To seal off or blockade.
The candlelight was straight.
Lin Huaiyin held her breath and read the line of words over and over again.
"Yinyin, Xie Xin is in my hands, don't worry."
A single sheet of paper, light as a feather, bearing the two characters "Zhi'an," gradually curled and became brittle after being heated by the candlelight for a long time.
Holding the letter, Lin Huaiyin pondered it more and more, and the more something seemed amiss.
Since Xie Xincun is still in Xiao Zhian's hands, why is Father making so many arrangements as if facing a formidable enemy?
Knowing that his father was deeply worried about this, why did Xiao Zhian not announce the news directly, but instead send messages in a furtive manner, not wanting anyone to know?
Lin Huaiyin couldn't understand it.
In the past, she always took the initiative, and Xiao Zhian would follow behind her to pick up the pieces or cover for her. No matter what she did or how she did it, Xiao Zhian could always clean up the mess without leaving a trace.
This time, Xiao Zhian took matters into his own hands, from imprisoning her in the imperial prison to concealing the news. His actions were swift and meticulous, leaving no room for error. Lin Huaiyin was shocked to realize that she knew absolutely nothing about Xiao Zhian.
She had always thought that she was protecting Xiao Zhian, saving his life, and helping him solve many problems. Now, looking back, she realized that Xiao Zhian had already set his sights on her on the very first day of her rebirth, when he assassinated Zhao Changji.
He observed her, used her, and used her to seek revenge, eliminate treacherous officials, and rectify the court. He truly fell in love with her, but he never revealed his true self to her. The only time was at the post station when Xiao Zhian discovered the secret of her rebirth. At that time, he was furious and revealed a corner of the power of the Crown Prince, which scared her half to death.
However, he quickly and strangely showed weakness and apologized, even pretending to be a male prostitute. Afterwards, they parted on bad terms, and Lin Huaiyin was left with nothing but resentment. She never reviewed the situation—how did Xiao Zhian discover her rebirth? How did he go from being furious to being tender and affectionate?
Lin Huaiyin suddenly realized that she seemed to have never cared about Xiao Zhian's feelings, never thought what he thought, never considered what he thought. She only had her own joys, sorrows, and revenge. Xiao Zhian was the man she loved. She craved his body, liked the peace and security she felt by his side, and was happy that he could always catch her, always be there, and always bow down and beg for mercy from her.
She could easily manipulate him. Even if she poisoned him or choked him, he would only cry out "Yinyin" with red eyes, lick her fingers like a dog, and beg her not to leave.
But he is the crown prince of the empire, the regent, the one who holds power over the world and commands all officials. How could his true nature be just that of a worthless, affectionate man?
Lin Huaiyin had to admit: Zhi'an was her lover, gentle, considerate and alluring, but he was just a lover who willingly bowed down for love.
He also possessed, and must possess, the ruthlessness, meticulousness, and decisiveness of a regent prince. She knew nothing of these aspects and the pressure and responsibility he never spoke of, nor did she ever try to understand them. She always thought that revenge was helping him, and relying on the fact that she had risked her life to help him several times, she comfortably enjoyed his love and humble concessions.
She deserves his love, Lin Huaiyin had no doubt.
But while Xiao Zhian completely saw through her, both in her past and present lives, and fully accepted her and promised to share the burden, she didn't pay much attention to the real Xiao Zhian.
Therefore, when a major event occurred, and Xiao Zhian suddenly revealed the methods and strategies of a regent, she felt terrified and unfamiliar.
It's not that Zhi'an has changed. A bitter smile appeared on Lin Huaiyin's lips—it's that she has never seen his true face.
Zhi'an is Zhi'an.
The Crown Prince Regent is the Crown Prince Regent of the Great Xing Empire.
When Zhi'an uses the methods of the Crown Prince to deal with Xie Xincun, then the entire empire becomes a piece on his chessboard. Whoever is chosen must become his sword, charging into battle for him and the empire.
Personal feelings and the joys and sorrows of one's own children are not within the scope of the Crown Prince's considerations.
