Chapter Nine: Coma

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Shen San escorted Shen Qiuning back to the residence. After the physician took the medicine, Mingyue treated Shen Qiuning’s wound and bandaged it. The stab had nearly pierced through Shen Qiuning’s shoulder. When Shen Qiuning regained consciousness, she heard someone softly sobbing. Turning around, she saw Mingyue tidying up while crying; the gauze was stained with blood in several places. Seeing Shen Qiuning awake, Mingyue hurriedly set down what she was holding.

“Miss, are you feeling better? You were unconscious for a whole day and night,” Mingyue said, tears still fresh on her cheeks.

Shen Qiuning looked at Mingyue and gently pinched her face. “I’m fine. See, I’m already awake.”

Mingyue, seeing how weak Shen Qiuning looked, cried even harder. “Miss, you never heed danger. If anything happened to you, how could I carry on?”

Watching her young maid’s tears, Shen Qiuning couldn’t help but smile wryly. Suddenly, a thought struck her.

“Mingyue, where was General Gu yesterday?” Shen Qiuning vaguely recalled seeing Gu Yan before she passed out but wasn’t quite sure.

“General Gu went to the Zhao Mansion to capture someone yesterday, but he was struck by an arrow in the shoulder. I heard the arrow was poisoned and nearly hit his heart. He hasn’t woken up yet,” Mingyue replied as she fed Shen Qiuning some water.

Zhao Mansion? Shot by an arrow? Gu Yan wasn’t impulsive—why would he suddenly go to the Zhao Mansion to capture someone? Shen Qiuning resolved to ask him in person once he woke.

“General Shen was almost injured yesterday too,” Mingyue continued recounting what had happened while Shen Qiuning was unconscious.

“My father? What happened to him?” Shen Qiuning listened attentively as one event followed another.

“Yes, General Shen was originally going to find you, but on the way, someone reported trouble at the porridge distribution point. General Shen went back to handle it, but the troublemaker turned out to be a spy intending to assassinate General Shen on the road. Fortunately, General Shen reacted quickly and dealt with the threat,” Mingyue said, recalling the fear she felt. The series of incidents had kept the military physicians running endlessly.

After hearing the full story, Shen Qiuning understood: Zhao Xingzhou wanted everyone dead, attacking separately to overwhelm their resources. It was indeed a well-laid trap.

“Where is Zhao Xingzhou being held?” Shen Qiuning asked.

Mingyue shook her head. “I don’t know, but General Shen probably does.”

Shen Qiuning lifted the blanket, intending to go look for Shen Mu Nian, but Mingyue quickly pressed her down. “Miss, you just woke up. Rest first, or the wound might reopen.”

“It’s alright. I just want to see Father. It won’t take long. I’ll be back soon.” Shen Qiuning had a foreboding feeling and insisted on getting up to find Shen Mu Nian.

At that moment, Shen Mu Nian sat in the main hall. Zhao Wan’er knelt at his feet, tears brimming in her eyes as she pleaded on behalf of Zhao Xingzhou.

“General Shen, please show mercy,” Zhao Wan’er sobbed, clutching Shen Mu Nian’s robe.

Shen Qiuning entered and saw this scene. The woman on the floor had moist almond-shaped eyes and a single tear trailing down her cheek—truly pitiable at first glance.

Shen Mu Nian, seeing Shen Qiuning injured yet still coming, struggled to stand and hurried to support her.

Sure enough, Zhao Wan’er was about to make a move. Supported by Shen Mu Nian, Shen Qiuning sat aside.

“What is Miss Zhao doing? Does she think pleading means Zhao Xingzhou is innocent?” Shen Qiuning’s face was cold as she looked at Zhao Wan’er.

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“Miss Shen, you misunderstand. I know my brother’s crimes are unforgivable. I only wish to ask General Shen for leniency—to spare my life. I would serve him as a maid or servant,” Zhao Wan’er lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Shen Qiuning’s eyes darted sharply to Shen Mu Nian, her heart suddenly sinking as if plunging into an icy abyss. “Father, you agreed to this?”

Shen Mu Nian frowned and hesitated. “Ning’er, Zhao Xingzhou’s crimes are undeniable, but Miss Zhao is truly innocent. It’s better to find her a safe place.”

Shen Qiuning was stunned. Since when had her father become so confused?

“Zhao Xingzhou’s crimes warrant extermination of his entire clan! It’s a family annihilation! Father, when did you become so muddled?” Shen Qiuning’s voice grew more agitated, and she began to cough violently.

A flicker of hatred crossed Zhao Wan’er’s eyes looking at Shen Qiuning.

