The small red birthmark in Chang Zaiqing’s private area wasn’t something ordinary people could see. But who was Shen Wan? If he were to easily believe such a baseless claim, he wouldn’t be a court official who had navigated court politics for so many years. He scanned the letter, noting that it mentioned the father and son had already arrived in the capital and were staying in a residence in the eastern part of the city. The letter even included a specific address. Shen Wan tore the letter to pieces and instructed his servant, “Prepare the carriage.”

Shen Wan didn’t trust an anonymous letter, but he also couldn’t place complete faith in Chang Zaiqing. He might as well see the truth with his own eyes.

When the carriage arrived at the residence in the eastern city as mentioned in the letter, Shen Wan didn’t alight. Instead, he hid inside and sent his servant to knock on the door.

A young boy of around twelve or thirteen opened the door. The boy was so thin and frail that he looked more like a teenager than a child, having lost the innocence typical of children his age and replaced it with a mature demeanor. When Shen Wan saw the boy’s face, he gasped sharply.

In that instant, Shen Wan knew that what the letter said was true. The reason was simple—this boy looked too much like Chang Zaiqing. Even the spirit in his features was extremely similar, though compared to Chang Zaiqing’s open and cheerful manner, this boy appeared much more timid and insecure. Nevertheless, their resemblance was unmistakable.

The Chang family had no other children, so he couldn’t be Chang Zaiqing’s brother. Shen Wan’s servant was also startled by the boy’s appearance, but still asked as instructed: “Young man, do you know where Chang Zaiqing is?”

The boy eyed him warily and asked, “Why are you looking for my mother?”

Shen Wan closed his eyes.

Without a doubt, the letter spoke the truth. Chang Zaiqing did indeed have a husband and son in Liuzhou. He just didn’t understand how it had been concealed so well. The servant gave the boy some vague answers and returned to Shen Wan’s side to report, carefully looking at Shen Wan and asking, “Master?”

“Investigate,” Shen Wan said breathlessly. “Send people to Liuzhou to thoroughly investigate Chang Zaiqing’s background. I need to know everything.”

The reason Shen Wan had admired Chang Zaiqing was that she was gentle, cheerful, and extremely talented, not to mention that she was carrying his child. But if Chang Zaiqing truly had a husband and son in Liuzhou, then everything became a joke. He had been harboring another man’s wife and feeling proud of it. And if Chang Zaiqing could abandon her husband and son, she couldn’t possibly be as gentle and lovely as she appeared. Shen Wan was extremely particular in certain aspects—he wanted a wife who could manage mundane affairs impeccably while maintaining an otherworldly, fairy-like aura. Everything that had happened today had transformed Chang Zaiqing in his eyes, making him feel utterly disgusted.

Over the next few days, Shen Wan seemed to become busier. He spent each day outside, and even when he returned to the Shen mansion, he would dive straight into his study. Chang Zaiqing couldn’t see him at all. Occasionally, when she brought him pastries, Shen Wan didn’t show the same intimacy as before. Initially, his attitude made Chang Zaiqing uneasy, but when Shen Wan’s servant told her that he had taken on an assignment and was too busy to attend to other matters, she was finally reassured.

In truth, however, Shen Wan had finally received the letter from Liuzhou.

The letter from Liuzhou confirmed that everything in the anonymous letter was true. Chang Zaiqing had indeed been married before, and their union had been considered a beautiful match in Liuzhou. After reading the letter, Shen Wan was so angry he nearly flipped the table. He had taken in a favored concubine who was already someone else’s wife, and now her husband and son had tracked her to the capital. If people found out, he would once again become the laughingstock of the entire capital. Moreover, those censors wouldn’t miss this opportunity to impeach him.

If that were all, it might have been manageable, but he had also divorced Chen Ruoqiu because of Chang Zaiqing and made enemies with the Chen family. Now that the truth was out, people would say he had mistaken a worthless pebble for a precious pearl. Shen Wan already felt a growing sense of regret. Although Chang Zaiqing carried his child, he feared that she might ruin his career. When it came to choosing between love and power, he valued power a bit more. Moreover, just thinking about the woman sleeping beside him being another man’s wife was something Shen Wan couldn’t reconcile.

He pondered deeply with a heavy gaze, about to give instructions, when one of his attendants came rushing in, shouting, “Master, something terrible has happened!”

Shen Wan frowned angrily, “What’s this commotion? Where’s your decorum?”

The attendant, trembling, handed Shen Wan a letter. For some reason, his gaze was somewhat evasive.

Shen Wan looked suspiciously at the attendant. This attendant had been with him for years, usually handling correspondence between him and his colleagues.

