Encountering the Assassin Again
"oh."
Lin Huaiyin nodded, and the hand that had removed the hairpin fell to her side.
The man's voice was all too familiar, his body smelled wonderful, and his actions were not malicious, yet the force of his touch and his body temperature seemed strangely familiar.
She must have met this person somewhere.
Lin Huaiyin couldn't immediately recall who the other person was, but her body adapted well, and she naturally yielded to this stranger. She accepted the kindness with a smile and eagerly looked ahead.
The woman in the white cloak came into clear view.
Pretty and youthful, with a small brown scar at the corner of her eye, gentle and clean-cut, she was the little girl with the lotus lantern who fed her water in her past life.
He's my benefactor!
Very good!
Lin Huaiyin was overjoyed—her benefactor had truly become a woman in a white cloak, and would live a peaceful and prosperous life, free from disasters and hardships; the Venerable Sanbao had kept his promise.
I'm so happy! Everything went perfectly today, I'm so happy!
Yu Li had already been pushed aside, and Lin Huaiyin grabbed Xiao Zhian's arm to share her joy: "Thank you so much, kind people! The Bodhisattva will surely bless you!"
With too much excitement to vent, Lin Huaiyin reached up her arm and touched Xiao Zhian's hand, placing it on the back of his hand.
A soft, boneless hand reached out, and the instant they touched, Xiao Zhian instinctively reached back to grasp it. However, in a flash, his gaze turned icy.
This naughty cat lets anyone hold it, always touches men's hands, and meows at everyone.
She could hold his hand and call him "Your Highness," and she would also linger in the arms of other men like that.
She treats everyone equally, and is an annoying, bad cat.
He doesn't want a cat like that.
But she clung tightly to him, as if if he didn't care about her, she would be swallowed up by the crowd and left helpless.
Xiao Zhian picked up the bundle himself, wanting to throw it away but unable to, and holding it in his arms made him feel uncomfortable.
He suddenly remembered—the person leaning against him now, taking his right hand, was Shen Congyun's legal wife.
She was a subject's wife, and she threw herself into Shen Congyun's arms, trying every means to get pregnant with his child, while also accepting any man from outside the marriage.
She was a wildcat, and Shen Congyun could not tame her.
A hint of interest appeared on Xiao Zhian's lips.
She was unrestrained and wild, but whenever he touched her, whether she was conscious or unconscious, she would submit.
She acted recklessly outside, using Xiao Zhian's influence, not Shen Congyun's identity.
The one who protected her, held her by the back of the neck, and indulged her in her lawlessness was also Xiao Zhi'an.
She took the initiative to enter his field of vision.
How could it be so easy, just slipping away like that?
If she misbehaves and meows at others again, Xiao Zhian will flick her forehead and pull her little ears.
The sea of people was like a black tide. Xiao Zhian, in his purple robe, lifted Lin Huaiyin, who was dressed in pale yellow. The two were closely connected, like an isolated island.
In Xiao Zhian's arms, Lin Huaiyin enjoyed the glory of being above everyone else and exclusively enjoyed the extraordinary enlightenment of the white-cloaked woman.
They held each other like that until the woman in the white cloak sat peacefully on the lotus platform, and the crowd prostrated themselves and kowtowed to the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Xiao Zhian quickly carried Lin Huaiyin out to the outer perimeter, put her down, and turned to leave.
He left cleanly, without intending to expose his identity. He wanted to go back and thoroughly investigate the Secretariat to see if Shen Congyun was completely watertight and without any flaws.
He wanted to hang Shen Congyun up and see how she would meow.
As he walked away, Lin Huaiyin didn't pester him. She let him go without looking back, because the moment Xiao Zhian let go of her, her fingertips hooked onto his sleeve, uncontrollably wanting to grasp it and hold on.
She felt an inexplicable attachment; she was actually a little reluctant to let go, and even craved the tenderness of a stranger.
Lin Huaiyin felt like she was going crazy.
During their brief embrace, she was aroused by an irrepressible desire, and as long as it wasn't Chen Congyun, she wouldn't mind indulging herself a little.
She had been entangled with that person in the imperial prison, experiencing an extreme pleasure that made her scalp tingle, which happened about half a month ago.
She remembered every detail. With the slightest thought, her mind would conjure up images of his flushed skin, his red eyes as he fiercely attacked her, her pinning him to the ground, and her insatiable demands on him. Just thinking about him made Lin Huaiyin's legs go weak and her body tremble.
There was a moment when she became addicted to the taste and couldn't stay at home any longer.
If all else fails, try finding a male prostitute.
Lin Huaiyin suppressed her anger, frowning. Since she had nothing else to do today, she figured she might as well do it now.
We need to ask Yu Li for money to pick out the best one.
She looked around frantically, searching for someone.
——
Xiao Zhian walked quickly, with Xuan Ge following behind him, frequently turning back to look at Lin Huaiyin.
