Handsome man.
Lin Huaiyin slipped away.
Xiao Zhian was too exhausted to chase after him.
His body was covered in mud, his mind was unclear, and he was covered in Lin Huaiyin's scent. But she left as if she had never been there, and everything felt unreal, like a dream.
The carriage came to a leisurely stop, awaiting its master's instructions.
A cold breeze swept in, brushing past the thin layer of sweat on Xiao Zhi'an's body, causing a barely perceptible shiver, and taking Xiao Zhi'an back to that night—
That very night, he accompanied Lin Huaiyin to the Su residence to retrieve the jujube wood bow, supporting her in dealing with the Su family brat. That night, Lin Huaiyin sat in his arms, grasped his hand for the first time, looked directly into his eyes, climbed onto him, nuzzled against him, kissed him, and fell asleep nestled in his embrace.
Afterwards, she said, "This humble woman covets the Crown Prince and is determined to divorce her husband. She has bravely stormed the Eastern Palace. Please, Your Highness, calm down and do not disrupt this humble woman's plans."
She added, "You just need to sit high in the clouds and enjoy the sight of people cutting through mountains and crossing seas, traveling long distances, and rushing to your side without hesitation."
She said that, and arranged his place—to wait obediently for her revenge to be over, and for her to come to him.
At that time, Xiao Zhian did not understand that her small shoulders carried a deep-seated hatred, nor did he understand the hardship of her seeking revenge alone. She wrote to Lin Zhenlie to ask for reinforcements, and then went to get the jujube wood bow. Her heart was burning with the flames of revenge, and she was planning the overall situation of the bloody battle at Heming Mountain. Yet, in the intervals between the bloody battles, she still took the time to be tender with him and clearly promised him a future.
It turns out she never loved that person.
Xiao Zhian's eyes lit up, and his limp waist gradually straightened. It turned out that his Yinyin had fallen for him so long ago, and had made up her mind about him so early on.
The person she loved from beginning to end was him. Her strange temper and the bad habit of pinching people at the slightest disagreement were all because he was trying to get close to her while wearing that other person's face, but he just didn't understand her and ruined her plans. Of course, she would resent him.
Even so, she forgave him, and would still feel jealous and possessive of him.
Now that the White Lotus Sect crisis has just been resolved and Shen Congyun has been imprisoned, she has kept her promise to come to his side less than twelve hours after divorcing him yesterday, and told him everything herself...
Xiao Zhian's face turned red. She really came to claim him "personally." She was as fierce as a female bandit. She yelled at him and scolded him. He climbed up and she dealt with him. After she finished dealing with him, she ran away.
Only when he realized she was running away did Xiao Zhian realize that he had to follow and escort her.
He cleared his throat and opened his mouth several times, but felt that the Crown Prince's majesty was gone and his virility was hard to display. Then, with a "bang," the carriage shook, and Lin Huaiyin lifted the curtain and put her head in.
"Oh." Lin Huaiyin looked her up and down, her gaze lingering on the spot where the battle had taken place.
Xiao Zhian felt inexplicably nervous.
I'm also looking forward to it.
Could it be that he's going to have a second marriage?
He quickly straightened up.
She turned her face away in embarrassment.
"I need your help with something." Lin Huaiyin returned immediately, obviously because it was something urgent. She plopped down on Xiao Zhian's lap in a hurry.
"Hmm." Xiao Zhian blushed, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he lowered his head, refusing to look at her.
"Why are you hiding?" Lin Huaiyin tilted her head to meet his gaze, and was surprised to find that Xiao Zhian was unbelievably handsome.
He was a handsome man by nature. Lin Huaiyin ignored his good looks because of the example of Shen Congyun, which made her think that all handsome men were just painted-face ghosts. But Xiao Zhian's disheveled hair and charming appearance were both beautiful and not innocent. His noble demeanor was more like a coquettish act. His arrogant crown prince attitude made him even more tempting to be bullied. The red corner of his eye was so alluring that it made people drool. Especially when his eyelids lifted and fell, and his eyes flickered, it made Lin Huaiyin's heart itch.
"Gurgle."
With a spit, Bai Zhizhi vanished into thin air, as if she were lost in the abyss.
"Zhi'an." Lin Huaiyin pinched his chin and saw that he had bitten his lips until they were wet and luscious. She shook her head and rubbed them with the pad of her thumb.
"Do you know that this is making things very difficult?" Lin Huaiyin frowned and shook her head.
Xiao Zhian didn't care. Yinyin's breath smelled so good, and he wanted to taste it. The more he thought about it, the more determined he became, and his breathing became alluring.
