She also tried to write a letter informing Chu Chengji of the disaster in Beiting.

However, her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely hold the pen, and tears streamed down her face, wetting the paper on the desk.

Her other hand covered her mouth, crying silently and suppressing her emotions.

Just from hearing others’ descriptions, Qin Zheng could guess that the female general who rushed out to save the Marquis of Lian was likely Lin Zhao.

So who was the one being sent back to Qingzhou in a coffin?

Qin Zheng dared not think about it, nor did she want to.

When they were caught in the crossfire between Li Xin and Prince Huaiyang, even the Marquis of Lian was restrained by the Northern Barbarian and Li Xin.

Chu Chengji had to send the women soldiers to Beiting to assist the Marquis of Lian, falsely claiming they were regular troops from their side, to prevent Li Xin’s troops stationed in Beiting from making any rash moves.

At that time, Chu Chengji had made it clear to the Marquis of Lian that their women soldiers were only there to intimidate Li Zhong’s forces and would not engage in battle unless absolutely necessary.

Was it because Beiting was on the brink of collapse that Lin Zhao led the women soldiers into battle?

The more Qin Zheng thought about it, the more grief-stricken she felt.

By the time Song Heqing and the other officials hurriedly arrived, she had already cried for a while and managed to suppress her emotions.

With red-rimmed eyes, she said, “I intend to seek passage through Chen’s camp and send people to welcome back the women soldiers returning with the body. Do any of you have any objections?”

With all the cities north of Zhuzhou blocking the main roads, the women soldiers

To return to Qingzhou from Beiting, they must pass through Chen’s camp.

The women soldiers were originally created by her and Lin Zhao.

Regardless of who was being brought back in the coffin, she was determined to bring those girls home.

Song Heqing and the other officials had no objections.

They all bowed respectfully to Qin Zheng and said, “We all agree with what the lady said.”

Qin Zheng’s eyes, soaked with tears, did not appear weak but rather firm and sharp. “Adviser Song, draft the documents quickly and send them to Chen’s camp. General Dong will stay in Qingzhou. Generals Lin and Yang will each lead twenty thousand soldiers to accompany me to welcome back the women soldiers.”

The officials she addressed all complied.

In Bianjing:

After days of continuous heavy snowfall, it finally stopped.

The sun even peeked out, though it was just a cold, distant presence in the sky.

The accumulated snow on the ground had been cleared away, but thick layers still clung to the walls and tree branches.

As Shen Chan was helped down from her carriage by her maids, she happened to see Shen Yanzhi standing by the roadside wearing a silver fox fur cloak.

Chen Qin whispered something in his ear, and his expression instantly turned stern.

Shen Chan stood in place for a moment, draped in her cloak, remaining silent.

Unconsciously, her hands clenched her coat, fearing that her plan to send away Doctor Mu might have been discovered by Shen Yanzhi.

The traveling doctor followed behind Shen Chan, appearing somewhat apprehensive.

Shen Yanzhi glanced in their direction, exchanged a few words with Chen Qin, and then Chen Qin respectfully withdrew.

Shen Yanzhi then walked towards Shen Chan and said, “It’s windy outside, why don’t we go into the mansion first?”

“I’m not cold.” Shen Chan carefully scrutinized Shen Yanzhi’s expression, seeing her brother treating her as affectionately as usual, she tentatively asked, “But is there something in the court that requires elder brother’s attention?”

Shen Yanzhi shook his head and said, “The war in the Northern Barbarian is far from Bianjing.”

But Shen Chan was surprised, “War in the Northern Territory? Do we need to send troops to help?”

In her impression, whenever there was news of war in the Northern Territory, Prince Rong ( Her Father ) would have to leave early and return late for several days, reportedly discussing strategies to counter the enemy in the Jinluan Hall.

Shen Yanzhi hesitated for a moment, said “No need,” and then stepped into the gate of the Shen Mansion.

