After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 34

For three days in a row, Lin Shengshen ignored Xie Zhizhou.

She had considered whether she should apologize to him—explain that it was a misunderstanding and she had accidentally hit him—but every time she saw him, the words died in her throat.

Since the day the physician examined Lin Shengshen, Xie Zhizhou had done little more than remind her daily to take her medicine, saying nothing else.

Lin Shengshen thought that Xie Zhizhou, who had been so consumed by possessiveness recently, would gradually cool off and stop being so stubborn. But then, for some reason, he gave her a gift.

The black scabbard was inlaid with three rubies. Lin Shengshen gripped the hilt and drew it out—the cold blade slid from its sheath with a sharp ring, its edge gleaming with deadly sharpness.

This was an exceptionally keen dagger.

Lin Shengshen lifted her head suspiciously. “What’s this for?”

[If I remember correctly, Xie Zhizhou excelled with daggers. In my past life, I often secretly watched him practice beneath the trees.]

Xie Zhizhou paused. Had she often stolen glances at him practicing with his blade before? He’d never noticed.

“This dagger is for you, for self-defense.” After she was nearly harmed by Zhu Yu’s husband a few days prior, his first thought was that she needed something for protection.

Xie Zhizhou had pondered and carefully selected over recent days, ultimately deciding a dagger was most suitable.

Lin Shengshen sheathed the blade and handed it back to Xie Zhizhou. “I don’t know how to use it, and I have no need for it.”

She refused to accept it.

Xie Zhizhou sat in the armchair and took a sip of tea, not taking it back.

“This dagger is compact and easy to conceal. Carry it with you daily. If there’s an emergency, you can injure someone the moment it’s drawn—no skill required. It’s the most practical option.”

Lin Shengshen gave an “oh” and lowered her head, sheathing the blade again.

The corner of Xie Zhizhou’s mouth lifted slightly. Knowing this meant she had accepted it, he relaxed and picked up a case file to read slowly.

Lin Shengshen drew the sharp blade again, gesturing with it as she moved around the room.

[Whoosh! Whoosh-whoosh!]

[Such a sharp blade—if it accidentally cuts someone, how painful that would be…]

[Let me secretly mimic Xie Zhizhou’s movements and try it out.]

Lin Shengshen walked behind Xie Zhizhou and made two slicing motions through the air toward his shoulders.

Xie Zhizhou’s mind was completely absent from the case file in his hands. He imagined Lin Shengshen holding the dagger behind him, carefully gesturing back and forth—afraid of being discovered yet still sneaking around.

He chuckled softly.

He suddenly wanted to turn around and catch her in the act, to see how she would startle and then pretend nothing happened as she ran away.

But he couldn’t.

Lin Shengshen detested him. Even if he turned around, she would only walk away expressionlessly and distantly.

Moreover, according to the news he’d received from the palace these past few days, Wen Lingzhou would be departing in half a month. Lin Shengshen must be feeling low-spirited now, in no mood for jokes with him.

A faint melancholy enveloped Xie Zhizhou. His gaze grew vacant as he sat upright in the armchair, his spirit wandering who knows where.

“Hmm, this case may seem suspicious, but it’s actually quite simple.”

Lin Shengshen stood behind him, leaning slightly forward to look at the case file in his hands.

Xie Zhizhou suddenly snapped back to reality, only then noticing that to see the words clearly, Lin Shengshen had bent her waist deeper, a few strands of her hair falling onto his shoulders. If he listened carefully, he could even hear Lin Shengshen’s steady breathing.

Warm, lively Lin Shengshen—standing right behind him like this.

With the familiarity of an old married couple, she leaned over him to read the case file in his hands.

Xie Zhizhou’s heart skipped a beat, then began pounding wildly.

Lin Shengshen continued, “This man was just over thirty, usually in good health, yet he died of ‘horse-riding wind’ in his concubine’s room. No wounds on his body, no drugs in his system.”

“Then it must be the fragrance.”

She reached out and pointed at a particular line. “Look—the room had a pungent smell, and there were traces of turquoise in the incense burner…”

“Turquoise isn’t normally used in incense. This was clearly for making Wushi Powder. Although Wushi Powder is usually taken orally, with careful measurement and preparation, its effects can be achieved through burning incense as well.”

Her breath was as fragrant as orchids, with waves of pear blossom scent wafting from her movements as she raised her hand. Xie Zhizhou felt dizzy and lightheaded.

“Hmm?”

