Everyone present remained silent. Indeed, what could be done? Chen Huoe was Lai Luozhi’s person, which meant Lai Luozhi was intimidating the Zhu family. If Zhu Yan continued to investigate this case, more members of the Zhu family would be implicated.
Apart from the Empress, it seemed only the head of the Grand Cabinet could stand up to Lai Luozhi.
Suddenly, everyone’s gaze turned to Shen Du, who had entered from outside and remained silent.
It was only then that they noticed Shen Du was bleeding.
“Minister, are you injured?”
There had been sounds of fighting outside, yet they hadn’t thought to ask about it.
“It’s nothing,” Shen Du replied tersely.
Zhu Mojie couldn’t hold back anymore. Seeing everyone hesitating to speak, he asked first, “Who broke in outside?”
Zhu Yan and Shen Du exchanged a glance, then looked away.
“It couldn’t be… Chen Huoe, could it?” Zhu Mojie’s mind raced, coming to a shocking conclusion.
Shen Du and Zhu Yan exchanged another glance, nodding in silent confirmation.
Zhu Kuo refused to believe it: “But Chen Huoe died long ago. Her Majesty even issued an edict announcing it.”
Madam Jin clasped her hands together: “Could she have come back to life? Amitabha, how extraordinary.”
Only Zhu Mojie burst into tears, lying at Zhu Caiwei’s bedside, sobbing: “Third Sister, Third Sister, I don’t want Third Sister to die.”
——
The scene was deathly quiet. After a long while, Zhu Kuo came to his senses and started yelling at Zhu Yan,
“Your aunt and your mother both say you’re the smartest of the Zhu children. Tell me, what should we do? Now even Chen Huoe has come back from the dead. How are we going to resolve this?”
Zhu Yan remained silent. Shen Du swept his gaze over everyone, especially Zhu Mojie, whose sobs quieted under his stare.
“This matter involves me as well. Lai Luozhi has always been at odds with me. The Zhu family might have been implicated because of me this time.”
Zhu Kuo blinked and nodded. Even when Madam Ru pulled at him, he didn’t hold back. After all, it wasn’t him saying it; Shen Du had admitted it himself.
“Right now, saving the person is most urgent. As for Chen Huoe, whether she’s human or ghost, I will bring her to justice.”
Zhu Kuo waved his sleeve, rolling his eyes: “I don’t care about bringing her to justice. What about my daughter?”
Indeed, the most pressing matter now was to save Zhu Caiwei.
Madam Jin worried: “In all my years, I’ve never seen such an illness.”
Hearing this, Zhu Kuo began to wipe away tears: “Curse that Chen Huoe. If you want to take a life, take mine. Why take my daughter’s?”
Zhu Yan felt pained hearing this. What was the point of her working so hard on this case? The truth was still shrouded in mystery, while her family kept suffering the consequences.
“Everyone, rest assured. Even if it costs me my life, I, Zhu Yan, will save Third Sister’s life.”
But Zhu Kuo suddenly looked at her fiercely: “You still want to risk your life against that King Yama? Hm? Do you want me to lose another daughter?”
With those words, Zhu Yan’s tears fell like rain. Although Zhu Kuo usually seemed unreliable, he loved his children deeply, willing to risk his life for them.
On the way back to the Shen residence, Zhu Yan was gloomy, her eyes filled with worry but also a special determination.
Shen Du didn’t speak either, just quietly accompanying her.
After a long while, Zhu Yan suddenly stopped and turned to Shen Du, saying, “I’m sorry, I might have to break my promise again.”
This time, Shen Du didn’t try to persuade her to stop as he usually did. Instead, he looked at her very calmly and said,
“You’ve always been smart and good at thinking. Now that we’ve come this far, haven’t you ever considered that it’s too late to back out?”
Zhu Yan didn’t immediately understand Shen Du’s words. She blinked, looking at him with furrowed brows. “What do you mean?”
Shen Du’s face bore a deep meaning as he let out a slight sigh,
“The game has already begun. No one has the right to stop it. Even if we want to quit, many things are forcing us to continue. Since we can’t stay out of it, we should prepare to fight to the death. Only the one who survives to the end will be the winner.”
Shen Du’s words struck Zhu Yan like a warning bell.
Shen Du was right. This wasn’t about whether she wanted to continue or not. Circumstances forced her to keep investigating. If she remained stationary, she would be in danger of losing her life at any moment.
She had to survive, not just for the Zhu family, but also for the Shen family.
To save Zhu Caiwei, Han Shiyuan decided to seek help from Princess Yong’an. After hearing Zhu Yan’s words at the Zhu residence, he had already made up his mind.
Believing that Princess Yong’an and Lai Luozhi were working together to hide Chen Huoe, he waited outside the Prince of Ying’s mansion, but Princess Yong’an didn’t come out.
After a while, instead of Princess Yong’an, her husband, Lord Yuchi Yang, came out.
Yuchi Yang’s ancestors had followed the founding emperor of the previous dynasty in his conquests, becoming one of the twenty-four meritorious officials. They were granted the title of Duke of Wei, benefiting future generations.
Yuchi Yang had inherited his ancestors’ temperament. He didn’t like studying and was a mere warrior. Now he had inherited the title of Right Martial Marquis and Great General. However, he was as meticulous as a silkworm’s thread. He had naturally heard the rumors about Princess Yong’an’s affairs.
But he never thought someone would come looking for her at their home.
“Better to marry a reformed courtesan than a woman who climbs over walls.”
One look at Han Shiyuan’s appearance, and he knew this was the type Princess Yong’an favored. Such arrogance, not even bothering with pretenses, was truly unbearable to him. He drew his sword, ready to kill Han Shiyuan.
Yuchi Yang wielded a Green Dragon Sword, five feet long and weighing three hundred jin. He brandished it fiercely, holding it to Han Shiyuan’s delicate neck. The cold light gleamed in Han Shiyuan’s eyes as he calmly looked at Yuchi Yang, his gaze filled with determination.
“My life, Han Shiyuan’s, is of little consequence. But I beg the Lord Consort to let me see the Princess once, so she may know my sincerity. As long as the Princess agrees to save Caiwei, I’ll agree to anything.”
“Do you think having a pretty face means you can do whatever you want?”
Yuchi Yang was furious. The pretty boy before him clearly didn’t understand his meaning. He wasn’t entirely acting because Han Shiyuan had come looking for Princess Yong’an, disrespecting him. It was mainly because Princess Yong’an had been riding roughshod over him for too long, and he could no longer bear it. He was just using this opportunity to assert his authority.
If Princess Yong’an could have lovers, why couldn’t he? He didn’t care.
Han Shiyuan remained calm in the face of Yuchi Yang’s words. “If the Lord Consort wants my life, take it. But before I die, please allow me to see the Princess once?”
“Fool, you’ve met me and still want to see someone else?”
Seeing that Han Shiyuan wouldn’t give up and still wanted to see Princess Yong’an, Yuchi Yang could no longer contain his anger. He was about to slit Han Shiyuan’s throat.
“Stay your blade.”
At the critical moment, as expected, Zhang Baohuan appeared. Han Shiyuan glanced at him, then looked away.
“Why is it you?” Yuchi Yang frowned. Zhang Baohuan didn’t have close ties with the Prince of Ying’s mansion. How had he appeared at such an opportune moment?