The pattern on the peace pendant was exceptionally unique, instantly recognizable. Luo Ling's expression turned extremely grim as he asked, "May I ask... where did Prince Rui obtain the peace pendant at your waist?"
Shen Qiu gave Luo Ling a surprised glance. Luo Ling was usually a man of great propriety, steady and composed in public. Yet now he was abruptly questioning Prince Rui—this was rather presumptuous. When Prince Rui greeted you, it meant he was in good spirits and you were honored. But if you initiated conversation with Prince Rui, it depended entirely on whether he deigned to respond.
Unexpectedly, Prince Rui was unusually accommodating today. He unfastened the peace pendant from his waist, twirling it lazily in his hand as he replied with a smile, "This? A young lady gave it to me."
Shen Qiu: "..."
Prince Rui was speaking far too much today. Why was he sharing these "romantic affairs" with two complete strangers? Shen Qiu felt extremely awkward—the more one knew, the sooner they'd meet their end. He had absolutely no interest in Prince Rui's private matters. Why was Luo Ling asking such unnecessary questions?
Luo Ling's face grew even paler, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the pendant in Prince Rui's hand. However, Prince Rui merely glanced at him before casually reattaching the pendant to his waist. Turning to Shen Qiu, he said, "This prince has matters to attend to and won't linger. General Shen, should you find the time in the future, you are welcome to visit Prince Rui's Residence." He added with a faint smirk, "This prince would very much like to spar with you."
With that, he tugged the reins, his horse rearing before galloping away in a flourish, leaving Shen Qiu and Luo Ling standing dumbfounded in place.
Shen Qiu muttered to himself, "Could Prince Rui be trying to win me over?" Why else would Prince Rui invite him to his residence out of the blue? Shen Qiu dared say Prince Rui had never extended such an invitation to any of Ming Qi's princes.
Though his martial skills were indeed outstanding—perhaps Prince Rui had taken a liking to them at first sight. Just as Shen Qiu was preening over this thought, he noticed Luo Ling's unusually disturbed expression. Puzzled, he asked, "Cousin, what's wrong? Are you unwell? You look terrible."
Luo Ling snapped out of his daze and forced a smile. "It's nothing. Let's go back."
"Alright." Shen Qiu glanced once more at the street where Prince Rui had disappeared and remarked, "Seems Prince Rui is quite fond of that girl, carrying a token of affection at his waist. I wonder which young lady is so fortunate—she must be overjoyed."
Oblivious as ever, Shen Qiu failed to notice how unsteady Luo Ling's steps were on their way back, as though he had suffered some devastating blow.
...
As expected, Huangfu Hao's assassination attempt in Ming Qi ultimately entangled many in its complications. Though the Crown Prince's faction continued to plead his innocence, the Ministry of Justice remained inactive, seemingly intent on keeping the Crown Prince imprisoned indefinitely.
Emperor Wenhui's actions also prompted court officials to reassess their allegiances. With the Crown Prince imprisoned, some, sensing the shifting tides, swiftly defected to other princes' factions. The court's power dynamics underwent another transformation—though these were matters for later.
The night was chilly. Earlier that day, Shen Miao and Luo Tan had gone out to purchase fabrics for the New Year. Luo Xueyan insisted that as young ladies, they needed several new outfits, and they had practically combed through the entire Fixed Capital. By the time they returned to the residence, even Shen Miao, who was usually resilient, felt thoroughly exhausted.After having Jing Zhe and Gu Yu prepare the bathwater, Shen Miao emerged from her bath to find an extra person in the room.
When Xie Jingxing turned around, he saw Shen Miao dressed in her undergarment, one hand holding a towel as she wrung out her damp hair.
The girl was different from two years ago. Though still petite in stature, she now resembled a budding flower—fresh and fragrant. The loose undergarment, slightly damp, seemed to hint at the graceful figure beneath. Under the flickering lamplight, her lips were red, her teeth white, and her eyes appeared misty. Her dark, wet hair clung to her cheeks, and the further down one looked, the more one could glimpse the faintest traces of snow-white skin...
