Chapter 122
He Xiang was a servant in Li Yanchen’s courtyard, so it was only natural she would side with him. Through both obvious and subtle means, she painted Li Jin as a narrow-minded person who could not even tolerate his own brother, all without Shen Ningyu ever noticing she was being manipulated.
After listening to He Xiang's account of the whole story, Shen Ningyu felt immediate anger and dissatisfaction. "How could Heir Li possibly act this way? It was clearly just a minor matter, yet he used such severe punishment on you."
Li Yanchen smiled bitterly. "Miss Shen, my health is truly not a major concern. Moreover, I was indeed at fault in this matter. Third Bro... His Highness did nothing wrong."
Shen Ningyu was already annoyed with Li Jin over Li Yanchen's undeserved punishment. Now, with Li Yanchen speaking like this, it instantly ignited her displeasure. "How could Heir Li have done nothing wrong? No, when I see him later, I must have a serious talk with him."
"Miss Shen... cough..."
Li Yanchen wanted to say more, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was seized by a fit of coughing.
"Eldest Young Master!" He Xiang was heartbroken and quickly supported Li Yanchen. "Your health is what's important. Let's return to your quarters."
Li Yanchen shook his head. "No, I still wish to apologize first for the earlier incident to His Highness..."
"Young Master Li, you are not at fault in this matter at all," Shen Ningyu frowned. "You should listen to your maid and return to rest properly. If Heir Li dares to trouble you over this, I will certainly not stand by idly."
Clearly, Shen Ningyu had already positioned herself as the future mistress of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion, making decisions directly.
"This..."
Shen Ningyu said imperiously, "Young Master Li, it's decided then."
"Alright," Li Yanchen seemed to think it over and yielded. "Then I must trouble Miss Shen."
He Xiang also chimed in at the right moment, "Thank you, Miss Shen, for standing up for the Eldest Young Master."
Soon after, Li Yanchen, supported by He Xiang, slowly departed.
"Enough." Once they had walked out of Shen Ningyu's sight, Li Yanchen's expression instantly turned cold, and he signaled for He Xiang to release him.
"Yes, Eldest Young Master."
He Xiang obeyed and let go.
Li Yanchen was very satisfied with He Xiang's performance. "You did well this time."
"It's all thanks to Eldest Young Master's guidance," He Xiang replied with a shy smile, then asked curiously, "But Eldest Young Master, Miss Shen originally has no connection to us. Why stage this act for her to see?"
Li Yanchen smiled, looking at He Xiang meaningfully. "She has no connection to us, but don't forget, she is very likely to marry Li Jin."
"So that's how it is."
Hearing Li Yanchen's reasoning, He Xiang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Heaven knows how apprehensive He Xiang had been when she first heard Li Yanchen wanted her to cooperate in this act. She had feared he had taken a fancy to Shen Ningyu. Fortunately, it was all her overthinking.
The corners of Li Yanchen's mouth lifted, and he unexpectedly pinched He Xiang's chin lightly. "Are you jealous?"
Because of the faint warmth from Li Yanchen's fingers, He Xiang blushed and lowered her head. "This... this servant is just a maid. How dare... how dare I feel jealous..."
"No, you are my woman. Jealousy is only natural. Moreover, I like seeing you jealous."
"Eldest Young Master..."
He Xiang hadn't expected Li Yanchen to say this so suddenly, her cheeks turning even redder.
Li Yanchen said suggestively, "Alright, come to my room."
"Yes."
He Xiang understood the hidden meaning behind Li Yanchen's words and quickly followed him, her face flushed.
However, all of this was merely Li Yanchen's scheme.
He Xiang's intuition was accurate. Li Yanchen had long set his sights on Shen Ningyu. After all, her status as the legitimate daughter of Right Minister Shen Chaoyan was something Li Yanchen could not help but covet. With Shen Ningyu's status as a legitimate daughter, Li Yanchen could gain the support of the Shen family. Then, by quietly eliminating Li Jin, he could simultaneously leverage the power of the Wei family and the Shen family, thereby rightfully becoming the Heir to the Prince of Dingbei.
"That wretched He Xiang, I knew she was up to no good."
Standing in the shadows and witnessing this scene, Cailian couldn't help but glare venomously at He Xiang's retreating back.
...
Bang!
Perhaps fueled by indignation over Li Yanchen’s sudden and unjust misfortune, Shen Ningyu didn’t wait for anyone outside to announce her arrival to Li Jin. Instead, she pushed the door open herself, carrying herself with the air of someone already acting as the mistress of the household.
"Ping... Miss Shen?"
Looking up to see Shen Ningyu suddenly appear before him, Li Jin was momentarily stunned. He had found it strange earlier; if it had been Ping'an returning, he wouldn't be so ill-mannered as to open the door directly without permission.
Shen Ningyu paid no heed to Li Jin's reaction and proceeded to demand answers on her own. "Heir Li, although Young Master Li is a child of a concubine, he is still your elder brother. How could you punish him so severely without distinguishing right from wrong?"
Li Jin's expression darkened. "Miss Shen, your sudden intrusion is improper."
Li Jin's demeanor wasn't because Shen Ningyu was siding with Li Yanchen, but because he was angry that she had barged in without permission.
"I am your betrothed wife. Coming to see you does not require any announcement."
Shen Ningyu displeasedly dropped a bombshell.
"Betrothed wife?"
