"Can't you see? I'm betting my life for a future."
In the firelight, Shen Miao's eyes burned brighter than the flames, yet the determination within them was as unshakable as a boulder.
"What use is a future if you're dead?" Xie Jingxing said sharply. "This is too reckless."
Shen Miao laughed, looking at him with a mocking tone. "I'm different from you, Young Marquis. You have power and influence—whatever you want, you can obtain without much effort. But I have no choice. If I don't gamble with my life, my fate will be worse than death. If I'm not even afraid of death, why would I fear fire?" She paused. "You should leave."
Xie Jingxing frowned at her, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes flickering with contemplation. He was no saint and had no intention of playing the hero. His earlier actions had merely been a reflexive response to the unexpected situation. Now that he had regained his composure, he found himself amused by his own impulsiveness. With that in mind, he crossed his arms and leaped onto a beam that had yet to catch fire, watching her with interest. "I forgot—you're the clever one of the Shen family. Of course, you have the means to escape unscathed. But this Marquis is curious—just what tricks do you have up your sleeve?"
His purple robe shimmered with streaks of gold in the firelight, yet more dazzling than his attire was the smirk on his lips. The young man's expression was arrogant, his features as striking as a painting. At this moment, he resembled the charming rogue from operas, but the cold cruelty in his gaze lent a chilling edge to his otherwise carefree demeanor.
At the banquet in the eastern courtyard, Ren Wanyun had been thrown into a panic ever since hearing of Shen Xin and his wife's return. A sliver of hope lingered in her heart—perhaps it was just a mischievous servant spreading rumors. But before she could devise a plan, she saw servants leading a group of travel-worn figures inside. The man at the front laughed heartily from afar. "Mother, your son has returned to the capital to celebrate your birthday! Though slightly late, I beg your forgiveness!"
All eyes turned toward the newcomers. Leading the group were the bearded, burly man and the fiery beauty—Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan—followed by the gentle-smiling young man, Shen Qiu.
In the past, this would have been a moment of joyous reunion. With Ren Wanyun's silver tongue, she could easily have smoothed things over and kept the couple in good spirits. But today, the timing couldn't have been worse. The fire had broken out at the worst possible moment—just as Shen Xin returned, with Shen Miao still trapped in the ancestral hall. Ren Wanyun stood frozen, at a loss for what to do.
Old Madam Shen was even more helpless. She was a woman of little wit, only capable of throwing her weight around within the household. Even her schemes against Shen Miao had been petty and underhanded. Now, faced with such a public crisis, she couldn't even feign distress convincingly.
Chen Ruoqiu was anxious. Though she wished for both the second and first branches of the family to suffer, she was also present at this banquet. If Shen Xin hadn't returned, Shen Miao's death in the fire could have been dismissed—without evidence, they could spin the story however they pleased. But now that Shen Xin was back, with eyes to see the truth, how could she possibly explain this away?Shen Qing and Shen Yue were both somewhat afraid of their uncle, Shen Xin. After all, he was a military general, carrying an air of decisive and formidable authority. As delicate young girls, they couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable fear toward such a presence. Seeing their mother so visibly intimidated only heightened their panic.
Shen Gui and Shen Wan exchanged glances, their expressions grave. Over the years, they had concealed their actions well, never making a mistake or witnessing their elder brother’s wrath. But today, if anything were to happen to Shen Miao, they shuddered to think how Shen Xin might react.
As they pondered, Shen Xin, his wife Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu arrived before Old Madam Shen’s banquet table. Noticing the guests’ silence and the strange looks directed their way, Luo Xueyan frowned, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint what.
It was Shen Qiu who, after carefully scanning the table, voiced his confusion, “Hmm? Grandmother, why isn’t my sister at this table?”
At his words, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan also noticed. Shen Yue and Shen Qing were present, as was Shen Dongling, the eldest branch’s illegitimate daughter. Yet among the young ladies, Shen Miao was nowhere to be seen. Shen Xin’s smile faltered as he asked, “Mother, where is Jiaojiao?”
Old Madam Shen hesitated. How could she explain? Ren Wanyun had claimed she was calling for guards, yet her sluggish movements made it clear she hadn’t taken the matter seriously. They hadn’t even left the banquet table.
“General Shen!” Feng Anning suddenly stood up, raising her voice. “You’ve returned just in time! The ancestral hall caught fire earlier, and Fifth Miss Shen is still trapped inside!”
