Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 80
These days, the Li Mansion is obviously more lively than before.
Ever since Taoist Master Ge was imprisoned in the Dali Temple, the Sixth Prince’s actions gradually increased. For example, he quickly gave Li Di a concubine.
As if he were afraid that Li Di would not be sincere, the concubine who was sent in had at least three points of similarity with Shen Yu in her features.
The saying that it takes three women to make a drama, was proven to be true.
He Wanru is unable to serve a man in her current condition and can only use the baby in her belly to win his favor. In less than ten days, she has been suffering from morning sickness and spotting.
As for that concubine, not only did she have the Sixth Prince as her backer, she was also extremely charming, with a seductive face that men could not resist at night. Under the scorching sun, her clothes were as thin as a cicada’s wing, and her collar was so low that you could see her cleavage. When she ran over and shouted “My dear”, people would want to cover their eyes.
Her shameless intention to seduce men was not concealed at all.
On the day when Concubine Qiao offered tea to Shen Yu, although Li Di sat beside her and never glanced at her, Shen Yu knew Li Di too well. There was no reason for him to refuse to eat the meat that the Sixth Prince put in front of him.
Sure enough, that night, no matter how much He Wanru cried and made a fuss, Li Di remained indifferent. He even asked to bring bath water three times in one night, which really made He Wanru sick with anger.
Qingli whispered, “Madam, Concubine He seems to be really sick this time. The lady and the Master are arguing.”
“How can they not quarrel? The baby in He Wanru’s belly is the grandson that Wen Shi misses every day.”
When a woman sees another woman, she knows what is going on. The moment Shen Shu saw Concubine Qiao, she knew that the backyard of the Li Mansion would never be peaceful again.
Shen Shu specially cleaned up Lan Ning Garden for Concubine Qiao to live in. Lan Ning Garden is elegant and quiet, with lush and verdant trees, and is not far from Li Di’s study.
However, the Li Mansion occupies a small area. While it is close to the study, it is only separated from He Wanru’s courtyard by a wall.
Judging from Concubine Qiao’s voice as sweet as a silver bell, how long did she call out that night, she is sure no one else can hear her more clearly than He Wanru.
In the evening, Li Di’s mother came to Shen Shu’s courtyard angrily, pushed away the little girl guarding the door, and said angrily: “You did this on purpose, Shen Shu, do you know that you almost caused Wan Ru to lose her child?!”
“I don’t know what mother is talking about.”
Madam Wen smiled coldly, “Let that vixen live next door to Wanru, almost face to face, how could you come up with such an idea!”
Shen Shu looked at her directly, “Mother, I’m afraid you have misunderstood. The only empty courtyard in our Li Mansion is the Lanning Garden and the Qiuyi Garden on the northernmost side. The Qiuyi Garden has not been repaired for a long time and is overgrown with grass. If I let Concubine Qiao live in that place, I’m afraid I’ll be known for mistreating the concubine.”
“You are such a sharp-tongued girl! You talk back to me every day. I wonder if you still have me, your mother-in-law, in your eyes! Okay, okay, today I will teach you how to be the matron of our Li family!” After saying that, Wen took a duster from the servant.
Madam Wen walked up to Shen Shu and just as she raised her hand, Qingli stood in front of Shen Shu, “Madam, you can’t touch my lady!”
“Get out of the way! Who the hell do you think you are?”
Shen Shu’s eyes darkened and she said coldly, “Qingli, just move aside. I want to see if my mother-in-law can really do it today.”
Although Madam Wen was furious, she knew that once she did it, Li Di would definitely blame her. She originally just wanted to scare Shen Shu, but when Shen Shu provoked her like that, she couldn’t hold back and really ended up hitting her.
Madam Wen had done farm work before, so her hands were very strong and she didn’t know how to control her strength. After a few swings, bruises appeared on Shen Shu’s neck and arms.
“What are you doing, mother!” Li Di suddenly appeared at the door and shouted loudly.
Madam Wen was stunned and the duster in her hand fell to the ground with a “thump”.
“Son, I was just angry…”
Li Di had a stern face, took a deep breath and said, “Mother, I have something to say to you.” After that, he turned and left.
Madam Wen clenched her fists and followed.
Time passed slowly, and the candle burned lower and lower. Li Di returned to Shen Shu’s room at about midnight, holding a bottle of medicine in his hand. He whispered, “Shen Shu, come here. I’ll apply the medicine for you.”
Shen Shu’s eyes were red and she whispered, “No need.”
“I’m sorry for making you suffer today.” Li Di sighed, “Why didn’t you hide from her?”
Shen Shu raised her eyes and said, “You saw how mother looked just now. How could I hide? I am innocent! He Wanru wasn’t feeling well but mother put the blame on me! Lord Li, please give me a solution. I don’t even have any money. How can I pay for the renovation of Qiuyi Garden?”
Li Di fell into a long silence.
He looked into Shen Shu’s eyes and weighed the options for a long time. He didn’t know whether it was because the Sixth Prince had been frustrated repeatedly in the court or because he felt pity for Shen Shu, but he said in an unnatural way, “Tomorrow, tomorrow I will send your dowry to you, okay?”
