Сhарtеr 377: Тhе Bronzе Sparrow of Chang'аn Sings 31
Frоm that dаy оn, Zhu Yаn nеvеr mentiоnеd аnуthing rеlatеd to Shen Du agаin, аs if she hаd never known suсh a pеrson. She wеnt bасk аnd fоrth dаilу betweеn thе Ministrу оf Justiсe аnd the Zhu rеsidеnce, осcаsionally wаtching plaуs аnd drinking with Lu Сhuichui. Тhe peорlе at thе Мinistrу оf Justiсе delibеrаtelу avоided discussing Shеn Du, and thе Zhu fаmilу naturаllу wоuld nоt bring him up either. Еveryone taсitly erasеd this persоn from thеir livеs.
On thе day of the Spring Festival, Zhu Yan brought Chen Wen over from the thatched cottage to celebrate the New Year together. Her eldest brother Zhu Molin and second brother Zhu Wen also returned, and they all enjoyed a rare reunion celebration.
Zhu Yan even joined them in poetry games, laughing and having fun, which made everyone happy. Her eldest and second brothers each promised to arrange a good marriage for her, vowing not to let her suffer any disadvantage because she had been married before.
Zhu Yan thanked them and brought up her fourth sister, Zhu Manshu. Zhu Manshu had reached the age for marriage arrangements, and this year, her match had to be settled no matter what. However, Zhu Manshu herself seemed in no hurry, leaving Ru Shi both amused and exasperated.
The Zhu family had always been open-minded. Besides, Zhu Caiwei was nearing her due date, so everyone’s attention was focused on the upcoming new life.
They were supposed to stay up late to welcome the New Year, but Zhu Yan claimed she was tired and returned to her bedroom to rest early. Passing by the study, she noticed a light inside and softened her footsteps, careful not to disturb Zhu Kuo and Chen Wen, who were chatting inside.
“Ah, we really shouldn’t be discussing such dreary matters today, but once this New Year passes, who knows what days lie ahead.” This was Zhu Kuo’s voice. Hearing Zhu Kuo express worry struck Zhu Yan as odd.
Beside him, Chen Wen replied, “It’s nothing more than a change of dynasty. It has little to do with us. We’ll just carry out our duties as usual.”
A change of dynasty? Was a coup imminent?
Zhu Yan moved closer.
Zhu Kuo said, “That’s exactly what worries me. The Crown Prince is still imprisoned in the Judicial Affairs Bureau, his fate unknown. Shen Ge—Shen Du now follows Lai Luozhi’s every command. What do you think His Majesty intends? He neither executes the Crown Prince nor appoints a new heir.”
Chen Wen replied, “Without a settled heir, the realm cannot find peace.”
“Exactly,” Zhu Kuo sighed. “Isn’t His Majesty practically inviting chaos?”
He paused for a moment before lowering his voice slightly.
“I think Princess Chaoyang would be quite suitable. She bears much of His Majesty’s former demeanor. Establishing her as heir would be far better than that Crown Prince.”
Chen Wen disagreed. “Brother Zhu, you’re mistaken. Think about it—if the Crown Prince were truly so incompetent, could he have survived this long in the Judicial Affairs Bureau?”
This was also something Zhu Kuo couldn’t understand. “Tell me, why hasn’t Lai Luozhi killed the Crown Prince?”
Chen Wen didn’t answer. Zhu Yan stepped away, leaving footprints in the snow, and returned to her room. Staring blankly at the canopy above her bed, she felt a sharp sting in her nose.
Taking the bronze whistle from her pouch, she warmed it in her palm. Tears streamed silently from the corners of her eyes. She missed Shen Du and wondered if the whip wounds on his body had healed. Zhu Kuo said he now obeyed Lai Luozhi’s every command—his days must be difficult.
Once the esteemed head of the Grand Cabinet, now demoted to a minor official of the ninth rank or lower, driven by Lai Luozhi’s whims. She knew people called Shen Du spineless, but she didn’t believe it. Shen Du must have his reasons.
She was determined to help him.