Her words were deliberately provocative, meant to vent some of Shen Miao’s grievances. Feng Anning, doted upon in her own family, knew that even a minor stumble would prompt an outpouring of concern. Seeing Shen Miao in peril while the Shen family remained indifferent, she felt deep sympathy. Since Shen Xin had returned at such a fortuitous moment, she might as well lodge a complaint.
Her announcement stunned Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan. The ancestral hall was on fire, and Shen Miao was trapped inside? Why would Shen Miao be in the ancestral hall in the first place? More importantly, why were their relatives still feasting and drinking while she was in danger?
Ren Wanyun quickly tried to explain, “Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, I was just about to summon the guards. You’ve only just arrived—”
Before she could finish, Shen Xin brushed past her without a word. The glance he shot her sent a chill down her spine—it was terrifying, ruthless.
Luo Xueyan and Shen Qiu snapped out of their daze and immediately rushed toward the ancestral hall.
Inside the hall, the flames grew fiercer, nearly engulfing the space in a massive inferno. Shen Miao covered her nose and mouth with a damp handkerchief she had prepared earlier. Xie Jingxing, however, frowned at her. Despite the choking smoke, he appeared entirely unruffled, not a trace of distress on him. “If we don’t leave now, you’ll really die here,” he remarked.
“If we don’t leave now, you’ll just have to be buried with me,” Shen Miao retorted.
“Sharp tongue,” Xie Jingxing chuckled, unfazed. “What are you waiting for?”Before he could finish speaking, a furious roar came from outside: "Jiaojiao!"
Xie Jingxing swiftly moved to the window and peered through a small gap in the flames. The figures outside were none other than Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had anticipated a fire, but they never expected it to be this fierce. Their eyes widened in horror. A crowd of guards surrounded the ancestral hall, yet not a single one dared to enter and rescue anyone. They merely fetched buckets of water to douse the flames—a futile effort. By the time they managed to extinguish the fire, Shen Miao would have long perished.
Shen Qiu gritted his teeth. "I'll save my sister!" He charged forward, but before he could take two steps, a burning beam crashed down in front of him with a loud crack, blocking his path entirely.
"Jiaojiao!"
"Little sister!"
Inside the hall, Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow and remarked, "So your childhood name is Jiaojiao. It doesn’t suit you at all."
"The people I’ve been waiting for have arrived. Young Marquis, you’ll have to find your own way out," Shen Miao said coldly, her eyes sharp with fury. She had orchestrated this entire scene precisely to show Shen Xin the truth—the so-called harmonious and loving Shen Mansion was nothing but a facade, and the relatives who claimed to cherish her harbored nothing but malice. Military men valued loyalty and righteousness; they weren’t foolish, just unwilling to suspect the worst in others. But Shen Miao didn’t have the luxury of time to let Shen Xin come to this realization slowly. She had to use the most direct and brutal method to make them see the truth clearly.
She picked up a burning piece of wood from the ground and pressed it against her arm without hesitation. Xie Jingxing froze in shock. Shen Miao clenched her teeth as large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. She dropped the wood, revealing a stark burn mark on her fair skin.
Xie Jingxing couldn’t hide his astonishment. He had encountered ruthless women before—female assassins who wouldn’t hesitate to harm themselves. But Shen Miao was no assassin. She was a pampered young lady from a noble family, someone whose life should have been as soft and delicate as her childhood name, Jiaojiao, just like the other highborn maidens of Fixed Capital. Yet here she was, searing her own flesh without so much as a flinch.
He watched as Shen Miao deliberately smeared more flames onto herself before stumbling toward the exit. Her movements were unsteady, as if she might collapse at any moment, yet her path was precise—and strangely, the flames didn’t touch her. Xie Jingxing narrowed his eyes and saw it clearly: a narrow path had been left untouched amidst the raging fire. Someone had prepared this in advance, coating it with a fire-resistant substance to ensure a safe escape.
Everything had been meticulously arranged by Shen Miao. She had truly gambled with her life for a future, and she had won. Now, the ones who would suffer were the others.
Xie Jingxing smirked, his gaze lingering meaningfully on her retreating figure as it vanished into the flames. Then, with the agility of a swallow, he darted toward another exit—the back door of the ancestral hall. His movements were effortless, as if the deadly inferno were nothing more than flat ground. In the blink of an eye, he was outside.
His subordinates, who had been waiting for him, exhaled in relief at the sight of him. "Master.""The item isn't in the ancestral hall. Shen Xin is back, let's go." He spoke quickly before turning and disappearing into the woods behind the ancestral hall.
