Chapter 54 A Conspiracy with a Tiger: A Demon's Relentless Enemy
Lin Shutang always felt that nothing good could come from seeing Shen Xiuyan, and she saw him walking steadily from afar.
I kept telling myself that I would never walk through the banana grove again.
He seemed to have guessed that she would pass by this place, and he always waited here.
Seeing Lin Shutang hurrying out of the moon gate with his head down, Shen Xiuyan had already anticipated this and quickly caught up with Lin Shutang.
He chuckled playfully beside her, seemingly amused by Lin Shutang's repeated self-deception, "Sister-in-law seems quite afraid of me?"
"What is it, young master?" Lin Shutang didn't want to argue with him and went straight to the point.
Shen Xiuyan smiled and leaned against the artificial rock behind him. "Actually, I'm just a little curious. Why did you run away on New Year's Eve?"
"This doesn't seem to concern you," Lin Shutang said, her expression not pleasant.
Shen Xiuyan raised an eyebrow. "It has nothing to do with me. But it's a pity for your senior brother."
"What do you mean?" Lin Shutang frowned.
"Aren't you curious why I'm the one who came to find you? Or rather, if Shen Zhixi went to Jiangnan and the princess is trapped in the palace, what about Song Ying?"
"Have you ever thought about what's wrong with Song Ying?"
"What's wrong, Senior Brother?" Lin Shutang asked anxiously, a hint of worry finally appearing on her face.
Shen Xiuyan looked at her with a smile, somewhat mockingly, "I thought you wouldn't care whether your senior brother lived or died?"
"What happened to my senior brother! What did Shen Yun do to him?" Lin Shutang was losing patience with Shen Xiuyan's cryptic behavior.
"Now you know how to care? I thought that when you left Yujing on your own initiative, you didn't care about anyone's life or death." The playfulness in Shen Xiuyan's eyes disappeared, and his tone became cold and icy.
But in an instant, a smile appeared on his lips again. He circled around Lin Shutang and looked her over carefully. "But I really didn't expect that you would be so capable, persuading Princess Changning to help you and using the people from the silk shop to get rid of Shen Yun's guards."
"If you really manage to escape, it would be a huge problem."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Lin Shutang turned around, took a step back to create distance between them, and looked at him warily.
Shen Xiuyan still wore that mysterious smile. "Lin Shutang, is your departure because you want to leave, or because you don't want to be Song Ying's pawn, whether by choice or by force, you don't want to hurt your second brother?"
Seeing Lin Shutang's obvious unease, his smile deepened, his tone seductive and deliberate, "Do you think Song Ying will let it go just because you're gone? Do you think you can escape the fact that Shen Yun killed your senior and junior brothers and sisters just because you're gone? Do you think the feud between you can be over?"
"I don't understand what you're saying!" Lin Shutang's breathing suddenly became rapid, her eyes turned red, and her fingertips dug into her palms as if to preserve the last bit of her consciousness.
Blocked by him, Lin Shutang turned around like an ant swarm suddenly scattered in a downpour, disoriented and wandering aimlessly into a small blue stone path, almost as if fleeing in panic.
Shen Xiuyan watched her quietly from behind, his interest growing stronger. He twirled the tender branch between his fingers and chuckled softly, "Shen Yun, no one's life can be this good."
"You're no exception." He exhaled softly, tossing down the branch that had broken in two.
...
Lin Shutang returned to Jingyuan Residence in a daze, with past scenes constantly flashing through his mind.
Shen Xiuyan's words were like a knife stabbing into him.
Bloodstained, pale, the faces of those she knew all stiff and ashen, questioned her.
Why not avenge them? Why forget them? Why not follow Song Ying's plan...?
The scene shifts again, and she finds Shen Yun covered in blood in the smoke-filled border town.
She put him on a donkey cart used for hauling goods and took him back to the Lin family home.
She changed his dressings and took care of him day and night.
He often frowned, and even when he was unconscious, he slept very restlessly. So she lit some calming incense.
Later, as his injuries gradually healed, she still dared not relax. Occasionally, he would suddenly develop a fever at night. When she wrung out a handkerchief to cool him down, he would suddenly open his eyes, gripping her wrist with a force as if he could break her.
