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Zhou Han was quickly unable to withstand the severe torture after being imprisoned in the Dali Temple, and he confessed everything. He admitted how he was lured by an anonymous letter, how he plotted against Shen Ling at Xiangguo Temple, and how he engaged in illicit activities with her. To lessen his guilt, he shifted most of the blame onto Shen Ling, claiming that she had seduced him, leading him on.
The Dali Temple reported the interrogation results to the Emperor. The Emperor was furious and issued a decree condemning Zhou Han's misconduct, stating that he had tarnished the family name. He stripped Zhou Han of his titles, ordered eighty strokes of the rod, and exiled him three thousand miles away. The Deputy Minister of Personnel, Zhou Keqin, was also demoted for failing to discipline his son. The Zhou family found themselves in disgrace, their home now desolate.
As for Shen Ling… her reputation was utterly ruined. Although Inspector Li portrayed her as a "victim" in court, everyone privately understood the reality of the situation. A young unmarried woman meeting a man in a sacred Buddhist site was a scandal of monumental proportions, regardless of the circumstances.
Her father initially intended to send her to the family temple to live out her remaining days in seclusion. However, Liu's family wept and begged him to spare Shen Ling's life, appealing to her years of service to them. Ultimately, her father softened. Officially, he claimed that Shen Ling had caught a chill and needed time to recuperate. In secret, he arranged for her to be sent to a remote estate in Jiangnan, where she would be confined to reflect on her actions for the rest of her life.
Before leaving, Shen Ling struggled to see me one last time. I went to her small courtyard. The once exquisite room was now in disarray; Shen Ling wore a coarse cloth dress, her hair disheveled and her face haggard, filled with resentment and unwillingness.
"Shen Wei! It’s you! You must have set me up! Right?" she rasped at me, appearing almost deranged.
I stood at the door, calmly observing her: "What are you talking about? I don’t understand."
"Stop pretending!" Shen Ling lunged at me but was stopped by the matron guarding her. "It’s definitely you! You’re jealous that I caught the prince’s favor! That’s why you used such despicable means to ruin me!"
"Favor?" I scoffed. "Sister, you must be mistaken. Prince Jing has only been using you from the beginning. Did you really think he cared for you? How ridiculous."
"You’re talking nonsense!" Shen Ling screamed. "The prince loves me! If it weren’t for your interference, I would have been the princess long ago!"
At this point, she still clung to her delusions. I shook my head, too tired to argue further: "It’s too late for that now; there’s no point in discussing it anymore. You should take care of yourself."
I turned to leave.
"Shen Wei! Don’t get too smug!" Shen Ling shouted frantically behind me. "Do you think that by breaking off your engagement you’ll be safe? The prince won’t let you go! He will make you regret it eventually! I curse you! I curse you to die a miserable death!"
I did not stop my steps as I walked away from that courtyard filled with despair and hatred. Shen Ling's curse was nothing more than the wailing of a defeated dog to me. She would never understand that her downfall was not due to me but rather because of her own greed, foolishness, and lack of shame.
As for Zhao Yan… he certainly wouldn’t let me off easily. But so what? I had stepped out of his game and gained the ability to protect myself. He could never manipulate me like he did in my past life.
The Liu family had completely lost their father’s trust and support due to Shen Ling’s incident. Although they still held the title of Lady of the Shen Family, their status within the household had plummeted drastically; they were now mere decorations. She spent her days in her courtyard reciting scriptures and praying, rarely venturing out again.
The gloom that once hung over the Shen Residence seemed to have lifted entirely.
I focused all my thoughts on managing my business and improving myself. The estate and shop left by my mother gradually began to thrive under my careful management, yielding increasing profits. I also started to delve into books on commerce and strategies of power, continuously enriching my knowledge.
In my spare time, I would play the guqin or paint, or visit the racetrack in the outskirts of the capital to unwind. Life passed peacefully and fulfillingly.
Occasionally, I would hear news about Prince Jing. It was said that after his broken engagement, he fell into a period of despondency, but soon regained his spirits and began to actively participate in court affairs, seemingly trying to mitigate the negative impact of this turmoil.
I knew our rivalry was far from over. But this time, I was ready.
As evening approached, the warm glow of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting a golden hue across the room. Qing Zhu entered and lit the candles on the table. "Miss, it's getting late; it's time for dinner," she said.
I set down the book in my hands and nodded. "Mm."
Walking to the dressing table, I gazed at my calm reflection in the mirror, my eyes serene. In this new life, what I desired was not just revenge but also to realize my own worth and take control of my destiny.
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