The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage

The door slowly opened, yet no one stepped forward to look.

The guest rooms at Crouching Dragon Temple were naturally sparse, far less luxurious than one's own residence. Moreover, this was a room that had been deliberately chosen—spacious, with a large bed placed right in the middle, not even a folding screen to obscure the view. Thus, the scene inside was laid bare before everyone's eyes.

Shen Yue was the first to scream.

Scattered on the floor were torn fragments of clothing—truly ripped to shreds. The blanket on the bed was carelessly tossed aside, books from the table swept onto the floor. The teapot was shattered, as though a calamity had struck.

Yet the most shocking thing was not this.

On the bed lay a woman, her jade-like body sprawled across it. She was barely covered by the quilt, half-leaning over the edge of the bed, her back marred with scattered red marks, some bloody streaks and bruises—a sight that horrified the onlookers. Beneath the bed lay a bloodstained whip, split in two. Judging by the marks on the woman's body, it seemed the whip had been broken from sheer force.

"Heavens!" Shen Yue covered her mouth, stepping back in shock. "Who—who is that… Could it be Eldest Sister?" She abruptly turned to look at Ren Wanyun.

Since Shen Miao had claimed to have switched rooms with Shen Qing, the person in this room should have been Ren Wanyun. Yet everything before them clearly indicated that something terrible had happened to Shen Qing! Even as an unmarried maiden, she recognized the scene before her—it was unmistakably the aftermath of a woman being violated!

Granny Gui had not expected anyone to still be in the room. Hearing Shen Miao's words earlier, she had assumed Shen Miao had already settled matters with Ren Wanyun and was merely entering to discuss further. But upon opening the door and seeing a woman inside, she was stunned—could it be that Prince Yu had toyed with another woman last night? If so, her task had failed miserably. Yet Shen Yue's words nearly made her soul flee her body—Shen Qing? The woman lying inside was Shen Qing?

Yan Mei and Shui Bi, seeing Shen Qing in such a state, felt their hearts turn to ice. If their young mistress had suffered such a fate, they would surely have no hope of survival. Exchanging a glance, they saw only despair in each other's eyes before dropping to their knees, kowtowing frantically to Ren Wanyun.

Ren Wanyun stood frozen in place.

"Does Second Aunt not wish to take a closer look?" Shen Miao's soft voice broke the silence. Her tone was calm, as though she had not witnessed the horrific scene before her. Ren Wanyun turned her head and saw the young girl gazing quietly at her.

A storm of emotions raged in Ren Wanyun's chest, yet she suppressed it swiftly, her face deathly pale as she hurried into the room and approached the woman half-sprawled on the bed.

The woman's hair was disheveled, many strands torn out and scattered on the floor—clearly, much of it had been forcibly pulled. Trembling, Ren Wanyun reached out and turned the woman over.

A deafening thunderclap boomed, as if echoing her turmoil. The rain, which had ceased earlier, suddenly poured down again, and amidst the dark clouds, lightning crackled, startling everyone present.

Ren Wanyun shut her eyes in agony. The woman in her arms was none other than Shen Qing!

The closer she looked, the more horrifying the sight became. Shen Qing's face was swollen, evidence of severe abuse. Her body bore not a single patch of unblemished skin. One of her arms hung limply at an unnatural angle—as though it had been broken!

Prince Yu was too cruel!

Yet the one she hated most was Shen Miao!All of this should have befallen Shen Miao, but now it was her Qing'er who suffered. Reduced to such a state, Shen Qing's future was practically ruined. Ren Wanyun wished she could bite through Shen Miao's neck, drink her blood, and devour her flesh!

After all, Ren Wanyun was the one in charge of Shen Mansion. Even at such a moment, she managed to restrain herself from going mad. Instead, she trembled as she instructed Xiang Lan beside her, "Go find a carriage. We must leave the mountain immediately."

"But..." Xiang Lan glanced at her fearfully. "Madam, the heavy rain outside makes travel impossible."

The treacherous paths of Yangjing Peak, with its towering mountains and deep valleys, were already difficult to navigate. The rain had turned them into muddy, impassable trails. Forcing their way down now risked accidents due to the slippery conditions. Traveling in such weather was simply not feasible.

