Shen Miao sat in Rong Xin Princess's residence for a while, changed into fresh clothes, and had her hair redone prettily by the maids. After finishing a cup of tea, Rong Xin Princess finally entered.
"Miss Shen, are you feeling better now?" Rong Xin Princess smiled. "I've already instructed the kitchen to prepare ginger tea. On such a cold day, warming your body will help prevent catching a chill."
Shen Miao returned the smile. "Thank you, Your Highness." Yet inwardly, she was puzzled. Rong Xin Princess had never been this amiable to her before. Though her face remained the same, there was none of the sternness and coldness from Shen Miao's past life, making her wonder if the woman before her was truly Rong Xin Princess.
As Shen Miao pondered, Rong Xin Princess was also studying her with a thoughtful gaze. Though the princess seldom ventured out, the gossip of Fixed Capital inevitably reached her ears. Precisely because she rarely socialized, her information remained outdated—still stuck on the fact that the legitimate fifth young miss of Shen Mansion was an Incompetent.
In Rong Xin Princess's impression, Shen Miao was a timid and cowardly girl, yet shamelessly bold when it came to pursuing men—talentless, unvirtuous, and vulgar in appearance, utterly unworthy of Xie Jingxing, whose looks and intellect were both exceptional. But now, seeing the girl's delicate features, clear eyes like water, and the rare poise and dignity she carried even while seated, the princess couldn't help but revise her opinion.
"Tonight, the crowds at Wanli Lake were overwhelming. It must have been frightening for you to get separated from your family," Rong Xin Princess said warmly. "After drinking the ginger tea, I'll have the servants escort you home." Her expression turned slightly probing. "When you were in trouble today, my nephew actually went out of his way to ask for my help—a rare occurrence indeed."
The "nephew" naturally referred to Xie Jingxing. Shen Miao observed Rong Xin Princess's meaningful look and found herself at a loss for words. After a pause, she replied, "Young Marquis Xie is chivalrous and righteous. I’ve troubled him today." The moment she said it, she nearly winced at her own words—Xie Jingxing, chivalrous and righteous? More like black-hearted. Today’s incident was entirely his fault, yet now it seemed as though she owed him a favor.
Rong Xin Princess noted Shen Miao's distant tone, seemingly deliberate in distancing herself from Xie Jingxing, and felt even more satisfied. Had Shen Miao been the type to take advantage of the situation, eagerly claiming an extraordinary relationship with Xie Jingxing and shamelessly clinging to him, the princess would have immediately looked down on her. Though she enjoyed witnessing youthful romance, as a member of the strictly etiquette-bound royal family, she disdained improper conduct between men and women.
"Don’t speak of troubling us," Rong Xin Princess said kindly. "Jingxing has already mentioned that you’re his friend. Between friends, there’s no need for such formality. Since you share a connection with him, you may consider me your aunt."
Shen Miao, holding her teacup, nearly choked. Consider Rong Xin Princess her aunt? Even in her past life, after marrying Fu Xiuyi—when the princess truly became her aunt by relation—she had once tried to curry favor privately, only for Rong Xin Princess to coldly retort, "Enough. I have no such niece."The once aloof Rong Xin Princess, who had coldly rejected her attempts to get close, now spoke to her warmly, saying, "You can think of me as your aunt." Shen Miao felt as if she must be dreaming.
Seeing her dazed expression, the princess found the girl even more sincere, unlike those scheming noble ladies, and took her hand, saying, "I have no children of my own. You are welcome to visit me here in the future." She slipped a bracelet from her own wrist onto Shen Miao's hand. "Consider this a gift from me."
"This is too precious," Shen Miao declined. The bracelet was a pair of interlocking jade rings with sandblasted peony designs and five golden hoops linked together. It had been part of the dowry of the late Imperial Noble Consort—Rong Xin Princess's birth mother—and was later given to the princess when she married. In her past life, Shen Miao had seen the princess wear this very bracelet, a testament to its sentimental value.
