A perfectly fine welcome banquet came to an abrupt end amidst the sudden turn of events. Emperor Wenhui, his mood spoiled, soon left in displeasure, and the Empress also excused herself, claiming fatigue. With the imperial couple gone, the officials naturally knew better than to linger and quickly found excuses to depart. Although the matter seemed to have reached a perfect conclusion on the surface—with the eldest daughter of the Shen family marrying into Prince Yu's Manor—those with discerning eyes knew it was nothing more than a shocking scandal. As for the eldest Miss Shen, once she entered Prince Yu's Manor, her fate would likely be grim.
Luo Xueyan tightly held Shen Miao's hand. She didn’t know how Shen Qing and Prince Yu had become entangled, but this only deepened her concern for Shen Miao’s safety. She felt that the dangers within Fixed Capital were no less treacherous than those in the northwestern deserts.
Shen Qiu remained silent the entire time until they left. Normally cheerful, his demeanor led Shen Xin to assume he was sighing over Shen Qing’s situation. Little did he know that Shen Qiu was seething with rage inside, his fury with no outlet. He loathed the wickedness of the Shen family’s second branch and despised Prince Yu’s shameless debauchery.
Shen Qing had already been hurriedly taken away by Ren Wanyun, while Shen Gui’s expression was a sight to behold. The looks directed at him by the crowd were laden with meaning. Some of his political adversaries even took the opportunity to kick him while he was down, clasping their hands in mock congratulations: "Congratulations, Lord Shen. Becoming relatives with His Highness the Prince is truly a heavenly blessing."
Had Shen Qing married Prince Yu under normal circumstances, it might not have been a problem for Shen Gui—so long as it aided his career, his daughter’s happiness was of little consequence. But now, Shen Qing’s actions today had clearly caused trouble for Prince Yu. Would the prince vent his anger on him? The more Shen Gui thought about it, the more restless and fearful he became.
After the banquet dispersed, Luo Xueyan and Shen Miao made their way out of the palace. Passing through a corridor, Shen Miao softly warned her, "Be careful. There’s a loose brick here."
Luo Xueyan, being a military officer, took large, heavy steps. One misstep could easily send her stumbling. Upon closer inspection, she laughed, "I almost fell." Then she paused and looked at Shen Miao in surprise. "Jiaojiao, how did you know?"
Shen Miao hesitated. Having lived in the palace for decades, she had memorized every detail of the place. Faced with Luo Xueyan’s question, she could only reply, "I tripped here once before and remembered it ever since."
"Is that so?" Luo Xueyan laughed heartily. "Jiaojiao is clever. Remembering where you fell means you won’t fall there again."
Shen Miao’s heart stirred, but she said nothing.
As they walked, they saw two guards dragging a young eunuch past them. The eunuch’s mouth was gagged with a handkerchief, and he struggled desperately, but how could he overpower the tall, burly guards? Following the trio was Chief Eunuch Gao Gonggong.
"Madam Shen, Miss Shen," Gao Gonggong stopped to greet them.
"Eunuch Gao, what’s this…?" Luo Xueyan asked, eyeing the young eunuch.
"A new recruit who doesn’t know the rules. Made a mistake, so this servant is taking him for punishment," Gao Gonggong said in his shrill voice.
The young eunuch caught sight of Shen Miao, his gaze landing on Jing Zhe behind her. Suddenly, he thrashed wildly, as if trying to break free and rush toward Jing Zhe."Behave!" Gao Gonggong kicked the young eunuch behind the knees, causing him to grunt and collapse to his knees. Gao Gonggong snorted through his nose and said, "Ignorant fool, you nearly offended nobility."
Luo Xueyan frowned slightly. She disliked these heartless palace punishments, and such scenes always unsettled her. She immediately addressed Gao Gonggong, "Since that's the case, we won't disturb you further in your duties."
Gao Gonggong quickly responded with an ingratiating smile.
But then Shen Miao suddenly spoke up softly, "Since he made a mistake, he naturally deserves punishment."
