Chapter 2 What do I have to regret during this festive season?

Shen Yun recalled the way she looked at him today; it was all too familiar…

It looks so much like it did three years ago...

It was a hatred so intense that she wished she could perish with him.

But haven't they managed to maintain a peaceful and respectful relationship for the past three years?

"this……"

Ji Huaiyi had witnessed the love-hate entanglement between the two firsthand back then. Given Shen Yun's crazy behavior back then, not to mention Lin Shutang, even he was afraid of her.

“Chen Yun, if you ask me, you went too far back then…” Ji Huaiyi sighed deeply.

"Now, you're pressuring her too much. Think about it, how much affection does she have for you? How could she willingly give birth to your child?"

For ordinary couples, these are just everyday trifles, but having children can indeed save a precarious marital relationship.

But there's a deep-seated hatred between Shen Yun and Lin Shutang. It would be good enough if this child didn't create new crises for them.

Who gave Shen Yun this idea?

Shen Yun found these words extremely grating.

Ji Huaiyi noticed that he was about to turn and look at him, so he quickly spoke up again, "Perhaps for ordinary women, they would accept their fate for the sake of their children. But Lin Shutang is not like that. Isn't it this tenacity in her that you admire?"

Yes, her tenacity was something he both loved and hated!

Shen Yun tightened his grip on the rim of the jar, rubbing his fingertips together.

"After all these years, Shen Yun, have you truly never regretted it?" Ji Huaiyi hesitated for a moment before finally asking this question.

Shen Yun's heart trembled for a moment as he listened. Lin Shutang's face appeared before his eyes again, smiling, crying, hating, writhing and submitting to him... He remembered every single one of her expressions clearly.

Shen Yun glanced at him sideways, her eyes cold and icy. "What's done is done. What do I have to regret?"

He has no regrets. If he hadn't insisted back then, they wouldn't even have had this one chance.

Today, she is bearing children for others.

Ji Huaiyi averted his gaze from Shen Yun's chilling expression, tilted his head and took another big gulp of drink. He rested his elbows on the steps behind him, stretched out his legs, and sat there casually.

"Okay. You won't regret it!"

"Then why have you come to tell me all this today?"

"I...I wanted to ask you, how can I make her happy?" Shen Yun asked hesitantly, sounding a little awkward.

Shen Yun, who has always been able to assess the situation and make quick decisions in the face of the enemy's ever-changing weaponry and tactics, is now showing signs of helplessness for the first time in his more than twenty years of life.

“You clearly know the answer in your heart, don’t you?” Ji Huaiyi tilted his head to look at him.

His brother never got close to women. While other scions of noble families would be provided with beautiful concubines by their families when they grew up, he only knew how to study literature and practice martial arts.

He went to war with his father at the age of twelve, and was a year younger than him that year.

Unlike Ji Huaiyi, whose position as a lieutenant general was hereditary, Shen Yun's status as a general was earned through sheer hard work and risking his life on the battlefield. At that time, he truly believed that he, Shen Yun, would never understand matters of love between men and women in his entire life.

Who knew that a trip to Yizhou would end up being ruined by a woman.

They've remained stubbornly ignorant for so many years!

Shen Yun lowered her eyelids, seemingly still in thought.

Ji Huaiyi straightened up. "If you're really worried, then have your bodyguards follow you."

“She is, after all, your lawfully wedded wife. In the past, you used the excuse that she was unwell and needed to recuperate in the manor to forbid her from leaving the manor and to prevent anyone from visiting her, locking her inside the dark, high eaves. Now that the grandson has been born, you can no longer… imprison her like that.”

"If you're still worried, why don't you let my wife accompany her out for a walk to clear her head?"

----

Ji Huaiyi served as the General of the Five Offices, which not only managed the guards of the imperial palace but also served as the inspector of the imperial city and the defense of the surrounding areas of the capital.

His wife was the second daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites.

After a period of recuperation, the Lantern Festival in Yujing City arrived.

