The murder of Princess Anle brought joy to some and sorrow to others. The Emperor fell ill because of it. When Shen Sheng went to pay her respects, the Emperor looked haggard, his eyes sunken.
Shen Sheng recounted the words Zhou Ying had instructed her to say.
That day, she had gone to escort her sisters-in-law home. On the road, they encountered assassins. She fought desperately to save them, and in the end, she fainted. She knew nothing of what happened afterward.
The Emperor’s eyes were dark and sinister, but Shen Sheng was fearless, her expression unchanged.
The Emperor had no evidence. The Ministry of Justice’s investigation up to now pointed solely to the Jinwu Guards. Shen Sheng had just returned to the capital; how could she mobilize the Jinwu Guards?
Helpless, the Emperor let Shen Sheng leave, but forbade her from leaving the capital.
Shen Sheng left the palace.
When she returned home, Su Lian had arrived. Compared to Shen Sheng’s uncertain future, Su Lian’s future was clearly laid out. She was the Crown Prince’s Secondary Consort.
Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would be an imperial consort, very likely a noble Imperial Noble Consort.
Shen Sheng, in contrast, possessed illustrious military achievements but was met with suspicion from all sides.
Seeing Shen Sheng, Su Lian was overjoyed, insisting that Shen Sheng take her to the rear courtyard to play.
“Princess Anle is dead. It’s truly a cause for celebration. You don’t know that ever since she got married, she’s been badmouthing you everywhere, saying you bring death to your father and brothers, that you’re cursed with an ill-fated destiny.” Su Lian linked her arm with Shen Sheng’s. “Why did you go and save her? You risked life and limb, and the Zhou family is actually saying you caused Princess Anle’s death. It’s infuriating to hear.”
Compared to the matter of Princess Anle, Shen Sheng was more preoccupied with what Anu had said today.
It was all so strange.
When Shen Sheng remained silent for a long time, Su Lian assumed she was terrified and quickly comforted her: “His Majesty summoned you today, and you returned safely. Just a few days ago, I heard you were dying; I was terrified. When Zhou Yi came looking for you that day, he happened to run into the State Preceptor. Are you close with the State Preceptor?”
“Our relationship is passable,” Shen Sheng replied casually.
After three years apart, she didn’t have deep feelings for Su Lian. In the future, the other party would be the Crown Prince’s Secondary Consort. Their paths were destined not to be too closely intertwined.
After walking a few more steps, Su Lian asked again: “Did you and Zhou Yi truly have a child together? But I remember you used to really dislike Zhou Yi.”
“Princess Anle’s words, and you believe them?” Shen Sheng’s eyes flashed with sarcasm. “Anle liked Zhou Yi. Did you ever see my heart waver?”
“Right! That’s why I argued with others. But the State Preceptor said it personally,” Su Lian said nervously. She looked at Shen Sheng’s indifferent expression. “What’s the story with the children?”
“They are the State Preceptor’s children. As for whose they are, I don’t know either. Why don’t you go ask the State Preceptor yourself?” Shen Sheng was utterly exasperated.
One casual sentence from the State Preceptor had thrown her right into the eye of the storm.
As they entered the rear courtyard, the sound of children playing could be heard.
The Shen family originally had four children. Now, in the courtyard, there were six.
Su Lian asked, puzzled: “Why does your family have six children?”
“The State Preceptor has no time to look after the children, so she sent them over.” Shen Sheng sighed. The Shen family today had become a children’s kingdom.
Su Lian’s gaze fell upon Buyan and Buyu. The little children were exceptionally beautiful, with pink, chubby cheeks and bright, dark eyes. They were very striking.
“Ah Sheng, they look a bit like you.” Su Lian stared unblinkingly.
Shen Sheng’s mouth filled with bitterness. “I’d like to say it’s purely a coincidence.”
Su Lian covered her mouth and laughed. “Could they be your elder brother’s?”
Hear that? That’s exactly what a normal person would think. A niece resembling her aunt is perfectly justifiable.
Su Lian sat for a short while then left, leaving a deeply troubled Shen Sheng behind.
In the afternoon, officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Capital Magistrate came together to ask questions.
Shen Sheng repeated to both officials what she had told the Emperor. This time, she took the offensive, asking: “How is it that the Jinwu Guards were disguised as assassins?”
