That night, when Xie Jingxing returned, Shen Miao told him about the invitation. Xie Jingxing assured her that if she didn’t wish to go, she could simply decline. Though the Lu and Ye families were arrogant, they wouldn’t dare openly break ties with Prince Rui's Estate at this point. In other words, Shen Miao had every right to refuse.
Yet despite this, Shen Miao had no intention of declining. Knowing oneself and the enemy ensured victory in every battle. Currently, she knew nothing about the political landscape of Great Coolness, and this gathering could serve as an opportunity to learn more. Setting aside the Ye family for now, she could also discern the true intentions of the Lu family toward her during this event.
Naturally, Xie Jingxing wouldn’t oppose Shen Miao’s decision. After discussing it together, Shen Miao sent a reply confirming her attendance.
Two days later, the day of the Colorful Summer Banquet arrived.
Shen Miao rose early, but by the time she had breakfast, Xie Jingxing was already gone. Since returning to Great Coolness, he had been exceptionally busy, leaving the estate at dawn and returning late at night, covered in dust. The imperial capital was far from as tranquil as it appeared on the surface—a fact Shen Miao understood all too well.
Jing Zhe helped Shen Miao with her hair. After arriving at Prince Rui's Estate, Shen Miao had continued using her personal maids for convenience. Truth be told, the estate had very few women—aside from the cooks and a few elderly matrons, it was almost entirely male. According to Uncle Tang, after Xie Jingxing returned to Great Coolness two years ago and was enfeoffed as a prince, several spies disguised as maids had been caught within the estate. Perhaps fearing that more women would invite trouble or provide openings for ill-intentioned individuals, the estate had since refrained from adding any more female servants.
Ironically, this very policy had turned Prince Rui's Estate into an impenetrable fortress. For a long time, outsiders had watched with envy and resentment but found no way to infiltrate.
Gu Yu remarked, “This is Madam’s first banquet in Longye, so she must dress splendidly. When others see her like this, they won’t dare gossip anymore. Madam will surely bring honor to our Ming Qi.”
Xie Jingxing was held in high esteem in Longye. Whenever Jing Zhe and Gu Yu went out shopping, they overheard people saying that Shen Miao must have accumulated great virtue in her past life to marry Prince Rui. This left the two maids indignant—what was wrong with their young lady? Even in Fixed Capital of Ming Qi, she had been one of the most distinguished young misses, not only intelligent but also kind-hearted, with a bearing that rivaled even a princess. How could anyone claim she was marrying above her station?
Arguing alone couldn’t sway public opinion, so Gu Yu thought it best to let facts speak for themselves. If Shen Miao dazzled everyone at the banquet, the gossip would surely cease.
“Why bother with such things?” Shen Miao chuckled. “Their words are merely to comfort themselves—they don’t affect us.”
“Madam, Gu Yu is right,” Jing Zhe said as she selected hairpins from the jewelry box. “We mustn’t let others outshine us.”While they were speaking, Uncle Tang knocked on the door outside. Shen Miao motioned for him to enter, and behind him followed a young girl who appeared even younger than Shen Miao herself. She was slightly plump, likely due to her young age, but had an extremely endearing appearance. Her eyes were curved in a smile, her lips stretched wide, and her fair, round face instantly reminded Shen Miao of Su Minlang—except this was a girl.
"Madam is attending the Colorful Summer Banquet today," Uncle Tang said with a smile. "The young master instructed that we find someone familiar to guide you. This old servant has brought Bajiao here. Madam can take Bajiao along as a maid. If you encounter anyone unfamiliar, Bajiao will explain."
Shen Miao smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Tang."
Uncle Tang waved his hands humbly, still smiling. "Originally, we thought Madam wouldn’t accept the invitation, but to our surprise, you did. Madam has great courage—this old servant admires that." Ordinary people would naturally feel some trepidation when arriving in a completely unfamiliar place. Even among noble ladies, few would dare attend a gathering full of strangers in an unknown environment, especially knowing their intentions were hostile. It required considerable boldness.
