Shen Linyi was utterly confused. Frowning, she said, "The main wife? When did I ever say I wanted to..."
"Enough!" Uncle Lao interrupted Shen Linyi impatiently. Disdainfully, he said, "Miss Shen has taken so much trouble to embroider handkerchiefs for our young master during the imperial examinations, sending fans in summer and clothes in winter. Your intentions are so obvious that anyone can guess them."
Liuyun also widened her eyes in anger. "Bah, bah, bah!! Our miss has no such thoughts!!"
"Alas," Uncle Lao curled his lips. "Don't be shy to admit it. If you don't want to be a concubine, then you can only be an unofficial mistress. You should think it over carefully."
After saying that, Uncle Lao drove the carriage away quickly, silencing the words of explanation from the mistress and her maid.
Liuyun chased after the carriage a few steps in a fit of anger but returned empty - handed. She could only yell at the carriage, "Shameless old thing! Tell your young master that our miss doesn't care about him!"
"What kind of people are they!"
Liuyun angrily kicked a pebble on the ground, wishing the pebble could fly up and hit Uncle Lao hard on the head.
"Liuyun, come back," Shen Linyi said coldly.
She had a gloomy face, and there was a dark undercurrent in her eyes.
She never expected that her sponsorship of Wen Heyu's imperial examinations would lead others to misunderstand her to such an extent.
Uncle Lao's words about being a concubine or an unofficial mistress, and the look in his eyes that she was unworthy, were like saying that she, Shen Linyi, was day - dreaming. It was a hard slap in her face.
But all she wanted was to avenge her mother. She hoped to meet someone who could help her clear her mother's name and bring down the powerful man.
Shen Linyi had even thought that Wen Heyu might be scared or refuse, or even give her silver to sever their kindness. But she never thought that she would receive such humiliation of being an unofficial mistress.
She had never thought about being a main wife or getting married!
"Wen Heyu, very well..."
Shen Linyi turned around resolutely. Then, she lifted her skirt and walked up the steps.
Liuyun chased after her from behind. Glancing at Shen Linyi, she asked in confusion, "Miss, since you're angry, why do you still follow Young Master Wen's advice and move into this Jingxin Nunnery?"
Anyone would be angry after hearing such stinging humiliation, especially Liuyun, who knew Shen Linyi's plans well. She felt that Shen Linyi's efforts were in vain.
She had sponsored Wen Heyu for so long, but unexpectedly, she had raised an ungrateful person.
If he really didn't think highly of their miss, he could just give some money after passing the imperial examinations. Why did he have to send an old servant to humiliate them?
This kind of behavior was really disgusting.
Shen Linyi clenched her fists under her sleeves and sneered, "Do we have any other choice? If we go to the capital and are discovered by the spies of the Prime Minister's Mansion, we may not even have a place to stay in the nunnery. Since there's a ready - made place, why waste it?"
Since she, Shen Linyi, was determined to go to the capital to avenge her mother, she would not return to the south in such a sorry state!
Liuyun thought of the methods of the Prime Minister's Mansion and the calculating and cold eyes. Fear immediately appeared in her eyes, and she didn't dare to think anymore.
As soon as they entered the Jingxin Nunnery, a young nun greeted them. She sized up Shen Linyi calmly for a while, then said expressionlessly, "Are you two distinguished guests of Young Master Wen? Young Master Wen has asked this little nun to arrange a small courtyard for you. Please follow me, benefactors."
The Jingxin Nunnery was located on the outskirts of the capital, but it was not desolate.
There were many temples near the capital. If ladies and noble girls wanted to meditate and fast, they would surely choose the Jingxin Nunnery as their temporary residence.
As soon as they entered, the ancient simplicity of the temple assailed their nostrils. The paths were secluded, ancient trees stood in great numbers, and the sound of the bell lingered over the nunnery, dispelling some of the darkness in Shen Linyi's heart.
It seemed that the Buddha's words could really calm the mind. It was not a false statement of the ancients. Just walking on this quiet ancient path, one could feel at peace.
But for some reason, Shen Linyi always felt something was strange.
It seemed that there were some eyes in the dark, staring at her intently...
But this feeling disappeared immediately when Shen Linyi saw groups of noble ladies and young ladies surrounded by servants and guards.
There were many noble people here, and there were also many bodyguards around. She thought there would be no trouble.
After the two followed the young nun for a short distance, they came to a small courtyard.
"Miss, this courtyard is quite delicate," Liuyun exclaimed after entering the courtyard. Then, she put her hands together and thanked the young nun, "Thank you, little master."
The young nun nodded. Then, she gave Shen Linyi a strange look and turned to leave.
Shen Linyi was in a daze, looking at the tile - roofed house in the courtyard. She didn't notice the young nun's look.
This small courtyard was quiet and simple. As soon as one entered, there were bamboo groves on both sides of the path leading to the tile - roofed house. When the wind blew, they rustled. Coupled with the chanting sounds coming from afar from time to time, this place seemed so pure that all the noise had been washed away.
The blue tiles and white walls showed the traces of the old days, but they didn't look desolate. Instead, they revealed a sense of historical weight.
After the mistress and her maid simply tidied up, it was already sunset. The young nun brought the vegetarian meal. They simply took a few mouthfuls and then moved two wicker chairs and sat at the stone table in the courtyard.
There was also a small stove on the table, with a pot of warm tea on it, emitting a wisp of white mist.
Shen Linyi closed her eyes to rest and planned her next move.
Since Wen Heyu was unreliable, then she could only... Shen Linyi stroked the jade pendant, and her eyes became more and more sharp.
"Miss, do you think Young Master Wen will come to find us again?" Liuyun didn't have much hope for Wen Heyu. She was only worried about the possibility of being homeless.
Shen Linyi lowered her head and fell silent. She thought she had never overstepped the boundaries when getting along with Wen Heyu.
Sending fans in summer and clothes in winter was because the people living around were all poor. There were children, aunts, and poor men around. The things she sent to Wen Heyu were just included.
Sponsoring Wen Heyu for the imperial examinations was only to help him become an official smoothly, find the evidence of the enemy's crime, and bring him down.
Self - righteous men were the most annoying.
"Maybe..."
Shen Linyi said softly, with a calm look in her eyes.
After all, a person like Wen Heyu, who was so concerned about his official career, was most afraid of any stain on it. He would surely come to solve this "trouble" himself.
As if to confirm Shen Linyi's thought, early in the morning, there came a rapid knock on the door.
Liuyun opened the door, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She saw Wen Heyu holding packages of different sizes in his arms. With his usual gentle smile on his face, he asked, "Miss Liuyun, has your miss gotten up?"
"Young Master Wen?? Hey, wait!"
Liuyun was immediately awakened by the shock. Before she could stop him, Wen Heyu walked straight into the courtyard.
Wen Heyu put all the things in his arms on the stone table, wiped the sweat on his forehead, and his eyes were full of expectation. "Is your miss sleeping in again?"
"I heard from Uncle Lao yesterday that you seemed to misunderstand my meaning. So, I picked out some gifts early this morning and came here to explain to Miss Shen."