Chapter 69: Ran Yi, What a Grand Carriage
The spring tide came rushing in, clearly having just received word before hurrying over to inform Shen Yanzhou.
“Shen Jingxiao returned so quickly?”
Shen Yanzhou was a little surprised too, then smiled. “Seems that Shen Tian’s disappearance has really made him anxious.”
The Southern Border lay nearly ten thousand miles from the imperial capital. Even with the Moon-Chasing Vessel, it would still take several days to arrive. It was obvious Shen Jingxiao must have used something akin to an ancient teleportation array to rush back.
“Heir, aren’t you the least bit worried?”
Chunchao ignored Shen Yanzhou’s casual tone when mentioning the Demon Suppression King by name, her face full of worry.
“What should I be worried about?” Shen Yanzhou asked her.
“Aren’t you afraid the Prince will punish you when he returns?” Chunchao began to think that perhaps her concern had been unnecessary.
“What’s there to be afraid of? He already plans to kill me anyway.” Shen Yanzhou shrugged.
“……”
Chunchao fell silent immediately.
That’s true. Since the Prince already wanted the Heir dead, what difference would a mere punishment make?
“I’m not worried for myself, yet you’re the one worrying for me first. Did Mother send you to tell me this?” Shen Yanzhou smiled as he looked at her.
“The Princess Consort is furious. I snuck out to tell you. She’d even prepared breakfast for you, but then ordered it to be thrown away.”
“You shouldn’t have talked back to her this morning.”
Chunchao replied seriously.
She was very beautiful. Her face was small and delicate, her skin fair and smooth. Her brows were lightly tinged with pink, her lips soft and moist. Her black hair was tied simply with a plain ribbon, a few strands falling loosely over her forehead.
“You’re actually quite kind.”
“Well, it’s not a waste that I taught you the Art of the Heart Sword before.”
Shen Yanzhou chuckled, then couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her slightly plump cheek.
Chunchao hadn’t expected that she’d come only to deliver a message, yet ended up being ambushed by Shen Yanzhou’s mischievous hand. Her glass-like eyes widened in shock as she instinctively stepped back, breaking free from his grasp.
“The Art of the Heart Sword is too hard. Seems I’ll never learn it.”
Just mentioning it made her discouraged. As a prodigy in the way of the sword, there had never been a sword art she couldn’t master—until now.
“Mhm, it’s indeed not suited for you. You’re better off with something simpler.”
“……”
Chunchao didn’t want to talk to him anymore. So annoying.
But soon, she recalled the time at Yuxian Pavilion when Shen Yanzhou had forced her to drink, and her cheeks puffed up. “Heir, when you secretly left the capital that day, did you slip me some sedative?”
“Yes, you’re very clever to notice.” Shen Yanzhou praised her with a laugh.
Chunchao glared at him, wanting badly to draw the long sword at her waist and poke a few holes through him.
Negative emotions from Chunchao +3 +3 +3…
Shen Yanzhou stopped teasing her.
Chunchao had come to warn him out of kindness, and his words that morning before Yu Chenyu had apparently worked.
Besides, he could indeed make preparations early.
Since Shen Jingxiao had returned to the capital ahead of schedule, the Four Fiends by his side would no doubt return to the mansion as well.
Although there weren’t many suspicions on him now, with Shen Jingxiao’s paranoia, he would surely blame Shen Tian’s disappearance on him.
He would definitely send trusted subordinates—beyond the mansion’s enshrined experts—to watch him.
Just as he was thinking this, Shen Yanzhou suddenly caught a faint fragrance different from Chunchao’s, distinct from any powdery scent—a crisp, pure aroma like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley at night, refreshing to the very soul.
Chunchao seemed to sense it too. She turned sharply, looked behind Shen Yanzhou, drew her sword, and asked cautiously, “Who are you?”
Shen Yanzhou didn’t turn around.
He knew that behind him stood a graceful, sultry figure swaying like a black lotus.
“You’re quite the cautious little girl, and quick to react too.”
A mature, seductive voice of indeterminate age sounded right behind his ear.
Unlike Gu Ruoxi’s earlier, forced coquettishness, this voice was innately sultry, sending tingles straight to the bones at just the sound of it.
“Who are you? Why did you intrude into the Heir’s courtyard?” Chunchao demanded, her sword raised warily. Though she lifted her chin slightly, she still only reached the other woman’s chest—a full head shorter.
“Who am I? Why don’t you guess?”
The charming voice replied, soft yet magnetic, evoking thoughts of humid sea breezes and saltwater.
