Chapter 25 First Choice: Is A-Tang Unwilling?
When Shen Yun returned today, Lin Shutang gave him a cold shoulder.
She wasn't Shen Yun; she couldn't be as open and honest as him.
Shen Yun was always like this, his temper flared up inexplicably. Sometimes she didn't even know what she had said that offended him.
But a little while later, he came over and hugged and kissed her as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, he stood behind her, put his arm around her waist, pulled her into his arms, and sat her on his lap.
Lin Shutang did not struggle.
His eyes remained fixed on the blooming crabapple trees in the courtyard.
Lin Shutang is staying in the west wing today. It's rare that he's not busy with important matters. Instead, he's sitting on the couch by the window, admiring the flowers.
But while I said I was admiring the flowers, I was actually thinking more about what Shen Xiuyan had said.
Does he really have a way to take me away?
Where is Senior Brother Song Ying?
He came to Yujing for her sake. If she wants to leave, what will Senior Brother Song Ying do?
Should she tell her senior brother Song Ying?
If she leaves, Shen Yun will immediately suspect Senior Brother Song Ying. If he finds fault with Senior Brother Song Ying and makes a public announcement to force her to show herself, she will have no power to resist.
Looking at it this way, leaving as Shen Xiuyan suggested might be the best option.
No matter how ruthless Shen Yun is, could he possibly kill his own brother?
Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, neither the old lady nor the Duke of Dingguo would allow him to do that.
"Once I'm done with this busy period, we'll go to Jiuli Mountain to see the crabapple blossoms."
Shen Yun withdrew her gaze from Lin Shutang's gaze into the courtyard, smiled gently, and brushed the stray hairs behind her ear.
It was as if the horrors of last night had never happened.
Lin Shutang withdrew her gaze from the tallest cluster of crabapple trees in the courtyard and stared at Shen Yun indifferently. "Why did you take me to Jiuli Mountain?"
Haven't we managed to keep her confined in Jingyuan Residence all these years?
Who are you trying to impress by putting on this act?
Shen Jun looked at her indifferent face, her eyes devoid of any joy at traveling with him or any anticipation for Jiuli Mountain, and instead filled with vigilance, impatience, and irritation.
It was as if being with him was such a painful thing.
Recalling when Zhao Mingzhu came to the Imperial Training Ground to find Ji Huaiyi, and heard that he wanted to take her sightseeing, although Zhao Mingzhu said she was unwilling because it was too much trouble, the excitement and joy in her eyes were obvious.
Shen Yun took another careful look at Lin Shutang, trying her best to find even a trace of deliberately suppressed joy on her face, but was completely extinguished by Lin Shutang's expressionless indifference.
Ji Huaiyi's words echoed in his ears again, "Think about it, how much affection does she have for you?"
If it were an ordinary couple, it wouldn't be a problem, but you and her...
Shen Yun's throat bobbed with difficulty as she forcefully suppressed her resentment.
He lowered his eyes, took her hand in his palm and played with it, then resumed his nonchalant demeanor. "If you want to, then do it."
He took it for granted.
He manipulates others to satisfy his terrifying desire for control. Lin Shutang frowned, somewhat annoyed by his behavior.
She tried her best to break free from his grasp, but Shen Yun was very strong and held her firmly. He slowly raised his eyes and stared at Lin Shutang.
Deep, dark eyes, staring silently at you, possess a bone-chilling force that makes you unconsciously hold your breath.
Lin Shutang looked away and stopped moving. "When?"
"Early next month?" Shen Yun thought for a moment, her voice rising slightly at the end, as if she were asking Lin Shutang for his opinion.
"Aren't you on duty?"
"His Majesty ordered me to survey the terrain within a hundred miles of the capital's outskirts, together with people from the Ministry of Works." Shen Yun stroked her finger bones, speaking casually, "The Director of Construction will also be going."
Lin Shutang suddenly turned his face, only to unexpectedly meet Shen Yun's gaze as she slightly raised her eyelids.
His eyes were sharp, like steel knives scraping against Lin Shutang's face. But in an instant, that sharpness vanished without a trace.
