Сhарtеr 46: Bringing Ropеs tо Retrievе the Wife
Тhе fоllоwing dауs passеd in relative calm, with Zhu Yan nоt аpрeаring аt thе Shеn residеnсе fоr sеverаl conseсutivе daуs.
On this day, Shеn Du was orgаnizing casе filеs whеn Jing Lin hurriеd in tо rерort, "Greаt Рaviliоn Соmmandеr, the mistrеss hаs not returnеd fоr manу days. Do уou think we should…"
"Аrе уou tеaching me hоw tо dо my jоb?" Веfоrе Jing Lin сould finish, Shеn Du shоt him an iсy glаre.
Hоw darе hе instruсt the Grеаt Раvilion Commаnder? It was just that Zhu Yan had bеen absent fоr days, аnd the brоthеrs at thе Inner Guard Bureau were gossiping behind his back.
"This subordinate wouldn’t dare," Jing Lin said with a troubled expression. "It’s just that the brothers at the Inner Guard Bureau haven’t seen the mistress for days and have been privately discussing some matters concerning the Great Pavilion Commander."
"Is that so?" Shen Du continued organizing the files, unperturbed. "What have they been saying?"
"They said…" Jing Lin’s face grew even more uneasy, unsure how to phrase what came next in a way the Great Pavilion Commander might accept.
"What did they say?" Shen Du set down the case file in his hand and fixed Jing Lin with a scrutinizing gaze.
Jing Lin lowered his head deeply, clasped his fists, and stammered, "They said the Great Pavilion Commander is henpecked and doesn’t dare to bring the mistress back."
"Outrageous!" Shen Du slammed his palm on the desk. If not for the sturdy rosewood, the table might have shattered into splinters.
Jing Lin trembled all over, quickly bowing his head and not daring to say another word, only occasionally stealing cautious glances at Shen Du’s expression.
After a long while, Shen Du waved his sleeve and uttered a single word, "Go."
Jing Lin didn’t dare ask further and hurriedly followed.
Ministry of Justice.
Zhu Yan was in the main hall reviewing case files when Lu Chuichui rushed in, panicked. "Liu Niang, it’s bad! Quick, find a place to hide. The White King of Hell is here to arrest someone."
"What?" Shen Du had ignored her for days, so hearing that he had come was quite a surprise.
"He’s almost at the main gate. Hurry and find a place to hide," Lu Chuichui urged anxiously.
Zhu Yan, however, smiled dismissively. "Hah… Let him come. I’m his wife—it’s not like he can eat me."
Lu Chuichui swallowed hard. "You haven’t seen his expression. And I saw Jing Lin, who came with him, holding hemp ropes. They’re here to tie you up this time. I’ll hold them off here—you’d better make a run for it."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan was deeply moved. Even at a time like this, Lu Chuichui still wanted to clean up her mess.
But her focus shifted to what Lu Chuichui had just said: Jing Lin was holding hemp ropes, and they were here to tie her up and take her back.
Hah… Tying people up, is it? Let’s see who ties up whom.
With that thought, Zhu Yan pulled Lu Chuichui closer. "Er Niang, go find something for me."
Upon hearing Zhu Yan’s request, Lu Chuichui was so shocked she could hardly believe it. "Are you sure?" she asked uncertainly.
"Just do as I say. Win or lose, I’ll take the responsibility."
"Alright… alright."
Lu Chuichui went off trembling to fetch the items for Zhu Yan, while Zhu Yan gazed at the main gate of the Ministry of Justice, a strange curve forming at the corner of her lips.
Shen Du arrived at the Ministry of Justice with his entourage and had just reached the entrance when he encountered Lu Chuichui emerging from inside.
"Great Pavilion Commander, your esteemed presence honors us. This humble official failed to welcome you properly. May I ask what brings you here?"
Shen Du stared coldly at Lu Chuichui, his eyes as deep as an abyss, making her break out in a cold sweat.
"Step aside."
Jing Lin stepped forward, directly placing his saber across Lu Chuichui’s path.Lu Chuichui’s face paled dramatically, immediately stepping aside and bending at a ninety-degree angle in a gesture of invitation. “Great Pavilion Commander, please come in.”
Zhu Yan, who had been sitting in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice, nearly dropped her jaw at the sight. This woman really was… spineless to the extreme.
