Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenbei's heart pounded like a drum, as if an invisible stone was pressing down on his heart.
His breathing was a little rapid.
"Shi...Shixuan, the coachmen at the manor are all fine. Could they have mistaken me for someone else?"
Lin Shixuan lowered his eyes and reached out to press his heaving heart down hard.
"I don't know. Father, I don't want to die there, it's too terrifying."
“They threw their son into the oil to smoke him, and then deep-fried him.”
There were other people in the oil pan besides him, and with the billowing smoke, he felt like he was about to be fried to a crisp.
He felt an indescribable unease, as if his vital energy was slowly draining away.
His experience during the Ghost Festival cast a shadow over his heart.
The Marquis of Zhenbei didn't hear what he said after that; he had already been so frightened by the word "coachman" that he staggered to his feet.
"Shixuan, you should rest well. The imperial examination is in half a month. I've made a lot of friends and colleagues these days. I'll take you to show your face then."
Lin Shixuan nodded.
The Marquis of Zhenbei fled in disarray.
Looking at his father's appearance, what else could Lin Shixuan not understand?
The fact that he was able to contact that ghost driver means that the driver must have told him the reason why he asked him to pay off his father's debt. But his father didn't even ask a question before fleeing in panic.
He stood up, using the chair for support, and then walked towards the door.
For some reason, when he woke up this time, he couldn't open his eyes in the sunlight and was immediately drenched in sweat, something he had never experienced before.
He shook off the mixed thoughts in his mind and walked alone towards Zou Shuang'er's courtyard.
Zou Shuang'er and Zou Wanqing were studying the medicine they had obtained from Zhu Yikang and were preparing to make their next move when they heard familiar footsteps outside the door.
She excitedly put down what she was holding and ran towards Lin Shixuan.
"Shixuan? You're awake?" She hugged Lin Shixuan and wept bitterly.
"Waaaah, my child, what a poor, unfortunate child."
"My poor child, I'm so sorry, I failed to take good care of you."
"That's why this happened during the Ghost Festival."
Seeing her heartbroken expression, Lin Shixuan reached out and pushed Zou Shuang'er away.
"Mother, your son is all better now, please don't cry."
Zou Shuang'er sobbed, "Shixuan, what...what happened to you these past two days? Tell your mother quickly."
"Look at you, your face is so pale, there's no color in it at all."
"Wait a moment, Mother will go inside and get you some tonics..."
Zou Shuang'er excitedly prepared to walk inside, but Lin Shixuan grabbed her hand.
"Mother, no need."
Zou Shuang'er turned around, looking aggrieved, "You...dislike your mother?"
Lin Shixuan shook his head and found a seat.
After standing for a while, he seemed a little tired.
"Mother, your son doesn't despise you, it's just that your son has been subjected to inhuman torture this time."
He looked up, trying to see through Zou Shuang'er, "Mother, are you really the daughter of a merchant family that has fallen on hard times?"
The sudden question made Zou Shuang'er tremble, and her eyes darted away.
"Shixuan, of course your mother is the daughter of a merchant, otherwise how could your father..."
"Mother, have you ever heard of the Zhu family?" Lin Shixuan interrupted her. "The Zhu Minister of Bianjing."
Upon hearing this, Zou Shuang'er dropped the tea she was holding with a clatter to the ground.
Debris and water splashed everywhere, leaving the ground in a mess.
Standing to the side, Zou Wanqing listened to Lin Shixuan's words and said to Zou Shuang'er, "Mother, I told you, this kind of thing can't be kept secret."
"Now that your elder brother has asked, you'll just tell the truth, won't you?"
"We are clearly of higher status than Ye Lanyin, and it's not like it's anything shameful!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Shixuan squatted down and grabbed Zou Wanqing's hand.
"Wanqing, tell your brother what you know?"
Seeing that her mother neither spoke nor stopped her, Zou Wanqing sighed and climbed onto the chair to sit down.
"Brother, you're right, the Zhu family is our maternal family."
“You are the son of a high-ranking official, and I am the daughter of a high-ranking official. If we hadn’t been slandered back then, our family wouldn’t have been killed.”
"It caused my mother and uncle to flee everywhere, and in the end they had to change their names to survive."
Seeing that her scheme had been exposed, Zou Shuang'er held back her tears and sat down on the other side of Lin Shixuan.
She took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.
"Wanqing is right."
"Shixuan, there's a reason why your mother didn't tell you. I didn't want you to know these things so early because I didn't want you to bear so much burden."
"Originally, I was planning to tell you without any pressure after you passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar. Now that you have found out, I don't intend to keep it a secret any longer."
While he was unconscious, Wanqing told her that Lin Shixuan had been possessed and might encounter his maternal grandfather.
Wanqing was right.
With such a capable daughter, what does she have to fear?
“Mother, this time your soul was forced to go to hell, where you met the Zhu family. They said I am their grandson.”
"If you don't believe me, go ask my birth mother. They say you will tell me everything."
Lin Shixuan never expected that Zou Shuang'er had another identity.
On the ninth floor, he met the Zhu family, who were also being fried in oil.
They were unrecognizable, their bodies were covered in wounds, and they were all exhausted, like walking corpses.
He wouldn't have noticed if they hadn't acted so strangely.
There was a man who claimed to be his maternal grandfather. He said that he was his maternal grandfather. Beside him was a graceful and noble woman who claimed to be his aunt. Standing next to her was the deposed crown prince.
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