Lin Shutang initially thought he was seeing things.
He smiled at Lin Shutang, his posture casual and his tone tender, but his knuckles forcefully and silently parted her fingers, embedding them tightly. "The outskirts of the capital are too far from the Duke's mansion. I can't come back every day, so I have to bring A-Tang with me."
He slowly stroked Lin Shutang's hand with his fingertips, his tone seemingly aggrieved, and pulled Lin Shutang towards him, while he leaned back against the couch.
With a slight lift of her eyelids, clearly looking up, she still exuded an undeniable, invasive aura that enveloped Lin Shutang.
Lin Shutang straddled his lap with her legs spread apart, and when she fell, she almost fell into his arms.
She tried to get down, but a pair of strong hands around her waist held her down. Shen Yun cupped her face and lifted it up, making her look directly at him, and said with a smile, "A-Tang, don't you want to?"
Lin Shutang let out a heavy breath, "Put me down first."
This time, Shen Yun didn't make things difficult for her and obediently let go of her.
Lin Shutang slid off him like a darting prey. She straightened up and said, "Since you have important business to attend to, I won't accompany you. Go and make the arrangements first, and I'll come back the next day."
Shen Yun remained silent, leaning her head against the wall, watching Lin Shutang with a leisurely air, without uttering a word.
“The journey to Jiuli Mountain is long. If I go with you, wouldn’t we be rushing around? Your exploration will take a long time, and I need to prepare some things properly,” Lin Shutang explained.
“Then let’s go earlier.” Shen Yun smiled, not seeing it as a problem.
Lin Shutang fell silent and nodded quietly.
-
Shen Yun disagreed.
"I guessed it long ago." Shen Xiuyan pretended to pick up the portrait on the stone table and start looking at it.
The servants outside the pavilion were carrying water jugs and watering the flowers.
Lin Shutang held the teacup and looked over, taking a sip of tea to conceal her true intentions. She appeared relaxed, but secretly gritted her teeth. "I guessed it. You still want me to do this?"
God knows how nervous she was that day when she met Shen Yun's gaze.
“Shen Yun is very suspicious. If you don’t do something unusual, he will become even more suspicious. Only by revealing a little clue can you make him feel that everything is under control.”
Shen Xiuyan then turned to the next portrait.
Lin Shutang pouted, "The people in your Duke's mansion are all so scheming."
"Where are the identity documents and travel permits I requested?" she continued.
Shen Xiuyan frowned slightly, as if he were carefully examining the portrait. "No rush. I will give these to you after I send you away from the ferry."
Seeing his serious expression, Lin Shutang chuckled and slowly brushed away the tea foam on the surface of the tea. "Young Master should know that I was in charge of organizing the flower viewing banquet at the Duke's mansion this time."
Shen Xiuyan finally looked at her properly.
"I want to leave on the day of the flower viewing banquet." Lin Shutang threw down the lid, leaned slightly forward, and lowered her voice a little.
"There were too many people and too many eyes that day. It was ostensibly to appreciate the flowers, but actually it was to see you. You are the main character of this banquet. As long as you help me cover for myself, it will be the best opportunity for me to slip away. I need you to help me stall Shen Yun."
"Are you negotiating with me? Who's making the arrangements, you or me?" Shen Xiuyan laughed.
"Then give me your identity document and travel permit first," Lin Shutang said, echoing his earlier statement. She then smiled and added, "There has to be some sincerity in any collaboration."
Shen Xiuyan put the painting down, a meaningful interest shining in his eyes.
He knew that he had lied to her about that incident back then, which made her as cunning as a rabbit now, unwilling to easily believe anything he said.
They're really not easy to fool.
Shen Xiuyan sighed and straightened his posture. "I can't do it for you openly and honestly, so for now, the identity document and travel permit are not available."
“If you leave, Shen Yun will definitely trace it back to me and find your hiding place. You don’t want to leave Yujing one moment and be caught and brought back the next, do you?”
Lin Shutang thought about it and realized that what Shen Xiuyan said seemed to make sense.