She was shocked to see the bloodshot veins in his eyes, unable to understand how someone could be so vigilant even when so vulnerable.
She thought that perhaps he had experienced something terrible.
Later, she intentionally kept her distance from him, avoiding any excessive contact except for necessary dressing changes.
His injuries gradually healed, and he was more awake than he was asleep.
The doctor said he should get out of bed and walk around often, so she helped him to the yard to bask in the sun.
His face was very pale, and after being exposed to the sun, his pale skin had a slight blush, and his lips were as if he had applied lip rouge. This softened his sharp and aloof appearance, giving him a natural and refined elegance.
Occasionally, when he glanced up at her in the sunlight, his amber eyes were so beautiful they took her breath away.
He was composed and elegant in demeanor, and spoke with refined manners. She thought that a man like him must come from a prominent family, far superior to a materialistic merchant like herself.
Later, he no longer needed her to change his dressings, and his health improved day by day.
He no longer guarded himself, looking at her indifferently, and patiently listened to her rambling about trivial matters, how much money she had earned that day, and how many refugees she had helped.
He would help her when she did woodwork.
When the woodworking shop was besieged by refugees, he would go with her to deal with it.
When they were discussing business at a banquet, and she drank glass after glass until she vomited, he would silently take the glass for her and then carry her, half asleep, back home through the night.
She likes to talk nonsense when she's drunk, and he patiently responds to each and every one of her words.
He made her a hangover soup, wiped her face, carried her to bed, and covered her with a blanket.
He wanted to leave, but she held him back...
"Madam, are you alright?" Green Willow looked at Lin Shutang with some concern.
The lady never liked anyone following her wherever she went. Green Willow had no idea what had happened in the banana grove, but she noticed that Lin Shutang's expression was very unpleasant as soon as he returned.
She followed her into the room, but her condition did not improve; instead, her face grew paler and paler.
Lin Shutang shook his head, staring blankly at one spot. "What happened to the silk and satin shops in the capital?"
Green Willow thought for a moment, "Is it the shop that Madam often goes to?"
"I heard it seems to have been seized."
Lin Shutang closed her eyes, looking somewhat tired. "You can leave now."
"Madam, would you like to summon the royal physician...?"
"No need." Lin Shutang stood up. "I'm going to sleep for a while. Don't call anyone to disturb me."
"Yes." Green Willow withdrew, and a series of rustling footsteps faded into the distance. The room suddenly fell silent, and no sound could be heard anymore.
Lin Shutang stared at the canopy top with her eyes wide open, her thoughts clearer than ever before as she looked back on the seven years she had known Shen Yun.
When she first met Shen Yun at the age of fourteen, she felt that he was as pure and upright as jade and as beautiful as a pine tree, truly a gift from heaven.
But when she saw him again at sixteen, he was the one who barged into her and her senior brother's wedding, wearing black iron armor.
Only then did she realize what a despicable person he was, hidden beneath his gentle and refined exterior; he was nothing short of a relentless and vengeful demon.
He forcibly took him from Xi County to Yujing and locked him in that secluded courtyard where the sun never shines.
And now, my senior brother has returned.
She could no longer pretend that nothing had happened, deceive herself, or convince herself to compromise with Shen Yun; she simply couldn't do it...
After paying his respects to the old lady the next day, Lin Shutang eventually turned into the banana grove.
Shen Xiuyan was still waiting by the artificial rockery. Hearing the sound, he turned his head and looked over, not surprised at all.
"So you did come after all." He straightened up and faced her. "You didn't seem to sleep very well last night?"
"Speak, what do you want to do?" Lin Shutang frowned, but did not respond to his question.
They are not the kind of people who can exchange pleasantries.
"It's not about what I want to do, it's about what you, sister-in-law, want to know?" He deliberately kept everyone in suspense.
"His Majesty will be holding a spring hunting banquet this year, and I will tell you the truth: Shen Yun will surely die this time."
"What did you say!" Lin Shutang's previously expressionless face suddenly cracked, her pupils trembled slightly, and she felt that Shen Xiuyan must have gone mad to say such a thing.
