After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 59

The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold glow through the tall reeds onto the faces of Lin Shengshen and Xie Zhenhuan.

Both were pale, but not from the moonlight’s reflection.

Xie Zhenhuan had lost one shoe, trudging unevenly through the mud, the soles of her feet and palms of her hands burning with pain.

Her breathing grew faint as she grasped Lin Shengshen’s hand. “Sister-in-law, I can’t go on. You should go ahead without me.”

Lin Shengshen stopped and helped her rest by the water’s edge. Already exhausted from the day, having forced herself to maintain composure at the Yong’an Marquis Manor, and only catching a brief nap on the return journey, she had managed to kill one person and walk a long distance. Now her strength was completely spent, her vision darkening at the edges.

“Zhenhuan, we can only rest for a moment. Even if we have to crawl, we must crawl back!”

Xie Zhenhuan swayed unsteadily, the moon above resembling the sugar pancakes her brother used to buy her from street vendors when she was young.

“Sister-in-law, if I… if I die, you and brother must visit me every year.”

“I only met my mother a few times when I was little, too young to remember anything. I don’t even recall what she looked like… If I go to the underworld, we probably won’t be able to find each other… All alone, if you don’t come to see me, what will I do?”

Lin Shengshen said fiercely, “If you dare die, I’ll divorce your brother and travel the world, never having anything to do with the Xie family again! Then you’ll be a lonely ghost with no company!”

Tears fell from Xie Zhenhuan’s eyes as Lin Shengshen helped her start walking again. “Sister-in-law, you’re so cruel.”

“But… divorce is fine, traveling is fine too… It’s only right that you’re angry with brother.”

Seeing Xie Zhenhuan’s despondency, fear rose in Lin Shengshen’s heart. Ignoring the raw wounds on Zhenhuan’s palms, she gripped her hand tightly. “If you die, I’ll die with you!”

Xie Zhenhuan forced herself to regain some spirit, quickening her steps slightly. “How can you die? You must live well… live well.”

Lin Shengshen wiped the tears from Xie Zhenhuan’s eyes. “Alright, then you must live with me!”

Just as they had rallied their spirits, they suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats in the distance.

Lin Shengshen pulled Xie Zhenhuan down to crouch, listening carefully.

Hoofbeats were coming from both directions!

Those people had found them so quickly.

Thick clouds obscured the moon, the dark night sky like a giant beast opening its bloody maw to devour them both.

Despair and unwillingness filled Lin Shengshen as her heart pounded like a war drum. The earlier despondency vanished, replaced by renewed determination.

She drew her dagger and held it steadily.

No matter what, she would fight with all her might. At worst, she would die – she had died painfully in her previous life too, but she had endured it. It wasn’t so terrible.

Just as she thought this, she suddenly heard a familiar voice. “Shengshen!”

In that instant, Lin Shengshen collapsed to the ground. The armor of courage she had just fortified herself with shattered completely. It was over – this terrifying pursuit was over. Naturally, she no longer needed armor.

She summoned all her strength to call out, her throat that had been nearly crushed by the coachman at dusk producing a hoarse sound.

“Xie Zhizhou! I’m here!”

The hoofbeats suddenly accelerated, growing closer from both directions.

Xie Zhenhuan seemed frozen in place. Beyond the tears welling up again in her eyes and her trembling lips that couldn’t form words, she no longer had the strength to activate any other senses.

The hoofbeats from behind arrived first. Almost the moment the hoofbeats stopped, Xie Zhenhuan could no longer hold on and fainted. Wonderful – her brother had truly come.

Lin Shengshen didn’t spare a glance at Xie Zhizhou rushing through the night, immediately gathering Xie Zhenhuan into her arms. “Zhenhuan! Zhenhuan!”

Just as Xie Zhizhou reached her side and wrapped an arm around her waist, the sound of approaching hoofbeats grew urgent. Wen Lingzhou’s voice followed closely, “Zhenhuan!”

