The Shen family had four sons and one daughter. Now, only Shen Sheng, who had been fighting at the border, remained.
Not long ago, news of Shen Sheng’s death had reached the Imperial Capital—a death so brutal there wasn’t even a whole corpse left.
Before leaving, Shen Sheng had had a coffin prepared for herself. Now, it was finally of use. The coffin didn’t contain her remains, but was filled with the toys from her childhood, completely covering the inside of the casket.
The Shen Family, having failed to even keep their youngest daughter safe, was already steeped in grief. Unexpectedly, Madam Zhou arrived at their door with her son to offer ‘condolences.’
The two families had long been betrothed by pact. Ever since the engagement was broken, the Zhou Family had spread the word outside that Shen Sheng’s fate was to bring death to her father and brothers, forcing them to reluctantly annul the marriage.
The Shen Family was displeased, but there was nothing they could do. A person has two lips—who can control what others say?
Seeing the Zhou mother and son, Shen Sheng could barely contain her fury. Madam Zhou was also startled. Seeing Shen Sheng standing right in front of her, she was initially frightened. Then, she recovered and sneered: “A corpse coming back to life in broad daylight. Don’t tell me you’ve summoned some ghost into your home.”
Shen Sheng saw her disgusting face and remembered the ugly way they’d come to break off the engagement after her father and brothers had died.
She was so furious she almost laughed. She shot back: “I’m only eighteen. I can’t compare to Madam Zhou, who’s thirty-eight. If anyone’s dying first, it’s you; and if anyone’s coming back as a ghost, it’ll be you first. But, when you die, I’ll make sure they hammer a few extra nails into your coffin. That way, you won’t come back to scare people.”
Madam Zhou’s face turned pale with anger. She immediately shrieked: “What’s the meaning of this? I am the Chancellor’s wife! How dare you insult me so!”
She was the wife of the Chancellor, the mother-in-law of the reigning princess. What was Shen Sheng but a nobody, daring to insult her?
“Aiyo, I’m just a ghost. It’s only natural for a ghost to catch people.” Shen Sheng stuck out her tongue at the other, not forgetting to draw the dagger at her waist and feign a lunge at her.
“You… you… Outrageous!” Madam Zhou was so frightened she turned and ran. For some reason, after barely two steps, her knee buckled and she fell flat on her face in a messy, undignified heap.
Zhou Yi, with his scholarly, refined looks in a pure white robe, helped his mother up. He said to Shen Sheng: “Ah Sheng, I understand you harbor resentment, but she is my mother. You should be a bit more yielding.”
Shen Sheng blinked. Perhaps corrupted by Anu, she immediately retorted: “What does your mother have to do with me? Why should I yield? Spend more time in the sun while it’s high. Once you’re sunburned, no one will call you an idiot anymore.”
Zhou Yi’s delicate face instantly flushed bright red. Madam Zhou got to her feet, struggling to maintain the air of an official’s wife. Trembling with anger, she pointed a finger at Shen Sheng: “So unruly and rude! Is there any trace of a proper girl about you? I was blind to have chosen you as a fiancée. It’s fortunate our Zhou Family has sense and broke off the engagement with a wild girl like you.”
The silent Madam Shen finally stepped forward, her lip curling. She blocked her daughter and spoke: “The sons and daughters of my Shen Family protect the home and the country, for the welfare of the people. They are not like ordinary daughters, delicate and fragile, nor like Madam Zhou, who needs support just to walk and relies on husband and son for everything. The daughters of my Shen Family stand tall, having recaptured lost land, and are worthy of respect. When a daughter of my Shen Family walks outside, she is addressed as ‘Young General,’ bearing her own title. When Madam Zhou goes out, she bears only her husband’s surname.”
Madam Zhou, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, immediately retorted: “A woman’s duty is to manage the household and raise children. Going out and making a disgrace of herself…”
“Is that so? Then Madam Zhou had best not go out, so as not to make a disgrace of herself. Escort the guests out. Inform the gate: The Zhou Family and dogs are not permitted to set foot inside my Shen Family’s gates.” Madam Shen commanded angrily.
Zhou Yi, supporting his mother, quickly said to Madam Shen: “Ah Sheng’s return is a happy occasion. Madam Shen, please don’t be angry. You should be rejoicing. It will be inconvenient for us to come again, so we won’t.”
“Zhou Yi, you should still sunbathe more,” Shen Sheng couldn’t help but add.