What a vixen. Lin Huaiyin closed her eyes, hating that he was becoming more and more seductive, hating herself for being so weak-willed, unable to resist the temptation, and hugging his neck to kiss him.
The moment they yielded, a trembling sigh escaped their throats. It was like a thunderbolt from heaven, their passion raging, and they became entangled together, neither able to stay still.
But at that very moment, the crab claw broke free from Du Yu and leaped off the carriage—
"Someone come here!"
Crab Claw let out a loud shout.
Lin Huaiyin withdrew her hand, made a soft "hmm" and bit Xiao Zhian's tongue, then hurriedly climbed off him.
The crab claws outside the car saw quite a commotion, and alarm bells went off in their heads—had that sly man seduced another prostitute?
"Miss! Little—"
"Click!"
Du Yu delivered a swift chop, and the crab claw fell into his arms.
Xiao Zhian wrapped his long arm around Lin Huaiyin, pulled her back to her waist and pressed her tightly; he couldn't hold back any longer.
But Lin Huaiyin had lost all interest; not even a little bit.
Although she was still panting and her heart was pounding, she would retreat whenever Xiao Zhian advanced, their foreheads touching and their noses brushing against each other, their breaths mingling, but she felt really embarrassed.
"Zhi'an, wake up!"
Lin Huaiyin had nowhere to retreat, so she reached out and rubbed his earlobe. Only after rubbing it did she realize that this was Xiao Zhian's usual gesture.
Xiao Zhian also opened his eyelids in an instant. Since his mother passed away, no one had ever pinched his earlobe again. The familiar stinging pain made him feel an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, and he let out a soft moan of pleasure.
"Calmed down?" Lin Huaiyin frowned slightly and started to act unreasonable and sullen—"How could you calm down so quickly? You don't love me!"
"I love you."
Xiao Zhian was helpless. He felt more wronged than Dou E. He wrapped his arms around Lin Huaiyin's slender waist, lowered his head to touch her upturned nose, and uttered a warm voice from his wet lips: "Yinyin, I only love you, I love you the most, I love you more than anyone else in the world, I love you more than anyone else. Since I fell in love with you, I have never been calm. My body and mind are always ready for you. I often worry that if you light a fire and then run away, will you ruin me?"
Xiao Zhian was panting heavily.
Lin Huaiyin snorted and denied it: "What are you saying?"
"You must learn to cherish me, Yinyin. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, serving you day and night." Xiao Zhian tightened his arms, and Lin Huaiyin pressed her small chest against his chest, their hearts beating together.
Xiao Zhian's collar was open, his chest heaving, as if it were some kind of invitation.
Lin Huaiyin avoided eye contact, looking very embarrassed.
She was used to bullying Xiao Zhi'an, and even more used to bullying him and then running away, leaving him to suffer in silence. She had been toying with Xiao Zhi'an like this since the first day she met him.
Now, suddenly being pulled into his arms and forced to listen to his sweet words is something she's never experienced before, and it's completely unlike her usual style.
In both her past and present lives, Lin Huaiyin had never had a normal relationship with a man. Xiao Zhian was too normal, like something out of a storybook, so cloying that she wasn't used to it and racked her brains trying to find a way to argue with him.
"Trying to cause trouble again?" Xiao Zhian saw through her darting black eyes. "Stop bullying me. Didn't you come back with something for me to do? Order me around."
Xiao Zhian was all smiles and happy.
In Lin Huaiyin's eyes, it was exactly like the Crown Prince's big dog sticking its tongue out at her, "whoosh whoosh whoosh."
Okay, let's spoil him.
Lin Huaiyin threw a bone: "There's a girl whose surname is Bai and given name is Zhizhi."
"Yes." Xiao Zhian nodded seriously.
"She is on her way to the capital to appeal to the emperor, carrying a petition written in the blood of the people."
"A petition written in blood by the people? A complaint to the emperor?" Xiao Zhian sat up straight, his eyes sharp.
“Exactly.” Lin Huaiyin nodded sadly: “Shen Zaiyuan embezzled disaster relief funds and money, and the local areas were filled with suffering. However, Liu Cang and Shen Congyun suppressed the reports. Now Bai Zhizhi is on the way to the capital to avoid being hunted down. She should arrive in the next two days.”
Xiao Zhian immediately understood: "I'll send someone to pick them up."
You must save her.
Lin Huaiyin solemnly and earnestly explained the consequences of her past life.
Princess Pingyang pursued Bai Zhizhi, turned Bai Zhizhi against her, protected Shen Zaiyuan, falsely accused loyal officials, and brought disaster to the southern expeditionary army...
Xiao Zhian was terrified, his face was gloomy, and he remained silent for a long time.
