Chapter 131 After Marrying the Crippled Prince, 11 Teeth
For the next ten days, Yun Chiyi listened to stories in Lin Jinyuan's arms every day. He read very softly, and she had little interest in these dry and boring plots, so she often fell asleep with her head on his lap. When she woke up with her eyes half-closed, he would always discuss the plot with her with a half-smile, and she would respond with various expressions.
The winter snow gradually intensified, turning everything white—blue tiles, bare branches—and the lake surface shimmered.
Yun Chiyi had just come out of Lin Jinyuan's study and was sitting alone on a rock by the lake watching the koi fish flick their tails.
She touched the water with her fingertips, and the cool lake water rippled slowly.
The koi, thinking they were being fed, surged forward, shaking their heads and wagging their tails, like flowers in a mirror, strange and dazzling.
Now, judging by the time, the royal hunt is just around the corner. Yun Chiyi is currently carrying the poison that Lin Tingyu gave her, which is a hot potato that she can't throw away anywhere.
With her slender fingers stirring the lake water, she glanced around and, seeing no one nearby, took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and forcefully pressed the stopper in.
The thought of the Prince of Lin going offline soon brought a warm smile to her face. She gently tossed the porcelain bottle into the water, and then, with a deeper smile, shook the koi in the lake.
"Eat up, eat up, just make sure you finish the bottle and don't leave any trace."
"The Ninth Prince? He won't eat today, he'll eat another day."
Her voice has fully recovered, but it is still a little hoarse because she doesn't speak often.
As the gray sky began to snow lightly again, Yun Chiyi raised her clear eyes to look at the sky. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and everything seemed poised to erupt.
She looked down and saw Zhenzhen running towards her, carrying an umbrella, as she circled around the artificial hill.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived!"
Yun Chiyi slowly rose from the rock, and then a large oil-paper umbrella was placed over her head to protect her from the wind and snow.
She shook the fine snow off her sleeves, her clear eyes looking at Zhenzhen.
"Your letter."
The envelope in Zhenzhen's hand had the words "To Yi'er" written on it, and it was clear at a glance that the letter came from Lan Yihan.
Yun Chiyi frowned as she opened the letter, quickly glanced at it, and then her expression gradually relaxed.
The letter mentioned that Lan Yihan would be departing for Jingning Temple for spiritual practice tomorrow. It wished her all the best and said that they would meet again after the New Year.
This was actually Yun Chiyi's idea. The Lin family was deeply involved with Prince Lin, and she was unsure whether the plot would develop as originally planned, or whether the Lin family could still switch allegiance to the Crown Prince in time to protect themselves. What she could do was to extricate Lan Yihan from the conflict as soon as possible.
She did not tell Lan Yihan the reason why she had to do this, but Lan Yihan always trusted her without hesitation and would never let her waste her breath.
Snowflakes drifted down before her eyes. Yun Chiyi's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she suppressed her joy. She then channeled her frustration, biting her lip in displeasure, and handed the letter to Zhenzhen.
Seeing the displeasure on her face, Zhenzhen immediately understood after reading the letter.
With the end of the year approaching, it's really unreasonable for the old lady to go to the temple to pray for blessings at this time. Could it be that she has been wronged at home?
Even though the princess never mentioned it, Zhenzhen had heard some rumors that Lord Lin favored his concubines and that his relationship with his first wife was just an act, a lifelong facade of love and harmony.
Thinking of this, Zhenzhen couldn't help but sigh with regret.
Not all couples in the world are as loving and trusting as princes and princesses.
Zhenzhen blinked and asked, "Is the Princess going to see them off?"
Yun Chi nodded.
She took Zhenzhen back to the study, but unexpectedly encountered Lin Jinyuan at the Bamboo Grove Pavilion on the way.
As I walked over, the wind and snow were swirling in the pavilion. Lin Jinyuan sat in a wheelchair, leaning against the trees covered in silver, his shoulders and temples slightly damp.
What's he doing here on such a cold day?
A hint of suspicion flashed through Yun Chiyi's mind.
Lin Jinyuan, a book tucked in his hand, slightly raised his eyes, a gentle smile playing on his thin lips: "Why has Madam returned again?"
Zhenzhen stepped forward with her head down and reported the letter.
After hearing this, Lin Jinyuan gripped the book even tighter with his long fingers, and his smile faded. He said with great sympathy, "Life on the mountain is austere. How can we spend the New Year in the temple? Why not bring Mother to our residence? Madam can spend more time with Mother and help her relieve her worries."
Unaware of his intentions, Yun Chiyi's brow twitched, and she could only remain unchanged in the face of all changes.
She shook her head helplessly, her eyes filled with tears as she pursed her lips, looked up at Lin Jinyuan, and hot tears rolled down her red eyes.
Lin Jinyuan frowned and waved for Chaosheng and Zhenzhen to leave.
The two men retreated to the corridor, and Lin Jinyuan lowered his voice, saying tenderly, "Why is Madam crying again? Come sit next to me."
Wiping away her tears with her fair hand, Yun Chiyi lifted her skirt and sat lightly on his lap, leaning into his arms, sobbing silently.
Lin Jinyuan stroked her hair and earlobe with his long, slender fingers, comforting her, "I know you are worried. I imagine your mother has her own considerations. I will accompany you to see your mother off outside the city later. That way, you will stop crying."
Yun Chiyi tilted her head, raised her chin to look at him, and then slowly shook her head.
"You disagree?" Lin Jinyuan cupped that fair face in his entire palm.
Yun Chiyi's gaze shifted downwards, landing on Lin Jinyuan's legs. She pursed her lips again, looking at Lin Jinyuan's calm and unwavering eyes with concern.
