Reunion (Repair)
The study window was half-closed, sunlight streamed onto the desk, and the aroma of books and tea lingered in the air. She sat quietly opposite her father, her expression calm, but her heart was pounding with anxiety, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
Lin Fu sat upright behind his desk, writing on case files while glancing up at her with a deep and wise look in his eyes.
He remained as calm and gentle as ever, but for some reason, she felt that her father seemed different from usual. It was as if he could see through all her thoughts with just a glance.
She thought for a moment, then tentatively spoke softly:
"Father, I have been staying at the Dou residence for several months now and have seen many things happening in the family. I am gradually becoming familiar with it. However... although I know that the Dou family has achieved its current status thanks to the protection of the Princess and the Prince Consort, I have never seen the Prince Consort Liao in all these months. Not only has he never come to the Dou residence for a gathering, but I have also never seen any of the other family members visit us... I have been thinking about it and I feel that there may be something strange about this, or even something mysterious."
Upon hearing this, Lin Fu paused for a moment, but continued writing in the case file without changing his expression. Only after he finished writing the last word did he put down the pen and look up at her.
Lin Fu held the teacup in his hand, his fingertips gently tapping the rim, before slowly speaking:
"Oh, then according to your opinion, do you have any speculations in mind?"
She was mischievous from a young age and never cared about anything other than playing and laughing. She also rarely sat down with Lin Fu to discuss political matters.
Even after her rebirth, she was wary of the Dou family and even contemplated killing them, but because she always felt that Lin Fu was completely unaware of the matter, she never discussed it with him. So she could only feel her way across the river on her own, facing an unclear fog, relying solely on the burning desire for revenge and her solitary courage in her heart.
But after returning home this time, Lin Xu suddenly felt that every time her father spoke to her, it seemed to be implying something. As if he was... subtly reminding her of something.
Was she overthinking it? But better safe than sorry, Lin Xu wasn't willing to give up on any possible clue. She pondered carefully, wondering if her father had already sensed something.
But why did her father only hint at it so vaguely, and never tell her the truth? Or was she ultimately not perceptive enough, and had overlooked something, thus missing her father's hint?
Lin Xu looked up, his heart filled with confusion, and whispered:
"...Although I didn't pay much attention to politics before, since marrying into the Dou family, I've spent every day with them. In my opinion, Dou Huaisheng and the Prince Consort's influence are probably not that close... It's just that the rumors circulating in the streets have gradually been exaggerated. I really can't understand why, if the Dou family were truly following Lord Liao's lead, they would already be heavily involved and there would be traces of it. So why, since I entered the manor, have I never seen the Prince Consort send anyone to the manor, or any other signs of interaction?"
Even the one and only time she received an invitation was because Dou Zhen invited her to a small gathering at the princess's residence; Dou Zhen, who was the princess's companion, was not even invited.
Is the connection between the Dou family's power and the eldest princess truly an exaggeration by the world?
Those doubts that couldn't be resolved in ordinary times now finally have a chance to be expressed to my father face to face.
Lin Fu remained silent for a long time before a faint smile appeared on his face, but his eyes subtly revealed a deeper meaning:
"Xu'er has never been interested in studying since childhood, nor has she ever delved into it deeply. Therefore, I have never asked too much of you in other matters, only hoping that you would grow up safely. However, over the past year, I have seen that my son has gradually become more sensible. Just the matter of entering Zhiqiong Hall shows that you genuinely want to change, which makes me very happy. However... the court is always rife with various factions, and many have lost everything with a single move. Although I have some suspicions about this, I really do not want you to get involved in this complicated and treacherous situation."
She was completely bewildered by what her father was saying, her heart pounding, but she didn't understand what he meant. She just frowned slightly.
"...Father, are you saying that you knew all along that the Dou family had something to do with them?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Fu gently shook his head.
"Not so. In other words, all the civil and military officials in the court, hundreds of them, can be considered the backbone of the court, and are of great importance. But I ask you, which one of them can truly be called 'untainted by the mud,' cleansed and undisturbed, and able to maintain his original purity for many years?"
