Early the next morning, an unusual guest arrived at the Shen residence.
The visitor was none other than Feng Anning.
After the incident where Shen Miao and Luo Tan were kidnapped, Feng Anning had indeed come to apologize in person. The Shen couple, being open-hearted individuals, didn't blame her—after all, the fault lay with the cunning kidnappers. Though both Shen Xin and his wife assured her it wasn't a big deal, and neither Shen Miao nor Luo Tan held any grudges, Feng Anning seemed deeply remorseful. Apart from occasionally sending small gifts, she never visited again, likely too ashamed to face Shen Miao and Luo Tan. Even when Luo Tan sent her invitations, Feng Anning politely declined.
No one expected her to visit today of her own accord.
Luo Tan was overjoyed to hear of Feng Anning's arrival and immediately dragged Shen Miao to the main hall. In Fixed Capital, aside from Shen Miao, Feng Anning was Luo Tan's only friend. One was fiery yet straightforward, while the other was bold and unrestrained—they got along splendidly. Having not seen Feng Anning for so long after the incident, Luo Tan was practically bursting with excitement.
When they reached the main hall, they saw Luo Xueyan chatting with Feng Anning. Feng Anning was dressed in a moon-white short jacket and brocade skirt, her hair styled in a Fallen horse bun, adorned with pearl earrings and a Glass hairpin. She looked much more demure than usual. Luo Tan called out, "Feng Anning!" and rushed over.
Shen Miao, however, noticed a young man in his early twenties seated beside Feng Anning. He had delicate features and wore a well-fitted dark blue brocade robe, his demeanor gentle and courteous. Noticing Shen Miao's gaze, he gave her a slight nod, his manners impeccable.
There was a faint resemblance between him and Feng Anning.
Luo Tan finally noticed the stranger and asked, "And this is...?"
Luo Xueyan looked slightly awkward. It was improper for young ladies to meet unrelated men without reason, but considering Feng Anning's purpose for visiting today, she felt torn between happiness and concern.
Feng Anning took the initiative to explain, "This is my elder brother."
Shen Miao understood. The Feng family's legitimate children were Feng Anning and her eldest brother, Feng Zixian. This must be him.
Feng Zixian stood and cupped his hands in greeting to Shen Miao and Luo Tan, who quickly returned the courtesy. Luo Tan glanced at him curiously before turning back to Feng Anning. "Anning, did you come today to play with us?"
If Feng Anning had come solely to visit Shen Miao and Luo Tan, she wouldn't have brought Feng Zixian along. This was quite puzzling—what exactly was Feng Anning's intention?
Feng Anning remained silent, looking at Feng Zixian instead. He flushed slightly but spoke up, "Today, I came because I heard from Brother Shen Qiu of the Ministry of War that your family is seeking a son-in-law... I... I boldly offer myself as a candidate. I apologize for any impropriety and hope the ladies will forgive my forwardness." His face reddened further as he averted Luo Tan's probing gaze.
Luo Xueyan appeared embarrassed, though her eyes sparkled with delight. Luo Tan's mouth fell open, clearly not expecting this turn of events. Shen Miao was momentarily stunned, her emotions indescribable.Feng Zixian's words were quite bold. Typically, those who came to propose a match would either hire a matchmaker to persuade or have their own parents come to assess and test the waters. It was rare for someone to come forward on their own. Yet, although he came forward himself, he had elders present by his side, ensuring no breach of etiquette. Even if word got out, no one could cast aspersions on Shen Miao's virtue. It showed he was a man who understood propriety well.
Shen Miao remained silent, but Feng Anning took the initiative to speak. Glancing at Shen Miao, the usually proud and haughty Feng Anning had now subdued her innate arrogance, likely still feeling guilty over past events. Her tone carried a hint of tentative flattery. She said, "We've all heard the rumors. Now, even the officials in Fixed Capital are wary, but marrying into the Eastern Palace isn’t your best choice. Why not... why not marry my elder brother instead? He excels in both literary and martial arts, and his character is upright and unyielding. If you marry into our household, I’ll also support you, ensuring you’re well taken care of in every way."
