Lin Xingxue turned around to see Shen Li approaching with a gentle smile. Perhaps due to chasing her hastily, she was slightly out of breath.
“Sister-in-law, are you in such a hurry because you want to go back and see Second Older Brother?” Her voice was gentle, much warmer than before.
Lin Xingxue was instantly caught off guard by her direct hit to the main point, and she nodded somewhat embarrassedly.
Shen Li smiled kindly, reaching out to hold Lin Xingxue’s hands. “Sister-in-law, don’t be shy. It’s normal for you and Second Older Brother, newlyweds, to miss each other. Besides, Sister-in-law is so beautiful; Second Older Brother must have fallen in love with you at first sight.”
Lin Xingxue didn’t take this kind of superficial praise to heart.
Moreover, she felt that her husband didn’t even remember her appearance. Husband seemed to be the kind of gentleman who wasn’t swayed by physical beauty.
But what did Shen Li really want to say? Did she come after Lin Xingxue just to praise her?
As Lin Xingxue wondered, Shen Li suddenly moved closer, as if being cautious not to be overheard by others, and whispered, “I heard that Sister-in-law lived in Cangling Province for three years. After returning to the capital, Gu Zhuangyuan[1] proposed to Sister-in-law. I don’t know if it’s true or not?”
Gu Zhuangyuan, Gu Yan.
The person who had occupied several years of her time. Now, upon hearing his name again, Lin Xingxue felt like it was a world away.
Shen Li’s words were strange.
She linked Lin Xingxue’s three years in Cangling Province with Gu Yan’s proposal, as if asking if there was any connection between Lin Xingxue and Gu Yan during those three years.
The topic of unmarried men and women having any sort of connection, especially in a remote area such as Cangling Province, made it difficult not to speculate whether their interactions were too intimate.
However, Shen Li didn’t directly specify, as if she was only asking whether Gu Yan had proposed to Lin Xingxue.
Lin Xingxue, nowadays, didn’t like others associating her with Gu Yan. After Shen Li finished speaking, she didn’t rush to respond and looked steadily at Shen Li for quite some time.
Meeting her gaze, Shen Li smiled lightly, appearing open and generous.
Lin Xingxue nodded slightly: Yes.
There was nothing to hide about this matter. If someone was curious, they could easily find out the truth.
“Ah,” Shen Li sighed, expressing concern. “There are always too many unfaithful people in this world. Sister-in-law, don’t take it to heart. Actually, I shouldn’t have mentioned this today, but you know, Second Older Brother’s temperament has become increasingly difficult to understand in recent years. If he learns about Gu Zhuangyuan, he might get angry.”
Lin Xingxue listened in confusion. She understood that Shen Li was advising her not to talk about Gu Yan. However, she didn’t understand why Husband would be angry about Gu Yan’s matter.
Gu Yan, to her and to Husband, is now nothing more than a stranger.
Seeing her furrowed brows, Shen Li thought she didn’t understand and continued to explain, “Second Older Brother has undergone a significant change in temperament lately, and he dislikes those around him having ulterior motives the most. You’re his wife, and naturally, he hopes you are devoted. If Second Older Brother brings up Gu Yan’s matter, it’s best for Sister-in-law to avoid it.”
Lin Xingxue understood this straightforward advice.
She didn’t nod in agreement, not responding to Shen Li’s words.
In fact, she felt a bit resistant. Shen Li, both implicitly and explicitly, kept emphasizing Shen Hanxing’s unpredictable nature. She was essentially speaking ill of him, and Lin Xingxue didn’t like that.
“Sister-in-law must have heard some rumors about Second Older Brother before. I saw that maid who was strangled to death last time; the finger marks on her neck were terrifying. Pity that maid, who lost her life just for spilling some tea. Sister-in-law, now that you are serving Second Older Brother up close, be cautious in everything that you do. If something really happens, you can seek refuge with Grandmother. Today, I can clearly see that Grandmother likes you a lot…”
Shen Li had the appearance of giving benevolent advice, and she seemed like she wanted to say more when suddenly her hands were pushed away by someone. Lin Xingxue stepped back, pushing away the hands that Shen Li had extended.
