Calamity Messenger-Chapter 110 - 89: Heaven’s Mandate Moves in Its Own Way

Chapter 110: Chapter 89: Heaven’s Mandate Moves in Its Own Way

Qian Gongyu was still peeling shrimp, leaving her hands oily.

"I don’t have the ability to remember everything at a glance. Even if I study the book, it might take me a few months to get started." She dipped the shrimp in soy sauce with chili rings and said while eating, "Xinlei, since you exchanged a book on steps for me, it means I’ll be here for a long time."

Shang Xinlei didn’t argue and silently nodded.

"Even you can’t prove my innocence..." Qian Gongyu’s voice was somewhat downcast.

"Now the Three Judicial Departments have already determined that Lin Yuan is the murderer of Luo Weijin," Shang Xinlei said. "Lin Yuan is a guard of the Qian Family and has been on the run without being caught. As the Patriarch of the Qian Family, in terms of law... you are hard to be excused."

"Before Lin Yuan is caught, you are considered an accomplice and according to the law, you need to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice Prison."

"How long will the imprisonment be? If Uncle Lin hasn’t been caught, will I be locked up forever?"

"Of course not. According to the laws, a master is sentenced to one to three years of imprisonment depending on the severity of the crime if a servant kills someone and remains at large. Although the verdict hasn’t been reached yet, the Eldest Miss Jie and I will do our best to help you get the lightest sentence."

"That’s good." Qian Gongyu let out a sigh of relief, "If it’s just a year... that’s fine. So after the verdict is reached, will I be locked in the Ministry of Justice Prison?"

Shang Xinlei tilted her head: "If you wish, I can apply for you."

"Of course, I don’t want to! Who wants to go to jail?" Qian Gongyu immediately said, "Can I choose where to be locked up?"

Shang Xinlei cleared her throat: "Do you know why you are kept at Shuiyue Pavilion? Because the Shang Family holds guardianship over prisoners, when relatives or friends of the Shang Family commit crimes and are imprisoned, the Shang Family can apply to have them held at Shuiyue Pavilion to save prison space for the Court..."

"Sister Xinlei!" Qian Gongyu hugged Shang Xinlei, "As long as I can stay here, I’ll do whatever you want!"

"Then quickly wipe your hands! Don’t hug me right after peeling shrimp!"

The food Shang Xinlei brought was almost all eaten, even the last bit of rice was finished after Qian Gongyu poured some sauce on it. The two lazily leaned against their chairs like two happy little pigs. After a while, Shang Xinlei stood up to clean the dishes, and Qian Gongyu followed to help, though still chattering: "Tomorrow I want to eat roasted goose, ginger scallion chicken, crispy roast pork, fish skin, and for breakfast, ideally, it would be congee with fried dough sticks..."

"Stop, stop, what do you take me for? A maid delivering dishes?"

"If you like, I can consider you the Fourth Miss who delivers dishes..."

After some commotion, Shang Xinlei picked up four food boxes and prepared to leave. At this moment, Qian Gongyu suddenly said, "Actually, Xinlei, you don’t have to always accompany me to eat, just send someone with the food."

"But I also need to eat. It’s just that I have time these few days to accompany you. If I’m unavailable in the future, it will be the servants." Shang Xinlei snorted, "Xiaoyu, remember your identity. You are a prisoner of my family. If I want to eat with you, I’ll eat with you. If I want you to dance a belly dance, you dance a belly dance—though you need to lose weight for that first, I don’t want to see a chubby little belly."

"Alright, alright, I will exercise." Qian Gongyu scratched her head, "I just feel... it seems like you’re deliberately compensating me. But my current predicament isn’t caused by you, you don’t need to blame yourself."

Shang Xinlei was slightly stunned, instinctively turning her head: "I just... I asked you to believe in me, yet I couldn’t help you."

"You’ve helped me a lot. I can stay here, eat such good food, and you even got me the advancement book on steps..." Qian Gongyu counted on her fingers, "Thankfully, you visit me often, otherwise, I would’ve been really anxious. Because you are here, I can stay here comfortably reading the ’Messenger Manual.’"

