“Infertility medicine? For men?”

Ren Wanyun lowered her head, looking at the paper package Shen Miao had placed in her hand, and couldn’t help but tremble all over.

“Giving infertility medicine to any concubine—is that such a good method? Even if one can’t bear sons, there will always be a second or third one. Second Aunt, you can’t guard against them all.” Shen Miao’s words seemed to carry a subtle enchantment, falling on the ears with a strangely pleasing sound.

“Why should I trust you? Who knows if this contains arsenic instead?” Ren Wanyun said contemptuously.

“If Second Aunt doesn’t trust me, you can naturally have your maids take a bit to ask a doctor, or test it on an animal. Or if that doesn’t work, throw it away and buy some yourself. I’m merely pointing the way—everything else depends on Second Aunt’s willingness.”

“Why should I do this?” Ren Wanyun stared at Shen Miao, speaking coldly.

“Why?” Shen Miao thought briefly. “Perhaps because if Second Uncle loses his ability to have children in the future, the Seventh Brother’s position as the legitimate son will be secure. Not only that, as Second Uncle’s only successor, Seventh Brother will certainly gain Second Uncle’s favor. Rarity increases value, after all.”

Ren Wanyun smiled. “You think I don’t know what you’re planning? Shen Miao, I underestimated you. You want the Second Branch to end without descendants!”

“You can’t say that,” Shen Miao feigned surprise. “How can the Second Branch end without descendants when there’s still the Seventh Brother? But Second Aunt, do you truly believe you can bear another child with Second Uncle in the future?” She mocked, “Even if Second Aunt has the ability and capability, it still depends on whether Second Uncle is willing.”

“How dare you!” Xianglan scolded angrily.

“You shameless girl!” Ren Wanyun’s face flushed red with anger. Shen Miao’s words were mocking her for being past her prime, suggesting that Shen Gui, who was so fond of beautiful women, now regarded her with disdain. But Ren Wanyun also understood that after all these years, Shen Gui no longer treated her with the tenderness of the past. Her face held no attraction for Shen Gui anymore, making it extremely difficult to bear another child.

“Call me shameless or insolent if you wish, but I’m only thinking of your interests.” Shen Miao smiled slightly. “I’ve already given Second Aunt a way out. Whether you take it or block it off depends on Second Aunt’s choice.” She stood up and, as if remembering something, tilted her head and said, “Of course, Second Aunt can also tell Second Uncle about this matter, since you’re family. But I should remind you that my parents and the Old Madam have already quarreled and broken ties—we have nothing more to fear.”

Ren Wanyun sat without speaking, while Xianglan and Caiju watched Shen Miao warily.

“I’ve said what I came to say. Farewell.” Shen Miao smiled and walked out.

After Shen Miao left, Xianglan stepped forward and asked Ren Wanyun, “Madam, are you going to follow the Fifth Miss’s advice?”

“The Fifth Miss surely doesn’t have good intentions,” Caiju added. “Doing this is deliberately opposing the Master.”

“Yes, it is opposing the Master,” Ren Wanyun said softly. “But now, the Master and I are no longer on the same side.”

“Madam means…” Xianglan’s eyes widened.

Ren Wanyun lowered her head and said, “Let me think about it more.”

In the East Courtyard, people were naturally paying attention to every move over there. Just as Shen Miao and Jingzhe walked out, an unfamiliar maid approached with a smile and said, “Fifth Miss, Concubine Wan heard you were in the courtyard and would like to invite you in for a chat.”

“I have other matters to attend to. Another day, perhaps.” Shen Miao refused outright, without giving the slightest face. The maid was embarrassed but had no choice, watching helplessly as Shen Miao and her group walked away before turning back to report to Concubine Wan.

“Is she trying to distance herself from us?” Concubine Wan was somewhat indignant, but more worried. She asked Shen Dongling, “Dongling, could it be that the Fifth Miss has sided with the Madam and they’re planning to deal with us together?”

“How could that be possible?” Shen Dongling shook her head. “Even because of Big Sister’s matter, they wouldn’t join forces.”

“But why does Fifth Miss always ignore our friendly overtures?” Concubine Wan paced back and forth. “Could it be that she looks down on our background…” Her voice faltered. “After all, she is a legitimate daughter…”

“Mother,” Shen Dongling put down her book and said with some annoyance, “What are you thinking? It’s not about us. I think Fifth Sister is not particularly warm to anyone in the Shen household. She probably doesn’t want any connection with the Second Branch, which is why she ignores us. If that’s the case, there’s no use trying to curry favor. We should just avoid such attempts in the future.”

“But…” Concubine Wan wanted to say more.

