The Shen Mansion was currently in an uproar.
It seemed that Shen Wan's declaration to have Shen Yue married into the Wang family as a secondary wife had finally panicked Shen Yue. Unable to find a solution, she made a bold move—escaping the Shen Mansion. Before leaving, she even packed up all the valuable gold, silver, and fine belongings in her room, leaving Chen Ruoqiu with a huge mess to deal with.
Shen Wan was naturally furious. He roared at Chen Ruoqiu, "I told you to keep an eye on her! How could she have escaped?"
Chen Ruoqiu was also filled with dread. Out of love for her daughter, she hadn’t strictly confined Shen Yue as Shen Wan had instructed. Never did she imagine that her maternal affection would be exploited by Shen Yue. Now that Shen Yue had fled, she was at a loss and could only say to Shen Wan, "People have already been sent to search for her. Master, Yue’er couldn’t have done this on purpose—she was just scared."
Even now, she refused to admit fault and continued making excuses for Shen Yue. Shen Wan sneered, "Scared? If she was scared, would she have dared to arrange a marriage exchange? If she was scared, would she have run away from home? A proper marriage makes a wife, but eloping makes a concubine. I, Shen Wan, have no such shameless daughter!"
"How can you say such things about her?" Chen Ruoqiu widened her eyes in disbelief. "She’s your daughter!"
Shen Wan had always prided himself on being a refined scholar and rarely spoke so harshly, let alone to his own daughter. Chen Ruoqiu could hardly believe her ears. After uttering those words, Shen Wan glanced at Chen Ruoqiu, his eyes flashing with impatience and disgust, then turned and strode out of the room.
Chen Ruoqiu, sensitive to Shen Wan’s unusual behavior, nearly collapsed. She clutched Shi Qing’s arm beside her, her nails digging in so deeply that Shi Qing’s face turned pale from the pain, yet she dared not move.
The commotion in Autumn Water Court quickly reached the Hall of Glory and Scenery. Old Madam Shen sipped her tea leisurely and, upon hearing the news, merely smiled indifferently. "Let her act up, let Chen Ruoqiu act up. Does she really think she’s still the newlywed bride?" After a pause, she added, "Like mother, like daughter. None of them give me peace of mind."
Zhang Mama carefully massaged her shoulders and asked, "I wonder if the people searching for the Third Young Miss have found her yet?"
"Why bother about that?" Old Madam Shen grew irritated. "I know exactly how capable she is. She’ll come crawling back soon enough, disgracing the Shen family in the process. Let the Third Master handle it—I don’t want to deal with such trivial matters." Suddenly, she frowned and asked, "Is the Third Master still frequenting the West Courtyard these days?"
Zhang Mama nodded. "Lately, the Third Madam and the Third Master have been quarreling often, so the Third Master has been visiting the West Courtyard more frequently, staying for most of the day each time."
Old Madam Shen nodded, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. "In that case, it’s time to make things official. He should father a son soon—I want to hold a grandson in my arms." She sneered. "That fool Chen Ruoqiu should finally realize her own worth. Zhang Mama, there’s something I need you to do. The Shen Mansion has been plagued by misfortune lately—it’s time to hold a joyous occasion to dispel the bad luck."
Zhang Mama bowed in agreement.That night, Shen Wan had yet to return to his quarters, and Chen Ruoqiu couldn't help but feel uneasy. In the past, even when Shen Wan was out socializing, he would always send a servant to inform her. But today, she had no idea where he was. Recalling their argument earlier that day, she grew increasingly anxious. At her age, a woman's beauty inevitably fades, no longer as fresh and youthful as it once was, while men of the same age were in their prime. Now that discord had arisen between her and Shen Wan, she feared he might secretly take in another woman outside. Unlike Ren Wanyun, who had long since abandoned any illusions about Shen Gui as he filled the courtyard with concubine after concubine, Chen Ruoqiu had monopolized Shen Wan's affection for years. As Old Madam Shen had rightly observed, Chen Ruoqiu was inherently jealous—she would never allow Shen Wan to have another woman.