Xie Jingxing averted his gaze. Before Shen Miao could react, a thick cloak was flung over her head, nearly knocking her off balance. Clutching the cloak tightly, she snapped, "What are you doing?"
"Put it on," Xie Jingxing frowned. "No one will take care of you if you catch a cold."
Shen Miao was furious—this man had a way of making even kind words sound irritating—but she did feel a chill, so she wrapped the cloak around herself.
Only then did Xie Jingxing glance back at her. Seeing that Shen Miao seemed entirely unfazed by the presence of a man in her room, continuing to wring her hair with calm indifference, the corner of his mouth twitched.
It was no wonder Shen Miao lacked such concerns. In her past life, she had adored Fu Xiuyi, but it had always been one-sided—never mutual. At most, Fu Xiuyi had feigned gratitude and respect toward her. As for those heart-fluttering moments... there had been none. Later, she became the Empress, spending her days surrounded by the palace's countless beauties and eunuchs, so she saw nothing improper about her current state.
Still wringing her hair, she walked over and sat down. Noticing Xie Jingxing studying her thoughtfully, she inexplicably felt her face grow warm and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"I thought you’d never be shy," Xie Jingxing said lazily. "Good. Now I can rest easy."
Shen Miao was baffled.
Xie Jingxing propped his chin on his hand and asked, "Why did you call me here?"
Earlier, Shen Miao had asked Cong Yang to find a way to summon Xie Jingxing. Since there was already a messenger in the house, she might as well make use of him. And Cong Yang was indeed efficient—here Xie Jingxing was now.
Shen Miao paused in wringing her hair, hesitating before asking, "It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Mr. Pei. Could you check Prince Ding's Residence for me? Has something happened to him?" When she uttered "Mr. Pei," she hesitated slightly. She had never voluntarily spoken to Xie Jingxing about Pei Lang, but given Xie Jingxing’s methods, he had likely long since uncovered Pei Lang’s connection to her. Pei Lang used to send her letters every few days with updates about Prince Ding's Residence, but there had been no word from him lately. Shen Miao suspected something was wrong. If not for Xie Jingxing, she would have gone straight to Fengxian Pawnshop. But since Xie Jingxing was here—and Ji Yushu was aligned with him—she might as well entrust the matter to him.
At her words, Xie Jingxing’s gaze paused, and he looked at her meaningfully. "Pei Lang?" he said coolly. "You care about him a lot."
Shen Miao frowned. "I’m not the kind to burn bridges." No matter how much resentment she harbored toward Pei Lang from her past life, in this life, he was on her side. She couldn’t bring herself to betray his trust.Xie Jingxing nodded casually, "Alright, I'll look into it for you."
Shen Miao: "..." Why did she feel like Xie Jingxing was just giving a perfunctory response?
The two fell into silence, the atmosphere turning awkward. Shen Miao changed the subject and asked, "I heard the Crown Prince hasn’t been released yet. What’s the situation in the palace now?"
Xie Jingxing glanced at her and said, "No need to worry. The Crown Prince is about to meet his end."
Shen Miao was taken aback. "What?"
"The Emperor of Qin has issued his final ultimatum to the old emperor. If the Crown Prince isn’t dealt with to avenge Huangfu Hao, Qin will send troops to attack Ming Qi." Xie Jingxing watched the tea leaves swirl in his cup, his tone unreadable. "At this critical juncture, the old emperor wouldn’t dare take the risk."
