I can't just follow you like this without knowing anything about you.
The moon rises in the east.
The morning star shines.
The lanterns are lit in the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince, who was in charge of the state, remained in the inner palace and did not go out.
Lin Shifeng was very disappointed.
He was ordered by his father to come to the Eastern Palace to personally protect the Crown Prince. In the past two days, the Crown Prince has only slept for two hours. He has seen the scene outside the Jiade Hall in the twelve hours of the day.
Just moments ago, Lin Shifeng was happy for the empire that the crown prince was diligent in his duties, and he was pleased that his third sister, the "future nephew's father," was virtuous. But then a vixen came and seduced him, and the crown prince neglected his duties, became obsessed with beauty, and did not cherish his body.
The Imperial City Guard neglects its duties, devoting itself solely to finding women for the Crown Prince's palace.
Daxing is doomed.
Lin Shifeng also took out his hatred on Qin Luo, and left the East Palace in a huff, returning home.
Let the fox spirit protect the crown prince; after all, with three palaces and two high walls separating them, he can't get close.
Back at the Lin residence.
Lin Shifeng went to find Lin Huaiyin. He wanted to tell her that the Crown Prince was unreliable, that she should give up on him quickly, and that she should focus on her pregnancy. He believed that the Lin family was her only true support.
However, in Lin Huaiyin's courtyard, Lin Zhenlie sat in the pavilion by the pond, his aura and figure blending into the darkness. Seeing him walking under the moonlight, he had eight or nine parts doubt in his heart, but then became very certain—the third brother had gone to the East Palace.
The cold moon shone on the pond, motionless. Lin Shifeng's footsteps were disordered and his movements abrupt. Lin Zhenlie understood what the Eastern Palace had done. As far as the eye could see, his daughter's courtyard resembled a melon patch, and a badger had broken in, wreaking havoc in the melon patch...
The old father's heart was twisted like a rope, and he gritted his teeth, trying to catch the unseen badger while suddenly letting out a sound.
"Second brother," Lin Zhenlie said resentfully.
Lin Shifeng was terrified and almost died of fright.
When father and son met, Lin Shifeng angrily made accusations.
Lin Zhenlie couldn't listen to the beginning.
He couldn't bring himself to say, "Second brother, you keep calling her a vixen, but you're actually referring to the third brother," nor could he bring himself to say, "The third brother was the one I kicked out. I wanted to send her to Xin Liao to gain experience and avoid the trouble in the capital, but before I knew it, she went straight to the Eastern Palace and even slept with me."
Lin Shifeng ranted on and on.
Lin Zhenlie remained silent for a long time, mechanically stood up, waved his hand to stop him from following, and shuffled away like a lonely old man.
It seems that the father is also greatly disappointed in the crown prince.
Lin Shifeng clenched his fist and shouted, "Father, should we ask Hu Shoulin to take a look at His Majesty?"
Hearing this, Lin Zhenlie felt even more heartbroken.
Does the second brother have a brain that's already in such a mess?
The third brother is smart, but unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, he ended up in this situation.
Lin Zhenlie couldn't lift his head to look at the moon, stepping slowly on his blurry shadow. He still had a sliver of hope: his third brother had gone to sleep with another man, and if he was having a good time, he might come back soon. Perhaps the Crown Prince wasn't up to par, and his third brother wasn't satisfied, so for the sake of his happiness for the rest of his life, he turned back home in time.
For twenty-three years, the Crown Prince's palace had been without a woman. Having suffered the trauma of a funeral in his childhood, Lin Zhenlie secretly hoped: "It's best if this doesn't happen. My daughter will come back soon, quickly… Father was wrong, I won't send you away… Father will take you to sneak into the Princess's residence. Do whatever you want with me, Father will help you…"
With longing in his heart, Lin Zhenlie wandered in the dark night, enduring the cold wind and dew. He waited in vain for a sweet "Father," and the old father's heart grew colder and colder.
Lin Huaiyin's drunken ramblings and Xiao Zhian's heartfelt confession still resonate in our ears.
Lin Zhenlie seemed to see Xiao Zhian taking out the crown prince's robes, kneeling down to help his daughter put them on, making his daughter reluctant to leave.
The novel items in the Eastern Palace are not limited to the imperial robes; there is also the throne, the golden seal, and more...
The thought of his daughter being kept away from home by those fancy gadgets made Lin Zhenlie want to vomit blood.
He hated that the Crown Prince was so reckless, ignoring the ancestral rule that Xiao and Lin should not intermarry, and what place did he place the Lin family in?
He was furious. His daughter couldn't distinguish right from wrong. How dare she become a woman in the Eastern Palace? She hadn't listened to a single word about the late Empress's past.
