Nan Yuan'er suffered from soul-splitting disease. The new soul that split off meticulously recorded important matters in a notebook. The original intention was for the original soul to be aware of what it did while possessing the body. However, a secret is best kept hidden in one's heart to be truly secure.
Alas, her secret was revealed.
The candied fruit pastries were a bit too sweet. Nan Shiying took another sip of tea, her mind mulling over matters concerning Shen Man… and which Nan Yuan'er she was currently dealing with.
Ji Jinmo, with a keen eye, refilled Nan Shiying's tea without disturbing her. He let one hand rest on his leg, playing with a coral bracelet, while his other hand hovered over the teapot, his fingertip tracing the patterns along the rim.
The wind rose on the lake, causing the boat to sway.
Nan Shiying tossed aside the pastry in her hand and stood up. The scenery was unappealing today, and she had no desire to continue cruising or enjoying the sights.
Upon returning to her manor, she sought out the Poison Elder.
She went to inquire about the soul-splitting disease.
In truth, aside from the main soul being unaware of the split soul, while the split soul knew everything, individuals afflicted with soul-splitting disease could not maintain clarity indefinitely.
Furthermore, this illness was beyond the cure of medicine and herbs; it was a malady of the heart.
Thus, there was no solution!
Nan Yuan'er had gone mad because of that disabled hand?
Nan Shiying let out a cold laugh. Although she had gone mad, her mind had become considerably sharper than before.
Jia Huan reported that the captured assassins had confessed.
…
The iron cavalry thundered through the streets, their deadly aura shattering the surface tranquility as the Demon Hunting Army surrounded the Shen manor.
"What do you think you're doing? My master is Shen Zhong, the former Grand Tutor of the previous dynasty and the current Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy. How dare you surround his residence with weapons…"
The Shen family's butler was kicked flying by the captain of the Demon Hunting Army, his body crashing heavily onto a rockery. His questioning words were choked off by blood; with a single kick, half his life was taken.
The captain of the Demon Hunting Army led his troops into the Shen manor and apprehended all the members of the Shen family.
"Are you rebelling?"
"The Regent has amassed his own army, monopolizing state affairs. Now, he brazenly invades the residence of a court official and arrests a high-ranking minister. Is Your Highness no longer concealing his ulterior motives?"
"Rebellious subjects are enemies of the people, to be誅 by all. Esteemed sirs, open your eyes and see. If the officials do not join hands to resist, we will truly be reduced to fish caught on others' knives!"
Shen Zhong's second son, Shen Man's second uncle, unafraid of the blades and axes, looked towards the crowd of citizens gathered outside the Shen manor and shouted with all his might. He was the most upright and loyal minister, a minister unafraid of death for justice and righteousness, a minister who could use his death to prove his point, a minister who believed in the existence of justice in this world, and a minister willing to sacrifice his life to awaken the common people.
The captain of the Demon Hunting Army watched his performance with a cold gaze. Perhaps it wasn't just a performance; Shen Zhong's son might not have known what his father and elder brother were plotting.
The captain of the Demon Hunting Army did not silence him, allowing him to shout.
"Rumble~"
A deafening sound echoed from the distance. The Black Armored Army, escorting an imperial envoy, sped towards the Shen manor.
As they approached the Shen manor, the two armies met. The citizens, startled, retreated. However, the two armies did not engage as the citizens expected. The captain of the Black Armored Army escorted the envoy into the Shen manor, and the Demon Hunting Army did not obstruct them.
The envoy opened the imperial decree and read: "Shen Zhong of the Shen manor plotted to harm the current Prince, his crime is unforgivable. I am deeply saddened, yet I feel there are strange circumstances surrounding this case. Therefore, the male members of the Shen family will be temporarily imprisoned in the inner jail, and the female members will be confined to the manor, forbidden to step out except in cases of life or death."
Shen Zhong's second son's ears buzzed upon hearing the decree.
The Shen family assassinated the Regent? How was this possible? Even with a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to act so!
"His Majesty is wise! There must be something peculiar about this matter!"
He shouted.
The envoy nodded, then turned and smiled at the captain of the Demon Hunting Army: "General, please receive this decree!"
The captain of the Demon Hunting Army lowered his head, looking at the decree handed to him by the envoy. This imperial decree was not for the Shen family but for the Demon Hunting Army. The captain's gaze followed the decree to the envoy's face. The latter was smiling, but the hand holding the decree trembled slightly. He took another step back and almost bumped into the armor of the Black Armored Army captain behind him.
Recalling the Prince's orders, he knelt on one knee and accepted the decree.
Sweat dripped onto the scroll of the imperial decree. He turned his hand, shaking the sweat from his palm.
"That person will be handed over to the honorable envoy. The Prince trusts that His Majesty will provide an explanation." As he rose, his hands still cradling the decree, his words carried a chilling undertone.
"Naturally!"
The envoy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The Demon Hunting Army had dared to level the Ministry of Justice in the past. If they had refused to hand over the person today, it would have led to a major confrontation. Standing in the middle of the battlefield between the two armies, his small life would have been precarious. Before coming to deliver the decree, he had prepared himself mentally. Seeing that matters had proceeded smoothly, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The Black Armored Army took all the male members of the Shen family into custody and escorted them to the inner jail.
The envoy returned to the palace to report.
The Demon Hunting Army remained, continuing to surround the Shen manor.
As Shen Man had gone out to the outskirts for a spring outing and lake tour, she did not receive the news immediately. However, Nan Yuan'er received a message from Nan Chaoyin.
"Sister Shen!"
Nan Yuan'er pulled Shen Man into the carriage and handed her the letter directly: "This is a letter my father sent urgently. Please take a look!"
Shen Man frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled as to why Nan Yuan'er wanted her to read Lord Nan's letter. Nevertheless, she took it and read it, her eyes scanning the words rapidly.
"This… how could this be…"
The letter fluttered to the ground. Shen Man's face was filled with horror as she instinctively clutched Nan Yuan'er's wrist. Perhaps due to her shock, she had unconsciously exerted some force. Nan Yuan'er's wrist ached from the grip, and what made it worse was that she was gripping her disabled hand.
A trace of malice flickered in Nan Yuan'er's eyes, but she used her other hand to press down on Shen Man's hand. Seeing the cold sweat on Shen Man's hand, she said with gentle comfort, "Father's intention is for you to disguise yourself as my maid and return home with me. Currently, both the Demon Hunting Army and the Dali Temple are searching for your whereabouts. Within the entire Shen manor, apart from you, Sister, only young Master Shen and your cousin are not present. Your two elder brothers have now been found and taken to the inner jail. You are the only one who has escaped."
"In this situation, there are still many matters for you, Sister, to handle. You cannot be confined to the manor, unable to do anything, only praying to the heavens and gods day and night."
"But, but…"
Shen Man's face was deathly pale, revealing a hint of weakness and fear. Nan Yuan'er seized the opportunity, forcefully pulling Shen Man's hand off her wrist and gripping it tightly. The pain of the bones being squeezed together made Shen Man's face even paler.
"There is no 'but,' Sister. The fate of the Shen family now rests solely on your shoulders."