Chapter 24 Undercurrents, Have Some Pity on Me Too

Tears streamed down her face, as if she had stepped off a cliff and fallen. Lin Shutang shook her head desperately, begging him to stop.

All pride and self-respect seemed to be crushed at this moment.

Shen Yun didn't stop. Pressing against her smooth back, he pressed his palm against her waist and down inch by inch. Lin Shutang's pleading voice choked in her throat.

The more she gritted her teeth and endured, the more ruthless Shen Yun became.

"I...I just think...uh...she's so pitiful, Shen Yun, you, let me go!" Lin Shutang couldn't take it anymore and cried as she tried to pull him away.

Without a word, Shen Yun grabbed her slender wrist with his large hand and pressed it onto the table, leaning closer to her.

Lin Shutang choked back a sob.

"Then could you have pity on me too?" He turned his head to kiss away her salty tears, tracing them down her flushed cheeks to her ears.

"Lin Shutang, I beg you to care about me a little, to love me a little."

"Don't force me to teach you how to love me, okay? You won't like me doing that, will you?"

His tone was so humble, even pitiful, with a hint of begging, yet his actions showed no sign of yielding, each forceful movement pinning Lin Shutang firmly to the table.

The case was jolted by the impact, and every syllable of Lin Shutang's was jolted and shattered.

She could only cry until her voice was hoarse, intermittently, in rhythm with his.

She didn't hear what Shen Yun was saying at all. Shen Yun rarely showed his emotions so openly, let alone lost control like this. Lin Shutang felt like a fishing boat sailing at sea, drifting with the waves, not knowing where he was going.

However, it seemed that water had entered the bottom of the cabin, and her lower body was almost completely soaked, feeling numb and swollen from being soaked in water.

She could only cling tightly to the edge of the boat to prevent herself from being capsized by the violent waves.

"You...uh, let go...me..." Lin Shutang struggled to raise her arm to push him away. This time, Shen Yun didn't grab her hand and press it back onto the table. Instead, he took her hand and, in this position, turned her over.

He didn't come out. The suction he created as he spun around seemed to be biting by countless tiny mouths, clearly magnified through every inch of his skin. Lin Shutang couldn't help but moan and groan, and Shen Yun's chest also vibrated as he let out a low, muffled groan.

"So, Ah Tang, do you still want to take a concubine for me?"

Shen Yun bent down and kissed her lips.

The fragrance filled her heart, and her chest was filled with an indescribable satisfaction. Shen Yun licked her lips. At this moment, her mood seemed to have improved a lot. The invisible coldness dissipated, and her voice became warm.

Lin Shutang bit her lower lip tightly, and it seemed to go even deeper after he pressed down.

Tears streamed silently down Lin Shutang's cheeks, and they flowed even more freely as soon as she spoke, "This is Grandmother's wish, I can't... uh-huh!"

Lin Shutang suddenly grabbed Shen Yun's arm, her fingertips digging deep into it.

Shen Yun kissed her sweaty neck, then slowed his movements, rubbing against her until she was neither fully inside nor out. "Does A-Tang want to take a concubine for me?"

He wouldn't let it go.

"...Uh, this is Grandmother's...ah, request..." Lin Shutang tilted her head back, panting heavily.

Her shimmering eyes were veiled in a layer of rosy, sapphire, slightly unfocused, her gaze unsure of where she was looking, yet her thoughts seemed remarkably clear, still knowing to use the old lady as a raft.

Shen Yun narrowed her eyes, still dissatisfied with the answer.

Lin Shutang felt him become even heavier, heading straight for a certain spot.

Her entire waist slumped down.

Lin Shutang burst into tears.

A few strands of black hair clung to her flushed face, falling against her neck. Shen Yun reached out and brushed them away. "A-Tang, be good, don't say things I don't want to hear. Since you can choose a concubine for me, you can naturally find a way to send this person back. Since you can agree to Grandmother's request, you can naturally refuse her."

He grabbed her waist and pressed down, grinding and thrusting repeatedly at a certain spot. "Tang, tell me, are you still going to take a concubine for me?"

“…Ugh, no, no…uh-huh.” Lin Shutang couldn’t take it anymore, and tears streamed down her face like a burst dam.