Shen Chan stood still in place, lagging behind him by several steps before being supported by her maidservant to climb the steps.

This was Shen Chan’s first return home since returning to the capital.

Seeing the empty courtyard, she was stunned once again.

Since she had escaped from the capital through a secret passage, Li Xin had found an old account to arrest Prince Rong, and most of the valuable items in the mansion had been confiscated by the soldiers sent to “search” on orders.

Except for a few loyal old servants who remained in the mansion, the rest of the servants had long been dispersed.

Shen Chan had been in the palace all this time, unaware that the magnificent Shen Mansion of the past had fallen into such disrepair.

She looked at Shen Yanzhi’s thin figure, feeling inexplicably heartbroken.

All the civil and military officials said that the Regent Prince had absolute power, but now it seemed that he could control everything within the city of Bianjing.

Who would have known that the mansion where he resided every day would be in such a state of disrepair, and he had not even bothered to repair it.

Walking ahead, Shen Yanzhi noticed that Shen Chan was still not catching up.

He turned around and saw her looking at him with red eyes.

His gaze slowly swept across the desolate courtyard, carrying a numbness and dull pain that even he couldn’t explain, “Unhappy with the changes at home? After the New Year, I’ll have someone rebuild it according to the original appearance.”

Shen Chan shook her head, but she couldn’t say a word.

Tears forced their way out of Shen Chan’s eyes as she asked, “And him?”

Neither of the siblings wanted to refer to Prince Rong as their father.

With her question, Shen Yanzhi knew exactly who she was asking about.

His straight back stiffened for a moment before he replied, “He’s in prison.”

When Li Xin dealt with the Shen family, he had Prince Rong imprisoned.

Even after Shen Yanzhi returned to Bianjing and took full control by poisoning Li Xin to death, he still didn’t release Prince Rong.

Behind closed doors, the civil and military officials all called him a mad dog, fearing him like a ghost.

After all, if he could let his own father languish in prison, one could imagine how ruthless he could be to others.

The bitterness in Shen Chan’s nose grew heavier and heavier.

She swallowed hard and continued, “Brother, I don’t hate him anymore. It’s all in the past. You shouldn’t hate him either. He’s just an old man, irrelevant to us now.”

To hold onto hatred was indeed a kind of torture.

Shen Yanzhi looked up at the two sparrows on the dry branches, and after a long pause, he said, “He ruined Mother’s entire life and ours as well. How could I not hate him?”

His words caused Shen Chan to lose her composure, and hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Why cry? Revenge has been taken. Shouldn’t we be happy?” he said, seemingly asking Shen Chan but also questioning himself.

Seeing him seemingly numb from the torment of hatred, Shen Chan’s heart ached like a knife cutting through it.

Her tears fell even more violently as she tremulously asked him, “Are you happy now, brother?”

A pale smile appeared at the corner of Shen Yanzhi’s mouth. “Of course, I’m happy.”

Shen Chan shook her head, tears pouring down like rain. “If you truly were happy, I wouldn’t be this sad.”

Shen Yanzhi reached out to wipe her tears and asked, “Why are you sad? Isn’t it good that I have all the power now?”

Shen Chan choked on her words, asking, “What good is power?”

Shen Yanzhi’s gaze became distant, and he didn’t notice his eyes slowly turning red. “Indeed, it’s not good. It took away Azheng and now it’s taken you. That’s why I have to hold onto it tightly, so that no one can take anything away from me again, and even take back what I’ve lost. From this perspective, power is also a good thing, isn’t it?”

Shen Chan, breathing heavily due to her intense emotions, felt the cold air pierce her lungs like a knife cutting into her heart.

She cried out, “Does that mean you can resort to any means necessary? Where is my brother who was once so noble and righteous?”

Shen Yanzhi’s expression changed. “Who told you that?” His gaze swept past Shen Chan and his face suddenly turned ugly. “Where is Doctor Mu?”