Chapter 31 Catching Adulterers: Are these two treating me like I'm invisible?!
After Xie Ciyan left the restaurant, he inquired everywhere about what type of man the princess liked.
Upon inquiring, Xie Ciyan discovered that the Princess had a wide range of interests.
They come in all types, and are extremely fickle; even now, there are still male favorites abandoned by the eldest princess, who are still lingering in vain.
Xie Ciyan was at a loss. Where could he find such a person? He spent a lot of money and time to find several men with exceptional looks.
While Xie Ciyan was busy these days, Lin Yanshu was not idle either.
She had been thinking about what to give to repay Xie Ciyan's great kindness, but she really didn't know anything about men's preferences, so she asked Huo Zheng.
"Lord Huo, what do you young men generally like?"
Huo Zheng asked, "Miss Lin, are you giving someone a gift?"
Lin Yanshu nodded.
Huo Zheng became curious. Wasn't the young man close to Lin Yanshu their prince? And wasn't Miss Lin just giving gifts to their prince?
When a woman gives a man a gift, isn't that a token of their love?
Huo Zheng felt that whatever Miss Lin gave him, His Highness would like it:
"Why not embroider a sachet by hand? You can carry it with you every day and think of the other person every day."
Lin Yanshu blinked in confusion. Why should she think about the other person every day? But she thought that Huo Zheng and Xie Ciyan were about the same age, so listening to his opinion would always be the right thing to do.
So Lin Yanshu really went to study how to embroider a purse. However, she felt that just giving a purse was a bit too unthoughtful. She thought that since Xie Ciyan was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he would inevitably face dangers every day, so she prepared a poison-reducing powder for him.
Carry it with you; it can cure all poisons.
Lin Yanshu felt that this was enough of a sentiment, so she began to embroider a purse.
She never imagined that embroidering a purse would be more difficult than studying medicine. She almost pricked all ten of her fingers, but she only managed to embroider a single orchid.
Lin Yanshu sat at the table, holding a purse, pondering the next step of the needlework.
Li Chengyi walked silently to her side, watching from behind as Lin Yanshu stared blankly at an unfinished purse.
He remembered Huo Zheng mysteriously telling him that Lin Yanshu was preparing a token of their love for him.
He and Lin Yanshu had not yet formally agreed on the marriage, nor could they have pledged their love to each other based on their parents' wishes.
However, this purse is quite pretty. Li Chengyi smiled smugly and bent down to peek out:
"What is Yan Shu doing?"
Startled by Li Chengyi, Lin Yanshu hurriedly clutched the purse back in her hand and hid it behind her back.
Li Chengyi saw everything she did, and Lin Yanshu was afraid that he would discover the surprise she had prepared.
Lin Yanshu hid her purse: "No... I didn't do anything."
What brings you here?
Li Chengyi then remembered his purpose and sent someone to investigate Master Lin Yanshu's whereabouts in the capital over the years.
It was only then that they discovered that Ji Yuan had an accident shortly after arriving in the capital, lost his memory, and ended up selling himself in a brothel.
Li Chengyi told Lin Yanshu about this, and Lin Yanshu's eyes reddened upon hearing it, as she struggled to hold back her tears.
She never imagined that her master would encounter such misfortune while he was away. No wonder he shamelessly sold himself into prostitution; it turned out he was forced by life's hardships. Not only did she, his apprentice, not only fail to understand him, but she also beat him up.
Lin Yanshu's eyes were red, and she pursed her lips, saying nothing. She didn't want her tears to fall.
Li Chengyi knew Lin Yanshu was sad, so he gently patted Lin Yanshu's shoulder and said softly:
"If you're sad, it's okay to cry. I won't mind."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yanshu frowned, her face contorted with grievance, and began to sob silently.
Her tears flowed like a flood, and she cried uncontrollably.
Li Chengyi was initially quite distressed by Lin Yanshu's sadness, but seeing her crying and looking so embarrassed, he inexplicably found it amusing and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Lin Yanshu looked up, her face covered in tears, and she realized that Li Chengyi was actually laughing at her.
She pouted and wiped her tears and snot all over Li Chengyi's clothes.
Li Chengyi looked helplessly at the water stains on his chest. His brocade robe was worth a thousand taels of silver, and only Lin Yanshu dared to use it to wipe his tears.
Lin Yanshu released Li Chengyi's sleeve, sniffed, and stopped crying.
Lee Seung-ik deliberately moved closer in a provocative manner:
"Are you happy now that you've ruined my clothes like this?"
Lin Yanshu turned her head away, not wanting to think about it or pay attention to him.
Li Chengyi raised his hand and tapped Lin Yanshu's head, wondering who had raised her to be so temperamental.
…………
Lin Yanshu spent several days embroidering the purse, then put the poison powder inside and tied it.
It just so happened that Xie Ciyan had arranged to meet her, so she went along with the purse.
Xie Ciyan looked much more haggard than the last time we met. He was juggling his job, finding male lovers for Lin Yanshu, and training them. How could he not look haggard?
Lin Yanshu was understanding and generously gave him the purse from her sleeve.
Xie Ciyan stared wide-eyed, flattered, and exclaimed in surprise:
"For...for Xie?"
Lin Yanshu nodded heavily. Xie Ciyan's heart skipped a beat; what did she mean by that?
