One "Uncle-in-law" shattered Chen Sui's image as a cold-blooded detective.
He didn't press any further. He just poured tea and brought over water from the side, listening as the young man and woman recounted what had happened lately.
The story was simple, and Bai Yuji did most of the telling.
In short, she'd followed her master in cultivating and gathering herbs since she was little, and had rarely concerned herself with worldly affairs.
Just yesterday, while the two of them were sheltering from the rain in a cave, a middle-aged man happened to arrive carrying an unconscious Qin Muye. He drove them out, then used his inner energy to treat Qin Muye's wounds.
From Qin Muye's clothes and the jade pendant at his waist, her master had recognized who he was. She'd heard about how he'd saved his father by offering his marrow, and had taken a liking to him. So when the villain went out to fetch water, she'd launched a brazen attack.
The villain had wasted too much of his true essence and was no match for her, so he fled. Her master went after him, telling her to stay behind and continue treating Qin Muye.
When she finished, Bai Yuji sighed wistfully. "That villain was quite skilled, I must say. When he carried Qin-lang here, Qin-lang's body had already started to stiffen like a corpse. I can't believe he could still be brought back to life."
At that, Chen Sui's gaze flickered. As he handed over some wild fruit, he took the opportunity to squeeze Qin Muye's forearm.
Sure enough, it was stiff and lifeless. Qin Muye had likely been right on the threshold between life and death.
Chen Sui gave one of his men a look. The man immediately left the cave and returned a few breaths later, whispering in his ear that there were indeed signs of a fight near the water source.
With Qin Muye there to corroborate the story, half of Chen Sui's doubts vanished.
Besides, the mountains and wilds were home to plenty of reclusive experts...
He stroked his beard and joked, "Your master was careless, too. She went to ambush the villain, only for my Muye to ambush her own disciple. I wonder how she'll feel when she comes back."
The young man and woman both blushed bright red.
Qin Yanying looked disgusted. "Stop trying to claim us as family. Who's your Muye?"
Chen Sui wasn't embarrassed in the least. He went on, "Miss, what is it about my Muye that you like?"
Bai Yuji stole a glance at Qin Muye's profile and replied softly, "I'd heard about the Heir's marrow offering to save his father long ago, so I already admired him. I thought that as a son of an Aristocratic Clan, Qin-lang would inevitably be a little haughty. But after getting to know him, I found that he was humble and courteous. I..."
Humble and courteous?
So courteous he'd kissed her until her lips were swollen?
Chen Sui didn't believe that for a moment. He glanced at Bai Yuji's waist, where she was already wearing the Qin Family heirloom jade pendant. What kind of decent person accepted such a precious jade pendant from a man on the very first day they met?
Perhaps the mountain girl really did like Qin Muye a little, but the main reason was that she'd decided this was her chance to marry into a wealthy family.
He was about to ask something else.
But Qin Muye stood up and affectionately draped an arm around his neck. "Uncle-in-law, my chest feels a little tight. Let's step outside for some air."
As he spoke, he steered him out of the cave. Once they'd gone a little way, he lowered his voice. "Uncle-in-law, don't say so much. She still doesn't know about my condition."
"Oh~"
Seeing his guilty expression, Chen Sui finally understood. One of them was after wealth and power, while the other was hiding his illness. They both had their own little schemes.
He smiled and patted Qin Muye on the shoulder. "Don't worry! I'm not some old busybody who likes to wag his tongue. Go bring your aunt out, then get some rest. I've already sent word back to the Capital City. A Flying Boat will be here to pick us up soon."
"Good!"
Qin Muye finally let out a breath of relief. He returned to the cave and persuaded Qin Yanying, who had been beaming with an auntie-like smile, to come outside.
Chen Sui hurriedly pulled Qin Yanying aside and told her what he suspected.
Most of Qin Yanying's good mood vanished. Frowning, she said, "Why are you wagging your tongue like an old busybody?"
Chen Sui was getting irritated. "Just tell me whether it makes sense!"
Qin Yanying considered it. "It does make some sense, but it doesn't matter. There are plenty of people in this world who want to marry into a wealthy family. One more won't make a difference. As long as Muye likes her, that's all that matters.
