The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage

"What if one day you were forced into marriage? How would you react?"

Shen Miao was momentarily stunned. Forced into marriage? In her past life, she had indeed forced a marriage—but it was she who had actively pursued Fu Xiuyi. The idea of being the one forced into marriage had never crossed her mind. Xie Jingxing's question now reminded her of something.

With the Shen family's return to Fixed Capital, not only had Emperor Wenhui restored the military power of the Shen Family Army to Shen Xin, but even the Luo Family Army, stationed far away in Xiaochun City, was no longer the destitute force that couldn't even afford to maintain its soldiers. Contrary to expectations, the main branch of the Shen family had not declined due to their distance from Fixed Capital but had instead grown even more formidable. The Shen family was like a fat piece of meat—whoever could bind themselves to them in the struggle for the throne would gain a decisive advantage.

And how to bind themselves together? Among aristocratic families, marriage alliances were the most straightforward path.

Shen Qiu and Shen Miao's marital prospects thus became the channels through which others could latch onto the Shen family. The only difference was that Shen Qiu, being a man, could afford to wait, while Shen Miao, as a woman, would inevitably face criticism if her youth faded without marriage.

What if one day she became a mere bargaining chip in the power struggle, fought over and forced into marriage? What then?

Xie Jingxing stared at her, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"That day will never come," Shen Miao said.

"But if it does, what would you do?" Xie Jingxing pressed, refusing to let her evade the question.

After careful consideration, Shen Miao replied, "Then I would fight. If I could win, I'd find a way to make him back down. If not, I wouldn't mind marrying him."

Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't mind?"

"One must survive, mustn't they?" Shen Miao said coolly. "After marriage, I could always find opportunities for revenge. There are many unavoidable hardships in life—I wouldn't be like those fiery-tempered women who hang themselves to prove a point. Better to keep my life; there's always a chance to turn the tables."

Her past life in the palace had taught her that death was the most despairing outcome. Once dead, everything was settled, with no room for reversal. She often wondered: if she hadn't died so easily in her past life, if she had continued to battle Mei Furen in the palace for decades, who would have emerged victorious? Perhaps she would still have lost—or perhaps she would have won, avenging the lives of the Shen family's main branch, Wan Yu, and Fu Ming. At the very least, her life wouldn't have been wasted.

Xie Jingxing studied Shen Miao.

She was like a tenacious plant, a wild grass thriving even in the harshest winter, never losing hope. Even in the most disadvantaged position, she would inch her way to where she wanted to be. Her goals were clear, yet she remained an enigma.

Nothing like a sheltered sixteen-year-old girl.

Xie Jingxing smiled faintly. "You truly are a Shen."

Shen Miao remained silent as Xie Jingxing continued, "I'll be leaving the city for a few days. Be careful. If you encounter any trouble, go to Fengxian Pawnshop and find Ji Yushu. Gao Yang is one of mine—you can trust him."Shen Miao was momentarily stunned. Given her past life experiences, she naturally knew that Gao Yang was Xie Jingxing's man—one could even say his trusted confidant. Though aware of this, Shen Miao had never revealed her knowledge. Even when Luo Tan was rescued by Gao Yang on Xie Jingxing's orders, Shen Miao pretended ignorance. She understood that some boundaries shouldn't be crossed. Even if Xie Jingxing harbored no hostility toward her now, it didn't mean anyone would willingly bare all their secrets to another.

Yet now, Xie Jingxing had voluntarily told her that Gao Yang was his man. This was tantamount to truly treating Shen Miao as one of his own.

Was such candor merely because they were nominal allies? On what grounds did Xie Jingxing believe she wouldn't betray him?

Lost in these thoughts, Shen Miao went unnoticed by Xie Jingxing, who continued, "Huangfu Hao might cause you trouble. If you encounter anything you can't handle yourself, just leave it to Gao Yang."

An odd feeling crept over Shen Miao. This scene... it almost resembled a husband giving last-minute instructions to his young wife before a journey. The thought startled her, and she flustered, "Understood."

