Chaрtеr 8: Вrоthеr, Are You Ill?
Тhе femalе instructor rерliеd, “Мiss Shеn is unwеll. I heаrd shе hаs а severе illness with high fever and hаs rеquestеd fоur dауs оf leаvе.”
Uрon heаring this, Хiaо Zheng frowned.
Нe hаd thought it was a minоr ailmеnt, but it turned оut tо be a sеrious illness.
For sоmе rеаson, he suddеnlу fеlt thе urge to visit thе Shen rеsidencе oncе more.
Тo see hеr аgаin.
Xiао Zheng headеd towаrd thе acаdemy gаte but unехрeсtedly sаw Lin Qingyan stаnding undеr а tree nearby. Her frail figurе sеemed as if it might be blоwn оver by the wind, аnd shе paced back and forth restlessly.
“Qingyan?” Xiao Zheng stepped forward and asked softly, “Why haven’t you returned home yet?”
Lin Qingyan seemed surprised to see him there, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.
“My family’s carriage hasn’t come to pick me up for some reason. I might have to go back on my own.”
Xiao Zheng frowned.
He knew Lin Qingyan was a concubine-born daughter of the Lin family. Her mother had passed away early, and she had never been valued in the household.
But he hadn’t expected that there wouldn’t even be anyone to escort her.
This was truly going too far!
Anger surged within him, and he spoke up, “I’ll take you home.”
A look of pleasant surprise and gratitude appeared on Lin Qingyan’s face.
Halfway through the carriage ride, she suddenly spoke up, “Xiao Lang, may I stop by the Xiumei Pavilion in the west of the city to buy some paints? I was about to finish a painting a few days ago, but I ran out of colors. It’s just a bit far, and I’m afraid it might delay you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly added, “If it’s inconvenient, it’s fine. I’ll figure something out myself. I don’t want to trouble you.”
Shen Mingshu’s face flashed through Xiao Zheng’s mind.
He had originally intended to visit her, but then he thought—Shen Mingshu rarely fell ill. She was always hopping around him like a rabbit, so it probably wasn’t anything serious.
Even if it were truly severe, the Shen family had physicians and maids to take care of her. Surely nothing major would happen, and she would be fine.
But Lin Qingyan was different. No one could protect her.
He was the only one who could help her.
“It’s fine. I don’t have anything else to do later,” he said. “Just lead the way.”
She responded softly, “Thank you, Xiao Lang.”
Lin Qingyan settled back into her seat. In a place where Xiao Zheng couldn’t see, the corners of her lips curled into a faint smile.
For the next three days, Shen Mingshu was unable to see Jiang Xun again.
She personally prepared some pastries and sent them over, but he was never at his residence. She had no idea where he had gone.
Shen Mingshu felt uneasy, but then she remembered—in her previous life, Jiang Xun was killed three years later.
Nothing should happen now.
He held a key position in the Grand Secretariat, so it was normal for him to be busy.
At that moment, Jiang Xun was deep in the dungeons.
Under the flickering light of cold, dim candles, he stood before the torture rack, his gaze icy as he stared at the prisoner bound before him. The man’s name was Zhang Wu.
That night, it was he who had drugged Shen Mingshu’s wine.
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk,” Zhang Wu sobbed and pleaded for mercy.
Qing He removed the gag from his mouth, but Zhang Wu suddenly let out a muffled groan from his throat and lowered his head.
He had bitten off his tongue and taken his own life.
“Stop him—” Qing He exclaimed in shock, but it was already too late to intervene.
Jiang Xun’s expression grew even colder.
“Investigate all his connections and interactions. Especially anyone he has met in the past month—leave no one out.”
“Yes,” Qing He replied softly, then advised, “Sir, please take your medicine first. You consumed osmanthus flowers, and the physician said you need to rest for three days. Yet you’ve been here all this time. This is truly not good for your health.”
Jiang Xun took the medicine bowl, downed its contents in one gulp, and casually flipped through the stack of confessions and case files on the table.
The rustling sound of paper filled the air as thoughts churned in his mind.
Could it be because of what happened back then?But if it really were… they would have used a lethal move directly, not a love potion.
He lowered his head, staring at the page, his gaze growing increasingly profound.
Shen Mansion, Little Round Studio.
Xiao Tang walked in carrying a bowl of sweet soup. “Miss, you’ve almost fully recovered. When are we returning to the academy?”
Shen Mingshu tapped her forehead with a finger.
Since she was nearly well, it was time to go back.
There were still many things she needed to do at the academy…
In the front courtyard, the morning sun had just risen. Jiang Xun sat upright in the main seat, quietly having breakfast.
His features were strikingly handsome, his profile sharp and cold, carrying an innate air of distant authority.
“Brother,” she approached, calling out to him softly.
Jiang Xun looked up, his gaze settling on her, and gave a slight nod.
Shen Mingshu sat down beside him, stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye.
Was it her imagination? Why did Jiang Xun seem to have lost so much weight?
The line of his jaw was more defined, and his eye sockets seemed slightly deeper.
What had happened?
Shen Mingshu bit her lip and asked, “Brother, are you ill? You seem to have lost weight.”
Qing He, standing nearby, immediately pricked up his ears.
For the past three days, his master had been busy hunting down the culprit for the second young miss, barely resting at all.
Now that the second young miss herself was asking, she ought to know!
But Jiang Xun merely moved his chopsticks slightly, his tone indifferent. “It’s nothing. Just busy with military and political affairs these past few days.”
He had done these things for her willingly.
He had no intention of using them to demand anything in return.
Qing He’s shoulders immediately slumped.
Sure enough, the same old line.
He knew his master would never say it.
No matter how much he did behind the scenes, he would never speak of it.
Jiang Xun’s gaze fell on Shen Mingshu.
He noticed her attire today was different from usual.
She usually dressed simply and inconspicuously, her hair casually tied up, adorned at most with a single jade hairpin, and her clothing colors were subdued and elegant, never drawing attention.
But today was different.
Dangling from her earlobes was a pair of delicate, tasseled gold earrings, swaying slightly in the morning light, casting a snowy glow on the side of her neck.
A pale pink silk flower was tucked diagonally into her hair, along with two pearl-adorned gold hairpins. Her clothes were also brighter than usual.
The hem of her skirt was embroidered with golden thread patterns, and as the fabric moved, she resembled a budding lotus flower—beautiful yet not vulgar, gentle yet not weak.
Shen Mingshu noticed his gaze and curved her eyes into a smile. “After being ill for a few days, it’s time to return to the academy. Dressing a bit brighter can help hide the lingering signs of sickness.”
Returning to the academy?
That meant she would see Xiao Zheng again…
An inexplicable emotion suddenly stirred in Jiang Xun’s heart.