Chapter 956: Chapter 952: Astonished (1)
"Mother." The Empress’s face was ashen, with noticeable dark circles under her eyes. She looked at Old Madam Shen and said, "Ah Ji should have arrived in Fujian by now, but why hasn’t there been any news?"
Nanny Mao brought in the medicine, and Old Madam Shen took it in her hand, gesturing for Nanny Mao to leave. She stirred the medicine with a spoon to cool it and replied, "Perhaps the message was delayed on the way; considering the time, there should be news in the next couple of days." She then scooped a spoonful of medicine to the Empress’s lips: "Don’t worry about these matters; I am here for everything."
The Empress opened her mouth and drank the medicine. Old Madam Shen took a cloth to wipe her mouth, and the Empress replied, "I know, but with Yan’er and him not here, my heart can’t settle, and I’m constantly anxious."
"His Highness is under the Emperor’s protection, and Ji’er has gained much experience over the years; he knows what to do, and nothing will happen." She offered another spoonful of medicine, and after drinking it, the Empress said, "I heard that the fifth wife of the Xuanning Marquis Mansion hasn’t woken up yet?"
"A brainless lunatic, not worth mentioning." Old Madam Shen’s face showed contempt: "For a couple to come to such a state over a quarrel and a fight, I indeed overestimated her."
The Empress showed a slight smile, taking the cloth from Old Madam Shen’s hand to wipe her mouth herself. "Hasn’t she always been like this? It’s nothing new; even when the Fourth Madam was at the Marquis Mansion, we often heard about their many affairs... Truly laughable."
Old Madam Shen chuckled and shook her head. The Empress continued, "Regarding Xiao Yanyi’s marriage, I thought carefully last night. I remember that Noble Lady Ying has a sister who is also extraordinarily beautiful and at a marriageable age. What do you think?"
"Oh?" Old Madam Shen raised an eyebrow slightly: "Bring her into the palace for me to see some other time. Marrying someone into the Marquis Mansion might not achieve much, but securing that position could certainly disrupt them a little." The position of Marchioness Xuanning is vacant, and sooner or later, someone will take it. Instead of letting the Xiao Family strengthen themselves through another alliance, it’s better for us to occupy it.
"Okay." The Empress responded softly. Just then, Nanny Mao knocked on the door and entered. The Empress asked, "What’s the matter?"
Nanny Mao looked at Old Madam Shen and replied, "The nanny from Old Madam’s side is requesting an urgent audience and seems very anxious."
The Empress turned to Old Madam Shen, who was also slightly puzzled. Those around her were always very disciplined; they wouldn’t come to the palace without an important reason. She rose and said to the Empress, "I’ll go take a look. You should rest."
The Empress nodded and said, "I can’t sleep; do come back after you’re done talking, and perhaps you shouldn’t return tonight, alright?"
Old Madam Shen gave her a doting but reproachful look: "Still like a child, I know, I know, I’ll be back soon." With this, she left Nanny Mao to serve inside and went out the door herself.
"What’s the matter?" Upon meeting her nanny, Old Madam Shen frowned. The nanny glanced around before whispering, "Old Madam, a letter has arrived from Fujian. They couldn’t find you at the mansion, so they came directly to the palace. What do you think?"
A letter from Fujian at this time must have been sent by Shen Ji; such an urgent request to meet likely meant something important. Old Madam Shen nodded and said, "Take them to Juhua Palace." Juhua Palace was vacant and close to the palace gates.
The nanny took her orders and left, while Old Madam Shen dismissed the female officials accompanying her and went directly to Juhua Palace. Inside, a man dressed as a black-clad guard was already waiting.
"Old Madam." The man knelt to salute. Old Madam Shen looked at him and frowned, asking, "What happened to your leg?" noticing his stiff and awkward walking posture.
At her words, the man’s eyes reddened, and he knelt on the ground without speaking. Old Madam Shen’s heart tensed, and she asked again, "Stand and speak. News from your master—has he arrived in Fujian safely, and is everything proceeding smoothly?"
"Old Madam." The man couldn’t contain himself and started sobbing on the ground, his voice broken: "Young Master... Young Master, he..."
Old Madam Shen’s face changed drastically, hesitating as she spoke: "Speak quickly, what happened?" Her tone was already full of tension.
"Young Master... is gone!" After saying this, he suppressed his sobs while lying on the floor.
Old Madam Shen’s vision went dark; she staggered back a few steps and collapsed into a chair. Her fingers trembled violently as she clutched the armrest. Her face was drained of blood, her surroundings rang in her ears like a buzzing hive, and she felt as though she were dreaming. Shaking her head, she uttered slowly, "Gone? How did he die?"
The man wiped his tears and choked out his reply: "Young Master fell into an ambush, struck by multiple arrows, and lay in a pool of blood. By the time I arrived, he had already stopped breathing."
Old Madam Shen lifted her head, her eyes closing inch by inch with despair, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. She just sat there quietly without a single sob, yet her fingers clenched the armrest with veins bulging on the back of her hands...
The man crawled a few steps toward Old Madam Shen in fear, and anxiously called out, "Old Madam?"
Old Madam Shen didn’t respond but suddenly opened her eyes filled with a chilling demeanor, looking coldly at the man in front of her and asked, "Describe the situation in detail."
He began recounting slowly what had happened back then. After Shen Ji reached Fujian, he learned that Shen An and Shen Ning were at Sansha Castle, so he sent people to search for their whereabouts in the city. After two days without any leads, they decided to set people outside the tavern Fourth Master Xiao owned in the city. After half a day, they didn’t find the two men but discovered Shen Ning in the brothel next door. Shen Ji immediately took people to the brothel and dragged Shen Ning, who was in the middle of dalliance with a brothel girl, back to his quarters. After rigorous questioning, Shen Ning, showing some grit, refused to say anything. Shen Ji, realizing nothing could be extracted, left clues in Fourth Master Xiao’s tavern for Shen An, suggesting an exchange of Shen Ning for the late Empress’s posthumous child.
The plan was a straightforward baiting tactic, but unexpectedly Shen An agreed and revealed a meeting place at a place outside Sansha Castle called Qingyang Slope.
"Wait." Old Madam Shen’s voice was stiff as she interrupted him: "I seem to have heard of Qingyang Slope before."
The man paused momentarily, hung his head, and replied, "Back then... Marquis Xiao was slain there."
Old Madam Shen’s body stiffened, a deep chill spreading within her heart as the puzzle gradually became clear. She nodded and said, "Continue."
He told about the later events: Shen Ji arrived early at Qingyang Slope and hid his forces nearby, waiting for Shen An. However, instead of Shen An, hundreds of skilled black-clad individuals descended upon them. Shen Ji was caught completely off guard. When his escort of two hundred guards broke through, only six were left by his side. Luckily, he had been in the rear guarding Shen Ning, which spared him; otherwise, he...
Furious, Shen Ji realized he had fallen into their trap. He dispatched someone to notify the Fujian Governor and Chief Lei for assistance. But the messenger discovered yet another piece of news: there had been no pirates landing around Fujian Sea Area, all was peaceful, and the locals had not heard of any such disturbances this year.
