Black and white on white paper

Before Li Yin could react, Wen Youqing had already pressed down on him. Their eyes met, and Li Yin instinctively reached out to push Wen Youqing away, but as soon as his hand touched Wen Youqing's chest, the other person grabbed his wrist.

His tone was mournful, his eyes deep, as he looked at Li Yin and said, "You, you are not allowed to push me away."

Li Yin met Wen Youqing's eyes, and before he could explain, Wen Youqing kissed him forcefully. He could only manage to say, "I..."

Li Yin originally felt she was in the wrong and went along with Wen Youqing's wishes, but now this person was resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement, which made her lose her temper. She pushed the person away forcefully, sat up, raised her hand and slapped Wen Youqing's face with a loud "smack".

Li Yin was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. She had been too angry and hadn't controlled her strength properly; her fingertips trembled slightly. Wen Youqing, however, smiled gently, narrowing his eyes with a playful glint in them. He licked his lips and said, "Li Yin..."

This was the first time Li Yin had heard her own name from Wen Youqing's mouth. She raised her eyes slightly and met Wen Youqing's gaze, which was like that of someone looking at prey.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder came from outside the window, "Boom!" In an instant, the sky flashed, the world turned white, and the rain poured down, splashing and pattering, like lotus flowers blooming on the ground.

The words of apology that Li Yin wanted to say stuck in her throat. Her lips parted slightly, but before she could speak, someone gently grabbed her neck and lowered their head to kiss her. The man's warm breath hit her face, and Li Yin's cheeks immediately turned red.

Wen Youqing lowered his eyes, looking at the person he was about to kiss. He kissed Li Yin even more domineeringly, deeply and urgently, making Li Yin's breathing disordered and his own heart disordered as well.

Li Yin tried to use the same trick again and pushed him away, but as soon as she reached out, Wen Youqing seemed to know what she was going to do and locked her hands firmly, preventing her from breaking free. She could only struggle gently like a fish out of water, without making a splash.

The more Li Yin struggled, the tighter Wen Youqing gripped him, leaving red finger marks on Li Yin's fair arm.

"Wen Youqing, what exactly do you want?" she asked.

Wen Youqing smiled upon hearing this and said, "My wife is right to say such things to her husband. My wife is flirting with other men outside."

Li Yin said, "I'm just thanking him for doing his job."

Wen Youqing moved closer to Li Yin, his fingers caressing Li Yin's neck. Finally, he placed one finger on Li Yin's chin, his action carrying a strong sense of aggression. With a forceful flick, he lifted Li Yin's head, his voice cold yet gentle, "Li Yin, what is it that you need to thank someone, to thank them into your arms?"

Li Yin's chin was suddenly pressed against a hand, and when he looked up, he saw Wen Youqing. The two were very close, their breaths mingling. Li Yin wanted to speak, but he was trapped by the fingers pressing against his chin and restrained by Wen Youqing's strong hold.

Seeing that she remained silent, Wen Youqing smiled. He suddenly released his grip on Li Yin, his demeanor completely changed. His tone was different, but his teasing gaze remained the same. He spoke softly to Li Yin, "Madam, you deliberately shook off Bi Hai on the street. Did you intend to leave the Wen family?"

Li Yin was speechless. The result was obvious. She had indeed had this idea. She thought that if Qi Shixu found out about the relevant people, she would get rid of her identity as Li Yin and carry out the assassination.

She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Why would I think that? You're overthinking it."

Wen Youqing watched Li Yin's every move the whole time, taking in the hesitation on her face. He asked, "Madam, is this really true?"

Li Yin said, "Of course it's true."

Wen Youqing stroked Li Yin's neck, then moved to the corner of his lips, gently rubbing them before saying in a mournful tone, "But didn't you ever think about leaving me?"

Li Yin reached out and grasped Wen Youqing's hand, saying, "Of course I never thought of leaving you, so don't worry about it anymore."

Wen Youqing smiled upon hearing this and said, "Then, Madam, you must remember what you said today: you never thought of leaving me."

You can never leave me, Li Yin. I will be entangled with you for all eternity. You can't escape me.

Li Yin said, "Of course I will remember." On the surface, he said this, but in his heart, he was thinking that Wen Youqing was too childish and took a simple, polite remark too seriously.

Wen Youqing lowered her eyes and stared at Li Yin with an aggressive gaze. He said in a hoarse voice, "Madam, shouldn't we make up for our wedding night yesterday?"

Li Yin decisively refused, saying, "We're making a deal, not talking about feelings." She lowered her eyes and said seriously, "Wen Youqing, I'm still not sure what my feelings for you are."

Wen Youqing listened to Li Yin's words, and after Li Yin finished speaking, he gently kissed the corner of Li Yin's lips. The movement was very gentle, like touching water or a willow swaying in the breeze. He said, "Li Yin, you do not resist my touch and even have feelings for me. Whether it is Senior Brother or Wen Youqing, you have left a deep impression on me."

