"I refuse to accept this... I hate them!" Chen Ruoqiu's words were laced with deep resentment. Her face was haggard now, and when she spoke these words, her expression turned so twisted that even Shen Yue was startled.
Shen Yue said, "Mother, what are you talking about?"
"You saw it yourself," Chen Ruoqiu gritted her teeth. "Your father and I were once deeply in love. We've been through so much together over the years. I gave him my whole heart. I never expected him to remain devoted to me alone, but I never thought he would humiliate me like this—bringing in another woman. Not only did he drive me out, but he also took the Chen family to court. Now the Chen family is in ruins, and they look at me with nothing but scorn. It’s your father and Chang Zaiqing who pushed me into this desperate situation. In the Fixed Capital, my reputation is that of a barren, jealous shrew. Is this what your father repays me with?" Chen Ruoqiu let out a cold laugh. "And that old hag—ever since I married into the Shen family, she’s been nitpicking at everything I do. Just because she was a lowly songstress herself, she can’t stand to see others do well. This affair between Chang Zaiqing and your father—she’s the one behind it too. Every last one of the Shen family is rotten to the core!"
Shen Yue couldn’t help but frown, feeling that Chen Ruoqiu’s words had the tone of a shrew cursing in the streets. Yet when it came to the Shen family, Shen Yue felt nothing at all now.
Sure enough, Chen Ruoqiu glanced at her and continued, "Back then, your father wanted you to marry into the Wang family. I knew you had someone else in your heart, but he convinced me that only the Wangs could protect you, so I agreed. Who knew what kind of people the Wangs were? The moment they had Shen Dongling, they cast you aside. Now you don’t even have your own identity—it’s utterly humiliating! If your father had even an ounce of fatherly love for you, he would have stood up for you. But look at what he’s done—forcing you to apologize to the Wangs and treating you as equal to Shen Dongling? How absurd! You are the legitimate daughter of the Shen family—how can you be put on the same level as a mere concubine’s child? Does he even see you as his daughter?" Every word from Chen Ruoqiu was meant to sow discord. Now that she had nothing left, with no one standing by her side, she had finally found her daughter and was terrified that Shen Yue might be swayed back by Shen Wan’s sweet words. If that happened, Chen Ruoqiu would truly be left alone. As long as Shen Yue stayed with her, she at least had something to hold onto.
Hearing this, Shen Yue’s expression darkened. It wasn’t as if there was no affection between her and Shen Wan, but what she resented most was how the Shen family had used her marriage as a bargaining chip, leaving her with no home to return to. They claimed it was for her own good, but all Shen Yue had reaped was suffering. Though Huangfu Hao treated her well, she was still just a concubine—even if she was the crown prince’s concubine, she remained the lowest rank of consort, something that could be discarded like a plaything at any moment. And when Chen Ruoqiu brought up "someone else in her heart," Shen Yue thought of Fu Xiuyi and sighed despondently. "Mother, let’s not talk about this anymore. There’s no possibility between me and Prince Ding. I’ve given up any hope for him in this lifetime—perhaps we were simply never meant to be." She gave a bitter laugh. "Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince treats me well, and I... I do care for him."Chen Ruoqiu knew her daughter best and could clearly see the disappointment in Shen Yue's heart. Filled with both anger and heartache, she even began to resent Fu Xiuyi—how could someone as wonderful as her daughter not win the love she desired? Taking a deep breath, she said, "The Shen family has brought us to this point, and we cannot let it end so simply. Don’t worry, Mother will surely avenge us. None of the Shen family will escape. Now that I’ve been divorced and returned to my maiden home, I have no ties left with the Shen family. Even if something happens to them, it won’t be traced back to me. And you—you’re no longer Shen Yue, so you’ll be safe too."
"Mother, what are you planning?" Shen Yue sensed something ominous in Chen Ruoqiu’s words and asked with concern.
Chen Ruoqiu gave a cold laugh. "Just wait and see. I only came to tell you this. Now that I know you’re safe, I can rest easy."
Unable to pry further, Shen Yue had no choice but to let it go, failing to notice the fleeting ruthlessness in Chen Ruoqiu’s eyes.
A few days later, Fixed Capital seemed to settle into a lull. Nothing particularly newsworthy occurred, though as the year-end approached, the streets grew busier with people preparing for the New Year.
