Chapter 80 [VIP]

"cooperate."

Shen Xu's fingers tightened slightly as he held the prayer beads.

"Meow."

A black tabby cat stretched on the octagonal table, then leaped onto the chaise lounge, rolled around on his sleeve, its soft belly facing upwards, and meowed affectionately.

A flower petal had somehow gotten stuck to its fur. Shen Xu pulled his sleeve away and turned his head away in disgust.

Shenmao was never one to back down easily. It had all the bad tempers of a cat. When Shenxu ignored it, it first rolled over and waited for a while, then tentatively tried to hook its paw at his sleeve.

With a swish, the fingernail pulled out a thin thread.

The cat's eyes suddenly lit up, and it excitedly began rubbing its paws together.

Wipe, wipe, wipe.

Shen Xu's brow twitched, almost reaching the edge of his patience. Xie Yingchen, his hair tied with a jade crown, a perfectly curved smile on his lips, walked in with steady steps, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He gave Shen Xu a slight nod as a greeting, then sat down on a round-backed chair. Qin Chen stood behind him, carrying a chicken-wing wood food box.

"Meow?"

The cat twitched its small, black nose, jumped off Chen Xu's lap, and strode over to him. It stared at him menacingly, arched its back, and let out a low, menacing growl. Its ears snapped back, and the fur on its tail stood on end. Every single hair seemed to say one thing: Disgusting!

Xie Yingchen tilted his head slightly; he had seen this cat before.

"Shenmao, come here."

He beckoned to the cat.

With its tail held high, the cat jumped back onto Shen Xu, its rear end facing Xie Yingchen, and continued to sharpen its claws on Shen Xu's exquisite and gorgeous sleeves.

Xie Yingchen: ?

Last time when I was in the palace, this cat was quite affectionate towards me, but now it's acting like it's my mortal enemy.

Shen Xu sneered.

It seems this young master's luck has turned around.

He hates lucky people, and so does his cat. Excellent!

"Cooperation?" Shen Xu raised an eyebrow, the smile not reaching his eyes. "I don't understand what the young master means."

He leaned back casually, raising his sleeves to rest his forearms on the soft pillow, the bright red sleeves inlaid with gold thread flying wildly like tassels. The cat swiftly flicked its tail and pounced, pressing several strands of thread under its paws.

Sheng Jiang watched from the side, his brow twitching.

Xie Yingchen leaned against the armrest of the grand chair with one hand and got straight to the point: "Master, is it possible to obtain the position of Left Commander of the Five Armies Commandery?"

Sheng Jiang twitched the corner of his mouth. Young Master Chen really dared to say that.

The Five Military Commands hold supreme power over all military forces in the land. There are only two commanders, the Left and the Right, both of whom are first-rank officials. The current Left Commander is Gong Hai, who commands the Imperial Guards and is the emperor's most trusted confidant.

Gongzi Chen asked for the Five Armies Commandery. Given his status, even if his master could get it, would he dare to accept it?

Shen Xu smiled mockingly, as if laughing at his overestimation of his abilities: "Young Master, it's not good to ask for such an exorbitant amount."

Sheng Jiang and Wu Shang couldn't help but compose themselves. In the private room, only the sound of the cat sharpening its claws could be heard.

Xie Yingchen said calmly with a smile, "Chief Supervisor, the position of Left Admiral is now vacant. Do you think Prince Jin might be interested?"

Shen Xu raised an eyebrow: "You're going to give it to Prince Jin?"

“Only when there is profit to be made will one proceed gradually. Otherwise, why would the Prince of Jin abandon the western frontier he has been cultivating for so long?”

Xie Yingchen disliked testing the waters and wasting time.

When he sent Wuweizi back, he specifically asked, and his master said that Yaoyao didn't have much time left. Yaoyao had already single-handedly steered the thread of fate in another direction; she was constantly suffering the backlash from the Heavenly Dao.

Xie Yingchen once didn't mind having dealings with Shen Xu, with mutual exchanges of benefits.

However, not now, time doesn't allow it, Xie Yingchen wants to bring him onto the same boat.

