Chapter 21: Thought You Had Disappeared Again

Stopping abruptly, Wei Jianlang thrust his sword into the bushes.

“Ah!” Screams erupted from the shadows within the bushes.

“Come out!” Wei Jianlang’s strike was precise; he hadn’t wounded anyone, but the sudden appearance of the sword was enough to terrify them.

The hidden servants tumbled out, stumbling over each other.

To Wei Jianlang’s surprise, it was Steward Zhou and four young servants.

“In the dead of night, Steward Zhou, were you planning an ambush?” Wei Jianlang asked, raising an eyebrow.

Steward Zhou and the servants hastily knelt, trembling. “We wouldn’t dare, Eldest Young Master!”

“Then what are you doing here?” Wei Jianlang asked coldly.

Seeing them stammer, Wei Jianlang tapped his unsheathed sword lightly on Steward Zhou’s head.

Steward Zhou felt a chill run down his spine.

“Tell me the truth,” Wei Jianlang said, “or I’ll summon everyone in the Mansion and investigate.”

“We… we were going to serve Young Master Shen in his courtyard,” Steward Zhou stuttered.

“You should be attending to Shilang all day. Why are you only going now? And why hide in the bushes?” Wei Jianlang questioned sharply.

He kicked Steward Zhou to the ground. “Speak the truth! Is there usually anyone serving in Shilang’s courtyard?”

The five dared not answer.

Wei Jianlang chuckled angrily. “If you won’t speak, I’ll sell you four off. Steward Zhou, you’ll explain yourself to my father.”

“Eldest Young Master!” Zhou hurriedly kowtowed. “I’ll tell you everything! Please, spare us!”

“Speak,” Wei Jianlang’s voice was colder than the moonlight.

Trembling, Zhou revealed how they had been deceiving Wei Zhaoxian and Wei Jianlang.

Wei Jianlang’s expression darkened with each word.

The only surviving son of the former prime minister, a loyal servant who died wrongfully, was treated so harshly in their home!

He felt ashamed to face the loyal ministers and generals still mourning Shen Liangyu!

After Steward Zhou finished, Wei Jianlang took a deep breath. “Why were the Second Young Master and Young Miss near Shilang’s courtyard at night? What were they doing there?”

“I… I truly don’t know,” Zhou replied honestly.

“Fine. Then what did they do to Shilang?” Wei Jianlang pressed.

Steward Zhou knew but was too afraid to say.

“If you won’t speak, I’ll gather everyone in the Mansion. Someone will talk to avoid severe punishment,” Wei Jianlang said calmly. “We can deal with tonight’s attackers on Shilang at the same time.”

“I’ll tell you everything!” Steward Zhou begged. “Please, Eldest Young Master, have mercy!”

Seeing no response, Steward Zhou realized he had no bargaining power.

He confessed how Wei Jianming and Wei Ruyan had whipped Shen Shilang.

Wei Jianlang’s fury grew with each word, barely restraining himself from dragging the two to the ancestral hall for punishment.

How dare they!

“Your punishment will await my father’s return,” Wei Jianlang said through clenched teeth.

Let… let the General decide?

Steward Zhou felt his soul leave his body at those words.

The General rarely returned, and even when he did, it was briefly. Though he seemed to value Shen Shilang, Wei Zhaoxian was hardly ever home, leaving the Mansion under Madam Wei’s control.

So the servants, including Steward Zhou, naturally followed her lead.

Who knew Wei Jianlang would return suddenly and uncover such matters?

Steward Zhou knew Wei Zhaoxian cared for Shen Shilang but hadn’t realized how much.

“Spare us, Eldest Young Master!” Steward Zhou begged, kowtowing until his forehead bled.

Ignoring him, Wei Jianlang headed towards Shen Shilang’s courtyard.

He didn’t mind if Steward Zhou informed his mother; she would have to know about Wei Zhaoxian’s return anyway.

Su Jinshi, following Shen Shilang’s perspective back to the courtyard, observed the scene. Xiao Mai, glancing along, remarked, “The graphics in this game are so detailed! The characters’ movements look so natural, not fake at all. Even the background is intricate.”

Xiao Mai asked, “What’s this game called? It looks really fun.”

Su Jinshi hesitated, feeling a twinge of possessiveness, but replied, “It’s called ‘Record of Raising a Powerful Minister’

Xiao Mai searched for it. “Strange, I can’t find it.”

Su Jinshi secretly sighed in relief, then felt guilty for being petty.

“It’s in beta testing now, so it’s not searchable yet,” she explained.

“Oh, never mind then,” Xiao Mai shrugged, losing interest.

The path was quiet, with only cicadas and moonlight.

Shen Shilang whispered, “Jinshi, are you still here?”

Su Jinshi gently tapped his shoulder twice.

Shen Shilang sighed in relief. “I thought you had disappeared again.”

These words pierced Su Jinshi’s heart.

“Where did you go earlier? Were you hurt by that taoist priest?” Shen Shilang asked again.

Unable to speak, Su Jinshi could only poke his abs once.

To her surprise, Shen Shilang didn’t flinch this time. He only touched the spot she had poked and said, “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“You can’t speak now, so tell me everything tomorrow,” he added.

After walking a bit further, Shen Shilang asked again, “Jinshi, are you still there?”

Su Jinshi hadn’t expected that her brief absence would make him so anxious.

Her heart swelled with both sweetness and sadness. Her throat tightened as her lips curved into a slight smile. She gently brushed a loose strand of hair from his forehead.

Shen Shilang felt the touch, sensing a breeze despite the stillness. He knew it was Su Jinshi, reassuring him with her presence.

_ _ _ _ _

T/N: In the previous chapters the author clearly said that no one but the general knows about the male leads background but now it seems like the eldest son also knows??…confusion is me!