"Master!"
On Ye Liuyun’s side, he had just returned when Xing’Er came up to greet him.
Seeing the clear bruising under Xing’Er’s eyes, Ye Liuyun frowned.
"You didn’t sleep all night?"
Before leaving yesterday, Ye Liuyun had already sent someone ahead to inform them that he was heading out to investigate a case and wouldn’t be coming back that night.
But knowing is one thing; Xing’Er still couldn’t help but worry.
"I’m fine, Master. As long as you’re back safely, that’s all that matters. I’ll have someone prepare a meal for you right away."
Seeing Ye Liuyun return safe and sound, only then did Xing’Er feel at ease.
She was about to turn and leave.
But before she could go, Ye Liuyun pulled her back again.
"Enough, I’ve already had breakfast. There’s no need to fuss. It was just a day. If I end up being gone for several days because of the investigation, are you planning not to sleep at all those days?"
He was a Martial Artist—even if he went a few days without sleep, it wouldn’t matter much.
But Xing’Er was just an ordinary person.
Somehow, it felt like Xing’Er was becoming more and more dependent on him.
"I..."
Seeing she still wanted to say something, Ye Liuyun cut her off directly.
"Alright, go and rest in my place. If Madam comes looking for you, just have someone say you’re attending to me. Let her find another maid."
Ye Liuyun’s tone was firm, showing he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
But at seeing Ye Liuyun like this, Xing’Er’s heart filled with sweetness. She bowed her head, softly replying.
In the side courtyard.
Ye Liuyun, as always, practiced diligently. Among the stack of martial arts manuals he’d received from Sheng Lanzhi, there was one Qinggong skill called "Flying Over Grass," though the grade was mediocre.
At the time, Ye Liuyun had focused all his attention on the offensive techniques and hardly looked at this Qinggong.
But now, he picked it up again.
Although not high-grade, it was at least a Qinggong skill.
Plus, with the "Treading Snow Without Trace"—the purple-grade Qinggong talent—it only took Ye Liuyun a brief moment to get the hang of "Flying Over Grass."
His figure darted nimbly through the courtyard, swiftly leaping and gliding.
The side courtyard where Ye Liuyun lived wasn’t small. Aside from the main bedroom, there were several smaller rooms; Xing’Er rested in one of them.
Though she felt weary, watching Ye Liuyun practice in the yard through the window, Xing’Er couldn’t help but feel utterly content.
After watching for a while, her exhaustion finally got the better of her, and she settled down to sleep.
...
It was evening by the time she woke up.
After attending to Ye Liuyun’s bath, Xing’Er then returned to Sheng Lanzhi’s quarters.
"Madam!"
Sheng Lanzhi didn’t have many chores each day; tending flowers or reading, rarely going out—her walks were mostly limited to wandering the back garden.
When Xing’Er returned, Sheng Lanzhi put down her book.
She looked up with interest.
"I hear from the servants that you rested in the side courtyard all day today?"
Every movement in this residence, Sheng Lanzhi knew about—right down to what Xing’Er did each day.
"Replying to Madam, Master just saw that I hadn’t rested well, so let me stay in the side room for a while. Nothing improper happened between us."
According to the rules,
she was at most a bedchamber maid; without the permission of Sheng Lanzhi, the legal wife, she couldn’t even share a room with Master.
"Enough, I wasn’t blaming you!"
Sheng Lanzhi merely shook her head, indicating she didn’t mind.
"If you want to share his bed, then share his bed. I don’t plan on doing so myself, but I won’t have him die childless either. If you have the ability, go ahead and try!"
Normally, before the legal wife bore a child, none of the concubines were allowed to get pregnant.
But Sheng Lanzhi didn’t care about that.
Because Sheng Lanzhi never intended to bear Ye Liufeng a child, regardless of the changes in Ye Liufeng now.
"..."
Xing’Er really wanted to say: Master now isn’t the same Master from before.
Since Sheng Lanzhi hadn’t interacted with Ye Liuyun, she might not know, but after hesitating a moment, Xing’Er still kept silent.
She only bowed her head slightly.
...
The next day.
As usual, Ye Liuyun was at the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters poring over case files.
He thought, after so many days, the Imperial Prison must have filled up with more prisoners—he planned to go have a look in the afternoon.
Right then,
"Sir! Sir!"
Si Nan’s flustered figure came rushing in.
"Sir, something’s happened!"
If Si Nan was this anxious, whatever happened must be quite serious.
Still, Ye Liuyun wasn’t too concerned.
He just waved his hand, signaling Si Nan to calm himself.
"Speak slowly. With me here, the sky won’t fall."
Si Nan was still panicking when he got the news,
but seeing his lord so cool-headed, he gradually collected himself.
"Sir! Sheng Li is dead!"
"..."
Ye Liuyun nodded—so someone died—and then turned to Si Nan.
"Who is Sheng Li?"
"???"
Confronted with Ye Liuyun’s question, Si Nan was dumbfounded. Seriously? You can’t even remember your own father-in-law’s name?
Of course,
he couldn’t say it directly like that.
"Ahem, perhaps sir has just been too busy lately and it slipped your mind. Sheng Li is your father-in-law, isn’t he?"
"..." So that’s it.
So it’s that cheap father-in-law of mine. No, wait, it should be my brother’s father-in-law.
No wonder Si Nan was so frantic. After all, many in the Embroidered Uniform Guard thought Ye Liuyun only became Lord Hundred Households thanks to Sheng Li.
Which, honestly, was pretty much true.
"No need to panic!"
He waved a dismissive hand.
Truthfully, the loss of that "father-in-law" didn’t mean much to Ye Liuyun.
He didn’t know him—had never even met him once.
"Gather the men. Let’s go take a look."
He had to go, of course.
After all, Sheng Li was a perfectly healthy retired Third Grade official; he wouldn’t just die for no reason.
Either it was an old enemy, or—because of himself.
Ye Liuyun couldn’t help but think of Lord Thousand Households he’d recently offended. Surely, it couldn’t really be because of me?
Tch!
Whatever’s really going on, we need to check it out first.
"Understood! I’ll gather the men right away!"
Ye Liuyun’s calm made Si Nan feel quite reassured; after replying, he immediately went out to get the men.
...
Soon, Ye Liuyun set off with Si Nan, Shi Sheng, and a group of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers.
"Si Nan, you lead the way!"
Could I just admit I have absolutely no idea where this Sheng Li fellow lives?
"Uh—yes, sir!"
Si Nan didn’t waste any words, promptly leading the way ahead.
...