Chapter 32: What Kind of Gu Did the Heroine Use to Save the Beauty?

"Young Master, your hand is bleeding!" Hengwu was both anxious and worried, and hurriedly stepped forward to clean Lu Lingyue's hand.

"It was just an accident, a minor injury, nothing to worry about." Lu Lingyue dodged his hand and tucked her bleeding finger into her sleeve.

"What did you just say? I think I misheard you."

Seeing this, Hengwu couldn't bear it, but she had no choice but to tell the truth, "Young master, you didn't mishear... It is indeed His Highness the Prince of Yue who has encountered trouble."

Yuan Yan led so many soldiers with him before his departure, how could he possibly have been assassinated and fallen into the river?

Lu Lingyue didn't believe it.

Hengwu: "It is indeed the young master. His Highness is currently missing, and His Majesty has dispatched Lord Guo with troops to search for him..."

Lu Lingyue remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"So what?"

"She had already said before she left that she didn't want to see me again, and now whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me."

But Hengwu noticed that his hand, hidden in his sleeve, trembled slightly.

Blood dripped from the injured fingertip and seeped into the ground.

Is the young master truly as indifferent as he claims? Hengwu dared not speak or ask.

With Yuan Yan's accident, the domineering and demanding woman who had always made endless demands on him disappeared. Lu Lingyue should have felt relieved, but at this moment, he could not hear any sound from outside at all.

Yuan Yan, weren't you always most proud of your martial arts skills? How could you fall so easily at the hands of an assassin?

Lu Lingyue tightened her grip on her injured finger slightly, the pain intensifying, yet she seemed oblivious to it.

...

Chuzhou.

Yu'er dispatched all her men to search for Yuan Yan's whereabouts along the river.

The sudden assassination attempt caused everyone in the palace to frantically search for their masters, and no one paid attention to the whereabouts of Yu'er, a mere servant, thus allowing him to escape successfully.

"Master, King Yue has been missing for so long, he must be dead."

“If this matter escalates, we will no longer be able to get a share of the Phoenix Kingdom’s grain tribute. The people sent by the Phoenix Emperor will be arriving in Chu Prefecture soon. They will definitely investigate the people around the King of Yue, and our master’s identity may be exposed.”

“Once we’re discovered, not only will our master be in danger, but everyone will be at risk. The secret society we’ve built up over the years will be destroyed... If we don’t leave now, it will be too late,” his subordinate earnestly advised.

Yu'er knew, of course, that what they were saying was true. But for some reason, these past few days, whether he opened his eyes or closed them, the scene in his mind was always the one where Yuan Yan hadn't abandoned him in the face of danger.

He and Yuan Yan had absolutely no relationship other than being enemies.

But the thought that Yuan Yan might perish at the bottom of the river made Yu'er inexplicably sad.

Yuan Yan, Yuan Yan, what kind of poison did you give me...?

Even though the person had disappeared without a trace, he was still deeply concerned.

Yu'er felt lost, but she knew her subordinate was telling the truth. After calming herself down, she finally regained her composure.

"Let's go. Chuzhou is no longer safe. We should leave Chuzhou."

Leading her subordinates, Yu'er took one last look back at the surging river, suppressing the reluctance in her heart.

Goodbye, Yuan Yan. Your death here is simply a matter of bad luck.

He said it to himself silently.

He then turned and left.

...

Lower reaches of the Huai River.

When the Shen family caravan passed through this area, the servants driving the carriage suddenly noticed something on the shore ahead. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a person and hurriedly returned to report to their master.

“Young master, there is a person lying unconscious on the shore. It seems that he was washed ashore after falling into the water.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Lianzhou, the eldest son of the Shen family, got off the carriage and indeed saw a woman lying on the bank. Her face and body were covered in river mud, and she was filthy. Her clothes were torn and tattered, making it impossible to see her face.

"She's still breathing... at least she's alive. Let's revive her and get a doctor to examine her."

Seeing the woman's disheveled appearance, Shen Lianzhou felt a pang of pity and ordered someone to summon the caravan's doctor to treat Yuan Yan.

[Host, wake up... wake up, you're saved!]

The system's voice woke Yuan Yan from his dazed state of consciousness.

"Ugh..." She covered her head and slowly woke up, finding herself lying on a carriage with her body wrapped in herbs.

"System, where am I?"

"After you fell into the water, you were swept to the shore by the river. It was this passing caravan that rescued you," the system said.

[Host, are you alright? The assassination attempt came so suddenly. I was terrified when I saw you being forced into the river by the assassin, but I couldn't help you at all. I'm sorry, host, it's all my fault...] the system said apologetically.

