Chapter 114: Isn’t This a Case of a Thief Crying “Stop Thief”?

Shen Nanyuan was silent upon hearing this.

She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Miss Lin and I aren’t acquainted; there’s nothing to discuss.”

She had thought all matters concerning Jun Ci were settled, never expecting Lin Yan to appear. These two, truly, were relentless.

“I may not be familiar with Miss Shen,” Lin Yan’s gaze remained hostile, “but Jun Ci is someone you know well. What I wish to say to you concerns him.”

“I am not close to Jun Ci,” Shen Nanyuan replied with a faint smile. “I beg your pardon, Miss Lin.”

Lin Yan was speechless.

The anger and irritation she’d harbored for months had grown like tangled vines within her heart, threatening now to overwhelm her. Had things proceeded as she wished, she might already have married into the Jun family, become its young mistress—but now, all those dreams had vanished like smoke.

Jun Ci had promised that whatever she wanted, he would compensate her for it.

But the position she desired most, that of Jun family’s young mistress, he could not give.

She’d even heard her own maid whisper that Jun Ci had gone to see Shen Nanyuan, standing outside the gates of the Duke of Zhen’s manor for hours, wishing only for a glimpse of her. On Shen Nanyuan’s birthday, he had visited the manor as well.

In a fit of anger and disbelief, Lin Yan had summoned Jun Ci and questioned him: had he fallen for Shen Nanyuan? At that moment, Jun Ci lifted his gaze, clear and earnest. “Yes,” he answered.

His sincerity stunned Lin Yan; she was left frozen in place, her voice trembling uncontrollably. “But before—”

“That was because I hadn’t realized,” he interrupted, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “But now, everything is too late.”

“And what about me?” Lin Yan broke down. “I waited for you all this time—where do you put me?”

Jun Ci was silent for a long time, then lowered his eyes. “I’ve wronged you. Whatever compensation you seek, I will give.”

Lin Yan could not speak, only wept.

What she wanted, Jun Ci could never give her.

“Shen Nanyuan has cast you aside, hasn’t she?” With nowhere else for her anger to go, Lin Yan hurled every hurtful word she could at Jun Ci. “You deserve this, Jun Ci. You lost her yourself; she will never forgive you, will never love you again. Everything you face now is your own doing, your own fault.”

Watching Jun Ci’s face turn pale bit by bit, Lin Yan felt a twisted satisfaction.

He closed his eyes slightly. “I know.”

Jun Ci kept his gaze lowered, red veins streaking his eyes. “I won’t seek her out again.”

“I know I’ve wronged you. Everything now is my own fault.”

No matter how much time passed, whenever Lin Yan recalled the bloodshot eyes of Jun Ci, pain pierced her heart—not for Jun Ci, but for herself.

He hadn’t reddened his eyes for her.

If not for Shen Nanyuan, if not for the engagement between her and Jun Ci, Lin Yan would have married him long ago, would already be the Jun family’s young mistress.

Shen Nanyuan had remained in the Duke of Zhen’s manor for so long, it was not easy to speak with her. Today was a grand occasion in the capital, and Lin Yan thought Shen Nanyuan might attend, so she left her own residence after a long time.

Indeed, Shen Nanyuan had come.

Lin Yan’s hand tightened, her tone growing sharp. “Miss Shen claims not to be close to Jun Ci, yet he abandoned me for you.”

Shen Nanyuan paused, turning as she was about to leave. Her gaze swept over Lin Yan’s face, a faint smile lingering. “Is this why you’ve come to see me today, Miss Lin?”

“If it’s about this matter, then there’s even less to discuss between us,” she continued calmly. “Whatever Jun Ci has done is none of my concern; it’s equally useless for you to seek me out.”

“I cannot influence Jun Ci’s thoughts, so I beg your pardon, Miss Lin.”

Lin Yan blocked Shen Nanyuan’s path, her eyes filled with hostility. “It may be useless, but I wish to ask you one thing, Miss Shen: how does it feel to break up another’s happiness?”

Her hands clenched tightly, her voice rising. “Are you not afraid of retribution, Miss Shen?”

“If not for you, I would never have ended up like this! If not for you—” Her breath came in ragged bursts as she pressed on, “I would have married Jun Ci long ago!”

Qingrui, vigilant, stepped in front of Shen Nanyuan, fearing Lin Yan might act out in her agitation.

Shen Nanyuan’s brows furrowed, and she tugged Qingrui’s hand, shaking her head to signal her to stand behind. Then, with a smile, she spoke, “Are not Miss Lin’s words just the thief crying ‘stop thief’?”

Lin Yan stared at her, biting her lip.

“If I remember correctly, Jun Ci and I were betrothed by imperial decree. Even if he did not care for me at that time, our marriage was granted by His Majesty. What, then, was Miss Lin doing?”

Her eyes narrowed coldly. “I was kept in the dark, played for a fool by the two of you. I could ask Miss Lin: are you not afraid of retribution?”

Lin Yan’s breath caught.

“His Majesty bestowed the match, yet you two conspired behind my back. It was my mercy that kept me from reporting to His Majesty, granting you both a way out. Otherwise, do you think you and Jun Ci would still be unscathed?”

Lin Yan’s face shifted from pale to green, her breathing faltering, yet she refused to back down, shame flickering in her eyes.

“If not for Miss Shen clinging to Jun Ci, would things have come to this?”

“Let’s not discuss that,” Shen Nanyuan smiled coolly, her eyes frosty. “I am speaking of you two deceiving me while betrothed by imperial decree.”

“Even now, if I reported to His Majesty, neither you nor Jun Ci would fare well. Moreover—”

Her gaze grew icy, chilling the air around her. “I am a county princess specially granted my title by His Majesty. And what is Miss Lin?”

Lin Yan had never witnessed Shen Nanyuan’s imposing demeanor before; a cold shiver raced up her spine, leaving her stunned, unable to utter a single retort.

Her maid tugged at her sleeve, fear in her eyes, whispering, “Miss, let’s leave.”

Shen Nanyuan was indeed a county princess by imperial grant; they could not afford to provoke her.

Shen Nanyuan no longer intended to leave; she gathered her composure, raising her brows in leisure. “Miss Lin’s unwillingness is clear, yet I fail to understand why you seek me out.”