Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Faint pulsation.
Only two days later, Lin Zhen received a letter from Nanny Xue.
But there was nothing else on it except a few words of farewell.
Lin Zhen put the letter back into the envelope in disappointment, pressed it under his palm, and leaned over to rest his head on the back of his hand.
A faint fragrance came from the tip of his nose. Lin Zhen sat up straight and sniffed it. It was coming from the sealing wax on the envelope.
Many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital city had their sealing wax custom-made, which was very expensive and had different scents.
The sealing wax used by her father was always bought from Shangyang Street by her order. It only had the smell of pine resin, and as time went by, it would become weaker and weaker, and in the end, there would be no smell at all.
Lin Zhen rubbed the wax on the letter back and forth, sniffed it carefully again, and called Hongye: "Is this the wax you bought?"
Hongye took the envelope, sniffed it, and looked at it, then shook her head. "No, there are only two or three shops selling sealing wax on this street, but this smells like nothing I've ever smelled before. It's so rich and fragrant, it almost feels like freshly made."
"Young lady, you suspect... this letter isn't from the master, and that Madam Xue has swapped it?"
Lin Zhen slowly folded the envelope and said, "Madam Xue doesn't have such good sealing wax."
*
In the suicide note her father wrote to her, there was only a father's ardent expectations and earnest teachings for his daughter. Lin Zhen didn't understand why her father never handed such a letter to her in the end?
And the letter that was swapped.
Lin Zhen didn't know how many things her father was hiding from her.
The night wind was chilly, and the coldness seeped into his clothes like a thread. Lin Zhen walked back to the room with his head lowered, took off his cloak, and walked heavily towards the bed. When he was about to sleep with his clothes on, he was finally brought back to his senses by the sudden sound of dripping water.
She walked over with a frown and saw a man bathing behind a screen.
He was shirtless, his skin a weathered wheat color, and his muscle lines were particularly distinct against this skin color.
After more than three months of fighting at the border, he looked more muscular than before, so such a change was not surprising.
What stunned Lin Zhen was the scars on his shoulders and back, twisting and winding like vines, of varying depths and shocking in appearance.
Scars like these don't look like those left by swords and sabers on a battlefield, but rather like marks from a raging fire...
How is it possible…?
How could he have such scars on his body?
Lin Zhen seemed to be drawn by some unknown force, step by step closer, his fingertips trembling slightly as he lightly touched those hideous and glaring marks.
With a "splash", Ji Wei suddenly stood up from the water, grabbed one of Lin Zhen's arms, turned around quickly, clamped her in his arms, and clasped two fingers on the vital point of her neck.
The heavy breathing sound like that of an animal sounded in Lin Zhen's ears, accompanied by a feeling of suffocation that swept over him.
In just a moment, the man's breath suddenly relaxed, and he hurriedly let go of his hand: "Lin Zhen, is that you?"
Lin Zhen leaned weakly on him, gasping for breath.
Ji Sui quickly picked her up, strode out of the wooden barrel, sat on the ground, held her in his arms, and said anxiously: "Lin Zhen, Lin Zhen!"
He didn't know why he had been so lax in recent days, not even having the slightest bit of vigilance, so that he didn't even notice someone approaching, and that's why he made a hasty move at the last moment and hurt Lin Zhen.
Lin Zhen's throat coughed violently and it took him a while to recover.
She was surprised to find that she had clung tightly to Ji Bai's arm without her knowing. Her palm was filled with his taut muscles, warm and firm. She seemed to be able to feel the blue veins on his arm pulsating faintly with his emotional fluctuations.
The water that Ji Sui brought out when he stepped out of the bathtub had soaked the clothes of both of them.
Lin Zhen lay on his chest, the deafening sound of her heartbeat in her ears, her wet hair entangled in his chest.
Ji Sui was naked, and the water droplets with his body temperature soaked Lin Zhen's clothes into a thin layer, barely outlining her curves. This thin barrier made the temperature and touch between the skin more clear.
The air was filled with a hot and humid atmosphere. Lin Zhen had just escaped from the abyss of suffocation, but in an instant she fell into another level of purgatory. It was so hot that she couldn't breathe again.
Lin Zhen lowered his gaze, feeling uneasy. After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sound from his sticky throat: "...It's okay, I'm fine."
Lin Zhen lowered his head, and there were bright red fingerprints on his fair neck, which made Ji Rui's heart ache.
He silently carried Lin Zhen back to the couch and reached out to untie the belt around her waist. Lin Zhen tried her best to suppress her panic and said in a hoarse voice, "Not here..."
She should have said this calmly, but somehow, it changed its meaning when it came out of her mouth, becoming a vague and ambiguous rejection.
As soon as such a fatal response came out, Lin Zhen's heart beat faster and his eyes were at a loss.
After a long silence, the man's voice finally rang out beside me: "You want to spend the night in wet clothes?"
Lin Zhen looked up in surprise, even forgetting that he was still naked.
