reached a deadlock.
In the Shen residence, Shen Qiu entered Shen Miao’s study and found her casually flipping through a biography she had bought outside. He sat down across from her.
Shen Miao glanced at him and, noticing his hesitant expression, asked, "Elder Brother, is there something you want to say?"
"Little Sister," Shen Qiu hesitated, as if struggling to speak, looking quite conflicted. Shen Miao found this strange and urged, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t hold back."
After a long pause, Shen Qiu finally asked, "Little Sister, did you have anything to do with Princess Ming An’s death?"
Shen Miao was momentarily stunned, not expecting Shen Qiu to suspect her. But she quickly smiled and said, "Why would you think that? Princess Ming An and the two Xie brothers—how could I possibly manage something like that alone?"
Shen Qiu looked at her, his gaze complicated. After a moment, he sighed and said, "Little Sister, in the past, Father, Mother, and I failed to protect you. All these years, you’ve lived in the Shen Mansion with those wolves in human clothing. What you’ve been through—I didn’t understand before, but now I do. I know you can protect yourself, and I know you have your own methods. But... we are your family." He spoke earnestly and solemnly. "You don’t have to solve everything yourself. Tell Father, Mother, or me. We may not be all-powerful, but we’ll do our best to protect you."
Shen Miao lowered her eyes, concealing the storm of emotions in her heart, and smiled. "Elder Brother, you’re right. We are family. But Princess Ming An’s death truly has nothing to do with me. I don’t have the capability, nor the audacity. Besides," she countered, "even if we set Princess Ming An aside, what connection do the Xie brothers have with me?"
Shen Qiu sighed. "You still won’t tell me the truth."
Shen Miao didn’t respond. With Shen Qiu, she had been gradually revealing bits of herself, so that if the day came when she reached a point of no return, at least he would understand why she had done these things. But not everything in this world could be accomplished in one stroke—she couldn’t lay all her cards on the table now.
"Fine. I just want to tell you—if even I can guess that you’re connected to this, Father and Mother might not remain in the dark forever," Shen Qiu said, staring at her with a grave expression. "You must understand, Princess Ming An didn’t have any conflicts with anyone in Ming Qi—except you. If we can think this way, the Qin crown prince will surely come to the same conclusion. Whether you’re involved or not, someone will eventually turn their attention to you. Little Sister, you’re in great danger right now."
Shen Miao replied, "But since I have nothing to do with it, even if they investigate, they won’t find anything on me, right?" In truth, Shen Miao had already considered what Shen Qiu said. Xie Jingxing might have sealed the mouths of everyone in the Fixed Capital, ensuring no clues were left behind, but what would Huangfu Hao think? That was something even Xie Jingxing couldn’t control.
"Are you really that confident?" Shen Qiu asked.
Shen Miao said, "Don’t worry, Elder Brother. This matter truly has nothing to do with me."
Only then did Shen Qiu relax slightly. "In that case, don’t leave the mansion these days. The Fixed Capital is restless, and there are people with ulterior motives lurking about. The mansion has increased its guards, so it should be safe."
Shen Miao nodded. Shen Qiu stood up—he still had military duties to attend to and needed to return. But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask, "Little Sister, have you made the acquaintance of anyone powerful?"
Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained calm as she shook her head. "No."
Shen Qiu said nothing more and left.
As it turned out, Shen Qiu’s worries were not unfounded. That very night, Prince Ding’s residence welcomed a special guest—none other than the Qin crown prince, Huangfu Hao, who had been seething with rage over his sister’s brutal death.
In the Golden Luan Hall, Fu Xiuyi’s seemingly casual remark had planted a seed of doubt in Huangfu Hao’s mind, prompting him to pay this visit. Before Huangfu Hao arrived, Fu Xiuyi had Pei Lang hide in the adjacent room, listening in on their conversation through a hidden window.
Huangfu Hao set his teacup down heavily and cut straight to the point. "Prince Ding, you mentioned earlier that you found my sister’s death suspicious. Care to elaborate?"
"Your Highness need not be so impatient," Fu Xiuyi said with a faint smile. "Princess Ming An’s death is indeed regrettable. But at this stage, catching the culprit isn’t the immediate priority."
Huangfu Hao frowned and sneered. "Are you suggesting I should let this matter rest? I don’t know what the customs are in Ming Qi, but in Qin, the murder of a princess is a matter of utmost importance. Even if I were to let it go today, once my father learns of this, he will surely demand justice from your emperor. A tribute banquet, and a Qin princess loses her life—do you think this is acceptable?"
His words carried a veiled threat.
Fu Xiuyi shook his head. "Since Your Highness is so eager, I won’t speak in riddles. Generally speaking, when a murder occurs, there’s always a motive. This case appears to involve the Xie brothers and Princess Ming An dying together, but the way their bodies were posed was clearly meant to humiliate and tarnish the princess’s reputation. In other words, the perpetrator was targeting Princess Ming An."