Pingyang's ruthlessness pained him deeply.
The empire is ravaged, all due to his sins.
"Cheer up, Zhi'an." Lin Huaiyin snuggled into Xiao Zhi'an's arms, her cheek pressed against the warmth of his heart, her hands clasped together.
“With me by your side, everything will be alright. Mu Zhanjuan will bring you back the truth about the local situation. At that time, we will need you to set things right and restore order to the world. You are the sovereign and father of hundreds of millions of people. Everyone is counting on you.”
"Um."
Xiao Zhian responded slowly, gently rubbing Lin Huaiyin's palm.
Now he knew how derelict he had been as the emperor. The empire and he himself relied entirely on the future queen mother by his side; it was under her protection that they found a glimmer of hope.
She deserves the best of everything in the world.
He would give her whatever she wanted with both hands.
Fortunately, she wanted him.
She was given a second chance at life, not to struggle in dire straits.
As her man, how could I let her down?
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Zhian rallied his spirits, put his arm around Lin Huaiyin's shoulder, and gently instructed, "The Lin residence is heavily guarded, and I cannot send anyone in or out rashly. If you miss me, hang a lantern in your courtyard, and I will find a way to come see you."
"Hmm." Lin Huaiyin shook her head and laughed, "There's no need for such trouble. I've decided to renovate the Holy Water Temple and will go there every day. If you want to see me, just come quietly. If I'm in a good mood, I might even climb over the wall of your East Palace."
Lin Huaiyin said she was climbing the wall, her expression sly and adorable. Her face was flushed as if she were wearing makeup, and she looked like a beautiful bride. Xiao Zhian was overjoyed and captivated. He kissed the back of her hand and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
"Well, I have to go back now, my crab claws..." Lin Huaiyin said awkwardly, "Don't bully her, she doesn't know your identity yet, she might make you cry next time."
"I understand." Upon hearing about the crab claw, Xiao Zhian also asked on behalf of Xuan Ge, "Yu Li, are you feeling better?"
"It will take some more time to fully recover."
Lin Huaiyin didn't continue. She didn't want to mention Xuan Ge for the time being. The overall situation was still uncertain, and Yu Li's matter should be discussed at least after Pingyang's death.
"There's something else I need to tell you first," Lin Huaiyin said, then brought up Hu Shoulin.
"If Physician Xie could come, firstly, to clear Yu Li's snake venom, secondly, to examine my body, and also, I would like to ask him to detoxify His Majesty."
“Okay,” Xiao Zhian readily agreed.
Lin Huaiyin was a little surprised.
Xiao Zhian smiled faintly and explained, "I guessed it. My father is bedridden, which gives me the opportunity to oversee the country. With me overseeing the country, Pingyang and Shen Congyun can work together. When the time is right, Pingyang can kill my father and frame me, thus seizing power. To make my father seriously ill for nine years, I think the only way is to poison him."
"So smart!" Lin Huaiyin liked Xiao Zhian's brain; he understood things very quickly, and talking to him was effortless.
"Do as you wish." A barely perceptible hint of gloom flashed in Xiao Zhian's eyes as he slowly closed them, out of Lin Huaiyin's sight.
He then kissed Lin Huaiyin's cheek and whispered in her ear, "I'll take you home."
"No." Lin Huaiyin wiped her face with her sleeve, turned her head away in disgust and tapped Xiao Zhian's forehead, slyly declaring, "I'm going downstairs, pretending I just came to rescue the crab claw!"
"Okay." Xiao Zhian didn't insist.
So Lin Huaiyin jumped out of the car and went to find Du Yu to make some connections.
Du Yu took out the secret medicine and placed it in the mouth and nose of the unconscious crab claw.
The crab claw slowly regained consciousness.
Xiao Zhian saw Lin Huaiyin run away through the car window, then run back frantically, shouting as she ran—"Crab claw, my crab claw!"
Du Yu dodged quickly, and Lin Huaiyin "saved" the crab claw. The two of them then ran for a while longer.
He ran all the way back to the Lin residence and went to Yu Li's bedroom.
A young man suddenly appeared beside Yu Li's bed. Looking at him sideways, he had the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, with the elegance of a jade chime from Kunshan.
Beside him stood another young girl, dressed in shabby clothes, her face covered in dust, with several silver needles stuck in her cheeks, still chattering away: "My name is Gongyang Yan, my surname is Gongyang and my given name is Yan. I have long admired Young Master Xie's name. Would you like to take me as your disciple?"
Gongyang Yan?
Lin Huaiyin felt like she'd heard that name somewhere before, but could it be Young Master Xie, or something like that Xie?
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