Chapter 79: Annihilation

For a moment Yushu understood. Shen Miao had wanted to manufacture news aimed at Prince Yu's mansion; now the news sold to the Chens also tied to Prince Yu—drawing hatred toward his house. Gao Yang was right: deep blood feud between Shen and Prince Yu. She had set a trap here and waited for the mansion to stumble.
Yet Yushu felt depressed too. Those who came to Baixiaosheng usually traded in good faith and were grateful for the service—unlike Shen Miao, who used Baixiaosheng as a tool: rope in the Chens, strike at Prince Yu.
Still… Yushu thought—even the great Chen house, against Prince Yu's fearsome name and throne backing—who would charge into danger unless the grudge ran to the bone?
"Miss Shen—speak truth?" Chen Yueshan's voice was strained. Prince Yu's debauchery was court-wide knowledge. If the Chen sisters fell into his hands, their end was imaginable.
"I have no reason to lie."
"But how do you prove it's true?" Chen Yuehai cried out suddenly—unable or unwilling to believe, turning his fury on Shen Miao all the sharper.
"The Chen sisters were twin beauties, guarded drop by drop. Prince Yu loved thrill—taking them cost effort. Then overnight they were rushed to Dingjing. While the family still searched Yuzhou, the sisters were already in Prince Yu's mansion."
Shen Miao paused, then continued: "After… Prince Yu's methods torturing women were terrible. The sisters tried suicide again and again; he stopped them. Later the elder sister fawned and plotted so the younger might escape—he knew and pretended not to. Then he gave the elder to his men; after torment they beat her dead. The younger fled, was violated on the road, blinded both eyes, found work carrying night soil—living because her sister bought that life with hers. Only…" Shen Miao sighed softly. "She never left Prince Yu's gate. The night-soil job, the neighbors—all arranged by Prince Yu to toy with her, watch her live in hope inside a swamp."
Her voice was calm and cool, regret only at the end—yet it chilled the whole body. Yushu was horrified. He knew Prince Yu's cruel games—but never heard them told in such detail. Killing is simple; making someone wish for death while living is hard. That younger sister thought she had escaped, lived in hope, dreamed of revenge and reunion—never knowing hope was pinched in Prince Yu's hand, her every act his amusement.
The brothers fell silent. Chen Yuehai slowly raised his hands to his head and howled in pain—wounded beast, hearers weeping. Yushu looked on with pity.
Shen Miao watched him and sighed inwardly. Those sisters had been pampered pearls, innocent and happy—could have been among the world's happiest women. Their later lives were worse than ordinary girls'. Was beauty crime? What crime had the Chen sisters?
"Miss Shen…" Chen Yueshan was steadier, yet his voice shook. "How prove truth? All this—only your word." Even the steadiest man, hearing what he refused to believe, escaped and escaped—as Chen Yueshan did now.
"Simple. The younger sister still lives. Prince Yu's walls are iron—rash entry alerts the snake. To test my words, take a purchasing servant from the mansion and ask whether a night-soil woman lives there. Your own sister—ask and you'll know."
Both brothers swayed; pain naked on their faces. Yushu sighed inwardly—Shen Miao spoke so sure, so detailed; the news was nine parts true.
"You…" Chen Yuehai stared at Shen Miao. "You knew this—why not save her? You watched her fall into fire and came calmly to trade news—you…" He slammed the table. "Heartless!"
"Yuehai!" Chen Yueshan rebuked softly, bowed to Shen Miao with folded hands. "Forgive us, Miss Shen—Second Brother is too grieved. Don't take offense." Polite words—but Shen Miao saw the reproach in his eyes.
Silence. Shen Miao did not anger; she laughed and looked at Chen Yuehai. "How should I save her, in your view? A girl without weapon—what power to pull her from fire? Sneak into the prince's mansion regardless of my life? Or like her sister, trade my life for her chance? I'll say today—if she were my own sister, I might try. She is a stranger. Would you risk your life for a stranger? If you would, I call you a true man. I'm a coward, narrow-hearted—I won't play saint. Why should I?"
