Chapter 55: Such Idle Matters Are None of Lord Zhou's Concern

The fingertips playing with the folding fan suddenly paused.

Xie Shu immediately pulled back her hand, a nameless sense of awkwardness welling up in the depths of her heart, mixed with a somewhat vexed thought: Why did he come here?

"Lord Zhou, haha, what a coincidence!" Xie Shu turned around, her hands hidden inside her sleeves tucked behind her back, like a child who had done something wrong, secretly rubbing her palms together.

"Not a coincidence." Zhou Xunli’s eyes were devoid of ripples. His dark gaze swept back and forth between Xie Shu and Pei Xuanqing before he said coldly, "I happen to have a matter to discuss with the Heir's Consort."

Completely ignored by Zhou Xunli, Pei Xuanqing offered a greeting, only to feel utterly redundant.

Fine, he wasn't here to see him anyway.

"Since it has nothing to do with me, I shall take my leave." Her ankle was still aching, and naturally, Pei Xuanqing had no desire to linger. After all, dealing with Zhou Xunli—just that stubbornly obstinate temperament of his—was enough to make him feel bored.

Just as Pei Xuanqing stepped across the threshold, Zhou Xunli suddenly spoke up, "Since Grand Academician Pei is well enough to stroll about, it seems your cold has nearly recovered. When I see His Majesty tomorrow, I shall certainly convey your good health to him."

Pei Xuanqing turned back with a baffled look. "I never knew Lord Zhou was also fond of meddling in other people's business."

Among the officials in the capital, who didn't know that he most frequently feigned illness to shirk his duties, a fact even the Emperor turned a blind eye to?

Today, Zhou Xunli’s words sounded rather like he intended to expose his shortcomings in front of the Emperor.

Pei Xuanqing slightly furrowed his brows, a trace of displeasure revealing itself in the depths of his eyes. If he remembered correctly, he had never offended Zhou Xunli.

Faced with such a question, the surging waves of helpless bitterness in Zhou Xunli's heart grew even heavier.

Just moments ago, the very moment Zhou Xunli caught sight of the Xie family carriage, he had quickened his pace, rushing anxiously to find her. He had just received news from the frontier, hearing that Xie Ying had fallen off a cliff and her life or death remained unknown. Knowing that Xie Shu had already dispatched people to provide reinforcement, she would undoubtedly learn of the matter before long. He was merely afraid that she would act rashly out of sudden anxiety and lose her composure...

After all, the last time, she had even staked herself into the bargain.

In the dead of night, as Zhou Xunli tossed and turned unable to sleep, he too had wondered: If he had not stood by idly beneath the Drum of Grievances that day, would she perhaps never have married into the Marquis of Chengen's Manor?

Yet all of this had already become a foregone conclusion.

However, Zhou Xunli could never have imagined today that he would witness with his own eyes Xie Shu leaning so intimately against someone else. Just as she had leaned close to him that day, her fingers playfully tangling and lingering.

An inexplicable anger flared in the depths of his heart.

Zhou Xunli had once believed that Xie Shu treated him alone in such a manner.

As it turned out, he was merely one among them.

"Since Grand Academician Pei serves as an imperial prince's tutor, you should naturally possess the deportment expected of a role model, rather than idling away your days." Zhou Xunli's sword-like brows slightly knitted, his expression cold and stern, intense enough to make one's heart go numb.

Pei Xuanqing had heard a thing or two about this man's actions at the Penalty Department, but trying to intimidate him? He still fell somewhat short.

"I won't trouble Lord Zhou to concern yourself." Pei Xuanqing held no favorable opinion of officials in the imperial court. Even a favored son of heaven like Zhou Xunli was someone he had never condescended to regard with importance, nor did he have any intention of engaging in a war of words with them. "My constitution is weak and cannot withstand the wind; I shall take my leave first."

Yet before departing, Pei Xuanqing tilted his head, leaned close to Xie Shu's ear, and murmured, "Since the Heir's Consort has extended such a warm invitation, Pei shall certainly accept the appointment another day."

Having said that, seeing Xie Shu's expression of dissatisfaction as she puffed out her cheeks in a pout, Pei Xuanqing was instantly in high spirits. He chuckled softly behind his sleeve and swept his robes away.

Though these words were spoken in a soft voice, because the few of them were standing close together, and Zhou Xunli had practiced martial arts for years—endowed with sharp ears and bright eyes—he heard them clearly.

After the man departed, Zhou Xunli's inquisitorial gaze once again fell upon Xie Shu as he demanded, "What appointment are you making with him?"

"Ah?" Xie Shu had not expected him to be so blunt; why did this man ask about everything?

Raising her gaze to meet Zhou Xunli's frost-like face, the inexplicable guilt and tension in Xie Shu's heart suddenly dissipated by a large margin.

