Scourge Messenger

Chapter 91 You're More Like a Father Than Us
When Shang Xinlei returned to her room, she saw that her third brother, Shang Qia, had been waiting for her for a long time. Although they were siblings, it was already late, and Shang Qia did not go inside, but insisted on standing in the courtyard outside in the cold wind.

After Shang Xinlei dismissed the maids and servants, Shang Qia couldn't wait to complain, "Why didn't you go to greet Father? Father was assassinated. You should at least have shown some concern!"

“I don’t have any healing tokens, so what’s the point of going and joining in the fun? Besides, my father approves of what I’m doing.” Shang Xinlei swept the fallen leaves off the stone bench, sat down, and said, “He hates this kind of superficiality the most.”

"The Emperor says he detests flattery, and loyal ministers say they detest sycophancy, but which dynasty hasn't had a foolish ruler who listened to slander, or a treacherous minister who tried to guess the Emperor's intentions?" Shang Qia shook her head: "Father is also a human being. What father would be unhappy because his daughter cares about him? Besides, there are so many other people in the mansion besides Father. People's opinions are a fearsome thing. Do you want others to say behind your back that you are unfilial? How long has it been since you went to pay your respects to your aunt and third aunt?"

"I won't listen, I won't listen." Shang Xinlei covered her ears: "Sister, I just don't want to go."

"Do you think you're still a child? What's the use of acting cute?" Shang Qia said, but her tone softened noticeably. "Let's not talk about this... How's your friend?"

"It's alright, she eats a lot." Shang Xinlei wanted to laugh as she said this: "I feel like I'll fatten her up this year."

“If you want her to have more freedom of movement, I might be able to help,” Shang Qia said. “For example, you could go for a walk in the city or the county together… There are many details we can discuss.”

Shang Xinlei thought about it seriously and shook her head: "No, let's not talk about Jiang Shi. She has already attracted a lot of attention. If she goes out, someone might try to assassinate her. After all, her token is supposed to be returned to her in a year. But once she dies, it will become an unclaimed token that can be fought for. For her, Shangjia is the safest place. Anyway, it's only a year. There's no need to take any risks."

"Is that so..." Shang Qia nodded thoughtfully. "By the way, did you go to the Thieves' House again today? What's the next mission objective?"

"Speaking of which, I have a question for you, brother. Did you not tell Father about my joining the thieves' household?"

"What?" Shang Qia blinked. "You... how could you think that? How could the family allow you to camp out in the woods without your father's permission?"

“Because my father and I had a conversation yesterday, and he didn’t mention the thieves’ family at all,” Shang Xinlei said quietly. “I don’t think he’s old enough to be confused. As for the Woodland… I don’t hold any position in the family, and my father doesn’t value me. What’s so strange about him approving my going out to play?”

"Um..." Under his sister's intense gaze, Shang Qia had no choice but to tell the truth: "I really didn't tell Father."

"Why?" Shang Xinlei frowned and said, "I'm about the same age as my second sister was back then. My second-stage cultivation level can't guarantee that I can control my own marriage. If we don't add the bargaining chip of the thief family, my father will definitely betroth me to a young talent he approves of—if you won't say it, then let me say it."

"Don't!"

After much deliberation, Shang Qia sighed and said, "You don't need to worry about your marriage. Your father will not agree to marry you off."

"Brother, you're just making empty promises again. If I believed you, I'd be crying my eyes out." Shang Xinlei rested her chin on her hand and glanced at him sideways. "Given Father's personality, how could he possibly not interfere in my marriage? In his eyes, everyone has their own most suitable place, and everyone should play to their fullest potential. Men should be loyal, fight, and be diligent, while women should be obedient, bear children, and be virtuous... How could he possibly tolerate a daughter who should be married staying at home doing nothing?"

“But my father also often said something else,” Shangcha said: “No reward without merit.”

"What?" Shang Xinlei didn't understand.

"The sons of merchants, regardless of their cultivation level, can receive one secret technique book or two advanced cultivation technique books," Shang Qia said. "But no reward without merit is the opposite of what is meant by not receiving a reward. Of course, simply giving up the secret technique book is not enough to make your father give up your marriage; it can only buy you three years."

He shrugged: "I was a little worried that three years wouldn't be enough, but you comprehended the secret technique after just one trip to the Forest of Endless Slumber, and your third job advancement is just around the corner. Once you reach your third job advancement, even your father will have to take your opinion seriously, and then you can find your ideal husband on your own."

