After boarding the carriage, Xiao Yuheng didn’t immediately taste the pastries. Instead, he picked up a copy of “The Thirty-Six Stratagems” from the small table and began reading.
Shen Yue secretly rolled her eyes, thinking to herself: What a pretentious act.
With the carriage shaking so much, she didn’t believe he could actually concentrate on reading.
Since he wasn’t eating, she decided to wait. After all, she was getting a free ride, which was much better than having to run back.
Xiao Yuheng had spent considerable time at Mantingfang, and his robes had inevitably absorbed some of the fragrance from the cosmetics. A breeze blew through the carriage window, carrying the scent with it, making Shen Yue’s nose itch.
“Achoo—”
With that sneeze, two small droplets landed on the page of the book in Xiao Yuheng’s hand.
“…”
Seeing the man’s displeased expression, Shen Yue grinned sheepishly. “Sorry about that!”
Xiao Yuheng ignored her apology and changed the subject. “According to Changfeng’s report, yesterday’s assassins were from the Netherworld Hall.”
Shen Yue played dumb. “Oh.”
“This prince has no grievances with the Netherworld Hall, and their people have never attempted an assassination before.”
“Oh.” Rather than your life, they want the brocade box in your possession, you fool.
“Shen Yue, don’t you find it strange?” Xiao Yuheng raised an eyebrow.
“Uh, not really.”
Seemingly amused by Shen Yue’s clueless act, a faint smile touched Xiao Yuheng’s lips.
“After reading ‘The Thirty-Six Stratagems,’ it occurred to me that last night’s situation seemed less like an assassination and more like killing with a borrowed knife. Someone wanted to use the Shadow Guard Bureau to eliminate the Netherworld Hall’s branch.”
As he spoke, he leaned forward slowly, his obsidian-dark eyes locking with hers.
Shen Yue’s heart skipped a beat, and she forced a stiff smile. “That can’t be, right?”
“Why not? You, as the little Director, have decent combat experience, but your strategic thinking is lacking. You should learn more from Changfeng in the future.”
His lips moved earnestly as he spoke, as if genuinely instructing a subordinate in his capacity as a master.
His warm, clear voice paired with his devastatingly handsome face filled Shen Yue’s mind with only one thought—
She really wanted to pin him down on the bed and listen to him make sounds.
Wait, does that sound as perverted as I think it does?
No, she needed to snap out of it. Although this man was good-looking, he was a rotten cucumber—not someone she should be fantasizing about!
She lifted her hand to wipe away nonexistent nosebleed, then shook her head vigorously to clear the indecent thoughts from her mind.
“Your Highness is right! This subordinate will definitely work hard!”
After this passionate declaration of loyalty, she opened the oil-paper bag, took out a piece of Peach Blossom Cake, and handed it to him.
“Your Highness, please try this Peach Blossom Cake. It’s very delicious. As you instructed, I bought ten pieces. So… could you return my knife now?”
“What’s the hurry?”
Xiao Yuheng glanced at her, sat up straight, took the Peach Blossom Cake, and took a small bite.
Then, he spat it out.
“It’s not good.”
Shen Yue: “…Then which shop’s do you prefer? I’ll buy it again.”
Xiao Yuheng replied without changing his expression, “I don’t know. This prince doesn’t care for sweets, and I particularly dislike Peach Blossom Cake.”
…
He doesn’t like it? Then why did he make her compensate him?
Was it just to keep her knife from her?
Is this human behavior?
Fuming internally, Shen Yue took a few deep breaths, mustered her courage, and said, “Regardless, I’ve already returned the Peach Blossom Cake. Please return my property, Your Highness!”
Xiao Yuheng glanced at her sideways. “We’ll talk after you buy the Peach Blossom Cake that this prince likes.”
“Don’t be like this, Your Highness. I’ve always been diligent and devoted in the estate, with at least some hard work if no merit, and at least some exhaustion if no hard work. You can’t treat me this way…”
Shen Yue activated her Tang Monk mode, attempting to awaken a conscience that didn’t exist in a certain someone, but that person had already closed his eyes while leaning against the carriage.
