explain

Not long after, He Lin came in carrying a steaming bowl of noodles.

Back when she was still locked up in the backyard by the First Madam, and would sneak into He Lin's room at night to freeload, this was the special meal he prepared for her. The bowl of noodles was exactly the same as it was back then, with the same aroma, and Jiang Yi recognized it almost immediately.

"Eat up, I've hidden a surprise inside."

Jiang Yi didn't quite understand what he meant at first, blinked a few times, and finally looked up at He Lin.

Seeing that she hesitated to take it, He Lin finally stuffed it into Jiang Yi's hand, told her to be careful as it was hot, and then went straight to the outside of the screen, took the dining table from another couch in the room and gently placed it in front of Jiang Yi.

This dining bed is similar to a modern bed table, allowing people with limited mobility to sit in bed and eat.

Jiang Yi wasn't the type to make things difficult for herself. After He Lin had done all that, she didn't stand on ceremony at all and immediately picked up her chopsticks and started slurping up the noodles.

Although it was just a simple bowl of noodles, to Jiang Yi it was better than any delicacy. Not to mention the thin noodles were soft and chewy, they could be swallowed after a few chews, and they were very fragrant. They were also drizzled with sesame oil and chopped green onions, plus a few small green vegetables.

For someone who had slept for a day and a night and whose mouth was so bland it tasted bitter, there were only two words to describe her feelings at that moment—amazing!

Seeing her wolfing down her food like a starving ghost, He Lin couldn't help but chuckle. He turned around and poured her a cup of hot tea, leaving it to cool beside her. It was the first time he had ever seen someone so easily satisfied; only Jiang Yi could do that.

As she ate, Jiang Yi suddenly hummed in confusion. She picked up a noodle with her chopsticks and saw that there was a fried egg hidden at the bottom, golden brown on both sides, which made her very hungry.

This must be the surprise He Lin was talking about, right?

Jiang Yi took a big bite. The outside was slightly crispy, while the inside was soft and tender. The cooking time was just right; it wasn't burnt or undercooked. With one bite, the fragrance lingered on her lips and teeth, and her taste buds seemed to be dancing on her tongue.

She finished the fried egg in no time, closed her eyes, and sighed contentedly, as if all the pain and fear had vanished.

He Lin's expression relaxed as he sat on a stool by the bed, watching Jiang Yi's contented look. He felt a sense of happiness amidst the ordinariness of life.

"Is it tasty?"

Jiang Yi glanced at him, then decided to give a reluctant nod for the sake of the bowl of noodles.

He Lin smiled faintly, his gaze falling on the bowl of noodles, and said, "When I was a child, I almost got beaten to death for trying to steal a steamed bun from someone."

When He Lin said this, his tone was very calm, without any emotion, as if he had just remembered something extremely ordinary.

Jiang Yi was taken aback for a moment, then slowly chewed the vegetables in her mouth, her voice unconsciously becoming much softer, as if afraid of disturbing He Lin. Perhaps she herself did not realize this.

Seriously? He Lin is the second young master of the General's Mansion? Why would he fight with someone for a steamed bun? And almost get beaten to death? Are you kidding me?!

He Lin knew she didn't believe him, so he didn't continue the conversation and changed the subject: "His Majesty secretly issued an edict today to give Ma Zhang a proper burial."

Jiang Yi was completely stunned.

He Lin opened his mouth to explain: "I really don't know why His Majesty made this arrangement. Logically speaking, the bodies of death row inmates should be taken to the mass grave, but later they were taken away by His Majesty's people. However, not many people know about this."

Jiang Yi put down her chopsticks and lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Ma Zhang had told her that he and His Majesty were childhood friends, that he had helped him ascend the throne, and that he had bestowed honors upon him.

Later, the two broke off relations because of a woman who married Emperor Liang and became a concubine. She later died in the power struggles of the harem, and from then on, the two became sworn enemies.

In this light, Ma Zhang was undoubtedly love-struck. For the woman he loved, he never married and even sacrificed his future and life to avenge her.

As for Emperor Liang, despite his hatred, he couldn't bear to see his body left to rot in the wilderness because of their past friendship...

"Jiang Yi, did Ma Zhang say anything to you?"

He Lin, that kid, is waiting here to trick her into revealing information!

Jiang Yi glared at him fiercely, then gulped down the soup in her bowl, finishing it quickly.

"Although I don't know what he said to you that made you trust him so much, the Prince of Hannan is a man of deep thoughts and has been plotting in Lingnan for many years. If you know anything, could you tell me?"

Jiang Yi was furious and her face immediately turned cold. At this time, He Lin was still thinking about climbing up the ranks. He was already the respected Lord Xi Chen and the Pavilion Master of Yu Ling Pavilion. What else did he want?

"Get out, I don't want to see you."

He Lin remained silent for a moment, then extended a hand.

Jiang Yi slammed her empty bowl of noodles into his hand, wiped her mouth, threw the tatami mat at her feet, slid off, and lay down on the bed with her back to He Lin, looking like she was keeping everyone at arm's length and didn't want to talk to anyone.

