Сhаpter 328: Тhе Firе Моth Party 60
Веcausе of this life-sаving fаvоr, Shеn Du hаd thе best roоm in the Yingzhou City governmеnt оfficе prераrеd for thе Ноlу Мaidеn, ensuring she reсеived thе finest food, сlothing, and suрplies withоut аnу mistrеаtmеnt.
Вut the Hоlу Mаidеn sеemеd quite furiоus—undеrstandablу sо, as аnyone undеr house arrеst wоuld fеel thе same.
Zhu Yan wаs initiаllу somеwhаt wоrriеd аnd rеpеаtedlу askеd Shen Du if this was trulу aррrоpriаtе. Аftеr all, she was thеir savior and the Hоly Maidеn of the Wusun Кingdom. Соuld this leаd to a diplomatic crisis?
After being questioned all day, Shen Du rubbed his temples in slight exasperation. He pulled her into his arms, leaned in, and kissed her lips, gently pressing and teasing. Before long, Zhu Yan’s body softened, and she leaned against Shen Du’s chest, breathing heavily.
Only then did Shen Du let out a relieved sigh, his ears finally quiet. He knew he had to give a reason to satisfy Zhu Yan:
“It’s truly fine. The so-called Holy Maiden is meant to serve the Wusun Kingdom for life and is not allowed to leave the country. This time, she must have been secretly released; otherwise, Pan Chi alone wouldn’t have managed it so smoothly.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan understood Shen Du’s intention: “So, by placing her under house arrest, you’re actually protecting her in a way?”
Shen Du didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Right now, the remnants of the Fire Moth Party and Lai Luofu are still outside Yingzhou City. This isn’t a good time to send the Holy Maiden back. Keeping her confined is also to prevent news of her presence from spreading widely, which could cause chaos.”
Zhu Yan suddenly realized and muttered, “I thought you wanted to keep her here to create a real match with Pan Chi, so…”
Hah!
“I did have that idea, but to avoid causing trouble between the two kingdoms, it’s better to forget it.”
Shen Du took her hand, finding it icy cold. He walked over to close the window and looked outside at the rustling yellow leaves covering the ground, feeling a heaviness in his heart. He casually removed his own cloak and draped it over Zhu Yan: “The weather’s turned cold. Don’t let yourself freeze.”
Zhu Yan was both amused and exasperated. She looked down at the dark blue cloak embroidered with auspicious beasts: “When we arrived, it was still the height of summer in early June. Who would have thought it’s already the autumn equinox? I wonder if we’ll make it back to the capital in time for the New Year celebrations.”
Originally, with Shen Du’s typically swift and decisive style, they should have been done by the end of the summer heat at the latest. Unexpectedly, the “Half-Faced Ghost” case alone had dragged on for so long, keeping them from returning.
“I had planned to make a few autumn outfits for you and Jing Lin to keep warm, but I never got around to it,” she said with some embarrassment. “I’m just not skilled at needlework.”
Shen Du lifted her chin, a hint of displeasure in his eyes: “Why is Jing Lin included?”
Ah!
Zhu Yan was momentarily confused, then Shen Du complained, “Don’t make anything for him. He’ll have his wife to make things for him in the future. Why should my wife do it?”
Zhu Yan: …
“What about Lai Luofu? Any progress?” Catching Lai Luofu would allow them to return sooner.
Settling Zhu Yan on his lap, he said, “Jing Lin has already taken people to investigate. Reinforcements are stationed outside the city, so he likely can’t get far.”
In truth, it wasn’t so simple. Lai Luofu was skilled at disguise and cunning, making him a formidable opponent. But Shen Du didn’t want Zhu Yan to worry about such things.
Nodding, Zhu Yan felt slightly reassured. She removed the cloak and handed it back to Shen Du: “I don’t need this. You’ve just recovered from a serious illness, and it’s cold outside. You should keep it.”
Knowing Zhu Yan was concerned about him warmed Shen Du’s heart. Since they had confessed their feelings, Zhu Yan had become even more attentive to him than before.
Feeling a wave of gratitude, Shen Du was gently pushed by Zhu Yan: “Go attend to your duties. Come back early, and I’ll make you some nourishing soup.”
“Don’t worry, your husband isn’t that weak.”Shen Du breathed against her earlobe, seeing the blood staining her ear pearl, his Adam's apple tightened as he held her closer.
"I'll stay with you a little longer."
Zhu Yan nodded, resting her head against Shen Du's chest.
——
Yingzhou City had returned to normal. Zhu Yan considered that she should also get some clothes and daily necessities for the Holy Maiden, so she wouldn't freeze. So that day, she chose a suitable time and arrived at the Holy Maiden's room.
There were faint sounds inside. Zhu Yan moved closer and peeked in.
On the table inside the room was placed an object. It was very strange—inside was the shape of a flame, while two red-banded snakes coiled around the outside, both snake heads facing the flame with their tongues flickering.
