Chарtеr 348: Тhе Bronze Sраrrow of Сhang'an Sings 2
Frоm аfаr, thе lаntеrn light illuminated thе characters "Shen Rеsidеncе," and Zhu Yаn fеlt аs if а lifetimе hаd раssеd.
Pеrhaps follоwing Jing Lin's instruсtions, thе steward, alоng with a few sеrvants, stoоd wаiting quiеtlу in thе соld wind outside thе gаte fоr thеir rеturn.
"Hаll Leаdеr, welcоmе baсk. Hall Leаder's Wife, welсоmе baсk."
Shen Du nodded, dismоuntеd, аnd cаrriеd Zhu Yаn in his аrms, hеаding straight intо thе residеncе.
Zhu Yan was bоth amusеd аnd еxаsреrаted, but Shen Du movеd swiftly. Considering the fеw servants in the rеsidencе and thаt nоt manу would see them, she let it be.
As for the Shen Residence, it was brightly lit, devoid of the desolate feeling of a quiet night with few people. It seemed the steward and servants had hurriedly prepared everything.
A warmth spread in Zhu Yan's heart, and she finally felt the true comfort of returning home.
Hearing Zhu Yan sigh in his arms, Shen Du stepped through the door, set her down, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing his forehead to hers. "Why sigh when we've just returned home?"
Zhu Yan shook her head, but before she could say anything, she sneezed. Shen Du's expression immediately changed, and he scooped her up again, carrying her behind the screen. Inside, a bathtub was filled with hot water, steam rising gently. Fresh clothes and a towel for drying were placed on a low stool.
The steward's arrangements were truly meticulous, managing such detailed preparations in such a short time.
When Zhu Yan asked about it, Shen Du narrowed his eyes slightly. "The steward was originally the manager of the Shen Residence. My father brought him back during his travels abroad. Shortly before the incident at the Shen Residence, my father likely sensed something amiss and found an excuse to send the steward and his family back to their hometown for a visit, thus avoiding the calamity. Later, when he heard I hadn't died and had entered the Yeting, the steward returned to the capital and found other work. After I left the Yeting, earned merits, and was rewarded with this residence, I sought him out to manage the Shen Residence again. By then, he had already achieved some success and owned his own shop in the capital. He insisted on giving up the shop, but I didn't agree. Instead, I added funds for him to run his business."
Zhu Yan suddenly understood. "No wonder I rarely see him. It must be difficult for him, managing both the Shen Residence and his shop, while also withholding my dowry for the next Hall Leader's Wife."
The jealous tone struck Shen Du directly, and his eyes and brows were tinged with amusement. "Tomorrow, I'll have him retrieve it from the storeroom."
As he began to undress her, Zhu Yan grabbed Shen Du's hand, her heart racing, her face flushed with embarrassment. She hurriedly said, "I can do it myself. You should go out."
Shen Du smiled, turned, and left, though he didn't go far. He sat at the desk, reviewing the information collected by the capital's inner court during this time.
Since childhood, he had been focused in his work, able to maintain clarity of mind even in bustling surroundings. But today, his thoughts couldn't settle on the papers before him. His eyes, ears, and body were all attuned to the movements behind the screen.
Glancing at the densely written characters on the desk, Shen Du felt irritated and somewhat weary from the long journey. Unable to help himself, he turned his gaze toward Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan was just rising from the bathtub, her graceful figure reflected on the thin screen. With a splash of water, a pair of slender, lovely legs lifted from the tub and stood behind the screen. Zhu Yan picked up the towel to dry various parts of her body, then took another towel to wrap around her waist-length black hair. She unfolded her intimate undergarment...
Shen Du's eyes gleamed intensely. Though he told himself it was improper, he couldn't tear his gaze away. His entire body felt weak and tingling, his mouth dry, and a flame ignited in his lower abdomen as the undergarment unfolded, spreading like a wildfire through his limbs.
Suddenly, Shen Du raised a hand to his nose, horrified to find a trace of bright red blood on his fingertip. Startled, he quickly took out a silk handkerchief, wiped it clean, and discreetly tucked it away in a corner.Always composed and detached, Shen Du now had a faint flush on his face. He quickly averted his gaze, using his inner energy to suppress the changes stirring within his body.
