In the tea room, Ji Yushu had a moment of sudden understanding. Earlier, Shen Miao had said she wanted to create information targeted at Prince Yu’s manor. Now, the information she was selling to the Chen family also involved Prince Yu’s manor. Wasn’t she just stirring up hatred against Prince Yu? It seemed Gao Yang was indeed right—the Shen family and Prince Yu’s manor had a deep hatred, and she was setting a trap for Prince Yu’s manor, waiting for them to fall into it. But thinking about it again, Ji Yushu felt somewhat depressed. People who came to do business with Hundred-Intelligence always sincerely bought and sold information, feeling grateful to this place that could provide information. But Shen Miao was nothing like that—she directly treated Hundred-Intelligence as a tool to use, using them to win over the Chen family and to deal with Prince Yu’s manor.

However, as Ji Yushu pondered, even if the Jiangnan Chen family was wealthy and powerful, Prince Yu’s manor had maintained its fearsome reputation for many years and had the royal family’s protection. Unless it was truly a blood feud, who would rush headlong into danger?

“Is what Miss Shen says true?” Chen Yueshan’s voice was hoarse. Prince Yu’s ferocity was known throughout the court. If the Chen sisters had fallen into his hands, their fate was imaginable.

“I have no reason to lie to you.”

“But how can you prove what you say is true?” Chen Yuehai suddenly shouted excitedly. Perhaps after hearing this news, he couldn’t believe it, or dared not believe it, and instead became particularly hostile toward Shen Miao.

“The Chen sisters were both beautiful, yet the Chen family protected them so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. Prince Yu is always seeking stimulation and went to great efforts to abduct the Chen sisters. After that, he quickly brought them to the capital overnight. While the Chen family was still searching for the sisters in Yuzhou, they were already in Prince Yu’s manor.” At this point, Shen Miao paused, then continued, “Prince Yu’s methods of torturing women are horrifying. The Chen sisters attempted suicide several times but were stopped by Prince Yu. Later, the elder sister pretended to comply, hoping to help her younger sister escape. In reality, Prince Yu knew of their plan but pretended not to know. Afterward, the elder sister was given to Prince Yu’s subordinates, tortured, and beaten to death. The younger sister was violated while escaping and lost both her eyes. She found a place working as a night soil collector, always hoping to stay alive because this was the life her sister had fought to give her. However,” Shen Miao sighed softly, “she never actually left the gates of Prince Yu’s manor. The so-called night soil collection work, the neighbors around her—they were all arranged by Prince Yu, just to toy with the younger Chen sister, to watch her live in hope while trapped in a swamp.”

Her voice was calm and cool, only carrying a hint of regret at the end, yet it made listeners feel a chill throughout their bodies. Ji Yushu was also extremely shocked. Although he knew of Prince Yu’s outrageous and terrifying methods of torturing women, this was the first time he had heard someone describe it as thoroughly as Shen Miao. It’s easy to kill someone, but making someone live a life worse than death is difficult. That younger Chen sister thought she had escaped, living with hope, perhaps thinking that one day she could seek revenge and find her family. Yet she didn’t know that her hope had long been held in someone else’s hand, and everything she did was just a means of amusement in Prince Yu’s eyes.

These words silenced the Chen brothers. Chen Yuehai slowly extended his hand to cover his head, suddenly howling in pain. His voice was like that of a wounded beast, bringing tears to those who heard it. Ji Yushu couldn’t help but cast a sympathetic glance.

Shen Miao looked at him and sighed inwardly. The Chen sisters had been pampered treasures in the first half of their lives, living carefree and innocently, originally destined to be the happiest women in the world. The latter half of their lives was so tragic, even worse than ordinary girls. Excessive beauty was a sin—what sin did the Chen sisters have?

“Miss Shen,” Chen Yueshan was steadier than Chen Yuehai, but even so, his voice trembled, “how can we prove what Miss Shen says is true? After all, this is just one person’s account.” Even the most composed person, upon hearing news they are unwilling to believe, probably reacts like Chen Yueshan, continuously avoiding it, thinking that this way they won’t have to face it.

