The Shen family had been enveloped in a peculiar atmosphere these past few days. Due to Shen Miao's imperial decree for arranged marriage, everyone was shrouded in gloom. Though they tried their best to appear joyful, their despondency was impossible to conceal.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan left early and returned late each day, likely searching for ways to annul this marriage arrangement, but to no avail. It was understandable—since Emperor Wenhui had announced the decree before the entire court, he had probably intended to crush any thought of defiance from Shen Xin. The emperor's word was final; once spoken, it could not be taken back. In previous dynasties, when a princess took a liking to a top scholar who was already married, hadn't the scholar divorced his wife and remarried just to uphold the principle that "the emperor's word is final"?
Whenever Shen Qiu saw Shen Miao, he wore a guilty expression. These days, he frequently gifted her rare treasures, saying, "Your brother isn't capable of much, so all I can do is find these trinkets for you."
Shen Miao found the family's mood rather exasperating. She knew the situation wasn't as dire as they believed, but she couldn't explain it to them. If Shen Xin learned Xie Jingxing's true intentions, who knew what kind of uproar might ensue?
In Ming Qi, she had to consider the Shen family's well-being, which made many actions inconvenient. But in Great Coolness, under Xie Jingxing's name, things would likely be much easier.
While she remained unbothered, others assumed she was merely putting on a brave face. One day, as she sat reading in her room, Bailu rushed in and said, "Miss, the madam asks you to come to the main hall at once. Prince Rui's Residence has sent the list of betrothal gifts."
Shen Miao froze. The list of betrothal gifts?
Xie Jingxing truly had the audacity. Knowing full well how unwelcome—even hated—he was by the Shen family, he still dared to send the betrothal list? Wasn't this just adding fuel to the fire?
But then again, considering Xie Jingxing's unrestrained nature, this was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
When she arrived at the main hall, she spotted Luo Xueyan from afar, holding a long scroll and examining it intently. Beside her, Shen Qiu and Shen Xin craned their necks to look. Luo Tan covered her mouth, while Luo Ling's gaze was complicated. In short, everyone's expressions were bizarre.
As Shen Miao stepped inside, she noticed another person in the room besides the Shen family. When she got a clear look at the man, she nearly choked. He was a middle-aged man with a thick beard—someone she had seen before, likely a guard who served Xie Jingxing. Cong Yang had once called him "Tie Yi." The man had an imposing and valiant air, but today he wore a bright red robe embroidered with golden peach-colored threads depicting auspicious clouds and phoenixes, likely for festive symbolism. However, Tie Yi's dark complexion clashed horribly with the outfit, stripping away his usual heroic aura and making him look utterly ridiculous.
Upon seeing her, Tie Yi saluted stiffly and said, "Royal Consort."
This time, even Shen Qiu couldn't help coughing. He glared at Tie Yi and snapped, "Don't address her like that!"
Tie Yi ignored him completely.
Shen Miao suddenly felt the urge to laugh. Was Xie Jingxing here to stir up trouble? Even if he was sending the betrothal list, he should have sent a cheerful woman to read it. Prince Rui's Residence was wealthy enough—why send a burly man like Tie Yi? Was this some kind of joke?Seeing Shen Miao standing there dazed, Luo Tan called out to her, "Little cousin, what are you standing around for? Come look at this list of betrothal gifts!" She winked at Shen Miao, appearing extremely excited.
Shen Miao walked over.
The list of betrothal gifts was exquisitely crafted—a long scroll made of fragrant wood dusted with gold powder, its cover inlaid with emerald-green cat's eye stones. Even this list alone was of considerable value. Though Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan were not vain people, Prince Rui's gesture at least demonstrated his regard for Shen Miao, and their expressions softened slightly.
Luo Xueyan handed the list to Tie Yi and said, "Read it out."
In Ming Qi's customs, the list of betrothal gifts was to be "sung" by the groom's representative. The longer the recitation, the more lavish the gifts, and the greater the honor for the bride's family.
