AUBTN -Chapter 78 Returning Home

Shen Jue rode the chestnut horse, strolling leisurely from behind.

“This, Captain, are you going to inspect our home too?”

Shen Jue’s smile was faint, almost teasing, but his eyes were ice-cold.

The captain shuddered at Shen Jue’s almost demonic face, his legs suddenly going weak.

The Eastern Depot Overseer, Shen Jue!

The living “King of Hell” had come along too?

“N—No, sir! I—I was blind! Please, Overseer! Please, Lord Lu!”

The captain hastily waved his hand to signal his men to move the barricades, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

The carriage slowly passed through the city gate.

Through the gap in the curtain, Su Hewan saw the scene on the street.

Pedestrians were few, most shops had already closed early, and squads of patrolling soldiers moved back and forth along the main streets. The entire capital seemed shrouded in an invisible gloom.

“Something’s wrong.”

Su Hewan murmured, “The Jinyiwei have been rotated.”

“What?” Yu Qing leaned over, looking confused.

“Rotated? What does that mean?”

“The gates used to be guarded by the Tiger Guards, left by the late emperor—relatively neutral. But that captain just now…”

Su Hewan recalled the glimpse from earlier. “The insignia on his armor belonged to the Divine Mechanism Battalion.”

“The commander of the Divine Mechanism Battalion is a disciple of Prince Ning.”

Shen Jue’s voice floated in from outside the carriage window, laced with the kind of sarcasm that comes from seeing through everything.

“Seems the Empress Dowager’s health really is failing.”

Lu Yan’s face was grave, his fingers gripping the sword hilt so tightly they whitened from the strain.

Jiang Huai was dead, with no witnesses.

They only had a fragmentary ledger, and Jiang Huai’s last, cryptic words: the third day of the third month.

And as for their opponent—they still didn’t know who it was!

Lu Yan’s expression darkened. When had the Jinyiwei ever felt so frustrated?

“Lord Lu, Overseer Shen.”

Su Hewan lifted the carriage curtain, her voice calm.

“If they want to set a trap at the Temple of Heaven, then we’ll play along and perform this act with them.”

“No matter what monsters or demons they hide in the Temple of Heaven, on the third day of the third month, we’ll make them show their true colors!”

Yu Qing swallowed hard. Terrified as she was, seeing Su Hewan’s resolute profile made her straighten her back.

“That’s right! If worst comes to worst, we’ll fight them to the end!”

【Isn’t this just the final big BOSS fight?】

【This lady has watched eight hundred episodes of palace intrigue dramas—there’s no way these ancients can outact her!】

“Move out!”

With Lu Yan’s low shout, the hooves clattered, breaking through the last vestiges of dusk in the capital!

The two imposing stone lions at the Northern Town Administration Office looked especially grotesque in the twilight.

“My lord! Young master! You’ve finally returned!”

As Lu Yan swung down from the horse, a frail, elderly figure stumbled forward.

It was Lu’s family’s old steward, Old Lu.

Old Lu clutched Lu Yan’s sleeve, tears and snot streaming down his face. “Young master… master has fallen ill! He didn’t attend court this morning. Imperial physicians came one after another, and they all said… said it’s serious! Please, go back and see him!”

Lu Yan tightened his grip on the embroidered spring knife, his knuckles turning white.

Though he had political differences with his father, Chancellor Lu, and their relationship was icy, he was still his only close kin in the world.

“What happened? He was fine before we left the capital, wasn’t he?” Lu Yan’s voice was hoarse, tinged with repressed anxiety.

“Old servant doesn’t know either… he just suddenly… suddenly collapsed, muttering your name the whole time…”

Lu Yan furrowed his brow, instinctively glancing back at the carriage behind him.

Inside the carriage sat Yu Qing and Su Hewan.

With the situation in the capital so unstable and unpredictable, he didn’t feel comfortable leaving them behind here.

