Сhаpter 236: Whоsе Маn Did Нe Takе?
Нe swung both wаys? Whosе mаn hаd hе tаkеn? Shen Du let оut a soft laugh.
"I am only intеrеsted in mу own wifе. In this lifе, I will оnlу evеr lоvе аnd rеspеct my own wifе."
Нe оnly liked his wife? Did hе mean hеr, or a futurе wifе? Zhu Yаn's hеаrt wаs instаntly thrown intо turmоil agаin, аnd shе thought:
"Мen саn also bе wivеs. In the рast, there wаs the story оf thе Кing of Wеi and Lord Long Yаng, whiсh gаve risе tо thе 'раssiоn of Lоng Yаng.' Thеre wаs also Еmpеrоr Yuаn of Наn аnd Dоng Xian, who lеft behind the 'passion оf the cut sleеve,' and thе emреror еven came close to making Dong Xian a male empress." Zhu Yan stuck to her opinion, truly unable to imagine that Shen Du could love her. "Therefore, Great Pavilion Commander, are you using me to test whether you truly have the passion of the cut sleeve?"
Shen Du nearly threw Zhu Yan out. For a moment, he didn't know what to do to quell his anger. How could this woman be so sharp when it came to autopsies and solving cases, yet so utterly clueless about this?
"I kissed you even before I knew Pan Chi. Was that also because I thought of you as a man?" Shen Du asked, his head aching.
Zhu Yan actually tilted her head and pondered this, looking quite troubled.
Shen Du sighed. In the end, he was unwilling to make things difficult for Zhu Yan, so he softened his voice and explained slowly, "The world says I have no interest in women, but does having no interest in women mean I must be interested in men?"
Zhu Yan looked up at him in surprise. Seeing the firm and sincere look in his eyes, she blushed and lowered her head.
"I have already treated you like this, yet you still don't understand my feelings?" Shen Du took her hand, placing it in his own palm and patting it gently.
His words sent a flush of heat through Zhu Yan's body. She recalled the several times Shen Du had overstepped his bounds with her, while his behavior toward other women remained unchanged. Even when he had allowed Yun Que to get close for a while, his eyes had been filled with impatience. Only with her...
"But why?" Zhu Yan still felt bewildered. Although Shen Du had kissed her a few times, he had acted no differently afterward, and she had never thought he could truly have feelings for her.
"Are you really not doing this on purpose because you suspect I'm a spy for Minister Zhang?"
Shen Du suddenly pinched her small face and gave it a squeeze. Pouting, Zhu Yan winced in slight pain and broke free of his hand. Shen Du helplessly stroked her head.
"Finish the case, resign from office, go home, and have children," Shen Du said earnestly.
Zhu Yan froze on the spot. Have children? Go home? With her?
Seeing how slow she was, Shen Du sighed silently, patted his clothes, and strode away.
On the bed, Zhu Yan was left alone, her clothes in disarray, sitting there with a bewildered look in her eyes.
He just left like that? Without making things clear? Zhu Yan rolled her eyes and lay down, haphazardly pulling at her clothes to cover her soon-to-be-exposed skin.
The lingering scent of Shen Du remained in the air. Zhu Yan zoned out for a moment, his face as he demanded a kiss flashing through her mind. She suddenly snapped back to reality and patted her head. What was she thinking!
Resign from what office? Go back to whose home? Have what children? Agitated, Zhu Yan sat up and ruffled her hair in frustration.
In Mo Qianzhi's room, a man dressed in black flashed inside.
"Lord Mo, the item has been delivered." The man in black then took an object out from his sleeve.
Mo Qianzhi nodded silently, his sharp gaze fixed on the desk.
"Lord Mo, you must make a decision on this matter soon!"
"I know. I'm just observing. It's not time yet..."
"Brother Mo, please do not hesitate any longer. This matter should be brought to an end!"
Faced with the man's aggressive attitude, Mo Qianzhi grew annoyed and waved his hand, dismissing him. The man in black hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't press further and vaulted out the window.
Silence returned to the room. Mo Qianzhi picked up a brush and wrote a character, which he instantly crossed out. But after a moment's hesitation, he once again wrote a name: the two characters for "Shen Du."
"Shen Du, if you must blame someone, blame yourself for choosing the wrong side. Don't blame me." With a complex expression, Mo Qianzhi silently folded the paper in his hand, then moved it close to the candle flame to light it. He watched as the tongue of fire consumed the paper before blowing out the candle with an unsettled heart.
