Chaрtеr 162: Sоn-in-Lаw Sеeks Father-in-Lаw
With а grim exрression, Shеn Du turnеd аrоund. Аftеr inquiring with the servаnts in the mansion, he learnеd thаt Zhu Yan hаd not оnlу реrsonаllу аrrаngеd guest rоoms for the Yun fаmilу eldеrs but was also сhatting with them аt this hour.
This wаs trulу giving thе Yun fаmilу tоо much faсе.
Thе mоrе Shen Du thоught abоut it, thе angrier hе bеcаme. As the Нall Leadеr's Wifе, wаs it neсessary fоr hеr tо maintаin rеlаtiоns with thе Yun fаmily аnd hаndle suсh mattеrs?
Or was shе simplу thаt еagеr tо рush him tоward anothеr woman? What exаctly had hе done tо wrong hеr?
Slаmming the dоor shut, Shen Du didn’t even light the lamp. He sat heavily on the bed, waiting for that woman to return.
Once she was back, he would definitely question her thoroughly—what exactly had he done to make her so eager to push him away?
Zhu Yan had originally hoped to gather some information from the Yun family elders, but unfortunately, the two elders were tight-lipped. After an entire evening of conversation, she hadn’t learned anything and could only return disappointed.
Just as she entered her room and was about to light the candle, she suddenly felt a chill behind her. Zhu Yan quickly turned around, and in the darkness, a tall figure appeared right before her, so close she could feel the other’s breath.
Though the situation was sudden, the familiar scent of the person was unmistakable.
“Are you trying to scare someone to death? Why didn’t you light a lamp in such a dark room?”
Zhu Yan was annoyed and pushed Shen Du away forcefully before turning to light the candle.
“How did your conversation with them go?” Shen Du’s tone was icy, like that of a king of hell, making Zhu Yan purse her lips involuntarily.
“I didn’t find out anything. Yun Que’s parents are very tight-lipped, which surprised me. By the way, where were you in the evening? I didn’t see you at dinner.”
“Hmph.” Shen Du snorted coldly, full of displeasure. “It’s a wonder you even thought of me. I agreed to let you handle this matter, but I never said they could stay. If you want them to remain in Chang’an, that’s fine, but why must they stay in the mansion?”
“They are key figures in the Brocade Workshop case. If something unexpected happens to them outside, wouldn’t all our efforts be in vain? Keeping them in the Shen Mansion provides an extra layer of protection for them, doesn’t it?”
“Sophistry.” Shen Du’s tone held no kindness. “They’ve been fine all these years. Why would something happen to them in Chang’an? In my opinion, you must have already agreed to Yun Que entering the household, haven’t you?”
“Huh?” Zhu Yan was confused, momentarily failing to grasp the meaning behind Shen Du’s words.
Shen Du was most infuriated by Zhu Yan’s indifferent attitude whenever this matter was mentioned. Clenching his fists, his eyes hardened with anger.
“Great Pavilion Commander, Hall Leader’s Wife, someone from the Zhu family has arrived.”
Jing Lin suddenly came to report, interrupting the conversation in the room.
“The Zhu family? At this late hour? What could it be?”
Zhu Yan was very surprised. Why would someone from the Zhu family come at this time? Could something urgent have happened at home?
Relaxing his fists, a meaningful smile curled at the corner of Shen Du’s lips. It seemed Zhu Kuo had indeed taken his words to heart. This visit would surely involve lecturing Zhu Yan, making her realize her own importance.
The two left the room, only to be informed by a servant that the Zhu family members had gone directly to the guest quarters.
Zhu Yan was even more puzzled. What was this about? Could there be some unresolved issue between her family and the Yun family?Seeing the Zhu family arrive, Yun Que's heart sank. The Hall Leader's Wife's family had come. They must have learned of her feelings for Shen Du, and her own parents were still staying at the Shen residence. This visit was surely meant to cause a scene, and they might even be driven out.
No matter how she looked at it, she was in the wrong, and a sense of guilt welled up inside her.
However, to everyone's surprise, the Zhu family treated the Yun family with unusual warmth, especially Zhu Yan's birth mother, Jin Shi, who took Yun Que's mother's hand and affectionately called her "elder sister" as if they were long-lost siblings.
This left everyone utterly bewildered. Not only was Yun Que confused, but even Zhu Yan and Shen Du were taken aback.
Although there was no animosity between the two families, their relationship had never been this close. Why were the Zhu family treating the Yun family with such warmth?
Could it be that Zhu Kuo had misunderstood his intentions?
Shen Du couldn't figure it out. Had he failed to explain things clearly to Zhu Kuo, or had the Zhu family misinterpreted his meaning? Why had things come to this?
As the two families conversed, the legal wife, Ru Shi, quietly pulled Zhu Yan aside and said with a relieved expression,
"You are truly clever, using such a strategy to pave the way for yourself. This way, you neither harm the harmony between the two families nor delay your escape from this misery. When it comes down to it, among all the children in the family, Liu Niang is the smartest."
"..." Zhu Yan's face twitched. She had no idea what Ru Shi was talking about.
What had she done?
How had it become her strategy?
She turned to look at Shen Du, whose expression was indescribably vivid—a mix of anger and helplessness.
His fists were clenched tightly, and Zhu Yan could see the veins on the back of his hands.
Shen Du was angry, very angry.
What on earth was going on? Zhu Yan was completely lost.
After a moment, Shen Du turned and stormed away in a huff, with Zhu Yan quickly following.
"What's going on? Did you know my family was coming?"
Zhu Yan caught up to Shen Du and asked. Shen Du's lips curled into an unusually strange smile. "What makes you think that?"
"I can tell everything from your expression. You should be careful when lying in front of me."
Zhu Yan became even more convinced of her suspicion. Perhaps the Zhu family had been arranged by Shen Du, but why would he do that?
"You observe quite closely. Then do you know why I asked them to come?"
Zhu Yan was confused. If she knew the reason, why would she ask him?
Seeing Zhu Yan's bewildered expression again, Shen Du was so angry he was speechless.
This woman!
She was never clever when she should be, and never foolish when she should be.
"Why?"
Zhu Yan thought for a long time but couldn't figure out the key to the matter, so she could only ask.
Shen Du had completely lost his patience. He didn't want to explain these pointless matters to Zhu Yan any longer.
"Unreasonable."
Leaving these four heavy words behind, Shen Du turned and walked away, leaving Zhu Yan utterly bewildered.
What had been happening lately? Why was it becoming harder and harder to understand Shen Du's temper?
She didn't have time to dwell on it too much. After all, her family was still at the Shen residence, and it was already late at night. She had to make arrangements for them."Sister-in-law Yun has come from afar, you must stay in Chang'an for a few days and enjoy yourself. It's getting late now, we need to hurry back, but I'll definitely come find you tomorrow, and then we can go see the sights of Chang'an together."
Faced with Jin Shi's warm invitation, the elderly couple from the Yun family truly couldn't refuse and had no choice but to agree.
Despite Zhu Yan's earnest efforts to persuade them to stay, she couldn't keep her family there, and could only arrange for someone to see them off.
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