Chapter 97 We mustn't let the beauty's good intentions go to waste.

Lan Yunzhi's seemingly random remark caused Chen Yun to frown.

"Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?"

"There is no one else here. Given our relationship, why do you keep calling me 'Your Majesty' so formally?"

Shen Yun remained calm and composed, saying, "The proper rules still need to be followed."

"rule?"

Lan Yunzhi narrowed his eyes and smiled gently: "I wonder, what kind of rule is it, standing right under my nose, huddled together with my people?"

Seemingly out of consideration for the boy who had already fallen asleep in Shen Yun's arms, Lan Yunzhi's voice was not loud, and his tone was even gentle, but the provocative meaning was almost overflowing.

Faced with Lan Yunzhi's questioning, Shen Yun remained calm and composed. He met Lan Yunzhi's scrutinizing gaze without flinching, speaking in a calm and neither humble nor arrogant tone.

"His Majesty said before that he would protect him," Shen Yun said clearly, word by word.

Lan Yunzhi's smile remained unchanged upon hearing this, but his eyes revealed a hint of scrutiny: "Is this a questioning of me?"

Shen Yun lowered her gaze slightly and said in a low voice, "I dare not."

"I couldn't tell."

Lan Yunzhi slightly raised his chin, glancing sideways at the seemingly humble young man.

"The fire at the Princess's residence probably wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Lord Shen's inside help. Tell me, if so many restless ghosts were to return one day seeking revenge, would they come after you or me?"

"..."

"Oh, right. Ah Xiao doesn't know yet, does he? His father didn't die in the fire, but became someone's victim. But it doesn't matter much, after all, Lord Shen's cousin has always been at odds with you. So this new grudge won't make a difference."

As Lan Yunzhi spoke, she observed Shen Yun's expression. Seeing that Shen Yun's expression remained normal and there was no emotional fluctuation, she seemed somewhat disappointed.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Perhaps you've changed your mind?"

"What Your Majesty has said is all true. It is irrefutable, and I have no intention of refuting it."

"Well, those two sentences are quite straightforward. I've always admired straightforward people. Straightforward people speak their minds. As long as Lord Shen can do his job well, the people you care about will naturally be safe and sound."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yun paused for a moment, and finally lowered her head.

"Your subject understands."

Seeing this, Lan Yunzhi smiled with satisfaction and waved his hand lightly: "In that case, go back early. Don't keep your uncle waiting at home for too long. Father and son don't hold grudges overnight."

As Lan Yunzhi spoke, she reached out and gently took the boy from Chen Yun's arms.

Shen Yun glanced at the boy who had his eyes closed and seemed oblivious, but did not leave immediately.

Lan Yunzhi looked at Chen Yun, who seemed hesitant to speak, and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is there anything else?"

"I hope Your Majesty will remember what you said, after all, this child is already—"

"Instead of worrying about other people's affairs, Lord Shen should focus more on himself," Lan Yunzhi interrupted Shen Yun with a smile.

"Speaking of which, a young and promising talent like Lord Shen deserves a good marriage. I've heard that the Lu and Chen families have a long-standing marriage agreement. Now, the eldest daughter of the Lu family has grown into a beautiful and talented young lady. What's even more precious is that Miss Lu has devoted her whole heart to you."

Lan Yunzhi paused slightly at this point, and said meaningfully, "We must not disappoint the beauty's kind intentions."

After Lan Yunzhi finished speaking, he turned and left with the person in his arms.

Chen Yun remained standing there, watching the two figures walk further and further away, her eyes gradually deepening in the bright candlelight.

Then he lifted his leg and walked in another direction.

The jailer came forward, bowed, and then asked Chen Yun solicitously if she needed to move over to have her wound treated.

Shen Yun then remembered that she still had the wound on her hand from when she snatched the dagger earlier.

The bleeding has mostly stopped, but it still looks a bit scary.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury."

He said that thinking of his cousin, who was becoming increasingly delirious in the dark, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"How is the young master?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, we have examined him carefully and there is nothing seriously wrong. It's just that the young master's health is not very good to begin with. This time, due to his emotional excitement, the old injury under his eye ruptured, but it has stopped now. It's just that the prosthetic eye can't be installed for the time being."

"Then let it remain empty for now. We'll discuss it again when the situation improves."

"yes."

The jailer nodded and smiled, saying, "The master instructed us to take good care of the young master's daily needs, so you can rest assured about that. However—"

Shen Yun waved her hand, indicating that the other party should speak frankly.

