Shen Du placed both hands behind his head and continued Zhu Yan’s thought, “Princess Yong’an has lived in the palace for a long time, with little contact with the outside world. She’s not the Empress’s daughter but was born to the former Consort Xiao Shu. Though she appears to enjoy leisure all day, she’s quite shrewd. You don’t need to understand her too much, because she’ll soon come looking for you.”
“What?” Zhu Yan didn’t understand Shen Du’s meaning and looked confused. “Why would she look for me? We’re not familiar.”
Shen Du didn’t answer Zhu Yan’s question. After another moment of silence, Zhu Yan spoke again, “The Liang family is very strange, and their relationships are complex. I feel they must be hiding many things from us.”
“The Liang family and Princess Yong’an are very close. Whether the Liang family murder case is related to Princess Yong’an is yet unknown. You’d better avoid the Princess as much as possible in the future.”
“With the Princess’s noble status, I’m afraid sometimes I won’t be able to avoid her even if I want to.”
Shen Du frowned slightly. Zhu Yan’s worry wasn’t unfounded. Being in the court, he was all too familiar with how those in higher positions could oppress those below.
But at this moment, he was also pondering what Lai Luozhi had said to him today.
It was a warning.
Zhu Yan was already involved in the case. It was unrealistic to try to extract her now. How could he protect her?
“What are you thinking about?”
Zhu Yan also lay down flat, letting out a long breath. “Are you also worried that as we investigate this case further, it will implicate more people?”
Shen Du’s frown deepened. This was indeed one of his concerns.
What he cared about wasn’t implicating more people, but implicating more people he didn’t want to involve.
“Go to sleep. We have guests coming tomorrow. Don’t think too much.”
With these words, Shen Du closed his eyes.
Zhu Yan turned her head to look at him, her lips parting but then hesitating. He must be tired after being summoned to the palace all day. She shouldn’t disturb his rest.
After about half an hour, Shen Du’s steady breathing could be heard.
But Zhu Yan’s eyes remained open, her mind a tangled mess.
Finally, as dawn broke, Zhu Yan felt she had just closed her eyes when Shen Du woke her.
People from the palace had come…
No, it wasn’t people from the palace at all, but people sent by Vice Minister Zhang Xingwei. Shen Du had lied to her.
Seeing Shen Du and Zhu Yan as such a loving couple, the visitor didn’t stay long, just offering a few words of comfort before leaving.
After seeing off the “guest,” Zhu Yan found it amusing. It was supposed to be just their life together, yet so many people were involved.
As for Shen Du, could it be that he feared Zhang couldn’t handle her, so he changed his story to say palace people had come to make her comply? For a grown man, he certainly had many little schemes, unnecessarily so.
However, just as she was about to sit down and relax, a servant hurriedly came to report, “Madam, this is an invitation from the palace. Please take a look.”
Taking the invitation, Zhu Yan looked puzzled.
When she saw the contents of the invitation, she was even more surprised at Shen Du standing before her.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing Zhu Yan’s unusual expression, Shen Du asked calmly.
“It’s an invitation from Princess Yong’an. She says the peonies cultivated in the palace have bloomed and invites me to attend her flower banquet.”
Shen Du said nothing more, just sipping his tea with a serene expression.
“How did you know Princess Yong’an wanted to see me?”
Zhu Yan was still curious and couldn’t help but ask, but Shen Du showed no intention of answering her.
Putting down his tea, he stood up and walked towards the door. “Since the Princess has graciously invited you, you should go. Just don’t return too late.”
Leaving these words, Shen Du disappeared from Zhu Yan’s sight.
Zhu Yan pouted, showing disdain for Shen Du’s cold arrogance. She changed her clothes and headed to the palace.
Besides Zhu Yan, Princess Yong’an had invited many officials’ wives and daughters.
Among the crowd, Zhu Yan immediately spotted someone she was suspicious of.
Madam Tang.
Since their last encounter, Zhu Yan had been suspicious of Madam Tang.
Now, she was wearing a pink brocade dress, holding a round jade fan, standing in the center of the peony garden, beautiful as a woman in a painting.
She showed no signs of being associated with a murderer.
But appearances can be deceiving. Zhu Yan felt it necessary to go and greet her.
After all, they had met once before.
“Can’t you be more careful? This dress is very expensive,” a haughty, elegant voice reached Zhu Yan’s ears. A short distance away, several young ladies from official families seemed to be in a dispute.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. Why are you being so fierce?” Another young woman in a green dress raised her head and said, “Coming to the Princess’s flower banquet, of course, we all wear our best dresses. I understand that without you telling me. Why are you being so fierce?”
“You spilled tea on me and you’re still arguing? Let the sisters around see what kind of person you are!”
As she spoke, the young woman glanced around, her gaze landing on Zhu Yan.
“Isn’t this the Grand Secretary’s wife, Sixth Lady? She has helped the Ministry of Justice solve many cases. Today, let her judge who’s right and who’s wrong.”
At these words, Zhu Yan was stunned. How had she, a mere bystander, become involved in this dispute?
Just as the young lady was about to approach Zhu Yan, Zhu Yan instinctively stepped back.
She wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs. She already had doubts about being invited here, so it was best to keep a low profile.
But as she stepped back, she accidentally bumped into someone.
With a clang, a wine cup fell to the ground, its contents spilling onto an pink elaborate dress, while her skirt was also wet.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to,” Zhu Yan hurriedly apologized.
“Madam Shen, there’s no need to blame yourself. Everyone makes mistakes unintentionally. Besides, your dress is wet too. Why don’t you come with me to change clothes?”
The voice that reached her ears was gentle and graceful.
Looking up, she saw it was none other than Madam Tang.
She had appeared behind Zhu Yan without her noticing.
Zhu Yan didn’t know how to respond. At this moment, the other ladies began to comment.
“Look, Madam Tang is so gracious. She handled it so well.”
“Indeed. We don’t know which family this young lady is from, but why is she so unreasonable?”
Amidst the pointing and criticism, the two young ladies who had been arguing earlier looked embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Madam Tang didn’t listen further but stepped forward to Zhu Yan. “Madam Shen, don’t mind their dispute. Both our clothes are wet. It’s windy outside, so let’s go change.”
“Alright,” Zhu Yan nodded woodenly, feeling that this situation wasn’t simple.
The two followed a matron here, walking past distant pavilions to the back garden, where they saw a steaming hot spring.
“This place is called the Medicinal Spring Bath. Soaking here can nourish health and heal injuries. Madam Shen, your wet clothes have caught the chill. Why don’t we both go in and experience the wonders of this medicinal pool?”
Madam Tang said this without waiting for Zhu Yan’s opinion and walked directly into the changing room.
“Medicinal spring…” Zhu Yan murmured.
Things in the imperial palace were naturally the best. How many people would desire this but couldn’t have it? Today she had the chance to soak here, truly a “rare opportunity.”
Without thinking too much, Zhu Yan also entered the changing room and removed her clothes.