“It’s very simple. The younger Chen sister is still alive. Prince Yu’s manor is like bronze walls and iron barricades—if you go in rashly, you might alert them. If you want to know whether my words are true, you can abduct a servant who goes out for purchases from Prince Yu’s manor and ask if a woman is working as a night soil collector there. She’s your sister—ask, and you’ll know.”

At these words, both Chen brothers’ bodies swayed simultaneously, the pain on their faces impossible to conceal. Ji Yushu sighed inwardly. Shen Miao spoke with such detail and conviction; this information was almost certainly true.

“You,” Chen Yuehai stared at Shen Miao and suddenly said, “Since you knew about this, why didn’t you save her? You watched her fall into this fire pit yet refused to help, calmly coming here to buy and sell information. You,” he slammed the table, “You’re so heartless!”

“Yuehai,” Chen Yueshan reprimanded him softly, then looked at Shen Miao and cupped his hands. “I apologize, Miss Shen. My younger brother is too heartbroken. I hope Miss Shen won’t take offense.” Though his words were polite, Shen Miao could see a trace of blame in his eyes.

After a moment of silence, Shen Miao didn’t get angry but instead smiled, looking at Chen Yuehai and saying, “How does Master Chen think I should have helped? I’m just a defenseless young lady—what ability do I have to save her from that fire pit? Should I disregard my safety and infiltrate the Prince’s manor, or like her sister, sacrifice my life to give her a chance? Today I’ve said, if that were my sister, I might try to save her. But to me, she’s just a stranger. May I ask, Master Chen, would you risk your life for a stranger? If you would, then I respect you as a true man. Unfortunately, I’m just a timid, narrow-minded girl. Why should I be a good person? On what grounds?”

She spoke quickly and urgently, leaving the Chen brothers speechless. Ji Yushu’s mouth fell open, feeling that Shen Miao had suddenly become angry. Shen Miao’s words were thoroughly sarcastic. True, if everyone in the world were willing to risk their lives for strangers, this world wouldn’t be so harsh. Shen Miao was just a young girl—what ability did she have to help the Chen sisters escape?

Shen Miao coldly looked at the two brothers opposite her. Just now, her emotions had been somewhat out of control. What she hated most now was people trying to use moral principles to coerce her. Back then, for the sake of the Ming Qi commoners, for Fu Xiuyi, she had voluntarily gone to Qin country as a hostage. After returning to the palace, what awaited her was the emperor’s coldness and indifference. Her Shen family had assisted the emperor for the sake of the country and righteousness, only to be rewarded with the execution of the entire family. Why should they be the ones to sacrifice everything? Why should she be the savior? The Chen sisters were indeed pitiful, but when she had been thrown into the Cold Palace and driven to desperation, unable even to protect her children, wasn’t she pitiful too? Yet who had extended a helping hand to help her?

In this world, no matter how difficult life is, one walks it alone. No one should have to save others.

After a long silence, Chen Yuehai bowed to Shen Miao, “I spoke too harshly earlier. Miss Shen, I apologize.”

Shen Miao calmed herself and said, “My information ends here.”

“My brother and I believe Miss Shen’s account,” Chen Yueshan said. “But the most urgent task is to first investigate our sister’s whereabouts. If we find her, the Chen family will certainly reward you with ten thousand gold.”

“I’ve already said, there’s no need for ten thousand gold, just to establish goodwill,” Shen Miao said. “But I have one thing to say, if you two are willing to listen.”

“We’d be glad to hear it,” Chen Yueshan cupped his hands.

“Prince Yu is petty and narrow-minded. If someone offends him, he will take revenge. The Chen family is large and powerful, capable of contending with royal relatives, but ultimately at a disadvantage. I presume you two not only want to rescue the younger Chen sister but also want to avenge the Chen sisters.”

The brothers exchanged a glance, and Chen Yuehai didn’t conceal his intent, saying, “This blood feud cannot be forgiven. Our Chen family and the Prince’s manor cannot coexist. We must collect this blood debt.”

