The night grew darker, and winter nights were always exceptionally cold. A single venture outside made it seem as though the northern wind could pierce straight into the marrow of one's bones, making even the slightest movement painful.
In the gloomy prison cell, the narrow window allowed gusts of wind to howl inside, causing the prisoner to huddle even tighter into herself. She wrapped the tattered quilt—its cotton filling already frayed into strips—tightly around her body, leaving only her head exposed. Struggling to rise, she attempted to close the window that let in the biting wind.
Yet no matter how much she stretched onto her tiptoes, she couldn’t reach it. After a moment, she abandoned the effort, afraid that exerting herself would only leave her weaker.
The patrolling jailer who witnessed this merely sneered at the sight, making no move to help. Those who spent long periods in such grim places often became twisted in some way, finding amusement in the suffering of the prisoners—at least for the time being.
Shen Qing glanced at the jailer before quickly lowering her head, concealing the flicker of hatred in her eyes. After several days here, she had endured all the hardships one could imagine. Whether it was because Shen Yuan and Shen Gui had failed to bribe the jailers or for some other reason, she received no special treatment—just like the others, she was mocked and tormented for their entertainment. If there was any "favor" shown to her, it was perhaps that she hadn’t been violated like some of the other female prisoners. But even that might not have been due to the Shen family’s influence—after all, she carried Prince Yu’s child in her womb. Regardless of how disgraceful its origins, it still bore a trace of royal blood.
Shen Qing cautiously pressed a hand to her abdomen. This was now her only lifeline. For some reason, the words Shen Miao had spoken to her that afternoon had stirred an inexplicable, overwhelming dread—something she had never felt before, not even when she was first dragged into this prison. Back then, she had been certain someone would come to her rescue, that her family would never let her suffer in vain.
But Shen Miao had shattered her hopes one by one, forcing Shen Qing to see just how fragile her reliance truly was. It made her doubt whether she could emerge from this unscathed.
The jailer gave her another glance before turning to leave. Suddenly, Shen Qing called out, "Brother."
The man stopped and walked over to her, though he waved a hand in disgust at the stench clinging to her. "What is it?"
"These past few days... has my family come to see me? Or sent any messages?" She suppressed her fury—how dare this lowly jailer look at her with such disdain? In the past, men like him would have groveled at her feet. Such fawning, opportunistic vermin!
The jailer chuckled. "What are you dreaming about, Miss Shen? With your case still unresolved, who would dare visit you? Besides, aside from that sister of yours, none of your family has even asked about you." His tone dripped with mockery. After all, given the scandal Shen Qing had brought upon herself—even if she were eventually cleared of the charges—the rumors alone had dragged the Shen family into disgrace. Her future would be bleak. It seemed the Shen family had already decided to abandon this daughter. With that thought, the jailer’s attitude toward her grew even more contemptuous.Shen Qing couldn't tell whether she felt disappointment or relief in her heart. After hesitating for a moment, she turned to the jailer and said, "Brother, if my brother comes to see me... could you tell him that I'm too troubled to see anyone and ask him not to visit?" As she spoke, she slipped a bracelet from her wrist and handed it through the iron bars.
During her time in prison, most of her jewelry had been confiscated. This bracelet had been placed on her wrist by Ren Wanyun on her wedding day and was extremely precious. Shen Qing had kept it hidden out of selfishness, never revealing its existence. Today, driven to desperation, she finally gave it away.
The jailer's eyes lit up at the sight of the bracelet. He snatched it eagerly, examining it carefully under the lamplight. Satisfied with its quality, he smiled slightly and said, "Since you've asked, I'll help you out. But isn't it a good thing for your brother to visit? Why push him away?"
Shen Qing forced a smile. "I've caused so much trouble for the family because of my actions. I'm too ashamed to face them."
The jailer nodded, though his gaze held contempt. If she truly had such self-respect, how could she have committed adultery behind her family's back and become pregnant before marriage? Now she spoke of shame and not wanting to face them—it all seemed rather hypocritical. But with the bracelet in hand, the jailer had no reason to refuse. He agreed and left.
Only after the jailer had gone did Shen Qing crouch down, hugging her shoulders helplessly and burying her head in her knees. She often did this now, unsure whether her actions were right or wrong, and with no idea what the future held. Closing her eyes, she pretended that when she opened them again, she would return to being the dignified eldest daughter of the Shen family.
