The small red mole on Chang Zaiqing's private area was something ordinary people could never see. But Shen Wan was no ordinary man—if he could be so easily swayed by such baseless words, he wouldn't have survived in the court for so many years. He glanced at the letter, which stated that the father and son had now entered Fixed Capital and were staying in a civilian residence in the eastern part of the city. It even provided a specific address. Shen Wan swiftly tore the letter to shreds and ordered his attendant, "Prepare the carriage."
Shen Wan didn't trust an anonymous letter, but neither could he place unreserved faith in Chang Zaiqing. It was better to see the truth with his own eyes.
When the carriage arrived at the residence mentioned in the eastern part of the city, Shen Wan didn't alight himself. Instead, he hid in the carriage and sent his attendant to knock on the door.
The door was opened by a young boy. The child was so thin and frail, his gaze lacking the innocence typical of children, instead carrying a maturity that made him seem more like a teenager. When Shen Wan got a clear look at the boy's face, he sharply drew in a breath.
In that instant, Shen Wan knew the letter spoke the truth. There was no other explanation—the boy bore an uncanny resemblance to Chang Zaiqing. Even the subtle expressions in his eyes were strikingly similar, though compared to Chang Zaiqing's confident and cheerful demeanor, the boy appeared much more timid and insecure. Regardless, the resemblance was undeniable.
The Chang family had no other descendants, so this couldn't possibly be Chang Zaiqing's younger brother. Shen Wan's personal attendant was also startled by the boy's appearance but still followed Shen Wan's instructions and asked, "Little brother, do you know where Chang Zaiqing is?"
The boy eyed him warily and asked, "What do you want with my mother?"
Shen Wan closed his eyes.
There was no doubt now—the letter had told the truth. Chang Zaiqing indeed had a husband and son in Liuzhou. It was just unclear how this had been concealed so well. The attendant dismissed the boy with a few vague words and returned to Shen Wan's side, cautiously asking, "Master...?"
"Investigate," Shen Wan panted. "Send someone to Liuzhou to dig up every detail about Chang Zaiqing's background. I want everything laid bare."
Shen Wan had admired Chang Zaiqing for her gentle, cheerful nature and remarkable talent, especially now that she was carrying his child. But if she truly had a husband and son in Liuzhou, everything became a farce—he had been proudly raising another man's wife. And if Chang Zaiqing could abandon her own husband and son, she couldn't possibly be as sweet and gentle as she appeared. Shen Wan was extremely particular in certain aspects—he wanted a wife who could manage worldly affairs with precision while maintaining an ethereal, almost fairy-like purity. Today's revelations instantly transformed Chang Zaiqing in his eyes, filling him with utter disgust.In the following days, Shen Wan seemed to become increasingly busy. He was out every day, and even when he returned to Shen Mansion, he would immediately shut himself in his study, leaving Chang Zaiqing with no chance to see him. Occasionally, when she brought him pastries, Shen Wan no longer showed the same affection as before. At first, his attitude made Chang Zaiqing somewhat uneasy, but Shen Wan's personal servant reassured her that he had recently taken on an important task, keeping him too occupied to attend to other matters. Only then did she feel relieved.
However, the truth was that Shen Wan had finally received the letter from Liuzhou.
The letter from Liuzhou confirmed what the previous anonymous letter had claimed—Chang Zaiqing had indeed been married before, and her past in Liuzhou was once considered a romantic tale. After reading the letter, Shen Wan was so furious he nearly overturned the table. He had taken in a noble concubine who was someone else's wife, and now her husband and son had come all the way to Fixed Capital. If this were discovered, he would become the laughingstock of the entire city, not to mention the censors would surely seize the opportunity to impeach him.
If that were all, it might still be manageable. But the worst part was that he had divorced Chen Ruoqiu for Chang Zaiqing's sake, even turning the Chen family into enemies. Now, if word got out, people would mock him for mistaking a fish eye for a pearl. Shen Wan was already beginning to feel a twinge of regret. Though Chang Zaiqing carried his child, he feared she might ruin his political career. Between love and power, he ultimately valued power more. Moreover, the thought that the woman sleeping beside him was another man's wife left him deeply unsettled.
Lost in dark contemplation, he was about to issue orders when one of his attendants rushed in frantically, shouting, "Master, something terrible has happened!"
Shen Wan frowned in anger. "What’s with this disgraceful panic?"
The attendant, however, trembling, handed him a letter, his gaze oddly evasive.
Suspicious, Shen Wan studied the attendant—this was someone who usually handled correspondence between him and his colleagues.
After reading just two lines, Shen Wan's face turned ashen, and if one looked closely, there was even a hint of fear in his expression.
