Chapter 22 Covering Lips

A group of people stood by the river with umbrellas, but Ning Yuan was the only one who was tied up tightly, with a slightly damp and moldy rag stuffed in her mouth, unable to move or scream.

The river was turbulent because of the rain.

If she was thrown into the river like this, she would be washed into the sea by the flood.

Ming Wei was really cruel and did not leave her any chance to ask for help.

...But was she really going to die like this?

The desire to survive made her raise her head with all her strength, and she looked at Ning Li, who was trembling beside her stepmother, for help.

Regardless of whether she had any so-called family affection for her, Ning Li's fear of witnessing the disappearance of life was her only chance of survival.

Ning Li quickly avoided her gaze.

Ning Yuan let out a sigh of relief.

Forget it, let it be.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Ning Li tugged at Ming Wei's clothes and said timidly: "Mother, although she is annoying, she is not to the point where she has to die..."

Ming Wei glared at her fiercely and poked her head with her finger.

"What do you know! If she didn't die, do you think you would still have a chance to marry Shen Yan? Have you forgotten what you said to me when you came to me crying last night? Did Shen Yan talk to you so gently? Did he want to come to you alone? Even the female doctor he invited that day was here to treat her!"

It was Shen Yan again.

Regardless of whether Ning Li liked Shen Yan or not, her stepmother really wanted to devote herself to him personally.

Ning Yuan sneered in her heart and simply closed her eyes.

Ning Li's voice became softer, and she couldn't hear it clearly in the rain.

"If she marries me without knowing the truth... he will definitely not treat my mother well... you... don't let others use you as a knife..."

Ming Wei's angry rebuke echoed through the rain curtain.

"Isn't it all for you? It has come to this point, and it's too late to stop!"

"Push her down quickly!"

She gave the order and turned around with the umbrella.

"Plop——"

With the sound of falling water, Ning Yuan fell into silence.

Everything around her suddenly turned upside down, and she seemed to fall straight into the dark sky.

Water is like soft clouds, wrapping her tightly and isolating all the noise.

The rain falling on her is cold, but the river water is warm.

Her life in the world is always difficult. If she really dies, it may be a kind of relief.

But...

maybe there will never be someone who cares about her reputation, rescues her to the shore, and then puts on a coat with a cool plum fragrance for her.

Suddenly, the sun rose.

A dazzling white light appeared in front of her.

Mother appeared in the white light and smiled at her gently.

"Yuanyuan, come here."

She waved at her, indicating that she should go far away together.

"Mother... wait for me..."

She raised her feet to chase, but found that her legs were tightly tied with cloth strips.

She wanted to call her, but something was stuffed in her mouth, making her unable to make a sound.

Her heart suddenly ached, and then it began to ache.

If her mother abandoned her again, she would become a child living under someone else's roof again. She

didn't want that. She didn't want that! She didn't want to live like that anymore! Suddenly, an arm came across and stopped her from following her mother. "Mother..." Seeing that she was going to lose her mother again, her limbs ached as her heart was pulled. Under the water, Shen Yan looked at the girl in his arms. Her face was pale and helpless, her thin body was wrapped in the marks of satin, and she kept sobbing from the rags in her mouth, as fragile as a pool of moonlight that could melt into the water at any time. Was she so helpless in the water during the Qianqiu Banquet? Shen Yan suddenly felt a little regretful that he had taken her reputation into consideration and did not simply save her. Her nasal cavity was full of water. If there was no air in her mouth, she would die. Without hesitation, he took the cloth out of her mouth and lowered his head to cover her lips. It was as if something cool and soft was soothing her, bringing some gentle air. Suddenly, Ning Yuan came to her senses and opened her eyes. Black tangled hair occupied her sight, and bubbles propped up water splashes, gurgling and spreading. She only knew that there was a person in front of her. And this person had a pair of powerful hands, tightly holding her waist. As for who it was, she couldn't see clearly. In her life, she had only seen people kissing in novels, but had never experienced it herself. She also never thought that she would be able to experience it suddenly when she was dying. ...It can be considered a kind of perfection. She slowly closed her eyes. Shen Yan knew that the bubbling crystal beads in front of him were a sign that she had swallowed water, so he had to hold her tighter. She was already tied up tightly and couldn't move, and now her lips were tightly sealed by him, so it was not difficult to rescue her. He carried her up quickly and suddenly broke through the water. The raindrops were cold, and the air was also cold. Her body was soaked, and the water on the ends of her hair flowed over and over again. The lips that he bit open to breathe were slightly swollen, and she couldn't help but shudder in his arms. But all this was no match for the coldness of human hearts. He looked towards the shore not far away, his eyes tinged with murderous intent. Under the umbrella, Ning Li tugged at Ming Wei's sleeve, his lips pale. "Mother, that man is indeed Shen Yan..."

