Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 135 Detecting the Secret Letter

She was puzzled by the sudden action, but did not show much emotion.

Military rules dictate that even if you have doubts, you can only comply.

Without waiting for Gu Jinyan to ask any further questions, they went straight into her tent and began searching every corner.

The soldiers moved with urgency and practice, as if they already knew what they were looking for.

They started with the blankets at the foot of the bed, turning over all the items one by one, even throwing her clothes on the floor.

Gu Jinyan stood aside, coldly watching their actions, a sense of unease creeping into her heart, but she still tried her best to remain calm.

"Check carefully, don't miss anything," the lead soldier whispered the order.

They quickly turned their attention to Gu Jinyan's bed, where one of the soldiers reached out and lifted her pillow.

Under everyone's gaze, a neatly folded letter appeared prominently under the pillow.

"Commander! We've found suspicious items here!" the soldier shouted, as if the appearance of the letter was a huge victory.

The soldier carefully picked up the letter and unfolded it in front of everyone.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Wenchang rushed over, his hands behind his back, a triumphant smile on his face.

He gestured for the soldier to hand him the letter, and after pretending to read it carefully, he feigned shock and said, "This is a secret letter from the enemy!"

He deliberately read aloud the contents of the secret letter: "The messages that Miss Gu has repeatedly conveyed have greatly pleased our side... We will ensure that you become a great general in the Northern Desert, build an army, and expand our territory..."

Zhao Wenchang's voice echoed in the camp, each word piercing Gu Jinyan's reputation like a sharp sword.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers watching erupted in uproar.

Gu Jinyan stood there stunned, completely unexpected to find such a letter in her own home.

She immediately realized she had been framed, but at that moment she had no way to defend herself.

“This letter… is not mine.” Gu Jinyan’s voice was low but firm. She glanced around, hoping someone would stand up and testify for her.

Zhao Wenchang sneered, "This letter was found under your pillow. Do you still want to deny it? Gu Jinyan, can you explain why this letter was found in your residence?"

Just as Gu Jinyan was trying to defend himself, several of Zhao Wenchang's "witnesses" quietly stepped forward.

Through Zhao Wenchang's careful arrangements, they stepped forward to testify at a crucial moment.

"Reporting to the general, I saw Gu Jinyan sneaking around the old well last night," Li Tuo said, forcing himself to deliver the lines he had already memorized.

His voice carried a hint of timidity, but it was precisely this timidity that made his lie seem all the more believable.

“I can also testify,” Zhang Songhu immediately echoed. “A few days ago, she asked me about the detailed arrangements for the transportation of grain and fodder along the northern route, which I found very strange at the time.”

Zhao Wenchang nodded slightly, as if these testimonies confirmed his previous judgment. He looked coldly at Gu Jinyan, as if waiting for her final struggle.

Faced with the sudden accusations and fabricated testimony, Gu Jinyan was filled with rage, but she knew she had to remain calm.

She took a deep breath and said calmly, "These are all lies. I have never met with anyone in secret, nor have I inquired about the transport of supplies."

However, her explanations seemed weak under Zhao Wenchang's manipulation.

The soldiers watching were buzzing with discussion, and many had begun to believe Zhao Wenchang's accusations. Some whispered among themselves, "She's so smart, and she always liked to investigate food supplies. It's not surprising that she's been caught."

Seeing that Gu Jinyan was unable to defend himself, Zhao Wenchang secretly felt smug.

He said, feigning seriousness, "No matter how you try to justify yourself, this letter and these witnesses have proven that you are colluding with the enemy."

Gu Jinyan, your actions have jeopardized the safety of the entire military camp.

He waved his hand, ordering the soldiers to take Gu Jinyan away: "Place her under house arrest and await further investigation." Several soldiers immediately stepped forward and restrained Gu Jinyan.

She did not resist, but looked coldly at Zhao Wenchang, her eyes filled with anger and resentment.

As Gu Jinyan was taken away, the soldiers in the camp began to discuss this sudden event.

Rumors spread rapidly, and many people had already concluded that Gu Jinyan was a traitor.

The soldiers who had once trusted her began to doubt her, and Zhao Wenchang took this opportunity to further consolidate his power.

Zhao Wenchang stood at the entrance of the camp, watching Gu Jinyan being taken away, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

Zhao Wenchang understood that a single letter and the testimonies of a few witnesses were insufficient to completely destroy Gu Jinyan's prestige.

He ordered his soldiers to spread rumors about Gu Jinyan, further undermining her trust within the army.

Rumors spread rapidly through the military camp like a plague:

"I heard that Gu Jinyan colluded with the enemy to leak our grain supply information in order to climb to a higher position. He is truly shameless."

"Hmph, she's a woman, she shouldn't have been causing trouble in the military in the first place. Now look what's happened, she's been caught with evidence of treason, she should just get out of here."

