Though she had mentally prepared herself, when the truth was laid bare by A-Man, Shen Xinyan still broke a fingernail: “How dare they…”
No wonder they wouldn’t let her die from illness. If she were to suddenly die, the Empress Dowager would certainly not stand idly by and would likely order a thorough investigation, which would inevitably expose more secrets.
But if she were to ruin her reputation at the Chang Gongzhu Fu…
The Chang Gongzhu was the Empress Dowager’s own daughter, who had married for the sake of the nation for many years. Both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor felt indebted to her. If such a scandal were to occur at the Chang Gongzhu Fu, even for the sake of the Chang Gongzhu herself, the Empress Dowager would no longer intervene in her affairs.
What a vicious scheme the Yao family had devised.
A-Man sneered coldly: “Of course they dare. Back then, Yao Jinfeng was said to have repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, but in reality, it was the old general’s former subordinates who, out of old sentiments, always kept him stationed in the rear. When reporting military achievements, they would conveniently include his name.
Yet he was so eager for glory that after returning to Jingcheng, he boasted everywhere about his own bravery, creating the impression that Yao Jinfeng was a courageous and skilled warrior.
On the night of your wedding, Yao Jinfeng was called back to the battlefield. He thought he could muddle through as before, but unexpectedly, their troops were ambushed.
Cowardly and afraid of death, to save his own skin, he led his men to desert through a side path, causing the entire unit to be wiped out and even leading to the death of the vanguard cavalry general and his team.
Knowing he had committed a grave mistake, he returned to the battlefield after the enemy had just left and before our side had cleared the area. He exchanged his clothes with a soldier whose build closely resembled his, then secretly fled back to Jingcheng, privately seeking help from the Yao family.
Apart from Madam Yao Li, who was too foolish and had to be kept in the dark, your dear grandmother and Yao Changcheng both knew about this.”
Shen Xinyan no longer cared about A-Man’s sarcastic tone. Now, her breathing grew labored, and her vision blurred repeatedly: “The Yao family actually let Yao Jinfeng off so easily. Why didn’t they silence him privately?”
This was the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Did the Yao family have a death wish? But what about her now? If this news reached the Emperor’s ears, she would likely be punished along with the Yao family.
A-Man sneered coldly: “The Yao family has only this one heir, still counting on him to carry on the family line. Now, Yao Jinfeng lives in a secluded paradise with his beautiful wives and concubines, blessed with both sons and daughters, living a carefree and happy life.”
The more she spoke, the more hatred she felt. A-Man gritted her teeth again, spitting out words through clenched teeth: “The money he uses for his lavish lifestyle is still taken from your monthly allowance.
If you don’t believe me, check your dowry and the shops under your name to see exactly how much is missing.”
The Ning Guo Gong Fu had no heir left, yet its title and estate were still preserved.
Previously, some had speculated that the reason the Emperor had not revoked the title of Ning Guogong was to wait until Shen Xinyan became pregnant, then allow her to adopt a child to inherit the title.
Therefore, when Shen Xinyan married, she only took a portion of the Guogongfu’s assets as her dowry.
Even so, it made the Yao family green with envy, wishing they could break into the storeroom at night and take all the valuables.
Shen Xinyan leaned against the railing of the canopy bed, taking a long time to catch her breath: “How did you come to know about Yao Jinfeng’s matter?”
This concerned the fate of nine clans. The Yao family should have kept it tightly under wraps. Why was A-Man so thoroughly informed?
A-Man sneered disdainfully, “The Yao family’s greatest mistake back then was sparing my life. They thought that by spreading rumors that I willingly entered the brothel due to poverty and degradation, they could make the world despise me completely.
But they never imagined that as long as I had a breath left in me, I could climb back to the heights and crush them one by one.
Not only did I find a way to warn you, but I also personally brought down the Yao family, sending each of them to their graves. Now that none of this has happened to you, and with me constantly guiding you, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Shen Xinyan finally caught her breath, “How are you living now? Where are you staying?”
