Chapter 12: The Investigation

For a long moment, she tremblingly reached a conclusion—

“…This despicable man isn’t planning to make me stay here for long, is he?!”

The system was momentarily uncertain as well.

[Not necessarily… The darkening value has decreased, sending bedding isn’t unusual, right?]

At this moment, the man in question, Long Yuan, was seated in his study, listening to the butler’s report.

“…Yes, the bedding has already been delivered to Miss Chu.”

Long Yuan gave a faint hum, his gaze still fixed on the dossier before him.

Just moments ago, the butler had brought over Chu Chu’s file.

It was only a few thin pages, but Long Yuan read it with meticulous care.

The butler, standing by, was secretly astonished.

The Marshal seemed unusually attentive to this child caretaker.

Sending bedding to a prison cell was almost inconceivable. Yesterday, he practically wanted to send her a torture rack; today, a full set of bed linens…

And the seriousness with which he examined the file… it was as if he were studying each word.

The last time the Marshal had scrutinized a file this thoroughly, it had been on a spy from an enemy nation…

Putting these clues together, the butler boldly speculated that perhaps the Marshal harbored other intentions toward this young lady?

Though rationally skeptical, emotionally, he hoped the Marshal could soon free himself from the shadow of his former wife.

He was, after all, the dream lover of countless noble young ladies across the empire, yet he lived each day under constant restraint… Sigh.

With this in mind, the butler decided to boldly nudge the situation along.

“Marshal, the prison cell is cold and damp. Do you think… it might be best to release Miss Chu directly?”

Long Yuan ignored him, still flipping through the dossier, soon reaching the last page.

His brows furrowed slightly, a deep disappointment flickering in his eyes.

The personal file was utterly conventional, bland and unremarkable, without a single flaw to pick.

This woman had no connection whatsoever to Chu Chu.

“Is that all?” he looked up at the butler.

Seeing his expression, the butler realized the Marshal was dissatisfied.

“Yes, for now, only these basic records could be found. As for more detailed, private daily life information… that’s rather difficult to investigate. I suppose Miss Chu must keep a very low profile.”

Long Yuan snorted lightly. “With that face? Do you really think she can keep a low profile?”

He began to unconsciously recall her face but found—no matter how hard he tried—it simply would not come to mind.

This was absurd. He possessed extraordinarily keen facial recognition; a face seen once was rarely forgotten.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he tossed the dossier carelessly onto the desk, leaving behind only a few words—

“Something’s off. Investigate further.”

After saying this, he glanced at the light computer on his wrist, then rose to don his military cloak.

The butler understood immediately: the Marshal was preparing to depart for the military headquarters.

He quickly gathered the scattered dossiers on the desk, hesitated a moment, then asked again, “So, regarding Miss Chu… should she remain confined for now?”

Long Yuan’s footsteps did not falter. His voice was cold: “Keep her locked up. Just make sure she’s fed three meals a day.”

The butler scratched his head, finding the Marshal’s thoughts more inscrutable by the minute.

After a moment, he gave up trying to understand.

Well, whatever. He was just a servant—no need to worry about affairs of the imperial palace when he was merely earning a living.

*

Unlike the indifferent butler, another servant was fighting tooth and nail for her career.

Tara had thrown every possible effort into winning favor with the little bundle of joy before her.

To this end, she had bitten the bullet, paying a hefty price and making considerable sacrifices to obtain Long Yuan’s custom high-end perfume, ensuring the child could sense a fragrance akin to the Marshal’s.

Though it was merely a premium version, for a fallen noblewoman like herself, even meeting the Marshal was exceedingly rare, let alone learning about his personal fragrance.

The information had come by chance, through a connection with the Marshal’s deputy’s deputy. She had used her body as payment to loosen that person’s tongue.

As it turned out, every cost was worth it.

On the day the little master chose his caretaker, she deliberately applied the custom perfume subtly on herself. Sure enough, the little master with his keen sense of smell picked her out from among the caretakers.

Only unfortunately, that woman named Chu had discovered this—her sole mistake.

If she were branded with a scandalous private life, the Marshal would never allow her to remain by the little master’s side.

She had to quickly build a good relationship with the little master, make him like her more, and in the process… grow his dislike for Chu.

Once the little master rejected Chu, the Marshal would naturally drive her away.

But this matter seemed to be progressing swiftly. She had heard from the servants that Chu had fed the little master cold leftovers yesterday, causing him discomfort for most of the day.

A sneer of contempt curled the corner of Tara’s lips; she was determined to secure her position.

Her gaze shifted downward, where Chu was looking tenderly at the little bundle eagerly awaiting lunch, her smile softening into warmth.

“Little master, shall I feed you your meal?”

The little bundle looked up at her, nodding slowly.

Tara picked up the small, exquisite spoon meant for children and began feeding him little spoonfuls.

*

While feeding, she covertly administered eye drops.

“Little master, does your tummy still hurt?”

“You must never eat cold food again, okay?”

“Remember, anyone who feeds you cold food is a bad person.”

Long Xiao Bao grew a bit irritated.

The people before him were strange—feeding was so slow, and they babbled odd things nonstop.

Young children had little patience for hunger.

Once his patience snapped, Long Xiao Bao snatched the spoon and began feeding himself voraciously.

Tara’s smile froze, her mouth twitching faintly.

Yet she refused to give up. That afternoon, while the child played with building blocks, she sat beside him again.

This time, she tried a different tactic.

She had heard that the little master’s mother had died early—a white moonlight that Marshal Long Yuan loved but could never have.

In such a family, a child who knew nothing might naturally harbor deep affection for his mother.

Surely, such a child would detest the prospect of a stepmother.

She rolled her eyes and exaggerated a sigh.

Just as she thought, the little master’s attention was drawn to her.

“Little master, do you want a new mother?”

Long Xiao Bao clutched his building blocks, looking a little confused.

“Fi…ve…seven?”

Tara: …

Patiently, she corrected him, “Mother—your mama, the one who gave birth to you.”

Hearing this, Long Xiao Bao finally understood.

He shook his head, “Xiao Bao… has mama.”

Tara inwardly rejoiced; the child’s reaction was just as she had suspected.