Shen Xin and his wife finally returned to the mansion in the evening. Along with their arrival came a carriage full of rewards from the palace. In the past, these rewards would have been handed over to the public funds, but today, Luo Xueyan ordered the servants to carry the boxes directly into the West Courtyard.
The palace's rewards were either luxurious or valuable. The servants from the East Courtyard watched enviously as the boxes passed by their courtyard. From the Hall of Glory and Scenery, the sound of objects being shattered could be heard intermittently. Clearly, Old Madam Shen, who had always taken advantage of everything, was furious about this matter and was throwing a tantrum.
However, those who came from military backgrounds were probably the least affected by such displays of temper. The boxes were moved without delay, and the task was completed with remarkable efficiency.
Shen Miao was sitting at the table reading, her focus entirely on the political and legal texts of Ming Qi. The poetry and literature that Gu Yu and the others had previously gathered for her were tossed aside, unworthy of even a glance.
Suddenly, a hearty laugh came from outside the door: "Jiaojiao!"
Shen Miao turned her head to see Shen Xin striding in, followed by Luo Xueyan. They must have come straight to her after returning to the mansion, as they hadn’t even changed their clothes. Shen Qiu trailed behind them, making a playful face at her.
Shen Miao stood up and nodded in greeting. "Father, Mother, Eldest Brother."
Her gentle demeanor took Shen Xin and his wife by surprise. Shen Miao had never been close to them, often leaving after just a few words whenever they returned, showing clear impatience. This kind of amiable behavior had not been seen in a long time. Yet, within that gentleness, there seemed to be a faint trace of detachment—so subtle that only parents like Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan could keenly sense it.
Shen Miao sighed inwardly. She couldn’t act like a true fourteen-year-old girl, acting cute with Shen Xin, nor could she pretend as if nothing had happened. In her past life, she had dragged the Shen family down. Facing Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan now, she was overwhelmed with guilt. The closer the kinship, the greater the fear—this was precisely the case.
Luo Xueyan paused for only a moment before her concern for her daughter quickly overshadowed her confusion. She stepped forward, grabbing Shen Miao’s hands, and asked urgently, "How is Jiaojiao feeling? Is there any discomfort?"
"I’m fine," Shen Miao replied with a smile.
"Jiaojiao, your father brought back several large chests of treasures from the palace today. Once you’re feeling better, you can go pick out your favorites tomorrow morning. The jewelry and hairpins are said to be the finest in all of Fixed Capital," Shen Xin said, his tone almost ingratiating. It was somewhat comical to see such a burly man carefully trying to please his daughter.
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Thank you, Father, but there’s no rush. Just lock those treasures in our courtyard’s storeroom. There’s plenty of time—I’ll pick them out whenever I feel like it."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the room changed.In the past, when Shen Xin brought back chests of rewards, it was customary for Shen Miao to pick first, with the rest sent to the family coffers. He had always doted on his daughter like this, and no one dared to object, as these rewards were earned by Shen Xin through his own blood and sweat. But before, Shen Miao would never have chosen first. She would let Shen Yue and Shen Qing pick before her, followed by the second and third branches of the family, only then would she make her selection. Naturally, this was because she was close to the second and third branches, hence her actions.
However, today, not only did Shen Miao not decline, she even proposed to lock the chests in the warehouse of her own courtyard. Although Shen Xin hadn’t planned to contribute the rewards to the family this time, the change in Shen Miao’s attitude toward the rest of the Shen family was clearly noticed by everyone.
Even if they were oblivious to the affairs of the inner household, they could still sense something was off about Shen Miao. Shen Qiu opened his mouth but hesitated. Luo Xueyan held Shen Miao’s hand and asked softly, “Jiaojiao, what happened? Tell your mother. Your father and I are back now, and no one will dare bully you.”
“No one dares to bully me,” Shen Miao smiled. “There’s nothing wrong.”
“What exactly happened with the ancestral hall fire that day?” Shen Xin asked sternly. “Why were you left alone in the ancestral hall?” The couple had gone to the palace early that morning to see the emperor, leaving only a few people to investigate discreetly, but they hadn’t had time to delve into the details.
“I made a mistake and was locked in the ancestral hall. Then suddenly, a fire broke out…” she said hesitantly.
Behind her, Shen Qiu looked like he wanted to speak but stopped himself. He knew the truth, but Shen Miao had repeatedly warned him not to tell Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan. Though he wanted to reveal the truth to his parents, Shen Miao’s threat—that she would never speak to him again if he broke his promise—made him hold his tongue.
Shen Xin naturally asked Shen Miao, “What mistake did you make? No matter how big the mistake, you shouldn’t have been locked in the ancestral hall alone!”