The thought made her restless.
Hua Yi entered from outside and said, "Madam, Old Madam Shen has received several bolts of fabric and wishes for you to deliver one to Miss Chang."
Old Madam Shen had always disregarded Chang Zaiqing, treating her as if she didn't exist in the household. Why would she suddenly think of Chang Zaiqing today? Chen Ruoqiu frowned. "Couldn't Old Madam just send someone to deliver it? Why must I go?"
Hua Yi was equally puzzled. "Perhaps it's because she believes you and Miss Chang are close."
Chen Ruoqiu was in no state of mind to dwell on it. Since Old Madam Shen had assigned her a task, it might help distract her. Without another word, she draped on her outer robe and headed to the West Courtyard with Shi Qing and Hua Yi in tow.
Though night had fallen, it wasn't yet time to retire. Chen Ruoqiu assumed Chang Zaiqing would still be awake and didn't bother sending word ahead.
Upon arriving at the West Courtyard, she was surprised to find it unusually dark, as if the lights had been extinguished early. Just as she was puzzling over this, Zhao Momo spotted her and froze, seeming flustered. "Third Madam, what brings you here?"
"Old Madam asked me to deliver fabric to Sister Qing," Chen Ruoqiu replied, glancing toward the inner chambers. "Has Sister Qing already gone to bed?"
"Y-yes," Zhao Momo stammered. "The young lady has been feeling unwell these past few days and retired early."
Chen Ruoqiu found it odd. Zhao Momo's demeanor was distinctly unnatural, and the maids around them kept their heads bowed, as if afraid of revealing something. Just then, faint noises came from inside the room—too indistinct to make out—but Zhao Momo tensed further at the sound.
Though curious, Chen Ruoqiu had no intention of provoking Chang Zaiqing now. In her eyes, Chang Zaiqing might serve as an excellent weapon against the eldest branch of the Shen family. Especially after the day's misfortunes, her pent-up frustration made her all the more eager to see the eldest branch suffer.
She instructed the maids to leave the fabric and was about to depart when she suddenly halted in her tracks.Momo Zhao followed Chen Ruoqiu's gaze and spotted a small sachet placed on the windowsill of Chang Zaiqing's boudoir facing the courtyard. The deep red sachet embroidered with white egrets was exquisitely crafted. Chen Ruoqiu walked over and picked it up in her hand. By the time Momo Zhao tried to stop her, it was already too late.
When Shi Qing and Hua Yi saw the sachet, they couldn't help but gasp in shock, rendered speechless.
On the day Shen Yue got married, Chen Ruoqiu had seen Chang Zaiqing carrying an exceptionally beautiful sachet. The craftsmanship was so fine that Chen Ruoqiu, who rarely took a fancy to such things, couldn't put it down. Chang Zaiqing generously gifted it to her. Later, hoping to cheer up Shen Wan over Shen Yue's matter, Chen Ruoqiu gave the exquisite sachet to him. The egret embroidery didn't appear overly feminine, and the fragrance wasn't the usual powdery scent. Chen Ruoqiu remembered that the sachet contained tea leaves, emitting a refreshing tea aroma, but she found it too austere and added some dried osmanthus flowers she had saved from autumn.
No two leaves in the world are identical. Even if Chang Zaiqing were skilled enough to recreate an identical sachet, not every one would have osmanthus added by Chen Ruoqiu.
Chen Ruoqiu picked up the sachet, her hands trembling slightly, and finally brought it to her nose, inhaling deeply as if steeling herself.
The sweet scent of osmanthus blended with tea slowly wafted into Chen Ruoqiu's nostrils. She abruptly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the look in her eyes frightened even Shi Qing and Hua Yi.
She turned sharply to Momo Zhao, whose increasingly flustered expression hadn't yet been concealed, fully exposed to Chen Ruoqiu's gaze. Chen Ruoqiu sneered coldly, "Do you all truly take me for a fool?" With that, she strode toward Chang Zaiqing's boudoir, ready to break down the door.
