Chapter 12 Will A-Tang from Fahua Temple ever return?
The next morning, Shen Yun went to court.
Lin Shutang slept until the sun was high in the sky.
She lifted the covers and saw the numerous ambiguous red marks all over her body, recalling Shen Yun's crazy and stubborn gaze last night.
It felt like they had returned to the time three years ago when they were locked in a life-or-death struggle.
Lin Shutang felt a little flustered.
He turned his head to look at the nearly finished patchwork quilt in the embroidery pocket, and only then did he forcefully suppress the fear in his heart.
Today, when Shen Yun returned from her shift, she brought Lin Shutang a glass mirror.
It is a rare item that came from Southeast Asia.
Lin Shutang stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes wide as saucers.
She could even clearly see the tiny brown mole on the side of her nose.
There is such a clear mirror in this world.
Lin Shutang placed the cloisonné enamel glass mirror on a rosewood and gold-painted mirror stand, while the previous gold-inlaid cloud-patterned diamond-shaped mirror was moved to a corner.
Lin Shutang has a tendency to be fickle and easily bored.
Shen Yun stood behind her, watching her series of actions.
He frowned slightly, thinking that he and Lin Shutang had known each other for seven years.
He glanced again at the diamond-shaped mirror that had been swept to the corner, lying quietly in the shadows. The delicate cloud patterns on the edge of the mirror were blurred by the shadows, as if they were covered in dust.
Lin Shutang happily put the glass mirror away, reluctantly getting up from the dressing table. As soon as he turned around, he saw Shen Yun's face so close to his.
Startled, Lin Shutang immediately grabbed the table behind him to steady himself.
Shen Yun, however, pressed her advantage and moved even closer, completely trapping Lin Shutang within her small space.
"Do you like it?" he asked, staring straight into her eyes.
Lin Shutang hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I like it."
"How long will you like it?"
"Hmm?" Lin Shutang was confused by Shen Yun's seemingly random words and didn't understand what Shen Yun meant.
She blinked at him.
Looking at the bewildered look in Lin Shutang's eyes, Shen Yun felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, and the spark that was about to ignite in her eyes was instantly extinguished.
His eyelids drooped, a faint trace of bitterness passing through his eyes. He took a light breath, as if waking from a deep dream.
Yes, what is he worrying about unnecessarily? When did she ever like him?
Lin Shutang was certain that he had not angered Shen Yun tonight.
He even turned down many tasks tonight and went to bed early.
He was also very cooperative with Shen Yun in bed.
But he still seemed very dissatisfied.
Lin Shutang buried her face in the pillow and gasped for breath, her face wet with what looked like sweat or tears.
Shen Yun wouldn't let her go, so he pulled her face out and leaned down to kiss her.
He relentlessly kissed her lips, swallowing all her broken words.
Lin Shutang tried to push him away, but he forcefully pressed her wrists up above her head. The bed curtains fluttered violently, shattering the candlelight. In the flickering light, the fanatical obsession reflected in Shen Yun's eyes seemed ready to ignite at any moment.
Lin Shutang watched with trepidation.
Unable to bear it any longer, she twisted her body to try and escape, but Chen Yun gripped her waist even tighter.
"I...I want to...um...leave the manor tomorrow—uh-uh!"
Lin Shutang felt she couldn't wait any longer; if she didn't speak up soon, she might faint again like she did last night.
But the already fragmented sentence broke instantly after the word "go out" was uttered.
She screamed uncontrollably.
"Chen Yun, I want to leave the manor!" Lin Shutang pushed his chest, looking at him with great resentment. Her eyes were red from crying and had no intimidating power.
"reason."
Shen Yun spoke succinctly, her eyes lowered as she stared at the two people beneath her.
"I want to go to a Buddhist temple to bathe Yan'er's quilt in the Buddha's light." Lin Shutang looked at Shen Yun with hopeful eyes.
Her moist eyes were as clear and pure as if they had been washed by a stream.
Yet the blush on her cheeks also possessed a delicate charm reminiscent of pear blossoms after a rain.
Shen Yun stared at her, then leaned down to kiss her neck. "Send the servants away."
Lin Shutang angrily punched him, "I want to go by myself."
Shen Yun seemed not to hear her words, and gently bit her earlobe.
It's as if they're trying to force Lin Shutang back into this affair.
Lin Shutang did as she was told, feeling a pang of sadness. She choked back tears and cried, "I'm so tired."
Shen Yun seemed to sigh, then lifted her up and held her in his arms.
She leaned on Shen Jun's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably, "I hate you, Shen Jun."
Shen Yun paused for a moment, then cupped her face in his hands, brushing away the damp strands of hair that clung to her skin, revealing her flushed cheeks. He kissed away the tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, his voice softening, "Now that A-Tang has left the manor, will she ever come back?"
Lin Shutang didn't know why he would ask that question.
Aren't all of her his informants?
Every single time, she was caught and brought back before she even got out of the city gate.
And this time, she was just going to see her senior brother.
Moreover, her senior brother hadn't set a date with her yet, and going to the Buddhist temple was just her guess. It was hard to say whether she would even be able to see him.
Thinking this way, Lin Shutang felt more confident.
"Yes, I will come back." She opened her hazy eyes to look at Shen Yun, but couldn't see anything clearly. His kisses traveled over her salty tears, lingering on her lips and teeth, and down her fair and slender neck.
Lin Shutang tilted her head back and endured it, her consciousness hazy until she heard the splashing sound of water and Shen Yun's resigned "okay," at which point she finally fell asleep peacefully.
The next day, Lin Shutang went out with the sewn-up "Auspicious Blessing" quilt.
