The Abused Female Protagonist In The Angst Novel Is Actually A White Lotus - Chapter 8

The autumn wind swept through the courtyard, dispelling the lingering summer heat. Shen Sijing lay on the bed, the gentle breeze ruffling the strands of hair at her temples. Ling Qingyi lifted her head and smoothed the stray locks, her face radiating a poignant, wistful beauty.

Shen Sijing gazed quietly at Ling Qingyi, sensing something hidden behind her beauty, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Noticing Shen Sijing’s dazed expression, Ling Qingyi waved a pale hand in front of her eyes, asking with concern, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Shen Sijing shook her head. Since she had asked Ling Qingyi to stay with her, she wouldn’t need to return to the Ling Residence tonight. That’s for the best… that’s for the best.

While the two young women cared for each other, the situation in the main hall was far from settled. Everyone was saying that Madam Shen had spoiled Shen Sijing too much, even interfering in the Ling family’s affairs.

For the first time, Madam Ling felt the weight of everyone’s support. Seizing the opportunity, she wiped away tears with a handkerchief and turned to her daughter, Ling Xing’er. “Our lives are so bitter,” she lamented. “We still don’t know who pushed your elder sister into the water, and now even my old face has nowhere to hide. If Madam Shen truly despises the Ling Residence, she could have simply withheld the invitation. Why resort to such measures?”

Before this, everyone knew that receiving an invitation from the Prime Minister’s Residence was as difficult as ascending to heaven. When the Ling Residence received its first invitation, they were so thrilled they stayed up all night sewing new clothes. To hear such words now was truly laughable.

“Madam Ling, you are mistaken,” the Third Prince Consort, a longtime friend of the Shen family, interjected. “Shen Sijing was personally bestowed a title by the Empress Dowager in her childhood. At twenty, she became Princess Yong’an, entitled to the taxes from her fiefdom. His Majesty has only one princess, who was also a childhood friend of Shen Sijing. It was even rumored that any prince who won Sijing’s favor would secure the crown prince position. With such extraordinary honors, tell me, does the Ling family possess even a fraction of the qualifications to compare?”

The current emperor had three younger brothers, all granted the title of Prince. The Third Prince was the youngest, and his consort was remarkably young and accomplished.

As these words were spoken, Madam Shen finally arrived. Having already discerned the crowd’s mood from the conversation, her expression immediately turned icy.

Madam Shen strode over and clasped the Third Prince Consort Jian Susu’s hand as if she were her own sister, giving her a grateful look. Then, her voice turned frigid. “I hear some believe my actions show disrespect to the Ling Residence?”

The room fell silent as everyone held their breath, not daring to utter a word. Prime Minister Shen had already risen to see off the visiting dignitaries and colleagues, leaving the women alone in the main hall, their simmering animosity now surfacing.

Most of this animosity emanated from Madam Shen, who glared fiercely at Madam Ling. The other women sat awkwardly in their seats, nibbling on pastries, none willing to offend Madam Shen on Madam Ling’s behalf. Jian Susu’s earlier words rang true: the Shen family was the real iron rice bowl, and Shen Sijing’s extraordinary honors were beyond the wildest dreams of most women.

“Madam… please calm down,” Madam Ling said, forcing a smile as she stood before Madam Shen with a cup of tea. Madam Shen refused to take it, deliberately ignoring her while delivering a lengthy lecture.

At this point, no one dared to disagree. They all nodded in agreement. Only then did Madam Shen wave Madam Ling away, still refusing the tea.

Madam Ling’s hand clenched tightly around her handkerchief, but she dared not protest. She set the teacup down, her hands already burned red from the heat.

Ling Xing’er nearly lunged forward, but Madam Ling stopped her. Madam Shen observed this exchange with a knowing look.

“Ladies, I never imagined today would bring so much unpleasantness. But ultimately, my daughter is safe and unharmed, and that is what truly matters. Please forgive the Shen Residence’s inadequate hospitality. We will make amends at our next gathering.” Madam Shen’s words carried a clear meaning. The guests rose with their daughters to take their leave. Even if this banquet had been less than perfect, the Shen family’s power loomed large. Who would dare refuse their next invitation?

Madam Shen smiled as she saw them off, Jian Susu standing beside her to assist. Once the last guest had departed, Jian Susu smiled. “Madam, there’s no need to worry. Sijing is unharmed, isn’t that all we could have hoped for?” Jian Susu had a knack for reading people’s hearts. Her words struck a chord with Madam Shen, who squeezed Jian Susu’s hand, conveying her gratitude through the gesture alone.

Shen Sijing, of course, was aware of the commotion in the main hall. She let out a series of cold laughs. These people were all sycophants, naturally unwilling to offend the Shen family. She glanced at Ling Qingyi, who maintained an air of calm, as if she had never harbored any resentment or bitterness. The occasional emotion that flickered across her face was merely a trace of melancholy, like Lin Daiyu’s innate sorrow.

“Qingqing? Do you feel wronged?” Shen Sijing asked, sitting up on the bed, her elbow resting on a soft pillow, a faint fragrance lingering in the air.

“Not at all,” Ling Qingyi replied earnestly. “Everything that happened before was my own fault. But now that I’ve met Sister Shen, who protects and helps me, how could I possibly feel wronged?” She met Shen Sijing’s gaze, wanting her to see the unwavering resolve in her eyes.

Shen Sijing was stunned by these words. For the first time, she felt truly needed, capable of protecting someone else. It was a strange and wonderful feeling, one Ling Qingyi had given her.

Ling Qingyi’s dependence was strangely comforting, making Shen Sijing want to cherish her. Yet Ling Qingyi herself showed little emotional fluctuation.

Shen Sijing nodded shyly, a rare blush coloring her cheeks. She tried to change the subject, but just then Yun Nian entered the room. Shen Sijing quickly called out to her.

Yun Nian had intended to replace the flower arrangements in the room, but Shen Sijing’s sudden exclamation stopped her in her tracks. She quickly crouched down, leaning closer to hear what Shen Sijing was saying.

“Could… could you tell us some stories?” Shen Sijing asked, her tone awkward and her request even more absurd. Yun Nian had never told stories, nor had she ever heard any, from childhood until now. Yet, she found herself unexpectedly charmed by the idea of soothing Shen Sijing and Ling Qingyi like this.

She instructed a servant to fetch a few popular storybooks of the day. These were essentially takeout stories, and Yun Nian stood properly beside Shen Sijing’s bed, reading aloud to the two of them.

Shen Sijing, already tired, clutched Ling Qingyi’s sleeve and soon began nodding off like a little chick, dozing off.

When Ling Qingyi glanced over, the tender smile on her lips couldn’t be concealed. Was Shen Sijing really asleep?

“Sister Shen…” Ling Qingyi murmured slowly, confirming that Shen Sijing was indeed asleep. Yet the hand gripping her sleeve remained firmly clasped.

“Sister Shen, thank you for protecting me so fiercely,” Ling Qingyi whispered into Shen Sijing’s ear. Yun Nian, engrossed in her reading, didn’t hear.

Support