At the third quarter of the Mao hour (around 6:45 a.m.), the morning mist had not yet lifted, but a commotion broke out outside the Shen Mansion's gate.The vermilion-lacquered main gate was tightly shut. Old Zhao, the gatekeeper, was dozing against the stone lion when the sound of horse hooves jolted him awake. Looking up, he saw the Third Prince's crimson-gold carriage parked at the stone steps—its curtain embroidered with hidden patterns of hornless dragons, glinting so brightly in the early sunlight that it hurt the eyes.
The curtain was lifted, and first to touch the ground was a pair of lotus-root-pink embroidered shoes, followed by Liu Qingyao.
She had deliberately dressed plainly that day: a sky-blue silk skirt, its hem outlined with silver thread to depict broken plum branches; in her hair, only a mutton-fat jade hairpin, while her earlobes dangled with two southern pearls that swayed gently with her steps. She looked so delicate, as if she might topple over at the slightest breeze.
The most striking thing was her right wrist—a phoenix-shaped jade pendant hung from her sleeve, its tail feather dotted with cinnabar. It was the exact token of love that Shen Weiwan and Xiao Jingyuan had carved together years ago.
Old Zhao had intended to bar the door, but Liu Qingyao raised her hand, revealing a token from the Prince's Mansion between her fingers: "By His Highness's verbal order, I've come to offer condolences to Miss Shen the Eldest."
Old Zhao dared not stop her and had no choice but to let her in.
Behind Liu Qingyao, four palace eunuchs carried two sandalwood chests, their corners gilded. With each step, the chests made a dull thudding sound—like heavy hammers striking the hearts of everyone in the Shen Mansion.
Shen Weiwan had already removed her phoenix crown and changed into a plain daily dress, though she still wore the red silk flower in her hair that she had not taken off the day before.
The hall door stood open, and slanting sunlight poured in. She sat upright in the main seat, her fingertips brushing the edge of her teacup, as if waiting for a good show to begin.
The sandalwood chests were carried in, and their lids were lifted—inside, piles of glistening gold ingots rose like small hills. On top of the gold lay a large red gift list, inscribed with two characters: "Modest Present."
Liu Qingyao bowed gracefully, her voice as soft as spring rain: "Cousin, Brother Jingyuan knows he's in the wrong. He's specially prepared this modest gift—hoping you'll accept it."
She raised her hand, and two elderly maids stepped forward carrying a brocade box. Inside was a set of jade jewelry—of the finest water quality, priceless.
But Liu Qingyao did not even glance at it; she only lowered her head, tears falling: "This jewelry was a reward from the palace. Brother said, if you like it, cousin, keep it; if not, you may give it to anyone you wish."
Her words, overt and covert, treated Shen Weiwan as no more than an outsider to be fobbed off.
The maids in the hall exchanged glances, and a few of the more timid ones had already reddened eyes.
Shen Weiwan let out a soft laugh, set down her teacup, and her gaze fell on Liu Qingyao's wrist: "That jade pendant of yours, cousin—it looks familiar."
Liu Qingyao flinched as if burned, instinctively drawing her hand back. But then she lifted it boldly, tears rolling down her cheeks: "If you want it, cousin… I'll return it to you right away."
She made a show of unfastening the pendant, but her fingers trembled. With a "clink," the jade pendant fell to the ground and rolled to Shen Weiwan's feet.
The sound of it hitting the floor was like a slap in the face.
Shen Weiwan bent down to pick up the pendant, her fingertips brushing the cinnabar dot on the phoenix's feather.
It was carved by Xiao Jingyuan himself for her sixteenth birthday.
That day, the young man had breathed on his hands to warm them in the snow of the plum garden, carving each stroke carefully: "The phoenix seeks the phoenix. The cinnabar on its tail—it's the mole between your eyebrows."
Now, the jade remained, but the person had become unrecognizable.
