Chapter 1: Shen Zhishu
The Kingdom of Nan’an was covered in a blanket of silver, and Shen Zhishu had just returned with her army, triumphant from the Northern Desert.
The heavy gates of the capital city were wide open, and countless commoners lined the streets, welcoming them with fervent enthusiasm. Amidst the clamor, Shen Zhishu lowered her head to smooth her stray hairs. Still on horseback, she unfastened her sable fur coat and slowly handed it to her attendant.
Deputy General Xie Jin rode beside her, raising an eyebrow and chuckling, “Little Lord Shen, is it truly that hot? Or are you perhaps a little nervous about your impending audience with the Emperor?”
… Nervous?
She hadn’t been nervous when she was on the battlefield killing people, so how could she be timid now?
However… this was indeed her first time having an audience with the Emperor.
Shen Zhishu had been away from the capital for eight years, maturing from a fourteen-year-old youth into a twenty-two-year-old young woman.
Eight years ago, she was merely an obscure Centurion, without the qualifications to attend court. She had only seen the Emperor from afar during a hunting event in the capital.
In these eight years, she had fought her way from the south to the north, following the army to pacify the Central Plains and flatten the Northern Desert. She dared to lead a few dozen people to defend an isolated city and could capture nearly a thousand enemy troops with only a few hundred of her own. Victories of the few over the many were countless. Her resume grew increasingly exaggerated, and her official rank climbed steadily.
On one hand, her ability was truly outstanding; on the other, she was likely blessed with good fortune in her career. She fought her way up from Centurion all the way to Commander-in-Chief.
She also became the youngest General in the founding history of the Kingdom of Nan’an.
Deputy General Xie Jin was nine years her senior, and they had shared life and death together for three years.
They were at the head of the procession, with a vast, mighty army trailing behind. Shen Zhishu turned to glance at the thousands of soldiers, then turned her head back, casting a look at Xie Jin, just about to speak—
A court eunuch suddenly stood at the front of the procession, holding a scroll of yellow silk brocade.
Shen Zhishu recognized the yellow brocade.
When she was first appointed Commander-in-Chief, there was also a eunuch who held a scroll of matte yellow brocade, smiling brightly as he stood before her and said, “Shen Zhishu, receive the decree.”
—It was an Imperial Edict.
This time, the eunuch still called out loudly, “Shen Zhishu, receive the decree—!”
Xie Jin stopped her horse and patted Shen Zhishu’s shoulder. Shen Zhishu dismounted and knelt down, bowing deeply.
The eunuch unfurled the yellow brocade and shouted with full vigor, “By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Zhishu, with her strategies extending a thousand li (0.5 km), has been brave and valiant for the nation. For eight years, she has passed the capital gates multiple times without entering, focused solely on stabilizing the Central Plains and pacifying the Northern Desert. This is truly a blessing for the Kingdom of Nan’an. She is hereby conferred the title of General Who Assists the Nation. Respect this!”
Shen Zhishu suddenly looked up and saw the eunuch’s face gradually break into a wide, blooming smile.
The title of General Who Assists the Nation in Nan’an was neither too grand nor too minor. The current Emperor loved bestowing titles; two Generals Who Guard the Nation had already been appointed, and three Generals Who Assist the Nation. But even so, she was still the most attention-grabbing one.
The reason was simple: her youth.
The eunuch’s smile stretched from ear to ear, his eyes nearly disappearing, “Her Majesty says that your journey, General, was arduous and dusty. You should first return home to rest today, and then enter the palace tomorrow at the Hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM) to express your gratitude. Wine and water have already been prepared in the palace to cleanse the dust from everyone.”
Shen Zhishu calmly replied, “Understood.” She accepted the edict, mounted her horse, and then finally answered Xie Jin’s previous comment:
“I wasn’t nervous originally.”
**
The Emperor bestowed a magnificent General’s Manor upon her. Bells hung under the eaves, gently swaying and ringing clearly whenever the wind blew.
