Frontier Hero: From Receiving a Convicted Woman to Becoming an Emperor for All Time

Wang Yilu understood his intention in an instant.

"Are you faking your death?"

Shen Chuxiao nodded: "When it comes to playing dead, I'm second to none. Only when everyone is convinced that I'm dead will those lurking cats and dogs in the shadows reveal their true colors."

Wang Yilu rolled her eyes at him, but didn't ask any further questions. She simply squeezed his hand gently: "I'll arrange this. The funeral hall will be set up at home to avoid outside interference. As for Tie Niu... should we tell him first?"

Shen Chuxiao shook his head: "The less he knows, the better. He's the type who can't keep secrets."

"good."

Wang Yilu released his grip, turned and walked to the door. He paused for a moment, then, without turning back, said softly, "Then... don't really kill yourself."

The curtain fell, and the room returned to silence.

Shen Chuxiao then closed his eyes.

The rest was left to her.

Wang Yilu is always efficient in his work.

That very night, news spread that Shen Chuxiao's arrow wound had burst open, and the doctors were helpless; he was beyond saving.

When the news reached the scout camp, Tie Niu was squatting at the camp gate eating dry rations.

Upon hearing this, the pancake fell to the ground. He froze for three breaths, then rushed out like a madman, running wildly all the way to Shen Chuxiao's residence.

When I arrived at the mourning hall and saw the person on the door, my legs almost instinctively gave way and I knelt down.

Shen Chuxiao lay on the door panel, his face ashen as paper, covered with a white cloth, with a bowl of rice lying on his chest, and three sticks of incense rising and swirling in the dim candlelight.

Tie Niu knelt before the coffin, wailing loudly, his voice even louder than a funeral band. Snot and tears streamed down his face, and he didn't care about his appearance at all. To onlookers, he just seemed like a loyal servant, but in reality, he was genuinely afraid that his boss was gone.

He only respected Shen Chuxiao in his life. If even this pillar of support was lost, how could Tie Niu live in the future?

Wang Yilu stood to one side of the mourning hall, dressed in white mourning clothes, and bowed to the officers who came to pay their respects, saying, "My husband... succumbed to his injuries... and passed away."

At this point, she was already sobbing uncontrollably, her grief moving anyone who saw her.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching the entire Ling Shuang Pass in less than half an hour.

Inside Liu Wenzhao's study.

A trusted aide pushed open the door and entered, revealing the news of Shen Chuxiao's death. Liu Wenzhao paused for a moment.

"Dead? Really?"

Four simple words, yet they couldn't conceal the overwhelming joy that emanated from his very bones.

"Absolutely true."

The confidant bowed and replied, "Wang Yilu was crying uncontrollably, and Tie Niu was wailing even louder; it was a truly pitiful sight."

Liu Wenzhao suddenly stood up, paced back and forth in the room, his eyes gleaming. With Shen Chuxiao dead, no one in Ling Shuang Pass could control him anymore, and the position of general was finally within his grasp!

"Good! Good! Good!" He exclaimed three times, then slammed his hand on the table, his tone suddenly turning cold and stern. "Immediately, under the pretext of preventing barbarians from taking advantage of the chaos to enter the pass, mobilize all the troops from the North Gate. Without my order, no one is to move! Furthermore, notify all garrison commanders that a complete curfew is in effect tonight; not even a fly is allowed to escape!"

The trusted confidant accepted the order and left in haste.

Liu Wenzhao stood alone by the window, gazing at the faintly visible white banners in the distance, and sneered:

"Shen Chuxiao, oh Shen Chuxiao, I couldn't do anything to you when you were alive, but what can a dead person do to me?"

But soon her brows furrowed again.

Shen Chuxiao is as cunning as a fox; he couldn't possibly have died so easily.

Liu Wenzhao slowly sat back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

"Someone come here."

A bodyguard immediately entered from outside the door.

"Prepare the horses, I'm going to Shen Chuxiao's residence." Liu Wenzhao stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Captain Shen is gone. As the military commander of Ling Shuang Pass, I should go and see him off on his final journey."

The guards were taken aback, but dared not ask any more questions and hurriedly went to prepare the horses.

