Chapter 958: Chapter 954: Stunned (3)
The Empress lifted her tear-filled eyes, full of hatred, and said, "Mother, that Xiao Huaimin absolutely cannot be spared."
Old Madam Shen stood there, her gaze quietly observing the palace servants coming and going outside the hall, silently without a sound. The Empress lay there, clenching her fist tightly: "And Fourth Master Xiao, one day, I will ensure the entire Xiao family accompanies Ah Ji in death."
"Do not act impulsively." Old Madam Shen turned her head, the dim candlelight casting shadows on her face, her eyes revealing a cold killing intent. She restrained herself and spoke: "I have a plan for Xiao Huaimin, as for Fourth Master Xiao..." She stopped speaking, but a cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
The death of Imperial Uncle Shen Ji spread throughout the Capital within half a day. When Xiqiu returned from the Tong Mansion, the usually bustling streets turned into a scene of an empty city for the first time; no servants were calling customers to the taverns outside, the brothel full of glittering decorations had no women leaning over the railings to sell smiles and attract guests, street vendors had packed up early, and all the households were shut tight, not even the barking of dogs could be heard.
She leaned against the carriage wall, recalling the words Fourth Master Xiao once whispered in her ear: "Have Shen An and Shen Ning return to Fujian disguised as pirates to lure Shen Ji there..." In that brief sentence, she knew Xiao had made extensive plans behind the scenes, otherwise, so many steps would not have remained without a trace of noise, and the Shen Family wouldn’t have fallen into his trap so unwittingly.
Still, she was shocked by Shen Ji’s death, because she knew Fourth Master Xiao did not intend to truly eliminate him, merely to confine him in Fujian, waiting for the right moment to release him back to court, by which time Min’s return to the Imperial Family would be certain, allowing for another struggle between them, and it would not matter who won or lost.
It must be Shen An; surely Shen An privately altered Fourth Master Xiao’s orders, shooting Shen Ji in Fujian.
Shen Ji was the Empress’s brother, the foremost maternal relative of the current court; while the Shen Family suffered greatly in the previous incident with Lord Zhang, their influence was still formidable, both in society and within the court, publicly and secretly. Moreover, his mother was Princess Changting, the only legitimate eldest princess of the current dynasty, an affiliation such that were Shen to stamp her foot in the court, the Capital would shake in response. Now the head of the family is dead, coinciding with the Emperor’s absence from the court, how could everyone not feel anxious and tense?
The ordinary people need not be mentioned, never having the power to bind a chicken; even the court officials who once supported Shen Ji going to Fujian, unaware at the time, were likely as tense as a startled flock, fearing the wrath of Old Madam Shen seeking revenge for her son’s unjust death, left only to become cannon fodder and grave accompaniments in this matter.
Xiqiu sighed, sipped tea from a cup, and lifted the curtain of the carriage to gaze outside; how would the Emperor react upon learning of this?
He doesn’t believe Fourth Master Xiao could act in such ways without the Emperor being informed!
Even negligence is an action.
What response would Old Madam Shen have? Surely, it would be soul-crushing; what would she do next?
Xiqiu squinted her eyes!
Xiqiu returned to the mansion, where Madam Qian and Madam Ruan were already waiting for her. Xiqiu was not surprised to see them; Madam Qian urgently said, "There wasn’t the slightest whisper beforehand; how could this sudden death happen?"
Madam Ruan sighed deeply, "I didn’t expect it either; the pirates in Fujian this time were nothing like the incident back then with Marquis Xiao, and Shen Ji had only just arrived in Fujian, how did..." Although they were happy about Shen Ji’s death, the suddenness without preparation made it difficult for them to accept.
Old Madam Shen only has this one son; if he’s dead, they don’t know what she might do; they have witnessed her means before; otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible for the Shen daughter to be managing the Six Palaces in the present court, and she still holds the late Emperor’s Imperial Decree, which is her greatest trump card. If things get out of hand and she is pushed, she might turn the court upside down.
"Fourth Madam." Madam Qian looked towards Xiqiu’s calm expression, "Do you know about this matter, did old Fourth mention anything to you?" They also sensed something suspicious about Shen Ji’s death, suspecting there was a reason behind it.
Xiqiu looked at Madam Qian, shook her head and said: "I hadn’t heard anything beforehand either." Madam Qian furrowed her brows and, pulling Xiqiu’s hand, said: "In these days, we should take precautions; people at home should avoid going out unnecessarily; one never knows what she might do, better to be safe than sorry."
Xiqiu nodded in agreement and comforted her, saying: "The Eldest Prince remains by the Emperor’s side, and Old Madam Shen is a smart person; ultimately, her actions are for the Eldest Prince’s future. As long as the Eldest Prince is present, she wouldn’t dare act rashly." She isn’t afraid of Old Madam Shen or the Empress using drastic measures but instead hopes they will make some extraordinary moves, as only then can they expose flaws, achieving their goal more easily. However, it is apparent Old Madam Shen isn’t such a person; following her previous style, she’ll definitely proceed gently but surely until the Eldest Prince ascends the throne, then, turning back, eliminate those she wishes to resolve.
She now worries about Min. According to the First Master’s account, after arriving in Fujian, Shen Ji did not meet the Fujian Governor or other officials, but went directly to Sansha Castle... Shen Ji must’ve done this for one reason: to find Shen Ning and Shen An, and eliminate the late Empress’s posthumous son before Shi Shengjie.
He captured Shen Ning, and although she has never interacted directly, given he once intercepted her carriage in the street, he must be impulsive. Such a person under torture might confess Min’s identity, mightn’t he?
If it’s so, Min will inevitably be in danger.
Old Madam Shen won’t rest with anything else; in this matter, she absolutely won’t relent, allowing the late Empress’s legitimate son to return to the court. With the Emperor’s remorse for their motherhood-son relationship, Min would become the greatest competitor to the Eldest Prince’s succession. How could she permit such a thing to happen?
Thinking of this, she wavered in tension; did Fourth Master Xiao foresee this? Surely he could protect Min properly.
Should she act in some way? What could she do?
"Fourth Madam." Seeing her lost in thought, Madam Qian asked, "Are you alright?"
Xiqiu returned to her senses, shook her head, and replied: "I’m fine, just thinking about some matters." Then, she added: "Is Consort Wen still in the palace?"
Madam Qian didn’t understand Xiqiu’s implication but nodded, "Yes, she remains in the palace overseeing the Phoenix Seal." She continued, "I suspect the Emperor will return to court ahead of schedule, possibly departing within these two days; by calculating, he’ll arrive in the Capital around early June."
Xiqiu agreed; there’s no way the Emperor wouldn’t return upon hearing of Shen Ji’s death.
"We should head back sooner." Madam Ruan urged Madam Qian: "Traveling at night is not safe," still worried Old Madam Shen and the Empress might act explosively.