She had never seen Shen Yan so anxious.

Whenever she saw him, he was calm and composed. He would never ride his horse to a dangerous beach and then simply jump into the water.

She had never seen Shen Yan so ferocious.

Water drops fell from his cold and white face, his hair hung down in front of his forehead, and his eyes were dead silent.

He was always reserved, indifferent, and never showed his emotions, as if the troubles in the world had nothing to do with him.

But such a person would use his sword skills of killing but not saving in the theater, would apologize to Ning Yuan in a gentle voice on the roof, and would rush over on horseback before dawn.

Just to save her elder sister who had always been ignored.

She suppressed her bitterness and said to her mother, "You should go and apologize to him... otherwise he won't let it go."

She had loved him for many years, so she naturally knew him a little.

Ming Wei stood in the rain, with no intention of going over.

"As the mistress, I have no reason to apologize to outsiders when I use family rules."

She was still angry and raised her voice; "Ning Yuan had an affair with someone, can't I deal with it?"

Ming Jue finally rushed the carriage over panting.

Seeing that his young master was holding Miss Ning sitting on the shore, he looked a little miserable, so he quickly took two cloaks and left.

"Young master, warm up quickly."

Shen Yan wrapped Ning Yuan in two layers, stood up holding her, and walked towards the carriage.

The water on his body dripped down to the ground, blending with the rain.

"Mrs. Ning, you don't have to apologize to me for disciplining your daughter who had an affair."

"But if Ning Yuan didn't have an affair, what you did today would be murder."

"According to the laws of Shengguo, even if you are the wife of a duke and have been granted an imperial decree, you will be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and exiled 3,000 miles."

His voice was not loud, but it sounded like ice and jade being cut, and it made Ning Li shudder.

"Mother, what should I do..."

Ming Wei pursed her lips, her face cold: "But we still have your father."

*

When Ning Yuan woke up, she saw a strange room.

Simple, elegant, and warm.

It was even so warm that she was sweating.

She was about to lift the quilt to take a look, but suddenly a woman's face appeared in front of her, noble and steady, with a hint of compassion.

"Yuanyuan, are you awake?" The woman opened her mouth with a cheerfulness that did not match her noble face. She reached out to take the small teacup on the bedside, "Would you like some water?"

"Hey? It seems I drank it all before. I'll ask someone to get you some water later." The woman raised her eyes and looked at her with a smile.

Ning Yuan looked carefully and saw that although the color of her clothes was mature and steady, her skin was very smooth, as if time had never left any traces on her.

So... did she do good deeds in her previous life and ascend to the fairyland after death?

She swallowed her saliva and asked, "... May I ask which Bodhisattva you are?"

"Hahahaha! You are usually silent, but you are so funny when you speak!"

The woman laughed loudly, then covered her lips to pretend to be reserved, but the following laughter was still hearty and could not be concealed.

"Silly Yuanyuan, I am not a Bodhisattva, I am Shen Yan's mother."

Li Xiyue has always disliked socializing. Whenever she received an invitation, she would give it all to her two children, so she rarely saw Ning Yuan.

Whenever there was a banquet that could not be refused, she would see Ning Yuan from afar, thinking that she would go up to talk to her later, but she would always disappear halfway through the meal.

She had thought about visiting the mansion privately, but she and the current Mrs. Ning Mingwei really disliked each other.

All these years had passed, and she had never spoken to Ning Yuan.

Unexpectedly, the opportunity would come that day.

On that rainy day, she was dozing off in the rocking chair, and her unlucky son, with his clothes soaked, suddenly kicked open her door, which really scared her. She

was about to lose her temper, but when she lowered her eyes, she saw that he was holding a young girl in his arms, who was Ning Yuan. She was so happy that she didn't care to be angry with him.

Just when she wanted to ask the rebellious son what was going on, he only asked her to change Ning Yuan into clean clothes and take care of her for a while.

He had called a doctor for her, and he had some important things to deal with, so he would come back later.

