Chapter 12 "As the old saying goes, a man who cheats..."
We're doomed!
Shen Lingyue's mind was filled with only these three words, which scrolled around in a three-dimensional, immersive way.
As if frozen in place, she clung tightly to the tree branch, her body stiff, and beads of cold sweat instantly seeped out.
"Still pretending to be dead? I saw you."
A cold glint flashed across Pei Jinghuai's brows. With a flick of his wrist, a sharp dagger plunged into the tree trunk, then yanked it out forcefully. He spoke threateningly, "I'll count to three, one, two..."
No, no, no!
Shen Lingyue snapped out of her daze, her voice trembling and choked with tears, "Don't do anything, I'll come down right now..."
Why does it sound like a woman's voice?
Pei Jinghuai frowned, his eyes fixed on the sky, watching as a little girl in a light lotus-colored dress peeked out shakily from the treetops.
She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a fashionable hairstyle for young girls, and only a thin silver hairpin in her hair, with a few colorful strips of cloth tied to the end of her braid as hair ties.
As she climbed down, Pei Jinghuai got a clear look at her face: a round face with a bit of baby fat, a few strands of sweaty hair stuck to her forehead, almond-shaped eyes, a small and upturned nose, and her face covered in dust from somewhere.
It looked just like the disheveled appearance of his mother's long-haired white cat when it was dragged out of the stove.
Pei Jinghuai relaxed his guard a little, but still urged him with feigned authority, "Stop dawdling, come down quickly!"
Shen Lingyue deliberately climbed down slowly, hoping to take this opportunity to quickly think of a way to escape.
Qingchan and the others are not far outside the courtyard. If she screams now, could she attract them before the men below make their move?
But what if I lose my life before they arrive?
He has a knife!
Shen Lingyue had never been so nervous in either of her lives. Already on edge, she was further frightened by the man's words, and in her shock, she accidentally lost her footing and fell uncontrollably.
"Aaaaaah—!"
She screamed with her eyes closed, and the next second, she crashed into a strong, broad chest.
Pei Jinghuai caught her steadily.
His forehead was tense, and he felt a wave of fear wash over him. "Hey, don't try to extort me!"
He just wanted to call her down and ask her a good question, he didn't mean to kill her!
Shen Lingyue's face turned pale. It took her a long time to open her eyes shakily and find that she had not fallen into eight pieces, but was lying in the arms of a handsome young man.
Her face was pressed against his chest. Shen Lingyue tried to get up and instinctively reached out for support.
Pei Jinghuai stared wide-eyed, as if he had seen a ghost, and threw the person out.
"What are you doing?!"
Shen Lingyue was thrown to the ground, and this time she really broke into eight pieces. She groaned and covered her bottom, but her heart was in turmoil.
Although it was only for a fleeting moment, the familiar feel and unforgettable curve...
It's you, Big-Chested Guy... no, Thief Guy!
The person she touched in the rockery in the garden of the Duke of Ling's mansion!
She swore she wasn't lustful; it's just that in her past life she had seen so many male bodhisattvas online, and finally, she touched a real one... so the memory was just a tiny bit more vivid!
Oh no, no, now is not the time to reminisce about this! Shen Lingyue's brain was racing.
So yesterday, while the Duke of Ling's mansion was celebrating a happy occasion, the thief stole the letter containing the truth about the defeat at Yunling.
No wonder the Duke of Ling's mansion sent so many people to search everywhere yesterday, but dared not make a sound.
In the Battle of Yunling, not only did Prince Gu Lin die, but tens of thousands of soldiers from Daye also perished. If this were to get out, it would be a catastrophe for the Gu family!
...Now it has become her biggest disaster.
"Hello!"
Pei Jinghuai strode up to her, half-squatted down, and asked with a stern face, "Why were you hiding in the tree? What did you hear?"
?
He doesn't seem to recognize me?
That's right. Yesterday, it was pitch black in the artificial hill, and you couldn't see people's faces at all. She deliberately lowered her voice.
A plan formed in Shen Lingyue's mind, and she timidly raised her face: "I had a fight with my mother. She insisted on marrying me off to someone I didn't like, so I ran away from home and accidentally fell asleep in a tree... I didn't hear anything, really!"
Pei Jinghuai was skeptical. "What's your name? Where do you live?"
She lowered her head and tugged at the hem of her clothes. "My name is... Ni Xiaodie. I live in Tianshui Lane behind here. My father is a carpenter, and my mother sews clothes for others."
Before going out today, Shen Lingyue specially borrowed a set of clothes from Qingchan and styled her hair like an ordinary girl from a common family.
