Rebirth
"Miss!"
Who, who is calling?
"Miss, wake up!"
Who, who is pushing?
"Miss, the young master is back!"
Son-in-law? Who is the son-in-law?
Sinking from the clouds?!
Lin Huaiyin opened her eyes in an instant, her eyes bloodshot. Facing the scorching sunlight, she felt as if she were blind, her ears ringing and she was dizzy, not knowing where she was.
Am I not dead?
Pierced by a thousand arrows and engulfed in flames, with fire roaring in her ears and the stench of burning hair in her nostrils making Lin Huaiyin want to vomit, she was absolutely certain that she had just died in the winter prison of the eighth year of Cheng Sheng.
Now, he's alive again?
Despite the excruciating pain, Lin Huaiyin opened her eyes again and found herself sitting on the ground, tightly hugging the threshold in her arms. She was soaked in water, but strangely, her body was unharmed. People were wiping her sweat and calling her "Miss" repeatedly.
Could it be...?
Her heart clenched violently, and Lin Huaiyin trembled as she gripped the sleeves of the two men. Her eyes slowly rolled, and two familiar faces came into view.
Fish! Crab claws!
They are still alive!
Lin Huaiyin pulled them into her arms, her heart filled with joy yet unable to utter a sound, looking around anxiously—
The blazing sun was blinding, its rays bathing the windowpanes. The world was peaceful and serene. The peonies were magnificent and opulent. Judging from the furnishings, this was Shen Congyun's study. The painting "Sakyamuni Emerging from the Mountain" hanging on the desk had not yet been colored.
This is—Lin Huaiyin racked her brains, recalling the timing of Shen Congyun painting this picture—it was the sixth year of Chengsheng, before the Buddha's Birthday in April. She had only been married into the Shen family for half a year, and no one around her had died yet, nor had anything happened to the Lin family.
Time travel?
What happened just now?
"What nightmare are you having, Miss? Are you having a nightmare?" Yu Li hugged her tightly, her eyes brimming with tears of heartache.
A dream? Was it a dream? Or just a dream?
Before Lin Huaiyin could think it through, footsteps approached from outside.
Tap, tap, tap.
Lin Huaiyin felt a chill run down her spine.
It is sinking from the clouds.
He's here.
Her heart clenched, and the metallic taste of blood surged in Lin Huaiyin's throat. The words of how Shen Congyun and Princess Pingyang slaughtered the entire Lin family rushed into her mind.
Lin Huaiyin pinched her forehead with her ten fingers, her head throbbing with pain.
Shen Congyun walked closer, stood at the doorway, and remained silent with his eyes lowered.
He found Lin Huaiyin waiting for him by the door every day extremely annoying. He hated the feeling of having his path blocked and nowhere to step, just like the Crown Prince standing in front of him and Pingyang every day, showing off his power from time to time, which annoyed him greatly, but he had to endure it.
Thinking of the Crown Prince, Shen Congyun unconsciously rubbed the rhinoceros horn thumb ring on his right index finger, a hint of impatience escaping his notice. Yu Li immediately noticed, helped Lin Huaiyin up, and explained awkwardly, "Young Master, Miss has been waiting for you for too long and is exhausted."
"If you're afraid of getting tired, then don't wait."
Shen Congyun stepped coldly across the threshold and sat down in a nanmu chair.
With their backs to Shen Congyun, Yu Li and Xie Ao both had red eyes, wishing they could bite him to death. But their young lady was too weak, so after Shen Congyun sat down, they could only put on a smile and whisper in Lin Huaiyin's ear: "Let us help the young master change his clothes today, Miss? Miss?"
Lin Huaiyin's mind was still reeling from Shen Congyun's vicious words. A few calls of "Miss" snapped her out of her daze. She couldn't distinguish between dream and reality. Her eyes widened in fury as she caught sight of Shen Congyun in his purple official robes. She lunged at him—you dog of a man, I'll kill you!
However, what greeted her was a foot.
His right foot was casually extended, resting against her calf. Shen Congyun's eyes were indifferent, as if it were some kind of charity.
What's the meaning?
Lin Huaiyin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered that after marriage, she was not well received in the Shen family. Every day she would wait in Shen Congyun's study for him to return home and serve him by changing his shoes and clothes. She used to hold these smelly boots in her arms every day. If she was not allowed to hold them, she would make a fuss.
Shen Congyun didn't like others touching his things. When she got tired, she didn't dare to sit on a chair, let alone a soft couch. She could only hug the threshold and lean against the wall, and she would still be scolded for being improper.
So this is how she used to live.
Lin Huaiyin hadn't noticed before, but now, looking at Shen Congyun's face, his appearance was still top-notch, but his eyebrows and eyes, and the barely suppressed irritability, were clearly written all over his face without any attempt to hide it. Why was she so shameless and insistent on getting closer to him?
Is there any difference between this Shen Congyun and the evil ghost in the imperial prison who divorced her, abandoned her, and killed her whole family?