Tie Yi clearly wasn't accustomed to such tasks. Flipping to the first page, he recited stiffly:
"One Huanghuali canopy bed with a border of crabapple blossoms, one rosewood couch with three-panel screen, one Huanghuali cabinet with top boxes, one Huanghuali wooden cabinet, one pair of Phoebe zhennan bookcases, one pair of Phoebe zhennan curio cabinets, one pair of cowpea red vases, one Huanghuali kang table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, one pair of Huanghuali money chests inlaid with dotted mother-of-pearl..."
The first page listed furniture, leaving everyone dumbfounded. There was so much that even the current Shen residence wouldn't have space for it—enough to fill three mansions.
The second page contained decorations. Tie Yi continued:
"One agarwood ruyi scepter inlaid with jade, one jade ruyi scepter, one tinfoil oil lamp, one gilded small table clock, one silver pocket watch, one green jade and bamboo bonsai, one silver-gilt hexagonal basin with gemstone plum blossom bonsai, one plain sancai eighteen-sectioned tray, one famille rose tea caddy, one cask of aged privet wine, one bamboo and plum blossom double happiness hanging mirror, one wealth and glory hanging screen..."
Each item alone was worth a fortune, equivalent to several years' expenses for an ordinary family. For Prince Rui to present such an extravagant array—wealth wasn't meant to be spent like this. Luo Tan sniffled and timidly tugged Shen Miao's sleeve, whispering, "What does Prince Rui's family do...? Are they salt merchants...?"
Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin also frowned. Prince Rui's betrothal gifts were excessively lavish.
Before they could dwell on their astonishment, Tie Yi moved on to the third page—daily necessities:
"Six boxes of boxwood combs, two boxes of Hunan-Sichuan bamboo combs, one red sandalwood dressing case, mouthwash basin, sandalwood soap, curtains, satin door curtain, glass bead door curtain, green flowing water multicolored tassel mandarin duck pillow, eight mattresses and eight covers..."
The Shen family: "..."
Tie Yi proceeded to the fourth page—clothing:
"One large fur qizhuang each of silver rat fur, gray rat fur, and sheepskin pearl wool. Twelve sets of various cotton qizhuang. Thirty-two sets of lined clothing in gauze, silk, satin, and cloth. Twelve sets of single shirts in spun silk, fox silk, cocoon silk, thin gauze, and printed cloth gowns. Twelve sets of open robes in 'five blessings surrounding longevity,' 'phoenixes wearing peony,' 'hundred butterflies through flowers,' and 'ten thousand characters of eternal spring.' Thirty bolts of premium silk, six bolts of gambiered Guangdong gauze, twenty bolts of brocade satin, ten bolts of Nanjing brocade, ten bolts of Shu brocade, twelve bolts of various silk gauze. Thirty-six embroidered satin quilt covers, twenty pairs of embroidered shoes, forty pairs of Jiang silk damask socks..."
Luo Xueyan couldn't help but interject, "Young man... are you sure you didn't bring the wrong list of betrothal gifts? This... doesn't seem right."
This wasn't the scale for marrying a daughter—it was the pomp of wedding a princess! No, even a princess's dowry might not be this elaborate.Tie Yi said expressionlessly, "That won't be the case. Prince Rui's Residence only has this one list of betrothal gifts. Please continue listening, Madam."
He began reciting the fifth page of gold and silver jewelry: "One string each of coral court beads, gold foil court beads, amber court beads, and agarwood court beads; four celadon jade ornaments, four white jade ornaments, two crystal ornaments; pearl bracelet, jadeite bracelet, coral bracelet..."
The sixth page listed antiques and paintings: "Four pairs of gold-threaded polychrome porcelain vases, one pair of Langyao red Yuhuchun vases, one pair of Chenghua doucai vases, one Xuande blue glaze reserve-decorated meiping vase..."
The seventh page detailed four chests of books and one chest of scholar's treasures.
The eighth page listed maidservants, servants, and dedicated guards.
The ninth page enumerated horses and carriages.
The tenth page...
The Shen family members: "..."
