Song Meiyu waved her hands quickly. "No no no. There's more. He's serious about investigating his father's death. His father used to run the mercenary guild in the north. They took in homeless people and trained them. Some became cultivators and helped defend the walls. Others did hard labor."
Linyue nodded slowly, staying quiet.
"Six years ago," Song Meiyu went on, her voice dropping slightly for effect, "his father came back from fighting demons and suddenly got sick. Soup Man tried everything. Medicine. Physicians. Even a suspicious old auntie who swore her chicken soup could cure death."
"It couldn't," He Yuying added flatly, not even looking up from his snack.
"Right, it failed. The symptoms were exactly the same as what we're seeing here. Crimson Bloodroot poisoning. But back then, nobody knew. Everyone thought it was just some strange illness. Then his father passed away."
Song Meiyu's tone turned serious as she leaned in a little. "That's why when Soup Man heard about this disease, he came rushing here. He's convinced his father was poisoned."
Linyue's brows furrowed slightly. "So Crimson Bloodroot was used in the north six years ago… but why his father?"
"Exactly," Song Meiyu nodded once. "His father wasn't some shady guy. He built that guild to help people. They didn't take dirty jobs. No assassinations. No kidnapping rich daughters for ransom. Just honest work. They were actually well respected."
"Which makes it weird," Linyue murmured. "They had no enemies…"
Song Meiyu shrugged. "Well, they didn't. But Soup Man might've just made one here."
Linyue's lips curled into a tiny smirk. "Yep."
He Yuying raised his dried plum. "Rest in peace, Soup Man. You tried."
Shen Zhenyu finally spoke, "Let's just hope he doesn't try to offer Shu Mingye a snack next."
"So," Linyue said, resting her chin on one hand, "he came here hoping to find clues about his father's death?"
"Mhm," Song Meiyu nodded quickly. "He wanted to know who was behind it. I told him a little about Crimson Bloodroot. And the emperor."
Linyue's brows lifted slightly. "Then?"
"He didn't think it was the emperor," Song Meiyu said with a shrug. "His father was just a regular guy. No title, no enemies, no secret royal affairs, just an honest cultivator who worked hard and minded his own business. He never even met the emperor."
Linyue tapped her fingers on the table. "That makes sense. Besides, the emperor probably wasn't the one who discovered Crimson Bloodroot in the first place. Someone must've given it to him. We still don't know who that was."
Shen Zhenyu nodded. "It's starting to get more complicated."
"That's not even the end," Song Meiyu said, eyes widening. "He also told us some weird things are happening in the north."
Linyue narrowed her eyes. "What now?"
Song Meiyu leaned in, voice low and dramatic. "The same thing Master Yin Xue told us. People attacking others out of nowhere. Like they suddenly lost their minds. That mental sickness stuff."
Linyue frowned. "It's happening in the north too?"
Shen Zhenyu's voice was quiet but firm. "It can't be a coincidence. A lot of strange things are happening lately. We need to be careful."
"Did he say anything else?" Linyue asked.
Song Meiyu shook her head with an exaggerated sigh. "Not much. Just that he plans to stay here and keep investigating. Oh, and he told us where he's staying."
He Yuying raised an eyebrow lazily. "Let me guess. So we can visit him and ask for more egg tarts?"
Song Meiyu grinned. "Exactly."
Linyue sighed. "Of course. We're gathering clues and desserts at the same time."
Chaos Family: still dramatic. Still functional. Somehow.
Linyue kept her serious expression as she stood and smoothed her sleeves. The talk about the strange mental sickness was gnawing at her. People suddenly turning violent was no small matter. If it was already happening in the north and the east, what if it had reached Shulin too? Maybe she should ask Shu Mingye. Just in case.
Song Meiyu glanced up with a mischievous grin. "Where are you going? Did the Demon King send another invitation for cuddles?"
Linyue gave her a flat look. "I want to ask if the same mental sickness is happening here too."
Shen Zhenyu nodded in agreement. "Good idea. If it is… something big might be behind all of this."
