35. Provocation
◎“If you tear up this divorce agreement, the next one sent will be a letter of separation.”◎
As night fell, Xiao Pingchuan returned to his residence and immediately ordered a state of martial law to be imposed at the general's mansion.
"Call Chai Shun and Xu Youcai here and tell them to come to my study."
"Yes, General."
There wasn't much in the study of the general's mansion. After all, Xiao Pingchuan hadn't lived in the capital much, and the mansion had been vacant for many years. Even the roof tiles had only been renovated recently.
He sat behind his desk, took out the sachet from his pocket, and gently stroked it.
He went to the suburbs during the day and only then did he realize that she had rescued so many people.
He admired her; he liked her kindness and quick wit, her free-spiritedness and magnanimity. She was good in every way, except that she didn't like him, and... looked down on him.
"General, you were looking for us?" Chai Shun knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Xu Youcai pushed open the door first. "What is it, General?"
"Close the door, and have the people outside keep a close eye on things. Don't let anyone get close to the study."
“I’ve already given the order,” Chai Shun said. “Is there some change of events in the north?”
Xiao Pingchuan nodded. "The Crown Prince said that shortly after the imperial edict was delivered to Lei Sheng, he immediately mobilized 80,000 elite troops, saying that he wanted to relieve the Black Flag Army of their duties."
"This...is he mobilizing troops without authorization?" Chai Shun asked.
The Black Flag Army has separate authority over troop deployment and command. The authority to deploy troops is in the hands of the Crown Prince. In theory, if Lei Sheng deploys troops without the Crown Prince's approval, it would be an overreach of authority.
"Lei Sheng directly petitioned the emperor for an imperial edict, ostensibly to show his concern for the Black Flag Army's hard work and to allow them a period of rest. His Majesty granted the request. The Crown Prince was unaware of this beforehand and only learned of it after the imperial edict regarding the troop rotation was issued."
“They’ve only just taken back the military power, and they’re already trying to usurp it,” Chai Shun said. “If you ask me, General, let’s just let him be. The 80,000 troops can’t all be useless. We’ve already lost the military power, so why are we worrying about this?”
"Moreover, given the Crown Prince's current situation, he's practically a figurehead, just a decoration. I'm afraid we won't be able to get our military power back anytime soon," he continued.
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Xiao Pingchuan said. “You all know how ruthless the Shatuo are. Once he finds out that the Black Flag Army isn’t guarding the border, what do you think he’ll do?”
"Take this opportunity and launch a major southward offensive!"
"Yes, so I need you to go back and try to delay this from happening as much as possible."
Chai Shun's brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. "But the imperial decree has already been issued. Even if I go back, what can I do?"
"Then we need to find a way to make Lei Sheng take border defense seriously. We can rotate the troops, but we cannot withdraw our surveillance on the perimeter, and we must insist on using our own people."
"Is the general worried that the state army is not vigilant enough and cannot stop the Shatuo?"
"We definitely can't stop them, but we've dealt with the Shatuo for so many years, so our eyesight is definitely better than theirs."
"Understood, General. I'll go back and keep an eye on Lei Sheng."
"Yes, put aside your emotions, guarding the border is the most important thing."
"yes!"
After seeing Chai Shun off, Xiao Pingchuan summoned Xu Youcai from the corner and said, "Miss Shen is probably going to make some moves these next few days. You will protect her closely."
"yes."
"Come and accept your punishment if you're missing even a single hair."
"Don't worry, General."
On the other hand, after returning home, Shen Suqin locked herself in her bedroom and did not come out until dinner.
When the servants reported to Xiao Pingchuan, they simply instructed the kitchen to keep the food warm so that Shen Suqin could eat it hot whenever she wanted.
In the following days, Shen Suqin suddenly started leaving early and returning late. In the mansion, she couldn't find anyone to talk to, let alone eat.
