After her mother left, Shen Yunshu still went to the Dali Temple to look for Xiao Ci.
However, it wasn’t about Lu Yi this time, but for her stepfather, Third Young Master Pei of the Pei family.
No sooner had her mother left than someone came to the Siyou Courtyard seeking an audience with both her and Pei Huai’an.
It was the man previously sent by Pei Huaijin to Quanzhou. He brought back bad news and hadn’t dared to report directly to the matriarch at Chunsuantang. Instead, he came first to Siyou Courtyard to explain the situation to Shen Yunshu and Pei Huai’an.
He said that when he went to Quanzhou to look for Third Young Master, he learned that he had left for the capital with a large sum of silver the very day after receiving a letter from the matriarch.
By now, it had been over half a month since Third Young Master left Quanzhou, so logically, he should have already arrived in the capital…
But since he hadn’t arrived yet, it was very likely something had happened.
Pei Huai’an immediately panicked, recalling his older brother’s parting instruction: “Madam, if Father runs into trouble, I’m to find Director Xiao of the Dali Temple. If anything happens, I will go to him…”
Shen Yunshu called Tinglan to fetch their cloaks. “I’ve been to the Dali Temple a few times before. No need to rush. I will go with him.”
The Dali Temple.
After hearing their account, Xiao Ci brought out a map to analyze the possible route Third Young Master Pei would have taken on his way to the capital.
“From Quanzhou to the capital, there are two rivers and three mountains in between. If he took the official road, and something did happen, it would be easier to investigate. The problem is, if Third Young Master was in a hurry to save someone and took a shortcut through a mountain path, that would complicate matters…”
He pointed out several small paths on the map. One of the shortest cuts crossed a deep mountain.
Tapping his finger on that route, Xiao Ci said thoughtfully, “I hope Third Young Master didn’t take this path…”
“What’s wrong with this route?” Shen Yunshu asked.
“The Dali Temple has been tracking down bandits on the run. Based on their footprints, we believe they escaped through this mountain path. Considering the timing of their escape and Third Young Master’s journey to the capital, if he really took this path, it’s highly likely he ran into them…”
At this, the color drained from Pei Huai’an’s face completely.
“But that’s just the worst-case scenario. I’ll have people split into two groups to investigate—one along the official road, the other this mountain path.”
Amid his overwhelming worry, Pei Huai’an’s throat tightened until he could barely speak. With great effort, he managed, “Thank you, Lord Xiao.”
“No need for thanks, Young Master Pei. It is our duty.”
Shen Yunshu squeezed his hand tightly, silently comforting him.
Xiao Ci’s gaze flickered over their intertwined hands before shifting elsewhere.
After the report was submitted, Xiao Ci promised to send people to coordinate a thorough search with the prefectural offices.
Seeing Pei Huai’an dazed and distracted, Shen Yunshu suggested he go back first. She still had someone else to see here.
“I’ll go with you.”
“I’m going to the prison. It’s not a good place. You’re injured; it’s better if you don’t come.”
“Who is it you want to see in prison?”
Shen Yunshu thought for a moment. Since she had already decided to be his wife, he had the right to know certain matters.
“Lu Yi,” she answered.
“Your stepbrother?” Pei Huai’an asked in surprise. “Why is he in prison?”
“I’ll explain later. You should go back or wait for me in the carriage.”
Pei Huai’an had no mood to ask further. “Then I’ll wait in the carriage.”
“Alright. Take care of your wound and walk slowly.”
Shen Yunshu watched him leave for a short distance, then turned respectfully to Xiao Ci, “Lord Xiao, I wish to see Lu Yi. Could you please arrange for someone to take me to the prison?”
Xiao Ci glanced at the hourglass. “It’s almost the noon shift change. It’s inconvenient to send others. I’ll take you myself.”
“Thank you, Lord Xiao.”
“Not at all.”
The Dali Temple prison was a dungeon with only a small door on the ground. Beyond it, a narrow staircase led downwards. The deeper they went, the worse the stench grew—moldy, rotten, sour, mixed with damp air that clung to one’s skin, impossible to shake off or avoid.
Shen Yunshu knew this was no place to be, but it was her first time here, and the reality was a hundred times worse than she imagined. She wanted to cover her mouth and nose with a handkerchief but saw those around her remained composed. Doing so might seem pretentious.