Shen Li was surprised, “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”
Lin Xingxue’s expression had turned cold. She looked at Wu Tong, forming clear words with her lips, “Husband is fine, he wouldn’t kill indiscriminately.”
Wu Tong conveyed her words, and Shen Li was momentarily stunned.
She didn’t expect a mute to argue with her, and it was for the sake of defending Shen Hanxing.
Shen Li felt somewhat annoyed, she had given her so much advice, but Lin Xingxue didn’t even appreciate it. She[2] had only grasped the point that Shen Li was speaking ill of Shen Hanxing?
“I did speak out of turn,” Shen Li’s smile became somewhat stiff. “But some things aren’t entirely fabricated. Second Older Brother doesn’t like people who talk too much nowadays, and Sister-in-law should be more…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Li’s smile completely froze. She looked behind Lin Xingxue, her face turning somewhat pale. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
The sound of a wheelchair rolling over the ground was near, and Lin Xingxue, surprised, turned back. When she saw Shen Hanxing, her eyes immediately lit up.
She walked quickly to Shen Hanxing’s side, crouched down, and looked up at him, saying, “Husband.”
The young women exuded happiness from head to toe.
Shen Hanxing glanced at her and then turned to look at the pale-faced Shen Li.
Obviously, the latter was the normal reaction to seeing him.
“I do dislike people who talk too much now,” Shen Hanxing lazily leaned back in his chair, as if chatting casually, but his words were cruel, “If you find your tongue useless, I don’t mind cutting it off for you.”
Clearly, Shen Hanxing had heard the bad things Shen Li had just said.
Shen Li felt like all the blood in her body was freezing.
What she said just now was not false; she did witness Shen Hanxing strangling the maid to death. Now, upon seeing him again, she quickly recalled the previous nightmare.
She suppressed her fear and hastily took two steps back, “I have something else to do; I’ll leave first.” After speaking, she turned around and quickly disappeared.
Lin Xingxue thought Shen Hanxing was just scaring Shen Li and didn’t pay much attention to his words.
Her focus was on Shen Hanxing’s attire[3].
Husband had changed into a crimson brocade robe, with a jade belt cinched at the waist, presenting a tall and elegant figure.
She looked at their sleeves, not only were the colors similar but the patterns were also quite alike. With Shen Hanxing’s current attire, anyone could tell that they were a newlywed couple.
The young woman was delighted, and Shen Hanxing followed her gaze, noticing the red hem of his robe pressing against her begonia-red sleeve.
He shifted slightly, separating the two pieces of clothing.
Lin Xingxue watched as the clothing of the two parted, clearly demarcated, and a sense of disappointment appeared in her eyes.
Indeed, Husband didn’t like her, and he certainly wouldn’t go out of his way to wear this outfit for her.
Shen Hanxing looked at the dimming light in her eyes and found it increasingly difficult to understand this little girl’s thoughts.
During this short time, she felt wronged again?
“Let’s go back,” he said briefly.
Luo Yan pushed the wheelchair back, and Lin Xingxue looked up in confusion. She stood up, grabbing Shen Hanxing’s sleeve and pointing towards Shou’an Hall.
Wasn’t Husband here to see the old madam? Why go back again?
Shen Hanxing followed her pointing hand, glanced into the distance, then withdrew his gaze, looking at the hand that was pulling his sleeve.
His gaze was icy, like a sharp cold knife.
Lin Xingxue felt a chill on her hand and immediately let go.
Luo Yan continued pushing Shen Hanxing forward, and Lin Xingxue heard a cold voice in the chilly wind, “Next time you touch me casually, I’ll cut off your hands and feed them to the dogs.”
Lin Xingxue looked down at her own hands, imagining the scene of having her hands cut off, and was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
Well, Shen Li’s words weren’t entirely wrong.
Indeed, Husband’s temperament was a bit unpredictable. Clearly, she had hugged him last night, and there was no intimidation, but now, just a tug on the sleeve, and he became so petty.
