"Don't look at me, or I might soften."
Time seemed to freeze in that moment, as if all sound had vanished from the world. The flickering lamplight filling the chamber couldn't compare to the captivating beauty of his eyes and brows. Though they appeared intimately close, whispering like lovers in a hazy ambiguity, everything transformed in an instant into a dense, murderous intent.
Xie Jingxing lowered his gaze. The warmth beneath his palm was faint, and he could almost feel the slight flutter of eyelashes—like the delicate wings of a butterfly, fluttering as if trying to escape but caught in his grasp.
"Gao Yang, leave," Xie Jingxing said.
Gao Yang frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Leave first," Xie Jingxing replied calmly.
Gao Yang glanced at him but said nothing, picking up the cloth-wrapped bundle he had prepared earlier and turning to leave. Only after his footsteps had faded into the distance did Xie Jingxing slowly release his hand.
He opened his palm, and under the lamplight, something glistened faintly against his fair skin.
Shen Miao had seemed to cry just now.
Xie Jingxing lazily remarked, "It's just death. Why cry?" He was about to say more but abruptly stopped when he saw the expression on the girl's face.
Shen Miao's delicate features, once carrying a hint of youthful innocence, were now completely overshadowed by an icy coldness. Her eyes were clear as water, yet there was no trace of sorrow or tears. Her earlier act had likely been a ruse—she wasn't afraid at all. As Xie Jingxing's thoughts raced, Shen Miao suddenly raised her elbow and struck toward his chest. The blow was swift and precise; had it been anyone else, they might have been knocked flat. But Xie Jingxing merely swayed slightly before seizing Shen Miao's left arm. Pulled forward, Shen Miao nearly collided with him, but in that instant, she drew something from her sleeve and stabbed it mercilessly into Xie Jingxing's arm.
The hairpin was slender and easily overlooked if one wasn't paying attention. Shen Miao's strike was ruthless, showing no hesitation as the pin sank deep into his flesh. Xie Jingxing's eyes darkened. With a sharp movement, he flung Shen Miao back against the stone wall.
Xie Jingxing's hand closed around Shen Miao's fragile neck, as if the slightest pressure could snap it effortlessly. His voice was low, carrying a barely perceptible anger. "Truly worthy of the General's household. You've mastered the art of ambush perfectly."
Shen Miao's gaze fell on Xie Jingxing's arm, where half the hairpin protruded, blood slowly seeping out and staining his sleeve crimson, clinging wetly to his skin. Xie Jingxing followed her gaze and smiled indifferently. "Even if it's poisoned, it doesn't matter. I'll kill you before it takes effect."
His eyes were extraordinarily beautiful, most mesmerizing when he regarded someone with casual indifference. That faint, mocking smile would surely stir debates among the young ladies of Fixed Capital. But in that moment, Shen Miao saw the well-concealed detachment and coldness lurking within.
What kind of person was Xie Jingxing? He seemed complex. The impression of him in Fixed Capital was that of a capable yet frivolous man, his unruly nature making him impossible to control and unfit for a successful career in politics. Yet now, Shen Miao couldn't help but wonder—was the Xie Jingxing the world knew the real one? He was indeed arrogant and fierce, but someone who hid so deeply—could he truly be indifferent to power and ambition?
Xie Jingxing seemed displeased by her distraction. He leaned closer, staring at her. "Shen Miao, if I kill you today, the Shen family will have no one left to protect them."
Shen Miao's gaze flickered as Xie Jingxing smirked maliciously. "Shen Yuan has returned to the capital. With the second and third branches of the Shen family joining forces, what chance does Shen Xin have?" His grip tightened gradually, each word striking at Shen Miao's weakest points. "The Fu family is eyeing the Shen family covetously. Shen Xin's path forward will be fraught with difficulty. Everything you seek, everything you scheme for—it all ends here in my hands. If you want revenge, you'll have to wait for your next life."
The crueler he became, the more strikingly handsome his face appeared. It was as if he could see into her heart, his words targeting her deepest fears. In this second life, all Shen Miao sought was the safety of her family and vengeance for past wrongs. If she died here, everything would come to an abrupt end. Xie Jingxing's gaze held no trace of sympathy or pity—he was truly cold and unfeeling. No matter her status, even if she were a princess of the royal family, stumbling upon Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang's secret would never allow her to leave unscathed. That was why she had risked everything earlier—otherwise, with her cautious nature, she would never have resorted to such a desperate move.