What if the nightmare was actually the mercy of the gods and Buddhas, or the three months that His Highness the Crown Prince bestowed upon her, a time of shifting stars and changing constellations?
The tearing and burning sensation on her body still carried residual heat. Lin Huaiyin clearly remembered every word Shen Congyun said when she was engulfed in flames.
Before the Buddha's Birthday, the starting point of all the troubles was that incident.
She had to verify it; if the dream was real, she would strike first.
"My husband is back." Lin Huaiyin adjusted her mindset and called out sweetly.
Holding onto Shen Congyun's legs, her fingertips trembled, she felt incredibly nauseous, and her mind kept flashing back to the arrow piercing through the wind and her back.
As the flames engulfed her, Shen Congyun, wearing these same boots, fled from her sight, stomping and clattering in the corridor, recounting his treacherous scheme word by word.
Now, we must be patient and lie low in order to seize the initiative.
Lin Huaiyin lowered her head, trying not to let anyone see her scarlet eyes.
They took off their boots one by one, dusted them off, and placed sachets inside.
After a foot bath and changing clothes, everything proceeded as usual, in an orderly and quiet manner. Once the service was completed, the servants obediently withdrew.
As usual, she dared not linger and annoy him.
However, just as he was about to step back, Shen Congyun spoke.
"Third Sister," he called out.
"Does my husband have any instructions?" Lin Huaiyin withdrew her foot from the threshold, lowered her head and bowed respectfully.
Across the table, Shen Congyun's pupils contracted slightly, his expression scrutinizing.
His young wife knelt obediently across the table. He didn't dare to get up unless he spoke, just like any other day.
But just now, he clearly saw that her face was distorted, her eyes were unfamiliar and resentful, and when she pounced on him, it was not as if she wanted to serve him, but rather she was full of hatred, baring her teeth and claws. If he hadn't raised his foot to block her, he might have been torn apart.
After pondering for a while, Shen Congyun calmly raised his eyebrows and thought to himself: It should be—most likely—an illusion.
Over the past year, she has been meticulously manipulating the situation, first causing her to fall into the hands of thieves and lose her virginity, then destroying her childhood sweetheart's engagement, and finally forcing her to marry into the Shen family with an imperial decree.
The Lin family commands 100,000 imperial guards. The greater their power, the more they must be wary of the Emperor and the Crown Prince. They cannot have too close a relationship with the chief minister and other important officials. Lin Huaiyin is essentially isolated and helpless, relying solely on him for survival. Her joys and sorrows depend on him. She has long been his puppet, at his mercy. It is impossible for her to suddenly develop sharp teeth and claws.
You're overthinking it.
Shen Congyun frowned slightly and tapped his knuckles on the table.
Lin Huaiyin rose in response, feigning concern: "My lord, are you tired from handling state affairs? I've prepared some osmanthus-scented dew—"
"Noisy".
"I know I was wrong."
With her kneecap snapped, Lin Huaiyin knelt down, head bowed and ears tucked in, her movements so practiced they frightened even herself.
This body, so terrified of Shen Congyun, showed none of the bearing of the Lin family's centuries-old military tradition. Lin Huaiyin broke out in a cold sweat, becoming even more convinced that the nightmare was a warning from heaven. Therefore, Shen Congyun's reason for keeping her here today was—
"Eight hundred thousand taels of silver," Shen Congyun said calmly. "How long will it take to gather that much?"
Sure enough, Lin Huaiyin gritted her teeth inwardly: Just like in my dream, he asked me for money, used my dowry to support the White Lotus Sect traitor who humiliated me, and used the Lin family's property to give Princess Pingyang an army to rebel!
The imperial court only spends five million taels of silver to maintain a million-strong army, but he casually asks for eight hundred thousand taels.
So many people died, the Lin family's entire clan was dragged to hell, His Majesty died tragically, and the Crown Prince was imprisoned. All the conspiracies and schemes began with these 800,000 taels of silver.
You have no silver, and you won't get a single copper coin from me.
Lin Huaiyin clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. Every bone, every drop of burned blood, seemed to scream—Kill him! Kill him!
"answer."
Shen Congyun's voice was impatient; this kind of unyielding, taciturn person was annoying to even look at.
However, in his plan to make Princess Pingyang emperor, the Imperial Guard under the control of the Lin family was the biggest obstacle. He had to be patient and use the fool Lin Huaiyin to gradually crush the Lin family and swallow them whole.
Seizing the throne requires money. He had already estimated that Lin Huaiyin's dowry list and the betrothal gifts she brought back would amount to at most 500,000 taels of silver.
A large sum of money could buy a quarter of the capital, but it was far from enough to support a private army; the Lin family would have to make up the shortfall.
Let's give her a heads-up and suggest she go back to the Lin residence to make some money.
Shen Congyun got up and walked around to Lin Huaiyin's side.
“Something happened at the Ministry of War, and Minister Zhao came to me for help. I couldn’t ignore it.”
