Chapter 122 The Way Out
Shen Qingci was unaware of the conversation between Chu Jichen and the steward. At this moment, she was sitting in the flower hall, discussing matters in an orderly manner with the managers of the various dowry shops under her name.
Her expression was calm, but her words carried an undeniable air of authority.
After a series of reprimands and reassurances, all the managers were in awe and dared not show any contempt for her because of her youth or her gender.
"That's enough for today. Leave the account books here. I will have Wanqing inform you all to come back for another meeting in three days." Shen Qingci picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and dismissed them.
Her gaze fell on one of the female shopkeepers: "Shopkeeper Su, please stay."
Everyone rose to take their leave, not daring to say another word.
After most of the people had left, Shen Qingci's gaze fell on the last woman who had not yet left.
The woman was in her early thirties, dressed like an ordinary shopkeeper, and not particularly beautiful. She was the manager of one of her teahouses, named Su Yuan.
Wanqing closed the hall door and stood guard outside.
Only the two of them remained in the hall. Shen Qingci put down her teacup, but her gaze slowly moved from Manager Su's face to her wrist.
There, she wore a simple, antique-style silver bracelet.
The bracelet itself is unremarkable, but the intricate floral pattern carved on it is what made Shen Qingci keep it!
It was an extremely special and intricate pattern that she had seen countless times on the lacquer covers of letters in her father's study that were classified as "confidential"!
Manager Su noticed her gaze, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply took off the silver bracelet from his wrist, presented it with both hands, and gently placed it on the table in front of Shen Qingci.
Shen Qingci picked up the silver bracelet, her fingertips feeling its icy touch.
She turned the bracelet over, and on its smooth inner surface, she saw a small totem that was almost integrated with the bracelet itself—a phoenix rising from the ashes, unique to the Shen family!
Her breath caught in her throat, and she abruptly looked up, her eyes filled with shock and curiosity.
Shopkeeper Su finally smiled slightly. That smile softened her ordinary features and made her radiate a unique brilliance.
She curtsied and offered Shen Qing a very standard and ancient military salute in farewell.
"Your subordinate 'Vermilion Bird' greets the young master."
"Vermilion Bird?" Shen Qingci murmured to himself, his heart filled with turbulent waves.
"Yes." Zhuque's voice was steady and clear. "I am one of the intelligence agents personally trained by General Shen. I have been lying low in the capital for many years under the guise of a teahouse manager, as ordered by the General."
"The general once ordered that if the young master marries into the Huo family and lives a peaceful and happy life, we will never need to show ourselves, but will only need to protect you in secret."
“But…” Zhuque raised her head, a hint of guilt and heartache flashing in her eyes, “If the young master is not doing well and summons us, and can recognize this silver bracelet token, then I will have to hand over all the secrets I have discovered over the past year to the young master.”
As she spoke, she took out a secret letter from her sleeve and presented it to Shen Qingci.
Shen Qingci felt a surge of heat rush to her eyes, and her nose stung terribly.
If it's like this again...
Sister Sheng said the same thing.
Her father, her elder brother... without her knowledge, had paved such a far-reaching and comprehensive way out for her.
They had long seen through Huo Yunzhan's cold-heartedness and the dangers ahead, but in order to protect her, they shouldered all the truth and dangers alone, leaving her only a seemingly safe "rear area".
They even prepared contingency plans for her in case she encountered misfortune and needed strength to fight back.
In her previous life, she failed to discover Huo Yunzhan's faked death and was suddenly eliminated by Huo Yunzhan and Liu Ruolan. She didn't even have time to discover all the elaborate arrangements her father and elder brother had made for her.
"Father...eldest brother..." she whispered, tears finally streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Shen Qingci closed her eyes briefly, then raised them to take the secret letter and examined it carefully.
That's right, the seal on this secret letter is exactly the same as the one she once saw at her father's place.
"Okay, I understand."
Zhuque lowered her eyes: "I have access to the intelligence network established by General Shen. If there is anything you wish to find out, Miss, you may ask me to investigate."
"I also know that General Shen left a secret force for you, Miss. However, according to General Shen's arrangement, I and the leader of that secret force only know of each other's existence, but we do not know who each other is. You may need to find out more about it."
"But... according to the general's plan, the secret service should also surface soon and come to you, Miss."
Shen Qingci pressed her heart, which felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, and simply nodded: "Okay, I understand."
"Your appearance came at just the right time. I do have many things that I need you to find out for me."
"But I need to tidy up a bit. Once it's done, I'll have Wanqing send you a message."
Zhuque agreed, and Shen Qingci returned the bracelet to her and waved her away.
...
That night, when Chu Jichen returned to his bedroom, he saw Shen Qingci sitting alone by the window, staring blankly at the moonlight outside, her expression carrying a lingering sadness.
His heart tightened, and he silently maneuvered his wheelchair behind her, gently draping a cloak still warm from his body over her shoulders.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked in a low voice.
Shen Qingci snapped out of her reverie, shook her head, and said in a muffled voice, "It's nothing, I'm just... a little tired."
I'm mentally exhausted.
Only today did she realize that her surroundings were already filled with pawns left by her father.
They are her strongest shield and her sharpest sword.
However, the prerequisite for using them was that she was not doing well in the Huo family.
The profound paternal love and brotherly affection behind this made her hate her past foolishness.
She actually lived through two lifetimes before she was able to discover all of this.
Chu Jichen didn't press further, but simply handed her a bowl of warm milk: "Then don't think about it anymore. Things can't be accomplished overnight. Take it slow."
Shen Qingci held the warm cup, feeling a slight warmth in her heart.
After finishing her milk and putting down the bowl, Shen Qingci looked at Chu Jichen and found that Chu Jichen was unusually absent-minded.
"What's wrong?" Shen Qingci asked, puzzled. "Did something happen?"
Chu Jichen raised his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "Huo Yunzhan asked a servant in the manor to deliver a letter in the name of Wanqing's relative. My men intercepted it. Although the letter was said to be for Wanqing, it should actually be for you."
Shen Qingci and Wan Qing exchanged a glance and took the letter.
The envelope was written in unfamiliar handwriting, addressed to Wan Qing.
Shen Qingci opened the envelope, and sure enough, there was another envelope inside. This time, the envelope was in Huo Yunzhan's handwriting, addressed to Qingci.
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