She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. Even though she had decided to let go of love, her body still remembered his touch, his warmth...
"This is insane," she muttered to herself, unable to control the images that surfaced in her mind—was Xiao Xun's all-seeing eyes also gazing at the same moonlight at this moment?
The next morning, Xin Jiuwei was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
"Miss, get up quickly! The master wants you to go to the front hall immediately!" The maid's voice was filled with panic.
Xin Jiuwei instantly snapped to attention: "What happened?"
"Someone from the capital has arrived! They say... they say they're looking for you!"
Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. Someone from the capital? Could it be... sent by Xiao Xun?
She quickly washed and changed, then strode towards the front hall. Whoever came, she had to remain calm. In this life, she would never let anyone see her weakness again.
In the front hall, Old Master Qi was talking to a middle-aged man dressed in official robes. Upon seeing Xin Jiuwei enter, both of them stopped talking.
"Wei'er, this is Minister Lin of the Ministry of War, who has come to Yunzhou for inspection by imperial decree," Old Master Qi introduced, though his eyes held a hint of wariness.
As Xin Jiuwei bowed, she keenly noticed the jade pendant worn by Vice Minister Lin at his waist—it was engraved with the emblem of the Second Prince's residence.
Her heart sank. This was no chance encounter, but a carefully orchestrated test.
The game has only just begun.
Xin Jiuwei straightened her back, clasped her hands in front of her abdomen, and wore a perfect balance of doubt and respect on her face. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled patterns on her moon-white skirt, as if she were draped in stars.
"Lord Lin has come from afar. May I ask what brings you here?" Her voice was clear and melodious, but her gaze subtly swept over the familiar emblem on the jade pendant at the other man's waist—the blue phoenix pattern of the Second Prince's residence.
Vice Minister Lin stroked his beard, smiling amiably. "Miss Xin, there's no need to be nervous. I've been ordered to inspect the water conservancy in Yunzhou, and I heard that Old Master Qi's granddaughter is temporarily staying here, so I've come to pay my respects." He paused, "After all, Miss Xin's father, Lord Xin, works in the Ministry of Works, so he has some connection with water conservancy matters."
Xin Jiuwei's fingertips trembled slightly. Her father? In her past life, her father had been framed by Qi Huaiyu for embezzlement during a water conservancy project. She remained outwardly calm: "Father did often mention that water conservancy is crucial to the nation's foundation. Professor Lin's concern for the people's livelihood is truly admirable."
"Speaking of which," Minister Lin suddenly changed the subject, "Miss Xin just returned from Yingzhou? How is Master Jueming of Lingyin Temple?"
The air in the study seemed to freeze. The teacup in Old Master Qi's hand made a soft clinking sound. Xin Jiuwei smiled, her eyes crinkling like a crescent moon: "Does Your Excellency also know Master Jueming? He is a master of Buddhism and highly respected in Yingzhou."
A glint flashed in Vice Minister Lin's eyes: "I've heard that this master possesses extraordinary cultivation at such a young age, and I am quite curious."
"In Buddhism, age doesn't matter," Xin Jiuwei gently stirred her tea. "Just like my mother always said, you can't judge a person by their appearance."
These words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight to the other person's heart. Minister Lin's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Miss Xin, you are young yet possess remarkable insight. Did you encounter any interesting people or events in Yingzhou?"
Xin Jiuwei lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them: "There is something interesting. I met a worshipper at the temple who said his master loved collecting jade pendants, especially those with a blue phoenix pattern." She looked up, staring directly at Minister Lin's waist, "Just like the one you're wearing."
With a loud "smack," Old Master Qi slammed down his teacup. "Lord Lin, my granddaughter has been spoiled since childhood and speaks without thinking. I hope you will forgive her."
Minister Lin chuckled twice: "It's alright, it's alright. Miss Xin is so innocent and naive, but..." Before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly arose outside the door.
"Young master, you can't go in! The old master is receiving guests!" came the butler's anxious voice.
Immediately afterward, Qi Huaihe strode into the hall, holding a brocade box in his hands: "Grandfather, your grandson has found the 'Commentary on the Waterways Classic'..." He seemed to only then notice the situation in the hall, and hurriedly bowed, "Your grandson is impetuous, unaware that there are distinguished guests present."
Xin Jiuwei noticed that when her cousin entered, Minister Lin's expression stiffened for a moment. A thought flashed through her mind—did this minister know her cousin?
Old Master Qi then introduced them: "This is my eldest grandson, Qi Huaihe. Huaihe, this is Vice Minister Lin of the Ministry of War."
Qi Huaihe bowed respectfully, but when he looked up, his eyes met those of Minister Lin. In that instant, Xin Jiuwei clearly saw a flash of coldness in her cousin's eyes, so quick that it was almost an illusion.
"Young Master Qi is indeed a handsome and talented man." Vice Minister Lin's smile was somewhat forced. "I remember... three years ago at the imperial examination, Young Master Qi seemed to..."
"I am unworthy to participate due to illness," Qi Huaihe said calmly, but Xin Jiuwei could detect suppressed anger in his voice.
Vice Minister Lin nodded, then suddenly stood up: "It's getting late, and I still need to inspect the river embankment, so I'll take my leave now."
After seeing Minister Lin off, an awkward silence fell over the three people in the study. Finally, Qi Huaihe spoke first: "Wei'er, this person's intentions are not good."
Xin Jiuwei stared at her cousin: "Does your cousin know him?"
Qi Huaihe gave a bitter smile: "Three years ago, I was preparing to go to the capital for the imperial examination, but I was poisoned before my departure. Later, the clues pointed to the Second Prince's residence, and the person in charge of handling the matter at the time was none other than this Minister Lin."
Old Master Qi slammed his hand on the table: "How could this be! Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"There's no solid evidence," Qi Huaihe shook his head. "Besides, I don't want to implicate my family."
Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. So her cousin had also been a victim of the Second Prince's faction! Suddenly realizing something, she quickly walked to the window and carefully lifted a corner of the curtain—sure enough, there were several suspicious-looking people across the street staring at the Qi family's gate.
"We're being watched," she whispered.
Qi Huaihe stood beside her, his tall figure partially shielding her behind him: "Don't be afraid, your cousin is here."
Looking at her cousin's resolute profile, Xin Jiuwei suddenly realized that the trajectory of this life had been completely altered. Not only her own fate, but also the destinies of those around her were subtly changing.
And all of this was perhaps destined from the moment she met Xiao Xun after her rebirth.
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