Her brows were like distant mountains veiled in mist, her eyes like cold stars reflecting moonlight. Her lips were red without rouge, her skin fair without powder. Clad in crimson robes that were neither seductive nor coquettish, she instead exuded an aura of noble elegance and unapproachable dignity.
On her wrist, the plain qingbai jade bracelet left by her mother swayed gently with her movements. The jade was warm and smooth, shimmering with a faint, soft glow under the sunlight. It appeared ordinary, yet concealed a past known to none.
Shen Miao raised her eyes to gaze at the vermilion palace walls, her gaze devoid of any timidity, only the calmness and sharpness born of having survived life and death.
Three years in the Marquis’s Mansion cage, several months of rebirth in Jiangnan—she had finally, once again, stepped into this man-eating imperial city.
Only this time, she was no longer the Shen Miao who could be trampled upon at will.
She was Shen Gongzi, who controlled caoyun in Jiangnan and possessed immense wealth.
She was the avenger who would soon stun the entire gathering with her crimson attire.
Mu Jin followed closely behind, dressed in dark green martial attire, her posture upright and her gaze sharp.
She exuded the cold, unique aura of a shadow guard, guarding Shen Miao’s side without leaving an inch.
“Miss, the palace guards are strict. The young master asked me to remind you to be cautious in your words and actions,” Mu Jin whispered in reminder.
Shen Miao gave a slight nod, her voice cool yet composed: “Today, I did not come to be cautious.”
What she wanted was the attention of all, was to reveal her sharp edge.
Was to make Xiao Jingyuan’s soul flee in terror the moment he laid eyes on her.
…
Not far away, another ornate gilded carriage slowly came to a halt, its curtain lifted.
Xiao Jingyuan wore a purple brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist. His face remained handsome, yet his brow carried a touch of gloom and weariness.
Three months ago, after the deficit of five hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver in Jiangnan, he returned to the capital only to encounter a fire in the treasury, impeachment by censors, the reduction of his military authority, and a three-year suspension of his salary. The Jing’an Marquisate was no longer as glorious as before.
Yet, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. He remained the Marquis of Jing’an of Dajing, a powerful noble who could not be ignored in the court.
By his side, Su Manrou was dressed in a pink embroidered crabapple blossom gown, adorned with a gold and kingfisher-feather headdress, bedecked with pearls and jade. With each step, she seemed to tread on lotus flowers, her eyes and brows brimming with pride and ostentation.
Today, she intended to outshine all others at the Palace Banquet as the new wife of the Marquis of Jing’an, solidifying her position as the mistress of the Marquis’s Mansion.
To let everyone know that she, Su Manrou, was the woman worthy of Xiao Jingyuan.
“Marquis, look at the sea of guests today. His Majesty has invited us to the banquet, surely he will regard us with special favor,” Su Manrou said, linking her arm with Xiao Jingyuan’s, her voice delicate and filled with anticipation.
Xiao Jingyuan gave a faint “hmm,” but his gaze unconsciously swept around, an inexplicable restlessness stirring in his heart.
For some reason, ever since returning from Jiangnan, that Shen Gongzi wearing the silver mask had lingered in his mind, unable to be dispelled.
That cool temperament, steady tone, even the posture of raising a hand—all resembled someone he had long buried.
Shen Miao.
This name was like a tiny thorn stuck in his heart, impossible to pull out, impossible to forget.
He shook his head, suppressing the distracting thoughts, and supporting Su Manrou, walked slowly toward Ninghua Hall.
…
The moment the two stepped through the hall’s entrance, they attracted the attention of everyone present.
“Look, it’s the Marquis of Jing’an and Miss Su.”
“I heard the Marquis intends to make Miss Su his principal wife. Today is likely their formal debut.”
“What a pity about the former Marchioness, so gentle and beautiful, yet she ended up drowning with her body lost…”
Whispers of discussion drifted into her ears, making the smile at the corner of Su Manrou’s lips deepen. She deliberately straightened her posture and tightened her grip on Xiao Jingyuan’s arm.
