Chapter 36 My Identity Revealed: I am the Second Princess of the Current Dynasty
In front of a stick of incense.
Shen Lianzhou rode in a carriage to the tea plantation outside the city.
On the way, Shen Lianzhou remained somewhat unsettled. Usually preoccupied with business matters, today he only wanted to finish inspecting the tea plantation as soon as possible and return home to see Madam Lin.
However, not far from the city, Chen Lianzhou felt a discomfort in her chest. Lifting a corner of the carriage curtain, she looked at the woods ahead, a strange sense of unease creeping into her heart.
"Sun Er, I'm feeling a little unwell. How much further is it? Perhaps we should head back today?" he said, frowning slightly.
No sooner had he spoken than a rustling sound came from the woods ahead, and a group of bandits jumped out of the trees.
The sizable group of bandits seemed to have been waiting there on purpose. Upon seeing the marked carriage, they exchanged glances and then surrounded it.
This action put all the servants and guards beside the carriage on high alert.
The woman was so frightened she stammered, "Mountain...mountain bandits!"
They've traveled this road countless times without incident, so what bad luck they've run into today? A bunch of bandits have appeared out of nowhere!
Even the guards, facing him directly, couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Although the guards of Shen Mansion were all somewhat skilled in martial arts, their numbers were few, and they were no match for those ruthless bandits.
The male servant stared speechlessly, his face pale with shock.
Of the group, only Chen Lianzhou remained somewhat calm despite the sudden danger. As he watched the approaching bandits, he sensed something amiss.
"Haha, why go back? Young Master Shen, you're already here, so why not stay?"
The bandit leader, who had been lying in wait for a long time, finally spotted his target and burst into laughter. As she spoke, she ordered her men to quickly block the carriage's path.
"Young Master Shen?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Lianzhou calmed down; his premonition had been correct.
How did these bandits learn his name?
They had deliberately waited for him on this only road leading to the tea plantation, clearly having come prepared. They made no attempt to hide it, showing no concern that he would discover something amiss.
All of this cannot be a coincidence. It is only possible that someone who knew his whereabouts tipped him off in advance, colluding with bandits from the inside and outside, wanting to kill him... which is why they didn't care whether he knew or not.
This means that any negotiation is pointless. The situation is already at its worst; the other party wants his life.
Shen Lianzhou was in a somber mood.
As they were pondering, the bandits began their attack. A scream rang out from among the guards.
The sounds of hacking and slashing filled the air, and the people from Shenfu were clearly outmatched.
Seeing the servants and guards falling to the ground one after another outside, the servant trembled with fear and turned pale.
"Young master... these bandits are so vicious, what should we do..."
If we were captured by these bandits, being robbed or killed would be the least of our worries. As men, we would likely suffer terrible torture as well.
The thought of that possibility sent a chill down the servant's spine, and his eyes filled with despair.
"Don't make a sound."
Shen Lianzhou's face was cold and expressionless. She silently pulled a hairpin from her hair and hid it in her hand.
If he were to unfortunately end up in that situation, he would rather end his own life than let the thieves succeed.
Strangely enough, at this critical moment of life and death, Shen Lianzhou's first thought was not of Shen's father, but of Lin's wife.
Before he left, Madam Lin said she would give him a gift. His heart softened, and he was full of guesses about what Madam Lin would give him.
It's a pity he'll probably never have the chance to see such a gift again...
The shouts outside gradually subsided, and there were very few guards left near the carriage.
One of the bandits reached the carriage first and stretched his arm inside.
The eldest son of the Shen family was sitting in the carriage; he was said to be a famous beauty.
As the bandit rambled on, he lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a malicious smile.
However, just as she was lost in thought, a sharp object suddenly stabbed down.
The person who did it clearly used all their strength; the long, pointed tip pierced deeply into the back of her hand.
Caught off guard, the bandit was stabbed and bled profusely, screaming in agony.
"You little bastard...you dare to lay a hand on your grandmother? I'll beat you to death!"
After recovering, the bandit realized that he had actually been injured by a bunch of young men. He was furious and swung his large palm, cursing, to strike at Chen Lianzhou.
As Shen Lianzhou watched the large hand about to fall, she tightly gripped the hairpin in her palm, turned the cold-sharp tip around, and decisively pointed it at herself before closing her eyes.
He would rather die than be encountered by these bandits.
We were not destined to be together in this life; it was his misfortune. Farewell, Madam Lin…
*
Just now, Yuan Yan learned from Shen Fu that Shen Lianzhou was in trouble, and immediately rode off to the scene.
