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The Foolish King’s Little Concubine Chapter 7 – Family Ruined and Loved Ones Dead (Part 3)

The rain became heavier, and the two of them were now the most miserable-looking wet rats. But Shen An stood straight in the rain, exuding a strong sense of killing intent.

“The matter has come to this point, there seems to be nothing more to say,” Shen An sniffed and suddenly let out a long sigh, looking meaningfully at Wei Jinyu.

Wei Jinyu understood the meaning in her eyes, and his toes pointed on the ground as he leapt up into the air, his hands turning into claws as he directly attacked the county magistrate.

The county magistrate never expected Shen An to have such audacity. By the time he reacted, the sharp claws were only half a foot away from him, and he felt his throat tighten, firmly grasped.

“Help, help, someone is attempting to assassinate me!” he shouted in panic.

The steward’s legs went weak and he called out in frenzy for help.

“How about we make a bet?” Shen An’s lips curled up with a bloodthirsty smile, like a Rakshasa emerging from hell. “Let’s see if your soldiers arrive first, or if Jinyu’s hands are faster?”

Wei Jinyu’s hand slightly tightened, and the county magistrate’s face changed drastically as he hurriedly said, “Shen An, do you know what crime it is to assassinate a court-appointed official?”

“What crime is it to me?” Shen An sneered, “But the life of a young girl is not worth much. The life of the official is worth much more than the life of the young girl. This deal is a good one for me.”

“You crazy woman, let go of the official!” The butler was fearful, but had to muster up the courage to stop Shen An.

“As long as the official cooperates, I will guarantee that the official will not be harmed. Although my Shen family has no power or status, we are just ordinary merchants, but I, Shen An, cannot treat such a mortal enemy as nothing!”

“You are threatening me.”

He knew that if Shen An had the guts, she could really kill him without hesitation.

She had that kind of courage.

“If that’s what the magistrate says, then so be it. Apart from this, I have no other choice,” Shen An replied calmly.

The county magistrate suddenly stopped talking as he looked at her. He had never seen such a strong-willed woman.

“You can leave now and pack up your things from the Shen residence. As for the truth, I believe you will find out in due time,” the county magistrate finally said.

Shen An didn’t understand what he meant by that, but the magistrate refused to say anything more after these words.

“Thank you, Your Honor.”

Shen An deeply bowed and said, “JinYu, let’s go home.”

Wei Jinyu looked at her and then back at the magistrate, and obediently let go of his hand and walked to her side.

As they turned around, Shen An looked over her shoulder and said, “Your Honor, I entrust my parents’ funeral arrangements to you.”

“Bring them in…”

Before the steward finished speaking, the county magistrate raised his hand to stop him. He watched as the figures of Shen An and Wei Jinyu disappeared gradually into the rain, and even sighed, “Let them go.”

Along the way, Shen An kept her arms wrapped around herself and remained silent, her slender figure looking particularly pitiful.

Wei Jinyu sneezed a few times.

Only then did Shen An remember and quickly took off her coat for Wei Jinyu, “Put it on, don’t catch a cold again.”

Wei Jinyu shook her head repeatedly and said, “No Jiejie (1), you wear it.”

“I’m not cold, you wear it,” Shen An’s lips were a little blue from the cold, and she looked listless.

“I’m not cold either. If you give it to me, I’ll throw it away!” Wei Jinyu said stubbornly.

Shen An’s heart warmed a little and she smiled, “You’re really silly.”

“They all say I’m silly, but I’m not. I can take care of you,” Wei Jinyu said confidently.

“I have hands and feet, and I don’t need anyone to take care of me. Even if our home is gone, as long as I’m here, I Shen An, can make it rise again!” Shen An said determinedly.

Shen An’s eyes shone with an indescribable light, as if she had an invisible infectious power.

“Good, then Jinyu will accompany Jiejie to rise again.”

Shen Family was in a mess at this time. The once grand Shen Mansion had lost all its vitality. Everything inside was scattered on the ground, and all valuable items had been looted.

Was this a raid by soldiers?

This was f***ing like the Japanese invading the village!

Shen An picked up a set of clothes belonging to Shen Yu and handed it to Wei Jinyu.

“Go find a place to change your clothes.”

Wei Jinyu nodded and went out with the clothes.

Shen An returned to her room, and went under the bed to retrieve a pair of embroidered shoes that were hidden deep inside, patted the dust off them. Thankfully, no one had touched them.

She lifted the insole and took out some broken silver, feeling relieved.

Fortunately, she was clever and had hidden her private money that she could use now.

