The day's plan always passes quickly, and on the third day when Shen Miao came to the Xian Tang Pawnshop again, the Chen brothers had been waiting for a long time.

  Compared to before, the two of them seemed to have changed a lot. Especially Chen Yue Shan, that kind of bold and refreshing aura like a green mountain was no longer visible, replaced by deep and profound gloom. Shen Miao glanced at Chen Yue Shan and Chen Yue Hai, and roughly had an idea in her mind. It's likely that these two had already inquired about the news of Chen family's sister, or perhaps even saw her with their own eyes. Witnessing their siblings fall into such a miserable state, for Jianghu people who are decisive and ruthless, it might be a huge stimulus. Otherwise, the Chen family would not have gone to assassinate Yu Qin Wang without considering the consequences.

  "Miss Shen," Chen Yuehai spoke first, "the method you mentioned earlier that can prevent the imperial family from investigating the Chen family, may I ask you to tell my two brothers?"

  Ji Yu Shu gazed at his tea cup, as if he could see a flower in it, but deliberately avoided looking at Shen Miao.

  Shen Miao sighed and said, "I also want to help, but as I said before, this way, the risk I take is also very great. In a sense, the Shen family and your Chen family are tied to the same boat. If something goes wrong, the Shen family will also be affected."

  Chen Yue Shan paused for a moment, then said: "I know this trip is somewhat forcing others to do something difficult, so... if the young lady is willing to help, I will give half of the Chen family's property to the Shen family."

  As soon as this was said, even Rao couldn't help but raise his head and take a glance at Chen Yue Shan.

  The Chen family is the richest in Jiangnan, and Jiangnan has always been a rich and fertile land since ancient times. The Chen family's silver is roughly more than that of the imperial court. Now, they voluntarily divide half of their business to the Shen family, which is no different from giving wings to a tiger.

  Shen Miao heard this and looked at Chen Yue Shan's pleading face, also feeling a little dazed. The Chen sisters had suffered torture, and for revenge, the Chen family was willing to pay such a price, knowing that even if she took action, it wasn't necessarily true that they could rest easy afterwards. Despite this, they were still willing to take a gamble, which only showed the position of the Chen sisters in the hearts of the Chen family members. In her previous life, she had been imprisoned and isolated in the palace, with no one to turn to; if the Shen family was still around at that time, would her parents and brothers also have spared no expense to rescue her?

  "Shen Niang?" Seeing Shen Miao lost in thought, Chen Yue Shan spoke up to remind her.

  Shen Miao came back to her senses, smiled slightly and said: "Half of the family business is also fine. I'm helping with this matter not for your Chen family's sake, but just to establish a good relationship. In the future, if you need help from my side, I hope you won't decline. Secondly, I have a grudge against the Yu Qin royal family. If the Yu Qin royal family isn't destroyed, one day they will cause trouble again." She looked at Chen Yue Shan: "Now, we are on the same boat."

  Chen Yue Shan looked at Shen Miao in front of him, her eyes were clear and bright, her tone was sincere, as if every word she said was convincing, and every sentence she spoke could be done. From the first time they met until now, she didn't behave like a young girl in her teenage years. Chen Yue Shan couldn't help but think that if the Chen sisters also had the temperament and means of the girl in front of him, would they not be so miserable now?

  Thinking of the Chen sisters, Chen Yue Shan's slightly improved mood immediately turned gloomy again. He said: "What is Miss Shen's plan?"

  "As for the imperial family, you don't need to worry about it for now, just wait a few days and it will be fine. Also, if you want to take action, it's best to do it next month. Next month, Prince Yu's mansion will be busy with the wedding of Prince Yu and my cousin, and on the second day after the wedding, everyone will definitely be relaxed. At that time, you can make your move at dawn, and there won't be any mistakes."

  "Y...". Chen Yue Shan wanted to say something, but in the end he just shook his head and said: "Within a month, how can you finish things on the imperial side?"

  Shen Miao looked at Ji Yu Shu with a smile that was not quite a smile: "You don't have to worry about this. The most urgent task is for you to gather your men." She paused before continuing, "The Yu Qin Wang Fu is not small, you need to first get familiar with the layout, on the day of the rescue, apart from my sister, after rescuing the people, you must eliminate them completely."

