A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

June 10th, night.

The residence of Imperial Censor Chen was located in Xifu Lane in the city. It was a three-courtyard building with a simple facade, except for a pair of stone lions that gave it a solemn appearance. When Yun Shuwei's carriage arrived, the gatekeeper, who had obviously been instructed, led Lin Mama and Chunxing to the inner courtyard without announcing their arrival.

Madam Zheng was waiting in the flower hall. Upon seeing Yun Shuwei, she rose and smiled, "Coming so late, is something urgent?"

Yun Shu bowed slightly and said, "I apologize for disturbing your peace, Auntie."

"Please sit down." Madam Zheng pulled her to sit down and had a maid serve tea. Only then did she take a closer look at Yun Shuwei's expression. "Judging from your complexion, you don't seem to have anything urgent to attend to."

Yun Shu smiled gently: "There is indeed something I would like to ask Aunt for your guidance on." She paused and then told her about Zhou Wenyuan's investigation of the old case, but omitted the part about the Deng family. She only said, "My husband is from Yongning. The way Editor Zhou is investigating is bound to make people think."

After listening, Madam Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "This child of Vice Minister Zhou's family is indeed a bit narrow-minded." She looked at Yun Shuwei and said, "But don't worry, my husband knows what he's doing regarding the autumn review. If Zhou Wenyuan really dares to use his official duties to seek personal revenge, the Censorate will be the first to object."

Hearing this with such certainty, Yun Shuwei felt a little relieved: "With Aunt's words, I can rest assured."

"But..." Madam Zheng changed the subject, "Since Zhou Wenyuan has this idea, there's no guarantee he won't make trouble elsewhere. Although Yongning is small, there are bound to be some old cases from the past ten years or so. Would you like me to have my husband look at the complete case files from Yongning?"

This was precisely the purpose of Yun Shuwei's trip. She rose and bowed, "If it won't trouble you..."

"No trouble at all." Madam Zheng waved her hand. "Your mother and I have a life-or-death bond, your affairs are my affairs." She called over her personal maid, "Go to the front study and ask the master to come over when he has time."

Before long, Imperial Censor Chen arrived. He was about fifty years old, with a lean face and three long wisps of beard. He wore a casual dark blue robe and looked more like a schoolteacher than an imperial censor. Upon seeing Yun Shuwei, he smiled gently and said, "Shuwei has arrived."

Yun Shuwei quickly rose and bowed. After Imperial Censor Chen sat down, Madam Zheng briefly explained the matter. After listening, Imperial Censor Chen stroked his beard and said, "I heard about Zhou Wenyuan's investigation into the old Yongning case yesterday." He looked at Yun Shuwei, "Don't worry, all the case files from the autumn review have to go through the Censorate; he can't tamper with them."

"Thank you, Uncle," Yun Shuwei said. "But I'm worried that if he were somewhere else..."

"I understand." Imperial Censor Chen nodded. "In that case, I will have someone bring over the case files from Yongning over the past twenty years tomorrow for a thorough review. If there are any suspicious points, I will inform you in advance." He paused. "However, Shuwei, there is something I must say upfront—if the Lu family has truly done anything wrong, I cannot cover it up."

These words were fair, and Yun Shuwei respected him even more: "That's natural. The Lu family has a clean family tradition and is not afraid of being investigated."

It was already past midnight when they left the Chen residence. The carriage traveled along the quiet streets, the only sound being the rumble of the wheels. Yun Shu leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes to rest.

Lin Mama whispered, "Miss, since Imperial Censor Chen has agreed to help, this matter should be fine."

"Hmm." Yun Shu opened her eyes slightly. "But since Zhou Wenyuan has made his move, he won't just use this one trick." She recalled the old case of the Deng family that Lu Qingyan had mentioned, and a cold light flashed in her eyes. "Granny, you will go to Yongning in person tomorrow."

Granny Lin was taken aback: "What does Miss mean...?"

"Go find the steward of the estate that came with my dowry and have him secretly investigate the Deng family." Yun Shuwei's voice was calm. "There should be some clues in this six-year-old case. If Zhou Wenyuan can investigate, so can we."

"This old servant understands."

Back in Wutong Lane, Lu Qingyan was still waiting for her in his study. By candlelight, he was writing something; seeing her return, he put down his pen: "How did it go?"

