RPAGF Chapter 93 Wanting to send Shen Mo away
Chapter 93 Wanting to send Shen Mo away
Dongzhu sneaked into the Shen residence at night. Shen Mo was still studying diligently by lamplight, but his father was thinking of sending him far away.
“In principle, Void Mountain does not accept disciples casually. I have been by Miss’s side for so many years and I have not been able to get a title. It will probably not be easy for a little kid like Shen Mo to get in.”
Dongzhu bluntly rejected Shen Cong'an's idea. "If you're really worried, just send him a couple more guards. Shen Mo doesn't usually run around."
"No, it's not safe for him to stay in Xuancheng. The Third Prince met with me today and tried to win me over, but I refused. He'll definitely see me as a thorn in his side. There's no guarantee he won't go so far as to harm Mo'er. Mo'er is too young and easily fooled. What if he..."
In Xuancheng, it's far too easy to kill a child silently.
Dongzhu disagreed. “Lord Shen, Xiao Yan is neither particularly clever nor stupid. What benefit would it bring him to kill Mo’er? If he wanted to threaten you, he would never harm Mo’er. At most, he would kidnap her. Don’t be too nervous. We are all under his watchful eye. We can’t all run to Mount Xuwu to hide.”
After Dongzhu finished speaking dismissively, Shen Cong'an still looked solemn.
"Forget it, Shen Mo isn't 100% safe anyway, so don't worry! I'll ask Master Xu Feng for you, but I can't guarantee he'll agree. If the princess were here, we might be more confident."
Dongzhu compromised.
Mount Xuwu rarely accepts disciples from outside the family. Most of the children they adopt are orphans without parents, and they don't even have names. Master Xufeng gives them names.
Xie Wanru was an exception, but such exceptions are rare.
Shen Cong'an was delighted to see that she had agreed to help. "You don't necessarily have to become a disciple of Master Xufeng. Becoming a grand-disciple is fine too."
The implication is that as long as the person can be sent to the mountains for foster care, it doesn't matter whose name they are under.
Dongzhu nodded and went to write the letter.
Shen Cong'an felt much more at ease. Although going to the mountain would delay his studies, it was not important at all compared to Shen Mo being safe and sound.
The next day, news began to spread in Xuancheng that the young general of the Xie family had gone missing or had defected to the northern barbarians.
Rumors spread everywhere and people were in panic.
"General Xie and his family are loyal and brave, guarding the border for many years. How could they possibly do such a thing!"
"You don't know? The Northern Barbarian chieftain promised General Xie ten thousand taels of gold, as well as the title of deputy commander. That's the second-in-command of the Northern Barbarians..."
"Just listen to these rumors and don't take them seriously. If General Xie really surrendered to the Northern Barbarians, wouldn't they come knocking on our door? I think someone is just jealous of the Xie family's great military achievements and is deliberately spreading rumors."
"What do you mean by 'deliberately'? Then tell me, how could General Xie disappear on his own people's territory? This is clearly a classic case of 'escape by feigning death'; he left first, and the others followed suit."
"The Xie family has a daughter in Xuancheng. How do we get there? Don't they want to abandon their daughter?"
"Daughter? Don't you know? That Xie Wanru, who held the title of princess, was divorced by the Yong'an Marquis's mansion."
"What do you mean by 'divorce'? You're talking nonsense. It's a divorce, and she even took her dowry back with her."
"That's right. I also heard that the palace sent people to renovate the Princess Yongchang's residence. The Emperor and Empress still love Princess Yongchang very much."
"..."
People follow the crowd, some wise, others taking the opportunity to kick someone when they're down and spout nonsense.
Upon hearing the rumors, Shen Cong'an frowned. He had no idea that General Xie had disappeared, yet there were already rumors circulating. It was obvious that someone was deliberately spreading rumors.
Behind this rumor may lie the shadow of the Third Prince Xiao Yan, who wants to use it to disrupt the situation in Xuancheng and profit from it.
He immediately went to the Crown Prince's residence.
The one who opened the door was Dongzhu. Dongzhu is now His Highness the Crown Prince's personal bodyguard, and when she is in the mansion, she is also responsible for receiving guests who come from the side gate.
"Lord Shen? What brings you here again?"
Dongzhu felt that she saw Shen Cong'an every day and was getting a little tired of it.
"I came to discuss matters with His Highness the Crown Prince, not to see you. Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Shen Cong'an ignored Dongzhu's complaints and looked solemnly into the mansion. "Is His Highness the Crown Prince in the mansion at the moment? I have urgent business to discuss with him."
“Yes, yes, but…” Before Dongzhu could finish speaking, the Crown Prince arrived, dressed in a brocade robe, his steps steady, his brows revealing an undeniable majesty.
Dongzhu thought it was so late, His Highness the Crown Prince and the Consort should be asleep, but then this person suddenly appeared. She was worrying for nothing.
Her young lady said that the Crown Prince and his concubine had been childless for many years, but they might be able to have a baby this year. She was just afraid of ruining His Highness's good fortune, and she absolutely did not mean to be unwelcoming to Lord Shen!
"Cong'an, you've come so late, is there something important?" His Highness the Crown Prince asked directly, looking at Shen Cong'an with concern.
Shen Cong'an hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, it concerns the disappearance of the young general of the Xie family. Rumors are spreading everywhere. I am worried that this is the work of the Third Prince Xiao Yan, who intends to disrupt the situation in Xuancheng and... to target the Xie family."
His Highness the Crown Prince's expression immediately darkened slightly. He tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers and pondered for a moment before saying, "I've also heard about this matter today. It is indeed somewhat unusual. Let's discuss it in the study. Miss Dongzhu, would you please brew us a pot of hot tea?"
The prince was humble and polite, so Dongzhu had no reason to refuse and immediately obediently withdrew to prepare the tea-making utensils.
Shen Cong'an then followed His Highness the Crown Prince into the study where they were discussing matters.
"I believe that someone is definitely stirring up trouble. News from the border has not yet reached Xuancheng, but rumors have already spread throughout Xuancheng. The Third Prince failed to win me over yesterday, so he may have been anxious and did not calculate the timing properly."
Shen Cong'an spoke earnestly, his gaze unwavering. The matter was all too obvious; he had barely been rejected when this matter surfaced. "The Third Prince even threatened me at the end, which shows that he was indeed angry and furious. It's understandable that he would do something risky."
His Highness the Crown Prince nodded in agreement, saying, "You're probably right. He was very careful in his previous actions, but this time he revealed such a big flaw. I'll arrange for someone to investigate immediately. By the way, do you need me to send someone to protect your son, or bring him here? He still doesn't dare to make a move here directly."
Shen Cong'an felt a warmth in his heart and said gratefully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have already made arrangements. I was just about to send Shen Mo to Mount Xuwu to avoid trouble for the time being, just in case."
Upon hearing this, His Highness the Crown Prince nodded slightly: "Mount Void is indeed a good place. With Wanwan's master and fellow disciples there, you will be safe and sound. But don't worry, Cong'an, I will also send people to protect you secretly."
Shen Cong'an smiled. He had long since come to terms with his life and death. "Thank you, Your Highness. I was spared from death. Every extra day I live is a bonus."
"From An..."
Xiao Long wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth and then closed it again.