She carefully packed the silver and changed into clean clothes. After drying her hair, Wei Jinyu pushed the door open, dressed in Shen Yu’s clothes. Their figures were somewhat similar, but Shen Yu was a little more plump. Wei Jinyu looked a bit loose in his clothes, but not too bad.

“It fits quite well.” Shen An nodded in satisfaction and began to pack her own clothes. She also found several sets of Shen Yu’s clothes for Wei Jinyu and bundled them together into a small package.

“I’ll carry it.”

Wei Jinyu eagerly took the backpack from her hands, looking very pleased.

“Oh, it’s indeed a pair of adulterers. Even at this time, you still don’t forget to be lovey-dovey. It seems that you, Shen An, are really a despicable person,” a voice suddenly came, mixed with thick sarcasm and insults. Shen An turned his head and saw Kang Yu walking towards them arrogantly.

Kang Yu had his arm around Fan Lingzhen’s waist and was waving a folding fan in his right hand. He probably worried that Wei Jinyu would fight with him again, so he brought three burly bodyguards with him.

Fan Lingzhen was sticking tightly to Kang Yu’s body like a snake, frowning delicately and saying, “Yu Ge (2), how could you say such things about Shen Jie? After all, you used to have feelings for each other.”

“Don’t worry, Fan Jie. From now on, I have nothing to do with this despicable person. In my heart, there has always been only you,” Kang Yu said.

“I say, you.” Shen An couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up to confront him, “If you want to disgust people, can you please leave? Don’t dirty the air in my house.”

“Hahaha…” Kang Yu laughed wildly, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, “Shen An, do you think this is still Shen family’s house? Tomorrow, I will send people to remove the signboard here and put up the signboard of my Kang Mansion. From now on, this place will belong to my Kang family.”

“What did you say?!” Shen An’s face darkened, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

“If you didn’t hear clearly, this young master can repeat it for you.”

Shen An stared at him with unblinking eyes, and her gaze gradually became cold. Suddenly, she understood the county magistrate’s words and smiled politely, “So, my Shen family has fallen to such a point, and the mastermind behind it is you, father and son.”

“Haven’t you figured it out? You’re not that stupid,” Kang Yu laughed heartily, not avoiding it at all. “That’s right, if it weren’t for the Shen family’s huge fortune, do you think I would bother to give you a second glance with your personality? Shen An, to tell you the truth, I have been extremely disgusted with you in the past two years, and if it weren’t for my sister Fan being with me, do you really think I could have put up with it until now?”

“Also, Lian Man is a spy my father planted in your Shen family. If your mother hadn’t been so useless and only given birth to you, a worthless person, how could there be a chance to plant a spy? Of course, the matter of you and that idiot cuddling together was also our and Lian Man’s conspiracy to frame you. Unfortunately, a pawn is just a pawn. Once it loses its value, it should be abandoned.”

“What a clever scheme. So, you’ve been plotting against my Shen family’s wealth since two years ago. Kang Yu, oh Kang Yu, you’ve really gone to great lengths to play this game. Now that my Shen family is ruined and my family is dead, I want your life!” Shen An yelled and flipped her palm, sending a dagger flying straight towards Kang Yu.

“Help!”

Kang Yu yelled and pushed Fan Lingzhen forward.

“Splurt…”

A gush of blood spurted out, and Fan Lingzhen looked at the man hiding behind her in disbelief before her body lost control and fell down.

“Fan Jie!”

Kang Yu knelt down and held onto Fan Lingzhen’s body, anxiously pleading, “Fan Jie, you can’t die, you can’t leave me!”

Fan Lingzhen stared at him in shock and despair, touching her own stomach. She coughed up a mouthful of black blood, her head tilted to the side, and she died.

“You’re really a coward, shouting for Fan Jie but when danger comes, you push her forward as a shield. Kang Yu, you really have some nerve.” Shen An mocked, full of disdain.

“Jiejie, there’s blood.” Wei Jinyu suddenly spoke, looking towards the direction of Fan Lingzhen.

Shen An turned his head and saw a large pool of black blood oozing out from under Fan Lingzhen, staining the entire ground red.

“This… this…”

Kang Yu was so scared that he sat on the ground, looking at the bloodstains on his hands with panic in his eyes.

“She had a miscarriage.” Shen An frowned. He didn’t know in advance that Fan Lingzhen was already pregnant. It seems that the fetus had not yet formed and it was probably only about a month old.

