substitute?
Xie Zhilin's expression immediately turned cold, and he even released Song Lan's hand.
Xie Zhilin said, "I need to think about marrying you again."
Song Lan paused, somewhat puzzled, and asked in a low voice, "Didn't you get the best fortune slip when you went to the temple that day?"
[The extremely auspicious fortune slip was obtained by bribing the fortune teller; it was actually supposed to be an extremely inauspicious one... Buddha is quite accurate after all.]
Tong Aning felt even more reassured about the amulet she had given to Tong Fengye.
Xie Zhilin snorted coldly, "Sometimes, even the best fortune can be faked."
How did she know? Song Lan's face paled. He tugged at Xie Zhilin's sleeve, " A Lin, don't talk nonsense."
Xie Zhilin looked at Song Lan, Song Lan face was pleading, as if she were offering her heartfelt sincerity.
If Xie Zhilin hadn't known that Tong Aning's true feelings were accurate, he probably would have been fooled by Song Lan.
"I'm perfectly sober, you should go back now."
Although Song Lan was unwilling, he compromised after seeing Xie Zhilin's expression, turning back every few steps, and saying that he would pick Xie Zhilin up later.
In his view, Xie Zhilin was just throwing a tantrum.
When Song Lan came in just now, Xie Zhiyin went to the backyard.
Now, Xie Zhiyin lifted the curtain connecting to the backyard and walked in. She first smiled politely at Xue Lin and Tong Aning, then looked around the shop and asked, "Where is Song Lan?"
Xie Zhilin wanted to tell her sister, but now wasn't the right time. She said, "I'm leaving."
Xie Zhiyin didn't ask any further questions, but instead looked at Tong Aning: "What kind of cosmetics does Miss need? Our shop has them all."
Tong Aning went to see Xue Lin. Before Xue Lin could speak, Xie Zhiyin chuckled and said, "So it's the young master who's here to choose for his sweetheart."
The veiled sarcasm in her words made Tong Aning blush.
Xie Zhilin was extremely curious. Tong Aning, and the Heir of Prince Yong? How come she didn't know about them before?
Tong Aning protested, "That's not how it is... Heir Xue, why don't you explain?"
Tong Aning's gaze fell on Xue Lin, with a hint of pleading. Xue Lin immediately stepped forward and explained the whole story to Xie Zhiyin.
The Empress's face was ruined by the palace's cosmetics; only the cosmetics from their shop could restore her to her former state.
A woman's appearance is no small matter, which is why the Empress sought out Xue Lin.
After finishing speaking, Xue Lin said, "Would the shopkeeper be interested in giving me a few more jars?"
"Since it is Her Majesty the Empress who desires it, then it is a great honor for Her Majesty to have taken a liking to it. Not to mention a few jars, Her Majesty can send someone to the shop to pick them up whenever she desires them."
"I will convey your message truthfully."
Having obtained the cosmetics that the Empress so coveted, Xue Lin asked, " Miss Tong, would you like to choose some?"
"You're paying?"
"Okay, I'll pay."
"Alright," Tong Aning, her eyes crinkling into a smile, her expression exceptionally lively. "Let's go."
Seeing that Xue Lin was still hesitant, she reached out and pulled Xue Lin outside, her wrist still adorned with the colorful stone bracelet.
Xue Lin felt a surge of heat in his heart.
Tong Aning stared at him. " Heir Xue, what's wrong? You seem a little strange."
Xue Lin said, "I feel uneasy that Miss Tong refused my gift of thanks."
Tong Aning laughed heartily, "Haven't you given me enough gifts already? I don't need another one or two, but..."
However, Tong Aning didn't say anything; she just turned around and glanced at the shop.
[That Song Lan is truly hateful. What if he comes looking for us again? Xixi, who is he using Xie Zhilin as a substitute for? If we find that substitute, we should strike first.]
Xixi mentioned a name, not only did Tong Aning's eyes widen, but Xie Zhilin and Xie Zhiyin in the shop were also stunned.
Tong Aning hurriedly entered a stationery store, asked for paper and pen, wrote down a note, and gave a little beggar some money, asking him to give the note to Xie Zhilin and Xie Zhiyin.
After doing all this, Tong Aning breathed a sigh of relief and finally had time to look at Xue Lin, who had been following behind her.
She turned around, looked at Xue Lin, and blinked, saying, "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Xue Lin shook his head.
Why?
"I'm not that curious."
"That's how it should be, that's how it should be."
Tong Aning patted Xue Lin on the shoulder, "[After all, curiosity killed the cat.]"
Xue Lin raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
*
After nightfall.
The Xie Zhiyin and Xie Zhilin, had gone to bed early. A dark shadow swept across the rooftop, and in no time, the person fell from the roof and crashed to the ground. A sickening sound of bones breaking was followed by a painful howl.
The room lights came on, and Xie Zhilin and Xie Zhiyin came out wearing their clothes.
Xie Zhilin his hand, and a servant held a lantern to illuminate the thief's face.
Xie Zhilin: " Song Lan, you're here to steal from my Xie family in the dead of night?"
"It hurts so much," Song Lan said through gritted teeth, her voice trembling, "No, A Lin, let me explain. I just really wanted to see you."
"Come on."
Another person flew down from the roof. Xie Zhiyin frowned. " Chen Wu, how could it be you?"
Chen Wu chuckled sheepishly, "He was on the roof, and I was on the roof too. Didn't we just bump into each other?"
Xie Zhiyin and Xie Zhilin to see the thugs they had arranged beforehand, and the thugs shrugged.
Xie Zhilin: "Brother-in-law, did you kick this person down?"
Chen Wu: "This is when..."
