Chapter 6 Lost Control Her hands were nailed to her head by a big palm
It's lychee.
Shen Changfeng could be sure that it was the rich sweetness of lychees.
But this was perhaps more delicious than any lychee he had ever tasted.
Whiter, redder, fuller.
Almost instantly, the lychees sleeping in the mountains woke up from the swaying and slowly emerged from the branches.
Half of his face briefly lost consciousness.
As the saying goes, when one thing rises, another falls. The disappearing part of the power all flows to another place.
In a hurry, Lin Meiju grabbed the hanging bamboo curtain and dangerously leaned to the side. However, when she thought of the touch of the cloth brushing against his face just now, her face turned red in an instant, and she was so ashamed and angry that she almost died.
The woman before him looked utterly terrified, her eyelashes fluttering, and she didn't even notice the barbs on the bamboo curtain piercing her fingertips. Her other hand was resting on his leg, and her back, lying in front of him, trembled slightly. Her precious body was smooth and impure, gentle and seamless.
Lin Meizhu raised her head slightly, meeting his sharp, straight jawline and then his obsidian-like pupils. He looked at her with the familiar disdain and contempt, yet something strange surged beneath his eyes. Lin Meizhu's scalp tingled. Her womanly premonition told her of impending disaster. She had the illusion that in the next moment, he would sprout horns, bared fangs, and unsheathed claws, chasing, clamping, and biting her.
She would be unable to move until every last drop of blood was sucked out of her body.
She opened her mouth in vain, and in an instant her head was spinning, and she fell onto the soft satin mattress.
The nightmare came true.
The man was tall, blocking the entire field of vision. All that could be seen was his taut and thick chest and the boiling hot aura that emanated from him.
At such a close distance, Lin Meiju could even clearly hear the sound of his throat rolling, slow and powerful.
Her hands were nailed to her head by a big palm, and her neck was strangled by someone's tiger's mouth. Lin Meiju didn't dare to move, and temporarily forgot to explain. She even didn't dare to breathe normally, for fear that it would anger him again.
The Valley of Love is not a necessity for Shen Changfeng.
He was confident in his strong self-control, and that his extravagant lifestyle was merely a means to deceive the outside world. For eighteen years, he had deceived everyone. He was the undisputed dandy of the capital, a figurehead who brought disgrace upon the military. He accepted the insults and accusations with a smile, simply to hide his true self and what he wanted to do.
In his heart, women are useless. They have no ambition and are narrow-minded. They can only see the trivial things in the backyard. Their husbands, children and families are everything to them. Everything they do is just to make their husbands look at them more and love them a little more.
Even his mother, Li Jieyi, the dignified Princess, once drew her bow and went into battle to kill the enemy. Didn't she also transform herself into neither human nor ghost for a man?
Li Jieyi didn't love Shen Zhongda, but when he asked the late emperor to marry her, she accepted without hesitation. Shen Changfeng, confused at first, later understood her good intentions. She was seeking revenge on Shen Zhongda! She intended to torture him for the rest of his life because he had failed to save her beloved from the battlefield.
Women are not only useless, but also have a despicable heart.
Growing up in such a family, Shen Changfeng deeply hated love. In his eyes, love in this world was even more ethereal than the fireworks at that night's palace banquet.
Love and desire are originally one. Since he has decided to give up love, desire will naturally be abandoned by him.
Thanks to his parents' discord, he learned to read people's expressions from a very young age. He can control his emotions very well and change them flexibly without any mistakes.
But unfortunately, he encountered an exception.
He had only seen her three times: at the palace banquet, in the bridal chamber, and now... Wherever she was, he rarely could control himself, and he couldn't control himself in every aspect.
Looking at the woman's beautiful face at this moment, he only felt that she was so beautiful that she was hideous.
Even after days of investigation, he had proven that Lin Meizhu had no premeditated plans to marry into the palace, but he still hadn't completely let go of his grudge against her. Her repeated, dissolute behavior today was simply a desperate attempt to attract his attention, and her tactics were so clumsy they were disgusting.
But before he could open his mouth to reprimand her, tears streamed down the woman's face, as if she had suffered a great injustice. For some reason, Shen Changfeng loosened his grip. Noticing his own abnormality once again, his irritation gradually turned into a vague uneasiness.
His pupils were filled with anger, and his words were cold and chilling: "Disable her hand."
Lin Meiju's eyes widened in horror. The courage she had gained from the eldest princess collapsed in front of Shen Changfeng.
What happened to the promise of a strong exterior but weak interior? What happened to the promise of a paper tiger?
"I didn't mean to do that. Please don't cut my hands. I didn't mean to do that..." Lin Meizhu was so frightened that she didn't notice that her hands were free. She unconsciously grabbed Shen Changfeng's collar. "I was standing, but I lost my balance and hit you. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..."
A short reply came from outside the carriage: "Yes!"