Unaware of Shen Du's condition, Zhu Yan checked herself to ensure she was properly dressed before stepping out from behind the screen. She saw Shen Du sitting oddly rigid at the desk, and upon closer inspection, noticed he was even holding the book upside down.
"I'm done washing."
She pursed her lips, feeling a bit embarrassed at her own lack of composure. This wasn't the first time she had been alone with Shen Du, so why was she still reacting like this? He would surely tease her again if he noticed.
Shen Du gave a soft acknowledgment, rising and brushing past Zhu Yan. He only cast a fleeting glance at her before swiftly heading behind the screen to undress.
Zhu Yan hurriedly said, "Don't—" Her voice softened. "The water has cooled. Let the steward change it."
Shen Du paused for a moment as he untied his belt, then his expression softened into a smile. "It's fine. Whether marching in battle or investigating cases for days on end, I've often bathed in cold water."
But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that she had just used that water.
The sound of splashing water followed. Zhu Yan looked up to see Shen Du stepping boldly into the tub and sitting down, scooping water to splash over himself. She could imagine the droplets trickling down his neck, into his collarbone, sliding over his chest and abdomen before finally disappearing into the water.
Zhu Yan quickly patted her cheeks, the noise catching Shen Du's attention. He paused his movements and instructed her, "The steward just brought ginger soup. It's still warm—drink it while it's hot."
Zhu Yan mumbled a response and indeed saw two bowls of ginger soup on the table, still quite hot. She took small sips, glancing toward the bed and wondering how they would sleep tonight.
They were husband and wife, after all. The night before leaving Yingzhou, they had opened their hearts to each other. It seemed inappropriate now to place an object between them as they used to, but without it...
By the time she finished her bowl of ginger soup, Shen Du had already finished washing and emerged. Zhu Yan opened her mouth in surprise. "That was so fast."
Shen Du said nothing. He walked over, moved behind Zhu Yan, and picked up a thick towel to dry her ink-black hair.
Zhu Yan reached up to gather her hair. The steward had lit the heated floor in the room, and her hair was already half-dry. "Don't worry about me. Drink your ginger soup."
Shen Du nodded, picked up the bowl, and drank it in one gulp. He glanced out the window, then lifted Zhu Yan, blew out the candles, and carried her toward the bed.
Their delay in the capital had lasted nearly a month, and autumn had deepened. The nights were chilly, but the heated floor kept the room warm. Both wore only their inner garments, and with their skin pressed so closely together, they could feel each other's warmth distinctly.
Zhu Yan was grateful the darkness hid her blush. When she saw Shen Du lift the quilt and lie down, reaching under the covers to take her hand, she startled and tried to pull away. But Shen Du held her firmly, refusing to let go. Zhu Yan steeled herself.
"Shen Du, I—"
"Shh."
Shen Du wrapped an arm around Zhu Yan, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. The strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, sending waves of warmth through her and making her feel restless.
"Sleep well. I won't touch you tonight."
Zhu Yan nodded, then grew confused. Not tonight—but what about tomorrow night?
It seemed she would have to move back to her own room tomorrow.
Exhausted from days of travel and lulled by the warm bath, Zhu Yan soon fell into a deep sleep.
Shen Du, however, lay awake, holding the warm, fragrant softness in his arms. He endured until the sun rose before finally succumbing to sleep.Early the next morning, the reward edict arrived, consisting of nothing more than gold, silver, jade, and precious medicinal herbs. The Empress ordered Zhu Yan to be promoted to Chief Clerk under the Ministry of Justice, with her rank elevated to the sixth grade. As for Shen Du, he received a round of commendations, and the matter of Yingzhou was brushed aside.
With good news arriving at the door, everyone naturally offered congratulations, and Zhu Yan responded to each in turn. Zhang Baohuan handed the edict to Zhu Yan, who invited him inside for tea. Zhang Baohuan waved his hand in refusal but showed no intention of leaving.
Zhu Yan couldn’t help but wonder, "Is there something else, Chief Eunuch Zhang?" Could it be that he wanted to see Han Shiyuan through her at the Zhu family?
But then Zhang Baohuan took out another edict and unrolled it, his expression serious. Shen Du watched intently, unsure of what this meant.
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