The entire Shen family was immersed in a jubilant atmosphere.
According to the prior plan between Nan Yu and Tan Linyuan, after she obtained the relic from Shen Yanche, to prevent him from going back on his word, she would directly hand it over to Tan Linyuan during the wedding.
Nan Yu was well - aware of her current situation.
Even if Shen Yanche had agreed to her, it was very likely just a delaying tactic. She was in a weak position, and it would be a piece of cake for the Shen family to take the item back at any time.
After much thought, she concluded that the most suitable person to give it to was Tan Linyuan.
If the so - called relic was truly the key to the stone cave, then it should be given to Tan Linyuan even more.
Nan Yu slowly sipped the drink in her cup, wondering when Shen Yanche would find the time to give her the item.
Once she got it, the next step was to wait for Tan Linyuan.
Out of boredom, a servant of the Shen family walked up to her and whispered, "Miss Nan, Young Master Shen has given instructions that your item has been placed in the study. He asks you to go and get it yourself."
Nan Yu was taken aback. "Isn't he going to give it to me in person?"
"Young Master is busy with the wedding, as you can see," the servant said, looking at the newlyweds in the center of the crowd. "He said he was afraid of tipping off the enemy, so you can just go and get it. The item is already on the table."
"Young Master also asked me to convey a message to you. He hopes that you will help him after you get the item."
After a few seconds of silence, Nan Yu replied, "I understand. You can go back to your work."
"Thank you for your understanding, Miss Nan."
Nan Yu looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to her, especially Shen Suhai who was also present. Then she felt relieved and walked up the stairs.
Compared to the hall, there were significantly fewer people on the second floor. Most of them were cleaning maids.
No one cared about her appearance, but she didn't let her guard down. She casually walked to the study door, naturally turned the doorknob, and pushed the door open.
The study was empty.
This was Shen Suhai's study, which was very spacious.
There were two bookshelves, a large desk, and a tea - room separated by a screen on the side. There was a teapot on the tea table.
Nan Yu scanned the room and finally fixed her eyes on the box on the table.
If she guessed correctly, this was the item that Shen Yanche had prepared for her in advance.
Nan Yu took a deep breath, quickly walked over, picked up the box, and opened it -
It was empty.
Nan Yu was stunned for a second. Suddenly realizing something was wrong, she turned around and ran back to the study door, desperately turning the doorknob.
The door had been locked from the outside.
She had fallen into a trap.
Nan Yu panicked and took out her phone, only to find that there was almost no signal.
The signal had been completely blocked.
Nan Yu walked to the window with her phone, but there was still no signal. She even found that the windows in the study had been tightly sealed with glue and iron bars.
Everything was a well - laid trap for her.
Looking at the phone that still couldn't make a call, the color gradually drained from Nan Yu's face.
She had trusted Shen Yanche too much.
It was Shen Yanche who had acted so casually and deliberately said that it was a worthless item to lure her here.
But if it was really worthless, why had he been so protective of it that he hadn't even let her know about it before?
It was too late to realize this now.
Nan Yu walked to the study door and pounded on it hard, hoping to attract the attention of people passing by outside.
But the possibility was extremely slim.
All the guests were downstairs, and it was a wedding day. The noise was so loud that no one would notice the commotion behind this door.
She stopped only when her fists started to hurt. She pressed her head against the door to listen to the sounds outside.
The noisy voices blended together, and no one noticed her predicament.
She slumped against the door and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.
Nan Yu, you're so stupid.
Stupid enough to believe Shen Yanche's nonsense and think that he really needed her to plead with Tan Linyuan.
Come to think of it, from Shen Yanche's perspective, she was at most a woman who might have had a physical relationship with Tan Linyuan, not someone of any great importance.
How could she persuade this powerful figure to change his mind?
All along, the real target of the Shen family had been her.
But she couldn't understand.
Was that so - called fate really that important?
She buried her head in her knees, overwhelmed by despair and annoyance.
Going against a powerful opponent was indeed a very difficult thing.
—
Outside, the wedding was still proceeding in an orderly manner.
The Shen family had deep roots. Since there was going to be an addition to the family, the traditional ritual of worship was indispensable.
Any family that wasn't a new - comer in business or had suddenly struck it rich understood this principle.
Respecting ancestors and gods was a rule that every generation of a family should abide by and uphold without the slightest hesitation.
If there was any violation or neglect, it would surely bring about a disaster to the family.
Naturally, Shen Yanche's wedding was no exception.
Although the wedding wasn't held in the Shen family's old mansion, the rules and procedures were all in place. For this purpose, a temporary ancestral shrine of the Shen family was even set up in the Shen family's villa.
After the newlyweds bowed to their ancestors and gods in front of the shrine with the witness of their relatives and friends, the ceremony would be successfully completed, and everyone could then move to the hotel for the wedding banquet.
In the entire Jiangcheng, being able to invite Tan Linyuan to witness a wedding or a funeral was something to brag about.
This powerful figure wasn't someone that just anyone could invite.
So, even though Tan Linyuan had recently taken drastic measures against the Shen family in the Chamber of Commerce without showing any mercy, Shen Suhai still lowered his stance and invited him to come and witness the wedding, to chant scriptures and pray for blessings for the newlyweds of the Shen family.
This was also the reason why Shen Suhai always invited Tan Linyuan himself for both funerals and weddings.
It was not only for show but also a gesture of trying to outshine Tan Linyuan.
When the auspicious time arrived, the noisy discussions among the crowd gradually died down. Everyone, as if they had anticipated something, began to crane their necks to look outside.
The winter wind was biting. As the person walked in, the cold wind rushed in with him.
Tan Linyuan's aura was still as aloof and unique as ever. Even in such a lively environment, he stood out on his own.
He was never contaminated by the mundane world and was always that untouchable god.
Perhaps to fit the occasion, Tan Linyuan was wearing a reddish - brown robe today, holding a piece of yellow scripture paper in his hand.
His clear eyes carried his usual calmness.
Tan Linyuan's gaze swept across every face in the crowd, but he didn't find the one he wanted to see.
He frowned slightly but didn't show any abnormality. Instead, he walked up to Shen Yanche and Wen Ying.
His eyes briefly met Wen Ying's, as if confirming a position with her.
Wen Ying just shook her head.
Wen Ying also didn't know where Nan Yu had gone. In fact, since she came out in her wedding dress to greet the guests, she hadn't seen Nan Yu.
Then, she looked at Shen Yanche with a smile and pretended not to know him. "A Che, is this the Second Uncle you mentioned before?"
Shen Yanche then introduced Tan Linyuan to Wen Ying with a smile.
Everyone was in an harmonious agreement without saying a word.
It was as if Tan Linyuan had never taken action against the Shen family, and the Shen family had no grudge against Tan Linyuan.
A large group of people, all smiling, flocked towards the ancestral shrine to prepare for the wedding ceremony of the newlyweds.