"Then what about Qing'er?" Ren Wanyun finally lost control and shrieked. She slapped Xiang Lan hard across the face and snarled, "What about my Qing'er?"

Outside the house, Shen Miao watched silently.

Standing under the eaves, she observed as the rain curtain obscured the landscape, seemingly veiling the filthy schemes beneath.

Originally, it should have been her suffering such humiliation. Yet now, it was she who had orchestrated Shen Qing's disgrace.

Hearing with her own ears that her daughter had been violated all night—when she could have saved her but chose to stand by and do nothing—would Ren Wanyun feel a pain that pierced her heart and bones every time she recalled it? Would it hurt as much as when she learned of Wan Yu's death from illness?

Now, desperate to take Shen Qing back to the city for treatment but forced to stay due to the relentless downpour—unable to advance or retreat—would the once triumphant Ren Wanyun feel even a sliver of despair?

"Find a doctor! By any means necessary, find a doctor! If you fail, you might as well die here!" Ren Wanyun screamed at Xiang Lan.

Having served Ren Wanyun for so many years, Xiang Lan had never been scolded like this before. Stricken with both grievance and terror, she covered her face, nodded, and fled. As she ran out, she couldn't help but glance at Shen Miao.

Everything had been meticulously planned. Last night, it should have been Shen Miao resting here. How could such a coincidence occur? Shen Qing was never one to compromise easily, and now, harboring resentment toward Shen Miao, she would never agree to switch rooms. There must be something amiss here. Xiang Lan observed the plainly dressed girl standing gracefully—her delicate, pleasing features inexplicably radiating an aura of menace.

"Cai Ju, summon a few people and shut the door," Ren Wanyun ordered through gritted teeth.

The door closed, dividing the world inside from the one outside.

Shen Yue was still reeling from the shock. She turned to Shen Miao, disbelief in her voice, "Fifth Sister, was Eldest Sister... violated by some villain?"

Shen Miao neither confirmed nor denied it. Prince Yu had indeed only intended to toy with his victim, leaving before dawn. He understood that for noblewomen, having their virtue ruined by an unknown assailant was the most terrifying fate. However, Prince Yu was no fool—he would soon uncover the truth. After all, the switcheroo had been executed with almost crude simplicity.

Lost in her thoughts, Shen Miao didn't realize how she appeared to Shen Yue at that moment. The sight sent a shiver down Shen Yue's spine, and she blurted out, "Fifth Sister... it couldn't have been you who harmed Eldest Sister, could it?"Last night, Shen Qing was clearly staying in the South Pavilion while Shen Miao was in the North Pavilion, yet their positions were inexplicably swapped, leading to this incident. If the rooms hadn't been changed, it should have been Shen Miao lying there now. And from Shen Yue's understanding of Shen Qing, she would never have voluntarily given up her room to Shen Miao.

Could all of this have been orchestrated by Shen Miao? Shen Yue's gaze at Shen Miao was as if she were looking at something utterly terrifying.

Then she heard Shen Miao chuckle softly, "Second Sister, one may eat carelessly, but words must not be spoken recklessly. How could I possibly have the capability to harm Eldest Sister? You overestimate me."

"But..." Shen Yue still harbored doubts. For some reason, she felt there was something off about Shen Miao. And last night's incident must be connected to her.

"Rather than worrying about such matters, perhaps you should be more concerned about yourself," Shen Miao said.

"Me?" Shen Yue tensed. "What about me?"

"Do you truly believe the two maids by your side can survive after witnessing Eldest Sister's private affairs?"

"What?"

"It seems Second Sister truly doesn't understand the cruelty of the world," Shen Miao said with a light laugh. "Servants who learn their master's secrets—especially shameful ones—how long do you think they can last?"

Huang Ying and Qing Luan, the maids by Shen Yue's side, instantly turned pale. They knew all too well—in noble households, dark and unspeakable affairs were common. Once servants witnessed such things, death was the only path, for only the dead could keep secrets. Shen Qing had been violated by ruffians, and both maids had seen it. There was no way they could survive this.

