New adversaries lie in ambush in the shadows; the clever woman responds with ingenuity.

Chapter 161: Hidden Foes Lurk in the Shadows, the Clever Heroine Responds with Wit

The night breeze was slightly chilly as it brushed against Lin Shiya's flowing sleeves. Standing by the window, her gaze was as sharp as a falcon's, sweeping across the overlapping eaves shrouded in the nocturnal darkness.

That unfamiliar faction was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, emitting a faint yet palpable sense of danger that set off alarm bells in her mind.

Instead of acting rashly, she pushed her perception to its absolute limit, attempting to capture even the slightest trace of abnormal movement.

She could sense an invisible gaze of surveillance enveloping the estate where she resided, its chilling malice as biting as a winter gale.

This sensation was entirely different from any faction within the imperial court; it lacked the calculated cunning of Grand Chancellor Yang and the arrogant overbearance of Marshal He. Instead, it felt more like a meticulously woven net designed to trap her within its confines.

The depth of inquiry in Lin Shiya's eyes grew even more intense.

Far from being intimidated by this surveillance, it awakened the defiant spirit deep within her bones.

Abandoning her usual relaxed demeanor, she remained constantly on guard.

She began to pay close attention to suspicious individuals around the estate; no exchange of glances, no unusual sound of footsteps could escape her notice.

This bred a strong sense of crisis within her, and the passive nature of the situation made her entire body feel ill at ease.

She felt as though she were enveloped in an invisible net, treading cautiously with every step yet finding no place of escape.

She started wandering around the estate more frequently, using seemingly casual movements to carefully observe her surroundings.

She could sense that the person watching her from the dark was close by, shadowing her every move like her own reflection.

One day, she was reading in the small pavilion in the back courtyard as usual.

The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, casting mottled patches of light and shadow upon her.

Though she appeared entirely absorbed in turning the pages of her book, her perceptive awareness had long since been cast outward.

Suddenly, she heard an extremely faint footstep approaching from afar, drawing closer to the pavilion where she sat.

The hand holding the page paused slightly, while a subtle, imperceptible sneer curled the corners of her lips.

Closing the book, she slowly raised her head and cast a blazing gaze deep into the bamboo grove outside the pavilion. There, a dark figure half-materialized, and a pair of eyes stared fixedly at her, as if waiting for something.

"This is truly... interesting," Lin Shiya murmured softly, her tone carrying a hint of playful amusement.

Without rising, she methodically placed the volume back onto the table, her movements as graceful as the execution of a precise ritual.

She stood up, stretched lazily, and let her gaze sweep casually over the depths of the bamboo grove, as if she were merely admiring the scenery.

Then, with brisk and light steps, she left the small pavilion and headed toward the estate's martial arts training ground.

She practiced her swordsmanship here every single morning, a habit she had maintained for years.

Wielding the longsword in her hand, the blade flashed like snow, emanating a bone-chilling coldness. As the sword shadows danced and swirled, they seemed fraught with endless killing intent.

Every single stance and movement of hers was filled with both power and beauty, yet her eyes remained ever vigilant, keeping watch over everything around her.

She knew that whoever was watching her in secret would certainly not miss this golden opportunity.

Sure enough, she soon felt that familiar gaze of surveillance descend upon her once again, this time far stronger than before.

Yet she showed no outward sign of abnormality, continuing to wield her longsword with effortless grace and even occasionally letting out a crisp laugh to throw her watcher completely off balance.

Deliberately, she engaged in public, seemingly harmless yet subtly strategic activities near the private residences of various officials.

Sometimes she recited poetry alongside students from the academy, sometimes she chatted about daily trivialities with her neighbors, and at other times she strolled leisurely through the streets and alleys with an air of complete relaxation.

These actions left her hidden watchers utterly perplexed. They began to doubt their own judgment—could this newly appointed top scholar truly be nothing more than a naive bookworm?

Lin Shiya's actions were far from purposeless; she had already arranged everything in secret.

Having disguised several trusted servants and scattered them around the perimeter of the estate, she turned the tables to monitor her watchers in return.

Like a patient hunter, she waited for the prey to walk right into her trap.

Finally, during one seemingly casual "stroll," she successfully lured her stalkers into a pre-arranged snare.

It was a secluded alleyway, deep within which Lin Shiya had been waiting for quite some time.

When those tracking her pursued her into the alley, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by a group of men dressed in black.

Every single one of them was agile and possessed formidable martial arts skills, instantly subduing the pursuers.

Through interrogation, Lin Shiya learned that these individuals were indeed members of Jianghu factions, hired by Grand Chancellor Yang and Marshal He for the dual purpose of monitoring and controlling her while gathering her secrets.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth—as expected, the ambition of these men could never be satisfied.

Skillfully, Lin Shiya leaked this intelligence to several neutral officials.

These officials had long harbored deep dissatisfaction toward the misconduct of Grand Chancellor Yang and Marshal He, and upon learning of their collusion with martial arts factions, they were consumed by fury.

Their impeachment memorials flew toward the imperial palace like a flurry of snowflakes, tearing away the veil and exposing the conspiracies of the Grand Chancellor and the Marshal once again.

Standing by the window, Lin Shiya felt the gentle breeze caress her face. She slowly closed her eyes, then opened them, her gaze flashing with resolute brilliance.

She knew that this tempest had only just begun.

"It seems they still cannot sit still..." she whispered softly. Afterward, she picked up the teacup from the desk and took a light sip; the tea within shimmered with a profound and chilling depth.