The bizarre scene in front of the abbot's room had already made Xuan Ge realize that Lin Huaiyin was no ordinary person. Later, Mu Zhanjuan came to him and asked him not to tell His Highness for the time being.
Mu Zhanjuan's words were vague and evasive. Xuan Ge instinctively sensed something was amiss and remained on edge, hesitating whether to report the truth.
The interaction between the two at that moment gave Xuan Ge a real fright.
In full view of everyone, His Highness and Shen Congyun's wife were hugging and cuddling, even lifting each other up high as if afraid others wouldn't see.
Xuan Ge was terrified, keeping his eyes and ears open, fearing that Shen Congyun would suddenly appear.
Fortunately, Shen Congyun was not present, and Xuan Ge did not see him.
However, the ten assassins, disguised and hidden among the crowd, watched Xiao Zhian and Lin Huaiyin the whole time and saw everything clearly.
The Crown Prince has a woman by his side; this is no small matter and must be reported to Princess Pingyang.
The assassins exchanged glances, each trying to memorize Lin Huaiyin's face so they could report back to the princess later.
As Xiao Zhian left, the assassin slowly withdrew from the crowd and followed him away.
——
In front of Xiangguo Temple, everyone's attention was focused on the lotus platform, where the woman in the white cloak received the people's bows. She would pause briefly before riding the deity and touring the capital.
During this period, those who could afford the price could line up and ask the woman in the white cloak for a statue of Guanyin, the goddess of fertility.
The two-foot-tall Guanyin statue, which grants children, was first enshrined in Xiangguo Temple, and then blessed by a woman in a white cloak who sprinkled water from a vase. It is said that bringing back one of these statues can ensure the peace and prosperity of the household, especially the prosperity of descendants, and will grant those who wish for sons or wealth.
Lin Huaiyin didn't want to miss the opportunity to get close to her benefactor without arousing Shen Congyun's suspicion.
She looked around and found Yu Li, then searched her belongings and found the silver notes and loose silver coins that Yu Li always carried with her.
Worried that she wouldn't be able to find anyone again, Lin Huaiyin asked Yu Li to distribute beans under the willow tree by the river to make connections, while she herself ran towards the monks in the meeting place.
Lin Huaiyin's entire outfit exuded wealth.
The monk, rarely seeing such a fat sheep, accepted the silver notes and hinted that she should also add a jade bracelet.
Are you kidding me?
Lin Huaiyin snorted, suddenly feeling indignant.
Xiangguo Temple is ruthlessly exploiting people.
Having emptied her pockets, she had no money left to hire male prostitutes and could only return to the Shen residence in misery.
That's too much.
She couldn't pawn her jewelry to hire male prostitutes, since all her items were made by famous artisans; a simple investigation would reveal what she had done.
Lin Huaiyin was very angry, but the white-cloaked woman was in the hands of Xiangguo Temple, and this was her only chance to contact her benefactor. She could only swallow her anger and take off the jade bracelet.
After receiving the bracelet, the monk smiled and presented a white porcelain Guanyin statue that symbolizes giving a child.
Lin Huaiyin took it and hugged it, then walked sadly toward her benefactor and knelt in the center of the prayer mat in front of the lotus platform.
The woman in the white cloak used a willow branch to pour water over her head. A drop of water splashed onto her lips, and Lin Huaiyin curled her little tongue and licked it into her mouth. In her mind, she recalled the bowl of water that the little girl with the lotus lantern had fed her in her previous life.
The woman in the white cloak noticed this little gesture. She was just a little girl, only twelve years old, and was immediately amused by Lin Huaiyin, bursting into laughter.
Lin Huaiyin laughed when she heard her laugh, and they looked up and met each other's eyes. Neither of them spoke, they just laughed.
However, as she was laughing, a blinding silver light suddenly appeared. Lin Huaiyin followed the light and saw a man being chased in the far distance. A dozen people were surrounding two people. When she looked closely at the face, she was shocked.
Lin Huaiyin turned pale instantly. Without thinking, she picked up the Guanyin statue and ran.
It's His Highness the Crown Prince!
You absolutely can't go wrong!
How could that be?
Why are there assassins?
Lin Huaiyin ran away, while her opponent fought and retreated, running further and further away, veering off course.
Are you brain-dead? The Imperial Guards have already withdrawn. There are more people here, run this way!
If blending into the crowd can save your life, why send yourself to your death?
Lin Huaiyin swung her short legs wildly, wanting to curse vehemently. Her gaze was fixed on Xiao Zhi'an, whose white shadow from her past life in the imperial prison swayed unsteadily. Her heart skipped a beat, her mind went blank, and in an instant, she understood Xiao Zhi'an's choice—
Swords and blades have no eyes; he was afraid of harming the common people, so he dodged in the opposite direction.
He's not a pig-brain, but he's incredibly stupid!