Feng Anning had always been straightforward, and her words, though blunt, were genuinely considerate of Shen Miao. Luo Xueyan's expression softened considerably. Shen Miao asked, "Does Lady Feng and Lord Feng know about this?"
Feng Anning hesitated before replying, "Originally, Father disagreed, but after our persuasion, he relented and let us have our way. My father has a sharp tongue but a soft heart—he’s just stubborn with words but is actually very principled. He definitely won’t interfere much."
Shen Miao had no doubts about this. Just by observing Feng Anning’s straightforward and guileless nature, it was clear Lord Feng was likely someone who appeared shrewd but wasn’t necessarily so.
She then turned to Feng Zixian and asked, "Does Feng Gongzi also pity me and wish to extend a helping hand by marrying me?"
Her words left everyone momentarily stunned.
Luo Xueyan was taken aback because, when faced with a matter concerning her lifelong future, Shen Miao showed no trace of shyness or any other emotion, treating it with such calmness that it seemed peculiar. Feng Zixian, on the other hand, hadn’t expected Shen Miao to ask such a direct question.
He quickly regained his composure and said, "My younger sister has spoken of you many times before. Zixian admires your talent and character... This time, it’s merely a fortunate coincidence. I dare not claim it as extending a helping hand." As he spoke, his face grew increasingly flushed.
Luo Tan couldn’t help but chuckle at this, while Shen Miao felt somewhat helpless. She had no idea how Feng Anning usually described her to Feng Zixian, to the point where even "talent and character" were mentioned.
Feng Anning watched Shen Miao nervously and said, "My elder brother is definitely better than the Crown Prince."
Shen Miao nearly laughed aloud. If others heard this, they would surely accuse Feng Anning of disrespect. But the fact that Feng Anning could say such a thing showed she truly held Shen Miao in her heart. Shen Miao then studied Feng Zixian, whose features bore some resemblance to Feng Anning’s. His expression was open and honest—he seemed like a righteous man.
Shen Miao smiled and said, "We can’t decide my marriage in just a few short sentences. That would be unfair to me, and also rather unfair to Feng Gongzi."Luo Xueyan listened to Shen Miao's words, her mind swirling with thoughts. It was clear that Shen Miao had other ideas about her own marriage. Yet, as a mother, Luo Xueyan couldn't fathom what exactly Shen Miao was planning. Shen Miao didn’t want to marry into the Eastern Palace, and she didn’t seem particularly interested in any of the promising young men they had considered. This left Luo Xueyan feeling anxious.
She had initially thought no one would dare oppose the imperial family by proposing to the Shen household. Yet unexpectedly, three suitors had come forward—Luo Ling, Su Mingfeng, and Feng Zixian—any one of whom would have been satisfactory. But Shen Miao seemed indifferent to all of them.
Feng Anning said, "But if you don’t hurry, there won’t be any time left."
Her words held truth. No one knew when the imperial decree would arrive. In the past, there would have been plenty of time for Shen Miao to think things through, but once the decree was issued, there would be no room for negotiation.
Shen Miao waved her hand dismissively and was about to speak when suddenly, Jing Zhe rushed in from outside, exclaiming urgently, "Miss, someone from the palace has arrived!"
Luo Xueyan’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Not daring to let anyone discover the Feng siblings were present, Luo Xueyan took Shen Miao to the front hall to receive the messenger. After the eunuch delivered his message, they learned it wasn’t to announce the imperial decree but to summon Shen Miao alone to the palace the next day—the Empress wished to speak with her.
Once the eunuch left, Luo Xueyan’s expression darkened. Though no decree had been issued, the situation was hardly better. If the Empress brought up the decree during Shen Miao’s audience, it would be difficult for her to refuse alone. Even if the decree wasn’t mentioned, who knew what intimidating words the Empress might say? Sending Shen Miao alone to face the Empress was already a sinister move.
Feng Anning and Feng Zixian were both worried, but Shen Miao reassured them not to dwell on it. After the Feng siblings left, Luo Tan asked, "Little cousin, what do we do now? Should we finalize the marriage as soon as possible?"