Everyone looked at her in surprise. The young eunuch trembled, his gaze toward Shen Miao now tinged with resentment. Shen Miao paid him no mind, simply taking Luo Xueyan's arm to leave. As they departed, she casually tossed back, "Those who don't understand rules must be taught. The palace is not like the outside world, and the present is different from the past."
As Shen Miao's party gradually disappeared into the distance, Gao Gonggong said to two guards, "What are you waiting for? Take him away."
Xiao Li Zi's face was full of unwillingness and terror. He truly didn't understand what he had done wrong. In the small garden during the returning banquet, Shen Miao's personal maid Jing Zhe had given him a silver ingot, saying that the young miss wasn't feeling well and couldn't drink the Rice Wine prepared for the palace banquet—she only needed a cup of lotus tea, and would he please accommodate this during the feast. He thought it a simple task for a silver ingot—why not? Moreover, if he pleased this young miss of the Shen family, he might gain favor from nobility in the future.
But despite all his calculations, Xiao Li Zi never imagined that Shen Qing was pregnant, and that lotus tea would become the trigger for all subsequent events. One could say that single cup of lotus tea caused a chain of disasters, and when tracing the source of the tea, the investigation ultimately led to him.
No matter how many times Xiao Li Zi explained, no one believed him. The silver he received was the most ordinary kind, not even official minted silver. Why would a noble young lady use such common silver for rewards? His words were disbelieved—he was the villain. What awaited him?
Outside, Shen Miao walked quietly. She knew better than anyone what awaited Xiao Li Zi. The palace was a place where black and white could easily be reversed. If one stood high enough, they could turn black into white. But if one was already lowly, then sorry—even white words would become black. Back when Fu Xiuyi had just ascended the throne, Xiao Li Zi had been a dog at Gao Gonggong's beck and call. It was she who, pitying him, had given him face in the palace. Later, when Xiao Li Zi became Eunuch Li and she went from Empress to deposed empress, this very eunuch she had personally promoted had escorted her on her final journey, offering her a piece of advice: the present is different from the past.
Now she had returned those words in kind—this life was different from the last. Now she was the lofty daughter of an official family, while he was but lowly dust beneath her feet. She couldn't even be bothered to exert much effort—this clean efficiency suited her just fine.
As she and Luo Xueyan walked ahead, unbeknownst to them, someone watching her retreating figure from the winding corridors sighed, "Does this young miss of the Shen family have some grudge against that little eunuch? For no reason at all, she's condemning a man to death."
Beside him, Xie Jingxing laughed coldly. "Since when did you become so merciful?""A physician should have the heart of a parent." Gao Yang fanned himself, then suddenly thought of something, his expression turning grave. "The young lady of the Shen family is not simple. Earlier in the hall, she stared at me for a long time. Could it be... she discovered my identity?"
"Impossible."
"But the way she looked at me was truly unsettling," Gao Yang stroked his chin, pondering seriously before speaking. "Could it be... she has feelings for me?"
Xie Jingxing stared at him expressionlessly and uttered a single word: "Scram."
"You're really no fun." Gao Yang shook his head with regret. "Though the pressing matter at hand is urgent, your temper is getting worse. You should relax a little."
Xie Jingxing looked into the distance and said, "Yushu has arrived."
"What?" Gao Yang was startled. "When?"
"Yesterday."
Gao Yang's expression gradually turned solemn. "Could it be you're thinking..."
"Exactly."
...
Fixed Capital, Shen Mansion, Colorful Cloud Courtyard.
A sharp slap landed, leaving a clear handprint on Shen Qing's face, with a trace of blood appearing at the corner of her lips.
"Shen Gui, what are you doing!" Ren Wanyun shouted sharply, pulling Shen Qing protectively into her arms while glaring at Shen Gui with fury in her eyes.
"What am I doing?" Shen Gui's smile was sinister, like a vicious wolf. Were it not for a shred of lingering affection, he might have wished to kill the two before him. He said, "What did you do today?"
