I need to talk about Chen Miaomiao because THIS woman is absolutely fascinating.
Let me start with Ma Jingyu, because his subplot in this section is both hilarious and genuinely heartbreaking. This guy got extorted by Chen Miaomiao for a thousand taels of gold AND a thousand Lingshi — nearly bankrupting his entire family — and she also secretly ordered him to go to Fancheng. He's terrified to the core but has no choice. His regret? "If asked what Ma Jingyu regretted most in his life, it would undoubtedly be his greed three years ago, which led him to meddle in the Chen family's conflicts."
Oof. That line hit me hard. This is a man who made one bad decision and now his life is completely in someone else's hands. The power dynamic here is SO uncomfortable, and the author makes you feel every bit of Ma Jingyu's desperation.
But Chen Miaomiao herself? Oh, she's something else. She's simultaneously the most terrifying and the most entertaining character in this entire novel. Let me explain.
On one hand, she's a complete shameless grifter. She extorts Ma Jingyu, publicly humiliates the main Chen family, and openly admits she's tempted by their gifts — literally giving Chen Wen an apologetic smile before turning to Chen Qi and saying the main family head is "thoughtful." Chen Wen's internal monologue about this moment is GOLD: "Seeing her gaze drifting repeatedly toward those brocade boxes, her eyes gradually revealing struggle, as if saying to him, 'Ah, sorry, dear brother, but who isn't a worldly person?'"
But here's the thing — she's also PROTECTIVE of the Yunluo Chenjia branch family. She calls them her "virtuous younger brother" and publicly defends them against the main family's schemes. She's manipulative, yes, but she's MANIPULATIVE ON THEIR SIDE.
And Chen Wen? Poor, sweating, calculating Chen Wen. He's fully aware that Chen Miaomiao is playing both sides, but he has no choice but to keep feeding her power. His internal monologue about whether to reveal the Grade 5 pill — "If he took it out, what would he do if he needed it in the future?" — shows a man who is constantly one step away from disaster, making decisions with half his brain.
The dynamic between these three characters is like a three-way tug-of-war where everyone is pulling in different directions but none of them can let go. Chen Miaomiao uses Chen Wen's alchemy skills, Chen Wen needs Chen Miaomiao's protection, and Ma Jingyu is just... there, paying for everyone's mistakes. It's messy, it's toxic, and I cannot look away.