Shen Huizhao was in the city presiding over a case when two strangers suddenly rushed up to him and shouted anxiously, "Minister Shen! Bandits have attacked Yan Yue Nunnery. Your wife and the Old Madam are in danger. Hurry and go save them!"
Shen Huizhao had often faced assassination attempts since entering government service, and his enemies had used all kinds of methods. He was not so easily fooled, so he asked gravely, "Who are you? How do you know?"
Seeing that Shen Huizhao did not believe him, the man hurriedly explained, "My lord, I was on my way to deliver some lumber to Yan Yue Nunnery when I discovered bandits inside. I came down to report it, and then I saw your Shen family's carriage party heading up the mountain.
"I was going to stop them, but then I saw bandits coming out of the nunnery, so I didn't dare speak up. I hurried over to notify you."
Shen Huizhao did not believe a single word of what the man said, but he suspected that his wife and the Old Madam might really be in danger.
So he stopped questioning the man and instead ordered the constable beside him, "Keep an eye on him. The rest of you, come with me to Yan Yue Nunnery."
The constables and yamen runners hurriedly split up. Before long, they had mounted their horses and were riding out through the city gates.
They encountered no danger at all on the way to Yan Yue Nunnery. They did not even see a single sign of an ambush before they met Le Shan and her party from Haode.
Seeing his family, Shen Huizhao felt much more at ease. He hurriedly dismounted and went to the carriage. After saluting the Old Madam and his aunt and