In the middle of this, Xiao Pingchuan was impeached for assaulting someone in the street and was summoned for questioning by Emperor Jingkang. He was then placed under house arrest, which made him even more unaware of what Shen Suqin was busy with.
Suddenly one day, news spread throughout the streets that Jin Yun Fang was clearing out its stock at low prices, followed by news that Jin Yun Fang was closing down, and then everything returned to normal.
Xiao Pingchuan sent someone out to inquire, and his subordinate returned, completely bewildered, and reported: "I don't know exactly what happened either. I only heard that a few days ago, a large number of buyers gathered in front of Jinyunfang's shop, demanding that Jinyunfang deliver the goods. Jinyunfang couldn't deliver, and was severely scolded by those buyers."
"Later, Jinyunfang somehow got rid of those people and then started clearing out its stock and closing down its stores. Now, of the more than ten stores, only the old store is still there."
"The original shop?"
"It's on Xuefu Street, right next to the Imperial College."
"I see."
"What about fabric prices? Have they dropped recently?"
"No, it's quite expensive. But a few traveling merchants came to town and are selling some old cloth, which isn't too expensive."
"Okay, you can go now."
Shen Suqin returned very late that night.
Xiao Pingchuan was reading in his study when he heard a noise at the courtyard gate. He went out to check but didn't see anyone. When he went to knock on the bedroom door, Ju Tao stopped him.
"General, our young lady has been working very hard lately and wants to rest as soon as possible," Ju Tao said.
Xiao Pingchuan nodded. "I just wanted to let her know that the Pei family is hosting a banquet tomorrow, and the invitation has been sent to me."
"Okay, I will tell you, Miss."
After that, Xiao Pingchuan returned to his study and extinguished the candle just before dawn.
He was unaware of the Pei family's invitation to the banquet and didn't take it seriously, assuming it was simply a matter of going for a meal and giving a gift.
In the early morning, Ju Tao was helping Shen Suqin wash up.
"Sister Qin, the general came to see you last night."
"I know."
"You and he... had a fight?"
Shen Suqin shook her head.
"The general said he's going to the banquet today and asked if you want to come along?"
"Please reply to him for me, I need to make a detour back to the Shen residence."
"good."
When Shen Suqin arrived at the Pei residence, it was already close to noon, which was a bit late.
The Pei residence was grand, with two large stone lions at the entrance standing tall and imposing.
Pei Tingfeng, the eldest son of the Pei family, stood at the door to greet guests. He was tall and upright, like a pine tree standing firm.
Shen Suqin led Ju Tao up the steps, and Pei Tingfeng said with a gentle smile, "Cousin, you're a little late. Sister Suqiu and the others are waiting for you in the flower hall."
Shen Suqin had a good impression of him and replied, "I was delayed on the way, I'll go find them now."
Pei Tingfeng nodded. "Someone, lead the way for Madam Xiao."
Upon hearing the words "Madam Xiao," Shen Suqin cheered. Yes, she was now married. Pei Tingfeng hadn't even bothered to ask her why she hadn't come with the general.
Upon entering the Pei residence, Ju Tao was assigned to deliver gifts, while Ju Tao herself was led by a servant to the flower hall.
There weren't many people in the hall. Besides Madam Pei, Princess Shi, and the other young ladies of the Pei family, only Shen Suqiu stood out.
As soon as she appeared at the door, everyone felt the light inside the room dim. Squinting against the light, they could only vaguely make out a sharp silhouette.
The crowd remained seated, but their gazes toward her gradually turned cold.
“Madam Xiao,” Shen Suqiu said, tilting her chin slightly, her tone indifferent, “I thought you wouldn’t dare to come.”
Shen Suqin smiled faintly, "I have to come and see my defeated opponent with my own eyes, and let you all share in the joy. Otherwise, it would be like wearing fine clothes in the dark, which wouldn't be satisfying enough."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.
Shen Suqiu slowly stood up. "Do you think I'll let the matter of Jinyunfang go so easily?"