So she endured it.
Xiao Ci glanced sideways at her tightly furrowed brows. “The smell inside is terrible. You can cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief; it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Only then did Shen Yunshu take the handkerchief from her sleeve and hurriedly cover her face. “Thank you.”
They followed the moldy walls to the end, arriving at the actual cells. Even through the handkerchief, the stench was overwhelming. Besides the earlier unpleasant odors, a strong metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.
Dim candles hung overhead. Behind rusted, blackened iron bars, prisoners either sat or stood quietly, some sighing mournfully, all gaunt and dispirited.
Shen Yunshu tried not to look sideways and followed closely.
“A quarter of an hour—is that enough?” Xiao Ci asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
Xiao Ci nodded slightly and waited silently.
Inside the cell, Lu Yi wore rough, filthy prison clothes, leaning against the wall. His once proud spirit had vanished; his cheeks were hollow, his eyes dark and weary. When he saw her, he looked at her with a grim expression.
“I knew you’d come.” He stood by the iron bars.
Shen Yunshu held the handkerchief and looked at him coldly. “Mother came to me today, asking me to use my connections to plead for your release.”
“You’d better get me out soon, or I…”
“I refused her,” Shen Yunshu cut him off. “I will not save you.”
Lu Yi’s expression twisted in anger. “How dare you? Aren’t you afraid I…”
“Afraid of what? Of you ruining my reputation?” Shen Yunshu sneered. “For those three days when Third Miss was abducted, I didn’t go back to the Pei family. Everyone thought it was me who was taken. My reputation was ruined long ago. One more scandal won’t matter.”
Lu Yi froze.
“In truth, I don’t care anymore how you try to twist the truth. Today, I told Mother that you bullied me all along. She wanted to go back and divorce Father, but I persuaded her not to.”
She recalled the moment she’d mustered courage to confess this shameful matter to Pei Huaijin. His tone was firm: it wasn’t her fault.
Later, to resolve the kidnapping case, Pei Huaijin confided this to Xiao Ci, who had never looked at her differently.
Now, her mother’s attitude gave her enough courage to no longer fear Lu Yi’s threats.
“But the reason I’m here today is to warn you not to reveal the dirty things you did to me. If Mother knew how you truly treated me, no matter how much I tried to dissuade her, she would divorce Father. Father’s official position in the capital has only been a few months—far from stable. If he still cared enough to pull strings to get you out, it’s because he thought you’d simply lost your way. Even if you couldn’t be saved and were exiled, out of fatherly duty, he’d spend money to ensure you lived comfortably on the road. But if he knew your true nature and lost Mother, do you think he’d still care whether you lived or died?”
Though her voice was soft, it was clear. Xiao Ci, standing not far away, heard every word.
The dim oil lamp above cast light on her delicate yet resolute figure.
“I’ve said all I needed to. Think carefully about it yourself.”
Shen Yunshu turned and left decisively.
Passing by Xiao Ci, he immediately followed her steps, walking just half a shoulder’s breadth apart.
Shen Yunshu held the handkerchief tightly over her face, wanting to leave quickly. She hadn’t expected that besides the unbearable stench and gaunt prisoners, there were rats scurrying about…
Suddenly, a black shadow leapt onto her embroidered shoe. Startled, Shen Yunshu screamed, dropping the handkerchief and stumbling against Xiao Ci.
Xiao Ci quickly pulled her aside and kicked the rat away.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Shen Yunshu said awkwardly. “Sorry to trouble you, Lord Xiao.”
As she bent to pick up the fallen handkerchief, her cloak slipped down. Xiao Ci stopped her. “Don’t dirty your clothes.”
He picked it up for her. The handkerchief was already stained beyond use, but since it was a woman’s personal item, it couldn’t be left behind.
Shen Yunshu took it and saw he offered his own: a simple blue cloth carrying a faint scent of soapberries.
“Thank you.” She accepted it.
After leaving the prison, Xiao Ci insisted on escorting her back.
Having already used her handkerchief, Shen Yunshu had planned to wash and return it. She guessed he understood this and didn’t want her to bother, so he took it back now.
She thanked him again and left the Dali Temple.
At the Ministry of Personnel residence, the court painter from the Dali Temple had come to paint Shen Fu’s son’s eyes, then presented a full portrait of the young man to Shen Youran.
