Lin Huaiyin's eye drops application failed.
Just as he was leaving on the ninth day, a guard leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Su Jinggui's carriage has entered Changshun Ward."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jiu strode to the kitchen and ordered a hangover soup to be prepared for the prince consort. He also inquired about the wife's diet for pregnancy support.
The cooks were busy as bees, but they were still too busy to lead the way, calling him "Ninth Master" and introducing him to Lin Huaiyin's special dishes: salamander and snow frog soup, venison jerky, almond milk, and Four Gods Soup.
Chu Jiu stared silently, dismissed the cook, took out the medicinal powder, and mixed it into every bowl and dish, using an astonishing amount.
At that moment, Yu Li was cutting fruit in the corner. When she saw Chu Jiu arrive, her palms were sweating. She was worried about Lin Huaiyin and Xie Ao, and she couldn't help but linger for a moment longer.
However, in that panicked glance, Chu Jiu keenly sensed something, turned her head without warning, and her sharp gaze swept across the battlefield.
Yu Li quickly lowered her head, cold sweat creeping up her back.
How terrifying! This actually got noticed?!
Yu Li was terrified and could barely hold the knife handle. She never expected that Chu Jiu, who usually stayed by Shen Congyun's side, never spoke a word, and never showed any signs of anything, would actually be so terrifying!
The sheer terror made Yu Li tremble. She finally understood why Lin Huaiyin had always protected her, and why she was being told to stay here with the others and not to go out or be alone.
Miss, you're dancing on the edge of a knife; one wrong step and you'll be shattered to pieces.
Yu Li slowly exhaled, forcing herself to stay calm, gripping the knife tightly, continuing to cut, continuing to pretend, absolutely not causing trouble for her mistress.
Chu Jiu made a steady inspection, his gaze falling on her. He stared at her for a while, but finding nothing amiss, he ordered someone to carry the food and follow her out.
Before long, two meals were delivered to the main hall.
Lin Huaiyin was obediently standing next to Madam Shen, occasionally agreeing with her and fawning over Princess Pingyang. She would also touch her pregnant belly and pretend to feel nauseous, hoping that Princess Pingyang would pay more attention to her, the pregnant woman, and then go to Shen Congyun to vent her anger.
After all, Shen Congyun was right across from them, relentlessly pouring water on the Imperial Son-in-Law Yuan Jie'e.
Lin Huaiyin kept glancing at them out of the corner of her eye, thinking that there should probably be some genuine feelings between the two of them. Now that one of them has remarried and the other has secretly had a child, they have both betrayed each other, so they might as well have a big fight and go their separate ways.
Or perhaps the foolish prince consort will realize the truth in time, see through the adulterous affair, and report it directly to the Crown Prince or the Emperor; then things will get really interesting.
Prince Consort, open your eyes! Go Prince Consort!
Lin Huaiyin secretly encouraged herself: If we can kill the enemy without bloodshed, it won't be in vain that I invited you to dinner.
The situation looked promising, and Lin Huaiyin looked around with anticipation.
However, Princess Pingyang's behavior was truly unexpected.
The princess possessed a captivating beauty and natural charm. Even knowing that she was a princess and should not be looked up at directly, people's eyes were still unconsciously drawn to her table, hoping to catch a glimpse of her appearance.
She was elegant and graceful, yet also easygoing and unassuming. She enjoyed listening to music, watching dances, drinking wine, and picking up food. When she was happy, she would reward the singing girls. Her smile was radiant. Occasionally, she would praise Shen Lanyan for being considerate, hold her hand, and commend her for serving food in a way that won her heart.
She was very close to the Shen family mother and daughter, and her gaze never fell on Lin Huaiyin.
Lin Huaiyin sensed that Princess Pingyang wasn't pretending; she seemed genuinely indifferent to Shen Congyun having a child with another woman. Compared to Shen Congyun's overwhelming rage, Princess Pingyang's cold indifference was like an abyss, indescribable and unfathomable.
As expected of someone who wants to be an empress, she wiped out my entire Lin family, imprisoned my brother and murdered my father, and regarded all living beings as ants. She paved her way to the throne with blood and lives. Her heart is indeed as hard and cold as a rock.
Lin Huaiyin became increasingly wary, and she even had a feeling that it wasn't Shen Congyun supporting Princess Pingyang at all, but rather Princess Pingyang who was the mastermind behind Shen Congyun and controlling everything.
This intuition was so strong that the moment Lin Huaiyin realized it, she dared not look directly at him, afraid that a trace of hatred in his eyes would be caught by him.
This enemy is more terrifying and more powerful than Shen Congyun.
Lin Huaiyin suddenly thought of His Highness the Crown Prince and couldn't help but feel deeply worried: I wonder if Your Highness has realized that your own sister is as ruthless as a snake and as ruthless as lightning.