Shen Yue was horrified. In her shock, she had completely forgotten this detail. It wasn't that she was particularly sentimental, but training a personal maid required considerable effort. To lose two of her most capable maids over this—how could she accept it?

"And not just them," Shen Miao added with a faint smile, her gaze sweeping over Yan Mei, Shui Bi, and Granny Gui, her expression meaningful. "None of them will escape."

Granny Gui and the two maids nearly fainted on the spot.

What was there to fear? What was so terrifying? When one rose to power, even their chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. But if the master fell, none of the servants would be spared. In her past life, when the Shen family was raided, these very servants who had bullied others under their master's influence had betrayed them without hesitation. One reaped what they sowed—those who followed such masters had to accept their fate.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste to strike down only one person at a time?

She turned to leave, but Shen Yue called out to her, "Where are you going?"

"Didn't we come to Crouching Dragon Temple to pray?" Shen Miao replied indifferently. "I, too, have many questions. Naturally, I must ask the Buddha and offer incense—otherwise, this trip would be for nothing."

Clad in plain robes, she walked away without hesitation, her cold silhouette showing no sign of stopping, as if today's earth-shattering events had never happened. Everything had gone according to plan—sleep one night, then offer incense and pray for peace.

"Wait!" Shen Yue suddenly exclaimed. "Her two maids—where are they?"

Granny Gui was also taken aback.When Shen Miao encountered Shen Yue early in the morning, she had mentioned sending Jing Zhe and Gu Yu to the kitchen to fetch food. They still hadn't returned by now, conveniently unaware of Shen Qing's incident. Thinking back, what a coincidence it was that both Shen Qing and Shen Yue's maids witnessed the scandal and couldn't escape punishment, while none of Shen Miao's maids were present—clearly, she had deliberately sent them away.

She had known all along that this would happen today. She had known that Shen Qing would meet with disaster. Shen Qing's current fate was entirely orchestrated by her!

Shen Yue turned to look back, but Shen Miao's figure had already disappeared along the eaves. Yet those clear yet sharp eyes seemed to appear before her, sending an involuntary chill down her spine.

...

By noon, the rain finally stopped.

Xiang Lan searched the entire mountain but couldn't find a single physician. Normally, this place was rarely visited except for the occasional pilgrim. When the monks fell ill, they simply brewed their own herbal remedies. Unable to find a doctor, Xiang Lan had no choice but to ask the monks for some calming herbs and external wound medicine for Shen Qing.

The room was filled with the scent of herbs and an indescribable odor. Even after cleaning, the smell lingered. The woman on the bed lay with her eyes tightly shut, while Ren Wanyun sat by the window. In just a few hours, she seemed to have aged a decade.

The maids in the room didn't dare to breathe too loudly. With such a major incident, there was no guarantee their mistress wouldn't take her anger out on them.

As Ren Wanyun stared blankly at the curtain, Shen Qing suddenly stirred on the bed. Ren Wanyun immediately leaned over and called softly, "Qing'er?"

Shen Qing opened her eyes. The moment she saw Ren Wanyun, terror flashed across her face, and she clawed at Ren Wanyun's face, screaming, "Let me go! Get away! Help!"

"Qing'er, it's me—your mother! I'm your mother! Don't be afraid, I'm here!" Ren Wanyun's heart ached as if cut by a knife, but Shen Qing seemed oblivious, thrashing wildly and staring fixedly at the ceiling, screaming hysterically.

Xiang Lan and Cai Ju hurried over to help restrain her. Shen Qing was completely out of her mind, not even recognizing Ren Wanyun. In her struggle, the freshly applied medicine was smeared away, revealing the bloody wounds beneath. Ren Wanyun's face twisted in agony, and she let out a pained cry.

"Madam..." Xiang Lan and Cai Ju were both shocked and frightened. Ren Wanyun had always been composed, able to handle any crisis calmly. Over the years, she had weathered many storms, yet now she had been pushed to such a state. The two maids, who had served her for years, couldn't help but be stunned.

"Where is Shen Miao?" Ren Wanyun demanded fiercely.

"Fifth Miss... is in the temple hall," Cai Ju answered cautiously.

