“If it wasn’t Lord Zhu Dusi’s order, could it have been mine?” Zhu Yan said as if she had heard a joke, laughing so hard that tears were about to flow. Seeing Lai Luozhi’s confusion and growing anger, she wiped her tears and kindly reminded him:
“Lord Lai, surely you haven’t forgotten the well-known ‘Three Delusions’? Anyone could be Shen Du’s weakness, but I certainly cannot be. Lord Lai, please don’t misunderstand and implicate an innocent person like me.”
She spoke with natural confidence as if this was truly what she believed. Lai Luozhi squinted at her for a while, with a half-smile that suggested he didn’t quite believe her.
At this moment, Zhu Kuo came out. Seeing the three people in confrontation, he hurriedly stepped forward with a face full of smiles:
“Lord Lai, your presence graces our humble abode. Please, come inside, come inside.”
In the unseen shadows, Zhu Kuo secretly rolled his eyes.
Lai Luozhi waved his hand dismissively, looking bored. “I originally came to drink a few cups of wedding wine, but alas, I’ve lost interest.”
Turning around, he glanced at Shen Du: “Don’t forget what I said.”
Then he mouthed the words “Zhu Yan” and left without looking back.
After Lai Luozhi had gone far, Zhu Kuo secretly spat: “What an ill-mannered thing. Entering a house celebrating a wedding without even offering a gift. No manners at all, nothing but a dog running errands for others.”
Shen Du’s mind was filled with the last two words Lai Luozhi had said, blocking out all other sounds. Without realizing it, he left everyone behind and pulled Zhu Yan back to the rear courtyard.
The noisy cicada sounds from the trees were like hot oil in a pan, repeatedly tormenting Shen Du’s heart. He held Zhu Yan’s hand so tightly that she couldn’t break free no matter how hard she tried. She called Shen Du’s name several times without response, anxiously stomping her feet.
“Shen Du, let go, it hurts.”
Awareness suddenly flowed back into his mind like a knife cutting through water. Shen Du looked down; Zhu Yan’s watery eyes were glistening, on the verge of tears.
Still not letting go, Shen Du loosened his grip and turned her hand over in his, holding it gently. He let out a heavy sigh:
“From now on, don’t have any dealings with Lai Luozhi. Even if you see him on the street, quickly avoid him. Do you understand?”
Zhu Yan smiled. Wasn’t this obvious? Lai Luozhi had ordered Lai Luofu to frame her, nearly killing her third sister. If she saw him, she would run away as fast as she could.
“Don’t smile,” Shen Du’s dark eyes narrowed, glaring at Zhu Yan coldly. “You don’t know how dangerous Lai Luozhi is.”
Zhu Yan frowned, even someone as slow as she sensed something was wrong. “What’s the matter with you?” Suddenly realizing this, she asked, “Did Lai Luozhi say something to you in private just now? Is he planning something again? Against you and me?”
Without waiting for Shen Du to respond, she continued,
“I knew it. He came to my third sister’s wedding just to cause trouble for us. Don’t let his words sway you. Today is my third sister’s wedding day, let’s be happy.”
Shen Du sighed, unsure whether Zhu Yan’s optimism was good or bad. But the woman’s hand was in his, how could he not worry?
Zhu Yan pulled her hand out and gently patted the back of Shen Du’s hand, speaking softly: “His Majesty helped us today. I think we’re not completely without hope.”
Shen Du looked at Zhu Yan’s hand covering the back of his own. The woman’s hand was delicate, white, and seemingly boneless. His ears suddenly turned red, and he uncomfortably shifted his gaze:
“That’s right. Lai Luozhi is ambitious and cunning, but he can’t outmaneuver Prime Minister Zhang Xingwei in court politics. Externally, I keep him in check, and internally, His Majesty suppresses him. Otherwise, he would have taken over long ago.”
Wait a minute, Zhu Yan withdrew her hand and held her forehead: “I’m a bit confused. Isn’t His Majesty most fond of Lai Luozhi? Isn’t the Investigative Bureau under Lai Luozhi used by His Majesty to handle troublesome matters? How could she be suppressing him?”
Shen Du looked dissatisfied at his now empty hand, but collected his thoughts and explained in detail:
“That’s just on the surface. How could His Majesty favor only one person? His Majesty is the ruler of the entire country. When His Majesty ascended to the throne at an advanced age and as a woman, there were many opponents. She needed the Investigative Bureau to eliminate dissidents and consolidate imperial power.