  "Don't worry, we two brothers understand." Chen Yuehai said.

  "I don't know what the rules are for annihilating a family in your world, but when I say 'cutting the grass and eliminating the roots', it means that regardless of whether they are women, children, or old people, servants, concubines, not a single person will be left alive. The entire Henan Wangfu will become a tomb."

  Chen Yue Shan and Chen Yue Hai were both stunned, Chen Yue Hai furrowed his brow: "Even the concubines are wanted? Those concubines were mostly pitiful people kidnapped by Yu Qin Wang."

  Shen Miao coldly smiled: "A centipede dies but does not stiffen, if Chen Gongzi wants to show compassion, he will only end up killing the people of the Chen family, and my Shen family will also be implicated."

  She said coldly, and after a moment, Chen Yue Shan nodded: "We will definitely not leave any survivors to burden the young lady."

  "That's great." Shen Miao said: "Then I'll wish you two a great revenge, and a bloody wash of the Wang Fu."

  After chatting with the Chen brothers for a while, they finally stood up to bid farewell. After they left, Ji Yushu finally spoke up: "Miss Shen, at such a young age, you seem to understand many things. Just now, I saw clearly that the Chen brothers are also people who have seen and experienced much, yet they followed your arrangements step by step. Miss Shen, as a smart and beautiful woman like you, this is my first time meeting someone like you. I wonder if there will be an opportunity in the future to go on a spring outing with you, take a boat ride on a summer night, or...". At first, he was speaking nicely, but later on, his words became more and more improper, just like a rogue teasing a young lady from a good family.

  "Seasonal shopkeeper," Shen Miao asked: "You won't be wanting to talk to me about these things, will you?"

  "Cough," Ji Yu Shu cleared his throat: "In fact, I just wanted to tell Miss Shen that the news has been fabricated and has also spread to the palace. It won't be long before Miss Shen gets what she wants."

  Shen Miao was slightly startled in her heart, although she knew that the Yu Xian pawnshop had some tricks up its sleeve, but she didn't know that the other party's actions were so fast. It must have had someone inside the palace to respond, otherwise it would be difficult to quietly infiltrate the news into the palace without making a sound. The water in this Yu Xian pawnshop was indeed very deep. Just now, she hadn't concealed her transaction with the Chen brothers, precisely because she knew that there was no way to conceal it anyway.

  "Thanks for your hard work, shopkeeper." Shen Miao lowered her eyes: "After things are done, the promises made to the shopkeeper before will also be kept."

  Ji Yu Shu fell silent for a moment before asking seriously, "Miss Shen, there's something I don't understand."

  "Please go on."

  "Miss Shen has made a deal with me at the cost of the Shen family, so I'm not afraid that one day I'll ask the Shen family to do something dangerous and push them to the forefront. This deal won't be worth it." After saying this, Ji Yushu stared intently at Shen Miao, paying attention to her expression.

  Shen Miao's eyes didn't even blink, and she said lightly: "Rather than worrying about the difficulties of the future, it's better to worry about the current problems. If that day really comes, it can only be said that it is the fate of my Shen family."

  "Really?"

  "It's fake." Xie Jinghang said lazily, listening to the noise coming from one side in the secret room.

  "Only a fool like Yushu would believe her words." Gaoyang said: "This girl's deception skills are already well-honed, how can Yushu be her match?"

  "Don't worry." Xie Jinghang said slowly: "Once you board my ship, wanting to get off is not that simple."

  When Shen Miao got up and bid farewell to Qi Heng, Qi Heng suddenly said: "By the way, Miss Shen, that Liu Yue girl you asked me to investigate earlier seems to have some news. If Miss Shen is anxious, there may be results in these few days."

  However, Shen Miao's reply made Ji Yushu stunned for a moment. Shen Miao said: "Don't worry, Manager Ji can take his time to find it, I'll... wait slowly too."

  After she left, Ji Yu Shu shook his head and walked into the house, saying: "She's even more unpredictable than Yu Ruolan. At least when Yu Ruolan receives pearls, she'll be happy. This one... would she be happier if she received a human head?" He shivered with cold sweat and hastily walked into the house.

