The night gradually grew darker. Winter nights were always particularly cold. Walking outside, the north wind seemed to cut through to one’s bones, making even the slightest movement painful.
In the gloomy prison cell, wind gusted through the narrow window, causing the prisoner to shrink into a ball. She wrapped the tattered cotton quilt, which had already split into strands of worn cotton wadding, tightly around herself, leaving only her head exposed. She struggled to rise, attempting to close the window that let in the biting wind.
However, no matter how much she stretched on tiptoe, she couldn’t reach it. After a moment, she abandoned the attempt, fearing that exerting herself would only make her weaker.
The patrolling jailer witnessed this scene but merely sneered without offering help. People who spend long periods in such gloomy places often become somewhat twisted. Perhaps watching prisoners suffer had become a form of entertainment, at least for now.
Shen Qing glanced at the jailer, quickly lowering her head to conceal the hatred in her eyes. During her days here, she had suffered all kinds of hardships. She didn’t know whether Shen Wan and Shen Gui had arranged for better treatment or if it was something else, but these jailers treated her no differently from others, also taking pleasure in watching her suffer. If there was any special consideration given to her, it was perhaps that, unlike other female prisoners, she hadn’t been violated by these jailers upon arrival. However, this might not have been due to the Shen family’s influence—after all, she was carrying the Prince of Yu’s child in her womb. Regardless of the circumstances of conception, it still had some connection to royal blood.
Shen Qing carefully stroked her abdomen; this was now her only protection. For some reason, the words Shen Miao had spoken to her that afternoon had instilled in her an extreme fear she had never experienced before—not even when she was first brought to prison. She had always believed someone would come to rescue her, that her family wouldn’t let her suffer in vain.
But Shen Miao had methodically analyzed her situation, shattering her hopes one by one, making Shen Qing realize how fragile her support truly was. It also made her doubt whether she could escape this predicament unscathed.
The jailer looked at her and was about to leave when Shen Qing suddenly called out, “Brother.”
He stopped and approached her, but seemingly repulsed by the stench emanating from her, he waved his hand in disgust and asked, “What is it?”
“These past few days, have any of my family members come to see me? Or sent any messages?” She suppressed her anger; a mere jailer daring to look at her with such disdain—in the past, he would have been eager to curry favor with her. These opportunistic people!
The jailer laughed, “What are you thinking, Miss Shen? Until the case is settled, who would dare visit you? Besides, apart from your sister, none of your family has even asked about you.” There was mockery in the jailer’s tone. After all, with Shen Qing involved in such a scandal, even if she were cleared of charges eventually, the rumors and disgrace had already brought the Shen family into a difficult position. It seemed the Shen family was prepared to abandon this daughter. Thinking this, the jailer’s attitude toward Shen Qing became even more disrespectful.
Shen Qing felt a mixture of disappointment and relief. After hesitating, she looked at the jailer and said, “Brother, if my elder brother comes to see me… please tell him I’m too distraught to see anyone, and don’t let him visit, would you?” As she spoke, she removed a bracelet from her wrist and passed it through the iron bars.
During her imprisonment, most of her jewelry had been confiscated. This bracelet had been given to her by Ren Wanyun on her wedding day and was quite valuable. Shen Qing had kept it hidden out of selfishness, but now, forced by desperation, she offered it up.
The jailer’s eyes brightened at the sight of the bracelet. He snatched it from her and carefully examined it in the lamplight. Seeing it was of fine quality, he smiled slightly and said, “Since you ask, I’ll help you. But your brother coming to see you is a good thing—why push him away?”
Shen Qing forced a smile and replied, “Because I’ve caused trouble for the family and feel too ashamed to face them.”
The jailer nodded, though his expression showed contempt. If she were truly so self-respecting, how could she have committed adultery and become pregnant before marriage? Now talking about shame and being unable to face people seemed rather hypocritical. Nevertheless, he had accepted her gift and had no reason to refuse her request, so he agreed and left.
After the jailer walked away, Shen Qing crouched down, helplessly hugging her shoulders and burying her head in her knees. She often assumed this position lately, uncertain whether her actions were right or wrong, unsure of her path forward. All she could do was avoid looking and thinking, as if when she opened her eyes again, she might return to her former life as the confident eldest daughter of the Shen family.
