After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 24

The clear, cold moonlight tinged Xie Zhizhou’s eyes. His thin eyelids veiled the profound pupils within. This time, he moved with practiced ease.

Opening the dressing case, he once again retrieved the Heart Lock Pendant from its innermost compartment, clutching it in his palm like a piece of ice or a short blade.

She must treasure this pendant immensely, hiding it daily in the depths of her dressing case where she could see it, only daring to take it out for a gentle touch but never wearing it.

Moonlight fell upon the layered lotus petals of the hairpin on the desk, casting fragmented shadows across the surface.

Xie Zhizhou’s gaze swept over the desk before returning to his palm.

Jade is fragile. If it were to fall accidentally or be knocked against, this Heart Lock Pendant would surely shatter like moonlight.

Xie Zhizhou fell into deep thought…

Suddenly, sounds came from the bed again.

[Peilan, quickly go find out for me—who is that young master sitting at the head seat? He’s so handsome!]

“Young lady, keep your voice down. Be careful others might hear. I’ve heard that in Yunjing, women are most valued for their grace and gentleness. If your words today are deemed improper, I’m afraid it’ll reach the palace by tomorrow.”

[I know, I know. Dear Peilan, please go find out for me. That shade of sky-water green is simply enchanting!]

“Young lady, that’s Young Master Xie. I’ve heard… the Xie family is a great noble house, likely incompatible with ours. Young lady, don’t entertain such thoughts.”

[The Xie family? I want precisely the Xie family.]

Xie Zhizhou suddenly snapped back to reality. What was he thinking?

Snooping through others’ private belongings in the dead of night was already unbecoming of a gentleman.

If he were to damage it out of selfish desire, what principles would he have left to stand upon between heaven and earth?

It was merely a Heart Lock Pendant.

He placed the pendant deep inside the dressing case, arranging even the tassels neatly, then strode to the bedside.

Lin Shengshen happened to turn over, facing outward, a gentle smile gracing her lips as her long, curled lashes rested peacefully against her cheeks.

She was sleeping soundly, her dreams filled with nothing but joy.

Moonlight shifted across the room. Xie Zhizhou stood by the bed for who knew how long, the chill of the summer night gradually creeping up his legs.

Perhaps Lin Shengshen had once harbored feelings for Wen Lingzhou in her budding youth, but those were but hazy, fleeting sentiments of adolescence—insubstantial and not to be taken seriously.

Besides, he and Lin Shengshen were now husband and wife.

After all, it was just a small Heart Lock Pendant, not worth dwelling on.

There was still a place for him, Xie Zhizhou, in Lin Shengshen’s heart. From now on, he would make it up to her and no longer treat her coldly.

The brocade quilt was fragrant and soft. Xie Zhizhou felt somewhat restrained, enveloped by the sweet scent of pears, and he managed to enjoy a rare, restful night’s sleep at Tangli Residence.

Having gone to bed early the previous night, Lin Shengshen woke unusually early, at the third quarter of the hour of Mao.

As the weather grew warmer, even before opening her eyes, she felt as if a furnace were blazing beside the bed—stifling and sweltering.

She stretched her arms and arched her back, intending to yawn and stretch.

But her hand brushed against warm skin, with prominent bones and smooth contours—the raised brow bones and sunken eye sockets arranged in near-perfect symmetry…

“Xie Zhizhou! What are you doing here?!”

Lin Shengshen bolted upright in panic, scrambling on all fours to the innermost corner of the bed, the bedpost digging painfully into her back.

Xie Zhizhou seemed not fully awake yet. Disturbed from his slumber, he slowly opened his eyes, his expression calm and unruffled as he sat up.

His tall frame and broad shoulders instantly made the bed curtains feel cramped.

Beneath the brocade quilt, his clothes were neatly arranged. Upon closer inspection, he had been sleeping close to the edge, occupying only the outermost part of the spacious bed.

