Chapter 85 He Will Not Let Go of His Unbridled Love

Upon hearing this, Lin Shutang's anger vanished completely; she had actually forgotten about it!

“Yes, so let’s sign it now,” she said without hesitation.

Even though Shen Yun had already guessed how Lin Shutang would react, she was still hurt by her current coldness.

His breathing quickened for a moment, but surprisingly he didn't object; instead, he agreed.

Lin Shutang was still somewhat at a loss when he heard him say again, "A divorce needs to be officially approved by the government, so you need to come back to the capital with me."

"Shen Yun." Lin Shutang called out in a heavy voice. She didn't believe that with Shen Yun's current status, a simple divorce agreement would require so much trouble.

Shen Yun remained silent, looking as if he was helpless.

Lin Shutang felt a lump in her throat, knowing that if she didn't sign the divorce papers, she and Shen Jun would likely be entangled for life. But if she went back to Yujing with him, they would probably just keep going back and forth and getting caught up in each other's lives.

For a moment, I didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate behind her was pushed open, and Lin Shutang turned around to see that it was Shen Yan coming over.

The servant behind him frowned deeply, wanting to stop his young master, but the young master wouldn't listen.

The servant avoided Shen Yun's gaze, terrified of being punished.

"Mother." Shen Yan called out to her, her gaze falling on Shen Yun behind her, her expression turning cold.

Shen Yun's gaze also fell lightly on him. The helpless expression she had shown in front of Lin Shutang just now had completely vanished. Her well-defined face was cold, and she perfectly portrayed a cold and indifferent demeanor.

The father and son seemed to be arguing about something.

The scene froze. Lin Shutang was completely bewildered and lost in thought when Aunt Wang poked her head out. "Shutang, my second daughter is getting married soon. Why don't you all stay in Maple Tree Village for a while?"

Aunt Wang suggested, "Shall we celebrate together?"

Aunt Wang's words undoubtedly gave everyone present a way out, and for Lin Shutang, it was more like a chance to catch her breath.

She immediately agreed and walked towards Aunt Wang without stopping. "Okay. I've been wanting to ask you for good luck for a while. How about I help you out during this time?"

"I couldn't be happier! I'm short-handed here too. This child, Chen Yan, can keep my Yulan company." Aunt Wang said with a smile, and happily pulled Lin Shutang out of the courtyard gate.

The two of them moved with the ease of entering an empty space, instantly forgetting everyone else present.

Aunt Wang's youngest daughter is marrying a scholar from a neighboring village. Now that the wedding is approaching, there's a lot of money to be made for cleaning and tidying up the house, and on the wedding day, a banquet will be held to entertain the villagers.

Lin Shutang had been helping out at Aunt Wang's house for a while now. There wasn't much that Lin Shutang needed to do; most of the time, the two of them were preparing vegetables in the yard.

Shen Yan and Yulan sat in the corner.

Shen Yan was not talkative, but Yu Lan was a mischievous girl who often caught grasshoppers and threw them at Shen Yan.

The darker Shen Yan's face became, the happier Yu Lan became, determined to force him to reveal his true colors, since he always put on airs in front of the adults.

Shen Yan usually doesn't pay much attention to Yu Lan, but sometimes when he's in a bad mood, he'll find a way to get back at her. He even endured the disgust and grabbed a spider, throwing it in front of Yu Lan.

Yulan would often scream in fright. She was afraid of nothing but spiders, those multi-legged monsters.

When he gets angry, he'll shove Shen Yan, often leaving him covered in mud.

During this time, Shen Yun would often come over, and thanks to him, almost all the furniture in Aunt Wang's house was completely renovated. Shen Yun, however, had a perfectly legitimate reason: he said it was a wedding gift.

In the end, this wasn't a gift for Lin Shutang, so Lin Shutang had no right to stop it, and Aunt Wang couldn't refuse her request.

After a while, Lin Shutang found that he couldn't even find a moment of peace at Aunt Wang's place.

Aunt Wang initially didn't have a good impression of Shen Yun. She thought that the fact that he could force Lin Shutang to leave him, abandoning a good life and even leaving her child alone in this poor, remote place, must mean that this man was incompetent.

Who knows if he's out drinking and carousing, a heartless and unfaithful man?

But after a few days, she realized that Shen Yun wasn't as bad as she had imagined.

