“Open the door!”

When the Shen Matriarch said these words, her face already showed traces of anger. The assembled ladies, always eager for drama, remained in place, not one of them leaving.

Chen Ruoqiu consoled her, “Mother, don’t be angry. Perhaps a guest simply entered the wrong room.” After speaking, she gave a signal to her maids. The two maids stepped forward and pushed the door.

The door appeared tightly closed, but it wasn’t properly secured and opened with a light push. Immediately after, they heard an “Ah!” of surprise. The two maids were startled and retreated two steps.

Their behavior aroused suspicion. The Shen Matriarch commanded sharply, “What’s going on?”

One of the maids seemed to lose her balance and steadied herself against the door, unintentionally pushing it open wider. The scene inside was suddenly exposed to everyone, causing all to gasp in shock.

The tea room was small, originally arranged for temporary rest, with only a small couch for reclining and a tea table. Now the teacups on the table were all shattered on the floor. On the narrow couch, two figures were intertwined—clearly a man pressing down on a woman. The noise they had heard earlier was the sound of teacups breaking during a struggle.

This chaotic scene was now exposed to everyone without any concealment. The ladies immediately covered their daughters’ eyes, fearing they would witness such an indecent situation.

Outside, Xi’er exclaimed in shock, “Young Miss!”

“Chuchu!” Chen Ruoqiu cried out.

“What?” The Shen Matriarch froze, nearly fainting. The maid Fuer quickly moved to support her.

“What is happening here?” Chen Ruoqiu’s face showed panic, which to others appeared as the distress of a family facing a scandal. The two people in the room seemed unaware of the commotion outside. The man lying on the woman didn’t move, while the woman struggled to push him off.

“Heavens!” Xi’er covered her mouth in shock. “Didn’t the eldest young master already return to his room after getting drunk? How could he be here…”

With these words, everyone immediately understood three-tenths of what had happened.

The drunk eldest young master of the household, encountering the cousin who had gone back to change clothes, was overcome with lust and committed an act that stained her reputation.

“Qiu’er has always been sensible. How could he do such a thing?” Chen Ruoqiu shook her head. “It’s all because of alcohol!” As she spoke, she appeared deeply pained.

Her words had already firmly established Shen Qiu’s guilt.

Shen Miao watched silently, witnessing a scene almost identical to her previous life. After Shen Qiu woke up, he would be unable to defend himself. Though Shen Xin and Luo Xuyan would believe him, the facts were before everyone’s eyes. The victim was undeniably a young lady, and if Shen Qiu refused to marry Jing Chuchu, the many ladies present today would drown him in their contempt. What had she done at that time? Shen Miao’s expression darkened at the memory. She had felt deeply ashamed, embarrassed by having a brother who would violate someone’s innocence. She had joined others in condemning Shen Qiu.

Shen Yue suddenly asked, “Fifth Sister, why aren’t you saying anything?”

All eyes turned to Shen Miao. Shen Qiu was Shen Miao’s elder brother. With Shen Qiu committing such an act, Shen Miao would not look good either. People wondered if she would wholeheartedly defend Shen Qiu or take the righteous stance of condemning her own family.

Yi Peilan, who enjoyed seeing Shen Miao’s misfortune, gleefully pretended to comfort her: “Shen Miao, this matter has nothing to do with you. After all, your brother is your brother, and you are you. Though you’re family, you shouldn’t be judged together.”

Yet the more she spoke this way, the more she reminded everyone that Shen Miao was Shen Qiu’s sister. If Shen Qiu had moral failings, how good could Shen Miao be?

“I’m just wondering,” Shen Miao said coldly, “why we’re standing here gossiping instead of resolving the situation. Should we invite the outsiders at the front gate to come join the spectacle? After all, the more people, the better.”

Her sarcasm cut like a knife, striking right to the heart of the matter.

Indeed, in such a situation, any ordinary family would immediately try to cover it up. Yet the Shen Matriarch and Chen Ruoqiu seemed to want as many people as possible to know, even discussing it openly at the doorway. What kind of intentions were these? Certainly not good ones. And what was their purpose?

The Shen Matriarch and Chen Ruoqiu looked embarrassed, but then Shen Miao continued lightly, “Even if my mother isn’t here, shouldn’t someone be in charge? If the Second Aunt is replaced by the Third Aunt, does she not know what to do?”

Chen Ruoqiu’s face immediately turned pale, along with Shen Yue’s. Bringing up Ren Wanyun at this moment made everyone’s gaze meaningful. Chen Ruoqiu was especially angered—Shen Miao’s words suggested her leadership abilities were inferior to Ren Wanyun’s, which was a slap in her face.