Silver silk charcoal burned in the center of the room, and a few branches of winter plum blossoms, blooming happily, were placed in an enamel vase in the corner.
Shen Zhishu was bathing in the inner room.
She lay in the wooden tub, head tilted back, allowing the serving girl to scoop warm water over her body.
After eight years away, the serving staff had been completely replaced. The one attending her now seemed quite timid; her voice was like a mosquito’s buzz.
Shen Zhishu gathered the plum petals floating on the water into her palm and casually asked, “How old are you today?”
The serving girl whispered, “Ten %#.”
Shen Zhishu didn’t catch it and repeated the question. However, perhaps her tone wasn’t gentle enough, as the girl suddenly shrank her neck, and her voice became even softer: “%?@.”
Shen Zhishu was used to the rough-and-tumble of the military camp and had never encountered such a situation. She subtly sighed, softening her voice, “Don’t be afraid. I don’t eat people.”
The serving girl stammered, “Yes.” Shen Zhishu glanced at her face and noticed it was slightly flushed.
Shen Zhishu: ?
So, this wasn’t timidity, but shyness?
The very next second, the “shy” serving girl suddenly pulled out a knife, flipped her wrist, and fiercely stabbed toward Shen Zhishu’s chest!
Shen Zhishu: …
Shy, my foot.
The girl’s meager skills were clearly no match for the battle-hardened Shen Zhishu. Little General Shen quickly used a skillful maneuver to seize the girl’s wrist.
The water surface splashed loudly, sending up a shower of frantic droplets. Shen Zhishu frowned, looking at the person beside her, and asked, “Who sent you?”
The serving girl completely dropped the act. The blush on her face vanished, and she clenched her jaw, refusing to speak.
Shen Zhishu narrowed her eyes and said, “You know my methods. I have one hundred and eighty-eight ways to make you speak.”
A large slab of snow collapsed from the eaves outside. Birds flew onto the wind chime, causing a crisp, clanging sound.
The serving girl lowered her head, then suddenly looked up and said coldly, “Xie Jin.”
With that, she closed her eyes, as if having made a decision, and the lower half of her face twitched—
This was the prelude to biting her tongue or taking poison to commit suicide.
Shen Zhishu raised an eyebrow, abruptly stretching out her free hand and gripping the girl’s jaw.
With a sharp crack, the serving girl’s jaw was dislocated.
Shen Zhishu’s voice held a hint of a mocking smile, “Don’t think you can frame someone and then die.”
Shen Zhishu gracefully rose from the wooden tub, water splashing onto the floor. A petal was unexpectedly flung out and was lightly stepped on by her bare foot.
Grabbing a sash, she quickly and securely bound the girl, then proceeded to put on her inner and outer robes. She cast a final glance at the serving girl slumped on the floor and called in her trusted aide, who was waiting outside:
“Interrogate this person, and watch her closely. She has poison between her teeth. Search for it, then reset her jaw. Don’t let her die.”
There was some commotion outside, and the other serving girls were all kneeling in the courtyard in fear—an internal spy had emerged from the same batch that entered the manor, so they naturally couldn’t escape blame.
Shen Zhishu, however, found it tedious. She stood lazily with her arms crossed for a moment, then raised a hand, signaling them to rise, and simply said, “It’s irrelevant. Make sure no word of this leaks out.”
This batch of serving girls was bestowed by the Emperor. If she made a fuss, wouldn’t it be seen as opposing the Emperor?
Outsiders would also get a good show of “discord between ruler and minister,” while the hidden culprit could completely escape after sowing discord.
Having been away from the capital for eight years, she had long forgotten what the exhaustion of endless scheming and deception felt like.
Or perhaps she hadn’t forgotten, but having been far from the vortex, she had never truly experienced it.
The snow continued to fall tirelessly. A thick layer accumulated on the rooftop, and a thin sheet of ice covered the small pond, where four or five cold-resistant sparrows perched.
Shen Zhishu suddenly felt that this courtyard was suffocating her.
