While Shen Du was drinking, he put down his cup, seemingly having listened to Zhu Yan’s words, and his gaze followed Chen Wen’s movements.
Chen Wen first went to the courtyard and caught a chicken. After draining its blood from the neck, he threw it on the ground and left. The chicken flapped a couple of times and then lay still, appearing completely dead. Yet, Chen Wen left the room, leaving Zhu Yan puzzled.
After a short while, Chen Wen returned with a sheep. An eerie scene unfolded as the sheep slowly approached the dead chicken. Although sheep typically have no interest in chickens, as the sheep passed by, the seemingly dead chicken suddenly twitched as if by reflex.
“What… what is happening?” Zhu Yan was so shocked her jaw nearly dropped. “Wasn’t that chicken dead?”
“It was indeed dead, but not completely. Every living being has a unique energy that we cannot see or touch. When this energy interacts with another, it can cause what you described as a ‘resurrection’.”
“So that’s how it is,” Zhu Yan said, half-believing, half-doubting. “Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I have important matters to attend to and will visit you again when I have time. Farewell.”
As Zhu Yan prepared to leave, Chen Wen, appearing somewhat tired, stretched and said to Shen Du, “That’s enough for today. If you have no other matters, Shen Da Ren, you should accompany your wife home.”
Shen Du, seemingly a bit tipsy, his fair face flushed, replied, “Alright, that’s enough for today. Shen Du takes his leave.”
Shen Du, slightly drunk, stood up and teased Zhu Yan, “Why are you in such a hurry, my lady? Wherever you go, your husband will accompany you.”
Zhu Yan’s eye twitched in annoyance. Before she could respond, Chen Wen added, “It seems my little apprentice has found a husband who knows how to care for her. Seeing your deep affection, I am at ease.”
Shen Du, taking advantage of his inebriation, bowed to Chen Wen, “Thank you, Master, for your praise.”
Zhu Yan couldn’t stand it any longer. Both men were drunk and likely unaware of what they were saying. But she knew her master was flattering Shen Du for her prospects.
Feeling bitter and angry at Shen Du’s presence today, Zhu Yan turned and left.
Seeing her leave, Shen Du quickly followed, and the two walked one after the other down the mountain path.
On the way, Shen Du, still under the influence of alcohol, teased Zhu Yan, “My lady, slow down. Your husband can’t keep up.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan couldn’t bear it any longer. She turned and glared at Shen Du, “What do you mean by this?”
Caught off guard by her question, Shen Du sobered up a bit, “What do you mean, my lady?”
Seeing Shen Du feign ignorance, Zhu Yan, frustrated, pushed him against a tree. Standing on tiptoe, she grabbed the tree behind him, trapping his head between her arms, her eyes filled with tears and grievance.
“Do you not trust me? Since marrying you, I’ve been busy with investigations every day. You only gave me three months to live. I don’t have much time left, and yet you have the leisure to investigate my master. What are you thinking? If you can’t trust your people, who can you trust?”
“I…” Shen Du was unsettled by her words, feeling a twinge of guilt or perhaps pity.
Zhu Yan smiled bitterly, “All this time, I’ve only wanted to uncover the truth and bring justice to the deceased. But in the end, even my husband doesn’t trust me. This situation is too complicated for me to handle.”
Zhu Yan didn’t expect any answers from Shen Du. After venting her frustrations, she turned and left.
Watching her lonely and weary figure, Shen Du felt a pang of regret.
His visit to Chen Wen today wasn’t to investigate but to escape the pressures of court and enjoy a few drinks. Zhu Yan misunderstood him, yet he couldn’t bring himself to blame her. Perhaps he truly had hurt this woman.
At the entrance of Xiliang Temple, Lu Chui Chui paced back and forth, anxiously waiting and complaining, “Why mention it now? Why not earlier or later? What’s the point of coming now?”
Jiang Lang Xing, holding the black cat, approached quickly. Seeing Lu Chui Chui’s anxious demeanor, he couldn’t resist a sarcastic remark, “Who was it that got angry with me over a cat this morning? Now you need my help.”
Lu Chui Chui glared at him, “Why are you speaking so strangely? If you had given me the cat this morning, would I need to borrow it from you now?”
Jiang Lang Xing shrugged, stating that he was just doing his duty without any personal bias.
“What do you need the cat for?” Jiang Lang Xing asked.
Lu Chui Chui shook her head, “I don’t know. Liu Niang asked for it, saying she needed it for some experiment. I have no idea what it’s for.”
Lu Chui Chui took the cat from Jiang Lang Xing and headed into the temple, saying, “Lately, Liu Niang has been acting strange, always looking gloomy. I haven’t seen her smile in a long time. I don’t know what’s happened, but even Da Ge Ling Shen Du doesn’t seem to be taking the investigation seriously.”
“Don’t speak nonsense,” Jiang Lang Xing quickly followed, “Da Ge Ling is the head of the Internal Affairs Office, specializing in investigations. How could he not be serious?”
“Hmph,” Lu Chui Chui snorted, “Either Da Ge Ling upset Liu Niang, or you men are all the same. When you’re happy, you sweet-talk women. When you’re not, you ignore them. Not a single good one among you.”
“That’s not fair,” Jiang Lang Xing defended, “Men sometimes neglect women because of circumstances beyond their control. You can’t generalize.”
“Ha,” Lu Chui Chui scoffed, “Men are all talk. I don’t believe a word you say.”
Jiang Lang Xing was left speechless. As they spoke, they arrived at the rear courtyard of Xiliang Temple.
Zhu Yan was already waiting. Seeing Lu Chui Chui with the black cat, she quickly took it, “What took you so long? It’s almost dark.”
“You blame me? If you had told me earlier, how was I supposed to conjure a cat out of thin air?”
Lu Chui Chui complained, casting a resentful glance at Jiang Lang Xing as if blaming him for inefficiency.
Jiang Lang Xing was baffled, feeling unjustly accused. Why was everything being pinned on him today?
Zhu Yan, uninterested in their squabble, took the cat into the room.
Lu Chui Chui and Jiang Lang Xing followed, curious about what Zhu Yan intended to do.