Chapter 137 Have you forgotten your original intention?

Chapter 137 Have you forgotten your original intention?

As soon as Xie Yan left, Shen Nanzi became terrified.

Knowing about my brother's accounts, how far am I from finding out about his troop deployment?

Xie Yan might receive intelligence at any moment.

She couldn't sit still for a moment and went to the Grand Commandant's residence.

Meanwhile, Xie Yan received a message and went to Pear Garden.

*

In Grand Commandant Shen's study, Shen Nanzi looked anxious.

Standing opposite Shen Minghan's desk, he braced his hands on the edge of the desk, his chest heaving with anxiety.

Shen Minghan sat opposite him, head bowed, pen in hand, writing.

“Brother, Xie Yan has found out about your unusual financial transactions.” Shen Nanzi omitted the part about Xie Yan threatening her, not wanting Shen Minghan to worry.

Xie Yan wouldn't easily make a move against her until the very end.

He's currently under pressure, but once he gets his brother's incriminating evidence, things could change.

Shen Minghan placed the brush in his hand on the inkstone, fanned the air around the characters he had just written, and then set it aside to wait for the ink to dry.

Seeing her brother's calm and composed movements, Shen Nanzi asked again, "Brother, why are you so calm?"

"If he can find out what happened next, he will be emboldened."

“You are Xie Yu’s strongest support. If you are eliminated, it will be tantamount to Xie Yu losing his arm.”

"Only Prince Jing and the Fifth Prince remain on the field; the others are not worth worrying about."

"The fourth prince has gone to guard the tomb. How could the fifth prince be a match for Xie Yan? In the end, Xie Yan will surely be the victor."

Shen Nanzi became increasingly worried as she spoke, as if she could already foresee her own fate.

The best outcome for her and Cheng'er would be to be assigned to another Abandoned Palace.

However, if Xue Qingning were to show the slightest displeasure one day, they might die without knowing why.

The brother's entire family was to be executed.

Shen Minghan raised his eyes and smiled at Shen Nanzi, "The informant you provided was timely. I knew a few days ago that Xie Yan had already found out about our troop deployment."

“I have already moved my position. If he finds out again, we will move to more places.”

“Each army has fewer than a hundred men and is scattered over a wide area, so it is not easy to find our garrison locations.”

After a long period of panic, Shen Nanzi finally felt some peace. She slumped into a chair, let out a long breath, and her expression eased somewhat.

Shen Minghan saw her worry, "It's just a matter of spending more money. It's thanks to your wealth that we can afford this trouble."

“Brother, being scattered in multiple locations makes it extremely easy to be discovered,” Shen Nanzi reminded him. “Even if Xie Yan investigates thoroughly, it will still be easy to be exposed.”

Shen Minghan said, "We were already gambling, and now we're gambling on the Emperor's lifespan."

Shen Nanzi understood that the sooner the Emperor left, the more advantageous it would be for them.

As long as the Prince Jing faction doesn't find any fault with them before the Emperor's death, they have a chance to turn the tables.

*

Liyuan, underground secret room.

Xie Yan walked out of the room, put his hands behind his back, and headed in another direction.

The passageway gradually lost its previous brightness, and even seemed like a corner.

Hidden in the wall, Xie Yan reached out and flicked an extinguished oil lamp.

A slow cracking sound rang out, and a crack appeared in the wall, gradually moving away to become a doorway.

Behind the door was a passageway, with several oil lamps lit along the walls and steps, emitting the aroma of castor oil.

Xie Yan pushed open the closed door and entered a cabinet. Then, the heavy pear-wood cabinet door was pushed open, and he entered a room.

He walked to the closed door and gently knocked on the brass lock.

After the loud crash, Xie Yan took two steps back and stood behind the door.

Shortly afterward, footsteps were heard behind the door, and the door was opened.

Xue Qingning appeared before him in an apricot-yellow dress, with two more hairpins on her head, swaying gently on either side.

A fragrant breeze wafted into his nose, quite strong. Xie Yan took a few steps back, increasing the distance between them.

Xue Qingning entered the room, and the door was closed from the back.

There were only two people in the quiet, secluded room.

Upon seeing Xie Yan, she awkwardly touched the hairpin beside her hair.

Upon hearing of his arrival, Xue Qingning changed into a delicate color and added two more hair ornaments.

"Xie Yan, what is it?"

Aside from when she went to find him, he rarely met with her alone; his brother was always present.

Xue Qingning's face felt a little hot, a heat that came from the depths of her heart.

He stood opposite, the light from the window streaming into the room, the light surrounding him.

His back was as straight as a lone pine tree, and the scarlet official robe was tailored to his liking, making him look as cold and hard as a sculpture.

Although he was merely standing amidst the light and shadow, he exuded a sharp and imposing aura.

For a moment, Xue Qingning felt that he was born to be a king who ruled the universe, and that everything was under his control.

This Xie Yan is more than just mature compared to Xie Yan in his teens; he exudes an aura of power and dominance that emanates from within.

The overwhelming aura of his dominance made her heart pound.

The next moment, Xie Yan had a letter in his hand.

The letter was plain white, but when Xue Qingning touched the seal mark on it, her gaze narrowed and her pupils dilated.

My body stiffened involuntarily, and my breathing became slightly uneven.

Xie Yan stared at her with eyes as sharp as knives, his thin lips cold, "You stole the secret letter without permission and even intended to deliver this information to the Emperor?"

Xue Qingning tightened her hands, swallowed, and when her gaze met his eyes, the heat in her chest subsided.

His face was as cold as ice. "Why did you intercept this secret letter and keep it a secret?"

"Why not discuss such a significant event with everyone? We are all in the same boat."

"If your selfishness causes the entire boat to capsize, can you bear the responsibility?"

"How do you know I'm keeping it a secret, rather than that the situation has changed and I'm still investigating?" Xie Yan asked coldly.

Xue Qingning's brow twitched. "There's more to it?"

Then she added, "Even if there are further developments, this alone is enough to bring Grand Commandant Shen to justice and destroy the Sixth Prince's faction."

"For such a serious crime, why wait for further developments? We should strike first."

Xie Yan snorted, "I have my own rules, why should you overstep your bounds?"

Xue Qingning's expression froze. He actually referred to himself as "this king" in front of her?

Was he using his status to suppress her? Or was he trying to distance himself from her? Or was he trying to sever ties with their past relationship?

Such a distant and intimidating title shook Xue Qingning to her core, and she stared at him with a sense of unfamiliarity.

“I will discuss this matter with your brother. I already warned him last time.”

"Now that you've interfered again, I will arrange for people to take care of your daily needs around the clock!!"

His tone was one of absolute silence, devoid of any room for discussion, and utterly commanding.

Xue Qingning took two steps back and stared at him intently.

Until his figure disappeared.

Xue Qingning stared at the closed door, chuckling awkwardly until her shoulders trembled.

"Your elder brother? Me?"

Xue Qingning felt as if she had been struck by lightning. He was not only stripping away their past affection, but also categorizing their relationship as one of unequal power dynamics.

"Xie Yan, have you forgotten your original aspirations?"