A-Man’s voice softened, “Worried about me? The place I’m in can gather intelligence from across the land, but it’s not suitable for a young girl like you to come.
Rest early. Leave the estate first thing tomorrow morning—this opportunity is rare and fleeting. Remember to bring your token, and once you find the item, deliver it directly to the palace.”
Upon hearing “the palace,” Shen Xinyan’s mood sank again, “I am an ill-omened person. I don’t want to bring misfortune to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
A-Man’s voice carried impatience, “With such a powerful backer and you refuse to use it—are you waiting to be trampled to death? Just wait and see, the old and young over there are eagerly waiting to destroy you.
If we’re talking about abundant blessings, who can compare to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager? She doesn’t even mind your fate, keeping you by her side personally. What are you being so finicky about?
Besides, your dead husband isn’t truly dead—what’s so inauspicious about that…”
A-Man grew angrier as she spoke, whether frustrated with Shen Xinyan’s self-deprecation or with her own past.
Being called a jinx for years, it was normal to harbor resentment. But if she still couldn’t stand tall in such a treacherous environment, she would only be courting death.
Shen Xinyan lay down with a heavy heart, “After I was… dealt with, what happened to the people around me?”
A-Man’s voice was tinged with impatience, “You’re asking about your maids, aren’t you? When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Except for Yingtao, all the other maids found their own paths.
Don’t worry, they were all smarter than you. Just focus on yourself. But be extra cautious of Putao—she’ll later become Yao Changcheng’s concubine.”
Shen Xinyan spoke bitterly, “A father-in-law taking a fancy to his daughter-in-law’s maid—the Yao family truly has rules.”
What a disgusting family.
A-Man snorted coldly, “They dared commit the crime of deceiving the emperor, and you’re still hung up on such trivial details.”
Shen Xinyan’s voice grew somber, “Did something happen to Yingtao?”
Yingtao was the maid she brought from Ning Guo Gong Fu, having grown up with her since childhood. How could she have met such an end?
A-Man’s voice turned strained, as if recalling something painful, “Yingtao refused to leave me and was sold into the brothel with me. That year, we encountered a client with peculiar tastes. Yingtao stepped forward for me, and that was how she died.”
That was also the greatest pain in her heart.
Shen Xinyan’s nose tingled with emotion, “Don’t cry.”
Just hearing it, she could feel A-Man’s sorrow.
A-Man fell silent. The room was quiet except for Shen Xinyan’s occasional sobs.
Only after Shen Xinyan cried herself to sleep did A-Man speak again, “I don’t cry. I only make my enemies cry.”
She had clawed her way up through hardship, only hoping that Shen Xinyan’s path would be smoother than hers, so that this stroke of fortune she had received would not be in vain.
Shen Xinyan had already gone to bed. Meanwhile, Madam Yao Qian led Yao Jinning and Madam Yao Li into her own courtyard.
Yao Jinning had been uneasy the entire way, while Madam Yao Li wore an expression of righteous confidence. Everything she had done was tacitly approved by the master of the house—she refused to believe her mother-in-law could find fault with her.
Besides, Shen Xinyan was her daughter-in-law, not her mother-in-law’s.
Her mother-in-law shielded Shen Xinyan day after day, constantly showing favoritism toward her in front of everyone, making it impossible for Madam Yao Li to establish even a shred of the authority a mother-in-law should command. She had long been unable to stand it.
As soon as Madam Yao Qian sat down, she saw Madam Yao Li’s self-righteous expression, and her heart instantly tightened again.
An unworthy wife brings calamity for three generations. Madam Yao Li had played no small part in bringing the Yao family to such a state—her foolishness was truly unbearable to witness.
In contrast, Yao Jinning timidly poured a cup of tea and respectfully offered it to Madam Yao Qian. “Grandmother, please have some tea… Ah—”
With a startled cry, Yao Jinning was slapped to the ground by Madam Yao Qian.