Along the way, Yuan Yan, with her superb riding skills, took the lead and charged ahead, leaving the soldiers and officers behind her unable to catch up. Even Yu Liu and Lin Huan fell behind.
"this……"
When they reached the front of the forest, Lin Huan stared at the severed limbs and broken arms in front of him, and his heart skipped a beat.
Oh no, it seems the people from Shenfu have already encountered the bandits; they've arrived too late after all.
However, Yuan Yan did not stop upon seeing this scene. Instead, he spurred his horse forward, following the traces of the fight deeper into the forest.
The system looked at the corpse on the ground and said weakly, "Host... could that Young Master Shen have already been murdered?"
Yuan Yan: "Shut up."
That stupid system doesn't even know how to say anything nice; it even looks aggrieved after being scolded by her.
As the horses galloped, Yuan Yan and the system saw the carriage ahead and the bandits laughing triumphantly.
The moment she saw the bandit swing his hand at Chen Lianzhou, her eyes flashed with a sharp light. Before she even arrived, the long wooden gun in her hand had already flown out.
The next instant, the bandits' heart-wrenching screams rang out like pigs being slaughtered.
Something flew out, and warm liquid sprayed onto Chen Lianzhou's sleeve.
Before Shen Lianzhou could react to what it was, the hairpin in her hand was knocked away by a gust of wind.
The system was a little excited: [We've caught up with the host!!!]
“Young Master Shen, we haven’t reached the end of our rope yet,” Yuan Yan’s voice rang out.
“I said I would send you a gift. Now that the gift has not yet been delivered, how could I let anything happen to you, young master?”
Shen Lianzhou opened his eyes, and when he saw Yuan Yan's figure in front of him, he was stunned.
“Lady Lin…” Shen Lianzhou’s eyes were still somewhat blank as she looked at Yuan Yan’s face, her gaze slightly unfocused.
How could Madam Lin, who was still in the city, be here?
Was this scene truly not a hallucination he witnessed before his death? Otherwise, how could he have seen Madam Lin and heard her familiar voice...?
Shen Lianzhou was in turmoil.
At the same time, the remaining bandits were furious when they saw Yuan Yan intervene and cut off the man's arm, ignoring their rescue of Shen Lianzhou.
"Where did this brat come from, daring to be so arrogant in front of your grandmother!"
The bandit leader brandished his long sword and charged towards Yuan Yan and his companion.
"Young Master Shen, close your eyes." Yuan Yan stretched out his left hand and covered Shen Lianzhou's eyes.
With his other hand gripping the long wooden gun, a flash of silver light appeared, the wind howled, and it swept across the room.
The bandit leader initially didn't take Yuan Yan, who was alone, seriously.
To her surprise, when she swung her sword to meet the attack, the immense force of the blow made her hand go numb, and she couldn't hold onto the sword, which flew out of her hand.
"What!" The bandit leader was shocked.
However, before she could retrieve the longsword, the long gun flew at her again and pierced through her heart.
Shen Lianzhou was protected behind Yuan Yan, and the warmth of her palms reached him through her eyelids.
It was slightly hot, just like its master Yuan Yan, giving people a burning feeling, which made him unconsciously breathe much lighter.
Despite still being in danger, Shen Lianzhou felt inexplicably at peace at this moment.
It was as if as long as Madam Lin was there, she would never let him get hurt.
"The boss is dead...?!"
The remaining bandits, seeing their leader collapse with a single exchange, were terrified and scattered like birds and beasts.
Just as the group was about to disperse into the forest, the soldiers behind Yuan Yan finally arrived.
"Arrest them all, don't let a single one escape."
Upon hearing Yuan Yan's words, all the soldiers present did as he instructed.
"Yes, Your Highness." The soldier finished speaking and went to capture the bandits.
Upon hearing the address "Your Highness," Shen Lianzhou couldn't help but raise her head, her gaze turning to Yuan Yan in astonishment.
"Your Highness...?"
Even though he had clearly heard them, he still couldn't help but ask softly, "Lady Lin, are they calling for you?"
Yuan Yan paused slightly upon hearing this, but made no attempt to avoid the topic.
"Exactly."
“Young Master Shen, I have been staying at the Shen family's residence these past few days. In order to avoid pursuers, I have not revealed my identity and have been using the alias Lin Yan. It is not that I intended to hide it from you... I am the Second Princess, Prince Yue, Yuan Yan.”