Through the dense darkness, Wen Lingzhou dashed forward, taking Zhenhuan into his embrace. Checking for breath and finding it faint, he swiftly retrieved a pill from his robes and fed it to Xie Zhenhuan.

Only then did Wen Lingzhou remember to look up at Xie Zhizhou standing nearby.

Xie Zhizhou cast him a cold, scrutinizing glance before finally softening his expression. “Trouble Young Master Wen to escort Zhenhuan back to the Xie residence. I will personally visit to express gratitude another day.”

Without hesitation, Wen Lingzhou lifted Xie Zhenhuan horizontally in his arms. “Elder brother, I will treat Zhenhuan well.”

“…” Xie Zhizhou felt this person was overstepping—merely lending assistance, yet presuming to claim brotherhood?

But he truly had no attention to spare, for he could feel Lin Shengshen in his arms gradually losing strength.

Xie Zhizhou said nothing more, only glancing toward the direction Wen Lingzhou departed, where two horses stood.

Wen Lingzhou sat mounted in the deep night, his silhouette barely visible, his expression indiscernible.

Xie Zhizhou withdrew his gaze and held Lin Shengshen tightly against him.

With Zhenhuan’s situation settled, Lin Shengshen finally broke into loud sobs, the taut bowstring within her snapping loose. “Xie Zhizhou, if you had come any later, you’d be preparing for widowhood!”

Having spoken, she seemed to exhaust her last strength, collapsing like a puppet drained of spirit, limbs hanging limp as Xie Zhizhou embraced her more firmly.

“This is all my fault. Once we return home, Shengshen may punish me as she wishes.” His tone carried pained empathy.

Switching to holding Lin Shengshen with one arm, Xie Zhizhou grasped the reins and mounted, galloping urgently toward the Xie residence.

Leaving only reeds swaying under the cold moonlight.

Wen Lingzhou urged his horse forward. “Brother, I’ll go ahead to the Xie residence.”

Wen Lingzhou seemed not to hear, pausing briefly before replying, “Go.”

–

Tangli Residence had gathered many people.

Lin Xunen stood by the outer chamber window, expression tense, his military training attire still carrying the chill of the drill grounds.

Chen Yuying sat beside Lin Zhiping, the tea on the side table untouched as she wept behind a handkerchief—a rare display of vulnerability.

Xie Changx

Xie Zhenhuan’s condition was slightly better; apart from her severely injured palm requiring prolonged recovery, she had no other visible wounds. Though she had not developed a high fever, the shock had left her unconscious.

Several maids and matrons carried Xie Zhenhuan back to her quarters, leaving only Lin Shengshen and Xie Zhizhou in the main room of Tangli Residence.

Xie Zhizhou sat by the bedside, gazing at the fragile figure nestled in the brocade quilt.

She was as slender as a willow branch, yet she could wield a blade to mercilessly pierce an enemy’s heart, even sever ribs and cleave open chests. She was like a tree that had struggled through cracks in stone to grow—unyielding through storms and scorching sun, never wavering in her resolve.

That tenacity and formidable spirit made Xie Zhizhou tremble with awe.

From their wounds, Xie Zhizhou had deduced the circumstances of the incident, not daring to dwell on the details again. The slightest misstep would have meant utter ruin.

Widower…

A surge of boundless rage and killing intent suddenly welled up in Xie Zhizhou.

His precious Lin Shengshen, who always wore a gentle smile at the corners of her lips, now lay with pale lips, her frail body deeply sunken into the bedding, motionless.

He would make the mastermind pay a thousandfold, a hundredfold.

But even if that person were torn to pieces, would his Lin Shengshen ever be lively and vibrant again?

He did not know.

The imperial physician had treated her wounds and checked her pulse, frowning deeply as he instructed Xie Zhizhou not to leave her side tonight. If the fever did not break, the consequences could be dire…

Xie Zhizhou tucked Lin Shengshen’s hand back under the quilt and wiped her neck once more before stepping out of the main room. Addressing the crowd in the outer chamber, he said, “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, I will watch over Shengshen tonight. Please rest.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Changxing immediately rose to his feet, but a sharp glare from Xie Zhizhou froze him in place.

