Chapter Seven: Blushing

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The pitch-black night carried a chill, the streets and alleys sparsely populated. Shen Qiuning’s window was suddenly tapped. Gu Yan stood there, dressed entirely in black with intricate dark embroidery, his long hair tied neatly.

Shen Qiuning looked at him, amused by his flamboyant appearance, and silently mocked him in her heart.

Gu Yan’s gaze drifted to the jade hairpin in Shen Qiuning’s hair, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth, quietly pleased.

He leapt through the window, swiftly helping her vault over the high wall. Shen Qiuning was also clad in form-fitting black attire. Together, they headed toward Zhao Xingzhou’s true residence.

“Hey, wasn’t it said there would be ambushes from all directions? How did we get out so smoothly?” Shen Qiuning found it hard to believe Zhao Xingzhou was foolish enough to station guards only in the front yard.

Gu Yan’s expression remained calm as he replied, “Kill them.”

... Shen Qiuning was speechless.

After a moment of silence, she muttered quietly to herself, “Hmph, if you’re that great, why not just kill them all?”

“What did you say?” Gu Yan only caught her murmuring some unintelligible words.

“Nothing... just praising you.”

They arrived.

Gu Yan led Shen Qiuning through a secret passage that led directly to Zhao Xingzhou’s study.

Shen Qiuning stared at him in shock, lowering her voice, “You knew this all along?”

He turned his head lightly, humming lazily, “What, Shen San didn’t find out?”

Shen Qiuning’s expression shifted briefly before returning to normal, though her voice was tinged with anger, “Gu Yan, you’re investigating me?”

“Shh, someone’s coming.” Gu Yan covered her mouth, pulling her behind a folding screen by the wall. Their bodies pressed close, the only sound their breathing.

It was Zhao Xingzhou. So late, what was he doing in his study? A woman’s coquettish voice broke the silence: “Oh, not here! If anyone finds out, how could I face anyone?”

The tone was unbearably flirtatious. Shen Qiuning’s face flushed, especially since their bodies were pressed closely. When she looked up, her eyes met Gu Yan’s.

Seeing Shen Qiuning’s reddened face, Gu Yan’s lips twitched into a half-smile.

Shen Qiuning, irritated, thought: he comes at the worst time, just when Zhao Xingzhou is engaged in this sordid affair. Angry, she stomped hard on his foot.

“Shen Qiuning, don’t move,” Gu Yan groaned hoarsely.

Her body froze instantly.

Fortunately, Zhao Xingzhou had not yet reached the final step.

Shen Qiuning stepped out from behind the screen, shook her arm, and exhaled deeply, “Finally gone. Zhao Xingzhou is truly shameless.”

Gu Yan lit a fire stick and began searching. Shen Qiuning glanced at the study’s layout. Usually, there would be a secret door in the study, and important items would be hidden in a secret chamber.

She looked disdainfully at Gu Yan rummaging through things, then turned to observe the vases on the cabinet, trying to twist each one. Hm... none revealed a secret door.

Perplexed, Shen Qiuning leaned against the desk, pondering. Suddenly, she felt her hand touch something icy cold. Bringing the fire stick closer, she saw a dragon-shaped ornament.

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Dragons were reserved only for the emperor, yet Zhao Xingzhou openly placed one on his desk. Shen Qiuning gasped inwardly, trying to lift it but found it stuck. She moved the fire stick closer for a better look.

She noticed gaps around the ornament and guessed it could be pressed. Just as she reached to press it, a pair of bony fingers covered the ornament first. The hand lingered on Gu Yan’s hand that was just about to press.

Shen Qiuning instantly withdrew her hand. With a click, the ornament was pressed down, and the cabinet holding the vases began to rotate—just as she had guessed.

They entered, expecting to find ledgers or treasures, but instead encountered a series of cages holding numerous displaced commoners. The secret chamber was as large as the entire residence; the entire underground area was filled with these captives.

Shen Qiuning was stunned. No wonder she hadn’t seen a single displaced person upon entering the city—they had been locked up in advance.

Zhao Xingzhou was truly heartless.

The displaced reached out their hands from the cages, pleading for help.

Gu Yan drew his sword and began cutting the locks one by one, guiding them out through the secret passage.

The mass escape alarmed the residence’s guards. Zhao Xingzhou rushed over with reinforcements. The two hurried to free the displaced faster. Once all were freed, Gu Yan grabbed Shen Qiuning and fled the secret chamber. The study was already surrounded by guards, led by Zhao Xingzhou.