Tie Yi grew increasingly fluent as he recited, his delivery as sonorous and lingering as the veteran actors on Xiaochun City's opera stages. Each line seemed to conjure visions of gleaming silver. When he finished the last line, he instinctively drew out the final note, exhaled deeply, and closed the betrothal gift list before turning to Shen Miao.
"The farmland and shops weren't included in the list because they're all in Great Coolness," Tie Yi said with sincere smile. "His Highness converted them all into gold and silver—specifically, ten thousand catties of gold."
Ten thousand catties of gold.
Luo Tan nearly fainted on the spot.
Tie Yi continued, "All the residences purchased between Prince Rui's Residence and the Shen residence are also included. The deeds will be delivered later." He respectfully presented the betrothal list to Luo Xueyan. "Please accept this, Madam."
Luo Xueyan didn't take it.
The entire room stood dumbstruck. Even Luo Xueyan dared not accept it.
Ten thousand catties of gold, plus this extensive list of betrothal gifts—was the Shen family about to become Ming Qi's wealthiest household?
Had Prince Rui truly emptied Great Coolness's national treasury?
Was Prince Rui out of his mind?
Shen Xin frowned, but it was Shen Qiu who recovered first. Hesitantly, cautiously, he ventured, "Regarding this betrothal gift list from Prince Rui... does your Emperor know about it?"
Tie Yi paused momentarily before understanding dawned. With a knowing smile, he replied, "His Majesty doesn't particularly value material possessions. Besides, this amount isn't considered significant."
Observing the stunned expressions of the Shen family, Tie Yi added, "In Great Coolness's imperial family, gold, silver, and pearls are as common as sand and dirt."
The assembly regarded him with newfound respect. Clearly, Great Coolness was a nation of immense prosperity and wealth. Such lavish betrothal gifts—enough to instantly replenish Ming Qi's national treasury—were considered mere pebbles and dust to them. Just how wealthy were they?
Tie Yi continued, "But please rest assured, General's Lady. His Highness is marrying Miss Shen according to all the ceremonial protocols of Great Coolness's imperial family."
Only then did Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin relax slightly. Though they lacked no wealth themselves, they valued proper etiquette highly when it came to Shen Miao's affairs. They marveled that even Emperor Wenhui's gifts when marrying the Empress hadn't been half as extravagant as these betrothal presents.
For ordinary ministers marrying, one naturally had to consider not surpassing the imperial family's standards. But Prince Rui wasn't from Ming Qi—he was from Great Coolness—so this consideration didn't apply. Even if his gifts were more lavish than the imperial family's, the court wouldn't comment. Thus, Shen Miao's betrothal gifts were likely the most magnificent Ming Qi had witnessed since its founding.Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan finally felt a trace of comfort in their hearts. No matter what, since the imperial decree could no longer be altered, Shen Miao was destined to marry Prince Rui. A grand and glorious wedding was, after all, the lifelong dream of many young women. At the very least, it could be considered a form of compensation for Shen Miao.
With this thought, their lingering resentment toward Prince Rui dissipated considerably, and even their attitude toward the bearded man before them became much warmer.
Luo Xueyan asked, "However, why hasn’t the marriage certificate been sent over yet?"
Before marriage, it was customary to match the couple’s birthdates for compatibility. But because Shen Miao’s marriage was particularly special—directly decreed by Emperor Wenhui—this step had been skipped.
Tie Yi replied, "His Highness has already had a renowned monk calculate the compatibility of his and Miss Shen’s birthdates. It was deemed a match made in heaven, a union forged over five hundred lifetimes. Madam, please entrust the marriage certificate to me today. His Highness’s certificate will be delivered along with the land deeds."
His earnest demeanor left no room for criticism.
Luo Tan couldn’t help but ask, "Then when is the wedding date? The Emperor’s decree didn’t specify a time."
Tie Yi smiled. "The wedding invitation has already been prepared. His Highness will return to Great Coolness after the New Year. On the day of his return, he will marry Miss Shen in a grand ceremony, with a procession of red all the way to the gates of Great Coolness’s capital."