Xie Zhiyin got angry, "You're not allowed to call him brother-in-law!"
Song Lan chimed in, "That's right, you can't call him brother-in-law."
Song Lan was immediately slapped by Chen Wu. "Who do you think you are? It's fine if my wife says something, but what are you talking about?"
Song Lan said angrily, "How can someone so vulgar be worthy of Yinyin?"
Chen Wu punched Song Lan, "How dare you call Yinyin like that?"
Fearing that Chen Wu might kill Song Lan, Xie Zhilin quickly ordered her men to separate the two. She looked coldly at Song Lan, "Someone sent me a letter saying that you were after my sister, and I didn't believe it. Now it seems it's true."
"Aren't you A Lin's fiancé?" Chen Wu slapped Song Lan again.
Song Lan trembled all over. Who, who leaked his secret?
Since things had come to this, Song Lan stopped pretending. He straightened up and stared directly at Xie Zhiyin. "Yes, I like Yinyin, and you, Xie Zhilin, are just my second choice."
Song Lan received another slap.
Xie Zhilin: "Brother-in-law, don't kill him."
Chen Wu raised his hand; he hadn't done anything.
This time, it was Xie Zhiyin who assaulted someone.
"Who's the second choice? I only have this one sister, I cherish her like the apple of my eye. Who do you think you are? Tomorrow I'm announcing the engagement with your Song family."
Xie Zhilin's eyes welled up with tears, "Sister."
" Chen Wu, what are you standing there for? Tie this man up."
"Okay, sure."
After tying the man up and throwing him into the woodshed, Chen Wu followed Xie Zhiyin.
" Yinyin, let's make up. I have no idea how to run a shop... Climbing walls? That's not true."
*
When Tong Aning woke up early in the morning, she heard Xixi recount the events of yesterday. She chuckled and then said, "That Song Lan deserved it; she actually treated her younger sister as a substitute for her older sister."
He is now imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture jail.
"This is truly gratifying!"
" Aning, are you ready? We should get going."
"Okay, okay."
Tong Aning opened the door and saw Su Zhouyue waiting for her outside. She affectionately took Su Zhouyue's arm and said, "Mother, you look so beautiful today."
Su Zhouyue smiled. "You're so sweet-talking."
The two are going to a wedding banquet today.
Once inside the carriage, Tong Aning asked curiously, "Isn't An'an going? Didn't she insist on going yesterday?"
"She changed her mind again this morning because Siyan had to go to the ferry to welcome the merchant ships, and she preferred to go see the big ships instead."
Tong Aning instantly felt like she'd missed out on a million dollars. She muttered to herself, "I should have gone to see the big ship too."
Su Zhouyue raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Tong Aning immediately changed her expression, "I'm definitely going to stay with Mother. Yi'an is too outrageous, too playful. What will happen when he enters the Imperial Academy next year?"
"Exactly, I'm worried too."
As I continued to worry, we arrived at the mansion.
Su Zhouyue and Tong Aning arrived at just the right time, just in time to see the bridal sedan chair.
Tong Aning poked her head out, "Mother, why are there two bridal sedan chairs?"
Su Zhouyue glanced at it as well, "I don't know."
The bride is the current Empress's nephew, but the Empress only has this one nephew. Surely the Imperial Brother-in-Law's family can't have two happy events at once?
The emperor's brother-in-law and his wife were also stunned.
The emperor's brother-in-law frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"
The groom dismounted and said, "I told you long ago that I only have one sweetheart, but you all insisted that I marry the princess, so I have no choice but to marry both of them."
The emperor's brother-in-law couldn't believe his ears. "You're putting the dignity of my imperial family to the ground! Quickly send this woman of unknown origin back so she can marry the princess as soon as possible!"
The groom, with his neck stiff, declared, "Impossible! Today I will only marry the one I love."
"Shen Lang..."
The emotions were so genuine and heartfelt that they moved listeners to tears.
But unfortunately--
[They're all fake.]
He thought their love was unbreakable, but she was only after his money and status. Without that status, he was nothing.
"Impossible."
He clearly also has a handsome face. Alas, it's understandable that Yanyan is infatuated with his face.
[I don't believe it. If he were kicked out of the Emperor's brother's residence, this woman would definitely abandon him on the spot.]
Is that interesting?
The princess asked, " Shen Xinrui, are you really sure?"
"My love for Yanyan is stronger than gold, and we can never be separated in this lifetime. I beg Your Highness to grant my wish."
"Alright then."
The princess alighted from the sedan chair and removed her veil herself, revealing a delicate face with a slight, mocking smile on her lips.
"In that case, I hereby declare that you, Shen Xinrui, are no longer a member of the Imperial Uncle's Mansion."
Shen Xinrui's eyes widened. "Even if you're a princess, you can't do this, can you?"
The princess went to visit the emperor's brother-in-law and his wife.
The Empress Dowager didn't react much, but the Emperor's brother-in-law stepped forward.
He said, "What the princess says is true. His Majesty wants you to marry the princess, yet you have humiliated her so much today, putting my maternal uncle's family in an unjust and immoral position. You unfilial son, you're better off without."
Shen Xinrui fell to the ground.
"It's alright, I still have Yanyan, "Shen Xinrui said, his eyes shining as he looked at Yanyan. " Yanyan, you won't abandon me, right?"
[three.]
[two.]
[one.]
Yanyan flung Shen Xinrui's hand away, "Who do you think you are? You're useless."
" Yanyan, look at me! You once praised me as a handsome and extraordinary person."
"I was just lying to you."
Did he lie to him?
Shen Xinrui seemed to have lost all her strength.
Oh wow.