Calamity Messenger-Chapter 111 - 90: You’re More Like a Father Than Us

Chapter 111: Chapter 90: You’re More Like a Father Than Us

When Shang Xinlei returned to her room, she saw her third brother, Shang Qia, had been waiting for quite some time. Although they were siblings, it was already late, and Shang Qia did not enter the room but chose to stand outside in the courtyard, facing the cold wind.

Once Shang Xinlei dismissed the maidservants, Shang Qia couldn’t wait to complain: "Why didn’t you go to meet Father? He was assassinated; no matter what, you could at least show some concern, right?"

"I don’t have any healing tokens, what’s the point of going to join the commotion? Moreover, Father agrees with my approach." Shang Xinlei brushed the fallen leaves off the stone bench, sat down, and said, "He loathes such superficial gestures."

"The Emperor says he dislikes flattery, loyal ministers say they hate bootlicking, but in which dynasty weren’t there foolish rulers who believed slander and treacherous ministers who guessed the emperor’s intentions?" Shang Qia shook his head, "Father is also human, what father would be unhappy with his daughter’s concern for him? Besides, apart from Father, there are so many people in this mansion; words hurt, don’t you fear others secretly calling you unfilial? How long has it been since you greeted First Aunt and Third Aunt?"

"Not listening, not listening." Shang Xinlei covered her ears: "I simply don’t want to go."

"Do you think you’re still a child, what’s the use of being coy?" Shang Qia said, softening his tone, "Let’s not talk about this... how’s your friend?"

"She’s fine, she eats a lot." Shang Xinlei couldn’t help but smile, "Feels like she’ll fatten up nicely this year."

"If you want her to have a larger range of activity, maybe I can help." Shang Qia said, "Perhaps you can stroll around the city or the county... there’s always room to discuss the details."

Shang Xinlei thought carefully, then shook her head, "No, let’s not. Not to mention Jiang Shi’s incident has already drawn a lot of attention to her, if she goes out, someone might assassinate her — after all, her token is to be returned to her in a year, but if she dies, it becomes an ownerless treasure that anyone can fight for. For her, the Shang Family is the safest place, and anyway, it’s only a year, there’s no need to take risks."

"Is that so..." Shang Qia nodded thoughtfully, "Oh, did you visit the Thief’s House today? What’s the next mission target?"

"Speaking of this, I have a question for you, brother. Did you not tell Father about me entering the Thief’s House?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"What?" Shang Qia blinked, "Wh... why would you think that? Without Father’s permission, how would the family allow you to go to Mansu Forest Land?"

"Because Father and I had a conversation yesterday, where he didn’t mention the Thief’s House at all." Shang Xinlei said softly, "I don’t believe he’s reached the age of being senile. As for Mansu Forest Land... I don’t hold any family duties, Father doesn’t place much value on me, permitting me to go out and have fun isn’t surprising."

"Hmm..." Under his sister’s piercing gaze, Shang Qia had no choice but to confess, "I indeed didn’t tell Father."

"Why?" Shang Xinlei frowned, "I’m already of an age similar to Second Sister back then, my second-turn cultivation can’t guarantee I can decide my own marriage. Without the bargaining chip of the Thief’s House, Father will surely betroth me to some talented young man he fancies — if you don’t say anything, then let me be the one to say it."

"Don’t!"

Shang Qia thought for a long while, then sighed deeply, "Don’t worry about your marriage, Father won’t marry you off."

"Brother, you’re drawing cakes again, if I believe you, I’ll be heartbroken." Shang Xinlei propped her chin with her hand and glanced at him, "Given Father’s personality, how could he not intervene in my marriage? In his eyes, everyone has their most suitable position, everyone should make the most out of their value. Men should be loyal, fight, and be diligent; women should be obedient, reproduce, and be virtuous... how could he tolerate a daughter who should be married staying at home doing nothing?"

"But Father often says another phrase," Shang Qia said, "Rewards without merit."

"What?" Shang Xinlei did not understand.

"Shang Family members, regardless of their cultivation, can receive one Secret Technique book or two Advanced Cultivation Method Books." Shang Qia said, "But what it means in reverse is, as long as you don’t claim rewards, you can be without merit. Of course, giving up the secret technique alone is not enough to make Father abandon your marriage, but it can earn you three years."

He shrugged, "Initially, I was worried if three years would be enough, but once you grasp the secret technique at Mansu Forest Land, a third-turn is imminent. When you reach the third-turn, Father must value your opinions more, then you’ll be able to find a suitable partner yourself."