"Meeting you, Yuanshao, and Jiang Shi in the Mansu Forest Land is the luckiest thing in my life." She giggled, but just as she finished speaking, she burped, instinctively covering her mouth, her face as red as a fire.

Shang Xinlei stared at her dazedly for a while, not knowing why she didn’t dare to look her in the eye, she left the room at a fleeing speed: "See you tomorrow."

"Xinlei, see you tomorrow!"

As she stepped out the doorway, Shang Xinlei returned to her expressionless and detached demeanor, as if leaving all her enthusiasm, happiness, and sincerity in that room behind her.

She quickly walked out of the Shuiyue Pavilion, suddenly stopping at the entrance of the courtyard, looking into the shadows where the fire basin’s light couldn’t reach.

"I thought the monk my father brought would surely be an enlightened master, but it turns out he’s a playful monk eavesdropping on young girls’ secrets."

From the shadows, a tall and robust monk with a solemn appearance stepped out. Though they hadn’t been formally introduced, the news spread like wildfire within the Shang Family, and Shang Xinlei already knew he was the guard her father brought back today, named Mouse Monk.

Why was he here? Was he sent by her father to monitor her? Even the token was taken, and yet her father still worried about Xiaoyu escaping?

"Why was she framed?"

Unexpectedly, Mouse Monk inquired about Qian Gongyu’s situation: "If you really are friends with her, as the Fourth Miss of the Shang Family, couldn’t you protect her?"

"Master, you are quite nosy," Shang Xinlei said calmly, "in the Shang Family, knowing too much and saying too much never leads to a good outcome."

Hearing Shang Xinlei’s words, Yan Qing thought she wouldn’t speak, but instead of leaving, Shang Xinlei stepped into the shadows, hiding herself in the darkness.

"Because of the Legendary Token."

Perhaps it was the sense of security brought by the darkness, or maybe she had long wanted to reveal it, Shang Xinlei candidly spoke the truth: "Xiaoyu acquired a Rare Treasure Token from the Mansu Forest Land, which later upgraded to a Legendary Token. Up to that point, things were still fine, but since reporting detailed information about the token could earn her family points, she directly reported the general effects of the Legendary Token to the Court."

It’s clear that Shang Xinlei harbored some resentment here; it seems that Qian Gongyu hadn’t discussed these actions with her beforehand: "What’s even more unfortunate is that her token is a pair of boots, a pair of Legendary Boots that can greatly increase speed. Such a token in the Secret Realm... Master, do you know the significance of speed in the Secret Realm?"

This isn’t a question, and Shang Xinlei doesn’t wait for Mouse Monk’s reply, continuing on her own: "In the Secret Realm, speed is life. With these Legendary Boots, the Court can conquer the Third-Turn Secret Realm more safely and even employ kite tactics against the Demon King, reducing the conquest’s casualties to zero. If this truly happens, the Third-Turn Secret Realm’s conquering frequency can increase to once every seven days or even every three days!"

Yan Qing wasn’t surprised to hear this. He saw early on that, unlike players who value offensive traits, the messengers of this world prioritize survival traits; staying alive is paramount, and for safety, they could spend several days conquering a Secret Realm. Compared to ’defense,’ which requires enduring hits to be effective, ’speed,’ allowing one to evade the range of damage directly, is naturally favored by the messengers.

"To divert Xiaoyu’s token, they implicated her using the murder case in Mansu Forest Land." Shang Xinlei’s voice was full of sarcasm: "Using a murder case against two people... truly making full use of resources."

"Doesn’t your father care?" Yan Qing asked, "Your father is the Chancellor, and you are his daughter—"

"Who do you think is the mastermind behind this?" Shang Xinlei’s voice suddenly intensified, staring straight at Mouse Monk, her eyes seemingly shooting out venomous light: "It’s my father!"

"He’s the one who found the law to drag Xiaoyu down, he’s the one who proposed to confine Xiaoyu in the Shang Family, he’s the one who diverted Xiaoyu’s token, he’s the one who... sent me to appease Xiaoyu." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Yan Qing blinked.

