069 Kill with a borrowed knife

The closest attendants were all killed...

Shen's family was annihilated...

Those who knew Madam Shen the best in this world have become silent corpses, like dancers who were brought as part of the dowry, although they served inside the house, they knew very little. This matter exudes a strong sense of conspiracy, Madam Shen... is not simple.

Shen Tang murmured, "Is the Shen family truly moderate?"

She found herself almost unfamiliar with the term "moderate" that Tian Zhong mentioned.

Which moderate family would carry out such mysterious deeds?

Mr. Gu said, "Madam Shen couldn't have intentionally chosen someone else, escaped the marriage, and to hide her shame, she arranged to silence and kill her close attendants. Unable to find Madam Shen, and momentarily at a loss for a replacement, they chose Mr. Shen for marriage? However, the difference between the two, male and female, is too significant, even though Gong Yunchi is young, he's not blind... Whether by water or by land, the newlywed night would not pass without arousing suspicion."

Shen Tang: "..."

She struggled to suppress the twitching of her lips.

With an unfriendly tone, she said, "Madam Shen and I are of similar age, around eleven or twelve, and we're both unmarried female members kept in seclusion. How could we know men from outside, fall in love, and elope? This kind of cliché and vulgar words are rarely seen in good literature."

Mr. Gu felt he had spoken out of turn.

Regardless of the truth, whether Madam Shen was alive or dead, such speculations affecting the reputation of women should not be spoken of recklessly.

Morally and ethically, he was in the wrong.

Mr. Gu shifted his focus, his face becoming serious and losing some of the playful inquiry, "Perhaps Mr. Shen, being fond of antique curiosities, came across this peculiar coffin somewhere. Delighted by it, he bought it and had it opened, only to find you inside? You may not know how many years you've been lying there, but your appearance is as fresh and lively as a living person. What's more astonishing is that you're still alive, bearing a resemblance to Madam Shen, so Mr. Shen secretly brought the coffin back to the Shen residence. Coincidentally, when Madam Shen needed to disappear for some reason, she allowed you to take her place in marriage?"

Shen Tang listened expressionlessly throughout.

"You're wasting your talent not telling stories."

The previous version was a clichéd romance plot — a wealthy girl eloping for love and wandering the world, while a poor boy patiently waits, eventually fulfilling his wishes. Perhaps in the future, there would be added elements of an evil mother-in-law tormenting the submissive daughter-in-law, further tormenting the daughter-in-law's family, which had been annihilated and left in poverty. The latter version was more audacious, directly adding elements of fantasy and strangeness, with a millennium-old mummy assuming the identity of a substitute bride for a prestigious family's son. Didn't expect this person to have such a peculiar taste.

Mr. Gu: "I also think it's a pity."

Shen Tang: "..."

Mr. Gu seemed to let down his guard, joking with Shen Tang, "It's a pity I don't have a long life expectancy. If I had a longer lifespan, once the world settles down a bit, being a storyteller would be good. These years, being forced to listen to so many devilish voices, it's a shame not to speak them out."

Shen Tang felt he was daydreaming in broad daylight.

"The world settles down? Settling down in the Northern Wasteland's world?"

Mr. Gu avoided the topic.

"That would be truly wishful thinking."

"Are you not optimistic about Mr. Shen?"

Shen Tang spoke frankly, "I've heard that the Northern Wasteland is not a place for good people."

"Who told you that?" Shen Tang was about to say, "What's it to you?" but Mr. Gu asked, "Was it Qiyuan Liang who told you?"

Shen Tang furrowed her brows, "You've conducted quite thorough investigations."

Mr. Gu smiled, "Mr. Shen holds me in high regard, after all, he's on the territory of Geng. He should act cautiously to avoid detection. Names like Qishan and Qiyuan Liang are well-known in some places — known to everyone."

For example, the invaluable secret opera picture.

For example, the same number of enemies.

Mr. Gu was even more surprised that this person was still alive.

The latter part of his sentence was delivered with a fluctuation in tone, a strange and eerie feeling.

Shen Tang merely responded in a calm voice, "Oh."

Mr. Gu: "Why would Mr. Shen associate with him?"