A woman gave a man a purse, and Xie Ciyan held the orchid on it in his fingers, his mind wandering.
Seeing that he didn't react, Lin Yanshu waved her hand in front of his eyes. Could it be that he was amazed by her embroidery skills? Lin Yanshu smiled smugly.
When Xie Ciyan saw Lin Yanshu waving her hand in front of him, he grabbed her. He thought he was probably overthinking it. Lin Yanshu was clueless and wouldn't give him any token of love. This was probably her way of thanking him.
"Thank you so much, Miss Lin. But since I have helped you so much, I will just give you a purse as a token of my gratitude."
"Miss Lin, that's really unfair of you."
Hearing Xie Ciyan's arrogant tone, Lin Yanshu stamped her foot and reached out to snatch the brocade pouch:
"I've added some medicine to this; it's priceless!"
Xie Ciyan raised an eyebrow, lifted the hand holding the purse above his head, and gave a playful "oh".
Seeing this, Lin Yanshu withdrew her hand. Since she couldn't take it from him anyway, she let him have his way.
Xie Ciyan casually hung the purse on his waist, clapped his hands, and a group of male concubines came out from behind the screen.
Lin Yanshu blinked in shock; she had underestimated Xie Ciyan's abilities.
A group of men announced their names in front of her, and Lin Yanshu watched them show off their fancy skills.
She frowned and leaned towards Xie Ciyan. Could this... really move the Princess?
"...Or...Lord Xie, please step in personally."
Enraged by Lin Yanshu's words, Xie Ciyan stood up abruptly from his seat, resolutely flinging his sleeves.
"I am the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, how could I possibly sell my body!"
Lin Yanshu didn't want him to do these things either, but she really felt that these people couldn't impress Her Highness the Princess. Xie Ciyan was different. As the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he held an official position, and Her Highness the Princess would definitely look up to him.
This move is risky, but the chances of success are quite high.
Lin Yanshu forced a smile and pleaded with him:
"Lord Xie, why not give it a try? If the Princess really takes a liking to you, you might just rise to great heights in the future!"
Although Xie Ciyan had the intention, he still possessed his own pride. How could he truly sell his appearance? He gritted his teeth and resolutely refused.
"no!"
As he was about to leave, Lin Yanshu wouldn't let him go. She held Xie Ciyan tightly, afraid that he would slip away from her grasp.
Xie Ciyan was furious at Lin Yanshu's shameless behavior. Lin Yanshu almost pulled off his belt, making his clothes much looser.
Xie Ciyan tugged at his clothes while patting Lin Yanshu's hand, repeatedly saying:
"Miss Lin, this is an insult to scholarship! An insult to scholarship!"
"Let go! Let go! My pants are going to fall down!"
Lin Yanshu exerted all her strength, her face turning bright red, wondering if she should just wrap her arms around Xie Ciyan's legs so he couldn't take a single step.
Just as the two were arguing, the door suddenly opened.
Lin Yanshu and Xie Ciyan both looked up, and the two of them even forgot to tidy themselves up, standing there stunned.
Li Chengyi stood at the door, followed by Huo Zheng.
Xie Ciyan's lips twitched involuntarily. He didn't know if he was laughing out of anger or if he was simply at a loss with Lin Yanshu.
Lin Yanshu smiled awkwardly, waved to Li Chengyi, and clung tightly to Xie Ciyan's waist with her other hand.
Xie Ciyan pressed his temples in despair. He desperately wanted Lin Yanshu to let go, but at this moment, whether he spoke to Lin Yanshu or made a move, he would probably incur the deep resentment of the Crown Prince.
Xie Ciyan was right. Li Chengyi stared at Xie Ciyan with a sinister look in his eyes, especially when he saw the familiar orchid pouch at his waist.
A thousand turbulent waves seemed to surge within him, his breath rising to his chest. How could this purse be on him?
Li Chengyi's voice was icy: "Let go."
Li Chengyi hadn't originally planned to come to this restaurant. He saw Lin Yanshu on the road and followed her, never expecting such a surprise.
Hearing his words, Lin Yanshu consciously let go of his hand.
Li Chengyi's expression was somewhat gloomy, making Lin Yanshu feel uneasy.
"What are you two doing here?"
Lin Yanshu waved his hand and pointed to the group of men beside him:
"Choosing a man."
"However, after looking at them all, Lord Xie is still the most outstanding."
The words "Xie Ciyan is the most outstanding" kept playing in Li Chengyi's mind.
What does Lin Yanshu mean? Is she praising another man in front of him? Does she like Xie Ciyan, a weak and scholarly man?
What makes him better than me? He's just a pretty face.
Seeing Lin Yanshu's hand gestures and Li Chengyi's increasingly cold expression, Xie Ciyan quickly reached out and pressed Lin Yanshu's wrist.
What is this old lady talking about? If she keeps gesturing, he might as well pack his bags and get out of Dali Temple!
Before Lin Yanshu could finish speaking, Xie Ciyan grabbed her hand. She was just about to ask Li Chengyi to persuade Xie Ciyan to go to the Princess and use her charms.
She glared angrily at Xie Ciyan, who was so anxious he almost stomped his feet. He gritted his teeth and looked at Lin Yanshu, his eyes signaling her to stop talking.
Li Chengyi's brows twitched with anger at the two people in front of him. They were exchanging flirtatious glances right in front of him. What did they take him for?
Air!
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