The incident involving Princess Ming'an in the capital of Dingjing had indeed caused a great uproar among the common people. The Court of Revision's investigation had dragged on without any results, and Emperor Wenhui frequently flew into fits of rage, implicating several officials in the process. However, it seemed the case was gradually turning into an unsolved mystery. Naturally, Crown Prince Huangfu Hao of Qin was dissatisfied, but even his own men had found nothing amiss. As time passed, the public's fervor for the matter waned. After all, people had to eat and live their lives; clinging to a scandalous unsolved case couldn't ward off the bitter cold of winter.
Amid the frigid winter in Dingjing, a major event also unfolded within the Shen Mansion.
Shen Yue was engaged and would soon be married.
The family chosen for Shen Yue was the Wang family, which Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu had long favored. The Wang family had only two sons—the younger was not yet ten, while the elder, Wang Bi, was the one engaged to Shen Yue. At twenty-four, Wang Bi had already entered officialdom, serving in the Imperial Academy. He was erudite and considered a man of great promise. Although the position of Assistant Minister wasn't among the most powerful in the court, colleagues inevitably interacted frequently with the Assistant Minister. Having ties with the Wang family could provide significant support in one's career.
From Shen Wan's perspective, this was about career advancement. For Chen Ruoqiu, Wang Bi was the eldest son of the Wang family, and currently, there were no bed warmers or concubines in the household. Shen Yue, with her refined and scholarly demeanor, could easily win Wang Bi's heart if she married into the family. Once she established herself in the Wang household and bore children, her future would be secure.
Chen Ruoqiu had directly arranged the marriage with the Wang family, even exchanging the marriage certificates. When Shen Yue learned of this, she threw another tantrum. However, the usually gentle Chen Ruoqiu seemed determined to marry her off this time, and even Shen Wan, who had always doted on her, didn't yield to Shen Yue's pleas. Old Madam Shen was delighted—Shen Yue was just another mouth to feed in the Shen Mansion, and times were already tough.
Shen Yue's outburst was so extreme that even Shen Wan, who never punished his daughters, felt she had gone too far. In a fit of anger, he confined her to the ancestral hall, demanding she reflect on her actions.
That night, Shen Yue sat alone in the ancestral hall, silently weeping.
The hall bore traces of a past fire—ironically, the last time someone had been confined here was Shen Miao, when Ren Wanyun had tried to force her into a marriage exchange with Shen Qing. Unexpectedly, a fire had broken out, and coincidentally, Shen Xin had left the capital at that time, allowing Shen Miao to escape unscathed. Staring at the tightly shut doors, Shen Yue realized that was when Shen Miao's fortunes began to rise. With Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu backing her, Shen Miao could act with impunity. Shen Yue was certain that if Shen Miao ever wanted to marry Fu Xiuyi, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan would never oppose her the way Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan had.
And hadn't Shen Miao once adored Fu Xiuyi? If she rekindled that old flame now, with Shen Xin's resurgence and newfound power, would Fu Xiuyi even refuse? Besides, Shen Miao was no longer the incompetent fool the entire capital had mocked two years ago.
The thought of Shen Miao possibly ending up with Fu Xiuyi twisted Shen Yue's heart with bitterness. Resentfully, she wondered why the fire in this very hall hadn't burned Shen Miao to death.
Just then, she heard the sound of the door handle turning. Assuming Chen Ruoqiu had sent someone with food, Shen Yue snapped, "I don't want anything. Get out."
The sound persisted. "I said get out!" she shouted.
The door creaked open, revealing Shen Dongling's head peeking in.
Shen Yue was momentarily stunned. Shen Dongling glanced outside before quickly shutting the door and approaching. After a moment's hesitation, she sat on the floor and handed Shen Yue a basket, whispering, "The matron guarding outside went to drink. I sneaked in. Knowing you haven't eaten all day, I brought you some food. Second Sister, please keep quiet."
Shen Yue blinked as Shen Dongling lifted the bamboo basket, revealing layers of pastries.