Ironically, the more things were like this, the less he could make a scene. He couldn't go directly to the Eastern Palace to demand the person back, otherwise the whole city would be in an uproar, and people might even suspect that the Eastern Palace was punishing Shen Congyun in order to seize a minister's wife and indulge his own desires.
Public opinion can melt metal and accumulated slander can destroy bones. If that is the case, the Lin family will find it difficult to cope, and Princess Pingyang will inevitably retaliate.
With too many constraints and concerns, Lin Zhenlie was unable to take any action. His best course of action now was to wait for his daughter to return quietly so that the father and daughter could discuss the matter before deciding on a course of action.
Lin Zhenlie waited all night.
——
Cheng'en Hall.
Lin Huaiyin was still half asleep and pleading for mercy.
Xiao Zhian's waist withstood the test, and they were closely connected overnight.
As dawn approaches, the morning court assembly is about to begin.
Xuan Ge ordered the palace maids to enter the hall and called for Xiao Zhi'an to rise.
Lin Huaiyin rested her head on Xiao Zhian's shoulder, wrapped her arms around his waist, and entwined her legs around him. Xiao Zhian was helpless, torn between continuing their entanglement after the court session and the bewitching concubine who was bringing ruin to the country.
Finally, he dismissed the palace maids, dressed himself neatly, kissed Lin Huaiyin's sleeping face, tucked her in, washed himself briefly, and went to the Jiade Hall to attend court, still carrying Lin Huaiyin's scent.
Civil and military officials stood in rows on the left and right.
The news that Xuan Ge had requested palace maids from the Imperial Clan Court spread throughout the capital overnight. No one in the capital slept last night, and everyone vaguely guessed that the Crown Prince had broken the rules and that there would be a female ruler in the Eastern Palace.
The civil and military officials stared at the dark circles under his eyes, eager to see the Crown Prince's face after breaking the rules, and even more eager to find out which noble lady was about to rise to prominence.
Xiao Zhian continued to attend to government affairs and discuss matters as usual.
Lin Shifeng secretly put on a sour face.
He couldn't find Lin Huaiyin last night. Following Lin Zhenlie's instructions, Yu Li Xie Ao said that Lin Huaiyin had gone to Shengshui Temple to meditate and fast, and would not return home for several days.
Lin Shifeng was unhappy that he couldn't tell his third sister the secret of being caught red-handed, and the more he looked at Xiao Zhian, the more annoyed he became.
Because the Imperial Guards who stayed behind reported that the vixen had not yet left, it was as if the Third Sister was fasting at the Holy Water Temple while the Crown Prince was having an affair in the Eastern Palace. Lin Shifeng was filled with resentment and had nowhere to vent it.
After the court session ended, Xiao Zhian gave an order, and the memorials were carried to Chengen Hall for review.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Ge respectfully saw Xiao Zhi'an off, inwardly sighing, "Take it easy, Master!" He quickly stopped the two officials, Lu Shi and Ji Yan, from following him, and then looked at Lin Shifeng.
Their eyes met, and Lin Shifeng's gaze was deadly. He stood there with his arms crossed, shaking his head to indicate that he wouldn't follow.
Xuan Ge breathed a heavy sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "How am I supposed to live like this? Miss Lin, you should give me an explanation! And why did you come alone without bringing Miss Yu Li with you?"
Bypassing Lin Shifeng, General Xuange, like a diligent little bee, went to instruct on the preparation of ginseng soup.
Xiao Zhian returned to Chengen Palace.
Taking advantage of this precious moment, Qin Luo observed Xiao Zhian's expression and reported the conversation between Lin Huaiyin and Lin Zhenlie yesterday, as well as what he had observed at the Lin family these days, including Lin's mother, Lin Cuiyue, Lin Mianfeng, and so on. He reported everything, big and small, without missing a single detail.
Xiao Zhi listened quietly, his face calm, only his knuckles unconsciously tightening inside his sleeve.
He heard from Yin Yin that Lin Zhenlie used the greater good of the nation to suppress her desire for revenge, but he didn't know that Lin Zhenlie actually wanted to send her away immediately.
The Lin family and her family were the things Yin Yin cherished most after her rebirth, and she was willing to risk her life for them. Xiao Zhian suddenly understood Yin Yin's despair.
Revenge? No.
Her most reluctant family members drove her away.
Two iron chains were locked around her throat, which was almost the death of Yin Yin.
No wonder she was so heartbroken, so panicked, so irrational, gambling her last remaining possession—her body—on his love.
Cold sweat broke out from his back. Xiao Zhian felt a tightness in his chest. If he had taken a wrong step or answered a wrong question yesterday, it would have been as if he had thrown Yinyin back into the prison of her past life, leaving her helpless and desperate.
How sad, heartbroken, and desperate she must have been...
With swift steps, Xiao Zhian felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He pushed open the palace door, entered the inner chamber, dismissed the palace maids, lifted the curtain, and returned to Lin Huaiyin's side.
