Since that day when Jing Chuchu and Jing Guansheng arrived at the Shen Mansion, a subtle atmosphere had risen in the Shen Mansion. Everyone knew that Old Lady Shen was selfish and stingy, not to mention being enthusiastic or generous. Facing her niece and nephew who she hadn't seen for many years, instead of showing them a cold face, she treated them with great warmth and often gave them silver and gifts.

  However, these two people seemed to plan to live in the house for a long time, and they didn't show any intention of leaving. Because Old Lady Shen treated them politely, the servants also knew how to read faces and treated them with equal politeness.

  In the eastern courtyard of Shen's residence, in a certain side room of Caiyun Garden, Wan Niang was sitting at a table knotting a colored tassel. The colorful tassels quickly took shape under her hands as she said to Shen Dongling who was practicing calligraphy behind a screen: "Has Old Madame changed her temper? Treating Tabi Miss and Tabi Young Master so well, you're almost being surpassed by Huier."

  "The old lady's calculations are not wrong." Shen Dongling sat behind the screen, her complexion much better than before, at least she didn't look as pale as before. Nowadays, Shen Gui often comes to Wan Niangniang's place to sit and chat, which also makes him pay more attention to her, and people have sent many medicinal materials. Shen Gui's attitude made the servants in Caiyun Garden see through it immediately, but some people were still waiting to see what would happen next. Although Ren Yuanyun had gone mad, Shen Guang was still the legitimate young master, and even if Wan Niangniang regained favor, Shen Dongling was just a daughter.

  "Doesn't Liang'er also think it's suspicious?" Madam Wan stopped her actions: "But what is the old lady trying to get out of these two after all?"

  Shen Dongling smiled: "Young masters and misses, the old lady naturally hopes that someone will attract people with their appearance."

  Wan Yiniang suddenly had an epiphany and looked at Shen Dongling: "Who does the old lady want to be good with them?"

  "Someone from a humble background with no power or influence, and also the old lady's niece." Shen Dongling carefully added a stroke: "The person the old lady hates the most is naturally that person."

  As Shen Dongling said, in the west courtyard of Shen's residence where they practiced swordplay, Shen Qiu and Shen Xinfang had just finished a round of practice and let their subordinates continue practicing while they themselves were about to take a break when they saw a yellow-clad girl walking towards them from the end of the courtyard.

  The girl was a beauty, with a delicate face and a timid heart. She carried a bamboo basket on her arm, which made her look even more pitiful. She walked to the side and called out softly: "Cousin brother, cousin uncle."

  It is precisely Jingchu Chu.

  Lu Xueyan was over there directing the little soldiers, and Shen Xin and Shen Qiu were somewhat surprised by this. Shen Qiu stepped forward and asked, "Sister, what are you doing here?"

  He still felt a bit unaccustomed when he said the two words "cousin sister", after all, it had been more than ten years since he last saw Jing Chu Chu, and suddenly having a cousin sister was hard to accept.

  A faint smile spread across Chu's face as she placed the bamboo basket on a stone pedestal beside her, saying softly: "I made some pastries myself, thinking that you brothers would be tired from practicing sword fighting here, so I made something. I hope you won't mind." As she spoke, she lowered her head and opened the lid, revealing several plates of pastries inside. Those delicate and lovely pastries emitted a sweet fragrance, and before Shen Xin could say anything, Shen Qiu's eyes had already widened with desire.

  Shen Xin felt a bit relieved, Jing Chu's timid and weak appearance made her seem sincere to others, although she was indeed a bit cowardly. However, no matter what, a clever girl who can cook will always be welcomed wherever she goes, especially since this girl is also good-looking. Luo Xueyan was a female general, how could she possibly do household chores? So, Shen Xin and his son both thought that this young girl who could cook had made a very good impression.

  "Having bothered you for so many days, I'm filled with anxiety. As Chu Chu doesn't have any special skills, she made some small dishes to express her feelings."

  Look, they still know how to repay kindness. Shen Xin and his son like people who are knowledgeable about etiquette and understand things, the military values relationships, and Jing Chu's performance is indeed good.

  "Eldest sister, don't worry about it. Just consider this place your home. What's a little disturbance among family members?"