Suddenly, images of Wan Yu and Fu Ming's smiling faces from her past life flashed before her eyes. Shen Miao's eyes widened, and before she realized it, two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
It was too unfair. To die here—it was truly too unfair.
Xie Jingxing watched her tears, narrowing his eyes as he studied her. He hadn't forgotten her earlier ruthless strike. Women who used tears to garner sympathy had no effect on him.
Yet Shen Miao simply stared ahead, silently crying. There was no pleading or weakness in her gaze—just a numb flow of tears that inexplicably evoked a pang of sorrow. It was as if she had already endured unimaginable suffering, reaching a dead end where only immense desolation remained. Great grief was soundless, but tears, loyal to the body, flowed first.
Xie Jingxing frowned, his grip around her throat loosening slightly.
Shen Miao didn't seem to notice. Finally, Xie Jingxing released her, his expression showing a hint of helplessness. Tall and imposing, he had the petite girl pinned in a corner, yet it gave him a strange feeling—as if he were bullying a child. Though Xie Jingxing knew full well that Shen Miao had nothing in common with the word "child."
After a moment, he pulled the hairpin from his arm. The pain made him grimace slightly as he examined the retrieved pin, twirling it between his fingers. Noticing Shen Miao's stare, he felt an inexplicable awkwardness. "Stop crying. I won't kill you," he said, then added after a pause, "I was just scaring you."
Shen Miao relaxed slightly. She knew Xie Jingxing hadn't been bluffing—the murderous intent earlier had been real. His mercy now was only because of her tears. What exactly had moved him, she couldn't say.
Xie Jingxing asked, "How did you find this place?"
"I once saw my third uncle's copy of Liu Yuan's Night Banquet painting at home. While examining it, I accidentally discovered this secret chamber. Out of curiosity, I entered and stumbled upon you two."
Xie Jingxing smirked. "Shen Wan?"
Shen Miao lied without blinking. "Yes."
"Little girl, I'm not the Chen brothers. Don't try to use me to settle your scores." Xie Jingxing's tone was lazy. Shen Miao was cunning to the core—even in this situation, she still sought to implicate Shen Wan.
"Today, I saw nothing and heard nothing. If you don't trouble me, I won't trouble you," Shen Miao said, meeting his gaze. "We'll stay out of each other's way."
"You couldn't trouble me even if you tried." Xie Jingxing's arrogant tone was infuriating. "I'm sparing your life today. If even a whisper of this gets out, don't blame me when your family suffers."
Shen Miao replied swiftly, "I won't say a word."
Her willingness to compromise seemed to satisfy Xie Jingxing. After a brief silence, he suddenly asked, "Shen Miao, do you have a grudge against the Fu family?"
He said "the Fu family," not "the imperial family"—a subtle but meaningful distinction. Shen Miao turned to look at him, her heart stirring slightly, but she answered coolly, "Young Marquis, you may think what you like."
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "So it's true." He glanced at her. "Since this matter is settled, you should leave first. Staying too long might attract unwanted attention, and then even I won't be able to save you."
Without a word, Shen Miao turned and walked away. This encounter with Xie Jingxing had given her a sudden clarity about certain things. At the very least, the young marquis of Lin'an Hou's manor was far from the simple figure he appeared to be. Such a man was neither someone to exploit nor to provoke. If Xie Jingxing's enemies were also the Ming Qi imperial family, she would benefit. If not, she should steer clear of him entirely.
After taking two steps, Shen Miao felt Xie Jingxing catch up. His long legs closed the distance quickly, and he tossed her a small vial. "Don't say I bullied you and made you cry." With that, he strode past her, leaving first.
In the dim glow of the fire tinder, Shen Miao's face flushed slightly. Her earlier gambit had been risky. In her past life, after returning from Qin State, she had fought fiercely for favor against Mei Furen. She once heard another beauty advise, "Your Majesty maintains such dignified solemnity daily. Though it befits an empress, His Majesty may not necessarily favor it. Look at Mei Furen—gentle, coquettish, skilled in playing the fool. They say the crying child gets the candy, and the same holds true in love. Men are tender toward fragile women—femininity should be like water."