She dozed off in this confused state for an unknown period until she was awakened by the sound of someone knocking on the iron bars. She raised her head, somewhat bewildered.
In the flickering light, a familiar face appeared. In the past, seeing this face would have filled her with joy, but after Shen Miao’s words, looking at this face now caused Shen Qing to fall back in fear, her gaze frantically fixed on the person before her.
Shen Wan said, “Sister, are you well?”
“Second Brother, why have you come?” Shen Qing asked, subtly backing away.
Shen Wan noticed her movement and frowned slightly but said nothing. He took a key from his sleeve and opened the cell door. Shen Qing was startled, then her face brightened as she stood up. “Second Brother, have you come to rescue me?”
Shen Wan shook his head. “I cannot get you out for now.” He took out a package of pastries from his robe and handed it to Shen Qing. “I came to see you and bring you something to eat.”
Shen Qing was disappointed. Shen Wan had already entered the cell but seemed disgusted by its filthiness, which saddened Shen Qing. She instinctively took the oil paper package and opened it. Inside were fragrant, still-warm chestnut cakes, her favorite.
“You’ve suffered these days,” Shen Wan said with unusual tenderness. “I know you love these, so I brought them to satisfy your craving.”
Shen Qing’s nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears. During her time in prison, she had been eating spoiled food and never enough of it, living in constant fear. Now, faced with a beloved treat from her past and with Shen Wan beside her, all her grievances welled up.
“Don’t cry. After you eat, wait a few more days, and I’ll get you out,” Shen Wan consoled her gently.
Shen Qing somewhat awkwardly took out a cake and was about to put it in her mouth when she caught sight of Shen Wan’s gentle smile. Her hand suddenly trembled as if doused with cold water. Mysteriously, Shen Miao’s words from the afternoon echoed in her ears:
“He could have had a good career, an unlimited future, but because of your constant troubles… do you think he wants to rescue you?”
The cake was right by her lips, but Shen Qing couldn’t bring herself to take a bite.
Trust is the most precious element in human relationships. In the past, Shen Qing would have trusted Shen Wan without hesitation. But after the Prince of Yu incident, she had witnessed the callousness of the Shen family firsthand. Would this second brother truly be willing to sacrifice his promising career and take such a great risk to rescue her? If Shen Qing were in his position, she might also hesitate. She suddenly recalled the jade bracelet she had given to the jailer earlier, specifically instructing him to prevent Shen Wan from seeing her if he came. So how was Shen Wan here now? Had the jailer taken her gift but failed to fulfill his promise, or had Shen Wan used some other means to enter?
Shen Qing suddenly realized that there were no patrolling jailers in sight. And her cell had no other prisoners—meaning right now, only she and Shen Wan were present. Despite being the closest of siblings, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Shen Wan asked.
Shen Qing forced a smile and quickly improvised, “I… I don’t want to waste it. I’ll save it for later.”
“It won’t taste good when it gets cold,” Shen Wan smiled. “I’ll bring you more in a few days.”
“No…” Shen Qing declined. “I… I don’t feel like eating right now.”
“Weren’t you hungry just now?” Shen Wan looked at her. “Why the sudden change?”
Shen Qing waved her hands frantically. “I just don’t want to eat now. I suddenly feel unwell, perhaps because of my pregnancy. My appetite has been strange lately.” She rewrapped the pastry and set it aside. “When I feel better, I’ll eat it.”
Shen Wan silently watched her actions, his eyes alternately bright and dark. Finally, he gave a mocking laugh and said, “Sister, it seems you’ve grown smarter after a few days in prison.” His voice no longer held its earlier gentleness but instead had a strange cruelty. Shen Wan continued, “It seems you already know. What a pity—I had hoped to give my sister an easier passing.”
Shen Qing began to tremble. She looked at Shen Wan and asked, “Second Brother, what do you mean?”
“Since you’re so guarded against me, I thought you understood my intentions. If you don’t want to eat the cake, so be it. Although it disappoints your brother’s efforts, considering your pregnancy, I won’t hold it against you.”
Shen Wan’s words were eerily calm, and coupled with his scholarly face, they carried a terrifying power. Shen Qing realized what was happening and frantically shook her head, about to scream, but before she could make a sound, her throat was seized.
