Сhарtеr 120: Yun Quе
“Nоthing.” Zhu Yan quicklу rерliеd, thеn looked аt Shеn Du with curiositу. “You’re thе Grеаt Раviliоn Commаnder, high above everуоne еlse. Whу dо уоu alwауs insist оn реrsonаlly investigating сluеs? You hаve so manу men under уou—why nоt lеt thеm hаndlе it?”
Неaring Zhu Yan’s quеstiоn, Shen Du frоwnеd slightlу and stоod uр, mоving to her sidе. “Оut of nоwhere, why аre you аsking this?”
“Nо rеasоn, really. I just саn’t figurе it out.” Zhu Yаn dеlibеrаtеlу put оn а thoughtful еxрression. “Lоok аt Lоrd Lаi Luozhi—уоu’rе оn equal foоting with him. How does he hаndle casеs? He idlеs arоund аll daу, leaving everything to his subordinates. He lives so carefree, not like you, who works yourself to exhaustion.”
At these words, Shen Du raised his hand and gave Zhu Yan a light knock on the head. “You’re not focusing on the case investigation, and instead you’re thinking about these pointless things. You’re also someone of status—why do you personally investigate clues? Do I really need to explain?”
Status?
Zhu Yan almost laughed in frustration. What status did she have? Could it be… the Hall Leader’s Wife?
Just as she was about to argue, Jing Lin suddenly entered, clasping his fists and saying, “Great Pavilion Commander, that woman named Yun Que has come to the residence.”
“…”
The room fell into sudden silence. Zhu Yan’s heart sank, as if plummeting into an abyss, leaving her deeply unsettled.
“What woman?” Zhu Yan asked. Jing Lin beside her looked surprised. “Has the Great Pavilion Commander not told you, Madam?”
“Told me what?”
Shen Du looked at Jing Lin, who was also at a loss for words, his lips twitching. What was he supposed to say? How did the question end up back with him?
Seeing the two of them grow increasingly evasive, Zhu Yan grew even more puzzled. “What exactly is going on? Who is Yun Que?”
“She’s…”
“She’s a woman who stopped us on the road yesterday to plead for justice.” Before Jing Lin could reply, Shen Du cut him off, speaking with conviction. “We only met once. I’m not familiar with her.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan understood and chuckled lightly, teasing, “I was just asking casually. Why explain so much?”
Shen Du didn’t know why he felt the need to explain this to Zhu Yan, but her retort displeased him, and his expression instantly darkened.
Seeing the two fall silent, Jing Lin felt awkward. “Miss Yun Que is still waiting outside. Should we…”
“Let her in.”
“I won’t see her.”
Zhu Yan wanted her brought in, but Shen Du refused to see her.
Jing Lin was utterly confused, panic flickering in his eyes. Whom should he listen to?
Zhu Yan looked at Shen Du, baffled. “Why won’t you see her?”
“I don’t want to.” Shen Du said no more, his tone cold.
“She’s here with a case of injustice. As the Great Pavilion Commander, you can’t refuse to see her.” As Zhu Yan spoke, she gave Jing Lin a meaningful glance.
Jing Lin was truly in a difficult position. He only took orders from Shen Du, but after spending time with them, he had also grown to heed the Madam’s words.
Moreover, based on his understanding of the Great Pavilion Commander, the so-called “I won’t see her” was merely him acting out of pique toward his wife.
Jing Lin didn’t leave but remained in place, waiting for Shen Du’s order.
Shen Du seemed to take Zhu Yan’s words to heart and reconsidered. He looked at Jing Lin and said, “Bring her in.”
“Yes.” Jing Lin quickly complied and soon brought Yun Que in.
Upon entering the study, Yun Que completely ignored everyone present, not even sparing a glance at Zhu Yan, who stood nearby.A pair of eyes stared fixedly at Shen Du, brimming with admiration. "Great Pavilion Commander, I finally get to see you again. You have no idea how poorly the people around you treated me. They even tricked me into filing a complaint at the yamen, but the officials there didn’t care at all and just chased me out."
As she spoke, Yun Que tugged at Shen Du’s long sleeve like a spoiled bird, swaying back and forth with a face full of grievance.
Beside them, Jing Lin and Zhu Yan both twitched at the corners of their mouths, while Shen Du merely wore a dark expression and did not push her away.
