The soldier held out the feathered arrow in both hands.
Qiu Cheng looked at it, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
He didn't reach for it right away.
Instead, he asked, "Where was this found?"
The soldier looked troubled, but didn't dare disobey. He answered honestly, "An arrow was just shot in from outside the camp. It struck the banner."
Qiu Cheng's anger naturally flared at this.
He could have guessed who had sent the arrow with his toes. He snatched it up and pulled off the white paper.
He unfolded it in a couple of quick motions. A few bold, sweeping characters met his eyes. Before his lawful wife, who had hurried over, could get close enough to read them, Qiu Cheng's body swayed several times, as if he were about to faint. Then she heard his back teeth grind, and watched him force out several words: "This is too much! Shen Youli, that brat, has gone too far!"
"My lord!"
She hurried forward to support him, her face full of concern.
Out of the corner of her eye, she happened to glimpse the message on the paper.
Just nine simple words—
[Qiu Wenyan, clean your neck!]
Her face went deathly pale. "Who would dare be so rude and brazen?"
Miao Shu hadn't seen the message, but from the reaction of Qiu Cheng and his wife, she could tell it wasn't friendly. Most likely, Shen Tang had sent it as a "gift." She said coolly, "It should be Shen Youli. This is no doubt meant to avenge the granary at Nanyu County."
When the lady heard it was Shen Tang, she didn't believe it. Her voice shrill, she cursed, "I'd heard that this person was known for her benevolence. I thought she must be some celebrated scion