"It’s just tea and conversation," Shen Miao said lightly. "No need for courage."
Uncle Tang nodded. "Exactly, exactly." His gaze toward Shen Miao grew even more approving. After a few more words of advice, he withdrew.
Shen Miao turned to Bajiao, who stood properly, smiling at her. There was a hint of innocent foolishness in her expression, yet it made her irresistibly adorable. Attending the Colorful Summer Banquet without guidance would indeed be challenging, but having someone to explain things would save much effort. Xie Jingxing had thought of everything, and Shen Miao smiled faintly. Then, recalling something, she asked Bajiao, "The Prince’s residence doesn’t have maidservants, so you…"
Apart from the cooks and a few elderly maids, the Prince’s residence only had pages and guards—no maidservants. Thus, the few attendants Shen Miao brought, like Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, had practically become treasures in the residence.
Bajiao grinned. "This servant isn’t a maid of the Prince’s residence. This servant is from the Ink Feather Army, specially assigned to accompany Madam."
"The Ink Feather Army?" Shen Miao was taken aback. She had heard Xie Jingxing vaguely mention them before. In Ming Qi, this army had assisted him in many matters. It seemed to be a private military force he had raised, reputedly formidable. Yet if Xie Jingxing dared deploy them so openly, the Yongle Emperor must have at least some knowledge of it.
She asked, "Do you know martial arts?"
"This servant knows how to kill," Bajiao replied cheerfully. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu both gasped in shock—truly, appearances could be deceiving. This smiling girl, resembling a grown-up version of Su Minlang, was actually a skilled killer.
Shen Miao, however, was satisfied. Xie Jingxing was indeed cunning, assigning Bajiao to her for the banquet. At the very least, she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage in terms of physical confrontation.
"Very well," Shen Miao said. "You’ll accompany me then. Jing Zhe, stay in the residence and organize the storeroom with Bailu and Shuangjiang. Gu Yu, you and Bajiao will come with me."Jing Zhe had nearly finished packing when she was told she couldn't go. Feeling quite aggrieved, she harbored some resentment toward Bajiao but feared Bajiao might lose her temper and cut her down. Reluctantly, Jing Zhe urged Bajiao to take good care of Shen Miao before leaving.
Once everything was ready, Shen Miao boarded the carriage and headed to the Lu residence, the venue for the Colorful Summer Banquet.
This time, Shen Miao didn't bring Mo Qing. The guards accompanying her were all from Prince Rui's Estate. This was a deliberate choice on her part—Mo Qing was, after all, from Ming Qi, whereas bringing Prince Rui's men would make the other party think twice before acting rashly. At most, they might indulge in some verbal jabs, but Shen Miao was least afraid of such wordplay.
Longye was different from Fixed Capital. The territory of Great Coolness leaned more toward the east, basking in more sunlight. Even in winter, it wasn't as cold as Fixed Capital, let alone in summer. It was now the fifth month. In Fixed Capital, it would still be spring, but in Longye, it was already early summer, with a faint hint of warmth.
As the carriage moved along, Shen Miao and Gu Yu lifted the curtain slightly to peek outside. The streets of Longye were bustling with activity, a sight that stirred emotions in them.
No wonder the citizens of the small conquered country had voluntarily opened their city gates in welcome. If a ruler could bring good days to the people, the name of the country was too distant a concern for ordinary folk. The Yongle Emperor truly had the talent for governance.
After nearly an hour, the carriage finally came to a stop. Bajiao lifted the curtain and announced, "Madam, we've arrived at the Lu residence."
Gu Yu and Bajiao helped Shen Miao alight from the carriage, only to find many carriages already parked at the entrance—yet not a single person was there to greet them. Gu Yu was stunned. "This... why is no one here to welcome us? Did we come to the wrong place?"
