Chapter 35 035 My whole body is burning hot… I can't help it…

Xie Huaiyuan's marriage should not be mentioned here. He only needs to choose a suitable family in the capital and select a woman who is both beautiful and talented and capable of managing the household.

In recent years, however, whenever she brought up the matter of marriage with Xie Huaiyuan, whether openly or subtly, he always refused to her face.

The Empress's words stunned everyone at the banquet. They all turned their heads to look at Xie Huaiyuan, some with shy glances, hoping his gaze would fall on them.

Lin Wan's hands, which were resting on her knees, tightened slightly, then quickly disappeared.

Princess Zhaoyi, standing in front of Xie Huaiyuan, blushed deeply. The beautiful woman was shy and kept glancing at Xie Huaiyuan with her eyes raised. She was obviously embarrassed to mention this matter in front of everyone, but she could not hide the joy on her face.

Princess Zhaoyi said shyly, "Mother..."

Princess Li was stunned by the Empress's words. She looked Xie Huaiyuan and Princess Zhaoyi back and forth in disbelief, then turned to look directly at Lin Wan. Their eyes met, and she sneered at Lin Wan, thinking that if she couldn't have it, Lin Wan shouldn't have it either.

The Empress's words sounded like a joke, but in reality, she was trying to set Xie Huaiyuan up on a romantic relationship. Anyone with sense would understand the Empress's intention, but unfortunately, this person was not one to do so.

Xie Huaiyuan smiled faintly, his eyes sweeping over a person in the middle of the seats. The person's gloomy and cold expression was not concealed at all, and he suddenly couldn't help but smile, which was so fleeting that it was almost missed. Then he stood up and said in a gentle voice, "Your Majesty is too kind. Everyone here has their own unique qualities worthy of appreciation, and there are people who admire them. To be honest, I already have someone I like, but I haven't made a decision yet."

These words shocked everyone at the banquet. They all looked at Xie Huaiyuan in disbelief, and the scene fell into complete silence.

The Empress's face stiffened slightly, especially after witnessing Princess Zhaoyi's expression change from a shy blush to a deathly pale one in an instant. She couldn't help but feel some dissatisfaction with Xie Huaiyuan, and her tone became somewhat cold, mixed with the majesty of a superior, as she said, "I wonder which nobleman's daughter is it that has won your favor, Huaiyuan?"

Xie Huaiyuan said, "Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness. I cannot say this now, but I will tell you sincerely when the time is right."

Not only Princess Zhaoyi, but all the other women present who had openly or secretly expressed their feelings for Xie Huaiyuan turned pale at these words, and some even had red eyes and tears welling up in their eyes.

Princess Zhaoyi's eyes were filled with tears, and her voice trembled as she asked, "Brother Crown Prince, is this really true?"

In the silence, Princess Zhaoyi's question posed the question that none of the other women present dared to ask.

Xie Huaiyuan spoke gently, his gaze calm as he looked at her: "There is no falsehood."

After saying that, Xie Huaiyuan said nothing more, nor offered any words of comfort. He excused himself by saying he had official business to attend to and strode away, leaving behind a heartbroken woman.

The scene fell into an eerie silence. Suddenly, someone quipped, "Could it be that the person the young master speaks of is actually among us, but he simply doesn't want to say it?"

These words were no less significant than Xie Huaiyuan's earlier declaration of his feelings. For a moment, everyone looked at each other, trying to find a hint of smugness on one of their faces.

The topic was suddenly drawn back, and not only the Empress, but also Princess Zhaoyi and other ladies and relatives in the seats all turned their gazes to the silent Lin Wan.

Ever since Princess Zhaoyi's dance, Lin Wan had been feeling depressed and inexplicably angry, but she couldn't show it. She could only silently endure it, clenching her handkerchief tightly, and not even lifting her eyelids to look at the two people. But now that the scene was completely silent, she heard someone mention these words, and she couldn't help but curse Xie Huaiyuan a few more times in her heart. This man who flirted with everyone, how despicable! And he even had someone he liked, which was even more despicable!

Suddenly, she realized something was wrong, raised her eyes, and was surprised to find that everyone was looking at her.

The Empress, displeased by Xie Huaiyuan's rudeness, asked coldly, "Miss Lin?"

At this moment, Madam Meng, who was sitting in the lady's seat, suddenly stood up, bowed respectfully, and said softly, "Your Majesty, a few days ago my husband mentioned that Lin Wan and my aunt's eldest son had met and were very satisfied. I heard that he was also recently promoted to an official position in the capital. I wonder if he will attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet today?"