“Oh,” Shen Miao said nonchalantly, “I openly contradicted Second Uncle in front of Grandmother and the others.”
“What?” Luo Xueyan’s eyebrows shot up, but instead of scolding Shen Miao, she exclaimed, “That second brother of ours is getting worse with age! A grown man arguing with a little girl—has he no shame?”
Gu Yu and Jing Zhe, who were serving in the room, twitched their lips. The eldest branch of the Shen family’s notorious favoritism was no exaggeration. Even if Shen Miao had hit Shen Gui, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan would probably have scolded Shen Gui for making her hand sore.
“Little sister, why did you contradict Second Uncle?” Shen Qiu couldn’t help but ask.
“Probably… because I didn’t want to get married,” Shen Miao said.
“Married?” Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin exclaimed in unison. Luo Xueyan looked at Shen Miao anxiously and asked, “Marry whom? Your father and I knew nothing about this!”
Shen Miao lowered her head. “The Wei family, the household of the Vice Minister of the Central Secretariat, proposed a marriage for their eldest son, Wei Qian. The marriage certificates were even exchanged, but I didn’t want to marry, so I openly contradicted them.”
“Wei Qian…” Shen Xin pondered. “The Wei family is a prominent household, and their eldest son is said to be an outstanding young man. If we’re talking about suitability, he and Jiaojiao…” He actually began considering the marriage seriously. Having served as an official for so many years, though not in the Fixed Capital, Shen Xin had a good grasp of his colleagues in the court. If the Wei family had been full of wastrels, he would have seen through them immediately. But Wei Qian was a rare and excellent match, leading Shen Xin’s thoughts astray."What are you thinking!" Luo Xueyan roared angrily: "Even if he were the Emperor of Heaven himself, or even the actual Emperor, if Jiaojiao isn't willing, then it absolutely won't do!"
Luo Xueyan's shocking words revealed her fiery temperament as a woman born into a military aristocratic family from the northwest. Her marriage with Shen Xin had been something she fought for herself. Thus, she despised all arranged marriages decided by parental authority and matchmakers. "Besides," she continued, "neither of us knew about this matter. Who knows what kind of intentions they truly harbor?" Ever since witnessing Shen Miao trapped in the fire while Ren Wanyun and the others remained indifferent, Luo Xueyan's previous goodwill toward the rest of the Shen family had vanished, replaced by utter disgust.
Shen Xin also frowned. Logically speaking, the Wei family's marriage proposal was an excellent match. If arranged for Shen Miao, truth be told, it wouldn't be a bad deal—after all, finding such an outstanding young talent in Fixed Capital was as rare as phoenix feathers. But if it was such a good match, why had the Shen family kept it from them, the parents?
Shen Qiu curled his lips. He knew the reason but also somewhat resented Shen Miao for not revealing the Shen family's scheme of a marriage exchange. Yet he remained silent. For some reason, every time Shen Miao's gaze swept over him, it carried an inexplicable intimidation. He couldn't believe it himself—how could he, who was invincible on the battlefield, fear his own younger sister?
"But Jiaojiao," Shen Xin said gently, "the Wei family's eldest son is quite outstanding. Your resistance... is it because you already have someone you like? You..." He trailed off. The letters from the Shen family frequently mentioned Shen Miao's infatuation with Prince Ding. In this world, if Shen Miao fancied any man, neither he nor Luo Xueyan would stand in her way. But the imperial family was different. With the princes currently vying for the throne, if the Shen family got involved, they might all be dragged into the mire.
Yet these were things a young girl like Shen Miao wouldn't understand. On their way back, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had discussed countless times how to persuade Shen Miao to abandon this notion, but in the end, they were left helpless. Shen Miao was stubborn by nature—once she set her mind on something, not even nine oxen could pull her back. Moreover, asking a young girl to give up her beloved—who could accept that?
Shen Miao immediately understood what Shen Xin was implying. She replied calmly, "I have no beloved in my heart. The reason I refuse to marry is simply because I've heard that the Wei family's young master already has someone he loves. No matter how outstanding he is, if his heart already belongs to another, why should I become the one to tear them apart and ruin a lifetime of happiness?"
Her words left Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan somewhat stunned. How could Shen Miao speak with such maturity, as though she were a woman who had seen it all? Moreover, what did she mean by having no beloved?
Shen Miao had only come to understand Wei Qian in her past life after becoming Empress. Back then, there had been no proposal from the Wei family—Wei Qian had married his cousin. As one of Fixed Capital's rare young talents, he had doted on his wife, creating a widely praised love story. From this, it was clear Wei Qian and his cousin must have been childhood sweethearts. If the Wei family was now proposing marriage, the young master himself was likely unwilling.
