Chapter 8 This child is beyond redemption! He's probably going to be driven mad by Lin Yanshu...

Lin Yanshu looked up at Li Chengyi, her eyes full of inquiry.

Li Cheng feigned composure and put on airs, saying mysteriously:

"I don't tell just anyone my methods."

Lin Yanshu snorted coldly and turned to leave, but Li Chengyi quickly pulled her back.

This little devil refuses to show any weakness; he's just unlucky.

"Alright, alright, I'll teach you."

Lin Yanshu sat down, resting her chin on her palm, and turned her head to look at Li Chengyi.

As Li Chengyi spoke, he took her elbow, opened her sleeve, and applied medicine to Lin Yanshu:

"That guy surnamed Gu has been pestering you only because he thinks you both have feelings for him. If he really realizes that you don't have feelings for him, he will naturally stop bothering you."

Lin Yanshu slammed his fist on the table and gestured angrily:

"Isn't my attitude obvious enough? Where did this concubine come from!"

Lee Seung-ik laughed at her complete lack of understanding of romantic feelings between a man and a woman.

He lowered his eyes, half-covering his lips with a sly smile, but Lin Yanshu caught him red-handed.

He cleared his throat and explained earnestly:

A man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

"In the eyes of these men, it was nothing more than a flirtatious game of playing hard to get."

Li Chengyi wasn't talking nonsense; he had seen too many confident men like that in the capital.

To outsiders, it was just a man persistently pursuing a woman, but to the two involved, it was a silent flirtation.

Until the woman, unable to bear the harassment any longer, took the matter to court, the other party said:

"Weren't you the one who was deliberately seducing me?!"

Lin Yanshu clicked her tongue helplessly and continued listening to Li Chengyi's words:

"Therefore, you must now learn to keep your distance from men and learn to recognize the wicked intentions of men in the world."

"It all boils down to recognizing a person's face and understanding their heart."

Lin Yanshu felt a little sleepy and yawned.

"This is so troublesome, is there any other way?"

Li Chengyi was so angry at Lin Yanshu's nonchalant attitude that he couldn't speak. He tapped Lin Yanshu's forehead with his knuckles and teased:

"Yes, I'll go and take care of that kid, then no one will bother you anymore."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yanshu shook his head violently.

She went through so much trouble to save this person; killing him would be a waste of all her hard work.

Li Chengyi applied ointment to the last bruise, carefully blew on it, and then lowered his sleeve.

"Lin Yanshu, I will teach you to understand people's hearts and distinguish between loyalty and treachery."

Don't let yourself be fooled like that again.

………

Li Chengyi was very thorough in his lectures to Lin Yanshu.

Early in the morning, he took the gentleman's code of conduct, which he had copied overnight, and explained it word by word:

"The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water."

Lin Yanshu looked at the densely packed regular script and felt a headache coming on.

Over the years, apart from medical books, she hadn't read many other books. Listening to Li Chengyi's words, she asked in confusion:

“But I am a woman, not a gentleman.”

Li Chengyi flicked her forehead in anger:

"Lin Yanshu, you...you're really stubborn!"

Lin Yanshu stuck out her tongue in pain and continued to ignore Li Chengyi's words.

"Most people in the world act for profit."

"Everyone is busy and bustling, all for profit. So if someone suddenly appears next to you, they must have something on their mind."

"They are after fame and fortune, but most men are after women for their looks."

"Truly, what little there is."

Lin Yanshu didn't agree with Li Chengyi's words. She blinked blankly and asked:

"But you're so good to me!"

Li Chengyi was stunned. He...

He was just like most people, concealing his true intentions with deception and unspeakable purposes.

For the first time, he went against his own wishes and spoke the truth:

"Lin Yanshu, sometimes you can't judge a person by just these things."

"Maybe I'm a big liar."

Lin Yanshu hadn't met many people, and she hadn't really experienced what it felt like to be deceived.

She believes that a person's true feelings can be seen through interactions.

Lin Yanshu's eyes held a hint of sincerity as she gestured earnestly:

"Even though you're mentally impaired now, I still believe you're a kind-hearted person."

Li Chengyi didn't know what to say. He felt that Lin Yanshu was scolding him, but also praising him.

Lin Yanshu's naivety and honesty were qualities he lacked.

He didn't want to ruin this innocence.

But he discovered that Lin Yanshu really couldn't learn the proper etiquette and manners of a well-bred lady.

He could only use plain language to earnestly instruct Lin Yanshu:

"Apart from practicing medicine, you can't hug men or hold their hands!"

"Don't get too close to them."

"Don't smile too brightly at them!"

Lin Yanshu followed the fingertip that had hooked onto Li Chengyi's finger and blinked:

"You can't even touch it?"

Li Chengyi looked into Lin Yanshu's innocent big eyes and his breath caught in his throat.

He felt his heart pounding, probably because he was feeling choked with anger.

He withdrew his fingertips and said righteously:

"Logically speaking, no."

"But I'm a good person."

Lin Yanshu nodded in agreement.

This scene was witnessed by Gu Shuyun, who had just arrived.

That day, the matchmaker went back to report, implying that he should give up on Lin Yanshu.

She said that Lin Yanshu had a handsome man who looked like an immortal by her side, implying that Lin Yanshu was a restless woman.

Gu Shuyun outwardly dismissed the matchmaker, but then turned around and had someone smash up her house.