This normally gentle-looking man possessed surprising strength. Even more frightening was that his victim was his blood sister, yet he showed no hesitation or compassion, as if she were a mere stranger.
Shen Qing, being strangled, stared wide-eyed at the person before her. Shen Wan chuckled softly and said, “Sister, don’t blame your second brother for being heartless. You’ve caused such a huge disaster, and one misstep could implicate the entire Shen family. Would you sacrifice Father, Mother, and Yuan Bai for your sake? Sister, one shouldn’t be so selfish.”
Shen Qing struggled desperately, but she was a woman-a pregnant woman at that—who had been weakened by days of torture. Her strength was no match for a man in his prime. She could only futilely kick her legs, scattering the straw on the ground.
“I know you’re unwilling,” Shen Wan said softly. “Sister, you were originally uninvolved in this matter, yet now you must pay with your life. As your second brother, I will certainly avenge you. I promise you, the First Branch of the Shen family and Shen Miao will suffer fates a thousand times more tragic than yours. So don’t resent your second brother. Only with your death, with the Second Branch unimplicated and with my career intact, can I help you seek revenge. Do you understand?”
Shen Qing’s body gradually went limp, and her eyes began to lose their luster, like a dying fish slowly drying on the shore.
Shen Wan released his grip, and her body fell to the ground with a thud. In just a brief moment, she had gone from vibrant to lifeless—Shen Qing’s life had ended in this prison cell.
Shen Wan gazed dispassionately at Shen Qing’s corpse. After a moment, he took a needle and pricked her fingertip, then used her hand to write a line in blood on the cell wall. Next, he removed her belt, tied it to the iron bars, and slipped her head through the loop.
When everything was done, he stood up, picked up the oil paper package Shen Qing had placed on the ground, and took one last look at the gently swaying figure hanging from the iron bars.
“Sister, you won’t have died in vain. Second Brother will avenge you,” he said softly.
……
This winter in the capital truly seemed to be a season of turmoil, with one incident following another. The massacre at the Prince of Yu’s mansion was known to all; though common people secretly applauded, they also understood the dangers involved. The only survivor, the newly wedded eldest daughter of the Shen family, had been imprisoned due to her intricate connection to the case, and everyone was eager to learn the outcome.
Then suddenly, news spread that the eldest daughter of the Shen family had hanged herself in prison using her belt. Before dying, she had left a blood testament stating she was indeed innocent, but with her husband’s family all dead, she was unwilling to live on and could only prove her innocence through death.
People are strangely more lenient toward the dead. While Shen Qing had previously been called a loose woman for becoming pregnant before marriage and then marrying the Prince of Yu, her death now elicited sympathy. Many praised her integrity and character, lamenting that the Prince of Yu had ruined her life.
The previous rumors seemed to collapse overnight. Consider this: for a pregnant woman to choose death to prove her innocence, she must have suffered a great injustice. Moreover, those rumors had been baseless from the start. Shen Qing had no grudge against the Prince of Yu; with him dead, she would have had to remain a widow, which made no sense for her to have been involved.
Thus, with Shen Qing’s death, the suspicions against the Shen family and Shen Qing herself seemed cleared. Even Emperor Wenhui at the palace said nothing, though the identity of the killers remained unknown, and the case would likely become a mystery.
In the Shen mansion, everything appeared unchanged from before.
Shen Qing, having married into the Prince of Yu’s household, would be buried alongside the Prince as the Princess of Yu. The Shen Matriarch found some comfort in this—dead or alive, the Shen family had produced a princess, which was at least a respectable title.
Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu appeared deeply grieved, while Shen Yue cried inconsolably. However, despite their apparent sorrow, none had visited Shen Qing in prison before her death, so whether their grief was genuine or an act remained unclear.
In contrast, Shen Gui, as her father, showed much less emotion. He continued his daily affairs without displaying any signs of mourning. Occasionally, one could even catch a fleeting look of relief in his eyes. Perhaps for Shen Gui, Shen Qing’s suicide had spared him many troubles, naturally bringing him joy. As for Shen Wan, the entire burden of the Second Branch of the Shen family now fell on his shoulders. He was constantly out and about, rarely seen in the mansion, his situation unclear.