"Didn’t you resist him?"

"My father is very skilled at suppressing rebellion." Shang Xinlei calmed down: "Before I spoke, he spoke of two things first. First, the token will only be diverted for a year; second, the second Secret Technique Book produced in six months will be sent by me to Xiaoyu."

"Resistance or escape will only cause Xiaoyu to lose her family name and become a fugitive without identity. But if Xiaoyu can change professions three times within a year, the token will be returned to her, and she’ll be promoted to the military town commander, guarding a Secret Realm, elevating the Qian Family swiftly to a distinguished name, stepping only a level away from a noble family."

"And this grace is wholly granted by me to Xiaoyu. Whether it’s academic resources, Secret Technique Books, or promotion, it will all be done by me, while the villain’s role will be taken on by others."

"As long as I agree to cooperate, Xiaoyu will become my best friend, my best subordinate, she won’t lose anything, only gain more."

The firewood in the brazier crackled, and the flames surged, illuminating half of Shang Xinlei’s face.

Indifferent and sorrowful.

"And if I refuse, Xiaoyu’s fate will no longer be mine to decide."

The cold wind whistled, sweeping up the dead leaves on the ground. For some reason, Yan Qing moved the screen away, focusing on the brazier ahead, seemingly unwilling to disturb Shang Xinlei’s mood.

After a lengthy silence, he asked, "Why not borrow, why use this method?"

Shang Xinlei let out a bitter laugh.

"Even without the Mansu Forest Land murder case, my father could still find charges against Xiaoyu or the Qian Family, still lead her into imprisonment." Her tone was intriguing: "Doing wrong is better than doing right."

"Under the Ninth Grade system, noble families are inherently arrogant. Local officials usually turn a blind eye to their corrupt practices. Most of the time, their crimes don’t even weigh four liang, but if the Ministry of Personnel needs, their crimes won’t be contained even at a thousand jin."

"Master, you must have committed some mistake too, caught by my father, which is why you’re here as a guard, right?"

Yan Qing was stunned.

He rubbed the button on the console, thinking it’s good that he hadn’t joined the fray; the cunning outside is far beyond what someone like him, who has only played galgames, can handle.

"What about you? What do you think, Fourth Miss?"

For a long time, Shang Xinlei didn’t respond, and just as Yan Qing thought she wouldn’t reply, a bitter voice emerged from the darkness: "I... actually agree with my father’s approach."

"After Xiaoyu reported the information about the Legendary Boots, she was destined to become prey coveted by major noble families. At this time, confining her, diverting the token for a year, giving her Secret Technique Books for the quickest three profession changes, is both protection and cultivation. After a year, returning the token to her will also see her equipped with the strength to protect herself... This indeed is the best care for her."

"The current Xiaoyu isn’t qualified to hold the Legendary Token. Daliang is not merciful enough to allow the weak to possess heavy treasures."

"And I am a child of the Shang Family, born into riches and honor. Now, with my father’s request that doesn’t harm my interests, asking me to recruit a future Third-Turn Messenger, an owner of the Legendary Token for the Shang Family, what qualification do I have to refuse?"

"Moreover, as the Emperor ages, his time to assume power approaches, the Shang Family appears flourishing yet has long been at the brink of danger. Securing Qian Gongyu onto the Shang Family’s chariot provides an additional bargaining chip for future games against other noble families."

"Whether for the Shang Family or Qian Gongyu, my father has made the best arrangements."

"It’s just..."

Yan Qing waited for a long time but didn’t hear the continuation after Shang Xinlei’s ’just,’ only hearing her pick up a meal box and walk outside.

But after taking two steps, she turned her head and said, "My father is just such a person, arranges others’ lives without consulting them. Those arranged, even with a belly full of resentment, ultimately follow the path my father arranged, even feeling this is the most suitable life for them... Master, if you don’t want your destiny arranged by anyone other than Buddha, you’d better leave the Shang Family as soon as possible."

"The way of heaven has a norm, each performs its duty." She seemed to be speaking to Mouse Monk, or perhaps talking to herself: "But what is most suitable may not be what you can accept."