"Take good care of Qing'er. If anything else happens to her, neither of you will live to see another day." With that, Ren Wanyun turned and left.

...

In the Buddha Hall, the towering golden statue of the Buddha stood majestically, gazing down benevolently at the worshippers below.

On the prayer mat, Shen Miao knelt with incense in her hands, though her thoughts seemed elsewhere.

She had been kneeling there since morning—hours had passed.

"Miss, you should get up and rest," Jing Zhe urged gently. "It's not worth ruining your health. The Buddha must have already seen your sincerity. Whatever you pray for will surely come true.""Will all wishes be fulfilled?" Upon hearing this, Shen Miao's lips curled into a bitter smile. What she wished for could no longer be realized. Though she had been given a chance to start anew in this life, the mistakes of her past life could not be undone. Those who had passed would never return—her Wan Yu, her Fu Ming—had they ever been given a chance to start over?

They had likely long since turned into faint glimmers within the vast mortal world, leaving nothing behind.

Besides, she was no believer.

Shen Miao raised her head to gaze at the towering golden Buddha statue—nothing more than a cold, lifeless sculpture, incapable of truly saving all beings. If Heaven had eyes, why would it allow good people to meet tragic ends while the wicked roamed free?

Kneeling here, lighting incense stick after incense stick, she was not worshipping the Buddha, but rather the dead from her past life—those who had died because of her.

Since her rebirth, she had never had the opportunity or reason to pay respects to them, including the children she never had. Now that she was here, she took advantage of the incense before the Buddha to mourn the departed.

"Shen Miao!" A furious voice suddenly intruded.

Shen Miao smiled. People in this world were always so impatient.

Rubbing her sore knees, she stood up and turned around, smiling sweetly at Ren Wanyun. "Aunt."

Seeing Shen Miao's smile only made Ren Wanyun angrier. She strode forward, raising her hand to slap Shen Miao across the face.

Jing Zhe and Gu Yu tried to intervene, but it was too late. Yet the expected sharp sound of impact never came—Shen Miao had caught Ren Wanyun's wrist, stopping her palm just inches from her face.

"Aunt, you're acting rather rashly. I wonder what has provoked you. Though you may discipline me on behalf of my parents, striking without reason is hardly proper, even by common standards," she said.

Ren Wanyun had never expected Shen Miao to block her slap. The girl before her was slender, yet her grip was painfully strong. The once meek, easily manipulated niece had somehow grown taller. She could no longer look down on her as she had in childhood—now, if she wasn’t careful, this seemingly harmless little wretch might outmaneuver her.

Reluctantly lowering her hand, Ren Wanyun gritted her teeth. "Shen Miao, don’t play dumb. What happened to Qing’er—it was your doing, wasn’t it?"

Shen Qing was now in no state to explain how things had come to this, but Ren Wanyun knew—if this incident had nothing to do with Shen Miao, she’d sooner die than believe it. Whatever method Shen Miao had used to harm Shen Qing, she would not let it go unpunished!

"I deeply regret that Eldest Sister was harmed by villains, but how could you suspect me?" Shen Miao smiled faintly. "After all, if I hadn’t switched rooms with her, I would have been the one attacked today. Such a dangerous scheme is beyond me."

I would have been the one attacked today!

The words only made Ren Wanyun’s temples throb with rage. Clenching her fists, her eyes turned venomous. "That should have been your fate. You made Qing’er suffer in your place!"Jing Zhe and Gu Yu were both shocked and furious at Ren Wanyun's behavior. They were shocked that this Second Madam, who had always maintained a kind facade, had now torn off all pretenses to reveal such cruelty. Their fury stemmed from the fact that had Shen Miao not been alert last night, the three of them—master and servants—would have suffered dire consequences today. Yet Ren Wanyun actually dared to shift the blame—this was truly the villain striking first, shameless beyond measure!

"Second Aunt must not speak so, especially with Buddha watching over us," Shen Miao said with a light laugh, her eyes glinting with an unusual light as they flickered. "Everything in this world follows its destined course. That it was Eldest Sister who met misfortune last night and not me—perhaps that too was fate. Instead of blaming the wicked or destiny, Second Aunt blames me. What logic is that?"

