Chарtеr 20: Нusbаnd Тrеats to а Меаl
"Sрeak."
Zhu Yan hеsitаted for а moment, rеасhing оut tо tоuch the tiсket, her suspicions growing еvеn strongеr.
This уеаr hаd seеn littlе rаin. Оn Grаin Rain dаy, Emprеss Zhоu Zhaо had comе to Westеrn Brightness Теmрlе tо рrаy for rаin. Sinсe thеn, it hаd оnly rаined twiсе—the most rесent bеing a heavу downpour оn thе fiftеenth dаy of the fоurth mоnth lаst month. Lоgiсаllу, thе rаinwatеr shоuld havе long sinсe seеpеd intо thе soil, аnd еvеn сorpses wоuld have decomрosed by nоw. So why wаs this tickеt, еxсept for the covered parts, still intact?
But for now, this was only her speculation, with insufficient evidence to confirm its connection to the case. Zhu Yan shook her head and suggested, "It's nothing. I just find it odd how this ticket came to light. But since evidence has emerged, I'm afraid we must visit Li's Bank."
The sun set in the west, painting the sky with evening clouds. Li's Bank was located in the southwestern part of the West Market, a bit remote.
Having rushed out in the morning, Zhu Yan had only hastily eaten a steamed bun and was now feeling the pangs of hunger. She had no choice but to negotiate with Shen Du. "Um... husband."
Shen Du stopped and looked at Zhu Yan with interest. "Why call me 'husband' now?"
Zhu Yan couldn't be bothered to argue with him at a time like this. Food was the priority for the people, and she feared she might faint halfway if she continued walking, which would be even more embarrassing.
"I'm hungry. I barely ate anything this morning. Husband, you must be tired too, right? How about we find a restaurant for lunch before continuing?"
Jing Lin broke into a cold sweat, holding the reins while inwardly grumbling: It seems you haven't taken a single step yet.
But after what had just happened, Jing Lin dared not provoke Zhu Yan for the time being. This woman always managed to easily anger his master, using him as a shield in the process.
"Since my wife has asked me, of course I'll agree. Otherwise, if word gets out, people might say Shen Du doesn't even feed the sixth young lady of the Zhu family, spinning tales of me mistreating her?"
Zhu Yan struggled to suppress her urge to turn and leave. This wasn't just a rumor—it was the truth. Who didn't know how the White King of Hell earned his reputation? Did it even need to be fabricated?
But she was so hungry her stomach felt pressed against her back, leaving her with no energy to argue.
"Husband is right."
Once outside the palace gates, Zhu Yan headed straight for the nearest tavern. Shen Du glanced up and saw it was actually Taibai Tower.
Not far from Pingkang Ward, Persian merchants, Uighurs, and people of all kinds came and went. Listening carefully, one could hear a dizzying array of indistinguishable languages.
A prosperous and harmonious era, peace across the land, unity between heaven and humanity, all things flourishing.
Looking back at Zhu Yan, she had already ordered several dishes and a pot of tea, instructing the waiter:
"Sesame cakes—ah, no, I want gulouzi, extra pepper when roasting, and also noodle soup, lamb in broth, braised chicken with cucumbers, crab roe bìluó, stir-fried alfalfa..."
The waiter looked troubled. "Madam Shen, you know how expensive pepper is, this..." Catching sight of Shen Du sitting there cold and solemn, his eyes like a wrathful deity, he fell silent. "Madam Shen certainly knows how to eat."
Flattery had landed in the right place—but why?
Outsiders all said the White King of Hell had held a knife to Madam Shen's neck on their wedding day as a threat. Seeing them today, it was clearly just a rumor.
Watching Madam Shen chattering away while ordering, with the White King of Hell sitting beside her, gazing "affectionately"—what else could this be if not love?