Yuan Yan shook his head: "It has nothing to do with you. I was too confident, and with the return to the capital imminent, I was careless and let others take advantage of the situation."

Who exactly attacked her this time?

Based on her understanding of Cao Jinjin and others, it's highly unlikely that they were the ones who did it.

There were quite a few people in the court who thought she was in their way, but only a handful of people dared to be so direct and ruthless in killing her.

Was it her good elder sister or her good younger sister who did it? Yuan Yan pondered to himself.

Yuan Jing is cautious and cares about her reputation. Such people prefer to act in secret. So many assassins attacking her in broad daylight is not like her style... Of course, it cannot be ruled out that it was done by other members of the First Princess's faction.

Yuan Xiao, on the other hand, was much more straightforward and blunt in his actions. This princess was clearly pitifully stupid, yet she always thought she was the smartest and most capable person in the world.

With a twisted mind, he often impulsively does things that harm others, yet he thinks no one will notice. He is truly stupid and brainless.

As for the possibility of the other imperial sisters taking action, it is extremely slim.

The fourth princess came from a humble background and had a weak personality. She was always cautious and never participated in politics, living like a ghost.

Although there was a possibility of her disguising herself to protect herself, the Fourth Princess, who did not have much power, obviously did not have the ability to command so many assassins to go to Chuzhou to kill people.

The younger sisters are still quite young and do not pose a threat to Yuan Yan for the time being.

Therefore, it is quite obvious that this was most likely done by Yuan Xiao or a loyal minister close to Yuan Jing.

Judging from the manner in which the attack was carried out, Yuan Yan is more inclined to believe that it was Yuan Xiao who did it.

"I was careless this time. I only considered the thoughts of a normal person, but completely ignored the determination of that fool Yuan Xiao to kill me," Yuan Yan reflected.

If that's the case, then Yuan Xiao should be prepared to face retaliation when she returns, since he dared to lay a hand on her.

Thinking of this, Yuan Yan shifted slightly, intending to get off the cushion. However, the noise she made attracted the people outside the carriage.

“My lady, you’re awake… You were washed ashore by the river, and it was my young master who sent men to rescue you.”

A young male servant boarded the carriage and, seeing Yuan Yan moving, immediately stepped forward and pressed her down again.

"My dear wife, please don't move, or your newly bandaged wound will reopen," he said kindly.

Seeing that the young servant boy seemed to have no guile, Yuan Yan asked him a question.

"Young master, I accidentally fell into the water and was fortunate enough to be rescued by you. May I ask where this place is?"

“My master is from Tanzhou. We are on our way to Tanzhou and will arrive in half a day,” the servant told her without much thought.

Tanzhou... is far from Chuzhou, yet she has been drifting in the river for so long.

No wonder that since she fell into the water, neither her subordinates nor local officials have been able to find her; instead, she was found by a caravan.

"Host, the owner of this caravan is a man. He's willing to help those in distress, so he must be kind-hearted. Why don't you quickly tell him your identity and let him find someone from the government to escort you back to the capital?" the system suggested.

“By now, news of my assassination attempt should have spread. Who do you think will be the first to find me if I show my face now?” Yuan Yan asked.

[Who else could it be but someone from the Prince's mansion, someone sent by the Emperor, or someone from another princess's household... uh...] The system realized something as it said this and got stuck.

"You understand now? The danger isn't over yet... Right now, no one knows my whereabouts, so I'm relatively safe. But if the Prince of Qi and the Third Princess's people discover my location first, then I'll truly be dead," Yuan Yan said.

System: [What should the host do then?]

"Naturally, I'll send a message back to have someone from the Prince's residence come and fetch me."

While communicating with the system in his mind, Yuan Yan checked the injuries on his body.

Her wounds were numerous, some from assassins, others from scrapes on the rocks, with the sword wound above her side being the most severe.

Fortunately, all the wounds had been bandaged. I don't know what kind of herbal medicine the doctor used, but it was cool and refreshing, which relieved some of the pain.

Feeling that his injuries were not as serious as the young servant had described, Yuan Yan sat up again after lying down for only a short while.

Seeing this, the young male servant had no choice but to come and help her up.

"If you insist on walking, my wife, let me help you."

Yuan Yan got off the carriage and had only taken a few steps when the caravan members realized she was awake and able to move, so another male servant came to lead the way.

"My lady, my young master requests your presence."

The servant led Yuan Yan to the largest carriage.

Yuan Yan saw a tall, slender man instructing the caravan manager on his duties.

