The Path to Redemption
The birds chirped, and three fish in the pond competed for a small pool of food scraps, creating sparkling ripples in the sunlight.
Chen Yun and Shi Lu walked side by side across the fish pond, holding a basket of fruit in their hands, chatting and laughing with each other. As they slowly entered the Shi residence, Shi's father and mother, as if foreseeing the future, came out of the living room to greet them.
Father Shi's eyes were filled with love and satisfaction. He smiled and said, "Miss Chen, every time you come, the whole room seems a little brighter."
Shi's mother also quickly agreed: "Yes, girl, you and Lu'er get along so well, we see it with our own eyes and are very happy in our hearts. In my heart, I have long regarded you as one of my own family."
Chen Yan lowered his head slightly and responded shyly, "Uncle Shi, Aunt Shi, you are too polite. I am only able to live in peace today thanks to Brother Shi's care."
Shi Lu said, "Look, I told you, my parents won't dislike you. They can't wait to see you every day, so..." Shi Lu gently took Chen Yun's hand, looked into her eyes and said, "Xiao Yun, I hope you can stay by my side forever and be the daughter-in-law of my Shi family. Everyone will take care of the baby in your belly, and I will also devote my whole life to caring for you."
A trace of fear and hesitation flashed across Chen Yun's face. She slowly withdrew her hand and said, "Brother Shi, I remember all your kindness to me, but my status is special, and I'm afraid it will bring trouble to the Shi family."
Father Shi waved his hand and said, "Don't say that, young lady. Our Shi family is not one of those families that are obsessed with formalities. It is a blessing for our Shi family to have a daughter-in-law like you."
Shi's mother also stepped forward, took Chen Yun's hand and said, "Miss, we have just received an imperial decree from the palace. The Shi family has been named an imperial merchant, and we must set off for the capital this afternoon. So I hope you can carefully consider our proposal this morning."
Chen Yun was quite reluctant to become the daughter-in-law of the Shi family, but she didn't want to hurt the family's kindness, so she had to find an excuse to shirk her responsibility: "Thank you, uncle and aunt, this matter is serious, I need time to think about it. I'm going home first."
"Child, we're not forcing you or making fun of you. It's just that our whole family is moving to the capital, and we don't know when we'll be back. Also, as an imperial merchant, you have many privileges and honors. I hope you can think it through."
After hearing Shi's father's repeated instructions, Chen Yin gave a polite smile and then left Shi's house with Shi Lu.
Back home, Shoucheng was sitting leisurely in a rocking chair in the courtyard, resting his eyes. Hearing Chen Yun's footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes and said the moment Chen Yun stepped into the house, "Disciple, Li Lin left a letter and went to the Beifeng Mountain stronghold alone to look for clues about your family."
Chen Yun's eyes lit up, and he looked surprised: "Any clues about my family?"
"It must be fake. Don't you hate him? I tricked him into going to the stronghold, and then used someone else to kill him."
When Chen Yun heard Shoucheng's words, the smile on her face froze instantly. She widened her eyes and said in disbelief, "Master, how could you do this? Although Li Lin made mistakes, his crime doesn't deserve the death penalty."
Shoucheng snorted nonchalantly and said, "He treated you like that, causing you so much injustice and nearly causing you to lose your child. Why spare his life? Besides, whether he can get out alive is another matter. This will save you from being harassed by him in the future."
Chen Yun was extremely anxious. He paced back and forth in the courtyard and said anxiously, "Master, no matter what, I can't... He has a special status. If anything happens to him, it will definitely cause an uproar, and we will be implicated."
Shoucheng noticed that Chen Yun's concern for Li Lin exceeded his expectations. Thinking that the time had come, he held up a letter and said, "You should read his letter first."
Chen Ying walked over, took the letter and read it.
The letter read: Chen Yin, I feel so guilty about everything I've done to you. Every time I think of this, I long to turn back time, to meet you first, to right my wrongs. But tonight, it's too late to regret. Though we only used each other, our love is deeply entwined, and it's hard to let go. Finally, I wish you good health and well-being, and hope you and your unborn child will take good care of themselves. The years are long, and I hope you won't forget me.
Chen Yun's heart ached, and without hesitation, he threw everything on the ground. "I want to find Li Lin! Nothing can happen to him!"
When Chen Yan took the second step, Shi Lu was already standing at the door. Chen Yan nodded, then walked quickly into the house.
Shi Lu yelled, "Xiao Qing! Don't... If you go over there, what will I do?"
Shoucheng also looked at Chen Yun, who realized that the Shi family would leave for the capital that afternoon, and if he went to rescue Li Lin, he would miss the route. However, if he didn't go, Li Lin, as the crown prince, would be in trouble.
"Master, have you lied to Li Lin and me? It seems like you've always been half-truthful and half-false?"
