Since Xue Shen arrived in Xizhou City, Madam Xu has never paid him a visit. She probably looks down on the status of a "concubine" and doesn't take Shen Youying seriously.
Now that Cai Wenxuan has just gotten into trouble, it's rather strange that Madam Xu sent an invitation the very next day.
Xue Shen took it and glanced at it, saying, "They're probably here to test the waters for Xu Qiao. Now everything is ready except for the final push, so there's no need to pay them any more attention."
Shen Youying said, "Could it be that the Xu family has already guessed that you were the one who rescued the person?"
Xue Shen was not surprised: "Xu Qiao was once a fierce general, not a stupid person. It's not surprising that he would guess it. We'll just have to see how the Xu family responds."
Shen Youying nodded and said, "Then I'll head back."
Xue Shen continued, "If Xu Qiao is bold enough, he might take a risk. The Xu family has been operating in Xizhou City for many years. If they launch a counterattack before their death, they might find a weakness and hurt you. Tomorrow, we'll find an excuse to send you to another place to hide temporarily, just in case. We'll bring you back after Xizhou City is pacified."
Knowing the danger involved, Shen Youying said, "Okay."
The two did not deliberately pressure Cai Wenxuan while they were talking, and Cai Wenxuan was extremely surprised to see that they were discussing things together.
Especially Shen Youying, after shedding the pretentious affectation she had put on before, exuded the demeanor of a noble family in every word and action, and was no longer the vixen she had been before.
An absurd thought crossed his mind, but it should be absolutely impossible for such a thing to happen. However, the way Xue Shen treated Shen Youying with such care and affection was nothing like how he would treat a mistress. He was a man too, and he knew better than anyone the difference between a man's doting on a concubine and his respect and care for his wife.
Xue Shen treated this mistress as if she were his legal wife.
Xue Shen noticed the change in Cai Wenxuan's expression, gave a soft hum, and as Shen Youying was about to return, he deliberately instructed Liu Yun, "Danzhu Fucui should be arriving in Xizhou soon. At that time, the four of you will leave the city with the Princess."
Upon hearing the words "Princess," Cai Wenxuan's mind went blank for a moment, and then he understood everything.
It's all acting, just acting.
The couple were putting on an act from the very beginning, completely fooling him and the Xu family.
Cai Wenxuan was both secretly wary and relieved that he had been decisive enough to surrender his life and fortune; otherwise, he might have ended up like the Xu family, caught in the middle of a crisis without even realizing it.
He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine when he thought about how he had even considered marrying Shen Youying.
As Shen Youying was about to leave, she repeatedly apologized, saying, "This humble official was blind and did not know that you were the Princess Consort. I have offended you greatly. I beg the Princess Consort to be magnanimous and not hold it against me."
Seeing him hunched over, wiping sweat repeatedly, Shen Youying, though she knew Cai Wenxuan was an opportunist who could change his mind at will, still couldn't help but find it laughable. She glanced at Xue Shen and deliberately said, "The previous marriage..."
Upon hearing her mention the marriage to Zhou Liuer, Cai Wenxuan turned pale with fright and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "That was a foolish act of delusion. I dared to presume to marry such a woman. Your Highness need not take it to heart. A woman like your sister is worthy of even a nobleman. I would never dare to harbor such thoughts."
Before Shen Youying could even begin, Cai Wenxuan was already so frightened that he repeatedly apologized.
Having clearly learned what kind of person Xue Shen was, Cai Wenxuan naturally dared not hold any more hope for Hehe and Zhou Liuer's marriage. Now, listening to it, he felt even more that these were all "evidence" of his own crimes, and every time they were mentioned, it would probably remind the King of Qin of his past actions.
Seeing that he was pale with fright, Shen Youying chuckled and said slowly, "Lord Cai, you misunderstand. I just wanted to tell you that my sister has returned to the capital."
Cai Wenxuan was taken aback when he heard this. He mustered up his courage and looked up at her, only to see that Shen Youying had already been helped away by a maid and was gracefully leaving.
It was only then that he slowly realized what was going on—the Queen Consort of Qin was a woman from the Shen family. In the Northwest, everyone knew the fame of Consort Shen and the Shen family army, and naturally, the Shen family was even more renowned.
When the previous dynasty collapsed, only the Shen family branch abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, pledging loyalty to the founding emperor; the rest perished in the chaos of war.
Therefore, after the establishment of this dynasty, the Shen family actually consisted only of Shen Mingjiang's branch, with no other members. As Shen Mingjiang's only daughter, Shen Youying naturally had no cousins.
Even if she did have one, she would never be his concubine.
The so-called cousins were probably just a means to deceive and win him over. Cai Wenxuan realized this, and recalling his several arguments with Madam Xu, he seemed to vaguely see the shadow of Prince Qin or Princess Qin in them…
He inwardly gasped, and when he met Xue Shen's calm and unfathomable eyes, he quickly looked away and bowed respectfully and fearfully.
*
When Xu Qiao heard from his mother that Shen Youying had declined the invitation, he became even more certain of his guess.
After escaping death, Cai Wenxuan summoned the people who were watching the governor's mansion and questioned them. They confirmed that no one had entered or left the governor's mansion that night, which further confirmed his guess.
Cai Wenxuan was able to escape death and save his life entirely thanks to the King of Qin.
The King of Qin somehow learned the secret of the Tatar Mountain gold mine and wanted to use Cai Wenxuan to seize it.
He sneered and said, "You little brat, you're not old, but you have quite the appetite. You want the gold mine in Tatar Mountain? You don't even know if you can swallow it up."
He then asked Xu Erlang, "Has your elder brother sent any news back?"
Xu Erlang said, "I just received my elder brother's letter and was about to report it to Father. My elder brother said that everything has been arranged."
Xu Qiao nodded and said, "Okay, go and inform Sanlang to keep a close eye on the mine these days. If anyone disobeys or causes trouble, just kill them. Don't let things get out of hand."
Xu Erlang's expression turned solemn: "Yes!"
*
Xu Qiao assigned tasks one by one and also sent people to secretly keep an eye on Xue Shen's residence. The next day, a scout brought news that the concubine favored by the Prince of Qin had quarreled with the Prince of Qin for some reason and was crying as she boarded the carriage to return to the capital.
Xu Qiao chuckled upon hearing this: "He just said he wasn't infatuated with beauty, but then he couldn't hold back and wanted to send his favorite concubine away first. But this move is really too crude."
He pondered for a moment, then tapped the table and said, "Erlang, send a team to follow her and intercept her halfway. Although she is just a concubine, she is carrying the Qin King's child, so she can be considered a useful pawn in the future."
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