"A young girl, quite pretty, with the surname Shen—probably from the Shen family." Ji Yushu scratched his head. "But she was fierce and completely ignored my charm."
As soon as he finished speaking, the tearoom fell into an eerie silence. After a moment, Gao Yang smiled and looked at Xie Jingxing. "I think I know who it is. This young lady from the Shen family is quite formidable." Though his smile was gentle, his tone carried a sharp edge.
"Actually, I found it strange too," Ji Yushu shivered slightly and scratched his head again. "When she came earlier, I took a closer look—she didn’t seem like it was her first time doing business with Baixiaosheng. I asked Hongling, and she said she’d never seen her before. Our line of work is inherently secretive. Aside from a few families, no one in Fixed Capital’s official circles should know about it. So how... did she find out?"
"This girl is anything but simple," Gao Yang mused. "I originally thought the Shen family in Fixed Capital was just mindless fat, ripe for the taking. But now, it seems the waters run deeper than expected." He glanced at Xie Jingxing, who was lost in thought, and asked, "What do you think?"
Xie Jingxing looked up at Ji Yushu. "Did you agree to her terms?"
"Such a big matter—I had to discuss it with you two first." Ji Yushu stuffed another pastry into his mouth. "But I reckon, given the Shen family’s vast wealth and military strength, if what that young lady said is true, it’ll make things much easier for Third Brother Xie in the future. After all, she doesn’t know that Fengxian Pawnshop is secretly Third Brother’s business."
When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits. That young lady surnamed Shen likely had no idea the promise she made would ultimately benefit Xie Jingxing. But it wasn’t entirely her fault—even Hongling, who had managed Fengxian Pawnshop for years, didn’t know the full implications.
"Even so..." Gao Yang hesitated. "This gamble is too big. The rumors she wants to spread could easily draw the royal family’s attention. We must tread carefully now—if something goes wrong, the losses will outweigh the gains. As for whether the Shen family is involved or not, they weren’t part of the original plan anyway, so there’s no need to be overly concerned."
"You have a point." Ji Yushu nodded and turned to Xie Jingxing. "But in the end, it’s up to Third Brother to decide."
"Agree to her terms."
As soon as Xie Jingxing spoke, Gao Yang frowned. "Why make such a hasty decision?"
"If the Shen family has become a variable, they might prove useful later. They could be a decent weapon against certain people. As for the rumors she wants to spread, they’re aimed at Prince Yu’s Manor." Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "Conveniently, we won’t have to lift a finger to deal with them—saves us the trouble."
At his words, the others remembered. Ji Yushu clapped his hands. "Right! I almost forgot—she wants to spread rumors about Prince Yu’s Manor plotting rebellion. This is targeting Prince Yu’s Manor. Do they have some feud with the Shen family?"
Having just returned to Fixed Capital and never paying attention to the gossip among noble ladies, Ji Yushu was still clueless and somewhat baffled.Gao Yang understood clearly. He was aware of the enmity between Shen Miao and Prince Yu, and couldn't help but feel somewhat impressed. If it were any other young lady encountering such a situation, they would undoubtedly cower before the power of Prince Yu's Manor. Yet Shen Miao not only showed no fear but was also waiting for an opportunity to strike back. She was indeed clever—knowing that Prince Yu's Manor had the imperial family's backing, she first sought to sow discord within the royal family. If the imperial family began to doubt Prince Yu, naturally, the protective talisman behind Prince Yu's Manor would lose its effect.
But even so, what more could she do?
"Take on this deal," Xie Jingxing said. "Notify the Chen family in Jiangnan as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, I've already had Hongling send a message to Yuzhou. The Chen family's case has been dragging on for three years, but I don't know whether that little girl from the Shen family's information is true or false. After all, the Chen family tried every possible means back then and heard nothing—how could a young girl know about it now? If her information turns out to be false, the Chen family probably won't let her off easily," Ji Yushu mumbled through a mouthful of pastries.