Then Lin Meiju heard a few muffled cries of pain and stopped crying.
The carriage suddenly felt lighter, as if something was thrown out, and then the speed of the carriage became steady, without any more bumps.
She realized later that it wasn't her hand that Shen Changfeng wanted to cripple.
Shen Changfeng's palms were wet and his arms were sore and itchy.
His fingertips slid across the soft flesh of her face and said, "Forget it this time, but if something like this happens next time, your fate will be even worse than his. Do you understand?"
Lin Meizhu nodded hurriedly and retreated. In the previous movement, Lin Meizhu struggled and dropped one of her phoenix-head shoes, causing her silk stockings to become loose.
The movement was too fast, and Shen Changfeng only saw the white jade ankle flash by and hide under the layered hibiscus skirt.
Lin Meiju saw that Shen Changfeng's face seemed to have regained its composure, but there was a look of regret in his eyes. She was puzzled and did not dare to ask any further questions. For a moment, there was only the sound of the wheels rolling forward.
Such silence was unbearable. Lin Meiju was racking her brain for something to say to ease the atmosphere.
She and her husband, whom she had only met twice, had little in common, but she did have one thing she wanted to ask him.
On the day of her wedding, Aunt Chen gave her serious instructions, asking her to find a way to return home with Shen Changfeng to bring honor to the Lin family.
The farce of the wedding reception was performed for the emperor. Although she felt very uncomfortable, she cooperated with the performance very well. She also promised him that she would continue to cooperate with him in the future and be a magnanimous and obedient lady from a noble family. So could he also agree to her small request?
What's more, this cannot be considered a request. It is natural and common sense for a husband to accompany his wife back to her parents' home.
The carriage curtain swayed gently, and the halo of light softened the lines of the black shadow. Lin Meizhu's heart gradually calmed down and she said, "My lord, can you accompany me back to my parents' home tomorrow?"
The dark shadow didn't move, as if it was thinking.
Lin Meizhu tried again: "If the prince is busy, just send me to the gate of the mansion..." She felt bitter. If Shen Changfeng didn't agree, Aunt Chen would be sad, and her father and brother would be disappointed...
The sound of horse hooves gradually subsided. Lin Meizhu was afraid that she would not be able to see him again after he left, so she quickly opened her eyelids and said anxiously, "Prince..."
The sunlight falls on the stacked gift boxes, casting flickering shadows.
The sour feeling in her heart hit her nose, and Lin Meiju thought with some disappointment: It turns out that he had left a long time ago.
But thinking about it, it's a good idea. If someone like him heard my request, he would probably not only not agree, but might even laugh at me for asking for too much without knowing my own limitations.
"Whoa—" The carriage came to a stop, and Lin Meizhu heard someone outside announce, "Crown Princess, we're here."
She let out a breath of air as if resigned to her fate and lifted the curtain of the car.
The people in the Lin Mansion had been eagerly waiting. Seeing a canopied carriage approaching from afar, Lin Qiguan was in high spirits. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I have been waiting for you for a long time. Brother-in-law has condescended to come. Come on..."
Lin Meizhu was a little embarrassed and reached out to help her brother up. Lin Qiguan looked behind her and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"
Lin Qianzu, who was still stroking his beard elegantly in front of the Lin Mansion, stopped and looked at Lin Meiju. When he saw his daughter hesitated and dared not speak, his guess was confirmed. His smile faded a lot, and he gave a few instructions to the servants to help carry the boxes before turning around and leaving.
Lin Qiguan complained, "I even made a new dress just to meet the prince, how come... Sister, you really are... Did you make the prince unhappy?"
When Aunt Chen heard her son say that Shen Changfeng didn't come, she knew something was wrong. She waited for Lin Meiju to pay her respects to Lin Qianzu, and then pulled him back to the room.
She first carefully examined Lin Meizhu several times. Seeing that she was dressed in clothes that were more luxurious than ever before, she knew that the palace had not treated her poorly in terms of expenses. She was very satisfied and said naggingly, "Mother has worked hard for most of her life, asking for nothing, just hoping that you and Qi'er would be well. When you came back from Lingnan, mother was still thinking that you could stay with me for a few more years, but who would have thought... mother really couldn't bear to let you go! Every time I think about it, my heart aches!"
Aunt Chen sobbed as she spoke and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
Lin Meizhu did not have any deep ties or feelings for this family. It was just that even if the bones were broken, the tendons were still connected. Seeing her mother's sad look, Lin Meizhu could not help but feel sympathetic, like a young bird returning to the nest, feeling the long-lost sense of belonging and security, and her eyes became red.
Aunt Chen wiped away her tears. "The Crown Prince is young and erratic, but that's not a big deal. You should learn to be more tolerant. You are the Crown Prince's consort, chosen by the Emperor. Just based on this, you will enjoy a lifetime of wealth and glory! Take the return gift, for example. It's flowing like water. Isn't this just a disguised way of compensating for his absence?"