"Madam, you mustn't!" Momo Zhao hurriedly tried to stop her in panic.
"Why mustn't I?" Chen Ruoqiu demanded.
Momo Zhao was at a loss for words.
Chen Ruoqiu felt her heart sinking uncontrollably, as if it were being torn apart with grief. Yet the more heartbroken she felt, the colder her expression became. She ordered Shi Qing and Hua Yi, "Smash it! Smash it all! I want to see which pair of shameless adulterers dare to behave so indecently in my Shen Mansion! Smash it!"
Shi Qing and Hua Yi, not daring to disobey, immediately stepped forward and broke down the door. Chen Ruoqiu grabbed a nearby lamp and strode inside before Momo Zhao could stop her.
The Warm Stove in the room burned brightly. Clothes and shoes were scattered on the floor, jewelry strewn about haphazardly. On the bed, two figures lay entwined, presenting a scene of unmistakable intimacy.
The woman's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, while the man leisurely pulled clothes over their bodies before turning to look—it was Shen Wan.
The room was also filled with the lingering scent of wine. Though they might have drunk themselves into this state, it couldn't be dismissed as a mere mistake. There was mutual intent. Having been married to Shen Wan for so many years, Chen Ruoqiu knew that if he hadn't desired it, how could Chang Zaiqing have ended up in his bed? Moreover, this was Chang Zaiqing's courtyard—Shen Wan had come here willingly.
Chen Ruoqiu closed her eyes, forcing back the tears threatening to spill, and screamed, "You shameless dogs!"The night wind rose, hundreds of miles away from Fixed Capital. In an inn, a young man in purple robes sat upright at the central table, reading a letter in his hand. After a moment, he flicked his wrist and tossed the letter into a nearby brazier, watching as the paper instantly turned to ashes.
"Master, a letter has arrived from Great Coolness," said Nan Qi, the Shadow Guard beside him. "His Majesty urges you to return immediately."
"Pay him no mind," Xie Jingxing replied indifferently. "I'll return once matters here are settled."
"His Majesty fears you might delay important affairs," Nan Qi continued cautiously. "Those on the other side are also monitoring Ming Qi's movements. Previously, His Majesty mentioned arranging a Selection of consorts for you. The time is approaching, and if you still haven't returned by then, it might cause complications."
Xie Jingxing cast a sidelong glance at Nan Qi, who immediately fell silent, though inwardly lamenting his predicament. The Yongle Emperor was known for his iron will, while his own master was utterly unrestrained. Caught between them, the servants bore the brunt of the difficulty. Moreover, regarding the Selection, while others might not understand, the Shadow Guards who followed Xie Jingxing could clearly see that he held a special regard for the young lady of the Shen family. Regardless of how the Yongle Emperor viewed this matter, the Shadow Guards privately considered it highly unreliable. Shen Miao was, after all, a citizen of Ming Qi—how would the Shen family ever consent to their daughter becoming entangled with someone from Great Coolness?
Yet these thoughts could never be voiced before their master. If he took offense and banished them to guard the Tower Prison, the consequences would be unbearable.
"My imperial brother has too much idle time on his hands," Xie Jingxing remarked. "If he's truly so bored, I'll have someone report Qin State's schemes to him—that should keep him occupied with matters worth his concern."
Nan Qi wiped the sweat from his brow. Offending either of them was unthinkable, leaving him in a state of silent distress.
Just then, Tie Yi entered from outside, carrying a small box whose contents were unknown. Upon entering the room, he placed the box on the table and said, "The jewelry the Young Master ordered has been completed, and the silver notes have been delivered."
Nan Qi, standing behind him, nearly choked on his own saliva. Did Tie Yi just say... jewelry? Stealing a glance at the table, Nan Qi confirmed the presence of an exquisitely crafted box, small in size but adorned with intricate carvings—upon closer inspection, they appeared to be tiger heads?
What in the world?
