After leaving Princess Yong’an’s residence, Zhang Baohuai, who had been following behind, quickened his pace to walk in front of him. “Don’t think you can get any clues from Princess Yong’an. If she’s truly in league with Lai Luozhi, she won’t easily give you the antidote.”
“As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, I have to try,” Han Shiyuan replied without looking at Zhang Baohuai, keeping his head lowered as he walked forward.
Zhang Baohuai stopped and carefully examined Han Shiyuan’s face. It was sufficiently handsome and refined, complemented by a gentle and cultured demeanor nurtured by years of scholarly pursuits. Indeed, it could make many young ladies fall for him.
But…
Han Shiyuan had no intention of stopping to let Zhang Baohuai scrutinize him. He walked straight past, and Zhang Baohuai hurried to catch up. “What makes you think you can get the antidote from Princess Yong’an? Is it because of your looks? Han Shiyuan, handsome men are a dime a dozen. Why would Princess Yong’an choose you specifically? Why would she ruin her grand plans for your sake?”
Years ago, Han Shiyuan had severed ties with him for using his looks to serve the emperor. Now, Zhang Baohuai didn’t want to see Han Shiyuan do the very thing he despised most to obtain the antidote. Only by speaking plainly could he completely dispel Han Shiyuan’s notion of exchanging himself for the antidote.
Han Shiyuan’s eyes reddened, utterly despising his helplessness. At this moment, he had no other choice but to beg Princess Yong’an.
“Go back and take care of the Third Miss Zhu. Leave the matter of finding the antidote to me. I’ll find a way to help you,” Zhang Baohuai patted his thin shoulder. “Go back now, she’s waiting for you.”
A few days later, just as Zhang Baohuai finished his shift, a servant came to report: “Sir, this lowly one has heard that Official Lai Luozhi will be hosting a banquet at the Yuzhuan Tower three days from now. Many of his associates will be attending.”
“Is this information reliable?” Zhang Baohuai rubbed the jade ring on his finger.
The servant spoke with certainty: “Absolutely reliable, sir. It’s a secret gathering, not many people know about it. But this lowly one first heard about the banquet from the servants in Official Lai Luozhi’s household then traced it to the Yuzhuan Tower and confirmed that he indeed reserved a private room for noon three days from now, along with enough dishes for dozens of people. Then, this lowly one inquired around the residences of several officials close to him and confirmed that those officials would be attending the banquet three days later…”
He reported all the twists and turns in detail, and based on all the clues, it could indeed be determined that this information was true.
Zhang Baohuai untied his money pouch and tossed it to the servant, who happily accepted it with a broad smile and then retreated.
With no one else around, Zhang Baohuai narrowed his eyes. It was as if someone had sent him a pillow just as he was feeling sleepy.
Lai Luozhi was bringing all his associates out into the open.
With so many targets, if their people could successfully infiltrate, they could find clues about the antidote, and they would be able to know in advance about any future plots Lai Luozhi might have.
But with his backing from the Emperor, Zhang Baohuai had too much to consider and couldn’t conveniently appear himself.
Zhang Baohuai suddenly turned his ring around. He opened the door, and the servants eagerly smiled, “Does the master have any orders?”
He summoned the clever servant from earlier and whispered in his ear: “Go to the Imperial Guard’s office immediately and tell Grand Commander Shen everything you’ve found out. Tell them that this matter can only rely on them now.”
Outside the East Market, a throng of people crowded to one side, squeezing through, while the other side remained conspicuously empty, with no one daring to approach.
The White King of Hell was present; who would dare to misbehave?
Curious and fearful glances occasionally swept over, but Shen Du remained calm and composed, arms folded as he waited for Zhu Yan, dressed in dark robes, to approach from the front.
Even from a distance, Zhu Yan’s exhaustion was evident. Her posture wasn’t as straight as usual, the high bun on her head somewhat loose. The dark circles under her eyes and her haggard appearance made her look like a wilted hibiscus flower.
“Searching like this isn’t the way. Go home and rest first, then continue after you’ve had enough sleep,” Shen Du intercepted Zhu Yan, pulling her towards the Shen residence without further ado.
“Wait a bit longer. Someone said they saw Chen Huoe in Xuanping Ward. I need to go there immediately, or she might escape again,” Zhu Yan’s mind was foggy. After days of searching without rest, she had fallen into extreme fatigue, driven only by sheer determination.
Third Sister was waiting for her; she absolutely couldn’t slack off!
Shen Du’s face turned cold as he tightly held her hand. “You’ve mobilized all your connections, even including the Burangren, to search for Chen Huoe. You’ve passed by your home several times in seven days without entering. Isn’t that enough to temporarily quell your guilt and worry?”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan’s nose stung with emotion.
She felt guilty because if it weren’t for her, Third Sister wouldn’t have met with this misfortune. She was also worried that Third Sister might never wake up.
These two emotions were like wine fermenting in a vat, constantly bubbling up, about to engulf her. Only by searching day and night, by keeping herself completely busy, could her heart find some ease.
She had been working tirelessly like a donkey, not knowing when to stop. But someone had to pierce through all her thoughts, like suddenly lifting the lid off the wine vat, causing all the emotions she had been holding back to gush out at once. The taut string in her heart finally snapped at this moment.
She suddenly became fragile, tears streaming down her face.
Shen Du hugged her compassionately, feeling the warm tears seep through his clothes and straight into his heart. He gently rubbed the back of Zhu Yan’s head, full of pity: “Let’s go home. This is a long battle; you need to be in good spirits to face the enemy better.”
His voice was like a cool mountain spring in midsummer, refreshing and soothing. The mere sound of its gentle flow could sweep away all the heat.
Zhu Yan buried her face in his chest, muffling her assent. She finally agreed.
The two got into a carriage and left the East Market, leaving behind a street full of citizens stunned by their intimacy. It was truly unbelievable – being so gentle, was the White King of Hell still the same White King of Hell who could “scatter clouds by day and stop children from crying at night”?
As soon as the carriage stopped, Shen Du reached out to carry the drowsy Zhu Yan, but she inopportunely opened her eyes.
Their gazes met, and they both inexplicably felt a sense of awkwardness and heat.
“We’re at the mansion gates. You should go in and rest,” Shen Du hurriedly turned away, momentarily forgetting he was in the carriage. Intending to stand up straight, he heavily bumped his head on the carriage roof. He gritted his teeth and endured without any other reaction as if the foolish act just now hadn’t been done by him.
Zhu Yan burst into laughter. Seeing Shen Du’s body stiffen and dart out like a rabbit, her mood improved considerably.
“Grand Commander, this servant is a former member of the Shen household, named Ma San. I have extremely important matters to report.”
A voice, suppressed and filled with trepidation, suddenly sounded outside the carriage. Zhu Yan composed herself, stepped out of the carriage, and surveyed Ma San as she descended the steps.
He wore coarse brown cloth clothing and was bowing obsequiously beside Shen Du. His small, murky eyes were full of vigilance and fear, glancing around as if afraid of being monitored by someone.