  In the palace.

  Inside the emperor's study, the memorials on his desk had piled up high. Emperor Wen Hui sat in front of the desk, with a memorial unfolded before him, but he didn't even glance at it. He was already at an advanced age and would soon be entering his sixties. Although he was still spirited and sharp-minded, white hairs had begun to appear on his temples. The affairs of the world were mostly just a cycle, and he too had once been young and vigorous, with a heroic spirit that knew no bounds. Even now, his heart remained undiminished, but in the eyes of others, he was still a tiger gradually growing old.

  There will always be new tigers coming to take his place.

  At this moment, Emperor Wen Hui's face was gloomy, his age had increased and he had become thinner, his skin was loose as if it were stuck to his bones, showing a strange old state. He opened his hoarse throat, vaguely able to hear the mighty anger in it.

  "Did Lao Shiyi really kill a identical assassin?"

  The two men in black standing before him said, "Your Majesty, yes, the captured person has been tortured and interrogated. Moreover, the trusted follower of the Prince's Mansion who was caught by the Prince's Mansion also personally admitted that the Prince had killed a masked guard some days ago."

  Emperor Wen closed his eyes, suddenly raised his hand, and the paperweight on the table flew out, shattering into several pieces on the ground with a loud crash. A moment later, he coldly sneered: "Old Eleven, I still underestimated him!"

  In the palace, there are many ears and eyes, concubines, princes, even the empress herself. These ears and eyes exist for survival in the palace; whoever gets more information will gain an advantage. The emperor is no exception; only when he has eyes everywhere can his throne be more stable.

  At first, Emperor Wenxue of Wei was informed by Yuqin Wang that he had beheaded an assassin who looked exactly the same as the one from before. However, Emperor Wenxue still did not believe it in his heart. The royal family's emotions were often cold and ruthless; after all, he had climbed to the throne by stepping on the corpses of many brothers. He spared Yuqin Wang, who was ranked eleventh at that time, because Emperor Wenxue never forgot that perilous night when Yuqin Wang used his body to block the danger and saved his life with blood-soaked clothes.

  During the reign of Emperor Wen Hui, he often thought that for so many years, his kindness to Yu Qin Wang was not only due to the gratitude for saving his leg, but also represented that Emperor Wen Hui still had a sense of gratitude. Sitting on the throne, everyone's feelings towards him were no longer pure, even his sons were calculating. But Yu Qin Wang could remind Emperor Wen Hui that there was still someone in this world who would risk his life to protect him, and he still had a close relative by his side.

  But now it's like a huge joke. It seems that the scene at the beginning was all arranged by this "closest relative", and even Emperor Wenhui suspected that the leg that Prince Yuqin had amputated was also fake.

  What does Yuqin Wang want to do? Plot a coup? Usurp the throne? The history books record so many instances of hiding one's light and biding one's time, only to rebel at the first opportunity. Emperor Wenhui has nothing but anger and humiliation at being deceived.

  When trusted people betray, trust is withdrawn, and what's more, it will turn into intensified suspicion. The royal family has always been suspicious, and in the past, they didn't suspect Prince Yu because of his sincerity. Now that sincerity has turned into hypocrisy, the seeds of doubt have grown into towering trees that no one can shake.

  "Dispatch people to guard the Yuqin Wangfu, I'd like to see what kind of tricks he wants to play!"

  The eunuch hung his head low, his eyes cast down at the ground, silently staring at his toes, as if he hadn't heard the emperor's anger at all. But in his heart, he let out a faint sigh: A season of many troubles, a season of many troubles.

  Days passed one by one, and in the peaceful capital city, it seemed as if nothing had happened. As the New Year approached, people were busy preparing for the holiday, even poor families seemed to be filled with a faint joy.

  However happy the day may be, there will always be someone who is unhappy.

  In the palace, Li Wang Zheng and Xiang Wang were strolling in the garden.

  In the Li Wang faction, Xiang Wang and Cheng Wang were weak in power, surrendering to Li Wang with a humble attitude. Compared to the stability of the crown prince, the sharpness of King Zhou's brothers, Li Wang took a middle-of-the-road approach. His academic achievements were not outstanding, his mother was not the most favored concubine, but he was extremely smooth in dealing with people up and down, whether it was officials or brothers, they were willing to give him face, but in private, he was a ruthless smile tiger.

