Chapter 147: True and False Chen Yuan

Shen Shuangning answered with a "good", but she felt he was being overly cautious.

Everyone at Jiangting Farmstead is one of our own; the people there are simple and kind, without the scheming and precautions of Jingcheng, and at night they sleep without locking their doors.

Moreover, she wasn't going alone.

Xiao Jingyuan knew well that people's hearts are unfathomable, and not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, he said no more.

After a moment, as if recalling something, he hesitated briefly, then said: "Word from the covert line says Xie Lin has already reached the Jurchen State."

Shen Shuangning didn't know what to say, so she softly hummed.

Xiao Jingyuan withdrew his gaze and said: "For your older cousin's gift, you may pick anything you like at the Treasure Pavilion and put it on the prince's account; there's no need to stand on ceremony with me."

Shen Shuangning nodded and added: "By the way, I'd like you to look into the background of this person named Chen Yuan."

"Who?" Xiao Jingyuan asked.

"My older cousin's fiancé, named Chen Yuan." Shen Shuangning explained, "I don't know him well; I always feel uneasy, so I want to check his background."

Xiao Jingyuan said: "Write down his native place and age; the more accurate, the better—I'll send someone to investigate right away."

Shen Shuangning then borrowed paper and brush from his desk.

As she lifted the brush and dipped it in ink, Xiao Jingyuan was lowering his head to flip through a file; his peripheral vision unintentionally caught the moment she put brush to paper, and his motion paused slightly.

Only see Shen Shuangning's brush tip gliding across the paper, the characters clear, elegant, and graceful, with a touch of spirit; looking closely, they actually bore a faint resemblance to his usual handwriting.

It was not a stiff imitation; rather, even the habit of starting and ending strokes showed a subtle overlap.

Xiao Jingyuan had first noticed this from the letter she wrote to Xie Lin in her past life, and only then suspected she also possessed "memories of a previous life."

At this moment it was not surprising, merely puzzling, and he remained silent.

Shen Shuangning was concentrating on recalling the information from her older cousin's letter, completely unaware of the man's gaze.

In her previous life, during the long years she spent alone in the empty chambers of the Yan Prince's Mansion, when idle she would take out his drafts and manuscripts left in the study, copying them stroke by stroke to while away the endless loneliness.

After copying so often, the strength of her wrist and the habit of her brush unconsciously took on his imprint.

Now, having been reborn, she no longer deliberately copies, but those habits ingrained in her bones cannot be changed.

Shen Shuangning herself had not even realized this.

"Done." Shen Shuangning handed him the slip of paper.

Xiao Jingyuan took the slip, his fingertips touching the paper, his gaze lingering on the line for a moment before he looked up and said: "I'll have someone investigate overnight; at the latest you'll hear back by noon tomorrow."

"Thank you."

Xiao Jingyuan folded the slip neatly and put it away, gazing at her beautiful brows and eyes; he ultimately did not ask about the handwriting, for he already knew full well.

He reached out with his long arms, took hold of her slender waist, pulled her into his embrace, and said softly: "When I'm done with my affairs, I'll go to Jiangting County to fetch you back, and on the way we can visit the places you played as a child."

The Guard Bureau's efficiency has always been astonishing; early the next morning the investigative report arrived. Only the result was somewhat unexpected—there were actually three people named Chen Yuan in the Gold Hill area.

Of the three Chen Yuans, one had recently fallen ill and died; of the remaining two, one was a woman and the other a man.

Qingyun stood in the floral hall of the Duke's Mansion and said: "That man's age and background match what the Fourth Miss said—he was originally a country gentleman's son from Gold Hill, but later his family declined; hearing that he had offended a powerful local gentry, he was chased for debt, and having no choice he sold his ancestral home and left Gold Hill in disgrace, after which he vanished without a trace."

Shen Shuangning sat to the side listening, her brows slightly furrowed: "In other words, this person's identity seems to match?"