“Fan Jie! Fan Jie!” Kang Yu was thunderstruck and shouted as he held onto Fan Lingzhen, “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant! This is our child! It’s all your fault, why didn’t you tell me! Fan Jie, you can’t die, you can’t die!”

“Useless coward!” Shen An sneered at him. It was disgusting that at this point, he was still pushing the blame onto others.

Suddenly, Kang Yu turned his head and pointed at Shen An fiercely, saying, “It’s all because of you! You, the murderer, killed Fan Lingzhen! You killed my child! I will never forgive you!”

“Hah! Kang scumbag is indeed living up to his name, he’s a scumbag through and through. You’re the first person I’ve ever met with such a rotten personality. Today, my Shen family will seek revenge for our family’s extermination. You’re all going to pay!”

“How dare you!” Kang Yu’s legs went weak, and he tried to muster up his courage, saying, “My father has already bribed even the prefectural governor. If you dare lay a finger on me, my father won’t let you go!”

“Very well, let him try!”

Kang Yu turned to the three burly men behind him and shouted, “What are you waiting for? Capture her!”

Just as Wei Jinyu was about to make a move, Shen An grabbed his arm.

“This is my Shen family’s affair, I will handle it myself!”

Shen An swiftly swung her blade and beheaded one of the burly men, blood spewing out and splattering on the faces of the other two, instantly shocking them.

The two men looked at each other, feeling afraid.

Kang Yu roared, “Did I bring you two here just to stand there? Go and kill this bitch! If you succeed, I’ll double your reward!”

The two men were greatly encouraged and charged towards Shen An.

Shen An wiped the blood splattered on her face and smiled strangely. She quickly dodged and struck both men in the neck with her elbow, causing them to pass out on the ground.

Footnote:

1. Jiejie : a Chinese term that refers to an older sister or a female friend who is older than oneself. It can be used as a term of endearment or respect.
2. Ge : a Chinese word that means “older brother.” When added after someone’s name or nickname, it can be used to address them in a friendly or familiar way.

Next Chapter

After Failing the Tribulation, I Became a Sword Spirit Chapter 2 – His Sword

Upon hearing the girl’s melancholic reply, Shuo Feng was stunned for a moment. Her clear and beautiful eyes seemed somewhat embarrassed, with a faint blush spreading across the corners of her eyes.

However, he let out a wicked smile and readily admitted, “Sorry about that, I did it on purpose.”

His tone was light and indifferent, devoid of any apology.

The moonlight was bright and clear, shining into the young man’s eyes with the same clarity. There was not a hint of remorse in his gaze.

In his eyes, there was not a hint of remorse.

Zhou Yue let out a sigh in her heart and reached out her transparent right hand, wanting to touch the boy’s fuzzy and dirty black hair. But she couldn’t touch anything.

“I know you’re feeling wronged,” she said.

This was how her master would comfort her when she felt wronged.

Shuo Feng turned his head away and made a small “tsk” sound. More than half of the skin exposed from his neck had turned completely black, and visible dark purple veins showed on his fair face.

Watching the young man lying in the grave and sulking alone, Zhou Yue wasn’t angry. She clasped her hands together and formed a seal. Countless beams of light converged from the river, from the riverbank, from the distant mountains, and from who-knows-where, forming a brilliant starry sky above the grave.

The cold moon hung high in the sky, and a gentle breeze started blowing.

Zhou Yue reached out her hand and grabbed a handful of flowing stars, like catching a handful of fireflies. She chanted, “Spirits of all things in the heavens and earth, awaken.”

The incantation transformed into a spell formation in an instant.

As if riding on the gentle breeze, Shuo Feng felt himself floating lightly, and the moonlight poured down like snowflakes on his shoulders. Looking down, he saw the rushing waters of the Canglan River, and he felt the soft sword at his right wrist, his fingers curling around it as the thin blade poised to strike.

“Don’t be afraid,” Zhou Yue floated up as well, touching the boy’s tense hand for a moment. “I will save you, and you won’t die.”

After all, it was because of her that he had been half-dead. Zhou Yue felt apologetic towards the boy in front of her.

Her expression was calm, and Shuo Feng could only feel the coolness of the girl’s skin that he touched, and the beating of his own pulse, but for some reason, he felt reassured.

After all, it was just a difference of one word, “alive” or “dead”. Shuo Feng smiled wryly, feeling that it didn’t make much difference.

Her expression was calm, and Shuo Feng felt the coolness of her skin as she touched his hand, but only his pulse was beating. Nevertheless, he felt inexplicably reassured.