Xie Jingxing opened the box and examined its contents. Indeed, it was filled to the brim with an assortment of jewelry: cat's eye gems, jade double rings, pearl hair ornaments, and emerald hairpins—all of the finest quality. This small box alone was undoubtedly worth a fortune. Nan Qi wondered: Could these be intended for the young lady of the Shen family? Yet she didn't seem the type to covet jewels and precious stones. Was their master certain such a gift would be well-received?
Still, it was undeniably generous.
Xie Jingxing closed the box and said, "Good." Then, as if recalling something, he asked, "What has Fu Xiuyi been up to lately?"
Tie Yi pondered for a moment before replying, "No notable movements, though he has been associating more closely with the Crown Prince."
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "Keep a close watch on him. Fu Xiuyi is no simple character."
Tie Yi acknowledged the order and prepared to leave.
"Wait," Xie Jingxing called after him. "Keep an eye on Shen Yue as well."The Shen family seemed to be going through a streak of bad luck these days, with constant chaos and uproar. First, there was the matter of the marriage exchange between Shen Dongling and Shen Yue, then the Wang family's rejection of Shen Yue, followed by Shen Yue outright running away from home with a bundle. And now, to top it all off, Chen Ruoqiu had caught Chang Zaiqing and Shen Wan in bed together.
As a guest of the Shen Mansion and the daughter of Old General Shen’s old friend, Chang Zaiqing should have maintained a polite and distant relationship with the family. Apart from Old Madam Shen, everyone else would exchange a few courteous words with her, especially since the current mistress of the household, Chen Ruoqiu, seemed particularly fond of her. Who would have thought that Chang Zaiqing’s politeness would eventually land her in Shen Wan’s bed? And Chen Ruoqiu, of all people, had been stabbed in the back by this "dear sister" she had so carefully nurtured.
Chen Ruoqiu immediately made a scene, escalating the matter all the way to the Hall of Glory and Scenery.
Inside the hall, Old Madam Shen sat imposingly in the central seat. Chang Zaiqing and Shen Wan stood to one side—Shen Wan remained expressionless, Shen Gui looked on with amusement, while Chang Zaiqing kept her eyes downcast, seemingly overcome with shame. Chen Ruoqiu, however, forced back her tears and adopted an unyielding stance.
"Enough of this wailing. What kind of behavior is this?" Old Madam Shen finally snapped, clearly annoyed by Chen Ruoqiu’s dramatics. "What’s the big deal if your husband takes in a woman? Is it worth all this crying and carrying on?"
"Mother," Chen Ruoqiu protested, "if my husband had properly taken her in as a concubine with due ceremony, I wouldn’t have said a word—I might even have prepared the arrangements myself! But the two of them sneaked around behind my back, right under my nose in this very courtyard. The entire household kept me in the dark, deliberately humiliating me. Mother, I am your daughter-in-law too. You’re a woman—if my husband wanted a concubine, would I really stop him? Was it necessary to disgrace me like this?"
"Third Madam," Chang Zaiqing interjected softly, "today’s incident was all a misunderstanding. I had too much to drink and acted improperly. Third Master had nothing to do with it. I have no intention of becoming a concubine—let’s just pretend this never happened. Tomorrow, I’ll pack my things and leave the Shen Mansion. Please, sister, don’t blame Third Master for this."
Compared to Chen Ruoqiu’s aggressive tone, Chang Zaiqing neither denied her involvement with Shen Wan nor shifted blame, instead taking full responsibility—making her appear all the more reasonable. Shen Wan’s expression shifted slightly, and he said, "Leave? What nonsense. Since I’m responsible, I should naturally make things right for you."
