Li Yueshu sat up subconsciously, her face showing no signs of sleepiness.
Shen Wei had opened his eyes but didn't move. His face was indistinguishable in the darkness.
Li Yueshu glanced at the sleeping children before tiptoeing off the bed.
Outside, the black-clad intruder hadn't expected tiles to be embedded in the wall. Both his hands and feet were cut.
Just then, the tightly shut door suddenly opened, revealing a graceful figure slowly stepping out.
Li Yueshu gently closed the door, her gaze warily fixed on the person in the courtyard. Her hand silently gripped the surgical scalpel from her space.
The black-clad intruder hadn't expected to awaken someone before he could even make a move, and he became vigilant.
This woman, able to detect his movements from such a distance, was certainly not ordinary!
After a moment of confrontation, the black-clad intruder suddenly moved.
Li Yueshu's expression sharpened, and she quickly dodged.
A cold blade grazed her face as it slashed down.
Concurrently, Li Yueshu raised her hand and sliced across the black-clad intruder's arm beneath his armpit.
The intruder's arm went numb, and he almost dropped his weapon.
He quickly retreated, warily watching Li Yueshu.
This woman's movements were incredibly fast!
After a brief moment of consideration, the black-clad intruder turned without hesitation and leaped up.
Seeing him about to flee, Li Yueshu instinctively raised her leg to pursue.
But as she watched the black-clad intruder disappear over the wall, she ultimately did not chase.
With so many people at home, it could be a diversionary tactic.
However, though the person had attacked first, there was no killing intent. What was his purpose?
Inside, Shen Wei watched everything through the window.
When he saw the black-clad intruder attack Li Yueshu, his heart leaped into his throat, and he almost rushed out.
Fortunately, Li Yueshu dodged.
However, her martial skills were even better than he had imagined.
Shen Wei regained his composure, tiptoed back to the bed, and acted as if he had never moved.
Outside, Li Yueshu quickly cleaned up the bloodstains in the courtyard before tiptoeing back into the room.
After much thought, she concluded that the most likely culprit was the Second Prince.
If that were the case, he would probably send people again, and she needed to devise a countermeasure.
...
The next day, the courtyard returned to its original state. No one knew what had happened the previous night.
After the black-clad intruder escaped, he left Tongmu County overnight and headed towards Hongning City.
Qin Yexiu had just returned from the copper mine and hadn't had time to rest when a dark figure suddenly appeared. "Your Highness, your subordinate had an encounter with that Mrs. Shen."
Qin Yexiu's brows furrowed. "What happened?"
This person was usually very thorough; he had only asked him to investigate, he shouldn't have acted so impulsively.
The black-clad man knelt on one knee and respectfully recounted the events. "...That woman's skills are not bad, but your subordinate worried about revealing himself and only exchanged one move with her, not knowing her background."
Qin Yexiu's eyes lowered slightly. He didn't speak immediately.
Without him speaking, the black-clad man remained kneeling, not daring to rise.
After an unknown period, Qin Yexiu finally looked up. "Investigate the names and origins of the children in secret, and a portrait of Shen Wei."
"Yes!"
The black-clad man accepted the order and quickly went to handle it.
...
Regarding the black-clad intruder who appeared that night, Li Yueshu assumed he was from the Second Prince's faction, but Shen Wei quickly discovered that the person behind it was the Crown Prince.
Given Qin Yexiu's personality, he wouldn't have come here for no reason, nor would he easily give up his investigation. It was likely that his presence here would no longer be a secret.
Shen Wei frowned involuntarily and sighed softly. "Let him be. I'll find an opportunity to ask Ah Min and the others if they want to return to Chongzhou."
If the four children chose not to go back, he would have to make other arrangements.
Chai Yang glanced at him and hesitated. "Then how does Master plan to deal with Li Yueshu?"
They still hadn't figured out the woman's origins, nor did they know her true intentions, which made her difficult to handle.
Shen Wei remained silent for a long time, his hand hanging by his side clenched unconsciously, yet he didn't know how to answer.
After an unknown amount of time, he finally spoke. "Bring her to Chongzhou as well."
No matter what kind of person this woman was, as long as she was kept by his side and closely watched, she would eventually reveal her true colors!
Shen Wei did not linger in the back mountain. After giving instructions to Chai Yang and Xinghe, he left directly.
Xinghe watched his departing back and mused, "Why do I feel like Master has changed?"
Chai Yang glanced at him. Though he didn't speak, his eyes clearly conveyed, "You're only noticing this now?"
Xinghe, oblivious to his expression, continued to sigh, "Master has always been decisive, but when dealing with Li Yueshu, he always seems hesitant."
His words caused a flicker of worry to appear in Chai Yang's eyes.
Even Xinghe, the simpleton, could see it, but Master himself was completely unaware. If Li Yueshu was truly a spy, then...
Chai Yang was filled with worry but felt powerless.
He could only hope that this Li Yueshu would not betray the trust of the young masters.
...
On the way back, Shen Wei decided to confess to Li Yueshu that he had recovered.
If this woman didn't reveal her identity, he would directly take her to Chongzhou and confine her to the Prince's manor.
Once on his territory, as long as this woman contacted the outside world, he would surely expose the people behind her!
Shen Wei had planned everything in his mind, but when he returned home and saw Li Yueshu smiling and waving at him, all the words he intended to say got stuck in his throat.
"Why are you standing here stunned?" Li Yueshu walked over proactively. "I told you not to wander off, why aren't you listening!"
She had a scolding expression, but her hands gently brushed the dust off Shen Wei's clothes, her eyes showing undisguised concern.
Shen Wei was taken aback, as if all his thoughts had come to a standstill.
He opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.
When Li Yueshu looked up, she noticed his hesitant expression and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Did you want to say something?"
Shen Wei unconsciously clenched his hands, a sense of nervousness rising within him.
Just as he was about to speak, a flustered voice suddenly interrupted him. "It's bad! Yueshu, it's bad! Something has happened at the pharmaceutical factory!"
Old Man Liu ran over in a panic. He almost fell because he was running too fast.
Li Yueshu quickly ran over. "Uncle Liu, what happened? Please speak slowly."
"It's... it's my daughter!" Old Man Liu gasped for breath, his expression filled with shame. "She somehow heard that you built the pharmaceutical factory on our land and suddenly came back demanding we take the land back. Your Aunt Liu and I disagreed, so she... she went directly to the pharmaceutical factory to cause trouble."
Old Man Liu finished speaking in one breath, his forehead beaded with sweat, and his eyes turned red.
Li Yueshu was somewhat surprised.
She knew that Old Man Liu and his wife had a daughter who had married far away, but she had never met her, nor had she heard her parents mention her much.
How could a married daughter who had been away from home for so long suddenly return and cause trouble at the pharmaceutical factory as soon as she arrived?