Regarding the case of Shen Yuan accidentally killing Sun Cainan in the capital, the trial proceeded with unprecedented swiftness. First, Sun Tianzheng submitted a memorial to the imperial court demanding that Shen Yuan pay for blood with blood. If his demand was not met, he claimed that due to his old age and weakening strength, he would have to retire and return to his hometown—essentially threatening Emperor Wenhui that he would abandon his post.
Compared to Shen Gui, the Minister of Personnel was more important. Sun Tianzheng had been in his position for many years, and if he were suddenly replaced, the connections and channels he had established would likely fall into chaos. Emperor Wenhui naturally needed to appease Sun Tianzheng. Furthermore, the imperial censors had always been ready to criticize court officials for their mistakes, and they would not miss this opportunity in this accidental homicide case. Considering that it would be inappropriate to criticize Sun Tianzheng, who had lost his only son, the censors directed their accusations at Shen Gui.
What was unexpected was Shen Gui’s attitude. Kneeling before Emperor Wenhui, with tears and mucus flowing, he guaranteed that this incident was due to his failure to properly teach his son, and he was willing to sacrifice family ties for justice, allowing Shen Yuan to pay for the crime with his life.
It was said that these words immediately stunned all the civil and military officials in the court.
Although these words sounded like impartial and just rhetoric, to so readily agree to a life for a life regarding one’s son, without even attempting to argue for leniency, seemed too heartless. Even though Shen Gui was normally diplomatic and skillful, “even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs,” and this behavior made colleagues who were normally friendly with him keep their distance.
The officials unanimously stood with Sun Tianzheng. When the Emperor asked for the opinions of the princes, all nine princes unanimously sided with Sun Tianzheng. Even those who didn’t explicitly state their position knew in their hearts how this case would unfold.
The execution order for Shen Yuan was set for three days later, perhaps the fastest execution order in the history of the Ming Qi since its founding. There was almost no opportunity for a retrial or resistance; the verdict was immediate. While the Sun family’s pushing certainly played a role, the Shen family’s inaction was also a significant factor. Whether there were other behind-the-scenes manipulators remains unknown.
In the dark prison cell, Shen Yuan sat in the innermost corner. His hair was disheveled, and having not bathed for days, his body emitted a sour odor. Looking carefully at his normally calm gaze, one could see slight panic and even traces of despair.
Last night, someone had infiltrated and fed him a silencing drug. He couldn’t say a word. Who would do such a thing, and who had the extraordinary ability to break into a prison cell? Shen Yuan knew very well.
Fu Xiuyi would not come to save him. Initially, he had harbored a glimmer of hope, but after careful consideration, he realized that saving him would bring Fu Xiuyi more harm than good. That man excelled at seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, so he would never take such a risk for himself. On the contrary, Shen Yuan’s existence had become an unruly chess piece for Fu Xiuyi, who would naturally eliminate him without mercy.
Administering a silencing drug didn’t necessarily mean he didn’t want to kill him. Fu Xiuyi was naturally cautious and probably feared that his death in the prison cell would arouse suspicion.
A bitter smile slowly appeared at the corners of Shen Yuan’s mouth. Winners become kings, losers become outlaws. From the beginning, he knew what kind of person Fu Xiuyi was. Working under Fu Xiuyi, he should have anticipated such an outcome, though he hadn’t expected it to come so quickly.
In the darkness, there seemed to be the sound of footsteps, different from the hurried footsteps of the jailers; these were slower. He raised his head, following the sound of footsteps, and saw a purple dress before him in the dim light.
Looking up, he saw a young woman with delicate features, smiling at him. “Second Brother.”
Shen Yuan felt a surge of emotion blocking his chest.
The moment he saw Shen Miao’s face, intense hatred and unwillingness welled up from his heart, making Shen Yuan wish he could kill her right then.
Even if he didn’t understand how things had turned out this way, Shen Yuan was very clear on one point: this matter must be connected to Shen Miao.
