After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 39

In the blink of an eye, it was the evening of the next day. The twilight was deep and hazy, golden rays reflecting off the Jade Capital River, shimmering with ripples.

Before the streets had fully come to life with the festival, Lin Shengshen was urged out the door by Xie Zhenhuan.

She hadn’t put much effort into her appearance today, wearing only a honey-colored ruqun with hibiscus patterns and a thin, wide-sleeved outer robe. Her fair skin was faintly visible, and paired with the crystal tassels in her hair, she looked like a fairy who had stepped out of the moonlight—ethereal and transcendent.

Xie Zhizhou had left early in the morning and hadn’t returned until now. Lin Shengshen breathed a sigh of relief—it seemed tonight would be just her and Zhenhuan.

However, as soon as she boarded the carriage with Xie Zhenhuan, Lin Shengshen completely wilted. How could Xie Zhizhou already be waiting inside the carriage?

[What business does he have crashing a ladies’ lantern festival?]

[Hasn’t the Xu Wulin case been keeping him busy enough these days?]

[Never mind, never mind. Today was meant to comfort Zhenhuan anyway. If I want to enjoy myself, I can do so freely next year after the divorce.]

Xie Zhizhou’s heart sank.

Divorce? When was it decided they would divorce next year?

He subtly shifted closer to Lin Shengshen, leaving Xie Zhenhuan alone and wilted in the carriage corner.

Lin Shengshen remained completely unaware, her attention wholly focused on Zhenhuan.

[Logically speaking, after the coming-of-age ceremony incident, Zhenhuan should have started to realize that Xu Wulin’s feelings for her were always just perfunctory.]

[Xu Wulin took for granted that Zhenhuan was deeply in love with him, thus growing negligent and dismissive, treating her as his possession long ago.]

Lin Shengshen sneered coldly.

[Men are all the same.]

Xie Zhizhou stiffened and sat up straighter.

He wasn’t like what Lin Shengshen imagined.

He never thought of Lin Shengshen as a kite on a string, pulling her tight or loose to make her float or sink. He just…

Didn’t want to repeat past mistakes.

But how futile these explanations would sound now. Since joining the Dali Temple, he had been sharp-eyed and perceptive in exposing deceit, yet in his own affairs, he remained stubborn and foolish.

Xie Zhizhou’s heart ached with bitterness as he lowered his gaze in silence. The three occupants of the carriage each lost in their own thoughts, all lacking enthusiasm.

[But from my observation, Zhenhuan isn’t someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong. Yesterday, after hearing Xie Zhizhou’s confirmation that Xu Wulin truly committed wicked deeds, she stopped clinging to him.]

[Poor Zhenhuan… my poor sister-in-law.]

[Growing from naive innocence always comes with some hardship. After crying through a few nights, tossing and turning with no appetite for food or tea, she’ll understand everything.]

Xie Zhizhou looked at Lin Shengshen. In her previous life, how many walls had she crashed into? How much bitterness had she endured? How many sleepless nights and tasteless meals had she suffered before completely letting go?

That would explain why she was so resolute in this lifetime…

He suddenly wanted very much to hold Lin Shengshen’s hand.

However, just as his hand hovered mid-reach, Lin Shengshen suddenly stood up and went to Xie Zhenhuan’s side.

Lin Shengshen put her arm around Zhenhuan’s shoulders, letting her rest securely against her. “Your sister-in-law knows you’re hurting. You’ve known him since childhood, and it’s only natural you can’t let go immediately after caring for him all these years. But we must always look forward. Think about it—if you view a person’s life longitudinally, those few years are merely a brief interlude in the long journey of life. How insignificant their weight truly is.”

Xie Zhenhuan had reflected deeply these past days. She knew about Xu Wulin’s grievances and frustrations over the years, and suspected he might no longer possess the pure-hearted nature of his youth. She had tolerated his repeated coldness and neglect, but now it involved matters of life and death.

Having watched her brother punish evil and eliminate corruption over the years, she deeply detested villains herself. How could she foolishly insist on speaking up for Xu Wulin?

She was just frightened and heartbroken.

Lin Shengshen understood Xie Zhenhuan’s feelings and smiled. “Even if you’d raised a cat or dog all these years, you’d have formed an attachment. It’s completely normal to feel heartbroken. This isn’t your fault. Don’t be afraid—I’m here with you.”

Her voice was gentle, her expression soft and amiable, the flickering lamplight flowing like liquid across her face.

Xie Zhizhou froze, quickly averting his gaze—

His heart felt as though it were about to leap out of his chest.

—

Xie Yunshuang was dressed particularly dazzlingly today. A crimson pleated skirt made her complexion appear exceptionally radiant, and even her ordinarily plain features seemed to shine brilliantly under the lamplight.

“Mother, please stop pacing around here. What if someone notices us?”

