Chapter 87: From Now On, I Will Always Be Here

Jun Ci heard this and gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.

“She will never forgive me.”

“How could that be?” The Minister of Revenue’s face was full of confidence. “Who in the capital doesn’t know the young lady of the Shen family is fond of you? She’s probably just saying it out of anger. If you humble yourself a bit, she’s sure to forgive you.”

Jun Ci: “...”

Things are never as simple as others say.

He lowered his gaze and thought for a moment before speaking, “I’ll handle this myself, father, you needn’t interfere.”

Thinking back now, he realized he had wronged both Shen Nanwan and Lin Yan.

As for Lin Yan, it would be better if he spoke to her himself.

Jun Ci suddenly recalled the look of unease on Lin Yan’s face when she cautiously asked him, “Will you still come to the Lin residence in the coming days?”

Perhaps from that moment, she had sensed that he might not return.

—

Jun Ci’s visit to the Duke of Zhen’s mansion did not escape Shen Sinian’s notice.

It was only natural—the guards at the gate would surely report today’s events to him, so there was nothing surprising.

Shen Sinian knew his sister had long since forgotten Jun Ci and mocked, “What was he doing all this time, regretting now? Let him regret for the rest of his life.”

“My sister is so wonderful. He must have been blind not to like you before. Next time I see him, I’ll make sure to mock him a few times.”

Shen Nanwan couldn’t help but laugh. “Big brother, you’re right.”

The servants finished setting the table, and Shen Nanwan placed a piece of meat into Shen Sinian’s bowl. Seeing the fatigue on his face, she spoke with concern, “You didn’t rest well yesterday, and today you entered the palace early. After dinner, you should go back and rest.”

Shen Sinian answered, “Why aren’t you asking what I found out today?”

“If you’ve discovered something, you’ll tell me,” she replied softly. “Besides, palace affairs are so complex; it’s not easy to investigate.”

A faint smile tugged at Shen Sinian’s lips.

He clicked his tongue and said, “Wanwan, you’re so obedient today. Usually, you don’t feel right unless you tease me a little.”

“Do you prefer me teasing you, or as I am now?”

“Either way is fine,” Shen Sinian said. “Though you always leave me speechless, big brother still cares for you.”

Shen Nanwan: “...”

But indeed, as she had said, the investigation was not easy. They had a portrait of the palace maid based on Shen Nanwan’s memory, but there were many maids in the palace, so searching would take time.

Because of this matter, there were far more Imperial Guards in the palace than usual, leaving many people anxious.

Shen Sinian was truly exhausted, and after dinner, he retired to his courtyard. Shen Nanwan, after bathing, found herself unable to sleep. Qingrui left a lamp burning, casting a faint glow.

Even with the lamp, there was a feeling she couldn’t quite name in her heart.

Whenever she closed her eyes, she could picture the scene of falling into the water last night—the despair of dying made her afraid.

She sat up in bed, draped a light cloak over her shoulders, and quietly opened the door to walk into the courtyard. It was already May, the weather warming, and the moonlight was bright, spilling silver across the ground.

Before entering this world, she had never been so close to death. Only after experiencing it did she realize how precious every moment was.

Shen Nanwan slowly sat on the steps, gazing quietly at the moon.

After living here for so long, her memories of her life before arriving faded...

It wasn’t a good thing.

No matter what, she still longed for home.

Could she ever return?

Shen Nanwan sighed softly, resting her chin in one hand, lost in thought.

After a while, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching—steady and measured. Listening carefully, she could even tell whose they were.

She lifted her eyes slightly and met Xiao Yan’s deep, dark gaze, lit by the faint glow, carrying a hint of concern.

“Miss, why are you outside?”

Shen Nanwan smiled. “You’re not asleep either, are you?”

She tilted her head slightly and sighed. “I can’t sleep.”

“Because of yesterday’s events?”

Xiao Yan sat down beside her, watching her nod gently, and his hand involuntarily tightened. “It’s over now. Such things won’t happen again. You don’t need to be afraid.”

When he returned to the palace and gained his own influence, he would protect her well.

“I’ll always be here,” he said, his voice low, as if making a promise, his expression unusually serious.

Shen Nanwan smiled at his words, but didn’t take them to heart.

After all, he would soon leave the Duke of Zhen’s mansion to become the Crown Prince. How could he have time to protect a trivial supporting character like her?

Yet Xiao Yan could see she hadn’t really believed him, so he pursed his lips. “You don’t believe me, Miss?”

“It’s not that,” Shen Nanwan replied. “I do believe you.”

Her tone and expression, however, lacked conviction.

Come to think of it, she wondered why so many people wanted to enter the palace.

Whether in dramas or here, whenever the palace was mentioned, everyone’s eyes shone with longing, as if entering meant enjoying endless riches. But that was not the truth.

Inside, one’s life was never secure.

She paused, then turned to Xiao Yan. “If you achieve something in the future, what would you most like to do?”

“The thing I want most,” he lowered his gaze, without a hint of hesitation, “is to protect the person most important to me.”

After he finished speaking, Xiao Yan looked straight at her, making Shen Nanwan feel, if only for a moment, as if he spoke of her.

A strange feeling began to rise within her.

Lately, suspicions had been piling up in her heart.

Shen Nanwan felt that Xiao Yan was becoming more and more unusual.

She spoke calmly, “It seems I haven’t seen Chu Yue in a long time. She must be busy at the Prime Minister’s residence these days. I should visit her soon.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Yan frown slightly. “Miss, you shouldn’t leave the mansion. It’s best to stay inside for now.”

He continued, “Once this matter is fully investigated, it won’t be a problem for you to go out.”

He seemed worried about her safety, never mentioning Meng Chu Yue at all.

The male and female leads... surely they must be secretly meeting in private.

Shen Nanwan started to doubt this.

Could it be they had never met in private? That, aside from the few times with her, they’d never seen each other—and were still strangers?