Every day, his eyes were practically glued to Lin Shutang. He was also humble and polite, unlike his usual carefree and unruly self.

But Lin Shutang remained indifferent, not even sparing him a glance.

Aunt Wang really couldn't figure out what had happened between the couple.

But since he traveled all this way to come, there must be some affection involved. Judging from Lin Shutang's appearance, he didn't seem to hate her to the core.

Aunt Wang tried to persuade her several times, but ultimately hesitated to speak.

This is, after all, someone else's family matter. If Lin Shutang is unwilling to talk about it, how could she easily bring it up?

Lin Shutang wasn't unaware of Aunt Wang's several probing glances, but she pretended not to see them and ultimately said nothing.

Her affair with Shen Jun was not something that could be easily explained to others in just a few words.

In fact, she herself didn't know how to face Shen Yun.

She learned the truth about what happened back then from Zhao Mingzhu.

She understood that if it weren't for Shen Yun, the entire Lin family would probably be wiped out.

But even if those people were to die, no matter who killed them, she didn't want it to be Shen Yun.

Too many lives were between them; she couldn't feel at ease being with him, she couldn't get over that mental hurdle.

The moon rises above the willow branches, its light bathing the courtyard. It pours down through the gaps in the trees, and is further tinged with crimson by the red silk hanging on the eaves and the lanterns under the eaves.

Most of the people who came to offer their congratulations had already left, leaving only a messy table in the courtyard after the clinking of glasses.

Lin Shutang had been helping out lately, so she was considered part of the family. She only joined Aunt Wang for the meal when she was almost done with the work.

In the golden autumn season, the evening breeze still carried a chill. On this festive occasion, Lin Shutang, sitting at the table, couldn't help but drink a little wine, and a warm feeling rose up all over his body, making his cheeks flushed.

She sipped her wine slowly, and by the time only she and Aunt Wang remained at the table, she was completely drunk.

She was especially talkative tonight, clearly not fully conscious, yet past memories flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

She recalled her first meeting with Shen Yun, her days with him in Yizhou, and his subsequent coercion.

Those past events she had deliberately forgotten reappeared vividly before her eyes, like a shadow puppet show.

"He said he would only give me the divorce papers if I went back to Yujing with him." Lin Shutang finished the last drop of wine in her glass and poured herself a full glass.

"Will you come back?" Aunt Wang asked, resting her chin on her hand and squinting at Lin Shutang.

"Of course I'll come back!" Lin Shutang said firmly, finding Aunt Wang's words quite strange.

She vowed, "Once I get the divorce papers, I'll have absolutely nothing to do with him anymore."

"So, are you happy?" Aunt Wang asked again, taking the wine pot and pouring herself a full cup. Her old face flushed red from the drink, and she couldn't help but let out a burp.

Lin Shutang was taken aback by what he heard. He lowered his eyelids and stared at the wine in his glass, which reflected the swaying red lanterns. He felt dizzy and lightheaded.

After a moment, she nodded. "I'm happy."

She seemed to be muttering to herself, "Why am I unhappy? I've lived a good and content life without him all these years."

"Then why don't you leave?" Aunt Wang turned to look at her. "Why didn't you go to Yujing with him from the beginning, get the divorce papers sooner, and end things sooner? Isn't that what you wanted? Why did you give him a deadline and stay in Maple Tree Village?"

She seemed drunk, yet her words were exceptionally aggressive.

Lin Shutang was a little dazed and didn't know how to refute her for a moment.

"Shutang, you're clearly hesitant and indecisive, you just haven't realized it yet." Aunt Wang patted her shoulder. "You think you've been using this time to think about how to cut ties with him cleanly, but actually you're just running away."

"I..." Lin Shutang suddenly couldn't speak. She felt that the wine was really harsh on her throat. Even though she hadn't taken much, her throat felt dry and uncomfortable, and even her eyes seemed to hurt a little.

“You are clearly very attached to this brief interaction with him. But once you go to Yujing, you will have to face a choice, and no matter which one you choose, you will be in pain.”

"Aunt Wang, I don't like hearing this." Lin Shutang brushed her hand away, looking a bit sullen. She didn't understand why Aunt Wang, who was usually very perceptive, was speaking so unpleasantly tonight.

