Ever since Jing Chuchu and Jing Guansheng had arrived at the Shen Mansion, a very subtle atmosphere had developed. Everyone knew that Old Madam Shen was selfish and stingy, and not a warm or generous person. Yet when faced with relatives from her family whom she hadn’t seen for many years and who had come to seek handouts, not only did she not show any coldness, but she was quite affectionate toward them, frequently giving them money and gifts.

These two visitors seemed to have no intention of leaving, planning to stay in the mansion long-term. Since Old Madam Shen treated them with courtesy, the servants, who were good at reading the situation, likewise treated them with great respect.

In the East Courtyard of the Shen Mansion, in a side room of Caiyun Garden, Concubine Wan was sitting at a table making decorative knots. The colorful cords quickly took shape in her hands as she spoke to Shen Dongling, who was practicing calligraphy behind a screen: “Has Old Madam changed her nature? She’s treating the cousin-sister and cousin-brother so well, she’s almost favoring them over you, Ling’er.”

“Old Madam’s calculations have never been wrong.” Shen Dongling sat behind the screen, her complexion much better than before—at least not as pale as she used to be. Lately, Shen Gui had been visiting Concubine Wan’s quarters often, consequently paying more attention to Shen Dongling as well, sending many medicinal herbs. This change in Shen Gui’s attitude immediately gave the servants of Caiyun Garden a hint of what was happening, though some were still watching to see how things would develop. Although Ren Wanyun had gone mad, Shen Yuan was still a legitimate young master. Even if Concubine Wan was favored again, Shen Dongling was only a daughter.

“Does Ling’er also find this suspicious?” Concubine Wan paused her work. “But what exactly is Old Madam trying to achieve by pleasing these two visitors?”

Shen Dongling smiled slightly. “Young ladies and young masters in their prime—Old Madam naturally hopes someone will use their beauty to attract others.”

Concubine Wan shuddered as sudden realization dawned on her. She looked at Shen Dongling: “Who does Old Madam want to pair with them?”

“People from humble backgrounds with no power or influence, and they’re Old Madam’s relatives.” Shen Dongling carefully wrote another stroke. “Whoever Old Madam hates the most would be the target.”

Just as Shen Dongling had said, in the practice yard of the West Courtyard, Shen Qiu and Shen Xin had just finished a round of practice and let their subordinates continue while they prepared to rest. Then they saw a girl in yellow approaching gracefully from the end of the courtyard.

This girl had a beautiful face, delicate and timid, with a bamboo basket on her wrist, looking quite pitiful. She came to the edge, lowered her head, and timidly called out: “Cousin-brother, Uncle.”

It was Jing Chuchu.

Luo Xuayan was instructing some soldiers on their movements at that moment. Shen Xin and Shen Qiu were surprised to see her. Shen Qiu stepped forward and asked, “What brings cousin-sister here?”

He sounded somewhat uncomfortable saying “cousin-sister,” as he hadn’t seen Jing Chuchu for over a decade. Suddenly having a new cousin felt rather difficult to accept.

Jing Chuchu smiled shyly and placed the bamboo basket on a nearby stone table, saying softly, “Chuchu made some snacks. I thought cousin-brother and uncle might get tired practicing swords, so I made these. I hope cousin-brother and uncle won’t find them distasteful.” As she spoke, she lowered her head again and opened the lid, revealing several plates of snacks. The snacks were delicately made and cute, with a sweet fragrance. Before Shen Xin could say anything, the foodie Shen Qiu had already swallowed audibly.

Shen Xin felt somewhat pleased. Jing Chuchu appeared timid and fragile, but seemed sincere in her interactions, though rather shy. Regardless, girls who were skilled at making snacks were welcome anywhere, especially pretty ones. Luo Xuayan was a female general who would never wash her hands to cook soup, so young girls who could cook made a very good impression on Shen Xin and his son.

Jing Chuchu said, “I’ve been intruding for so many days and feel anxious about it. Chuchu has no special talents, so I made these snacks to express my gratitude.”

Look at that—she even knew how to show gratitude. What Shen Xin and his son appreciated most were respectful and sensible people. Military men valued loyalty, and Jing Chuchu was indeed making a good impression.