This meant that Shen Miao would depart from Ming Qi with fanfare, accompanied by gongs and drums all the way to Great Coolness. The wedding rituals would be completed in Ming Qi, and upon arrival in Great Coolness, her status as Prince Rui’s Royal Consort would be formally announced to the people. It was an unmistakable elevation of Shen Miao’s position, declaring her identity to the world.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion in each other’s eyes.
Prince Rui was being so attentive to Shen Miao—could it be… that he genuinely fancied her?
Was that even possible? Shen Miao had barely met Prince Rui a few times.
Luo Ling’s gaze dimmed almost imperceptibly as he stared at the ground, as if willing a flower to bloom beneath his feet.
The expressions in the room varied, but Shen Miao’s reaction was notably calm. She nodded slightly and said to Tie Yi, "Thank you."
Tie Yi hurriedly expressed his humility and explained that more items would be delivered in the coming days before taking his leave.
After Tie Yi departed, the group exchanged puzzled looks. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had already sensed something unusual. If Prince Rui’s goal had been to drive a wedge between the Shen family and the Ming Qi imperial family, or to prevent the Shen family from serving the Ming Qi court, his objective had already been achieved with the issuance of the imperial decree.
Having accomplished his goal, everything else should have been inconsequential. Why then go to such extravagant lengths? No amount of wealth was too much to handle—unless Great Coolness’s treasury was so small it couldn’t hold all its silver, forcing them to rush to Ming Qi and lavish such immense riches on the Shen family as dowry.
Wasn’t this just unnecessary?
Shen Qiu, however, failed to notice this nuance and only fumed, "Is Prince Rui a weasel paying respects to a chicken—harboring no good intentions? Sending so many gifts, does he think our Shen family is greedy for wealth? We’re marrying off our daughter, not selling her! With so much silver, who knows what others will think of our family?"
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan remained silent.Indeed, even the royal family would covet such betrothal gifts, let alone ordinary people. What was even more astonishing was that these gifts were sent by Prince Rui of Great Coolness. Even those who harbored thoughts about these treasures wouldn’t dare act recklessly—they could only stare enviously. Who knew how many people in Fixed Capital would lose sleep tonight? Especially Shen Xin’s rivals—they’d probably be so furious they’d cough up blood.
Luo Tan grinned and said, “No matter what, it’s better for a brother-in-law to be generous than stingy. A man willing to spend money on a woman is a good man. Even before the wedding, he’s already given little cousin so many things. Once she marries him, she’ll never have to worry about food, clothing, or daily necessities.” Luo Tan had always been blunt and never knew how to hold back, but that one word—“brother-in-law”—made everyone’s eyes twitch in discomfort.
Shen Xin clutched his head. “Where are we supposed to put all these things?”
“That’s right,” Luo Xueyan fretted. “Our mansion can’t hold so many items. The storeroom is already full of jewelry and antiques, not to mention furniture and fabrics. Should we build a separate warehouse in the estate just to store them?”
Shen Miao nearly laughed. “Didn’t he buy all those mansions? Once he leaves, they’ll belong to the Shen family. Why not hire a few guards and move some things there? Or we could just move into Prince Rui’s Residence.”
Shen Xin shook his head. “Yanqing Lane isn’t a place we can live.” That was where imperial relatives resided. If the Shen family moved in, who knew what outsiders would think? Then, recalling Tie Yi’s earlier words, a flash of pain crossed his eyes. “After the New Year, he’ll leave. Jiaojiao, you…”
After the New Year, Shen Miao would depart for Great Coolness.
The room fell silent.
Partings—especially between family—were never a happy affair.
Seeing their melancholy, Shen Miao quickly changed the subject. “Prince Rui has sent so many betrothal gifts. How should we calculate the dowry?”
Luo Tan, who had just taken a sip of tea, spat it all out in shock, splashing Luo Ling’s clothes. But she had no mind to worry about his ruined outfit. “Dowry? Good heavens!”
The Shen family members felt as though they’d been struck by a thunderbolt.
