Chapter 194: Chaos in Xiaocheng (Thirty-Four) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Gong Shuwu: "???"
Gong Cheng shouted, "Who's hiding outside eavesdropping!"
Having said that, he took a quick running start and leaped onto the artificial hill to the side, then pushed off with his toes and jumped over the courtyard wall, thrusting his long sword forward without hesitation. Gong Shuwu, worried that Gong Cheng might get hurt, followed closely behind. As soon as he landed, he saw his nephew locked in combat with a masked man.
Although his swordsmanship had deteriorated considerably, Gong Cheng's skills were still far beyond what ordinary petty thieves could withstand. However, the petty thief was quite skilled, moving with the agility of an eel, slippery and unpredictable. Gong Cheng missed several strikes; the latter's movements always defied his expectations.
At this moment, Gong Shuwu shouted, "Stop!"
Gong Cheng instinctively obeyed his orders.
The masked thief also stopped.
He then realized that the masked thief was probably not the thief, but rather a companion of the righteous warrior Gong Shu. Gong Cheng hesitated for only a moment before sheathing his longsword. The masked thief also smiled and pulled down his mask, revealing a face he had never expected.
"Half a step!"
Shen Tang walked towards Gong Shuwu with a smile.
Gong Shuwu shook his head helplessly and admonished, "Wulang, you mustn't do anything that could be misunderstood again next time—"
Young Master Shen even imitated the cry of a cuckoo.
The imitation is clumsy and doesn't resemble the original at all!
"So it was my wife's brother!"
Gong Cheng's words were earth-shattering!
Gong Shuwu was so shocked by his words that he forgot what he was going to say. The tall, strong man froze on the spot.
Shen Tang: "...Haha, hello Brother Yun Chi."
How come you still remember the term "brother-in-law"?
Hearing this in front of Gong Shuwu made Shen Tang suddenly feel like he was about to die, and he gave an awkward but polite fake smile.
Gong Shuwu hesitated and stammered.
"Wife, what brother of wife???"
At this moment, his expression could only be described as utterly bewildered. His gaze darted back and forth between Shen Tang and Gong Cheng, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. If his ears weren't playing tricks on him, his nephew seemed to have called Shen Tang's son—his wife's brother?!
Gong Shuwu blinked blankly.
A multitude of questions surrounded him.
When did his nephew get married and have a brother-in-law?
When did Shen Xiaolang become Yun Chi's brother-in-law?
He couldn't help but look at Shen Tang, one of the parties involved, with a questioning look. Shen Tang immediately understood the doubt his eyes were trying to convey, and covered her face with some embarrassment, saying, "This matter is really... a long story..."
Since it's a long story, let's not go into it.
Just know that this strange pseudonym exists.
Gong Cheng was unaware of the undercurrents between Gong Shuwu and Shen Tang. He was somewhat delighted when he saw Shen Tang. Out of guilt towards the Shen family, he immediately sent people to search for Shen Tang's whereabouts after Xiaocheng was besieged, but unfortunately, they found nothing.
He could only console himself privately that his brother-in-law, Shen Tang, might have already heard the news and left Xiaocheng with the fleeing people.
I never expected to see people again.
While pleasantly surprised, I was also a little worried.
Xiaocheng is a place rife with trouble.
Gong Shuwu looked at Shen Xiaolangjun with a deep gaze and said calmly, "It's alright, we have plenty of time, we can tell you slowly."
Shen Tang: "..."
Gong Cheng didn't mince words and briefly explained his relationship with Shen Tang. Upon hearing that his nephew had married a daughter of the Shen family—although the wedding ceremony hadn't taken place and he had been imprisoned by Zheng Qiao's men—his gaze towards Shen Tang underwent a subtle change.
Young Master Shen is the last bloodline of his nephew's family!
Shen Tang: "..."
If she weren't so short, she really wanted to jump up and grab Gong Shuwu by the neck to calm him down. "You believe everything your nephew says, don't you want to verify anything?"
God probably thought the scene wasn't chaotic enough.
"Isn't this Shen Lang? What night wind blew you here?" A teasing voice with a smile came from the courtyard wall. Shen Tang looked up and saw Gu Chi and Chu Yao standing on the wall.
Shen Tang: "..."
It's that chatterbox again, what bad luck.
Shen Tang had no choice but to suppress her inner thoughts.
"Wu Lang, where's Qi Yuanliang?" Chu Yao leaped down from the wall, his clothes fluttering, landing gracefully and calmly. He walked forward and looked around Shen Tang's left and right sides, not seeing the familiar figure. He asked worriedly, "How could he let Wu Lang come out alone?"
Shen Tang said, "Yuan Liang, of course..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Shanzi, who emerged from the shadows, interrupted him. He removed the hood of his black cloak that covered most of his face and said in an unfriendly tone, "Why wouldn't Shanzi come? If we hadn't waited for several days without any news of you or Banbu, why would Young Master Shen have bothered to come here?"