In the imperial study, Emperor Wenhui was in a towering rage.
He hurled the memorial in his hand to the ground with a cold laugh. The eunuchs around him dared not even breathe—the emperor's wrath could bring death to millions, and now was certainly not the time to provoke him.
The memorial listed, one by one, all of Shen Wan's actions over the past few years. On the surface, they seemed harmless enough. But Emperor Wenhui, having survived the bloody struggle for power among brothers, recognized the subtlety of the memorial—each line insinuated an unusual relationship between Shen Wan and Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi.Among Emperor Wenhui's nine sons, the ones he trusted most were only the Crown Prince and Prince Ding. The Crown Prince was after all the legitimate heir, and his frail health made the emperor instinctively more lenient toward him. As for Prince Ding, though outstanding in his own right, he stayed away from court affairs, and with Consort Dong being non-confrontational by nature, this gave Emperor Wenhui great comfort. The emperor observed the covert and overt struggles among his sons but would not intervene unless things went too far. This balance of power was precisely what he wished to maintain. Once touched by power, no man would willingly let go. Watching his sons grow into vigorous adulthood, Emperor Wenhui couldn't help but feel wary.
What he detested most was when his sons grew too close to court officials. Though unavoidable—each of his nine sons had their own faction of supporters—when the son in question was the usually unambitious Prince Ding, Emperor Wenhui found it particularly unacceptable. His anger burned fiercer than ever.
Fu Xiuyi's previously carefree, detached demeanor now seemed to the emperor nothing but an act—a single word: fake.
"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey," Emperor Wenhui said darkly. "They all think I'm easily fooled. Very well, I shall grant them their wish."
Court affairs were ever-changing, where one might stand in the emperor's hall at dawn and return to peasantry by dusk. Those who crossed the line and escaped with mere banishment were fortunate; more often, they ended imprisoned or beheaded, their entire clans implicated.
Shen Wan became that example.
After the recent conflict between the Shen and Chen families had seemingly settled, officials suddenly stormed Shen Mansion to arrest its members. Curious townsfolk inquired and were told Shen Wan had bungled his official duties, bringing ruin upon the entire Shen household. The common people, easily placated, accepted this explanation, but the astute sensed something amiss. If it were truly just poor performance, why dismantle the entire Shen family? This was clearly punishment for a capital offense warranting clan extermination.
Passersby pointed at the now-fallen Shen Mansion, their gossip inevitably turning to Grand General of Might Shen Xin. They remarked how two years ago, the Shens had insisted on dividing the family when Shen Xin was down on his luck, even striking his name from the clan registry. Little did they know this misfortune would spare him from today's disaster.
When these words reached Shen Miao in her residence, she merely smiled indifferently. Luo Tan clenched her fists, indignation coloring her face: "This is what they call 'what goes around comes around.' After how they mistreated Uncle and Aunt, knowing you alone emerged unscathed would surely infuriate them."
Luo Ling pondered before shaking his head. "What crime could Third Master Shen have committed to warrant such a spectacle?"
Shen Miao replied, "For His Majesty to rage so, he must have committed some unforgivable offense. But this no longer concerns us."
Luo Tan nodded. "True enough. Then we'll just watch the show."
Shen Qiu glanced worriedly at Shen Miao, hesitating to speak. After Luo Ling and Luo Tan left, he remained, pulling Shen Miao into a room and locking the door before asking, "Little sister... did you have a hand in the Shen family's downfall?"Shen Miao was both amused and exasperated. "Elder Brother, why do you always pin everything on me? If His Majesty wants to punish those who failed in their duties, I certainly don’t have the ability to interfere with Third Uncle’s affairs."
Shen Qiu rubbed his temples with a headache. "Little Sister, I know there are things you don’t want to discuss with outsiders. But court matters aren’t as simple as you think. Sometimes what seems like a victory now might bring unforeseen complications later, dragging you down."
He rambled on for a while, and Shen Miao sighed helplessly. "Elder Brother, to be honest, this really has nothing to do with me. Shen Wan’s imprisonment is because Chen Ruoqiu stabbed him in the back. Back then, Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan were at each other’s throats—do you think she would just let it go?"
Now it was Shen Qiu’s turn to be surprised. "Chen Ruoqiu?"
"Chen Ruoqiu lived with Shen Wan for so many years and knows everything about him. If she wanted to stab him in the back, it would be easier for her than for anyone else." Shen Miao continued, "Shen Wan was betrayed by the person closest to him, dragging down the entire household. What does that have to do with me?"
Shen Qiu pondered this carefully, then eyed her suspiciously. "How do you know all this so clearly?"