Despite usually treating Shen Dongling with superficial politeness, Shen Yue felt a flicker of gratitude. While Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan ignored her hunger, this half-sister she barely interacted with had remembered. Her expression softened slightly, though she still couldn't bring herself to eat.
"Don't bother. I really can't eat," she said.
Shen Dongling studied her. "Why don't you want to marry Young Master Wang? He's a good man, and his family is well-off. If you marry him, you'll be the mistress of the household. Is it because you don't want to leave the Shen family?"
Shen Yue glanced at her. Shen Dongling, who rarely left the mansion, still carried an almost childlike innocence despite being around the same age. Shen Yue felt both disdain and envy—disdain for Shen Dongling's naivety, believing someone like Wang Bi was a catch, and envy for her simple-minded happiness. Suddenly, Shen Yue felt an urge to confide. With a bitter smile, she said, "Whether he's good or not doesn't matter to me. He's not the one in my heart."
After a pause, Shen Dongling gasped. "Does that mean... you already have someone you love?"
"What if I do? What if I don't?" Shen Yue laughed bitterly. "Why was I born into the Shen family, where I can't even choose my own husband? My parents only care about their careers, never considering my feelings. Sometimes, I think it'd be better to die."
Shen Dongling recoiled in shock. "Second Sister, don't say such things! Death is the easiest way out, but then everything is lost. Why not think differently? The Wang family isn't bad. Third Uncle and Third Aunt wouldn't harm you. Maybe many girls envy your luck. Take me, for example—if I could marry into the Wang family, my mother would be at the temple every day thanking the gods for such a good match."
Shen Yue shook her head, increasingly convinced of Shen Dongling's foolishness. There was no reasoning with her, especially when she looked so envious. But then again, as a mere concubine-born daughter, becoming a legitimate wife—let alone to an Assistant Minister's son—was already a stroke of luck.
Seeing Shen Yue still despondent, Shen Dongling's eyes flickered. "There's always a way out, Second Sister. Don't torment yourself now; it's not worth ruining your health. Think of Fifth Sister—when they arranged her marriage, she also threw a fit. It seemed hopeless, but then Eldest Uncle and Aunt returned, and everything turned out fine for her."
Though Shen Dongling's words were muddled, Shen Yue's heart stirred.
Back then, Shen Miao had narrowly escaped marriage because Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan returned to the capital. Shen Yue had eavesdropped on Chen Ruoqiu's conversation with the servants, learning that Ren Wanyun had planned a marriage exchange between Shen Qing and Shen Miao.
If Shen Qing and Shen Miao could exchange marriages, why couldn't she?
Excitement surged in Shen Yue's chest as an old idea resurfaced. Her gaze settled on Shen Dongling.
As for the candidate... wasn't there a perfect one right in front of her?
Shen Dongling was a concubine-born daughter who admired Wang Bi, was meek and gullible—no one was more suitable than her.
Shen Yue suddenly grasped Shen Dongling's hands. "Third Sister, how do you think I've treated you?"
Shen Dongling blinked, then lowered her head shyly. "Second Sister never looked down on me and has always been kind. Among all the sisters in the Shen family, you're the only one who talks to me." Shen Yue had always maintained a noble and generous facade, never revealing her disdain. Especially after the last incident, she had frequently sought Shen Dongling out, making their bond appear genuine to outsiders.
Hearing this, Shen Yue smiled. "Then, Third Sister, now that I'm in trouble, will you help me?"
Shen Dongling smiled guilelessly. "Of course! Whatever I can do, I'll do my best for you."
"Your words put me at ease." Shen Yue tightened her grip. "Can you... marry Wang Bi in my place?"
Shen Dongling froze. After a stunned moment, she tried to pull away. "N-no! Second Sister, I can help with anything else, but not this!"
"You can!" Shen Yue refused to let go. "Didn't you say Wang Bi is a good match? That your mother would be overjoyed if you married him? Third Sister, I beg you!"