Shen Tang: "..."
The atmosphere seemed even more tense than before.
Caught in the middle, Shen Tang was trying to think of a topic of conversation when she heard something wriggle and make a soft meow in Chu Yao's arms. Curious, she leaned closer, and a fluffy head popped out from Chu Yao's clothes with a "biu".
Her face lit up with joy: "Su Shang!"
Su Shang followed Lin Feng.
With the cat here, Lin Feng must have been found as well.
Upon hearing Su Shang's words, Qi Shan rushed forward in two quick steps.
Chu Yao said irritably, "Here you go."
Su Shang, who had slept well, was returned to Qi Shan.
Suddenly separated from the warm embrace, the kitten kept nuzzling towards the familiar scent. Seeing Su Shang, unharmed and with bright fur, Qi Shan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Holding her recovered cat in her arms, her gaze towards Chu Yao softened with gentleness and kindness.
Shen Tang asked, "Wu Hui, where is Lin Feng?"
Chu Yao: "Not found yet."
Shen Tang's heart, which had just settled, jumped again. She said, "Still not found? But Su Shang isn't...aren't they together?"
Gong Shuwu replied, "When we arrived, we only found Su Shang in Tu Rong's woodshed; we didn't see any other trace of him..."
Shen Tang: "That Lin Feng—"
Chu Yao comforted him, saying, "As long as we haven't received any bad news or seen any corpses, it's good news. Perhaps they fled the city with Tu Rong's family. Don't worry, Wu Lang."
It's hard for Shen Tang not to be anxious.
She hadn't known Lin Feng for long, but she felt great pity and sympathy for this orphan who had lost her blood relatives overnight. Moreover, she had promised to protect Lin Feng as he grew up. And now, so little time had passed, and she had lost him; his fate was still unknown!
Seeing Shen Tang's anxious expression, Gong Cheng offered to help his brother-in-law, saying that he had some manpower and might be able to help find someone.
Shen Tang suppressed his anxiety.
She said, "Then thank you very much, Young Master Gong."
Gong Cheng smiled faintly: "It's no trouble at all. Has my brother-in-law found a good place to stay? If you don't mind, you can stay at the prefect's residence for a couple of days."
Shen Tang did not refuse.
One of the purposes of her trip was to find the current head of Xiaocheng.
Because it was too late, and there wasn't enough time to tidy up the extra guest room to entertain Shen Tang and Qi Shan, they had to make do with Chu Yao and Shen Tang. Before leaving, Gu Chi gave Shen Tang a meaningful look. After everyone else had left, Chu Yao raised his hand and set up an anti-eavesdropping spell.
Chu Yao said, "What's the point of having Wu Lang at a time like this!"
He was the first to attack Qi Shan.
Qi Shan held Su Shang and stroked the cat girl's fur idly. He asked, "Why can't Wu Lang come?"
Chu Yao tapped the low table with his fingers, signaling Qi Shan to be more serious and not just give him the runaround: "Do you know what the rebels are planning to do?"
Qi Shan said, "I've guessed some of it."
Chu Yao became even angrier upon hearing this.
"Since you guessed it, why did you still let Wulang in? The rebels' target is the Imperial Seal! They know the Imperial Seal is in Xiaocheng, and they want to create a plague to deliberately incite public resentment and deplete the nation's fortune. Once the nation's fortune is exhausted, the location of the Imperial Seal will be completely exposed!"
Isn't this just asking for death?!
Qi Shan raised an eyebrow and looked at Shen Tang, saying, "You'll have to ask Young Master Shen about this, or you can persuade him to leave tonight."
Shen Tang, sitting in a well-behaved posture: "..."
No, how did this fire end up on her again?
Shen Tang forced a smile and said, "I'm doing this for the people of Xiaocheng. If it can save the lives of tens of thousands of people in the city, taking a little risk is worthwhile. I... I think Wu Hui wouldn't want me to be a cold-hearted person who sees the common people as ants, would he?"
Chu Yao: "These aren't your people!"
Shen Tang clutched the hem of her clothes, looking aggrieved, and said, "I know it's not like that now, but it might be in the future... right?"
Chu Yao: "..."
He was stunned for a moment.
She subconsciously looked at Qi Shan, her eyes asking what was going on.
Although he had drafted countless plans in his mind, he knew that Shen Tang didn't have much ambition, at least not the kind of ambition he wanted. Wu Lang was still just a little kid who could be happy for most of the day by riding a pig, walking a dog, or playing with a mule.
He would never say what he had just heard.
Qi Shan shrugged, a half-smile on his face, and said, "So, now you know why I couldn't stop it, right? Even if I could, I couldn't stop it."
Chu Yao: "..."
An eerie silence fell over the room.
Shen Tang didn't understand the cryptic conversation between the two, but Gong Shuwu on the side seemed to have figured it out. It was quite simple: both Qi Shan and Chu Yao saw themselves as "subjects" and hoped to achieve their respective goals by relying on the future "ruler".