Shen Miao slowly crouched down, her gaze level with Shen Yuan’s, and smiled. “Second Brother must have been having a difficult time in here these days. Second Aunt has gone mad, Second Uncle refuses to see you, and Seventh Brother is still too young. Come to think of it, Old Madam cared for you the most, but yesterday she issued an order that no one in the mansion should mention your name, so it seems she has also abandoned you. After much thought, I felt that since we are siblings, I should come to see you off one last time.”
Shen Yuan glared at Shen Miao with gritted teeth. Words could kill and destroy one’s beliefs. Right now, Shen Miao was unhesitatingly stabbing him in the heart. Although Shen Yuan’s own emotions were cold, being imprisoned and having no one come to visit was disheartening. The Old Madam had treated him well in the past, but that was because of his intelligence. Now that he was a prisoner, Old Madam would quickly distance herself to avoid trouble.
“Thinking about it, Second Brother and Elder Sister are truly birth siblings; both have been imprisoned. However, when Elder Sister was imprisoned, Second Aunt was still trying to help her. Now, no one is making efforts for you.”
Shen Yuan remained silent.
“Why doesn’t Second Brother speak?” Shen Miao tilted her head, looking at him. “Is it because you don’t want to talk to me, or…” She suddenly smiled. “You’ve been fed a silencing drug?”
Shen Yuan was startled. Shen Miao had guessed that he had been fed a silencing drug, and before he could think further, her next words shocked him even more.
“It seems Fu Xiuyi’s methods remain consistent, with no changes,” Shen Miao mused.
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened. Hearing Fu Xiuyi’s name from Shen Miao’s lips, how did she know he was working for Fu Xiuyi? Moreover, she spoke with such familiarity, and from her words, she seemed to know Fu Xiuyi very well. The astonishment in Shen Yuan’s heart was beyond words. In the inner chambers of the Shen mansion, no matter how skillful Shen Miao was, Shen Yuan had never regarded her too highly, because a young lady from the inner chambers had limited influence. But when Shen Miao mentioned Fu Xiuyi’s name, Shen Yuan could no longer view her with his usual perspective.
“Second Brother need not be so surprised,” Shen Miao glanced at him and said, “I not only know about Fu Xiuyi but am also aware of his plans. If you wish to use this to inform Fu Xiuyi about me to redeem yourself, it’s too late. Prince Ding is cautious by nature. Since he has fed you a silencing drug and won’t rescue you, he won’t send anyone here during this time to avoid drawing attention. Until you die, he won’t have any more contact with you. From the moment you became a useless piece, he severed all connections with you and won’t allow you any means to implicate him.”
Shen Yuan’s heart began to race frantically. Shen Miao was not wrong; Fu Xiuyi was exactly that kind of person. So, since yesterday, he had been waiting for his death with despair. Don’t even think about mutual destruction, because such an outcome would be worse than death. Fu Xiuyi was never the gentleman he appeared to be on the surface.
He extended his finger and wrote a few characters in the dusty ground, dipping into the murky water in his bowl.
*What is your purpose?*
Shen Miao burst into laughter. When she laughed, her eyes and mouth curved, suddenly resembling the clueless girl she had been a year ago—somewhat silly, somewhat simple-minded, truly a young lady who understood nothing. Now, with the same expression, it gave people a chilling feeling.
Shen Miao finally stopped laughing and looked at Shen Yuan. “What is my purpose? Hasn’t Second Brother already guessed?”
*You want to deal with the second branch of the family?* Shen Yuan wrote on the ground.
“Not just the second branch,” Shen Miao suddenly lowered her voice. Her eyes suddenly sparked with ferocity, which she couldn’t conceal, and along with it leaked murderous intent. She said, “Also the third branch, the Old Madam, and… Prince Ding.”
Shen Yuan stared at her intently.
“You want to ask why again?” Shen Miao said. “I’m merely doing to you what you did to me. Just like this time, doesn’t the Jing family matter seem familiar to you, Second Brother? That’s because it was your method all along. When your chess strategy is used against you, how could you solve it?”