Having spent many years in the imperial harem, Shen Miao was no stranger to verbal sparring. None of the women in the harem was simple, and their arguments were like clashing blades, with one sentence carrying ten different meanings. Her current words seemed mild, but carried far-reaching implications.

Was it because Luo Xuyan wasn’t present that they felt free to bully Shen Qiu? And seeing Shen Qiu disgraced, they chose not to intervene and even let everyone know? More importantly, the ladies weren’t fools. Initially stunned by the scene, Shen Miao’s calm demeanor gradually helped them regain their composure. Looking more carefully at the situation, they began to wonder: was this “scandal” actually orchestrated?

The Shen Matriarch, embarrassed and angered by Shen Miao’s words, said, “Fifth girl, is this how you react when your eldest brother has done such a thing? You are indeed stubborn and ignorant!”

Shen Miao nearly laughed out loud, but shook her head, “This is a serious matter. We should summon Father, Second Uncle, and Third Uncle before making any decisions.”

The Shen Matriarch was stunned, as was Chen Ruoqiu, along with all the ladies present. Such matters were best kept as private as possible—why did Shen Miao seem eager for more people to know? Chen Ruoqiu felt particularly uneasy. Though everything was proceeding as she had imagined, something felt wrong.

The door remained wide open, with little movement from those inside. The Shen Matriarch’s maids were about to close it when Shen Miao said with a cold laugh, “Don’t bother closing it. Since everyone has already seen, closing the door now would be like covering your ears while stealing a bell. Anyone who wants to see more can take a closer look.”

By now, even the Shen Matriarch sensed something was amiss. She wanted to send someone inside, but Shen Miao’s aggressive stance was surprising, and she found herself in a difficult position where doing more would only make things look worse. The Shen Matriarch could only suppress her unease and watch as Shen Miao ordered someone to fetch Shen Xin and the others.

Jiang Xiaoxuan wiped her tears and said, “The Jing family’s young lady is still so young. After such an incident, what will become of the rest of her life?”

“Please, everyone, bear witness,” the Shen Matriarch spoke up. “The Shen family has always maintained proper conduct. Now that such a disgraceful incident has occurred, we must certainly give everyone an explanation. Chuchu is my maternal niece’s child, and has always been well-behaved. I had intended to keep her by my side and find her a good match in the future, but who would have thought…” The Shen Matriarch’s face was grave. “My Shen family is not one to bully others with our power. No matter what happens in the future, Chuchu will be my Jing family’s daughter-in-law. This is beyond question, and we will certainly give Chuchu the proper resolution!”

What a grandiose excuse! What a self-righteous facade!

If she didn’t know the inside story, even Shen Miao might have applauded the Shen Matriarch’s performance. Her eyes held mockery—truly, the old woman’s background as a singer and actress made her acting vivid and convincing.

Sure enough, after the Shen Matriarch’s speech, she immediately won everyone’s approval.

“As expected of a great family, they truly own up to their actions.”

“If that’s the case, at least the Jing family’s young lady will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.”

“The Shen family’s upright conduct is truly genuine, and the Shen Matriarch’s choice is wise.”

“I never expected the Shen Matriarch to have such magnanimity.”

Half of them praised the Shen Matriarch for acknowledging the mistake and remedying it, while the other half pitied Jing Chuchu for inexplicably suffering this misfortune. As for Shen Qiu, he was almost unanimously portrayed as a shameless lecher.

Just then, they heard hurried exclamations from outside, “Chuchu! Chuchu!” Looking up, they saw that the people Shen Miao had sent had finally brought Shen Xin and his group.

Fortunately, they hadn’t summoned the colleagues from court, only Shen Xin’s three brothers and Luo Xuyan. Walking at the front was Jing Guansheng. He strode forward forcefully. The ladies made way for him. Jing Guansheng stood at the door without entering, staring inside as if struck by lightning.

“What happened?” Luo Xuyan asked anxiously.

Chen Ruoqiu wiped away a tear and said, “Sister-in-law, don’t be upset. This isn’t Qiu’er’s fault, it’s all because of the alcohol.”

On the way, Shen Gui and Shen Wan had already heard about the matter. Shen Gui, eager to see Shen Xin in trouble, immediately adopted a shameful posture: “It’s all my fault. I should have stopped Qiu’er when he was drinking. If he hadn’t been drunk, how could this have happened?”

“Second Brother, don’t blame yourself,” Shen Wan sighed. “No one wanted this to happen. Let’s think about what to do now.”

