The night was dark as ink. The Marquis Residence was utterly still inside and out, broken only by the rustling of the evening breeze through the woods.
Shen Ji sat alone in the study, quietly pondering the alliance with the duke’s residence. Suddenly, a faint movement came from the bamboo grove outside the wall not far away.
A cold, sharp curve touched his lips. His mental energy spread outward like an invisible net. Nine auras were concealed deep in the bamboo grove, their breathing long and steady and their internal energy profound… clearly on a different level from the shadow guards Lady Liu had sent before. Sure enough, Prince Duan had finally lost patience and made his move.
These past few days, the spies from Prince Duan’s Residence had been lurking around the Marquis Residence. He was well aware of it, but had deliberately held back. A trace of mockery flashed in Shen Ji’s eyes. It was not yet time to alert the enemy. He had to wait until he had gathered enough evidence against Prince Duan. When that time came, one strike would be enough; Prince Duan and Lady Liu, mother and son, would not escape.
Ever since he had taken over the Marquis Residence, he had turned it into an iron fortress. Visible guards and hidden sentries overlapped, and formations and mechanisms lay concealed everywhere. If an outsider tried to force entry, he would be walking right into a trap.
…
The next day, under bright spring sunlight, the Haitang blossoms were in full bloom, their layered petals filling the branches like rosy clouds.
Shen Ji, dressed in dark casual robes, sat beneath the tree at a celadon jade tea table, tapping the tabletop absentmindedly with his fingertips as he pondered his next arrangements. Gold flecks of light filtered through the gaps in the flowers and leaves, scattering dappled shadows across his collar.
A steady set of footsteps approached from near and far. Li Wenruo, dressed in indigo martial clothes, passed through the moon gate and quickly walked to Shen Ji, bowing deeply in salute.
“Heir,” he said in a low voice, “we have preliminarily uncovered Li Du’s background.”
Shen Ji raised his eyes, calm and collected, and gave a slight nod. “Speak.”
“Li Du is from Luzhou in Jiangnan,” Li Wenruo reported clearly. “His family was poor, but he was exceptionally clever from a young age and had some reputation in Jiangnan. Two years ago, he entered White Deer Academy and excelled in his studies. His paternal family has no special background, but on his maternal side he has a concubine aunt named Lou Huarong. She is said to have been extremely beautiful and, in her younger years, married into Vice Minister Shi’s Residence as a concubine.”
He paused slightly, then continued, “This time in the capital, Li Du has been staying in the Di room at Yuelai Inn, keeping a low profile and rarely going out. But our people keeping watch discovered that yesterday evening, Li Du secretly went to Vice Minister Shi’s Residence and only left about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.”
“According to a page boy at the vice minister’s residence, in September of last year, Li Du and the legitimate young lady of the Shi household, Shi Qingyi, suddenly became engaged. The matter is quite suspicious, and the servants in the residence have all been whispering about it, but the exact details still need further investigation.”
Shen Ji’s fingers stopped tapping the table. Understanding flickered in his eyes. “The legitimate daughter of the vice minister’s residence, hastily married to a scholar from a poor family with no foundation… a concubine aunt on the maternal side alone probably isn’t enough. There must be other reasons behind this. Keep digging. Don’t let a single clue slip by in Vice Minister Shi’s Residence.”
“Yes!” Li Wenruo replied with a cupped-fist salute, then added, “In addition, after thorough investigation, I have found no trace of any page boy named Yantai. Li Du entered the capital alone. I suspect that the page boy Yantai was most likely silenced on the road here.”
“Mm.” Shen Ji answered lightly, his gaze drifting toward the swaying flower branches in the distance, his meaning unclear. “This Heir knows. Go do your work.”
“Your subordinate takes his leave.” Li Wenruo bowed again, turned, and strode away quickly, his figure soon disappearing beyond the moon gate.
Shen Ji sat quietly for a moment, lifted the tea that had already gone lukewarm, took a sip, then rose and headed toward the guest courtyard in the west wing.