The Empress coldly scrutinized Lin Wan, noticing that there was no hint of smugness on her face. She guessed that Xie Huaiyuan had not mentioned her earlier, but rather someone else. She then said indifferently, "Oh, I see. However, today's banquet is for senior officials in the capital. Those newly transferred to the capital are probably not among the invitees."

Meng said, "Thank you, Your Highness, but it seems I will not be able to see you today."

After she sat down, a familiar lady immediately sidled up to her, eager to inquire about the eldest son she had just mentioned.

Unnoticed by anyone, Princess Zhaoyi's lowered eyes were filled with hatred. She had been very close to Xie Huaiyuan, and no one else noticed, but she caught Xie Huaiyuan glancing quickly at Lin Wan. There was a hint of a smile in that fleeting look, an expression she had never seen before.

Could it be...?

Combined with the information I had gathered before, a firm idea began to take root in my mind.

Princess Zhaoyi had already taken her seat again. Her eyes swept over Lin Wan, who remained silent, and the hatred in her heart was growing wildly. Her fingertips were digging into her palms, which were slightly painful and seemed to be bleeding.

Seeing the forlorn look on Princess Zhaoyi's face beside her, the Empress paid little attention to the unknown Lin Wan and lost all interest in socializing with the others. She hastily ended the banquet, and at the very end, she raised her wine bowl and drank with everyone as usual.

Everyone rose to their feet and drank with the Empress.

Lin Wan looked at the wine bowl she had once despised, but if she didn't drink with everyone else at this moment, she certainly wouldn't condemn them.

Left with no other choice, Lin Wan took another small sip of the fruit wine, which had a rather peculiar taste.

After the banquet ended, the Empress left first.

The banquet went fairly well, except for Xie Huaiyuan's unexpected incident.

At this moment, the group strolled leisurely in the Imperial Garden in twos and threes.

As soon as Xie Huaiyuan left, the conversation inevitably turned to the woman he had mentioned, with everyone speculating about who this woman was who could make the high and mighty Prince Xie Huaiyuan fall into the mortal world and become tainted by worldly love like any other man.

Lin Wan remained silent throughout, but at this moment, she felt a strange surge of intoxication. This intoxication felt odd, her mind gradually becoming muddled and her thoughts becoming jumbled. The voices around her seemed to float around unpredictably.

"Lin Wan!"

Lin Wan suddenly woke up, opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Su Furong's surprised eyes unable to hide her as she suddenly pounced on her.

With a "splash," the teapot the palace maid was carrying spilled all over Lin Wan, instantly soaking half of her clothes.

The palace maid knelt down in a panic, trembling as she begged for mercy: "This...this servant didn't mean to..."

Lin Wan glanced at the pale-faced palace maid, her expression softening slightly, and said, "Never mind, it's just that my clothes are wet. I'll go back and change."

This little incident startled Princess Zhaoyi, who was having a pleasant conversation with her friends.

Princess Zhaoyi did not say much, but instructed the accompanying female official: "There are guest rooms nearby where women can change clothes. Please ask Miss Lin to go and change."

As autumn arrives and the wind blows, although it hasn't completely turned cold yet, the clothes are already damp, and the autumn wind brings a chill that can't be hidden.

Lin Wan said, "Then I'll go change my clothes first."

Princess Zhaoyi's lady-in-waiting respectfully led Lin Wan to the guest room where the women changed clothes.

Once the banquet was over, the surrounding noise suddenly subsided. Passing through the palace gates of the Imperial Garden and walking along the brick-red path, it became much quieter.

Lin Wan's mind was sometimes clear and sometimes confused, her chaotic thoughts drifting aimlessly, and she gradually felt sleepy.

Although she doesn't drink often, she doesn't have such a low alcohol tolerance. Just a few sips of fruit wine and she felt as if she had tasted a lot of wine, with such a strong sense of intoxication.

She not only felt a vague sense of fatigue, but also felt quite stuffy and hot, as if her neck was being strangled and she couldn't breathe, like a drowning fish. She reached out and slightly opened her clothes, trying to let in some cool air, but she still felt stuffy and hot.

The voices gradually faded away, and only she and the female official walked along the long, seemingly endless corridor; not even a eunuch or palace maid could be seen.

Something's not right!

Lin Wan stopped in her tracks, looked around, and listened intently, but she couldn't hear a single human voice; it was as if she were in a secluded, uninhabited place.

