He had visited the Shen family once before and was familiar with their layout. He knew that there was a low wall in the backyard that was a good place to climb over.

He cautiously approached the wall, looked around to make sure no one was watching him, and then leaped over the wall into the backyard of the Grand Tutor's mansion.

The backyard was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Gu Zhixing crept along the wall, relying on his memory to head towards the house where Shen Jintang had stayed last time.

It was a small, secluded courtyard nestled in a corner of the garden.

Gu Zhixing cautiously approached Shen Jintang's house and looked inside through the half-open window. The house was empty.

His heart skipped a beat. How could there be no one in the house?

Could it be that Shen Jintang has really gotten into trouble?

"Why did Aunt Qiu die so suddenly? She was perfectly fine just a few days ago, how could she suddenly..."

A voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz suddenly reached Gu Zhixing's ears.

He turned around abruptly and saw two maids squatting by the flower bushes not far away, tidying up the scattered withered branches and leaves while whispering to each other.

He quickly shrank back, hiding in the shadows of the corner, holding his breath, and listening intently.

The other maid's voice was low and slow, tinged with a helpless sigh, as she said, "It's just bad luck, isn't it? I heard she suddenly fell ill, and by the time the doctor arrived, she was already gone. Such a good concubine, gone just like that, it's truly a cruel twist of fate."

Gu Zhixing wasn't interested in Aunt Qiu's death, nor did he have the habit of eavesdropping. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the maid, whose voice was low, say, "By the way, have you heard? The cousin who just arrived has also been locked in the woodshed."

Cousin?

That's Shen Jintang!

Gu Zhixing's body trembled slightly, and the foot he had just raised fell back down.

The maidservant gasped in disbelief, "What? Miss Gu? Wasn't she serving Prince Gu? How could she suddenly be locked up?"

The maid lowered her voice even further, with a hint of mystery, and said, "I heard it from a distant cousin of mine. The fact that my cousin is locked up is probably related to Aunt Qiu's death. They don't get along."

Upon hearing the news of Shen Jintang, Gu Zhixing slowly emerged from the shadows, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible.

He crept along the base of the wall, like a leopard stalking a night, silently skirting the flowerbeds and stealthily making his way towards the woodshed.

After passing through a grove of roses, Gu Zhixing arrived outside the woodshed.

The woodshed was in a remote location, surrounded by piles of miscellaneous items, with a dim light shining through the half-open door.

He hid behind a pile of firewood outside the woodshed, holding his breath and carefully observing the movements around him.

Two servants stood in front of the woodshed's main entrance, each carrying a dim lantern. They had their backs to him and were scanning their surroundings warily.

Gu Zhixing frowned and went around to the back of the woodshed—there was a small back window there, the paper window was old and worn, and it rustled slightly in the wind.

A thought struck him, and he carefully stood up from behind the woodpile, crouching low as he slowly moved along the outer wall of the woodshed toward the back window.

Clinging to the window, he leaped with all his might and rolled inside.

Upon landing, an inevitable "thump" sound occurred.

Shen Jintang seemed startled by the noise, raised her head, and met Gu Zhixing's gaze in the dim light.

"Did you hear anything?" a gatekeeper asked.

The other shook his head and casually replied, "You misheard. What noise could there be in the woodshed?"

There's a helpless little girl locked up inside, and they're guarding the gate outside. What could possibly happen?

Upon hearing this, the first servant who had spoken agreed and said nothing more.

"Why are you here?" Shen Jintang was slightly taken aback, then a look of disbelief flashed in her eyes.

Seeing that Shen Jintang was alright, Gu Zhixing quickly walked up to her, pulled her into a tight embrace, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "I thought you were dead..."

The white banners he had seen hanging at the Grand Tutor's mansion were still vivid in his mind. He held her tightly in his arms, as if afraid that she would disappear from his side again.

Shen Jintang was so tightly held by him that she could hardly breathe, and for a moment she was at a loss.

She had never encountered this situation before and didn't know how to deal with it for a moment, but a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

She sighed softly and struggled slightly, only to find that she couldn't break free from his embrace at all.

So she could only pat his shoulder gently and whisper, "I'm not dead, I'm perfectly fine."

Her voice was soft and soothing, trying to ease Gu Zhixing's tension.

Gu Zhixing tightened his grip on Shen Jintang, burying his chin in her collarbone, and asked in a muffled voice, "Who told you to come to the Shen family? Don't you know the Shen family wants you dead?"

His voice carried a hint of reproach, but even more so, concern.

"I know, but I have things to do." Shen Jintang gently pushed Gu Zhixing, signaling him to let go.

This time, Gu Zhixing actually let go.

The two faced each other, so close they could almost feel each other's breath.

Gu Zhixing lowered his eyelids slightly, recalling his almost out-of-control behavior just now, and his ears unconsciously blushed slightly.

He subconsciously rubbed his nose, trying to hide his embarrassment, but couldn't help but secretly look up to observe Shen Jintang's reaction.

Shen Jintang seemed oblivious to his subtle actions, her eyes as calm as still water, showing little emotional fluctuation.

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