"A marriage can’t be settled overnight. There’s still the matter of matching birthdates, exchanging marriage certificates, and arranging for a matchmaker to officiate. There’s far too much to do—it’s impossible to complete before tomorrow," Shen Miao replied.
Luo Tan was stunned. "There’s actually so much involved?" She then added, "Little cousin seems to know all about it."
Shen Miao paused. Of course she knew—in her past life, she had watched these steps unfold with joy, eager to marry into the household of the one she loved.
Little had she known it would become a grave that devoured her without spitting out bones.
Luo Xueyan looked at Shen Miao seriously. "Jiaojiao, tell me—among these men, who do you like?"
"It’s not so much about liking," Shen Miao smiled. "Let’s just choose the most suitable one. There’s no need to rush, Mother. We can decide after I return from the palace tomorrow. Who knows? More suitable candidates might appear."
Luo Xueyan was taken aback. Shen Miao always seemed indifferent about her marriage, showing no anticipation for her future husband, which unsettled Luo Xueyan. After Shen Miao left, she murmured to herself, "Could it be… Jiaojiao still has lingering feelings for Prince Ding…?"
Shen Miao was completely unaware of her mother’s thoughts. She had already prepared for the worst—nothing more than a mutual destruction with the imperial family. She had the resolve to sever her own wrist if necessary. The only question was whether the Fu Family was willing to sacrifice their reputation.Even in the worst of situations, one must not lose hope—after all, they were still alive, weren’t they?
She thought this, yet her gaze darkened as she glanced at the window, finally feeling a hint of irritation. She instructed Gu Yu, "Close the window tighter. I want to rest."
...
The Crown Prince’s intention to take Shen Miao as his concubine had caused officials to avoid any association with the Shen family. The matter had spread like wildfire—if it reached the ears of the court, it naturally reached the princes as well.
At Prince Zhou’s residence, Jing Wang and Prince Zhou sat at a table discussing the matter.
"After fighting with the sixth brother and his faction for so long, who would’ve thought the Crown Prince would swoop in and take advantage?" Prince Zhou downed his wine in frustration. "The Crown Prince always seemed so meek, but now he’s suddenly sharp-witted."
Jing Wang, more composed than his brother, shook his head. "I suspect this isn’t just the Crown Prince’s idea—His Majesty likely had a hand in it. The Emperor has long been displeased with us and Prince Li’s faction. The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir, after all. His Majesty favors him, which is why he wants to give the Shen family’s military power to the Crown Prince as leverage."
"His Majesty is growing senile," Prince Zhou sneered. "They say the capable bear more burdens, but that sickly Crown Prince—how many years could he even wield the Shen family’s military power? He might not even live long enough to warm the seat before kicking the bucket, leaving it all for someone else." His words were venomous, practically a curse for the Crown Prince’s early death. Yet, beneath the malice, Prince Zhou’s tone was thick with envy. If the Crown Prince gained the Shen family’s military power, his strength would surge, not only allowing him to rival Prince Zhou and Prince Li but possibly even surpass them.
The Crown Prince already had the advantage of legitimacy. With the Shen family’s military power, his chances of success would multiply—how could Prince Zhou not feel anxious?
"In that case, it would’ve been better if that little miss from the Shen family had married the ninth brother instead of falling into the Crown Prince’s hands," Prince Zhou muttered darkly.
"The ninth brother?" Jing Wang smiled meaningfully. "Fourth Brother, the ninth brother isn’t as simple as you think."
"You mean the matter between Shen Wan and Prince Qin?" Prince Zhou frowned. "No matter how you look at it, someone must’ve been pulling the strings behind the scenes. Even if it’s true, it only means he has ambition. Let’s be honest—which of us nine brothers doesn’t covet the throne? The ninth brother refuses to side with anyone because he wants to stand alone. But ambition alone isn’t enough—he needs the capability to back it up. He barely participates in court affairs—what official would follow him?"
Fu Xiuyi had been seen frequently associating with Shen Wan and had unclear ties with the Qin Crown Prince. Though the other princes had heard of this and were wary of Fu Xiuyi, they didn’t consider him a primary threat. The reason was simple—Fu Xiuyi had long avoided involvement in court matters. Even if he had ambition, he lacked the foundation. At best, he was an overreaching dreamer, overshadowed by more pressing rivals.
