Chapter 27: The Word "Love" - ​​Tasting the Bitterness of Love

Chen Juan looked desperate and gave a few bitter laughs:

"I don't know who they are."

“They forced me to take drugs, and if I didn’t follow their instructions, I wouldn’t get the antidote every month and would suffer excruciating pain.”

"After Shen Jingting found out, he was willing to be manipulated by them for my sake."

Chen Juan's eyes reddened, and she spoke each word with despair:

"But who asked him to make the decision for me? I didn't want to be Madam Shen!"

"My life should have rotted in that brothel, but he pulled me out. Such a noble and upright gentleman, yet he insisted on getting involved in my mess. He must bear the punishment for defying fate!"

“I killed him. You can arrest me and execute me in the autumn, or even tear me apart by five horses. I will admit it.”

Lin Yanshu felt that although Chen Juan looked resentful on the surface, she also exuded a faint sadness.

She hated him, hated that he was such a virtuous man yet she had dragged him into this mess, hated that he had given his heart to the wrong person, and hated herself even more.

Lin Yanshu reached out and placed her hand on Chen Juan's pulse. If she wasn't mistaken, Chen Juan was probably poisoned with the same type of poison as the other group of people who had received the medicine, but Chen Juan received an antidote every month to control it.

"Sister Chen, I can help you."

"After the poison is removed from your body, you can choose to be either Madam Shen or Chen Juan."

Chen Juan looked at the woman in front of her with tears in her eyes, pursed her lips, and shook her head:

“I am already deeply sinful, so what use is it whether this poison is cured or not?”

She could be ruthless enough to poison Shen Jingting to death, but she couldn't bring herself to continue living in this world.

Lin Yanshu gripped Chen Juan's hand tightly, provoking her and revealing all the secrets she had buried deep inside.

"No, Sister Chen, you want to live, you want to live a different life."

"You're not trapped in a brothel, nor in a mansion, for which you can abandon this lover. It's just that you feel you can never get out of here."

When Chen Juan heard the word "lover," her eyes showed a hint of emotion.

Shen Jingting, is he her... lover?

Can she really escape this life of being controlled by others and having no hope?

She stared blankly at Lin Yanshu.

Lin Yanshu's eyes were filled with hope:

"As long as you help the Crown Prince open the wooden box and find clues to the granary case, you can choose what kind of life you want to live in the future."

Chen Juan took a deep breath, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Could someone like her really have the freedom to choose?

"I agree."

…………………

The next day, Lin Yanshu and Li Chengyi, carrying a wooden box, came to see Chen Juan.

Chen Juan looked at the exquisite little box.

She already knew where the box came from; Lin Yanshu had found it in the artificial pavilion.

She looked at the wooden box in her hand and fell into deep thought.

Outsiders don't know that Shen Jingting, who seems to follow the rules and regulations, actually loves carpentry. He even told her that if he weren't an official in the court, he would definitely become a carpenter.

She laughed at his nonsense, but now the last thing he left behind was a wooden box he made himself.

Chen Juan examined the wooden box. She entered their wedding date into the key, but the box did not open.

Chen Juan tried opening the app on several other important dates for her and Shen Jingting, but it still wouldn't open.

She stared quietly at the wooden box, recalling the words Shen Jingting had spoken to her before he passed away.

"Madam, I have arranged to meet His Highness the Crown Prince at the teahouse. If..."

"Come back, I have something for you."

She entered the date Shen Jingting went to the teahouse as the key.

The lock is open.

Chen Juan stared at the wooden box in astonishment, unable to understand why this day was the password.

Li Chengyi opened the wooden box, inside which were two letters. He deftly tore them open.

One letter was addressed to Chen Juan, while the other was a letter of accusation intended for the Crown Prince:

"Your Highness, if this letter had already reached your hands, I fear I would already be dead. My life has been filled with selfish desires, and I am ashamed before the court. I have no face to live on. As far as I know, the people involved in the case in the court have been written in the letter. Your Highness can find the evidence by following the instructions in the letter."

"My only worry is my wife. She had no choice in life and died at her hands. I wish that Your Highness would be lenient with my wife."

Lin Yanshu stood beside Li Chengyi and cast a glance at him.

Shen Jingting risked his life to plead with Li Chengyi to spare his widow's life.

Lin Yanshu handed another letter to Chen Juan.

Chen Juan took it and lowered her eyes to read it.

"I know what my wife is thinking. Please forgive my selfish thoughts in confining you to the courtyard. My wife need not worry about my death."

"The sky is high enough for birds to fly freely, so my wife may leave as she pleases. I have already arranged everything at home. I wish my wife peace."

After reading those few words, Chen Juan chuckled and unknowingly shed a tear.

He knew he was unfortunate, so why didn't he say so? Why didn't he let her go sooner?

Now that he's dead, he willingly died by his own hand, leaving behind this final letter that shows his consideration for her in every way.

How sentimental, how ridiculous.

Chen Juan laughed mockingly and tore up the letter.

Didn't he want her to live a carefree life? She'll show him!

As Li Chengyi read the letter, he pondered the clues in his mind. There were too many ministers involved, and he needed to carefully examine their authenticity. What surprised him even more was that the princess's husband was the leader among them.

