Chapter 31 Accident

Shen Anan looked up in the direction of the voice and saw Meng Cheng, dressed in an extremely luxurious dark blue brocade robe, walking towards them happily.

Only then did she suddenly remember that he had sent several letters to her house in the past two days, and it seemed that he had made an appointment at this restaurant. However, she thought that if she didn't reply, the other party would understand what he meant.

“Miss Shen…”

Meng Cheng wanted to step forward, but was stopped by Shen Changhe's long arms.

“Brother Shen.”

Shen Changhe protected Shen Anan behind him, "Mr. Meng, is there something wrong?"

Meng Cheng glanced at Shen Anan, then at Shen Changhe, and said blankly, "I have an appointment with Miss Shen. We agreed to come and enjoy the lanterns."

As soon as these words fell, Shen Changhe's face instantly darkened, and his eyes were cold as he stared at Meng Cheng.

"When did my Miss Shen get involved with Master Meng?"

Meng Cheng was shocked and quickly changed his words, "Brother Shen, don't be angry. I was too blunt and rude. What I meant was..."

"Mr. Meng." Shen Anan came out from behind Shen Changhe, as gentle as ever, "I grew up in Jiangnan since I was a child, I am afraid I can't be qualified for the position of the mistress of the Meng Mansion."

She bowed gracefully and took Shen Changhe away.

“Miss Shen.” Meng Cheng took a step forward with a pale face, but was frightened by Shen Changhe’s cold eyes and dared not move forward.

I could only watch them leave.

Among the many girls he was looking at, Miss Shen was his favorite, but his mother still messed things up.

His finger bones curled into fists in his sleeves. He let out a long breath, turned around, left the restaurant angrily and returned home.

——

In the private room with the swaying bead curtains, a pair of cold and sharp dark eyes took in everything that had just happened, and the lips involuntarily raised an arc.

Li Huaiyan poured a glass of wine, shook it back and forth in his hands, and finally drank it all. "Doesn't the Fourth Prince always dislike these hustle and bustles? Why did you bear to come out today?"

"Of course I have something in mind." Ling Chenyi continued.

"What did you say?" Li Huaiyan glanced sideways, raising his eyebrows in disbelief, "Who are you thinking about?"

"Then you have to ask him?"

"Aren't you the worm in his stomach? Don't you know that?"

Ling Chenyi raised his hand and pushed away Li Huaiyan's face, which was so close to him, with a look of disgust on his face, "Why are you so disgusting?"

Xiao Yuan on the side seemed not to hear what the two said. His deep and indifferent eyes followed the brother and sister in the hall as he sipped his wine.

His lower lip was stained with strong liquor and felt a slight burning pain, as if constantly reminding him of his misconduct and madness in the palace yesterday.

Those eyes shouldn't have that expression.

Li Huaiyan followed his gaze and looked outside, raising his eyebrows, "The Shen brothers and sisters have come to join in the fun, Xiao Yuan, your mortal enemy, do you want me to invite them over to sit down? The more people there are, the more fun it will be."

Xiao Yuan lowered his eyes and said nothing. Ling Chenyi stopped Li Huaiyan who was about to leave and said, "Wait a minute. I still have some important things to do. It's not good to let too many people know."

Li Huaiyan had no choice but to sit back in his chair, but his eyes were full of gossip.

"Master, the guests are here." The servant entered the private room and reported quietly.

"Bring it in." Ling Chenyi sat up straighter and motioned Li Huaiyan to add wine to another glass.

As soon as the wine was filled, a young man in coarse linen clothes walked in, led by a servant. Seeing the people in the room, the man clenched his hands nervously, held down his sleeves, and saluted stiffly.

"Hello, my Lord, both of you gentlemen,"

Ling Chenyi looked at Zhang Yeyang with gentle eyes for a few times, and introduced in a calm voice, "This is the son of Duke Li's mansion, and that is the current fourth prince."

After hearing this, Zhang Yeyang was startled, and quickly bowed again with great humility, with cold sweat breaking out on his back.

Xiao Yuan, who had been staring outside, turned his head back and fixed his heavy gaze on Zhang Yeyang, who was bowing his head. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, and it was hard to tell what emotion he was feeling.

Xiao Yuan didn't say anything, so Li Huaiyan naturally didn't say anything either.

The atmosphere in the private room was strangely stagnant.

Sweat dripped down Zhang Yeyang's forehead and broke into several pieces on the bluestone ground.

"I asked you to come here today because I have something important to discuss. Mr. Zhang, please don't be so reserved. Please take a seat."

Ling Chenyi spoke up to break the deadlock. Zhang Yeyang didn't even dare to look up at those oppressive black eyes. He sat down in the direction of Ling Chenyi's finger.

"Drink." Ling Chenyi picked up the wine cup, and Zhang Yeyang immediately stood up, took it with both hands, and drank half of the cup.

