Chapter II - Gifts From The Liang Family
The capital did not sleep that night.
Even before dawn, the streets outside Shen Manor filled with murmurs and passing footsteps. Servants returning from the market carried fresh gossip with baskets of vegetables, while noble ladies sent invitation cards under the excuse of “checking on Miss Shen’s well-being.”
No one truly came out of concern.
They came to witness humiliation.
Inside her chambers, Shen Li sat before the bronze mirror while Qingyu carefully combed her hair.
“You should rest, Miss,” the maid whispered softly. “You did not sleep at all.”
Shen Li watched her reflection quietly.
Perhaps because the matter had finally ended, her heart felt strangely calm.
For seven years she had lived beneath uncertainty.
Now, for the first time—
the future had been decided for her.
“There is no use losing sleep over what cannot be changed,” she said gently.
Qingyu bit her lip. “But everyone outside is speaking nonsense.”
“They always have.”
That was the unfortunate truth.
A woman abandoned after seven years of engagement would always become entertainment for others.
Especially when the entire matter involved an imperial prince.
Suddenly hurried footsteps echoed outside.
A young servant girl nearly stumbled through the doorway.
“Miss! Madam! The Liang family has sent people!”
Qingyu frowned immediately. “What are they here for now?”
But before anyone could answer, another servant rushed in behind her.
“And… and there are many carts.”
—
The front courtyard of Shen Manor had descended into complete confusion.
Rows of wooden carts stood outside the gates loaded with crimson boxes tied in gold silk.
Servants from the Liang family moved carefully through the snow carrying item after item inside:
embroidered satin,
jade ornaments,
pearls,
rare medicinal herbs,
gold bracelets,
lacquerware,
wedding candles carved with phoenix patterns.
Even the Shen family steward looked stunned.
“This…”
Madam Shen stared at the endless procession in disbelief. “The Liang family sent all this?”
At the center of the courtyard stood Madam Liang herself.
She wore dark formal robes despite the early hour, her expression colder than the winter wind.
The moment Shen Li appeared beneath the corridor, Madam Liang’s eyes softened slightly.
“Li’er.”
The familiar nickname nearly made nearby servants gasp.
Shen Li paused before stepping forward and bowing properly.
“This daughter greets Madam Liang.”
For a moment, guilt flashed across the older woman’s face.
Seven years.
Shen Li had already called her “Mother” in everything except title.
Yet her own son had ruined everything.
Madam Liang reached forward personally and helped Shen Li straighten.
“You’ve become thinner.”
The courtyard instantly became silent.
Everyone understood what this gesture meant.
Madam Liang was openly showing affection toward Shen Li despite the broken engagement.
Toward the bride of another man.
Toward Prince Rui’s future wife.
Liang Wenxuan’s reputation would not survive this humiliation.
“I came today,” Madam Liang said calmly, “to deliver wedding gifts.”
Madam Shen looked uncertain. “This… is inappropriate.”
“No,” Madam Liang replied sharply. “It is the least the Liang family owes her.”
Every servant lowered their heads further.
Shen Li herself remained still.
Madam Liang glanced toward the endless gift boxes.
“There are silks from Jiangnan, coral ornaments from the western traders, and jewelry suitable for a prince’s household.” Her voice softened slightly. “I was originally preparing them for your marriage anyway.”
An uncomfortable silence followed.
Because everyone understood the hidden meaning.
These were gifts intended for Liang Wenxuan’s bride.
Now they were being handed to Prince Rui’s future princess consort instead.
A slap directly across Liang Wenxuan’s face.
At that moment, another voice suddenly interrupted from behind.
“Mother!”
Liang Wenxuan strode into the courtyard looking furious.
Snow clung to his robes as if he had rushed there immediately after hearing the news.
The moment his gaze landed on the mountain of gifts, his expression darkened.
“You brought half our treasury here?”
Madam Liang did not even look at him. “Be quiet.”
Liang Wenxuan’s jaw tightened. “She is no longer your future daughter-in-law.”
Madam Liang finally turned toward him slowly.
“No,” she agreed coldly. “Because you failed to deserve her.”
The courtyard froze.
Liang Wenxuan’s face turned ugly instantly.
“Mother!”
“For seven years she endured your nonsense without complaint,” Madam Liang snapped. “Tell me honestly—have you ever once treated her sincerely?”
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because for the first time, even he could not immediately deny it.
