Chapter 35 Lotus Boat in Trouble: A Lady's Prestige Should Not Be Risked
The next day.
When Shen Lianzhou went out and did not see Yuan Yan, she asked the male servant.
"Where is Madam Lin? Why can't I see her today?"
Yu Lu said, "The young lady said she has a gift for you, young master, and she is going out to prepare it now."
A gift? Upon hearing this, Shen Lianzhou's heart skipped a beat.
What's going on? It's not like today is a special day. Why would Madam Lin suddenly think of sending him something? And what is this gift she's talking about...?
Although Shen Lianzhou was somewhat puzzled, her thoughts were already involuntarily immersed in it.
Yu Lu smiled and said, "In my opinion, Madam Lin also has feelings for the young master. Otherwise, why would she care so much about him and even think of giving him gifts?"
"...Since Madam Lin isn't coming, let's set off now."
For once, Shen Lianzhou did not blame Yu Lu for being talkative. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she concealed the change in her expression.
But anyone with discerning eyes could see that the usually composed and dignified young master was acting differently now. Although he was still giving instructions to the servants, his mind was completely elsewhere.
The carriage slowly drove out of the Shen Mansion.
...
Meanwhile, Yuan Yan, who claimed to be preparing a grand gift for Shen Lianzhou, appeared at an inn.
"Lin Huan pays his respects to Your Highness Prince Yue!" The spirited woman guessed that the tall and valiant woman in front of her was her cousin, Your Highness Prince Yue, the moment she saw Yuan Yan from afar.
She immediately lifted the hem of her robe and led the dozens of soldiers behind her to kneel down in unison.
"Please rise, cousin. There's no need for such formalities," Yuan Yan said with a smile.
Seeing that Lin Huan seemed a little reserved, Yuan Yan made a slight joke.
“We are blood relatives, and we even met in the palace when we were children. How come you don’t recognize me now?”
Lin Huan hadn't seen her cousin, the Prince of Yue, for many years, so she was naturally a little estranged. But when she looked at Yuan Yan's face, which clearly bore the features of the Lin family, she couldn't help but tear up.
“Your Highness, I understand Your Highness’s affection. Although it is Your Highness’s favor, we must not disregard etiquette.” Lin Huan knelt and kowtowed to Yuan Yan until he was helped up by Yuan Yan before he stood up.
“This assassination attempt on me has caused my aunts and cousins great worry and sleepless nights,” Yuan Yan said.
"Your Highness is too kind. As long as Your Highness is well, it doesn't matter what happens to my mother and aunt."
Lin Huan's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke. "When Mother and Aunt heard the news of His Highness's assassination attempt, they were filled with remorse and regret for not protecting His Highness... Fortunately, His Highness is safe and sound, otherwise Aunt would really have to go to the ground to beg for forgiveness from Uncle."
Seeing that her cousin, the Prince of Yue, treated the Lin family with the same kindness and affection as when the Imperial Noble Minister was still alive, she was moved and grew even closer to Yuan Yan.
"The process was dangerous, but fortunately the thieves did not succeed, all thanks to the Shen family." Yuan Yan told Lin Huan about how he was rescued by the young master of the Shen family after falling into the river.
Upon learning what had happened, Lin Huan was equally relieved and grateful, saying, "It's fortunate that this young master of the Shen family was there... It's clear that Your Highness's ability to escape danger was truly a matter of fate."
Yuan Yan then took the opportunity to state his request, "In order to repay the kindness of the Shen family, I wish to borrow some soldiers from my cousin. I wonder if my cousin would be willing."
"This young general and all the soldiers of the Lin family are His Highness's men and are willing to obey His Highness's orders."
Lin Huan had no choice but to obey Yuan Yan's order and immediately dispatched his accompanying soldiers.
They cooperated with Yuan Yan to investigate the person who caused trouble that day. Following the clues, they eventually found their way to Aunt Shen.
When the soldiers stormed into the Shen residence, Aunt Shen was still listening to her confidant report on Shen Lianzhou's movements.
"Shen Lianzhou, don't blame your aunt for being heartless. It's because you're so ruthless in your actions that you're destined to suffer this calamity," she said with feigned remorse.