"I’ve been hoping for their downfall every day, so naturally, I’ve had people watching their every move." Having spent so much time with Xie Jingxing, Shen Miao’s words now carried a hint of his fearless, reckless tone.
Shen Qiu was used to seeing Shen Miao dignified and composed, so this side of her was entirely new to him. Strangely, it felt somewhat familiar. He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and said, "Even if you were watching them, this is too much of a coincidence." His eyes widened comically. "Little Sister, don’t tell me you were the one pulling the strings behind the scenes?"
Shen Miao smiled. "Elder Brother can think whatever he likes. In any case, none of this has anything to do with me."
Shen Qiu looked utterly defeated. "How did you become so bold? If this were exposed—"
Shen Miao cut off his nagging. "Elder Brother, why are you acting so fussy? It’s just a small matter. The Shen family’s downfall is entirely their own fault. If Shen Wan hadn’t failed in his duties, how could others have found a weakness to exploit? If he and Chen Ruoqiu had been harmonious, how could she have succeeded in driving a wedge between them? One should always reflect on their own mistakes before blaming others."
Her words left Shen Qiu dumbfounded. It wasn’t until Shen Miao’s maid escorted him out of the courtyard that he snapped out of it and smacked his forehead in realization. Shen Miao’s reasoning was nothing but sophistry—twisting logic to suit her narrative. Yet she made it sound as if she were completely innocent. Shen Qiu was baffled. When had Shen Miao learned to spout such brazen nonsense with such confidence? And why did her mannerisms seem so familiar? Where had he seen this before?
Back in her room, Shen Miao sat at the table and let out a long sigh after seeing Shen Qiu off.
This was only the beginning. Emperor Wenhui was decisive—he likely couldn’t tolerate even the slightest hint of collusion between his princes and court officials. And those meticulously documented transgressions? They dated back years.From the very beginning, one must never forget who they intend to deal with. Since her rebirth, many things had gradually faded from Shen Miao's mind. For instance, the Shen family's branch—even if she did nothing, they would bring about their own downfall. But Fu Xiuyi was different.
Fu Xiuyi was like the most venomous snake lurking in the shadows, appearing harmless but striking unexpectedly when least expected. Just like the last time when he had Shen Wan mediate the matter between her and Prince Zhou. Even though Shen Miao had tried her best to conceal herself in front of Fu Xiuyi, he had still set his sights on her.
It was no longer suitable to continue biding her time and plotting in secret. Instead, it was better to tear off the veil of pretense and begin a game of chess where both sides were evenly matched.
What Fu Xiuyi feared most was having his ambitions exposed.
Although the incident with Shen Wan might sow seeds of suspicion in Emperor Wenhui's heart, given Fu Xiuyi's cunning, he wouldn't be so easily defeated. He would surely find a way to refute the accusations and turn the tables.
But how could Shen Miao miss this opportunity? Even if she couldn't bring him down this time, she had to make sure Fu Xiuyi suffered dearly.
Shen Wan alone wasn't enough—this game of chess needed to be even more thrilling. Shen Miao had Jing Zhe summon Mo Qing from outside and whispered a few instructions to him.
From a mansion adorned with flowers to a prison cell—it all happened overnight.
Shen Wan felt that over the past two years, the Shen Mansion had been plagued with misfortune. It was as if they had offended some unseen force—nothing went smoothly. First, the second branch had encountered trouble, and after them, it was the third branch's turn. Now, everyone in the entire Shen Mansion was imprisoned—well, except for the first branch. The first branch had recently been reinstated by Emperor Wenhui. Regardless of what the future held, at least for now, they were far more illustrious than the rest.
Come to think of it, the Shen Mansion's string of misfortunes seemed to have started after the first branch separated from the family—or, more precisely, after Shen Xin returned to the capital two years ago. Could it be that someone had placed a curse on the Shen Mansion?
In the neighboring cell were the female members of the Shen family—Old Madam Shen and Chang Zaiqing were locked up together. Listening to Old Madam Shen's complaints and groans, Shen Wan gradually grew irritated.
Looking back two years, the Shen Mansion of the Grand General of Might had been bustling with visitors daily, though they had all come for Shen Xin's reputation. But Shen Xin was rarely in the capital, and the Shen Mansion never lacked silver. Wherever they went, people spoke of their grandeur. Though Shen Gui and he himself were civil officials, their positions had been steadily rising. Their daughters were graceful and poised, and a good marriage alliance could have been a great advantage. Shen Yuanbai and Shen Yuan were still alive, while Ren Wanyun was shrewd and Chen Ruoqiu gentle—truly a picture of domestic harmony and prosperity.
