After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 13

It was nearly April, with spring rains falling intermittently, but today was a rare sunny day.

Yet Lin Shengshen was trapped in her bed, groaning from menstrual cramps. Peilan ran out and then rushed back in, lifting a corner of the bed curtain as she panted, “The young master is here!”

[What is he doing here?]

Lin Shengshen’s mind instantly flashed back to what had happened that day on the Painted Boat.

“Tell him to leave!” Lin Shengshen buried her head under the covers.

Peilan hesitated, unsure what to do. She stole a glance at Xie Zhizhou’s expression and was surprised to find he wasn’t angered by the remark.

While she was still hesitating, Xie Zhizhou had already walked to the bedside.

[Having menstrual pain is bad enough—why is he here adding to the trouble?]

[Is Tangli Residence so free for anyone to come and go as they please?]

Xie Zhizhou stood still, looking at the small figure curled up in the bed, with only her forehead and thick black hair visible.

“Where are you unwell?”

Lin Shengshen said coldly, “No need for your concern.”

[What does my discomfort have to do with you?]

[If I’m unwell, I should call the physician—what use is Xie Zhizhou here?]

Xie Zhizhou sat in the official’s armchair nearby and instructed, “Summon the estate physician.”

Peilan hurried out.

The room was filled with the sweet fragrance of pear blossoms, and all the furnishings were elegant and refined. Xie Zhizhou surveyed them absentmindedly.

Behind the double-branched interlocking screen, a glimpse of a primrose-colored dress was faintly visible. Beside the dress, an orchid bloomed luxuriantly on a flower stand, revealing a hint of pale blue at its center.

On the embroidery frame by the bed was a half-finished piece depicting pine and bamboo. Next to the frame, an empty space stood out conspicuously.

Xie Zhizhou lowered his gaze and suddenly recalled the silk embroidery of two bluebirds in flight that had been torn in two. Should it have originally stood beside the embroidery frame?

From the distant mountain censer on the incense table, wisps of fragrant smoke curled upward—another sweet scent he had never favored. If he remembered correctly, Lin Shengshen had once preferred Spring Message in Snow, a Scented Pill with a rich, crisp fragrance.

Yet… it had been a long time since he had last caught that crisp scent.

There had been no movement from the bed for quite some time. Xie Zhizhou suddenly snapped back to attention—

Could she have fallen asleep?

Didn’t she say she was unwell? How could she sleep if she was unwell?

Or was this merely an excuse to avoid seeing his father, or perhaps—

To evade the matter of taking a concubine.

Xie Zhizhou’s brow relaxed. If it were to avoid the concubine issue, that would be understandable.

They had only recently married; taking a concubine so soon would surely wound Lin Shengshen’s pride. It was natural for her to resist.

He had never been fond of such petty schemes, but he and Lin Shengshen were husband and wife. It was only right that he understand and accommodate her.

Before long, the estate physician arrived hastily with Peilan.

Xie Zhizhou did not expose her pretense, allowing the physician to step forward and examine her while he sat upright in the armchair, sipping tea slowly.

Peilan called out “Miss” twice through the bed curtains but received no response. Panic instantly seized her.

She flung the bed curtains open to find Lin Shengshen lying on the bed, her face deathly pale, her beautiful eyes tightly shut, having lost consciousness from the pain.

“Miss!”

The physician grew anxious at the sight and urged, “Quick! Help her up! I need to apply acupuncture first!”

Acupuncture? How had it become so severe?

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhizhou set down his teacup at once, disregarding the tea that sloshed and soaked his sleeve, and strode forward in two steps.

“What happened?”

He walked to the bedside, sat down, and gathered Lin Shengshen’s limp form into his arms. She felt like noodles boiled in hot water.

As the physician applied the needles, Peilan stood by, anxiously fighting back tears.

“She’s been unwell for six or seven days. Miss thought it was just menstrual cramps and endured it, but yesterday, after her period started, it grew even worse. Who would have thought… who would have thought she’d faint from the pain?”

The physician inserted needles at the Hegu and Laogong points, then glanced at Xie Zhizhou and said, “Young master, please remove your wife’s shoes and socks. This old man needs to needle the Yongquan point.”