Inside the mourning hall, Tie Niu's sobs gradually subsided.

His legs went numb from kneeling, his face was covered in snot and tears, and he kept muttering, "Boss... why did you leave... you promised Tie Niu you'd find me a wife..."

Wang Yilu stood aside and couldn't help but feel moved when he saw Tie Niu crying like this.

Just then, footsteps were heard outside the mourning hall.

"General Liu has arrived!" came the announcement from outside the door.

Wang Yilu felt a pang of anxiety, but remained outwardly composed as she went out to greet them.

Liu Wenzhao strode into the mourning hall, followed by two bodyguards with knives. He glanced around at the arrangements, his gaze finally settling on the corpse on the door panel.

"Commander Shen..." Liu Wenzhao walked to the coffin, his voice heavy with sorrow, "I'm too late."

As he spoke, he actually bent down and bowed.

But the moment he bent down, his eyes were fixed on Shen Chuxiao's face.

His face was covered by a white cloth, and only the lower half of his face could be seen. His lips were pale and bloodless, and there was a layer of bluish-gray stubble on his chin.

But Liu Wenzhao was still worried.

"Mrs. Shen."

He straightened up and, feigning sadness, asked, "When Commander Shen left...did he leave any last words?"

Wang Yilu cursed the old fox inwardly, but a sorrowful expression appeared on her face: "My husband left in such a hurry that he only had time to say one sentence."

"What did you say?"

"He said... instruct the lord to guard Ling Shuang Pass and wait for General Lu to return."

Liu Wenzhao stared into Wang Yilu's eyes, trying to find a flaw, but Wang Yilu's expression was sorrowful and natural, showing no abnormality.

Liu Wenzhao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly strode towards the door panel.

"General Liu!"

Wang Yilu stepped forward, blocking his way, her tone tinged with displeasure, "My husband is already gone, what are you doing...?"

"I just wanted to see Lieutenant Shen one last time. After all, we worked together, and I should at least be able to confirm that he's really... gone."

Wang Yilu's expression changed, but it was too late to stop it.

Liu Wenzhao had already walked to the door panel and reached out to lift the white cloth.

"Liu Wenzhao, you bastard!"

A furious roar came from behind. Tie Niu rushed over, shoved Liu Wenzhao's hand away, and glared at him: "What are you doing! The boss is dead and you still won't let him rest in peace! What are you up to?!"

Liu Wenzhao was pushed back a step, and two bodyguards immediately drew their swords and stepped forward, but Tie Niu was completely unafraid. He gripped the hilt of his sword with one hand and pointed his other finger at Liu Wenzhao's nose: "If you dare to lay a finger on my boss, I'll fight you to the death today!"

The atmosphere in the mourning hall instantly became tense. Several officers who came to offer their condolences looked at each other, unsure of who to help.

Liu Wenzhao stared at Tie Niu's bloodshot eyes and suddenly laughed.

That's exactly the reaction he wanted.

A loyal subordinate would react this way to anyone who tries to approach the body after the master's death. If Tie Niu appears too calm and cooperative, that would be the real flaw.

"Tie Niu, you've misunderstood."

Liu Wenzhao's smile faded, he took a step back, and said helplessly, "I'm just... too grief-stricken, and I wanted to see Commander Shen one last time."

"Bullshit! Do you think I, Tie Niu, don't know what kind of bastard you are? Get out of here!"

Tie Niu glared at him, blocking the doorway without giving an inch.

Liu Wenzhao did not move forward, but his gaze swept quickly behind Tie Niu. Shen Chuxiao's hand was exposed outside the white cloth, his nails were purple, and there was still blood on the back of his hand that had not been wiped clean.

These are characteristics of severe injury and blood loss; they cannot be faked.

He glanced at Shen Chuxiao's chest again; it was completely flat.

Now, Liu Wenzhao could finally put his mind at ease.

"Commander Shen, may you rest in peace."

He left with a final remark, then turned and strode away.

The moment Liu Wenzhao stepped out of the mourning hall, the grief-stricken expression on his face suddenly froze, then shattered like a mask, and a sinister smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Good riddance! Your death is exactly what I wanted.