Shen Qiu said, “Cousin-sister, don’t worry about it. Just consider this your home. No need to talk about intruding among family.”

Jing Chuchu shyly lowered her head. Shen Qiu picked up a pastry and smiled, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Just as he was about to take a bite, he suddenly heard from behind: “Big Brother.”

Shen Qiu turned his head and saw that Shen Miao had arrived at some point, standing at the edge of the courtyard with four maids behind her, looking at him with a cold gaze. For some reason, Shen Qiu felt a sense of guilt and unconsciously put down the pastry in his hand, asking, “What brings you here, Sister?”

Shen Miao said nothing, walking toward them. As she approached, they saw that the four maids—Guyu, Jingzhe, Bailu, and Shuangjiang—each carried a basket. Shen Xin asked, “Jiaojiao, what’s in your baskets?”

The weather is a bit cold today. I thought everyone would be thirsty after sword practice, so I made some soup.” Shen Miao glanced coldly at Shen Qiu, sending a chill down his spine. Then she continued, “Let all the soldiers come over for soup. I’ve been stewing mushroom chicken soup all morning—it’ll warm everyone up.”

“I’ll call them!” Achi, standing beside Shen Qiu, was immediately delighted and ran to the practice field. Soon, dozens of soldiers had gathered in the courtyard.

Shen Miao had Jingzhe and the others serve soup to everyone. These soldiers were the most capable men under Shen Xin and Shen Qiu, which was why they were stationed directly in the General’s Mansion. The soldiers were thrilled to have soup, smiling and saying, “The Young Miss is so considerate! Young Miss has such a good heart!”

Rough men were the easiest to win over, and Shen Miao knew this principle well. Achi took a sip of the soup and exclaimed, “This soup is excellent!” After finishing it in just a few gulps, he handed his bowl back to Jingzhe: “Another bowl!”

Jingzhe rolled her eyes at Achi: “Of course it’s delicious. Our Young Miss made it herself.”

Shen Xin and Shen Qiu were surprised. Shen Qiu asked, “Sister made it herself?”

“Yes,” Shen Miao replied calmly.

“Son of a gun, stop drinking, all of you!” Shen Xin roared. “No more drinking!” He shouted at Guyu: “Bring me a big bowl!”

Luo Xuayan, who had just drunk some soup served by Bailu, was also quite surprised: “Jiaojiao, did you make this soup yourself? How has your cooking improved so much?”

The aroma of the soup wafted out, naturally making everyone’s mouths water. Shen Miao lowered her eyes and smiled: “I just watched and learned.” In her previous life, during the first few years, she had varied her cooking skills to please Fu Xiuyi. Later, when she went to the Qin Kingdom, she had learned many difficult dishes under others’ deliberate difficulties. Speaking of which, having experienced the royal cuisine of two countries, her vision and techniques were far superior to ordinary people. As for that girl from a humble background who was visiting the capital for the first time… Shen Miao’s gaze swept toward Jing Chuchu, who was standing behind a pillar. This time, she didn’t lower her head but bit her lip, tears in her eyes, looking at the group of men happily drinking soup, as if she had been greatly wronged.

A legitimate young lady personally stewing soup was far more precious than snacks made by a cousin-sister. Moreover, Shen Miao had given a portion to all the soldiers in the courtyard. By comparison, Jing Chuchu, who had only made snacks for Shen Xin and his son, seemed stingy and unrefined.

Jing Chuchu felt both embarrassed and angry, and her gaze toward Shen Miao carried a hint of hatred.

Shen Qiu also wanted to have some soup, but Guyu and the others wouldn’t serve him. Shen Qiu sensed something was wrong, guessing that Shen Miao was angry with him, but not knowing what he had done wrong. He could only look at Shen Miao plaintively. Only when almost everyone had finished drinking did Shen Miao instruct Bailu to take out a bowl from the bottom layer of the basket, saying, “You like sweetness, so this bowl has honey in it. Drink.”