Shen Miao said, "So the final ultimatum has already been issued? No wonder... But," she looked up at Xie Jingxing, "for the threat to come so quickly, it seems the Emperor of Qin hasn’t even investigated the truth behind it. He’s determined to make the Crown Prince the scapegoat? Why? Doesn’t he want to catch the real culprit who killed his son?" In Shen Miao’s mind, though she had anticipated this outcome, she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. After all, a death was no trivial matter. At the very least, the Emperor of Qin should have conducted an investigation, and Emperor Wenhui and the other side should have been locked in a stalemate for some time.
Xie Jingxing smirked. "Naïve."
Shen Miao: "..." It had been a while since anyone called her naïve.
Xie Jingxing continued, "The royal family only cares about results. The truth doesn’t matter—Huangfu Hao isn’t coming back to life." He toyed with his teacup and said coolly, "Qin has lost a crown prince and a princess, but that doesn’t mean they lack other suitable heirs. However, Qin’s court must be in chaos over this. Since Qin is wary of Ming Qi, they naturally want Ming Qi to pay an equal price."
"Whether the Crown Prince is the murderer or not, he must die." Xie Jingxing’s smile was icy. "Only with the Crown Prince’s death will Ming Qi and Qin be even."
Shen Miao inwardly drew a sharp breath.
Xie Jingxing’s words were indeed ruthless, but they tore away the gilded veneer. Ming Qi and Qin had been evenly matched in strength, but now that Qin had lost a crown prince, the power struggle among the princes would likely plunge the court into further chaos. If Ming Qi remained unscathed, it would only fuel resentment.
No matter what, the first instinct of someone trapped in quicksand isn’t to find a way out—it’s to drag others down with them. So-called alliances of shared fortune and hardship were nothing more than bonds of interest, meticulously calculated for gain.
Emperor Wenhui must have already realized this. Soon, the Crown Prince would become the counterweight to balance this injustice. Ming Qi had gained a crown prince; now, it would erase one.
No matter how reluctant, for the sake of the realm, what must be sacrificed would be sacrificed.
Shen Miao remained silent.
Xie Jingxing, however, smiled. "Killing two birds with one stone. You did well."
Shen Miao said, "I only came up with the idea. You’re the one who made it happen."
This scheme had been Shen Miao’s brainchild, but Xie Jingxing was the one who perfected it. With his network of capable and extraordinary individuals, calculating the Crown Prince’s and Huangfu Hao’s separate routes, timing everything precisely, and executing the act flawlessly—none of it could have been achieved easily.
Shen Miao believed Xie Jingxing deserved the most credit.Xie Jingxing smiled faintly without confirming or denying anything.
After chatting for a while longer, Shen Miao's hair had dried, and she yawned sleepily twice. Seeing this, Xie Jingxing prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to go, Shen Miao suddenly called out to him. Hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, "Has Rong Xin Princess been looking for you recently?"
"No," Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow.
"Then... what do you plan to do?"
Without turning back, Xie Jingxing leaped out the window, tossing back three words:
"Nothing much."
...
Shen Dongling and Wang Bi were locked in the innermost cell of the prison. Whether Emperor Wenhui intended to demonstrate fairness by not randomly arresting people, he had not touched the rest of the Wang family.
But that didn’t mean the situation was any better. The Assistant Minister's household had only Wang Bi as its sole heir. If anything happened to him, the Wang family would likely be finished.
The prison guards showed no kindness to the two. This prison had held many high-ranking officials who had fallen from grace—once power was lost, everything was lost. Besides, an Assistant Minister wasn’t a particularly high-ranking official, hardly deserving of any special treatment.
Shen Dongling was utterly humiliated.
Just days ago, she had dreamed of future prosperity, never imagining such an outcome. In times of wealth and comfort, she and Wang Bi had treated each other with respect and harmony. But once disaster struck, the hidden cracks and conflicts between the shrewd Wang Bi and the equally shrewd Shen Dongling surfaced.
Wang Bi blamed Shen Dongling—after all, the idea of the incense competition had been hers. Who could have known it would land them both in prison? Wang Bi was no fool. If even the Crown Prince hadn’t been freed yet, what hope did they have? Most importantly, the Crown Prince was at least the heir apparent, with the Empress fighting for him. What did the Wang family have besides silver that couldn’t be revealed to the world?