The most pitiable was undoubtedly Ren Wanyun. Upon learning of Shen Qing’s suicide in prison, she immediately fainted. After regaining consciousness, she became confused, holding Xiang Lan’s hand and saying she wanted to see Shen Qing’s return home visit, showing how severely the news had affected her. In this confused state, she was naturally unable to manage the Second Branch. Shen Gui had Madam Wan temporarily take charge, and people in Cai Yun Courtyard whispered that Madam Wan was likely to rise in the Second Branch, along with the perpetually sick and seldom-seen Shen Dongling. Fortunately, the Shen Matriarch cared for Shen Yuanbai and didn’t allow Madam Wan to raise her legitimate grandson, instead taking Shen Yuanbai to Rong Jing Hall to personally educate him.
The chaotic affairs of the Second and Third Branches had little to do with the First Branch. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, having returned this time, already had misgivings about the other two branches and naturally wouldn’t go out of their way to help. They spent their days practicing swordsmanship in the mansion or visiting old friends, living quite comfortably. Shen Qiu was also being introduced to officials by Shen Xin. As Shen Qiu’s military achievements grew, the day would come when he would take over Shen Xin’s position.
As for Shen Miao, after resting for a while, she returned to Guangwen Hall.
With the New Year approaching, the coursework at Guangwen Hall had eased. The teachers, knowing students had little interest in studying during this period, were lenient. Despite Shen Miao’s absence for many days, she hadn’t fallen behind much. However, when the students saw her arrive, they began to discuss amongst themselves.
The news of Shen Qing had spread widely, yet no one had heard the Shen family’s perspective. Soon after the incident at the Prince of Yu’s mansion, Chen Ruoqiu had ordered Shen Yue to stay home and not attend classes to avoid any mishaps. Thus, Shen Miao’s arrival sparked curiosity.
Yi Peilan said, “Oh, Shen Miao, you came? Why aren’t you wearing mourning clothes?” She deliberately raised her voice, “Ah, I suppose that’s understandable. There was often friction between you and Shen Qing, so you probably aren’t very sad.”
Yi Peilan, being a close friend of Shen Qing, wanted to stand up for her, so her words were intentionally malicious. Everyone looked toward the entrance. Shen Miao was wearing a deep indigo dress with only simple jade bracelets as accessories, giving her a somber appearance. This attire wasn’t inappropriate, but compared to Shen Yue’s plain white dress and white flower hairpin, which gave her a delicate and pitiful air, it seemed somewhat lacking.
“According to Ming Qi law, when there’s a death in the family, white is worn for elders, dark colors for others. Miss Yi, perhaps you don’t understand the generational differences—my elder sister was my peer, not my elder,” Shen Miao replied without turning her head, walking directly to her seat.
Feng Anning, seeing her, appeared excited, seemingly with many questions. Yi Peilan, stung by Shen Miao’s retort, became furious and blurted out, “Shen Miao, stop pretending to be virtuous. You and Shen Qing never got along, so you’re probably secretly happy about her misfortune. Otherwise, why didn’t your father and mother, as Shen Qing’s uncle and aunt, help her when she was imprisoned?”
At these words, all eyes turned to Shen Miao, waiting for her response to this thorny question. Indeed, Shen Xin had not helped when Shen Qing was imprisoned. Given Shen Xin’s merits, he could have spoken to the Emperor and at least bought Shen Qing some time, perhaps preventing her from feeling so desperate and taking her own life.
Shen Miao’s eyes turned cold, and she abruptly turned to stare at Yi Peilan. Yi Peilan, caught in her gaze, involuntarily felt a chill. Before she could speak again, Shen Miao’s mocking voice rang out:
“Miss Yi and my elder sister were always close, so you must be very indignant on her behalf. However, when my second aunt hoped to rescue my elder sister and went to the Yi mansion to request Lady Yi’s assistance in persuading Lord Yi to help, I recall Lady Yi claimed illness and refused to see her.”
Yi Peilan was stunned, her face turning crimson as the other students looked at her meaningfully. She stammered, “That’s because my mother was truly ill!”