Hearing footsteps behind him, the man turned around.

He was dressed in a dark blue satin robe, which accentuated his tall and slender figure. His eyes were dark and lustrous, with thick eyelashes, a high nose bridge, and thin, soft lips. Apart from a jade hairpin, he wore no other masculine adornments, exuding an air of refined elegance.

He didn't look like a merchant at all; instead, he seemed like a dignified young master from a prominent family.

Shen Lianzhou looked at Yuan Yan, "Young lady, you're awake."

"My surname is Shen, and this is the Shen family's caravan."

The woman rescued from the shore had her face covered in mud and sand, her eyes closed, making it impossible to see her features. Now, after the servants washed her face, her handsome features and deep, slightly upturned eyes made Shen Lianzhou pause for a moment.

Yuan Yan: "Young Master Shen."

"I heard from the servant that it was you, sir, who saved me. I accidentally fell into the water and was swept ashore by the raging river. I was only saved by your rescue and I am truly grateful."

"You flatter me, madam," Shen Lianzhou said, not taking credit for her work.

"The doctor said you are in good health. Although you suffered a lot this time, fortunately you have not suffered any lasting health problems. Once your injuries heal, you will be able to recover with plenty of rest and recuperation."

"I only had the doctor treat your wound; I didn't do anything strenuous, so it can't be considered a life-saving favor."

He paused slightly, thinking of the sword wound on Yuan Yan's body, which was not something an ordinary person would have. Fearing that she might have made enemies and implicate their caravan, he asked Yuan Yan why she had fallen into the river.

"My name is Lin Yan. I am a member of the martial arts world. I was injured in a fight during a conflict in the martial arts world, which is why I accidentally fell into the river."

Yuan Yan, of course, could not reveal his identity here. So he used the surname Lin, made up a name, and lied that it was a martial arts fight in the martial arts world, thus covering up the sword wound on his body.

Looking at Yuan Yan's tall stature and strong arms, Shen Lianzhou felt that he was indeed skilled in martial arts, and she began to believe him a little more.

"The doctor said that your injuries require rest and recuperation. Do you have a place to stay?"

"To my shame, most of my belongings were washed away by the river, and I am now stranded in a foreign land, unable to return home. I wonder if you could take me in for a while, young master, and let me do some odd jobs at your residence to repay your debt... When I return home in the future, I will surely repay you." Yuan Yan said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Tanzhou is far from Chuzhou and the capital. Even if Yuan Yan sends a message today to have someone come and pick him up, it will still take some time.

Finding a place to stay during this time is indeed a problem. If Yuan Jing and Yuan Xiao's men discover her whereabouts first, it will be another troublesome matter.

Shen Lianzhou was not usually a kind person. As a man who managed the vast Shen family business, he naturally acted with strict rules and regulations. But today, for some reason, looking at Yuan Yan's face, he inexplicably agreed.

"Mother, please settle down here for now. There's no need to talk about repaying or not repaying."

After Yuan Yan left, the young servant couldn't help but say something.

"Young master, look! Before we found this lady Lin, she was filthy. But after we washed her face, she turned out to be so valiant! I've never seen such a heroic woman before!"

"Yu Lu, you're not allowed to talk nonsense." Shen Lianzhou couldn't help but gently scold the male servant when he saw him commenting on the woman's appearance.

However, he also agreed with Yu Lu's words in his heart. Yuan Yan was indeed dignified and had an extraordinary appearance, unlike an ordinary person in the martial arts world.

...

After the caravan returned to Tanzhou, Yuan Yan observed for two days and found that perhaps because Tanzhou was far from Chuzhou, they had not yet seen many people searching for her.

So Yuan Yan secretly entrusted someone to send the token she carried back to the palace, and waited for her subordinates to come and pick her up.

During this time, she was arranged to stay at the Shenfu Guest House.

This body is incredibly strong. Despite having a sword wound from before, it has recovered considerably after these days of rest, with a recovery speed far exceeding that of ordinary people.

"After all, this is an identity created by the system, so it always has some unique advantages. Naturally stronger and with better physical abilities—you could call that a cheat code for the host," the system said proudly.

During his recovery, Yuan Yan had nothing to do, so he listened to the servants' idle chatter with the system.

I learned from the servants that the Shen family was an extremely wealthy family in Tanzhou, dealing in silk and tea, and also owning several money shops, including the Huitong Money Shop in the capital.

"It's a pity that the old patriarch of the Shen family had such a large fortune, but he had no successor and passed away early. He only left behind one son, who is now the eldest young master." The old man in the mansion shook his head and said regretfully.