Upon hearing these words, Li Jin's pupils constricted sharply. In this lifetime, he had never heard Ying Zhengjing mention arranging a marriage for him. How had she become his fiancee?
"That's right," Shen Ningyu said arrogantly. "This matter is already common knowledge throughout the capital. But let's set that aside for now—you still haven't explained to me why you punished Young Master Li."
The "common knowledge" Shen Ningyu spoke of was naturally the rumors she had secretly spread herself. Her goal was clear: to preemptively strike. And the target of that strike was Ying Xichen. Shen Ningyu refused to believe that with these rumors circulating, Ying Xichen would still dare to openly compete with her for Li Jin.
Sure enough, Shen Ningyu's move was effective. The inherently insecure Ying Xichen, upon hearing this news, dared not make any rash moves and even more so, dared not tell anyone about her feelings for Li Jin.
Li Jin replied calmly, "Miss Shen, regarding the matter of being my betrothed wife, I will clarify it later. As for Li Yanchen, I had my reasons for acting as I did."
If an acquaintance had entered at that moment, they would have undoubtedly recognized that Li Jin was already angered.
After his rebirth, to avoid repeating the mistakes of his previous life and because it was not yet opportune to directly confront Shen Chaoyan, Li Jin had adopted the strategy of avoiding Shen Ningyu, even being cold and blunt towards her.
Unexpectedly, despite Li Jin being so resolute, Shen Ningyu had still fallen for him and even caused this troublesome affair.
The moment Shen Ningyu said she was his betrothed wife and that it was common knowledge, Li Jin guessed that all of this was Shen Ningyu's doing behind the scenes.
"What clarification? You clearly have feelings for me!" Hearing Li Jin's intent to draw a clear line with her, Shen Ningyu panicked. "Right, you're angry because I sided with Young Master Li, aren't you? But you have to blame yourself for this. If it weren't for you..."
"Enough." Li Jin interrupted expressionlessly. "Miss Shen, I believe I have told you before. I have never liked you, much less had any feelings for you."
Shen Ningyu still had feelings for Li Jin at this point, far from being as devoted to Li Yanchen as in her previous life. Therefore, upon hearing Li Jin speak so abruptly, she forgot about Li Yancian and immediately retorted, "N-no... that's impossible... The way you looked at me clearly showed affection..."
Ying Yuan suddenly stepped into the room, asking with feigned confusion, "That's strange. Every time I see Li Jin look at you, his gaze is always very cold. How did it suddenly turn into affection?"
"Seventh... A-Yuan, you're here?"
Upon suddenly seeing Ying Yuan, whom he had believed to be confined in the palace, appear before him, Li Jin couldn’t help but feel a flicker of joy in his heart.
As for why Li Jin had reverted to calling him "A-Yuan," it was because of the way he was dressed.
"A-Jin, it’s been a long time."
As Ying Yuan spoke these words, a trace of longing, which even he himself hadn’t noticed, tinged his tone.
Ying Yuan had actually arrived with Ping'an as early as when Shen Ningyu barged into Li Jin’s room. However, upon hearing Shen Ningyu declare herself Li Jin’s betrothed, the step Ying Yuan was about to take came to a halt.
It wasn’t until Li Jin said that he had no feelings for Shen Ningyu that Ying Yuan found the courage to step inside.
"Who are you?"
Hearing Li Jin speak in such a gentle tone to someone dressed in commoner's clothing, Shen Ningyu's jealousy flared.
"None of your concern," Ying Yuan said coldly. "Miss Shen, you surely heard what A-Jin just said. Some matters are better not mistaken for affection where there is none."
"How dare a lowly commoner speak to me in that tone?" Furious, Shen Ningyu charged toward Ying Yuan and swung a slap at him.
For some reason, ever since this inexplicable person appeared, the sense of crisis in Shen Ningyu's heart had grown increasingly intense, even surpassing her wariness toward Ying Xichen.
Could this man be Heir Li's lover? No, given how shabbily he's dressed, how could Heir Li possibly take a liking to him? I must be overthinking it. Yes, that must be the case.
Although the laws of Da Xia explicitly forbid love or marriage between men, there were still those who secretly formed such relationships.
Ying Yuan reacted faster, catching Shen Ningyu's wrist just before her slap landed. "Miss Shen, as the legitimate daughter of Minister Shen, this habit of resorting to violence at the slightest provocation is hardly becoming, is it?"
"You brought this upon yourself! And who are you, a lowly commoner, to address me as 'Miss Shen'?"
Shen Ningyu placed all the blame squarely on Ying Yuan's shoulders.
"Hah." Ying Yuan let out a cold laugh. "What an imposing presence Miss Shen has, labeling commoners as 'lowly' so casually. Aren't you afraid Minister Shen might be displeased if he hears of this?"
"My father would never be angered over such a trivial matter," Shen Ningyu shot back, glaring fiercely at Ying Yuan. "But you, repeatedly disrespecting me—I must teach you a lesson."
Li Jin stepped forward, positioning himself before Ying Yuan, and said unhurriedly, "Miss Shen, you are not welcome here. I must ask you to leave immediately."
"Li Jin! You would drive me away for the sake of this... this lowborn wretch?"
Shen Ningyu never expected Li Jin to be so heartless. In disbelief, she staggered backward several steps, even calling out his full name directly.
Li Jin couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on Shen Ningyu. He straightforwardly commanded, "Ping’an, see our guest out."
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