Chapter 63 Spot-On Exposure

Previously, the Su family had done everything in their power to suppress the news of Yu Shensheng being taken to the Zhennie Tower and subsequently detained for several days.

Only a handful of outsiders knew about it, and those who did were merely guests attending the lotus-viewing banquet who had seen Yu Shensheng and Su Dingqin taken away together, only to be released shortly after.

None of them knew that she had been locked away for several more days afterwards.

At this, those who had secretly envied Yu Shensheng's good fortune now wore gloating expressions in their eyes.

They all turned to look at Kong Dezhao, waiting to see his reaction, hoping above all that he would fly into a rage on the spot.

The Su family also panicked.

Su Yanshu stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Kong Dezhao, saying, "Your Lordship..."

Hao Mengye acted as if he had only just noticed Kong Dezhao, a faint smile surfacing on his face. "Lord Kong? I didn't expect to run into you here. I trust the Prince has been well? Our Commander often brings him up in conversation."

Kong Dezhao leaned back against the carrying chair's backrest. "My father is doing just fine. He's robust and healthy—he can eat half an ox in a single meal and kill a tiger with a single punch."

"That is truly wonderful," Hao Mengye said, his smile unchanged. "The Commander also mentioned hoping to seek your father's guidance on a few pointers, though he worried about taking advantage of him and being accused of picking on the elderly."

Kong Dezhao let out a cold laugh. "My father just married his eighteenth concubine; whether he's old or not, they know best. Besides, my father is in Nanshun, so how is Fu Qingyin supposed to seek his guidance? Are his arms really that long?"

Kong Dezhao's gaze fell upon the box. "Miss Yu is about to become my fiancée. What sort of gift are you delivering here?"

Hao Mengye feigned an appropriate degree of surprise. "A fiancée? I walk before His Majesty, yet I have not once heard of this."

"This isn't anything terribly valuable inside," Hao Mengye said as he opened it, revealing an exquisite dagger.

"It was a fright to Miss Yu last time; this is a token of apology."

Yu Shensheng received it with both hands. "Thank you for your kindness, Grand Commander."

Seeing her accept the gift, the complexions of the Su family members shifted slightly.

Su Yanshu lowered his voice in warning, "Shensheng! How could you casually accept a gift from the Grand Commander?"

Hao Mengye slightly arched a brow. "What? Has the Su family yet to latch onto a high branch, and already they look down upon our Red Dragon Guard?"

Hao Mengye turned back and cupped his fists toward the second floor. "Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, please judge this fairly."

The Crown Prince stood near the railing. The atmosphere below was taut with tension. He was well aware of the discord between the Nanshun Prince's Estate and the Red Dragon Guard—indeed, this was precisely in line with the Emperor's wishes.

Yet, what role did Yu Shensheng play in all of this?

The Crown Prince felt that Hao Mengye's attitude toward Yu Shensheng seemed far from ordinary.

With a faint smile, he said, "Each of you has your own reasoning, and I certainly have no wish to play the villain here. Since Lord Kong is yet unmarried and wishes to seek the hand of a fair maiden upon seeing her, it is entirely within reason."

"As for the Red Dragon Guard, they have always conducted affairs according to their own established methods, so it is not my place to say much."

He had spoken as good as nothing.

Kong Dezhao looked toward Yu Shensheng. "Miss Yu, do you like this dagger?"

Su Yanshu's heart rose to his throat as he stared directly at her.

Yet Yu Shensheng refused to look at him. She curtsied and replied, "Replying to Your Lordship, I like it very much."

Kong Dezhao fell silent for a fraction of a second before bursting into hearty laughter. "Good! Splendid! Truly, she is a woman chosen by me, Kong Dezhao—she is entirely different from the rest. Since you favor such things, that makes things simple. My Nanshun possesses iron ore, and the blacksmiths under my command are exceptionally skilled at forging cold-iron weaponry. Later on, I shall have several of each kind sent to you!"

"My younger sister fancies these things? This is the first time I've heard of it," Su Zhiyi said as she walked in from outside.

Upon seeing the faint scratch across her face, Su Yanshu stepped forward in astonishment and asked, "What happened to your face?"

Su Zhiyi offered a helpless smile. "It's nothing, my sister didn't mean it. Second Brother, you're back."

Kong Dezhao swept a glance over her, quickly averting his eyes. "It's settled then, Miss Yu. Just wait a moment; I shall enter the palace immediately to see the Emperor and request a decree for our marriage."

