An irreconcilable conflict.
The post station was no match for the imperial city, and Xiao Zhian only stayed in a small two-courtyard house.
Upon hearing that he was in the main hall, Lin Huaiyin hurried over, but unexpectedly, she was stopped by Xuan Ge as soon as she reached the door.
"Why didn't you go to rest?" Lin Huaiyin frowned, clearly displeased, when she saw Xuan Ge's dark circles under his eyes. She said, "Go and rest. I will discuss the rest with His Highness."
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Xie Lin." Xuan Ge lowered his voice and nodded, "The General is currently discussing matters with His Highness. Why don't you excuse yourself for now and come back later?"
"My second brother?" Lin Huaiyin stared in disbelief, her panicked eyes glancing at the door as she backed away, mouthing, "What's he doing here?"
Just then, the door creaked.
Lin Huaiyin took off and hid, pressing herself against the wall and holding her breath as she glanced sideways. She saw Lin Shifeng step out of the main hall, followed by the man with the fleshy tumor and the leader of the White Lotus Cult, each escorted by an Imperial Guard.
These two are key witnesses to Shen Congyun and Princess Pingyang's collusion with the White Lotus Sect, and indeed need to be personally examined by Xiao Zhian. Lin Huaiyin nodded secretly, thinking that in the past, her words were unsubstantiated, and Xiao Zhian was only speculating. Now that the witnesses are in hand, it saves her a lot of trouble, and Xiao Zhian must make a decision immediately.
Thinking this way, Lin Huaiyin was in a very good mood. After Lin Shifeng and his group had gone far away, she persuaded Xuan Ge to go and rest, and then ran to open the door.
Seeing her peek inside, Xuan Ge stood still, his eyes deep and unfathomable, because as soon as he returned, Xiao Zhian had inquired about Yu Li's ordeal from beginning to end.
After Xuan Ge finished speaking, he cautiously probed, "Although it was out of necessity, I have touched the young lady's body. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to bestow her upon me as my wife?"
Without Yu Li's consent, Xuan Ge dared to ask because he knew that Lin Huaiyin and Princess Pingyang were now on opposing sides and that Xiao Zhian should make a neutral judgment. Although the fault was definitely on Princess Pingyang's side, Xuan Ge was not sure if Xiao Zhian would protect his own. After all, Xiao Zhian had glossed over the incident of harboring traitors at the Erwang Temple without saying a harsh word.
Xuan Ge asked Xiao Zhi'an if he could reward Yu Li, but he was actually asking Xiao Zhi'an if he would choose Lin Huaiyin.
Because he wanted Yu Li, provided that Xiao Zhian and Lin Huaiyin didn't fall out.
However, Xiao Zhian listened to his request and remained silent for a long time without responding.
Now that Lin Huaiyin is going to find him in person, Xuan Ge is worried for her, wondering what the outcome will be.
The gate opens and closes.
It is a main hall, about twenty steps deep.
Xiao Zhian sat in the chair, and Lin Huaiyin's excitement froze the moment she saw him.
Why is he so cold? He doesn't even smile when he sees her. Lin Huaiyin was taken aback for a moment, then explained to him: He must have confirmed Princess Pingyang's crimes and is heartbroken.
"Never mind." Lin Huaiyin didn't argue with him and slowly approached, but Xiao Zhian pointed to a chair on the left and told her to sit down.
Lin Huaiyin stood there, stunned.
She didn't listen and sit on the chair; she always sat on his lap.
Having not slept a wink all night, Lin Huaiyin was exhausted. Moreover, because Xuan Ge had saved Yu Li, she liked Xiao Zhi'an more than ever before and wanted to snuggle into his arms more than ever before.
But he wouldn't let her get close, and even ordered a chair for her.
Lin Huaiyin stared intently at Xiao Zhian's face, but Xiao Zhian avoided her gaze.
"You should no longer be involved in this matter." Xiao Zhian reached out to Lin Huaiyin: "Give me back the jade talisman."
"Why should I?" Lin Huaiyin refused. "This matter has been my responsibility from beginning to end. Why can't you let me participate?"
“Because this is a matter of state.” For the first time, Xiao Zhi’an looked directly into Lin Huaiyin’s eyes and looked up at her face. He said, “Two hundred years ago, Lin Qiying, the ancestor of the Lin family, gave the world to the Xiao family and willingly submitted to them. As a descendant of the Xiao family, I cannot fail this trust. I will collect all the witnesses and evidence. After returning to the capital, I will order the three judicial departments to conduct a thorough investigation, trial and judgment. I will give the people of the world an explanation.”