"If she came to sell the information, it must be true," Xie Jingxing frowned. "But there are still inconsistencies in this matter."
"Are you a glutton?" Gao Yang shook his head at Ji Yushu's ravenous eating. "Has the manager of Fengxian Pawnshop never had a full meal?"
"Tsk," Ji Yushu wagged a finger. "No other place's pastries can compare to the ones made by Third Brother's chef. Last time I brought some pastries made by his chef to Miss Shaoyao, and she actually smiled at me. See?" He picked up a pastry and waved it in front of Gao Yang. "There's something special about them."
Gao Yang couldn't be bothered to argue with him. Suddenly, he noticed Ji Yushu's expression turn serious as if he had remembered something. Ji Yushu then pulled out a banknote from his pocket and said, "Speaking of which, that Miss Shen still gave me a thousand taels of silver in the end to buy a piece of information."
"What information?" Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang both turned to look at him.
"She said she was looking for a girl named Liuying—probably a courtesan from one of the pleasure houses here in Fixed Capital. She insisted I must find her." He asked curiously, "Why is she looking for a courtesan? Does she share my fondness for beauties?"
Gao Yang and Xie Jingxing exchanged glances—the former puzzled, the latter simply shaking his head slightly.
...
When Hongling escorted her out, Mo Qing and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her unharmed. Shen Miao had stayed inside for too long; had it been any longer, they might have barged in to rescue her. Before leaving, Shen Qiu had repeatedly warned them that Shen Miao was now entangled in trouble and they must be extremely careful on the road. If they truly lost Shen Miao, Shen Qiu would surely tear them apart upon his return.
Hongling politely smiled at Shen Miao and said, "Miss Shen, you may return here in ten days."
"Thank you, Manager Hong," Shen Miao replied softly.
The plain-clothed young attendant at the door, probably seeing Hongling treat someone with such deference for the first time, couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at Shen Miao.
After Shen Miao and her party boarded the carriage and left, the young attendant couldn't resist asking Hongling, "Manager, who is that young lady?"
"Mind your own business," Hongling lightly tapped his head. After a moment's thought, she added, "Next time you see Miss Shen, be extra polite. She's no ordinary person."The young shop assistant hurriedly agreed. Hongling watched the departing carriage and sighed inwardly. The Fixed Capital truly had no shortage of remarkable talents. Even a young girl like this could calmly scheme such significant matters, seemingly no less capable than her own master.
Inside the carriage, Shen Miao remained deep in thought, her mind occupied with unknown matters. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, not wishing to disturb her, stayed silent. In truth, they had no idea what business Shen Miao had conducted today. Though it was a pawnshop, they didn’t know what had been pawned. But if Shen Miao chose not to speak of it, the two maids wouldn’t pry.
As they passed a certain area, Gu Yu smiled and said, "Ahead is Guangfuzhai. It’s been a while since we’ve been out—perhaps this servant could buy some pastries from there?"
Guangfuzhai’s pastries were always in high demand, and since it wasn’t yet the busiest time, there was no harm in buying some. Though Shen Miao herself didn’t care much for them, Luo Xueyan and Shen Qiu enjoyed them. Shen Miao nodded. "Go ahead."
Gu Yu promptly hopped off the carriage and headed to Guangfuzhai.
Mo Qing and the other guards surrounded the carriage. Their tall, imposing figures drew attention, and passersby couldn’t help but glance their way. Shen Miao lifted the curtain for some fresh air, but her gaze was caught by someone.
The man had just exited Guangfuzhai, carrying a package of pastries. His eyes met Shen Miao’s midair, and he couldn’t help but pause in surprise.
It was Pei Lang.
Shen Miao hadn’t visited the Hall of Extensive Learning in a long time. She had no interest in earning a reputation as a talented woman or using it to pursue scholarly honors. Lately, she had been too busy with her own affairs to remember such matters. Looking at Pei Lang, she suddenly smiled and nodded at him from the carriage.
