A good return banquet ended in this sudden change. Emperor Wen Hui was disturbed and soon left, the empress also claimed to be tired. The emperor and empress left, and the ministers naturally knew they couldn't stay long, so they made excuses to leave one after another. Although today's matter seems to have a perfect ending on the surface, Shen family's eldest daughter married into Yu Qin Wang Fu, but people with discerning eyes all know that it is just a shocking ugly affair. As for Shen family's eldest daughter, once she marries into Yu Qin Wang Fu, she will naturally be unlucky rather than lucky.

  Lu Xueyan held Shen Miao's hand tightly, she didn't know how Shen Qing and Yu Qianwang would be involved, but because of this, she was even more worried about Shen Miao's safety, only feeling that the dangers within the capital city were not much less than those in the northwest desert.

  Shen Qiu remained silent until he left, usually outspoken, which made Shen Xin think that he was feeling sad about the Shen Qing affair. But he didn't know that Shen Qiu's heart had already reached its limit of anger at this moment, and he felt a suffocating air that couldn't be vented anywhere. He hated both the cruelty of the second house of the Shen family and the shamelessness of Yu Qinwang.

  Shen Qing had already been hastily led away by Ren Yuanyun, but Shen Gui's face was extremely colorful. The gazes of the onlookers were also full of meaning. Some colleagues from the imperial court who didn't get along with him even came to kick him while he was down and congratulated him with a smile: "Congratulations, Lord Shen, being able to form an alliance with the Prince's household is truly a great fortune."

  If Shen Qing had married Yu Qin Wang earlier, it might not have been a big deal for Shen Gui, as long as it helped his career. His daughter's happiness was not that important. But now, Shen Qing's behavior today has clearly caused trouble for Yu Qin Wang. Would Yu Qin Wang vent his anger on him? Thinking about this, Shen Gui felt some annoyance and fear in his heart.

  After the farewell dinner, Luo Xueyan and Shen Miao walked out of the palace. As they passed through a corridor, Shen Miao whispered to her: "Be careful, there's a loose brick here."

  Lu Xueyan was a martial general, with big and heavy footsteps. One misstep could lead to a tumble. Lu Xueyan took a closer look and smiled: "Almost fell." Then she looked at Shen Miao in surprise and asked: "How did Jiao Jiao know?"

  Shen Miao choked, she had lived in the palace for decades, and what it was like was already deeply etched in her mind. When Luo Xueyan asked, she could only reply: "There was a year when I fell here and remembered it from then on."

  "Ah, I see." Luo Xueyan smiled brightly: "Jiao Jiao is indeed clever, remembering where she fell will prevent her from falling again."

  Shen Miao's heart moved slightly, but she didn't say a word.

  As the two walked, they saw two guard-like men dragging a small eunuch, who had his mouth stuffed with a handkerchief and was struggling desperately, but couldn't break free from the tall and strong guards. Following behind them was the Eunuch Supervisor, Gao Gonggong.

  "Mrs. Shen, Miss Shen." Gao Gonggong stopped and bowed to them.

  "Gao Gonggong, what's going on..." Luo Xueyan asked, looking at the little eunuch.

  "The newcomer doesn't know the rules and has made a mistake. The family master is taking him to receive punishment." said Gao Gonggong in a shrill voice.

  That little eunuch saw Shen Miao, his eyes fell on the body of Jing Rong behind Shen Miao, and he suddenly struggled like a madman, as if he wanted to rush towards Jing Rong's side.

  "Honestly!" The eunuch Gao kicked the little eunuch's knee with one foot, and the latter let out a muffled hum, falling to his knees in an instant. Eunuch Gao snorted from his nose, saying: "You thing that doesn't know the height of heaven or the thickness of earth, almost collided with the noble person."

  Lu Xueyan furrowed her brow, she didn't like the inhumane punishments in the palace, and such scenes also made her feel uncomfortable. She immediately spoke to Gao Gonggong: "Since that's the case, I won't disturb Gao Gonggong from doing his work."

  Gao Gonggong hastily smiled and nodded in response.

  But Shen Miao suddenly spoke up and said in a soft voice, "Since you've committed an error, naturally you should receive punishment."

