go home.
Lin Huaiyin twisted.
She didn't want to leave.
She hadn't seen enough of Xiao Zhian kneeling.
She wanted to take the Emperor Taizu's golden spear and personally poke Shen Congyun, drawing some blood as well.
Ideally, we should strike while the iron is hot, pin Princess Pingyang to the ground and spank her, then stab her through the throat with a spear.
Without hesitation, she seized the Emperor Taizu's golden spear.
Lin Zhenlie readily let go, while Lin Huaiyin grimaced – Good heavens, could it be made of pure gold? I can't lift it!
The tiny Lin Huaiyin, clutching a golden spear longer than herself, could not bear the sacred entrustment of the founding emperor, and her face contorted in a grimace as she desperately tried to maintain her balance.
The small figure swayed from side to side, as if it might fall off the horse at any moment. Xiao Zhian was stunned and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
There was only one way to leave, and all the civil and military officials knelt down and made way for the middle path.
Lin Zhenlie spurred his horse forward, his imposing figure unmoved. He held Lin Huaiyin in one arm and pulled the reins with the other, the horse's hooves clattering gently.
Officials, their families, and servants knelt on the ground...
The thousands of heads on the field, like toads gazing at the moon in the cold night, involuntarily looked up—Miss Lin San was the benefactor who saved their lives from the White Lotus Sect traitors.
He is my benefactor.
I am grateful to my benefactor for saving my life.
Congratulations to my benefactor on escaping suffering.
A fervent gaze fell upon her, enveloped in tender affection, and Lin Huaiyin trembled, inexplicably recalling last year—
Last year, when Shen Congyun "rescued" her from the White Lotus Sect's den of thieves, he rode her around town on horseback in the same way.
The same tens of thousands of onlookers, the same all-encompassing gaze, but last year it was a cold scrutiny, with people's eyes revealing either sympathy or contempt. Everyone seemed to be saying—look, she was trapped by thieves for fifteen days, her innocence and reputation are completely ruined, and her life is utterly over.
Cold stares lined the streets, and the entire city was deserted as people put aside their own affairs to come and declare Lin Huaiyin socially dead, to hold her funeral, and to put a coffin on her head.
Now, on her father's horseback, Lin Huaiyin can feel warmth surrounding her, a completely different situation.
But she couldn't care less; the golden spear was about to crush her. If she was distracted even slightly, she would fall off her horse. She was grinding her teeth, her face red and her neck thick, her comical little appearance as she angrily fought the golden spear made everyone present smile.
Miss Lin is so innocent and carefree, and seems to be quite young. Although women of the Lin family do not marry outside the family, it is still a great honor for her to marry into the Lin family.
The court officials and their families began to get restless. Young talents were eager to try their luck, and those with sons started to calculate their family fortunes, figuring out how to outcompete others and get their sons into the eyes of Lin Zhenlie and Miss Lin.
The time to show real skills has come...
The crowd silently saw off the Lin family father and daughter, tacitly igniting a battle to see whose son could reach for the moon and marry into the Lin family.
Lin Shifeng, who was kneeling in the crowd, was originally smug and proud, wagging his tail in the air. Suddenly, a wave of heat surged around him, and the courtiers sneaked closer to him, their eyes gleaming and their enthusiasm surging.
What the hell? Lin Shifeng silently reached for his waist and touched his dagger.
Xiao Zhian sensed a commotion, as if a chaotic battle was taking place in front of Danfeng Gate, with open and hidden attacks flying everywhere. Looking around, Su Jinggui's father, Su Mai, had his head held the highest.
Su Mai's official rank was too low and the distance too great for Xiao Zhian to see his expression clearly, but his obviously arrogant demeanor was displeasing.
"Rumor has it that the young master of the Su family is quite infatuated and has not yet accepted the annulment letter..." Xiao Zhian glanced at Du Yu, recalling his words that Su Jinggui was delusional. The marriage between the Su and Lin families had not yet ended, and now that Yinyin had divorced her husband and regained her freedom, could it be that the Su family had some other delusional idea?
How dare they covet Yinyin? They have no idea what they're getting themselves into.
Xiao Zhian cast a cold glance at Su Mai from afar, and Su Mai felt a chill run down his spine, goosebumps rising on his skin as he sensed a murderous aura.
Su Mai silently pulled his neck back into his collar.
Xiao Zhian watched with satisfaction as he suffered a crushing defeat.
The Emperor was guarding his food. Princess Pingyang did not miss Xiao Zhian's expression, accurately deciphering his thoughts. She then stood up and looked around.