“Sister is so good!” Shen Qiu was overjoyed, took the bowl, and gulped down the soup. His greedy appearance made Shen Miao almost unable to continue watching.

The soldiers who had received soup personally made by Shen Miao were both touched and pleased, naturally complimenting her profusely. They felt that Shen Miao didn’t have the high and mighty temperament of a young lady from a noble family, but was approachable and beautiful, just like a heavenly immortal.

With Shen Miao surrounded by the soldiers, Jing Chuchu was completely overlooked. She tried to leave several times but finally gritted her teeth and stayed.

When everyone went back to practice swords, and Shen Xin and Luo Xuayan had also gone, Shen Qiu sat on a stone lion to rest. Shen Miao then walked over to Jing Chuchu and smiled: “Cousin-sister’s snacks are quite good, but people who practice martial arts get especially tired and thirsty during daytime practice. If you give them snacks, wouldn’t that make them even more parched?” Shen Miao smiled sweetly: “Next time, perhaps make soup instead.”

Jing Chuchu’s face turned from blue to white. Shen Miao’s words exposed her pretense of bringing snacks while not genuinely considering the needs of these martial practitioners—otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought such dry food. Though inwardly furious, Jing Chuchu lowered her head in apparent panic, as if very frightened: “Thank you for the advice, cousin-sister. Chuchu understands now.” She then cast a pleading glance toward Shen Qiu, hoping he would come to her rescue.

Unfortunately, although Shen Qiu was genuine and sincere by nature, he was a complete blockhead when it came to matters between men and women. He found Jing Chuchu’s look puzzling. Shen Miao, seeing this, smiled and said, “Big Brother, didn’t you want to eat cousin-sister’s pastries earlier? Have some now.”

“Ahem,” Shen Qiu waved his hand. “I just had a bowl of soup and I’m a bit full. I can’t eat any more right now. Maybe later.”

Shen Miao was very satisfied. The bowl she had given Shen Qiu was especially large—she didn’t believe he could have room for Jing Chuchu’s pastries after finishing that bowl of soup, unless he were a pig.

Jing Chuchu looked somewhat disappointed. Shen Qiu stood up and said, “I’ll go practice some more,” and walked toward the courtyard.

Watching Shen Qiu’s retreating figure, Jing Chuchu felt unwilling but could only bite her lip. Shen Miao smiled slightly and patted her hand: “Cousin-sister’s pastries will not taste good when cold. If cousin-sister doesn’t mind, you could send them to Second Brother.”

“Second Brother?” Jing Chuchu looked at Shen Miao with confusion.

“Yes,” Shen Miao smiled. “Unlike my Big Brother and the others who spend most of the year in the cold northwestern frontier and can’t appreciate these delicate things, my Second Brother is different. At a young age, he has already entered an official position. Now he’s serving in the capital, and his prospects are limitless.” Shen Miao shook her head and sighed. “It’s a pity there’s no one to look after his daily needs. Men often don’t pay attention to food and clothing. Cousin-sister’s Suzhou-style pastries might suit his taste.”

Hearing this, Jing Chuchu’s gaze flickered with uncertainty. Shen Miao continued with a smile: “Perhaps in the future, when Second Brother has a wife, he’ll be able to enjoy good food regularly. I wonder which young lady will be fortunate enough to become my second sister-in-law. Cousin-sister might not know, but my Second Brother is the heart-throb of many officials’ daughters in the capital.”

“Second Young Master…” Jing Chuchu hesitated before asking, “Does he not yet have a lady he admires?”

Shen Miao sighed: “Second Brother is busy with court affairs all day. Where would he find time to meet other young ladies?”

Jing Chuchu seemed lost in thought. Shen Miao didn’t point anything out and continued chatting for a while. Seeing that Shen Qiu and the others showed no signs of stopping, it would be strange for Jing Chuchu to stay any longer, so she left.

After Jing Chuchu left, Shen Qiu came over and carefully looked at Shen Miao for a moment before saying, “Sister, why are you acting strange today?”