  Jing Chu's face turned red with embarrassment as she lowered her head, while Shen Qiu picked up a pastry and smiled, saying "Then I won't be polite." Just as he was about to take a bite, he suddenly heard a voice behind him say, "Big brother."

  Shen Qiu turned his head, but saw Shen Miao had come over at some point and was standing by the edge of the courtyard, with four maidservants following behind her. Her gaze was icy as she stared at him. For some reason, Shen Qiu felt a twinge of guilt and subconsciously put down the pastry in his hand, asking: "Sister, why have you come?"

  Shen Miao didn't say a word, lifted her foot and walked towards them. As she got closer, she saw that Yu Yu was startled, and the four maids were each holding a basket. Shen Xin asked: "Jiao Jiao, what's in your basket?"

  "It's a bit chilly today, thinking that everyone who practices swordplay must be thirsty and hungry, so I made some congee soup." Shen Miao glanced at Shen Qiu with a faint gaze, causing Shen Qiu to feel a chill down his spine. Then Shen Miao said: "Let those little soldiers come over and drink the soup too, I've been stewing this mushroom chicken soup all morning, it's good for warming up the body."

  "I'll go call!" Ah Zhi, who was standing next to Shen Qiu, was overjoyed at the sight and ran towards the training grounds. Before long, dozens of little soldiers from the courtyard followed after him.

  Shen Miao ordered the startled soldiers to serve soup to everyone. Those little soldiers were Shen Xin and Shen Qiu's most trusted subordinates, so they were directly placed in the General's Mansion. The little soldiers saw that there was soup to drink and were delighted, laughing and saying: "Miss is still considerate of us! Miss has a good heart!"

  Rough people are actually the easiest to win over, Shen Miao deeply understands this principle. Ah Zhi took a sip of the soup and exclaimed: "This soup is really good!" After finishing it in two or three gulps, he handed it to Jing Zhen and said: "Get another bowl!"

  Jing Zhen rolled her eyes at Ah Zhi: "Of course it's delicious, our girl personally stewed it."

  Shen Xin and Shen Qiu were taken aback at first, then Shen Qiu asked: "Did sister personally cook it?"

  "Yes." Shen Miao said calmly.

  "Everyone stop drinking!" Shen Xin yelled: "Don't drink!" He roared at Gu Yu: "Bring me a big bowl!"

  Luo Xueyan had just drunk the white dew soup and was also very surprised: "Jiao Jiao, this soup is actually made by you? How did your cooking skills improve so much?"

  The aroma of the soup wafted out, naturally making people drool. Shen Miao smiled and said, "Just do it as you see fit." In her previous life, she had spent several years honing her culinary skills to win over Fu Xiuyi's heart. Later, when she went to Qin Guo, she learned many rare dishes under the difficult circumstances. To say the least, she had experienced the cuisine of two imperial courts and her vision and techniques were far superior to those of ordinary people. As for that country girl who had never even been to the capital... Shen Miao's gaze fell on Jing Chuchu, who was standing behind a pillar. This time, she didn't lower her head, but instead bit her lip and looked at the group of boisterous people with tears in her eyes, as if she had suffered great injustice.

  The eldest sister personally cooked the soup, which made people feel more precious than the desserts made by the younger sister. Moreover, Shen Miao also gave a share to all the little soldiers in every yard, so compared to this, Jing Chuchu, who only made desserts for Shen Xin and his son, was really too stingy and couldn't show her face.

  Jing Chu's face turned red with shame and anger, and her eyes flashed with a hint of hatred as she looked at Shen Miao.

  Shen Qiu also wanted to drink the soup, but Gu Yu and the others refused to give him any. Shen Qiu sensed that something was amiss and guessed that Shen Miao was angry with him, but he didn't know what he had done wrong. He could only look at Shen Miao with pleading eyes. Shen Miao waited until everyone else had almost finished drinking before telling Bai Lu to take out a bowl from the bottom layer of the basket. "You like sweet things," she said. "This bowl has honey in it, drink up."

  "Sister is so good!" Shen Qiu was overjoyed, grabbed it and drank the soup in big gulps, the foodie's appearance made Shen Miao unbearable to watch.

