Three days after Shen Yao regained consciousness, Left prime minister Shi came in the morning — he came to check on how Shen Yao was doing. Old Shen received him in the outer hall.
Shen Yao, who had been informed of the visit and headed to the front hall to receive him, he sat across from Left Minister Shi and listened to the conversation move as they talked about the possible culprit after all Shen Yao wasn't just any civilian he represented the military power of the kingdom and any attack aimed at him was treason
"A bold move," Left Minister Shi stated, "Whoever planned it."
"Bold indeed," Old Shen agreed. His voice was even. "Am sure u heard of ...."
"Yes, it seems the emperor is starting to suspect those around him." The Left Minister considered this. "Am sure u already guessed it, Chief eunuch Tan was the Empress dowager's person."
Old Shen sighed "But Old Shi with the emperor like this.... the four great families...."
"I know what you mean Old Shen but right now any move we make can get all of us wiped out "The Left Prime Minister said
A sort of uncomfortable silence spread across the room
Old Shen nodded although back when he was still a general of the Shen army he completely loyal to the throne how couldn't he know the type of man who could wear the dragon's robe
After a long talk Left minister Shi stood up to leave, he turned to Shen Yao with the smile of a kind elder.
"Rest well, Young Master Shen," he said. "There will be things that require your attention soon after you recover."
Understanding what he meant he bowed.
On the fifth day, a basket of fruit was delivered with herbs hidden underneath it, placed in the front hall. A guard passing through saw and handed it to Xi Shu thinking it was medicine left by Old Li for the young master
Xi Shu happily brought the package to Shen Yao who looked at the herbs.
High quality herbs enough to help him recover faster and there were a lot of them as if the sender was afraid just a few wouldn't be enough. Shen Yao didn't know why but a name quickly popped into mind.
Pei Shu
He told him to set the herbs aside and have Old Li incorporate them into the medicine. If Shen Yao could think of that then Xi Shu wasn't far behind, thinking about it his expression dropped. he frowned slightly his eyes complicated as he glanced at the herbs in his hands.
"Young master," he said carefully. "You're going to just — use them."
"They're good herbs." He picked up the document he'd been reading not bothering to look at Xi Shu expression since he could already imagine it "And Dr. Li will tell me if they're not and from what I know that guy wouldn't resort to poisoning me."
"But young master he...."Xi Shu said but Shen Yao cut him off
"Enough... that was in the past and even then, he didn't resort to such cheap tricks, just... do as your told" He glanced at Xi Shu
Xi Shu stood in the doorway having more to say and but quickly decided against it. He wanted to say that the reason he didn't try back then was because the young master was poisoning his own body by drinking by himself so there was no need but now he.....sigh he couldn't refute what his young master meant and he knew he was right but he couldn't help but be cautious after what happened. He turned and left heading to Old Li to confirm the herbs Shen Yao knew but he didn't stop him either after all it was all for his safety
The Su twins didn't visit so much as they reorganized.
They arrived together — Su Yu and Su Tan had revised the security measures of the Shen residence taking it as personal offense that their general had been attacked in his own courtyard. They presented their ideas to him talking off more guards including personnel from the main army and barricaded walls Shen Yao rubbed his temple wasn't this basically just trying attack the emperor's attention and main army personnel that was equal to organizing a coup de tart against his majesty in front of him
"Stop .....listen if they really wanted me dead," he said, "no amount of preparation could change that and u know the main army isn't allowed within the bounds of capital are u two trying to get all of us executed"
The Su twins lowered their heads as Shen Yao sighed
"Look ...I know you're all worried that something might happen to me again I get it, but what I need right now," he continued, "isn't more guards. It's better information." He set the assessment aside. "Train harder. Write to Old Lei tell him to do the same so that next time something like this happens we won't just be sitting ducks."
Su Yu and Su Tan exchanged a glance then as if seeing the same determination in each other's eyes, they nodded and bowed. "As you wish general "
Though they said that they quietly, also implement half the security measures without mentioning it. Shen Yao of course noticed and chose not to comment. Some battles were not worth having.
On the twelfth day, the newly promoted chief eunuch surnamed Mu came as per the emperor's orders
He arrived with the ceremony of an official visit — the emperor's gifts arranged with careful impressiveness. He smiled asking questions about Shen Yao's health his expression showing he was gracious and attentive. Shen Yao answered each question with gratitude showing the very outlook of one who's recovering from a dangerous situation.
He was no fool he could tell that though the eunuch Infront of him was showing concern towards him he was just probing for information every question trickier than the last.
He made sure to handle the situation without giving out too much.
The gifts sent by the emperor and other royal family members were received with appropriate appreciation. Old Shen and Shen Maio taking the task of receiving them on behalf of the household with that the chief eunuch left heading back to the palace to report back to the emperor
Even Shen Yao's second uncle came to visit four times.
The first time he was stopped at the front hall.
This was not, technically, Shen Yao's doing — the Su twins had implemented their security revisions, and permission to visit any member in the first branch of the Shen family required prior notice and Shen Yu had not provided any such notice before thinking he didn't need to as a member of the Shen family. resulting into him humiliating himself by claiming he was a member of the Shen family and what was happening an insult which attracted a lot of passersby who made comments at his expense
The second time Shen Yu came prepared having given prior notice he was allowed entry— and arrived at the outer hall his expression filled with wounded dignity with a speech ready prepared about family and responsibility and the importance of maintaining proper relationships during times of difficulty wanting to soften Shen Yao's heart.
He came again, Shen Yao chuckled if he didn't know what that old man was actually after he would have really believed that he really cared about the original Shen Yao. It seems he was really eyeing those gifts the emperor sent a few days ago
He received his uncle in the outer hall — not the inner rooms, not the study, the outer hall — putting on a smile that suggested that as a nephew he was grateful for the visit. He listened to the speech about family sipping his tea slowly paying attention to his uncle's expression that seemed to be darting around the room noticing the repairs he smiled offering tea his second uncle waited but in the end he left empty handed not getting anything he snorted in anger waved his sleeves and left
The third visit Shen Yu explained that though he was a civil official he didn't have enough to properly take care of his family. Then he went on rambling on about that how they were family how they had to share their burdens together as a family as if feeling that it wasn't enough he spoke of how his daughter admired her cousin and how they deal with all future problems together as a family.
Shen Yao smiled redirecting the conversation to how much they would contribute to his treatment how long it would take and the price of each herb in the market He had spent years in boardrooms with people trying to do exactly this and found ways on counter them he really enjoyed watching his second uncle's smile stiffen.
"But little Shen the rewards provided by the emperor this time...I saw them they were a lot just give us a bit "Second uncle Shen said as if finding an anchor
Shen Yao feigned an expression of hesitation "Second uncle don't get me wrong I would do that, but all the gifts received by the emperor are kept by grandfather "Shen Yao wanted to laugh out loud after seeing his second uncle's face that had turned abnormally red. he stood up after saying some pleasantries then he left hurriedly basically running as if something was chasing him.
Xi Shu, who had been standing to the side throughout the whole visit with a neutral expression, waited until the outer door had closed then he burst into laughter
"Young master," he said.
"I know," Shen Yao said.
"He came for—"
"I know, Xi Shu let's go"
Xi Shu nodded happily he had stayed here thinking that incase the young master grew soft and actually gave in to his second uncle's family he would block it stating that he was still injured but turns out he was overthinking it his young master wasn't just throwing a tantrum he had actually figured it out. He really wanted to cry tears of joy as he followed his young master feeling that the air today was fresher and nice.