Shen Yu pressed the tip of his tongue lightly against the roof of his mouth, amused by her, and calmly accepted the title of “reckless young master.”
He stood and leaned toward Su Yihan, bending slightly, meeting her clear, deep eyes. He didn’t touch her, yet the flirtation in his tone was unmistakable:
“If this general does nothing, would it not be a disappointment to Miss Su’s words?”
Tao Chun, pouring tea nearby, trembled slightly, almost dropping the teapot.
Su Yihan lifted her lashes innocently, covered her mouth, and began to cough. Her delicate eyelashes fluttered like cicada wings.
“General, you’re too flirtatious. I’ll go home and tell Father.”
Leaning so close, Shen Yu caught a faint medicinal scent from her.
He guessed she must be a lifelong patient—her body steeped in medicine.
It wasn’t unpleasant; the faint herbal aroma mixed subtly with her natural scent.
Straightening up, Shen Yu let out a rakish laugh:
“Hm… I’m far too afraid to offend Miss Su.”
Go home and tell Father? How old is this young lady, exactly?
Su Yihan added with a smile, “The general has already offended me.”
Shen Yu followed her words with a question, “And how does Miss Su expect Shen to make amends?”
“I’ll owe it to you,” she replied softly, smiling.
Shen Yu: “…”
He had never met anyone so boldly demanding a favor. He nodded in agreement.
Consider it the apology for offending her the other day on the main street.
Qi Jue stared in amazement. This Yihan little sister was a formidable character, never shedding a tear even before the King of Hell. Shen Yu’s aura sometimes made him shiver—yet this young lady dared, calmly and composedly, to extract a favor from him.
Qi Jue admired her and respectfully poured her a cup of tea.
Below, a sudden commotion arose. Su Yihan’s voice rang calm and measured:
“Tao Chun, go inquire about this.”
Tao Chun responded eagerly, thrilled to join in the intrigue.
Soon, Tao Chun returned, animatedly reporting:
“Miss, someone has died. The deceased is the daughter of the Minister of Works, Han Ruichu. The body shows she’s been dead for several hours, having fallen from a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage driver is just an ordinary man, supposedly honest and upright, and has already been detained.”
Han Ruichu was the young lady whose dance Su Yihan had interrupted yesterday—the minister’s daughter, ranked lowest among the capital’s beauties.
Yesterday, she had looked at Su Yihan with hostility and hatred, anticipating future troubles. Yet today, Han Ruichu had been killed.
Perhaps she died last night; the body was only discovered today.
Shen Yu observed Su Yihan’s expression without moving a muscle. Even hearing of a death, she calmly sipped her tea, unhurried and composed.
Her maid Tao Chun, meanwhile, seemed excited rather than scared.
Shen Yu let out a soft laugh. Indeed, she was the daughter of the Northern Command.
Qi Jue clicked his tongue, regretful: “Miss Han was still in the bloom of youth…”
He rose, bowing respectfully:
“In that case, Yihan little sister, we shall take our leave.”
There were matters to attend to—his father was handling affairs in Shaoxian, and the household responsibilities fell to him. He needed to return home and prepare gifts for the Minister’s house.
Shen Yu stepped closer, eyebrows raised:
“Who says you go with them?”
“Hm?” Qi Jue blinked, momentarily stunned.
Shen Yu said seriously:
“Miss Su seems frightened out of her wits. This general should stay here and escort her safely back to the Su Mansion.”
Qi Jue didn’t understand but nodded and turned away.
The “frightened” Su Yihan gently set down her tea cup:
“In my opinion, perhaps it’s General Shen who is afraid?”
Shen Yu smoothly continued her line, bending with ease:
“Yes, I am afraid. I beg Miss Su to protect me.”
Su Yihan: “…Hah.”
Before he could say anything more, Su Yihan raised her hand. Tao Chun immediately supported her, and they went downstairs.
Officials arrived, securing the scene and posting two elite guards from Su Jin’s entourage:
Iron-faced and impartial: Di Yuanxiu.
Smiling like a jade fox: Di Yuanxin.
“Unauthorized personnel, evacuate immediately!” Di Yuanxiu’s figure in the Flying Fish uniform exuded cold authority.
Di Yuanxin, smiling faintly, teased: “Ah Xiu, so fierce.”
Di Yuanxiu ignored his silly brother. Indeed, between the two, the younger was steadier.
Tao Chun exclaimed softly: “Excuse us, please.”
Su Yihan, now wearing her white bamboo hat, could recognize the two men at her side.
The Di brothers knelt respectfully:
“Miss.”
“Rise,” Su Yihan’s voice was gentle and even, like a clear mountain spring.
Di Yuanxin leaned in, grinning:
“The victim’s appearance is gruesome. Miss, better not see—avoid it, lest your health worsen.”
Her energy was rare; she shouldn’t linger near the corpse and risk her condition deteriorating.
“No matter,” Su Yihan said, her gaze resting on the body lying on the ground.
The body had not been moved, still bearing the marks of falling from the carriage. Her skin was tinged green and purple, showing the abuse suffered before death.
Now, only officials remained, so there was no need for caution.
“The victim likely died last night, around the hour of the Ox,” Su Yihan concluded.
As for the exact cause, a coroner would examine carefully.
Coincidentally, the timeline matched the Empress Dowager’s recent bout with prickly heat.
Shen Yu watched from the window, seeing only the top of her bamboo hat, yet he could hear her clearly.
Di Yuanxin nodded with a smile:
“Miss, your insight is remarkable.”
He and Ah Xiu had long followed Su Jin on official matters, so they knew much more about Miss Yihan than ordinary people.
Miss Yihan had helped the master in many hidden ways:
The Mirror Lake serial murder case
The Zhanjiang body dumping case
The Cheng building dismemberment case
Each unsolvable case received critical analysis and evidence from her.
A pity—alas, she was so frail.
No wonder.
Minister Han Mao and Madam Han arrived, the latter crying inconsolably.
Han Mao seethed with rage:
“How can a pure young lady be left exposed in broad daylight? How cruel! Is this how the Northern Command handles things?!”
Di Yuanxiu’s expression remained cold:
“Lord Han, we are handling the matter impartially.”
His words only poured oil on the fire.
Di Yuanxin smiled apologetically:
“Please don’t be angry, Lord Han. My brother is blunt, speaks poorly…”
He continued more tactfully:
“We are simply trying to identify the murderer before the coroner arrives. Rest assured, Lord Han—the scene has been immediately sealed…”
Han Mao cut him off:
“Investigating the case is your duty. I want to take my daughter home to clean and change her clothes.”
Unreasonable bereaved parents were not new to Di Yuanxin. He blocked the corpse with a polite smile:
“Lord Han, please be patient. I am sure no one wants to find the killer more urgently than you…”