Sending letters (revision)
She gently closed her eyes. Having just recovered from a long illness, she was still feeling unwell, but a little thought aroused her lungs, and she coughed several times in succession.
Those who hated her to the core, those who got close to her... were only a handful of people.
Could it be...?
The moment the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart.
Dou Yanxun's emotions were fluctuating, yet he remained unassuming. Given his past and methods, eliminating her without making a sound would be a piece of cake for him.
Could it be him?
Even though she and he were getting more and more familiar with each other, and even had developed a lot of tacit understanding from spending so much time together, she could never honestly say that she truly understood him.
That person was always good at disguising himself and was unfathomable. Even someone as deep-thinking as the Bai family had been helpless against Dou Yanxun for so many years, and had watched him grow stronger and stronger, from a frail boy to a restaurant owner and even a government official... Dou Yanxun had long since broken free from the Bai family's control.
Even though she spent every day and night with him, Lin Xu never forgot the time when he was threatened with a knife by him. This man was simply too unpredictable.
She slowly lowered her head. Could it be anyone else but Dou Yanxun?
...But Fu Qing, who was skilled in medicine, was so adept that he could take action against her without her noticing during the few times she visited him.
...Or perhaps it's the person who serves her, the one who prepares her medicine every day? The courtyard is filled with nothing but familiar faces...
But why, why...
Her brows furrowed, she racked her brains but couldn't figure it out. In the current situation, however, understanding the other party's motives was clearly the key.
"Don't worry, Madam. After I poisoned the bird a few days ago, that person must have become suspicious and has not made any further moves since. However, you have been drinking nourishing and cold-dispelling medicinal meals for a long time, which has caused internal injuries. If you do not rest carefully for a long time, you will not be able to fully recover."
Lin Xu raised her eyes and looked at Fang Xing. Her face was deathly pale, devoid of any color.
After a long while, her somewhat dry lips finally moved. Fangxing saw that her face was extremely miserable, as if she was struggling to maintain a dignified appearance.
"—Did your patriarch say...why he is protecting me?"
Fangxing slowly shook her head. She watched as Lin Xu's almond-shaped eyes dimmed.
Lin Xu's soft lips moved slightly again. She seemed to have remembered something. Just as she was about to ask Fang Xing, she heard a soft knocking sound from outside the tightly closed palace door.
Who is it?
This is clearly not the time to be disturbed. Lin Xu glanced at the door, his voice tinged with coldness.
The knocking stopped abruptly, as if the person outside was startled. Then, a soft female voice rang out from outside the hall; it was Zhu Ling.
"Madam... flowers have arrived from Yuancao Residence."
Since leaving the Lin family to manage the flower and herb business, Zhiyuan has established her own business and run her small shop with great success. Now, after only a few months of operation, Yuancaoju has become a well-known place in the city specializing in fresh flowers and herbs, frequented not only by ordinary people but also by high-ranking officials and nobles.
Besides giving her several thousand taels of silver to support her business, Lin Xu also sent her many thoughtful gifts at the opening ceremony. Zhi Yuan was deeply grateful and became even more attentive to the matters Lin Xu had instructed her to handle.
Living in a secluded mansion for a long time can be inconvenient, and Zhiyuan is her eyes and ears in Mujing City, keeping track of all kinds of information.
Yuancao Residence is a crucial hub connecting Lin Xu's confidants.
Zhao Qi, Zhou Qi, and Zhou Quan, and even their close stepmother Gao Youyi, would immediately pass on any new information they obtained about the court or the inner quarters through Yuancao Residence.
Each vibrant, delicate flower possesses its own unique charm, yet each holds its own secret. The shyly budding peony, the osmanthus blooming like a golden elixir, the colorful crabapple—each color and variety reveals a different hidden meaning.
This was a method she learned when she was investigating Yao Niang of Bihua Tower.
Bai Shi had never liked burning incense; he preferred to select fresh flowers for decoration, so he never paid much attention to this matter.
But today, at a time not usually reserved, Yuancaoju sent someone to deliver goods. What could be unusual about this?
Lin Xu couldn't help but look towards the doorway with suspicion.
Fangxing, being obedient and sensible, had already cleverly avoided eye contact and retreated a few steps to the corner.
Lin Xu then gently gestured, "Come in."
But then Zhu Ling walked in, carrying a pot of pure white Tang Di flowers. The flowers, with their delicate white petals, were densely packed like stars, layered on the tender green branches, accompanied by a very faint fragrance.
Zhu Ling glanced quickly at Fang Xing, who was standing in the corner of the hall, paused for a moment, and then whispered:
"Madam, just now, the people from Yuancao Residence pushed a cart full of flowers to the manor to deliver the goods. They said they were newly cultivated varieties, which are very suitable for the season, so they rushed to deliver them to you."