Xie Zhizhou wrapped one arm around Lin Shengshen’s shoulders and reached down with his other hand, brushing past the hem of her skirt.

Her silk socks were delicate and soft. With a light touch, he felt the sole of her foot—so slender it barely filled his gentle grasp.

Xie Zhizhou paused, withdrawing his hand as if touching a flame. “Peilan, you do it.”

Peilan had been anxiously waiting nearby and immediately stepped forward to remove Lin Shengshen’s silk socks, revealing a section of luminous white skin.

Xie Zhizhou averted his gaze.

As the acupuncture needle pierced the Yongquan point, Lin Shengshen felt a piercing pain in her abdomen, palms, and soles of her feet through her dazed consciousness.

[So painful…]

Lying back in Xie Zhizhou’s arms, Lin Shengshen resembled an injured young animal, her eyes hazy and not fully open.

The residence physician checked Lin Shengshen’s pulse.

[It hurts too much, really hurts…]

Then, low sobbing sounds reached Xie Zhizhou’s ears.

Looking down, he saw Lin Shengshen merely frowning with tightly closed eyes, still dizzy and unconscious.

An inexplicable stabbing pain struck his heart. “What have you determined? Is there any prescription to relieve the pain?” Xie Zhizhou asked.

The physician put away the brocade handkerchief and replied, “The lady suffers from internal cold pathogens. Cold has congealed her blood, causing obstruction in the uterine vessels and resulting in menstrual pain.”

“I can only prescribe some warming and nourishing formulas. We cannot use harsh medications to temporarily relieve the pain.”

The physician then advised, “Avoid marital relations before and after menstruation, otherwise the Ren and Chong meridians may become blocked, easily leading to menstrual pain.”

“……” Xie Zhizhou was momentarily speechless. After a silent pause, he said, “We haven’t.”

Understanding the physician’s expression, he stroked his beard thoughtfully before adding, “The lady needs gentle nourishment. She must not be exposed to rain or cold, nor should she suffer from liver qi stagnation.”

Peilan spoke quickly: “That day on the Jade Capital River, wasn’t it just…”

Before she could finish, she glanced at Xie Zhizhou sitting by the bed and, seeing his grave expression, didn’t dare continue.

The physician said no more, collected his silver needles, and went to the outer room to prepare the prescription.

Peilan looked at Lin Shengshen in Xie Zhizhou’s arms, feeling uneasy, and followed the physician out.

Xie Zhizhou said coldly, “Why are you standing there? Go prepare the medicine.”

“Young lady… young lady she…” Peilan wanted to say that Lin Shengshen might not want to see Xie Zhizhou, but seeing his stern face, she didn’t dare speak out.

“Get out.”

The room finally quieted down.

Low sobs accompanied by resentment reached his ears.

[Everyone has periods, why is mine so difficult to deal with!]

[Can’t we make men have periods instead.]

[My lower abdomen is ice cold, so uncomfortable…]

Xie Zhizhou paused, then reached out and placed his hand over the brocade quilt on her lower abdomen.

It was all because of that birthday…

That day, Lin Shengshen had run out angrily with tears at the corners of her eyes, been drenched in rain outside the Painted Boat for quite some time, and the night wind had been bitterly cold.

It was his offense toward Lin Shengshen that led to today’s situation…

Xie Zhizhou looked at the pale-lipped Lin Shengshen in his arms. The black hair at her temples was curled and damp with sweat, and her usually smiling eyes and smooth brows were now completely furrowed.

Another light footsteps sounded as Baidou peeked in, holding a hot water bottle.

“Young master, let this servant help the young lady change into sleeping clothes. You…”

Peilan had sent her, thinking that if it was time to change clothes, Xie Zhizhou would surely leave.

Xie Zhizhou stood up, gently rested Lin Shengshen’s head on the soft pillow, and tightly covered her with the brocade quilt.

“Young Madam has a weak constitution and fears cold. Close the windows and doors properly and draw the bed curtains tightly before changing into dry clothes.” Saying this, he took the hot water bottle from Baidou and placed it under the quilt to warm Lin Shengshen’s lower abdomen.

