Chapter 36: My Father-in-Law Is Gone?
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“Master!”
Ye Liuyun had only just returned when Xing’er hurried over to greet him.
Noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes, Ye Liuyun frowned.
“You didn’t sleep all night?”
Before setting out the previous day, Ye Liuyun had sent word ahead that he was going to investigate a case and would not be returning that night.
Even knowing this, Xing’er still could not help worrying.
“I’m fine, Master. As long as you’ve returned safely, that’s all that matters. I’ll have someone prepare a meal for you at once.”
Seeing that Ye Liuyun had returned safe and sound, Xing’er finally relaxed.
She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Ye Liuyun pulled her back.
“That’s enough. I’ve already had breakfast, so there’s no need to fuss over me. This was only one night. What if the investigation keeps me away for several days? Do you intend to go without sleep for several days as well?”
As a martial artist, Ye Liuyun would not suffer much from going without sleep for a few days.
But Xing’er was merely an ordinary person.
He felt that she seemed to be growing more and more dependent on him.
“I…”
When she tried to say something, Ye Liuyun interrupted her directly.
“All right. Go rest in my room. If Madam comes looking for you, tell her you’re attending to me and ask her to find another maid.”
Ye Liuyun’s tone was firm, leaving no room for refusal.
Yet seeing him like this only filled Xing’er with sweetness. She lowered her head and softly acknowledged him.
In the side courtyard, Ye Liuyun practiced his martial arts as seriously as ever. Among the many manuals he had obtained from Sheng Lanzhi was a lightness skill called Grass-Walking Flight. Its grade was ordinary.
At the time, Ye Liuyun’s attention had been focused on offensive techniques, so he had paid little heed to this particular art.
Now, however, he took it up again.
Although its grade was not high, it was still a lightness skill.
Combined with his purple-grade talent, Snow Treading Without a Trace, Ye Liuyun mastered the basics in only a brief moment.
His figure darted and shifted swiftly around the courtyard.
The side courtyard where Ye Liuyun lived was fairly spacious. Besides the main room where he rested, there were several smaller side rooms, one of which Xing’er used for sleeping.
Though she was somewhat drowsy, Xing’er felt deeply content as she watched Ye Liuyun practice in the courtyard through the window.
After watching him for a while, she could no longer resist her exhaustion and finally went to rest.
…
It was not until evening that Xing’er returned to Sheng Lanzhi’s residence after helping Ye Liuyun bathe.
“Madam!”
Sheng Lanzhi had little to occupy her each day. She either watered the flowers or read books, rarely going out. When she did walk about, it was usually just around the rear courtyard.
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When she saw Xing’er return, Sheng Lanzhi set down the book in her hand and looked over with interest.
“I heard from the servants that you spent the entire day resting in the side courtyard?”
Sheng Lanzhi knew practically everything that happened within the residence, including what Xing’er did each day.
“Madam, Master merely noticed that I had not rested well and told me to sleep in one of the side rooms. Nothing improper happened between us.”
According to the rules, she could at most be considered a bedchamber maid. Without Sheng Lanzhi, the principal wife’s, permission, she was not even allowed to share a room with her master.
“All right. I’m not blaming you.”
Sheng Lanzhi merely shook her head, indicating that she did not mind.
“If you wish to share his room, then do so. Although I have no intention of sharing his room myself, neither do I intend to leave him without descendants. If you have the ability, then give it a try.”
Normally, before the principal wife bore a child, the other concubines were not permitted to give birth.
But Sheng Lanzhi had no such concerns.
She had never intended to bear Ye Liufeng’s child. Even though Ye Liufeng had changed by now, that remained true.
“…”
Xing’er wanted very much to say that her master was no longer the man he had once been.
Sheng Lanzhi had never interacted with Ye Liuyun, so she might not understand. Yet after hesitating for a moment, Xing’er still chose not to say anything.
She merely lowered her head slightly.
…
The next day.
As usual, Ye Liuyun sat in the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, reviewing case files.
He was thinking that, after so many days, the Imperial Prison had probably received quite a few new inmates. He intended to go there that afternoon and take a look.
But at that moment—
“My lord! My lord!”
Si Nan suddenly rushed in, looking flustered.
“My lord, something has happened!”
For Si Nan to be this frantic, the matter was clearly no small affair.
Even so, Ye Liuyun was not particularly worried.
He merely waved his hand, signaling Si Nan to calm himself first.
“Take your time. With me here, the sky isn’t going to fall.”
When he had first received the news, Si Nan had been somewhat panicked.
But seeing how composed his superior remained, he gradually steadied himself.
“My lord! Lord Sheng Li is dead!”
“…”
Ye Liuyun nodded at first. So someone had died.
Then he looked at Si Nan.
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“Who is Sheng Li?”
“???”
Si Nan was stunned by the question.
Was he serious? Had he really forgotten the name of his own father-in-law?
Naturally, he could not put it so bluntly.
“Ahem. My lord, you’ve probably been so busy with everything lately that it slipped your mind. Lord Sheng Li is your father-in-law, is he not?”
“…”
So that was it.
The man was his nominal father-in-law—no, strictly speaking, his elder brother’s father-in-law.
No wonder Si Nan was so anxious. In the eyes of many members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ye Liuyun’s ability to take the position of Hundred-Household Commander was largely due to his connection with his father-in-law, Sheng Li.
And, as a matter of fact, that seemed to be true.
“Don’t panic.”
Ye Liuyun waved his hand.
To be honest, the death of this nominal father-in-law did not affect him much.
After all, he had never even met the man.
“Gather the men. We’ll go take a look together.”
He still had to go.
After all, Sheng Li had been a perfectly healthy retired third-rank official. He would not have died for no reason.
Either an old enemy had come for him, or—
Perhaps it had something to do with Ye Liuyun.
For no particular reason, Ye Liuyun thought of Commander Wan, whom he had offended not long ago.
It could not really be because of him, could it?
Tsk.
He would have to go and see what had happened before he could know the truth.
“Yes, my lord! I’ll gather the men at once!”
Ye Liuyun’s composure did indeed reassure Si Nan considerably. After answering, he immediately went outside to summon the others.
…
Before long, Ye Liuyun set out with Si Nan, Shi Sheng, and a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards.
“Si Nan, you lead the way.”
Could he admit that he had absolutely no idea where that fellow called Sheng Li lived?
“Uh… yes, my lord!”
Si Nan did not waste any words. After answering, he promptly walked ahead to lead the way.
…
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