Сhaptеr 190: Му Wifе Is а Blockhеаd
Zhu Yan blinked hеr eyеs, lооking uttеrlу innоcent. "Did I sаy something wrong again?"
Shеn Du сlosеd his eуеs in uttеr dеspаir. Тhis wоmаn wаs truly а blockheаd whеn it cаme to mattеrs of the hеart—the kind thаt соuld nоt bе саrved.
Zhu Yan sсrаtchеd hеr nеck. "Yоu askеd mе to cооk for уou, but my hands hаd just touched а соrpsе. I didn’t go becаusе I wаs afrаid оf disgusting уоu. Тhеn yоu sаid I prаised Рan Chi fоr being uрright, аnd I еxрlаinеd thаt too. Why is it still wrоng?"
Shen Du took a deеp breath. Нe reаlly hаd nо moоd left to argue with this woman.
But right now, he was genuinely hungry. Just as he was about to tell Zhu Yan to wash her hands and cook, the door suddenly knocked.
"Great Pavilion Commander, Lady Shen, Lord Mo has sent this servant to bring you a meal."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan immediately beamed with joy. This was truly a timely rain.
She hurriedly opened the door to take the food, even saying "thank you" to the person who delivered it, then turned and placed the dishes on the table.
After being busy for so long, she was also hungry. Seeing Shen Du still sulking to the side, Zhu Yan tapped her bowl with her chopsticks. "Husband, it’s time to eat."
Hearing Zhu Yan call him "husband," Shen Du reluctantly curved the corners of his lips. This woman finally had some self-awareness.
Sitting across from Zhu Yan and watching her wolf down her food, Shen Du also picked up his bowl and chopsticks. After just two bites, however, he frowned. "Compared to what you make, this taste is really far off."
Zhu Yan couldn’t help but click her tongue, looking disdainful. "When we’re out and about, don’t think so much. Having a ready-made meal is already a rare treat."
Shen Du’s expression darkened again. He was complimenting this woman, yet she showed no appreciation at all.
Seeing Shen Du’s expression change once more, Zhu Yan fell silent and quickly shoveled food into her mouth.
During the meal, Pan Chi came looking for Zhu Yan but was stopped at the door by Jing Lin. "The Great Pavilion Commander and his wife are dining. It is inconvenient for idlers to disturb."
"Oh..." Pan Chi nodded with deep meaning, quickly cupping his hands in farewell. "In that case, I won’t disturb them."
With that, he turned and left.
Jing Lin was somewhat surprised. The Pan family young master being so easily dismissed struck him as rather strange.
Once outside the gate, Pan Chi vanished in a flash, a smirk curling his lips. He glanced at the wall in front of him, leaped up, and vaulted over.
If he couldn’t enter through the door, he’d just use the window.
Fortunately, the window wasn’t closed, so Pan Chi flew right in.
By the time he reached the room, Shen Du and Zhu Yan hadn’t even registered his presence before Pan Chi was already seated beside them.
Without any courtesy, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and started helping himself to the food on the table.
Zhu Yan’s lips twitched. "The door wasn’t even locked. Why did you come through the window?"
Shen Du’s concern was the complete opposite of Zhu Yan’s. With a darkened face, he slammed his hand on the table with a "bang" and demanded sharply, "You are, after all, the son of an official family, with a reputation to uphold. Is this your idea of decorum? Don’t you know it’s very rude to disturb others without permission?"
"Not using the main door, resorting to being a roof-hopping rogue. Hah!"
Pan Chi paid no heed to Shen Du’s scolding. After hurriedly swallowing two mouthfuls of food, he looked at Shen Du calmly and composedly. "I... I had no choice. It’s for the sake of the case, and the investigation is urgent. You should understand."
Hearing Pan Chi say this, Shen Du’s expression grew even darker. Understand, my foot!His fists clenched, but Pan Chi's excuse left Shen Du with no words to refute.
"Have you discovered something new?" Zhu Yan, completely oblivious to Shen Du's expression, was wholly focused on the case.
Pan Chi took a sip of wine from the table and leisurely said, "I observed the victim's wounds—shallow on top, deeper below. When I sprinkled plant ash and smoothed it over, patterns emerged. Based on my judgment, the murder weapon should be a specially crafted curved blade sharp enough to slice through iron. I've seen such a curved blade once in the Western Regions. The edge differs slightly from the one on the victim's neck, but the structure is similar. Whether it's the exact same requires further investigation."