Shang Xinlei was well aware of this benefit. If Shang Family Main Lineage descendants had mediocre talent barely enough for one turn, they could exchange for two Advanced Technique books for a second-turn; if the talent was sufficient for a second-turn, they could exchange for a Secret Technique Book to pursue a third-turn. Although she had already mastered the Secret Blood Wheel, learning two secret techniques would evidently advance her to a third-turn more swiftly, even the strength of her profession would be elevated, she had planned to apply for a Secret Technique Book from Father in a month or two.

From this perspective, Shang Xinlei felt she had a reason for being unable to resist the family’s arrangement: the family had invested greatly to cultivate her, and she could not harm the family’s interests.

"Did you relinquish the Secret Technique Book for me?" Though she asked, Shang Xinlei already knew the answer.

"No, I relinquished mine." Shang Qia said casually, "Although you’re a bit quicker at mastering the secret technique, I primarily focus on Sword Dao, and the family has four Sword Dao Secret Magic Books, even without a Secret Technique Book, I can still comprehend the techniques, and might transition to a third-turn faster than you —"

"What are you doing!"

Shang Qia was taken aback, seeing Shang Xinlei rise abruptly, slamming the table in anger, her face flushed red, and her beautiful eyes filled with indignation, "Why abandon the Secret Technique Book!? You could just tell him about me joining the Thief’s House! That’s enough for him to value my worth!"

The last time he saw Shang Xinlei so furious was when they were children and he played with cow dung as if they were balls, only after several seconds did he manage to stutter, "Because, because you’re my sister! I don’t want Father to regard you as a covert pawn to infiltrate the Thief’s House — who knows what risks that entails. Forsaking a Secret Technique Book can exchange for three years for you, to me that’s a great deal."

"Isn’t it good the way things are now? If you feel there’s an opportunity, then strive to master the Thief’s House; if you find it too perilous, then simply quit and return home. I’m looking out for you, why are you angry?"

"For my sake? Do you know what truly is for my sake?" Shang Xinlei walked back and forth in fury, pointing at Shang Qia, saying, "That means you better achieve the third-turn quickly! Only us in this house are blood relations, neither Big Brother nor Second Sister are, nor Fifth Brother and Sixth Sister. Only if both of us are third-turn messengers can we really have a say in the Shang Family!"

"That’s not true, we’re all siblings, we have a good relationship, won’t Big Brother lend you a hand?"

Shang Qia wasn’t wrong; while they didn’t share the same mother, they all grew up under Madam Gu’s care, calling Shang Xuanwen’s three wives First Aunt, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, treated and respected them as mothers, receiving identical treatment, and the three wives rarely quarreled, thus the six siblings maintained a harmonious relationship.

"I might believe Big Brother outside, but inside the Shang Family? I trust no one but you and myself," said Shang Xinlei, "Go to Father at once and tell him this matter. I just need you to mention the Thief’s House, not for you to give up the Secret Technique Book."

"I’m not going."

"Then I’ll go!"

"Shang Xinlei."

At the moment Shang Xinlei turned away, Shang Qia suddenly called out her full name. She turned back and saw this brother she usually bullied, his expression unprecedentedly solemn, he just put away his smile, his mere silence exuded authority.

Only at this moment did Shang Xinlei recall that her third brother was the Chief Historian of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, her father’s principal aide, managing the mansion’s affairs, and when Father didn’t handle specific matters, he essentially served as the Chancellor.

"You always complain that Father uses people according to their potential, without considering their will." Shang Qia stood beside her and said calmly, "But aren’t you now trying to make the most use of me too?"

"I only—"

"For my sake?" Shang Qia sighed, "I just said so too. But my actions aim for us both to be relaxed and happy; whereas your approach puts me in worry and you in danger."

"I just want us to have more capability to control our own lives." Shang Xinlei fought to suppress her anger, "It’s circulating outside, that the appointment of several attendants was the Imperial Family testing Father, the Shang Family’s hold on the politics has been too long, Father’s retreat is imminent. Even if the Shang Family won’t decline, it might be a different story for individuals. We ultimately aren’t First Aunt’s own children, she and Big Brother are aligned."

Shang Qia stared at Shang Xinlei dazedly, saying, "You’re absolutely right, I’m unable to argue, you truly are my articulate sister."

"But I don’t accept it." He slowly shook his head, "like many of Father’s arrangements, I disagree."

"You and Father, know what’s best, what’s right. You both see a path in the world everyone should be on to achieve happiness, but never asked what others want. Xinlei, you... are more like Father than us."

"Your ideas of kindness never consider someone else’s feelings."

Shang Xinlei froze.

By the time she regained her composure, Shang Qia had already left long ago.