The Shen Mansion was no exception, bustling with preparations. Luo Tan was still in high spirits, but ever since the last incident, Shen Xin had forbidden Shen Miao and Luo Tan from leaving the mansion without heavy escort, which took much of the fun out of outings. Feng Anning, guilt-ridden over the previous events, had come to apologize but seemed to have developed a lasting fear—she no longer invited the two out. Bored out of her mind, Luo Tan eventually resorted to following Luo Ling and Shen Qiu to the training grounds to watch the soldiers drill. Dressed as a boy and under the watchful eyes of Shen Xin and Luo Ling, she had nothing to fear.
Shen Miao, on the other hand, remained quietly in her room. She had little interest in crowds or shopping, finding solitude the most reassuring state.
One day, Mo Qing returned with news: Chang Zaiqing’s husband and son had been brought to Fixed Capital. To avoid drawing attention, they were housed in a civilian residence in the eastern part of the city rather than the mansion.
"You’ve done well," Shen Miao said. She remembered from her past life that Chang Zaiqing’s husband was a drunken gambler with a violent streak. If such a man became entangled with the Shen Mansion, it would be like sticky candy—difficult to remove without great effort. Moreover, with the Shen family possibly monitoring the mansion, spotting the father and son could invite unnecessary trouble.
Mo Qing humbly dismissed the praise and asked, "When does the young lady plan to visit them?"
Bringing the pair to Fixed Capital surely served a purpose, and Shen Miao would need to meet and discuss matters with them beforehand.
Just as she was about to answer, Shen Miao suddenly paused, struck by a thought.In Pei Lang's letter, Fu Xiuyi had set a difficult task for Shen Wan—to have Shen Miao marry Prince Zhou. Though Shen Miao wasn't entirely clear on what methods Shen Wan might use, she could more or less guess—nothing more than some underhanded schemes. Therefore, stepping out of the Shen residence might mean walking straight into danger. The recent calm might simply be because she hadn't left the house at all. If she did, perhaps the other side wouldn't miss the opportunity.
She wasn’t foolish enough to knowingly jump into a pit of fire, and getting involved with the imperial family wasn’t something one could easily extricate themselves from with just a few words.
Shen Miao asked, "How many experts like you are there in the mansion?"
Mo Qing was taken aback, then frowned and replied, "The young master likely has some under his command, and the master has a few as well. Combined, there should be fewer than thirty."
Mo Qing was indeed among the top-tier experts—people like him were rare. With thirty guards, no one would dare make a move, but moving around the streets with such an entourage would be far too conspicuous, drawing attention without a doubt. Moreover, suddenly requesting so many guards would surely raise suspicions from Shen Qiu and Shen Xin, who were no fools. Shen Miao shook her head. "Understood."
"Is the young lady worried about safety on the road?" Mo Qing asked. "We can assign more guards if needed." He found it rather odd—Shen Miao had never been one to be timid. Today’s behavior was somewhat unusual.
"No need. I know what to do. You may leave now," Shen Miao said.
Mo Qing said nothing more and silently withdrew. Shen Miao glanced around, her gaze settling on the half-open window in the room, and a sudden thought struck her.
She instructed Gu Yu, "Open the window wider."
Gu Yu was surprised. "Miss, the wind is still blowing outside. If you open it, you might catch a chill." She found it truly strange—Shen Miao had been very sensitive to cold as a child, yet lately, she seemed to enjoy sleeping with the window open at night. But now, in broad daylight, she wanted it open too?
"I'm not cold," Shen Miao said calmly. "Go ahead and open it."
Gu Yu glanced at Shen Miao’s thickly wrapped outer robe but didn’t dare argue. Puzzled, she opened the window wider.
For the entire day, Shen Miao stayed in her room, occasionally glancing toward the window, which made Jing Zhe and Gu Yu also look in that direction, as if expecting flowers to bloom there. But the windowsill was clearly empty. Shen Miao would read for a while, then stand by the window for a moment, though no one knew what she was looking at.
Before she knew it, night had fallen. After dinner and washing up, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu withdrew. Shen Miao trimmed the oil lamp again and again, losing count of how many times she’d done so. Outside, all was silent, as if the entire Fixed Capital had fallen into slumber, yet the window remained empty.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Shen Miao’s eyes. Bored, she tapped the oil lamp with a chess piece from the table, small sparks falling onto the surface before quickly vanishing. Gradually, drowsiness overtook her, and she closed her eyes, resting her head on the table for a nap.