She drifted into a hazy sleep, only to be roused by the sound of someone knocking on the iron bars. Dazed, she lifted her head.
In the flickering lamplight, a familiar face appeared. In the past, the sight of this face would have filled her with joy. But after Shen Miao's words, seeing it now terrified her so much that she fell backward, her gaze panicked as she stared at the person before her.
Shen Yuan asked, "How are you holding up, little sister?"
"Second Brother, why are you here?" Shen Qing replied, subtly shifting backward.
Noticing her movement, Shen Yuan frowned slightly but said nothing. He pulled a key from his sleeve and unlocked the cell door. Shen Qing was stunned at first, then her face lit up with hope as she stood quickly. "Second Brother, are you here to get me out?"
Shen Yuan shook his head. "I can't free you yet." He took out a package of pastries from his robe and handed it to her. "I came to see you and bring you something to eat."
Disappointed, Shen Qing watched as Shen Yuan stepped inside, his expression twisting with disgust at the filth of the cell. The sight pained her. She instinctively took the oil-paper package from him and opened it—inside were steaming, fragrant chestnut cakes, her favorite from before.
"You've suffered these past days," Shen Yuan said, unusually gentle. "I know you love these, so I brought them to cheer you up."Shen Qing's nose tingled with emotion, and tears nearly spilled from her eyes. During her days in prison, she had been eating spoiled food that was barely enough to sustain her, living in constant fear. Now, seeing something she once cherished and with Shen Yuan by her side, all the grievances in her heart surged forth.
"Don't cry. After you finish eating, wait a few more days, and I'll rescue you," Shen Yuan coaxed gently.
Shen Qing somewhat clumsily picked up a piece of pastry and was about to put it in her mouth when she caught sight of Shen Yuan's tender smile. Suddenly, her hand trembled as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head. Strangely, Shen Miao's words from that afternoon echoed in her ears once more.
"He could have had a promising career, a future without limits, but because of you, he's constantly troubled. Do you really think he wants to save you?"
The pastry was right at her lips, but this bite, Shen Qing found she couldn't take it.
The essence of human relationships lies in trust. In the past, Shen Qing would have unquestioningly trusted Shen Yuan. But after the incident with Prince Yu, she had witnessed firsthand the Shen family's cold indifference. Would this second brother truly be willing to sacrifice his bright future for her, to take such a great risk to rescue her? Even Shen Qing herself might hesitate in his place. She suddenly recalled the jade bracelet she had used to bribe the jailer, instructing him to stop Shen Yuan if he came to visit. Yet here Shen Yuan was—had the jailer taken her bribe and done nothing, or had Shen Yuan found another way in?
Only now did Shen Qing realize that not a single patrolling jailer was in sight. The cell where she was held had no other prisoners, meaning it was just her and Shen Yuan here. What should have been the closest of siblings now sent a chill down her spine.
"Why aren't you eating?" Shen Yuan asked her.
Shen Qing forced a smile and quickly improvised, "I—I can't bear to eat it all at once. I'll save some for later."
"It won't taste as good when it's cold," Shen Yuan said with a smile. "I'll bring you more in a few days."
"No..." Shen Qing declined. "I—I don't feel like eating right now."
"Weren't you just starving?" Shen Yuan looked at her. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
Shen Qing waved her hands in panic. "I just don't feel like eating anymore. I suddenly feel a bit unwell—it must be because of the pregnancy. My appetite can be strange sometimes." She wrapped the pastry back in its paper and set it aside. "I'll eat it once I feel better."
Shen Yuan silently watched her actions, his eyes flickering with unreadable emotions before he finally let out a mocking laugh. "It seems a few days in prison have made you wiser, little sister." His voice had lost its earlier gentleness, replaced by a strange cruelty. "What a pity. I had hoped to make your departure easier."
Shen Qing's body began to tremble violently as she stared at Shen Yuan. "Second Brother, what do you mean by that?"
"You're so guarded against me—I thought you'd already understood my meaning. If you don't want to eat the pastry, so be it. Though it's a waste of your elder brother's efforts, given your current condition, I won't hold it against you."Shen Yuan's words were eerily calm, and combined with his somewhat scholarly face, they carried a terrifying force. Shen Qing seemed to realize something and suddenly began shaking her head frantically, trying to scream. But before she could make a sound, someone had already seized her throat.
The man, who usually appeared gentle and refined, now displayed astonishing strength. What was even more horrifying was that the person beneath his grip was his own sister, yet he showed not a hint of hesitation or mercy—as if she were merely a stranger.
