Chapter 752: Shen Yungan's Arrogance
King Kang's death had seemed suspicious from the start, but it involved His Majesty's secret forging of soldiers. The one who exposed it was Shen Xihe, who had just arrived in the capital. Even if it were Shen Yueshan, His Majesty was confident that he couldn't have uncovered the secretly maintained army. Thus, His Majesty never suspected that Shen Xihe had guessed anything.
It could only be that King Kang had acted carelessly, allowing Shen Xihe to detect his movements and set a trap that led to his death.
In this matter, His Majesty couldn't save King Kang. The incident couldn't withstand deep investigation—no one could clear King Kang of the charge of privately manufacturing weapons with the intent to rebel.
They all knew that Shen Xihe, who personally tore open this breach, had set the trap, but they couldn't fully decipher how it was done.
Now, however, Yu Xiang knew every detail clearly—each step of the scheme, every calculation. Even when the incident occurred, Shen Xihe had anticipated that His Majesty would send the Embroidered Uniform Envoys to try to save King Kang. Thus, she had early on arranged for flint stones to be scattered, drawing villagers and even local officials from all directions, making it impossible for the Envoys to silence witnesses and turn the situation around.
All of this was written in detail in the letter Shen Xihe sent to Yu Sangning, which Yu Sangning then handed to Yu Xiang. Now, Shen Yungan was using it to warn him.
It was to make him understand clearly that Shen Xihe would not spare the Yu residence. If the Yu family did not cooperate with the Shen family today, they were choosing to become enemies of the Shen clan. And the fate of Shen's enemies could be seen in the example of King Kang.
The cold night was silent, the moonlight sharp and hidden.
Yu Xiang stared fixedly at the unyielding Shen Yungan, his clenched fists cracking audibly, his crimson eyes trembling slightly. Finally, unable to contain himself, he roared, "This is too much!"
Before the sound faded, his fierce fist pierced the night wind, aiming for Shen Yungan.
Shen Yungan's smile vanished, his feet firmly planted like deeply rooted pines. He sidestepped to avoid it. Yu Xiang swung his arm horizontally, but Shen Yungan, as if he had predicted it, leaned back and twisted his waist, evading the sweeping arm with an almost unbelievable, swift arc.
Simultaneously, his hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Yu Xiang's wrist. With a powerful pull, the immense force lifted Yu Xiang off the ground. Following the direction of the force, Shen Yungan flung Yu Xiang away.
Yu Xiang flew forward, barely managing to twist his body and flip mid-air before landing, stumbling several steps before steadying himself.
Shen Yungan stood with his hands behind his back, calm and composed, looking sideways at Yu Xiang. "General Yu, you are no match for me, and I have no wish for us to completely break ties."
Yu Xiang's wrist still ached slightly where Shen Yungan had gripped it. His gaze fell on Shen Yungan's feet—throughout the exchange, they hadn't moved an inch. His martial skill was evidently exceptional.
Clenching his jaw, as if wrestling with himself, Yu Xiang remained silent for a long moment before gruffly asking, "Young Master, how do you want me to assist? After this matter, how will the Crown Princess treat my Yu residence?"
Shen Yungan raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint glimmer in his dark eyes. "General Yu, I'm afraid you have misunderstood my meaning. Her Highness the Crown Princess has no intention of recruiting the Yu family. This is merely giving you a choice: risk being executed by His Majesty along with your entire household, following in the footsteps of King Kang's estate, by remaining blindly loyal to His Majesty...
Or, understand the situation, be flexible, grant me this convenience, and seize the chance to survive."Seeing Yu Xiang's face turn ashen, Shen Yunan leisurely added, "Naturally, after this matter, as long as the Yu residence does not oppose the Crown Princess, she will not casually harm the innocent."
The implication was clear—the Shen family and the Eastern Palace did not need the Yu family's allegiance! They were merely giving Yu Xiang a choice: either offend Shen Xihe or feign compliance. In light of Yu Xiang's pretense of ignorance and his cooperation in trapping His Majesty this time, Shen Xihe would not trouble the Yu residence in the future.
Though Shen Yunan's tone held no arrogance, every word dripped with the Shen family's contempt for the Yu residence. Yu Xiang felt a sharp pain in his chest from suppressed anger but swallowed his rage: "The heir speaks with great confidence. Are you so certain you can leave here alive? If you are so assured of victory, why bother winning me over?"
"Heh." Shen Yunan chuckled softly, slowly stepping forward and turning to face Yu Xiang with a faint smile. "Whether I leave this place alive or not has no bearing on the safety of the Yu residence.
While I am here, who among you can capture me? If no one can capture me, who would dare claim to have seen me here? Who would easily bear the crime of deliberately stirring discord between the Northwest and His Majesty?"
His words were brazen, his expression filled with disdain: "Even if General Yu and the Eighth Prince join forces to corner me here, as long as the Northwest can produce an heir, even if I fall into your hands, the Northwest army remains strong. Falsehoods can become truths, and truths can turn into falsehoods. I would become evidence that General Yu and Prince Jing deliberately framed the Northwest King!"
Shen Yunan's words sank like a stone in Yu Xiang's heart. Over the years, why had His Majesty exhausted all means yet failed to deal with Shen Yueshan? As the emperor, fabricating a false charge was all too easy, but Shen Yueshan was deeply entrenched in the Northwest. Even if the Shen father and son were lured to the capital and executed, it would instantly plunge the Northwest into chaos.
Not only would there be public outrage, but also the self-preservation and retaliation of Northwest generals, along with opportunistic enemies like the Turks and Khitans along the Northwest border!
A single misstep—killing Shen Yueshan alone—would destroy half the Northwest, making His Majesty an eternal sinner!
As long as the Northwest remained strong and revered the Northwest King as a deity, His Majesty could not act against Shen Yueshan without evidence. Just as in the past, when His Majesty merely wanted Xiao Shi to marry Shen Yueshan, he had Shen Yueshan imprisoned, only for the Turks and Khitans to immediately launch a joint invasion. The Northwest army used the lack of a commander as an excuse to fight half-heartedly, forcing His Majesty to backtrack, pin all the blame on Xiao Shi, and personally release Shen Yueshan.
How much dignity was lost, how many concessions were made, just to have Shen Yueshan return to stabilize the Northwest?
If it was impossible back then, it was even more so now. As Shen Yunan said, even if he fell into their hands, as long as the Northwest could produce an heir—one recognized by all in the Northwest—the Shen family could not be convicted, the Eastern Palace would remain unaffected, and the Crown Princess would not be shaken in the slightest.
By then, the Yu residence would inevitably bear the Crown Princess's wrath!
After weighing the pros and cons, Yu Xiang finally conceded: "How does the heir wish for me to assist?"
Shen Yunan smiled in satisfaction: "Do not rush, General Yu. I will inform you of how to proceed in the future. I will not put you in a difficult position or expose any flaws."
Yu Xiang's face remained tense: "The heir and the Crown Princess manipulate situations at will. How can I be sure I will not become the scapegoat?"Once Shen Yungan emerged victorious and launched an investigation, the blame would fall on him. Even if Shen Xihe spared the Yu residence, would Your Majesty truly let them off the hook?
Either way meant death—so why should he become a traitor?
(End of Chapter)
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