The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 23

This transaction was inexplicably settled, and Shen Lingyan was completely bewildered the entire time. It wasn’t until Zhou Jin was about to get up to go out and speak with the man that Shen Lingyan subconsciously reached out and grasped Zhou Jin’s hand, her apricot-like eyes looking at her.

“Are you saying… tomorrow you are going to walk into that unpredictable river yourself? Just for this matter?” Shen Lingyan slowly recovered her senses. Zhou Jin heard this and nodded, not noticing anything amiss. Unexpectedly, Shen Lingyan was the one who got angry first: “Don’t you know you are still injured? Don’t you know your cold hasn’t fully recovered? Don’t you know…” I will worry?

Shen Lingyan didn’t say the last half-sentence. Zhou Jin was stunned for a long time without hearing the rest of the sentence. She smiled slightly, reaching up to stroke Shen Lingyan’s head, like an adult soothing a child: “I know all that, but we must not forget the purpose of our trip, Your Majes… Yan Yan.”

She was so close to saying too much. Zhou Jin almost called her “Your Majesty.” If her eyes hadn’t timely glimpsed the red wedding dress of Zhang Yiqiao, she probably would have said it out loud.

“I naturally haven’t forgotten.” Shen Lingyan bit her lower lip, her fingers clenched into fists and turning pale, but ultimately, she let go and sighed: “Then you go. I will go out with you.”

With that, Shen Lingyan also changed her clothes, holding the blood-stained garments, and walked out with Zhou Jin and Zhang Yiqiao.

The man and the woman were busy preparing dinner. Seeing their daughter, who had been crying for several days, come out suddenly, they both stopped what they were doing and stared blankly at the three of them.

“Just now… I discussed it with Miss Zhang and felt deeply distressed. Now my life was saved by the benefactor, so I am willing to take Miss Yiqiao’s place to offer myself to the River God. I wonder what the benefactor thinks.”

Zhou Jin sincerely bowed, her words dropping like a thunderclap in the small room.

The man was almost too surprised to speak. He took a long time to organize his thoughts, trying to suppress the frantic urge in his heart to agree: “Miss, you don’t have to do this… Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda, you don’t need to repay us this way…”

Zhou Jin seemed to have anticipated this. She pretended to cough violently, took out the blood-stained cloth she had prepared earlier, covered her mouth, coughed a few more times, and then, looking wronged, “admitted”: “Actually… I have already contracted a blood-coughing illness, and no medicine can cure it. Instead of lingering for a few years and dying painfully, I might as well use this dying life to save Miss Yiqiao’s.”

Shen Lingyan’s eyes widened upon hearing this. If they weren’t in front of the family, she would have rushed up and hit her, but she couldn’t.

To cooperate with her, Shen Lingyan had to reluctantly nod, watching the man and the woman exchange glances. After a while, the woman’s face was streaked with tears: “Is that true, Miss!”

Zhou Jin nodded again with certainty, without the slightest hesitation.

People are inherently selfish. If someone is willing to die for their daughter at this moment, who wouldn’t be happy?

The couple pulled Zhang Yiqiao over, and the three huddled together, saying something Shen Lingyan couldn’t hear, only seeing the woman constantly bowing and expressing gratitude.

It seemed the matter was settled. Zhang Yiqiao turned around smiling, illuminating the room once again, but this time Shen Lingyan no longer found her beautiful to look at.

Zhou Jin was quite pleased, watching these three unfamiliar commoners bow to her openly and honestly. Her heart seemed to return to the time when she commanded the winds and clouds in her previous life. Looking at the family before her, she felt she needed to be frank about everything.

“I just have one request.” Zhou Jin deliberately dragged out the moment, pausing after saying the sentence. The man grew impatient and said very respectfully: “Please tell us, Miss. We will certainly do our best.”

The man’s sincere eyes wouldn’t lie. Shen Lingyan first motioned to Yunzhu to close the door. Yunzhu looked around to ensure no neighbors were present before closing the door with peace of mind and returning.

“After I pass away… I hope everyone can assist this young lady, testify to Li Xiuxian’s corruption, and search for evidence.” Zhou Jin wasn’t afraid of them guessing anything; she merely pointed at Shen Lingyan, and their gazes shifted to look at her.

The man understood and nodded repeatedly; afraid Zhou Jin would change her mind. The woman was practically moved to tears; her daughter was saved…

The man finally recovered from his joy and entanglement, quickly pulling the woman to continue preparing dinner. Zhang Yiqiao changed out of her wedding dress and followed them out, a barely concealed curve of a smile on her lips.

After watching them leave, Shen Lingyan slumped onto a stool like a deflated ball, her expression very grim. Zhou Jin noticed, walked over, and sat beside her.

For some reason, Zhou Jin really enjoyed stroking Shen Lingyan’s head, always with a smile: “I’m the one who’s going into the river to fake my death, so why is Your Majesty so unhappy?”

Zhou Jin continued to gently rub her hair, the soft texture blooming in her palm. A strange feeling arose in her heart. She removed her hand in time and looked patiently at Shen Lingyan.

“You… that river’s depth is unknown. If you can’t return in time…” Shen Lingyan dared not continue speaking. Zhou Jin interrupted her, her eyes staring intently at Shen Lingyan, more serious than ever: “Your Majesty, you now have the assistance of ministers and can read memorials yourself. If I die, you will never have to worry about someone seizing your power again… Isn’t that good?”

These words made Shen Lingyan’s heart suddenly tremble. She angrily stood up, raising her voice at Zhou Jin for the first time: “What do you mean by that? All I know is that a human life is more important than the heavens. If I want the empire, let’s compete fairly and justly. I don’t need you to yield it to me.”

Zhou Jin was stunned for a long time, realizing Shen Lingyan was angry. She stood up and put her arms around Shen Lingyan’s waist: “Please don’t be angry, Elder Sister. You must believe in my skill; nothing will happen!”

It was that innocent gaze again. Shen Lingyan surrendered every time she saw it, truly not understanding why she was so spineless, yet she couldn’t muster any anger anymore.

The two walked to the window, gently pushing it open. They watched the flickering moon shadow swaying outside. The gentle summer breeze blew in, brushing against Shen Lingyan’s face, lifting a few strands of hair. Shen Lingyan looked at the people busy outside, while Zhou Jin intently watched Shen Lingyan, who seemed lost in thought.

The moonlight shone in, making Shen Lingyan’s only hairpin look as beautiful as silver jewelry. She sighed, not knowing what she was troubled about, then turned and walked away, picking up the blood-stained clothes to head out.

Zhou Jin wanted to follow.

But Shen Lingyan pushed her back into the room, telling her to lie down: “Rest first. I’m going to wash the clothes.”

Zhou Jin didn’t know why she suddenly became so obedient. She lay down dutifully, looking at Shen Lingyan, who was about to leave.

“The water is cold. Remember to boil some hot water before washing.”

Shen Lingyan nodded and smiled slightly: “Trust me, I know how to wash clothes.”