"Don't you know? Someone saw her sneaking out of the camp at night, supposedly to meet with enemy personnel. Otherwise, how could a logistics officer like her know so much about the enemy's movements?"

"She's been making too much noise lately; she probably wants to use the enemy's power to climb to a higher position."

These rumors spread quickly, further solidifying the prejudices of those who already held biases against Gujin Rock.

Even those soldiers who had some trust in her began to waver, some even whispering behind her back and casting cold glances at her.

Some people believe her actions are driven by ambition, others feel she is unworthy to remain in the military, and still others are beginning to worry that she will endanger the safety of the entire army.

Zhao Wenchang immediately seized upon this incident. He ordered Gu Jinyan to be detained and convened an emergency meeting in the camp to announce the discovery of the "secret letter."

With the contents of the secret letter being made public, Gu Jinyan's situation became even more difficult.

Upon hearing this, many soldiers and officers who were unaware of the truth began to accuse her of being "malicious," and some even privately speculated whether she had actually been colluding with the enemy all along.

At the meeting, Zhao Wenchang publicly stated: "We have discovered this secret letter, which is irrefutable evidence."

As a logistics officer, Gu Jinyan not only violated military regulations by acting on his own, but also colluded with the enemy behind the scenes, endangering the safety of our army.

Her actions are not merely dereliction of duty, but treason! Generals, can such a person still be trusted?

Zhao Wenchang's words were forceful and his tone was filled with intense indignation.

By directing public opinion toward Gu Jinyan's "collusion with the enemy," her influence in the military can be weakened, and she could even be expelled from the army altogether.

His gaze swept across the entire room, and when he saw some generals begin to nod, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Many officers became vigilant immediately upon hearing the accusation that Gu Jinyan had "colluded with the enemy."

In their eyes, although Gu Jinyan had extraordinary intelligence and a resolute character, she was, after all, an "outsider" and a woman, which made them suspicious of her behavior in the military.

Zhao Wenchang's accusations hit their weak spot, and many officers began to distance themselves from Gu Jinyan.

During the discussion, it was even suggested that, "Her behavior has seriously threatened the safety of our military. I think we should resolve this matter as soon as possible."

Most of the soldiers in the camp were straightforward people, and for them, rumors and "evidence" combined were enough to make them believe them.

The soldiers who once respected and trusted Gu Jinyan are now beginning to have doubts about her.

Several soldiers were whispering among themselves while on patrol:

"Miss Gu usually seems so upright, I never expected her to do something like this, it's truly terrifying."

"Who knows? You can't see into someone's heart. Maybe she's already been bribed by the enemy. Otherwise, why would someone deliberately investigate the granary?"

"If she really is a traitor, then all the trust we've placed in her will have been for nothing. We'd better not get too close to her."

These discussions gradually coalesced, causing Gu Jinyan's image in the camp to decline sharply.

Gu Jinyan was confined to her own tent. Looking at the forged secret letter, she felt an overwhelming sense of anger and helplessness.

She knew she had been framed, but the current situation left her helpless.

She thought of all the efforts she had made in the army during these days.

Is everything really going to be for naught because of this conspiracy?

She was unwilling to accept it, and she couldn't accept it.

"I will never let them succeed," Gu Jinyan said to himself. "Even if no one believes me, I will find the truth and prove my innocence."

She knew all too well that the matter was far from over.

Although Zhao Wenchang's conspiracy was meticulous, she did not intend to sit idly by and wait for her doom. She began to think about how to find a breakthrough and uncover the truth behind it all.

Gu Jinyan was confined to his tent, surrounded by the silent night.

After her anger subsided, she gradually calmed down and began to carefully recall all the details.

She soon realized that the frame-up was too sudden and too ingenious—Zhao Wenchang must have been plotting to kill her.

She pondered that she needed to find some reliable people to secretly assist her in investigating this conspiracy.

Gu Jinyan was well-liked in the camp, and several soldiers had long suspected that she had been wronged.

She realized that her only chance was to contact a few loyal subordinates.

As she pondered, she thought of veteran Wang Rui.

Wang Rui was one of the most senior archers in the army, highly experienced and extremely loyal to Gu Jinyan.

She secretly asked someone to pass a message to Wang Rui, asking him to come to the vicinity of the tent around midnight.

In the middle of the night, taking advantage of the camp patrol shift change, Wang Rui quietly appeared outside the tent.

He called out in a low voice, "Commander Gu, it's me, Wang Rui." Gu Jinyan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly approached the gap in the tent, whispering, "Wang Rui, I know I've been framed."

This secret letter is not mine at all; Zhao Wenchang is willing to do anything to kill me.

Wang Rui said in a deep voice, "Commander Gu, the veterans don't believe those rumors, and many brothers in the army also think there's something fishy going on."