“What can be done?” Jing Guansheng’s eyes were bloodshot. “My sister came here safely, only to be victimized and have her innocence violated. Of course we need an explanation!”

“Watch your damn mouth!” Shen Xin immediately flared up. “I raised that brat Shen Qiu myself. He would never do such a thing!”

“That’s right,” Luo Xuyan gave a cold laugh. “Jing Chuchu is hardly a rare beauty. When Qiu’er was at the border, so many officials wanted to marry their daughters to him. Any one of them would be prettier than Jing Chuchu. Why would he risk his future for Jing Chuchu? Is he stupid?”

Shen Xin was a hardened warrior from the battlefield, unyielding and tough. Luo Xuyan was even more fierce, speaking bluntly without any softening. Their words made Jing Guansheng’s face turn pale, and the Shen Matriarch was too angry to speak.

But thinking about it, what they said made sense. While Jing Chuchu was not unattractive, she was far from unique. Jing Guansheng’s accusation that she had been targeted was somewhat excessive.

Shen Miao felt like laughing. In her previous life, Shen Xin and Luo Xuyan had defended Shen Qiu in the same way. Unfortunately, Jing Chuchu’s previously innocent demeanor was well-known to everyone, and with so many witnesses present, what more could be said? They could only accept their fate. The Shen Matriarch had invited so many noble ladies from the capital to “witness” this, leaving Shen Qiu with no escape route.

“With both witnesses and evidence, how can you deny it!” Jing Guansheng said angrily. “Could my sister, a frail woman, force Shen Qiu? I thought Shen Qiu was a gentleman, but it seems one can never truly know a person. I will report this to the authorities!”

Reporting to the authorities would turn this from a family matter into a public scandal. The Shen Matriarch angrily said, “Enough!” She then spoke softly to Jing Guansheng, “Guansheng, you are my nephew’s son. You know how I’ve treated you these days. I’m very fond of Chuchu, and I wouldn’t let her be wronged even if others would! Rest assured, I will give you a proper resolution!”

“Wife of the eldest son!” The Shen Matriarch changed her tone and angrily addressed Shen Xin, “In this matter, Qiu’er is clearly at fault. How did your father teach you? Shen family members must be upright and honorable. If someone ruins a girl’s innocence, they must take responsibility! After what Qiu’er has done, he must marry Chuchu and treat her well for the rest of his life!”

Shen family members being upright and honorable was what the old General Shen had constantly emphasized to Shen Xin. In the past, even if just for the sake of the Shen Matriarch’s face, Shen Xin would have accepted this injustice. But since returning to the capital this year, the friction between him and the Shen Matriarch had deepened. Now, hearing these words and looking at the Shen Matriarch’s expression, he found her hypocritical and hateful. With anger rising in his heart, Shen Xin said furiously, “I’ve already said, Qiu’er would never do such a thing!”

“But…” It was Shen Dongfeng, who had been hiding at the back and gone unnoticed, who suddenly spoke up, “Why is everyone assuming it’s Elder Brother inside without even checking? Is Elder Brother really in there?”

With these words, everyone was stunned.

Indeed, was the person inside really Shen Qiu? From the start of the incident until now, no one had gone in to look. All they could see were two bodies overlapping. The ladies generally understood that this matter was complex, and what was being called a drunken mistake was likely a setup. But since the trap had been set so thoroughly, Shen Qiu would just have to accept his bad luck.

Chen Ruoqiu smiled, “What are you saying, Dongling? Only Qiu’er left the table drunk. Who else could it be?”

“There’s also Second Brother,” Shen Miao said lightly. “Why is Second Brother also missing? And why should only my Elder Brother take responsibility?”

“Sister, what responsibility are you talking about?” A sudden voice rang out. Chen Ruoqiu’s mind exploded, and everyone turned to look. Not far away, Shen Qiu stood in clean clothes with Feng Anning beside him, looking at everyone with confusion.

“Anning!” Madam Feng was startled and hurried over to pull her away, scolding, “Why are you wandering around?”

“I got lost on my way back from the restroom,” Feng Anning said innocently. “I wandered for a long time and couldn’t find my way out, until I met the Shen family’s eldest son, who brought me here. What’s happened?”

Shen Xin and Luo Xuyan were only stunned for a moment before Shen Xin burst into laughter, a laugh that sounded quite triumphant to everyone.

With Shen Qiu standing there perfectly fine, who was the person inside?

“You’ve seen enough,” Shen Miao smiled slightly. “Someone, let us see clearly who needs to take responsibility.”