“There are no buts,” Shen Dongling interrupted. “As long as we behave properly and don’t make mistakes, we won’t have any trouble.”

Meanwhile, back in her room, Jingzhe was quietly asking Shen Miao, “Miss, will the Second Madam give Second Master the medicine?”

“Of course,” Shen Miao examined her fingernails, casually saying, “Ren Wanyun values her children above all else. Having lost a son and a daughter in succession, with only Shen Yuanbai as her last hope, and knowing Shen Gui is not a kind-hearted person—giving Shen Gui the medicine is the only way to secure Shen Yuanbai’s position.”

“But what if the Second Madam tells Second Master?” Guyu had been worried about this all along.

“She won’t. If Shen Gui found out he’d been given infertility medicine, he would hate Ren Wanyun to the core. Even if Shen Yuanbai is his only son, he would still take out his anger on him. For Shen Yuanbai’s sake, Ren Wanyun will keep this secret. Shen Gui might never discover he can’t father children, and even if doctors examine him, they would never suspect Ren Wanyun poisoned him.”

“But…” Jingzhe bit her lip, seemingly hesitating about something. Finally, she steeled herself and said, “Even if Second Madam gives Second Master the medicine undetected and he truly can’t father more sons, isn’t there still Seventh Young Master? He’s young now, but when he grows up and understands things, won’t he seek revenge against you for his brother and sister? You’d be raising an enemy from childhood, and you made such a heavy oath…” Shen Miao had sworn before Ren Wanyun that she harbored no ill intentions toward Shen Yuanbai, or may heaven strike her with lightning. Such a serious oath made Jingzhe shudder even now.

“Since I swore, I’ve never had any designs on Shen Yuanbai,” Shen Miao said.

“Even so, Seventh Young Master will surely view you as an enemy,” Guyu reminded her. “Having an enemy lurking in the shadows…”

“That’s a concern for when he grows up,” Shen Miao smiled. Unfortunately, Shen Yuanbai would never have the chance to grow up.

One year later, when a plague hit the capital, Shen Yuanbai died from smallpox. By then, Shen Miao had already married Fu Xiuyi. The entire capital was in panic, though fortunately, Shen Xin and the others were fighting in the northwest and escaped the disaster. The wealthy households fared better, but many poor commoners died. Shen Yuanbai couldn’t escape his fate.

Shen Miao had always believed that heaven’s justice would prevail, just a matter of when the retribution would come. In her previous life, the sins of Shen Gui and his wife had fallen upon Shen Yuanbai. Even though this life no longer had Shen Yuan and Shen Qing, following the path of the previous life, Shen Yuanbai would ultimately meet his death.

Rather than eliminating them now, it was better to let them live with false hope. Shen Gui would believe he still had a son, and Ren Wanyun would think Shen Yuanbai would replace Shen Yuan. But one day, when Shen Yuanbai couldn’t escape heaven’s doom, the seed of despair planted in the Second Branch would sprout and engulf them all.

The Second Branch was destined to end without descendants, but now they were full of hope, unaware that disaster was slowly approaching. The scythe would fall one day, harvesting all life from the family.

The chessboard was set, and the pieces were moving forward step by step according to plan. Wasn’t that good?

“Miss, Mo Qing came by earlier,” Bailu entered and said with some difficulty. “He said the bank notes given previously have been spent, and asked if he should continue going to Baoxiang Pavilion?”

Bailu was embarrassed and confused. What master gives money to subordinates to visit courtesans? This wasn’t sending a subordinate on an errand but paying for them to enjoy themselves. More annoyingly, Mo Qing, having received this enviable assignment, always acted as if he were suffering terribly, making everyone’s teeth ache with irritation.

“Take another five hundred taels for him,” Shen Miao instructed.

Bailu’s face showed pain, but then Shen Miao added, “Also, tell Mo Qing he can say that sentence to Liu Ying now.”

The maids in the room were startled, looking curiously at Shen Miao, as none of them knew which sentence she meant.

As Bailu was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and said, “By the way, Miss, Granny Zhang from Rongjing Hall came by earlier. She seemed to be inquiring about the Master and Madam’s intention to separate from the family.”

After learning the truth from Jing Guansheng, Luo Xueyan had a huge argument with Old Madam Shen and then told Shen Xin. Shen Xin was naturally furious and went to Rongjing Hall to confront the Old Madam. Luo Xueyan was determined to separate from the family, and after this incident, Shen Xin had also become disillusioned with the Shen family members and agreed. Even without claiming the assets left by the Old General Shen, they were determined to split from the family. Old Madam Shen, knowing she still needed Shen Xin’s money and influence, feigned a stroke and fainted, which was both infuriating and laughable.

