The sudden kiss left him at a loss, her fragrance, her sweetness, enticing him to want more as if his life depended on it.
His lips were slightly cool, and she instinctively tried to pull away.
Guards were still searching the warehouse, "Search thoroughly. If you can't find them, we'll all die."
The two of them happened to fall behind a haystack, temporarily undiscovered.
Shen Muzhou hooked her neck, telling her to stop struggling. His other hand was tightly held in hers, and his waist was held close to his chest, their bodies completely pressed together.
A dull ache spread through his chest, a residual effect of the aphrodisiac. He tried to distract himself but couldn't ignore the sweet scent of her lips.
She dared not struggle any further, her breath caught in her throat from nervousness. When she came to her senses, she frantically moved her small head away and slumped weakly onto his shoulder, gasping for air.
"Let's go. They're not here. We'll search outside."
Shen Muzhou's Adam's apple bobbed as he clenched his fists, lost in thought. He only relaxed his grip after the guards had moved away.
Lin Yanxi's face flushed with embarrassment. She retied her hair, avoiding Shen Muzhou's gaze.
Why wasn't he speaking? Was he going to hold her responsible?
After all, she had accidentally touched his lips first.
"Ouch," she clutched her chest, feeling a strange ache.
Shen Muzhou, enduring the pain, surveyed the warehouse entrance. Seeing no one approaching, he turned to look at her again.
She lowered her arm, letting out a nervous laugh to break the strange atmosphere. "I, I didn't mean to flirt with you."
Shen Muzhou's heart was in turmoil from her earlier actions, but he chuckled at her words, "Flirt?"
Lin Yanxi looked at him warily. "It was all an accident."
"Let's get out of here and find Xiao Liu and Shen Yu."
Shen Muzhou saw her cautious demeanor and wondered if she thought he was going to demand she take responsibility.
He realized she had no ulterior motives, and he had overthought things. More importantly, the lingering effects of the aphrodisiac weren't affecting her.
This was for the best. If she didn't like him, many complicated matters would become simple.
He fell silent for a moment, then nodded and led her out.
Lin Yanxi followed him obediently. He remained silent the entire way, his tall figure appearing somewhat dejected.
Was he troubled because of the kiss, unsure how to explain it to Luo Jingxin?
"Ouch..." a sudden pain spread through her body.
Shen Muzhou finally turned to her. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head, unable to explain the sudden ache. She quickly fabricated a reason, "It's nothing, I bumped my arm."
Someone in the pit prison had discovered that the two guards had been switched. The guards fell into chaos, but fortunately, they managed to escape.
After leaving, the two found Shen Yu. Along the way, they walked one behind the other, neither speaking to the other. Shen Muzhou always stayed half a step behind Lin Yanxi, despite being a prince. It appeared Lin Yanxi also feared him, but when they appeared together, Shen Muzhou usually walked behind her.
"I saw many innocent refugees in the pit prison earlier. They're barely holding on," Lin Yanxi said, trying to break the awkward silence.
Shen Muzhou asked, "I'll report the situation here to my father immediately and have the Dark Night Guard take over the investigation."
She suddenly stopped, her round eyes looking at him seriously. "No. They can't wait any longer."
"Those people are in terrible condition, starving, and inadequately clothed, forced to do heavy labor every day. Moreover, we've already been discovered infiltrating the pit prison. To destroy evidence, they might kill them all and move the goods."
Shen Muzhou looked down for a long moment. "Alright. Let Xiao Liu go to the neighboring county to request reinforcements. They should arrive in about half a day. We'll find Gu Qing and the楼主 (tower master) first."
Lin Yanxi relaxed when she heard this. "Good, let's not delay."
They reached the steamed bun shop. She stopped abruptly. Shen Muzhou didn't rush and halted his steps as well. She removed her veil, her delicate face etched with worry.
Shen Muzhou guessed she was still concerned about the pit prison. He also removed his veil, his brow slightly furrowed.
After sighing again, Lin Yanxi turned to Shen Muzhou and said, "Have you considered that this might involve the Crown Prince?"
Her gaze then shifted to Shen Yu, who was sitting in the distant steamed bun shop, carelessly moving beef from Xiao Liu's bowl to his own.
Shen Muzhou instantly understood. Her worried expression was because she was concerned that informing Shen Yu might have negative consequences.
"I trust him. Shen Yu is my fifth brother. We grew up together, and I believe he will make the right decision and will not protect the Crown Prince or... the Empress."
Lin Yanxi nodded. Since he trusted Shen Yu, she did too.
Shen Muzhou followed Lin Yanxi into the steamed bun shop. Upon seeing them return, Xiao Liu's tense expression, born of worry, immediately eased.
Xiao Liu said, "Your Highness, Second Miss, we have found news of Gu Qing."
Shen Muzhou and Lin Yanxi sat at the square table, not immediately revealing the situation in the pit prison. Xiao Liu continued, "As per Your Highness's instructions, we discreetly investigated Gu Qing's whereabouts."
"Initially, no one in Ghost City claimed to know Gu Qing, and some said there was no news of him. Then a young man appeared and said... he was Second Miss's younger brother."
Lin Yanxi smiled. "It's Xiao Shitou."
Shen Yu was surprised. "When did you adopt a younger brother? Is it true that he said you would take him back to the capital? You dare bring someone from Ghost City back?"
