The rare blizzard that had swept through Fixed Capital for decades came to an abrupt halt by the next morning. The thick snow reached knee-deep, and in such bitter cold, even the most diligent vendors preferred to stay curled up on their warm kang beds rather than brave the icy winds to set up their stalls.
Only the elderly night watchman, having overslept, hurried out with his gong. The sun had yet to rise, and the sky was still dim. Tightening his tattered padded jacket around him, he trudged through the snow, step by laborious step. At a leisurely pace, he eventually passed by the gates of Prince Yu's Manor.
The grand doors of Prince Yu's Manor were slightly ajar, with only half of the celebratory "double happiness" character still clinging to the frame. The watchman noticed the absence of guards and couldn't help but mutter to himself. The people of Prince Yu's Manor were notoriously fierce—he had been scolded more than once by the guards at the gate. Yet today, there was no sign of them, which struck him as odd. Then his eyes fell on the remnants of the "happiness" character, and realization dawned. Yesterday had been the day Prince Yu welcomed his Royal Consort. No doubt the guards and servants had been treated to feasts and wine, and were now too drunk to be seen.
Thinking of the young woman whose fate was now tied to the manor, the watchman shook his head and was about to walk past when a cold gust of wind blew by. The heavy doors creaked open slightly wider, revealing a dark gap. The watchman froze. The doors swayed with eerie creaks, and for some inexplicable reason, a strange feeling welled up inside him. He stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly, until vendors setting up their stalls noticed him and called out, "Old Li, what are you doing standing there?"
The watchman's heart lurched. Suddenly, he understood that strange feeling. In broad daylight, no matter how wild the celebrations had been the night before, how could the manor be so utterly silent? Even if everyone was drunk or asleep, there should still be dogs barking or birds chirping. But there was nothing—just a deathly stillness, as if the place were a tomb.
His hands trembling, he took a few steps forward. As he neared the dark gap, a thick, metallic stench assaulted his senses, nearly knocking him off his feet. He pushed against the doors, but they wouldn't budge. Looking down, he saw a square block of ice wedged in the gap.
Probably formed by last night's snow and wind, it had gotten stuck right at the entrance.
The watchman's eyes widened. He staggered back a few steps, then let out a bloodcurdling scream, drawing the attention of everyone on the street.
In the first light of dawn, the crystal-clear ice was unmistakable—thick, congealed blood had formed a frozen river, snaking out from the gap before abruptly stopping, as if someone fleeing for their life had been cut off at the threshold.
Like flowing blood.
...
On the very day Prince Yu's Manor in Fixed Capital welcomed its Royal Consort, the entire household was slaughtered—every last servant, concubine, cat, dog, chicken, and duck. The perpetrator seemed to harbor an unimaginable hatred for Prince Yu's Manor, leaving no one alive. The killings were swift and precise, each victim struck down with a single fatal blow. Yet none of the manor's treasures or valuables were taken, ruling out robbery as a motive.It was no secret that Prince Yu was a man of ruthless cruelty, with a long list of atrocities to his name, having made countless enemies. Who could say who was behind this attack? Yet the perpetrator’s audacity was staggering—to strike against Prince Yu’s Manor was to challenge the imperial family of Ming Qi. Everyone knew Emperor Wenhui held his brother Prince Yu in the highest regard. For years, Prince Yu had acted with impunity in the capital, even forcing the crown princes to tread carefully around him, all because he had the emperor’s unwavering support.
But this time, defying all expectations, Emperor Wenhui issued no orders for a manhunt, nor did he offer any reward. He merely instructed the officials to investigate the matter thoroughly, leaving it in the hands of the magistrate of Fixed Capital. While the magistrate was competent in administrative affairs, his investigative skills were mediocre at best. The emperor’s indifference suggested he had no intention of wasting effort on the massacre at Prince Yu’s Manor. The more astute observers sensed something amiss—perhaps Prince Yu had already done something to anger the emperor before this incident. Otherwise, why would Emperor Wenhui act so coldly? It was even possible the emperor secretly rejoiced that the perpetrator had rid him of a thorn in his side.
But speculation was just that—rumors spread, some straying far from the truth, while others came uncomfortably close.
Amid the massacre at Prince Yu’s Manor, one person survived—none other than Shen Qing, the newly wedded Royal Consort who had just entered the manor the day before. The night watchman was the first to notice something amiss at dawn, and soon, a crowd of bold onlookers ventured inside. The sight that greeted them was so horrifying that even those who only heard secondhand accounts shuddered in fear.