Strange? Why should she feel ill at ease because of him?

Thinking thus, Xie Shu strode forward, crossed the threshold, and only then turned back to reply, "Such trivial matters have nothing to do with Lord Zhou."

Leveraging Pei Xuanqing's parting words, Xie Shu left him behind in the dust.

Zhou Xunli paused for a moment before realizing with a start that his care and concern for Xie Shu seemed to have exceeded proper bounds.

Within his tightly clenched palms, his fingernails dug into his flesh. The slight, stinging pain allowed Zhou Xunli to gradually clear his mind; he ought not to place all his thoughts upon her.

Yet today, he truly did have a matter of utmost importance.

Zhou Xunli stepped forward, blocking Xie Shu's path sideways. "Do you have any news of Xie Ying?"

Xie Shu's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked, "What has happened to my elder sister?"

The secret letters Wenying sent back were sparse, and though Xie Shu could glean some information, it was limited.

Zhou Xunli's words just now instantly led her to guess that something must have happened to Xie Ying at the frontier.

Seeing that Xie Shu was still unaware of the truth, Zhou Xunli lowered his head in thought for a moment before finally speaking, "Word from the frontier is that Xie Ying fled before battle and has long since gone missing."

Since it was merely a matter of disappearance, Xie Shu's heart settled back into place. "If there is no proof, I must ask Lord Zhou not to make arbitrary assertions."

Seeing Xie Shu's cold and detached words, Zhou Xunli instantly felt as though his overflowing concern had been fed to the dogs.

"I am merely reminding you. His Imperial Majesty has already issued three urgent recall edicts; if Xie Ying fails to return, I fear it will be difficult to soothe the Emperor's heart." Though displeasure lingered in his heart, Zhou Xunli still spoke the words that needed to be said.

Xie Shu tugged at the corners of her lips. Whether her elder sister returned or not, the most vexed person would not be the Emperor, but those who sought the ruin of the Xie family.

"Instead of wasting such concern, Lord Zhou would do better to thoroughly investigate the case of the deserting soldiers. I heard that Wang大海 died?" A sharp flash crossed Xie Shu's eyes. "To be able to die right under Lord Zhou's very nose, the forces behind this mastermind must be overwhelmingly powerful."

"I wonder if Lord Zhou managed to find what you were looking for in the Marquis of Chengen's Manor?" Xie Shu flashed a smile. She was quite willing to cooperate with Zhou Xunli, but if he harbored other hidden calculations, she could not be blamed for her actions.

Sensing that faint trace of suspicion and distrust, Zhou Xunli clenched his palms even tighter. "The Empress Dowager has mentioned repeatedly that she hopes to witness the grace and brilliance of Great Yan's premier female general at her longevity banquet. If your elder sister cannot make an appearance, I am afraid..."

"It is merely finding a pretext." Xie Shu gave a cold snort. Great Yan prized filial piety above all else, and the Empress Dowager used the word "filial piety" to suppress the Emperor. Even though she had long since returned governing power to the throne, there were still numerous officials in the court who remained loyal confidants of the Empress Dowager.

And the Pacifying Faraway General's Manor happened to be a thorn in the Empress Dowager's side.

"Whether my elder sister appears or not, the Empress Dowager has her ways of striking against the Xie family." Having said that, Xie Shu knew that the fact Zhou Xunli had come to seek her out meant he already regarded her as one of his own.

Zhou Xunli lowered his eyes. Studying Xie Shu's expression, he continued, "The Second Prince has already dispatched men to the frontier. If you have any news, he will naturally be able to find your elder sister all the sooner."

"I know Lord Zhou means well, but I truly do not know where my elder sister is." Xie Shu stated bluntly, "I hope you will inform the Second Prince that if he truly wishes the best for my elder sister, he should not meddle in frontier affairs."

"Furthermore, please address me as the 'Heir's Consort' henceforth." Xie Shu cut off Zhou Xunli's words. Although she felt a slight stirring of affection for the man before her, when it came to matters concerning the Pacifying Faraway General's Manor, she would never place blind trust in anyone.

As for the Second Prince, his intentions toward her elder sister were far from pure.

Before Zhou Xunli could say anything further, Xie Shu quickened her pace, leaving him far behind. She boarded her carriage straightaway and departed.

"She... does not trust me."

Zhou Xunli muttered to himself. Lin Sheng, who had been waiting not far away, trotted over and, failing to catch it clearly, asked, "Lord Governor, what did you say?"

"It's nothing." Zhou Xunli withdrew his gaze from the departed carriage. Recalling Pei Xuanqing who had just left, he instructed Lin Sheng, "Go and investigate what relationship exists between Xie Shu and Pei Xuanqing."