“Though my sister and I may not be virtuous people, we don’t burn bridges after crossing them. Those who show us kindness will receive our eternal gratitude. However…”

In the darkness, Shen Yun’an’s eyes seemed infused with the cold light of the moon: “Those who make enemies of us will weep blood with swords at their pillows!”

Those words seemed to transform into a three-foot sword, making Yu Xiang, who met Shen Yun’an’s deep, sharp gaze, instinctively tense his spine, feeling a bone-chilling sensation as if being watched by something extremely dangerous.

This was both a promise and a warning!

A promise to Yu Xiang that the Shen siblings wouldn’t set him up as the final scapegoat.

A warning to Yu Xiang that he had no choice – trusting Shen Yun’an might give him a glimmer of hope for survival, while not trusting him meant seeing if the Yu family could escape Shen Xihe’s targeting!

Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiang said in a deep voice: “I hope Young Master remembers today’s promise!”

Shen Yun’an withdrew his imposing manner, becoming casual again: “General Yu can rest assured. To facilitate message delivery to you, I’ll assign someone to you.”

With these words, Shen Yun’an clapped his hands twice, and a black shadow darted out, saluting Shen Yun’an with clasped hands, then standing silently to one side.

“General Yu, rest assured, this subordinate of mine is both deaf and mute, and cannot read or write. Having him by your side won’t risk leaking military intelligence – he’ll only be used for delivering messages.” Shen Yun’an explained truthfully, though whether Yu Xiang believed him or not didn’t matter to him.

Yu Xiang looked at the plain-faced person with half belief and half doubt but didn’t show it. He gave Shen Yun’an a slight ceremonial bow and left without a word.

Shen Yun’an’s man, catching his eye signal, followed Yu Xiang like a ghost, without making a sound.

After watching them disappear, Shen Yun’an turned and headed in the opposite direction.

In the quiet wooden cabin, Qi Pei had prepared food, and seeing Shen Yun’an’s light steps, smiled faintly: “It’s still warm, Young Master, please eat.”

Shen Yun’an didn’t stand at the ceremony. He washed his hands, strode over to sit down, picked up his chopsticks, and while eating said: “You deliberately waited for me, wanting to know if my mission was successful?”

“I did deliberately wait for Young Master, but I believed you would certainly succeed,” Qi Pei said with a smile.

Shen Yun’an glanced at Qi Pei, then began rapidly eating his rice. Having grown up in military camps, Shen Yun’an ate without any trace of proper etiquette. When he was halfway through, Qu Hongying arrived carrying soup.

Shen Yun’an’s whereabouts couldn’t be known to too many people. Besides Qi Pei and Qu Hongying, no one had seen him, and now Yu Xiang was added to that number.

“Did Young Master convince him?” Qi Pei wasn’t curious, but Qu Hongying was. She couldn’t wait to ask after Shen Yun’an had finished eating and drinking.

After drinking a cup of warm water and finding a comfortable sitting position, Shen Yun’an said: “His Majesty’s confidant isn’t so easily turned. Today when I met with him…”

Shen Yun’an didn’t hide anything about his meeting with Yu Xiang, telling them everything in detail.

Qi Pei listened thoughtfully, while Qu Hongying furrowed her brows: “Young Master means this Yu fellow only pretended to be forced into agreeing to conspire with you but harbors ulterior motives, ready to play both sides at any moment?”

With a smile playing on his lips, Shen Yun’an nodded slightly: “The Crown Princess said, if Yu Xiang sought us out and straightforwardly agreed to help, it would mean his daughter truly convinced him and he sincerely wanted to work with us.

If he first showed extreme anger, then agreed only after a struggle, he must have come with deceptive intent, merely putting on an act thinking himself clever.

If he refused to yield at all and brought hidden reinforcements to follow, it would mean his loyalty was unshakeable.”

“What does this mean?” Qu Hongying didn’t quite understand.

Qi Pei looked at her tenderly: “If he agreed directly, it would show he had thought everything through and made his decision. He’s a clever person – if he had ulterior motives, he would overthink, believing that if he agreed too readily, Young Master wouldn’t trust him.

To gain Young Master’s trust, he would resist, struggle, and finally reluctantly compromise.”

“That’s exactly right,” Shen Yun’an nodded.

If one truly wanted to switch sides, one would be extremely frank with Shen Yun’an, not worried that immediate agreement would raise suspicion.

“In that case, does Young Master still want to turn him?” Qu Hongying couldn’t help but ask.

“He will,” Shen Yun’an said with absolute certainty.

As Qu Hongying was about to ask more, Qi Pei took her hand, and they both fell silent.

Shen Yun’an rose to write a reply letter to Shen Xihe.

Several years ago, Xiao Huayong had given Shen Yueshan the method of training hawks, making messenger hawks both swift and secure.

Early the next morning, just as Shen Xihe finished her morning meal, she received Shen Yun’an’s letter. After reading it, she smiled slightly, just as Xiao Huayong returned from morning court: “Youyou seem in excellent spirits today, what happy news is there?”

“The fish took the bait,” Shen Xihe handed Shen Yun’an’s letter to Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong glanced at it briefly: “Is Youyou planning to let Yu Xiang’s cleverness be his undoing?”

Giving Xiao Huayong a sidelong glance, Shen Xihe took back the letter. While standing up to fold it carefully and return it to its envelope, she took out a box, opened its delicate small lock, and placed the envelope inside: “Yu Xiang is just a small fish.”

“And the big fish is?” Xiao Huayong raised his eyebrows.

After locking the box and carefully putting it back in its place, Shen Xihe smiled slightly at him, her smile showing understanding: “Do you need to ask?”

Naturally, it was Prince Jing Xiao Changyan, whom he had forced to go to the Min River!

“Youyou’s thoughts are unfathomable, how could I not need to ask?” Xiao Huayong said, then couldn’t help asking, “There are quite a few envelopes in that box.”

He had noticed with a glance that there were roughly several dozen.

“They’re all letters exchanged between my brother and me,” Shen Xihe said, her expression softening somewhat at the mention.

She had a habit of collecting all letters exchanged with important people, though naturally these letters were written in obscure language, especially those between her and Shen Yun’an, which contained codes that others couldn’t understand. She wasn’t worried about them falling into others’ hands and becoming evidence against them.

Of course, she was confident no one could steal her things – these boxes all contained hidden deadly traps. If opened incorrectly, secret compartments would spring open, and even a tiny amount of the poison powder inside, if inhaled, would be fatal!

“Youyou treasure and carefully store letters from her brother, showing how much you value him,” Xiao Huayong asked quietly. “I wonder if I’m fortunate enough to have Youyou prepare a box for me?”

Even before Xiao Huayong mentioned the box in his sour tone, Shen Xihe had guessed he would bring this up. Though it was as expected, she still couldn’t help but smile, lifting an identical box with different carved patterns from beside her and opening it in front of Xiao Huayong: “It’s right here.”

Not all the letters were there – some had been burned, though most were kept. Xiao Huayong didn’t pay attention to the thickness of the letters, instead being drawn to some strands of hair tied with red thread at the side. He couldn’t help but take them out: “So it turns out I’ve sent Youyou so many locks of hair.”