The corner lantern under the eaves cast a faint light, dimly illuminating the visitor’s weary, hurried expression and the mud-splattered hem of his robes.

He truly looked as if he had just rushed back from the disaster front lines.

Shen Yanchuan remained impassive, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Lord Xu, you flatter me. You are the one tirelessly managing the disaster relief. It is I who have delayed you; I should be the one to apologize."

Xu Jie met those deep, calm, phoenix-like eyes. He had hoped to glean some information, but found nothing in Shen Yanchuan’s gaze but sincere apology, without the slightest hint of displeasure at being neglected.

Unable to discern Shen Yanchuan’s true thoughts for the moment, Xu Jie suppressed his own and kept his expression unreadable.

"Not at all!"

He appeared exceedingly respectful and courteous.

Shen Yanchuan’s lips curved slightly. "I should have arrived much earlier, but I was delayed for a few days by the heavy rains in Shiluan City."

Xu Jie’s heart leaped!

He never imagined Shen Yanchuan would be so direct! To bring up Shiluan City right away!

Both sides knew perfectly well what had happened there, yet now that they were face to face, neither could speak a word of the truth.

Xu Jie heaved a heavy sigh. "Indeed! And not just there. For the past half-month, continuous downpours have plagued all of Sui Nan, including Changzhou. Two days ago, the deluge even broke the dikes of the Li River!"

His brow was tightly furrowed, as if he were deeply pained.

"Who could have predicted such a disaster would strike in September!"

Shen Yanchuan nodded in understanding. "It was a sudden event. You can’t be blamed, so you needn’t reproach yourself too much."

Xu Jie’s heart relaxed slightly. He then seemed to casually mention how he had been rushing about the disaster areas recently. In just a few words, he painted the picture of a hardworking and responsible governor.

"...It is truly unfortunate timing. With the Princely Heir’s arrival, I should be hosting you properly, but I have been overwhelmed with affairs. Tomorrow, this humble servant must write a memorial to report the disaster to the throne, so I’m afraid..."

His words seemed to convey his deep guilt for neglecting Shen Yanchuan.

Shen Yanchuan gave a faint smile, not minding at all. "The disaster is what’s important. It’s late, Lord Xu. You should head back and rest."

Xu Jie, who had been rambling on, was instantly stunned. "What?"

’Shen Yanchuan is... not asking anything? He’s just letting me leave!?’

He knew perfectly well why Shen Yanchuan was here—for Huo Yucheng, for that case from three years ago. He had thought Shen Yanchuan would surely use every means to interrogate him, but... this was it?

Shen Yanchuan’s casual attitude made Xu Jie’s heart pound with unease.

He opened his mouth, then finally spoke, hesitating, "But the Princely Heir has had a long journey. If I were to leave just like this, it would be far too discourteous..."

But Shen Yanchuan seemed to have no intention of bringing up any related topics. He only said, "The disaster situation is critical. Naturally, everything must defer to Lord Xu’s arrangements."

Xu Jie was now completely baffled by him. After sizing up Shen Yanchuan several times, he finally nodded. "Yes, yes. Although the rain has stopped today, the breach in the dike is not small. I must notify the river administration to handle it as soon as possible."

Shen Yanchuan gave a slight nod. "I recall that the dikes of the Li River were built many years ago. With this sudden downpour, they should indeed be repaired."

Xu Jie shook his head helplessly. "Isn’t that the truth! I’m afraid this will cost a great deal of silver again!"

Shen Yanchuan added, "It is truly rare for Lord Xu to be so dedicated to the people. But the more this is so, the more you must be on your guard. If the river dike repairs are done well, it will be a credit to you, Lord Xu. However, we must not let what happened with Sun Lian’an’s embezzlement on the Tongzhou River dike happen again, lest it tarnish your reputation."

Hearing that name, Xu Jie’s eyelid twitched, and he almost subconsciously looked up at Shen Yanchuan again!

’Sun Lian’an!’

’Does Shen Yanchuan know something?!’

Shen Yanchuan met his gaze, looking somewhat surprised. "Lord Xu, is something wrong?"

Xu Jie quickly lowered his eyes, tugging awkwardly at the corner of his mouth. His face seemed to have frozen.

"N-Nothing! Thank you for the reminder, Princely Heir."

Projects like these have always been the most lucrative. Even a small dike repair could fill the purses of countless people, from top to bottom.

And Sun Lian’an was merely made an example of. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Not that the charges would necessarily stick, of course.

Shen Yanchuan did not continue the conversation. Xu Jie, now in a foul mood, had no desire to say more and quickly turned to leave.

The main gates slowly closed.

Lian Zhou looked thoughtful. "Master, do you think he’s connected to Sun Lian’an’s case?"

Otherwise, Master would not have brought it up so suddenly for no reason.

Shen Yanchuan’s expression was cool and detached. He said, "Don’t forget, Xu Jie is not only the Suinan Governor, but he also serves as the Minister of Revenue."

His job is to manage the National Treasury’s silver!

Lian Zhou understood instantly. "You’re saying Sun Lian’an might have been framed!? B-But the evidence in that case was conclusive, and even Sun Lian’an himself confessed. How could..."

"He was once a student of Ye Zheng."

Shen Yanchuan said only that.

Lian Zhou froze, about to ask what that had to do with anything. But after seeing his master’s expression, he suppressed the question in his heart.

’Master is hardly familiar with Ye Zheng, and besides, Ye Zheng and Sun Lian’an cut ties long ago. Logically, Master shouldn’t be suspicious because of this...’

Suddenly, inspiration struck Lian Zhou, and he slapped his thigh.

"Right! I almost forgot! When he was exiled, Second Miss Ye personally saw him off at the city gates!"

’Knowing her temperament, if Sun Lian’an had really done those things, she would never have done that!’

Lian Zhou couldn’t help but ask excitedly, "Master, does this mean Second Miss Ye told you about this?"

The moment the words left his mouth, however, he realized something was off and shook his head, denying his own idea.

"Impossible! If Second Miss Ye didn’t even prepare wine for you, why would she talk to you about this? She’s—"

Shen Yanchuan shot him a cool glance.

A chill ran down the back of Lian Zhou’s neck. Belatedly, he swallowed the rest of his words and clamped his mouth shut.

Shen Yanchuan turned and went back into the room.

After a few steps, he stopped again.

Lian Zhou’s survival instincts kicked into high gear. He hurried forward and asked eagerly, "Master, do you have any other orders?"

"Yes."

Shen Yanchuan enunciated each word, emphasizing,

"She said the only reason she didn’t send any was because my injuries hadn’t fully healed and it wasn’t suitable for me to drink. When I return to the capital, there will be plenty."

It took Lian Zhou a moment to understand his meaning. For a second, he didn’t know what expression to make. His mouth twitched a couple of times before he said, "Th-Then Second Miss Ye truly treats you differently, huh?"

Shen Yanchuan gave a proud, gentle nod, and finally left, satisfied.

’Indeed.’

’In the end, she treats him differently from everyone else.’

Lian Zhou’s feelings were a complicated mess. He took advantage of the night to walk to the apricot tree in the courtyard, where he stood for a long time before letting out a long sigh.

"SIGH!"

The leaves rustled. Xi Su, dressed in night clothes, spoke with great impatience, "What’s all the noise?"

He had been working day and night for the past few days. He finally had a moment of leisure, but he couldn’t even get a peaceful sleep.

Lian Zhou looked up, deeply aggrieved.

"Our master is practically begging for wine from a lady! If word of this gets out, what will happen to the reputation of us brothers in the Black Cavalry Guard?"