A servant nearby chimed in dismissively, "If you ask me, what's the use of the Shen family being so rich? The family business will be ruined sooner or later if it's handed over to a man."

"Look at this young master Shen. As a man, he's always running around outside, with no manners whatsoever. What decent woman would dare marry such a man in the future..."

"Wang Er".

Just then, the steward of the courtyard came over and, upon hearing the servant's words, immediately interrupted, "I don't need to teach you what kind of mistake it is to criticize your master!"

"The last person to say that has already been betrayed by the young master. If you also want to be kicked out of the Shen residence, feel free to try," the steward warned.

Upon hearing this, the servant immediately begged for mercy.

"Manager Zhang, I was just talking nonsense. I will never do it again... Please have mercy on me and forgive me this time. Please don't tell the master."

Steward Zhang said sternly, "Watch your mouth. You should know what you should and shouldn't say in this mansion."

After Wang Er was scolded, the servants lost their appetite for further conversation and dispersed.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yan understood why it was Young Master Shen, a man, who had led the caravan back that day.

It turns out that he is the head of this Shen family mansion.

In a place where women are in charge of the household and make a living, this is a rare thing.

"Steward Zhang, I am deeply grateful to the master for taking me in. I have been a great trouble to you these past few days. I wonder if there is any work I can do to help you out and repay you in any way I can."

Yuan Yan did not forget his current identity as a martial arts practitioner who had been rescued. Now that he was mostly recovered, he approached Steward Zhang and offered to do something.

“Madam Lin, you are a guest brought back by our young master. How can we let you do such rough work?”

However, Steward Zhang had received instructions from the young master to treat Yuan Yan with courtesy and respect, and refused to let Yuan Yan do any work.

“Young master took me in because of your kindness. But I, a grown woman, cannot take advantage of your kindness and keep eating and drinking for free in this mansion. Now that my injuries have healed a lot, it won’t hurt me to do some light work.”

After thinking for a moment, Manager Zhang finally came up with an errand to run.

"In that case, since the young master has run out of cinnabar ink, Madam Lin, please go to the Hanmozhai shop and buy some for him."

After saying this, she gave Yuan Yan a silver ingot and told him what Shen Lianzhou needed, asking him to help bring it back.

When Yuan Yan arrived at Hanmozhai, he found that although the brushes and ink here were expensive, they didn't cost more than a silver ingot, and he still had plenty of silver left after buying them.

On the way back, some officials hurried towards the outskirts of the city.

"I heard that a noble person has gone missing, and our governor has been ordered to send people to search for him," the well-informed merchants in the shop whispered among themselves.

"What kind of important person could possibly warrant such a large search by officials?" someone asked curiously.

"How would we common folk know the specifics? We only heard that he's a big shot from the capital, so his status must be extraordinary..."

The merchant said a few more words before being called away by the guest, and that was the end of the conversation.

Yuan Yan heard this and knew that the officials were most likely looking for her, but she had no intention of going to the government office to reveal her identity right now.

When she returned, she passed by the outer courtyard and saw servants moving cargo boxes in the distance.

"Hurry up... The weather is bad right now, it's gloomy, we need to move these things inside before it rains."

Manager Zhang was busy, but then he turned to the servant beside him and said, "Go and call a few more people over."

"Manager Zhang, the goods have been purchased." Yuan Yan handed over the ink and the remaining silver to her.

"Oh, it's Madam Lin." Manager Zhang was so busy that he only remembered asking Yuan Yan to run errands at noon when he saw her.

"This is it, thank you for your help, madam."

Manager Zhang had someone take the cinnabar ink. Just as he was about to thank him, he saw Yuan Yan walk towards the cargo box, easily lifting the heavy box with one hand.

"Where should we put these boxes?" Yuan Yan asked without batting an eye, lifting the crates that would take several people to move with one hand.

“…the warehouse.” Manager Zhang was stunned.

Yuan Yan didn't care about anything else, picked up the box and strode away.

She made several trips back and forth, and single-handedly completed all the work that would have taken many people to finish, leaving all the servants in the Shen household dumbfounded.

This Lin Yan's wife is truly a woman of the martial arts world; she easily took on so many people in just a few moves. Her strength is truly remarkable.

The servants gasped in quiet amazement.

So when Shen Lianzhou returned to the mansion that evening, he heard Steward Zhang say that all the cargo boxes had been properly arranged.

"Young master, you have no idea how strong that Madam Lin is! She moved those heavy boxes without a word, and carried everything up. I don't think all the servants in the courtyard combined are as capable as her..." Steward Zhang still couldn't help but marvel as he spoke.

