They parted ways in a clear-headed and rational manner.
A cold wind sweeps by, and sunlight shines.
Lin Huaiyin suddenly revealed her true form as a demon, with empty eyes and an expressionless face, and grabbed Xiao Zhian by the neck.
"Your Highness!"
Xuan Ge and his guards were greatly alarmed.
Xiao Zhian shook his head with difficulty, forbidding them from approaching.
Princess Pingyang, wearing a thin robe, was overjoyed to see the evil spirits demanding her life as soon as she arrived. Leaning against the door frame, she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, slowly making circles around it, sighing with emotion at how deeply and foolishly Xiao Zhian loved Lin Huaiyin.
If he dies like this, he will have died innocently, and he can drag the entire Lin family down to hell, saving a lot of trouble.
Princess Pingyang was delighted with the outcome, and she walked barefoot across the threshold, enjoying the play.
Xiao Zhian held Lin Huaiyin in his arms, his arms supporting her weight, his neck receiving her resentment.
His throat was in excruciating pain, and he instinctively opened his mouth, gasping for breath, but couldn't get any air in.
His body was severed in two by Lin Huaiyin. Hot blood rushed to his head, his temples throbbed wildly, his chest screamed that he had no oxygen, and flames quickly rose in his lungs, threatening to explode at any moment.
A tearing sensation swept through his body, his ears hissed and rang. Xiao Zhian tried to see Lin Huaiyin clearly, but his vision gradually darkened and narrowed, and black and white spots kept jumping on Lin Huaiyin's face.
His strength and consciousness rapidly weakened, Xiao Zhian's mind became hazy, his limbs were powerless, and he finally felt the shadow of death looming over him. Yinyin had not let go, he had lost his gamble, he was going to die, he was falling, he was going to fall completely into a hell without Yinyin.
But Xiao Zhian was not willing to give up.
He was her cure; he couldn't give up halfway and leave without curing her.
His vision was completely dark, his body swayed precariously, and the bone-chilling cold extinguished all sparks. In this utterly boundless darkness, Xiao Zhian saw Lin Huaiyin for the first time in a hallucination—she was lying on the food table, fast asleep like an infant. He pinched her ear, and she woke up, took his hand, and called out, "Your Highness."
Xiao Zhian could no longer see or hear anything. He felt himself floating in mid-air, one hand holding his beloved Yinyin tightly, the other hand slowly rising as if lifted by soft, white clouds, until it reached a lump of cool, soft flesh. He gently pinched and kneaded it.
Seeing this, Xuan Ge gritted his teeth and withdrew his raised foot.
"Yinyin."
Xiao Zhian's lips were cyanotic, and he could not make a sound.
Lin Huaiyin felt a cold, stinging pain in her earlobe, and in an instant, she was transported back to the Imperial Prison, where the white-robed Crown Prince's lips touched her ear with warmth.
"You must live." He pinched her hard.
Yes, I want to live!
Lin Huaiyin released her grip, opened her eyes, and saw Xiao Zhian's face close to hers. She was perfectly clear-headed and recognized that the person in front of her was not the one in her heart. Xiao Zhian was not His Highness, nor was he her ally. She pushed Xiao Zhian away with one arm and landed firmly on her feet.
Xuan Ge rushed forward and caught the unconscious Xiao Zhi'an. He checked Xiao Zhi'an's heartbeat and breath, his face turning pale with panic. But to his surprise, he found that Xiao Zhi'an's lips were upturned and he was smiling.
At the door, Princess Pingyang turned and left, her thin robe shimmering as she swayed, as if lamenting for her mistress: what a fine show, what a pity.
Lin Huaiyin looked around and met the gaze of the two guards who were trembling.
Lin Huaiyin's head throbbed. She didn't know why she was here. She had just been about to strangle Princess Pingyang, but she had accidentally strangled the wrong person, Xiao Zhian.
She stared at the guard, wanting to ask if she had just entered the room. As she opened her mouth, memories flooded back—she had indeed gone in, and had even been pulled into Princess Pingyang's arms, where she had heard a disgusting remark.
