The concubine is soft and delicate, making her the treacherous minister's white moonlight

Chapter 28 Awan, I'm Sorry
Lin Mowan's grip on the wine glass gradually tightened, and the expression on her face was terrifyingly calm, until the knuckles of her hand holding the glass began to turn slightly white. Qiu He sensed something was wrong, and was afraid that she would have a fit in this situation, so he hurriedly said, "It's okay if the young lady doesn't want to, I'm just passing on a message for the old lady."

As she spoke, she stood up and left awkwardly and a little flustered, but before she had walked far, Lin Mowan loosened her grip on the cup, gently placed the cup on the table, and then stood up.

Hearing the noise, Qiu He stopped and looked back. Lin Mowan had already stood up and walked towards Shen Weiyuan. Qiu He was a little surprised, but did not make any other moves. He just quietly returned to the old lady.

At this time, seeing that it was Lin Mowan, Wei Lin on the side did not stop her. He allowed her to greet him, sit next to Shen Weiyuan, pick up the chopsticks skillfully, and serve the food with his head lowered.

Shen Weiyuan suddenly asked: "Know him?"

Lin Mowan paused slightly, her expression unnatural for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She understood that he was asking about Zhou Shiran.

After a little hesitation, she shook her head and said, "I don't know him."

Zhou Shiran was the one who sold her out, but Shen Weiyuan might not have contacted him personally. A person of Shen Weiyuan's status would not bother to get to know a poor scholar who had failed the imperial examination at that time.

It was understandable that he didn't know that the person at that time was Zhou Shiran, but what could Lin Mowan say at this time? Could she tell him that she was forced at that time and it was not voluntary?

Although she was very scared at the time, she didn't tell anyone. But from the terrified look in her eyes when she looked at him, Shen Weiyuan must have sensed it, otherwise he wouldn't have been so embarrassed and awkward at that time. Talking about that matter again at this time would only make him think that she had other thoughts.

Lin Mowan didn't look up, but just did the work in her hands skillfully and slowly. Seeing this, Shen Weiyuan didn't intend to ask any more questions. He just glanced at her, picked up the wine she had just poured and drank it all, without any displeasure on his face.

He put down his wine glass and glanced at Lin Mowan secretly. His eyes were suddenly attracted by the bruises on her neck. He frowned unconsciously but did not ask any questions.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone at the banquet was a little tipsy. From time to time, the sound of talking and laughing could be heard from everywhere. A few people who were on good terms with each other drank and wrote poetry with their arms around each other's shoulders.

After all, today is the old lady's birthday banquet, and many tactful people came forward one after another to toast, present treasures and curry favor with her. The birthday speeches were more grand than each other, making the old lady smile with all her eyes and eyebrows curved.

Perhaps because Lin Mowan was there, Zhou Shiran was slow to come over to toast. It was not until the banquet was half over that he came over with a glass of wine as if he had made up his mind.

"Brother." He had a gentle smile on his face, as if trying his best to ignore Lin Mowan who was sitting next to Shen Weiyuan, and said the words he had prepared in advance: "Thank you for your care and advice these days. This glass of wine should be toasted to you."

After Zhou Shiran finished speaking, he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass without hesitation. Shen Weiyuan has always been a very self-controlled person. He knew his alcohol tolerance clearly and would never drink too much. Faced with Zhou Shiran's flattery, he just nodded and didn't drink any more.

After a moment of silence, his brows unconsciously knitted slightly, his expression a little solemn, but he still said: "You are too polite. Although we are from the same sect, I am just doing my duty."

Shen Weiyuan's master is Qu Xiangru, the Grand Tutor of Rong State. He was also one of the key figures who once helped unify the divided Rong State. He was also the riding and archery teacher of the late emperor. It is not easy for such a person to become his disciple.

It has to be said that Zhou Shiran is a man of some means. Even when he just took office, he was able to attend the Jiang family's banquet with Shen Weiyuan. This was enough to make the civil and military officials look at him differently.

The two of them exchanged a few brief words. Zhou Shiran could clearly sense that Shen Weiyuan was not in a good mood, so he tactfully stopped pestering him and returned to his seat. Amid the noisy voices, he heard a man's muffled voice coming from the side, motioning for Shen Weiyuan to go out.

