The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 124 Pursuit
On an evening in the second month of the lunar year, with light rain falling on the apricot blossoms, shadows grew long at dusk.
A low-key carriage, escorted by several attendants dressed in black and with sharp eyes, made its way forward. The horse leading the way was ridden by Shen Ying, a personal attendant to the Taizifei, Qin Yan. The group entered the capital city, heading straight for the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion located to the west of the imperial city.
Last year, Shen Shiying and the Northern Liang Emperor entered Great Xia using a pass purchased on the black market, and they had brought only a few attendants. This time, however, Shen Shiying had brought hundreds of people into the country, and these individuals held special identities. Thus, Qin Yan dispatched someone to personally bring the documents from the Taizi Mansion to greet Shen Shiying at the port of entry, ensuring smooth passage.
However, upon arrival, Shen Shiying did not head directly to the capital but instead made a trip to Jiangnan, causing quite a stir.
Shen Shiying had lost some personnel in Jiangnan, and a few subordinates were still on missions, which meant only about a hundred accompanied her into the capital this time.
Outside the main gate of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, Shen Shiyan held the excited Fang Su, who was waiting quietly.
As the sound of wheels and hooves approached, the group finally arrived.
Shen Ying dismounted first and greeted Shen Shiyan and Fang Su.
Then, the carriage stopped, and a tall and graceful woman wrapped in a brocade cloak descended from the carriage.
The woman stood still after getting out of the carriage, her eyes sparkling with a smile as she looked at Shen Shiyan and Fang Su.
Shen Shiying was thirty-six this year, but she appeared to be only in her late twenties, her figure and looks having changed little over the past decade, just gaining a touch of mature charm.
Fang Su covered her mouth with one hand, tears of excitement spilling down her cheeks.
“Shiying.” Fang Su hurried over, reaching out to take Shen Shiying’s hand, but suddenly hesitated.
Would Shiying find it too forward…?
“Sister-in-law.” Shen Shiying smiled brightly, extending her arms to embrace Fang Su, her gaze shifting to Shen Shiyan behind her.
“Stone Shen.”
That long-awaited call brought a sting to both Shen Shiyan’s and Fang Su’s noses.
Shen Shiyan’s throat tightened, his voice trembling slightly as he said, “You still know to come back.”
The group didn’t linger at the door for small talk and quickly entered the mansion.
Meanwhile, several groups of people who had been watching outside the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion for days immediately relayed the news of Shen Shiying’s return to their mansion.
———–
“What!”
“The Northern Liang Red Serpent Army!”
Shen Shiyan suddenly stood up, shock written all over his face as he looked at Shen Shiying, who was lounging comfortably in the large chair across from him.
In the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, the family was finally gathered together for the first time in over a decade, except for Shen Ci, who had been dispatched to the northwest.
But… what about Taizi Feng Zhan, still in the southern study of the imperial city?
Wasn’t the grandson-in-law considered part of the family?
Fang Su tugged at her husband’s sleeve, whispering, “Lower your voice, you’ll scare Shiying.”
Shen Shiyan gently pressed down Fang Su’s hand, his eyes still fixed on Shen Shiying’s composed face.
“The commander of the Northern Liang’s southern territory, known for leading the formidable Red Serpent Army of four hundred thousand, the Ghost-Faced General!”
“Is she really that formidable? Can she intimidate her?”
Fang Su stood up, grasping Shen Shiyan’s arm to push him back into his seat. She then reached for a teacup on the side table and handed it to him, half persuading, half insisting that he drink.
The Duke of Zhenguo, Shen Changshan, sat at the head of the table, his brow slightly furrowed as if lost in thought.
Qin Yan, seated beside Shen Shiying, was not particularly surprised by the news. Having learned about her mother’s unusual relationship with the Northern Liang Emperor and recalling the information she had previously gathered about Northern Liang, she had her suspicions.
The Red Serpent Army of Northern Liang had risen to prominence in the southern territory about seven or eight years ago, originating from a formidable bandit group that had later been pacified by the Northern Liang court, transforming into a properly structured regular army.
There were rumors that the leader of the bandits before they were pacified, as well as the subsequent commander, were the same person. A woman wearing a mask with green features and fangs was known as the Ghost-Faced General.