“Even if you don’t collect this debt, once you rescue the younger Chen sister, Prince Yu will know it was your Chen family’s doing. So one way or another, you’ll be facing off against the Prince’s manor. I think, to remove the weeds, you must pull out the roots. To avoid future trouble, you must eliminate the entire Prince’s manor.”

“What does Miss Shen mean?” Chen Yueshan asked hesitantly.

“Jianghu sects have extensive connections, with heroes from all paths as friends. Although Prince Yu’s manor is noble, in terms of actual strength, to wipe them out isn’t such a difficult task.”

Massacre? Ji Yushu had been listening idly, but hearing this, he couldn’t help but spurt out a mouthful of tea with a “pfft.” He looked at Shen Miao with astonishment. For a young girl to calmly utter the word “massacre” was truly terrifying.

The Chen brothers were also stunned. Chen Yueshan sized up Shen Miao across from him, feeling a chill rise in his heart. Having walked the jianghu and seen many ruthless people, he found the young girl before him to be among the most outstanding—with one sentence, she proposed leaving no survivors, extremely ruthless.

However, they also felt that what Shen Miao said made some sense. If even one person survived, a centipede doesn’t die even when severed, and eventually, it would be traced back to the Jiangnan Chen family.

“Silencing people isn’t difficult,” Chen Yueshan smiled bitterly. “But opposing the current Emperor…” As brothers, they naturally wanted to cut Prince Yu into a thousand pieces, and they could accomplish this. But the Chen family had other people, including women, the elderly, and the young. If the royal family became involved, they couldn’t let the entire Chen family suffer.

“I have a way to ensure His Majesty won’t pursue this matter, as long as you dare to raid Prince Yu’s stronghold,” Shen Miao said.

“You…” Chen Yuehai said, “Miss Shen, we know you’re formidable; otherwise, information we’ve sought for three years wouldn’t have fallen into your hands. But royal matters aren’t so simple—one misstep could bring disaster upon oneself.”

“I imagine after I leave, you’ll investigate my identity. I am the legitimate daughter of the Mighty Warrior General from the capital’s General’s manor. With such an identity, in the imperial court, do you think I can speak up?”

The Chen brothers were stunned, their faces showing surprise, probably not expecting Shen Miao to have such an identity. Then they fell silent. They had risen from the jianghu grassroots; though wealthy, in the relationship between officials and merchants, merchants were always inferior. They only knew about court matters from a distance, not understanding their depths. With Shen Miao’s casual persuasion, they were easily convinced.

“Why are you helping us?” Chen Yuehai asked vigilantly. “Helping us so wholeheartedly—what benefit is there for you?”

“You’re such a strange person. Earlier, you blamed me for not helping, and now that I am helping, you’re suspicious. I don’t understand.”

Shen Miao’s sarcastic words made Chen Yuehai somewhat angry. Chen Yueshan waved his hand, looked at Shen Miao, and smiled, “Miss Shen is a person of character. But this matter is of great importance. If it implicates Miss Shen…”

“It’s not just to help you,” Shen Miao said calmly. “I also have a blood feud with Prince Yu’s manor. My cousin is about to marry into Prince Yu’s manor and is one of those being tormented. If you eliminate everyone in the Prince’s manor someday, please spare my cousin’s life.”

Hearing this, the Chen brothers’ doubts largely dissipated. They bowed to Shen Miao, “If that’s the case, thank you.”

“You can first inquire about the younger Chen sister’s whereabouts. After finding out, don’t act rashly. Three days from now, at this place, I’ll discuss further details with you.”

The Chen brothers nodded, understanding Shen Miao’s implied dismissal. They didn’t hesitate, rising promptly. Chen Yueshan said, “After finding our sister, Miss Shen will have done the Chen family a great favor. In the future, if there’s anything the Chen family can help with, the Chen family will certainly not refuse. For this matter, thank you.” With that, they hurriedly left, presumably to seek the whereabouts of the younger Chen sister.

