“Can’t you see? I’m betting my life on the future.”
In the fire, Shen Miao’s eyes were brighter than the flames, and the determination in them was as firm as a rock.
“What’s the point of a future if you are dead?” Xie Jingxing said sternly, “It’s too risky.”
Shen Miao laughed and looked at him sarcastically. “I’m different from the Young Marquis. The Young Marquis is very resourceful. You have to spend too much effort to get what you want. I’m different. If I don’t risk my life, I’ll be better off dead. I’m not even afraid of death anymore. Why would I be afraid of fire?” She paused. “Leave.”
Xie Jingxing frowned and looked at her, his beautiful peach blossom eyes flashing with deep thought. He was not a good person, nor did he want to do anything to save her. Now that he came back to his senses, he laughed at himself for being impatient. At the thought of this, Xie Jingxing crossed his arms and jumped onto the beam that was not yet burning. He said with interest, “I forgot that you are the smartest person from the Shen family. Of course, you have the ability to escape unscathed. However, I also want to see what ability you have.”
His purple clothes actually looked a little golden in the firelight, and what was more dazzling than his clothes was the smile on his lips. The young man looked arrogant, and his eyebrows were as beautiful as a painting. However, there was a coldness and cruelty in his gaze.
At the banquet in the east courtyard, Ren Wanyun panicked when she heard that Shen Xin and his wife had returned to the mansion. She still had a trace of hope in her heart, thinking that it must be a servant who had played a prank on her. However, before she could gather herself together, she saw a servant leading a group of people in. The person in the lead laughed and said from afar, “Mother, I came back to the capital to celebrate your birthday! I’m a little late. Please forgive me!”
Everyone looked at the group. The bearded man and the woman at the front were Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, and the young man with a warm smile behind them was Shen Qiu.
If it were in the past, Ren Wanyun would still be able to maintain her composure and go up to greet Shen Xin. With Ren Wanyun’s glib tongue, she would definitely be able to make Shen Xin and his wife happy. However, today, they came back too suddenly, and their daughter was still trapped in the ancestral hall. For a second, Ren Wanyun didn’t know what to do.
Old Madam Shen was even more so. She had no idea what to do. She only knew how to throw her weight around in the mansion. Even when dealing with Shen Miao, she would only use underhanded methods. In front of everyone, she was flustered.
Chen Ruoqiu was a little anxious. Although she also wanted the second branch and the first branch to suffer heavy losses, she was attending the banquet now. If Shen Xin did not return today, it would be fine if Shen Miao died in the fire. After all, the dead could not testify. They could say whatever they wanted. However, when Shen Xin returned, he would be able to see it. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell what was going on. What should she do?
Shen Qing and Shen Yue were both a little afraid of their uncle. Because Shen Xin was a general after all, he always had a decisive and fierce aura. The two delicate little girls were always terrified of him for no reason. Seeing their mother so afraid, they were even more so.
Shen Gui and Shen Wan looked at each other with solemn eyes. All these years, they had been putting on a show and never made a mistake, so their eldest brother didn’t get angry at them. However, if anything happened to Shen Miao today, what would Shen Xin do? At the thought of this, they felt a chill run down their spines.