Chapter 4: The Abandoned Bride
Chapter 4: The Abandoned Bride
After the banquet, Shen Gong’ao and Fu Jianzhi had a private talk.
At this point, Shen Gong’ao no longer tried to hide that his right leg was slightly lame.
Fu Jianzhi, the Governor of Tianshui Province, asked in surprise, “Brother Shen Gong, are you injured?”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Yes.”
Fu Jianzhi said, “Is there really someone who could injure you?”
Shen Gong’ao said, “It was a monster.”
Fu Jianzhi said, “A monster? There are monsters in the Kingdom of Dali?”
Shen Gong’ao said, “That Yao Li, his rise has been very swift. Though the Kingdom of Dali is small, it is rising powerfully and cannot be underestimated.”
The Kingdom of Dali was located at the southern end of the Great Xia Empire. Its founding king, Yao Li, was wise, mighty, and possessed the aura of a true ruler. In just a few years, he had destroyed the Southern Zhan Dynasty. Now, it had been only three years since he founded the kingdom.
Fu Jianzhi said, “Indeed, they cannot be underestimated. Three years ago, we didn’t even need Brother Shen Gong to take action; other generals leading campaigns to the south repeatedly won victories. But after Yao Li established his kingdom, fighting north and south, he actually routed our imperial army of a hundred thousand and recaptured dozens of our cities. Fortunately, Brother Shen Gong intervened, avenging the shame. Not only did you retake the lost territory, but you also expanded our land by hundreds of miles.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “That was because the main force of the Kingdom of Dali was engaged in suppressing a rebellion in the south.”
Fu Jianzhi said, “If we wait for Yao Li to wipe out the remaining forces of the old Southern Zhan Kingdom and unify the entire southern barbarian lands, I fear he will become a severe threat to our empire.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Have we not ceased hostilities with the southwestern Manla tribe and the Kingdom of Liao? From now on, we will focus on dealing with this newly risen Kingdom of Dali.”
Then, Shen Gong’ao asked, “How is Lord Mi?”
This question was key. For this Triumph Ceremony, it was one thing for Lord Mi himself not to come, but he didn’t even send his son.
This was a dangerous sign. Lord Mi was the former lord of the Shen Gong Clan, and the relationship between them had once been very close.
Fu Jianzhi said, “Lord Mi is well and misses Brother Shen Gong very much.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “In a few days, I will head north to Yingzhou to pay a visit to Lord Mi.”
Fu Jianzhi avoided answering this question and instead asked, “I saw Wuque today. I haven’t yet congratulated Brother Shen Gong on your reunion with your flesh and blood! Young Master Wuque has been missing for eight years, hasn’t he?”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Don’t mention that rebellious son. Having him is worse than having none!”
Fu Jianzhi said, “I must say this is shameful. Young Master Wuque running away from home was largely due to my daughter’s fault.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “What does it have to do with Caiwei? Caiwei is a phoenix from the heavens. That rebellious son is mediocre and boastful; how could he be worthy of even half a finger of Caiwei? Failing to get what he wanted, he defied his parents, rejected the marriage arrangement, fled right at the wedding ceremony, and disappeared without a trace. What use is such a rebellious son? He is truly a disgrace to my Shen Gong Family.”
Hearing Shen Gong’ao repeatedly say “Shen Gong Family,” Fu Jianzhi’s eyes twitched slightly.
Shen Gong’ao came from a foreign tribe. When he was very young, his entire clan was defeated in the conflicts among the northwestern foreign tribes. His father then led the whole clan to pledge allegiance to the Great Xia Empire. To show loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor, he changed the clan name from Shen Gong to Shen, indicating a complete break from the Shen Gong clan of the northwestern foreign tribes.
Thus, throughout the empire, they were called the Shen Clan. Now, Shen Gong’ao had rendered immense service to the empire, and his power and influence were astonishing. For him to repeatedly say “Shen Gong Family” was not looked upon favorably by imperial officials.
However, facing the powerful and prominent Shen Gong’ao, Governor Fu Jianzhi did not show his inner displeasure. Instead, he offered comfort, “What’s past is past. Wuque was young and didn’t understand things. Now that he’s back, he must have come to his senses. I didn’t see Young Master Wuque at today’s banquet, so he probably hasn’t returned home yet. Why doesn’t Brother Shen Gong send someone to bring him back to the mansion?”
Shen Gong’ao said coldly, “Even if that rebellious son dies outside, I won’t spare him a glance. He wants me to bring him home? That’s impossible!”
“Bang!” A cracking sound. The jade ball in Shen Gong’ao’s hand was unconsciously crushed, showing the extent of his anger.
It also showed the astonishing strength in his hand.
“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry!” Fu Jianzhi said. “Then I won’t mention him, I won’t mention him.”
Then Governor Fu Jianzhi said, “There’s something I should inform you about.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Brother Fu, please go ahead.”
