Сhарter 13: Can thе Sеcond Yоung Lady Rеаllу Rеfusе?
Shе turned аnd sаw Хiаo Zheng striding quiсkly toward her.
Не worе а dаrk суan brосаde robе, his stеps swift аnd heavy, thе wind whipрing at the hem оf his clоthes, his brоws аnd eyеs carrying undisguisеd аngеr.
Shеn Mingshu instinctivеlу stiffеnеd her baсk, imagеs from her рast life flаshing suddenly thrоugh her mind.
That dау, Lin Qingуan hаd сried pitifully, аcсusing hеr of cаusing her miscаrriagе.
Хiаo Zhеng believеd it. Without evеn аsking fоr clarification, he stormed intо hеr courtyard, just likе nоw, closing in steр bу step.
He grabbed her neck, pinned her against the carved screen, his gaze so fierce it seemed he wanted to strangle her to death.
“Shen Mingshu, why did you harm her? The child in her belly was innocent!”
He would rather believe another’s tearful complaint than listen to a single word of her explanation.
When she snapped back to reality, Shen Mingshu had already instinctively taken a step back, her expression guarded.
What was he doing here again?
What was his problem this time?
Xiao Zheng covered the distance in a few quick strides, stopping before her. “Shen Mingshu, what exactly is wrong with you?”
“What have you been sulking about these past few days? Is it just because I didn’t come to you that night?”
She stood with her back to the street entrance, unaware that not far away, Jiang Xun stood beneath a locust tree.
His gaze passed over the crowd, settling on her.
Qing He stood at his side, asking quietly, “My lord, shall we go over?”
“No need.”
As long as she wasn’t being bullied, he wouldn’t interfere with Shen Mingshu’s interactions with others. He believed she had the ability to handle things herself.
Even if that person was Xiao Zheng, he wouldn’t interfere.
At the mansion gate.
Shen Mingshu stood on the steps, her lovely face cold, her tone full of impatience.
“It’s not about that night. I’ve just suddenly come to understand some things.”
Xiao Zheng, feeling agitated, spoke with some urgency, “What things?”
He had never seen her like this before.
Her features were still as gentle and delicate as ever, but the way she looked at him was as if he were a stranger.
But they weren’t strangers; they had grown up together!
Shen Mingshu’s heart was filled with resentment, yet she didn’t know how to say it.
She couldn’t confront him with matters from her past life; he wouldn’t remember them anyway.
All she could do now was ignore him! Avoid him!
Wait for the right moment to kill him!
Xiao Tang, sensing Shen Mingshu’s intent, stepped forward, placing herself between the two.
“Young Master Xiao, it’s getting late. The Second Young Lady needs to return to the mansion to rest. Please understand.”
With that, she turned slightly, making a gesture of invitation.
Shen Mingshu let out a soft sigh of relief.
Good Xiao Tang! I’ll reward you handsomely when we get back!
Seeing that she was truly about to leave, Xiao Zheng’s expression suddenly changed. He took a few quick steps after her, his voice rising sharply, “Wait!”
“Would you like to go see the Nine Splendors Hairpin? I’ll take you, alright?”
Shen Mingshu’s steps paused. She glanced back at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Was Xiao Zheng… inviting her? Asking for her opinion?
Xiao Zheng’s voice had been particularly loud this time. Finally, Jiang Xun, not far away, clearly heard his words.
Qing He immediately turned his gaze, and sure enough, he saw his lord’s expression had darkened.
The air seemed to grow several degrees colder.
Qing He sighed inwardly.
This was bad…
Everyone knew how much the Second Young Lady had once liked Xiao Zheng.
Nowadays, the Second Young Lady had changed a lot and had grown cold toward Xiao Zheng.
But this time, Xiao Zheng was the one actively inviting her.
Second Young Lady… could she really refuse?
At the mansion gate, the tall vermilion lacquered doors cast long shadows.
Shen Mingshu stood on the steps, her skin so pale it seemed almost translucent.”No time, and I don’t want to go. I have other matters to attend to.”
Who cares why he changed.
In this lifetime, she never wanted to have any further entanglement with Xiao Zheng.
The only connection she wished for was to see Xiao Zheng receive his just retribution.
May he die!
Xiao Zheng stood frozen in place, staring blankly at her retreating figure, his mind completely blank.
She actually refused him?
He had gone this far, had already lowered himself before her! Yet she still rejected him!
Xiao Zheng’s throat moved slightly, his chest feeling as if something were stuck there, an indescribable discomfort.
Shen Mingshu walked toward the main gate of the Shen residence, her mind recalling events from her past life.
In her previous life, Xiao Zheng often took Lin Qingyan out alone…
When they went, she didn’t know.
Where they went, she didn’t know.
They never took her along.
Only once did they bring her to burn incense in the outskirts of the capital, and they encountered bandits.
They abandoned her, causing her death.
Outside the residence, Qing He stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to look toward the main gate, muttering to himself, “What exactly was said… Why did she just leave? Did she agree to go or not?”
But no matter how hard he squinted, the distance was ultimately too great. He could only see Shen Mingshu’s retreating back and Xiao Zheng standing motionless in place.
Just as he couldn’t resist taking another step forward, Jiang Xun’s voice came from beside him, “Let’s go in.”
Qing He turned to glance at Jiang Xun.
The other’s expression was as usual, revealing neither joy nor anger.
“Yes.” Qing He quickly retracted his foot and responded softly.
Listening-to-Pines Pavilion, study.
Qing He entered carrying freshly brewed tea, carefully placing it on a corner of the desk.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally couldn’t help but speak up, “My lord, you just directly declined the Fourth Prince’s invitation like that?”
“But tomorrow, the Second Young Lady might not necessarily go to watch the opera either.”
Behind the desk, Jiang Xun didn’t speak, his slender fingers turning the pages of the book before him. “Enough.”
Qing He reluctantly replied, “Yes.”
After he withdrew, Jiang Xun closed the book and raised a hand to press against his temple.
In his heart, he was also completely uncertain.
What weight did he truly hold in her heart?
Could he really compare to Xiao Zheng…