Holding the portrait, Lone Eagle followed Shen Xing into the quiet and secluded study.

Shen Changji had just finished dealing with his business when he reached out and took the portrait from Lone Eagle.

"Elder brother, why are you so curious about Pei Yu?" Shen Xing couldn't help but ask.

Chen Changji asked, "You know Pei Yu?"

Hearing this, Shen Xing smiled and scratched his head, saying, "Of course I know him. His medical skills are exceptional."

However, I haven't seen him for many years. He saved my life back then, and that's how I met him. I wonder how he's doing now.

Shen Changji: "If I'm not mistaken, he's probably dead."

Upon hearing Shen Changji's words, Shen Xing's smile instantly froze.

"How...did he just die? What happened?"

To repay Pei Yu's kindness, he gave him a small thumb ring, telling Pei Yu that if he encountered any difficulties, he should come to him.

The person... just died?

"No, when I saw him, he was perfectly fine, a very ambitious person!"

If Shen Changji hadn't said it, he wouldn't have believed that such a good person was gone!

When did you meet him?

Shen Xing: "Six years ago, he seemed to be from Zhangshui City. At that time, I asked him why he went to the capital, but he didn't explain in detail."

Shen Changji: "He died on his way back, from illness."

Shen Xing was even more surprised.

"Because of illness? How could that be! When I saw him, he was perfectly fine. He even said that he wanted to enter the Imperial Hospital in the future and become a good doctor and imperial physician. At that time, he looked very healthy!"

How could someone like that suddenly die from illness?

Upon hearing this, Shen Changji narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Are you sure he didn't seem to have anything unusual about him at the time?"

"Really not! He's in excellent health. He didn't even bring any medicine with him, and he was still able to drink and have fun with me!"

Why would you drink with someone who is unwell?

Moreover, Pei Yu was ambitious and had aspirations at the time, so why would he seek his own death?

No matter how Shen Xing thought about it, he found it very strange.

Shen Xing: "It is absolutely impossible for him to be unaware of his illness, because at the time he told me that in addition to wanting to enter the Imperial Hospital, he also had a young lady he had long admired, and he planned to marry her in a grand ceremony after entering the Imperial Hospital."

His long, dark eyes narrowed suddenly, tilting slightly upwards and becoming frosty.

"Did he tell you what the woman he likes looks like?"

Shen Xing suddenly felt inexplicably uncomfortable under Shen Changji's gaze and swallowed hard.

"Some things were mentioned, but in Pei Yu's eyes, she's great, and she seems to be quite good-looking. Anyway, he likes her a lot."

What happened? Did Pei Yu steal your man, brother?

Whenever women were mentioned, Shen Changji would look at him with that kind of gaze, making it hard for him not to suspect that Pei Yu had stolen his woman.

Chen Changji asked, "Did he describe to you what that young girl looked like?"

Shen Xing paused for a moment, "Yes, I have. I've seen the portrait once."

Without hesitation, Shen Changji took the portrait next to him and handed it to Shen Xing.

Is it her?

Shen Xing recognized it immediately after just one glance.

"It's her! I'll never forget those eyes, even if I lose them!" Shen Xing exclaimed excitedly.

Lone Eagle coughed lightly twice, and Shen Xing calmed down a bit.

"But... how did you get her portrait, elder brother? Could it be that you and that young lady Pei Yu really had a fleeting affair?"

“It’s nothing. I just heard someone mention this Doctor Pei when I went to Zhangshui City last time. I looked him up when I had nothing else to do, and I thought I could recommend him to His Majesty.” Shen Changji said calmly.

"So that's how it is."

Shen Changji stared at the portrait on the table, his eyes swirling with emotion, and asked in a deep voice, "Did he and the woman in the painting have a good relationship?"

Shen Xing: "Not bad. I heard that this young lady also likes Pei Yu. They are childhood sweethearts and grew up together. They like each other."

His deep, silent eyes darkened slightly. He nodded, raised his hand, and rolled up the portrait, as if afraid of revealing even the slightest emotion.

"Then...elder brother, may I ask you some academic questions?" Shen Xing asked cautiously, noticing that Shen Changji's expression was a little off.

"Ask away."

Shen Changji raised his hand and placed the item to the side, his expression indifferent, but the light in his eyes gradually sharpened.

...

Su Miao had just gotten up and finished washing up when she saw Mo Lin bring her breakfast.

"Did you have a good time with Xie Qin last night?"

Thinking of Shen Changji's unusual behavior last night, Su Miao replied calmly, "It's alright."

Seeing Su Miao's listless appearance, Mo Lin couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"If all else fails, I'll just wipe her out in one fell swoop, so she won't be hanging around in front of you every day and annoy you."

Mo Lin said as he ladled porridge for Su Miao.

"No, that would be too lenient on her. Besides... this isn't the only bad thing Liu Jiaojiao has done."

Su Miao briefly recounted the story of the red wedding dress to Mo Lin.

"If she can do something like this, then it would be much simpler to just let her get away with it quickly."

Moreover, she has someone backing her, and that person's identity is probably quite extraordinary. Otherwise, why hasn't anyone suspected anything wrong with Liu Jiaojiao's adoption of the child all these years?

So even if we get rid of her, it's not a good thing if the people who came after her aren't caught.

Even without Liu Jiaojiao, others can still prey on those children.

Mo Lin listened, his face becoming more serious.

"Then it's your way, but I don't want you to hurt yourself in this matter. Don't forget what you promised me."

"I understand, General Mo. I'm a grown man, don't worry!" Su Miao smiled as she looked at Mo Lin.

But she didn't know that the more she acted this way, the more worried Mo Lin became.

"I will also follow up on this matter, but Liu Jiaojiao is Shen Changji's betrothed, so you will..."

"Liu Jiaojiao and he were never a good match. He's lucky that no evil spirits are entangled with him."

Mo Lin knew Su Miao's personality, so he didn't continue the conversation and instead had a quiet breakfast with her.

Because of matters concerning the Northern Dynasty, Mo Lin had to leave after breakfast.

Just as Su Miao was about to tend to the flowers and plants, she heard a report from someone she had placed in the Liu residence.

Liu Jiaojiao went to Hanye Temple under the pretense of praying for blessings as she was about to get married.

Hanye Temple...

Why would Liu Jiaojiao suddenly want to go to Hanye Temple?

Su Miao had a carriage prepared and then set off for Hanye Temple.

She thought Liu Jiaojiao would be in the meditation room, but as soon as she turned the corner, she heard Liu Jiaojiao's voice coming from inside the room.

Those words instantly stopped Su Miao in her tracks, her expression unsettled, and her hands trembled slightly inside her sleeves.