"What do you mean?" Ren Wanyun refused to back down. "How can you blame Qing'er for this? You're Qing'er's father—instead of standing by your own daughter, you hit her! Shen Gui, you have no conscience!"
"Daughter?" Shen Gui laughed in extreme anger. "I, Shen Gui, have no such daughter! Shameless, flirting around, and now carrying a bastard child! Even the lowest prostitutes in the brothels are better than this!"
Shen Qing's body trembled violently, her eyes glazed over in a daze. Seeing this, Ren Wanyun felt as if her heart were being sliced by a knife. If Shen Gui had even a shred of fatherly love for Shen Qing, he would never have used such cruel words against his own daughter.
Ren Wanyun handed Shen Qing over to Chun Tao and stood up with a cold laugh. "Shen Gui, search your conscience and ask yourself—who is truly responsible for Qing'er ending up like this? Is it me? It's that little bitch Shen Miao! Why don’t you go after her? Oh, you’re afraid, aren’t you? You’re afraid that once your elder brother and his wife return, you won’t be able to touch that little wretch. You take your anger out on Qing'er, but don’t forget—you were also involved in the incident at Crouching Dragon Temple. Now you want to wash your hands of it and push all the blame onto Qing'er and me? I won’t stand for it! If you push me too far, I’ll tell everything to your elder brother and his wife—then none of us will come out unscathed!"
"You—!" Shen Gui had been married to Ren Wanyun for many years but had never seen her act like such a shrew. What unsettled him even more was that she dared to threaten him with this matter. Though Shen Gui was a smooth talker, deep down he was a coward—his fear of provoking Prince Yu was proof enough. Now that Shen Xin and his wife had returned to the mansion, he didn’t dare to trouble Shen Miao. If Ren Wanyun truly exposed everything, Shen Gui believed Shen Xin might even cut him down with a single stroke.
Thinking of this, Shen Gui roared, "You unreasonable shrew! There’s no talking sense with you! I’m leaving!" With that, he fled in panic.Watching Shen Gui's hurried departure, Ren Wanyun's face twisted with scorn. She knew her husband best—Shen Gui was spineless at his core, bullying the weak while fearing the strong. To be married to such a man, now even unable to protect their own daughter...
Undoubtedly, Shen Miao had dealt Ren Wanyun a fatal blow. For her, witnessing her daughter's gradual destruction was more agonizing than death itself. At this point, with the Empress's decree of marriage, even if Ren Wanyun had the power to move heaven, she could change nothing.
"Shen Miao, this debt—I, Ren Wanyun, swear to reclaim it, or may I cease to be human." She ground her teeth so hard that her lips bled.
...
In the West Courtyard, after Shen Xin and his wife returned to their quarters, Shen Qiu remained seated like a statue.
His face was wooden, sitting like a door god before Shen Miao's desk. The young general usually appeared as gentle as a spring breeze, but when his expression darkened, the bloody aura of a battlefield warrior emerged, making Bailu and Shuangjiang too afraid to approach.
"Elder Brother," Shen Miao said, having seen off her parents and now sitting opposite him.
"Little Sister, I've thought it over and over," Shen Qiu said, "but I can't let this matter rest. It chokes me." The "matter" he referred to was Shen Qing and Prince Yu. Though Shen Miao had concealed part of the truth earlier, after the banquet's spectacle, Shen Qiu could piece together most of the story. Knowing how vicious and absurd the scheme had been, his fury knew no bounds. Their youngest sister had been so cruelly plotted against, nearly ruining her life. Had the worst happened, Shen Qiu dared not imagine their regret.
Shen Miao watched him as he continued, "The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Don't stop me, Little Sister. Even if it costs my life, I won't let them off easily."
"Elder Brother," Shen Miao sighed, "I've already said there's no evidence. They covered their tracks well, and with Prince Yu involved, the imperial family would shield him. If you confront them, you'd be opposing the royals. Do you want to bring disaster upon Father and Mother?"
