This woman… If one were to call her foolish, she had a good reputation. If one were to call her clever, she seemed as stupid as a pig.
Seeing his face growing more displeased, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but shrink her neck: “Did… did I say something wrong?”
Shen Du glanced at her: “Is this how you see me?”
What did she mean by saying he was always staring at her head? Was he some kind of murderous maniac?
When it is time to be submissive, one shouldn’t be ashamed to do so. Zhu Yan immediately shook her head: “No, don’t slander me. I didn’t say anything bad about you.”
Just a moment ago, she looked terrified of him, but now she was being clever again. Shen Du couldn’t help but smile at her dog-like behavior.
Seeing him smile, Zhu Yan grinned along, her cleverness completely vanishing in an instant.
Shen Du sighed and muttered quietly: “If we were to divorce, what reason would I use to keep you?”
Ever since Zhu Yan had married into the Shen family, the mansion had become much livelier. It’s easy for a person to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to return to frugality. Having grown accustomed to Zhu Yan’s presence, returning to solitude would surely be uncomfortable.
Perhaps his inability to get used to her absence had begun long ago.
“What?” Zhu Yan hadn’t heard clearly.
Shen Du returned to his usual expression, his face emotionless as he replied: “Nothing.”
Pan Chi limped in, mocking: “Poker face, how affected.”
For a grown man to be so wishy-washy about love, it was quite unbecoming.
Shen Du glared at him: “What would a carefree wanderer like you understand?” It was purely talking without experiencing it.
“What’s wrong with being a carefree wanderer? It’s nothing more than court debates and severe situations.” Pan Chi was very dissatisfied: “Indeed, how can someone who can’t even protect himself talk about protecting others?”
Pan Chi’s words weren’t untrue. The entire Shen clan had been executed, leaving only Shen Du as the lone survivor. Although there were distant relatives, they had been separated for generations and were no longer closely related.
It was precisely because Shen Du stood alone that he was valued by the Empress after entering the palace, becoming a sharp blade in her hand.
Pan Chi was different. He had his family behind him, and two trees forming a forest were much more reliable than a single tree.
Even after the bloody turmoil of the court changes, the Pan family could protect themselves without a scratch. Therefore, protecting Zhu Yan would be effortless for him.
Shen Du’s face darkened, but he had to admit that Pan Chi was right. It was precisely because he knew he couldn’t protect Zhu Yan that he remained ambiguous about their relationship.
Seeing them argue again, Zhu Yan’s face was full of helplessness. She glared at Pan Chi: “Your injury hasn’t healed yet, why are you out here?”
These two always clashed whenever they met.
Pan Chi smiled as if basking in spring sunshine, “Of course, I’m here to help you.”
“Look at your face, as white as these shrouds. Don’t cause trouble, go back to your room and rest! Wait until your injuries are healed before coming to help me.”
Zhu Yan started to drive him away. She couldn’t let him stay any longer. Both of them were injured, and if they started fighting again over some disagreement, wouldn’t that just add injury to injury?
“I don’t want to…”
Pan Chi was unwilling, but Zhu Yan insisted. As they became entangled again, Shen Du took Zhu Yan’s hand and separated the two, using one arm to push Pan Chi out.
“Hey, Shen Du, you can’t bully an injured person, hey…”
Shen Du raised an eyebrow: “Would you prefer I make you an injured person?”
Pan Chi: …
“Grand Chief, it’s terrible, something’s happened in the prison.”
The voice was heard before the person was seen. Then, a yamen runner came running, out of breath. He was stopped by Jing Lin, finished speaking, and then bowed, panting heavily.
Shen Du frowned deeply: “What happened?”
The yamen runner caught his breath before answering: “Wang Buxui and Official Mo are fighting in the jail. It’s about to become deadly.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Du immediately strode out of the autopsy room towards the dungeon, with the yamen runner following closely behind.
No wonder Shen Du was anxious. Wang Buxui and Mo Qianzhi hadn’t confessed anything yet. If anything happened to either of them now, it would be a significant loss.
As soon as Shen Du left, Zhu Yan naturally followed. Pan Chi stood in place, watching her retreating figure, momentarily dazed.
After some thought, he finally gritted his teeth and followed, walking extremely slowly due to his injuries.
At the dungeon, Wang Buxui and Mo Qianzhi were still fighting. Since Wang Buxui had received twenty strikes in court, he was no match for Mo Qianzhi. It could hardly be called a fight; it was more like a beating.
Shen Du glanced at the scene. “What are you standing there for? Open the cell door and separate them.”
There might be bigger fish behind Wang Buxui. If he were beaten to death, how could he be used as bait?
With Shen Du’s order, the nearby yamen runners finally opened the cell door. Several people worked together to pull Mo Qianzhi away.
Wang Buxui looked half dead, lying on the ground barely able to breathe.
As Mo Qianzhi was pulled away, he still grunted heavily, “Grand Chief Shen, you’ve arrived just in time.”
Shen Du ignored his sarcasm and questioned: “Mo Qianzhi, as a court official, you’ve committed numerous crimes. Do you truly feel no remorse?”
Mo Qianzhi shook off the yamen runners’ restraint, straightened his clothes, and adopted a haughty manner.
“Remorse? For a world that belongs to men, I’m more than willing.”
“So, for your so-called world, you’re willing to sacrifice the lives of common people?” Shen Du’s eyes darkened a few degrees. “When you first became my father’s disciple, you weren’t this kind of person.”
The Mo Qianzhi of the past was certainly not someone who would disregard others’ lives for his benefit. He wouldn’t even bear to step on an ant.
At the mention of Shen Shijie, Mo Qianzhi suddenly became enraged, pointing at Shen Du: “You’re not worthy to mention him.”
Shen Shijie was a hero who sacrificed himself for a greater cause, unlike Shen Du, who was willing to be that woman’s lapdog just to stay alive.
Before Shen Du could react, Zhu Yan rushed out, slapping away Mo Qianzhi’s hand and standing protectively in front of Shen Du, her eyes wide: “Nonsense, you’re the one not worthy to mention Duke Shen.”
Then she turned back to look at Shen Du, comforting him: “Shen Du, don’t listen to his nonsense. Believe that if Duke Shen knows in the afterlife, he would be proud of you.”
Shen Du felt slightly comforted. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to pat Zhu Yan’s head, responding gently: “It’s alright.”
Mo Qianzhi steadied himself and cursed: “A beautiful woman is a source of calamity! Women are nothing but trouble, bewitching men until they can’t tell right from wrong. Shen Du, you’re like this, and so is Wang Buxui.”
“It’s truly laughable. For your selfish desires, you dare to think I’d exchange my life. Dream on.”
Hearing Mo Qianzhi still daring to spout such nonsense, Wang Buxui struggled to stand up from the ground and gave Mo Qianzhi a hard slap.
“You’re talking rubbish. Little Sister isn’t some source of calamity. She’s the kindest woman under heaven. Why do good people not receive good fortune? Why do evil people live for a thousand years? I can’t accept it! Little Sister being able to come back to life is more important than anything. So I need to absorb more fortune to bring Little Sister back to life.”
“Fortune?”