"You'll feel uncomfortable lying in bed right after eating. Why don't you sit up so we can talk?"

"No discussion."

After Jiang Yi decisively refused, there was no sound behind her. She wondered why he was not saying anything, and when she turned her head, she saw He Lin sitting on the stool next to her, watching her silently.

Her gaze was tender and lingering, her brows were slightly furrowed, and her expression was inexplicably aggrieved, as if she were the one who had betrayed him.

Jiang Yi took a deep breath, repeatedly warning herself: Wake up! He Lin is using his charm on me, don't fall for it!! Keep him hanging a little longer!

He Lin sighed: "You hate me now, don't you?"

Before Jiang Yi could answer, he continued, "That's true. I hurt you and frightened you. It's best for you to stay away from me. Once you've recovered, let's get a divorce."

After saying that, He Lin was about to leave.

Jiang Yi hurriedly threw off the covers and got out of bed: "Stop!"

She stood barefoot on the ground, approaching He Lin step by step, and raised her fist to punch his firm chest a few times.

"That's right, I really hate you! I hate you so much, He Lin! You take advantage of my feelings for you and bully me without any restraint! I came here all alone, all alone and helpless, and this is how you treat me!"

As she spoke, tears suddenly streamed down her face, releasing all the pent-up frustration of the past few days.

Why did He Lin point an arrow at her? It made her bedridden for so many days.

He doesn't explain anything. Does he only know how to eat? Even if you tell her it's out of necessity, that it's Emperor Liang's decree to prevent Ma Zhang and the others from leaving the city, or even if you just make up some reason, she'll believe you.

But He Lin wouldn't even lie to her.

"sorry."

"These aren't the words I want to hear!"

“It was my mistake to hurt you. Whether you forgive me or not, I want to apologize to you and I will keep begging for your forgiveness. That day in front of Zhengwu Gate, I was not He Lin, I could only be Xi Chen. Yu Ling Pavilion and His Majesty’s people were there, and I had to do it that way.”

Jiang Yi wiped her tears and snot on He Lin's clothes, but he was used to it and did not stop her.

"What's going on with Xi Chen? Aren't you He Lin?"

"I am He Lin, and I am also Xi Chen, both of them are me."

Jiang Yi didn't understand. She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. A thought formed in her mind, and she suddenly realized, "You wouldn't kill them and then take their place, would you?!"

Upon hearing this, He Lin was taken aback at first, then chuckled, and couldn't help but admire her imagination.

He reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from Jiang Yi's forehead, his voice trembling slightly as he jokingly asked, "So, in your heart, I'm such a bloodthirsty person?"

Jiang Yi snorted lightly: "You know perfectly well!"

Ever since witnessing He Lin's other side outside the city, Jiang Yi has found it impossible to reconcile him with the weak and helpless pretty boy she knew before.

"...Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely! You'd better tell me everything clearly, or you can forget about ever getting my forgiveness in this lifetime."

The candlelight flickered slightly, and the person before me seemed to regain their former vibrancy and energy.

The heart in his chest throbbed and trembled, and He Lin couldn't help but step forward and hug Jiang Yi tightly.

No one knows what he felt when he saw this man lying in the snow, covered in blood.

At that moment, his heart ached terribly, as if he had been shot with an arrow just like Jiang Yi. His hands trembled uncontrollably from the pain, and he even stopped breathing, fearing that he might accidentally hurt her. If that were the case, he would probably never forgive himself for the rest of his life.

"Cough cough... loosen your grip a bit, I can't breathe!"

He Lin hugged her even tighter.

Jiang Yi keenly sensed that something was wrong with his mood and patted him on the back.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry, there are some things I can't tell you right now, but I promise you, one day I will tell you the whole truth, including my background and secrets."

Jiang Yi was shocked. What did He Lin mean by saying that?

His background? Could it be that he's not He Wei and Su Tong's child?!

"Trust me one more time, Qingqing."

Jiang Yi was completely stunned: "What...what did you call me?"

He Lin gently stroked the back of her head and affectionately called her in her ear, "Qingqing."

Even though Jiang Yi was an art student, she knew that these two words were an exclusive term used by intimate people in ancient times. He Lin actually called her that, and the person he was calling her was her!

Jiang Yi pushed He Lin away, her ears and neck instantly turning bright red. Feigning reproach, she tilted her head and asked, "Divorce? Hmm?"

He Lin smiled and took her hand, staring into her beautiful eyes, and answered honestly, "I don't want to."

"Well, so you were using reverse psychology!"

Jiang Yi only realized now that she had fallen into a trap. He Lin had forced her to break the rules with just a few words. She had originally planned to talk to him again, but she was now just a puppy.

"I really have no other choice, you're ignoring me."

Is it my fault that I'm ignoring you?

"No, it's my fault."

Jiang Yi gritted her teeth and threatened, "If there's a next time, He Lin, you're really finished!"

"No, I will never let this happen again."

"..."