Xiao Zhian was shy and hesitant.
Lin Huaiyin didn't take the sudden discomfort seriously.
Upon seeing Xiao Zhian, climbing on top of him, what's so strange about your heart pounding?
With a blink of an eye, Xiao Zhian's face became clear again. He was wearing purple today, and purple suited him so well. He looked so good; I wanted to stick close to him.
With a gentle caress, Lin Huaiyin found a place to bite.
Xiao Zhian did not miss her sudden furrowing of her brows and trembling. He wrapped his arms around Lin Huaiyin's waist and felt that her body was burning hot, her breath was scorching, and her heart was beating much faster than usual.
"Yinyin?" Xiao Zhian couldn't help but worry, "Last night, Physician Lu said that the remaining poison in your body had been cleared. Was it because you drank Xie's blood?"
"Hmm." Lin Huaiyin clung to Xiao Zhian's neck, her eyes shining. "He said his [something] could cure all poisons, so I took the opportunity to bite him and suck a few mouthfuls of blood. Wasn't that clever? Praise me!"
Lin Huaiyin proudly sought praise, her eyes filled with anticipation for their bright future.
Xiao Zhian's heart sank, sensing that things weren't so simple...
The Xie family is known for its unpredictable and cunning nature. Why would they easily reveal crucial information and allow others to take advantage of them?
[The secret that] [the substance] can cure all poisons will surely attract covetousness if spread, and there will never be peace again.
Xiao Zhian witnessed the scene of Xie Shi drinking blood in Chaoyang Palace. Xie Shi was moved and enjoyed it. After he took back Yin Yin, Xie Shi was still not satisfied and had a angry look on her face. She was clearly determined to have Yin Yin.
Xie is after Yinyin, so he won't easily detoxify her. He will keep Yinyin hanging, but Physician Lu has confirmed that she has been detoxified.
The situation is illogical, Xie's words and actions are contradictory and inconsistent, and he is most likely lying.
Xiao Zhian narrowed his phoenix eyes, sensing that something was terribly wrong.
The only course of action now is to wait for Yinyin to lure the Xie family into a trap, while at the same time waiting for the envoy sent yesterday to invite the head of the Xie family to come as soon as possible.
Having already made up his mind, Xiao Zhian showed no sign of it on his face, only holding the person in his arms even tighter.
Lin Huaiyin was so choked she couldn't breathe, and she didn't get the praise she wanted. When she saw that Xiao Zhian was actually daydreaming in front of her, she immediately got angry and fiercely banged her forehead against him.
"Bang!" Lin Huaiyin glared angrily at him.
Xiao Zhian's eyes were filled with stars. He helplessly rubbed her forehead and said, "Our Yinyin is really amazing. I'll take you to meet someone. You'll be so happy."
"Who are we going to see?" Lin Huaiyin suddenly became interested.
"You'll see when you get there."
Xiao Zhian lifted the carriage curtain and said, "To the Imperial Academy," and the carriage slowly began to move.
The distance between Shengshui Temple and the Imperial College is not short.
Lin Huaiyin adopted a roguish attitude, kissing and rubbing against Xiao Zhian, and even touching him inappropriately.
Having learned from his previous experience in the carriage, Xiao Zhian quickly took out a set of clothes before Lin Huaiyin could reach into the carriage.
"Put it on."
Xiao Zhian blushed from ear to neck, looking as shy as a pure and innocent girl.
He didn't know what was wrong with him. He used to be the one in control, using one hand and two lips to make Lin Huaiyin feel like she was on cloud nine. But after Lin Huaiyin caught him and punished him last time, and he showed that expression in front of her, he felt extremely ashamed and suddenly couldn't lift his head in front of her.
His shy and coy demeanor, so youthful and alluring, only fueled Lin Huaiyin's desire, making her even more unable to control herself. Her eyes burned with desire, and after a quick glance, she noticed the guard's clothes Xiao Zhian had given her. Her eyes lit up, and with a soft "whoosh," she immediately had impure thoughts.
"You like this kind of thing?" Lin Huaiyin's tone rose, exclaiming in surprise. She picked up the guard's hat and put it on her forehead, then lifted Xiao Zhi'an's chin and grinned at him lecherously. "Guard and the Crown Prince? Another case of insubordination. Zhi'an, what are you thinking about? Is daily life in the Eastern Palace very oppressive? One minute you're a general, the next you're a guard?"
Lin Huaiyin rants and rambles.
Xiao Zhian understood her meaning and was utterly helpless with the jumbled thoughts in Lin Huaiyin's mind. He wanted to explain that changing clothes was simply to make it easier to take her in and out of the Imperial Academy...
