Volume 1, Chapter 4: An Eye for an Eye

Amidst the silent group, Shen Yu was the first to regain her composure.

"It is indeed Yao Niang's fault," Shen Yu said, her eyes flickering as she masked her earlier look of disdain with a display of poise and grace. She turned to the woman who had fallen into the lake and instructed, "It is midwinter, and you are soaked through. Go back and change your clothes first. A-Le, go with her and see to her needs. Let this matter end here; do not say a word of this before Eldest Brother."

It seemed like she was playing the peacemaker, but in reality, she was using Shen Xu to suppress her. Shen Rong could not help but admire her cousin; the way she twisted words was truly impressive.

The second branch of the family had one son and one daughter, Shen Xu and Shen Yu. Three years ago, Shen Yu had spent a fortune to buy Shen Xu a position in the Huaiyang City Garrison. For the past three years, a steady stream of gold and silver had flowed from the Shen family into the Garrison Commander’s office, until this year, when Shen Xu finally managed to be promoted to a minor fifth-rank cavalry general. Calling him a general was a stretch; it was a small, inconsequential post that mostly involved patrolling the city and catching petty thieves and hoodlums.

Facing Shen Yu’s insinuation and the glares Shen Le kept casting her way, Shen Rong remained unmoved, treating them as if they were invisible.

Watching the drenched woman being led out of the courtyard, Shen Yu stepped forward and took Shen Rong’s hand. "A-Rong, let this matter be finished. Never mention it again. If Cousin Xie were to find out, he would surely rebuke you for being reckless."

Shen Yu laughed and chided, "You, really! Managing the household is not a game. If you wish to take charge, I shall begin teaching you tomorrow. However, it is a demanding task—it will take at least six months to a year, or perhaps three to five years. You cannot be a fair-weather worker, constantly thinking of running off to see Cousin Xie. I know he is highly sought after by the women of Huaiyang, but he is a man of integrity and would never be led astray by some harlot. Besides, he still has to consider you, his fiancée."

Shen Rong pulled her hand away and tucked it into her sleeve, scrubbing at her skin until it burned. Only then did she pull at the corner of her lips. She was almost moved by Shen Yu’s words—nearly tempted to run to Xie Xun’s side and stay there, abandoning all thoughts of household management.

Unfortunately, she was no longer the Shen Rong of her past life.

Facing the convoluted petty schemes of these inner-chamber women, Shen Rong suddenly felt exhausted.

She turned and walked into her bedroom. "The matter of household management can wait. There is something I need Eldest Sister’s help with right now."

There was no rush. She was waiting for the opportunity—the chance to make Shen Yu fall from her pedestal. Otherwise, the hatred in her heart would never be quenched.

Did she not care most about her reputation? If one day her mask were torn away, her hypocrisy fully exposed, and she were to become notorious, reviled by all—she wondered what expression she would wear then.

Shen Rong was no saint.

Shen Yu, smiling, believed she had Shen Rong firmly in her grasp. When it came to schemes, her straightforward cousin was no match for her; after all, she had been raised by her mother since childhood to be a lady of the capital, Yejing.

But when Shen Yu saw Shen Rong pull back the bedcovers to reveal a tall, imposing man lying there, she was left uncharacteristically stunned.

"A-Rong, you... last night... with him..." Shen Yu stammered. In the Great Zhao, women valued their reputation above all else, and the families they married into were equally strict about a woman's purity. If people were to find out...

A strange light flashed in Shen Yu’s eyes.

Shen Rong was infatuated with Xie Xun to the point of madness. If she held this leverage over Shen Rong, she would hold her life in her hands. From then on, the Shen family would be hers to command.

If she planned this well, she could buy a higher-ranking post for her brother, pave the way to Yejing, and rise along with him. Then, she would be qualified to seek a husband of even greater status, no longer suppressed by the noble ladies of Huaiyang or constrained by the second branch. Even the high-born ladies of Yejing would be within her reach.

Shen Rong did not miss the look on Shen Yu’s face; she knew exactly what her cousin was thinking.

"Eldest Sister, can you help me dispose of this man? I do not want Cousin to know." Shen Rong held her waist, speaking vaguely. "He suddenly burst into my room last night..."

Shen Yu’s gaze fell on Shen Rong’s waist, her expression subtle. "A-Rong, you trust me so much; I will certainly not fail you! I will help you keep this secret; no third person shall ever know you are no longer pure."