Xie Jingxing found her sudden unease baffling but didn't press further. After mentioning a few more precautions, he took his leave.

After Xie Jingxing departed, Shen Miao sat by the lamp, inexplicably feeling her cheeks grow warm. Lately, every conversation with Xie Jingxing left her feeling strangely unsettled. She resolved to have Gu Yu fetch some calming tea tomorrow—perhaps it would stop her mind from wandering so much.

Xie Jingxing returned to Prince Rui's Residence to find Gao Yang and Ji Yushu already there. Ji Yushu was feeding the white tiger. Xie Jingxing shot him a displeased glance. "Stop feeding it."

"But Jiaojiao loves to eat," Ji Yushu protested.

A vein throbbed in Xie Jingxing's forehead. "Don't call it that."

Ji Yushu immediately wilted, standing up and retreating silently to the side.

Gao Yang, accustomed to such scenes, watched impassively. Xie Jingxing doted on this white tiger, yet only Ji Yushu dared provoke it daily. The once majestic beast had turned into a pudgy ball—anyone would be heartbroken. He approached Xie Jingxing and reported, "Everything's ready."

"We depart tomorrow." Xie Jingxing glanced at him. "Keep an eye on Fixed Capital while I'm away."

Gao Yang smirked. "Rest assured, I'll take good 'care' of Fifth Miss Shen for you."

"Not too much care," Xie Jingxing said lightly.

Gao Yang nearly choked. Xie Jingxing's moods were truly unpredictable. Just yesterday, Pei Lang had sent Shen Miao a letter warning her to beware of Huangfu Hao and Fu Xiuyi, ending with a reminder to stay away from Xie Jingxing. Xie Jingxing had ordered Gao Yang to forge a replica. Though trained under a master of calligraphy and painting, this was Gao Yang's first time counterfeiting a letter. The result was a flawless "fake," but Xie Jingxing went further—he had the final warning erased and replaced with fabricated lines, insisting Gao Yang add that Shen Miao could seek Prince Rui's help if in trouble. Gao Yang had long known his lord was cunning, but this time, he gained a new appreciation for Xie Jingxing's shamelessness.

"Understood," Gao Yang fanned himself. "So, if she starts trouble, I clean up the mess. If she kills, I hand her the knife—is that it?""It's not that troublesome." Xie Jingxing smirked. "With the Shen family's marriage affairs, she's too busy to spare time for murder now."

...

After that night, Xie Jingxing indeed never appeared again. Shen Miao knew Prince Rui of Great Coolness couldn't possibly stay idle in Fixed Capital. If Huangfu Hao's prolonged stay served two purposes—investigating Ming An Princess's death and forming an alliance with Ming Qi—then Xie Jingxing's lingering here seemed utterly meaningless. He must have other plans and schemes in motion.

Time passed swiftly, and soon it was Shen Yue's wedding day.

The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month was an auspicious date—perfect in every way. The eldest son of the Assistant Minister's family was to marry the legitimate second young miss of Shen Mansion, Shen Yue.

Although the Shen family had declined since the split of the main branch two years prior and the incidents involving Shen Yuan and Shen Gui, the Assistant Minister had extensive connections in court. Combined with Shen Yue's reputation as a talented beauty that had once spread throughout Fixed Capital, the wedding was still quite lively. After all, Shen Yue was a proper legitimate daughter, Shen Wan cherished his reputation, and Wang Bi was erudite and accomplished—to outsiders, it appeared a perfect match of talent and beauty.

Inside Shen Mansion, Shen Yue had already finished dressing but had shooed everyone out, leaving only Shen Dongling behind.

A closer look would reveal Shen Dongling had also dressed meticulously. Naturally beautiful but often overlooked due to her reclusive nature, today's bridal attire made her radiate unparalleled charm. Yet Shen Yue had no mind to admire or envy this now. Seeing Shen Dongling arrive, she urged, "Quickly, quickly change clothes with me!"

