RWNEFE -Chapter 560 Jiang Wuya Exposed

Shen Yuantang sneered coldly. “The head of the household is my mother, yet you want to go to Grandmother? Do you think Mother, as the Mistress, has been bullying you?”

Shen Yuanxin could not accept that accusation.

“I haven’t! That’s not what I meant. Sister, don’t twist my words!”

Shen Yuantang’s tone was sharp. “Speak clearly. You, a secondary daughter, dare call yourself a sister to a legitimate daughter? How dare you?”

The nanny grabbed Shen Yuanxin and slapped her twice, knocking her to the ground.

“You’re dissatisfied, aren’t you? Are you unhappy with my mother as the head of the household?”

At that moment, Shen Yuanxin finally understood where the sense of danger she’d felt in recent days came from.

The inner residence may seem peaceful, but one cannot linger carelessly.

“I am not! I do not hold any grievance against the Mistress. Do not slander me.”

Shen Yuantang lifted her foot to kick her.

“Stop!”

Shen Congwen had returned.

“Father, save me…” Shen Yuanxin knelt on the floor, crying pitifully.

“What happened?” Shen Congwen glared at Shen Yuantang.

The nanny reported: “Master, Miss Yuanxin disobeyed rules. When Grandmother ran the household, she stated that without permission, no one—especially women of the inner residence—may freely enter or leave. Miss Yuanxin disobeyed and went out to meet an outsider.”

“You’re lying…” Shen Yuanxin did not expect someone near Shen Yuantang to openly slander her.

“Father, I did not meet an outsider! I went out on business!”

Shen Congwen immediately took it seriously, as it concerned the Shen family’s reputation.

“Did you ask the Mistress before going out?”

Shen Yuanxin stiffened, her heart sinking.

“Father, I didn’t know about the rules the Mistress set. If I had, I would have asked permission before leaving.”

Shen Congwen did not rush to verify, but asked again: “What business took you out?”

Shen Yuanxin’s face turned pale. At this moment, she realized her father would naturally side with the Mistress.

“Father, my aunt wished to have some pastries from Guiyue Pavilion. You know she’s been ill for some time. It was rare for her to desire something, so I wanted to fulfill her wish. I went, but the pastries she wanted were sold out, so I returned empty-handed.”

Shen Congwen said, “I see you acted out of filial intent. Go back quickly. From now on, without the Mistress’s permission, do not step outside the Shen residence!”

Shen Yuanxin covered her face and glared at Shen Yuantang. Were the two slaps she had received completely for nothing?

Shen Yuantang snorted coldly and said directly, “Father, Mother is new in charge of the household and is swamped with duties. I volunteered to help her manage the women of the inner residence, and Mother agreed.”

Shen Congwen glanced at Shen Yuanxin and said perfunctorily, “Then you shall watch over the inner residence properly. Too many people come and go daily; it needs to be well managed.”

Shen Yuanxin left in tears, embarrassed.

Shen Congwen left as well. Due to the civil examinations, he had recently been attending poetry gatherings and debates in multiple locations to offer commentary. Except for breakfast at home, he was rarely there for lunch or dinner.

This time he returned only to retrieve a poetry collection.

Speaking of which, where was his poetry collection?

Shen Congwen hurried to the study.

On the other side, Shen Lanxi received secret intelligence from Jinmen.

Jiang Wuya had been exposed.

“Your Majesty, Jiang Wuya has penetrated deep into enemy territory. We cannot abandon him.”

Shen Lanxi’s expression was cold as she put down the secret report.

“I have already ordered a rescue, but I fear this information is a trap set by Zhou Ruyuan.”

Che Mingyuan said, “If it is a trap, Zhou Ruyuan will surely want to negotiate with us.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered. She immediately instructed: “Escort Zhou Ruyuan’s family to Jinmen. This matter must not leak.”

Che Mingyuan immediately understood her intent.

“If it is as Your Majesty suspects, I wish to serve as negotiator.”

Shen Lanxi hesitated. “This mission is extremely dangerous. Zhou Ruyuan would not hesitate even to harm his mother. He may not care about the women and children of the inner residence.”

Che Mingyuan’s eyes flashed with hatred. “I have a personal grudge against Zhou Ruyuan. Even if dangerous, I wish to go.”

Shen Lanxi pondered briefly and said, “I will send a pigeon message via Zhao Zheng to ensure your protection.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I am grateful for your magnanimity!”

When he had originally pledged loyalty to the Emperor, it had been for the day he could take down Zhou Ruyuan. Now that the armies were facing off, how could he remain idle?

This was a scene he had only ever dreamed of.

Che Mingyuan strode out of the Hall of Governance, full of vigor and purpose.

Zhao Zheng’s station was nearby, and he soon received Shen Lanxi’s pigeon message.

“Sixteen years, a full sixteen years… I, Zhao Zheng, can finally confront Zhou Ruyuan openly and without concealment.”

“I can finally avenge our Southwest Army!”

Zhao Zheng held the message, laughing and crying, overcome with emotion.

~

“Only a few know Jiang Wuya’s identity. Old Seven is always cautious. When he’s ruthless, he even deceives himself. He would not be the one to slip up!” Feng Wu appeared.

Shen Lanxi said, “Brother Wu, I am uneasy about sending others. I want you to personally lead the reconnaissance.”

Feng Wu agreed.

“Even if you do not speak, I want to go personally. You also need to eliminate any risk among your own people.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze darkened as she wrote down everyone who knew the secret on a piece of paper:

“Che Mingyuan, Wei Dongzhu, Ban Sicao, Cheng Zheng, Sang Guo, Chunxue, Qiushuang.”

Feng Wu’s face turned cold as his eyes scanned each name twice.

“Each of them is suspicious.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze hardened. “Brother Wu, I leave Old Seven to you.”

Jiang Wuya also had another identity: Ghost Valley’s Old Seven. Master of deception, appearing only in fragments. No one but Ghost Valley’s people had ever seen his true face.

After leaving, Feng Wu headed straight for Jinmen.

~

In the bedchamber, Shen Lanxi let her hair down while reviewing memorials.

She picked up a report regarding Jinmen and opened it.

Chunxue and Qiushuang had put away the bedclothes and instructed Cheng Zheng on tasks, then left.

Cheng Zheng carefully placed a dry cloth over her damp hair, then laid it over a warm basin to dry.

The room was quiet, only the rustle of pages and the soft breathing.

“You don’t have to do this.” A clear, cold voice spoke.

Cheng Zheng opened his mouth, anxious, and grabbed paper and pen to respond:

“I am willing.”

“You can have rank, wealth, a lifetime of prosperity, even marry and have children. All of this is yours if you leave the palace.”

But leaving the palace was unnecessary—everything was fine now.

“If you stay with me, you will have no official status. History will not remember you, nor will you have descendants.”

Willing. I am willing.

Shen Lanxi put down the memorial and closed her eyes.

Seeing her rest, Cheng Zheng hesitated briefly, then focused on drying her hair.

He moved carefully, not wanting to disturb someone resting.

No one knew how happy he had been when the strategist sought him out.

To him, she was like the moon on the horizon, the sun in the sky—forever out of reach, admired from afar, never attainable in a lifetime.