Chapter 107 The audacious Shen Suining.

Chapter 107

Xie Chang had many students during his lifetime. Although he had no children, on the day of his funeral, three thousand students from the Imperial Academy walked hundreds of miles to see him off as he left the capital, creating a spectacular scene.

His funeral arrangements were handled entirely by He Hansheng. In addition, due to frequent visits to various residences during the year-end season, He Hansheng did not return home much until after the Lantern Festival.

Ever since the eldest princess fell seriously ill, the vast Yong'an Marquis's mansion has been exceptionally desolate. After Xie Chang passed away, the mansion felt as if it were covered with a layer of ice, so cold that even wrapped in layers of clothing, one still felt chilly.

Jing Yue stood in front of the mansion gate, rubbed his hands together, and asked Jing Hao, "Do you think this winter is particularly cold? There were several heavy snowfalls before the New Year, and the sky hasn't cleared up since."

“Yes, the weather is very unusual this year,” Jing Hao nodded in agreement. “Even the Marquis is wearing more clothes than in previous years. I wonder if the Madam is used to the northern winter.”

At the riverside villa, Shen Suining shivered and threw another handful of sawdust into the stove. This was a spice specially prepared for her by Su Xiyao, which could calm the mind, soothe the liver, and relieve depression.

She has been restless lately, tossing and turning at night, and her complexion is visibly poor.

The person sitting opposite her was even more ashen-faced, yet his ears were strangely red, like pig liver, and his eyes were darting around. His thin body was curled up, bracing himself for the storm that was about to break.

Sure enough, the next second, the scroll and pages were thrown at his face, accompanied by Shen Suining's barrage of curses: "Chen Qianche! Are you out of your mind? Have you completely ignored all the lessons Master Zhang taught you over the years? Are you trying to curry favor with the King of Hell? Why are you acting as a ghostwriter for those young masters!"

Chen Zui's face turned bright red, and he didn't dare to say a word in his defense.

He wanted to say that he had been deceived. The first time Zhuo Wenbin and his group invited him to a writing competition, they told him not to sign his essays so that the competition would truly reveal his abilities. Chen believed them. But later, Zhuo Wenbin changed the name on his essays and used them to appease the teachers at the Imperial Academy.

Chen Zui was unaware of this matter at first, but his article was praised by the Master and quickly spread throughout Huadu. Zhuo Wenbin then came to ask him to write a few more articles for him.

Chen Zui naturally refused, but Zhuo Wenbin threatened him, saying that if Chen Zui did not agree, he would let the whole world know that Master Zhang Xuanqing's student was seeking fame and fortune by ghostwriting for others in the capital.

Chen Zui was furious, but he didn't know how to handle the situation. So Zhuo Wenbin coaxed him into writing a few more articles for him, and his cronies also took advantage of the situation. Now, Zhuo Wenbin has gained some recognition in Huadu through Chen Zui's writings, attracting attention. Even the Crown Prince knows his name. The two of them panicked, but Zhuo Wenbin threatened Chen Zui, saying that they were now in the same boat and that if things went wrong, they would both be ruined.

But Chen Zui dared not tell Shen Suining these things. He had already caused trouble, and any explanation would be futile. When he realized that he might not only damage Master Zhang's reputation, but also implicate Marquis Pinghuai, Chen Zui immediately went to Shen Suining and confessed the truth.

After Shen Suining found out, it took her a great deal of effort to control her temper.

If the people from the manor had done such a foolish thing, let alone just being punished according to the manor's rules, even being crippled and thrown down the mountain would not have caused any objections. But Chen Zui was Zhang Xuanqing's most beloved disciple. When Master Zhang strongly opposed him going down the mountain, it was Shen Suining who personally guaranteed that he would bring him down.

Seeing that Shen Suining remained silent for a long time, Chen Zui became a little flustered and couldn't help but call out, "Sister Shen..."

"Don't call me sister. If my mother gave birth to a brother as stupid as you, I would kick him back into her belly overnight." Shen Suining stood up with a cold smile.

"Where are you going?" Chen Zui saw that she was about to leave without saying a word and hurriedly tried to chase after her. "Sister Chen! This trouble is my fault, I don't care if I die, but the teacher—"

"Shut up."

Shen Suining turned around and stopped him, her eyes icy cold, instantly drenching Chen Zui from head to toe. He subconsciously feared what Shen Suining was about to say.

But Shen Suining left in a hurry without saying a word. Chen Zui sat down on the spot, staring blankly at the paper and pen on the table for a long time before finally making a decision.

...

The Yong'an Marquis's Residence.

He Hansheng had just returned to the capital after handling Xie Chang's funeral arrangements. Before he could even have a sip of tea, he heard that something big had happened in the palace. The Crown Prince, Prince Zhao, Grand Tutor Xue, Prime Minister Lin, Shen Yan, and others were all in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Emperor had issued two imperial edicts, ordering him to enter the palace immediately without delay.

So He Hansheng hurriedly changed into a suitable outfit for entering the palace, not even bothering with the Princess, and rushed to the palace.

"He Hansheng!"

Before Shen Suining even arrived, her voice came first. He Hansheng stopped with his back to her and heard her say in a rather stiff tone, "I need your help."

He Hansheng didn't ask what it was about, only saying that he would talk about it when he returned, and then got into the carriage.

Shen Suining was clearly not one to wait for him patiently. After standing there for a while, she also went out. She was going to the Xu family to find Xu Lanji. The reason was simple: Zhuo Wenbin was Xu Yong's student, and the articles that Chen Zui wrote on his behalf were all circulated from the Imperial Academy.