It didn't seem like they had made a mistake, though, as the gates of the Lu residence weren't tightly shut—almost as if they had been left open specifically for her.
Shen Miao glanced at the entrance and quickly grasped the situation. She asked Gu Yu, "What time was written on the invitation for the Colorful Summer Banquet?"
Gu Yu hurriedly pulled the invitation from her sleeve and checked. "It's the hour of Si. We're not even at Si yet."
"I suppose ours was the only invitation like this," Shen Miao remarked coolly.
Gu Yu asked, "Madam, what do you mean?"
"There are carriages here, meaning guests have already arrived. Even if they came early, there shouldn't be this many. No one is at the door to greet us, yet the gate is left open, as if they knew we'd come. If I'm not mistaken, the other invitations likely said the hour of Chen, while ours said Si. This was deliberate—to make us late." She chuckled inwardly. It seemed that whether in Ming Qi or Great Coolness, the noblewomen's tricks remained the same.
Bajiao continued to smile, while Gu Yu suddenly understood and then grew indignant. "But what do they gain from playing such tricks on you? This is too much!"
"Gain?" Shen Miao's voice turned slightly cold. "There's plenty to gain. Entering without being greeted would be seen as rudeness—they'd say the Shen family of Ming Qi is presumptuous and ill-mannered. Not entering would be disrespectful—accepting the invitation but leaving midway would make us untrustworthy. They hold all the justifications. Once they catch us in a misstep, we'd be at a disadvantage from the start, and as things progress, we'd only become the butt of their jokes."Confronting others is an art in itself. One must not be caught making mistakes from the very beginning, or else they would be at a disadvantage. After years of contending with Mei Furen, Shen Miao understood this well.
Bajiao asked, "Madam, are you still going in?"
"Yes." Shen Miao lifted her skirt and prepared to enter.
"But Madam," Gu Yu asked doubtfully, "if you go in, you'll be caught making mistakes, and if you don't go in, that's also wrong. Whether you advance or retreat, it's a mistake. So why still go in?"
"Then make others commit even greater mistakes than yours," Shen Miao smiled faintly. "That way, no one will care about your mistakes."
In the Lu residence, the atmosphere in the hall was quite harmonious at the moment. As a highly renowned military family in Longye, the Lu family held an extremely prestigious position, and thus their mansion was grand and luxurious. Today's Summer Banquet was personally hosted by Madam Lu, and the flattery was endless.
Madam Lu was now in her forties. Though time had taken its toll on her—likely a slender beauty in her youth, she now appeared gaunt and sharp-featured in old age, lacking some of the dignified grace. Nevertheless, she still dressed extravagantly, as if it could add a bit of luster to her.
Yet for women of age, wearing overly bright and unsuitable clothes not only failed to enhance their appearance but instead laid bare all the flaws of aging.
"Madam Lu is truly blessed," a round-faced lady said with a smile. "Consort Jing is favored by His Majesty in the palace, and she is so filial to you. This time, His Majesty even sent gifts specifically for the Summer Banquet, which shows how much Consort Jing means to him."
Madam Lu was inwardly pleased but outwardly modest. "It's all due to His Majesty's generosity and his partiality toward Consort Jing that our entire family has been able to bask in the glory."
"Madam, you speak too humbly," another short lady chimed in with a laugh. "Consort Jing enjoys such favor, and your second daughter has already married a commandant. I heard she's recently pregnant with twins. You must let us share in your blessings too."
Madam Lu shook her head, feigning distress. "But there's still the third son and the fourth daughter. These two truly give me headaches."
The round-faced lady exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Madam, how can you still have headaches? The third young master is handsome and talented, excelling in martial arts at such a young age. Who knows which fortunate girl will marry him in the future? As for the fourth young lady, needless to say, she's like a celestial being, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Why would you need to worry?"
"Madam, you flatter me too much," Madam Lu replied with a bitter smile. "The third son is fine—men can afford to train and mature over the years. But the fourth daughter's marriage cannot be delayed any longer. It truly gives me a headache..."