"If you pass away, please don't hold a grudge against me..."
Thinking of Shen Lianzhou's miserable end, Aunt Shen couldn't help but smile slightly.
But she soon stopped laughing.
When Yu Liu, Lin Huan, and others led a group of soldiers to surround the courtyard, the servants in the mansion didn't even have time to report it.
Aunt Shen was so startled to see so many soldiers suddenly burst into her own home that she immediately stood up.
"Gentlemen, may I ask what brings you to my Shen family? Is there something you wish to discuss with me?"
She assumed it was because she hadn't paid the full amount of silver to the officials that she had attracted the attention of these old women soldiers, so she quickly stepped forward and bowed.
But the soldiers ignored her. The leader glanced at the portrait in his hand and then asked her a question.
"Are you Shen Fu?"
Aunt Shen was completely bewildered at this moment, and said nervously, "...It was indeed me."
"Take her away." To everyone's surprise, the soldiers didn't say another word to her, immediately seized her, and dragged her to the main hall.
Aunt Shen was forced to kneel on the ground, not daring to resist in the slightest.
He found that his own hall was now filled with soldiers on both sides.
Tall and imposing women stood on either side of the main seat, while above the main seat...
Before she could take a closer look, a soldier next to her pressed her head down.
The surroundings were completely silent.
Aunt Shen had never seen anything like this before. She was so frightened that she trembled and dared not look up again.
Feeling wronged and frustrated, I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself.
"Dear military ladies, I am an honest and law-abiding citizen. I have never shortchanged the government every month... I don't know what I have done to deserve this treatment."
She sensed that the visitor was hostile, and tried to stall for time while talking.
As soon as the soldiers rushed into the courtyard, she gave her confidant a wink, instructing him to go to the government office to inform a familiar official, hoping that the official would come to her aid.
"What did you do wrong? Heh... Just tell me about the incident at the Shen family's silk shop last time. Did you instigate Lai You to do it?"
A somewhat familiar voice came from the head of the table.
Aunt Shen was shocked and could no longer hold back, so she looked up.
But they discovered that the woman sitting on it was the very same woman from the martial arts world who had been following Shen Lianzhou!
In that instant, Aunt Shen suddenly realized that the woman surnamed Lin was not a martial arts figure, but a military leader.
This person, seeking revenge for Shen Lianzhou, led his soldiers to capture Shen Fu, settling a personal score!
It must be said that Aunt Shen's guess was quite reasonable. By sheer coincidence, she had guessed almost everything correctly.
No sooner had she uttered that question than she was kicked hard in the waist by a soldier next to her, the pain contorting her expression.
"How dare you! Who gave you permission to speak to such an important person like that?"
Aunt Shen winced in pain, but still mustered her strength and said, "Madam Lin, I am a law-abiding citizen. What proof do you have that I did it? The government has already reached a conclusion on this matter. Even if you are a soldier, you have no right to punish me arbitrarily."
"You led your men into my house and beat me up. What kind of logic is this? If you don't leave, I'm going to report you to the authorities." She threatened.
However, at that moment, a servant led the county magistrate, the county assistant magistrate, and several unfamiliar officials into the room.
When Aunt Shen took a look, she realized that the servant was her confidant, and she was overjoyed.
I was just about to praise my trusted confidant for doing a good job and being reliable, when reinforcements arrived so quickly. I don't even know why the county magistrate condescended to come.
But before the officials even got close, they had already knelt down.
"Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Highness, the King of Yue!"
The respectful and orderly shouts resounded like heavy hammers in Aunt Chen's ears.
The King of Yue? Where would they find a King of Yue in this remote place of Tanzhou!
In that instant, Aunt Shen felt as if she had not only gone deaf, but also as if she was hallucinating.
My head buzzed, and I froze on the spot.
That wasn't all. The official at the front stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Guo Xinghuai, is late in rescuing the emperor. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness!"
"Please rise, Lord Guo." Yuan Yan simply said "Please rise" as she watched Guo Xinghuai, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, kneel before her.
In that instant, Aunt Shen suddenly remembered the rumor from a few days ago that a noble person had gone missing and local officials had received orders to send people to search for him.
