The carriage rolled along smoothly; the driver had presumably been replaced with one of Shen Xiao's men.
It was dark inside the carriage, and Wen Jiao's heart pounded like a drum. She had no idea what Shen Xiao intended to do. The silver needle in her ring had already sprung out, but unless absolutely forced, she would never act rashly—
First, Shen Xiao was highly skilled in martial arts; she might not even succeed.
Second, even if she knocked out Shen Xiao and the driver outside, how would she handle the aftermath?
Shen Xiao had no idea what schemes were running through her mind. He only felt that the skin beneath his palm was as fine as porcelain, and his fingertip unconsciously traced over it. Wen Jiao's eyes immediately filled with alarm.
Shen Xiao muttered a low curse before speaking. "Don't scream. I mean you no harm. I just want to ask you a few questions, and then I'll let you go."
Wen Jiao nodded rapidly, as if afraid Shen Xiao might change his mind.
Shen Xiao released his hand, and the carriage pulled into a small alley before stopping. The surroundings fell quiet.
"Has Miaoshan confessed?"
Wen Jiao shook her head truthfully, her sweet, soft voice trembling slightly. "Cousin said she'd been unconscious for the past few days and only just woke up, but she's… she's still confused. It seems she was… poisoned."
"Last time, I mistakenly took you for one of Miaoshan's accomplices, which is why I was so harsh. Don't be afraid, little cousin." Shen Xiao curled the corner of his mouth and asked again, "Did the other nuns at Quesi Temple say anything? Who harmed Lady Feng? Why did they harm her?"
Wen Jiao silently cursed inwardly—this brute Shen Xiao truly had nothing but muscle between his ears. Why would Song Langyu share the case details with her? She quietly retracted the silver needle from her ring, clutched her handkerchief tightly with both hands, and said softly, "Cousin never told me anything."
Shen Xiao's features were sharp, his bearing wild and murderous. He braced his palm beside Wen Jiao, leaning slightly forward, his voice low and hoarse. "If Song Langyu didn't tell you those things, then surely you at least know why you came to the teahouse today, little cousin?"
The words "little cousin" rolled off his tongue with a hint of impropriety.
Wen Jiao stammered, "Cousin forbade me from telling anyone…"
"Just tell me. I promise he won't find out." Shen Xiao coaxed her patiently.
"Really?" Wen Jiao's lashes fluttered, and she seemed tempted. "If I tell you, do you swear you won't breathe a single word to Cousin?"
Shen Xiao spent his days rolling around in a den of stinking men; this was the first time he'd encountered such a sweet, honeyed girl as Wen Jiao, and he couldn't help but feel a little soft inside.
"I swear I won't tell a soul."
Wen Jiao was anxious to return to the Duke's mansion and only wanted to escape quickly. She feigned hesitation for a moment, then truthfully told him.
"Did you find out who was helping Miaoshan seek out candidates?"
"Elder Sister Zhong was just about to say when the assassin burst in." Wen Jiao wore a look of lingering fear.
Shen Xiao frowned. Wen Jiao shrank back slightly and explained in a trembling voice, "Everything I said is true. I didn't lie to you."
Seeing that he couldn't extract any useful information, Shen Xiao didn't press further. He produced a brocade box from somewhere and pressed it into Wen Jiao's hands. "This is an apology for misunderstanding you last time. The driver is far away and couldn't hear what you just said. If Song Langyu asks, just tell him you revealed nothing."
Wen Jiao nodded quickly and flashed a sweet smile. "Thank you, Lord Shen."
Shen Xiao smiled back, then lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.
The smile on Wen Jiao's face vanished instantly. She opened the brocade box and found a jade bracelet of decent quality inside.
Shen Xiao's identity was too sensitive, and the man himself too dangerous. Wen Jiao had no desire to provoke him—she only hoped she would never cross paths with him again.