After reading just a few lines, Shen Wan’s face turned ashen with what appeared to be a trace of fear if one looked closely.

In the imperial study, Emperor Wenhui was furious.

Throwing the memorial violently to the ground, Emperor Wenhui laughed coldly. The eunuchs beside him didn’t dare breathe. When an emperor’s anger could lead to countless deaths, especially now, no one dared to provoke Emperor Wenhui further.

The memorial listed, item by item, various actions Shen Wan had taken from a few years ago until now. On the surface, they seemed harmless. But Emperor Wenhui had survived the bloody power struggle among brothers; the memorial was cleverly written, with each line insinuating an unusual relationship between Shen Wan and Prince Fu Xiuyi of Ding.

Among Emperor Wenhui’s nine sons, he felt most at ease with the Crown Prince and the Prince of Ding. The Crown Prince held legitimate status, and his weaker physique made Emperor Wenhui instinctively more lenient toward him. As for the Prince of Ding, despite his excellence, he showed no interest in court affairs. Combined with Consort Dong’s non-competitive nature, this made Emperor Wenhui quite comfortable. He observed the overt and covert struggles among the princes but wouldn’t intervene. As long as they didn’t go too far, the balance of power was something he welcomed. Once someone tastes power, they’re unwilling to relinquish it. Watching his sons grow into their prime, Emperor Wenhui naturally developed a sense of wariness.

What he despised most was when princes became too close to court officials. Although this was inevitable—each of his nine sons had their group of supporters—when this son turned out to be the typically non-competitive Prince of Ding, Emperor Wenhui found it harder to accept. Instead, his anger exceeded what he would normally feel.

Fu Xiuyi’s previously displayed carefree, unworldly demeanor now appeared as one thing in Emperor Wenhui’s eyes: pretense.

“Kill the chicken to warn the monkeys,” Emperor Wenhui said with a dark expression. “They all think I’m easily fooled. If that’s the case, I’ll grant their wish.”

Court affairs can change in an instant. Cases of rising to prominence one day only to fall into obscurity the next were common. If one committed an offense, becoming a commoner was considered lucky; more often, the consequence was imprisonment and execution, with the guilt extending to nine generations of the family.

Shen Wan was such a person.

Following the quarrel between the Shen and Chen families a few days ago, things seemed to have calmed down. Unexpectedly, a group of officials suddenly arrived at the Shen mansion to make arrests. Curious commoners inquired and learned that Shen Wan had performed poorly in his court duties, affecting the entire Shen household. The specific charges weren’t clear, but ordinary people were easily convinced—they believed it was due to poor job performance. However, those with sharper minds could see the unusual nature of the situation. After all, if it were truly about poor performance, why would the entire household be taken? This indicated a serious crime that might lead to the execution of nine generations.

Passersby who witnessed the once-glorious Shen mansion’s current state pointed and whispered, eventually discussing Mighty General Shen Xin. They said that two years ago, the Shen family insisted on dividing the household when Shen Xin was in dire straits and later removed his name from the family registry. Unexpectedly, Shen Xin had turned misfortune into a blessing, escaping this calamity.

When this news reached Shen Miao’s ears in the Shen residence, she merely smiled indifferently. Luo Tan clenched her fists, her face indignant: “This is what they call ‘vengeance comes in its own time.’ When they mistreated Uncle and Aunt back then, if they had known that only you would remain unharmed now, they’d have been furious.”

Luo Ling pondered for a moment, shaking his head: “What crime did Third Master Shen commit to cause such a commotion?”

Shen Miao said, “If His Majesty is so enraged, he must have done something extremely reckless. These matters don’t concern us.”

Luo Tan nodded: “Indeed, let’s just watch the show.”

Shen Qiu looked worriedly at Shen Miao, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating. After Luo Ling and Luo Tan left, Shen Qiu stayed behind, pulling Shen Miao into the room. After ensuring the door was locked, he asked: “Sister, was the Shen family’s situation your doing?”

Shen Miao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Brother, why do you attribute everything to me? His Majesty is punishing someone for failing in their duties; I can’t interfere with Third Uncle’s assignments.”

Shen Qiu rubbed his forehead, troubled: “Sister, I know there are things you don’t want to share with outsiders. But court matters aren’t as simple as you might think. Sometimes, even when it seems you’ve won, future complications might arise, entrapping you.”

As he rambled on, Shen Miao sighed helplessly: “Brother, to be honest, this matter truly isn’t related to me. Shen Wan’s imprisonment is because Chen Ruoqiu stabbed him in the back. After the bitter conflict between Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan, did you think she would let it go so easily?”