But Lin Huaiyin raised her chin, her face showing disdain that said, "Don't bother explaining, I see through you, so this is your kind of fetish," effectively shutting him up.
Immediately afterwards, Lin Huaiyin changed into men's clothing with a disdainful expression.
Fluttering.
Soft gauze falls down, while the stiff uniform clings to the body.
Xiao Zhian specifically chose the smallest size according to Lin Huaiyin's body shape.
As a result, her stiff upper body was squeezed into a bulging shape, and her exquisite figure was tightened by the belt, making her look like a seductive and alluring concubine in her guard uniform.
Ripe peaches hung from the willow branches. Lin Huaiyin, with a queenly air about her, said, "Fine, I can't do anything with you, I'll spoil you." She sat on Xiao Zhian's lap, hooked her arm around his neck, and looked at him with seductive eyes. Even though Xiao Zhian had previously stripped Lin Huaiyin naked several times and been intimate with her, he was instantly aroused and restless.
This kind of style is truly captivating.
Xiao Zhian had just been wronged and was unable to defend himself. In an instant, his lifelong reputation was gone, leaving only bloodshot eyes and a deep sense of submission.
"Yinyin, my Yinyin." Xiao Zhian breathed heavily, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his arms tightening.
With a soft moan, Lin Huaiyin was enveloped in a blissful state.
The wheels rolled and rolled.
The people on the bus rolled and rolled.
They rolled all the way to the Imperial College.
Xuan Ge and his guards waited quietly for a long time before two bright red, cooked shrimp fell from the carriage.
Xiao Zhian adopted the airs of a crown prince, walking ahead with his head held high.
Lin Huaiyin, a lowly guard, humbly hid behind Xuan Ge and plunged into the group of guards.
No one dared to look too long, and they entered the Imperial College in an orderly manner.
When the Crown Prince arrived, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, along with a group of officials, doctors, and outstanding students, rushed over to pay their respects and attend to him.
Upon seeing the Imperial Academy students behind the Chancellor, Xiao Zhian suddenly felt a rush of heat to his head. In his pupils, he saw Lin Huaiyin dressed as a student—a blue robe, white socks, and black shoes, with a flower behind her ear, singing sweetly and melodiously. The "student registration jade token" at her waist swayed and felt cool against his waist.
"Your Highness?" The Chancellor, seeing Xiao Zhi'an staring at the students for a long time, eagerly introduced them: "These children are exceptionally intelligent and outstanding among all. If you like them, you may choose to bring them back to the palace to serve as your tutors."
To serve as a tutor?
Xiao Zhian's heart trembled. Immediately, an image flashed through his mind: Lin Huaiyin solemnly grinding ink, laying out paper, placing the brush in his palm, then climbing onto the storage table, crumpling the paper, and hanging it around his neck, demanding a kiss… He would take the vermilion brush, gently rub it against her, then soak it in ink, and write strokes across her skin… Her voice was warm, the ink cool… Her voice trembled, pleading, "No…"
"Your Highness?"
The chief minister called out timidly, and the ministers and scholars looked at each other in bewilderment.
Lin Huaiyin hid among the guards and saw that Xiao Zhian's earlobe was dripping blood, and his shoulders were as tense as when she bit him.
What, still not satisfied? Are you delaying your business?
Lin Huaiyin inexplicably regretted it. She shouldn't have held back earlier. It would have been better to deal with him than to come out here and embarrass herself!
"Your Highness?"
The chief priest was almost in tears.
His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly arrived, his face flushed with anger and he remained silent... The Grand Master of Ceremonies then recounted all the mistakes he had made since childhood on the spot...
"Hmm." Xiao Zhian came back to his senses, his eyes turning cold: "I've come to see the new batch of students. Lead the way."
"Yes! This way, Your Highness."
If the chief priest is granted a general amnesty, he should immediately dismiss all irrelevant people and lead the way.
This is the time for class.
The sound of reading filled the air as the group wandered around until they arrived at a classroom.
The chief priest stopped the lessons and respectfully invited the crown prince, who was in charge of the state, to enter the room for "learning".
The so-called "visiting the academy" was a grand ceremony in which the crown prince personally visited the Imperial Academy. It was intended to establish the crown prince's authority, consolidate the "foundation of the state," and at the same time promote the policies of governing the country and win over scholars from all over the country.
Xiao Zhian arrived suddenly and was dressed in plain clothes. He had not paid homage to Confucius or taken the platform to give a lecture, so it was naturally not a complete set of "attending to learning" rituals.