After speaking, Xie Zhizhou sat back down in the nearby armchair.

Faint rustling sounds came from the bed.

Though the bed curtains were tightly drawn, Xie Zhizhou still turned his head to gaze at the landscape painting on the wall, refusing to glance toward the bed.

A maid brought over a cup of hot tea, but Xie Zhizhou waved it away with a gesture.

When Lin Shengshen slowly regained consciousness, the sky had already darkened, and her mouth felt unbearably bitter.

Peilan put away the medicine bowl and asked, “Miss, would you like to change into sleeping clothes?”

Feeling sticky and damp all over, Lin Shengshen waved her hand and said, “Prepare some hot water. I’d like to soak for a while.”

“Your monthly cycle hasn’t ended yet. You shouldn’t take a bath.” Only a small lamp by the bed was lit, and Xie Zhizhou’s voice came from the darkness.

Lin Shengshen was startled. “Who told you to be here? Get out!”

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Peilan wished she could immediately find a crack to hide in. Lin Shengshen and Xie Zhizhou had been at odds lately, and Young Master Xie, who was usually surrounded by admirers, had never been subjected to such cold words before.

Moreover, he had been keeping watch here for two hours, and now that the young lady had just woken up, she was driving him away…

Xie Zhizhou paused for a moment, then stood up to leave. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned back and said calmly, “Regarding what my father said about taking a concubine, I won’t agree to it. You can rest assured.”

She had been particularly prone to emotional distress lately, and he didn’t want this matter to stir up gossip and disturb her peace.

Lin Shengshen sounded surprised. “Taking a concubine?”

Xie Zhizhou asked, “You didn’t know?”

Lin Shengshen replied, “I know now.”

“I have nothing to worry about,” Lin Shengshen added.

[Such a good thing—why would he refuse? So that’s what they called me for today.]

[If I had known it was about taking a concubine, I would have gone to join the fun even if I had to faint from the pain!]

Xie Zhizhou stood three steps away from the bed, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Shengshen’s face illuminated by the faint lamplight.

Her complexion had improved slightly, but her lips were still pale. At that moment, her expression was indifferent, as if she truly had nothing to worry about.

Xie Zhizhou remained silent for a while, then dropped the topic and stood up. “Since you’re not feeling well, try to avoid going out too much.”

“Peilan, see the guest out!”

[I’ll go where I please, and I’ll bear my pain as I please. What does it have to do with you?]

After resting for two days, Lin Shengshen finally felt much better.

Ignoring the overcast sky, she took a carriage to Baoxiang Tower.

Peilan was anxious the entire way. “Miss, if you meet General Wen like this and Young Master Xie finds out, what should we do?”

Lin Shengshen said, “What’s there to fear? General Wen and I are just catching up on old times.”

“We know it’s just catching up, but I’m afraid Young Master Xie might not understand.”

Lin Shengshen chuckled lightly. “If he doesn’t know, it has its advantages. If he does know, it also has its advantages.”

Peilan asked, “What do you mean?”

“If he knows that General Wen and I are just reminiscing, he won’t interfere. He’s too absorbed in his official duties to bother with matters of the inner household.”

“If he doesn’t know and mistakenly thinks there’s something between General Wen and me, then it’s even better. Xie Zhizhou has a fiery temper. If he hands me a divorce paper and ends this ill-fated marriage, wouldn’t that be perfect?”

“The marriage was arranged by His Majesty. I don’t want the Lin family to be caught in the storm, and I’ve been worrying about how to get a divorce.”

Peilan exclaimed in shock, “Miss, don’t say such things! How can you treat divorce as a joke?”

“This servant has noticed that Young Master Xie has been treating you more kindly lately. That’s a good thing.”

Lin Shengshen waved her hand dismissively. “Forget it. I’m not fortunate enough to enjoy it.”

Peilan lowered her head and said, “For some reason, I feel as though you understand Young Master Xie very well.”