At this time of year, Shen Yun would also take Lin Shutang out of the mansion, but he would hold her hand tightly the whole way, and there were no less than a dozen people watching her openly or secretly.

Even when he left the mansion, Lin Shutang did not feel much freedom.

On the Lantern Festival, one should be enjoying time with parents, relatives, and lovers, but every moment spent with Shen Yun made Lin Shutang feel like he had a thorn in his side.

But if they didn't go out, the long nights in the mansion would be unbearable.

The carriage of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion stopped on a bank near the Moon Bridge. The moon was high in the sky above the willow branches, and on both sides of the long street stood lantern towers made of wood, about five zhang high. Each floor was hung with different styles of lanterns, including silk lanterns, glass lanterns, gilded lanterns, and revolving lanterns. Their flowing flames meandered like dragons, illuminating the capital as if it were daytime.

Snowflakes were clearly visible swirling in the air.

During Lin Shutang's recuperation at the mansion, Shen Yun ordered that unless there was something important, they should not disturb the young master's wife.

Therefore, with the daily leisure and the nourishment of bird's nest supplements delivered to Jingyuanju at every meal, Lin Shutang's cheeks finally regained their rosy hue.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, Lin Shutang was led off the carriage by Shen Yun. She wore a cloak made of fire fox fur, a tribute from Xiyue, with a crimson satin embroidered with gold. As she walked, it resembled flowing red clouds, making her appear like the rising sun. Under the bright lights, her stunning beauty could not be concealed.

Zhao Mingzhu had been waiting for a long time, and her breath hitched the moment she saw Lin Shutang.

I had long heard of the Crown Prince's wife's beauty, but seeing her today, I realize how true the ancients were to say that seeing is believing.

Shen Yun was as usual today, without much adornment. She wore a white jade crown and a silver fox fur coat, and her figure was tall and slender. Her cold eyebrows and aloof eyes gave her a natural air of detachment, which made her appear even more refined and virtuous.

The two walked towards us from afar, truly a perfect couple.

"Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness's Wife." Zhao Mingzhu curtsied and Ji Huaiyi bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Go ahead." Shen Yun released Lin Shutang's hand, tilted her head slightly, and pointed in Zhao Mingzhu's direction.

Lin Shutang looked up at him.

Ignoring the wariness in her eyes, Shen Yun lowered his head, picked up her hand, and squeezed it gently. "Have fun. I'll wait for you to come back here."

Lin Shutang had no idea what Shen Yun was up to.

Over the years, Shen Yun's possessiveness towards her has reached a terrifying level.

For a time, he wouldn't even allow anyone to get close to her, or forbid her from seeing or speaking to anyone.

He personally served her in everything from walking and sitting to dressing and eating, and was inseparable from her every day, as if he wanted to be attached to her.

How could he allow her to leave his sight today and visit the lantern festival with someone else?

Before Lin Shutang could say anything more, Zhao Mingzhu, with her keen perception, stepped forward and affectionately took Lin Shutang's arm. "Princess's wife, there's a metal flower performance up ahead. Let's go watch it together."

As Lin Shutang was dragged away by Zhao Mingzhu, Shen Yun's gaze lingered on the increasingly smaller figure in the crowded throng, until even the last piece of clothing was no longer visible, and he still did not look away.

Ji Huaiyi stepped forward, stood beside Shen Jun, and followed his gaze. He tilted his head, his high ponytail swaying in the air. "What? You're really not going out for a stroll tonight? Are you really going to stay here like a wife-waiting stone?"

Shen Yun turned to the side, expressionless, and reached out to brush away a strand of Ji Huaiyi's hair that had fallen onto her neck in the wind. Ignoring his teasing, her voice was icy, "If Zhao Mingzhu can't bring Lin Shutang back intact, her life will also..."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Ji Huaiyi raised his hand to stop, then clasped his hands together and gave a quick salute, assuring him with certainty, "Your Highness, rest assured, I have personally taken on the duty of patrolling the lantern festival, and there will be absolutely no mistakes."