Huangfu Hao scoffed. "I’m well aware. Whoever did this has nerves of steel."
"Your Highness, consider this—within Ming Qi, who would hold such a deep grudge against Princess Ming An?"
Huangfu Hao paused, then furrowed his brows in thought. Princess Ming An had been arrogant and domineering, often mistreating her servants, so there were certainly many who resented her. But since arriving in Ming Qi, under their father’s strict orders not to antagonize Emperor Wenhui, she had reined in her behavior. Though she had acted recklessly, she hadn’t offended any of Ming Qi’s officials.
Unless... Huangfu Hao’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you referring to Shen Miao?"
Fu Xiuyi smiled without answering.
"Impossible!" Huangfu Hao retorted. "Even if she had a conflict with Ming An, and Ming An later played tricks on her, Shen Miao is just a woman. Ming An had bodyguards—how could Shen Miao possibly overpower her?"
Fu Xiuyi shook his head with a smile. "Shen Miao couldn’t, but don’t forget—she’s Shen Xin’s daughter. How does Shen Xin treat his daughter? You saw it yourself at the tribute banquet."
Huangfu Hao recalled the banquet, where Shen Xin had stood firmly by Shen Miao’s side during her standoff with Princess Ming An, even disregarding Emperor Wenhui’s displeasure to assert his stance. If Shen Xin had acted on his daughter’s behalf, it wasn’t impossible for his men to have carried out the deed.
"Then what about the Xie brothers?" Huangfu Hao pressed. "Even if Shen Xin acted for Shen Miao, he wouldn’t involve the Xie family for no reason. Xie Ding still holds office in Ming Qi—Shen Xin wouldn’t invite trouble for himself."
Fu Xiuyi sighed. "Your Highness, don’t you see? During those days, I had the Xie brothers accompany Princess Ming An. As siblings, you must know the princess’s temperament. Shen Miao and Princess Ming An had already clashed. If the princess wanted to deal with Shen Miao, it would be understandable. But as a Qin princess, directly targeting an official’s daughter would be inconvenient. The Xie brothers, however, would make perfect tools."
Huangfu Hao stiffened, then said angrily, "You can’t possibly mean—"
"Your Highness, don’t be angry. I originally intended to groom the Xie brothers for future use, but it seems they weren’t destined for greatness. What happened afterward is clear—perhaps they made a mistake while carrying out their task, leading to their deaths and implicating the princess."
Though Huangfu Hao’s expression remained skeptical, he had already begun turning the idea over in his mind. First, Shen Miao had been inexplicably kidnapped. At the time, Huangfu Hao had suspected Princess Ming An, but since she hadn’t left the mansion and had no acquaintances in Ming Qi, he dismissed the thought. Then Shen Miao had been mysteriously returned to the Shen residence by that so-called Princess Rong Xin, followed by Princess Ming An and the Xie brothers’ deaths.
Fu Xiuyi was right—Princess Ming An was vindictive. If Shen Miao had humiliated her before, she wouldn’t have let it go so easily. The Xie brothers had indeed been frequent visitors during that time, so this explanation made sense. But was Shen Miao really capable of such a thing? Huangfu Hao felt something was off. Even if Shen Xin doted on his daughter and had the means to pull this off, openly opposing a princess wasn’t wise—especially since Shen Xin had just returned to the capital and his position was still unstable. Even if he didn’t care for himself, wouldn’t he consider the rest of the Shen family? Was Shen Xin really so foolish as to abandon all reason for his daughter?
Huangfu Hao stopped listening to Fu Xiuyi’s subsequent words. Though he found some logic in Fu Xiuyi’s argument, he remained uncertain. Noticing Huangfu Hao’s distraction, Fu Xiuyi didn’t press further. After Fu Xiuyi left, Pei Lang emerged from behind the screen.
"What was the meaning of that, Your Highness?" Pei Lang asked. "Why divert the blame to the Shen family?"
Fu Xiuyi glanced at him and said, "You don’t understand, Master Pei. I suspect Shen Miao may have some connection with Prince Rui of Great Coolness."
Pei Lang’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm. "Your Highness is still troubled by the incident at the crown prince’s residence. Prince Rui is from Great Coolness, and Shen Miao left the capital two years ago. There’s no way they could have met. If they became acquainted in just a few months, it would be far too coincidental."
"I know you find it hard to believe," Fu Xiuyi said, "but I have a feeling. There’s something unusual between Shen Miao and Prince Rui. Too many coincidences have happened recently. In fact, if they did become close in just a few months, that makes it even more intriguing. Prince Rui is proud and aloof—even my father finds it hard to approach him. I’d like to know what Shen Miao’s secret is."
