Chapter 102: Only by Becoming Strong Can She Face Everything

Du Qi’an realized upon hearing this that the man surnamed Chu truly was unaware of the underlying reasons. Being a general without a powerful family to lean on, and a man of blunt, unsophisticated nature, how could he know that others had also played a part in the downfall of the Shen family? Even Lady Chu herself seemed to see things more clearly.

Du Qi’an mused that since he was now aligned with this Chu fellow, he could not simply watch him remain ignorant and inadvertently offend powerful people, which would eventually bring trouble upon the Du family as well.

"General Chu may not be aware, but the downfall of the Shen father and son involved not only the Crown Prince’s machinations but also two other figures whom you cannot afford to offend. It is not that my Du family is unwilling to help; it is simply that this is a favor we cannot grant, as those two are beyond the reach of our influence."

Shen Zhao frowned. When her father and brother met their fate, she only knew of the Crown Prince’s involvement; she had no idea others were complicit. And to think there were people even the Du family dared not cross. The Du family had always maintained neutrality, and their clan members held as many official posts as those of her own Shen lineage. Only a handful of individuals could intimidate them, yet as she pondered, none of those people seemed to harbor a grudge against the Shen family.

"I ask that you speak plainly, Lord Du."

"General Chu would do well to consider who benefited the most after the Crown Prince drove the Shen father and son out of the capital." Du Qi’an offered only a hint. The man surnamed Chu did not seem like a fool; he would naturally figure out who it was.

Shen Zhao indeed realized who it was. The ones who gained the most were, of course, the two great generals who had carved up her father’s and brother’s troops: Chen Dingtian, who drove back pirates in Linhai, and Wu Hongzhong, who guarded the border. Her father had held no enmity toward them; he had even led the Northwest Army to assist their forces on several occasions. She never imagined they would be the ones to betray her family. Perhaps she was the only one in the dark about their involvement. Judging by the hints dropped by that blockhead Du, he seemed to know the truth as well.

Du Qi’an was right; neither Chen Dingtian nor Wu Hongzhong were figures she could afford to offend. Especially Wu Hongzhong, who guarded the frontier—a man who held even the imperial family in contempt. Moreover, Wu Hongzhong was distantly related to Prince Wu Hong of Loyalty. That was why he acted with such impunity. The aging Emperor had summoned him to the capital multiple times, yet the old scoundrel had repeatedly evaded the orders, even deliberately inciting conflict at the borders to claim he could not leave his post to report back.

Clearing her father’s and brother’s names would be a long and arduous road. She was not just facing the Crown Prince’s faction, but two other towering mountains. The realization left Shen Zhao breathless. If only she were stronger, she would not be so passive. She knew her father and brother were framed, and she knew exactly who did it.

Yet, for now, she was powerless. Shen Zhao gripped her fists, her gaze hardening with resolve. No matter who they were, she could not give up on seeking justice. They did not deserve their tragic end. Fortunately, she was Chu Mu now. She was a commander in her own right; if she wished to contend with these other factions, she had to grow stronger first. The capital’s garrison might be smaller than the other two armies, less than half their size, but if she could secure their loyalty, she was confident she could fight them and defeat them one by one. After all, everyone had weaknesses. Wu Hongzhong was already a thorn in the side of the imperial family. Toppling him was not an impossible task.

With this thought, Shen Zhao’s mood improved, though only slightly. She had much to do; this was merely the first step. But the Northwest Army, her father’s and brother’s troops, belonged to the Shen family alone!

"Very well. I ask that you have your clan ensure the safety of the Shen father and son. I thank you, Lord Du." Shen Zhao looked at Du Qi’an with a clear, steady gaze. Having learned these truths, she would now plan carefully. Protecting her family was paramount; next would be taking command of the capital garrison.

Seeing that the Chu fellow was finally sensible, Du Qi’an picked up his brush to write down the terms. Once finished, he signed his name and pressed his seal upon the paper. He moved with haste, fearing that if he were too slow, this man might go back on his word. Satisfied, he blew on the ink to dry it.

"General Chu, I have written down the conditions as you requested. Now, can you release Du Kang?" Du Qi’an did not immediately hand over the vital contract. His family had made such a sacrifice; it would be unthinkable if he could not take Du Kang away.

Shen Zhao was unhurried. "Lord Du, you said earlier that any descendant from that branch of the Du family would suffice, regardless of whether it was Du Kang or someone else."

Du Qi’an looked at her. He had indeed said that, but why was the man not letting Du Kang go, and what did he mean by that remark? "General Chu, what are you implying?"

Shen Zhao smiled. "Lord Du, have you forgotten? When it was just the two of us earlier, did I not mention one of Du Kang’s crimes: polluting the bloodline of the Chu family?"

Du Qi’an’s pupils contracted, and a look of shock flashed across his face. The Chu fellow had indeed said that, but he assumed the Chu family would never have kept such a bastard child. From the implication of his words, Du Kang had offspring in the Grand General’s manor!

Could it be... could it be the eldest son, Chu, who looked so dim-witted? Du Qi’an did not have a high opinion of Chu Renqing. While he appeared honest and simple, he was also incredibly dull. Most importantly, the man was too honest and upright. He could even deal a fatal blow to his own mother for her misdeeds. Furthermore, this man hated Du Kang to the bone. If he were truly of the Du lineage, this would be a difficult situation—too dangerous!

He asked tentatively, "General, are you suggesting that Du Kang has descendants in the Chu family?"

Shen Zhao nodded. There was more than one, in fact. Counting grandchildren and children, there were seven. However, she did not intend to tell Du Qi’an everything just yet. The second son of the Chu family still believed he was the biological offspring of Chu Mu’s mother. She was waiting for him to cause trouble. If she told Du Qi’an the truth about his identity now, the man would never stand by and watch him ruin his own future—though he hardly had much of one to begin with.

Du Qi’an swallowed hard and asked again, "Is it the eldest son of your manor?"

Shen Zhao nodded again. Du Qi’an looked miserable. But when he thought of the second son, the eldest didn't seem so hard to accept. After all, the second son was even more impossible to reconcile as a member of the Du clan. He consoled himself, thinking that at least the eldest was far better than the human scum that was Du Kang; his character wasn't entirely beyond redemption. That made him feel a little better.

Still, he could not take the man’s word for it; who knew if the eldest was truly a Du descendant? "General, do you have proof of his identity? If you can prove it, I can leave Du Kang behind for you to deal with as you please." If he brought the man back without proof, it would be like presenting his face to his younger brother to be slapped.

"I certainly have proof," Shen Zhao said, rising from her seat.