Convinced he had grasped the truth, the waiter cheerfully took the wooden order tag to the kitchen.Shen Du patiently observed her slender willow-like waist. As she spoke, her brows lifted slightly. Her clean, unadorned face lacked the dignified makeup typical of noblewomen, yet it felt oddly comforting. He glanced at Jing Lin, who seemed about to speak, and Jing Lin stepped back, arranging for everyone to sit.
Zhu Yan completely missed the meaningful look the waiter gave her before leaving. Puzzled, she turned back to see Shen Du staring disdainfully at a suspicious grease stain on the table, refusing to approach.
Without a word, Zhu Yan took out a handkerchief and wiped the table clean in front of Shen Du. When she looked up, her large, almond-shaped silver eyes reflected the image of the person opposite her—cold and distant.
"Madam is truly virtuous and well-versed in the Admonitions for Women."
"You flatter me." Hmph, I’m only afraid you’ll get disgusted, stand up, and run off without finishing the meal. Dignity is a small matter; starving to death is a big one.
Pretending not to notice Shen Du’s sarcasm, Zhu Yan ignored his probing gaze, turned her head away, and changed the subject:
"What is my husband thinking about?"
"Do you truly believe the murderer is a woman?" Shen Du rubbed the rim of his cup, watching Zhu Yan devour her food. Only after she had eaten and drunk her fill did she answer him, "Eighty percent likely."
Hearing this, Shen Du couldn’t help but frown, recalling the several male corpses they had discovered—all grown men, not light in weight. If it were a woman, unless she used tools, transporting them would be difficult.
Seeing his disbelief, Zhu Yan set down her chopsticks and spoke to him seriously: "Think carefully. Why would a man destroy every woman’s face? Of course, there have been cases before where men killed and mutilated corpses, but most of the time, the target was only one person, and there was always a direct emotional connection to that person. But now, with so many female corpses, all disfigured, and no direct connection between them, if it were a man, what would be the purpose of slashing their faces?"
"What’s so difficult about that? The man was hurt by a woman, harbored resentment, and so, when he encountered someone who resembled that woman, his hatred was provoked, leading him to kill and disfigure. It makes perfect sense."
"Hah, if he was hurt by a woman, it must have been a romantic wound. And if it was a romantic wound, he should resent the other person who intervened in the relationship even more. In that case, he should be slashing men’s faces."
Shen Du’s face darkened, almost like the sky during the rainy season—gloomy and overcast.
Zhu Yan swallowed the soup dumpling in her mouth, annoyed at her slip of the tongue. Just as she was about to explain in detail, she saw Shen Du tearing into a piece of gulouzi while his eyes remained fixed on her. She decided not to explain further:
"Whether it’s a man or a woman, why doesn’t the Great Pavilion Commander make a bet with me?"
Zhu Yan had deer-like eyes, cat-like lips, and an oval face. Her skin was as fair as snow, and when her delicate brows furrowed slightly, they resembled distant mountains emerging from mist. As her dark brows relaxed, the mountains seemed to vanish back into the mist, making them hard to discern clearly.
But what Shen Du noticed at that moment was the sesame seed at the corner of Zhu Yan’s pale pink lips, which resembled a red lotus. Without thinking, Shen Du pressed his fingertip to the edge of Zhu Yan’s tightly pursed lips.
The touch was like water splashing into hot oil—it ignited and spread quickly, flushing Zhu Yan’s cheeks a soft pink, like the evening glow hanging among the clouds.
Before Zhu Yan could get angry, the hand had already withdrawn. Even Shen Du’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes as cold as the snow on Mount Li, as if that fleeting moment had been nothing but her imagination.
Seeing the tiny black sesame seed lying on Shen Du’s outstretched fingertip, the blush on Zhu Yan’s face did not fade. Instead, Shen Du curled his thin lips slightly, lowered his voice, and teased:
"Madam wouldn’t think that I actually have feelings for you, would you?""Of course not." Zhu Yan said, then moved a bit further away. The slight ripple that had just stirred in her heart settled back into calmness.
Author's note: The story begins! The story begins! Let's celebrate!!!
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