Otherwise, in his previous life, in the imperial prison, how could he have so easily agreed to let her become his crown princess? How could he have said, "My child can at least extend your life by three months?" And how could he have twisted her ear, given her a code word, and told her to live on?
This is the Crown Prince who will oversee the state in the Great Xing Dynasty, and the future emperor.
That stupid man, I'm going to protect him!
Lin Huaiyin's eyes were red and swollen. She sped away as fast as she could, stepping over three corpses. Before she even arrived, the Goddess of Fertility was thrown out first.
"Thump—smack!"
The Guanyin statue is broken.
An assassin was bleeding from a head wound.
The remaining six men, seeing that she was a young girl who had been secretly meeting with Xiao Zhian, paid her no attention and threw a flying knife, intending to kill her immediately.
However, Lin Huaiyin, who was skilled in archery, had unparalleled eyesight. With a quick duck, she easily dodged the attack.
Xuan Ge was fighting six opponents alone, and he was so focused on the battle that he couldn't spare any attention.
Xiao Zhian was also fighting with his sword drawn when he saw Lin Huaiyin and was stunned.
Danger!
He wanted to leave her, but she rushed over.
Lin Huaiyin studied archery, but only had a rudimentary understanding of other skills; her close combat ability was zero.
But she was agile and the assassin ignored her, so she took the opportunity to frantically pick up the broken porcelain pieces, disrupting the assassin's movements like a flying arrow.
The assassins were getting increasingly annoyed. Xuan Ge seized an opportunity to kill three of them, but this also exposed an opening. One of the assassins exchanged several blows with Xiao Zhi'an, knocking away Xiao Zhi'an's sword, and then raised his knife to strike. Xuan Ge was unable to break free and could only watch helplessly as the blade fell—"Bang!"
Lin Huaiyin shoved Xiao Zhian aside, a sharp pain shooting through her back to the top of her head with a "thud," but her right hand lashed out like a scorpion's tail, bringing with it a wisp of golden light—"Thud!"
The gold hairpin pierced the assassin's chest.
Overwhelmed by pain, she felt dizzy and weak, and stumbled along before Xiao Zhian pulled her into his arms.
Xuan Ge swiftly finished off all the assassins, severing their necks to deliver the final blow, and retrieved Lin Huaiyin's golden hairpin.
Xiao Zhian picked up Lin Huaiyin, who was running a high fever and was delirious. She was vaguely worried about his safety, fearing that if he died, the Lin family would be ruined. She called out a hoarse "Your Highness" to Xiao Zhian.
“I’m here.” Xiao Zhian grasped her hand, his heart pounding and his blood boiling.
She looked at him like that, called him like that, and was even willing to take a knife for him and die for him.
But he had never actually met her.
Where does she get this sincerity from, and why does she treat him this way?
Xiao Zhian couldn't understand her.
His heart felt as if it had been ripped open by Lin Huaiyin and was being squeezed in her palm. If her little hand misbehaved and gave him a nip, he would gasp in pain and be unable to breathe. If she was weak and powerless and could not hold on, his heart would fall to the ground with a thud and shatter into pieces.
"Your Highness," Xuan Ge said immediately, noticing Lin Huaiyin was covered in sweat and seemed disoriented, "the knife is probably poisoned."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhian turned her back over.
Lin Huaiyin's back was covered in black blood, with a foot-long wound where the skin and flesh were torn open, a gruesome sight.
Xuan Ge took out a bottle of pills and fed them all to Lin Huaiyin.
The most urgent task is to clean the wound as soon as possible to prevent the poison from penetrating further.
I can't go to far places, but I can go to nearby ones...
Xiao Zhian looked at the ship in the river, and Xuan Ge immediately understood.
The area around Xiangguo Temple was bustling with activity. This nine-story ship was specially designed for the nobility and princes who enjoyed nighttime entertainment, and it was fully equipped with all necessary facilities and guards.
The river was shallow, and the boat was moored in the middle. Xuan Ge took off his cloak and covered Lin Huaiyin with it. The master and servant boarded the boat directly.
Upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince's arrival, the ship owner was trembling with fear and escorted them to one of the only two guest rooms on the top floor.
Xuan Ge sent men to the Eastern Palace to summon guards and imperial physicians, who stood guard behind the gate with their swords drawn.
Xiao Zhian placed Lin Huaiyin on the soft couch.
The room was brightly lit. Lin Huaiyin frowned frequently and struggled to raise his hand to shield his eyes. Xiao Zhian blew out the candles, leaving two candles in the corner.
A cold river breeze swept in, and he went to close the window.
It was sunset, and the light was dim. With a casual glance, Xiao Zhian noticed that there was a person standing in front of the window next door.
Those were his subjects.
Sinking from the clouds.
What is he doing here?
Xiao Zhian recognized him at a glance and was stunned. Shen Congyun sensed something and turned to look at him.
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