Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

After going upstairs, Shen Chuning thanked Zhou Lin and walked straight into the private room she had reserved.

I never thought Zhou Lin would follow in.

Shen Chuning looked back at him, frowned, and asked in confusion, "Mr. Zhou, is there anything else?" There was a hint of confusion in her tone.

Zhou Lin looked at her with a deep and focused gaze, as if trying to see through her heart. He slowly said, "Just now downstairs, if you didn't like it, why didn't you just leave? Do you really like your cousin?" There was a hint of doubt and questioning in his voice.

She replied softly, "After all, they are legitimate relatives, and it happened in the Yun family's restaurant. It wouldn't be good if things got too awkward. Besides, I don't like businessmen like Yun Yan. I always feel like they have too much of a money-grubbing stink."

Shen Chuning could not forget the last time at the Yun Family Restaurant, Yun Yan praised Shen Jingwan's business acumen with an air of flattery.

After hearing her answer, Zhou Lin's expression obviously eased a lot.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, as if he was satisfied with her answer.

Zhou Lin then asked: "If you don't like people who do business, then what do you like? Literati? Military generals? Or... or princes and nobles?" His voice was low and magnetic, revealing a hint of expectation.

Shen Chuning thought for a moment, then said softly, "A literati, I like the bookish air." There was a gentle light in her eyes.

After Shen Chuning finished speaking, she saw that Zhou Lin had no intention of leaving, so she felt helpless and said again: "Mr. Zhou, I have an appointment."

Her eyes dropped to the door, hinting at the hope that he would understand and leave.

Zhou Lin was silent for a moment, but he couldn't help but ask, "You insist on investigating the cause of the late crown prince's death. Is it for the sake of the fifth prince?"

His eyes became sharp, closely watching the changes in her expression.

Shen Chuning was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer this question.

She felt a little annoyed and thought that everyone she met today was strange.

First, Shen Jingwan asked her if she liked Yun Yan, and then Zhou Lin asked her if the reason for investigating the death of the former crown prince was because of the fifth prince.

She replied no, but Zhou Lin asked why.

She frowned, not knowing how to explain it to Zhou Lin.

She couldn't tell Zhou Lin that she did this to overthrow the third prince.

So she had no choice but to answer that she had no comment.

Zhou Lin sneered, and said with a tone of mockery and disappointment: "Oh, I even found a little beggar to give you evidence, but you can't even hear a word of truth."

Hearing this, Shen Chuning's eyes widened and she looked at Zhou Lin in surprise, "Did you ask someone to deliver that evidence?"

Zhou Lin continued with a sneer, "But now I just feel it's not worth it. I originally thought you were grateful for Concubine Hui's kindness to you and were speaking up for the Crown Prince. It turns out you went to such lengths, even betraying Sisi, just to pave the way for the Fifth Prince."

"Do you know that if Miss Sisi had not been captured, the late prince would not have left so early." Zhou Lin said painfully.

Shen Chuning felt very helpless. She really wished she could knock Zhou Lin's head open to see what he was thinking.

She couldn't help but raise her voice and shouted: "I said no!"

Shen Chuning calmed herself down and continued, "I'm sorry, it was my fault that Miss Sisi was arrested. I didn't expect Miss Sisi to be so important to the late Crown Prince."

"Inconsiderate? Did I ever tell you not to disturb Miss Sisi?" Zhou Lin asked.

"But Miss Sisi is the key to the whole thing. If we don't use her as the entry point, the whole thing will have no way to be investigated and cannot be advanced. But I really am not doing this for the Fifth Prince." Shen Chuning explained again.

"But now the former crown prince is dead, the third prince is about to go to Changye, but the fifth prince is being taken by His Majesty to be taught." Zhou Lin said gritting his teeth, his eyes flashing with anger and unwillingness.

Shen Chuning's eyes widened, her face filled with surprise. "The Fifth Prince was brought by His Majesty to be taught? When did this happen?"

There was a hint of disbelief in her voice, as if she was very surprised by the news.

Zhou Lin sneered, "Today! His Majesty summoned the Fifth Prince and tested his knowledge. He felt that he was a talented person with great potential."

"You've been teaching the Fifth Prince to read and write since you were just a companion to the Princess. Later, you even asked me to teach him Kung Fu. Wasn't it all for this? You really have a good plan. You've manipulated several princes at your fingertips." Zhou Lin's tone was full of sarcasm.

He stared at Shen Chuning, his eyes full of suspicion and distrust.

He couldn't accept the fact that he was being used, and his heart was filled with pain and anger.

Shen Chuning frowned, shook her head firmly, and explained, "I taught the Fifth Prince to read and write simply because he saved me once, and I wanted to repay his kindness. As for whether he can gain the favor of Your Majesty, that is his own fate and has nothing to do with me."

Zhou Lin didn't believe her explanation and continued to ask, "What about taking him to see the lanterns during the Lantern Festival last time? Was it just to repay a favor?"

He slowly opened his right hand, then clenched it tightly, feeling a dull pain in his wrist.

That lantern festival left a problem in his right hand, and he couldn't write with a pen, nor could he wield a sword.

"That time...that time..." Shen Chuning answered stutteringly, but still couldn't utter a complete sentence.

The reason she agreed to the fifth prince that time was actually because she remembered the unborn child in her previous life.

Although she is now almost the same age as the Fifth Prince, the Fifth Prince lost his mother, and she also lost her own child in her previous life.

Whenever she saw the fifth prince, she always felt pity for him and couldn't help but agree to his request.

"Tell me! Why don't you say anything? Did I take you to see the lanterns during the Lantern Festival to repay you?" Zhou Lin asked relentlessly.

Shen Chuning sighed helplessly and said softly, "The former crown prince just passed away. I know you are upset, so I have tolerated your excessive words now."

Shen Chuning paused and continued, "I'm very grateful that you took us to see the lanterns last time, but don't force me to say something I don't want to say."

Hearing Shen Chuning's words, Zhou Lin hurriedly said, "I...that's not what I meant. I didn't mean to force you to answer. I just wanted to know the truth."

Shen Chuning looked at Zhou Lin deeply and said, "Brother Zhou Er, I hope that today's conversation ends here. You need to calm down. I really have an appointment. Please leave now, okay?"

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Someone poked their head in and saw Zhou Lin was there. They asked, "Do you want me to wait outside for a while?"

Shen Chuning gathered her emotions and said, "No need. Come in. Brother Zhou Er is leaving."

Zhou Lin looked at the person who came, then looked at Shen Chuning, and without saying a word, he slammed the door and left.