However, when Cui Xuenian arrived at Ziyun Temple, Shen Zhao refused to see her, using the excuse that her baleful energy might bring misfortune to Cui Xuenian.
Enraged, Cui Xuenian overturned the sandalwood incense burner inside her carriage.
Her expression turned cold and sinister.
“Could it be that that unfilial daughter has been spreading rumors about me everywhere, trying to force me into hanging myself?”
“So that Shen Qingrou can observe mourning for me for three years and be unable to marry into the Eastern Palace as Crown Princess?”
She muttered to herself.
After speaking, her eyelids twitched twice, a calculating sharp light flashing in her eyes.
Whether it was Shen Zhao or not it had to be her now.
Cui Xuenian had already thought of a way to break the situation without needing Shen Zhao to meet Old Madam Cui.
“Madam Yao, go…”
Cui Xuenian said, “Spend some silver and have street beggars spread the rumors.”
Madam Yao’s heart pounded violently as she listened carefully.
“Eldest Miss of the Shen family is a bringer of great calamity.”
“In order to seize the Phoenix destiny, she shamelessly spread rumors about her biological mother’s identity, intending to force her to death.”
“Her goal is to prevent the destined Phoenix from marrying into the Eastern Palace early.”
“Even more, she intends to shift her ‘curse of harming her mother’ onto the future Crown Princess for her own benefit.”
Madam Yao’s expression changed slightly. Looking at Cui Xuenian, an inexplicable sadness rose in her heart.
She had personally watched Cui Xuenian raise Shen Zhao like a treasure.
And now, she was also watching her slowly destroy that same cherished daughter.
If one day…
The Madam learned of her betrayal would she treat her the same way she was treating the Eldest Miss?
No.
It would likely be even worse.
Madam Yao tightly gripped her trembling hands hidden under her sleeve.
“Yes,” she replied respectfully.
Passing by a teahouse, the carriage stopped. Madam Yao got down and walked toward the slums.
She carried out Cui Xuenian’s orders.
But at the same time, she also sent a message to the Duke Jin’s residence.
Feng Chun soon delivered a letter obtained from the Duke’s residence to Old Madam Xie.
After reading it, she realized it was a letter from Shen Zhao.
Shen Zhao glanced at it but said nothing.
Old Madam Xie said, “Even tigers do not devour their cubs, but your mother wants to devour you.”
“At present, there is still no movement from the Cui family. Should I go to Chenjun personally?”
Shen Zhao stopped her and said firmly, “Old Madam Cui will definitely come.”
It was just that Old Madam Cui still needed to overcome a barrier in her heart.
Old Madam Xie then said, “And the rumors your mother has spread…”
“We will ignore them for now,” Shen Zhao replied.
At that moment, a black hawk flew in. Feng Chun caught it and retrieved a sealed message from its talons, delivering it directly to Old Madam Xie.
Old Madam Xie recognized it immediately.
“This is a letter from Chenyu.”
Shen Zhao lifted her head slightly.
She watched as Old Madam Xie opened it.
After reading, Old Madam Xie’s expression grew solemn with worry.
She said softly, “The Crown Prince has ordered Chenyu to station at the Three Yin Lands to cut off the retreat of the horse bandits. The Three Yin Lands…”
That was precisely the place of Xie Chenyu’s fatal calamity in his destiny.
Shen Zhao asked for the letter.
On the back of it, there was still a section Old Madam Xie had not yet opened.
But Shen Zhao had already seen it.
“I plan to fake my death to lure the enemy into a trap. If you receive news of my disappearance or death, do not worry.”
After reading it, only then did Old Madam Xie realize there was more text.
“What else did Chenyu say?”
Shen Zhao simply handed it to her.
After reading it, Old Madam Xie not only failed to relax she became even more worried about Xie Chenyu’s situation.
Shen Zhao held her hand and said, “Old Madam, the Duke has the protective talisman given by the Daoist Luoshan. It wards off disaster and ensures safety. Trust him once he will return safely to you.”
With these words, Old Madam Xie calmed slightly.
Five more days passed.
The rumors in the capital did not die down they only grew more intense.
But now, people were no longer discussing that Madam Shen was not the legitimate daughter of the Cui family.
Instead, they said Shen Zhao, out of jealousy toward her sister becoming the Phoenix Star while she herself was a disaster star, had been sent to Ziyun Temple and harbored resentment toward her mother.