Bathed in moonlight, Shuo Feng finally saw the girl’s face clearly. Her black hair flowed freely, and there were symmetrical red birthmarks above her eyebrows. Her eyes and eyebrows were delicate, her eyelashes curled, and her lips were slightly red. Her gaze was calm and indifferent. But her indifference was different from his as if she didn’t belong to this world, and therefore, everything in it was ordinary to her.

“It will hurt a bit, you have to bear with it,” she said.

Shuo Feng was about to sneer, but then he felt his organs, lungs, bones, muscles and tendons all ache and curl up as if his whole body had been thrown into a boiling hot pot.

But he was an assassin, he could endure the pain, he wasn’t even afraid of death, how could he be afraid of pain? Shuo Feng closed his eyes, clenched his lips, and sweat broke out on his forehead, but the toxins in his body were gradually retreating and disappearing, vanishing like black dust outside his body. If he could see, he would have noticed that the flesh and bones on his left arm and the sword wounds on his palms were healing, and the inner tendons were being purified by pure spiritual power and reconnecting.

“Cleansing the marrow and washing the tendons, this is the first stage, congratulations,” the voice of Zhou Yue rang out slowly.

In an instant, Shuo Feng opened his eyes. The bright moon hung over the pine trees, and the sound of the river’s shallow rapids could be heard. A reed flower drifted to his nose, tickling it, and he had already been back in the pit.

Without concealing anything, Shuo Feng used his internal force to explore his inner strength, realizing that his old and new injuries had healed as good as new. Although he was surprised in his heart, he still moved his muscles and bones as usual, placed his arms behind his head, and looked at the ‘sword spirit’ girl kneeling at the edge of the pit.

The moon was bright, and the sound of the shallow river tide came through. It was a chilly night in April in the mortal world, just after a few cold rains, and Shuo Feng couldn’t help but sneeze.

“Why did you save me?”

Zhou Yue smiled lightly at his words, her eyelashes curling up, and the two red marks on her eyebrows became more vivid and lively, “Because I am your sword.”

The Ji Hua Sword had already been re-pledged with a drop of blood and recognized him as its master again. He had passed the test she had set, so she was not wrong in saying that.

Before he could respond, her figure became transparent.

The girl seemed very tired and yawned with her increasingly transparent right palm. ‘To save you, I’ve used up a lot of my strength. Shuo Feng, I’m going to sleep. If there’s anything, call me.’

Shuo Feng raised an eyebrow at the mention of his name, showing a bit of youthful charm.

‘Don’t vent your anger on the sword again, repairing it is quite troublesome,’ Zhou Yue urged as she fought off her drowsiness.

Shuo Feng sat up, looked up at Zhouyue’s dust-free face in the pit, and curiously asked, ‘Can a sword feel pain too?'”

His face was very close to hers, and his handsome and delicate features were more clearly illuminated by the moonlight, revealing a light mist that seemed to be rising from the water, reflecting the white reeds and the bright moon.

Feeling tired, Zhou Yue lowered her head, and their noses almost touched.

She shook her head.

Shuo Feng felt the tip of the girl’s nose rubbing against the fuzz on his face, tickling him. Her long eyelashes were so close to him that he could even see his own clear reflection in her eyes.

The young man’s earlobes turned slightly red.

But her face was still as pale as snow. “Shuo Feng, I am an inanimate object. I cannot feel pain.”

“However, this is the Ji Hua Sword that I personally forged. Now, it belongs to you.”

Her last words drifted away in the gentle breeze and the reeds, and her figure disappeared completely as if she had never existed in this world.

Shuo Feng patted the dirt off his clothes, jumped out of the pit with a burst of strength, and headed towards the dense forest in the mountains without looking back, while it was still dark.

The Ji Hua Sword was repaired to its original state, lying alone in the pit.

In this chaotic world, who would want to invite trouble by getting involved with a divine sword?

On the rocky cliff, the branch of a pine tree swayed slightly as a young man’s figure leapt up and disappeared, shaking off the night rain. The sunlight quietly descended, and the green grass by the river was coated with tiny golden flecks, each dewdrop glistening.

The dewdrops condensed on the tender grass of spring, and the sound of footsteps drew closer. Grass tips and water droplets were trampled back into the mud by the boots.

The young man wore a black robe embroidered with exquisite dark patterns on the soles of his black shoes, with gold and jade decorations at his waist. In the sparse light of day, his expression was indecipherable, flickering between anger and happiness.

Shuo Feng rolled his eyes, grabbed the Ji Hua Sword, and tore off a large piece of silk from his black robe with a “rip”, wrapping the sword hilt tightly and securely, then slung it onto his lean back.