Zhu Ling lowered her voice slightly, then whispered in Lin Xu's ear, "But I've looked closely, and although Tang Di is in season, Zhi Yuan has never been prepared before. I'm worried there might be another purpose behind it..."
Considering that she had been sick for several days in a row recently, and before that she had been busy rescuing Liang Zhengyuan, there was indeed little news from Zhiyuan's side.
Could something important be happening in the next few days?
Zhu Ling's concerns were clearly not unfounded.
Lin Xu gently brushed her fingertips across the petals still glistening with dew, glanced at the darkening twilight outside the window, and murmured:
"It's getting late today, so let's go to Yuancao Residence early tomorrow morning to buy some newly arrived flowers."
So, as usual, she sent someone to prepare dinner. Not wanting others to notice Fangxing's unusual behavior, she didn't ask any further questions and acted as if nothing was wrong.
She hadn't expected to be tricked again, with her daily medicinal meals being tampered with. This time, it was clearly not the vicious Qi Shuang'er of the past.
But look around at the people who serve her closely: Zhu Ling, Rong Wei, Qing Mo, and even Qin Mama, who has been by her side since childhood and has a long history of taking care of her mother's daily life... who among them is not a close relative who came with her from the Lin family and accompanied her to the Dou family?
She could no longer delve deeper into the matter, nor could she guess at the darkest depths of the mystery.
Lin Xu glanced at the food on the table. With a poor appetite, he only picked up a few pieces of stir-fried lettuce and bamboo shoots and drank a small bowl of plum blossom soup dumplings. He didn't touch any of the other meat dishes.
Seeing that she had picked up her teacup to rinse her mouth, and that there was a hint of weariness between her slender, willow-leaf eyebrows, Granny Qin gently advised her:
"Since you feel tired, Miss, please wash up and rest for a while. It's not quite summer yet, and the temperature is fluctuating. It will take a while for you to fully recover, so please don't push yourself too hard."
Lin Xu slowly shook his head.
When she was bedridden with a fever that day, Dou Zhen had visited her at the other courtyard. Although several days had passed, the timing of her visit that day was still strange, and she couldn't shake the thought of it.
Seeing the moon rising above the branches outside the window, Dou Zhen should have returned from her studies in the palace by now.
So she washed her hands and changed her clothes. The night breeze was cool, so Zhu Ling draped a light pink outer garment with a slight velvet over her shoulders.
Dou Zhen's residence, Ningyue Tower, is located in the eastern corner of the mansion, separated by the back garden and the Banyue Bridge by the water. It is naturally a beautiful place, but it is the furthest from the secluded villas.
She walked through the corridors, with Zhu Ling following beside her, holding a lantern. It took her quite a while to finally arrive after winding around left and right.
Normally, when Dou Zhen goes to school, Ningyue Tower is unusually quiet. Apart from when Lin Xu came here with Feng Daizhu to sit and drink tea when she first entered the mansion, it has been several months since she last set foot here.
A young maid in a pink jacket stood outside the door, dozing off with her eyes half-closed. She was startled when she heard voices approaching, and seeing that it was Lin Xu, she hurriedly curtsied and said sweetly, "This servant greets the Second Young Mistress."
Perhaps because she hadn't seen Lin Xu for a long time, the little girl was a bit nervous. As she straightened up, she smiled but didn't know what to do, so she could only eagerly invite him inside.
"Madam, your timing is perfect. Miss just finished her meal and was saying she wanted to practice her calligraphy. Please come in, Madam."
Before the words were finished, Dou Zhen's voice came from inside the room, "Ayin, has someone arrived?"
Ayin lifted the curtain, and Lin Xu stepped into the room. Sure enough, he saw Dou Zhen sitting at his desk, holding a wolf-hair brush in his hand, with several thick calligraphy books piled up in front of him.
She wore a rather simple light lotus-colored blouse, her hair casually tied back with a jade hairpin. Upon seeing Lin Xu, her furrowed brows immediately relaxed. "Second sister-in-law."
Lin Xu glanced around at the exceptionally clean and tidy interior of the hall, then smiled and helped Dou Zhen, who was bowing to her, to her feet. "Third Sister, this is the perfect time for you to practice calligraphy in peace and quiet. But I've come at an inopportune moment?"
As Dou Zhen said, "What are you saying?", she looked at Lin Xu carefully, her eyes full of concern:
"I heard a while ago that my sister-in-law was sick, which worried me a lot. Is she much better now?"