Ren Wanyun was nearly driven to distraction by Shen Miao's words. She sneered coldly, "You’ve grown quite sharp-tongued. I underestimated you before."

"Oh, so that’s how Second Aunt saw me," Shen Miao replied with an indifferent smile.

Ren Wanyun studied the girl before her. Dressed in plain clothes, the young lady appeared gentle, her delicate features beginning to shed their youthful innocence. At some point, the foolish, incompetent Shen Miao had completely vanished. Not a trace of the past Shen Miao remained in this person. Having schemed in the inner courtyards for so many years, this was the first time Ren Wanyun had been outmaneuvered by a mere girl—and at such a devastating cost. The more gracefully Shen Miao carried herself, the more it reminded Ren Wanyun of Shen Qing’s pitiable state, lying bedridden.

"Shen Miao, if you’re feigning ignorance, let me be blunt with you." Ren Wanyun suddenly gave a mocking smile. Since all pretenses were gone, there was no need to maintain a facade of affection. "Do you think this matter ends here? The Old Madam won’t let you off, your Second Uncle won’t let you off, and that person... won’t let you off either. Your fate will be ten thousand times worse than Qing’er’s. You’ll surely... become a lowly whore, passed from man to man, forever disgraced and unfit for decent company!"

"Mind your words, Madam!" Jing Zhe and Gu Yu exclaimed in unison. Ren Wanyun, as the Second Madam of the Shen Mansion, was after all the wife of Shen Gui, an official. Though she usually appeared kind and dignified, she could utter such vile and vulgar curses—worse than an enemy’s. Shen Miao was still young; how could she be exposed to such filth?

Ren Wanyun seemed to notice Jing Zhe and Gu Yu only then. She sneered, "You went to such lengths to protect these two maids. Let’s see how long you can shield them!" With that, she cast Shen Miao a sinister glance, turned, and stormed off in a flurry of sleeves.

After Ren Wanyun left, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu looked at Shen Miao anxiously. Gu Yu fretted, "Miss, was it wise to confront her so openly?"

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. Even if we maintained appearances, she wouldn’t show an ounce of mercy. Why waste effort on a futile act?" Shen Miao replied.

In the survival games of the inner court, if the enemy was in the open, keep them there; if they lurked in the shadows, drag them into the light. She had no patience for playing pretend with Ren Wanyun. This game had begun with a storm, and now that Ren Wanyun had lost her composure in anger, what followed would surely be a frenzy of retaliation."But... once we return to the mansion, Old Madam Shen will surely favor them..." Jing Zhe whispered. Old Madam Shen's partiality towards the second branch was well known—not only because Shen Gui was her biological son, but also because Ren Wanyun had borne him two sons. Shen Yuanbai was one, and the eldest son of the second branch, currently serving in another region, would also return to Fixed Capital by year's end. With two grandsons, how could Old Madam Shen not favor the second branch?

Moreover, Ren Wanyun's silver tongue had Old Madam Shen completely charmed. Once they returned, whatever Ren Wanyun claimed would be taken as truth—who would believe Shen Miao's words?

"Let her favor them then. I never expected these people to stand up for me anyway," Shen Miao said with a faint smile.

Her smile fell upon Gu Yu's eyes, and Gu Yu's nose suddenly stung. She blurted out, "If that's really the case, this servant will use this matter to threaten them. If anything happens to you, Miss, even if it costs me my life, I'll make sure this scandal spreads far and wide!"

"Exactly." Jing Zhe's expression also turned stern. "Though this method of killing three thousand enemies while losing ten thousand of our own is somewhat foolish, when the time comes, we certainly won't let them off easily either!"

Shen Miao was momentarily stunned, never expecting her two maids to possess such boldness. After a moment of surprise, she instead laughed. Indeed, in her past life, Gu Yu had taken the blame for stealing imperial jade artifacts to protect her and was executed by the Crown Prince of Qin. Jing Zhe had lured powerful officials with her beauty on Shen Miao's behalf, willingly becoming a concubine, only to be beaten to death by the officials' wives. These two had always been utterly loyal to her. It was a pity that in her past life, she had been unable to give them anything in return.