Seeing that she seemed to understand but not quite, her face full of curiosity, Lin Fu's eyes deepened, and he sighed softly.
“Xu’er, you are still young and do not understand the affairs of an official. The most difficult thing is to stick to your original intention. Even though I have been an official for many years, I cannot claim to be completely untainted in this matter.”
"...What Father means is that in the ways of the court, everyone is more or less involved, and there is no such thing as an absolutely 'pure' or 'tainted' faction?"
Lin Fu slowly stood up amidst the mist before the window. His eyes held a dark glint that Lin Xu still couldn't quite decipher.
"...For many years, I have been responsible for recruiting and selecting talents, and I have seen countless people. Therefore, I can know what many people are thinking in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. As for selecting the virtuous and capable, since there is no one who is completely upright, we can only choose the most intelligent and upright person from among those who are scheming for fame and fortune. Dou Rujin writes official documents very well, so I chose him from thousands of documents. It was precisely because I could see then that this person would not be buried in obscurity and would surely achieve something in the future."
Lin Xu just stared blankly at her father's deep expression, his thoughts churning, but she couldn't quite process it all. It all seemed like a dream, and she felt like she couldn't understand anything.
...What Father just said meant that he had actually seen through Dou Huaisheng's true colors long ago, but still personally selected him for the sake of the country? So in his previous life, Father actually knew from the beginning that Dou Huaisheng would have a bright future, but one day harbored treacherous intentions.
Even so, the father still made his choice.
Unfortunately, I didn't understand anything or know anything back then.
Lin Xu forced herself to calm down, took a deep breath, and then spoke softly:
"Since Father has already thought this through, he must be well aware of the situation and know how to protect himself in times of crisis. But... Father, have you ever considered that recommending virtuous and talented people is a favor to them, but if you encounter a treacherous person, you might not be respected, or even worse, you might be taken advantage of when you are down, betrayed, or secretly plotted against to harm Father?"
Looking at her father, who was so close, she couldn't help but clench her hands tightly. The image of her father lying in a pool of blood in her past life almost overlapped with the Lin Fu before her. His face, so gentle and kind, had ended so tragically, stained with horrifying crimson blood.
Everything was actually caused by the very decision my father made at the very beginning...
Lin Xu felt a dull ache in her heart, a pain and regret that nearly overwhelmed her, making it impossible for her to remain calm. She could barely control herself; all she wanted to do was stand up and scream at her father with all her might, until her voice was hoarse.
Don't trust Dou Huaisheng! He's a bad person! He betrayed you in a past life and ruined our whole family!
...But for some reason, she held back in the end, and just quietly looked at the figure hidden in the clouds and mist in front of the window, which looked particularly weathered.
Lin Fu turned back to look at the endless clouds and mist outside the window, and after a long while, he spoke, his voice as calm and gentle as ever:
"Today, the clouds and mist are very prominent, which gives it a leisurely mood that is not usually seen."
All that could be heard was the father's voice in the quiet study, each word seemingly carried on a gentle breeze, rising and swirling within the small space, lingering for a long time.
"...If I, Lin Fu, have acted uprightly and honestly, and have no shame before the nation and its people, what harm is there in others framing me?...Besides, there are gods watching over us. If I, Lin Fu, have lived a life of integrity, with Heaven above, who can slander or harm me?"
Lin Xu sat there quietly, looking at that figure that was so familiar, yet suddenly felt somewhat unfamiliar. A pang of sadness shot through her heart.
Even after two lifetimes, from a promising young man to his current frail state, my father seems to have remained the same, with that inherent pride that has always remained unchanged.
She used to be single-mindedly focused on revenge, believing that her father had failed to see through the facade of the world and had instead been betrayed. Now, she is gradually realizing the stubbornness beneath his kind exterior.
Even though his father had long suspected Dou Huaisheng of having ulterior motives, he still followed his conscience and promoted him, gradually pushing him into the imperial palace. He watched as Dou Huaisheng used his connections to climb the social ladder and gradually built up a powerful and entrenched force.
Even so, he showed no fear or regret, but rather a disdainful and magnanimous attitude of "I am innocent and innocent, what can you do to me?"