When she was just overwhelmed by endless thoughts, Ji Rui had already changed into a dark-colored single-piece dress, and the clothes he bought for her two days ago were draped over his arm.
While Lin Zhen was stunned for a moment, Ji Sui had already leaned over and untied her belt.
After being naked for a long time, the remaining warmth from the bath had long since dissipated. His fingertips were cold, and they wandered over Lin Zhen's body, causing her to shiver unconsciously. Lin Zhen wanted to speak to stop him, but when she met his lustless black eyes, she finally swallowed the words back.
Ji Rui methodically took off her clothes and put on new ones, and then did nothing else.
It was as if something heavy weighing on her heart was suddenly taken away lightly by someone. She did not feel as relieved as she had imagined.
It was late at night, Lin Zhen was lying on her side on the bed, with the man's strong chest behind her, and his breath was rhythmically blowing in her ear.
Lin Zhen seemed to be particularly sensitive tonight. She couldn't sleep peacefully, and her long eyelashes kept trembling.
The moonlight shone on her fair face. Ji Sui's voice was low and hoarse: "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
"...I want to go to my aunt's house tomorrow."
Although Lin Zhen deliberately avoided the words Yong'an Marquis Mansion, she knew that Ji Sui would know where it was without thinking too much. But she had to go to Yong'an Marquis Mansion, and since she couldn't avoid it, she might as well tell him clearly.
"I will go with you."
If Ji Sui knew that she was investigating her father, he would surely be furious. Lin Zhen said, "The Marquis is not at home, and there are many female relatives in the mansion. I'm afraid it will be inconvenient."
"Then I'll take you there." He paused for a moment, then said, "...Okay?"
The last two words were spoken softly and slowly, sliding into Lin Zhen's ears along with his inhaled and exhaled breath.
She pursed her lips, suppressed the inexplicable restlessness in her heart, and responded softly: "Yeah."
The arm on Lin Zhen's waist gradually became heavier, and the breath behind him became more and more stable. In a daze, she fell into a deep sleep.
*
Lin Zhen got off Ji Sui's sedan chair and walked a long way before he finally let out a long sigh.
Day and night in the Jiaofangsi, they had done things that were more intimate than last night.
But she had never been as nervous and helpless as she was last night. His voice, expression, and movements were all like a flickering candle flame. It was clearly just a faint light, but it could ignite a prairie fire in her heart at any time.
This feeling made Lin Zhen feel at a loss. She was like a kite with a broken string, floating around aimlessly, until this moment, when she landed gently on the ground.
By the time she reached the side door of the mansion, her mind had completely returned to clarity.
The person who opened the door was a young girl. She didn't recognize Lin Zhen. She just asked Lin Zhen's name and then went to answer.
The girl was gone for about a quarter of an hour. While waiting, Lin Zhen accidentally caught a glimpse of a blue-gray sedan parked not far away. The sedan was unremarkable, except for the wooden plaque with the word "empty" written on it. The writing was vigorous and powerful, which attracted people's attention.
Aunt has guests?
Perhaps she came at the wrong time today. Just as Lin Zhen turned around to leave, the little girl came back, and there was an extra nanny in front of her. She was the nanny who served his aunt, and Lin Zhen had seen her before.
She was particularly enthusiastic when she saw Lin Zhen. "Oh, it really is Miss Lin! Two days ago, Aunt Xue came back and said she saw the young lady on the street, but we just didn't believe it! I'm glad that the young lady is safe, I'm glad that the young lady is safe!"
Lin Zhen nodded slightly in thanks and followed the nanny into the east room.
"Madam will be here soon, please wait a moment, Miss Lin." The nanny smiled and poured tea for Lin Zhen.
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Lin slowly stepped into the room. Lin Zhen stood up and saluted. Mrs. Lin smiled and reached out to lift her arm, exempting her from the salute. She forced back two tears and said, "Our Zhen'er is really standing in front of our aunt in good health. It's really a blessing from heaven."
Lin Zhen was not surprised by Lin's affectionate attitude. The mother-in-law was always by his aunt's side, so her attitude naturally represented his aunt's attitude.
This further confirmed Lin Zhen's thoughts - Nanny Xue's letter was replaced by his aunt.
My aunt must have guessed why she came today.
"Is Zhen'er having a comfortable stay and food now? Why don't you stay in the Marquis' Mansion? Your aunt will be more comfortable taking care of you." Lin was helped to sit in the seat of honor, sipping tea and speaking slowly.
"I came here today because I want to confirm something with my aunt." Lin Zhen did not respond to her false courtesy and went straight to the point.
Lin slowly put down the teacup in her hand, the smile lines at the corners of her eyes faded away, and she wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief without raising her eyes.
"If my aunt finds it inconvenient, you can send the servants away first."
Mrs. Lin finally looked up at Lin Zhen, was silent for a moment, waved her handkerchief, and everyone except the personal nanny retreated.
"What is it? Tell me."
"Before my father died, he gave Madam Xue a letter. Please return it to me, Aunt."