"Just wear it," the princess said with a smile. "It's just a trinket. I'm sure your Shen family has plenty of gold and jewels. Don't disdain this little thing."
"How could I disdain the Imperial Noble Consort's bracelet?" Shen Miao replied. "But it's still too precious..."
The princess paused. "How did you know this was the Imperial Noble Consort's bracelet?"
Shen Miao froze, inwardly cursing her slip. In her past life, as the empress, she had been privy to all the affairs of the palace women. But in this life, she was merely the daughter of a minister—such royal secrets should be beyond her knowledge.
Under the princess's suspicious gaze, Shen Miao quickly improvised, smiling, "I once heard Young Marquis Xie mention it. He speaks of Your Highness often and holds you in high regard."
"Is that so?" The princess's expression softened instantly, pleased. "All these years, I've treated him as my own child. It's heartening to know he remembers me." Her gaze on Shen Miao shifted again. "But for him to have told you this..."
Shen Miao stiffened as the princess continued, "It seems he truly considers you a 'friend.'" The princess sighed. "Jingxing may seem mischievous, but he has a good heart. In all these years, I've never seen him take such an interest in any young lady." She smiled warmly at Shen Miao. "You're the first."
Shen Miao thought to herself that the princess's demeanor was just like that of Xie Jingxing's birth mother. But Xie Jingxing's interest in her had nothing to do with romance—he likely suspected her as well. Dealing with someone so sharp-witted was exhausting at every turn.At that moment, a maid brought in the prepared ginger tea. As Rong Xin Princess chatted casually with Shen Miao while watching her drink the tea, she found herself growing increasingly fond of the girl. Contrary to the rumors of incompetence and foolishness, Shen Miao displayed remarkable knowledge and breadth of vision, carrying herself with an air of quiet dignity. Even their simple conversation flowed naturally, leaving the princess wondering how a young lady raised in seclusion could possess such worldly insight. Recalling Shen Miao's past infatuation with Prince Ding, a trace of concern flickered in Rong Xin Princess's heart. Though Prince Ding was also her nephew, her favor naturally leaned more toward Xie Jingxing compared to Fu Xiuyi. Such an outstanding young woman shouldn't be missed by her nephew, so throughout their talk, the princess made sure to praise Xie Jingxing at every opportunity.
Known for her cold and rigid demeanor, Rong Xin Princess rarely showed warmth even to family members, including Emperor Wenhui. Yet today, she engaged in cheerful conversation with a stranger, nearly shocking the entire Princess Hall staff.
Unbeknownst to them, in her previous life, Shen Miao had married Fu Xiuyi and desperately tried to win over all his relatives, including Rong Xin Princess, gathering extensive information to cater to her preferences. Back then, her efforts had yielded little result. Now, simply by virtue of her connection with Xie Jingxing, she effortlessly struck the right chord with the princess. If only she had known how easy it was to please Rong Xin Princess by fostering a good relationship with Xie Jingxing in her past life—she wouldn't have needed to struggle so hard.
Their conversation lasted until the incense stick had nearly burned out. Finally, Rong Xin Princess rose reluctantly, saying, "It's getting late. If I don't send you back soon, General Shen and his wife will surely worry. I've already prepared a carriage to take you home." With that, she stood and called for attendants.
When Shen Miao followed the princess outside, she was startled by the grand display awaiting her. The princess's carriage was extravagantly ornate, but what truly astonished her was the large escort of armed guards. Rong Xin Princess smiled and explained, "The streets are crowded tonight. More guards will ensure no further mishaps."
Unable to refuse such kindness, Shen Miao graciously thanked the princess and boarded the carriage, secretly pleased that this show of authority might help her deal with certain troublemakers in Shen Mansion.