Outside, Shen Miao stumbled out in a daze.
At the sight of Shen Miao, Shen Qiu immediately jumped up: "Little sister!"
Both Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan were nearly moved to tears. They had been trying to charge into the flames but couldn't get through. Seeing Shen Miao emerge on her own was an overwhelming relief.
"Jiaojiao!"
But as soon as Shen Miao emerged, her legs gave way and she fainted. Shen Qiu caught her just in time, noticing a horrifying burn mark on her left arm. His eyes reddened instantly. Cradled in his arms, Shen Miao murmured with closed eyes, "Let me out... I won't marry..."
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, who had just arrived, froze at these words.
......
The inner chamber of the West Courtyard was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs. Servants bustled about inside and out, bringing an unusual liveliness to the normally desolate and neglected courtyard. The room itself was abuzz with activity.
"I entrusted Jiaojiao to you two, believing you would take good care of her. Clearly, that wasn't the case. Had I not returned today, she might have died in that fire without anyone knowing," Luo Xueyan sneered, arms crossed. She was never one to be trifled with—on the battlefield, she was known as the "Demoness." Her usual courtesy toward the Shen Mansion was solely out of gratitude for their care of Shen Miao. But today, it seemed the masks had come off, and her fury knew no bounds.
"Sister-in-law, it's not like that," Ren Wanyun hurriedly explained with an ingratiating smile. "I had already sent guards to put out the fire. I treat Jiaojiao as my own daughter—how could I stand by and watch her in danger? You know very well how I've cared for her all these years, or else why would she be so close to us?" She was frantic. Luo Xueyan had never lost her temper before, perhaps unfamiliar with the intrigues of the inner household. She had always been easy to placate, but once provoked, her wrath was formidable.
"Your own daughter?" Luo Xueyan scoffed. "Our Jiaojiao doesn’t deserve such a venomous mother." She advanced step by step, forcing Ren Wanyun to retreat, her voice icy. "I’d like to ask you, sister—why was Jiaojiao alone in the ancestral hall during the old madam’s birthday celebration?"
"The fifth young miss wanted to offer incense to the ancestors..." Under Luo Xueyan’s piercing gaze, Ren Wanyun panicked and blurted out a feeble excuse.
"Ren Wanyun!" Luo Xueyan snapped. "Do you take me for a fool with these lies? Locked in the ancestral hall? Forced into marriage? I will settle this account, one by one. This isn’t over." Luo Xueyan, fierce by nature, exuded an imperious authority when roused. "If my Jiaojiao suffers even the slightest harm, you’ll answer to me—mark my words!"She spoke in one breath, startling everyone in the room into trembling. Luo Xueyan had been away from Shen Mansion for years, and the servants no longer regarded her as a proper mistress. Many were, in fact, Ren Wanyun’s spies. Whenever Luo Xueyan returned, she was always smiling and cheerful, broad-minded and straightforward, never nitpicking over trivial matters. Everyone thought her easy to talk to—no one had ever seen her so stern and severe before. She left Ren Wanyun speechless, her face turning purple with suppressed rage.
Inside the inner room, Shen Miao turned over to face the wall, her eyes wide awake and clear. She had schemed tirelessly to stage this scene, even willing to leave scars on herself, all to eliminate any possibility of Ren Wanyun being forgiven. The Shen family were all skilled actors—given a few performances and sweet words, people’s hearts might soften. Unless the harm was already done, no parent would tolerate others hurting their child—just like her Wan Yu and Fu Ming.
Now, Luo Xueyan no longer trusted Ren Wanyun and Chen Ruoqiu as she once did. Treating the second and third branches as enemies meant her burns hadn’t been in vain. This was good.
Meanwhile, in the outer courtyard, Shen Xin and Shen Qiu stood facing Shen Gui and Shen Wan.
"Eldest Brother, this is all a misunderstanding," Shen Gui said, flustered. He had no idea about Ren Wanyun’s plan to switch the marriages of Shen Miao and Shen Qing. As for Shen Miao being locked in the ancestral hall, it was because she had made a mistake earlier. Shen Gui had been holding a grudge against Shen Miao ever since she defied him in the Hall of Glory and Scenery, so he had no objections to her punishment. Who knew things would take such a turn at this critical moment?