Now that she had been reborn, she would protect these maids at all costs. Some mistakes only needed to be made once.

"No need. I never intended to spread this news in the first place. Second Aunt won't let it spread either."

"But if this matter is kept hidden forever, paper can't wrap fire. Once Eldest Miss marries, it will naturally be discovered." Gu Yu was puzzled. You can hide something for a while, but not forever. Unless Shen Qing never married, once she did, everyone would know she was no longer pure.

"So, they will definitely find a way to deceive the world. As for how they plan to deal with me, it will undoubtedly involve seeking that person's help."

"That person?" Jing Zhe pressed. "Who is that person?"

"Naturally, the scoundrel who violated Eldest Sister." Shen Miao chuckled lightly. "Did you really think last night was just an accident?"

Jing Zhe and Gu Yu trembled. Though they had vaguely guessed some of the truth, they hadn't wanted to believe it. They couldn't believe someone would harm Shen Miao like this—such a cruel method, pushing someone to the brink from the very start. They couldn't believe Shen Miao had foreseen this, nor that the Shen family's second branch was behind it. Though they knew the eastern courtyard harbored ill intentions, they hadn't expected things to go this far. Such methods were clearly meant for enemies.

"Miss... was it really the First Madam who ordered this?" Gu Yu asked with difficulty.

If it had just been an accident, they would have been relieved that Shen Miao had escaped unscathed that night. But if it was deliberate, then the second branch of the Shen family had only themselves to blame.

"But why would you say the First Madam would seek that person's help? Wasn't that person... just someone chosen at random?" Jing Zhe was confused. If Ren Wanyun had randomly chosen someone to ruin Shen Miao's purity, and now things had gone awry, wouldn't Ren Wanyun want to kill that person? Why would she still seek their help?

"Because that person is Prince Yu."

Jing Zhe and Gu Yu gasped. Everything they hadn't understood before now made sense. If that person was Prince Yu, everything fell into place. They had previously noticed Prince Yu seemed interested in Shen Miao, but Prince Yu was someone ordinary girls would avoid at all costs. If Prince Yu had privately struck some deal with Ren Wanyun, it was entirely possible Ren Wanyun would help him violate Shen Miao.

But now that things had gone wrong, if Ren Wanyun told Prince Yu about this, given his unpredictable temper and the fact that he had been deceived right under his nose, he would never let Shen Miao off.

"Miss, should we... write to the Master now?" Gu Yu and Jing Zhe were panicked.

Prince Yu was an existence they couldn't oppose. His power aside, his temperament aside, he also had the imperial family as his shield.

"No need." Shen Miao's eyes strangely brightened. "Shen Qing is just the beginning. The one I want to deal with was always Prince Yu."

She turned to look at the curling smoke rising from the incense burner before the Buddha.

Wan Yu, your life was truly bitter. You passed away in the bloom of youth, bearing the title of princess yet treated worse than weeds. Your mother could do nothing for you then. But at least now, in this life, those who wronged you—your mother will help you seek retribution for each and every one.

In a certain pavilion outside Fixed Capital, a young man in white played with a porcelain cup in his hand and said curiously, "So, the Shen family girl actually has a grudge against Prince Yu? Using her cousin's hand to slowly drag Prince Yu into the pit—her methods are quite clever. But for a young lady, she's rather ruthless."

He shook his head, looking rather regretful.

"Prince Yu?" The purple-robed youth opposite him smirked, his handsome face sharp as a blade. He lazily said, "I don't think Prince Yu is who she wants to deal with."

"Not Prince Yu? Then who?" The white-clad young man paused and looked at him. "You think..."

"Using Prince Yu as the entry point to strike at the Ming Qi imperial family—what do you think?" the youth replied indifferently.

...

Each autumn rain brought cooler weather. After just one night of rain, not a trace of summer's heat remained. Even the sun in the sky seemed desolate.

In the Shen Mansion, the eastern courtyard was still bustling. The end of the year marked Old Madam Shen's birthday, and since she loved extravagance, preparations began months in advance. The expenses were naturally considerable. The household funds were managed by Ren Wanyun, who undoubtedly skimmed off the top, but the arrangements were always grand and impressive.