Linyue turned her gaze to Song Meiyu. "Sister Meiyu, maybe you can ask Master Yin Xue for updates on her side too?"
Song Meiyu stood and gave an exaggerated salute. "Leave it to me, General."
With that, Linyue stepped out. Her face was calm but her steps were quick as she made her way to Shu Mingye's study. When she reached the heavy door, she paused for a moment, then raised her hand and knocked once.
Inside, Shu Mingye was surrounded by scrolls, ink, and chaos. He wasn't just running a state anymore. He was preparing to leave it. Every order, every report, every tiny task had to be settled before he could step away. He had already decided. He was going to Luyan. With her. To ask for permission to marry. He didn't want to wait any longer. Not when time was stealing pieces of Linyue away, bit by bit. Her laughter. Her sorrow. Her warmth. Even the soft glow in her eyes when she smiled. Not before he could claim every last one as his. He wanted to act before all of it vanished. Before the array sealed her emotions away completely.
He was halfway through signing something official-looking when a knock interrupted him. "Come in," he said without looking up.
The door creaked open.
And there she was.
His Pie. She had come. Not because of trouble. Not because of chaos. Miraculous.
He stood instantly. The frown that had lived on his face for hours disappeared in a heartbeat. He strode toward her, his eyes warming with each step. "Pie," he said, voice low and amused, "did you come because you missed me?"
"…No."
"Mm." He nodded, as if she had confirmed a great truth. "So it was unbearable. You missed me too much."
"…That's not what I said."
"Exactly," Shu Mingye replied without missing a beat, as if her denial was the clearest proof of his point. He stepped closer, his dark eyes fixed on her. "But go on. I'm listening. You may confess freely."
Linyue stared up at him, her calm mask cracking a little. For a moment, she genuinely forgot why she had come. His smirk was making it very difficult to remember anything except the fact that he smelled good, and looked like he hadn't slept in three days but still managed to be unfairly attractive.
No. No. That was not why she came here. Why did she come here again?
…Right. Angry cabbage.
She exhaled. "I came to ask about something serious."
His expression softened instantly. "Alright." He lifted a hand and gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "Then I'll take the confession later."
Linyue rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips anyway.
Chaos couple: one investigating angry cabbage, the other making it romantic.
Linyue stood in front of Shu Mingye with a calm face, but her mind was still swirling with everything Song Meiyu had told her. She explained it quickly and clearly. The strange attacks in the east. The sudden violent outbursts in the north. The same symptoms Master Yin Xue had warned them about.
Shu Mingye listened quietly the whole time. Not a single smirk. Not a single playful comment. His face was serious, the usual teasing light in his eyes dimmed.
"There's no report of anything like that happening here yet," he said finally, his brows drawn. "But I'll have people look into it carefully. If something's going on under the surface, I'll find out."
Linyue nodded, her shoulders relaxing a little. "Alright. That's good. I was just worried…"
"You don't need to be," he said simply. "Not while I'm here."
Warmth bloomed in her chest. For now, Shulin was safe. No angry cabbage attacks. No out-of-nowhere punches. That was comforting.
Shu Mingye tilted his head. His eyes sharpened with that familiar gleam. The one that always meant trouble. "I'm still waiting," he said, lips curving.
"Waiting for what?"
He stepped closer with absolutely no shame. "Confession."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that." A tiny, smug smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe next time."
He made a quiet sound, something between a sigh and a growl. His arm slipped around her waist, pulling her close against him. He leaned down slowly. His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, "I miss you."
Of course. She knew he was going to say something like that. It was so very Shu Mingye. Her hands paused for half a second like they were considering fighting him. Then they gave up completely and wrapped around his waist. She hugged him tight. He was warm. Always warm and steady. Like safety. Like something she could never put into proper words.
"I miss you, too," she whispered back, her voice soft.
They stayed like that for a moment. No angry cabbage. No endless stacks of paperwork. Just the two of them.
Chaos couple: still technically investigating symptoms. Also now standing dangerously close to cuddling on the floor. One wrong blink and it might actually happen.