Shen Qing's eyes bulged as she stared fixedly at the man before her. Shen Yuan, however, merely chuckled softly and said, "Little sister, don’t blame your second brother for being cruel. You’ve caused such a disaster that a single misstep could implicate the entire Shen family. Should we all—Father, Mother, even Yuanbai—pay with our lives just for you? Little sister, one shouldn’t be so selfish."
Shen Qing struggled with all her might, but she was, after all, a woman—and a pregnant one at that. Moreover, the torment of recent days had left her barely clinging to life. How could her strength possibly match that of a man in his prime? Her desperate kicks were futile, scattering the straw on the ground in all directions.
"I know you’re unwilling," Shen Yuan murmured. "You had nothing to do with this matter, yet now you must pay with your life. As your second brother, I will avenge you. I promise you—the main branch of the Shen family, and Shen Miao most of all, will meet a fate a thousand times worse than yours. So don’t resent me. Only with your death can the second branch escape implication, and only then can I rise in my career and avenge you properly. Do you understand?"
Shen Qing’s body gradually went limp, the light fading from her eyes like a fish gasping its last on a dried-up riverbank.
Shen Yuan released his grip, and the body beneath his hand collapsed with a dull thud. In just a short time, she had gone from full of life to utterly lifeless—Shen Qing’s fate was sealed within this prison cell.
Shen Yuan gazed indifferently at her corpse. After a moment, he pricked Shen Qing’s fingertip with a needle, then guided her lifeless hand to scrawl a line of bloody words on the prison wall. Next, he pulled off her belt, tied a noose around the cell bars, and slipped her head inside.
Once everything was done, he stood up, picked up the oil-paper package Shen Qing had left on the ground, and cast one last glance at the gently swaying figure behind the iron bars.
"Little sister, your death won’t be in vain," he whispered. "Your second brother will avenge you."
...
This winter in Fixed Capital seemed truly fraught with turmoil—one storm after another. The massacre at Prince Yu’s Manor had become common knowledge. Though the common folk secretly rejoiced, they also recognized the danger lurking beneath. The sole survivor, the newlywed eldest daughter of the Shen family, had been thrown into prison due to her intricate ties to the case, and everyone craned their necks, eager to learn the outcome.
Then, one day, news suddenly spread—the eldest daughter of the Shen family had hanged herself in prison with her own belt. Before her death, she had left behind a message in blood, declaring that she had no connection to the incident. With her husband’s family all dead, she had no desire to live on in shame, choosing instead to die to prove her innocence.People are strange—they always tend to be much more forgiving toward the dead. If Shen Qing had been called a slut and accused of immorality for marrying Prince Yu while pregnant out of wedlock, her death now drew sighs of pity. Everyone praised her for her integrity and unyielding spirit, lamenting that Prince Yu had ruined her life.
The previous rumors seemed to collapse overnight. After all, if a pregnant woman chose death to prove her innocence, she must have suffered an immense injustice. Moreover, those rumors had been baseless from the start. Shen Qing had no feud with Prince Yu—with him dead, she would have been left a widow. There was no reason for her to act against him.
Thus, with Shen Qing's death, the suspicions surrounding the Shen family and Shen Qing herself were washed away. Even Emperor Wenhui in the palace said nothing, though the murderer behind the massacre remained unidentified. The case was likely to remain unsolved.
In the Shen Mansion, everything seemed as usual.
Shen Qing had already married into Prince Yu's Manor, and her body would be buried alongside Prince Yu under the title of Royal Consort. Old Madam Shen found some comfort in this—whether alive or dead, the Shen family had finally produced a Royal Consort, at least in name.
Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu appeared deeply grieved, with Shen Yue crying uncontrollably. Yet despite their sorrow, they had never once visited Shen Qing in prison before her death, leaving it unclear whether their grief was genuine or an act.
In contrast, Shen Gui, her father, seemed far colder. He carried on as usual, showing no outward signs of mourning. At times, one could even catch a fleeting look of relief in his eyes. Perhaps, for Shen Gui, Shen Qing's suicide spared him much trouble, and he secretly rejoiced. As for Shen Yuan, the entire burden of the second branch now fell on his shoulders. He was constantly out and about, rarely seen in the mansion, making his situation unclear.
