"It's not your place to speak, you whore!"
Chang Zaiqing was stunned. She had long known that Shen Yue was not as refined as she appeared, but she hadn’t expected her to be so vicious with words. Instinctively, she glanced at Shen Wan, but to her surprise, he didn’t even look at her, as if completely ignoring Shen Yue’s words.
Shen Yue, seeing Chang Zaiqing’s reaction, sneered triumphantly. "What? Did you expect my father to speak up for you? Everyone in the capital knows you’re a used shoe, slept with in Liuzhou. They say whores are heartless and actors are faithless, but you—who prides herself on manners and eloquence—are just as shameless, worse than the top courtesan in a brothel!"
"You—you’re spouting nonsense!" Chang Zaiqing’s heart skipped a beat as she instinctively retorted. She had been locked up in prison, unaware of the outside world, and had no idea that her affairs in Liuzhou had spread, turning her into a laughingstock across the Fixed Capital.
"You didn’t know?" Shen Yue, fueled by anger, deliberately provoked her further. "Your husband and son in Liuzhou miss you dearly. They’ve come all the way to the Fixed Capital to find you." She shot a malicious glance at Shen Wan, harboring resentment toward him as well, and continued leisurely, "That Tian Li knelt outside the yamen gates early in the morning, beating the drum to demand justice, accusing our Shen Mansion of forcibly abducting a married woman!"
Chang Zaiqing trembled, realizing there was no hiding it anymore. She looked at Shen Yue, then at Shen Wan, who showed little surprise, and asked in a shaky voice, "You... you knew all along?"
"What?" The one who spoke was Old Madam Shen, who had been gaping in shock from the other side. She had thought Shen Yue was merely hurling insults out of spite, but now the truth dawned on her. She shrieked, "You were married before? You have a son?"
Chang Zaiqing remained silent, but Chen Ruoqiu, who had been watching coldly, chuckled and said, "Mother, you didn’t know? The daughter-in-law you so carefully picked for your son still belongs to another family. The Shen family has been raising another man’s wife, and the son Chang Zaiqing bore isn’t surnamed Shen at all. The rumors about the Shen family outside are quite entertaining—Mother should really listen to them."
Shen Gui was also stunned by the sudden revelation. Chang Zaiqing finally snapped out of her daze, glanced at Chen Ruoqiu, and let out a cold laugh. No longer bothering to maintain her meek facade, she lashed out, "So what if I was married before? So what if I have a son? The Shen family is hardly any cleaner—it’s just the pot calling the kettle black. Besides, I barely enjoyed any comfort after marrying in here before suffering. Who’s really the one who got cheated is still up for debate."
Old Madam Shen’s fury erupted. Already half-terrified and half-frustrated from being dragged to prison, she had no outlet for her rage—until Chang Zaiqing walked right into it. Without another word, she lunged at Chang Zaiqing, grabbing her hair and screaming, "You shameless wretch! How dare you cheat the Shen family! How dare you!"
Chang Zaiqing was no pushover. If she had played meek before for her own schemes in Shen Mansion, now that her mask was torn off, she no longer cared. She immediately fought back, grappling with Old Madam Shen.Though Old Madam Shen was advanced in years, she still fought with the same fiery vigor of her youth, having once mingled among the rougher crowds. Chang Zaiqing had the advantage of youth and strength, but priding herself as a scholar who never resorted to physical altercations, she failed to gain the upper hand. The two women tussled and traded insults, both descending into utter disarray. Shen Gui wanted to intervene, but men and women were held in separate cells, leaving him powerless despite his intentions. Meanwhile, Shen Yue and Chen Ruoqiu, locked in the same cell, made no move to stop the fight. Chen Ruoqiu watched coldly, while Shen Yue even laughed aloud. The grotesque scene came to an abrupt halt when Chang Zaiqing let out a pained cry.
Old Madam Shen shoved Chang Zaiqing away, her face covered in scratches, her hair and clothes in disarray, yet she looked down at the woman on the ground with satisfaction. Chang Zaiqing curled up on the floor, clutching her abdomen in agony, her face twisted in pain as she moaned loudly. Beneath her, a pool of blood slowly spread.
She had miscarried in the prison cell.
No one knew exactly where Old Madam Shen had struck her, but the prison food had been unpalatable for days, leaving Chang Zaiqing weak. The struggle with Old Madam Shen must have injured her abdomen.
Shen Gui looked helplessly at Shen Wan, only to find his gaze utterly unmoved as he watched Chang Zaiqing writhe in pain on the ground, as if she were a stranger.
