No matter how the East Courtyard acted, Shen Miao began deliberately distancing herself from the Second and Third Branches—no longer clinging to Shen Yue and Shen Qing as she once did. At first, everyone in the Shen Mansion thought it was just childish sulking over the drowning incident. But when Shen Miao started making her own decisions, they gradually sensed something amiss.
Granny Gui, as usual, urged Shen Miao not to hold grudges against the East Courtyard, occasionally dropping hints about how Prince Ding was the most outstanding man in Ming Qi. Yet Shen Miao seemed resolute—whenever Granny Gui mentioned him, she would scold harshly, giving the old woman quite a headache. However, the West Courtyard was now filled with people sent by the Second and Third Branches, including some troublesome servants. Gu Yu and the others had assumed that since Shen Miao had changed her temperament, she would surely clean up the backyard. To their surprise, Shen Miao paid no attention to it at all.
Shen Miao naturally had her own plans.
These days, she attended the Hall of Extensive Learning with increasing diligence. Though people still looked down on her as the bottom of the class, she remained unbothered, focusing only on her own tasks. The more composed she appeared, the less interest others took in her, allowing her to enjoy some peaceful days.
One morning, after the poetry class ended, Shen Miao felt a tightness in her chest and decided to take a stroll through the gardens of the Hall of Extensive Learning.
Though it was an academy, the Hall of Extensive Learning occupied a vast area. Divided into three levels—First, Second, and Third—Shen Miao, at her age, was in the Second Level. Yet she found herself wandering near the First Level classrooms.
There, she spotted a child sitting on the steps, wiping his tears.
The child looked about * years old, fair and plump—so much so that he resembled a chubby little ball at first glance. He wore a pine-blue silver-threaded jacket, small cloth boots, and a round neckband, looking like a doll straight out of a New Year painting.
Shen Miao paused in surprise before walking over and asking softly, "Why are you crying?"
The child, startled by her sudden appearance, tumbled off the steps with a "thud." But he didn’t cry—instead, he scrambled back up and stared blankly at Shen Miao.
His plump, fair face was dotted with tear streaks, and his bright eyes sparkled under a tiny topknot, making him utterly adorable. Shen Miao couldn’t help but chuckle.
The child then called out in a milky voice, "Sister."
Shen Miao’s heart melted at the sound. In her past life, she had given birth to Wan Yu and Fu Ming, but she had been held hostage in Qin State until they were five. By the time she returned, both children had already learned to address her properly as "Empress Mother." Shen Miao had never known what her own children were like before the age of five. Though this child was * years old, his innocent demeanor reminded her irresistibly of Wan Yu and Fu Ming.
Shen Miao crouched down and patted his head. "Why were you crying?"
"The teacher asked me a question, and when I couldn’t answer, he hit my palm," the child said pitifully, extending his reddened palm. "It really hurts."
Wanting to tease him, Shen Miao asked, "What question did the teacher ask you?"
"He told me to write the phrase 'the fox mourns the death of the hare,' but I couldn’t remember how," the child whined.If a child of this age couldn't even write characters from memory, it was indeed rather unacceptable. Setting aside Shen Miao herself, even Fu Ming at this boy's age had already begun learning to handle court affairs—though just pretending to practice, he could still manage some responses. While royal youths tended to mature early, and the children studying at the Hall of Extensive Learning were all from noble families, they shouldn't have been introduced to education this late.
The boy, as if his complaints weren't enough, continued to whine: "If Father finds out when I go back, he’ll scold me harshly again. What’s the point of living? I might as well just bang my head and die."
Shen Miao was startled by the boy's pitiful tone, both exasperated and amused. She wondered which family this little treasure belonged to and where he had learned such dramatic phrasing. She asked, "Whose child are you?"
The boy looked at Shen Miao. At fourteen, with her naturally youthful appearance, she didn’t seem much older than him. Yet, for some reason, she carried an indescribable air, as if she had weathered storms and could calm hearts. Even this boy instinctively quieted down and answered clearly.
"I’m the second young master of the Pingnan Count’s household in the capital, Su Minlang. My father is Count Pingnan Su Yu, and my elder brother is the Heir Apparent of Pingnan Count, Su Mingfeng."
He spilled his entire background as straightforwardly as pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
Shen Miao froze. The Su family? Count Pingnan?
In both her past and present lives, the Su and Shen families had no connection. Their political stances in court were opposed. The Su family was close to the Xie family—Count Pingnan Su Yu and Marquis Lin'an Xie Ding were sworn brothers, while Su Mingfeng and Xie Jingxing had been friends since childhood. Their bond was so strong that when Su Mingfeng died, only Xie Jingxing dared to collect his body.
Yes, Su Mingfeng had died. Or rather, the entire Su family had perished. The late emperor uncovered evidence that the Su family had embezzled funds and privately traded military horses. Once military affairs were involved, there was naturally no room for leniency.
The imperial decree was sudden and swift—no trial, just soldiers storming the residence and executing them on the spot. In broad daylight, the Su family’s blood flowed from the east of Fixed Capital to the west.
By the time Xie Jingxing received the news, it was too late—no one in the Su family had survived. None of their former allies stepped forward. It was Xie Jingxing himself who collected the bodies of the Su family’s masters. Afterward, Xie Ding pleaded for the late emperor’s forgiveness, requesting burial on the grounds that the Su family had once rendered meritorious service to Ming Qi.
The late emperor permitted it, and the Xie family handled the Su family’s funeral arrangements. Shen Miao remembered clearly—when Shen Xin returned during the New Year and learned of this, he had sighed deeply.
The Su family’s downfall would come in just two months. Soon. This ignorant child before her would also perish under that cold imperial decree.
Her expression suddenly turned icy, a sharp glint faintly visible in her eyes.
The boy shrank back slightly. When Shen Miao looked at him again, her tone was as gentle as before: "Su Mingfeng? The Su family’s heir who recently rendered great service and manages the military horses exceptionally well?"
"Yes!" The boy lifted his chin proudly. "Father says His Majesty will surely reward Eldest Brother with honors this time."Shen Miao smiled. She bent down slightly, leaning closer to the child, and said softly, "Didn't you say your father would punish you if he knew you couldn't answer the teacher's questions? I have a way to make sure he won't punish you."
"What is it?" The child blinked.
"You must promise me not to let him know I told you, then I'll say."
"Okay." The child thought for a moment before nodding.
...
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