The courtyard had barely settled down when several figures appeared from the shadows.
They came from different directions, moving so quickly and quietly that most of the servants didn’t notice them until they were already in position.
Some landed from the surrounding rooftops while others emerged from behind the walls and trees.
Within seconds, Shen Mo’an was surrounded.
Several more men positioned themselves around Bai Yanzhou, their hands already on their weapons.
The noisy courtyard fell silent.
The servants who had been whispering among themselves immediately backed away.
No one knew where these men had come from, but it was obvious that they weren’t ordinary guards.
Shen Qinglan noticed it too.
She studied them carefully.
Their movements were disciplined, and there was no hesitation in the way they had surrounded her brother.
More importantly, the weapons in their hands weren’t there for show.
If Shen Mo’an attacked Bai Yanzhou again, these men would interfere.
Shen Mo’an glanced around at the men surrounding him.
His anger hadn’t disappeared, but he was no longer focused solely on Bai Yanzhou.
Before he could say anything, Bai Yanzhou spoke.
“Stand down.” None of the men moved.
Their young master had nearly been punched in the face only moments ago, and judging by their expressions, they weren’t particularly willing to let the matter go.
Bai Yanzhou frowned.
“Did you not hear me?” This time, they obeyed.
“Yes, Young Master.” Their weapons were lowered at once.
A moment later, the men scattered in different directions and disappeared almost as quickly as they had arrived.
Several servants stared after them.
Shen Mo’an did the same before turning back to Bai Yanzhou.
“Those men were your shadow guards?” “Mm.” Bai Yanzhou brushed a piece of broken tile from his sleeve.
“They’re mine.” Shen Mo’an’s expression changed.
Shen Yuxing, who was standing below, also looked thoughtful.
Shadow guards were very different from ordinary household guards.
Wealthy families could hire martial artists, and noble families often kept skilled guards of their own, but maintaining a group like this was another matter entirely.
Within the Tianxing Dynasty, private forces of this level were usually connected to the imperial court.
Keeping them without permission could bring serious trouble to an entire family.
Yet Bai Yanzhou had admitted they were his without showing the slightest concern.
He seemed to know exactly what Shen Mo’an and Shen Yuxing were thinking.
“There’s no need to worry.
They’re here legally.” Shen Mo’an stared at him.
Bai Yanzhou dusted off his sleeve.
“Even if the emperor investigated them personally, he wouldn’t find anything wrong.” He paused before adding, “So you don’t have to worry about me losing my head over this.” Shen Mo’an frowned.
Only a moment ago, he had wanted an explanation for why Bai Yanzhou had spent the night outside his sister’s room.
Now he had another question.
“Who exactly are you?” Bai Yanzhou raised an eyebrow.
“The eldest son of the Bai family.” “I know that!” Bai Yanzhou looked at him as though he couldn’t understand why Shen Mo’an had bothered asking if he already knew the answer.
Shen Mo’an nearly lost his temper again.
This man was infuriating.
Bai Yanzhou had no intention of giving him a real explanation.
There were things about his identity that he couldn’t reveal casually, and he hadn’t returned to Bai Manor to stay in the first place.
He had only come back for his sister’s wedding.
Attend the wedding, make sure everything went smoothly, then leave again.
That had been the plan.
His gaze drifted toward the courtyard below.
Shen Qinglan was standing among several maids.
As if she sensed him looking at her, she raised her head.
Their eyes met.
She blinked.
Bai Yanzhou looked away.
If it weren’t for this troublesome girl, he probably would have been preparing to leave Bai Manor by now.
Instead, he was standing on a half-destroyed roof at sunrise while her brother questioned him as though he were some suspicious criminal.
Shen Mo’an noticed where he had been looking.
His hand curled into a fist again.
Bai Yanzhou caught the movement and frowned.
Was he seriously thinking about starting another fight?
Before Shen Mo’an could do anything, a lazy voice came from behind them.
“Hey, hey.
That’s enough.” Everyone turned.
Guan Zhongjin was walking toward them across the roof.
His purple robes were neat and expensive, and several jade ornaments hung from his belt.
His hair, however, looked as though he had climbed straight out of bed and come running without bothering to look in a mirror.
He rubbed one eye and yawned as he approached.
“Mo’an, if you really want to spar with my cousin this early in the morning, that’s your business.
I can understand—” He stopped.
His gaze had fallen to the roof.
Guan Zhongjin stared.
Several tiles were cracked.
Others were missing entirely, and broken pieces were scattered across the courtyard below.
Any trace of sleepiness disappeared from his face.
“Wait.” He looked around again, as though hoping he had somehow seen it wrong.
He hadn’t.
His eyes widened.
“Look at the roof!” Everyone nearby flinched at the sudden shout.
Guan Zhongjin pointed at the damage.
“Do you two have any idea how much these tiles cost?” That was all it took to wake him up completely.
His back straightened, his eyes were wide open, and he suddenly looked more energetic than anyone else in the courtyard.
Bai Yanzhou watched him in silence.
Of course.
Nothing woke Guan Zhongjin faster than money.
Below, Shen Qinglan covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Everyone else had been worried about the fight.
Guan Zhongjin was worried about the roof.
More specifically, the cost of repairing it.
She was beginning to like this cousin of Bai Yanzhou’s.
At least his priorities were clear.
Bai Zhongchuan, however, didn’t look nearly as entertained.
He knew his nephew far too well.
Once Guan Zhongjin started calculating money, there was no telling when he would stop.
Shen Mo’an wasn’t interested in the roof.
“Wait.” He pointed at Bai Yanzhou.
“Zhongjin, I need you to explain something.” Guan Zhongjin reluctantly tore his eyes away from the broken tiles.
“What?” “Why was he outside my sister’s room?” Guan Zhongjin paused.
He turned toward Bai Yanzhou.
His cousin stood there looking perfectly calm, as though there were nothing unusual about being caught outside a young woman’s room at dawn after apparently spending the entire night there.
Guan Zhongjin stared at him.
Then he looked at Shen Mo’an.
Then back at Bai Yanzhou.
He suddenly had a feeling that the roof was about to become the least of his problems.
Wonderful.