Go see Physician Lu.
That night, things didn't go smoothly for the Lin family.
Lin Zhenlie returned home, and Lin Huaiyin pretended to be dead.
Lin's mother chased after Lin Zhenlie, beating him black and blue, and almost executed him on the spot.
Afterwards, Lin Cuiyue and Lin Shifeng spoke with Lin Zhenlie separately, focusing on Lin Huaiyin.
Lin Cuiyue said: "My third sister has been poisoned and may be unable to have children. Currently, Physician Lu from the Crown Prince's Palace is treating her. Should we ask Hu Shoulin Xie to come?"
Lin Shifeng spoke mysteriously, saying that the child in Third Sister's womb might be the Crown Prince's, and that Third Sister and the Crown Prince were currently having a conflict. For Third Sister's sake, should they arrange a marriage for her to cover it up?
Lin Zhenlie listened for a while, then ignored his two sons and reopened Xiao Zhian's letter.
The letter stated that Miss Lin was faking her pregnancy to save her life at the Shen residence, and that the poisoning might prevent her from conceiving. It was his fault as regent, and the responsibility lay with him. He offered to adopt one of his princes to support Miss Lin for the rest of her life.
He adopted a prince and was to be cared for for life.
It seems to be a sincere and generous gesture, and aside from the suspicion of trying to win over the Lin family, it is the most sensible compensation the Crown Prince can offer.
Lin Zhenlie nodded with satisfaction, indicating that the Crown Prince's benevolence was a blessing to all the people. However, as he fumbled for the letter, his calloused brows furrowed involuntarily—a prince as his son? The third prince was taking the Crown Prince's son as his offspring? How strange this was!
Lin Zhenlie recalled the scene of Lin Huaiyin's divorce at Danfeng Gate, where she had twice panicked and looked to Xiao Zhi'an for guidance. The moment Xiao Zhi'an knelt down, Lin Huaiyin's mouth stretched to the back of her neck, and she was eager to climb over and ride him like a horse...
As a father, Lin Zhenlie knows his daughter's little tricks all too well. The moment Lin Huaiyin sticks out her little bottom, he knows whether she's hungry or just about to misbehave.
Xiao Zhian wrote a letter explaining the situation and inviting him to Danfeng Gate to pick up his daughter.
When her daughter was feeling unsettled, she wouldn't look at Lin Shifeng or him, but instead sought comfort from Xiao Zhian.
These two... These two made Lin Zhenlie tear the letter with a "rip".
To ensure the stability of the court, our ancestors and the founding emperor had long ago reached an agreement to establish an ancestral rule that the Xiao and Lin families would never intermarry. The third prince doesn't know what's wrong with His Highness the Crown Prince?
Lin Zhenlie couldn't sleep after thinking it over and over. His mother wouldn't let him go back to his room to sleep either. He couldn't find a place to sleep fully clothed, so he slowly strolled to the entrance of Lin Huaiyin's courtyard.
Lin Huaiyin opened her eyes wide and peered into her boudoir by the moonlight. Her father's heroic figure on horseback wielding a long spear kept appearing in her mind's eye. She screamed "Ahhh!" to herself, hugged the quilt tightly and sniffed it, and rolled around on the bed unable to fall asleep.
It feels so good to be home. Or rather, it's not like going home at all, but like finally returning from hell to the human world, finally feeling alive again.
In her previous life, the battle at Crane Cry Mountain was a bloodbath, a horrific sight. Xiao Zhian and the Lin family were already in ruins, beyond saving. Now, the Eastern Palace is safe and sound, the Lin family is safe and sound, and she has returned to the side of her parents and brothers, her fourth sister and nephew, Yu Li and Xie Ao, the old gatekeeper of the Lin family, the civil and military officials of the court... Everyone is sleeping peacefully under the same moonlight, except for Shen Congyun.
Thinking of Shen Congyun, Lin Huaiyin giggled in the curtained room. She had to catch a few mice to find him. Shen Congyun was not worthy of her lightning-struck jujube wood bow; mice were his perfect match.
Princess Pingyang, having lost Shen Congyun as her henchman, might suddenly go berserk. Lin Huaiyin smiled as she recalled her past life—after Crane Cry Mountain, it was time for the southern expedition. Shen Zaiyuan was utterly wicked, embezzling the army's food and supplies, delaying the battle, which led to the army's repeated defeats and countless deaths.
