Chapter 35

Shen Ningshuang felt a sudden sense of listlessness and, unwilling to disturb him any further, exchanged a subtle glance with Shen Muyun. The two turned and departed silently, boarding the carriage for their return to the manor.

As the carriage wheels rumbled along, Shen Muyun remained immersed in the recent events, asking with an expression of pure disbelief, "Is he truly as you say—has he already successfully formed his Golden Core?"

Shen Ningshuang nodded slightly, a hint of approval in her eyes. "His talent is indeed extraordinary."

Upon hearing this, Shen Muyun felt a sting of grievance and muttered indignantly, "Does that mean my talent is lacking?"

Seeing this, the corners of Shen Ningshuang’s mouth lifted into a gentle smile. "Everyone has their own destiny and fortune. Even if you cannot reach the absolute pinnacle, as long as you can successfully condense your Nascent Soul, the years to come will be more than enough for you to live a life of freedom and ease. Time is vast and boundless, full of infinite variables; opportunities will arrive quietly, and one can always find a path to a breakthrough."

As her voice faded, the carriage fell into a tranquil silence. Shen Muyun seemed to be ruminating on his sister’s words, or perhaps lost in deeper contemplation, his gaze fixed on the passing street scenes outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

In truth, when Shen Ningshuang first led Shen Muyun onto the path of cultivation, she had risked everything, bearing immense pressure. After all, the path of cultivation is fraught with thorns; a single misstep could lead to total destruction. Yet, Shen Muyun held a position in her heart that no one else could reach. While the world was filled with attachments and concerns, if there were only two spots left in this world, she would choose Leng Yichen and Shen Muyun without a moment’s hesitation.

To her, her brother was her closest kin, bound by blood and deeply cherished. This familial bond was her heavy armor and the source of her resolve to forge ahead. Therefore, despite the perils, she had chosen to take the risk, solely to secure a chance for her brother to alter his destiny.

From a young age, her brother had known she was not an ordinary person, and she had never harbored any intention of hiding it from him. And he? He had never breathed a word of it to anyone, nor had he ever viewed her as an anomaly or a monster; instead, he had cared for her with meticulous devotion, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.

Unlike Leng Zhaowen, who carried the memories of a past life and understood the weight of history, Shen Muyun simply relied on a sincere heart to trust her unwaveringly. Regardless of how shocking her words were or how contrary to convention her actions, he remained like a rock rooted in the earth—unmoved, standing firmly by her side, offering her endless strength and support.

Recalling the events of her past life, Shen Ningshuang could not help but take her brother’s hand. She gazed tenderly at his handsome face, silently swearing to herself: In this life, I will never let you repeat the tragedies of the past. I will protect you and help you rewrite your fate.

As night fell and the lanterns were lit, a letter from Leng Yichen arrived like a white dove, breaking Shen Ningshuang’s solitude. His words were earnest and sincere, filled with urgency and longing. He asked if she could tell him the location of the deep mountains where the mysterious crystal ball was hidden. He must have believed that, despite knowing the mountain was a forbidden place where no one dared to tread, his current cultivation level would suffice for a safe exploration.

After reading the letter, Shen Ningshuang did not grant his request; instead, she poured cold water on his enthusiasm. With elegant script, she reminded him that everything has its priorities. Some opportunities are fleeting, and to sacrifice the essential for the trivial out of impulse would be a grave mistake. The urgent task at hand was to properly resolve the current predicament; he must not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of minor gains.

Though Leng Yichen was filled with reluctance, he had no choice but to suppress his restless heart. With a touch of chagrin, he turned his focus to gathering evidence of the Crown Prince’s crimes.

The Crown Prince occupied a high position, and his daily conduct was inevitably riddled with flaws, so there was indeed plenty of evidence. However, most of these were trivial indiscretions. Even if they reached the Emperor’s ears, they were mere trifles that the Emperor would likely overlook, refusing to mete out any severe punishment.

Therefore, to truly topple the Crown Prince, one had to uncover unforgivable, major crimes such as treason or conspiracy. Fortunately, Shen Ningshuang had long been prepared; she had discovered a charge that would incite the Emperor’s thunderous fury—one far more severe than mere treason.

At the mention of the Crown Prince, Shen Ningshuang could not help but think of Shen Wan. She wondered how Shen Wan was faring in the Eastern Palace. After all, they were sisters, and blood is thicker than water; by all rights, she should pay a visit to the Eastern Palace. Yes, it was time to inquire after her and show some concern for her current circumstances.

When Shen Ningshuang stepped into the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince happened to be away. The servants followed protocol, leading her to the courtyard where Shen Wan resided before quietly withdrawing, leaving the space to the two ladies.

Seeing Shen Ningshuang arrive, Shen Wan privately speculated on her motives, but maintained a warm facade. She pouted and said, "Oh, Fourth Sister has graced me with her presence! I haven't seen anyone from my maiden family in the Eastern Palace for ages. I’ve been waiting for you, you know—you really are quite cold-hearted." Her words were laced with feigned grievance, yet her eyes were sharp with probing intent.

Shen Ningshuang knew exactly what she was thinking. Her expression remained cold, with no intention of engaging in empty pleasantries. She cut straight to the point without mercy: "Second Sister, you must have forgotten. Father stated clearly before the Emperor that from that day on, the Shen family no longer had a daughter like you. Since that is the case, how can you speak of a maiden family?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Wan was struck as if by lightning. She froze, the warmth on her face vanishing instantly, replaced by a malicious glare. She stared at Shen Ningshuang as if she wanted to burn holes into her.

"Second Sister, you should have known long ago that at your age, you were already of marriageable status. If you had listened to Father’s arrangements back then, you would now be immersed in your husband’s affection, with children at your knees, enjoying the happiness of a family, just like our eldest and third sisters—living a smooth and peaceful life." Shen Ningshuang paused, her gaze piercing straight through Shen Wan. "But you were not satisfied. You relied on your beauty and your gentle, pleasing demeanor, convinced you could win over any man. Your ambitions were higher than the heavens, and you were determined to marry only a man who satisfied your own desires. You looked at me, with the status of Crown Princess, and were filled with jealousy, secretly thinking: 'Why, as daughters of the same father, can she grasp such overflowing wealth and glory while I cannot?' And so, you pulled out all the stops, using every unscrupulous means to seduce the Crown Prince. As it happened, the Crown Prince was already planning to break off his engagement, so you two were a perfect match. To put it bluntly, you were two of a kind."