The Shen Matriarch tried to stop them, but it was too late. The maids with Luo Xuyan were strong and swift. Before Chen Ruoqiu could give an order, they had already rushed inside. They moved so quickly that before anyone could react, a groan was heard from inside, and the two maids were already dragging the man out: “Madam, it’s the Second Young Master!”

Shen Yuan appeared before everyone with disheveled clothes and a flushed face. Unlike earlier, when Shen Qiu’s name was called but no one went in to check, this evidence was almost irrefutable. Everyone’s gaze turned to Shen Gui and the Shen Matriarch.

Shen Miao’s mocking voice rang out: “What nonsense! It was just a misunderstanding, and my Elder Brother almost took the blame. You servants, be more careful next time. Damaging someone’s reputation is a serious offense—people go to jail for that!”

“Sister, what are you talking about?” Shen Qiu scratched his head. “What blame would I have taken?”

“Qiu’er, someone wanted to force a wife on you,” Luo Xuyan had figured things out. What had earlier seemed like the Shen Matriarch and Chen Ruoqiu pressuring her turned out to be a false alarm, and her anger rose rapidly, making her words increasingly harsh. “I’ve always said that Qiu’er’s wife must be someone I approve of. Qiu’er is disciplined—how could he casually bring a bride into his room?”

Meanwhile, Feng Anning suddenly realized what was happening and said, “What’s this about? I’ve been with the Shen family’s eldest son the whole time. It seems he had just sobered up. I’ve heard of forced marriages, but is this a forced wedding?”

Feng Anning was quite clever. She deliberately exaggerated, causing Madam Feng’s expression to change as she scolded, “Anning!” Feng Anning stuck out her tongue and said no more.

“Grandmother, Cousin, Second Uncle, what should we do now?” Shen Miao asked with a troubled expression, though her leisurely demeanor made it clear to everyone that she was enjoying the spectacle.

Talk about a slap in the face! This was the perfect example!

The Shen Matriarch was becoming flustered. Since she had ordered this scheme, she had naturally made thorough preparations. However, she had no idea how Shen Qiu had been replaced by Shen Yuan. But seeing Shen Miao’s smiling face, the Shen Matriarch understood that this must be Shen Miao’s doing.

Shen Gui was also dumbfounded. He had come specifically to witness Shen Qiu’s disgrace after hearing about it. A person’s reputation could affect their career at court, otherwise, the censors wouldn’t receive such high salaries. Now that Shen Qiu had been replaced by Shen Yuan, who had just returned to the capital to take up his post, wouldn’t this ruin his official career?

The young ladies were still confused, but the wives understood clearly. Today’s events were a play staged by the Shen family themselves. Someone had tried to use Jing Chuchu to trap Shen Qiu, but unexpectedly, Shen Qiu had been replaced by Shen Yuan. Thinking back on Shen Miao’s attitude from the start of the incident until now, it was clear that she had something to do with how things had turned out.

Everyone said that the Shen family’s legitimate fifth daughter was a fool, treated as an idiot, and a lovesick girl. But now, who would dare consider her a lovesick girl again? The person who planned this trap probably never expected to be countered so effectively. Even those invited to “witness” had now become Shen Miao’s pawns.

The Shen Matriarch was in a difficult position. Her eyes rolled back as she prepared to feign a faint to gloss over the matter, but Shen Miao said, “Cousin, you must be devastated about what happened to your sister. Don’t worry, Grandmother just promised that she would take responsibility for Cousin.”

The Shen Matriarch immediately stopped pretending to faint and glared at Shen Miao, “Yuan’er is still unconscious, clearly he was set up. Fifth girl, don’t talk nonsense!”

“Madam, what are you saying?” Before Shen Miao could speak, Luo Xuyan exploded, “Earlier, when you said the person inside was Qiu’er, I didn’t hear you considering his side at all. Yuan’er is your grandson, but isn’t Qiu’er your grandson too? You’re playing favorites!”

Luo Xuyan wasn’t afraid to fall out with the Shen Matriarch. With her fiery personality, she let loose a barrage of words, leaving the Shen Matriarch only able to shout in anger, “You’re rebelling!”

“Grandmother, let’s discuss how to handle Second Brother’s situation,” Shen Miao smiled slightly. Her tone was mild, and she maintained her composure throughout, making the Shen Matriarch look increasingly awkward. She said, “What did Grandmother say earlier? Grandmother said: Grandfather used to say that Shen family members must be upright and honorable. If someone ruins a girl’s innocence, they must take responsibility. Second Brother must marry Cousin!” She deliberately imitated the Shen Matriarch’s self-righteous tone. Luo Xuyan burst out laughing, and Shen Miao looked at everyone, “All the ladies have witnessed it. Grandmother always keeps her word, and surely wouldn’t forget in such a short time.”

