In the main hall of the Shen Mansion, the air was so heavy it could be wrung out like a wet cloth.The sleeve of Xiao Jingyuan's python-patterned robe still trembled slightly, his fingertips pale with a tinge of blue from gripping too tightly. Liu Qingyao huddled amid the broken jade shards, tears clinging to her eyelashes, about to fall yet refusing to drop. Every member of the Shen family held their breath—as if a single extra inhale would snap the already taut tension in the room.
Just then—
Boom!
A low, resonant voice rolled in from outside the door, like a clap of thunder on a winter night: "I'd like to see who dares to run amok in the Shen Mansion!"
The voice was not loud, yet it carried the icy chill of a northern border blizzard, shaking dust from the hall's beams.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Backlit by the light outside, a line of armored guards cleared the way, the tips of their black-tasseled spears glinting coldly. At the center stood a man in a black python-patterned robe, a black jade belt cinched around his waist, and fierce beast engravings on his shoulders that seemed ready to pounce. His face was sharp-angled, his brow bones chiseled, and his eyes were so dark they seemed to swallow all light.
Prince Jing'an, Xiao Jue.
The only Regent of the current dynasty, the Emperor's own younger brother, commander of the Northern Inspection Department, and bestowed by the late Emperor with the authority to "execute first and report later." Three years ago, in the northern border campaign, he had slaughtered a hundred thousand rebel soldiers—since then, even the wails of crying children would hush at the mention of his name.
He stepped over the threshold, his footsteps light, yet they felt like the march of a thousand troops.
Xiao Jingyuan's face flushed red, then paled. In the end, he bowed respectfully: "Royal Uncle."
Liu Qingyao's sobs caught in her throat. Her knees gave way, and she truly knelt on the ground.
Shen Weiwan's eyes remained calm, without a single ripple. She merely smoothed the folds of her sleeve and bowed in greeting: "Your servant's daughter, Shen Weiwan, pays her respects to Your Highness."
Xiao Jue glanced at her.
She wore a thin plain dress, traces of blood still visible on her, yet her back stood as straight as an unsheathed sword.
He looked away after just one glance, as if he had merely passed over a patch of snow.
"Third Prince," Xiao Jue's voice was flat, "yesterday at the morning court, you petitioned to cut the military funds of the Northern Inspection Department. Yet today, you have time to come to the Shen Mansion and flaunt your arrogance?"
A vein throbbed on Xiao Jingyuan's forehead: "This nephew is merely… handling a private matter."
"Private matter?" Xiao Jue let out a low laugh, but the amusement in it was bone-chilling. "The Emperor issued an imperial edict for your marriage, and the six wedding rituals haven't even been completed—yet you publicly broke off the engagement. The Censorate hasn't even opened an investigation, yet you're forcing this young lady to admit guilt. This 'private matter' is certainly quite grand."
Xiao Jue raised his hand, and a guard behind him stepped forward carrying a black box inlaid with gold.
When the lid was lifted, a roll of bright yellow imperial edict lay quietly on black velvet, coiled with dragon patterns, its jade rollers glowing.
"By the Emperor's oral decree—"
His voice was not loud, yet it sent everyone in the main hall dropping to their knees.
"The Shen family's daughter, Weiwan, is virtuous, filial, and a descendant of loyal martyrs. Having suffered an undeserved humiliation today, she is hereby granted permission to accompany Prince Jing'an into the palace to present her case to 朕 (this Emperor). Third Prince Xiao Jingyuan shall have his salary suspended for three months, be confined to his residence to reflect on his mistakes, and shall not leave without an imperial order. The Liu family's daughter, Qingyao, has acted improperly and shall be demoted to a commoner, and expelled from the capital immediately."
These few short sentences fell like blades, like thunder, like a sudden reversal of heaven and earth.
Xiao Jingyuan 猛地 looked up, bloodshot eyes blazing: "Royal Uncle! Father Emperor actually—"
"The edict has been issued," Xiao Jue cut him off, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If you resist the imperial order, the prison of the Northern Inspection Department awaits you at any time."
Liu Qingyao let out a shrill cry and threw herself at Xiao Jingyuan: "Brother Jingyuan, save me!"
But Xiao Jingyuan froze in place, not daring to even lift a finger.
Shen Weiwan lowered her eyes, hiding the faint sneer at the corner of her lips.
She had heard clearly—the edict only demoted Liu Qingyao to a commoner, not sentencing her to death. This was both a fig leaf for the imperial family and the last shred of dignity left to Xiao Jingyuan.
Xiao Jue turned around, his gaze falling on Shen Weiwan once again.