  Those little soldiers, after having Shen Miao's personally brewed soup, felt half moved and half delighted in their hearts. They naturally flattered Shen Miao again, thinking that she didn't have the proud and aloof temperament of a young lady from a wealthy family. She was approachable and kind, with a beauty that seemed almost heavenly.

  Shen Miao was surrounded by the little soldiers, and Jing Chuchu was completely ignored. She had wanted to leave several times, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and stayed.

  When everyone went to practice sword again, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan also left. Shen Qiu sat on the stone lion to rest. Shen Miao walked to Jing Chu's side and smiled: "Sister-in-law, you did a good job with these pastries, but people who practice martial arts in the daytime are already very tired and thirsty. You still made pastries, aren't you making them even more parched?" Shen Miao smiled and said: "Next time I'll make congee instead."

  Jing Chuchu's face turned pale and white, Shen Miao's words were clearly exposing her for using the excuse of sending pastries to deceive people, but in reality, she wasn't truly considering the well-being of these martial artists. If that was the case, she wouldn't have sent such dry and tasteless things. Although she was angry inside, Jing Chuchu still lowered her head with a flustered expression, as if she was very afraid: "Thank you for pointing this out, cousin, I understand now." After speaking, she cast a pleading glance at Shen Qiu beside her, hoping he would come to her rescue.

  Unfortunately, Shen Qiu was a straightforward and sincere person, but when it came to romantic matters, he was a clumsy and insensitive oaf. He didn't even notice the flirtatious glances from Chu Chu. On the other hand, Shen Miao smiled and said, "Big brother, you were just saying you wanted to eat sister-in-law's pastries, now have some."

  "Cough." Shen Qiu waved his hand: "Just had a bowl of soup, feeling quite full, can't eat much, let's eat later."

  Shen Miao was very satisfied. The bowl of soup she gave to Shen Qiu was exceptionally generous, and she didn't believe that Shen Qiu could finish the bowl of soup and still have room in his stomach to eat Jing Chu's pastries? Unless Shen Qiu was a pig transformed into a human.

  Jing Chu felt a bit disappointed, Shen Qiu stood up and said: "I'll go practice again." Then he walked towards the courtyard.

  Looking at Shen Qiu's receding back, Jing Chu felt a little unwilling to part with him and wanted to say something, but could only bite her lip and watch. Shen Miao smiled slightly and patted her hand: "Sister-in-law's pastry has gone cold, it's probably not good to eat, if sister-in-law doesn't mind, I can have it sent to second brother."

  "Second Brother?" Jing Chu Chu looked at Shen Miao in confusion.

  "Yes," Shen Miao smiled: "Like my elder brothers, they are in the northwest all year round, these delicate things can't be appreciated. My second brother is different, he has already entered officialdom at a young age and is now serving in the capital, his future prospects are boundless." Shen Miao shook her head and sighed: "Unfortunately, there's no one to take care of his daily life, men usually don't pay attention to these things. Cousin, this Suzhou dim sum might suit his taste."

  Jing Chu's eyes were somewhat overcast. Shen Miao laughed and said, "Perhaps in the future, Second Brother will have a wife and can often enjoy good food. I wonder which girl will be so lucky to become my second sister-in-law. You don't know, Eldest Sister, but my Second Brother is the heartthrob of many official families' daughters in the capital."

  "Second Master..." Jing Chu Chu hesitated for a moment and asked: "Is there still no lady that you have taken a liking to?"

  Shen Miao sighed: "Second Brother is busy with court affairs all day, where does he have the energy to see other girls?"

  Jing Chuchu seemed to be lost in thought, and Shen Miao didn't say anything else, continuing the conversation for a while. Seeing that Shen Qiu and the others didn't seem to want to stop, Jing Chuchu stayed a bit longer, but it would have been strange if she had lingered any further, so she left.

  After Jing Chu left, Shen Qiu came over and carefully looked at Shen Miao for a while before saying: "Sister, what's wrong with you today? You seem strange."

  "What's wrong with me?" Shen Miao said irritably: "Are you angry because I interrupted your eating of the cake just now, big brother?"

  "I didn't mean it that way." Shen Qiu's face was flushed with anxiety, but he heard Shen Miao wave her hand nonchalantly and say, "Never mind, you're at a great age now, many girls are eyeing you eagerly, so be careful when choosing your future wife."