Liu Qingyao threw herself forward, tears streaming: "Cousin, don't be angry! I… I only took it reluctantly, afraid of making Brother sad…"
She reached out to grab Shen Weiwan's sleeve, but before her fingertips could touch it, Shen Weiwan had stepped aside to avoid her.
"Reluctantly?" Shen Weiwan's voice was very soft, but every word was clear. "If you really took it reluctantly, you wouldn't still be wearing it today."
She raised her hand, holding the jade pendant high and holding it up to the sunlight.
In the next moment, she swung her arm and threw it.
"Crack—"
The pendant smashed against the gold brick floor, breaking into three pieces.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Liu Qingyao screamed, scrambling to her knees and picking up the shards. Her fingertips were cut by the jade, drawing blood—making her look even more pitiful.
Shen Weiwan looked down at her, her voice cold as frost: "Cousin, since you like picking up things others don't want, these shards on the ground—consider them a wedding gift from me."
She raised her hand, and the servants stepped forward to take the chests.
"Take the gold away. Tell His Highness—dissolving the engagement is fine, but humiliation is not. The Shen family owes him nothing, and he is far from worthy of atoning for his wrongs."
Liu Qingyao's eyes were blurred with tears, but she dared not cry out again.
Behind her, one of the eunuchs stepped forward, his smile icy: "Miss Shen the Eldest, His Highness said that if you think the gift is too modest, we can add more."
Shen Weiwan shifted her gaze to the eunuch's face.
"Add more?" She chuckled. "Even if you add ten more chests, it won't buy back the Shen family's reputation. If His Highness is truly sincere, he should come in person, carrying thorns on his back to apologize."
The eunuch's smile froze.
Liu Qingyao crawled forward on her knees, grabbing the hem of Shen Weiwan's skirt: "Cousin, don't make things hard for Brother! He… he has his difficulties too."
Shen Weiwan bent down, her fingertips lifting Liu Qingyao's chin. Her voice was as gentle as a knife: "Cousin, were your difficulties that the pillow talk you whispered in the Prince's Mansion last night wasn't loud enough? Or that the poor-me act you're putting on at the Shen Mansion this morning isn't real enough?"
Liu Qingyao's face turned deathly pale, and tears hung on her eyelashes—she dared not let them fall.
Shen Weiwan stood up straight and ordered the servants around her: "See them out."
The servants stepped forward, lifting the people and the chests together to remove them.
Liu Qingyao stumbled a few steps, then turned back—there was a flash of venom in her tear-filled eyes.
"Cousin, you're being so heartless today. Don't regret it someday."
Shen Weiwan stood with her hands behind her back, her voice calm: "When I, Shen Weiwan, do something, I never look back."
The vermilion gate slammed shut, locking the Prince's golden carriage, the sandalwood chests, and the willow-like, delicate figure outside.
Silence fell over the hall.
Slanting sunlight streamed in, and the broken jade shards glinted coldly in the dust—like a silent curse: "Deep affection does not last."
Shen Weiwan bent down, picking up the largest shard. Her fingertips brushed the cinnabar dot.
After a long moment, she let go, and the shard fell into the brocade box that Atan held out.
"Keep it," she said.
"Yes, miss."
"Tomorrow, take it with me to the palace."
Atan looked up. The young woman's profile was bathed in the morning light—sharp and unyielding, like a sword just drawn from its sheath.
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第四章:你善妒,我何错之有?翻译为 EnglishChapter 4: You're the Jealous One—What Wrong Have I Done?The imperial carriage had just rolled past the Meridian Gate when a sharp voice cut through the morning quiet.
"Shen Weiwan! Stop right there!"
Shen Weiwan, who was adjusting the sash of her plain dress, paused. She lifted the carriage curtain and saw Xiao Jingyuan striding over, his crimson prince's robe fluttering with his anger. His eyes, usually filled with a warm smile, were now cold and sharp—fixed on her like blades.
Liu Qingyao followed closely behind him, half-hiding behind his sleeve. Her eyes were red and puffy, and there were faint scratch marks on her wrist—obviously made to look like she'd been wronged. When she saw Shen Weiwan, she shrank back even more, as if frightened.