Shen Yuan looked at Shen Miao in confusion. He couldn’t understand her words but felt that Shen Miao’s current expression seemed to border on madness. Having hatred for the second and third branches was one thing—everyone knew they merely pretended to be harmonious—but where did her hatred for Prince Ding come from? Was it merely because she once admired him but couldn’t gain his response?
“Second Brother,” Shen Miao smiled strangely, “you should thank me. On your journey to the underworld, you will have many companions. Rest assured, after you, no one from the second branch of the Shen family will take your place. You will forever remain the one and only legitimate eldest son of the Shen family.”
Shen Yuan glared at Shen Miao.
Shen Miao stood up, her voice rising gently in the darkness and falling heavily, crashing into Shen Yuan’s ears.
“The second branch will have no heirs.”
…
After leaving, the jailer, having received his bribe, walked away satisfied, promising not to tell anyone about this visit. Jingzhe and Guyu helped Shen Miao into the carriage. Guyu asked, “Miss, will Second Young Master be executed in three days?”
Shen Miao nodded.
“It feels like a dream,” Guyu murmured. “Just a few days ago, Second Young Master was so arrogant, and now he’s about to lose his life.”
“Fate willed it so,” Shen Miao said coldly.
Sensing that Shen Miao wasn’t in a good mood, Jingzhe and Guyu stuck out their tongues and said no more. Upon returning to the Shen mansion, as soon as they entered, they saw many people gathered in the main hall—the Jing family.
Madam Jing was rolling on the ground, creating a scene. “Return my Chuchu to me! Return my Chuchu to me!”
Old Madam Shen was also furious, her face ashen as she ordered the servants, “Drive these people out at once!”
“Old Madam,” Jing Guansheng, abandoning his previous cultured demeanor, looked fierce and said, “Our Chuchu entered your mansion perfectly fine but was taken away, and now we don’t know if she’s alive or dead. Even if we take this matter to the government office, you would be in the wrong.”
Old Madam Shen cursed in anger, “You have the nerve to say that! Look at what that little vixen has done to our family! If not for that bringer of misfortune, how would the Shen family have been implicated in such a lawsuit?”
“Old Madam, mind your words,” Jing Guansheng said. “We all said at the time that someone must have been scheming behind the scenes. My sister’s maid also disappeared later. Don’t you all find it strange? Someone must have bribed her!”
All the women of the household were present in the hall. Chen Ruoqiu looked at the scene with a headache, Shen Yue watched the Jing family with disgust, Luo Xueyan maintained an indifferent attitude as if it were none of her business, and Concubine Wan stood quietly at the side holding Shen Dongling’s hand—she had no right to speak here.
“Cousin is stretching things too far. Do you think that blaming everything on a personal maid will settle the matter?” Shen Miao’s voice rang out. “After all, a maid cannot force someone to have an affair with another person.”
These utterly sarcastic words made Jing Guansheng’s face alternate between red and white. Everyone looked towards the entrance as Shen Miao walked in gracefully. Old Madam Shen had never loved Shen Miao as much as she did today; as long as she could make the troublesome Jing family stop for a moment, her heart would be at ease.
Luo Xueyan happily pulled Shen Miao to her side. “Jiaojiao has been out for so long, are you tired?”
Madam Jing continued crying and making a scene. “You and Father are blood relatives. Chuchu also has your blood. How can you be so heartless? Heavens, Old Madam, you’re forcing us to our deaths!”
Old Madam Shen was beyond exasperated. “Who are your blood relatives? A bunch of freeloaders coming to the capital want to claim a relationship with me? Look at yourselves! Do you think having some looks means you can do whatever you want? No wonder you come from a lowly background, with your wanton ways, so young yet already know how to seduce men…” In her anger, Old Madam Shen resorted to the kind of vulgar insults typically heard in market gossip. Her words were extremely harsh, and for a moment, everyone in the hall was stunned.
After a while, Jing Guansheng suddenly smiled and said, “Old Madam, are you truly so heartless? Will you stand by and do nothing about Chuchu’s matter?”
“What does Jing Chuchu have to do with me? Ridiculous!” Old Madam Shen answered without hesitation.