Ji Yushu stared at Shen Miao, thinking her previous display was already unique enough, but today she still surprised him. Jianghu people are often proud, and the Chen family was a significant one. What should have been a simple exchange of goods for money had been transformed by Shen Miao’s few words into her becoming the Chen family’s benefactor. The Chen brothers’ attitude toward Shen Miao was very polite. As they said, if Shen Miao faced any difficulties in the future, the Chen family would help. Establishing a connection with the Chen family was no easy feat.

“Shopkeeper Ji, now we can discuss the business between us,” Shen Miao said, looking at him.

“I’ve thought about your conditions from the other day,” Ji Yushu pretended to stroke his chin, putting on a troubled expression. “This information of yours is too dangerous. If it succeeds, everyone is happy, but if one day it’s discovered, my Feng Xian Pawnshop might as well close, and I, as the shopkeeper, would lose my head too. As for the servants above and below, they would also lose their lives. So in this deal, you’re betting the Shen family and silver, but I’m betting my actual life. It seems I’m at a disadvantage.”

Shen Miao gave him a fleeting glance and said, “If that’s the case, the business can’t be done. I understand. I’ve troubled Shopkeeper Ji for so long. Farewell.”

Ji Yushu hadn’t finished his planned speech, and seeing Shen Miao suddenly change her attitude and prepare to leave, he was so frightened that he didn’t even bother to keep up the act. He hurriedly said, “Hey, hey, hey, I haven’t finished speaking. Why are young ladies nowadays so impatient? Miss Shen, although I think this is very dangerous, from the first moment I saw you, I felt we had a special connection. Such a beautiful lady as yourself, surely any request you make, no man would have reason to refuse. I, for one, can’t bear to see a beauty distressed. If we don’t do this business, I imagine you would be unhappy. To make you happy, what does it matter if I risk my life? So, I’ll do this business.”

In the secret room elsewhere, after hearing Ji Yushu’s extremely nauseating words, Gao Yang couldn’t help but look at Xie Jingxing: “Is he alright? He dares to provoke such a poisonous woman? This isn’t Miss Peony; this is Miss Man-Eating Flower.”

Xie Jingxing twitched the corner of his mouth: “He doesn’t know when to stop.”

And Shen Miao, after hearing Ji Yushu’s words, calmly said under his eager and passionate gaze, “If that’s the case, let me tell Shopkeeper Ji my plan.”

Ji Yushu immediately sat up straight: “Alright, please speak, Miss Shen.”

“As everyone in Ming Qi knows, ten years ago, His Majesty was assassinated, and Prince Yu saved him, rescuing His Majesty from the assassin’s hands at the cost of a leg. But the assassin escaped.”

“That’s correct.”

Shen Miao smiled slightly: “The information I want you to spread is very simple: recently, Prince Yu executed a close bodyguard, and coincidentally, apart from being slightly older, this bodyguard looked identical to the assassin from ten years ago.”

“This…” Ji Yushu was first stunned, then suddenly froze, almost dropping his teacup.

“Please ensure this information reaches the Emperor’s ears,” Shen Miao smiled slightly.

“Is this true?” Ji Yushu tentatively asked.

“Whether it’s true or false, can’t Shopkeeper Ji find a way to make it true?” Shen Miao smiled.

“You…” Ji Yushu stared at Shen Miao, speechless for a long while. He felt that this young girl, who looked even younger than him, was truly a monster.

“With our business concluded, I should go,” Shen Miao stood up. “Shopkeeper Ji, you must act quickly, at least before the massacre at the Prince’s manor.”

After saying this, she didn’t look at Ji Yushu again and turned to leave. Outside, Hong Ling had been waiting for a long time. Seeing her come out, knowing the business was settled, she led her back outside.

In the secret room, Gao Yang remained silent for a while, then said, “The Shen family being so formidable isn’t necessarily a good thing. Now there’s too much porridge and too few monks. I think the Shen family shouldn’t remain for long.”