  Everyone stared at her in astonishment, the little eunuch's body trembled, and his gaze towards Shen Miao was filled with a hint of resentment. Shen Miao didn't care, she took Luo Xueyan's arm and left on her own, but as they were leaving, she still casually threw out a sentence: "Those who don't understand the rules need to be taught, the palace is not like outside the palace, and now is different from before."

  Shen Miao's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, and Gao Gonggong said to the two guards, "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

  Xiao Lizi was filled with discontent and fear on his face. He didn't even know what he did wrong, in the small garden of the imperial banquet, Shen Miao's personal maid suddenly gave him a silver ingot and told him that Miss Shen wasn't feeling well, she wouldn't drink the wine prepared for the palace banquet, but needed a cup of clear lotus tea instead. She asked him to please help out during the banquet. He thought this was an easy task to get a silver ingot, why not do it? Moreover, if he could win over Miss Shen, maybe in the future, there would be more opportunities for good fortune.

  But Xiao Lizi thought a thousand times, ten thousand times, yet he didn't expect that Shen Qing was actually pregnant, and the Clear Lotus Tea became the culprit that triggered all the troubles. It can be said that one cup of Clear Lotus Tea caused a lot of trouble, and the source of this tea, after investigating again and again, pointed to his head.

  Xiao Lizi explained countless times, but no one believed his words. The silver he received was also the most ordinary silver, not even official silver. A young lady from a noble family rewarded him, how could she use such ordinary silver? His words were not believed, and he was considered an evil person. What awaited him?

  Outside, Shen Miao walked quietly. What awaited Xiao Lizi, she was clearer than anyone else that the palace was a place where black and white could be easily reversed. If one stood high, they had the ability to turn black into white. If one was originally very short, then sorry to say, even white words became black ones. When Fu Xiuyi first ascended to the throne, Xiao Lizi was a dog who came and went at the beck and call of High Official Gao. It was she who took pity on Xiao Lizi and was willing to give him some face in the palace. Later, when Xiao Lizi became Official Li, she changed from Empress to Deposed Empress. This eunuch whom she had personally promoted even personally escorted her on her final journey, giving her a sentence of advice: The present is different from the past.

  Now she can be said to have returned the original words, this life is different from the past. Now she is a high-ranking official's daughter, while the other party is just a humble and insignificant person, she doesn't even bother to lift a finger, it's so clean and efficient, great.

  She and Luo Xueyan walked ahead, unaware that behind the winding corridor, someone gazed at her back and sighed: "Is this Miss Shen having a feud with that little eunuch? For no reason, she wrongly accused someone of their life."

  By his side, Xie Jingxing coldly smiled at him: "When did you become so compassionate?"

  "A doctor should have a parental heart." Gaoyang shook his fan and suddenly thought of something, his expression becoming solemn. "Miss Shen is not simple, just now in the hall, she looked at me for a long time, could it be...she discovered my identity?"

  "It's impossible."

  "Then her gaze at me was indeed terrifying," Gao Yang rubbed his chin, thinking seriously before speaking: "Could it be that she has a crush on me?"

  Xie Jingxing stared at him expressionlessly and spat out a word: "Scram."

  "You're really boring." Gaoyang shook his head, somewhat regretful: "Although there are pressing matters at hand now, your temper is getting worse and worse. You should relax a bit."

  Xie Jinghang looked into the distance and said, "The feather book has arrived."

  "What?" Gao Yang was startled: "When?"

  Yesterday.

  Gao Yang's expression gradually turned solemn: "Do you think..."

  "Not bad."

  Dingjing, Shenfu, Caiyuyuan.

  A loud slap, Shen Qing's face instantly appeared with a clear fingerprint, and the edge of her lips also turned bright red.

  "Shen Gui, what are you doing!" Ren Yuanyun shouted sternly, holding Shen Qing in her arms, while staring at Shen Gui with a fierce gaze.

  "What did I do?" Shen Gui's smile was ferocious, like a vicious wolf, and he seemed to be holding back his anger only out of consideration for their relationship. He said, "What have you two done today?"