  Shen Qiu finally understood what was being said and helplessly said: "Sister, what are you talking about? Cousin didn't mean it that way, she just came to deliver a cake."

  "If you really like her, then go ahead and eat your fill." After saying this, Shen Miao turned around and left without looking back. This time when she came back, Shen Qiu had never seen Shen Miao behave so rudely to him before, he was startled and ended up watching as Shen Miao walked far away.

  "On the way back home, Gu Yu asked: "Miss, don't you like Biao's sister? Otherwise, why would you get so angry?"

  "Yes, I don't like it." Shen Miao rubbed her temples. She really hated Jing Chu Chu to the core. For someone as proud as Shen Qiu, being made to break his leg, wear a green hat, and finally be imprisoned for murder, this kind of vicious woman, she hated her so much that she wanted to flay Jing Chu Chu alive. But Shen Qiu was born with a good nature and didn't know how wicked people's hearts could be, and seeing him almost being fooled by Jing Chu Chu's appearance again, Shen Miao was furious.

  "But didn't the young lady already say that to Second Young Master?" Gu Yu said: "Perhaps in the future, Eldest Miss's interest will shift towards Second Young Master." Shen Miao and Jing Chu Chu's previous casual conversation had not intentionally avoided the few maidservants, and Gu Yu also understood the meaning behind Shen Miao's words.

  "She's not stupid, if she could be swayed by my few words, then she wouldn't be Jing Chuchu." Shen Miao smiled slightly: "However, having some thoughts is also good."

  Several maids found it strange and couldn't understand why Shen Miao was treating this seemingly timid and weak Eldest Miss as if she were a great enemy.

  Ba? Xiang Lou is the largest brothel in Dingjing City. If we say that brothels are also divided into three, six and nine grades, then Ba? Xiang Lou must be the top grade in Dingjing City. Among them, any girl can become the head of a ordinary brothel, plump or slender, bold or gentle, lovely or charming, innocent or flirtatious, as long as you can think of it, Ba? Xiang Lou has it.

  And so, the price of the girls in Ba Xiang Lou is also the most expensive.

  Pretty girls at the door waved scented handkerchiefs to welcome guests, a man in armor walked in, and it was actually that several girls took a few more glances.

  Those who can come to the Ba Xiang Lou are either rich or noble, mostly young masters of wealthy families or government officials. However, the man in front didn't seem like a member of the wealthy class, and the aura around him made the girls retreat one after another. Until a middle-aged woman wearing red clothes walked out, saw him and smiled: "Mr. Mo is here again? Are you looking for Liu Xuan today?"

  Mo Ke nodded slightly, took out a silver note from his bosom and handed it to the woman. The woman smiled with satisfaction after receiving the silver note: "Young master, follow me inside, I'll take you upstairs, Liuyue has been waiting for you these few days."

  Mo Ang strongly endured the discomfort in his heart and calmly followed the person upstairs.

  The girls in Ba Xiang Lou are the most expensive, and at the same time, they are also the best. Although Liu Yue is not considered a top-notch girl in Ba Xiang Lou, she has a certain reputation, but this is relative to the rumors outside. In fact, new girls come to Ba Xiang Lou every day, each with good looks and talents. Men are always fond of novelty and tired of old things, so there are fewer customers coming to find Liu Yue.

  However, the girls in Ba Xiang Lou recently found out that Liu Yue, who had been neglected for some time, had suddenly gotten a big business opportunity. A young man would come to find him every now and then. In Ba Xiang Lou, it was extremely rare for a customer to ask for only one girl each time. Everyone guessed that this person wanted to buy Liu Yue's freedom.

  Mo Ke followed the woman to a small pavilion upstairs, and the woman in red smiled and retreated. On the soft couch, a young woman with a light thin water-red gauze dress leaned against it, holding a jade qin and plucking it, her eyes were full of emotions, her lips had a ambiguous smile, and her clothes revealed half of her fragrant shoulders, making people imagine a lot.

  Mo Ke took a deep breath and walked to the table with his eyes fixed on the front, poured himself a cup of tea, and started his daily routine - daydreaming.