“Tsk, if it weren’t for this sword, I wouldn’t have gotten into such big trouble.”

With the sword on his back, the young man disappeared into the dense forest without looking back.

His body movements were very light and agile, flowing like clouds and water, passing through the pine and cypress branches. Amidst the swirling layers of green, the bent branches occasionally revealed a flicker of silver light behind the young man’s back.

*

The Canglan River nurtured the local people, and many cities of Southern Liang were built along the river. Therefore, upstream of the Canglan River was Cangzhou City, and downstream was Lanzhou City.

At this moment, in the bustling Lanzhou City, the morning market had just opened. Vendors and peddlers are coming and going, calling out their goods. In the steamy mist, peaceful faces could be seen.

Occasionally, there are new faces coming into the city, but most of them are sitting on ox carts or donkey carts. Nowadays, with natural disasters and man-made calamities, it’s not easy for farmers to make a living. Most of them have lost their farmland and come to the city to work.

When the common people looked over, they seemed to look at them with boredom or sympathy, muttering “this world”, and then quickly walked away.

But today, the people were all stunned to see a bright and sunny young man on a flatbed cart. The young man was wearing an embroidered silk robe and holding fresh dog tail grass. His features were lively and his smile was bright, making even the radiant sunlight pale in comparison.

Indeed, he is a young man who knows nothing of the bitterness of life.” “He’s really a handsome young man.” Everyone laughed and walked away.

Walking through the winding streets and alleys, Shuo Feng stopped at the back door of Shunlai Escort Agency and rhythmically knocked on the door handle, once, twice.

Under the gray tiles, hurried footsteps rushed over.

Opening the door was a scar-faced youth. He knelt down on one knee and clasped his fist, “Ninth Guardian, I’m late.”

The kneeling figure trembled slightly in the fragmented sunlight under the eaves.

“Seventeen, how long have you been with me?” Shuo Feng didn’t enter the door, leaning lazily against the wooden door and asking, his fingers lightly rubbing the hidden clasp of his soft sword on his right hand.

Seventeen’s heart trembled, and he replied in a low voice, “Three years.”

Shuo Feng let out a casual “oh”, neither surprised nor impressed. “I came this time to tell you that I am no longer a member of the Rakshasa Gate. The three-year agreement with the sect leader has ended, and from now on, you and others don’t have to follow me anymore.”

With that, he turned around and walked away without any hesitation.

Seventeen’s legs knelt heavily, arching his hand and saying, “Ninth Guardian, it was you who saved my life. If we can meet again in the future, I would be willing to go through fire and water for you without hesitation.”

Shuo Feng walked away with his sword on his back, without turning his head.

The young man walked slowly to the end of the alley, with the sunlight pulling his thin and straight figure with a long sword on his back, step by step, exuding a relaxed and youthful vigor.

Seventeen couldn’t bear it any longer, gritted his teeth and said, “Ninth Guardian, the sect leader has issued a wanted notice in the martial world.” His voice was trembling as he continued, “He said that fifteen days ago, you stole the Divine Sword in Cangzhou. Now, the whole martial world knows about it, and many people are coming to take the sword.”

Clasping his fists tightly and then opening them again by his side, Seventeen trembled as he looked up at the young man’s back, with the sword hilt slightly protruding from the plain cloth bag on his back. But the young man turned his head, with a glittering smile on his lips and a radiant look in his eyes. “Yes, I stole it, but this is my sword. If others want to take it, meet me outside of Lanzhou City tonight.”

He didn’t care at all about becoming the world’s most wanted criminal, and even intentionally spread rumors in Lanzhou City.

Everything was within his calculated scheme, and Seventeen’s courage wavered.

After leaving the East Market, Shuo Feng wandered into the largest Qingyun Inn in the West Market and ordered a premium banquet, and asked the waiter to prepare two sets of chopsticks.

After waiting for a long time, the young man was still alone, which surprised the restaurant owner and the waiters. But customers are customers, and business is business, especially since the young man paid a whole ingot of silver.

In the elegant private room of the Qingyun Restaurant, a landscape painting was hanging on the wall, and the new table was filled with exquisite dishes.

Shuo Feng picked up a piece of braised pork for himself, then thought for a moment and picked up another piece to put it on the untouched rice on the opposite side.

The rice on the opposite side was already piled high with salted crispy chicken, braised pork, and golden spring rolls.

He felt a little unhappy and muttered, “You’ve been awake for a while, but you still won’t come out and eat with me.”