She underestimated Princess Pingyang's viciousness, but Princess Pingyang also underestimated her. Her coquettish voice sounded disgusting, but Lin Huaiyin stopped herself after spitting it out.
She knew Xiao Zhian well enough. He was a gentleman who could remain unmoved even with a woman in his lap. His awkward actions and reactions during their time together were not something he could fake. Princess Pingyang was just trying to sow discord between them and was doing it intentionally.
After seeing through the scheme, Lin Huaiyin turned the tables and lured Princess Pingyang to kill her, which allowed her to seize the knife and kill her in return. Everything was going smoothly until, at the crucial moment, a jinx appeared, causing all her efforts to be in vain.
Lin Huaiyin glanced back at Xiao Zhian, somewhat regretting not strangling him—he loved protecting his sister so much, so the two siblings might as well hug each other and rot together, never to be separated again.
Having failed at the last hurdle, and with no point in waiting any longer, Lin Huaiyin turned and left to start afresh.
Upon seeing this, Xuan Ge ordered his guards to take care of Xiao Zhi'an and chased after them to stop him.
"Miss Lin the Third".
"Hmm?" Lin Huaiyin stopped.
“Miss Lin,” Xuan Ge clasped his hands in greeting, “I am a rough man and speak bluntly, please don’t mind.”
"I mind. If you don't like what I say, don't say it." Lin Huaiyin took a step and walked away.
Xuan Ge stepped in front of Lin Huaiyin, blocking her way with his arm, and said, "Didn't you say you owed me a favor? Please hear me out."
Lin Huaiyin frowned as she thought of Yu Li, and looked up to ask, "Are you sure you want to exchange that favor for this?"
“Confirmed.” Xuan Ge composed himself, bowed, and said, “Miss Lin, His Highness has detained Princess Pingyang’s trusted confidants and placed the princess under house arrest. He interrogated the Yuan family father and son and the White Lotus Sect traitor overnight, and just now he also interrogated Shen Zaiyuan. Many pieces of evidence have been clearly obtained, and Princess Pingyang will definitely not escape death.”
When you arrived here, His Highness was compiling the confession, saying he would present it to you along with the medicine he was to deliver. His Highness has been doing everything in his power to deal with Princess Pingyang, so why couldn't you wait for him? If you truly have a reason why you must immediately execute Princess Pingyang, you can simply state it clearly. Would His Highness not listen to you?
To be frank, if you were to truly kill Princess Pingyang, you would still need to hide behind His Highness and rely on him to protect you. If that were the case, how would the world judge your actions and the consequences? Would history meticulously record it as a princess's rebellion or a romantic entanglement? Don't you care about your own reputation, or the reputation of the Lin family for centuries?
Furthermore, Princess Pingyang's rebellion did indeed implicate you, but the one who truly harmed you was Shen Congyun. Why are you fixated on Princess Pingyang? Even if it was for Yu Li's sake, would you really be so angry with the princess that you even considered taking her life?
I have served Your Highness for many years and have never seen you fall in love with any woman. He protects you, shelters you from all harm, and has done so much for you. Isn't that good enough for you? Why are you affectionate when you are happy, but speak ill of me when you are angry?
"Are you aware of your fickle nature and extreme difficulty in serving me? Are you aware that if you weren't His Highness's beloved, I wouldn't have met Yu Li, and there would have been no way I could have saved her? I wish to ask on behalf of His Highness: in your heart, what exactly is His Highness? Do you have even a shred of sincerity towards him? How could you bring yourself to kill him?"
In one breath, Xuan Ge vented his anger to the fullest. After questioning her, his face was red and his neck was thick. His leopard-like eyes fixed on Lin Huaiyin, determined to make her explain herself before he would stop.
After catching his breath and getting his breathing a little more even, Xuan Ge didn't get a reply from Lin Huaiyin. Instead, the resentment on his face gradually subsided, replaced by an incredulous astonishment. Lin Huaiyin in his pupils looked blank and had a dazed look in her eyes, as if she hadn't heard a word. She fluttered her eyelashes innocently, as if she wanted him to say it again.