  "What's going on?" Ren Yuanyun refused to show weakness: "Can this matter be blamed on Qing'er? You are Qing'er's father, you don't help your own daughter but instead beat her, Shen Gui, you have no conscience!"

  "What kind of daughter?" Shen Gui was furious and laughed: "I, Shen Gui, don't have such a daughter! She doesn't know shame, flirting with men left and right! And she's still pregnant with a bastard child! She's even worse than the lowest prostitutes in a brothel!"

  Shen Qing's body shook violently, her eyes somewhat dazed and blurry. Ren Yuanyun saw this and suddenly felt a pang in her heart. If Shen Gui had even the slightest bit of fatherly love for Shen Qing, he wouldn't have spoken such vicious words to his own daughter.

  Ren Yuanyun handed Shen Qing over to Chun Tao, stood up with a cold smile and said: "Shen Gui, you ask yourself, how did Qing Er end up like this? Is it me? Or is it that little slut Shen Miao! Why don't you go find trouble with Shen Miao? Ah, are you afraid? You're afraid of Big Brother and Sister-in-law coming back, you can't touch that little slut. You scold Qing Er, but don't forget, at the time of the Wodragon Temple incident, you were also involved! Now you want to be a lone hero, pushing all the blame onto Qing Er and me? I won't fall for your tricks! If you push me too far, I'll tell Big Brother and Sister-in-law everything, neither of us will come out looking good!"

  "Ah!" Shen Guizhong and Ren Yuanyun had been married for many years, but he had never seen her behave like a shrew before. What made him even more uneasy was that she was using this matter to threaten him. Although Shen Guizhong was a smooth talker, he was actually extremely timid at heart. The fact that he didn't dare to provoke Yu Xiangwang earlier was proof of this. Now that both Shen Xin and his wife had returned to the manor, Shen Guizhong didn't dare to cause trouble for Shen Miao either. If Ren Yuanyun really dared to expose this matter, Shen Guizhong believed that Shen Xin might even kill him with a single sword strike.

  At this thought, Shen Gui angrily said: "You this shrew, not speaking reasonably, I and you say also can't make clear! Leave!" After saying that he fled in a hurry.

  Watching Shen Gui's hurriedly departing back, Ren Yuanyun's face was sarcastic. She knew her husband best, and Shen Gui was a person who was afraid of the strong and bullied the weak in his bones. Marrying such a man, now she couldn't even protect her own daughter.

  Undoubtedly, Shen Miao gave Ren Yuanyun a fatal blow. For Ren Yuanyun, watching her own daughter step by step towards destruction was more painful than killing her. At this point, the empress's arranged marriage, even if Ren Yuanyun had the ability to defy heaven, couldn't change anything.

  "Shen Miao, this debt, I, Ruan Yun, will not discuss it with you again. I swear to be a person of my word." She gritted her teeth so hard that she bit her own lips and made them bleed.

  In the western courtyard, after Shen Xin and his wife returned to their own house, Shen Qiu still sat there motionless.

  He sat in front of Shen Miao's desk with a stern face, like a door god. This young general usually looked gentle and warm, but when he turned gloomy, he had a hint of bloodthirstiness, making Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang somewhat fearful and not daring to approach him.

  "Big brother." Shen Miao saw off Shen Xin and his wife, then sat down in front of him.

  "Sister, I've thought about it again and again," Shen Qiu said: "This matter still can't be left like this, my heart is suffocating." The "this matter" he referred to was the affair between Shen Qing and Yu Xiang. Although Shen Miao had concealed a part of it earlier, after the return banquet, Shen Qiu himself could also guess the general situation. Precisely because he knew that this matter was done with such viciousness and absurdity, Shen Qiu became furious. Their youngest sister was actually calculated by someone to such an extent this year, and almost lost her life; if something really happened, Shen Qiu didn't dare think about how much regret they would have.

  Shen Miao looked at him, and Shen Qiu continued: "The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Don't stop me, sister. Even if it costs me my life, I won't let them have a good time."

  "Big brother." Shen Miao sighed: "I've already said it, this matter has no evidence. Since they did it, naturally there's no loophole, and besides, it involves a prince of Yu, towards Prince Yu, the royal family will give him shelter, if you jump out, you'll be standing against the royal family, do you want to harm your parents?"