The wedding attendants and Chen Ruoqiu had already left. Over these days, while appearing to gradually accept the marriage under Chen Ruoqiu's pressure without resistance, Shen Yue had secretly been plotting a marriage exchange with Shen Dongling. The more she interacted with Shen Dongling, the more she found her easily manipulated—even more foolish than Shen Miao had been in the past.

As Shen Dongling fumbled through changing clothes, she whispered, "Second Sister, I'm so scared."

"Don't be afraid." Worried Shen Dongling might back out at this critical moment, Shen Yue reassured her, "Tomorrow I'll explain to Father and Mother that this was entirely my doing—you won't be implicated at all. Once today passes, you'll be the rightful young madam of the Assistant Minister's household, and no one will dare look down on you."

Using status as bait worked—Shen Dongling's fear visibly lessened, a blush rising to her cheeks. Shen Yue inwardly scoffed. Were it not absolutely necessary, she'd never let Shen Dongling enjoy such undeserved good fortune. But under these circumstances, she could only consider it charity—bestowing the title of madam upon her.

Just as they finished changing, footsteps sounded outside. Shen Yue hastily hid behind the room's screen while Shen Dongling hurriedly pulled the bridal veil over her head.

Shen Yue's maid entered. With no other sisters in the Shen family now available, it fell to the maid to escort the bride out. Meanwhile, Shen Dongling—having excused herself earlier to assist in the kitchen—had already vanished without raising suspicion.Chen Ruoqiu had intended to exchange a few words with Shen Yue before she boarded the bridal sedan, but she saw Shen Yue being assisted by her maid straight into the sedan without even turning her head toward Chen Ruoqiu. Seeing this, Chen Ruoqiu felt somewhat saddened, thinking Shen Yue must still resent her over the marriage arrangement, yet there was nothing she could do. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, fearing further complications, she could only follow the steps as instructed by the wedding matron.

Amidst the clamor of drums and gongs, the sedan chair moved away, heading toward the Assistant Minister's residence. Chen Ruoqiu also needed to prepare to follow to the Assistant Minister's home. Just then, Chang Zaiqing happened to walk over. Perhaps to match the wedding atmosphere, Chang Zaiqing was dressed in a light peach-colored cotton embroidered jacket and skirt. Since she usually wore cool-toned blues and dark greens, this rare splash of bright color gave her a uniquely charming demeanor. Chang Zaiqing smiled and said, "Now that the second young lady is married, she will surely have a bright future ahead."

Seeing Chang Zaiqing, Chen Ruoqiu suddenly realized it had been quite some time since they last met. After their previous conversation, Chang Zaiqing had seemed busy with something, while Chen Ruoqiu herself had been preoccupied with Shen Yue's wedding arrangements and hadn't sought her out. Now, observing Chang Zaiqing's radiant expression, even more vibrant than before, Chen Ruoqiu felt a stir in her heart and smiled. "Sister Qing, have you been visiting the eldest madam's residence often these days?"

Chang Zaiqing shook her head with a smile. "Not really. The madam and the general are both very busy, so there hasn't been much time for idle chats."

Chen Ruoqiu was certain Chang Zaiqing was lying, assuming she was just being modest, and patted her hand. "Sister Qing, you're so delightful—people would surely make time to talk with you no matter how busy they are." Chen Ruoqiu thought to herself that once Shen Yue's affairs were settled, she would have to properly inquire about Chang Zaiqing's progress. Shen Yue had no choice but to marry into the Wang family. Though the Wangs were respectable, the thought that her daughter couldn't wed the one she truly loved—and had even grown distant from her because of it—left Chen Ruoqiu feeling stifled. In contrast, Shen Miao's situation was entirely different. Shen Xin was now the most sought-after figure in Fixed Capital. Just a while ago, everyone had assumed Shen Miao would meet a tragic end after being abducted, yet she had returned unscathed. Thanks to Rong Xin Princess's intervention, even the rumors had dissipated without a fight. Looking around Fixed Capital, if Shen Miao wished to marry a prince, it was entirely possible. The thought that what her daughter yearned for could be effortlessly obtained by Shen Miao filled Chen Ruoqiu with bitter resentment. And when she considered how Luo Xueyan—a woman so coarse and unrefined—could have everything fall perfectly into place for her children, Chen Ruoqiu wished she could destroy her.

