Chapter 41 Imprisoning Her, He Imprisoned Himself

Lin Shutang observed from the window for a long time that day, and she was certain that Shen Yun had once again taken strict control of Jingyuan Residence.

During this time, she noticed that whenever she left the room, Shen Jun would appear behind her, finding various reasons to bring her back to the bedroom.

Later, even when she had this thought and asked Green Willow to help her out, she would always be held up in the room by various things.

For example, it's time to change the medication, take the pulse, or use a tonic soup...

Lin Shutang couldn't refuse, so much so that he couldn't leave his room for several days.

Shen Yun treated her with the same gentleness as before, smiling at her with an incredibly soft tone, and subtly silencing all of Lin Shutang's attempts to speak.

It seems that Lin Shutang's insistence on going out in her current state is an act of extreme disregard for her own health.

But Lin Shutang knew that she was already much better.

...He is imprisoning himself.

Just like before.

Or rather, it is more sophisticated than before.

He knew how to use a gentle facade to achieve his goals, making it seem as if any resistance from Lin Shutang would appear as her being unreasonable.

That madman!

Is it because she remembered the past that he has to guard her so closely again, giving her the same airtight life as before?

Absolutely not!

"Madam, it's time for your medicine." Green Willow carried the freshly brewed medicine into the inner room and placed it on the low square table on the couch.

Lin Shutang withdrew her gaze from the window where she was on guard duty and turned to look at Luwu. "Have you left Jingyuan Residence these past few days?"

Green Willow shook her head. "Madam is seriously injured, and this servant dares not leave the hospital."

"Now that I'm fully recovered, go and prepare a visiting card and send it to the Zhou residence. I will go to pay my respects to Madam Zhou and return the jade ring that slipped from her hand during the chaos that day."

Lin Shutang's eyes flickered slightly, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure quietly step out of the room from outside the curtain.

“Madam saved Madam Zhou’s life, so shouldn’t she be the one to pay her respects to Madam?” Green Willow pouted, somewhat resentful.

“But it has been more than a month, and not to mention Madam Zhou, not a single person has come to see you… Madam.” Knowing she had spoken out of turn, Green Willow lowered her voice as she spoke, and quickly observed Lin Shutang’s reaction before kneeling down abruptly. “This servant has misspoke. Please punish me, Madam.”

Yes, not a single person came.

She only just noticed the clues now.

"Madam, why don't you give the things to the servants and let them deliver them? That way, you won't have to make the trip yourself," Green Willow suggested, kneeling on the ground.

"I'd only feel at ease if I personally handed things over to someone. I've been staying at Jingyuan Residence for so long, it's time to get some fresh air," Lin Shutang said nonchalantly.

"Get up. Don't kneel down all the time. I'm not angry." Lin Shutang stirred the medicine in the bowl.

"This medicine is very bitter, take it and secretly throw it away."

"lady!"

"Fine, I'll do it myself." Lin Shutang said no more and directly lifted the thin blanket to get off the bed.

Green Willow was afraid of aggravating Lin Shutang's back wound, so she hurriedly went to get it, but the medicine had to be taken by the lady, and she was at a loss for what to do.

Fortunately, Shen Yun entered at that moment, and Luwu felt as if she had been granted a pardon.

Now that the young master has arrived, the lady can no longer act childishly.

Seeing that Shen Yun waved his hand, Lvwu wisely retreated.

Shen Yun sat down on the edge of the bed, picked up the medicine bowl, stirred it slowly with a spoon, and brought it to Lin Shutang.

"After taking the medicine, I'm leaving the manor." Lin Shutang stared straight at him.

"You're not fully recovered yet." Shen Yun's voice remained gentle, without showing any displeasure at these words, as she coaxed Lin Shutang to drink it.

This gave Lin Shutang the illusion that there was still room for negotiation, so she quickly said, "The wires have been removed, so it's fine."

"I still have something to give to Madam Zhou."

"Why don't you leave it to me, Ah Tang? I'll deliver it myself." Shen Yun put down his spoon and slowly stirred the bowl, revealing a somewhat indifferent and nonchalant attitude.

Lin Shutang narrowed her eyes, gradually realizing what was happening. She stared at him, confirming that Shen Yun was imprisoning her.

Why won't you let me leave the manor?

Shen Yun looked up, feigning ignorance, her tone tinged with hurt, "I was just concerned about A-Tang."

He put down the medicine bowl, raised his hand to cup her cheeks and slowly pulled her back, his cool fingertips running through her hair, his gaze lingering on her nose and red lips, "As soon as I let you out, your heart became wild, there were always people trying to get close to you, and you were always restless."

Lin Shutang's eyelashes fluttered, and she swallowed nervously, feeling that Shen Yun's words seemed to have a hidden meaning.

“If A-Tang stays in Jingyuan Residence, she will focus her mind on what matters, won’t lie to me, and won’t get hurt.” He brushed the stray hairs from her temples, and the sunlight from the window fell on his cheeks, forcing his usually dark eyes to light up, like sparkling amber.

Lin Shutang looked up, but couldn't see her own reflection in his eyes. The beam of light poured down onto the windowsill, and a layer of fluffy wisps floated in the air, making it seem as if there was a hazy mist between them.

Shen Yun smiled gently, picked up the medicine bowl again, scooped up a spoonful of medicine, and handed it to Lin Shutang.