The two officials exchanged glances. The Capital Magistrate stammered. The Minister of Justice himself wore a smile even uglier than a grimace.
The Capital Magistrate, being more honest, replied: “Indeed, troops were deployed. It was someone from Princess Anle’s manor who mobilized them. As for what they were going to do, no one knows now. I won’t hide it from you, Young General, the person who deployed the troops has already died mysteriously. Right now, there are no leads.”
It was as if Princess Anle had mobilized the troops herself to kill herself.
Who would believe such a conclusion?
Neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Capital Magistrate dared to close the case, so they came to Shen Manor to probe for clues.
At this moment, Madam Shen, who was sitting to the side, spoke up: “Who was the one who deployed the troops?”
“The Captain of the Princess Manor guards,” the Capital Magistrate answered on behalf.
“Was he loyal to the Princess?” Madam Shen asked further.
A sudden inspiration struck the Minister of Justice. He stood up hastily and bowed with clasped hands. “Madam, you speak most wisely. We shall go back immediately and continue the investigation.”
The living might not speak the truth, but the dead cannot speak at all.
Shen Sheng was baffled. The two officials left quickly, their expressions animated, as if they’d had a major breakthrough. She turned to look at her mother. “What was that about?”
“I don’t know either. Perhaps they suddenly found a clue.” Madam Shen smiled innocently.
Shen Sheng, who was used to being obedient, didn’t dwell on it. Let them investigate this case however they wanted. Even if the truth came out, so what? The Princess had surrounded her to kill her, and she had killed the Princess in self-defense. Was that wrong?
Given the military achievements she’d accumulated over the years, the Emperor wouldn’t dare kill her.
If he killed her, would the Shen Family Army just sit and wait?
She stayed at home for a day. Buyan and Buyu had fully integrated with the Shen family’s four children. Forget returning to the State Preceptor Manor—they didn’t even mention their mother.
More importantly, Anu wasn’t coming to pick them up!
Ridiculous daughters, an outrageous mother!
Shen Sheng entered the palace and went to the Library Pavilion to find books.
Just as she rode out of the manor, she ran into Zhou Yi. She reined in her horse. Zhou Yi was tall and slender, his chin sharp, his cheeks gaunt. He had lost a lot of weight.
Zhou Yi was dressed entirely in white, looking at her coldly. His deep black eyes were tinged with suppressed fury.
Shen Sheng raised an eyebrow, as if mocking him. Her dark eyes blazed brightly like flames. Zhou Yi being a widower made her feel immensely satisfied.
“Shen Sheng, you dared to kill the Princess. His Majesty won’t forgive you.”
“Oh? I was clearly trying to save the Princess. How could I have killed her? Don’t speak nonsense.”
They locked eyes. Shen Sheng couldn’t be bothered with this scumbag. His cultured, refined act—to hell with it.
She spurred her horse, intending to leave. Zhou Yi blocked her horse’s head. “Whom those assassins were there to kill, you know better than I do.”
“Know? Weren’t the assassins there to kill the Princess?” Shen Sheng blinked, her expression turning mischievous. She laughed mockingly, “Trying to trick me into confessing? Zhou Yi, since I was young, I told you you were sly, climbing up by clinging to my Shen family. Once the Shen family lost its usefulness, you ruthlessly abandoned it. What now? The Princess is dead, and you’ve been beaten back to your original form?”
Zhou Yi’s face flushed dark red with fury. The horsewhip in his hand lashed out at Shen Sheng.
But Shen Sheng was no ordinary woman. She grabbed the whip and yanked it backward, directly pulling Zhou Yi off his horse. The horse’s hooves passed right over his head.
“Shen Sheng, how dare you humiliate me…” Zhou Yi gasped for breath, quickly scrambling up from beneath the horse’s belly. His chest heaved violently, his eyes still fixed rigidly on the person atop the horse.
Shen Sheng looked down from her high position, sneering at Zhou Yi. “Don’t dirty the front of my Shen Manor. Someone, drive him away.”
The Shen household members immediately came out to chase Zhou Yi away.
