“It wasn’t like this before. When the old master was still alive, the second young master born to Madam Wei often played with Young Master Chenzhong. It was only after the second young master passed away and Madam Wei went mad that things started to change.”
The maid sighed and stopped at the courtyard gate, saying, “If you go further, you’ll reach Madam Wei’s courtyard. Madam, if you want to relax, turn left from here and you’ll find the garden. Madam Wei is resting now, so the garden is empty. You can enjoy the flowers and plants there. But Madam must remember, don’t go near the connecting door in the back courtyard, and don’t touch the money plant with your bare hands. It’s not poisonous to touch, but if you break a leaf and come into contact with the sap, you’ll be burned.”
Zhu Yan agreed, and the maid left through the arched door on the right, carrying the removed lanterns.
She looked up at the peaceful and quiet courtyard behind the arched door, then lowered her eyes and walked towards the connecting door.
The Liang family had long since divided their household internally. Under one roof, the east wing belonged to the first branch, and the west wing to the second branch, separated only by a connecting door that was closed at night.
The connecting door was set by a small pond in the courtyard. Zhu Yan stood on the walkway over the pond, watching servants come and go through that wooden door, noisily discussing how the blood bird’s nest soup for the second young master of the first branch shouldn’t be cooked with wolfberries. After pondering for a moment, just as she was about to leave, she suddenly felt the scenery before her eyes sway, and she fell from the walkway, plunging straight into the pond below!
With a loud splash, the servants at the connecting door immediately looked over. Discovering someone had fallen into the water, a maid was about to call for help when she saw someone behind Zhu Yan flip over and jump down from the walkway.
Water splashed, and then the surface was calm.
Jinglin rushed over, looking at the motionless water surface, and called out, “Commander!”
A bird chirped lowly, and after a moment, Shen Du surfaced, holding Zhu Yan.
When she regained consciousness, the first person Zhu Yan saw was Madam Zheng, the mistress of the second branch.
As soon as she saw Zhu Yan awake, Madam Zheng immediately got up and went to the outer room to inform others. Soon after, Shen Du entered.
Zhu Yan looked at him and spoke before he could, saying, “I suppose I’ve been too exhausted from working at the Ministry of Justice these past few days. I’ve truly frightened Madam and the Shilang, it’s entirely my fault. Husband, if you have no other business, could you please take me home?”
As Zhu Yan said, her face was pale, looking genuinely overworked and tired.
Hearing this, Madam Zheng said with slight disappointment, “I had hoped to keep Madam for a meal, but if that’s the case, it’s indeed better for you to go home and rest early.”
Zhu Yan apologized, “I’ll send someone to return Madam’s clothes tomorrow. I’m sorry for alarming you.”
Madam Zheng shook her head, “It’s no trouble, as long as you’re alright.”
She beckoned for someone to bring a cloak for Zhu Yan, then accompanied her husband, Liang Jifu, to see Shen Du and Zhu Yan out.
Both of their clothes were soaked through. Zhu Yan had changed into clothes belonging to Madam Zheng’s daughter, all in snow-cyan color. Shen Du wore clothes belonging to Madam Zheng’s son-in-law, snow-cyan with embroidered rising sun patterns. Sitting together, they truly looked like a newly married couple.
If only the husband’s expression could be a bit better.
Slowly driving the horse, Shen Du looked at Zhu Yan’s profile from behind.
The young woman’s ears were slightly red, and her profile revealed the graceful end of her eyebrows. Her eyes were slightly larger than most people’s, truly almond-shaped and as large as almonds. Her cheeks were flushed red like a drunk’s under the sun, and her lips seemed as if she had drunk grape wine from the Western Regions, diffusing a light crimson color.
The sixth daughter of the Zhu family was a special beauty.
Unfortunately, after falling into the water, she now looked sickly.
Shen Du tugged at the reins, and the horse slowly walked down the long street of the Middle Sixth Avenue.
“Yesterday you could still argue with me, so it seems the Ministry of Justice hasn’t saved those few taels of silver for hiring people,” Shen Du asked coldly. “After you escaped from Jinglin, who did you see?”
Zhu Yan lowered her head and asked, “Why did you save me?”
“If I had drowned, it would have been an accidental death. This way, you wouldn’t need to be suspicious anymore, nor would you need to trouble Minister Zhang. Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?”
Zhu Yan looked up at Shen Du.
After a brief eye contact, Shen Du averted his gaze straight ahead and said, “I asked you a question, not for you to question me.”
“So cold,” Zhu Yan muttered. “When I was avoiding Imperial Guard Jing, I met a maid. I helped her carry lanterns, and she even touched my hand. Before she left, she specifically told me where Madam Wei’s garden and the connecting door were. I suppose she had already calculated that I would fall into the water.”
Shen Du lowered his eyes, “Did you see Madam Wei?”
Zhu Yan calmly said, “No, but I know you occasionally send money plants to the Liang family’s second branch. Shen Du, I’m very confused now. Please answer one question for me: was the poison that killed Liang Chenzhong administered by the second branch, or… was it Her Majesty’s intention?”
If it was an order from that iron-fisted and awe-inspiring Empress, then why would the Empress want to poison Liang Chenzhong?
Zhu Yan couldn’t make sense of the myriad thoughts in her head. Her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Shen Du, hoping he could give her an answer.
But Shen Du didn’t answer. He controlled the horse to stop in front of the mansion and extended his hand to help her dismount.
Just yesterday, Zhu Yan was still being threatened by him. Today, she was suddenly taken on a tour by him and rescued. Now this. Zhu Yan felt quite uncomfortable with the change.
But she had caught a chill, and the fatigue from these many days suddenly burst forth. At this moment, she had no strength left in her body.
Stretching out her arms to embrace Shen Du’s neck, as her feet touched the ground, Shen Du said, “Her Majesty is busy with state affairs and rarely participates in the household disputes of her officials. To kill an insignificant pawn, she wouldn’t go to such great lengths. Openly, there’s me; in the shadows, there’s also Lai Luozhi.”
The Black King of Hell, Lai Luozhi, was even more feared than Shen Du.
Zhu Yan had seen Lai Luozhi from afar once. That person’s attitude was as if looking down on all living beings as if everyone