She glared at him. "I have my reasons, and I don't like you speaking about him like that."
Shen Yu was amused by her protective demeanor. "Alright, you're quite the mama bear."
Just as he was about to tease her further, Shen Muzhou interrupted. "Continue with Gu Qing's situation."
Xiao Liu said, "Xiao Shitou said that Gu Qing left Ghost City after obtaining the medicine. Moreover, he lost an arm when he left. The楼主 of Zhihai Tower has ordered that no one is to mention Gu Qing again, which is why everyone claims ignorance."
Shen Yu was perplexed. "It seems the楼主 of Zhihai Tower has considerable authority in Ghost City. By the way, did you find anything in the pit prison? Why did it take so long?"
Shen Muzhou and Lin Yanxi exchanged a glance. Shen Muzhou said gravely, "Weapons are being illegally manufactured in the pit prison."
Shen Yu was shocked. "What?"
He realized the gravity of the situation and quickly lowered his voice. "Illegal weapons manufacturing?"
Lin Yanxi whispered, "And it's being exchanged for county official positions."
Shen Yu was speechless. He usually presented a carefree demeanor, but in reality, his intelligence was no less than that of the Crown Prince or Shen Muzhou. He immediately understood who in the capital had the power to permit the illegal manufacturing of weapons and offer official positions.
"Do you have any proof?"
Shen Muzhou shook his head and turned to Xiao Liu. "They're using county magistrate positions as exchange, which means this county is already within their sphere of influence. This cannot be delayed. Xiao Liu, quickly go to the neighboring county to request military reinforcements."
He took out the Nine Prince's waist token from his belt and handed it to Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu took the token and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
Lin Yanxi watched Xiao Liu's retreating figure, still worried. Shen Muzhou comforted her, "Xiao Liu is fast. He'll surely bring reinforcements within half a day."
She nodded silently, then looked at Shen Yu, who also appeared worried.
Perhaps sensing Lin Yanxi's gaze, Shen Yu looked up. Their eyes met, and he looked away unnaturally. "I believe my imperial brother is not behind this."
In fact, he was grateful that Shen Muzhou and Lin Yanxi hadn't kept it from him and had told him the truth, showing their trust and treating him as a brother. He knew the Crown Prince's character well, but the illegal manufacturing of weapons implied rebellious intent.
He dared not and could not consider the possibility that this matter was related to the Crown Prince. After all, they were all born of the Empress. If this matter implicated their mother, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Shen Muzhou did not answer the question.
He thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the town to find Gu Qing first. I will report this matter to my father."
---
The group returned to the town and inquired at nearby inns and art galleries, but found no trace of Gu Qing.
Shen Yu had been in low spirits throughout the journey, appearing somewhat dazed.
After several days of interaction, Lin Yanxi actually found Shen Yu to be not as bad as the rumors suggested. On the contrary, he was unrestrained and sincere, a stark contrast to Shen Qingyun.
Shen Muzhou entered a shop to inquire about Gu Qing's whereabouts, while Lin Yanxi and Shen Yu waited outside.
She looked at the passersby on the street and said, "The people in the pit prison are suffering greatly. They haven't committed any crimes but were tricked into being there—old people, children, women. They're chained, starved, and forced to move rocks and iron like livestock."
"The blacksmiths working there are killed every three months, and new people are brought in. My point is, there are some things we can overlook right and wrong for those we want to protect, but this concerns the lives of too many people. We must deliver justice for them."
Shen Yu was surprised that this young girl would counsel him. He smiled, his eyes firm. "If my imperial brother has truly caused the deaths of so many people, I will not protect him."
Shen Muzhou emerged from the shop, clearly having not obtained the information they sought.
"Could he have already left here?" Lin Yanxi asked.
"Scram, scram, get out."
Before the group could finish speaking, they saw a shop assistant pushing a man out of the shop in the distance.
The man, unwilling to give up, chased after him. "If you don't like my paintings, I can also play music. Just give me a pot of wine."
The shop assistant stood on the steps, stepping on the scattered scrolls of paintings. "Before you broke your hand, these paintings might have been worth a few coppers. Look at what you're painting now? Mountains that don't look like mountains, water that doesn't look like water."
"Hurry up and leave. You owe wine money from before, and your wife just paid it off. Now you're going to incur more debt. Ah, poor thing, your beautiful wife."
The shop assistant finished speaking with a look of disgust and turned back into the shop.
Gu Qing sat on the ground in despair, rolling up a painting with one hand. His other hand remained hidden in his sleeve. If not for the shop assistant mentioning his broken hand, one would have been hard-pressed to notice anything amiss.
Lin Yanxi tugged at Shen Muzhou's sleeve, signaling him to look at Gu Qing. Gu Qing held a scroll in one hand, his other hidden in his sleeve, with only the wide sleeve hanging by his side.
Shen Muzhou and the others followed him into a narrow alley. Lin Yanxi, who was closest, called out, "Gu Qing."
Gu Qing's body stiffened. He continued walking forward, quickening his pace.
Shen Yu rushed forward and grabbed his shoulder.
Gu Qing was forced to turn and face them. His expression was calm, but a hint of panic could be seen in his eyes. "I am not Gu Qing, you have the wrong person."