He slapped the carrying chair. "Let's move!"

His subordinates pivoted instantly and withdrew at a rapid pace.

Yu Shensheng's complexion was deathly pale. Knowing what weighed upon her heart, Su Zhiyi found immense satisfaction in watching her distress; the anger she had felt earlier toward Qi Mubai dissipated by more than half.

Mutual affection? How laughable. Could it ever rival the force of raw power and a coerced marriage?

Su Zhiyi approached Yu Shensheng, peering down at the dagger in her hands. "Today is this Commandery Princess's birthday, yet when the Grand Commander gives a gift to my sister, why on earth would he present something like this? He ought to have given something a woman would actually enjoy."

Her tone was light and laced with playful teasing, as though she were merely joking with Hao Mengye.

Hao Mengye remained expressionless, looking at her as if she were a fool. "Whom I give gifts to, and on what day I present them, requires no explanation to anyone whatsoever. What does it matter if the Commandery Princess dislikes it? As long as Miss Yu is fond of it, that is enough."

Su Zhiyi's expression froze. Hao Mengye turned his gaze to Old Madame Su. "The Commandery Princess's habit of running her mouth needs to be corrected, or she will suffer a bitter loss because of it one day."

"The gift has been delivered. Miss Yu, the matter from last time is settled. Farewell."

He turned and strode away with his men.

They had come swiftly and departed with equal speed, leaving everyone bewildered and engendering even deeper confusion and dread.

Yu Shensheng gripped the dagger tightly. Her head spun, and a dull ringing filled her ears.

Noticing her condition, Su Yanshu spoke in a gentle voice, "Shensheng's complexion is poor; you should return to your quarters to rest. The injury on your face cannot be taken lightly either; I will have the estate physician come over shortly to examine it properly."

Yu Shensheng offered no reply, nor did she offer a customary bow. She turned and walked away with a numb, mechanical gait.

As for whether others would whisper that she lacked manners or speak to her in veiled, sarcastic tones... let them all go to hell!

Upon returning to her courtyard and catching sight of Jin Baobao and Nanny Zhou, her legs could no longer support her weight, and she suddenly crumpled.

"Young Miss!" Jin Baobao darted forward and caught her just in time.

With a sharp *clatter*, the dagger fell from her grip onto the ground.

Jin Baobao blinked in surprise. "Eh? Has the Grand Commander been here?"

Yu Shensheng nodded silently, offering no further words.

Jin Baobao retrieved the dagger, supported Yu Shensheng inside to a seat, while Nanny Zhou hurried over to pour tea and water.

Jin Baobao handed the dagger back to Yu Shensheng. "Young Miss, quickly, open it and take a look."

Yu Shensheng pushed it away weakly. "Baobao, I have no appetite for this. If you like it, you can keep it."

Lowering her voice with a sense of urgency, Jin Baobao said, "Young Miss, this is no ordinary dagger. I... I saw the Grand Commander toying with one when we were locked in the Zhennie Tower with you. There's a hidden mechanism inside this!"

Yu Shensheng's eyes stirred, regaining a flicker of vitality.

Jin Baobao decisively pulled the dagger apart. Nestled within was yet another, smaller dagger—barely the length of a palm, perfect for concealing within a sleeve.

The outer sheath of the dagger was, in truth, a hollow message cylinder.

Releasing the internal latch, a slip of paper fluttered out.

It bore only a few sparse lines of text.

Yu Shensheng's eyes widened slowly as she read the contents over and over again.

Tears welled up, rolling down her cheeks in large, heavy drops.

As Hao Mengye stepped out of the Su estate, a subordinate asked in a low voice, "Grand Commander, everything is prepared. Are we truly going to go through with this?"

Hao Mengye tilted his head to look at him, causing the subordinate to lower his gaze. "This subordinate has no other intentions; I merely worry that the Commander might harbor resentment upon his return. After all... this matter is no trivial affair."

"It's nothing of the sort. Kong Dezhao is far too arrogant, daring to provoke us right to our faces. If we don't deflate his haughty spirit, he'll truly believe he's still sitting pretty in Nanshun."

"He needs to understand that here in the capital, the Red Dragon Guard calls the shots."

"Understood."

Kong Dezhao changed into his court attire, preparing to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor. Before he could even step through the doorway, a scout came galloping furiously on horseback.

"Reporting to Your Lordship, something terrible has happened!"