The Rebirth of a Concubine's Daughter and Her Heartless Lover!

secret deal

Late into the night, Shen Yiyao's thoughts remained restless. Shen Qianyun's words were like a pebble in the abyss, stirring up countless ripples. She had never imagined that the power struggle she found herself in was far more complex than she had once imagined. Shen Yaoyue's relationship with Yueying Palace, Shen Qianyun's hints... all of this seemed to remind her that her every move was carefully calculated.

The moonlight outside the window was still cold and clear, but it couldn't soothe the turmoil in her heart. She knew that this game was far more than a simple "family dispute," but involved the Shen Mansion, Yueying Palace, and even the deeper power networks of the Jianghu. She, Shen Yiyao, was no longer the unknown concubine of the Shen Mansion. She had gradually become a pawn in this game, a pawn that was carefully manipulated.

She stood up silently, slowly walked to the desk, picked up the thick family archive, and carefully read it again. Every page, every historical record, reminded her that this seemingly "internal family dispute" concealed a much larger and more complex chain of interests.

At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door. Shen Yiyao raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes flashed, and she had already guessed the identity of the visitor.

"Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and a figure entered the room silently. The person who came in was dressed in a plain long gown, with light steps and a stern face. It was Nangong Xiu, who had been secretly assisting her in the Shen Mansion.

"Miss." Nangong Xiu's voice was low and clear, and his eyes seemed a little solemn. "Shen Qianyun's words just now are indeed worth pondering."

Shen Yiyao did not respond, but turned around and stared at him, as if waiting for his further explanation.

"Nangong Xiu, why are you here again?" Shen Yiyao's tone was calm, but the alertness in her eyes had not disappeared. "What do you want? Did Shen Qianyun send you to test me?"

Nangong Xiu smiled slightly, still with that elusive expression: "Miss, I am not Shen Qianyun's subordinate, and of course I am not under his orders. I came here because you need my help."

Shen Yiyao's eyes glared, and she was secretly alert: "Help? What can you help me with?"

Nangong Xiu didn't answer directly. He took out a letter from his bosom and slowly handed it to her. "This is a letter from a mid-level official of Yueying Palace to the Shen Mansion. The content is related to Shen Yaoyue and the internal layout of Yueying Palace. I think it's not difficult for you to guess, young lady, that the reason Shen Qianyun came to you so suddenly is because he got some key information from this letter."

Shen Yiyao's heart trembled as she looked at the letter. Moon Shadow Palace! She finally understood Shen Qianyun's deep meaning. It was obvious that he had long known the powerful force behind Shen Yaoyue, and this letter was the key to unlocking all these mysteries.

She reached for the letter, her eyes scanning the handwriting sharply. It wasn't long, but each line carried a heavy weight. It detailed Moon Shadow Palace's recent developments and its hostile relationship with the Shen Mansion. It also mentioned Moon Shadow Palace's plans to completely break with the Shen Mansion and to unite with other forces in the martial arts world to counter the Shen Mansion's control.

Shen Yiyao's heart trembled. The contents of the letter were clearly a conspiracy of the Moon Shadow Palace. The mention of "uniting with other forces in the martial arts world" made her feel an indescribable pressure. It turned out that the Shen family faced not only the threat from Shen Yaoyue alone, but also the entire martial arts network behind the massive Moon Shadow Palace.

Shen Yiyao's brows furrowed, her doubts growing deeper. She knew that the Moon Shadow Palace's true strength should not be underestimated, and every move Shen Qianyun made seemed to be leading her towards an unpredictable situation.

"Nangong Xiu, do you know what Shen Qianyun's real purpose is?" Shen Yiyao asked slowly, with a sharp look in her eyes.

Nangong Xiu fell silent, his eyes flickering slightly as he considered whether to reveal more information. He finally sighed and spoke slowly, "Shen Qianyun's goal is both simple and complex. He wants absolute control of the Shen Mansion, and you are the key to his plan."

Shen Yiyao was slightly stunned, then immediately understood Shen Qianyun's deep meaning. It turned out that the center of this storm wasn't just Yueying Palace, nor was it just Shen Yaoyue. She, Shen Yiyao, was the opponent he truly wanted to defeat.

"You mean, I am the biggest obstacle for Shen Qianyun to control the entire Shen Mansion?" Shen Yiyao's voice was cold, and the sharpness in her eyes pierced Nangong Xiu like a blade.

Nangong Xiu nodded: "That's right. Shen Qianyun needs to defeat you in order to control the future of the Shen family. The power behind you is far beyond what Shen Yaoyue can compare to."

Shen Yiyao's heart sank as she finally realized she was no longer just a concubine in the Shen family, but now stood at the center of a vortex of power. Behind all this was a battle of power and conspiracy, a battle to see if she could reverse the situation and control her own destiny.

"Then why are you helping me?" Shen Yiyao turned around and looked at Nangong Xiu with cold eyes, as if she wanted to find some hidden answer from his eyes.

Nangong Xiu smiled slightly: "Because you are not only Shen Qianyun's opponent, but also an obstacle to Yueying Palace. And I am just helping a worthy person. You have enough ability to change the fate of the Shen family."

Shen Yiyao's heart trembled, and she gave Nangong Xiu a deep look. She knew she wasn't fighting alone. Although Nangong Xiu was mysterious, he seemed to have his own standpoints and goals. Perhaps he wasn't completely selfless, but what she needed most at this moment was someone who could help her withstand the coming storm.

"Okay." Shen Yiyao responded in a low voice, "In that case, let's deal with this storm together."

Nangong Xiu nodded slightly, with an inexplicable emotion flashing in his eyes: "Shen Yiyao, don't forget that in this chess game, the most important thing is not only the chess pieces, but also the chessboard."

Shen Yiyao looked at him, and a strange feeling suddenly emerged in her heart. She knew that this storm was inevitable, and the relationship between her and Nangong Xiu was gradually becoming more complicated and confusing in this chess game.

However, no matter what, she had no way out. The road ahead was filled with unknown dangers, but she was ready to face them all.

Because she knew that only by completely grasping the initiative in this game could she gain a firm foothold in this magnificent power struggle and move towards final victory.

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Chapter 13: The Shadow of Power