I'll gamble your life and fortune.
Leaving the Eastern Palace.
Xie Xincun went to the inner palace, which was separated by a wall.
The speed was too fast; Lin Huaiyin couldn't open her eyes. The wind whistled in her ears as she rose and fell with Xie Xincun, finally stopping on the ridge of the highest and most magnificent Taiji Hall roof.
As far as the eye could see, the Imperial Guards were stationed and patrolling, maintaining perfect order.
Xie Xincun took away the silver needles, and Lin Huaiyin was finally able to speak. Her gaze swept over the nearest Imperial Guard, but she remained silent and did not call for help. Xie Xincun's strength was unfathomable. If she rashly alerted the Imperial Guard, and was once again tricked like before, wouldn't that cause trouble for her father and make people accuse the Imperial Guard of incompetence?
To avoid attracting attention, Lin Huaiyin kept her eyes straight ahead, avoiding provoking Xie Xincun, and focused on finding a solution.
If she had called for help, it would have been fine. If she hadn't, Xie Xincun would have found her to be extraordinary. He raised his arm, pulled her to his chest, wrapped his arms around her neck, and rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Clever girl, who taught you to be so obedient?" He praised her word by word, making Lin Huaiyin's forehead throb with pain. Suddenly, she stretched out her arm forward, clenching her fist in the air as if grasping the heavens and earth, and said—
"Xingchao has excellent feng shui, perfect for adding to your dowry. I, Hu Shoulin, am skilled in both medicine and martial arts. My ancestor, Tiankuang, was known as the 'Medical Master' and 'Army Demon,' and once led five thousand disciples to destroy the Liao Dynasty and establish the New Liao Dynasty. Now, I, Hu Shoulin, have thirty thousand disciples, and we're bored out of our minds in the mountains. Clever girl, do you calculate how long it will take to destroy Xingchao?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyin sneered: "So the New Liao Kingdom has long harbored wolfish ambitions."
"Not too early," Xie Xincun chuckled. "Just now, the Crown Prince of Xingchao wanted to challenge the fire for you. How could I just hand over the beauty? I only need to detour through Japan, promise to join forces, and I expect Japan will definitely use all its national strength to hold the south firmly. By the time I return to China and lead my troops, Xingchao will be attacked from both sides. Do you think the neighboring countries will be moved by the mere sight of it?"
Xie Xincun described the bloody battle scene in a light touch.
He is the young master of a powerful family who can turn the world upside down with a flick of his wrist; a single silver needle can determine life and death, and a single thought can bring down a nation.
Having traveled extensively for many years, he had long since discerned the ills of the various countries on the continent, much like identifying medicinal herbs. With a slight shift in his mind, he devised a prescription to conquer all the countries and unify the continent.
This potent medicine could help him surpass the achievements of his ancestor Tiankuang, allowing Hu Shoulin to reign supreme over the entire continent. However, due to the compassionate heart of a healer suppressing his desire for power, Xie Xincun ultimately did not put it into practice.
Now that he's run into an interesting girl, before he can even savor her, the Crown Prince, the regent, threatens to fight to the death in order to take her away.
"We'll meet on the battlefield." These four words are enough to prove Lin Huaiyin's worth. Xie Xincun decided to take her completely. He admired Xiao Zhian's decisiveness and was happy to leave a crack in the door of his heart and enjoy the pleasures of life.
He longed to let loose and have some fun. Before, he had no reason to be restrained, but now the excuse was right in his arms. He was overjoyed. Before him suddenly appeared a new world, and his turbulent emotions surged up. A strange and indescribable excitement reminded him of the moment when he achieved mastery of both medicine and martial arts and stood at the peak of Tiger Guarding the Forest.
The clever girl pointed her arrows at the traitors in Crane Cry Mountain and slaughtered everyone in her path. She was not afraid of blood and even planned to cut off her own leg to avoid disaster.
She is the catalyst that inspires and harmonizes everything, and she is qualified to stand by his side. She is a gift from heaven, and not accepting her would be against the will of heaven.
Xie Xincun had no doubt that Lin Huaiyin would enjoy playing chess alongside him, conquering and swallowing everything, and standing at the pinnacle of the continent.