Hearing the even breathing sounds, Shen Yue hardened her heart and extended her pale little devil’s claw toward his waist and abdomen.
“If you’re thinking of stealing my weapon, save your effort. Changfeng won’t let you leave this carriage alive.”
Shen Yue: “…” Damn man.
Fine, no stealing then.
The carriage continued its journey, the jostling making her somewhat drowsy too. She moved near the carriage door, intending to sleep for a while.
But Xiao Yuheng commanded with his eyes still closed: “Get out.”
…Alright.
Shen Yue finally understood: in this era, servants were just servants, destined to be toyed with by their masters.
If only she could return to modern times someday.
Even if she couldn’t go back, she refused to remain forever in the prince’s estate as someone else’s servant.
No, she needed to write more storybooks, quickly save enough money to buy medicine. When the time came, no matter how high the prince’s estate offered to pay her, she wouldn’t fucking do it.
By the time everyone returned to the prince’s estate, it was already afternoon. After eating something, Shen Yue hurried to stand guard outside the damn prince’s study.
With Zhang Dayong and Bai Yunfeng keeping watch on the roof, she didn’t need to worry too much. She leaped onto the tall peach blossom tree, leaning against a branch to doze off.
The breeze carried the faint fragrance of peach blossoms, and she found it extremely comfortable.
In her drowsy state, she seemed to hear Xiao Yuheng and Changfeng having a secret discussion.
The gist was: Xiao Yuheng was secretly searching for someone, and this matter had been discovered by another person, so they needed to eliminate that person quickly.
She didn’t catch the specific details, but what she could confirm was that they were plotting something shady.
But these matters had nothing to do with her anyway, so she didn’t pay much attention, focusing instead on her own sleep.
By the time Zhang Dayong woke her, the sun had already set, and it was time for the Second and Fourth Divisions to change shifts.
Having slacked off for half the day, Shen Yue was in quite good spirits. Cheerfully walking back, she made plans:
The first thing after returning to the bureau would naturally be dinner.
The second would be retrieving the silver Qiao Er had confiscated, then taking stock of her assets. If things went smoothly, she could check out the Black Market situation in the next couple of days.
As for the third thing – since she’d slept enough during the day, she definitely wouldn’t be tired at night, meaning she could continue working on her manuscript.
Inspired by her daytime experience, her next storybook would be titled “The Cold and Alluring Courtesan is Pure and Lustful, Princes and Sons of Nobility Fight Over Her.”
Hmm, perfect!
Without Qiao Er the vampire Director, the Second Division’s meals had improved accordingly. Bai Yunfei made scallion pancakes and big plate chicken – she ate half a pancake and two bowls of meat before stopping.
While picking her teeth, she summoned Zhang Dayong to ask about the silver, but he seemed to have difficulty speaking, hemming and hawing:
“Well… the Head Guard said that Director Qiao Er’s belongings should be uniformly inspected by the Shadow Guard Bureau before being given to his family. No one else has the right to claim them.”
“What!” Shen Yue exclaimed in alarm, slapping the table with a “smack.”
“Didn’t you tell Changfeng that silver was extorted by Qiao Er?”
Zhang Dayong nervously swallowed, “Brother Shen, you writing lewd books already violates bureau regulations. If I told the truth, not only wouldn’t we get the silver, but you’d also be punished.”
Shen Yue thought about it and realized he was right.
But if she couldn’t get her hundred-some taels of silver back, it would mean the past three months of effort had been completely wasted.
Time was life—she couldn’t afford to waste it. This money absolutely had to be recovered.
“Where are his belongings now?”
Zhang Dayong thought for a moment. “According to regulations, the captain of the guards reports to the prince after examining the deceased’s possessions, and they’re only disposed of after confirming nothing suspicious remains. Earlier I saw him carrying a bundle into the study, but he came out empty-handed—probably forgot to bring it out with him.”
So that meant the items were still in the study.
Shen Yue pondered briefly, then patted his shoulder. “Understood.”
I’ll retrieve them myself tonight.