In an instant, Xuan Ge realized that his efforts were in vain. Asking more would be pointless. Lin Huaiyin not only lacked sincerity, but she was also heartless.
How could His Highness fall for a heartless woman? A fire ignited in Xuan Ge's heart, and as the flames raged, his internal organs felt empty. He felt a profound emptiness and felt sorry for Xiao Zhi'an.
He stopped waiting for an answer and walked straight to Xiao Zhian's side. He only hoped that Lin Huaiyin would continue like this and never get close to Xiao Zhian, so that they could each accept their fate and have nothing to do with each other's lives.
The military boots clattered as they walked away into the distance.
The footsteps, one after another, grew clearer with each passing moment.
Lin Huaiyin was in a daze, her ears ringing. She had closed her ears and shut off the passage as soon as she heard the first words "Your Highness." She hadn't heard anything and didn't want to hear anything.
But Xuan Ge's footsteps brought her back to the cave from the previous night, back to the moment she found Yu Li and regained her.
The joy, happiness, and emotion of that moment reclaimed Lin Huaiyin's senses; in that instant, her heart was filled with nothing but Yu Li and Xiao Zhi'an.
It was Xiao Zhian who told her not to cry and to go interrogate the White Lotus Sect that they braved the rain to go up the mountain.
Because it was Xuan Ge, who was by Xiao Zhian's side, he spared no effort to save Yu Li.
Because she was overjoyed, believing that by returning and killing Princess Pingyang, she could be with Xiao Zhian...
Thoughts are like a spinning top; a sharp whip in the opposite direction sends them tumbling backward in an instant.
Lin Huaiyin finally remembered how she had thrown herself into Xiao Zhian's arms, crying and begging him to save Yu Li, to save her. Back then, they were so close, and she had taken a gamble and chosen to believe him. He hadn't disappointed her at all; he had found Yu Li for her. He was someone she could trust, someone she could trust, and he was on her side.
But why, why?
She came back to him overjoyed, with so much to say to him. She came to be affectionate, to thank him, to discuss things with him, and to plan for the future with him. Why has it turned out like this?
Lin Huaiyin shook her head blankly, raised her hands tremblingly, and felt the touch of Xiao Zhian's neck through her fingers. She stared at her hands, and slowly, it seemed that she understood again.
These are murderous hands.
It's generally not suitable for hugging.
Times change.
To save Yu Li, the more helpers the better.
Killing Princess Pingyang is her sole mission since her rebirth.
Xiao Zhian wants to take the main road; let him go.
Lin Huaiyin has her own narrow path, which she is used to walking and does not need anyone to accompany her.
From beginning to end, those who could be with her were in her heart, and only in her heart; they never left.
Lin Huaiyin realized her mistake: she shouldn't have sought help from outsiders, and it was a mistake to be attached to Xiao Zhian's tenderness. He wasn't really him at all, and it was the right time to end things.
The crossroads where they would go their separate ways loomed before Lin Huaiyin.
Behind him, Xuan Ge supported Xiao Zhi'an, their steps unsteady, scraping the ground.
A flash of white light stung Lin Huaiyin's mind. Her hand tightened, as if she were gripping Xiao Zhian again. Her purplish-brown lips parted, and Xiao Zhian was calling her name. He could easily get rid of her with a single glance or movement. The people around him could kill a hundred of her, yet he endured it, calling her name...
"Yinyin."
Xiao Zhian's weak voice sounded from behind.
A shadow loomed over her from behind, a silhouette that Lin Huaiyin recognized most.
Xiao Zhian was panting.
Lin Huaiyin felt the sensation of her hand choking the air in his throat.
Her heart trembled. She didn't understand why he was coming closer again. Hadn't he had enough? Why was he coming closer again? Was he sick? Did he like being pinched?
Lin Huaiyin couldn't understand it, and without thinking, she took off running.