Shen Xiuyan chuckled, seemingly quite interested in telling her a story, "Nine Li Mountain, the painted boat, the Lu residence, and now Ji Huaiyi leaving the capital, with one thing after another happening, don't you sense anything amiss?"
Meeting Lin Shutang's silent gaze, he responded with a knowing look, "Oh, I forgot, you don't seem to know what Shen Yun handed over when he took you away from the Lu residence that day?"
"He handed over his position as the Director of the Ministry of Revenue to Lu Zheng."
"Why do you think he was so free during that time? Did he have time to keep you company in the mansion? In the Emperor's eyes, Shen Yun's actions were undoubtedly a disregard for imperial favor. So, as the end of the year approached, the Emperor officially granted him an important task, but in reality, it was just an exile to the border to temper his spirit."
“According to my scouts, he worked day and night, completing three days’ tasks in one day, just so he could return on New Year’s Eve. But who would have thought that you would run away?” Shen Xiuyan said, then suddenly laughed, as if mocking Shen Yun’s self-righteousness.
The person he longs for day and night is actually thinking about escaping from his side every single moment.
"Are you here today to act as his persuader?" Lin Shutang turned her head to look at him, her expression surprisingly calm. "To make me soften my heart?"
Shen Xiuyan stared at her for a long time, his smile gradually fading, as if he was very dissatisfied with her reaction.
“But you don’t seem to have softened your heart.” Shen Xiuyan said with some regret, clicking his tongue. “Then you should be happy if Shen Yun died in Xiwu Mountain.”
"If he dies at your hands, then it's just retribution," Lin Shutang replied coldly.
"Hahahaha..." Shen Xiuyan burst into laughter upon hearing this. The morning breeze blew through the banana grove, and his unrestrained laughter sent shivers down people's spines.
Lin Shutang took a small step back, frowning as she looked at him as if he were a madman.
"You want him dead?" Shen Xiuyan stared at Lin Shutang, his pupils contracting and trembling as if he had heard some exciting news.
He slowly lowered his eyes and murmured, "I really want Shen Jun to hear those words."
"You want him dead." He uttered his last soft words, then suddenly laughed.
"You didn't come here just to tell me this, did you?" Lin Shutang said coldly, somewhat annoyed by his performance.
Lin Shutang's disappointing performance seemed to dampen Shen Xiuyan's spirits, causing him to droop as well.
He frowned slightly, clearly displeased with Lin Shutang's calm demeanor, but remembering that he had more important matters to attend to, his expression quickly regained its composure.
"Back then, Shen Yun held the lives of dozens of people in your Lin family in his hands. Today, I'll give you a chance to take his life. Whether he lives or dies is entirely up to you. What do you say?" Shen Xiuyan offered a tempting choice.
"What exactly do you want to do?" A thought vaguely rose in Lin Shutang's mind. Although she had not yet received an answer, it still made her feel cold from head to toe. She looked at Shen Xiuyan in disbelief.
"Didn't you already guess?" Shen Xiuyan scoffed, not bothering to hide it from her, but instead confirming her thoughts word by word, "Song Ying has only been using you as a pawn from beginning to end. The Third Prince's true intentions are not as simple as just stopping Shen Yun from investigating the truth."
“Back then, he seized the military pay. Lu Zheng has now gone to Jiangnan and seized the grain supply chain. As for me, I took over the Shenji Battalion and have control over the military defense of the capital region. What do you think the Third Prince will do?” Shen Xiuyan asked, as if he had just thrown out a fun question, leaving it to Lin Shutang to answer easily. He didn’t think his words were particularly groundbreaking.
Lin Shutang thought they were absolutely insane!
Her legs buckled, and she took a step back, unable to support herself. Looking at Shen Xiuyan again, she saw a bloodthirsty madness in his usually gentle and smiling face.
This undoubtedly gave Lin Shutang a sense of dread, like dealing with a tiger for its skin.
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Author's Note: Lin Shutang: Are all the Shen family members crazy? [Scared]
Sichuan pepper: (speechless) An old madman gave birth to a big madman and a second madman.
Shen Jingshi: [Question mark] I seem pretty normal right now. They're all rebellious sons! [Angry]
Sichuan peppercorns: Who knows? You're a feudal old lunatic. [Eating melon seeds]
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