The imperial decree stipulates that princesses and their husbands cannot hold important positions in the court. However, this particular husband is utterly ignorant and lacks any talent or strategy; he only possesses a handsome face and the talent to marry a princess, yet he is causing chaos in the court.

Lin Yanshu followed Li Chengyi out of the Shen residence. She had read the whole case from beginning to end and found it quite poignant.

The word "love" can be so perplexing.

She tugged at Li Chengyi's sleeve and asked him:

"Chen Juan, what will you do?"

Li Chengyi lowered his eyes to look at Lin Yanshu:

“With Shen Jingting’s letter pleading for her, she may be spared the death penalty, but she will not escape punishment.”

Lin Yanshu lowered his eyes.

Lee Seung-ik noticed that she was in a bad mood, so he looked down and asked her:

"Bad mood?"

Lin Yanshu shook his head:

"I just feel it's a pity that the two people clearly had feelings for each other, but they missed their chance."

Lee Seung-ik brought his face close to hers, his words implying:

"So everyone should be brave enough to tell each other how they feel. If the other person is also interested, it will be a beautiful story."

"Do you understand, Yanshu? If you have someone you love, tell me, and I will definitely let you be together."

Li Chengyi thought to himself, "I've hinted so obviously, surely Lin Yanshu will dare to express her feelings to me now."

After all, he was the Crown Prince, so it was normal for Lin Yanshu to have some concerns.

Lin Yanshu nodded in agreement.

Later, Chen Juan was punished and exiled to another place. On the day she was to leave, Lin Yanshu delivered the antidote he had made to her.

Looking into the girl's sincere and pitying eyes, Chen Juan kindly gave her a piece of advice:

“Miss Lin, His Highness the Crown Prince treats you very well. Don’t be like me and miss out on the person right in front of you.”

"I'll live with regret for the rest of my life."

Lin Yanshu didn't understand the meaning behind her words. He watched Chen Juan's thin figure getting further and further away from him, turning into a black dot in the distance.

Because of the evidence provided by Shen Jingting, Li Chengyi spent the entire night investigating the people on the list, keeping him extremely busy.

Lin Yanshu wasn't much better off. Ever since she appeared at the banquet, invitations from various women families kept pouring in, inviting her to attend.

Lin Yanshu was overwhelmed by the invitations; she didn't recognize any of the people on them.

Lee Seung-ik told her to do as she pleased.

So Lin Yanshu picked out an invitation from the eldest princess and went to the banquet.

She thought that, after all, she was Li Chengyi's aunt, and it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse.

The eldest princess had already heard the rumors that her nephew had carried Lin Yanshu away in public at the banquet. Her nephew was always self-disciplined and respectful of etiquette.

She was curious about what kind of woman Lin Yanshu was, that she could bewitch her nephew so much, so she sent Lin Yanshu an invitation.

The eldest princess was overjoyed to receive Lin Yanshu's reply.

She specially arranged for someone to invite her favorite opera troupe over. Since he was Li Chengyi's sweetheart, she, as his aunt, had to show him the world.

The day of the appointment arrived quickly.

Winter had already begun, and although it hadn't snowed, the outdoors was still bleak.

Lin Yanshu was sensitive to the cold and always wore an extra robe when she went out. Li Chengyi then had several fox fur shawls made for her.

Lin Yanshu picked out a robe to wear and headed to the Princess's residence.

The princess looked up and saw a petite and charming woman with bright eyes, wearing a light-colored fox fur robe, slowly walking towards her.

The eldest princess glanced at Lin Yanshu's shawl with surprise. Her nephew was really generous. Such a fine fox fur was only offered as tribute a few times a year, and he gave it to Lin Yanshu so easily.

It seems the little girl doesn't yet realize how precious these clothes are.

Lin Yanshu looked around at the Princess's residence, which was much larger than the one she was currently living in.

The eldest princess offered her a seat and held a banquet.

Suddenly, many handsome men with flowing robes walked onto the stage.

It may be alluring with seductive eyes, captivating the soul; or it may be a virtuous gentleman, incorruptible and honest; or it may be majestic and imposing.

Lin Yanshu watched as these people on stage did their best to please the princess. She blinked in surprise and watched even more intently.

The man on stage performed as he walked down to the princess's side to pour her wine.

Someone sat down next to Lin Yanshu, gently picked up the wine pot, poured wine for Lin Yanshu, and had a hint of shyness in their eyes.

Lin Yanshu, flattered, pressed down on the wine pot, saying there was really no need for such formality.

The princess drank the wine offered by the man beside her and looked at Lin Yanshu, who seemed slightly flustered.

“Miss Lin, there’s no need to be so polite. You are a guest of my household, and it is only right that they serve you.”

Lin Yanshu felt a little awkward. She... didn't know how to say it, but she just felt that the glass of wine was too hot to handle.

The eldest princess noticed her unease and asked with a smile:

"Miss Lin, are you afraid that Zhao'er will be angry?"

Lin Yanshu shook his head and asked sincerely:

"Why is he angry? Although it is indeed... against etiquette in broad daylight."

The princess looked at the woman's innocent and bewildered face and smiled.

So it turns out her nephew's feelings were one-sided. The girl didn't even realize his inappropriate thoughts. Could it be that the girl didn't have any feelings for her nephew at all?

interesting.

As her aunt, she had to help her nephew, who was just beginning to experience love, and let the Crown Prince taste the bitterness of love.