The New Year at Shen Mansion was exceptionally lively.
Originally, due to the incidents involving Ren Wanyun and Shen Qing, the atmosphere in the general's residence had been quite somber. However, with the arrival of Jing Chuchu and Jing Guansheng, Old Madam Shen became noticeably enthusiastic. She often allowed the siblings to move freely around the mansion. Shen Yue, who was naturally adept at socializing, soon became fast friends with Jing Chuchu—though whether their friendship was genuine or not, no one could say.
Despite Shen Yue's kindness toward the Jing siblings, their favorite place to visit was the West Courtyard of Shen Mansion. Jing Chuchu, in particular, frequently brought pastries and snacks for those practicing swordsmanship. Learning from past mistakes, she now made sure to bring enough soup for everyone. However, compared to Shen Miao's previous offerings, her soups fell far short in flavor. The soldiers, being straightforward men, still longed for Shen Miao's cooking and showed little appreciation for Jing Chuchu's efforts.
Today was no different. After delivering the food, Shen Qiu barely spoke to Jing Chuchu before preparing to resume his training. She called out to him, "Cousin..."
"Cousin, you should head back early," Shen Qiu replied with a hearty laugh. "These sword practice sessions are for rough men. Blades and swords have no eyes—it wouldn't be good if you got hurt accidentally. Besides, as a young lady, it's not proper for you to come here every day and watch us men train."
It was a tactful way of asking her to leave.
Jing Chuchu's face flushed crimson, and she looked at Shen Qiu with disbelief, her eyes shimmering as if she might burst into tears at any moment. Most men would have been moved to pity by such a sight, but Shen Qiu was never one to appreciate delicate beauties. He simply stood there awkwardly, making no move to comfort her.
Seeing Shen Miao's reaction, Jing Chuchu's flushed face instantly paled. She hurriedly lowered her head, picked up her basket, and said, "Chuchu understands." Then, lifting the hem of her skirt, she turned and scurried away. To an outsider, it might have seemed as though Shen Qiu had done something terrible to her.
Only after Jing Chuchu left did a figure emerge from behind a pillar. Shen Miao remarked, "Elder Brother, you really don’t know how to cherish flowers."
"Ah," Shen Qiu scratched his head sheepishly, "I was afraid you’d get angry."
"Why would I be angry?" Shen Miao replied lightly.
A sudden chill seemed to sweep over Shen Qiu. He ventured, "You don’t like our cousin, do you?"
"Cousin and I have no grievances. Why wouldn’t I like her?" Shen Miao countered.
"Jiaojiao, has that girl been secretly bullying you?" Shen Xin, who had just finished his sword practice, walked over upon hearing their conversation. "If she’s bullied you, don’t say a word—just hit her!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Luo Xueyan, drawn by the lively discussion, glared at Shen Xin. "Jiaojiao, don’t listen to your father. Young ladies can’t just go around hitting people. If she bullies you, come tell me, and I’ll hit her for you."
"That’s still hitting," Shen Qiu muttered. "I’ll do it instead—I’m younger and stronger."
Shen Miao said calmly, "She hasn’t bullied me."“Then why don’t you like Jiaojiao?” Luo Xueyan asked. Shen Miao’s dislike for Jing Chuchu was obvious even to the most oblivious person. Whenever Jing Chuchu came over, Shen Miao would have Shen Qiu demonstrate Thrusting darts in the courtyard. Thrusting darts were somewhat cruel—normally, Shen Xin and the others wouldn’t practice them in the residence to avoid frightening the maids and servants. They used live, lively animals as moving targets, and the bloody aftermath wasn’t pleasant to see. Yet every time Jing Chuchu visited, Shen Miao would say, “Father, Eldest Brother, I want to watch Thrusting darts.”
Jing Chuchu would always be terrified, her face pale, but she stubbornly stood her ground. Often, she’d feel nauseous afterward, yet Shen Miao took great delight in it, as if seeing Jing Chuchu suffer brought her satisfaction. Over time, everyone in the courtyard realized Shen Miao was deliberately tormenting Jing Chuchu.
