Wang Yueniang decided to strike at the root of the problem by targeting the younger generation of the Shen family. Everyone considered Shen Yu as the pillar of this generation, so Wang Yueniang planned to have Ji Cheng drug Shen Yu and lure him to a location she specified. The idea was to entice Shen Yu into attempting to violate her, ensuring that Emperor Jianping would catch them in the act.
Even Shen Yu couldn’t withstand the Emperor’s wrath. With such a crime, the Shen family wouldn’t be able to protect him even if they wanted to. Even if Shen Yu managed to keep his life, his future would be ruined.
In truth, Wang Yueniang had always believed that Shen Yu was behind what the Shen family did to her back then, which was why she despised him so much.
Although this plan was full of holes, Ji Cheng knew she had no way of getting close to Shen Yu or luring him anywhere. Shen Yu hardly spoke to her on normal days, and no one could get close to him. Moreover, for Hong’er’s sake, Ji Cheng couldn’t harm Shen Yu.
However, Ji Cheng couldn’t refuse Wang Yueniang outright. Since Wang Yueniang was digging her own grave, Ji Cheng decided to help her along. With Shen Che being inactive, Ji Cheng had been worrying about how to bring down Wang Yueniang to eliminate future troubles. Just as she was at a loss, Wang Yueniang handed her the perfect opportunity.
Ji Cheng stammered, “Your Highness, this commoner can’t get close to the Eldest Young Master. Even at home, he barely speaks a word to any of the sisters, not even to Sister Yan. There’s no way to drug or trick him.”
Wang Yueniang trembled with anger. “Fool. I don’t care, figure it out yourself, or I’ll kill you right now.”
Ji Cheng fell to her knees with a thud, crying, “This commoner truly can’t accomplish this task. Please spare my life, Your Highness.”
Ji Cheng knocked her forehead until it bled, and only then did Wang Yueniang speak, “Then what do you suggest?”
Ji Cheng said, “I really can’t get close to the Eldest Young Master, but perhaps there’s a way with the Second Young Master. The Old Madam at home dotes on him the most, and Princess An’he only has this one legitimate son. If he were ruined, the main branch of the Shen family would be cut off at the root.”
“You mean Shen Che?” Wang Yueniang asked hesitantly.
Ji Cheng nodded. She particularly hoped Wang Yueniang’s scheme would succeed, as it would eliminate both Wang Yueniang and Shen Che in one fell swoop. Only then would the sky above Ji Cheng’s head truly clear up. Otherwise, Ji Cheng wouldn’t have tentatively thrown out Shen Che as bait.
“Your Highness, moreover, everyone in the court knows the Eldest Young Master’s character. He normally disdains even speaking to women. After the First Madam passed away, he didn’t remarry and only kept one concubine. If someone like him were accused of violating someone, many wouldn’t believe it. If the Shen family were to turn the tables, Your Highness would be in danger,” Ji Cheng said. She had heard Shen Qin’s story and knew Wang Yueniang’s rise to power wasn’t through honorable means. Moreover, the Shen family held evidence against Wang Yueniang. If they couldn’t take down Shen Yu in one bite, Wang Yueniang would be the one to fall.
Wang Yueniang wasn’t a fool. Hearing Ji Cheng’s analysis, she understood. Now she believed Ji Cheng was truly helping her. But Shen Che…
Thinking of Shen Che, Wang Yueniang couldn’t help but feel resentful. Did he know about his brother’s despicable methods to harm her back then? Did he try to stop it? The more Wang Yueniang thought about it, the more she hated him. But she didn’t dare to think that it might have been Shen Che who did it.
“Your Highness, if we changed the target to the Second Young Master, it would be different. He has quite a reputation outside. If something were to happen, no one would suspect Your Highness. Even if the Shen family tried to blame Your Highness, you could say they were falsely accusing you of saving Shen Che. At that time, the Shen family might even suffer consequences,” Ji Cheng said, truly considering Wang Yueniang’s interests.
Wang Yueniang nodded, knowing Ji Cheng’s words made sense. However, she couldn’t make up her mind yet. After all, it was the person she had been longing for. If she were to harm him, she would feel bad too.
At this point, Wang Yueniang was treating Ji Cheng like a mastermind. “Then tell me, if I want to deal with my Fourth Sister, what should I do? Should I also send her to Tianxiang Tower to try?”
