Chapter 146: Probing, Envoys from the Imperial Court

Jingzhou City, the Governor’s Mansion, back garden.

Although it was deep winter, the warm afternoon sun cast its rays down, offering a sense of comfort and ease. Shen Qianmo reclined on a lounge chair covered with thick, soft cushions, leisurely flipping through a book. Meng Yuanheng sat close beside her, leaning against the back of the chair, his head resting on Shen Qianmo’s shoulder with his eyes closed to rest. He appeared incredibly languid and relaxed.

Sensing the man beside her in a rare state of ease, no longer tense as usual, Shen Qianmo turned her head and smiled faintly. With one hand holding the book, she freed the other to rest on his back, patting it gently.

When Yun Yi strode in, this was the warm and tranquil scene that greeted him. Seeing Meng Yuanheng’s calm and peaceful sleeping face, he suddenly felt that he shouldn't have intruded upon their quiet moment.

Five days ago, in the dungeon of the Governor’s Mansion, when that woman, Lou Xinyue, revealed the truth about the Guinu River incident, everyone was filled with shock and disbelief.

Yet, the facts were undeniable, for Lou Xinyue had hidden a secret decree from Emperor Mingde—a handwritten order commanding the covert poisoning of the late Prince Xuan, Meng Langqing.

Yun Yi found it hard to imagine how Meng Yuanheng, the person most affected, could face such a cruel truth.

For seven years, they had investigated—they had tracked the Wuji Sect, the Shadowless Gate, and Meng Tianxu—but they had never looked toward Emperor Mingde. Or rather, they had never even considered that line of inquiry.

Who could have imagined that the supreme ruler of a nation would sacrifice the lives of so many soldiers for his own selfish desires, all to secretly seize military power from the late Prince Xuan and weaken the Xuan Mansion’s influence?

For Meng Yuanheng, the realization that his own biological father had murdered the man who had raised him as his own, killed the hundred thousand soldiers of the Meng Army who had fought alongside him, and inflicted upon him a bizarre poison that crippled his legs and left him a near-invalid—forcing him to endure agonizing pain every month for seven years—was a betrayal so brutal and melodramatic that it would be unbearable for anyone.

Fortunately, he had such a gentle and beautiful woman by his side to accompany and comfort him. Otherwise, Yun Yi could hardly imagine what reckless actions Meng Yuanheng, in his current state of disregard for consequences, might take.

At this moment, he truly could not bear to shatter such a warm and beautiful scene. Yet, he had to report this development. For a moment, the usually carefree and unrestrained Yun Yi stood at the entrance for quite a while, at a loss.

Shen Qianmo raised her eyes and saw Yun Yi’s hesitation at the door. She smiled faintly and said, "Yun Yi, do you have something to report? Come in and speak."

Yun Yi gave a dry laugh, stepped over the threshold, and after drawing closer, cautiously glanced at Meng Yuanheng, who was still resting with his eyes closed against Shen Qianmo’s shoulder. Seeing that he maintained that lazy posture and did not even lift his eyelids at the sound of his approach, Yun Yi felt a pang of frustration.

Shen Qianmo noticed the slight twitch at the corner of Yun Yi’s mouth and couldn't help but smile. She set down her book, carefully adjusted the azure outer robe covering Meng Yuanheng’s shoulders, and asked, "Is something the matter?"

Meng Yuanheng seemed very satisfied with this gesture, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder and relaxing even further.

Yun Yi glanced at Meng Yuanheng, who was clearly not asleep but too lazy to open his eyes, and silently cursed him in his heart before saying in a low voice, "Qianmo, the people sent by the imperial court have arrived."

Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "So soon? Who has come?"

Yun Yi gave a silent, wry grin and cast a malicious glance at the motionless, feigning-asleep Meng Yuanheng, his tone tinged with amusement. "The Seventh Prince, Meng Tianyan, the Minister of Personnel, Liu Wensheng, and..." He paused before continuing, "General Wuwei, Feng Ze."

As he finished, Yun Yi was not surprised to see Meng Yuanheng’s eyelashes flicker. He sneered internally. *Meng Yuanheng, no matter how composed you remain when Mount Tai collapses before you, the mere mention of this name breaks your facade.*

Meng Yuanheng opened his eyes at that moment and shot a brief, sharp glance at Yun Yi. It was filled with such intense threat that alarm bells rang in Yun Yi’s mind. Sensing immediate danger, he promptly wiped the strange expression from his face and put on a solemn, professional look.

"I didn't expect Meng Tianxu to think so highly of us." Royals, civil officials, and military generals—the imperial court’s heavyweights were all represented. Shen Qianmo smiled and turned to look at the man beside her, who had closed his eyes again, and asked softly, "A-Heng, what do you think?"

In truth, it had always been Meng Tianxu issuing unilateral decrees, denouncing Meng Yuanheng for rebellion and treason, while the Xuan Mansion had offered no response, nor had they ever openly declared themselves rebels. Now, Meng Tianxu had likely come to his senses—or perhaps, his long-planned Four-Nation Alliance was not proceeding smoothly—and he feared that the Xuan Mansion would intervene, making the court’s situation even more precarious.