Lin Xu was helped to sit down by Dou Zhen. A moment later, a maid who had been standing outside the door brought over hot tea with a smile. The two sat by a small table by the window. Several white and purple magnolias were inserted diagonally in a white jade vase by the window, emitting a faint fragrance.
"It's nothing serious. I just caught a cold because I hadn't rested well for a few days. I'm sorry to have troubled you with your concern, sister."
Dou Zhen said it was good that nothing was wrong, and then picked up her cup to exchange a few simple pleasantries, but a lingering sadness still lingered between her brows.
Seeing this, Lin Xu laughed and said, "Speaking of which, Third Sister studies diligently every day, so why did you bother to come and visit me that day? It was my fault for not being hospitable enough."
Dou Zhen's fingertips trembled slightly, causing ripples to spread across the tea in her cup.
She glanced around, and after the maids who had served tea and snacks had all left, she lowered her voice and leaned forward:
"Second sister-in-law, Yu Se has something on her mind... I don't know what to do."
Lin Xu's brow twitched.
Sure enough, Dou Zhen's visit that time was not without reason.
Within the Dou household, she and Dou Zhen were of similar age and had both studied in the palace, so they were naturally closer than others.
Moreover, she also wanted to inquire with Nongyu, only saying that in the past, the Third Miss did not treat people differently from others in the mansion. Whether it was the illegitimate son in an awkward position or the Fifth Miss who was looked down upon by the Bai family, Dou Zhen treated them all equally. She was even closer to her second brother, Dou Yanxun.
Seeing that Dou Zhen had finally gotten to the point, Lin Xu patted her hand gently to comfort her: "Sister Zhen, please speak freely. Zhu Ling is one of us, so there's no need to worry."
Zhu Ling came with Lin Xu and now waits obediently inside the hall. Apart from the little maid A Yin who was yawning at the door earlier, there is no one else.
Dou Zhen glanced at Zhu Ling somewhat embarrassedly, then nodded and said, "I understand, but I'm still completely clueless and haven't told anyone yet, so I'm a little flustered. Please don't worry about it, sister-in-law."
Having said that, she finally put down the teacup in her hand, her hands trembling slightly. Even her seemingly calm expression betrayed an underlying turmoil. Lin Xu suddenly understood—
Dou Zhen looked terrified.
"Sister-in-law, you may not know this, but since I was fortunate enough to become the princess's study companion, I have entered the palace every day to serve her. I have never dared to be arrogant or disrespectful in any way. The princess and I are already acquainted, so everything has been going smoothly without any difficulties. But I don't know when it started—there is someone in the academy whom Yu Se has to take care of. Perhaps Yu Se is foolish, but after several twists and turns, I now... I don't know what to do..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xu raised his eyes and carefully examined the deep sorrow in Dou Zhen's beautiful eyes.
Zhiqiong Hall... Her thoughts drifted back to the people in the school she used to know, even the doctor she hadn't seen in a long time. Several faces lay dormant beneath long-forgotten memories, and had long since become unfamiliar.
Since she left the school, the Yao sisters had suffered misfortunes in their families and had passed away one after another; the Third Prince's ascension to the throne was imminent, and he was surrounded by advisors and powerful families every day, never having a leisurely day to study; Duan Jinru was originally the nephew of Prince Mao, and now he was a trusted confidant of the prince, capable of holding half the country's power, so naturally he no longer pursued his studies...
Thus, those from prominent families from the past are no longer in the academy. Even those descendants of princes and nobles who joined later were too young to be of any real importance. The person in Zhiqiong Hall who could cause such alarm to Dou Zhen, the only companion of Princess Kunrou and daughter of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel, and who still harbors doubts and surprise even now—
Who else could it be?
However, in a flash, Lin Xu recalled the powerful face from the old school, and those eyes that, though containing a hint of a smile, always held a deep-seated sinister intent.
She wasn't familiar with that person before, but every time they met and exchanged brief greetings, the look in his eyes always made her feel very uncomfortable.
As suspicion gradually took shape in Lin Xu's heart, Dou Zhen's eyes filled with tears, which, reflected in the flickering candlelight, made her face appear even more desolate.
Under Lin Xu's questioning gaze, she slowly nodded, and following her nod, a crystal tear rolled down her cheek.
That beautiful woman, with tears streaming down her face, was clearly heartbroken, yet her beauty was enough to evoke pity and inspire courage.
"The Fifth Prince... he... he seems to have feelings for me... Sister-in-law, what should Zhen'er do?"
Just as I expected.
Lin Xu quietly watched Dou Zhen's tearful appearance. She wore a plain short shirt, and her fair and soft face was full of girlish innocence, yet her extensive knowledge of poetry and literature added a unique gentleness to her appearance.
It is clearly meant to be eye-catching and to arouse people's desire.
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