Сhарtеr 43: Тhе Neighbor
Тhе оldеr brоther lookеd mуsterious, glаnced аrоund, lоwеrеd his vоice, аnd said, “Just a few days befоrе that wоman lеft hоmе, strаnge sоunds оftеn арpеared in my соurtyаrd. Moreоver, my wifе often tоld mе thаt sоmеоnе was by thе bеdside, sоmеоne wаs by thе bеdside, which sсаred mе quite a bit.”
“What hаppenеd аftеrward?” Zhu Yаn listened as if еngrоssеd in a stоrу, еаgеr tо know whаt fоllowеd.
“Aftеrward? Aftеrward, nоthing hарpеnеd. Еvеr since that wоman disappeаred, nothing strangе ocсurred аt hоme. Тhe strange sounds vanished, and my wife no longer said someone was by the bedside.”
Zhu Yan gasped, her willow-like eyebrows tightly knitted together, sensing something suspicious.
At that moment, Shen Du walked in from outside. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time. So you’re here.”
Zhu Yan and the older brother quickly stood up. The older brother asked, “Who is this…”
“Oh, we’re together. He’s also an official.”
Zhu Yan quickly took over the older brother’s words, winking and making hints at Shen Du.
Shen Du cleared his throat lightly and followed Zhu Yan’s lead. “Yes, we’re together.”
Only then did the older brother let down his guard and invited Shen Du to sit down.
After the three of them sat down, Zhu Yan continued asking, “Is your wife at home? Why haven’t I seen her after being here for so long?”
“Her? She went to Granny Wang’s house to learn needlework. My wife is beautiful, but she’s not skilled at needlework. So, she’s been learning from Granny Wang every day.”
“I see.” Zhu Yan nodded.
At that moment, the older brother looked toward the door and said happily, “Ah, speak of the devil, and he shall appear. My wife is back.”
After saying this, he stood up to greet her. When Zhu Yan and Shen Du followed his gaze, both of them were startled.
This woman…
How could she look so similar to those dead Courtesans, or rather, to Ruyan!
To be more precise, she bore a seventy percent resemblance to Madam Tang!
Especially in the charm between her brows and eyes and the expression when she spoke—they were exactly the same.
Zhu Yan seemed to think of something and turned to look at Shen Du, who was also frowning deeply.
It seemed they were thinking the same thing again.
Night fell.
The two returned to the Shen residence to study the case.
Zhu Yan recounted the suspicious events the older brother had told her during the day to Shen Du.
After looking through the case files, she slapped them on the table in confusion. “It doesn’t make sense. This older brother’s wife is just an ordinary, illiterate farm woman. Apart from her appearance being somewhat similar to the other victims, she has nothing else in common. There’s no reason for the murderer to target her.”
“And then?” Shen Du sat coldly to the side, listening to Zhu Yan’s analysis and continuing to inquire.
Zhu Yan paced back and forth, her slender willow-like eyebrows never relaxing since leaving Qinghe Village.
“I think the murderer has a very strong obsession with the identity of Courtesan and the similarity in appearance. Perhaps there was some trauma or shadow in this regard.”
“What makes you think so?”
“The murderer’s methods are extremely cruel—peeling off faces, digging out hearts and livers, cutting to the bone. Only someone with a very strong inner demon could do such a thing.”
Hearing Zhu Yan’s remarks, Shen Du nodded in agreement and couldn’t help but tease, “Madam Shen is indeed clever. Anything else?”Zhu Yan had no time to banter with Shen Du and said with a serious expression, "But why did the murderer choose an embracing posture? I originally thought they were targeting couples, but Ruyan wasn't truly in love with Du Huaien—she even married someone else and had children."
"Xu Huansheng said the two of them were in love. Could it be that you think Xu Huansheng is lying, or do you doubt their feelings?"
Zhu Yan pursed her lips, her expression unnatural. "Women understand women best. If she didn't like this man, she would absolutely not marry him and have children. Moreover, she had the chance to be with Du Huaien but didn't take that step. This is enough to prove that the man Ruyan truly loved was Xu Huansheng."
After hearing Zhu Yan's analysis, Shen Du lowered his eyes slightly, the dark gray depths of his pupils unfathomable as to what he was thinking.
Zhu Yan didn't notice this change in Shen Du and continued, "In this entire case, Du Huaien was the son of a wealthy merchant, Huang Sheng was a poor scholar, and Liang Chenzhong was the son of an official family. Apart from all being young men, there's nothing similar about them at all..."
Zhu Yan finished her speculation, her thoughts completely immersed in the case.
Meanwhile, Shen Du's thoughts lingered on what Zhu Yan had just said: If she didn't like him, she would absolutely not marry him and have children...
"After saying so much, what are your thoughts on this?" Zhu Yan turned and asked Shen Du, who was deep in thought.
Shen Du snapped back to reality, his eyes wandering to conceal his inner unease. "I..."
"Great Pavilion Commander." Before Shen Du could speak, Jing Lin appeared at the door.
Jing Lin's arrival conveniently masked Shen Du's awkwardness, and he smoothly turned his attention to Jing Lin. "Any discoveries?"
"Yes."
Jing Lin nodded in response, but just as he was about to continue, Shen Du suddenly stood up. "We'll talk about it later. Let's go eat first."
Both Zhu Yan and Jing Lin were bewildered.
However, reminded by Shen Du, Zhu Yan realized they hadn't eaten all day.
"Then I'll have the servants prepare something first. In the meantime, we might as well discuss the case further."
As Zhu Yan spoke, she started walking out, but Shen Du suddenly grabbed her. "No need. Let's eat out."
"..." Zhu Yan was speechless, looking at him in surprise.
Before she could react, Shen Du pulled her out of the Shen residence.
After passing through several alleys, the two appeared in front of Taibai Tower.
Zhu Yan was shocked. Hadn't they fleeced him enough last time?
"Are you sure... you want to eat here?" Zhu Yan asked Shen Du in astonishment.
She had already planned that if Shen Du regretted it, she would mercilessly mock him.
"You seemed to enjoy eating here last time, so we'll eat here again."
With that, he pulled her inside.
This time, Shen Du ordered the dishes, reordering everything Zhu Yan had ordered last time.
The waiter's eyes were filled with genuine envy. The Great Pavilion Commander and his wife were clearly deeply in love.
Knowing his wife liked these dishes, no matter how expensive they were, he still brought her here again. What else could it be if not love?
Shen Du's tender care stirred something unusual in Zhu Yan's heart. The two of them seemed more and more like a married couple.
Thinking back to their wedding day, when Shen Du held a knife to her neck and set the "three delusions," and now, less than a hundred days later, he was concerned about what she ate.
Could it be that he was still the same person he had always been, and she was just overthinking things?After dinner, the two walked back together, and the bustling streets once again reminded Zhu Yan of the pearl hairpin in her hair.
Unable to resist, she reached out and touched the hairpin, pushing it deeper into her bun.
"Don't move."
Shen Du suddenly spoke, startling Zhu Yan.
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