Lin Huaiyin was unsure whether she would be on a southern expedition in this life, or when she would set off. However, she knew that the Shen Congyun case did not involve Shen Zaiyuan, and that Princess Pingyang would definitely protect Shen Zaiyuan after losing Shen Congyun. The only opportunity to deal with Shen Zaiyuan was that girl who brought the blood petition of ten thousand people to the capital—Bai Zhizhi.
In her past life, Bai Zhizhi was intercepted by Princess Pingyang and even bewitched by her to turn against her, falsely accusing the local prefect who escorted her to the capital to appeal to the emperor. As a result, the prefect became the main culprit in Shen Zaiyuan's case of embezzling disaster relief funds, while the loyal official was imprisoned and died unjustly.
Lin Huaiyin counted the days on her fingers. Bai Zhizhi should arrive in Beijing within the next two days. She had to be on her toes and snatch her away.
In addition, we must hurry to invite the legendary physician Xie from Hushoulin. As long as the physician proves that the Emperor poisoned the body and that the poison originated from Princess Pingyang, Princess Pingyang will definitely not escape death. As the one who brought the physician, it is not unreasonable for her to ask to be the executioner.
Not excessive. Lin Huaiyin nodded to herself, deciding to discuss the matter with her father tomorrow and also to find out why he did not allow the divine physician to examine the Emperor.
All night long, Lin Huaiyin was lost in thought. As the moon set and the sun rose, a crab came bounding over to report that Yu Li's condition had improved considerably. With her eyes swollen like a black bear, she shuffled her weak legs to talk to Yu Li.
Yu Li's body was still venomous from the snakes, so the doctor forbade her to move and she had to lie still on the bed.
Lin Huaiyin stayed up all night, her mouth tasted bitter, and she could barely lift her eyelids, but she still did everything herself, cleaning Yu Li's wounds, changing her dressings, having breakfast together, and supervising her to take her medicine.
After finishing all this, Lin Huaiyin went to pay her respects to her mother and had another breakfast with her mother, sister-in-law, and nephew. Xie Ao sneaked to the door and gave her a wink.
It seemed that they had obtained the address of Physician Lu. Lin Huaiyin immediately bid farewell to her mother and sister-in-law, ate a couple of bites of her little nephew, and made preparations to go out.
Meanwhile, Xiao Zhian was serving the emperor breakfast at the Golden Immortal Palace.
Consort Hui's belly was swollen, and the imperial offspring was already showing. Because her father, Liu Cangxin, had just passed away, she dressed simply and fed the ailing emperor with a spoon in one hand and a handkerchief in the other. Her eyes were red and she kept her lips pursed and silent. She was truly as aggrieved as could be, and her strength made the emperor feel sorry for her.
Xiao Zhian stood to the side, silent.
Consort Hui feigned virtue and pitifulness, appearing to have unspeakable suffering, so Xiao Zhian naturally wouldn't go out of his way to cause trouble.
The emperor felt sorry for the imperial concubine, but in the past, he supported Liu Cang and Shen Congyun, one a censor and the other the head of the civil officials, who could barely keep the crown prince in check.
Now that Liu Cang has perished at Heming Mountain, and Lin Zhenlie has crippled Shen Congyun with a single spear, the court officials only care about the Eastern Palace and not the Imperial Palace. The Crown Prince, who used to be very filial, returned to the capital yesterday but did not enter the palace to pay his respects, openly displaying his overstepping ambitions. The Emperor is willing to make trouble but is powerless to resist. If the father and son were to break off relations, it would be better to maintain the status quo.
The emperor, humiliated to the point of being unable to breathe under the oppression of his son, silently clenched his fist in his sleeve and tried his best to eat and drink more in order to recover his health as soon as possible and regain power.
Xiao Zhi served quietly, tasting each dish one by one. Only after the emperor had finished eating and rinsed his mouth did he bow and request an imperial decree: "Your Majesty, the White Lotus Sect has been completely eradicated. The Japanese in the south have been causing trouble on the border for several years, and have repeatedly abducted innocent people. I implore Your Majesty to issue an imperial decree to send troops to Japan to protect our people and enhance our national prestige."
