Chapter 118: I Am Filled with Remorse

I used to watch a lot of detective dramas, especially foreign ones, so back then I only felt a slight chill all over my body. Now that I think about it, it’s really nothing.

Qing Suo nodded slightly, her lips pressed tight as she looked a bit conflicted.

“Miss, it’s good that you’re not afraid.”

Shen Nanyuan’s gaze paused for a moment before settling on her, as if she suddenly understood something. Then she smiled suddenly and said, “Are you afraid? You can’t sleep, so you thought if I were afraid too, you could come keep me company?”

“No, no,” Qing Suo instinctively waved her hand, but after a brief hesitation, she honestly nodded.

“I am a bit scared,” she admitted.

She quickly added, “I’ll go find Jin Zhu later to sleep with her.”

It was normal that Qing Suo was afraid; she had never seen anything like this before. Shen Nanyuan nodded and smiled, “There’s nothing more here for you to do. Go find Jin Zhu.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Shen Nanyuan watched her leave, gently closing the door behind her before picking up the script to continue reading.

The night deepened gradually, and she grew a little drowsy, just about to rest when she suddenly heard two gentle knocks on the door. She froze, then turned toward the sound.

“It’s me.”

A low, familiar voice.

Shen Nanyuan immediately recognized who it was. Surprised, she walked over and opened the door to find Xiao Yan standing there, wrapped in the chill from outside, his body slightly cold.

Fearing that someone might see him, she quickly stepped aside to let him in and asked in surprise, “Why are you here tonight?”

“I was investigating a case outside the palace and stopped by on the way,” Xiao Yan’s voice was deep, like the heavy night outside.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet, Miss?”

“If I were asleep, then your coming would be in vain,” Shen Nanyuan replied. “You should be grateful I’m still awake.”

Xiao Yan smiled softly. “Yes, I truly should be grateful.”

He looked down at Shen Nanyuan, the shadows enveloping her as if she were completely shrouded by him. His eyes softened considerably.

---

“I heard you were there when those bodies were found?”

“Yes.” She nodded and sat down. “Today was the Kite Festival. The main roads were crowded, so we took a small path. We saw a patch of flowers by the roadside and went to look. There was a foul smell, so we left. It was some other students who discovered the bodies.”

Shen Nanyuan paused and asked, “How did those people die?”

“They were shot with arrows,” Xiao Yan sat beside her. “All of them.”

“...” Shen Nanyuan frowned. “Is it easy to investigate?”

“Easy if you say it’s easy, difficult if you say it’s difficult,” Xiao Yan hesitated slightly. “But with the deadline given by His Majesty, it shouldn’t be a problem to solve it in time.”

His gaze landed on Shen Nanyuan, a faint shadow falling beneath his lashes, accompanied by a subtle smile.

“I thought you might be scared, but it seems... it hasn’t affected you much.”

“That’s natural,” Shen Nanyuan said. “I’m the daughter of the National General. How could I be frightened by something like this?”

...She only smelled the odor; she hadn’t seen anything else.

What was there to be afraid of?

She then asked, “But it’s so late, aren’t you going back to the palace? Isn’t there a curfew? You’re not sneaking back in again, are you?”

“I’ve already sent someone to report to His Majesty. I’m staying tonight at the Minister of Justice’s residence and will return to the palace tomorrow,” Xiao Yan said, his brow softening with a trace of pity in his dark, glossy eyes. “But honestly, I really have nowhere to stay tonight.”

Shen Nanyuan blinked. “Didn’t you say you were going to the Minister of Justice’s residence?”

“It wouldn’t be right to disturb someone else’s home, especially since the Minister has two daughters. I’d feel guilty disturbing their peace.”

Shen Nanyuan: “...”

She caught the implication in his words. “If the Third Prince doesn’t mind, would you be willing to stay in the side chamber?”

“If he doesn’t mind, then I thank the County Lady.”

Xiao Yan brushed away the pity from his eyes, his expression carrying a lazy smile. Shen Nanyuan glanced at him but quickly averted her gaze. “But Li Bo and the others get up very early. If you don’t want to be discovered, you’ll have to leave early.”

“No problem,” he said. “I plan to visit the Minister of Justice early tomorrow anyway.”

Hearing this, Shen Nanyuan nodded with relief.

---

Being seen by Li Bo and Qing Suo wasn’t a big deal, just a bit troublesome.

After all, Xiao Yan’s status was special now. While they would be happy, they would certainly have to consider the implications.

Shen Nanyuan yawned sleepily, her eyes shimmering with the moisture brought by the yawn. “If you find out anything, I’d like to know the progress, if possible.”

She had always loved watching detective shows, and not knowing the truth at the end made her uneasy.

Xiao Yan responded, “Alright.”

He stood up. “If you’re tired, go ahead and sleep. I’ll be in the side chamber. Call me if you need anything.”

That last sentence was just like the ones he often said back in Shaohua Courtyard.

Shen Nanyuan blew out the candle in the inner room, leaving only the faint light outside burning. Her heart felt unusually calm.

Perhaps it was because of extreme fatigue, or perhaps because Xiao Yan was not far from her.

—

The next day.

The side chamber was already empty; no one but Shen Nanyuan knew that Xiao Yan had stayed there last night.

News of the dozens of bodies buried in the outskirts of the capital spread throughout the city. Two days later, Gao Xueluo hurriedly came to the National Duke’s residence, holding Shen Nanyuan’s hand and comforting her for a long time, as if afraid she would be frightened. Only when Shen Nanyuan smiled helplessly and assured her repeatedly that she was fine did Gao Xueluo relax.

“Ah, I heard something,” Gao Xueluo suddenly leaned close to Shen Nanyuan, looking rather secretive. “Lin Yan seems to have decided to leave the capital and go to her maternal grandfather’s place, some prefecture—I forgot the name after hearing it. She’s leaving soon.”

Shen Nanyuan looked incredulous. “She’s leaving the capital?”

“Yes,” Gao Xueluo said. “I was surprised when I first heard it, but thinking about it, it makes sense. Jun Ci was already going to propose to the Lin family. Everyone in the capital knew. Then Jun Ci pulled this stunt. She must be too ashamed to stay here.”

“Her maternal grandfather’s place is less connected than the capital. No one knows what happened there to her, so maybe she’ll meet her destined person there.”

Shen Nanyuan nodded in response.

It seemed Lin Yan had taken her words to heart and decided to give up on Jun Ci.

That was quite for the best.