Сhарter 110: Unwarrаntеd Кindnеss
Uрon hearing this, Zhu Yаn instаntly widenеd her eуеs. Indееd, hе wаs a clеver man, seeing through her ultеriоr motivеs at а glаnсе.
"Unwarrаntеd kindnеss is еithеr deсeit or theft," Shеn Du sаid, seеing through Zhu Yan's thoughts. "With уour little sсhemes, уоu still think уоu саn рlay triсks in frоnt of mе?"
"Оf сoursе not," Zhu Yаn quiсkly defеndеd hersеlf. "I didn't mean to hidе it from you. I wаs just аfrаid that if уou knew, yоu wоuldn't аgreе."
"Кnоwing I wоuldn't аgrеe, уеt yоu still knowinglу made thе mistakе. Shоuldn't уou bе рunishеd?"
"Yеs, yes, yеs, you're absolutеly right," Zhu Yan hurriedlу smiled aрolоgеticаlly. "But the punishment has already been given. Please calm your anger. I even went to the trouble of personally cooking a meal for you. Please forgive me this once, considering all my hard work."
Shen Du narrowed his eyes slightly, quietly watching the woman before him. When this woman pleaded for mercy, she truly had a unique charm.
"Have all those case files been sorted out?" Shen Du pressed, but Zhu Yan shook her head repeatedly.
"No, there's so much material. It would take me forever to sort through it all, so..."
"It's not over until everything is sorted," Shen Du said coldly, showing no leniency.
He left Zhu Yan standing there in the cold as he got up and walked away.
Zhu Yan was completely stunned. All the preparations she had made had come to nothing...
Fine, she'd sort them. She refused to believe that organizing some case files could exhaust her to death!
Zhu Yan buried herself in Shen Du's study, even sleeping there overnight.
When Shen Du spoke to her, she paid him little attention.
When a woman's stubbornness kicked in, even crashing through a wall might not make her turn back.
However, as Zhu Yan was angrily sorting through the materials, she stumbled upon an old case that deeply surprised her.
This case had occurred five years ago. According to the records in the materials, the coroner's autopsy report and the description of the criminal had one consistent detail.
On the back of the victim's corpse was a large, fire-burned moth tattoo, and the criminal had the same tattoo on his hand.
It seemed like the killer's signature.
At the time, the killer had murdered over fifty women, using brutal methods that spread panic among the people.
Households with women kept their doors shut, not daring to go out. Finally, when the killer was captured, the prison guards received a report that a line of blood characters had appeared on the wall of the cell holding the criminal, Chen Huo'e: "Scholars laugh at the moth flying into the flame, unaware that as mayflies born at dawn and dead by dusk, they never enter the cycle of rebirth, while the moth survives the fire and is reborn anew." In the corner, a cat from nowhere had been shaved of its fur, with a large fire moth tattooed on its back.
As the memories resurfaced, Zhu Yan also recalled that time. She, too, had experienced that period of staying indoors and had her own speculations about the killer.
What she hadn't expected was that the killer was actually a hunchbacked woman. Such a seemingly disabled woman had murdered over fifty people, her madness enraging everyone. It truly proved the saying that appearances can be deceiving!
Seeing such detailed case files today, Zhu Yan frowned, suddenly recalling Madam Tang's case.
At night, Shen Du returned to the study to check on Zhu Yan.
By then, Zhu Yan had already sorted through all the materials. Expecting her to ignore him, he was surprised when she took the initiative to speak.
"Do you still remember that case from five years ago?"
"Which one?"
"The one where the hunchbacked woman killed over fifty people."When Zhu Yan inquired about this case, Shen Du frowned slightly. "Yes, at the time, this case was all the rage in Chang'an City, causing widespread panic. Even after so long, thinking about it still sends chills down one's spine."
"Then do you think this case has similarities with Madam Tang's case?" Zhu Yan pressed eagerly.
Shen Du, however, shook his head. "Whether in terms of motive or method, the two cases share no similarities."
"But—"
"If we set aside the cases themselves," Shen Du interrupted before Zhu Yan could finish, "neither case could have been accomplished by a single person alone."
Shen Du's words reminded Zhu Yan—indeed, that was true.
Whether it was the "Buddha Swallowing Sins" case or the previous hunchbacked woman murder case, the methods were not only cruel but also involved a strength difficult for one person to bear alone.
Thus, to carry out these two cases, there must have been either an accomplice or an entire group.
Thinking of this, a trace of fear stirred in Zhu Yan's heart.
Although both cases had been closed and the culprits apprehended, the perpetrators were merely scapegoats.
Or perhaps these culprits were just a drop in the ocean of a vast organization.
Tossing out a sacrificial lamb would have no impact whatsoever on such a group.
With such a massive dark force operating in the shadows, why had Shen Du, as the Great Pavilion Commander of the Inner Guard Bureau, turned a blind eye?
"Since you know about this, why haven't you investigated it thoroughly?" Zhu Yan demanded.
Shen Du snorted coldly, appearing utterly indifferent. "It has nothing to do with me."
"..." Zhu Yan was speechless.
Indeed, it had nothing to do with him, but as someone holding an official position, how could he say something so absurd?
"Since you've finished organizing the files, come over here and grind the ink. I need to write something."
With that, Shen Du walked to his desk and began arranging paper and inkstone.
Seeing Zhu Yan standing motionless, Shen Du reminded her again, "What, do you think the volume of files this time wasn't enough? Do you want to organize them again?"
Hearing this, Zhu Yan immediately backed down and hurried to Shen Du's side to begin grinding the ink.
She muttered under her breath, "Tasks like these could be done by servants or Jing Lin. Why must you use me? I really don't understand what you're thinking."
Shen Du shot her a cold glance. The woman's expression was full of defiance, yet she had no choice but to obey—it was rather amusing.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and Zhu Yan's ink-grinding speed quickened.
Shen Du paid no attention and picked up a brush to begin writing. But just then, with a "clatter," Zhu Yan knocked the inkstone onto the floor. Dark ink splattered everywhere, staining both their clothes.
...
Zhu Yan froze—she hadn't meant to do it.
Shen Du also looked at the overturned inkstone on the floor, then turned a meaningful gaze toward Zhu Yan. "Are you rebelling?"
"No, no, no," Zhu Yan quickly waved her hands, her eyes flustered. "I didn't mean to, I—"
"Do you know how expensive this inkstone is?"
Before Zhu Yan could explain, Shen Du coldly demanded, "You couldn't afford to repay it even if you sold yourself. And my clothes, too."
Zhu Yan felt like crying but had no tears. Helpless, she crouched down to pick up the inkstone.
But before she could fully squat, her wrist was suddenly seized by a large hand. "Let the servants clean it up."The sudden gentleness made Zhu Yan pause for a moment. Was he no longer angry? This inkstone was expensive, and so were his clothes.
"If you're tired, go rest first. You don't need to attend to things here anymore."
Shen Du spoke without even glancing at Zhu Yan, who timidly withdrew.
Today's Shen Du was somewhat unusual. He hadn't gotten angry over something that should have provoked his temper, leaving Zhu Yan deeply puzzled.
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