Chapter 58 Missed
Shen Changhe rode on a tall horse, leading the way, wearing a dark red brocade robe, with a stern and elegant face. Behind him, the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, making the scene no less lively than a wedding.
The long line attracted many people to stop and watch, and they whispered about how lucky the girl who was about to become the new bride of the Shen family was.
At the corner, a horse-drawn carriage with a Duan Mansion sign was parked there, with the curtains lifted high. The woman's misty eyes were fixed on the tall man sitting on the horse.
There were turbulent waves in his eyes, his emotions were depressed and complicated, and tears flowed uncontrollably, so bitter.
If she had been braver that day, the lucky bride of the Shen family that the people are talking about today might very well be her.
That tall and mighty man will protect her for the rest of her life, just like he did that night, and no one in the Duan family will look down on or humiliate her anymore.
Shen Changhe was keenly aware that someone was staring at him. He frowned slightly and suddenly turned around to look. What caught his eye was a little face with tears in her eyes, which looked pitiful.
She leaned against the car window, her eyes full of pain. When she met his gaze, she was panic-stricken and at a loss. She sat up straight in an instant, as if she didn't know what to do.
But she couldn't help but look at him, her eyes filled with pleading and tears rolling down.
Shen Changhe's pupils shrank, and his hand holding the reins tightened subconsciously, but then immediately loosened slowly. He frowned and withdrew his gaze expressionlessly.
The tall figure and the long team turned the long street and gradually disappeared from sight.
Duan Yingying, tears still on her face, slumped in the carriage in a daze.
He saw her, but didn't even give her a smile or a reassuring look.
"Miss, Master Shen has gone far away." The maid reminded softly with concern.
Duan Yingying lowered her head, tears falling down, the handkerchief in her hand was almost torn to pieces, "Let's go to the Shen Mansion."
——
Shen Anan often sent people to the front yard to inquire about the news, waiting for Shen Wen to return home so that she could know the situation in the palace as soon as possible.
She had been reading the book in her hand for a long time without turning the page, probably because Shen Changhe's words made her feel irritated.
"Young lady." Mo Xiang pushed the door open and entered the room. "The second young lady from the Duan family is here and wants to see you."
Shen Anan was a little stunned, "What is she doing here?"
Then he thought of the hiring team that had just left, and his face darkened.
"Brother met her?"
Mo Xiang nodded, "I think he did, but the eldest master didn't stop. Now the people and the betrothal gifts should be arriving at the Lin Mansion soon."
"Yeah." Shen Anan finally felt relieved. She closed the book in her hand and stood up. "Take her to the flower hall."
Mo Xiang responded and went to get the person.
In the flower hall, Mo Ran served tea. Chen Anan sat in the upper seat, watching the woman with red and swollen eyelids, as weak as a willow in the wind, walk in step by step.
It is like a flower in full bloom that has been ravaged by wind and snow, becoming dilapidated and in a mess.
She looks so pitiful. If my eldest brother were here, I wonder if he would feel pity for her. Unfortunately, as a woman, I really can't sympathize with her like this.
"Please sit down." Mo Xiang led her to sit next to Shen Anan.
She seemed to have not yet come out of her grief. She lowered her head and sat there in silence.
Shen Anan spoke first, "Did Miss Duan Er cry?"
Duan Yingying pursed her lips and said nothing.
Shen Anan curled her lips and smiled, "Young lady came to my Shen Mansion in this state, I wonder if something happened to my Shen Mansion young lady."
Her elder brother had never promised anything, so why did he come to her house like this on the day of her engagement? It seemed as if her elder brother was a heartless man.
Duan Yingying quickly wiped away her tears, "No, I didn't mean it. I just... suddenly remembered what happened last night and I'm a little scared."
Shen Anan raised her hand and said, “Bring the second lady some tea.”
Duan Yingying nodded, picked up the teacup on the table absent-mindedly and took a sip.
The atmosphere was somewhat silent. Duan Yingying calmed herself down before speaking in a low voice, "I came here today to pick up the painting at the request of my third sister."
The maid behind her immediately took out a stack of silver bills and handed it to Mo Xiang.
“This is the two thousand taels of silver note that Miss Shen asked for at the banquet that day.”
Shen Anan looked at the banknote, pursed her red lips, and was speechless for a moment.
I don’t know how to describe my speechless mood at the moment. After what happened last night, Duan Mengmeng was not depressed at all. She recovered so quickly, which really makes people... look at her with new eyes.
"Moxiang, bring the painting here."
Mo Xiang glanced at Shen Anan. After all, the Fourth Prince had just saved the girl, so this might not be a good idea.
What Shen Anan was thinking about was Shen Changhe's reminder. If Xiao Yuan really had this idea, it would be good for both of them to cut it off early. At worst, she could just give him two thousand taels.