The most pitiable, however, was Ren Wanyun. Upon hearing the news of Shen Qing's suicide in prison, she fainted on the spot. When she awoke, she was delirious, clutching Xiang Lan's hand and insisting on seeing Shen Qing return home. The shock had clearly shattered her mind, leaving her unfit to manage the affairs of the second branch. Shen Gui assigned Wan Yiniang to temporarily oversee matters, and whispers spread through Colorful Cloud Courtyard that Wan Yiniang might finally rise to prominence—along with the perpetually frail and reclusive Shen Dongling, who might also see a reversal of fortunes. Fortunately, Old Madam Shen doted on Shen Yuanbai and refused to let Wan Yiniang raise her legitimate grandson, instead bringing him to the Hall of Glory and Scenery to raise him herself.
The chaos in the second and third branches of the Shen family had nothing to do with the first branch. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had returned with lingering grievances against the other two branches and naturally had no intention of offering help. They spent their days practicing swordplay at home or visiting old friends, living quite comfortably. Shen Xin also gradually introduced Shen Qiu to influential figures in the official circles. With Shen Qiu's military achievements growing, it was only a matter of time before he took over Shen Xin's position.
As for Shen Miao, after resting for a while, she returned to the Hall of Extensive Learning.As the year-end approached, the lessons at the Hall of Extensive Learning became much more relaxed. The instructors, aware that students were no longer in the mood for studies, took the opportunity to ease up. Shen Miao had been absent for many days, yet she hadn’t fallen too far behind in her studies. However, her sudden appearance sparked a flurry of whispers among the students.
The scandal surrounding Shen Qing had spread like wildfire, yet no one had heard any response from the Shen family. Ever since the incident at Prince Yu's Manor, Shen Yue had been ordered by Chen Ruoqiu to stay at home and avoid attending school to prevent any further mishaps. Thus, Shen Miao’s arrival piqued everyone’s curiosity, and they were eager to question her.
Yi Peilan called out loudly, "Oh, Shen Miao, you actually came? Why aren’t you wearing mourning clothes?" She deliberately raised her voice, adding, "Well, no wonder. You and Shen Qing never got along, so I suppose you aren’t too heartbroken."
Yi Peilan had always been close friends with Shen Qing and was now trying to avenge her, her words dripping with malice. Everyone turned to look at the doorway, where Shen Miao stood in a deep indigo dress, adorned only with a simple jade bracelet, appearing somewhat austere. While her attire wasn’t inappropriate, it paled in comparison to Shen Yue’s delicate white mourning dress and the small white flowers adorning her hair, which exuded a pitiable grace.
"The laws of Ming Qi state that when mourning a family member, only elders require white garments; others may wear darker colors. Miss Yi, do you not understand familial hierarchy? Eldest Sister was my sibling, not my elder," Shen Miao replied without turning her head, walking straight to her seat.
Feng Anning, upon seeing her, seemed eager to ask her a flood of questions. Yi Peilan, stung by Shen Miao’s retort, flew into a rage and blurted out without thinking, "Shen Miao, don’t act so righteous! You and Shen Qing were always at odds. I bet you were secretly gloating over her misfortune. Otherwise, why didn’t your father and mother, as her uncle and aunt, lift a finger to help when she was imprisoned?"
At this, all eyes turned to Shen Miao, waiting to see how she would respond to this thorny question. Indeed, when Shen Qing was imprisoned, Shen Xin had not intervened. Given his merits, he could have spoken on her behalf before the emperor, buying her at least some time. Instead, left in despair, Shen Qing had taken her own life in prison.
Shen Miao’s gaze turned icy as she suddenly fixed her eyes on Yi Peilan. The latter, unnerved by the intensity of her stare, felt an involuntary chill before Shen Miao’s mocking voice cut through the silence. "Miss Yi, you and Eldest Sister were always so close—naturally, you’d feel indignant on her behalf. But when my Second Aunt sought Madam Yi’s help to rescue Eldest Sister, requesting a meeting to persuade Lord Yi to intervene, I recall Madam Yi claimed illness and refused to see her."
Yi Peilan froze, her face flushing crimson as the students around her exchanged meaningful glances. Stammering, she defended, "Th-that’s because my mother really was ill!""If Madam Yi can feign illness at such a critical time, why can't my parents do the same?" Shen Miao didn't care. Her words contained no vulgarity, yet they thoroughly humiliated Yi Peilan. She continued, "Since Madam Yi cannot accomplish this, why does Miss Yi insist on forcing my parents to do what she cannot? My elder sister is in prison, and even her closest relatives—my second uncle and second brother—are powerless to help. Do you think rescuing her is easy? Miss Yi, a person only has two lips—speaking is easy but doing is hard. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. If you wish to lecture and blame others next time, please first practice what you preach!"