She slowly walked through the covered walkway to a trellis.
The trellis was likely placed there for grapevines, but the weather was unsuitable now. The bamboo poles were sparse and empty, only accumulating white snow.
Her former residence also had a similar grape trellis, built by Mother He herself from bamboo she cut. During the scorching heat of summer, the family would relax and enjoy the cool shade beneath the dense, sweet grapevines.
Mother He peeked her head out from the side room.
“Are you done bathing?” she asked.
Shen Zhishu replied clearly, “I’m done. Mother, please rest. I’m going to take a look at the Shen residence. Where is Mother Shen?”
“The palace hurriedly sent someone to fetch her just now. I imagine the Emperor has important matters to discuss,” Mother He smiled. “Now that she’s been promoted to Minister, she’s naturally busy here and there. But never mind her, what are you going to the old residence for? Are you not used to this General’s Manor?”
“No, that’s not it. Everything the Emperor bestows is naturally good,” Shen Zhishu shook her head. “I’m just going to look around casually. I won’t be home for dinner, Mother, so don’t prepare anything.”
The loose snow began to fall again, and a few crystalline snowflakes landed on Shen Zhishu’s broad shoulders.
An attendant handed her a great cloak. Shen Zhishu swiftly put it on, mounted her horse, and rode out the door.
Yet, once she truly left the house, she suddenly felt she had nowhere to go.
Eyes from all directions stared at her with fervor, and greetings of “We pay our respects to Little Lord Shen” floated in from everywhere. While returning a smile, Shen Zhishu clenched her teeth and asked her attendant, “I haven’t been back to the capital for eight years. Why does everyone recognize me?”
The attendant on horseback laughed wildly, “Your portrait has spread throughout the capital. Little Lord Shen, do you know why?”
“Why?”
“There are two reasons. Firstly, you pacified the war and are a great hero of Nan’an. The common people adore you, so many bought your portrait and hung it in their homes to pray for you. Secondly… you are young and already a General, with limitless prospects. You wouldn’t believe how many noble youths in the capital are eagerly eyeing the position of General’s Consort, inquiring everywhere about your preferences…”
Before the attendant could finish, Shen Zhishu coughed, “I understand. Say no more.”
The attendant almost couldn’t stop laughing, but was halted by a sharp look from Shen Zhishu. She cleared her throat, still wanting to tease, “So, Little Lord Shen… have you taken a liking to anyone? If you have a sweetheart, ask the Emperor for a marriage decree tomorrow when you enter the palace. It’s guaranteed to happen.”
“No.” Shen Zhishu shook her head and glanced at her. “If you make such jokes again, I will throw you into the mud pit to feed the pigs.”
A thought suddenly popped into the attendant’s mind:
No wonder everyone says that Little Lord Shen is a rare and scholarly military officer.
The scholarly air didn’t refer to her appearance—Shen Zhishu had spent ten years in the military camp and had developed a broad chest and back. She could wield a spear weighing dozens of kilograms with flair and could lift a person with one hand, then swing them around and toss them away.
It likely referred to her manner of speaking—aside from when fighting, she rarely yelled coarsely in daily life. Even when delivering threats, she spoke calmly and steadily, her voice clear yet forceful.
Sometimes, her lips were even curled into a smile.
But when she acted this way, it seemed to have more deterrent power than shouting loudly. Specifically, the moment she showed that half-smiling, half-not expression, others dared not disobey her.
The attendant shrank her neck and changed the subject, “If you don’t like crowds, General, I know a good place.”
“Oh?”
“There’s a large patch of woods outside the city. You can ride your horse there and enjoy yourself.”
Shen Zhishu said, “Oh,” “Do you think I haven’t had enough of riding horses on the battlefield?”
The attendant shrugged, “Then there’s nowhere else to go. Otherwise, you could wear a mask?”
Shen Zhishu sighed, resignedly accepting the cloth mask handed to her by the attendant. She rode to a corner of a small alley where no one was present and wrapped the lower half of her face.
