Regardless, Zhu Yan was determined to find an antidote for Pan Chi. Unable to bear seeing Pan Chi in such a state, she gave him some water to drink before contemplating her next move.
If Mo Qianzhi hadn’t left, then Chen Huoe likely hadn’t either. This meant Lai Luofu was probably still around, which gave them hope.
Using such a poison so openly, without fear of discovery, surely indicated a deeper plot.
Zhu Yan went to consult with Shen Du. On the way, she encountered Jing Lin, who shared some information that she noted. Upon entering, she found Shen Du sitting at the table, the map still spread out before him, though he was no longer studying it.
“What are you thinking about?” Zhu Yan asked softly as she sat down at the table, noticing the tea had gone cold.
“Whether the men of Yingzhou could stand against Mo Qianzhi’s forces,” he replied, his gaze shifting from the void to Zhu Yan’s face, his tone grave.
The idea might have seemed somewhat mad.
During Mo Qianzhi’s interrogation in the hall that day, the common folk of Yingzhou had been quite protective of him. Expecting these men to oppose Mo Qianzhi was likely a fool’s errand.
Before Zhu Yan could respond, he answered his question: “It’s unrealistic, isn’t it? Mo Qianzhi was indeed a just official before the massacre, beloved by the people.”
At sixteen, Mo Qianzhi had crawled on his knees down the length of Chang’an’s Vermilion Bird Avenue to plead before the Empress on behalf of Shen Du’s father, Shen Shijie. Even when threatened with beheading, he refused to back down. The Empress, impressed, released him, and he went on to achieve the highest score in the imperial examinations.
Yet after that, he was assigned to govern the remote Yingzhou.
“When he was first sent to Yingzhou, he was only given the rank of Sima. But through diligence and hard work, he rose to become the Governor,” Shen Du mused, finding it somewhat incredulous given Mo Qianzhi’s hatred for the Empress.
“During his tenure, he even led Yingzhou’s troops to repel barbarian invaders, securing the Western rear of the Great Zhou. The Empress commended him for this.”
Zhu Yan was momentarily stunned. How could such a man end up leading a rebellion?
“Times change. Haven’t I changed as well?” Shen Du said with a self-deprecating smile, then changed the subject. “How is Pan Chi?”
Zhu Yan refocused her thoughts, shaking her head as she detailed Pan Chi’s condition and voiced her suspicions.
Shen Du pondered for a moment before responding, “Your thoughts aren’t far off. It would be harder to believe they didn’t have some scheme in mind. It’s possible that as soon as we left the capital, Lai Luofu followed, disguised as Chen Huoe. Given Yingzhou’s remote location, news of Chen Huoe’s death and resurrection in the capital wouldn’t have reached here, so no one would question his appearance. By openly using the ‘Chrysalis to Butterfly’ poison to catch our attention, they must have several machinations in play.”
“We need to plan carefully.”
Zhu Yan agreed but added, “We can’t delay treating Pan Chi’s poisoning. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to deal with that person. Consider it a favor I owe you.”
This amused Shen Du, who lifted Zhu Yan’s chin, saying, “You’d owe me a favor for Pan Chi’s sake? One might think you were family.”
His dark eyes were intense. Zhu Yan laughed awkwardly, “That’s not what I meant.”
Shen Du studied her closely before letting the matter drop.
Given the current situation, things looked grim.
There was no reinforcement coming, and waiting wouldn’t bring any divine intervention. It would only wear them down.
“You haven’t eaten much, have you?” Zhu Yan observed his somewhat haggard appearance. She reflected that he was only twenty-three this year. While Pan Chi was free to wander and enjoy life under the guise of being a detective, Shen Du shouldered the heavy responsibility of protecting the country.
She gathered up the map and rested her head on the table, looking at him sideways. “This won’t do. If you fall ill, who will protect Yingzhou?”
Shen Du just shook his head, gazing at Zhu Yan. She too had grown wan these past few days. At an age when she should have been beautifully made up, tending to her husband and children without a care, she was instead following him into danger…
Seeing Shen Du’s stubbornness, Zhu Yan became equally determined. She would make sure he ate something.
With this in mind, Zhu Yan stood up and headed out before Shen Du could react.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
Watching her retreating figure, still with a girlish bounce in her step, Shen Du smiled helplessly and settled in for a brief nap at the table.
Given her limited culinary skills, Zhu Yan decided to cook a few dishes she was confident in, hoping Shen Du wouldn’t complain too much.
After bustling about for quite some time, Zhu Yan returned carrying a wooden tray.
She found him with his head resting on his hand, eyes closed. She set the tray down gently but still woke him.
Shen Du smiled faintly, looking at the steaming dishes. “Can I interpret this as a wife cooking for her husband?”
He watched as her ears turned red, her head lowered as she set out the dishes, muttering, “Stop teasing.”
But Shen Du didn’t pick up his chopsticks, his gaze fixed on Zhu Yan.
They had come to Yingzhou to investigate a case, never expecting it to turn out like this, dragging her into such trouble.
The thought filled Shen Du with guilt.
Seeing him not eating, Zhu Yan said with some exasperation, “Why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?”
“I didn’t have much appetite, but since my wife has cooked personally,” he said, picking up the chopsticks, “how could her husband not appreciate it?”
Zhu Yan also picked up her chopsticks, realizing she was quite hungry after all her efforts.
Before they could start eating, they heard someone rushing towards them from outside.
The sound grew closer, and then Jing Lin burst in, sword in hand. “Lord Shen, Guangchun Hall is now empty. We couldn’t find an antidote.”
As he finished speaking, he glanced up and noticed the harmonious scene between the two, realizing he might have come at an inopportune moment.
Zhu Yan was stunned, looking at Shen Du several times. Her heart warmed as she realized Shen Du had already sent people to search for the antidote, while she had…
Shen Du frowned. “How could you not find anything?”
Jing Lin couldn’t answer immediately, but the Internal Affairs officers had indeed searched Guangchun Hall for days without finding anything related to the “Chrysalis to Butterfly” poison.
It was as if this strange poison had never existed.
“Did you check for hidden rooms?” Shen Du asked.
Jing Lin nodded. “We searched all hidden rooms and compartments. We found nothing related to this poison.”
“We nearly tore up the entire foundation of Guangchun Hall.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Shen Du’s expression was difficult to read. Jing Lin, unsure whether to leave, remained standing there.
Zhu Yan had also lost her appetite and slowly put down her chopsticks. “Chen Huoe is cunning and treacherous. Of course, he wouldn’t keep the poison at Guangchun Hall. It’s not your fault.”
Jing Lin looked like he wanted to embrace Zhu Yan and have a good cry.
Noticing her actions, Shen Du waved for Jing Lin to leave and also set down his chopsticks.
Thinking about how Pan Chi’s injuries were because of her, Zhu Yan felt guilty. “If I hadn’t arranged for Xiu Xiu to take care of him, he might not have been poisoned. I should have looked after him myself.”
Even though Shen Du strongly opposed it, he couldn’t leave.
“Absurd,” Shen Du said with a change of expression. “You are my wife; how could you take care of another man?”
“But he was harmed because of me, and now his life is in danger,” Zhu Yan murmured. “In this life, my greatest fear is owing someone a debt of gratitude.”
Those words sounded much more reasonable. “Don’t be so anxious. There will be a way.”
Zhu Yan shook her head slightly, her sense of guilt only growing stronger.
“Rest assured,” Shen Du said with resolve, “I will make sure that debt of gratitude is repaid.”