The Ji Hua sword behind him remained silent, with no response at all.

Shuo Feng kicked a wine jar with his right foot, broke the clay seal, sniffed lightly, and then took out a gourd from his waist. Amber-colored wine poured out from the mouth of the gourd, and Shuo Feng licked it with his tongue, enjoying the spicy flavor. His lips were also red, his eyes shining, and when he looked out the window at the lively street scene, he looked like a carefree young master who had just emerged from a pile of luxury and splendor.

He said happily, “With food and drink in my belly, tonight is a good night for killing.”

He said that as if it was a playful remark about going horseback riding and sightseeing.

The Ji Hua sword hummed as if warning him.

Shuo Feng’s face fell. “Aren’t I doing this for you?”

Ji Hua Sword remained still.

Actually, it was not completely still.

Zhou Yue had indeed woken up a long time ago, but she had been repeatedly trying to sense her golden body trapped in the Xuanming realm, but there had been no response.

She couldn’t help but sigh.

In order to seal the evil spirits, Zhou Yue chose to undergo tribulation in the Xuanming realm. If successful, she could eliminate the evil spirits in one fell swoop and restore peace to the six realms. If unsuccessful, she could turn her body into a prison, completely sealing the Xuanming realm and imprisoning the evil spirits.

Zhou Yue lowered her eyes, and she had failed in her tribulation and died in the Xuanming realm two hundred years ago.

She woke up this time, vaguely sensing that her golden body had reached its limit and was about to shatter. As a result, the evil spirit would break through the seal and return.

And somehow, one strand of her divine soul attached to the Ji Hua Sword. During the battle against the evil spirits, the Ji Hua Sword unexpectedly fell out of the torn space and landed in the mortal world. And she herself became the sword spirit of the Ji Hua Sword.

A hundred years later, she and Ji Hua Sword were both awakened by a young killer named Shuo Feng. The moment the young man touched Ji Hua Sword, Zhou Yue woke up.

She knew he had suffered a lot of grievances. In the moment of their divine soul’s contact, she saw some of the young man’s long-hidden memories that no one knew about.

Zhou Yue chewed on Shuo Feng’s name, lifted her white and tender chin, and saw his jet-black hair and a strand of unruly black hair from inside the sword. She thought to herself that she only wished this young man would enter the Dao faster.

In this way, she taught him to let go of killing, to help him become an immortal, so that he could help her reseal the Xuanming realm, and then truly be free as the wind between heaven and earth.

Author’s note:

[Little Theater]

Shuo Feng (blushing): She said it’s my sword. So I reluctantly accepted it.

Next Chapter

The Foolish King’s Little Concubine Chapter 6 – Family Ruined and Loved Ones Dead (Part 2)

For the first time, Kang Yu didn’t get angry. His eyes were filled with an uncontrollable sense of pride, as if he knew everything about the Shen family’s situation.

Shen An’s eyes narrowed, “How do you know?”

Kang Yu raised his eyebrows, seeming to relish in Shen An’s reaction. He shamelessly opened the covers, put on his clothes, and said smugly, “I told you earlier, you will pay for your stupidity. You and that fool are a perfect match, both so stupid they’re about to die.”

“You son of a bitch, I’ll beat you up!” Wei Jinyu’s handsome face turned cold as he balled his fists, ready to give Kang Yu another punch.

Suddenly, a panicked servant rushed in. He looked like a housekeeper and exclaimed, “Something’s wrong with Miss! Master Shen is being attacked by bandits in Changshan. Miss, please go and save him!”

“Dad?” Shen An’s heart skipped a beat. Without saying another word to Kang Yu, she urgently said, “Take me there!”

Outside the door, a carriage was already prepared. Without much thought, Shen An climbed onto the horse with Wei Jinyu and rushed towards Changshan.

One thing after another, things keeps popping up. It was clear that someone had plotted against Shen Yu by having him encounter bandits at this time. Who was so malicious as to want to bring the Shen family to its demise?

Wei Jinyu tightly wrapped his arms around Shen An’s waist from behind, his thin lips pursed tightly, not daring to say a word.

After leaving the town, they would have to pass through a dense forest. Suddenly, something flashed in Shen An’s mind, and she fiercely pulled the reins.

“Hey, hey~”

The horse raised its front hooves and stopped.

Shen An turned to look at Wei Jinyu, her voice cold and serious: “Get off the horse and leave quickly.”

It was an order, not a discussion.