She sighed deeply in her heart, and when she spoke again, her words were filled with nothing but respect:
"My only wish is for my father to have his wishes fulfilled and to live a peaceful life."
Lin Fu's gaze darkened slightly. He put his hands behind his back and slowly smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Xu'er. Your safety and well-being are my lifelong wish."
…………
She pulled herself out of her reverie and sat back down in the hall, chatting idly with Madam Bai and Dou Huaisheng for a few moments. Madam Bai was quite pleased with the gifts Lin Xu had brought back; though she didn't say much, she carefully accepted the several rabbit fur headbands.
By the time I returned to the villa, it was nearly dusk. The exceptionally soft glow of the sunset filtered through the branches of the courtyard, casting dappled patterns on the ground. A gentle breeze blew by, no longer as chilly as it had been years ago. A few fallen leaves turned slightly, and a handful of new buds were beginning to sprout on the branches. The old and new overlapped, creating a serene atmosphere.
She walked slowly towards the elegant residence. The young maidservant guarding outside the hall smiled and lifted the curtain as she approached. The hall was eerily quiet; the teacups on the table were empty. The surroundings were so still you could hear a pin drop, yet there was no trace of Dou Yanxun.
Has Dou Yanxun not been staying here these days?
Lin Xu frowned slightly, put down his coat, and turned to go to the study.
The moment I stepped into the study, the delightful scent of ink filled the air. A gentle evening breeze blew outside the window, casting swaying bamboo shadows that rippled softly across the paper windowpane. The writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk were arranged neatly, the ink in the inkstone still damp, as if someone had just been sitting there.
Lin Xu's gaze slowly swept over everything around her. Amidst the tranquility, a distinctly unusual thing caught her eye—
A faint silver-white hue was visible behind the screen.
Upon closer inspection, it resembled the corner of a pair of exquisitely crafted silver-white soft leather boots. The faint shimmer of silver light in the twilight made it particularly eye-catching.
Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat. Surely no one could be that naive...
Just as she was about to speak, a long, strong arm suddenly reached out from behind the screen and grabbed her wrist.
Lin Xu was startled and before she could even cry out, she was instantly pulled into a warm embrace by that gentle force.
Looking up, I was immediately struck by Dou Yanxun's face. His eyes held a smile, which seemed to carry a hint of playfulness and languor.
"I heard your footsteps were very hurried as you searched for me. What are you looking for so urgently?"
Dou Yanxun's voice carried a hint of sarcasm, clearly indicating that he was deliberately hiding to scare her.
She felt a slight warmth on her ear, and her heart suddenly quickened. She leaned against him, Dou Yanxun's face just inches away from hers, and for a moment she couldn't help but panic, not knowing where to look.
I hadn't seen his eyes in a long time, but they were still as striking and captivating as ever.
Lin Xu slowly turned her head slightly, trying to avoid his direct, teasing gaze and his warm breath.
He had been bedridden for a long time, taking medicine every day, and his body carried a rather peculiar scent. It was a faint, clean scent of pine, intertwined with a very subtle medicinal fragrance. After not seeing him for many days, the smell was surprisingly warm, even comforting.
Lin Xu thought she had forgotten this scent. Now, enveloped by his aura again, she was so nervous that she couldn't even keep her internal organs in check... She couldn't help but curse herself for being useless.
...I had almost gotten used to his so-called "marital bliss" before.
Unbeknownst to her, Lin Xu's ears gradually warmed up. Dou Yanxun, however, held her tightly, only looking down at her as she leaned against him.
He curled his lips into a mischievous smile, but beneath that smile lay a hint of tenderness.
After several days apart, his illness had completely healed; his face showed no trace of sickness, and his energy and spirit were much greater. His handsome, jade-like features gained an even greater radiance, and compared to before, he possessed a certain charm that Lin Xu couldn't quite describe…
Held so tightly in his arms, Lin Xu felt helpless and could only lower her head and whisper, "Am I holding you for too long...?"
She was almost out of breath.
Dou Yanxun's smile vanished, his usual playful expression returning, but his tone was very serious, as if he were discussing something profound with her.
"Didn't you miss me? Hmm?"
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