“Madam,” Jinglin appeared by Zhuyan’s side as soon as she stepped into the courtyard. “You’ve finally returned. The Grand Coordinator has been waiting for you in the study for some time. He wishes to discuss something with you.”
Hearing this, Zhuyan’s heart sank. Could it be that everyone knew about some good news that was about to happen today, except for her?
What exactly were they all hiding? Zhuyan grew increasingly puzzled.
Upon entering the study, she saw Shen Du sitting at his desk, perusing case files as usual. Zhuyan sat to one side, her expression bewildered. “I heard you were looking for me?”
“Yes,” Shen Du replied coldly, his tone devoid of any hint of good news.
“Is something the matter?” Zhuyan asked, noticing the files he was still organizing. She furrowed her brow. “Do we have a new case? What are you sorting through?”
“These are the case files for the Jinxiu Fang incident. I’m organizing them for easy reference in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Zhuyan seemed to realize something. She looked at Shen Du with disbelief, slowly rising to her feet. “What do you mean?”
Shen Du set down the files in his hand and gazed at Zhuyan meaningfully. “Her Majesty has agreed to reopen the case. Shouldn’t I be organizing the files?”
For a moment, Zhuyan was completely stunned, unable to react.
Her lips parted several times as if to speak, but she couldn’t find the words. Finally, she managed to utter just three words, “Is it true?”
“Do I look like I’m joking with you?” Shen Du didn’t answer directly, instead asking with interest.
Zhuyan’s expression shifted from surprise to joy. She seemed unable to control her emotions. “I thought you…”
“Did you think that for the sake of self-preservation, I would carefully consider whether or not to report this matter to the Empress?”
Shen Du interrupted before Zhuyan could finish. He had voiced exactly what was on her mind. Zhuyan’s expression froze, and she looked somewhat embarrassed.
Shen Du stood up and approached Zhuyan, looking down at her. “My actions have surprised you this time. What are your thoughts?”
“I… what thoughts could I have?” Zhuyan’s face showed discomfort. “I just think you’re quite upright. This is what someone in an important position should do.”
“…” Shen Du was speechless. His brows furrowed. “Besides that, don’t you have anything else to say?”
Zhuyan was completely baffled, not understanding Shen Du’s meaning at all.
“Say… what?”
Shen Du clenched his fist. This woman was truly as dense as a log when it came to matters of the heart.
The reason he had reported this matter to the Empress was entirely for Zhuyan’s sake, hoping to bring a smile to his beloved wife’s face.
He didn’t expect gratitude, but at least a few kind words would have sufficed.
Yet now, what Zhuyan was thinking was completely beyond his imagination. She thought his actions were simply a matter of course.
His passionate intentions had gone to waste, his kindness mistaken for callousness.
Seeing that Shen Du had fallen silent, Zhuyan grew even more confused. She scratched her head. “What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect?”
“No,” Shen Du said coldly, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Zhuyan couldn’t understand what was happening at all. As she turned to leave, Shen Du dismissed her, effectively shooing her out.
“How bizarre,” Zhuyan muttered these four words with displeasure as she left.
Early the next morning, Lu Chuichui also learned about the reopening of the Jinxiu Fang case. He excitedly came to find Zhuyan.
“I heard the Empress agreed to reopen the Jinxiu Fang case. This is truly Shen Du’s achievement. Did you properly show your appreciation?”
Seeing Lu Chuichui’s gossipy expression, Zhuyan couldn’t understand at all.
Just like yesterday when Shen Du suddenly asked if she had anything to say, it left her completely bewildered.
“Show appreciation for what? Why are you all acting so strange? Yesterday when Shen Du came back and told me this news, I was very happy. But then he suddenly asked if I had anything to say. I don’t understand what he wanted me to say.”
Hearing Zhuyan’s words, Lu Chuichui was dumbfounded.
“Sixth Sister, you haven’t become foolish from handling too many cases, have you?”
“…” Zhuyan’s lips twitched. What had she said wrong now?
Seeing Zhuyan’s completely confused expression, Lu Chuichui jabbed her forehead with his index finger, saying with exasperation, “Oh, you! I think you’ve truly become foolish from handling cases. Do you know why Shen Du requested the Empress to reopen the Jinxiu Fang case?”
Zhuyan thought quickly for a moment. “Isn’t it to uphold justice?”
Lu Chuichui was utterly helpless, almost laughing from frustration at Zhuyan. “What justice? So many years have passed, isn’t it too late to uphold justice now? He did this because he saw you constantly worrying about the Jinxiu Fang matter, unable to eat or sleep properly. He wanted to ease your concerns, so he decided to have the case reopened. When did you become so foolish?”
Hearing Lu Chuichui’s explanation, Zhuyan suddenly understood. No wonder Shen Du had spoken so strangely yesterday. It turns out he had done all this for her sake, and she had so ungratefully misunderstood his good intentions. How terrible of her.
Zhuyan slapped her forehead hard, hating herself for not realizing this earlier.
“In that case, I really should thank him properly. Well… I’ll go see him now. You can see yourself out.”
After saying this, Zhuyan was about to hurry off when Yunque came running over excitedly, blocking her path.
“I heard that the Mingsheng Temple here is very efficacious for predicting romance. Shall we go together to pray for good fortune in love?”
Zhuyan didn’t want to engage at all and was about to leave when Yunque grabbed her arm. “Where is the Coordinator’s wife rushing off to? Is there anything more important than matters of lifelong happiness?”
“Lifelong happiness is indeed important, but she’s already a married woman. What’s the point in praying for romance?” Lu Chuichui asked, puzzled.
“What’s wrong with that? I will be entering the Shen family in the future, and then I’ll be sisters with the Coordinator’s wife. I want to see if our future days together will be smooth. Let’s go take a look, so we can have peace of mind,” Yunque replied.
Lu Chuichui was completely shocked by Yunque’s words, his lips quivering.
Zhuyan wasn’t faring much better, unable to think of any way to rebuke Yunque. In the end, both of them were dragged to Mingsheng Temple.
“When I enter the Shen family in the future, I will treat the Coordinator’s wife like my own elder sister. I’ll help you solve problems and take care of the Grand Coordinator together. This way, we’ll even enjoy our meals more. Don’t you agree, Coordinator’s wife?”
Zhuyan was at a complete loss for words. What on earth was going on in this woman’s mind? It was all twisted logic.
Beside her, Lu Chuichui was equally speechless, feeling as if this woman didn’t belong to this world, spouting such bizarre things.