"Yes." Mo Xiang understood the girl's insistence and went back to the Begonia Garden to get the painting.
Duan Yingying didn't say anything else, so Shen Anan naturally didn't say anything either.
A day is so long, and this time was chosen. The remaining good impression Shen Anan had for Duan Yingying slowly disappeared.
It’s no wonder that Duan Mengmeng doesn’t like her. No lady would like a girl who is timid and weak all day long, as if everyone in the world owes her something.
After a while, Mo Xiang took the painting and handed it to Duan Yingying's maid.
"Then Yingying won't bother Miss Shen anymore."
Shen Anan nodded, "Take care."
Duan Yingying stood up and walked out of the flower hall, then suddenly stopped and looked back, biting her red lips tightly, and spoke in a hoarse voice, "There is something I want to ask Miss Shen."
"you say."
Duan Yingying's eyes were filled with tears. "When did your brother start discussing marriage?"
Shen Anan raised her eyebrows, and did not hide the gaze that was directed at her from her upper body, "One month ago."
That was after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Duan Yingying's heart felt like it was falling into an ice cellar. Her five fingers slowly curled up and tightened. "Miss Shen has always known that the person on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival was me, right?"
Shen Anan looked indifferent, “Yes.”
Tears welled up in Duan Yingying's eyes. She immediately wiped them away with a handkerchief and turned away without saying a word.
Only after she got on the carriage and left the Shen Mansion did she burst into tears.
"Miss." The maid wiped her tears distressedly, "Miss Shen knew that the person you cared about was Master Shen, but she never said it. Otherwise, you and Master Shen might not have missed each other."
Duan Yingying lowered her head, her tears soaking her dress.
The chance encounter at Xiangjue Temple came to mind. She was holding a fortune stick for marriage, and I talked to her with great joy.
At that time, she must have laughed at and despised her stupidity and wishful thinking in her heart.
She said nothing, watched her hopeful, watched her disappointed and in pain, and even brought Mr. Shen and Lin Yurou together.
How did she offend her to make her so unhappy?
Duan Yingying slowly clenched her five fingers into a fist, and she didn't even notice that her lower lip was bitten.
Shen Anan watched Duan Yingying disappear from her sight before she retracted her gaze and returned to the Begonia Garden.
"Girl, if you say that, will Miss Duan Er hate you?"
Shen Anan lay casually on the couch, and only hummed lightly when she heard the words, but did not respond.
It doesn't matter whether she hates him or not. Shen Changhe is the eldest brother she respects the most. How could she let a girl like Duan Yingying marry him?
The girl from the Lin family is steady and introverted, but she hides her edge. She and her eldest brother can support each other, and her intentions and methods are all visible and upright.
Duan Yingying, who is good at disguise, is more like a poisonous snake hidden in the darkness. She has an innocent and clear face, but can kill people.
To put it bluntly, her behavior is not like that of a daughter of a noble family, but more like that of a scheming concubine.
She is pure and kind in front of her master at home, but she can plot against others without blinking an eye.
Just after sitting for a while, Mo Ran came in with a letter, "Miss, the maid in the kitchen brought it."
Zhang Yeyang had been sending messages to Shen Anan through that old woman, and Mo Ran delivered the letter as soon as he got it.
Shen Anan took it and opened it. After reading the contents, she curled her lips and handed it to Mo Xiang.
"Go out of the house in person later and go to the restaurant to tell him that I'm fine and to reassure him."
"Yes." Mo Xiang took the letter and destroyed it directly.
At this moment, a little maid knocked on the door and reported in a low voice, "Miss, the master is back. Please go to the study in the front yard."
"knew."
Shen Anan stood up again, packed up briefly and went out.
In the study room in the front yard, Shen Wen took a shower, changed into casual clothes and was handling official business. He looked up and saw his daughter coming in, so he put down his wolf hair brush.
"Father." Shen Anan knelt down and saluted.
"Well, sit down." Shen Wen waved his hand to let the servants in the room leave, then spoke in a low voice.
"The Fourth Prince captured the fake bandits sent by the Second Prince overnight."
"For the sake of your reputation and that of Miss Duan, we did not publicize this matter in the court. We only said that there were rebels in the court, and Prince Ling personally led the team to deal with them."
The news broke less than half an hour later, and the Fourth Prince resolved the matter in a way that had the least impact on the reputation of the two girls.
Shen Anan nodded. Everyone knew about the Second Prince's fuss, so this was indeed the best way.
"How did you deal with those people?"
When Shen Wen mentioned this, a strange look appeared on his face. "Prince Ling took the man to the palace gate and killed him."
In front of the Second Prince and all the civil and military officials, blood splattered on the spot.