“Chunchao, sheath your sword. You’re not her match,” Shen Yanzhou said calmly, still not turning around.
But Chunchao was stubborn. She ignored him, keeping her sword raised and her eyes on the woman in the black dress.
The woman was truly tall—taller even than the Princess Consort, whose figure was already long and graceful.
Not only that, she was far more voluptuous than most women. Even grown men might look small standing before her.
Yet her curvaceous form only added to her allure, every contour vividly outlined.
“The Heir has changed quite a bit.”
The woman in black stood behind Shen Yanzhou. She didn’t bother teasing Chunchao, instead gazing at Shen Yanzhou with faint surprise.
“What sort of change do you mean?”
“Ran Aunt?”
Only then did Shen Yanzhou slowly turn around, a faint smile on his lips.
Although the original body’s memories had seen this woman before, Shen Yanzhou still couldn’t help but be astonished again—what a grand carriage.
He was tall himself, yet before this black-dressed woman, he had little advantage in height.
If there ever existed a true succubus, no man could possibly resist the temptation of such a “large carriage.”
Ran Yi—one of the Four Fiends, a trusted aide of the Demon Suppression King, Shen Jingxiao.
The Four Fiends, each a grand master of the Fourth Rank, Dragon-Elephant Realm, were titled according to their distinct temperaments and methods: Kui, Jiao, Zheng, and Ran Yi.
“It’s been years, and the Heir has indeed changed a lot. You used to cry every time you saw me,” Ran Yi said with a flower-like smile.
“……”
Was there such a memory?
Shen Yanzhou searched his mind, but he couldn’t quite recall it. Perhaps the memory had already faded in the original body’s recollections.
“Ran Aunt has also changed a lot. You’re even more beautiful than before,” Shen Yanzhou said.
“You really know how to talk now. But Aunt isn’t beautiful anymore—I’m already old. It’s you, Heir, who has grown more handsome. If only you’d change that temper of yours, I can’t imagine how many noble ladies in the capital would be utterly smitten with you.”
“Look at this little girl, how she just defended you earlier—she was afraid I’d eat you up.” Ran Yi’s smile was gentle yet sultry.
She was a voluptuous woman whose age was impossible to discern by looks alone—she possessed both the purity of a young maiden and the allure of a ripened peach.
In the original body’s memories, when he was a child, Ran Aunt had already looked like this. Now, nearly twenty years later, she was still the same.
“I am under orders to protect the Heir’s safety.”
Chunchao felt mocked and quickly responded, trying to straighten her back to appear less small before the other woman. Yet she soon gave up, realizing her head barely reached the woman’s chest.
“What a cute little girl.”
Ran Yi smiled and stepped forward, reaching out as if to pat Chunchao’s head. But Chunchao dodged away, wearing an expression of distaste.
“Chunchao is foolish, but not stupid,” Shen Yanzhou said.
“I’m not foolish.” Chunchao glared at him.
“Alright, you’re not.”
“……”
Shen Yanzhou thought this girl probably had nothing in her head except sword practice.
Ran Yi watched the two bicker with a smile, like an amused older aunt.
“The Heir as he is now… truly unexpected,” she sighed.
Shen Yanzhou ignored Chunchao and instead asked, “Ran Aunt, did you come under Father’s orders to keep watch on me?”
Ran Yi didn’t deny it. She nodded and said, “Yes. The Prince said you must have changed a lot and told me to come see for myself—and to monitor you, to see what you’re up to. So here I am.”
“Now that I’ve seen you, the Prince was right. Over these years, were you pretending all along? We were all fooled so badly. Even the ancestral elders of the mansion still can’t believe it.”
Shen Yanzhou knew that with Shen Jingxiao’s suspicious nature, it was inevitable that he’d be watched. He hadn’t expected that his “wastrel” persona would last much longer anyway.
“Ran Aunt, you make it sound like I couldn’t have just suddenly come to my senses in the past few days?” Shen Yanzhou said with a faint smile.
“Keep pretending.” Ran Yi gave him a coquettish glare.
When Shen Yanzhou didn’t respond, she sighed softly. “All of us were deceived by you for so many years.”
Shen Yanzhou knew that this belief was already solidified—no matter how he explained, no one would believe him. He didn’t mind.
“Other than watching me, Father must’ve also ordered that I not leave this courtyard, right?” Shen Yanzhou asked.
Ran Yi smiled sweetly. “The Heir is truly clever. I suppose you were always this clever—only we were all fooled by your act. After all, only someone truly intelligent could deceive all of us.”