According to witnesses, the sprawling estate was littered with frozen corpses and bloodstains. The blood had pooled across the courtyards, only to be swiftly frozen by the previous night’s blizzard, turning the ground into sheets of crimson ice. The bodies were frostbitten, stiff as statues.
Everywhere they looked, death reigned—no survivors in sight.
Prince Yu’s body was found in his bedchamber, a fatal stab wound piercing his chest. Two maids lay beside him, while Shen Qing had collapsed at the doorway, surrounded by scattered jewelry. At first, she was presumed dead—until a slight movement revealed she was still alive. Thus, Shen Qing became the sole survivor of the massacre.
For her, this might have been a stroke of luck—or a fate worse than death. Why was she the only one spared when the entire manor had been slaughtered? If the killer had shown mercy, why had they spared no one else—not even the servants or concubines? Moreover, the jewelry strewn around Shen Qing suggested she had been attempting to flee.
Most damning of all, aside from the fatal stab wound, Prince Yu’s neck bore marks of a hairpin’s stab—and Shen Qing, the newly wedded consort, was the prime suspect.
With so many unanswered questions, Shen Qing became the target of suspicion. Even with nine mouths, she could never explain her way out of this. After all, how could she justify being the only one left alive when everyone else in Prince Yu’s Manor was dead?The officials from the Capital Prefecture were naturally determined to take Shen Qing back for interrogation. Whether she was truly involved in the matter or not, as the sole surviving witness, she was indispensable for uncovering any clues. Even if it was merely for show to the public, Shen Qing could not possibly escape unscathed.
By the time the Shen family received the news, the officers had already arrived at Prince Yu's Manor to arrest her. Ren Wanyun fainted upon hearing this, while Shen Gui and Shen Yuan hastily prepared to leave.
"Yuan'er, where should we go now?" Shen Gui was somewhat uncertain when facing his son. He knew that regardless of the truth, Shen Qing was already entangled in this affair. Although Emperor Wenhui had not yet shown overt fury, serving the emperor was like taming a tiger—who knew what truly lay in the emperor's heart? If he later chose to vent his anger over this matter, it could severely damage Shen Gui's career.
Shen Yuan replied coldly, "To the Capital Prefecture. It's too late to go to the prince's manor now. Since my sister has been taken, the prefect must know many details." He paused, glancing at Shen Gui. "Father need not worry. This won't fall on your head."
Shen Gui caught the sarcasm in Shen Yuan's words and felt a pang of irritation, but he could say nothing. Pretending not to notice, he urged, "In that case, let's hurry."
Meanwhile, Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin were also preparing to depart.
"Qiu'er, go to the prince's manor," Luo Xueyan instructed Shen Qiu. "Your second uncle has gone to the constabulary, and your third uncle is at the palace gathering information. Someone must keep an eye on the prince's manor. Your father and I will head to the palace first—this matter is of grave importance. If spies have infiltrated the city, it would be disastrous." She added, "Coordinate with the manor to investigate the deaths of our Shen family members. We'll need to arrange compensation for their families later."
"Don't worry, Mother. Leave it to me," Shen Qiu responded readily.
After Shen Xin and his wife left, Shen Qiu straightened his attire and was about to depart when he suddenly heard Shen Miao's voice behind him. "Elder Brother."
"Little Sister?" Shen Qiu turned in surprise. "Why aren't you resting indoors?"
"Are you going to Prince Yu's Manor?" Shen Miao asked.
"Yes," Shen Qiu replied. "There are matters to settle, but I'll return soon."
Shen Miao looked at him. "Take me with you."
Shen Qiu was taken aback but quickly shook his head firmly. "Little Sister, I know you have deep grievances with Prince Yu's Manor. Frankly, I believe their downfall is well-deserved. If you wish to witness their fate, I can do so on your behalf. There's no need for you to go yourself."
Shen Miao smiled. "I just want to see it for myself."
"There's truly nothing worth seeing," Shen Qiu teased, trying to scare her. "I heard the deaths last night were gruesome—bodies gutted, blood pooled several feet deep. The spirits of the wronged likely still linger. A delicate girl like you might encounter ghosts." In truth, though the deaths at Prince Yu's Manor were tragic, they were nowhere near as horrifying as Shen Qiu described. He merely hoped to deter Shen Miao, not wishing for her to witness such bloody scenes. A sheltered young lady should never have to face the sight of death.However, after he finished speaking, Shen Miao across from him remained expressionless. It was as if he had described the most natural and ordinary scene. Shen Miao even smiled: "As children of a military family, if we were frightened by mere corpses or ghosts, wouldn't we be looked down upon? Surely, elder brother isn't afraid of seeing dead bodies on the battlefield, is he?"