…Shen Anan exhaled, and her fingertips felt slightly cold.
"Then...what does the Emperor say about the Fourth Prince's trespassing into the Second Prince's residence last night?"
Shen Wen's eyes were filled with coldness. "The Fourth Prince's actions could be concealed from the civil and military officials, but not from the Emperor. With the simultaneous actions of Chen, Duan, and Lin, the Emperor will not severely punish the Fourth Prince, but only because he cannot publicize it. Similarly, the punishment for the Second Prince will not be too severe."
Shen Anan breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Xiao Yuan could escape unscathed.
If she was held accountable for this again, it would be even more difficult for her to repay the favor.
It just benefits Xiao Ze.
However, he had offended many noble families in succession, so he would be able to deal with any slight trouble in the court in the future.
Shen Wen also said, "This time the three governments are exerting pressure at the same time. Even if the emperor does not punish him severely on the surface, he will not let him off too easily."
Shen Anan nodded, lowering her brows, wondering what she was thinking.
Shen Wen pushed the documents on the table aside and asked about Zhang Yeyang, "Have you thought it over? Are you sure you want to marry that scholar?"
Shen Anan's expression paused slightly, then nodded slowly.
Shen Wen was silent for a moment, took a long breath and then exhaled heavily, "Okay, I'll tell your mother in the next few days and make an appointment for you as soon as possible."
They are all old foxes. He understands Xiao Yuan's character better than Shen Changhe. This incident also makes him feel more uneasy. It is better to arrange his daughter's marriage as soon as possible.
"Thank you, Dad."
Coming out of the study in the front yard, Shen Anan let out a long breath. She had expected the emperor to treat her with care, after all, they were his biological sons.
However, Xiao Ze's evil ambitions have been exposed this time, and Xiao Yuan has regained 10%.
"Girl, Uncle Zhong is back."
Shen Anan immediately hurried back to the Begonia Garden.
Uncle Zhong was waiting in the flower hall, "Miss."
Shen Anan waved her hand, "How is it? Is the Fourth Prince safe and sound?"
Uncle Zhong shook his head. "The emperor left the second and fourth princes alone in the imperial study for half an hour before they came out. Both of them were beaten, but the fourth prince's injury seemed lighter."
The fourth prince walked out of the palace, and the second prince was carried out.
As soon as Shen Anan heard it, she knew that there was something fishy about the people in charge of the court fighting. Those people were veterans who could make people's skin and flesh burst without hurting their bones, or they could make people's bones and muscles break without the injuries being obvious.
I guess this is what the emperor meant.
"That bastard got a bargain."
Uncle Zhong lowered his head, pretending not to hear the girl scolding the second prince.
...When Xiao Yuan came out of the palace, Ling Chenyi was waiting in the carriage of the prince's mansion. Seeing that he was supported by Qingfeng, he quickly jumped out of the carriage and walked over.
"Are you okay?"
Xiao Yuan's lips turned pale, he pursed them slightly and shook his head.
Ling Chenyi helped him get on the carriage, the worry in his eyes gradually turned into teasing, "You were injured in order to save the beauty, but the girl from the Shen family didn't even come to visit you. How heartless."
Xiao Yuan's pale face darkened a little and he glanced at Ling Chenyi coldly.
Come to visit him? As long as he doesn't treat him coldly from now on, this beating will not be in vain.
At the same time, the second prince Xiao Ze also came out of the palace, but he was carried out by the palace servants, and his expression was much uglier than Xiao Yuan's.
The sedan chair and the carriage passed each other, with the curtains half open. Xiao Ze stared at Xiao Yuan with resentful and vicious eyes, his fists clenched tightly, and cold sweat on his forehead.
Xiao Yuan just glanced at him lightly and then looked away.
How could it be possible to settle all grudges and forget about it just by thirty court beatings?
The coachman whipped the horse and slowly drove away from the palace road.
"Xiao Ze just evaded such a good opportunity. What are you going to do next?"
Xiao Yuan's expression remained unchanged, "Look for another opportunity."
"It's easy to say." Ling Chenyi sighed heavily, still regretting for missing the opportunity to bring down Xiao Ze.
"Senior Brother." A crisp voice suddenly sounded.
Ling Chenyi lifted the car curtain and looked out, a faint smile appeared on his lips, "Your junior sister is here to visit you, tsk, there are still people with conscience."
Xiao Yuan glanced over and frowned slightly.
What should come doesn’t come, and what shouldn’t come comes and causes trouble.
Duan Mengmeng didn't notice the impatience in Xiao Yuan's eyes at all. She quickly got off the carriage and ran towards the opposite side.
Xiao Yuan wanted to tell the driver to keep driving, but his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the scroll in Duan Mengmeng's hands, and his pupils suddenly shrank.
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