Shen Yanzhou gently rubbed the white jade ring between his fingers.
Just as he expected—after returning to the capital, Shen Jingxiao would certainly confine him.
He likely wouldn’t be allowed to leave this courtyard until Shen Tian’s whereabouts were found.
Now, in the capital, there were only two people who could help him.
The first was the Princess Consort, Yu Chenyu. Since Shen Jingxiao’s confinement order came from him, she would be the only one capable of lifting it. Ran Yi and the others, though loyal to Shen Jingxiao, would not dare defy the Princess Consort’s command.
The other was the one currently within the Golden Luan Hall.
“With Wu Ruyue’s temperament—and considering the importance of the Martial God’s legacy—she will surely be summoned by that person.”
“If she learns I’m confined, she’ll definitely find a way to help me.”
Shen Yanzhou wasn’t anxious. He had already planned to stay in the courtyard for a few days to carefully study several martial arts manuals.
“Why so quiet? Do you find Aunt too old now, not as pretty as young girls, so you don’t want to talk to me?”
Ran Yi smiled, her charming eyes still fixed on Shen Yanzhou, as if she were trying to see right through him.
“No, Aunt isn’t old at all—just right. A woman at Aunt’s age knows best how to care for others,” Shen Yanzhou replied.
“Such a smooth tongue.” Ran Yi covered her mouth with a soft laugh and lightly patted his shoulder.
“Tell me, if you’ve been pretending all these years, then when you used to secretly peek at my hips and chest—was that pretending too?”
As she spoke, she suddenly leaned in, her entire body pressing against his. Her moist breath brushed against his ear, carrying a faint heat.
“……”
Was that true?
Shen Yanzhou didn’t have such a memory, but knowing the original body’s temperament, it was entirely possible.
Still, being caught peeking must’ve been quite awkward.
He replied calmly, without a blush, “That part wasn’t pretending.”
“You little lecher.”
Ran Yi cast him a flirtatious glare, her expression drenched in allure.
Chunchao, standing beside them, could hardly bear it anymore. This woman, one of the Four Fiends feared throughout the Southern Border, seemed more like a courtesan from Yuxian Pavilion than any she’d ever met there.
“What a pity—it seems I only had desire, not the courage,” Shen Yanzhou said regretfully.
“If you tell me where Shen Tian is, I’ll give you a surprise,” Ran Yi said teasingly, leaning her head on his shoulder. Her long, delicate fingers lifted a few strands of her ink-black hair, brushing them lightly across his cheek.
“Shen Tian? What Shen Tian?”
“Isn’t he in the capital? He even came to the Prince’s Mansion a few days ago.”
A look of confusion crossed Shen Yanzhou’s face.
“Oh, stop pretending. You definitely know where he is. If you just tell me, you won’t get scolded when your father returns.”
“You know how cruel your father can be in the Southern Border. His torture methods are terrifying. I can hardly bear to watch when he interrogates prisoners—it’s horrifying.”
Ran Yi patted her chest, as if frightened just remembering it.
“So Father plans to interrogate me like a criminal?” Shen Yanzhou asked.
Ran Yi pursed her lips in a smile. “I was only making an example—but if your father loses his temper, who knows what might happen?”
Even Chunchao, normally slow to catch on, could tell now—this was a threat.
Shen Yanzhou understood as well.
Still, he looked entirely unconcerned and shook his head. “What a pity. I truly wish I could help Father find Shen Tian, help them reunite as father and son.”
“Oh, you’re so disobedient.”
“You’ll suffer for it later, but for the sake of our years of acquaintance, I’ll plead for you before your father when the time comes.”
After that, Ran Yi said nothing more. She let out a soft laugh, straightened up, and leisurely sat down on a nearby stone bench, seemingly ready to keep watch over Shen Yanzhou.
Shen Yanzhou, of course, couldn’t be bothered with her. He turned, entered his room, and locked the door in one smooth motion.
“Young lady, are you planning to stay here too?”
Ran Yi grinned at Chunchao.
Chunchao ignored her as well, hugging her sword tightly while standing guard before Shen Yanzhou’s door, her face stiff with the warning strangers, keep out.
Finding no amusement in teasing her, Ran Yi propped up her chin, brushed aside a few strands of hair, and began to idly pass the time.
……
At that moment, within the imperial palace—inside the Hall of Virtuous Enlightenment.
Dozens of palace maids and eunuchs held golden lamps and incense burners, standing in orderly rows.
Civil and military officials filled the lower hall, waiting in silence. The atmosphere was heavy.