Zhou Yi looked up, boldly staring at Shen Sheng. “Ah Sheng, don’t be angry.”
“Prince Consort Zhou, say ‘Ah Sheng’ one more time, and I’ll break your mouth.” Shen Sheng frowned. “I’m already engaged. Don’t let my beloved hear you. It wouldn’t be good if she got angry.”
Madam Shen: “…” Did someone steal her brain while she was out?
Zhou Yi still wanted to say more, but Madam Zhou pulled her son away. “You come with good intentions to mourn, yet they think you want to rekindle old feelings. If this reaches the Princess’s ears, you’ll suffer.”
The mother and son left in a hurry. Outside the mansion gate, the carriage curtain was also lowered. “Let’s go.”
The Shen Family members hurriedly took down the mourning hall. Madam Shen pulled her daughter aside for a thorough look—no missing arms, no broken legs, everything in its right place.
Shen Sheng looked around. “Where are my sisters-in-law? Why aren’t they here?”
“They went to Jiangnan to enjoy themselves. I’ve sent word. They should be back before the New Year.” Madam Shen sighed, her tone slightly cold. “Did you die once out there?”
“I… I didn’t die.” Shen Sheng touched her own head, remembering the events on the road, and recounted them all.
Though she hadn’t died, she had indeed brushed past the gates of death that month, and even recalling it now still sent chills down her spine.
The servants were busy dismantling the mourning arrangements. Madam Shen dragged her daughter into the inner hall to talk.
When Shen Sheng mentioned Anu and incidentally brought up the Lovesickness Gu Poison, Madam Shen’s expression changed drastically. She instinctively grabbed her daughter’s hand.
The Lovesickness Gu, named for longing, was naturally related to love.
The Lovesickness Gu: first death, then life. After saving someone with blood, the two share the sensation of pain.
Simply put, if Shen Sheng was injured, she wouldn’t feel the pain—Anu would. If Anu was injured, Shen Sheng would feel the pain.
Returning to the main room, the maids were overjoyed to see the Fifth Miss. Shen Sheng greeted them, but before she could finish, she was dragged into the room by her mother.
“You should go see His Majesty. Temper your temper. Zhou Yi is now His Majesty’s beloved son-in-law. If you can avoid conflict, avoid it. One more thing: there’s a new woman by His Majesty’s side, appointed as State Preceptor. I’ve heard this woman’s methods are terrifying. Do not provoke her.” Madam Shen earnestly gave her instructions, then had servants fetch clean clothes.
Shen Sheng didn’t overthink it. She obediently changed. Before leaving, the household’s mourning decorations were completely gone, replaced by festive red lanterns.
Shen Sheng had been away for three years. The Imperial Capital changed daily. Her mother assigned her a female guard, and the two rode out towards the palace.
Entering the palace required relinquishing all swords and sharp weapons. The two dismounted for inspection. The guards at the gate let Shen Sheng in but stopped the guard from entering.
The entrance path was a long corridor flanked by high walls. Shen Sheng was allowed through, walking alone.
Halfway through the corridor, armored soldiers with drawn blades appeared at the far end, rushing at her.
Shen Sheng tilted her head, counting carefully: over twenty men. Daring to kill openly within the palace grounds showed just how badly someone wanted her dead.
But she was Shen Sheng. How could she die so easily?
Before they could reach her, she charged into the group first, kicking the leader down and seizing his blade.
What followed was a flurry of slashes and cuts, her form darting back and forth with the speed of the wind.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, all twenty-plus men were on the ground. She looked at her clothes, now soaked in blood, and felt it was a terrible pity—her mother had just made this new outfit.
Just as she was about to put the blade down, another batch of men rushed from the end of the corridor, just as many as before.
A cold wind surged through, carrying snow crystals down from somewhere, scattering them across her brows and eyes, making her shiver slightly.
After a brief rest, she gripped the blade again and charged at them without hesitation.
Hot blood splattered on her face, chilling to the bone.
Suddenly, the palace gate at the end of the corridor opened. The armored soldiers retreated like the tide. Shen Sheng stood holding the blade, squinting towards the distance.
A carriage rolled slowly forward, driven by a eunuch. The carriage door opened, and a woman in magnificent attire descended.
“General Shen is indeed valiant and fearsome.” Alluring and beautiful, a bright pearl gleamed in her hair. She smiled at Shen Sheng.