Shen Xin and the others didn’t quite understand, but seeing Shen Miao’s temper flare, they assumed it was just petty squabbles between young girls. As grown men, they didn’t feel it appropriate to interfere directly, so they let Shen Miao have her way. Today, however, their curiosity must have gotten the better of them, prompting the question.
“I don’t dislike her,” Shen Miao said. As soon as the words left her mouth, Jing Zhe spoke up from the side, “The young lady prefers peace and quiet, but the cousin and her brother often come to talk to her—especially the cousin, who insists on idle chatter. The young lady dislikes speaking with strangers to begin with, so naturally, she finds it irritating.”
Jing Zhe delivered this with a perfectly serious expression, making Shen Miao glance back at her. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan’s expressions darkened instantly. On the surface, Jing Zhe’s words merely suggested Shen Miao was annoyed by the Jing siblings, but the underlying implications were far more serious—a male cousin frequently seeking out his female cousin for conversation carried an air of unwanted persistence. Luo Xueyan snapped, “What exactly is your nephew trying to do?”
“Calm down, Madam,” Shen Xin quickly soothed before turning to Shen Qiu. “Brat, you’ve stationed so many Guards in the courtyard—how did you not notice your sister being harassed by those pests every day?”
Shen Qiu protested, “I really didn’t notice…”
Of course, Shen Qiu wouldn’t have noticed—Jing Guansheng deliberately arranged his “chance encounters” with Shen Miao outside the courtyard, whether at the estate’s entrance, the gardens, or the corridors. In short, he could “bump into” her anywhere, anytime.
“Go and secure the courtyard gate. If those two show up again, tell them we’re practicing swords behind closed doors and no one is allowed in!” Shen Xin roared.
Shen Qiu immediately went to Challenge someone for the task.
Luo Xueyan patted Shen Miao’s head. “Jiaojiao, if that person bothers you again in the future, don’t hold back—just hit him.”
Shen Xin: “…”
Only after Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin returned to the training grounds did Shen Miao cast a light glance at Jing Zhe. “You talk too much.”
“This servant knows her fault, but Young Lady,” Jing Zhe lowered her head, “Cousin Jing clearly has ill intentions toward you. You’ve long seen through him—why didn’t you tell the master and madam?”
“Jing Guansheng is a shrewd man,” Shen Miao smiled faintly. “It’d be a waste to discard such a shrewd person so easily. Using his own schemes against him—I still have a use for him. However,” her tone shifted, “after what you said today, certain matters will likely accelerate. Let’s wait and see.”
…Ever since Shen Qiu stationed a group of guards at the entrance of the West Courtyard, strictly enforcing the prohibition against Jing Chuchu and Jing Guansheng, the siblings, the West Courtyard had become much quieter. Without the disturbances from the two, Shen Miao lived much more freely. However, while peace reigned on their side, others grew restless.
In the Hall of Glory and Scenery, Old Madam Shen fixed Jing Chuchu with a sharp gaze, as if her previous affection had been nothing but an illusion. She said, "Chuchu, what exactly have you been doing? How is it that you can't even enter the eldest branch's courtyard now?"
Jing Chuchu lowered her head in frustration and replied softly, "I don’t know why, but Fifth Sister seems to be guarding against me very tightly. Cousin is actually quite kind to me, but Fifth Sister always makes him keep his distance. The guards at the courtyard entrance were also placed there on her orders."
"That Fifth Girl again!" Old Madam Shen’s face turned livid with anger. Mama Zhang, standing beside her, quickly patted her chest to soothe her, saying, "Please calm down, Madam."
"That girl is too cunning! Your brother is one thing, but now she’s even guarding against you like this—it’s infuriating!" Old Madam Shen’s original plan had been for Jing Guansheng to deal with Shen Miao and Jing Chuchu to handle Shen Qiu. However, Shen Miao was a girl, and in matters between men and women, the woman would always be the one at a disadvantage if something happened. With Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan’s fiery tempers, who knew what they might do? But with Shen Qiu, it would be Jing Chuchu who suffered, and reason would always be on their side.
In the past, the people of the West Courtyard had been straightforward—those who fought on the battlefield never bothered with trivial matters. Those accustomed to wielding swords and spears wouldn’t pay attention to needle-sized details. Who would have thought the West Courtyard would suddenly change its ways and simply lock the courtyard gates?
