Chapter 13
“I don’t think these are things for servants. We can eat good food and wear fine clothes, and the people deserve credit for that.”
"The people of Suzhou are suffering, and we have no choice but to come to the capital. As a young lady of the Shen family, I should also take off my fine clothes and do my part for the people. My father has always taught me to treat others with kindness and compassion."
Lin Yue'er found Shen Qingnian's words utterly laughable.
Her face showed a mocking expression: "What do you mean by doing your part? What do you mean by being kind to others? As nobles, you are born superior to others. It is really stupid for someone like you to debase yourself like this!"
Lin Yue'er's words reflected the sentiments of most nobles and were likely to be accepted by them. However, in the refugee district, the refugees were already indignant at her words.
The village chief, who was leading the group, couldn't help but speak up angrily: "Miss, you are a noble lady from the capital, you are of high status and wealth, so why have you come here?"
"That's right, nobody begged you to come here. We are lowly people, don't offend your eyes!"
"Miss Shen is the kindest girl in the world. You're just jealous of her, that's why you're rushing over to insult her!"
"The silk you're wearing was made by the people of Suzhou. If it weren't for Suzhou, would you be able to wear such fine clothes?"
"The rich feast while the poor feast! If all the nobles in the world were like you, the whole country would be in chaos. His Highness the Crown Prince's great reputation will eventually eradicate this cancerous tumor!"
"Get out of here now, or you'll get your embroidered shoes dirty!"
......
These refugees had endured countless hardships to reach the outskirts of the capital, and many of their companions had died or been injured on the way.
If it weren't for the help of the Crown Prince and Shen Qingnian, most of these people would probably have gone up the mountain to become bandits, and they wouldn't have stayed until now.
These refugees were deeply grateful to Shen Qingnian and the Crown Prince, but now that Lin Yue'er was humiliating Shen Qingnian for doing such a thing, which was considered self-degrading, they were naturally the first to disagree.
The vagrants lacked the refinement of nobles, and they showed no mercy when they cursed Lin Yue'er.
Lin Yue'er's face paled as she listened to the refugees' words. Ordinary people were always afraid and apprehensive when they saw nobles, so how could she have imagined that these refugees would be so rebellious?
Commoners, with their own homes and land, were naturally filled with trepidation when they met nobles, fearing that they might anger them and be punished, thus bringing disaster upon their families.
But the refugees had long since lost everything, so why would they be afraid of nobles? It was fortunate that they didn't rush up to beat Lin Yue'er, who had such contempt on her lips.
"How dare you speak to my young lady like that!" Lin Yue'er's maid stepped forward.
These refugees were not afraid at all, and even spat in Lin Yue'er's direction.
Lin Yue'er's face turned ashen. If it weren't for the large number of refugees here, she would have definitely punished them severely.
In the end, it was Shen Qingnian who waved her hand, and the refugees stopped cursing Lin Yue'er. Under her comforting words, the refugees dispersed.
Lin Yue'er looked at Shen Qingnian in front of her, gritting her teeth: "So this is what you wanted. Shen Qingnian, are you satisfied now?"
This person deliberately made her slip up and say those things.
Shen Qingnian's expression remained calm. She smiled and said, "Miss Lin, the flood is critical, and we should do our part. Is this not the purpose of your visit today?"
Lin Yue'er felt as if she had punched a cotton ball; her anger surged, but she had no way to vent it.
She could only show her greatest strength, trying to make the other party lose their composure: "Shen Qingnian, I advise you to stay away from the Crown Prince. The position of Crown Princess can only be mine!"
As expected, Shen Qingnian's expression changed slightly upon hearing her words: "Miss Lin, why are you so certain that the Crown Prince will marry you?"
Seeing the change in Shen Qingnian's expression, Lin Yue'er raised her head and became smug: "I have a childhood friendship with the Crown Prince, Miss Shen should have heard about it, right?"
She and the Crown Prince were childhood sweethearts.
Shen Qingnian's face beneath the veil turned somewhat pale, and her voice was dry: "The friendship of youth is indeed enviable; Miss Lin is a blessed person."
These words were spoken reluctantly, and even more so, with a sense of sadness.
Seeing Shen Qingnian heartbroken, Lin Yue'er became even more smug and couldn't help but speak again: "If it were just youthful affection, how could I have been so sure that my Crown Prince brother would marry me? There must be another reason..."
The smugness in her eyes turned into a sharp sword, stabbing fiercely at Shen Qingnian.
Shen Qingnian took a few steps back, lowered her eyes slightly, and asked in a trembling voice, "What other reason is there?"
Her attention was entirely focused on Lin Yue'er, as if she hadn't noticed Song Xuan, who was standing behind Lin Yue'er with a gloomy expression.
Lin Yue'er chuckled lightly, her words full of sarcasm and certainty: "Since you have no shame in loving the Crown Prince, today I will make you understand why you lost."
My grandfather once saved my brother, the Crown Prince, and because of this friendship, my brother will surely marry me as his Crown Princess!
If you continue to pester your brother, the Crown Prince, don't blame me for being ruthless!
After saying all the things that had been bottled up in her heart, Lin Yue'er felt a great sense of relief. Looking at Shen Qingnian, who was heartbroken, she felt even more exhilarated.
At this moment, Shen Qingnian's eyes were already brimming with tears. She lowered her head and whispered, "Please rest assured, Miss Lin..."
She seemed unable to say anything more, and turned away, covering her face.
Her slender figure looked forlorn and sad, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
Lin Yue'er watched Shen Qingnian's departing figure, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips. Shen Qingnian was not worthy of competing with her for the Crown Prince.
She watched Shen Qingnian's back until it disappeared from sight before turning around to look for the Crown Prince. But when she turned around, she saw that the Crown Prince was already standing behind her. His usually gentle expression was now somewhat gloomy.
She didn't know when the Crown Prince had arrived.
Lin Yue'er was flustered, and her face became very stiff. She clenched her handkerchief and forced herself to calm down.
Lin Yue'er's tone was somewhat nervous: "Crown Prince, when did you arrive? Why didn't you call out to Yue'er?"
The Crown Prince probably didn't hear her conversation with Shen Qingnian, right?
Song Xuan stared intently at Lin Yue'er, as if trying to see through her, before calmly saying, "I just arrived."
Lin Yue'er's arrogance, combined with Lin Minxin's recent behavior in court, is quite interesting...
Lin Yue'er breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Song Xuan's reply, and a sweet smile returned to her face: "Yue'er came here today specifically to help the refugees. Crown Prince, please take me to see them."
Although she said this, she felt a little guilty. If her brother, the Crown Prince, found out that she had just scolded the refugees, he might not have a good impression of her.
Song Xuan glanced at Lin Yue'er, his previously gloomy expression now softening into a gentle and refined one: "This place is messy and might offend Miss Lin's eyes. Please go back."
Hearing Song Xuan say this, Lin Yue'er breathed a sigh of relief, her tone light:
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