This person is Xiao Sheng. If we really talk about it, the Shen family, the Xiao family and the Bai family are the families with long-standing friendships. Their relationship has been the best since their ancestors.

When the Shen family was in trouble and almost wiped out by the powerful, it was the two families who secretly helped each other, so Shen Weiyuan was able to survive. Xiao Sheng and Shen Weiyuan grew up together, so they naturally had a good relationship. Shen Weiyuan turned to look at him, and he just smiled at Shen Weiyuan, saying that he was too bored and wanted to go out for a walk, but he was not familiar with them, so he wanted to ask Shen Weiyuan to come.

Shen Weiyuan didn't refuse when he heard that. After a little consideration, he stood up and left the banquet hall with Xiao Sheng.

Lin Mowan sat where she was, put down the chopsticks in her hand, raised her eyes and looked in the direction of Zhou Shiran. She didn't know whether it was coincidence or unintentional, but she happened to meet his eyes looking at her.

He was stunned for a moment, and for some reason, he turned his eyes away calmly, looking very uncomfortable.

Lin Mowan also lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, then stood up and walked out of the banquet hall. Zhou Shiran, who was standing behind her, watched her back as she walked out, and the relaxation on his face suddenly disappeared.

Facing the toasts and jokes from several colleagues, the smile on his face seemed to have walked out with Lin Mowan, but suddenly he became a little worried...

At this time, Lin Mowan walked out of the hall, and the cold wind blew towards her. She couldn't help but shiver her neck before she walked out of the banquet. Listening to the familiar and noisy music behind her, she leaned on the railing with her belly, turned her head calmly and glanced at Yuzhi beside her: "I want to be alone for a while."

Yuzhi understood and didn't think much about it. She accepted the order, paid her respects, and turned away.

Not long after, a strange yet somewhat familiar figure appeared in Lin Mowan's peripheral vision. As expected, it was Zhou Shiran.

She knew this kind of person too well. He had worked so hard and done things that went against his conscience to get his current career, so how could he allow it to be ruined like this? So even if Lin Mowan didn't take the initiative to come forward, he would find a way to approach her.

While thinking, Lin Mowan pretended to be surprised and looked back. She raised her eyes carefully and met his wary eyes. She lowered her eyelids with loss, a look of sorrow, and seductive eyes. She wanted to say something but stopped. The moisture in her eyes came out suddenly, and anyone who saw it would feel distressed.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out for a long time. After struggling for a while, he finally figured out how to start. He murmured in a low voice, "Awan."

He looked at her nervously, observing her expression, and called her name as intimately as when they met again three years ago.

Lin Mowan didn't say anything, just turned her head away and didn't look at him. She raised her hand as if to wipe away tears. Zhou Shiran didn't move either. After a long while, he said, "I'm sorry. I was wrong three years ago."

Although they didn't say it explicitly, both of them knew tacitly what he meant by "three years ago". Lin Mowan was also very clear that he apologized not because he really felt he was wrong, but because he found out that Lin Mowan was still alive, so he had to stabilize her first to prevent her from becoming a stumbling block on his road to promotion.

Lin Mowan calmed herself down, hid the cruelty in her eyes, suppressed the resentment in her heart, turned her head to look at him, and said with a faint cry: "You don't want me anymore, why are you still saying these things?"

Zhou Shiran's heart was inexplicably clenched. Looking at her stubborn and tearful appearance, he frowned, feeling a little distressed. He said, "I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure. Awan, you know, I had the opportunity to stand in this position to protect you without doing such a dirty thing. It's all because of that thing that impersonated me and took the first place in the written test that should have been mine. I should have been the champion in the imperial examination."

What he said was heartfelt and every word was heartbreaking. He denounced how unfair the world was and did not feel that he was wrong at all. Lin Mowan looked at him and wanted to ask him, is this why you are using me to exchange for money?

　I feel like you guys helped me advance in the first round of recommendations~ I'm starting the second round~ It's getting harder and harder (choked up JPG), you guys who like it must continue to read~ (please) Reading is super important! Reading is my life! My life!! (screaming)(roaring)(twisting limbs)(crawling in the dark)(turning into a monkey swinging on a vine)(jumping down and slapping yourself in the face)(4,000 words a day)(I owe you more chapters) Love you guys

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