She felt a sense of emotion in her heart, thinking that it was indeed the right decision to name her daughter Meizhu.
In her early years, she listened to storytellers telling strange stories in a tea shop and learned that there was a "charm pearl" in the mouth of a fox. Whoever could get the charm pearl would be loved by everyone in the world.
At that time, she happened to meet Lin Qianzu and fell in love with him. She proposed to Chen Huisheng to change her name to Meizhu, but was flatly rejected by Chen's father.
Later, when she had a daughter, she used this name for her daughter.
She hopes her daughter will be loved by everyone, especially her husband.
Lin Meiju retracted her half-extended hand, and her smile became forced.
Aunt Chen smiled brightly and observed her expression carefully: "You are young and beautiful. You should find a way to give birth to a child as soon as possible and secure your position as mistress. This is the serious matter!"
Lin Meizhu responded vaguely.
Aunt Chen was a little unhappy to see her perfunctory look. She had always been sensitive about matters between men and women in the boudoir. She looked at Nanny Sun, who frowned and shook her head.
Aunt Chen jumped up from the stool and said, "Girl, tell me the truth, didn't the prince consummate the marriage with you?"
Lin Meiju's eyes swept across Nanny Sun's face with an imperceptible coldness. The latter unconsciously took a step back and felt a little strange: Why am I afraid of this girl?
When Aunt Chen saw that Lin Meizhu didn't respond, she paced back and forth anxiously, "How can anyone want to get close to you when you have such a stern face! Men love novelty the most. The prince is so young. If he has another woman outside, you won't even have a place to cry."
Lin Meiju's expression remained indifferent throughout.
Aunt Chen knew her daughter's temperament and softened her voice. "Mother is also thinking about you. Mother comes from a humble background and cannot give you confidence. I only hope that your husband can treat you better and not be like mother... If it weren't for you two, mother would rather die..." As she spoke, her eyes turned red.
It was for you that my mother left home thousands of miles away, with no relatives to turn to. It was for you that my mother suffered so much as a concubine. It was for you that my mother shamelessly sought connections and was condemned by thousands of people. It was all for you...
The so-called grievance and resentment were slowly crushed and swallowed back into her throat with difficulty, like a ball of wet cotton stuck in her throat. Lin Meizhu's lips moved mechanically: "Auntie, I know everything."
Her anxiety grew stronger, and she felt she could no longer sit still. She asked, "Auntie, can you give me Grandpa's letter?"
Seeing that she hadn't listened to a word, Aunt Chen suddenly became angry again, and then she gave a strange laugh, "Oh, are you still thinking about that southern barbarian?"
When Lin Meizhu lived in Lingnan, she had a childhood sweetheart with whom she had a deep affection. However, after moving to Beijing, Aunt Chen severed her ties with Lingnan.
"You're the eldest daughter, why can't you be more sensible? How much money did the Lin family spend on your marriage? Did Qi'er go to school for free? Did your father spend money on official affairs? I, your dear mother, can't even afford a decent new summer dress!"
"Want to believe? Then I'll tell you! Your grandpa fell on the road while chasing you, and his legs and feet are getting worse. It's impossible for him to come to Beijing to see you. You don't want to make things difficult for him, do you?"
"And your good Chuqi, your father only tolerated your little trouble with him because he felt sorry for him and had some ambition..."
Aunt Chen's mournful moans were like a tight hoop. Lin Meiju felt deeply helpless, and a suffocating feeling like a tide came over her.
You are a girl, you should be sensible, obedient, generous, and think about your family... These are the words she heard the most after coming to the Lin family. Countless dogmas and rules are imposed on her. She lives like a puppet, being carried around, her skin and tendons pulled out of her flesh and blood by silk threads. She has obviously tried hard to smile and be pleasing, but everyone just thinks that she hasn't done enough or well enough.
The cotton in her throat was soaked with water, making it difficult for her to breathe. She suppressed the soreness in her eyes and said, "Auntie, I've said many times that everything between Chuqi and me is pure and innocent, and we've never done anything inappropriate. I'm already married, so if you're thinking about me, please don't say such things."
Aunt Chen's heart skipped a beat. Thinking of her daughter's changing state and how Lin Qiguan still depended on the Shen family for support, she softened her tone, "Mother said the wrong thing. It was my fault. Don't worry about the prince. I'll think of a solution for you."
Lin Meizhu had no idea what method she was talking about, nor was she interested in knowing. She simply felt that the Lin Mansion was no different from the Wang Mansion, dull and depressing, and she had no desire to stay. After receiving the letter, Lin Meizhu hurried out.
Nanny Sun lagged behind, and she could see that Aunt Chen still had something to tell her.
As he walked to the outer courtyard, he suddenly heard a woman sneer, "You stole my marriage and you think you can leave so easily? No way!"
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