Pei Lang was momentarily taken aback. After all, Shen Miao was his student. Ming Qi placed great emphasis on the virtue of respecting teachers—Xie Jingxing’s rebelliousness aside, students were generally expected to treat their teachers with courtesy. Yet Shen Miao’s nod gave him the strange impression that he was the one looking up to her, as if she stood above him.
Before he could react, Shen Miao had already lowered the curtain. Mo Qing and the other guards noticed Pei Lang’s gaze and regarded him warily.
Pei Lang stood rooted to the spot. Such discourteous behavior would normally provoke anger in someone as inherently proud as him. Yet, for some reason, he felt nothing but a mix of amusement and exasperation. Perhaps Shen Miao’s recent displays of dominance had conditioned him to expect nothing less—if she were to act meekly like other students, he might even find it unsettling.
Shaking his head, Pei Lang had no choice but to walk away.
Sensing the gaze outside the carriage fade, Shen Miao lowered her eyes to her sleeve. Her feelings toward Pei Lang were complicated. She resented his indifference in Fu Xiuyi’s treatment of Wan Yu and Fu Ming in the past, yet she also knew he had merely acted as a loyal subject as he saw fit. The grudges of her past life were settled, and since Pei Lang still had his uses in this life, she shouldn’t dwell on it. Still, a lingering discomfort remained.
As she pondered, Gu Yu returned with the pastries.Upon returning to Shen Mansion, it was still early in the evening. Since Shen Qiu also lived in the West Courtyard, Shen Miao planned to bring him some pastries. As she reached the main hall, she happened to encounter Ren Wanyun supporting Shen Qing as they walked out. Ren Wanyun’s gaze at Shen Miao was as sharp as knives, while Shen Qing’s eyes were filled with venomous resentment. Even Gu Yu and Jing Zhe couldn’t help but shiver, instinctively shielding Shen Miao behind them.
“Fifth Sister hasn’t paid respects to the Old Madam these days,” Ren Wanyun brought up another matter. “Could it be you intend to be an unfilial descendant?”
Shen Miao glanced at her. Ren Wanyun was now like a rabid dog, biting at anyone she could. On one hand, she feared Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, yet on the other, she couldn’t bear to let Shen Qing suffer in vain, resorting only to petty, insignificant actions.
But Shen Miao wasn’t one to be easily intimidated. Reputation? She wasn’t afraid of it in the slightest. Smiling faintly, she looked at Shen Qing. “Second Aunt still has the energy to meddle in my affairs? Aren’t you afraid Eldest Sister might feel disheartened? The Empress’s marriage decree came rather urgently—she’s to enter the prince’s household next month. Second Aunt ought to teach Eldest Sister a few things, after all, she’s marrying into no ordinary family, but a prince’s residence.”
With that, she turned and walked away without a backward glance, followed by Jing Zhe and Gu Yu.
Ren Wanyun trembled with rage. These days, the angrier she became, the more chaotic her thoughts grew. She didn’t even have the energy to deal with Shen Gui’s increasing favor toward Wan Yiniang. Shen Dongling, Wan Yiniang’s daughter, had also shed her former fragile and reclusive image, frequently preparing meals for Shen Gui. Compared to Shen Qing, she appeared all the more docile and well-behaved. Together with Wan Yiniang, they had Shen Gui wrapped around their fingers, while Ren Wanyun and Shen Qing’s situation worsened by the day.
And all of this had begun because of Shen Miao. Otherwise, with Ren Wanyun’s methods, Wan Yiniang—who had once been subdued and obedient—would never have dared to act so arrogantly today.
“Mother,” Shen Qing tugged at her sleeve. Having endured countless cold shoulders these days, her once haughty and impulsive nature had mellowed considerably. Yet the venom in her eyes remained undiminished. Gnashing her teeth, she said, “Don’t worry. Just endure a little longer. Once I enter the prince’s household, even if it costs me my life, I’ll make sure Prince Yu turns against Shen Miao. I won’t let her off easily.”
