Chapter 16: Street Incidents Taught Her a Painful Lesson
Lin Shutang felt that Changning was very disappointing, only knowing how to wallow in self-pity after the fact, which was quite disheartening.
However, this attitude was perceived by Changning, the loser, as mockery and sarcasm from Lin Shutang, the ultimate victor.
Even though Lin Shutang never considered winning Shen Yun's love as a prize to compete with others.
How can matters of the heart be measured by victory or defeat?
They all got what they had gained, and they all lost what they were supposed to lose.
Changning was so angry with Lin Shutang that her eyebrows were furious and her eyes were wide open. "You, you are utterly shameless! Believe me or not, I'll ask Father Emperor to issue a decree right now, ordering Brother Shenyun to divorce you!"
“Great, I couldn’t be happier,” Lin Shutang said nonchalantly.
"If Your Highness has no other business, I will take my sister and leave now."
After saying that, Lin Shutang bypassed Changning and headed down the mountain path.
Changning turned around, staring at Lin Shutang's back with a furious rage. "Lin Shutang, since you're so magnanimous, why don't you arrange for Brother Shen Yun to take a concubine? You're clearly just jealous!"
The angry, shrill voice drifted into Lin Shutang's ears on the mountain breeze, and the beautiful figure walked further and further away in the light green forest.
The mountain breeze swirled gently, carrying back Lin Shutang's slow, clear voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Princess. I will keep it in mind."
-
Lin Shutang and Shen Zhixi had already sent a maid to inform the Second Madam of their itinerary on their way down the mountain.
The carriage was now heading towards the Silver Jade Pavilion.
Shen Zhixi, who had been holding back her laughter the whole way, finally let loose and relaxed in the tightly sealed carriage.
"Second sister-in-law, you really love my second brother to death." Shen Zhixi laughed so hard she almost fell over, clutching her stomach. "You didn't see how incredulous Princess Changning's reaction was when you left her side. You're the only person in all these years who has left Princess Changning speechless."
"This is the first time I've seen her so embarrassed. It has to be you, Second Sister-in-law. I was worried that you would have a falling out with Second Brother because of what the princess said. I never expected that you would trust my Second Brother so much."
"hate?"
Lin Shutang murmured the word; her words couldn't really be considered a rebuke.
It was just stating the facts, and Lin Shutang clearly felt quite sincere, so he didn't understand why Changning was so angry.
“Yes.” Shen Zhixi nodded. “I’ve long disliked her attitude. She thinks that because she’s related to my second brother, she can boss us around all the time. Every time she comes to the Duke’s mansion, she acts like the mistress of the house.”
Shen Zhixi moved closer and hugged Lin Shutang's arm tightly. "I still prefer someone like my second sister-in-law to be my sister-in-law."
"Haha." Lin Shutang chuckled awkwardly twice and turned her head away.
Let whoever wants to be the sister-in-law be it.
She pushed open the car window and looked at the shops lining the long street, the throngs of tourists, and the slender willow branches drooping down, swaying in the gentle breeze.
Lin Shutang took a light breath, the cool air entering her nostrils, carrying the crisp scent of early spring.
I couldn't resist sticking my head out a little more.
"careful!"
Suddenly, a shout came from afar.
Lin Shutang turned his head and saw a fine horse galloping towards them.
The horse galloped down the long street, crashing into and knocking over many roadside vendors.
Seeing the horse's head rushing towards Lin Shutang, Shen Zhixi quickly pulled Lin Shutang's sleeve back.
The two horses collided, each rearing up on its hind legs and letting out a neigh.
Lin Shutang and Shen Zhixi were being tossed about in the carriage, and it looked like they were about to be thrown out, when suddenly something happened outside. It seemed like someone had steadied the maddened horse, and the chaotic situation was finally brought under control.
The driver, still shaken, stared suspiciously at the reins he was gripping tightly, marveling at his own strength in the face of life and death, and how he had managed to pull back the maddened horse.
Shen Zhixi had a fiery temper, and her anger hadn't subsided after surviving the ordeal. She immediately lifted the carriage curtain and shouted outside, "Where did this brute come from... Sixth... Sixth Prince?"
The momentum of the second half of the sentence suddenly vanished.
"Cousin Zhixi, hahaha, my horse is a bit wild, did it startle you?" The Sixth Prince tightened the reins, the horse's hooves pausing in place, and he looked a little embarrassed as he spoke.
Lin Shutang had regained his composure by this time, and upon hearing the sound, he lifted the carriage curtain and looked over.
She only had a brief meeting with the Sixth Prince at the 100-day celebration.
The sixth prince was the son of Consort Xu, the elder sister of Xu Rongyi, and Princess Changning was his younger sister.
Lin Shutang had to admit that he was incredibly lucky today.
I only saw the brother and sister that morning.
Everyone is trying to trip her up; I really don't know if they're doing it on purpose.
"Sister-in-law." The Sixth Prince's eyes lit up when he saw Lin Shutang.
The stench from before vanished completely.
Looking back down the long street, the Sixth Prince said knowingly, "Is Cousin going to the Silver Jade Pavilion? Why don't I treat you to a meal as an apology?"
"It's probably not possible right now. Sixth Brother is riding his horse recklessly in the street, and the Imperial Guards need his cooperation to clean up this mess."
Just as Lin Shutang was thinking about how to refuse, another person suddenly stepped out from behind the carriage and called out loudly.
A troop of armored soldiers followed behind him.
Standing beside the Third Prince was Song Ying.