Now it was Shen Qiu’s turn to be surprised. He asked, “Chen Ruoqiu?”

“Chen Ruoqiu lived with Shen Wan for so many years; she knows his affairs intimately. When it comes to backstabbing, it’s easier for her than for most people,” Shen Miao said. “Shen Wan was betrayed by his bedmate, affecting the entire household. What does that have to do with me?”

Hearing this, Shen Qiu first pondered carefully, then looked suspiciously at Shen Miao: “How do you know all of this so clearly?”

“I spend my days hoping for their downfall, so naturally, I’ve had people monitoring their every move,” Shen Miao said. Having spent time with Xie Jingxing, her words now carried a fearless, mischievous quality.

Shen Qiu, who usually saw Shen Miao as dignified and graceful, had never seen this side of her before. For some reason, he found it familiar. He shook his head, interrupting his wild speculation, and said: “Even if you were monitoring them, such a coincidence seems too perfect.” He widened his eyes, looking somewhat comical, and said: “Sister, you weren’t pushing things along behind the scenes, were you?”

Shen Miao smiled: “Brother, whatever you think is fine. Either way, these matters have nothing to do with me.”

Shen Qiu looked devastated: “How did you become so bold? If this blows up…”

Shen Miao interrupted his nagging: “Brother, why have you become so fussy? It’s just a small matter. The Shen family’s current predicament is entirely self-inflicted. If Shen Wan hadn’t performed poorly, how could others exploit his vulnerabilities? If he and Chen Ruoqiu had maintained harmony, how could they have been successfully driven apart? One should reflect on one’s shortcomings before blaming others.”

Shen Miao’s words left Shen Qiu dumbfounded. Even as he was escorted out of the courtyard by Shen Miao’s maid, Shen Qiu hadn’t recovered. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead, coming to his senses. Shen Miao was twisting logic and being unreasonable, and he didn’t know where she had learned such tactics. She had boldly manipulated even emperors and court officials, yet made herself sound completely innocent. Shen Qiu was astonished at how Shen Miao had learned to speak so brazenly, and her demeanor seemed strangely familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. But where?

Inside the room, after sending Shen Qiu away, Shen Miao sat at the table and heaved a long sigh.

It had only just begun. Emperor Wenhui was decisive, likely unable to tolerate even the slightest closeness between princes and court officials, especially since the evidence listed incidents spanning several years.

From the beginning, one must never forget who they’re targeting. Since her rebirth, many matters had gradually faded, such as the Shen family, who would have self-destructed even without her intervention. But Fu Xiuyi was different.

Fu Xiuyi was like the most venomous snake hiding in the shadows, appearing harmless but striking unexpectedly. Just like the last time when he had Shen Wan try to match her with the Prince of Zhou. Even though Shen Miao had hidden herself from Fu Xiuyi as much as possible, he still had his eye on her.

It was no longer appropriate to continue hiding and scheming; better to tear away the veil and begin an equal game of chess now.

What did Fu Xiuyi fear most? He feared his ambitions being exposed.

The Shen Wan incident, though it would raise suspicions in Emperor Wenhui’s mind, wouldn’t be enough to bring down someone with Fu Xiuyi’s skills. He would surely find a way to counter and reclaim ground.

But how could Shen Miao miss this opportunity? Even if this move didn’t defeat him, Fu Xiuyi must have lost a layer of skin.

Shen Wan alone wasn’t enough; this chess game needed to be more spectacular. Shen Miao had Jingzhe call Mo Qing in from outside and whispered a few instructions to him.

The transition from a luxurious mansion to a prison could happen overnight.

Shen Wan felt that in the past two years, the Shen household had been extremely unlucky, as if they had offended something, with nothing going well. First, it was the second branch in trouble, and after that, it was the third branch. Now, everyone in the Shen mansion was imprisoned—oh, except for the first branch. The first branch had now been reinstated by Emperor Wenhui, and regardless of prospects, at least they were currently more glorious than the rest.

Come to think of it, the Shen family’s continuous streak of bad luck seemed to have started after the division of the first branch, or more precisely, since Shen Xin returned to the capital two years ago. Could it be that someone had placed a curse on the Shen household?

In the adjacent cell were the women of the Shen family, with the Old Madam of Shen and Chang Zaiqing confined together. As Shen Wan listened to the Old Madam’s complaints and moans, he gradually grew irritated.