"Madam," Mama Zhang said thoughtfully, "Fifth Young Lady’s behavior suggests she’s already suspicious of Miss Jing. At this point, trying to proceed step by step might be difficult."
Hearing this, Jing Chuchu felt even more humiliated and resentful. She prided herself on her beauty and cleverness—back in Suzhou, even noble young masters fell for her delicate and fragile act. Who would have thought she’d hit a wall with Shen Qiu? The frustration in her heart was unbearable.
"What do you suggest…?" Old Madam Shen frowned.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Mama Zhang reminded her. "If we keep dragging this out, by the time the Grand General arranges a marriage for the young master with some noble family’s daughter, it’ll be too late."
Old Madam Shen shuddered and immediately agreed, "You’re right. By then, it’ll be too late." She turned to Jing Chuchu, her face once again wearing a doting smile—though to others, it looked utterly insincere. She asked, "Chuchu, do you truly wish to marry Qiu’er?"
Jing Chuchu lowered her head and replied, "I do."
"To marry Qiu’er, would you be willing to do anything?"
Jing Chuchu froze, faintly guessing what was coming. Her heart pounded wildly. She had always been adept at handling men, her pitiful demeanor easily winning the hearts of wealthy young masters in Suzhou. But the Shen family was the household of the Grand General of Might, and Shen Qiu was the legitimate son of the Grand General—his status and wealth were beyond compare. Naturally, she was tempted. Though she had never done such a thing before, Old Madam Shen’s words conjured visions of glittering gold and silver before her eyes. Clenching her fists, she whispered, "Chuchu… is willing."
Old Madam Shen smiled in satisfaction.
…For several days in a row, the Shen Mansion had been unusually quiet. Jing Chuchu and her brother Jing Guansheng stayed in the courtyard behind the Hall of Glory and Scenery, tinkering with something in their rooms without stepping outside.
On this particular day, as Shen Miao was walking along the corridor, she happened to run into Jing Chuchu. Jing Chuchu was dressed in a moon-white lined jacket and an emerald-green skirt, the very picture of a delicate and modest young lady. In Fixed Capital, a girl from Suzhou like her had a unique charm that could easily catch the attention of passersby.
"Fifth Sister," Jing Chuchu greeted her with a curtsy.
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Where are you heading, Cousin?"
It was rare for Shen Miao to speak to Jing Chuchu, so the latter was momentarily taken aback before replying, "I was just returning to my room to do some embroidery." She lowered her head shyly. "There's nothing else to do, after all."
"If you have nothing to do, why not come out with me?" Shen Miao suggested. "I was just about to visit a jewelry shop to pick out some accessories. If you don’t mind, you could join me and choose something as well."
Jing Chuchu was truly stunned this time. Shen Miao had always treated her with indifference, no matter how warmly she tried to ingratiate herself. Today, however, Shen Miao had unexpectedly offered to take her out. Having witnessed the covert struggles between concubines and bed warmers in her own family’s inner courtyard, Jing Chuchu’s first reaction was suspicion. But when she heard Shen Miao mention a jewelry shop, her eyes immediately lit up.
She studied Shen Miao carefully. Shen Miao was wearing a snow-blue Nanjing brocade skirt with crane patterns and a Xiang-colored single-layer vest. Though her attire was always dark in color, it never made her look dull. Instead, it accentuated her jade-like complexion and innate nobility. Jing Chuchu couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. She had always believed her looks were on par with Shen Miao’s, but standing beside her, she couldn’t help but feel inferior. Shen Miao exuded natural elegance, while Jing Chuchu’s humble origins were all too apparent.
The more envious she grew, the more she coveted. Jing Chuchu’s gaze lingered on the lotus-shaped pearl hairpin in Shen Miao’s hair—the pearls were large, round, and shimmered so brilliantly they nearly dazzled her. She quickly lowered her head to hide the greed in her eyes and said, "Since Fifth Sister has no one else to accompany you, I’ll gladly come along."