Li Yin remained silent, so he continued, "Li Yin, when you were in Jincheng, your heart fluttered for me. You liked me too, didn't you?"

Li Yin was taken aback upon hearing this. Wen Youqing's words were true, but she had never noticed that fleeting, cloud-like emotion. However, she did not think it was love. Such an emotion was perfectly suited to arise in that situation.

Li Yin said, "That's not it, it's just a flutter of the heart, nothing more."

Wen Youqing said, "Li Yin, you don't understand what it means to like someone." He reached out and placed Li Yin's hand on his chest, gently rubbing Li Yin's fingers. His heart was beating strongly, one beat after another, strong yet flustered. He said, "Li Yin, my heart is in turmoil."

Li Yin quickly withdrew her hand and said, "A racing heart doesn't necessarily mean anything."

Wen Youqing smiled and said, "You were with Qi Shixu today, and you were very close in the carriage. My wife, why don't you guess what I was planning to do when I took my sword over there?"

When Li Yin saw Wen Youqing like that, a rather absurd answer flashed through his mind: kill Qi Shixu.

Qi Shixu is currently an official in the court. He comes from a wealthy family, and his ancestors were all military generals. However, he is a civil official, so the Qi family and the bureaucracy all value him highly.

So killing someone like that would be the act of someone who's insane; otherwise, why would they needlessly cause trouble and invite disaster upon themselves?

Therefore, when she answered, she gave her second answer: "Scold me."

Wen Youqing shook his head and said, "Madam, I wanted to kill him back then. Not only did I want to kill him, I also wanted to kill everyone who came near you."

Li Yin looked at Wen Youqing. Wen Youqing spoke with a smile, as if it were a joke, but her tone was unusually serious. Her tone was very soft, which made people pause and think carefully.

"Is what you said true?" Li Yin asked. Wen Youqing smiled gently upon hearing this, and without continuing, she reached out and intertwined her fingers with Li Yin's. He said, "My lady, the bridal chamber..."

Li Yin: "..."

Wen Youqing stroked her wrist, and Li Yin said, "If I fall in love with you, then the date is up to you, how about that?"

This was also a conciliatory term. Wen Youqing smiled upon hearing this and went along with it, saying, "Madam, you must sign and put your fingerprint on this agreement. You can't renege on the debt."

Li Yin nodded and readily agreed, "Of course."

Once the wedding night is canceled, everything else will be much easier to discuss.

Thinking this, she waited for Wen Youqing to finish writing the note and hand it to her.

Wen Youqing stood up, walked to the table, picked up his brush and wrote in one smooth motion. He finished in no time and handed the paper with the written agreement to Li Yin. He said, "Madam, sign and affix your seal. There is no denying it."

Li Yin stained her fingertips with ink, then gently pressed her index finger onto the paper, leaving a slightly blurred black mark.

She only glanced at the paper and saw some of Li Yin's words, but those were insignificant. She then signed and affixed her seal as Wen Youqing had instructed, and casually asked, "Did you add anything?"

Wen Youqing nodded straightforwardly and said, "Of course, once the title of 'Madam' is bestowed, it is like going into battle to kill the enemy; one can only advance and not retreat."

Li Yin glared at Wen Youqing, then changed his words, saying, "However, it's just some things you've said, just to remind Madam not to forget."

He folded the paper and hid it in his sleeve. A drop of ink stuck to his sleeve, a striking contrast of black against the white. The ink drop came from the still-wet document.

On the reverse side of the document was a sentence: "Li Yin voluntarily agrees to marry Wen You, to stay together until old age, to be entangled for all eternity, heaven and earth can bear witness, and he acknowledges this by signing his seal."

Li Yin didn't notice this inconspicuous corner either; she only glanced at the careless signature.

Wen Youqing seemed to feel better after Li Yin finished signing. When he looked at Li Yin, the playful look in his eyes faded a bit, but it still lingered, and his crazy expression remained hidden.

He handed a register to Li Yin, who took it, gently opened it, and saw these names: Lin Shanqun's first name shines brightly.

Is this Lin Zhaoshan?

The following is a record of this person's life and achievements. Li Yin was mesmerized as he read it: Lin Zhaoshan, speechless at five, enlightened at six, began studying Buddhism at seven, appreciated famous writers at nine, composed poems at ten, and wrote essays at twelve...

There are many such records, but what attracts her most is the case from eighteen years ago, a case that is almost identical to the one we have today.

Li Yin looked at it, but that part was stained with ink, so she couldn't see the whole thing. She really wanted to know what had happened, but she could only see the last sentence through the thick book: "Blood may splatter, but injustice can be proven."

She reached out and gently touched the side of that sentence, lightly rubbing it, her fingertips caressing it back and forth. Exoneration... If there are too many entanglements above, is there really any hope?

Thinking of this, Li Yin chuckled at himself. If this obvious path was blocked, there were other paths to take.

All she wanted was to follow the clues and find the person responsible. As for the rest, she would abide by the law if necessary, but if not, she would go her own way—assassination, poisoning—and ultimately make those people pay the price.