When Xie Jingxing entered the room, he saw Shen Miao sleeping soundly at the table. The window had been left open—a door deliberately left for him. The lamplight flickered slightly as he brought in the cold wind from outside. Shen Miao rested her head on her arms, sleeping peacefully.He walked over to Shen Miao, glanced down at her, paused for a moment, then took off his cloak and gently draped it over her.
Shen Miao was naturally alert. Stirred by his movement, she shifted slightly and lifted her head without opening her eyes, murmuring drowsily, "Xiao Li Zi, massage my shoulders."
Xie Jingxing: "..."
He simply leaned against the nearby cabinet, watching her with amusement as he said, "Hey, are you dreaming about being Empress again?"
The abrupt remark jolted Shen Miao awake. Just then, a cold breeze blew in from outside, making her sneeze and instantly dispelling her drowsiness.
Xie Jingxing walked to the window and closed it, making the room much warmer. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the windowsill and asked, "Why are you sleeping here?"
Shen Miao looked at the young man in the purple robe, rubbing her eyes as she asked, "Why did you only come now?" Her tone carried a hint of complaint. Still groggy from sleep, she didn’t realize how her words might sound.
But Xie Jingxing noticed.
The room fell silent for a moment. Step by step, he approached until he reached the table where Shen Miao sat. Placing his hands on the table, he leaned down, closing the distance between them, and asked, "Were you waiting for me?"
Shen Miao snapped back to her senses and quickly replied, "No."
Xie Jingxing’s lips curved slightly, his tone feigning regret. "Oh? I heard you waited by the window for me all day. So it wasn’t true? Since there’s nothing, I’ll take my leave." He made as if to leave.
"Wait!" Shen Miao called out.
Xie Jingxing turned. "What?"
"If you already knew, why bother asking?" Shen Miao gritted her teeth. Facing Xie Jingxing, all her usual composure and grace flew out the window—this man was infuriatingly mischievous. Her actions by the window today must have been too obvious, and it wasn’t surprising if Xie Jingxing had people in the Shen residence who reported back to him. But for him to know and still deliberately ask was just too much.
"I was waiting for you. There’s something I need your help with," she admitted after taking a deep breath.
"Go on." Xie Jingxing pulled out a chair and sat across from her. He seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, his striking peach-blossom eyes even more captivating than usual.
"You must have many capable and extraordinary people under your command, plenty of skilled fighters—like my guard Mo Qing, for instance?" Shen Miao probed.
"Someone like him counts as skilled?" Xie Jingxing scoffed. "Should I send you a few real experts?"
"Lend me some people," Shen Miao said. "I’ll pay."
Xie Jingxing glanced at her, frowning slightly. "What do you need them for?"
Shen Miao figured there was no point hiding it since Xie Jingxing already knew about Chang Zaiqing’s husband and son. "Chang Zaiqing’s husband and son from Liuzhou have been brought to Fixed Capital and are staying in a place in the eastern part of the city. I don’t think the people around me are enough."
"You want to use my men?"
"I’ll pay," Shen Miao repeated.
Xie Jingxing asked, "Do I look like I’m short on silver?"
Shen Miao fell silent. Indeed, Xie Jingxing didn’t just seem wealthy—he seemed to have more money than he could spend, enough to aid the entire world. Even the richest man in Ming Qi might not match his extravagance. She cut to the chase. "What will it take for you to agree?"Xie Jingxing narrowed his eyes: "Is this how you ask for favors?"
Shen Miao finally grew impatient and said, "Forget it, pretend I never mentioned it. It's late, please leave, Your Highness Prince Rui." When she was angry, she would call Xie Jingxing "Your Highness Prince Rui," sounding very distant. Sure enough, Xie Jingxing frowned, clearly displeased.
"I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you," Xie Jingxing stopped her. "What’s the rush?"
Shen Miao sat back down. Xie Jingxing’s beautiful eyes fixed on her, a faint glimmer in his gaze as he said, "You really are as foolish as they say. Why seek far when the answer is near?"
"What do you mean?"
"This prince is in a good mood today," Xie Jingxing said leisurely. "I’ll accompany you personally."
By midnight, the moon had hidden, leaving only a sparse scattering of stars in the desolate night sky. It was winter, and the cold was unusually biting. A thin layer of snow covered the ground, crunching softly underfoot with the sound of ice shards. However, with the New Year approaching, every household had hung bright red lanterns under their eaves. The red lanterns against the white snow created a charming and picturesque scene.