“How am I strange?” Shen Miao replied irritably. “Is Big Brother upset because I interrupted you from eating cousin-sister’s pastries earlier?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Shen Qiu said anxiously, his face turning red. Shen Miao waved her hand dismissively: “Forget it. But you’re in your prime now, with plenty of girls eyeing you. When choosing a sister-in-law in the future, you’d better keep your eyes wide open.”

Shen Qiu understood this. He helplessly said, “Sister, what are you saying? Cousin-sister didn’t mean anything by it. She was just bringing snacks.”

“If you like her, go ahead and eat your fill.” After saying this, Shen Miao walked away without looking back. Since returning, Shen Qiu had never seen Shen Miao so angry with him. He was startled and watched helplessly as Shen Miao walked away.

On the way back to her room, Guyu asked, “Does Miss dislike the cousin-sister? Otherwise, why would you be so angry?”

“Yes, I don’t like her,” Shen Miao said, rubbing her forehead. She truly hated Jing Chuchu. For someone as proud as Shen Qiu, making him break his leg, giving him a green hat, and finally having him imprisoned on murder charges—a woman with such a venomous heart deserved to have her skin peeled off. What made it worse was that Shen Qiu was kind-hearted by nature and couldn’t imagine how wicked a person’s heart could be. Seeing that in this life, Shen Qiu was almost bewitched by Jing Chuchu’s appearance again, Shen Miao was furious.

“But Miss mentioned Second Young Master to the cousin-sister,” Guyu said. “Perhaps the cousin-sister will shift her interest toward Second Young Master in the future.” Shen Miao’s casual conversation with Jing Chuchu hadn’t deliberately avoided the maids, and Guyu could discern her intentions.

Shen Miao shook her head: “She’s not stupid. If she could be swayed by a few words from me, she wouldn’t be Jing Chuchu.” Shen Miao smiled slightly. “However, it’s good to plant some thoughts.”

The maids were somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Shen Miao was so wary of this seemingly timid and fragile cousin-sister.

…

Baoxiang Pavilion was the largest money pit in the capital. If brothels were ranked into tiers, Baoxiang Pavilion would be the top-tier in the capital. Any girl randomly selected from there could be the top courtesan in an ordinary brothel. Plump or slender, spirited or gentle, coquettish or adorable, innocent or seductive—whatever one could imagine, Baoxiang Pavilion had it.

Consequently, the prices for the girls at Baoxiang Pavilion were also the most expensive.

Beautiful girls at the entrance waved scented handkerchiefs to welcome guests. A man wearing armor walked in, attracting several glances from the girls.

People who could afford to visit Baoxiang Pavilion were either wealthy or noble, mostly rich young masters or officials. The man before them didn’t look like he came from a wealthy family, and the murderous aura about him made the girls retreat one after another. Finally, a middle-aged woman in red clothing came out, saw him, and smiled: “Young Master Mo has come again? Are you still looking for Liu Ying today?”

Mo Qing nodded and took out a silver note from his bosom, handing it to her. The woman received the note and smiled with satisfaction: “Follow me, Young Master. I’ll take you upstairs right away. Liu Ying has been waiting for you these days.”

Mo Qing suppressed his discomfort and followed her upstairs with an outwardly calm demeanor.

The girls at Baoxiang Pavilion were the most expensive and the best. Although Liu Ying wasn’t considered a top courtesan at Baoxiang Pavilion, she had quite a reputation. However, this was relative to outside rumors. In reality, new girls arrived at Baoxiang Pavilion every day, each beautiful and talented. Men tended to favor the new over the old, and the number of clients seeking Liu Ying had decreased significantly.

Recently, however, the girls at Baoxiang Pavilion knew that Liu Ying, whose fortunes had been declining, had secured a big business with a young man who came to see her every few days. In Baoxiang Pavilion, clients who exclusively requested one girl were extremely rare, and everyone speculated that he intended to redeem Liu Ying.

Mo Qing followed the woman in red to a small building upstairs. The woman smiled and retreated. On a soft couch, a young woman in a sheer water-red silk dress reclined elegantly, holding a jade zither and plucking at it. Her water-like eyes were filled with emotion, her lips curved in an ambiguous smile, and her dress half-exposed her fragrant shoulders, provoking imagination.