She glanced at Chang Zaiqing before her. Chang Zaiqing had already won Luo Xueyan's favor, and now it seemed she was getting along well with Shen Xin too. Given some time, if Chang Zaiqing could find a way into the Shen residence... Luo Xueyan and Shen Miao's future would surely be far from smooth.

People often couldn't bear to see others prosper, especially when they themselves were suffering. That was precisely how Chen Ruoqiu felt now. She longed to see Luo Xueyan reduced to nothing, weeping in despair, and in that moment, she regarded Chang Zaiqing with even greater warmth.

Taking Chang Zaiqing's hand, she smiled and said, "Come, sister. Accompany me to the Assistant Minister's residence. I’ve often told Yue'er to learn from your grace and poise. It’s a pity she married before she could even begin."Chang Zaiqing smiled along: "Having a husband to dote on after marriage, Second Miss is truly fortunate."

"You do have a way with words," Chen Ruoqiu chuckled. "It's so comforting to hear." Noticing the colorful sachet at Chang Zaiqing's waist, she remarked, "This sachet is quite exquisitely made."

Chang Zaiqing took it off and handed it to Chen Ruoqiu: "If Madam likes it, please accept it as a gift."

Chen Ruoqiu had always been fond of delicate trinkets, and the embroidery on the sachet was indeed fine craftsmanship. She couldn't put it down and didn't refuse the offer. Bringing it to her nose for a gentle sniff, she exclaimed in delight, "The fragrance is wonderful! What kind of scent is this?"

Chang Zaiqing smiled modestly: "I don't know much about incense, but I do understand tea a little. I simply mixed some tea leaves inside, thinking it might help refresh and relieve fatigue when tired. Please don't laugh at me, Madam."

"How could I laugh at such clever handiwork?" Chen Ruoqiu accepted the sachet with a smile. "I adore it."

The two continued chatting and laughing as they walked outside.

Shen Yue and Wang Bi's wedding was undoubtedly the most exciting event in the otherwise quiet Fixed Capital recently. It was unclear what the Wang family was thinking, but to emphasize their regard for this marriage, they paraded the bridal sedan chair throughout the entire Fixed Capital.

Coincidentally, the procession passed beneath Fengxian Pawnshop's building.

Upstairs, Ji Yushu was eating pastries while commenting, "The Wang family's wedding is quite lively."

Opposite him, Gao Yang lightly fanned himself and glanced downstairs. The clamor of gongs and drums was deafening. Displeased, he closed the window and said, "The bride has been swapped. What's the point of all this fanfare? It's just a farce."

"I'm quite interested in this spectacle. Best if it lasts three days and nights." Ji Yushu, ever the troublemaker, loved stirring the pot. He added, "Speaking of which, hasn't Miss Shen made any moves?"

Before Xie Jingxing left, he had instructed Gao Yang to keep an eye on Shen Miao and assist her if she planned anything. Having known Shen Miao for two years, Ji Yushu had a fair grasp of her temperament—outwardly gentle but not someone to be trifled with. Given the Shen family's past indifference toward the eldest branch, it would be odd if Shen Miao didn't take this opportunity to add insult to injury.

Gao Yang sneered, "Not yet, but she definitely will."

Ji Yushu wiped his mouth. "Actually, you shouldn't hold such a grudge against Miss Shen. She's quite decent, generous, and very pretty. Why be so critical of her? Besides, the Shen family hasn't caused you any trouble..."