Back then, she had scoffed at the idea, deeming such behavior beneath her dignity as an empress. But faced with Xie Jingxing's murderous intent, she had suddenly recalled those words: "The crying child gets the candy."
Now, she was still a young girl, her appearance innocent and tender, unburdened by the weight of an empress's robes. Acting coy and tearful might not be so out of place. Shen Miao never imagined her stubborn self would ever cry "pear blossoms bathed in rain" before a man. Yet the outcome had surprised even her—Xie Jingxing, with his fierce and unruly nature, had actually let her go.
Still, this confrontation had ended only because she'd resorted to underhanded tactics.
Exiting the secret chamber, she found the tearoom empty—Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang had vanished without a trace. Stepping outside, she saw Mo Qing still standing guard. "Did anyone come out from inside just now?" she asked him.
"Anyone?" Mo Qing blinked. "Weren't you the only one inside? Did you meet someone else, Miss?"
"No," Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Just asking." Internally, her estimation of Xie Jingxing's capabilities rose another notch.
"I've waited long enough. Let's go find Eldest Brother first," Shen Miao said.
Mo Qing was puzzled—she had clearly agreed to wait for Shen Qiu in the tearoom earlier—but he naturally wouldn't question her, especially over such a trivial matter. Silently, he followed her out.
As she left, Shen Miao glanced back at the tearoom's closed door, wondering if Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang were still inside. Today, she had come for that "thing," only to find it already in Xie Jingxing's hands. She couldn't make sense of it. Based on her past life's memories, Xie Jingxing shouldn't have discovered the chamber yet. Had some things changed in this life, altering even Xie Jingxing's fate? Or were there truths in her brief, tragic past life that she had overlooked?
This question remained unresolved even after reuniting with Shen Qiu and returning to Shen Mansion that evening. Shen Qiu, noticing Shen Miao's dazed expression after leaving the prince's manor, assumed she had been frightened by the bloodshed there. He ordered the kitchen to prepare calming soup, earning a scolding from Luo Xueyan for taking Shen Miao to such an ill-omened place. Shen Qiu was left aggrieved, while Shen Miao remained oblivious.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, someone was indignantly defending Xie Jingxing.
"That girl struck too viciously," Gao Yang exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the wound before him.
Xie Jingxing had removed his outer robe, leaving only loose undergarments. The collar hung open, revealing half of his firm, well-built torso. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing the deep gash on his arm where the hairpin had pierced to the bone. As Gao Yang tended to the injury, Xie Jingxing toyed with the hairpin in his hand.
It was a plain silver pin with simple wave patterns, but its tip had been sharpened to a deadly point, almost like a needle for hidden weapons, then bent into a hook. Such a pin, when driven into flesh, could tear out a chunk of skin.
As evidenced by Xie Jingxing's arm, now marred by a ragged wound.
"The Shen Xin family is known for their uprightness. How could that girl be so ruthless? She doesn't seem like Shen Xin's daughter at all—are you sure she wasn't switched at birth?" Gao Yang marveled. "Look at how deep it went—she didn't hold back at all." He sprinkled medicinal powder evenly over the wound, making Xie Jingxing grit his teeth against the sting.
"Endure it," Gao Yang said irritably. "Xie San, in all my years following you, I've never seen you show mercy to a woman before. What possessed you today? She stumbled upon such a critical secret and even wounded you, yet you just let her go." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to her? She's just a little girl, with nothing to offer. Have you lost your mind?"
Xie Jingxing scowled. "Enough. Bullying a child—I'm not that shameless."
"Since when have you not bullied children?" Gao Yang snorted. "I truly don't understand you anymore." He carefully wrapped the bandage around Xie Jingxing's arm and sighed once finished. "Now that we have the item, what next?"
"Keep searching," Xie Jingxing said.
"The Fu family will find out eventually," Gao Yang frowned. "What baffles me most is how Shen Miao knew about the chamber. If she's connected to the Fu family, you're exposed."
"She bears a grudge against the Fu family," Xie Jingxing said lazily. "She'd love to use me to kill them. As for how she found it—coincidence." His eyes glinted sharply. Shen Miao's claim of stumbling upon the chamber by accident was a lie he didn't believe for a second. Everything she did had purpose—her schemes against Shen Qing and Prince Yu proved that. Things that seemed useless at first often played unexpected roles later. Xie Jingxing even suspected Shen Miao's targeting of Prince Yu was for the very "item" now in his hands.
