After a sleepless night, dawn had finally broken, with the eastern sky already brightening.
Everyone felt extremely weary and burdened. None had expected that Lai Luofu, besides holding multiple positions, harbored another person within her body. Moreover, it was Lai Luofu who had been the usurper all along.
Fortunately, Lai Luofu was dead, and they could finally catch a brief respite.
Jing Lin instructed the imperial guards to return to their quarters and rest after tidying up the scene. Only then did he bid farewell to Shen Du.
Noticing Shen Du’s distracted state, Jing Lin sighed inwardly. Without a word, he turned and dragged Pan Chi away.
As for Su Guang, she gathered the dust from where Dai Si had been into a leather pouch. Rising, she dragged her weary body back to her chamber and closed the door.
Only two people remained in the room. After a night of terror, they could finally breathe easier, yet neither felt any hint of drowsiness.
Zhu Yan looked at Shen Du with concern. “You should get some sleep first.”
Shen Du shook his head slightly. Seeing her exhausted face, on the verge of collapse, he pulled her onto his lap, adjusting her to a comfortable position in his arms. He rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Now is not the time,” he said, picking up a brush. “We can be certain of two things now.”
It was the most emotionally volatile Shen Du had been since taking charge of the Grand Secretariat, but he still maintained control.
“First, Dai Si was deceived by Lai Luozhi years ago and brought back to Da Zhou. Her consciousness was invaded, turning her into an executioner.”
Zhu Yan nodded, feeling that Lai Luozhi deserved death a thousand times over. He had betrayed all of Dai Si’s trust, sacrificing her entire life. If possible, Zhu Yan truly wished she could end Lai Luozhi herself.
Sensing Zhu Yan’s emotions, Shen Du squeezed her hand and continued organizing his thoughts. “Second, there is more than one Lai Luofu and the same goes for Chen Huoe. When one falls,” his gaze drifted to where Dai Si had died, feeling regretful for her fate, “there are replacements. They are mass-produced tools, and Dai Si was the most exceptional among them.”
This was certain.
“So now that she’s dead, Lai Luozhi will surely be furious.”
With a snap, the brush handle broke in two. Zhu Yan’s eyelid twitched slightly. She shook off her drowsiness, turned, and embraced Shen Du’s neck, nuzzling his cheek wordlessly.
Though she couldn’t fully empathize, she tried her best to understand Shen Du’s anger. His entire clan had been wiped out due to court power struggles, disregarding so many lives. Even now, Shen Shijie still bore the taint of false accusations.
Shen Du’s breathing became slightly erratic, his hand holding the brush trembling uncontrollably. He knew he should remain calm, but tonight had stirred up countless old wounds. Years of suppressed emotions nearly overwhelmed him due to the truths revealed that night.
Zhu Yan’s eyes grew moist, concern welling up in their depths. Seeing Shen Du’s painful restraint, she bit her lip shyly, unbuttoning her collar. She pressed close, her soft lips falling on Shen Du’s collarbone.
With a muffled groan, the fire surged through Shen Du’s lower abdomen. His dark eyes deepened as he pulled Zhu Yan tightly against him, his gaze tender.
Zhu Yan dared not move, having exhausted all her courage with that gesture. She couldn’t bring herself to look up now.
After a long moment, a gentle kiss fell on the top of her head. Then she was lifted, given a quick wash, and placed on the bed. Seeing Shen Du about to leave, Zhu Yan grabbed his hand, her clear eyes gazing up at him.
Under that gaze, Shen Du finally softened. He said gently, “I’m dirty. Let me wash up and I’ll return.”
Only then did Zhu Yan release him, watching as he went behind the screen.
When Shen Du emerged, Zhu Yan had already fallen asleep, though her brows were furrowed, her sleep uneasy.
Shen Du tucked in the blanket corners, then turned to down a cup of strong tea. He rubbed his temples, dispelling a trace of fatigue, before sitting at his desk to write a memorial.
The crisis in Ying Province was resolved, the leader of the Huoe Party was dead, and much rebuilding remained to be done.
After finishing and sealing the memorial, he had someone deliver it. Shen Du gazed at the shadow cast by the osmanthus tree outside the window in the morning sun, turning the seal of the Grand Secretariat over in his palm.
In the capital, Lai Luozhi also received news from Ying Province.
He had recently acquired a new bird with a long, colorful tail that would stand up and dance in the wind when agitated a beautiful sight.
The situation was urgent, and the servant had gathered courage for a long time before daring to report, not adding a single extra word.
Lai Luozhi’s form stiffened slightly, the jade ruyi he had been using to play with the bird falling to the ground with a clatter. With this prelude, Lai Luozhi’s emotions finally began to show.