Because Shen Qing was already pregnant, the Empress’s marriage decree was set for the following month to avoid further complications. With such a short timeframe and the weight of an Imperial decree, Ren Wanyun was utterly powerless, forced to watch as Shen Qing walked straight into the fire.
“Don’t be afraid, Qing’er,” Ren Wanyun said. “Your brother will return soon. Yuan’er is the cleverest—once he’s back, he’ll surely find a way to ruin that little wretch’s reputation.” Shen Yuan would also return to attend Shen Qing’s wedding. Ren Wanyun’s eyes flickered. Now, she was isolated and without allies. If not for Shen Yuanbai’s efforts to please the Old Madam on her behalf, that old woman wouldn’t have lifted a finger to help her.
When Shen Miao returned to the West Courtyard, she was surprised to see Shen Qiu waiting for her in the garden. Spotting her return, he visibly relaxed and scrutinized her from head to toe. “Why did it take so long? I thought something had happened.”
“Under the watchful eyes of the Emperor and in broad daylight, anyone who dares to act recklessly would be a fool.” Shen Miao handed him the pastries. “I bought these on the way back. For you.”
Shen Qiu was taken aback, touched as he accepted them. Since his return, Shen Miao’s change in attitude toward him had been an especially pleasant surprise."Where are Father and Mother?" Shen Miao asked.
"Just returned to the capital and are attending social gatherings with colleagues." Shen Qiu glanced around before lowering his voice. "You weren’t here these past few days, but Father has had some conflicts with Second Uncle and Third Uncle. Earlier, Old Madam Shen even scolded Father harshly."
"Father had conflicts with Second Uncle and Third Uncle?"
Shen Qiu studied Shen Miao’s expression before replying carefully, "You know how it is—ever since the ancestral hall incident, Father and Mother have been displeased with Second Uncle and Third Uncle. Naturally, they’ve kept their distance. Old Madam Shen must have grown impatient, which is why she scolded Father." At this point, resentment flickered across Shen Qiu’s face. "Her heart is far too biased. What has Father done wrong? Second Uncle and Third Uncle didn’t even take proper care of you in the mansion. I’m furious, let alone Father."
Shen Qiu didn’t refer to her as "Grandmother" but as "Old Madam Shen," clearly harboring grievances against her as well.
After speaking, he couldn’t help but glance at Shen Miao’s reaction. After all, Shen Miao had been raised by Old Madam Shen all these years, and in the past, she had always shown her great respect whenever she returned. Having impulsively voiced his thoughts, Shen Qiu now worried whether Shen Miao might take offense.
"Favoritism exists when blood ties are absent," Shen Miao said indifferently. "Naturally, she shows bias."
"Hah," Shen Qiu seemed pleased to have found an ally. "Exactly! Father has honored her all these years out of respect for Grandfather. He’s done more than enough, yet she dares to accuse him of being unfilial..."
"Her scolding isn’t just because of Second Uncle and Third Uncle," Shen Miao said. "It’s also likely because Father didn’t hand over the silver rewarded by His Majesty this time." Old Madam Shen was greedy for wealth. This time, Shen Xin, in his anger, had kept the imperial reward for himself, and since Shen Miao hadn’t suggested sending the silver over either, Old Madam Shen had eventually grown restless and shamelessly picked a fight.
"Honestly..." Shen Qiu seemed about to say something but held back, not wanting to speak too harshly in front of his sister. "So what? Father’s belongings are his to give as he pleases!"
"Exactly. So let her scold all she wants. As long as we maintain appearances and ignore her, she can’t stir up any real trouble. It’s just that Father’s temperament is too straightforward—sometimes, he must feign tolerance on the surface. When the time comes, there will be opportunities to vent our grievances."
Shen Qiu found Shen Miao’s words somewhat odd, yet he faintly grasped their underlying meaning. He chuckled. "After a year apart, you’ve become much more assertive, little sister."
