Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 335: A Matter of Life and Death (2/2)

“Fourth Daughter-in-law, what are you looking at? The food has arrived. Come and join us for the meal,” said her mother-in-law.

When Su Wenyue heard her calling, she responded and took one last glance at where the man had hidden before returning to her seat, her thoughts lingering on his wellbeing. Ever since the birth of her three little ones, she felt her heart had softened considerably, perhaps partly motivated by the desire to accumulate blessings for her children.

This episode had made Su Wenyue somewhat preoccupied throughout the meal, but it also helped her put her earlier restlessness behind her, especially since that sense of being watched had disappeared after entering the restaurant.

In the room opposite of the same restaurant, Sikong Ling also saw the commotion below, but since Wang Mang had usurped power, such scenes had become commonplace within the Imperial Court and the city; they were not unusual. Moreover, it was none of his business, and Sikong Ling had no intention of intervening. He was, however, surprised by Su Wenyue’s sensitivity. Despite their discreet surveillance, she still felt their presence, and Sikong Ling noted how she occasionally scanned her surroundings for any signs of being followed.

“Master, shall we continue to follow her?” Sikong Ling’s subordinate was exasperated, after half a day tailing a married woman and considering previous actions, it was clear the master was genuinely interested in her. It baffled him even more.

In his view, if the master desired the woman, with the Sikong Family’s power, it wouldn’t be too difficult to acquire her. While it would be morally objectionable to court a married woman, noble families often committed far worse transgressions for their objectives, as long as they didn’t come to light.

But the master’s indecisive manner left him perplexed. After doing so much for her without any gain or apparent intention of seizing what he wanted, like during this occasion that seemed to be just an idle pursuit.

Sikong Ling, never one to care about others’ opinions and with no need to justify himself to his subordinates, gestured dismissively: “No need to continue. Looking at her demeanor, if we follow her any longer, it might cause unrest.”

Of course, Sikong Ling had other concerns. Su Wenyue had Han Yu’s men covertly following for protection, and they seemed highly capable, nearly detecting them a few times. Sikong Ling preferred not to spook his quarry and did not want his presence in Yiyang Prefecture revealed just yet.

When Su Wenyue left the restaurant, the feeling of being watched had vanished, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Even though it had been an intuition, her gut feelings had always been accurate. Knowing that a mysterious figure was orchestrating events behind the scenes, she had even more reason to be cautious.

As they passed the alley she had observed from the restaurant, Su Wenyue hesitated slightly, torn. It wasn’t her business, and she wasn’t one to meddle or court trouble. Yet the situation could involve a person’s life, and it was not easy to turn a blind eye to. With her in-laws and the family around, rescuing someone wasn’t feasible at the moment.

“Make way! Make way! Everyone get out of the way!”

As Su Wenyue mulled over her thoughts, the soldiers who had been chasing the man earlier were now scouring the street fiercely, treating the commoners more like bandits, which only intensified her disdain. Her brows furrowed slightly upon seeing their uniforms; they were from the Prefecture General Camp.