The people of Jing's family finally arrived in Dingjing City after several days.

  As a humble family from Suzhou, the Jing family has mastered the art of putting on a show. When they found out about Jing Chuchu and Shen Yuan's affair, they first wailed and lamented their daughter's bad luck, then immediately started making a ruckus, demanding to report it to the authorities and make Shen Yuan pay the price, even refusing to agree to an engagement. On the surface, it seemed like that was all there was to it, but anyone with discerning eyes could see that the Jing couple was just trying to take advantage of the situation and pretend that Shen Yuan was eager to marry Jing Chuchu.

  It's not a family affair, don't enter the same door. Shen Lao Furen has been unreasonable in the mansion for many years, and her natal family's bullying is just like hers. After several confrontations, she ended up at a disadvantage, agreeing to an eight-man sedan chair winning over Jing Chu Chu's dowry, and even having to pay a large sum of betrothal gifts.

  Old Lady Shen was so angry that she couldn't speak, and every day facing the Jing family couple's greedy faces made her even more furious, almost to the point of having a stroke. In a fit of rage, she hid in Rongjing Hall and refused to see anyone.

  The Jing family got the news that Shen Yuan was going to marry Jing Chu Chu from Suzhou, and in just a few days, all the citizens of Beijing knew about it. The citizens didn't know the secret of the Shen family's banquet, but the rumors outside were only that Shen Yuan admired Jing Chu Chu's gentle beauty and treated her with sincerity.

  The Jings are trying to turn Jingchu into a stunning beauty, but I don't know what others think, however, Shen Yuan is extremely suffocated.

  In the Shangshu Mansion, Sun Cai Nan looked at the note in his hand, crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the wastebasket.

  "Damn Shen Yuan!" he cursed.

  It was easy to meet a woman who caught his eye, and among the many women in Beijing, Jingchu Chu from Suzhou stood out. The woman he had set his sights on had never failed him before, and this time he was particularly enthusiastic, putting extra effort into winning over Jingchu Chu, only to have Shen Yuan steal the show in the end.

  The young servant spoke cautiously: "Miss Jing and Second Master Shen also had no choice but to act due to a misunderstanding."

  The rumors of the common people don't matter, but the aristocratic families know what's really going on. Sun Cainan had already heard about everything that happened at the Shen family banquet from others. He scowled: "That cheap woman Jing Chu Chu, she accepted Young Master's gift, is she playing with Young Master?"

  Sun Cai Nan was very displeased in his heart. He had seen many women like Jing Chu Chu, who could be easily won over with money and benefits. The Shen family's banquet affair probably also had something to do with Jing Chu Chu. That woman was taking his things on one hand, while on the other hand she was planning to marry into the Shen family? For Sun Cai Nan, being played by a woman was the most shameful thing.

  "But what does young master plan to do now?" The servant asked: "The invitation from Miss Jing, will you accept it or not?"

  Sun Cai Nan lowered his head to look at the note in his hand, which still carried a faint fragrance, as if it were the scent of a girl. Just like Jing Chu Chu's gentle and harmless appearance, she always hid an unquiet heart. Even though she was about to marry another person, she still came over to tease him one last time.

  "Of course, I accepted." Sun Cai Nan smiled and said: "Young Master gave her so much silver, but hasn't slept with her yet. Being surpassed by Shen Jian Jue is already quite unbearable, not sleeping with her once, how can that be?" He glared at the young servant: "Go, send a reply note."

  These days, Shen Yuan is rarely at home, no matter how strange the Jing family behaves. However, Chen Ruoqiu has been suffering, having to deal with Old Lady Shen's anger on one hand and satisfy the Jing family's insatiable appetite on the other. The silver in the public purse is dwindling, only going out but not coming in, causing everyone to worry.

  "Madam, why have you been so worried these past few days?" Shen Wan asked as soon as he returned from his morning court session.

  Chen Ruoqiu forced a smile and didn't want to discuss the silver with Shen Wan, so he said: "The Jing family has been causing trouble in the mansion every day, it's inevitable that they would annoy people."

  Shen Wanyi sighed: "Mother this time has lost both the general and the soldiers, and Yuan'er was also dragged down."