The streets of Fixed Capital remained bustling, the promised fireworks lighting up the night. Amid the throngs of people, such a conspicuous procession of guards and a lavish carriage naturally drew attention.
Atop the city wall on a street corner stood a youth draped in a fox fur coat, accompanied by a burly middle-aged man. The man remarked, "Her Highness actually sent so many guards to escort Miss Shen home."
"Aunt Rong isn't easily impressed," the youth mused with interest. "This Miss Shen from the Shen family must be quite remarkable."
The man fell silent until the youth suddenly asked, "What about the captives we caught today?"
"Reporting to you, master, they're all locked in the Tower Prison. Three were death warriors—they bit poison capsules and killed themselves. The remaining three had their jaws dislocated but still refuse to talk."
"Then pick one and crush every bone in his body—leave no inch untouched. You know how to make an example."
"Yes." The man hesitated. "And those who infiltrated the city…"
"Find them. Show no mercy."
...The bustling crowds of Fixed Capital, the underlying currents of unease and danger beneath the prosperity—none of these traces could be seen within the General's Mansion.
In the main hall of Shen Mansion, everyone stood solemnly. At the center, Shen Xin and his wife could not conceal the anxiety and worry etched between their brows, while Shen Qiu’s face was filled with remorse.
After searching all night without finding any trace of Shen Miao, Shen Xin and his wife were no fools. They knew that in such circumstances, it was unlikely she had been abducted by ordinary kidnappers. Who would dare to forcibly take Shen Miao right under the noses of the Shen family guards? Common kidnappers wouldn’t take such a risk. What they feared most was that this might be the work of someone seeking revenge.
Shen Xin and his wife were unaware of the events at Prince Yu's Manor, but Shen Qiu knew all too well. The massacre at Prince Yu's Manor was likely connected to Shen Miao. If remnants of Prince Yu's faction sought vengeance for their master, the consequences of Shen Miao falling into their hands were unthinkable.
Shen Xin had even mobilized the Shen Family Army and secretly instructed the city guards to secure the gates. Yet, despite combing through every household in Fixed Capital, there was still no sign of her. As time slipped away, Shen Xin and the others were nearly driven to madness.
Chen Ruoqiu spoke softly, "Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, this situation isn’t sustainable. Perhaps... we should report it to the authorities. If the Capital Magistrate intervenes, things might improve. Our current search methods aren’t effective."
"That’s right," Shen Wan chimed in. "Eldest Brother, the longer this drags on, the worse it is for Xiaowu. If the Shen Family Army keeps searching so conspicuously, people will start to speculate."
Standing behind Chen Ruoqiu, Shen Yue kept her head lowered to hide the smirk tugging at her lips. Serves her right! Shen Miao’s disappearance was probably the most delightful news she’d heard all day. She couldn’t help but hope that Shen Miao would be returned just like Shen Qing—her reputation in ruins. Then, among the Shen family’s legitimate daughters, she alone would reign supreme. Even if Shen Xin and his wife held military power and Shen Qiu stood as her protector, what did it matter? With her reputation destroyed, Shen Miao would never be able to hold her head high again!
"No!" Luo Xueyan’s willow-leaf brows furrowed as she glared fiercely at Chen Ruoqiu. "If we report this, Jiaojiao’s reputation will be ruined!" Initially, they had tried to keep Shen Miao’s disappearance a secret, but the other branches of the Shen family were too sharp. Secrets couldn’t stay hidden forever, and the news of Shen Miao’s disappearance had inevitably leaked out.
After searching all night in vain, Shen Xin and Shen Qiu had no choice but to order their subordinates to continue the search while they returned to the mansion to regroup.
"Sister-in-law," Chen Ruoqiu said with apparent sincerity, "which is more important—Jiaojiao’s reputation or her life? If a young girl prioritizes her reputation over her survival, I imagine you’d regret it deeply in the future."