[Oh dear, I got carried away. How could someone as proud as Xie Zhizhou listen to the ramblings of a young woman? I spoke too much—let him figure it out himself.]

Lin Shengshen shrugged and straightened up.

“You’re right,” Xie Zhizhou swallowed hard and suddenly spoke. “That case caused quite a stir back then. It was about to be hastily closed, but in the end, it was solved using your line of thinking.”

[Oh, so the case has already been solved… Then what has Xie Zhizhou been staring at blankly all this time? I thought it hadn’t been solved yet.]

Finding it uninteresting, Lin Shengshen sheathed her dagger and walked away.

Before she had taken more than a few steps, Xie Zhizhou suddenly said, “Lin Shengshen, you’re really clever.”

Lin Shengshen gave an indifferent “oh” and walked expressionlessly to the desk, continuing to sketch and flip through ancient texts.

[Hmph, of course I’m clever. It’s just that in my past life, I was a bit foolish—obsessed with love, willing to die for it…]

Xie Zhizhou lowered his gaze.

Foolish? Clearly, he was the foolish one.

“Young Master, Young Madam, the master summons you to the study for a discussion.”

Lin Shengshen looked up. “Coming.”

[I heard the old man Xie summoned me three days ago, and now he’s calling again. I wonder what it’s about this time…]

Xie Zhizhou followed Lin Shengshen, and the two went to the study together.

This time, Xie Changxing wasn’t putting on airs by reading. Instead, he stood by the window stroking his beard. When he saw them arrive, he first scolded with a cold face, “When your elder summons you, you actually delay and make excuses! As juniors—”

“Father, what is the matter?” Xie Zhizhou’s expression was icy.

Interrupted, Xie Changxing didn’t continue his lecture. He pointed to the nearby Rose Chair. “Sit first.”

Concubine Jin personally brought a cup of tea to Xie Changxing.

“Zhenhuan has now reached marriageable age. I heard Zhizhou has been looking into several suitable families for her. Has there been any progress?” Xie Changxing asked.

Xie Zhizhou replied, “Not yet.”

Concubine Jin interjected, “It’s been quite some time already. How come nothing has been arranged? Young Master, if you ask me, you should be more attentive to your own sister’s matters. Just yesterday, Yunshuang kept asking me how your injury was doing.”

[Tsk tsk, with that kind of talk, it’s hard to tell who Xie Zhizhou’s real sister is.]

Lin Shengshen remained calm, sipping her tea.

Xie Zhizhou recalled Lin Shengshen’s advice from a few days prior: Zhenhuan wanted to marry Xu Wulin, but Xu Wulin wasn’t a suitable match. This matter needed to wait.

Moreover… he also believed that Xu Wulin was moody, suspicious in his actions, and definitely not a good husband.

“Zhenhuan’s marriage isn’t urgent. Her health is weak—she’s been frequently ill these past few years. I plan to keep her at home for another two years.”

[Well done, well done.] Lin Shengshen nodded in approval.

Before Xie Changxing could speak, Concubine Jin grew anxious. “How can that be? If we delay another two years, all the good families in Yunjing will be taken!”

[Is she worried that Zhenhuan will miss out on good matches, or that Yunshuang will?]

Since this concerned Zhenhuan, Lin Shengshen didn’t remain silent. She smiled and said, “Noble young masters in Yunjing sprout up one after another, like chives that can never be fully harvested. How could they possibly all be taken? Besides, with Zhenhuan’s family background, appearance, and character, what kind of match couldn’t she secure? Concubine Jin, there’s no need for you to fret anxiously. Are any of the daughters in our family lacking?”

Xie Zhizhou raised an eyebrow. Indeed, the young masters of Yunjing emerged one after another. Lin Shengshen had fallen for him in her youth—who’s to say that after her heartbreak, she might not find someone new among the rising young men to fancy again…

He felt as if sitting on pins and needles.

Concubine Jin knew that ever since she had mocked Lin Shengshen for failing to hold a man’s heart, Lin Shengshen had shown her no courtesy. Now, these words had put her in an even more awkward position.

Sure enough, Xie Changxing snorted coldly and said to Concubine Jin, “Hold your tongue.”

Xie Zhizhou spoke up at the right moment, “Yunshuang is about the same age as Zhenhuan. She has been well-nurtured over the years. If we are in a hurry to find her a match, we could consider candidates for Yunshuang first.”

Xie Changxing nodded, “I was thinking the same.”

“Back when the Xu family hadn’t yet moved to Yingzhou, they were old friends of ours. At that time, we arranged a marriage alliance between Zhenhuan and their son, Wu Lin, while they were still in the womb.”