This truly astonished the two of them.
Shouldn’t someone like Shen Du have snatched his sleeve back and harshly reprimanded the person before him?
The two exchanged a glance before turning their gazes back to Shen Du.
Shen Du’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Then how did you manage to find your way here?"
"I inquired along the way. The people from the Grand Cabinet are particularly imposing and have an extraordinary presence, so they were easy to ask about."
As Yun Que spoke, she inwardly lamented her misfortune—she truly had inquired her way here.
The attire of the Grand Cabinet officials was easy to recognize, making them simple to locate.
"There’s no need for flattery here. I’ve said I won’t handle your case, and that’s final. Finding me is useless. Now that you’ve gotten your answer from me, if you want to live, leave this place."
Shen Du spoke coldly, yanking his sleeve back and shifting his gaze to Zhu Yan beside him.
Zhu Yan watched the scene unfold like a spectator enjoying the drama, but Yun Que remained relentless. "That won’t do. If the Great Pavilion Commander won’t stand up for me, I won’t leave. Even if I die, I’ll die right here."
"Since that’s the case, I’ll grant your wish." Shen Du snapped coldly, slamming a nearby book onto the table. "Jing Lin!"
"Wait!" Just as Shen Du was about to order Jing Lin to escort her out, Zhu Yan quickly stood up. "The matter hasn’t been clarified yet. It wouldn’t be right to dismiss her like this. In my opinion, it would be better to..."
"Is that so?" Shen Du suddenly looked at Zhu Yan with a strange expression, then glanced at Yun Que with interest. "In that case, Jing Lin, take Miss Yun Que away and attend to her properly. Clear out a spacious room and let Miss Yun stay in the residence."
"..." Jing Lin was momentarily stunned. After hesitating briefly, he quickly complied and led Yun Que away.
Yun Que’s face was full of gratitude. After bowing and kowtowing three times to Shen Du, she happily followed Jing Lin out of the study.
Zhu Yan’s mind buzzed with confusion. She had no idea what was happening.
She had only spoken offhandedly, yet Shen Du had actually allowed the girl to stay in the residence. Was he doing this to make a point to her?
Or was he interested in the girl?
Zhu Yan didn’t dwell on it, but what she hadn’t anticipated was that Yun Que’s arrival would completely shatter the tranquility of the Shen residence.
Or rather... the tranquility within Zhu Yan’s heart.
Yun Que’s admiration for Shen Du was plain to see. She regarded others as insignificant, following him around incessantly.
This scene led everyone in the Shen residence to whisper among themselves, beginning to suspect that Shen Du had taken a liking to another woman.
When Zhu Yan heard the gossip, her heart was naturally filled with mixed emotions.
But remembering that this person was involved in an unjust case, she forcibly suppressed the unease in her heart.
Seeing Zhu Yan growing increasingly thin and full of worry, Qi Yeyun decided to stand up for her.That day, Shen Du brought everyone to the Ministry of Justice to question the case. Yun Que once again seized the opportunity to stand beside Shen Du, but was pushed aside by Qi Yeyun.
Yun Que couldn’t understand why Qi Yeyun was so hostile toward her. With a displeased expression, she demanded, “What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? I should be asking you what you’re doing!” Qi Yeyun refused to back down, glaring at Yun Que with wide, angry eyes. “You follow the Great Pavilion Commander around all day, whether there’s a reason or not. Even if you don’t find it annoying, he certainly does. A young woman should know better than to behave so improperly. What kind of conduct is this?”
“Hah…” Yun Que let out a light laugh, looking at Qi Yeyun. “I follow him because I have an unjust case hanging over me. Only he can overturn it for me. Can you?”
Qi Yeyun fell silent, her lips twitching slightly before she asked, “What case is so important that you have to trail after him like a shadow?”
“So many people died in the Brocade Workshop case back then. If I don’t stick to him like this, will he overturn the case for me? If you don’t want me clinging to him, then tell me—can you help me?”
Yun Que’s words left Qi Yeyun utterly bewildered.
When the Brocade Workshop case occurred, Qi Yeyun was only six or seven years old. She had no understanding of it, let alone the ability to overturn it.
Seeing Qi Yeyun unable to respond, Yun Que gave her a disdainful look and continued to follow Shen Du’s footsteps.
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