However, Shen Lianzhou's focus was not on this.

Upon hearing that Yuan Yan possessed extraordinary strength, he was initially taken aback, thinking of the woman with remarkable appearance, and then he couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.

“Madam Lin…isn’t she still recovering from her injuries? How can we let her do such heavy work?”

"That's what I said too, young master," Steward Zhang explained.

"But Madam Lin said it was no problem. She said that the young master took her in out of kindness, and she should repay him in some way."

She had a very good impression of Yuan Yan. "In my opinion, this Lady Lin is not only down-to-earth and hardworking, but also a grateful person."

"Even today, when I asked Madam Lin to buy ink, she brought back every last penny of the remaining money. There are probably not many people like her in the manor."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lianzhou also developed a slight liking for Yuan Yan.

Unexpectedly, this Lady Lin, who looks like a rough and tough martial artist, is actually meticulous and capable.

“That’s truly rare,” he said.

Steward Zhang reported the important matters of the day to Shen Lianzhou one by one, and only withdrew after he had finished dealing with them.

No sooner had she left than a middle-aged man emerged from behind the screen.

"Zhou'er." Madam Jiang, Shen's father, had just come to bring soup to Shen Lianzhou. Seeing that there was a steward there, she waited behind the screen for a while and overheard the conversation between the two.

"Have your aunt been giving you any more trouble these days?"

When Shen Lianzhou heard her father mention the collateral relatives, her expression turned cold.

"Still the same old thing, always restless. They tried to poach the old man from the shop, but the boy gave them a good scolding."

Upon hearing this, Jiang sighed with worry.

"Alas, it's all my fault. I wasn't fortunate enough to let your mother conceive a daughter, which has made my son's life difficult now."

"If only your mother had left you a sister back then, then the collateral branches would have had no reason to cause us any more trouble."

Jiang was just an ordinary husband, completely ignorant of the power struggles within the Shen family. He harbored a deep resentment for not being able to leave a female heir for Shen's mother.

He always felt that it was the right thing to do for the household to have a woman in charge, and that it was not a long-term solution for a man like Shen Lianzhou to run the household alone.

"Whether or not we have daughters is all ordained by Heaven. Even if there are no women in the household, I have still managed to support the Shen family and have done right by Mother. Father, there is no need to blame yourself," Shen Lianzhou comforted Jiang.

“That may be true… but whether there are women in the household or not makes a difference.” Madam Jiang shook her head in disagreement, then thought of the matter of taking a son-in-law as a son-in-law.

"What have you thought about the matter of taking a son-in-law into the family that Father mentioned last time? If you agree, Father can ask someone to find a suitable candidate for you as soon as possible." He couldn't help but urge you again and again.

Shen Lianzhou was extremely unwilling.

In his view, no woman in the world would be ashamed to marry into another family. Any woman with a modicum of pride would rather starve than agree to such a thing.

In this situation, what kind of good people could a woman willing to marry into the Shen family be? She would be nothing more than a bunch of incompetent people who coveted the Shen family's wealth.

Shen Lianzhou was intelligent from a young age and naturally possessed a certain arrogance, admiring only the most outstanding women of his time.

How could he possibly be interested in women who have no ambition and only think about marrying into his family?

“Zhou’er, listen to your father. Women are capable of far more than men. Having a wife who has married into the family can help you share some of the burdens.”

The lotus boat remained silent.

This matter is not that simple; it's just Father's wishful thinking.

However, after a pang of heartache, Shen Lianzhou finally gave in to the sight of Jiang's newly grown white hair at her temples and her expectant eyes.

"..." He closed his eyes.

"If Father insists on this, then let's just find any weak woman."

Such women are easier to control, and if they develop other intentions in the future, they are less likely to cause serious trouble.

Although Shen Lianzhou agreed to his father's request, he felt an undeniable sense of resistance, which made him look increasingly tired.

Jiang was completely unaware of this, and seeing that Shen Lianzhou had relented, she happily agreed.

"Alright, then I will go and find a matchmaker for you. I will definitely find a woman who will satisfy my son."

...

A few days later, Yuan Yan left the mansion again.

[Host, your injuries haven't fully healed yet, why are you out here again?] The system couldn't help but say, seeing that she was taking advantage of her strong physique and hadn't rested at all these past two days.

"It's a rare opportunity to come to Tanzhou, so naturally I have to see the local customs and culture," Yuan Yan said with a nonchalant smile.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to fight. I'm just stretching my muscles and walking around. It won't affect your injury."