Two years ago, the Mighty General Shen’s mansion had daily visitors, though mostly due to Shen Xin’s reputation. But Shen Xin was rarely in the capital, and the Shen household wasn’t short of money—everyone who left spoke of its grandeur. Though Shen Gui and Shen Wan were civil officials, their ranks had been steadily rising. Their two daughters were graceful and beautiful, potentially valuable allies through favorable marriages. Shen Yuanbai and Shen Yuan were still alive, Ren Wanyun was shrewd, and Chen Ruoqiu was gentle—a picture of familial harmony.

In just two short years, everything had changed, leading to their current predicament.

Shen Gui, sickly, asked: “Third Brother, what offense did you commit that caused His Majesty to arrest our entire household?”

“Me, committing an offense?” Shen Wan laughed coldly. “Second Brother, you’ve served in the court. Don’t you know that if His Majesty wishes to arrest someone, he can fabricate any reason? This is His Majesty’s excuse to seize me.” If it were truly about poor job performance, the entire household wouldn’t have been arrested. This indicated an intent to punish severely.

In the adjacent cell, Chang Zaiqing heard this and cried out, her voice filled with anxiety: “It was intentional by His Majesty? Why would His Majesty do this? Did my lord offend His Majesty in some way?”

Normally, Shen Wan would have comforted Chang Zaiqing. But recalling the news from Liuzhou that Chang Zaiqing already had a husband and son made him sick to his stomach. Seeing Chang Zaiqing’s concern now, driven by whatever motive, Shen Wan felt a perverse satisfaction. Chang Zaiqing had pursued wealth and status, hiding her true self, but now that those dreams had evaporated, it was likely too late for regret.

He waved his hand impatiently: “I don’t know.”

In his mind, however, he recalled the letter his attendant had given him.

The letter was from a court official with whom he had close personal ties. This official had somehow learned that Shen Wan’s adversary had submitted a memorial. This memorial detailed evidence of the exchanges between Shen Wan and Fu Xiuyi over the years.

Although Shen Wan hadn’t truly been working for Fu Xiuyi all these years, he had been ambivalent in the early days, not wanting to abandon the Prince of Ding as a potential ally. To others, it appeared as if he and the Prince of Ding had formed an early alliance. It was understandable that Emperor Wenhui would be furious upon seeing such evidence. Resolving this matter peacefully would be difficult.

As for how his adversary suddenly came by such evidence, Shen Wan had a vague suspicion. Chen Ruoqiu had been his wife for many years, and since she didn’t understand court matters, Shen Wan had never been particularly cautious around her. Some matters were very private; if Chen Ruoqiu was the one who had stabbed him in the back, it would explain everything.

Thinking of how Chen Ruoqiu had once been gentle and kind toward him, but now had gone wild and was bent on mutual destruction, Shen Wan’s gaze fell on Chang Zaiqing in the adjacent cell, his expression gradually darkening. If not for Chang Zaiqing, he and Chen Ruoqiu would never have grown apart as husband and wife, and they wouldn’t be in this predicament now. With this in mind, Shen Wan became indifferent even toward his unborn child in Chang Zaiqing’s womb.

The imprisonment of Shen Wan’s family was officially attributed to poor job performance, but those privy to the details knew that Emperor Wenhui was enraged by Shen Wan’s private dealings with Fu Xiuyi. This incident implicated the entire Shen household and, of course, would not bode well for Prince Fu Xiuyi of Ding.

Fu Xiuyi had numerous hidden informants in the palace and quickly learned the details of the situation. He never imagined that the marital discord between Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu could eventually implicate him. This was a critical moment, and he absolutely couldn’t allow Emperor Wenhui to become suspicious of him.

At the same time, Fu Xiuyi was perplexed. This year, Emperor Wenhui’s health had deteriorated significantly, making him more sensitive than ever about relationships between princes and court officials. Just at this sensitive time, rumors of his closeness to Shen Wan emerged—the timing seemed too coincidental. Although Shen Wan was the one being trapped, in reality, the damage to Fu Xiuyi was no less. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Fu Xiuyi coldly remarked, “Incompetent at achieving success, yet excelling at causing failure.”

Pei Lang pondered and said, “Your Highness should distance yourself from this matter as soon as possible. Whatever method you use, you must prove your innocence.”

“I’m well aware,” Fu Xiuyi said. “What does the teacher suggest?”

“With concrete evidence, vehement denial would seem deliberate. Your Highness might as well acknowledge it strategically and shift the blame entirely to Shen Wan. Although His Majesty is wary of princes forming private factions, if Shen Wan approached you proactively and you found it burdensome, His Majesty might be more lenient.”