Meanwhile.
Zhu Yan was left alone in the room. She let out a long sigh. He had just up and left, leaving her here in a state of agitation!
The sun was setting in the west. Zhu Yan had been lying on the bed for an hour when her stomach started to rumble. Just as she was about to get up, she saw Shen Du walk in, followed by several people carrying trays of food.
The two ate their meal in complete silence. When it was time for bed, Zhu Yan felt a little awkward. She hid on one side under the covers. When she felt Shen Du get into bed behind her, she carefully scooted over again.
As soon as she lay down, the words from the daytime once again echoed in her ears. Annoyed, Zhu Yan tossed and turned several times. Shen Du forcefully pressed down on her head. Zhu Yan's back instantly tensed, and she held her breath.
"Be good and sleep. Don't make a fuss." Shen Du's voice carried a trace of exhaustion. Zhu Yan could hear it, but she didn't dare turn over to look at him. Silently turning onto her side, Zhu Yan forced herself to stop thinking.
The token of affection back then had been a coincidence; she had forced it on Shen Du. It wasn't anything important, and Shen Du seemed to have forgotten it anyway. He must have been spouting nonsense to mess with her mind. Slowly, Zhu Yan's consciousness began to fade. She lifted her hand and seemed to touch the brocade pouch. The contents of the small, exquisite object happened to spill out...
At the crack of dawn, the world outside was silent. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream, utterly shrill, pierced the courtyard.
Shen Du and Zhu Yan's eyes flew open at the same time. In perfect sync, they rose quickly. Zhu Yan was about to rush out the door but was held back by Shen Du's hand on her shoulder. He gave her a reassuring look, grabbed his sword from the side, and flew out of the room.
Zhu Yan couldn't bear it and also quickly straightened her clothes and went outside.
Although dawn had broken, the air outside was thick with dampness, a gray haze obscuring the view. The Half-Face Ghost Mask, however, was exceptionally clear.
The other half of the exposed face was savage and twisted, the flesh knotted together, skin and muscle split open.
The stark, eye-jarring color on the jet-black mask magnified the eyes beneath it, making them look utterly terrifying. Shen Du's brow furrowed tightly as he saw that the person facing the Half-Faced Ghost was none other than Jing Lin. He quickly joined the fight.
Zhu Yan, now dressed in a long, pale blue robe, clutched the Corpse-Dissecting Knife she always carried and stood by the door. The entangled figures of the three fighters were somewhat blurry. If she made a sound now, she would expose her position. She had no martial arts; she couldn't cause trouble for Shen Du.
Jing Lin and Shen Du's rapport was evident in every glance and movement. One attacked while the other defended, their coordination seamless. Soon, the Half-Faced Ghost was at a disadvantage.
At this moment, the fog in the courtyard was slowly dissipating. Shen Du saw through the Half-Faced Ghost's moves and his own attacks became increasingly ruthless, each strike aimed only at his mask.
The opponent seemed to have discerned Shen Du and Jing Lin's intention. Though at a disadvantage, his defense was tight.
Seeing the Half-Faced Ghost deliberately dodging their attacks, Shen Du signaled Jing Lin to use a feint to confuse him. A sword thrust forward. The Half-Faced Ghost, with excellent flexibility, dodged it, but a large portion of his clothing was exposed. The ghost took a step back and quickly covered himself, leaving only a tear in his clothes.
"Why aren't you back inside!" Pan Chi's voice sounded from beside her ear. Zhu Yan was slightly stunned.
"I'm afraid..." Before she could finish, the Half-Faced Ghost suddenly flashed to her side. Just as he was about to seize her, Pan Chi, with swift eyes and nimble hands, wrapped an arm around Zhu Yan's waist and retreated five zhang away.
Zhu Yan gasped and hurriedly pushed Pan Chi away. Pan Chi glanced at her briefly before engaging the Half-Faced Ghost in combat. Shen Du also rushed over. With the two of them attacking from the front and back, multiple wounds had already appeared on the Half-Faced Ghost's body.
"Don't let him escape!" Shen Du shouted.
Pan Chi let out a soft laugh. "Such an important character, how could I, Pan Chi, let him go so easily!"
As they spoke, the atmosphere between them grew somewhat subtle.
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