Lin Shuyan’s fingers tightened slightly.
As Nanny Qian and Lin Shuyan left together, neither of them noticed the shadow standing beneath the parasol tree.
Yun Si’s earlier words had left Nanny Qian stunned.
Spilled water could not be gathered back up; a broken mirror could never truly be made whole again. How much sincerity was there in Yun Si’s current behavior?
In Nanny Qian’s eyes, Yun Si’s sudden change could only be an insincere act forced upon her by circumstances. Despicable.
After escorting Lin Shuyan back to Qiangwei Courtyard, Nanny Qian offered a few more words of comfort. “Miss Lin, His Highness has simply been far too busy these past few days. Otherwise, he would have come to see you already. Don’t overthink things. Focus on recovering here in the residence. No one would dare drive you out.”
Those words served as a reassuring promise.
Lin Shuyan bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Nanny, for your kindness and care. Shuyan will never forget your generosity.”
Nanny Qian was especially fond of people who knew how to be grateful. Helping Lin Shuyan to her feet, she liked her more and more the longer she looked at her: gentle, considerate, and well-mannered. She really ought to persuade His Highness again. Such a wonderful young woman should be married into the residence as soon as possible.
Nanny Qian was eager to return and review the household accounts. Otherwise, Master Qu would undoubtedly send someone to urge her again, so she exchanged no further pleasantries. As she turned a corner in the corridor, she nearly collided with Mu Ze, who was striding along in a hurry. Sweat clung to his forehead. A dark red stain seeped through the front of his blue martial outfit, clearly indicating his wound had reopened and gone untreated.
“Oh my, Commander Mu!” Startled, Nanny Qian immediately grabbed his arm and pulled him beneath the corridor eaves.
“What happened to your wound? Didn’t Physician Ji change your dressing?”
Mu Ze wiped his face and waved dismissively. “It’s nothing serious. I’ve been running between the Ministry of War and the Armaments Bureau with His Highness these past few days. We’ve been so busy our feet barely touch the ground. I haven’t had time to deal with it.” As he spoke, he tried to continue walking. But the movement tugged at his injury, making him stumble slightly; only then did he frown. The injury was indeed starting to affect his efficiency on the job.
Seeing this, Nanny Qian clicked her tongue sympathetically. Then she suddenly remembered something. Reaching into her sleeve, she pulled out a bottle of wound medicine.
As she lifted her hand, Mu Ze noticed the burn on the back of her hand had completely disappeared, leaving no trace.
Just a few days ago, when it had still been hurting badly, she had been complaining that Physician Ji’s medicine was becoming less and less effective.
How had it healed so quickly? Had Physician Ji developed a new remedy?
Nanny Qian handed Mu Ze the medicine bottle. “A few days ago, I found this little porcelain bottle near the side gate. The powder inside feels cool when applied. Look at my hand. It healed in just three days.”
“Found it?” Mu Ze’s expression turned strange. Looking more closely, the bottle seemed oddly familiar.
Wasn’t this… Mu Ze’s eyes widened. He suddenly spun around and ran toward the main courtyard.
Caught off guard, Nanny Qian stumbled after him and shouted, “Why are you running? You haven’t even taken the medicine yet!”
Mu Ze rushed to the study courtyard and began searching through the grass outside the building.
By the time Nanny Qian caught up, she was panting. “What are you looking for?”
“Medicine.” Mu Ze searched the grass carefully, regretting what he’d done that day. The person who had given it to him might not have been likable. But the medicine was undeniably good.
Completely bewildered, Nanny Qian was about to ask whether he had worked himself senseless when she saw him actually pull a medicine bottle out of the grass. It was identical to the one in her hand.
“This…”
“It was Lady Yun who gave it to me. That day, His Highness was punished and made to kneel for more than two hours because of her. Then he was injured in the assassination attempt on his way back. I was angry with her, so I casually threw away the medicine she gave me. I never expected it to work so well.”
Lady Yun had given it to him? The fingers holding the medicine bottle trembled slightly. Then what about the bottle she had found? Could Lady Yun have noticed the burn on her hand and deliberately left the medicine outside her door? She had left the medicine behind yet never said a word about it.
Nanny Qian’s feelings suddenly became complicated.
…
The Shen Residence.
Shen Qian lay weakly in bed while Madam Shen sat beside him, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
Master Shen sat nearby, growing increasingly irritated by her muffled sobs. “Our son came back alive and well, so what are you still crying for?”