Shen Dongling could only defend herself. How could she have known Huangfu Hao would inexplicably die? This was all a conspiracy. Someone had plotted against the Crown Prince and dragged them into it—she was innocent.
But today, a guard came with food different from the usual.
The meal was surprisingly fresh, even containing meat. Shen Dongling was somewhat delighted. These days, their prison food was often spoiled or dry and hard to swallow. Seeing such a feast, she was pleasantly surprised and asked, "Brother, is this for us?"
The guard gave her a strange smile and said, "Yes, it’s for you."
Wang Bi, however, suddenly realized something, his expression turning grim. He asked, "Brother... what does this mean?"
"Ah, finally someone understands," the guard replied. "Eat this last meal well. It’s time to go."
Shen Dongling’s chopsticks clattered to the ground, her ears refusing to believe what she’d just heard.
Wang Bi, on the other hand, collapsed onto the floor as if he had expected this all along, his strength drained in an instant, unable to stand again."Big brother, what's going on?" Shen Dongling suddenly became agitated, as if unable to believe the reality, her voice twisting into something sharp and shrill. She asked, "When can we be released? We're innocent! The assassination attempt on the Qin Crown Prince has nothing to do with us. We've been locked up for so long—hasn't the matter been clarified yet? When can we go home?" She spoke rapidly, as if speed could dispel the fear in her heart.
This was the first time Wang Bi had seen Shen Dongling in such a state of disarray. He stared at her, dumbfounded and silent.
The jailer frowned at Shen Dongling's outburst, taking two steps back before replying impatiently, "Don't even think about it. Even His Highness the Crown Prince has been convicted. What makes you think you're innocent?"
Wang Bi froze. "His Highness has confessed?"
The jailer snorted through his nose. "That's right. Whether you're innocent or not, being implicated alongside His Highness is an honor for you. Besides..." The jailer smirked maliciously. "Even if you're innocent here, the Wang family's involvement in salt smuggling isn't a minor crime."
Wang Bi trembled, forcing himself to ask, "H-how did this come to light?"
"How should I know?" The jailer waved his hand dismissively. "That's just what everyone's saying outside." He glanced at Wang Bi again. "I heard when they raided the Wang residence, they carried out boxes of gold and silver—took them a whole noon to finish. Since you've enjoyed such wealth, you can't complain about this life. Best accept your fate, Young Master Wang, and hope for better reincarnation."
Shen Dongling's heart sank like a stone. If there had been any sliver of hope before, the exposure of the salt smuggling meant she and Wang Bi truly had no way out.
With the national treasury depleted and Emperor Wenhui himself struggling financially, the Wang family's illicit salt trade—amassing obscene wealth—would inevitably face severe punishment. Now that the Wang residence had been raided, it was likely no one in the family would escape unscathed.
The world seemed to spin around Shen Dongling. She had schemed so meticulously, arranging this marriage through the exchange with Shen Yue, and had been thoroughly satisfied with the Wang family. Though not the most powerful, their wealth ensured a comfortable life that would only improve. How had it come to this—imprisoned, their prosperity vanished like smoke?
She couldn't accept it.
If she hadn't suggested that idea to Wang Bi, could they have avoided this disaster? Huangfu Hao wouldn't have died, the Crown Prince wouldn't have been falsely accused, and they wouldn't have become collateral victims. Why had she been so bewitched that day, plotting against Shen Miao? She knew better than anyone that those who opposed Shen Miao met terrible ends—why had she charged headlong into ruin?
Shen Miao... That's right, Shen Miao.