  What's going on between Shen Yuan and Jing Chu is clear to everyone in the Shen household. As for what happened at that time, Sanfang chose to watch the battle from a safe distance, and at least compared to Shen Yuan, Dafang was more feared. Unfortunately, Dafang ended up unscathed, while Erfang was unlucky, and even they themselves were worried.

  "These days you've also been working hard." Chen Ruoqiu said gently: "The Shen family has had an accident, and you'll also be pointed at by others."

  The government is in such a mess, it's naturally a joke to the aristocratic families. Shen Xin is a rough person and doesn't mind being pointed at, but Shen Wan attaches great importance to reputation, and these days haven't been easy for him either.

  Shen Wan grasped Chen Ruoqiu's hand and shook his head: "This is nothing, it's just that Yuan'er married Jing Chuchu, and in the future, thinking of helping each other out in official circles will be a bit troublesome." He sighed: "Originally, Yuan'er was the most promising one."

  When she heard this, Chen Ruoqiu's heart was slightly panicked. Shen Wan didn't have a son of his own, so in the next generation of the Shen family, only Shen Yuan could take on the heavy responsibility. In official circles, the most important thing is the relationship by marriage, if Shen Yuan marries an official's daughter in the future, then Shen Wan's path in the imperial court will also be much smoother, now marrying Jing Chuchu was no different from cutting off the wings that might grow in the future.

  Chen Ruoqiu lowered his head and said, "Who knows? Nowadays, even the fifth sister has become so fierce. Brother and sister-in-law's family... it's really hard for people."

  "Don't worry." Seeing Chen Ruoqiu's concern, Shen Wan patted her shoulder: "Yan'er is not an ordinary person. Xiao Wu has calculated Yan'er, and Yan'er will definitely come back. Brother and sister-in-law also have times when they are powerless."

  "What does your husband mean..." Chen Ruoqiu's heart skipped a beat.

  "Yuanzi has been acting strange lately." Shen Wan said in a low voice: "I always feel like something is going to happen."

  In the Western Courtyard, Shen Miao put down the book in her hand and frowned, saying: "What does Shen Qian really want to do?"

  Mo Qing said in a low voice: "Miss has let me guard Ba Xiang Lou for a long time, now..."

  "Continue." Shen Miao interrupted him, and Mo Qing's face suddenly fell. After thinking for a moment, he said: "However, since Mr. Pei from Guangwen Hall has appeared, does the young lady have any other instructions?"

  All along, Mo Cheng didn't know why Shen Miao wanted him to go to Bao Xiang Lou to watch the fireflies. On that day when he left, he coincidentally met Pei Cang, and for some reason, Mo Cheng had a feeling that Shen Miao had let him go to Bao Xiang Lou to watch the fireflies, perhaps knowing all along that Pei Cang would appear. Every task Shen Miao asked him to do had its own purpose, but this time when he heard Pei Cang appeared, Shen Miao didn't say anything.

  "No." Shen Miao said: "You just take care of your own business."

  "I didn't expect Mr. Pei to be a regular at Ba Xiang Lou, he looks like a decent person." Gu Yu blinked: "He really doesn't look like that kind of person." After a pause, she added another sentence: "Mo Shiwei doesn't seem like it either."

  His face turned red with embarrassment.

  "Mo Cheng, these days you've been going to Bao Xiang Lou, but occasionally also pay attention to the movements of Shen Yuan in the East Wing." said Shen Miao. For some reason, Shen Yuan always made him feel a little uneasy.

  Miss, will Second Young Master come up with any more bad ideas?

  "It's very strange," Shen Miao said.

  After the incident at the Qin's house, Shen Yan did not investigate what had happened that day, nor did he try to stop it. Although Jing Chu Chu was supposed to marry Shen Yan, if Shen Yan used other methods, she could probably drag it out a bit longer. But Shen Yan didn't even do that, which can only mean that he is currently doing something more important. Shen Miao couldn't think of anything more important than dealing with her.

  Shen Yuan was calculating something, but he didn't stay in Shen Mansion all day, and Shen Miao couldn't figure it out either.

  "Don't worry, miss," Jing Zhen suddenly remembered something: "Taoyuan said that the young lady had sent a letter to that household and had already received a reply. She's going on a date tomorrow."