“Whether they stay or not, I’ll decide,” Xie Jingxing said lazily. “Using the Shen family’s hand to deal with that old dog Prince Yu isn’t bad.”

“Perhaps one day the Shen family will deal with you this way.”

“If they dare, I don’t mind removing the weeds and their roots,” Xie Jingxing’s beautiful dark eyes flickered. “Has the item been found yet?”

Gao Yang shook his head.

“On the day of the massacre, I’ll go personally,” Xie Jingxing said, sitting up straight, playing with the jade cup in his hand. “I don’t believe it could have flown away.”

“Do you think Prince Yu’s manor can be massacred? Shen Miao’s move is clever, but in execution, accidents always happen.”

“Accidents?” Xie Jingxing laughed lightly, his half-lowered peach blossom eyes as intoxicating as wine, yet under his long eyelashes, his gaze was as sharp as a knife. Like a cat playing with a mouse, he said playfully, “Since I met her, she’s never had accidents.”

Time always passes particularly quickly.

The General’s manor was a strange household. Before anything happened, everything was naturally disguised as harmonious, each living well. Previously, the relationship between the various branches, at least outwardly, appeared good. Until a great fire burned down the Shen family ancestral hall, also burning away Shen Xin and his wife’s trust in the second and third branches, relations with the first branch at least became strained.

Now, Shen Qing had lost her virginity and was to marry Prince Yu, which sensible people knew was not a good thing. However, Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Yue were still happily busy preparing for Shen Qing’s marriage. Although it was a royal betrothal and one should appear happy, among family members, there was no need to display such joy, which seemed too cold-hearted.

Ren Wanyun had quarreled with Shen Gui over Shen Qing, and the old Madam Shen sided with Shen Gui, increasingly dissatisfied with her as a daughter-in-law. There was no talk of returning the household management rights to Ren Wanyun. Chen Ruoqiu, having gained the old madam’s favor, naturally became increasingly attentive. Ren Wanyun was furious and couldn’t help but show her resentment when dealing with the old Madam Shen. The old madam was even more extreme, directly keeping Shen Yuanbai in Rongjing Hall, not allowing Ren Wanyun to see him.

At this point, Ren Wanyun had truly become an isolated person in the vast Shen manor. Even some of her former servants had secretly shifted loyalty to the currently ascendant Concubine Wan. Ren Wanyun spent her days in Caiyun Courtyard either cursing loudly or crying with Shen Qing, truly showing signs of madness.

All of this had nothing to do with the Western Garden.

Shen Xin and his wife consciously maintained a distance from the second and third branches, their attitude neither cold nor warm. Through this incident, they had probably seen the cold-hearted nature of the second and third branches. At least in Shen Xin and Luo Xuexian’s view, if everything that happened to Shen Qing had happened to Shen Miao, they would never have swallowed this anger silently but would have fought to the death to seek justice for Shen Miao. Moreover, now that Shen Miao had become much more sensible and her attitude toward them was no longer as distant as before, they felt that asking Emperor Wenhi for the favor of staying in the capital was worthwhile.

In the room, Bailu said, “The young master just brought several pieces of jewelry for Miss and also gave Miss several silver notes. This servant has stored them in the box for Miss.”

Shen Miao nodded. Since Shen Qiu learned she had gone to Feng Xian Pawnshop, he thought she lacked money to spend and insisted on sending her exquisite treasures from the palace daily, or simply giving her silver directly. He told her, “Sister, if you don’t have money, just tell your brother. Your brother will give it to you. Don’t go to any pawnshop. My sister, Shen Qiu’s sister, doesn’t need to go to a pawnshop to exchange silver.”

Shen Miao didn’t bother to explain to him, and since more silver was never a burden, she gladly accepted.

It had been two days since she met with the Chen brothers. Tomorrow, she would need to go to Feng Xian Pawnshop again, not knowing if Chen Yueshan and Chen Yuehai had found out the whereabouts of the younger Chen sister.