As for Old Madam Shen, she stared at Chang Zaiqing with near madness, muttering curses under her breath: "Wretched women deserve to die, every last one of them."
Shen Yue, frightened by the sight of blood, grew increasingly alarmed as the pool beneath Chang Zaiqing widened, staining the floor crimson. She pressed closer to Chen Ruoqiu, who tightened her embrace around Shen Yue and watched Chang Zaiqing with a slow, creeping smile.
Chang Zaiqing's consciousness blurred from the pain. She weakly called for the guards, hoping someone would notice her distress and fetch a physician. But the guards passing by only cast disdainful, mocking glances her way, showing no intention of helping.
After what felt like an eternity of moaning, Chang Zaiqing's voice faded to silence, her breaths shallow and labored, as if she might slip away at any moment.
The cell fell into a dreadful silence. The Shen family members looked at Chang Zaiqing with expressions of disgust, impatience, mockery, fear, and contempt—but not a trace of sympathy.
Disaster twists human nature, and when positions are inherently opposed, compassion is the last thing to be offered. To Shen Yue and Chen Ruoqiu, Chang Zaiqing had brought this upon herself. To Shen Wan, her deceit made her death inconsequential. Shen Gui was no saint either, and Old Madam Shen wished she could tear Chang Zaiqing to pieces.
The first half of Chang Zaiqing's life had likely been smooth, and though the latter half was less so, she had believed her wit could secure her wealth, if not elevate her to nobility. She had been willing to fight and scheme for riches, discarding conscience and dignity. Yet the pit of fortune she had plunged into turned out to be her grave, and the people she had schemed against proved more terrifying than wolves.
In that moment, Chang Zaiqing suddenly found herself longing for her past in Liuzhou—her incompetent, drunken husband and her son, who had quietly chopped firewood and fed the chickens.She murmured in a daze, "Huai Sheng..."
Shen Yue frowned. "What is she muttering about?"
Chen Ruoqiu shook her head.
"Mother, why do you look so listless?" Shen Yue tightened her grip on Chen Ruoqiu's hand. "Is this situation really serious? When can we get out?"
"It's nothing, just a minor issue. Once His Majesty investigates thoroughly, he'll release us. Don't worry. Rest for a while now, so you won't be too exhausted later." Chen Ruoqiu answered with a gentle smile.
Reassured by Chen Ruoqiu's words, Shen Yue felt slightly more at ease. Indeed feeling drowsy, she leaned against Chen Ruoqiu and closed her eyes peacefully.
Old Madam Shen, hearing Chen Ruoqiu's words, gradually calmed down as well. Though she still wasn't entirely satisfied with Chen Ruoqiu, people often need comparisons to recognize who is better. With someone like Chang Zaiqing as a contrast, Old Madam Shen found Chen Ruoqiu quite acceptable now. She too closed her eyes to rest.
As for Chang Zaiqing lying on the ground, no one paid attention to whether she was alive or dead.
Chen Ruoqiu glanced at Chang Zaiqing and sneered coldly, but then her expression turned to despair as she thought of something else.
She had lied to Shen Yue. There might be no way out this time—they were likely doomed.
No one understood Shen Wan's expressions better than Chen Ruoqiu. If there had been even a sliver of hope, Shen Wan wouldn't have reacted this way. He sat there, cold and indifferent, almost numb, as if nothing mattered to him anymore—whether it was the Shen family becoming the laughingstock of Fixed Capital, the scuffle between Old Madam Shen and Chang Zaiqing, or even Chang Zaiqing's miscarriage now. Shen Wan's face remained expressionless. He had already given up.
If even Shen Wan had lost hope, Chen Ruoqiu had no reason to believe there was any chance left.
Yet, when she truly faced this outcome, Chen Ruoqiu found it less unbearable than she had imagined. Perhaps the legal battles between the Chen and Shen families had already exposed her to the harsh realities of human nature, or perhaps being cast aside by Shen Wan had left her too wounded. Now, exhausted in body and mind, with Chang Zaiqing meeting such a fate, Chen Ruoqiu had nothing left to care about.
If they were all going to die, then so be it. At least in death, they would be a family again. Chen Ruoqiu thought bitterly.
"Third Brother," someone broke the silence—it was Shen Gui. "Don't you think our Shen family has been plagued by some kind of curse these past few years? When Father was still around, things weren't like this."
