She Is Such A Jerk, And Yet She’s The One Crying! - Chapter 38

After many days, Lin Dongruan returned to the courtyard. The furnishings had been almost entirely replaced, and many more servants now attended the grounds.

As she stepped inside, the servants all turned to look at her in unison, creating an atmosphere of eerie, disciplined silence.

After a moment of silence, Song Luo hurried out to smooth things over. “Doctor Lin has returned home! Her Highness is in the study; she has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Hearing the change in address, the facade of peace that had been maintained for so long finally crumbled. Lin Dongruan understood clearly and nodded in acknowledgement. “Manager Song has worked hard. How should I address you from now on?”

Song Luo bowed respectfully. “I am grateful for the Imperial Preceptor’s concern. My name remains Song Luo, and I serve as the Chief Official of the Princess’s Mansion.”

Lin Dongruan asked further, “How has A-Ning been lately?”

Song Luo replied, “The Princess is blessed with great fortune; everything is well.”

Though she is likely nearly driven mad with rage, she is technically ‘well,’ Song Luo thought but didn’t dare say. Instead, he looked toward the study with concern and dismissed all the servants from the courtyard.

Lin Dongruan sensed nothing unusual and walked toward the study as she always had.

Inside the study, Qiang Ning was busy writing. Hearing her enter, she continued to move her brush with cold indifference, not sparing a single glance upward.

“What is A-Ning busy with?” Lin Dongruan approached naturally to help grind the ink. “There are some matters I need to discuss with you, if you have the time.”

“Why did you not speak of them in the past half month? Only now, when you can no longer keep up the act, do you come to confess.” Qiang Ning did not look up, but the ink stains left by her brush betrayed her fury. “Lin Dongruan, are you a mute, or did you lose your way home?”

Just as Lin Dongruan was about to explain, she was interrupted again.

Qiang Ning gritted her teeth, her wrist moving the brush with sharp force. “I almost forgot—how could you consider this place home? In your heart, there is only the current Emperor. You and your student share such a harmonious and close bond. I have accompanied you for so many days, even enduring those hardships with you, yet in the end, I am merely a passing acquaintance to you.”

“A-Ning,” Lin Dongruan looked at her with confusion. “What are you saying? Why would you think such a thing?”

Qiang Ning slammed her brush down and looked up, her eyes bloodshot. “Lin Dongruan! Did you discover my identity long ago? Why… why did you continue to act? Were you watching me like a joke? Seeing me in this state, were you feeling very proud of yourself? Speak!”

“Had the situation not been urgent, I would have waited for the day you chose to speak of it yourself,” Lin Dongruan remained calm and composed. “A-Ning, you promised never to lie again, yet you did not keep your word. Time and again you deceived me, painting over the truth to maintain a false peace.”

Compared to Lin Dongruan’s calm, Qiang Ning was like a spark meeting tinder—ready to explode at the slightest touch. “And what else was I to do? During that relatively peaceful time, you were already in a hurry to send me away. If I had told the truth, there is no doubt—you would have driven me out immediately. Lin Dongruan, do you have no heart? How have I ever wronged you that you would leave without a word! You know I hate such things, yet you provoked me deliberately. Using me, betraying me, and acting with such ingratitude just to achieve your goal… Now your ‘good student’ has heard the news and is coming to Sanqi Prefecture to see you. Are you satisfied now?”

Lin Dongruan stopped grinding the ink and waited quietly for her to vent her emotions.

Qiang Ning glared at her with hatred. “Lin Dongruan, you couldn’t bring yourself to lower your pride and seek peace with the new Emperor, so you used my wanted poster to spread news just to lure them here. Did you ever consider how I would feel when you did that?”

Lin Dongruan did not argue; she simply remained silent, which was a tacit admission.

Seeing her silence, Qiang Ning’s suspicions were confirmed. Her mind went blank for a moment as disappointment, jealousy, and pain surged into her heart. Overwhelmed by these intense emotions, Qiang Ning grabbed a scroll and threw it directly at Lin Dongruan. “You even admit it! Lin Dongruan, I hate you to death!”