"Hmm." The emperor nodded weakly, letting out a sigh, which was considered an approval.
"Your son obeys the decree." Xiao Zhian bowed and took his leave.
"Your Highness," Consort Hui finally couldn't hold back, "Your Highness, please wait."
Xiao Zhian stopped and lowered his head: "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"
“No, it was not an order.” Consort Hui looked at the Emperor, her eyes brimming with tears, but the Emperor’s eyelashes concealed all his emotions.
Consort Hui clenched the handkerchief tightly, her fingernails digging into her palm until they bled, the pain excruciating.
She couldn't understand why the emperor, who had said yesterday that he would support her and punish the Crown Prince and Lin Cuiyue, was now completely silent, letting Xiao Zhian come and go as he pleased.
She lost her father, and the prince in her womb lost his maternal grandfather. Shouldn't the Crown Prince and the Imperial Guards take responsibility for this? Should they just let Shen Congyun and Du Yu dismiss it with a casual remark about her dying in a snake accident, without even allowing her to inquire about it?
The emperor wouldn't stand up for her, but she couldn't swallow her anger. Even if the matter was forbidden to be mentioned or discussed, she was determined to make Xiao Zhian suffer.
"The Crown Prince is not young anymore." Consort Hui suppressed her resentment and sorrow, and nodded to the Emperor with a smile: "Your Majesty often says that you have worked hard. I was thinking that you should also choose a few consorts to serve by your side, to continue the imperial line and have more descendants. This is also the responsibility of the Crown Prince."
Consort Hui was the same age as Xiao Zhian, also twenty-three. At this moment, she smiled kindly and gently, trying her best to act as a mother to show concern: "If the late Empress were still alive, this matter would probably have been arranged long ago. I think Her Majesty the Empress most wants to see the Crown Prince's wedding. For both reason and sentiment, the Crown Prince cannot refuse."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Xiao Zhian nodded in acknowledgment, his phoenix eyes flashing with the thought that his marriage would definitely be handled by Consort Hui.
There were too many opportunities to tamper with things, and Xiao Zhian could not possibly agree. After bowing deeply, he replied, "Father, you are in the prime of your life. Once you are in good health, you will surely give me many younger brothers and sisters. The prosperity of the imperial line will depend on you. Moreover, Your Majesty is pregnant with the imperial heir, and I dare not trouble you with such a trivial matter. I am not as capable as you, Father. I have exhausted all my energy on the affairs of the state and dare not be distracted. This matter should be discussed again after you are in good health."
"But—" Consort Hui still wanted to argue.
"Your Majesty's kindness is appreciated. Lord Liu has just passed away. If I were to ask you to worry about the matter of the Crown Prince taking a concubine at this time, it would be unfilial of me. Moreover, Lord Liu was punished by heaven for opposing my order for Pingyang to preside over the Golden Register Grand Fast. I feel ashamed and dare not accept Your Majesty's kindness. Please allow me to take my leave."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's face stiffened, she unconsciously bit her lip, and her pupils throbbed.
The death of her father, Liu Cang, was directly related to Princess Pingyang. Neither Shen Congyun nor Du Yu had mentioned this matter. She had always thought that Xiao Zhian was afraid of the dragon child in her womb and was looking for an opportunity to attack her maternal clan. Suddenly hearing that it was related to Princess Pingyang, her temples throbbed with shock and her spine went cold. From the very beginning, it was Pingyang who took the initiative to contact and win her over, saying that she wanted to take revenge on Xiao Zhian for abandoning her when she was young. She also conceived the dragon child in her womb after taking the pills given by Pingyang. Why didn't Princess Pingyang send someone to tell her about the cause of her father's death?
Consort Hui gently stroked her swollen belly, remaining silent and lost in thought; she had a very bad premonition.
A dark glint flashed in Xiao Zhian's eyes as he bowed and took his leave.
Outside the Golden Immortal Palace, Xuan Ge, clad in gleaming armor, followed behind Xiao Zhi'an, pondering how to get to the Lin residence and meet Miss Yu Li.
When will Miss Lin finally come to see His Highness? Xuan Ge looked up at the sky speechlessly, hoping the rising sun would give him some signal.
