Chapter 52 Joining the Imitation of Ehuang and Nvying
Shen Xingwan hurriedly changed into a plain long gown, put on a dark blue cloak, and pulled the hood down to cover her pretty face.
The night was as dark as ink, the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, and the wind and rain were blowing, just like her uneasy mood at the moment.
Her steps were light but firm, and she walked through the long corridor of the palace like a wandering soul.
The bluestone road was lightly touched by her toes, making an almost inaudible sound, but it was particularly clear in the silent night.
The palace walls are high, the palaces are majestic, and every corner seems to be hiding countless pairs of prying eyes.
Shen Xingwan tightened his cloak slightly, lowered his head and quickened his pace.
When she finally passed through the palace gates and arrived at the gate of the East Palace, Ruyi had already received the message and was waiting there. It was obvious that she was prepared.
Ruyi folded her arms across her chest, with just the right amount of surprise and embarrassment on her face, but her voice was cold as ice.
"It's really inappropriate for the princess to visit at night."
"The Crown Princess has gone to bed and is not suitable for seeing guests. You should come back another day."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xingwan's lips curled up slightly, as if smiling.
Her eyes were slightly cold as she stared straight at Ruyi.
"Get out of the way."
Two simple words, yet they contain a cold and harsh tone that cannot be refused.
Ruyi was not moved at all. Instead, she straightened her back and said in a stronger tone: "Princess, the rules cannot be abolished. Even if you are the princess of the regent, you cannot just barge into the East Palace like this."
Shen Xingwan said no more, his eyes gradually turned cold, he suddenly stretched out his hand and gave a gentle push, Ruyi was caught off guard, she staggered and lost her balance.
Shen Xingwan took the opportunity to break in, walking as fast as the wind, and headed straight for Tang Lin'er's bedroom.
Ruyi screamed and tried to catch up with her, but saw that Shen Xingwan had disappeared at the end of the corridor like a ghost.
Inside the bedroom, the flickering candlelight illuminated two intertwined bodies, and the shadows swayed on the curtains like a secret shadow play.
The air was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, as if every inch was soaked in lust.
Tang Lin'er lay on the bed, her skin as white as cream, glowing alluringly under the candlelight.
She tilted her head back, slightly parted her cherry lips, and moaned softly and charmingly, like the strings of a harp being gently plucked, the lingering sound was captivating and enchanting.
"Sanlang..."
There was a gleam in her eyes, a sly smile on her lips, and her breathing was rising and falling.
Wei Zilin's eyes were red, like a wild beast dominated by lust.
The low gasps and moans intertwined together, were particularly clear in the quiet night.
The palace door was suddenly pushed open with a sharp bang, like a thunder, instantly shattering all the ambiguity.
Shen Xingwan's figure appeared at the door, with a wide cloak fluttering behind him.
Tang Lin'er not only did not show any sign of embarrassment, but instead narrowed her eyes and raised the corners of her mouth into an even more charming smile.
She gently stroked Wei Zilin's back with her slender fingers, poked her head out, and said in a tender voice in the direction of Shen Xingwan: "It hurts..."
She deliberately increased her breathing and made her voice softer, like the finest silk sliding across her fingertips. Every word seemed to have a hook, drilling straight into people's hearts.
As if he wanted to prove something in front of Shen Xingwan, he became more and more wild.
It was not until Shen Xingwan pushed the door open despite Ruyi's obstruction and two cold gazes pierced him like sharp swords that Wei Zilin suddenly turned around and saw the true face of the intruder.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze.
Wei Zilin's movements came to an abrupt halt, a trace of panic and shock flashed across his face, but he then suppressed it.
Tang Lin'er was not in a hurry and slowly straightened up.
Her eyes moved with a hint of teasing and provocation as she looked straight at Shen Xingwan, with a meaningful smile on the corner of her mouth.
"The princess is visiting so late at night. Is there something important?" Tang Lin'er's voice was soft but ironic, as if she was wrapping a sharp dagger in soft silk.
Shen Xingwan looked coldly at Tang Lin'er's charming face.
She gnashed her teeth, her fingertips trembling slightly, but every word was as cold as ice: "Tang Lin'er, is Shen Yunchao's fall from the cliff related to you?"
