Chapter 38: Scheming in the Dark - How Much Sincerity Does He Have for You?
Tears welled up in Madam Zhou's eyes, and she slumped down as if all her strength had left her body. Zhao Mingzhu helped her slide down and patted her back reassuringly.
"Shutang, you should go first. Your aunt has been suffering from frequent hysterias in recent years, which is why she rarely leaves the manor. She didn't mean to target you, so don't take it to heart."
As Zhao Mingzhu spoke, she quickly took the pills from the handmaid who was following her and gave them to Madam Zhou to eat.
The other ladies around were also busy handing out water and finding people to carry him.
Lin Shutang was of no help here and might even worsen Madam Zhou's condition. In order not to cause trouble, Lin Shutang quickly left.
She was really frightened by Madam Zhou's appearance just now. How could she suddenly fall ill?
Lin Shutang recalled that before Madam Zhou fell ill, she had heard that she was Shen Yun's wife.
Could it be that she has some kind of entanglement with Shen Yun?
But why did she ask herself if her surname was Lin?
Lin Shutang was lost in thought, wandering aimlessly. As he passed a side room, he was suddenly pulled inside by a pair of hands.
Panic caught in his throat, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the person was Song Ying.
She frowned. "Senior brother, what are you doing here?"
After saying that, remembering Zhao Mingzhu's words, he asked somewhat uncertainly, "You came with the Third Prince?"
"Yes," Song Ying replied.
"Senior brother, what do you want to see me about?" Lin Shutang had been preoccupied lately and had no time for pleasantries with Song Ying.
I walked to a table and sat down, then brewed myself a pot of tea.
"Senior brother hopes you can find a way to call Shen Yun back." Song Ying walked over and sat down opposite Lin Shutang.
Lin Shutang frowned, somewhat confused by Song Ying's words. "What do you mean, call Shen Yun back?"
Song Ying looked at her quietly for a while, and after confirming that Lin Shutang was not lying, he slowly said, "Shen Jun went to Xuzhou, didn't you know?"
"What!"
“It seems you really didn’t know.” Song Ying shook his head and smiled. “He claimed to be bedridden, but in reality, he had already left Yujing. By the time our people discovered his whereabouts, he had already entered Xuzhou.”
"Shutang, it seems that Shenyun doesn't take you very seriously either. He didn't even want to tell you about his trip to Xuzhou in private."
He leaned closer, his voice lowering, "Tell me, you're sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams. Why are you still protecting someone like that?"
"I understand, senior brother. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now." Lin Shutang turned his head away, his tone not very friendly.
"Shutang, your senior brother didn't mean to hurt you on purpose. He just hopes you can see through this person and not be deceived by his appearance." Song Ying held her shoulders and made her turn around to look at him directly.
"He ruined our wedding, killed so many people, and forced you to marry and have children. Do you think someone like that can be truly sincere?"
"Your senior brother is doing this for your own good. Once everything is over, we'll leave Yujing. Then, wherever you want to go, anywhere in the world, your senior brother will grant your wish."
“Didn’t you used to love this kind of life the most? When the time comes, we’ll still go into the woodworking business and take back Master’s family business. Whatever style of plaything you want, your senior brother will carve it for you.”
As Song Ying spoke, a smile appeared on her face, as if she had already foreseen that vision, and even her usually gloomy eyes softened a bit.
Lin Shutang seemed not to hear her and asked, "Why did you ask Shen Yun to come back, Senior Brother?"
Song Ying was stunned for a moment, as if she had been doused with a bucket of water by Lin Shutang's indifference. After a long while, her expression returned to normal, and her tone became calm. "Shutang, you don't need to know these things. You just need to listen to your senior brother. We can't let him stay in Xuzhou. We must bring him back."
"How can I call him back? He doesn't even listen to the Emperor's decree and left the capital without permission. What can I do?" Lin Shutang felt that this was really asking the impossible.
"You have it, Shutang, you'll find a way." Song Ying seemed to trust her completely, patting the top of her head and smiling gently.
“Shen Jun’s trip to Xuzhou will ruin His Highness the Third Prince’s important plans. I am now working for the Third Prince, and it is time for me to show my loyalty. I hope Shu Tang will not refuse to help my senior brother.”
"What major things could Shen Yun possibly ruin for the Third Prince? If the Third Prince really does something, it would be best if Senior Brother didn't become an accomplice." After the incident at the military review platform, Lin Shutang felt that his Senior Brother had become different from the person he remembered.
But after all, her senior brother had experienced life and death, so it was only natural for his personality to change drastically. Song Ying was her family, and Lin Shutang was unwilling to distance herself from him.
I just hope that my senior brother will stop making mistakes.
"Silly Shutang, what do you mean by aiding and abetting evil? It's survival of the fittest. Only the capable survive." Song Ying said dismissively, "Didn't Shutang also want to avenge our unjustly killed senior brothers and sisters? What, now you're unwilling to even call Chen Yun back?"
"But senior brother, you have to tell me what we're doing. You're not telling me anything and just expecting me to help you, keeping me in the dark. Isn't that a bit too much... asking too much of me? I should have the right to know."
"Shutang, your senior brother will tell you about these things when the time is right. Also, this is not only helping your senior brother, but also helping you and all of us senior brothers and sisters. Don't worry, it's just that Shen Yun is being called back; he will be fine."
