Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 44 : Night Chat

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“That may be so.” Xiao Chiye lowered his eyes, “But the one directly connected to the success or failure on the frontline was Shen Wei.” 

The expression in his eyes looked particularly tender and loving when he lowered them this way. The brilliance from earlier had yet to dissipate. It shimmered in his eyes, like fireflies in the night.

Shen Zechuan looked at him for a moment and said, “The Ministry of War has no personnel transfer these years.”

“Investigate if you want to.” Xiao Chiye said. “I won’t stop you.”

“Of course you won’t.” Shen Zechuan shifted his gaze back to the book. “Because you want to investigate too. The most obvious suspect should have been the Hua Clan, but Shen Wei was already a tainted blade. There are thousands of simpler ways to dispose of him. Involving too many people would only just make it easier to leave behind a trail that could be used against them.”

“You killed Ji Lei, no?” Xiao Chiye smiled. “He should have given you plenty of information. There is no fun in hiding it away, is there? Lay it out on the table so that we can speculate together.”

“I know everything you have said, yet what I’ll be saying is known only to me.” Shen Zechuan extracted his hand bit by bit. “It’s really too unfair a trade.”

Xiao Chiye thought for a moment, then said, “How about this then? We’ll do a one-for-one exchange.” 

“Sure.” Shen Zechuan said, “You go first.”

Making use of his height, Xiao Chiye barricaded Shen Zechuan at the side of the bookshelf and raised a hand to flip through the pages at random. He said, “Don’t you know the rules? Secrets have to be said on the quiet.” 

Shen Zechuan leaned forward and said, “Said on the quiet, not said while sticking together.”

“What if the walls have ears?” Xiao Chiye put the book back, propped up his arm, and smiled at him. “After all, I’ve only just bought this compound. I have yet to acquaint myself with it that well. It’s better to exercise caution.”

“Xiao’Er.” Shen Zechuan looked at the book. “You’re truly an asshole.” 

“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye said, “But what can you do? Alright, I’m going to start.”

Shen Zechuan waited for a moment but did not hear any sound. The moment he turned his head, he realized that Xiao Chiye was still looking at him.  

It was only when both men’s breathing intersected that Xiao Chiye said, “Shen Wei didn’t set himself on fire. The fire at the Prince of Jianxing Manor was set by the Imperial Bodyguards. The one who went there with the orders was Ji Lei. You know that, right?”

“Yes.” Shen Zechuan said calmly. “It’s no secret.”

“Then, do you know the real reason for the fall of Duanzhou?” Xiao Chiye asked.

Shen Zechuan could not turn his eyes away. He could not even take his time to ponder over it. Because the instant he could not keep up with Xiao Chiye’s train of thought, he would easily fall into the other party’s trap.

Shen Zechuan said, “When the Chashi River came under attack, Shen Wei commanded the Duanzhou Garrison Troops to retreat, leaving the Hereditary Prince, Shen Zhouji, to go to the Chashi River to provide support. Shen Zhouji was just like his father. He deserted the soldiers at Chashi River and fled with his bodyguards just before the battle began. However, he was captured by the Biansha Cavalry and killed on the same day. Shen Zhouji’s death severely weakened the morale of the Chashi River troops. After the soldiers were slaughtered, Duanzhou was left without any military strength to defend itself.”