Chapter 37 The jade pendant I gave you reminds me of you, and I toss and turn in bed.
Shen Lianzhou knew what his father wanted to ask, but he was not in the mood to answer at the moment.
"Why are you so agitated, Father? Is it because Lady Lin is the Prince of Yue that you're so happy?" Shen Lianzhou retorted.
“Look at what you’re saying, child. This is a meritorious deed that saved the king and has earned a reward from the imperial court. Even our ancestors will be proud if word gets out. Isn’t this a great joy?” Father Shen said reproachfully.
“Is that so?” Shen Lianzhou didn’t think so.
Upon learning Yuan Yan's identity, he was first surprised and shocked, followed by an indescribable sense of loss.
Originally, Shen Lianzhou harbored feelings for Yuan Yan and intended to slowly cultivate their relationship, to enter Yuan Yan's heart... She had even imagined what life would be like after marrying Yuan Yan.
If they marry, they can have two daughters. If Yuan Yan wants to continue his adventures in the martial world, he is willing to accompany him; if Yuan Yan gets tired of the life of danger, they can also settle down in a separate residence.
But now that Yuan Yan's true identity has been revealed, all of this has become wishful thinking.
Although Shen Lianzhou knew that Yuan Yan had not lied to him, the current King of Yue was indeed not married, and the position of the legitimate husband remained vacant.
But given his status as a merchant's son, even serving as a servant to His Highness the King of Yue would be considered a great honor; how could he possibly become his principal wife?
Moreover, His Highness's current treatment of him is mostly out of gratitude, and may not necessarily be based on romantic feelings.
Shen Lianzhou was self-aware, and felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
On the other side, Shen's father was about to continue speaking, but Shen Lianzhou no longer wanted to listen.
"Father, let me be alone for a while." He had no desire to speak and looked exhausted.
Father Shen was completely bewildered. “Zhou’er, I don’t understand. Isn’t it a good thing that the Prince of Yue has such a noble status? Zhou’er, you insisted on marrying His Highness before, but now that I’m not against it, why are you unhappy?”
Unable to understand his thoughts, and seeing that Shen Lianzhou was in a bad mood and unwilling to speak, his father could only leave in confusion.
Meanwhile, Guo Xinghuai was respectfully inquiring about Yuan Yan's situation.
"His Majesty has been unable to sleep since His Highness's accident. Upon learning of His Highness's news, His Majesty's worries turned to joy, and he immediately ordered us to go to Tanzhou overnight... I wonder when His Highness plans to return to the capital to reunite with His Majesty."
Why is the emperor so concerned about her?
After her assassination and disappearance, the Empress Dowager may have indeed been furious and anxious, but that anger and anxiety would likely have dissipated soon. Otherwise, why would the matter of the assassination mastermind still remain unresolved...? These are just empty words; anyone who takes them seriously loses.
Yuan Yan remained noncommittal.
"Your Majesty's concern for your son is deeply appreciated. I will return to the capital to see you as soon as possible. After settling matters here, I will set off for home tomorrow." She feigned gratitude.
After Guo Xinghuai left, Yu Liu inquired.
"Your Highness, shall we return to the capital together with Young Master Shen tomorrow?"
Yuan Yan's gaze was slightly surprised. "Why take him back?"
However, Yu Liu seemed even more surprised than her upon hearing this, "This, Your Highness is not planning to take Young Master Shen back to the capital? I thought Your Highness, after this matter..."
Seeing Yuan Yan's expression, she hesitated and swallowed back the words "I will take Young Master Shen as my concubine".
"You mean to take Young Master Chen as your servant?" Yuan Yan guessed it immediately.
Yu Liu nodded. Isn't that so... If His Highness were willing to take the young master of the Shen family as a servant, the entire Shen family would be overjoyed, which would be considered an exceptional favor to them.
"No, Yu Liu, you are mistaken. Young Master Shen is my savior. Mere gold and silver cannot repay his kindness. I will naturally repay him in another way. But I do not intend to take him as a servant."
She had already figured out what to do, so she called over a servant, gave him a few instructions, and made all the arrangements.
The next morning, Yuan Yan asked Lin Huan to take the letter to his two aunts and go back first.