This disaster had reached such extremes—it must have been Shen Miao's doing behind the scenes.Shen Dongling suddenly had a stroke of inspiration. She took off a bracelet from her wrist—most of her jewelry had been used up to bribe the jailers after she was imprisoned. This bracelet had been given to her by Madam Wang on her wedding day and was extremely valuable, almost enough to buy a shop in a remote area. She pressed the bracelet into the jailer’s hand and pleaded urgently, “Brother, please do me a favor. Find my fifth sister and pass her a message. Tell her I have something to say to her.” She added earnestly, “A dying person’s words are sincere. Please help me one last time.”
She was naturally beautiful, and with her pitiful demeanor and tears welling in her eyes, the jailer’s heart softened a little. He took the bracelet and said, “Fine, I’ll help you this once. But I’m only responsible for delivering the message. Whether Fifth Miss Shen comes or not is not up to me.”
Shen Dongling quickly thanked him.
Wang Bi sneered, his expression weary, though it was unclear whether he was mocking himself or Shen Dongling. He said, “Do you really think Shen Miao will come to save you?”
“Whether she comes or not, I don’t know,” Shen Dongling replied, her demeanor shifting from the meekness she had shown the jailer to something sharper and more ruthless. “If she’s willing to save me, I won’t hesitate to humble myself before her. But if she has no intention of saving me, why should only the eldest branch of the Shen family live unscathed? Since we’re family, we should share both fortune and misfortune.”
Just as Shen Dongling had anticipated, the jailer did deliver her message to Shen Miao. However, Shen Miao was direct in her refusal, cutting him off and making it clear she had no intention of going. She even had Jing Zhe give the jailer a heavy purse as a token of appreciation.
The entire Shen family estate was now gone, with only the eldest branch standing firm like an impenetrable fortress in Fixed Capital. Two years ago, Shen Xin had been demoted and exiled from the capital, yet now he had returned—more resolute than before, no longer merely humble but impossible to pin down. Even Emperor Wenhui treated him with deference. One was a prisoner, the other a powerful general. No matter what, the jailer wouldn’t risk offending a military official for the sake of a convict.
The jailer left.
Shen Miao sat before her dressing mirror as Jing Zhe combed her hair. Jing Zhe asked, “I thought you might go to see Third Miss.”
Gu Yu shot her a glare. “Why would the young lady go see her? The second and third branches of the Shen family have nothing to do with us anymore. Besides, they’ve been sentenced to death. If the young lady visits her for no reason, what if others misunderstand and drag her into trouble?”
Jing Zhe stuck out her tongue. “But didn’t the young lady see Second Miss and Eldest Miss one last time before?”
“Shen Dongling isn’t an ordinary person,” Shen Miao interjected as they argued. “She’s deliberately digging a pit for me. I won’t jump into it.”
“A pit?” Jing Zhe’s expression changed abruptly. “Are you saying Third Miss intends to harm you?”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Shen Miao replied calmly.Among the daughters of the Shen Mansion, Shen Yue and Shen Qing were ultimately spoiled by their mothers—malicious but not particularly cunning, likely due to their youth and limited perspective. Shen Dongling, however, was different. Having grown up under the oppression of Ren Wanyun alongside her mother, Wan Yiniang, with her indifferent father Shen Gui offering no support, Shen Dongling developed a resilience far beyond ordinary people. The fact that she could remain hidden in her courtyard for over a decade, lulling Ren Wanyun into complacency, was proof enough of this.
Shen Miao never underestimated such an opponent. If Shen Yue or Shen Qing suffered a heavy blow, they would panic and lose composure. But Shen Dongling—even in the direst circumstances—would seize the last opportunity to scheme. As long as she was alive, she would fight for what she wanted until the very end.
Seeing how coldly Shen Dongling treated her own father, Shen Miao doubted she harbored any genuine feelings toward her.
Gu Yu muttered fretfully, "Who knows what she’s thinking now? She’s already in prison—surely she can’t cause any more trouble."
