Chapter Twenty-Two: These marks on the neck were from the Crown Prince's strangulation.

"So, my aunt sent me to Xie Yanzhi to curry favor with him and pave the way for my cousin, is that right?"

"Aunt, do you know how humiliated I am today! You should know how important a woman's innocence is to her."

“My aunt knows I don’t want to, but she still insists. Isn’t she afraid I’ll kill myself?” Shen Qingnian said, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Nian'er! Your aunt is so sorry!" Aunt Su stood up and hugged Shen Qingnian tightly.

"I have already asked the Crown Prince to find me a marriage partner so that I can leave the manor as soon as possible."

"Then you and the Crown Prince...you two?"

“These marks on my neck were inflicted by the Crown Prince, because he loathed me.”

"I bit my own mouth, Auntie. I was so scared at the time," Shen Qingnian said, feigning grievance.

Is that really how it is? Looking at those things, Aunt Su felt even more guilty.

After the two had finished talking, it was already late at night. After telling Shen Qingnian to rest early, Aunt Su took Qiuye and left.

Passing through a long corridor, Aunt Su saw Xie Yanzhi standing in front of her, wearing a black narrow-sleeved brocade robe, with a vermilion and white jade belt around his waist, and a delicate white jade pendant hanging from it, exuding an extraordinary temperament.

She still believed that Shen Qingnian and Xie Yanzhi were a perfect match, looking like a divine couple.

Aunt Su stepped forward gracefully and curtsied: "Young Master."

Xie Yanzhi's face was cold and stern: "Xie Zhao is my younger brother, and I will take care of him."

As he spoke, he glanced at Aunt Su again: "You'd better watch yourself!"

He disliked these underhanded tactics; anyone else who dared to scheme against him like that would be dead by now.

However, Aunt Su was someone Xie Songyi, the second uncle, cherished. He respected his second uncle and would not harm Aunt Su.

Aunt Su lowered her head and said sullenly, "Thank you, young master." Xie Yanzhi turned and left.

Looking up again, Aunt Su's eyes were filled with tears as she murmured, "Second Master, don't worry, our Zhao'er will definitely have a bright future."

In a daze, she seemed to see him sitting arrogantly astride his horse, his fan closed, his dark eyes gazing intently at her: "Miss, would you like to come with me?"

As long as she behaves herself, Xie Yanzhi will help their Zhao'er, and that will be enough.

————

"Miss, please get some rest," Ling'er said, lowering the curtain for Shen Qingnian.

The day's events had left Shen Qingnian feeling extremely exhausted, and she fell asleep in no time after lying down on the bed.

In the darkness, a tall, slender figure appeared in the room and walked step by step toward the bed.

Xie Yanzhi lifted the gauze curtain, revealing a person inside with a serene, fair face, long eyes closed peacefully, breathing lightly, fast asleep.

Xie Yanzhi's throat bobbed, and he reached out to touch those moist, full lips, a restlessness rising within him.

This feeling wasn't unfamiliar; it had always been there naturally. But now, because of the person in front of him, Xie Yanzhi found it somewhat indescribable.

The person in their sleep seemed to sense something amiss, frowned slightly, but did not wake up.

Xie Yanzhi tightened the quilt for the person in his dream, lowered the gauze curtain, and jumped out of the window.

Xie Yanzhi returned to his courtyard and instructed Yuan Qing to prepare cold water.

He lazily soaked in the bathtub, and then he remembered what Shen Qingnian had said before getting off the carriage: "Young Master, could you find me a marriage so that I can leave the manor as soon as possible?"

Xie Yanzhi rubbed his forehead, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. She certainly knew how to plan; making him find her a marriage partner was truly excellent!

Then let her see how many men in this world can be as good as him.

Let's see if she regrets it!

Soon after, the sound of water splashing could be heard inside the house...

The next day, when Ling'er woke up, she felt a slight pain in the back of her neck, but she didn't pay much attention to it and went with Shen Qingnian to pay her respects to the old lady.

Upon entering the Wenxin Hall, Shen Qingnian discovered that Xie Yanzhi was also there.