Lin Shutang slapped Shen Yun's hand away, sending the white jade porcelain bowl flying. The crisp sound of shards shattered and splashed all the way to the bottom of the table, while large patches of brown liquid seeped onto the black brick floor.

The reflection showed Shen Yun's calm and composed expression.

It was chillingly calm.

Shen Yun's gaze swept indifferently over the mess on the ground. He slowly turned his head, seemingly unaware that the back of his hand was red from the scalding medicine. The medicine dripped from his fingertips, leaving a conspicuous brown stain on his moon-white robe.

Although he was looking at Lin Shutang, he was actually instructing the servants outside, his tone cold, "Go and brew another bowl."

Then, the sound of rustling footsteps could be heard.

"I won't drink!" Lin Shutang's chest heaved violently. "Get those people out of here."

Shen Yun didn't speak, but silently stared at Lin Shutang.

He was so calm that Lin Shutang felt uneasy.

Lin Shutang originally intended to get angry as before, stirring up Shen Yun's emotions as well, and perhaps Shen Yun would be willing to take a step back again.

But at this moment, it seems that this tactic is no longer effective against him.

Lin Shutang met his gaze and felt a surge of fear. She tried to back away, but Shen Yun raised his hand to restrain her chin, pried open her lips with his fingertips, pressed two fingers together against her tongue, and stirred it wildly inside her mouth.

The medicine slid down Lin Shutang's throat, as if its flow had been deliberately slowed. Even though there was only a little medicine, the astringency seemed to be amplified infinitely, filling and lingering in his mouth. Every inch of his tongue felt bitter and numb as it flowed through.

Lin Shutang frowned.

"Ah Tang, if you don't obediently drink your medicine, I have many other ways that you wouldn't want to try." Shen Yun tilted his head to look at her, his pupils, which were filled with a faint light, trembled slightly, a barely suppressed excitement.

Lin Shutang recalled the day he returned from Xuzhou, when he fed her the medicine in the bowl, spoonful by spoonful.

That bowl of medicine was the longest and most bitter one she had ever drunk.

Now, he was stirring her mouth as if to humiliate her.

He's a madman!

Lin Shutang was certain that if she didn't cooperate, he was capable of doing even crazier things.

In essence, he was no different from an uncivilized beast.

Lin Shutang glared at him fiercely, then opened her mouth and bit his knuckles tightly.

Blood gushed from the open wound, flowing continuously in her mouth and sliding down the corners of her open lips.

Shen Yun watched her calmly from beginning to end, as if he couldn't feel the pain, as if Lin Shutang wasn't biting him at all.

Only when the blood dripped onto the moon-white robe, staining Lin Shutang's lips red, did his breathing gradually become heavy. His gaze shifted from her brows and eyes with a dark expression, landing on her slightly parted red lips.

As if sensing something, he tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes revealing a hint of interest. He gently raised the hand that was holding her chin, forcing her to look up.

“Swallow it, Ah Tang,” he coaxed softly.

Swallow it, drink his blood, and they will be the closest of friends.

Lin Shutang stared at him in fear, as if she were looking at a monster, but Shen Yun seemed oblivious. He placed his other hand on her throat, and Lin Shutang was forced to swallow.

The stench of blood filled her mouth and was unpleasant; the hot blood sliding into her throat made her want to vomit.

She released her mouth and was about to lean over and spit it out when Shen Yun's hand, which had been pressing on her throat, slid back to grasp the back of her neck, forcing her to tilt her head back and leaning in to kiss her.

Blood mixed with saliva, he savored the taste and swallowed her sobs along with it.

A frantic thought kept raging in his mind: he wanted her, he wanted to possess her completely, to be entangled with her to the death, night after night!

-

Lin Shutang certainly didn't have a jade ring; it was just a trick to get Shen Yun to let him leave the mansion.

But now, let alone leaving the mansion, they can't even leave the courtyard of Jingyuan Residence.

Everything seemed to have returned to the state it was before Chenyan was born.

Lin Shutang carefully recalled Shen Yun's changes, and it seemed that it was after returning from Xuzhou that he began to distrust and possess her with a terrifying new attitude.

My senior brothers must have done something to Shen Yun, and my unusual behavior must have aroused Shen Yun's suspicion.

Having already escaped from Jiuli Mountain once, and remembering the past, he decided to have someone watch over her, just in case.

Now, that trick no longer works on him.

The more she showed dissatisfaction and resistance, the more anxious he became, and the tighter he kept an eye on her.

She had to proceed gradually...

Since Lin Shutang was lying to him, Shen Yun naturally didn't need to go to the Zhou residence to deliver any jade ring.

But coincidentally, Madam Zhou personally invited Shen Yun to the Zhou residence for a chat.

Therefore, on this day, Shen Yun still went to the Zhou residence.

Over the years, Madam Zhou has been the only mistress in the Zhou household, and most of the servants have been dismissed.

Stepping into this house today, the once magnificent and splendid general's mansion has become desolate and cold.

The maid led Shen Yun to the backyard, where Madam Zhou was sitting in Zhou Ziyang's courtyard waiting for him.

As she watched Shen Yun step through the hanging flower gate, Madam Zhou's eyes welled up with tears. If her Yang'er were still alive, she would be married and have children, just like Shen Yun is now, living a happy family life.

In the blink of an eye, the person walked in. Madam Zhou's melancholy dissipated, and a crimson hue spread in her eyes again. The hatred that rose from the depths of her heart could not be concealed at all. Although she tried her best to remain calm, her body could not help but tremble.

...