You must know that by marrying you, I have violated the taboo of a high-ranking official marrying into the Imperial Guard. Now, the Crown Prince is wary of me, court officials are estranged from me, and I am constrained at every turn in court, making my path extremely difficult. That is why Minister Zhao has come to me for help. I am very willing to assist, but unfortunately, I am penniless and unable to do so. I can only ask Third Sister to think of a solution.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Li and Xie Ao, who were outside the door, felt an urge to pound their heads against the wall.
They're tired of hearing the same old excuses: marrying a young lady is taboo, the Crown Prince is pressuring them, and the Shen family is being wronged.
So, marrying our young lady has brought you endless suffering!
Then you shouldn't marry him!
Miss is already engaged. Young Master Su is from a family of upright people and doesn't care about being framed by thieves and having her reputation tarnished. If it weren't for your persistent pestering, Lord Shen, why would Miss have to marry into this family and become a subservient servant?
Such absurd statements, yet the young lady believed them, and her backbone was shattered inch by inch.
The two maids were itching with rage, frantically stomping on the ground. Lin Huaiyin, whose hearing had been sharpened in the imperial prison, heard them clearly. Remembering how her stupidity had caused their deaths in the mansion, she felt a surge of hatred that bled from her heart.
Patience. Lin Huaiyin told herself that she must be patient.
This is a good opportunity for her to go out and take action. He wants her money, and she wants his life. Only by going out can she take a chance.
Lin Huaiyin pinched her palm until blood beaded, then clenched her sleeve tightly and gently replied to Shen Congyun:
"It's all my fault, I understand. But 800,000 is a huge sum, so I beg my husband to allow me to return to the Lin residence. Don't worry, my husband, I will say that the Buddha's Birthday is approaching and I dreamed that Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea sent me a Qilin, which requires money for offerings. I will make sure that my father and mother do not misunderstand."
"Okay, go ahead." Shen Congyun was very satisfied with her understanding. His gaze swept over Lin Huaiyin's head as if he were looking at a well-behaved object that had been placed in its proper position.
Sensing the smug look in Shen Congyun's eyes, Lin Huaiyin knew she had steadied him. She placed her hands lightly on her left waist, bowed respectfully, and then carefully rose and retreated step by step.
Outside the study, the sun shone brightly.
Lin Huaiyin's ears still echoed with Shen Congyun's own account: He colluded with Princess Pingyang to send White Lotus Sect rebels to steal weapons from the Ministry of War, and then suppressed the Ministry of War's urgent report, using her money to fill the vacancies, thereby holding the Minister of War and the entire Ministry of War hostage. He even kindly revealed the location of the weapons' storage.
Erwang Temple.
Princess Pingyang's territory.
He commits numerous evils and loves to boast; he truly has no sense of mortality.
She will reclaim the weapons and use this incident to draw the Crown Prince into the scheme, making him discover Princess Pingyang's ambition.
Lin Huaiyin looked up at the sun, the golden sunlight framing her face, the fine downy hairs filled with shimmering light.
The sun is shining brightly; it's a perfect day to divorce a husband and send the adulterous couple to hell.
She took Yu Li and Xie Ao's arms, one on each side, and said, "Let's pack up, we're going to take care of something important."
Going home to ask for money? What kind of big deal is that? Yu Li was exasperated and couldn't help but feel a little disgusted with Lin Huaiyin. She pulled her arm and sighed, "Miss, don't be like this. If the old lady hears about it, she'll scold you again."
"If she has to criticize this, why doesn't she just fly to the moon?"
Lin Huaiyin raised her eyebrows disdainfully, grabbed the two of them, and hurriedly walked out. As soon as they entered the corridor, they were met by Shen Congyun's personal guards.
The guard stopped far away and moved aside, his sword clattering against a bench.
Lin Huaiyin trembled, feeling an excruciating pain as if a thousand arrows were piercing her heart, causing blood to seep from her bones and flesh.
This was the man who raised his crossbow at her in the imperial prison, and it was also the man Shen Congyun confessed to: he killed her fourth sister.
The hatred for killing my sister is irreconcilable.
In an instant, Lin Huaiyin realized that five days later, Shen Congyun's younger brother would be returning to Beijing after finishing his disaster relief work.
A welcoming family dinner is just the right time to send him off on his journey.
However, the most important thing right now is still the 800,000 taels of silver.
Suppressing her hatred for the time being, Lin Huaiyin led Yu Li and Xie Ao straight past.
Back at Qingyin Pavilion, where they lived, the two women urged Lin Huaiyin to take a bath and change out of her wet clothes.
However, Lin Huaiyin always felt a fire burning on her back, and cold sweat never stopped from head to toe. She figured that changing her clothes would be useless, so she sat on the stool and poured herself some cold tea.
"Pack up some gold and silver jewelry."
She instructed Yu Li and Xie Ao: "Shen Congyun needs money. Let's go out and set up a stall in a crowded place so that the whole capital will know that I am selling my dowry to raise money for my husband. I am a very virtuous and good wife."
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