Shen Miao neither confirmed nor denied it. Watching as Shen Qiu unwrapped the paper package, picked up a large piece of pastry, and tossed it into his mouth, she remained silent.
"The pastries in Fixed Capital are delicious," he said after chewing a few times. "Out in the deserts of the northwest, we never get anything this refined."
Shen Miao quietly watched him eat. After a moment, she softly asked, "Elder Brother, what do you think of loyalty and righteousness?"
"Loyalty and righteousness?" Shen Qiu didn’t even look up. "Naturally, it means serving the sovereign and defending the nation, shedding blood against foreign enemies, bringing glory to our name, and becoming a pillar of the state." Then he glanced at her curiously. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason." Shen Miao shook her head gently. "Keep eating." Yet deep in her eyes, a shadow of sorrow flickered.
...The first snow had just cleared, and the Fixed Capital had been blanketed in snow all night. When the sunlight came, the frozen icicles under the eaves from the night before sparkled brilliantly, a truly beautiful sight. On the streets, mischievous children crouched down to scoop up handfuls of snow, shaping them into snowballs to toss at each other in play. As the year drew to a close, the Fixed Capital grew livelier, as if all the year's toil had finally borne fruit in these final days.
Outside Fengxian Pawnshop, a neat row of red lanterns hung from the eaves. These were no ordinary lanterns—crafted from some unknown material, they seemed to be woven with golden threads, shimmering even in broad daylight. The tassels beneath the lanterns were adorned with gleaming glass beads, twinkling in harmony with the icicles. Such extravagance spoke of deep pockets, and guards stood watch outside, lest the lanterns attract a steady stream of thieves.
A plainly dressed shop assistant greeted customers with a beaming smile. Business at Fengxian Pawnshop was usually sparse, and the assistants often lazed about, but today they were unusually alert, as if certain that guests would arrive.
Beyond the pawnshop’s long corridor lay another world. On the first floor of Lin'an Hou's residence, in the tearoom, a woman in red entered with a coquettish smile, carrying a tray of pastries. "The chef prepared these treats—please enjoy," she said warmly before gracefully withdrawing.
Three men sat in the tearoom. One wore a lake-green robe, his smile warm and amiable. Across from him were two men in their twenties, strikingly similar in appearance—clearly brothers. Both had thick brows and large eyes, swords at their waists, exuding an air of the martial world.
The elder of the two brothers spoke up, "Shopkeeper Ji, could the person who bought the information be deceiving us? Why hasn’t he shown up yet?"
Ji Yushu smiled. "Brother Chen, no need to fret. When I spoke with her, we agreed to meet here today but didn’t specify a time. It’s still early—please bear with us a little longer." Internally, he cursed the two men. Who in their right mind conducted business at the crack of dawn? He was barely awake himself. If not for the reputation of the Jiangnan Chen family, he would have had the assistants throw them out.
"To be honest," said Chen Yueshan, the elder Chen brother, "my brother and I received the news and rushed here nonstop, even exhausting several horses along the way—all because we finally heard word of our sisters. Shopkeeper Ji, you know how hard we’ve searched these past three years, with no leads at all. Now that there’s a glimmer of hope, we couldn’t help but be impatient. Please don’t laugh at us." The elder Chen brother was smooth-tongued, sensing Ji Yushu’s displeasure at their early arrival and offering both an explanation and an apology.
Ji Yushu felt somewhat mollified, and his smile grew more genuine. "I’ve been keeping an eye out for news these past few years. Now that there’s progress, I’m truly relieved as well.""It's not a big deal for us to wait here," said the younger Chen brother, Chen Yuehai, whose youthful arrogance was evident in his tone. "As long as the information is genuine, waiting half a month is nothing. But if it turns out to be false... Playing such tricks on the Chen family of Jiangnan won’t end well for anyone involved."
