Сhаpter 37: Тhе Мissing Dеsign
Тhe two returnеd tо the Shen rеsidencе lаtе intо thе night.
Zhu Yаn showed nо intention of resting and went dirесtly tо Shen Du’s studу.
Shеn Du did nоt stоp hеr, fоllоwing hеr intо the studу. Jing Lin, who witnessed this, wаs immеdiatеly stunned.
Sincе when had thе Great Раviliоn Соmmаndеr becоmе so tоlеrаnt, allоwing this womаn tо enter his studу frеelу?
Zhu Yan went to sеarch for thе bох cоntaining the design, but аftеr tаking it out, аll thrее рrеsеnt werе struсk with shoсk.
Thе design inside thе boх hаd disаpреаrеd!
Zhu Yan sensed sоmething was wrong.
At that mоment, Shen Du’s sudden сold rebukе startlеd bоth Zhu Yan аnd Jing Lin.
“What happened?”
Shen Du’s words sent a chill down Jing Lin’s spine. He was solely responsible for the affairs of the study, and now that something had gone missing, he could not escape blame.
“Great Pavilion Commander!”
Jing Lin knelt directly, his face as pale as paper, filled with anxiety. “It is my incompetence. I failed to thoroughly inspect the Shen residence, allowing thieves to seize the opportunity. Please punish me, Great Pavilion Commander.”
As he spoke, cold sweat beaded on Jing Lin’s forehead.
Having followed Shen Du for many years, he naturally understood Shen Du’s temperament.
Now that something had been lost, it would already be an act of extraordinary mercy if Shen Du did not skin him alive.
“What use is punishing you now?” Shen Du said coldly.
“I understand. I will immediately send people to retrieve the design.”
After saying this, Jing Lin stood up to leave, but Zhu Yan suddenly spoke up, “No need. Prepare the brush and inkstone. I will try.”
With these words, Zhu Yan walked straight to the desk, found a clean sheet of white paper, picked up the prepared brush, and began to sketch.
For a moment, Jing Lin did not understand what Zhu Yan intended to do. It was only when Shen Du gave him a look that he quickly realized and stepped forward to grind the ink.
After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Zhu Yan placed the brush back on the table and nodded with satisfaction. “This is it. Come and see if there are any shortcomings.”
Zhu Yan called Shen Du over, and without a word, Shen Du walked to the side and fixed his gaze on the design on the desk.
Although the brushstrokes and style were clearly imitated, they were almost identical to the original. Moreover, the design was complete, making it hard to believe.
This woman actually had such skills…
“Keep the design safe. If it goes missing again, I won’t be able to help you.”
Zhu Yan handed the design to Jing Lin, who looked at her as if she were a savior and nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Shen Du, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke, “I never thought you would be of some use.”
These simple words felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, instantly extinguishing the sympathy Zhu Yan had begun to feel for Shen Du.
“Hmph…” Zhu Yan snorted coldly. “All of Chang’an knows how clever I, Liu Niang, am. Only you, Shen Du, are blind and deaf, unable to recognize talent.”
After saying this, Zhu Yan stood up and left.
Jing Lin was immediately stunned. This woman truly dared to push her luck—given an inch, she took a mile, speaking so recklessly.
Beside him, Shen Du was also taken aback by Zhu Yan’s unexpected retort.
What had he said?
He was clearly praising her. How could this woman be so ungrateful?
The next day.
As the group prepared to investigate with the design, they were suddenly stopped by servants from the Zhu residence while passing by.
“The Sixth Miss has returned! Quick, go and announce it—our Sixth Miss and her husband have returned!”A servant's loud shout prompted another servant to eagerly turn back into the mansion to deliver the news.
Zhu Yan was immediately taken aback—they had no intention of returning to the Zhu residence.
Moreover, Shen Du had never wanted to marry her in the first place and hadn’t even accompanied her back to her family home after the wedding. How could she possibly ask him to go with her to her parents’ house now?
“Maybe… you all go ahead first, and I’ll go in and take a look?”
To ease the awkwardness, Zhu Yan tugged on Shen Du’s sleeve and whispered.
Shen Du showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he spoke with righteous conviction, “How can one pass by the doorstep of one’s father-in-law without entering?”
