Chapter 16: The Stubborn Young General Shen Tianci

At the same time, a suspicion arose in her heart.

Though she had never seen Pang Yunjin, she had certainly heard of his illustrious reputation.

Pang Yunjin was the son of that old and never-satiated Pang Qingyun, but he was undoubtedly an exception in the Pang family.

A gentleman unparalleled in the world, as refined as jade among men, he was a cold and aloof young master. His response to people and matters was always distant, his temperament tranquil and detached.

He never quarreled with others.

Among scholars, he was a refreshing current; among the multitudes of students, he was a leader, never using his status to place himself above others.

He handled everything personally, treating the sons of impoverished families as equals.

Sadly, five years ago, while out on a nature study with other scholars, he slipped and fell into a muddy pit by the mountain stream. By the time he was rescued, his legs were ruined.

For the rest of his life, he could only sit in a wheelchair, rarely leaving the Pang estate, becoming even more indifferent to worldly desires.

Thinking of this, a strange expression flickered across Shen Zhao's face. Five years ago, on the journey into the capital with her father and brother, she too had rescued a man.

But it had not been at a muddy streambed, rather at the bottom of a cliff.

Because of this, she had lost her personal jade pendant.

That pendant was unique to the Shen family’s descendants. Each appeared identical on the surface, but each bore a small character engraved beneath, distinguishing its owner.

She wondered how that ethereal, almost unearthly man—his bearing cold as water—had fared.

He hadn’t even left a word of thanks before vanishing without a trace.

She supposed that man was likely much like Pang Yunjin.

When she had saved him, his legs had been brutally broken—he, too, would probably spend the rest of his days in a wheelchair.

Why dwell on him? He was just another ungrateful scoundrel.

Glancing at Fang Shuren, the Prefect of the Capital, her tone, as always, was chilly and kept others at a distance.

“Lord Fang, might we see our comrade first?”

This matter was tricky—she needed to understand what had happened before she could save her clansman.

Fang Shuren wanted to refuse, but could he? The Third Young Master’s gaze seemed ready to devour him.

He could only muster his courage and reply, “General Chu, General Xie, please follow me.”

Fang Shuren led the way, with the two following behind.

Xie Yuheng drew close to Shen Zhao, muttering quietly, “Chu, do you think it was really one of our men who offended Pang Yunjin? That fellow is usually so icy—unless greatly provoked, he wouldn’t even bat an eye.”

Shen Zhao herself was uncertain, but she continued to persuade him: “Yuheng, do you not even trust our own soldiers? As their commander, if you do not trust them, who will? Even if they truly erred, have you and I never done wrong? And why did he err—have you forgotten?”

She looked at Xie Yuheng with a gaze full of bitter disappointment, as if to say: you’ve let me down.

He felt his face flush with embarrassment, wishing he could slap himself.

Xie Yuheng thought, General Chu is right. He was a commander of the capital’s troops.

If not for that old and unyielding Pang Qingyun, who had repeatedly tried to cut their army’s rations, how would their young soldiers have ended up pawning their belongings for medicine for their men?

This fault was not theirs, but the Pang family’s.

That arrogant man—what right did he have to blame others for offending him?

The two followed Fang Shuren into the prison.

A stench of rot, urine, and an indefinable foulness assaulted their senses.

Fang Shuren pointed to the cell at the very end. “Generals, the man is being held in the last cell. I won’t intrude on you—please, see to your subordinate yourselves.”

With that, Fang Shuren wisely withdrew from the prison.

He certainly had no desire to court more trouble.

Shen Zhao and Xie Yuheng approached the last cell, where they saw a figure sitting ramrod straight, back to them.

He wore the uniform of the capital’s troops.

Perhaps having heard their approach, he spoke without turning his head: “It was I who struck the Pang family’s man. I alone am responsible—do as you wish, kill me or flay me. If you want me to apologize, forget it. The Pang family are all beasts—if I see one, I’ll hit one; if there are two, I’ll hit two. I don’t care who they are—as long as their surname is Pang, I’ll thrash them.”

“The Shen and Pang families are mortal enemies. The Pang family destroyed mine—I will never forgive them.”

Shen Zhao and Xie Yuheng exchanged glances.