"Yinyin! Cough cough cough!"
Xiao Zhian's voice was hoarse, he couldn't reach out and grab it, and he coughed so hard he bent over.
Lin Huaiyin moved like a mad rabbit, disregarding the corridor, she ran through the muddy courtyard and ran back to her residence. Xie Ao happily pulled her to Yu Li's side.
"Miss."
Yu Li's hoarse, low voice was exactly the same as Xiao Zhi'an's.
"Yu Li, you're awake!!!"
Lin Huaiyin didn't have time to be happy. She rushed to the bedside and touched Yu Li's burning forehead. "How are you? Can you move your hands and feet? Is anything in pain? Tell me quickly if anything is uncomfortable!"
"It hurts everywhere." Yu Li's face was deathly pale, and she couldn't finish her sentence.
Lin Huaiyin was heartbroken and went crazy. She jumped up, clenched her fists, and her eyes were bloodshot—she wanted to kill someone! She couldn't help it!
Physician Lu felt her neck pulse throb and weakly took a step back.
The rubbing of the fabric caught Lin Huaiyin's attention. She turned around to recognize the person and suddenly remembered Xiao Zhian's purplish-red face. Her murderous aura immediately dissipated by more than half.
"Um, Physician Lu," Lin Huaiyin scratched her nose, her voice muffled, "General Xuange doesn't look too well, why don't you go and take a look?"
Upon hearing that Xuan Ge was not doing well, Yu Li immediately chimed in, "Go and see him quickly, I'm fine, you don't need to stay with him all the time."
Upon hearing this, Physician Lu nodded, indicating that he would be right back.
He was indeed worried, after all, Xuan Ge was Xiao Zhi'an's personal bodyguard, and if something happened to him, it was the same as if something happened to Xiao Zhi'an, so Physician Lu dared not neglect him in the slightest.
Once everyone left, only Lin Huaiyin and Yu Lixieao remained in the room.
The three of them hadn't been alone together for a long time, so they called for hot water and, while wiping Yu Li's body and changing her dressings, discussed how to get the jujube wood bow back from Lin Shifeng.
——
Physician Lu went back to find Xuan Ge.
Xuan Ge stood there perfectly fine.
The tiny handprint on Xiao Zhian's neck terrified Physician Lu.
He wasn't sure what was going on between Xiao Zhian and Lin Huaiyin, and he couldn't understand why they insisted on having him pinch them and the other pinch him, resorting to such reckless tactics.
Young people don't know what's important.
After much deliberation, Physician Lu decided to return to the capital and visit the Imperial Medical Academy to find some legitimate copies of the "Fire Avoidance Diagram" for the two of them to refer to.
Xiao Zhian had a sore throat, but he was actually very happy inside.
He clutched the jade pendant that Lin Huaiyin had returned, his mind still filled with the thought that Lin Huaiyin had finally let go and couldn't bear to strangle him.
She was so enraged and completely lost her mind that it wouldn't be surprising if she strangled him to death, but in the end, she still loved him and regained her senses for him.
Moreover, Lin Huaiyin's hasty escape was quite adorable, and Xiao Zhian wasn't angry at all. Her running away meant she knew she was wrong, that she cared about him, and that she was afraid to face him for the time being. In a few days, she would come running back and snuggle into his arms.
She feels uncomfortable if she doesn't kiss and rub against him for a day.
Xiao Zhian seized on Lin Huaiyin's weakness. He was confident that the small conflict just now was a test in his eyes—he did not back down, and she did not kill him.
They loved each other, and even with misunderstandings and estrangement, they remained in love.
Xiao Zhian was overjoyed and couldn't help but smile.
Seeing his infatuated expression, Xuan Ge realized he was still thinking about Lin Huaiyin. Gritting his teeth, he prepared to reveal the secret.
"Your Highness." Xuan Ge turned to face Xiao Zhian, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. There is something I have been keeping from you, concerning Miss Lin the Third."
"What is it?"
Xiao Zhian's expression turned serious.
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