Was this about coveting her brother’s status and position, while looking down on his reputation?

Shen Xihe found it laughable – what kind of person dared to be picky about her brother?

Sensing his sister’s emotional change and catching the cold glint in Shen Xihe’s eyes, Shen Yun’an held her shoulder and quietly helped her up, shaking his head with a smile.

He was quite curious to know how the people of the capital viewed him.

“If not for this, would it be your turn?” the woman sneered. “No matter how many people he’s killed, once you marry into the Shen family, you’ll be the Crown Princess of the Northwest. Even if you die in the Northwest, it would still bring glory to the Yuan family.”

Yuan family?

Shen Xihe quickly searched through her memory – there were two Yuan families in the capital, one of the civil officials and one of the military officials, both fifth-rank minor officials.

A daughter of a fifth-rank minor official daring to aspire to the position of Northwest Crown Princess?

So in their eyes, had Shen Yun’an fallen so low that he would marry without regard for status?

If her brother truly liked someone, status, and position wouldn’t matter, but these people couldn’t see their standing yet dared to approach her brother. Killing intent gathered in Shen Xihe’s eyes.

The two women whispered a few more words, mainly about quickly finding Shen Yun’an and leaving a deep impression on him.

“Go find out who they are,” Shen Xihe ordered after their maids came to report they couldn’t find anyone and the women decided to wait at the main gate.

“Don’t be angry, little sister. Your brother won’t marry carelessly,” Shen Yun’an chuckled softly to soothe the annoyed Shen Xihe.

He was both worried about Shen Xihe’s health being affected by anger and pleased that his sister was irritated on his behalf about these people.

He loved his sister dearly and found it extremely difficult to find a suitable wife. He thought few ladies would not mind this, but since he couldn’t change, he simply chose not to waste others’ time. Fortunately, their father hadn’t pressured him, hoping he could find someone he truly liked.

“Princess, it’s Lady Yuan, wife of Duke Xie, with her niece from her maiden family,” Mo Yu reported after investigating.

“Lady Yuan of Duke Xie’s family?” Shen Xihe let out a light sneer.

Wasn’t this the stepmother that Xie Yunhuai’s father kept thinking about?

This Yuan family had reached the position of Minister of Justice during her father’s time, but after her father’s death, her eldest brother died young while serving outside the capital, and her second brother was mediocre, only passing the imperial examination at nearly forty and still just a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works.

“Let’s go see what kind of beauty could have such confidence,” Shen Xihe grabbed Shen Yun’an’s wrist and left Pingzhong Court, heading straight for the main gate.

Before they reached the main hall facing the gate, they heard a piercing scream that sounded exactly like Lady Yuan.

Shen Xihe and Shen Yun’an exchanged glances and hurried along with the crowd gathering toward the sound, arriving at the main hall’s entrance.

They saw the crowd backing away, giving them a clear view of the scene at the main gate. A young lady was covering half her face with one hand, blood seeping through her fingers.

The elegantly dressed older woman’s face showed both shock and anger, though she had turned pale with fright.

Xue Jinqiao stood a few steps away from them in a black dress, with a large, muscular cheetah beside her. She was currently crouching and patting the cheetah’s forehead, seemingly calming it.

“Quickly kill that beast!” Lady Yuan, having recovered her senses, ordered her guards from the Duke’s mansion harshly.

“Who dares!” Xue Jinqiao stood before the cheetah, which had sensed the threat and was ready to attack. “Dian Dian was bestowed by His Majesty. If you dare harm it, you’re showing contempt for imperial authority!”

“Miss Xue the Seventh, you let your beast harm someone. Even if it was bestowed by His Majesty, he won’t punish me for killing it!” Lady Yuan, having been the Duke’s wife for years, matched her in presence.

“My Dian Dian has always been well-behaved. This isn’t my first time bringing it here, and it has never hurt anyone before. Today it went wild at the sight of Miss Yuan – she must have something unclean about her,” Xue Jinqiao said with a smile. “Cao Cao, search her!”

“You dare!” Lady Yuan’s face twisted with anger at Xue Jinqiao’s words, and the guards from both families faced off.

“Amitabha,” Xu Qing arrived and first tended to Miss Yuan’s wounds. “This is a pure Buddhist ground. Please, both parties, put away your weapons.”

Xue Jinqiao nodded, and the Xue family guards sheathed their swords first. Lady Yuan also grudgingly ordered her guards to stand down.

“Master Xu Qing, you know best how well-behaved Dian Dian is. It wouldn’t hurt someone without cause.” Xue Jinqiao’s eyes brightened upon seeing Shen Xihe. While appearing to speak to Xu Qing, she moved closer to Shen Xihe. “This is Buddhist holy ground. If someone brought unclean items, wouldn’t that desecrate Buddha?”

Xu Qing crouched down to examine Miss Yuan’s injuries personally. Three deep gashes ran across half her fair face, one extending from her right eyebrow across her nose to behind her ear, deep enough to show bone.

Looking at the unmarked half of her face, Shen Xihe confirmed that Miss Yuan was indeed quite beautiful.

Xu Qing’s gaze swept over the sachet at Miss Yuan’s waist, and he stood up expressionlessly: “Lady Xie, the spices in Miss Yuan’s sachet drove the cheetah wild.”

“Master Xu Qing!” Lady Yuan exclaimed in disbelief.

But Xu Qing’s gaze carried both authority and coldness.

“I know a bit about spices. Let me take a look,” Shen Xihe stepped forward.

This matter concerned a young woman’s entire life. If it wasn’t Miss Yuan’s own doing, the Xue family would have to answer to the Yuan family no matter what.

Xu Qing stepped aside, though his stern expression made people uneasy. Everyone was curious about what could make the usually kind and respected Master Xu Qing so quietly angry.

As soon as the sachet reached Shen Xihe’s hands, a faint fragrance wafted up. After carefully smelling it, she handed it to Lady Yuan: “Lady Xie, this contains otter bone powder.”

Lady Yuan hadn’t understood yet, nor had the onlookers. Shen Xihe continued: “Lady Xie, take Miss Yuan to the medical center for treatment. Ask the doctor and you’ll understand. As for whether you want to seek redress from Miss Xue the Seventh, decide after you’ve learned the truth.”

After hearing this and seeing Xu Qing’s disapproving expression, Lady Yuan didn’t persist and left with Miss Yuan.

After everyone dispersed, Shen Xihe finally fixed her deep gaze on Xue Jinqiao. The previously imposing Xue Jinqiao now looked like a child who had done wrong, her eyes darting around as she petted her Dian Dian.

Otter bone was an aphrodisiac – otters being lustful creatures. If a man consumed it, the consequences would be unthinkable.

For an unmarried lady to have such a thing in her sachet – if word got out, none of the Yuan family’s daughters would ever make a good marriage.

Once Lady Yuan learned what otter bone was, how could she dare seek justice from Xue Jinqiao?

Miss Yuan’s beauty was ruined for nothing, but how could an official’s daughter possibly put such a thing in her sachet? Especially since Lady Yuan didn’t even know what otter bone was, Miss Yuan would have been even less likely to know.

Looking at Xue Jinqiao’s feigned meekness, Shen Xihe understood everything.

“You!” Shen Xihe tapped her forehead and strode away.

Shen Yun’an moved to follow, but was blocked by Xue Jinqiao, who warned in a low voice: “Until I decide I don’t want you, you’re not allowed to attract any butterflies or bees!”

Shen Yun’an: ???