She has been walking through the streets and alleys of Tanzhou these past few days and has seen a lot of local life.

Compared to Chuzhou, Tanzhou had fertile land, more developed agriculture, and a more martial spirit among its people. Although its commerce was not as prosperous as Chuzhou's, the streets and alleys were bustling with people, presenting a thriving scene.

Seeing her so relaxed, the system asked, puzzled, "We haven't heard a single piece of news from the capital these past few days. Aren't you worried, host?"

Yuan Yan retorted, "What's the rush?"

"Be patient. The letter has already been sent out, and someone will come knocking on our door in a couple of days."

Just as the man was speaking, a sound suddenly came from the street.

"Shopkeeper, is the satin you sell here genuine? It doesn't look like it to me... Could it be that you're passing off inferior goods as superior ones, and since you know we're not from Tanzhou, you're trying to cheat us out of our money?"

A group of women came to the silk shop with several bolts of silk cloth, loudly questioning the shop, and soon they started arguing.

"Everyone come and take a look! What kind of silk is the Shen family selling? They're just taking advantage of our ignorance, selling fake material as genuine..."

The shouts attracted many people, who crowded in front of the silk shop to watch the spectacle.

Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper immediately stepped forward to explain.

“Madam, all the cloth sold by our Shen family is marked and recorded.”

"The silk cloth that the young lady is holding doesn't seem to belong to my Shen family. I wonder when she bought it. I'll have someone investigate right away..."

A carriage was parked on the street, and the person inside was watching the scene with gleaming eyes.

"Haha, this little boy Shen Lianzhou is stubborn and refuses to listen to reason. He won't even hand over part of the business to his elders to manage. He should have been taught a lesson like this a long time ago."

"If the Shen family's silk shops and money houses keep running into trouble, I wonder what face my good nephew will have left to continue managing the Shen family," the woman said sinisterly.

"Yes, Aunt, he's a man who will get married sooner or later. Once a man is married, he's like water spilled from a cup. What right does he have to compete with you?"

“The master family has no female heirs, so according to the principles of this world, the shops should be handed over to our collateral branches,” the young woman next to her chimed in.

While the two were talking, the argument continued inside the silk shop.

The woman in the lead ignored her completely and kicked over the screen next to her.

"You heartless, rotten shopkeeper... Are you trying to say that your grandma can't afford satin and you're deliberately causing trouble, huh!"

She deliberately misinterpreted the shopkeeper's words, her eyes flashing with malice, and rolled up her sleeves, ready to smash things.

The shop assistants tried to stop them, but the other side outnumbered them and the assistants were no match for them.

The shopkeeper was inwardly groaning, knowing he'd run into someone deliberately looking for trouble, and things were unlikely to end well today. "Madam, please calm down, that's not what I meant..."

The commotion, which gradually grew louder, finally drew out Shen Lianzhou, who was inside checking the accounts.

"Manager, what happened?" Shen Lianzhou walked out from inside with a male servant, her face calm.

Just by looking at the scene before him, he had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on, but he still asked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper quickly recounted what had happened.

The woman in the lead, having been summoned to cause trouble, had learned of the situation beforehand and knew that the person in charge of the Shen family was a man, which she found distasteful.

At this moment, she looked Shen Lianzhou up and down, and seeing his handsome appearance, she couldn't help but gleam with lust.

"So you're the owner of this silk shop? Tsk, I didn't expect you to be such a beautiful woman!"

Shen Lianzhou knew that the other party was deliberately causing trouble, so he ignored her flirtatious words and his gaze was deep.

“Madam, my Shen family has been operating in Tanzhou for many years and we have never done anything like this, passing off inferior goods as superior ones.”

“Since the young lady insists that the satin in her hand was bought from my Shen family’s silk shop, then let’s report it to the authorities. My Shen family keeps records of every transaction. Whether it’s true or false, the officials will find out when they come and check.”

Upon hearing this, the group of women all changed color.

"Go to hell!" The curse immediately rang out.

"You little brat, you're threatening us with government officials? I, Lai You, am not easily intimidated. You think I'm afraid of you just because you say a few words to scare me?"

Upon hearing that the authorities had been notified, the woman in the lead instantly became furious.

"Sisters, smash it!" she shouted, her expression fierce.

Upon hearing this, the women behind him immediately overturned tables and cabinets, tearing at the fabrics and cloths in the shop and causing widespread destruction.

That wasn't all. Looking at Shen Lianzhou's beautiful face, Lai You had some other thoughts.

"Young Master Shen, today I'm going to teach you a lesson and show you what's what!"