Song Ying followed the Third Prince's gaze and looked over. Her expression was calm and serene, just like on the day of the hundred-day celebration. She did not show any surprise when she saw Lin Shutang.
When Lin Shutang frowned slightly as she looked at him, he merely smiled and nodded slightly in response to the Third Prince's gesture, appearing very polite but also quite distant.
"Third Brother, I don't know what's wrong with this horse! It was perfectly fine just a moment ago, but suddenly it went berserk. I couldn't hold it back, and it almost threw me off." The Sixth Prince was so angry that his face turned red. He stared at the horse's head, looking as if he wanted to punch it to death.
"Sixth brother, come down." The Third Prince simply raised his chin slightly and said indifferently.
The sixth prince had no choice but to dismount in frustration.
"Is Your Highness going to the Silver Jade Pavilion? The horse is frightened and it may be inconvenient to ride it. Why don't you take my carriage?"
"I'll have Song Ying deliver it to you."
!
Lin Shutang looked at Song Ying.
Song Ying immediately stepped back a few paces and gestured for him to proceed.
Inside the train carriage.
Shen Zhixi was still shaken. "Today really is not a good day to leave the manor."
Lin Shutang recalled Song Ying's gaze earlier; it seemed he had something to say to her.
But didn't they make it very clear back at Fahua Temple?
Shen Yun will surely find out that he followed Song Ying in such a public place.
However, given the current situation—the horse was startled and the carriage was damaged—Lin Shutang had every reason to go with Song Ying.
Why should Shen Yun make things difficult for her?
Thinking this, the carriage had already stopped at the Silver Jade Pavilion.
The Third Prince has a private room in the Silver Jade Pavilion.
Because Song Ying was there, Lin Shutang and Shen Zhixi were led by the waiter to a private room on the third floor.
Unlike Shen Zhixi, Lin Shutang had been on tenterhooks the whole way.
She stared intently at Song Ying, wondering what he was up to.
Or perhaps it's about seizing some opportunity to hand her something.
Even after entering the private room and all the dishes were served, Song Ying did not make a move.
"May I ask if Your Highness the Third Prince wishes to dine with us?" Shen Zhixi stared at the table full of dishes, speechless with astonishment.
There's so much food, how can the two of them finish it?
Song Ying smiled and said, "Fourth Miss, you can rest assured that His Highness will not be coming. Fourth Miss, you may start eating now."
Shen Zhixi breathed a sigh of relief without making it obvious. Fortunately, she didn't have to dine with the Third Prince.
She picked up the jade chopsticks.
Lin Shutang looked up at Song Ying, who was standing not far from the round table, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.
Song Ying hadn't looked at Lin Shutang once during this time, but at this moment, she finally gave him a look, signaling him to look at the incense burner in the room.
It's an unspoken understanding.
Lin Shutang silently picked up the tea beside him and drank it all before slowly picking up his chopsticks.
If Shen Zhixi had paid more attention, she would have noticed that Lin Shutang hadn't eaten a single bite of food during this time.
She was extremely hungry.
Perhaps because of the mountain climb and the unexpected incident, my eyelids started to feel heavy as I ate.
My vision was blurry, and I bumped into the table.
Lin Shutang immediately stood up and hurried to check on Shen Zhixi's condition.
Song Ying stepped forward and stopped Lin Shutang. "She's fine. Give her the antidote later, and she'll wake up."
"Senior brother, I thought we had made things very clear back then."
Lin Shutang turned to look at him, wondering what Song Ying was up to today.
"Shutang, I understand your concerns. But you saw today just how complicated Shen Yun's family background is. You only left the manor today and encountered so many things. Princess Changning, the Sixth Prince, the Third Prince, do you think it's all just a coincidence?"
"What do you mean?" Lin Shutang looked at him, a chill running down her spine.
"Those who hate you will want to kill you. Those who like you will cling to you." Song Ying's gaze shifted to Shen Zhixi, her voice becoming even lower and colder. As the last word faded, she slowly looked up at Lin Shutang, approaching step by step, "Those who seem indifferent are actually spying on you."
"In short, none of them will let you go." Song Ying's expression had never been so serious and cold.
"Because the person behind you is Shen Yun."
Lin Shutang shivered.
It felt like tentacles were pulling at me from all directions.
"Why do you think the Sixth Prince's horse was startled? Why do you think I happened to appear with the Third Prince? Why do you think he sent me to escort you?"
“Shutang, Yujing is not suitable for you. You can’t handle it. You can’t stay by Shen Jun’s side anymore. Leave him. You have to go.” Song Ying gripped her arm tightly.
“Go? Where can I go?” Lin Shutang looked up at him. “Do you want me to experience the despair of running away and being caught again and again? Do you want me to watch him threaten the lives of the people around me again? Do you want me to watch you fall into his hands again and waste your voice again because of me?!”
Lin Shutang's eyes stung, and all the past events vividly reappeared before his eyes.
The fear that Shen Yun instilled in her left her with no strength left to oppose him.
He will teach her lessons that are more painful than the last.
"Shutang, trust your senior brother. This time, I will definitely take you away from Yujing. Just trust your senior brother."
Song Ying tightened her grip, afraid that Lin Shutang would struggle too much, and held her other arm tightly, making her face straight towards him.
His voice was as hoarse as ever. He bent over and looked directly at Lin Shutang. The warmth of his palm seeped through her clothes and into her skin. The burning sensation seemed to have taken on a temperature from his dark eyes, and it landed on Lin Shutang's heart, making it feel hot and astringent...
A note from the author:
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