Wang Yueniang’s face immediately turned as dark as if it had been smeared with ink.
Ji Cheng wanted to hold her head in her hands. Why did the Wang sisters’ methods of harming others always revolve around ruining someone’s reputation? As if losing one’s chastity meant the sky would fall.
To be honest, if Ji Cheng were in Wang Yueniang’s place, she wouldn’t have chosen to enter the palace to serve Emperor Jianping. A life ruined by hatred, with no hope for the future. Unless Wang Yueniang could bear a child and then get rid of those above her, that would be extremely difficult.
“Your Highness, if that incident were to happen, the Wang family might never help Your Highness again. Then Your Highness would find it very difficult in the palace. Since Your Highness hasn’t been able to conceive a royal child yet, it might not be wise to take such a step rashly,” Ji Cheng said.
“Oh. Then what method do you think could make my dear sister suffer for life? Killing her would be too easy on her,” Wang Yueniang said hatefully.
Ji Cheng couldn’t answer this question. Who knew if the Wang sisters had fallen out or if there was another plot? Besides, they were sisters who had grown up together for over a decade. Their bond couldn’t be severed so easily. If Wang Yueniang were to remember her sister’s kindness in the future, Ji Cheng would be in trouble.
Although Wang Yueniang had no future to speak of, the cautious and calculating Ji Cheng refused to say a word more.
“I don’t know,” Ji Cheng shook her head, looking down.
Wang Yueniang sneered, “What? Don’t you hate my Fourth Sister? Don’t you want revenge?”
Ji Cheng looked up timidly at Wang Yueniang and sighed, “What kind of person am I? Even if I have grievances, I can only swallow them. I never dared to imagine I could seek revenge. I just never thought the Shen family would…”
Perhaps Wang Yueniang had always looked down on merchants, thinking they had no bloodthirst, only interests. So when Ji Cheng spoke like this, she found it quite normal. She didn’t expect Ji Cheng to come up with any ideas. But she enjoyed toying with this little thing facing death, making her all happy and cheerful, then slowly savoring her terrified face when confronted with death.
“What if I bring my Fourth Sister into the palace to serve as well?” Wang Yueniang said with a smile at the corner of her mouth, but that smile sent chills down one’s spine.
Of course, that wouldn’t do. Did she think Emperor Jianping was a fool, to be so blatant? To take all three Wang sisters into his harem? Just look at how well the Great Qing Dynasty was doing, and you’d know that although Emperor Jianping might be lecherous and fond of beauties, he wasn’t completely muddleheaded.
“What do you think?” Wang Yueniang asked again.
Ji Cheng could only “uncertainly” say, “I’m afraid Consort Shu wouldn’t agree.”
Wang Yueniang let out another cold laugh. Consort Wang Shu only cared about her blood sister, Wang Fourth Miss. She never considered this cousin of hers. “That’s true. Then what if I have the Emperor decree that my Fourth Sister marry my cousin Chen Bin?”
Back then, Wang Fourth Miss had persuaded her father to betroth Wang Yueniang to Chen Bin. Wang Yueniang naturally refused. Although her chastity was ruined, if she were to marry far away, she could still have a life. Who knew Wang Fourth Miss would be so cruel, not even sparing her sister.
Growing up together, the two sisters had affection for each other, but it was also easy for friction to arise. Wang Yueniang had always hated Wang Fourth Miss from the bottom of her heart for always suppressing her. As for Wang Fourth Miss, she had never liked Wang Yueniang, who was always competitive and spoke without thinking, leaving her to clean up the mess every time. In the end, the sisters became worse than enemies.
Now, Wang Yueniang’s suggestion was a taste of her own medicine for Wang Fourth Miss. This was what she was planning in her heart, with the only difficulty being how to get Emperor Jianping to agree and issue the decree. Just thinking about Wang Fourth Miss marrying that cripple Chen Bin made Wang Yueniang happy from the bottom of her heart. Didn’t she want to marry Shen Che? But the Shen family looked down on Wang Fourth Miss. Wasn’t she always high and mighty? Let’s see how high and mighty she’ll be after marrying a cripple.
Ji Cheng guessed Wang Yueniang’s thoughts from her vicious eyes, but unfortunately, Wang Yueniang was too naive. Dealing with Wang Fourth Miss like this would be letting her off too easily.
