In the Grand Tutor's residence.
On a low rosewood table in the inner room, an octagonal incense burner with gold filigree slowly released wisps of cloud-like smoke, its fragrance lingering.
Lin Yuan, facing the bronze mirror, was fiddling with a pair of jade earrings inlaid with colorful gems. "Father is truly biased. He directly sends such fine things to that fool Lin Yanxi's room. Does she deserve it? Humph!"
A maidservant, covered in bruises, knelt on the ground and crawled a few steps to collapse at Lin Yuan's feet, kowtowing fervently.
"Eldest Miss, the Second Miss is still missing, and you've taken items from her room. Please, Eldest Miss, show mercy!" The maid, Chestnut, trembled as she clutched Lin Yuan's hem, blood seeping from her forehead.
Lin Yuan yanked the maid's hair back, slapping her twice with a mocking tone. "Second Miss? She doesn't deserve that title. I'm telling you, she's just a fool I can mold as I please. And are you sure she can even come back?"
Chestnut's cheeks swelled high. Her hands froze in mid-air, her eyes filled with terror as Lin Yuan kicked her to the ground.
At the corner of the mansion gate, Lin Yuan deliberately mussed her neatly styled hair in front of the bronze mirror, each stray strand meticulously placed to create an appearance of disheveled, yet beautiful, exhaustion.
She stepped out of the mansion and walked towards the man by the carriage. The arrogant smile on her face instantly transformed into one of helplessness and panic the moment she crossed the threshold.
Lin Yuan approached the carriage, her eyes red, her voice thick with a nasal tone. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Shen Qingyun alighted from the carriage and said gently, "Sister Yuan'er, why the great haste?"
"Second sister is missing. I sent people to search all night and found no trace. Father and Mother are not in the mansion. I fear we will be late for our palace visit. What are we to do?" Tears welled up and rolled down Lin Yuan's cheeks. She dabbed them with a handkerchief, sobbing softly.
Shen Qingyun had met Lin Yuan a year ago at a temple fair. As the Crown Prince, he had offered blessings to the people from a high platform. It was then that Lin Yuan realized her foolish sister was to marry such a noble and elegant man.
She deliberately performed a song for peace and prosperity, catching Shen Qingyun's attention. Everything proceeded perfectly according to her plan, and she and the Crown Prince soon fell in love.
A few days ago, Shen Qingyun had told Lin Yuan that he would officially betroth Lin Yanxi at the hairpin ceremony. He promised Lin Yuan a proper title only after he ascended the throne.
Upon hearing Lin Yuan's words, Shen Qingyun's eyes darkened. He quickly regained his usual gentle demeanor, softly tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Don't worry, I've already dispatched more men to search. Lin Yanxi will surely return safely."
Lin Yuan nodded, her tears flowing like pear blossoms. "I am truly worried about my sister. The most pressing matter now is how to account for the hairpin ceremony. If we are late for our palace visit, the Empress might blame Lin Yanxi for her foolishness and lack of manners, thus implicating the Grand Tutor's residence."
Shen Qingyun understood her concern and smiled knowingly. "It is commendable that Sister Yuan is still so concerned about the Grand Tutor's residence and considers the greater good. Why don't you accompany me to the palace first? Since you are both daughters of the Grand Tutor, you can attend the hairpin ceremony. I will inform the Empress that you will be attending in your sister's stead."
Lin Yuan suppressed her joy and feigned a hesitant, timid expression. "This, this might not be proper, would it?"
Before Shen Qingyun could reply, a clear voice rang out.
"This is indeed improper!"
The sound of light horse hooves accompanied by a sharp neighing echoed as they approached, stopping not far from the gate of the Grand Tutor's residence.
The young man on the horse was wrapped in a dark cloak. His pale skin accentuated the alluring redness of his lips, while his icy, yet captivating, peach blossom eyes held an undeniable hint of ferocity and disdain as he glanced at the crowd.
Seated in front of him was a woman, half a shoulder shorter, clinging tightly to his sleeve on the fast-moving horse, as if afraid of falling.
Shen Muzhou completely ignored the Crown Prince and Lin Yuan. He leaned his thin lips close to the girl's ear and whispered in a voice only they could hear, "If even half of what happened last night gets out, I will have you thrown into the 'Chai Pen' execution."
The 'Chai Pen' execution involved throwing a living person into a den of venomous snakes.
Lin Yanxi frowned, picturing her body covered in crawling, biting snakes. She shivered. Truly a pervert.
She awkwardly dismounted, nearly sliding off the horse. Shen Muzhou, with quick reflexes, reached out and steadied her, then tossed her off the horse as if she were a chick.
Lin Yanxi recoiled in disgust and cupped her hands. "Ninth Prince, rest assured, this young lady knows what to say and what not to say. Thank you for escorting me. May we never meet again."
She was eager to part ways with this "evil spirit" and would never seek trouble. Besides...
Shen Muzhou was afflicted by a curse and had little time left to live.
He had not died of his cold illness in her previous life. Her soul ring had detected the power of the curse on him. Why had there been no sign of a curse on him in her past life?
Lin Yanxi walked a few steps, and only when she was sure Shen Muzhou wasn't lingering did her heart finally relax.
As she approached Shen Qingyun and Lin Yuan, a coldness entered her eyes.
Shen Muzhou, perched high on his horse, rode past them. He slightly reined in his horse and casually uttered, "You must have had a tiring night. This Prince will surely repay you handsomely."
His gaze swept dismissively over Shen Qingyun and Lin Yuan, lingering not for a moment, before he rode away.
"......"
Lin Yanxi's legs gave out upon hearing his words, and she nearly collapsed.
Malice. This was pure malice. What did he mean by 'a tiring night'?
He was relishing the drama. Who wanted his 'handsome reward'?