Bailu and Shuangjiang, walking behind them, exchanged a glance of disdain. Truly, someone from a lowly background—her shallowness was evident. A few pieces of jewelry were enough to lead her by the nose. No wonder Shen Miao had said Jing Chuchu was not worth worrying about.
Once they left the mansion, they boarded a carriage and headed into Fixed Capital. Shen Qiu, of course, had sent a group of guards to follow them, making for an impressive sight. When they arrived at the Jewelry Pavilion, Shen Miao casually picked out a few pieces for herself, while Jing Chuchu lingered over one item after another, unable to tear herself away. Her covetous behavior even drew sidelong glances from the shopkeeper.
To be fair, Jing Chuchu was quite pretty—especially with the natural softness of a Suzhou girl, which set her apart from the young ladies of the capital. But her petty, small-minded demeanor greatly diminished her charm. After all, in Fixed Capital, beauty alone wasn’t enough to get by.
Seeing Jing Chuchu like this, Shen Miao didn’t hold back—she paid for everything Jing Chuchu had taken a liking to. Feeling that she had grown closer to Shen Miao, Jing Chuchu relaxed. As noon approached, Shen Miao said, "Let’s eat out today. We’ve been picking out jewelry all morning, and I’m a little hungry. You probably haven’t been to the Happy Building in Fixed Capital before—ordinary people rarely get the chance to enjoy such a place."Jing Chuchu gazed at the grand restaurant before her, her eyes filled with a hint of longing. Today, Shen Miao had been picking out jewelry and buying fabrics—such extravagance was something Jing Chuchu had rarely witnessed in her daily life, leaving her momentarily dazed. It was precisely this that made her even more aware of the Shen family's wealth, solidifying her determination to become part of it.
Once they were seated in the restaurant, Shen Miao chose a table by the window on the second floor. The waiter recited a list of dishes, and Shen Miao selected a few from among them. The ones she picked were all signature dishes of the Happy Building, leaving Jing Chuchu utterly astonished. After the waiter left, Shen Miao turned to Jing Chuchu and said, "The people who dine here are all either wealthy or noble, many of them high-ranking officials in Fixed Capital. They are not to be underestimated."
Jing Chuchu nodded repeatedly.
Shen Miao smiled faintly and picked up her teacup to drink, but her hand trembled slightly, causing the cup to tip over and spill most of the tea onto her skirt. Jing Chuchu was startled. "Fifth Sister?"
"It's nothing," Shen Miao waved her hand dismissively and stood up. "There must be a place here to change clothes. There are spare outfits in the carriage. I'll go change now—wait here for me." With that, she called for Bailu and Shuangjiang. "Let's go."
As soon as she left, the guards from the Shen Mansion began to follow. Jing Chuchu quickly called out, "Fifth Sister, these guards..." She was, after all, a little afraid.
"Don't worry. No one would dare cause trouble in broad daylight," Shen Miao reassured her. "Besides, the guests here are all people of status—they won't do anything untoward." Her expression was gentle, but her tone brooked no argument. Jing Chuchu instinctively didn't protest, and by the time she regained her composure, Shen Miao had already walked far away with the guards in tow.
Jing Chuchu's expression darkened. Shen Miao always carried an air of superiority around her, a demeanor that made Jing Chuchu acutely aware of the gap between them—and that only made her more resentful. Moreover, she had heard from the Shen family that Shen Miao used to be an ignorant and incompetent fool. How could someone who knew nothing of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting monopolize the position of the Shen family's eldest legitimate daughter? Why did Shen Xin and his wife dote on her so unconditionally, even letting her pick first from the Emperor's rewards without a second thought? People often grow more envious through comparison, and now, Jing Chuchu's jealousy of Shen Miao had reached a fever pitch.
She picked up her teacup and, imitating Shen Miao's earlier manner, took small, delicate sips, as if doing so could allow her to absorb even a fraction of Shen Miao's noble air.
Just then, a group of people walked past her and sat down at the table beside hers. The leader was a young man, refined and scholarly in appearance, dressed in luxurious robes. Even the servants behind him wore finely crafted fabrics.
Remembering Shen Miao's words—"the people who dine here are all either wealthy or noble"—Jing Chuchu suddenly felt a stirring in her heart.
The young man seemed to notice her as well, his gaze drifting in her direction. When his eyes landed on Jing Chuchu's delicate features, he couldn't help but brighten visibly.
Jing Chuchu wore a pale blue jacket paired with an emerald-green skirt, her skin as fair as snow, her beauty like a flower. But what stood out most was her timid, fragile demeanor—she glanced at the young man but quickly lowered her eyes as if startled. Most women in Fixed Capital, being in the imperial city, carried themselves with grace and confidence. A delicate, bashful southern belle like Jing Chuchu was an exceedingly rare sight. The young man stared at her, utterly captivated, and the more fervent his gaze became, the lower Jing Chuchu bowed her head.Time slowly passed, and the dishes had all been served, yet Shen Miao still hadn't arrived. Only Jing Chuchu sat alone at the table. Unable to eat by herself, she sipped tea in small, hesitant gulps, looking utterly lost and uncertain.
Finally, the wealthy young man at the neighboring table couldn't hold back any longer. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked over and sat down opposite Jing Chuchu, asking gently, "I see you've been waiting here alone for quite some time. Are you waiting for someone?"
Jing Chuchu was startled. She looked up, blushed upon seeing him, and lowered her head as she whispered, "I... I'm waiting for my cousin."
The young man asked with concern, "Why hasn't your cousin arrived yet? It's not right to leave you alone like this."
Jing Chuchu shook her head, her face still red, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare. To others, this demeanor made her seem like she was being bullied. The young man felt certain of this and said, "Well, since I have nothing to do, why don't I wait here with you?"
"N-no need to trouble yourself," Jing Chuchu hurriedly replied. "Young master, you really don’t have to..."
"It's no trouble," he said with a smile. "If someone with ill intentions approaches while you're sitting here alone, it could cause unnecessary trouble. It’s better if I stay with you."
His words were gentle, and his refined smile made it easy for others to take a liking to him. Jing Chuchu lowered her head and said, "Then... thank you, young master."
"You don’t seem to be from Fixed Capital," he remarked.
"I-I’m from Suzhou," Jing Chuchu replied. The two of them began chatting like this, with the young man being particularly skilled at conversation. Within a few sentences, he had coaxed a smile onto Jing Chuchu’s face. Though she still appeared shy, her attitude toward him gradually grew more familiar. The young man shared amusing anecdotes about himself, hinting that he had traveled to many places and came from a wealthy family. As a result, Jing Chuchu’s smile deepened.
In another private room of the Happy Building, through the carved window, one could clearly see Jing Chuchu’s table from a distance. Bailu remarked, "The young miss can chat for so long with a complete stranger." Her tone was disdainful.
"That’s no ordinary man," Shen Miao said coolly, resting her chin on one hand.
"Do you know that young master, miss?" Shuangjiang asked curiously. The guards in the room also looked surprised. Shen Miao had left Jing Chuchu alone there while she moved to another spot, seemingly just to let Jing Chuchu speak with that man. Now, judging by Shen Miao’s words, did she also know him?
Shen Miao smiled faintly but didn’t answer.
"Tell me," Ji Yushu said from another room in the Happy Building, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "She couldn’t possibly know Sun Cainan, could she?"
"Sun Cainan is Sun Tianzheng’s only legitimate son, but he’s never held an official position. He’s just a spoiled wastrel who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun—he hasn’t even been to the Hall of Extensive Learning. How would Shen Miao know him?" Gao Yang glanced over.
"Are you saying you believe this is a coincidence?" Ji Yushu exclaimed. "This is anything but a coincidence! Even a fool can see that Miss Shen deliberately let Sun Cainan run into this so-called cousin of hers who came out of nowhere."“When did I say it was a coincidence?” Gao Yang flicked open his folding fan with a snap and waved it pretentiously. “But I think she doesn’t just know Sun Cainan—she probably even knew which seat he preferred beforehand. Don’t you find it strange?” Gao Yang stroked his chin. “Shen Miao is a sheltered young lady, yet she seems even more knowledgeable than you, Baixiaosheng. She knows things both obvious and obscure. I can’t help but wonder if she’s aware of things even we don’t know.”