Shen Suqin shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'm always ready. I'm just afraid you don't have the ability."
"Shen Suqin!"
"What are you shouting for? Do you think whoever shouts the loudest is more capable?"
Shen Suqiu took a deep breath. "What are you so arrogant about? Although Jinyunfang is no longer in my hands, it's not in yours either."
Jin Yun Fang was bought by a wealthy merchant surnamed Zhou. He took over all of Jin Yun Fang's defaulted orders and bad debts. He was the buyer that Shen Suqiu specifically chose.
"Really?" Shen Suqin took out a thick stack of contracts from his pocket and showed them to Shen Suqiu one by one. "Do they look familiar? They're all contracts from Jinyunfang."
"How could this be? How did the contract end up in your hands?"
Shen Suqiu's expression changed drastically. She had specifically instructed the man surnamed Zhou not to resell them. Later, once she had raised enough money, she planned to redeem all the remaining members of Jinyunfang.
Shen Suqin raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't know? The people who buy and sell fabric, the people who sign pre-orders, including that Boss Zhou, are all my people."
"Impossible! This kind of operation would require far more than ten million taels of silver to be moved."
In the end, Jinyunfang is all about money. If she can raise 50 million taels to pay the penalty for breach of contract in a short period of time, Jinyunfang will definitely not change hands.
"Is ten million taels a lot?" Shen Suqin said casually. "Hasn't the Pei family found out what I do for a living yet?"
Tens of thousands of taels is certainly a lot. According to the prices in Daliang, one tael of silver is enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a year.
She believed that the Pei family must have already discovered that she owned Xingyuan Restaurant, otherwise they wouldn't have remained silent until now.
Of course, she was well aware of what she would face once her family's wealth was exposed.
But there was no other way; faced with Princess Changtai's shamelessness and arrogance, she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
“Alright,” Shen Suqin put away the contract, looked around, and then locked her gaze on Princess Changtai. “I didn’t come here today just to show off. I mainly want to deliver something to my father.” As she spoke, she pulled a piece of paper from her sleeve and gave it to Shi Yunzhu.
Shi Yunzhu took it with suspicion, opened it, and saw the three big characters "Divorce Agreement" written on it.
"Exchanging a contract for a divorce decree, isn't that a good deal, Princess?"
Her face darkened instantly, her gaze sharp as she looked at Shen Suqin, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "I knew you wouldn't behave yourself."
After saying that, she reached out to tear up the divorce agreement.
“Hey,” Shen Suqin stopped her, “If the princess tears up this divorce agreement, the next one sent will be a letter of divorce. And you should know that if I have the ability to mess with Jinyunfang, I have the ability to mess with other things.”
Shen Jinghe still considered Princess Changtai's face when writing the divorce letter; otherwise, a single letter of divorce would have been enough to make her lose face throughout the entire Liang Dynasty.
Shi Yunzhu paused.
She knew that the person in front of her was not just talking; she had managed to take over more than ten shops in Jinyunfang in less than a month. She was capable enough.
However, she is the dignified Princess Changtai.
With that thought in mind, she tore the divorce papers to shreds without hesitation.
"I told you long ago, Shen Jinghe will never escape from this princess's clutches in this lifetime," Shi Yunzhu said sinisterly. "I shouldn't have been soft-hearted and kept you, you bastard, back then. I should have killed you and Jiang Yao together."
Shen Suqin's aura suddenly sharpened. "You spared Jiang Yao because if Jiang Yao died, Shen Jinghe wouldn't survive alone; you spared me to exchange me for Shen Suqiu. Shi Yunzhu, once you've stripped away the princess's skin, what do you think you'll have left?"
"Heh, too bad I was born noble. Don't think you've married a powerless, impoverished general..."
Shen Suqin interrupted her, "Born to be a princess, how amazing," her tone suddenly hardened, "Then I'll make sure you can't be a princess."
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