“I returned late last night and found no bedding on the Arhat Bed,” he said evenly.

Xie Zhizhou pointed at Lin Shengshen’s snow-white feet. “The brocade quilt is here.”

Lin Shengshen looked down and saw the quilt usually allotted to Xie Zhizhou firmly trapped beneath her feet.

[How is this possible? How did this quilt end up on my bed?]

She looked up in astonishment, meeting Xie Zhizhou’s gaze.

Whether it was because of the quilt or not, she sensed a flicker of simmering anger in his eyes.

“Absolutely impossible,” she stated firmly.

A breeze drifted in through the window, sending a chill over her front. Looking down, she realized the ribbon of her inner garment had come undone during sleep, dangling from the half-open collar of her nightgown. The snowy curves of her bosom rose and fell with her slightly hurried breaths.

[Ah!!]

Lin Shengshen snatched the quilt from under her feet and wrapped it around herself, eyeing Xie Zhizhou warily.

“What you’re holding now is my quilt,” Xie Zhizhou said quietly.

His eyelids lowered slightly, veiling his deep gaze, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

[What does he mean, his quilt? This is my quilt. How did it become his just because he used it for a few nights?]

[Xie Zhizhou is utterly shameless.]

“Get off the bed! Get down! Now!” Lin Shengshen’s mind was in turmoil—shock mingled with frustration—as she kicked out wildly.

Xie Zhizhou took a few kicks to his legs.

Though Lin Shengshen seemed to be using great force, her feet merely brushed against his legs like feathers or petals, reminding him of the tingling sensation in his palm from that night on the Painted Boat.

As she tossed and turned, the bed instantly filled with the sweet scent of pear.

Xie Zhizhou’s breath hitched, his lower abdomen tightening. He lifted the bed curtains and stepped down.

Safe now, Lin Shengshen panted unevenly, indignantly stating, “We agreed on this long ago: first, no sharing the same bed.”

“Since I didn’t go to Young Master Xie’s bed, why did you come to mine? Even if it was because of the blankets, it’s still not allowed!Xie Zhizhou stood with his back to the bed outside the layers of curtains, his voice low and suppressed, “Naturally, my actions last night were improper.“”

Lin Shengshen’s rising anger suddenly subsided.

[Xie Zhizhou is principled and restrained—perhaps last night was truly unintentional…]

[Forget it, forget it. Fortunately, he’s as pure and noble as a lofty crane. Even if we accidentally shared a bed, he would never do anything improper.]

Then she sneered inwardly.

[That’s right. In the past, even when I begged him, he refused. Why would he now…]

Xie Zhizhou said, “Actually, since we are already married, sharing a bed would not be inappropriate.”

[Xie Zhizhou has gone mad!]

[What benefits did His Majesty offer him that he’s willing to go this far for this marriage? Selling his face is one thing, but now he’s selling his body too?!]

Xie Zhizhou: “…”

Lin Shengshen tied the silk ribbons of her undergarment into a tight knot, then straightened her sleeping robe before slightly parting the bed curtains to toss out the brocade quilt.

“I’m used to sleeping alone. If you don’t like the Arhat Bed, I’ll have Peilan tidy up the eastern study today. You can rest there late at night when no one will notice.”

“No need,” Xie Zhizhou flatly refused. After placing the brocade quilt back on the Arhat Bed, he dressed, washed up, and left.

He didn’t speak another word to Lin Shengshen.

While helping Lin Shengshen arrange her dress, Peilan wondered aloud, “The young master returned late last night and left early this morning without saying a word. I noticed he didn’t have a trace of a smile on his face—it was quite unsettling.”

Lin Shengshen said, “He’s arrogant and aloof. Now that His Majesty is forcing him to be affectionate with me, of course he’s miserable every day.”

She snorted coldly, “Speaking of which, so am I!”

“Today, when I enter the palace, I should carefully gauge His Majesty’s intentions.”

