Chapter 111: Stripped of Command

The capital of Ding never lacked for fresh gossip.
Whatever stir had happened yesterday, by the next day it flew through every street. If a famous name was involved, people would talk for three days and three nights without tiring.
Some treated it as entertainment—a joke to laugh at. Others genuinely felt for the person at the center of the talk.
Today's spectacle concerned the most celebrated general in all of Ming Qi—the Great General of Might and Valor himself.
He had crushed pirates, beaten back the Huns, fought year-round on the northwest frontier, never claimed credit, never grew proud. Glorious deeds. A shield for the realm. That was the Shen house of the military.
From Old General Shen onward, the family had earned the people's reverence through unstinting service. Of the old general's three sons, only the eldest—Shen Xin—had followed in his footsteps and taken the martial path. Fortune favored them: the tiger sires no dog. Shen Xin did not shame the name of Great General. His eldest son Shen Qiu, too, had already proved himself a fierce young blade on the battlefield.
Brothers hunt the tiger together; father and son march into battle side by side. Shen Xin had no airs in the army. He always charged at the front. His union with Luo Xueyan, the general's daughter of a martial house, was called a legend of their age. The people of Ming Qi honored Shen Xin from the bottom of their hearts. If there was one flaw people whispered about, it was that his legitimate daughter had inherited none of her parents' excellence—only their roughness.
Even so, with a daughter like that, whenever Shen Xin's name came up, the common folk still rallied behind him.
But now a charge of deceiving the emperor and betraying the throne had fallen on his head, and the people were stunned.
This was no petty household quarrel. From the first breath it was treason—a crime that could mean confiscation of the entire clan's property. At dawn, court runners had surrounded the Shen mansion gate, said to be gathering evidence. The people knew only that Shen Xin stood accused of deceiving the Son of Heaven. They did not know what the charge was, or how he had wronged the throne.
"How could General Shen deceive the emperor? What a good man he is."
"That's right. Last time my boy startled Lady Shen's horse, she didn't blame us at all—she apologized to us. Such people—has His Majesty made a mistake?"
"Hah, mistake? I hear this one's iron-clad. They've got proof."
"Though nobody knows what it is, they say Prince Ding himself memorialized against General Shen."
"Prince Ding?"
"Exactly. Think—would Prince Ding lie? Maybe it's because Fifth Miss Shen once loved him and was shamed. General Shen wanted to avenge his daughter and did something against His Majesty."
"Ah—that could be. Poor General Shen's family—ruined by that legitimate daughter."
The voices were not low. Shen Miao standing at the gate heard every word clearly.
Everyone in the house had come out to let the officers search within. Shen Yue pretended fright and hid behind Chen Ruoqiu, looking at Shen Miao with false sympathy. "Fifth Sister—how can they speak of you like that? What has Uncle's affair to do with you?"
Shen Miao watched the fierce officers with cold eyes and gave a faint smile. One moment of blindness in a past life, and for the rest of her days she wore the brand of "the rough block who loved Prince Ding." Disgusting.
Seeing Shen Miao silent, Shen Yue thought she had no reply. Triumph flashed in her eyes, though she said nothing.
Old Madam Shen, once sure Shen Xin's trouble would not touch her, relaxed and assumed the posture of a righteous matriarch. She raged: "How could the eldest branch do such a thing against the throne? The Shen house has been loyal for generations—we have no such shameless people! You've disgraced the entire family! If the old general were still alive, he would never stand by while the eldest branch ruined our name!"
Shen Miao's heart stirred. She looked at Old Madam Shen. "What is Grandmother saying? Father is still a Shen. The family and Father are one. How can we abandon him now? When Father was rewarded and praised by His Majesty, didn't Grandmother say that to have such a son was the Shen family's blessing? Words spoken are water spilled. Has Grandmother forgotten again?"
The onlookers' eyes snapped to Old Madam Shen.
When the Great General's deeds were glorious and the throne showered him with honors, Old Madam Shen had not spoken like this. One family should share glory and share ruin. Why did the old lady look as if she would share only the good fortune and never the hardship—eager at the first sign of trouble to cut all ties?