But how had she known? Even he and Gao Yang had only recently uncovered it after immense effort. Shen Miao was just a sheltered girl, with limited means to gather intelligence—yet she had uncovered the secret. The mysteries surrounding her were no fewer than anyone else's.
"Regardless, we must remain cautious," Gao Yang stood, gathering the leftover medicine and bandages. "Besides, now that she knows my identity, who knows what complications may arise."
Left alone in the room, Xie Jingxing held the hairpin up to the flickering lamplight, studying it pensively. Moments later, his mind conjured the image of the girl in the chamber—eyes wide, tears falling soundlessly.
He was not a man swayed by pity, nor had he developed any special feelings for Shen Miao. Yet in that instant, an inexplicable reluctance had surged within him, disrupting his usual cold rationality. Now, reflecting on it, he felt a twinge of regret. The medicated wound on his arm tingled and ached—she had struck without mercy. Had he not dodged swiftly, the pin might have pierced his face.
Perhaps Shen Miao's tears had merely been another tactic. Xie Jingxing knew full well how cunning and sharp-witted she was. Her sudden display of vulnerability had likely been a desperate bid for survival.
Xie Jingxing opened his palm. The silver pin gleamed faintly, yet it reminded him of the delicate flutter against his hand—like a butterfly's wings, poised to dance in his grasp. It was that fleeting fragility that had stirred something foreign within him—an unwarranted compassion.
"Little viper," Xie Jingxing suddenly smiled. Under the lamplight, his striking handsomeness was dazzling, his lips curling with amusement. "I shouldn't have softened."
...
Meanwhile, the eastern courtyard of Shen Mansion was in an uproar.
In the Hall of Glory and Scenery, Old Madam Shen's face was dark as she addressed Shen Gui. "So Qing'er can't be released?"
Shen Gui shook his head. "Prince Yu's manor was wiped out overnight, leaving only Qing'er alive. No matter how you look at it, she's implicated. The case must be reinvestigated."
"With such a major incident, will His Majesty blame our family?" Old Madam Shen fretted. "What exactly happened with Qing'er? Is she truly uninvolved?" Her tone dripped with suspicion toward Shen Qing.
Ren Wanyun exploded at this. She threw herself at Old Madam Shen's feet, startling the older woman, and wailed, "Old Madam, you watched Qing'er grow up. You know her temperament—how could she do such a thing? Besides, what capability does she have to ally with such dangerous people? Clearly, Prince Yu's manor made enemies, and Qing'er was merely fortunate to survive. We've already wronged her—we can't abandon her now!"
Having been Old Madam Shen's daughter-in-law for years, Ren Wanyun understood her mother-in-law's nature perfectly. Old Madam Shen was inherently selfish, always quick to sacrifice others for self-preservation. Even if she held some affection for Shen Qing, she wouldn't hesitate to discard her when necessary. Sometimes, Ren Wanyun thought Shen Gui's lack of conscience stemmed from Old Madam Shen's blood—their selfishness was identical.
Old Madam Shen grew even angrier at Ren Wanyun's words. "Eldest daughter-in-law, your words are strange. How have we wronged Qing'er? Did I force her into an affair with Prince Yu? Did I make her shamelessly conceive his child? These rules— I certainly never taught them to her!"
Old Madam Shen had been a songstress in her youth, her speech coarse from years in the streets. Even Ren Wanyun, for all her sharpness, was left reeling by such brutal words. "Mother! How can you speak of Qing'er like this? She's your granddaughter!"
Chen Ruoqiu interjected soothingly, "Second Sister-in-law, don't be upset. Old Madam is just worried for Qing'er and spoke in anger. Everyone knows Qing'er was her favorite among the three legitimate granddaughters."
Once the favorite, now discarded like trash—Old Madam Shen's selfishness was truly contemptible. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan exchanged disdainful glances but remained silent, treating it as mere spectacle.
