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

Chapter 291 Zhou Lin Returns to Beijing

Along with the dull and heavy sound of the door closing, Shen Chuning's keen ears caught an extremely subtle, almost inaudible sound coming from the window on the back wall of the inner room.

Her eyes subconsciously glanced towards the corner where Xuanying was hiding.

However, in just a blink of an eye, the originally tightly closed window was slowly opened up a crack!

Immediately afterwards, a black shadow quickly flipped over and entered like a ghost.

Almost at the same time, Xuan Ying, who had been hiding in the dark, flew forward without hesitation. The dagger in his hand flashed with a cold light and pressed directly against the vital part of the black shadow's neck.

But no one expected that in the blink of an eye, the situation suddenly reversed - Xuanying not only failed to control the opponent, but was easily subdued by the person who came at lightning speed.

There was only a crisp "bang" sound, and the dagger fell on the cold and hard ground without any resistance.

"Your alertness is so poor? It seems that you haven't practiced enough in your daily life!" The low and slightly sarcastic voice of the visitor suddenly echoed in the silent room.

Shen Chuning's heart was shocked when he heard the voice.

She didn't have time to think about it, and hurriedly ran towards the inner room with stumbling steps.

At this time, Cuiwei, who had been waiting loyally outside the door, also noticed the sudden strange movement in the house.

She first knocked on the door tentatively a few times, then held the door handle with both hands, and was about to push the door open and rush in to see what was going on.

At the critical moment, Shen Chuning shouted anxiously: "I'm fine, I just accidentally dropped something on the ground!"

After hearing her young lady's response, Cuiwei stopped pushing open the door even though she had some doubts in her heart.

After calming down a little, Shen Chuning turned around and looked at the person who came.

The man's hair was disheveled, like weeds; his eyes were filled with scarlet bloodshot, and he looked extremely tired.

A circle of green stubble appeared on his lips, making his originally handsome face look a little haggard and weathered.

Not only that, there was a large stain on his trouser leg at some point, and because of the dark color, it was particularly eye-catching.

Zhou Lin let out a bitter smile and sighed softly, "I always let you see me in such a mess. I must have scared you. I'm sorry."

Shen Chuning's beautiful eyes slanted slightly, and she glanced at him with a hint of reproach, "What nonsense are you talking about."

After she finished speaking, she stood up slowly, walked to the table, picked up the teapot, poured a glass of water, and then carefully handed the cup to Zhou Lin, saying softly, "Drink some water to moisten your throat first. You see, your voice has become hoarse after speaking a few words."

Zhou Lin took the cup of water, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp, as if the cool water could soothe his inner anxiety and fatigue.

When the water in the cup was gone, he took a deep breath and slowly said to Shen Chuning, "I think it would be better to replace you with a secret guard."

Xuan Ying, who had been standing quietly by the side, heard this and his eyes widened. He hurriedly explained, "I lowered my guard because I saw clearly that it was you, the Second Young Master. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been subdued so easily by you."

Shen Chuning also echoed, "Xuanying and Xuanyou are doing their duty by my side, and I'm used to it. I really don't want to suddenly change them."

However, Zhou Lin remained unmoved. "He has no sense at all. Shouldn't he be replaced?"

Xuanying suddenly realized at this moment that he had been bothering the Second Young Master, so he quickly bowed his head to admit his mistake and hurriedly left the room.

When only Zhou Lin and Shen Chuning were left in the room, Shen Chuning turned and walked to the basin, soaked a white handkerchief, wrung it dry, and then gently walked to Zhou Lin's side, handed him the handkerchief, and said softly, "Wipe your face first, you look dusty and dirty.

After he finished wiping his face, Shen Chuning asked, "Xuanying said he smelled blood just now. Are you injured again?"

Zhou Lin sighed softly, "It's the same leg injury from before. When I was in the North, I didn't take care of it properly for several days in order to hide it from others. Later, on the way back to the capital, I was in a hurry and didn't have time to take care of it, so Xuanying noticed it."

Hearing this, Shen Chuning couldn't help but frown and complained, "I clearly told Ning Shutong a long time ago that you must be completely cured before returning to the capital, but now it seems that he dared to lie to me. I will go find him now and have him examine you again and treat this wound properly."

After she finished speaking, she made a gesture to get up and leave.

However, at this moment, Zhou Lin was quick to grab Shen Chuning's sleeve and said softly, "It's not his fault. I insisted on him coming back first. I was worried that you didn't have a trustworthy doctor by your side. Besides, he taught me how to treat this wound before he left. Just bring me some liquor later."

After hearing this, Shen Chuning's face lit up with anger. She couldn't help but continue to scold him, "There are many famous doctors in the capital. If all else fails, Grandfather can always go to the palace to invite the imperial physician. The north can't compare to the capital. How could you be so careless as to let Ning Shutong leave like this? What if his injuries worsen?"

Facing Shen Chuning's barrage of questions, Zhou Lin simply stared at her silently, his eyes as gentle as water, and said slowly, "Okay, it's all my fault. I will never act like this again."

Shen Chuning said helplessly: "Then I will go and call Ning Shutong now."

Zhou Lin slowly shook his head and said firmly, "It's better for as few people as possible to know about my return to Beijing, so there's no need to trouble him."

After saying that, he sighed softly.

At this moment, Shen Chuning, who had been silent the entire time, finally couldn't help but ask, "I haven't had time to ask you yet, why did you suddenly return to Beijing?"

Zhou Lin frowned slightly and replied in a low voice, "I've obtained evidence of collusion between the Crown Prince and the northern barbarians, and I'm considering presenting it to Your Majesty. However, this matter is of paramount importance, and I can't rest assured leaving it to others. So, I deliberately fabricated the illusion of being critically ill in the north, seizing the opportunity to return to the capital. I'm sure the Crown Prince's men must have believed I was dying by now. However, I was concerned that they might have spies secretly monitoring my home in the capital, so I didn't return home, but came straight to you."

After Shen Chuning heard his words, her heart tightened. She quickly stood up and told Cuiwei outside the door, "Go boil some water and get a bottle of liquor."

After everything was arranged, Xuanying also took out two sets of clean clothes.

Shen Chuning turned back to Zhou Lin and said softly, "Let's take care of your wound first. I will send a letter to the palace today and bring you in tomorrow."

However, Zhou Lin did not want to involve Shen Chuning in this matter, and quickly waved his hand to refuse, saying, "I will find a way to enter the palace to see the emperor."

Shen Chuning's beautiful eyes narrowed as she glared at him with a hint of anger. She retorted, "Don't be so stubborn. If you want to hide your tracks now, how can you enter the palace smoothly? The guards at the palace gate won't check my carriage. Don't say anything more. Just treat your wounds here. I'll take care of the rest."

After saying that, she no longer paid attention to Zhou Lin's dissuasion, turned and walked to the desk, and began to write a visiting card.