Since the incident that left him unable to father children, Shen Gui had been living in a daze. Rarely sober, whether genuinely or not, he had finally asked a serious question.
Shen Wan glanced at him, his tone unreadable. "Was it when Father was around, or when Shen Xin was around?"
Shen Gui fell silent. Indeed, saying it was during Old General Shen's time wasn't entirely accurate. The truth was, the Shen family's decline had begun when the eldest branch separated from the household. In fact, their official careers had already started faltering two years ago when Shen Xin first returned to the capital. Back then, however, the family was still united, and colleagues in the court had still shown them deference out of respect for Shen Xin. But once Shen Xin left the capital, those people no longer held back, and the Shen family's fortunes dwindled day by day. Though it pained him to admit it, it was undeniable—without Shen Xin, the Shen family was no different from any other ordinary official household in Fixed Capital.
But Shen Wan's words carried a deeper meaning than what lay on the surface.Shen Gui hesitated before asking, "Are you saying someone is scheming against our Shen family this time, and we've been set up?"
Shen Wan gave a strange laugh, though it was unclear what he found amusing.
"Could it be Shen Xin causing trouble behind our backs?" Shen Gui suddenly realized.
Chen Ruoqiu, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke up. "That little wretch Luo Xueyan gave birth to, Shen Miao, is downright sinister. Haven’t you noticed? Anyone who gets involved with Shen Miao ends up inexplicably worse off."
Both Shen Wan and Shen Gui turned to look at Chen Ruoqiu. She seemed oblivious to their gazes and continued, "First, it was Shen Qing and Shen Yuan from the second branch, and now it’s our turn. Even Second Sister-in-law couldn’t gain any advantage over her. If you think about it carefully, the Shen Mansion’s frequent misfortunes all started when her temperament suddenly changed."
People are strange—their thoughts constantly shift. In the past, Shen Wan and Shen Gui had seen Shen Miao as nothing more than slightly clever, hardly capable of such influence. But now, hearing Chen Ruoqiu lay it out so methodically, it all made sense. Take the Ming An Princess, for example. After crossing Shen Miao, she had died mysteriously, and to this day, no one had uncovered the truth.
Shen Wan said gravely, "She couldn’t have done all this alone. There must be someone powerful guiding her or backing her."
"I doubt it’s Shen Miao who found a backer," Shen Gui mused. "It’s the Shen family that found one." As if struck by a realization, he slapped his knee. "Why didn’t Shen Xin just die on the battlefield back then? No wonder everything’s gone wrong all these years—it’s Shen Xin sabotaging us from behind!" He spoke with righteous indignation, conveniently ignoring all the times the Shen family had sabotaged Shen Xin.
"Regardless, this matter must have some connection to Shen Xin," Chen Ruoqiu said calmly, her words measured and practical. "Otherwise, why would the entire Shen Mansion suffer while their branch remains unscathed?"
Silence fell over them.
After a long pause, Shen Gui gritted his teeth. "In that case, we must drag them down with us this time. Even if we can’t come out on top, their branch won’t get off easy either." He turned to Shen Wan. "Third Brother, let’s find a way to implicate Shen Xin."
"No," Shen Wan replied coolly. "At this stage, the case is already at the sentencing phase. If we try to drag Shen Xin in now, even a fool would see it’s a frame-up. The more we push, the more the Emperor will believe their branch is loyal while we’re the schemers. We’d just be handing them an advantage."
Shen Gui fumed. "So we just let him off scot-free?"
Shen Wan sneered. "After suffering such a huge loss—and with Father always favoring Shen Xin—after all these years of struggle, I refuse to believe we’ll lose again. Even if we can’t bring Shen Xin down, we’ll strip him of a layer of skin!"
"What do you mean, Third Brother?" Shen Gui asked, puzzled.
Shen Wan lowered his voice. "If the Emperor’s path is closed to us, there are others. Think—who would be even angrier about this situation than us?"
Chen Ruoqiu frowned. "Prince Ding?""Indeed." Shen Wan glanced calmly at Chen Ruoqiu. At this point, blaming her for impulsively submitting the incriminating evidence was futile. Moreover, the root cause was Shen Wan divorcing Chen Ruoqiu for Chang Zaiqing. Looking further back, it might have been someone setting a trap, ensnaring them all. Assigning blame now was meaningless—everyone was merely disheartened and exhausted.
But a venomous snake, even in its dying moments, would never forget to bite. The Shen family was such a snake.
Shen Wan said coldly, "Our every move is being watched. While some are Prince Ding's people, frequently mentioning the Shen family's main branch will inevitably arouse his suspicions."