Shen Xu suppressed his smile, slowly twirling his prayer beads. His slightly narrowed peach blossom eyes gleamed with the predatory light of a wild beast: "That may be true, but why should I go to such lengths for you?"

"Meow."

The cat, satisfied, stretched and shook its glossy fur. Xie Yingchen casually picked up a peacock feather from the table and teased it, making his intentions clear.

"Eight years ago, bandits were rampant in Yongzhou, and they would often attack cities and cause chaos. However, Blackwater Fort was not in the bandit-infested area, and life was peaceful there. Later, a new general came to Yongzhou. The general transferred troops from various cities to suppress the bandits, and four thousand of the five thousand garrison troops in Blackwater Fort were transferred away. Unexpectedly, not long after, the bandit leader escaped with a group of bandits and occupied Blackwater Fort."

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on Xie Yingchen's profile and casting dappled shadows. On the other side of the lattice door, a female opera singer sang a tune, occasionally eliciting cheers from the audience.

Shen Xu suddenly gripped his sleeve, his voice turning cold: "Shut up."

Xie Yingchen said unhurriedly, "In Blackwater Fortress, there is a horse merchant family surnamed Yin. The bandit leader needed the Yin family to get him fine horses, so he treated the Yin family very politely and did not harm a single member of the Yin family. However, the rest of the people in Blackwater Fortress were either robbed or plundered, and all those who resisted died. The Yin family had a young son who was hot-blooded and could not stand by and watch the bandits kill indiscriminately. He overestimated his abilities and wanted to save the whole city."

Shen Xu's eyes were deep and somber.

"I told you to shut up!"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone devoid of any anger or frustration. His face was as cold and unfathomable as a stagnant pool, yet it also carried a hint of crazed bloodlust, surging with a suffocating killing intent.

He lifted his eyelids, drew his Wu Shang longsword, its blade gleaming with a chilling light, and pointed it directly at Xie Yingchen's throat.

Xie Yingchen raised his hand to signal Qin Chen not to move, his eyes, which seemed to see right through Shen Xu.

The sword's edge hovered at the tip of his throat, sending chills down Qin Chen's spine. His arms were taut, and he leaned forward slightly, ready to strike at any moment.

Xie Yingchen shook the peacock feathers and said without a trace of emotion, "The Yin family brat secretly left the city and sought help from a guerrilla general. The guerrilla general was righteous and immediately sent troops, and the Yin family brat followed him into Blackwater Fortress."

"He thought he was a hero who had saved the whole city."

"Until he saw the bandit leader enter the guerrilla general's tent."

Sheng Jiang's brow twitched as he listened, and he unconsciously swallowed, feeling a chill creep into his internal organs.

He prides himself on his loyalty, but that doesn't mean he's willing to hear such confidential information.

Wu Shang held his sword expressionlessly, pointing it at Xie Yingchen, while Xie Yingchen was leisurely twirling peacock feathers to tease the cat.

The peacock feathers bounced, and the cat desperately suppressed its instincts, refusing to play with someone it disliked. It meowed softly and rubbed its fluffy head against Shen Xu's face.

Huh?

I didn't push it away!

The cat was overjoyed and, taking advantage of the situation, slapped his face with its paw, leaving a shallow paw print.

A chilling glint appeared in Shen Xu's eyes.

"Later, the entire Yin family, numbering over 120, was executed on charges of being bandits."

Xie Yingchen casually raised his hand and deflected the sword blade pressed against his throat. Seeing that Shen Xu did not react, Wu Shang stood with his sword in hand, without making any further movements.

A rain cloud blocked out the sunlight, and the private room suddenly became much darker. The interplay of light and shadow added an unsettling atmosphere.

Finally, Shen Xu spoke, his soft voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"Does the eldest young master already know who that guerrilla general is?"

He sneered, "Are you trying to tell me that it's Xie Lu?"

Xie Lü was the original name of the Prince of Jin.

Shen Xu scrutinized him like a chess player examining his opponent, trying to see exactly how many chips he held in his hand.

His wide sleeves, which had been pulled loose like tassels, were spread out on the white fur cushions of the chaise lounge, just like fresh blood in the snow, vivid and glistening.