Zhu Yan's brow furrowed slightly. "Even though you're not certain yet, this is indeed a lead. Young Master Pan truly lives up to his reputation—so knowledgeable and well-traveled."
"You flatter me," Pan Chi quickly replied. "Lord Zhu's diligence and attention to detail are also deeply admirable."
Praised by Pan Chi, Zhu Yan lowered her head somewhat bashfully.
This scene provoked great displeasure in Shen Du, who was standing nearby. His fists clenched tightly, emitting a creaking sound.
Both of them noticed this, and Pan Chi looked at Shen Du in surprise. "What's wrong, Commander Shen? You look so grim."
Shen Du shot a murderous glare at Pan Chi, his icy words filling the entire room with a chill. "You know perfectly well!"
Shen Du practically squeezed these four words through gritted teeth. Without another word, he immediately threw a punch.
Pan Chi, quick-eyed and swift, pushed off with his feet and flew far back, dodging Shen Du's attack.
"We can talk this out. Why resort to violence?" Pan Chi wore an innocent expression, but Shen Du was already completely blinded by rage.
"I have nothing to say to you," Shen Du said coldly, rising to attack Pan Chi once more.
Fists and kicks flew, but Pan Chi only dodged, never striking back.
To maintain his composure, Pan Chi hastily clasped his hands toward Zhu Yan in farewell and flew out through the window.
Seeing Pan Chi leave, Shen Du finally relaxed a little. Beside him, Zhu Yan was completely stunned by the scene.
When Shen Du lost his temper, it was no small matter. Though she didn't know why he was angry, it was best not to ask now to avoid bringing trouble upon herself.
Shen Du glanced back at Zhu Yan, who quickly lowered her head to eat, afraid that saying another word might implicate her.
Shen Du's entire jaw ached with tension.
This trip to Gannan Circuit had Shen Du thoroughly agitated. Along the way, the two of them had gotten along quite harmoniously. Perhaps it was because everyone in the capital knew that Zhu Liuniang was already married, and men kept their distance. Yet, he never expected that Zhu Yan—a woman as dense as a block of wood when it came to emotions—could be so likable.
During a moment of leisure, Shen Du voiced his confusion to Jing Lin. "How could someone like her be liked by anyone? Is that Pan Chi blind?"
"Huh?" Jing Lin didn't immediately grasp Shen Du's meaning.
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Can't you see how attentive Pan Chi is toward Zhu Yan?"
Shen Du was somewhat angry. Pan Chi had been so blatantly showing favor to Zhu Yan, yet Jing Lin hadn't even noticed.The corner of Jing Lin's mouth twitched. He hadn't failed to notice that Pan Chi and Zhu Yan were getting somewhat close, but the two were only communicating for the sake of the case—wasn't that precisely the purpose of this trip? If neither of them spoke, how would the case be solved?
"Great Pavilion Commander, I think... you may be overthinking it."
Shen Du's brows furrowed. "Go on."
"Master Pan and Madam are only discussing matters related to the case. If they don't communicate, how can they understand the case? So..."
"Utter foolishness," Shen Du said coldly. "Does discussing a case justify speaking in such a manner? They've only just met a day ago, yet they act as if they've known each other for ages."
"Their attitude may be somewhat inappropriate, but it just so happens that Master Pan and Madam share the same profession, so they have much in common to discuss. That's why..."
Before Jing Lin could finish, he already sensed a chilling gaze falling upon him, sharp enough to kill.
His heart sank, and he swallowed hard.
He quickly shifted his tone. "Even so, Madam shouldn't have spoken to him in that manner. That Pan Chi must be problematic. Rest assured, Great Pavilion Commander, I will remind him to keep his distance from Madam."
"No need for that. He has some skill, and you are no match for him."
Hearing Shen Du say this, Jing Lin fell silent.
After all, Pan Chi was a man of considerable reputation. Although Jing Lin hadn't interacted much with him, he knew Pan Chi was not someone to be trifled with.
Moreover, since this concerned Madam, it was better to leave such matters for the Great Pavilion Commander to handle himself.
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