It was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.
Tang Lin'er's expression changed slightly, and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes, like a meteor flashing across the night sky, disappearing in an instant.
She subconsciously looked at Wei Zilin.
However, Wei Zilin was not as angry as she thought. Instead, there was a hint of interest in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly, revealing a dangerous smile.
He stared at Tang Lin'er with burning eyes, and there was a hint of admiration in his eyes.
Seeing this, Tang Lin'er suddenly felt confident. She stopped covering up and boldly stretched her body, letting the quilt slide off her shoulders.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at Shen Xingwan, her voice as clear as a silver bell, "So what if it is? So what if it is not?"
She chuckled, "How dare you break into the East Palace in the middle of the night just to ask such insignificant questions?"
"I think you are envious and jealous?"
"I envy Tang Lin'er for being favored by the prince, and I'm jealous of my current glory. I hate myself for not hiding my little thoughts deeply enough, and I saw through them so early."
Her tone was frivolous, and every word she said was like a thorny vine, entwining Shen Xingwan's heart.
Upon hearing this, Wei Zilin chuckled, stretched out his hand to hold Tang Lin'er's slender waist, and raised a playful arc at the corner of his lips: "I and my beloved concubine are enjoying the pleasure of love, and you come uninvited..."
His eyes wandered over Shen Xingwan unscrupulously, "Good nights are short. If you want to join me, I don't mind having another beauty accompany you."
"If you don't want to, go away and don't disturb my interest."
He glanced at Shen Xingwan with contempt and slumped against the cushion.
Hearing this, Tang Lin'er leaned proudly into Wei Zilin's arms, her eyes full of provocation and a smile of victory on her lips.
Her slender fingertips gently stroked Wei Zilin's chest, like a cat marking its territory, declaring its ownership.
"Sister, you are not really so ignorant that you want to join us, right?" Tang Lin'er's voice was extremely charming, like poisoned honey, but it contained murderous intent.
"But for your brother's sake, I don't mind following the example of Ehuang and Nvying with you."
Her words were full of humiliation, as if she was using the sharpest knife to cut Shen Xingwan's dignity inch by inch.
The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting distorted shadows of three people interweaving on the wall.
The air was filled with ambiguity and danger.
Shen Xingwan's face was frosty, and murderous intent grew in his eyes, but he suppressed his anger, and secretly clenched the corner of his clothes with his fingers until his knuckles turned white.
She knew that if she acted rashly in the East Palace, she would not be able to escape unscathed.
But she would never give in just like that and allow Tang Lin'er and her couple to humiliate her.
Seeing her like this, Tang Lin'er sneered unscrupulously. She stroked Wei Zilin's chest with her slender hand, her eyes full of spring, and she was extremely charming.
"Sanlang, leave her alone..."
Tang Lin'er parted her cherry lips, her breath was as sweet as orchid, and her voice was so charming that it seemed to be able to captivate people's souls.
She slowly closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around Wei Zilin's neck like a white snake, and pulled him towards her, completely ignoring Shen Xingwan's presence.
The bedroom was filled with a charming atmosphere again. Under the dim light, the two overlapping figures seemed to merge into one.
Shen Xingwan couldn't bear to look at such a shameless scene. His heart was boiling with anger, but he was powerless to do anything.
She bit her lower lip hard until she tasted a hint of blood, and then she managed to suppress her anger.
She turned abruptly and strode out of the hall, her skirt fluttering like a gust of cold wind blowing through the hall.
Tang Lin'er's wanton laughter came from behind, like a sharp steel knife, piercing her heart fiercely.
Shen Xingwan walked hurriedly along the quiet palace road.
The moonlight was like water, scattered on her slender body, lonely and desolate.
The cold palace walls were like invisible cages, trapping her in this suffocating cage.
Suddenly, there was a sound of chaotic footsteps coming from the front, as if someone was stumbling towards this side.
Shen Xingwan looked intently and saw Princess Guang'an running towards her with tears on her face, her hair disheveled and she looked extremely embarrassed.
"Shen Xingwan!"
Princess Guang'an's voice was hoarse, as if she had used up her last bit of strength.
