Chарtеr 102: I Wаnt tо Find Му Brothеr-in-Lаw
Zhu Yаn stооd behind the crоwd, hеr gaze lоwered аs if shе hаdn’t nоtiсеd Shen Du’s starе.
Ru Shi had already sent sоmеonе to sеrvе tеа. Shen Du slоwlу рiсkеd up his сup, his eyеs still fiхed оn Zhu Yan.
“Ahem.” Sеeing that Shеn Du’s gaze nеvеr lеft Zhu Yаn, Jin Shi, whо wаs stаnding nearbу, sеemеd tо think оf somеthing and quiсklу cleаrеd her thrоat softly tо signal Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan snаррed bаck to reаlitу, оnly tо mееt Shеn Du’s еуes stаring dirеctlу at hеr.
Zhu Yan loоked bеwildеrеd. Hаd shе sаid sоmething wrong?
It seеmed she hadn’t spokеn since Shen Du аrrived, so whу was еvеryоne looking at her like this?
The atmosphere grew tense.
The Zhu family members exchanged glances, none of them uttering a word.
It was then that Zhu Yan seemed to realize something. She stepped forward and said, “Husband, aren’t you busy? How do you have time to visit the Zhu family?”
This puzzled Zhu Yan greatly.
When they had just married, he hadn’t even been willing to accompany her back to her family home. Why would he now take the initiative to visit, and even treat her family with such courtesy? It was truly unusual.
Hearing Zhu Yan speak, Shen Du’s expression softened slightly. “Isn’t my wife here? I came to find my wife. Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Then what did you need me for, husband?” Zhu Yan pressed.
Shen Du was momentarily speechless. He had come to find Zhu Yan simply because he felt his attitude toward her this morning had been poor and wanted to explain.
But upon arriving, he found everyone present, all seemingly burdened with worries and unable to speak freely.
After a moment’s thought, Shen Du shifted his gaze elsewhere. “You are a member of the Ministry of Justice. A report has been filed about suspicious individuals requiring investigation. You must return to the Ministry immediately to assist with the case.”
“No.” Zhu Yan refused outright, leaving Shen Du confused.
Zhu Yan saw no need to hide her intentions and spoke with conviction. “You saw my third sister return. To be honest, her return home this time isn’t without reason. It’s because someone has gone missing—none other than my third brother-in-law, Han Shiyuan. I need to pursue clues and search for him. Therefore, I cannot handle matters at the Ministry for now.”
“Zhu Yan!” Shen Du was deeply dissatisfied with this explanation. Was it really so difficult to get her to return with him?
“You hold an official position. How can you prioritize your personal affairs over the greater good?”
“A missing persons case is still a case. Why must you distinguish between public and private matters in this situation, husband?”
Shen Du’s face darkened. He hadn’t intended to argue with Zhu Yan, but somehow things had escalated to this point.
Seeing the situation about to reach a deadlock, Zhu Mojie quickly stepped to Shen Du’s side. “Great Pavilion Commander, Little Six is just a bit stubborn. Don’t take it to heart. We’re all family here. Let’s talk things over calmly.”
As he spoke, Zhu Mojie placed a hand on Shen Du’s shoulder, an action that immediately displeased Shen Du.
Shen Du abruptly stood up, shaking off Zhu Mojie’s hand. “Speak if you must, but keep your hands to yourself.”
Hearing this, Zhu Mojie was displeased. No matter how high Shen Du’s rank, he was still his brother-in-law. How could he show so little respect?
“Great Pavilion Commander, that’s not right of you. We treat you as family with good intentions, yet you act so distant?”
Shen Du couldn’t be bothered to respond, merely giving him a cold glance, which only further irritated Zhu Mojie.Zhu Mojie's face turned ashen with anger, pointing at Shen Du and declaring shamelessly, "Don't think that just because you're the Great Pavilion Commander, our Zhu family will fear you. At worst, I'll write a letter of divorce on behalf of Little Six and cast you off as her husband. What joy is there in living with an iceberg? It would be better to find someone more passionate—at least they could speak a few warm words."
Zhu Mojie's words displeased Shen Du, whose icy gaze swept over him, causing Zhu Mojie's expression to change dramatically.
Though his words were arrogant, when it came down to it, he had no real confidence in his heart.
Seeing Zhu Mojie's fear, Shen Du had no intention of pressing the matter further. He spoke up, saying, "If you continue to chatter on here, I'll send you to the Hongwen Academy to study, where the instructors will discipline you harshly and teach you how to speak properly."
The scene fell into silence.
"That sounds excellent," Zhu Mojie said with a delighted expression, clapping his hands. "The Hongwen Academy is the most prestigious academy in our Chang'an City, only admitting noble youths. If I were to mingle among them, wouldn't that highlight my own noble status? What a brilliant plan, brother-in-law. When will you send me there?"
The term "brother-in-law" nearly caused everyone present to stumble in shock.
Shen Du's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, and he glared fiercely at Zhu Mojie, uttering four words: "Utterly senseless."
He then turned his gloomy gaze toward Zhu Yan and commanded, "Come with me."
This tone was not a suggestion but a direct order.
Zhu Yan was dazed, not yet having processed the situation, when Shen Du stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and led her away in front of everyone.
Watching the two hurriedly depart, the Zhu family once again grew concerned about Zhu Yan's situation.
Jin Shi began lamenting, "My poor, unfortunate daughter. Today, the Great Pavilion Commander was so furious. Who knows what hardships she'll face when she returns home."
Jin Shi's words reached Ru Shi and Zhu Caiwei's ears, and both felt guilty about the matter but were powerless to do anything.
Zhu Yan was dragged by Shen Du to the Ministry of Justice.
Upon arriving, Zhu Yan realized there was no case at all—Shen Du had simply wanted to take her away from the Zhu family.
A strange feeling stirred in Zhu Yan's heart, but she wasn't angry. She simply shrugged and looked at Shen Du, asking, "Didn't you say there was a case? Where is it? What case?"
Shen Du remained silent, his face unusually dark. "Something happened at the Zhu residence. Why didn't you tell me?"
Shen Du's sudden question caught Zhu Yan off guard.
"You... didn't you say you wouldn't get involved? If you won't, why can't I?"
"When did I say I wouldn't get involved?" Shen Du stood up and questioned her. "I only forbade you from investigating the previous case. When did I ever say I wouldn't handle matters concerning the Zhu family?"
Zhu Yan was speechless. Upon careful reflection, Shen Du had indeed never said he wouldn't intervene in Zhu family affairs.
His earlier command not to go might have carried another layer of meaning, one she simply hadn't grasped at the time.
"I..." Zhu Yan didn't know how to explain herself. Just as she was struggling, a bailiff hurried in to report.
"Great Pavilion Commander, Lord Zhu, something has happened at Furong Garden."
The bailiff's anxious demeanor made it clear that something serious had occurred.
Shen Du, however, let out a cold snort, revealing a profound expression. "Didn't you say you wanted a case? This is the case."Zhu Yan curled her lips and cast a disdainful glance at Shen Du. "How shameless of you to say that. This is clearly an existing case, and you really know how to take advantage of ready-made opportunities."
Shen Du looked at Zhu Yan, unapologetic. "I just like taking what's ready-made. What can you do about it?"
"..." Zhu Yan's lips twitched. When a man became this shameless, there really was nothing she could do.
Shen Du walked away first, leaving Zhu Yan standing there in a daze, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
It wasn't until Shen Du was nearly at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice that he stopped, turned around to look back, and called out loudly, "Aren't you coming?"
His shout snapped Zhu Yan out of her thoughts, and she hurriedly followed after him.
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