Although the Chen family wasn’t noble, they weren’t ordinary either. If Chen Bin could marry someone like Wang Fourth Miss, the Chen family would see it as compensation from the Wang family. This way, not only would the Chen family treat Wang Fourth Miss like a goddess, but they would also reunite with the Wang family in heart and mind. As for the “miserable situation” Wang Yueniang imagined, it was impossible to happen.
Even if Chen Bin was crippled, so what? If a woman wanted a man, there were always ways. Jin wasn’t a big place; any news of women or men having affairs would spread quickly. When Ji Cheng was young, she had often heard the maids gossiping about these things behind their backs. Only now did Ji Cheng realize that it was because her mother’s management wasn’t strict enough, causing her, as a young lady, to hear all sorts of things she shouldn’t have. Now she couldn’t even pretend to be a proper lady if she wanted to.
“What do you think? Isn’t my plan brilliant?” Wang Yueniang smiled proudly.
Although the falling out between the Wang family and the Chen family didn’t seem to benefit Ji Cheng at the moment, in her view, anything bad for the Wang family was worth helping with. Who made the Wang sisters so utterly detestable?
“The young master of the Chen family is in such a state now. If he could marry Wang Fourth Miss, it would be like a dream come true. They would surely worship her,” Ji Cheng said.
Hearing this, Wang Yueniang narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t thought that deeply about it. Everyone knew it was Wang Yueniang who had ruined Chen Bin, and Wang Fourth Miss was innocent in everyone’s eyes. If Wang Yueniang were to marry into the Chen family, they would naturally mistreat her, but everything would be different with Wang Fourth Miss.
“You do have some clever ideas,” Wang Yueniang said, indicating she had given up on her previous plan. “Then what do you suggest we do to her? If you can come up with a good idea, I’ll credit you for it. There will be benefits for you in the future.”
Ji Cheng pretended to be delighted and said coyly, “I think we should use what people fear most against them.”
Ji Cheng didn’t spell out any specific strategy. If Wang Yueniang understood, fine; if not, so be it.
Earlier, Ji Cheng had overestimated Wang Yueniang, thinking she had grown more cunning. Only now did she realize that Wang Yueniang was still a brainless tiger. For example, Ji Cheng feared that Wang Yueniang would harm her by making her serve the old emperor in the palace. But now Ji Cheng knew that Wang Yueniang’s behavior was just showing off, thinking that even if Ji Cheng had unparalleled beauty, she couldn’t seduce the old emperor in front of her, Wang Yueniang. Truly, Amitabha Buddha.
Now it seemed that none of Wang Yueniang’s ideas for dealing with Wang Fourth Miss would work. Her earlier attempt to use Ji Cheng to suppress Wang’s Fourth Miss was likely just a temporary notion. However, it was undeniable that Wang Yueniang had figured out a way to deal with her sister. After all, they were sisters who knew each other deeply.
Wang Yueniang didn’t ask Ji Cheng for more details. She never intended to involve Ji Cheng in this matter. She told Ji Cheng about it firstly to test her, and secondly to let this foolish woman have some joy before her death, considering it as helping her get revenge.
Wang Yueniang fell silent for a moment, gazing at the snow-covered peaks in the distance, clean and proud, just like she used to be. But now everything had been ruined. Although she was disgusted inside, she had to serve the old emperor whose skin was so thin it could be lifted like a sheet of paper. All of this was because of those wretches.
Even if there were feelings, it was too late for everything.
Wang Yueniang said, “Do as you said. Drug Shen Che and lure him to…” She lowered her voice to specify the location, then grabbed Ji Cheng’s wrist. “Don’t play any tricks on me. If I find out, not only you but your entire Ji family will be uprooted.”
“I understand, I understand everything,” Ji Cheng said. Her wrist hurt from Wang Yueniang’s nails, and tears easily welled up in her eyes, making her look pitifully frightened.
Wang Yueniang looked at Ji Cheng’s forehead again. It was already bruised purple and the skin had broken, saving her the trouble of further harm. “Get out. If anyone asks about the injury on your forehead, tell them I made you kowtow. They naturally won’t suspect anything between us.”
Wang Yueniang was extremely proud of her scheme. She thought no one would imagine that she could team up with Ji Cheng, as she should hate Ji Cheng to death. Therefore, Wang Yueniang was very pleased with the harmful plan she had devised.