"Yes, but there's something rather odd about it."

Qingyun's face bore a hint of strangeness; he hesitated before adding: "During my inquiries, I heard people in Gold Hill say that this Chen Yuan... is a cut-sleeve, and previously he was extremely close to a male scholar locally, which caused quite a scandal throughout the city."

Shen Shuangning's face darkened.

As it turned out, he was still a "celebrity".

Beside her, Ahing exclaimed, eyes wide: "Then... how could he suddenly want to marry my older cousin? Could it be that he's feigning marriage to avoid trouble?"

Qingyun said: "The identity may match, but it might not be him. The Heir has ordered a deeper investigation; as soon as there's news, they'll send someone to inform the Fourth Miss right away."

Shen Shuangning gave a slight nod.

She raised her hand to press her twitching right eyelid; for some reason, as the wedding of her older cousin drew nearer, she grew increasingly uneasy.

As if something bad were about to happen.

"Someone is secretly investigating Chen Yuan."

Xie Yan sat by the window wiping a short blade coated with poison, its edge gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

In the shadow before him stood a middle-aged man with a full beard, burly, his voice tinged with impatience.

"Keep Chen Yuan out of the spotlight for these few days; don't let him wander about." Xie Yan ordered.

The man answered with a "yes", stepped forward, and displeased said: "Prince Rui's side has been urging you on—how much longer will you linger in this broken farmstead? If you don't leave, once the Guard Bureau finds your trail, no one can protect you!"

Xie Yan finally lifted his eyes, slowly sheathed the short blade into his sleeve, glanced at the man, and said calmly: "When I've finished what I want to do, I'll naturally go with you; tell His Highness to be patient—those who accomplish great things despise haste."

"Don't play tricks on me." The bearded man, enraged by his attitude, lunged forward, grabbed Xie Yan's collar, and warned in a cold voice.

"You're nothing but a stray dog now; if it weren't for His Highness thinking you still have some use, you'd have died eight hundred times over! Don't throw away your dignity!"

Xie Yan was pulled by him so his neck tilted slightly, yet he showed no panic, calmly sizing him up: "Is this the attitude of the emissary Prince Rui sent to fetch me?"

The bearded man stared, then his anger flared even more, about to unleash a torrent of curses—

Before his words fell, a cold light flashed suddenly!

Only a soft "hiss" was heard, and the bearded man felt a chill on his cheek!

He instinctively loosened his grip and stepped back half a pace; raising his hand to touch, he found his palm stained with warm blood!

The bearded man was shocked and furious.

Xie Yan moved too fast; he couldn't see how the opponent struck!

"You!"

Xie Yan said lightly: "The blade is poisoned; if the antidote isn't taken within three days, death is certain. If you don't want to die, straighten your attitude; in two days, follow my orders and bring people to the farmstead."

Within the cult, strength has always been revered; they had thought Xie Yan was a weak scholar incapable of binding a chicken, merely clever-minded.

Having now witnessed Xie Yan's prowess, the bearded man instantly changed his attitude, clasped his hands, and said: "Sir, what is your plan?"

Xie Yan gazed at the moon above and slowly uttered two words.

His cheek beard bristled, his pupils constricted sharply, and his eyes shot out a strong bloody aura and dangerous sharp light as he grinned: 'But I will obey the master's orders!'

The day before heading to Jiang Ting County, Shen Shuangning had almost everything ready.

Cousin Liu Yu's wedding was arranged hastily, and the notice came too late; Shen Shuangning had no time to prepare, so she picked some treasures from her private store as a gift, then went to Treasure Pavilion to buy some jewelry to make up for it, thinking of everything she could.

Ya Niang remained the same toward her as before; sometimes while speaking, she would stare at her face and zone out.

After leaving Treasure Pavilion, Cousin Shen Miaoyun waited for her at Purple Dawn Pavilion.