"Mother, are you complaining about me in front of the other ladies again?" A sweet, lively voice suddenly rang out. Everyone turned to see a young maiden standing in the hall. She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a light purple Nanjing brocade skirt embroidered with butterflies and birds, paired with a cherry-colored lotus-patterned sleeveless jacket. Her hair was styled in a delicate updo adorned with a butterfly-shaped pearl hairpin. Naturally beautiful and raised in privilege, she exuded the carefree charm of a wealthy young lady. Surrounded by jewels, she shone brilliantly, like a graceful butterfly fairy stepping through spring grass—utterly eye-catching.
This was the fourth young lady of the Lu family, Consort Jing's younger sister, Lu Wan'er.Madam Lu affectionately patted her head and said, "How would I dare to speak ill of our Miss Wan'er?"
Lu Wan'er pursed her lips and fell silent. She stood in the hall among other noble young ladies, but compared to her, they all seemed to pale in comparison.
With an arrogant expression, Lu Wan'er glanced around and asked, "Why hasn't that Shen family's young lady from Ming Qi arrived yet?"
Her voice was loud enough for all the ladies in the hall to hear, and immediately, whispers began to circulate.
By referring to Shen Miao as "the Shen family's young lady from Ming Qi" instead of "Prince Rui's Consort," Lu Wan'er had already made her stance clear. After all, it was widely believed that the fourth young lady of the Lu family was destined to marry into Prince Rui's Estate as his consort. Lu Wan'er herself had been quite pleased with Prince Rui, but then Shen Miao had appeared out of nowhere. The Lu family was displeased, and Lu Wan'er was even more resentful.
Today's Summer Colors Banquet was clearly not just about the festivities. Most of the ladies present were here to watch the drama unfold, or perhaps to curry favor with Lu Wan'er. The Shen family's young lady might be in the spotlight now, but without any roots or connections in Longye, how long could she last? Prince Rui was in the prime of his youth—how long would his interest in a single woman endure?
All in all, the Shen family's young lady didn't seem destined for a happy ending.
Madam Lu smiled and said, "Perhaps something delayed her on the way."
"What a grand air she puts on," Lu Wan'er said unhappily. "All the other ladies arrived on time, yet she alone is late. Are the customs of Ming Qi so rigid?"
Just then, a round-faced girl suddenly appeared at the entrance. No one had noticed her arrival. The girl smiled and asked, "Excuse me, is this the Summer Colors Banquet?"
Madam Lu was taken aback but quickly replied with a smile, "Indeed it is. Are you Prince Rui's Consort?"
"This servant is not," the smiling girl said. "The Royal Consort is here." With that, she turned and helped a young woman step inside.
Whether it was because of the contrast with the round-faced maid or because their expectations of Prince Rui's Consort had been too low, everyone in the hall was momentarily stunned when the young woman entered.
She wore a lotus-green phoenix-tail skirt embroidered with butterflies and flowers, paired with a lilac gauze robe adorned with white magnolia patterns. Her hair was styled in a flowing tassel bun. Her attire wasn't overly extravagant, yet it was far from plain. The noble young ladies of Longye prided themselves on their fashion, but her ensemble was perfectly balanced, exuding an understated elegance. A single phoenix-shaped hairpin inlaid with gemstones adorned her hair, simple yet elevating her entire presence to one of refined nobility.
The young woman had delicate crescent eyebrows, clear almond-shaped eyes, a small and straight nose, and rosy lips—her features were exquisitely lovely. Though she appeared gentle, the slight lift of her chin and her straight posture, coupled with the faint smile as she walked forward, made every step seem to carry an unspoken weight. Unconsciously, the onlookers found themselves gazing up at her as though she were some unattainable noble figure.It was rather odd that both Prince Rui's Consort and the Fourth Miss of the Lu family wore purple dresses today. The shade of Fourth Miss Lu's dress was light, while Prince Rui's Consort's was deep. Young ladies usually looked gentle and lively in light purple, whereas deep purple tended to appear rigid and overly mature. Yet today, Shen Miao's deep purple gown seemed tailor-made for her, exuding a dignified elegance that commanded the room. In contrast, Fourth Miss Lu's attire resembled an opera singer performing at a formal occasion—somewhat out of place and lacking refinement.