Yet in just two short years, everything had changed, and they had fallen to such a wretched state.
Shen Gui, looking sickly, asked, "Third Brother, what exactly have you done? Why would His Majesty arrest our entire household?"
"Me, done something?" Shen Wan sneered. "Second Brother, you've also served in the court. Don’t you know that if His Majesty wishes to arrest someone, he can fabricate any reason to do so? That’s the excuse he’s using against me." If it were truly due to incompetence in official duties, the entire household wouldn’t have been arrested. This was clearly a sign of impending punishment.
Hearing this, Chang Zaiqing in the neighboring cell gasped, her voice tinged with anxiety. "So His Majesty did this deliberately? Why would he do such a thing? Has my lord offended His Majesty in some way?"Under normal circumstances, Shen Wan would have comforted Chang Zaiqing a few words. But the moment he recalled the news he had received from Liuzhou—that Chang Zaiqing was actually a married woman with a son—he felt utterly disgusted. Seeing Chang Zaiqing in such distress now, he couldn’t tell what kind of twisted satisfaction he derived from it, but he did feel a faint sense of gratification. Chang Zaiqing had been so eager to chase wealth and status that she had concealed her true circumstances. Now that her dreams of prosperity had turned to dust, she probably regretted it bitterly—but it was already too late.
He waved his hand dismissively, his tone impatient. “I don’t know.”
Yet his mind drifted to the letter his attendant had delivered.
The letter had been written by a court official with whom he had a close personal relationship. This official had somehow obtained information that Shen Wan’s sworn enemy had submitted a memorial to the throne. The contents of this memorial were none other than evidence of Shen Wan’s dealings with Fu Xiuyi over the past few years.
Though Shen Wan hadn’t truly been working for Fu Xiuyi in recent years, his earlier wavering stance—unwilling to give up on Prince Ding as a potential ally—had left his attitude somewhat ambiguous. To outsiders, it appeared as though he and Prince Ding had long formed an alliance. If Emperor Wenhui were to see this evidence, his fury would be entirely understandable. It would be difficult to resolve this matter peacefully.
As for how his enemy had suddenly obtained such evidence, Shen Wan had a vague suspicion about one person. Chen Ruoqiu had been his wife for many years, but because she had no understanding of court affairs, Shen Wan had never guarded against her. Some matters were highly confidential—if Chen Ruoqiu had been the one to stab him in the back, everything made sense.
Thinking back to how gentle and affectionate Chen Ruoqiu had once been, only to now turn against him in a desperate, self-destructive fury, Shen Wan’s gaze fell on Chang Zaiqing in the neighboring cell, and his expression darkened. If not for Chang Zaiqing, he and Chen Ruoqiu would never have grown estranged, and he wouldn’t be in this predicament. With that thought, even the child in Chang Zaiqing’s womb—his own flesh and blood—elicited nothing but indifference from him.
The arrest of Shen Wan’s family was ostensibly due to incompetence in official duties, but those who knew the truth understood that Emperor Wenhui was enraged by Shen Wan’s secret closeness to Fu Xiuyi. The incident implicated the entire Shen Mansion, and naturally, Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi, was not spared either.
Fu Xiuyi had numerous hidden informants in the palace, and he quickly learned the details of the matter. He never would have imagined that the marital strife between Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu could end up dragging him into the mess. This was a critical moment—he absolutely could not afford to let Emperor Wenhui grow suspicious of him now.
At the same time, Fu Xiuyi was deeply puzzled. Emperor Wenhui’s health had declined significantly this year, making him far more sensitive than usual to the relationships between imperial princes and court officials. For rumors of his closeness with Shen Wan to emerge at such a sensitive time seemed far too coincidental. Though Shen Wan was the one who had been trapped, Fu Xiuyi stood to lose just as much, if not more. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Coldly, he muttered, “Useless in success, destructive in failure.”
Pei Lang considered the situation carefully before speaking. “Your Highness, it would be best to distance yourself from this matter as soon as possible. No matter what method you use, you must prove your innocence.”
“I’m well aware of that,” Fu Xiuyi replied. “What do you suggest, Master Pei?”"The evidence is irrefutable, and vehement denial would only appear deliberate. Your Highness might as well acknowledge it and lay the blame solely on Shen Wan. Although the Emperor disapproves of princes forming factions privately, if it was Shen Wan who actively sought your allegiance while you found it troublesome to refuse, His Majesty might be more lenient."
