The Chu Family.
"What? The Shen Family is surrounded by the Imperial Guards?"
Chu Wuliang sprang up from his chair like an arrow loosed from a bow upon hearing his servant's report. "How is this possible? The Imperial Guards should be investigating the Shen Family right now."
The servant's face already bore a faint look of resignation as he continued, "The Grand Imperial Grandson personally petitioned the Emperor, accusing the Shen Family of involvement in illegal salt trading."
At these words, Chu Wuliang's pupils constricted sharply. He recalled how Shen Pu had once told him how desperately the Grand Imperial Grandson had sought the Shen Family's support... A chill ran down his spine.
When they were needed, they were begged for favor—yet at the first sign of trouble, they were discarded like worn-out shoes.
Who would dare associate with the Ping Prince's Mansion in the future?
"There's more..." The servant hesitated, too afraid to speak outright.
"What else?" Chu Wuliang frowned. Could there be even worse news?
Steeling himself, the servant blurted, "Young Master Shen Qingping has denounced you in court, claiming your crimes are too numerous to count. He said the evidence is stored in the Qin Prince's Mansion study."
"Nonsense!"
A gust of wind followed as Chu Wuliang kicked the servant straight to the doorway. Blood slowly trickled from the servant's mouth—he had known this would be his fate the moment he spoke.
The moment Chu Wuliang heard he had been denounced, cold sweat broke out across his body.
"Am I the only one?"
"Cough... The other four families who drank with Young Master Shen Qingping that night... were all denounced too," the servant gasped, clutching his chest in pain.
"Someone, prepare my horse!" Chu Wuliang shouted toward the courtyard. He needed to hurry and discuss countermeasures with the other four families.
But the moment Chu Wuliang flung open the gates of his mansion, he was met with the same sight as the Shen Family—Imperial Guards.
"You... you..." Chu Wuliang's fingers trembled uncontrollably.
"By order of the Qin Prince, the Chu Family is to be strictly guarded," the Imperial Guards declared impassively. The other four families had also been surrounded.
"I never traded illegal salt! Why are you surrounding my mansion?" Chu Wuliang's face flushed red with fury.
Yet the Imperial Guards suddenly turned mute, refusing to answer any of his questions. They merely stood guard, barring Chu Wuliang from leaving.
"This is outrageous! Outrageous!"
Chu Wuliang waved his sleeves helplessly, his heart in utter turmoil.
......
With six prominent families in the capital now under Imperial Guard surveillance, the entire city fell into an eerie silence. Few dared to walk the streets, terrified of being caught in the storm.
Following the leads Shen Qingping had provided, the Imperial Guards effortlessly uncovered evidence of the Shen Family's illegal salt trade. Even Scarface voluntarily handed over the proof he had obtained from the concubine of a corrupt official.
"Sir, how is Third Master Shen?" Scarface couldn't resist asking, only to shut his mouth immediately under the officer's sharp glare.
"Your merits offset your crimes. You'll keep your life."
That single sentence made Scarface's eyes widen in shock.
He knew his crimes—but what merits?
Before he could ask further, he was thrown into a prison cell to await transport to the capital.
Once the evidence was secured, every member of the Shen Family was dragged into the imperial prison.
Inside the prison, Shen Pu and Shen Qingping passed each other.
"Shen Qingping! You schemed to destroy my family—may you die a wretched death!" Shen Pu suddenly erupted, his voice filled with venom. "Even if I descend to the eighteenth layer of hell, I will never let you go!"
Guards restrained Shen Pu to prevent him from lunging. Shen Qingping merely scoffed in response.
"Master Shen, how did I scheme against you?"
"Did I force you to trade illegal salt?"
Shen Pu fell silent. Shen Qingping shook his head, feigning sorrow. "What a pity. The salt I sold wasn't illegal—it was government-approved salt, specially permitted by His Majesty."
Instantly, Shen Pu's face turned ashen.
So that was it. That was the trap.
"Master Shen, I suggest you confess everything honestly."
Stepping out of the prison, Shen Qingping was greeted by clear skies where gloom had once hung. The blinding sunlight forced him to shield his eyes.
"Teacher."
A familiar, crisp voice called out. Shen Qingping's face immediately brightened with a smile. "Thank you, Princess, for coming to fetch me."
"I wasn't the only one who came."
Song Shihuan glanced toward the carriage. "I'm just glad you're safe, Teacher."
......
Though Shen Qingping had been released unharmed, the fury of Song Yu and Song Shihuan sent tremors through the court officials.
Emperor Yuanyou even dispatched Wu Qi to the Shen Family with lavish rewards, publicly declaring that Shen Qingping had only sold government-approved salt—completely unrelated to illegal trade.
In fact, the Emperor himself had permitted the sale, though his advanced age had made him forget his own decree.
By now, everyone understood.
The Emperor hadn't forgotten a thing.
This was a meticulously planned scheme—a blatant trap set specifically for the Shen Family. The Emperor had intended to strike them down all along.
"Throw Chu Wuliang and the others into the imperial prison. Let Shen Xiao interrogate them first—spare no punishment."
In the Qin Prince's Mansion, Song Yu spoke coldly. "Additionally, the Shen Family's illegal salt trade case will be tried publicly at the High Court tomorrow. Any other crimes Shen Pu committed, such as shielding Luo Si—pile them all onto the Shen Family."
"Song Yanzheng personally denounced the Shen Family. How typical of him."
Song Shihuan sneered beside him. "Liuxi, find a way to send word to Liu'er. Have her inform Shen Hua'er—let the Ping Prince's Mansion descend into chaos as well."
Illegal salt trade?
That was just the beginning.
The real spectacle was yet to come—Song Ling's coffin had yet to be opened for examination.
......
"Ah—!"
In the imperial prison, Chu Wuliang's agonized screams nearly shattered the iron bars, forcing even the hardened guards to turn away.
But the torturer was none other than Shen Xiao, the Imperial Guard commander. Who would dare interfere?
"Someone, stuff a rag into Master Chu's mouth. No need to waste water on him when his throat runs dry from screaming."
Shen Xiao stared impassively at Chu Wuliang, gripping a barbed whip—identical to the one Chu Wuliang had once meticulously selected for Shen Qingping.
"Nine charges in total. Master Chu, take this time to reflect carefully on how you committed each one."
With that, the veins on Shen Xiao's arm bulged as he brought the whip down again with brutal force.
At this moment, Chu Wuliang truly understood the meaning of "a fate worse than death."
Meanwhile, at the Shen Family residence.
"Ouch—ouch—ouch!"
Shen Qingping's exaggerated howls made Shen Mingwen's heart ache. "That Chu Wuliang—I will never let him off for this!"
The normally composed Grand Tutor Shen, who prided himself on scholarly dignity, spoke with unprecedented fury.
"Chu Wuliang?" Shen Qingping blinked innocently.
"If I had to guess, he's probably being whipped right this moment."
Even if they rushed to the prison now, the man was likely already unconscious.
What a shame.
