The storm over the conflict between the Ministry of War and the Imperial Guard had not yet subsided when, in the blink of an eye, Xingfu—the once all-powerful Directorate of Ceremonial seal-holding Grand Eunuch—met with the fate of having his household raided. This truly provided endless topics of conversation for the streets and alleyways.

However, the homes of several Cabinet Elders that had previously been thronged with visitors suddenly became so deserted that birds could nest at their gates—visiting at this time would make anyone think you had something suspicious about you and were going to beg for mercy and curry favor. With the current atmosphere of fear and alarm, when the Imperial Guard was going around raiding households everywhere, no one wanted to invite trouble upon themselves.

He Shi was as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle, so worried and distressed she didn’t know what to do. Yet she didn’t dare risk angering her husband by going out to gather information, and could only stay home fretting anxiously.

Just then, Tian Yuan’s wife came with the authority token to collect silver for making autumn clothes for the maids. She couldn’t help but think of how Shen Xiaohai had frequently sent Tian Yuan out recently. She detained Tian Yuan’s wife in her room and looked at her with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes: “Why is it that this year for making autumn clothes, you’re asking for a hundred and twenty taels of silver right off? In previous years, even for making winter clothes, we never needed this much silver.”

To be honest, she looked at Tian Yuan’s wife with nothing but displeasure. This was because when she was young, this woman had been a senior maid by Shen Xiaohai’s side and had clearly been taken as a concubine. After He Shi married in, she had released her to become a stewardess mama, yet Shen Xiaohai still disregarded reputation and repeatedly rewarded her with fabrics and jewelry, having some ongoing affair with her. Tian Yuan’s wife gradually became arrogant, normally impossible to order around in any matter. Moreover, she deeply understood Shen Xiaohai’s temperament—whenever He Shi made any move, she would rush to Shen Xiaohai crying about injustice. He Shi, with her fearful nature toward her husband, had thus been unable to do anything about her all these years.

Now when questioned, Tian Yuan’s wife was not very afraid. Her face, still possessing lingering charm, broke into a smile as she raised her hand adorned with tinkling jade bracelets to cover her crimson mouth and giggled: “Madam must have forgotten—this year, eldest young miss is getting married. The senior and junior maids in her quarters add up to more than a dozen people in total. Each one needs several sets of new clothes. This concerns the young miss’s reputation—we cannot skimp on this.”

He Shi was rendered speechless by this retort. After a long while, she uncomfortably lowered her head and coughed: “Even so, you don’t need this much. Make me a detailed list first, check it carefully, then come collect the silver.”

Tian Yuan’s wife pursed her lips in a smile, crisply replied yes, got up to leave, but was called back by He Shi.

“These past few days, Tian Yuan has been going out constantly. Has he heard any news? Didn’t he go to maternal uncle’s house before? Did uncle send back any message?”

Tian Yuan’s wife widened her eyes, showing some surprise, and shook her head blankly: “He’s hardly been home these days. When he does come back, he goes to the heir’s study. Besides, men’s affairs—how would he let me know about them? Madam, if you want to ask about something, why not ask the heir directly?”

Although Tian Yuan’s wife was nominally Tian Yuan’s wife, everyone in this manor knew she was Shen Xiaohai’s woman. Whenever Tian Yuan had matters to attend to, he always discussed them with her…

He Shi rubbed her head, feeling rather irritated. Just as she was about to lose her temper, she saw Chunmei enter with a deathly pale face. It was already a sensitive time, and Chunmei’s appearance made He Shi’s heart skip a beat. Pointing at her, she demanded: “What matter has you in such a panic?!”

“Madam! Maternal Uncle’s household was surrounded by the Imperial Guard today!” Chunmei tried her utmost to maintain composure, but her lips couldn’t help trembling violently: “Maternal Aunt sent someone to bring the young cousins over. Right now they’re at the west corner gate. The young male cousin and several young female cousins are all crying terribly.”

Now even Tian Yuan’s wife couldn’t help but be shocked as if seeing a ghost, stammering: “But Maternal Uncle’s household was perfectly fine…”

“You may leave!” He Shi immediately stood up, then instructed Chunmei: “Quick, come with me to the study.”

This matter had actually implicated people so widely that even Shen Xiaohai’s maternal family was involved. Her mind was in complete turmoil, unable to make any decisions. She hurried to the front courtyard study and frantically told Shen Xiaohai this news.

Shen Xiaohai clearly hadn’t expected that even his mother’s maternal family would be implicated. For once, he lost his imposing manner before He Shi. He exclaimed in shock: “What?!” and collapsed into his chair, gripping its arms for support.

Back when circumstances were favorable, when he conducted smuggling business, he had often partnered with maternal uncle. After all, it was his mother’s natal family—though they were merely external relatives, they had substantial wealth.

Now maternal uncle’s household had been raided, so the next one…

He simply didn’t dare continue thinking. Clenching his fists, he felt somewhat panicked—Duke Yingguo’s manor had gotten thoroughly bloodied in Duke Chengguo’s affair back then. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been unable to rise again all these years. Now to be connected with Xingfu again—they truly would never be able to rise again.

“Quick, summon Tian Yuan!” He touched his somewhat feverish forehead, feeling that everything was thorny. Moreover, only when these matters came to a head did he realize he didn’t have a single reliable backer to lean on.

He looked at He Shi standing there foolishly, not knowing what to do, and shouted impatiently: “What are you standing guard over me for?! There are more than ten families in the capital connected to Xingfu. Are they all going to have their households raided and clans exterminated?! Don’t scare yourself to death. Quickly bring the children in…”

He Shi responded in panicked confusion, just in time to see Shen Qingrang burst in without warning.

“Father! Mother!” He stood unsteadily, gasping for breath, and asked: “What’s this I hear about cousins coming?”

Shen Xiaohai was in the midst of vexation. Hearing him clamor only made him more annoyed: “You’re just a child—mind your own business and leave other matters alone! Go summon your elder brother!”

When major matters arose, the older eldest son could speak more authoritatively, and having already reached adulthood, he could also go out and move about.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingrang sensed his father’s mood was wrong and didn’t dare argue further. He agreed and ran out the door at top speed. He Shi couldn’t even catch him to stop him, and could only sigh and lead Chunmei toward the west corner gate.

However, her heart was still pounding terribly. She quietly instructed Chunmei: “Later, go to Tian Yuan’s place to feel out the situation. See what the heir had him and the eldest young master do.”

Shen Xiaohai never explained anything clearly to her. She was truly frightened to death.

Chunmei acknowledged, then saw Chunying also hurrying over at a trot: “Madam, Old Madam’s side heard rumors and sent someone to ask what exactly has happened.”

He Shi felt somewhat resentful in her heart, as if she were the only one in this household who deserved to be frightened out of her wits. She snorted resentfully: “Just tell her that Maternal Uncle’s household was surrounded by the Imperial Guard, and Maternal Aunt sent the grandchildren over to seek refuge!”