The task of writing invitations and sending wooden cards to the ladies and young misses of various households fell to the third branch's madam, the talented Chen Ruoqiu.

Though middle-aged, Chen Ruoqiu still maintained the figure of a young girl. Perhaps her scholarly air added to her grace, making her appear even more beautiful than the voluptuous Ren Wanyun. Because of her beauty, gentle temperament, and ability to compose poetry, she had completely enchanted Third Master Shen Wan. Even after many years of marriage, though Chen Ruoqiu had only borne him one daughter, Shen Yue, Shen Wan had taken only two bed warmers given by Old Madam Shen and never taken any concubines.

Among the Shen family's three sons, their temperaments differed. Shen Xin was upright and resolute but too rough and lacking in attentiveness, overly fixated on loyalty. Shen Gui was skilled at flattery, smooth in official circles, but greedy for wealth and lust. Aside from Ren Wanyun, he had several concubines, though Ren Wanyun's formidable methods ensured only one illegitimate daughter, posing no threat to the legitimate children's status. Third Master Shen Wan, in comparison, was genuinely talented. If the three sons were to be compared—Shen Xin followed the old general's path as a military official, while Shen Gui and Shen Wan took the civil official route—Shen Wan had more real ability than his second brother.

But this didn't mean Shen Wan was without flaws. He wasn't lustful, keeping only Chen Ruoqiu as his official wife, but he placed too much importance on power, single-mindedly climbing the ranks. To this end, he had even stepped on his own superiors.

At this moment, Chen Ruoqiu was carefully writing invitations. The sunlight slanted through the window, casting a soft glow on her, making her delicate features appear almost girlish. Shen Wan, adjusting his collar, saw this and couldn't help but smile. He walked over and embraced her from behind.

"Ah!" Chen Ruoqiu feigned annoyance. "What are you doing, Master? You've made me ruin this invitation—what a waste!"

"Let me see." Shen Wan picked up the invitation and pretended to examine it. "The handwriting is elegant, just like its owner. How is it ruined?"

Chen Ruoqiu's cheeks flushed. Seeing this, Shen Wan felt his heart stir.

Even after all these years, his wife still possessed a captivating charm that made other women invisible to him.

This was Chen Ruoqiu's brilliance. Among the many daughters of the Chen family, she alone had firmly grasped her husband's heart. It wasn't for any other reason but her ability to endure. Whatever kind of woman Shen Wan liked, she became that woman. She could feign temperament, change her clothing—catering to his preferences until, over time, the man became like a pampered pet, seeing only her.

"Second Sister-in-law should be returning today," Chen Ruoqiu said, leaning against Shen Wan. "I wonder if Yue'er can stomach the temple food, if the mountain road was rough, if she was jostled too much."

Shen Wan laughed. "Why worry so much? Second Sister-in-law won't let Yue'er go hungry or cold." Seeing Chen Ruoqiu still looking concerned, he added, "You always treat Yue'er like a child. She's grown now—in a few years, she'll be of marriageable age. What will you do then?"

"When Yue'er marries, I'll naturally find her a perfect match. The family and character must be impeccable—not like Wu Niang..." She abruptly stopped.

That night, when Old Madam Shen had spoken to Ren Wanyun and Chen Ruoqiu, suggesting they secretly hand Shen Miao over to Prince Yu to fulfill his wishes and thus support the second and third branches of the Shen family, Chen Ruoqiu had later discussed it with her husband. Shen Wan had naturally agreed. He had spent his life obsessed with power, yet no matter how high he climbed, his influence and reputation never matched Shen Xin's. He had long envied the first branch and held no affection for Shen Miao. If Prince Yu took Shen Miao and was pleased, offering him official promotions, it would be an unexpected boon for Shen Wan. As for Shen Miao's future—whether she would fare well—Shen Wan couldn't care less.

"I wonder if Second Sister-in-law has succeeded in this matter," Shen Wan said solemnly.

