Сhарtеr 160: Nо Regrets
Shеn Du wаs still quiеtlу wаtching Zhu Yan, as if еntrаnced.
Zhu Yаn felt uncоmfоrtаblе undеr his gаze. Was this mаn bewitched? She had onlу сasuаlly sаid а fеw wоrds—was it nесеssаrу for him tо look at hеr likе that?
А faint uneasе stirred within her, аnd Zhu Yan quicklу stооd uр tо wаlk оutside. Shen Du rеmаined sеаtеd, not rising.
Zhu Yаn smiled sеlf-dеpreсаtingly. Sо he was just lost in thоught, not actuаllу lоoking аt her.
In the cоurtуаrd, Chеn Wеn glаnсеd bаck аt thе still-dazеd Shen Du, lоwered his vоicе, аnd аsked Zhu Yаn, "Girl, уоu’vе spent yоur youth clearing this mаn’s name, oftеn running around with him оn cаsеs. Isn’t it eхhausting?"
Zhu Yan’s expression remained calm as she nodded slightly. "Of course it’s exhausting, but I’ve never regretted it. It’s just that after all these years, the Shen family case still has no resolution, which worries me greatly."
"Ah..." Chen Wen sighed helplessly. His apprentice was excellent in every way, except for being too stubborn.
If she were an ordinary young lady from an official family, she would surely spend her days enjoying a comfortable life—who would have the leisure to meddle in others’ affairs?
But this apprentice of his was different. She rushed about tirelessly, never seeming weary and never regretting her choices.
It was truly rare.
What neither of them expected was that the moment Zhu Yan stood up, Shen Du had snapped out of his daze. He just didn’t know how to face her. By the time he reached the doorway, he happened to overhear their conversation.
His heart felt like a jumble of mixed flavors—indescribable and complex. He clenched his fists slightly, his eyes deepening with a somber intensity.
By the time they returned to the Shen residence, the sky had completely darkened.
After a long, busy day, the two had rushed back from Chen Wen’s place without even eating.
As soon as they entered the residence, Zhu Yan plunged back into the case.
Just as she was about to pick up pen and paper to reanalyze the facts of the case, Shen Du stopped her.
"It’s so late, and we haven’t eaten yet. If you’re not hungry, I am. Hurry up and make dinner."
Zhu Yan’s lips twitched, but for a moment, she couldn’t think of anything to retort.
After all, this was their longstanding agreement. Reluctantly, she tossed the pen aside and turned toward the kitchen.
In the smoke-filled kitchen, that familiar figure was still bustling about. Shen Du stood at the kitchen doorway, quietly watching the scene.
Today’s events had truly surprised him. He had never imagined that Zhu Yan would turn out to be that girl from all those years ago.
Fate had played such a trick on him, and he accepted it gladly. From now on, he no longer had to search desperately for that person in his heart.
Thinking this, the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted. This woman wasn’t so bad after all.
On closer look, she was quite pretty, with a good figure, skilled at cooking, and even capable of helping him with cases.
Such a talented woman was actually that chattering little girl from the Ye Ting back then.
So, the marriage arrangement originally meant for Zhu Caiwei had been given to Zhu Yan—was this fate’s way of giving him a chance to repay his debt?
Wait, just because she spoke to him in the Ye Ting, he had to repay her?
Fine. Considering she was the only one willing to talk to him back then, repaying the debt it was.
Two bowls of hot noodle soup were placed on the table. Zhu Yan quickly shoveled the noodles from her bowl into her mouth. After a whole day, she was starving too.If Shen Du hadn't reminded her, she would have still been trapped by the case, with no time to remember she was already hungry.
Zhu Yan ate ravenously, while Shen Du watched the woman before him, chewing slowly and deliberately.
Today's noodles tasted of nothing to Shen Du; his entire focus was on Zhu Yan.
After finishing the meal, Zhu Yan casually wiped her mouth, stood up, and immediately picked up pen and paper to analyze the case again, leaving Shen Du speechless.
He had even produced the token, yet she showed no reaction whatsoever.
After Shen Du finished his noodles, the bowls on the table were cleared away by the servants. Shen Du poured a cup of tea and walked over to Zhu Yan, seeing her dotting and sketching on the paper with her pen.
He placed the tea in front of Zhu Yan and asked calmly, "This bronze whistle is connected to the Shen residence, and it wasn't exactly an auspicious object back then. After all these years, you've still kept it."
"Mhm." Zhu Yan nodded without looking up. "It would be a shame to lose something so beautiful. Better to keep it and admire it in my spare time."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Yan seemed to suddenly think of something and abruptly looked up at Shen Du's expression.
The corners of his lips held a faint, elusive curve, appearing deeply meaningful and unfathomable.
Zhu Yan quickly raised a hand toward the sky, looking at Shen Du with solemn assurance. "You can rest assured, even if I die, I won't fall in love with you. As long as you spare my life, once the time comes, we can divorce peacefully. I absolutely won't hinder you from finding true love."
Hearing Zhu Yan say such words, Shen Du's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Noticing a corner of the token peeking out from Zhu Yan's chest, he stepped forward, snatched it away, turned, and left.
"What are you doing! Why are you taking my things? Give it back to me."
Zhu Yan got up to chase after him, but by the time she reached the courtyard gate, Shen Du had already vanished without a trace.
That evening, Shen Du returned to his room. Knowing Zhu Yan was still in the study unraveling the case, he lay alone in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Clutching the bronze whistle tightly in his hand, he couldn't help but wonder: What on earth is going on in this woman's head?
She seems quite intelligent, yet she can be so foolish about certain things.
Has she truly not sensed even a little how well he treats her? What must he do to make a woman understand his feelings?
Zhu Yan did not return for a long time, and Shen Du continued to toss and turn restlessly.
Looking at the bronze whistle in his hand—still bright, perhaps from years of handling—he placed it on Zhu Yan's side of the bed, then got up and left the room.
In the darkness, a figure swiftly scaled the wall and arrived at a side hall of the Daming Palace.
Shen Du knelt and paid his respects. Before long, a palace maid from the Empress's side emerged from the side hall, presenting a secret edict.
"Minister Shen..."
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the door suddenly opened. Zhu Yan startled awake and saw that the visitor was Shen Du.
"Where did you go? I didn't see you all night," Zhu Yan asked groggily, then lay back down and fell fast asleep again.
It seemed this woman must have stayed up too late last night. After a night of turmoil, he too felt somewhat tired and lay down beside her for a short nap.
When the sky was fully bright, the two had breakfast, and then Shen Du took Zhu Yan toward Prince Ying's residence.
Looking at the gifts prepared in the carriage, Zhu Yan wore a puzzled expression."Today we have an important task—to visit Princess Yong'an in the name of the Empress."
Shen Du took the initiative to explain, and this explanation greatly delighted Zhu Yan.
She had always harbored suspicions about Princess Yong'an due to the Brocade Workshop case. Presumably, Shen Du's visit was also aimed at investigating evidence, so she must cooperate fully.
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