Chapter 40: Stubborn to the Bitter End

"You... you..." Lin Qingyu pointed a finger at Shen Mengli, rendered speechless by the sharp retort.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a figure walked in from outside.

"Qingyu, why did you come here?"

Qi Yunyan turned his head, looking at Shen Mengli with suspicion. "Shen Mengli, you didn't do anything to Qingyu, did you?"

His demeanor suggested he was terrified that Shen Mengli might have done something detrimental to Lin Qingyu. He scanned Lin Qingyu from head to toe before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

When he first heard that Lin Qingyu had gone to Snow Bamboo Residence to see Shen Mengli, his immediate reaction was that Shen Mengli surely had no good intentions. She must have been using her status as the Heir Consort to summon Lin Qingyu to Snow Bamboo Residence specifically to make things difficult for her. With a nature as soft as Qingyu’s, she would certainly be no match for a money-grubbing woman like Shen Mengli. If Shen Mengli were to subject her to cruel treatment, that frail little body of hers would surely never withstand it.

"My Lord, you rushed over in such a hurry—were you afraid I was harboring ill intentions toward your little darling?" Shen Mengli asked with a playful glint in her eyes. It seemed Qi Yunyan’s love for Lin Qingyu truly ran deep; the slightest rustle of wind or grass was enough to alarm him.

A flash of awkwardness crossed Qi Yunyan’s face. "Isn't that the case? If I hadn't arrived in time, would you have succeeded? Heaven knows what kind of scheme you had in mind."

"I never imagined that in the Heir’s eyes, I was held in such regard. It is truly heartbreaking." As she spoke, Shen Mengli dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Seeing Shen Mengli wiping away tears, Qi Yunyan felt a sudden tightening in his chest. Was she actually crying? Had he wronged her? Then again, Shen Mengli didn't even like him, so perhaps she truly had no reason to harm Qingyu. It was likely that he had judged a noble heart by his own petty standards. With this thought, a sense of guilt inevitably took hold of him.

Qi Yunyan cleared his throat. "I was just too concerned for Qingyu. Shen Mengli, if I have acted improperly, please do not take it to heart."

Shen Mengli glanced at the man in surprise. Was he humbling himself before her? It seemed Qi Yunyan wasn't entirely without merit; he was at least capable of admitting a mistake on the spot. He wasn't like those people who, for the sake of pride, would stubbornly refuse to yield. He still had a shred of gentlemanly grace, at least.

"Qingyu, what is the reason for your visit to the Heir Consort today?"

Lin Qingyu paused. She could hardly admit she had come to test the waters. "Yunyan, I came to ask the Heir Consort not to tear us apart. After all, I am merely a concubine of humble status, incomparable to the Heir Consort’s illustrious position. Though I have no power or influence, my heart for you is witnessed by heaven and earth."

"Qingyu, even if your status is low, I have never once looked down upon you. Do not belittle yourself. In my heart, you are the best; no one can compare to you."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyu threw herself into Qi Yunyan’s arms, moved to tears. Watching from the sidelines, Shen Mengli felt a wave of nausea. What a display of true love—it was enough to move heaven and earth. She felt like applauding them. She sincerely wished for the two of them to lock themselves away together and never come out to plague her again. But, to be fair, if they wanted to flaunt their affection, they should go do it elsewhere. There was no need to be such an eyesore here at her Snow Bamboo Residence. If only she could find a pair of eyes that had never witnessed this.

"My Lord, have you two finished? If so, could you please leave? Our Snow Bamboo Residence is but a small temple; we cannot accommodate the two of you." Seeing the pair lost in their heartfelt confessions, Shen Mengli quickly issued an eviction notice.

Her words left Qi Yunyan’s face flushed red.

"Shen Mengli, could I trouble you for one thing?"