  Shen Miao's eyes lit up: "Very good." Shen Guan made her feel uneasy, so some things had to be done as soon as possible.

  They were discussing this matter, and in Linjiang Xianlou of Wangxian's pawnshop, there were also people talking about it.

  "Shen Yuan has collected all the evidence of Shen Xin and presented it to Fu Xiuyi." Ji Yu Shu said: "Three days later, Fu Xiuyi will sort out the evidence and present a memorial to the Emperor. At that time, the Shen family will surely be unable to escape disaster."

  "Disobeying the king's order, pretending to obey but secretly disobeying. If this kind of thing is exposed, even if it's light, it will be dismissed and returned to the countryside." Gao Yang said: "Shen family's Shen Yuan also has some skills, he can find out this kind of thing."

  "Didn't I say so?" Ji Yu Shu said somewhat impatiently, "Shen Yuan has been dealing with Shen Xin for many years, always planning and waiting for the right moment to make a move, to achieve merit and get promoted and rich. If it wasn't for this time being opportune, if he had to gather evidence for another two years, the entire Shen family would be executed."

  "So, Fu Xiuyi indeed has a good eye for things." Gao Yang thought: "Shen Xinyi's power is too great, and there are too many people who want to deal with him. More importantly, the people of the Mingqi imperial family are all happy to see his downfall, and if Shen Xinyi is unlucky, the imperial family will also step on him."

  "So what's to be done now?" Ji Yushu rubbed his temples: "Shen Yuan is the kind of person who knows how to endure, just like Fu Xiuyi. The Shen family's main house is in trouble, I can imagine how difficult it must be for Miss Shen."

  "You're still thinking about Shen Miao?" Gao Yang gave him a white eye: "If it wasn't for Shen Miao's instigation, letting the Shen family's relatives and Shen Yuan catch them in bed, Shen Yuan wouldn't have acted so quickly. Originally with his temperament, he would have endured for another two years to wipe out the entire Shen family's main house. Now that he has taken action ahead of time, it's just because he was forced by Shen Miao." Gao Yang stroked his chin: "With Shen Yuan's hatred towards Shen Miao, this time he will definitely not let Shen Miao off easily. Perhaps the rest of the Shen family's main house can still escape with their lives, but Shen Miao's fate is bound to be miserable and tragic."

  "What's to be done? That scoundrel Shen Yuan will surely resort to some underhanded tactics on Miss Shen. He can even scheme against his own uncle, he must have a heart as black as coal."

  "Don't worry." Gao Yang said slowly: "Shen Yuan's heart is black, and Shen Miao isn't a simple lamp either. I'm really curious this time, what means will Shen Miao use to turn the tide? With her character that can destroy the Yuqin Wangfu in one move and still remain unscathed, it doesn't feel like she'll be captured so easily."

  "Miss Shen is clever and resourceful, Shen Yuan will definitely not be able to beat her." Ji Yu Shu suddenly thought of something and looked at Gao Yang: "Xie San Ge forbade us from interfering in the Shen family's affairs before he left, so... if she wins, you're not allowed to help Shen Yuan either."

  "You're quite confident in her, aren't you?" Gaoyang unfolded his fan and shook it: "I'm also curious to see what method she'll use." Looking at Ji Yushu's relieved expression, Gaoyang poured cold water on him without mercy: "But don't be too optimistic. Since Xie San's plan was advanced, the situation in Dingjing City has changed a lot. One thing that won't change is Ding Wang's ambition. The Shen family's offering of fat meat, how could he not make good use of it? Shen Miao is just a woman from a boudoir, Ding Wang is not as foolish as Yu Qinwang, one person's power can't contend with many forces, Shen Xin's official hat will probably be lost this time, and once Shen Xin loses his official hat..." He sighed half in regret and half in emotion: "For the main house of the Shen family, it's a disaster that destroys their crown, he won't be able to protect anyone."

  Ji Yu's face also slowly sank down.

  "Xie San once said that no matter what, the Shen family's main house would inevitably meet its downfall. Gao Yang stopped fanning himself and his eyes flickered slightly: "Just like the Xie family."

  On the second day, the weather was fine. In a side hall of Rong Jing Tang, Tao Yuan took out several clothes for Jing Chu Chu to choose from.