Xiao Zhian was unusually righteous and indignant, as if he had become a completely different person. Lin Huaiyin couldn't understand it and absolutely didn't believe it. Her thoughts were very simple—Pingyang deserved to die. Xiao Zhian was dragging his feet on killing her because he didn't want to kill her or couldn't bear to. As the night passed, he thought of his family ties and couldn't bring himself to do it. So he started making up some nonsense to appease her.
"What a clever plan. See the hostage first, then you can kill them to silence them at any time."
Lin Huaiyin made no attempt to hide her sarcasm: "If you keep making excuses about going back to the capital to explain, can you guarantee that His Majesty the Emperor in the capital will be willing to expose the scandal of the princess's rebellion and the killing of royal family members to the world? I'm afraid that after returning to the capital, your excuse will become 'My father insisted on this, and as his son, I had no choice but to accept it.' At that time, Princess Pingyang will hide in the princess's residence. Do you think I can shoot her dead with an arrow?"
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
Lin Huaiyin couldn't help but clench her fists. Xiao Zhian had indeed chosen Princess Pingyang. Since they were on different paths, there was no point in saying more. She turned around and walked away while saying, "You don't have the jade talisman. Just consider it lost. You'd better kill me now, or I guarantee Princess Pingyang won't live to see the capital."
As she spoke, Lin Huaiyin's mind was already filled with images of poisoning, burning, shooting arrows, and a frightened horse... It would take six whole days on the road, and she refused to believe that she couldn't kill Princess Pingyang.
Touching the door, a cold wind pierced in through the crack. Lin Huaiyin squinted and pulled the door open.
A crack appeared in the door, and Xuan Ge's worried gaze peeked through the gap. Lin Huaiyin saw it immediately and thought that if he could leave the East Palace, things were not unnecessarily unchangeable. She kept her word; the Lin family owed Xuan Ge a favor, and that wouldn't change because of Xiao Zhi'an.
The door opened, and she wanted to say a few words of comfort to Xuan Ge. However, in Xuan Ge's eyes, he saw Xiao Zhi'an running towards Lin Huaiyin. He subconsciously reached out to stop him. Lin Huaiyin was stunned and confused, and was instantly pulled back by Xiao Zhi'an around the waist.
"Don't touch me!" Lin Huaiyin resisted fiercely.
"I don't want to touch you!" Xiao Zhian pinned her against the door, gripped her wrists, and hurled insults at her—"Before I marry you, I never want to touch you again, do you understand?"
Xiao Zhian's features were contorted, and he was almost roaring.
Lin Huaiyin was completely bewildered, not understanding what had gotten into him. The phrase "marry you" was so inappropriate; she couldn't comprehend what Xiao Zhian was thinking at all.
How could he tolerate and indulge Princess Pingyang while still thinking of marrying her? At this point, what unrealistic dreams is he still having?
Lin Huaiyin opened her big eyes, confused and angry, innocent and naive. Xiao Zhian turned his face away, unable to bear to look, and at the same time released his restraint, not allowing himself to indulge his filthy desires and touch her again.
Just now, Xiao Zhian heard for the first time from the man with the sarcoma what kind of pain Lin Huaiyin had gone through.
He summoned the man with the sarcoma, hoping only that there might be an antidote for Lin Huaiyin's poison. He never expected to overhear Shen Congyun instructing them to drug Lin Huaiyin and do *that* to her...
Xiao Zhian always believed that Lin Huaiyin took the initiative to marry Shen Congyun, because at least she once liked Shen Congyun, and Shen Congyun had treated her well and been kind to her. That's why Xiao Zhian personally requested an imperial decree last year to grant them a marriage.
He never imagined that Shen Congyun could be so shameless and despicable. The fact that Shen Congyun was reluctant and even hesitant to ask him to do it, as described by the tumor man, made Xiao Zhian realize that the person who designed all of this was Pingyang.
Driven by his own ambition, Pingyang extended the most treacherous hand to Lin Huaiyin.
In that instant, Pingyang's despicable and cruel nature completely shattered Xiao Zhian. He couldn't imagine that his sister, whom he had doted on for twenty years, could be so vicious and cruel.
He wished he could kill Pingyang to avenge Lin Huaiyin.
But he held back.
He can't kill his sister for Yinyin's sake.
He didn't want Lin Huaiyin to be involved in Pingyang's death, and he didn't want Pingyang's life to be caught in the middle between them.
He feared that one day, in the long years to come, he would subconsciously place the blame for killing his sister on Lin Huaiyin in front of his mother's grave.
He feared the uncertain future, worried that one day he might lose his mind, forget Pingyang's cruelty, and viciously resent Lin Huaiyin for causing him to lose his sister.
Xiao Zhian was well aware of the complexities of human nature, and he feared these shadows, unwilling to place his relationship with Lin Huaiyin under uncertain danger.
Therefore, Pingyang cannot be allowed to die at his hands so easily.
He also couldn't allow Lin Huaiyin to take risks and resort to vigilante justice to execute her.
