The Su family members exchanged surprised glances.
That voice…
It was Shen Qingyan!
Recalling how the Jingzhao Prefect had surrounded the Shen family’s shops with government troops.
So the Jingzhao Prefect had been there to arrest the Shen family members?
“Crack!”The sound of a whip striking echoed through the air, ‘Do you dislike it because it’s shabby?” Do you still think you’re a young mistress?”
Simultaneously, another lecherous voice chimed in, “Chen Ding, don’t be so rough.
Such delicate skin and tender flesh—it would be a shame to damage them, don’t you think?”
Chen Ding immediately grasped Meng Jiang’s meaning and chuckled with equal perversion, “You’re right, you’re absolutely right!”
When escorting prisoners, they particularly enjoyed dealing with pampered young ladies who couldn’t endure hardship.
These delicate misses couldn’t handle suffering.
On the exile journey, giving them just a little hardship to grind them down properly…
They would abandon all sense of propriety and shame.
Then wouldn’t the two of them have their share of fortune?
Chen Ding and Meng Jiang exchanged glances, their grins growing even more obscene and repulsive.
Shen Qingyan watched their disgusting expressions with a chill of revulsion, shooting them a contemptuous glare.
These two toads still dreamed of eating swan meat!
She was the future empress destined to mother the nation.
Moreover, her emperor should already be waiting on the road for her to rescue him.
Thinking this, she felt not a trace of worry but instead brimmed with joy and anticipation.
She strode into the dilapidated temple with her nose in the air.
Following Shen Qingyan’s steps, the entire Shen family crowded into the broken-down temple in disarray.
Both Shen Pengcheng and Shen Pengxing of the Shen family were already married.
Shen Pengcheng’s wife was named Li Wanzhi, also the daughter of a minor merchant. Timid by nature, she had borne Shen Pengcheng one son.
She was disliked by Yang Shi in the Shen family, and Shen Pengcheng scorned her for being dull-witted—their marital relationship was mediocre at best.
Shen Pengxing’s wife was named Chen Lan, daughter of a hunter. Quite slick in her ways, although her maternal family’s status couldn’t compare to Li Wanzhi’s, she had won more of Yang Shi’s favor.
Over the years since marrying in, she had constantly sought to wrest control of household management from Su Yanxi.
Her failure was solely because everything the Shen family currently possessed had been built up through Su Yanxi’s support.
Whether shop managers or domestic servants, all answered only to Su Yanxi.
Another crucial reason was that she had only given birth to two daughters, leaving her somewhat lacking in confidence.
Su Yanxi’s gaze swept over the Shen family members before she closed her eyes again, returning to her meditative rest.
“Hah, I thought certain ungrateful wolves would truly get to stay in the capital living the good life!
Turns out you got exiled after all.”
Su Qinghuai, being young after all, couldn’t help snorting coldly at the sight of Shen Qingyan entering in prisoner garb.
“Shen Qingyan, I think you’re nothing but a jinx! Whichever family you’re with ends up exiled.”
The moment Su Qinghuai’s words left his mouth, Shen Qingyan sensed the Shen family’s gazes toward her shifting.
Panic fluttered in her heart.
The Shen brothers were the most powerful allies in helping her future husband ascend the throne—she couldn’t let them misunderstand her and turn away.
She glared furiously at Su Qinghuai, “What nonsense are you spouting?
The Shen family’s exile was clearly her doing!”
Her venomous gaze shifted toward Su Yanxi, “It was that bitch Su Yanxi who stole all our family’s wealth, then pilfered official silver to plant in our home and frame us!”
The Shen family members, who had just been swayed by Su Qinghuai’s words and had begun to harbor resentment toward Shen Qingyan, snapped back to their senses upon hearing Shen Qingyan’s statement.
How could they have forgotten? Su Yanxi was a person full of schemes, most adept at manipulation.
She must resent them for agreeing to let her switch places with Shen Qingyan, causing her to face exile, and was deliberately seeking revenge against their family.
Intentional framing and false accusations!
“You ungrateful wretch! How did I raise such a thankless wolf after more than ten years!” Yang Shi cursed venomously.
Shen Pengxing glared at Su Yanxi with gritted teeth, “Shen Yanxi, how dare you scheme against us? You’re asking for death!”
“Ah—”
As soon as Shen Pengxing finished speaking, he let out a pig-slaughtering howl.
He clutched his forehead, blood streaming down.
Su Qingyu’s icy gaze was full of warning as he stared at him, “You’re the one asking for death!
If you dare insult my sister again, next time it won’t be your forehead, but your eyes!”
Su Qingyu had actually noticed that Shen Pengxing, like him, practiced martial arts.
But Shen Pengxing clearly had an unstable lower stance—a typical flashy practitioner.
Furious, Shen Pengxing pointed at Su Qingyu, “You…”
“Ah—”
As soon as he opened his mouth, another pig-slaughtering howl echoed.
Looking again, the finger Shen Pengxing had pointed at Su Qingyu now hung limp.
Though Su Qingyu was a full zhang away from Shen Pengxing, no one else could see how he had struck.
But Su Yanxi saw it clearly.
Su Qingyu had hidden several small stones in his hand at some point.
He had flicked a stone to break Shen Pengxing’s forehead and then snapped Shen Pengxing’s finger.
Su Yanxi glanced at Shen Pengxing.
She couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
Shen Pengxing was the same age as Su Qingyu.
Su Qingyu could already hit any target from such a distance just by flicking stones.
Yet Shen Pengxing couldn’t even dodge.
Such a waste.
In her previous life, she had actually exerted all her efforts to help him win the title of Martial Arts Champion.
And in the end, she even pushed him into the position of Protector-of-the-Nation General.
How ridiculous she had been!
Shen Pengxing’s face flushed red with rage.
Being a brute by nature, he lost his temper and lunged at Su Qingyu, “I’ll kill you!”
Su Yanxi now found the Shen family utterly disgusting.
She raised her voice, “Officers, someone is attempting murder! Aren’t you going to intervene?”
After escorting the Su family to the dilapidated temple, Feng Shan and Sun Hao had joined Liu Bantou and the other five to eat meat and drink.
The atmosphere was rowdy, and no one was paying attention to their side.
Hearing Su Yanxi’s report, Du Qiang cracked his whip, the sound slapping against the ground, “All of you, behave yourselves!
Dare to cause trouble, and I’ll whip you to death!”
Shen Qingyan shot a hateful glare at Su Yanxi. If she could report them, so could she!
And she believed her report would carry more weight than Su Yanxi’s now.
After all, Su Yanxi was currently disheveled and grimy, looking like a beggar woman.
She reckoned these officers would be disgusted at the sight of her—why would they help her?
Immediately, her eyes reddened, tears welling up as she looked toward the officers.
In a soft, fragile, and weeping voice, she said, “Officers, it’s not us causing trouble—it’s them.
They’re hiding weapons. As soon as we arrived, they attacked us.
Officers, look—he can break my second brother’s forehead and snap his finger from so far away.
What if one day he turns malicious toward you all…”
“Officers, you must uphold justice for us!”
Though Shen Qingyan had been exiled, her delicate face remained impeccably clean, and her hair was neatly combed without a single strand out of place.
When she cried, she appeared fragile and vulnerable, like pear blossoms glistening with rain.
Not only were Feng Shan and Sun Hao watching her with gleaming eyes, but even Du Qiang gazed at her with a silver glint in his stare.
Moreover, Du Qiang was the first to stand up.
Gripping his whip, he strode toward the Su Family and demanded sharply, “Who brought a hidden weapon?”
“Him!”
Shen Qingyan pointed at Su Qingyu without hesitation.