Suddenly, the carriage curtain was pulled aside, and Yu Qing’s small face poked out.

The moment she heard this, her eyes went wide as she shouted at Lu Yan, “Lu Yan, what are you still standing there for?! Your dad… no, I mean, your father is already so sick—this can’t be delayed! Golden rescue time is precious! You need to go immediately!”

Lu Yan was momentarily stunned by her barrage of words that made little sense to him.

He looked at Yu Qing deeply, a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes, before turning to Shen Jue.

Shen Jue casually adjusted his sleeve, a faint, cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“If Lord Lu wants to fulfill his filial duty, by all means. These two girls won’t run off.”

Lu Yan pressed his lips together and didn’t say another word. He mounted his horse and galloped toward the Lu residence.

It wasn’t until Lu Yan’s figure disappeared at the end of the street that Shen Jue withdrew his gaze, giving the few remaining people a casual glance.

“Let’s go.”

Su Hewan paused, sticking her head out to ask, “Where? Not to the Eastern Depot?”

Jiang Huai’s corpse was still in the carriage behind them, so by logic, they should first go to the Eastern Depot to hand him over.

A meaningful curve tugged at the corner of Shen Jue’s lips.

“The Eastern Depot is where they lock up prisoners. If you want to go and experience the instruments of the dungeon, I won’t stop you.”

A chill ran down Su Hewan’s spine, and she shook her head emphatically. “Absolutely unnecessary!”

“Come with me.”

Yu Qing, however, said, “You two go ahead. I’ll stay here and wait for Lord Lu!”

Su Hewan glanced at her friend, finally saying, “Then, be careful yourself!”

“Mm, don’t worry. I’ll come find you after he returns!” Yu Qing waved her hand cheerfully.

Hearing that, Su Hewan followed Shen Jue and left.

The carriage wound through the intricate alleys of the capital before finally stopping in front of a quiet residence, tucked away from the noise.

A vermilion gate with bronze beast-head rings, and a plaque above inscribed with two bold characters—Yu Garden.

Su Hewan held the carriage shafts as she jumped down, tilting her head to look at this exquisitely elegant estate, her eyes full of curiosity.

This place wasn’t far from the Imperial City, yet it avoided the hustle and bustle. Bamboo groves surrounded it, giving it a serenity unbefitting the capital.

“Where… is this?” Su Hewan asked instinctively.

Shen Jue tossed the horsewhip to a young servant waiting at the gate.

He looked at Su Hewan, his tone so calm it was as if he were commenting on the weather.

“My home.”

Su Hewan froze.

She had always thought Shen Jue lived in the Eastern Depot! Ever since she arrived in this world, she had stayed with him there!

She never imagined he had a private residence!

This wasn’t even mentioned in the original story!

Su Hewan looked over at Yu Garden—green bricks, black tiles, swaying bamboo—exuding a refined, scholarly elegance, more fitting for a reclusive sage than a feared figure like Shen Jue.

The contrast with his “living king of hell” persona was striking.

“Come in.” Shen Jue ignored her astonishment and stepped over the threshold.

Su Hewan hurried after him, passing through a corridor and entering the inner courtyard.

The courtyard was full of crabapple trees. Though it wasn’t their blooming season, the lush branches looked particularly gentle in the night.

“From now on, you’ll live here,” Shen Jue said, stopping in front of a separate small courtyard called Wutong Courtyard.

Su Hewan looked around. The courtyard was exquisitely designed; even the window screens were made of the finest soft Yanluo silk.

“Lord Overseer,” she couldn’t help but speak, her tone carrying a hint of hesitation.

“So… in what capacity will I be living here? Palace maid? Or… prisoner?”

After all, she was still a palace maid whose case hadn’t been closed. Though she was following an official investigation, her status remained sensitive.

Shen Jue turned, his gaze scanning her.

The girl wore a plain-colored silk dress, and even after a journey of dust and wind, she could not hide the calm and scholarly air that radiated from her very bones.