Chapter 221
**Chapter 219: She Does It All for the Emperor**
As a novice archer, if one exposes their arms, the inner wrist is easily struck by the bowstring, leaving behind a bruise.
Shen Wei's elbow already bore the marks of such a bruise.
Looking at her left index finger, the skin was broken, and the stark red against her fair skin was quite alarming.
It seemed Shen Wei was oblivious to her injuries. "I took off the arm guard because it felt too restrictive. Archery is so much fun! Watching the sharp arrowhead pierce the target makes me incredibly happy," she said with a bright smile.
Li Yuanjing's gaze darkened.
A sudden pang of regret surged within him; he shouldn’t have whimsically taught Weiwei to shoot.
Archery was a man’s pursuit. How could a delicate woman like Shen Wei endure such hardship?
"Don't practice anymore," Li Yuanjing said, examining the bruise on her arm, his heart aching.
Shen Wei's eyes sparkled as she replied, "Your Majesty, I’m not afraid of hardship. If I could become a master archer, then if you ever find yourself in danger, I could protect you—"
She paused, suddenly lowering her head, adding in a subdued tone, "Three years ago, when you took me to the hot springs, we were ambushed by assassins, and you were injured by an arrow... At that moment, I thought, if I could shoot arrows or had some martial skills, perhaps you would have suffered less..."
Look at that; her arduous practice wasn’t for herself at all.
She was doing it all for the Emperor!
Was it moving?
Li Yuanjing recalled the events of three years ago, his emotions surging.
He pulled Shen Wei tightly into his embrace, leaning down to kiss her hair, his heart filled with a painful yet tender emotion. "I am a man; how could I rely on a woman for protection?"
The dawn of the common people, the citizens of the realm, all prayed for the Emperor's protection.
Yet only his Weiwei thought to shield him with her fragile shoulders.
"Bring down the target," Li Yuanjing commanded.
Shen Wei gasped in surprise, grabbing his sleeve. "Your Majesty!"
Li Yuanjing stroked her hair gently. "Weiwei, listen to me. You don’t need to practice archery anymore. I will ensure your safety for a lifetime."
Shen Wei silently rolled her eyes.
A lifetime was long; how could it always be smooth sailing?
But on the surface, she feigned shock, her eyes glistening with tears. "Your Majesty is my everything; I only wish for your life to be safe and smooth."
The two embraced tenderly for a while until a eunuch arrived to announce that dinner was ready.
Li Yuanjing personally applied ointment to Shen Wei's arm, and they shared a meal together.
Perhaps mindful of her bruises, Li Yuanjing was unusually gentle, holding Shen Wei close as they drifted into sleep.
In the deep of night, Yongning Palace was quiet. Shen Wei listened to the steady rhythm of his breathing, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.
Her ploy had worked; she wouldn’t have to practice archery anymore.
...
The next day, Shen Mieyue escorted the envoy from the Yue Kingdom to Yanjing City. Shen Mieyue was a renowned war god, a protector of the Great Qing, held in high esteem by the common people.
For decades, the border conflicts between the Qing and Yue Kingdoms had often favored the Yue.
Since Shen Mieyue's emergence, the Yue Kingdom had not gained any advantage in battle.
Upon entering Yanjing City, the citizens welcomed him with open arms. A throng of young men cheered, raising their arms and shouting praises for the great general.
The news reached Shen Wei in the palace. Caiping danced with excitement, her admiration for Shen Mieyue unmasked. "My lady, that General Shen is so imposing, clad in armor, just like the war gods in the illustrations! The people are cheering for him, calling him a great hero."
"And there are so many children jumping around, following General Shen, declaring they want to be his soldiers, vowing to follow the mighty general to the death."
Caiping chattered on, clearly infatuated with Shen Mieyue.
Shen Wei's frown deepened as she slammed down the ledger.
She sensed the scent of conspiracy.
It was understandable for the citizens to welcome the general back to the capital, but the sudden appearance of young men and naive children proclaiming their loyalty to Shen Mieyue was suspicious.