"Jiaojiao, don't you... like Prince Ding?" Luo Xueyan clenched her teeth and finally asked the question outright."Prince Ding?" Shen Miao responded indifferently, "His Highness Prince Ding is a descendant of the royal family, far beyond my reach. Back then, I didn't know my place, but now that I've come to my senses, I realize how inappropriate I was. I dare not mention this matter again."
Luo Xueyan was taken aback once more. While Shen Xin and Shen Qiu, being men, might not understand, she, despite her straightforward nature, was still a woman. Women understand the emotions in a woman's heart best. She thought Shen Miao was merely saying these words, but upon closer observation of Shen Miao's expression, she noticed no trace of emotion when Prince Ding was mentioned—as if he were a complete stranger.
Before Luo Xueyan could speak, Shen Xin exclaimed, "Jiaojiao, your father disagrees with that. Our Shen family is a match for anyone; no one is beyond your reach. Which young man in Ming Qi would dare look down on you? Even if—"
"Ahem." Luo Xueyan coughed lightly and shot Shen Xin a sharp glare. While praising their daughter was fine, Shen Miao had just let go of her infatuation with Prince Ding, and Shen Xin was only complicating things.
Realizing his mistake, Shen Xin quickly averted his gaze as if nothing had happened.
Luo Xueyan studied Shen Miao again and, seeing her calm demeanor, finally relaxed. She smiled and said, "Jiaojiao is still young; there's no rush for marriage. Ming Qi has many fine young men, and our Jiaojiao is outstanding. Why worry about not finding a good husband? Rest assured, Jiaojiao's future husband will surely be a heroic man of great stature."
Shen Miao lowered her eyes with a faint smile but said nothing. Her fantasies about a life partner had long been worn away by the repeated heartbreaks in the harem of her past life. In this lifetime, she had no intention of marrying, though she couldn't let Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan know this.
Most young girls would blush at the mention of their marriage prospects, and in the eyes of her parents, Shen Miao was not a cold or unfeeling person. Yet, after Luo Xueyan's words, Shen Miao showed no reaction, leaving the couple somewhat disheartened. Though Shen Miao had never been close to them before, they had at least understood her temperament. But since her return, she had become increasingly unfamiliar—mature beyond her years overnight—leaving Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan unsure how to interact with her. If they tried coaxing her as before, Shen Miao's composed gaze made them feel foolish.
Shen Qiu, witnessing his parents' awkwardness, couldn't help but chuckle. The formidable figures who struck fear on the battlefield were utterly helpless when it came to their younger sister. Yet... his expression gradually darkened. A person's temperament doesn't change so drastically overnight. For a once somewhat spoiled girl to become this composed and steady, something must have happened.
"Father," Shen Miao suddenly spoke up, "in a few days, the palace will hold the Victory Banquet, won't it?"
The Victory Banquet was a feast hosted by the emperor to celebrate the Shen Family Army's triumph over the enemy and to reward their merits. All civil and military officials were to attend with their families, making it a relatively intimate royal gathering. During the banquet, the emperor would bestow honors according to each person's contributions.
In her past life, at the Victory Banquet a few days later, the emperor had intended to promote Shen Qiu's rank. However, due to Shen Miao's situation, Shen Xin had sacrificed all his military achievements to secure the emperor's consent for a marriage alliance, earning Shen Miao the title of Royal Consort to Prince Ding.A woman proposing marriage to a man was already an unconventional act. Shen Xin, who had dominated battlefields all his life, ended up pleading with his military merits for his daughter's sake, nearly becoming the laughingstock of the entire court. Yet at that time, Shen Miao was only overjoyed at becoming the Royal Consort of Prince Ding, failing to see the bitter smile on Shen Xin's face.
From the moment she married into Prince Ding's Residence, it meant the Shen family was tied to Prince Ding's ship. Fu Xiuyi now had a legitimate reason to squeeze every last drop of value from the Shen Family Army.
"Yes," Shen Xin asked with a smile, "Does Jiaojiao want something? Your father can ask His Majesty for it on your behalf."
Such doting was almost like treating her as the apple of his eye. Shen Miao's mouth felt dry—why hadn't she realized her father's devotion in her past life? While the Shen family's downfall was indeed pushed by enemies, hadn't it also been due to her own stubbornness and blindness?
"There's nothing I want," Shen Miao smiled faintly. "But if His Majesty wishes to reward you..." She paused, then lifted her head with clear determination in her eyes. "Father, ask His Majesty to let you stay in the capital for half a year to accompany me. How about that?"