  Shen Qiu was taken aback, Shen Miao's words were too rational, and he had overlooked the disrespect and disdain in her tone towards the Ming Qi imperial family. He knew Shen Miao was right, there were indeed girls from noble families who had been ruined by Prince Yu, and those families were not without prestige higher than the Shen family, but in the end, they all ended up being lifted high and then put down low. The backer of the Prince Yu's mansion was the highest power in Ming Qi, colliding with which was like hitting a stone with an egg. However, he still felt very stifled in his heart, and he asked: "Can't we just let it go like this?"

  "Big brother, let's play another game of chess," said Shen Miao.

  "What's gotten into you," Shen Qiu scratched his head: "And aren't you someone who doesn't like playing chess?"

  Shen Miao didn't respond to his words, set up the chessboard, took the black pieces for herself and gave the white pieces to Shen Qiu, saying: "The two armies are arrayed against each other, these are your soldiers, those are my soldiers, let's use the pieces as pawns and the leaders will be divided, how about we compete for the world?"

  Shen Qiu was always enthusiastic about battlefield matters, and upon hearing this, he also became interested, saying: "Good." Although he was a military general, he was also skilled at playing chess. Because playing chess and fighting battles have many similarities, a clever game of chess can sometimes reveal endless tactics.

  The white and black pieces fell on the chessboard, crisscrossing each other, like a real battlefield. Shen Miao's moves were slow, not because her actions were slow, but very gentle, different from Shen Qiu's style of stepping on the rhythm, with a kind of softness. This feeling made Shen Qiu feel like a dull knife cutting meat, powerless. No matter how much Shen Qiu's white pieces threatened, she remained still, maintaining her own rhythm, falling black pieces at a steady pace. Although it seemed that she was at a disadvantage, the black pieces in her hand were not few, and occasionally when Shen Qiu thought he was about to capture her black piece, she would cleverly escape.

  A game of chess has passed, and the pieces on the board are still intact, with neither side having gained an advantage. However, it is clear that Shen Qiu's white pieces have been in control all along, forcing Shen Miao's black pieces into a corner. If Shen Qiu continues to press his attack, he will be able to devour Shen Miao's pieces one by one.

  Shen Qiu said: "Sister, your escape method is quite good, but can't we spend the night together? I'm going to attack now."

  "Exactly," Shen Miao smiled slightly: "I was thinking the same." Before she had even finished speaking, the black piece in her hand landed on a crucial point, and Shen Qiu's eyebrows furrowed tightly. Just that one move seemed to change the entire situation of the game.

  He was astonished in his heart, previously Bai Zi's step-by-step coercion, now it seemed like he was tying himself up, he fell into Shen Miao's black chess piece turning the whole situation around, and couldn't make a move.

  Next, Shen Miao changed his previous style of only attacking and not defending, and started eating Shen Qiu's white sesame seeds with a fierce and swift motion, like a whirlwind sweeping away the clouds. In less than a minute, Shen Qiu's bowl which was previously full of white sesame seeds was left with only one last seed.

  "I lost." Shen Qiu sighed and looked at Shen Miao in surprise: "Sister, when did your chess skills improve so much?"

  On the chessboard battlefield, a general was killed by his own sister without leaving any armor behind. It's almost a joke to say it out loud. However, he was also very surprised in his heart. Shen Miao showed not only control over the chess pieces but also understanding of the overall situation. From her previous gentle and weak style to the final decisive move, she remained calm and composed, as if she had been in control of the entire game all along.

  "I didn't mean to play chess with Big Brother." Shen Miao shook her head and said, "Earlier, Big Brother asked me if that was all, after playing a game of chess, what did Big Brother think?"

  Shen Qiu was taken aback at first, then jumped in fright and said: "You..."

  Heizi's front attitude is gentle, only attacking and not defending. Suddenly, it turns around at the back of its head, turning the situation around and swallowing the opponent whole. It means that Shen Miao was previously gentle in dealing with Shen Qing's affairs and did not resist, not because she planned to let it go like this, but... but waiting for an opportunity, waiting for those people to deal with Shen Miao's tactics to become self-defeating, and then she would take action and return with a full load.

