latelenovela Chapter 234 Revenge (Part )
Chapter 234 Revenge (Part )
As Shi Lan was thinking, she closed her eyes, probably because she was missing the handsome face of her beloved brother Xiao Chu.
At this time, Huai Qiu went somewhere else to find scissors for trimming flowers and plants. Tao Yao seized the opportunity and sneaked up behind Shi Lanxin.
"Huai Qiu, where is my little fan?" Shi Lanxin asked.
At that moment, Tao Yao had just caught a cricket in the bushes and was holding it in her hand. She slowed down her pace, gently approached behind Shi Lanxin, and pinched her throat, imitating Huai Qiu's voice, and said softly, "Miss, the fan is here."
Shi Lanxin didn't notice anything wrong with the voice. She still closed her eyes and stretched out her hand.
Just thinking about what was going to happen next, Tao Yao could hardly hold back her laughter.
"Here you are, miss."
As Tao Yao spoke, she gently placed the cricket into Shi Lanxin's hand.
Feeling something placed in her palm, Shi Lanxin quickly clenched her hand, then frowned and asked in confusion, "Strange, Huaiqiu - is this the round fan I used to use? Why does the handle feel different..."
Before she could finish her words, she screamed and swung her arms wildly to shake off the cricket. At the same time, her whole body bounced up from the beauty's bed like a spring, her jumping even more exaggerated than that of the runaway cricket, and it looked very funny.
"It's so dirty... Huaiqiu, how do you do things!"
Shi Lanxin didn't even turn around to realize that it was Tao Yao standing behind her. She was still complaining while concentrating on using a handkerchief to wipe the palm of her hand that had just been "stained" by the cricket.
At this time, Huai Qiu had just returned with a pair of flower pruning shears. Seeing Tao Yao standing behind Shi Lanxin, he was so scared that the pile of shears, hoes, and watering cans in his hands fell to the ground with a sharp sound.
"Second...Second...Second Miss?!"
Huai Qiu trotted to Tao Yao in three or two steps. After rubbing his eyes to confirm that he was not seeing things, he also showed an expression as if he had seen a ghost and almost fainted from fright.
"What? Second Miss, Huaiqiu, what unlucky words are you saying in broad daylight? Slap your face right now."
Shi Lanxin then slowly turned around, and after her eyes swept over Huai Qiu who had fainted on the ground, she realized that there was someone standing behind her.
The moment their eyes met, Tao Yao smiled broadly, waved her hand, and said with a smile, "Sister, long time no see, I'm back."
Shi Lanxin was stunned at first, and then she didn't care that her hand had just touched the insect. She quickly covered her mouth, but she couldn't cover up the scream that came out of her throat: "Ghost——"
Shi Lanxin's shout alarmed the entire Shi Mansion.
It is said that since Shi Yiqian attempted to assassinate Chu Huanjun at a palace banquet a few days ago, he should have been charged with murdering the prince and imprisoned. However, the emperor has always been sympathetic to his meritorious officials, and because Zuo Tang often whispered in his ear, the emperor only ordered Shi Yiqian to be confined to the mansion. After Chu Huanjun was found, the matter would be thoroughly investigated, and then Shi Yiqian's crime would be punished.
After being ordered to stay at home, Shi Yiqian locked himself in his bedroom all day, not seeing anyone. Even when Zhu Fengsheng personally knocked on his door with chicken soup, wanting to see him, he refused.
It was only when his beloved Shi Lanxin specially selected some snacks and sent them to his door that he finally agreed to eat a few bites, but he was still reluctant to go out.
After Tao Yao came back and made such a fuss, Shi Lanxin cried and shouted for justice in front of Shi Yiqian's door. Only then was Shi Yiqian willing to open the door and come out to see people.
Shi Yiqian locked himself in his room for a few days, and he looked much thinner than before. Even his bronze face showed a hint of paleness.
Tao Yao knelt in the middle of the hall, Shi Lanxin standing beside her. Shi Yiqian and Zhu Fengsheng sat on either side of the main table in front.
Tao Yao took a deep breath, and the memories of being punished in Zhuzhengtang in the past came back to her mind one by one. However, this time, even Huai Ling was not by her side, and she had to face everything alone.
Shi Lanxin was crying so hard that her face was covered with tears and she was sobbing intermittently, like a child. Shi Yiqian saw it and felt pain in his heart. He said softly, "Okay, it's just a bug. It didn't hurt you. I'll ask Huaiqiu to boil a basin of hot water and use the best sheep fat soap to wash it for you."
Tao Yao's heart moved. She didn't expect that Shi Yiqian didn't blame her first, but instead lectured Shi Lanxin first - could it be that after being confined for these few days, this old man has changed his nature?
Taoyao unconsciously glanced up at Shi Lanxin, and unexpectedly, their eyes met again. Shi Lanxin's brows knitted together, tears threatening to fall again. She muttered, "Shi Taoyao, what are you so proud of? Daddy, look at her—she clearly did something bad, and she's not reflecting on it, yet she's so proud. Daddy, how could you criticize me and not her!"
"Okay - stop arguing. It's just a small matter." Shi Yiqian rubbed his eyebrows with a headache.
Tao Yao lowered her head, waiting for Shi Yiqian to speak. But after a long moment, there was only silence around her. This silence was more frightening than any punishment. Tao Yao couldn't help but secretly raise her chin a little and glance in Shi Yiqian's direction.
I didn't want to make eye contact with him.
Tao Yao hurriedly averted her gaze and immediately lowered her head, but suddenly she heard Shi Yiqian's voice ringing in her ears: "Tao Yao, come on, you are really something. Why didn't you go home for all these days? We all thought... Don't be so reckless next time. Since you have a family, you should know how to return home early. You are a girl from a poor family, wandering around outside, showing your face in public. If the news gets out, how can you find a good husband in the future?"
Tao Yao had been traveling outside and was now stronger than before. Facing Shi Yiqian's lecture, she naturally felt dissatisfied and said, "Dad, you all thought I was dead, so you didn't even search for my body... Then, is there any reason for my daughter to return to this family?"
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the hall fell silent. No one could have imagined that the Second Young Lady, who had always endured humiliation, would now dare to contradict Shi Yiqian so stubbornly.
Shi Yi was so angry that his brows were raised. He slapped the table, spilling both cups of tea. The two maids nearby were so scared that they hurried over to clean up the mess.
"I think you've become too bold. After being away for a few days, you've forgotten your manners and the family rules!"
Shi Yiqian was so angry that he stood up from his chair. However, because he hadn't eaten for several days and was weak and out of breath, he stumbled a few steps as he stood up. Zhu Fengsheng quickly supported him and advised, "Master, don't get angry over something that's not worth it. Your health is more important."