"Even so," Shen Dongling retreated, "it's too risky! If we're caught, I'll be beaten to death, and you'll be punished too! Why must you avoid marrying him at all costs?"
Tears streamed down Shen Yue's face. Delicate and frail, her weeping was heart-wrenching. In a voice thick with despair, she said, "Third Sister, what's honey to one is poison to another. What's a good match for you is misery for me. I already love someone else—I vow to marry no one but him. If I'm forced to wed another, I'll end my life on the wedding day." She suddenly knelt before Shen Dongling. "If you refuse, you're sentencing me to death. Third Sister, for the sake of our sisterhood, for all the kindness I've shown you, I beg you—save my life!"
Shen Dongling was stunned by Shen Yue's kneeling. Flustered, she pulled Shen Yue up. "Second Sister, don't do this! You're scaring me!"
Shen Yue clung to her hands. "Third Sister, I'm only asking this once. Do you want to see me become a pile of bones?"
Biting her lip, Shen Dongling looked at Shen Yue—disheveled, tear-streaked, truly at her wit's end. Reluctantly, she nodded. "I... I agree. Second Sister, please get up."
Shen Yue's eyes lit up. She hugged Shen Dongling tightly, showering her with effusive thanks, her face the picture of heartfelt gratitude. Yet, behind Shen Dongling's back, a smug smile crept onto her lips.
"But Second Sister, we must plan carefully," Shen Dongling said. "A marriage exchange is no small matter. If it's exposed, neither of us will escape unscathed. Third Uncle and Third Aunt will be watching closely. We need to strategize."
Shen Yue released her, nodding eagerly. "Naturally." She took Shen Dongling's hands again. "Don't worry, Third Sister. Since you're doing this for me, I'll make sure to clarify that I forced you into it. I won't let them blame you—you won't suffer any consequences."
Shen Dongling smiled. "I believe you, Second Sister."
Under the ink-black night, when Shen Dongling returned to her quarters in the Colorful Cloud Courtyard, Wan Yiniang was already asleep. Shen Dongling had slipped out without her mother's knowledge.
Her maid, Xinghua, asked, "Will you really help Second Young Miss with the marriage exchange?"
"Marry? Why not?" Shen Dongling watched as Xinghua closed the door, then sat on the bed, sipping tea with a smile utterly unlike her earlier demeanor. "The Wang family is an official household. Wang Bi has a bright future, and his household is clean. With my status, I'd never marry into such a family in this lifetime. If this opportunity arises, only a fool wouldn't seize it."
Xinghua chuckled. "In that case, Second Young Miss has unwittingly done you a favor."
"A favor?" Shen Dongling's smile turned mocking. "Do you truly believe there's anyone in the Shen family as pure-hearted as a fairy?"
Xinghua hesitated. "What do you mean, Young Miss?"
"I'm helping her wholeheartedly, but mark my words—if the exchange succeeds and is later exposed, the first thing Shen Yue will do is pin the blame on me. She'll claim I schemed to steal her marriage, painting herself as the victim. Even if the second branch knows the truth, to avoid offending the Wang family, they'll say it was my fault. As for Old Madam..." Shen Dongling sneered. "A concubine-born daughter is nothing compared to a legitimate one in her eyes. No matter what, I'll be the one sacrificed."
Xinghua looked incredulous. "But Second Young Miss said she'd clear your name, that she wouldn't let you take the blame—"
"Is Shen Yue really that selfless?" Shen Dongling shook her head. "Everyone in this mansion is selfish. Why would you think Shen Yue is any different? If she were truly self-sacrificing, she wouldn't have asked me to marry in her place."
"Then... will you still go through with it?" Xinghua asked. "What if all the blame falls on you?"
Shen Dongling smiled nonchalantly. "Don't worry. If I agree to marry for her, I'll have a foolproof plan. Remember, Xinghua—everyone in the Shen family is a wolf or a tiger. If you want something, rely on yourself, just like Fifth Sister did. So, if there's a chance to leave this place, I won't hesitate."