Concubine Jin covered half her face with a fan. “Yunshuang, let’s go back. I still think this is too risky! Xie Zhizhou has eyes and ears everywhere. If he finds out about these schemes, he will never let us off.”

Xie Yunshuang sneered, “So Mother has grown accustomed to being controlled over the years. You’ve become so adept at being a concubine who only dares to throw her weight around within the mansion that your courage has shrunk even further.”

“But today concerns my future. I cannot afford not to fight for it. If you’re afraid, Mother, please return first.”

Concubine Jin said sorrowfully, “Yunshuang, why must you go to such lengths? Xu Wulin has been imprisoned, so your marriage arrangement with him is surely ruined. Let’s plan carefully and have your father select a better match for you.”

Xie Yunshuang gritted her teeth. “Why should I be given what Xie Zhenhuan has cast aside? Why did the Xu family fall into misfortune right after the marriage was proposed? Why must I continue to be manipulated by Father? Prince Su and I have met once before. Since he has summoned me here today, there must be hope for me to enter his palace. Whether he schemes against me or favors me, I accept it! I refuse to settle for the leftovers the Xie family deigns to give me!”

These words brought tears to Concubine Jin’s eyes. She opened her mouth but ultimately lowered her head and murmured, “It’s all my fault… my momentary misjudgment back then has caused you to suffer grievances in this household… Yunshuang…”

Her words were too faint, scattered by the wind and drowned out by the noisy crowd and the laughter of playing children.

Without looking back, Xie Yunshuang ran toward the tall lantern stand, as if disappearing into a sea of stars.

After running some distance, the lanterns grew farther away, and the surroundings became increasingly secluded.

“You are quite punctual.” Prince Su stood with his hands behind his back, looking down from the steps at the frail woman kneeling below.

“Your Highness summoned Yunshuang. I dare not delay.” She struggled to keep her trembling voice under control.

Perhaps because Prince Su had spent years fighting battles across the land, Xie Yunshuang always felt he carried a faint, lingering scent of blood about him, making others wary of approaching.

The man’s footsteps drew nearer, a pair of black boots embroidered with golden patterns stopping before Xie Yunshuang.

“Afraid of me?”

Xie Yunshuang’s chin was lifted as he pinched it. She lowered her gaze, trembling uncontrollably, too afraid to meet his eyes.

“Tsk, truly disappointing.” He was referring to her appearance.

Suddenly, Xie Yunshuang raised her eyes and stared directly into Prince Su’s. “Yunshuang is willing to offer my humble services to Your Highness!”

Prince Su chuckled lightly, the sharpness about him undiminished. “You are quite perceptive.”

“Rise.”

He released her chin, wiped his hand with a handkerchief, and casually tossed it aside.

“Bring me the information I want, and the position you desire will be easily yours.”

Xie Yunshuang’s heart raced wildly—it was the position of a secondary consort!

A status even Xie Zhenhuan could not hope to attain.

As the frail figure gradually disappeared into the distance, Prince Su’s consort emerged gracefully from the shadows. Her eyelashes were thick, her eyes narrow and long. The lamplight could not penetrate her pupils, so her gaze appeared dense and murky, like a slippery little snake slithering out from beneath damp moss.

Prince Su wrapped his arm around her slender waist and kissed her cheek. “What? Are you unhappy?”

The Princess Consort of Su pushed against his chest with a cold, mocking laugh.

Prince Su remained unmoved, his arms firmly holding his consort. Feeling her cease her struggles, his hands began to wander restlessly up and down.

One hand slipped into the front of her robe while the other delved beneath the layers of her skirt, his breathing growing heavy. “Even if there were ten or eight more, wouldn’t they just be for your amusement? If this one particularly displeases you…”

“Then gouge out their eyes, slice off their nose, cut off their ears, chop off their hands, and sever their feet—let my princess consort deal with them as she pleases.”

With each word, his fingers pressed deeper, until the person in his arms completely softened, her sticky gaze melting into a pool of water.

Prince Su leaned into the crook of her neck, blowing a gentle breath as he chuckled softly. “Ah Luan… my heart and eyes are filled only with you…”

A startled gasp escaped as Prince Su swept her up into his arms and strode toward the carriage.

The pitch-black night was illuminated by countless lanterns. Inside the carriage, warm, flickering yellow light failed to clearly outline the entwined figures. On the street, Xie Yunshuang’s rabbit lantern swayed gently in the wind, casting light on her ambitious face. By the Jade Capital River, Xie Zhenhuan, holding Lin Shengshen’s hand, was selecting a lantern to her liking.

“Sister-in-law, if we leave Brother behind like this, will he be angry?” Xie Zhenhuan kept looking back but couldn’t spot Xie Zhizhou among the dense crowd.

Lin Shengshen glanced over the lanterns on the rack and said casually, “He wouldn’t want to browse through things meant for us girls anyway. Don’t worry about him.”

“Look, isn’t that lotus-shaped lantern up there beautiful? How about that one?”