This... this can't be referring to that Lady Lin... oh no, I mean His Highness Prince Yue!
All the clues match up.
Aunt Shen was struck dumb, as if by lightning.
"Shen Fu, what did you do to Young Master Shen? You must not hide it in front of His Highness and all the officials! Quickly confess the truth."
Yu Liu spoke up, rebuking Yuan Yan on his behalf.
Aunt Shen's mind started working with difficulty.
Shen Lianzhou was incredibly lucky; he actually saved the King of Yue from his predicament and gained the favor of a nobleman.
Now, it's clear that the King of Yue has come to support him, and Aunt Shen sees this clearly.
This is a tremendous achievement that saved the king! Aunt Shen was both envious and jealous.
If she had known that her nephew would have such good fortune, leading the entire Shen clan to receive credit and rewards, she would have been overjoyed. Why would she have bothered with this scheme? Aunt Shen felt a bitter taste in her mouth, unable to express her grievances.
However, she then thought of what she had ordered to do yesterday… that was aimed at completely destroying Shen Lianzhou. If the Prince of Yue found out that she had deliberately harmed Shen Lianzhou, then the entire household would be doomed!
Aunt Shen was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground.
It's over, my life is over...
"Shen Fu!" Lin Huan frowned when he saw Aunt Shen looking dazed and trembling like a leaf.
The magistrate was even more anxious than she was. Seeing that Aunt Shen remained silent, he sternly urged, "Shen Fu, His Highness the Prince of Yue has summoned you to answer a question! Why aren't you responding?"
If it weren't for the presence of the King of Yue and Lord Guo at the head of the table, the magistrate would have personally intervened to force Aunt Shen to confess her guilt.
Finally, Aunt Shen couldn't withstand the pressure any longer, and with a mournful face, she stammered out her words.
"It's too late, too late... It's too late..."
For the first time, she hoped her subordinates would act slowly and that the people they brought wouldn't be in such a hurry to deal with Shen Lianzhou.
"What?" Aunt Shen's seemingly nonsensical question left everyone present completely bewildered.
Lin Huan asked in confusion, "Shen Fu, His Highness clearly asked about the matter of you bribing someone to vandalize Young Master Shen's shop, so why did you say it was too late..."
However, she had only uttered half a sentence when she saw Yuan Yan suddenly stand up from his seat and quickly walk down.
Of the group, only Yuan Yan guessed what was going on from Aunt Shen's guilty and regretful expression.
She grabbed Aunt Chen by the collar of her clothes, lifted her off the ground, and coldly interrogated her.
"Tell me quickly, where are they? When did you do it? Tell me the truth." Her expression was cold and stern.
“If you utter even half a lie, you can lose your life right now,” Yuan Yan said.
"My nephew disrespects his elders, so I sent some bandits to kidnap him and teach him a lesson... He should be waiting outside the city by now..." Aunt Shen said timidly, not daring to look at Yuan Yan's expression.
A bandit who wants to kill people... and you still want to teach him a lesson?
Although she spoke cryptically, the officials present were all astute and immediately understood Aunt Shen's meaning, and their expressions changed.
Yuan Yan demanded, "Which direction are they in?"
Aunt Shen was heartbroken and spoke in a trembling voice.
After hearing the information he needed, Yuan Yan immediately threw Aunt Shen to the ground.
"Lock him up in jail."
Having said that, she didn't want to say another word, and strode out, grabbed a horse, and leaped onto it.
"Giddy up!" Yuan Yan spurred his horse, urging it to full speed as it galloped out of the city.
"Your Highness, you are of noble birth and should not take risks. Let the men below go to rescue you, a man of noble birth..."
Guo Xinghuai followed him outside, still intending to dissuade him. But before he could finish speaking, he was hit by a gust of cold wind from behind the ponytail.
Turning around again, they found that Yu Liu and Lin Huan had already led several soldiers on horseback to catch up.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and catch up!" The magistrate realized his mistake and secretly groaned. He quickly urged his officers to take him with them.
"If anything happens to His Highness the Prince of Yue, none of us here will survive!"
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