Chapter 53: Indifferent, familiar yet strange man
Shen Xingwan walked slowly to the place where Yan Jinghuan rested in the palace. When the little palace maid serving inside saw her coming, she immediately came out to greet her, bowed respectfully, and led her through the winding palace road to a quiet room.
The door opened slightly, and Shen Xingwan walked in. The room was empty, with only a faint scent of cold pine floating in the air, permeating every corner.
This cool smell, just like Yan Jinghuan's temperament, carries with it an aloofness and coldness that is unapproachable.
The furnishings in the room were simple, the bed was neatly arranged, there were a few unopened files on the desk, and some pens, ink, paper and inkstones placed in the usual manner.
Shen Xingwan walked into the room, stood still, and scanned the decorations with her eyes. Some unknown emotions arose in her heart.
Everything here seems so cold, just like Yan Jinghuan, who always gives off a feeling of being out of reach.
Her hand gently stroked the book on the desk, her fingertips touched the cold and hard cover, as if she could feel the silent chill from it.
Shen Xingwan sat alone in Yan Jinghuan's place, her fingers unconsciously stroking the corners of her clothes, her brows slightly furrowed.
The palace lanterns were as small as beans, outlining her beautiful profile in an extremely soft and graceful manner, but they could not illuminate the surging waves in her heart.
She was extremely nervous and kept thinking about the news she had just heard. It felt like a huge rock was pressing on her chest, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
No, Yan Jinghuan would never agree to let Princess Guang'an go to marry...
She comforted herself silently, her slender fingertips gradually clenched into fists, her fair fingertips unconsciously pinching into her palms.
He had clearly promised her that he would never easily ruin any woman's life.
Yan Jinghuan has always been a man of his words and always keeps his word.
If he breaks his promise, then who else in this world can be trusted?
Suddenly, a steady sound of footsteps was heard outside the hall, interrupting Shen Xingwan's confused thoughts.
She looked up suddenly and saw Yan Jinghuan walking in, exhausted.
The dew on the cold night condensed into tiny water droplets on his black hair, swaying gently with his steps, twinkling like stars.
"Your Highness..." Shen Xingwan stood up and saw the rare solemn look on Yan Jinghuan's face, and felt more and more uneasy.
Yan Jinghuan's eyes flickered. "It's so late, why don't you rest yet? Is there anything urgent that brings you to the palace?"
Shen Xingwan calmed down, looked straight into his eyes, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I just heard..."
She was halfway through her words when her throat seemed to be blocked by something and she couldn't continue.
Yan Jinghuan raised his hand and gently brushed away the cold dew on his shoulders. His eyes dimmed, as if he had guessed what she wanted to say.
"Are you going to ask about Princess Guang'an?" His voice was calm, and his tone was uneventful, as if he was talking about a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.
Shen Xingwan bit her lower lip and mustered up the courage to say, "Your Majesty, you won't really send Princess Guang'an to marry, will you? You clearly said that there would be a way, right?"
There was a hint of pleading and hope in her tone, like a drowning person grasping at the last straw.
The candlelight in the room flickered, illuminating the intertwined shadows of the two people.
Yan Jinghuan paused as he shook off the cold dew, as if hit by something invisible. His eyes dimmed and he sighed.
He turned and looked out the window at the dark night, his voice low but firm, "Starry night..."
He paused for a moment, as if he was considering his words, but in the end he simply said, "Princess Guang'an is going to marry a foreign prince."
These few short words, like a sharp blade, pierced Shen Xingwan's heart fiercely, causing a sharp pain.
In the dim candlelight, her face turned pale instantly and she staggered back a step.
She opened her eyes wide and could hardly believe her ears.
The man who she thought was her backer actually said such cold words at this moment.
Shen Xingwan stood there in a daze as if struck by lightning. There was a gleam in her eyes, reflecting the flickering candlelight, as dim as a shattered star.
She looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar man in front of her, and was speechless for a moment.
After a moment of silence, Shen Xingwan finally found his voice, but it was already a little hoarse and trembling.
"You clearly promised me..."
She gritted her teeth and stared at Yan Jinghuan with burning eyes, "Didn't you say that you probably have a solution?"
She pressed on step by step, her voice gradually rising, "Is your solution to this problem to send Princess Guang'an to marry a foreign prince?"
She questioned harshly, looking up, staring at his face, observing his expression, with a glimmer of desperate hope in her heart, hoping that Yan Jinghuan would deny it and give her a different answer.
The candlelight illuminated Yan Jinghuan's fierce profile, and the shadow cast an obscure outline on his face. His brows were furrowed and his cold, thin lips were tightly pursed.
The silence spread like an invisible poison, gradually permeating every inch of the air in the house.
Yan Jinghuan finally spoke, his voice was low and contained only one simple word: "Yes."
This word was like a huge rock, hitting Shen Xingwan's heart hard, crushing all her expectations, trust and warmth.
She looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. The shock and disappointment in her eyes surged like a wave and turned into tears in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Yan Jinghuan's eyes flickered, and he reached out to hold her hand, with an unprecedented urgency in his voice: "Xingwan, listen to me, this is not..."
He lowered his voice, leaned forward slightly, and there was a hint of pleading in his eyes, as if he had something important to tell.
