Chapter 957: Chapter 953: Stunned (2)
He was speechless with shock, his entire body chilling.
Falsely reporting military affairs, this was no longer something Shen An and Shen Ning could accomplish alone!
He suddenly thought of Lord Wu in the court and Elder General Chen, who had suddenly fallen ill... could they have known long ago, that everyone had secretly woven a huge web, waiting for Shen Ji to fall into it?
In the midst of chaotic fury, he dragged Shen Ning out, murderous intent arising, and Shen Ning was beaten to the brink of death. In terror, he finally confessed the truth; everything in Fujian was a trap set by Fourth Master Xiao, aiming for Shen Ji to fall in. He also mentioned that Fourth Master Xiao had instructed to spare Shen Ji’s life...
The implication was that as long as he remained alive, other matters could be dealt with at will. How to deal with them? Sever his limbs and abandon him in the desolate mountains to die? Or imprison him in some place for life, never to return to the Capital?
Only sparing his life? Shen Ji found it mocking, and laughed uncontrollably. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Then tell me, is the late Empress’s posthumous child in your hands or not?"
At this moment, Shen Ning, terrified of further violence, was willing to do anything as long as he could stay alive. Without hesitation, he replied, "No, the Prince is not in our hands; it’s just bait to lure you here."
Shen Ji was enraged, grabbed Shen Ning by the collar and kicked him twice, asking, "Then tell me, where is he? Does this person exist?"
"Yes, yes!" Shen Ning answered, "I’ll tell you, but you must promise to let me go."
Shen Ji squinted coldly, pulled out a dagger and held it to Shen Ning’s neck, the icy chill consuming Shen Ning’s reason. He replied, "He... is in Fourth Master Xiao’s hands; Xiao Huaimin is the late Empress’s posthumous child!"
It is indeed Xiao Huaimin, what a cunning Fourth Master Xiao, who truly has deceived him thoroughly.
In anger, Shen Ji’s dagger moved, and blood splashed out as Shen Ning’s eyes widened, collapsing stiffly.
"Someone come." Shen Ji called them over: "Now return to the Capital immediately and report this to Mother." They accepted the orders and prepared to leave, while Shen Ji instructed the remaining five: "Today, we are crossing the sea, getting on a ship to Guangdong, and returning to the Capital from there."
Everyone complied, packed briefly, and took advantage of the night to leave.
But as they opened the main gate, before they could mount their horses, a torrential rain of arrows came shooting at them from the sky, endless and overwhelming. Hearing the sound behind him, when he turned back around, he saw Shen Ji pierced by several arrows, lying in a pool of blood. He himself was also hit in the arm. He rode his horse as if his life depended on it, traveling day and night, cutting off the arrow on the road. To this day, the half arrowhead remains in his arm.
"That’s how it happened. I pushed myself to the limit to bring this news back to you." He spoke, grinding his teeth with righteous indignation, saying, "Grand Dowager, you must seek justice for the master and our fallen brothers."
Old Madam Shen felt as though she died once over. She leaned powerlessly against the back of the chair, waving her hand: "I know, go recover from your wounds now."
The person gave Old Madam Shen a deep glance, knocking his head down upon leaving, devoid of any spirit.
So, this whole affair from start to finish was a trap laid by Fourth Master Xiao. Initially spreading news that the late Empress’s posthumous child had fallen into the hands of commoners, and later the Emperor sending Shi Shengjie to search for him, until now, the pirates’ chaos in Fujian... All these were traps meticulously set by Fourth Master Xiao step by step!
She was muddled; she should have realized much earlier. Were the late Empress’s posthumous child truly in Shen An’s possession, where were any traces after she sent people to hunt them down? Why did they return to the Capital and announce this news afterwards? It was clearly orchestrated secretly with Fourth Master Xiao in the Capital.
Now recalling the military reports from Fujian, doubts abound; Lord Wu had always advocated lifting the sea ban, yet Fujian barely opened for half a year when this disruption occurred. And still, he sat calmly in the court without losing composure. Elder General Chen, whose health had always been robust, suddenly fell ill, and information from Fujian just happened to arrive at this moment.
All this was clearly a well-timed bait, pushing them little by little into the trap.
She had not even considered it!
The most chilling realization was, despite Fourth Master Xiao’s elaborate plot, it was impossible for him to achieve all this alone, whether with three heads and six arms or many other methods. How many people knew? How many were involved? Suddenly, she felt surrounded by eyes full of greed watching her!
Shi Shengjie? Elder General Chen? Lord Wu? Who else?
Such painstakingly crafted schemes!
She shook her head in regret, hopelessness creeping in. She wished she could immediately tear such people to pieces, the sorrow of a parent burying their child—the pain no greater than a mother’s heartbreak.
Her Shen Ji, in his prime, with many unfulfilled tasks, had not yet seen the Eldest Prince ascend the throne—gone, slain by such executioners.
Her Shen Ji, clever, generous with the qualities of a great general, yet kind-hearted, killed by these butchers!
She was unwilling, unwilling!
These people, not a single one would be spared, never!
She clenched her teeth tightly, blood trickling from the corners of her mouth, which she did not wipe away, the drips staining her gown.
Outside, the sky darkened bit by bit, and someone cautiously knocked at the door: "Old Madam Shen, are you inside? The Empress requests your presence."
Old Madam Shen opened her eyes, supported herself on the chair, and slowly stood up, smoothing out the creases in her attire with deliberate movements, then opened the door, her eyes blankly staring straight ahead, as she turned and walked to Fengwu Palace.
They said it was for a while, yet it was an entire afternoon without the Empress. The Empress, unaware of what Old Madam Shen did alone in the hall, eagerly asked upon seeing her mother: "Mother, what has happened?" Seeing her calm yet pale and lifeless complexion, she panicked: "Did something happen to Yan’er?"
Old Madam Shen’s gaze gradually returned, she looked at the Empress, shook her head and replied, "Yan’er is fine!"
If not Yan’er, then what happened? The Empress asked nervously, "Could it be... Ji’er?"
Old Madam Shen’s tears, even when forced inside, flowed in front of her daughter. This matter could not be hidden, the court all already knew. The Empress knew it was only a matter of time, so she may as well tell her directly. Watching the Empress’s horrified expression, she slowly recounted the news of Shen Ji’s incident.
Before she could finish, the Empress fainted dead away.
A flurry of chaos ensued in Fengwu Palace. After finally reviving the Empress, she began to cry loudly, mother and son embracing and mourning for a long time in the palace. Old Madam Shen wiped her tears, saying: "Do not think wildly, rest well, now it is most critical to recuperate your health. As for matters outside, leave them to me." She finished, her face grim: "I will not let Ji’er die in vain."