It felt like his soul was being crushed, swollen and aching. He gripped his disheveled clothes tightly with his fingertips and cried out in a sob.

Shen Yun's brows finally relaxed at this moment.

In a good mood, he bent down again, turned Lin Shutang's face to kiss her eyelashes that were wet with tears, and smiled gently as he smiled, "Good girl."

Then, he picked her up from the upturned table and sat her in the lacquered chair.

Lin Shutang felt as if her whole body was falling apart. She frowned in discomfort, but Shen Yun's advances did not diminish. She buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed, her cries faintly reaching out the door.

Everyone in the courtyard held their breath. The Crown Prince's wife was crying so hard; it seemed the Crown Prince was truly furious.

Lin Shutang's consciousness was already blurred at the end. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she kept muttering in her sleep. She choked out, "I hate you."

"I hate you, Shen Yun."

Tears fell in a steady stream onto Shen Jun's arm, which was supporting her waist, stinging her skin.

Shen Yun stared intently at her, his throat bobbing laboredly, and in the end he only hummed in response, as if he were unmoved by her emotions.

Lin Shutang cried even harder.

Finally, Shen Yun finished speaking, wrapped her in his clothes, held her in his arms, and walked out. He lowered his eyes and stared at the servants in the courtyard with a cold gaze, "Since Madam has pleaded for you, you can all get out and do what you are supposed to do."

"As for you," Shen Yun said, not even bothering to glance at Yingchun, "go back to the Princess's residence!"

After saying that, he picked up Lin Shutang and strode towards the bedroom.

The next day, Shen Yun left, and Lin Shutang was still asleep.

A blush settled on her cheeks. Shen Yun sat by the bed, gently touching her forehead with the back of his hand. She was relieved to find that she didn't have a fever.

"Take good care of her." Shen Yun stood up, said this, and left.

The green grass bows its head in response.

Inside the Crane Garden.

The old lady never expected that her grandson would come to see her at this moment.

She hurriedly put down the bird's nest she was holding and invited him in.

Shen Yun entered, bowed to the old lady, and explained his purpose.

The old lady was stunned when she heard this. She saw that Shen Yun's posture was respectful, but his tone was firm and left no room for argument. "Please, Grandmother, do not worry about the affairs of my courtyard in the future."

The old lady's joy faded. "Did Shutang tell you something?"

“Yun’er, you are the heir, and the Shen family needs you to carry on the family line. You used to refuse to marry so many noble ladies in the capital and instead chose a mere merchant’s daughter, and your grandmother agreed to it.”

“You’ve been making trouble for so many years, and Grandmother has turned a blind eye. Now that Shutang has matured and settled down, and you have your eldest son, Grandmother thinks it’s time for you to settle down.”

The old lady earnestly advised, "Shutang understands things better than you do. She is the wife of the heir apparent, and she must learn to manage these matters. This is her duty as a wife and a member of the clan."

Sensible? Well-behaved?

Shen Yun scoffed lightly. If she really understood things, she wouldn't have done these things.

Clearly, he still harbors treacherous intentions!

Shen Yun's expression was cold and hard. "The Shen family is not just me, and the branching out is not limited to me."

“If Grandmother insists on doing this, I can only let her stay in Jingyuan Residence and not leave the courtyard. As for the affairs of the household, I will send someone to teach her personally, so Grandmother will not have to trouble herself to teach her.”

"Shen Yun, you've spoiled her too much!" the old lady shouted at Shen Yun's departing figure.

He gripped the rim of the bowl tightly and slammed it heavily on the table.

Surprisingly, Shen Yun stopped. The old lady thought he had listened to her, but he remained obstinate.

Upon hearing this, the old lady nearly fainted. She wished he would just leave and pretend she hadn't heard a word he said.

"She doesn't need to learn how to be a good matriarch or a good wife; her grandson only wants her as a person."

Shen Yun slightly turned his head and said.

If Lin Shutang is destined to learn one thing, Shen Yun hopes she can learn to love him.

He loved her with such intensity, suffocation, and twisted intensity.

But the truth is, he was so pitiful that he couldn't even get a glance from her.

She cares about the lives of those around her, yet she can turn on him with a knife.