“General Gu, Miss Shen? Such a late visit to my humble residence—what is the purpose?” Zhao Xingzhou’s lips curled into a fake smile.

Gu Yan produced a list. “Prefect Zhao, open your eyes and see what this is.”

Seeing the paper in Gu Yan’s hand, Zhao Xingzhou’s legs weakened momentarily. Straightening up quickly, he tried to snatch it.

Shen Qiuning seized the moment, tripped him with her foot, and Zhao Xingzhou fell to the ground.

Shen Qiuning pulled Gu Yan up and prepared to run.

Zhao Xingzhou shouted from the ground, “Seize them! Leave no survivors!”

The guards closed in again, encircling the two in the courtyard.

Shen Qiuning drew her whip and exchanged a glance with Gu Yan. They advanced simultaneously.

Gu Yan swung his long sword, slicing the air with a sharp whoosh.

Whip shadows crisscrossed as Shen Qiuning wielded her supple whip nimbly, its movements like a living serpent, keeping enemies at bay.

Yet, despite their skill, they were still outnumbered.

“Shen San!”

A dark figure appeared beside them. Gu Yan’s aide, Axiao, joined the fray. With their help, a path was quickly carved through the bloodied crowd.

Once outside, the four were unscathed. Zhao Xingzhou’s men had numbers but were truly incompetent.

Shen Qiuning hadn’t expected Gu Yan to find something in the study.

“What did you find that made Zhao Xingzhou so agitated?”

Gu Yan waved the paper. “Oh, that? It’s nothing—a random list I wrote to bluff him. Who knew he was so stupid he’d admit to it without looking carefully? Looks like he’s hiding something.”

... A moment of silence followed. Though the tactic wasn’t noble, it was effective.

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Back at their residence, the four slipped in through the back courtyard.

Shen Qiuning brewed some tea she brought along. Just as it was ready, there was a knock at the window. No need to guess who it was. Without a glance, Shen Qiuning opened the window and turned back to her seat.

Pouring herself some tea, Gu Yan sat beside her. “Miss Shen, brewing tea again waiting for me?”

Shen Qiuning rolled her eyes and took a sip, showing no intention of pouring him any.

Gu Yan poured himself a cup from the pot.

“Zhao Xingzhou discovered us tonight. He will act tomorrow.” Gu Yan pushed a delicate wooden box toward Shen Qiuning.

Opening it, she found a pair of jade bracelets, exquisitely carved, likely the work of the master jade artisan Cheng Yu.

“Shen Qiuning, I’ve had these made for you. You depart for the capital tonight. It’s best you stay out of what follows—it won’t do you any good.” Zhao Xingzhou’s affairs were far from settled, and Gu Yan didn’t want Shen Qiuning to know too much. The more she knew, the faster her head might roll.

Shen Qiuning found his words laughable. “General Gu, as I said, we have nothing to discuss beyond our alliance. Don’t impose your stance on me. Since the emperor intends to dismantle the great families, targeting the empress’s cousin, Zhao Xingzhou, is undoubtedly the best choice.”

“I know no less than you. Whether we ally means little to me. I just don’t want the day to come when we stand opposed.”

Gu Yan’s breath caught. How did she know? What role was the Shen family planning? It seemed he was trying to see through her.

“Shen Qiuning, do you know what you’re implying about the emperor’s will?” Gu Yan’s gaze fixed on her as he spoke softly.

Shen Qiuning remained silent, took the box, and stood. “General Gu, I accept the bracelets. We will meet again tomorrow.”

Gu Yan intended to say more but swallowed the words.

Back inside, Gu Yan pondered what Shen Qiuning knew—and how much Shen Muyan knew. If Shen Muyan knew anything, spies within the army surely wouldn’t have missed it.

So, Shen Qiuning was even keeping secrets from Shen Muyan.

Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence, someone had not slept all night.

What Gu Yan held implicated many. If the emperor learned of it, the Zhao family would have no way out.

No, Gu Yan and Shen Qiuning could not be spared. Zhao Xingzhou was shaken by his own thoughts.

Gu Yan, son of Gu Wenting, was already a general commanding all directions at a young age. Shen Qiuning was the eldest daughter of the empire’s top general. Either one alone was a formidable figure no one dared provoke.

But now, desperate times called for desperate measures. If death was inevitable, it could not be waiting to die within the residence.

That night, each concealed their own schemes.

Tomorrow, Yizhou City’s fate would be overturned.