Shen Miao?
Feng Anning couldn't help but freeze. She shared a desk with Shen Miao daily at the Hall of Extensive Learning, so she could see more clearly than others. That was undoubtedly Shen Miao.
Lately, Shen Miao had grown much quieter. Though she had always been reserved, she no longer trailed behind Shen Yue and Shen Qing, spouting foolish and ignorant remarks. Her newfound quietness wasn't unpleasant. Feng Anning had assumed Shen Miao had simply become wiser, but she never expected that dressing properly could make her appearance so striking.
After recovering from her recent near-drowning, she had grown thinner. It hadn't been noticeable before, but now her slightly pointed chin made her look less like a girl of eleven or twelve and more like a budding fourteen-year-old.
Like a young beast that had long curled up in its den, finally awakening from a deep slumber to bare its claws for the first time.
Scholar Pei was also seated among the male guests. Though currently just a mathematics teacher at the Hall of Extensive Learning, talented individuals were respected, and he held a notable position among the officials. Still young, with such brilliance, he could easily secure an official post if he entered court. Those in politics were shrewd, always paving the way for the future—Pei Lang's rise to prominence was far from impossible.
Shen Miao's gaze swept over the male guests, lingering briefly on Pei Lang.
She knew that during today's Verification, though Pei Lang was merely a mathematics teacher, when it came to literary challenges, a presumptuous student would challenge the teachers. Pei Lang's essay on "Conduct and Law Strategy" would be so eloquent and well-reasoned that it would immediately catch Fu Xiuyi's eye. Later, Fu Xiuyi would go to great lengths to recruit this talent, performing many acts of humility to win Pei Lang over as a key ally.
This time, she absolutely could not let that happen.
Pei Lang keenly sensed the girl's gaze resting on him from afar—scrutinizing, like a beast assessing the value of its prey. A strange feeling rose in his chest. He followed the gaze back, but Shen Miao had already turned away.
The adults around him murmured in admiration, "General Shen's eldest daughter has such poise at such a young age. She will surely be someone to reckon with in the future."
"She's quite pretty too," a blue-clad youth remarked. "How come I never noticed before? Shen Miao is actually quite a beauty." Young men, after all, only saw appearances.
"Too bad she's an idiot," Cai Lin scoffed after his momentary surprise. Unhappy that everyone was staring at Shen Miao while ignoring Shen Yue, he snorted.
"You're the idiot!" A sudden voice exploded beside him. Cai Lin jumped, turning to see a round-faced child in soft red satin glaring at him furiously. Though small, the child's presence was overwhelming.
"My apologies," a green-robed youth hurried over, smiling politely at Cai Lin. "My younger brother was rude. Please forgive him."
Cai Lin had been about to curse, but when he saw it was Su Mingfeng, heir to the Pingnan Count, with the little one being the second young master Su Minlang, he swallowed his words. Su Mingfeng was Xie Jingxing's close friend—who would dare provoke him?
"Big brother," Su Minlang tugged at Su Mingfeng's sleeve, "that sister is so pretty. Marry her and bring her home as my sister-in-law."
Su Mingfeng's smile stiffened. Fortunately, Su Minlang's voice was soft, and no one else heard. He bent down slightly and asked, "Second Brother, do you know Miss Shen?"
"Nope," Su Minlang replied innocently, playing with his fingers.
Su Mingfeng said nothing more.
Shen Miao followed behind Ren Wanyun's group to the women's seating area.
Typically, the ladies would sit with their close friends, and the young ladies did the same. But Shen Miao, aside from the Hall of Extensive Learning, spent most of her time at Shen Mansion. Shen Yue and Shen Qing were out of the question, and no one at the Hall of Extensive Learning wanted to befriend her either. Unbothered and unafraid, she simply found a seat for herself. Far from fearing the other girls' exclusion, she rather enjoyed the quiet.
The other young ladies, already jealous of Shen Miao's unusual attire today, had deliberately ignored her, hoping to see her humiliated. Yet Shen Miao sat alone, perfectly composed. On the table were chessboards and playing cards prepared to keep the girls entertained. After a moment's thought, she picked up a chess piece from the basket and began playing against herself.
She had never excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. In the past, she had despised them due to the Second and Third Branches' deliberate "guidance," and after marrying Fu Xiuyi, she had no time to learn. Thus, when she returned from Qin State in her past life and faced Mei Furen—graceful, skilled in song and dance—she couldn't help but feel inferior. The imperial consorts compared her to Mei Furen, mocking her as a coarse woman from a military family, devoid of charm and refinement, which was why Fu Xiuyi ignored his Empress.
But chess didn't require a true player to understand. Though she couldn't play properly, during her years in Qin State for Fu Xiuyi's sake, she had studied military strategy extensively. She couldn't play chess, but she could wage war—this was a battle on the board.
The noble daughters watched from afar as Shen Miao sat with serene composure, her aloof and superior demeanor clearly setting her apart from the rest, as if she were above them all.
"Fifth Miss seems quite different now," Madam Yi remarked to Ren Wanyun with a smile. "She's grown into a young lady." She couldn't outright say Shen Miao now overshadowed Shen Yue and Shen Qing, so she phrased it carefully.
Ren Wanyun understood perfectly. Skilled at reading people, she had noticed during their walk that the crowd's gazes weren't on her, nor on Shen Yue or Shen Qing—they were fixed on Shen Miao at the back. Gnashing her teeth inwardly, she thought, Shen Miao must have gone all out this time, knowing Prince Ding would attend the Verification, and is now trying every trick to catch his attention and compete with my Qing'er?
She raised her teacup, smiling sweetly toward the male guests. "Indeed, she's no longer a child. The old madam dotes on her, saying that since her father isn't here, I should keep an eye out for suitable matches before we left."
Chen Ruoqiu, seated beside her, perked up. Looking for a match?
Shen Yue and Shen Qing were both older than Shen Miao, yet Shen Miao's marriage was being prioritized first. It certainly wasn't out of Old Madam Shen's kindness—she loathed the First Branch. How could she possibly want Shen Miao to land a good match?
Chen Ruoqiu's gaze fell on Shen Qing, who was chatting with Yi Peilan. Ren Wanyun seems eager to settle Shen Miao's marriage before Shen Xin returns. Why? Because Shen Qing also admires Prince Ding? To eliminate her biggest rival?
Just as she pondered this, another commotion arose from the male guests. Madam Jiang announced, "Prince Yu has arrived."
Shen Miao, in the middle of placing a piece, paused. The white stone clattered onto the board. She lifted her eyes toward the male seating area, her expression utterly calm.
Prince Yu—the crippled, lecherous widower Old Madam Shen had wanted her to marry in her past life. Forty-two years old now.
Had she not been infatuated with Fu Xiuyi and eloped with him back then, she would have long become another nameless skeleton in Prince Yu's Manor.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Last day of the first recommendation! Hope you all take a look and follow the updates~ It's already plenty meaty, no need to wait, and with good data, we can get on the shelves faster and update like crazy~ Mwah! (づ￣3￣)づ╭～..
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