Lin's expression remained unchanged as she simply said, "Since it was given to Madam Xue by your father, you should go find her."
"Hasn't Aunt Xue's letter been replaced by Aunt? Aunt is the only one in the entire mansion who has the sealing wax."
"Did the fire make you confused? I really don't understand what you are saying. I can place you in the Marquis's Mansion and provide you with food and clothing for the rest of your life. As aunt and nephew, I have a clear conscience. As for other matters, I know nothing."
"That letter concerns my father's life and his integrity. How could my aunt speak so nonchalantly?"
"Your father's life and innocence are important, but my son's life and innocence are not important? He is your blood cousin. Even though I have had little contact with you, he grew up with you. Now he has become a disabled person, and I haven't settled accounts with you yet!" Lin was very emotional. She stood up and accused harshly.
Lin's words brought her thoughts back to the moment she didn't want to recall. That day, she did hear Ji Sui threaten to deal with Ning Shilu, and it seemed that he did it.
"I don't care what Ning Shilu did that day, nor do I care to find out who caused his disability. Instead, I want to settle accounts with me." Lin Zhen chuckled, stood up straight, and looked at Lin coldly, "So, how do you plan to settle accounts?"
Lin was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.
Lin Zhen continued, "Is this the reason why my aunt refused to hand over the letter?"
"Well then," Lin Zhen suddenly knelt on his knees, his back straight, "Lin Zhen will let my aunt deal with me."
The old friend who came to visit today reminded Lin of the past. She looked at Lin Zhen's stubborn and persistent figure, which was exactly like herself back then.
Once upon a time, she knelt in the ancestral hall for a day and a night to beg for a marriage that was not allowed.
Although time cannot be reversed, but seeing her old friend again today, she still couldn't help but think, if only...
Today may be a different story.
Even if the marriage didn't take place, she couldn't help but feel some affection for him. Moreover, he was now in a high position in the government. How could she fight against him with a weak opponent?
She sighed softly, "Forget it, forget it. I don't want to dwell on the past anymore. The Marquis has been captured, and his guilt still needs to be judged by the emperor. The Marquis's mansion is no longer as prosperous as it once was. I only hope to spend the rest of my life in peace with Lu'er. I will keep that letter safe and sound. I won't give it to you or him either."
"Give it to him? To whom? Who else wants this letter? Aunt!" Lin Zhen stood up suddenly.
Lin hurriedly glanced at the nanny beside her, holding her forehead and said, "Maybe my headache has come back. It hurts a lot. Help me to rest."
Lin Zhen wanted to ask for clarification, but was blocked by the servants who rushed into the room. Lin quickly left under their escort.
Lin Zhen had no choice but to give up.
*
Lin Zhen walked out of the yard and saw a woman sitting at the end of the corridor. It took her a while to remember that it was Qu Ruyun.
The two were not familiar with each other, and the few times they met were not pleasant, so Lin Zhen did not intend to greet her and just walked straight past her.
"No... this is impossible..." Qu Ruyun slowly stood up, "Are you a human or a ghost?"
Lin Zhen stopped and turned around to look at her.
"You can't be still alive! I clearly saw the corpse in front of the gate of the Music Bureau!" Qu Ruyun's face was pale and her eyes were unfocused. She clenched her hands tightly against her chest.
Lin Zhen frowned and slowly walked towards her.
"Impossible... Impossible..." Qu Ruyun kept muttering, "This is absolutely impossible..."
"ah--"
She looked up in a daze and was so frightened by Lin Zhen standing in front of her that she fell to the ground. She pointed at Lin Zhen tremblingly: "You, you are a ghost! You are a ghost! You are here to take my life! You are here to take my life!"
Qu Ruyun suddenly broke down and burst into tears. The maid beside her hurriedly squatted down and helped her away.
Lin Zhen stood there for a moment before turning around and continuing to walk out.
*
At night, Qu Ruyun curled up at the head of the bed with her hair loose.
"Ruyun, what's wrong with you?" Ning Shilu walked over and sat next to her.
The news of Lin Zhen's entry into the mansion was something that both the Madam and the Young Madam wanted to conceal from the Prince, and the servants naturally did not dare to say anything, so Ning Shilu was completely unaware of it.
Qu Ruyun gritted her teeth and kept silent, fearing that she would say something she shouldn't.
"Ruyun, it's late, time to go to bed."
Seeing that she was silent, Ning Shilu reached out to pull her, and while Qu Ruyun was struggling, her knee accidentally hit his legs.
There was nothing there.
Ning Shilu's expression changed immediately, and Qu Ruyun's emotions, which she had suppressed with great difficulty, collapsed again.
She thought she was the one who loved him the most in the world, even though, even though he was physically disabled...
This shouldn't affect her love at all! How could this be?
She felt nauseous and wanted to vomit and cry.
Why did everything she worked so hard for turn out to be in vain? She thought she had only ruined Lin Zhen.
She also destroyed herself.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
