You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

In Xuancheng, the weather was lovely today. Lin Qing went out to buy some new fabrics, but she unexpectedly ran into Shen Yanzhi. She never expected to run into this little rascal.

At such a young age, she already knows how to deceive others' feelings and hide her true self; she's quite cunning. Now she's going to places like gambling dens; she's not someone to be underestimated.

"Miss? Do you know that child?"

The maid asked casually, mainly because the child looked unfamiliar and she didn't recognize him.

"That mistress of the Shen family, didn't you see that old woman holding his hand? She seems to cherish him terribly. Let's wait and see, and later we'll have someone go and inquire about him."

Lin Qing looked at her with disdain and went upstairs.

Young ladies from aristocratic families have dedicated servants to help them choose things, so they don't need to interact with ordinary people downstairs.

If it weren't for Madam Shen being there, she wouldn't have recognized that person as Shen Yanzhi, since it's said that the Shen family has two children.

One was obedient and well-behaved, and was well-liked by the father and son at Bailu Academy, while the other was expelled from a second-rate academy and was a spoiled brat.

She remembered Wanwan saying that Wanwan originally wanted to adopt the child named Shen Mo, but Old Lady Shen and Shen Nian'an wanted her to raise this illegitimate child. Later, because the child named Shen Mo was injured, she was afraid that Shen Mo would be hurt again, so she compromised.

Wanwan was truly wronged in the Shen family.

Lin Qing stood by the second-floor window, her gaze passing through the bustling crowd, occasionally landing on Shen Yanzhi. It was clear he didn't want to leave, but Old Madam Shen forcibly pulled him into the carriage.

She gently stroked the delicate fan in her hand. "Green Willow, you can go and inquire now. Ask who Shen Yanzhi has been associating with recently, and when he usually appears at the gambling den." Lin Qing instructed the maid beside her in a low voice, her tone carrying an unquestionable determination.

Green Willow acknowledged and withdrew. Though curious, she dared not ask further, for she knew her young mistress's temperament well; once she became interested, she would definitely press for details.

Lin Qing withdrew her gaze and began selecting fabrics, her fingertips lightly gliding over the colorful silks, while her mind was still preoccupied with Shen Yanzhi's matter.

Although she didn't want to get involved with the Shen family's dirty deeds, Shen Yanzhi's appearance undoubtedly threw a stone into her peaceful life, stirring up ripples.

She wanted to avenge Wanwan. Since Shen Yanzhi liked to gamble, she would let him gamble to his heart's content.

"Hmph, I'd like to see if anyone who can make Wanwan suffer is really that powerful."

Lin Qing's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with a probing light, as if he had already foreseen the storm that was about to be stirred up.

After selecting the fabric, Lin Qing instructed the shop assistants to deliver several bolts of fine brocade to his residence before slowly walking out of the silk shop.

Sunlight spilled onto the bluestone slabs, casting dappled shadows. She stood in front of the door, her gaze sweeping across the street again, but Shen Yanzhi and Old Madam Shen were nowhere to be seen.

“Miss, I’ve found out.” Green Willow came in a hurry, slightly out of breath, holding a handkerchief to wipe her sweat. “Shen Yanzhi has been associating with some street thugs lately, and he can often be seen at the gambling den. It is said that he is generous, but his gambling skills are poor, and he often loses everything.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Qing smiled knowingly: "Oh? Generous with his money but terrible at gambling, what a fool. Since he likes to gamble, then I'll play along with him."

She turned to Green Willow and instructed, "Go and prepare some silver, and find a few clever servants to keep an eye on the Shen family. As soon as he leaves, we'll go and meet this young master Shen."

After saying that, Lin Qing got into the carriage in the mansion.

Lin's father was the Minister of Justice, and Lin Qing was raised to be a free-spirited person who always sought revenge. That's why she became so close to Xie Wanru, who had the same personality.

Green Willow was a little confused. When did the young lady and this young master become at odds?

Then she thought of Xie Wanru, who had just divorced the Shen family, and she understood. She silently mourned for the young master. Being targeted by her young lady usually meant a terrible death!

Even after being brought back to the Shen residence, Shen Yanzhi remained resentful.

"I didn't spend any of the Shen family's money, so why can't I go out and have fun? I was just passing by that gambling den; I didn't go in!"

Shen Yanzhi shouted.

When he first entered the mansion, he was quite well-behaved on the surface, but later he learned that Old Madam Shen doted on her grandson and had no bottom line, so he became unscrupulous.

After all, he wasn't punished when he set fire to Shen Mo's house, but when Shen Mo fell into the water, Old Madam Shen was heartbroken.

"It's no fun in the manor, Grandmother. I can't go to the academy now, and I'm just wandering around the manor every day. I'm getting restless. I know that Grandmother is the one who loves me the most, and I love Grandmother the most too."

Shen Yanzhi tried to coax Old Madam Shen with her usual tricks, but she didn't notice the complex emotion that flashed in Old Madam Shen's eyes.

“Yanzhi, your grandmother knows you like to have fun, but gambling dens are really not places for you. Look at you, where is there even a trace of the demeanor of a young master from a noble family?”

Old Madam Shen earnestly tried to persuade him, clearly not believing that Shen Yanzhi was just passing by. But Shen Yanzhi remained unmoved; his mind was already on the glitz and glamour of the gambling table.

As for why Shen Yanzhi had money, Old Madam Shen didn't seem to care. In any case, it wasn't from her own hands; she assumed it was given to her by Fu Rou.

After all, Shen Nian'an had said that he had given Fu Rou a lot of money when they were out, and now Fu Rou's monthly salary was as much as fifty taels.

"Grandma, please let me go out and play. I'll study hard after I've had enough fun. Besides, my friends are all good people and won't lead me astray."

Shen Yanzhi made a solemn promise, but his words sounded more like a child making excuses for his wrongdoing.

"It's better when I don't come back, because I'm restricted in every way when I come back."

As he spoke, Shen Yanzhi plopped down unhappily.

Madam Shen sighed. She knew that Shen Yanzhi had been raised outside for so many years, and his personality would definitely need some time to change. But as an elder, how could she just watch him walk step by step into the abyss?

"Alright, Yanzhi, you should go back to your room and rest. As for your studies, I will discuss it with your father when he returns. Just stay in the manor obediently for the next few days."

Madam Shen decided to appease Shen Yanzhi first, and then find a way to solve the problem. In any case, she couldn't let him go out to play anymore.

Shen Yanzhi was unwilling, but he knew he couldn't disobey his grandmother. The servants in the mansion all listened to his grandmother, and he couldn't escape so blatantly.

So he returned to his courtyard dejectedly, but in his heart he was plotting how to sneak out.

Meanwhile, Lin Qing had already prepared everything, just waiting for Shen Yanzhi to leave the mansion before giving him a "surprise".