Falling Into Deep Thought

Xiao Shuang had been standing guard outside the door and did not see anyone come in.

After entering the room, she was already surprised to see someone inside, not to mention that there was a man standing inside.

Before Xiao Shuang could utter a louder scream, Shen Li quickly stepped forward to stop her.

She hurriedly covered Xiao Shuang's mouth.

"Shush, shush, don't talk."

Xiao Shuang could not make a sound. She could only stare at Shen Li in horror.

Shen Li looked at her.

"No noise, do you understand?"

Shen Li finally let go of Xiao Shuang after she nodded.

Xiao Shuang was still in a dazed state. She subconsciously glanced at Si Yan. Her voice was trembling when she spoke.

"Miss, he... Who is he?"

He was dressed in black and had a half-mask on. He looked so terrifying!

Shen Li coughed softly. She could not come up with any decent reason, so she only gave a vague answer.

"I got lost just now. He sent me back, and I'm leaving soon."

Shen Li winked at Si Yan after she finished speaking.

"Yeah."

Shen Li was hoping that Si Yan would leave quickly so that her cover story added up.

She may not have acted like a noblewoman from this era, but she did not want to gain a reputation of being with men.

She had no intention of getting involved with this odd man.

Fortunately, Si Yan was good at reading people. He looked at Shen Li nonchalantly, then opened the back window and jumped out, disappearing in an instant.

Shen Li was speechless.

She had not wanted him to leave like this.

...

On the way back, Shen Li leaned against the back of her seat, exhausted. She began to review everything that had happened that day.

Bumping into the man had been an absolute mistake. She probably wouldn't see him again in the future, or so she hoped.

Jin Changqing would no longer be her concern. After what she had said today, any man with pride would not pester her anymore. She did not care who he wanted to marry next.

Today's incident had achieved the goal of clearing up the rumors, but what of the future?

After meeting those ladies today, Shen Li somewhat understood why Zhong Ning rarely came to such gatherings.

The big families in the capital could gain a foothold here by relying on people and money. Her father's palace had few people and even lesser money. They didn't have either, so they were destined to have no place.

In a half-awake state, Shen Li suddenly remembered what the monk had said.

She was already here, so she had to deal with them.

Was there a need to be so obsessed with her past background and identity?

There was no reason for her to follow the path of the original Shen Li. She was not going to be a submissive young lady, a dutiful wife and mother, or a good in-law.

She would forge her own path.

At the thought of this, Shen Li felt a new wave of motivation stirring up within herself.

However, she had to go back and talk it out with Zhong Ning.

...

After they returned to the palace, Shen Li looked at Xiao Shuang, who seemed hesitant to ask her something. She asked her, "When you go back, don't mention the man today to Madam, okay?"

Xiao Shuang looked half-shocked and half-terrified.

"But Miss... How did you come to know such a person?"

He didn't look like a good person!

Shen Li suppressed the unease in his conscience and explained herself with a straight face, brainwashing Xiao Shuang.

"I don't know him. I just bumped into him, you know?

"You see, Madam is so timid. You'll only make her worry, so don't tell her."

Xiao Shuang was confused. 'Why do I find it harder and harder to understand, Miss?'