In the dark alley, Song Ci was instructing the guards on swordsmanship when a group of guards stormed over menacingly.
A maidservant, nimbly whipping away his bodyguard brothers, shouted nervously at him.
"Young Master Shen, don't be afraid, my lady is here to save you!"
The guards followed closely behind, surrounding him and protecting him.
Shen Ci: "..."
…Can anyone tell him what's going on?
Seeing the equally bewildered guards, Shen Ci turned his questioning gaze to the second floor.
After receiving Pei Xuan's instructions, he gave the guards a wink.
The two sides clashed, and the guards feigned defeat and retreated, leaving Shen Ci alone.
At this moment, Jiang Wan stepped forward.
Seeing Shen Ci, whose clothes were neat and whose hair was perfectly styled, a hint of doubt crossed her mind.
However, it was only for a moment before it was interrupted by Shen Ci's voice.
"I was being chased by my enemies and nearly died. Thank you, Madam, for saving my life!"
The man had a handsome and refined appearance, exactly as he remembered from his previous life.
Jiang Wan dispelled her doubts and nodded slightly: "Young Master Shen, there's no need for such formality. It's not convenient here. Let's move to the restaurant to talk."
Things went smoothly from there on.
Under Jiang Wan's overtures, Shen Ci was quickly "conquered".
"The lady saved my life, and I am willing to follow her, whether as a servant or a guard."
"Young Master Shen's swordsmanship is unparalleled. Wouldn't it be beneath you to do these things?"
Jiang Wan smiled slightly, the light veil concealing her deep eyes.
"I want you to sell your martial arts skills to the Song family army. Are you willing?"
"Does Madam wish for me to follow General Chengping, Song Ziyu?" Shen Ci asked.
"That's how it appears on the surface."
Jiang Wan's voice was cool and calm.
"But you are truly loyal to only me."
He suddenly understood.
This is an attempt to plant him as an undercover agent next to Song Ziyu.
He fell silent for a moment.
Seeing that he did not immediately agree, Jiang Wan frowned slightly.
In the eyes of martial arts practitioners, Song Ziyu was a towering general, and Shen Ci might not want to oppose him.
"After this is accomplished, I will allow you to become the deputy general of the Song family army,"
She pondered and decided to cater to his preferences.
"Furthermore, I can also give you the Seven Star Sword Manual that Linglong Pavilion has in its collection."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ci's eyes lit up.
However, no response was given.
Only when he heard two clear cuckoo calls outside the window did he lower his head and say, "I am willing."
Jiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, Song Ziyu will find you in a few days. You can then enter the General's Mansion without any problems. If there are any instructions, I will have Biluo inform you."
Shen Ci nodded and agreed to each of their requests.
After explaining everything, Jiang Wan left the private room at the restaurant.
"Madam, is this Young Master Shen trustworthy?" Biluo asked with some concern.
Jiang Wan also felt that things had gone too smoothly today.
However, recalling her past life, she affirmed, "Shen Ci... was a loyal servant."
At least in her previous life, until her death, Shen Ci was Song Ziyu's most loyal and capable subordinate.
Just as the two were about to leave, they suddenly heard a slightly cool voice coming from the next private room.
"The Seven Star Sword Manual is a private collection of Linglong Pavilion and a treasured possession of Mr. Qingwu."
"Why is it in Madam Jiang's hands?"
Jiang Wan stiffened and turned around.
The man's eyes were like black lacquer, as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool, as he lazily gazed at me through the jade beaded curtain.
Pei Xuan!
How did he end up here?
Jiang Wan was slightly surprised, wondering how much of what had just happened that Pei Xuan had overheard.
She stepped forward, bowed, and said gently, "It was a gift from Mr. Qingwu."
Pei Xuan snorted coldly, not believing it.
He had seen her cunning before, so he was naturally not fooled by her obedient appearance.
"I heard from Pei Tang a few days ago that you asked her about the divorce from the previous dynasty."
“She doesn’t understand these things, but I can tell you.”
Pei Xuan lowered his eyes and slowly approached.
"The lady from the previous dynasty had rendered meritorious service to the court. The late emperor personally bestowed upon her the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady. When she requested a divorce, she was already suffering from tuberculosis and had only two years left to live. She beat the Dengwen Drum and denounced her husband's crime of favoring his concubine over his wife. The late emperor, mindful of her maternal family's contributions to the rise of the new dynasty, granted her dignity."
"However, only two months after the divorce, her husband's family held a grudge and spread rumors that she had an affair and was not virtuous. Unable to bear the gossip, she ended her life with a white silk ribbon."
Pei Xuan slowly approached and stopped opposite the beaded curtain, squinting at Jiang Wan.
"This is the end for that lady."
His aura was cold, and his words were even colder.
Even through the cool beaded curtain, one could feel a deep sense of oppression.
Jiang Wan's gaze sharpened.
Even if she were slow to understand, she could still hear the warning in his words.
She tightened her grip slightly, then smiled.
"Thank you for informing me, Your Highness. I'll take my leave now."
Jiang Wan's figure disappeared through the doorway.
A figure flashed behind the screen, and He Xingyun walked out leisurely.
"Look how frightened the beauty! I've already sent Shen Ci to keep an eye on her, why are you still threatening her like this?"
“General Chengping is the heart of the Song family army, and the General’s Mansion cannot fall now,” Pei Xuan said calmly.
"Heartless".
He Xingyun clicked his tongue in amazement.
“That Song Ziyu is fickle and mistreats his first wife; he is by no means a good match. Look, he has even forced Madam Jiang, a woman, to go out and find guards to protect her. Her days in the General’s Mansion must have been very difficult.”
Seeing that Pei Xuan was speechless, he chuckled and said again.
"With Lady Jiang being so beautiful, does Your Highness not show her any tenderness or pity?"
Pei Xuan gave him a look that suggested he was courting death.
"well."
He Xingyun shook his head and sighed.
It seems that only that one person can touch Pei Xuan's heart.
pity.
He waited patiently for three years, but they wouldn't even see him.
…
On the carriage back to the mansion.
Biluo frowned and said, "Everyone says that Crown Prince Yongning is virtuous and benevolent, so why is he siding with the Song family and being so fierce to Madam?"
Jiang Wan said calmly, "It wasn't for Song Ziyu."
His Majesty has four sons. Although Pei Xuan has been named Crown Prince, the succession struggle is still undecided.
Pei Xuan wanted to protect the General's Mansion for the sake of stability in the court and the country, and also so that the Song family could be used by him at the right time.
However, the story he told provided her with ideas for planning a divorce.
She needs to reach a high position to have the leverage to fight for herself.
So what if she's a first-rank imperial consort?
If others can do it, why can't she?
Jiang Wan's eyes were piercing, revealing a rare sharpness.
Before I could calm myself down, I suddenly heard the sound of butterflies outside the carriage.
"Madam! Something terrible has happened!"
"Song Shuling barged into our courtyard, insisting that the young master was disrespectful and unfilial to her, and that she wanted to have him beaten to death!"
"What?"
Anger flashed in Jiang Wan's eyes: "Quickly, return to the manor."
At this moment, they stopped in front of the courtyard.
Song Yu was forced onto a bench by several old women, while Song Shuling sat leisurely in the pavilion, sipped her tea, and said arrogantly.
"What an ill-mannered brat, daring to talk back to his aunt!"
"Guards, give this disobedient and unfilial brat a good beating!"
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