"No trouble?" The mere mention made Gao Yang's chest tighten. Shen Miao aside, Xie Jingxing's unpredictable moods had been making life difficult for those around him. Even Shen Miao's cousin was no easy patient—stubborn, unyielding, and constantly treating him like some back-alley doctor. Gao Yang, a promising young official in Great Coolness and a royal physician in Ming Qi, found himself reduced to a quack in Luo Tan's eyes, which didn't sit well with him.Ji Yushu didn't notice Gao Yang's expression. He straightened his clothes and said leisurely, "Never mind, let's just wait for tomorrow's spectacle. The bigger the commotion, the better. That way when Third Brother returns, he won't find it boring."

...

Not a single member of the Shen family's main branch attended the Wang family's wedding. In truth, Shen Wan had sent invitations to the Shen Mansion—after all, appearances had to be maintained. However, Shen Xin had never been one for pretense, and Luo Xueyan was thoroughly disgusted by what the Shen family had done before. They didn't accept the invitation, let alone send gifts. Those watching the situation unfold could clearly discern the stance of the Shen family's main branch through this incident—it seemed they had truly decided to sever ties with the Shen family, leaving no room for reconciliation.

In any case, the wedding proceeded as planned.

Early the next morning, Wan Yiniang woke up. The previous day, Shen Yue had gotten married, and Shen Dongling had been helping out, disappearing for almost the entire day. When she returned to the mansion, the maids said Shen Dongling had been exhausted and had fallen asleep immediately, so Wan Yiniang didn't disturb her. Today, she specially prepared emerald sweet soup to nourish Shen Dongling and went to knock on her daughter's bedroom door.

There was no answer from inside, so Wan Yiniang called out, "Dongling, I'm coming in," and pushed the door open.

She saw someone lying on Shen Dongling's bed, covered by a blanket, who abruptly sat up at the sound. Wan Yiniang froze, her face instantly filled with disbelief. She cried out in shock, "Second Young Lady, why are you here?"

The person lying on Shen Dongling's bed was none other than Shen Yue. But Shen Yue had gotten married the previous day and was supposed to be at the Assistant Minister's residence, not in Shen Mansion. How could she be here in Shen Dongling's bed? Wan Yiniang looked around but saw no sign of Shen Dongling. Though she wasn't usually the sharpest, she vaguely understood what might have happened. Her voice trembling, she asked, "Second Young Lady, Dongling... where is Dongling? Where has she gone?"

Shen Yue quickly lowered her head, her eyes darting around. When she looked up again, her face was already streaked with tears.

The moment Wan Yiniang saw Shen Yue's tears, her vision darkened. Shen Yue sobbed, "I don't know, I don't know either! Third Sister came to toast me, and then... I blacked out!"

The Shen Mansion was thrown into chaos.

In the Hall of Glory and Scenery, everyone stood gathered together. Old Madam Shen was so furious her mouth twisted and her eyes slanted as she glared at Wan Yiniang and roared, "This is the fine daughter you raised!"

Shen Gui stood nearby, initially wanting to say something. After all, Wan Yiniang was now the only woman who had borne him children, and she had always been gentle and obedient. Despite his wandering eye, Shen Gui still held some affection for her. But when he saw the fury on his third brother and sister-in-law's faces, he swallowed his words.

Shen Dongling had actually schemed against Shen Yue, taking her place in the marriage. Now Shen Yue remained in Shen Mansion while Shen Dongling had married into the Assistant Minister's household. No one would be happy about this. Shen Gui himself couldn't fathom how the usually meek and timid Shen Dongling could have the audacity to pull off a marriage exchange. There was no way Shen Gui would offend his third brother for the sake of a daughter—even if she was his only remaining offspring.Wan Yiniang kowtowed to Old Madam Shen while weeping, pleading, "Old Madam, please see clearly. Third Young Lady has always been timid—how could she possibly have the audacity for Marriage exchange? Old Madam, could there be some misunderstanding? Even if you gave Third Young Lady ten thousand times her current courage, she would never dare commit such an outrageous act!"

"Are you implying Yue'er is falsely accusing Third Sister?" Chen Ruoqiu's face turned ashen. "Such words are truly vicious, Wan Yiniang!"

