Volume 1 Chapter 8: Allies

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In her previous life, sheltered by her father, she had truly been guileless. She knew nothing of the temptations of power and wealth, and saw people as far too simple.

After witnessing Xie Xun, who never let his joys or anger show, and Gu Minghou, who concealed his depths beyond all measure, she realized that even if she lived her life again, she would never be able to contend with them through her own abilities alone.

Though her father was immensely wealthy, the Shen family possessed only riches. Beneath overwhelming power, perhaps they truly would be unable to withstand even a single blow.

Even taking the most optimistic view—

Even if she used money to purchase influence and influence to protect the Shen family, she would still need someone she could trust. That person would also have to possess the ability to command an army, someone capable of standing against Xie Xun.

To seek fortune and avoid misfortune was only human nature.

But the human heart was impossible to fathom…

The betrayal, exploitation, and humiliation inflicted upon her in her previous life—she did not want anyone to know of them. Even less could she tell her father what she had endured while trying to save him, when she had foolishly overestimated herself in her former life.

Yet today, she had to reveal something, enough for her father to take precautions in advance.

As she recalled the memories of her previous life once more, pain appeared on Shen Rong’s face.

“Father, I want to break off my engagement with Xie Xun.”

Shen Zheng was startled. He knew his daughter would never joke about something like this. Seeing the strange look in her eyes, he coaxed her softly, “Rongrong, why the sudden change? Did you quarrel with your Cousin Xie?”

Shen Zheng knew how desperately Shen Rong had once been infatuated with Xie Xun.

She had never liked attending gatherings held by the noble young ladies. Yet after the much-admired Xie Xun arrived in Huaiyang City and was constantly invited out by the sons of aristocratic families, she abruptly abandoned her usual disdain and tried every possible way to sneak into those gatherings. Each time, she turned the banquet upside down.

Half a year later, she had suddenly come to him in a state of great excitement and mystery, begging him to propose marriage to Xie Xun on her behalf. What he had never expected was that, after a long period of thought, Xie Xun had actually agreed.

Shen Zheng had made it clear to Xie Xun that he had only one daughter, who would inherit the family business, and that he intended to take a son-in-law into the family.

Xie Xun had smiled faintly, his eyes crinkling with amusement, and said, “That is no problem.”

At the time, Shen Zheng had been puzzled as well. But Xie Xun came from the Xie family of Jincheng, his wife’s natal clan. Naturally, he lacked nothing, and he had always looked down upon money and material wealth. Though his daughter was strikingly beautiful, she was unlike the dignified and virtuous young women praised by society for their refined manners. Her temperament was bold and unrestrained, and she came and went as she pleased. Yet once Xie Xun truly came to know her, it was only natural that he would be drawn to Rongrong.

His daughter had made a grand show of going to Jing’an Temple to pray for love only yesterday. Now she was saying that she wanted to break off her engagement. Shen Zheng could not understand it at all.

“Rongrong…” Shen Zheng patted her shoulder, guilt deep in his eyes. “Your father is incompetent. Xie Xun is likely the most powerful young man from an aristocratic family that the Shen family can reach. And Xie Xun is exceptionally gifted; in the future, he is certain to achieve greatness. If you and he can become husband and wife, then when your father grows old, I will be able to face your mother with peace of mind…”

Shen Rong knew she had been too abrupt. But what others thought was sudden was a road she had already walked for four years…

No matter who it was, everyone would assume that she was merely speaking out of temporary anger.

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All the more so her father, who understood her best.

He knew how happy she had been when she first learned that Xie Xun had agreed to the engagement.

Shen Rong’s eyes grew solemn. After deliberating for a long while, she finally spoke.

“Father, do you… believe in dreams that serve as warnings?”

“Dreams that serve as warnings?”

“Mother came to me in a dream last night…”

When Shen Rong mentioned the dream, Shen Zheng recalled the strange way she had pushed open the door and entered moments earlier. Her eyes had been brimming with tears; clearly, she had said that she had suffered a nightmare.

Before he could question her further, Shen Rong continued, “Everything in that dream was so real, it felt like a fragment of my own memory…”

—

The midday sun had risen, warm and gentle. Outside Shen Zheng’s study, all was quiet save for the two sturdy guards stationed at the courtyard gate.

With a soft exclamation, a young girl in a yellow dress emerged and walked away with her back straight. Once she had gone, Shen Zheng appeared at the study door, his expression grave as he stared toward the distant snowcapped mountains in thought.

