“Collect the corpse?”
Shen Qingzhu laughed.
“My sister isn’t dead yet.”
Her voice was flat and calm, without the slightest ripple.
“I’m here to take her home.”
The steward felt a chill creep up his spine under her gaze.
But relying on the backing of his masters, he stiffened his neck and forced out an even more vicious sneer.
“Take her home? Shen Qingzhu, have you gone stupid from fright?”
“A woman discarded by our Qian family, a daughter of a criminal official—what home does she have to return to?”
He spat on the ground.
“The mass grave?”
“You’re courting death!”
The Shen family guards behind Shen Qingzhu instantly saw red. Their fists clenched until their knuckles turned white as they were about to charge forward.
“Stand down.”
Shen Qingzhu didn’t even turn her head. She only uttered two words.
Yet there was an indescribable authority in that voice. The dozen furious men actually stopped in their tracks.
The steward’s mockery grew even more brazen.
He was convinced Shen Qingzhu was afraid.
“What? Still thinking of making a move?”
He pointed a finger straight at Shen Qingzhu’s nose.
“I advise you to think carefully. This is the Qian residence, not that doghouse of yours that’s about to be sealed up!”
“Take one more step forward and I’ll report you to the authorities. You remnants of the Shen family will all be arrested!”
“Report us?”
Shen Qingzhu looked as though she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
She stepped forward and stood on the stone steps before the Qian residence gate.
“Go ahead.”
She stared at the steward, speaking clearly, word by word.
“Tell the officials that the Shen family were accomplices in Prince An’s rebellion and deserve the punishment of extermination of nine generations.”
The steward froze.
He couldn’t understand what trick this brat was playing.
But Shen Qingzhu’s gaze had already moved past him, landing on the dark courtyard beyond the gate.
“And then,” she said quietly, her voice like a snake’s hiss, “I’ll have a good talk with the officers of the Imperial Guards.”
“We’ll talk about how your Qian family, as in-laws of the Shen family, participated step by step in planning that rebellion together.”
The blood drained from the steward’s face instantly.
His lips trembled.
“You… you’re slandering us! Our Qian family is completely innocent!”
“Innocent?”
Shen Qingzhu’s patience seemed to run out.
“Right now, I’m the one who decides.”
She pulled out a thin stick of incense from her sleeve, about an inch long, and a small fire starter.
Fssst.
She lit the incense and wedged it into a crack at the base of the stone lion by the gate. Then she calmly brushed the dust from her hands.
“One stick of incense.”
She raised her eyes and looked at the steward, who was already trembling like a sieve.
“Have Old Master Qian personally carry my sister out here—in a sedan chair, properly escorted.”
“Otherwise…”
She paused. The smile at the corner of her lips vanished completely.
“I’ve already sent someone to the Shuntian Prefecture. When this incense burns out, they’ll beat the drum to report the case. My Shen family’s lives are worthless—we’re doomed anyway. But dragging your wealthy Qian family down with us? On the road to the underworld, that’s not a bad trade.”
After speaking, she stepped back a few paces and folded her arms.
Then she closed her eyes as if she had fallen asleep.
She didn’t spare the steward another glance.
A madman!
This Shen Qingzhu was a complete lunatic!
The steward’s legs were shaking violently. He didn’t dare gamble.
What wouldn’t a man about to die dare to do?
He dared not think further. Scrambling to his feet, he ran back into the inner courtyard.
“Ma—Master! Something terrible has happened!”
Inside the Qian residence, in a remote side room.
The thick smell of bitter medicine filled the air, making one want to vomit.
Shen Qingyao was pinned to the bed by two burly matrons.
Her hair bun had come loose, damp strands sticking to her pale face.
She twisted desperately, using all her strength to protect her heavily swollen belly. Her throat was already hoarse from shouting.
“Let me go! I didn’t do anything wrong! You can’t treat me like this!”
A fleshy-faced matron held a bowl of dark medicine, wearing a numb smile.
“Young Madam, stop struggling. It’s useless.”
“You’re the daughter of a criminal official. Our Qian family can’t keep you. Even if this child is born, it’ll only be a cursed bastard. The old master said it’s better to end the pain quickly.”
The matron walked closer step by step.
“Drink this bowl of medicine, and you and the Qian family will be even.”
“N-no… don’t…”
At the head of the room, Old Master Qian sat in a grand chair, holding a teacup and leisurely brushing away the foam with the lid.
He treated the tragic scene before him as if he saw nothing.
“Pour it in.”