"Of course not!" Shen Qiu immediately replied, only to realize his mistake as the words left his mouth. He saw Shen Miao looking at him calmly as she said, "In that case, there's nothing to fear. Take me with you, elder brother."
"But, little sister, why do you want to go to Prince Yu's Manor?" Shen Xin hesitated. "There's really nothing there."
"I just want to take a look. You don't need to worry about me. As you said, the place is guarded by officials now, so there's no danger. Taking me along won't cause any trouble."
Shen Miao spoke each word with firm determination. From recent events, Shen Qiu had noticed that Shen Miao was decisive and stubborn—once she made up her mind, not even ten oxen could pull her back. Even if he refused her today, she would likely sneak there on her own someday. It might be safer to accompany her now.
"Fine," Shen Qiu said, staring at her. "Once we reach the manor, don't wander off. I'll have Mo Qing stay with you. If anything seems wrong, call for me immediately."
Shen Miao smiled. "Alright."
...
Overnight, Prince Yu's Manor had transformed completely. Inside and out, everything had changed. Just the day before, it had been filled with distinguished guests, laughter, and the lively sight of carriages and horses at the gate, with guests chatting merrily. Now, the vermilion doors were plastered with white seals, and the guards at the entrance wore grave expressions, wary of any sudden, brutal attacks.
Half of a wedding character still clung to the gate, swaying alone in the wind, as if finally unable to withstand the cold. The remaining half peeled off and drifted slowly to the ground, only to be trampled into the snow by passing guards, disappearing without a trace.
Occasionally, onlookers gathered outside Prince Yu's Manor, pointing and whispering. Though their words carried pity, there was also a hint of satisfaction. Over the years, Prince Yu's atrocities had been widely known, and seeing a villain meet his deserved end was perhaps one of life's greatest satisfactions.
When Shen Qiu and his group arrived at Prince Yu's Manor, this was the scene they encountered. The stark contrast between yesterday's celebration and today's deathly silence was so striking that it momentarily blurred reality. Even someone like Shen Qiu, accustomed to life and death, couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
After all, the entire household had been wiped out—not a single soul spared. It was truly tragic.
Shen Qiu's subordinate explained their purpose to the officials at the manor's entrance, and they were allowed inside. The moment they stepped in, the sight before them left them speechless.
The bodies of the servants had been removed, but the bloodstains from the night before remained, frozen into ice, painting a horrifying picture as if the entire estate were drenched in crimson. Even a night of snowfall couldn't mask the heavy stench of blood. Through the scarlet-covered ground, one could almost glimpse the brutal massacre of the stormy night, the desperate wails still echoing in the darkness.The soldiers were all somewhat horrified, and Shen Qiu also frowned tightly. Suddenly remembering Shen Miao was beside him, he feared she might be frightened and quickly turned to look at her, intending to offer some comfort. But when he turned his head, he saw Shen Miao's gaze was calm, even more composed than the soldiers around him.
Shen Miao lowered her eyes to look at the crimson stains covering the ground. What did these amount to? The blood of enemies only brought excitement. The blood of the entire Shen family in her past life must have been far more gruesome than this scene. She felt no emotion, no sympathy, no sorrow, no fear—only the urge to throw her head back in laughter and slash Prince Yu's corpse a few more times.
"Little sister..." Shen Qiu asked hesitantly, "I need to go investigate. Would you like to rest inside?"
Shen Miao glanced toward the southwest corner of Prince Yu's Manor and smiled faintly. "When we arrived yesterday, I heard the maids mention there’s a tearoom for resting in that direction. I’ll go sit there for a while. Once you’ve finished your tasks, come find me in the tearoom, alright?"
"That area?" Shen Qiu followed her gaze. The southwest corner was lush with meticulously trimmed trees, likely landscaped by Prince Yu for flower-viewing and leisure. He nodded. "Let Mo Qing accompany you inside. Don’t wander off."
Shen Miao agreed and walked with Mo Qing toward the southwest corner. Worried that her maids might be frightened by the bloodshed in Prince Yu's Manor, she hadn’t brought any of them along. Mo Qing, being a guard, naturally had no fear of such scenes.