"Censor Chen has agreed to help." Yun Shuwei sat down opposite him and recounted the events of the night visit. "He will retrieve the complete case files from Yongning tomorrow and will inform us in advance if there are any problems."

Lu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you."

"There's no need for thanks between husband and wife." Yun Shu paused slightly. "However, I've sent Granny Lin to Yongning tomorrow."

Lu Qingyan looked up.

"If Zhou Wenyuan can investigate the Deng family, so can we." A sharp glint flashed in Yun Shuwei's eyes. "Since he wants to dredge up old grievances, let's see whose grievances can withstand scrutiny more."

These words were spoken with such decisiveness that Lu Qingyan looked at her and suddenly felt that if his wife had been born in a chaotic world, she would definitely have been a person who could strategize and plan.

"Shuwei," he said softly, "these things shouldn't be bothering you."

"Don't say that again," Yun Shu said with a slight reproach, but her tone softened. "Now that I've married you, your troubles are my troubles." She got up and walked to his side, looking at the unfinished writing on the table. "What are you writing?"

"A letter home." Lu Qingyan pushed the letter paper over a bit. "I originally planned to wait until after the autumn audit to write it, but now... I'll write one first to let them know I'm safe."

Yun Shu lowered her head slightly to look at the letter. The handwriting was neat and orderly. It reported on her recent situation in the capital, mentioned her job at the Hanlin Academy, and mentioned that her marriage was going well. Every word was meant to reassure her parents. Only at the end did she subtly mention, "There are many complicated people in the capital. If anyone asks about the old family matters, please be careful in your response."

After reading it, she sighed softly, "I should write a letter." She thought for a moment, "How about preparing some more gifts and having Granny Lin take them with her? Although your family is doing well, there are still some things you're lacking."

Lu Qingyan looked at her, a warm feeling welling up in his heart: "Okay."

The two talked for a while longer, then Yun Shuwei urged him to rest. Back in her bedroom, she didn't go to sleep immediately, but instead summoned Chunxing and instructed her, "Tomorrow, go to the storeroom and find that piece of brocade, that box of donkey-hide gelatin, and the wild ginseng we got the other day. Give them all to Granny Lin."

Chunxing agreed, then hesitated, "Miss, Lin Mama's departure will probably take seven or eight days. Will you have someone by your side..."

"It's alright, you're here." Yun Shu smiled. "Go ahead."

It was late at night. Lu Qingyan lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep. The moonlight outside the window was perfect, shining through the curtains and casting dappled shadows on the floor.

He recalled Li Mubai's words during the day, Yun Shuwei's visit to the Chen residence at night, and Zhou Wenyuan's unwilling eyes.

This road is indeed difficult to travel.

Even breathing came from beside her; Yun Shuwei had fallen asleep. She was very quiet when she slept, her eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyes. The shrewdness and sharpness she displayed during the day were completely gone, leaving only tranquility.

Lu Qingyan gently tucked the blanket around her.

Just then, a very faint knock came from outside. Three long knocks followed by two short knocks—the pre-arranged code.

Lu Qingyan's expression hardened. He quietly got up, put on his robe, and got out of bed. Walking to the door, he asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

Outside the door came Zhao the coachman's voice, which was kept very low: "Young master, the gatekeeper just said that someone slipped a letter under the door."

Lu Qingyan opened the door and took the envelope. It was an ordinary envelope, unsigned. He returned to his study, opened it by candlelight, and found only a note inside with a line of small writing:

"There's something fishy about the old Deng case; be careful on the third day of the sixth lunar month."

The handwriting was messy, as if it had been written in a hurry. Lu Qingyan stared at the line of words, his brows furrowed.

June 3rd... that was the seventeenth day after his wedding, the day he began to study the wedding ceremony section of the "Collected Statutes".

The old case of the Deng family, the third day of the sixth lunar month—what is the connection between these two events?

He lit the note on the candle flame and watched it turn to ashes. Outside the window, the night was deep, and the faint sound of a night watchman's drum could be heard in the distance.

It's past midnight.

That night, Lu Qingyan couldn't sleep at all. And he knew that Zhou Wenyuan was probably also having trouble sleeping.

The undercurrents within the Hanlin Academy are finally about to surface.