Unexpectedly, Ning Yuan had been in a coma for three days, and only woke up slowly under her careful care.

Shen... Shen Yan's mother?

Ning Yuan was stunned for a moment.

In other words, she is the close friend of A Niang?

Ning Yuan only has some vague memories of A Niang.

In her impression, A Niang is gentle and quiet, she didn't expect her good friend to be so lively.

But how did such a lively mother and such a lively sister teach Shen Yan to have such an icy face?

Ning Yuan thought for a moment and felt that cold and abstinence was just a mask that Shen Yan showed to others. In fact, he was an out-and-out pervert inside.

Thinking about it this way, it makes sense.

She lowered her head, leaned forward and said softly: "Mother, how are you."

...

As soon as the voice fell, Ning Yuan closed her eyes in despair.

Is she out of her mind? She

must be out of her mind?

Otherwise, how could she call "Madam" "Mother"?

That's Shen Yan's mother, not her mother!

"Oh...Yuanyuan, you...you call me like that, I feel a little embarrassed."

Li Xiyue looked at Ning Yuan, the more she looked, the more satisfied she was, and then she showed a shy smile.

"Anyway, you will call me like that sooner or later, why don't you call me a few more times so that I can get used to it?"

Faced with such a kind and enthusiastic lady, Ning Yuan really couldn't say no. She blushed with embarrassment and stammered, "...Mother."

"Oh!" Li Xiyue agreed happily.

Before she could get excited, her unlucky son Shen Yan pushed the door open, glanced at Ning Yuan calmly, and reminded her, "Mother, don't lose your sense of propriety."

Then he said to Ning Yuan, "Just call her Madam."

Li Xiyue immediately curled her lips in dissatisfaction.

She had been urging her rebellious son to marry Ning Yuan as soon as possible, but he always refused.

Now that he knew something was wrong, he rushed over in a hurry?

Just like his dead father, he said one thing and meant another.

Ning Yuan followed the steps that Shen Yan offered and said, "Thank you, Madam, for saving my life."

She lifted up Ning Yuan's arm and said kindly, "You don't have to be so polite. But I didn't save your life. If you want to repay me, just repay him. It would be even better if you could repay me with your body—"

"Mother, I have something to say to her. You should go out first."

Shen Yan interrupted her at the right time.

Madam Shen's high spirits immediately dropped. She said "Oh" gloomily and turned to leave the room.

The stool in front of the bed was replaced by the glamorous Madam and the calm Shen Yan.

Seeing her flushed face, he naturally extended his hand and touched her forehead. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Your fever has obviously subsided, so why is your face still so red?"

Then he naturally retracted his hand.

The slightly cool and dry touch gently brushed across her forehead, and her heart trembled.

The instantaneous throbbing made her so nervous that she dared not breathe.

It seemed that this action had been repeated on her countless times and had become a habit that he did not care about.

Ning Yuan stared at the pair of slender jade-like hands.

"Did you save me?"

The owner of the hand hummed softly.

She felt a heat burning up her head. She raised her eyes slightly, glanced at him, and then quickly lowered her head, continuing to focus her eyes on his hands casually placed on the edge of the bed.

"...Then, was that also when you kissed me in the water?"

Her voice was very soft, like the cattails swaying in the spring wind, lingering on his heart.

He looked at her shy and timid appearance and felt that she was a little strange today.

It seemed that her brain was really filled with water.

"No." He said calmly.

Shen Yan privately thought that kissing and saving people were two completely different things.

Kissing is to enhance feelings.

Saving people is to be brave and righteous.

Different purposes naturally have different natures and should not be confused.

He called the lips and teeth touching each other under the water that day "passing the breath".

...Could it be that she was hallucinating?

Ning Yuan was a little uncertain for a moment.

When she was reading the storybooks, she often wanted to find someone she liked and experience the feeling of first love.

Did she think too much, to the point of obsession?

People often see what they desire most when they are about to die.

...But her obsession couldn't be to kiss Shen Yan, right?

She glanced at him furtively.

Last time, he accidentally saw her back with half of her clothes off, and his face turned red. Now, when he mentioned the underwater kiss, his expression was normal.

It seemed that it was really an illusion.

Ning Yuan's heart fell to the ground, and with it, there was also a trace of inexplicable sadness.

"Thank you for saving me."

"But how did you know I was in trouble?"