"Chen Ruoqiu, who are you cursing?!" Luo Xueyan snapped, her temper flaring. She was quick to anger, especially when it came to anyone speaking ill of Shen Miao, and immediately turned on Chen Ruoqiu.
"Enough bickering!" Old Madam Shen, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. She glared at Luo Xueyan. "You’re the one who lost Fifth Girl, yet you’re taking your anger out on others! Was Second Sister-in-law wrong? If too much time passes, Fifth Girl could lose her life—what use is reputation then?"
On the surface, these words seemed to be spoken out of concern for Shen Miao, but Luo Xueyan couldn’t shake the discomfort they stirred in her, instinctively wanting to argue back."That's right, aunt," Shen Yuan also spoke up. "Even if we don't report it to the authorities, with the Shen family guards making such a big scene searching outside, people will probably guess the truth by tomorrow. What difference would it make whether we report it or not?"
Shen Yuan had long regarded Shen Miao as a thorn in his side, wishing nothing more than to eliminate her. Now that she'd gotten into trouble without him lifting a finger, how could he not add fuel to the fire?
Shen Gui was even more delighted, though he was never one to take the lead. He put on a sorrowful expression and said, "Ah, Fifth Sister was such a good child. How could this happen to her? Elder Brother, do you have any enemies?" What Shen Gui hated most was Shen Xin. With Shen Xin's outstanding military achievements, he always overshadowed Shen Gui in court. If Shen Miao's misfortune was because of Shen Xin, it would torment Shen Xin for life—and Shen Gui was precisely aiming for his brother's most vulnerable spot.
Wan Yiniang stood behind Shen Gui holding Shen Dongling's hand. As a concubine, she had no place to speak here. She listened quietly to the others, secretly relieved that she'd kept Shen Dongling close and prevented her from being abducted too. Shen Dongling kept her head bowed, her expression unreadable.
"Enough, Eldest's wife. People will find out sooner or later. Reporting it now might at least lessen Fifth Sister's suffering. Go ahead and report it." Old Madam Shen said, a glint flashing in her eyes. What she hated most was how the old general's first wife's son always overshadowed her own sons in everything. At least Shen Miao's lack of talent had been some comfort. But then, somehow, Shen Miao had surpassed both Shen Qing and Shen Yue, and with Shen Qiu always hanging around the manor these days, her heart was constantly irritated. Now that Shen Miao was in trouble, Old Madam Shen was practically gleeful. She wanted the whole of Ming Qi to know Shen Miao had been abducted by traffickers—better yet, for her to lose her virtue so the eldest branch of the Shen family would be thoroughly humiliated. That would be truly satisfying!
Before Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan could respond, Shen Qiu clenched his fists. Though young and impulsive, he wasn't oblivious—these people's words pretended concern for Shen Miao, but their eyes gleamed with schadenfreude and malice. No wonder, no wonder Shen Miao had changed so much in a year, becoming shrewd and mature beyond her years. This was what the Shen family had forced her to become. Never before had he seen so clearly what kind of environment Shen Miao lived in.
Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin exchanged glances, their expressions almost ferocious. If the ancestral hall fire could still be considered a misunderstanding—since they hadn't witnessed how it started—this scene before them now was crystal clear. Luo Xueyan was furious, while Shen Xin was utterly shocked and disillusioned.
He had treated them with sincerity, respect, and help. Yet when his daughter was in trouble, all he saw was secret delight. Suddenly, all those past scenes of harmonious family affection seemed bitterly ironic.
Shen Yue spoke up worriedly, "What will those people do to Fifth Sister? She's so beautiful—I've heard traffickers sell pretty girls especially far away... And if they're not traffickers, after going to so much trouble, they surely won't let Fifth Sister off easily." As she spoke, two tears rolled down her cheeks, as if overcome by grief.
A hint of mockery flashed in Shen Dongling's eyes as she stood quietly to the side, but she remained silent and blank-faced."Big Brother, are we reporting this to the authorities or not?" Shen Wan asked.
