Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

“It seems to be the current Duke Cheng'en,” Shen Ye said after a moment of observation, “who is also the Empress’s brother.”

Miss Zheng rarely saw the Empress's relatives, and even when she did, they were mostly women. Hearing him say this, she recognized him: "It really is the Duke of Cheng'en. He is now in charge of the Central Military Command. The Marquis of Li's mansion has to give him face."

Shen Ruyin memorized the faces, and also glanced twice at the red-clad boy who was hugging his legs and looking aggrieved.

Was he just smart, or did someone give him advice?

As Shen Ruyin pondered this, Shen Ye picked her up. In front of the Duke of Chengen, the people from the Marquis of Li's mansion could no longer make a fuss, and those who had cooperated and were not allowed to leave were finally able to go.

Since the incident had just occurred, Shen Ruyin and her brother first escorted Miss Zheng back to her residence before heading to their own home.

They arrived at just the right time; they had barely entered the gate and hadn't even had a chance to rest when someone from the Marquis of Li's residence came.

"The Marquis of Li's residence?" Jin Yang had been staying at home and hadn't heard anything about what was happening outside.

Shen Ruyin said, "Mother, the eldest son of Marquis Li had an accident on the football field, and I haven't seen him move much."

Jin Yang was somewhat surprised. He glanced at his children and then had them sit down beside him before instructing his servants, "Go and invite them in."

The person who came was from a collateral branch of the Marquis of Li's household. After exchanging greetings, he first thanked Shen Ye: "I heard that Marquis Xin was the first to send someone to invite a doctor. Thank you, Marquis Xin."

Shen Ye said, "I just reacted quickly, there's no need to thank me."

The branch of the Marquis of Li thanked him repeatedly, and then said, "I have come here today for another matter, which I would like to ask the Marquis of Xin."

"What is it?" Shen Ye looked up at him, his back straight and his posture distant.

"It's still about the football match," said a relative of the Marquis of Li. "My lord wants to know if anyone used any underhanded tactics on the football match to harm my eldest son?"

Shen Ruyin closed her teacup and looked at Shen Ye.

Shen Ye didn't look at her, but simply repeated the same response he had given to the people from the Military Command: "I was looking elsewhere at the time and didn't notice. By the time I realized what was happening, they were already lying on the Cuju field. I can't answer that question."

The branch of the Marquis of Li looked bitter, but still pressed on, "Marquis Xin, why don't you think about it some more? Perhaps the Princess of Fuchang County knows something?"

"What do I know?" Shen Ruyin picked up a piece of pastry, looking up blankly as if she had been suddenly called on.

Shen Ye slammed his hand on the table and said with a stern face, "You came to ask me questions, and I answered them politely. You're still not satisfied and actually want to force Fu Chang to answer?"

"She's young, her mind isn't on the football field, what could she possibly know?"

"Or are you trying to take advantage of her ignorance to say something to her, to persuade her to testify for you?"

The branch of the Marquis of Li quickly bowed and said, "I dare not."

"Dare not? I think you dare quite a bit. Relying on the Marquis of Li, you even want to interrogate me and the County Princess," Shen Ye shouted loudly. "Guards, show the guest out."

"From now on, this guest will no longer be welcome in our household."

In his haste, the branch of the Marquis of Li turned his gaze to Jinyang: "It was my fault just now, but Princess, the Marquis of Li's mansion and the Marquis of Xin's mansion have been friends for many years!"

“If it weren’t for our years of friendship, I would have had you thrown out by now,” Jin Yang said calmly, but his words were the most chilling. “What you want to know, hasn’t Marquis Xin told you?”

“You take advantage of the fact that Marquis Xin and the County Princess are young, and you’ve gone too far.”

Jin Yang glanced coldly at the servant who had entered: "What, does the Marquis's word not carry any weight?"

Jin Yang was clearly angry. These people didn't dare to let the branch of the Marquis of Li say another word. They gagged them and dragged them out.