So, the fearsome Ghost-Faced General was, in fact, her mother.
Miss Shen truly was formidable.
——
Shen Shiyan took a sip of tea, his emotions settling somewhat, and then turned to Shen Shiying, saying, “Our Duke of Zhenguo Mansion holds significant military power and has guarded the northwestern border of Great Xia for generations.”
“As a young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, how could you go to another country to establish a border army?”
“If this news gets out, it will immediately be reported to the Imperial Censor Bureau, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion is suspected of treason and collusion with the enemy.”
What Shen Shiyan said was indeed true and couldn’t help but raise concerns.
After a moment of silence in the hall, Duke Shen Changshan spoke up, “The southern territory of Northern Liang…”
“The Red Serpent Army’s main adversary is the neighboring country to the south, the Turks, isn’t it?”
Upon hearing this, Shen Shiying set her teacup down and gave a slight nod to her father, acknowledging the truth.
“Hahaha…” Shen Changshan clapped a hand on the side table, bursting into hearty laughter.
Once he calmed down, his voice boomed like thunder, “Good, good, good.”
“To hold an army of four hundred thousand and keep the Turks in check in the southern territory of Northern Liang, my daughter is truly born to be a leader.”
“It’s a pity that making you marry so early has hindered your talents.”
“Back then, when you had a troubled marriage with Qin Wenzheng, I suggested you go to the northwest, intending to let you showcase your skills in the military, but who would have thought…”
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall turned somber.
Years ago, when Shen Shiying and Qin Yan had been ambushed and fell off a cliff, they had survived against all odds. Their survival was a matter of luck, a blessing from the heavens.
And the mastermind behind that incident…
————
Qin Yan looked at Shen Shiying and asked, “Did Mother’s people take over the headquarters of Huayue Tower?”
As soon as she spoke, everyone in the hall turned their attention to Shen Shiying.
Setting her teacup down, Shen Shiying leaned back against her chair, adjusting herself into a comfortable position, and replied, “Over the years, I’ve traveled all over the south and north. Coincidentally, our army has incorporated former bandits, and we’ve also encountered members and enemies from various assassin organizations. I’ve heard plenty of true and false information.”
“After verification, the assassins that were in Aoling came from Huayue Tower.”
“Huayue Tower?” Shen Shiyan interjected.
“Isn’t that the assassin organization that recently snatched a witness from the Imperial Guards, resulting in the deaths of the witness and over a dozen guards?”
Qin Yan lightly tapped the table and spoke softly, “That case involved the Yuzhou branch of Huayue Tower, which people from the Taizi Mansion took down.”
“Is Mother’s plan to eradicate Huayue Tower entirely?”
Shen Shiying lazily replied, “Unfortunately, some remnants managed to escape. My people are currently pursuing them.”
“Those people have blood on their hands. What’s the pity in their deaths?”
Qin Yan looked up at Shen Shiying, asking, “Have you been able to trace the employer behind the assassins from that incident in Aoling?”
Shen Shiying let out a cold laugh, a flash of killing intent crossing her eyes, “I’ve actually managed to identify one person.”
——
In the imperial city, in the main hall of the southern study.
Taizi Feng Zhan sat behind his desk, holding a scroll in one hand while rubbing a white jade ring with the other.
Song Zhi entered and saluted, “Your Highness.”
Feng Zhan looked up and set the scroll down.
Song Zhi reported, “There’s a secret report from Jiangnan. The person from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion who just returned has sent people to take over the headquarters of Huayue Tower in Jingzhou. They are currently pursuing the remnants of Huayue Tower across Great Xia.”
Feng Zhan paused his movements and said in a deep voice, “What time is it?”
“Your Highness, it is already early in the Hai hour (9-11 pm),” Song Zhi replied.
Feng Zhan rose and strode out of the southern study. He got into the Taizi’s carriage, accompanied by the personal guards from the Taizi Mansion, making a grand procession toward the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion.
Song Zhi couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.
The Taizi had spent so long in the southern study today just to wait for the Taizifei to return to the mansion together…
——
Shen Shiying arranged for her attendants to go to the mansion Qin Yan had prepared for her, leaving only a few people to stay with her at the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion.
Of course, in addition to Qin Yan’s people, there were guards from the Taizi Mansion outside the mansion prepared for Shen Shiying.