Finally escaping from the venomous Wang Yueniang, Ji Cheng felt a surge of wickedness. She thought people as poisonous and vicious as Wang Yueniang should die and be reincarnated sooner rather than later.
For instance, people like Consort Wang Shu and Wang Fourth Miss at least understood the rules of the game. They knew that when harming others, one must be careful not to implicate oneself. Thus, in many cases, one could counter their moves, and things weren’t beyond salvaging.
But Wang Yueniang was different. This woman was simply mad, brutally direct. At this moment, if she wanted to take Ji Cheng’s life, Ji Cheng wouldn’t be able to resist. So compared to Wang Fourth Miss and the others, Ji Cheng was more afraid of novices like Wang Yueniang who could defeat experts with wild, unpredictable moves.
If Wang Yueniang had even a bit of intelligence and could make Ji Cheng believe in her abilities, Ji Cheng would truly be willing to help her bring down Shen Che. But with Wang Yueniang being so stupid, how could Ji Cheng dare to bet on her? She would have to ingratiate herself with Shen Che and show her loyalty.
When Ji Cheng returned to the tent, the sun was almost setting. Seeing her return unharmed, Shen Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, it’s just a small wound on the forehead. She didn’t give you any other trouble, did she?”
Ji Cheng shook her head.
Seeing Ji Cheng lost in thought, Shen Yan knew she must be feeling unwell inside. She instructed the maid to help Ji Cheng change her clothes first.
At this moment, Shen Cui and Shen Qin also received the news and came into the tent together. “Is Sister Cheng back?”
Shen Yan glanced behind the screen, “She’s changing clothes.”
When Ji Cheng came out, Shen Cui immediately noticed the wound on her forehead and cried out, “Wang Yueniang is bullying people too much! Sister Cheng was originally sick and didn’t come, but she had someone drag her here just to torment her. She intends to kill us all! What should we do? What should we do?”
Shen Cui paced back and forth, angry and anxious, but couldn’t think of a solution.
Shen Qin, pale-faced, said, “I’ll go tell my Second Brother. He’ll surely think of a way.”
Hearing this, Shen Yan nodded, “I’ll also inform Big Brother. Ah Qin, you should also tell the Princess.”
Shen Qin said, “I understand.”
Shen Yan pulled Shen Cui to sit on a chair. “Sit down. It’s not such a big deal, why are you pacing around? We may be inexperienced, but the people in the Shen family aren’t dead. Wang Yueniang is just a small consort, she can’t cause big waves. She can only make small troubles. You just need to avoid her a bit.”
Shen Cui said angrily, “Sister Yan, can’t we go to the Emperor and report that Wang Yueniang had lost her chastity long ago? Let’s see if the Emperor will still protect her.”
Shen Yan sighed and shook her head, “You have no evidence. How can you accuse her? Besides, since Wang Yueniang entered the palace, she must have cleaned up her tracks. If you go and accuse her, be careful she doesn’t turn the tables on you. This matter can’t be rushed. We can only plan slowly.”
Shen Cui stomped her foot in anger, shook off Shen Yan’s hand, and ran out of the tent in a huff.
Shen Yan watched her leave with concern. “This Ah Cui, still running around everywhere at a time like this. We’ve hardly seen her these past two days.”
Ji Cheng was also watching Shen Cui’s retreating figure, but she knew a bit more than Shen Yan. She felt certain that Shen Cui must have been spending time with Qi Zheng these past two days. Ji Cheng didn’t want to ruin Shen Cui’s good times, otherwise, the girl would surely hate her.
One couldn’t blame Ji Cheng for being cold-blooded and not pulling Shen Cui back. It was just that Shen Cui’s temperament was too frightening. If you help her, she gets angry with you, resents you, hates you, and doesn’t remember the kindness. If that’s the case, why should Ji Cheng help Shen Cui? Shen Cui was the type who wouldn’t believe it until she saw the coffin.
Neither Shen Yan nor Shen Qin could find Shen Che and Shen Yu, as they had gone to attend the grand banquet held by Emperor Jianping for his ministers after returning from the hunt.
Fortunately, Wang Yueniang didn’t come looking for trouble that night, so it was relatively peaceful.
Early the next morning, Shen Yan, Shen Qin, and the others came to fetch Ji Cheng and Shen Cui for hunting. Hunting was secondary; the main purpose was to avoid Wang Yueniang. Even if she sent someone to invite them, Southern Park was so large that it would be normal not to find people, whereas staying in the tent would be much more dangerous.