But after everyone left, Jin Yang showed some satisfaction: "Ye'er performed well today, showing the demeanor a marquis should have."

Shen Ye's earlobes turned slightly red: "He actually dared to drag Yin Yin into this. If I were to be more lenient, wouldn't he be stepping on my sister and me?"

Jin Yang nodded: "They are just a branch of the Li Marquis's household. They don't even have the right to speak with you normally. The Li Marquis must have lost his mind to use someone like this who doesn't know his place."

While her mother and brother discussed the matter of Marquis Li, Shen Ruyin put aside her worries about her brother and moved to his side, saying, "Thank you for protecting me, brother."

Shen Ye enjoyed his sister's closeness: "You're my sister, if I don't protect you, who else should I protect?"

Shen Ruyin smiled sweetly: "My brother is the best in the world!"

Shen Ye was so charmed by Shen Ruyin that he lost all sense of reason and just kept grinning like an idiot.

Jin Yang watched his son act foolishly, and after the two siblings had been cuddling for a while, he dismissed the servants and asked, "What exactly happened on the football field today?"

Facing his mother, Shen Ye had nothing to hide and recounted the events of that time in detail.

Shen Ruyin added, "Mother, according to Sister Zheng, that boy in red was originally the Crown Prince's study companion, but because his family suddenly had to leave the capital to take up a post in another place, and he also committed a crime, the Crown Prince abandoned him."

"With the selection of a prince's study companion imminent, the Crown Prince is currently short of a companion. The eldest son of the Marquis of Li is about the same age as the Crown Prince, so perhaps that young man in red knows something."

Shen Ruyin reasonably guessed: "Otherwise, they wouldn't be so angry, would they?"

Shen Ye's eyes darted around: "Yinyin, do you mean that the eldest son of Marquis Li has already been chosen as the Crown Prince's study companion?"

Shen Ruyin smiled and said, "There are so many people who want to be the Crown Prince's study companion, so why does that young man in red not go looking for trouble with others, but only cause trouble for the eldest son of Marquis Li?"

"Moreover, brother, have you forgotten? It was you who said that Marquis Li wanted the position of Crown Prince's tutor and also wanted to send Young Master Xiao to the Ninth Prince's side."

"Everyone else is only keeping an eye on one prince, so why is Marquis Li so confident that he can keep an eye on both?"

"Then there's the attitude of the people in the Marquis of Li's household towards the Duke of Cheng'en."

"They argued and made trouble in front of the deputy commander, but didn't even utter a word of rebuttal to the Duke of Cheng'en. Is it because they only want to rely on the Empress's lineage?"

Shen Ye realized: "Naturally, he was already under the Empress's command, which is why he performed like this. His companion must have been decided in advance, which is why he dared to act like this. Perhaps the Marquis of Li also played a part in the trouble that happened to the original companion's family."

"However, it seems that Marquis Li has lost more than he gained by trying to steal a chicken. He has ended up sacrificing his own eldest son, while only the offspring of his second wife have benefited."

“That’s a matter within the Xiao family,” Shen Ruyin said, completely unconcerned. “Besides, I remember that the eldest son of the Marquis of Li was not born to the current Marquis of Li.”

Jin Yang took a sip of tea: "If Yin Yin remembers correctly, the late Marquis of Li had one son and two daughters. After she passed away, the Marquis of Li remarried and married his current wife. Their newest son was born not long ago."

Shen Ruyin's mind raced: "If this news leaked from the inner courtyard of Marquis Li, then the Marquis Li's residence will be in chaos from now on."

"That can't be right?" Shen Ye said subconsciously, then shook his head, his tone smug. "Not necessarily. After all, not every family is like ours, with loving mothers and filial children, and harmonious siblings."

Shen Ruyin liked hearing this, but she still wanted to ask one more question: "Then, brother, do you think this matter has anything to do with the inner court of Marquis Li?"

Shen Ye hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "My sister will definitely choose yes, so I'll choose no."

"If I'm wrong, as usual, I'll lose to you in one matter."