Seeing his expression, Chen Ruoqiu's heart sank slightly. She knew her husband always prioritized power. Though she also held no regard for the first branch, as a woman, she couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

When Ren Wanyun had suddenly proposed a trip to Crouching Dragon Temple to offer incense, those in the know understood there was more to it. Likely, upon their return, they would hear tragic news about Shen Miao.

"Don't worry," she said softly. "Second Sister-in-law has always been thorough. This matter... should be foolproof."

"I hope so." Shen Gui nodded.

As they spoke, Chen Ruoqiu's first-rank maid, Shi Qing, rushed in, her face flustered. "Madam, Second Madam has returned with the three young misses."

Seeing Shi Qing's expression, Chen Ruoqiu relaxed, assuming the matter had succeeded. She exchanged a knowing glance with Shen Wan before adopting a concerned expression. "Are the three young misses well? Were they exhausted?"

"N-no." Shi Qing stammered. "Eldest Miss... has gone mad."

Chen Ruoqiu's smile froze.

...

Everything seemed like a dream. The orderly Shen Mansion had descended into chaos in just one day.

Shen Qing had gone mad.

Ren Wanyun of the second branch had always carried herself with the dignity of the household's matriarch. Though she often wore a smiling face, her formidable methods were well-known. Regardless of her character, under her management, the Shen Mansion had never faced major issues—her administrative skills were widely acknowledged.

Yet this noblewoman, always composed and smiling, now appeared before the servants exhausted and frantic for the first time. Were it not for the maids supporting her, one might have mistaken her for a madwoman. And the girl in her arms was undoubtedly insane—screaming and thrashing, the commotion even drawing Old Madam Shen's attention.

Though the reason remained unclear, the fact that Eldest Miss Shen had gone mad was undeniable. The Shen family, however, treated the matter with extreme secrecy. The maids who had witnessed Shen Qing's madness were all sold off—ostensibly sold, but who knew if they were simply buried in unmarked graves?

The two maids by Shen Qing's side, the two by Shen Yue's side, even Granny Gui—all were imprisoned.

Thus, the only one left unscathed was Shen Miao.

In the Hall of Glory and Scenery.

Old Madam Shen sat stiffly on the high seat, her face taut. Her eyes, fixed on Shen Miao standing in the center, were as venomous as a snake's.

Three girls had left perfectly fine. The one who should have suffered remained unharmed, while the one who shouldn't have suffered had met misfortune. The person who should have borne this now stood here, while the second branch's Shen Qing had taken the fall. Just thinking about it made Old Madam Shen's chest tighten with anger, as if blocked by a stone.

Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan stood to the side. Shen Yue, aggrieved, stood beside Chen Ruoqiu. Her two personal maids had been imprisoned without reason. Earlier, Shen Miao had said that keeping Huang Ying and Qing Luan would be difficult.

On the other side, Ren Wanyun knelt before Old Madam Shen. Shen Gui, occupied with court matters, had yet to return. The servant sent to fetch him hadn't come back, so he remained unaware of his legitimate daughter's plight.

"Old Madam, you must seek justice for Qing'er," Ren Wanyun wept, her face streaked with tears. Shen Wan was somewhat surprised. This Second Sister-in-law, always so composed, now appeared utterly disheveled—a rare sight. Chen Ruoqiu, however, felt a twinge of satisfaction.

Ren Wanyun had always looked down on the third branch, flaunting her authority as the household manager. Now that her own daughter had met misfortune, she could only grovel like a dog.

"Fifth Sister, I treated you as my own. Qing'er always yielded to you. You share the same blood—if not supporting each other, how could you be so cruel? Do you know you've ruined Qing'er's life? How heartless!"

Shen Yue had told Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan about Shen Qing's violation. The servants here had all been dismissed, so Chen Ruoqiu wasn't worried about being overheard.

Just as Shen Miao was about to speak, an angry roar came from behind. "Wretched girl! You harmed your own sister—your heart is as venomous as a snake's! You deserve imprisonment and death!"

Shen Miao smirked coldly and turned to face the man striding toward her.

Her second uncle, Shen Qing's father—Shen Gui.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

The young marquis is not a good person, the young marquis is not a good person, the young marquis is not a good person—important things must be said three times!

Empress Shen is about to take on a whole bunch of bitches single-handedly (:3」∠)

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