She didn't want to see innocent people suffer because of her, yet she could remain indifferent and cold towards him forever.

She yelled at a complete stranger, a stranger, more than she had for three years of marriage.

-

Lin Shutang woke up when the sun was high in the sky, his whole body aching as if it had fallen apart.

Since becoming pregnant, Shen Jun has never put her through this much trouble.

Lin Shutang stared blankly at the top of the tent, tears slowly welling up in her eyes.

asshole!

Last night's events felt like a return to those two years in the villa; she wouldn't rest and was determined to escape.

Now, with the same intention, she is putting all her effort into pushing Shen Yun away.

Shen Yun's methods for dealing with her remained unchanged; he always bullied her in these kinds of situations.

Lin Shutang wept silently; no one could bear to see him like that.

She absolutely hated Shen Yun.

Perhaps it's because people have been urging her to leave lately, but this long-dormant thought has resurfaced like a tidal wave.

Boiling liquid poured over her entire body—she was leaving Shen Yun!

"Madam, you're awake?" Green Willow asked from the bedside, hearing the faint voices coming from inside the curtains.

Lin Shutang was instantly brought back to reality. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears. "Green Willow, what time is it now?"

Her voice was terribly hoarse; she had cried a lot last night.

Green Willow raised her hand and brushed aside the bed curtains, letting in the bright sunlight streaming in through the window. Lin Shutang closed her eyes slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable, and covered them with the back of her hand that was wiping away tears.

"Reporting to Madam, it is already noon." Green Willow handed the warmed honey water to Lin Shutang.

Lin Shutang sat up, took a sip from the warm bowl, and murmured, "I haven't gone to Heyuan to pay my respects yet today."

But she really didn't want to go; she felt extremely weak all over.

Green Willow knelt down to help her put on her shoes. "Madam, there's no need to worry. The Old Madam sent someone to say that none of the households need to pay their respects today."

"What's wrong?" Lin Shutang, who had regained some energy, asked hurriedly as Lvwu helped her to sit down at the dressing table. "Is the old lady feeling unwell?"

"This servant does not know either. But I think it should be nothing serious. Otherwise, the physician would have gone to Crane Garden."

Lin Shutang was relieved.

If something were truly wrong with the old lady, the Duke's mansion would be in complete chaos, not so quiet.

Staring at herself in the glass mirror, Lin Shutang saw the crimson hickeys covering her neck and the scabs on her lower lip from being bitten.

Last night's events kept replaying in my mind like a circus performance.

Recalling Shen Yun's words, Lin Shutang's heart sank heavily.

Shen Yun would not take a concubine; how could she bring this up with her grandmother?

The concubine has been chosen, and now she goes to tell her grandmother what her grandmother thinks of her.

How could Grandmother possibly agree?

"Pack your things, we're going to Crane Garden later," Lin Shutang finally resigned herself to her fate.

If all else fails, just push all the blame onto Shen Yun.

Upon entering Crane Garden, Lin Shutang was pondering how to begin when the old lady put down her teacup and spoke first, "The matter of the young master taking a concubine is not urgent."

Lin Shutang suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise.

The old lady looked at her and seemed to sigh, "Right now, Yan'er's marriage is more important. He hasn't had a single confidant by his side all these years. We'll consider arranging a concubine for the young master after Yan'er's matter is settled."

Lin Shutang nodded obediently, "I'll do whatever Grandmother says."

"In that case, you'll have to take care of Yan'er's affairs."

"yes."

After leaving Crane Garden, Lin Shutang was still a little dazed, realizing how smoothly things had gone.

How could the old lady bear to put aside the matter of Shen Yun taking a concubine?

Just then, Lin Shutang turned into the banana grove and saw a tall figure walking towards him from afar.

The figure was familiar; it was none other than Shen Xiuyan!

Now that he has just returned to the capital, the Emperor, being benevolent, has granted him permission to rest and recuperate at his residence for a few more days before taking up his post.

Remembering that night when she met him, Shen Yun pushed her into the artificial cave, Lin Shutang felt it was better to stay away.

They immediately turned around with Green Willow, intending to take a longer route.