Song Ying remained unmoved, and Lin Shutang was at a loss. After leaving the room, he was still somewhat depressed.
Call Shen Yun back?
Since returning from Jiuli Mountain, she and Shen Jun haven't spoken a single word to each other for several days.
He has now secretly left Yujing, clearly not wanting her to know.
How could she possibly call Shen Yun back? Wasn't her senior brother deliberately making things difficult for her?
-
"Did you deliver the message to her?"
Not long after Lin Shutang left, Song Ying also left and went to the Third Prince's room.
Smoke rose from the incense burner, and the Third Prince sat alone on the couch, playing chess.
Song Ying bowed and said, "Yes."
"Are you asking me why, since Shen Yun left the capital without permission, he didn't report it directly to His Majesty?"
The Third Prince placed a black piece, seemingly sensing Song Ying's doubts.
Instead of asking directly, he simply spoke up and answered for him.
“You don’t understand my father. He only ever acts in his own interest. Shen Yun’s unauthorized departure from the capital is a matter that can be serious or trivial. At least for now, he would never make trouble for Shen Yun over such a small matter.”
Shen Yun had anticipated this, which is why he took such a risky move, in order to lure the enemy out.
"As for why I insist on bringing Shen Yun back to the capital..." The Third Prince paused, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, "These are not things you should know right now. You only need to know that as long as you are loyal to me, I will grant you anything you desire."
"Your Majesty, I understand." Song Ying bowed even more deeply.
"Let's go, the grand show is about to begin." The Third Prince chuckled, waved his hand to scatter a chessboard, got up from the couch, and strode outside.
-
The lake cruise banquet officially begins, with the uppermost pavilion of the painted boat serving as the main venue for the day.
Two rows of seats were arranged from the head to the left and right, with delicacies laid out on low sandalwood square tables.
Inside the hall, the dancers moved gracefully, their movements accompanied by the rapid and complex sounds of the strings, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
Lin Shutang seemed a little absent-minded. Zhao Mingzhu asked her with concern, and she shook her head and said she was fine. She then asked if Madam Zhou was feeling better.
“Auntie is fine and recovered soon. I let her rest in the side room, and I will send her back to her residence after the banquet.”
"Her hysteria is..."
“Five years ago, after General Zhou and the young general passed away one after another, my aunt couldn’t bear the blow and fell ill. Fortunately, she doesn’t usually have flare-ups, and the doctor said that as long as she’s not agitated, she’ll be fine,” Zhao Mingzhu said. “But I never expected that today, after finally managing to muster the energy to leave the mansion, she would…”
"Is it because of me?" Lin Shutang recalled the situation just now. "She... seems to know me?"
"Shutang, don't overthink it." Zhao Mingzhu held her hand. "You usually stay at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, how would your aunt know you? It's alright."
Lin Shutang nodded.
"However, why haven't we seen Miss Shen yet?" Zhao Mingzhu looked around the banquet hall, somewhat puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Lin Shutang finally remembered that she had been looking for her.
Later, after the incident involving Madam Zhou, and being pulled away by Senior Brother Song Ying, she was preoccupied with her own thoughts and completely forgot about the matter.
"I'll go out and look for her." Lin Shutang stood up, intending to leave quietly from the back.
"I'll stay with you," Zhao Mingzhu said, making a move to get up as well.
"No need, it would be too conspicuous for both of them to leave. The princes are all here." Lin Shutang pulled her hand out of hers and patted the back of her hand reassuringly.
"I'll be right back."
Outside the pavilion, the wind from the lake greeted them, dispelling the heat inside.
Shen Zhixi seemed to have vanished the moment she boarded the painted boat, something she had never done before. Even after leaving the manor, she was always accompanied by people, either the young ladies she was close to or with.
No one knows where they've run off to right now.
Lin Shutang turned down the stairs and walked along the corridor. At this moment, most of the people on the painted boat were on the top floor. The occasional servants serving dishes were also keeping their heads down and walking hurriedly, for fear of neglecting the distinguished guests.
The further down you go, the quieter it becomes.
The candlelight in the corridor emitted a faint glow, and Lin Shutang unknowingly walked into the room where Madam Zhou was resting.
A maid dressed in green pushed open her door; she seemed to be someone who served Madam Zhou.
Lin Shutang gazed into the distance, but his eyes couldn't help but fall on the maid's wrist as she pushed open the door and slid down her sleeve, revealing a long scar.
One must not offend the nobles of Yujing at will, and the maids who serve them must be of the highest quality and be well-behaved and respectful.
Despite the gruesome wound on her wrist, Madam Zhou paid no heed, truly befitting a family of military generals, unconcerned with trivial matters.
Lin Shutang thought about how Madam Zhou had seen him earlier and decided it was best to leave quickly.
Just as she turned and took a few steps, a sudden image flashed into her mind: earlier that day, when she leaned against the railing, the person serving Madam Zhou was clearly an old nanny.
The woman's clothes were the uniform of the maids on the painted boat!
Lin Shutang quickly turned back.
Pushing open the door, one is horrified to see a maidservant pressing a quilt against Madam Zhou's face, intending to suffocate her.
The maid turned her head and looked over. When she saw Lin Shutang, a flash of panic crossed her eyes, which was quickly replaced by a murderous intent after she calmed down.
She released Madam Zhou and began to approach Lin Shutang step by step...
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