He held Shen Shu’s hand and said softly: “If you are still angry, you can hit me instead.”
Shen Shu shook him off and said, “Lord Li, please use your gentle and loving word on Concubine Qiao.”
Li Di smiled, “She was sent by the Sixth Prince. I have to deal with her. How can I compare her with you? Shen Shu, I will stay here with you tonight.”
Shen Shu endured the discomfort of her stomach churning and glared at him with her bewitching eyes, “Don’t lie to me.”
Shen Shu got up and quietly lit some incense before going to the bathroom.
When she came back, Li Di had already fainted in bed.
She sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his face, her fingertips trembling.
Shen Shu was very careful when using the incense, so when Li Di got up the next day, he did not feel any discomfort. After opening his eyes, he saw that Shen Shu was still asleep, so he touched the purple mark on her neck with his hand.
As promised, Li Di delivered Shen Shu’s dowry at noon the next day.
Qingli knelt down beside Shen Shu and said, “Miss, let’s run away. I will go with you and serve you for the rest of my life.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Shen Shu pulled her up and said with a smile, “Come and help me change my clothes, and cover the marks on my neck. I have to go to the Dali Temple soon, don’t let anyone see it.”
“But what about the Third Miss?”
“No, I have something to say to my father alone today. I don’t want her to know these things.”
——
Since Shen Shu came to the Dali Temple Prison every month, many of the prison guards knew her.
Shen Shu walked through two narrow passages and came to the cell where Shen Wenqi was imprisoned. As usual, she needed to wait here for Zhou Shu’an to bring the key.
There was a sound of footsteps approaching, Zhou Shu’an walked straight to her side, grasped the lock with his left hand, and then the sound of the door lock rattling was heard.
Zhou Shu’an pulled out the key and glanced at Shen Shu.
Although there was no daylight in the cell, the silver candlelight placed in the recesses around the cell was enough to illuminate the place.
The man’s sharp eyes swept across Shen Shu’s neck without hesitation, his hands suddenly stopped moving and he frowned.
When their eyes met, Shen Shu lowered her head and said, “Thank you, Lord Zhou.”
Zhou Shu’an dismissed the jailer and the prison warden, sat alone outside the door, and listened to the noise inside.
After a long period of silence, Zhou Shu’an guessed that Shen Yu had written a letter to Shen Wenqi today. Sure enough, the sound of paper folding was heard from inside.
Shen Wenqi said in a trembling voice: “Shen Shu, what are you going to do in the future? What are you going to do!”
Shen Shu said: “A woman’s life shouldn’t be limited to just getting married and having children. Princess Yu An can enter the Taoist temple, so why can’t your daughter?”
As soon as the word “Taoist temple” came out of her mouth, Zhou Shu’an’s eyes froze and he was in a daze for a long time.
Taoist temple?
Do you want to be a Taoist nun?
Half an hour later, Shen Shu slowly walked out, nodded and said to Zhou Shu’an: “I’m sorry for being delayed a little longer today, I hope you can forgive me.”
“No problem.”
Zhou Shu’an locked the door and after a moment, his adam’s apple moved slightly and he suddenly said, “I have something to say to Madam Li.”
“Is it related to my father?” Shen Shu turned around and asked.
Zhou Shu’an said in a calm voice: “Just follow me and you will know.”
Shen Shu looked at his dark eyes and felt a little nervous. To be honest, she didn’t want to go, but this was the Dali Temple, and he had something to say to her, so she couldn’t refuse.
In the silence, Shen Shu followed him to a place she had never seen before and asked cautiously, “Excuse me, Lord Zhou, where is this?”
“This is where Dali Temple keeps confidential files.” Zhou Shu’an opened the door and said, “Come in.”
“Why did you bring me here?”
Zhou Shu’an just looked at her and didn’t answer.
“Lord Zhou, is there anything you can’t say outside?”
Zhou Shu’an looked at her calmly and asked, “Are you on guard against me?”
At this point, Shen Shu had no choice but to go in. Zhou Shu’an turned around and closed the door. With a “ding” sound, the surroundings immediately fell into darkness.
“Lord Zhou, aren’t you going to light the lamp?” Shen Shu asked as she stood not far from the door.
There were clattering footsteps as Zhou Shu’an slowly approached her holding an oil lamp.
He walked behind her, tilted the silver lamp in his hand slightly, so that the light and shadow were all cast on her slender neck.
The purple marks that were covered up with powder became clearly visible in an instant.
Shen Shu’s heart sank suddenly. She couldn’t stand the breath of this strange man beside her ear…
She held her breath, took a step to the left and her beautiful eyes widened, “Lord Zhou.”
Zhou Shu’an placed the oil lamp on the table and three words came out of his thin lips, “Who did it?
The author has something to say:
I would like to recommend a song to you, it’s very nice, “loving strangers”
Even though it’s an English song, I feel something special when watching this couple.
T/N – the song “Loving strangers” is really a nice song🥹🥹