Old Madam Shen felt the hostile stares and flushed with shame and anger. She had no answer and turned to Chen Ruoqiu.
Shen Gui and Shen Wan were at court. Only Chen Ruoqiu could hold the line here. Chen Ruoqiu smiled. "Fifth Sister—you've misunderstood Grandmother. She's only furious. You know our Shen house has always lived upright. Deceiving the emperor… if the old general were alive in the earth, he too would blame your father. With your father doing such a thing, how is the Shen family to hold up its head afterward?"
Emboldened by Chen Ruoqiu's support, Old Madam Shen nodded. "Exactly. Your father made a mistake—is no one allowed to say so?"
Shen Dongling and Concubine Wan stood to one side. They never had the right to speak and only watched in silence.
Shen Miao said: "So—is Grandmother going to cut ties with my father and expel him from the Shen family before she'll be satisfied?"
At those words Chen Ruoqiu's heart sank. Before she could stop her, Old Madam Shen's eyes lit up. Righteous indignation filled her voice. "Such an unfilial descendant—naturally he must be expelled!"
"Grandmother would be so heartless," Shen Miao lowered her eyes. "My father is still in prison, and Grandmother won't even help plead for him…"
Seeing Shen Miao bow her head in apparent weakness, Old Madam Shen felt a rush of satisfaction. These past days the first branch had pressed her at every turn. Now the pent-up resentment poured out. The more pleased she grew, the more righteous she sounded. "The Shen house has been loyal for generations. Even if I must bear the name of heartless, I will make this decision for the old master. Such a man cannot enter our ancestral hall. From today—expel Shen Xin's branch from the Shen family!"
Old Madam Shen spoke with great satisfaction. She did not see Chen Ruoqiu's face change completely.
Cutting ties was necessary—but to do it so openly was folly. Before all these people, who would stand with the Shen mansion now?
Chen Ruoqiu forced a smile at Shen Miao. "Fifth Sister—that's not what Grandmother meant. She's only angry with your father. When her temper cools in a few days, it won't be like this."
Shen Yue did not understand why her mother spoke this way. Why not let Grandmother drive Shen Miao out? Shen Xin's branch now bore the charge of deceiving the emperor. Even if past merit spared them death, living punishment awaited—a wretched future. Drive that ruined family out and they might have nowhere to lay their heads. The thought delighted her.
"Third Aunt—enough." Shen Miao raised her voice. "Since Grandmother cares so much for the Shen name that she won't spare even kin, I have nothing to fear. Better we part here—each go our own way, each find our own peace—lest we stain the Shen family's honor further." Her tone was cutting. She went on: "Moving won't be easy at once. After the officers finish searching, I'll pack. When Father and Mother return, we'll leave. We won't tarnish the Shen house by a single hair!"
She spoke with fury. At a glance she seemed a spoiled girl driven to reckless words. Listen closely, though, and there was no room left for compromise.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan doted on their daughter. If they learned that while they were at court their daughter had nearly been swept from the house, there would be a reckoning.
The crowd erupted. They had not expected such a drama at the gate. Old Madam Shen's conduct was truly ugly. By contrast the girl called the Shen family's rough block looked delicate and sweet—yet had been driven to this pass. Sympathy shifted to Shen Miao's side.
Chen Ruoqiu felt a chill. She looked at Shen Miao and said nothing. It was too late for words now. With so many people watching, within half a day all of Ding would know. Cutting ties with Shen Xin ought to benefit the Shen house—yet Chen Ruoqiu felt a vague unease.
Shen Miao had been leading everyone by the nose—first making Old Madam Shen declare expulsion, then turning sympathy her way. But why? Why did it look as if Shen Miao was using the old lady's words to help Shen Xin break free of the Shen family?
Chen Ruoqiu thought of the recent attempt to divide the household. Old Madam Shen had refused to let the first branch leave with their wealth. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan's decision had been firm. They had been looking at other residences when this crisis struck. She thought the matter dead—yet here it was again, raised before everyone's eyes.
And before so many witnesses, there could be no taking it back later.