Although Wei Jinyu didn’t know the reason, he could sense that something big was about to happen. He shook his head like a rattle drum: “I won’t leave, I’ll stay with you.”

“I told you to leave, so leave. There is no room for negotiation. Otherwise, you won’t see me again in the future. Hurry!”

“I…I won’t…ouch…”

Before Wei Jinyu could finish his sentence, he was pushed off the horse by Shen An and fell heavily to the ground. A look of pity flashed across Shen An’s face, but she quickly regained her composure, turned the horse’s head, and was about to go back.

Suddenly, the sound of rustling came from all sides, and then five or six masked black-clad men jumped out, surrounding them.

Obviously, they had been lying in ambush here long ago.

Shen An had already realized that they had been tricked as soon as they left the town. Although the servant was wearing the Shen family’s clothes, it was a stranger’s face that she had never seen before. Besides, after the Shen family’s property was confiscated, all the servants and maids had scattered. Otherwise, her mother would not have come out personally to find her and report the news.

That person obviously wanted to lure her here.

Whoever was behind this had made a big move.

Originally, Shen An wanted Wei Jinyu to leave, but now it seemed that neither of them could leave.

Without any unnecessary words, Shen An’s gaze sharpened as she swiftly drew her hidden dagger and plunged it into the heart of one of the attackers, causing him to fall to the ground lifeless. At the same time, she dismounted her horse with a smooth and agile movement.

The remaining black-clad men attacked her with their swords, but with the help of her companion, Wei Jinyu, they managed to fend them off. Wei Jinyu’s martial arts skills were exceptional, and after a few rounds of fighting, the attackers began to struggle to keep up.

Shen An watched as Wei Jinyu fought with a serious and focused expression, and she couldn’t help but feel a strange emotion stirring within her. She had always thought he was simple-minded, but watching him now, she wondered if she had been wrong about him.

As they continued to fight, Wei Jinyu began to sweat profusely, and Shen An felt a sudden urge to protect him. With all her strength, she swung her hand like a knife and struck the neck of one of the attackers, rendering him unconscious.

Wei Jinyu heard the commotion and turned to see Shen An smiling softly at him. He felt a flutter in his chest but quickly regained his composure and protectively drew her close to him, saying gruffly, “Don’t move, I’ll handle this!”

Wei Jinyu kept his word and didn’t give Shen An another chance to take action, single-handedly defeating all the black-clothed men. Although he didn’t kill them, the remaining black-clothed men took their own lives by ingesting poison.

Shen An had known they were sent by someone, so regardless of whether they lived or died, she would find a way to uncover the mastermind behind the plot.

“Why would someone with such high martial arts end up living on the streets? Who was your teacher?” Shen An doubted Wei Jinyu’s identity, or rather, she had been suspicious for a long time, but had never asked.

Wei Jinyu shook his head. “I only wanted to scare them off because they were bullying you. I don’t have any martial arts skills.”

Shen An didn’t believe him. Wei Jinyu’s identity was definitely not that simple. But since he couldn’t remember, she didn’t ask any more questions. She still hadn’t fully investigated the situation at Shen Mansion, so the most important thing now was to figure out how to clear Shen Mansion’s name and how to relay the news of the incident to Shen Yu, who was doing business outside, and tell him to avoid the situation for a while.

“Let’s go back,” she said.

As for the current situation, Shen An could only go to the inn to discuss with her mother. However, when she arrived at the inn in a hurry, she found that her mother’s room was already locked from the inside. Shen An knocked on the door and shouted her identity, but there was no response.

Shen An had a bad feeling about this and was anxious. She kicked the door open and found that the room was in a mess, with bloodstains on the floor. Her mother had already been murdered and lay dead on the ground.

“Mother!” Shen An rushed over to lift the body, and there was a fine mark on her neck where her artery had been cut by a wire. The body was still warm, indicating that the murder had happened not long ago.

It turned out that the person who had lured her into the forest not only wanted her life, but also wanted to draw her away from home and then take her mother’s life!

Shen An’s tears finally broke free at this moment. The woman’s love for her was still vivid in her mind, and now she had suddenly become a cold corpse.

Who could have done this?!

Who wanted to destroy their family?!

Wei Jinyu could only whisper beside her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Shen An’s nails dug deep into her flesh, her eyes bloodshot. If the killer were standing in front of her now, she would surely tear them apart and drink their blood to ease her hatred!

After a while, Shen An placed the body down and, with Wei Jinyu, went downstairs to find the innkeeper and gave him a large sum of money to help with the funeral arrangements.