Not far away, the Grand Secretary lay prostrate on the ground in his official robes, Shen Congyun, his clothes tattered and covered in blood, with a blood-stained letter of divorce on his body. He was unconscious and ignored by everyone. Apart from the Imperial Guards who looked at him with malice and were dragged into the prison like rag dolls, even Shen Zaiyuan looked on with sorrow and grief as he watched Lin Huaiyin and her father.
The towering building collapsed with a deafening roar.
The position of Grand Secretary, which he had climbed with great difficulty, crumbled in an instant.
He's ruthless, strong, and domineering; he truly lives up to his reputation as her brother.
Princess Pingyang stared at Xiao Zhian, silently reviewing her actions: her proudest achievement was scheming against Lin Huaiyin.
The marriage was arranged by imperial decree, so Lin Huaiyin had no chance of escaping Shen Congyun's grasp. If the Lin family wanted to save their daughter, they would be in serious trouble, even if they didn't die. Even Xiao Zhian couldn't do anything about it. Therefore, when Xiao Zhian said he would deal with Shen Congyun, she just smiled and thought he was dreaming.
However, at this moment, Princess Pingyang had no choice but to admit defeat—the Lin family's resources exceeded expectations. Xiao Zhian neither intervened himself nor had the ability to do so. He asked Lin Zhenlie to take action. The aggrieved party sought revenge for his daughter, and a golden spear directly sent Shen Congyun to hell. From then on, Shen Congyun was disgraced and his crimes were confirmed. No one—the princess, the imperial concubine, or the emperor—could overthrow or touch the sinner who had been defeated by the emperor's golden spear.
Shen Congyun has lost everything and will never be able to turn things around.
Princess Pingyang sighed in disappointment; the game was now completely ruined.
However, even dead pieces have their uses.
When Xiao Zhian and Lin Huaiyin's affair is exposed, and the Lin family joins forces with the Crown Prince to bully the Prime Minister, whether it is for justice or personal feelings, whether it is to uphold the legitimacy of the founding emperor or to tarnish the founding emperor's golden spear, then people will debate it.
Princess Pingyang was not discouraged. She followed Xiao Zhian's lead. At this moment, she understood why Xiao Zhian had openly arrested Lin Huaiyin and made it known to everyone that she had shot Zhao Changji. Xiao Zhian had been waiting for this moment, so that the court officials would figure out that Lin Huaiyin had killed someone on the surface, but in reality, she was fighting against the White Lotus Sect traitors, indirectly weakening the White Lotus Sect's power, and protecting the lives of the officials in the Battle of Heming Mountain.
By publicizing the crime of murder beforehand and then making the court officials grateful afterward, the author successfully suppressed a serious crime of plotting to assassinate a high-ranking official.
Having figured everything out, Princess Pingyang couldn't help but applaud Xiao Zhi'an—for the woman he loved, he had truly devised a flawless plan and gone to great lengths.
However, while the courtiers were grateful, Zhao Changji's only son, Zhao Yanxiu, was still observing mourning at home. Would this man be able to tolerate the murderer of his father?
Princess Pingyang watched Lin Huaiyin and her father disappear completely, smiling as she waited to see the show.
——
The Lin residence.
Two large, gilded characters slowly came into view.
"Third Miss!"
The gatekeeper came out to greet them with great joy!
Hearing the familiar, warm voice, Lin Huaiyin's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Immediately following, the Lin family's soldiers surged out, calling out "Third Miss, Third Miss" incessantly, their order disrupted, shouting and arguing as they went to announce the arrival.
The horse's hooves stopped.
The Golden Spear had long been taken over by Lin Zhenlie.
Lin Huaiyin leaned against Lin Zhenlie's chest, not enough.
In her past life, she had a home she couldn't return to.
In this life, she carries a heavy burden of sins and cannot return home.
In both her past and present lives, she had been away from home for four whole years. She hadn't seen her father for four years, hadn't returned home for four years, and hadn't been in her father's arms for four years, listening to his strong and powerful heartbeat.
Upon returning to the capital, Lin Huaiyin found joy amidst hardship, gathering all her strength to continue the fight at the Shen residence, determined to go even if she were to suffer a bloody defeat.
Even though her older brother Lin Cuiyue told her that she had to go home, she never thought she could go back.
She could still go home? Before she knew anything, with the imperial edict hanging over her head, she effortlessly did nothing, said nothing, and simply stood there without her father riding over, beating Shen Congyun, helping her divorce her husband, and taking her home.
Is this really not a dream?