Beneath the eaves stood two figures.
The taller young man bent slightly to tie a scarf around the other’s face. They stood very close, and if one listened carefully, they could hear the shorter girl complaining, "Why do I have to wear this?"
"Shh," the young man whispered by her ear. "Just think of it as hiding your peerless beauty to avoid trouble. Don’t ask too much."
Shen Miao scoffed. "Peerless beauty? Then you should cover yourself first."
"I don’t need to," the young man replied calmly, his handsome face showing no reaction to her sarcasm. "With my overwhelming power, no one would dare trouble me."
Shen Miao: "..." Shen Miao had never imagined that after telling Xie Jingxing about the matter with the father and son in Liuzhou, his idea of "personally accompanying her" would mean going now, in the dead of night. By this hour, the pair were likely already asleep, yet Xie Jingxing insisted on this timing. His reasoning was: fewer people at night, and even if someone accompanied her during the day, what if they were still discovered?
His logic was so sound that Shen Miao couldn’t refute it. However, she hadn’t expected Xie Jingxing’s idea of "going out" would involve the two of them boldly walking down the street.
Though the streets seemed empty now, she couldn’t shake a sense of unease.
"What’s there to fear? My people are following us. They’ll alert us if anything’s amiss," Xie Jingxing said.
While Shen Miao was lost in thought, Xie Jingxing had already finished tying the scarf over her face, leaving only her eyes exposed. Her eyes were round, bright, and clear, standing out vividly under the dim glow of the lanterns. Xie Jingxing adjusted her hat and remarked, "Not bad."
To avoid complications, Shen Miao had ultimately dressed in a servant’s attire, though the hat didn’t fit well and kept slipping over her eyes. She had forgotten to bring a cloak, but after a glance, Xie Jingxing draped his own over her shoulders and said, "Let’s go."
"We’re walking there just like this?" Shen Miao was stunned.
"East City isn’t far," Xie Jingxing said dismissively. "A walk will do you good. You’ve never seen Fixed Capital at night, have you?"
Shen Miao fell silent.Most of the night scenes she had seen were within the square palace walls of Ming Qi. Sometimes she would sit in the vast Kun Ning Palace, pondering the endless troubles of the harem, staying up the entire night. Other times, she would stroll through the imperial garden, only to see Fu Xiuyi laughing and chatting with various beauties.
As the head of the six palaces, it seemed her nights were the same year after year—lonely, unfree, desolate, and unnoticed.
She had regretted it before, had envied the carefree life outside the palace.
Xie Jingxing said, "No one here sees you, knows you. Do whatever you want."
Shen Miao looked at his handsome features and suddenly felt a pang of envy.
When it came down to it, Xie Jingxing had lived his life as both the young marquis of Marquis Lin'an Manor and Prince Rui, the younger brother of the Yongle Emperor of Great Coolness. People only saw the surface glamour, but the burdens he carried were surely no less than Shen Miao's. Yet his inherently proud and audacious nature seemed never to have changed. No external force could alter his strength, as if no matter how the sun and moon shifted or the stars turned, he would remain standing here, unshakable and formidable, making others dare only to look up in awe.
Shen Miao envied those with strong hearts. She didn’t think she was as strong as Xie Jingxing, because whenever she thought of Wan Yu and Fu Ming, or the events of her past life, she would feel weary.
Xie Jingxing’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he pinched her chin and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"
Shen Miao broke free from his grip and turned her head away. "Nothing." She didn’t want anyone to notice the emotions in her heart. She turned and took two quick steps, but the men’s boots she wore were unfamiliar, and the ground was slippery with ice. She nearly tumbled headfirst, but Xie Jingxing caught her arm, frowning in reproach. "Be careful." His hand in his sleeve slid downward and grasped hers.
His fingers were long and cold, perfectly enveloping her hand in his palm. Shen Miao’s heart stirred, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but Xie Jingxing’s grip was firm—she couldn’t break free.
Xie Jingxing said indifferently, "I’ll hold you so you don’t slip."
"I’ll be careful. I won’t slip," Shen Miao replied.
"Then I’m afraid I might slip. You hold me instead." He didn’t even blink as he continued.
Shen Miao: "..."
The heavy snow had blanketed the entire street, turning it silver-white, the falling snowflakes illuminated by lanterns, making the scene charming. Shen Miao occasionally looked up at the sky—it was vast and open, far more beautiful than the rigid, angular sky she was used to. The street was quiet; no one would notice her. Some unfulfilled desires from her past life were being satisfied now. The hand held by the young man beside her grew slightly damp, yet she gradually felt a smile forming.
