Chapter 913: Chapter 911: Revealing Oneself (1)

Liufu stood in the courtyard, gazing from a distance at Tong Minzhi, who was standing with hands behind his back by the Tongji River, his eyes lowered in contemplation of the water, and her eyes were filled with heartache.

Since Sixth Lady left, Seventh Young Master has been standing here for two hours, neither eating nor drinking nor moving. She didn’t know what Sixth Lady and Seventh Young Master talked about, but she could feel the intense sorrow and helplessness emanating from Seventh Young Master. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Her footsteps shifted slightly, but she didn’t have the courage to approach.

After a long time, Tong Minzhi finally turned around, his handsome and refined presence standing against the wind. Liufu’s heart skipped a beat; she felt that something about him was different than before.

What was it?

Liufu couldn’t pinpoint it, but she felt a thrill of apprehension.

"...Seventh Young Master." Liufu approached, performed a courtesy, and softly said, "Aunt Xiuzhi just came and said the concubine is looking for you. Would you like to go and take a look?"

Tong Minzhi’s gaze flickered, he didn’t even look at Liufu, just nodded and said, "I know." Yet he still went straight into his study.

Liufu sighed at the back, followed Tong Minzhi into the courtyard, but before she could enter the study, the door closed with a bang.

Tong Minzhi strode to the desk, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote the character "strive" on the snowy white Xuan paper, then tossed the brush away but stood at the desk for a long time...

Xiqiu returned home, Zhi had been expectantly waiting for her, and upon seeing her, he immediately ran over with a smile: "Mother, why did you return just now? I’ve been waiting for you for so long."

"Was there a reason for waiting for me?" Xiqiu pulled him as they walked into the courtyard, asking as they went: "What did you do this morning?"

Zhi replied as they walked: "I went to find Mr. Ji, and Mr. Ji helped me make a lantern, saying it could be hung in the courtyard during the Mid-Autumn Festival." Xiqiu raised her eyebrows and smiled: "Is that so? Where’s the lantern? Let me take a look."

"Okay." Zhi dragged Xiqiu all the way into the room, pointing to a small red-bearded rabbit lantern placed at the head of the rose bed: "That’s it." Then he ran over to hold it in his arms: "Isn’t it pretty?"

Xiqiu nodded: "Just right." Saying this, she sat down on the bed somewhat wearily and took the tea brewed by Bihuai.

Bihuai softly asked: "Madam, your complexion doesn’t look good. Would you like to rest for a while?"

"No need." Xiqiu waved it off, lowered her head, and drank tea. Zhi blinked his eyes worriedly at Xiqiu: "Mother, are you sick?"

"Mother is not sick." Xiqiu put down the tea cup, took Zhi into her arms, smilingly asked: "Our Zhi knows to care about mother now, so obedient." She kissed his cheek: "Does Zhi remember which story’s child cared for his mother like Zhi does?"

"Huang Xiang." Zhi said with a smile, Xiqiu nodded: "Then would you like to tell mother the story of Huang Xiang’s Warm Bed?"

Zhi tilted his head looking at Xiqiu, feeling she genuinely wanted to hear the story, he pursed his lips and nodded: "Okay." Then slowly began to tell the story of Huang Xiang’s Warm Bed.

Holding Zhi, Xiqiu felt his soft body against hers and a deep sense of tranquility washed over her.

Fourth Master Xiao dismounted at the side gate, handing over the horse to the gatekeeper, and walked briskly into the manor. Tiancheng came over lightly saying: "Master, someone has been waiting for you all morning, claiming to be an old acquaintance of yours. We asked him, but he wouldn’t say..."

"Hmm?" Fourth Master Xiao did not slow his pace: "Where is he?"

Tiancheng then led the way to the guest room, where upon entering, Fourth Master Xiao saw a man sitting inside leap up from his chair: "Grand Commander."

Fourth Master Xiao focused his gaze and saw the man was dressed in a dark green robe, with a round, slightly plump face, not very tall, skin tanned with the characteristic darkness of coastal people, about forty years old or so. His brows furrowed as he said: "It’s you!"

The man came over and clasped his fists towards Fourth Master Xiao: "I’m Shen An, I greet the Grand Commander."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit: "Have a seat!" He himself was already seated in the head chair, Tiancheng brought in tea, then closed the door to stand guard at the entrance.

"Why have you come?" Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows looking at the other while holding his tea: "Did something happen in Fujian?"

Shen An urgently replied: "The Shen clan secretly sent people to Fujian, searching everywhere for us; I feared being discovered by them and so dispersed my men out of Fujian, and hurriedly came to the Capital myself." He paused then continued: "The Shen clan has gone too far; the late Empress has passed away for many years, my clan has been completely wiped out, yet they still won’t let us go." Saying this, he pounded a fist on the table.

Fourth Master Xiao put down his tea cup, asked gravely: "Are you certain it’s the Shen clan? Did you contact Dai Quan after leaving Fujian?" Years ago, he had sent Dai Quan to Fujian to manage his affairs and secretly protect the surviving remnants of the Shen clan.

"It’s them, no doubt about it." Shen An said decisively: "I secretly captured and interrogated someone; he said he was one of Shen Ji’s secretly trained guards." He paused and continued: "I left in a hurry and just left a letter for Mr. Dai, I assume by now he is on his way back to the Capital."

Fourth Master Xiao did not speak immediately, his fingers tapped slowly on the table, producing a monotonous thudding sound, before he looked towards Shen An asking: "Then what do you plan to do now that you’re in the Capital?"

"Grand Commander." Suddenly rising, Shen An knelt on one knee before Fourth Master Xiao: "The Shen lineage cannot simply perish, I beg the Grand Commander to arrange for me to meet with the Emperor, I want to ask the Emperor face to face if he remembers the Shen clan’s gratitude in the past."

Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brows, stood to help Shen An up: "Lord Shen, do not be anxious." He calmly said: "Meeting with the Emperor is not impossible, but if you harbor such sentiments, I don’t agree with you meeting the Emperor at this moment."

Shen An was taken aback, asking: "Why not?" Fourth Master Xiao turned to him, standing with hands behind his back replied: "Though the political situation is gradually stabilizing, the Shen clan’s strength is growing as well; the Emperor may harbor fears and intend to weaken them, but it cannot be done overnight. If you appear now, not only will you fail to achieve what you want, but you’ll also disrupt the Emperor’s plans. Therefore..." He paused then continued: "It would be better for you to first find a secluded place to settle your clan and followers, and we will plan with a long-term perspective."

Shen An clearly could not wait any longer: "But in such a vast world, there is no place for us to hide. If I don’t see the Emperor, then even on my deathbed, I would face my clan with shame, Grand Commander."

"Don’t be hasty." Fourth Master Xiao advised: "If you have nowhere to hide, I will direct you to a place for now, and I’ll later come to contact you, see if that works."

"I..." Shen An’s lips moved, wanting to speak but hesitated. Fourth Master Xiao just stared silently, scrutinizing him, and after assessing, asked: "Is there something else you haven’t told me?"

Shen An was stunned, then showed an excited expression, looking at Fourth Master Xiao: "Through the years, thanks to your care, you have bestowed upon me a new life, for which I am grateful. Hence I won’t conceal this matter from you." He seemed both excited and uneasy, pacing the hall several times, finally clenching his fists and said through gritted teeth: "Before coming to find you, I secretly went to the Imperial Mausoleum." During the time of his family’s execution, his years of hardship had honed his skills in stealth and grave digging.