Mother Shen was slightly surprised that her daughter agreed to the marriage so quickly. She had thought it would take a couple more days to get a response.

However, since she agreed, it was a good thing. Mother Shen was in a rare good mood and granted the young woman’s wish, canceling the marriage with the Marquis’s family.

Overnight, the news of the alliance between the Shen family and the Yin family spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. The last time the Shen family went to propose to the Yin family was almost two months ago, and everyone had almost forgotten about it. Now with this development, it caused the capital to boil over again.

Gossip had always been an indispensable part of the capital’s citizens’ mealtime conversations.

“I heard that the Yin young master is extremely handsome, not at all inferior to the number one beauty in the jianghu, Young Master Ming Yue.”

“Tsk tsk, with such looks and such wealth and power in the capital, that Miss Shen is truly blessed!”

“Hey, you shouldn’t say that. The Shen family has served as officials for generations, and Shen Daren is an important minister of the court with only one daughter. It could also be considered the Yin young master’s good fortune to marry into the Shen family.”

“It is indeed a match made in heaven between families of equal status, but I’ve seen that Miss Shen, she looks pretty too, it’s just… it’s just that she looks too young, from a distance I thought she was a young man!”

“That’s so true, hahaha…”

As they chatted, the group burst into laughter. Shen Yao Xing, listening from the second-floor elegant room, felt her face darken.

What do they mean by too young? This is the result of good maintenance!

If she had to be like those women with a body full of developed muscles, she might as well end her own life.

Catching sight of the man covering his mouth lightly from the corner of her eye, Shen Yao Xing’s face darkened even more.

“What’s so funny!”

If it weren’t for Mother Shen forcing her, she wouldn’t be bothered to come here and drink tea with him.

The man wore a moon-colored long robe, sitting by the window sipping tea lightly. The pleasure at the corners of his lips had not faded. He turned to meet the young woman’s gaze, ripples floating in the depths of his eyes: “Indeed a bit immature, not as robust as other women.”

“Heh, I’m so sorry for disappointing you then.” Shen Yao Xing sneered expressionlessly.

Jiang Ming Yue ignored the young woman’s sarcasm, his beautiful eyes staring straight at her until her expression became slightly unnatural. Then he slowly opened his lips: “Do you think the number one beauty in the jianghu looks better, or do I look better?”

Shen Yao Xing, who had just picked up a pastry and was chewing on it, was stunned by the man’s sudden flirtatious question. She inwardly sighed that the opportunity for revenge came as fast as lightning. She curved her lips into a smile and said maliciously: “Of course Young Master Ming Yue looks better. Have you looked in a mirror? How could your forced appearance compare to the number one beauty!”

Shen Yao Xing believed that the attack damage of these words could be said to be full marks. Any other man would surely be unable to bear it and cry.

Just as she was gleefully waiting for the man to shed golden beans so she could mock him further, she saw that handsome face turn bright red. He bit his lower lip, his gaze darting around, not daring to land on her.

Jiang Ming Yue’s breath became slightly chaotic, his fingers fidgeting nervously together. His beautiful eyes had nowhere to land, finally settling on the tip of the young woman’s foot. His heart seemed about to jump out of his chest, a tingling sensation spreading from his spine.

A thousand beautiful words were not as good as this one compliment from the young woman.

This person… must have liked his appearance for a long time.

Just thinking about this, the blush on Jiang Ming Yue’s face deepened. His originally lazy posture was also retracted, sitting elegantly and properly.

What a weirdo, Shen Yao Xing couldn’t help but criticize. Is this the normal reaction someone should have after being stepped on? Even if he didn’t cry and whine, he should at least be angry enough to scold her.

Reality proved one thing: those who are good-looking, especially those who are as good-looking as this, probably all have abnormal psychology.

After a while, Jiang Ming Yue’s gaze returned to the young woman. Seeing her sitting there eating silently, he slightly pursed his lips, unable to hide his pleasure, and took the initiative to invite: “Tomorrow, accompany me to Meiyu Zhuang to take a look.”

“Not going.” Shen Yao Xing refused without thinking. She hadn’t even cleared up the poisoning incident yet, where would she find the leisure time to wander around with him?

A darkness flashed in the man’s eyes for an instant, then he remembered that this was not his own face. The gloom dissipated, and he looked at the young woman with light eyes for a while, his face calm and composed as he said softly: “If that’s the case, then I’ll personally pay a visit to Shen Daren.”

“Alright, I got it!” Shen Yao Xing’s eyes were resentful. This person seemed to have grasped her lifeline. Even if she didn’t want to agree, she would have to.

Jiang Ming Yue curved his lips in satisfaction: “Come to my residence tomorrow before Chen and Si hours to wait for me.”

Before Chen and Si hours? That means she would have to get up around seven o’clock when it’s not even fully light yet: “Why so early? Can’t it be later?”

“No.”

“……”

The man gave her no choice at all. Shen Yao Xing couldn’t be bothered to say more to him. After sending him back to his residence, she ran back home.

She had planned to hurry and take a nap during this time, but as soon as she returned to the courtyard, she saw the person who should have been resting in his room standing by the pond, his lonely figure even making people feel as if he might jump in at any moment.

“Elder brother?”

Song Si Nian, who was lost in thought, raised his pale face and turned to look at the young woman. His handsome face looked even more sickly in the sunlight.