At these words, Luo Xueyan, Shen Xin, and Shen Qiu were all stunned.
Shen Miao had never tried to keep them before. Having grown up apart from them, their bond was naturally distant, so there was no reluctance to speak of. Every year after the New Year, Shen Xin and his wife would leave the capital to guard the northwest. Even without enemies, they had to defend the borders against potential invasions. Strictly speaking, this wasn't necessary, but the Emperor insisted every year, and since the old general had maintained the same habit during his lifetime, no one ever objected.
But now, Shen Miao was clearly asking them to stay. She wanted Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan to delay their departure by half a year—a somewhat unconventional request. Yet to Shen Xin and his wife, it was cause for wild joy, as it at least meant Shen Miao wasn't entirely indifferent to them.
"Of course, no problem!" Overjoyed by his daughter's change in attitude, Shen Xin agreed without even considering the implications. Luo Xueyan was equally moved. Shen Qiu, standing to the side, pursed his lips. He had no desire to stay in Fixed Capital—to him, the city held little of interest, and the noble youths were all dull compared to the thrill of fighting in the northwest deserts. But looking at Shen Miao's face, his heart softened. At least with him around, no one in Fixed Capital would dare bully her.
After some more conversation, Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu took their leave. Once they were gone, Shen Miao closed the book on her desk and walked to the window.
"Young Lady..." Gu Yu whispered, "I've already spoken to Chun Tao. The eldest young lady is perfectly fine in her pregnancy. I heard Second Madam and Second Master are arguing over her marriage arrangements."
Shen Miao smirked coldly. Ren Wanyun's clever scheme of swapping sisters in marriage had been foiled with Shen Xin's return to the capital. If Shen Qing were to marry Huang Dexing, Ren Wanyun would never accept it. But the marriage certificates had already been exchanged, and both families had agreed. Backing out now wouldn't be easy.
Lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own feet—that was the principle at play here. Of course, Ren Wanyun's failed scheme wouldn't leave her in peace. A venomous snake would strike back. But the court banquet a few days later would be the perfect opportunity. Shen Miao intended to seize Ren Wanyun's weak spot in front of everyone and catch Prince Yu off guard.Outside the door, Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin's expressions darkened. Luo Xueyan angrily said, "What's going on with the old madam and your brothers? Arranging Jiaojiao's marriage out of nowhere—I've lived this long and never heard of such nonsense."
"Don't be angry, my lady," Shen Xin replied. "I'll go ask the old madam immediately. If this is true, we'll clarify it with the Wei family at once. Keeping it hidden like this is suspicious."
"I suspect Jiaojiao has suffered a lot this past year," Luo Xueyan said irritably. "Later, I'll call over Jiaojiao's maids to find out what exactly happened. Granny Gui is also missing." Having been on the battlefield, she had a sharp intuition about such matters. "I think Jiaojiao is right. If we leave her in Fixed Capital for half a year without dealing with these troublemakers, our daughter might lose her life!" She then glared at Shen Xin.
Shen Xin rubbed his nose, well aware that Luo Xueyan was displeased with his two brothers. Not just her—he was also seething with anger. He turned to the two guards beside him and ordered, "Keep a close watch on the young lady these next few days. If anything seems amiss, report to me immediately. If anything happens to her, you'll face military punishment!" He then frowned at Shen Qiu. "What are you spacing out for, boy?"
Shen Qiu snapped out of his daze at Shen Xin's shout and mumbled, "Oh, I was just lost in thought." He had been pondering Shen Miao's situation. The people sent to Crouching Dragon Temple had already reported back—nothing unusual was found, and no one seemed to have noticed anything from that day. Shen Qiu wasn't a fool; he knew this meant all witnesses had been silenced. Such flawless execution didn't seem like the Shen family's doing, and the truth Shen Miao was hiding only deepened his suspicion.
His younger sister had become increasingly enigmatic without anyone noticing.
"What are you doing spacing out at a time like this?" Shen Xin vented his frustration from his wife onto his unlucky son. "Go investigate matters in the household. I'll question you tomorrow."
"Ah," Shen Qiu responded with a pained expression. He knew the full story, but his sister had forbidden him from speaking.
...
Inside Colorful Cloud Courtyard, chaos reigned.
Shen Gui had just left after a fierce argument with Ren Wanyun. Ever since Shen Xin returned on Old Madam Shen's birthday banquet day, Shen Gui had clashed with Ren Wanyun over the matter. In truth, Shen Gui was aware of Shen Miao's confinement, but if anything went wrong, he planned to pin all the blame on Ren Wanyun.