Perhaps Shen Yun had already given prior notice, as they were able to travel unimpeded from Jingyuan Residence all the way to the Duke's Mansion.
The guards on duty and patrol greeted her and then continued their work in an orderly manner.
Unlike before, he was no longer afraid of hurting her, and he watched her warily.
A carriage was already parked outside the mansion gate.
Lin Shutang got into the car and asked the driver to take him to Fahua Temple.
Fahua Temple is located in Wuyin Mountain outside the city. Compared with the grand and imposing Huguo Temple in the bustling city, Fahua Temple is quiet and elegant, and has a stronger Zen spirit.
After getting off the carriage, Lin Shutang walked through the pine forest and along the moss-covered stone steps to enter the vermilion gate of Fahua Temple.
Ancient trees tower within the temple grounds, sunlight filtering through the gaps creating dappled patterns like scattered gold. A gentle breeze brings a subtle coolness, and the scent of earth and grass dissipates the lingering ash from incense.
It makes you feel refreshed.
Lin Shutang handed the quilt to a young novice monk in the temple and explained his purpose.
The young novice monk led Lin Shutang to a meditation room and asked her to sit down first.
Qingdai stayed by Lin Shutang's side the whole time.
Lin Shutang looked at the maid standing beside him, pondering how to get rid of her.
"Qingdai, go and inform Abbot Shanjue. I earnestly hope he will be careful. It would be best if he could recite the sutra three times," Lin Shutang instructed, putting down his teacup.
Qingdai stood there, somewhat hesitant. "Madam, the young master instructed me to follow you closely."
Lin Shutang deliberately frowned. "You mean you want me to go in person?"
"This servant dares not." Qingdai quickly knelt down.
Lin Shutang couldn't bear to see her kneeling at any moment, so he sighed, softened his tone, and comforted her, "Don't worry, go and come back soon. I won't run away in this deep mountain forest."
“Madam…” Qingdai hesitated for a moment, but knew she shouldn’t refuse anymore.
The lady has already been so accommodating; if I hesitate any longer, I'll only seem ungrateful.
However, the prince had ordered that the lady must stay by his side at all times.
After thinking for a moment, Qingdai still shook her head, "This servant... cannot leave my husband..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qingdai suddenly felt dizzy, the lady's figure multiplied, her legs gave way, and she fainted.
Seeing this sudden change, Lin Shutang was so startled that he stood up.
But then he noticed someone slowly walking out from behind the screen in the meditation room.
Lin Shutang looked up and was immediately struck by Song Ying's presence!
"Senior brother, she..." Lin Shutang was at a loss and quickly stepped forward.
"Don't worry, she just inhaled a sleeping potion." Song Ying raised her chin and pointed to the incense burner on the altar in the meditation room.
"Then what about me?"
“There’s an antidote in the tea you drank,” Song Ying explained.
Lin Shutang was relieved.
"Senior brother, I was right after all. You really were waiting for me at Fahua Temple." Lin Shutang said with some delight.
But, "How did you know which day I would come?"
“Before I came to the capital, I was taken care of by Abbot Huijue. In my spare time, I repaired the Buddha statues at Fahua Temple in preparation for the Buddha’s Birthday. I will probably be here for the next month or two. If you cannot come, I will think of another way,” Song Ying replied.
"Shutang, how are you doing?"
After saying that, he looked at Lin Shutang and couldn't help but ask the same question from that day. However, he didn't want to hear Lin Shutang's polite words anymore. His brows furrowed slightly and his expression became serious. "Tell me honestly."
Lin Shutang’s words, which she wanted to say that she was doing well, stuck in her throat.
...Is she doing well?
Indeed, Shen Yun has treated her very well over the years.
Aside from being firm on certain matters, such as forbidding her from leaving the manor, Shen Yun would go along with her in other ways.
However, this is not the life Lin Shutang wanted.
She lowered her eyes and gently shook her head.
Perhaps it was because he had finally seen his family again after so long that Lin Shutang couldn't help but feel a little sentimental, and his voice choked up involuntarily, "Senior brother, I miss Xi County."
She didn't say "go back," she just thought about it.
She longed for the days in Xi County, for the days she spent with her senior brother, her father, and her mother.
But Lin Shutang knew clearly that there was no going back.
"Then let's go."
Song Ying blurted out, straightening Lin Shutang's drooping shoulders and neck, making her look up at him.
Lin Shutang was shocked by these words.
Walk?
Where are we going?
Five years ago, she couldn't escape Shen Yun and was taken from Xi County all the way to Yujing.
Five years later, how could she possibly escape from the heavily guarded capital city?
Lin Shutang thought it was simply a fantasy.
She suddenly remembered the purpose of her visit today, and quickly brushed Song Ying's hand away, saying solemnly, "Senior brother, I came today to tell you that if you truly aspire to a position in the imperial court, I will be happy for you and hope that you will rise through the ranks and have a bright future."
"If you are not, then there is no need to say anything more."
She shook her head, her gaze falling on Song Ying's neck, and her eyes welled up with tears again. "Don't put yourself in danger or gamble with your life for my sake anymore."
"I came to the capital to take you away. Master entrusted you to me, and I will definitely rescue you from this dangerous place." Song Ying interrupted Lin Shutang, her tone slightly stern, as if she was disappointed in Lin Shutang's self-destructive behavior.
“Shen Yun and I have a child,” Lin Shutang said, staring at him.
A note from the author:
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The male lead will go a little crazy in the next chapter. [Milk tea emoji]
I can still arrive on time. [Eating melon seeds emoji]
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