"It's rare for him to fall for a woman. This girl's got a big chest and a round backside, and she's pretty, too. With her around, Muye definitely won't keep refusing treatment like he used to.
"As long as she can help cure Muye and give him a child or two, so what if she really is after something?"
Chen Sui could only nod. "But I'm still a little worried. This woman might be the kidnapper herself, and she could've poisoned Muye to make him cooperate."
"Now you're just making things up. Muye didn't look like he was acting just now. He's never been able to keep things to himself..."
"It's unlikely, but Muye's safety is at stake, so we have to be careful. Once we're back in the Capital City, I'll have the imperial physicians check Muye for poison. And when that woman's master returns to the capital, you must let me host her, too."
"Fine!"
Since what Chen Sui wanted to do wasn't unreasonable and could genuinely benefit Qin Muye, Qin Yanying stopped arguing with him.
Chen Sui let out a breath of relief. "The Flying Boat probably won't arrive for another hour or two. My men found a small cave nearby. Shall we go get some rest, too?"
Qin Yanying raised an eyebrow. "Who's 'we'?"
Chen Sui put on a wounded expression. "I helped find Muye this time, so I've earned some credit. You won't even grant me the pleasure of a little drink?"
Qin Yanying was getting impatient. "Stop fussing. Fine, fine, fine, we'll do it your way! But once we're back in the capital, you must bring the villain's accomplices to justice, or else..."
"Or else what?"
"Or else don't blame me for ignoring you from now on!"
"..."
Chen Sui felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. That was one serious consequence.
Inside the cave.
Bai Yuji watched Qin Muye warily. "I can let what you did to me before slide. But if you try anything lewd again, I won't go easy on you after you've had your body examined!"
Qin Muye: "..."
He finally understood Bai Yuji's logic.
Being intimate was fine.
But intimacy that wasn't aimed at having children was an unforgivable sin.
He was nothing but a baby-making tool.
He grimaced and reluctantly withdrew the hand he'd been about to use to touch her slim waist.
Until she became pregnant, or until she realized he had ulterior motives, the two of them would probably remain in their honeymoon phase. As long as he didn't offend her, he might even be able to treat her as an ally.
He had to use this time to find a way out of his predicament.
The less he antagonized her, the more he could get her to help him.
Bai Yuji let out a breath of relief and asked quietly, "What exactly is the relationship between the Commander of the Brocade Guard and your aunt?"
Qin Muye pursed his lips. "They were engaged before, and they got along very well. Then, while investigating a case, he traced it back to my third uncle. No matter how much my aunt begged, he wouldn't let it go.
"In the end, my third uncle took his own life to atone for his sins, and my grandfather died of grief soon after. No one in the Qin Family actually blamed him, but my aunt couldn't get past it. And that's how things ended up."
Bai Yuji's eyes narrowed. "I didn't expect this hawkdog to have such convictions!"
Qin Muye knew she'd sensed a threat, so he smiled and said, "Your accomplice screwed you over once, anyway. Why not expose a Flaw? With my uncle-in-law's abilities, he'll be sure to catch him and bring him to justice. It's a win-win!"
He made no effort to hide his murderous intent.
Although he'd only just transmigrated, he didn't feel all that attached to his new identity.
But his principles were clear.
Anyone who helped him was a friend.
Anyone who harmed him was an enemy.
From one perspective, Bai Yuji did him more good than harm.
But whoever had tried to kill him was a downright villain.
Before he'd been kidnapped, he'd spent the entire time aboard the Prime Minister's youngest son's Flower Boat. Anyone daring to murder the Heir to the Marquis of Southern Suppression in the Capital City, then frame the Prime Minister, had to be someone of tremendous power and influence.
That person had to die. If he didn't, Qin Muye wouldn't be able to sleep.
And Bai Yuji was the perfect ally to stand with him.
Qin Muye took a deep breath. "Who is he?"
Bai Yuji looked a little embarrassed. "I don't know!"
Qin Muye choked. "You don't even know that? You were so capable when you were bullying me. Turns out all you can do is fight within your own household?"
Bai Yuji: "..."
Who said we were in the same household?
Before you continue