Madam Liang laughed bitterly. “You delayed the marriage repeatedly while she protected your reputation everywhere she went. You accepted her loyalty as naturally as breathing.”
Her voice hardened further. “And now you gamble her away while drunk?”
Liang Wenxuan looked embarrassed under the servants’ stares.
“I already said I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“But it did.”
Those three words struck harder than shouting.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then Liang Wenxuan suddenly looked toward Shen Li.
Perhaps expecting anger.
Or tears.
Or pleading.
Instead, Shen Li stood calm and graceful beneath the corridor lanterns, her pale blue robes moving softly in the winter wind.
Too calm.
Almost as though she had already stepped beyond him entirely.
Something unfamiliar twisted sharply in Liang Wenxuan’s chest.
Uncomfortable.
He frowned unconsciously.
“Shen Li,” he said stiffly, “if you truly dislike this arrangement, I can still ask around court—”
“No need.”
Her interruption was gentle.
Polite.
Completely emotionless.
Liang Wenxuan stared.
Shen Li lowered her eyes slightly. “The imperial decree has already been issued. There is no reason to trouble Young Master Liang further.”
Young Master Liang.
Not Wenxuan.
Not even a trace of closeness remained.
For some reason, hearing the distance in her voice irritated him more than accusations would have.
“You really intend to marry my uncle?”
The entire courtyard went quiet again.
Everyone knew Prince Rui inspired fear throughout the empire.
He was ruthless in war. Cold in court. Untouchable in status.
Any noblewoman suddenly ordered to marry him would spend nights weeping in terror.
Yet Shen Li answered calmly:
“Since Heaven has decided it, this daughter will obey.”
Liang Wenxuan stared at her.
Then suddenly laughed mockingly.
“You speak as though marrying him is fortunate.”
Qingyu nearly exploded in anger.
But before she could speak, Madam Liang slammed her cane against the stone floor.
“And what exactly is unfortunate about Prince Rui?” she demanded sharply.
Liang Wenxuan stiffened.
Madam Liang’s disappointment had become impossible to hide now.
“At the very least,” she said coldly, “Prince Rui knows responsibility.”
Liang Wenxuan’s expression darkened completely.
The words struck too close.
Because deep down—
even he knew it was true.
An awkward silence spread through the courtyard until Madam Liang finally exhaled tiredly.
Then she turned back toward Shen Li.
“There is one more thing.”
A servant immediately stepped forward carrying a long lacquered box.
When opened, a pair of exquisite white jade bangles rested inside upon crimson silk.
Shen Li recognized them instantly.
Years ago, while accompanying Madam Liang through the markets, she had paused before these exact bangles.
Not because she desired luxury.
But because the jade reminded her of winter snow.
Back then, Liang Wenxuan had laughed carelessly:
“What’s the point of wasting money on jewelry?”
So she quietly stepped away.
Now the bangles had returned to her hands years later.
Madam Liang’s eyes reddened faintly. “I should have bought them for you long ago.”
Something inside Shen Li softened unexpectedly.
For seven years, this woman truly had treated her sincerely.
Perhaps more sincerely than her own son ever had.
Shen Li bowed deeply.
“This daughter thanks Madam Liang.”
Madam Liang held her hands tightly for a moment before leaving.
Liang Wenxuan remained standing in the snow long after everyone else moved.
Watching.
Watching servants carry endless wedding gifts toward Shen Li’s residence.
Watching his own mother personally oversee everything.
Watching Shen Li calmly prepare for marriage to another man.
And for the first time—
Liang Wenxuan felt something dangerously close to regret.
—
That evening, another gift arrived at Shen Manor.
Unlike the others, it came from Prince Rui’s estate.
Only one box.
Simple black lacquer.
No excessive decoration.
The entire Shen household became nervous immediately.
Even Shen Li paused before opening it.
Inside rested a sword.
Elegant and slender, its silver sheath engraved with tiny plum blossoms hidden among the metalwork.
A woman’s defensive blade.
Not ornamental.
Usable.
Beneath it lay a single sheet of paper.
The handwriting was powerful and restrained.
“The capital is dangerous.
This prince hopes Miss Shen may protect herself when necessary.”
No signature.
No romantic words.
Yet Shen Li stared at the sword for a very long time.
Because after seven years of empty promises—
this was the first gift anyone had given her that considered her safety before her beauty.
Outside, snow continued falling silently across the capital.
And somewhere within Prince Rui’s dark residence—
a war prince who had never cared about marriage found himself wondering whether Shen Li liked plum blossoms.