Therefore, when he entered the room, he only gave a symbolic instruction, encouraging the students to "be determined to study the teachings of sages and become pillars of the nation in the future." He also bestowed upon them many silks, silver coins, and books. Afterward, he instructed the Doctor of Classics to continue the lectures, while he sat aside and listened to the discussions.
The chief priest hastily set up a seat, and Xiao Zhian selected Xuan Ge and Lin Huaiyin to guard him on either side.
Lin Huaiyin then followed him inside and stood to Xiao Zhian's right.
Stepping inside, she glanced around and suddenly her eyes lit up as she spotted a familiar face. After confirming the person's identity several times, Lin Huaiyin felt a surge of heat in her heart, as if struck by a dizzying sensation. She subconsciously reached out to touch Xiao Zhian's shoulder.
How could this be? Zhi'an? Lin Huaiyin wanted to grab Xiao Zhi'an by the neck to confirm that what she was seeing was not an illusion, not a lie. The person Xiao Zhi'an brought her to see was actually—the Lotus Lantern girl, the benefactor who had fed her a bowl of water in her past life!
The benefactor was a woman from a merchant family.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—my benefactor came from the lowest of the four classes, so there was absolutely no way she could study and enter officialdom. She had nothing to do with the Imperial Academy, especially since she was a woman!
Previously, on the Buddha's Birthday, Lin Huaiyin spent 800,000 taels of silver to buy her benefactor the identity of a woman in a white cloak, who was an incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva, hoping that she would be free from disasters and live a peaceful and prosperous life. So why is her benefactor now in the Imperial Academy, wearing the clothes of an academy student and even wearing the hairpin of an academy student?
A merchant's daughter was admitted to the Imperial College—this was unprecedented in the two hundred years of the dynasty!
Lin Huaiyin was so shocked she could hardly speak. She gripped Xiao Zhian's shoulder with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, too excited to do anything.
Xiao Zhian sat upright in front, his shoulder almost having a piece of flesh pinched off, the pain so intense it was numb, and he only managed to keep his expression from cracking by sheer willpower.
He could easily imagine how excited Lin Huaiyin was.
After finally getting through the course, Xiao Zhian instructed Lin Huaiyin to collect the students' essays for assessment.
Lin Huaiyin understood immediately and approached all the students in turn.
When she approached the little girl with the lotus lantern, she was extremely nervous, fearing that the other party was a woman disguised as a man. She did not want to start a conversation and reveal the other party's identity, but to her surprise, the little girl with the lotus lantern smiled at her.
That smile clearly said, "I recognize you. You're the noblewoman who took the Guanyin statue that grants children from my hands on the day of Buddha's Birthday, but I won't reveal your identity."
Seeing this, Lin Huaiyin nodded, indicating, "It's me, it's definitely me."
The two exchanged glances, and recalling the drop of water from the acupuncture bottle that had fallen on Lin Huaiyin's lips that day, they couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Lin Huaiyin thought that was enough and turned to leave, but the little girl with the lotus lantern spoke up directly: "I just enrolled today and I'm not very good at writing yet, so I haven't submitted my application."
As soon as these words were spoken, several students immediately came to his aid: "Student Mei is a new student and has not yet achieved anything. Please forgive him, sir."
"That's exactly right."
"Please, sir, do not take offense."
The students surrounded the little girl with the lotus lantern, all protecting her.
No one ignored or criticized her because she was the daughter of a merchant.
The little girl with the lotus lantern didn't seem uncomfortable at all.
Lin Huaiyin was deeply shocked by this scene. Her gaze passed through the crowd and landed on Xiao Zhian. She knew that behind this harmonious atmosphere was Xiao Zhian's doing.
"good."
Lin Huaiyin nodded with relief, unable to utter a single word. Reality had reversed; she had become the one disguised as a man, someone whose identity should not be revealed.
Seeing that Lin Huaiyin did not blame them, all the students bowed respectfully to express their gratitude and then taught the little girl to practice writing.
Lin Huaiyin slowly retreated, moving to Xiao Zhian's side.
Seeing that her eyes were red, Xiao Zhian got up and went straight to the door.
The crowd respectfully saw him off. Xiao Zhian ordered them to stop, and only instructed the Chancellor to lead the way, as he slowly walked out of the Imperial Academy.
Upon exiting the main gate, one sees thirteen pillars standing tall between heaven and earth in the front courtyard.
Under the vast sky and amidst the boundless clouds, people of all ages and genders, including men, women, and children, remained quietly copying scriptures beneath the pillars.
