A desperate comeback.
Lin Huaiyin gently lifted her foot and stepped on it.
The unevenness, with its "clanging" sound, indicates that the iron plate has not been placed for long and has not yet integrated with the bottom of the well.
It's so strange—the black stone in front of the shaft and this round iron plate are vastly different from the imperial prison in my memory. Lin Huaiyin stands in the same position at the bottom of the shaft, holding the same iron ladder, with the same strong wind blowing back, her skirt fluttering, yet she feels no sense of familiarity as if she has returned to her past life.
What exactly is wrong?
Lin Huaiyin glanced sideways, wanting to ask the jailer if the imperial prison had undergone major repairs within the past two years.
Unfortunately, the jailers had their backs to them, burning torches stuck in the walls on the left and right, illuminating the path leading to the depths of the imperial prison, where Shen Congyun was.
Xie Xincun noticed Lin Huaiyin's concern and sensed something amiss. Just as he was about to investigate, a casual glance upwards revealed something that made his eyes widen in surprise—
The cell behind the shaft was pitch black. Lin Huaiyin might not be able to see it, but Xie Xincun's eyesight was unmatched—the charred roof and walls, the twisted iron bars, and the faintly visible, curled-up human figure on the ground due to dripping grease—clearly traces of a body destroyed by fire.
In an instant, Xie Xincun recalled Lin Huaiyin's pained yet resistant expression at the wellhead, and he suddenly realized—this was where she had been burned to death.
Unable to resist, Xie Xincun stepped into the cell, his eyes fixed on the human-shaped imprint in the center. He imagined Lin Huaiyin on fire, struggling, writhing, curling up, burned through, her face shattered, her bones turning to ash. The smell of burning hair and grease filled Xie Xincun's nostrils in an instant, and the cold, howling cell became scorching hot. The death scars on Lin Huaiyin's back gradually took shape in his eyes...
Halfway through his thought, Xie Xincun realized something was missing. Glancing around, he saw crossbows and quivers hanging on the walls of the prison and offered his answer.
Yes, without a doubt, this is the place.
Piercing the heart with a thousand arrows, burning the body with raging fire, the birth of the soul of the dead, the origin of scars.
The location, the marks, and even the girl's reaction matched perfectly, down to the last detail.
No wonder Lin Huaiyin was so reluctant to bring him down. Xie Xincun finally understood—because her secret was hidden here.
Everything here confirms Xie Xincun's speculation—she died here, she was born here, this is her deepest secret, the evidence of her complete loss in the gamble, and of course she has to cover it up in every possible way.
How can she deny it now?
With his blood rushing to his head, Xie Xincun was incredibly excited. He felt that Lin Huaiyin had been cornered and her vital point had been hit. She had no choice but to submit and beg for his mercy.
She belongs to him.
"Hahaha!" Xie Xincun laughed loudly, his laughter carried by the wind into the depths of the imperial prison.
The sudden burst of laughter startled Lin Huaiyin, who stood frozen in place.
She was filled with doubt, struggling between memory and reality, feeling so unfamiliar that she dared not take any steps. She looked in the direction of the sound, but could not see Xie Xincun clearly, and was completely baffled.
But subconsciously, she remembered that in her previous life, when she escaped to this place, Shen Congyun had also been in the same cell, watching him.
The only difference was that Shen Congyun's gaze was as cold as a wolf's, as if he wanted to tear her apart.
Xie Xincun's gaze burned like fire, as if he wanted to burn through her.
With her past and present lives intertwined, Lin Huaiyin was only stunned for a moment before rushing forward, just like in her past life, and locking the iron gate with a "click"!
"Hmph." Xie Xincun scoffed, completely unconcerned. There was nowhere in the world that could confine him.
His smile remained unchanged, which made Lin Huaiyin feel extremely uneasy. She looked away, and suddenly her pupils trembled as she finally noticed the strange burn marks in the cell.
What happened?
Lin Huaiyin was utterly shocked—how could such marks appear here? How could it be? She wasn't burned to death until two years later!!!
Unbelievable, utterly unbelievable!
The dark cell seemed to burst into flames in an instant. Lin Huaiyin's face contorted, licked by the flames, and she heard the sound of her skin cracking. Instinctively, she opened the door to enter, but the jailer, busy lighting torches, suddenly picked her up and ran towards the round iron plate—
"Bang!"
The two of them slammed down, and the disc rose rapidly. Before Lin Huaiyin could recover from her shock, she heard the jailer's deep voice in her ear—"Miss Lin, don't be afraid, I am His Highness the Crown Prince's man!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyin was shocked—why didn't Zhi'an tell her about this arrangement beforehand?
Before she could ask, she heard Xie Xincun's footsteps coming from below as he opened the door and chased after her.
Immediately, the iron plate beneath their feet vibrated, was struck repeatedly, and swayed from side to side.
Lin Huaiyin was most afraid of Xie Xincun's silver needles, not to mention the crossbows on the wall. At this moment, she realized that the iron plate was not only a stepping stone for rising, but also a solid barrier to prevent the silver needles from getting hurt.
Jing Shangren pulled frantically, causing the iron plate to rise rapidly. Xie Xincun's attack became increasingly fierce, and the iron plate tilted and threatened to overturn several times. Lin Huaiyin lost her balance, but the "prison guard" held her tightly. Just as the iron plate escaped and ascended into the sky, Lin Huaiyin was still afraid that Xie Xincun's lightness skill would be revealed. Unexpectedly, the "prison guard" pulled her away and ran wildly.
As the shadows drew closer and the ground shook beneath her feet, Lin Huaiyin suddenly turned around and saw a giant black boulder rolling in, instantly sealing off the well opening!