Since Meng Tianxu’s ascension, the borders of Great Sheng had become increasingly unstable. Small-scale conflicts frequently erupted in the southwest, northeast, and southeast, making Meng Tianxu’s reign as the new emperor far from easy. Conversely, the northwest, occupied by Meng Yuanheng, had remained a rare haven of peace because neighboring countries feared the strength of the Xuan Mansion and dared not easily provoke them. Because of this, regardless of how others evaluated the Xuan Mansion, the support of the people in the northwest for the mansion grew deeper with each passing day.

To the common people, living in chaotic times, whoever could provide them with a stable and prosperous life was worth their loyalty and devotion.

Meng Tianxu likely believed that Meng Yuanheng would not easily turn against the court. Thus, he had decided to use the news of Shen Qianmo’s survival as a pretext to send representatives to Jingzhou to offer condolences. On one hand, it was to test Meng Yuanheng’s attitude toward the court, and on the other, it was to display his benevolence to the world and regain some face for the Great Sheng imperial court.

Hearing Shen Qianmo’s question, Meng Yuanheng finally sat up, though he habitually kept his arm around her shoulder. He asked Yun Yi coldly, "The list of officials I asked you to draft for appointments across the northwest—is it ready?"

Yun Yi nodded. "It is ready. I placed it on your desk yesterday." He said this with his mouth, but inside, he was going mad.

*Ever since Qianmo returned, how many times have you even entered the study, My Lord? The workaholic prince who worried us while Qianmo was away was bad, but this lazy-to-the-bone prince is even worse.* Yun Yi looked at the mountain of documents on the desk and felt his future grow dim.

"Good, then let’s announce them today. Also, how is the new mansion coming along?" Meng Yuanheng asked, leaning his head back onto Shen Qianmo’s shoulder.

Yun Yi knew full well that this move was a clear provocation to the imperial court. He grinned and said, "It’s been ready for a long time. The mansion originally belonged to the wealthiest man in Jingzhou. After he moved his entire family away, we renovated it. While it may not be as grand as the Xuan Mansion in Shengjing, it is certainly acceptable, and it happens to be located right in the center of the city."

In fact, these matters had been handled by others long before Shen Qianmo was found. It was just that as long as they hadn't found her, no one dared to bother Meng Yuanheng with such trivialities.

"Very good," Meng Yuanheng nodded. "Have people tidy it up as soon as possible."

His wedding with Mo’er would be held in that new mansion.

Yun Yi smiled and said, "Steward Mu has been working himself to the bone these past few days. Rest assured, everything inside and out is ready, just waiting for an auspicious day for you two to perform the wedding ceremony. However, we still need Your Highness to decide on the plaque for the mansion."

Meng Yuanheng’s title had been stripped by Meng Tianxu’s decree, so they didn't know what the mansion should be called and simply left it for him to name.

Meng Yuanheng didn't even hesitate and said coldly, "Call it the Xuan Mansion."

Yun Yi raised an eyebrow. Seeing Meng Yuanheng’s indifferent expression, it was clear he didn't care at all about Meng Tianxu stripping his title.

"Then how should these imperial envoys be handled?" Seeing Meng Yuanheng leaning against Shen Qianmo’s shoulder and closing his eyes, ignoring him entirely, Yun Yi gritted his teeth in frustration and could only turn to Shen Qianmo, asking hesitantly.

Shen Qianmo smiled helplessly and said to Yun Yi, "Tell them to wait a moment; the Prince and I will be there shortly."

Yun Yi took his leave. Shen Qianmo turned her head slightly to look at the man beside her, who was resting with his eyes closed against her shoulder, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Ever since learning the truth about the Guinu River incident, he hadn't slept a wink. Seven years of forbearance, seven years of investigation—who knew that the final truth would be so cruel and unbearable? The pain in his heart could only be imagined.

Lou Xinyue had once been Emperor Mingde’s favorite concubine; the secret decree in her possession could not be fake.

Thinking back, after Lou Xinyue jumped off the cliff and vanished, Emperor Mingde had been furious, searching the entire inner palace inside and out. Was he ostensibly searching for the Five-Stone Powder, but actually looking for that secret decree?

It was no wonder he had been so anxious. If that matter had leaked out, his throne would likely have been shaky even back then.

Lou Xinyue had stolen that decree originally intending to use it to get close to Meng Yuanheng, but later, wounded by his complete lack of affection for her, she had jumped off the cliff in despair, and the decree had remained hidden on her person. However, this time, it was thanks to that decree that she had managed to survive.

Indeed, Meng Yuanheng had not broken his word; he had not killed her and had allowed her to return to Beidi alive. But before she left the dungeon, he had not hesitated to order her Achilles tendons severed, as retribution for her attempt to break Shen Qianmo’s legs in the He Mansion dungeon.

Thus, Lou Xinyue had been carried back to Beidi, and she would never walk again for the rest of her life.

Meng Tianxu’s intent in sending Meng Tianyan and the others to Jingzhou was obvious, and the two decisions Meng Yuanheng had just made clearly indicated his stance toward the imperial court.

The Xuan Mansion would never return to the Great Sheng imperial court again.