Jing Wang shook his head. "Fourth Brother, don’t underestimate the ninth brother. I’ve always felt he hides his true depths."
Prince Zhou waved impatiently. "Enough about the ninth brother. I called you here today to discuss something important." He lowered his voice. "We can’t just stand by and let the Shen family’s military power fall into the Crown Prince’s hands. If he gains it, and with the imperial grandson already born—His Majesty clearly intends to bolster him—our chances will shrink even further. I’ve fought Prince Li for so long—I won’t let the Crown Prince reap the rewards."
"What do you propose, Fourth Brother?""This marriage alliance must not be allowed," Prince Zhou said with a cruel smile. "It would be best if it turned into enmity instead."
"There are countless ways to create enmity. Which method does Fourth Brother prefer?" Jing Wang asked.
"Naturally, a blood feud," Prince Zhou replied, setting down his wine cup. "That Shen girl was once infatuated with Ninth Brother, so she must be unwilling to marry the Crown Prince. Since that's the case, the imperial family shouldn't force her. Why not help her find release?"
"Targeting Shen Miao won't be easy," Jing Wang said. "After she was kidnapped last time, Shen Xin doubled her guards. The security is tight—how do we act?"
Prince Zhou smiled. "If we can't do it outside, we can do it inside the palace." He looked smug. "Once inside the palace, no matter how many guards she has, they'll have to wait outside. The palace is our domain. I've heard that tomorrow, the Shen girl will enter the palace alone. After she meets the Empress, that will be our opportunity. It couldn't be simpler."
"Acting in the palace is easy, but it's also easy to arouse suspicion during the investigation," Jing Wang pointed out.
"Heh, that's why this is a two-birds-with-one-stone plan," Prince Zhou chuckled. "What if we make it look like Sixth Brother's doing?"
Jing Wang's eyes lit up.
The two brothers had been locked in a stalemate with Prince Li's faction for years. If Shen Miao were to meet with misfortune in the palace, Shen Xin, who doted on her, would surely blame the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince hadn't insisted on marrying Shen Miao, she wouldn't have come to harm—thus, enmity would be sown between the Crown Prince and the Shen family. And if it was later discovered that Prince Li was behind it, he wouldn't escape unscathed either.
To eliminate two formidable rivals without lifting a finger—what could be better?
Jing Wang smiled. "Fourth Brother's plan is excellent, but we must arrange the details carefully to avoid leaving any traces. Summon my advisors."
...
As fate would have it, while Prince Zhou's residence was plotting Shen Miao's assassination the next day, Prince Li's residence was also racking their brains over the same matter.
Prince Li smiled amiably at his two brothers and asked, "What do you think?"
Prince Xiang, cautious and timid by nature, shivered at Prince Li's cheerful demeanor. Prince Li had always been a wolf in sheep's clothing—outwardly genial, but ruthless when it came to action. "Isn't this too risky?" he ventured.
Prince Cheng, however, disagreed. "What's so risky about it? We can't let the Crown Prince marry the Shen girl and gain control of the Shen family's military power for nothing. Sixth Brother and Prince Zhou have been fighting for years without a clear winner. That sickly Crown Prince might not even live long enough to enjoy his spoils."
Prince Cheng was known for his blunt and reckless speech, and his words were undeniably audacious. Yet they clearly pleased Prince Li, who said, "Eighth Brother is right. The Crown Prince gaining the Shen family's military power is unacceptable to me. If this marriage goes through, not only I but both of you will also be implicated—that won't do. I proposed assassinating the Shen girl to cut off the problem at its root. Though she is innocent, in the end, she is being dragged into this by the Crown Prince."
Prince Li spoke of the assassination with a smile, his tone devoid of any pity despite his words of sympathy for Shen Miao's innocence.