She spoke fast and sharp; the brothers had no answer. Yushu's mouth hung open—Shen Miao seemed suddenly enraged. Her words were irony: if all men died for strangers, the world would not be so hard. What could one small girl do for the Chen sisters?
Shen Miao looked coldly at the two brothers. She had lost control a moment. What she hated most was being bound by "righteousness." Once she went to Qin as hostage for Ming Qi's people, for Fu Xiuyi—return brought the Emperor's cold heart. Her Shen house served throne and realm—and earned extermination of the whole clan. Why always their sacrifice? Why must she be savior? The Chen sisters were pitiful—but when she was deposed, cornered, could not keep her children—who pitied her?
In this world every hard life is walked alone. No one owes another rescue.
Chen Yuehai was silent a long while, then said to Shen Miao: "I spoke too heavy just now. Forgive me, Miss Shen."
Shen Miao steadied herself. "My news ends here."
"We believe you, Miss Shen," Chen Yueshan said. "First we must find our sister. When found, Chen will pay ten thousand gold in thanks."
"I said—no ten thousand. Only goodwill." Shen Miao said. "But… one sentence—will you hear it?"
"Please speak." Chen Yueshan bowed.
"Prince Yu remembers every slight, heart narrow—provoke him and he returns tenfold. Chen is great—but against imperial kin you stand lower. You want more than rescue—you want revenge for your sisters."
The brothers exchanged a look. Chen Yuehai did not hide it. "Blood feud—irreconcilable. Chen and the prince's mansion are enemies. This debt must be collected."
"Even if you don't collect—after you take your sister, Prince Yu will know Chen did it. You'll face the mansion either way. I say: cut weeds and dig roots—for peace after, wipe the mansion clean."
"What does Miss Shen mean?" Chen Yueshan asked hesitantly.
"Jianghu sects, wide connections—heroes everywhere as friends. Prince Yu's house is noble—but in raw strength, annihilation is not impossible."
Annihilation!
Yushu had listened idly—at that word he sprayed tea. Looking at Shen Miao with shock: a girl, calm, saying "annihilation"—terrifying.
The Chen brothers froze. Chen Yueshan studied her; cold ran up his spine. He had seen ruthless men in jianghu—this girl among the fiercest. One sentence—not one mouth left alive.
Yet they felt she had a point. One survivor—centipede dead but not stiff—trail might lead to Jiangnan Chen.
"Silencing mouths is not hard," Chen Yueshan laughed bitterly. "But opposing the Son of Heaven…" As brothers they wished Prince Yu hacked to pieces—and could do it. But Chen had others—women, children, elderly. Imperial wrath might swallow the whole clan.
"I have a way to keep His Majesty from pursuing—if you dare raid Prince Yu's nest." Shen Miao said.
"You?" Chen Yuehai said. "Miss Shen—we know you're formidable, else three years' search would not land in your hands. Throne affairs are not simple—one misstep and fire consumes you."
"When you leave you'll learn my identity. I am legitimate daughter of the mighty General Shen in Dingjing. Such standing—do you think we can speak in court?"
The brothers paused, surprised—never expected this identity—then fell silent. Chen rose from jianghu rough to wealth; merchant always below official. They could only watch court from afar, not know its depths—easily moved by Shen Miao's few words.
"Why help us?" Chen Yuehai asked warily. "Such effort—what do you gain?"
"Strange man—just now you blamed me for not helping; now I help and you suspect. I don't understand."
Shen Miao's mockery irked Chen Yuehai. Chen Yueshan waved him down, smiled at Shen Miao. "Miss Shen is true-hearted—but this matter is grave. If we drag you down…"
"Not only for you." Shen Miao said flatly. "I also have blood feud with Prince Yu's mansion. My cousin will soon marry there—another tortured soul. If you wipe the mansion—please spare my cousin's life."
Doubt in the brothers cleared; they bowed again. "Thank you."
"You may first inquire after your sister. When found—do not act rashly. Three days hence here—I will speak in detail."