What did this mean for the Emperor?
A subject whose fame eclipsed that of the reigning monarch was a threat to the throne!
"Has my brother entered the palace yet?" Shen Wei asked.
Caiping replied, "Not yet. At this hour, he should be escorting the envoy to the embassy."
Shen Wei quickly grabbed paper and brush, swiftly writing a note. She handed it to Caiping. "Run quickly, and find a city guard named Liu Erniu at the palace gate before my brother enters. Have him deliver this note to my brother."
Seeing the seriousness on Shen Wei's face, Caiping instantly sobered, cautiously taking the note. "I’ll take care of it right away."
With that, Caiping dashed off.
In the room, Shen Wei gripped her brush and called for the eunuch Jixiang. "Jixiang, contact Manager Ye from Weiyanji. Have her investigate who’s behind those foolish children."
During her three years at Donghua Mountain, Shen Wei had not been idle. She worked hard to expand her business in Yanjing, establishing her own network of information to keep tabs on the happenings in the city.
Manager Ye Qiushuang of Weiyanji not only ran a business but also secretly operated this vast network of information.
Jixiang accepted the order.
After a moment, Shen Wei suddenly called out to him again, "Wait."
Jixiang turned back. "My lady, is there anything else?"
Shen Wei pondered for a moment, then revealed a cold smile. "Forget about contacting Manager Ye for the investigation. Let the Emperor handle the search for the instigator behind the youth and children..."
Having the Emperor root out the hidden instigator would yield the greatest benefit.
If the rats in the gutter dared to stir up trouble, Shen Wei would simply fan the flames, allowing the mastermind to burn themselves.
---
In Changxin Palace, the roses bloomed profusely.
A bowl of warm miscarriage prevention medicine was brought in, and Shu Fei Lu Xuan endured the bitterness of the concoction, sipping it slowly.
With a candied fruit in her mouth, she asked her personal maid, "Xiao Qin, how did it go?"
Xiao Qin replied, "Rest assured, my lady. I’ve already sent word to Duke Lu. Rumors about Shen Mieyue are spreading through the streets of Yanjing, creating an impression of his overwhelming merit and the people's affection."
Lu Xuan rested her chin on her hand, a cold smile playing on her lips.
How could a mere Chen Fei compete with her?
With just a little manipulation, she could instill fear of the Shen family in the Emperor's heart, planting the seeds of suspicion. One day, the Emperor would eradicate the Shen family completely.
---
Within Yanjing City,
Shen Mieyue had delivered the Yue Kingdom's envoy to the embassy for a brief respite. He turned to head to the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor.
"General Shen," a clear voice called out, stopping Shen Mieyue in his tracks. The envoy named Mo Xun approached.
Mo Xun clasped his hands in greeting. "General Shen, your achievements are remarkable, and the people adore you. But as the saying goes, the higher you climb, the harder you fall. While you excel in leading troops and fighting, it’s wise to steer clear of court intrigues. I merely wish to remind you to be cautious."
Shen Mieyue held the reins of his horse firmly, his voice deep and resonant. "Thank you, my young friend. I know how to handle it."
He spurred his horse, galloping towards the palace with his soldiers.
Shen Xiuming remained at the embassy, arranging for the envoy's reception. He quickly sidled up to Mo Xun, speaking with a hint of pride, "You mean well. But my brother, though a warrior, has a keen mind; he knows his limits."
Mo Xun cast a cool glance at Shen Xiuming.
Mo Xun was handsome, with strikingly beautiful eyes. That casual glance felt like the flowing spring waters of March, crashing into Shen Xiuming's heart.
Mo Xun smiled, "It’s still early. Shall I invite Shen Tongpan for a drink?"
"Lord Mo, drinking is bad for your health." Shen Xiuming suppressed the strange feelings stirring within him, politely clasping his hands to decline.
Mo Xun flashed a smile, revealing his teeth. "I have some medical knowledge. In my travels, they called me Mo the Divine Doctor. If drinking harms your health, I can treat you."
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