Chapter 86: Variable

At night, the Shen family manor was brightly lit.

In the evening, Li Shi’s personal maid, who had tasted dinner for her, died of poisoning, sending shockwaves through the manor as everyone feared they might be next.

Everyone who passed by hurried along; additional patrol squads had been deployed, and residents were forbidden from wandering at night.

Behind the manor, a bamboo grove cottage.

Moonlight poured down.

Wang Luo, clad in white robes, stood atop a bamboo pole, expressionless, gazing at the brightly lit Shen family manor in the distance.

A figure emerged from the shadows, entirely concealed by a wide black robe, laughing with a chilling, owl-like cackle.

“The eldest and second sons of the Shen family have already summoned all their men in Wuyincheng—things will only grow more chaotic. You can act tomorrow night.”

Wang Luo sighed softly: “Will Shen Kangbo definitely die?”

The black-robed figure nodded:

“Shengyin Water is extremely potent. Even if Shen Kangbo is a half-sage, he can last at most two days—he will die without fail! I’ve already sown discord between the Shen brothers. Now it’s your turn.”

Wang Luo floated down, ignoring the black-robed figure, and walked straight toward the small cottage surrounded by a bamboo fence.

The black-robed figure let out another owl-like cackle.

“The brothers will surely kill each other to seize control of the Shen family. When that happens, you step in and side with the survivor—he’ll worship you as his savior.”

Wang Luo suddenly stopped, his voice low:

“Could the Marquis of Wenguan become a variable? He has a very powerful half-sage with him—I don’t know his depth. If that one intervenes, things might spiral out of control.”

The black-robed figure fell silent.

After a moment, he said: “It’s not Xu Han Yi, that old bastard, nor Su Li. He came to discuss the promotion of the Great Zhou Literary Gazette.”

“If I’m not mistaken, he’s being protected by a half-sage sent by His Majesty.”

“Don’t worry—unless that half-sage faces a life-or-death crisis, he won’t interfere in Shen family affairs.”

“Good.”

Wang Luo replied and stepped into the small cottage.

The black-robed figure lingered briefly, then melted back into the darkness.

…

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning.

Dogs barked and chickens crowed within the Shen family manor.

Lu Fang watched the increased guards outside the hall and the patrol squads passing by—each face wore an expression of grim tension, as if facing an imminent enemy.

He muttered to himself: “I wonder what’s happening outside.”

Shen Squad Leader, seated beside the small bell’s barrier, opened her eyes at the sound, carefully shifting Shen Dadan’s head off her lap, and rose to walk outside the hall.

The lead guard said: “You cannot leave.”

Shen Squad Leader stopped and said coolly: “Yesterday you said there was no large-scale poisoning in the manor. What about now?”

The guard hesitated, then revealed the truth about Li Shi’s maid’s poisoning.

Shen Squad Leader frowned: “Besides Aunt Li, has anyone else been poisoned?”

The guard shook his head: “No.”

Shen Squad Leader exhaled in relief: “Has the poison affecting Grandpa been identified? Why hasn’t an antidote been developed yet?”

The guard: “The poison packet has been confirmed as fake—it couldn’t possibly have harmed Grandpa.”

Shen Squad Leader stood frozen, motionless for a long while.

Lu Fang walked over and comforted her:

“Grandpa Shen is such a legendary figure—he won’t die. Maybe he doesn’t even need an antidote; he might heal himself. I’ve heard he had countless miraculous encounters in his youth, gaining great fortune…”

Shen Squad Leader interrupted: “The fortunes Grandpa gained were all martial in nature. And a poison capable of harming a half-sage—how easily could it be cured?”

Lu Fang fell silent.

After a night, Shen Kangbo’s condition had worsened—dark mist radiated from his body, his muscles shriveled completely, leaving him like a skin stretched over bones.

Had it not been for his faint breath, Lu Fang would have thought him dead already—only his half-sage vitality kept him alive.

Otherwise, he might have died yesterday.

“Father, Mother, why are you here?”

Shen Squad Leader called out toward the hall’s entrance.

Lu Fang turned and saw a middle-aged couple approaching, their faces tense—clearly Shen Squad Leader’s parents.

The guard blocked them: “Please don’t make this difficult for us—you cannot…”

Shen Squad Leader interrupted: “My uncle and second uncle said I couldn’t leave—but when did they say my parents couldn’t enter? Let them through!”

Wang Shi hurriedly said: “Squad Leader, we won’t come in. I came with your father just to see if you’re well—have they treated you poorly?”

Shen Qiyuan’s face was stern: “Don’t ask useless questions. Squad Leader, how is your grandfather? Can you speak to him?”

Shen Squad Leader shook her head, dejected.

Wang Shi couldn’t help interjecting:

“Squad Leader, protect yourself. Your uncles away from home aren’t here, and your uncles’ words carry weight. Right now, both of them are summoning their men—they’re clearly preparing for civil strife.”

This time, Shen Qiyuan didn’t contradict her; he sighed:

“Your aunt nearly died from poison. Your eldest uncle suspects your second uncle did it, so he recalled all his men in Wuyincheng.”

“Your second uncle suspects your eldest uncle orchestrated this whole thing—using it as an excuse to ally with outsiders and seize control of the Shen family.”

“So neither trusts the other. You recall your men, I recall mine. The subordinates don’t know what’s happening—they hear rumors and act on them. Just now, outside the manor, two factions clashed.”

“Things are growing more tense by the hour. No one knows what will happen next. Your mother worries for you, and I wanted to see your grandfather’s condition, so we came.”

He gazed at the motionless Shen Kangbo, sighed heavily, and wiped damp eyes.

Shen Squad Leader stamped her foot:

“My uncles are fools. Grandfather’s been poisoned—this is when the Shen family needs unity. Instead of setting an example, they’re fighting each other.”

Wang Shi shook her head: “We’re lowly people—don’t meddle. You’re already trapped here under false accusations. Think about how to protect yourself.”

Shen Qiyuan said: “I’ll go to the back mountain to ask Wang Gongfeng to intervene. Only he might be able to reason with them.”

“When I meet your uncles, I’ll urge them too. Don’t worry—I’ll be fine. You must stay safe.”

Shen Squad Leader looked worried.

Lu Fang watched the scene, sensing something was off—but he couldn’t pinpoint it, leaving him with a persistent unease.

Is the Shen family truly about to undergo a major upheaval?

So far, things were only growing worse.