Chapter 40: Resentment

  Ever since Shen Zhihua realized that Xie San might know them, but they didn't recognize his true face on Mount Lu, his brow had not relaxed. Even when Shen Jinglun told him that everything would be clear once they saw Xie San, he couldn't help but worry.

  Shen Zhihua stood guard in the sick child's room, woodenly watching as the doctors gave the child acupuncture. In his mind, he kept repeating one sentence: If Xie San wasn't Xie Zhenghui, why did he insist on calling himself "Xie San", and why was it "Xie"!

  "Shen Guan Jia." Wen Zhu called out softly outside the door.

  Shen Zhihua quietly walked to the door and took over the brocade box from Wen Zhu's hand. Shen Jinglun returned to the city at dawn, when it was still raining, he left Lin Xiyuan's portrait and bamboo flute in Qing Song Guan, and only ordered Wen Zhu to retrieve them after the rain stopped. Seeing Wen Zhu glance at him from the corner of his eye, Shen Zhihua asked sideways: "Is there something?"

  "On the side of Qing Song Guan, someone offered one hundred taels of silver to the gatekeeper's wife to deliver a message to her relative's wife."

  "Alright, I know." Shen Zhihua nodded calmly and turned to walk towards the west wing. After putting down the brocade box, he repeated what Wen Zhu had said to Shen Jinglun once again.

  Her slender fingers slid over the brocade box as she whispered softly, "It seems he still hasn't made a move, and has been harboring doubts from an early stage."

  "Old man, his subordinates are worth at least one hundred taels as soon as they make a move. I'm afraid it's just like you estimated, either extremely wealthy or of high social status."

  "There's no need to keep guessing. Since he claims to be surnamed 'Xie', he will show up sooner or later." Shen Jinglin's thumb slowly stroked the brocade box, appearing distracted.

  Shen Zhihua watched his actions, secretly sighing. No matter how rational a person is, when they encounter the woman they truly like, they will be as if deeply trapped in a swamp, unable to extricate themselves. Now, he could only hope that Xie San had nothing to do with the Yong'an Marquis's estate, and everything was just a coincidence.

  Half a time later, Shen Zhihua learned that He Huan had finished lunch, drank the medicinal soup, and was preparing to return home in a carriage. He rushed to the second gate and saw the carriage driving out of the main gate. He was slightly surprised. He and Shen Jinglun would not let He Huan entangle them, nor would they listen to her nonsense, but she left quietly, which was beyond his expectation.

  Inside the carriage, He Huan knew that if she continued to stay in the Shen family, she would only incur Shen Jinglun's disgust. With a sigh, she got on the carriage. Through the gap in the curtain, she stared blankly at the high walls and green tiles of the Shen house getting farther and farther away from her. At this moment, although there were countless reluctance in her heart, she could only secretly pray that her son would live strongly and wait for the day when mother and son would reunite.

  In the teahouse by the street, Lin Mengyan wore a veil on her head and sat silently by the window of the elegant room on the second floor. As she saw the Shen family's carriage slowly heading towards the He family, her hands tightly grasped the windowsill, her slender fingernails almost piercing into the wood.

  This is the road He Huan must take to go home, and she has already waited for two hours. Shen Jinglin drove her whole family out of the house, what about He Huan? She not only had lunch at the Shen's house but also had a carriage sent to take her back home. Why?!

  What does Shen Jinglun like about them? Their appearance?

  "He Huan and his elder sister are nothing alike." Lin Mengyan spoke slowly, her tone filled with hatred.

  Mei Qing stood aside with her head down, not daring to speak, her two arms hanging unnaturally. Earlier, when they returned to the Lin's house, she didn't know what the masters said behind closed doors, but she saw Lin Mengyan rush out of the room with a red and swollen face. She was afraid in her heart, but as the personal maid of the master, she had no choice but to follow.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, back in the room, the master cursed the He family while using an embroidery needle to vent his anger on her. The slender embroidery needle pierced her arm, not drawing too much blood, but making her heart ache.

  At this moment, Mei Qing seemed to see the ferocious face hidden behind the veil. She knelt down with a "thud" and begged in a sorrowful voice: "Miss, why not... go home?"

  "Even you think He Huan is prettier than me?" Lin Mengyan glared at Mei Qing furiously. Her cheek was burning with pain, her father had slapped her after listening to her account, instead of going to the He family to settle the score. It was clear that He Huan had faked an illness and set a trap with the He family to humiliate her in front of Shen Jinglun.

  Mei Qing didn't dare speak directly and tactfully said: "Miss, everyone knows that Big Brother-in-law can't remarry He Da Xiaojie."

  Lin Mengyan sneered and looked out the window again. Suddenly, she exclaimed, pointing at two people walking side by side on the street, "Isn't that Lin, the captain of the yamen? Who is the man beside him?"

