After returning from Hongning City, Li Yue Shu mostly stayed at home. With Wei Zi Miao also present, Shen Wei hadn't had a chance to report the recent situation in Chong Zhou to Chai Yang Xing He.
Having no other choice, he waited until night, secretly slipped out after incapacitating Li Yue Shu.
Although Li Yue Shu was vigilant, she never let down her guard around her family.
This "family" naturally included Shen Wei.
Looking at the sleeping figure, a hint of tenderness flashed in Shen Wei's eyes as he gently tucked her exposed hand back under the covers.
...
The night was as dark as ink, and a ghostly figure weaved through the moonlight, heading straight for the back mountain.
Moonlight filtered through the dappled branches, casting and stretching the tall, slender figure.
At this moment, two figures appeared silently behind him and knelt respectfully, "Master."
Shen Wei turned around, the dappled tree shadows falling on his face, obscuring his expression. "Get up. What news from Chong Zhou recently?"
Chai Yang Xing He stood up, his attitude still respectful.
"Replying to Master, the traitor who leaked the whereabouts of the Three Thousand Huyuan Army to the enemy has been found. It is... it is the Second Prince."
As these words were spoken, the surrounding atmosphere instantly turned cold. The bone-chilling killing intent made Chai Yang Xing He, who had just stood up, instinctively kneel back down.
"To think a prince would hand over the lives of three thousand soldiers of his own country to the enemy. Qin Ye Cheng is truly something!"
Chai Yang Xing He lowered his head even further.
They had followed their master since childhood, and this was the first time they had seen him so enraged.
The Huyuan Army consisted of brothers who had fought alongside their master on the battlefield. Learning that the one who betrayed them was from the royal family, how could their master not be furious?
Chai Yang cautiously raised his head and glanced at Shen Wei. "Master, since the mole has been identified, should we return to Chong Zhou?"
The lives of those Three Thousand Huyuan Army soldiers were the reason their master had been hiding here as Shen Wei all these years.
Now that the culprit had been found, their master should return to Chong Zhou and deal with those who were stirring up trouble.
But to Chai Yang's surprise, Shen Wei did not answer him. His gaze involuntarily drifted towards the foot of the mountain.
In that direction lay the home that Li Yue Shu had personally built.
After a long silence, Shen Wei finally spoke, "How is the investigation into her identity progressing?"
The sudden question startled both of them. It was Xing He who reacted first. "The Chi Yun Tower has dispatched many people to Tong Mu County, but there has been no progress on Li Yue Shu's identity. This subordinate has investigated the Li family and discovered that Li's father and mother were originally from Feng Zhou, and came here to escape the war."
"Li Xiang Ru and Li Yue Shu are twins. Their mother gave birth to them on the run, so no one knows if they are biological."
"Feng Zhou?" Shen Wei frowned slightly.
If he remembered correctly, Feng Zhou was the territory guarded by the General who defended the north.
"Yes," Chai Yang continued. "According to the news from Chong Zhou, the General and his wife, pursued by the enemy, secretly entrusted their child to a couple they met on the road and left a jade pendant as a token. Li Xiang Ru was recognized by the General because of that jade pendant?"
Shen Wei's gaze shifted slightly. "Did the General's Mansion not investigate the Li family for having two daughters?"
Xing He nodded. "They did, but the daughter of General Gu has a crescent-shaped red birthmark on her back. The General's wife personally examined Li Xiang Ru."
Shen Wei's eyes narrowed.
In that case, there was no possibility of a "weasel replacing the prince."
After a long silence, Shen Wei looked at the two of them and said, "Keep an eye on Qin Ye Cheng's movements. The people previously planted in the Huyuan Army should remain for now. I will deal with them when I return to Chong Zhou..."
After giving these instructions, Shen Wei did not linger and vanished.
Chai Yang and Xing He remained kneeling on the ground, only reacting after a long while.
Xing He looked at the person beside him blankly. "Did Master say when he would return to Chong Zhou?"
Chai Yang stood up, his expression as cold as ever. "No, Master... it seems he doesn't want to return to Chong Zhou."
"Doesn't want to return to Chong Zhou? Why?" Xing He was shocked. "Everyone is in Chong Zhou, and there are so many things waiting for Master to handle. Why doesn't he want to go back?"
Xing He felt a sense of despair. "Wuwuwu, I miss the prosperity of Chong Zhou. I've been hiding in the mountains for over half a year, and I'm almost becoming a wild man."
Chai Yang's lips twitched. He looked speechlessly at the person beside him, who was on the verge of tears.
This simpleton, hasn't he noticed Master's changes!
A flicker of worry crossed Chai Yang's eyes.
The inability to find any issues with Li Yue Shu was the biggest problem.
If Master truly felt something for that woman...
No one knew of Chai Yang's worries, nor did anyone notice Shen Wei's departure that night.
Upon hearing that the pharmaceutical factory had begun construction, the villagers were very excited, and those undergoing training at the dam became even more diligent.
Madam Zhou often came to find Aunt Liu, and she also brought Sun Ming Da along.
Although Sun Ming Da could not run and jump like a normal person now, he could walk by himself for a period of time.
This was something he had never dared to dream of before. Therefore, as long as he had nothing to do, he would accompany Madam Zhou to the training, striving to support the family as soon as possible.
"Oh, by the way, I heard that Madam Yang is preparing to get married in a few days." Madam Zhou put down the winnowing basket in her hand and suddenly remembered something. "I heard that after she was released a while ago, she went to find Shen Cheng Cai, but he personally sent her back to the Yang family."
"There's such a thing?" Old Man Liu asked in surprise. "Shen Cheng Cai is just a child, does he have that much strength?"
Madam Zhou pouted. "Of course he doesn't have that much strength. I heard that the Yang family gave him money, and he and Shen Wang sent her back together."
Mother Mo wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked curiously, "Then what's this about her getting married? Madam Yang's reputation was ruined when Shen Wang divorced her. Is there still someone willing to marry her?"
"I've heard about this," Aunt Liu chimed in gossipy. "I heard it's a butcher from their village. He's a cripple, and he likes to beat women. Madam Yang's life will likely be difficult after marrying him."
As women themselves, they all felt a sense of emotion, but none of them felt sympathy for Madam Yang.
This woman had always bullied Yue Shu, and even after being divorced, she was still not content, even trying to ruin Yi Min's county examination. It was simply unforgivable!
Madam Yang's current situation was her own doing. If she had been a good wife to the Shen family from the beginning, or if she had stayed honestly in the Yang family after her divorce, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
Besides the news of Madam Yang circulating in the two villages, another matter was also being talked about.
Everyone in the village knew that the pharmaceutical factory was built on Old Man Liu's land. Many people were curious about how much Li Yue Shu, who was always generous with her money, had given Old Man Liu this time.
However, upon inquiring, they learned that Old Man Liu and his wife had given the land to Li Yue Shu for free.
Everyone was cursing Old Man Liu and his wife for being foolish, and Mother Shen and Shen Wang were no exception.