Chen Ruoqiu had already found Chang Zaiqing’s words grating, but now, hearing Shen Wan insist on keeping her, her fury flared even hotter. "Make things right? How? By throwing me out and giving her my place as the rightful wife?" She then turned to Chang Zaiqing, pointing an accusing finger. "You ungrateful wretch! I fed you, clothed you, and this is how you repay me? Even crawling into my husband’s bed—how shameless! Couldn’t seduce Shen Xin, so you went after someone else’s husband, is that it? No wonder you’re still unmarried at your age! What decent family would want a loose woman like you?"Her words not only stunned Shen Wan but also left Old Madam Shen momentarily speechless. Chen Ruoqiu, who had always prided herself on coming from a scholarly family, was now cursing like a street shrew—this scene was truly unbecoming.
Shen Wan was so furious he couldn’t speak, while Chang Zaiqing bit her lip, her expression equally restrained. On the other hand, Shen Gui, who had been watching the drama unfold, couldn’t help but interject, “Sister-in-law, you’re being unreasonable. If your husband wishes to take a concubine, as his wife, you should naturally assist in arranging it. Originally, there was no one else in the third household’s courtyard, which was already rather irregular. Now that there’s finally a sister to share your burdens, why are you still standing in the way?”
Shen Gui had always been fond of women, and he naturally admired a beauty like Chang Zaiqing. However, since she belonged to Shen Wan, he wouldn’t touch his brother’s woman. Still, Chen Ruoqiu’s shrewish behavior disgusted him. Back when Ren Wanyun was around, she had never stopped him from taking concubines.
But Chen Ruoqiu was already at her most sensitive state. Far from calming her, Shen Gui’s words only provoked her further, as if he had stepped on her sore spot. Without hesitation, she lashed out at him as well, “Second Brother still has the leisure to meddle in the affairs of the third household? Shouldn’t you be more concerned about your own matters? You’re already without an heir—what’s the use of taking in eight or ten concubines? There’ll still be no one to carry on your lineage!”
Never being able to have another heir was Shen Gui’s deepest wound, and Chen Ruoqiu had just ruthlessly twisted the knife. His face immediately darkened with rage, and even Old Madam Shen’s expression turned unpleasant.
“Chen Ruoqiu, what exactly do you want?” Old Madam Shen demanded angrily.
“I’ve been married into the Shen family for many years—I’m not an unreasonable person. If Chang Zaiqing is driven out, I can pretend none of this ever happened,” Chen Ruoqiu declared.
“Impossible,” Shen Wan snapped. “Since I’ve already been with her, I must take responsibility.”
“Anyone but her!” Chen Ruoqiu pointed at Chang Zaiqing and shouted. She couldn’t bear that Chang Zaiqing had betrayed her and climbed into Shen Wan’s bed—it felt like an unbearable humiliation. More importantly, Chen Ruoqiu knew Chang Zaiqing too well. Her talent surpassed even her own, and her temperament and appearance were impeccable. Even Chen Ruoqiu herself found it hard to dislike her.
Especially now, with Shen Wan’s subtle yet unmistakable protectiveness toward Chang Zaiqing, Chen Ruoqiu felt a growing sense of crisis. As a woman, she understood Shen Wan’s thoughts better than anyone. If Chang Zaiqing entered the household, she wouldn’t just share his favor—she might monopolize it entirely. Chen Ruoqiu couldn’t possibly allow herself such a formidable rival!
“Why not her?” The one who spoke was none other than Shen Wan. He was now utterly enraged. Perhaps because Chen Ruoqiu had always been gentle and demure in front of him, her current shrewish behavior made her seem all the more intolerable.
Chen Ruoqiu snarled, “Then divorce me! If you want to take her in, you’ll have to annul our marriage first!”Shen Wan was so furious he nearly toppled over. Yet Chen Ruoqiu seemed to have suddenly gained confidence and became even more aggressive. "If I receive a letter of mutual separation, I'll leave without another word," she said. "You can take in whoever you want, even elevate them to principal wife—it doesn't matter. We'll go our separate ways, each finding our own happiness!" As she finished speaking, two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks, lending her a pitiable air.