To everyone's surprise, upon seeing this, Shen Xiuyan quickened his pace, as if he couldn't tell that she was avoiding him at all. He immediately called out to her and caught up with her in a few steps.

"Sister-in-law, why do you want to leave as soon as you see me?" Shen Xiuyan's eyes narrowed into slits.

"Young Master." Lin Shutang turned around helplessly and nodded.

Is the Shen family's thick skin hereditary? Is their persistent, haunting nature hereditary?

"I heard that your sister-in-law brought a woman back to the manor yesterday?" Unlike Lin Shutang, who avoided the topic, Shen Xiuyan seemed determined to continue the conversation.

"A gift from the princess is something I cannot refuse. Now that the indenture has been returned to her, she has left," Lin Shutang said succinctly.

"Oh? So fast." Shen Xiuyan seemed a little disappointed. "I thought it was someone to be sent to my second brother's room."

Lin Shutang looked at him expressionlessly and didn't say anything more.

Shen Xiuyan smiled and glanced at Luwu beside him.

Lin Shutang understood and waved for Luwu to leave.

Luwu blessed herself and walked towards the long corridor not far away, at a perfect distance, where she could see the whole place at a glance.

"Have you thought it through? Are you leaving?" Shen Xiuyan withdrew his gaze from Lvwu and gently shook his head.

His second brother really kept a tight rein on people.

Lin Shutang's heart trembled for a moment. The thought that had just come to her that morning was now being persuaded by Shen Xiuyan.

Lin Shutang couldn’t quite describe his feelings, but they were probably like the comfort of someone handing you a pillow when you’re sleepy and the excitement of wanting to implement something immediately.

"Why should I leave?" Lin Shutang looked at him calmly, without answering directly, and asked him in return.

Shen Xiuyan is a cunning man, and Lin Shutang doesn't trust him, after all, she was someone who had been fooled by him once.

He and Shen Yun were practically identical; Lin Shutang had learned a great lesson from both of them.

If possible, I never want to provoke them again in this lifetime.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiuyan burst out laughing as if he had heard a joke, and said matter-of-factly, "Why don't you leave?"

He looked down into Lin Shutang's eyes, as if he felt sorry for her. "I heard last night that my second brother was very angry, and everyone in Jingyuan Residence was on edge. The young master's wife cried all night."

"No one can stand my second brother's temperament."

"Does Shen Yun know that you've planted spies in Jingyuan Residence?" Lin Shutang looked up at him and smiled.

Shen Xiuyan was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected that Lin Shutang would focus on this. He had inadvertently handed Lin Shutang a handle to use against him.

This is getting more and more interesting.

Shen Xiuyan smiled slightly, showing no panic but instead remaining calm and composed. "You won't tell him."

"It's good that you know now. This is enough to prove that I have the ability to send you away."

Why are you helping me?

"Because I'm just like him, we can't stand each other. I'm happy if I can do things that make Shen Jun unhappy."

There were no lengthy arguments or political contradictions; Shen Xiuyan's answer was naive and laughable, yet convincing enough.

After all, one was born a chosen one, while the other was a bastard child whose mother was condemned as a promiscuous concubine.

"Just thinking about how he panicked while searching for you makes me find it quite amusing." As if he could already see that scene, a smile appeared on Shen Xiuyan's cold and hard face.

Lin Shutang didn't react, and it's unclear whether he received any news.

Tell me, how can you help me?

"I heard that Shen Yun is going to take you to Jiuli Mountain to stay for a while?" Unsurprisingly, Lin Shutang was curious, and Shen Xiuyan said confidently.

"As long as you find a way to avoid traveling with Shen Yun, I will find a way to send you away."

"Where are you taking me? Have you arranged my identity documents and travel permits?"

“You… really are…” Shen Xiuyan stared at her and smiled, unable to find the right words to describe it. He could only say, “No wonder my second brother keeps such a close watch on you.”

"Stop with the nonsense. Come find me when everything's ready." Lin Shutang glanced at him and turned to leave.

Shen Xiuyan is a man full of schemes and plots; he must have had ill intentions after returning from the border.

She wanted to leave, but not to hide away for the rest of her life.

She wouldn't dare take the risk unless she had a foolproof plan.