Xiao Jingyuan stopped in front of the carriage, his voice thundering: "You dared to smash the jade pendant I gave you? You dared to humiliate Qingyao in front of everyone? Shen Weiwan, have you always been this jealous and petty?"
Shen Weiwan stepped down from the carriage slowly. The morning breeze ruffled the hem of her dress, but her posture remained straight—like a pine tree standing firm against the wind. She looked at Xiao Jingyuan calmly, her voice clear and steady: "Jealous? Your Highness, let's talk about 'jealous...
[卯末,日色惨白,沈府正厅剑拔弩张] 辰时三刻,沈府朱漆大门"砰"然巨响. 一匹玄黑马扬蹄跃过门槛,铁蹄踏碎满地残红.马上之人蟒袍玉带,正是三皇子萧景渊.他翻身落地,衣摆卷风,眉目阴沉得像六月暴雨前的天. 厅内众人尚未反应,他已抬手,一鞭子抽碎门口那对描金喜灯. "沈微婉!" 怒喝如雷,震得梁上灰尘簌簌落. 柳清瑶正跪坐在玉佩碎片旁,指尖血迹未干,听到这声呼唤,眼泪立刻决堤. "景渊哥哥..." 她挣扎起身,脚下踉跄,恰到好处地扑进萧景渊怀里. 萧景渊低头,只见她掌心被碎玉割得血痕交错,心疼与怒火瞬间交织. "谁伤的你?" 柳清瑶怯怯望向沈微婉,似惧似怨. 这一眼,胜过千言万语. 萧景渊抬眸,目光如刀,直指沈微婉. "沈微婉,你为何如此歹毒?清瑶好心赔罪,你竟逼她下跪,碎她玉佩!" 厅内沈家众人面面相觑. 沈微婉端坐主位,连睫毛都未颤一下. "殿下口中的'赔罪',是指抬着两箱黄金,戴着我的定情玉佩,上门耀武扬威?" 她声音清冷,字字清晰,像琉璃坠地,叮当作响. 萧景渊被噎得一滞,旋即冷笑:"妒妇!我与清瑶情投意合,你占着婚约不放,才是小人!" 沈微婉慢慢起身,一步一步走下台阶. 素色裙摆扫过碎玉,发出细微脆响. "殿下可还记得,三年前沈家蒙冤,是谁在御书房外跪了三天三夜,替你挡下弹劾折子?" 她停在萧景渊面前,目光平静,却逼得他不由自主后退半步. "又是谁,在边关大雪中,把最后一件狐裘披在你身上,自己却冻到昏迷?" 萧景渊眸光微闪,薄唇抿紧. "沈家危难,你以婚约为盾,护我满门;如今沈家刚喘口气,你转身迎娶旁人——" 沈微婉扬声,清音里带笑,却笑比冰寒,"殿下告诉我,善妒二字,究竟该刻在谁脸上?" 厅外,看热闹的百姓越聚越多. 有人探头,有人私语,有人举起手机偷偷直播—— "昔日京都第一贵女,竟被当众骂妒妇?" "三皇子也太不要脸了吧!" 舆论如潮,萧景渊脸色青白交错. 柳清瑶瑟缩在他怀里,泪珠滚落,却无人再为她心疼. 沈微婉抬手,阿檀捧上一只紫檀木匣. 匣盖掀开,厚厚一沓文书整齐码放. "殿下口口声声情投意合,不如让诸位听听,何谓'两情相悦'?" 她随手抽出一页,展开,是萧景渊写给柳尚书的密信: "...沈氏已不足为惧,待孤迎娶令嫒,必保柳氏满门荣华." 字迹铁画银钩,赫然是萧景渊亲笔. 厅内哗然. 萧景渊瞳孔骤缩,伸手欲夺. 沈微婉却后退一步,声音陡然拔高: "殿下急什么?后面还有更精彩的." 她再抽一页,是柳清瑶的亲笔小像,背后题着一行小楷: "愿为殿下妾,不做沈家妇." 落款日期,赫然是两年前——那时,沈微婉还在为萧景渊绣嫁衣. "殿下指责我善妒?" 沈微婉轻笑,笑意不达眼底. "我若不妒,怎成全你与柳小姐的狼心狗肺? 我若不妒,怎叫天下人看清,所谓天家贵胄,也不过是背信弃义之徒?" 