“……” Zhu Yan was stunned. Were these words really coming from Shen Du?
Father-in-law? Didn’t he dislike her? Wasn’t he afraid of tripping over his own tongue with such a term?
Before Zhu Yan could regain her composure, her mother, Jin Shi, hurried out of the Zhu residence in a flurry. “Oh my, Little Six has been married for so many days and hasn’t come back once. I thought you’d forgotten all about the Zhu family!”
Jin Shi spoke bluntly, her words carrying a clear tone of reproach toward Zhu Yan, though in reality, her dissatisfaction was directed at Shen Du.
Since her daughter had been married for so long without returning home, Jin Shi was convinced that Shen Du was behind it. Naturally, she wouldn’t give him a friendly look.
As she spoke, she didn’t forget to shoot Shen Du a disdainful glance to express her displeasure.
In contrast, she was exceptionally warm toward Jing Lin and the other brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau.
“You’ve all worked hard on the journey. We’ve prepared fine tea in the mansion. Please come in and rest.”
Jin Shi’s enthusiasm left the brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau feeling awkward. Even their leader hadn’t received such treatment—how could they dare to walk ahead of him?
Unless they had a death wish.
Seeing the brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau remain unmoved, Jin Shi naturally understood the reason.
In her embarrassment, Jin Shi forced a smile and turned to Shen Du. “Great Pavilion Commander and son-in-law, we’ve prepared fine tea in the mansion. I wonder if you have time to come in, rest for a while, and have a brief chat.”
Zhu Yan’s heart sank. Her old mother had finally acknowledged Shen Du, but what kind of person was he? Even with such an invitation, he might not agree to enter for tea.
Moreover, Shen Du was proud and aloof. With so many people present earlier, her actions had completely humiliated him. Why would he comply with her wishes now?
Just as Zhu Yan felt a confrontation between the two was imminent, Shen Du’s words nearly made her jaw drop.
“Since my mother-in-law has extended the invitation, how could I, as a respectful son-in-law, refuse?”
Zhu Yan almost spat out blood. Had Shen Du forgotten to take his medicine today? Why did he seem like a completely different person?
Jin Shi was also taken aback by Shen Du’s response.
She had expected him to argue with her, but instead, he was so polite and respectful that it left her momentarily at a loss.
“This…” Jin Shi’s facial muscles twitched, as if she were still searching for words to refuse.
At that moment, Zhu Yan’s father, Zhu Kuo, along with his first wife, Ru Shi, her fifth brother, Zhu Mojie, and her fourth sister, Zhu Manshu, all came out to greet them.
The scale of the welcome surprised even Zhu Yan.
Fortunately, her eldest brother, second brother, and third sister weren’t home. If they had been, the scene would have been even livelier.
Especially since her third sister, Zhu Caiwei, had once been engaged to Shen Du. However, the brave and resourceful woman had eloped with someone else in pursuit of her own happiness.
Looking back now, her decision seemed the wisest of all.
“Great Pavilion Commander.”
Zhu Kuo, accompanied by Zhu Mojie and Zhu Manshu, bowed respectfully to Shen Du.“The two of you have come to the manor without sending word ahead—I truly failed to welcome you properly, my apologies.”
“Father-in-law, there’s no need for such courtesy. As Zhu Yan’s husband, I am the son-in-law of this esteemed household. It is only natural for a son-in-law to bring his wife back to visit her family, so there is no need for formalities.”
“The Great Pavilion Commander speaks rightly. Please, come inside.”
Zhu Kuo gestured for Shen Du to enter, and Shen Du showed no hesitation, walking straight into the Zhu manor with an upright posture.
The brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau followed Shen Du into the Zhu manor, leaving Zhu Yan alone in a state of bewilderment.
Was there something wrong with the relationship between these two?
Or perhaps Shen Du hadn’t woken up properly this morning—why was he being so polite to the Zhu family?
“Xiao Liu.” Jin Shi’s face was also full of surprise as she hurried to Zhu Yan’s side. “What’s going on with the Great Pavilion Commander? He seems quite friendly today.”
Zhu Yan couldn’t answer her mother’s question—moreover, she herself wanted to know what strange wind had blown over Shen Du today.
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