Right now, it's best for the rabbit to stay in its burrow and not get noticed.
Lin Huaiyin quickly suppressed her curiosity, just as a steaming hot meal was served on the table.
The rich aroma, the exquisite tableware, and the servants' detailed explanations—every mention of the precious ingredients spoke of the unique favor shown to the Prime Minister's wife.
The entire Shen family truly dotes on Miss Lin the Third.
The women cast admiring glances at Lin Huaiyin, who smiled knowingly at her. Lin Huaiyin proudly raised her chin, indicating that she was extremely favored.
Madam Shen leaned closer and whispered with concern, "I instructed the kitchen to prepare this separately for you. Eat as much as you can, and if you don't like it, ask them to make more."
"Thank you for your concern, Mother-in-law. Your daughter-in-law is pleased." Lin Huaiyin replied with a sweet smile, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chu Jiu return to Shen Congyun's side and immediately realized that the food had been tampered with.
So this is how I followed the Tao in my past life.
Holding a spoon and staring at the food, Lin Huaiyin's eyes welled up with tears, and she felt envious: It's so convenient to harm people in your own home. You can just go to the kitchen, put the drug on the table, and wait for the person to eat it. If they don't eat this bowl, you can just get another one. If they still don't eat, they can just starve to death. You can use all the methods you want. Unlike her and Yu Li and Xie Ao, who rack their brains and don't even know if it will work.
Xie Ao is out there making his move, and Lin Huaiyin can't help him, nor is she willing to interfere. This time, she wants Xie Ao, Yu Li, and Mian Feng to take revenge themselves, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and blood for blood.
Regardless of success or failure, she couldn't hold anyone back. Lin Huaiyin steeled herself, scooped up a spoonful of salamander soup, and swallowed it while silently praying: May all the gods and Buddhas protect me, may Su Jinggui not come, not come, not come.
Shen Congyun glanced at her indifferently, saw her eating, and pointed at the food table. Chu Jiu behind him then went to greet Su Jinggui.
According to Shen Congyun's plan, Su Jinggui doesn't need to show his face. He can just knock her out as soon as he enters the room and send her directly to Lin Huaiyin's bedroom. Once the drug takes effect, he can just throw her in a place and strip her of a few clothes.
The Ministry of Personnel is of utmost importance; we must succeed today.
This is not difficult, Shen Congyun said, rest assured that he could entrust it to Chu Jiu.
What he had to deal with personally was Yuan Jie'e, who was drunk and oblivious to his own mortality, calling out "Pingyang" again and again.
To Shen Congyun's left, Yuan Jie'e was extremely drunk. He was drinking the hangover soup in a daze, unaware that it was laced with a sleeping potion. After drinking the whole bowl, the bowl slipped from his hand, spun around, and with a "bang," his face hit the food table.
"The prince consort is drunk, someone come here."
Shen Congyun summoned someone to help him up, and then left the scene himself, pacing back and forth while turning his thumb ring.
Other officials watched him leave, drawing sidelong glances and causing a slight commotion.
After Chen Zaiyuan offered a few words of comfort, everyone resumed their hearty drinking.
Lin Huaiyin is Madam Shen. If others show Shen Congyun even a little concern, she will show it tenfold.
Therefore, when Shen Congyun left, she openly watched him walk away step by step, her gaze never wavering, and her heart was filled with joy.
Several ladies around her saw her gazing at her with affectionate eyes, looking so reluctant to part, and teased her, saying that she was a clingy young woman and that she should just go after her.
“I’m not that clingy,” Lin Huaiyin said shyly, lowering her head and speaking in a high-pitched voice, “It’s not the time to talk when the Prince Consort is here.”
"Oh my." The noblewomen chuckled, seeing that she was young and pretty, and disregarding that Lin Huaiyin was the wife of the Grand Secretary, a titled lady, and of a higher status, they continued to tease her: "What is it that is inconvenient to say, but can only be said in the tent at night?"
Hearing the sarcastic remarks, Lin Huaiyin felt both ashamed and embarrassed, her ears turning bright red. She was too embarrassed to look up, so she scooped up a spoonful of meat soup and buried her head in her food.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Shen turned around and saw that she was charming and alluring, and she was also very pleased.
Surrounded by eager gazes, Lin Huaiyin ignored them, thinking to herself that was enough and she needed to get down to business.
Shen Congyun has already left the scene; Yuan Jie'e alone is enough to send him flying into the heavens. Chu Jiu's solo action is imminent; the arrow is on the bowstring, ready to explode at any moment.
Either Chu Jiu will capture Su Jinggui, or Xie Ao will capture Chu Jiu. The outcome will be revealed soon.
Lin Huaiyin prepared to wrap things up.