The coachman quickly returned to the carriage, his voice choked with tears: "Commander Shen just had me detained, miss. He didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
"I'm fine. Master Shen asked me two questions from behind the curtain, and when I said I didn't know, he left." Wen Jiao lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and smiled at the coachman. "Uncle Wang, let's hurry back to the manor."
Once back at the Duke's manor, Wen Jiao slipped into the kitchen. A quarter-hour later, she emerged carrying a food box and headed toward the Iris Courtyard.
Since she had been coming by regularly these past few days to deliver pastries, she had grown quite familiar with the servants in the courtyard. When Yingliu saw her arrive, she smiled and came forward to take the food box from her hands. "Miss Wen, didn't you go out today? How did you still find time to make pastries?"
"After I finished my shopping, I saw it was still early, so I made something simple." Wen Jiao glanced toward the study and asked with feigned ignorance, "Has the eldest young master returned yet?"
"The young heir hasn't returned? Is something the matter, miss?" Yingliu led Wen Jiao toward the warm side chamber.
Wen Jiao stopped in her tracks, a hesitant and troubled expression crossing her face. "The eldest young master gave me a book earlier. Though I've finished reading it, I don't quite understand its meaning. I wanted to borrow another from him, but he hasn't been in the few times I've come. I wonder if Sister Yingliu could help me find one."
Because Wen Jiao had been coming frequently of late, and Song Langyu had given no other instructions, Yingliu harbored no suspicion.
"What kind of book is miss looking for?" Yingliu led the way with the food box in hand. No one guarded the study outside, and few people were about in the courtyard.
Wen Jiao was delighted inwardly, counting herself lucky, and replied with a smile: "Previously, my cousin gave me a copy of Admonitions for Women. Could you see if there's anything similar?"
Yingliu pushed open the study door and led Wen Jiao toward the compartment behind the screen. Wen Jiao's eyes immediately fell upon the carved bookcase, its doors secured by a large brass lock. Her heart began to race.
Earlier at the teahouse, she had feigned fear and embraced Song Langyu around the waist, taking the opportunity to unfasten the keys hanging at his belt. At this moment, he was busy interrogating the assassins and would hardly notice. Even if he discovered the keys missing, the scene had been chaotic—he wouldn't necessarily suspect Wen Jiao.
Yingliu searched the bookcase by the window while Wen Jiao pretended to browse nearby, already planning how to send Yingliu away. Just as she was about to speak, a young servant called out from the courtyard: "Is Sister Yingliu there?"
"I'll go see what it is. Miss, feel free to look around on your own."
Wen Jiao acknowledged her, and once Yingliu stepped out the door, she immediately produced the keys and unlocked the brass lock on the bookcase. Pulling open the doors, she saw the camphor wood chest, which bore a small lock of its own.
She had five keys in hand. The first key went in but wouldn't turn.
Through the window, Wen Jiao heard Yingliu scolding a young servant in the courtyard for being careless and losing a new set of wolf-hair brushes that Song Langyu had recently purchased.
The second key went in. Wen Jiao twisted with effort, but the lock mechanism wouldn't budge.
The servant argued in his defense, saying the brushes had been placed in the storeroom upon arrival and he hadn't touched them since.
The third key went in, and still it wouldn't open. Wen Jiao's heart felt ready to leap from her chest, a fine sheen of sweat forming on her brow—yet her hands remained steady.
Another maidservant ran over and complained to the servant: "Are your two eyes just for show? A box that big sitting right on the shelf, and you looked three times without finding it!"
Yingliu said, "Be more careful next time. You often accompany the young heir on his outings—you can't stay this careless. Go on, now."
A soft click sounded as the lock finally opened.
Wen Jiao was just about to lift the chest lid when the outside suddenly fell silent.
Then Yingliu's voice rang out: "Young Master, why have you returned at this hour? Shall I prepare lunch?"
"I need to go to the palace—ready the carriage." It was Song Langyu's voice, and he continued, "Why is the study door open?"
"Miss Wen wanted to borrow a book."
Wen Jiao heard Song Langyu's footsteps drawing closer, heard him step into the study, and only managed to lock the bronze lock on the carved book cabinet at the very last moment.