These words struck Shen Lianzhou like a thunderbolt.
Lady Lin is not a person of the martial arts world, but a member of the imperial family, the second daughter of the current emperor, Her Highness Prince Yue.
This shocking news left him momentarily stunned, his mind blank as if struck by a heavy object.
The usually intelligent and perceptive Shen Lianzhou was completely unable to think at this moment.
"King Yue... Yuan Yan." He murmured Yuan Yan's name, his voice tinged with a hint of slowness and confusion.
During this brief interval, Lin Huan reported back.
"Your Highness, there were dozens of bandits present. Several resisted and were killed, while the rest have been captured," Lin Huan reported respectfully, kneeling on one knee.
"Escort them back to the manor," Yuan Yan said.
...
Back at the government office.
Under immense pressure, in front of Yuan Yan and Guo Xinghuai, the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the magistrate ordered his men to bring Aunt Shen and the bandits before he began to hear the case.
"The perpetrator, Shen Fu, in order to seize his family's property, first bribed others to vandalize his shop, and then colluded with bandits to hire someone to kill him, murdering for money. The evidence is clear and there is no room for denial."
"In accordance with the law, this official sentences him to twenty strokes of the cane, exile for three thousand li, and three years of forced labor, never to return home. All his land shall be used to compensate the aggrieved parties..."
According to the laws of this dynasty, colluding with mountain bandits is a serious crime. After twenty strokes of the cane, Shen Fu was basically half dead, and with exile and forced labor, he would certainly not survive.
After saying this, the magistrate wiped his sweat slightly and stole a glance at Yuan Yan, who was sitting at the head of the table.
In order to please the King of Yue, she awarded all the land that should have been confiscated by the government to Young Master Shen.
I wonder if His Highness the King of Yue is satisfied with this judgment.
The county magistrate was uneasy.
"I deserve to die, Your Highness, please forgive me!" Shen Fu almost fainted when he heard that he had been given twenty strokes of the cane. He cried and kowtowed, begging for mercy.
"Good nephew, your aunt was confused and lost her mind for a moment. Now she knows she was wrong and will never dare to do it again. You must save your aunt..."
Shen Lianzhou: "..."
He remained silent and turned his head away.
Although Shen Lianzhou knew that his aunt was always greedy, he never expected her to be so vicious as to collude with bandits to kill him.
If it weren't for Lady Lin... no, His Highness Prince Yue's rescue, he would probably be dead already.
Therefore, he neither wanted to nor would say any words of forgiveness, as that would only be an insult to His Highness's intention to save him.
Meanwhile, on Yuan Yan's side...
Having learned of Shen Fu's verdict, she had no intention of listening any further.
Yuan Yan looked at Shen Lianzhou, "Young Master Shen, this is the gift I am giving you. I wonder if you like it?"
Gift?
Shen Lianzhou then remembered what Yuan Yan had said earlier.
It turns out that the gift Yuan Yan said he would give him this morning was to get rid of Shen Fu, this harmful threat.
Even before the incident of colluding with mountain bandits occurred, His Highness made this decision.
Shen Lianzhou guessed that Yuan Yan was probably planning to use the previous incident of smashing the shop to find Shen Fu, the mastermind behind it, and convict and imprison him.
This was exactly what he needed at that time, more precious than any gold or silver, and a truly great gift.
Chen Lianzhou's heart was stirred once again.
How could there be a woman like His Highness the King of Yue in this world, who, after being saved once, has been trying to repay him in every possible way?
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness... I like it very much," he said softly.
After leaving the government office, Yuan Yan ordered someone to send the reward to the Shen family, explaining that it was a reward for Young Master Shen saving the King of Yue.
"You mean... the Jianghu person beside you, young master, is actually the current King of Yue?" Father Shen was completely stunned by this news, his face filled with disbelief.
The fact that Shen's father had seen a lowly martial arts practitioner as a member of the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) had suddenly transformed him into a member of the imperial family caused him some confusion. He quickly pulled Shen Lianzhou and his servants aside to ask them questions.
Once Shen's father confirmed what had happened, he was overjoyed.
"So, my son saved the King of Yue?!"
This is a meritorious act of saving the king, an immense honor! It's truly a blessing from our ancestors, a stroke of good fortune that the Shen family has been granted such a great achievement.
After understanding the situation, Shen's father was so excited that his eyes changed, and he suddenly stood up and asked Shen Lianzhou.
"Zhou'er, did His Highness say anything else to you?"
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