He spoke lightly, as though commenting on the weather.
“Yes!”
The matron responded immediately. One hand roughly grabbed Shen Qingyao’s jaw while the other raised the bowl of medicine, ready to force it into her mouth.
Just then—
“Master! Something terrible has happened!”
The steward rushed in like a madman, falling to his knees with a thud and crawling toward Old Master Qian.
Old Master Qian frowned, clearly annoyed.
“Why the panic? Have some dignity!”
“Master! That Shen Qingzhu from the Shen family… he… he’s brought people to block the gate!”
“What?”
Old Master Qian set down his teacup, a look of deep contempt flashing in his eyes.
“A brat on the verge of death dares to cause trouble at my Qian residence? Send someone to beat him away!”
“You can’t beat him, Master!”
The steward cried miserably and repeated Shen Qingzhu’s words, adding extra drama.
“…He said if you don’t personally bring his sister out, he’ll report to the Imperial Guards that our Qian family are accomplices of Prince An! He even lit incense at the gate—when it burns out, he’ll go report us!”
Crash!
The celadon teacup in Old Master Qian’s hand fell to the ground and shattered.
His face turned instantly dark.
“How dare he!”
Fury surged through him.
But he didn’t dare take the gamble.
The Shen family had nothing left—barefoot and desperate.
The Qian family, however, had wealth and status.
Risking everything against a madman wasn’t worth it.
Old Master Qian’s expression shifted repeatedly. Finally, he forced a few words through clenched teeth.
“Lock her in the room for now. Prepare the sedan chair! We’re going to the front gate!”
Outside the Qian residence.
The stick of incense burned quietly in the night breeze.
The glowing tip slowly shortened.
The Shen family guards behind Shen Qingzhu felt their hearts in their throats.
Only she remained calm, her eyes still closed.
Finally—
Creak.
The heavy gates slowly opened.
The steward, who had been so arrogant before, now ran out with a wide smile, bowing like a fawning dog.
“Young Master Shen! Oh my, what a misunderstanding—just a huge misunderstanding!”
As he spoke, he subtly shifted his body to block the wind blowing toward the incense.
The speed at which it burned visibly slowed a little.
Shen Qingzhu slowly opened her eyes.
Looking at his sycophantic face, her heart remained completely unmoved.
Soon, a small sedan chair carried by four men hurried out from inside the gate, surrounded by servants.
The chair was set down, and Old Master Qian stepped out.
His face was filled with a mix of surprise and fatherly affection as he walked quickly forward, reaching out to grab Shen Qingzhu’s hand.
“Oh, my worthy nephew! Why didn’t you inform us before coming? You must be exhausted from the journey. Come, come inside and have some hot tea with your uncle!”
His tone was so warm it sounded as if they were blood relatives.
Shen Qingzhu shifted slightly, avoiding his touch.
“I’ll pass on the tea.”
She raised her eyes and looked straight into Old Master Qian’s shrewd yet murky gaze.
“Where is my sister?”
The smile on Old Master Qian’s face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered.
“Qingyao? She’s resting in the backyard. When she heard you came, she started getting dressed—girls, you know…”
“Come, nephew. Let’s go inside and wait. I also happen to have some matters regarding Lord Shen’s case that I’d like to discuss with you. Perhaps the Qian family can help.”
He was still acting. Still trying to stall for time.
Shen Qingzhu sneered inwardly.
Old fox.
Unfortunately, the one he was dealing with was a ghost that had crawled back from hell.
“No need.”
Shen Qingzhu interrupted him again.
“Old Master Qian, let’s not waste words.”
She stepped forward, her presence pressing down on him.
“My father’s case is beyond saving. Even the gods couldn’t help him. Your Qian family doesn’t have the courage—or the ability. Put away those thoughts.”
Old Master Qian’s pupils suddenly shrank.
He stared at the young man before him in shock.
Was this still the Shen Qingzhu who used to stumble over his words whenever he saw him?
Those eyes… that presence… those words that pierced straight into people’s hearts…
Ignoring his shock, Shen Qingzhu turned slightly and addressed Lingyu, who was already crying behind her.
“Lingyu.”
The maid trembled.
“Lead the way.”
Lingyu looked at the row of fierce Qian family guards at the gate. Her legs went weak, and she didn’t dare move.
Shen Qingzhu didn’t urge her.
Instead, she raised her head and swept her gaze across Old Master Qian and all the Qian family servants.
Her voice was cold as a blade.
“I’d like to see who dares stop me today.”