"Second Uncle, this is hardly a misunderstanding," Shen Qiu stepped forward, fists clenched tightly, barely restraining the urge to knock the two men down. "During Grandmother’s birthday banquet, my sister was the only one locked in the ancestral hall. I’d like to ask—what crime did she commit? And why were there so many guards stationed outside, watching instead of rescuing her? Second Uncle, Third Uncle, am I to understand these guards weren’t there to save her but to block others and scheme for her death?"
Young and impulsive, Shen Qiu spoke without filtering his thoughts, and he didn’t disappoint Shen Miao—his words were even harsher than she had hoped. The moment he finished speaking, Shen Xin’s expression darkened dangerously, while Shen Gui and Shen Wan were taken aback. Shen Wan quickly tried to smooth things over: "Nephew, how can you say such things? Fifth Lady is our niece—why would we harm her?" He turned to Shen Xin. "Eldest Brother, today’s incident was just an accident. We’ve lived together for so many years—if we wanted to harm Fifth Lady, why would we have raised her so well until now? Don’t you trust us?"
Shen Wan, a scholar by nature, put on an air of righteousness, easily deceiving others into thinking he was the epitome of integrity. But Shen Xin wasn’t fooled. In the past, he might have believed it was a misunderstanding—after all, they had raised Shen Miao so well, and she had even been close to them. But after today’s events, looking at them now, he saw nothing but wolves in scholars’ clothing, their malicious intentions laid bare.Under the astonished gazes of Shen Gui and Shen Wan, Shen Xin roared, "Bullshit! Do you think I'm an idiot to fool around? I entrusted Jiaojiao to you, and you tried to kill her. Locking her in the ancestral hall, forcing her to marry? Shen Gui, Shen Wan, don’t think that just because I’m not in the capital, you can bully my daughter as you please. Today, I, Shen Xin, will make this clear—once Jiaojiao wakes up, we’ll settle this!"
Shen Gui and Shen Wan were dumbfounded. Though Shen Xin was a rough military man, over the years, he had always restrained his temper in front of them. While not as refined as scholars, they now realized that deep down, Shen Xin was nothing but a rogue! His words left Shen Gui and Shen Wan at a loss for a response.
In truth, Shen Xin had been pushed to his limit. Seeing his daughter trapped in the fire had already filled him with fury and pain, but the words Shen Miao uttered before fainting became the final straw. The simpler her words, the more they invited speculation, making Shen Xin wonder just what kind of life Shen Miao had been living in the Shen Mansion. The more he thought about it, the more disgusted he grew with his two younger brothers. If he could, Shen Xin would have drawn his sword and cut these two beasts down on the spot!
"Enough!" A furious shout came from behind. Everyone turned to see Xi'er and another maid supporting Old Madam Shen as she approached.
Old Madam Shen was also nearly overwhelmed with rage. She had always prized her reputation above all else, yet today, during her birthday banquet, she had been humiliated in front of all the distinguished figures of Fixed Capital. The accusatory demeanor of Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had been witnessed by the guests, who, sensing the brewing storm, quickly departed, leaving the banquet half-finished. Now that all the guests had left, she hurried over to demand an explanation, only to find Shen Xin interrogating Shen Gui and Shen Wan. Without hesitation, she intervened.
Shen Qiu turned and greeted her with a lukewarm, "Grandmother." In the past, when Shen Yuan was still around, Old Madam Shen had favored him. It was said that she disliked violence and preferred scholars, hence her partiality toward Shen Yuan. But children often have an instinct—Shen Qiu had always felt an aversion to her, and after returning home less frequently, the distance between them only grew.
Having witnessed Shen Miao fall into a trap while the banquet continued as if nothing had happened, Shen Qiu felt a bitter resentment and longed to stand up for his sister immediately.
Old Madam Shen shot Shen Qiu a glare before sweeping her gaze over Shen Xin. Finally, she adopted a dignified tone and said, "Eldest, what kind of authority are you asserting over your younger brothers the moment you return to the mansion? What, are you bringing your general’s airs into our Shen family?"
In her youth, Old Madam Shen had been a songstress, and though her methods were unscrupulous, she maintained a facade of gentleness and virtue, thoroughly taming Old General Shen. Before his death, the old general had told Shen Xin that while Shen Gui and Shen Wan pursued civil official careers, only Shen Xin had inherited his legacy. He urged Shen Xin to support his brothers and keep the family harmonious. The bond between Old General Shen and Shen Xin had been deep, and Shen Xin had always taken his father’s words to heart. Thus, over the years, he had never wavered in his respect for Old Madam Shen.Throughout history, human emotions have always flowed downward. Parents dote on their children, and children dote on their own offspring, but rarely does anyone love their parents more than their children. Shen Xin was no exception. When faced with choosing between a mother without blood ties and his own flesh and blood, Shen Xin naturally chose his own child without hesitation. Old Madam Shen's words now fell on deaf ears with Shen Xin—they held no sway whatsoever.