Shen Xu's pupils were stained with the bright red sleeves, his eyes bloodshot, which made his cheeks appear even paler.

That winter, blood stained the snow.

Everyone in the small house died, killed by his naiveté and his overestimation of his abilities.

He died because of his ridiculous hypocrisy.

He examined all the copies of imperial edicts and memorials from the Directorate of Ceremonial, as well as all the appointment documents for officials and soldiers, but found nothing. Of the memorials from the twentieth to the twenty-second year of the Taiyuan era, only one or two out of ten remained.

"Before the Emperor ascended the throne, he walked through the palace once, which the Chief Supervisor must know."

Xie Yingchen flicked his peacock feathers, swaying them on the cat's head. The tabby cat, who initially disliked him, grew impatient with his teasing and turned to pounce. The moment its paws touched the peacock feathers, its whiskers bristled, and it excitedly hugged the feathers, kicking with its hind legs.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere in the private room was like a fully drawn bow, exchanging words as if each one was carefully considered.

Even Qin Chen subconsciously held his breath.

Xie Yingchen's lips curved into a smile, and he spoke slowly and deliberately in the silence: "Master, our goals are the same."

"How about the cooperation?"

This is the second time Xie Yingchen has mentioned cooperation.

He winked at Qin Chen, who was standing behind him, and Qin Chen stepped forward and placed the food box on the table.

Inside the food box was a silver wine pot and a pair of silver wine cups.

Xie Yingchen held the wine pot himself, and the amber-colored wine flowed into the silver wine cup.

"I mentioned last time that if given the chance, I would like to share a drink with the Grand Eunuch. I wonder if this is the right opportunity now?"

Xie Yingchen had a smile on his face, and his every move exuded an air of authority that left no room for refusal.

The prayer beads in Shen Xu's hand fell to the ground.

The guerrilla general of that time sat on a tall horse, his face obscured by the dim light and his helmet.

Is it Xie Lü, the Prince of Jin?

Or is Xie Yingchen merely using his lie to bring down the Prince of Jin?

Xie Yingchen filled two glasses of wine and handed one of them over.

"Whether the Prince of Jin served in Yongzhou or not, once he falls into the hands of the Eastern Depot, you, Chief Supervisor, have countless ways to make him talk about it, don't you?"

"I have no conflict of interest with the Chief Supervisor at present, and I do not want to have another enemy in the future."

"Why not trust me just this once?"

These words struck a chord with him, and Shen Xu silently raised his hand to accept the wine.

Xie Yingchen made a toasting gesture and drank it all in one gulp first. The liquor went down his throat, and the pungent taste almost made him cough.

If he actually coughed it up, Shen Xu would most likely think he had poisoned the wine.

Shen Xu stared at him, swirling the wine in his glass.

The aroma is from aged wine, and it has a wonderful fragrance.

Xie Yingchen covered his mouth with his sleeve and swallowed the wine, which spilled onto the back of his hand like flowing droplets of water.

He said, "It's not poisonous. I just... can't hold my liquor."

Is this what they call being unable to hold one's liquor? This is clearly someone who can't touch a drop of alcohol.

Shen Xu let out a sneer: "Poisoning me would do you no good at all, Young Master Chen." His laughter carried a hint of pleasure as he downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

He toyed with the silver wine cup with his slender fingers: "Only for the Prince of Jin."

Xie Yingchen repeated: "Only for the Prince of Jin."

The two made a pact by high-fiving each other.

Their palms touched three times in a row.

Shen Xu lowered his hand, and his wide sleeves spread out, revealing the gold threads on them shimmering with a faint light.

"It's a pleasure to work with you."

"Meow."

The tabby cat climbed onto his lap, staring intently at Xie Yingchen.

Xie Yingchen got up to take his leave.

Sheng Jiang breathed a long sigh of relief; he had been so tense just now that he almost thought he was going to suffocate.

So, now the master and the eldest son are in a cooperative relationship?

This young master is quite capable. Who would have thought that just two or three months ago he was merely his master's prey?

Shen Xu casually flipped through the pile of impeachment memorials, picked out the most incisive one, and tossed it to Wu Shang.

