Chapter 83
Lin Yi remained calm throughout, a calmness tinged with a cruel indifference towards herself.
Xie Chengnan could barely bear such a gaze, and the other party seemed to have no intention of letting him off easily.
The silence spread silently, enough to suffocate anyone.
"I'm sorry, I..."
"Xie Chengnan, can we stop this cold war?" Her once clear eyes were now clouded with obvious weariness. Each word seemed to strike Xie Chengnan's heart, causing him excruciating pain.
"Everyone has things they can't say out loud. I won't ask what you're going to do, and you won't hold me accountable for what I kept from you before, okay?"
Xie Chengnan closed his eyes reluctantly, and when he opened them again, his gaze was slow and solemn.
"It's my fault." Of course he was wrong. It had nothing to do with hiding anything, nothing to do with their arguments and entanglements these past few days. His biggest mistake was not being there for her when she needed him. Xie Chengnan knelt down and gently stroked Lin Yi's loose hair. This meant he had to tilt his head back to see her face clearly.
This was undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill, and Lin Yi's eyes widened slightly.
"Don't move." Xie Chengnan grasped her ankle, which instinctively pulled back, his gaze remaining fixed on her face.
He suddenly realized that Qiu Qingye didn't look gentle at all from this angle; the lines of her jaw seemed even more defined than a few days ago. The bones in her wrists were also quite hard and uncomfortable to the touch.
"It's only been a few days..." His voice was hoarse and strained, as if it had rolled across sandpaper. He gently rested his head on Lin Yi's lap. "Have you been eating poorly? We should deduct Cang Xie's wages."
"What does Guan Cangxie want?" Lin Yi asked softly.
Xie Chengnan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a heavy sigh.
"It's my fault." He repeated himself. "Knowing I couldn't win against you, I still argued with you."
His voice suddenly brightened, filled with an almost overflowing fawning tone, as if he were eager to turn the page on this unpleasant matter: "Sister, you are beautiful and kind-hearted, could you please forgive me?"
Lin Yi chuckled and deliberately ruffled his hair: "Now you realize you're younger than me?"
“Yes,” Xie Chengnan chuckled, not dodging, but instead leaning his head closer to her hand while still squatting down, “I always forget that you are older than me, and you are decisive and more efficient than me. You never need anyone to tell you what to do.”
Lin Yi felt a slight pang in his heart at those four words and explained, "Xie Chengnan, that's not what I meant."
“I know.” His voice was muffled by the fabric, sounding as relaxed as ever, yet with a rare hint of shrewdness. “You just feel you can handle everything yourself and don’t want to bother others.”
“But I’m not just anyone, you can sometimes… rely on me a little more.” His voice was so soft that Lin Yi’s heart softened.
"Okay," Lin Yi replied.
Having received a reply, Xie Chengnan looked up, his eyes shining as he smiled like a cat that had just stolen some fish.
He kept his head resting on Lin Yi's lap, looking up at her.
Lin Yi asked, "Don't your legs go numb from squatting? Get up, Xueya made some soup, it's still in the pot, want to go have some?"
"good!"
Although she had just promised Xie Chengnan that she would rely on him more, Lin Yi didn't intend to tell him more about the petition. The few words she'd uttered during their conversation were enough to make her regretful. She knew very well that if she told him, Xie Chengnan would definitely find a way to help her. However, he had only recently been ennobled, and it was an exception; many eyes in the court were watching him, some wanting to win him over, others looking for an opportunity to bring him down. At this time, Xie Chengnan's best course of action was to do nothing and remain neutral on all levels.
She needed to smooth things over, but she couldn't let Xie Chengnan go, nor could she use his name or connections, as this would inevitably affect his stance in court.
Just as Lin Yi was in a dilemma, someone from the palace came to deliver a message: Princess Changning invited her to the palace to examine her pulse.
“She’s still not giving up.” Xie Chengnan’s brows furrowed involuntarily. “Once you’re in the palace, just focus on treating patients. Don’t agree to anything she says.”
Lin Yi reached out and rubbed the area between his eyebrows. "I'll be careful, don't worry."
Hearing her say that, Xie Chengnan's expression remained unchanged; he had a bad feeling. "Don't linger in the palace. Come back as soon as possible. I'll come pick you up before dark."
Lin nodded in agreement. Xie Chengnan watched as she boarded the carriage, and after the carriage disappeared from sight, he ordered Cang Xie to bring out a horse.
"Does the Marquis intend to leave the city?" Cang Xie asked.
Xie Chengnan shook his head, took two steps onto the horse, and said from his high position, "I will be back within an hour. If I am not back, you will go to the palace gate to meet her for me."
“My lord, isn’t this inappropriate? You clearly promised to personally fetch the lady…” Cang Xie had been spending more time with Xue Ya and had become more talkative, but all his lord gave him in return was the sight of a lone rider disappearing into the distance.
This is Lin Yi's second time entering the palace. Although he is more familiar with the place after the first time, the last time he was reuniting with his family. This time, he doesn't know whether he is entering a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.
Princess Changning was not yet married and did not move out of the palace to establish her own princess residence, but instead lived in the imperial palace. However, the luxury of her palace was comparable to that of any favored concubine, and even surpassed that of the Imperial Noble Consort Shu.
Lin Yi was puzzled. She remembered that in the original book, although Princess Changning was very capable, she wasn't particularly favored. Perhaps Emperor Zhaowen treated his own flesh and blood who remained in the palace much better.
"Qiu Qing has also met Princess Changning. Your Highness, may you be well."
The other person wasn't particularly warm, but glanced at her more than once because of her form of address, his words carrying an undercurrent of authority: "Get up."