Xiao Jingyuan’s expression darkened slightly, but he did not push her away. Instead, he found a seat, picked up a wine cup from the table, and unconsciously rubbed its rim with his fingertips.
…
The chief eunuch of the Inner Palace Bureau stood before the steps of the hall’s entrance, holding a bright yellow name register. His clear, sharp voice rang out, echoing throughout the entire Ninghua Hall:
“From Jiangnan—Shen Gongzi, arrives—”
As the announcement fell, a low stir instantly swept through the hall!
“Shen Gongzi?”
“The one who controls Jiangnan’s caoyun, founded Nianqing Ge, and was personally summoned by His Majesty—the wealthiest merchant in Jiangnan, Shen Gongzi?”
“I’ve heard this person always wears a silver mask, mysterious and unpredictable, ruthless in his methods. Even Jing’an Hou suffered a major setback at his hands!”
“I also heard Shen Gongzi is backed by the Water Transport Guild. I wonder if Young Master Zhao from the guild will come today as well.”
“Haven’t you heard? There’s trouble on the northern canal. The Water Transport Guild is in chaos. I doubt Young Master Zhao will make it.”
“Enough talk—quick, let’s see who this Shen Gongzi really is!”
In an instant, all the civil and military officials, noble daughters, and palace consorts in the hall lifted their eyes toward the entrance, their faces filled with curiosity, awe, and scrutiny.
Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the true face of Shen Gongzi, who had stirred up half of Jiangnan and whom even the nobility of the capital dared not underestimate.
Su Manrou also raised her head slightly, a trace of disdain curling at the corner of her mouth.
In her view, this so-called Shen Gongzi was merely a wealthy merchant with some silver. How could he compare to her, the future mistress of the Marquis’s Mansion?
She was eager to see what kind of monster this Shen Gongzi was, capable of making Xiao Jingyuan suffer repeated setbacks.
Xiao Jingyuan’s fingers tightened abruptly.
Shen Gongzi…
The one who had schemed against him in Jiangnan, causing him to lose five hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver—the Shen Gongzi he loathed to the bone yet could not uncover the background of?
He was actually attending the Palace Banquet today?
Under the gaze of everyone present—
A faint commotion suddenly arose outside the hall.
All eyes turned toward the entrance in unison.
A figure in red robes stepped slowly into Ninghua Hall.
One step, two steps, three steps.
The red skirt trailed along the floor, its woven gold cloud patterns shifting with each step like a blazing flame, instantly illuminating the entire hall.
The woman stood tall and straight, her gait composed, without a trace of timid hesitation or the deliberate flattery of noblewomen. An aura of noble detachment and disdain for the world surrounded her.
She wore no mask, her true face fully exposed under the daylight.
Her features were exquisitely painted, yet unlike the delicacy of ordinary women, they carried a sharp, commanding elegance. Her gaze flowed with a chill like frost, yet burned as fiercely as fire.
Two extreme temperaments blended perfectly within her, making it impossible for anyone to look away after just one glance.
And the moment they clearly saw that face—
The entire Ninghua Hall fell dead silent.
So quiet one could hear a pin drop.
All conversation, laughter, and discussion ceased abruptly.
Every civil and military official in the hall froze, their eyes wide with shock, their faces etched with the same thought: Shen Gongzi… is a woman?
And… that face…
Noblewomen covered their mouths.
Young masters forgot to breathe.
Even the Emperor on the high seat abruptly straightened his posture, astonishment and amazement exploding in his eyes.
No one had expected—
That mysterious Shen Gongzi, who could turn the clouds with one hand and rain with the other, monopolizing the caoyun of grain and cotton in Jiangnan, and causing Xiao Jingyuan to suffer repeated crushing defeats, was actually a stunningly beautiful woman!
And this face…
…
The contempt and smugness on Su Manrou’s face froze completely the moment she clearly saw Shen Miao’s appearance.