Shen Yuan shot Chen Ruoqiu a dark look, so ominous it made her pause mid-sentence, wary. Stepping forward, he helped Ren Wanyun up and addressed Old Madam Shen. "Grandmother, there's no need for panic. The situation isn't dire yet. For now, Younger Sister is only under suspicion, not convicted. Since she's innocent, the truth will emerge in time. I'll investigate thoroughly—I won't let her be wronged."
Old Madam Shen's expression softened slightly upon hearing this. Among all her children and grandchildren, her favorite was her youngest grandson Shen Yuanbai, but the one she was most proud of and valued was Shen Yuan, who had achieved remarkable success at such a young age. Moreover, Shen Yuan had always known how to please her, so she nodded immediately and said, "In that case, go ahead and investigate thoroughly. If Qing'er is truly innocent, I naturally wouldn’t want her to be wronged." She paused, then glanced at Ren Wanyun with a cold laugh. "But it seems your mother has lost her mind. If she’s truly not in her right senses, she should stay indoors and stop causing trouble for me."
Ren Wanyun was both furious and humiliated, her face flushing red. She couldn’t pinpoint when Old Madam Shen’s dissatisfaction with her had grown so much, to the point where she now openly shamed her in front of all their children. Even Chen Ruoqiu could look at her with mocking eyes.
It wasn’t until Shen Yuan helped her back to the Colorful Cloud Courtyard that Ren Wanyun finally caught her breath. She grabbed Shen Yuan’s arm and pleaded, "Yuan’er, you must find a way to save your sister. Qing’er doesn’t have the capability for such a thing—how could she be the murderer?"
"Mother, don’t worry," Shen Yuan reassured her. "If Sister is truly innocent, there’s nothing to fear from the investigation. The reason she’s under suspicion now is simply because the real culprit hasn’t been uncovered yet. Once we find the true murderer, Sister’s name will be cleared."
Ren Wanyun’s eyes lit up as if she had grasped a lifeline. She asked eagerly, "Then when can the murderer be found? How much longer must your sister be imprisoned? When will you uncover the truth?"
Shen Yuan studied Ren Wanyun closely. Her face was haggard, devoid of the makeup she had once meticulously applied, her skin now dull and aged, her hair disheveled. There was no trace left of her former immaculate and refined appearance. She had always been someone who prided herself on her dignified and wealthy demeanor, yet now she looked like a completely different person—unkempt and disheveled.
And the root of all this was a young girl who had once been dismissed as an "Incompetent."
Shen Yuan felt a headache coming on. He prided himself on his intelligence and quick wit, yet upon returning to the capital, he had been immediately handed this mess. Ren Wanyun’s status in the household had plummeted, Shen Qing had become pregnant out of wedlock, and now she was entangled in the massacre of Prince Yu’s Manor.
For some reason, Shen Yuan suddenly recalled the day Shen Qing was married off. He had spoken to Shen Miao, who had said at the time, "No one can predict the twists of fate. Fortune and misfortune strike without warning—who knows if the road ahead might simply vanish?"
Now, Shen Qing truly had no road left. Or if there was one, it was fraught with hardship. She was the sole survivor of the entire royal household’s massacre. At this point, Shen Yuan could see clearly: the person behind this had spared Shen Qing’s life not out of mercy or sympathy. For her, this "mercy" was nothing short of a death sentence.
At the very least, dying as a victim caught in the massacre and dying as an accused murderer would lead to vastly different outcomes.
The perpetrator had deliberately placed Shen Qing in this impossible situation. But Shen Qing was just a young girl—who would go to such lengths to torment her? Shen Miao? But how could Shen Miao have commanded so many assassins to slaughter Prince Yu’s household? Such manpower would be nearly impossible to muster.Shen Yuan's gaze was heavy with determination. Whether the person behind this was Shen Miao or not, he would investigate this matter to the end. Since that person was targeting Shen Qing, it was possible they were also coming for the second branch of the Shen family. Although Shen Qing was currently in a difficult situation, it was not yet a dead end. He was determined to uncover the mastermind behind it all—and then repay them a thousandfold.
This was what Shen Yuan thought, but what he didn’t expect was that, just as Shen Miao had once said, nothing in this world could be predicted with certainty. Fortune and misfortune were as unpredictable as the dawn and dusk—who knew if the road ahead would suddenly come to an end?
His path was sealed off the very next day, leaving him with no way forward.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
The Young Marquis is the most difficult male lead I've ever written!
...
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