The crimson gown accentuated her breathtaking beauty, outshining all others with unparalleled grace and elegance.
From the moment she stepped into the grand hall, this palace banquet was destined to become her stage.
Like a phoenix reborn from ashes, she soared to the heavens.
…
The grand banquet officially commenced.
Musicians played, dancers twirled, and exquisite delicacies flowed into the hall like a stream. The air was filled with the aroma of fine wine, creating a scene of harmony and festivity.
Yet the atmosphere in the hall remained subtly tense.
All eyes drifted involuntarily toward that crimson figure, unable to look away.
Su Manrou sat beside Xiao Jingyuan, feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles. The anger in her heart burned so fiercely it threatened to scorch her chest.
How could she forget?
In Jiangnan, it was this woman—posing as Shen Gongzi—who had set a trap, swindling her of three hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver, leaving her bankrupt and utterly humiliated!
Now, transformed into a beauty in crimson, she had stolen the spotlight the moment she entered the palace, even captivating Xiao Jingyuan’s attention.
Old grudges and new grievances surged within Su Manrou, and she could no longer contain herself.
She abruptly clenched her wine cup, her eyes stripped of all pretense, revealing only venom and malice.
Before Xiao Jingyuan could stop her, she rose sharply, her skirts rustling as she strode directly toward Shen Miao.
This time, there was no trace of feigned courtesy in her smile. Her words dripped with biting sarcasm from the very start:
“I wondered who could command such attention, drawing the eyes of everyone in the hall. So it’s the Shen Gongzi from Jiangnan.”
“When you swindled me out of three hundred and twenty thousand taels in Jiangnan, weren’t you quite the spectacle? How is it that in the capital, you’ve suddenly turned deaf and mute?”
Her words instantly stirred a wave of murmurs throughout the hall.
Three hundred and twenty thousand taels?
This Miss Shen actually had such a history with Su Manrou?
Shen Miao lifted her gaze, sweeping a cool glance over Su Manrou. She remained seated, merely tapping the rim of her cup with a fingertip, her tone icy: “Miss Su has quite the memory, still recalling those three hundred and twenty thousand taels.”
“That was the penalty you deserved for bullying others and sending people to vandalize Nianqing Ge. Yet in your words, it’s become me swindling you?”
With a single sentence, she exposed Su Manrou’s unreasonable accusations.
Su Manrou’s face paled, then flushed with rage. Her voice rose sharply: “Don’t you dare twist the truth here! If you hadn’t schemed against me, why would I have paid you such an exorbitant sum for no reason?”
“A merchant of unknown origins from Jiangnan, and you dare put on airs in the imperial palace? Do you think just because His Majesty favors you, you can look down on everyone?”
She took a step forward, almost pointing at Shen Miao’s face as she berated: “Let me tell you, don’t think that changing into a red dress and putting on a show can hide your despicable tricks!”
“You may have schemed against me in Jiangnan, but here in the capital, with the Marquis present, just try laying a finger on me!”
The surrounding guests watched in shock. No one had expected Su Manrou to be so ruthless, tearing off all pretense in public.
Xiao Jingyuan’s expression darkened. He was about to rise and intervene, but it was already too late.
Shen Miao slowly set down her teacup, her gaze growing colder by the second.
She stood up, her crimson gown sweeping the floor, her presence instantly overwhelming Su Manrou’s. Her voice was clear and measured, each word deliberate: “Miss Su, shouting and making a scene in the palace—are you not satisfied with how much face the Jing’an Marquisate has already lost?”
“Those three hundred and twenty thousand taels—you committed the wrongdoing first and accepted the penalty afterward. The authorities have records, and merchants bear witness. Even if you try to deny it, you cannot.”
“As for whether I look down on others—”
She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowered yet clear enough for those nearby to hear, carrying a bone-chilling coldness: “At least I act openly and honorably, unlike some who rely on flattery and climbing over others, stepping on the corpse of the former marquise to ascend.”
“Even now, without a proper title, you dare to put on the airs of the mistress in front of me.”
“You—” Su Manrou trembled with rage.
“What about me?” Shen Miao’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. “Was I wrong?”
“The former marquise’s body is not yet cold, and you are already eager to flaunt gold and silver, parading your power at the palace banquet.”
“Afraid others won’t know you pushed aside the rightful wife, impatient to take her place?”
“Shut up!” Su Manrou completely lost control, shrieking: “That bitch Shen Miao is long dead! She deserved it!”
“The marquis only has me in his heart. The position of mistress of the Marquis’s Mansion was always meant to be mine!”
As these words fell, the hall fell into dead silence.
…
After a moment of silence, the ceremonial music resumed, but it could not suppress the undercurrents swirling in everyone’s eyes.
Su Manrou was dragged back to her seat by Xiao Jingyuan, his face cold. She kept her head lowered the entire way, tears mingling with humiliation, yet she could only direct her hatred firmly toward Shen Miao.
Xiao Jingyuan returned to his seat, the chill around him almost tangible.
Su Manrou’s earlier words—”That bitch Shen Nianqing is long dead”—had pierced his heart like a needle.
He lifted his gaze, once again looking toward the figure in red.
The lamplight fell on her profile, outlining its cool and graceful lines. Every frown and smile resembled the person in his memory.
Yet her speech was sharp, her demeanor dignified, and her methods ruthless—so much so that even he had suffered a major setback in Jiangnan.
Was this truly the same person?
If so, why had she faked her death?
Why had she transformed into Shen Gongzi, scheming against him step by step?
Why… had she become so unfamiliar yet dazzling?
Demons of doubt swarmed in his heart, impossible to suppress.
Xiao Jingyuan picked up his wine cup, rose, and walked through the crowd, step by step, toward Shen Miao.
His footsteps were not heavy, yet they tightened the air around them abruptly.
Mu Jin instantly tensed, her hand resting on the short blade at her waist, her gaze as sharp as a knife.
Shen Miao looked up, her expression calm and unruffled, as if she had long anticipated his arrival.
“Shen Gongzi… I should address you as Shen Guniang now, Shen Guniang.” Xiao Jingyuan spoke, his voice deeper than usual, his gaze fixed firmly on her face, not missing a single expression. “Regarding today’s incident, my wife was out of line and disturbed you. I apologize on her behalf.”
“It’s nothing.” Shen Miao replied lightly, her tone distant yet proper. “At a palace banquet, a minor quarrel is not worth dwelling on.”
The calmer she was, the more turmoil churned in his heart.
“Shen Guniang’s methods in Jiangnan were quite remarkable.” Xiao Jingyuan spoke slowly, his probing intent plain. “The cotton market scheme remains fresh in my memory to this day.”
Shen Miao looked up at him, a slight curve at the corner of her lips. “The marketplace is like a battlefield; each relies on their own abilities. If the marquis was outmatched, must you blame your opponent for being too ruthless?”
Her words, neither soft nor hard, pushed back directly.
Several gazes turned toward them, carrying a sense of amusement.
Xiao Jingyuan’s throat tightened slightly, his gaze unconsciously drifting downward to the plain white jade bracelet on her wrist.
His heart jolted violently.
Exactly the same.
The bracelet Shen Nianqing had worn since childhood was of the same style, the same jade color, equally unremarkable, yet never parted from her.
“That bracelet of yours is rather unique.” His voice grew slightly hoarse.
“A memento from my mother.” Shen Miao gently stroked the jade bracelet, her tone indifferent. “I’ve worn it for many years; it’s become a habit.”
Mother’s relic…
Four words, lightly spoken, yet they stirred a tempest in Xiao Jingyuan’s heart.