After this year's Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet, the name at the center of gossip in the streets and alleys of Fixed Capital finally changed.
The Young Marquis Xie of Marquis Lin'an Manor had crushed the arrogance of his two half-brothers with an overwhelmingly domineering attitude. Though his actions were reckless and audacious, the brilliance he displayed in such a short time made it clear that his reputation as the Jade Faced Shura on the battlefield was well-deserved.
The other person was none other than the "Incompetent" Shen Miao.
As if reborn or finally awakening the innate fierceness of the Shen family, Shen Miao had shed her former foolishness and timidity. During the mounted archery challenge against Cai Lin, she remained unflustered, her aggressive demeanor revealing a ruthless temperament that left her peers wary.
Because of this, even in the Hall of Extensive Learning, those who had once mocked her now tempered their ridicule.
When Cai Lin returned to the Hall of Extensive Learning, he glared at Shen Miao with hostility but, surprisingly, refrained from provoking her. It seemed that day had left him with some lingering fear.
Feng Anning, observing Cai Lin’s behavior, laughed. "Who would’ve thought that tyrant would actually be afraid of you now?"
Shen Miao glanced at Cai Lin, who immediately averted his gaze, clearly intimidated. She found it amusing—Cai Lin was nothing more than a spoiled, unruly young master in her eyes, not worth her attention. Besides, the Cai family’s downfall wasn’t far off. Soon enough, this pampered young lord would face hardships.
"Though I heard the Xie brothers were severely injured, Marquis Lin'an didn’t punish Young Marquis Xie. He summoned physicians to tend to their wounds, but it’s practically house arrest," Feng Anning remarked with a sigh. "Seems the rumors about the Marquis favoring his legitimate son are true."
Shen Miao asked, "Where did you hear that?"
"Eavesdropped on my parents," Feng Anning replied smugly. "But honestly, anyone would favor Young Marquis Xie. Not only is he exceptional, but he’s also the son of Princess Yuqing, who had royal blood..."
Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. Truthfully, she always found Princess Yuqing’s death suspicious. Given how Marquis Lin'an treated the Xie brothers now, there was no reason he would have let Fang Shi live unscathed after learning of the princess’s death.
As she pondered, Pei Lang walked in.
Wearing a gentle smile, Pei Lang happened to glance in Shen Miao’s direction. Meeting her gaze, he froze momentarily.
At the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet, Shen Miao’s performance had finally made Pei Lang discard his previous underestimation of her. He began noticing her unusual qualities and sensed, with some discomfort, that she seemed to be observing him in secret. He couldn’t fathom why, but it left him feeling uneasy, as if being watched. Yet, reminding himself that Shen Miao was just a young girl, he dismissed it as paranoia.
"Why do you keep staring at him?" Feng Anning asked, then gasped in shock. "Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to him now?"
Shen Miao had long stopped mentioning Fu Xiuyi, acting as if she had forgotten him entirely. This made onlookers speculate that she had finally realized her unworthiness of royalty and given up—evident from her not chasing after Fu Xiuyi at the banquet. Pei Lang, though of lower status, was refined and scholarly, naturally attracting young girls.
Shen Miao rubbed her temples and looked away. "Of course not." She was merely thinking—since Pei Lang hadn’t mentioned the Conduct and Law Strategy at the banquet, Fu Xiuyi hadn’t taken notice of him. But Pei Lang remained a potential threat. If he ever became Fu Xiuyi’s ally in the future... Shen Miao’s expression darkened. The consequences would be disastrous.
Yet, she lacked the means to eliminate Pei Lang discreetly. She’d have to find another way.
At the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion in Fixed Capital, revelry filled the air. Even in broad daylight, the veiled curtains and Night Luminescent Pearls bathed the entire building in shimmering light. The melodies of strings and flutes drifted through the air, drawing occasional envious gazes from passersby. After all, even the wealthy hesitated to enter—this was a true Money Pit, where even a small pot of tea cost a fortune.
By the window sat a middle-aged man in luxurious attire. His clothes were of the finest quality, but his face was gaunt and sinister. Beneath his robe, his left leg was missing—this was Prince Yu.
"Have you settled things with the Shen family?" he asked after a long silence, his tone dark.
"Your Highness, everything has been arranged with the Shen family’s Second Madam. In three days, the Shen women will visit Crouching Dragon Temple to offer incense. At that time..."
"Three days." Prince Yu frowned, displeasure flashing in his eyes. He waved a hand dismissively. "Prepare everything. It’s been a while since I’ve encountered someone so... intriguing."
Over the years, his depraved and cruel nature had claimed countless women’s lives. Yet none of them, no matter how they resisted, had stirred any real reaction. In all of Ming Qi, he had long heard of Shen Xin’s fearsome reputation. The daughter of such a formidable general—what kind of taste would she have? And at the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet, Shen Miao’s display of ferocity had only heightened his interest. A wildcat that knew how to fight back might be far more entertaining than those lifeless dolls.
He licked his lips, eyes gleaming with lust.
Across from his room, at a crystal-clear table, sat a man in white. Around twenty, he was strikingly handsome, exuding a gentle aura. After listening for a while, he smirked at the person opposite him. "Seems the damsel you saved is in trouble again."
Across from him, a youth in a purple robe lounged lazily, indifferent. "The Shen family’s prominence makes them a target. This is Shen Xin’s doing. Right now, it’s just probing. One day, no one will be able to protect them."
The man in white hesitated, then looked at the youth seriously. "Xie San, why did you act so rashly before? Injuring your half-brothers during the Verification—are you moving your plans forward?"
The youth opposite him was none other than Xie Jingxing. He smiled faintly. "What if I am? What if I’m not?"
"If you act now... do they know?" the man—Gao Yang—asked cautiously.
"Gao Yang, you still don’t understand one thing." Xie Jingxing’s voice was calm. "Here, I call the shots. The longer I wait, the worse it is for me. If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain." His eyes darkened, no longer resembling those of a youth in his teens.
Gao Yang was momentarily stunned, then sighed with a wry smile. "Fine. I’m only here to keep an eye on you. But honestly, I don’t have the confidence to stop you." He changed the subject. "Still, in three days, aren’t you going to Crouching Dragon Temple to investigate? Maybe you’ll get another chance to play the hero." His grin turned teasing.
"Gao Yang, your judgment is as poor as ever." Xie Jingxing arched a brow. "That Shen girl isn’t someone to be trifled with."
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