Holding a crabapple in her hand, she crossed her arms and struck a superior pose as she took a bite.
Her gaze fixed intently on Shen Du and the others.
They drew closer and closer until Shen Du’s front foot stepped into the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.
Zhu Yan hurriedly rose, tossed aside the crabapple, and cupped her hands in greeting. “This humble official, Zhu Yan, pays her respects to the Great Pavilion Commander.”
Faced with Zhu Yan’s sudden courtesy, Jing Lin and the other brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau behind him were utterly bewildered.
Shen Du remained calm and composed, his tone unchanged. “Madam has not returned to the Shen residence for many days. Could it be that the Ministry of Justice has too many pressing matters keeping you away?”
Zhu Yan looked awkward. Wasn’t this a rhetorical question?
“Actually, the affairs of the Ministry of Justice are manageable, but…”
“But what?” Shen Du pressed.
“But as for why I haven’t returned to the Shen residence, the Great Pavilion Commander should know perfectly well. Why bother asking?”
Shen Du’s eyes darkened. “At home, obey your father; after marriage, obey your husband. Since you are my wedded wife, you should remember the etiquette expected of women.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan realized further argument was pointless.
Glancing at Jing Lin behind Shen Du, she changed the subject. “Jing Lin is holding a hemp rope. Could it be that the Great Pavilion Commander intends to use force against me?”
“You guessed correctly.” Shen Du raised an eyebrow and gave the order directly.
However, before Jing Lin could bind Zhu Yan with the hemp rope, she had already dashed to the side of a nearby chair.
With a twist of the chair, there was a sharp “click.”
A black net descended from directly above the main entrance of the Ministry of Justice, landing squarely on Shen Du.
While everyone was stunned, Zhu Yan quickly stepped forward and tightened the net. Shen Du offered no resistance, allowing Zhu Yan to bind him like a half-wrapped zongzi.
Just as Zhu Yan turned triumphantly to leave, Shen Du stuck out his leg, tripping her squarely.
Still holding the net, Zhu Yan was pulled back with a sudden force, causing her to tumble toward Shen Du.
And as luck would have it, her lips met Shen Du’s as he lowered his head.
Everyone was shocked, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Zhu Yan’s face flushed like burning coal, while Shen Du also seemed startled by what had just happened. He pursed his lips lightly, at a loss for words.
To mask the awkwardness, Zhu Yan feigned nonchalance. “It’s truly changed—not as sweet as it was in our youth.”
Shen Du’s face instantly darkened. With a slight exertion, he broke free from the black net and casually tossed it aside.
He lightly brushed his thumb over his thin lips and snorted coldly. “How filthy.”
These two words struck Zhu Yan’s heart like a heavy blow. Burning with rage, she pointed at Shen Du and shouted, “You are the son of a disgraced official! What right do you have to say such things?”
Shen Du’s expression grew even darker, and his fists clenched abruptly beneath his robes.
Zhu Yan suddenly realized she had spoken out of turn. Just as she was about to apologize, Shen Du’s murderous glare left her speechless.
“Take her away!”
At his command, the brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau did not dare delay, immediately escorting Zhu Yan out of the Ministry of Justice.
Back at the Shen residence, Shen Du confined Zhu Yan to her room, forbidding anyone from visiting without his permission.
Zhu Yan knew she had made a grave mistake, but with Shen Du currently enraged, it was clearly not the time to beg for mercy.
And so, another day passed.
Jing Lin came to report that a children’s song had recently become wildly popular in Chang’an City, spreading through every household.Men without hearts, Buddha devours hearts, beneath the emperor's feet chaos reigns, the Buddha hides sins by consuming hearts...
No one knows who spread these words, but they have now spread throughout Chang'an, and Shen Du feels immense pressure.
Lai Luozhi walked along the streets of Chang'an. Just as he stopped before a small stall, he suddenly heard several children clapping and singing in the street.
Beneath the emperor's feet chaos reigns, the Buddha hides sins by consuming hearts...
Just as the children were playing happily, one of them was suddenly grabbed by the collar from behind. Lai Luozhi glared at him fiercely. "Little brat, do you know that what you just said is utterly treasonous? Today, you're unlucky enough to have been caught by me. Consider this your punishment."
With that, he threw the child he had grabbed into a large jar carried by his attendant.
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