Aunt Wang smiled, then tilted her head back and took a big gulp, wiping her mouth with a rather hearty laugh. "Shutang, I've lived to this age and I've seen through everything. Nothing in this world is insurmountable, and no obstacle is insurmountable."

"What others say, do, or think is not as important as yourself."

"You clearly can't forget him, you can't bring yourself to hate him completely, but you have to convince yourself to leave him because of what happened in the past, and you have to part ways with him."

"Life is already hard enough as it is. Why bother to keep worrying about gains and losses, right and wrong, and putting those shackles on yourself?"

"I...I don't know what else I can do?" Tears suddenly seemed to burst from a floodgate, sliding down her cheeks. Lin Shutang could clearly feel the temperature of each tear, burning as it seeped into her flesh.

"The fact that you don't know what to do actually shows that you care more." Aunt Wang took another sip of wine, sighed, and looked at her.

"Why can you be lenient with your senior brother, not hold his past actions against him, and even spare his life in the end because of past affection, but you have to be so harsh on Shen Jun? Why do you have to hold onto those past grievances with him?"

"Actually, when you were considering whether or not to go with him, you had already wavered, hadn't you?"

"You just can't accept that you can so easily forgive him, as if it's a betrayal of those who have died. But in fact, you have already forgiven him, haven't you?"

Lin Shutang's breath hitched, and she was somewhat stunned, as if she had never thought of this angle before. She looked up blankly at Aunt Wang sitting beside her, and a tear that had been lingering on her eyelashes suddenly fell.

"I'm telling you this not to persuade you to get back together with him, but because you should be kinder to yourself. Whatever you choose, Aunt Wang hopes you'll be the one who's most comfortable."

She smiled, then looked behind her. "He's here. Let's go back."

Aunt Wang stood up, exchanged a glance with Shen Yun, and then left.

Lin Shutang slowly turned his head and saw Shen Yun striding towards him in a bright white robe. Red candles and colorful lanterns surrounded him, and his usually cold and stern face seemed to have been tinged with warmth.

As she got closer, Lin Shutang looked up at him. His eyes, misty from drinking, were not very clear, but she could sense that he seemed to be suppressing some emotions.

Lin Shutang recalled that when they were at the Duke's mansion, he wouldn't allow her to drink a drop of alcohol.

Seeing her like this, he must be feeling quite unhappy.

Lin Shutang's alcohol tolerance is really bad right now; he can't even outdrink Aunt Wang.

When she leaned against Shen Jun's shoulder, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, her mind was completely blank.

For a moment, Lin Shutang even felt that they were in Yizhou.

That night, Shen Yun carried her back in the same way.

The clear, cool moonlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, scattering haphazardly upon them, the light and shadow shimmering like ripples spreading across disturbed water.

On the difficult mountain path, Shen Yun took each step very steadily. Although her stomach was upset from drinking, Lin Shutang unexpectedly felt comfortable leaning on Shen Yun's shoulder, with an indescribable sense of security. Her arms around Shen Yun's neck tightened unconsciously.

Aunt Wang is right, but she's just been deceiving herself.

She clearly liked Shen Yun; perhaps she had liked him since Yizhou. Yet she kept deceiving herself into believing she hated him.

But if you truly hate him, why not simply take revenge and kill him? Why do you have to risk everything to leave him?

Is it for freedom, or is it an escape?

What she couldn't forgive was Shen Yun, or the part of herself that couldn't completely hate Shen Yun?

Only now has Lin Shutang finally had the courage to look back.

She thought that the price to pay for staying by Shen Jun's side was too high.

She had lost all her family and friends, and all her freedom; she could only rely on herself.

But before she could be completely ruthless towards Shen Jun, she had already given him her whole self.

Shen Yun may have made many mistakes, but Lin Shutang is the one who should not be blamed, because everything Shen Yun did was only to ensure her survival.

But Shen Yun was always so arrogant. He thought he could take on everything and that what he gave Lin Shutang was the best, but he never asked Lin Shutang what she wanted.

So much so that tears came faster than her heartbeat, and Lin Shutang misunderstood every time she felt a flutter in her heart towards Shen Yun as fear.

When he thought he could win her a chance to survive, their paths were destined to diverge.

After all these years of wandering, it was only because of a few words from someone else that I was able to see my own heart clearly.

Fortunately, although she kept running away, Shen Yun kept holding on...