Beneath the plaque of "Lin Residence," Lin Huaiyin turned back cross-legged, wanting to confirm whether the solid chest she had been leaning against all the way was indeed her father—a rough, large hand pinched her face and rubbed it with extra force, as if deliberately trying to hurt her to confirm something.
Calluses scrape against the skin, causing severe pain.
It was her father's hand, worn from years of practice, chapped and calloused layer upon layer, just like when she was little, he liked to pinch her cheeks, and after pinching, he would lift her up and hold her in his arms, spinning her around.
It's a father, not a dream.
I'm home, it's true.
"It hurts so much." Lin Huaiyin let out a sigh of relief, her nose stung, her eyes reddened, and she held her father's hand, tears streaming down her face.
Through his blurry vision, Lin Zhenlie's brow furrows smoothed out and then rose again, and Lin Huaiyin's scalding tears confirmed to him that he was really bringing his daughter home.
Upon receiving Xiao Zhian's letter and learning that his daughter had been murdered by a villain, he was filled with rage and wished he could eat his flesh, drink his blood, and sleep on his skin. He was willing to disregard the Lin family's two-hundred-year-old tradition of not showing his true colors, and he was determined to kill Shen Congyun!
The reason I spared that beast's life today is because Xiao Zhian explicitly requested in his letter that Shen's life be spared, as it is useful. I earnestly hope that he will live a little longer.
Lin Zhenlie didn't know what use Shen Congyun's life was, but Xiao Zhian set up a platform for him to rescue his daughter, and Shen Congyun cooperated and supported him throughout the process. Lin Zhenlie was grateful, and although he was dissatisfied and felt that it was not perfect, he still reluctantly cooperated.
Putting everything else aside, the most important thing was that his daughter was back. Lin Zhenlie's eyes welled up with tears, his lips pressed into a thin white line, and his chest heaved uncontrollably.
Xiao Zhian's letter was filled with blood and tears. He had never imagined that his daughter would suffer so much in the Shen family during the past year of neglect. He dared not look at Lin Huaiyin; even a single glance was like a knife to his heart.
"We're home, third brother." Lin Zhenlie's voice was deep, feigning ease as he lifted Lin Huaiyin and put her down.
"Your mother is waiting, go on in." Lin Zhenlie waved his hand and let her in.
"Father, why don't you dismount?" Lin Huaiyin didn't leave, wiping away her tears, and asked, "Where are you going, Father?"
"I will go to the palace to plead guilty." Lin Zhenlie said decisively, turning his horse around and leaving.
"Miss!" Crab Ao ran the fastest, rushed over in a flash, picked up Lin Huaiyin and carried her through the door.
Before long, Lin's mother, Lin Cuiyue and his wife, their two nephews, and their fourth sister Lin Mianfeng all came out to greet them, embracing each other tightly.
No one in the Lin family knows what happened in front of Danfeng Gate.
Lin Cuiyue never mentioned Lin Huaiyin's hardships during her year at the Shen residence, and Yu Li and Xie Ao also kept their mouths shut.
Therefore, when relatives meet, their longing for each other is very strong.
Lin's mother tearfully blamed Lin Huaiyin for being inconsiderate and not coming home to visit her. Lin Huaiyin immediately hugged her mother and began to make up a story—
"My father had long suspected that Shen Congyun was colluding with the White Lotus Sect. This year, she endured hardship, went deep into the enemy's lair, and collected evidence of Shen Congyun's crimes."
Just now in front of Danfeng Gate, Father executed Shen Congyun on the spot. She has successfully made her way out unscathed. Now she is returning in triumph, shining brightly. She hopes Mother will be more forgiving. Any dissatisfaction is Father's idea. She can't go against Father's wishes. Please ask Mother to reason with Father..."
"My father said that every man has a responsibility to the nation, and every woman has a responsibility as well. He can't harm someone else's daughter, so he can only use his own daughter to hang the bad guy..."
Lin Huaiyin talked on and on, vividly describing the thrills and excitement, and even brandishing her claws to scare her two little nephews.
Lin Cuiyue and Xie Ao listened in stunned silence, not daring to utter a word or offer any response. Whenever their mother cast a questioning glance their way, they would nod stiffly.
Hearing Lin's mother curse him repeatedly, "You old bastard, you've ruined my daughter!" and roll up her sleeves to show she was ready to fight him to the death, the two men lowered their heads, only daring to weakly clench their sweaty palms.
After all, Lin Huaiyin was very serious, aggrieved, and pitiful, making her extremely credible.
After two incense sticks' worth of time, Lin Huaiyin finished her nonsense and gulped down tea. Lin's mother was furious and couldn't wait to rush out and cause trouble for Lin Zhenlie.