  "There are many ways to achieve a goal." Under the lamp, the girl had a black chess piece between her fingers, and her white fingers and the black chess piece formed a striking contrast, with a strange beauty. Her voice was light and casual: "If this road doesn't work, then change roads. If the obvious way won't do, then use a hidden one. They've already blocked their own escape routes; next, it's our turn to make a move."

  Under the lamp, a beauty is being admired. The beauty's face is as white as jade. Shen Miao can only be described as a lovely and elegant woman. However, at this moment, even Shen Qiu couldn't help but steal a glance. The girl's demeanor was calm, yet seemed to contain immense energy. A clever and cunning heart had already secretly grasped the chess situation, turning everyone into pawns.

  Shen Qiu felt a lump in his throat, he had always thought that Shen Miao was aloof to him, but her temperament was extremely simple and pure. Such a personality might be taken advantage of by outsiders, but now, he could see clearly that his sister had grown up unknowingly, this mind and skill, even he couldn't match.

  "Sister, I don't understand," she said.

  "Big brother, if you trust me, then let me handle this matter." Shen Miao said: "Prince Yu's kind of person will definitely come to find trouble with the Shen family because of this matter in the future. To eradicate weeds, we must eliminate them from the roots, and we don't need such an enemy."

  "Sister just said that the Yu Qin Wang Fu has the backing of the imperial family, so I couldn't directly go looking for trouble. How can you do it, sister?" Shen Qiu asked worriedly.

  "I said it early, the white road can't be walked, so take the black road. There are thousands of roads in the world, and there must be one that can be walked through." Shen Miao said calmly: "He Yuqin relies on the royal family to pretend to be a tiger, but he is just a turtle with a shell. If his shell is removed, see how arrogant he will be!"

  In Shen Qiu's stunned gaze, Shen Miao smiled slightly at him: "However, big brother, I need some silver, so... the things bestowed by His Majesty, give me the real gold and silver, I have use for them."

  Shen Qiu wanted to ask Shen Miao what she was going to do, but for some reason, facing Shen Miao's bright and shining eyes, he couldn't say anything. He was the majestic Vice General Shen, occasionally arguing with Shen Xin until their faces turned red and their necks thickened, but as soon as Shen Miao looked at him quietly, Shen Qiu felt that he would unconditionally obey her. In his heart, Shen Qiu secretly scolded himself: not afraid of enemy generals, afraid of a little girl? Truly, living for too long will lead to encountering all sorts of things.

  "Big brother?"

  Shen Qiu came back to his senses and said: "Alright, I'll send someone to bring some over."

  "Thank you, big brother," Shen Miao nodded: "The sky is late, and big brother should also rest."

  "Okay."

  "Don't worry about the matter of the Yuqin Prince's mansion, don't tell Father and Mother, I'll take care of it."

  "......Alright."

  Shen Qiu scratched his head and left, out of Shen Miao's house. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and frowned, damn it, there really is a feeling of being protected by my own sister!

  Inside the house, Yu Yu asked cautiously: "Miss, is it true that you will use so much silver tomorrow?"

  Shen Miao's gaze was fixed, and Gao Yu hadn't seen his own daughter with such a serious expression for a long time.

  "She sighed and said: 'I'm afraid I won't be able to take it down.'"

  On the second day, Shen Qiu really brought several boxes of gold and silver to Shen Miao's house. He was probably afraid that Shen Miao would lack money, so he took out a thousand taels of silver notes from his pocket and gave them to her, saying: "Sister, at your current age, there are many places where you need to use money, and the monthly allowance is probably not enough. You take this money, if you want to buy something, just buy it, if it's not enough, ask brother for more."

  The maids sweeping the floor outside all looked at Shen Miao with envy, thinking that their own Fifth Young Miss was awkward in her position in the manor, just a nice title, but actually being bullied without even realizing it, really pitiful. Now it seems that they were blind to this, not to mention Shen Xin and his wife, even Shen Qiu could spoil this younger sister to heaven.