Shen Qingyun stared at Shen Muzhou's receding figure, his face ashen. Although Lin Yanxi was foolish, and he certainly didn't like her, they had a verbal betrothal from the Emperor. Shen Muzhou's open defiance was clearly an attempt to win over the Grand Tutor's faction!
Furthermore, it was a challenge to the Eastern Palace, disregarding the Crown Prince.
Lin Yuan's eyes trembled. She was utterly shocked. How could her supposedly foolish sister utter words like "improper"?
She had clearly arranged for bandits to abduct her. How could she have spent the night with the Ninth Prince?
Lin Yuan stepped forward, feigning concern. "Second sister, you've finally returned. I was so worried when you were missing all night. Are you feeling unwell?"
As she mentioned being missing all night, Lin Yuan suddenly raised her voice, secretly glancing at Shen Qingyun to observe his expression.
Shen Qingyun clenched his fist hidden within his sleeve, but maintained his usual gentle expression. "Sister Yanxi, why were you with Ninth Brother?"
After he spoke, they exchanged a look. What could they expect from a fool?
Lin Yuan was more concerned about whether the kidnappers had succeeded.
"Eldest Sister thinks I should be unwell? And Your Highness the Crown Prince thinks I would be with His Ninth Highness? What kind of situation do you think I was in?" Lin Yanxi's gaze was cold as she looked at the two of them, as if trying to pierce through them.
Lin Yuan was startled, stunned for a long moment, and even forgot to maintain her 'kind elder sister' persona.
How was this possible? This fool...
Shen Qingyun frowned, glancing at Lin Yuan. Then, turning to Lin Yanxi, his brow relaxed slightly, and he said with delight, "Sister Yanxi, have you recovered your senses?"
The way he called her "Sister Yanxi" gave Lin Yanxi goosebumps.
This Crown Prince was truly laughable. When she was foolish, his eyes were full of disdain. Now, he spoke so intimately.
Lin Yuan also chimed in, "You, how could you..."
"How could I no longer be a fool?" Lin Yanxi's gaze fell on Lin Yuan's earlobes, where the exquisite jade earrings made her appear even more noble.
Lin Yuan felt uneasy under Lin Yanxi's stare and quickly tried to smooth things over. "Sister doesn't mean it that way. What happened during your disappearance? We searched everywhere and couldn't find you. Sister was terribly worried and anxious."
Lin Yanxi let out a scoff. She was already beautiful, and this smile made her even more captivating.
Lin Yuan subconsciously smoothed her hair, using it to cover her earrings.
She reached out, pushed aside her stray hairs, and gently caressed Lin Yuan's earlobe. Although she smiled, her eyes held a hint of disgust, making Lin Yuan's heart pound.
When would this fool come back, but she had to choose this moment, and now she was so terrifying!
It was just a pair of earrings. If she wanted them, she could have them. Lin Yanxi wouldn't dare to say a word even if she had the courage.
Lin Yuan said guiltily, "Sister was missing all night. Why don't you rest well first? I will attend the hairpin ceremony in your place. Since Sister is already betrothed, it doesn't matter if you attend or not."
"A Lan! Quickly escort Second Miss back to the residence to rest."
The hairpin ceremony was an annual event held in the palace, attended by unmarried royal relatives and nobles of marriageable age. They could present a hairpin or a sachet to someone they admired. If the recipient accepted the gift, it signified mutual affection, and a marriage would be bestowed by the Empress.
"Ah!"
Lin Yuan had barely finished speaking when a terrifying pain shot from her earlobe throughout her body. Blood trickled down her neck, staining her newly made dress for the day.
Her ear was ripped open, and the pain made her tremble, her breathing ragged. As a pampered young lady, she had never experienced such pain. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
In Lin Yanxi's hand was a blood-stained jade earring. "I think it matters greatly whether one attends the hairpin ceremony or not."
Shen Qingyun stepped forward to shield Lin Yuan. "Lin Yanxi, what are you doing? Yuan'er was only concerned for you, worried that after just regaining your senses and being missing all night, your body might not cope. She wanted you to rest. Why are you treating her like this?"
Lin Yanxi blinked playfully, her eyes teasing. "No longer calling me 'Sister Yanxi'? Sister truly is concerned about me. While I was missing and in danger, you had already taken my belongings. Do you like these jade earrings so much? Or had Sister already planned to bully a simpleton like me?"
Lin Yuan, covering her earlobe, knew she was in the wrong. She could only continue to cry, sobbing softly, "I... Sister, you've truly wronged me. I couldn't sleep or eat properly when I couldn't find any news of you. I went to your room to see if there were any clues. I saw these exquisite jade earrings and borrowed them to wear. I never expected to anger Sister so much."
Lin Yanxi let out a light laugh and retorted, "You couldn't sleep yet you didn't forget to change into a new dress. You couldn't eat, so you went to my room to search for clues in my jewelry box. You claim you 'borrowed' them, but taking something without asking is stealing! While I was missing and my life was uncertain, my own sister stole my jewelry. Do you think I should be angry?"
Lin Yuan was already burning with rage, wishing Lin Yanxi dead a thousand times, but on the surface, she remained meek and gentle, with an expression of unspoken hardship.
"If Second Sister thinks of Sister this way, then there is no need for me to argue further."
Shen Qingyun intervened, "Enough. It's inevitable for sisters to quarrel. Let's not argue further, lest the passersby see us and laugh."
Lin Yanxi looked at the blood-stained jade earring and pondered for a few seconds. Shen Qingyun was deliberately protecting Lin Yuan.
Those two scoundrels!
But she had plenty of ways to deal with them.
A skinny young man kneeling on the street corner looked at them coldly. He accidentally met Lin Yanxi's clear, bright eyes.