Chapter 8

Jiang Lianzhi had just stepped down from the carriage when he saw Shen Yu in front of the palace gate.

He had heard yesterday that she was ill. Even the medicinal herbs sent to her were returned, so he hadn’t expected to see her here.

“Miss Shen.”

Shen Yu followed the direction of the voice and saw Jiang Lianzhi in a peacock-colored official robe, stepping down from the carriage and walking towards her.

“Master Jiang.”

Jiang Lianzhi assessed her complexion. She did indeed seem quite ill, her face pale and devoid of color, reminding him of how she looked when she was bedridden in the past.

“What brings Miss Shen here?” he asked.

Shen Yu remained silent.

Jiang Lianzhi quickly understood after a moment of thought and asked, “General Shen has entered the palace?”

Last night’s urgent report had kept the Ministry of Revenue officials up all night, calculating military expenses and provisions. He had also stayed up all night, returning home only at daybreak to change into his official robes for court.

In times of border conflict, in his previous life, both Shen Zhong’an and Shen Zhao had died in battle. Yesterday, hearing that both were seriously ill, he had suspected that they had somehow received false information to avoid the war, but now it seemed unlikely.

Shen Yu nodded, still not speaking.

Seeing her grave expression, Jiang Lianzhi pondered for a moment before saying, “Don’t worry, General Shen will be back shortly.”

Yes, shortly back, but then he would rush back to the border, and when he returned, he would be nothing but a corpse.

Shen Yu seemed to have already seen history repeating itself.

It was already late for court. Jiang Lianzhi glanced at the palace gate, then at her expression, feeling a twinge of reluctance.

“Is there anything I can do in his place?”

Shen Yu’s thoughts turned. It seemed that destiny could not be defied, and she could only try to salvage the situation.

However, there were some things she couldn’t say aloud, as they could be used against her.

Gritting her teeth, Shen Yu said, “Please tell Lord Jiang to relay a message, saying that I am no longer capable.”

Given Shen Zhong’an’s doting nature towards her, this reason might delay him.

Jiang Lianzhi scrutinized her from head to toe, his eyes filled with doubt.

“Is that what Master Jiang should convey?” Shen Yu asked.

“Why?”

“Because I can’t let my dad go to Yanliang Pass at this time,” Shen Yu said suddenly.

Jiang Lianzhi was suddenly shaken. “Why?”

Shen Yu shook her head. “No reason. Lord Jiang, just convey it like this.”

Jiang Lianzhi breathed a sigh of relief. The fist he had clenched under his sleeve gradually relaxed, and he smiled slightly at her. “Rest assured, I will relay your message.”

The sky was fully lit now, and the sun had moved another inch higher in the sky.

The heavy palace gates gradually opened, accompanied by a low creaking sound, and court officials began to emerge.

Shen Zhong’an, not feeling well, walked slowly behind, accompanied by a few colleagues and Jiang Lianzhi.

As Shen Yu looked over, Jiang Lianzhi happened to meet her gaze and shook his head slightly.

She had already anticipated this outcome.

On the way back to the general’s residence, father and daughter shared a carriage. Shen Zhong’an hadn’t said a word the whole time. As soon as they entered the residence, he took Shen Yu into the ancestral hall.

Incense smoke filled the air in the ancestral hall, with dozens of memorial tablets placed there.

Shen Zhong’an’s gaze swept over them one by one, and he asked in a deep voice, “Did you poison them?”

He had already found this matter suspicious. This morning, he had heard what Hongqiao had conveyed and had some doubts.

Shen Yu’s lips moved slightly, and she softly murmured, “Yes.”

“Why?” he asked.

“I didn’t want you and brother to go to war.”

“Kneel down!” Shen Zhong’an suddenly shouted sternly.

As Shen Zhao entered the ancestral hall, he saw Shen Yu’s pale face and her sudden collapse to the ground. Her knees hit the floor with a heavy thud, sounding painful.