…
The guest courtyard was filled with the fragrance of medicine. Yan Shu was leaning against the headboard, his face still pale, but he was holding a scroll and reading carefully.
When he saw Shen Ji enter, he quickly set the scroll aside and bowed in greeting.
Shen Ji sat down in a huanghuali wood armchair nearby. “Your injuries haven’t healed yet. Don’t strain yourself too much by reading.”
Yan Shu leaned back against the soft pillow as told. “Thank you for your concern, Heir. This Yan understands.”
“Regarding Li Du, I found out some things on my side.” Shen Ji looked at Yan Shu, his tone flat and direct.
At those words, Yan Shu’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly. His fingertips tightened around the thin blanket, and he forced himself to remain calm. “I wonder… what has the Heir found out?” A flash of pain and self-mockery could not be hidden in his eyes.
Shen Ji took in his reaction completely and spoke slowly. “Li Du has a concubine aunt on his maternal side named Lou Huarong, who is a concubine in Vice Minister Shi’s Residence. In September of last year, Li Du hastily became engaged to Shi Qingyi, the legitimate young lady of the vice minister’s residence. Did you know about this?”
Surprise filled Yan Shu’s eyes. Then he gave a bitter, hoarse laugh. “So that’s how it was… In September of last year, he suddenly asked the academy for a month’s leave, saying that his mother at home was critically ill… and I actually believed him. I even gave him travel money and tonics… Ha, and I had no idea he had climbed onto the high branch of Vice Minister Shi’s Residence…”
“The human heart is a den of demons. Don’t blame yourself too much.” Shen Ji’s tone remained calm, with a hint of reassurance. He paused before continuing, “Also, Li Du entered the capital alone, without a page boy accompanying him. Yantai is probably already dead on the road here.”
Shock flashed through Yan Shu’s eyes, then turned to sorrow. “He… really would do that. Li Du is ruthless and vicious, and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals… Yantai… I actually had a feeling… Thank you, Heir, for telling me the truth.”
Just then, a blue-robed page boy hurried in from outside the door and bowed in report. “Heir, Young Master Yan, the manager of Ink Fragrance Studio is outside requesting an audience.”
Shen Ji rose at the news. “Bring him directly to Songhe Hall.” He looked at Yan Shu. “Someone from your family has come, so there must be something to discuss. Rest well. Don’t overthink it.”
Yan Shu nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Heir.”
Shen Ji left the guest courtyard and summoned Butler Zhong Bo, giving him quiet instructions: “Tomorrow, have Ink Fragrance Studio deliver a batch of the finest writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Also, secretly rent a quiet courtyard nearby and prepare everything we need. It will be used in a few days.”
“This old servant understands.” Zhong Bo bowed and withdrew.
By placing Yan Shu outside, he could recover while also being easier to protect. As a key figure in the system task, Shen Ji did not want any mistakes, and he also did not want to drag Yan Shu or the Yan family into the conflict with Prince Duan.
…
Two more days passed. With the weather just right, Chu Yu came bouncing along with a page boy to the Marquis Residence to find Shen Ji.
After these days of careful nourishment, the little fellow had returned to his lively former self, his cheeks rosy and his big eyes sparkling. He ran around the garden on his short legs, chasing butterflies and catching fish, or clung to Shen Ji’s side, chattering in a soft, childish voice about recent little adventures.
Most of the time, Shen Ji simply listened quietly. Occasionally he would reach out and rub the little one’s soft hair, a faint warmth in his eyes.
The page boy also secretly handed Shen Ji a confidential letter. The two residences were covertly exchanging information about Prince Duan’s Residence.
News also came from the Liu Residence: Lady Liu and her son had been completely abandoned by the Liu family and driven to a dilapidated, deserted courtyard in the estate, with only a rough maidservant assigned to watch them and deliver scraps and cold leftovers every day.