  The music stopped abruptly, and a look of anger appeared on Liuxue's face. She walked up to Mo Ke and scolded: "Mo young master has come several times, but each time he ignores Liuxue. Is it that you are playing with Liuxue and can't succeed? Or do you think Liuxue is not good enough?"

  All the sisters envied her, thinking that she might have made it big because there was a man willing to take care of her alone. Little did they know that this man was actually useless, no matter how hard he tried, she wouldn't even give him a glance, let alone anything else.

  Mo En shook his head, but didn't speak, staring intently at the teacup in front of him. In his heart, however, he was extremely frustrated. Shen Miao had indeed been right; Liu Yue was a woman with a multitude of charms. When she had teased him with her methods earlier, Mo En himself had almost lost control. Now, sitting here for even a moment longer was torture, and yet Shen Miao wanted him to continue sitting like this.

  The more Liuyue was annoyed, the more a seductive smile rose to her face. She sat down on Mo Rong's thigh with a plop, hooked her hand around his neck, and whispered in his ear: "Young Master Mo, can you bear to let me sit like this?"

  With a "bang", Mo Qing suddenly pushed Liu Xueying to the ground.

  In a cozy room in the Happy Building, opposite the Treasure Fragrance Pavilion, three people sat around a table laden with delicacies and fine jade. Soft music filled the air as they sat in silence. Suddenly, a guard-like figure entered from outside and whispered something into the ear of the purple-robed young man sitting in the middle.

  "Speaking of which," Ji Yu Shu said with a puzzled expression: "Why did Miss Shen send her guard to Ba Xiang Lou to find the girl?"

  "And what's more, this guard just looks but doesn't eat." Gao Yang added.

  As for Shen Miao, Gao Yang and Ji Yu no longer regarded her as an ordinary general's daughter. Everything she did seemed to have a deep meaning. Therefore, when they learned that Shen Miao had sent Mo Qing to Bao Xiang Lou to find the girl, their first reaction was that Shen Miao was going to scheme against someone again.

  The people of Bai Xiao Sheng went out to observe for several days, and what was shocking was that the guard lit the firefly, but did nothing, and left after sitting in the firefly house for a night. They inquired about the firefly's background, and it turned out to be just a woman who had been sold into a brothel, with no special circumstances, which made them even more baffled by Shen Miao's actions.

  "Was she thinking of cultivating a eunuch as her confidant?" Ji Yu Shu's thoughts were always unusually sinister: "Is it now letting that guard adapt to the life of a eunuch ahead of time?"

  "Your idea is always so wonderful." Gao Yang pondered, "I think she wants to win over Liu Xuan, perhaps to deal with the other two houses of the Shen family. But there's no need to find Liu Xuan for that, Baoyan Building has many more charming girls than Liu Xuan." He looked at Xie Jinghang: "Xie San, what do you think about this matter?"

  Xie Jinghang was gazing out of the window and upon hearing this, lazily swept a glance at the two of them, saying: "You're quite free?"

  "Hello, you also have some relationship with Miss Shen, don't you care at all?" Ji Yushu said: "Thank you, Third Brother, you are clever, you must know."

  "I don't want to know." Xie Jinghang cut him off: "I'm going out of town recently."

  "Is it about the Jade Rabbit Festival?" Gao Yang asked with a frown.

  "The Emperor plans to start a campaign in the spring and let Old Master Xie lead it," said Xie Jingxing: "It can't wait any longer." The "Old Master Xie" he mentioned naturally referred to Lin'an Marquis Xie Ding.

  Gaoyang fell silent for a moment before saying, "If that's the case, I'm afraid time is running out."

  "I heard that Shen Yuan and Ding Wang have been getting close recently." Xie Jinghang's lips curled up: "It seems like they're preparing to deal with the Shen family's main house?"

  "Is Miss Shen going to be unlucky again?" Ji Yushu was somewhat surprised: "How come she always provokes these ill-intentioned people. That Ding Wang is not a good guy, whoever gets targeted by him will have a bad ending."