  "Sixth brother, these days, I've heard that Father Emperor has been quite cold towards King Wang." Xiang Wang said.

  "You also heard that." Wang Xiao smiled, and when he did, fine wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes, looking very easy-going. His attitude was also very easy-going, chatting with King Xiang: "Father Emperor has always valued King Shu, but these few times King Shu had matters to request, entering the palace several times, Father Emperor actually used being busy with affairs as an excuse to decline, anyone with discerning eyes can see that Father Emperor is intentionally putting on a show for King Shu."

  Emperor Wenhui treated Yu Qinwang with utmost kindness and righteousness. Initially, Emperor Wenhui had a favored concubine who offended Yu Qinwang. The concubine's family was quite influential, but Emperor Wenhui didn't hesitate to demote her to the Cold Palace. He also publicly warned everyone: "Yu Qinwang is like my hands and feet; disrespecting him is equivalent to disrespecting me!" It was precisely because Emperor Wenhui had always been accommodating to Yu Qinwang that this sudden change in attitude caught everyone's attention.

  "But why?" King Xiang asked in puzzlement, "What did Wang Shu do to anger the Emperor? But all these years, even if Wang Shu had done something wrong, the Emperor never blamed him. And in recent days, I haven't heard of Wang Shu doing anything out of line either."

  "Do you know what Wang Shu sought from Father Emperor when he entered the palace?"

  The King of Xiang shook his head.

  "Seventh brother," Li Wang patted his shoulder, as if an elder brother was advising a naive younger brother: "In this palace, you must be more mindful of everything. You're too honest and simple-minded; I, your sixth brother, can't take care of everything for you."

  Xiang Wang smiled awkwardly: "I follow Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother is smarter than me, whatever Sixth Brother says is what it is."

  "I heard that Wang Shu went into the palace seeking something related to the Shen family."

  "Is it the Shen family?" The Marquis of Xiang suddenly realized: "Could it be that Wang Shu angered Father Emperor because of the Shen family's affair?" He thought for a moment and said: "But Wang Shu married the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Shen family, Father Emperor... wouldn't be angry with the second branch of the Shen family, would he?"

  No one knows Emperor Wenhui better than his own son. If Prince Yuqin angers Emperor Wenhui, it must be something that crosses the line of what he wants. After living in the imperial palace for so long, the bottom line for emperors is power. Shen Guiren, a third-rank civil official from the second house of the Shen family, has no real power in his hands and will not affect the overall situation. Emperor Wenhui doesn't need to get angry with Prince Yuqin because of this.

  "This is just right." Wang said meaningfully: "But what Uncle Wang wants is to marry the eldest daughter of the Shen family, Shen Miao."

  "It turns out to be so." Xiang Wang finally figured it out: "Shen Xin holds military power, and Wang Shu wants to marry Shen's eldest daughter. It's likely that he has committed a taboo against the Emperor. But how could Wang Shu suddenly want to marry Shen Miao? Didn't he originally want to marry Shen Qing? Even if the Emperor indulges him, such a sensitive matter, Wang Shu wouldn't be so foolish."

  "I don't know either." Li Wang shook his head: "Although Uncle Wang has been doing things out of the ordinary in recent years, he has been careful to guard his position as a minister's son. This time, however, it's gone too far..."

  "Father Emperor will definitely not let King Wang marry Shen Miao, but this time Father Emperor did not directly tell King Wang, instead he avoided him and didn't see him, as if warning him about something."

  "It's probably that my patience has been worn out. Wang sighed and said: "It's better for us not to talk about these things, after all, they have nothing to do with us. These days the emperor doesn't seem too pleased, don't go spreading it around."

  "Sixth brother is right," King Xiang nodded.

  After the two left, a figure slowly emerged from the depths of the garden. He was dressed in green boots and jade belt, and it was none other than Fu Xiu Yi, the King's trusted aide. Standing in the garden, he had obviously overheard the conversation between the king and the other two just now. Looking at the receding figures of the two, he muttered to himself thoughtfully: "Shen Miao?"

