Before the winter solstice, the Empress summoned her several times for casual conversations, inquiring about scenery and culture outside the palace. Zhu Yan did her best to discuss interesting and fashionable topics, sometimes bringing trendy items as gifts for the Empress.
The Empress also bestowed upon Zhu Yan some items unavailable outside the palace. Following Shen Du’s instructions, Zhu Yan accepted only inconsequential gifts. The Empress surely noticed but merely smiled faintly without mentioning it.
The Empress asked several times, subtly telling Zhu Yan not to fear Shen Du’s power or pretend to be in love. Zhu Yan firmly denied these suggestions.
As the year’s end approached, Shen Du was extremely busy. When asked, Zhu Yan answered honestly. Shen Du analyzed that the Empress likely favored Zhu Yan due to her humble origins and lack of connections to major factions.
Zhu Yan protested, “Isn’t it because of my outstanding abilities and lovable nature?”
Shen Du patted her head, chuckling without a word.
On the winter solstice, they visited the Zhu family briefly. Soon after, Jing Lin urgently sought Shen Du, who excused himself. Shortly after, the Ministry of Justice sent someone for Zhu Yan, requesting her help with a murder case the coroners couldn’t solve. Zhu Yan had to bid farewell as well.
At the crime scene, Lu Chuichui waited with his equipment. After examining the body, it was clear this was a revenge killing due to a neighborhood dispute. The cause of death was obvious, and they quickly concluded the examination.
On this winter solstice, Zhu Yan worked up a sweat. After submitting the autopsy report, she rode back to Shen Manor, hoping to share dumplings with Shen Du. However, at the manor gate, servants from the Zhu family intercepted her, saying her father insisted she return home immediately.
Thinking her hasty departure at noon might have displeased her father, and with Shen Du not yet home, Zhu Yan followed them back to the Zhu residence.
To her surprise, she saw Minister Zhang Xingwei sitting in the main hall.
Zhu Yan’s eyelid twitched. She hadn’t seen Minister Zhang in a long time and had no desire to do so.
Zhu Kuo greeted her: “Sixth Daughter, did you finish the matter at the Ministry of Justice?”
“Yes,” Zhu Yan replied calmly, “It’s done.”
Zhu Kuo nodded and looked behind Zhu Yan: “Why didn’t the Grand Academician return with you?”
Zhu Yan immediately understood the situation. “He has official duties and hasn’t returned home yet.”
“Oh, oh, being busy is good, being busy is good,” Zhu Kuo chuckled. “Minister Zhang is here to discuss some matters with you. You two talk, I’ll keep watch in the courtyard.”
Zhu Yan almost laughed. “Keep watch” clearly meant watching for Shen Du’s arrival.
Her father’s fence-sitting nature was well-known to Zhu Yan. Given his low position and lack of ambition, no one paid much attention to it.
She removed her red plum and silver fox cloak, shaking off the snow, and placed it aside before greeting Minister Zhang.
“No need for formalities. You’re now the wife of a Grand Academician and a great contributor to the Yingzhou expedition. Such courtesies are unnecessary,” Minister Zhang said, stroking his sparse beard and eyeing her closely.
Zhu Yan poured tea for Minister Zhang and then stood aside.
Lifting the tea lid, fragrant steam rose, but the tea was pale yellow with floating leaves, not of the highest quality.
Taking a sip, Minister Zhang showed no distaste. Seeing Zhu Yan standing quietly with a serene expression, he inwardly praised her and asked, “Madam Shen, do you know why I’ve come to see you today?”
Zhu Yan shook her head. “I don’t know.” These high-ranking officials were strange, always starting with such questions. How could she know their thoughts?
“Do you remember your mission when you married Shen Du?”
Again, this topic. Zhu Yan remained silent.
Minister Zhang didn’t rush. “You’ve survived several life-and-death situations with Shen Du, emerged unscathed from multiple visits to the Imperial Palace, and now you’re frequently summoned by the Empress. It seems my judgment wasn’t wrong.”
Zhu Yan sighed inwardly. Her frequent meetings with the Empress were indeed too conspicuous. However, she replied, “If this official remembers correctly, you originally chose my third sister. I was taken from a crime scene to be a substitute bride.”
Zhu Yan’s blunt statement made Minister Zhang lose face. But having lived so many years and being focused on his goals, he cared little for such things. He slammed the tea lid on the table and angrily said, “Since you’ve replaced your third sister, it’s now your destiny. Today is the winter solstice, so I won’t argue with you. Just tell me about Shen Du’s connections with Lai Luo and the Empress’s recent situation.”
Zhu Yan stood straight, unmoved. “This official doesn’t know.”
“You…”
Zhu Yan bowed. “This official’s family stands behind me. This official knows nothing and can know nothing. I beg the Minister’s mercy.”
She knelt, her forehead hitting the floor with a thud.
Minister Zhang hadn’t expected Zhu Yan to be so firm, no, even more direct than before, without any subtlety.
“You think Shen Du can protect you if you act like this?”
Zhu Yan shook her head, her forehead still on the ground.
Minister Zhang angrily swept the teacup off the table, shattering it at Zhu Yan’s feet. He shouted, “You think you can choose not to take sides? You never had a choice from the beginning. If you don’t cooperate now, be careful. Not only will I be unable to protect you, but I also won’t be able to protect the Zhu family.”
Politicians often have deep, cunning thoughts. Zhu Yan believed Minister Zhang would do as he said, but she also had her principles. She wasn’t a mindless puppet.
Zhu Yan raised her head to look directly at Minister Zhang. “If that’s the case, this official can speak, but I have one request.”
“Speak!” Minister Zhang maintained his stern appearance.
Zhu Yan asked, “This official wants to know, before the massacre of the Shen family years ago, that Minister Zhang knew about it. Why didn’t you save them? Weren’t you and Shen Shijie classmates?”
Zhu Yan didn’t mention that she knew Minister Zhang might have been involved. The truth wasn’t fully revealed, so she couldn’t speak carelessly.
Zhang Xingwei hadn’t expected Zhu Yan to bring up the Shen family case from years ago at this moment. His face turned cold, showing some panic. “You… what do you know?”
“This official knows nothing. This official only knows that I won’t take sides. Please, Minister Zhang, spare me.”
Zhu Yan once again pressed her forehead to the cold floor.
Powerful footsteps were heard from the doorway, followed by a clear male voice: “If Minister Zhang has any questions, he should ask me directly. At your age, it’s inappropriate to trouble my wife, isn’t it?”
Zhu Yan looked up with joy to see Shen Du’s tall figure approaching. In the next moment, Shen Du embraced her. Feeling her forehead, his dark eyes narrowed. He spoke bluntly:
“I remember Minister Zhang as a man of wisdom and integrity. How is it that now everything depends on a mere woman to succeed?”
These words struck Zhang Xingwei like a slap to the face. Looking at Shen Du’s face, somewhat resembling Shen Shijie’s, his body trembled slightly, rendered speechless by the rebuke.
Ignoring Zhu Kuo’s explanations and Madam Jin and Madam Ru’s attempts to keep them, Shen Du carried Zhu Yan, kicking aside Zhu Mojie who came to greet them, and strode out of the Zhu residence.
Well, they didn’t even get to talk properly. What kind of visit to the wife’s family was this?