Shen Yao Xing frowned and quickly walked over to pull him away from the edge of the pond, reproaching: “Your body hasn’t recovered yet, what are you doing out here in the wind!”

Song Si Nian’s weak body stumbled a bit as he was pulled, his eyes slightly lowered, gaze tightly fixed on the young woman’s face.

“Did you come here looking for me for something?” Shen Yao Xing asked. Seeing his face as pale as paper, she frowned even more: “Never mind, whatever it is, let’s talk after I send you back to your room.”

With that, she grabbed his arm and turned to walk out.

Song Si Nian allowed her to lead him for a while. Looking at the back of her black head, his pale lips moved slightly, his voice so faint it seemed it might scatter with the wind at any moment: “Zhao Zhao…”

“Hm?”

“You…” Song Si Nian covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice, his brow filled with desolation: “Did you really agree to the marriage with that Yin young master?”

“Mm, I agreed.”

The young woman answered lightly and without hesitation. Song Si Nian only felt darkness before his eyes. The pain piercing his palm barely kept him conscious until he returned to the courtyard and finally fainted.

……

Early the next morning, Jiang Ming Yue, who had slept lightly all night, sat in front of the bronze mirror before dawn. He stared fixedly at the face in the mirror, his fingers lightly caressing the tear mole under his eye.

For the first time, he felt grateful for being born so beautiful.

Recalling the young woman’s praise yesterday, he couldn’t help but raise a sweet smile.

After grooming and dressing, Jiang Ming Yue changed his appearance using poison insects. He sat at the writing desk with one hand propping up his chin, lowering his eyes to admire the inkstone the young woman had given him on the table.

His fingers caressed back and forth along the shape of the inkstone.

An hour later, the sun rose, and light from the carved window illuminated most of the bedroom.

Only where the man was sitting was the light dim. He was immersed in a dark corner, his dark pupils showing no light, staring motionlessly at the doorway like a sculpture.

Until the sun was high in the sky, a servant wearing gray-blue clothes entered to report: “Young Master, Miss Shen sent a message saying that Young Master Song is ill today and needs her care, so she can’t come.”

The room fell into dead silence, with a chill permeating the air.

The servant strongly resisted the urge to look up and see what was happening, his eyeballs only daring to look at the carpet to the side.

Jiang Ming Yue picked up the inkstone expressionlessly, his eyes like a dead pool of water, showing no ripples. Suddenly, a flash of crimson crossed the bottom of his eyes, and his fingers forcefully smashed the inkstone onto the carpet not far away, as if venting his anger.

The muffled sound frightened the servant, who withdrew his gaze. After a long while, he couldn’t help but steal another glance at the man, and quickly lowered his head when he met that sinister gaze.

After hesitating for a moment, the servant walked over in small steps and bent down to pick up the inkstone, but froze at the voice from above his head.

“Who allowed you to touch it?”

Looking up, he found that in an instant, the man had already come from the writing desk to his side, and somehow there was now a sword in his hand.

“Young- Young Master, I- I…” The servant was so frightened by the man’s chilling gaze that he couldn’t speak clearly.

Jiang Ming Yue’s eyes grew even more crimson, looking at him as if he were looking at a dead person. He slowly raised his hand to make a dismissive gesture.

As the person sighed in relief and retreated towards the door, he swung his sharp sword, coldly watching the servant’s body fall, blood splashing everywhere.

Jiang Ming Yue’s icy gaze slowly moved to the inkstone on the ground. He stood still holding the sword for a long while, and finally bent down to pick it up.

……

Shen Residence

Shen Yao Xing was sitting on the edge of the bed feeding medicine to Song Si Nian, whose condition had worsened. She couldn’t help but complain: “I’ve told you before, don’t wander around when you’re not well. If you catch a chill from the wind and it turns into a chronic illness, what then?”

Song Si Nian drank the medicinal soup she fed him in small sips, obediently letting her lecture him.

After finishing a bowl of medicine, Shen Yao Xing skillfully reached out with the back of her hand to touch his forehead. Only after confirming that the high fever had indeed subsided did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Putting the medicine bowl aside, Shen Yao Xing walked to a nearby soft couch. She sprawled on it like a puddle of mud, and once idle, couldn’t help but complain: “I don’t know if your father is really your biological father. You’re in this state and he hasn’t even come to see you today.”

All day long he only knows how to be jealous, not even caring about his son.

Song Si Nian’s expression was calm. He was long accustomed to Song’s behavior. Irrelevant people could no longer stir any waves in his heart. Only the young woman controlled all his emotions.

“Miss!”

Qing Shu, who ran in from outside, interrupted the young woman’s muttering. Shen Yao Xing glared at her and scolded in a low voice: “Why are you shouting so loudly!”

Qing Shu shrank her neck, secretly glancing at the blurry figure behind the pearl curtain. She cupped her hands around her mouth and lowered her voice: “Miss, Young Master Yin is now in the main hall talking business with the Madam. The Madam told you to go there quickly!”

“Huh?” Hadn’t she already sent someone to pass on a message to him?

A suppressed cough sounded from behind the pearl curtain, followed by the man’s weak voice: “Zhao Zhao, you should go over. Otherwise, mother will be angry.”

Shen Yao Xing nodded and said: “Then I’ll come back to see you later.”

When only he was left in the room, Song Si Nian called for A Qi who was waiting outside the door.