The female official noticed that she had stopped and said respectfully, "Miss Lin, just a few more steps forward will bring you to the guest room changing area."

Lin Wan ignored her, calmed her muddled mind, dug her fingertips into her palms to try and clear her head with the pain, and then turned and walked back.

The female official who had been respectfully leading Lin Wan now looked alarmed and hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, grabbing Lin Wan's hand tightly and asking, "Miss Lin, where are you going?"

Lin Wan knew that her momentary clarity wouldn't last long, but if she just let herself follow this person forward, she didn't know what unknown dangers awaited her ahead.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, the female official tried to pull him down with force.

"Ah!" A scream rang out.

The female official was stabbed by the hairpin that Lin Wan pulled out of her hand, and blood flowed freely. The female official collapsed helplessly on the cold brick road.

Lin Wan forced herself to endure the growing heat within her body, trying to recognize the path she had just taken, wanting to return to the Imperial Garden. Even if her clothes were still wet, she didn't care at this moment.

The palace was vast, with numerous crisscrossing passageways. As Lin Wan walked, she realized she had lost her bearings and couldn't find her way around.

The forked path in front of her seemed to be shrouded in a thick fog, and she couldn't see it clearly.

Lin Wan's consciousness gradually became blurred, and her legs felt weak as if they had been filled with thick syrup. Every step she took was exhausting. Before long, in the cool autumn air, she became so hot that she was sweating profusely, and beads of sweat slid down her forehead, soaking the back of her clothes.

In a daze, as she stepped over the brick threshold, she tripped and was about to fall to the ground.

Suddenly, someone pulled her from behind, preventing her from falling.

"Miss Lin?"

A familiar voice rang out.

Lin Wan was gently supported by this person.

It was Gu Qinghe!

He asked in surprise, "Why are you here all alone?"

Although Lin Wan's consciousness was gradually fading, she could still recognize that the person was Gu Qinghe.

She wasn't entirely ignorant of the ways of the world; she vaguely guessed why she was in this state.

It was already a stroke of luck to encounter someone I knew at this moment. I said weakly, "Lord Gu... could you help me find my aunt and Su Furong?"

Even though Gu Qinghe had met Lin Wan before, he couldn't help but be captivated by her pleading, watery eyes when he saw her now.

"Okay, tell me where they are? I'll help you go find them."

Lin Wan instinctively wanted to follow Gu Qinghe, but her legs were too weak. She could only lean against the brick wall in the passageway and say, "I can't walk anymore... I'm so tired..."

Gu Qinghe looked her over and wanted to reach out to help her up.

But at this moment, she was already burning with an inexplicable heat in her body and could hardly suppress it. As soon as Gu Qinghe touched her skin, countless itchy sensations surged towards the place he touched, startling her so much that she quickly shook off Gu Qinghe's hand.

"...I'll wait here. Please hurry, Lord Gu..."

Gu Qinghe weighed the pros and cons, told them not to wander off, and hurriedly turned around and headed towards the Imperial Garden.

It's so hot.

A fine, inexplicable itch is rolling around...

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Lin Wan's vision became blurred due to the continuous heat, and she could no longer see clearly.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded not far away, but they were not the familiar voices of Su Furong and the others.

Lin Wan struggled to her feet, supporting herself against the cold brick wall. Looking in the direction of the sound, she could vaguely see that the person who came was a man, and the two of them were a master and a servant.

By the time she tried to make out who it was, her already weak legs gave way, and she slid down the brick wall...

Just when she thought she was going to fall to the ground again, she instead landed in a broad embrace.

A familiar, cool fragrance wafted towards me—it was him, Xie Huaiyuan!

Xie Huaiyuan's expression froze for a moment. He glanced at Lin Wan's expression and, with a hint of suspicion in his heart, asked, "Can you still walk?"

Lin Wan's long-suppressed unhappiness finally broke down. Tears instantly streamed down her face, and her voice trembled as she said, "No..."

Xie Huaiyuan sighed softly, then picked up the person leaning against him and strode away.

His attendants, seeing the scene before them, were stunned into silence, but quickly suppressed their astonishment and hurried after him.

Lin Wan's conscious efforts eventually gave out, her vision blurred, and she vaguely sensed changes in her surroundings before being gently put down again.

She was startled, and the heat in her body made her reluctant to leave that cool and broad embrace. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Xie Huaiyuan's collar.

Her skin was burning hot, but his slightly cool embrace offered some relief. Reluctant to leave, she desperately craved the coolness of his embrace.

Her eyes were wet as she looked at him and said, "...Don't go."