Now that Granny Zhang had come to inquire, she was obviously trying to indirectly gauge the First Branch’s stance, believing that Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan had spoken in the heat of the moment.

“If she comes to inquire again, tell her our decision to separate is final. Please ask her to take good care of the Old Madam. If the Old Madam’s condition doesn’t improve, we can invite the clan elders to oversee the separation.”

The clan elders had always looked down on Old Madam Shen’s background. When Old General Shen was alive, he favored Shen Xin, so the elders naturally favored him too. If the clan came to handle the separation, it wouldn’t end well for Old Madam Shen.

“I understand,” Bailu smiled and left.

Shen Miao sat down at the table. This life’s path had just begun, yet required so much planning. Seeking revenge while protecting the Shen family was no easy task.

It had to be taken one step at a time.

…

These ripples in the capital were merely amusing anecdotes for people to discuss over tea, soon forgotten and replaced by fresh gossip.

When the candle burns out, the light extinguishes—such is the coldness of the world.

Baoxiang Pavilion remained as bustling as ever. Recently, a new group of Persian dancers had arrived, beautiful and bold. The young nobles of the capital flocked to them, making the already prosperous Baoxiang Pavilion even more crowded.

Men crave novelty and tire of the old. With the new dancers’ popularity, the former courtesans found themselves neglected and dejected. However, among these pleasure-seeking men, one stood out. As soon as he reached the entrance, the greeting girl waved her handkerchief and teasingly asked, “Master Mo, not choosing Liu Ying again today, are you?”

Mo Qing placed money in the girl’s hand and said, “The usual arrangement.”

The girl, half-jealous and half-admiring, remarked, “You’re truly a faithful man. Liu Ying has such good fortune from her previous life.” She then swayed her hips as she went upstairs to fetch someone.

While everyone rushed to see the new girls, Mo Qing unfailingly selected Liu Ying’s card. Those unaware might think he had developed genuine feelings for her, but whether there were real emotions involved, only he and Liu Ying knew.

Across from Baoxiang Pavilion, at a window seat in Kuaihuo Pavilion, three men were drinking together. Ji Yushu pointed at Mo Qing’s figure entering Baoxiang Pavilion and exclaimed, “Look, look, look! He’s going in again!”

“What’s there to see?” Gao Yang gave Ji Yushu a disapproving look. “He goes once every three days, stays one night, and leaves at dawn the next day, not staying a moment longer. You know this pattern by heart, why act so surprised?”

Ji Yushu glared back at Gao Yang. “Are you stupid? We both know this, but Third Brother Xie just returned and doesn’t know! I’m just explaining it to him.”

Across from them, Xie Jingxing leaned lazily against the couch, gazing at Baoxiang Pavilion. Today, he had broken his habit of wearing purple and instead wore a black narrow-waisted robe, making him appear much colder. Looking closely, his brow showed signs of having traveled far, clearly having just returned from a journey.

“Third Xie, how did you handle the matter this time? What happened to those people?” Gao Yang asked.

“They were all death squads. Couldn’t get anything out of them, so killed them all,” Xie Jingxing said somewhat distractedly. “Time is pressing, we need to move quickly here.”

“What’s the use of moving quickly?” Ji Yushu complained. “We still haven’t found the item.”

“Shen Yuan was making moves earlier and was close to Fu Xiuyi. He might have had some leverage. But now that he’s dead…” Gao Yang pondered. “Fu Xiuyi will probably find a way to search Shen Yuan for more information.”

“I need to go to the Shen residence again,” Xie Jingxing frowned. “It’s impossible not to find it.”

“Hey, hey, hey, let’s not talk about this anymore,” Ji Yushu interrupted their conversation. “Speaking of which, we’ve been staking out here for so long, watching this Mo fellow visit Baoxiang Pavilion every few days. What’s it all about? Is Miss Shen so generous to her servants? Even providing money for them to visit courtesans? Such a wonderful assignment, and so generous—more open-handed than me, the manager of Fengxian Pawnshop!”

“Have you ever seen someone who visits a courtesan and runs away at dawn every day?” Gao Yang eyed Ji Yushu. “As I recall, when you visit Shaoyao, you cling to her room and refuse to leave, wishing you could be with her every day. Life is short—who would be so unromantic? At least paint her eyebrows and chat with her. But he leaves at the same hour every time, more like completing a task.”

“Have your eyes grown on top of your heads?” Xie Jingxing glanced at the two. “Don’t you see there’s someone else across the street?” His gaze swept downward. The other two were startled and followed his line of sight, noticing a man in blue robes standing at the opposite corner of Baoxiang Pavilion, staring at Liu Ying’s quarters.