Following behind Shen Miao, Mo Qing was surprised to find that she seemed to know the place like the back of her hand—where the turns were, where the corridors led, where the steps began—she navigated it all with uncanny familiarity. Even if she had truly visited once yesterday, her ease was almost too practiced.
With this question in mind, Shen Miao arrived before the tearoom. Nestled behind a floral thicket, the tearoom had grapevines trailing over an outer trellis. In summer, when the grapes bore fruit, drinking wine and enjoying the flowers here would have been quite elegant. Yet, such refinement associated with Prince Yu felt oddly out of place.
"Wait for me outside," Shen Miao said to Mo Qing. "I’ll go in alone."
Mo Qing hesitated. Shen Miao glanced at him and added, "It’s just a tearoom. If you’re uneasy, you can come in first to check it."
Mo Qing immediately cupped his hands in acknowledgment. "Understood." With that, he strode in ahead, sword in hand.
Watching Mo Qing’s retreating figure, Shen Miao felt a momentary daze. In both her past and present lives, no matter his role, Mo Qing had always been this cautious and loyal.
The tearoom was spacious, divided into three sections by screens, each lavishly decorated—unlike the refined exterior, it bore the extravagance of a palace. Mo Qing meticulously inspected every corner, confirming there were no hidden assassins, before bowing to Shen Miao. "Call for me if you need anything, Miss. I’ll stand guard outside." Then he left.
Once Mo Qing was gone, Shen Miao walked to the table in front of the tearoom. A blue-and-white porcelain tea set sat atop it, its fine glaze reminiscent of something she might have seen in the palace. She swept a glance over it and walked past without pause. She passed the first screen, then the second, arriving at the third section of the tearoom.On the third floor of the tearoom, the walls were densely covered with calligraphy and paintings. A closer look revealed inscriptions by renowned masters, making the entire collection undoubtedly worth a fortune. Shen Miao examined each piece one by one, as if appreciating the artwork, until she paused before a particular painting.
It was a depiction of a night banquet, the work of Liu Yuan, a celebrated artist from the previous dynasty. The painting captured the grandeur of a nocturnal feast in an official's residence—beautiful maids, fine wine and delicacies, and joyous guests. The figures were lifelike, the brushstrokes exquisitely refined, and the colors vibrant. Amid the wall full of artworks, it didn’t stand out particularly, yet Shen Miao stared at it transfixed, as though drawn into the scene.
She gazed at the banquet painting for a long while before finally reaching out to carefully trace her fingers along the paper. Her touch was deliberate, moving until she reached the lapel of the portly official, the central figure of the feast.
The lapel was rendered with such detail that even in the painting, one could almost feel the buttons beneath the fingertips.
And indeed, Shen Miao did feel them.
The slight raised texture under her fingers, distinct from the rough paper, prompted her to press down. A faint click sounded.
With that soft noise, the wall covered in paintings suddenly split in two, revealing what appeared to be a secret chamber. From the outside, only a long corridor was visible, illuminated by torches, casting an eerie brightness.
Shen Miao exhaled softly and, without hesitation, lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped inside.
...
At the deepest part of the chamber stood a coffin, its lid already pried open to reveal nothing inside. Two figures stood before it—one clad in a fluttering purple robe, the other in pristine white robes. They were Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang.
Xie Jingxing held a bright yellow cloth bundle in his hand, its contents unknown but evidently heavy. Gao Yang chuckled. "Prince Yu, that old dog, actually hid the thing here. If not for last night’s massacre at the Chen family, finding this would’ve taken us much more effort."
"Waiting to pick up the pieces works just fine," Xie Jingxing replied. "Check if there’s anything else around."
Gao Yang nodded and began inspecting the surroundings. "Speaking of which, the old dog didn’t even leave guards here. This place must be extremely secret—likely no one else knows of it besides him."
"The Fu family is paranoid," Xie Jingxing remarked lazily. "Wouldn’t you hide it if it were you?"
"Of course I would," Gao Yang said, gently fanning himself with an air of refined elegance, though his words were chilling. "If I were Prince Yu, anyone who stumbled upon this place—whether they knew its secrets or not—would have to be silenced. Dead men tell no tales. The old dog did well in that regard."
Xie Jingxing ignored him and continued searching for other items.
