Chapter 70 The person in the cave was not Shen Qian at all.

An Ye slowly emerged from around the corner, his usually stern face showing a rare hint of awkwardness.

He stood before Yun Si, somewhat uneasy, yet hesitant to speak.

Yun Si looked at him with interest: "What is it?"

An Ye took a deep breath and suddenly knelt on one knee: "Your subordinate... would like to ask the Princess for a favor."

"oh?"

Yun Si raised an eyebrow: "Tell me about it."

"Your subordinate... Your subordinate would like to give a gift to Miss Awu."

The voice in the darkness grew softer and softer: "It's both a thank you and... an apology."

A knowing glint flashed in Yun Si's eyes.

It seems that An Ye recalled the "offense" he had committed against A Wu in the western suburban valley.

"There's no reason to pass a gift around."

Yun Si deliberately said, "It's only sincere if you deliver it in person."

A suspicious blush rose on An Ye's face: "This subordinate...this subordinate dares not."

Tsk.

That's incredibly cowardly.

"What's so difficult about the head of the Shadow Guard of Prince Xiao's Mansion apologizing to a little girl?"

Yun Si couldn't help but chuckle: "As long as you're sincere, A Wu will forgive you."

It's likely that A-Wu has long forgotten about this.

An Ye's head drooped even lower, her ears so red they were almost bleeding.

He dared not say that he had been tossing and turning for the past few nights, with Ah Wu's clear eyes constantly in his mind's eye.

Ah Wu saved him, but he...

He felt very...filthy.

You shouldn't be thinking like that.

But he should apologize to A-Wu and also thank her.

But Ah Wu would definitely be very angry, so he really didn't dare.

"Never mind."

Seeing his appearance, Yun Si sighed softly: "Let me ask A Wu first. If she accepts, then you can come in person. If she doesn't accept, then there's nothing I can do to help."

"Understood."

An Ye hurriedly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

He was so excited that he was about to kneel down again, but Yun Si raised her hand to stop him: "Alright, get up, but..."

She gave An Ye a meaningful look: "That girl A Wu is so naive, she's probably already forgotten what happened in the valley."

An Ye was taken aback upon hearing this, then gave a wry smile.

Yes, how could such an innocent young girl remember his absurd actions?

Only a fool like him would hold a grudge and lose sleep over it.

"Go."

Yun Si waved her hand: "Wait for my news."

Dark Night bowed respectfully and withdrew, disappearing in a few leaps.

Yun Si looked in the direction he left and couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle.

I never expected Dark Night to be so innocent, even blushing.

Judging from his expression, he probably has feelings for A-Wu.

But A-Wu is no ordinary girl, so it seems destined that An Ye's feelings will be in vain.

When Yun Si returned to Qiwu Garden, she saw A Wu squatting at the door, idly drawing circles on the ground with a twig.

Hearing footsteps at the door, she looked up and saw Yun Si return. She quickly ran over happily, "Sister, where did you go? Why didn't you take A-Wu with you?"

"I left in a hurry, so I didn't call you."

Yun Si pulled her into the house, taking the opportunity to sound her out.

"Awu, do you still remember saving Dark Night in the valley in the western suburbs?"

"Um."

Ah Wu nodded, her expression remaining largely unchanged.

"Dark Night said, 'I want to give you a gift.'"

"What gift are you giving me?"

He wants to thank you.

Yun Si observed for a moment and found that she really didn't take the matter to heart at all, so she didn't mention apologizing.

"Is he thanking me because I saved him?"

"right."

"Then he..."

After thinking about it seriously, Awu made a request: "Then let him treat me to a meal. Let's go to the restaurant where I went with my sister last time."

tasty.

Even after all this time, Ah Wu still can't forget it.

"OK."

Yun Si smiled and patted her head: "I'll talk to him. Don't hold back, give him a good beating."

"slaughter?"

"It means you don't have to worry about spending money; he can eat whatever he wants."

Upon hearing Yun Si's words, A Wu immediately beamed with joy.

Qin Ye returned very late and went straight to the main courtyard.

Yun Si waited until midnight, but he never came to Qiwu Garden.

Having just taken over the Ministry of War, and also responsible for confiscating property, he must be very busy.

Perfect timing! She can get a good night's sleep tonight and be well-rested, as she has important business to attend to tomorrow.

That night.

A light rain began to fall in the capital.

The night was as dark as ink in front of the Shen Mansion.

The yamen runners of the Jingzhao Prefecture, together with the soldiers of the Xiao Prince's Mansion, surrounded the Shen Mansion.

The vermilion gate was suddenly kicked open, a loud crash shattering the silence.

"By imperial decree, the Shen family's property is to be confiscated! Not a single member of the Shen family is allowed to leave!"

The head magistrate of the capital shouted the order, and the yamen runners filed in.

The torchlight illuminated the once luxurious courtyard of the Shen Mansion, now reduced to a scene of utter devastation.

The servants were roughly shoved into the courtyard. The men lowered their heads and trembled, while the women wept and wailed, their former dignity completely gone.

"All servants will be handed over to slave traders for resale."

"All male members of the Shen family, regardless of age, shall be registered as slaves and sent to the slave market!"

"Women..."