Thus she fabricated rumors, attempted to force her mother to death, and delay the Crown Prince’s marriage to the Phoenix Star ensuring no one would have peace.
In an instant, the entire capital condemned Shen Zhao as vicious and unfilial.
At court, officials looked at Shen Huaiming with sympathy.
Xiao Xuanzhou even issued an order demanding that the Shen family remove Shen Zhao from the clan register!
On the day Shen Zhao was removed, news arrived that Xie Chenyu had “died in battle.”
All ministers rushed into the palace to discuss the matter in the Hall of Governance.
Dark clouds hung over the palace. The Emperor immediately dispatched troops to Yanqing.
The Shen clan leader, fearing that even one more moment of Shen Zhao’s name in the register would bring ruin to the entire clan, immediately tore out the page containing her name.
He declared: “The Shen clan no longer has this unfilial, disaster-bringing Shen Zhao.”
That same day,
someone discovered that the Luoshan Imperial Preceptor had appeared at Bodhi Temple.
The Crown Prince ordered Shen Huaiming and Imperial Preceptor Lianping to lead troops to capture the Daoist.
They indeed captured the shaved-headed Daoist Luoshan inside Bodhi Temple.
He was immediately thrown into the imperial prison.
Everything proceeded exactly according to the Crown Prince’s plan, and smoothly so.
Within the Shen residence, the way people looked at Shen Qingrou grew increasingly affectionate and respectful.
They believed the Crown Prince’s and Shen Rong’s success was inseparable from Shen Qingrou’s fortune.
Especially Cui Xuenian, who said excitedly in her heart:
“It was I who made Rou’er take the protective talisman I prayed for and tie it on Dingyao.”
“Rou’er is the Phoenix Star she naturally carries great fortune. She will bless Dingyao and ensure everything goes smoothly.”
Shen Huaiming also sighed.
“Shen Zhao, that disaster star, is truly too powerful.”
Thinking of how Shen Zhao had lived in the Shen residence for fifteen years, he felt a wave of lingering fear.
“I’m glad we sent her to Ziyun Temple. Otherwise, who knows what misfortune she would have brought upon the Shen family.”
Cui Xuenian added, “At best, the family would decline. At worst, it would be complete destruction.”
“Look at Old Madam Xie she refused to listen to my advice and insisted on showing off her kindness by living with that disaster star.”
“In the end, the Duke Jin has already died in battle.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Huaiming felt both fear and a hint of relief.
Although Shen Zhao was a disaster star, she had indeed brought misfortune to the Xie family and caused Xie Chenyu’s death.
For the Shen family, this was actually a good thing.
Shen Huaiming turned to look at her.
Thinking of the rumors that had spread earlier, he felt deep guilt.
“Madam, I wrongly blamed you.”
Cui Xuenian froze for a moment, then quickly reacted.
With a magnanimous expression, she said, “Husband, it was only natural for you to come question me after hearing those rumors outside. I did not take it to heart.”
Hearing this, Shen Huaiming held her hand.
“You are truly the model of a noble lady. Yet I still doubted you because of this.”
“It is not your fault,” Cui Xuenian replied softly. “It is mine for failing to teach Shen Zhao properly, causing her to resent me and even use schemes against her own mother.”
Shen Huaiming’s eyes turned colder.
“When Old Madam Xie returns to the Duke Jin’s residence to handle the funeral, I will have someone seal off Yuqing Courtyard. From then on, let Shen Zhao remain there for the rest of her life.”
Cui Xuenian lowered her gaze, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes.
If possible… letting Shen Zhao die inside that place sooner would not be unacceptable.
That night, the Shen residence secretly prepared wine and dishes, holding an early celebration banquet for Shen Rong’s victory.
Meanwhile, at Ziyun Temple, a dark figure slipped inside and landed in Yuqing Courtyard.
Shen Zhao looked toward the window and called sharply, “Who is it?”
“It’s me.” A low, magnetic voice came from outside.
Shen Zhao tightened her blanket and asked, “Xie Chenyu?”
The voice was hoarse and unfamiliar, making her uncertain.
But soon the person outside responded, “Yes.”
Shen Zhao got up and opened the window.
Moonlight fell on his face.
His chin was stubbled, his face covered in dust, like a wild man.
Completely unlike the elegant young noble who had once been radiant at her coming-of-age ceremony.
But his eyes were bright.
Clear black and white, sharp as burning stars.
Shen Zhao couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Duke… did you roll out of a pile of mud on your way back?”
He answered honestly, “Yes.”