“If Lady Yi could claim illness at such a critical time, why couldn’t my parents do the same?” Shen Miao continued relentlessly. Without using a single vulgar word, she thoroughly humiliated Yi Peilan. “Since Lady Yi couldn’t do it, why does Miss Yi unreasonably expect my parents to? My elder sister was in prison, and even her closest relatives—her second uncle and second brother—could do nothing. Do you think rescuing her would have been easy? Miss Yi, her lips are easy to move, but her actions are difficult. ‘Do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you.’ Next time, before lecturing and blaming others, please accomplish it yourself first!”
Pei Lang had just entered the hall when he heard Shen Miao’s counterattack. Looking into the hall, he saw Shen Miao standing straight, her calm words thoroughly humiliating both Yi Peilan and the entire Yi family. Yi Peilan was left speechless, biting her lip and glaring at Shen Miao.
Indeed, ‘do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you.’ The Yi family themselves were opportunists who changed with the wind, yet they stood on a moral high ground criticizing others, which was truly laughable.
“Shen Miao!” Increasingly angered, Yi Peilan was about to rush forward and fight with Shen Miao when a light cough was heard, and Pei Lang entered from outside.
Seeing the teacher, everyone immediately fell silent. Yi Peilan was still fuming when Pei Lang calmly said, “There shall be no quarreling in the classroom,” giving her a warning look.
Everyone knew that in Guangwen Hall, though Pei Lang was only a Xiucai and had a gentle temperament, he commanded respect. Even someone as prideful as Yi Peilan didn’t dare to contradict him. Shen Miao sat down, and Feng Anning nudged her arm, whispering, “Teacher Pei is helping you out. Yi Peilan went too far, even Teacher Pei couldn’t stand it.”
Shen Miao looked up and met Pei Lang’s gaze. His gentle expression held a hint of inquiry, as if trying to discern her thoughts.
She returned his gaze, the corner of her lips curling almost imperceptibly into a smile.
Pei Lang was slightly taken aback. The young girl, typically composed and elegant, had momentarily displayed a mature woman’s charm in that smile, with a subtle hint of allure that made one want to uncover her secrets.
However, in the next moment, Shen Miao lowered her head, and that fleeting smile seemed like just an illusion.
……
The Feng Xian Pawnshop naturally knew all about these rumors and affairs, both major and minor, in the capital.
Ji Yushu was working on an abacus while telling the two people opposite him, “The business with the Chen family from Jiangnan is profitable. With such a large sum of money, this pawnshop doesn’t need to open for three years.”
“So you’re taking all the silver for yourself, without leaving any for Miss Shen Five?” Gao Yang teased. “After all, she’s the one who sold the information.”
Ji Yushu pouted, “She said all the silver goes to me. I took such a big risk to fabricate that news for her. Without that, could the Yu Prince’s mansion matter have been handled so cleanly without consequences?” He continued, “Besides, if she hadn’t told Chen Yueshan she didn’t want silver, after this deal, I could have closed shop for thirty years. Thanks to her, I earned that much less. If it weren’t for the fact that she’s a woman, I’d… I’d teach her a lesson!”
“If you tried to teach her a lesson, I’d prepare a coffin for you,” Gao Yang said, gently waving his fan with an elegant smile, though his words made one’s teeth itch. “The Prince of Yu wanted to harm her, and she wiped out his entire household. Her sister plotted against her, and she took her life. With such a ruthless girl, I bet you wouldn’t last three moves against her.”
“Stop it,” Ji Yushu complained. “Am I really that weak? Besides, no matter how formidable she is, she’s still a woman, and women have weaknesses.” Ji Yushu looked at the indifferent Xie Jingxing, who was drinking tea, and said, “Let me put it this way: if one day Miss Shen Five falls in love with our Third Brother Xie, she’d surely become infatuated and coquettish. Even if she’s as strong as steel, she’d be soft as silk in our Third Brother’s hands. By then, even if Third Brother Xie pointed a sword at her, I bet she wouldn’t even frown.”
“Hehe,” Gao Yang coldly looked at him. “By then, she would first dismember Third Xie and mince him into meat paste to feed dogs.”
“Third Brother Xie, Gao Yang just called you a dog,” Ji Yushu immediately tattled.
Xie Jingxing was toying with a hairpin in his hand. He gave them both a look, his face showing unusual solemnity.
“They’re here.”