But now it’s different. His Majesty implements benevolent governance, the country is peaceful and prosperous, and the Investigative Bureau is no longer needed. Weighing the pros and cons, she naturally won’t give Lai Luozhi free rein. The current indulgence towards Lai Luozhi is both elevation and destruction. Sooner or later, Lai Luozhi will die from his arrogance.”
“Lai Luozhi probably knows this, which is why he’s so restless.”
After a pause, Shen Du said earnestly: “With me here, he won’t dare harm you. He won’t be able to act so arrogantly for long. Don’t say things you don’t mean because of this.”
Things she doesn’t mean?
“When did I say things I didn’t mean? Weren’t you the one who came up with the ‘Three Delusions’ back then?”
Zhu Yan raised her clear eyes and firmly stated her decision: “The three-month period is almost over. With or without Lai Luozhi, we will eventually separate. I’ll move to the Criminal Division’s quarters later.”
After regaining consciousness, she heard from her parents that Shen Du had carried her to court disregarding propriety. Although she knew this was probably Shen Du’s act of a loving couple for others to see, still,
“I know you’re not the kind of person who kills indiscriminately. You’re nothing like the rumors say. Although you’re different from before, in here…” She pointed at Shen Du’s heart,
“You’re not bad at all.”
Shen Du’s hand clenched into a fist, his ears turning slightly red, feeling a bit parched.
“Although I’m certainly not your real weakness, in others’ eyes, I am. So, I can’t selfishly drag you down.”
Zhu Yan bit her lip, her lowered eyelashes hiding the emotions in her eyes as she stammered:
“My life doesn’t matter, but you carry the burden of the Shen family’s injustice. You can’t come to harm.”
Shen Du was speechless. His nostrils flared a few times, his cold eyes reflecting Zhu Yan’s lowered face. He raised his right hand to reach out, but suddenly withdrew it. Lifting his dragon robe, he turned his back to her and said coldly:
“Do as you wish.”
Zhu Yan opened her mouth, that feeling stuck in her throat, not knowing what she was expecting. Perhaps Shen Du says, “You’re a member of the Shen family in life and in death, you’re not allowed to go anywhere.” Hah, it seems her mind wasn’t right. Shen Du couldn’t wait for her to be far away, it had always been like that.
Zhu Yan turned around angrily and walked in the opposite direction. Ever since Lai Luozhi’s arrival, her good mood had vanished.
However, life often starts slapping you in the face without warning.
Seeing Shen Du sitting high in his position at the Ministry of Justice, Zhu Yan pouted and bowed to Gao Xuecheng: “This official has other matters to attend to and won’t disturb the gentlemen’s conversation.”
“Historian Zhu, wait a moment,” Shen Du said.
Zhu Yan turned back. Shen Du’s left hand casually tapped the desk, which she had cleaned just this morning, now gleaming with cleanliness.
She couldn’t understand why Shen Du had come here.
Gao Xuecheng winked and said, “Well, Historian Zhu, the Grand Secretary came here today to borrow you for the Grand Secretariat. I’ve already agreed, so you should go with him now.”
Borrow?
Zhu Yan frowned and opened her notebook: “There haven’t been any major criminal cases these past few days. May I ask why the Grand Secretariat needs to borrow this official?”
“This official has discovered some officials selling private salt. Historian Zhu, who cleans the Ministry of Justice every day, probably wouldn’t know about this,” Shen Du said coldly.
Zhu Yan became even more confused: “For such cases, shouldn’t the Ministry of Revenue and the Court of Judicial Review be involved? There’s no need for…”
Interrupting Zhu Yan, Gao Xuecheng, with cold sweat on his back, couldn’t speak plainly with Shen Du present. He could only pull Zhu Yan aside and whisper:
“Did you offend the Grand Secretary again? Let me tell you, there’s no good outcome from angering the Grand Secretary. Just go with him obediently and see what’s going on. Try to appease the Grand Secretary while you’re at it. Husbands and wives can always talk things out.”
Zhu Yan was left speechless. Gao Xuecheng immediately changed his expression and pleaded:
“Just do us a favor and make a small sacrifice for the Ministry of Justice. Please go with this lord quickly. I’m begging you.”
This…
Zhu Yan sighed: “Alright.”