Chapter 7: You Will Die Before Him

Qin Yanshu was taken aback, a look of panic appearing in his eyes: “Ning, you won’t like him. He’s not a normal person. He must have ulterior motives for marrying you. Ning, he’s too dangerous…”

“I like adventure.” Shen Ning turned her eyes to look at him, her pupils dark and profound, as if covered with a layer of frost. “I would rather marry a cruel person as his wife than be your concubine.”

Qin Yanshu’s expression stiffened, the pleading look on his face slowly faded, and his eyes gradually turned cold and contemptuous. “Do you think by marrying the Regent, you can enjoy wealth and glory? Shen Ning, let me tell you, the Regent is a treacherous official. He will die sooner or later! Not to mention he’s poisoned and won’t live for many years, even if he were healthy, the Emperor won’t spare him once he takes power. The Regent is a thorn in the side of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. He will die sooner or later—”

“You will die before him.” Shen Ning coldly interrupted his words. “If you don’t believe me, we can make a bet.”

Qin Yanshu’s face turned a mix of blue and white, his hand clenched at his side, unable to speak a word.

“The Emperor won’t be able to take power, and the Empress Dowager can’t get rid of him.” A mocking look appeared in Shen Ning’s eyes. “Qin Yanshu, your calculations are wrong.”

“Shen Ning!” Qin Yanshu was both angry and embarrassed. He raised his hand to slap Shen Ning’s face. “You bitch—”

Shen Ning’s eyes turned fierce, and she suddenly grabbed his wrist and twisted it.

Crack!

“Ah!” Qin Yanshu suddenly cried out in pain, then hugged his hand and curled up on the ground, his face pale, sweating profusely.

“Shen Ning, what are you doing?” Shen Shian rushed in, shocked, looking at Qin Yanshu’s pale face. “Yanshu, Yanshu…”

“Get out, all of you.” Shen Ning walked back to the chair and sat down, her voice cold as ice. “Or I don’t know what else I might do.”

Qin Yanshu’s face was covered in cold sweat. He slowly raised his head, staring at Shen Ning with a look of hatred and a hint of barely noticeable fear: “You… you’re not Shen Ning. You’re not Shen Ning at all! Who are you?”

Although Shen Ning had practiced martial arts since she was young, it was only for strengthening her body. She never had such terrifying skills or a fearsome gaze.

Hearing Qin Yanshu’s words, Shen Shian looked at Shen Ning suspiciously. “Who are you?”

If she were the real Shen Ning, she would never tie her brother to the bed for two hours, try to strangle him, or dare to become an enemy of the entire family.

Shen Ning had always been fondest of Qin Yanshu in the past, and she would never have been willing to lay such a heavy hand on him.

Moreover, the brute strength she displayed last night, and the force with which she just broke Qin Yanshu’s wrist, what was the difference between that and a god of slaughter?

Even if Shen Ning were a martial artist, she certainly wouldn’t have such strength.

“How laughable.” Shen Ning turned her head to look at him, her eyes cold and mocking. “Not recognizing your own sister after living together for over a decade, yet you dare to call yourself family.”

Shen Shian didn’t have the time to waste words with her now.

He didn’t even want to stay here a moment longer, always feeling that Shen Ning’s gaze was chillingly cold, and her sinister voice was as if she were waiting to kill someone at any moment.

He helped Qin Yanshu up and shouted loudly for the servants: “Someone! Quickly fetch a physician! Bring the best physician in the city!”

Shen Ning’s gaze was heavy, watching silently as Shen Shian helped Qin Yanshu out, her eyes indifferent without a trace of warmth.

Refined and elegant, a noble young master?

It was the biggest joke in the world.

……

The incident of Shen Ning breaking Qin Yanshu’s wrist soon caused a huge stir in the Shen family.

Shen Yunlin could hardly believe it.

From yesterday until now, the Shen family had not had a moment’s peace.