“Ah! Mercy! Mercy, Your Excellency!”
The servants didn’t dare raise their heads. They only heard the bird’s shrill cries for mercy, which ceased after just two calls. The next moment, the bird appeared at their feet, its neck broken and blood flowing from its mouth. Its legs were stiff, and its once lively feathers had lost all luster.
“Lai Luofu is dead?” Lai Luozhi asked.
The subordinates trembled like sieves. “Yes…”
Lai Luozhi tossed aside the silk handkerchief he had used to wipe his hands, stained with the bird’s blood.
“Since she’s dead, why did you return?”
No one dared to answer. In his rage, Lai Luozhi was comparable to the Asura, and no one dared to provoke him further.
Lai Luozhi sneered, looking down at the three kneeling before him with disdain.
“The entire Huoe Party has been annihilated, and Lai Luofu is dead. Useless! You’re all useless!”
In an instant, the three subordinates were engulfed by Lai Luozhi’s fury, silently losing their lives.
Useless ones could not be kept.
Meanwhile, in Ying Province, news of these two events spread rapidly. The Half-Face Ghost that had plagued the common people for years had been completely eradicated, bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
The former Governor of Ying Province, Mo Qianzhi, who had sheltered the Half-Face Ghost and allowed the Huoe Party to commit atrocities, had also received due punishment.
From now on, they need no longer live in fear of such things.
Under Pan Chi’s reorganization, Ying Province had already recovered much of its former vitality, gradually taking on the appearance of a densely populated prefecture. The people were overjoyed.
Finally finishing a full day of inspections around the city, Pan Chi returned to his residence and collapsed directly onto his bed. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he rolled over.
He closed his eyes, intending to take a short nap, but was startled awake by the loud sound of the door opening.
Springing up from the bed, Pan Chi looked at the newcomer with displeasure, instinctively wanting to escape.
“Thinking of running? Not so easy,” Su Guang said, closing the door behind her.
Just like on the first day of her arrival, she was going to take him back to the Wusun Kingdom.
With a yelp, Pan Chi’s almond eyes flashed as he lunged at Su Guang.
Once they began to fight, it was utter chaos. Zhu Yan and Shen Du, hearing the commotion, came to investigate. They found Su Guang grabbing Pan Chi by the back of his collar, trying to drag him out, while Pan Chi clung to the corners of a table, refusing to budge.
Zhu Yan’s lips moved, but she didn’t know what to say.
Beside her, Shen Du seemed quite relaxed, teasing Pan Chi, “The girl is so devoted to you. As a man, how can you disappoint her like this?”
Zhu Yan nodded. “Indeed, you shouldn’t betray the holy maiden’s sincere feelings.”
The misunderstanding had grown too large. Pan Chi suddenly remembered he hadn’t explained this issue. “No, it’s not like that. I don’t owe her anything. She’s the Wusun princess’s envoy, trying to take me back to report to the princess.”
This explanation was truly unexpected. Zhu Yan touched her nose in embarrassment, recalling her previous misunderstanding of Pan Chi. She wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in.
But then she thought, if he owed the princess a debt of the heart, shouldn’t he be the one looking for a place to hide?
“Princess or not, you still need to go repay your debt,” she said. In any case, she unconditionally supported Su Guang’s efforts to take him away.
Of course, Shen Du felt the same way. He couldn’t wait for Pan Chi to disappear from his sight.
Seeing that she couldn’t drag Pan Chi away, Su Guang became quite frustrated. She stomped her foot and was about to pull out a poison gourd when Pan Chi let out a great yell. He broke free from Su Guang’s grasp and hid behind Zhu Yan, peeking out at the others.
Shen Du felt a surge of annoyance. His dark eyes flashed as he turned to Su Guang and said a few words.
Su Guang believed him. She glared at Pan Chi, snorted coldly, and walked out, her jewelry jingling as she went.
Before Pan Chi could react, Shen Du grabbed him by the collar and pulled him aside, saying irritably, “Stay away from my wife.”
Pan Chi pouted. Zhu Yan laughed at him, “Look at you, how many romantic debts have you accrued? I think you have no choice but to repay them this time.”
It seemed Su Guang wouldn’t give up easily.
Pan Chi straightened his posture and tidied his clothes. He glanced outside to make sure Su Guang had gone far away, then said smugly, “That’s where you’re wrong. How can matters of the heart ever be repaid?”
As he spoke, he winked at Zhu Yan, his eyes sparkling alluringly.
But wait, where did everyone go?
Shen Du had already carried Zhu Yan away in his arms.
Only Pan Chi remained, stomping his foot in frustration and muttering curses under his breath.