她转身,面向沈家众人,声音清越: "今日,我沈微婉以沈氏列祖之名起誓—— 与萧景渊,恩断义绝,至死方休!" "好!" 厅外,不知谁先喊了一声. 接着,百姓齐声附和,声浪直冲云霄. 萧景渊脸色铁青,额角青筋直跳. 他做梦也没想到,自己费心营造的"受害者"形象,竟在顷刻间土崩瓦解. 柳清瑶见势不妙,突然"噗通"一声跪倒,膝行几步,抱住沈微婉小腿. "表姐,都是瑶儿的错! 你要打要骂,冲我来...只求你放过景渊哥哥!" 她哭得梨花带雨,指尖却悄悄掐进沈微婉皮肉. 沈微婉垂眸,眼底掠过一丝冷意. 她抬手,看似去扶,袖口寒光一闪. 下一瞬,柳清瑶只觉腕间一凉,那枚偷偷藏着的小金剪已落入沈微婉掌心. "表妹这招苦肉计,剪子都备好了?" 沈微婉声音极低,仅两人可闻. 柳清瑶哭声骤停,脸色惨白. 就在萧景渊进退维谷之际,府外一声高喝—— "靖安王到!" 玄色蟒袍掠过门槛,萧玦负手而入,身后铁甲侍卫雁翅排开. 厅内温度骤降. 萧景渊脸色微变,不得不躬身行礼:"王叔." 萧玦连眼角都未扫他,只望向沈微婉. 少女脊背笔直,素衣染血,却目光坚定. "本王昨日才说,沈家门楣不容践踏." 萧玦声音不高,却带金戈之声,"今日看来,有人把本王的话当耳旁风." 萧景渊额头渗出冷汗,强自镇定:"王叔,此乃孤与沈氏私事——" "私事?" 萧玦轻笑,笑意冷冽,"天子脚下,民心所向,便是国事." 他抬手,侍卫捧上一只鎏金黑匣. 匣盖掀开,竟是一份盖着玉玺的空白圣旨. "沈家既受委屈,本王自当讨个公道." 萧玦转向沈微婉,语声放缓,"沈姑娘,可愿随本王入宫,面圣陈情?" 沈微婉抬眸,眼底火光骤亮. "民女,求之不得." 萧景渊想阻拦,却被侍卫横刀拦住. 柳清瑶瘫坐在地,泪痕满面,却再无人看她一眼. 沈府大门缓缓阖上,将那对"苦命鸳鸯"关在门外. 门外,百姓山呼海啸—— "沈姑娘千岁!" "负心郎该死!" 而沈微婉知道,这只是开始. 真正的战场,在金銮殿上. 她整了整衣袖,指尖血迹未干,却笑得从容. "殿下,准备好接招了吗?"翻译为 English[At the end of the Mao hour (around 7 a.m.), the sun hung pale in the sky, and the main hall of the Shen Mansion crackled with tension like a drawn bowstring.]At the third quarter of the Chen hour (around 7:45 a.m.), a thunderous crash echoed as the vermilion-lacquered main gate of the Shen Mansion was thrown open.
A jet-black horse reared and leaped over the threshold, its iron hooves crushing the scattered red petals on the ground. The man atop it wore a python-patterned robe and a jade belt—none other than Third Prince Xiao Jingyuan. He swung down from the horse, the hem of his robe swirling with the movement, his brows and eyes as dark and menacing as the sky before a summer downpour.
Before anyone in the hall could react, he raised his hand and lashed out with a whip, shattering the pair of gilded wedding lanterns by the door.