"I remember it was very dark then." She recalled the scene of that night, with a sad face, "They lied to me and said it was the morning hour, but when they tied me to the riverside, looking at the sky, it was just the morning hour."

Shen Yan didn't want to tell her that he could understand her feelings, so he made up a lie: "I couldn't sleep, so I got up for a walk."

"I passed by your room and saw your door was wide open, so I guessed something happened to you."

"I asked around and heard that your stepmother drove a carriage to the east of the city in a hurry, so I followed her."

He paused and said, "That's all."

"Oh..." Ning Yuan thought, "Your room is on the fifth floor, and I'm on the third floor. You took a walk in the middle of the night and actually ended up in my room..."

He was clearly keeping an eye on her all the time.

"I like climbing stairs, is that not okay?" Shen Yan's eyes swept over him coldly, "Or does Miss Ning want to hear me say that I like you and want to marry you?"

"Otherwise, just do as my mother said and pledge yourself to me."

He deliberately blocked her words, then picked up the teacup on the small table to drink, but found it was empty.

But if he put the teacup down at this time, it would seem that his previous action was not calm enough.

Shen Yan thought about it, and simply took a sip, then calmly closed the tea lid and put it back in its place.

Ning Yuan was stunned by the smooth operation, and couldn't help but admire in her heart: So it's possible to pretend there's no water?

Maybe this is the tactic of drinking water.

She was kind enough not to expose Shen Yan, but she didn't know that Shen Yan had already heard everything she said. At this time, he was curling his toes and rubbing them against the ground.

Fortunately, he was still able to maintain his composure.

"What do you think now?"

"Huh?"

"If it's not bad, why don't you come with me to seek justice for yourself?"

Ning Yuan restrained his smile, looked solemn, and nodded to him.

"It should be okay."

*

Ning Yuan followed Shen Yan to a room, and as soon as she entered the room, she saw His Majesty.

She bowed quickly and said, "Your Majesty."

"Stand up." His Majesty glanced at Shen Yan, gave him a gossipy look, and said kindly, "When we meet privately, just greet me. There's no need for formalities."

"I heard that you were in a coma these days. Are you feeling better now?"

She lowered her head obediently and answered, "It's no problem now."

"Okay! Then I'll give Mr. Shen a favor and interfere in my teacher's family affairs."

His Majesty patted the snack crumbs on his hands and walked to the front of Shen Yan first.

... Shen Yan actually asked His Majesty to stay?

Compared to the Duke of Ning, Shen Yan is a younger generation.

Even though he is extremely powerful, her father also has countless students in the court. Without His Majesty's instruction, it would be difficult for him to take the lead for her.

But if His Majesty was present and listened to the scandals in the Ning Mansion, wouldn't her father, who was too proud of his reputation, be angry to death?

Ning Yuan had never experienced such a big scene, and she was a little creepy for a moment.

Shen Yan waited for her slowly and said softly, "You don't have to be afraid and you don't have to say anything. I'm just taking you to see a lively scene."

She was in danger that day, but she never told him about bringing her to see Uncle Wu. Naturally, he had to give her a satisfactory answer.

Ning Yuan looked at his back and couldn't help but feel confused.

... Was she so obviously afraid?

Turning into another larger room, Ning Yuan saw Ming Wei and Daddy already sitting there.

This book is exclusively organized for you by the LK team. When Daddy looked at her, he gave her a blaming look.

She knew he disliked her for making a big deal out of family affairs.

Ning Yuan felt a little disappointed.

Why didn't he think that if it weren't for Shen Yan, she might have died?

Or, her life or death is not important to this family at all, and the reason why she still has a meal in Ningguo Mansion is because of her engagement with Shen Yan.

She lowered her eyes and stood behind him as he said on the way.

Shen Yan glanced at everyone and did not ask anyone to speak. He just said, "Bring it up."

Mingjue handed over two books quite quickly.

He opened a page of each and threw them on the table.

"Madam Ning, you wanted to use the family law to sink Miss Ning because she had an affair with Wang Qiang, a servant in the guest inn. Is this true?"

He tapped one of the books with his fingertips.

"This is the inn's out-of-service registration."

"According to the time of the affair narrated by the witness, Wang Qiang was moving goods with the other three people. I questioned them separately, and they all gave detailed statements and signed their names."

He waved his hand at Chong Mingjue, indicating that he should show it to Duke Ning.

"Unfortunately, Miss Ning has time to be alone, but Wang Qiang can't spare the time."