Shen Shuangning brought A Heng along.

Liu Yu got along well with Cousin Shen Miaoyun; the three of them used to go into the water together to catch fish as children.

By rights, Cousin Shen Miaoyun should go to congratulate Liu Yu's wedding, but being far along in her pregnancy, she couldn't travel far, so she only asked Shen Shuangning to deliver the gift, and had nothing else to attend to.

The two chatted about everyday matters.

Shen Shuangning saw that her older sister went everywhere alone these days, felt a bit suspicious, and tentatively asked about her brother-in-law Zhao Lian'an's recent situation.

Shen Miaoyun's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled nonchalantly: 'He's recuperating at home.'

Shen Shuangning asked: 'He's ill? How serious is it?'

Shen Miaoyun replied lightly: 'He just can't get out of bed, nothing serious.'

He can't even get out of bed, and yet it's supposedly not serious?

But on second thought, Zhao Lian'an wasn't a good person; now that he's ill and immobile at home, it actually means less trouble.

However, Shen Shuangning faintly felt that Cousin's attitude toward Zhao Lian'an was somewhat different.

In the past, if Zhao Lian'an felt any discomfort, Cousin Shen Miaoyun would stay by his side, never leaving him even a step.

But now, Cousin hardly ever brings up Zhao Lian'an voluntarily; even when mentioning his illness, her tone lacks any anxiety, and there's no obvious affection in her eyes.

Shen Shuangning didn't know whether this was good or bad, so she didn't ask further.

At this moment, Cousin Shen Miaoyun wore a moon-white embroidered dress, her belly round and prominent, lending her brows and eyes a touch of gentle maternity, plus the graceful charm of a mature woman.

Shen Shuangning couldn't resist reaching out and gently placing her hand on Cousin's abdomen.

As soon as her palm settled, she felt a faint fetal movement, like the baby lightly kicking inside; though slight, it was clearly discernible.

Shen Shuangning jerked her hand back in shock, stunned, then exclaimed with surprise and joy: 'Is-is he moving?'

This was the first time Cousin Shen Miaoyun felt such a distinct reaction from the baby in her womb, and she was delighted: 'Ningning, it seems he really likes you!'

Shen Shuangning also couldn't help curling her lips, her heart soft: 'I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl.'

Cousin Shen Miaoyun laughed: 'The doctor said it's likely a boy.'

'A boy would be nice; when he grows up, he could protect Cousin like a real man.' Shen Shuangning said softly.

In her previous life, Cousin had a miscarriage and never conceived again; she never even got to see this child's face. In this life, seeing Cousin's peaceful pregnancy, at least the regret is not repeated.

Cousin Shen Miaoyun also hoped for a boy, so that he would be the legitimate eldest son and could inherit the Loyal and Brave Marquis Manor.

Most importantly, this would allow her to confidently 'discard the father and keep the son.'

Not knowing what she thought of, Cousin Shen Miaoyun's gaze turned cold.

Although Zhao Lian'an still couldn't get out of bed, he remained restless, and indeed became increasingly outrageous.

Just a few days ago, she actually discovered that he had made advances toward her personal maid!

That day, when she pushed the door open, the maid hadn't even had time to get off him, and both of their pants lay fallen at the bedside......

Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass beside its burrow, but Zhao Lian'an was practically slapping the face of her, the lady of the house!

Men are indeed honest only when hung on the wall.

Cousin Shen Miaoyun concealed the killing intent in her eyes, and upon looking down seeing Shen Shuangning's gentle appearance, she teased: 'A warrior's physique is sturdy; once you marry Young Master Xiao, having two babies a year will be no problem.'

Shen Shuangning's cheeks flushed instantly: 'Cousin! You're getting more and more outrageous......'

Cousin Shen Miaoyun stopped teasing her and said seriously: 'You're going to Jiang Ting County tomorrow; be careful. Also, please check out what that A Yu's fiancé is really like.'