Chapter 274 Shen Chu is fake, should we expose her?

Whoosh!

Two basins of water were poured down, and the two tall, thin Taoist priests sat up in surprise.

The skinny Taoist priest wiped his face, looking completely bewildered. "Huh? Is it raining?"

The Taoist priest reacted much faster than him, and immediately spotted Shen Qingshuang sitting at the head of the table.

"Young lady, I don't know where I have offended you? Please forgive my rudeness and spare my life."

Shen Qingshuang covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, looking at the two of them with disgust.

"Are you two Taoist priests from Baiyun Temple in Huzhou?"

The Taoist priest nodded, "That's right."

"You know Shen Chu?"

The two tall, thin Taoist priests exchanged a glance.

The Taoist priest's eyes darted around, and he said with a grin, "Chen Chu, oh, Master Shen was raised in our Taoist temple since he was a child, so of course we know each other."

"We, the humble ones, have come to see Lord Shen today to catch up. May I ask who you are, young lady...?"

Shen Qingshuang did not answer their questions, but instead gave them orders with a touch of arrogance.

"Since you know each other, why don't you tell me about Shen Chu's situation in the Taoist temple?"

The thin Taoist priest breathed a sigh of relief. "So, young lady wants to hear about Master Shen's life at the Taoist temple. What kind of story would you like to hear about?"

Shen Qingshuang: "For example, did Shen Chu have any strange habits while in the Taoist temple? Did she have any enemies? Or was there anything abnormal about her?"

"Oh, these things? That girl has come to the right place. I..."

The tall Taoist priest quickly interrupted the thin Taoist priest, "When the young lady asks a question, my fellow disciples and I will answer to the best of our knowledge."

"Yeah...we haven't eaten for two days straight, my stomach is growling really loud, and my mind is completely blank; I can't think of anything."

Shen Qingshuang frowned and instructed her maid to go to the kitchen to find some food.

The maid went to the kitchen and brought back a roast chicken, two side dishes, and a pot of wine.

The two Taoist priests devoured the food like starving ghosts, finishing everything in no time and emptying the plates.

Shen Qingshuang asked impatiently, "Can you tell me now?"

The thin Taoist priest said, "If you ask about Lord Shen's quirks, there is one: he is not close to his fellow disciples in the Taoist temple."

He usually stayed in his own courtyard, living with the nanny and maids who cared for him, and rarely even came to the main hall.

Shen Qingshuang's face suddenly fell.

"So you're saying you two don't know each other at all? Liar!"

The Taoist priest quickly waved his hand, "Miss, you misunderstand. Although we have met infrequently, I know a secret about Lord Shen."

Shen Qingshuang's eyes lit up. "What secret?"

The Taoist priest rubbed his hands together. "It's just that the two of us have come all the way from Huzhou to the capital, and we've run out of money. You see..."

Shen Qingshuang was immediately furious, "Are you playing me?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare." The Taoist priest chuckled. "You are a person of high status and wealth. Even if we had ten times the courage, we wouldn't dare to mess with you."

This is truly a shocking secret! The girl who bought this secret from us definitely won't lose out.

Shen Qingshuang hesitated for a moment, but still had someone bring them one hundred taels of silver.

"Tell me quickly, what secret?"

Although the Taoist priest felt it was too little, he dared not be presumptuous any longer. He leaned forward and whispered:

"The young Master Shen of today is not Shen Chu who was fostered at Baiyun Temple at all, but Shen Chu's good friend!"

"What?"

Shen Qingshuang's expression changed drastically, and she suddenly stood up.

------

After a while, the cicadas outside started chirping louder and louder, which was very annoying.

Empress Feng was so angry that she swept the teacups off the floor and said, "Go, have someone stick all the cicadas outside out."

The trusted nanny lifted the curtain and came in to report, "Your Highness, Miss Shen from the Marquis of Changning's residence has sent an invitation to request an audience."

"I won't see you," Empress Feng said impatiently, waving her hand.

"What time is it? Why is she causing trouble?"

If Marquis Changning hadn't suddenly gone mad, the Crown Prince and the Feng family wouldn't be in such a passive situation now. Just find an excuse to send her away.

Empress Feng had previously shown some affection for Shen Qingshuang, but that was only because of her cousin, Chen.

Now that Chen is dead, and the Marquis of Changning has put the Crown Prince and the Feng family in such a passive position, she feels more disgusted with Shen Qingshuang.

The trusted nanny continued, "But Miss Shen said she has a very important secret that she wants to tell you in person. It concerns Shen Chu."

"Chen Chu?" Empress Feng's face showed anger when she heard this name.

She paused, then instructed her trusted nanny, "Bring Shen Qingshuang in."

Soon, Shen Qingshuang was led in and knelt down before Empress Feng.

"Your Majesty, Qing Shuang knows that my father has done something wrong and angered you, but the secret I am about to tell you may be able to help you out of this predicament."

Empress Feng narrowed her eyes slightly and did not tell her to get up.

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Shen Qingshuang immediately relayed the words of the two tall and thin Taoist priests to Empress Feng.

Upon hearing this, Empress Feng sat up straight.

"You're saying Shen Chu is a fake? The real Shen Chu was burned to death at Baiyun Temple? Is that really true?"

Shen Qingshuang nodded.

“It is absolutely true. I have had someone check the identity documents of those two Taoist priests. They are indeed Taoist priests from Baiyun Temple in Huzhou.”

According to their confessions, the fake Shen Chu was a friend of the real Shen Chu. After the real Shen Chu was burned to death, he impersonated Shen Chu and went to the capital to take the imperial examination.

After saying that, Shen Qingshuang took out the blood-written letter that Chen had left before her death from her bosom.

"This was left by my mother before she passed away. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Empress Feng frowned as she looked at the words on the document.

Is Shen Chu a person named Bai?

What does this mean?

Shen Qingshuang said, "At first, I was also puzzled and even gave this blood-stained cloth to my father."

My father became suspicious and secretly sent someone to Huzhou to investigate, but the person he sent disappeared without a trace.

Looking back now, I think what my mother really wanted to write was: Shen Chu is a fake.

My mother must have discovered Shen Chu's flaw, which is why she found a way to keep this bloodstained cloth.

"Your Majesty, if Shen Chu is an imposter, impersonating someone else to participate in the imperial examinations, that's a crime punishable by exile or beheading."

A glint suddenly flashed in Empress Feng's eyes, and she reached out to help Shen Qingshuang up.

"Good child, where are those two Taoist priests now?"

“I have already sent people to keep an eye on them at my home.”

Empress Feng said with a face full of praise, "You are a smart child. You must keep a close eye on those two Taoist priests and not let anyone know of their existence."

And absolutely do not reveal anything about Chen Chu's affairs; we need to discuss this matter further.

If the Crown Prince escapes danger this time, I will certainly not treat you unfairly.

Shen Qingshuang's eyes brightened slightly. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Empress Feng ordered someone to secretly send Shen Qingshuang away.

The trusted nanny couldn't wait to say, "Your Highness, should we expose Chen Chu's identity immediately?"

Empress Feng shook her head, seemingly lost in thought.

"No, it's no use exposing him now. His Majesty has already ordered He Zhengxiang to investigate the Crown Prince and his brother."

Even if Shen Chu is beheaded, it won't save the Crown Prince and my brother from danger.

We must make good use of this opportunity and reveal Shen Chu's identity at the right time to gain the greatest benefit.

"Therefore, you should immediately leave the palace secretly and tell my brother about this, so he can figure out a solution."