Over at the Grand Chancellor's estate, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt as though it could condense into water.

Upon learning that the imperial guard had been turned and the plan exposed, Grand Chancellor Yang flew into a violent rage. He smashed a fine purple clay teapot fiercely against the ground, sending shards scattering in all directions as the fragrance of tea mingled with the earthy stench of damp soil.

"Incompetent fools! Absolute trash!" he roared, his voice hoarse as he paced back and forth through the study like a trapped beast.

His official boots struck the floorboards with dull thuds, beating a rhythmic, nerve-wracking tattoo against Marshal He's already taut nerves.

Marshal He's face was ashen, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white and blue veins bulged on the back of his hands.

"What use is saying all this now! This brat Lin Shiya is truly hateful!" he gnashed his teeth, squeezing the words out from between them as if he wanted to tear Lin Shiya apart with his bare hands.

He could almost feel Lin Shiya's mocking gaze piercing like a sharp thorn straight into his pride, making him feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

"Things have come to this; we can only devise another plan..." Grand Chancellor Yang took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the raging fury within his chest. Walking over to the window, he stared out at the gloomy sky, his mind shrouded in pitch-black gloom.

The bitterness of failure spread across his palate like bitter herbs, making him feel a sudden wave of nausea.

"What other plan is there! This Lin Shiya is practically an impregnable fortress—water cannot penetrate her, and needles cannot pierce her!" Marshal He irritably tugged at his collar, feeling as though breathing had grown difficult.

He felt as if he were trapped inside a gigantic steamer basket, sweat soaking through his garments and leaving him in a state of sticky discomfort.

Grand Chancellor Yang turned around. "Since soft methods fail, we shall resort to hard ones. I refuse to believe she can overturn the heavens!" Striding over to his desk, he picked up a brush and jotted down a few characters on a blank sheet of paper. The strokes were vigorous and powerful, seemingly imbued with endless killing intent.

Marshal He stepped closer, peering at those characters, and his eyes too revealed a vicious glint.

"Very well! We shall proceed as the Chancellor commands!" He nodded heavily, as if having resolved himself to a grim destiny.

Meanwhile, Lin Shiya was strolling through her own garden. The afternoon sunlight cast a warm, pleasant glow upon her, while a gentle breeze swept past, carrying waves of floral fragrance that refreshed the spirit.

Her mood was exceptionally buoyant, as if a weight of a thousand catties had been lifted from her shoulders.

Suddenly, her footsteps halted, and her gaze fell upon a peony blossom blooming in the corner of the garden.

The peony was in full bloom, its layered petals tender and vibrant, appearing exceptionally dazzling in the sunlight.

Yet what caught her attention was not the flower itself, but rather a familiar figure flashing past behind the peony bushes.

The figure was tall, upright, and clad in luxurious attire. Though it was merely a fleeting glimpse, she recognized him instantly—it was Murong Fu.

Why was he here?

Doubt stirred within Lin Shiya's heart, and just as she was about to step forward to investigate, a low voice sounded right beside her ear: "Don't move..."

Her heart gave a violent leap as she felt a warm, large hand gently stroke her hair. The touch was so tender and lingering that it sent a shiver through her entire body.

Murong Fu's gaze was as gentle as water, as if it could melt Lin Shiya completely.

He stroked her hair softly, his fingertips grazing her smooth locks, savoring the silk-like texture.

His eyes were filled entirely with affection and admiration, as though he were gazing upon a priceless, peerless treasure.

Leaning naturally into his embrace, Lin Shiya felt the warmth radiating from his body, and an unprecedented sense of security enveloped her.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting mottled light and shadow that enveloped them both, forming a heartwarming picture.

At that moment, the world seemed to stand still, with only each other's steady heartbeats clearly audible.

Closing her eyes, Lin Shiya took a deep breath, relishing this fleeting moment of tranquility and peace.

Murong Fu's embrace was broad and warm, acting like a safe harbor that allowed her to temporarily forget all troubles and sorrows.

She could feel his powerful heartbeat, thumping rhythmically against her senses, bringing her immense peace of mind.

Yet such blissful moments were always agonizingly brief.

Lin Shiya knew that Grand Chancellor Yang and Marshal He would never let the matter rest; they would surely be plotting an even madder scheme of retaliation in the dark.

A vague sense of unease stirred in her chest, pressing down like a heavy boulder and making it hard to breathe.

Opening her eyes, a flicker of worry crossed her features, and this subtle anxiety was instantly captured by Murong Fu's keen senses.

"What is it?" he asked with tender concern, his voice low and soothing like a spring breeze brushing across Lin Shiya's heart.

Raising her head, she looked into Murong Fu's eyes, her own filled with a complex swirl of emotions.

"I'm worried..." she began, her words trailing off as a myriad of thoughts churned within her mind.

Gently patting her shoulder, Murong Fu offered comfort: "Don't worry, I am here for everything." His tone was resolute and powerful, seemingly imbued with boundless strength that gradually calmed Lin Shiya's unsettled heart.

The two lingered in the garden for a long time, only parting with lingering reluctance as the sun began to set in the west.

Returning to her study, Lin Shiya lit a candle, its dim, yellowish glow illuminating her slightly fatigued face.

Walking over to the window, she stared out at the gathering nocturnal darkness outside, a tempest of thoughts raging in her mind.

"I'd like to see what other tricks you have left..." she murmured softly, her tone carrying a trace of unyielding resolve. Then, stepping up to her desk, she picked up her brush and began to write...

On the sheet of paper, four stark characters were prominently written: "Northern Yan Spy."