Chapter 26: Using Each Other as Tools

“Exterminate nine generations of their family… I don’t know how the Shen family offended Zheng Qiao, that they ended up like this?” Shen Tang finally found his voice after a long while.

The Imperial Censor went against Zheng Qiao in this way, and the Gong family was suspected of hiding the Imperial Seal. The two families were only exiled instead of being exiled—exile is a terrible thing, but at least they can survive for a couple of days.

When it comes to the Shen family, is it simply a matter of exterminating their entire clan?

A genuine collective cancellation of household registration certificates.

If this body really is Tian Zhong's "niece-in-law," it's hard to say whether the young girl is unlucky or unlucky.

If she stayed with the Shen family, she would be killed; if she married into the Gong family, she would be sent to the Xiaocheng Jiaofang (a type of brothel), where her fate would likely be worse than death.

To everyone's surprise, Tian Zhong shook his head.

"Nobody knows."

"Don't know?" Shen Tang's voice rose slightly. "How could you not know? Tian Langjun, think again. For example, the Shen family impeached Zheng Qiao, or the Shen family cut off Zheng Qiao's path to advancement... There's no such grudge? But if there's no grudge, why would they immediately order the extermination of nine generations of his family?"

"That's also what I'm wondering about..."

The Shen family was exterminated, along with their entire clan. Even their former friends and students tried to save them, but those who dared to speak out were either demoted or killed. Zheng Qiao's methods towards the Shen family were so ruthless and his attitude so unyielding that no one dared to stand up for them again.

Tian Zhongdao said, "Logically speaking, the Shen family is not considered a major clan in Xin State, so how could they have caught Zheng Qiao's attention?"

This is already a embellished version of the statement.

To put it bluntly, during the years when Zheng Qiao was causing trouble in Xin Kingdom, the Shen family didn't even have the right to breathe loudly in front of him!

The family members followed a moderate path, or rather, their abilities were limited. They were neither too outstanding to attract envy, nor too mediocre to be completely ignored. They neither followed the trend to curry favor with popular ministers, nor did they offend any insignificant minor official.

No matter how Tian Zhong tried to recall, he couldn't remember any conflict between the Shen family and Zheng Qiao, yet only the Shen family was exterminated along with their entire clan.

Furthermore—

Shen Tang's attitude bothered Tian Zhong.

So he probed, "Young master, you seem to care so much about news of the Shen family, do you have some connection with them?"

Actually, he wanted to ask something else, such as whether this young man was the twin brother or younger brother of Madam Shen, and whether he had concealed his identity and grown up among the common people for some reason.

The two are so alike.

Tian Zhong once suspected that Shen Tang was the unlucky eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family, but seeing the Wenxin monogram hanging on Shen Tang's waist dispelled his doubts. Everything else can be faked, but gender cannot be faked.

He was certain that even if this young master Shen was not the elder brother of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family, he still had some connection with the Shen family.

Shen Tang neither nodded nor shook his head.

Although Tian Zhong meant no harm, given the current situation, it's better to avoid trouble and the fewer people who know, the safer it is.

Tian Zhong, sensing that Shen Tang had no intention of continuing the conversation, changed the subject and started talking about Qi Shan. To be honest, he was quite interested in Qi Shan and wondered how Shen Tang and Qi Shan had gotten together. When he asked his father about Qi Shan, his father glared at him.

well--

Shen Tang said, "It's probably fate."

Tian Zhong asked in surprise, "You met by chance and then traveled together?"

"This won't work?"

Tian Zhongdao said, "It's not impossible. Our benefactor is highly talented, and his literary talent and potential in language are unmatched in this world—at least that's my opinion. If he encounters the right ruler in the future and is willing to submit, his literary growth should not be underestimated. However—"

"Just what?"

The question above wasn't asked by Shen Tang.

A familiar male voice came from behind them.

Shen Tang and Tian Zhong turned around simultaneously, meeting a pair of deep, dark eyes. They both immediately went silent. Tian Zhong even stood up abruptly, his hands hanging awkwardly at his sides, a blush of embarrassment creeping from his neck to his cheeks.

The benefactor was the one who saved him and his father, but they lost their composure during their conversation and actually started talking about their benefactor behind his back...