The Lin family members, given their inconvenient status, might arouse the emperor's suspicion if they left their post without permission, so they could only say goodbye here.
Before leaving, Yuan Yan specially summoned A Man and asked Lin Huan to take her away to the frontier.
Aman was stunned upon hearing this, and became anxious, unable to resist asking for the answer.
"Your Highness, why is this? Don't you want me to be your guard anymore...?"
Yuan Yan knew immediately that she had misunderstood, and reassured her.
“Aman, it’s not that I don’t want you anymore, but that you are exceptionally talented and different from ordinary people. If you just stay by my side without getting any experience, you’ll probably waste your strength.”
"General Lin is someone I trust. The reason I had her take you to the military camp is to train you so that you can develop your skills as soon as possible and come back to work."
"Once you get there, you'll need to train hard and listen to the young general," Yuan Yan said.
Ah Man understood and knew that her master did not intend to abandon her. Her anxious and uneasy heart instantly calmed down.
So the reason why His Highness calls her only and not others is precisely because he values her highly.
Ah Man instantly became happy and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Yes, Your Highness. I will certainly listen to General Lin's words, train diligently, and not embarrass Your Highness."
"The day I complete the training, Aman will return to serve Your Highness."
Her simple words made Lin Huan and the soldiers present laugh.
Lin Huan smiled and patted Aman on the shoulder, "Not bad, ambitious, a good woman... then come back with me."
"Cousin, please give my regards to our two aunts. They were really worried about us this time," Yuan Yan said.
Lin Huan spoke with her for a few more minutes, then reluctantly led his soldiers away with the letter and Aman.
Once Yuan Yan finished his work, he immediately informed Guo Xinghuai, "Lord Guo, we can set off now. Don't keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
Guo Xinghuai had already instructed his men to make preparations, and upon his order, they immediately set off to escort Yuan Yan back to the capital.
...
Meanwhile, on Shen Lianzhou's side, after Yuan Yan left, she received a letter and a jade pendant sent by someone she had sent.
The letter expressed gratitude for Young Master Shen's life-saving grace, and, having no way to repay it, offered the jade pendant as a token. It promised that if Shen Lianzhou ever encountered difficulties in the future, as long as the jade pendant was delivered to the Yue Prince's residence, Yuan Yan would provide assistance once.
Shen Lianzhou was taken aback when she left behind the jade pendant as a token and made such a promise.
This was a promise made by His Highness the King of Yue, and its significance is self-evident.
He never imagined that a chance act of kindness in saving someone would bring such a big change to his life.
"Your Highness has already given me so much, how could I possibly ask for more..."
Shen Lianzhou picked up the jade pendant, looked at the words on the letter, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but murmur to herself.
For the next few days, Shen Lianzhou continued to manage the Shen family business as usual, but she became somewhat absent-minded.
"Young Master...Young Master?" The head manager of the money exchange was reporting the accounts of the past few days to him, but he saw that the young master was staring at the account book without responding, so he called out carefully.
Now that Aunt Shen and other collateral relatives are no longer interfering, the Shen family's business is thriving.
Furthermore, news of Young Master Shen saving the Prince of Yue spread throughout the city. Seeing this, others noticed the prestige of the Shen family, with even the county magistrate showing them respect. Consequently, they became even more flattering and obsequious towards the Shen family, resulting in a constant stream of visitors in recent days.
Even Shen's money shop benefited from this, with a significant increase in depositors.
Shen Lianzhou also realized that he had been daydreaming and turned back. "...No problem, you can continue to do it this way."
That night, after Shen Lianzhou had his dinner, Yu Lu put away the dishes that had barely been touched.
"Has the young master still not eaten much today?" the other male servants asked in hushed tones, looking at the food.
“Yes, young master hasn’t had much of an appetite these past few days,” Yu Lu said, her face showing concern.
"Young Master often stares at a jade pendant for a long time, and I don't know what's so interesting about it that makes him so engrossed." He was very puzzled.
“Yulu, you’re still young and there are some things you don’t understand… Young Master is reminiscing about someone by looking at this object,” Lanxin said.
Yu Lu truly didn't know, and after a moment of bewilderment, she asked, "Seeing this object reminds me of someone, but who am I thinking of?"
"When do you think the young master started to change? It was after that noble person left, right?"