The brothers nodded, heard dismissal in her tone, rose without delay. Chen Yueshan said: "Find our sister and Chen owes you debt. Whatever Chen can do later, we won't refuse. Thank you for this." Sword in hand they left in haste—likely to seek the younger sister.
Yushu stared at Shen Miao. He thought that day she was unique enough—today she surprised again. Jianghu men were proud; Chen was a great house; this should have been silver for goods—yet Shen Miao in few words became Chen's benefactor. The brothers were courteous—as they said, future trouble for Shen Miao meant Chen's backing. To attach Chen was no small thing.
"Shopkeeper Ji—we can discuss our deal now." Shen Miao looked at him.
"Your terms that day—I thought on them." Yushu stroked his chin with false difficulty. "Your news is too dangerous. Success—joy for all. If discovered one day—Fengxian closes, I lose my head, servants die with me. You stake Shen house and silver; I stake life itself. I lose."
Shen Miao glanced at him lightly. "Then no deal. I understand. Sorry to trouble you so long, Shopkeeper Ji—farewell."
Yushu had not finished his script—Shen Miao turned to leave. He dropped the act at once. "Hey hey hey—I wasn't done! Girls today have no patience. Miss Shen—though dangerous, first sight I felt fate between us. Beauty like yours—what man refuses? I can't bear beauty wronged; without this deal you'd be unhappy. For your happiness—what's my life? So—I take the business."
In the secret chamber, hearing Yushu's cloying words, Gao Yang looked at Xie Jingxing. "Is he mad? Dares provoke that viper? Not Shao from Yicui Tower—this is man-eating flower."
Xie Jingxing tugged his mouth. "Knows not death."
After Yushu finished, under his eager hot gaze, Shen Miao said calmly: "Then I'll tell you my plan."
Yushu sat straight at once. "Yes, Miss Shen—please."
"Ming Qi knows: ten years ago His Majesty was assassinated. Prince Yu saved him at cost of one leg. The assassin escaped."
"Correct."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. "The news I want spread is simple: Prince Yu recently executed a personal guard—that guard, slightly older, looks exactly like the assassin from ten years ago."
"This…" Yushu paused, then froze; his teacup nearly overturned.
"This news—Shopkeeper Ji must ensure it reaches the throne." Shen Miao smiled faintly.
"Is it true?" Yushu tested.
"True or false—Shopkeeper Ji finds a way to make it true." Shen Miao laughed.
"You…" Yushu stared at her, speechless long while. This girl younger than he looked was a monster.
"Deal done—I should go." Shen Miao stood. "Shopkeeper Ji—move fast. At least before the mansion annihilation case."
She did not look at him again and left. Hongling waited long outside; seeing her emerge knew the deal closed and led her out.
In the secret chamber Gao Yang was silent, then said: "Shen house this formidable—I don't call it good. Too few prizes now—Shen can't stay long."
"Stay or go—I decide." Xie Jingxing said lazily. "Borrow Shen hand against Prince Yu's old dog—not bad."
"Maybe Shen will treat you the same one day."
"If they dare—I don't mind cutting weeds to the root." Xie Jingxing's dark eyes flickered. "Still no trace of the thing?"
Gao Yang shook his head.
"On annihilation day—I go myself." Xie Jingxing sat straight, turning the jade cup. "I don't believe it can fly away."
"You truly think Prince Yu's mansion can be wiped out? Shen Miao's plan is clever—execution always brings accidents."
"Accident?" Xie Jingxing laughed softly. Half-lidded peach-blossom eyes drunk as wine—but beneath long lashes, gaze sharp as knife, cat teasing mouse. "Since I met her—she has never had 'accident.'"
……
Time always passes quickly.
The general's mansion was a strange house. Before trouble, all was masked harmony—branches at least looked well from outside. One fire burned the ancestral hall and Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan's trust in the second and third branches; the first branch's relations froze.
Now Shen Qing lost virtue and would marry Prince Yu—anyone with sense knew it was no blessing. Yet Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Yue busily prepared the wedding with apparent joy. Imperial granted marriage required show—but among family, such delight looked too cold.
