Just as Jiang Xin Gui’s sword hilt was about to strike the wall, Shen Wan also spoke up to interrupt him: “I saw him. Is Your Highness the Crown Prince looking for Young Master Xie?”
Hearing this, Jiang Xin Gui lowered his hand and turned to ask, “Where did the young lady see Young Master Xie?”
“On the way to the sutra library. He seemed…” Shen Wan paused, thinking carefully. “He was wearing black clothes and had someone with him.”
Mo Junli was certain that one of the two people Shen Wan had encountered was Jiang Lin.
“Is the person with him someone who looks like this?” Jiang Xin Gui took out a portrait of Jiang Lin.
Mo Junli’s eyes darkened slightly, his tone carrying a warning: “Speak truthfully. This person has committed a serious crime. If you conceal even the slightest detail, you will be considered an accomplice.”
Shen Wan’s shoulders tightened slightly, as if frightened. She said, “This humble girl did not see that person’s face clearly. I only saw Young Master Xie supporting someone dressed in monk’s robes. That person had shaved his head and was leaning lazily against Young Master Xie’s chest.”
“I originally intended to go up and greet Young Master Xie, but when he saw me, he took the young monk toward the direction of the meditation hall.”
Jiang Xin Gui and Mo Junli exchanged a glance.
If Jiang Lin wanted to escape, shaving his head and changing into monk’s robes could indeed help conceal his identity.
Neither of them doubted whether Shen Wan’s words were true or false.
To them, Shen Wan was a daughter of the Shen family. As a member of the Shen family, she naturally had no reason to protect the Shen family’s sworn enemy.
Thus, Mo Junli was confident about capturing Jiang Lin. He raised his hand and waved.
Jiang Xin Gui led the soldiers and quickly withdrew from the sutra library, heading in the direction Shen Wan had just mentioned.
At that moment, Li Changfu returned: “Your Highness the Crown Prince, this servant has brought Second Miss Shen back.”
“Where is she?” Mo Junli had no time to deal with Shen Wan and turned to ask Li Changfu.
Li Changfu replied, “Seeing the heavy guard here, this servant arranged for Second Miss Shen to stay in a quiet meditation room. I will lead Your Highness there.”
“Good. Did you summon the imperial physician?” Mo Junli asked as he walked.
Li Changfu said, “The imperial physician Luo, whom I brought along, said that Second Miss Shen has no illness. In fact, her health is even better than this servant’s.”
Mo Junli’s footsteps halted.
His gaze, filled with disgust and hostility, fell once again on Shen Wan.
If Shen Lian’s health was better than Li Changfu’s, wasn’t that telling him that Shen Lian was not ill at all? This also meant that his earlier suspicions were true.
It was Shen Wan who had resorted to unscrupulous means to make the Shen family send Lian’er away.
“Shen Wan, what else do you have to say?”
This sudden calamity—what was there for her to say!
She had clearly gone to Muxian Mountain to treat her face, not to cure an illness.
“How dare you deny that it wasn’t you who schemed to have your elder brother send Lian’er away? This is my final warning to you—do not even think of harming Lian’er again.”
Shen Wan’s lips twitched. She sighed, looking utterly innocent as she asked, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you really like my younger sister that much?”
The disgust in his eyes seemed ready to burst forth, his annoyance with Shen Wan reaching its peak: “I do not like women full of schemes. Even if you possess the beauty of Chang’e, you have the heart of a venomous snake. I spare you only out of consideration for the relationship between the Shen family and my mother, the Empress. If you dare harm Lian’er again, I will ensure you are banished far from the capital. Hmph!”
After delivering his harsh words, Mo Junli no longer looked at Shen Wan and hurriedly walked out of the Scripture Repository.
The remaining Yulin Army troops also withdrew from the Scripture Repository.
Soon, the Scripture Repository returned to its peaceful state.
Hua Rong picked up the cloak and draped it over Shen Wan.
Hua Jing held the edge of the cloak’s sleeve and whispered, “Oh dear, the cuff is stained with ink.”
Shen Wan lowered her head to look—the stain on the sleeve was ink, but it was also Jiang Lin’s blood…
“Crown Prince.” Shen Chengxiao, the eldest son of the Shen family, stood guard outside the meditation room, bowing uneasily to Mo Junli.