Just in case, she quietly tucked the hem of her skirt under the legs of Madam Shen's table, then carefully swallowed spoonful after spoonful, hoping to knock herself unconscious as soon as possible.
Gradually, she felt dizzy and lightheaded, and her vision became blurry.
——
Princess Pingyang took in all the commotion below.
She didn't care much about Shen Congyun and Yuan Jie'e's rivalry, and didn't even glance at them.
Shen Congyun needed to vent his anger before he could calm down and get things done.
Yuan Jie'e's father was the Director of the Imperial Observatory, whose position was crucial to the future success of the dynasty. No matter how Shen Congyun acted, he would not overstep his bounds.
Princess Pingyang was not worried.
She had expected this to happen, but the only surprise was that Lin Huaiyin was pregnant.
She cared a little, but it didn't really bother her.
Her father was the first man she knew. She knew what men were like. They were born superior and possessed certain privileges. They enjoyed controlling others, and sometimes it didn't matter whether they were controlling a woman or something else.
Her brother Yun was incredibly handsome, so it was perfectly normal for women to seduce him. His occasional displays of power were beyond reproach.
Lin Huaiyin is nothing but an insignificant, foolish little woman, a stepping stone destined to vanish into thin air, a pitiful little thing who will be caught in bed with another man today.
Things that are too insignificant to catch Princess Pingyang's eye are nothing. She knows that Shen Congyun will clean things up without leaving a trace, so she doesn't need to look down on them.
What truly concerned her were the Shen family mother and daughter. The fact that Old Madam Shen bypassed Shen Congyun and personally went to the Princess's residence to invite them made Princess Pingyang very uneasy.
She came here to see what Old Madam Shen was doing and whether she was following in the footsteps of Old Master Shen.
Nine years ago, Old Master Shen caught her having an affair with Shen Congyun. He privately approached her, tearfully saying that the Shen family had finally produced a top scholar, hoping to bring glory to the family, and that she absolutely could not give up her official career to marry a princess.
A man can only choose between being a princess and having a career in government.
To prevent powerful relatives of the empress from seizing power, the royal bloodline, made of precious branches and jade leaves, could only choose men from the dung heap. The imperial son-in-law could be addressed as "Master," but he was not even qualified to participate in the imperial examinations. It was a complete joke.
Shen Congyun is not worthless; he is a promising top scholar, a favored student of the emperor, and the hope of the entire Shen family.
When Grandpa Shen was choosing a career path for Shen Congyun, he pleaded with the princess and even hinted that if she didn't let go, he would persuade Shen Congyun and report her to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. He was willing to risk his life to guide his son back to the right path.
Princess Pingyang felt sorry for him and thought: "A timid old man has turned around and become the sky above Brother Yun's head, and even has the audacity to help Brother Yun choose his path. He is destined to be a stumbling block on her and Brother Yun's road ahead. It would be better to get rid of him so that Brother Yun can understand what it feels like to lose a loved one."
So she simply killed Old Master Shen to silence him, and then faked her death as if she had saved him.
She nestled in Shen Congyun's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She was filled with remorse and pain because of herself, causing her brother Yun to lose his father. She was a sinner and did not deserve to stay by his side.
However, Shen Congyun couldn't bear to see his little phoenix shed tears. He hugged her tightly, kissed her, and comforted her. Her father risked his life to protect her, and even for her father's sake, his life was closely linked to hers, forever and ever, inseparable.
Princess Pingyang lost her mother at the age of seven. She shared this pain with her beloved Shen Congyun. In the spring of the year he turned sixteen, she accompanied him to bury his father, leaving an indelible mark on the deepest part of his blood.
They will love each other for a lifetime, and they will never be apart.
As an extension of this deep affection, Princess Pingyang will also try to protect Shen Congyun's family, provided that they are obedient and useful.
At the banquet, the air was filled with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, and the atmosphere was one of peace and prosperity.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, Princess Pingyang chatted with Old Madam Shen, while Shen Lanyan, obedient and charming, served her food.
During their conversation, the occasional use of "Your Highness the Crown Prince" made Princess Pingyang understand the deeper meaning behind it. She chatted idly with a smile, holding up her food.
After working hard for a while, Shen Lanyan shyly raised her eyes, indicating that after this song ended, she also wanted to dance for Her Highness the Princess.
"Very well." Princess Pingyang removed a seven-jeweled hairpin and gently placed it on the table, saying, "There will be a generous reward."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Lanyan bowed slightly, her gaze fixed on the hairpin.
The gold-threaded hairpin, strung with Hepu South Pearl, coral beads, crystal beads, agate, zither, and pearls, shines like a waterfall under the sun, shimmering with light.
Shen Lanyan's eyes were filled with shimmering light.
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