After the incident at Qingsha Pass, the first thing Fu Shen did when he woke up was to order someone to find the crossbow arrow that had been nailed into the mountain rock. He thought the arrow had long been buried under the rolling stones, but unexpectedly, someone had already beaten him to it. This assassination attempt was done very covertly, and if not for today’s events, his men might still be searching like headless flies.
But who exactly had the ability to bring this crucial piece of evidence before his eyes without anyone noticing?
Soon, servants of various heights and ages lined up before him, heads lowered and shoulders hunched, each wishing they could burrow into the ground. Outside stood a group of fierce North Yan cavalry, their expressions as if ready to draw their knives and charge in at any moment.
Fu Shen’s voice was slightly hoarse, with an odd sense of weariness.
He casually tossed the box onto the rosewood desk and asked directly: “Who has seen this box, when did it appear in the study, and who brought it in?”
Those who had entered the study first came forward to identify it, all shaking their heads, saying they didn’t know. The cleaning staff from this morning had a vague recollection, saying the box was already on the desk when they entered. They had thought it was Fu Shen’s old belongings and didn’t dare to move it.
All eyes fell on the young servant who had delivered the vase to the study the previous day.
He was a boy of thirteen or fourteen, wearing a dull gray short outfit. His parents had died early, and he worked in the manor with his grandfather, usually hiding in the back kitchen. Having never seen such a scene before, he was instantly panicked by Fu Shen’s frost-like gaze. He fell to his knees, crying and kowtowing, begging, “Master, spare me!”
Fu Shen rubbed his temples, his head aching from the boy’s crying, and said coldly, “Shut up.”
His voice was soft, but perhaps due to his habit of giving orders, each word seemed heavy. The child immediately fell silent, only trembling more intensely. Fu Shen asked, “Did you put this box here?”
“No, no, no…”
“Then who did?”
“I, I don’t know…”
Fu Shen said menacingly, “I have no patience to watch you sift chaff. The sooner you explain, the better—I’ll give you one more chance. Think carefully before you speak.”
The young servant bit his lower lip, continuously wringing the corner of his clothes. Finally unable to withstand Fu Shen’s pressure, he whispered the truth: “I really don’t know, maybe it was Wang Gou’er…”
Fu Shen was puzzled: “Who is Wang Gou’er?”
“He’s the son from the Wang family in Yangshu Gou in the east of the city, who often comes with his father to deliver vegetables… Last night, Grandfather Fu asked me to bring a vase to the study. Wang Gou’er said he wanted to see what a wealthy family’s study looked like.
Fu Shen: “Xiao Xun.”
Xiao Xun: “Understood.”
An outsider entering the lord’s study, even if there were no important items, was a significant oversight by these guards. Xiao Xun immediately took two personal guards to investigate this “Wang Gou’er”. Fu Shen slowly scanned the people standing below and suddenly let out a soft, cold laugh.
“It seems I’ve indeed been negligent these years, thinking this ‘backyard’ was of little value and not worth setting on fire. Who knew that despite guarding day and night, a family thief would be the hardest to prevent, with holes larger than a sieve. Today’s events are a lesson for everyone, including myself. Steward Fu—”
The old servant tremblingly stepped forward: “Please give your orders, my lord.”
“Dismiss all servants within ten days, send them back where they came from. From now on, the manor will be managed by the North Yan military.
No outsiders are allowed to stay. That’s all, go.”
A group of people knelt down: “My lord! Please have mercy… spare our lives!”
“Don’t make me say it twice,” Fu Shen waved his hand, “Xiao Ding, supervise this.”
A personal guard stepped forward, grabbing the old servant’s collar and dragging him out. With the matter settled, the remaining people left the study one by one.
Fu Shen quickly dealt with this mess, but the frustration in his chest remained unresolved. He was physically and mentally exhausted, almost wanting to give up. Before this thought could fully form, an urgent knock came from outside: “My lord, a military officer from the Forbidden Guard is here, saying someone entrusted him with a message for you.”
Fu Shen was particularly sensitive to the words “Forbidden Guard” and immediately said, “Let him in.”
Wei Xuzhou had endured looks all the way here, as every personal guard was a battle-hardened soldier, making him feel uncomfortable. When he saw Fu Shen sitting in a wheelchair, Wei was almost overcome with a sense of intimacy: “This subordinate, Left Divine Shield Army General Wei Xuzhou, pays respects to the lord.”
“
Fu Shen was currently in a stage of suspecting everyone, but the Forbidden Guard under Yan Xiaohan’s control didn’t raise too much suspicion. Strangely, though Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan had completely different principles of conduct, they shared a profound sense of candor. He appeared more relaxed facing Wei Xuzhou: “No need for formalities. Please sit. Bring tea.”
Wei Xuzhou didn’t dare to get too close, fearing others might suspect something, so he got straight to the point: “My lord, no need to trouble yourself. I’ll speak and then leave. Our Chief Investigator was just summoned by His Majesty. Before leaving, he asked me to tell you: Recently, noble families in the capital have been secretly spreading rumors that you have… a predilection for men. This matter cannot be taken lightly, and my lord must handle it promptly.”
This news was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, striking Fu Shen from head to toe: “What did you say?!
Wei Xuzhou said: “My lord also said that no matter what happens, please ask the marquis to be patient for now and absolutely do not act rashly.”
“Hmm?”
Wei Xuzhou looked back innocently: “That’s all, nothing more.”
There were too many things, each as hard as a stone, choking him almost breathless. Countless thoughts and doubts grew like inner demons, instantly occupying his entire mind—No matter what happens, do not act rashly.”
The iron arrow in the box, the note in the hidden layer, the “Wang Gouzi” who sneaked into the study… Was he referring to one of these, or to more conspiracies hidden in the darkness that he had not yet detected?
Was Yan Xiaohang truly prescient, or had he planned this long ago?
“My lord! My lord!”
While lost in thought, an old servant rushed into the study, gasping for breath, interrupting Fu Shen’s descent into madness. He pulled himself out of his inner demons, suddenly realizing he had become too extreme.
“What is it?”
Fu Boting hurriedly said: “An imperial edict! We have an imperial edict! The eunuch requests you to go receive it!”
Wei Xuzhou, very perceptive, immediately stood up: “Since my lord still has matters to attend to, I will take my leave.”
Fu Shen met his gaze and nodded in understanding: “Fu Bo, escort this gentleman out through the side gate. I will change into court attire and meet the imperial envoy.”
In the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.
After the Crown Prince left, Emperor Yuan Tai suddenly changed his form of address. Yan Xiaohang was stunned, then respectfully responded: “Your Majesty.”
Emperor Yuan Tai’s tone shifted: “This plan may or may not work. But after Fu Shen leaves, who can replace him as the commander of the Northern Yan?”
“The Crown Prince recommends Yang Sijing,” he shook his head, seeming to find it both amusing and somewhat helpless, and said lightly: “After all, he is young and his thoughts are shallow.”