  Shen Miao felt a bit inexplicable, Shen Qiu's attitude was strange, she nodded and didn't decline, accepting the silver note: "Thank you."

  Shen Qiu was slightly disappointed, but after thinking for a moment, he beckoned to the two guards behind him and said, "These two guards of mine are skilled warriors. I'll lend them to you for protection." He was worried that Prince Yu might have another trick up his sleeve, and if Shen Miao hadn't insisted on going out, Shen Qiu would have kept her confined to the mansion.

  Shen Miao nodded and Mo Jing also followed out. Shen Qiu smiled and said: "This guard of yours is quite well chosen."

  Mo Cheng has already left his identity as the outer head guard of Shen Fu, and Shen Miao told Shen Qiu about his identity. Shen Qiu returned the contract to Mo Cheng, allowing him to join the Shen family army, but for these days, he would serve as Shen Miao's personal guard, protecting her safety.

  With three guards and two maidservants, Shen Miao finally walked out of the Shen Mansion's gate.

  Even the horse-drawn carriage drivers on the road were people with martial arts skills found by Shen Qiu.

  The young servant from Shen Qiu said: "Young master is really protecting the young lady."

  Shen Qiu sighed, unfortunately, no matter how much he protected her, his little sister was too mature and didn't give him the sense of accomplishment that being a big brother should have.

  "Go, go, go," he waved his hand: "Go back and practice your sword!"

  Rongxian Pawnshop is the largest pawn shop in Beijing.

  Compared to other pawnshops, this one naturally has its own strengths. The Shengxian Pawnshop only pawns valuable items; if it's an ordinary item, the shop assistant will "politely" ask you to leave. The owner of this pawnshop is probably also a generous person with money; if the customer's item is truly valuable enough, the pawn price will not be low. However, Shengxian Pawnshop has another rule: they only do dead pawns, and once an item is pawned, there is no way to redeem it.

  However, people's precious things, if not in a desperate situation, no one would pawn them, let alone to the point of death. Therefore, although Rongxian Pawnshop is wealthy and powerful, and occupies the largest area in Beijing, there are very few customers coming and going. In such a situation, this Rongxian Pawnshop has also maintained itself for many years without collapsing, and it is unknown how it maintains its livelihood.

  Today, in front of the door of this pawnshop, a horse carriage was parked.

  Some passersby couldn't help but take a glance at this horse-drawn carriage, because people who come to the pawnshop usually have no other choice and urgently need money. However, this horse-drawn carriage looks quite exquisite, and the coachman sitting on it doesn't seem like an ordinary person either. It's indeed strange that a rich person would come here to pawn valuable items.

  The young man in charge of the pawnshop was a slender youth with a grey robe, who looked clever and capable. He saw the carriage stop in front of the door and was slightly startled, then several women came out from inside. The leading girl seemed to be the young lady of a certain family, wearing a cloak, with clear and elegant eyebrows and eyes, her gaze as clear as water when she looked over.

  Several maids and attendants surrounded the young girl as she arrived, and the shop assistant came forward with a smile, saying: "The customer wants to buy something."

  "There's something I need to pawn," said the purple-robed girl.

  "What is it that this guest wants to pawn? Can we take a look at the goods first?" The young shop assistant asked with a smile. He could tell that the girl was either rich or noble, and his smile became even more enthusiastic. But who knew that the other party shook her head: "I want to see whoever is in charge here."

  "This...this isn't right, customer." The young shop assistant shook his head. He had seen many people come here to cause trouble, some of whom were even from wealthy and aristocratic families, but the Shanxian Pawnshop was never afraid of these individuals.

  "What I want is too big for you to look down on." The girl said calmly without getting annoyed.

  As soon as he was looked at by those eyes, the young man felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar. Before he could speak, a soft and charming voice rang out: "Who wants to see me?"

  A young woman emerged from behind, this woman was not born beautiful, but her whole body exuded a kind of enchanting charm that made the several guards behind Shen Mo blush.

  "Is this guest wanting to see me?" The woman asked with a smile as she swayed her waist and approached.

  Shen Miao shook her head: "I want to see your person in charge, Bai Xiaosheng."

  The girl's smile suddenly stiffened.