Chарtеr 356: Тhе Copреr Sparrоw Cries in Сhаng'аn 10
Shеn Du роndered briеfly, then patiently sаid, "Lаi Luozhi hаs manу infоrmаnts. Аcting this rесklеsslу will givе him levеrage agаinst уou."
"Нah," Zhu Yan sneеred, "With yоur Inner Guards wаtсhing mе dау аnd night, hоw could Lаi Luоzhi's pеорle рossiblу сatch mе оff guard?"
Нaving said that, Zhu Yаn turned her baсk tо him.
Кnowing shе was blaming him for аrrаnging survеillanсе withоut infоrming hеr bеforеhаnd, the сoldnеss in Shen Du's eуes соmрletеlу dissiраted. He stеpped forward аnd turned her arоund to faсe him. With а hеavу heart, he explained gently, "The capital has been unsettled lately. I feared you might encounter danger, yet I also knew you dislike being monitored. That's why I discreetly arranged for people to follow you in secret. This way, no matter where I am, I can feel somewhat at ease."
Zhu Yan had already come to understand this, but seeing Shen Du not return home for days and then treating her like a criminal under interrogation as soon as he arrived had truly upset her, which was why she was being difficult.
Noticing Zhu Yan's expression softening, Shen Du pressed on, "From now on, you mustn't act so rashly. Lai Luozhi's schemes to harm people through the prison system are not limited to this one case. If you try to intervene in every single one, will you be able to handle them all?"
Zhu Yan stood up to leave but was pressed back onto the footstool opposite by Shen Du. Indignant, she shook off his hand and said bluntly,
"Stop talking. I don't know about the other cases, but since I've learned of this one, I am determined to intervene."
Pursing her lips, Zhu Yan turned her head aside,
"You, ruthless as you are, can turn a blind eye, but I cannot. I worked hard to pass the exams and join the Ministry of Justice as a female official precisely to facilitate autopsies, solve cases, speak for the dead, and seek justice for the people. General Kanagiselo was innocent, and his family and servants were even more so. Yet, based on a fabricated charge, they faced extermination of nine clans. You may not have seen how each of them had their ears cut off and faces mutilated, especially General Kanagiselo. Why? Why should innocent people suffer such cruelty at Lai Luozhi's hands?"
Struck by her resolute words, Shen Du couldn't bear it either. He pulled her into his embrace, letting her stomp on his feet, enduring the pain and unwilling to let go.
After stomping for a while, Zhu Yan saw Shen Du's brows furrowed in pain, his eyes filled with agony, his thin lips only hissing cold breaths. Her heart ached, and she buried her face in his chest without a word.
"It's not that I turn a blind eye; it's that I know as soon as I intervene, they will shift their focus onto you." Feeling the person in his arms calm down, he continued,
"I can face any danger myself, but I cannot bear to see you come to harm. Lai Luozhi holds immense power, while you stand alone. If he decides to punish you, I fear even I may not be able to protect you in time."
Shen Du was extremely patient with her, and because he was not one for sweet talk, this heartfelt confession made Zhu Yan's heart race and her ears flush crimson.
After the two embraced for a while, Zhu Yan finally spoke, "I'm sorry. I didn't consider things thoroughly and failed to understand your good intentions."
Shen Du shook his head; naturally, he wouldn't blame Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan pulled away slightly and let out a sigh of frustration. "From now on, I'll inform you in advance and won't act on my own again, alright? I don't want to worry you."
Her attitude was sincere, and Shen Du hadn't been particularly angry to begin with. He ruffled her hair and pulled her back into his embrace.
Despite Shen Du using all his resources to keep the matter under wraps, news still leaked out within a few days.
Shen Du held the silver fox cloak embroidered with red plum blossoms, his face as cold and stern as frost and snow.Just as the hour of Mao arrived, the palace sent someone to fetch Zhu Yan into the palace, explicitly stating that she was to go alone.
Originally, today was a day of rest, and Zhu Yan had arranged to return to her parents' home with Shen Du.
"Her Majesty wants me to go alone." After straightening her collar and seeing Shen Du change into his court robes, Zhu Yan reminded him.