The more excited Xie Xincun became, the more disgusted Lin Huaiyin felt. A shiver ran through her, unable to hide her fear. Xie Xincun hugged her tightly with heartache, laughing to comfort her: "Don't worry, I won't drag this out for long. What if the war becomes a stalemate, and people find out that the Crown Prince of Xingchao provoked my Xin Liao because of you, leading to the destruction of our country? You clever girl, wouldn't you become a femme fatale who brings ruin to the country? Be good, and I'll cherish you and even protect your Lin family, how about that?"
Xie Xincun continued talking to himself, while Lin Huaiyin broke out in a cold sweat.
The phrase "joining forces with Japan, facing enemies on both sides" was enough to give the Daxing Empire a severe beating.
Lin Huaiyin found it hard to believe that someone like Xie Xincun could have 30,000 in Hu Shoulin.
With 30,000 Xie Xincun followers and fanatical supporters like Gongyang Yan, Hu Shoulin truly lived up to his name. Once these 30,000 people were to come out in full force, no country on land could withstand them. At this moment, Xie Xincun had his sights set on Daxing, but Princess Pingyang had already betrayed Daxing to Japan.
Now beset by internal and external troubles, at a critical juncture of life and death, one wrong move could lead to the downfall of Daxing and Xiao Zhi'an. Lin Huaiyin is trapped by Xie Xincun's side. She is afraid, but even more fortunate—fortunate that she learned of Xie Xincun's thoughts at the first moment and was able to find a way to turn the situation around.
What weaknesses might someone like Xie Xincun have?
Lin Huaiyin's mind raced—background, appearance, talent, temperament, knowledge...
The more Lin Huaiyin reviewed the records, the slower her heartbeat became, the sweaty her palms grew, and the more desperate she felt.
Xie Xincun is an impeccable person, comparable to Xiao Zhian, yet completely different from Xiao Zhian.
Xiao Zhian possessed a strong sense of responsibility as the crown prince from a young age, being prudent, thoughtful, gentle, and noble. Xie Xincun, on the other hand, was skilled in both medicine and martial arts, one still and one active. He focused solely on self-cultivation, healing the sick and saving lives, or displaying arrogance and domineering attitude towards outsiders. Consequently, he was lawless, transcending the Three Realms and the Five Elements, and disregarding rules.
Where can you find a weakness in such a monster?
Lin Huaiyin refused to give up. She replayed every detail of her encounter with Xie Xincun in her mind, frame by frame, word by word, recalling his words, until she reached the very beginning, when Xie Xincun appeared before Yu Li's bedside and said:
"With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, I came to Xingchao from the Xin Liao Kingdom, originally intending to collect exotic herbs and visit an old friend. However, I was shocked to learn that General Lin was seriously injured in the battle of Heming Mountain, so I came uninvited..."
Oh, right.
This is it!
What attracts him—
He was interested in—
He couldn't resist—
You can negotiate with him.
He absolutely cannot break through—
Lin Huaiyin grasped at a sliver of possibility.
She was going to take a gamble.
Turning her head, her eyebrows lifted and her eyes shone brightly. Xie Xincun was delighted, thinking that the clever girl had submitted to his admiration.
However, Lin Huaiyin smiled and said, "Young Master Xie is a dragon among men, and I would be more than happy to have you as my mistress."
"Um?"
Xie Xincun raised the corners of his eyes and smiled indulgently, not caring about Lin Huaiyin's fierce words.
He didn't know Lin Huaiyin well enough, but her scheming little face was really cute and made him really look forward to seeing her.
With victory in hand and wisdom firmly in his grasp, Xie Xincun smiled without interrupting, watching to see how the girl he had his eye on would struggle.
Lin Huaiyin continued, "I have an ailment here. If Young Master Xie can diagnose the cause and cure it, I will honor myself to become your wife. On the contrary, if you cannot cure it, I will take full control of your life and fortune."
"Including the entire Xinliaohu Forest Guard," Lin Huaiyin emphasized.
"Are you a snake? You have such a big appetite!" Xie Xincun laughed.
There's no illness in the world that he can't diagnose at a glance. In his view, this isn't a bet at all; it's just that the clever girl wants to be with him but is too shy to admit it and wants to find a way to back down.