Xinghua nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Should we tell Madam Wan?"
"No need." Shen Dongling refused firmly. "Mother is timid—she'd never agree to this. I'll explain after it's done."
Xinghua withdrew.
Meanwhile, in the Autumn Water Court of the Shen Mansion, others were also discussing Shen Yue's marriage.
"Yue'er hasn't eaten all day. She can't take this," Shen Wan said. He had doted on Shen Yue for years; only her obsession with the wrong man had driven him to punish her.
"She won't eat what I send," Chen Ruoqiu sighed. "I had Third Young Miss deliver food. She's probably eaten by now."
"Third Young Miss?" Shen Wan frowned. "Since when are they so close?" In his eyes, Shen Dongling was merely a concubine-born daughter. Shen Yue associating with her was beneath her station, so he wasn't pleased.
Chen Ruoqiu smiled. "They've grown closer recently. With Eldest Young Miss gone, Yue'er had no sisters to talk to. Third Young Miss is honest, and Yue'er enjoys her company. It's harmless."
Shen Wan said nothing more. Chen Ruoqiu continued, "But I worry Yue'er will keep making a scene. What if she still resists on the wedding day?"
"A few days of confinement will suffice. You're her mother—just coax her then." Shen Wan's tone hardened. "If she still refuses by the wedding, we'll take measures."
Chen Ruoqiu's heart skipped a beat. Shen Wan was usually gentle with her; this sternness was rare. As a woman, she sensed impatience in his words, reminding her of Old Madam Shen's recent pushes for him to take a concubine. Uneasy, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "After Yue'er's wedding, let's spend some time together, Husband. You've been so preoccupied with official matters lately, barely speaking to me. It makes me uneasy."
Though no longer young, Chen Ruoqiu had aged gracefully and understood men well. Normally, Shen Wan indulged her coquetry. But today, he merely patted her hand. "We'll talk after Yue'er's wedding."
His tone was unmistakably dismissive.
Chen Ruoqiu's heart sank, her arms tightening around him.
...
Shen Miao received a letter from Pei Lang.
By lamplight, she read it. The letter stated that Fu Xiuyi seemed to have noticed something between her and Prince Rui. To test this, he had deliberately implicated her in Princess Ming'an's case in front of the Qin Crown Prince, hoping to gauge Prince Rui's reaction. If Huangfu Hao targeted her, Prince Rui's response would reveal their connection.
Shen Miao hadn't expected Fu Xiuyi to uncover this so quickly, but upon reflection, it made sense. Having been married to him for years, she knew his knack for piecing together clues. Besides, if he were truly incompetent, he wouldn't have survived the princes' power struggles.
Still, she wasn't overly concerned. Huangfu Hao wasn't impulsive, and with the Shen family involved, he wouldn't act rashly without thorough investigation.
The letter concluded that if Shen Miao truly had ties with Prince Rui of Great Liang, she could seek his help in times of trouble. With his network of capable individuals, things would proceed more smoothly.
Shen Miao found the last part odd. Pei Lang and Xie Jingxing had no connection, and for the cautious Pei Lang to suggest seeking external help was unusual. Yet the letter was undoubtedly his. Puzzled but dismissing it, she tossed the letter into the brazier, watching the flames reduce it to ashes.
On her desk lay a red wooden invitation—the Shen family had sent notice of Shen Yue's wedding to Wang Bi. It was baffling why they'd included Shen Miao's household, but neither Shen Xin nor Luo Xueyan paid it any heed, and Shen Miao certainly wouldn't attend. Still, she doubted Shen Yue would go through with the marriage.
In her past life, Shen Yue's obsession with Fu Xiuyi had driven her to wait for years. How could she possibly accept another man now?
As she pondered, someone tapped on her window. Turning, she saw Xie Jingxing lounging there uninvited.
Eyebrow arched, he glanced at the red invitation in her hand. "You're going?"
