The whole garden is filled with the chirping of cicadas. Under the eaves, a group of palace ladies dressed in silk and satin dance gracefully. They hold lacquered wooden boxes in their hands, adjust the tables and chairs, and make the decorations look brand new.
You could hear a pin drop in the hall. All the outsiders had been taken out by the queen's personal maids. The latticed wooden door was lightly closed, and a thin and long beam of sunlight leaked out.
Shen Yan lowered his eyebrows, his dark eyes hidden behind the teacup.
The official kiln red-glazed cup was placed lightly on the lacquered wooden table, making a sound that was neither light nor heavy.
The queen frowned, her whole mind was on her frowning brows. She tried to probe: "... Yan'er?"
Shen Yan raised his eyes slightly: "Is this what the Queen Mother meant?"
The queen pursed her lips and smiled. If it was up to her, she could just execute the woman. Her brother lost one hand because of this incident, and it would not be a pity for the woman to die a hundred times.
It was a pity that her brother was incompetent and sympathetic to women. He begged her for a long time, saying that he wanted to marry the woman. The queen had no choice but to ask Shen Yan for the woman.
She sighed softly, "Of course it was your uncle's idea. You are the third prince, and you have all the women you want in the world. If you have a quarrel with your uncle over an unrelated girl, that would be very inappropriate."
The queen advised gently, "Besides, this woman will cause you so much trouble after entering the capital. Keeping her will also be a hazard. It is better to give her to your uncle, even if it is for the sake of your mother's face, okay?"
The green jade ring turned gently between the fingers. The light and shadow were dim, and half of Shen Yan's face was hidden in the shadow, dark and without light.
Adam's apple rolling.
After a long moment, a chuckle escaped from his throat.
Shen Yan said calmly: "...Okay."
The queen smiled, all her worries disappeared, and she was relieved: "Good child, mother knows that you have been wronged in this matter. Tomorrow mother will have someone pick a few smart maids to send to your house, and decide on your girl..."
Shen Yan stood up nonchalantly, brushing off his sleeves: "Mother, don't worry about me. You should make plans for your uncle as soon as possible."
The queen smiled with eyes that looked like crescent moons: "Your uncle just brought a maid into the family, why would mother need to worry about it? It's better for you, Yan'er..."
Shen Yan said slowly: "After all, finding a good coffin is not an easy task."
The Queen's laughter suddenly stopped. She pursed her lips, and the smile in her eyes disappeared: "What do you mean by that, Yan'er?"
Shen Yan sneered: "It's just the literal meaning."
As his fingertips stroked the green jade ring, a hint of gloom flashed across Shen Yan's eyes, and a heavy haze shrouded his brows.
After all, he had not been in the capital for a long time, and even a good-for-nothing like that dared to covet his things. If he had been kind-hearted the day before, the horse's hoof should have stepped on the good-for-nothing's head, not his palm.
As for Song Lingzhi...
Shen Yan's eyes darkened, and he suddenly thought of the girl's icy and crystal face. She must be very afraid of him, as she always looked at him with timid eyes.
Shen Yan felt unhappy for no reason.
The gilt-enamel three-legged incense burner in the hall was burning with the fragrance of pine and cypress, which was refreshing but could not smooth out Shen Yan's frown.
He flicked his sleeves and walked away.
The lattice wooden door was wide open, and sunlight streamed onto his wide sleeves embroidered with gold thread.
The queen behind him was furious and threw the teacup to the ground fiercely: "Shen Yan, that's your uncle!"