pillow bird spring

Cui Lingyi's voice is soft and pleasant to listen to.

It makes people feel completely unprepared.

Wen Xianli nodded in acknowledgment before releasing Shen Yinshuang's hand.

He didn't want to put Shen Yinshuang in a difficult position.

Before Wen Xianli could reply, Cui Lingyi's gaze fell on Shen Yinshuang.

It also carried a hint of a half-smile, a tentative probe.

"Miss Shen, how come you're so familiar with the young prince?" Cui Lingyi asked casually. "Otherwise, why would he be holding your hand? I think even though the people of the Great Zhou are open-minded, it shouldn't be this way, right?"

Shen Yinshuang stared intently at Cui Lingyi.

She wasn't stupid; she could tell the probing in his words.

But she understood Cui Lingyi's character and conduct even better.

If she answers even one wrong sentence, she will likely lose her life.

Therefore, Shen Yinshuang could only be extremely cautious.

Under these circumstances, Wen Xianli responded calmly: "I had only heard that there was a maple forest here, and I was wondering if I could see the last of the maple leaves. I never expected to run into an old friend of mine."

In just a few words, Wen Xianli explained it clearly.

Xiao Yin's gaze deepened.

His hands, which were behind his back, clenched slightly into fists.

He glanced coldly at Shen Yinshuang from the corner of his eye.

What a dear old friend.

Before him was Pei Shou'an, and after him was Wen Xianli.

Xiao Yin realized that he had indeed underestimated Shen Yinshuang.

However, on the surface, Xiao Yin remained completely calm and composed.

Upon hearing Wen Xianli's words, Cui Lingyi blinked and looked at Xiao Yin with an innocent expression.

"Brother Yin, Miss Shen actually knows the young prince. If she does, why has she suffered so much all these years?" Cui Lingyi asked innocently. "Now it seems we all underestimated Miss Shen."

These words made Wen Xianli frown.

He looked at Shen Yinshuang, but Shen Yinshuang did not speak.

Instead, Cui Lingyi smiled and said, "It seems that the young prince does not know? Miss Shen married Marquis Pei a few years ago, but was divorced three years later because she had no children. Later, she survived in a brothel. It was Marquis Pei who couldn't bear to see her like that and, remembering their past relationship, gave Miss Shen the status of a mistress and kept her by his side."

As she spoke, she covered her mouth and chuckled, "I used to feel sorry for Miss Shen's background. But now I think, if Miss Shen has a powerful backer like the young prince, why should I feel sorry for her?"

These words caused Wen Xianli's gaze to darken slightly.

I never expected Shen Yinshuang to have gone through all these years like this.

Cui Lingyi was clearly doing this on purpose.

This makes the meaning much clearer.

How could she let Shen Yinshuang find a powerful backer?

She will eliminate all threats completely, leaving no room for maneuver.

Thinking about it, she sneered inwardly.

"Lingyi, it's not that the Empress Dowager is looking for you, but if you stay here too long, it might cause delays." Xiao suppressed his emotions and reminded Cui Lingyi in a deep voice.

It was as if everything that happened here had nothing to do with him.

"Brother Yin, look at me, I almost forgot." Cui Lingyi stamped her foot, sounding a little coquettish. "Let's go quickly."

Xiao Yin hummed in agreement.

He nodded to Wen Xianli indifferently, without saying anything more.

Soon, Xiao Yin left with Cui Lingyi.

Throughout the entire process, Xiao Yin didn't say a single word to Shen Yinshuang.

Shen Yinshuang stood there passively.

Not moving at all.

Only after the two had walked away did Wen Xianli speak up: "Xiao Yin sees you as someone special. Cui Lingyi is clearly here for you."

Wen Xianli saw through the undercurrents between the three at a glance.

Shen Yinshuang did not answer immediately.

"Yinshuang, don't hide anything from me. I'm taking you away; I need to know the whole story," Wen Xianli reminded Shen Yinshuang.

Shen Yinshuang sighed silently at these words.

In the end, she didn't hide anything and explained her past with Xiao Yin to Wen Xianli.

When the Xiao family fell into trouble, she betrayed Xiao Yin for the sake of the Shen family. Later, she became Xiao Yin's mistress.

Years of time, years of grudges and affections, have been condensed into just a few short sentences.

Wen Xianli listened quietly, but never took his eyes off Shen Yingshuang.

"Cui Lingyi knows," Wen Xianli said frankly.

Shen Yinshuang did not deny it and remained standing.

"Her methods are remarkable; she is by no means as simple and naive as she appears. In the Prime Minister's residence, she has completely inherited Prime Minister Cui's ruthlessness and cunning." Wen Xianli remained calm.

"Mm." Shen Yinshuang nodded again.

"Yinshuang, tell me the truth. Are you hesitating here because of Xiao Yin? You love Xiao Yin, don't you?" Wen Xianli's words became increasingly suffocating.

Shen Yinshuang neither denied nor admitted it.

Her gaze remained unwavering, growing ever calmer.

But she suddenly found it difficult to talk about her past with Xiao Yin.

Wen Xianli did not force Shen Yinshuang.

"Senior brother, it's over between us, and there's no future for us." Shen Yinshuang finished speaking quietly after a long while. "From now on, we'll go our separate ways."

In such calm words.

Yet one could hear the sorrow in Shen Yinshuang's voice.

Even after he finished speaking, Wen Xianli's gaze fell on her, and he asked bluntly, "Yinshuang, how much do you know about Xiao Yin?"

Shen Yinshuang was stunned.

She felt that she understood Xiao Yin to the core.

So when Wen Xianli asked her the question, Shen Yinshuang was unable to react for a moment.

"Xiao Yin is far more complex than he appears. It's best if you have no future with him, to avoid getting dragged into it later." Wen Xianli finished speaking quietly. "There are some things I'm not sure about, and these are just guesses."

These words made Shen Yinshuang frown.

But she didn't think much of it.

She simply believed it was a power struggle between the Xiao family, the Cui family, and the Pei family.

So she remained standing quietly.

"Yinshuang, if that's the case, then I'll take you with me even more." Wen Xianli said directly, "It's fine if I'm not here, but now that I'm back, I won't let you get involved in any more trouble."

Shen Yinshuang lowered her head and quietly finished speaking: "I need to finish embroidering the wedding dress before I leave. I don't want to leave any evidence against me."

Wen Xianli frowned: "What wedding attire?"

Then it dawned on him: "Xiao Yin and Cui Lingyi's wedding attire? Ha! What makes them so deserving of your personal embroidery? Shameless!"

Wen Xianli's face also darkened.

"Yinshuang, I'll handle these matters. You don't need to worry," Wen Xianli said directly.

Shen Yinshuang ultimately did not respond.

But Wen Xianli kept looking down at Shen Yinshuang, very seriously and quietly.

"Over the years, neither the Pei family nor Xiao Yin have taken good care of you," Wen Xianli said with heartache.

Shen Yinshuang sighed very softly.

Wen Xianli: "Wait for me. Hmm?"

Shen Yinshuang remained silent.

The two remained silent for a long time until Wen Xianli was called away by the guards, and Shen Yinshuang did not follow.

In short, even if I have to leave, I have to wait until everything is arranged.

She watched Wen Xianli leave, remaining quietly standing in the same spot, motionless.

The winter wind is getting colder and colder.

Suddenly, snowflakes landed on her eyelashes. She looked up and realized that it was snowing.

The first snow of this winter.

……