Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Because Shen Yanzhi’s milk-brother had sent word to Zhuanzhou, Shen Yanzhi had been treading carefully around me lately, terrified that I might hold a grudge.

I deliberately put on a displeased face, and he grew utterly panicked, becoming even more cautious in word and deed.

Qingfan laughed and said, “Back when my family was still alive, my father liked to keep that same stern face. Whenever my mother saw it, she would tremble with fear and lose sleep all night.”

“Do you know why?”

I slid the horse-chopping saber back onto the weapon rack. “Being able to easily influence and control another person’s joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness is a kind of power in itself. And power is addictive.

“Wear an angry expression, and you can make people afraid. Say something belittling, and you can make people sink into gloom. Over time, the one being controlled becomes a slave through and through, spending every day frightened by every word and gesture from their master.

“If you sign a contract of servitude, there may still come a day when you are released. But if you bind your very heart to someone, when will you ever gain your freedom?”

Qingfan fell into thought.

The next day, she brought news of Madame Guo.

With chaos and war raging outside, this noblewoman who should have been holding Zhuanzhou steady had actually come to my door in person.

I curled my lip. Was it not just one iron mine? Zhuanzhou truly could not bear to lose.

Madame Guo had not come alone. Beside her was a young girl in the bloom of youth.

I knew this girl all too well. In my previous life, she had been the first concubine I took in for Shen Yanzhi. Later, she became a noble consort: Chu Yue.

Others did not know, but I did: both Chu Yue and Shen Yanzhi possessed certain uncanny traits.

In my previous life, many of the fine things in Shen Yanzhi’s hands had been gifts from Chu Yue.

Madame Guo stared at my bold, sprawling posture and slowly said,

“This is Ah Yue of the Chu Clan. The Chu and Shen Family have been friends for generations, and the elders once joked about joining the two families by marriage.”

“Oh?” I took a sip of tea. “I wonder which gentleman of the Shen Family is fortunate enough to receive such a blessing.”

“Yanzhi and I have had a marriage agreement for years!” Chu Yue’s words shocked the room. “Back then, the Shen and Chu families used two jade pendants as tokens to settle the marriage. I was the one who came first!”

She took out the jade pendant. Its shape, pattern, and quality were a perfect match for the jade pendant Shen Yanzhi wore at his waist.

Then she covered her face and wept, looking heartbreakingly pitiful.

“General, you are a woman general. Your heart is filled every day with grand affairs of state and country. You could never understand the pain of helpless women like us when our husbands are stolen away.

“We grew up together as childhood sweethearts and returned each other’s feelings. Long ago, we chose each other and promised to walk through life hand in hand. Please, show us mercy and grant Yanzhi and me your blessing!”

Madame Guo said nothing, watching in silence.

I smiled. She and Zhuanzhou had never truly been of one mind. Now, for the sake of reclaiming the iron mine with a righteous excuse, she was actually willing to disregard whether the Shen Family lived or died.

I grabbed my cup and smashed it to the floor.

“Outrageous! Go! Bring Shen Yanzhi to me!”