Holding the meticulously prepared Scented Pills, Lin Shengshen took a small sedan chair into the palace.

In Qingchun Palace, the scent of patchouli seemed even stronger, masked by layers of floral fragrances. Only someone well-versed in the art of incense would notice this hint of patchouli.

Consort Qi was in a good mood today. Pointing from behind the bead curtain, she said, “Sit.”

Lin Shengshen sat on the Rose Chair to respond.

“Last time, discussing the ‘Two Su’s Old Gathering’ with you benefited me greatly, so I summoned you to the palace for a chat,” Consort Qi said lazily.

Qi Xin stood to the side, head bowed, her slender figure barely visible through the bead curtain.

Lin Shengshen smiled faintly, “Your Highness is well-versed in the art of incense. I am ashamed of my inadequacy. Being able to enter the palace and receive Your Highness’s guidance is already a great fortune—how could it be considered a discussion?”

Consort Qi nodded and giggled, “Since marrying into the Xie residence, you’ve become much more docile, unlike previous years…”

Consort Qi didn’t continue, but Lin Shengshen knew what she meant.

It was nothing more than how, when she first arrived in Yunjing years ago, she acted boldly and recklessly, especially in matters between men and women, causing a city-wide uproar. In their words: she had completely lost face.

Lin Shengshen lowered her gaze, her expression calm.

Let them talk. Say whatever they want—it wouldn’t cost her a piece of flesh.

She had long known that many people looked down on her because of her unrequited love for Xie Zhizhou.

Yet whether in her past life or this one, she remained unimpressed—her worth had never hinged on such matters.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and Lin Shengshen offered no reply. On this matter, she had no patience for evasion or pretense.

Qi Xin spoke up at just the right moment, “Your Highness, shall I fetch the recently prepared Southern Dynasty Reverie?”

Consort Qi chuckled lightly, “Go on, let Miss Lin have a sniff.”

Qi Xin carried a small gilded box over to Lin Shengshen.

“Miss Lin, please.”

Lin Shengshen’s eyes brightened. She reached directly into the box, took out a Scented Pill, and brought it to her nose for a deep inhale. Then, covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, she coughed several times.

“Southern Dynasty Reverie? I’ve heard this fragrance was lost long ago. How did Your Highness obtain the formula?” Lin Shengshen asked innocently.

“What I desire comes to me easily.”

“I adore frankincense most of all. I detect a hint of it in this Scented Pill, but I can’t identify the other notes.”

Consort Qi rose gracefully and stepped out from behind the beaded curtain.

The pearls parted like a flowing curtain, their chime crisp and clear.

At last, Lin Shengshen saw Consort Qi’s face clearly.

She had the same willow-leaf eyebrows as Qi Xin, but her eyes held a silken allure, their corners slightly upturned, harmonizing with the elegant sweep of her hair behind her ears.

Her belly was slightly rounded, and she wore resplendent palace robes, the hem of her skirt swaying lightly. At first glance, she exuded an imperious air, yet upon closer look, there was a tenderness like flowing water.

Lin Shengshen hurriedly bowed her head and stood up.

Consort Qi approached slowly, studied Lin Shengshen briefly with little interest, then turned away to pick up a pair of silver shears and trim a flower branch.

“No wonder, when Chancellor Lin first arrived in the capital, rumors swirled that you were to enter the palace as a consort. With such beauty, only the rank of Noble Consort would do you justice.” Her tone betrayed neither joy nor anger.

Lin Shengshen took a quiet, deep breath and replied calmly, “They are merely idle gossip. I am but an ordinary woman. To be granted marriage into the Xie family by His Majesty is already the fulfillment of my wishes.”

“Hah, and you still call it ‘fulfillment’ in your current situation? The common folk say your devotion to the young master of the Xie family knows no bounds—it seems they were right.” Consort Qi smiled.

“Considering your family background and looks… you are truly wasting yourself now. Since His Majesty has arranged your marriage, you ought to strive for distinction.” Consort Qi remarked offhandedly.