"But how do we pin this on Prince Zhou?" Prince Xiang asked quietly."Prince Zhou has always acted recklessly. It's reasonable for him to make such a move in a fit of impulse. His Majesty already holds grievances against him. When trying to support the Crown Prince, losing the Shen family's military power due to Prince Zhou would only make His Majesty punish him severely," Prince Li mused.
"A two-for-one strike—an excellent idea," Prince Cheng said bluntly. "I support Sixth Brother."
Prince Xiang remained silent, but whether he spoke or not was irrelevant. Both he and Prince Cheng followed Prince Li's lead. Prince Li's decision represented theirs as well. If they succeeded, they would rise together; if they failed, they would suffer together. This was the "shared fortune and hardship" they had understood from the beginning.
With a quiet sigh in his heart, he could only hope that tomorrow's assassination attempt on Shen Miao would proceed smoothly.
...
The night was as dark as ink, and the winter wind cut sharply against the face, carrying a biting chill as if knives were scraping the skin. Water fetched during the day had frozen overnight in buckets left outside, sticking firmly to the ground by morning, impossible to move.
Upstairs in the inn, by the window, a young man in purple robes stood with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly knit, lost in thought. Suddenly, a snow-white pigeon flew in from outside, landing on the windowsill before him. A thin layer of frost had formed on its feathers—flying in such cold weather must have been bitterly harsh.
Xie Jingxing retrieved a small silver tube from the pigeon's leg and casually tossed the bird behind him. The room was warm from the burning charcoal brazier, and the pigeon tilted its body, fluttering onto the desk inside, pecking at the corn kernels in a small bowl.
Xie Jingxing unrolled a tiny scroll from the silver tube, read it, then tossed it into the brazier, where it turned to ash. Tie Yi entered from outside and approached Xie Jingxing from behind. "Master, the carriage and horses are ready. We depart for the capital at dawn tomorrow."
Xie Jingxing gave a faint "Mm."
Tie Yi did not retreat but hesitated, watching Xie Jingxing's back as if unsure whether to speak.
"Speak if you have something to say," Xie Jingxing said without turning around.
Tie Yi stiffened and quickly replied, "Master, news from Fixed Capital says that Shen Xin has been selecting suitable young talents for Fifth Miss Shen these past few days, seemingly with the intention of arranging a marriage."
Xie Jingxing did not turn. Tie Yi stared at his master's elegant, pine-like silhouette and, for some reason, felt his scalp prickle. He wasn't sure if he should have mentioned this, inwardly lamenting. Neither Ji Yushu nor Gao Yang had brought it up in their letters from Fixed Capital. If Xie Jingxing later blamed them, it might seem as though Tie Yi had stirred trouble.
But if he didn't speak, the matter was too significant. If Xie Jingxing found out later and irreversible consequences followed, his position as the personal Shadow Guard would be forfeit—perhaps even his life.
Between loyalty and survival, Tie Yi decisively chose the latter.
He continued, "Su Mingfeng of the Su family, Luo Ling of the Luo family, and Feng Zixian, the eldest son of the Feng family, have all visited the Shen residence."
"Feng Zixian?" The young man turned, fixing his gaze on Tie Yi. "Why did Feng Zixian visit?"Tie Yi felt a chill run down his spine but forced himself to continue, "Because Shen Xin is in a hurry to marry off Fifth Miss Shen. There are rumors from the palace that the Crown Prince intends to take Fifth Miss Shen as his concubine. The Shen family doesn’t want her to enter the Eastern Palace, so they’re trying to marry her off before the Imperial decree arrives. The Feng family’s young lady is close friends with Fifth Miss Shen and deliberately sought out her elder brother to help resolve the situation..."
"When did the palace spread this news?" Xie Jingxing asked slowly, his voice coated in ice.
Tie Yi didn’t dare meet Xie Jingxing’s gaze, his head nearly touching the ground as he replied, "Five days ago."
"A message from five days ago only arrives now?" Xie Jingxing wasn’t angry—he laughed instead, though a flash of fury passed through his striking peach-blossom eyes. "I didn’t realize I’d raised a bunch of useless fools."
The air in the room suddenly turned colder, seemingly more frigid than the outdoors. Despite the warm glow of the charcoal brazier, the pigeon on the table let out a soft coo and tucked its head back into its feathers.