Clearly, he'd also heard of Shen Yue's engagement. Given Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan's meticulousness, they'd undoubtedly invited half the capital to showcase their daughter's worth. The Assistant Minister's extensive connections meant many officials would attend. By now, all of Dingjing likely knew.
"No." Shen Miao tossed the invitation aside.
Xie Jingxing seemed to have anticipated her response. In a flash, he was already inside the room. Shen Miao sat down at the table while Xie Jingxing leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, saying, "Shen Yue has been confined to the ancestral hall. Shen Dongling just went to see her."
Shen Miao gave Xie Jingxing a surprised glance, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "You even went to Shen Mansion?" Xie Jingxing, the esteemed Prince Rui of Great Coolness—how could he keep doing these uninvited, thief-like deeds? It was one thing to frequently stroll around the gardens of Shen residence, but to secretly spy on the movements of the people in Shen Mansion?
Xie Jingxing choked slightly at her words and replied, "Of course it wasn’t me."
Shen Miao understood—he must have sent his subordinates instead. Still, she found it odd. The people in Shen Mansion had no connection whatsoever to Xie Jingxing. Why would he have them watched? Unless… it was for her sake?
"Are you unhappy about Shen Yue’s marriage?" Xie Jingxing asked.
"The people in Shen Mansion have nothing to do with me. Should I be celebrating for her?" Shen Miao said. "Besides, whether this marriage even happens is still uncertain. What’s there to be happy about?"
Xie Jingxing smirked, sitting down opposite her, and studied her face. "You seem to understand quite well?"
"You deliberately came to tell me that Shen Dongling and Shen Yue were together—wasn’t that your way of hinting at this?" Shen Miao smiled carelessly. "Shen Dongling and Shen Yue are bound to exchange marriages. Luckily, Shen Yue sought out Shen Dongling. With someone like Shen Dongling involved, this marriage exchange won’t go wrong."
In Shen Mansion, Shen Miao had never quite figured out what role Shen Dongling played. In her past life, she hadn’t paid much attention to this half-sister. But since her rebirth, she had seen many things clearly. Shen Dongling actually resembled someone—she was very much like Fu Xiuyi, both possessing an extraordinary ability to endure. Shen Dongling had endured silently all these years. Now, whenever Shen Dongling was mentioned in Shen Mansion, everyone thought of her as an unremarkable, easily manipulated concubine-born daughter with a seemingly mild temperament. Yet, it was precisely this person who had survived unscathed under Ren Wanyun’s control. Looking at it now, within the entire second branch, it seemed only Shen Dongling and Wan Yiniang were the true winners.
Shen Miao dared not underestimate someone like her.
Xie Jingxing chuckled. "How did you know about the marriage exchange?"
"Because Shen Yue doesn’t want it," Shen Miao said. "Shen Yue doesn’t want to marry Wang Bi. Unfortunately, Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan have already exchanged the marriage certificates, and the engagement is set. For someone like Shen Yue, this is a forced marriage. Shen Yue has always been proud and has had everything go her way all these years. How could she accept such an arrangement? Shen Dongling’s appearance here isn’t entirely coincidental—it’s likely one party wanting to escape and the other willing to take her place. A perfect transaction."
Xie Jingxing listened to Shen Miao’s words with a lazy smile, as if he greatly enjoyed watching her analyze her opponents. He found her serious demeanor rather amusing.
He said, "Forced marriage? Wang Bi is a suitable match for Shen Yue."
"Unfortunately, he’s not the one Shen Yue loves," Shen Miao replied with a faint sneer. "Someone as stubborn as Shen Yue won’t change her mind. To marry the one she loves and avoid a forced marriage, she’ll definitely come up with some scheme."
"And what about you?" Xie Jingxing suddenly asked.Shen Miao frowned.
Xie Jingxing said nonchalantly, "If one day you were also forced into marriage, what would you do?"
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Xie Jingxing's hidden meaning: If one day this handsome guy forces you to marry me, what would you think?
Liangliang (cold stare): I choose death.
...
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