If I weren't afraid of scaring people, I'd want to slap myself twice. Father was right, this mouth that keeps running around should really be sewn up!

He opened his mouth to apologize, but Qi Shan raised her hand to stop him.

He dismissed Tian Zhong simply: "I got up in the middle of the night and heard Master Tian coughing faintly..."

Tian Zhong immediately went down the steps.

"Father is not feeling well? I'll go and see him right away."

They slipped away like greased feet and vanished in a flash.

Qi Shan sat down in Tian Zhong's original spot. He had obviously heard the conversation between Shen Tang and Tian Zhong, and he smiled as he poked at the campfire.

"I never expected I would guess wrong. Young Master Shen is not a member of the Gong family, but rather of the Shen family..."

Shen Tang: "..."

Don't make promises you can't keep.

Her intuition told her that Qi Shan would probably be proven wrong again.

Without concrete evidence, she herself dared not be certain that this body belonged to Madam Shen...

Shen Tang remained silent, and Qi Shan continued, "Since the Shen family has been exterminated, and young master Shen has no relatives left in this world, it's better not to go to Xiaocheng. Get some rest, and we'll go to a nearby town tomorrow."

"When did I say I wouldn't go to Xiaocheng?"

Qi Shan looked surprised: "You're going?"

Knowing that Qi Shan was using a feigned retreat as a tactic to advance, Shen Tang still said, "Go, why wouldn't I go? I followed Yuan Liang to learn skills. In this world, survival is the most important thing. We can talk about the rest another day. I'm just curious, what do I have that Yuan Liang would value? You seem to really want me to go to Xiaocheng, but in my opinion, taking a burden on the road will not benefit you."

Seeing that Shen Tang had seen through the facade, Qi Shan was slightly surprised, but said with unusual seriousness, "Young Master Shen, you are not a burden."

Naturally, they would do this because they have ulterior motives.

Those who scheme are inherently unscrupulous and will not act without self-interest.

This spirit is something even unscrupulous merchants admire.

Shen Tang understood his unspoken words, smiled, and remained silent.

She used Qi Shan as a tool to provide encyclopedia knowledge, and she herself was used by Qi Shan as a tool to achieve some goal?

We're all just tools to each other; it's fair and just.

"Yuanliang, I have another question."

Qi Shan: "Go ahead and ask."

Shen Tang looked in the direction Tian Zhong had left.

“I was puzzled by something Tian Shouyi said earlier. He said, ‘If you meet the right wise ruler in the future, you will be willing to submit to him. Your growth in literary talent should not be underestimated.’ What did he mean by that?”

Her intuition told her that there seemed to be a deeper meaning behind this.

"That's the question, but you don't need to know."

Shen Tang: "???"

With a complex expression that words could not describe, Qi Shan said to her, "Young Master Shen, not all literary talents are the same. Tian Shouyi's words were directed at most strategists and warriors who possess both literary talent and martial prowess. But I sincerely hope that you are not among them."

Shen Tang: "???"

What are you trying to keep in suspense from her again?

She changed the subject: "Can I know what you're going to Xiaocheng for? At least let me be mentally prepared..."

After all, Qi Shan is the kind of guy who loves to betray his teammates.

Be careful, or you might get scammed without even realizing it.

Qi Shan looked up at the bright moon in the sky, the night breeze ruffling his hair and concealing the thoughts in his eyes. Shen Tang only heard his voice say, "To collect a debt. I have a long-standing debt, and I will travel thousands of miles to collect it, even if it's just to collect some interest."

Shen Tang: "..."

She muttered to herself.

Debt collection?

I didn't believe your nonsense!

What old debt could have fueled Qi Shan's murderous intent?

The night ends and the day dawns.

The next day, the two parted ways with the Tian family.

The latter was going to seek refuge with relatives and friends; staying within Zheng Qiao's sphere of influence would inevitably lead to his death. Shen Tang and the other were going to Xiaocheng.

Exhausted, but the foreshadowing has been laid.

Yesterday's post wasn't a spoiler. I just don't like unnecessary melodrama and misunderstandings. After all, the mystery of the female lead's background is one of the main and subplots of the novel, but the biggest main theme is still career. Focus on career, including the male lead and all working people.

(End of this chapter)