"So, seeing this object reminds me of that person, and it's very likely that I'm thinking of that important person," Lan Xin said cryptically, pointing upwards.
"Ah, you mean..."
Yu Lu was startled upon hearing this, "That is His Highness the Prince of Yue, how could the young master possibly be him?"
Although the young master is virtuous and handsome, and extremely wealthy, he is probably not worthy of being associated with the royal family.
Even Yu Lu understood this, and he didn't believe that the young master himself was unaware of it.
Even though the young master knew this, he still couldn't suppress his feelings, which made Yu Lu worry.
...
On the other hand, Shen Lianzhou knew in his heart that the difference in status between him and Yuan Yan was like heaven and earth. Yuan Yan had already returned to the capital, and there would be no future for the two of them.
But when it comes to matters of the heart, how can one control them solely through reason?
He had thought that the turmoil in his heart would gradually subside after Yuan Yan left.
Several days after Yuan Yan left, Shen Lianzhou found herself increasingly restless.
Although Yuan Yan only stayed in the mansion for a few days, he left a deep impression on his heart.
Whenever Shen Lianzhou closed his eyes at night, images of Yuan Yan saving him, accompanying him on his travels, and talking to him would appear in his mind, and he would be completely unable to control himself.
The more you miss someone, the stronger that particular thought becomes.
What should he do...?
Shen Lianzhou couldn't help but ask himself a question.
*
They rode horses all the way to the capital.
The first thing Yuan Yan did upon returning was to immediately go to the palace to see his mother, the Empress.
Inside the Imperial Study.
Yuan Yan knelt down and kowtowed, "Your unfilial daughter Yuan Yan, this assassination attempt has caused my mother great worry and distress, and I am deeply troubled. I beg my mother's forgiveness."
During the days when Yuan Yan was nowhere to be found, Yuan Hao was indeed very worried about her, and he often thought back to the good times Yuan Yan and the Imperial Noble Minister had shared.
Only after Yuan Yan sent Xue Lang back to the palace did she feel somewhat at ease, and immediately ordered Guo Xinghuai to lead troops to Tanzhou to bring Yuan Yan back.
Upon seeing Yuan Yan return to the palace, Yuan Hao actually came down himself, helped Yuan Yan up, and took her for a closer look.
Upon learning from the imperial physician that Yuan Yan had numerous scars on his body, I couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
"Yan'er is innocent; the crime lies with those who dared to lay a hand on my princess."
Yuan Hao's gaze turned cold as he contemplated the assassination.
When she looked at Yuan Yan, her tone softened again, "Yan'er has really suffered this time in order to do a good job."
"Your Majesty, I am unharmed. It is just that I was heartbroken to think that I almost did not see my mother again. Fortunately, thanks to the protection of our ancestors, I was rescued at the critical moment and my life was spared."
Yuan Yan's face showed relief at surviving the ordeal, and the look of lingering fear in his eyes deepened Yuan Hao's pity for him.
"Yan'er, you should go back and rest first. Your mother will definitely find out who the mastermind is and get justice for you regarding the assassination attempt." Yuan Hao said, while bestowing many precious medicinal herbs and ordering the imperial physician to go with him.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Yuan Yan bowed again before leaving the palace.
...
The Third Princess's residence at this time.
When Yuan Xiao learned that Yuan Yan had returned to the capital safely, he was furious and smashed many things in his study, flying into a rage.
"So many assassins couldn't kill her, and Yuan Yan managed to escape. He's really lucky to be alive," Yuan Xiao said bitterly.
His subordinate advised, "Your Highness, please calm down. Now that the Prince of Yue has returned to the capital after making meritorious contributions, His Majesty will surely reward her. The one who is most anxious is actually the Prince of Qi. Your Highness need not panic. Just wait for the two princes to fight each other and the result will be clear."
Yuan Xiao calmed down a bit after hearing this and said with some difficulty, "I hope so."
...
The Prince of Yue's Palace.
"Young Master! His Highness has returned to the manor!" Upon hearing the news, Hengwu immediately returned to the courtyard to tell her young master the good news.
"What..." Upon hearing this, Lu Lingyue subconsciously stood up, accidentally knocking over the teacup on the table, the water soaking his clothes.
Yuan Yan is back?
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