Before Shen Yun could speak, he said quickly, "I won't stay here with you in the cold wind. I have official duties to attend to."

After saying that, he ran off in the direction where Zhao Mingzhu had disappeared.

It's hard to tell whether he was preoccupied with official duties, unable to control his emotions, or simply trying to escape...

After being pulled away by Zhao Mingzhu for quite a distance, Lin Shutang looked back several times, but among the many figures, there was indeed no sign of Shen Yun.

Even the people she usually sensed secretly watching her seemed to have been removed.

Realizing this fact, Lin Shutang did not feel particularly relieved.

Something unusual must be going on.

She knew Shen Yun too well; he was a complete madman with a strong possessive and controlling nature.

Now, he's allowed her to leave the manor and removed the people monitoring her; it doesn't seem like something he would do.

Is he comfortable leaving himself alone?

Lin Shutang was lost in thought and didn't see the road ahead clearly. Suddenly, he bumped into someone.

Her ankle twisted, she lost her balance, and was about to fall backward when an arm reached across her waist and pressed Lin Shutang back against the intruder's chest.

The man's hands were broad and strong, and he held her very tightly, but in just a moment, his hands loosened.

Lin Shutang looked up and saw that the man was about eight feet tall and wore a painted lacquer mask with the face of a lucky doll.

Two bright red circles of blush graced her chubby, fair cheeks.

"Are you alright, young lady?"

Beneath that cheerful mask emanated a hoarse, mocking voice, a stark contrast to the refined and dignified demeanor of the person before him.

He wore a dark blue robe and a fur coat that was jet black.

It gives people a sense of depression for no reason.

"We're fine."

Zhao Mingzhu clearly sensed the discomfort this person caused them, and cautiously took Lin Shutang's arm and stood in front of her to shield her.

He nodded to the person who came as a sign of courtesy, and then hurriedly left.

As Lin Shutang was being led away, he couldn't help but look back repeatedly.

The man remained standing there, his tall figure appearing somewhat lonely and somber in the shadows cast by the crowd.

The iron flower performance began at the right time. Lin Shutang stood in the crowd, still thinking about the people from earlier.

Her mind was a bit confused; she couldn't understand why she was experiencing this inexplicable palpitation.

Zhao Mingzhu noticed her absent-mindedness and asked, "Young Master's wife, are you tired?"

Lin Shutang snapped out of her daze and gently shook her head.

A red-gold filigree begonia hairpin swayed gently at her temples, like fireworks exploding, and a dazzling light floated between her eyebrows and eyes, reflecting the soft, jade-like contours of the beauty. Her whole being was as gentle as ripples on water.

She looked at Zhao Mingzhu and slightly raised her lips, "I'm fine."

As they spoke, the craftsmen surrounded in the center once again tossed molten iron into the air. Amidst the golden sparks, Lin Shutang caught a glimpse of that familiar figure standing in the crowd out of the corner of his eye.

He's looking at himself!

Lin Shutang looked back sharply, his gaze inadvertently falling into the dark holes in the mask.

My chest tightened suddenly.

The firelight suddenly fell, plunging the surging crowd into darkness, and the person vanished in an instant!

Lin Shutang's eyelids twitched, and an impulse rose from nowhere, so she lifted her foot and chased after the direction where the person had disappeared.

Zhao Mingzhu was so engrossed in her performance that she was completely unprepared, and Lin Shutang flew past her like a gust of wind.

By the time she realized what was happening and tried to chase after them, the crowd was too dense. Zhao Mingzhu had to crane her neck repeatedly to watch as the figure in red disappeared into the shadows of the crowd.

Lin Shutang pushed through the crowd and finally walked out of the dense street. He stood there and looked around, but he didn't see that person again.

Her breathing was a little uneven, and she calmed down with a slight panting.

It seemed like only now did I realize what I was doing, and I couldn't help but find it a little funny.

How could it be him...?

So many years have passed.

A note from the author:

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