"Send all of these to the Emperor, and place this one on top. Also, tell Sun Xin to go and try to break into the Meridian Gate."

Wu Shang bowed respectfully.

He deftly arranged the folders on the table, placed the one that had been tossed aside on top, and then carried it away.

"Get out."

These words were spoken to Sheng Jiang.

Sheng Jiang wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling grateful that he had lived another day.

Everyone left.

Shen Xu lay alone on the chaise lounge.

He stared disdainfully at his sleeve, which was torn to tassels by his gripping, then casually grabbed a dagger and swung it down, sending the sleeve fluttering to the ground. The cat raised its little head and watched for a moment, then strolled over to his side and pressed its paw against the back of his hand.

The paw pads were soft and gentle, just like the hand that held his tightly that day.

"Don't be afraid. Your sister is here."

In a daze, he seemed to hear her voice again.

He pressed his temples, trying not to recall the memories, but they kept washing over him like a tide.

After their parents pushed them into the secret passage, they locked it.

The elder sister led them out of Blackwater Fortress, their faces and bodies smeared with mud. The elder sister said that once they reached the border and obtained a horse, they would go to the capital to appeal to the emperor.

The Yin family are not bandits. No!

However, they were discovered.

They fled desperately until they reached a dead end. Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, his sister smothered him and stuffed him into a crevice in the rocks. Unable to move, he could only watch helplessly as his sister wiped the mud off her face, tied up her deliberately loose hair, and revealed her beautiful face.

They dragged her away.

She was dragged away by a group of men!

The uncontrollable rage within him surged forth, darkening Shen Xu's eyes. His half-closed peach blossom eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, and killing intent permeated his heart, carrying the madness of a wounded beast.

He raised his hand to touch the cinnabar mole at the corner of his eye, and felt as if he had been struck violently by heavy objects from his forehead to the back of his head, the pain was unbearable.

Veins bulged on his forehead.

"Meow?"

Shenmao stared at him nervously, rubbing against him.

Shen Xu pursed his lips tightly, his uncontrollable rage making him want to destroy everything in the world, including himself. He picked up the dagger beside him, letting the blade cut his palm, blood trickling down the prayer beads in his hand, his reddened eyes fixed on Shen Mao, who was looking up at him.

"Meow meow."

The soft meow made his shoulders tremble. The tabby cat snuggled into his arms and pressed its fluffy head against his chest.

"Stupid cat."

Shen Xu released the dagger, pressed his fist against his aching forehead with one hand, and took out a white jade pendant from his purse with the other, holding it in his palm.

The white jade pendant was icy cold, and this coolness seeped into his internal organs from his palm.

His breathing gradually calmed down, leaving only a throbbing pain in the back of his head.

Shen Xu stroked the cat's forehead and muttered to himself, "They deserve to die. They deserve to be skinned alive, have their bones pulled out, and be tortured to death, right?"

"Meow."

"I deserve to die too."

The tabby cat raised its head and nuzzled against him, its fine fur sticking to his face and leaving its scent.

"You're filthy."

Shen Xu spread his five fingers and casually brushed the short fur on its back. The tabby cat squinted its golden eyes contentedly and lay comfortably on his arm.

His black hair fell over his shoulders, and he gently stroked the runes engraved on the jade plaque with his fingertips, the blood from his palm staining the white jade plaque red.

"master."

Sheng Jiang's voice could be heard from outside.

"Sun Xin ran into a pillar at the Meridian Gate."

Sun Xin was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the second round of examinations. His grandfather was a great Confucian scholar and was highly respected among students.

"His Majesty summons you to the palace."

Shen Xu pulled his forearm out from under the cat's head and looked back at the blood-stained white jade tablet in his palm.

"So ugly."

"Just as ugly as the last one."

Shen Xu discarded the Buddhist prayer beads that he always wore on his wrist and wrapped the red silk thread attached to the jade pendant around his wrist.

Thick, dark eyelashes cast feather-like shadows on his face.

Now that her headache is gone, I'll give her a "big gift".

"Find someone to tell Princess Zhaoyang that the Emperor is angry and that she should return to the capital immediately."

A note from the author: