Madam Yi, the mother of Yi Peilan, was on good terms with Ren Wanyun. Master Yi and Shen Gui supported each other in official circles. Occasionally, Ren Wanyun would bring Shen Qing to visit the Yi residence. Yi Peilan was closest to Shen Qing and also got along well with Shen Yue.

The women present, as well as the men sitting on the other side, all turned to look in that direction.

Shen Gui and Shen Wan had been busy with government affairs recently and couldn’t attend. However, the reason everyone was looking toward the entrance wasn’t because of these two men.

Regardless, the mighty General Shen Xin held high prestige in court. When the late Emperor was alive, the Shen family enjoyed many special privileges, truly deserving the title of imperial confidants. Whoever controlled the military had the right to speak. Even though Shen Xin was rarely in the capital, people couldn’t help but respect the Shen family when they mentioned it. Shen Gui and Shen Wan’s smooth sailing in court was also due to borrowing their elder brother’s influence.

The men looked at the Shen family with respect for their power and military might, while the women looked at them with derision.

The mature ladies were better at hiding their contempt, maintaining a facade of politeness due to their age, but the young ladies were different. Perhaps everyone harbors jealousy. Shen Xin had only one legitimate daughter. As his legitimate daughter, Shen Miao naturally held a different status. One could say she ranked on par with a princess. Yet this genuinely high-born legitimate daughter was an undeniable fool. Stupid and ignorant, timid and cowardly, she had made herself a laughingstock with her infatuation for Prince Fu Xiuyi, but sadly, it was unrequited love, as everyone in court knew.

Not to mention that when compared to her two outstanding cousins, she appeared even more like a country girl.

“I wonder what show we’ll see today. With Prince Fu present, Shen Miao will surely dress up ‘meticulously,'” Yi Peilan covered her mouth and laughed.

“Don’t you think it’s even funnier during the examinations? With Shen Miao’s mindless personality, she’ll probably volunteer to go on stage, thinking too highly of herself. That will be truly spectacular!” Jiang Xiaoxuan also laughed.

Bai Wei sighed and shook her head pretentiously, “I wonder what sins General Shen committed in his previous life to have such a daughter.”

As they were speaking, they saw the maidservants from Yan Bei Hall leading a group of people in.

At the front were Ren Wanyun and Chen Ruoqiu. Ren Wanyun wore a thin silk robe embroidered with gold. She was naturally plump, and with her high bun hairstyle, she appeared even more dignified and wealthy, carrying the air of a household matriarch. Chen Ruoqiu was different. Although Shen Yue was already sixteen, Chen Ruoqiu still looked like a young wife, wearing a light green pipa-collar silk dress, clearly a gentle woman from a scholarly family.

Behind them were Shen Yue and Shen Qing.

Shen Yue wore a light pink double-breasted gauze dress, her long hair styled in a flying immortal bun, adorned with pink pearls. The pearls were of excellent quality, emitting a soft glow that drew everyone’s gaze. Beside her, Shen Qing wore a peach-red cloud-patterned dress that was equally eye-catching. Her hundred-flower bun made her look spirited and bright. The jade bracelet on her wrist was clear and transparent, obviously no ordinary item.

The two of them were in their prime years—one gentle and beautiful, the other graceful and dignified. Their clothing and accessories all demonstrated their high value. They were naturally good-looking, and clothes make the person, so many young men’s gazes were drawn to them. At the men’s seating area, one official couldn’t help but praise, “The Shen family’s daughters indeed have good looks.”

“There’s another one,” Cai Lin, having spotted Shen Yue, whom he admired, felt delighted and couldn’t help but mock, “The Shen family has another daughter, General Shen’s daughter, who is truly beautiful.”

That official didn’t seem to know about the rumors regarding Shen Miao and, hearing Cai Lin’s comment, truly believed it. He said, “General Shen’s daughter must certainly be exceptional.”

“Huh,” Cai Lin couldn’t help but laugh, pointing toward Shen Yue’s group: “That’s not…”

His words trailed off, swallowed back.

Behind Shen Qing and Shen Yue walked another person. She wasn’t walking with them but was alone at the back. She should have appeared disadvantaged, shrinking and fearful, but somehow, she didn’t look diminished at all.

She wore a black gold cloud-embroidered top with a crescent phoenix-tail silk skirt, its hem embroidered with large begonia flowers that seemed to bloom beneath her feet. With each step the young lady took, flowers seemed to bloom, swaying gracefully.

The young lady appeared to feel cold, wearing an outer lotus-blue cloud silk cape that immediately suppressed the flowery pattern, adding an air of authority.

As she came closer, everyone could see her face. She was a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl with a simple hanging cloud bun, with only a plain silver hairpin inserted diagonally. At the end of the hairpin bloomed a small autumn begonia, instantly brightening that solemn color, creating a moving combination.

Her skin was naturally fair, and wearing the lotus-blue dress made it appear even more like congealed cream. Her eyes were clear and bright, sparkling like those of a young animal. Her lips held a slight smile, yet it seemed she wasn’t smiling. Her nose was small with a fleshy tip, and her mouth was ruddy. She had a rather cute appearance, but seeing her, people wouldn’t think of her as just a little girl.

Some people are born beautiful but lack temperament; others may not be beautiful but have a captivating presence. This young lady’s appearance could be described as pretty and cute, though perhaps not stunningly beautiful, but her temperament was so captivating that one couldn’t help but be entranced. That dignified, composed demeanor radiated a noble elegance from within, preventing anyone from harboring inappropriate thoughts.

The way she walked, with her chin slightly raised, her skirt perfectly still, her hands folded just right—neither stiff nor casual—as if she had practiced such movements thousands of times, precise without the slightest flaw.

This noble temperament and inherent authority enveloped her, making her appear not like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl but like a woman who had been through countless trials and held a high position. The preceding Shen Yue, Shen Qing, Ren Wanyun, and Chen Ruoqiu unconsciously became this young lady’s backdrop, looking like four attendants. The one walking last was their mistress.

“Who is that?” Yi Peilan murmured. Even as a woman, upon seeing this young lady, she couldn’t help but be captivated. How could someone so young possess such dignity?

“Is this… a guest of the Shen family?” Bai Wei asked. “She seems like someone we’ve never seen before.”

The men’s section was also silent. Men view people differently from women. Those present were all officials who could immediately see this young lady’s distinctiveness—not in appearance but in temperament. That calmness that comes after weathering great storms, facing everything with a dignified attitude, yet radiating disdain from within.

Like a leopard among sheep, that feeling of not belonging.

“Is this General Shen’s daughter?” the official who had been speaking with Cai Lin asked excitedly. “What a fine appearance! What dignity! Truly surpassing her father!”

“Shen Miao?” Cai Lin was stunned, took a closer look, and exclaimed involuntarily: “Is that Shen Miao?”

A stone creates a thousand ripples. The entire gathering fell silent for a moment, then instantly erupted in commotion.