As Qin Yan was getting ready to leave, someone outside reported, “The Taizi has arrived.”
As the sky grew darker, the Taizi did not get out of the carriage but waited outside the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion.
Shen Shiying called out to Qin Yan and leaned in to whisper, “Did you use the booklet I gave you?”
Qin Yan glanced at Shen Shiying with a knowing smile and replied, but did not answer Shen Shiying’s question, “I’ve left those people for you. You can handle them yourself.”
Shen Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly, realizing her daughter was quite sensible and perceptive.
Indeed, enemies should be dealt with personally…
With that, Qin Yan turned and strode away.
Her mother, perhaps a blessing in disguise, has lived out her true self.
But couldn’t she restrain a little bit?
——
The moment Qin Yan got into the carriage, Feng Zhan pulled her fiercely into his embrace. He nibbled on her delicate earlobe, murmuring softly, “If I hadn’t come, would you have forgotten to return home? Hmm?”
Feng Zhan’s deep, rich voice sent shivers through Qin Yan. She turned her long, fair neck away, unwilling to be outdone, and playfully bit his neck. Inside the carriage, their passion grew heated, and thankfully, the weather was warming up. Otherwise, the night chill would have been unbearable for Qin Yan.
Half an hour later, as the carriage approached the Princess Mansion in Xishan, Feng Zhan adjusted Qin Yan’s clothes. With a flirtatious glance, she lightly caressed his slightly prominent Adam’s apple and spoke in a hushed tone, shifting back to serious matters, “Your Highness, have you considered that there might be people from the palace behind Huayue Tower?”
Feng Zhan paused, his movements halting as his deep gaze locked onto Qin Yan’s delicate face, yet he remained silent.
Qin Yan continued slowly, “My mother and I were hunted down and fell off a cliff years ago. The assassins were from Huayue Tower.”
“Huayue Tower had the audacity to take on a job to assassinate the legitimate young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion and the legitimate young lady of the Prime Minister Mansion over a decade ago. Recently, they dared to accept a contract to snatch a witness from the Imperial Guards, killing over a dozen guards to silence them.”
“It’s hard not to speculate that the forces behind Huayue Tower are significant.”
She raised her gaze, her sharp phoenix eyes locking onto Feng Zhan’s deep black ones as she continued, “Shen Shiying’s people are pursuing the remnants of Huayue Tower, and those assassins, after several twists and turns, are ultimately fleeing towards Yizhou.”
“Huayue Tower is both an assassin organization and an intelligence network, deep-rooted in Great Xia for over a decade, making a fortune every day.”
“I don’t believe that the cautious and reclusive Prince of Yizhou, who would rather hide in that small place, has the audacity for this.”
“Your Highness, do you think it could be that person from Shou’an Palace?”
Feng Zhan’s narrowed eyes glinted dangerously.
Yizhou?
An organization like Huayue Tower, with its persistent presence in the underworld and members hidden in various trades, would be difficult for the court to control.
No matter who was behind Huayue Tower, since Shen Shiying had opened a door, they could take advantage of the opportunity to wipe it out entirely.
“Song Zhi.” The Taizi spoke in a low tone.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Song Zhi rode closer, having overheard the conversation with a slightly flushed face.
Feng Zhan coldly commanded, “Issue a warrant in the name of the Taizi Mansion to hunt down and eliminate the remnants of Huayue Tower across all of Great Xia.”
———
In Shou’an Palace within the imperial city, Empress Dowager Xiao forcefully threw a Canaan bead bracelet she had cherished for years onto the ground, shattering it as the beads scattered in all directions.
Xia Ying, who had just delivered the news, stood to the side, not daring to approach the empress dowager in her fury.
“Shen Shiying, Shen Shiying!”
“You came back and pulled this kind of stunt on me right away!”
Empress Dowager Xiao seemed extremely furious, her body trembling slightly.
Xia Ying bowed his head and spoke softly, “Your Majesty, the Shen family’s people are able to pursue and kill without hindrance in Great Xia. It’s likely due to Taizi’s leniency.”
Empress Dowager Xiao’s chest heaved as her gaze turned fierce.
How could she not have thought of that?
Shen Shiying, the Taizi, Qin Yan.
Did they truly believe she had collapsed?