Ren Wanyun fought Shen Gui; Old Madam favored Shen Gui and grew colder to her daughter-in-law, never returning household authority. Chen Ruoqiu, favored, grew more diligent. Ren Wanyun's resentment showed before Old Madam—who went further, kept Shen Yuanbai at Rongjing Hall and blocked Ren Wanyun from seeing him.
Ren Wanyun became the Shen house's true lone wolf. Even old servants quietly sided with rising Concubine Wan. In Caiyun Court Ren Wanyun raged or wept with Shen Qing—half mad.
None of this touched the west garden.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan kept distance from second and third branches—neither warm nor cold. Through events they saw those branches' cold hearts: if Shen Miao suffered what Shen Qing suffered, they would not swallow humiliation—they would fight to the death for justice. Shen Miao had grown sensible and closer—not distant as before—making their grace to stay in Dingjing feel worth the asking.
In the room Bailu said: "Young master brought more fine jewelry and silver notes for mistress—stored in your box."
Shen Miao nodded. Since learning she went to Fengxian, Shen Qiu thought she lacked silver—daily picked clever things from palace rewards or sent silver directly. "Sister—no silver tell your brother. My sister doesn't pawn for money!"
She did not explain; silver never burned the hand—she accepted gladly.
Two days since meeting the Chen brothers—tomorrow Fengxian again. Whether Chen Yueshan and Chen Yuehai had found the younger sister—
The Chen sisters' fate was pitiful. Shen Miao learned it in her past life. After marrying Fu Xiuyi and his ascension, Fu Xiuyi grew impatient with Prince Yu—not Wenhui; Prince Yu owed him no life-debt. A new emperor with a troublesome royal uncle was no joy.
Jiangnan Chen finally learned the sisters' fate three years later and stabbed Prince Yu—the brothers had blood; they crippled his other leg too—but Prince Yu lived. Enraged, he demanded investigation—threw the problem to Fu Xiuyi.
Tracing assassins across heaven and earth was hard—but Fu Xiuyi's advisers included jianghu men. Someone pointed to Fengxian's private trade.
Fu Xiuyi did not appear himself—sent men to buy news of Prince Yu's assassin. Strangely Fengxian took the business but never closed it—said no news received. Fengxian had none; Fu Xiuyi found truth himself—and Jiangnan Chen met annihilation.
This life Shen Miao thought of it early. When Prince Yu turned on her and traded with Ren Wanyun, she set this board. All moved as she planned—Shen Qing violated, Ren Wanyun's counter, even Shen Qing's pregnancy—at the return feast exposing it, Shen Qing marrying Prince Yu, Prince Yu's rage.
Prince Yu would fix all effort on her—Chen could plot in shadow. Court side was easier still.
Shen Miao had long suspected: with Fengxian's skill, perhaps they knew Chen stabbed Prince Yu in past life—but Fu Xiuyi's men never heard back. Maybe Fengxian deliberately withheld—grudge with Prince Yu?
So in Linjiang Immortal pavilion she tested Yushu with "annihilation." Yushu shocked—not pleased. Clearly no feud between Yushu and Prince Yu.
But those who died once sometimes have terrible intuition. Yushu's reaction did not kill her guess—it bred another. If so, much explained.
Perhaps… Fengxian's true master was not Yushu.
Who behind?
Shen Miao could not tell. She thought as empress beside Fu Xiuyi she held great and small secrets—now the water ran deeper and more dangerous than imagined.
Whatever the case—Prince Yu's gate must fall; Prince Yu's life must end. Shen Qing should live wishing for death. Past life Shen Qing watched her in prison—this life she would return in kind.
Shuangjiang entered with flower pots, smiling. "Sun was strong yesterday—I set pots out. Mistress said snow might come, told me cover with cloth—I didn't believe. Snow this morning—thanks to mistress's prep or flowers would suffer and I'd be in trouble."
"Mistress does love preparing," Bailu smiled. "Early stores, early guesses what might go wrong—every crisis we pass easy. Steady nature—very good."
Shen Miao smiled faintly. Bright eyes reflected snow outside—firm as bedrock. "Nothing special. I simply dislike 'accident.'"