His expression darkened. “The most important thing right now is to seek out Prince Jin and put more pressure on the Court of Judicial Review. They must catch the culprit and give our Shen family an explanation!”
“But the people from the Court of Judicial Review said that the only person who had seen the killer was murdered. Qian’er didn’t notice anyone suspicious either. Besides, at that hour there wasn’t a soul on the streets. There aren’t any witnesses to question. Most likely, this case will never be solved.”
“What does a woman like you know?”
“Enough!” Shen Qian’s head throbbed from the argument. “This matter ends here. Don’t go to the Court of Judicial Review again. Otherwise, if they ask why I was sneaking into the confiscated Marquis Manor in the middle of the night, how am I supposed to answer?”
“That’s right. What were you doing in that cursed place anyway?”
At these words, Master Shen fell silent.
Madam Shen, however, seemed to remember something and immediately pressed further. “Don’t tell me it was because of Yun Si? Qian’er, I’ve heard that Yun Si ran back to Prince Xiao’s residence again. That woman is nothing but trouble. You should stay away from her from now on…”
Before Madam Shen could finish speaking, the gatekeeper came in to make a report. “Master, Madam, Miss Yun has come to visit. She says she’s worried about the young master and would like to see him.”
“What’s she doing here?” Madam Shen was about to order Yun Si to leave when Shen Qian spoke first. “Let her in.”
“Qian’er, you…”
“Mother, I know what I’m doing. Please leave first. You and Father can step outside.”
Seeing her son insist, Madam Shen was so angry that she forgot her grief altogether. She rose and stormed out of the room.
“I understand, Father. Please take care of yourself. I’ll come see you again later.”
Master Shen left as well.
After stepping out of the room, the husband and wife headed off in opposite directions.
Meanwhile, Yun Si, led by the gatekeeper, was making her way toward Shen Qian’s room.
Madam Shen had deliberately waited for her beneath the corridor. The moment she spotted Yun Si approaching from afar, contempt and disgust flashed across her face.
“What are you doing here?” As Yun Si drew near, Madam Shen stepped directly into her path and mocked her coldly. “Well, if it isn’t Princess Xiao. To what do we owe the honor of Princess Xiao gracing our humble Shen residence with her presence?”
Yun Si lowered her eyes and first offered a respectful greeting before replying softly, “I came to see Ah Qian. Is he doing alright?”
“Since when is that any concern of yours?” Madam Shen’s expression was ice-cold, and her words were even harsher. “Don’t think I’m unaware of what you were planning when you spent an entire month at the Shen family estate. Let me make one thing clear: you and Qian’er will never happen. Even if Prince Xiao no longer wants you, our Shen family certainly never will!”
“Madam Shen has misunderstood.” Yun Si lowered her gaze again, maintaining her humble demeanor as she spoke gently, “I merely heard that Ah Qian had been injured and came to visit him as a friend. I have absolutely no other intentions.”
Madam Shen let out a cold snort and shot her a disdainful glance. “At least you know your place. When you see Qian’er later, you’d better watch your words. Don’t say anything ambiguous that might give him the wrong idea. Otherwise, don’t blame me for showing no regard for whatever little affection once existed between us.”
“Yes, Madam.” Yun Si lowered her head and replied obediently, “I will remember your words.”
Seeing her so humble and submissive, Madam Shen’s face lit up with satisfaction.
The once-lofty eldest daughter of Marquis Manor, who later became Princess Xiao, had always been someone others deferred to and fawned over. Now, at last, it was her turn to hold her head high. The feeling was immensely gratifying.
“Very well. Go on in. Don’t keep Qian’er waiting.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Yun Si curtsied slightly. As she raised her head, she looked at Madam Shen and smiled faintly. As she passed by, their sleeves brushed. A silver needle as fine as a strand of hair silently pierced Madam Shen’s wrist.
Madam Shen felt only a slight numbness, like the sting of a mosquito bite. She frowned briefly but paid it no mind.
Yun Si continued walking at an unhurried pace.
After Madam Shen had gone some distance away, Yun Si glanced back. Her beautiful face remained perfectly calm, but a trace of mockery and coldness flashed through her eyes.