Fu Jianzhi said, “You have been promoted to Marquis, becoming a top-tier noble of the empire. Yet you still have not designated an Heir Apparent. I’m afraid this is not proper etiquette.”
Mentioning the Heir Apparent, Shen Gong’ao sighed.
It wasn’t because his sons were useless, but because his two sons were too outstanding, so he didn’t know which one to choose.
The eldest son, Shen Wuzhuo.
The second son, Shen Wuyu.
One was a Martial Arts genius, unmatched in military strategy.
The other was supremely talented in literature, unparalleled in internal governance.
In other families, having one such extraordinarily outstanding son would already be remarkable, but Shen Gong’ao had two such sons.
Not only him, but even the house vassals of the Shen Clan didn’t know who should be chosen to inherit the family business.
Shen Gong’ao said, “Brother Fu, tell me, between my eldest and my second son, which one should I choose?”
Fu Jianzhi sighed and said, “If no one in the world knows, how would I know? You truly have a difficult choice.”
Shen Gong’ao gazed out the window, and the adorable childhood image of Shen Wuque involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Shen Wuque was his youngest son. Back then, Shen Gong’ao was nearly forty. Having a son in middle age who was as beautiful as jade, he was certainly the most beloved.
Unconsciously, twenty years had passed. The relationship between father and son had become like fire and water.
The key was that this youngest son was too useless, too disappointing.
At this moment, Fu Jianzhi suddenly said, “Brother Shen Gong, there’s something I don’t know if I should ask?”
A cold glint flashed deep in Shen Gong’ao’s eyes, as if he knew what the other was about to ask. Then he said calmly, “Brother Fu, is there anything you can’t ask?”
Governor Fu Jianzhi said, “I heard on the battlefield, Brother Shen Gong suddenly fell down unconscious, convulsing repeatedly. I don’t know if it’s true or false?”
Shen Gong’ao sneered, “Truly, good news never leaves the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles. It seems many people wish for my downfall. Do you believe it, Brother Fu?”
Fu Jianzhi said, “I only believe what Brother Shen Gong says.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Of course it’s false. It was just my strategy to feign weakness. On the battlefield, I fell down unconscious three times in a row, convulsing repeatedly. After the third time, the enemy finally took the bait, thinking our army was leaderless. They rushed to attack our camp in one go, but I killed their commander-in-chief, drove them back dozens of miles, and routed them completely.”
Fu Jianzhi said, “I said so. Brother Shen Gong is invincible; how could you possibly be ill, let alone suddenly fall unconscious and convulse? You are the pillar of our empire’s southern border; we cannot do without you for a single day.”
Looking at Fu Jianzhi’s smiling face, Shen Gong’ao felt a chill in his heart.
Currently, the Shen Gong Clan was too powerful. He, Shen Gong’ao, was too powerful, which had aroused jealousy, unease, and even hostility from many.
And to top it off, his Shen Gong Clan was of foreign origin. Although he now shone brightly, if he showed even a hint of weakness, the wolves around would likely pounce immediately.
The Star Pavilion!
It could almost be called the highest building in Zhenhai City, magnificent and luxurious.
Zhi Fan was the Master of the Star Pavilion.
She was perhaps the most legendary woman in the entire southern region.
Admired, revered, and adored.
At this moment, this stunning woman sat before a mirror, applying eyebrow makeup. Her figure was tall and proud, her posture graceful and upright.
Her high, elegant nose and nearly sharp brows spoke of her strong personality.
Her lips were as red as fire, her face finely sculpted.
Her chest was full and proud, her waist slender.
Her hips were full and rounded, her legs long and slender.
She was already extremely beautiful, yet she still enjoyed applying makeup, spending a long time each time, only for her own eyes.
“Madam, Madam…”
A maid rushed in, excitedly saying, “Madam, good news, good news! Young Master Wuque has returned. Young Master Wuque has returned!”
Zhi Fan’s beautiful eyes trembled, then turned cold.
The air around seemed to grow colder.
The maid said timidly, “Madam, aren’t you happy? He… he is your husband, after all?”
Husband?
A husband who fled the wedding ceremony, leaving her alone under countless mocking gazes?
She became a “widow at the gate” even before the wedding night.
Though she was stunningly beautiful, she became the target of ridicule for many. Even when walking on the street, many people looked at her with strange, even lecherous, eyes.
She was not defeated. Instead, she bravely left the protection of the Shen Gong mansion and, over several years, built a brilliant enterprise.
Now she had not only reclaimed all her dignity but also shone brightly, admired by thousands.
Who dared to mention the incident of Shen Wuque jilting her now?
She had become her own person.
In everyone’s eyes, she was the Master of the Star Pavilion, not the daughter-in-law of the Shen Gong mansion.
Taking a deep breath, exhaling a fragrant sigh, Zhi Fan slowly said, “Shen Wuque, you’ve finally returned? The shame you brought me by fleeing the wedding should be settled now.”