“Fine,” Jing Guansheng sneered, suddenly glancing at Shen Miao, and said, “Since you want to abandon us after using us, don’t blame me for being disloyal. Back then, you had Chuchu climb into Shen Qiu’s bed and asked me to find ways to please Shen Miao. You weren’t so heartless then.”
These words shocked everyone present.
They were shocked because, although they had guessed the inside story, they never thought Jing Guansheng would say such things in front of everyone.
The most shocked was Luo Xueyan.
She looked at Jing Guansheng and slowly asked, “What did you say?”
Ignoring Old Madam Shen’s enraged face, Jing Guansheng continued recklessly, “Aunt might not know. When my sister and I first came to the Shen mansion, Old Madam was extremely warm and welcoming. Why? She said she adored our siblings and hoped to become in-laws with the Jing family. But—how could the Eldest Cousin look favorably upon Chuchu from our humble background? Old Madam personally administered drugs at the time, perhaps too eager to facilitate the marriage, but unexpectedly, it was Second Cousin who benefited in the end.”
Luo Xueyan trembled with anger and suddenly drew a soft sword from her waist, placing it across Jing Guansheng’s neck.
Jing Guansheng’s face changed, but he still forced a smile and said, “Aunt, you’re targeting the wrong person. We siblings know our place; without Old Madam’s encouragement, how would we dare to aspire to such heights? Besides, it was Old Madam who administered the drugs. Shouldn’t Aunt blame someone else?”
Luo Xueyan turned to stare at Old Madam Shen, her killing intent surging. Old Madam Shen was so frightened that she almost fell from her seat. She said, “Daughter-in-law, are you planning to kill your mother-in-law?”
“Old Madam not only wanted Chuchu to marry Eldest Cousin, but also wanted me to please my cousin,” Jing Guansheng smiled frivolously. “She even said, men and women’s pleasure is just that simple. Once the rice is cooked, one will be loyal…”
Luo Xueyan couldn’t bear to hear any more. She struck the ground with her sword, and the floor, made of fine stone, cracked visibly. Madam Jing screamed in terror, and Old Madam Shen’s face turned pale.
Shen Yue and Chen Ruoqiu cowered slightly, while Concubine Wan was inwardly astonished. She hadn’t expected Old Madam Shen to resort to such base tactics. Ordinary women or concubines using such methods would not be surprising, but Old Madam Shen was the matriarch of the family. Such tactics were truly despicable.
Luo Xueyan held Shen Miao with one hand and her sword with the other as she looked at Old Madam Shen. When she was truly angry, her murderous aura was palpable, making one believe without a doubt that the next moment she could lunge forward and chop off Old Madam Shen’s head. She said, “Old Madam, since I married into the Shen family, I believe Shen Xin and I have treated you with deep affection and respect. Although you are not his birth mother, we still respect you as husband and wife. But now I understand that there are truly ungrateful wolves in this world. I cannot stay in such a Shen family.”
“Daughter-in-law, don’t listen to his nonsense!” Old Madam Shen, her wicked heart still beating, exclaimed, “Are you going to be unfilial?”
Whether it’s nonsense can be investigated. As for being unfilial,” Luo Xueyan sneered, enunciating each word, “even if I bear the name of being unfilial for life, I will not let my children stay with such a family!” She pulled Shen Miao and said, “Let’s go!”
How Old Madam Shen raged behind them, how the Jing family continued to make a scene, how Chen Ruoqiu tried to mediate—none of these matters were important anymore. Shen Miao was pulled by Luo Xueyan as they strode towards the western courtyard, her heart filled with satisfaction.
This was the goal she had wanted to achieve. Sometimes, a one-sided statement might seem insufficient, not because people wouldn’t believe it, but because dividing a family is not an easy matter. It involves many intertwined interests and might bear much criticism. Making Shen Xin resolute about dividing the family was not an easy task.
But after today, dividing the family would be much easier. At least from now on, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan would not have any sympathy for Old Madam Shen. When parents face someone who has harmed their children, their instinct is to protect.