He knew that as long as Lin Huaiyin did not reconcile with Xiao Zhian, he and Yu Li would be separated by the Milky Way and unable to meet.
If all else fails, we can just kidnap Miss Lin and take her to the East Palace. How can we have a chance if we don't meet her?
——
On the street.
Lin Huaiyin and Xie Ao sat in the Lin family's carriage, swaying back and forth.
It's better to drive your own car. The two of them happily headed straight for Physician Lu's house.
Poor Physician Lu, because he had to rush to the Eastern Palace at any time, lived in the bustling heart of the capital where land was extremely valuable. However, his salary was spent on collecting medical knowledge and rare medicinal herbs, and he could not afford to maintain a large mansion. He only had a dilapidated old house.
Lin Huaiyin and Xie Ao followed the address and got off the carriage early, venturing into the hidden alleys. They finally found their way to the place only after the guards had to secretly grip the hilts of their swords.
The small wooden door creaked open halfway, and faint voices could be heard coming from inside.
Lin Huaiyin and Xie Ao exchanged a glance, both feeling their ears burning. Standing at the door, they saw that Old Madam Shen and Shen Lanyan were each on one side, holding onto Physician Lu tightly.
"Lin Huaiyin is carrying my brother's child, Physician Lu, you can't just stand by and watch her die!"
"Come with us to the Lin family to reason with them. Lin Huaiyin must be rescued, and the child in her womb must be returned to the Shen family!"
The two men pulled and dragged him, and Physician Lu's heels couldn't keep up with the ground, causing him great pain.
"My second son said that you, Physician Lu, have been delivering the medicine to prevent miscarriage all the way. You must take full responsibility for this!"
"Lin Huaiyin is as obedient as a kitten, listening to my brother's every word. She must have taken the medicine you gave her to disregard my brother's humiliation and not even go home! I'm not done with you until this is resolved!"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing that the two were talking more and more outrageous, Physician Lu couldn't help but scold them—"What do you mean 'not over yet'?! You're giving me too much face! Lord Shen has already drugged Miss Lin, ruining her health. Miss Lin will never be able to conceive in her life. If you don't believe me, go ask Lord Shen yourselves!"
"What?!"
"Drugned?!"
The Shen family mother and daughter were stunned on the spot.
"I never gave you any pregnancy-preserving medicine; that was a life-saving antidote! Stop making a scene here and get out of here!"
Physician Lu raised his arm and pointed directly at the door, his ruddy face and neck turning deathly pale in an instant.
At the gate, the crab claws rushed forward with a "thump thump thump," grabbing the Shen family mother and daughter with both hands and beating them mercilessly, grudges old and new!
Lin Huaiyin remained motionless, her gaze fixed on Physician Lu.
Their eyes met, and Physician Lu awkwardly withdrew his hand, looking away.
Lin Huaiyin unconsciously leaned against the door frame.
The truth came too easily and too casually; she was unprepared, completely bewildered, and caught off guard.
Amidst the screams of the Shen mother and daughter, Xuan Ge's words became clear—"At the time, Physician Lu's voice was extremely soft. I only noticed that His Highness asked, 'Can it be cured? Will it be possible in the future?' Physician Lu only said, 'I will do my best.'"
It turned out that Xiao Zhian knew she was poisoned and infertile on the first day he went to Heming Mountain.
So that's what the older brother's expression meant when he brought her the medicine.
Lin Huaiyin's mind was in turmoil.
She was only fifteen years old. Although she had two nephews, she had only ever longed for pregnancy and childbirth in her past life when she was infatuated with Shen Congyun. In this life, she was busy with revenge. She was very busy, and for the distant future, she only had the name Xiao Zhian in her mind and had not thought about any of the scenes.
Upon suddenly learning that she was infertile, she felt nothing, as if it were nothing, indifferent. She didn't have a child, and her family wouldn't starve.
But why, why does it feel like my bones are being pulled away one by one, and why are Xiao Zhian's voices asking me these questions?
Will there be another one in the future?
Will there be another one in the future?
Will there be another one in the future?
What, does he really want a child?
Does he have a throne waiting for someone to inherit it?
He actually does.
Lin Huaiyin slowly slid down against the door frame, her fingernails digging into the loose wood grain.
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