"Miss Shen, would you be willing to accompany me to the palace?"
Shen Weiwan looked up, their eyes meeting.
In that instant, it was as if she saw a cold blade slicing through the night amid a sky full of wind and snow.
She knelt slightly, her voice steady: "Your servant obeys the edict."
Armored guards cleared the way, and an ebony carriage drove out of the Shen Mansion.
The commoners at the alley entrance knelt on the ground, cheering "Long live Your Highness" in unison.
The carriage curtain fell, blocking out the noise.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Jue sat upright on the left, his black robe creased into a stern, cold line. Shen Weiwan sat on the right, her fingertips unconsciously brushing the edge of her sleeve.
"Afraid?" the man's deep voice broke the silence.
Shen Weiwan looked up, the faint light filtering through the gap in the carriage curtain reflected in her eyes: "What good would fear do?"
A barely perceptible curve lifted the corner of Xiao Jue's lips, a half-smile: "At the very least, those who know fear tend to live longer."
In the Golden Luan Hall, the imperial desk was piled high with memorials like a snowbank.
Emperor Xiao Lin paused his brush as he reviewed the memorials. Looking up, his gaze passed over the young lady kneeling below.
She wore plain clothes and had dark hair, a few strands of hair falling over her forehead—but they could not hide her clear, bright eyes.
"Shen Weiwan?"
"Your servant is here."
"I've heard that you publicly tore up the engagement dissolution letter. Is this true?"
Shen Weiwan kowtowed, her voice clear and resonant: "Your Majesty, it is true that the engagement was broken off, and true that I tore up the letter. But what I tore up was not the imperial edict—it was a private note from the Third Prince. Your servant is innocent, and the Shen family is even more innocent."
She looked up, her gaze meeting the Emperor's directly: "Your servant has only three requests—
First, please investigate and punish the Third Prince according to law for the crime of abandoning his fiancée to marry another;
Second, please thoroughly re-examine the wrongful case of the Shen family being falsely accused of colluding with enemies three years ago;
Third, please grant your servant the right to choose her own spouse."
Silence fell over the Golden Hall.
Emperor Xiao Lin narrowed his eyes. After a long moment, he suddenly let out a laugh: "What a bold request—to choose your own spouse."
He looked at Xiao Jue beside him: "What do you think, my younger brother?"
Xiao Jue bowed respectfully, his voice even: "Your Majesty, every word the Shen family's daughter has spoken is reasonable."
The Emperor's smile widened: "In that case, the matter of the broken engagement shall be jointly investigated by the Imperial Clan Court and the Supreme Court; the old case of 'colluding with enemies' shall be reopened by the Ministry of Justice. As for the third request—"
He paused, his gaze shifting between Shen Weiwan and Xiao Jue, "I grant it."
As the imperial edict was announced, an uproar swept through the entire court.
The Third Prince was confined to his residence, the Liu family's daughter was expelled, and not only was the Shen family not punished, they even regained their reputation.
But the most shocking news was—
The Emperor had personally granted the Shen family's daughter the right to choose her own spouse.
In the history of the imperial family, this was unprecedented.
As night fell deeply, the ebony carriage stopped at the side gate of the Shen Mansion.
Shen Weiwan stepped down, and the night wind ruffled the loose strands of hair by her ears.
Xiao Jue did not get off the carriage; he only lifted a corner of the curtain, his deep voice floating out: "Tomorrow at the Mao hour (around 5-7 a.m.), the Ministry of Justice will retrieve the case files. I will wait for you outside your mansion."
Shen Weiwan bowed: "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."
The carriage curtain fell, and the carriage disappeared into the night.
Shen Weiwan stood where she was, her palms slightly sweaty.
She understood clearly—
The case files in the Ministry of Justice held the life or death of the entire Shen family, and also contained the fatal evidence against Xiao Jingyuan.
And the legendary Prince Jing'an, who was said to stay out of factional strife, had already personally placed her on this chessboard.
At the end of the corridor, Atan came forward holding a lantern, lowering her voice: "Miss, the Old Madam has asked for you in the ancestral hall."
Shen Weiwan paused in her steps.
Inside the ancestral hall, her grandmother held a dragon-headed cane, her eyes sharp and piercing.
"Wan'er, do you understand the deeper meaning behind Prince Jing'an's actions today?"
Shen Weiwan lowered her eyes, her voice soft yet firm: "Granddaughter understands—
From today onward, neither the Shen family nor I have any way left to retreat."
Outside the window, the dark clouds parted, and a crescent moon hung in the sky, illuminating the sharp resolve in the young lady's eyes.