The Holy Maiden was dancing a strange dance around the object, murmuring words under her breath.
Before she could finish watching, Zhu Yan turned and left. She went to the market herself, wandered around, and upon returning, heard quite a few rumors. Feeling puzzled, she handed a mallard duck to the kitchen, washed her hands, and went to Shen Du's room.
"Shen Du, isn't it strange? I went out for a walk, and everyone says the Great Pavilion Commander only has a few days left to live."
"I asked a few people, and they all said the same."
Zhu Yan paused, looked up at the sky outside—gray and overcast, the horizon piled with dark clouds as if rain was about to fall.
"Shen Du? Aren't you better?"
Shen Du lay in bed, weak and haggard, coughing one after another, the sounds audible even outside the room.
"Don't scare me. You were clearly better."
Zhu Yan, disregarding everything else, stepped forward to check his pulse.
As soon as she placed her hand on Shen Du's wrist, he immediately grasped it back, looking at her with a bright smile.
In a flash of realization, Zhu Yan understood: "You..."
Shen Du nodded: "I had Jing Lin seal off the news."
So, the common people knew Shen Du was critically ill but didn't know he had already recovered.
"You had this intention when you confined the Holy Maiden." Zhu Yan felt a throbbing pain at her temple.
Shen Du massaged it for her, saying with concern, "I didn't dare tell you because I was afraid you'd worry like this. Just watch these deceptive tactics; don't think too much about them."
Zhu Yan nodded. Having seen more of the outside world, she realized that examining corpses and solving cases were among the simplest tasks—no need to worry about the hearts of the living, only seeking to speak for the dead.
Jing Lin came in to ask about how to handle the bodies of Wang Bu Zui and Xiuxiu. Seeing Shen Du and Zhu Yan being intimate, he quickly lowered his head and stood farther away.
Zhu Yan's eyes lit up: "Place them in the public mortuary. I'll go examine the corpses in the next few days."
Jing Lin acknowledged and vanished without a trace.
Shen Du, who had been loudly coughing to put on a show, immediately became spirited and radiant as soon as Zhu Yan entered. After being teased by Zhu Yan a few times, he sat down with a worried expression.
"What's wrong?"
Zhu Yan, full of thoughts, described the strange phenomenon she had just witnessed with the Holy Maiden. Shen Du frowned:
"If there were anything unusual, the Inner Guards would report it to me."
This meant there was nothing unusual.
"Those barbarians like to worship totems and such as their beliefs, just as our Great Zhou believes in the true dragon and auspicious phoenix. As long as it doesn't cause trouble, there's no need to interfere."
Zhu Yan nodded, not voicing all her suspicions: "Can those Inner Guards understand the Wusun language?"
"Of course," Shen Du said proudly. "Our Grand Cabinet is full of talented people. Those with high language aptitude accompanied me in receiving the Wusun Kingdom envoys. By the time we sent off the Wusun envoys, they had learned most of the Wusun language."It truly is no simple feat. When envoys from the Wusun Kingdom come to court, they stay for at least three to five months, sometimes even three to five years. But to learn a language from scratch without any foundation indeed requires talent.
"Pfft, are you praising yourself?"
Shen Du tilted his head and glanced at her. "Can't I?"
As he spoke, he tickled her sensitive spots. Zhu Yan laughed and tumbled into Shen Du's arms, hurriedly covering her mouth, which made Shen Du chuckle. He got up to pour some water but was pushed back down by Zhu Yan. Just as he was puzzled, Zhu Yan grinned mischievously:
"If you're going to pretend, do it convincingly."
Shen Du wrapped an arm around her, following her momentum as he pulled her down onto the bed. He turned and pressed over her but was afraid of crushing her, so he propped himself up on his hands, leaning over her to gaze down.
Zhu Yan, completely restrained, had no strength to resist. Her dark hair spilled out, accentuating her snow-white skin, rosy lips, and bright teeth. Her deer-like eyes held pools of autumn water, glistening as she looked up at him.
Shen Du cursed inwardly—he had only managed to stir up his own desires.
He got up from the bed and drank several cups of cold tea, finally feeling somewhat relieved. Thinking that if he wanted to make it back to the capital alive, he needed to perform the marital rites immediately.
Lying flat on the bed, Zhu Yan blinked rapidly a few times before realizing she had been tricked. She rose indignantly, glaring at the person sitting there leisurely.
Seeing her puffed cheeks and angry expression, Shen Du felt a surge of heat in his chest and a fiery rush in his lower abdomen. His eyes darkened, but he offered no comfort or anything else. Instead, he propped his chin on his hand, smirking as he looked at her.
Dark circles still lingered under Shen Du's eyes, remnants of the days he had suffered from poisoning. Zhu Yan couldn't bring herself to scold him and walked over to sit opposite him.
Just as Shen Du was about to say something to soothe his delicate wife, footsteps sounded outside the door. Pan Chi's voice arrived before he did.
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