  "This King Ding is a profound and immeasurable person," Gao Yang furrowed his brow: "Although he seems to be without ambition for power, but in private, his military strength is not one bit inferior to others. Shen Xin has the military power in his hands, an innocent man with a jade ring will be guilty, the Shen family's prosperity and greatness already make them a target of suspicion by the imperial family, if King Ding makes a move, Shen Xin will likely suffer greatly."

  "Isn't Miss Shen in danger?" Ji Yushu looked at Xie Jingxing: "Xie San, how are you going to help her?"

  Xie Jinghang raised an eyebrow: "Why should I help her?"

  "You, you're not... let's just say friends for now." Ji Yu Shu widened his eyes: "Didn't you save her before? Are you not going to help Miss Shen?"

  Xie Jinghang looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, his eyes deep and profound like a pool of water. He had an extremely elegant appearance, but the words he spoke were tinged with a cool indifference. He said: "I need the Shen family to help me stall for time, Duke Ding will deal with Shen Xin... very good."

  Ji Yu Shu took a deep breath of cool air.

  In the imperial capital, in front of the Wangfu mansion.

  The young man on the high seat was dressed in light-colored finery, his appearance was cold and stern, but when he spoke to the people below, he was extremely close, dissolving a bit of that coldness.

  This man is none other than Ding Wang Fu Xiu Yi.

  At this moment, there were several strangers sitting in the hall, all of whom were staff members of Ding Wang Fu Xiu Yi. He knew how to use people well and understood how to be humble and courteous to talented individuals. If it were an ordinary prince, although he would give his staff members silver and land, none of them would treat him with as much respect as Fu Xiu Yi did. Not only could they sit together on equal terms, but when speaking, they also showed extreme courtesy. It was precisely because of Fu Xiu Yi's demeanor that he had attracted many wise men. Also, it was precisely because of these wise men that Fu Xiu Yi's plans and strategies had so far kept the entire world in the dark, including Emperor Wen Hui.

  The young man sitting in the middle was dressed in blue, and his face stood out among these attendants, only because he was too young. He got up and Fu Xiuyi asked: "Shen Yuan, do you have any ideas? Feel free to speak."

  Shen Yuanchong nodded slightly. He had just entered officialdom and privately became a subordinate of Fu Xiuyi, who was good at recruiting talents. Shen Yuanchong had both talent and ambition, and could endure the loneliness of being posted outside, so he naturally caught Fu Xiuyi's eye.

  Shen Yuan said: "At present, everyone is secretly vying for military power. Whoever has the military power will have more chips to negotiate with. Ming Qi's current military strength is divided between the south and the north. Although the Xie family's military strength is strong, after Your Majesty's spring outing, you let Lin An Hou lead the expedition, there must be a plan behind it. The Xie family cannot move, but the Shen family is different." Shen Yuan paused for a moment before continuing: "Shen Xin voluntarily offered to stay in the capital for half a year, and many people want to win him over. The variable of the Shen family's military strength is too great. If we can't get it, it's better to destroy it. If we take this gamble, we might be able to meet Your Majesty's expectations and also allow the Crown Prince to prove that he has no other ambitions."

  Shen Yuan himself was a member of the Shen family, yet he kept referring to "the Shen family" as if it were someone else. His words clearly carried a tone of opposition towards Shen Xin. Fu Xiuyi smiled and looked at him, perhaps understanding but pretending not to know. After all, Shen Yuan's words only brought benefits and no harm to him. He said, "What you said is indeed correct, but the Shen family can't find any flaws now, even if they want to find fault, there's no reason to."

  Shen Yuan didn't say anything.

  Fu Xiuyi's eyes sparkled, and his tone became even more affectionate: "However, since you are in the Shen manor, you must know some things that ordinary people don't know." He looked at Shen Yuan: "If this time we can really control the Shen family, your contribution will be the greatest."

  Having obtained the guarantee he wanted to hear, Shen Yuan finally opened his mouth respectfully: "Your Highness, early on, my people had already infiltrated the troops. When the Shen family army was fighting in the northwest before, some things were not done according to the rules. At present, evidence is still being collected, and once the evidence is complete, I will definitely offer it with both hands. I guarantee that this time, even if we can't completely bring down the Shen family army, at least they will be severely wounded."

  Fu Xiuyi smiled faintly: "Then I'll have to trouble you."

  Shen Yuan bowed his head and smiled.