  Under the tea house, Lin caught up with one side and explained to Xie San: "The He family has been running a medical clinic in Ji Zhou for generations. Not only is their medical skill good, but their medical ethics are also good. What he says must be true." As he spoke, he secretly measured Xie San.

  During lunchtime, they had visited three clinics, and the doctors all testified that Shen Nianxi was seriously ill. Even if he was lucky enough to be saved, he would still be left with a chronic illness.

  Xie San touched Lin's gaze, smiled and sighed: "Originally I didn't want to disturb the young master, but now that something has happened in the young master's house..." He took another deep breath, seemingly hesitant about whether or not he should go to the Shen family to offer condolences.

  Lin Bao Tou withdrew his gaze and looked in the direction of the Shen family's mansion. He had met Lin Xi Yan before, a woman as bright and sunny as a ray of sunshine, young, healthy, and full of vitality. How could she have given birth to a child with congenital deficiencies due to her weak physique? What he found most suspicious was that the midwife said that childbirth was already a perilous process, and Shen Da Niang was pampered and had a weak body, unable to withstand pain, and it was fate that she couldn't make it through. With his decades of experience in reading people, Lin Bao Tou could tell that the midwife's expression was flustered and her words were evasive, and she must not be telling the truth.

  In the brief silence, Xie San suddenly stopped in his tracks.

  "Thank you, Captain Lin, what's wrong?" Captain Lin glanced sideways.

  Xie San's face was uncertain, seeing that there were few people passing by, he lowered his voice and said: "Lin Hu Tou, I don't know if it's rude to ask a question."

  "Thank you, Captain, please speak."

  Xie San smiled and said, "Excuse me, but it's been ten years since the young master returned to Ji Zhou. How come he's getting married again after such a long time?" Before Lin could respond, he whispered an explanation: "It seems I have to go to the young master's house for a visit. I'm afraid that when the time comes, I might accidentally say something wrong."

  When Lin heard this, he was slightly surprised, but in an instant, he covered up his emotions and only said that everyone in Jizhou thought that Shen Jinglun and his ex-wife had a deep affection, but how things really were, he didn't know.

  Two men walked and talked, walking about 100 meters, Lin caught the head of the excuse that there were still official duties waiting for him, bid farewell to Xie San. He walked in the direction of the county government office, turned around and entered a small alley. Looking back, he saw no shadow of Xie San behind him, and he changed his way to go to the midwife's house. Unfortunately, when the midwife saw him, her eyes were difficult to hide her panic, but no matter how he asked, she did not change her words, saying that Lin Xi's body was weak, which would lead to her own death, and then gave birth to a premature son.

  Xie San watched Lin Zhen's back as he disappeared into the distance, then turned and walked towards a small wine shop deep in the alley.

  Chang'an rushed up to greet his master and anxiously asked: "Third Master, will Lin the captain help us?"

  "He still doesn't believe me, but he's also suspicious of Shen Jinglu. He'll help us investigate the matter of Shen Nianxi falling ill." Xie San's mouth curled up in a sly smile. Although Lin Zuo was on guard against him everywhere, he actually quite admired Lin Zuo.

  Chang'an was laughed at by Xie San, his hair standing on end. Unconsciously, he swallowed a mouthful of saliva and asked in a low voice: "Third Master, did Mr. Shen go to such great lengths just to lure you to the Shen residence? Isn't that a bit too exaggerated?"

  "He wants to lure me in, probably just 'by the way'. Xie San stroked his chin and muttered to himself: "What a pity, when he left Beijing, I was still too young and didn't get to see the magnificent first talent of the Liang Dynasty, what kind of splendor is it to be the best in the capital?"

  Chang'an was startled by Xie San's words and said with a bitter face: "Third Master, to say it is our fault for trespassing on the Shen family first."

  "Indeed." Xie nodded three times and walked up the wooden stairs of the small wine shop.

  Chang'an followed closely behind. Having followed his master for many years, he naturally knew that his master was in a bad mood. Shen Jinglun set up a trap to catch the turtle in the urn, but his own master was not just that "turtle", but also the object of Shen Jinglun's convenience to catch and play with at will, whoever discovered this fact would be in a bad mood.

  Chang'an's face flashed a hint of bitter smile, and he turned to say: "Third Master, as for He family's young miss, is it really going to end like this?"

  "What's the point of bringing her up for no reason?" Xie San's voice was full of impatience.

  Author Yiling's "Garden Fragrance" (book number 3149648): After crossing over, she became a discarded wife and also came with a bun!

  How to survive in a strange era? Is it to strive for strength or go with the flow? The wheel of fate turns again, and Ba Li Xiang says she just wants to live a stable life with her little package. Healing people, saving lives, planting medicinal herbs, wanting to live a carefree life. Suddenly, a man bursts out: "If you want to live a stable life, follow me!"