"Don't you dare slander Baixiaosheng," Ji Yushu retorted. "Miss Shen was never an ordinary person. You and I spend our days here monitoring Miss Shen's movements. If Third Brother Xie finds out, he'll surely scold us for having too much free time."
"Watching her is far more interesting than anything else," Gao Yang remarked, observing Jing Chuchu chatting merrily with Sun Cainan outside. "Why don't you take a guess—what's her purpose in doing this?"
Ji Yushu pondered seriously. "She wants to play matchmaker between Sun Cainan and her cousin?"
"Since when has Shen Miao ever been so kind-hearted?" Gao Yang immediately poured cold water on his idea.
"Then what do you think is going on?" Ji Yushu asked, deflated.
"The Minister of Personnel... has the Shen family had any recent dealings with him?" Gao Yang tapped his chin with a fan, deep in thought.
Up in the Happy Building, Jing Chuchu and Sun Cainan conversed for a long time, growing more and more congenial. To an outsider, they might have seemed like a perfect couple. After a while, several guards from Shen Mansion approached Jing Chuchu and said, "Cousin, the young lady found her clothes ill-fitting and lost interest. She has already settled the bill with the shopkeeper and left first. We are ordered to protect you, cousin. After you finish your meal, we will escort you back to the mansion."
Jing Chuchu looked surprised. "Fifth Sister left already?"
The guard nodded.
"How could Fifth Miss Shen just leave you alone like this?" Sun Cainan said indignantly. From Jing Chuchu, he had learned that the cousin they were waiting for was Fifth Miss Shen, Shen Miao. Sun Cainan didn’t know much about Shen Miao, only that she was an incompetent fool who chased after Prince Ding. Now it seemed this Shen Miao was not only foolish but also liked to bully others with her status.
Determined to play the chivalrous hero, Jing Chuchu naturally wouldn’t waste his goodwill. She immediately lowered her head anxiously and said, "Then I should go back now."
"Ah, that won’t do," Sun Cainan quickly interjected. "Leaving now would be a waste of this fine feast. No one has ever walked away from a meal at the Happy Building like this." He smiled at the flustered Jing Chuchu. "How about this—if you don’t mind, I’d be honored to dine with you." He adopted a gentlemanly demeanor. "With so many of your guards here, they can escort you back after the meal. How does that sound?"
"This..." Jing Chuchu hesitated.
"Since we’ve met, it must be fate. And since it’s fate, we shouldn’t waste the opportunity heaven has given us," Sun Cainan said smoothly, his words honeyed. "The moment I saw you today, I felt as if I’d met an old friend. That’s why I struck up a conversation. I wonder if you’d be willing to accept my proposal."
After a long pause, Jing Chuchu finally nodded hesitantly. "Then... as you wish."
The two began to dine and converse in earnest. In a distant private room, Shen Miao watched the pair, a cold smile slowly forming on her lips.She was very familiar with Sun Cainan. In her past life, it was this man who had cuckolded Shen Qiu with an enormous disgrace. Hot-blooded and impulsive, Shen Qiu had dragged his crippled leg to kill him in one breath, only to later discover that Sun Cainan was the only son of the Minister of Personnel. Sun Cainan was utterly unprincipled, relying solely on his silver tongue and handsome looks to seduce women—whether young maidens or married women, he took them all. Sun Tianzheng, fearing censure from the censors, usually forbade Sun Cainan from going out, so very few people knew him.
But in this life, she would recognize Sun Cainan even if he were reduced to ashes.
Sun Cainan had a particular fondness for delicate, fragile women from the Jiangnan region—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to sleep with Shen Qiu’s woman in their past life.
Shen Miao lowered her gaze and murmured in a voice only she could hear, “Sun Cainan, Jing Chuchu, this past-life karma I’ve personally tied between you—don’t you dare disappoint me.”
－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－
I think the difference between A’Ruan and Her Majesty is that A’Ruan is more restrained, scheming in the shadows. Her Majesty is more direct—after all, she was once the Empress, so she must crush her enemies instantly. She outright tells you she’s going to deal with you, and then she does…
...
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