Shang Xinlei was certainly aware of this benefit. If a member of the Shang family's main lineage had mediocre talent and could only barely advance to the first class, they could exchange for two advanced cultivation techniques for a second class advancement. If their talent was sufficient for a second class advancement, they could exchange for secret technique books to pursue a third class advancement. Although she had already mastered the secret technique Blood Wheel, learning two secret techniques would obviously allow her to advance to the third class advancement faster, and even improve her class strength. She was even planning to go to her father to apply for secret technique books in a month or two.

From this perspective, Shang Xinlei's belief that she could not resist the family's arrangements was not without reason: the family had invested a great deal in raising her, and she could not harm the family's interests.

"You gave up the secret manual on my behalf?" Although she asked this question, Shang Xinlei already had the answer in her heart.

“No, I gave up my own.” Shang Qia said casually, “Although you mastered the secret technique a little faster than me, I specialize in swordsmanship, and my family has four books on swordsmanship secret techniques. Even without the secret technique book, I can still comprehend the secret technique, and maybe I can even reach the third stage of cultivation faster than you—” “What are you doing!”

Shang Qia was taken aback, then saw Shang Xinlei slam her hand on the table and stand up, her face flushed with anger, her beautiful eyes filled with fury. "Why did you give up the Secret Book?! You could have just told him I joined the Thieves' Clan! The Thieves' Clan is enough to make him value me!"

The last time he saw Shang Xinlei so angry was when they were kids, when he used to throw cow dung at her. After a few seconds, he stammered, "Because, because you're my sister! I don't want you to be used by Father as a secret weapon to infiltrate a thief's house—who knows what the risks would be. Giving up a secret manual to buy you three years is such a good deal for me."

"Isn't it good as it is? If you think there's a chance, then try to take control of the Thieves' House; if you think it's too dangerous, then just give up on going home. I'm only doing this for your own good, so what are you angry about?"

"For my own good? Do you even know what it truly means to be for my own good?" Shang Xinlei paced back and forth angrily, pointing at Shang Qia and saying, "That means you should hurry up and become a third-level messenger too! In this family, only you and I are family. Our eldest brother and second sister aren't, our fifth brother and sixth sister aren't. Only when the two of us are both third-level messengers can we truly have a voice in the Shang family!"

"That's not true at all. We're all brothers and sisters, and we have a good relationship. Would your older brother not help you?"

What Shang said was true. Although they did not share the same mother, they all grew up under Madam Gu's care when they were young. They called all three of Shang Xuanwen's wives "eldest aunt," "second aunt," and "third aunt," and treated them all as their mothers. They received the same treatment and the three wives rarely quarreled. Therefore, the relationship between the six siblings was quite harmonious.

“If we were outside, I would trust my elder brother, but what about matters within the Shang family? I don’t trust anyone but you,” Shang Xinlei said. “Go and tell Father about this right now. I only need you to tell me about the Thieves’ House; I don’t need you to give up the Secret Book.”

"I dont go."

"Then I'll go!"

"Tears of the Merchant's Heart"

The moment Shang Xinlei turned around, Shang Qia suddenly called out her full name. She turned her head and saw that her usually easy-going brother now had an unprecedentedly solemn expression. He simply put away his smile and remained silent, exuding an air of authority.

Only then did Shang Xinlei remember that her third brother was the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, her father's chief subordinate, in charge of all affairs within the Prime Minister's Office. When her father wasn't managing specific affairs, he was practically the Prime Minister in effect.

“You always complain that Father makes the best use of people without considering other people’s wishes.” Shang Qia stood up and walked to her side, saying calmly, “But aren’t you the same now, only thinking about making the best use of me?”

"I just--"

"For my own good?" Shang Qia sighed. "That's what I just said too. But my approach is to make things easier and happier for both of us; while your approach has put me in worry and put you in danger."

"I just hope we have more control over our own lives." Shang Xinlei suppressed her anger: "There are rumors that Qun Liyan's promotion to the position of Grand Councilor is a test by the royal family for Father. The Shang family has controlled the government for too long, and Father's retirement is a foregone conclusion. Even if the Shang family will not decline because of this, it is uncertain for each individual. In any case, we are not Auntie's biological sons and daughters. She and my elder brother are on the same side."

Shang Qia stared blankly at Shang Xinlei and said, "You're absolutely right. I can't refute you. You truly are my quick-witted and sharp-tongued little sister."

“But I don’t accept it.” He slowly shook his head: “Just like many of my father’s arrangements, I have always opposed them.”

“You and Father both know what is best and what is right. You believe there is a path in this world, and everyone should walk their own path to achieve happiness, but you have never asked what others really want. Xinlei, you... are more like Father than we are.”

"You are kind to others without ever considering their feelings."

Shang Xinlei was stunned.

By the time she came to her senses, Shang Qia had already been gone for quite some time.

(End of this chapter)