Before they could fully digest the news of the imperial decree of marriage, Shen Ning had already stirred up such a big mess. In his fury, Shen Yunlin immediately ordered someone to bring Shen Ning out for questioning, and even planned to invoke the family law to give Qin Yanshu an explanation.

At the same time, he also needed to send someone to the Qin family to apologize and make amends.

However, facing the Shen family’s angry and uneasy interrogation, Shen Ning’s expression remained indifferent and heartless: “Qin Yanshu committed a crime by offending his superior. He deserved such a fate.”

Offending one’s superior.

The moment these four words were spoken, the Shen family was collectively taken aback.

The imperial decree of marriage was still warm in their hands, and Shen Ning had already begun to act like the Regent’s wife?

“You can also try to touch me.” Shen Ning coldly raised her eyes, looking around at the group of so-called family members. “But all the consequences, you will bear on your own.”

“How insolent!” The authority of the head of the family, Shen Yunlin, was challenged, and he raised his hand to slap her.

Unfortunately, his wrist was caught midway.

Shen Ning grabbed his hand, her eyes cold as ice: “Father also wants a broken hand?”

“You… you…” Shen Yunlin struggled but found Shen Ning’s strength to be extraordinarily great, which shocked him. “Let go of me!”

Old Lady Shen screamed: “Shen Ning, what are you doing? Let go of your father!”

Shen Shian was furious: “Shen Ning, how insolent!”

Shen Yan was panicked: “Sister!”

The entire family was almost ready to swarm forward, creating chaos, but when they met Shen Ning’s grim gaze, everyone unanimously froze, feeling a chill rising from the soles of their feet straight to their spines.

Shen Ning’s eyes at this moment were so terrifying.

Under such a gaze, their blood seemed to freeze, and they felt a chill in their hearts.

Mrs. Shen, trembling with fear, spoke: “Ning, you must not be rude to your father. This is rebellion. Quickly… let him go…”

“After marrying the Regent, I will be a noblewoman of the imperial family.” Shen Ning released Shen Yunlin’s wrist and calmly told them the truth. “Father, if you really slap me, it would be a disrespect of the hierarchy, a great act of rebellion.”

Shen Yunlin’s face turned ashen: “Even if you marry the Regent, you are still my daughter! As your father, can’t I discipline you?”

“As a father, your first duty should be to protect your daughter.” Shen Ning looked at him coldly, her eyes indifferent as if looking at a useless ant. “Unfortunately, you failed to do so. When your daughter was violated outside, you didn’t think to find out the truth and avenge her. Instead, you belittled and humiliated her at every turn, even wishing to force her to death. Do you have the qualifications to be this father?”

“You—”

“What did Shen Ning do wrong? Was she wrong to go out to pray for her family’s well-being, or was she wrong to not immediately jump off a cliff to commit suicide when she encountered bandits, to preserve her chastity? Was she wrong for not having the ability to kill her way out and protect herself, or was she wrong for being born into a selfish and inhumane family?”

“How insolent! How insolent!” Shen Yunlin was infuriated by her questions, his face flushed with anger. “Shen Ning, shut your mouth!”

Shen Ning pressed her lips together, looking at these family members with cold disdain, and was about to turn and leave.

“Duke!” A guard hurried over, his tone panicked. “The Qin… Madam Qin has brought servants and guards. They say they want the Shen family to give us an explanation…”

Shen Ning stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“The trouble you’ve caused, you go explain it to Madam Lin yourself!” Shen Yunlin glared at Shen Ning with disgust and turned to head towards the front courtyard. “What bad luck!”

“Ning.” Mrs. Shen forced a smile, gently advising her, “When you see Madam Qin later, first apologize sincerely and say that you just lost control…”

“I didn’t lose control. I intentionally wanted to cripple Qin Yanshu.” Shen Ning glanced at her expressionlessly and turned to head towards the front courtyard.

Mrs. Shen stiffened, her face a mix of blue and white.