"Where are you from, Brother Zhang? Who else is in your family?"

"My dear Lord Hou, I am from Jiangnan. There are not many people at home. I only have a little sister left, who is being raised by relatives."

Without parents and without having to serve his parents-in-law, Ling Chenyi looked somewhat satisfied.

"Then I wonder if Brother Zhang is willing to stay in the capital?"

Zhang Yeyang was stunned.

"I am a person of limited talent and knowledge, and I am only just qualified to be on the list. I am afraid I am not qualified to stay in office."

Ling Chenyi didn't say anything. He leaned back in his chair, his wrists casually resting on the edge of the table, staring at Zhang Yeyang calmly.

They are of the same age, but their calm and composed spirit and confidence are something that the humble Zhang Yeyang will never be able to achieve in his entire life.

He lowered his eyes, his shoulders slumped, and the hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly.

"If I could let you stay in Beijing, would you be willing?"

"Of course I am willing."

Zhang Yeyang's voice trembled slightly. Staying in the capital was a height that these low-ranking scholars could never achieve in their entire lives.

A beautiful face flashed through his mind unconsciously, and a warm current seemed to be injected into his heart. Even if there was no possibility of any result, it would be nice to see her often.

The private room fell silent for a moment. Zhang Yeyang felt as if he was surrounded by wolves and tigers. He dared not breathe heavily. He swallowed and asked softly.

"I wonder why the Lord Hou is willing to help me?"

There is no such thing as free benefits in this world, he still understands this truth.

Ling Chenyi did not answer, but asked, "Have you got married?"

Zhang Yeyang might have thought of something, his face flushed slightly, "I haven't gotten married yet."

"Is there any marriage contract in the family?"

Zhang Yeyang noticed something was wrong and quickly glanced at Ling Chenyi, "No."

"But... I already have someone I like."

As soon as these words fell, a cold and stern gaze suddenly shot towards him, which was very penetrating and made Zhang Yeyang feel as if a thorn in his back was suddenly thrown.

He didn't look back, but he could vaguely guess that this gaze must have come from the Fourth Prince.

His back suddenly bent, and he didn't know where he said the wrong thing. Was it because he had someone he liked?

Ling Chenyi smiled with a fake smile, "Brother Zhang, which one do you think is more important, the person you like or your future?"

Zhang Yeyang choked.

"And can Brother Zhang get his dream girl and marry her as his first wife?"

Zhang Yeyang's throat felt like it was blocked by a ball of cotton wool and he couldn't speak. His whole body felt like it was soaked in cold water.

"Brother Zhang, you should be more pragmatic. If a good marriage is knocked upon you, you should know how to cherish it."

Zhang Yeyang knew very well that the three people in the room were very important and he could not afford to offend them. He lowered his head and spoke softly, "I don't understand what the Marquis meant. Please explain clearly."

——

Shen Changhe reserved a window seat in advance for Shen Anan to watch.

Shen Anan leaned forward and looked downstairs, all she saw were lanterns and human heads.

After watching for a while, she felt a little bored, so she leaned her arms on the window frame and tilted her head on it.

"Would you like to go down and guess the lantern riddles and win some rabbit lanterns?"

Shen Anan couldn't muster any interest, but suddenly, she seemed to think of something and her eyes turned.

"Okay."

She glanced at the scroll in Mo Xiang's arms, and walked out with Shen Changhe.

She raised her eyes and vaguely saw a familiar figure flash before her eyes, but when she left the restaurant, the figure had disappeared.

Shen Changhe saw her looking around and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I just glimpsed an acquaintance, but now I can't find him. Maybe I was mistaken."

Shen Changhe glanced at the long and crowded street, "There are many people today, so it's normal to have similar figures."

"Yeah." The brother and sister walked into the crowd side by side.

As he was walking, Shen Changhe suddenly stopped and looked back, his sharp eyes quickly fixed on the window frame of a private room on the third floor.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

Shen Changhe frowned and retracted his gaze from the empty window frame, "It's okay, maybe I saw it wrong."

The cold moon hangs high in the sky, noisy hawking sounds are heard in the ears, and the eardrums of the people in the bustling crowd are buzzing.

Li Huaiyan lowered the bead curtain and revealed his body, still a little frightened, "As expected of the eldest son of the Shen family, he is so perceptive."

He glanced at Xiao Yuan who was hiding behind the wooden pillar and swallowed his teasing words.

Ling Chenyi rested his wrist on the chair, his gentle face was unusually gloomy, and he stared at the wine cup on the table with his lowered eyes.

Li Huaiyan felt uncomfortable in such a depressing atmosphere.

"Well, there are so many talented students. If he doesn't want to, just choose another one."

Zhang Yeyang is a man of real courage. He was able to refuse a bright future right in front of him.

