Сhарtеr 131: Stаying Tоnight
"I..." Zhu Yаn аррeared sоmеwhat awkwаrd, unsure how tо ехрlаin hеrself to Shеn Du, and quickly changed thе subjеct. "Whу do уоu саre sо muсh? Lооk аt the stаte you'rе in—уou'vе lost so much blоod and still sаy it's nothing."
"Аrе уоu wоrriеd аbout me?" Тhе cоrnеr оf Shen Du's mоuth uncоnsсiously liftеd, сarrуing a hint of deеper meаning.
"Dоn't flаtter уourself. You wеrе injurеd saving mе, sо оf соursе I havе tо takе resрonsibility fоr yоu."
Тhе morе shе sроke, the softеr her voice beсame, but Shen Du still fеlt a wavе of dеlight in his hеart. Тhis woman was indeed concerned about him.
Back at the Shen residence, Zhu Yan carefully applied medicine to Shen Du's wounds, but her movements were somewhat hurried, as if she had other matters to attend to.
Shen Du grew increasingly puzzled. It was already dark—could she be rushing back to her room to rest?
"Do you have something else to do?" Shen Du's question made Zhu Yan's hand, which was applying the medicine, pause abruptly. "What's wrong?"
"You seem in a hurry. Surely you're not rushing off to rest?" Shen Du remarked casually, as if merely making conversation.
"Of course not," Zhu Yan admitted frankly. "I've already arranged with the Ministry of Justice today to review the case tonight. So after I finish applying your medicine, I need to go to the Ministry of Justice. I won't be back tonight."
Hearing this, Shen Du felt an inexplicable displeasure. Not coming back tonight—she intended to stay overnight at the Ministry of Justice.
"Is the case that urgent?" Shen Du's tone carried a hint of sharpness. "You need to review it in the middle of the night?"
"Everyone wants to solve the case as soon as possible. For those of us specializing in this, staying up a little late isn't a problem."
Zhu Yan spoke casually, as if this arrangement had been her own suggestion.
"But I'm injured. Aren't you going to stay and take care of me tonight?"
Only when Shen Du posed this question did Zhu Yan seem to realize something, her expression turning troubled.
Shen Du continued, "You know who I was injured for. Now you're going to the Ministry of Justice to review the case and won't return all night. Can you really feel at ease with that?"
"I..." Zhu Yan was left speechless by Shen Du's words, as if she were a criminal.
Seeing Zhu Yan at a loss for words, Shen Du's expression darkened. He muttered to himself, "This murderer has some capability. I will definitely investigate this case thoroughly."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan understood—Shen Du must know some inside information. Rather than going to the Ministry of Justice to review the case, it would be better to stay here and learn about new leads.
"Aren't you busy? You don't need to take care of me here. Go ahead," Shen Du said coldly, effectively dismissing her.
Zhu Yan's expression turned somewhat endearing as she scratched her head. "Who said I was leaving? Just as you said, you were injured because of me. If I left like this, even Heaven would think I had no conscience. What if a bolt of lightning struck me? That would be too unfair."
Hearing that Zhu Yan intended to stay, the corner of Shen Du's mouth unconsciously lifted again, but the next moment he put on a serious expression. "But reviewing the case is important. Besides, you've already arranged it with the Ministry of Justice. If you don't go, won't they be waiting in vain?"
"It's fine, it's fine. They're all like family. Even if they wait in vain, they won't do anything to me. At most, I'll apologize to them another day."
"But if you lose your authority in front of them, will they still respect you?""I'm just a young woman, where would I have any authority? Besides, I'm already known as the Hall Leader's Wife outside, and with you by my side, they wouldn't dare gossip."
Zhu Yan shamelessly insisted, meaning that no matter what was said today, she wouldn't leave—she was determined to stay and take care of Shen Du.
Of course, the most important thing was to understand the details of the case.
Shen Du had achieved his goal and felt quite pleased inside, but he put on a troubled expression. "Alright, since you've stayed in this room before, one more night won't hurt."
Seeing Shen Du agree, Zhu Yan nodded repeatedly and then began bandaging his wound with gauze.
Zhu Yan's movements were gentle, no longer rushed as before, and Shen Du felt deeply comforted.
"Do you know why I suddenly decided to thoroughly investigate this case?"
Hearing Shen Du's question, Zhu Yan shook her head. "No, I don't."
Shen Du took a deep breath and continued, "Looking at the current situation, all of Chang'an appears harmonious and peaceful on the surface, but the intense struggles within the court remain unknown to most. Secret factions have begun forming among the various parties in the court, and the symbol of these factions is a giant fire moth. His Majesty has also grown suspicious, believing someone is using this matter to commit murder, aiming to eliminate political rivals."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan was stunned.
The wound was now bandaged, and Zhu Yan sat before Shen Du, silent.
The situation was far more complicated than she had initially imagined. These cases were actually tied to court politics—something she had never expected.
Zhu Yan felt a wave of oppression in her heart, and the brightness in her eyes faded, replaced by a somber gloom.
This crime was merely the killer imitating the "Buddha Swallowing Sin" method to cover their true motives.
Even if the real culprit were found, they would likely be nothing more than a scapegoat, just like Madam Tang.
The true mastermind behind it all remained far beyond their reach.
Seeing Zhu Yan fall silent, Shen Du noticed her change in mood.
"What, didn't you consider this from the start?"
Shen Du seemed to be asking a question he already knew the answer to. He had always assumed Zhu Yan was one of Zhang Xingwei's people—shouldn't she have anticipated these things?
Zhu Yan hadn't thought that far ahead at all. She just shook her head blankly. "I truly didn't expect it. It's all so unexpected. Had I known these cases involved so much, perhaps... I shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess from the beginning."
Whether sincere or not, Zhu Yan spoke with deep emotion, and at that moment, Shen Du couldn't bring himself to blame her.
"Alright, what's done is done. Regret won't help now. We're already involved, and none of us can escape unscathed. We have no choice but to press on."
Zhu Yan looked up, her complex gaze inscrutable—deep yet shimmering with a faint light, beautiful in its own way.
Both fell silent. The candlelight in the room flickered gently, casting shadows over them.
The atmosphere grew peculiar, even... warm.
The woman before him appeared exceptionally perfect in the dim candlelight, looking every bit like a gentle, kind, beautiful, and virtuous wife.
When Zhu Yan looked at Shen Du, her heart raced a little. He already possessed exquisitely handsome features, and under the warm glow of the candlelight, they appeared even more defined, handsome—truly a graceful and elegant gentleman.
Both were somewhat lost in thought, and Shen Du unconsciously leaned forward.Zhu Yan's heartbeat quickened even more. This time, she did not dodge, her hands fidgeting nervously together, palms damp with cold sweat.
She understood all too well what was about to happen, yet she was somewhat surprised by her own thoughts.
Not wanting to avoid it was one thing, but she even felt an involuntary urge to lean in and meet it halfway.
How strange.
Unable to resist, Zhu Yan began to tilt her body slightly forward.
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