Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Jealous to the point of madness.

The page was wrinkled and creased, as if it had been repeatedly unfolded and crumpled, with ink stains remaining in many places.

My father has always had very good writing habits. He would always have a plan in mind before he put pen to paper and would never hesitate like this.

Lin Zhen didn't know what caused his father to act like this, and why he never handed the letter to him in the end?

Every word in the letter was as hot as a flame, burning in her heart.

The raging fire burned away the thick fog in her heart, allowing her to clearly see the father in her memory again.

My father almost died on his way to the morning court because he impeached 18 aristocratic sons who had committed many evil deeds.

When drunk, I used to make bold statements and lofty ambitions like a teenager - as long as my body is still alive, I will not let this corrupt world betray my father.

Would such a father frame his best friend for treason for the sake of power?

Lin Zhen suddenly recalled what Qi Yu said to her when they were sitting opposite each other at the Li Mansion banquet.

"Since I was young, I have received your guidance and instruction, your teachings and your calligraphy. Your kindness is as heavy as a mountain. I will never doubt your character."

She originally thought that it was just something he said casually to play the role of Chen Liangji well. Now that she thinks about it, the thought that flashed through her mind that day was not really her illusion.

Although she was still young when Uncle Chen left the Lin Mansion, she was able to recognize Uncle Chen, and Uncle Chen might not be unable to recognize her.

Kuang Qi Yu was a meticulous and careful person. If he had not known her identity long ago, he would not have easily brought her with him, let alone let her replace Mrs. Chen Qin's identity and be with him day and night.

Qi Yu still trusted her father so firmly, but she believed that cold file.

She gently held the piece of paper against her chest and slowly hugged it, as if she could still feel the remaining warmth of her father.

*

When Lin Zhen returned to the room, he found Ji Sui was already there.

He stood in front of Lin Zhen's dressing table, holding a plum blossom wood hairpin in his hand. Although the style was novel and unique, it was not considered a rare thing because it was made of the most common wood.

But there was a gleam in Ji Sui's eyes. He used his rough fingertips to carefully stroke every line on it, which he had carved personally one by one.

He once disguised it as an ordinary wooden stick, put it into a plum blossom soft cake and gave it to Lin Zhen. He clearly saw her give the soft cake away, but he didn't know why the hairpin was still with her?

He had just flipped through it out of boredom, but the dressing box was empty, with only this hairpin placed diagonally.

I think everything that was worth money was confiscated, leaving only this.

At this moment, Ji Sui actually felt grateful to those greedy fools.

When Lin Zhen pushed the door open, Ji Sui had not yet left her dressing table. Glancing at the box next to him, Lin Zhen suddenly remembered something, strode over, and abruptly stuffed the box back into the drawer.

She lowered her head, and the golden morning light gently brushed across her earlobes. The soft fur seemed like a halo, and the blush at the base of her ears looked like newly blooming peach petals in the sunlight.

Ji Sui slowly tightened the wooden hairpin in his sleeve and asked, as if possessed by a ghost: "Is there something important in there?"

Lin Zhen pursed his lips, suddenly raised his eyes and glared at him, then lowered his head again and said coldly: "What does it have to do with you!"

"In addition to what I said this morning, here's another thing: Don't touch anything in my room!"

Before Lin Zhen finished speaking, a smile unconsciously appeared on Ji Sui's eyebrows and eyes. He didn't even realize it himself. He was not obsessed with her answer. The surging passion in his heart had already made him satisfied, and he dared not ask for more.

"General, I was just asking casually." Ji Sui slipped the hairpin into his sleeve without leaving any trace, picked up the food box he had just placed aside, and tapped it lightly: "Here is breakfast. Let's go for a walk."

After saying that, he left with brisk steps.

Lin Zhen was still immersed in the memory covered in ice and snow that had just flooded into her mind. She only responded lightly after Ji Sui had walked a long way away.

*

All the shops at the foot of the capital were well-informed. Even though Ji Bai had never been to these jewelry stores, he was immediately recognized the moment he and Lin Zhen stepped in. The shopkeeper quickly came out and greeted them, inviting them to the private room upstairs.

Lin Zhen thought that Ji Sui had important tasks to attend to and was only keeping her by his side because he was afraid that she would run away.

It was not until he carefully selected jewelry from the black lacquer and gold-painted round plate brought by the shopkeeper that Lin Zhen realized that he was really just out to hang out with her.

A moment later, the shopkeeper brought a tray to Lin Zhen, bent his knees slightly, and smiled: "This is what the general selected for you. Take a look, is there anything you like?"