Lin Shengshen lifted the carriage curtain, gazing absently at the bustling street scene outside as she remarked, “Xie Zhizhou is outstanding in appearance, diligent and intelligent, possessing imperial grace and noble bearing—he is a fine junior, a loyal minister, and a good elder brother, but he is anything but a good husband.”

Turning back, she spoke earnestly, “Peilan, these past few days I’ve come to understand a truth.”

Peilan looked up, puzzled. “What truth?”

“A forced melon is not sweet,” Lin Shengshen said with a laugh.

Peilan seemed lost in thought.

In front of Baoxiang Tower, a subtle fragrance drifted through the air. Lin Shengshen glanced around before stepping inside.

Zhu Yu approached with a cheerful smile, chatting and laughing with Lin Shengshen as they strolled leisurely through the shop.

“Today, I don’t see Yin Wei from Xiangyun Tower standing at the door.”

Zhu Yu lowered her voice, “Oh, don’t even mention him. Just the thought of him feels unlucky.”

Lin Shengshen asked, “What happened?”

“This is why one must harbor good intentions—otherwise, who knows what filth one might attract!”

Zhu Yu took a sip of tea and continued, “Yin Wei had just recovered from the injuries on his face a few days ago. The very day he reappeared, he started spouting vulgar nonsense. I was just thinking of reporting him to the authorities.”

“But then, out of nowhere, a passing horse spooked and charged straight at Yin Wei. In the end, it trampled and broke one of his legs.”

Lin Shengshen was shocked. “How could such a coincidence happen?”

West Street had always been a favorite spot for young ladies. The horses pulling carriages were all from wealthy households, trained to be the gentlest—how could one have spooked? And how did it charge directly at Yin Wei, of all people, and just happen to break his leg…

Zhu Yu shrugged it off. “He’s done too many wicked deeds—it’s only natural he’d face retribution.”

Lin Shengshen took a small sip of tea and suddenly noticed a purple mark near Zhu Yu’s neck.

“What happened to you?” Lin Shengshen reached out to touch it.

Zhu Yu looked startled and quickly stepped back, pulling her collar up to cover it.

“I’m fine, Miss. The tea has gone cold—let me fetch a fresh pot.”

Lin Shengshen grabbed Zhu Yu’s wrist, her gaze icy. “What really happened? Did he hit you?”

Brushing Lin Shengshen’s hand away, Zhu Yu’s eyes grew moist as she sighed. “It’s just a quarrel between husband and wife. He lost his temper and lashed out.”

“He dares to hit you? He spends your money, and he still dares to hit you?”

Zhu Yu continued to defend him, “It’s all trivial matters. Since his youth, he’s been frustrated and unfulfilled, wasting half his life enduring scorn. When he’s drunk, he often brings it up.”

“I can’t persuade him, but I can’t ignore him either. In the end, I just let him vent his anger.”

Lin Shengshen said coldly, “His frustrations, his hardships—what do they have to do with you? Did you cause his disappointments? What right does he have to take it out on you?”

Zhu Yu smiled bitterly. “Miss Lin, you’re still young and don’t understand these things. Between husband and wife, why fuss over such details? Isn’t this just how life is?”

Lin Shengshen felt her blood boil. “I’ve never heard that just because you’re married, you must endure beatings and insults!”

As Zhu Yu was about to speak again, Peilan’s urgent voice came from outside the door, “Miss! A sedan chair has arrived downstairs—they say it’s someone from the palace!”

Lin Shengshen was in no hurry to leave. Looking at Zhu Yu earnestly, she said, “If you trust me, break up with him as soon as possible—not just for your sake, but for your daughter’s as well!”

With that, she strode toward the door.

However, just as Lin Shengshen stepped out of the private room on the second floor, she spotted someone ascending the staircase.

The newcomer wore a dark blue robe embroidered with swirling cloud patterns, a jade-green crown adorning his hair, and a landscape folding fan from which dangled the Immortal Child Holding Lotus fan pendant—

The very one Lin Shengshen had sent to him a few days prior.

Wen Lingzhou, with his burly frame and steady gait, brightened upon seeing Lin Shengshen.

“Shengshen.”