Lai You spoke with ill intent. Relying on his strength, he pushed aside the servants who tried to stop him, strode forward, and reached out to grab Chen Lianzhou.

"Young Master!" Seeing that her young master was in danger, Yu Lu couldn't help but call out anxiously.

However, at this critical moment, an arm suddenly blocked Chen Lianzhou's path, firmly supporting Lai You's hand.

"Oh."

Yuan Yan appeared out of nowhere and shielded Chen Lianzhou behind him.

She exerted a slight force on her arm, and a tremendous force was instantly released, forcefully pushing Lai You back several steps.

Lai You steadied himself and looked up to find that the one who had attacked him was a tall woman.

"Who are you, daring to ruin my good time?!"

Lai You was furious that the person in front of her had made her lose face in front of so many people, and shouted angrily.

"Someone who stands up for justice on the road," Yuan Yan casually remarked.

Upon hearing this, Lai You became even more enraged, rolling up his sleeves and shouting, "Where did this little lady come from, trying to act like a heroine rescuing a damsel in distress! You ignorant brat, I'll beat you to a pulp..."

"You think you can take it?" Yuan Yan laughed.

She twisted Lai You's hand with her left hand, and to Lai You's astonishment, she tightened it effortlessly.

With a few crisp cracking sounds, Lai You suddenly let out a pig-like scream.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help me..." she said through gritted teeth, sweating profusely.

The two people behind him rushed forward and pounced on Yuan Yan.

Without wasting words, Yuan Yan raised his right leg and kicked them both away, one after the other.

"Ouch, oh dear..."

Every single person who rushed at them afterward was beaten by Yuan Yan and lay on the ground groaning in pain.

Shen Lianzhou was protected behind Yuan Yan.

Watching Yuan Yan protect him and subdue the enemy in a few moves, his usually calm heart suddenly skipped a beat.

...

Before long, Yuan Yan single-handedly dealt with the group of ruffians and scoundrels.

Staring at the women sprawled out, the group of men were still reeling from the sudden turn of events and stood there dumbfounded.

"Why aren't you reporting this to the authorities?" Yuan Yan reminded him.

"Yes... I'll go right away!"

One of the shop assistants was taken aback by her imposing manner and quickly ran to report to the authorities.

Inside the carriage, Aunt Shen was furious when she saw this: "Where did this woman come from, ruining my plans!"

The young woman said from the side, "Auntie, Lai You and the others are no good. We need to find some more people..."

"What are you continuing? They've already reported it to the authorities, why aren't you leaving?" Aunt Shen said angrily.

The carriages on the street slipped away silently. Only Yuan Yan seemed to notice something, casting a fleeting glance in their direction.

She then turned around and asked Shen Lianzhou, "Young Master Shen, are you injured?"

Shen Lianzhou bowed deeply to her: "Thank you for saving me, Madam Lin."

"They didn't even have a chance to make a move before Madam Lin saved me, so my son is fine."

When that woman reached out to pull Chen Lianzhou, the coldness in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Although he wasn't afraid of such scoundrels, Shen Lianzhou still felt disgusted by even the slightest contact with their sleeves.

Fortunately, Yuan Yan appeared like a divine intervention at the critical moment, saving him and averting an embarrassing situation.

Thinking of Yuan Yan's actions just now, Shen Lianzhou felt a warm feeling in her heart and couldn't help but feel grateful.

"But Madam Lin, your injuries haven't healed yet. You fought these people for me. I wonder if you're feeling unwell..." Shen Lianzhou said, her eyes revealing a hint of concern.

“Young Master Shen, there’s no need to worry. I’m much better now. Those people were just some street thugs; a little martial arts from them wouldn’t have caused any injury,” Yuan Yan said.

She was telling the truth, but Shen Lianzhou didn't believe her at all. After all, he had seen Yuan Yan unconscious that day and knew that she was seriously injured. He just thought that Yuan Yan was trying to comfort her so that he wouldn't feel burdened.

“Madam Lin, please don’t say that. You were only injured a few days ago, how could it not have any effect? ​​You should come back with me to see a doctor. Only if you are truly alright can I be at ease.”

The coldness that Shen Lianzhou usually displayed in front of outsiders was completely gone at this moment, and she spoke softly.

This was the first time Yu Lu had seen her young master care about others so much, and she felt a little strange, but she still tried to persuade him.

"Yes, Madam Lin. You saved the young master, so as a way of repaying him, you should let us take you to see a doctor! Otherwise, wouldn't you make our young master feel guilty and unable to eat or sleep?"