Good heavens, what on earth is going on?
Lin Huaiyin felt a chill run down her spine, and stood there dumbfounded, unable to believe what was happening before her eyes.
The jailer released Lin Huaiyin and bowed to explain, "This is meteorite iron from outer space, as solid as a silver mountain and as strong as an iron wall. It was specially transported from the Astronomical Bureau by His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Zhi'an?" Lin Huaiyin repeated blankly.
Thinking of Xiao Zhian, she finally regained a bit of her senses and realized the weight of the boulder.
The imperial prison was ten feet underground. With this huge rock pressing down on him, Xie Xincun's silver needles were ineffective. He was sealed in the well and there was absolutely no way he could get out. Absolutely no way.
Things happened so fast that Lin Huaiyin was completely unprepared.
She held her breath, not daring to let out a sigh of relief, as the giant rock loomed before her. It was unbelievable that she had gotten rid of Xie Xincun without doing anything.
How is that possible?
Lin Huaiyin looked around, afraid that Xie Xincun would suddenly fall from the sky. However, when she glanced around, she saw a purple figure rapidly approaching.
"Yinyin!"
Xiao Zhian suddenly appeared and rushed over to hug Lin Huaiyin tightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Xiao Zhian slowly lowered one knee, cupped her face and apologized: "I shouldn't have recreated your nightmare, Yinyin. If there were any other way, I would never have done this."
"Did you do this?" Lin Huaiyin slowly lowered her eyes, still in a daze.
Was it all Zhi'an's scheme? From when did it begin? Did he include her in his calculations as well?
Zhi'an, how terrifying.
Lin Huaiyin's pupils dilated, and her lips trembled. Should she be happy about the outcome? Should she express her gratitude?
But Zhi'an is really scary.
A few hours ago, they were embracing and whispering sweet nothings. She was completely devoted to him, loving and clinging to him, overjoyed to have the best Zhi'an in the world. But his heart was full of schemes and calculations. He enjoyed her love while hoping she would be imprisoned and fall into the trap he had set in advance.
How could he do this?
Without warning, Lin Huaiyin thought of Shen Congyun. In both her past and present lives, she had been schemed against and used by others. She hated being schemed against and used the most. But the person in front of her was her Zhi'an, using her, yet also trying to save her.
Lin Huaiyin didn't know how to face it, so she unconsciously shook her head and stepped back.
Seeing his lover's panic caused Xiao Zhian great pain. He had never seen such deep-seated fear on Lin Huaiyin's face before, no matter what danger they faced. She was terrified, and it was all his fault.
"Yinyin, let me explain." Xiao Zhian gripped Lin Huaiyin's hands tightly.
“I know about your bet and I suspect that Xie will definitely go to question Shen Congyun. The Imperial Prison is the only place that can trap Xie. Xie is extremely intelligent. In order to lure him into the trap, all your reactions must be true and credible. Therefore, I cannot tell you the plan in advance.”
I had the cell decorated to separate you from Xie. To win you over, he'll be completely absorbed by the cell, giving me the opportunity to take you away from him.
In one breath, Xiao Zhian explained the reason, gently took Lin Huaiyin's hand, kissed the back of her hand, and his phoenix eyes gradually became red and moist.
"Even if there are a thousand reasons, I shouldn't have included you in my schemes. I'm sorry, Yinyin. You can blame me, be angry, or hit me, but don't be afraid."
You can laugh at me, okay? Because I'm at my wit's end, and this stupid way of making you hate me is all I have left.
Or have pity on me. I'm driven crazy by the Xie family. I can't stand him taking you away from me time and time again. I'm afraid he'll take you away without a sound. I'm jealous that he can come and go from your house openly and approach you without restraint. He's also your father's favorite son-in-law.
He usurped my title. Your maid calls him son-in-law, your own sister calls him brother-in-law. Yinyin, look at me, I'm so miserable. The thought of another man by your side drives me crazy. I have to get rid of him, otherwise I can't eat or sleep. Yinyin, I'm sorry, I really love you so much.
Xiao Zhian laid himself bare before Lin Huaiyin, apologizing profusely, almost begging.
The Xie family is a sword hanging over his and Yinyin's heads, as well as over the Great Xing Empire. Whether as Yinyin's lover or the crown prince of the empire, Xiao Zhian must take action to eliminate them.
His current method is the only way to break the deadlock after all his planning.
With the imperial threat temporarily eliminated, Xiao Zhian is forced to confront the emotional storm raging within his lover. He feels guilty and wronged. In this relationship, he must personally kill Shen Congyun, defeat his past self, and also fiercely fight Xie Xincun, who is like a natural disaster.
He had never been so desperate in his life, like walking a tightrope on a cliff. If he didn't appear strong enough, he wouldn't be able to protect Yin Yin; if he appeared too strong, Yin Yin would be afraid. He had exhausted all his options and had no other choice. His only prayer was that Yin Yin could see through his "terrifying" methods and see the heart behind him that was almost burning out because of his love for her.
Even though he did all that, Lin Huaiyin just stood there blankly.
It's too fragmented.
She couldn't reconcile the image of Xiao Zhian, kneeling before her with a choked voice, with that of the man she couldn't see, yet who had been scheming against her, or completely separate them.
He loved her. Of course he loved her, she knew it clearly and had no doubt. She loved him too, without reservation, entrusting herself to him body and soul. But why did Lin Huaiyin only want to escape?
Run away.
She slowly withdrew her hand.
Without Xiao Zhian's protective hand, she was instantly enveloped by the cold wind, her fingertips trembling.
"Yinyin."
Xiao Zhian hugged her from behind, "Don't go, punish me, okay? You can do anything to me, just don't go, don't leave me."
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