The Prefect of the Capital paused, then read out the cruelest verdict: "Since the matriarch of the Shen family is deceased, all her concubines, unmarried women, and illegitimate daughters shall be reduced to official prostitutes and shall be taken in by the Jiaofang (Imperial Music Bureau)!"

The crying instantly rose in volume.

Shen's concubines collapsed to the ground, and his illegitimate children cried in fear as they were roughly dragged away by the yamen runners.

Meanwhile, soldiers ransacked the mansion, carrying out chests of gold and silver jewelry that gleamed blindingly under the torches.

There were a total of eighty boxes of gold bars and one hundred and twenty boxes of silver ingots.

Three large wooden crates were filled with all kinds of jewelry and jade artifacts, including hundreds of high-quality pearls.

"Report! We have counted sixteen residences within the city, three thousand acres of fertile land outside the city, eight estates, and forty-two shops in the capital and various prefectures!"

"Report! A thousand bolts of silk and dozens of boxes of rare medicinal herbs were found in the warehouse, all of which have been registered and confiscated!"

Shen Qian and his father were chained and staggered as they were led out of the mansion.

The luxurious life they once enjoyed has vanished, and now all that remains are the stains on their prison uniforms.

Shen Yu was being carried by two yamen runners.

She didn't know what was happening and kept screaming and struggling.

He was slapped hard by the constable, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

In the end, she could only be transferred directly from the Jingzhao Prefecture to the Jiaofangsi, where endless humiliation awaited her.

The next morning.

The sky was overcast, muggy, and hot, like the calm before a storm.

The slave market reeked of foul odors. Shen Qian was dragged by several fierce-looking men and thrown into a secluded corner.

His clothes were tattered, and his knees were hitting the stones, making him wince in pain. When he looked up, he saw a pair of cloud-patterned brocade boots standing in front of him.

"Is...is it you?"

Hope ignited in Shen Qian's eyes, thinking that his powerful backer had come to rescue him. He hurriedly crawled over and tried to grab the other person's trouser leg: "Please save me! I'm still useful, I can still do things for you!"

The man in the shadows sneered, his voice icy: "Useless trash! If it weren't for your incompetence, how could I have lost the Ministry of War? And the troops I've trained for years have been destroyed in an instant! What use are you?"

Shen Qian was taken aback, then realized that the other party had come to question him. Just as he was about to defend himself, he was pressed to the ground by the guards next to the man, and sticks rained down on him.

He screamed in agony, the sound of his bones shattering clearly audible.

In the end, it collapsed on the ground like a lump of mud, becoming a completely useless piece.

"Get rid of it to avoid future trouble."

The mysterious man turned to leave, but heard footsteps in the distance, so he could only angrily signal his men to retreat.

As the footsteps drew closer, two figures appeared in Shen Qian's blurry vision.

In a daze, he saw Yun Si and that girl named A Wu slowly walking towards him.

"A-Si!"

Shen Qian seemed to have grasped at the last straw, struggling to reach out his hand, his face covered in tears and snot.

"I've been wronged! I didn't frame the Marquis's family, how could I possibly hurt the person I love most? You have to believe me..."

How can someone still say such things now?

Yun Si also admired him.

"Before you die, you can ask me anything you want to know. Out of consideration for our past relationship, I'll let you die knowing the truth."

"What...what did you say?"

Shen Qian looked at her in horror and panic, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Yun Si wants to kill him?

No!

Anyone can kill him, but not Yun Si!

"A-Si, you're joking with me, right? You still love me, don't you? It's all King Xiao's fault, he's the one who broke us up, the one you should kill is him!"

"wrong."

Yun Si squatted down, gently pinched his chin with her fingertips, and looked at him with a gaze as if she were looking at a dead man, devoid of any warmth.

"I've thought about it. I think I've never loved you. The little brother who brought me warmth in the cave wasn't you either!"

She had indeed always liked that young man and still couldn't forget him, but Shen Qian had never given her that feeling.

She couldn't understand it before, but just now, at this moment, she suddenly understood.

Shen Qian is lying to her!

Shen Qian was lying to her from beginning to end.

This explains why, even though she really liked "Shen Qian" in the cave, she never felt that spark again whenever she faced him later.

It can only be said that the person in the cave was not Shen Qian at all.

"No, no, it's me!"

Shen Qian shook his head vigorously, denying it.

"It really is me! I'm not lying to you, A-Si. I'm the one who saved you and took care of you. You can't be ungrateful. You said you would marry me, but you broke your promise. You can't do this to me!"

Stop pretending.

Yun Si didn't want to waste her breath on him: "I might as well tell you the truth: I killed your mother, your cousins, your trusted guards, and the secret room where you were imprisoned."

Shen Qian was stunned.

"No, stop talking, I don't believe it, you wouldn't..."

"Why can't I? Don't you know what you've done to me? Why shouldn't I?"

"..."

He was speechless, only repeating the word "no".

Yun Si turned to A Wu and said, "Go and see if anyone is watching us nearby."

"No, sister."

Awu could tell whether someone was there with just a casual glance.

That's good.

Yun Si smiled gently and said, "Originally, I wanted to keep you around a little longer so you could experience the despair of being a slave. But now it seems that even if I don't kill you, someone else will."

Her smile deepened: "How could you die at someone else's hands?"

Shen Qian's pupils contracted sharply, and he shook his head in horror: "No... A-Si wouldn't do this to me... You wouldn't..."

"I can."