“He looks quite ordinary,” Ji Yushu remarked. “Looking at his shabby clothes, he obviously wants to visit a courtesan but doesn’t have the money, so he’s just feasting his eyes. What’s unusual about that?”

“This person…” Gao Yang studied him from afar. “His figure seems familiar. I think I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

“Pei Lang,” Xie Jingxing said.

“Who’s Pei Lang?” Ji Yushu asked.

“A teacher from Guangwen Hall.”

“I remember now,” Gao Yang said. “I saw him at the palace banquet before. But what’s he doing here?”

“A teacher?” Ji Yushu swallowed. “Teachers also visit brothels? And Guangwen Hall claims to be a school for all the noble families in the capital, yet even their teacher is so morally corrupt.”

“You visit brothels every day, yet you don’t call yourself morally corrupt?” Gao Yang asked Ji Yushu.

Ji Yushu retorted, “But I don’t teach students!”

“Shut up,” Xie Jingxing said. “Such an obvious person standing there, and neither of you noticed?”

“I don’t know him either,” Ji Yushu said defensively. “There are so many people coming and going at Baoxiang Pavilion. I only pay attention to unusual things. This teacher looks no different—how was I supposed to know he’s a teacher?”

Gao Yang looked at Xie Jingxing. “You think there’s something wrong with Pei Lang? But he’s just a poor scholar.”

“Shen Miao never does anything meaningless. Having her subordinate visit Liu Ying has a purpose. I didn’t understand before, but seeing him now makes sense.” Xie Jingxing’s gaze fell on Pei Lang in the distance.

“Are you saying…” Gao Yang pondered. “Shen Miao made such a roundabout plan, but it’s aimed at Pei Lang?”

Xie Jingxing lifted his lips in a smile, his gaze seemingly filled with deep meaning. “I don’t know why, but I feel Shen Miao particularly values this Pei Lang. Based on our investigation, Pei Lang is just a poor scholar. There must be something more to this.”

“That’s simple!” Ji Yushu exclaimed with a “ha!” “I know the reason.”

Gao Yang and Xie Jingxing both turned to stare at him.

Ji Yushu cleared his throat, his eyebrows dancing excitedly as he said, “It’s too simple! Looking at his figure, this man must be handsome and elegant. Being a teacher, he must also appear learned and knowledgeable. Miss Shen, being at the age of blooming youth, would naturally have her heart stirred upon meeting such a talented and good-looking teacher. But who would have thought the teacher, though beautiful on the outside, is rotten within—a hypocrite who visits brothels! Miss Shen, in her anger, simply had her subordinate buy the courtesan’s card…”

“Wait,” Gao Yang asked, “If Shen Miao likes Pei Lang, why buy Liu Ying’s card?”

Ji Yushu thought hard for a moment and answered, “Probably because Pei Lang can’t afford Liu Ying’s card. So Miss Shen had her servant buy it instead. Pei Lang can’t even compare to a servant, which must infuriate him. Miss Shen is trying to anger Pei Lang to death!” Ji Yushu grew increasingly excited as he spoke, nearly climbing onto the table. “Look! How deeply Pei Lang has hurt Miss Shen! A young lady, willing to spend a fortune for a beauty!”

Gao Yang held his head in pain. “Ji Yushu, have you been listening to some strange play at the brothel again?”

“You two continue. I’ll go first,” Xie Jingxing stood up expressionlessly, glancing at Ji Yushu. “If you’re that bored, the tower prison is short-staffed. Pack up and join Tieyi there anytime.”

Ji Yushu immediately wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant and fell silent.

Meanwhile, in Liu Ying’s quarters, Mo Qing sat at the table drinking tea as usual.

Liu Ying had completely given up on Mo Qing by now. Previously, she had wanted to conquer this man, but now she had lost even that desire, completely losing her spirit. She hadn’t even bothered to put on makeup, walking over casually to take the silver ingot Mo Qing had placed on the table and storing it in a box. She then sat down across from Mo Qing, poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said coolly, “Thank you, Young Master Mo, for your continued patronage, ensuring Liu Ying doesn’t go hungry in these difficult times.”

While other girls had lost their regular customers to the newly arrived Persian dancers, only Mo continued to patronize her. The girls in the house were all jealous of Liu Ying, not knowing that in Liu Ying’s eyes, Mo Qing was just a strange man with some unknown peculiarity.

Perhaps Mo Qing simply enjoyed spending money to sit and stare into space in a brothel.

Liu Ying didn’t intend to converse with Mo Qing. He had visited so many times but never spoken to her. If he hadn’t spoken to the greeting girl downstairs, Liu Ying would have thought he was mute.

But today, Mo Qing broke his silence and spoke to her. “It’s not me,” he said.

Too surprised, Liu Ying could only stare at him with wide eyes. “What?”

“The one giving you silver isn’t me,” Mo Qing said.

Liu Ying was confused. “What silver?”

“My master wants me to come here every three days to find you, give you silver, and do nothing else.”

This was probably the longest sentence Mo Qing had spoken at Baoxiang Pavilion, but as soon as he said it, Liu Ying’s gaze became alert. She stood up. “Who is your master?”

Mo Qing shook his head. “Can’t say.”

“You!” Liu Ying glared at him.

“Master said that after some more time, she will come to see you,” Mo Qing said. “Don’t accept other clients for now.”

Liu Ying laughed. “Brother, I don’t know who your master is or what they want, but I’m a girl from Baoxiang Pavilion. Times are already so difficult. I’m not a newly popular headline act. If I don’t accept other clients, what will I eat and drink? Will you support me?”

Mo Qing fell silent.

Seeing Mo Qing’s silence, Liu Ying grew angrier, a nameless fire rising in her heart. Other men at this point, whether sincere or not, would at least say something soothing like “I’ll support you.” Even if it was a lie, it would be something. In the pleasure quarters, no one takes anyone’s words seriously. But Mo Qing was like a wooden block, too literal-minded, unwilling to even speak a few pleasing false words. She was about to flare up and try to coax him, but after opening her mouth, Liu Ying fell silent again. Mo Qing truly wasn’t a man of the pleasure world; as he said, he was merely following his master’s orders. Thinking of it this way, it seemed pointless to expect such things from him.

Mo Qing, seeing Liu Ying’s expression changing unpredictably, was also somewhat bewildered. After hesitating, he said something Shen Miao had not instructed him to say. “My master is a good person,” he said. “You… don’t be afraid.”

Liu Ying was stunned for a moment and looked at Mo Qing, but he had lowered his head to drink tea again. Strangely, Liu Ying’s mood improved. She said, “Why should I believe you?”

Mo Qing: “…”

…

That night, there were no stars or moon. Shen Miao had been chatting with Luo Xueyan in her room and was preparing to return to her courtyard. On the way, Jingzhe informed Shen Miao of the news she had gathered during the day. “Miss, I heard the Jing family left for Suzhou this afternoon. Before leaving, they took all the valuable furnishings from their quarters in Rongjing Hall—truly acting like bandits. The Old Madam was so angry she almost had another stroke.”

The phrase “another stroke” was full of mockery. Everyone knew that whenever Old Madam Shen became furious, she would invariably “have a stroke.” But now she had met her match—the shameless had encountered the even more shameless. The Jing family’s brazen theft of items from Rongjing Hall was truly extraordinary.

“Who would have thought that the Jing family, after speaking so righteously and swearing to seek justice for Miss Jing, would slink back to Suzhou, abandoning Miss Jing altogether. Knowing Miss Jing had no good future in the Sun family, yet not making any effort to help. Their earlier harsh words were just to extort more silver,” Jingzhe said.

“Commoners can’t fight officials,” Shen Miao’s lips curved slightly. “The Jing family probably realized they had caused a major disaster.”

“None of them are good people,” Jingzhe sniffed.

Shen Miao made no comment. The Jing family was rushing back to Suzhou overnight, but how could they make it back? Sun Tianzheng was no pushover. When Shen Qiu was in trouble, Jing Chuchu escaped, but the rest of the Jing family didn’t get away. Sun Tianzheng was never a merciful person. What would happen on the road back to Suzhou would remain unknown.

Just as she reached the courtyard and was about to push open the door, Shen Miao paused and glanced at the window.

“Jingzhe,” Shen Miao said, “go heat some water first. I want to bathe. Make it very hot.”

Jingzhe was startled for a moment, then nodded in agreement. Shen Miao pushed the door open, walked through the outer hall, past the screen, and into her boudoir, closing the door behind her.

The oil lamp’s flame flickered slightly. At the table sat a figure, his robe seeming to flow with dark gold, making all the dim colors in the room appear brilliant. He rested one hand on his head while the other listlessly flipped through the books on Shen Miao’s table. Hearing movement, he turned his head carelessly, revealing a handsome face with red lips and white teeth.

“Why are you back so late?” Xie Jingxing asked, somewhat displeased.

“I don’t recall inviting you.” Shen Miao looked at him calmly and said, “Young Marquis Xie.”

“I’ve been waiting for you a long time,” Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. “I’m already hungry.”

Shen Miao: “Get out.”