  Since the arrival of Jing's couple, the yard where Jing Chuchu and her brother lived, which was previously given by Old Lady Shen, has become somewhat crowded. Jing's couple entered the house and directly occupied the largest yard in Rongjing Hall, except for Old Lady Shen, without any explanation. Moreover, they ordered the servants of Rongjing Hall around, making it seem as if the master of Rongjing Hall was not Old Lady Shen but Jing's couple.

  Jing Chu sat in front of the desk, carefully drawing her eyebrows against the copper mirror. She drew with extreme seriousness, her lips pursed with a faint lip color, and her hair was combed without a single strand out of place, clearly meticulously dressed up.

  "That white one," said Jing Chu Chu. The plain white dress made her look even more pitiful and delicate. Today was the day she would meet Sun Cai Nan, and whether or not he would remember her fondly depended on this one encounter.

  Perhaps it was the woman's vanity, or perhaps she had genuinely developed some feelings for Sun Cai Nan. Despite knowing that meeting him now would be extremely risky, she still wanted to give it a try.

  Peach Garden gathered up the rest of her clothes, and someone pushed open the door and came in - it was Madame Jing.

  Mrs. Jing saw Jing Chu dressed like this and was somewhat puzzled: "Chu Chu, are you going out?"

  "Let's go out and buy some jewelry." Jing Chu Chu replied, "In the future, since you're going to become the second wife of the Shen family, you can't wear those old accessories, or people will look down on you."

  "It should be so." said Mrs. Jing. Anyway, the silver for buying jewelry will all come from the public funds, and in these days, Mrs. Jing has also made a lot of profit. "How can you go alone?" said Mrs. Jing, "I'll go with you."

  "No way!" Jing Chu Chu hastily refused.

  Mrs. Jing didn't understand: "Why?"

  "I, I have an appointment with Miss Yi to go together." Jing Chu Chu shook Mrs. Jing's hand: "In the future in Dingjing, we must get along well with these young ladies. You don't have to go, Miss Yi doesn't like to meet strangers easily, you know that these high-ranking young ladies are a bit eccentric."

  Mrs. Jing was somewhat dissatisfied: "What a high-ranking young lady, what's so special about her? In the future, you'll still be an official's wife. Alright, since you want to make friends with her, go then, and take several guards with you."

  "It's okay." Jing Chu Chu declined: "With so many guards at the Yi house, I'd look like a joke if I brought them along. Mother, don't worry about it, I'll buy you some accessories when I get back." With that, she continued to draw her eyebrows.

  Mrs. Jing had no choice but to give up.

  As soon as they got into the carriage, Jing Chu's heart was a little nervous and asked Tao Yuan: "Is that wine shop you chose reliable?"

  "Don't worry, miss," Tao Yuan said: "That wine building is far away and remote, and there are very few people who go there on ordinary days. Xiaojiu wears a bamboo hat and covers his face, so no one will recognize him."

  Jing Chu finally felt at ease.

  The horse carriage passed through the south of the city and finally stopped in front of a secluded alley. Jing Chu Chu adjusted her hat, then touched up her veil, and was led by Tao Yuan into the wine house.

  Although Jingchu had often socialized with the young masters in Suzhou, her status was different now. The customs of the Ming and Qi dynasties were open-minded, but if an unmarried woman met another man privately after getting engaged, it would be a serious offense.

  The wine house only had two floors, and it was indeed as secluded and quiet as Taoyuan said. There were not many guests, just a few scattered about. No one paid attention to her when she came in. Taoyuan handed the shopkeeper a silver ingot and smiled: "Shopkeeper, where is that guest room I booked yesterday?"

  The shopkeeper hastily ordered his assistant to take Jing Chu Chu inside.

  The guest room on the second floor was in the last one, and the attic was all wooden. Taoyuan thanked the shopkeeper and helped Jing Chuchu into the house. As soon as they entered the house, Jing Chuchu eagerly took off her hood and veil, saying: "I'm suffocating."

  "Miss, take a rest and have some tea." Taoyuan said: "Sun Gongzi should be arriving soon."

  "Come over and tidy up my hair for me." Jing Chuchu first adjusted her hair in front of the copper mirror: "Just now, I wore a bamboo hat all the way, and my hair got messy."

  "The young lady is very beautiful." Taoyuan flattered: "Today she is even more beautiful."