The jailer then touched his nose sheepishly and said, "Although the young master has fallen asleep, he seems to be sleeping very restlessly. He keeps calling for something about congee. I was thinking that we should change the food to something lighter."

"No need. Everything can remain the same."

The jailer didn't understand, but Shen Yun naturally knew that what Li Xiao kept calling out was not some simple congee with side dishes.

Rather... it is Yu Qingzhou's light boat.

Shen Yun pressed her temples and couldn't help but sigh.

When exactly did things start to spiral out of control, until they became this uncontrollable mess?

Oh, right...

It was spring of that year.

Lan Yunzhi, who had already been buried, suddenly appeared before them, accompanied by assassins who were supposed to be under the command of the princess's mansion.

It's not a disguise or a simple resemblance.

With Shen Yun's keen eyesight, he could tell at a glance that this person was indeed the Lan Yunzhi he knew... at least physically.

The reason for this is that, despite being flawless in appearance and voice, there are no problems even in some subtle habits and small movements.

—But it just gives people a subtle sense of unease.

Shen Yun ultimately attributed this to the fact that when a person experiences a major upheaval and goes through life and death in a short period of time, their personality naturally changes.

Because the Lan Yunzhi in front of him knew everything about the past interactions between the two of them.

Lan Yunzhi stated bluntly that he needed Shen Yun's help.

"I have come here today in the hope that Lord Shen will support my ascension to the throne."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yun thought she had misheard.

But the confident look on the other person's face told him that he hadn't misheard.

"On what grounds?" Shen Yun retorted.

He and Lan Yunzhi were indeed old acquaintances, but not to the point where he would risk his entire fortune and his life for a single word from the other party.

As if sensing Shen Yun's disapproval, Lan Yunzhi smiled, not angry at all.

"It's alright. I've only come to inform Lord Shen, not necessarily to get a definite answer. After all, I'm not one to force anyone. I just hope that one day, after seeing my sincerity, Lord Shen will change his mind."

Having said that, he conveniently got up and left.

Seeing that Lan Yunzhi and his group were really about to leave, Shen Yun couldn't help but call out to them, "Aren't you worried that I'll report you for leaving like this?"

Lan Yun stopped in her tracks, gave Chen Yun a scrutinizing look, and then waved her hand dismissively.

"I believe that Lord Shen is not the kind of person who cannot adapt to change. Besides..."

He paused, then smiled: "A leaderless army will surely bring great trouble. If the situation becomes turbulent and the people suffer, that's probably not what Lord Shen wants to see, is it?"

A thought struck Shen Yun.

His Majesty has been claiming illness and staying away from home for over a month, leading to many rumors circulating among the court officials.

but……

No one has yet suggested the possibility that the monarch may no longer be alive.

Ke Lanyun's words conveyed the same message.

If it's true...

"Think it over carefully. For both public and private reasons, I hope we can continue to be friends."

Lan Yunzhi did not give Shen Yun much time to consider. Shortly after this visit, news of the late emperor's death spread from the palace.

The successor was the third prince, who was chronically ill due to congenital deficiencies.

Although this third prince was not well-known, he was the heir personally appointed by the late emperor and is the only prince still alive today, so his legitimacy is beyond reproach.

Most people just turned a blind eye and accepted it.

As for those who don't accept it...

Almost all of them, in an almost unbelievable coincidence, were caught up in various natural disasters and accidents within a very short period of time, losing the possibility of continuing to express their opinions.

As a result, pressure was quickly placed on Shen Yun.

It's time to submit a truly sincere pledge of allegiance.

Shen Yun had a premonition that this day would come, but she never imagined that the target would be the princess's residence.

"Surprised?" Lan Yunzhi asked with a smile.

“A little,” Shen Yun said truthfully.

After all, if it weren't for Li Xiao's intervention, Lan Yunzhi might not exist anymore.

"After hearing what happens next, Lord Shen will probably be even more surprised."

At this point, Lan Yunzhi deliberately paused for a moment before speaking softly and slowly: "Now there are hardly any living people left in the princess's mansion, and even the master of the mansion has been possessed by a demon."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yun was genuinely surprised.

What the other party said was simply too shocking.

At this moment, Lan Yunzhi said, "Young Master Shen, aren't you curious about why Li Xiao was born with an unusual appearance? And why his mother, Princess Yuan, went insane overnight?"