"Then...then how did he get Miss Ning's money!" The errand boy asked.

In fact, Ning Yuan bought a set of clothes from him to change into a dress.

Shen Yan narrowed his eyes and said, "What if you have silver? Don't you have Miss Ning's silver?"

"Not only Miss Ning's, I'm afraid there is Madam Ning's as well. According to what you said, could it be that you and Madam Ning also..."

The last word "also" was dragged out meaningfully, which made Duke Ning's face gradually change, and he glared at Ming Wei beside him.

His Majesty coughed twice and reminded, "Hold the jade."

Ning Yuan knew that the two were singing a double act, so he ridiculed them back and prevented his father from getting angry.

After all, His Majesty had already scolded him first.

Shen Yan knocked on another book.

"This list contains all the expenses for food, clothing and other expenses since your majesty moved in. In the end, all will be reported to the head of the housekeeping department for settlement. I see... there is no expense for Miss Ning's window frame repair."

"Ning, Miss Ning has already given me the money for the repair, so how can I put it in the list again! Isn't that charging the guest twice?"

"Why are you panicking?" He said in a cold voice, "but this is exactly your problem."

"If you weren't greedy, you wouldn't cheat her out of five taels of silver for a fingernail-sized amount of paint; if you were greedy, you should have taken the money and then reported it in the list, so that you wouldn't have spent the extra three taels of silver to buy inferior paint of the same color as the window frame but different texture."

"You...what do you mean!"

"You are trying to play both sides, so naturally there will be traces of damage." He said in a cold voice, "Ming Jue, show him the receipt and confession of the paint shop owner."

"He said that you are strange. Normally, people like to buy paint that dries quickly, but you specifically asked him if he had one that dries slowly, even if it is more expensive."

"Since you wanted to repair her window frame, why did you choose this kind?"

"I've thought about it, and there is only one explanation. That is, when everyone was blaming her that day, she couldn't get away, so your people secretly left a mark on the board so that the Duke can have an explanation in the future."

"What a coincidence, you found that her window frame had a mark, right?"

He looked at the old nanny who went to her room to investigate that day.

"Yes, yes, yes... We had no chance to stay, but we were stepped on by someone. Doesn't this prove that our young lady is having an affair with someone?"

The old nanny was actually confused by Shen Yan's words and confessed without being asked...

Ning Yuan pursed her lips.

Shen Yan thought thoughtfully: "The person who had an affair with her you mentioned might be me."

"That day, General Pei came to deliver medicine to Miss Ning, and he happened to see me stepping into her window and damaging her paint."

"She even asked me to pay for it."

"But...but how could the lady step into our young lady's room when she was fine!"

The old nanny stiffened her neck and her face flushed.

"I'm not good at Qinggong. I practiced it wrong for a while." He said calmly, "So later I apologized to Miss Ning outside the window."

"If you don't believe me, you can call your second daughter for questioning. Her room is next door."

"No need." Ming Wei said, holding the armrest of the chair tightly.

She knows her daughter best.

This book is exclusively organized by the LK team for you. Ning Li has been pleased with Shen Yan for several years.

If Shen Yan is willing to condescend to let her come forward to testify, she will do anything to avoid making him disgusted.

"As for the clothes stained with grass ash..." Shen Yan said, "Since even the person who had an affair did not exist, a piece of clothing that can be stolen must not be difficult to sneak back in."

He casually covered up the fact that she had disguised herself as a man and followed him that day.

Duke Ning said, "In that case, my daughter's affair was a misunderstanding between mother and daughter... I think that since it is a family matter, Lord Shen does not need to intervene. I will sell the child if necessary and punish the child if necessary."

Shen Yan frowned.

"Duke, she is your biological daughter. She was almost killed."

"I know, but it was just a close call. No murder was committed in the end!" He looked at Ning Yuan, with a warning tone that became more serious. "Isn't she standing there peacefully now?"

Ning Yuan bit her lip.

She knew that even if Shen Yan cleared her grievances, her father would only hold it high and let it go gently, and would never allow others to interfere.

She tugged at Shen Yan's sleeve.

"Forget it, don't argue with him."

Shen Yan just turned his head and stared at her thin white fingers, and said in a low voice: "Are you a soft persimmon? So easy to pinch?"

"It turns out that my hands are too small, yours is just right!"

The girl's soft voice was still in his ears, and he was absent-minded for a moment, thinking of the dream he had.

