“Pah!” Before Zhu Yan could reply, Lu Chuichui spat vehemently. “Who wants to learn any ‘art of managing husbands’? The man I, Lu Chuichui, marry in the future will surely cherish me. I don’t want a man as cold and aloof as the Grand Secretariat. He’s like an iceberg. What joy is there in living with someone like that?”
Lu Chuichui’s words made Zhu Yan chuckle, and even Jiang Langxing’s face suddenly flushed red, his thoughts unknown.
“What are you laughing at?” Lu Chuichui looked bewildered. “I’m speaking the truth.”
“Yes, yes,” Zhu Yan agreed. “Our Lady Lu has a discerning eye and will surely find a good man as her husband. Just make sure not to let that good man slip away.”
“What do you mean?” Lu Chuichui looked at Zhu Yan in confusion, completely missing her point.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” Zhu Yan didn’t elaborate further. As they chatted, she glanced back at Shen Du.
At that moment, Shen Du was looking at her. Their eyes met, and countless emotions seemed to flow between them.
Zhu Yan looked truly beautiful in the lamplight, having taken special care of her appearance today. The red hairpin served as a perfect accent.
“Clouds remind of her dress, flowers of her face; spring breeze caresses the railing, night dew glistens.”
This verse seemed to capture the moment perfectly.
Seeing Shen Du staring at her silently, Zhu Yan was puzzled.
What was he thinking? Surely not plotting how to tease her again?
It was already late at night when the celebration banquet ended.
Shen Du had drunk some wine, his face slightly flushed. Just as he was about to enter the room, Zhu Yan pushed him out. “Go to the study. You reek of alcohol. I’m afraid I might not be able to resist hitting you.”
“Hit me?” Shen Du grabbed Zhu Yan’s wrist, pulling her closer. “A wife hitting her husband goes against proper conduct. However, this husband is quite curious about how strong his wife is…”
Zhu Yan froze. Before she could react, Shen Du’s entire body pressed down on her.
Zhu Yan lost her balance. The sudden weight caused both of them to fall to the ground.
“What are you doing?”
Zhu Yan was somewhat annoyed, but Shen Du didn’t respond.
It was then that Zhu Yan realized Shen Du had passed out drunk.
The next morning, Zhu Yan opened the door with severe dark circles under her eyes.
She vowed that if there were any future banquets, she would never bring Shen Du along. How could his alcohol tolerance be so low?
But what she didn’t expect was that even more surprising events were yet to come.
Since she had agreed to take in Qi Yeyun yesterday, early this morning, Qi Yeyun had packed all his belongings and arrived to move into the Shen residence.
Zhu Yan suddenly remembered that at yesterday’s celebration banquet, after hearing the praises from the Ministry of Justice and the Bureau of Yulin Guards about her, Qi Yeyun’s admiration for her had reached a level beyond words, almost to the point of obsession.
Sigh… it was truly helpless.
“Elder Sister,” Qi Yeyun excitedly put his bundle on the ground. “To learn skills from Elder Sister, I’ve decided to live here. Please arrange a room for me. If it’s inconvenient, even a firewood room will do. As long as I can be by Elder Sister’s side, I don’t mind any hardship.”
Qi Yeyun’s enthusiasm indeed made Zhu Yan want to laugh, but she didn’t want to crush a child’s hopes.
“Since you’re here, you can stay. How could I let you live in a firewood room? Steward, find a suitable room for Little Qi, preferably a quiet one. The child is still growing and shouldn’t be disturbed during rest.”
“Yes,” the steward responded and led Qi Yeyun away.
But as soon as they left, a cold cough sounded from behind.
“You can barely stand on your own feet, yet you dare let others stay here. Who gave you that authority?”
Just from the tone, Zhu Yan could imagine the face behind her without even looking.
It must be an extremely dark face glaring at her fiercely.
“No matter what, I am still Mrs. Shen. We haven’t divorced yet, have I? How could I not have even this much authority?”
Zhu Yan turned around. Shen Du’s expression was indeed as she had imagined, like a storm about to break.
“You are Mrs. Shen, that’s true. But know your place. Don’t think you can make decisions about everything.”
Shen Du left after saying this, his steps somewhat hurried, as if trying to hide the uneasiness in his words.
Zhu Yan pouted, not taking it to heart at all. The next moment, she suddenly remembered the case again.
Her previously animated expression instantly sank. She was determined to unravel the case’s mysteries and bring peace to the departed souls.
Arriving at the back courtyard, Shen Du saw the servants being very friendly to Qi Yeyun, which inexplicably bothered him.
It was fine that the servants were nice to Qi Yeyun.
The child was very perceptive, quick-witted, and likable. Shen Du could understand this.
But when he thought of the thirteen-year-old boy’s eager and admiring looks towards Zhu Yan, he felt an inexplicable irritation.
Zhu Yan was only sixteen this year, just three years older than Qi Yeyun.
And he was already…
“Brother-in-law.”
Lost in thought, Qi Yeyun had already come to Shen Du’s side. The sudden address of “brother-in-law” startled Shen Du.
“What… what did you call me?”
“Elder Sister said not to call her ‘Master’ because it makes her sound old. She told me to call her ‘Elder Sister’. Since I call her ‘Elder Sister’, shouldn’t I call you ‘Brother-in-law’?”
Seeing Qi Yeyun’s innocent expression, Shen Du was at a loss for words.
“Well…”
“Is that not right?” Seeing Shen Du’s discomfort, Qi Yeyun quickly guessed, “Then… should I still call you Grand Secretariat?”
“…” Shen Du was speechless. The three words “Grand Secretariat” sounded far less pleasing to his ears than “Brother-in-law”.
“If you don’t like that either, then how about Lord Shen?” Qi Yeyun mused to himself.
He observed Shen Du’s expression while trying to accommodate his thoughts.
Shen Du’s brow suddenly darkened. This child was too clever, daring to guess his thoughts.
“I don’t like any of them,” Shen Du said coldly. “The Shen residence doesn’t keep idle people. Considering your young age and inability to do heavy work, from today on, you’ll train with Jing Lin. It will be good for your growth too.”
“Ah?” Suddenly throwing Qi Yeyun to Jing Lin caught Jing Lin off guard.
“What, is it difficult for you to take care of a child?” Shen Du’s words were unquestionable, clearly an order.
Jing Lin quickly cupped his hands, “This subordinate obeys.”
All of this happened so suddenly that Qi Yeyun never expected it.
“No, Brother-in-law, Grand Secretariat, Lord Shen, I… I don’t want to go. I still want to help Elder Sister investigate cases.” Qi Yeyun, quick-witted, immediately understood Shen Du’s intention and clung to a pillar behind him, refusing to let go.
Shen Du glared at Jing Lin: “What are you waiting for? Go!”
In an instant, Jing Lin carried him away, their voices drifting in the wind.