Luo Xueyan pulled Shen Miao back to the room, first closing the door, catching her breath, and then sneering, “Your father and brother went to the palace today. They should have seen what kind of people these are!” Then, suddenly remembering something, she looked at Shen Miao with slight regret and said, “Jiaojiao, are you scared? I was too angry just now.”
Shen Miao shook her head and looked at her. “What should we do next? Mother spoke such words to Old Madam today; I fear Old Madam will use this to accuse you afterward.”
“What is there to fear?” Luo Xueyan slammed the table. “When your father returns, we’ll discuss dividing the family. The people in the Shen mansion all harbor ill intentions. If we continue like this, who knows what else might happen?” She touched Shen Miao’s face and said, “No wonder you wanted us to stay in the capital for half a year more. Did you… Already know?”
Shen Miao smiled without answering, and Luo Xueyan became more convinced of her guess. She stood up and said, “No, I still need to investigate this matter. I’ll have the guards outside watch the courtyard gate; don’t go out.” She treated the Shen mansion as if it were a den of tigers and dragons.
Shen Miao nodded. After Luo Xueyan left, Jingzhe asked, “Miss, will we divide the family?”
“Of course,” Shen Miao said calmly. “My mother is someone who can’t tolerate even a speck of dust in her eyes; she will naturally want to divide.”
“That’s wonderful!” Jingzhe said. “After dividing the family, Miss will have much more freedom to do as she wishes, without having to be constantly vigilant of this and that.”
Bailu entered and said to Shen Miao, “Miss, Miss Taoyuan has been sent away, settled in the estate, and given silver.”
Shen Miao nodded.
Bribing Jing Chuchu’s maid Taoyuan had been extremely simple. Jing Chuchu had originally planned to marry Shen Yuan and then elevate Taoyuan to a concubine to win over Shen Yuan’s heart. What she couldn’t accept was that Shen Yuan already despised being schemed against. Even if Taoyuan were elevated to a concubine, Shen Yuan would not treat her well. Yet Jing Chuchu still thought she was doing Taoyuan a great favor, not knowing that Taoyuan had already been bought by someone else.
Not wanting to be a concubine, nor wanting to follow a mistress like Jing Chuchu, Taoyuan had risked her life for her freedom. Shen Miao had not broken her promise to Taoyuan, giving her money and ensuring her safety. A person in power should know how to combine reward and punishment for servants who serve well.
After today, everything would proceed according to her plans. Guyu said, “After the Second Young Master is executed, the mansion should become peaceful. It’s the perfect time to divide the family.”
Shen Miao smiled slightly. How could it be peaceful? The Jing family had been left for Sun Tianzheng to deal with, but the people of the second branch were not all dead yet.
“Second Aunt must be very sad to learn of Second Brother’s execution,” Shen Miao said softly.
“Hasn’t Second Madam already gone mad?” Guyu was surprised at her words. “Being mad means having no awareness. People from Caiyun Garden say that Second Madam doesn’t even recognize people now. How would she know about these things?”
“Mad?” Shen Miao shook her head. “That’s not necessarily true.”
When people are in pain to the point of despair, they use “madness” to escape the reality that they cannot face. Ren Wanyun’s greatest pain was undoubtedly her “inaction” at Wolong Temple that night, which led Shen Qing step by step to her final fate. She was powerless to change anything, watching helplessly as Shen Qing died. Unable to face Shen Qing’s death or herself, she finally “went mad.”
Now, with news of Shen Yuan’s death reaching her, she would surely become even more thoroughly mad because, once again, she could not help.
In truth, Ren Wanyun had not been mad for very long. Whether she would choose to continue her madness depended on her ability to gradually accept these facts. It seemed that before long, Ren Wanyun would regain her clarity, because she still had Shen Yuanbai and feared he might fall victim to Concubine Wan’s poisonous schemes.
Shen Miao wanted Ren Wanyun to “wake up” ahead of time.
She had never targeted individuals but rather the lifeline of the entire family. Having chosen the second branch, how could she stop after losing just a pair of the second branch’s children?
What she wanted was for Shen Gui’s line to end with the third generation.