Unable to resist the two men's concern and persuasion, Yuan Yan had no choice but to agree.

Shen Lianzhou wanted to take Yuan Yan back to the Shen residence to see a doctor, so he invited her to ride in his carriage.

"Lady Lin, please come up with me." Shen Lianzhou got into the carriage and, seeing that Yuan Yan didn't move, said softly.

Yuan Yan, mindful of the propriety between men and women, did not act immediately. However, Shen Lianzhou insisted, and being not one to value rules, she simply boarded the carriage.

Chen Lianzhou sat opposite Yuan Yan and slightly raised her head to ask.

"Madam Lin, how have you been staying at the manor these past few days? Are you getting used to it?"

Shen Lianzhou was busy managing the family business and had no time to spare. So after bringing Yuan Yan back to the Shen residence, she didn't inquire about her affairs much, only occasionally overhearing a few related remarks from the servants.

It wasn't until today, when Yuan Yan happened to save them, that the two met again.

"Thanks to your kindness, everyone in the manor treats me with the courtesy due to a guest. I am able to recuperate peacefully in the manor without any problems," Yuan Yan chuckled.

Upon hearing this, Yu Lu immediately became lively and joking.

"Madam Lin, please stop talking. We know everything you've been doing helping out in the manor. As for your supposedly peaceful recovery, I think you're more restless than ever."

"Oh, you've noticed that." Yuan Yan joked with the young servant.

"I am indeed a person who finds it difficult to calm down. Right now, I am recuperating and not moving around. If I suddenly have some free time, I will feel a bit bored."

“Lianzhou is very grateful for Madam Lin’s efforts in helping the Shen family. Madam Lin’s martial arts skills are superb, she must be no ordinary person. But after all, she was injured not long ago and has not yet fully recovered, so she should take care of her health and not hurt herself.”

Shen Lianzhou listened carefully to Yuan Yan's words, her heart filled with concern for her injuries, and couldn't help but gently advise her.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Shen." Yuan Yan knew he meant well, "but I know my place. I only did what I could, it's nothing."

Her words were confirmed after the doctor from the manor arrived.

"Dr. Zhou, may I ask how Madam Lin's injuries are now?"

The doctor was examining Yuan Yan's injuries inside the room, while Shen Lianzhou and Yu Lu waited outside. As soon as the doctor came out, Shen Lianzhou asked a question.

"It's amazing how quickly this woman is recovering. In all my years of medical practice, this is the first time I've ever seen a patient with such an injury."

Doctor Zhou had examined Yuan Yan once when she first entered the manor. Now, upon seeing her again, he was amazed to find that most of Yuan Yan's injuries had healed.

Chen Lianzhou felt a little relieved, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Does Madam Lin need any more tonics? Doctor Zhou, just pick out the best ones. Money and medicine are not a problem."

Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhou looked surprised.

“Young Master Shen, I’ve lived in this household for many years and have watched you grow up. This is the first time I’ve seen you so generous. It’s really strange. What day is it that even a miser like you is being so generous today?”

“Lady Lin just saved me. If I can’t even part with these material possessions, what kind of person would I be?” Shen Lianzhou said.

Upon learning of Yuan Yan's act of saving lives, Doctor Zhou didn't stand on ceremony with Shen Lianzhou and immediately wrote several prescriptions. He also asked for an old ginseng root as payment for the consultation.

"I'm leaving now. I'll have someone bring it over after the medicine is decocted," said Doctor Zhou, before leaving with his apprentice.

Inside the inner room.

Yuan Yan also heard the sounds outside and knew that his body was recovering well, so he threw off the covers and got out of bed.

Shen Lianzhou walked in and stopped her.

"Madam Lin, don't be anxious. You've just fought someone, and it's probably still a bit of a hindrance to your injuries. You should lie down on the bed for a while longer."

“I’m not a man, why should I be so pretentious?” Yuan Yan shook his head.

But Shen Lianzhou persisted, gently telling her to rest more.

Yuan Yan knew the other party meant well, so he had no choice but to lie back down.

[Host, you're usually such a decisive person, why did you listen to someone after just a few words this time? This isn't like you at all] The system said gloatingly, seeing Yuan Yan's bored look.

"Young Master Shen is my savior, how can you compare to him?" Yuan Yan said lazily.

"Tch, am I not your closest system anymore?" the system grumbled.

"No, goodbye."

...

On the other end.

After Aunt Shen returned home, she was furious that Yuan Yan had ruined her plans and she immediately sent someone to inquire about Yuan Yan's identity.

"Did you find out who that woman is?"