Chарtеr 388: Тhе Bronze Sраrrow of Сhang'an Sings 42
Аftеr thаt, rаin оr shinе, Shen Du cаme punctually evеrу single dаy withоut fаil. Zhu Yаn, with hеr stubborn strеаk, simрlу ignоred him, mаking even Ru Shi and Jin Shi fееl it was tоo much. Thеy wantеd to invite Shеn Du in tо sit, but Zhu Yаn firmlу rеfusеd.
Еver sincе this guу prеtеndеd to рledgе lоyaltу tо Lai Luоzhi, his face hаd becomе аs thiсk as а city wall. Тhеrе was nо limit tо whаt hе wоuld dо, winning the sуmрathу of Ru Shi аnd Jin Shi, which madе Zhu Yan dеерly unеаsу.
Аt the Ministry оf Justice, Zhu Yan and Lu Chuiсhui were orgаnizing the cаse filеs оf reсent new offenders.
Thinking about how Zhu Yan had been relentlessly pursued and cornered by Shen Du lately, Lu Chuichui felt somewhat annoyed.
"When did the Inner Guard Bureau become so idle? The Bureau Chief going to the Zhu residence to block you is one thing, but actually coming to the Ministry of Justice to do the same," Lu Chuichui pouted, clearly displeased. "It’s ruined my plans to invite you to the Lotus Garden to watch the opera. Several new plays have been staged recently, and I have no one to go with."
At the thought of Shen Du, the knot in Zhu Yan’s heart grew a little larger. After all, it was Shen Du who had personally written the divorce letter, meaning every word had come from his own mind.
Lu Chuichui’s face suddenly loomed large in front of Zhu Yan: "We finished early today, so we can leave duty sooner. How about going to the Lotus Garden to watch the opera?"
She looked at Zhu Yan with such anticipation that Zhu Yan burst out laughing: "You really are an unapologetic opera fanatic."
Just then, Zhu Manshu barged in unceremoniously, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Zhu Yan.
Her sudden visit made Zhu Yan a bit flustered: "What’s wrong, Fourth Sister? Has something happened at home?"
But Zhu Manshu poked Zhu Yan’s forehead with her index finger: "You, you! Why must you always think the worst? Can’t I come see you just because I miss you?"
That didn’t seem likely at all. In perfect unison, Zhu Yan and Lu Chuichui thought the same thing.
"Of course, of course," Zhu Yan replied perfunctorily, rubbing her forehead, feeling a bit troubled.
Zhu Manshu, however, pretended not to notice, grabbing Zhu Yan’s hand with a look of concern: "Do you know you haven’t been home for several nights?"
To avoid Shen Du, Zhu Yan had recently been finding excuses to stay on duty at the Ministry of Justice, sleeping in the duty quarters.
The flicker of guilt rising in Zhu Yan suddenly sparked a realization under Zhu Manshu’s intense gaze: "Just tell me, what’s really going on?"
Fourth Sister was definitely not the type to come all the way to the Ministry of Justice just because she missed her.
To Zhu Yan and Lu Chuichui’s astonishment, Zhu Manshu actually began rubbing her hands together shyly: "Fourth Sister, don’t tell me… you’ve taken a liking to someone?"
Zhu Manshu’s cheeks flushed crimson, as if her secret had been exposed. Clutching Zhu Yan’s hand, she nervously asked:
"Tell me, where can I find that little follower of Shen Du’s?"
Huh? Little follower?
"You mean Jing Lin?" Zhu Yan’s beautiful eyes shifted in color. "Don’t tell me you…?"
"No, no, no! I mainly came to see Little Six. It’s definitely not because I find that person interesting."
Dear sister, aren’t you aware you’ve just given yourself away?
"If you came to see me, why are your hands empty?"
This…
Zhu Manshu rubbed her nose, somewhat embarrassed: "I forgot."
With that, she tried to slip away, but Zhu Yan called out helplessly from behind:
"Jing Lin usually follows Shen Du. He’s either at the Inner Guard Bureau or at the new Shen residence."
The new Shen residence was actually the old Shen residence, which had recently been re-granted to Shen Du. Naturally, it needed renovations, as Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Gao Langxing had mentioned.
"Alright then, Little Six, you should head home early. I’m off."
Zhu Manshu skipped away happily.Lu Chuichui was puzzled, "Why is your fourth sister asking about Jing Lin?"
Zhu Yan was at a loss for words and stood up, "It's time to get off duty. Are you leaving or not?"
