Chapter 51

Even though Shen Yu deliberately tried to control it, she still couldn’t control the subconscious slowing of her footsteps.

Xie Tingzhou turned around, “Hmm? Do you know her?”

“I know her,” Shen Yu controlled her breathing.

At that moment, Shen Yu seemed to feel that he already knew her secrets.

Xie Tingzhou, illuminated by the lantern, scrutinized her, “In the Battle of Yanliang Pass, was she in the army?”

Shen Yu swallowed and said, “Yes.”

Xie Tingzhou pressed on, “Why didn’t you mention a word? Since she’s a member of the Shen family, why have you never mentioned searching for her body?”

Shen Yu’s heart raced. If it weren’t for the Shen family deviating from her plans, this situation wouldn’t have arisen.

The clothing shop belonged to the Lu family’s industry, and she had already inquired with the shopkeeper.

Lu Yao had indeed returned to the capital days ago and had informed the shopkeeper that after completing the task given to her by Shen Yu, she would go to the border to find her.

But later, Lu Yao disappeared. She didn’t appear in any of the Lu family’s shops, and Shen Yu received no messages from her at the border.

However, fortunately, after hearing the news today, she anticipated that news of three Shen family members dying in battle would definitely reach Xie Tingzhou’s ears, so she had already prepared a countermeasure.

“Because I dare not,” Shen Yu said.

Xie Tingzhou walked slowly towards her and lowered his head slightly, “Why are you afraid?”

Shen Yu knelt on one knee under his sharp gaze, “Because Miss Shen did not die at all.”

“What do you mean?” Xie Tingzhou was startled.

“She’s alive,” Shen Yu said.

“Where is she now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why does the capital say she died in battle?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Xie Tingzhou’s tone carried a hint of warning.

Shen Yu lifted her head to let him see her eyes, because he had said that these were eyes that spoke the truth.

“I don’t know. I find this strange too, but Miss Shen did leave that night. The person sent to escort her was General Shao’s personal soldier, Kong Qing.”

Xie Tingzhou squinted at her for a while, “You are confident that there weren’t many survivors in this battle, so you’re not afraid of me investigating, right?”

Shen Yu didn’t flinch, “Even if there weren’t many survivors, there were still some left, right? If you really want to investigate, the thousands of wounded soldiers and the escaped ones can still provide answers, can’t they?”

Xie Tingzhou’s gaze turned cold, “I will investigate, but Shi Yu, a friendship forged through life and death cannot withstand your mockery.”

“Before confirming the truth of what I said, Your Highness has already jumped to conclusions and accused me of mockery. What’s the point of talking about a friendship forged through life and death?”

Just now, the two were huddled together in the kitchen, sharing a pot of noodles, but now they were at odds.

The hidden guards didn’t dare to interrupt and quietly retreated into the shadows.

Xie Tingzhou was taken aback by her tactics, then suddenly smiled, “Sharp-tongued and unruly, lacking in manners.”

Shen Yu clenched her teeth and remained silent, her face stubborn.

Xie Tingzhou glanced at her for a moment and said, “Get up.”

Shen Yu remained kneeling.

Xie Tingzhou lowered his gaze, “Are you throwing a tantrum now?”

Shen Yu didn’t know where her temper came from. She remembered that he had just eaten her noodles, then turned around and questioned her. If Xie Tingzhou had asked before eating, she wouldn’t have even given him a single strand.

Xie Tingzhou leaned down, seemingly in a good mood, “Are you regretting cooking noodles for me now, or regretting not poisoning them?”

Shen Yu was surprised by his insight and instinctively retorted, “I’m not that cruel.”

Xie Tingzhou stood straight, nodding, “So you regret cooking them for me, then? Should I vomit them back for you?”

Shen Yu glanced at him, disgusted, “Are you trying to be disgusting?”

In the dark night, came Xie Tingzhou’s laughter from his throat.

He turned and walked away. The hidden guards quickly emerged from the darkness and asked in a low voice, “What about him…?”

Xie Tingzhou said, “If he’s willing to kneel, let him keep kneeling, if he can find his way back.”

A moment later, hearing the additional footsteps behind her, Xie Tingzhou lightly curved his lips.

During Yuan Zheng, officials were exempt from morning court sessions for seven days, but the Imperial Guards were different. Apart from their rotation days off, there were no holidays for them throughout the year.

On the sixth day, Shen Yu was on duty.

Today, Xie Tingzhou happened to be absent from the mansion, and Xifeng was also absent. Without any particular assignment, Shen Yu had to accompany a few Imperial Guards to guard the empty courtyard.

At noon, they took turns to eat. When Shen Yu returned, she happened to see Xifeng coming back to retrieve something.

A guard whispered beside her, “Several letters arrived just now, concerning the Yanliang Pass case. Should they be presented to His Highness?”

“Give them to me,” Xifeng took the letters, “His Highness and Cang are out hunting and won’t be back for a while. Leave them on his desk for him to see when he returns.”

Xifeng went into the study with the letters and emerged a while later.

Passing by Shen Yu, he asked, “Are you still used to being on duty?”

“It’s okay,” Shen Yu replied cheerfully, “It’s similar to guarding Yanliang Pass, but better than there, not as cold here.”

Xifeng nodded and left.

At the shift change, the guards were relieved.

In the darkness, a figure silently crawled along the roof eaves.

In Xie Tingzhou’s courtyard, only a few lanterns were lit, the window papers were dark, and two guards stood under the eaves.

Shen Yu lay on the roof, blending into the night. With a flick of her finger, a corner of a leaf rustled.

The Palace was heavily guarded, not inferior to the Imperial Palace. After days of rotation, she had thoroughly familiarized herself with the routes.

Avoiding the hidden guards took some effort, but it wasn’t too difficult.

Taking advantage of the guard’s distraction, she silently slipped into the study.

Having been to the study before, she knew its layout. The moonlight seeping through the window papers barely illuminated the desk, where several stacks of letters were indeed placed.

The letters were sorted, but she dared not light a candle. She had to crouch under the desk and use a night pearl to examine them closely.

One stack seemed to be confidential military letters from Beilin, another stack was from staff officers, and the smallest stack seemed similar to the ones the Imperial Guards had delivered to Xifeng at noon.

The surroundings were eerily silent, with only the sound of paper rubbing against paper in the study.

Just as she pulled out a letter and hadn’t had a chance to read it yet, the hair on Shen Yu’s body suddenly stood on end.

It was an instinctual reaction when the body sensed danger.

Shen Yu swiftly turned around, only to see a dark shadow rolling aside at the same time.

However, the speed of the shadow was unusually fast, and two pale golden eyes gleamed eerily in the darkness.

What was this thing?!

Her body slowed for an instant, just a moment of hesitation, but it was enough to teeter between life and death.

The creature instantly tackled her to the ground. Its two powerful forelegs pressed down on her shoulders, looming over her from above.

The night pearl rolled to the ground, hitting the table leg before rolling back beside her.

Shen Yu finally saw it clearly—it was a black panther.

She lay motionless on the ground, not daring to move. She could already feel the panther’s breath spraying against her neck, tinged with a faint hint of blood.

She had no doubt that if she made any movement, the panther would not hesitate to bite her neck.

Shen Yu tried to breathe as lightly as possible, but she couldn’t help the fear creeping through her body.

Slowly moving her hand, she tried to reach for the dagger at her waist, but the panther drew closer.

As if sensing her movement, the panther’s pale golden eyes glared at her fiercely, emitting a warning growl from its throat.

Shen Yu involuntarily shrank back, forcefully closing her eyes.

Suddenly, the bookshelf moved, and in the darkness, there was a faint sound of friction.