Meanwhile, in the prison of the Judicial Affairs Bureau, Shen Du was ordered by Lai Luozhi to feed Crown Prince Li Chong swill. Behind his mask, Shen Du’s emotions were unreadable. Obediently, he forced Li Chong’s mouth open and poured the swill in, soaking the prince’s clothes."Hehehe, good," Lai Luozhi said idly, looking at Shen Du with disdain. "Well done. Her Majesty only said to keep him alive, so you must know your limits. Don't play him to death, or I won't let you off."
Shen Du lowered his head. "Yes."
Seeing Shen Du's obedience, Lai Luozhi snorted lightly and pointed to the leftover food on the nearby table. "This is the New Year's Eve meal I'm rewarding you with. Eat it all."
Shen Du nodded, walked to the dining table, and amidst the mocking laughter of the crowd, picked up a porcelain plate and shoveled the cold rice and scraps into his mouth, chewing silently.
The jeers grew louder, but Shen Du paid no attention.
Li Chong lifted his eyelids, stared at Shen Du for a moment, then turned away.
After the New Year, it snowed several more times. Zhu Yan secretly worked for Shen Du, compiling the results of her previous autopsy and seeking out Chen Wen. Both agreed that the murders were likely connected to Lai Luozhi.
Back then, those people had been falsely accused of being killed by Shen Shijie's disciples, but the autopsy results showed that they were missing certain organs.
"Organs may rot to dust, but they leave traces. My master has a method to verify it."
Chen Wen's findings were the same—most of the missing organs were hearts. How could that be?
The earliest cases of the Buddha Swallowing Sins also involved missing hearts. There had to be a connection.
"What does Lai Luozhi need so many human hearts for? Resurrection is clearly a lie."
Chen Wen considered another possibility. "Could it be that while we believe it's false, Lai Luozhi thinks it's true?"
"Impossible. If he believed it was true, why would he create so many substitutes for Lai Luofu?" Identical masks, hypnotizing them with Lai Luofu's memories and background, training them in martial arts to serve as secret assassins to collect hearts for him.
"No, he believes it. He must believe it, but it might not be resurrection he believes in. It could be some other faith, something hidden from view."
Zhu Yan thought of another possibility but dared not dwell on it. She wrote the evidence on a piece of silk, braided it into her hair to avoid inspection by Lai Luozhi's agents in the palace, and presented it to Zhou Zhao, but it sank without a trace.
Zhou Zhao no longer handled affairs, completely controlled by Lai Luozhi. The only reason she was allowed to enter and keep him company was that Lai Luozhi saw her as no threat.
Both inside and outside the court were under Lai Luozhi's control. Even Princess Chaoyang, who oversaw state affairs, had likely become a puppet. No wonder Lai Luozhi was so arrogant.
Yet, seeing the Empress as steady as a rock, Zhu Yan felt as if she couldn't see through it all.
Zhu Yan believed that if Lai Luozhi truly wanted to seize power, he would likely first control the emperor to command the nobles, install a puppet emperor, and then find an excuse to ascend the throne himself.
She had to do something. She couldn't let Shen Du fight alone.
That day, Zhu Yan felt unusually restless. Before her duty shift ended, she made an excuse to leave and went straight to the Bad Captain, Xu Xiangren.
Xu Xiangren hadn't expected Zhu Yan to visit at this time. He glanced at the sky outside, and Zhu Yan smiled slightly, explaining, "It's not the end of my shift yet. I found an excuse to come out."
"Hehehe," Xu Xiangren was shaving his beard. "I never thought the day would come when Chief Zhu would leave early."
Ignoring his teasing, Zhu Yan frowned as she saw him holding a sharp knife to his face. "Brother Xu, why are you shaving your beard?"
"To go find you," Xu Xiangren replied without thinking.
Find her?Before long, Xu Xiangren had neatly shaved off his beard, and Zhu Yan realized just how handsome he was. Apart from his slightly darker complexion, his features were truly impeccable.
Xu Xiangren put away the sharp knife, leaned close to her, and whispered a few words. It took Zhu Yan a long moment to grasp his meaning, her beautiful eyes widening as she stared at him, mouth agape but unable to utter a sound.
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