Lin Xianyu lowered her eyes and said in a deep voice, “So, I have to leave before he returns, is that it?”
This was the way out she had worked so hard to find.
From resolving to disguise herself as a man to enter the Academy, to going through great hardships to find Shen Zhou, who was currently traveling and enjoying the scenery.
Only she knew how difficult the path she had dragged her battered body along these past two days had been.
Youen said, “If you don’t want to leave, you’ll have to find a way to make him unable to recognize you.”
But that was simply too difficult.
Lin Chaoyu was Lin Xianyu’s biological younger brother. No matter how she disguised herself, he would still figure out it was her.
“Then I’ll disfigure myself.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly pulled a dagger from her sleeve.
This move truly startled Youen.
She quickly stopped her from making a cut on her face and urged, “Don’t do anything foolish.”
As a woman herself, she understood just how important appearance was.
As long as a woman still admired those with good looks, she would still have a love for beauty and would not want to see her own face ruined.
Yet Lin Xianyu, as the female lead, was so impulsive, pulling out a dagger to disfigure herself at the slightest provocation.
Could it be that later, like other novel heroines, she would encounter a miraculous doctor who would restore her beauty?
That was indeed something a female lead should experience.
But the story she was in now was no sweet, flawless romance.
Youen had previously thought that anyone in the main cast would have a powerful protagonist’s aura.
But after thoroughly understanding Lin Xianyu’s past experiences, she realized she was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Now she was certain that the female lead, Lin Xianyu, was no naturally lucky koi, blessed with all kinds of good fortune.
She was a pitiful, tragically tormented heroine in a heart-wrenching story.
Given Ergou’s temperament, since he was determined to torment the female lead, all the protagonist’s aura in this book would fall on Jiang Yunnan.
As for Lin Xianyu, she would probably be left with nothing but a fate full of sorrow and misfortune.
Luck had nothing to do with her.
At best, she would cling to life until the story’s conclusion.
In this tragic tale, her only stroke of luck should have been meeting Jiang Yunnan.
But the current Jiang Yunnan had lost all the fine qualities of the original male lead.
He was just a foolish, rich landlord’s son who had crossed over.
Not only was he not very bright, but he was also lazy and gluttonous.
Youen felt that Lin Xianyu was truly unfortunate.
A destined tragic fate, coupled with such a disappointing male lead.
It had to be said, this generation’s female lead was just too pitiful.
Youen sighed softly and snatched the dagger from her hand.
“Since you’ve entered the Academy, you shouldn’t be carrying such things.”
Just as Lin Xianyu was about to grab the dagger back, she heard her speak solemnly, “I know you carry these things only to protect yourself, but here, no one can harm you. Don’t be afraid.
It’s too dangerous for you to keep this on you. I’ll hold onto it for now.”
Youen was afraid she might use the dagger to do something foolish again.
The evening breeze brushed over her shoulders. She smiled, her tone tinged with an indescribable bitterness.
“How ironic. My own family never cared whether I lived or died, yet you, an outsider, worry that I might be in danger.”
Hearing this, Youen fell silent for a moment.
When she looked up again, she suddenly felt that Lin Xianyu’s swaying figure appeared even more frail in the night.She asked in a low voice, “Have you made up your mind never to return to the Lin family?”
Lin Xianyu gazed into the distance, her tone equally soft:
“During the days I’ve been away, the Lin family hasn’t sent anyone to look for me—not openly, and certainly not in secret. Perhaps they didn’t even know I had run away, or perhaps they simply don’t care whether I live or die.”
Just as no one would notice if one less beggar appeared on the streets today, no one would care whether that dark woodshed was still occupied.
It wasn’t until tonight that the Lin family discovered the woodshed was empty.
For days, Lin Fu, as punishment for Lin Xianyu, had strictly forbidden anyone from visiting her or bringing her food.
He intended to teach her a lesson.
It was only today, when Lin Chaoyu, bored and idle, made a few critical remarks about Lin Xianyu and Jiang Yunnan’s marriage and spoke ill of Lin Xianyu in front of Lin Fu, that Lin Fu remembered the girl still locked in the woodshed.
He had originally planned to go and reprimand her, venting all the frustrations of the day onto Lin Xianyu.
But when he arrived, he found the woodshed completely empty.
Lin Fu flew into a rage and initially intended to order public notices to be posted, launching a large-scale search for her.
Just as he was about to issue the command, he recalled that she had been confined for attempting to escape her marriage.
Whether it was her fleeing the wedding or now running away from home, both were scandals for the Lin family.
Lin Fu didn’t want these disgraceful matters known to the public, fearing that Lin Xianyu alone could ruin the Lin family’s reputation in Suzhou.
So he changed his mind, instructing the steward to take a few servants and search for her discreetly in secret.
After returning from Lin Xianyu’s residence, Youen found it difficult to sleep.
Tossing and turning, she ultimately failed to fall asleep, her mind in turmoil as she replayed the events of recent days in Shuntian Prefecture and Suzhou.
From being sent out of the Western Depot to now being placed in the Academy.
From deliberately avoiding the male and female leads to now being constantly pestered by the male lead, while occasionally worrying about the female lead’s safety.
It didn’t seem like much had happened.
Yet everything that had occurred had exceeded her expectations.
This feeling left her deeply unsettled.
She began to worry about Wang Zhi, about Lin Fu, about the Su family, and about herself.
She had a growing sense that something was about to happen that would catch her completely off guard.
Youen rummaged through her bundle and pulled out the small wooden box Su Ting had given her before he left.
Su Ting had said it contained something that could protect the Su family and save her life.
She had never opened it, nor did she hope she would ever have reason to.
By her calculations, Su Ting should have nearly reached Shuntian Prefecture by now.
She wondered how things were going on his end.
When Su Ting proposed returning to Shuntian Prefecture, Youen had tried to dissuade him.
She understood that even if he went back, he wouldn’t be able to save the Western Depot or Wang Zhi.
Thus, she didn’t want him to take such a risk.
But Su Ting insisted on returning, and she couldn’t stop him.
He knew the Emperor had lost faith in the Western Depot and that Director Wang was in grave danger.
Even aware of his own limitations, he still wanted to return to protect Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi had shown him kindness.
Wang Zhi was his master for life.
Having served by Director Wang’s side for many years, Su Ting understood his temperament well, which was why he hadn’t sent word ahead of his return to the capital.
Similarly, after years of shared hardships, Wang Zhi understood Su Ting’s character just as well.
He was certain that with the Western Depot in turmoil this time, Su Ting would personally return to the capital.
Therefore, he had rushed to Dongchang Prefecture early in the morning, waiting for Su Ting along the route he must take back to the capital.