Chapter 93

In the private room, Pei Chunli patted his chest and murmured, “Drinking tea alone is so boring.”

No one responded. He raised his voice a bit, “Drinking tea alone is so boring.”

Still no response.

Pei Chunli paced around the room, then suddenly shouted, “Drinking tea alone is so boring!”

The innkeeper knocked on the door and said, “Young Master Pei, if you’re bored, do you want me to find someone to sing for you?”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone climbed in through the window.

Pei Chunli said to the door, “Back off, I’m just venting, I don’t need you.”

Turning back, he whispered, “Why are you so late? I’ve shouted the secret code three times already, people might think I’m sick.”

Shen Yu was speechless at Pei Chunli’s ridiculous secret code. Originally, he had come up with a more foolish one: “Young Master Pei, everyone loves me and flowers bloom when they see me.” Shen Yu found it nauseating and insisted on changing it.

Ignoring him, Shen Yu saw that the crowd outside had dispersed, and Jiang Lianzhi’s carriage had already left.

Turning back, she casually glanced over the table and suddenly asked, “Where are the peanuts?”

“Do you still want them?” Pei Chunli said triumphantly. “I was afraid Jiang Ji would find out, so I put them away. You should thank me. You’re so careless. You forgot to put away something so important.”

Shen Yu replied, “…Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Pei Chunli asked, “Shall we go? Let’s head to the restaurant.”

Shen Yu said, “You go first. Jiang Lianzhi is cautious. I’m afraid he has someone watching. I’ll come find you later.”

Just now, Jiang Lianzhi obviously had suspicions, which was why he came to investigate.

Pei Chunli left first, and after a while, across the street from the teahouse, a man slipped into the alley and reported to someone standing in the corner.

“Only Young Master Pei left alone. No one followed him. Shall we continue surveillance?”

After a moment of thought, Gao Jin said, “No need.”

After Pei Chunli left, Shen Yu called the innkeeper in and gave him a silver ingot.

“You did well.”

The innkeeper pocketed the silver with a grin and said, “It’s my honor to serve the young master.”

This inn was the same one Shen Yu visited on New Year’s Eve, and this innkeeper was the same one who helped her gather information.

“By the way, I heard something strange,” the innkeeper said.

“What is it?” Shen Yu asked.

The innkeeper approached and lowered his voice cautiously, “I heard this from somewhere else. My brother works at the Tongfu Inn. A few guests arrived a few days ago, speaking with an accent from Qichang Prefecture. My brother overheard something they said accidentally. They mentioned coming to the capital to lodge a complaint.”

“A complaint?” Shen Yu was puzzled.

“That’s what they said,” the innkeeper continued, “But the problem isn’t there. People come to the capital to lodge complaints every year. It’s nothing unusual. The strange thing is that those few people disappeared from the inn the next day.”

“They left?” Shen Yu asked.

The innkeeper shook his head, “Their belongings are still here, but they’re gone. They didn’t return for several days. Later, the inn reported it to the authorities, but the officials said it’s normal for things of little value to be abandoned when people leave and showed no intention of investigating.”

Shen Yu pondered.

Nowadays, the world is not very peaceful, and officials generally turn a blind eye to minor matters. No one wants to stir up trouble unless it’s a big issue.

“My brother didn’t dare to mention the eavesdropping to the officials,” the innkeeper said quietly. “He only told me secretly. He also peeked at their belongings. Their directions were still there. How could they leave so suddenly? What’s even stranger is that thieves appeared at the inn the next night after the report.”

“What did they steal?” Shen Yu asked.

“Nothing was stolen,” the innkeeper said. “But the belongings of those few people were tossed around, which is strange.”

This was indeed a strange incident.

But what made Shen Yu contemplative was where those people came from.

“Are you sure they came from Qichang Prefecture?” Shen Yu asked.

“I’m sure,” the innkeeper said. “My brother has been working at the inn since he was nine, specifically serving guests coming and going from all directions. He can tell their accents and origins with a single listen.”

Qichang Prefecture.

This place has been on Shen Yu’s mind many times recently.

The grain and forage were lost in Qichang Prefecture. Regardless of whether there is any connection, Qichang Prefecture is a taboo place for Shen Yu.

The person sent to Qichang still hasn’t returned. Either the message transmission is too slow, or it takes time to gather information.

“I see,” Shen Yu nodded, putting down a silver note this time.

The innkeeper’s eyes widened, and he rubbed his hands together, saying, “Does the young master have any other orders?”

Shen Yu said calmly, “Where are the belongings of those guests now?”

“They’re nothing valuable. They’re either still at the inn or discarded by someone,” the innkeeper said shrewdly. “Do you want to take a look?”

Shen Yu nodded.

The innkeeper thought for a moment and said, “How about this? Let me go and inquire. If I find out, I’ll come and inform you.”

Shen Yu glanced at the sky, “If you confirm the information, come to Shiyue Pavilion in an hour.”

Pei Chunli was still waiting at Shiyue Pavilion, his stomach sticking to his back from hunger, when Shen Yu finally arrived.

Upon seeing her, Pei Chunli immediately started questioning her without any preamble.

“You helped Jiang Ji, didn’t you? Why are you avoiding him?”

Shen Yu casually replied, “Can’t I have a grudge against him?”

“Of course you can!” Pei Chunli said, “In that case, Jiang Ji will also be my enemy from now on.”

He bumped her with his shoulder, “How about that? Am I loyal enough? Aren’t you moved to tears?”

Shen Yu said, “…”

On the other side of Shengjing, the Shen family’s carriage stopped in front of the General’s Mansion.

The maid got off the carriage first and then turned back to help Shen Yan.

Shen Yan stood on the shaft of the carriage, glanced at her, and then placed her hand on the maid’s arm before getting off the carriage.

Entering the General’s Mansion, Shen Yan walked quickly, showing no signs of weakness as before.

When she entered the bedroom, Shen Yan suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Nervous, Zicui stood behind her. Shen Yan hadn’t said a word the whole way, but her face was extremely dark.

After thinking for a moment, Zicui stepped forward to comfort her, “Miss, it’s not over yet, we still have a way.”

    “What can you do?”

    Zicui whispered, Shen Yan hesitated, “Is this possible?

    ” I think you can give it a try.”

    Shen Yan looked down at Zicui and raised her hand to touch her hair, “Zicui, don’t blame me for hitting you. You know I don’t like people who make their own decisions.”

    “This slave knows.” ZiCui nodded quickly.

    Shen Yan took off the bracelet from her hand and gave it to Zicui, “Take it, I said that every good thing about me must also be good about you.”