Song Langyu had already passed the screen and entered the inner chamber, his slightly cold gaze falling on her: "What book do you want to borrow?"
Wen Jiao caught a glimpse of the bronze lock still swaying slightly from the corner of her eye, her breath halting for a moment. She quickly stepped forward to block the cabinet door, a troubled expression on her face: "I'm not sure what book I'm looking for, it's just… there's something I don't know how to handle, so I wanted to find some guidance in a book."
"What is it?" Song Langyu hadn't noticed the swaying lock.
"When I returned today, Lord Shen stopped my carriage and pressed me about the case…"
Song Langyu frowned: "What did you tell him?"
Wen Jiao shook her head repeatedly, speaking urgently: "I didn't tell him—I only said I didn't know. But then he asked what we were doing at the teahouse today, and said if I didn't tell him, he wouldn't let me leave. He… he's truly terrifying, so I could only… only tell him the truth."
Song Langyu didn't reproach her. He washed his hands as he spoke: "It's fine. Even if you hadn't told him, he could have found out elsewhere."
"But he…" Wen Jiao frowned, then pulled the jade bracelet Shen Xiao had given her from her bosom and placed it on the table. "He said this was an apology for misunderstanding me last time. But the book my cousin gave me the other day said, 'Men and women should not touch when passing things.' I felt I shouldn't accept Lord Shen's gift, but I didn't know how to dispose of it, so I came to see what other books say."
Wen Jiao's attitude was sincere, her eyes slightly red—both as if still shaken by Shen Xiao's intimidation and carrying a hint of helpless bewilderment. Compared to her previous impropriety, she now seemed completely transformed, a proper young lady who strictly observed decorum and propriety.
Song Langyu felt somewhat gratified, feeling that his earlier words hadn't been wasted and those slaps on the hand hadn't been in vain. He was like a strict teacher who had found a teachable student, or a sculptor with itching hands who had found raw jade.
He didn't find Wen Jiao's trivial matters annoying at all. He reached out and picked up the jade bracelet from the table, his expression gentle: "Shen Xiao is arrogant and unruly by nature. Don't have any dealings with him. I'll return this jade bracelet to him for you."
"Really? Jiao Jiao thanks you, Cousin!" Wen Jiao looked like a prisoner granted pardon, quickly flashing Song Langyu a grateful smile and saying softly, "If this bracelet stayed in my hands, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully!"
"For books, have Yingliu help you find them. And if you encounter difficulties in the future, come straight to me."
Song Langyu was about to leave after speaking when Wen Jiao called him back. She stepped forward and lightly brushed his shoulder, explaining with a smile: "A flower petal fell on your shoulder, Cousin."
Song Langyu didn't suspect anything, thanked her, and quickly left the study.
The key had already been quietly reattached to Song Langyu's diexie belt by her. Only then did Wen Jiao secretly let out a sigh of relief.
She casually picked out a few books, then hurried back to the Glass Pavilion, shut the door tightly, tossed the books aside, and gritted her teeth in anger. "That scheming dog!"
Furious and humiliated, her nose stinging, she couldn't help but throw herself onto the bed and burst into tears.
She had opened the chest just now, and she'd had time to take whatever was inside.
She'd even worried that there might be too many things in the chest and she wouldn't be able to find the secret letter.
But when she lifted the lid, the chest was completely empty—not even a single hair inside!
She'd thought she was about to succeed, had even planned how to use that secret letter to clear the Chen family's name, only to have her hopes dashed at the very last moment. Wen Jiao was absolutely furious!
She cried and cursed between sobs: "That heartless bastard! Why lock an empty chest! All my effort wasted!"
After crying for a while, Wen Jiao finally calmed down. She wiped away her tears and muttered, "No wonder the guards had all been withdrawn—the things were never in the study to begin with."
Since they weren't hidden in the study, they must be somewhere Song Langyu could see them at all times. Where could that be?
Could it be… the bedroom?