  Just then, the door creaked open and Jing Chu Chu and Tao Yuan couldn't help but pause, before hearing a familiar voice: "Chu Chu, it's really you."

  Sun Cai Nan stood at the door, gazing intently at Jing Chu Chu. Jing Chu Chu's face suddenly turned red as she shot a reproachful glance at Tao Yuan: "You go down."

  "Alright," Taoyuan smiled and said: "Let Master Sun and the young lady talk first, I'll just stand guard at the door, no one will come in."

  Speaking like this, it seems to be hinting at something. Jing Chu Chu lowered her head, waiting for Tao Yuan to go out and close the door before Sun Zinan took two steps forward and called out "Chu Chu".

  Jing Chuchu hesitated for a moment, then looked up. Her eyes seemed to have a hint of watery tenderness, half melancholy and half attachment, as if Shen Miao were present at this moment, she would have to admire Jing Chuchu's realistic acting.

  Sun Cai Nan walked up to Jing Chu Chu and asked softly, "Chu Chu, is it true that you and Shen Yuan have agreed to get engaged?"

  Jing Chu nodded after a pause.

  "You..." Sun Cai Nan seemed to have suffered a huge blow, and took two steps back. Jing Chu Chu saw this, and her eyes immediately turned red, as she stammered: "Are you angry?"

  "No." Sun Cai Nan paused for a moment, then suddenly reached out to stroke Jing Chu Chu's face. He said, "I've heard everything that happened. It was Shen Yuan who forced you into this marriage. You didn't have any other choice but to marry him. I don't blame you and I'm not angry with you."

  Upon hearing this, Jingchu lowered her head, but no one saw the hint of satisfaction that flashed in her eyes. Sun Cai Nan must have truly loved and admired her, even if she was going to marry Shen Yuan now, he still couldn't bear to blame her.

  "Actually..." Jing Chu turned her head: "That day, Second Brother did not touch me, it's just that at the time, under the watchful eyes of everyone, it was hard to explain." She lowered her head: "Sun Gongzi, actually... I am still a chaste person!"

  That day, nothing actually happened between Jing Chuchu and Shen Yuan. It's just that being in each other's arms looked ambiguous to others, so it couldn't be explained clearly. Afterwards, Jing Chuchu had someone check her out, and she was still intact. However, since neither Shen Yuan nor Old Lady Shen knew about this, she didn't say anything; otherwise, if they found out, they would definitely make a big deal out of it. But when facing Sun Cai Nan saying this, the situation is completely different. Men always hope their women are innocent; if Jing Chuchu and Shen Yuan really did something, there would be a thorn in Sun Cai Nan's heart. However, if nothing happened, then in Sun Cai Nan's eyes, he would feel even more pity for Jing Chuchu.

  As expected, Sun Cai Nan was stunned upon hearing this: "What?"

  Jing Chu Chu raised her head, with tears in her eyes: "A woman's body is naturally meant for the one she has a crush on. Second Brother and I just had a misunderstanding, but afterwards there was no other way out. I...I met Sun Gongzi too late, will Sun Gongzi despise me in his heart?"

  Sun Cai Nan tightly wrapped Jing Chu Chu in his arms, softly comforting: "How could I abandon you? My heart is pleased with you, my heart aches for you, I like you!" Sun Cai Nan's eyes flashed with wild joy, he had thought that since Jing Chu Chu's purity was already given to Shen Yuan, sleeping with her again would be just taking back what belonged to him. Who knew that Jing Chu Chu was still an untouched flower, this was truly unexpected for him.

  Jing Chu was held by Sun Cai Nan, pretending to struggle for a while before stopping. But it was because of Sun Cai Nan holding her that he slowly untied her skirt...

  It happened that there was someone riding a horse to the front of the wine house, handing over the reins to an outside partner who tied it up. He himself walked in and when he reached the counter, with a familiar air, handed over a silver ingot and went upstairs on his own. It was that partner who saw him and shouted: "Young master!"

  The man turned around, and it was none other than Shen Yuan.

  "What's going on?" Shen Yuan asked.

  The fellow hastily shook his head, with a towel slung over his shoulder, and hurriedly ran downstairs. As they passed each other, Shen clearly heard the fellow mutter under his breath: "Everyone in the world knows he's wearing a green hat, how pitiful."