Shoucheng said: "The letter is true, and the death is also true. I won't say more about the rest."
At this moment, Chen Yin was even more hesitant. She immediately walked back to her room. Once there, she lay down on her bed, shielding herself from the world under the covers. Even when Shi Yu came over to try to persuade her, Chen Yin would persuade her to leave.
Shi Lu was not convinced and instead questioned him.
"I've given so much for you? And we only exchanged a few words like this? How could he, a man who abandoned you, be so good as to make you fight for your life? Did you cover up your reason for love?"
The room was completely silent, and no one answered his question. Shi Lu sighed helplessly and turned to leave.
Chen Yun hid under the covers, her hands clutching her head, a tormented state of mind. She couldn't let go of anyone. Yet, she couldn't comprehend her relationship with Li Lin. She had been through so much in the past eight months, and those memories flooded back like a tide, leaving her in a deep state of confusion.
Who can I rely on? Who is not the one who deceived and abandoned me? The person who makes me regret now is the man I couldn't forget in the past eight months.
That man made her so embarrassed for the first time. It was such an embarrassment that she could hardly imagine happening to herself, and it kept her awake from her dreams for several months.
She thought back to Lan Xixi's letter. Why did it coincide with what Li Lin had said? Why had she not protected her child at the clinic, and then changed her mind? She and Li Lin were clearly in a contractual relationship, so why had they been torturing each other like it was real? Had she misunderstood Li Lin?
"I want to know. I want to know what this feeling of mine is. I want to know the truth."
Chen Yan lifted the quilt, picked up the box on the table and walked out the door.
"Master, I will go and find the child's father. If I can't come back for a long time, please write a letter of condolence to the Qiankun Kingdom Palace."
Shoucheng shook his head helplessly and said, "Silly apprentice, you still have to rely on the master to help you."
Chen Yun rode non-stop towards the mountain stronghold, with only one thought in mind: to find Li Lin. The mountain road was rugged and overgrown with weeds, but she ignored it. Sweat soaked her clothes, and her hair was messy and stuck to her cheeks.
Finally, in the evening, she arrived at the foot of the mountain village. Looking at the village standing halfway up the mountain, Chen Yun took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and began to walk up the mountain.
As she approached the gate of the stronghold, several guards discovered her, "Stop! Young Madam? How dare you trespass into the stronghold!" The guards shouted at her ferociously, holding long swords.
Chen Yun stopped and said calmly, "I'm here to look for someone. Did you arrest someone named Li Lin?"
The guards smiled at each other after hearing this and said, "A pretty boy has been here. What's the matter? Who are you to him?"
"Hmm... let's call her Madam, right? That person is someone you can't afford to offend. Please release her immediately."
Seeing this, the guards became even more excited. "Hmph, you are a weak woman, and you are pregnant, and you want to fight with us?" As they said that, they rushed forward.
Chen Yun took out a bag of lime and sprinkled it on everyone, then took out a kettle and poured it on them. The other party screamed instantly.
Chen Yun said coldly, "Lime mixed with water will heat up very quickly. I hope you won't go blind. Bye."
After saying that, Chen Yan walked in alone.
This was a fortress built of stone and wood on the edge of a cliff. People entered and exited through narrow paths, passing along one flank of the mountain. As Chen Yun walked, he drew a long-handled sword.
As he reached the edge of the cliff, the crimson glow of the setting sun bathed the world. The bandits emerging from the front had reddened faces, and their shouts sent chills down his spine.
Look at the foot of the mountain, there is an endless abyss. Look at the distance, there is a touch of red like a blush, and the flaming sun is setting in the west.
Chen Ying pointed his sword at the enemy, gazing at the distant scenery. The next second, as the bandits unceremoniously charged, Chen Ying pulled the trigger on his sword, sending the spike piercing the enemy's chest. The bandits instantly lost their strength.
Chen Yun went over and cut their hands and feet, and the flowing blood was brighter red than the sunset.
Chen Yan put the knife away and continued walking inside.
Along the way, although the bandits surrounded Chen Yun with long swords, they were unable to stop her advance and did not dare to act rashly.
Seeing these people trying to surround him but not daring to attack, Chen Yun asked, "I told you, since you dare not kill him, why don't you tell us where Li Lin is, or where he's being held captive? That way, we won't have to destroy anyone."
At this time, the leader of the mountain stronghold came out. His beard and brutal appearance were enough to prove that he was a ruthless man. He looked at Chen Yan and asked, "So it was you, the girl, who was using evil things to hurt my brothers. Are you really not afraid of my Seven Stars Assassination Group?"
Before Chen Ying could react, seven plump and thin women ran up to her in an instant, with swords wrapped around her neck.
Chen Yun looked at the women around her. Each one was incredibly attractive, but their eyes were icy cold. She was certain they would be willing to chop her down. However, Chen Yun wasn't unprepared. She sneered and counted down: "Three! Two! One! Down!"
