Su Fengyi’s words struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, instantly silencing the two squabbling Shen brothers.
Shen He stopped fighting with his elder brother, immediately ceased his clamor, and stepped in front of Shen Quan, half-concealing him behind his back.
The previously talkative Shen He, whose chatter had been dizzying, now fell silent. He stared intently at Su Fengyi, his entire body tense. Though a smile still lingered on his face, the warmth had vanished from his eyes, replaced by a sharp, icy glint.
Shen Quan, however, remained relaxed and smiling. Instead of refuting the accusation, he replied:
“Yes, Your Highness. I have known him for many years—we are indeed old acquaintances.”
Shen He’s hand had already reached for the hilt of his sword, but Su Fengyi acted as if she hadn’t noticed. She continued with a smile:
“The letter you wrote to the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians, which Qiao Gui presented to the Emperor—was it truly written by you, or was it forged by Qiao Gui?”
At this, the atmosphere grew even more tense. Shen He, lacking his brother’s composure, lost even the pretense of a smile on his face.
Yet Shen Quan laughed heartily and admitted without hesitation:
“I have seen that item. It is indeed written in my own hand. In this matter, Qiao Gui did not fabricate anything.”
This letter from Shen Quan to the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians had been accidentally obtained by the male lead, King Pingliang. After sowing discord between General Shen and Qiao Gui, King Pingliang deemed the time ripe and anonymously delivered the letter to Qiao Gui. It became a key piece of evidence in the Shen family’s alleged treason.
King Pingliang cared little whether the letter was genuine or forged. In the original story, General Shen died early, and the authenticity of the letter—a background detail concerning a minor character—was never clarified, remaining unresolved until the end.
Su Fengyi had hoped the letter was fake, intending to use its authenticity as leverage to clear General Shen’s name. Now that it was confirmed to be his own handwriting, that path was closed.
Frowning, Su Fengyi said:
“Since it is indeed written by you, this complicates matters.”
Hearing this, Shen He felt the situation had reached a breaking point—the cards were on the table, and there was no room for negotiation. Deciding to follow their previous approach, he resolved to take the Grand Princess hostage once more. Regardless of his brother’s wishes, he was determined to fight their way out of the princess’s residence.
Just as Shen He was about to draw his sword, Su Fengyi spoke again:
“We must find an opportunity to retrieve the letter from the Eastern Depot, swap it out, and destroy it.”
Shen He’s half-drawn sword abruptly halted mid-motion and was shoved back into its scabbard. The sudden shift left him breathless and choking, coughing violently as he exclaimed:
“Damn it! You nearly scared me to death! Could you please finish your thoughts in one go? Speaking in such broken sentences will be the death of someone—do you even realize that?”
Shen Quan was also taken aback, a flicker of astonishment breaking through his usually calm expression:
“I corresponded with the leader of an enemy state—that is an undeniable fact. Why does Your Highness not question me, but instead seek to destroy the evidence?”
A true ally is a true ally—their innate understanding is profound.
“I am willing to follow the example of the Late Emperor and pledge to you, General, that we shall never doubt each other.”
The Late Emperor had passed away suddenly, so how could he have said so many words to the Grand Princess? But since the Late Emperor was already gone, with no one in heaven or earth to know the truth, if she said it was so, then it was so—who could possibly verify it?
For military commanders, especially those like General Shen who held immense military power, what was their greatest enemy in life?
It was not the swords and spears of enemies on the battlefield, but the suspicion of the ruler from deep within the palace.
“Never doubt each other”—the weight of these four words for Shen Quan was unimaginable.
Upon hearing this, Shen Quan was not only stunned but even his eyes grew slightly red. For a moment, he laughed through tears, exclaiming heartily:
“Good! Good! Good!”
General Shen sighed three times in succession:
“Your Highness is truly Wen Rui’s daughter. What a magnificent pledge—’never doubt each other’! I, Shen, feel the same. I vow to Your Highness that we shall never doubt each other!
To me, Wen Rui was not only my sovereign but also my confidant.
How fortunate I have been—to have met Wen Rui in my youth, and now, nearing thirty, to have met Your Highness.
To be frank with Your Highness, that letter indeed held hidden intentions. The Grand Ancestor spent his entire life on campaigns, pursuing a strategy of using war to end war. Though he achieved great ambitions and left behind eternal achievements, it inevitably exhausted the people and drained the treasury. By the time the Late Emperor ascended the throne, the nation’s strength was already stretched thin.
The Late Emperor was a benevolent and righteous ruler, unwilling to see the people suffer or to reignite war. However, the Northern Barbarians were watching covetously, and defense was unavoidable.
The highest form of warfare is to attack the enemy’s strategy, and the best approach is to target their hearts. This letter was written under the Late Emperor’s direction—outwardly addressed to the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians, but in truth, it was meant for the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians. It was a stratagem of sowing discord.
The Late Emperor’s divine foresight proved accurate. The Left Wise King fell for the scheme, causing the Northern Barbarians to split into factions, with even their Royal Court dividing into five separate locations. Thus, for so many years, the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians has been too preoccupied with internal strife to invade our borders again.
However, this matter involved state secrets. I had intended to report it to the Emperor, but unfortunately, the Emperor gave me no chance to explain. Without even granting me an audience, he sentenced me to death.”
At this point, a trace of sorrow appeared on Shen Quan’s usually impassive face. He continued:
“In the past, I promised Wen Rui that I would look after you siblings, vowing that even if the sovereign were to betray me one day, I would never betray the sovereign.
Now that the Emperor and I are estranged, I have failed in the trust Wen Rui placed in me. When I descend to the underworld, I fear Wen Rui will blame me.”
From that sorrow, Su Fengyi saw profound disappointment.
When she had read the book before, she found it strange. The male lead’s scheme was not particularly complex, and the Shen family held significant military power. How could General Shen have died so easily without even putting up a fight?
Now, thinking back, in the original story, General Shen must have been utterly disappointed in the Emperor. To repay the bond of loyalty he once shared with the Late Emperor, he accepted death with composure.
Su Fengyi bowed deeply to Shen Quan and said:
“General Shen, you have been wronged. The Emperor has agreed to reopen this case. Please trust me—there will be a turn of events.
Also, forgive my bluntness. Although the Emperor was easily swayed by vile individuals, in this matter, General Shen, you are not entirely without responsibility.”
Upon hearing Su Fengyi’s words, before Shen Quan could react, Shen He exploded with rage, his temper flaring:
“How outrageous! What nonsense are you spouting?
Let me ask you—is it not your brother who listens only to flatterers, fails to distinguish loyalty from treachery, and hides away in the Leopard Chamber indulging in luxury and pleasure every day!
He is the emperor, and he has acted disgracefully. How is this not his responsibility as the emperor!”
My brother has faithfully guarded the border and fought the Northern Barbarians for him, toiling diligently for years. Now he suffers the torment of imprisonment, his leg broken, nearly losing his life. What responsibility could he possibly bear!”
…
Shen He was filled with grievances and indignation, with countless words he wanted to say and curses he wanted to hurl, but Shen Quan firmly restrained him.
Shen Quan sincerely bowed to Su Fengyi and asked:
“I am eager to hear the details. Please enlighten me, Your Highness.”