Shen Man turned her head, a smile tracing the corners of her eyes before vanishing without a trace.
Resentment?
Of course, I wouldn't resent you.
I resent the entire Shen Estate.
I resent my eldest uncle who caused my father's death; my grandmother who favored him; my second uncle who encroached on my father's wealth; my aunts, concubines, and servants who bullied me and my mother; you, who knew everything yet deliberately indulged and turned a blind eye; and the word 'filial piety' that weighed me down, allowing me no recourse.
Soon, I will no longer resent. Soon.
Shen Man regained her smile and hurried towards the front courtyard to call for her eldest uncle, Shen Wencong.
Seeing her leave, Shen Zhong pushed himself up from the table. He first walked to the window and opened it, ensuring no one was outside, before closing it and turning towards the bookshelf.
...
"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Yipinjui."
The shadow guard presented the letter before the imperial desk. Ji Hong raised an eyebrow slightly. "Yipinjui?"
He took the letter, broke the seal, and opened it, reading with a speed that furrowed his brow deeper with each line.
"R'er has told Father more than once that the current Nan Shiying is not like the former Nan Shiying, and there's a possibility of her being replaced and impersonated. But Father never paid heed. I used to think it was because Father didn't believe me, but now I feel perhaps Father knew all along that the current Nan Shiying was not the former Nan Shiying... Did Father place someone identical to Nan Shiying in the princely estate, or perhaps... offer her to Ji Jinmo...
Now that she no longer conceals herself, R'er feels uneasy. If Father has been colluding with the Prince, then this subject's daughter... this subject's daughter dares not imagine her own fate, nor Your Majesty's safety. This subject does not seek Your Majesty's favor, only wishes for Your Majesty to grant this subject the opportunity to become the sharpest blade in Your Majesty's hand."
Undeniably, Nan Yuan'er was very intelligent, but some things, due to too many unknown speculations, would lead to misinterpretations.
Ji Hong did not know if his Imperial Aunt was still the same Imperial Aunt. However, his Imperial Aunt was definitely not Qingyuan, the hidden guard whom Nan Chaoyin had previously thought her to be. Nan Yuan'er's speculation was not entirely wrong, but she had no way of knowing his relationship with his Imperial Uncle. Even less would she understand that from the very beginning, she had no path left, no place to escape.
"Send someone to escort Nan Yuan'er to the palace."
"Yes!"
An envoy was dispatched to the Nan Estate to escort Nan Yuan'er to the palace. The common folk gossiped, speculating whether His Majesty would expedite the date for the Empress's enthronement ceremony.
Upon entering the palace, Nan Yuan'er did not meet Ji Hong but was accommodated in Suiyu Garden.
...
Shen Man applied something to the letter from the clan elder to Shen Zhong. She successfully located where Shen Zhong had hidden the letters and found all of Shen Zhong's correspondence with various parties over the years, as well as ledgers and accounts.
That old scoundrel Shen Zhong had indeed lied. The place Shen Man found the letters was entirely different from where he had revealed it under torture. The place he mentioned must have been rigged with traps. Fortunately, she had made a backup plan and hadn't fallen for that old scoundrel's entire scheme.
After handing the letters and ledgers to the dark guards of the princely estate, Shen Man lay on a bench in the winding corridor of the courtyard, gazing at the moon above. July was approaching, and the full moon would be soon. On the fifteenth of August, she hoped the entire Shen family would have a reunion in the underworld.
...
On the journey from the capital to Medicine King Valley, Nan Shiying endured eleven assassination attempts.
Blood flowed, painting a map of footprints. Passing through Xiling, officials knelt in welcome. Cao Zhiwei knelt in the center, his gaze fixed on the Regent's Consort, who had not disembarked from her carriage, a look of dazed realization on his face.
The news that Feng Luan was the Consort had already spread throughout Linyuan, and they had naturally heard of it. Now, seeing that beautiful face, radiant like the scorching sun, impossible to gaze directly at, and recalling the scene of rivers of blood in Xiling County just a few days prior, it was truly difficult to associate her with the terrifying figure who, with a mere word, had slaughtered the Ghost煞 Gate. How could they be the same person?
Yet, her journeying thousands of miles in person to escort the poison elder to his final resting place sufficiently corroborated the truth of this matter.
"Consort, long live, long live, long live!"
Hearing the collective greetings, Nan Shiying merely nodded slightly. Xuan Yi guided the carriage into Xiling County. After resting for a day, they continued their journey towards Medicine King Valley.
At the inn at the foot of Medicine King Valley mountain, white lanterns were hung. Qingzhu and Qingyuan sat on a large rock at the entrance of the small town, gazing into the distance.
Dust billowed up from afar. The sound of hooves and carriage wheels drew nearer. Qingyuan jumped down from the rock. Xuan Yi reined in the horses, and the carriage stopped before the large rock. Nan Shiying lifted the curtain of the carriage window and peered out.
"Little..."
The words "Martial Aunt" were swallowed by Qingyuan.
Who was this beautiful older sister?
Wasn't this the princely estate's carriage?
"Just the two of you?" Nan Shiying asked.
Qingyuan blinked and quickly looked towards Qingzhu. Qingzhu opened his mouth and tentatively called out, "Little Martial Uncle?"
Nan Shiying responded with an "Mm" and beckoned to them. "Come up and we'll talk!"
Qingzhu swallowed his astonishment, pulled the stunned Qingyuan, who was still standing there, and climbed into the carriage.
The coffin was placed in the center of the carriage. A long, slender, fair hand rested on the coffin. Qingyuan's gaze shifted upwards from the fingers to the face of unparalleled beauty.
Qingzhu appeared much calmer than her, though he too seemed somewhat dazed.
"Little Martial Uncle, Grand Martial Uncle and Martial Uncles are all in Bantianyuan."
After receiving the news of Martial Uncle's passing, Grand Martial Uncle and Martial Uncles had prepared to head north to personally escort Martial Uncle's coffin back. Later, upon hearing that Little Martial Uncle was personally escorting the coffin back, they had not marched towards Linyuan. Two days ago, they heard that Little Martial Uncle had entered Xiling County, and they had descended the mountain early this morning.
Nan Shiying replied with an "Mm" and asked no further questions.
"Little Martial Uncle?"
Hearing Qingyuan's voice, Nan Shiying turned her gaze to her.
Seeing the inquiring look directed at her, Qingyuan quickly waved her hand to explain, "No, it's nothing. I... I just wasn't sure, so I called out, just to try!"
Shen Man remained silent for a moment, as if finally finding her voice. "And the result?"
"She believed it, she believed it!"
Qingyuan nodded vigorously, "We had heard of your identity, but we had never seen your true appearance. I never dreamed, even in my dreams, that Little Martial Uncle would be like a celestial maiden who had strayed into the mortal realm. I was momentarily struck by your beauty and couldn't quite recover."
Qingzhu turned to look at Qingyuan, his gaze appraising her as if she were a talent. Alright, this little mouth is really capable of blabbering!