By convention, the dowry should roughly match the betrothal gifts. It didn’t need to exceed them, but it couldn’t fall too far short either. Otherwise, the bride would be looked down upon in her husband’s household. A lavish dowry—one even richer than the betrothal gifts—would ensure she was treated with respect. Thus, the more beloved the bride, the closer the dowry and betrothal gifts would be in value.
Shen Xin’s love for his daughter went without saying, but the dowry… Prince Rui had sent Shen Mansion so many betrothal gifts that even if they emptied the entire Ming Qi treasury, they still wouldn’t be able to match it.
Prince Rui had given the Shen family an impossible problem.
…
That night, Shen Miao sat by the lamp, recalling how Tie Yi had recited the long list of betrothal gifts with wishes for endless blessings. She couldn’t help but chuckle.
Xie Jingxing was truly outrageous—how could he have written such an extravagant list? Shen Miao rubbed her temples. If anyone saw that list, the entire Shen family would become the target of Ming Qi’s envy. But sooner or later, the list would inevitably become public knowledge. It was only a matter of time.However, Shen Miao wasn’t sure if the Yongle Emperor knew about Xie Jingxing’s lengthy list. The more she thought about it, the more her heart ached.
In her past life, when she married Fu Xiuyi, he hadn’t offered such lavish betrothal gifts. Not even close to what royal families or well-off officials would give—it was merely average. Back then, Fu Xiuyi had claimed that Prince Ding's Residence was modest and that he preferred simplicity, so he didn’t want an extravagant ceremony. Shen Miao had believed him. To ensure she wouldn’t be slighted, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had taken out nearly half of Shen Mansion’s income to provide her dowry.
In the end, that dowry had all been spent on Fu Xiuyi’s ambitions.
Fu Xiuyi needed to win people over, and buying loyalty required silver. She had scrimped and saved every penny, even pawning off Shen Mansion’s antique paintings and calligraphy that had been passed down for generations. Looking back now, throughout all those years of marriage, it had always been her and the entire Shen family giving, while Fu Xiuyi never reciprocated. Though matters of the heart rely on willingness and don’t demand repayment, over time, such one-sided devotion inevitably chilled the soul.
Especially after Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, his generosity toward Mei Furen and Fu Sheng felt like a brutal slap to her face.
Now that she was marrying Xie Jingxing, she couldn’t quite define the emotions swirling inside her. There was affection, but not the reckless, moth-to-flame intensity of her past life. Yet Xie Jingxing had given her far more than she ever expected.
It made her… somewhat look forward to this marriage.
A soft knock sounded at the window. Shen Miao looked up to see Cong Yang pacing outside. She opened the window, and upon seeing her, Cong Yang first bowed respectfully. “Young Madam, the master has sent me to bring you over.”
Shen Miao was taken aback but quickly nodded. “Alright.” As it happened, she also had something to say to Xie Jingxing.
Unlike her first awkward visit, Shen Miao was now much more familiar with the route to Prince Rui's Residence. The only one suffering was Cong Yang, who kept hauling straw bales for her to “climb” the wall, silently resolving to just knock down all these walls next time to save the trouble.
When Shen Miao arrived at Prince Rui's Residence, the servants paused their tasks upon seeing her and greeted her in unison, “Young Madam.”
Shen Miao: “…”
Cong Yang chuckled. “Young Madam, everyone likes you very much.”
Shen Miao only felt a mix of embarrassment and complicated emotions.
As Cong Yang led her to the rear courtyard of Prince Rui's Residence, a snow-white furball came bounding toward her from afar, happily tugging at the hem of her robes.
A lazy voice drifted through the night. “Jiaojiao, come here.”
Shen Miao glanced up to see Xie Jingxing leaning against a tree, arms crossed, watching her—or perhaps the white tiger at her feet—with an amused smirk. It was hard to tell who he was calling.
She walked toward him, the tiger trotting happily behind her. This creature was oddly sociable; after just a few meetings, without Shen Miao even trying to coax it, it had taken to wagging its tail and nuzzling her as if she were its lifelong caretaker.
Stopping beside Xie Jingxing, she asked, “Why did you ask me to come?”
Xie Jingxing raised a brow. “To tailor clothes.”