Lin Zhen glanced at the dazzling array of pearl hairpins and pendants on the tray, frowned and looked at the man leaning against the table, playing with a jade hairpin in his hand.

Ji Sui put down the hairpin in his hand, took a few steps forward and said, "That pile of rags put together is not as good as any one of these."

Lin Zhen hesitated for a while before realizing that he was talking about the bag of pearl hairpins that Qi Yu gave her.

What Ji Sui said was indeed true. The hairpins and rings neatly arranged on the black lacquer tray, although plain in style, revealed the exquisite craftsmanship everywhere. Even Lin Zhen, a layman who didn't care much about jewelry, could tell that they were worth a lot of money at a glance.

It's not just Ji Sui who has a unique vision. When the shopkeeper saw that such a person had come to the store, how could he not give him all the store's treasures?

In addition, she had seen countless people over the years of running the store and had a sharp eye. She only had to secretly glance at Lin Zhen a few times and she knew what was going on. She only picked out the ones that matched her temperament before she dared to serve them.

Although the jewelry Qi Yushi bought for her was not as good as these, it was just enough for her livelihood. He always seemed to take care of others in the right way.

When thinking of Qi Yu, Lin Zhen unconsciously avoided Ji Sui's gaze.

Ji Rui didn't show any unusual reaction along the way, so it seemed that he hadn't received any message yet.

Even Lin Zhen couldn't understand this. The horse was faster than the carriage, not to mention that Ji Bai was injured, so they walked very slowly all the way.

The news of Marquis Yong'an being kidnapped should have reached here long ago. Even if they failed to rescue him successfully, Ji Sui should have received some news.

Lin Zhen could only think of the worst case scenario, that is, Ji Rui already knew something, but just didn't show it in front of her.

"What are you thinking about?" The cold fingertips lifted Lin Zhen's chin, and a pair of dark eyes were staring at her.

Ji Sui leaned over and looked at her. They were so close that their breaths intertwined.

At such a distance, even the slightest expression and movement could not escape the other person's eyes. Moreover, Lin Zhen was not good at hiding and disguising herself, and her evasion and absent-mindedness were all seen by Ji Sui.

What else could it be? Who else could it be?

A hint of gloom flashed across his eyes. He closed his eyes, not wanting to look at those eyes that would not lie, and sealed her lips before Lin Zhen could say anything he didn't want to hear.

Ji Sui's thick, long eyelashes were clearly visible. Lin Zhen held her breath and watched quietly. It trembled slightly, slowly sweeping away the snow covering the long-lost memories in her heart.

Lin Chu's handwriting was always lacking in quality. After being scolded by his father many times, Lin Zhen decided to make him a set of calligraphy that was suitable for his shortcomings in writing.

The Lunar New Year was approaching, and although the Lin family was small, there were still many complicated matters that needed to be handled by Lin Zhen himself at the end of the year. She could only try her best to find time to write it, hoping to hand it over to Lin Chu before the new year. Just as she was about to finish it, she received a message from the servants that he had urgent matters to attend to, so she immediately prepared her horse and rushed off.

She didn't expect that his urgent matter was a box of snacks.

It's just a box of snacks.

She even generously gave the cakes to a skinny little beggar on the roadside when she saw him staring at the cakes.

There are always many inexplicable accidents in the world. When the little beggar was busy putting the plum cake into his mouth, the cake fell to the ground.

Lin Zhen only then realized that the wooden stick holding the plum blossom soft cake was actually a wooden hairpin.

It was that unassuming box of snacks.

To this day, she seems to have never forgotten the temperature of the wooden box when she took it.

There was also the plum blossom wooden hairpin that lay quietly in her dressing table, never having seen the sight of spring.

Lin Zhen knew clearly that the more it was at this moment, the more he should obey him and not provoke him.

But she suddenly felt that today's kiss was particularly hot, so hot that she couldn't breathe, and she had to push him away.

When her fingertips touched the cold silver lines on his body, Ji Rui let her go first.

He took two steps back dejectedly.

The few bits of rationality he had left forced him to stop, to stop kissing her, and to stop his heart that was almost crazy with jealousy.

He lowered his eyelashes and stood there motionless.

The two of them were in a stalemate for a long time, and Ji Sui caught a glimpse of Lin Zhen's indifferent figure leaving from the corner of his eye.

He did not get up and chase after her, but just stood there motionless, with a cold smile on the corner of his lips.

In the end, it still disgusted her.

The next moment, the person who had left suddenly turned back in a hurry, and a touch of warmth covered his cold palm.

Lin Zhen held him.