"Shen Weiwan!"
His roar boomed like thunder, shaking dust from the beams above.
Liu Qingyao was kneeling beside the shards of the jade pendant, the blood on her fingertips still fresh. At the sound of his voice, tears instantly streamed down her face.
"Brother Jingyuan…"
She struggled to her feet, stumbled, and fell neatly into Xiao Jingyuan's arms.
Xiao Jingyuan looked down, and when he saw the crisscrossing bloodstains on her palm—cut by the broken jade—heartache and rage surged through him in an instant.
"Who hurt you?"
Liu Qingyao glanced 怯怯 at Shen Weiwan, her eyes a mix of fear and resentment.
That single look spoke louder than a thousand words.
Xiao Jingyuan lifted his gaze, his eyes sharp as blades, fixed directly on Shen Weiwan.
"Shen Weiwan, why are you so vicious? Qingyao came here with good intentions to apologize, yet you forced her to kneel and smashed her jade pendant!"
The members of the Shen family in the hall exchanged glances, stunned.
Shen Weiwan sat upright in the main seat, not even a tremor in her eyelashes.
"Your Highness calls this 'apologizing'? Arriving with two chests of gold, wearing my token of betrothal, and flaunting your arrogance at my door?"
Her voice was cold and clear, each word ringing out like pieces of glazed jade falling to the ground.
Xiao Jingyuan was left speechless for a moment, then sneered: "A jealous woman! Qingyao and I are truly in love. You clinging to this engagement like a leech—you're the petty one!"
Shen Weiwan stood up slowly and walked down the steps one by one.
The hem of her plain skirt brushed against the broken jade, making a soft, crisp sound.
"Your Highness, do you remember? Three years ago, when the Shen family was wrongfully accused—who knelt outside the Imperial Study for three days and three nights, shielding you from the impeachment memorials?"
She stopped in front of Xiao Jingyuan, her gaze calm yet intense enough to make him step back half a pace involuntarily.
"And who, in the heavy snow at the border, draped their last fox fur over you, while they themselves froze unconscious?"
Xiao Jingyuan's eyes flickered, and he pressed his lips into a tight line.
"When the Shen family was in danger, you used this engagement as a shield to protect my entire clan. Now that the Shen family has barely caught its breath, you turn around and marry someone else—"
Shen Weiwan raised her voice, her clear tone laced with a laugh, but that laugh was colder than ice. "Your Highness, tell me—who truly deserves to be branded as 'jealous'?"
Outside the hall, more and more onlookers had gathered.
Some craned their necks to peek, some whispered among themselves, and others held up their phones to livestream secretly—
"The once-famous top noble lady of the capital… being publicly called a jealous woman?"
"The Third Prince is shameless!"
Public opinion surged like a tide. Xiao Jingyuan's face flushed red, then paled.
Liu Qingyao huddled in his arms, tears rolling down her cheeks, but no one felt sorry for her anymore.
Shen Weiwan raised her hand, and Atan stepped forward carrying a red sandalwood box.
When the lid was lifted, a thick stack of documents was neatly arranged inside.
"Your Highness keeps talking about 'true love'—why not let everyone hear what this 'mutual affection' really is?"
She pulled out a page at random, unfolded it, and revealed a secret letter written by Xiao Jingyuan to Minister Liu:
"…The Shen family is no longer a threat. Once I marry your daughter, I will ensure the Liu clan's prosperity and glory for generations."
The handwriting was bold and forceful—undoubtedly Xiao Jingyuan's own.
An uproar erupted in the hall.
Xiao Jingyuan's pupils contracted sharply, and he reached out to snatch the letter.
But Shen Weiwan stepped back, her voice suddenly rising:
"Your Highness, why the hurry? There's more to come—even more exciting."
She pulled out another page: a small portrait painted by Liu Qingyao herself. On the back, a line of delicate small characters was inscribed:
"I would rather be Your Highness's concubine than the wife of the Shen family."