Shen Xingwan was startled and hurriedly took two steps forward, reaching out to support Princess Guang'an who was about to fall: "Princess?"
Princess Guang'an's eyes were red and tears rolled down like beads from a broken string.
She held Shen Xingwan's arm tightly.
"Shen Yunchao..."
Her voice was trembling, as if she had to use up all her strength to say every word. "Is the news that he fell off the cliff true? Tell me, this isn't true, is it?"
Shen Xingwan was struck by lightning and his face turned pale as paper in an instant.
She didn't expect that the news would spread so quickly and had already reached Princess Guang'an's ears.
"Princess, don't worry." Shen Xingwan forced himself to remain calm and comforted her softly, "Brother is a lucky man, nothing will happen to him."
Princess Guang'an's eyes were filled with tears. She shook her head in despair and said, "No, it's impossible! He and his horse fell off a cliff. How could he still be alive in such a deep abyss?"
She was extremely sad, as if the whole world collapsed in an instant, leaving only endless pain and despair.
"No, Princess, don't think like that. My brother will be fine." Shen Xingwan held Princess Guang'an's hand tightly. "He has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He is very skilled. How could he die so easily on the cliff?"
Princess Guang'an acted as if she hadn't heard anything and just looked into the distance with a distracted look.
Tears slid down her beautiful face, dripping onto the bluestone slabs of the palace path, creating small water splashes.
"Yun Chao..." She was breathing weakly and fell to the ground in sorrow.
The palace maids hurried over and carefully helped the exhausted Princess Guang'an up, looking at a loss.
Shen Xingwan wanted to go forward to comfort her, but the palace servants hurriedly surrounded and supported the distraught Princess Guang'an and hurried away, leaving only a series of messy footsteps echoing in the silent palace road.
The moonlight was like frost, seeming to dye the entire palace white. Shen Xingwan stood on the palace road, staring at Princess Guang'an's receding back for a long time.
The wind suddenly blew, ruffling her hair, and also fanned the flame of revenge in her heart, making it hotter and brighter.
Her steps became more and more determined, and she couldn't wait to go back home to tell Yan Jinghuan that her brother's fall from the cliff was definitely related to Tang Lin'er.
She looked up at the outline of the palace in the distance, lifted her skirt slightly, and walked quickly towards the place where Yan Jinghuan was resting in the palace.
Her skirt fluttered in the moonlight like a swaying orchid, with a sense of loneliness and determination.
"Send a palace maid to the Military Affairs Office to ask the prince to come over. I want to tell him about this in detail..." Shen Xingwan instructed Feiyun who followed him, his eyes flashing slightly.
While her thoughts were in a mess, she had already reached Yan Jinghuan's place. When she was about to turn into the corridor, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps and low voices coming from the front.
Shen Xingwan stopped suddenly and subconsciously pulled Feiyun back into the shadows.
She held her breath and looked towards the source of the sound, only to see several stewards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs walking hurriedly with their heads down, and a look of panic on their faces.
"The Regent actually summoned us to the palace overnight. It seems that this matter is really urgent." The leading steward had a worried look on his face, and his low but clear voice reached Shen Xingwan's ears.
"Isn't it? They ordered to send Princess Guang'an to marry the day after tomorrow morning, but it was so hasty that even the most basic dowry could not be prepared!" Another steward took over, his tone full of helplessness.
"What do you know? How can this be a proper marriage? It's clearly bribery in the name of marriage! There are no good men and women in the barbaric land of the north. I'm afraid that Princess Guang'an will..." The third manager shook his head and sighed. He didn't finish his words, but he had already expressed the sadness of the situation.
"Be careful with your words! The palace walls have ears and the walls have eyes, don't bring trouble upon yourself!"
The chief manager shouted sternly and looked around vigilantly, as if he was afraid of being heard.
Upon hearing this, the few people suddenly fell silent, quickened their pace, and hurried away. Their figures soon disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind only a few intermittent whispers that drifted away in the night wind.
Shen Xingwan stood in the shadow, as if struck by lightning and as if he had lost all his strength.
The day after tomorrow, Princess Guang'an will be sent to marry...
She gritted her teeth and dug her fingertips deep into her palms.
The Regent...ordered it...
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