Chen Ruoqiu's words were spoken in anger. She and Shen Wan had been married since their youth, and despite recent conflicts, they had shared many harmonious years before. She knew Shen Wan well—he still held some affection for her. His current infatuation with Chang Zaiqing might have clouded his judgment, but she believed he would never go so far as to divorce her for Chang Zaiqing's sake.
Yet for all her calculations, Chen Ruoqiu had accounted for Shen Wan's lingering feelings but failed to anticipate Old Madam Shen's stance.
With a cold laugh, Old Madam Shen looked at Chen Ruoqiu as if she were a ridiculous clown. "Mutual separation? You wish. But I'm afraid you've miscalculated. My third son will never give you a letter of mutual separation. At most, you'll receive a letter of divorce—nothing more!"
Just as Chang Zaiqing was about to speak, she swallowed her words upon hearing this.
Chen Ruoqiu, unwilling to be outdone, retorted, "Why should I be given a letter of divorce?"
"Why?" Old Madam Shen glared at her. "Since Third Master married you, there have been no other women in his courtyard—no concubines, not even bed warmers. As the mistress, you should have arranged for your husband’s needs, but instead, you’ve been jealous and lacking in virtue! Third Master is kind-hearted, and I didn’t want to interfere in his affairs. But Chen Ruoqiu, think about it—you’ve been in Shen Mansion for nearly twenty years and haven’t borne a single child for the third branch. Let me ask you, is there anyone else in Fixed Capital like you—married into a family but unable to bear a son, yet also preventing your husband from having children with others? Do you want our Shen family to have no descendants?"
"You are jealous and childless. These two offenses alone from the Seven Reasons for Divorce are enough to warrant a letter of divorce!"
Though Old Madam Shen came from humble origins and lacked refinement, she was never at a loss in arguments. Especially now, with her long-held grievances against Chen Ruoqiu, she seized the opportunity to berate her relentlessly, leaving Chen Ruoqiu speechless.
Indeed, the mere fact of being childless allowed the Shen family to place all the blame on Chen Ruoqiu. Even if this were brought before the public, she would be the one criticized. A sudden sense of helplessness washed over Chen Ruoqiu. She had always believed she held Shen Wan’s heart firmly and that their love would last a lifetime. But now, Shen Wan’s protective stance toward Chang Zaiqing felt like a harsh slap, shattering all her illusions.
Shen Wan was no different from other men—still drawn to novelty and youth. And she was no different from other women—once her beauty faded with age, she would have to make way for younger women. But at least those aging women had sons to rely on, securing their positions as the household’s mistress. She had no son, so her position was now precarious.
Old Madam Shen turned to Chang Zaiqing and said slowly, "Third Master, since you’ve already been with her, our Shen family is not unreasonable. We must take responsibility. Miss Chang has no family left. If she agrees, we should make it official and elevate her to a noble concubine. This mansion has been plagued by ill omens lately—it’s time for some joyous news."
Elevating Chang Zaiqing to a noble concubine was clearly Old Madam Shen’s deliberate move to oppose Chen Ruoqiu and humiliate her.
Chen Ruoqiu looked at Old Madam Shen, whose deeply wrinkled face seemed to flicker with a fleeting smile. That smile suddenly made everything clear to Chen Ruoqiu.
She had discovered Shen Wan and Chang Zaiqing’s affair when Old Madam Shen sent her to the West Courtyard to deliver fabric. Why then, of all times? Could it have been intentional? Lately, preoccupied with Shen Yue, she had neglected other matters and failed to notice Shen Wan and Chang Zaiqing’s secret dealings. But Old Madam Shen might have known all along. Eager to arrange a concubine for Shen Wan, she might have even encouraged their relationship, all to bring about today’s outcome.
Bringing Chang Zaiqing into the mansion and pushing Chen Ruoqiu into this corner.
An overwhelming surge of hatred rose in Chen Ruoqiu’s heart. Clenching her teeth, she spat, "This humiliation is beyond reason!"－－－－－－Off Topic－－－－－－
Brother Xie: Bringing back a little souvenir for my wifey while on a business trip... (*╯3╰)
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