With some doubts now resolved, he curved his lips upward in pleasure.

Ruyi said, seeking credit: “I’m still the most capable. Can my lord clear me of suspicion now?”

He glanced at her, his eyes returning to indifference: “Before the truth comes to light, maintaining suspicion toward everyone is the Ministry of Justice’s duty.”

Ruyi was both annoyed and amused: “Those who don’t know might think my lord is reluctant to let me go.”

As soon as these words left her mouth, the person before her immediately changed expression: “Miss, watch your words.”

Even though she had joked several times already, this person’s reaction was still so intense.

He probably wanted to frighten her, to make her stop talking nonsense. But to Ruyi, the more violently someone reacted, the more interesting they became to tease.

She blinked and smiled wickedly: “Doesn’t my lord think so? You and I are truly well-matched. What other young lady would dare look at corpses and help you find evidence? Only me.”

As expected, Shen Qiyuan took another step back, his brows tightly furrowed, his disgust beyond words.

Ruyi raised her sleeve to cover her lips, speaking in an affected, coquettish voice: “This little woman has suffered disappointment in love and is feeling sad. Why doesn’t my lord take this little woman back to the Zongzheng Bureau, so outsiders will know that Liu Ruyi has found a new destination, and won’t poke at my spine anymore with the Ningyuan Marquis affair?”

He took another step back, turning his head to avoid her gaze: “You’re dreaming.”

Though he said this, when Ruyi glanced over, she saw his spine rigid and his dark eyelashes trembling continuously.

She laughed until her eyes sparkled like rippling waves.

Shen Qiyuan was quite young but mature in conduct, born with an ethereal jade-like bearing. Yet with just a few words, he would become annoyed, and especially when annoyed—that tightly clenched jaw and turbulent eyes—he was truly captivating.

The entire world seemed to become more interesting by two degrees because of him.

Shen Qiyuan lowered his eyes and instructed people to collect the evidence properly, then had the corpse sent to the yamen for autopsy. Only then did he turn to look at the person who had been following him all along.

“I heard that you used to frequently send Dragon Ball Superior Snow tea to the Marquis’ Manor.” He said expressionlessly.

Ruyi blinked, searched her memory for a moment, then nodded: “Yes.”

“That’s tribute tea. Even Grand Preceptor Liu hasn’t received such a reward. Where did you get it?”

Mentioning this made Ruyi sigh: “Where else could it be? The black market, of course.”

That fool Liu Ruyi, to please He Zeyou, would always go to the black market to buy good things that ordinary families couldn’t obtain, especially Dragon Ball Superior Snow tea—she would send it three times a year.

Ruyi could even see the blush that would rise on Liu Ruyi’s face when she handed over the tea box.

Ruyi shook her head repeatedly.

When a woman becomes infatuated, all her efforts go to waste.

Shen Qiyuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: “I want to buy a Nine Phoenix Crown. Do you have connections?”

Nine Phoenix Crown?

Ruyi clicked her tongue: “My lord truly has a thick family foundation. That thing could equal a mansion at Chaotian Gate in Lin’an.”

“Just tell me if you have connections.”

“I do have them.” She touched her chin and recalled: “But the black market is a place with rules. Generally, they don’t bring in new customers. The more precious the item, the more it can only be bought by familiar faces.”

“Then you buy it for me.” He said.

Ruyi:?

People nowadays asking others to do things don’t even bother to say “please”? How arrogant.

She was about to refuse when she heard him say, “If it’s difficult to handle, then come with me to the Zongzheng Prison.”

Noble families buying and selling forbidden palace items was a crime punishable by exile in Great Qian.

The corner of Ruyi’s mouth twitched.

This person had great skill, playing the protection racket with her. He looked like quite the upright gentleman, but who would have thought that for a woman’s phoenix crown, he would resort to such underhanded tactics?

Given her current status, she couldn’t twist her arm past her thigh. Ruyi didn’t struggle much and agreed readily: “Fine.”

Shen Qiyuan moved his gaze away: “Since you still have murder case suspicions that haven’t been cleared, and you have unfinished business, go stay at the Zongzheng Separate Residence for a few days.”

The Zongzheng Bureau specifically handled noble family affairs. To preserve some nobles’ dignity, they had established a separate residence outside the main prison. Apart from stricter surveillance, the Zongzheng Separate Residence was no different from an ordinary mansion.

Upon hearing this, Ruyi thought it was fine—living anywhere was still living, and that place was safer too.

So she relaxed and leaned back in the carriage compartment, waiting comfortably to arrive at their destination.

“Sit properly.” Shen Qiyuan reminded her.

Ruyi chuckled, half-closing her eyes to look at him sideways: “There’s no one else here. What’s wrong with relaxing my shoulders and back a bit? Like my lord, always keeping your spine straight as a pine tree—doesn’t it get exhausting?”

“A gentleman is cautious even when alone.”

“You’re a gentleman, I’m not.” She waved her hand. “My lord can continue being cautious alone. This little woman will rest for a while first.”

So Shen Qiyuan watched helplessly as she fell asleep right in front of him.

The carriage compartment quieted down. Within the full mint fragrance, a trace of mellow wine aroma is mixed in.

His fingers on his knee tightened, his expression not looking good. His lips parted slightly, but ultimately he said nothing.

Ruyi had been about to fall asleep when she inexplicably felt a burning gaze fall upon her, from her forehead to the tip of her nose, then to her lips, then to her chin.

She opened her eyes.

The person beside her was looking out the window, seemingly not having moved at all.

She couldn’t help but laugh: “From our first meeting, I’ve wanted to ask my lord—do you have some thoughts about this little woman?”

His expression was indifferent: “Miss, you’re overthinking.”

“Is that so? Then does my lord dare to look at me?”

What was there not to dare? Shen Qiyuan cast a cold glance over.

Ruyi’s eyes moved, her long eyes rippling like a jade-green lake stirred by autumn wind, carrying some investigation and some playfully teasing intent. They were so clear and lively that Shen Qiyuan could see her thoughts within them—

Pressing him against the carriage wall.

Lifting his chin.

Lips overlapping, lingering.

Shen Qiyuan: “…”

He turned his head away in annoyance and anger: “What are you thinking about?”

Ruyi smiled as she supported her chin: “My lord was the first to look away again.”

“Avoiding eye contact has only two possibilities—one is guilt, the other is attraction.”

“Which one is my lord?”

Her trailing tone was drawn out, as if she were teasing a child, just waiting to see him get angry and blush.

Shen Qiyuan lowered his head. The loose hair on his forehead cast several shadows across his nose bridge, and his lips were somewhat pale.

Ruyi was stunned and drew back her hands, about to reflect on whether she had teased too much, when she heard him say softly:

“It’s the second one.”