"I understand, my lady is worried about me."
A hint of melancholy flashed in Lin Jinyuan's eyes: "If only I could act like a normal person, I could accompany you wherever you wish to go."
Just as Yun Chiyi was about to offer some words of comfort, Lin Jinyuan's index finger fell and pressed against her soft lips.
His sudden movement interrupted her tender moment. Yun Chiyi was taken aback. He then pressed lightly twice more, his fingertips slowly tracing the shape of her petals.
After a long pause, he said, "Madam, you're sharp-tongued, but you can't use that to bite yourself. You've already bitten yourself until your skin is raw."
Is this how you use this word?
Yun Chiyi had just parted her lips slightly when half a finger, exuding a cool fragrance, probed inside. Her soft, moist tongue was pressed down, and she instinctively glared at him.
Then I heard him say in a calm tone, "I have a bottle of scar-removing medicine here. I'll have Chaosheng deliver it to you later."
Yun Chiyi remained silent with a cold expression.
Lin Jinyuan chuckled: "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Yun Chiyi took the opportunity to bite his finger, forcing him to pull away in pain.
She straightened up from his embrace, gave a casual bow, and left.
Lin Jinyuan watched her figure gradually disappear into the snow. The world was so cold, only the teeth marks on his fingers felt faintly hot.
She was indeed sharp-tongued. Just now by the lake she was cursing him, but once inside the house she put on the submissive act of a domesticated cat. If you tease her a little, she can't hide her fangs.
Chao Sheng walked into the bamboo pavilion and saw Lin Jinyuan staring blankly at his fingers.
Lin Jinyuan caught a glimpse of his shadow, looked up, and said, "Go and deliver the imperial skin-regenerating ointment to the Princess."
Chao Sheng couldn't figure out what he was thinking, so he tentatively asked, "Should we send it over exactly as it is?"
Lin Jinyuan chuckled: "Or do you want to put some poison in it before sending it over, just like she did?"
This meant "no," and Chao Sheng understood. He turned around and went to get the Regenerating Cream.
He greatly admired the prince. If he were to discover that someone had poisoned him, he would summon the imperial physician to examine him thoroughly to ensure that all his internal organs were in good condition before he could feel at ease.
Or perhaps the prince has a backup plan?
Chao Sheng couldn't understand it at all. He scratched his head and braved the wind and snow to deliver the medicine.
-
The snow stopped the following morning.
The carriage of Prince Cheng's mansion was parked by the roadside in the suburbs. Yun Chiyi pulled her green cloak up, revealing only her beautiful and clean face. She looked at Jingci Nunnery on the mountaintop and, with Zhenzhen's help, stepped across the shimmering puddle.
As she turned around, Lan Yihan also got off. For this trip, Lan Yihan only brought one maid from the Lin residence.
Yun Chiyi walked over, placed the hand warmer she was carrying into Lan Yihan's palm, and then pulled her aside to talk under a nearby tree.
"Mother, didn't Father say anything when you came out this time?"
Lan Yihan had lost weight, but her eyes had regained their sparkle. She held Yun Chiyi's hand tightly, shook her head and sighed, "Your father has been busy with official duties lately and has no time to attend to these matters. It's fine if he doesn't ask about them."
Lin Huai-ren was busy helping Prince Lin seize power, so naturally he had no time to concern himself with matters of the mansion.
"Yi'er, your mother is really panicking."
Lan Yihan frowned and pounded her chest: "When I go to Jingci Nunnery, I will observe a vegetarian diet and chant scriptures for my little girl. I do not ask for wealth or glory, I only ask that you be safe and sound."
The north wind blew Lan Yihan's hair. She squinted through the gaps in the trees and whispered, "May the Bodhisattva protect me."
Yun Chiyi gently patted her back and said softly, "If you miss me, write a letter. Tell me if you need anything, or I can come and stay with you for a few days."
Lan Yihan smiled through her tears: "Your body is weak, and your mother doesn't want you to travel through mountains and rivers. You've been a bit tired these days, and I also want to be alone for a while."
"So you were afraid I would disturb your peace."
Yun Chiyi smiled and said, "I still look forward to your letter every day. Your safety is more important than anything else."
Lan Yihan's eyes were full of relief, and she urged her to set off again: "It's getting late, you should go back soon. You can see Jingci Nunnery from here. It's just a few steps away for your mother, so there's no need to see you off."
It wasn't until she stepped onto the stone steps and had walked halfway that Yun Chiyi called Zhenzhen to go back together.
The carriage moved slowly along the official road. It was cold today, and Zhenzhen hugged her hands to keep warm. Occasionally, she would see the carriage curtain being blown up, and she would quickly reach out and press it down.
Yun Chiyi had been resting with her eyes closed, but a gust of cold wind made her slowly open them, and her gaze met Zhenzhen's.
Zhenzhen grinned and said, "Would you like to take a look at the new rouge while you're at it? I heard from them that the color is a once-in-a-century find and it really suits people."
Amused by her praise, Yun Chiyi smiled.
Zhenzhen continued to praise, "However, with the princess's unparalleled beauty, she naturally doesn't need those mundane adornments. We don't need to go see them."
He must have been itching to tease her, because Yun Chiyi's eyes lit up with interest, and he decided to play a little something to cheer her up.
Suddenly, the trees rustled.
[Host, be careful!]
"Zheng—"
A sharp whooshing sound pierced the carriage curtain.
Yun Chiyi's smile vanished instantly, replaced by fear as she turned her head. The arrow that had pierced the carriage was still buzzing; it had just missed her shoulder by an inch.
If it weren't for the system notification...
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