Mo Qing took a deep breath, looked straight ahead without letting his eyes wander, walked to the table, and poured himself a cup of tea. Then he began his daily routine, staring blankly.

The music came to an abrupt halt. Liu Ying’s face showed a trace of exasperation. She walked up to Mo Qing and angrily said, “Young Master Mo has come several times but always ignores Liu Ying. Are you mocking Liu Ying? Or do you find Liu Ying’s body dirty?”

Her sisters all envied her, thinking she might be able to rise above her situation because a man was willing to exclusively request her. Little did they know that this man was all looks but no action—regardless of what methods she used, he wouldn’t even look at her, let alone anything else.

Mo Qing shook his head but didn’t speak, staring straight at the teacup in front of him. Inwardly, he felt extremely helpless. Shen Miao was indeed right—this Liu Ying was truly a woman of great charm. Earlier, when she tried to seduce him, Mo Qing had almost lost control. Now, sitting here for even a moment was torturous, yet Shen Miao wanted him to keep sitting like this.

The more frustrated Liu Ying became, the more seductive her smile grew. She simply sat on Mo Qing’s lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and breathed softly into his ear: “Young Master Mo, can you bear to let me sit like this?”

With a “slap,” Mo Qing pushed Liu Ying to the ground.

In a private room at the Kuaihuo Pavilion across from Baoxiang Pavilion, the table was laden with delicacies, music filled the air, and three people were seated. A guard-like figure entered from outside and whispered something in the ear of the purple-robed youth sitting in the middle.

“Speaking of which,” Ji Yushu asked curiously, “why would Miss Shen send her guard to Baoxiang Pavilion to find a courtesan?”

“And this guard only looks but doesn’t eat,” Gao Yang added.

Regarding Shen Miao, Gao Yang and Ji Yushu no longer viewed her as an ordinary young lady from a military family. Everything she did seemed to have profound meaning. Therefore, upon learning that Shen Miao had sent Mo Qing to Baoxiang Pavilion to find a courtesan, their first reaction was that Shen Miao was planning to trap someone again.

Baishengyi’s people had observed for several days and were shocked to discover that the guard had selected Liu Ying but did nothing, just sitting in her room all night before leaving. They carefully inquired about Liu Ying’s background—just a woman sold into prostitution with nothing special about her—which made them even more confused about Shen Miao’s intentions.

“Perhaps she wants to groom a eunuch as her confidant?” Ji Yushu’s thoughts were always peculiarly twisted. “She’s letting that guard get used to living like a eunuch in advance?”

“Your thoughts are always so extraordinary,” Gao Yang pondered. “I think she wants to win over Liu Ying, perhaps to deal with other members of the Shen family. But there’s no need to specifically seek out Liu Ying—Baoxiang Pavilion has many more alluring girls.” He looked at Xie Jingxing: “Third Xie, what do you think about this matter?”

Xie Jingxing was looking out the window. Upon hearing the question, he cast a lazy glance at the two and said, “Are you very idle?”

“You have some connection with Miss Shen. Aren’t you concerned at all?” Ji Yushu said. “Brother Third Xie, you’re clever. You must know something.”

“I don’t want to know,” Xie Jingxing interrupted him. “I’ll be leaving the city for a while.”

“Is it for the Jade Rabbit Festival?” Gao Yang frowned and asked.

“The Emperor plans to send the old man Xie on a campaign in spring,” Xie Jingxing said. “We can’t wait anymore.” The “old man Xie” he referred to was naturally Marquis Lin’an, Xie Ding.

Gao Yang was silent for a moment before saying, “If that’s the case, I’m afraid there won’t be enough time.”

“I heard Shen Yuan has been getting close to Prince Ding recently,” Xie Jingxing’s lips curled. “Seems like he’s preparing to deal with the First Branch of the Shen family?”

“Is Miss Shen going to be in trouble again?” Ji Yushu was somewhat surprised. “Why does she always attract ill-intentioned people? That Prince Ding is no good bird. Has anyone targeted by Prince Ding ever had a good outcome?”