  Shen Yuan's footsteps paused, and he looked down to see the diners sitting on the lower floor casting glances at him with an air of mystery, as if they were discussing something. Shen Yuan's expression gradually turned gloomy.

  This wine house was his usual haunt, where he occasionally exchanged messages with Fu Xiuyi's people. Among the nine princes in the capital, the relationships were complex and intricate, and as the most hidden one, Ding Wang's subordinates had to be extremely cautious. Shen Yuan was always careful when he came, sometimes changing into different clothes, and no one would recognize him here, but why did things seem a bit strange now?

  He shook his head, but went straight up to the second floor, where he usually met with Fu Xiuyi. However, when he arrived at the last guest room, he unexpectedly saw a familiar face.

  Taoyuan saw him and was startled, Shen Yuan's heart sank. Taoyuan was Jingchu Chu's maid, how could she be here? Could it be... He raised his foot to enter, but Taoyuan dodged too late and was kicked open the guest room door by Shen Yuan.

  Only in the spacious guest room, at this moment, two people were entwined on the soft couch, surrounded by clothes scattered all over the floor. Taoyuan suddenly shouted: "Miss, Second Young Master is here!"

  The person on the bed suddenly sat up, with half of her snow-white body exposed, and it was indeed Jing Chu Chu. She looked at Shen Yuan in a fluster, saying: "Se-second brother!"

  Shen Yuan coldly gazed at him, while another person on the bed, Sun Cai Nan also slowly woke up and sat up. He was originally someone who had been pampered since childhood, and his intimate moment with Jing Chu Chu was interrupted by someone, making him very annoyed. "Who are you?"

  "Second Brother!" Jing Chu Chu suddenly came back to her senses, pointing at Sun Cai Nan: "Second Brother, it was all his doing, I was forced into it, I didn't do it willingly!"

  "Despicable person!" Sun Cai Nan sneered and slapped Jing Chu Chu's face: "You clearly invited me to come, how could you turn your back on me now?"

  "Sun Gongzi!" It was Taoyuan who rushed over with righteous indignation: "How can you treat Miss like this? Why do you want to treat Miss like this? Is it just for the sake of making my family's second young master wear a green hat? You must be so opposed to the second young master!"

  In the midst of chaos, no one noticed that Taoyuan's words were not right. Sun Cai Nan sneered: "Second Young Master?" He looked Shen Yuan up and down, with a proud smile: "Not bad, I'm the one who gave your family's second young master a green hat, how about it? Shen Yuan, you haven't tasted this fiancée of yours yet, have you? The taste of a virgin is still pretty good."

  "You're talking nonsense!" Taoyuan was taken aback: "My young mistress..."

  "You still don't know?" Sun Cai Nan exaggeratedly looked at Shen Yuan with a glance: "No wonder, being played by a woman in the palm of her hand. But Shen Er Ye, even if you have great skills in the imperial court, your woman was still slept with by me. And you still have to marry her, how does it feel to pick up a broken shoe?"

  Shen Yan's forehead bulged with blue veins, and he finally took two steps forward, punching Sun Cai Nan to the ground.

  "Are you daring to hit me?" Sun Cai Nan, who was also spoiled, immediately got up and pounced on Shen Yuan. The two of them were not martial arts experts, they could only rely on their instincts, exchanging blows. Sun Cai Nan was slightly taller and stronger than Shen Yuan, who gradually fell into a disadvantageous position, being beaten by Sun Cai Nan.

  "Bastard!" Taoyuan rushed over and helped Shen Yuan hold Sun Cainan from behind. Shen Yuan took advantage of the gap, easily freed his hand, but felt something cold and hard being stuffed into it. He was beaten badly, and without thinking, he pushed the thing forward.

  A burst of laughter.

  That one sound was exceptionally long, and the surroundings seemed to have come to a standstill, until Taoyuan's long scream and Jing Chuchu's flustered face appeared before his eyes.

  Shen Yuan lowered his head and looked at the silver hilt in his hand, only to see that the blade was nowhere to be seen, having been lodged in Sun Cai Nan's abdomen.

  Large patches of blood flowers bloomed.

  Sun Zainan fell backwards onto his face.