Playing hard to get, feigning reluctance while welcoming, shy and timid – these are the typical thoughts of a young woman, and Xie Xincun experienced them firsthand for the first time, finding them quite novel.
You should pamper your own daughter.
Xie Xincun nodded and let go of his hand to signify the start of the betting game. Before winning, he maintained a gentlemanly demeanor, which also meant that once he won, he could take whatever he wanted.
"Where is the patient?" Xie Xincun's words drifted away on the wind.
Lin Huaiyin's eyebrows were like crescent moons, and she smiled gently, laughing out loud—the fish had taken the bait! She had caught a really big one! This trick really worked on him!
Strike while the iron is hot!
She carefully stepped on the golden glazed tiles, turned her back, and Xie Xincun thought she was going to point out a direction, but unexpectedly she slowly sat down on the roof ridge of the Taiji Hall.
The Taiji Hall is the most prestigious of all the palaces in the imperial palace, and it is only used for important ceremonies such as the emperor's enthronement, the appointment of the empress, and the departure of a large army.
The wind was strong on the rooftop. Lin Huaiyin settled down, her gaze drifting towards the East Palace, towards the unseen Xiao Zhian. She silently shared the news of her impending big catch, while simultaneously using both hands to undress—
And so, right before Xie Xincun's eyes, a thin layer of pale yellow outer garment loosened and slipped off, piling up around Lin Huaiyin's waist.
What does this mean? Xie Xincun was puzzled. He had examined Lin Huaiyin's pulse, seen through her body, and knew everything about her. Her infertility was very simple, and she had no strange symptoms. Why would she suddenly take off her clothes and show off her figure?
What was she trying to do? Seduce him? Right here in the middle of the palace, where everyone could see him?
Did she think that if she slept with him, he would be infatuated and lose his accuracy in diagnosis? Xie Xincun smiled—what an interesting silly girl. He liked her even more since he had no choice but to force himself on her.
As the thin shirt was slowly peeled away, and the collars came undone, the skin below the neck gradually revealed its translucent and smooth texture, like jade.
Amidst the brocade-covered landscape, the young girl, her robes fluttering in the wind, resembled a half-naked apsara from Dunhuang, carrying a basket to offer to Buddha. She floated gracefully in the air, dreamlike and ethereal, breathtakingly beautiful. Xie Xincun, having traversed the vast continent and witnessed countless beautiful scenes, felt his heart pounding as he gazed intently. Inadvertently, he raised his hand in mid-air, but just as he was about to touch her, a menacing black and purple glint suddenly shot into his pupils.
The last piece of gauze dress hung down to her waist, the thin straps of the gold-embroidered bodice swaying and falling across her lower back, revealing the twisted scars on Lin Huaiyin's back.
That was in the prison of her past life, where she was pierced by ten thousand arrows and burned by raging flames. It was the mark of Lin Huaiyin crawling back from hell as a vengeful demon, which she now revealed to Xie Xincun without reservation.
Lin Huaiyin gazed silently at the East Palace, willing to gamble her two lifetimes' secrets on Xie Xincun's life and fortune, on everything he had.
She wanted to earn 30,000 tigers to guard the forest and starve the tigers for herself, Xiao Zhian, and the Great Xing Empire, and then drive the tigers to devour the wolves, taking over Japan without lifting a finger!
In the center of the roof ridge, Lin Huaiyin sat calmly. Behind her, Xie Xincun's breath caught in his throat, his eyes trembled, and he bent over, his gaze and even his soul being drawn into the wounds.
One sat there, the other gazing intently, and the two remained there for an unknown amount of time. Their fluttering robes attracted the attention of the Imperial Guards. Xie Xincun's ears trembled, and a burst of silver light shot from his fingertips, blinding the surrounding Imperial Guards for a moment.
In a flash, Xie Xincun took off his clothes, wrapped them around Lin Huaiyin's body, picked her up horizontally, and kicked open the door of a bedroom in the inner palace in a swift and agile manner.
——
At the same time.
Xiao Zhian met Lin Cuiyue at the Lin residence, helped Lin's mother get rid of the matchmaker, and finally waited for Lin Zhenlie to return home after being discharged from the army.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Lin Zhenlie entered the main hall and bowed.