Lin Huaiyin, wrapped in a brocade quilt, slept peacefully like a baby, her cheeks flushed and rosy, soft and sweet.
The sound of breathing, whooshing.
Xiao Zhian took off his court robes, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled her into his arms.
With her delicate brows slightly furrowed, Lin Huaiyin twisted her body to find a comfortable position to continue sleeping, the wrinkles on her forehead disappearing in an instant.
She slept soundly, without a trace of sorrow in her eyes.
Xiao Zhian loved her appearance, loved her beauty and charm, and loved her peace and contentment even more.
Xiao Zhian was no ordinary young lady, nor just a fifteen-year-old girl. She was a fierce warrior and a clingy little devil. But if she could occasionally enjoy the simple joys of an ordinary girl, carefree and unrestrained, Xiao Zhian would be happy for her.
Holding the love of his life in his arms, Xiao Zhian felt content and satisfied. He gently kissed her between the eyebrows and let her continue to sleep peacefully.
As dawn broke, Lin Huaiyin was breathing heavily.
Xiao Zhian took the initiative to move a desk and place it on the bed, preparing all the necessary documents, writing materials, and paper.
In this way, he could handle government affairs while also spending time with Lin Huaiyin.
Xiao Zhi'an wants both the empire and his beloved, and he knows how to settle them properly.
As soon as they sat down, while Xiao Zhian was still grinding ink, Lin Huaiyin, drawn by the smell, crawled over, rested her head on his lap, wrapped her arms around his waist, and fell into a sweet and peaceful sleep.
Inside the deep palace tent, the Crown Prince held the vermilion-inked edicts, stacking memorials from one end of the desk to the other, occasionally pausing to gaze at his beloved's sleeping face.
Lin Huaiyin rolled around on his lap, and as she rolled, the fleshy pillow twitched, startling her awake. She met Xiao Zhian's rather troubled expression.
"Hmm?" Lin Huaiyin seemed to understand something, poked the fleshy pillow, and Xiao Zhian trembled all over.
"Your legs are numb?"
"Hmm."
"Pfft!" Lin Huaiyin laughed out loud, mischievously pinching it again.
Xiao Zhian gasped, his vermilion brush staining the memorial with a red blot.
"This leg isn't very useful, but thankfully it's this one."
Lin Huaiyin glanced meaningfully at his lower abdomen, and Xiao Zhian's ears instantly turned red.
The Crown Prince, with memorials and state affairs piled up beside him, was so easily amused. Lin Huaiyin saw that Xiao Zhian had the potential to become a tyrant and wanted to teach him a lesson. However, the memorials were piled up like a small mountain. She calmed herself down, propped herself up with the quilt, and held her small hand to the fleshy pillow.
"Hiss—" Xiao Zhian gasped.
"Just bear with it."
Lin Huaiyin grew up on the training ground and knew how to loosen skin. Her small hands gently massaged her taut leg muscles.
The warmth of the fingertips, with a skillful touch, penetrated the shimmering brocade and reached the tingling, numb skin, gradually easing the unbearable itching on Xiao Zhian's legs.
But Xiao Zhian no longer cared about the sensation in his legs.
Yinyin was taking care of him, like a little wife taking care of her husband.
Xiao Zhian lowered his gaze to Lin Huaiyin's focused profile. Her long eyelashes fluttered in the morning light. The brocade quilt that had been folded across her chest gradually parted, hanging from her fragrant shoulders, about to fall but not quite. Her lover's beautiful body was faintly visible, with red marks on her collarbone and neck, marks of their love.
This scene was absolutely stunning and beautiful, like a painting.
This was a scene that Xiao Zhian had longed for day and night, and he finally achieved it in a single breath.
His gaze was burning hot, searing Lin Huaiyin. She couldn't stand Xiao Zhian's clingy and foolish behavior, so she pinched a bit of skin and pulled hard.
"Ugh!"
Xiao Zhian was in so much pain that tears welled up in his eyes.
Lin Huaiyin pulled the quilt tighter and poked his forehead.
"What are you thinking about when you haven't finished your work?"
"I want a formal status," Xiao Zhian said, looking aggrieved. "I can't just stay with you like this without any official recognition. Isn't your family taking in a son-in-law? What about me?"
"ha?"
Lin Huaiyin's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped onto the bed.
"You agree?" Xiao Zhian leaned closer like a dog. "Then I'll call you Lin Zhian from now on?"
"ha?"
Lin Huaiyin's brain cracked open.
"Lin Zhian married into the Lin family," Xiao Zhian said seriously, "which has absolutely nothing to do with the ancestral rule that Xiao and Lin will never marry. Yinyin, don't you agree?"
"ha?"
Lin Huaiyin couldn't catch her breath and almost choked to death.
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