Lu Wan'er had always been meticulous about such details, accustomed to being the center of attention. Never had she expected to be overshadowed today, especially by none other than Shen Miao, the woman who had snatched the position of Prince Rui's Consort from her.
Madam Lu's eyes flickered as she smiled and said, "The Royal Consort has finally arrived. The ladies have been waiting for you alone."
Shen Miao smiled faintly and replied unhurriedly, "I hadn’t expected the ladies to arrive so early. The invitation clearly stated the hour of Si (9–11 AM). I even mentioned to His Highness that he should remind me to leave earlier to avoid tardiness. Yet here I am, still late—my apologies. It’s all His Highness’s fault for not reminding me. I should have arrived at the hour of Chen (7–9 AM) instead—that would have been perfect."
Madam Lu’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t anticipated Shen Miao would expose the matter so blatantly. True enough, as soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding ladies cast meaningful glances her way.
Shen Miao was, after all, an outsider. Though these noblewomen might naturally lean toward the Lu family in any dispute between them, such a childish and clumsy trick only made the Lu family appear ridiculous in others' eyes. Madam Lu regretted it now. She had intended to humble Shen Miao, but tampering with the invitation time had been excessive. Yet she had yielded to Lu Wan'er’s insistence. Now that Shen Miao had pointed it out, the other ladies—whose invitations bore different times—understood immediately. The Lu family’s reputation took a hit.
If Shen Miao later mentioned this to Prince Rui, a man of sharp perception, he would grasp the situation at once. Should he develop dissatisfaction with the Lu family because of this, Madam Lu feared this move had backfired.
Lu Wan'er, however, couldn’t stand seeing Shen Miao at ease. She scrutinized Shen Miao and remarked, "How come the Royal Consort entered without anyone announcing her? It almost seems as though we’ve neglected our duties."
Entering a residence unannounced was indeed improper. Shen Miao smiled at Lu Wan'er and said, "That’s precisely what I wished to address. If your household is short on staff, there’s no need to strain yourselves. A grand estate like this, without a single guard at the gate—it’s rather unsafe." Her tone remained gentle. "I’ve taken the liberty of stationing the Prince’s guards at your gate to prevent any unsavory characters from slipping in. It wouldn’t do otherwise."
Lu Wan'er and Madam Lu nearly choked on their fury.
What was this? They had intended to accuse Shen Miao of impropriety, deliberately leaving the gate unattended. Yet now, Shen Miao’s words made it seem as though the Lu family was too impoverished to afford gatekeepers—and even had to rely on the Prince’s guards for security! If passersby outside were to witness this, what would they think?Shen Miao said warmly, "Madam, there's no need to thank me. If you ever have any needs in the future, His Highness can send a few men and horses to your estate."
Sending a few men and horses—who knew if they would be spies? Even if Prince Rui's Estate dared to send them, the Lu family wouldn't dare accept them.
The surrounding ladies now saw clearly that this Prince Rui's Consort was no easy pushover. The Lu family had arranged this move to undermine Shen Miao's authority and make her falter. A misstep, coupled with some ambiguous remarks, would have been enough to unsettle the new consort.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, not only had she not been put at a disadvantage, but she had also dealt the Lu family a heavy blow.
Madam Lu forced a smile and said, "Please, Your Highness, take your seat."
She had arranged a rather inconspicuous spot for Shen Miao.
Shen Miao didn't mind. She hadn't come today to compete or quarrel. Her purpose was simply to make a statement and take the opportunity to observe certain matters clearly.