Even if Old Madam Shen usually disliked Chen Ruoqiu and by extension had little affection for Shen Yue, Shen Yue was after all a legitimate granddaughter of the Shen family. For her to have her marriage snatched away by an illegitimate granddaughter would be quite the scandal. She immediately followed Chen Ruoqiu's words: "Like mother, like daughter! Truly a disgraceful thing!"

Wan Yiniang tearfully looked at Shen Yue: "Second Young Miss, weren't you and Third Young Miss extremely close before? Won't you speak up for Third Young Miss? She isn't that kind of person, right?" Wan Yiniang simply couldn't believe Shen Dongling would do such a thing. Since childhood, Shen Dongling had always been decisive—there were many times when Wan Yiniang didn't understand something, and Shen Dongling would even point it out for her. Wan Yiniang had always believed that if not for her daughter's status issues, she would never be inferior to any legitimate daughter in Shen Mansion. Though Shen Dongling appeared timid and cowardly on the outside, she was always meticulous in her actions. Although she had heard Shen Dongling mention that Shen Yue's marriage was an opportunity, Wan Yiniang never imagined it would turn out like this. She believed that unless Shen Dongling was utterly foolish, she would never resort to such a crude method of marriage exchange. After all, this way, Shen Dongling would have no place to stand, whether in the Wang family or the Shen family!

Originally hoping that the seemingly gentle Shen Yue would say a word or two in Shen Dongling's defense, Wan Yiniang didn't expect Shen Yue to change her expression faster than flipping a page. As soon as Wan Yiniang spoke, Shen Yue burst into tears: "Wan Yiniang, I truly don't know what happened. Third Sister said I was leaving the mansion, and as sisters, she offered me a farewell drink, so I drank it. When I woke up again, it was already the next morning. I also believe Third Sister didn't mean to... but how things ended up like this, I really don't know!"

Shen Yue's words superficially expressed belief in Shen Dongling, but between the lines, she subtly implied she had been schemed against by Shen Dongling, undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire. Sure enough, Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan's expressions darkened further upon hearing this. Shen Gui also frowned. Seeing everyone siding with Shen Yue, Wan Yiniang couldn't help but feel a flash of despair.

"The most urgent matter now is to think about how to resolve this," Chang Zaiqing said softly. She wasn't part of the Shen family, so she hadn't been able to interject earlier, but now she reminded everyone: the bride had been switched—how would they explain this to the Wang family? Should they bring Shen Dongling back? Or simply send her to a manor to live out her days? After all, Shen Dongling was just an illegitimate daughter—she could be easily dealt with. The most important thing was not to displease the Wang family.

Old Madam Shen made a decisive call: "First, discuss this matter with the Wang family and have someone bring Third Young Miss back. What kind of things has Wan Yiniang raised? No need to say more—lock Wan Yiniang in the firewood room. If what she birthed has done wrong, the mother deserves to be punished!"

Hearing this, Shen Yue grew anxious instead. She hadn't expected Shen Dongling could still be brought back. If Shen Dongling returned, wouldn't she have to be sent to the Wang family? After all this scheming, it would all be for nothing? That simply wouldn't do!Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan were quite satisfied with Old Madam Shen's words. Chen Ruoqiu glanced at Wan Yiniang, her heart filled with even more resentment. She thought to herself that she would definitely make Wan Yiniang suffer in the future—whether by selling her off or forcing her into servitude, she was nothing but a nuisance.

Wan Yiniang felt her vision darken at the words. To think that sending Shen Dongling back... Shen Dongling was already a married woman, and as a concubine-born daughter, the Shen family would undoubtedly choose to protect Shen Yue at Shen Dongling's expense. If that happened, Shen Dongling's life would be ruined!

As she was lost in thought, a servant suddenly came in to announce that someone from the Wang family, the Assistant Minister, had arrived.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Brother Xie is away on a business trip, so let's torment the villains a bit before continuing with the sweetness~ Otherwise, even this baby can't handle the overwhelming fluff (￢_￢)

This book is first published online—do not repost!

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