Suddenly, Shen Qiuning understood. Her mother could not tolerate even a speck of dirt in her sight. This woman was so scheming; if she was allowed into the Shen household, the one in danger would be Cui Wanyun! The note said there was a threat to life but didn’t specify who—now everything made sense.

Enduring the pain, Shen Qiuning stood. “Father, you should rest now. Let me have a word with Miss Zhao.”

Shen Mu Nian looked at Shen Qiuning with concern, but she shook her head slightly to indicate she was fine.

Seeing Shen Qiuning’s insistence, Shen Mu Nian said no more.

After Shen Mu Nian left, Shen Qiuning sat in the high seat while Zhao Wan’er stood, unwilling to kneel before a mere maid.

Shen Qiuning stared coldly at Zhao Wan’er. Once her father left, she had no desire to pretend anymore.

“Why aren’t you kneeling? I am the general’s legitimate daughter. You are a dying woman; kneeling to me is not too much to ask. Miss Zhao, kindly continue kneeling,” Shen Qiuning said slowly, her voice solemn and icy, devoid of emotion.

Zhao Wan’er’s heart trembled, momentarily cowed by Shen Qiuning’s aura. Reluctantly, she knelt. “Miss Shen, do you have instructions?”

“Miss Zhao, you have quite the tactics. To enter the Shen household, you even resort to such vile methods!” Shen Qiuning’s tone carried a hint of reprimand.

“What are you talking about, Miss Shen? I truly don’t understand,” Zhao Wan’er feigned ignorance.

Shen Qiuning picked up a piece of incense nearby and slammed it on the floor by Zhao Wan’er’s feet. “This is peace incense. It helps sleep when used at bedtime but disrupts the mind when awake. And you still claim ignorance!”

Zhao Wan’er’s heart sank. How did Shen Qiuning discover this?

From the moment she entered, Shen Qiuning had sensed something off, feeling dizzy. The pain from her wound had kept her conscious and prevented the poison from taking hold.

Zhao Wan’er tried to argue, but Mingyue entered. “Miss, we found the remaining peace incense in Miss Zhao’s room.”

“Do you have anything else to say?” Shen Qiuning bit back the pain from her wound and stared at Zhao Wan’er.

“Guards, lock Miss Zhao in her room and assign someone to watch her. She must not leave her chamber.” With that, Mingyue helped Shen Qiuning out of the main hall.

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Zhao Wan’er collapsed onto the floor, mumbling, “No, no, that’s not true. I destroyed all the leftover incense.”

She stood abruptly and tried to rush at Shen Qiuning. “Shen Qiuning, you’re deceiving me! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

But she was restrained and escorted back to her room.

Back in her chamber, Mingyue helped Shen Qiuning onto the bed. Her lips were pale, and a fine sweat covered her forehead. The wound had been pulled, and blood was seeping through her clothes.

Yet Shen Qiuning felt only relief—thankful she had woken early to thwart Zhao Wan’er’s scheme.

Mingyue brought water and fresh gauze to redress the wound.

“Miss, can you please take better care of your body?” Mingyue’s concern was palpable; she wished the injury were hers.

Shen Qiuning smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

Mingyue curled her lips, not believing a word.

“But how did you know Zhao Wan’er was involved?” Mingyue asked. She had seen nothing during her daily duties, and now Miss had been unconscious for an entire day and night only to rise and seek out the general.

Shen Qiuning wasn’t sure either—it was just a feeling. Both she and Gu Yan were gravely injured and unconscious; this was the perfect moment for someone to exploit the situation.

Now that Zhao Wan’er’s matter was settled, Shen Qiuning wondered about Gu Yan—had he woken? There was still no news on Zhao Xingzhou’s side. She only hoped Gu Yan would awaken soon.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Mingyue rose and opened it to find A Xiao, one of Gu Yan’s subordinates.

“This is what our general instructed to be given to Miss Shen once she woke,” A Xiao said, handing over a box.

Hearing A Xiao, Shen Qiuning called through the screen, “Please tell me, how is General Gu? Has he woken?”

“Miss Shen, he’s still unconscious, but the poison has been neutralized. I must continue to watch over the general, so I’ll take my leave,” A Xiao replied and left.

Mingyue handed the box to Shen Qiuning. Inside were several silver needles. Shen Qiuning had just used the last silver needle hidden in her hairpin. How did Gu Yan know? And why had he sent more?

Shen Qiuning thought for a moment and dipped the silver needles in poison before loading them.

Yesterday, Gu Yan had seen the jade hairpin in Shen Qiuning’s hand from across the river. He guessed she had used it to kill those men and thus sent A Xiao to deliver silver needles. Since Gu Yan himself was gravely wounded and uncertain how strong the poison was or if the military physicians could neutralize it, it was wise for Shen Qiuning to be armed with hidden weapons.