Bajiao leaned in close to Shen Miao's ear and whispered, "That round-faced lady is Lady Yuan, the wife of the Privy Councilor, who is on good terms with the Lu family. The shorter lady is Lady Wei, the wife of the Minister of Revenue, related by marriage to the Ye family and also friendly with the Lu family... The lady in yellow on the far left, her husband is the current Left Court Official, and her youngest son is someone you know—Young Master Ji."
Ji Yushu's mother? Shen Miao glanced at Ji Furen, who had a dignified appearance, seemingly the complete opposite of Ji Yushu's temperament.
Shen Miao thought to herself that these ladies were all either wealthy or noble, which explained why the Lu family held such influence in Longye. No wonder Consort Jing was so arrogant that she didn’t even regard Xiande Huanghou with respect—it was all because they had powerful backing. Since these aristocratic families were willing to curry favor with the Lu family, it was clear that the Lu family had extensive and deeply intertwined connections.
If the Yongle Emperor and Xie Jingxing wanted to completely suppress the Lu family, it wouldn’t be an easy task. The Lu family’s interests were tied to many other officials, and if the Lu family fell, many aristocratic families connected to them would suffer as well. For their own survival, those families wouldn’t stand by and watch the Lu family collapse.
Just as she was pondering this, someone gracefully walked over and sat down beside her. Bajiao immediately straightened up, ceasing her explanations. Shen Miao turned to see the somewhat haughty and domineering Fourth Miss Lu sitting next to her.
Lu Wan'er said, "Prince Rui's Consort, may I ask you a presumptuous question?"
Shen Miao replied, "Go ahead."
"How long have you known Prince Rui?" Lu Wan'er asked.
Shen Miao inwardly laughed, now understanding the purpose behind Lu Wan'er’s visit. After all, Xie Jingxing had spent his youth in Ming Qi, a fact known only to the Yongle Emperor and Xie Jingxing’s inner circle. People in Great Coolness likely assumed he had spent all these years traveling the world with his master, making his whereabouts quite mysterious.
Thus, the time she and Xie Jingxing had "known" each other should be counted from when she returned to Fixed Capital from Xiaochun City and met him at the tribute banquet. At most, it hadn’t even been a year.
So she answered, "Less than a year."
Hearing this, Lu Wan'er smiled—a smile tinged with both smugness and disdain. She said, "So it hasn’t even been a year. In that case, I suppose there are still many things about Prince Rui that you don’t understand."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Fourth Miss seems to know His Highness very well?"
"Don’t take it the wrong way," Lu Wan'er said. "I’m aware of the Shen family’s status in Ming Qi, but our Lu family’s standing in Longye is no less than yours in Fixed Capital—if not greater. Prince Rui is an exceptional man. In Great Coolness, nearly every young lady dreams of marrying into Prince Rui's Residence. However, ordinary backgrounds simply aren’t worthy of him."
Lu Wan'er glanced at Shen Miao again and added, "Prince Rui’s Consort, Prince Rui is a man of great ambition."
"Ever since he returned to Longye, he has been striving to achieve great things in the court. A man like him won’t be tied down by mere romantic sentiments. What can you offer him? Right now, the affection may be strong, but in the future, when you’re no longer useful to him, he’ll cast you aside like worn-out shoes."Shen Miao was inwardly surprised. She had originally thought Lu Wan'er was a naive, spoiled young lady, obsessed with unattainable fantasies like the moon's reflection in water or flowers in a mirror. But hearing these words, she realized Lu Wan'er had a clear understanding of the situation and had even articulated certain power dynamics.
"So?" Shen Miao asked.
"His Majesty intends for me to become Prince Rui's secondary wife, but a prince cannot have two Royal Consorts." Lu Wan'er declared magnanimously: "Therefore, you shall be the concubine, and I shall be the principal wife."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Lu Wan'er: You be the concubine, I'll be the wife.
Cool Cool: Do you want to get beaten up? (￢_￢)
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