Chapter 33: I thought you were illiterate.

It was just like a cat playing with a mouse.

Because the hunter knows the prey has no power to resist, they often choose to taunt them first, in no rush to strike. They relish the sense of despair as the prey scrambles in a panic, utterly unable to fight back.

However, this Squire Wang was clearly not a simple man. Ordinarily, any flower-stealing thief with a shred of intelligence would never dream of leaving a warning letter before striking. Wouldn't that just put the target on guard for no reason?

"I see!"

Beside him, Si Nan, upon hearing Ye Liuyun’s remark, seemed to grasp the implication, his eyes brightening with sudden realization. He looked at Ye Liuyun with profound admiration.

"As expected of you, sir!"

Even he, without Ye Liuyun’s prompt, would likely never have thought of this.

"No, stop talking in riddles. If you’ve figured it out, just say it," Shi Sheng said, scratching his head in frustration. It seemed he was the only one left in the dark.

Seeing Si Nan about to explain, Ye Liuyun waved a hand. "Think for yourself. If you can’t figure it out, don’t bother riding your horse—you can walk all the way back to the Imperial City."

Ye Liuyun held Shi Sheng in high regard and didn't want him to rely solely on brute force to solve every future problem. He decided to use this as an opportunity for training.

"This..." Shi Sheng was at a loss, while Si Nan chuckled with schadenfreude.

"If you really can’t think of it, you might as well start running now. Perhaps we’ll meet again in the Imperial City tomorrow morning." Si Nan rarely had the chance to tease Shi Sheng, and he didn’t want to miss it.

Ye Liuyun glanced at Si Nan and said dryly, "If he can’t figure it out, you can run back with him."

Si Nan: "???"

*Wait, how did I get dragged into this? I shouldn't have teased him.*

Seeing the gleam of delight in Shi Sheng’s eyes, Si Nan quickly said, "You still have time to laugh? Hurry up and think! Do you really want to run all the way back to the Imperial City?"

Shi Sheng was a first-rate warrior, but he was not skilled in light-foot techniques. If he really had to run that far, he might as well start now, just as Si Nan had suggested. After scratching his head for a while, a realization struck him, and his expression brightened.

"I’ve got it!"

It seemed that while Shi Sheng was usually blunt, his reactions were quite sharp when pushed.

Ye Liuyun nodded with satisfaction. "Let’s hear it."

"Sir, you must have taken a liking to Squire Wang’s youngest daughter, didn't you?"

The smile on Ye Liuyun’s face froze. Even Si Nan, who had just relaxed, cast a strange look at Shi Sheng.

Shi Sheng, oblivious to their reaction, stroked his chin and continued his analysis. "Come to think of it, although I haven't seen her, everyone says Squire Wang’s youngest daughter is a peerless beauty. I suppose she would be a suitable match for you, sir."

What a truly "thorough" analysis.

Ye Liuyun didn’t respond. Instead, he said, "Tomorrow, you can carry Si Nan on your back all the way to the Imperial City."

"No, sir! I honestly couldn't think of anything else. It’s not like the thief is targeting the concubine—he must be targeting the daughter!" Shi Sheng knew he wasn't good at this kind of deductive reasoning. In the past, he had always left the investigation to his subordinates, only stepping in to use his fists at the end.

"Didn't you just figure it out?" Si Nan gave Shi Sheng a silent, exasperated look, though he felt a pang of regret that he wouldn't get to be carried back to the Imperial City.

"Oh!" Shi Sheng was surprised that his random guess had actually hit the mark. "If the thief is targeting the daughter, why did the letter mention the concubine? Oh! I know—a diversion!"

"You actually know the term 'luring the tiger away from the mountain'? I thought you were illiterate!" Si Nan looked at him with newfound curiosity.

"Get lost!" Shi Sheng glared at him. Whether he could read or not had nothing to do with knowing the meaning of a common idiom. Ignoring Si Nan, he turned to Ye Liuyun. "Sir, am I right?"

"You have a brain, after all." It was a relief to know he wasn't completely dense. With more cases to work on in the future, he could certainly be trained.

"Squire Wang is not an ordinary man; his estate is full of servants. The thief likely realized that if he were discovered midway, he wouldn't be able to escape. That’s why he devised this plan to focus everyone’s attention on the concubine's quarters."

"...and thereby neglect the daughter’s safety!"

As he spoke, Ye Liuyun gestured to their surroundings. The area around the daughter’s courtyard was devoid of guards; they had clearly all been reassigned to the concubine's quarters.

"What if I’m wrong?" Shi Sheng scratched his head. It was so itchy—he felt as if his brain was actually growing.

"That is why I stationed the other Imperial Guards over there. If something unexpected happens, there are enough of them to handle it without worry."

"I see!" Shi Sheng nodded in sudden enlightenment. As for the daughter’s side, the three of them were more than enough to deal with a mere flower-stealing thief.

"Your strategy is flawless, sir. I am truly impressed!" Only Si Nan could offer such smooth flattery.

Ye Liuyun waved his hand dismissively, indifferent to the praise. Ordinarily, a case like this would be handled by a lower-ranking officer, but because Squire Wang paid well, they had sent a centurion.

It just went to show: money isn't everything, but you certainly can't do without it. That sentiment held true in any era.

***

"Miss, why are those Imperial Guards in our courtyard?"

Ye Liuyun and his men were sitting in the yard, choosing not to disturb those inside. Within the room, aside from Wang Mu’er, the Squire's youngest daughter, there were only a few maids.

Hearing the maid’s question, Wang Mu’er’s eyes flickered with thought. Though a woman, her family’s status had allowed her to learn to read and write, and she was well-versed in the arts. She was a clever one. She quickly deduced why these men were guarding the premises.

Peering through the window at Ye Liuyun and the others sitting in the yard, she turned to her maid. "Tell the servants to warm a pot of wine and bring it to those three gentlemen, along with some refreshments."

"Yes, Miss!" The maids dared not refuse and bowed to carry out her orders.