Volume 1 Chapter 5 Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

"An'an, she doesn't even hold you in any regard. In future banquets, you must drive this shameless thing out; she lowers our standards for no reason!"

"I truly don't understand why Young Master Xie would betroth himself to her. As the daughter of a mere merchant, how could she compare to you, An'an? It’s truly a toad paired with a swan!" another woman beside Qin An'an added with venom.

"I heard she has traveled far and wide with Boss Shen since she was a child. Could it be she learned some vixen-like tricks somewhere? Otherwise, how could she have caught Young Master Xie's eye?"

The first woman, upon hearing this, wiped away her tears and stared intensely at Shen Rong. "Speak! What kind of vixen tricks did you use!"

"Exactly! Tell us how you bewitched Young Master Xie!" The group of women all glared at Shen Rong.

Shen Rong realized this was their true purpose today and the topic they cared about most. It was likely not just them, but people across the entire Huaiyang City who were still wondering why Xie Xun, who could easily marry a noble lady like Qin An'an, would lower his status to become the Shen family’s live-in son-in-law.

They did not know that Xie Xun had grand ambitions.

Shen Rong chuckled. "Naturally, it’s because of this beautiful face of mine! But... he is just a man. Whoever among you likes him, feel free to take him."

"As for me, Shen Rong... I don't care for him at all." Her voice was soft, as if she were comforting the other Shen Rong from a parallel world—the foolish girl who had given everything for Xie Xun in her past life.

When these words left her lips, many people gasped in disbelief. The audacity was staggering. A mere merchant—who gave her such courage and gall?

That was the Xie family of Jincheng. Even if they were not the main branch of the Lushan Xie clan, the name "Xie" was a prestigious one. A lowly merchant's daughter actually looked down upon a scion of a noble family! She spoke of him as if he were a mere object to be discarded! Not to mention she was technically his fiancée! Such language—where did it leave Xie Xun?

"Sisters, this wretch thinks far too highly of herself! Let’s teach her a lesson today. Let her know that just because she has a little money and is Young Master Xie’s fiancée, she shouldn't think she can act so recklessly. Does she not see who runs Huaiyang City?" The lead woman marched forward aggressively and swung a slap at Shen Rong.

*A shrew, nothing more,* Shen Rong thought.

She easily dodged to the side, pushed away the woman’s arm, and finally lost her temper. "Have you had enough? Don't think that my past tolerance meant I was afraid of you!"

"You ungrateful wretch, I am going to teach you a lesson today!" Having missed and stumbled due to her own momentum, the woman was humiliated and furious. She lashed out at Shen Rong with both hands and feet.

Shen Rong instantly grabbed the woman’s wrist. With a slight application of force, the woman let out a piercing shriek—a sound so shrill it rivaled a slaughterhouse.

Shen Rong sneered. "My patience is limited... I have no interest in trading verbal barbs with you. You know I’m crude and lack manners, right? Well, I am perfectly capable of getting physical..."

Ignoring the woman’s pale, agonized face, she applied more pressure. She never struck easily, but when she did, she ensured the recipient would learn a lesson for a lifetime.

She intended to crush the woman’s wrist today so that every time she looked at it, she would remember Shen Rong and never dare to provoke her again.

Having lived a second life, she understood the current situation clearly: no one dared to touch her, at least not now! Xie Xun would be the first to stand in her defense. That was a weapon she could exploit!

She would start today by punishing these small-fry who bothered her every day.

"Shen Rong, you bitch! Let me go!" the young lady wailed in pain.

"Let her go! You nouveau riche, how dare you lay a hand on the Prefect’s daughter! If Prefect Bai finds out you hurt the eldest Miss Bai, he will never forgive you!" A woman standing nearby retreated in terror, stamping her feet and screaming at Shen Rong.

A crowd of noblewomen and ladies gathered to watch the spectacle, whispering, all eager to see how Shen Rong would end this.

Just as all eyes were fixed on her, a loud shout erupted from the perimeter: "How dare you cause trouble and harm a noble lady in this city! Watch out for my spear!"

A sharp, whistling sound tore through the air, heading straight for Shen Rong’s face. She stiffened and shoved the wailing noblewoman aside. It happened too fast to dodge; Shen Rong frowned, thinking she would have to take the hit and disgrace the master who had taught her martial arts since childhood.

Just as she raised her hand to block, a "clang" rang out—the long spear flying toward her was struck mid-air by something and sent spinning away!

Shen Rong whipped her head toward the carriage surrounded by guards, catching a glimpse of the still-swaying curtain.

"Who is so bold as to interfere with a General performing his duty!"

Shen Xu stumbled, leaning on his spear to steady himself. He moved to tear open the carriage curtain, but the glint of drawn swords from the guards forced him to freeze in his tracks.

Most of the onlookers were terrified, sensing the carriage’s occupant was no ordinary person—everyone, that is, except Shen Xu.

"Do you know who I am? Surely you’ve heard of the Huainan General’s Battalion?"

The lead guard finally graced Shen Xu with an inscrutable look.

"To offend me is to offend the entire Huainan General’s Mansion! Get out of the way, you dog slaves! I’m going to see who is hiding in there playing ghost!"

Shen Xu—his appearance matched his name, looking as frail as if his vitality were drained. For some reason, Shen Rong wanted to laugh at the sight of such a vacuous fool.

Shen Rong did laugh, and she kindly helped him state his credentials. "Brother, you are a dignified Fifth-Rank Light Cavalry General of the General’s Battalion. You are responsible for the security of all of Huaiyang City. If someone defies you now, how will you handle thugs and ruffians in the future?" She muttered, "Unless you were only putting on a show of power in front of your sister..."

"Take this!" Stung by his sister’s words, Shen Xu didn't hesitate; he lunged with his spear toward the carriage curtain, determined to defend his reputation.

Everyone gasped, covering their eyes in fear. To their surprise, a scream pierced the air, and Shen Xu was sent flying like a kite with a broken string. He crashed into the woods in the distance, startling a flock of birds.

Looking back at the unmoved carriage, only one guard was seen retracting his hand, smoothing his robes...

"Heavens! Even a mere guard is this powerful! How terrifying must the person inside be?"

"And to think the eldest master of the Shen family is a Fifth-Rank official—to be tossed into the woods so effortlessly?"

"Traveling with such guards, the occupant must hold an official rank far above the eldest master of the Shen family... yet there are many officials in Huaiyang City..."

"Who would intervene to protect a daughter of the Shen family?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation, guessing the identity of the person inside.

Shen Rong winced in sympathy for Shen Xu, admiring the mysterious person’s decisiveness. When dealing with a hollow fool who only knew how to shout, one strike was all it took to make them learn.

She raised an eyebrow at the guard who had acted, and said casually, "Friend, nice moves. I am Shen Rong. Let’s spar another time!"

"Depart."

Without waiting for the guard to respond, the person inside the carriage—who had never revealed himself—spoke in a calm, indifferent tone. The authority of someone in a high position was made undeniably clear in that single word.

The crowd watched the carriage pull away, exchanging glances, each harboring their own secrets. Once the mysterious figure was gone, they dispersed. Only Qin An'an and Shen Rong remained, their faces showing strange expressions.

Qin An'an shifted behind her close friend, looking guilty and desperate to leave. Shen Rong, however, upon hearing that familiar voice, felt a thunderclap in her heart. The smile on her lips froze, and her eyes filled with a complex, frantic mix of emotions.

It was him...