Xie Zhenhuan glanced at it. “It’s lovely. Let’s take that one.”

Lin Shengshen knew she wouldn’t cheer up anytime soon and simply smiled as she reached for her money.

Unexpectedly, just as she was about to hand over the silver, someone beat her to it.

“Shengshen.”

Wen Lingzhou personally took down the lotus lantern and handed it to her.

Lin Shengshen paused before accepting it. “What a coincidence.”

Wen Zhao’ya suddenly popped out from behind Wen Lingzhou and bowed. “Sister-in-law.”

“…” Xie Zhenhuan tensed as if facing a great enemy, scanning the area but finding no trace of Xie Zhizhou! She coughed and subtly stepped in front of Lin Shengshen. “Greetings, General Wen.”

Wen Lingzhou nodded, smiling as he took down a crescent moon lantern and handed it to Xie Zhenhuan. “Since you’re Shengshen’s sister, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Take this lantern.”

Xie Zhenhuan didn’t want to accept it, but she couldn’t be impolite. She thanked him and took the crescent moon lantern.

“Hey? Why did you only greet my brother and not me?” Wen Zhao’ya craned his neck and asked.

Xie Zhenhuan glared at him coldly. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”

Wen Zhao’ya tilted his head and grinned. “No wonder! So we’ve never met—it’s not that Miss Xie has a poor memory! I am Wen Zhao’ya, the younger brother of Sister-in-law’s old acquaintance.”

This was mockery and provocation!

Xie Zhenhuan was furious!

Forgetting all about propriety, she jumped up and stomped hard on Wen Zhao’ya’s foot. Amid his exclamation of pain, she linked arms with Lin Shengshen and strode away.

Pulled along, Lin Shengshen glanced back at Wen Lingzhou with an apologetic smile before following Xie Zhenhuan.

After walking a good distance, Lin Shengshen was panting and out of breath when Xie Zhenhuan finally cursed, “What an infuriating pest!”

Before Lin Shengshen could laugh at her, Xie Zhizhou emerged from the crowd. He seemed to have been searching for a long time, and when his gaze fell upon them, he quickened his pace, pushing through the people toward them.

Xie Zhenhuan held Lin Shengshen’s hand, and as Xie Zhizhou approached, she took his hand as well, placing their hands together before interlacing their fingers one by one.

“Brother, sister-in-law, I’m not feeling well, so I’ll take my leave first. Remember to release a lantern for me at the Jade Capital River to pray for Mother’s blessings.” Before leaving, she even took the lotus lantern from Lin Shengshen’s hand.

“…” Lin Shengshen wanted to pull her hand back, but under Xie Zhenhuan’s gaze, she obediently stayed still.

Watching Xie Zhenhuan’s figure gradually disappear into the distance, surrounded by maids and servants, Lin Shengshen tried to withdraw her hand, but Xie Zhizhou held it tightly, making escape impossible.

“Lord Xie—”

“Lin Shengshen, let’s go release the lantern.” Fireworks bloomed in the distance, reflecting brightly and brilliantly in Xie Zhizhou’s eyes.

Lin Shengshen was momentarily stunned, and before she could react, Xie Zhizhou had already interlaced their fingers and led her toward the river.

“Young master and miss are like a golden boy and jade girl descended from the heavens! I find you even more dazzling than tonight’s lanterns! How about buying a ‘hundred years of harmony’ lantern to pray for blessings? A couple releasing a lantern together symbolizes marital bliss and growing old together!”

“Give us one—”

Lin Shengshen suddenly interrupted, “No need. Just give us those two blank lanterns up there.”

The vendor was taken aback, glancing at Xie Zhizhou’s instantly darkened expression, unsure of what to do.

After a moment, Xie Zhizhou said, “Bring them.”

His voice carried a hint of desolation.

Lin Shengshen withdrew her hand, thanked him, took the blank lanterns, and walked to the riverbank, with Xie Zhizhou following closely beside her.

They lit the lanterns and held them until they slowly rose into the night sky.

Xie Zhizhou watched Lin Shengshen illuminated by the lantern light, her hair fluttering in the breeze, gently brushing against his arm and chest like an intimate lover.

What would she pray for?

Xie Zhizhou’s heart began to race again. His hand slowly reached for hers, and the moment he touched her palm, it felt as if an electric current shot through him—tingling, exhilarating, itching, and aching.

Lin Shengshen did not pull away.

Xie Zhizhou got his wish and held her hand again, this time gripping it tightly.

Then he closed his eyes and prayed with the utmost sincerity of his life:

“May I grow old together with Lin Shengshen.”

At the same time, he heard:

[“May Lingzhou journey safely to the northwest, return victorious!”]

Xie Zhizhou froze instantly, feeling as if a wooden thorn had been brutally driven into his heart, the pain spreading throughout his body.

When he looked down again, he found that Lin Shengshen had already withdrawn her hand and, satisfied, ran off to the street to continue admiring the lanterns…