Fu Xiuyi nodded. "You and I think alike. Shen Wan is a piece that must be sacrificed. Besides, such a useless pawn would only cause more trouble if left alive—better to eliminate him sooner." His words made it clear that Shen Wan was to be abandoned. The accusations in the memorial could not be denied, as each charge was backed by evidence that anyone could uncover with minimal effort. But if it was all Shen Wan’s doing—if he had been the one desperately trying to ingratiate himself with Fu Xiuyi while the latter remained indifferent—then the situation would appear more justifiable, and Fu Xiuyi would instead seem the victim of Shen Wan’s schemes.
However, this would only heap greater blame upon Shen Wan. Under Emperor Wenhui’s wrath, his punishment would be all the more severe. Of course, Fu Xiuyi cared nothing for Shen Wan’s fate—those who were useless or troublesome to him never received his mercy.
"My encounters with the Shen family truly seem fated," Fu Xiuyi said coldly. "Time and again, they’ve thwarted me. Though this incident was instigated by Chen Ruoqiu, I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not so simple—as if someone is pulling the strings from behind."
Pei Lang's heart skipped a beat, yet his expression remained as composed as before. He said, "The urgent matter at hand is for Your Highness to clear your name first. The longer this drags on, the more His Majesty's lingering anger may implicate you."
Fu Xiuyi gave a mocking smile. "Though troublesome, it's not a dead end. But what does the advisor think—should the Shen family be kept or not?"
Pei Lang replied gently, "Since they obstruct Your Highness's grand plans, they should not be kept."
Fu Xiuyi laughed heartily, fixing his gaze on Pei Lang. "Your words align perfectly with my thoughts. I have other matters to attend to. You may withdraw for now, and I shall consult you again when important matters arise."
Pei Lang nodded in agreement, took his leave, and turned to depart.
Unseen by him, Fu Xiuyi watched his retreating figure, a shadow of malice flickering in his eyes.
The news of Shen Wan's entire family being imprisoned spread far and wide, naturally reaching Prince Qin's residence as well. Seated at the stone table in the garden, Shen Yue was stunned upon hearing the report. Huangfu Hao glanced at the messenger and asked, "Oh? So the entire household was truly imprisoned?"
"Absolutely true," the messenger said. "It's said the Emperor was furious and intends to sentence them to death this time."
Huangfu Hao turned to observe Shen Yue's reaction. Beyond shock and disbelief, there was no trace of sorrow or heartbreak in her expression. Unbidden, the words Chen Ruoqiu had spoken to her that day resurfaced in her mind. Back then, Shen Yue had sensed hidden implications in Chen Ruoqiu's words—could today's fate of the Shen family be due to Chen Ruoqiu's actions? Afraid Huangfu Hao might detect her true feelings, Shen Yue feigned grief, lowering her head and murmuring, "How could this happen?"
"Merely failing in official duties wouldn't warrant Emperor Wenhui confiscating the entire family's property. There must be another reason," Huangfu Hao remarked with a smile. "Perhaps something else is at play." He then looked at Shen Yue and asked, "Yue'er, would you like to visit Lord Shen?"
Shen Yue was startled and stammered, "Going now might only distress my father and trouble Your Highness. It's... it's unnecessary."
The Shen Mansion had been confiscated, but as a woman married into the "Wang family," she had escaped implication. Yet if it were discovered that Shen Yue was still present, who knew if she might be imprisoned as well? When disaster struck, everyone fled for themselves. The Shen family had shown her no affection, and she owed them no loyalty. Fearful of being implicated, she wanted nothing more than to stay away—why would she rush forward eagerly?
Hearing this, Huangfu Hao didn't press the matter further and simply smiled before letting it go. Shen Yue secretly sighed in relief. After Huangfu Hao left, she considered writing a letter to Chen Ruoqiu to ask if this matter was connected to her.
Though she still felt some lingering fear and unease, seeing the entire Shen family imprisoned, Shen Yue couldn't help but feel a hint of schadenfreude. Especially toward Chang Zaiqing—the woman who had usurped her mother's position—now forced to suffer alongside Shen Wan. Thinking this way, Shen Yue felt that being Huangfu Hao's concubine wasn't so degrading after all; in fact, she even felt somewhat smug. Had she remained in the Shen Mansion, she would now be sharing their fate behind bars.
Such were Shen Yue's thoughts. But the next day, a shocking secret exploded across Fixed Capital, rippling through the city like a stone cast into water, stirring endless waves. The gossipmongers found fresh fodder for their amusement, and the scandal became the talk of every street and alley, endlessly savored by all.This also made the Shen family a complete laughingstock for idle gossip among passersby.
－－－－－－Off Topic－－－－－－
The scumbag Fu is gradually stepping out from behind the scenes...
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