“Tailor clothes?” Shen Miao frowned in suspicion, but before she could question further, Xie Jingxing suddenly pulled her into his arms, giving her a brief, gentle hug before letting go.His movements were too quick—from embracing to letting go, it was just a fleeting moment. Shen Miao was left holding her breath, unsure of what to say. To press the matter would seem petty, but to let it go meant he had indeed taken advantage of her.
Xie Jingxing said, "With your temper, you probably won’t obediently embroider your wedding dress. I’ve found the best seamstress in Great Coolness, but I didn’t know your measurements." He looked Shen Miao up and down meaningfully. "A single hug was enough to find out."
Shen Miao: "Shameless. Disgusting."
Xie Jingxing let out a slow "Oh," then said, "But you seemed to like it just now."
This man could infuriate anyone with just three sentences. Shen Miao retorted sarcastically, "Your methods are quite impressive. One hug and you already know the measurements. Done this many times before?"
Xie Jingxing stared at her, making Shen Miao's spine tingle, before curling his lips into a smile. "Jealous? Then you can hug me back." He spread his arms wide, adopting a posture of complete surrender.
"Who would hug you?" Shen Miao scoffed. "By the way, I have something to ask you."
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I received the list of betrothal gifts. Why did you send so many?" Shen Miao found it almost laughable. "Our Shen residence can't store all those things. Besides, with you sending so much, the Shen family can't match it with dowry. Are you deliberately causing trouble?"
"Is that all?" Xie Jingxing replied nonchalantly. "I was planning to send even more."
Shen Miao: "..." Just as she was about to speak, a guard hurried in from outside. Seeing Xie Jingxing, the guard hesitated before saying, "Your Highness, someone is outside demanding to see you. We tried to stop him, but he's acting like a madman, shouting your name. To avoid causing a scene, we had to restrain him temporarily."
"And?" Xie Jingxing asked.
"It's Su Mingfeng, the eldest young master of the Su family, the Earl of Pingnan," the guard answered.
Shen Miao abruptly looked up.
In the front hall of Prince Rui's Residence, a young man was currently bound tightly like a dumpling, a ragged cloth stuffed in his mouth. He glared furiously at the guards nearby, still struggling futilely.
This was Su Mingfeng.
Su Mingfeng had been spying on Prince Rui's Residence for a long time, along with the Shen residence and the princess's manor. The longer his surveillance continued, the deeper his suspicions grew. He suspected that Prince Rui was the deceased Xie Jingxing. Though such a thought seemed absurd and laughable, as time passed, the idea didn't fade—instead, it became more entrenched.
Xie Jingxing had some connection with Shen Miao, and now Shen Miao was betrothed to Prince Rui. If Xie Jingxing was indeed Prince Rui, everything would make sense.
Su Mingfeng harbored an obsession with Xie Jingxing that others couldn't comprehend. After all, Xie Jingxing had been his childhood companion. From him, Su Mingfeng had learned many things, and Xie Jingxing's influence had shaped much of his life.
Whether Xie Jingxing was Prince Rui or not, Su Mingfeng had to verify it himself.
He wanted to sneak into Prince Rui's Residence and see the prince's face without the mask—then the truth would be revealed.
It was a reckless act, but Su Mingfeng felt he had no choice. He wasn't foolish enough to barge in directly. Instead, he had his men create a diversion to lure the guards away while he slipped in unnoticed.
But Su Mingfeng hadn't anticipated that Prince Rui's guards were exceptionally sharp—they caught him immediately.
Frustrated and even more disappointed, Su Mingfeng now thought that since he'd been caught, he might as well get to the bottom of it. He struggled desperately, even revealing his identity, hoping to draw Prince Rui's attention.
Just then, a heavily bearded man dressed as a guard walked in from outside and stopped before him.Su Mingfeng couldn't help but feel his heart tighten. The bearded man exchanged glances with those around him, and immediately someone came forward to untie him and remove the cloth gag from his mouth.
"The master wants to see you. Come with me."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
The proper way for a tycoon to propose marriage ╯▽╰╭
...
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