The uproar at the Shen Mansion Gathering, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quietly rippled through the circle of noble ladies in the capital.

Xin Jiuwei's vigorous calligraphy and quick wit made some of those who had initially looked down on her reconsider their attitudes, but it also thoroughly enraged the proud and arrogant Shen Zhiwei.

"You country bumpkin! You have no respect for the world!" In the embroidered pavilion in the backyard of the Shen residence, Shen Zhiwei swept the teacup off the table, shattering the exquisite porcelain instantly, and splashing scalding tea onto the expensive Persian carpet. Her beautiful face was contorted with rage, all traces of her usual refined and aloof demeanor gone. "How dare she humiliate me like this at a gathering of scholars! What kind of military treatise is this? Hidden in the nine earths? Moving in the nine heavens? Who does she think she is?! Just because she's curried favor with the Sixth Prince, she thinks she's someone important?!"

The maids standing nearby trembled with fear and dared not utter a word. They had never seen their young mistress so distraught.

"What is the Xin family anyway?" Shen Zhiwei gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with resentment. "A fallen family, the daughter of a prefect from some backwater like Yingzhou! Her father's official position sounds respectable, but what does he amount to in the capital? The Xin family's ancestral glory has long been squandered! They have few members and virtually no foundation! What makes her so special? What makes her worthy of the Sixth Prince's favor? What makes her dare to flaunt herself in front of me?!" What she hated most was Xin Jiuwei's strong handwriting, which subtly resembled Xiao Xun's, a silent declaration—she was the one closest to that man!

“Miss, please calm down,” a shrewd-looking older nanny stepped forward to persuade her. She was Zhou, Shen Zhiwei’s wet nurse. “It’s not worth getting sick over something so worthless. She’s just taking advantage of the Sixth Prince’s power to act so recklessly. But in the capital, powerful backers can crumble and powerful ones can vanish. The Sixth Prince may be riding high now, but there are many people watching him. The Xin family’s resources can’t withstand investigation, let alone storms.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhiwei's resentment subsided slightly, replaced by a calculating glint: "What does Granny mean?"

Granny Zhou lowered her voice: "Miss, don't forget, the Xin family has more than just Xin Jiuwei as a daughter. She also has an older sister who is married into the Qi family in Yuncheng. The Qi family... hehe, we have something on them that we can't hold."

Shen Zhiwei raised an eyebrow: "The Qi family of Yuncheng? Qi Huaihe?" She vaguely remembered that her father, Shen Wei, had mentioned Qi Huaihe, a scholar from Yuncheng, whose father had been involved in an old case. Although he hadn't been convicted, his reputation was tarnished. To extricate himself, he apparently offered a large bribe to a certain "important person" in the capital to smooth things over. And that "important person" happened to have some indirect connection with the Shen family. Shen Wei had only learned of this secret by chance.

“Exactly,” Granny Zhou said with a sinister smile. “Back then, Qi Huaihe’s father’s bribery to escape punishment was secretive, but not without trace. If we just let out a little word and have someone ‘remind’ the Qi family that Xin Jiuwei has offended someone she shouldn’t have in the capital, implicating them… what do you think the Qi family will do? And what about Prefect Xin in Yingzhou? How will he cope? And will Xin Jiuwei… still be able to stay safely in the Sixth Prince’s residence?”

Shen Zhiwei's eyes lit up completely, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Good! Granny, this plan is brilliant! Using someone else to do the dirty work, without shedding a drop of blood! Xin Jiuwei, didn't you want to 'hide in the netherworld'? I'll make sure your Xin family can't hide anymore! Let's see how much of your 'adeptness at attack' is left!"

A conspiracy targeting the very foundation of the Xin Jiuwei family is quietly brewing in the shadows.

Inside the warm pavilion of the Prince's residence, however, all was peaceful and serene. Xin Jiuwei's mind was not affected by the conflict at the gathering; instead, she focused even more on Granny Jiang's instruction and her own self-improvement. She knew that Shen Zhiwei would not let this go easily, and she had to become stronger to face the storms to come.

"In managing household affairs, the most important things are 'clarity' and 'balance'." Granny Jiang's voice was steady and powerful as she pointed to the unfolded account books of the Prince's mansion. "Clarity means that the accounts are clear, with every expense traceable, and nothing can be ambiguous. Balance means that income and expenditure are measured, increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, neither living beyond one's means nor being stingy or harsh. The Prince's mansion has many properties: estates, shops, warehouses, manpower... every single one must be well-known."

Xin Jiuwei listened intently, occasionally asking questions. She was naturally intelligent, and her experience at the Yingzhou Prefectural Governor's residence made understanding easy for her. Xiao Xun would occasionally come over after finishing his official duties and sit beside her, listening to Granny Jiang's explanations. His gaze would fall on Xin Jiuwei's focused profile, his deep eyes carrying a barely perceptible gentleness.

That day, Xin Jiuwei was frowning and pondering over the autumn grain storage figures for several farms in the account book when Xin Kui walked in with a letter, her expression somewhat strange: "Miss, a letter from the young master of the Qi family in Yuncheng."

"Brother-in-law?" Xin Jiuwei was somewhat surprised. Yuncheng had just experienced the ordeal of her father's attack. Her sister, Xin Xiyao, frequently wrote to her to let her know she was safe and to tell her about her father's recovery, but her brother-in-law, Qi Huaihe, rarely wrote to her separately.

She took the letter and opened it. Qi Huaihe's handwriting was still neat, but between the lines there was an indescribable anxiety and... a hint of dissatisfaction?

“My dear sister Jiuwei, Anqi:”

"My father-in-law's injuries are gradually healing, and everything at home is fine, so please don't worry. However, recently there seems to be some undercurrent in the officialdom of Yuncheng. Some classmates and old friends have vaguely told me that an old matter concerning my father (Qi Huaihe's father) may be brought up again, and I'm afraid that some villains are stirring up trouble and dredging up old grievances. Although the old matter has long been settled, gossip is a fearsome thing, and I'm afraid it may damage the reputation of the Qi and Xin families."

"I am utterly perplexed. The Qi family has always been law-abiding and kind to others. Why have we suddenly suffered such an undeserved calamity? After much thought, I fear that my sister may have said or done something inappropriate in the capital and offended a powerful figure. The capital is a dangerous place, and one wrong move can have far-reaching consequences. Although my sister is under the protection of the Sixth Prince's residence, she should still be careful with her words and actions to avoid giving others a handle to use against her and bringing disaster upon the family."

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