It was the Crown Prince who sacrificed and used her. Lin Huaiyin realized the reality: the moment Xie Xincun was captured, the Crown Prince, having completed his mission, returned to being a Zhi'an, but he was probably a Zhi'an who had been crushed by the Crown Prince. That's why he was so undignified, pleading in every way, contradicting himself, which was frightening.
Now, the problem is facing Lin Huaiyin—if she wants Zhi'an, she can't do without the Crown Prince Regent. The two are inseparable. Zhi'an loves her and will do anything for her, but the Crown Prince Regent might just treat her like the Emperor treated the late Empress, exploiting her to the bone and discarding her like trash...
People change.
Lin Huaiyin dared not gamble. Behind her were the Lin family, her father, brothers, mother, sister, nephew, Yu Li, and Xie Ao, the nine generations of the Lin clan, and 100,000 yuan from the Imperial Guard. She was not qualified to gamble.
She had no choice.
If there is even the slightest hesitation, all those people who died in their past lives will have died in vain.
Lin Huaiyin didn't think twice and lit the letter.
A faint scent of bamboo wafted through the air, and Xiao Zhian's handwriting, in turn, shone brightly and dimmed amidst the charred blackness, curling and breaking apart.
It should be taken as a letter from the Crown Prince, who is kind and cannot bear to see her in fear, so he specially informed her. She is grateful and accepts the letter, but she must not ruin His Highness's plans and must not tell a second person.
Having made up her mind, Lin Huaiyin wrapped the ashes in a handkerchief, hid them in a sandalwood dressing case adorned with gemstones, and slowly closed the lid to seal it away.
She climbed back into bed, nestled among the fish and crab claws, calmly reassured them that everything was alright, then closed her eyes and said nothing more.
I closed my eyes all night, but didn't sleep a wink.
Lin Huaiyin counted the chirping of insects in the courtyard and the dew in the garden, one by one.
She has to find a way to get the jujube wood bow back.
But she didn't want to see His Highness the Crown Prince. If all else failed, she'd just climb the wall and steal him...
The next day, I got up as usual.
Lin Huaiyin had dark circles under her eyes and her eyes were wide open. She went to find her mother for breakfast and found that her mother was still hungover.
The search for food failed again.
Presumably Lin Mianfeng hadn't gotten up yet, Lin Huaiyin had no choice but to go to her sister-in-law to ask for food. Lin Cuiyue and the wet nurse were coaxing the child, while her sister-in-law and she ate casually, occasionally chatting about the selection of concubines for the Eastern Palace, saying that they would be entering the palace today.
Lin Huaiyin casually agreed, and after eating and drinking her fill, she went to find Gongyang Yan.
Through the window, Gongyang Yan was still covered in Xie Xincun's silver needles, unable to move or speak.
"This person is useless." Xie Ao said that she had used all kinds of skills. Gongyang Yan Chun Chun was a living dead person. It was a waste of food and a person to feed her three meals a day and serve her bathing and changing clothes.
Hearing this, Lin Huaiyin became worried.
Gongyang Yan's association with Shen Congyun and Princess Pingyang must have been orchestrated by her, and the fact that Consort Hui was carrying out the imperial pregnancy must also be a result of her machinations. They thought that by controlling Gongyang Yan, they could control Consort Hui, but now they have become useless, unable to identify Princess Pingyang, and also of no use to Consort Hui's imperial pregnancy.
Let's try anything, even if it seems hopeless.
In any case, Xie Xincun is still in His Highness the Crown Prince's hands, and the situation has not yet reached its end.
Lin Huaiyin decided to go to Shengshui Temple. Consort Hui was arranging for His Highness the Crown Prince to take a concubine, so she had to hurry up and visit Consort Hui's maternal family.
Lin Zhenlie went to serve in the imperial court, and with no one at home to control Lin Huaiyin, leaving Yu Li and Xie Ao behind, she jumped into the carriage and headed straight for Shengshui Temple.