Lin Shengshen: “…”

For some reason, Consort Qi seemed unusually reflective today. Accustomed to power and status, she spoke without restraint, making it hard to respond.

Yet it also gave Lin Shengshen some insight into His Majesty’s intentions.

Strive for distinction? In what way?

Was being a devoted couple not enough? Must she bear children as well? She had no heart for that.

Lin Shengshen sighed inwardly—this marriage was truly troublesome.

After a moment’s silence, she presented a lacquered wooden box she had prepared earlier. “I have newly blended Nightlong Delight. I hope Your Highness will not find it unworthy.”

Consort Qi did not turn around, merely waving a hand.

Understanding, Qi Xin accepted the box.

“Your fragrances are always exquisite. You may withdraw.”

A quarter of an hour later, melodious zither music drifted through Qingchun Palace. Qi Xin stood silently nearby.

Fingers still plucking the strings, Consort Qi said in a low voice, “Well? Now you can rest easy, can’t you?”

Consort Qi nodded. “That Southern Dynasty Reverie incense was concocted in complete disarray, yet she praised it. After deeply inhaling several times with unsightly demeanor, she only managed to identify frankincense—truly mediocre aptitude.”

Upon hearing this, Consort Qi’s hands stilled, the zither music abruptly ceasing. “Mediocre aptitude.”

A cold sweat broke out along Qi Xin’s spine as she dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

“This humble servant misspoke and had no intention of offending Your Highness.”

Consort Qi looked at the trembling, fearful figure and smiled, resuming her zither playing. “Look at you, what are you afraid of? Rise quickly.”

Qi Xin stood up tentatively. “The young lady Lin brought Nightlong Refrain…”

“Discard it.”

As they reached Zhonghua Gate, Peilan hurried over holding an umbrella.

Lin Shengshen let out a long breath and glanced back at the deep palace path, where imposing walls stood tall on either side, still feeling eerie under the blazing sun.

“Young lady, the young master has come to fetch you.”

Lin Shengshen: “He…”

“Ah, never mind, let’s go.”

Having been on tenterhooks in the palace for so long, she currently had no mind to deal with Xie Zhizhou. Since they were still at Zhonghua Gate, it was just as well he came to fetch her—let the palace people see how well she and Xie Zhizhou were living up to the emperor’s expectations, quite commendable indeed.

Xie Zhizhou had surprisingly worn a fresh, bright color today—sky-water jade.

Holding a book scroll, he was intently reading without glancing at Lin Shengshen, as if fetching her was something he’d done countless times, or as if he harbored countless reluctances in his heart.

Either way, Lin Shengshen didn’t care. She instructed the coachman, “To the Lin residence.”

Xie Zhizhou finally looked up. “Why?”

Lin Shengshen said, “I’ve been missing my mother these past few days and wish to stay at the Lin residence for a while.”

Xie Zhizhou’s brow furrowed slightly.

[Why else? Because no one would suddenly climb onto my bed at the Lin residence.]

[And with Xie Zhizhou here today, him personally sending me back to the Lin residence shouldn’t invite gossip.]

Xie Zhizhou’s gaze intensified momentarily before returning to the book scroll, the previously smooth paper now crumpled under his fingertips.

The boisterous sounds of laughter and play from the marketplace outside the carriage were irritating, a nameless emotion surging like turbulent floodwaters carrying silt.

Just because of his momentary lapse in judgment yesterday, he had frightened her into fleeing back to her maternal home to escape.

Sharing a bed was like facing floodwaters and fierce beasts to Lin Shengshen.

Where Lin Shengshen had once suffered from his aloofness and neglect, he now felt it piercing to the bone.

Xie Zhizhou: “Fine.”

He had offended Lin Shengshen—her disgust and evasion were justified.

But Xie Zhizhou thought: What he failed to accomplish in the past, he would repay this time. As for the Lin residence, he would stay there too.