From Chen Zui's perspective, she was also in the wrong. At this critical juncture, she really wanted to let Chen Zui fend for himself, but for Zhang Xuanqing's sake, Shen Suining couldn't just ignore it.

But Shen Suining couldn't handle this matter, so she could only go to Xu Lanji to see if she had any ideas.

However, before Shen Suining arrived, the Dali Temple soldiers who had raided the Xu residence arrived. Across an alley, Shen Suining saw the plaque in front of the Xu family's gate, inscribed with "The Legacy of Three Yields," lying on the ground, mercilessly trampled by the passing soldiers and servants being escorted out of the mansion, leaving a huge crack.

Despite the magnitude of the incident, Xu Yong, the head of the household, was not present. Madam Xu, who stood guard at the gate of the mansion, remained unmoved. Even as the soldiers surrounded the Xu mansion, she did not retreat an inch.

The leading officer, Yan Fu, helplessly reminded her, "Madam, Lord Xu has already been taken to prison. His Majesty has ordered that all servants of the Xu household be executed, slaves be resold, and female relatives be imprisoned separately. Madam, are you trying to defy the imperial decree by blocking our way to bring Miss out?"

Madam Xu said nothing more, only, "My husband was only summoned to the palace for questioning. I will stand here today and wait for him to return."

Yan Fu said, "Madam, please forgive my indiscretion, but Lord Xu... I'm afraid he won't be coming back."

Madam Xu's lips trembled almost imperceptibly, but her body remained completely still, repeating only, "I'll wait for him to come back."

Yan Fu had always respected Xu Yong, and even though he was under imperial command, he couldn't really force Madam Xu. He tried to persuade her with all his heart, but to no avail, and the two were deadlocked, neither willing to back down.

But then people from the Xu household were brought out one after another; they were all servants of the manor. Shen Suining stood there watching for a long time before finally realizing what was happening—

Madam Xu did not retreat in order to protect Xu Lanji.

It was at that moment that the two looked at each other from afar through the crowd. Madam Xu's eyes finally softened a little, but Shen Suining couldn't see the emotions in her eyes. She only saw Madam Xu give her a barely perceptible nod.

So Shen Suining turned and disappeared into the crowd. Almost at the same time, Madam Xu took advantage of Yan Fu's inattention, snatched his knife and held it to her own neck.

"Madam! Don't be impulsive!" Yan Fu panicked, clearly not wanting anyone to die at this moment.

Mrs. Xu smiled, called Yan Fu by name, and asked, "How old were you when you first met your Mr. Xu?"

Yan Fu cried and said he was nineteen years old.

He was slow-witted and his enlightenment came later than others. His family was also poor, and everyone said that he would not be able to pursue a life of studying. It was Master Xu who, in the dead of winter, carried two catties of pork and walked several miles to his house to persuade him to come back.

Yan Fujia was just a butcher who helped people slaughter pigs. If it weren't for Master Xu, he wouldn't be where he is today.

Madam Xu recalled that Xu Yong had run schools in rural areas more than ten or twenty years ago. After returning to the capital, he persuaded his former students to come to the Imperial Academy to study. He could be quite stubborn at times. Some parents would chase him out of the house with a broom, but he would just brush them off and say that he would come back another day.

She looked at Yan Fu, gave a slight smile, and said softly, "Mr. Xu has many students, and you are one of the more successful ones. He has never asked any of you kids for anything in his life, but today, I want to ask on his behalf."

“Yan Fu, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you, but Zhen’er… could you please not take her to another place to be detained? Just keep her at the manor, and everything else is fine.”

Before Yan Fu could answer, Madam Xu swiftly and decisively slit her own throat.

Her last words were, "Please."

...

Riverside Villa.

Shen Fengyu's injuries had not fully healed, so Ling Rui had to stay with that little fool Chen Zui.

Seeing Shen Suining return, she asked in surprise, "Young Master, didn't you go back to find..."

"Let's not talk about that for now. Lingrui, go and tell Sister Su to come over right away." Shen Suining helped the unconscious Xu Lan into the house, startling Chen Zui, whose pale face flushed red again.

Shen Suining ignored him, took Xu Lan into the inner room, and kicked the door shut.

She had just managed to sneak into the Xu family home, intending to bring Xu Lan out, but she refused to leave. Shen Suining had no choice but to seal her acupoints and forcibly bring her out.

She also said that Chen Zui was a fool who was eager to pay homage to the King of Hell, while she herself was the audacious one who dared to kidnap people right under the nose of the Dali Temple, without even knowing what had happened.

Shen Suining didn't rush to release Xu Lanji's acupoints. This girl looked aloof and cold on the surface, but she was actually a person with her own ideas. She didn't have the mind to deal with her at the moment.

Not long after, Ling Rui brought Su Xiyao over. Shen Suining said directly, "Xu Lanji's personal maid said she is not feeling well. I don't trust any other doctors, so I can only trouble Sister Su to take a look at her."

Su Xiyao nodded and took Xu Lan's pulse.

Taking advantage of this moment, Lingrui quietly told Shen Suining that Madam Xu had committed suicide and was no longer alive.

Shen Suining's pupils trembled. She asked about the situation at the Xu residence. Ling Rui said that the Dali Temple had ordered the residence sealed off, and the family members were being held captive and could not step out of the gate.

After a long silence, Shen Suining sighed deeply and said to Ling Rui, "Have someone keep an eye on Madam Xu's funeral arrangements. Even if we can't follow the proper etiquette at this time, we must at least not mistreat her."

Lingrui nodded. "It's already been arranged."

At this moment, Su Xiyao had finished taking Xu Lanji's pulse. She looked at Shen Suining with a rather solemn expression, "Young Master guessed correctly, it is a pregnancy pulse. Miss Xu... she is pregnant."