He and Shen Wan had reached their current positions solely through the connections Shen Xin left behind. Though they now held some status in court, if Shen Xin decided to make things difficult for them, their careers would be ruined. This was a world where martial prowess was revered. While civil officials mocked military officers as crude, those who held military power held greater sway in Ming Qi. Between civil officials and military officers, the emperor would naturally prioritize the latter.In the past, the two brothers had always been impeccable in front of Shen Xin, who was happy to look after them. Who would have thought that this time, Shen Xin would personally witness Shen Miao trapped in the sea of flames? Shen Xin privately regarded Shen Miao as his very life, and Shen Gui felt panicked at the thought of what Shen Xin might do in his fury. Since Shen Xin's return, Shen Gui had been extremely agitated, and Ren Wanyun's sudden proposal to break off the engagement at this moment was like adding fuel to the fire. All his accumulated dissatisfaction with Ren Wanyun over the past days erupted at once.
Today was no different. After a heated argument with Ren Wanyun, Shen Gui stormed off, declaring that Shen Qing must marry into the Huang family, leaving behind a fuming Ren Wanyun, who was nearly driven to collapse.
"Beast! Beast!" Ren Wanyun clutched her chest, her lips trembling with rage.
Shen Gui cared nothing for his own daughter's happiness, single-mindedly seeking to climb the Huang family's coattails to pave his way to official success, leaving Ren Wanyun fuming with rage. Now that Shen Xin had returned, and Luo Xueyan was no easy target, if not for this matter being extremely confidential, the couple would likely want to kill her if they discovered her scheme to swap brides between sisters. Even if Shen Xin and his wife didn't find out this time, the incident of the ancestral hall fire would still create a rift in the eldest branch's hearts, making it difficult to target Shen Miao in the future.
Ren Wanyun wished she could slice Shen Miao into a thousand pieces. It was Shen Miao who had schemed against Shen Qing—if not for her, Shen Qing would never have been forced to marry a cut sleeve. Now that Shen Miao had Shen Xin's protection, meddling with her marriage prospects would be no easy task.
"Madam, calm your anger," Xiang Lan said while soothing Ren Wanyun. "Don't let it ruin your health. The court banquet is in a few days—if you fall ill from rage, you won't be able to attend."
Ren Wanyun's eyes flickered, her face twisting into a vicious smile. "You're right. I mustn't let anger ruin my health. The court banquet... the court banquet—I'll make that little wretch wish she were dead!" She turned to Cai Ju. "Has the letter to Prince Yu's Manor been delivered?"
"It has," Cai Ju replied cautiously.
"If my Qing'er can't have happiness, that little wretch won't escape either!" Ren Wanyun's face contorted into a cold smirk. "I may not be able to touch her with Shen Xin shielding her, but let's see if they dare oppose Prince Yu's Manor." Her expression resembled that of a venomous snake, hissing sinisterly. "Someone will deal with her!"
...
Prince Yu's Manor.
In the opulent main hall, beautiful Persian dancers swayed in thin garments, their bare white feet stepping softly on plush carpets, delicate ankles adorned with colorful bells that chimed melodiously with each movement. Their waists, sinuous as water snakes, twisted gracefully in the dance.
Seated on the high dais was a middle-aged man with a hideous, grotesque face—Prince Yu. His left leg was missing, and at his feet knelt a petite girl of about eleven or twelve, her delicate features marred by terror. She was completely naked, trembling as she gently massaged his leg.
The young girl's snow-white body was covered in purple and blue bruises, with faint red whip marks upon closer inspection—clear signs of inhuman torment.
Prince Yu glanced at the letter in his hand and suddenly laughed, slamming the lion's head armrest of his seat. The abrupt movement made the girl shriek and collapse to the floor, her entire body quivering uncontrollably.
"Shen Xin..." Prince Yu slowly chewed on the name. "Shen Miao... How dare she make a fool of me."
After that night's events, he had found other amusements and forgotten about it. To Prince Yu, these young girls were mere playthings, no different from the cats and dogs he kept. What happened to them afterward mattered not at all. With Shen Gui covering up the matter, he hadn't noticed anything amiss.
But this letter finally reminded him—something had been off that day. That Shen Miao had outmaneuvered Ren Wanyun while also toying with him.In Ming Qi, even among the royal family, everyone except the emperor had to show Prince Yu deference. Yet Shen Miao, a mere girl, dared to trample his dignity underfoot. If he had merely been interested in toying with her before, this time Prince Yu was truly enraged—and murderous.
But with Shen Xin still guarding her in Fixed Capital, how could he strike? Or perhaps... should he eliminate Shen Xin as well?
Prince Yu stroked his chin, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.
...
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