Old Madam Shen resented Chen Ruoqiu for speaking up for Shen Miao. When Shen Miao proved so ungrateful as to sever every tie with the Shen family, the old lady was satisfied. She snorted coldly, caring nothing for the scornful stares, and went inside with her maids. Chen Ruoqiu hesitated, then took Shen Yue's hand and followed.
Concubine Wan meant to go in too—but Shen Dongling released her hand and walked straight to Shen Miao.
"Fifth Sister." Shen Dongling called.
It seemed to be the first time since leaving her courtyard that Shen Dongling had addressed her. Shen Miao lowered her eyes. "Third Sister."
"Don't worry, Fifth Sister." Shen Dongling looked fragile, but her smile was warm. "Uncle will be fine. Uncle is not a man who deceives the emperor. The truth will come out."
Shen Miao's expression did not change. "Thank you, Third Sister."
Shen Dongling smiled and turned back to the stunned Concubine Wan, pulling her toward the gate.
"Miss," Jingzhe murmured. "What does Third Miss mean?"
Shen Miao's outburst had nearly declared open rupture with everyone in the mansion. Yet Shen Dongling had offered kindness—was she not afraid Old Madam Shen would punish her?
Shen Miao said nothing. She watched Shen Dongling and Concubine Wan go, shook her head thoughtfully.
Inside, when no one was near, Concubine Wan whispered: "Dongling—what were you doing? How dare you show goodwill to Fifth Miss? If Grandmother sees, she'll tell your father…" Shen Gui disliked the first branch. If Shen Dongling fawned on them, Shen Gui would be furious.
"Don't worry, Aunt." Shen Dongling smiled. "They can't win against Fifth Sister."
"What?"
Shen Dongling pressed her lips together and tugged Concubine Wan forward. "Don't ask. Let's go back."
……
News this big—even the common folk stirred—meant the court was burning.
In the Hall of Golden Chimes, Emperor Wenhui sat on the dragon throne, his face dark enough to drip water. He looked at the assembled ministers and slapped the memorial in his hand into the face of the nearest official.
The man took the blow without a word and dropped to his knees.
Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu had not left the palace since entering. Outside, no one knew what had happened—but among the ministers, all understood. The emperor had detained them. When a ruler detains a subject, the reason needs no explanation: the subject has a problem, and the throne means to deal with it.
Every minister knew the rule. Usually the wise course was silence. But today Emperor Wenhui's manner was strange.
"Pingnan Marquis—you speak!" The emperor named him.
Pingnan Marquis Su Yu started. Other ministers turned their eyes on him. Su Yu remembered what Su Mingfeng had told him last night. He hesitated no longer, drew a memorial from his sleeve, and handed it respectfully to the eunuch beside the throne.
"Your Majesty—this subject too believes the Great General's conduct was reckless and showed no respect for the imperial house. I beg Your Majesty to punish Shen Xin severely—to execute his entire clan to the ninth degree!"
Execute the ninth degree?
Ministers friendly with Su Yu were prepared. Those who usually disagreed with him looked stunned. Pingnan Marquis had always been mild on court—almost a good man. Who expected him to open with demanding the Shen branch's lives? The words were brutally heavy.
Emperor Wenhui's hand trembled as he took the memorial. His gaze burned into Su Yu.
Su Yu held his head high, the picture of righteous indignation.
"Your Majesty," Lin'an Marquis Xie Ding, silent until now, spoke. "Shen Xin hoards troops and defies weight. Abroad he dared resist Your Majesty's command. I fear he long harbored treason in his heart. This subject agrees with Lord Su—execute the Shen clan to the ninth degree!"
Every eye turned to Xie Ding and Su Yu. All knew the Su and Xie houses were deeply tied. The Shen house stood apart from both. Now that Shen Xin was in trouble, the Su and Xie factions were rope-bound locusts—they would stamp a few extra feet on him gladly.
Emperor Wenhui's expression shifted.
Fu Xiuyi's evidence had pleased him greatly. He had long coveted the Shen family's fat holdings and never found his opening. Whatever the proof's quality, stripping the Shen army of command should have been simple.