"Of course I am. There's a play tonight, you can't stand me up."
Zhu Yan spotted someone approaching from afar and covered her mouth to laugh. Lu Chuichui, confused, turned around and saw Jiang Langxing, her mind filled with only one thought.
Is it too late to run now?
After meeting Jiang Langxing's gaze, Lu Chuichui immediately lowered her head, pretending to sort through case files, silently chanting that he couldn't see her.
"Today, a young man kept pestering me to come to the Ministry of Justice. What a coincidence, right?" Xu Xiangren looked at Zhu Yan, teasing Jiang Langxing.
Zhu Yan caught on immediately and glanced at Lu Chuichui, "As it happens, Chuichui invited me to watch a play at Hibiscus Garden tonight. I haven't been home for a few days and want to rest, so why not let Jiang Langxing go instead?"
"What? No way."
"Deal!"
Their completely opposite reactions made Zhu Yan and Xu Xiangren stifle their laughter.
Jiang Langxing didn't know what to say either, his face flushed, "Clerk Lu, then I'll see you tonight."
With that, he dashed off.
Lu Chuichui was quite annoyed but helpless. She stomped her feet, muttered a few curses, and prepared to go home. Before leaving, she grabbed Zhu Yan's hand and asked whether she should change her hairpin tonight.
"It's definitely not because I want to look good in front of that person. It's just that I think this hairpin doesn't match the play."
Zhu Yan could no longer hold back and left, laughing heartily.
They were clearly sweethearts, so why pretend to be indifferent?
It was a day off, but Shen Du still came as promised. The entire Zhu family was exhausted by Shen Du. Jin Shi, whom Shen Du had rescued, originally sided with him, but Zhu Yan insisted, and Jin Shi couldn't sway her decision, so she had to let the young people handle things themselves.
Zhu Yan had long been prepared. Since it was a day off, she had no excuse to go to the Ministry of Justice to slack off, so the night before, she instructed the housekeeper not to open the main gate in the morning and to use the side door if necessary.
Thus, Shen Du once again faced his once-every-ten-days rejection on a day off.
Last time, Shen Du used his lightness skill to fly in but was surrounded and driven out by Zhu Yan's three brothers. It wasn't that he couldn't win—it was just that the divorce letter had angered Zhu Yan so much that he was now the one at fault and truly dared not offend his three brothers-in-law again.
So now, Shen Du was out of ideas. Early in the morning, braving the lingering chill of late spring, he knocked on the door to no response and could only cling to the door crack, pleading:
"Madam, please, let me in."
Neighbors gathered to watch the spectacle, undeterred by the cold. Seeing the once-feared Great Pavilion Commander of the court begging for forgiveness, they treated it as a rare sight, something to gossip about later.
How many times in a lifetime could one see Grand Commander Shen clinging to a door crack?
But Zhu Yan simply wouldn't open the door or respond, her ears stuffed with fine cotton as she read and practiced calligraphy.
Shen Du seemed determined not to leave without seeing Zhu Yan, but his official duties were busy, and an hour later, Jing Lin called him away.
Shen Du's momentary satisfaction from his sharp tongue had finally led to a "chasing his wife through a crematorium" situation. Even the Empress, upon hearing about it, gleefully waited to see the drama.
Since this tactic didn't work, Shen Du sought advice everywhere. He started with those close to Zhu Yan, treating his master Chen Wen to drinks, sending Jing Lin to invite Fourth Sister Zhu Manshu for tea, and pestering the Deputy Commander Xu Xiangren to have Jiang Langxing approach Lu Chuichui for information on Zhu Yan's whereabouts.
Of course, Jiang Langxing was more than willing. But as it turned out, not probing was fine—once he started, trouble arose. Why?The reason lies in the fact that everyone in the capital knows that Zhu Yan and Shen Du have already divorced. The Great Zhou dynasty has an open social atmosphere, and women hold relatively high status. It is quite common for those who are unhappy in marriage to divorce and remarry separately.
Moreover, Shen Du's attempts to win back his wife have been unsuccessful, and Zhu Yan's clear stance of keeping her distance has made it known throughout Chang'an that the new head of the Ministry of Justice, the Great Zhou's renowned female detective, is single and available for pursuit.