A Chuyao is not a good person — although he lacks the intellect in many areas without Wenxin, it doesn't mean he lacks intelligence, which doesn't hinder his ability to strategize — a notorious character like Qiyuan Liang, and this Shen Lang who carries Wenxin but has a stronger murderous intent than martial courage.

Both are villains.

It's hard not to think crooked.

Shen Tang wanted to roll her eyes, finally understanding the pain of Qishan.

She said, "You ask too many questions. I'm not familiar with you. What does it have to do with me who I associate with?"

Mr. Gu said, "White-haired as new, offering advice as always."

Shen Tang: "..."

Believe you? No way.

Regardless of whether Shen Tang believed it or not, Mr. Gu continued, "I feel a kinship with Mr. Shen, which is why I'm concerned. If you don't believe it, Mr. Shen can go back and ask Qiyuan Liang about the 'scholarly path.'"

"You know?" 

Mr. Gu smiled without answering.

Shen Tang found it extremely boring, not wanting to stay here for a moment longer, she stood up, brushing away non-existent dust, preparing to take her leave.

"What about the dancer?" Seeing Shen Tang's lack of response, Mr. Gu clicked his tongue twice, teasingly, "If Mr. Shen were not a man but a woman, without Wenxin, the outcome... might be worse than death. Can Mr. Shen truly forgive such an enmity?"

Shen Tang glanced at the dancer, who was still under the control of Ling, then at Mr. Gu, lips twitching slightly.

She merely said, "If I kill her, I'll have to pay."

What did she earn from this trip? Only a few coins from selling liquor?

Most importantly —

If she didn't kill, Mr. Gu would, and he would handle it cleanly, leaving no evidence behind. Why bother to dirty her hands and splash herself with blood?

Why was she so sure she could "use another's hand to kill"?

Because Shen Tang had spoken of Mr. Gu's "scholarly path," and the dancer had listened nearby, clearly understanding. On this basis alone, she wouldn't survive.

"To be able to associate with Qiyuan Liang, indeed not a good person."

Shortly after Mr. Gu left the Yao Spirit Pavilion, the dancer jumped into a well and committed suicide.

Moonlight

 Pavilion.

The steward was reading through a stack of thick letters.

Seeing Mr. Gu return and not put them away, he didn't hesitate to ask, "Mr. Gu, did you find anything? Is there any issue with that Shen Tang?"

Mr. Gu replied, "Checked it out, no issues."

The steward was secretly surprised, "Is it truly a coincidence?"

But since Mr. Gu said so, he didn't delve further. If Shen Tang was without issue, it was for the best, as it provided more reasons for the Northern Wasteland to send troops to Geng. When Geng's internal turmoil increases, and they are preoccupied, it will be the best time to send troops.

"Mr. Gu, you've worked hard. You may rest now."

"Yes." Mr. Gu bowed and left.

Once back in his room, he revealed a different expression.

A person was playing chess, murmuring.

"I should go and meet Qiyuan Liang..."

At the same time, Shen Tang also returned to the farmhouse.

Chuyao was still teaching students, Qishan was sitting on the veranda, concentrating on weaving bamboo strips, with a pile of cloth scraps and needles beside him.

Recalling her recent ordeal, Shen Tang felt exhausted.

Sitting down heavily, she let out a loud sigh, trying to attract everyone's attention, but only Chuyao noticed her, Qishan continued weaving bamboo strips, obviously crafting a delicately shaped bamboo frame.

"Wu Lang, why the sigh?"

"I was bullied outside."

Qishan burst into laughter, amused, "You were bullied?"

A sword at the throat, blood not staining the clothes.

If Shen Xiao Lang refrains from bullying others, it's already an act of kindness.

Shen Tang 'lamented' as she slapped her thigh, shouting in a tone of accusation towards Qishan, "I was bullied by your old flame."

Qishan: "???"

Shen Tang added slyly, "A surname Gu."

Qishan didn't even lift his head, saying, "I know people surnamed Gu, there are at least eight or nine hundred, which one are you referring to?"

Shen Tang: "So, you really have an old flame surnamed Gu?"

Qishan: "..."