Ji Yushu’s previously eased mood soured again. He didn’t care about the Chen brothers’ bluster, but throwing their weight around on his turf was deeply irritating. His smile remained, though his voice cooled noticeably. "Fengxian Pawnshop only deals in buying and selling information. If the deal succeeds, we exchange silver; if not, we part ways. What you choose to do afterward is none of my concern. But my pawnshop is a place of honest business—we don’t welcome trouble."
Chen Yueshan stiffened, shooting his younger brother a sharp glare. He knew all too well that the seemingly amiable and harmless young man before them was far more formidable than he appeared.
Chen Yuehai noticed his elder brother's expression and realized he had spoken out of turn, so he fell silent. The atmosphere grew heavy.
After a long pause, footsteps sounded at the door. Hongling lifted the beaded curtain with a cheerful smile and addressed Ji Yushu, "Shopkeeper, the guest has arrived."
The Chen brothers instinctively turned toward the entrance. From behind Hongling emerged a young girl in a purple robe. She had delicate, lovely features, appearing to be around thirteen or fourteen years old. Yet, for some reason, her calm and composed demeanor made her seem much older, creating a sense of bewilderment.
She lifted the curtain and took a seat in the vacant chair, nodding at Ji Yushu. "Shopkeeper Ji."
"This... young lady," Chen Yueshan began hesitantly, "are you the one selling the information?"
Hongling retreated with another smile, leaving only the Chen brothers, Shen Miao, and Ji Yushu in the tearoom. Shen Miao replied, "Indeed."
Chen Yuehai's expression darkened as he sneered, "Young lady, how old could you have been three years ago? Are you deliberately mocking us?"
"There are many ways to obtain information. It might not have been witnessed firsthand, nor known three years ago. Business is about results. Besides, the Chen family is hardly worth the effort of mockery."
Ji Yushu couldn't help but chuckle, though he quickly composed himself upon seeing Chen Yuehai's grimace. "Miss Shen is right. Business values results—the process matters little."
"Is that so?" Chen Yuehai eyed Shen Miao coldly. "Then can you guarantee the information is true? Business does value results, so if it's genuine, we'll reward you handsomely. But if not... do you know the consequences?" His tone turned menacing at the end.
Those who roamed the martial world often carried an air of ruthlessness. The sudden ferocity in his voice was enough to intimidate most—certainly more than enough to frighten a young girl.
Yet, in the silence, Shen Miao stared back at him unblinkingly, her expression utterly unshaken. Her calmness made Chen Yuehai seem like the unreasonable one.
Ji Yushu stifled another laugh. Finally, the quiet Chen Yueshan spoke up, "Miss Shen, my brother is impulsive. I apologize on his behalf. We are here sincerely to purchase this information. If it proves true, we will reward you generously."
"No need for extravagance," Shen Miao replied. "A fair amount will suffice. The Chen family of Jiangnan has vast connections, and I merely wish to forge goodwill. Should I ever face hardship and need your assistance, I hope you'll remember this favor."
Despite facing two men far older and more experienced, she held her ground with composure and a touch of martial valor, earning Chen Yueshan's respect. He cupped his hands in acknowledgment. Little did he know, Ji Yushu was inwardly cursing Shen Miao for her shrewdness—since the silver from this deal would go to Fengxian Pawnshop, her offer to accept less was effectively cutting into their profits.
"Just tell us the information already," Chen Yuehai pressed impatiently.Shen Miao glanced at him and said, "When the Chen family sisters went missing in Yuzhou, Jiangnan, they were actually abducted. The mastermind behind their kidnapping is none other than the current emperor's own brother—Prince Yu."
At these words, the three in the tearoom fell into silence. In a secret chamber adjacent to the tearoom, the two occupants were equally stunned. The young man in white even exclaimed involuntarily, "Prince Yu?"
The youth in the purple robe rubbed the jade cup in his hand, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile and spoke deliberately, word by word: "Interesting."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Her Majesty schemed against Yushu, only to find out Yushu was under the young marquis's command. The young marquis turned the tables on her, and Her Majesty is going to be furious when she finds out...
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