Qin Luo continued to secretly follow him.
Upon arriving at the Holy Water Temple, at the end of the alley, there was already an oxcart parked.
The car was simply decorated, making it impossible to tell whose family it belonged to. Lin Huaiyin was cautious, with guards surrounding her from all sides.
The temple was bustling with people coming and going.
In total, Lin Huaiyin gave the nuns in the temple four large bags of loose silver, about two thousand taels of silver. The nuns arranged for the repair of the temple and the restoration of the Buddha statues. Many people came to take on the work, and believers also donated money to make merit.
A dilapidated little temple suddenly became bustling and lively. When Lin Huaiyin entered the temple, the nun was discussing the demolition and reconstruction of the hall with the chief craftsman. Upon seeing her, she exclaimed, "The benefactor has arrived!" She introduced the chief craftsman to Lin Huaiyin and told her about the number of stone experts, wood experts, and craftsmen under his command.
Lin Huaiyin had an air of grandeur that set her apart from ordinary people. Even the carpenter was intimidated by her, wondering whose daughter she was.
But then he suddenly changed his mind and thought that the young lady didn't know anything, and that it was no one else's fault if she was charitable and took a fool for a ride. Unexpectedly, when he looked up, he saw Lin Huaiyin with a half-smile and an inscrutable look in her eyes. Looking at the imposing guards around her, Du Liaojiang immediately knew that the person who came was not to be trifled with. He immediately put aside his thoughts and recalculated the accounts in his mind.
The nun introduced Lin Huaiyin's identity, and Lin Huaiyin nodded calmly without saying a word.
She knew that merchants were driven by profit, and whether they made more or less money was just a matter of a single thought. She had plenty of money, more than enough to feed them. However, she could not tolerate shoddy workmanship. The nun had been practicing in the temple for many years and might not be able to judge people or things. If she didn't speak up, the craftsmen would be wary and dare not cross the line.
However, Lin Huaiyin remained polite to the nuns. Firstly, they had taken in Xie Ao and provided him with a place to stay, and the temple also had a whole box of Xiangfei bamboo arrows hidden in it. Secondly, she wanted to use the name of Shengshui Temple to ask a nun to accompany her to visit the Liu family.
The temple was too busy today, and Lin Huaiyin figured the nuns wouldn't have time, so she planned to take the jade hairpin away and put it back on the altar after the repairs were completed.
After bidding farewell to the nuns, we went to the Hall of Reception, where the kingfisher feather hairpin was offered at the feet of the Buddha of Reception—Amitabha.
An elderly woman with graying hair was kneeling on a prayer mat in front of the Buddha.
Lin Huaiyin waited quietly to the side. When the woman bowed three times, straightened up, and put her palms together to make a vow, she was surprised to find that the old woman was actually the widow of the Imperial Censor Liu Cang and the birth mother of Consort Hui—Old Madam Liu!
How did she end up here?
Is it a coincidence?
Lin Huaiyin was incredulous. She saw Liu Cang's wife kneeling before the jade hairpin that the Crown Prince had taken away. It was as if the Crown Prince had seen everything she had done since her rebirth, as if she had used Liu Cang's blood to nourish the Crown Prince. Lin Huaiyin's heart clenched. She felt incredibly proud, yet she couldn't help but feel a surge of bitterness.
Can these small comforts bring some solace to His Highness the Crown Prince?
Staring at Madam Liu's profile, Lin Huaiyin's vision gradually became unfocused.
Since their parting at Heming Mountain, when Old Madam Liu escorted Liu Cang's coffin back to the capital, less than a month had passed. This was the first time Lin Huaiyin had seen her. She was surprised to find that Liu Cang's hairline was gray, her cheeks were sunken, and her hands were skin and bones. She looked as if she had experienced a long, harsh winter, and her movements were trembling. She was completely unlike the noblewoman who had stood across the fence from her on Heming Mountain.
