Father-in-Law Is Gone?

"Master!"

Ye Liuyun had only just returned when Xing'er came up to greet him.

Seeing the obvious dark circles beneath Xing'er's eyes, Ye Liuyun frowned.

"You didn't sleep all night?"

Before setting out yesterday, Ye Liuyun had sent someone back ahead of time to say that he was investigating a case and would not be returning that night.

But knowing that was one thing; Xing'er still could not help worrying.

"This servant is fine. As long as Master returned safely, that is enough. This servant will have someone prepare food for Master right away."

Seeing Ye Liuyun return safe and sound, Xing'er was finally relieved.

She immediately turned to leave.

But before she could go, Ye Liuyun pulled her back.

"Enough. I've already had breakfast, so don't fuss over it. I've only been gone for one day—if I don't return for several days because of a case in the future, are you planning not to sleep for several days too?"

He was a martial artist; even going several days without sleep would not cause much trouble.

But Xing'er was only an ordinary person.

It seemed this Xing'er was growing more and more dependent on him.

"I..."

Seeing that she still wanted to say something, Ye Liuyun cut her off directly.

"Alright, go rest in my quarters. If Madam comes looking for you, have someone tell her you're attending to me and let her find another maid."

Ye Liuyun's tone was forceful, carrying an unmistakable refusal to be denied.

Yet looking at Ye Liuyun like this, Xing'er's heart was sweet. She lowered her head and softly answered in agreement.

In the side courtyard.

As always, Ye Liuyun diligently practiced his martial arts. Among the pile of martial arts manuals he had obtained from Sheng Lanzhi was a lightness skill called Grass Treading Flight. Its rank was ordinary.

At the time, Ye Liuyun's attention had been focused on offensive martial arts manuals, so he had not paid much attention to this lightness skill.

Now, however, Ye Liuyun picked it up again.

Though its rank was not high, it was still a lightness skill.

Combined with a Purple Quality lightness skill talent like Snow Treading Without a Trace, Ye Liuyun mastered the basics of this lightness skill in merely a moment.

His figure swiftly darted and shifted through the courtyard.

The side courtyard where Ye Liuyun lived was not small. Aside from the main room where he rested, there were several smaller side rooms, one of which Xing'er used to rest.

Though she was mentally exhausted, Xing'er watched Ye Liuyun practice through the window and felt incomparably content.

After watching for a while, she could no longer resist her drowsiness and finally rested obediently.

They waited until evening.

After attending to Ye Liuyun's bath, Xing'er returned to Sheng Lanzhi's quarters.

"Madam!"

Sheng Lanzhi had little to do each day. She either watered flowers or read books, rarely leaving the residence. Her usual walks amounted to strolling around the rear courtyard.

When Xing'er returned, Sheng Lanzhi set down the book in her hands.

She looked over with great interest.

"I heard from the servants that you rested in the side courtyard all day today?"

Sheng Lanzhi basically knew every movement within this residence, including what Xing'er usually did.

"Reporting to Madam, Master merely saw that this servant had not rested well and told this servant to rest in a side room. Nothing improper happened between us."

According to the rules.

She could at most be considered a bedchamber maid. Without Sheng Lanzhi, the lawful wife's permission, she could not even share a bed with Master.

"Enough. I don't mean to blame you!"

Sheng Lanzhi merely shook her head, indicating that she did not mind.

"If you want to share his bed, then do so. I have no intention of sharing his bed, but neither do I intend to make him leave no descendants. If you have the ability, then give it a try!"

Normally, before the lawful wife bore children, none of the other concubines were allowed to have children.

But Sheng Lanzhi did not mind such things.

Because Sheng Lanzhi had never intended to bear Ye Liufeng any children, even if the current Ye Liufeng had already changed.

"..."

Xing'er really wanted to say that the current Master was no longer the Master from before.

Sheng Lanzhi had never interacted with Ye Liuyun, so she might not understand yet. But after hesitating for a moment, Xing'er still did not say it.

She merely lowered her head slightly.

The next day.

Ye Liuyun was, as usual, reviewing case files in the Brocade Guard.

He was thinking that after so many days, the Imperial Prison had likely gained quite a few new prisoners, and he planned to take a look that afternoon.

But just then.

"My lord! My lord!"

Si Nan rushed in all flustered and panicked.

"My lord, something happened!"

For Si Nan to be this anxious, it seemed the matter was no small one.

Yet Ye Liuyun was not particularly worried.

He simply waved his hand, signaling Si Nan to calm himself first.

"Speak slowly. With me here, even if the sky falls, it won't crush us."

When he had first received the news, Si Nan had been rather panicked.

But seeing his lord remain so calm, Si Nan gradually calmed down as well.

"My lord! Lord Sheng Li is dead!"

"..."

Ye Liuyun first nodded. So someone had died. Then he looked at Si Nan.

"Who is Sheng Li?"

"???"

Faced with Ye Liuyun's question, Si Nan was dumbfounded as well. Seriously? You forgot even your own father-in-law's name?

Of course.

He could not say that so directly.

"Ahem, perhaps my lord has had too many matters to deal with lately and was too busy, so you overlooked it. Isn't Lord Sheng Li precisely your father-in-law?"

"..." So that was it.

So it was his nominal father-in-law. No, it should be his brother's father-in-law.

No wonder Si Nan was so flustered. After all, in the eyes of many Brocade Guards, the main reason he had been able to take the position of Hundred-Household Officer was because of his father-in-law, Sheng Li.

Though that did seem to be the truth.

"No need to panic!"

He waved his hand.

To be honest, Ye Liuyun did not feel much over the death of this nominal father-in-law.

After all, he did not know the man. They had not even met once.

"Gather the men. We'll go take a look!"

They still had to go.

After all, Sheng Li was a perfectly healthy retired third-rank senior official. He could not possibly have died for no reason.

Either it was an enemy from his past, or it was because of Ye Liuyun.

For no reason, Ye Liuyun thought of Chieftain Wan, whom he had offended not long ago. Could it really be because of me?

Tsk!

They would have to take a look first to find out what the situation was.

"Yes! This subordinate will gather the men at once!"

Ye Liuyun's calmness truly made Si Nan feel much more at ease. After answering, he immediately went outside to call for men.

Very soon, Ye Liuyun set out with Si Nan, Shi Sheng, and a group of Brocade Guards.

"Si Nan, lead the way!"

Could he say that he had no idea where that Sheng Li fellow lived?

"Uh! Yes, my lord!"

Si Nan did not say anything unnecessary. After responding, he briskly walked ahead to lead the way.