Tears streamed down Lin Shutang's face, and she almost sobbed uncontrollably. "Chen Yun, why did you have to show up? Why can't you just let me go? Please leave, okay? I beg you."

Lin Shutang's last shred of dignity was shattered when she left Shen Yun; it was both her obsession and her escape.

“I could have lived a good life if you hadn’t appeared. I wouldn’t have had to think about anything, and I wouldn’t have had to carry so much burden.” She cried so hard she could barely breathe, as if she wanted to cry out all the emotions that had accumulated over the years.

“Actually, I know that you’ve had people watching me all these years. The brokerage firm in the courtyard I rent always readily gives me the lowest price, and the woodworking shop I deal with is willing to pay me above the industry’s highest price. Those thugs and ruffians never show up at my door…”

"I've already let it go that you secretly had people watching me, so why did you have to show up again?"

"Wouldn't it be better if we just kept it to ourselves?"

"Not good." He had been silent the whole way, but finally spoke after this sentence.

Lin Shutang was taken aback.

“Lin Shutang, this is not right.” He repeated it again, his voice deep and hoarse, with a kind of obsessive stubbornness, “Even if you hate me, I still want you.”

“When I return to Yujing this time, I will not give you the divorce papers. We two… will fight to the death.”

Perhaps he was so angry with Lin Shutang that he actually told her his plans directly, no longer willing to keep them a secret.

“I gave you a chance, but you refused to go far. Since Shen Yan has already come looking for you, you should have known I would appear. Lin Shutang, it's your own fault for not leaving.”

He tilted his head slightly to look at her, his gaze then falling on the jagged stones at his feet, gleaming in the moonlight. His lowered eyes held a dark depth. "Don't blame me."

Yes, you can't blame him...

When you decided to keep Shen Yan, did you really not think that Shen Yun would reappear?

Why did you choose to stay in Yizhou for eleven months after visiting so many places?

If you really don't want to see him again, why accept his potential concern and advances?

She buried her face in his neck, her wet tears streaming down her face, soaking Chen Yun's collar, but she continued to cry regardless.

It flows endlessly, like a stream that has broken through the ice.

Shen Yun's breathing became heavy, and tears felt like red-hot irons searing into the veins on the side of his neck, burning his throat with a dry and painful sensation. A huge boulder pressed heavily into his chest, and for a moment, he actually felt that he had gone too far, and his heart began to soften again, wanting to let her go.

"I'll go back with you." Her voice was hoarse from crying, and her sobs sounded muffled as she buried her face in his neck.

Shen Yun suddenly felt a bit dazed, thinking that she might have misheard.

"What...did you say?" he asked hesitantly, repeating the question, his voice trembling and easily changing tone.

"I said, I'll go back with you, back to Yujing." Lin Shutang was still nestled against his neck, and her voice clearly reached Shen Yun's ears.

"I will not give you a divorce agreement."

As if reminding her, Shen Yun's heart started pounding. The moment the words left her mouth, she was afraid that her words would shatter her beautiful dream, so much so that her voice sounded faint at the end.

Lin Shutang tilted her head, found a dry spot on his collar to wipe her tears, and nonchalantly replied with a "Mm".

She never had any hope for Shen Jun in these matters; otherwise, why would she have kept quiet about the divorce agreement when she had repeatedly said she would let her leave?

"Lin Shutang, are you really sure?" Shen Yun asked again in disbelief. He pursed his lips. "Are you trying to fool me again? You'll be gone again first thing tomorrow morning."

She wrapped her arms around his body and rubbed her cheek against his warm neck. "Chen Yun, you're noisy."

She said this in a muffled voice, probably because she was drunk.

Shen Yun smiled and didn't say anything more. So what if it was a lie?

He tightened his grip on her knees, as crimson maple leaves drifted down from above, and the moonlight spread like flowing water.

Maple leaves form a red silk ribbon, and the frost will eventually cover our white hair...

In short, he won't let go.

(End of text)

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Author's Note: This story has officially come to an end! [Sprinkling flowers]

Thank you to all the lovely readers who have followed this far! Because of you, the story of Shutang and the Prince has come to this point.

I am incredibly grateful, moved, and thankful!

Next, I'll probably write some side stories about the forced acquisitions in the flashback storylines. (Probably...)

Finally, see you again in the martial arts world~ Bye-bye~