“Dad.”

As Shen Zhao was about to speak, Shen Zhong’an raised his hand to stop him and said to Shen Yu, “Look at the memorial tablets of our ancestors and say it again.”

Gritting her teeth, Shen Yu raised her head and said sternly, “I didn’t want you and brother to go to war, so I poisoned your food.”

“Auntie,” Shen Zhao looked at her in shock, “that’s not right. Dad, there must be a misunderstanding. The urgent report only came last night. Auntie couldn’t have poisoned the food in advance.”

Shen Zhong’an said, “Let her speak for herself.”

“I was afraid you and brother wouldn’t come back from this battle, so I poisoned the food in advance.”

Her face was pale, but her eyes were red, with bloodshot veins around her pupils.

Shen Zhong’an asked again, “Then why did you poison yourself as well?”

“Because if only you and brother fell ill, someone might suspect you were feigning illness to avoid the war. If multiple people fell ill, it would be different.”

Shen Zhong’an coldly snorted, “You thought it through, even invited several doctors from Rechun Hall, all because of your dream…”

“That wasn’t just a dream!” Shen Yu turned around while kneeling, looking up at Shen Zhong’an. “Dad, won’t you stay? I’ve never begged you before, but this time, I beg you not to go, don’t leave me alone.”

“Alright,” Shen Zhong’an asked, “then tell me, what should the people on the border do?”

“If you don’t go, there will naturally be other generals to take your place.”

Time didn’t slow down to wait for her to come up with a solution. She had no other way now.

Shen Zhong’an shook his head with a smile, looking at her with a slightly disappointed expression. “The Shen family has never produced cowards who fear death. Other generals may have wives and children too. Furthermore, who can replace us?”

He continued, “The Xiao family army guards the Chih River, and the border of Chongzhou is often harassed by people from the north. The generals along the southern border haven’t returned home in three years. Who will take their place? Who will stop the people from the west outside Yanliang Pass? Do you really think everywhere is as peaceful as Shengjing? That peace is earned by the blood of soldiers!”

It wasn’t that they weren’t afraid of death, but they couldn’t abandon the people.

As soldiers, their blood and bones had long been fused with the land of Great Zhou.

Even if they Dan Feng and bloodshed, so what?

Even if they ended up dead on the battlefield, so what?

Every general had already prepared themselves for the fact that they might never return before setting off.

Tears welled up in Shen Yu’s eyes. She knew what her father was thinking, so she couldn’t say it aloud. Even if she did, he would still rush to the front lines without hesitation.

With her father and brother dying on the battlefield, but ending up with a ruined reputation, just thinking about it made her heart ache unbearably.

Shen Zhong’an looked down at her.

She was his proud daughter, born with martial talent, stronger in constitution than Shen Zhao. It was a pity she was a girl.

If she were a boy, the Shen family could produce another general, a better general than him. It was just a pity that there had never been a female general in Great Zhou’s history.

He sighed and reached out to touch her head. “Auntie, even if what you said is true, I can’t retreat. You’ve been on the battlefield with me, stronger than many men in Shengjing. You’ve seen the horrors of war. What you said just now shouldn’t have come from you.”

Tears streamed down Shen Yu’s face.

In her previous life, she would never have said such words. But having experienced the pain of losing loved ones, she didn’t ask for anything else. She just wanted them to live well, even if it meant sacrificing her own life.

Shen Zhong’an was still unwell, and standing for a while felt somewhat difficult, but he didn’t collapse. He looked at the tablets.

“Stay here and think carefully. You are not allowed to get up without my order.”

Shen Zhao stayed in place, waiting until Shen Zhong’an’s figure disappeared at the doorway before squatting down in front of Shen Yu and taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

“Why are you crying?”

Shen Yu hung her head. “Dad must be very disappointed in me.”

“Girl, look at me.”

Shen Yu lifted her head and listened to his solemn words. “He will never be disappointed in you. You are his pride, and mine too.”