Yet this morning, when he raised the matter at court, ministers had surged forward demanding harsh punishment for Shen Xin.
Shen Xin had spent years on the northwest frontier. He was not close to many at court. Emperor Wenhui had expected enemies—but not this many. Those who pleaded for Shen Xin were pitifully few.
An emperor's heart is ever suspicious. If many ministers spoke for Shen Xin, Wenhui might suspect secret collusion. But if more impeached him, Wenhui might instead feel reassured—a subject with rebellion in mind would not make so many enemies for himself.
If the flood of impeachment only made Wenhui hesitate, then Pingnan Marquis and Lin'an Marquis demanding execution to the ninth degree made him suspicious indeed.
The Shen, Su, and Xie houses were all thorns in his side. Not because of the men themselves—but because the prestige and soldiery of such great clans kept the emperor from sleeping sound. Who could rest easy with another power snoring beside the throne? Wenhui would not tolerate any clan rising above imperial authority.
Su and Xie were twisted into one rope. Fortunately the Shen house stood at odds with both—otherwise they would have become a true heartland threat. If he truly followed Su and Xie and wiped out the Shen clan to the ninth degree, no force within Ming Qi could check the Su and Xie houses. Let them swell unchecked, and the dragon throne would grow still less secure.
For the first time Emperor Wenhui felt caught on the tiger's back. He had only wanted to reclaim part of Shen Xin's military authority. Keeping the Shen house alive could still balance Su and Xie. Yet now not one man was willing to speak for Shen Xin. Wenhui's temples throbbed.
He asked slowly: "Execute to the ninth degree?"
Usually at such a question ministers could read the emperor's mood. But today Xie Ding, for whatever reason, stiffened his neck. "Yes!"
Emperor Wenhui closed his eyes. When he looked at Xie Ding again, it was as if he saw through the marquis's skin to the wolf beneath.
Su Yu was worried—but showed nothing, still wearing the face of a man who thought Xie Ding spoke sense.
At last a young officer stepped forward. "Though General Shen acted recklessly this time, the crime does not deserve death. He has served the court with great merit. His deeds may redeem his fault. Your Majesty is merciful. For the Shen army's years on the frontier defending the realm, I beg leniency—a lighter sentence."
This officer was on good terms with Shen Xin. Seeing the tide so against him, he could bear no more and spoke.
Emperor Wenhui had been waiting for exactly these words. Yet Shen Xin's reputation was so poor that no one else opened his mouth. The moment this man spoke, the emperor's brow eased. "Well said. General Shen sinned this once, but his past service stands. To execute his clan to the ninth degree would make Us seem ungrateful."
"Your Majesty—absolutely not!" Su Yu dropped to his knees. "If General Shen could deceive the throne in this matter, who knows what he may do next!"
Xie Ding hurried: "Exactly, exactly! Your Majesty—think again!"
The harder they pushed, the more suspicious Wenhui grew. Without looking at them, he addressed the young officer—or rather, the whole court. "Old General Shen rode into fire and death beside the late emperor. The Shen house has been loyal for generations. Great General Shen Xin was once fearless in battle. At year's end he crushed the Western Rong—that too redeems fault. We are not a cruel ruler. To implicate the innocent of Shen Xin's family—how could We?"
"Your Majesty is wise." The young officer knelt again.
Emperor Wenhui waved. "Yet Shen Xin's offense must be punished. Issue the order: reclaim the Shen army's tiger tally. Fine Shen Xin one year's salary. Of the Shen army, only the vanguard shall remain under his command. All else—incorporate into the Imperial Guard."
The hall drew a collective breath. Eyes turned strange.
Call Wenhui cruel—he had not taken Shen family lives. Call him gentle—his first move was to seize the tiger tally. The tally commands three armies. For a military man, to lose it is to lose his soldiers' lives on the field.
And the "vanguard" Shen Xin kept were nothing but cooks and camp hands—the real Shen army absorbed into the Imperial Guard. Years of Shen Xin's trained strength, handed to the throne as a dowry.