The date signed at the bottom was clearly two years ago—back when Shen Weiwan was still embroidering Xiao Jingyuan's wedding robe.
"Your Highness accuses me of being jealous?"
Shen Weiwan chuckled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"If I weren't jealous, how could I have 'helped' you and Miss Liu reveal your ruthless hearts?
If I weren't jealous, how could I let the world see that even members of the imperial family are nothing but faithless traitors?"
She turned to face the Shen family members, her voice clear and resonant:
"Today, in the name of the Shen ancestors, I, Shen Weiwan, swear—
My bond with Xiao Jingyuan is severed, forever and ever, until death do us part!"
"Well said!"
Outside the hall, someone shouted first.
Then, the crowd joined in, their voices rising like a roar into the sky.
Xiao Jingyuan's face turned ashen, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
He had never dreamed that the "victim" image he had so carefully crafted would collapse in an instant.
Seeing the situation turn against her, Liu Qingyao suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud, crawled forward a few steps, and clung to Shen Weiwan's calves.
"Cousin, it's all my fault!
Hit me, scold me—do whatever you want… just please spare Brother Jingyuan!"
She cried so hard her face was streaked with tears, but her fingertips secretly dug into Shen Weiwan's flesh.
Shen Weiwan looked down, a flash of coldness passing through her eyes.
She raised her hand, pretending to help her up—then a glint of cold light flashed from her sleeve.
In the next moment, Liu Qingyao felt a chill on her wrist, and the small gold pair of scissors she had hidden was suddenly in Shen Weiwan's palm.
"Cousin, you even prepared scissors for your 'self-harm trick'?"
Shen Weiwan's voice was so low that only the two of them could hear.
Liu Qingyao's sobs cut off abruptly, and her face turned deathly pale.
Just as Xiao Jingyuan was caught between advancing and retreating, a loud shout rang out from outside the mansion—
"Prince Jing'an has arrived!"
A black python-patterned robe swept over the threshold. Xiao Jue walked in with his hands behind his back, and the armored guards behind him lined up in a formation like wild geese spreading their wings.
The temperature in the hall dropped sharply.
Xiao Jingyuan's face changed slightly, and he had no choice but to bow respectfully: "Royal Uncle."
Xiao Jue didn't even glance at him out of the corner of his eye; his gaze fell only on Shen Weiwan.
The young woman stood with a straight back, her plain clothes stained with blood, yet her eyes were firm and unwavering.
"Just yesterday, I said that the honor of the Shen family shall not be trampled on,"
Xiao Jue's voice was not loud, but it carried the clang of weapons. "It seems today, someone has taken my words as wind in their ears."
Sweat broke out on Xiao Jingyuan's forehead, but he forced himself to stay calm: "Royal Uncle, this is a private matter between me and the Shen family—"
"Private?"
Xiao Jue chuckled, his laugh cold. "Beneath the Emperor's rule, the will of the people is a matter of state."
He raised his hand, and a guard stepped forward carrying a black box inlaid with gold.
When the lid was lifted, it revealed a blank imperial edict stamped with the Emperor's jade seal.
"The Shen family has been wronged, and I shall seek justice for them,"
Xiao Jue turned to Shen Weiwan, his tone softening slightly. "Miss Shen, would you be willing to accompany me to the palace and present your case to His Majesty?"
Shen Weiwan looked up, a bright flame suddenly igniting in her eyes.
"Your servant would be honored."
Xiao Jingyuan tried to stop them, but a guard blocked his path with a sword.
Liu Qingyao collapsed onto the ground, her face covered in tears—but no one spared her a glance anymore.
The main gate of the Shen Mansion slowly closed, shutting the "tragic lovers" outside.
Outside, the crowd cheered like a storm—
"Long live Miss Shen!"
"Death to the faithless man!"
And Shen Weiwan knew: this was only the beginning.
The real battlefield lay in the Golden Luan Hall.
She straightened her sleeves, the blood on her fingertips still fresh, yet she smiled calmly.
"Your Highness, are you ready to face what's coming?"