  On the top floor of Linjiang Xian's building, Ji Yu handed the letter in his hand to Gao Yang to read, and then burned it in a burning charcoal heap.

  "The news has already spread, and Emperor Wen Hui also suspects the old dog. The old dog has lifted a rock to hit his own foot this time, but he doesn't even know it yet." Ji Yu Shu couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude.

  Gaoyang shook his head: "Still be careful, now is not the time for any mistakes."

  "I know." Ji Yu Shu rubbed his nose: "What has been keeping San Ge busy lately? He's nowhere to be seen."

  "He's always busy." Gaoyang suddenly sighed: "I don't know if it's right or wrong to indulge his temper."

  "I believe in Third Brother Xie." Ji Yu Shu said: "Third Brother Xie's skills are so great, what are you worried about? He has been planning for so long, even if it doesn't work out, he can still retreat without any problems. Gao Yang, you're just thinking too much. Look at Third Brother Xie, no matter how many things he has on his mind, he's still living a carefree life, that's what being a man is all about!"

  Ji Yu's book is obviously a faithful follower of Xie Jinghang, and every word and deed is full of admiration for Xie Jinghang. Gao Yang gave him a white eye: "Bootlicker."

  "Who's flattering, besides, even if I want to flatter someone, I have to see who the other person is, whether they're worth my flattery," he disdainfully glanced at the other person and said: "For example, you, even if you kneel down and beg me to flatter you, I still won't do it."

  Gao Yangwen smiled warmly: "Is that so? Then in the future, if you have anything, don't come to me for medicine. Even if you kneel down and beg me, I won't prescribe it for you."

  Ji Yu was taken aback for a moment, then immediately changed the subject: "Actually, I used to think that young people in Dingjing City were all useless, only Xie San Ge was a real man. But now I have to admire another person, and I think that apart from Xie San Ge, there is also someone else in Dingjing City who is a hero among the young."

  "Oh, you still have someone you admire, how refreshing," Gao Yang said indifferently: "Who is it, that has entered your eyes?"

  "Shen family's Miss Shen is really bold!" Ji Yu Shu slapped his thigh: "My mother, I've never seen a woman with such a big nerve! She even dares to scheme against the imperial family, and as for the Yu Qin Wang Fu, that's a prince's mansion, she's really ruthless."

  "That was before you saw it." Gao Yang snorted, previously Shen Miao had set her own ancestral hall on fire, even daring to bet her own life, at that time Gao Yang thought Shen Miao was a madman. These people were used to planning everything, taking action must be safe and sure, at first glance this kind of reckless behavior, Gao Yang initially watched with a mindset of watching a show, he was certain that Shen Miao would not live long in such a reckless manner, but unexpectedly it was him who was wrong, every time it seemed like she was acting recklessly, in the end she was the winner.

  Gao Yang sometimes feels that they are very strange, people like them regard themselves as delicate porcelain, and will not engage in a desperate struggle with others unless absolutely necessary. They do not consider the other party worthy of risking their own lives. Shen Miao, on the other hand, is at the opposite extreme. She regards herself as the hardest stone, while those who oppose her become the porcelain. It seems that she has lost nothing, but those porcelain-like people who opposed her have all been shattered into pieces.

  Not everyone has the courage to make themselves a stone, and it's precisely because of this that Gao Yang feels Shen Miao is even more dangerous. And for a potential enemy who may grow up, the best way is to strangle her before she grows up. Only...Gao Yang was somewhat uncertain about what Xie Jingxuan's thoughts were.

  Xie Jingxing couldn't have failed to notice the variables on this girl's body. If Shen Miao became an obstacle in their plan, it would only make things worse.

  "Has she had such a brave deed before?" Ji Yu Shu asked in surprise, and then nodded: "The daughter of General Wei Wu, being bold and courageous is normal. Although she doesn't have martial arts skills and wasn't raised by Shen Xin personally, this temperament, no one would dare to bully her."