When she was forced to marry Qin Ye, Madam Shen held her hand with tears in her eyes, lamenting that fate had denied them the chance to become mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She had even said that she would always regard Yun Si as her own daughter. Later, after disaster struck the Marquis Manor and Yun Si divorced Qin Ye, she had no choice but to depend on Shen Qian.
Shen Qian secretly arranged for her to stay at a family estate. The moment that happened, Madam Shen’s attitude changed completely. To drive Yun Si away, she secretly bribed servants and plotted to have them violate her. Fortunately, Yun Si overheard the scheme. Terrified, she hid in the woodshed for two days. Only after Shen Qian found her did she dare return to her room. Back then, she had been foolish enough to keep the matter from Shen Qian because she didn’t want to put him in a difficult position. But in truth, how could Shen Qian possibly not have known?
Yun Si withdrew her gaze and slowly made her way toward Shen Qian’s room.
“A-Si, you’re here.” Upon seeing Yun Si enter, Shen Qian struggled to sit up in bed.
Yun Si stopped about three steps away from him. Her face was full of concern, yet she didn’t move to step forward and help him. “Are you feeling any better?”
“I… I’m fine.” Shen Qian looked at her gently. When he noticed she remained standing there without moving, he frowned slightly. “Why are you standing so far away?”
Patting the edge of his bed, he said, “Come sit here.”
“I’d rather not.” Yun Si walked to a nearby chair and sat down. A faint, distant smile rested on her face. “This is the Shen residence. If someone saw us and word reached Madam Shen, she’d be upset.”
“A-Si, haven’t I told you before?” A trace of displeasure appeared on Shen Qian’s pale face. “You never need to care about what other people think…”
“Really?” Yun Si let out a soft laugh and did not pursue the topic. “By the way, I heard you were found in the secret chamber beneath my father’s study. The Marquis Manor has already been confiscated, so what were you doing there?”
“Of course I was looking for evidence.” Shen Qian seemed slightly agitated. A hint of disappointment entered his eyes as he looked at her. “Are you suspecting me? Every day I’ve been thinking about how to find evidence proving that your family was framed. But what about you? Even now you’re still hiding under the roof of your enemy. Do you really think Prince Xiao won’t harm you?”
“And did you find any evidence?” Yun Si rose from her chair and slowly walked toward him. “You keep saying that Prince Xiao framed my family. But I asked him directly, and he said he didn’t. I’m searching for evidence myself now. If it wasn’t Prince Xiao, then it must have been someone else.”
She fixed her gaze on him. “Don’t you agree?”
“…”
“Regardless, my parents were framed. One day, I will find the person responsible and drag them into the open!”
The fierce determination that suddenly appeared on Yun Si’s face made Shen Qian’s heart jolt. “A-Si, what… what do you mean by that?”
Though Shen Qian’s expression remained calm, coldness gradually gathered in his eyes. “You’re actually listening to other people’s slander and starting to suspect me now. You’ve truly disappointed me.”
“I’m not suspecting you.” Yun Si returned to her chair and sat down again. “I only believe in evidence.”
“I know. Haven’t I been helping you look for it all this time? For the sake of this matter, I was locked in that secret chamber and nearly died. A-Si, just give me a little more time…”
“Recently, I heard a secret.”
“A secret?”
“I heard that my father hid something away. That item can not only prove the Marquis Manor’s innocence, but also expose and destroy everyone involved in framing us.”
“Who told you that?” A subtle change flashed across Shen Qian’s face, though he quickly regained his composure.
“It came from an anonymous letter.”
“And have you told anyone else about this?”
“Yes.”
Yun Si answered calmly, “I’ve already spread the news. I’m planning to lure the snake out of its hole and catch the culprit red-handed. A-Qian, you’d better recover quickly. I’m waiting for you to help me catch the person who destroyed my entire family.”
“Very well.”
As she left the Shen residence, Yun Si recalled the look on Shen Qian’s face and found herself in an exceptionally good mood. She was curious to see his next move. Even knowing it was a trap, would he jump into it or not? If he didn’t, then if someone else found the item first, the entire Shen family could be implicated. But if he did take the bait and got caught, he would have no way to explain himself. Either way, it was a dead end.
Yun Si stepped out with a light, cheerful stride. Only after leaving the residence did she realize her own carriage had disappeared, replaced by another.
“Get in.” A familiar voice suddenly came from inside. Even through the carriage wall, she could feel the icy chill radiating from whoever was within.