Shen Xingwan seemed to be scalded. She shook his hand away and took two steps back to avoid his touch.
She no longer wanted to listen to any of his explanations. Those once gentle eyes had now become hypocritical masks in her eyes.
"No need to explain! I don't want to hear it!"
Her voice was icy cold, like a sword that had just been tempered, but it could not conceal the sobs and trembling in it.
She turned around and tried to leave, her skirt stirring up a gust of wind, which seemed to take away the little warmth left in the hall.
Yan Jinghuan wanted to say something else and reached out to stop her, but he was a step too slow.
Shen Xingwan ran out of the palace like a frightened little animal. His hurried, nimble figure soon disappeared into the thick ink of the night.
The cold wind blew into the palace, causing the candlelight to flicker, and casting a shadow of Yan Jinghuan's desolate figure. Like a lonely stone statue, standing all by himself in this deep and cold palace.
Shen Xingwan got into the carriage without saying a word, his sleeves gently brushing the door, bringing up a slightly cool night breeze.
The carriage was pitch black, with only a few faint starlight coming through the window, reflecting on her slightly trembling fingertips.
Feiyun followed closely behind and whispered to the driver: "Go back to the Regent's Palace."
Who knew that before he finished speaking, Shen Xingwan suddenly spoke, his voice was soft but unquestionable: "Turn around and go back to the Prime Minister's Mansion."
The driver was startled and looked at Feiyun.
Feiyun was also stunned. After hesitating for a moment, he carefully advised: "Miss, it's almost dawn now. If you suddenly go back to the Prime Minister's Mansion, the master and the lady will definitely be worried... Otherwise... you should go back to the Regent's Mansion first."
Shen Xingwan closed her eyes slightly, her fingertips clenched the handkerchief on her knees. After a long time, she finally let go, and her voice was as light as a night breeze.
"Forget it, let's go back to the palace."
The driver received the order, whipped the horse and the carriage slowly drove into the depths of the night. Before the morning light, everything was still shrouded in thick darkness.
After returning to the palace, Shen Xingwan sat alone in the room. It was getting late and the dew was heavy. The cold ashes from the burned-out candle fell into the copper lamp, and everything was silent.
She stayed awake all night, watching the sky outside the window change from dark to gray, and then from gray to bright, but her mood seemed to sink into an endless abyss.
The war at the front was urgent and Yan Jinghuan was unable to get away. Until dawn, the palace was still as quiet as if it was deserted and there was no sign of life.
As the sun rose higher, servants occasionally moved quietly outside the house, but no one dared to disturb the dead silence in the room.
It was not until noon that Feiyun tentatively sneaked in with a food box. As soon as he stepped into the room, he was shocked by the scene in front of him.
Shen Xingwan still maintained the same posture as last night, sitting quietly on the couch, her hair slightly disheveled, her face as pale as paper, and her eyes empty and lifeless, as if her entire soul had been sucked away.
"Miss!"
Feiyun was horrified, and quickly put down the food box, stepped forward quickly, and advised anxiously: "You must not torture yourself like this!"
She was so anxious that her eyes turned red, her mouth pursed, and tears rolled down. She tightly grasped Shen Xingwan's cold hand and rubbed it in her arms.
"Now the eldest young master has fallen off a cliff and his whereabouts are unknown, Princess Guang'an is being forced to marry, and the son-in-law's attitude is so unpredictable. If you fall down again, what will the eldest young master and the princess do?"
Shen Xingwan's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if touched by something. His originally empty eyes finally slowly focused, and under his solemn expression, a hint of cold light could be seen.
"right......"
She spoke slowly, her voice hoarse but firm, "I will never fall."
She slowly clenched her palms, and the pain of the nails digging into her palms made her completely sober. "Since he is unreliable, I will rely on myself."
"I will definitely find out the mastermind behind this!"
The sun was shining brightly outside the window, scorching like fire. The brilliant light shone through the veil onto her pretty face. Beneath her haggard look, there was a hint of sharpness.
Feiyun cried with joy, and hurriedly turned around to get some hot tea, poured a cup and walked forward, carefully rinsed her mouth, and then wrung out a hot towel to gently wipe away the tears from her face.
After washing up, Feiyun came out and laid out the food one by one. She added a bowl of rice and picked up many of her favorite side dishes. She brought them to her and said softly, "Miss, you haven't eaten for a long time. Eat something quickly. Your health is important. If you collapse first, how can you help them?"
Feiyun spoke sincerely. Although Shen Xingwan had no appetite, she couldn't bear to refuse her. She reached out to take it, her expression slightly relaxed, and lowered her head to take a few bites.
The smell of hot meals seemed to bring some comfort, but her eyes were always filled with worry.
Seeing her like this, Feiyun couldn't persuade her anymore, so she tried to change the subject, and asked softly during her meal, "Miss, what should we do next?"
Shen Xingwan put down his chopsticks and stared at the gauze curtain fluttering in the sunlight, his mind clear.
She spoke slowly, her voice clear and resolute: "The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. I'm afraid all of this was caused by Tang Lin'er."
She raised her eyes, and a chill gradually appeared in them, as if she had made some kind of decision.
"Pack your luggage quickly and tell the servant to prepare the carriage."
Shen Xingwan put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and said resolutely: "Let's go to Yangzhou."
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