49. A storm is brewing.
"If it weren't for Xiao Pingchuan, my son would be gone."
After the memorial tablets in the General's Mansion were divided into two, people from the Shen family came.
It was Granny Gui who arrived, carrying a divorce agreement with her name and signature affixed.
Shen Suqin did not take it, but said to her, "Please trouble you to give it to my father yourself, Granny."
Granny Gui said impatiently, "Do you think he is still the princess's husband? Besides, his official position will soon be stripped away. He is just a commoner. How could he be worthy of me personally delivering letters to him?"
Shen Suqin approached her expressionlessly, raised her hand and slapped her hard, saying, "If you want to go back unscathed, shut up! Ju Tao, take her to the mourning hall."
Ju Tao stepped forward, grabbed her arms, and pushed and kicked her into the mourning hall.
When Granny Gui saw the hall full of white flowers, she assumed they were for Jiang Yao. But when she went inside, she found Shen Jinghe's memorial tablet placed next to Jiang Yao's.
She screamed in fright, collapsing to the ground, unable to move.
Shen Suqin walked over, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and dragged her to the front of the hall, saying, "Burn it. Tell my father yourself that Shi Yunzhu has already divorced him."
Granny Gui trembled and dared not raise her head.
Shen Suqin pressed the back of her head, pressing her against the fire pit; any closer and the flames would lick her eyes.
"I'll talk, I'll talk!" Granny Gui screamed.
Shen Suqin released her, staring at her as she took out the divorce papers, and said haltingly, "Master......"
"Um?"
“Shen, Lord Shen, Princess Jin has agreed to divorce you. This is the divorce agreement, which I have brought to you.”
After saying this, she put the divorce papers into the brazier and was about to get up.
"Wait, kowtow three times and then light three incense sticks," Shen Suqin said coldly.
Granny Gui dared not disobey, so she obediently kowtowed three times and lit three incense sticks before leaving the mourning hall.
“Go back and tell Shi Yunzhu that the Shen family has nothing to do with her anymore. If we meet again, we will be enemies. I will personally seek revenge for the two lives lost by the Shen family.”
Granny Gui left in a panic.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, Shi Yunzhu, unusually, was waiting for her in the courtyard. As soon as she saw her return, she asked, "Did you give him the divorce papers? What did he say? Did he scold me?"
Granny Gui shook her head.
"He didn't curse me? That shouldn't be the case. Although I didn't intend to kill Jiang Yao, I did drive her to her death," Shi Yunzhu said.
"Princess."
"Is he crying and not paying attention?"
"Princess, Princess, he's dead."
Shi Yunzhu paused, "Who did you say died?"
"The master is dead, Shen Jinghe is dead, he committed suicide for love."
Shi Yunzhu's eyes widened in disbelief as she asked, "You're saying he's dead?"
"Yes, he died not long after arriving at the general's mansion."
"That means he died in the morning... in the morning."
"Yes, Princess."
Shi Yunzhu's face turned deathly pale instantly. In the morning, she was still struggling with how to coax this person, thinking that she would write a letter of divorce to appease him and then invite him back after a while.
But was he already dead at that time?
They didn't even want the divorce papers.
He'd been begging her for years, hadn't he?
They died for love.
Hehe, a suicide pact for love.
What a Shen Jinghe! For so many years, she has provided him with good food and drink and even helped him get an official position, yet she hasn't warmed his heart in the slightest.
“Dead, it’s good that you’re dead!” Shi Yunzhu roared.
Her voice startled Shen Suqiu.
She came out of the house and looked at Granny Gui.
Granny Gui approached and whispered to her, "Master is dead. He died a suicide pact."
Shen Suqiu staggered two steps, grabbing the door frame for support. "Really? You saw it with your own eyes?"
“I saw it with my own eyes. I went to deliver the divorce papers just now, and there were two memorial tablets in the mourning hall of the General’s Mansion. That Shen Suqin even said that she would come to take revenge for the two lives lost by the Shen family.”
Shen Suqiu stared blankly at Shi Yunzhu in the courtyard, seeing her shouting like a madwoman, "It's good that she's dead, it's good that she's dead."
"Help the princess into the house to rest," she waved her hand, "Don't let the servants see."
"Yes, Miss."