Meanwhile, Shen Miao, holding a torch, walked quietly through the gloomy secret passage. Compared to her usual unhurried pace, she moved with unusual urgency. The reason was simple—she didn’t know when Shen Qiu would arrive, and she needed to retrieve that thing before he found her.The secret chamber in Prince Yu's Manor was originally discovered by Fu Xiuyi. She accidentally overheard a conversation between Fu Xiuyi and Pei Lang. At the time, Pei Lang had copied a painting of Liu Yuan's Night Banquet and told Fu Xiuyi that the mechanism to the secret chamber in Prince Yu's Manor was hidden in the folds of the main character's robe in the painting. Pei Lang also said, "The item is in the secret chamber. Your Majesty may investigate it."
Shen Miao had no idea what exactly the "thing" was, but judging from the tone of Pei Lang and Fu Xiuyi, it must have been of great importance to Fu Xiuyi. When she discussed the extermination of the family with the Chen Brothers, aside from leaving no loose ends, this was another reason.
If the people of Prince Yu's Manor were left alive, someone might know the secret of the chamber. If they discovered her actions, it could lead to disaster. Now that everyone in Prince Yu's Manor was dead, this secret likely remained undiscovered for the time being. After all, in her past life, Fu Xiuyi only learned of it after he had already ascended the throne.
As long as the "thing" was extremely important to Fu Xiuyi or beneficial to him, it absolutely must not fall into his hands. It must either be destroyed or handed over to Fu Xiuyi's enemies. At the very least, with this "thing," she would have an extra bargaining chip when dealing with Fu Xiuyi in the future.
This was the real reason she had followed Shen Qiu to the prince's manor today.
Shen Miao ran her fingers along the walls of the secret chamber as she walked deeper inside. The chamber twisted and turned, far longer than she had imagined. After rounding another bend, the space suddenly opened up, as if she had stepped from a narrow corridor into a vast hall. Rows of torches hung on the stone walls, illuminating the entire chamber brilliantly.
In the center of the chamber lay a coffin, and standing before it were two figures.
Before Shen Miao could react, one of them barked sharply, "Who's there?"
The voice was all too familiar. She barely had time to process it before the two figures turned abruptly in the bright torchlight, revealing faces she recognized.
Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang.
Why was Xie Jingxing here? Gao Yang was from the Imperial Hospital—how had he gotten involved with Xie Jingxing?
Even someone as composed as Shen Miao was momentarily stunned. Following the shock came a whirlwind of confusion in her mind. The earlier suspicions that had taken root in her heart suddenly found an outlet, and in that fleeting moment, it felt as though something was about to break free.
"Shen Miao!" Gao Yang's gaze was equally startled, but he quickly turned to Xie Jingxing and said, "Do it!"
Shen Miao's eyes widened as the world seemed to spin around her. Before she could clearly see the figure darting toward her, she was shoved violently against the stone wall behind her, the impact sending a sharp pain through her back, forcing a gasp from her lips. Immediately after, a slender hand closed around her throat, and Xie Jingxing's handsome face loomed inches from hers.
Xie Jingxing had her pinned firmly against the wall. His icy robes brushed against her face, and his hand was equally cold. His features were as dazzling as the sun, his lips curved in an intoxicating smile, yet his gaze was chillingly lucid and ruthless.
"Shen Miao can't be left alive," Gao Yang said urgently. "This matter is too important. If she dies here today, it's her bad luck. We'll leave her body here and go—no one will find out. Xie San, don't hesitate. Do it!"
Shen Miao looked at Xie Jingxing. The hand gripping her neck was long and elegant, yet it held her with unyielding ferocity, refusing to loosen its grip.
Under the torchlight, the youth in the purple robe looked even more striking, his features as if painted by a master's brush, each line exquisitely crafted. The more enchanting his appearance, the crueler his smile became, like a cat toying with a mouse. Yet his eyes revealed nothing but absolute indifference and killing intent.
He truly intended to kill her.Shen Miao remained motionless, her clear eyes brighter than a stream under the first thaw of spring snow, reflecting neither joy nor sorrow—as if they could mirror an entire lifetime.
Xie Jingxing's gaze flickered slightly before he suddenly Challenge a smile, gently covering Shen Miao's eyes with his other hand. Leaning down slightly, he brought his lips close to her ear, whispering softly like a lover's murmur.
"Don't look at me... I might lose my resolve."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
See? I told you the Young Marquis isn't a good man!
...
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