At night, a cool breeze rises. As the deep autumn approaches, the weather becomes colder day by day. Beijing is located in the north and it's getting even colder than usual.

  Under the lamp light, the girl held a book in her hands, leaning against the couch at an angle and slowly turning the pages. The tea beside her had gone cold but she didn't notice, completely absorbed in her reading.

  Bai Lu stared blankly at his own daughter, as if overnight, this girl had become someone else. She sat quietly reading a book, unlike the former Shen Miao who hated reading. Now, she looked like a noble lady, and if Bai Lu hadn't known it was his own daughter, he would have thought he saw some aristocratic woman.

  A little girl, how can she have such momentum? Bai Lu was somewhat puzzled and stood in place, stunned. Until Frost approached her and pushed her gently, scolding softly: "What are you standing there for?" Walking over to put the cloak on Shen Miao's body, he said warmly: "Miss, it's not early now, tomorrow we still have to go to Guangwen Hall, so let's rest early."

  Shen Miao shook her head: "You all go rest first, I'll take another look."

  There's no reason for the master to sleep while the servant rests first. Frost descended, and she wanted to persuade him some more, but was pulled away by Gu Yu, who had come to change the tea for Shen Miao. After changing the tea, he took her and Bai Lu together to the outer room.

  "What's wrong, Valley Rain?" White Dew was puzzled: "Miss, you've just recovered from your illness, why don't you also advise her?"

  "How could I have dissuaded her?" Gu Yu rubbed his temples in frustration: "Nowadays, Miss Shen doesn't listen to what I say at all. She's been reading books for a whole day today, and I guess it's Master's assignment. She's made up her mind to read, what can I do about it?" He anxiously glanced inside the room, remembering how timid she used to be and always needed others to make decisions for her. Now that she was no longer timid, she made her own decisions, but everyone was too afraid to disagree with her. Being by her side, Gu Yu could feel that every time Shen Miao gave orders, it was impossible for people to refuse.

  It was just a faint tone of voice, but it also revealed a sense of majesty. It seemed that even when the old master got angry, he wasn't as intimidating as this, and so Gu Yu let out a sigh.

  In the room, Shen Miao was still reading a book.

  She looked very serious, not letting go of any details. If she could look carefully, she would find that what she was holding in her hand was the "Ming Qi Zheng Shi". Since the founding of the country until now, Ming Qi has experienced many major events. She knew that there would be things happening in the next few decades and was preparing to seek methods to prevent the tragedy from occurring. Before that, she had to find the source of the current situation of these noble families.

  The emperor's order to eradicate these aristocratic families is imminent, Shen Miao remembers clearly that if nothing unexpected happens, a disaster will occur next month. The enemy of an enemy is a friend, and when these noble families arrive, it will soon be the turn of the Shen family.

  Before Shen Xin returned, the Shen manor could only be supported by her alone, and she also had to guard against those jackals in the East Wing.

  As expected, that night, Gui's mother entered Rong Jing Tang. She came to deliver the specialty products brought back from the village, but instead, she chatted with Zhang Mama beside Old Lady Shen about family matters. The conversation was filled with hints and implications about Shen Miao's disobedience and how she would be punished severely for her mistakes.

  Zhang's mother didn't know what to make of her intentions, and after exchanging a few bland words with her, Gui's wife asked Zhang's mother to say some nice things in front of Old Lady Shen before leaving.

  She had just walked out of the Rongjing Hall's courtyard when she saw Xianglan, the maid beside Ren Yuanyun, walking over. Seeing her, she smiled: "Gui Yatou, I was just looking for you."

  "Ah," said Gui's wife with a smile as she looked at Xianglan, "what brings you here, Miss Xianglan?"

  "It's nothing much," Xianglan came over and pulled on Gui's arm: "It's just that our mistress heard you know of a place that sells lip balm, the lip balm they sell is particularly good-looking, she wants to ask you where that place that sells lip balm is."

  This was obviously just an excuse, and at the time, Ruan Yun wanted to find Gu Yehuo to say something private. Gu Yehuo understood and followed Xianglan's words: "What is this about? Since Madam wants to listen, I'll tell Madam that place... many young ladies from official families love to use that lip balm..."

  Dai Tong Xianglan arrived at Caiyun Garden, and all the maidservants outside had already been dismissed.

  Ren Yuanyun sat on the couch, Old Master Shen was still out socializing and hadn't returned yet. She casually did some needlework on one side, probably embroidering a purse, while eating grapes from a plate beside her.

  This is a rare thing, at this time of year, it's impossible to find grapes in the capital. Only Master Shen has the ability, he managed to get a basket and gave them to the women in his own courtyard to eat.

  Madam Gui secretly scolded in her heart, although on the surface it seemed that the second wife of the Shen family had not treated the first wife unfairly. However, the food served by Shen Miao was superficially impressive but actually similar to the tasteless and unrefined dishes of a nouveau riche merchant's household. Even when it came to food, Shen Miao did not receive the same treatment as the grapes.

  She thought to herself, but it was Yan Yun who finally put down the needle and thread in her hand and said: "Gui's aunt."

  "Madam, I'm here," replied Gui's mother, quickly regaining her composure.

  Ren Yuanyun was already a forty-year-old woman, although she took good care of herself, there were still some fine lines at the corners of her eyes. Just sitting there, wearing well-made clothes with elegant tailoring, every move was full of the demeanor of a lady of the house, even when smiling, she had a somewhat majestic appearance.

  She said: "I heard you're back, now that Xiao Wu's body is better, you need to take good care of her."

  Gu Yan's heart was ridiculing, saying who doesn't know that the East Wing is eager to see the West Wing suffer a calamity. How could Ren Yuanyun be so kind-hearted? It's just to deceive people's ears and eyes. Sure enough, only to hear Ren Yuanyun say: "These days, Xiao Wu's mood has not been good since falling into the water. Big brother and sister-in-law are not here, and as a maternal aunt, no matter what I do, it's all wrong. Even if you want to listen to some news, you have to hear it from me."

  This was what Guan Yiniang told Ren Yuanyun about Shen Miao's every move.

  "Madam has a kind heart to care for the Fifth Young Lady, it's the Fifth Young Lady's good fortune. However, in my humble opinion, this time the Fifth Young Lady fell into the water, she indeed was angry. These past few days her temperament has changed a lot, and even towards me, she has become distant. Not to mention other things, just today, I was fined three months' worth of salary." She said with a worried expression: "I heard that the Fifth Young Lady fell into the water, my heart is anxious, I didn't even care about my own grandson who is still ill, who knew the Fifth Young Lady would scold me, it's not easy for me to bear either."

  Ren Yuanyun felt somewhat impatient with the old woman's implicit meaning, so she said: "Xiao Wu, after all, it's because of her heart disease. Look at how Xiao Wu's attitude towards Ding Wangye has changed?"

  This is what she most wants to ask.

  The old lady's eyes rolled around and said, "It seems that the fifth young lady wants to draw a clear line with Prince Ding. She didn't even let me mention it today. But I've been with the fifth young lady for so many years, and I'm familiar with her temperament. The fifth young lady is unusually persistent in this matter of Prince Ding, and she probably won't give up so easily. These words are probably just the young lady's family speaking hastily, and shouldn't be taken seriously."

  As soon as the words fell, a hint of cruelty floated onto Ruan Yun's face.