“Prince Ding is unfathomable,” Gao Yang frowned. “Although he appears uninterested in power, his private military forces are no less than others. Shen Xin has military power in hand—the innocent suffer for possessing valuables. The Shen family is large and prosperous, naturally causing the royal family’s vigilance. If Prince Ding makes a move, I’m afraid Shen Xin will be severely weakened.”

“Isn’t Miss Shen in danger?” Ji Yushu looked at Xie Jingxing. “Brother Third Xie, how are you going to help her?”

Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow: “Why should I help her?”

“Aren’t you… at least considered friends?” Ji Yushu’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you save her before? Aren’t you going to help Miss Shen?”

Xie Jingxing looked at him with a half-smile, his eyes as deep as a pool. Although his appearance was elegant, his words carried a cold indifference. He said, “I need the Shen family to help me buy time. Prince Ding is dealing with Shen Xin… that’s excellent.”

Ji Yushu drew in a sharp breath.

…

In Prince Ding’s mansion in the capital.

A young man in light-colored robes sat in the high seat. His features were stern, but when he spoke to those below, he was extremely cordial, melting that sternness by a degree or two.

This person was none other than Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi.

At this moment, several strangers were seated in the hall. These people were all Prince Ding Fu Xiuyi’s advisors. He was good at recognizing talent and skilled at treating them with respect. While ordinary princes would give money and land to their advisors, none treated them with the same respect as he did, allowing them to sit as equals and speaking to them with great respect. It was precisely because of Fu Xiuyi’s attitude that he had attracted many wise men. And it was because of these wise men that Fu Xiuyi’s schemes and grand plans continued to keep the world in the dark, including Emperor Wenhui.

A young man in blue robes seated in the middle stood up. His appearance seemed out of place among these advisors because he was too young. Fu Xiuyi asked, “Shen Yuan, what are your thoughts? Please feel free to speak.”

Shen Yuan bowed to Fu Xiuyi. He had become Fu Xiuyi’s man privately as soon as he entered officialdom. Fu Xiuyi was adept at recruiting talented people, and Shen Yuan, talented and ambitious, could also endure the loneliness of serving away from the capital, so he was naturally favored by Fu Xiuyi.

Shen Yuan said, “Currently, everyone is secretly competing for military power. Whoever has military power has more leverage. The current military power in Mingqi is divided between the Xie family in the south and Shen Xin in the north. Although the Xie family’s forces are strong, His Majesty plans to send the Marquis of Lin’an on a campaign after spring, which must have its purpose. The Xie family cannot be touched, but the Shen family is different.” Shen Yuan paused before continuing, “Shen Xin voluntarily proposed to stay in the capital for half a year. Many want to win over Shen Xin. The Shen family’s military has too many variables. If it cannot be obtained, it’s better to destroy it. If we make a move now, it might align with His Majesty’s wishes and allow Your Highness to prove you have no other ambitions.”

Shen Yuan was himself a member of the Shen family, yet he kept saying “the Shen family,” clearly not aligning himself with Shen Xin. His words also obviously targeted Shen Xin. Fu Xiuyi looked at him with a smile, perhaps understanding but pretending not to know, since Shen Yuan’s words only benefited him without any drawbacks. He said, “What you say is indeed correct, but the Shen family currently has no flaws to exploit. Even if we want to find mistakes or loopholes, there’s no justification.”

Shen Yuan said nothing.

Fu Xiuyi’s eyes flickered, his tone becoming even more cordial: “But since you’re in the Shen Mansion, you must know some things that ordinary people don’t.” He looked at Shen Yuan: “If we can truly restrain the Shen family this time, your merit will be the greatest.”

Having received the assurance he wanted to hear, Shen Yuan respectfully spoke: “In reply to Your Highness, my people have already infiltrated the ranks. When the Shen family’s troops were fighting in the northwest previously, some things were done improperly. We’re still collecting evidence, and once the evidence is complete, I will present it with both hands. I guarantee that even if this doesn’t cause the Shen family’s military to completely fall, at least they will be severely weakened.”

Fu Xiuyi smiled faintly: “Then I’ll trouble you to take care of it.”

Shen Yuan bowed his head and smiled.