Originally intended to facilitate tracking Han Zhihuan, it unexpectedly came in handy here.
“Ni Xiaodie…” Pei Jinghuai pondered for a moment before sending someone to Sweetwater Lane to inquire. He took out a dagger, held it to Shen Lingyue’s neck, and threatened her fiercely, “I’ll spare your life today. Remember, you haven’t seen me today, and I haven’t seen you either!”
Damn it, they actually copied her lyrics!
Shen Lingyue immediately pretended to be frightened and covered her eyes, nodding frantically: "Thank you for sparing my life, young master! I will definitely remember this!"
Pei Jinghuai was pleased with her understanding and nodded.
"Close your eyes and count to one hundred before you open them."
You're copying me again!
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes under her palm, "One, two, three..."
Pei Jinghuai turned around and strode towards the back wall, leaping over it with a nimble motion and disappearing from sight.
Shen Lingyue slowly counted to fifty, and when she was sure that the person wouldn't suddenly turn around, she immediately opened her eyes and touched her chest in fear.
That was close, we almost had to restart.
She rubbed her lower back, grimaced as she stood up, and limped toward the front door.
Qingchan and the others were still guarding the carriage, talking to Shuangxu, when they turned around and saw Shen Lingyue. They quickly came forward, "Miss, what happened?"
Shen Lingyue feigned composure, "It's nothing, I just tripped over a stone."
She asked, "Did you hear anything just now?"
Qingchan shook her head blankly: "No."
Shen Lingyue turned around and estimated the distance between the carriage and the abandoned house; it did seem quite far.
Fortunately, Qingchan and the others didn't come, otherwise her fabricated lies wouldn't have been able to cover up.
"Hurry up, hurry up, let's get home quickly."
Shen Lingyue was the first to climb onto the carriage.
The next morning, she sent someone to the Marquis of Pingxi's residence to deliver an invitation, asking Shen Yuanjia to come over as soon as possible.
Shen Yuanjia arrived in the afternoon and met Zhao Lan and Shen Lingyue in the main courtyard.
She sat down, puzzled. "Mother, you wanted to see me? Is there something wrong at home?"
“Ask her,” Zhao Lan pointed at Shen Lingyue. “She’s being all mysterious, insisting she has something to tell us.”
Shen Yuanjia looked at his younger sister.
Shen Lingyue cleared her throat and recounted in detail how she had sent people to follow Han Zhihuan to Bitao Lane.
Shen Yuanjia's face paled, and he subconsciously retorted, "Impossible, he promised me he wouldn't mention taking a concubine again..."
"I think it's not that he doesn't want to, but that the other party is unwilling."
Shen Lingyue bluntly said, "That woman has at least five or six lovers, and my brother-in-law isn't even on the list."
She didn't intend to hide it from Shen Yuanjia, firstly because she didn't want her to continue being deceived by Han Zhihuan, and secondly because she was worried about her health.
What if I get some kind of dirty disease from that rotten cucumber?
Shen Yuanjia shook his head and took a few steps back. Before he could speak, tears were already streaming down his face.
"I thought he had really changed for the better..."
Ever since Han Zhihuan coaxed her back from the Shen family, he has been acting like a good husband and father, making Shen Yuanjia believe that the three of them could continue to be happy like this forever.
While crying, Shen Yuanjia pounded his lower abdomen in frustration.
She drank so much bitter medicine, prayed to so many gods and Buddhas, and donated so much incense, so why couldn't she give birth to a son?!
If she has a son...
"This has nothing to do with whether you have a son or not."
The cool, clear voice belonged to Zhao Lan.
She said calmly, "My giving birth to Ming'an doesn't affect your father and Aunt Liu's affectionate relationship."
As for the few concubines Shen Hang had later, Zhao Lan didn't bother to mention them.
"that is!"
Shen Lingyue, unusually, stood on the same side as Zhao Lan, saying, "As the old saying goes, a man's infidelity is either zero times or countless times!"
Zhao Lan glanced at her youngest daughter. "Now do you understand why I prepared a concubine for you?"
Men are destined to cheat anyway, so at least you should keep the initiative firmly in your own hands.
Shen Lingyue: ...Can we not mention concubines anymore?
She looked intently at Shen Yuanjia: "Big sister, do you want a divorce? I support you—oh dear!"
Zhao Lan grabbed a piece of fruit and threw it at her, angrily saying, "What's wrong with you? Who encourages their own sister to get a divorce? Do you want to ruin the Shen family's reputation? Do you want to ruin your own reputation?"
