Volume 1, Chapter 18: Why Act Like a Saint Now?

The early morning sunlight gently bathed the front of the Marquis’s residence as the carriage carrying the Third Prince slowly came to a halt. The guards whispered instructions, and a wheelchair was carefully pushed out from the carriage.

Shen Lingfeng sat upright in the wheelchair, his expression composed and his gaze cold and detached. Behind him, the attendants bowed their heads in silent deference.

Lin Chuyao stepped down from the carriage with measured grace. Though her wounds had yet to heal, her steps remained steady, her demeanor calm and controlled. She wore a pale-colored dress, a veil partially covering her face, revealing only her clear, cold eyes that conveyed a sense of distance and resilience.

The household of the Marquis had long been informed of the arrival. Liu Xishuang and Madam Lin led a group to greet them at the gate. Upon seeing the Third Prince in person, both women wore eager smiles, though a subtle unease flickered beneath their composed façades.

“Greetings to Your Highness, the Third Prince,” Liu Xishuang was the first to bow, her tone humble yet laced with ingratiation. “Your Highness’s visit to our humble abode truly brings honor to our residence.”

Shen Lingfeng gave a slight nod, his voice indifferent yet tinged with authority. “The Marquis’s residence is rather lively today. Chuyao narrowly escaped danger last night. I personally escorted her back to give the Marquis’s household an explanation.”

The smile on Liu Xishuang’s face faltered briefly as her eyes quickly darted to Madam Lin, silently seeking support. The latter, leaning on her cane, maintained a calm and unreadable gaze before subtly nodding.

Liu Xishuang hurriedly added, “Your Highness’s words frighten me. If Chuyao had anything troubling her, she never confided in us. Had we known earlier, we would never have let her suffer even the slightest grievance.”

Shen Lingfeng’s lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze icy as it swept over her. “Madam Lin’s words sound pleasant, but last night, when Chuyao’s maid came back asking for help, it seems there was no response, correct? If I had not sent someone in time, the Marquis’s residence might have been picking up her body today.”

Liu Xishuang’s complexion stiffened, and she forced a smile. “Your Highness misunderstands. The household did send people, but perhaps they were not diligent enough and failed to find concrete information. Thanks to Your Highness’s intervention, otherwise, how could we have justified this to Chuyao?”

Listening to these words, Lin Chuyao felt a chill rise within her. She looked at the warm smiles shared between Liu Xishuang and Madam Lin, but in her ears echoed the loneliness and despair of nearly losing her life just the night before.

She lifted her head, her tone cold and laced with sarcasm. “Mother, there’s no need for you to blame yourself. My life is not worth such an upheaval. If it were not for Your Highness, the Marquis’s residence would probably not have even bothered to arrange my funeral.”

Madam Lin’s smile briefly froze as she tightened her grip on her cane and spoke sternly, “Chuyao, that is not right. We are family after all. Even if there were oversights, we never meant you harm. Now that you have returned unscathed, we should be grateful to His Highness and let the past rest.”

Lin Chuyao cast her a cold glance, her voice distant. “Family? It’s a pity that when I was on the brink of death, no one in the Marquis’s residence cared.”

Liu Xishuang’s face paled, her eyes flickering with panic. She lowered her head, hesitating. “Chuyao, I know you resent us... but I truly... we did send people yesterday, it’s just that we...”

Watching Liu Xishuang’s feeble defense, a bitter wave surged in Lin Chuyao’s heart. She wanted to believe them, but such hollow pretenses only deepened her pain.

She took a deep breath, her voice still icy. “Believe those words yourself. I don’t need them.”

Madam Lin’s tone turned severe. “Chuyao, this is your fault. How can you treat your elders so? If you dare offend His Highness, rest assured I will discipline you severely.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Lingfeng spoke calmly, his words carrying a chilling undercurrent. “Madam Lin, you worry too much. Chuyao needs no discipline. It is the Marquis’s household today that has shown me much.”

His words fell, and silence engulfed the hall.

At that moment, Lin Yanluo emerged slowly from the rear hall. Dressed in a pale pink silk dress, she looked bright and charming, yet her eyes betrayed resentment and jealousy.

Her gaze fixed sharply on Lin Chuyao, marveling at how fortunate she was to stand there unharmed.

