Shi Sheng had always loathed evil as if it were a mortal enemy.
What he could least tolerate were wretches like this, who relied on their status to commit every kind of atrocity. A little wretch was still a wretch.
"Let's go!"
Once he saw that everything had been settled, Ye Liuyun directly led Si Nan and Shi Sheng away.
He had no intention of helping anyone into the ground.
After Ye Liuyun returned home, the residence had not been affected in any way.
That made sense. After all, a former third-rank high official had suddenly died like this. The news would certainly be sealed off at once.
Sheng Lanzhi would probably have to wait a while longer before learning of her father's death.
Should he go remind her?
"Does Master have something on his mind?"
While Ye Liuyun was pondering, Xing'er's curious voice came from beside him.
"Nothing." Ye Liuyun came back to himself and shook his head.
Forget it. Ever since he had taken Ye Liufeng's identity and entered this residence, he had not even met that sister-in-law of his once.
It was better to continue not seeing her.
In any case, she would learn the news herself before long.
"Have someone prepare a tub of hot water. I'll bathe first!"
"Yes, Master!"
Since Ye Liuyun had said so, Xing'er naturally did not object. She merely nodded obediently.
By the next day.
Lu Quan did not report for roll call, yet it did not cause much of a stir within the Brocade Guard.
With a Hundred Household's status, even if he failed to show up for roll call at the Brocade Guard for several days, no one would say much.
However.
He had not hidden the body when he made his move. It would probably be discovered before long.
But that did not matter.
Ye Liuyun had already prepared himself for that possibility when he acted.
That afternoon, Ye Liuyun took Shi Sheng and Si Nan to patrol the streets within the imperial city. Whenever the Brocade Guard had no cases to handle, people would patrol the imperial city.
To ensure the imperial city's safety.
"You?"
They had barely walked for a while when Ye Liuyun saw Lü Lan, who had clearly been waiting for some time.
From the look of things, she had probably been waiting specifically for him.
"Hundred Household Ye, please don't misunderstand!"
Compared to their previous encounters, Lü Lan's attitude was astonishingly more friendly now.
Perhaps she had come to feel that Ye Liuyun was quite a good person, which was why her attitude had changed so drastically.
Worried that Ye Liuyun might misunderstand, Lü Lan even took the initiative to explain.
"My Young Master has no other intentions. He merely wishes to invite Hundred Household Ye for a drink. But please rest assured, Hundred Household Ye—if you have matters to attend to, we absolutely will not disturb you!"
Yan Shuzhu truly knew how to treat worthy men with humility. She displayed extraordinary patience.
"..."
Even Ye Liuyun was a little surprised. Had she been talked into becoming lame?
Forget it. He had nothing to do anyway. With someone else picking up the bill, why refuse a free meal?
"Since you've put it that way, if I keep refusing, I'd be rather lacking in tact. Rest assured, I will accept the invitation tonight."
Seeing Ye Liuyun agree, Lü Lan could not help but smile.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lü Lan left.
"Does that mean we get free drinks again tonight?"
Shi Sheng had remained silent until now. Only after Lü Lan left did he look over eagerly.
After spending so much time together and growing closer, Si Nan had gotten into the habit of replying to whatever Shi Sheng said.
"They invited our lord. What does that have to do with you?"
"Don't tell me you don't want to go."
Shi Sheng shot Si Nan a sidelong, irritated glance.
Your reasoning sounded nice enough, but just say whether you wanted to go or not.
"Hehe!"
With a cheerful grin, Shi Sheng decisively looked to Ye Liuyun.
Whether they could go depended mainly on Ye Liuyun's attitude.
"If you want to go, then go together!"
It was someone else's treat anyway. Besides, Ye Liuyun did not think it was any great matter.
"Hehe, then thank you, my lord!"
After receiving Ye Liuyun's affirmative answer, both Si Nan and Shi Sheng smiled happily.
That night, after changing out of his official uniform, Ye Liuyun prepared to head to the Imperial Brothel.
No matter what day it was, the Imperial Brothel was always exceptionally lively.
"Brother Ye!"
The moment he entered, Ye Liuyun heard someone calling from the second floor.
Yan Shuzhu was sitting in a private room on the second floor, waving at Ye Liuyun and the others who had just entered. She was still dressed as a man.
But since she liked this masculine attire, Ye Liuyun would not deliberately expose her.
"This wine is really good!"
The instant he sat down, Shi Sheng poured himself a cup.
Expensive things had their reasons for being expensive. The wine at the Imperial Brothel was completely different from what one found outside.
"Don't be so selfish. Pour me a cup too."
Si Nan immediately handed over his wine cup.
Shi Sheng had only poured halfway when he realized something. He directly set the wine jug in front of Si Nan.
"Pour it yourself. Do you expect me to pour your wine for you?"
It made it seem as though he were Si Nan's underling.
"Tch!"
Si Nan rolled his eyes at Shi Sheng, then could not be bothered to care. He conveniently poured Ye Liuyun a cup as well.
After they had drunk a few cups, Yan Shuzhu finally spoke to Ye Liuyun in a familiar tone.
"It has been a long time since we last met, yet Brother Ye remains as heroic and spirited as before."
"Young Master Yan flatters me."
Holding his wine cup, Ye Liuyun smiled carelessly. It was enough just to listen to such polite words.
"Young Master Yan has invited me time and again. Why not tell me what this is truly about? Otherwise, I really cannot set my mind at ease."
Even though he could tell that she intended to recruit him.
To be honest, Ye Liuyun would not bow in allegiance on a sudden impulse to someone who did not even dare reveal her true identity, even if this Yan Shuzhu did not seem to be some monstrous villain.
"Brother Ye is forthright, so I will not beat around the bush either. I want to ask Brother Ye to help me!"
At those words.
Si Nan and Shi Sheng both paused in the midst of drinking. After exchanging a glance, they tacitly set down their cups and turned to look at Ye Liuyun in unison.
It was the answer he had expected, so Ye Liuyun was not surprised. He merely found it somewhat amusing.
"Help whom?"
"Naturally, help me?" Yan Shuzhu looked somewhat puzzled. Had she not made herself clear enough?
"Then who are you?"
As he said this, a meaningful smile clearly appeared at the corner of Ye Liuyun's lips.
After setting down his cup, he leaned forward slightly and looked at Yan Shuzhu before him.
"To be honest, I was born with an exceptionally keen sense of smell and a natural sensitivity to scents. Though you have disguised yourself well, the scents of men and women are something you cannot conceal."
"I don't even know who you are, yet you want me to help you. How am I supposed to know you are not asking me to help you rebel and usurp the throne?"
At present, Ye Liuyun only knew that Yan Shuzhu before him was someone from the imperial family.
He knew nothing else.
You expect me to help you with nothing but empty words?
Before you continue