When Bai Lingxi opened her eyes, it was already bright daylight. Zhou Jin had been sitting by her bedside all night.
Bai Lingxi was completely unaware of all this. Her clear almond-shaped eyes had just opened, and they were as hazy, innocent, and beautiful as a newborn's.
Zhou Jin watched from the side, feeling as if he could hardly breathe. At that moment, he felt that Xi'er must have been deceived by that unfilial son, and that his Xi'er was still so pure and innocent.
Bai Lingxi opened her eyes, then closed them again. How come she was in a different place after waking up? She must not have slept well and was still dreaming.
Zhou Jin was radiating coldness. He hadn't slept all night and had been lost in thought, but at this moment, he was amused by Bai Lingxi's reaction.
"Aren't you getting up?" The man's authoritative voice rang in Bai Lingxi's ears like a thunderclap, leaving her stunned and speechless.
Bai Lingxi suddenly opened her eyes; now she was fully awake!
This is not the Ganling Palace!
Bai Lingxi suddenly sat up from the bed, her long, thick black hair cascading down her back, her loose nightgown revealing her fragrant shoulders, and of course, a few red plum blossoms.
Bai Lingxi didn't care about any of that. Anyone would be terrified if they woke up in a completely different environment.
Bai Lingxi barely managed to retain a sliver of rationality. She slowly turned her head to look at the dark figure sitting on the headboard.
"Who...who are you?"
Bai Lingxi suppressed the urge to scream, her voice trembling slightly. She seriously suspected she had encountered a ghost, but heaven knows why she could hear his voice!
"Please, don't eat me. I'll offer you incense and sacrifices. Please don't eat me. I'm not a good eater."
Bai Lingxi uttered these words haltingly, clutching the blanket covering her tightly. After glancing at it, she immediately turned away, afraid of seeing something she shouldn't, or perhaps a bloody scene.
"Heh!" Zhou Jin was still a little angry, but now he was actually amused by Bai Lingxi.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep a straight face: "Don't you recognize me, Bai Lingxi?"
Bai Lingxi felt that this ghost was terrifying. How did it get attached to her? She must be trapped in a ghost wall right now. Yes, trapped in a ghost wall!
But this couldn't go on forever. Bai Lingxi was on the verge of tears and could only try to communicate with this ghost...?
"Did you know me when you were alive? I was sick and don't remember anything."
Bai Lingxi secretly raised her head and met the other person's gaze, as well as their deadpan face, which startled her so much that she quickly shrank her head back.
The girl's bright eyes were still as clear as when they first met. A hint of nostalgia flashed in Zhou Jin's eyes. No matter how many times they met, he would almost always fall in love with this little woman.
"I'm not a ghost." Zhou Jin looked at the girl's long eyelashes fluttering like a butterfly about to take flight, and finally softened.
Zhou Jin thought to himself, Xi'er doesn't know anything. Even if she has done something wrong now, it's because others have deceived her. His Xi'er is the most innocent and kind-hearted.
“I was your original husband. Later, you were tricked by that thief and mistook him for your husband. I rescued you.”
Zhou Jin didn't say that he had come back from the dead. Xi'er would definitely not believe such an unbelievable thing. It would have been better to keep it simple from the beginning.
“Husband? But my husband is Zhou Changling. We have a child. By the way, where is my child?”
Bai Lingxi refused to believe it. The person in front of her was clearly the bandit. This person must have kidnapped her while her husband was away.
"Let him keep the child." It's no wonder Zhou Jin was heartless. He had secretly observed the child; he was exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted, and this child was sure to amount to something great in the future.
If he were to follow him, setting aside household registration, just surviving wouldn't be as well taken care of as in the palace. Even a minor cold could kill a child, and he couldn't risk his child's life.
Moreover, he left Li Mu in the palace so that if Zhou Changling treated An'er badly in the future, he would do everything in his power to bring An'er out.
Perhaps thinking of their shared offspring, Zhou Jin's expression softened, and she looked at Bai Lingxi with a hint of heartache: "I'm sorry I wasn't by your side when you gave birth; it was my dereliction of duty."
"An'er is so cute and strong. You've worked so hard!" Zhou Jin truly felt sorry for Bai Lingxi. In his memory, how many women had not survived childbirth? The fact that Xi'er was still alive was the best news for him.
Enough, enough. In the end, Zhou Jin couldn't do anything to Xi'er. He was too soft-hearted, or rather, he felt guilty.
"Don't worry, I'll take you to the palace to see An'er when we have the chance in the future." Zhou Jin's expression was complicated. On one hand, he was once the master of the palace and the emperor of the whole country, but now he had to sneak around to go back to the palace.
On the other hand, he was afraid that Bai Lingxi might actually fall for that rebellious son. After all, since losing her memory, Xi'er had been taken care of by Zhou Changling, and it was inevitable that feelings would develop over time.
"Xi'er, trust me." Zhou Jin said, suppressing his worries. He placed his warm hand on Bai Lingxi's small hand, his gaze earnest and sincere, with a hint of silent pleading and longing.
"You..." Bai Lingxi hesitated, feeling the man's body temperature, and knew that he really was a person. He even said that he was her husband, but she really didn't remember him.
"Then please let me go back, okay? I'm so scared..." Bai Lingxi avoided his gaze. For some reason, seeing the disappointment in his eyes always made her heart ache.
"I don't know you. I'm sorry, I still want to go back." Bai Lingxi started to ramble, but she wasn't wrong. Thinking of this, she repeated, "I just want to go back."
Zhou Jin felt empty inside. Looking at Bai Lingxi's constantly evasive gaze, he gave a bitter smile. A large hand was tearing at his heart, tearing it to pieces, shattering it again and again.
"You rest first, I'll come see you again tomorrow." In the end, Zhou Jin couldn't bear the huge difference and left as if fleeing.
Neither of them noticed that as the night passed, Bai Lingxi's face not only did not become pale, but instead became even more rosy, like a person who had been ill for a long time suddenly recovering.
Bai Lingxi looked helplessly at the unfamiliar room. All the furnishings suited her taste perfectly: a small mahogany bed, stacks of storybooks, and fruits that weren't in season on the table.
She closed her eyes, wondering, could this strange man really be her husband? Or was the one in the palace deceiving her?
She couldn't tell the difference between truth and falsehood, but she still really wanted to see Zhou Changling and unconsciously wanted to rely on him.
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