He appointed her to handle a task, but she failed to accomplish it and even dared to gossip about her master.

Gu Shuyun didn't think she would lose to anyone.

In this prefecture and county, no one could compare with his family in terms of power, wealth, and status.

He didn't believe that Lin Yanshu could have a better match than him.

Gu Shuyun was originally very confident, given his background and academic achievements. However, when he saw Lin Yanshu interacting with that man, he was shocked.

His unease and jealousy sprouted like seeds.

He knew that this man was just like him back then, a sickly fellow picked up from who-knows-where.

But he fell for Lin Yanshu under her care back then, and this man will definitely do the same.

Moreover, how could Lin Yanshu be so gentle and smile so contentedly at him?

Gu Shuyun feigned a magnanimous expression and strode inside.

Gu Shuyun wasn't the only one experiencing similar emotional turmoil. Gu Shuyun's new attendant stared incredulously at the helpless yet incredibly gentle man in the courtyard.

Is this... is this still the same ruthless Crown Prince?

Perhaps she's been possessed!

Since Li Chengyi fell into trouble and disappeared, his confidants have followed the clues he left behind and infiltrated the residences of various officials he suspected.

Huo Zheng stared intently at Li Chengyi and the newly appeared woman.

He had been lying in wait at the Gu residence for several days when he overheard them saying that Gu Shuyun was going out to meet an important person.

Huo Zheng thought that what the governor's son considered important must be closely related to their case!

So he gave Gu Shuyun's usual servant a laxative and took his place.

But Huo Zheng never expected that Gu Shuyun would actually come all the way to the countryside to see a woman!

He never expected to see his master next to this woman.

It seems that His Highness had already discovered this clue, and even in danger, he did not forget his original intention, lurking by this woman's side to gain her trust.

It seems Your Highness's infiltration was very successful.

Huo Zheng's gaze was so direct that even Lin Yanshu noticed his intense stare.

She looked up at Huo Zheng, her face showing confusion.

Li Chengyi had already noticed Huo Zheng, and he seemed to read shock, followed by admiration, in the eyes of his confidant.

He never expected to run into his men here again.

He watched as Huo Zheng followed behind a man.

He glanced up and looked over casually; the man was dressed in fine clothes and was definitely not an ordinary person.

What bothered him even more was the hostility in the man's eyes.

He frowned almost imperceptibly, piecing together the name from the unfamiliar face:

Gu Shuyun, son of the governor.

Lin Yanshu saw Gu Shuyun sigh deeply and stand up:

What brings you here?

When Gu Shuyun saw her, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, his tone carrying a hint of weakness and reproach:

"I couldn't stop thinking about you because you hadn't replied to my letters, so I came to see you."

Lin Yanshu looked at Li Chengyi pleadingly:

Please come and save her.

Li Chengyi, understanding the unspoken message, curled the corners of his lips and explained on Lin Yanshu's behalf:

"Yan Shu has been injured recently and has no time for you."

His tone was assertive. To Gu Shuyun, this person was taunting him and asserting their dominance.

Since he was in front of Lin Yanshu, Gu Shuyun couldn't be cold. He still smiled, but there was a hint of sinister intent in his smile.

He was smiling for the man who came later. Gu Shuyun reached out to take Lin Yanshu's wrist and show her some concern.

But he was stopped halfway by Li Chengyi, and he gritted his teeth and looked at Li Chengyi.

Li Chengyi completely ignored Gu Shuyun's gaze; he was simply angry.

Qi Lin Yanshu turned her head and forgot his words, not avoiding the touch of this young master Gu at all.

Li Chengyi said calmly:

"Young Master Gu, men and women should not touch each other."

Gu Shuyun's refined face could no longer contain itself; she glared angrily at Li Chengyi and gritted her teeth, saying:

“My classmates and I are different, so there’s no need to worry about these formalities.”

Huo Zheng blinked several times in surprise, sensing a hint of jealousy or rivalry.

How could Your Highness be jealous over a woman!

This must be His Highness's scheme to bewitch this woman. As expected of His Highness, he sets up the whole thing so perfectly, even getting himself involved without leaving a single flaw!

He should learn from his own prince.

Li Chengyi gently squeezed Lin Yanshu's wrist, finally pulling Lin Yanshu back from her reverie:

"However, Yan Shu minds."

Lin Yanshu nodded obediently, looking dazed.

Gu Shuyun's gaze fell on the spot where the two were clasped, and the anger in her eyes was almost bursting out.

Even though Lin Yanshu was still a bit dazed, she sensed something and asked with a righteous expression:

"Young Master Gu, what's wrong?"

"Is your liver fire too strong? Do you need me to take your pulse and treat it?"

If Lin Yanshu were to examine Gu Shuyun's pulse now, she would surely be astonished:

What a short temper!

Li Chengyi chuckled as he watched her actions.

This person was quite clever at that moment.

Gu Shuyun maintained the few remaining semblance of composure on her face and took a deep breath:

"Yanshu, I'm fine. I'll come see you another day."

After saying that, he turned and left with a flick of his sleeve. Li Chengyi and Huo Zheng exchanged glances and gave each other a meaningful look.

A note from the author:

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Huo Zheng: Your Highness has truly gone to great lengths, feigning jealousy and rivalry to lull the enemy into a false sense of security!

Lee Seung-ik: ...I have my own rhythm.

Lin Yanshu: You're jealous of me! No need to fight over it, there's vinegar in the kitchen.