"General, there's no need for such formalities." Xiao Zhian waved for him to sit down. "I've come for your daughter, Miss Lin. May I ask where she is now?"
Lin Zhenlie sat down at the lower end of the table, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, "May I ask, Your Highness, what brings you to see my daughter?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhian did not reply, but leisurely picked up the teacup and smelled the aroma of the tea.
Lin Zhenlie raised his fist, wondering to himself: Yesterday it was just a guess, but now the Crown Prince is actually coming to our door to ask for people. What kind of behavior is this?
At this moment, Lin Zhenlie was extremely grateful that he had arranged for Xie Xincun to take Lin Huaiyin away in advance.
Upon hearing that Lin Cuiyue had broken his leg, Xie Xincun had visited the mansion a couple of days ago. Last night, Lin Zhenlie lingered in front of Lin Huaiyin's courtyard for a while, and then went to Tianxiang Pavilion in the middle of the night to find Xie Xincun and ask for his help.
Throughout the entire Daxing Empire, apart from the Emperor, Xiao Zhian, and Princess Pingyang, Lin Zhenlie was the only one who knew about the events of fifteen years ago and saw through the conspiracy behind Princess Pingyang's series of evil deeds, such as having an affair with Shen Congyun, colluding with the White Lotus Sect rebels, and besieging Heming Mountain.
Princess Pingyang hated her father and plotted a rebellion.
The emperor was chronically ill and his power was waning. He then supported Liu Cang and Shen Congyun to suppress the crown prince.
Caught between her father and her younger sister, and based on Lin Zhenlie's understanding of the Crown Prince, all of Xiao Zhian's current actions point to a purge, and a chaotic struggle is about to break out between the Princess's residence and the Imperial Palace.
Shen Congyun was promoted by the Imperial Palace. In order to protect his daughter, Lin Zhenlie had no choice but to bring out the Emperor Taizu's Golden Spear, which was tantamount to revealing that he was leaving the scene to support the Crown Prince. At this critical juncture, Lin Zhenlie was most afraid that Princess Pingyang and the Imperial Palace would use Lin Huaiyin to attack Xiao Zhian.
Regardless of whether the two have an affair or how far it has progressed, if even the slightest rumor leaks out, the Crown Prince's Palace, and even the Lin family, will instantly become the target of public criticism.
To break this deadlock, the best course of action for the Baolin family is to arrange a marriage for their daughter and send her away temporarily.
This is Lin Zhenlie's judgment.
Moreover, Xie Xincun is a rare and exceptional talent. If his daughter goes with him to roam the world, even if they cannot become husband and wife, they can still be siblings and see the outside world. This will help her forget the pain of the past year, which will be entirely beneficial to her.
The Tiger Guardian Forest behind Xie Xincun is an increasingly terrifying force. As the guardian of the Daxing Empire, Lin Zhenlie secretly hopes that the Lin family can infiltrate the Tiger Guardian Forest to observe it closely. He believes in the experience his daughter has gained over the past year and in the bloodline of the Lin family. Therefore, he does not speak out but makes arrangements in secret, hoping that Lin Huaiyin can inherit the Lin family's 200-year-old tradition of loyalty to the emperor and protection of the country, and explore the depths of the Tiger Guardian Forest.
Lin Zhenlie is the father, the head of the Lin family, and the gatekeeper of the two-hundred-year-old Daxing Empire. His position determines how he raises his children. Xiao Zhian is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, but he cannot interfere with the whereabouts of his daughter.
He is not qualified.
Lin Zhenlie raised his fist and said frankly, "I'm not afraid to tell you something that Your Highness might laugh at, but my daughter divorced her husband yesterday, and suitors have been lining up to propose. I've chosen a husband for her, and the two of them are probably out having fun in private. Young people are always looking for fun, and Your Highness probably won't be able to wait for my daughter to return home. If there's nothing urgent, I'll respectfully see Your Highness off."
With that, Lin Zhenlie stood up to see him off.
Xiao Zhian took a leisurely sip of tea, raised his phoenix eyes and sneered: "I do not agree to this marriage."
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