Fu Xiuyi nodded: “The teacher’s thoughts align perfectly with mine. Shen Wan is a pawn that must be sacrificed. Such a useless pawn would only cause more trouble if kept; better to remove him early.” This meant sacrificing Shen Wan. The matters in the memorial couldn’t be denied—each incident had evidence that anyone determined to investigate could verify. But if this were all Shen Wan’s idea, if Shen Wan had desperately tried to align himself with Fu Xiuyi, and Fu Xiuyi had remained unmoved, then everything would seem understandable. Fu Xiuyi would appear to be the one who had been implicated.

However, this approach would make the charges against Shen Wan even more severe, and under Emperor Wenhui’s fury, the punishment for Shen Wan would be harsher. But Fu Xiuyi certainly didn’t care about Shen Wan’s fate. For those who were useless to him or caused him trouble, Fu Xiuyi never showed any unnecessary sentiment.

“The Shen family and I seem to be fated,” Fu Xiuyi said coldly. “Time and again, things have gone awry because of the Shen family. For some reason, although this incident started with Chen Ruoqiu, I feel it’s not that simple, as if someone is manipulating events from behind.”

Pei Lang’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained as calm as before. “The urgent matter now, Your Highness, is to prove yourself first. The longer this drags on, with His Majesty’s anger unabated, the more likely it is to implicate you.”

Fu Xiuyi smiled sardonically: “Though it’s troublesome, it’s not a dead end. But what does the teacher think—should the Shen family be spared or not?”

Pei Lang answered softly: “Since they’ve hindered Your Highness’s grand plans, they should not be spared.”

Fu Xiuyi laughed openly, staring at Pei Lang: “The teacher’s words exactly match my thoughts. I have some matters to attend to. Teacher, please leave for now. If there are important matters, I’ll consult with you again.”

Pei Lang nodded in agreement and took his leave.

He didn’t see that behind him, Fu Xiuyi stared at Pei Lang’s back, a flash of sinister intent in his eyes.

The news of Shen Wan’s family being imprisoned spread widely, eventually reaching the Prince of Qin’s mansion. At a stone table in the garden, Shen Yue was stunned upon hearing the news, while Huang Pu Hao looked at the scout who had brought the report and asked, “Oh? Was the entire household imprisoned?”

“True,” the scout replied. “I heard the Emperor was extremely angry and intends to charge them with a capital offense.”

Huang Pu Hao turned to observe Shen Yue’s expression. Beyond her shock and disbelief, there was notably no sign of sorrow or heartbreak. Involuntarily, her mind recalled Chen Ruoqiu’s words that day. At the time, Shen Yue had felt that Chen Ruoqiu’s words held hidden meanings. Could the Shen family’s current fate have been triggered by Chen Ruoqiu? Shen Yue didn’t dare let Huang Pu Hao perceive her emotions, so she pretended to lower her head, displaying a sorrowful demeanor, and said, “How could this happen?”

“Mere poor job performance wouldn’t lead the Emperor to confiscate the household; there must be another reason,” Huang Pu Hao smiled. “There must be another cause.” After speaking, he looked at Shen Yue again and asked, “Does Yue’er want to visit Master Shen?”

Shen Yue was startled and stammered, “Going there now would only distress Father and cause trouble for Your Highness. It’s—it’s not necessary.”

With the Shen mansion confiscated, she, as a woman “married into the royal family,” had been spared implication. But if people discovered that Shen Yue was still around, who knew if they might imprison her too? In times of calamity, it’s every person for themselves. The Shen family had shown no concern for Shen Yue, and she felt no moral obligation toward them. Fearing implications, she would avoid them rather than eagerly approaching.

Hearing this, Huang Pu Hao didn’t pursue the matter further, merely smiling in acknowledgment. Shen Yue secretly sighed in relief. After Huang Pu Hao left, Shen Yue thought about writing a letter to Chen Ruoqiu to ask if she had been involved in this affair.

Though still somewhat fearful and anxious, seeing the entire Shen family imprisoned gave Shen Yue a sense of schadenfreude. Especially regarding Chang Zaiqing, the woman who had usurped her mother’s position, now she too had to suffer alongside Shen Wan. With this in mind, Shen Yue felt that being Huang Pu Hao’s concubine wasn’t so degrading after all, and she even felt somewhat self-satisfied. If she had stayed in the Shen mansion, she would have been imprisoned along with them.

This was Shen Yue’s perspective. However, the next day, a secret scandal erupted in the capital. Like a stone thrown into water, it created countless ripples, giving spectators a new topic of interest. People on the streets couldn’t stop talking about it, savoring every detail.

And it turned the Shen family into a complete joke for casual passersby to gossip about during their leisure time.