... Easy to pinch? Maybe.

His ears turned red instantly.

Shen Yan turned around, cleared his throat, and said seriously: "Okay, let's not talk about family affairs for now, let's talk about national affairs now."

National... national affairs?

What does her affairs have to do with national affairs?

She was about to ask him, but she saw Shen Yan's ears were red. He

was probably angry because he thought she was a hopeless case.

Since someone was seeking justice for her, she should just shut up.

"Zixing, bring someone up."

She looked curiously, but saw that it was Zhuxing, whom she hadn't seen for several days.

She was so thin that she looked unrecognizable, with unkempt hair and a dirty face. When she saw her, she shed two lines of tears: "Miss, I thought I would never see you again..."

She was brought up with two of Zhaohui's guards.

His Majesty suddenly sat up straight and looked at Shen Yan: "What's going on?"

"You have to ask Madam Ning." He asked with interest, "Why did the princess use her guards to kidnap her personal maid while she was taking care of your family affairs?"

"Are you just afraid that someone would tell the news?"

Ming Wei was surprised, but she quickly calmed down: "I was indeed afraid that someone would tell the news, so I borrowed the princess's power to kidnap the girl."

"Oh? Really?" He chuckled, "Your Majesty, you also know that Zhaohui has always been arrogant. He even spoke nonsense to Madam Ning at the Queen's birthday banquet. When did their relationship become so good?"

"In other words, why would the princess help the lady?"

Ming Wei calmed down and said, "... I think Lord Shen would know that the princess also likes you. The enemy of my enemy is my friend!"

"Is that all? But Ning Yuan and I have been engaged since birth. Why did she want to help you kill her after the theater case?"

Shen Yan knew that Zhao Hui probably knew that Ning Yuan kissed him outside the inn that day, so he was angry for a while and wanted to cut the grass and root it out.

But Zhao Hui could take advantage of the situation and find Ming Wei to cooperate, so he could also go with the flow and link these two unrelated things together.

In fact, the emperor doesn't care about many trivial matters.

For example, the death of an insignificant daughter of a minister.

The number of people who die accidentally every day in the whole country is simply too numerous to count.

But if it concerns the foundation of the country, they will not just think about having fun.

"In fact, the princess did not only kidnap this girl whose name is unknown."

"She also tortured the servant named Wang Qiang into confessing, and ordered the imperial guards to release Madam Ning, etc. Without her help from outside, Miss Ning would not have been taken to the pond by Madam Ning after only one incense stick, and she almost drowned in the pond."

He looked at the emperor: "Such diligence, I think someone is dissatisfied with Miss Ning for disrupting his grand plan that day."

"Zhiyu, are you talking about the ferocious beast that the princess presented?"

After hearing Shen Yan's words, Pei Zixing suddenly remembered the results of the interrogation of the hunter.

He presented hurriedly: "Your Majesty, after being tortured, the beast tamer still insisted that he was ordered by King Xuan's men to tame the beast, and he didn't know anything about the princess. This incident should be caused by King Xuan's substitution, and has nothing to do with the princess."

His Majesty took the evidence: "It has nothing to do with you, it has nothing to do with you... Only a warrior like you would believe that the two of them had nothing to do with each other. I can only say that the beast tamer didn't know what their plan was!"

His Majesty waved his hand impatiently.

"That day at the theater, Miss Ning was accumulating merits and popular support for me! Anyone who is against her is against me!"

"Zhiyu is right. How can someone conspire to kill someone just for the sake of marriage? If they wanted to kill Miss Ning just for this, why didn't they do it fifteen years ago?"

"Mr. Shen, what about the law?" This book is exclusively compiled by the LK team for you. "Madam Ning is the mastermind, Princess Zhaohui is an accomplice. According to the law, they should..."

Ning Yuan never heard what Shen Yan said later.

She knew that when things came to this point, no matter how His Majesty dealt with it, it was the best solution that Shen Yan could give her at the moment.

When he was in Biyunzhai, he promised her that he would avenge her for the day when she fell into the water.

He did not break his promise.

She stared at Shen Yan, and suddenly felt that everything around her was eclipsed.

There was only that one person left, sitting calmly at the other end, as if he was leading her forward in fate.

The previous moment, it was still a turbid world, and the next moment, everything was clear.

She was shaken up.

Shen Yan, Shen Zhiyu.

