Chapter 5: Clashing Blades

Shen Miao did not move.
Shock rippled through the room. Shen Xin was always at war. Shen Miao had been raised under Old Madam's hand—strict, timid, never defiant. Today she stood?
So Prince Ding could give her courage after all?
"Grandmother, Fifth Daughter doesn't know her crime." Shen Miao's voice was calm.
"Has Fifth Sister lost her mind from the fever?" Shen Yue spoke first, worry painted on her face. "Grandmother was angry in the moment—she doesn't truly mean to punish you. Admit fault and this ends cleanly. Why be stubborn?"
One sentence—and Shen Miao wore the charge of knowing her wrong and refusing it, disrespecting her elder.
"Insolent! You've gone mad!" Old Madam bolted upright, voice shrill. Shen Yuanbai, mid-bite on sugar steamed curd, dropped his snack and wailed.
"Don't cry, Seventh Brother," Ren Wanyun scooped up her son and turned on Shen Miao with disapproval. "Fifth Girl, have you lost your senses? Who taught you to talk back to your elders?"
Shen Miao looked at Ren Wanyun.
Second Madam was full-figured in blue cloud-brocade, rosy and fair, always smiling. She held the household keys. The whole manor called her just and fair—a model daughter-in-law.
Shen Miao had believed it once. At her wedding Shen Xin had loaded most of first branch's wealth into her dowry. By the time it reached Prince Ding's manor, almost nothing remained. Ren Wanyun had skimmed the valuables and swapped the shops. Shen Xin was away. Shen Miao married like a fool and ate contempt in the prince's house—all thanks to her "fair" aunt.
"Does Second Aunt also think Fifth Daughter is wrong?" Shen Miao said softly. "I still don't know what I did."
"Fool!" Old Madam couldn't hold back. "Shameless at your age—peeping at Prince Ding, disgracing the Shen name—and you dare argue with me? Who taught you manners? You're a disgrace!"
Shen Miao sighed inwardly. Old Madam loved her airs, but the moment she opened her mouth, the singer showed through. Which great house's matriarch screamed like a brothel madam? Last life Shen Miao hadn't seen it. After the throne, talking to Old Madam felt beneath her.
"Peeping at Prince Ding?" She tilted her head, puzzled. "What peeping?"
Shen Yue couldn't stay silent. "Fifth Sister, we know you admire Prince Ding—but falling in the water because you were spying on him shames the whole house. His Highness must be displeased. You should find a chance to apologize."
Admire Prince Ding. Apologize to Prince Ding. What woman wanted to lose face before the man she loved? Last life Shen Yue had said the same. Old Madam agreed. Shen Miao refused out of shame and was locked away.
One line—love for Prince Ding equals shamelessness, ruin your name and drag the clan down. Shen Yue looked gentle. Her mind was anything but. Shen Miao glanced at her.
Shen Yue had just spoken when Shen Miao looked over—those grape-dark eyes suddenly clear, as if holding some secret meaning. Shen Yue faltered.
Then Shen Miao's flat voice: "Second Sister, what admiration? You mustn't speak nonsense. I'm of age now. Words like that ruin a girl's reputation."
Shen Yue stared.
All the capital's nobility knew Shen Miao loved Prince Ding. She never said it outright, but never hid it either. Now she denied it?
She laughed. "Fifth Sister, we're family here—such things are natural—"
"Second Sister!" Shen Miao cut her off, sharp. "Second Sister, watch your tongue. Disaster comes from the mouth. Prince Ding is imperial blood. We are a military house—we must speak with care. I was young before and may have given offense. The pond was a lesson. I will guard my conduct. Please don't say such things again."
Not only Shen Yue—the whole room, Old Madam included, went still.
Shen Miao had always been soft, quiet, easy to push. When had she ever spoken like this?
Chen Ruoqiu's eyes flickered. Shen Yue was young—not as sharp as her mother. Chen came from a literary family, proud, never yielding. Seeing her daughter lose ground, she spoke soft as silk: "Whether there was admiration, only Fifth Girl can say. A girl's heart is hard to read. But Fifth Girl should hear your Third Aunt—your Second Sister isn't wrong. Prince Ding's rank is high. You ought to apologize."
"True." Old Madam recovered. "Tomorrow send a card to Prince Ding's manor. Apologize in person."
Shen Miao nearly laughed aloud. That line only fooled the girl she had been. A general's legitimate daughter—why kneel apology to a prince? Shen Xin's face would be mud. By tomorrow the capital would have fresh gossip.
She saw it clearly now. Old Madam hated first branch—the first wife's line. She wanted them shamed, broken. With Shen Xin and his wife away, Shen Miao was the pawn.
But the world didn't hand out free wins.
Shen Miao smiled and looked at Shen Qing, silent from the start. "Eldest Sister—you were the only one with me when I fell."
Shen Qing lifted her head and nodded, calm. She was ready. Shen Miao would accuse her of the push. Shen Qing wasn't afraid. Old Madam and Ren Wanyun ran this house. Shen Miao was a name without power—a girl no branch truly claimed. Deny everything and the elders would side with her. Then Shen Miao would lie, fall from favor, be punished hard. Good. Who did this crude fool think she was, competing for Prince Ding? Should have drowned that day!
"Eldest Sister—did you see Prince Ding that day too?" Shen Miao asked—not what Shen Qing expected.
"I did," Shen Qing said.
"Then it's settled." Shen Miao shook her head. "Eldest Sister and I were playing by the pond. I slipped in. Prince Ding happened to pass the Shen manor on his way to ask Second Uncle for a painting—that's all. If I were spying on him, where would I get word? Second and Third Uncle's pages don't carry messages to the inner quarters. How would I know Prince Ding would come suddenly for a scroll? Unless I saw the future—or…" Her voice slowed. "Unless Prince Ding sent our house an invitation?"
Shen Qing didn't understand the drift and frowned to argue—
"Eldest Miss!" Ren Wanyun suddenly snapped, panic naked in her voice.
Shen Miao glanced at Ren Wanyun's white face and Chen Ruoqiu's tight expression. Smiled.
As she thought—too many sharp minds in this house not to hear it.
Prince Ding's visit had been chance—a chess wager with Shen Gui, come to collect a painting.
Now Shen Miao spoke of an invitation sent in advance… The emperor hated closeness between ministers and princes. An invitation—about what? The next heir?
Ears everywhere. Who knew if the throne had eyes inside the Shen manor? Some words could not be said.
One sentence—from a girl's virtue to a minister's loyalty. Shen Xin was in the northwest, safe. Shen Gui and Shen Wan still served at court.
Shen Yue and Shen Qing might not grasp it. Ren Wanyun and Chen Ruoqiu certainly did.
Shen Miao laughed coldly inside. They wanted to trample her name? She would bet Shen Gui and Shen Wan's heads. Would her aunts understand? Would they pay the price? Would they dare?