In wealthy and powerful families, which one has a daughter who has divorced?
Shen Lingyue retorted defiantly, "My brother-in-law is sleeping with other women outside, why can't we get a divorce?"
Zhao Lan sneered: "According to you, I should have divorced Aunt Liu and gone home long ago when she entered the family. Would you even be born then?"
She pointed at Shen Yuanjia: "Your sister has been in the Han family for six years, holding the reins of the household and serving as the wife of the heir apparent. With Han Zhihuan set to inherit the title, she is the undisputed wife of the Marquis of Pingxi. And you want her to divorce him? Do you think her life will be any better than it is now?"
Shen Lingyue looked at Shen Yuanjia, her face also filled with astonishment and confusion, as if she had never thought of divorce as an option.
She shook her head instinctively. "Of course I can't get a divorce... Mother is right, all men are like that. How can I give up everything I have now for such a small thing?"
Besides, what will happen to Heng'er now that she's divorced? How will she explain herself to her future in-laws when she goes from being the legitimate daughter of the Earl's family to a discarded wife?
Shen Lingyue suddenly felt exhausted and had nothing to say to the two women who were closest to her by blood.
Yes, that's how my mother got through it. Is my eldest sister going to follow the same path?
She let out a long sigh and shrugged self-deprecatingly.
"Fine, I guess I was just being nosy."
How could that be?
Shen Yuanjia stood up and strode towards her. Without saying a word, he hugged Shen Lingyue and stroked her head, saying softly, "Sister understands, you're doing this for my own good."
There are many things that I will understand once my younger sister gets married.
Shen Yuanjia recalled that when she was studying in her boudoir, her female tutor never married.
A poem that the teacher often quoted was, "Never be born a woman, for a hundred years of joy and sorrow are determined by others."
I was young then, but now I've finally grasped some of its deeper meaning.
It's really tough.
Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Shen Yuanjia comforted Shen Lingyue: "This is how my life is going to be, but I hope that neither you nor Heng'er will ever have to face betrayal."
"But placing your hopes on others is a weak form of escapism."
Shen Lingyue suddenly grabbed Shen Yuanjia's hand and strode outside.
"Mother, I'm taking my eldest sister out for a while. We'll be back soon."
Before Zhao Lan could stop them, she watched the two sisters' retreating figures and asked softly, "Aunt Liu, do you think Yue'er is right?"
"The Third Miss is also concerned about the Eldest Miss. They are sisters with a deep bond. Madam should be pleased."
Mother Liu hesitated for a moment, then finally revealed some of her innermost thoughts: "Back then, even Emperor Taizu could stay with Empress Zhaohui, remaining faithful to her for life, but men these days..."
Zhao Lan gave a mocking smirk. "Yes, our master boasts of his vast knowledge and outstanding talent, but how does he compare to the founding emperor?"
It's all just the result of their inherent lustful nature.
*
The carriage stopped in Bitao Lane.
Shen Yuanjia looked at the tightly closed door in front of him, guessed what was going on, and was somewhat incredulous.
"Little sister, why did you bring me here?"
Shen Lingyue walked forward with a stern face and pounded on the door.
After banging on it a dozen times, footsteps were heard coming from inside, accompanied by a coquettish complaint: "Coming, coming, look at you, so impatient—"
As soon as the door opened, Yao Niang was taken aback when she met the angry eyes of the elegantly dressed girl in front of her.
She dropped her fawning smile and asked with a hint of scrutiny, "Miss, who are you looking for?"
Shen Lingyue went straight to the point: "Han Zhihuan is my brother-in-law."
She stepped aside, showing herself, and said, "This is my eldest sister."
Shen Yuanjia was caught off guard when he met Yao Niang's face. The beautiful woman in her early twenties was like a fresh and juicy peach, exuding a charming and alluring aura.
She subconsciously raised her hand to adjust the hairpin at her temple, wishing she could conjure up a bronze mirror to carefully check if her makeup was messy.
So that's the kind of woman he likes...
The next second, Yao Niang grabbed his wrist without warning.
"Sister, you've suffered all these years!"
Yao Niang's face was full of emotion, as if she had found a long-lost relative. Her slender willow-leaf eyebrows were slightly furrowed, showing three parts disdain, three parts contempt, and four parts affection.
"He's short and clumsy, loves to brag about how good he is in bed, grinds his teeth and snores in his sleep, how did you put up with it?"
Shen Yuanjia: ?
Shen Lingyue: ?
No, this is not the script she had in mind.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Moon Child: My eyes are my ruler!
*It was a little late today, so I had a private horse race. [heart emoji][heart emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