After the courtyard quieted down, Shen Suqiu stood for a while, then walked towards the side courtyard in the southwest corner.
Since she could remember, she hadn't been to the side courtyard very often.
The first time she went there, her father was caught sneaking into the side courtyard behind her mother's back. She was dragged there by her mother as a bargaining chip to get her father back to the front courtyard.
The second time was when Jiang Yao fell ill, and her father asked her to deliver medicine to him. She delivered the medicine, but only half of it; she threw the other half away on the way.
The third time was when Shen Suqin returned, and she went to declare war.
That night, she actually stood at the gate of the side courtyard for a long time because she heard laughter coming from inside. It was the kind of warm laughter that ordinary families would have, which she had never heard before, and she was so engrossed in listening to it that she became completely absorbed.
Later, after she went inside, Jiang Yao gave her two pieces of pastry. She didn't eat them, and they are still in the drawer of her dressing table, wrapped in a silk handkerchief. They are dry, but they smell very good.
Actually, she didn't dislike Jiang Yao.
Because every time she sees her, she smiles, asks if she's hungry, and is proud of her because she knows she's good at studying.
These are things the princess would never give her; she only ever cares about her studies.
She wasn't in the manor yesterday and didn't know that the princess had taken Jiang Yao out.
By the time she arrived, it was too late.
Her skirt was stained with Jiang Yao's blood, red, and now it had turned dark red as she looked down.
When she arrived at the courtyard, she looked at it inch by inch. There was still one last batch of autumn vegetables left in the vegetable garden, the chrysanthemums in the corner had almost all withered, there were still leftovers in the kitchen, the quilt in the bedroom was not folded, the handkerchief that Jiang Yao had embroidered halfway was still there, and Shen Jinghe's calligraphy brush was still there.
That room should be Shen Suqin's room.
The chrysanthemums in the vase were quite fresh, probably recently changed. The bedding was fluffy, likely aired out in the sun. There was no dust on the table, and clothes were still in the wardrobe, as if this person had always lived here.
She looked at it inch by inch, like a thief stealing something.
She thought she didn't actually hate Shen Suqin; she was jealous of her, not because she could write, but because she was loved and protected by these two people.
"Someone come here."
"Miss, what are your orders?"
"Pack up everything in the yard and send it to the General's Mansion. Be careful not to damage anything or leave anything behind."
"Yes, Miss."
"And send Tuksu's body over as well."
"Yes, Miss."
After giving her instructions, Shen Suqiu walked out.
When she reached the door, she stopped, stared intently at the lantern hanging there, tiptoed, carefully picked it up, and carried it away.
——
The refugees outside the city have yet to find refuge, while two thousand Black Flag soldiers within the city are eyeing the city covetously, and it is said that another eight thousand are on their way.
The people of the imperial court were filled with anxiety.
Emperor Jingkang already knew that Marquis Anping wanted to kill the Crown Prince, and also knew that Shen Suqin had led people to force their way into the palace to save the Crown Prince.
"Where is the Crown Prince now?" he asked the ministers below during the court assembly.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is at the General of the Cavalry's residence," Pei Ruhai replied. "Should we summon the Crown Prince back?"
Emperor Jingkang pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, let him calm down first."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you think about the refugees outside the city?" Emperor Jingkang asked again.
This time, it was the Director of Revenue, Yang Kan, who replied, "This year's autumn harvest is quite good, and the national treasury has a slight surplus. I suggest that some grain be distributed to appease the people."
After saying that, he glanced at Pei Ruhai, and seeing that he didn't react, he obediently lowered his head.
After discussing it privately, they decided not to escalate the situation any further.
The Crown Prince's actions have already alerted the Emperor; we must not make any further moves and must proceed cautiously.
"Very well," Emperor Jingkang replied. "You can handle this matter. Also, release the refugees you arrested before. They were all starving and it's nothing serious."
“Your Majesty, these unruly people are, after all, harboring ill intentions. If we do not punish them severely as a warning, I fear that others will follow suit,” Feng Sanhe said.
Despite his injuries and inability to move his arm, he insisted on attending the morning court session.
"They're just refugees, what kind of trouble can they cause? Or are you saying my central army is just for show?" Emperor Jingkang said.
