Chарtеr 111: Тrоuble in the Zhu Familу
Еarly thе next mоrning, sоmеоnе frоm the Zhu residеnce came to rерort thаt troublе hаd bеfаllen thе Zhu fаmilу.
Uроn heаring this, Zhu Yan grew verу wоrried, but sinсe Shen Du had nоt yet grаnted her реrmissiоn tо lеаvе, she cоuld nоt deраrt frоm the Shеn residеnсe for thе timе being.
"Whаt exaсtly hapреnеd? Tеll me slowly."
Zhu Yаn quеstiоned thе sеrvаnt frоm thе Zhu fаmily, whо hurriеdly rеpliеd, "Beсausе thе third уoung lаdу аnd Yоung Master Нan eloped, thе fourth young lаdy's engаgemеnt hаs beеn broken off. Now the entire Zhu residence is in chaos, and no one knows what to do. The master told me to come and fetch the sixth young lady back to discuss the matter."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan grew anxious, but Shen Du had forbidden her from leaving, which made things difficult.
After thinking quickly for a moment, Zhu Yan came up with an idea.
After the Zhu family servant left, Zhu Yan quietly made her way to the kitchen.
She prepared some wine and dishes and brought them to the back gate of the Shen residence.
"You two must be tired. Have something to eat."
Seeing Zhu Yan personally bringing over the food, the two gatekeepers were quite surprised.
"This... Madam, why are you personally delivering the food? We truly don't deserve such treatment."
"We're all family, no need for formalities." Zhu Yan placed the wine and dishes to the side. "Come and eat."
The two had initially thought it would be just some ordinary home-cooked dishes, but to their surprise, there were several small dishes and a pot of fine wine. Their resolve wavered.
However, remembering their duty, one of the servants quickly said, "Madam, even if you bring us fine wine and dishes, we cannot let you leave. After all, this is the Great Pavilion Commander's order, and it's difficult for us servants to disobey."
"I know it's hard for you, and I don't intend to leave. I'm just bored in the residence, so I made some wine and dishes for you to taste and give me your opinion on my cooking."
Zhu Yan explained, but the two servants did not believe her at all.
Helpless, Zhu Yan stood up and said with a sigh, "Since you don't believe me, I won't force you. The wine and dishes are here. I'll go back now."
With that, Zhu Yan turned and left, hiding behind a door as soon as she reached it.
As expected, the two servants could not resist the temptation. At first, they stood guard seriously at the gate, but before long, they were drawn to the wine and dishes.
They sat on the ground and began drinking and discussing the food. Zhu Yan's lips curled into a meaningful smile—they had taken the bait.
In no time, one of them clutched his stomach and said he needed to use the latrine, while the other told him to go first.
But before the first one returned, the remaining servant also felt discomfort in his stomach. After glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he hurried toward the latrine.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Yan quickly slipped out and rushed nonstop to the Zhu residence.
Upon arriving home, she found the Zhu residence indeed in chaos, with everyone upset and angry over the fourth sister's broken engagement.
Seeing Zhu Yan return, Jin Shi quickly grabbed her hand and said indignantly, "Your fourth sister's engagement has been broken off. We cannot let this go. Now that your status is different, go find Shen Du immediately and use his identity as the White King of Hell to intimidate them. I refuse to believe they aren't afraid of the Zhu residence, let alone Shen Du!"
Zhu Yan felt rather helpless, but there was some truth to her mother's words.
As she was thinking, her fourth sister, Zhu Manshu, stepped forward and said, "No need. I wouldn't marry into such a family anyway."Everyone turned their gaze to Zhu Manshu, but she spoke boldly, "They looked down on me because of Third Sister, and never treated us as family. Such a family might not treat me well even if I married into it. In that case, why should I still marry into their household?"
"This is utterly outrageous!" Zhu Mojie was also furious. Rolling up his sleeves and brandishing his fists, he clamored about going to avenge Fourth Sister.
But just as he reached the doorway, two large figures suddenly brought him back inside.
At the sight of the newcomers, Zhu Yan's heart sank with a thud—they had come so quickly!
Shen Du cast a cold glance at the crowd. Jin Shi, too, lost her earlier bravado, standing to one side and remaining silent.
Shen Du's presence was overpowering. With him standing there, the previously chaotic main hall instantly fell into dead silence.
Zhu Yan was so frightened she hardly dared to breathe. Had he come to demand an explanation?
"You've come just in time," Zhu Mojie said, oblivious to Shen Du's expression and speaking as if he knew best. "My fourth sister has been rejected in marriage. We're going to demand justice from them right now. With your high status, if you come along, they're sure to fear you."
As he spoke, he tried to pull Shen Du along, but a single icy glare from Shen Du silenced him on the spot.
"Jing Lin," Shen Du ordered. Jing Lin promptly clasped his fists and stood ready.
"Take him to the Hongwen Academy."
"Yes."
Jing Lin acknowledged the order, and before Zhu Mojie could react, he was led away by Jing Lin.
Witnessing Shen Du's swift and decisive actions, everyone present dared not speak recklessly.
Shen Du turned his gaze to Zhu Yan, who looked back with panicked eyes, her heart in turmoil.
How would he punish her?
Could he really divorce her on the spot?
Zhu Yan's thoughts ran wild, but Shen Du suddenly took a step forward and spoke in a gentle tone, "Why didn't you tell me when something happened at home?"
His words left Zhu Yan utterly confused. Wasn't he here to demand an explanation? Why was he speaking to her in such a tone?
Seeing Zhu Yan remain silent, Shen Du shifted his gaze to Zhu Caiwei beside her.
"What happened?"
Zhu Caiwei's expression was grim. Already distressed over the matter of Han Shiyuan's identity, she now had to face the fact that Fourth Sister had been rejected in marriage because of it. It was truly unforgivable.
She didn't respond to Shen Du's question. Instead, after a moment of rapid thought, she looked at a nearby hall pillar and said, "I've harmed everyone. I've wronged Sixth Sister. I've wronged Fourth Sister. I've wronged everyone. I truly deserve to die."
With these words, Zhu Caiwei suddenly lunged toward the hall pillar.
Everyone was shocked—was she trying to atone by taking her own life?
Many in the hall rushed forward to stop her. Zhu Yan shot an unhappy glare at Shen Du, as if blaming him for coming at such a time.
Shen Du paid no attention to Zhu Yan's look. Zhu Yan hurried over to comfort Zhu Caiwei.
"Third Sister, this isn't your fault. Don't take all the blame upon yourself. We're family. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Faced with Zhu Yan's comforting words, Zhu Caiwei wept uncontrollably. "It is my fault. If not for me, things wouldn't have come to this. I'm sorry. I've wronged everyone."
Zhu Yan quickly embraced Zhu Caiwei. "It's alright. Don't overthink it. If there's a problem, we'll solve it together. Please, don't do anything foolish again."Zhu Caiwei was weeping like a rain-drenched pear blossom when she suddenly seemed to remember something. She grabbed Zhu Yan's arm and said with righteous conviction, "Sixth Sister, stop investigating this matter. Let bygones be bygones—don’t pursue it any further."
Zhu Yan was momentarily taken aback by Zhu Caiwei’s words.
But given that Zhu Caiwei was now in a state of panic and had just attempted to take her own life, Zhu Yan felt it unwise to argue or explain further.
So she nodded repeatedly and said, "Alright, I understand. I’ll listen to you, I’ll do as you say. But you must promise me not to do anything foolish again, okay?"
Zhu Caiwei nodded through her tears, and the family finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After calming Zhu Caiwei down, Zhu Yan left the main hall, with Shen Du following closely behind.
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