"There’s no need to worry. As long as I don’t go, nothing will go wrong," Shen Miao reassured them. "If she wants my help, I can’t provide it, so going would be pointless. If she intends to drag me down, I simply won’t see her—there’s nothing she can do."
Jing Zhe nodded vigorously. "Yes, not going is the right choice."
Shen Miao lowered her gaze, but one thing puzzled her greatly. While the Crown Prince and Wang Bi had naturally been imprisoned due to the Huangfu Hao incident, the speed with which Emperor Wenhui's verdict had been issued was likely not just due to the Emperor of Qin's relentless pressure—it probably also had something to do with the news about the illegal salt trade.
Emperor Wenhui could not tolerate anyone amassing wealth under his very nose, not even his own son. The combined pressure from the Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wenhui's own fury had led to such a swift decision.
But... how had the news about the illegal salt trade leaked?
Was it Xie Jingxing’s doing? She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
...
Inside the palace, outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Empress had been kneeling in the courtyard for an entire day.
She had been kneeling since dawn, and even the servants' pleas had been useless. Now it was already afternoon. The winter air was bitterly cold, the ground frozen, and without any cushion beneath her knees, the prolonged kneeling would surely leave her stiff and numb. Yet the sun still shone overhead, and despite the Empress usually being in good health, sweat now dripped heavily from her brow. She clenched her teeth, silent and unmoving, her posture so rigid it seemed she might collapse at any moment.
A palace maid at her side urged, "Your Majesty, please return. His Majesty must be occupied today—why harm yourself like this? Catching a chill in this freezing weather would be terrible."
"I will kneel," the Empress said firmly. "I will kneel until His Majesty changes his mind."
When the eunuch relayed the Empress’s words to Emperor Wenhui in his study, the emperor flew into a rage. "Let her kneel! Let her kneel! If she thinks I’ll change my mind, she can forget it!"
Ever since the Crown Prince’s sentencing document had been issued, the Empress had sought an audience with Emperor Wenhui to plead for mercy. But the emperor refused to see her. Worried for her son yet powerless, the Empress could only kneel in the courtyard outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, hoping that if she endured long enough, Emperor Wenhui would eventually relent for the sake of appearances.
The Empress knew the Crown Prince had committed a grave offense. While the Huangfu Hao incident had clearly been suspicious—enough that Emperor Wenhui had still shielded his son—the illegal salt trade with the Wang family had erased the last shred of the emperor’s guilt. Now, Emperor Wenhui was too furious and disgusted with the Crown Prince to listen to the Empress’s pleas.
The Empress had no other choice. Having been married to Emperor Wenhui for so many years, she knew exactly how his mind worked. But the Crown Prince was her only son. For him, she would kneel for a lifetime—what was one day?
As the stalemate continued, a light laugh suddenly came from behind. Someone sauntered over, clad in a dazzling peach-colored Gold Thread Jacket Dress, her beauty radiant. She looked at the Empress and said, "Sister, why are you kneeling here? You gave me such a fright—I thought you were paying me such a grand tribute! Please don’t joke like this in the future."
The Empress gritted her teeth, glaring at her with hatred. This was none other than Consort Xu. Truthfully, the Empress suspected that Prince Zhou and Jing Wang had something to do with the sudden exposure of the Crown Prince’s illegal salt dealings—after all, with the Crown Prince gone, they would have one less rival.
But without proof, she couldn’t say anything. Yet Consort Xu had a talent for pouring oil on the fire.
Consort Xu smiled sweetly and asked, "Sister, why don’t you go inside? Did you do something wrong and are kneeling to beg His Majesty’s forgiveness? Should I go in and plead on your behalf?"
－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－
Shen Qiu: "It seems Prince Rui really likes that girl—he even carries her token of affection at his waist. I wonder which young lady is so fortunate. She must be overjoyed, probably laughing in her dreams."
Big Brother sure knows how to twist the knife... Luo Ling, deceased: 3ゝ∠
...
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