The Shen family mansion was already sealed off, and they couldn’t go back. For the time being, they could only find a temporary place to stay.

After the waiter went out with the money, he hurried back in a panic, and when he saw Shen An, he said anxiously, “You…you need to go to the Yamen (1)!”

Shen An was startled. Could something else have happened?

She was now on the brink of despair, but still managed to ask in a trembling voice, “What happened?”

“Your father, Shen Yu, and your stepmother’s bodies were sent to the Yamen. You need to go quickly…”

Shen An was shocked.

Before the waiter could finish his sentence, Shen An took a step forward and rushed out. By the time the waiter caught up with her to return the leftover money, their figures had disappeared at the end of the alley.

The waiter sighed heavily, “It’s really pitiful…”

Perhaps even heaven felt too compassionate, and the weather suddenly changed from clear skies to strong winds and heavy rain, hitting their bodies with painful, bean-sized drops.

By the time they arrived at the county yamen, they were soaked through, and fearing that Shen An might catch a cold, Wei Jinyu took off his coat and draped it over her.

As they approached the entrance of the county yamen, they were stopped by guards with guns, who asked, “Who are you people?”

Jinyu thought they were going to harm Shen An, and was about to take action, but Shen An quickly grabbed him and truthfully said, “I am Shen Yu’s daughter, my father is inside!”

The two soldiers looked at each other and put away their guns, letting them pass.

Shen Yu and Shen Man’s bodies were covered with white cloth in the courtyard of the Yamen, and Shen An went over and lifted the soaked white cloth. Their familiar faces were immediately in her sight, but there was no trace of blood on the faces and their eyes were staring wide open, as if they couldn’t close.

“Dad!” Shen An screamed in grief, regardless of the mud, and sat down on the ground. The last line of defense in her heart collapsed completely, and she gritted her teeth and said, “Who did this? Who did it?”

“This was done by Xiangma (2). I am also powerless. Miss Shen, please take care and comfort yourself.”

A calm voice suddenly sounded, and Shen An, with red eyes, slightly turned her head and saw the county magistrate standing on the roof with his hands behind his back, looking down at them with a regretful and helpless tone, but his expression was indifferent, without any change.

“Xiangma? Xiangma did this?” Shen An suddenly laughed loudly, both sarcastic and sad. “Sir, I just want to ask you one thing. Are you not afraid of being struck by lightning when you say this?”

The county magistrate furrowed his brow slightly.

“Outrageous!” The magistrate’s attendant next to him shouted loudly, “Shen Yu privately built a project that caused the deaths of many people, and he was guilty. Now that he is dead, the county magistrate shows mercy and will not punish you. Yet you dare to speak recklessly and act against authority, you are simply audacious!”

The county magistrate continued, “I have considered that Shen Yu has been a blessing to the town, so I will allow the Yamen to take care of the Shen family’s affairs and give them a decent burial. Are you satisfied with this?”

Shen An stood up and walked towards him step by step, her tone suddenly sharp: “If my father was killed by Xiangma, why didn’t you lead soldiers to eradicate them as a government official? Also, you said my father privately built a project that caused deaths, where is your evidence? And why was my mother killed when she was perfectly fine? Each event is connected, so please give me an explanation!”

She was pressuring him to reveal the mastermind behind the scenes.

And this county magistrate, he was probably colluding with the culprit.

The magistrate’s brow furrowed deeper, and his tone became grim: “Shen An, you are a clever person.”

“Huh, a clever person.” Shen An sneered, her eyes blurred, not knowing if it was rain or tears, and said desolately, “Even if I am clever, I am still being manipulated by you, the county magistrate. Sir, I don’t ask for much, just want the truth!”

“The truth is as I have said, if you continue to be unreasonable, it will only do you harm and no good.” His voice was not loud, but every word was a threat.

Footnote:
1. Yamen : a government office in Imperial China that was responsible for law enforcement, public security, and administration of justice. Yamen usually housed officials such as magistrates, judges, police officers, and clerks, who dealt with civil and criminal cases. The Yamen system was a key feature of the imperial Chinese bureaucracy and was established in every administrative unit, from the central government down to the local level.

2. Xiangma : a term in Chinese martial arts that refers to a style of fast and explosive footwork. It involves light and quick steps, sudden changes in direction, and the use of body momentum to generate power and speed. The name “响马” literally means “ringing horse,” which may be a reference to the sound of the horse’s hooves as it gallops, and the quick and agile movements of a horse in motion. The xiangma footwork is commonly used in various styles of Chinese martial arts, such as Baguazhang and Xingyiquan.

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