mtl008 Chapter 267 Shen Yanchu's Visit
Chapter 267 Shen Yanchu's Visit
Night, like a huge black silk ribbon, enveloped the entire Prime Minister's residence, quiet and profound.
Shi Wanxia rushed to her residence in a great hurry, her steps quick yet cautious, afraid of disturbing others.
She had just returned from a secret place containing crucial clues about her past, but she was exhausted and under immense stress.
Because it was too dark, she couldn't see the path under her feet at all and could only grope her way forward by relying on her memory and senses. Suddenly, her foot tripped over a protruding stone, and she fell forward, crashing heavily to the ground.
The fall aggravated the wound on her back, which had been left from a previous accident. The pain instantly made her wince and break out in a cold sweat.
But she knew this was not the time to linger. Enduring the pain, Shi Wanxia quickly got up, dusted herself off, and continued walking towards the east wing.
The moonlight, like water, filtered through the dappled leaves and fell upon her, outlining her lonely and aloof figure. It was as if the turmoil of the world had nothing to do with her, yet she harbored countless secrets and worries in her heart.
Shi Wanxia finally returned to her room. She breathed a sigh of relief and just wanted to lie down on the bed and rest to relieve the fatigue and pain of the day.
However, the moment she stepped into the room, she keenly sensed something was amiss. By the dim moonlight, she saw a figure sitting quietly on her bed.
Shi Wanxia was startled. Who could it be so late? Her first thought was of the maid on night watch. Perhaps something had delayed her, which was why she was in her bed.
Just as she was about to tell the person to leave, the person stood up and slowly walked towards her. In the moonlight streaming in through the window, Shi Wanxia saw a tall and slender figure, and she immediately realized that this was definitely not a maid.
As the man approached, the moonlight illuminated his face, and Shi Wanxia finally recognized him as Shen Yanchu. A strange emotion welled up within her, a mixture of surprise and a touch of panic.
Why is he here so late at night instead of sleeping? Besides, this is the Prime Minister's residence, not his Prince Xiang's residence. His unauthorized intrusion is really against the rules.
Just as she was about to shout for help, Shi Wanxia felt it was inappropriate. After all, this was the Prime Minister's residence, and if things got out of hand, it would be even harder to explain later.
So, she suppressed her dissatisfaction and doubt and asked, "Your Highness, why are you here in my room so late at night instead of sleeping?"
Shen Yanchu paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Actually, he had arrived long ago and had secretly followed Shi Wanxia to Cui Zhihao's place. He peeked from the corner outside the door and naturally saw that Miss Shi and her third uncle were actually sharing a bed.
At that moment, his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, causing him immense pain.
In his heart, Shi Wanxia was always an extraordinary woman; she was intelligent, independent, strong, and had her own ideas and pursuits.
But seeing her in a room with a man in the dead of night, he felt as if his understanding of the world had been turned upside down. It would be a lie to say he wasn't heartbroken; he felt that everything he had cherished and expected had been a joke.
In his view, even if Cui Zhihao gave up his identity as a member of the Qinghe Cui family, he was still not good enough for Miss Shi.
"Miss Shi, where have you been so late?"
Shen Yanchu tried his best to make his voice sound calm, but his slightly trembling tone betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Shi Wanxia was taken aback. She felt that her whereabouts had nothing to do with Shen Yanchu, since their relationship was now more distant than that of ordinary friends.
"Your Highness, it's late at night. As a prince, it's improper for you to trespass into a woman's private quarters! Please leave, Your Highness. I'm tired, so please excuse me." With that, she walked straight to the door, opened it, and gestured for Shen Yanchu to leave.
But at this moment, Shen Yanchu was filled with rage. He slammed the door shut, took a step in front of Shi Wanxia, grabbed her hand, and his eyes burned with anger and questioning: "I'm rude? I don't know if a young lady who is not yet married has any sense of shame. Meeting a man secretly in the middle of the night, if word gets out, your position as a lady-in-waiting will be over!"
Shi Wanxia was enraged by his sudden actions and words. She forcefully broke free from Shen Yanchu's hand, her eyes filled with anger and disdain.
That guy is shameless, he even followed me! Wait a minute, where I go and who I meet, what does it have to do with him?
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Likewise, Your Highness, please leave! What I do is none of your business; we've only met by chance. Besides, whether or not someone can become a lady-in-waiting is His Majesty's decision, and you have no right to interfere!"
Looking at Shi Wanxia's angry face, Shen Yanchu suddenly felt a surge of regret. He knew that his actions just now had been somewhat excessive, but jealousy and anger had clouded his judgment.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to salvage the situation, but for a moment he didn't know how to start.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense and awkward. The two stared at each other silently, the moonlight shining on them as if telling the story of their complicated and tangled emotional entanglement.
Outside the window, the night wind blew, and the leaves rustled, seemingly sighing for the complex emotions of the couple.
After a long silence, Shen Yanchu slowly spoke, his voice tinged with weariness and helplessness: "Miss Shi, I... I was just worried about you. I acted impulsively just now. Please don't be angry."
Shi Wanxia snorted coldly: "Worried about me? Your Highness's way of being worried is quite unique."
Shen Yanchu gave a bitter smile: "I know my behavior today disappointed you, but when I saw you with him, I just couldn't control myself."
Shi Wanxia turned her head away, not wanting to look at him anymore.
Shen Yanchu felt a pang of pain in his heart. He understood Shi Wanxia's meaning, but how could he be willing to give up like this? "Miss Shi, I will not give up. I will make you understand my feelings."
After saying that, he gave Shi Wanxia a deep look, then turned and left the room.
Shi Wanxia was completely confused, finding Shen Yanchu's behavior utterly inexplicable. She couldn't be bothered to deal with this strange person who had barged into her room and disturbed her peace of mind.
She quickly tidied her clothes and went to bed. The commotion of the night had left her exhausted, and she soon drifted off to sleep.
Outside the window, the night gradually faded, and the dawn quietly arrived. Soft light shone through the window frame onto the ground, creating a faint golden halo.
Inside the Prime Minister's residence, the maids had been waiting outside for a long time. They stood quietly in the courtyard, not daring to utter a sound.
As the hour of Chenshi (7:45 AM) had passed, there was still no movement from Miss Shi's room. The group looked at each other, somewhat at a loss, filled with anxiety, yet dared not rashly knock on the door to disturb her.