Ling Chenyi raised his hand, picked up the wine cup and drank it all, his eyes drifting towards Xiao Yuan on the side.

"That scholar is indeed a man of good character. He is able to reject a promising future for the person he loves. With such character, I'm sure the woman will be very touched when she finds out. It's possible that she will take this opportunity to settle down with him for life."

"I am a little curious." Li Huaiyan touched his chin, "What kind of woman can have such magical power that makes him willing to give up the towering tree of Yongning Marquis Mansion."

Ling Chenyi raised his lips.

"Perhaps the person that the scholar likes is from a family as good as the Yongning Marquis's family."

"How is that possible?"

Li Huaiyan raised his eyebrows, "Do you think that the rich and powerful in the capital are as hungry as your family?"

Ling Chenyi glared at Li Huaiyan fiercely, put down his wine cup, stood up calmly, and walked to the window.

"Where are the Shen brothers and sisters? Aren't they going to invite them in to sit with them?"

"He left a long time ago." Li Huaiyan said.

"When did you leave?" Ling Chenyi looked at Xiao Yuan who had a cold expression.

"Just now, I left at the same time as that scholar. It was such a coincidence that if you didn't know, you would think they had made an appointment long ago."

The atmosphere in the room became noticeably stagnant, and Ling Chenyi glanced at Li Huaiyan who spoke without thinking.

"There's no point in staying here any longer, so let's go."

Leaving the restaurant and stepping into the long street, Li Huaiyan couldn't help asking, "Xiao Yuan, why do you always touch your mouth? Did a woman bite you?"

Xiao Yuan paused, then quickly withdrew his hand as if his thoughts had been exposed, "You think everyone is the same as you."

Li Huaiyan curled his lips indifferently, "A young man is free and unrestrained, with a beautiful woman in his arms, isn't that a great beauty in the world?"

"You are helpless."

Li Huaiyan did not comment on Ling Chenyi's teasing.

Shen Changhe followed Shen Anan closely, fearing that he would be separated by the crowd.

Further ahead is a bridge filled with young men and women, waiting in line at a stall to buy lanterns. Those who bought lanterns looked at each other with deep affection and shyness. An old man with gray beard was congratulating them.

"They are an elderly couple. It is said that anyone who buys a lantern from them and receives a blessing will be able to spend their whole life together like them, never parting. They are very popular among young men and women."

Shen Anan raised his eyes and looked at the old man with a white beard, "It's just spending money to buy peace of mind. If this is how you can get what you want, there won't be so many things in the world that you can't get."

"That's true, but men and women who are in love still believe this."

At this time, more and more young men and women surrounded the old couple, blocking the entire bridge.

There was a steady stream of men and women pushing their way in from both sides and behind.

Just as Shen Changhe was about to grab Shen Anan's wrist, he was suddenly pushed away by a wave of people. Those men and women were rushing forward like crazy, not caring about what was happening around them.

"An An."

Across the crowd, Shen Anan stood on tiptoe and waved to Shen Changhe, “I’m here, don’t worry, big brother.”

Shen Changhe frowned and was pushed forward by the crowd. "Stay there, I'll come find you."

The crowd was surging, and Shen Anan didn't hear what Shen Changhe said at all, and just squeezed forward with the crowd.

"Miss, do you want to buy a wishing lantern too?"

Shen Anan smiled and shook her head at the man. She wanted to leave, but her frail body was squeezed so hard that her feet were almost off the ground in the crowd, and her meager strength was of no use at all.

Amid the noise, someone suddenly screamed, and then the men and women who were pushing forward just now began to retreat as if they were running for their lives. Before Shen Anan could react to what was happening, she was hit hard by someone and her back was against the bridge.

"Girl," Mo Xiang exclaimed, and tried to squeeze through but couldn't.

Shen Anan's face turned pale, and her waist leaned back in a big arc. After crossing the bridge, there was a turbulent river. If she fell in, even if her eldest brother found her in time, he might not be able to get through the crowd and rescue her before she drowned.

Shen Anan held onto the bridge tightly with one hand, and most of her body had already slid down.

The crowd was still running backwards at a very fast speed, as if they were avoiding some ferocious beast, and no one paid any attention to her at all.

Shen Anan’s mind went blank.

The nails that were hooked on the bridge were turned outward, and the pain made her break out in a cold sweat. She suddenly wondered if she was born with a bad fate, and even if she had a chance to live again and avoid the tragedy, she would still die early.

At the moment when her imagination was running wild, she felt something suddenly pinch her wrist bone. The scorching temperature burned her arm so much that she suddenly lost strength. However, the expected fall did not happen.

"What are you standing there for? Do you want to die?"

The man's voice was cold and thin. Shen Anan raised her eyes and saw a cold and elegant face.

She immediately clenched her palms and grasped the man's wrist, as if she was afraid that he would abandon her.