Shen Sheng tossed away the blade and clapped her hands. “Princess Anle certainly has great power, able to mobilize the Jinwu Guards within the palace.”
The Jinwu Guards inside the palace answered only to the Emperor. In other words, for Princess Anle to deploy troops, the Emperor had to be aware of it.
Princess Anle was the Emperor’s most beloved daughter, and also the wife of Zhou Yi.
Shen Sheng strode forward, her steps generating a gust of wind. She walked past the carriage, heading for the far end of the corridor.
Arriving at the main hall, the eunuch panicked upon seeing her and hurriedly went inside to announce her.
Inside the hall, Jinwu Guards stood with blades drawn, their eyes looking straight ahead, their postures as straight as pine trees.
Shen Sheng looked at the Jinwu Guards, her gaze indifferent. She raised a hand to wipe the blood from her face. At this moment, the eunuch came out: “Young General Shen, His Majesty summons you.”
Stepping over the threshold with an air of nonchalance, after barely three steps, Shen Sheng stopped dead in her tracks.
The Emperor sat upon the dragon throne. Below him, another desk had been set up. Behind it, a woman in Daoist robes sat, her long hair tied with a red silk ribbon. Her face seemed carved from ice, her eyes, like winter nights, looking directly at her.
Daoist robes…
Red silk ribbon…
Shen Sheng’s brows locked together. She instinctively stepped forward to give her salutation. “Your subject, Shen Sheng, greets His Majesty.”
“My loyal minister has returned. After three years, your features have matured,” the Emperor said kindly, bidding Shen Sheng to rise. He then pointed at the woman beside him. “This is the State Preceptor, Jiang Buwan. You two should be introduced.”
State Preceptor Jiang Buwan…
Jiang Wan…
Anu…
Shen Sheng was so furious she wanted to spit blood. You liar.
Gritting her teeth, Shen Sheng greeted Anu. Anu smiled, amused: “General Shen, it’s been a long time. How have you been lately?”
The voice was exactly the same. Shen Sheng was certain she wasn’t mistaken. She stared at the woman, fuming. At this moment, the eunuch announced the arrival of Princess Anle and the Prince Consort.
Shen Sheng’s large eyes, clearly defined with black and white, and her long, slender eyelashes fluttered slightly. Decisively, she walked over to Anu’s side and plopped down. “Princess Anle wants to kill me.”
“You just figured that out?” Anu sighed. Her beautiful eyes reflected Shen Sheng’s furious glare. She raised a hand, her fingertip resting on Shen Sheng’s neck.
A shallow, faint line of blood from a blade.
At this moment, the Princess and her husband arrived. The Emperor warmly greeted the couple and bade them sit.
Princess Anle joked with the Emperor: “Imperial Father, your child tested General Shen’s martial skills. Sure enough, she has greatly improved. She is truly a pillar of the nation.”
Shen Sheng narrowed her eyes slightly, a murderous aura seeping from her. But the person beside her suddenly spoke up: “Could it be the Princess is jealous?”
Princess Anle stiffened. “What does the State Preceptor mean?”
“Literal meaning. The Princess mobilized troops to ‘test’ General Shen. What if a blade had no eye, and she were killed? People would say Princess Anle killed out of jealousy—murder to vent her anger. And why would she be jealous? Upon closer investigation, oh ho, the Prince Consort and General Shen were once engaged. That would be a loss of face.” Anu’s lips curved up lightly, her tone shifting between fast and slow, especially the ‘oh ho,’ which was drawn out with a long, trailing final note.
Princess Anle’s face flushed a mottled purple-red. Anu seemed unwilling to let her go, glancing at Zhou Yi and continuing in a self-questioning manner: “A loss of face for two. The Prince Consort also bears some responsibility. The moment General Shen returns, he eagerly rushes over to see her, afraid he might miss seeing her first.”
Shen Sheng, who had been about to retaliate, awkwardly shut her mouth.
Princess Anle was furious. “What does the State Preceptor mean? I am the Princess. Testing a subject’s abilities for Father—what’s wrong with that?”
“Quite right. But your identity makes it problematic. If your husband were not General Shen’s former fiancé, everything would be perfectly reasonable.” Anu smiled serenely, her words spoken with extreme amiability.
Shen Sheng was stunned. Was this Jiang Buwan beside her really the Anu she’d been longing for?