Previously, Prince Ding had wanted him to facilitate a match between Shen Miao and Prince Zhou, which already indicated some suspicion toward Shen Miao. Now, bringing up the main branch repeatedly would only make Prince Ding realize they had framed him, leading Emperor Wenhui to doubt him. Prince Ding would likely want to eliminate the main branch immediately.
What kind of person was Prince Ding? Among the nine princes, he was the most deeply concealed, more of a smiling tiger than even Prince Xuan. Once Prince Ding set his sights on them, Shen Wan believed the main branch would face dire days ahead.
Even if the outcome couldn't be changed, he would plant a malignant seed within the main branch. One day, it would sprout.
He murmured softly, in a voice only he could hear, "I'll be waiting for you on the road to the underworld, elder brother."
The case against Shen Wan in Fixed Capital concluded astonishingly fast, leaving the public bewildered when the news broke.
The former Grand General of Might's Shen Mansion was raided, its servants exiled, and its masters all executed.
Ming Qi hadn't seen such a major case in a long time, and this one didn't seem severe enough to warrant such punishment. The authorities seemed intent on secrecy, with the official charge merely being "negligence in duty, causing grave consequences."
But what exactly those "grave consequences" were remained unknown.
Such was the fate of subjects—when the ruler demands death, death it must be. Emperor Wenhui could execute a court official without even bothering to fabricate a reason, especially for a family like the Shens. The only officials in the family, Shen Wan and Shen Gui, had long been in decline, with no one left to speak for them. Of course, an unseen hand seemed to be at work, making everything unfold with startling speed.
On the day of the execution, Shen Miao insisted on attending.
Luo Tan looked at her in surprise. "Why would you want to watch, little cousin? Such a bloody scene—heads rolling with a thud—you'll have nightmares. Better not go."
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan wouldn't attend. They had military duties, and even if they didn't, they wouldn't go. Luo Xueyan held no affection for the Shen family, and whatever complex feelings Shen Xin might have had were long eroded by the family's actions over the years. Seeing them would only bring unnecessary pain.
Shen Miao said, "I want to go. I've never seen an execution before."Luo Tan said angrily, "What's so interesting about watching a beheading?" But inwardly, she was anxious for Shen Miao. Women tend to be soft-hearted. Even though the Shen family members were not good people, Shen Miao had lived with them for so long and couldn't help feeling some sorrow. Going there now would only bring unnecessary grief.
"I'll accompany my sister," Shen Qiu said. He knew Shen Miao's stubborn nature—if they didn't let her go, she would sneak out on her own. To avoid trouble, he decided to go with her. He wasn't afraid, and with guards accompanying them, they could protect Shen Miao.
"I'll go too," Luo Ling said with a smile. "I've never seen a beheading before."
"Don't talk nonsense, cousin," Luo Tan shot Luo Ling a glance. "Back in the northwest, we've seen plenty of people executed under military orders. You've grown tired of watching beheadings—why pretend it's your first time?"
Caught off guard by his cousin's bluntness, Luo Ling's smile stiffened. Shen Qiu gave Luo Ling a meaningful look, making him uneasy, before finally saying, "Then let's all go together."
Seeing that everyone else was going, Luo Tan gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. "Fine, I'll go too. I don't want to stay alone in the mansion. Little cousin, you have to cover my eyes later!"
When the group arrived at the execution ground, the crowd of onlookers had already formed several layers around the platform. Because Shen Qiu and his companions had guards with them, the people made way for them. Some in the crowd recognized Shen Qiu and began whispering, pointing at him and Shen Miao.
It was well-known that the eldest branch of the Shen family was at odds with the second and third branches, but no one expected the siblings from the eldest branch to come and watch the execution. Some said the eldest branch had turned misfortune into fortune—being forced out by the second and third branches had spared them this calamity. Others criticized Shen Xin's siblings for being heartless, watching their family members die without showing any emotion.
On the execution platform, Shen Wan and the others knelt in shackles, dressed in filthy prison garb, their hair disheveled—a far cry from their former wealthy and imposing appearances. Shen Yue and Old Madam Shen had rags stuffed in their mouths, and Shen Yue could be seen shaking her head in terror. Death was something Shen Yue and Old Madam Shen feared deeply. Even now, they probably couldn't accept their fate, still hoping for some way out.
A faint smile touched Shen Miao's lips.
Her gaze swept over each person on the platform one by one.