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, that’s exactly what he looks like!”
While the painter was present, her father’s expression remained composed, only asking for an extra copy of the portrait to keep.
After the painter left, her father held the portrait, trembling fingers gently brushing over the young man’s brows and eyes. “It looks so much like him.”
Shen Youran looked at her father, then back at the portrait, suddenly feeling that her father and this youth were alike not only in features.
“Father, I feel… this young man looks like you.”
Her father’s reaction was not strange. Instead of anger, he seemed somewhat excited. “Yes, he looks like me.”
This made Shen Youran even more puzzled. “Father…”
“Yes?”
“Why do I feel like I know this person?”
“Yes, I know him.”
“Could it be…” Shen Youran imagined a possibility, drawing in a sharp breath, “Father, could he be… your illegitimate son left in the outside world?”
Otherwise, why would Mother insist on divorcing Father back then?
Perhaps she had known Father had a child with another woman, and that was why she left.
“What illegitimate son? What nonsense are you imagining?” Shen Tingyu rapped her lightly on the head for her wild thoughts, carefully putting away the portrait. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
On the fifth day after Shen Youran returned to the Shen residence, her stepmother Zhu Shi indeed sent Zhang Mama, her attendant, to summon her home.
At that moment, Liang Qingluo came to the residence to visit and overheard much of the conversation.
Zhang Mama urged her to return, inevitably mentioning the concubine matter. She said that her stepmother had softened her stance, so the concubine issue wouldn’t be raised for now.
Such lack of sincerity bored Shen Youran. She dragged Liang Qingluo straight into a room and ignored Zhang Mama.
Zhang Mama stood outside for a long time before finally leaving in a huff.
Inside, Liang Qingluo was surprised. “Sister Youran, you’re so beautiful. Why would your husband want a concubine?”
“It’s not my husband’s wish. It’s my stepmother who insists on giving him a concubine.”
“But you just got married a few months ago. Why is your stepmother so eager to arrange a concubine for him?”
Although Zhu Shi’s behavior was unfair, Shen Youran couldn’t speak ill of her behind her back. She only explained one reason: “She wants grandchildren quickly, but I don’t want to have children.”
“You don’t want children? Does your husband agree?”
“He does,” Shen Youran thought of the acupuncture he had given her and said, “He agrees wholeheartedly.”
“Then he’s considerate…”
“Enough, let’s not talk about this.” She didn’t want to dwell on such troublesome family matters, especially with Liang Qingluo visiting.
Liang Qingluo stayed and played at the Shen residence all afternoon. As dusk fell, Shen Youran warmly invited her to stay for dinner before having the household guards escort her home.
When Liang Qingluo returned to the military residence, Sixth Brother was practicing archery in the front yard. Seeing her return, he called out, “Why are you back so late? Where did you go?”
“I went to visit Sister Youran.”
Liang Xu thought she had gone to the Pei residence and reminded her, “Next time you go to the Pei residence, try to come back before dusk. That’s her husband’s family; you shouldn’t disturb them for too long.”
“No, today I went to the Shen residence. Sister Youran is still living at her own home.”
Liang Xu paused. “Why is she living at the Shen residence?”
“She’s having trouble with her in-laws.”
Liang Xu put down his bow and walked over to ask seriously, “What kind of trouble is she having with her in-laws?”
Liang Qingluo was vague. “Her stepmother wants to give her husband a concubine… or rather, wants to arrange a concubine for him…”
“Pei Huaijin wants a concubine?”
Interpreted like this, it wasn’t far off. Liang Qingluo didn’t correct him. “Yes, her stepmother is eager for grandchildren, but Sister Youran doesn’t want to have children…”
Liang Xu recalled the secret he had glimpsed at the clinic that day.
“Is it that she doesn’t want children, or that her husband doesn’t?”
“Right. Her husband doesn’t want children either,” Liang Qingluo didn’t notice her brother’s odd expression and spoke admiringly, “Sister Youran’s husband is actually quite considerate…”
“Heh…”
He wasn’t unwilling to have children; he probably couldn’t.
Liang Xu’s expression darkened: he had a hidden illness yet shifted the blame onto Shen Youran, and now his stepmother wanted to take a concubine to cover it up?