It was clearly a name and a word that was extremely black and white.

In the blink of an eye, the boundary between black and white was blurred, and one could see through the various aspects of the world at a glance.

Compared to him, I am really a little useless...

Shen Yan listened to her inner voice, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Tsk, I always heard her praising others in the past, and occasionally listening to her praising herself felt not bad.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and pressed the corners of his lips.

This time, there was really water in the teacup.

*

Shen Yan left the table with her.

He was tall and easily passed Ning Yuan. Seeing that she was walking slowly, he deliberately slowed down his pace.

She would probably come to thank him.

Ning Yuan raised her eyes and saw Shen Yan in the crowd at a glance.

...Strange, why do I always see him at a glance.

Maybe it's because people with outstanding looks always find it difficult not to be noticed.

Ning Yuan didn't think much about it and continued to walk slowly.

When she raised her eyes again, she found that she was much closer to him.

...Huh? Did he walk slowly on purpose?

Ning Yuan continued to walk slowly with her head down.

When she reached him, she stopped and politely said, "Thank you, Shen Yan."

Shen Yan snorted, "So Miss Ning still knows how to thank me?"

Ning Yuan pursed her lips and thought, "It's okay not to thank me."

But he stopped to wait for her. He

even cleared his throat when she passed by him.

The meaning was too obvious.

Because of this thank you, the two of them walked side by side.

Seeing that her mood was obviously not as high as before, Shen Yan took the lead in opening the conversation: "Why, are you dissatisfied with the result of the punishment?"

"No." She shook her head, "I just feel that human life is really insignificant compared to power."

"Wild beasts can easily kill those actors, just as my stepmother can easily kill me."

"Even though you helped me to this point, the harm she suffered is far less than one tenth of what she inflicted on me."

His Majesty finally took away Mingwei's imperial edict, beat her with 100 sticks, and sentenced her to death for the kindness of the Duke's teacher.

As for Princess Zhaohui, she was confined to Chaoluan Palace for life and could not leave unless she got married.

"Power is of course very important." Shen Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Ning Yuan, if you were a lady of imperial decree or a concubine in the palace today, rather than just an unfavored daughter of a minister, the punishment they would receive would be much more severe."

"Do you know? If ordinary people want to submit a complaint to the government office in the capital, they have to wait for seven days. Within seven days, if the government office verifies that the matter is true, it will accept the trial. I don’t need to say much about the long process that follows, until the final verdict, it will take at least a month."

"And your grievance will only take three days to be resolved by me."

Ning Yuan actually didn't like such privileges.

"...My life is life, and other people's lives are life too. Not everyone can have you stand up for them."

"I know what you mean." He chuckled and kindly advised her, "But if you want to achieve the world in your mind, the most important thing is to seize the rare opportunity in front of you."

"Only by mastering these in your own hands can you do what you want to do, do you understand?"

Ning Yuan thought: "...You mean, let me climb the dragon bed?"

Shen Yan frowned, and the corners of his lips straightened.

He meant that after she married him, she should learn how to be a noble mistress, so that he would have less worries in the future.

Ning Yuan counted on her fingers, "Below the Empress is the Imperial Consort, and below the Imperial Consort is the Imperial Consort... Although I've lived a poor life in the Duke's Mansion, His Majesty will ultimately consider my father's favor. If I enter the palace, I'll probably be given the title of Beauty..."

"But His Majesty's harem is declining, will he really be willing to take me into the palace?"

"And Sister Shen Heng, she and His Majesty are so in love, wouldn't she be unhappy to see that His Majesty has a new person--"

"Ning Yuan." He finally couldn't help it and interrupted her, "... Don't forget that you and I are still engaged, and His Majesty will not take you as a concubine."

She lowered her head dejectedly: "I know."

Shen Yan's meaning was probably that she should think of a way as soon as possible to break up the engagement without damaging the harmony between the two families.

Shen Yan listened to her thoughts and was speechless for a moment.

Forget it, there is no point in arguing with someone with water in his head.

He strode forward.

"Shen Yan!" She suddenly called him out loud.

He stopped, looked back, and walked back step by step to her heartbeat.

"What's the matter?"

"Actually, there is a question that has been bothering me, and I want to hear your answer in person."

Lizhi's smart and innocent eyes flashed a trace of embarrassment, and her gaze was full of inquiry into him.

"Ask." He was as concise as ever.

"...You risked your life to save me, do you like me?"