No questions needed—there was no misunderstanding here.

It was this young officer who had confronted Pang Yunjin.

And from his words, it was not just a matter of offense—he had given the man a beating.

The situation just became even more complicated.

While Shen Zhao was frustrated at her clansman’s impulsiveness, she also admired and, above all, felt grateful to him.

Her tone softened. “No one is here to kill or torture you. We’ve come to get you out.”

At her words, the man spun around.

Anger flashed across his strikingly handsome face.

He glared at Shen Zhao, his tone full of contempt: “I, Shen Tianci, do not need your false charity. I’d rather die than accept your help, you ungrateful, treacherous wretch. After all my uncle did—giving my cousin in marriage to you!”

“When disaster struck the Shen family, you stood by and did nothing. When the Northwestern Army was in peril, you ignored us. You’ve never treated my cousin properly, letting others humiliate and neglect her, allowing some lowly woman who lives in the General’s estate to ride roughshod over her. You are unfit to be a son-in-law of the Shen family. Bah! Get out, I don’t need your help.”

“The Pang family and I are mortal enemies, and with you, Chu Mu, it’s to the death!”

With that, he turned away, breathing heavily, unable to look at the man surnamed Chu a moment longer.

He loathed every second in this stinking cell, but he would never bow his head to Chu Mu.

“Well said, and rightly so. I am ungrateful, I have failed the Shen family, failed Shen Zhao, failed the Northwestern Army. I am not worthy to be called a man.”

Xie Yuheng was utterly stunned.

That young officer surnamed Shen had just cursed his friend Chu with abandon, and he had been shocked enough.

Now, not only did Chu not get angry, he even berated himself.

He was dumbfounded.

Although, in his opinion, Chu Mu’s silence regarding the Shen family’s plight was wrong, his father had said that Chu Mu did so for the greater good.

He didn’t quite understand, but he trusted that his father could not be mistaken.

He was conflicted—was Chu Mu wrong or not?

Shen Tianci snorted coldly. “Don’t pretend to be merciful. Where were you before? Now you know regret? If you have time for this act, you’d do better to find a way to settle the Northwestern Army, or return home and treat my cousin properly.”

Shen Zhao was not angered by Shen Tianci’s impertinence.

“Do you know why I’m here?”

Shen Tianci snapped, “Why should I care? I told you, my life or death is none of your concern. Mind your own business.”

“Shen Tianci, do you think I wanted to come? It’s the Northwestern Army—four thousand of your brothers—who worry for you, who feel they have wronged you. As long as you remain here, they live in guilt. Is that what you want?”

Her tone grew colder.

She admired Shen Tianci, but his reckless approach was useless—not just for him, but for the Northwestern Army as well.

Shen Tianci opened his mouth, but said nothing.

“What happened yesterday? Tell me everything, and do not conceal a thing.”

Her tone softened.

Still, Shen Tianci remained silent. Seeing this, Shen Zhao was somewhat helpless. “Don’t you want the Northwestern Army to be well-fed and clothed? Don’t you want General Shen and his son to return to the camp?”

He kept his back turned, but finally muttered, “Why wouldn’t I? I dream of it. But you? Can I believe you? From the day my uncle fell until the Northwestern Army was merged into the capital’s forces, you never said a word.”

Xie Yuheng, standing by, was stung by Shen Tianci’s attitude.

This one was even more stubborn than he was.

And more obstinate!

“Believe it or not, you must believe it. Today, for the sake of our brothers, General Chu fought Pang Qingyun at court, weeping with snot and tears, and won back our rations. General Chu is not the heartless man you imagine—he was forced by circumstances. Do you understand what it means to take the bigger picture into account?”

Even if he didn’t really understand it himself.

“Really?” Only now did Shen Tianci turn to look at Shen Zhao.

“Really. Now, tell us what happened yesterday. I do not believe you would attack Pang Yunjin without cause.”

Shen Tianci shot Shen Zhao an awkward glance—indeed, he had not struck Pang Yunjin for no reason.

It was because he had coveted what he ought not to covet. With embarrassment, he muttered, “He dared to covet my cousin Zhao. How could I not hit him? He was ruining her reputation in broad daylight—I was too lenient with him.”