Pei Lang frowned. "What does that have to do with today’s conversation with the Qin crown prince?"
Fu Xiuyi smiled. "Master Pei, do you think Shen Miao could have done this alone? Or that Shen Xin, who isn’t impulsive, would act so rashly on behalf of his family?"
Pei Lang’s eyes widened. "Could it be that Your Highness suspects—"
"Exactly," Fu Xiuyi said. "I suspect Prince Rui was behind this."
Pei Lang fell silent. Seeing this, Fu Xiuyi continued, "Prince Rui is bold and reckless, and Great Coolness has no shortage of talented individuals. For someone like him, killing a princess would be child’s play. But as we both know, Prince Rui had no grudge against Princess Ming An and no connection to the Xie family. He wouldn’t invite trouble for no reason. Unless it was for Shen Miao—then everything makes sense." He smiled faintly. "They say men wage wars for the sake of beauty, but I don’t think that’s the case here. There must be something special between Prince Rui and Shen Miao."
"So Your Highness is using the Qin crown prince to draw them out?" Pei Lang asked.
"Indeed." Fu Xiuyi smiled. "Huangfu Hao is inherently suspicious. Even if he doesn't believe my words, he will harbor doubts and eventually test the waters. By directing all hostility toward the Shen family, if Prince Rui truly has ties with Shen Miao, he will inevitably intervene. Then we will uncover the nature of their relationship and proceed with further plans."
Pei Lang asked, "But what if Prince Rui does not intervene?"
"No matter," Fu Xiuyi replied. "If Prince Rui does nothing, the Shen family has already overstepped too much recently. Letting Huangfu Hao deal with them and weaken their influence would still benefit us."
"Has Your Highness decided to suppress the Shen family?" Pei Lang looked at him.
"If they cannot be of use to me, it's best to eliminate any future threats." Fu Xiuyi's smile remained gentle, but his tone was icy. He turned to Pei Lang and said, "In the future, I will still rely on your counsel, sir."
Pei Lang hastily expressed his humility.
After Fu Xiuyi left, Pei Lang returned to his room. Staring at the flickering lamp, he couldn't help but sigh.
Two years ago, Shen Miao had forced him to infiltrate Fu Xiuyi's circle as her informant. With no other choice, Pei Lang had complied. Fortunately, his own abilities had earned Fu Xiuyi's favor, and now Fu Xiuyi regarded him as his most trusted confidant. Even secret discussions like today's with Huangfu Hao were shared with Pei Lang without reservation—a sign of deep trust.
Perhaps Fu Xiuyi truly had no guard against Pei Lang, or perhaps this was simply Fu Xiuyi's way of controlling his subordinates. Most people, treated so generously by their master, would naturally grow more loyal. If Pei Lang hadn't been Shen Miao's man, he might have been no exception.
The more time Pei Lang spent with Fu Xiuyi, the more he marveled at the man's strategic brilliance and ruthless ambition. Fu Xiuyi's ability to conceal daggers behind smiles or feign mediocrity was truly the mark of an emperor. Pei Lang even believed that, given a few more years—or perhaps a decade—the throne of Ming Qi would inevitably fall into Fu Xiuyi's hands. Among all the imperial princes, none were more suited for the position than Fu Xiuyi.
Yet Shen Miao insisted on opposing him. Pei Lang had little faith in her success—and by extension, his own. He had selfishly considered defecting, but Shen Miao held his weakness, Liuying, firmly in her grasp. Thus, his reluctance and resentment could only dissipate like smoke in the wind. Glancing out the window, he noted how well Fu Xiuyi treated him—private quarters, no surveillance. Pei Lang took a sheet of paper from his desk, ground ink, and began writing swiftly.
The night was as dark as ink. In Prince Rui's residence, Xie Jingxing idly teased the white tiger at his feet. The tiger, recently overfed by Ji Yushu with five meals a day, had grown plump, resembling nothing so much as a fluffy ball. Even its playful antics lacked their usual agility, appearing rather foolish. Xie Jingxing, ever fastidious, could hardly be bothered to hold it anymore, and his teasing had become half-hearted.
A young guard, much younger than Tie Yi, approached from outside. He retrieved a letter from his robes and handed it to Xie Jingxing, saying, "This letter was intercepted from Prince Ding's residence. It was written by Pei Lang, one of Prince Ding's advisors, and intended for Fifth Miss Shen at the Shen residence."Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow and confidently drew the letter from the envelope, quickly scanning its contents. When his gaze reached the final line, his lips suddenly curled into a smirk. Under the night sky, his handsome features resembled a painting, his purple-gold robe shimmering like a nobleman strolling under moonlight. Though it was a careless smile, Nan Qi shivered slightly, keenly sensing his master's displeasure once more.
The last line read: Stay away from Prince Rui at all costs.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Brother Xie: Enough already!（╰_╯）
...
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