But why did her husband avoid seeing the old madam? They had already walked all the way over here…
Lin Xingxue followed behind Shen Hanxing, and the two returned to the East Transverse Courtyard. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Shen Hanxing didn’t even look at her, heading straight to the study.
Wu Tong took Lin Xingxue’s scarf, and upon touching it, felt the damp soft fur. The Di Long in Shou’an Hall was burning too vigorously, and Miss had sweated a lot, “Madam, do you want to change into dry clothes?”
Feeling the coldness in the main room, Lin Xingxue wisely shook her head.
No need to change; if she changed now, the warmth she had finally accumulated would be gone.
Shou’an Hall and the main room of the East Transverse Courtyard seemed to be in two different seasons. Lin Xingxue sat in the west side room for a while, feeling the cold intensify.
She stretched her neck to look towards the study in the East Transverse Courtyard, seeing Luo Yan coming out as if he had some business to attend to.
After hesitating for a moment, she decided to get up and walk towards the study in the East Transverse Courtyard.
She took light steps to reach the door, hiding herself entirely behind it, only exposing her head to secretly watch Shen Hanxing. Shen Hanxing sat in the wheelchair, focused on writing official documents with a brush. He didn’t lift his head, seemingly unaware that someone was peeking at him.
Shen Hanxing finished writing a document with his brush, and the ink on the tip was nearly depleted.
Luo Yan had gone out for something, and he wouldn’t be back for a while. Shen Hanxing raised his head and glanced towards the door.
Lin Xingxue saw him lift his head and immediately withdrew her head, pressing her body tightly against the door frame, attempting to hide herself.
However, the next moment, she heard Shen Hanxing’s cold voice, “Come here.”
Lin Xingxue peeked back, somewhat skeptical if he was calling her.
She thought she had hidden quite well.
Shen Hanxing knocked on the table enduringly. He now not only found this little girl’s emotions to be capricious but also quite naive.
More accurately, stupid.
“Lin Xingxue, come in.”
The girl widened her eyes suddenly. She timidly and nervously walked out from behind the door, step by step moving in front of him. She wanted to explain that she didn’t intentionally eavesdrop, but Shen Hanxing couldn’t be bothered to watch her gestures and just pointed to the inkstone.
Lin Xingxue immediately went to obediently ground the ink.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly felt a slight itch on the side of her right hand. She absentmindedly scratched it and continued to focus on grinding the ink, occasionally stealing glances at Shen Hanxing.
Husband was writing with such seriousness and concentration. His delicate eyelashes occasionally trembled, resembling the wings of a butterfly. His eyes, as dark as ink, were like a piece of fine obsidian. However, his thin lips curved into an unpleasant arc, was he facing some difficulty?
While Lin Xingxue was speculating, she suddenly raised her head and saw Shen Hanxing staring at her, his expression not looking very pleasant.
Lin Xingxue felt even more guilty. She tried to cover it up by lowering her head to continue grinding the ink, but the itch on the side of her right hand grew more persistent. She scratched it more vigorously, and the skin on the side of her hand turned red. Even so, the itching persisted.
Lin Xingxue scratched even more vigorously, almost risking breaking the skin.
Shen Hanxing suddenly reached out, grabbing her left wrist to stop her actions, “Stop scratching.”
His sudden movement startled Lin Xingxue, causing the ink block in her hand to shake, and ink splattered onto her dress.
She looked up at Shen Hanxing with a wronged expression, silently conveying, “It itches.”
Shen Hanxing’s eyes darkened, feeling a bit irritated.
Having endured the bitter cold of the borderlands for a long time, Shen Hanxing naturally recognized the frostbite on the girl’s hand. He couldn’t help but think that she was delicate. However, he also recalled Lin Xingxue’s appearance this morning, hiding under the blanket while getting dressed. A question couldn’t help but arise in his mind: Was his room too cold for Lin Xingxue?
[1] title of Zhuangyuan; historical term for the top scorer in the imperial examinations
[3] ngl, Lin Xingxue is also pretty special to be able to focus on his clothes after he threatened to cut off someone’s tongue😅