He cupped his hands toward Old Madam Shen in salute. "Mother, it's not that I'm putting on airs in the mansion. It's just that today's incident is highly suspicious. As the Grand General of Might, if I can't even protect my own daughter's safety, what face do I have to meet the ancestors of the Shen family? Wouldn't I be disgracing my own formidable reputation? I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter. Today was supposed to be your birthday celebration, but your unfilial son truly cannot stand by and watch Jiaojiao fall into danger while pretending nothing is wrong. I can only apologize to you later." His words carried both overt and covert sarcasm—while Shen Miao was in peril, the rest of the Shen family still had the leisure to continue their banquet as if nothing had happened. Their hearts were truly condemnable.
Old Madam Shen stood frozen in place. Shen Xin had always been proper and respectful toward her. When he was young, she had once considered using other means to eliminate him, but the old general cherished Shen Xin like his own life, leaving her no opportunity to act. By the time Shen Xin grew up, it became even more impossible. Still, since Shen Xin treated her with respect, she was content to play along. This was the first time Shen Xin had so forcefully contradicted her words, shocking her into momentary silence.
Shen Xin then turned to Shen Gui and Shen Wan, his tone dark. "I will naturally investigate this matter thoroughly. Second Brother, Third Brother, farewell." He turned and strode away without so much as a glance at the others. Shen Qiu hurried after him.
Only after leaving the eastern courtyard did Shen Xin speak to Shen Qiu. "That Fire Rat Fur Cloak in the carriage—bring it to your sister later. I see that this mansion is no less treacherous than the battlefield. Your sister needs it more than the old madam."
"Yes," Shen Qiu replied, overjoyed, then suddenly remembered something. "Father, before fainting, Sister mentioned something about a marriage arrangement. We should look into that too. We never received any news about such matters while in the northwest."
"Hmph," Shen Xin said grimly. "It seems this general's mansion is crawling with demons and monsters. This time, your sister nearly lost her life. Once I find those reckless fools, I'll personally interrogate each one of them!"
...
Marquis Lin'an Manor.
Xie Jingxing had just returned to his room when he noticed someone already seated at the table—a man in white robes, leisurely fanning himself with a folding fan, smiling at him.
"What are you doing here?" Xie Jingxing set down his sword and asked.
"I heard you went to Shen Mansion to look for something. Any results?" Gao Yang asked with a smile.
"None."
"I already guessed the item wasn't in Shen Mansion," Gao Yang shook his head, a trace of disappointment flashing across his face. "If it's not there, what will you do next?"
"Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their divine powers," Xie Jingxing sat down across from him and poured himself a cup of tea. "What else can I do?"
"But with Shen Xin's return to the capital, Ming Qi might face new upheavals," Gao Yang studied him, pausing mid-fan. "At this time, the Fu Family might..." He made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.
"The Shen family's achievements overshadow the throne, like a blazing fire under boiling oil. This day was bound to come sooner or later," Xie Jingxing took a sip of tea, his tone indifferent, devoid of even a hint of sympathy.
Gao Yang shrugged, then suddenly remembered something and pulled out a small green bottle from his sleeve. "Tie Yi mentioned you injured your hand last time. I prepared some medicine for you."
"Why would I need medicine for a minor injury?" Xie Jingxing frowned.
"My medicine doesn't leave scars," Gao Yang insisted, shoving the bottle into Xie Jingxing's hand. "Scars would be unsightly."
"I'm not a woman," Xie Jingxing tossed the bottle back as if it were poison. "Take it back!"
"If you were a woman, you'd be begging me for it in tears," Gao Yang retorted. "Take it. This medicine is precious—worth a thousand gold per bottle."
Xie Jingxing shot him a glance, his lips curling in disdain, but then he suddenly recalled the scene in the fire—the girl unhesitatingly pressing the burning spirit tablet against his hand.
Afraid of scars? Not necessarily.
After a moment's thought, he reached out and tucked the bottle into his sleeve.
Author's Note:
Have you all watched "Only You"? I really like Bosco Wong—why does he always play second male leads? (〃＞皿＜) I've realized I'm such a second-lead enthusiast (:3ゝ∠)
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