Before long, Ji Qing, who had remained at Shen Zheng’s side for many years and was around thirty, handed him a letter.

“The Thousand Pivot Pavilion has sent another letter. One every month, without fail—they certainly are persistent. Should I take it away and burn it as usual?”

Shen Zheng’s gaze fell upon the blank envelope. At last, his eyes fixed upon the inconspicuous symbol in one corner, and he fell into thought.

“A-Qing, do you remember what the first letter from the Thousand Pivot Pavilion said six months ago…?”

Ji Qing said nothing. His brows drew tightly together.

“Master, if we become entangled with them, it will be like conspiring with a tiger…”

How could Shen Zheng not understand such a simple truth?

“Do you believe what Miss Rong said? If it is true, then the Shen family is surrounded by wolves. I cannot help feeling that Miss Rong is still concealing something… And Xie Xun…”

Shen Zheng raised a hand warily, stopping Ji Qing from continuing. He gestured toward the people hidden nearby. Only after the concealed guards had widened their watch did Shen Zheng let out a low sigh.

“For now, have the forces within the residence remain still. Leave this matter to Rongrong. I must not show myself, lest we alert the enemy.”

“If there are things Rongrong does not wish to speak of, she must have her reasons. I know her well. For her to behave so strangely today, something must have happened that frightened her deeply. If it were merely a dream, she would never have shed tears. Since A-Ling passed away, I have not seen her cry even once…”

Shen Zheng’s expression grew graver still.

“The Thousand Pivot Pavilion gathers information from every corner of the realm. They once sent us a secret warning that great upheaval might soon descend upon the world, and that accords with what Rongrong has said. We must take precautions in advance, or we will find ourselves at an immense disadvantage later.” Shen Zheng paused. “A-Qing, even if I am simply being overcautious, it remains a fact that the outside world is eyeing the Shen family hungrily. I had intended to preserve our own safety and remain uninvolved, but now it seems that will be impossible…”

“What about the main branch?”

Shen Zheng ultimately could not bring himself to be ruthless.

“As long as the main branch loses control of the household, they will not be able to cause any trouble. We are prepared now as well… Rongrong said she would handle the affairs of the inner household. She has grown up, and I believe in her. I also have important matters to attend to…”

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Shen Zheng recalled the hatred and determination in Shen Rong’s eyes when she had just spoken of the main branch. If he refused to let her handle it, she might become obsessed with the matter. Besides, he would be very busy in the days ahead…

“Arrange for several guards whom you personally trained to follow Rongrong in secret, both within and beyond the residence.”

For once, Shen Zheng did not immediately hand the letter back to Ji Qing. Instead, he took it himself and studied it for a long while before turning and returning to his study.

Deep worry flashed through his eyes. After ordering his men to guard the door carefully, Ji Qing followed him inside and shut the study door firmly behind him…

—

Shen Rong did not know how she had managed to leave the study.

She only knew that her footsteps had never been steadier or calmer.

It was not until she had left the study and stepped onto the covered walkway, when she was almost back at her own room, that her legs suddenly gave way. Without warning, she stumbled and caught herself against one of the corridor pillars.

Now that her father had become alert, he would certainly not fall into the trap so easily again. Her most urgent task was to find someone capable of standing against Xie Xun.

Amid her tangled thoughts, she suddenly remembered something said in her previous life by Mu Zhaozhao, the foremost courtesan of Yejing, who had lived in dazzling splendor and enjoyed extraordinary freedom even amid the chaos of war.

She had said, “The world belongs to men, and only men can conquer it. As for women, they need only conquer men—and then they will have conquered the world.”

In her previous life, Shen Rong had been trapped and had envied Mu Zhaozhao immensely. Even in an age of turmoil, Mu Zhaozhao had lived with unparalleled ease and abandon. No one could restrain her, suppress her, or humiliate her. She had lived entirely on her own terms.

There was no doubt that Shen Rong was breathtakingly beautiful. But she had yet to grow wings, and for now she had to endure in silence, borrowing the strength of others.

At present, aside from Xie Xun, the only person in the residence who could help her was…

A-Jiu!

Since he had once spared Shen Yu’s life out of gratitude for the favor that had saved his own, it proved that he still possessed some sense of loyalty. In both her former life and this one, she was his savior. She would make full use of that fact.

Mu Zhaozhao had once said that love was the most overbearing and insoluble force in the world.

If the Prince of Huai’an, who commanded a mighty army, could become her ally…

Or better yet, her devoted servant, brought beneath her skirts and made to serve her…

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