Shen Yi's unusual reaction naturally aroused Shen Li's suspicion. Shen Li carefully scrutinized Shen Yi's face for a couple of times but didn't detect any sign of disguise.
Moreover, considering the strict guards of the Night Ghost Division, it was almost impossible for anyone to kidnap and impersonate Shen Yi without alerting any of the shadow guards.
After ruling out all possibilities, Shen Li was sure that the person in front of her was indeed Shen Yi, not an impostor. Even though she convinced herself, the way Shen Yi looked at her still seemed strange to her.
Shen Li moved her sore wrist and frowned slightly. "Brother, you're hurting me!"
Only then did Shen Yi seem to come to his senses. He looked down at his hand and then let go of Shen Li's wrist.
"Brother, what's wrong with you? You seem so strange."
Shen Li's scrutinizing eyes never left Shen Yi's face. Hearing this, Shen Yi first glanced at Shen Li and then lowered his head, looking at the inkstone on the desk. "Sorry, Li'er. I was lost in thought."
Shen Yi paused for a while and continued, "Wu Sixi died in the dungeon of the Night Ghost Division."
"Dead? How could that be? The Night Ghost Division is so heavily guarded. How could a prisoner like Wu Sixi die?" Shen Li knew the importance of Wu Sixi as a key figure in the private salt case, so her voice couldn't help but rise a bit when she heard the news.
"He is really dead. I've seen it myself. He died silently without any sign." Shen Yi's eyes still fixed on the inkstone, but his expression showed a hint of ferocity.
"Now the clue is broken! Hmph! Those people dared to plot against the Night Ghost Division. Very good! Very good!"
As the leader of the Panhu Fort and a major participant in the private salt business, Wu Sixi surely knew a great deal of inside information. There were naturally many people who didn't want him to live and talk.
But unexpectedly, those people could even manipulate things inside the Night Ghost Division.
"Brother, can we still find out who might have killed Wu Sixi?"
Hearing this, Shen Yi quickly shook his head. "The Night Ghost Division is no longer as air - tight as it used to be. It's not safe here anymore!"
Shen Li naturally knew what Shen Yi meant. There was already a traitor in the Night Ghost Division, and that traitor had started to act. He had killed Wu Sixi without arousing anyone's suspicion.
"I heard that you've been corresponding with the Hua Mansion quite frequently recently?"
Shen Yi's topic changed too abruptly, but Shen Li understood what he meant. She directly shook her head and refused. "Brother, I won't leave for now."
"Grandmother's birthday is coming. Mother has already left the capital. I can't get away. You should go to Yangzhou on behalf of father and mother to congratulate grandmother on her birthday."
Shen Yi seemed to know that it would be difficult to change Shen Li's mind with just this, so he added, "You look so much like mother. Grandmother will be very happy to see you. Even mother will be glad when she knows."
Shen Li didn't expect that Shen Yi would use their mother to persuade her. Shen Li's parents had left when she was young, so she yearned for family affection extremely and missed her parents very much. That's why Shen Yi was counting on this when he mentioned their mother.
But this time, Shen Li unexpectedly refused. "Brother, I know you want to protect me. To be honest, I originally planned to stay in Yangzhou for a while before this incident. But now that there's a problem in the Night Ghost Division and the people around you are also suspicious, I can't leave you alone here."
"If I leave, you won't even have someone you can trust and who can protect you. How can I feel at ease going to Yangzhou?"
Hearing this, Shen Yi shifted his gaze from the inkstone to Shen Li and showed a very gratified expression. "Li'er, I'm already very happy that you can say so. But have you ever thought about this?"
"Even if you stay here, you may not be able to help much. Then I'll have to worry about your safety and will be restricted. It's better for you to go to Yangzhou. After I have no worries, I can fight those people with full force."
"Brother, how do you know that those people won't capture me when I'm in Yangzhou and use me to blackmail you?" Shen Li was reasoning with Shen Yi at this time.
"Yangzhou may not be safer than the Night Ghost Division. If those people really want to catch me, I'm afraid I won't have a peaceful life even if I hide at the ends of the earth. So, brother, please let me stay here with you. At least we can take care of each other."
Hearing this, Shen Yi looked at Shen Li and slightly raised his lips. After a pause, he said, "I didn't know when you became so eloquent. I'm even no match for you."
Shen Li also smiled and pulled Shen Yi's arm. Half - playfully and half - seriously, she said, "It's because I'm smart!"
"Hahaha!" Shen Yi threw his head back and laughed. He raised his arm and gently tapped Shen Li's forehead, dotingly saying, "You! You're even more naughty than before!"
Finally, thanks to Shen Li's joking, Shen Yi didn't mention sending Shen Li to Yangzhou anymore.
When Shen Li left the study, it was already pitch - black outside. But Shen Yi didn't ask anyone to light the lamp. He still sat in the chair where he had been sitting.
His eyes were fixed on the closed door for a full quarter of an hour.
"Someone, prepare the horse! Go secretly!" As soon as Shen Yi finished speaking, a black shadow flashed past the window in the study in the darkness.
...
The Shen Mansion!
"You did a good job last time. But it's a pity that the bitch managed to escape today!" A young woman's voice came from the darkness.
"Don't worry. I'm not blaming you for today's incident. Nor will I report your matter to your master. On the contrary, I'll plead for you... As long as you help me with one more thing, I won't need you anymore."
"It's not a difficult thing. Compared with last time, this one is much simpler. As long as you do this thing honestly, I can fulfill what your master promised you in advance."
The woman's voice was full of temptation, making it hard for anyone to refuse. Naturally, the black - clothed man opposite her hesitated for a moment but finally nodded.