Chapter 86: Yield to Her

Jun Ci was overcome with pain, almost desperate as he looked at Shen Nanyuan, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His voice was hoarse and broken: "Back then..."

Back then... the things he had done, he dared not recall now.

He hadn't liked her, hated how she always followed him around, so he kept his face cold toward her all day long, impatient even to speak, hoping she would take the hint and stop seeking him out.

On her birthday, he lied about catching a cold, just to avoid going to the Duke of Zhen’s residence, unwilling to face the crowd with their mocking or ambiguous glances.

He had treated her like a venomous creature, and no matter how much she did for him, all he felt was disgust.

Each incident flashed through Jun Ci’s mind, crowding his thoughts until his breathing grew shallow and his back bent slightly under the weight, as if the pain of a thousand cuts spread through his body. His eyes reddened, and he could not utter a single word in his defense.

Shen Nanyuan’s gaze swept over him, calm and indifferent: "Young Master Jun, I have liked you since childhood. The entire capital knows this."

"Do you know what they say about me behind my back?"

"They say a girl should be ashamed, that I’ve disgraced the Duke of Zhen’s family, that someone like you would never look twice at me."

Her voice came softly, slowly, and Jun Ci’s hands trembled as he listened. He hurried forward a step: "I didn’t know... I didn’t know they said such things about you."

"Indeed, Young Master Jun, you certainly didn’t know."

What she described had not appeared in the main story. The author, after killing off Shen Nanyuan, had cruelly written an extra chapter, depicting her perspective—how she loved Jun Ci, how she suffered repeated heartbreak and disappointment, how she overheard the whispers of the capital, pretended not to care but grieved in the quiet of night, and how the Duke of Zhen’s residence gradually declined, ultimately facing execution of the entire household. Reading it had left her feeling oppressed.

A warrior of legend had fallen.

The extra chapter had sparked much debate in the comments section at the time. Some said Shen Nanyuan was foolish for loving Jun Ci after all that; others pitied her, for she had done nothing wrong, yet her life ended so abruptly.

She had wanted to post something in the comments after reading it, but after much thought, she let it go.

Never had she imagined that now, she would confront Jun Ci herself.

Shen Nanyuan smiled mockingly and continued, "You wouldn’t have wanted to know."

"Why would Young Master Jun care about my affairs? You would rather despise me than bother."

Jun Ci could not refute her.

No matter what he said, no matter how much he regretted now, everything Shen Nanyuan said was true.

Back then, he had wished to avoid her at all costs; how could he have bothered to learn anything about her? This helplessness left him momentarily at a loss.

Her eyes were filled with scorn and disdain: "Young Master Jun, no one waits forever for you to turn back. I won’t either. I have thought it through. We truly have no fate together, and besides, you..."

She narrowed her eyes, the irony in her gaze enough to make one shudder.

"What will you do about Miss Lin? If I recall, you were about to propose marriage to her."

"Now, you suddenly claim to favor me. Before, you hid it from me, afraid I’d hurt her, and you protected her reputation so carefully—for her sake. Isn’t that a joke?"

Jun Ci’s heart trembled. As he looked at her face, he saw her faint smile: "If Miss Lin knew you came looking for me now, she would not let it go so easily."

Jun Ci opened his mouth, struggling to speak.

"I have truly wronged you."

He was overwhelmed with sorrow. "All these years, I never once considered your feelings. I had no expectations, only hoped you might give me a chance—"

"That is precisely an expectation," Shen Nanyuan said. "From the moment our engagement was dissolved, we could never be connected again."

Her absolute words felt like a blade slicing through Jun Ci’s heart, blood surging to drown him, leaving him breathless.

"I don’t want... I don’t want us to miss each other like this." Jun Ci’s voice trembled. "You used to like me so much."

"You said it yourself—used to," Shen Nanyuan’s brows and eyes grew impatient.

She had only come today to make things clear to Jun Ci, to persuade him not to trouble her again. The Second Prince’s presence was already enough of a headache, and now, no matter what she said, it seemed pointless. She lost her patience.

"I will never like you again. Remember that. Not only me, even my father would never agree to anything between us. If you are wise, you will know what is best for yourself. I have said all there is to say; there is nothing left between us."

"You should cherish Miss Lin, and not let her down."

With that, Shen Nanyuan strode past Jun Ci. His heart was filled with countless unspeakable emotions. He reached out to grab her wrist, but another hand suddenly intervened, gripping him tightly, so forcefully that Jun Ci frowned slightly.

He turned, meeting Xiao Yan’s cold, warning gaze.

"Young Master Jun, take care," he said, menace in his eyes. "Otherwise, you may lose that hand."

With those words, the tight grip released, and Xiao Yan followed Shen Nanyuan, soon vanishing from sight.

Jun Ci’s gaze was dark, his eyes bloodshot. After a moment, he pressed his lips together.

He didn’t want this.

But deep down, he knew, Shen Nanyuan would likely never forgive him.

—

Jun Ci had barely returned home when the Minister of Revenue summoned him to the study.

Looking at his son’s haggard face, the minister could not help but snort.

"You truly are my good son—once so resistant, and today you seek her out yourself. If word gets out, you’ll be a laughingstock."

Jun Ci stood there, frowning, not speaking. Wearily, he rubbed his brow. "I wonder what you wish to discuss, Father."

"I only want to ask what you plan to do about Miss Lin."

The Minister of Revenue feigned concern. "I will follow your wishes. If you no longer want to pursue Miss Lin, I’ll speak to them myself."

The Duke of Zhen’s residence was certainly not equal to a Grand Tutor’s, and now Shen Nanyuan had been specially titled Princess Yong’an by His Majesty, making her far above Lin Yan in every way.

He continued, "Miss Shen has always liked you. If you humble yourself, she will surely forgive you."