“Young Lady, the Second Young Lady has come to see you.”

Jingzhe’s expression showed some displeasure. “Coming at this time of all moments. The Young Lady’s body hasn’t recovered yet. Aren’t they afraid of aggravating her condition?”

Guyu nudged Jingzhe’s arm, her expression also full of concern.

Shen Miao observed this and felt relieved inwardly.

Her four maids had all been personally selected and trained by Shen Xin and his wife. They were loyal and clever. Though she had been too young to understand the true situation of the Shen family and the hidden intentions of the second and third branches, her maids could discern the subtle signs.

Before she could speak, a young woman walked in. This girl appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen, wearing a light pink upper garment with chrysanthemum patterns and a moon-white pleated auspicious skirt, her hair styled in a tassel bun. Her skin was fair, her features elegant and beautiful, and she carried a strong scholarly air that made her appear proper and dignified. Upon seeing Shen Miao, she quickly approached the bed with concern.

“Fifth Sister, are you feeling better? When I heard about your fall into the water, I was worried for a long time, but the people at Yujiao Garden said you needed rest. I didn’t dare disturb you and only ventured to come when I heard you had awakened today.”

Shen Miao looked at the young woman before her. This was Shen Yue, the legitimate daughter of the third branch of the Shen family.

Among the three legitimate daughters of the Shen family, Shen Qing was known for being spirited and magnanimous, Shen Yue was renowned for her talents, while only Shen Miao was described as dull, timid, and without talent. Outsiders praised her as “chaste, quiet, and virtuous,” but everyone knew she had no real strengths—she was the least presentable daughter of the Shen family.

In her previous life, before marriage, Shen Miao had been closest to Shen Yue. Shen Yue’s gentle and considerate nature often helped Shen Miao with advice. But back then, Shen Miao couldn’t discern whether that advice was beneficial or harmful, and she was simply grateful for her cousin’s dedicated help.

This time, Shen Yue’s visit was probably to plead for Shen Qing.

Sure enough, Shen Yue began: “Fifth Sister, Elder Sister made a mistake that day. Now that things have happened, I hope Fifth Sister can forgive her. When she heard about your fever, Elder Sister was overwhelmed with guilt. After you recover, could you possibly spare our Elder Sister this once? She didn’t intentionally make you lose face in front of Prince Ding.”

She’d been fine until she mentioned Prince Ding’s name. Everyone knew that Prince Ding was the apple of Shen Miao’s eye. Shen Miao might endure other grievances, but concerning Prince Ding, she would never yield an inch. If Prince Ding hadn’t been mentioned, perhaps Shen Miao would have let the matter go. By deliberately bringing up Prince Ding, wasn’t Shen Yue trying to provoke a dispute between her and Shen Qing?

It had been the same in her previous life. Just as she was waking up, Shen Yue rushed over to “plead” for Shen Qing. This plea had infuriated Shen Miao. Normally timid, she had accused Shen Qing of pushing her into the water in front of the Old Madam, all for the sake of her beloved. But Shen Qing denied it, and those around claimed they hadn’t seen Shen Qing push Shen Miao. The Old Madam, who already favored the second and third branches, naturally took the opportunity to scold her for “not knowing her place at such a young age and falsely accusing her legitimate sister,” punishing her with confinement.

Later, this incident was spread to the Imperial Academy, and Shen Miao became a laughingstock among her classmates. Humiliated, she stopped attending the Imperial Academy. After that… she gradually faded from the circles of noble young ladies in the capital.

Looking back now, her perspective had always been limited to the world these people at the General’s Mansion had created for her. She thought herself virtuous and kind, not realizing that outsiders saw her as weak and ignorant. She believed her admiration for Prince Ding showed courage and frankness, not knowing that others called her shameless.

These deliberately taught lessons had resulted in her terrible initial impression. Although she later successfully married Fu Xiuyi, she was still considered unrefined. Even when compared to Madam Mei, people would only say she was stupid and ignorant.

What a foolish past!

Shen Yue anxiously stroked Shen Miao’s shoulder, her lips revealing a subtle smile.

She knew that with Shen Miao’s temperament, just mentioning Fu Xiuyi would surely enrage her. But after waiting for some time without seeing a reaction, Shen Yue looked at her suspiciously, only to find the young girl smiling back at her.

The young girl’s face was still very pale, her lips dry, but her black eyes were as bright as grapes.

Shen Miao’s eyes were her best feature—large almond eyes, innocent and confused, as timid as a newborn puppy. But her usual dull expression had wasted her eyes’ vivacity.

Now those almond eyes were still round, but her gaze was quite different. It carried a hint of coldness, devoid of emotion. It didn’t seem like dullness, but rather… it was like looking down from a position of superiority.

Shen Yue shuddered, inexplicably feeling an indescribable tremor in her heart. It was as if she wasn’t facing a stupid, dull goose, but someone in a position of high authority.

How could she have such a feeling?

Of course, she didn’t know that the Shen Miao before her was no longer the same Shen Miao. This Shen Miao had experienced succession struggles, warfare, competition for favor, the loss of a son, and the destruction of her clan.

She was the one who had once controlled the imperial harem, wielding the supreme power over the six palaces—Empress Shen of Ming Qi.

Shen Yue was stunned for a long moment, until the young girl in front of her rubbed her forehead and said softly, “Second Sister is taking this too seriously. This matter had nothing to do with Elder Sister. I fell in by myself.”

“Fifth Sister…” Shen Yue hadn’t expected Shen Miao to say this. After a moment of confusion, she shook her head and said, “Fifth Sister, don’t wrongly blame yourself.”

“How would I wrongly blame myself?” Shen Miao smiled, interrupting her. “It’s just a small matter. My head is still a bit dizzy, and I want to rest more. If there’s anything else, let’s discuss it tomorrow at Grandmother’s place.”

With things said to this extent, Shen Yue couldn’t say much more. Although she found Shen Miao’s lukewarm attitude today strange, she attributed it to Shen Miao being embarrassed in front of Fu Xiuyi and thus in a poor mood. After a few more words, Shen Yue finally left.

After Shen Yue had gone, Guyu said, “Our Young Lady was pushed into the water and nearly lost her life, yet she comes to plead for the First Young Lady. Pleading is one thing, but something doesn’t seem right about this.” Guyu was subtly reminding Shen Miao that Shen Yue had ill intentions.

“When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. She probably wants to be that ‘fisherman’,” Shen Miao said calmly.

Guyu was delighted that Shen Miao could finally see through Shen Yue’s true face, but she didn’t fully understand Shen Miao’s meaning. Looking up, she saw her usually charming young lady’s face as cold as ice, giving off an inexplicable sense of solemnity that made one unconsciously look up to her with respect.

Shen Miao looked at her fingertips.

Why had Shen Qing pushed her into the water? It was because she had said at the time: “At the year’s end when Father returns triumphantly, I will ask Father to arrange for me to marry Prince Ding.”

She had spoken naively and, thinking they were family, without any reservations. Shen Xin was a great general of the court. If he wanted to marry off his daughter, it wasn’t impossible.

Why did Shen Yue want to provoke discord between her and Shen Qing?

Naturally, it was because Shen Yue also admired Prince Ding.

In her previous life, only at the point of death did Shen Yue and Shen Qing tell her that they had both admired Fu Xiuyi for a long time. Thinking about it now, signs had been visible even at this early stage.

Since these two sisters were both infatuated with Fu Xiuyi, wouldn’t it be a shame not to let them get their wish in this life?

She would make their dreams come true. The blood debt that the second and third branches owed to the entire Shen family in her previous life—it was time for them to start repaying it now.