“Madam, it’s Young Master Wu. Tonight the guards reported seeing him leave the city with a woman apparently your cousin. They said they went to the maple forest ten miles east…” Aunt Tao’s voice was low, but her panic couldn’t be hidden.
Young Master Wu? Shen Wan vaguely remembered this Young Master Wu was the son of Yan Xiao’s aunt, named Wu Ming.
Why would Shen Miao be with him?
Though a distant relative, he had always been a spoiled brat, relying on Yan Xiao’s influence.
Her heart sank slightly as she discreetly observed Yan Xiao’s expression he looked stormy, like a coming tempest.
Shen Wan asked, “Is there anything in that maple forest? What will happen to them there?”
Yan Xiao grabbed his shirt. “Yesterday was my wedding. People from the Command came to congratulate me they were stationed over there.”
Shen Wan recalled the moment Yan Xiao had left briefly yesterday.
Wu Ming didn’t care he had Yan Xiao backing him.
But the Shen family might not be able to protect Shen Miao.
Yan Xiao turned his back, buttoning his shirt. “Wu Ming is foolish. His subordinates are foolish too? Who let him leave?!”
Aunt Tao, standing at the door, replied, “I heard… Young Master Wu gave the order himself. No one dared stop him…”
Yan Xiao’s eyes darkened. He muttered a curse under his breath, then commanded, “Tell Cheng Qinsheng to arrange people to bring them back. Make sure they return.”
After issuing orders, Yan Xiao turned again, his deep eyes locking onto Shen Wan, silent and piercing.
That complex gaze swept over her briefly. Shen Wan felt as if a sudden storm was swirling around her; she tried to calm herself, but his invisible pressure made her tense.
After a moment, she gently pushed aside the covers and sat upright. “Can… we not bring them back immediately?”
She lifted her head, meeting his sharp gaze, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips.
“It’s none of your concern,” Yan Xiao said steadily. “You go back to sleep. I’ll handle it.”
He neither agreed nor refused what did that mean?
“You handle it?” Shen Wan frowned, a trace of cold sarcasm in her eyes. “If you didn’t want to, you could have just refused. Why treat me so dismissively?”
Her words fell; the brief silence afterward was heavy, like a nail striking the ground.
Yan Xiao’s gaze swept across her face like a blade before he suddenly laughed. “Your cousin probably didn’t hook up with me, so she went after my brother.
Wu Ming must not get into trouble. The Command coming over wasn’t just to congratulate my wedding they had other business. I’m afraid those two reckless brats would cause trouble and make me lose face.
As long as no one gets hurt, you can do what you want. If you don’t want to sleep, get up and have Aunt Tao prepare breakfast. I’ll have the adjutant give you some money. Go out, shop, have tea, watch a movie.”
Though he didn’t give in entirely, his tone softened, almost like he was negotiating with her.
Shen Wan knew he was placating her, but there was no way to argue with him.
“Curiosity killed the cat,” Yan Xiao said meaningfully. “Some things are better left unknown.”
He wouldn’t reveal a single word.
Shen Wan scoffed inwardly but responded softly, “Understood, General.”
Outside, the sky gradually brightened, while her mind buzzed with thoughts.
The more Yan Xiao concealed, the more curious she became.
Her curiosity wasn’t about the Command it was about what Shen Miao had to do with all this.
Recalling how Shen Miao had been short on money, Shen Wan was eager to find out if it had anything to do with the Command.
After breakfast, Cheng Qinsheng brought her a stack of cash, saying it was Yan Xiao’s instruction for her to spend as she liked.
Who refuses free money?
Shen Wan accepted it and went upstairs to change into a simple, elegant qipao.
She instructed the driver to prepare the car and headed straight to the busiest commercial street in the city.
She wasn’t really there to shop she wanted to find a place to gather information.