For the first time, Mo Junli felt dissatisfaction toward Shen Chengxiao.
His eyes were filled with anger, and he could not help but reprimand him: “She is already my betrothed Crown Princess. You should not have sent her away from the capital just to favor Shen Wan.”
Who said they were sending Shen Lian away from the capital? The Shen family would never dare defy the imperial decree.
Shen Chengxiao explained, “Crown Prince, Your Highness, I…”
“There is no need to explain. Early this morning, I went to the Shen residence. The Empress wishes to see my cousin Lian’er. During this period, Her Majesty will keep Lian’er in the palace to learn etiquette.”
Without glancing at Shen Chengxiao’s expression, Mo Junli entered the meditation room.
Shen Chengxiao froze in place, a chill spreading from the soles of his feet to his heart. Before long, his neck also felt icy.
Today, they had intended to send Shen Lian to Muxian Mountain to seek treatment for the birthmark on her face. However, just as the carriage reached the foot of Muxian Mountain, Li Changfu, the Crown Prince’s man, arrived with a group of people, aggressive and imposing, stopping the Shen family’s carriage.
He even used the Crown Prince’s authority to pressure him, demanding that Shen Lian be immediately returned to the capital. Otherwise, he would be charged with endangering the future Crown Princess and escorted back to the capital.
He had never expected the Crown Prince to be so infatuated with Shen Lian. When the Crown Prince eventually discovered the flaw on Shen Lian’s face, he dreaded what calamity would befall the Shen family.
Inside the meditation room.
“Lian’er.” As Mo Junli entered the meditation room, Shen Lian stood by the door.
She wore a high-collared cloak, half of her small face hidden within the white fluffy collar, revealing only a pair of almond-shaped eyes—bright and clear. Between her right eyebrow and eye, a red plum blossom adorned her skin.
All of Mo Junli’s attention was drawn to that red plum blossom.
“A proud red plum in the snow, with ink-black hair like a painting. Cousin Lian’er, you have suffered.” Unconsciously, he revealed his admiration and felt heartache for her position in the Shen family. Unable to restrain himself, he reached out to hold Shen Lian’s hand.
But Shen Lian, like a startled bird, instinctively took two steps back as Mo Junli approached her, turning her face to the left.
She then raised her hand, using the loose sleeve of her robe to partially cover her face, and said, “Crown Prince, Lian’er’s old affliction has flared up. I fear I might pass the illness to Your Highness.”
As her gentle voice faded, Mo Junli grasped her wrist. “There is no need to pretend in front of me.”
Shen Lian shuddered violently, her pupils flooding with terror.
Had the Crown Prince discovered the birthmark on her face?
At this thought, Shen Lian trembled uncontrollably, a chilling cold enveloping her entire body. Her voice carried barely suppressed panic: “Cr-Crown Prince, I… I didn’t mean to, I never intended to deceive you, I…”
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed heavily, kneeling weakly before Mo Junli.
Mo Junli’s heart ached unbearably. The moment she knelt, he lifted Shen Lian from the ground and pulled her into his embrace.
The figure in his arms trembled uncontrollably.
He secretly regretted using that tone and saying such things to her earlier. In his anxiety, he softened his voice to comfort her, saying, “Don’t be afraid of me. I’m not afraid of your illness either. I’m just upset that you and your family conspired to deceive me by claiming your Old Affliction had returned, making me worry for you. Since I’ve chosen you, I won’t despise or reject you because of sickness or pain. In the future, don’t force yourself to endure such hardships either.”
Shen Lian was stunned by these words.
So the Crown Prince hadn’t noticed the birthmark on her face.
But before she could fully process the relief that washed over her, Mo Junli’s next words sent a chill down her spine.
“Mother wants to see you. I know life hasn’t been easy for you in the Shen family, so I’ve personally left the palace to escort you back. You’ll stay in the palace until our wedding day, when you’ll return to the Shen family for the ceremony.”
Her vision darkened, and she nearly fainted from fright at his words.
She might barely manage to conceal her condition during a brief audience with the Empress.
But if she had to stay in the palace to learn etiquette, she would surely be exposed.
No, she couldn’t enter the palace like this.
Suddenly, she thought of Shen Wan. “Your Highness, I wish to see my elder sister first.”