Zhou Yi clumsily climbed back onto his horse. “Shen Sheng, for today’s humiliation, I will repay you a hundredfold.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Shen Sheng showed no weakness. The Shen family now had nothing left to be schemed against, except for her presence in the court.
After entering the palace, she went to the Cinnabar Peak Palace.
Anu was not there. For some reason, no one stopped her. The attendants guarding the cauldron saw her and simply saluted, then ignored her completely.
She climbed a ladder placed at the side, straining to peer down at the contents within the cauldron. Yet, it was pitch black inside; she couldn’t see a thing.
She found one of the cauldron attendants, casually handed over some money, and quietly asked: “How is the refining of His Majesty’s elixir progressing?”
“It’s not ready yet. You’ve seen it yourself, the State Preceptor is busy, His Majesty is ill, we’re just here guarding it. To be honest with you, we don’t even know what’s inside here.”
The usual materials needed for common elixir refining weren’t present here. It was just dry burning like this. That was why they weren’t afraid of Shen Sheng probing around.
Shen Sheng climbed onto the ladder entrance again and subconsciously touched her purse. It was Anu’s.
Jiang Buyan had swapped it that day, and they still hadn’t swapped back yet.
She opened the purse. Inside were various elixirs. Being careful not to be seen, she casually tossed one inside.
If there was truly nothing inside, she should have heard the clang of the elixir hitting the cauldron.
Strangely, there was no sound at all.
Shen Sheng descended the steps with lingering fear, then faced the flames and extended her own hand. No pain. Not even any damage.
Shen Sheng was baffled. Unable to find answers, she could only leave, feeling disappointed.
Without Anu to guide her, the Library Pavilion was inaccessible.
She wandered aimlessly within the palace. Walking and pausing, she eventually left the court and headed to the State Preceptor Manor.
She wanted to ask Anu if she even wanted her children or not. What was the meaning of leaving them at her house? If they stayed any longer, her Eldest Sister-in-law was going to formally adopt them.
Strangely, Anu wasn’t home. She had gone out.
Instead, it was Qiu Fengqing from the Second Gate who received her. Qiu Fengqing had a curved blade at her waist, which looked quite attractive.
Shen Sheng stared at that curved blade. Qiu Fengqing proactively offered it to her to play with. “The State Preceptor went out on His Majesty’s orders to handle some business. She won’t be back today.”
“What business?” Shen Sheng found it strange.
“She left with the people from the Three Gates.”
Hearing this, Shen Sheng’s heart sank. Leaving with the people from the Three Gates—it certainly wasn’t for anything good.
She asked, “Where did she go for business?”
“Where the State Preceptor goes for business, how could we possibly inquire about it?” Qiu Fengqing didn’t know.
Shen Sheng’s trip was in vain; she hadn’t inquired about anything. Before leaving, she remembered something: “When did you all start following the State Preceptor?”
“Three years ago.”
“How old is the State Preceptor this year?”
Qiu Fengqing still didn’t know.
“What about Buyan and Buyu?”
“Who are Buyan and Buyu?” Qiu Fengqing looked blankly puzzled again.
Three questions, and she knew nothing. Shen Sheng stopped asking and went home.
The first thing she did upon returning home was to question Buyan and Buyu. “How old are you two?”
Jiang Buyan glanced sideways at her. “How old do you think we should be?”
“Four or five?”
“Then why are you still asking.” Jiang Buyu rolled her eyes.
Scorned by two children, Shen Sheng wished she could crawl into a hole. She almost died of humiliation and fury.
Jiang Buyu spoke up voluntarily: “She came here alone. We were born here.”
Shen Sheng stared at the two of them. “Do you two also want to go back to a thousand years ago?”
“Your business has nothing to do with us, okay?” Jiang Buyan stated.
Oh ho, how convenient. Push all the responsibility onto the adults.
Shen Sheng rested her chin on her hand, looking at them. She reached out to pinch their cheeks. “You two have it all figured out, don’t you? I shoulder the big problems, and all you know is how to play.”
Jiang Buyan snorted. “Isn’t it your matter? We can’t do anything about it anyway.”
Jiang Buyu didn’t say much more. She pulled Jiang Buyan and left, as familiar with the place as if it were her own home.
Shen Sheng was utterly depressed. Were these two little creatures sent by Anu specifically to plague her?