"I wanted to ask you to take a look at me on the day of the palace banquet, but Madam Qiu was too busy."
Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat. She only mentioned her own name when she greeted him, precisely because she didn't want to be associated with Xie Chengnan. However, husband and wife were one, and she couldn't escape the title of Lady of Yong'an Marquis. Similarly, Xie Chengnan couldn't escape the purpose Changning wanted to achieve through her.
Lin Yi forced a smile. "These are just petty squabbles that can't be brought to the table. I apologize for neglecting the princess."
After speaking, she was about to perform a grand ceremony when Princess Changning gracefully raised her hand, and a palace maid came forward to support her.
Lin Yi was startled again. She had only raised a finger, yet the attendant understood what she wanted to do and reacted quickly. Even eunuchs who had served the emperor for many years would hardly be able to command her with such ease.
"It's alright, come forward and let me see if this 'neglect' is worth it."
Lin Yi steeled herself and walked closer, thinking to herself that this woman was putting on an even bigger show than Emperor Zhaowen, and that she would eventually be brought down!
Lin Yi placed his fingers on her wrist, waited a few moments, and said, "Your Highness is in good health, but you have been somewhat unsettled lately."
She hadn't forgotten Xie Chengnan's instructions to "minimize contact." Even the prescriptions were not written by Lin Yi, in case Changning had any problems and he used them as leverage to force her or Xie Chengnan to comply.
Changning seemed to see through her thoughts and asked, "Madam Qiu, won't you even prescribe some medicine for me?"
Lin Yi replied respectfully, "Every medicine has some side effects. Your Highness only needs to rest well. Prescribing medicine would only be a burden."
Princess Changning nodded, as if she believed her.
"If Your Highness has nothing else, I will take my leave now."
Princess Changning's eyes sharpened. "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Is something important?"
Lin Yi had nothing important to do, but he didn't want to spend a moment longer with her. Even in front of Emperor Zhaowen, nothing had made Lin Yi feel so uncomfortable.
She casually gave a harmless and foolproof reason: "The clinic has encountered some minor troubles recently and is short-staffed, so I need to rush back as soon as possible. Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness."
Princess Changning smiled, her crimson lips curving upwards. "Then there's no rush. Tell me what you need; it should be able to help you."
She had indeed harbored feelings for Princess Changning before. Gu Shu'an was unwilling to offend Lu Yuanchou, but Changning might not have had the same concern. However, this woman was not easy to deal with, and perhaps even more cunning than Gu Shu'an. After Xie Chengnan's persuasion, she immediately gave up.
"These are all trivial matters of daily life; they won't trouble Your Highness."
“I’m not worried,” Princess Changning said, surprising everyone and defying expectations. “I heard you’ve been to the Ministry of Rites several times recently. Didn’t the Vice Minister of Rites give you any face?”
She even knows this...
Lin Yi, unsure of her intentions, did not reply. The princess was not annoyed and continued, "You want to establish a girls' school? This is a good thing. In Anguo, men have always served in government, while women are only fit to be domestic and homemakers. I have long felt that this rule is inappropriate, and it would be good to break it."
Lin Yi broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this and explained, "I did not intend to break any rules, but the laws of Anguo do not prohibit the establishment of girls' schools. I could not bear to see those girls despairing and giving up on themselves, so I just had a sudden whim."
Princess Changning raised her hand to stop her from speaking. "I'm not blaming you, you don't need to be nervous. Who says women can't hold up the sky? I genuinely think this is a good idea and want to see you carry it out with my own eyes."
Even if someone like her genuinely supports him, Lin Yi wouldn't dare accept it, and couldn't accept it.
"Your Highness is too kind. We are merely teaching people to read and write. It is hardly their place to hold up the sky." Lin spoke cautiously, afraid that she might say something inappropriate and give her a handle to use against her.
Changning was rebuffed by her, but she wasn't angry. Instead, she became even more interested in this lady of the Marquis's mansion and the eldest daughter of the head of the academy.
"Whether you can hold on or not is another matter. What difficulties have you encountered? Tell me, and I can help you."
Lin Yi pursed her lips. She wasn't sure how much Princess Changning knew. Of course, she could choose not to speak, but repeatedly refusing the princess's "kindness" was somewhat ungrateful.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you. But you should know that even in the Minister's residence, I have a few words to say. It's just a small matter like stamping an official seal. I can just pass on a message and no one will dare to stand in your way."
This can no longer be considered a hint.
Lin Yi sighed inwardly, feeling that if he continued to play dumb, he would be treating both of them like fools.
"Your Highness is willing to help me, and I am deeply grateful, but I cannot accept such a favor." Lin Yi's attitude was respectful and sincere, and even though her next words were somewhat disrespectful, it was difficult to be angry with her. "Your Highness is the one who holds the chessboard, seeing the vast land, while I am merely a small clinic owner, short-sighted, only wanting to live in my own little corner. I'm afraid that even a single piece that Your Highness casually places could be a tidal wave for me. I am of lowly status and cannot do anything for Your Highness. There is no free lunch in this world, and I am apprehensive and cannot accept Your Highness's kindness."
She was determined to sever all ties with Marquis Yong'an. Princess Changning looked at her intently for a moment, then sighed softly.
Lin Yi couldn't tell whether her sigh was genuine or feigned, but then she heard her say, "You've got a lot on your mind. It's just a small favor for me, so there's no need for you to go to such lengths."
Lin Yi was about to say something more when Princess Changning lost interest. She finished her drink and slammed the cup down on the table. Immediately, a maidservant emerged from the shadows to see the guest off.
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