Shen Qiu was taken aback. Shen Miao's words were so rational that he almost missed the disrespect and disdain for the Ming Qi royalty in her tone. He knew she was right—there had been other noble daughters violated by Prince Yu, families more prestigious than the Shens, yet all had swallowed their grievances in the end. Prince Yu's Manor was backed by Ming Qi's highest authority; to clash with it was like throwing an egg against a rock. Still, his heart seethed with frustration. "But we can't just let it go," he said.
"Elder Brother, let's play a game of chess," Shen Miao suggested.
"At a time like this?" Shen Qiu scratched his head. "Besides, you never liked chess."
Ignoring his protest, Shen Miao set up the board, took the black pieces, and handed the white ones to Shen Qiu. "Two armies face each other. These are your soldiers, these are mine. Let the pieces be our pawns, the generals and marshals divided. How about vying for supremacy?"
Shen Qiu, ever passionate about warfare, grew intrigued. "Very well." Though a military man, he was also skilled at chess, for the game shared much with battle tactics—a single intricate move could reveal endless strategies.Black and white stones fell upon the chessboard, crisscrossing like the rugged terrain of a battlefield. Shen Miao played slowly—not that her movements were sluggish, but they carried a certain gentleness, a stark contrast to Shen Qiu's forceful and decisive style. It was a softness that felt like a blunt knife slowly grinding against flesh, leaving Shen Qiu with a sense of helpless frustration. No matter how aggressively Shen Qiu's white stones pressed forward, she remained unshaken, maintaining her own rhythm, placing her black stones unhurriedly. Though she appeared to be at a disadvantage, not a single black stone was lost from her hand. Occasionally, just as Shen Qiu thought he was about to capture her black stones, she would cunningly slip away.
After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the board remained unchanged—neither side had gained an advantage, nor had either lost a single stone. Yet it was clear that Shen Qiu's white stones had been dominating the game, pushing Shen Miao's black stones into a corner. If he tightened his strategy just a bit more, he could slowly but surely devour Shen Miao's pieces one by one.
Shen Qiu said, "Little sister, your escape tactics are impressive, but do you plan to play like this all night? I’m about to attack."
"Perfect," Shen Miao smiled faintly. "I was just thinking the same." Before her words had fully faded, her black stone suddenly landed in an unexpected position. Shen Qiu's brow furrowed tightly—that single move seemed to shift the entire game.
He was astonished. The relentless pressure he had exerted with his white stones now felt like a trap he had set for himself. Caught in the web of Shen Miao's single black stone, he found himself at a loss for how to proceed.
From then on, Shen Miao abandoned her earlier defensive play and struck with ruthless efficiency, sweeping across the board like a storm, devouring Shen Qiu's white stones in great gulps. In less than a quarter of an hour, the once plentiful white stones were reduced to just one.
"I lose," Shen Qiu admitted with a bitter laugh, then looked at Shen Miao in surprise. "Little sister, when did your chess skills improve so much?"
Using the chessboard as a battlefield, a military general like him had been utterly defeated by his own younger sister—it would be a laughingstock if word got out. Yet what truly baffled him was not her control over individual pieces, but her grasp of the overall strategy. From her gentle, unassuming play at the start to her sudden, decisive strikes at the end, she had remained composed throughout. It was as if every move had been calculated long before.
"I didn’t play this game just to compete with you, Eldest Brother," Shen Miao shook her head. "Earlier, you asked me if I was just going to let things go. Now that we’ve played a game, what do you think?"
Shen Qiu was stunned at first, then startled. "You…"
Her black stones had started soft, seemingly passive, only to abruptly turn the tables and devour everything in their path. The implication was clear: Shen Miao’s gentle, unresisting attitude toward Shen Qing’s provocations wasn’t because she intended to let things slide—but because she was waiting for the right moment, waiting until their schemes became their own undoing before she struck back, reaping the rewards in full.