After lighting the fire, Lin Huaiyin successfully escaped, grinned at Lin Cuiyue, and said that she was so tired and wanted to go back to her room.
Lin Cuiyue and his wife naturally had to take care of Lin's mother. The two tried to coax her, but Lin's mother's temper flared up. She started scolding them for being heartless and not caring about her sister. Her words became increasingly harsh, so Lin Cuiyue quickly signaled his wife to leave and took care of his elderly mother by himself.
So the eldest sister-in-law also slipped away, and the fun moved to Lin Huaiyin's boudoir.
The boudoir remained exactly as it was before her marriage, with various bows and arrows hanging on the walls. Sunlight streamed through the window, and the room was spotless and warm.
Lin Huaiyin held one nephew in each arm. The little ones babbled, indicating that they didn't recognize their aunt, but that their aunt was very beautiful and that they liked being held by her. At the same time, they reached out and pulled at the flower hairpin in Lin Huaiyin's hair, tearing it off to play with.
Soon, Lin Huaiyin, with her hair disheveled, stared at Lin Mianfeng with a silly grin.
That's great.
Finally, this day has come. Her relatives, who were once cold and lifeless corpses lying in the wilderness in her memory, are now warm and vivid in front of her. She can tell a joke at will, and everyone will burst into laughter.
The eldest sister-in-law came over and saw the commotion in the room, so she leaned against the door frame to watch the fun.
Having given birth to two children, she was much older and managed all the affairs of the household. Her eyesight was naturally unmatched by others. She could tell that Lin Huaiyin had become much thinner, and although she was smiling, she was genuinely haggard.
When Lin Cuiyue returned, he mentioned "Third Sister" several times, then hesitated to speak. His sister-in-law was a smart woman and did not delve into it, but she had her own thoughts. She turned around and went to find Yu Li to ask if Lin Huaiyin's tastes had changed, as she wanted to cook a meal that Lin Huaiyin liked herself.
When Lin Huaiyin returned home, everyone became lively again.
Just before nightfall, Lin Cuiyue personally brought a bowl of herbal soup to Lin Huaiyin.
The familiar taste, pungent and bitter, returned to my palms after a six-day hiatus.
Amidst the brown medicinal soup, Lin Huaiyin's small face swayed, and at the same time, Xiao Zhian's face swayed in her eyes and in her heart.
Xiao Zhian ignored her at the post station and knelt before the Emperor Taizu's golden spear in front of Danfeng Gate.
Lin Huaiyin wasn't stupid. She understood the weight of Xiao Zhian, as the Crown Prince Regent, leading the way in kneeling—the Crown Prince kneeling was earth-shattering. The golden spear in her father's hand was the true sacred object of the founding emperor, the only sacred and solemn weapon that could represent the founding emperor in upholding the will of heaven. Otherwise, it would just be the Lin family talking to themselves, and no one would believe it or submit to them.
Xiao Zhi'an kneeling to his father meant that the Xiao imperial family knelt to their fathers, representing the current emperor kneeling to his fathers. In this way, the father could transcend the relationship between ruler and subject, and be above the current emperor, having the power of life and death, just as if the founding emperor had personally come.
Then the imperial edict was abolished and the chief minister was dismissed.
After Shen Congyun's defeat and death, she escaped and returned home.
Lin Huaiyin understood the cause and effect; the medicine was being poured out in waves because her hands were trembling.
Xiao Zhian's voice echoed in my ears.
“Yinyin, I’ll be with you. Together, we’ll put an end to all of this. I’ll let you kill Pingyang yourself.”
Lin Huaiyin remembers that when Xiao Zhian said these words, he choked up and his eyes were filled with tears.
He held her one last time, and in the darkness asked in a low voice, "You don't love me, yet you want me to become him, Yinyin, is that fair?"
fair?
Lin Huaiyin scoffed: Who secretly fed her medicine but kept silent about why she took it?
It's time to find out what's wrong with her body.
She needed to figure it out; she was going to find Xiao Zhian, teach him a lesson, and ask him if what he said still held true.
"Miss?"
The crab claw stuck its finger into the medicine soup, touched it, and put it in its mouth: "It's getting cold. There will be delicious candies after you drink it."
"Okay." In front of Lin Cuiyue, Lin Huaiyin tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.
Lin Cuiyue walked away contentedly, beaming with joy.
"Crab claw." Lin Huaiyin grinned, a sinister smile on her face. "Let's find out where Physician Lu lives, and go have a chat with him."
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