At that time, Liu Cang held the position of Imperial Censor, overseeing all officials and serving as the head of the censors. His daughter was a concubine carrying the emperor's child. The Liu family was highly regarded by the imperial court and was at the height of its power. Even his granddaughter, Liu Yinjun, dared to stand above all the noble ladies at the Iron Statue Temple.
Now that the pillar of heaven, Liu Cang, is dead, and Consort Hui's unborn child is in trouble, Old Madam Liu has almost become another "Su Jinggui". Lin Huaiyin stood in the dilapidated Buddhist temple, under the mottled Buddha statue. In front of her was a haggard old woman on a prayer mat. People came and went behind her, and the sun was blazing overhead. She swallowed her saliva, and her hand in her sleeve trembled involuntarily.
Liu Cang was killed by Lin Huaiyin herself.
She was the one who devised the plan, caught the snake, and released it.
The direct reason for killing Liu Cang was that he conspired with Princess Pingyang to use the pretext of etiquette to attack the Crown Prince who was overseeing the Golden Register Fasting Ceremony, which was intended to be presided over by Princess Pingyang.
Liu Cang may only want to attack the Crown Prince who is in charge of the country, while Princess Pingyang and Shen Congyun take the opportunity to compile a list and plan a bloodbath at Heming Mountain to eliminate dissidents.
Being used without even realizing it, Liu Cang is foolish and deserves to die.
However, Lin Huaiyin had long been eyeing him because his subordinate, the Censorate, was ordered by the emperor to inspect the local areas, but he concealed the rampant corruption in the areas, the displacement of the people, and the suffering of the people.
He was the eyes of the empire, yet he deceived his superiors and subordinates, keeping the court and the regent prince unaware of the common people, which led to the White Lotus Sect gathering and nine monks entering the capital to assassinate him.
Liu Cang deserved his punishment.
Lin Huaiyin does not regret killing him.
But looking at the old lady Liu in front of her, Lin Huaiyin heard Yu Li's words echoing in her ears: "His Highness favors Lord Shen and has bestowed grace upon the Shen family. When Lady Shen became pregnant, he ordered the accompanying imperial physician to prepare a potion of medicine to prevent miscarriage. It was only a matter of a word. Why did Madam Liang have to spread rumors and frighten the child?"
When rumors were rampant on Crane Cry Mountain, Old Madam Liu had publicly defended her and protected Yu Li. At the time, she thought that no matter what Old Madam Liu's original intention was, she had to repay the favor to her.
As a result, Lin Huaiyin killed her husband and destroyed her support.
Lin Huaiyin couldn't figure out the rights and wrongs, the grudges and grievances. As the matriarch of the Liu family, Old Madam Liu shared wealth and honor, but also had to share the burdens of past debts and sins. This was an unchanging truth.
As for the favor of helping her out of a predicament in private, Lin Huaiyin should repay it prudently and appropriately.
In the blink of an eye, a thousand thoughts flashed through Lin Huaiyin's eyes. She stood silently, while Old Madam Liu slowly rose and walked towards Lin Huaiyin.
She approached step by step, crossing the three-step etiquette distance and forcing her way into the forbidden zone within one step. Lin Huaiyin's guard narrowed her eyes. She was determined to go her own way and whispered in Lin Huaiyin's ear, "His Highness the Crown Prince suggested that the Imperial Concubine come to the Holy Water Temple to worship Buddha and meditate. Since it is inconvenient for the Imperial Concubine to leave the palace, I have come on her behalf. Since Shen Fu, no, since Miss Lin is the benefactor of the Holy Water Temple, His Highness the Crown Prince must have sent the Imperial Concubine to find you."
Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyin straightened her back, her pupils trembled, and cold sweat poured out of her body like needles.
She never mentioned that there was a problem with Consort Hui's unborn child. How did Zhi'an, no, His Highness the Crown Prince, know that she wanted to contact Consort Hui's maternal family? How did he find out and secretly pave the way for her, leading the Liu family directly to her...
"Miss Lin, please." Old Madam Liu took three steps back, her eyes cloudy and pleading. "Please, let's talk in private."
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