The Seven Star Assassination Group fell down with a roar, causing the leader of the Shanzhai to look at the assassination group on the ground in surprise.
Before the leader could react, Chen Yun swung his sword, sending thorns flying like raindrops, knocking a bunch of people to the ground. The leader ran up and grabbed the sword, but it was too late. Chen Yun pulled the leader to his side with one hand.
"Boss, can you finally listen to my request now?"
One of the women from the Seven Star Assassination Group yelled, "Hurry and protect the boss! This woman has a scent that makes her want to seduce you!"
"Who...who do you want?"
"Crown Prince of Qiankun Kingdom, Li Lin!"
After hearing this, everyone was stunned.
The leader of the Shanzhai was surprised and asked, "We would never start a war with the royal family. We are exiled subjects of the royal family. We would never kidnap the prince!"
Chen Yun hesitated at this moment. She didn't know how much truth there was in the other party's words, so she helped the leader of the mountain stronghold to stand up and asked, "Exiled people of the royal family? Now you've been reduced to a mountain stronghold. Do you think anyone would believe it?"
The stronghold's military advisor immediately produced a token and said, "This is the golden medal of immunity from death granted by the late emperor. Our leader's house still has the decree from that time. How about this: you release the leader first, and I'll take you to identify the captured person."
Chen Yun said, "He arrived in the past two days. He is the Crown Prince. Do you know him?"
The village's military advisor and leader shouted in panic, "What? It's him?"
"Take me there quickly."
So Chen Yun threatened the leader of the bandit group and followed the group to an ice cellar.
Along the way, the cold air in the cave penetrated deeper and deeper into my bones, and the painful groans from deep within became clearer and clearer.
She didn't know whether it was the cold or the fear in her heart, but the palpitations kept coming in waves. She was afraid to face Li Lin, but she was also afraid that it was Li Lin who made the painful sound.
The rock walls were covered in white frost, and a chill filled the air. Stepping onto the crackling ground, he discovered ice all around him. The overwhelming chill made Chen Yun slow down his pace.
In the distance, a long, white figure lay on a bed of white ice. Unaware that his knife had loosened, the bandit leader took the opportunity to step away. Slowly dragging himself forward amidst the chilling white smoke, Chen Yun confirmed that this person—the one with the bare, pale skin and bandages—was Li Lin. He remained motionless, his face as pale as paper, his lips a strange purple-red.
Chen Yun felt a sharp pain in her heart, and her eyes instantly turned red. She asked anxiously, "Why did he become like this?
The village's military advisor trembled as he spoke, "Because he said he wanted to find clues about the Chen family. We tricked him into accepting the Myriad Poison Form. Seeing his virility, we couldn't bear to continue to torture him, so we tried to save him. The poison has been cleared, but the damage to his internal organs hasn't healed yet. That's why he needs the ice bed to assist in his treatment."
The leader of the Shanzhai said, "Miss, I didn't know he was the crown prince. He didn't express his status as the crown prince at all. If we had known earlier, we wouldn't have dared to treat him like this even if we had ten times the courage. Please spare my life, Miss!"
Chen Yun said anxiously, "Stop talking nonsense. Prepare the four treasures of the study for me. I need to write a letter. Send someone down the mountain to bring my master up. He is a skilled doctor and will definitely be able to heal your injured brother and the prince as well."
The leader of the copycat immediately urged people to prepare.
At this moment, Li Lin's fingers moved slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Chen Yun standing by his side, a hint of surprise and relief flashed in his eyes. He weakly raised his hand, trembling as he tried to touch Chen Yun's face. "Xiao Yun, I'm sorry I couldn't find any clues about your family."
Chen Yun held Li Lin's cold hand, tears streaming down her face. "We're just in a contractual relationship. When did we... become so close that I need you to sacrifice everything for me?"
"Perhaps, without realizing it, our relationship has become more than just a contract. And, I also hope that you can forgive me..."
Chen Yan lowered his head and moved the cold hand to his abdomen: "The child is kicking me. So, you have to hold on. Otherwise, I will not forgive you."
Li Lin felt the fetal movement in his belly and smiled with tears in his eyes: "It's the fetal movement in my belly. This is the first time I've felt such a strong feeling."
Suddenly, Li Lin's hands dropped weakly, his eyes slowly closed, and he fell into coma again.
Chen Yin shook his body in panic, then put his ear to his chest to listen to his heartbeat.
"Oh no, my heartbeat is getting weaker and weaker! Why can't I remember anything about the medical skills my master taught me?" Chen Yan was extremely anxious. He hugged his head with both hands, and tears kept flowing.
Chen Yun's mind went blank. She seemed unable to recall the medical knowledge Shoucheng had taught her.
She held her head and burst into tears, "No, remember quickly! What should I do now! Remember quickly!"
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