Shen Wan, Chen Ruoqiu, Shen Gui, Shen Yue, Old Madam Shen... She had heard that Chang Zaiqing had miscarried in prison. By the time the guards found her the next day and carried her out, her body was already stiff. She had bled to death—perhaps a mercy, spared the horror of watching her own beheading, and left with a whole corpse. But what did it matter? Her life was over, and the entire Fixed Capital knew of her disgraceful deeds—abandoning her husband and child.
"Little cousin, what are you thinking about?" Luo Tan whispered.
"Just remembering some things from the past," Shen Miao replied softly.She recalled how, during her struggles for power with Mei Furen in the imperial harem, it was this very group of people on the stage who had stabbed them in the back without mercy. They had caused Shen Qiu's death, Luo Xueyan's demise, left Shen Xin haggard and broken, and left Wan Yu and Fu Ming without strong maternal family support—forcing them to become sacrifices in the royal Golden Luan Hall. Despite having the most legitimate bloodline, they had lived like lowly illegitimate children. And all of this was thanks to the very people before her now.
Shen Yue said, "Fifth Sister, we are not family."
Not family, but enemies. At least from this moment onward, with the deaths of those on the stage, she and those wolves and tigers of the Shen family would truly have not the slightest connection left.
Shen Yue frantically scanned the platform before her gaze suddenly locked onto Shen Miao's direction. The moment she spotted Shen Miao, an intense hatred erupted in her eyes. If not for the shackles and the guards restraining her, Shen Yue would have likely lunged through the crowd to claw at Shen Miao's face.
Across the sea of people, Shen Miao responded with a faint smile. Whether Shen Yue could see it clearly or not, she slightly lifted her chin, casting a disdainful, condescending look at Shen Yue—as if regarding a dog.
Provoked by Shen Miao's gaze, Shen Yue grew even more hysterical. The impatient officer escorting her kicked her, and the pain seemed to momentarily silence her. But then she turned her furious glare in another direction.
Following her line of sight, Shen Miao spotted a familiar figure not far away—a young woman dressed in luxurious finery, her delicate features slightly downturned. With a pointed chin and large eyes, it was none other than Shen Dongling.
Shen Dongling noticed Shen Miao as well and offered a gentle smile before approaching. When she drew near, she curtsied slightly and said softly, "Fifth Sister." Then, turning to Shen Qiu, she added, "Eldest Brother."
Shen Qiu gave a noncommittal nod, while Shen Miao studied Shen Dongling closely.
Shen Dongling had always been beautiful, inheriting Wan Yiniang's delicate charm—a beauty more suited to a concubine than a proper wife. In the past, her timid demeanor and drab, oversized clothing had dulled her allure. But now, well-nourished and radiant, her skin seemed dewy, her eyes sparkling. Her vibrant attire accentuated her slender figure, exuding an enchanting charm.
The attendants accompanying her suggested that Wang Bi treated her well—otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed a married woman to appear so freely in public.
Since Shen Dongling had rarely left her courtyard in Shen Mansion, let alone ventured outside, none of the surrounding commoners recognized her. Luo Tan observed her curiously. With a bright smile, Shen Dongling said, "What a coincidence to meet Fifth Sister here."
Shen Miao smiled faintly in return.
Shen Dongling’s demeanor was entirely natural, devoid of any sorrow. Though Wan Yiniang had been freed and given her deed of sale by the Wang family, Shen Gui—Shen Dongling’s own father—stood on the execution platform. Yet she showed no trace of grief, chatting with Shen Miao as casually as if attending a flower-viewing banquet. If anything, she seemed almost pleased.
"I came for closure," Shen Miao said, eyeing Shen Dongling. "And Third Sister? What brings you here?"
Shen Dongling covered her mouth with a delicate laugh, her movements now exuding a coquettish charm reminiscent of Wan Yiniang in her youth—utterly unlike her former timidity.
"Closure? I wouldn’t dare," she replied, glancing at the platform. "I simply heard of this amusing spectacle in Fixed Capital and came for some entertainment—to enjoy myself."
Just then, the executioner tossed down a token and announced in a drawn-out voice, "Time’s up. Carry out the sentence!"
Several sprays of blood erupted simultaneously.
Shen Dongling covered her mouth with a handkerchief, widening her eyes in mock pity. "How tragic," she murmured.
"Yes," Shen Miao replied calmly. "How tragic."
[Author's Note]
The title alone spells doom. :3
Festivals always add three pounds—so unfair. ╭╯＾╰╮
...
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