There are many women in Great Zhou, but aside from Xu Zhaorong Xu Wan, the only one who can be named as a female official is the new head of the Ministry of Justice, Zhu Yan. Furthermore, the Zhu family is considered a scholarly household. With the addition of Han Shiyuan, who married into the family, the entire household is filled with civil officials and talented individuals. Especially Zhu Yan's three elder brothers and her brother-in-law Han Shiyuan all have boundless futures ahead of them. Zhu Yan herself, at such a young age, has earned the Empress's favor and taken the position of head of the Ministry of Justice. With such a family background and such capabilities, who would look down on Zhu Yan for being remarried?
Besides, Zhu Yan's former husband is none other than the Great Pavilion Commander Shen Du. If they were to marry Zhu Yan, wouldn't they be taking Shen Du's woman home?
Regardless of the reasons, ever since Princess Yongan's former husband Yu Chi Yang sent an official matchmaker to propose to Zhu Yan, opening this floodgate, the noble families of the entire capital have been in an uproar, nearly wearing out the threshold of the Zhu family's home.
The secret guards stationed near the Zhu family by orders have been compiling daily reports on everything happening there for Jing Lin. Jing Lin, recently chased all over the streets by Zhu Manshu and barely managing himself, feels as if he's sitting on pins and needles every day when he receives the daily reports on the Zhu family's activities.
Holding the report, Jing Lin's legs trembled: "Today, the household of Prince Li sent an official matchmaker to propose marriage for the second son of Prince Li's family. Although it would be as a second wife, it is at least a proper position as the principal wife."
"And what did Madam say?" Shen Du's heart raced.
Jing Lin glanced at the left column and quickly replied, "Madam said that those who can watch her perform an autopsy without vomiting will be given priority consideration."
Shen Du looked satisfied. Those pampered young masters from noble families could never endure the sight of an autopsy. It seemed Zhu Yan still had him in her heart.
Not long after, Jing Lin informed Shen Du that the legitimate son of General Xuanwei had passed Zhu Yan's test and was now working on a case with her at the Ministry of Justice.
"What?" Shen Du jumped up, unable to sit still. "If she wants to work on a case, why bring an outsider? It violates the rules of the Ministry of Justice."
Jing Lin muttered quietly, "It's all your own fault."
"What did you say?" Shen Du clenched his fists, making a cracking sound.
Jing Lin shrank his neck and quickly offered a plan. Shen Du's dark eyes lit up, and he ordered Jing Lin to carry it out immediately.
Thus, later, all of Chang'an witnessed the cold-blooded and stern-faced Great Pavilion Commander ordering the Inner Guard to drive away the admirers gathered outside the home of the head of the Ministry of Justice, the Great Zhou's renowned female detective Zhu Yan. This incident was even adapted into plays and circulated in theaters, teahouses, and the Blue Pavilion.
Meanwhile, Shen Du could only cling to the crack in the door, pleading with Zhu Yan: "Madam, if you won't open the door, at least let me see you. Just one glance, that's all I ask."
All of Chang'an waited to see when Shen Du would succeed in winning back his wife.
In addition to this, Shen Du also wrote poetry. In the dead of night, he would climb over the wall to recite it outside Zhu Yan's room, completely disregarding the entire Zhu family watching. This embarrassed Zhu Yan so much that she wished she could buy three pounds of sugar cakes to stuff Shen Du's mouth.
"Day after day, I linger before the flowers, sick with longing,
Unsparing of the thinness of my face in the mirror.
At dawn, I watch the sky; at dusk, I gaze at the clouds.
Walking, I think of Yan; sitting, I think of Yan."
In the end, the Zhu family couldn't take it anymore. This Shen Du was simply too shameless and thick-skinned. They unanimously rushed to Zhu Yan's room to persuade her.
Zhu Mojie and the others said, "Little Six, just go out and see him. Shen Du's corny poems are so sour they've made my tofu inedible."Zhu Kuo chimed in: "Exactly, Liu Niang, hurry out and make things clear. At the very least, tell him not to keep coming over to recite poetry during the hour of rest, alright? We’re getting on in years and can’t handle this kind of disturbance."
Zhu Yan: …
And so, after three months of Shen Du from the Grand Cabinet clinging to her door, Zhu Yan finally opened it for him.
It wasn’t because her anger had subsided, but because someone had painted a bird devouring a moth on her bedroom wall using chicken blood.
On the twenty-second day of the first month of the Shenlong era, in the Daming Palace, Zhang Xingwei led ministers including Cui Xuanzhi, along with Princess Chaoyang, to travel to the auxiliary palace in Luoyang and submit a memorial to the recuperating Empress, demanding that she abdicate in favor of the imperial heir, Li Chong.
The End
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