Looking at the view, Lin Huaiyin was filled with emotion.
The Imperial College was the first place she came to after her rebirth.
She came here, copied Xiao Zhian's handwriting, forged the Crown Prince's secret edict, and used the Imperial City Guard to eradicate the traitors of the Two Kings Temple.
All of this was made possible by Xiao Zhi'an's concern for scholars across the land, who had the inscription of the Crown Prince's handwriting carved into stone pillars.
Today, revisiting this familiar place, Lin Huaiyin finds her former benefactor now a student at the Imperial Academy, with an immeasurable future ahead of him. Gazing at Xiao Zhian's retreating figure, her eyes are clear and her heart pounds like a drum. Her hatred, her kindness, everything about her is inextricably linked to Xiao Zhian.
Previously, during the Buddha's Birthday celebration, the family of the benefactors suffered retaliation because they had taken the name of the woman in the white cloak. Xiao Zhian had already protected their lives, and now that they were able to enroll in the Imperial Academy, it must be because of him.
Once back on the carriage, Lin Huaiyin was no longer the greedy girl she had been moments before.
She obediently climbed onto Xiao Zhian's lap and waited patiently for him to explain everything.
Xiao Zhian was at a loss for words because of her earnest and persistent manner. He could only pinch her cheek and say, "Tell me first, why did you spend 800,000 taels of silver to give her the identity of a white-cloaked woman?"
"Because in my previous life, on the Buddha's Birthday, I repented for my karmic obstacles at Xiangguo Temple by carrying a lantern. I walked barefoot and ascetic, until my feet were covered in blood. It was a little girl selling lotus lanterns by the river who fed me a bowl of water. She is a benefactor I will always remember, besides His Highness the Crown Prince."
Lin Huaiyin told everything without hiding anything.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhian recalled the timeline Lin Huaiyin had mentioned that night at the inn and immediately understood the "karma" she spoke of—at that time, Yu Li and Xie Ao had already died at Shen Congyun's hands, and she was all alone in the Shen family, helpless and suffering endless hardships.
That bowl of water from that stranger was indeed an unforgettable kindness, one that she would repay with everything she had if she were to live a second life.
"Then, I also thank her, thank her for taking care of you." Xiao Zhian hugged Lin Huaiyin tightly with emotion.
He was happy for her; even in the despair and suffering of her past life, there was still a trace of sweetness and warmth that remained in her heart.
Nestled in his arms, listening to his gentle words, Lin Huaiyin pressed her cheek against Xiao Zhian's chest, feeling an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.
“I originally only intended to settle their family,” Xiao Zhian explained softly, “but Miss Mei took the initiative to ask Du Yu if she wanted to attend school, and even boldly asked if the Imperial Academy was an option.”
"This is difficult." Lin Huaiyin looked up at him. "Coming from a merchant family and being a woman, how did you manage it?"
“It was indeed difficult originally, but you gave her the identity of a woman in a white cloak.”
Xiao Zhian gently patted Lin Huaiyin's back.
"The woman in the white cloak is an incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva, with a male body and a female appearance. How can she be considered a merchant's daughter?"
In addition, there is Miss Mei herself. For over a hundred years, Xiangguo Temple has selected more than a hundred women in white cloaks, and none of them have married into high-ranking families and settled down in the inner quarters. However, she does not seek to marry into a high-ranking family, but only to enter the Imperial Academy. Her heart and ambition are truly extraordinary, and she deserves my help.
The people at the Imperial Academy also deeply felt this, and believed that Miss Mei was a reincarnation of Guanyin, extraordinary and otherworldly, so they warmly welcomed her to enroll.
“Once, I wanted to conquer Japan and give it to Pingyang, so that she could be on equal footing with me and become an empress.”
Xiao Zhian's phoenix eyes were deep and unfathomable as he slowly spoke:
"But Yinyin, when I see you, see Yu Li and Xie Ao, see Miss Mei, and Miss Bai, whom I haven't met yet but is carrying a petition written in blood by thousands of people to the capital to plead for justice, I think that women in this world are affectionate, righteous, idealistic, and ambitious, no less than men and even better than many men."
If they are willing to serve the Daxing court, it would be a blessing for Daxing. Why confine them to the inner perimeter? I hope Miss Mei can find a way out for them.”
"Um."
Lin Huaiyin nodded and buried her face in Xiao Zhian's chest.
It turns out that Zhi'an saw not only her, but also many other people through her. He was not only kind to her, but he was a good person in general.
Falling in love with him is wonderful.
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