Tie Yi was on the verge of tears but still had to finish his report. "The palace sent word to the Shen family today. Tomorrow, Fifth Miss Shen is to enter the palace alone—the Empress wishes to speak with her."
Before he could finish, the strikingly handsome young man in the purple robe flashed past him and was already at the door. He casually grabbed the fox-fur cloak hanging nearby and draped it over his shoulders, his voice icy. "Prepare the horses."
Tie Yi was stunned. "Master, but it's not until tomorrow morning—"
Xie Jingxing shot him a cold glance, and Tie Yi shivered, immediately falling silent.
That night, the wind howled and snow swirled, the chill seeping into bones. Some tossed and turned in warm beds, unable to sleep; others schemed murder and theft in opulent mansions. Some sat high in the nine-layered palaces, directing the fate of nations as if it were their birthright, while others rode noble steeds through wind and snow under the stars, traveling a thousand miles in haste.
Some rejoiced, some grieved, some were restless with anxiety, and some swaggered with pride. The vast, picturesque lands of Ming Qi seemed peaceful, and the Fixed Capital was alive with song and dance. As the year drew to a close, laughter and cheer filled every corner, yet no one noticed the undercurrents of turbulence beneath the calm surface.
In a certain room at Prince Ding's Residence, a man played chess against himself.
Dressed in a simple blue robe, he sat before a scattered board, black and white pieces tangled in an intricate mess. Each move required long deliberation, as if he had reached an impasse—the black piece in his hand hovered, unable to find its place.
The lamp flickered weakly, nearly extinguished. He rose to refill the oil, and the room brightened once more. His features were noble and refined, the very image of a gentleman, with an air of quiet pride and unyielding integrity. Yet his brows were knit with an unshakable melancholy.
This man was Pei Lang.
Pei Lang gazed out at the stormy night and sighed deeply.
Fu Xiuyi's move in this game was indeed well-played. By diverting trouble elsewhere, whether it succeeded or failed, it had no connection to him. And no matter the outcome—whether the Crown Prince suffered, Prince Zhou or Prince Li fell into misfortune, or the Shen family was implicated—it would all work to Fu Xiuyi's advantage.
In this chess game, Shen Miao had almost no viable moves left. Even if she did, they would be desperate gambits at best. This match was one where Fu Xiuyi stood to gain no matter what.
Pei Lang couldn't help but worry for Shen Miao.
He didn't know why he felt this concern. If Shen Miao died, he could rightfully pledge himself to Fu Xiuyi, who held him in high regard. If his judgment was correct, Fu Xiuyi had the makings of an emperor. In time, Pei Lang himself would rise to prominence, enjoying untold wealth and luxury—and he could better protect Liuying from the shadows.
Yet, he still didn’t want Shen Miao to lose.
Recently, Fu Xiuyi had grown suspicious of a spy in his household and doubled the guards at Prince Ding's Residence. Not even a fly could slip in, let alone a message. Pei Lang had no way to communicate with Shen Miao through letters and could only watch anxiously from the sidelines.
He had heard that Shen Miao was to enter the palace alone tomorrow. Coincidentally, he too had business there the next day—though he was merely a minor official under Fu Xiuyi's employ.
Shen Miao had run out of options. But in the face of utter desperation, might there still be a sliver of hope?A moment later, Pei Lang looked at the chessboard before him—it was already a deadlock, pointless to continue. Pressing one hand against the corner of the table, he suddenly flipped it over with a swift motion.
With just that light toss, all the chess pieces scattered instantly, clattering to the ground in a crisp, chaotic symphony.
The floor was left in complete disarray.
The original situation—now utterly erased.
[Author's Note]
Many readers requested an official reader group, so I've created one. Group number: 456117590, group name: Tea Tea Official Group. The entry requirement is your membership name + fan tier (e.g., Xiliang + Jieyuan). After joining, provide the admin with screenshots of all current VIP chapter subscriptions for verification. Once approved, we can all have fun together~ The old group will be disbanded.
My Weibo is @Qianshan Chake. Feel free to leave a message if you have any questions. :-D
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