The fate of the Chen sisters was undoubtedly pitiful. She had learned about this in her previous life, after marrying Fu Xiuyi. When Fu Xiuyi had just ascended the throne, he was very impatient with Prince Yu. After all, Fu Xiuyi wasn’t Emperor Wenhi, and Prince Yu had no life-saving grace with him. For a newly enthroned emperor, having a troublesome princely uncle was not something to be happy about.

The Jiangnan Yuzhou Chen family finally learned about the Chen sisters’ fate after three years and assassinated Prince Yu. These brothers were indeed men of blood and courage, directly crippling Prince Yu’s other leg, but unfortunately, Prince Yu escaped with his life. Prince Yu was furious and wanted to investigate who was responsible, throwing this difficult problem to Fu Xiuyi.

Investigating the assassins from all corners of the world was incredibly difficult, but Fu Xiuyi had advisors everywhere, including jianghu wanderers. Someone informed Fu Xiuyi about Feng Xian Pawnshop’s private business.

Fu Xiuyi didn’t appear personally but sent someone to spend heavily to buy information about Prince Yu’s assassins. Strangely, Feng Xian Pawnshop accepted this business but never completed it, claiming they hadn’t received any information. What Feng Xian Pawnshop didn’t receive, Fu Xiuyi later discovered, and so the Jiangnan Chen family indeed faced a catastrophic disaster.

In this life, Shen Miao had thought of this matter long ago. As early as when Prince Yu developed other intentions toward her and began trading with Ren Wanyun, she had set up this plot. Everything was moving according to her chessboard—Shen Qing’s violation, Ren Wanyun’s counterattack, even Shen Qing’s unexpected pregnancy were all within her plan. Naturally, at the return banquet, the pregnancy was revealed, and Shen Qing had to marry Prince Yu, and Prince Yu was furious.

Prince Yu would focus all his energy on her, so the Chen family could take this opportunity to plot in secret. As for the royal family, it was even easier to manipulate.

Shen Miao had always had a suspicion. With Feng Xian Pawnshop’s capabilities, they might not have failed to discover it was the Chen family who assassinated Prince Yu in her previous life. But Fu Xiuyi’s people never received a response. Perhaps Feng Xian Pawnshop deliberately withheld it. Could there be some conflict between Feng Xian Pawnshop and Prince Yu?

So previously in the Linjian Immortal pavilion, Shen Miao deliberately tested Ji Yushu, uttering the word “massacre.” Ji Yushu’s expression was surprised but showed no pleasure, clearly indicating that Ji Yushu had no grudge against Prince Yu’s manor.

However, someone who has died once sometimes has terrifyingly accurate intuition. Ji Yushu’s reaction, far from dispelling Shen Miao’s suspicion, gave rise to another doubt in her mind. If so, everything could be explained.

Perhaps the master behind Feng Xian Pawnshop wasn’t Ji Yushu.

Who was behind it?

Shen Miao couldn’t figure it out. She had thought that in her previous life, as an empress beside Fu Xiuyi, she had all these big and small secrets at her fingertips. Now it seemed that the waters ran deeper and more dangerous than she had imagined.

But regardless, Prince Yu’s manor had to be eliminated, Prince Yu’s life had to be taken, and as for Shen Qing, she naturally should live a life worse than death. In her previous life, Shen Qing had visited her in prison; in this life, she would return the favor in kind.

Shuangjiang was carried in a flower pot, smiling and saying, “Yesterday the sun was strong, so this servant took the flower pot out to bask in the sunshine. Miss said that it might snow these days and told this servant to cover it with a cloth umbrella. This servant didn’t believe it, but who knew that early this morning it started snowing? Thanks to Miss’s preparation; otherwise, these pots of flowers would have suffered, and this servant would have made a mistake.”

“Speaking of which, Miss seems to like making these preparations,” Bailu smiled. “Preparing things early, thinking ahead about what might go wrong. Every time a critical moment comes, we always pass through smoothly. Miss has such a steady nature, which is good.”

Shen Miao smiled slightly, her bright eyes reflecting the small school outside, as firm as a rock. She said, “It’s nothing. I just don’t like surprises.”