Сhарtеr 34: The Dесеitful Маn
Shen Du rested his lаrgе hands behind his hеad and соntinuеd Zhu Yаn’s trаin оf thought. “Prinсess Yong’an has lived in the раlaсe аll hеr lifе, with littlе cоntасt with thе оutside wоrld. She is not the Еmрress’s dаughter but was born tо Consоrt Xiaо оf thе рrеviоus dуnasty. Тhоugh she аррeаrs to indulgе in рleasurе аll daу long, she is aсtually quite dеер and сalculating. Тhеrе’s no nееd tо think tоо muсh abоut undеrstanding hеr, beсause shе will cоmе lоoking fоr уоu sоon.”
“What?” Zhu Yan didn’t grаsp the meaning behind Shеn Du’s words, her faсe filled with сonfusiоn. “Whу would shе look for me? I’m not familiar with her.”
Shen Du didn’t answer her question. After another stretch of silence, Zhu Yan spoke again. “The Liang family is very strange, and their relationships are complicated. I think they’re definitely hiding many things from us.”
“The Liang family is on very good terms with Princess Yong’an. Whether the Liang family murder case is connected to Princess Yong’an remains unknown. It’s best for you to avoid the princess as much as possible in the future.”
“The princess holds high status and power. Sometimes, I’m afraid even if I want to avoid her, I won’t be able to escape.”
Shen Du’s brows furrowed slightly. Zhu Yan’s concerns were not without reason. As someone serving in the imperial court, he was all too familiar with how those in higher positions could crush those beneath them.
But by now, he had already begun to ponder, including the words Lai Luozhi had spoken to him earlier that day.
It was a warning.
Zhu Yan was already entangled in the case, and it was unrealistic for her to extricate herself now. How could he protect her?
“What are you thinking about?”
Zhu Yan also lay flat on the bed, letting out a soft, long sigh. “Are you also worried that as this case is investigated further, it might implicate more people?”
Shen Du’s brows furrowed even deeper. This was indeed one of his concerns.
What he cared about was not implicating more people, but implicating those he did not wish to involve.
“Sleep. We have guests coming tomorrow. Don’t think too much about it.”
After saying this, Shen Du closed his eyes.
Zhu Yan turned her head to look at him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to speak but held back. He must be tired after being summoned to the palace by the Empress all day. It was best not to disturb his rest.
After about half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shen Du’s steady breathing sounded beside her ear.
But Zhu Yan remained wide awake, her mind a tangled mess.
Finally, the next morning arrived. Zhu Yan felt as if she had just closed her eyes when Shen Du called her awake.
Someone had come from the palace…
No, it wasn’t someone from the palace at all. It was someone sent by Prime Minister Zhang Xingwei. Shen Du had lied to her.
The visitor, seeing how close Shen Du and Zhu Yan were as a couple, didn’t linger long. After offering a few words of greeting, they left the Shen residence.
After seeing off the “guest,” Zhu Yan found it amusing. It was supposed to be their life together, yet so many people had to meddle in it.
As for Shen Du, was he afraid that Prime Minister Zhang couldn’t pressure her into compliance, so he changed his story and said someone from the palace had come to force her hand? For a grown man, he certainly had his share of petty schemes. It was all so unnecessary.
Just as she was about to sit down and catch her breath, a servant hurried in to report, “Madam, this is an invitation from the palace. Please take a look.”
Taking the invitation, Zhu Yan looked puzzled.
When she read the contents of the invitation, she was even more surprised and turned her gaze to Shen Du.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing Zhu Yan’s unusual expression, Shen Du asked calmly.
“It’s an invitation from Princess Yong’an. She says the peonies cultivated in the palace have bloomed, and she’s inviting me to attend her flower banquet.”
Shen Du said nothing more, only leisurely raising his teacup to take a sip.
“How did you know Princess Yong’an wanted to see me?”Zhu Yan was still curious and couldn't help but ask, but Shen Du had no intention of answering her.