The atmosphere was tense when suddenly, a panting servant's voice came from outside: "Madam, Master, Fifth Miss is back!"
The servant rushed into the hall, not even pausing to catch his breath, and said, "Fifth Miss has been brought back by people from the Princess Hall!"
Everyone was first startled by the news of Shen Miao's return. Just as Shen Xin and his wife were overjoyed, the mention of the Princess Hall left them momentarily stunned. Shen Wan, however, had a sudden thought and stepped forward to ask, "Which Princess Hall?"
The servant, now catching his breath, replied excitedly, "It's Her Highness Rong Xin Princess! She sent many escorts to bring Fifth Miss back. The guards are all standing at the mansion's entrance!"
Rong Xin Princess?
Chen Ruoqiu halted mid-step, her lips tightening instantly.
Rong Xin Princess stayed out of court affairs, which might not matter much to men, but for women, especially those in the noble circles of the capital, it was different. The palace ladies all had to give Rong Xin Princess face, yet the princess herself was notoriously difficult to approach—stern and rigid. Many noblewomen had tried to curry favor with her, only to suffer setbacks. And now, this legendary, most rigid and stern princess had personally escorted Shen Miao back? Judging by the scale of the escort, it was no small gesture?
Chen Ruoqiu was nearly driven mad with jealousy.
Without another word, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan rushed out toward the mansion's entrance, and the others followed suit. Outside the General's mansion, a dense crowd of people could be seen. As they approached, it became clear they were armored guards with swords—so many that it was truly startling. A crowd of onlookers had also gathered, likely puzzled by what spectacle the Shen Mansion was putting on this time.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan were taken aback by the sheer number of guards. Then, a woman who appeared to be a palace attendant walked to the carriage and helped Shen Miao down.
Luo Xueyan hurried forward, worried. "Jiaojiao!" She examined Shen Miao from head to toe, relieved to see her looking unharmed.
The attendant smiled and said, "Today, Her Highness was enjoying the scenery at Wanli Lake when she happened upon the lost Fifth Miss Shen. The princess's carriage accidentally knocked Fifth Miss Shen over, so she brought her back to the Princess Hall to rest. We didn’t mean to cause General Shen and Madam Shen such worry. The princess has asked this servant to apologize."
Her words provided a straightforward explanation for why Shen Miao had ended up with Rong Xin Princess. Though there might still be some oddities, who would dare question it now that Rong Xin Princess had spoken? With so many guards and such a public display, even if someone wanted to spread unfavorable rumors, no one would believe them. This was undeniable proof of Shen Miao's innocence.
At the back of the crowd, Old Madam Shen's face turned livid with anger. Today, she had been eagerly awaiting Shen Miao's downfall, only for Rong Xin Princess to intervene. Old Madam Shen now harbored resentment toward the meddling princess as well.
"Her Highness is too kind. It is I who should thank the princess for saving my daughter," Shen Xin replied.The maid quickly stepped aside with a smile, saying, "I dare not accept General Shen's courtesy. Since the person has been delivered, I shall take my leave first." With that, she urged the guards to move on. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and approached Shen Miao, adding, "The princess is very fond of Fifth Miss Shen. Today's reception was rather hasty, but before leaving, she mentioned that if Fifth Miss Shen finds time in the future, she is welcome to visit the Princess Hall. Her Highness will surely provide a warm reception." Only then did she depart with the carriage and escort.
Rong Xin Princess was very fond of Shen Miao? And even invited her to visit the Princess Hall when she had time?
The Shen family stood at the entrance, stunned by the maid's final words. Shen Yue nearly tore her handkerchief to shreds in frustration. She naturally knew of Rong Xin Princess and how difficult it was to gain her favor. Yet somehow, Shen Miao had managed to impress the princess—what sorcery had she used? Now that she had formed a connection with the royal family, would she be able to get close to Prince Ding in the future?