A smile played on her lips, but her tone was deliberately flippant. “Sister, you’re quite the darling now. Kidnapped yesterday, yet today escorted back personally by His Highness. I’m so jealous.”

Lin Chuyao raised her eyes to her, her voice cutting like a blade. “If you truly envy me, perhaps you should try the experience of being captured. Though I wonder if you’d even have the strength to return and enjoy such ‘favor.’”

Lin Yanluo was momentarily speechless, just a plain ugly girl—how could she imagine His Highness held her in any special regard?

She sneered coldly, “Sister, your words are harsh. His Highness merely stood against injustice. You seem to think you've received some great favor.”

Lin Chuyao’s lips curled, her gaze icy. “Whether it is favor, His Highness will judge. But, sister, your sour remarks—are you jealous of me, or something else?”

Lin Yanluo gritted her teeth. “Jealous? Sister, with your face and your reputation these years, do you really think you deserve His Highness’s ‘attention’? I’d say it’s pity, nothing more!”

The moment she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall turned sharply cold.

Shen Lingfeng slowly turned to Lin Yanluo, his gaze as frigid as frost, his voice calm yet weighted like a thousand-pound burden. “Miss Lin, do you think I pity her?”

Lin Yanluo trembled under his stare, biting back words. “Your Highness, you misunderstand... I only spoke casually, no offense intended.”

Shen Lingfeng sneered, his tone sharp. “Casual words? Such words are taken lightly. No one around me is allowed such disrespect.”

He turned to his attendants, his voice indifferent. “Miss Lin needs to learn silence. Teach her a lesson.”

The guards immediately stepped forward without hesitation, delivering a sharp slap that echoed crisply through the hall. Lin Yanluo staggered back, clutching her face, her eyes filled with humiliation and shock.

Shen Lingfeng glanced at her coolly. “If you feel wronged, you’re welcome to complain to the Emperor or the Noble Consort. I will accompany you anytime.”

Liu Xishuang was the first to react, gasping sharply, blood draining from her face. She hurried forward to shield Lin Yanluo. “Your Highness, please calm your anger! Yanluo is young and ignorant; her words were improper and offensive. We beg you to forgive her this once, for the sake of the Marquis’s residence!”

Her voice trembled as she repeatedly apologized, sweat beading on her forehead, clearly shaken by Shen Lingfeng’s sternness.

Madam Lin slowly raised her head, tightening her grip on the cane as she cast a heavy gaze over Lin Yanluo.

Unlike Liu Xishuang, she did not rush to apologize, but spoke solemnly. “Yanluo was indeed foolish today. This lesson from His Highness is well-deserved. I will discipline her strictly so she dares not speak recklessly again.”

Though her tone was steady, a subtle tremor betrayed a deep-seated fear.

Lin Yanluo knelt on the floor, covering her face, tears welling but restrained from falling. She never expected the Third Prince to defend that wretched Lin Chuyao so fiercely—just as Fang Xiuran had, so too did the Third Prince.

Her hands clenched the skirt tightly, knuckles white, eyes burning with humiliation and resentment.

She cast a hateful glance at Lin Chuyao but immediately bowed her head upon meeting Shen Lingfeng’s icy gaze, swallowing her anger and keeping silent.

The servants of the Marquis’s residence lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. The oppressive atmosphere in the hall was suffocating.

Lin Chuyao watched this scene quietly, a faint, cold smile curving her lips.

Her eyes swept over Liu Xishuang and Madam Lin—one flustered in defense, the other forcing composure—both unable to conceal their panic and disgrace.

Though the Marquis’s residence appeared lofty on the surface, before Shen Lingfeng, they were utterly humbled. She felt a deep irony mixed with an indescribable melancholy.

Suddenly, weariness overwhelmed her. Turning to Shen Lingfeng, her tone softened. “Your Highness, thank you for rescuing me. My wounds have yet to heal; I would like to return to my room to rest. Please, take your leave slowly.”

Shen Lingfeng nodded solemnly, his gaze profound. “Rest well. If anything arises, have someone send for me at once.”

Lin Chuyao gave a slight nod and turned away, her back straight and resolute. Liu Xishuang watched her retreating figure, full of regret but dared not speak to stop her.