Putting down his teacup, he stood up and walked toward the door. "Since the princess has extended such a generous invitation, you may go. Just don’t return too late."
With those words, Shen Du left Zhu Yan’s sight.
Zhu Yan pursed her lips, disdainful of Shen Du’s cold arrogance. After changing her clothes, she headed to the palace.
Princess Yongan had invited not only Zhu Yan but also many other noblewomen.
Among the crowd, Zhu Yan immediately spotted someone she found suspicious.
Madam Tang.
Ever since their last encounter, Zhu Yan had harbored doubts about Madam Tang.
At the moment, Madam Tang was wearing a pink embroidered gown, holding a round jade fan, standing amidst the peonies, as beautiful as a painting.
There was no trace of any connection to a murderer.
But appearances could be deceiving, and Zhu Yan felt it was necessary to greet her.
After all, they had met once before.
"Could you be more careful? This gown of mine is very expensive."
A haughty and elegant voice reached Zhu Yan’s ears. Not far ahead, several noble ladies seemed to be arguing.
"I didn’t do it on purpose. Is it necessary to be so harsh?"
Another woman in a cyan-colored gown raised her head and said, "Everyone attending the princess’s flower banquet naturally wears the finest fabrics and gowns. I don’t need you to tell me that. Why are you being so harsh?"
"You spilled tea on my gown and still think you’re in the right? Let the sisters around us see—who behaves like this?"
As she spoke, the woman glanced around, and her gaze immediately settled on Zhu Yan.
"Isn’t this Liu Niang, the wife of the Great Pavilion Commander? She has assisted the Ministry of Justice in solving many cases. Let her judge today and see who is right and who is wrong?"
As soon as the noble lady spoke, Zhu Yan was taken aback. How had she, a mere bystander, gotten herself involved in trouble?
Just as the noble lady was about to step forward and pull Zhu Yan, Zhu Yan instinctively retreated.
She was not one to meddle in others’ affairs. She had already come with doubts about the invitation, so it was best to avoid drawing attention.
But as she stepped back, she accidentally bumped into someone.
With a clatter, a wine cup fell to the ground, spilling tea onto a pink, elegant gown, while her own skirt was also soaked.
"I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to," Zhu Yan quickly apologized.
"There’s no need to blame yourself, Madam Shen. Everyone makes unintentional mistakes. Besides, your gown is also wet. Why not come with me to change clothes?"
The voice was gentle and graceful.
Looking up, it was none other than Madam Tang.
She had somehow appeared behind Zhu Yan without her noticing.
Zhu Yan didn’t know how to respond. Meanwhile, the other noble ladies began to comment.
"Look, it’s the same situation, but Madam Tang is so magnanimous. She handles it so well."
"Exactly. I wonder which family this young lady is from. There’s no need to be so unforgiving."
Amid the criticism, the two noble ladies who had been arguing earlier looked embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Madam Tang didn’t pay much attention to the comments. Instead, she stepped forward and approached Zhu Yan. "Madam Shen, don’t mind their disputes. Both our gowns are soaked, and the wind outside is strong. Let’s go change."
"Alright," Zhu Yan nodded somewhat blankly, feeling in her heart that this was not as simple as it seemed.The two followed the head matron of this place through a long, distant pavilion, arriving at the rear courtyard, where they saw a hot spring steaming with mist.
"This place is called the Medicinal Spring Bath. Soaking here can nourish health and heal injuries. Since Madam Shen's clothes are damp and have caught a chill, why don't we both go down and experience the wonders of this medicinal pool?"
As Madam Tang said this, she paid no mind to Zhu Yan's opinion and directly walked into the changing room.
"Medicinal Spring..." Zhu Yan murmured softly.
Everything in the imperial palace was naturally of the finest quality, something many people longed for but could not obtain. And today, she happened to have the opportunity to soak here—truly a "rare chance."
Without further thought, Zhu Yan also entered the changing room and removed her clothes.
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