The night was truly lovely, Shen Miao thought.
But she didn’t see the fleeting amusement in the handsome youth’s eyes—brighter and more captivating than fireworks.
In a humble dwelling in the eastern part of the city, loud snores now echoed from one of the rooms. The air was thick with the pungent stench of alcohol, overwhelming to the senses. Several empty wine jars lay scattered haphazardly on the floor, while the man on the bed slept soundly.In the neighboring house, a **-year-old child lay in bed. This room was clearly much narrower than the one next door. After lying there for a while, he sat up, seemingly unable to sleep due to the snoring from next door. He got out of bed, draped a quilt over his shoulders, and walked into the small bamboo-fenced courtyard.
The child went to the outhouse. Just as he was about to return to his room after finishing, he caught sight of two people standing in the courtyard. Startled, he was about to cry out when the taller of the two flicked a pebble toward him. Instantly, the child froze in place, unable to speak.
Only then did the two approach him.
In the dim glow of the lantern outside, the faces of the two figures gradually became clear. One was petite, dressed in the attire of a servant boy, yet it was still evident she was a woman. She was draped in an oversized cloak that seemed almost ill-fitting, with a two-layered scarf covering her face, leaving only her eyes exposed. This only made those eyes appear even more limpid, making one imagine that beneath the scarf must lie a beauty.
As for the figure beside her, the young boy was nearly dumbstruck. This person was tall and strikingly upright, clad in a long, luxurious purple robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns. The robe was somewhat loose, cinched with a black belt, giving the impression of flowing elegance. His features were extraordinarily handsome, with peach-blossom eyes that, when they glanced over in the night, seemed to make even the winter snow bloom with spring flowers. Could he be an Immortal descended from the heavens? Otherwise, why would every movement be so graceful and captivating, exuding an innate nobility?
The smaller figure shot the purple-robed man a glance before softly asking, "What's your name?"
The boy felt his throat loosen, coughed twice, and suddenly realized he could speak again. The voice was unmistakably a woman's, gentle and soothing, easing his fear. Nervously, he stammered, "I—I'm Huai Sheng."
"Huai Sheng," the woman asked, "is your mother's name Chang Zaiqing?"
Huai Sheng froze, then his eyes reddened. He looked at her cautiously and asked, "Do you know my mother? Do you know where she is? I haven't seen her in so long. They said she wouldn't come back. Someone brought us here, saying we could see her, but she isn't here."
Shen Miao sighed inwardly. This child was about the same age as Su Minlang two years ago, but while Su Minlang had been an innocent, almost naive little dumpling, this boy was far more pitiful. Chang Zaiqing had abandoned her husband and child, true, because her husband was a drunkard and gambler, making life unbearable. But she hadn't considered how hard it would be for her young son to grow up with such an irresponsible father. Chang Zaiqing deserved neither sympathy nor forgiveness—a mother capable of such cruelty no longer deserved the title of "mother."
"Don't be afraid," Shen Miao said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the boy's tears. Huai Sheng was both startled and touched. The woman's eyes were beautiful, suggesting her face must be lovely too. Though dressed as a servant, her hands were fair and delicate, unlike his own calloused ones from hard labor. She must be from a wealthy family, yet here she was, a noblewoman, wiping the tears of someone as lowly as him. Even his own mother had never treated him so gently. Huai Sheng was mesmerized.
A soft cough broke the moment. The purple-robed man beside Shen Miao spoke, casting a cold glance at Huai Sheng. "Go inside," he said coolly.
That single look sent a chill down Huai Sheng's spine. For some reason, though the man had done nothing but glance at him, his presence was terrifying. The boy snapped out of his daze to see the woman tucking away her handkerchief, her gaze still gentle.Shen Miao was merely thinking of her own Fu Ming and Wan Yu. With a father like Fu Xiuyi, Fu Ming and Wan Yu had undoubtedly suffered hardships. Though she hadn't fled, she had been powerless to change her children's fate—in that regard, she was no better off than Chang Zaiqing.
Suppressing the complicated emotions in her heart, she said, "Huai Sheng, take us to see your father."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Did some outlining today. The wedding should happen within a million words barring any surprises, meaning after we finish tormenting these scumbags it'll be nonstop sugar. Happy? ╮╯╰╭
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