The noble ladies knew Shen Miao was using them as her weapons, but they could only laugh dryly. The Shen Matriarch’s face alternated between red and white as Shen Miao mocked her. She could only repeat, “There’s something fishy about this matter, there’s something fishy!”

“I also think there’s something fishy,” Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. “So let’s report it to the authorities. Father, your men work quickly. There’s still time to go to the Capital Governor.”

Before she finished speaking, Shen Gui shouted, “No!”

Shen Miao feigned surprise, “Why not?”

Shen Gui glared at her viciously. Once reported to the authorities, the matter could no longer be concealed. The court censors had plenty of free time every day, and with this incident, they would certainly submit a memorial about it. Moreover, it was a scandal, and what good would come from everyone knowing about it?

“Forget it,” Shen Miao waved her hand as if she had a headache. “This matter ultimately depends on Cousin’s opinion.” She looked at Jing Guansheng, who had maintained a dark expression, and smiled slightly, “Cousin must be the most heartbroken.”

Jing Guansheng remained silent.

The Shen Matriarch said angrily, “First, find a doctor to examine them!” Jing Chuchu and Shen Yuan had remained motionless, likely victims of some scheme. The Shen Matriarch had a stomach full of anger she couldn’t vent. Today’s events were supposed to happen to Shen Qiu, but now they had befallen Shen Yuan, yet she couldn’t say anything.

Chen Ruoqiu busied herself with the noble ladies. Having seen enough drama, these ladies and young misses knew that today was a struggle between Shen Miao and other members of the Shen family, with Shen Miao emerging victorious. They promised not to spread the word and then took their leave. Feng Anning winked at Shen Miao before leaving with Madam Feng. Shen Yue looked at the chaotic courtyard, feeling rather disappointed.

They had come so close to ruining Shen Qiu—why had it turned into Shen Yuan in the end?

Shen Xin and the others followed the Shen Matriarch to the main hall. This matter needed a resolution. With so many people having witnessed it, it was no longer a minor issue that could be easily resolved.

Shen Miao walked at the very back and was suddenly called. Looking back, she saw Jing Guansheng approaching.

Shen Miao was small, while Jing Guansheng was both tall and slightly overweight, creating an imposing presence. His usually gentle and cultured face no longer showed its customary smile. Instead, it was dark and vicious, like a wolf shedding its sheep’s clothing to reveal its true nature. He said, “Fifth sister, you did this, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Shen Miao readily admitted.

Not expecting Shen Miao to be so forthright, Jing Guansheng was momentarily stunned, then angrily raised his fist to strike her. Jingzhe and Guyu quickly blocked him. Shen Miao looked at him coldly, “I did it. What can you do about it?”

“You’re shameless!” Jing Guansheng growled.

“I’m shameless?” Shen Miao looked at him. “Cousin, today’s events—do you dare say you knew nothing about them?”

Jing Guansheng froze, glaring at her. As Jing Chuchu’s brother, how could Jing Guansheng not know the Shen Matriarch’s plans? Having Jing Chuchu become Shen Qiu’s wife would only benefit him, but who could have expected it to become Shen Yuan instead!

“Using your sister as a pawn, and now calling me shameless. Cousin, don’t you find yourself disgusting?” Shen Miao smiled.

“You!”

“The outcome is already determined. Cousin might as well think differently,” Shen Miao looked at him calmly. “Cousin Sister has lost her innocence in front of so many people. It will be difficult for her to marry into a good family and become your pawn in the future. Who would want to marry a broken shoe?”

Her words were vicious. Jing Guansheng clenched his fists but had to admit that Shen Miao was right. This was what it meant to lose both the wife and the army—he understood now. With Jing Chuchu in this state, what good family would want her, let alone a wealthy one?

“Cousin, I’ll give you a reminder, considering we’re cousins,” Shen Miao smiled warmly. “As long as she marries into the Shen family, it’s a step up for you. That being the case, what’s the difference between marrying the eldest brother or the second brother?”

Jing Guansheng’s heart stirred as he looked at Shen Miao without speaking.

“My second brother is also young and already an official. His future is bright, and he’s as excellent as my eldest brother. Since you’re planning to trade your sister for advancement, why not change from the eldest brother’s wife to the second brother’s wife? It makes no difference to you.”

She examined her fingernails, as if speaking to no one in particular, “In life, one must know how to adapt.”