They didn't need a puppet, and Shen Tang didn't need instructions, much less influence his choices under the guise of "Wu Lang's" best interests. Within the scope of their control, the still inexperienced young Shen could try to learn how to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Taking an adventure is certainly worthwhile.
Perhaps before long, their self-perceptions will change. This makes Gong Shuwu take notice.
Understanding one's own position and status, and acting accordingly, seems simple, but very few people actually do it, because people are fickle. They often develop the illusion of possessing power when they get closer to those in positions of authority.
For example, eunuchs, relatives of the empress, and favored ministers.
Moreover, young Master Shen is still penniless.
The sense of propriety shown by Qi Shan and Chu Yao is even more commendable.
One is already rare, but Shigeo encountered two.
What incredible luck!
Chu Yao asked, "What are Wu Lang's plans?"
“My initial idea was to ‘use their strength against them,’ using the news of the Imperial Seal to lure Zheng Qiao over, and then use his troops to hold back the rebels. Even if the crisis in Xiaocheng couldn’t be resolved, the people in the city would have enough time to escape. But how to get the message over there became a problem, and then—” Shen Tang glanced at Qi Shan and continued, “Yuan Liang said he had a way to do it, but first we need to get into the city…”
Chu Yao then looked towards Qi Shan.
Qi Shan then looked at Gong Shuwu, who was standing aside.
Gong Shuwu: "...???"
He paused slightly, watching the show and enjoying the gossip while thinking of his nephew.
Is he involved in this?
Yes, Qi Shan came specifically for him.
Qi Shan said, "The rebels are clearly after the Imperial Seal on Banbu's body, right? Has Banbu decided what to do with the Imperial Seal?"
Upon hearing this, Gong Shuwu's relaxed expression vanished instantly.
His gaze was sharp as a knife, and his tone was unfriendly as he said, "This matter has nothing to do with Yuan Liang, does it? Or are you confident that you can get this national seal from me? Don't even think about it!"
Qi Shan: "Does Banbu really think Xin Kingdom can be restored?"
A fierce glint flashed in Gong Shuwu's eyes, and he said with a hint of murderous intent, "I dare not have such a wish, but I am paid by the emperor and entrusted with this task by the king. I will protect this imperial seal even if it costs me my life. It is my duty, and I hope Yuanliang will not make things difficult for me."
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.
Shen Tang asked, "Did you think I wanted your imperial seal?"
Gong Shuwu's tense back muscles relaxed slightly, but he was still like a ferocious beast ready to pounce. If Qi Shan showed any malice, he would not hesitate to attack—even if he had no chance of winning, it would not be a complete failure to live up to the old king's instructions.
This has nothing to do with loyalty.
Just to live up to one's moral principles.
Gong Shuwu said, "Shen Wulang doesn't know how."
It's uncertain whether Qi Shan and the other two will be able to do so.
When Chu Yao exposed his identity, he was thinking about a question—Qi Shan and Chu Yao both knew his true identity and that he possessed the Xin Kingdom's Imperial Seal, so why did they pretend not to know and help him conceal his identity for so long?
The kindness of strangers is always tinged with ulterior motives.
He dared not be completely at ease until he knew what the two were plotting.
Qi Shan sneered, "You can rest assured about this matter. I have no intention of coveting the Xin Kingdom's imperial seal, but I do intend to borrow it."
Gong Shuwu frowned: "Borrow?"
Qi Shan: "The current Sibao County belongs to Zheng Qiao and is also Zheng Qiao's territory. If the second national seal is activated on his territory, it will be a provocation between the two countries against the national seal in Zheng Qiao's hands. This is much faster than any messenger."
As the holder of the national seal, Zheng Qiao would receive the signal immediately and would naturally know the whereabouts of the long-lost Xin Kingdom national seal.
Gong Shuwu: "...You said you'd borrow it?"
He never imagined this kind of operation was possible.
It's important to know that such examples often occur when a ruler of one country personally leads an expedition against another, which is essentially the prelude to war between the two countries.
Although "royal expedition" falls under the special domain of the State Seal and can boost the morale of the army, few rulers dare to do so.
The most recent example is Zheng Qiao leading his troops to attack the State of Xin.
Even disregarding the positions of the two countries and Zheng Qiao's long and unspeakable dark history, Gong Shuwu would still look at him differently based on his courage alone.
but--
Gong Shuwu hesitated.
It's not that I suspect Qi Shan will never repay the loan—after all, with these three working together, they can most likely capture him, and the Imperial Seal will naturally be theirs; there's no need to resort to deception.
He was only worried about one thing.
"Who can activate the imperial seal of the Xin Kingdom?"
Qi Shan smiled and said, "Isn't there one right here?"
Shen Tang, who was being stared at by three pairs of eyes: "..."
(End of this chapter)
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