Ministers felt the chill. No wonder Wenhui could afford to sound generous. He had already seized their lifeline. Shen Xin might escape death—but the title Great General would be an empty shell. What threat remained? Keeping the Shen name alive was only to balance the other great clans.
When he finished, Wenhui waved irritably. "Court dismissed!" He turned and swept out. With those words, before long the detained Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and Shen Qiu would be released. Whether they could still feel fortunate, facing stripped command, was another matter.
The emperor gone, ministers stared at one another.
None had expected so thunderous an affair to end so simply. Or perhaps "simply" was wrong—without a sound, Shen Xin had become a general without troops. Would he not curse the heavens?
Su Yu brushed dust from his knees and stood. Xie Ding was straightening his robes nearby. Su Yu approached and said quietly: "What was that just now? Why did you suddenly speak?"
Su Yu had promised Su Mingfeng to memorialize against Shen Xin—but he had never wanted to drag his friend into muddy water. The Xie house faced a more tangled situation. One misstep and the Xie clan might suffer. Su Yu would never forgive himself. He had told friendly colleagues—but not Xie Ding. Yet today Xie Ding had followed his lead, nearly drawing imperial wrath on himself.
Xie Ding shook his head. "The moment you spoke I knew you had another plan. Since you meant to help Shen Xin, I helped you along—only to help you." Xie Ding was an old fox who had fought court battles for years. Where Shen Xin knew only war, Xie Ding read advantage and harm with ease. He saw Su Yu was using reverse strategy to save Shen Xin—and added fuel to the fire.
Su Yu felt helpless. His friend's free spirit reminded him of Xie Ding's son Xie Jingxing—cut from the same cloth. At the thought of Xie Jingxing, Su Yu paused. "By the way—Mingfeng told me Jingxing requested northern command himself. Is that true?"
"So Mingfeng knows too." Xie Ding sighed. "Yes. True."
"Has Jingxing lost his mind? The northern frontier is no place for games… Old Xie—can you truly rest easy?"
"What good is my rest? What good is my worry?" Xie Ding was resigned. "When has anything he decided ever been mine to control? Now I only pray he returns safe. This is the debt I made. Only I can repay it now."
"Actually… it wasn't your fault." Su Yu's heart ached. One wrong step, and every step after goes wrong. For years Xie Ding had tortured himself over past events—conscience uneasy, son estranged. Watching as an outsider was painful enough. Living it must be worse. He changed subject. "I hear the memorial accusing Shen Xin came from Ninth Prince Prince Ding. Why wasn't he at court today?"
"His Majesty sent him to inspect the Ministry of Works," Xie Ding frowned. "When he learns of this—who knows what he'll think."
"What else can he think?" Su Yu laughed coldly. "What he wanted is already in hand. Whether those heads stay or go—hardly matters."
Su Yu had never looked like this before. Xie Ding was surprised. "You still haven't said—why help Shen Xin suddenly? When did you and the Shen house become close?"
Su Yu glanced around. They were far enough now, with no one near. He sighed quietly. "Ah—it isn't me. It's my son Mingfeng. Last night he told me—the Shen house is only the emperor's first opening. When the Shen pass, the Su house won't be spared…"
……
Court news flew through the mansions fast. Emperor Wenhui had spared Shen Xin's family—only stripped rank and office. Common folk sighed that the throne was merciful after all. Seeing Wenhui treat Shen Xin so mildly, they guessed his renown still weighed heavy in the imperial heart—that things were not as bad as rumor said.
Outsiders watch the show; insiders read the door. The people did not understand. Officials saw clearly. A Shen house without troops was a toothless tiger—form without force, nothing like its old might.
In the Shen mansion, Shen Gui and Shen Wan discussed the outcome. Though not as harsh as they had hoped, stripping military command satisfied them well enough. Shen Xin's fame and prestige had fallen far below theirs.
In the west wing, Jingzhe brought Shen Miao the news just after she finished lunch.
"Miss," Jingzhe said, seeing Shen Miao's ease, heart settling a little. "You're not worried at all—is losing command not as terrible as people say?"
Shen Miao wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "Don't fear. What's yours can't run away. What isn't yours—grab as you will, it won't stick."