Mo Qianzhi gave a bitter smile. “Does the young master truly have the courage to give up everything you have now? If you want to thoroughly investigate what happened back then, you’ll have to overturn everything you see before you now. Is it worth it?”
Shen Du’s eyes narrowed. Although Mo Qianzhi’s words sounded severe, he knew they weren’t an exaggeration.
His lips parted, unsure whether to continue questioning. Seeing Shen Du about to speak again, Mo Qianzhi quickly added, “Lord Shen is now married. You can’t just think about yourself; you must consider Lady Shen as well.”
The words struck home.
Undeniably, Zhu Yan was now his weakness. Even if he didn’t think of himself, he had to consider Zhu Yan and the entire Zhu family.
Sensing a shift in the conversation, Mo Qianzhi continued, “The Grand Secretary must think this through carefully.”
He had called him “young master” earlier, and now addressed him as “Grand Secretary.” As expected of someone versed in officialdom, Mo Qianzhi’s choice of words was impeccable.
Shen Du’s brows furrowed, not immediately answering Mo Qianzhi’s question. At this point, Mo Qianzhi seemed to relax slightly.
“This official has already written a memorial to the Empress, hoping she will send people from the Bureau of Investigation to replace the Grand Secretary in investigating this case. The reason is simple: the Half-Faced Ghost case has been unsolved for years. If the Grand Secretary continues to investigate, it will only end in futility. Given my prior relationship with the Shen family, I naturally don’t want to see the Grand Secretary lose the Empress’s trust.”
Mo Qianzhi’s words were earnest, almost moving Shen Du.
He was considering Shen Du’s interests at every turn, truly a rare show of care.
Shen Du looked at him, seemingly unable to find any fault with his words.
His eyes narrowed as he coldly asked, “If Magistrate Mo is so considerate of me, why did you treat me like a stranger at the banquet?”
Mo Qianzhi quickly bowed. “The Shen family’s affairs are long past, and now the young master’s status is extraordinary. This official has experienced the treacherous waters of officialdom and only wishes to live peacefully. I didn’t want to form any other relationship with the young master that might make things difficult for you. Thus, I distanced myself from you in public. Please forgive me, young master.”
Shen Du didn’t respond, but a strange coldness flickered in his eyes.
Mo Qianzhi noticed Shen Du’s change and calmly continued, “Back then, when the young master was sent to the palace, you endured great hardships. This was ultimately due to the machinations of officialdom that implicated you. From that time on, I hoped the young master would have no ties to official circles. Yet, who could have foreseen that after many twists and turns, you would catch the Empress’s eye? What’s done is done, and this official can only do his best to protect you.”
His words sounded even better than a song, always considering Shen Du’s interests and even bringing up past events to draw closer to him.
Shen Du listened coldly, his expression unchanged. He was well aware of his position.
Having been in officialdom for so long, he had grown weary of such flattery.
He hadn’t seen Mo Qianzhi for years. First, Mo distanced himself at the banquet, then tried to persuade Shen Du to give up his revenge, and now he was intentionally drawing closer by mentioning past events. This chess game was being played flawlessly.
If it were anyone else, they might have wavered by now. But Shen Du was different. He had endured the hardships of the palace and borne the pain of his family’s unjust treatment.
At this point, what could shake his firm resolve?
Mo Qianzhi fell silent, standing respectfully to one side.
He had thought his words would move Shen Du, but unexpectedly, even after a long silence, Shen Du showed no reaction. This made Mo Qianzhi begin to doubt.
After another moment, Mo Qianzhi’s palms were cold with sweat.
He didn’t know what Shen Du was thinking, and those deep eyes made it hard to guess his thoughts.
Just as he was about to speak, Shen Du’s lips suddenly curved into an enigmatic smile. “Magistrate Mo is so considerate of me, and I am indeed touched. But life is like this – if you don’t try, how will you know whether you can succeed? Who wins and who loses is yet to be determined. What about the Half-Faced Ghost? Even if it were a celestial being, as long as it has committed murder, I would still bring it to justice.”
“Young-” Mo Qianzhi’s lips parted, but before he could finish, Shen Du interrupted him.
“I appreciate Magistrate Mo’s good intentions, but I’m afraid your memorial won’t reach Chang’an. Since I’ve already come here, I will thoroughly investigate this case. As for the old case of the Shen family, as a member of the Shen family, I naturally have the responsibility to uncover the truth. Magistrate Mo once saved my life, and this is something I dare not forget. I will certainly repay this debt in the future.”
Mo Qianzhi wanted to say more, but seeing Shen Du’s determined expression, he swallowed his words.
Years ago, Mo Qianzhi was the youngest among Shen’s father’s students and had the closest relationship with Shen Du. If not for this, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to ensure Shen Du’s entry into the palace.
But many years had passed, and things had changed.
Two people who were once close friends now met with a sense of estrangement. Any attempt at heartfelt communication would be in vain.
One should always hold back some words, and of the seven parts spoken, how much was true or false remained unknown.
Shen Du naturally wouldn’t lose his head over Mo Qianzhi’s words.
After what seemed like a long time, Mo Qianzhi let out a bitter laugh, as if mocking his fruitless efforts.
Having already distanced himself, Mo Qianzhi also realized how he should position himself.
He bowed again to Shen Du in the manner of officials and asked, “Grand Secretary, I suspect your trip to Gannan isn’t just about the case, is it?”
Shen Du didn’t respond, his silence confirming Mo Qianzhi’s thoughts. “Does Her Majesty suspect this official of harboring disloyal thoughts and sent the Grand Secretary to investigate?”
“Yes,” Shen Du answered without hesitation, then continued, “But I believe Magistrate Mo is not that kind of person. When I return to the capital, I will report the truth to the Empress. Please rest assured of this, Magistrate Mo.”
“If so, this official thanks the Grand Secretary.”
Gone was the former familiarity, replaced by the formalities of officialdom. Both felt the stiffness in the atmosphere.
“Since the Grand Secretary is well, this official will take his leave now.” Mo Qianzhi bowed to Shen Du, who merely nodded politely in response. Mo Qianzhi then turned and left.
Meanwhile…
Pan Chi and Zhu Yan arrived at the place where Ji Dafu was lending money. From the outside, it looked like a simple teahouse.
If they hadn’t received definite information that this was an underground gambling den, they wouldn’t have believed it.
Moreover, the gambling den was full of all sorts of people from various walks of life. To investigate inside would require careful planning.
It was easier for men, but for a graceful woman like Zhu Yan to enter so boldly without attracting attention would be quite challenging.