The Abused Female Protagonist In The Angst Novel Is Actually A White Lotus - Chapter 19

Shen Sijing entered the room. The woman who had summoned her sat behind a beaded curtain, the sparse strands obscuring her features.

Yun Nian obediently waited by the door, closing it behind them. Huixian Tower was nearly empty at this hour, and the waiters had retreated to the kitchen to prepare for the evening rush.

Shen Sijing stood her ground, about to take a step forward when the woman behind the curtain coughed pointedly, a clear signal to stay put.

“What do you want?” Shen Sijing’s voice was icy. “Ling Qingyi is a noblewoman. Who would dare harm her?” She didn’t care who this woman was, but if she threatened her or Ling Qingyi, she would not stand for it.

The woman behind the curtain chuckled, her voice utterly enchanting. She parted the curtain with her bare, delicate foot, but her face remained hidden behind a veil, making it impossible to discern her features.

“We merely share a common enemy. I know you want to protect Ling Qingyi, but… as long as the Ling family remains, you’ll never truly be able to keep her safe.”

The woman’s words reached Shen Sijing’s ears. She blinked in surprise, never expecting this woman to harbor such animosity toward the Ling family. Judging by her tone, it seemed to stem from deep-seated hatred. But… in the original novel, while the Ling family was known for currying favor with the powerful and shifting allegiances with the wind, they hadn’t committed any truly heinous acts. Why would anyone harbor such intense resentment toward them?

Shen Sijing’s shock outweighed her confusion. She settled into a nearby seat, where freshly brewed tea had already been prepared on a small table. She picked up the cup and took a few sips, maintaining an air of composure despite the turmoil in her heart.

Behind the curtain, the woman raised an eyebrow, observing Shen Sijing with a hint of disbelief. “You’re remarkably composed. Truly a daughter of the Shen family. But… whether you want to or not, you’re already on this sinking ship.” Her voice suddenly turned sharp, carrying a reprimanding tone. Shen Sijing frowned, disliking the woman’s attitude. After days of being waited on by maids, she had grown accustomed to a certain deference. “Who gave you the audacity to speak to me like that?”

The woman behind the curtain visibly startled, then softened her tone, her voice dripping with flattery as she offered a different kind of refusal. “My apologies, Young Miss Shen. I misspoke. But… this matter, only you can resolve it.”

Shen Sijing fell into deep thought, her gaze fixed on the woman behind the curtain. Though she couldn’t discern her features, it didn’t hinder her contemplation. After a long silence, a waiter gently knocked on the wooden door. Shen Sijing called him in. The waiter entered with a tray of food and left respectfully.

The woman behind the curtain’s lips twitched slightly. How can she still have an appetite at a time like this? Shen Sijing’s every move caught her off guard, leaving her dumbfounded. To her astonishment, Shen Sijing even pushed the food forward, gesturing for the woman to eat as well.

The woman, with no appetite whatsoever, glared at Shen Sijing, though the curtain prevented Shen Sijing from seeing it.

Shen Sijing, however, continued to eat with gusto, savoring each bite. “Are you sure you won’t join me?”

“Young Miss Shen! Have you considered what we discussed earlier?” The woman’s voice rose slightly, but she dared not show any disrespect after Shen Sijing’s earlier outburst.

Now that things had come to this, Shen Sijing finally saw through the woman’s true nature: she was nothing more than an ambitious and mysterious person with no real ability.

Still, they did share a common goal. Shen Sijing’s eyes narrowed slightly. From the beginning, she had never intended to simply live out her life. Could she simply let Ling Qingyi’s suffering in her previous life go unavenged? Or allow the Ling family to slander her memory after her death?

Shen Sijing would never forget the stench of their hypocrisy. When they had pushed their daughter Ling Yunliu into the palace as the Second Princess Consort, they had shamelessly exploited Shen Sijing’s noble birth, even claiming that the original Shen Sijing had taught Yunliu the dance she performed that day.

Pah! Shen Sijing’s expression darkened, and even the food in her mouth turned tasteless. In just two days since arriving in this world, she had already experienced Madam Ling’s loathsome nature firsthand.

Vile, despicable, cruel, garrulous… every negative adjective seemed to cling to Madam Ling like a stench. And her two daughters each possessed their own unique brand of wickedness.

As for Ling Quan, there was no way to verify his claims.

“But what’s in it for me?” Shen Sijing asked, her voice calm and rational. “If what you say is true, that I can achieve my goals with just a little effort, why would I need to join forces with you? Who knows if you’re just trying to trick me.” Though she needed to cooperate, she wasn’t about to trust someone so mysterious without testing them first.
Behind the curtain, the woman’s chest rose and fell rapidly. Gathering her courage, she pushed aside the curtain and approached Shen Sijing, bending low so her veil brushed against Shen Sijing’s cheek. “Young Miss,” she whispered, “do you… not like women?”

“You… shut up!” Shen Sijing’s face flushed crimson as she frantically covered the woman’s mouth. Through the veil, she could only feel a faint touch, and she quickly withdrew her hand. But the woman pressed closer, her warm breath growing more provocative.

Just as Shen Sijing was about to stand up and move away, Yun Nian’s voice called out from outside.

“Who’s there?!” Yun Nian’s voice wasn’t loud, but anyone outside would have heard it. Shen Sijing rushed to the window and peered out. A figure darted across the pitch-black street below. The darkness and the fact that they were on the second floor made it impossible to see clearly.

The person must have just arrived, because Yun Nian’s shout stopped them immediately. They probably hadn’t overheard anything. Shen Sijing wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and stood up quickly. “This matter requires careful consideration. I’m willing to cooperate with you.” With that, she pulled up the hood of her cloak and left Huixian Tower under Yun Nian’s escort.

“Who was that person just now? Did you get a good look at them?” The rain was still pouring, and puddles had already formed on the ground. Shen Sijing lifted her skirt to walk, but she couldn’t shake her unease.

Yun Nian glanced around. The Shadow Guards showed no signs of having noticed anything unusual. Lowering her voice, she reported, “The person was wearing black travel clothes. When she first came upstairs, I thought she was here to eat, but she stopped at the door and didn’t move. Since there was no conversation in the room at the time, I immediately shouted, and she ran off. Considering we were out here secretly tonight, I didn’t dare call for her capture.”

Yun Nian’s caution was understandable, but letting that person go remained a lingering threat. Shen Sijing sighed inwardly. Had the intruder really just arrived? The gap in the wooden door offered a clear view of the room inside.

Even if Shen Sijing hadn’t spoken, if the intruder was a gossip, the story would still spread.

“Yun Nian, instruct the Shadow Guards to investigate that person discreetly,” Shen Sijing ordered. “No rush. Take your time.” She knew the investigation might yield nothing, but it was better than living in constant anxiety.

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