Pei Lang had just entered the hall when he heard Shen Miao's sharp and cutting remarks. He glanced around the room—Shen Miao stood tall and straight, her calm yet scathing words thoroughly shaming not only Yi Peilan but the entire Yi household. Yi Peilan was left speechless, biting her lower lip as she glared furiously at Shen Miao.
Indeed, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The Yi family, being such opportunists themselves, still dare to stand on moral high ground and criticize others—it’s enough to make one laugh their head off.
"Shen Miao!" Growing increasingly furious, Yi Peilan was about to charge at Shen Miao when a light cough was heard. Pei Lang walked in from outside.
At the sight of their teacher, everyone immediately fell silent. Yi Peilan, still seething, only heard Pei Lang say calmly, "No quarreling in the classroom." He then gave Yi Peilan a warning glance.
Everyone knew that in the Hall of Extensive Learning, although Pei Lang was merely a scholar and gentle in temperament, he commanded respect. Even someone as spoiled as Yi Peilan didn’t dare to talk back. Shen Miao took her seat, and Feng Anning nudged her elbow, whispering, "Teacher Pei is helping you out. Yi Peilan went too far—even Teacher Pei couldn’t stand it."
Shen Miao looked up, meeting Pei Lang’s gaze. His gentle expression held a hint of scrutiny, as if trying to discern what she was truly thinking.
She met his gaze, the corners of her lips curling imperceptibly into a slow smile.
Pei Lang was slightly taken aback. The girl’s features were delicate and refined, leaning toward cool elegance, but that fleeting smile carried a hint of allure usually seen in mature women, laced with a subtle temptation that made one eager to uncover its secrets.
Yet in that moment, Shen Miao lowered her head, and the ephemeral smile vanished as if it had been nothing more than an illusion.
......
As for the gossip and rumors in Fixed Capital, big or small, Fengxian Pawnshop naturally knew it all.
Ji Yushu hunched over his abacus, muttering to the two men across from him, "This deal with the Chen family from Jiangnan is truly a bargain. With such a hefty sum, the pawnshop won’t need to open for three years."
"You’re taking all that silver without leaving a single coin for Fifth Miss Shen?" Gao Yang teased. "After all, she’s the one who sold the information."
Ji Yushu pouted. "She said herself the money was all mine. I took a huge risk fabricating that message for her—otherwise, how could the Prince Yu’s Manor affair have been resolved so cleanly without any backlash?" He added, "Besides, if she hadn’t told Chen Yueshan not to take the money, I could’ve closed shop for thirty years after this deal. Thanks to her, I’ve lost out on so much. If she weren’t a woman, I’d—I’d make her pay!"
"If you really tried to make her pay, I’d be sure to send you a coffin," Gao Yang said lightly, fanning himself with an elegant smile, though his words were enough to make one’s teeth itch. "Prince Yu tried to harm her, and she wiped out his entire family. Her own sisters plotted against her, and she took one of their lives. A girl that ruthless—I bet you wouldn’t last three moves against her."
"Cut it out," Ji Yushu grumbled. "Am I really that weak? And no matter how formidable she is, she’s still a woman. Women have their weaknesses." He glanced at Xie Jingxing, who was silently drinking tea, and added, "Let me put it this way: if Fifth Miss Shen ever fell for our Third Brother Xie, she’d be all coquettish and clingy. Even the toughest steel would melt under his tender touch. At that point, even if Third Brother pointed a sword at her, she wouldn’t so much as blink.""Heh," Gao Yang sneered at him, "By then, she'll definitely chop Xie San into pieces first, then mince his flesh to feed the dogs."
"Third Brother Xie, Gao Yang called you a dog," Ji Yushu immediately tattled.
Xie Jingxing twirled the hairpin in his hand, shooting them both a glare, his expression unusually solemn.
"They're here."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
The familiar xx's death is coming~ The Empress is flirting with Mr. Pei hahaha, the Young Marquis is about to explode...
Also, thank you all for the rating votes, but those who gave three-star and two-star ratings are really going to make Tea Tea cry herself unconscious in the bathroom. Is it really that bad? ┭┮﹏┭┮
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