Chapter 1422 - 417: So You Were the Real Employer! (6k)

The area where the second branch of the Shen Family is located is truly a harmonious blend of pavilions and towers, exuding everywhere an air of exquisite luxury.

Artificial hills and flowing water surround the area, with flowers and trees flourishing, and a faint fragrance permeates the air, evidently meticulously managed by dedicated personnel every day.

The maids here walk lightly, weaving in and out, occasionally engaging in soft-spoken conversations, but never daring to raise their voices.

Because Su Yurou, the lady of the second branch, has always disliked noise, the entire courtyard is vibrant yet not noisy.

At this moment, within a waterside pavilion, Su Yurou reclines on a soft couch.

A long gown of dark purple outlines a graceful figure, the hem cascading like water, setting off her skin as smooth as snow.

She gently pinches a white jade wine cup with her fingertips, her red lips slightly pursed, a touch of lazy allure between her brows and eyes.

Suddenly, a silver streak of light streaked across the sky, arriving in an instant, landing outside the pavilion.

Shen Hanyi, silver hair like frost, walked over with a cold expression.

Su Yurou looked up, her red lips lightly curved, her voice soft and alluring: "Oh, isn’t this Han Yi? How come you have time to visit your second aunt today?"

Shen Hanyi raised her hand gently, instantly enveloping the entire pavilion in an invisible sound insulation restriction.

Her expression indifferent: "Second Aunt, why bother asking when you already know?"

Su Yurou lazily sat up, the hem of her dark purple gown rippling like water waves.

She lightly stroked her temples, confusion swirling in her gaze: "Oh? I don’t know, what should I know?"

Shen Hanyi’s gaze was calm, directly placing that imaging stone on the stone table: "This thing, Second Aunt gave it to me, didn’t you?"

"I gave it to you?" Su Yurou’s red lips slightly parted, showing the perfect hint of surprise.

She leaned forward, peering closely at the imaging stone.

Fingers pale as scallions abruptly pulled back just before touching the stone.

Covering her vermilion lips instead: "Could Han Yi be mistaken? Why would I give you an imaging stone? Might there be some incriminating matter captured inside?"

Shen Hanyi’s eyes grew colder: "Whatever’s captured inside, Second Aunt might as well take a look for yourself."

Su Yurou waved her hands repeatedly: "I’d rather not. Now that Han Yi is a Spirit Slash Realm Perfection Fourth-level Array Master, how could matters involving such skills be something someone like me can meddle in? If by chance within it lies..."

Suddenly lowering her voice, "a deadly secret, Second Aunt might end up wide awake all night."

Shen Hanyi’s gaze abruptly sharpened, chilling her surroundings: "I dislike beating around the bush. Since Second Aunt chooses to feign ignorance, don’t blame Han Yi for performing a soul search."

The temperature inside the pavilion plummeted before she finished speaking.

A thick layer of frost suddenly formed on the ground, quickly climbing the stone pillars.

Fine ice crystals drifted through the air, even the white breath Su Yurou exhaled instantly froze into frost.

Shen Hanyi’s silver hair fluttered without wind, each strand glimmering with a piercing cold light, seemingly freezing the space within a distance of three yards.

"Han Yi, you’re crazy!" Su Yurou’s complexion changed drastically, springing up from the soft couch, her figure retreating swiftly.

With a flip of her wrist, a poisoned dagger slid into her palm, while spiritual power surged wildly, forming a faint purple barrier on her surface.

Shen Hanyi showed no expression, as her right hand lightly clenched, a transparent ice long sword materialized in mid-air.

The sword was crystal clear, exuding a suffocating chill, the air at its tip emitting subtle freezing sounds.

Her steps towards the front, with each step, blossoms an ice lotus.

"This is the Shen Family!" Su Yurou backed against a pavilion pillar, her voice tense, "Are you intending to attack a family elder in your own residence?"

Shen Hanyi’s steps didn’t halt, raising her ice sword lightly: "Second Aunt should trust, before others arrive, I should be able to conclude this."

Su Yurou’s fingers slightly trembled, forcing herself to steady: "Calm down Han Yi, surely someone intends to frame me, to stir conflict between us."

The ice sword in Shen Hanyi’s hand didn’t move an inch, the ice crystals at the sword tip falling lightly: "Second Aunt might believe, am I here to test the waters today?"

She stepped half a pace forward, the sword tip’s chill further intensified, "With certainty did I come here."

Before her words faded, four ice swords simultaneously solidified at the pavilion’s corners, blocking all escape routes.

Su Yurou’s pupils shrank abruptly, staring hard at Shen Hanyi.

Suddenly, she sighed deeply, returning to the soft couch: "How did you confirm?"

"It was indeed you!" Shen Hanyi’s eyes exploded with glacial intensity.

Though trusting Zhou Qing’s words, she held three parts of doubt.

She didn’t expect Second Aunt to admit it herself—how did that guy manage to detect Second Aunt’s aura from a mere imaging stone?

Su Yurou paused before losing her voice: "You lied to me?"

"Does discussing this now hold any meaning?" Shen Hanyi lightly snapped her fingers, the suspended ice swords simultaneously resounding with pure sword song.

"Ha..." Su Yurou suddenly covered her lips and chuckled softly, a hint of self-mockery within her laughter, "Seems I underestimated you."

Han Yi’s ice sword in her hand didn’t budge: "Why show this to me?"

Su Yurou lazily reclined back on the soft couch, the wide sleeves of her dark purple gown splayed like water, slowly saying: "No reason..."

Her gaze swirled, "Just to let you know a little something."

"Why not show it earlier then?"

"It wasn’t up to me." Su Yurou sighed lightly, "Do you think the Shen Family is a place where anyone can speak freely?"

"Whose reflection is captured?" Shen Hanyi’s sword tip slightly lifted, cold light swirling.

Su Yurou’s vermilion lips opened slightly: "Naturally, your Second Aunt’s."

"When Grandfather led the troops to annihilate the bandit alliance back then," Shen Hanyi’s ice sword suddenly emitted an icy glare, "you clearly didn’t leave the residence, remaining here!"

Su Yurou suddenly chuckled, leaning close to Shen Hanyi: "Before answering, I want to ask, do you know who the masked person committing murder in the painting is?"