Their eyes met, and Xie Yanzhi noticed Shen Qingnian's still slightly swollen lips, so he looked away first.

Gu Lingyu also caught a glimpse of Shen Qingnian's lips and couldn't help but curl her lip, thinking contemptuously to herself: "You shameless hussy, I wonder who you've seduced."

Shen Qingnian didn't care at all; she had already prepared her explanation. After greeting the old lady, she sat down properly to one side.

The old lady sat upright on the daybed, her fingertips caressing the beaded string that Shen Qingnian had made.

She looked at Gu Lingyu and Shen Qingnian with a smile: "Yesterday, Yan Ge'er went to the palace and got some things, including two pearl hairpins. Since you two thoughtful maids happened to come today, I'll give them to you as a reward."

Liu Momo brought up a wooden tray containing two exquisitely crafted butterfly beaded flowers.

Gu Lingyu quickly grabbed a blue one and said happily, "Thank you, Madam, thank you, Cousin."

Shen Qingnian took the remaining green one, gently placed her hands on her waist, slightly bent her knees, and leaned forward: "Thank you, Madam. Thank you, Young Master."

The old lady's eyes showed some approval, and she glanced at Xie Yanzhi out of the corner of her eye, noticing his indifferent expression.

The old lady waved her hand at Shen Qingnian: "Qing'er, you should also call Yan'er cousin, just like Yu'er."

Shen Qingnian nodded obediently: "Yes, Madam."

Turning to Xie Yanzhi, she said, "Thank you, cousin." This soft voice stirred Xie Yanzhi's heart.

He replied calmly, "You're too kind, cousin."

The old lady nodded with satisfaction as she looked at the three siblings' harmonious and loving relationship.

She took a sip of tea, slowly put down the teacup, and said, "Seeing how much you two respect Yan-ge'er, you should treat your new bride the same way when he marries into the family."

Because Xie Min had suspected something was amiss between Xie Yanzhi and Shen Qingnian, the old lady took note.

Today, she specially called over her two cousins, Gu Lingyu and Shen Qingnian, to have a good talk with them.

Everyone in the room could tell that this was the old lady giving a reprimand to her two cousins.

They will not be Xie Yanzhi's brides in the future.

Upon hearing this, Gu Lingyu felt a lump in her throat and her face showed displeasure.

Shen Qingnian had no interest in Xie Yanzhi to begin with, so whether or not she tried to persuade him was meaningless to her.

After sitting for a while, the old lady told everyone to go back and rest.

Shen Qingnian and Ling'er were walking ahead when Gu Lingyu called out to them, "Shen Qingnian, your lips are so swollen, it's obvious that some random guy did it."

Her cousin was looking at Shen Qingnian again, and she was determined to make him see the true colors of this shameless slut.

Shen Qingnian replied calmly, "Miss Gu is mistaken. I was bitten by an insect."

Gu Lingyu frowned and flicked her handkerchief: "I think it was chewed by that big black dog at the gate."

Shen Qingnian glanced at Xie Yanzhi beside her out of the corner of her eye; he was wearing a black cloak today.

Shen Qingnian frowned: "Could it be that Miss Gu has been bitten by a dog? Otherwise, how could you be so sure?"

Gu Lingyu stomped her foot in anger: "You!"

Upon hearing her mistress's words, Ling'er covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh out loud.

Shen Qingnian bowed to the two of them again and left with Ling'er.

Gu Lingyu turned around and looked at Xie Yanzhi with a somewhat aggrieved expression: "Cousin, look at that Shen Qingnian, she's not clean herself and she's also sharp-tongued."

Xie Yanzhi looked at her coldly: "Who told you to be stupid!" Then, he turned and left with Yuan Qing.

Gu Lingyu was a little stunned. She had thought that her cousin would definitely protect her and teach that slut a lesson.

I didn't expect my cousin to get angry.

"Cousin! Wait for me!"

Seeing that Xie Yanzhi had already walked far away, Gu Lingyu hurriedly lifted her skirt and chased after him.