Shen Du lowered his head, his dark eyes fixed on Zhu Yan: "I will go with you."
"This is deceiving the sovereign. If I end up dead because of you, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Zhu Yan poked his forehead, pretending to be angry.
Her forehead was also poked by Shen Du: "Letting you go alone is what would make me regret it for a lifetime."
Under such a gaze, Zhu Yan's pretty face flushed red. Nearby, Zhang Baohuan glanced away but ultimately stepped forward to intervene: "Her Majesty said only Lord Zhu is to go. I hope the Great Pavilion Commander will not make things difficult for us."
Shen Du insisted: "If Her Majesty blames anyone, I will take responsibility."
"Hehehe," Zhang Baohuan chuckled softly, then suddenly suppressed his smile. "Rest assured, with me here, I will ensure Lord Zhu remains safe and sound, not a single hair harmed."
Shen Du still hesitated. Zhu Yan gave Zhang Baohuan a look, and seeing him step away, she stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on Shen Du's lips, smiling brightly at him:
"Wait for me to come back."
In a daze, Shen Du wrapped his long arms around her slender waist, leaned down, and fiercely plundered her lips before finally letting go, panting heavily as he pressed his forehead against hers:
"Don't mention anything related to General Kanagisero, nor anything about Lai Luozhi, and especially not..."
"Alright, I know, you're being long-winded."
Outside the door, Zhang Baohuan called out. Zhu Yan pursed her lips into a radiant smile and hurriedly ran out.
Shen Du raised a hand to touch his lips, his eyes deep and thoughtful. Then, as if remembering something, he called for Jing Lin and gave him instructions before quickly heading out.
—
It had only been a few days since her last visit to the palace, and now the Empress was urgently summoning her early in the morning. Without even thinking, she guessed it must be related to the recent events in the court, and likely had something to do with Shen Du.
As a mere sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Works, what could possibly make the Empress so concerned about her?
Winding through the three bends and nine turns of the imperial garden, passing through the twisting corridors, she arrived outside the Lanwu Pavilion in the center of the lotus pond. Zhu Yan called out "Long live the Empress" and knelt down to kowtow.
The person behind the silk curtain remained silent for a long time, so Zhu Yan had no choice but to continue kneeling.
After what felt like an eternity, a response finally came from inside, and a palace maid emerged to call her in.
Having knelt for so long, she needed the maid's help to stand up. Her knees were chilled to the bone by the cold stone floor, but she dared not complain. After tidying her appearance, she quickly entered and bowed again, respectfully lowering her head.
Once the attendants were dismissed, the Empress stood up and said calmly:
"Sit."
For a moment, Zhu Yan didn't react. She hadn't forgotten the Empress's previous threat to have her executed to make way for County Princess Jia'an.
"What? Am I so old now that no one listens to my words anymore?"
How could Zhu Yan dare? She claimed to be "terrified" and, with no other choice, reluctantly sat on the edge of the stone stool, straightening her back and pricking up her ears, not daring to make any rash moves.
"I summoned you this time for three matters," Zhou Zhao lightly gestured with her chin toward a plate of green jade cake on the stone table. "Do you know what they are?"
That green jade cake was made in the summer by palace maids who had just come of age. They would row small boats to pick the tenderest green lotus leaves from the imperial garden, dry them in metal ovens, grind them into powder, and store them. When autumn and winter came and the lotus leaves withered, the powder would be taken out, mixed with flour, molded, and made into the green jade cake. It was soft and fluffy, carrying the fresh fragrance of lotus leaves, as if one had returned to the soaring summer days and the lush green lotus ponds."I do not know, Your Majesty." Zhu Yan picked up a piece of jadeite cake and shook her head in ignorance.
Zhou Zhao lay lazily on a rug made from tribute velvet, pulling out a golden phoenix hairpin to loosen a strand of her hair and play with it:
"After all, I am old now. Eating just half a piece of this jadeite cake leaves me unable to eat for half a day—nothing like you young people."
Zhu Yan did not understand the meaning behind these words and held the jadeite cake, unsure of what to do.
OpenNovel