"There are many ways to achieve a goal," the young girl said under the lamplight, a black stone pinched between her fair fingers, the stark contrast lending an eerie beauty to the scene. Her voice was light, almost indifferent. "If one path is blocked, take another. If the open approach fails, then use the covert. They’ve already sealed their own fate—now, it’s our turn to play."Under the lamplight, a beauty's face is like jade. Shen Miao could only be considered a fair maiden, but at this moment, even Shen Qiu couldn't help but glance sideways. The young girl's demeanor was quiet, yet it seemed to contain immense energy. With a clever and intricate mind, she had already memorized the chess game in her heart, turning everyone into a chess piece.
Shen Qiu felt a pang in his heart. He had always thought that although Shen Miao wasn't particularly close to him, her nature was extremely simple. Such a temperament, he feared, might be taken advantage of by outsiders. But now, he saw clearly that his younger sister had unknowingly grown up. Her cunning and skill were something even he couldn't match.
"Little sister, I don't understand," he said.
"Big brother, if you trust me, leave this matter to me," Shen Miao replied. "Someone like Prince Yu will inevitably cause trouble for Shen Mansion over this matter in the future. To cut weeds, one must pull them out by the roots. We don't need such an enemy."
"Little sister, didn't you just say that Prince Yu's Manor has the imperial family backing it, so I can't directly cause trouble? How will you handle it then?" Shen Qiu asked worriedly.
"I've already said, if the righteous path doesn't work, take the unrighteous one. There are countless paths in this world; there's always one that can be taken," Shen Miao said calmly. "Prince Yu relies on the imperial family's power to bully others, but he's just a turtle with a shell. Remove his shell, and let's see how he can still act arrogantly!"
Under Shen Qiu's stunned gaze, Shen Miao smiled faintly at him. "But big brother, I need some silver. So... those rewards from His Majesty, the real gold and silver, give them to me. I have a use for them."
Shen Qiu wanted to ask Shen Miao what she planned to do, but for some reason, when he met her bright, sparkling eyes, he found himself unable to say anything. He was the mighty Deputy General Shen, someone who occasionally argued fiercely with Shen Xin until their faces turned red. But when Shen Miao quietly looked at him, Shen Qiu felt he would unconditionally obey anything. He inwardly cursed himself—fearless against enemy generals, yet afraid of a little girl? Truly, the longer one lives, the more one encounters.
"Big brother?"
Shen Qiu snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Alright, I'll have someone pick some out and send them over later."
"Thank you, big brother," Shen Miao nodded. "It's late now, you should go rest."
"Alright."
"Don't worry about Prince Yu's Manor either. Don't tell Father and Mother. I'll handle it."
"...Alright."
Shen Qiu scratched his head and left. Once outside Shen Miao's room, he suddenly smacked his forehead and frowned. Damn it, it really felt like he was being protected by his little sister!
Inside the room, Gu Yu cautiously asked, "Miss, will you really need that much silver tomorrow?"
Shen Miao's gaze hardened. It had been a long time since Gu Yu had seen her mistress with such a serious expression.
She sighed, "I'm afraid I might not be able to secure it."
...
The next day, Shen Qiu indeed brought several chests of real gold and silver to Shen Miao's courtyard. Worried that she might be short on funds, he even took out a thousand taels in silver notes from his pocket and handed them to her, smiling. "Little sister, at your age, there are many places where silver is needed. Your monthly allowance probably isn't enough. Take this silver. If there's anything you want to buy, go ahead. If it's not enough, just ask big brother for more."The maids sweeping outside looked at Shen Miao with envy. They used to think their Fifth Young Miss had an awkward position in the mansion—just a nice title while suffering bullying without even realizing it, truly pitiable. But now it seemed they had all been blind. Not to mention Shen Xin and his wife, even Shen Qiu could dote on his little sister to the heavens.
Shen Miao found it somewhat strange—Shen Qiu's attitude was odd. She nodded without refusing and accepted the banknote, saying, "Thank you."
