After several rounds of drinks, they sang and danced.
Only Shen Ning and Ye Feibai know how to play the zither here, so a duet is out of the question. Shen Ning consciously keeps her distance from her future brother-in-law.
Ye Feibai clearly thought the same thing, so the two of them simply each played a piece of music.
Ye Feibai was a skilled pianist, and there was a suspicion that he was deliberately showing off his skills in front of Du Yunzhi, as he would choose to play whatever piece was difficult.
Shen Ning, on the other hand, has only remembered three pieces in the past two days. They are simple, and he has forgotten the tunes, so he plays them terribly.
Unfortunately, while everyone else was enjoying themselves immensely, singing and dancing around the campfire, only Ye Feibai, the only one who understood the music, was on edge, feeling as if he were being tortured.
"Knock knock knock! Open the door! Open the door!"
The sudden knocking interrupted the lively atmosphere in the courtyard. Everyone stopped, looked at the door, and then at Shen Ning.
The air crackled with the popping of flames as Shen Ning gently brushed her fingertips across the strings: "Open the door."
The steward of the manor went out to open the door, but before he could ask anything, a group of soldiers with knives rushed in, shouting menacingly, "Don't move!"
After everyone was stopped and it was confirmed that there were no problems, all the officers and soldiers split into two sides. Then, the guards who had been seen during the day strode in, and a black carriage could be vaguely seen parked at the door. It was the same carriage from the daytime.
The lead guard, with a stern face, raised his hand and waved: "Search!"
The soldiers immediately scattered throughout the village, searching everywhere.
The guard scanned everyone and demanded, "Who's in charge here?"
Logically speaking, Shen Ning should be the owner of this estate, but she is, after all, a young woman.
Ye Feibai's status was higher than Shen Ning's, and he was also a man. Considering Du Yunzhi, he weighed the pros and cons and felt that he should step forward himself.
A piece of clothing brushed past him, and realizing who it was, he paused.
"A-Ning..." Du Yunzhi was anxious and wanted to reach out to pull her, but after hesitating for a moment, Shen Ning walked over.
No ordinary citizen is unafraid of government officials and soldiers, especially those who appear so intimidating.
Shen Ning stood in the center, straightened his sleeves, and slowly bowed: "Shen Ning of the Shen family greets Your Excellency. May I ask what brings Your Excellency here so late at night?"
The guard commander sized up Shen Ning a few times, then coldly cupped his hands and said, "The palace has been attacked by thieves. Someone stole His Highness the Crown Prince's treasures, and we have been ordered to track down the thieves."
Shen Ning's heart sank, and she sighed: Sure enough, immense wealth doesn't necessarily bring good fortune, but trouble certainly comes quickly.
The mansion was not a large building, so the search was completed quickly.
"Reporting to you, sir, there is nothing unusual."
The guard commander raised his hand, and all the officers and soldiers stood in two places. He then turned and walked towards the carriage: "Master, there is no problem here."
A slender finger slightly lifted the curtain. It was not visible in the darkness, but Shen Ning could feel an intense and extremely dangerous gaze falling on her.
A lazy voice came from inside the car: "Were you playing the piano just now?"
He sounds young, yet mature and deep, with a hint of nonchalance, like a cheetah patrolling its territory, seemingly carefree but ready to strike at any moment.
Shen Ning: "Your Excellency, it is indeed I, Shen Ning."
"continue."
"?"
Shen Ning had seen his share of ups and downs; he didn't understand, but he didn't ask.
"Yes, ma'am."
Under Du Yunzhi's worried gaze, Shen Ning walked back to her original seat, raised her hand, took a slight breath, and plucked the strings of her zither.
The music started playing, but it wasn't as cheerful as before; however, it did dispel some of the tense and frightening atmosphere.
A fingertip adorned with a gemstone ring tapped lightly on the carriage window. The carriage moved slowly forward, leaving behind the words, "utterly boring."
The group left, but Shen Ning still finished playing a piece. As the last note fell, it was as if everyone's hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
Some people's legs went weak and they collapsed to the ground: "I was so scared. With so many soldiers surrounding us, I almost thought I was going to die."
After this ordeal, everyone lost interest in singing and dancing and went home, leaving only Shen Ning and two others behind.
Du Yunzhi grabbed Shen Ning's hand: "How could you do that? You scared me to death."
Under the emperor's nose, there is no shortage of powerful and wealthy people, nor of officials and soldiers. Every day, one can see officials and soldiers patrolling, and occasionally, one can also see dignitaries in grand processions.
But watching the excitement from afar on the street and having a group of soldiers rushing into your house are worlds apart.
Watching someone get beheaded at the market is just a spectacle, at most a cause for sighs and nightmares. But having a knife to your throat is deadly.
Shen Ning remained calm: "If you stick your neck out, you'll be in trouble. If you don't respond, then even the innocent will be guilty."
If someone with real power and influence wants to hold you accountable, you can't escape it by simply remaining silent.
Du Yunzhi was still shaken: "Those were the people I met this afternoon. Who is sitting in this carriage? Those soldiers all listen to him."
Shen Ning looked at Ye Feibai: "It would be more accurate to ask Young Master Ye about this question."
Under their gazes, Ye Feibai gripped his folding fan and remained silent for a moment before speaking: "I had some guesses this afternoon, but I can only confirm it now that he has spoken. This person is probably... the young imperial brother-in-law from the Qin family."
The title "Little Imperial Uncle" was instantly widely known and circulated.
The current empress is from the Qin family, and the only person who can be called the emperor's brother-in-law is her own brother from the same mother.
Below the imperial family, there are eight powerful clans, each wielding immense power. Among the scions of these clans, there is no shortage of idle and dissolute playboys.
No matter how arrogant or wasteful those spoiled brats are, they are no match for the Qin family's son.
Other playboys are nothing more than indulging in pleasure, flirting with beauties, patronizing prostitutes, and indulging in debauchery; this one, however, fights and brawls, treats people like beasts, beats people for fun when he's in a good mood, and takes his warrant to ransack homes when he's in a bad mood, all while listening to music.
Arrogant, domineering, unrestrained, violent, and lawless, he was once the nightmare of all the纨绔子弟 (spoiled young men) in the capital.
Fortunately, he couldn't be arrogant for long. Five years ago, he accidentally killed someone and was almost beheaded. It was the Empress who knelt for a day and a night with the Phoenix Seal in her hands to save his life. After that, he was exiled to the border and never returned.
Shen Ning knew this person would return, and had even seen him from afar twice more, so she was able to guess his identity.
Ye Feibai was able to recognize him entirely because he had also been a victim.
Du Yunzhi: "..." This is too scary.
Who doesn't know the infamous reputation of the young imperial brother-in-law? Five years ago, she was only thirteen years old, but that man had already committed countless evil deeds and even killed people with his own hands.
Did they just take a trip to the gates of the underworld?
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Shen Ning waved her hand, trying to dispel the oppressive atmosphere: "Are you still going to drink? If not, go back and wash up, and leave early tomorrow."
This place is not safe to stay!
Du Yunzhi: "I'm not drinking anymore, who can drink this?"
Just as everyone had lost interest and was about to leave, the door that had just been closed was knocked on again.
"Knock knock knock, open the door!"
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