Feng Sanhe bowed his head and apologized, "Your subject dares not."
"Since you dare not, then release them all. I do not want to hear of any more deaths."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Feng Sanhe said. "But Your Majesty, what should be done with General Xiao?"
"What do you mean, my dear minister?"
"Your Majesty, General Xiao not only stormed the Yingtian Prefecture prison, but also personally killed Marquis Anping and his son. Although the Black Flag Army has handed over its military power, it is hard to say that the Black Flag Army that marched south this time was not under his command. I believe that this man must not be allowed to live."
"Bang!" Emperor Jingkang slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "If it weren't for Xiao Pingchuan, my son would be gone."
He glanced around, his eyes sweeping over Feng Sanhe, Pei Ruhai, and Yang Kan in turn, and said calmly, "Not only will I not punish him, but I will also reward him handsomely. Yan Delu, draft an edict to designate Jinzhou in the northern border as the territory of the General of the Cavalry, and he shall be in charge of all matters, large and small, within the territory, and no one else shall interfere."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider," Pei Ruhai said loudly. "Although the Black Flag Army is not under Xiao Pingchuan's command, he has indeed led it for many years. If the northern border is granted to him, it would be tantamount to releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Is Your Majesty not afraid that he will seize military power and rebel?"
“It is indeed Your Majesty. Xiao Pingchuan comes from a humble background and is not of our race. His intentions are bound to be different, and we must be wary of him,” Feng Sanhe said.
Emperor Jingkang looked at them quietly. "If I insist on rewarding him, will you also eliminate me?" His tone was icy. "The Crown Prince is my only son. How dare you!"
Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down in fear and cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Only Prime Minister Pei calmly said, "The Crown Prince has already become disloyal to the aristocratic families. It's hard to say what he will do to His Majesty and us in the future. If His Majesty cares about kinship, then he will be abandoning the Liang Dynasty."
Emperor Jingkang slammed his hand on the armrest in anger, "Then what do you want me to do?" After saying that, he took two deep breaths to suppress his anger, "Ye'er is still young, it's normal for him to be misled by wicked people. We can teach him slowly, what do you say, Prime Minister Pei?"
Pei Ruhai lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Since Your Majesty is so determined to protect the Crown Prince, then I have nothing to say. But those treacherous people who are bewitching the Crown Prince must be eliminated."
"Tell me who they are?"
"Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Shangguan Hong, retainers Jiang An and Gong Yuandao, and wife of the General of the Cavalry Shen Suqin."
"The wife of General Xiao Pingchuan?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"If you mess with her, do you think Xiao Pingchuan will let you off?"
"Your Majesty, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. I cannot concern myself with such matters. This woman is quite learned; she cannot be allowed to live."
Emperor Jingkang hesitated.
"And Your Majesty, putting aside Xiao Pingchuan's merit in rescuing the Crown Prince, he also blatantly led men to break into the Yingtian Prefecture prison to rescue people, and this matter cannot be ignored. Furthermore, does he bear no responsibility whatsoever for the Black Flag Army's southward march? In my opinion, the Black Flag Army is wild and untamed, and even if military power changes hands, it will be difficult to make them completely obedient to the court. The Black Flag Army will surely become a great threat in the future."
Pei Ruhai's words were reasonable and well-founded, but no one present dared to utter a sound.
They knew the Black Flag Army's fighting strength; they overwhelmed a central army several times their size with ease, demonstrating just how terrifying this army was.
“Yes, Your Majesty, it is said that there are still eight thousand Black Flag soldiers on the way. They are heading south into the capital. Only they know what they are thinking, and they may cause a great disaster,” Feng Sanhe said. “We must order them to return as soon as possible.”
Emperor Jingkang remained silent.
Shi Ye claimed to the outside world that he had ordered the Black Flag Army to be recruited so that he could personally inspect the army's combat capabilities.
But everyone knew perfectly well what his real motives were. If he hadn't sensed his precarious situation, why would he have gone to such lengths to summon people from the north?
"Alright, that's enough for today's court assembly. I'm tired." Emperor Jingkang waved his hand. "Dismissed. We'll discuss it another day."
Feng Sanhe wanted to say something more, but Pei Ruhai stopped him with a look.
"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty," Pei Ruhai led the shouts.
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