Shen Qiu immediately felt a bit disappointed. After some thought, he waved his hand, and two guards behind him stepped forward. Shen Qiu said, "These two guards of mine are skilled fighters from the army. I’ll lend them to you for protection." He was worried that Prince Yu might have some hidden schemes. If not for Shen Miao’s insistence on going out, Shen Qiu would have simply kept her confined to the mansion.
Shen Miao agreed, and Mo Qing also followed her out. Shen Qiu smiled and said, "You’ve chosen a good guard."
Mo Qing had already shed his identity as an outer guard of Shen Mansion. Shen Miao had informed Shen Qiu of his background, and Shen Qiu returned Mo Qing’s deed of sale to him, allowing him to join the Shen Family Army. For now, however, he would serve as Shen Miao’s guard to ensure her safety.
Accompanied by three guards and two maids, Shen Miao finally stepped out of Shen Mansion’s gates.
Even the coachman hired for the journey was someone Shen Qiu had found with martial skills.
Shen Qiu’s attendant remarked, "The young master truly dotes on his sister."
Shen Qiu sighed. No matter how much he protected her, his sister was too mature for her age, leaving him with little sense of accomplishment as an elder brother.
"Let’s go, let’s go," he waved his hand dismissively. "Back to practicing swordsmanship!"
……
Fengxian Pawnshop was the largest pawnshop in Fixed Capital.
Compared to other pawnshops, this one naturally had its unique features. Fengxian Pawnshop only dealt in rare and valuable items. If the items were ordinary, the shop’s attendants would "politely" escort the customer out. The owner of the pawnshop was likely a man of considerable wealth and generosity, for if the items offered were truly precious, the pawnshop would never undervalue them. However, Fengxian Pawnshop had another rule: it only accepted irrevocable pledges. Once an item was pawned, there was no chance of redemption.
But people rarely pawned their treasures unless they were truly desperate, let alone agree to an irrevocable pledge. Thus, despite its opulence and the vastness of its premises—the largest in Fixed Capital—Fengxian Pawnshop saw very few customers. Yet, under such circumstances, the pawnshop had managed to survive for many years, leaving one to wonder how it sustained itself.
Today, however, a carriage stopped in front of Fengxian Pawnshop.
Some passersby couldn’t help but glance curiously in its direction, for those who came to Fengxian Pawnshop were usually desperate souls in urgent need of money. Yet this carriage appeared quite refined, and the coachman didn’t seem like an ordinary person—hardly the look of someone impoverished. For a wealthy person to come here to pawn valuables was indeed unusual.
The pawnshop attendant was a young man in gray robes, sharp-eyed and capable. Seeing the carriage stop at the entrance, he was momentarily taken aback. Then, several women stepped out. The leading girl, likely a young lady from a noble household, wore a cloak and had delicate features. Her gaze was as clear as water when she looked around.
Surrounded by guards and maids, the young lady approached. The attendant greeted her with a smile. "Does the guest wish to pawn something?"
"I have an item to pledge," the young lady in purple robes said.
"What is it that the guest wishes to pawn? May I see it first?" the attendant asked amiably, his smile widening as he recognized her noble status. To his surprise, she shook her head. "I need to speak with your manager."
"That... that’s against the rules, guest," the attendant replied, shaking his head. He had seen many troublemakers here, some even from wealthy and powerful families. But Fengxian Pawnshop had never feared such people."The item I wish to pawn is too valuable for you to appraise," the young girl said calmly, without a trace of annoyance.
Under her gaze, the shop assistant felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cellar. Before he could speak, a coquettish voice rang out, "Who is it that wishes to see me?"
From the back emerged a young woman. Though not conventionally beautiful, she exuded an alluring charm that made the Guards behind Shen Miao blush slightly.
"Dear guest, is it me you wish to see?" The woman swayed her hips as she approached, smiling.
Shen Miao shook her head. "I want to see your manager, Baixiaosheng."
The woman's smile froze instantly.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Our queen has connections in both the underworld and the upper echelons—how cool is that!
...
OpenNovel