The assassination attempt on the princess is not comparable to the likes of Zhao Changji. Lin Huaiyin will get into trouble and turn someone who should have died into a victim who deserves sympathy.
Xiao Zhian calmed down, looked at the man with the tumor, and thought of the more than 1,300 White Lotus Sect traitors whom Lin Huaiyin had pardoned, and of Lin Huaiyin’s words, “Reward the good and punish the evil.”
Therefore, he decided that Pingyang's death should be due to law and morality, to her evil and sins, to the duty that the regent should fulfill, and to the final judgment of the officials and the people.
Let those who deserve to die die properly, and let those who survive live openly and honestly, once and for all.
Xiao Zhian was determined to thoroughly investigate the truth. He wanted to dig it all out and see how many sins Pingyang had committed over the years. Then he would handle the matter impartially, distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous, and clarify rewards and punishments. The only thing that needed to be covered up was his relationship with Lin Huaiyin.
Xiao Zhian couldn't let Lin Huaiyin, after experiencing Shen Congyun, be condemned by everyone and bear the stigma of adultery because of him. He had reached a consensus with Lin Shifeng that Lin Huaiyin had to be completely excluded.
Therefore, he had to return the jade token. In the subsequent handling process, Lin Huaiyin could only be a victim. She was pitiful and innocent, unaware of anything. Zhao Changji and Liu Cang were both dealt with behind the scenes by the Crown Prince, with the aim of luring the snake out of its hole.
Xiao Zhian had planned and arranged everything, but Lin Huaiyin's reaction was far beyond his expectations.
She instantly changed her expression, distrusting him completely. Without even listening to the whole plan, she directly accused him of something terrible, forcing him to take action and forcibly keep her there.
As soon as he let go, Lin Huaiyin started picking at the door. Although she no longer said those infuriating words, she was still extremely vigilant.
She truly didn't trust him at all.
Xiao Zhian felt distressed and heartbroken. He used to complain that she was unpredictable and fickle, but now he finally understood that she had just been hurt too many times and too deeply, and no matter how vigilant and cautious he was, it was never enough.
There's plenty of time ahead, Xiao Zhian advised himself not to be rash. He knew who the person was who could truly make Lin Huaiyin lower her guard and rely on him.
"This is the result of my discussion with your second brother," Xiao Zhian said, bringing up Lin Shifeng.
But there was absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter. Lin Huaiyin shook her head: "Princess Pingyang must die."
Xiao Zhian nodded: "She will die, but she must go through a normal joint trial by the three judicial authorities. She deserves her fate, not your personal revenge."
"No!" Lin Huaiyin shook her head again: "You're lying to me. If Shen Congyun takes all the blame, tell me, will Princess Pingyang still die?"
“Yinyin.” Xiao Zhian was speechless for a moment.
"You can't guarantee anything, yet you say you're not lying to me!"
Lin Huaiyin roared loudly, her fingernails digging into the wooden door.
Even if Xiao Zhian is willing to investigate thoroughly, he can only judge the crimes committed in this life. Moreover, there is Shen Congyun. Shen Congyun loves Princess Pingyang dearly and will definitely take the blame for her.
If it's difficult to convict someone in this life, what about in their past lives?
In her previous life, Princess Pingyang exterminated the Lin clan, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people, whose bodies lay exposed in the wilderness. Princess Pingyang also condoned local corruption, causing countless people to be displaced, as well as the deaths of border soldiers and the fall of five cities...
Who will investigate, prosecute, and convict these people of crimes? Who will avenge the dead and the Lin family?
"I will definitely kill her. She deserves to die. Even if she dies ten thousand times, it won't be enough!" Lin Huaiyin said, enunciating each word clearly, as she pulled out a purse from her waist and threw it to Xiao Zhian.
With a soft thud.
The purse fell to the ground from Xiao Zhian's chest.
The jade pendant faintly revealed its black phoenix head.
Xiao Zhian's eyes reddened, incredulous. They were discussing and planning, their goals were the same, only their methods differed. It wasn't like they couldn't discuss it. How did it suddenly escalate to this point?
"Yinyin, let me explain."
Xiao Zhian wanted to take Lin Huaiyin's hand. He wanted to tell her that he was willing to kill Pingyang for her, but he also wanted to protect their future. They could discuss it further and find other solutions.
But Lin Huaiyin wouldn't let him touch her. She finally realized that she had nothing to say to the man in front of her. They were from completely different worlds and couldn't talk to each other.
The only person who could truly understand her, support her, and stand firmly by her side was that Crown Prince from her past life in prison.
"I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
Lin Huaiyin murmured these words, but Xiao Zhian couldn't understand them at all.
While stunned, Lin Huaiyin opened the door and ran out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