Shen Yu was completely immersed in her own fantasies. Hearing Shen Rong’s request, she agreed without a second thought, not even noticing the look of dark amusement in Shen Rong’s eyes. She eyed the tall, cold-featured man on the bed with his shirt half-open, thinking with disdain that her cousin certainly knew how to enjoy herself.

Why had she not seen through this woman’s intentions in her past life? It had been written all over her face.

Shen Rong’s lips curled. She would ensure that Shen Yu would never be able to recover from the very area she took the most pride in.

She brushed off the clearly over-excited Shen Yu and began her descent down the mountain.

Reborn, the person Shen Rong wanted to see most was her father, who had loved her dearly in both this life and the last.

However, the noblewomen who were supposed to stay for three days were also descending today. Along the way, she heard that for some unknown reason, after Master Kong Liao had observed the stars the previous night, he had suddenly gone into seclusion and refused to see any more guests.

At the thought of the old monk who did nothing but chant, Shen Rong shuddered and began to walk even faster.

She had died here in her past life. She did not like this place, nor did she like that old monk who dealt in mysteries. Who knew if he would drag her back to study her?

Other noblewomen descended in palanquins, their carriages waiting at the foot of the mountain, but she walked down the stairs with light steps. Every time she took a step down, she felt closer to her father and the vibrant, living Shen family. She wished, as she had imagined when she was a child, that she could grow a pair of wings.

However, as soon as she reached the bottom, she found her carriage hacked to pieces by some sharp weapon. The wheels had been removed, and even the horse was gone.

Among the rows of luxurious carriages, it looked like a pile of trash.

Would these people never end?

She didn't need to guess to know it was the work of that band of women who fancied Xie Xun.

"Is there no one here with the guts to admit they did this?" Shen Rong clearly felt that as soon as she spoke, countless eyes turned to her, though they pretended not to hear. Shen Rong’s gaze was cold. "If you cannot even be brave enough to admit your actions, what right do you have to compete with me? You are nothing but rats in a gutter!"

As she finished speaking, a girl in a pink dress with an air of distinction emerged from behind the carriages, surrounded by a group of women. All were around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in colorful, ornate finery that was quite a sight.

"It was me! So what? I am bestowing a lesson upon you—it is a favor, so come and kowtow to thank me!" Beside the girl in pink, another woman lifted her chin and said disdainfully.

A burst of laughter erupted from the group.

"A favor? I wonder if you can handle the favor I have for you..."

Suddenly, the laughter ceased. The group stared in terror as the girl in the yellow dress deftly drew the sword of a nearby guard and charged straight at them.

Before they could react, a whistling sound cut through the air, followed by a loud, splintering crash.

The crowd looked toward the sound in shock. A carriage lay in pieces on the ground! Looking closely, was it not the carriage of the noblewoman who had just admitted to the act?

Shen Rong led her remaining horse back to her own ruined carriage, sheathed the sword with a sharp click, and brushed the non-existent dust from her hands. "Now, we are even."

Shen Rong glanced curiously at the stoic guard nearby. She had drawn his sword and returned it, and he had only given her a glance at the start, remaining as still as a statue ever since.

She couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity about the modest carriage the guards were surrounding.

With guards so well-trained, the person inside could not be simple.

The noblewoman who had just realized what happened began to scream in terror at the sight of her destroyed carriage and the way Shen Rong had brandished the sword. Soon, she collapsed to the ground, wailing, and the expressions of the other noblewomen turned sour.

"You dare offend me? Do you know who I am?" Seeing her companion bullied, the girl in pink, who stood at the front, squinted at Shen Rong with immense arrogance.

"I don't know!" Shen Rong answered flatly and waved her hand. "I am going home. You lot should head back too—if you leave now, you might still make it for breakfast!" Standing here arguing with her at the crack of dawn—didn't they find the temple's vegetarian fare hungry work?

Of course, she knew who the girl in pink was. She was Qin An’an, the younger sister of the Huaiyang Garrison Commander. In her past life, when she had been trapped in the Garrison Commander’s residence, she had received plenty of cold stares from this woman. But what did that matter? Even if her brother, Qin Ying, were here, she would have hacked that carriage just the same.

"You... Shen Rong! Do not be ungrateful!" Qin An’an was furious; having always been treated like the center of the universe, she had never been treated with such indifference.

"And what if I am ungrateful?" Shen Rong’s temper flared, and she felt utterly impatient.

Was it really so hard to just go home?