[There was such a thing?!]

Lin Shengshen looked at Xie Zhizhou in shock.

Xie Zhizhou silently nodded.

He had never disclosed this matter to Xie Zhenhuan, fearing that she might act impulsively and do something irreversible.

After the Xu family fell into decline, Xie Changxing never mentioned this marriage again, intending to treat it as if it had never happened and brush it aside.

But in recent years, Xu Wulin had shown promise. At a young age, he had become a minor general, and his future prospects were immeasurable. Xie Changxing’s thoughts began to stir once more.

And it wasn’t just that—there were long-term considerations as well.

From Xie Zhizhou’s interactions with His Majesty, Xie Changxing had gradually discerned some of the emperor’s intentions. Although the Crown Prince had made some mistakes over the years, and even the Empress had retreated to a life of solitude with prayer beads and Buddha, His Majesty had never spoken of replacing the Eastern Palace. This showed that the emperor cherished old sentiments and still held high hopes for the Crown Prince.

Xu Wulin served under General Lin in the Crown Prince’s faction. In the future, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, even if Xu Wulin didn’t achieve any great merits, he would certainly reap considerable benefits.

Xu Wulin’s position was such that he wouldn’t be the first to face danger in times of crisis, nor would he be cast aside after achieving success.

It was truly a favorable situation.

“Since Zhenhuan still needs to recuperate, let Yunshuang take on this marriage with Xu Wulin.”

Concubine Jin wanted to say more, but after a cold glance from Xie Changxing, she fell silent.

Xie Zhizhou and Lin Shengshen exchanged a glance but said nothing further.

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

[This marriage has unexpectedly fallen onto Xie Yunshuang… But if Xu Wulin were to do something in the future that implicates the Xie family and harms Zhenhuan, what should we do?]

[Others might be fine, but Zhenhuan is weak. If the Xie family encounters trouble in the future, what will become of her?]

Lin Shengshen was deeply troubled.

Xie Zhizhou felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. In the end, the person Lin Shengshen cared about most in the Xie family was Zhenhuan…

Returning to Tangli Residence, Xie Zhizhou brought a cup of tea and handed it to Lin Shengshen.

“Xu Wulin is only a deputy general now. Concubine Jin will certainly look down on him. This marriage likely won’t come to pass.”

“Really? But how will Concubine Jin go about breaking off this engagement? It seems to me that Father is determined to renew ties with the Xu family.”

Xie Zhizhou thought of something and sneered, “She will find her own way.”

Lin Shengshen took the tea and took a sip, feeling slightly reassured. If that were truly the case, and the Xie family completely severed ties with Xu Wulin, then even if something happened in the future, they wouldn’t be implicated!

Unintentionally, her peripheral glance caught the hand with which Xie Zhizhou had handed her the teacup—the very hand that had been injured by the medicinal powder four days ago.

Scabs had already formed over the knuckles, and the once jade-like skin was now covered with ugly, dried blood.

[Tsk, looks like it’ll leave a scar. What a pity – such beautiful hands…]

[They’ll be ugly from now on.]

Xie Zhizhou quietly hid his hands beneath his sleeves.

She disliked them.

Lin Shengshen had always adored exquisite things – even back when she first noticed him in a crowd, it was because of his striking appearance, his clean and bright attire, and his youth.

If these hands made her disgusted, then in the future…

Xie Zhizhou, who had always believed scars were common for men and that men shouldn’t obsess over their appearance and clothing,

Now wavered.

These scars had to be removed.

Completely unaware, Lin Shengshen went to the bathhouse after drinking some water.

When she emerged, she saw Xie Zhizhou with his sleeves rolled up, revealing sturdy arms with smooth muscle lines that exuded vigorous strength under the lamplight. He was applying something.

The injured hand happened to be the same arm that had been cut on his birthday.

Seeing that scar, some unpleasant memories suddenly flooded back.

Rainy night, restraint, intense heat, skin against skin, hot breath spraying…

Lin Shengshen shrank back slightly.

Xie Zhizhou noticed and felt a pang in his heart, silently lowering his sleeves and walking back to the small couch.

Watching his retreating figure, Lin Shengshen suddenly realized that perhaps their frank conversation that day had truly been effective – Xie Zhizhou had finally stopped thinking about sleeping in the bed.

But…

Why did his back look like a homeless little puppy?

Clearly, he was a broad-shouldered, tall man with a commanding presence…