They thought Shen Cui would be happy, but unexpectedly, as soon as she heard about going hunting, Shen Cui immediately shook her head. “I won’t go. I dislike all that killing. Besides, my archery skills are poor. I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
“But you can’t stay in the tent,” Shen Yan said.
“I know. I’ll go out. Don’t worry about me,” Shen Cui said.
Ji Cheng looked at Shen Cui, wanting to remind her of something, but she decided it was better to mind her own business. Ji Cheng herself was troubled enough. She didn’t believe that Shen Che was unaware of the recent events, but he hadn’t made any moves. Ji Cheng couldn’t guess Shen Che’s intentions.
However, Ji Cheng had already implicated Shen Che in front of Wang Yueniang. This time, whether Shen Che wanted to or not, he had to get involved. At worst, it would be mutually assured destruction. If Shen Che abandoned her, Ji Cheng had a backup plan to reveal his identity and expose his attempt to control the private manufacture of weapons.
Of course, Ji Cheng believed that Shen Che wouldn’t force her to make such a risky move.
Ji Cheng and Shen Yan’s group rode towards the farthest Guanyun Mountain. Unexpectedly, halfway there, they saw the backs of Chu Zhen’s group passing in front of them. Shen Qin used the excuse of a stomachache to slip away.
Shen Yan could see through Shen Qin’s little trick. She just instructed the attendants to take good care of her, then sighed, “Girls grow up fast and can’t be kept at home.”
It wasn’t just Shen Qin; even Su Yun and Lu Yuan got separated while hunting. Soon, a maid came looking for Shen Yan, saying that Lu Yuan had twisted her ankle and needed her to take a look.
At this time, Ji Cheng and Shen Yan were chasing a rare snow fox. Shen Yan was reluctant to give up but couldn’t ignore Lu Yuan. She refused Ji Cheng’s offer to go with her to see Lu Yuan. “You catch that snow fox for me. I happen to need a snow-white scarf.”
Ji Cheng had to give up. Shen Yan didn’t need a scarf. Ji Cheng had also noticed the maid who came to fetch Shen Yan giving her a meaningful look. Ji Cheng knew they had something they didn’t want her to know about, so she tactfully didn’t insist on going along.
After Shen Yan left, Ji Cheng naturally had to fulfill her task. The snow fox was very alert. Ji Cheng dismounted and followed it for a long time before finally finding it near a pile of leftover snow.
Ji Cheng thought that if she left an arrow hole in the skin of such a rare, pure white snow fox, it wouldn’t be beautiful. She raised her bow and aimed at the fox’s eye.
The snow fox seemed to sense the danger just as Ji Cheng raised her bow. It crouched on all fours, ready to spring forward. During her time in Jin, Ji Cheng had hunted quite often, almost every autumn, even in recent years. So she had already anticipated the snow fox’s movement. She shot an arrow straight into the fox’s eye. There was a painful cry, but the fox didn’t die immediately. It struggled to run a few steps, then crashed headfirst into a tree trunk before falling to the ground motionless.
“So Ah Cheng is not only skilled in horsemanship but also in archery,” Shen Che’s voice came from Ji Cheng’s side. Although it was meant as praise, wrapped in the early winter’s cold wind, it made one’s ears ache.
Or perhaps Shen Che’s words always made Ji Cheng’s ears ache.
Ji Cheng put away her bow and turned to look at Shen Che, who had appeared silently beside her. This man was used to appearing and disappearing mysteriously. Although Ji Cheng didn’t know how deep Shen Che’s martial arts skills were, she understood that he was skilled in martial arts, and his lightness skill was also extraordinary.
“Cousin Che,” Ji Cheng called sweetly. After all, one should always respectfully flatter one’s direct superior. In just this brief exchange, Ji Cheng’s mind was already racing with thoughts.
Ji Cheng was still pondering yesterday’s events and hadn’t sent a message to Shen Che through Nan Gui. Shen Che’s sudden appearance now made Ji Cheng doubt it was a coincidence. She figured this wolf-dog had caught the scent. She didn’t even want to compare Shen Che to a fox; look at how pitiful the snow fox was, while Shen Che was always thinking about devouring people.
“Are you making a scarf? It’s thanks to your precise archery that the whole pelt is preserved,” Shen Che said casually.