"So what do we do next?" Lin Shutang put the lid back on, feeling that the tea had cooled down far too quickly, and the aftertaste was bitter.
“Perhaps the flower-viewing banquet is also an opportunity.” Shen Xiuyan tapped the table lightly with his fingertips and smiled at Lin Shutang.
...
On the day of the flower-viewing banquet, many prominent families from the capital came to the Duke's mansion.
In addition, there were also the candidates who took the imperial examination this year.
The Duke's mansion's flower-viewing banquet has always been a grand affair. Under the guise of flower viewing, it not only provides an elegant place for men and women to meet, but also serves as a springboard for winning people's hearts and making connections with talented individuals.
The mansion was bustling with people, including high-ranking officials, nobles, and Confucian scholars, who chatted and laughed among themselves.
The maids, dressed in scarlet dresses and carrying lacquered trays, filed in one after another, blending into the peach blossom grove like a cloud of crimson.
Looking into the distance, one sees singing and dancing, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments lingering in the air.
Lin Shutang sat under the corridor behind the artificial hill and did not participate in the grand event.
She used to love lively gatherings, but now, perhaps because she has been confined to Jingyuan Residence for too long, she feels uncomfortable when she sees a lot of people.
She was in charge of preparing the banquet, and now that it had begun, having done her part, she came here to relax.
Seeing that everything was in good order, Lin Shutang simply got up and prepared to return to Jingyuan Residence.
Unexpectedly, just as they stepped onto the arched bridge, an uninvited guest appeared before them.
"Where are you going, cousin-in-law?" Princess Changning asked, feigning surprise upon seeing Lin Shutang.
It was as if they had just realized she was leaving, rather than because she had come to cause trouble on purpose.
Lin Shutang lowered her eyes, not wanting to say anything more, and respectfully bowed before leaving. "Princess."
"My cousin-in-law didn't like Yingchun, so why did she take her away that day, and then send her back in such a humiliating way?"
Seeing that Lin Shutang was about to leave, Changning immediately spoke up.
He turned his head, looking at her with disgust. "There's no reason for someone to be returned once they've been given away. Do you know how humiliating this is for Yingchun, sister-in-law?"
"She's not a maid in my household, yet she's been treated so badly by my cousin-in-law. I wonder if she dislikes her, or if she thinks I, the princess, am meddling?"
Changning's voice deepened; what started as sarcastic remarks now sounded like a condemnation.
To put it bluntly, it would be to disregard the imperial favor.
Lin Shutang raised an eyebrow. Was he here to cause trouble?
“Yingchun is very good. I really couldn’t bear to let her stay by my side as just a maid. Since she has the skill of flower arranging, I gave her a formal status and let her go back. She actually went back to the princess’s residence?” Lin Shutang said, seemingly unaware. “It seems that Yingchun is truly loyal and devoted to the princess.”
“In that case, I dare not take away what she cherishes or thwart her hopes. It would be better for Yingchun to stay by the princess’s side.”
Lin Shutang's words were delivered subtly, neither revealing Changning's true intentions in sending Yingchun, nor would Lin Shutang take the initiative to expose the truth.
Changning suffered in silence, and the more she stared at Lin Shutang's mouth, the angrier she became.
What a sharp tongue!
He completely shut down any words she might say that she wanted to challenge him.
He had acted like a pushover when he was at the Princess's residence, but now that he's in the Duke's residence, he's become quite assertive.
Dares to challenge her?
Changning gritted his teeth and said, "My cousin-in-law's mouth is truly silver-tongued."
"Your Highness flatters me." Lin Shutang, as usual, pretended not to understand Changning's words.
She made way for Changning to leave, but for some reason, Changning suddenly lunged forward and crashed straight into the white jade railing beside her.
Lin Shutang didn't have time to think. Almost instinctively, he reached out and grabbed Changning's wrist. But unexpectedly, the force of gravity pulled him down, and he and Changning tumbled over and fell into the lake.
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Author's Note: Here it is~ [Let me see]
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