Shen Yue was truly anxious this time.
Shen Dongling's gaze flickered as she heard Wan Yiniang's envious voice murmur, "Fifth Miss is truly fortunate—this is a princess we're talking about."
Shen Yuan snorted coldly, refusing to spare another glance at the entrance before turning and storming off in a huff. Shen Miao smiled faintly at the family and said, "I've caused everyone concern today."
Her casual remark immediately reminded Shen Xin and his wife of the Shen family's earlier expressions, causing their faces to darken. Seeing that Shen Miao was unharmed, the Shen family members were visibly disappointed, and their frustration only grew as they watched her. After Old Madam Shen scolded Shen Miao a few times, they quickly found excuses to leave.
As Shen Miao walked with Shen Qiu toward the West Courtyard, she noticed their grim expressions and understood everything.
Earlier, she had deliberately delayed letting the princess's people inform the Shen family of her whereabouts. Adversity reveals true feelings, but it also exposes false ones. Shen Xin's attitude toward the Shen family couldn't change overnight, just as she had clung to hope for Fu Xiuyi until the very end in her past life. Emotions invested over time cannot be withdrawn in a single night. It would take more time for Shen Xin to completely reassess the Shen family.
This was the perfect opportunity to let Shen Xin see the true nature of the Shen family—a pack of wolves. Even while they were still in the mansion, they had kicked Shen Miao when she was down. When Shen Xin was away from Fixed Capital, the treatment Shen Miao endured—Shen Xin was no fool, and he could surely guess.
Sure enough, upon reaching the West Courtyard, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan questioned her in detail about the night's events, ensuring she was unharmed before urging her to rest early. They then left, taking Shen Qiu with them, clearly intending to discuss something.
After the three of them departed, Shen Miao took advantage of the solitude to roll up her pant leg, revealing a wound on her calf wrapped in pristine white silk. It seemed to still carry the warmth of someone's palm.
It had been an unexpectedly eventful night, one that had deepened her understanding of Xie Jingxing. Yet the more she learned about her adversary, the more dangerous he seemed. In the future… it would be best to have as little to do with him as possible.
...
In the East Courtyard of Shen Mansion, Shen Yuan sat in his room, his expression dark and unsettled.
Since Ren Wanyun had lost her mind, he rarely visited her, and his relationship with Shen Gui had grown distant. He was never one to prioritize familial bonds—someone who could even kill his own sister naturally valued personal gain above all else.
Tonight, he had thought Shen Miao wouldn’t escape unscathed. Yet not only had she returned unharmed, she had even gained the favor of the princess's household. This made Shen Yuan sense a hint of danger. A formidable opponent wasn’t necessarily frightening—what was truly alarming was an opponent who continued to grow stronger.
From a good-for-nothing young lady who was bullied by everyone to someone no one dared to underestimate, her schemes were deep, and her methods ruthless. Even the rigid Rong Xin Princess had been won over by Shen Miao. It made one wonder—if Shen Miao set her mind to it, could she secure an even more powerful backer? If she gathered more allies, would he be her next target?
For someone as proud as Shen Yuan, treating a young girl as an opponent was humiliating. Yet he had to admit—this girl, barely past her coming-of-age ceremony, had reduced his branch of the family to its current state. Shen Yuan never left loose ends. Shen Miao had brought such ruin upon the second branch—there was no way this would end peacefully. Sooner or later, she would turn her spear toward him.
The problem wasn’t that Shen Miao was difficult to deal with—it was that she still had Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan backing her. He would have to tread carefully. But then… Shen Yuan glanced at the letter in his hand and suddenly smiled.Although the Shen family's eldest branch held formidable military power, without successors... it would be nothing more than worthless mud. I wonder if Shen Xin and his wife would also go mad with grief like Ren Wanyun if Shen Miao and Shen Qiu, that pair of siblings, were to perish.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Second Brother is about to court death again...
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