There was no time to explain, so Lin Dongruan didn’t dodge or strike back. She took the hit directly, and a dull pain immediately bloomed in her shoulder. She silently raised her hand to catch the scroll, preventing it from hitting the floor.

Qiang Ning hadn’t expected her not to move; her expression froze.

“A-Ning, your emotions are too unstable right now. When you have calmed down, I will discuss matters with you again.” Lin Dongruan did not wish to argue, so she turned to leave the study. “This matter was indeed my fault. A-Ning, please do not be angry anymore.”

“Do you think a light ‘my fault’ can act as if this never happened? This cannot be settled so easily.”

The calmer Lin Dongruan remained, the more resentment and pain burned in Qiang Ning’s heart. By contrast, she felt more and more like an actor performing a monologue on a stage, and her anger turned into a sense of humiliated rage.

This time, however, Lin Dongruan stopped walking. “What compensation does A-Ning desire?”

Qiang Ning sneered. “Your heart is with the Emperor, yet you hypocritically offer compensation to make peace with me. Lin Dongruan, do you take me for a fool? Do you think you are so noble—so noble that you are indispensable? Do I look like someone starved for affection, that I would crave your compensation?”

Hearing Qiang Ning change her way of referring to herself using the formal ‘Bengong’, Lin Dongruan was finally affected. She also switched to a formal, distant address. “Your Highness, please calm your anger.”

That “Your Highness” caught Qiang Ning off guard. She stunned, suddenly realizing the turning point of Lin Dongruan’s attitude. When she first entered the room, Lin Dongruan had called her “A-Ning.” It was only when she herself brought up their difference in status that Lin Dongruan changed her address. It was as if the other woman had it all planned out: if she hadn’t forced the issue of status, Lin Dongruan would have continued to interact with her as she always had.

A strange sense of unease rose in Qiang Ning. she asked, “Where are you going?”

Lin Dongruan lowered her eyes, her tone cold. “Since Your Highness is troubled, it is not convenient for me to disturb you.”

Qiang Ning was shocked by this aloof and indifferent attitude. She suddenly realized—now that the truth was out, Lin Dongruan would no longer live with her. If she let her walk out now, she wouldn’t return tonight.

The panic of losing what she had just regained instantly suppressed all the anger in her heart. Qiang Ning watched as Lin Dongruan turned to walk out the door, and then, both angry and desperately weak-willed, she scrambled to chase after her.

Lin Dongruan walked with a steady, even pace and was soon far ahead.

Qiang Ning followed like a shadow, racing out the door behind her.

In the courtyard, Song Luo, who was sweeping fallen leaves, squinted his eyes as he saw his Princess sprinting past as if she’d seen a ghost. I’m not mistaken, that really is Her Highness. What happened? Why is she in such a panic? Wasn’t she just furious a moment ago?

Based on the shouting in the study, he had expected the Imperial Preceptor to be the one in trouble, but from the looks of it… it was Her Highness who seemed to have suffered a great grievance.

Song Luo, despite his years as the Chief Official of the Princess’s Mansion, found himself unable to understand Qiang Ning’s behavior for the first time. He told himself he was just getting old, shook his head, and went back to sweeping leaves with a peaceful mind.

Not long after, the Qiang Ning who had chased after her returned, clutching one of Lin Dongruan’s sleeves. She practically dragged the woman back through the door.

Song Luo couldn’t help but look up to watch the drama. The Imperial Preceptor’s face was cold and expressionless, but she was surprisingly submissive. She didn’t say a word even as her sleeve was pulled into disarray; she simply followed the Princess back inside.

Song Luo: “…”

He understood it even less now, but at least they weren’t fighting anymore.

Just as he thought that, the sound of an inkstone hitting the floor suddenly echoed from the study. This was followed by the Princess arguing one-sidedly with the Imperial Preceptor. The Imperial Preceptor’s side remained much quieter, punctuated only by occasional soft words of persuasion.

Song Luo raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun and leaned in closer to eavesdrop.

“Get out—!”

A scroll was thrown out the window. Fortunately, Song Luo ducked in time to avoid being hit.