  Gao Yang looked distracted, and Ji Yu Shu suddenly thought of something and continued: "Speaking of which, this time the royal family's affairs were created by me, but everything was done according to Shen Miao's plan. Now that I think about it, she is really a bit terrifying. Prince Yu doesn't know what's wrong with him, these days he seems to have been blinded by anger, and actually directly told Emperor Wen Hui that he wants to marry Shen Miao. He clearly knows that Shen Xin holds military power, whoever marries Shen Miao will likely become the emperor's target of suspicion. Prince Yu would actually make such a mistake. Moreover, Emperor Wen Hui is indeed suspicious, and with a little fuel added, I'm afraid even if Prince Yu died, Emperor Wen Hui wouldn't bat an eye. This way, isn't it just convenient for the Chen family to take action? Shen Miao's plan is intricate, and there isn't even a slight mistake in her calculations."

  "Because she's someone who doesn't have 'accidents'." Gao Yang felt a little emotional, Xie Jinghang was right, Shen Miao's every move that seemed dangerous at first glance, in the end, never deviated from her original goal. There were no "accidents" in her plans.

  Gao Yang's mischievous thought: If one day he could see Shen Miao in a fluster, stunned and bewildered by an "accident", it would be incredibly delightful.

  "In short, I think Shen Miao is a person worth befriending." Ji Yu Shu said with a serious expression: "Adding to her appearance, I think she will become a beautiful woman in a few years. Such an intelligent and beautiful woman, how can I, Ji Yu Shu, let her slip away?" He revealed a smile that he thought was elegant and charming: "I've decided, from now on, I'll put her on the same level as Hua Ruo girl in my heart, and she will also be one of my closest female friends."

  Gao Yang decisively turned his head away and directly ignored this foolish guy.

  And at this time, Ji Yu's "red powder confidant" in his mouth was picking and choosing in the house.

  "Sister, you've picked out so many things, are they for Shen Qing's dowry?" Shen Qiu scratched his head and asked.

  Shen Miao selected a portion of the items bestowed by the Emperor from the warehouse, seemingly searching for something, and finally chose a jade pillow. It felt smooth and cool to the touch, emitting a soft, jade-like glow, which was quite beautiful.

  "Sister, must you choose this one to give to Shen Qing?"

  As Shen Qing's wedding day approaches, the Shen family is also starting to worry about Shen Qing's marriage. Shen Yue asked Shen Miao a few days ago what to add to Shen Qing's dowry, and happened to be overheard by Shen Qiu. However, seeing that Shen Miao didn't seem to have any reaction, he thought she had finally remembered the matter today.

  "What's this?" Shen Miao picked up the jade pillow and shook her head: "Not it."

  "Oh." Shen Qiu asked: "Sister wants to use it herself? This jade pillow looks good."

  Shen Miao lowered her eyes, this jade pillow was called Bing Can Pillow. In her previous life, she had entered the palace and Shen Xin had used it as a dowry to fill her dowry box. Later on, she became the Empress, and Consort Mei deeply gained the Emperor's favor. One day, she said that her body was not feeling well and she had a headache, and she insisted on having this pillow. At that time, Bing Can Pillow was given to Yuanyu, but Yuanyu refused, and she quarreled with Consort Mei, smashing the pillow into pieces. Fu Xiuyi severely punished Yuanyu, and soon after, news of the Xiongnu's marriage alliance arrived.

  Now thinking back, it's all just past memories and old dreams, but still heart-wrenchingly painful.

  "Sister?" Shen Qiu saw Shen Miao didn't speak and asked worriedly.

  "This is what I used to send people," Shen Miao said: "As for the dowry of the elder sister, if the big brother has time, he will help me pick one at random. If the big brother doesn't have time, I'll let Gu Yu buy it, it's all the same." The words were all cold towards Shen Qing.

  "Oh." Shen Qiu replied vaguely. It wasn't until Shen Miao walked out of the house that he slapped his forehead: "Stupid, I forgot to ask my sister who she gave that pillow to!"

  Outside, Jing Zhen also asked: "Whose pillow is the young lady going to give?"

  A friend.

  Since she will be useful to the Chen family in the future, she cannot show no expression. Kindness and small favors, sending charcoal in snowy weather, can gain loyal and devoted allies. The art of governing people is still something she learned bit by bit from Fu Xiuyi.

  Calm the mind and condense the spirit, it's undoubtedly a good thing for Chen Jia's sister whose mind is in disarray.