“…Marriage?”
Jiang Yin was stunned.
She distinctly remembered that in the original novel, there was no plot where the female lead became engaged to someone else.
…Could it be that her mind was failing, and she remembered incorrectly?
No, impossible…
After all, as a qualified Transmigrator, Jiang Yin had always read the parts about the romantic storyline between the male and female leads very carefully.
Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn’t even hear Li Zhixin calling her. It wasn’t until Li Zhixin waved a hand in front of her that Jiang Yin snapped back to reality.
Without caring about anything else, she quickly asked Li Zhixin, “Who is Miss Li engaged to?”
“…Me?”
Li Zhixin didn’t expect Jiang Yin to ask so directly and was momentarily taken aback.
After recovering, she answered truthfully, “It’s an arrangement made by my father… The gentleman has only returned to the capital for a few months and has been living a secluded life. He currently holds no official position. Even if I tell you, you wouldn’t know him. When I get married, you can come and meet him in person.”
“…”
After hearing this, Jiang Yin grew increasingly uneasy.
After struggling for a while, she pressed further, “Miss, why not tell me, who exactly is this person that makes you willing to give up such a good match as Prince Qi?”
“It’s not exactly giving up,” Li Zhixin’s expression stiffened for a moment at the mention of Prince Qi before she continued, “Prince Qi and I were never meant to be… Besides, the gentleman I’m about to marry is not only exceptionally talented and handsome but also highly trusted by my father. I’m very satisfied.”
“…Who is it?”
“…”
Though puzzled by Jiang Yin’s persistent questioning, seeing how anxious she looked, Li Zhixin still told her, “A Yin, do you know about the crown prince of our Da Jing who was sent to the Yan Kingdom as a hostage?”
“…Yes.”
This character, Jiang Yin had a vague impression of.
She remembered that Shen Fengzhi’s mother, the empress of Da Jing, had once adopted a prince born to a palace maid.
That prince was named crown prince when he was only six years old.
At that time, Da Jing was at war with the northern Yan Kingdom. The conflict raged for years without cease, bringing misery to the people.
After struggling on like this for five years, both countries were exhausted from the endless warfare and decided to exchange crown princes as hostages, then cease hostilities and negotiate peace.
Thus, that eleven-year-old prince was sent to the Yan Kingdom.
It wasn’t until the Yan royal family collapsed due to internal strife and eventually submitted to Da Jing that the crown prince sent as a hostage was brought back.
But the good times didn’t last long. Not long after this crown prince returned, he was deposed for going mad and setting fire in the empress’s palace.
…Another pitiful soul.
As Jiang Yin was thinking this, Li Zhixin had already spoken: “The one I’m going to marry is him.”
“…”
Him?
Who…
Crown prince, deposed crown prince, no official position…
Commoner.
A name emerged from the tangled thoughts, standing atop the chaos in her mind.
“…Shen Shouyu?”
“…Ah!”
Seeing Jiang Yin somewhat distracted, Li Zhixin had been about to pull her to sit down when she suddenly heard the name Shen Shouyu from Jiang Yin’s mouth.
Her movement paused as she exclaimed in surprise, “What did you say?”
“…Shen Shouyu.”
This time, Jiang Yin’s tone was firmer.
She looked at the astonished young woman before her, slowly parting her lips to confirm, “The person you’re going to marry is Shen Shouyu… isn’t it?”
…
That night, when Shen Shouyu returned, Jiang Yin was already asleep.
She habitually slept in the innermost corner, curled up under the quilt. From the back, only a small circle of dark hair was visible.
It looked pitiful.
During the days she was unconscious, Shen Shouyu, with nothing better to do, had observed her carefully.
Her nose, eyebrows, eyes, mouth…
Compared to the various beauties he had seen in the past, her appearance certainly wouldn’t rank highly.
But it couldn’t be said she wasn’t beautiful either.
At least, that was how he saw it.
Though she was stubborn and selfish, feigned compliance while defying him in secret, told lies one after another, and repeatedly treated him as insignificant…
He knew he was somewhat fond of her.
This fondness had nothing to do with romantic feelings—it was like his fondness for a handy object. Having it was fine; not having it was also fine.
He liked how she always made the right choice at the right moment, how she could perfectly stir his emotions and just as perfectly soothe his restlessness.
Occasionally, this fondness would outweigh his desire to kill her.
But more often than not, this bit of fondness was only enough to barely suppress the malicious thoughts rising in his heart.
…And that was already good enough.
Sufficient.
After quietly bathing and perfuming himself, he lay down on the bed, effortlessly pulling the person curled up in the corner toward him and examining her injuries.
The bruise below her chest had faded to the point of being almost invisible, but the one on her knee was still a patch of blue and purple.
Shen Shouyu’s expression remained unchanged as he casually took medicine from the low table beside the bed, poured it into his palm, rubbed it to warm it, and applied it to Jiang Yin’s knee.
He knew Jiang Yin always slept deeply.
Even though she was intensely wary of him, it didn’t stop her from sleeping soundly beside him.
He had suspected she might be pretending to sleep to deceive him, but in the quiet room, apart from her faint breathing, there was no other movement, making him feel he was overthinking it.
How could she possibly deceive him?
…In this world, anyone might deceive him, but not her.
As this thought crossed his mind, for some reason, he suddenly felt a dryness in his mouth and throat.
Shen Shouyu slightly lifted his eyelids and silently gazed at that peaceful, delicate sleeping face.
After looking for a long time, he finally restrained his restlessness and shifted his gaze away.
…
The next morning, when Jiang Yin woke up, Shen Shouyu hadn’t left yet.
Still groggy, she sat up and glanced at the young man sleeping as straight as a mannequin beside her, feeling somewhat surprised.
Sunlight filtered through the bed curtains, faintly revealing the late hour. Just as Jiang Yin was wondering why he was lingering in bed today, he spoke: “…A Yin?”
“…”
Jiang Yin steadied herself, hummed in acknowledgment, and asked, “Has young master’s injury improved?”
Her wrist was grasped. Shen Shouyu’s voice was still hoarse, but his tone was gentle: “It’s fine. No need to worry about me.”
After a pause, he continued, “I heard Lady Li came yesterday. What was the matter?”
When Li Zhixin came yesterday, Jiang Yin knew Shen Shouyu would find out about it, so she had already prepared a response.
When he asked, she didn’t hesitate at all and answered truthfully: “Lady Li said she will soon be getting married… but the person she’s marrying is not Prince Qi.”
“…Hmm.”
Shen Shouyu rubbed her wrist, his face showing no emotion: “…That’s a pity.”
“Young master also feels regretful?”
“Of course not.”
The hand on his wrist released, and Shen Shouyu opened his eyes to “look” at Jiang Yin, his dull gaze as still as dead ashes: “It’s just a marriage. What is there to regret?”
“…”
Jiang Yin was taken aback for a moment, then sighed: “Is that what you think, young master?”
Shen Shouyu shifted his gaze away, pushing himself up from the bed: “Yes.”
“Then aren’t you curious about who stole Prince Qi’s beloved?”
“…”
The figure turned away from Jiang Yin, putting on his shoes, stiffened for an instant. After a long pause, he finally turned his face slightly to ask her: “Who?”