Chen Yuying wiped her tears. “The night is critical. We will keep watch outside.”

Lin Xunen turned and approached Xie Zhizhou, accusing, “Shengshen never provokes such people! Why did she suffer this calamity today? And why did you only find her so late at night?”

“Your Xie family was reluctant about this marriage from the start. I say it’s better to end it! We’ll take Shengshen home—she shouldn’t suffer here anymore!”

Chen Yuying, who knew her daughter best, interceded, “Xun’en, you’re speaking out of panic. Regardless, let’s wait until Shengshen wakes up.”

Lin Xunen clenched his fists, hesitating to speak further, and returned to the window.

Xie Changxing felt deeply aggrieved by these words. It wasn’t just Lin Shengshen who was injured—Xie Zhenhuan was hurt too! Why speak so harshly?

But with Lin Shengshen lying inside, feverish and unconscious, he refrained from retorting, even though Lin Xunen was merely a junior.

Xie Changxing glanced at Xie Zhizhou’s expression. His son was notoriously proud—how could he endure such reprimands? There was no need for him to intervene; let Xie Zhizhou handle it. If things escalated, a divorce would be fine—after all, it was the Lin family who proposed it. Even if the matter reached His Majesty, it would be their family causing offense.

To his surprise, Xie Zhizhou showed neither anger nor defensiveness. Instead, he bowed to Chen Yuying and Lin Zhiping. “Shengshen’s suffering is my fault. While she remains unconscious, staying at the Xie residence ensures care from the imperial physician and spares her the hardship of travel. Let us discuss everything after she wakes.”

“Although this marriage was arranged by His Majesty and could be considered a blind match, Shengshen and I have now developed mutual affection. The union of the Xie and Lin families has long become a celebrated tale in Yunjing, so it naturally cannot be broken.”

“As for today’s matter, please allow me to handle it. I will certainly give my parents-in-law and elder brother a proper account.”

This was the first time Xie Changxing had heard Xie Zhizhou speak at such length, and even more surprisingly, with such deference. Over the years, Xie Zhizhou had always maintained a cold and distant demeanor, never showing respect even to his own biological father.

Lin Zhiping stood up and helped Xie Zhizhou to his feet, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, only saying, “Let’s wait until Shengshen wakes up before discussing anything further.”

Xie Zhizhou had no intention of lingering in the outer room. He picked up the medicine bowl and entered the inner chamber.

Spoonful by spoonful, he fed her the medicine, yet the pale figure showed no signs of waking. As dawn broke in the east, Xie Zhizhou checked Lin Shengshen’s forehead temperature once more.

His hand trembled as he withdrew it.

He removed the jade ring from his index finger, clasped it in his palm, and silently prayed.

He had never believed in gods or Buddhas, trusting only in human effort. But now, for the first time in his life, he whispered a plea: Mother, if your spirit watches over me, please let Lin Shengshen wake up.

Then, he placed the jade ring in Lin Shengshen’s palm and held her hand.

The morning sun rose, and the maids in the courtyard swept and tidied in silence. The usually lively Tangli Residence was now extremely quiet.

By noon, Chen Yuying and the others had come to check several times. Even Xie Zhenhuan, who had woken up, hobbled over for a visit. Yet Lin Shengshen remained unconscious.

Peilan had been rescued in the morning. She had been knocked unconscious and left in a hidden storeroom. Yuan Zhen had interrogated everyone through the night before finally learning Peilan’s whereabouts.

Peilan stood sobbing uncontrollably by the bedside. “The young lady fears pain the most… with so many wounds this time, what are we to do…”

Little Xing quickly pulled her away, afraid she would disturb the young lady’s rest.

Xie Zhizhou stood like a stone statue, silently guarding the bedside. Apart from feeding medicine and wiping her brow, his gaze never left her for a moment. The food on the nearby small table remained untouched.

“Yes, Shengshen fears pain so much. How did she endure it? Shengshen…”

As the sun set in the west, lamps were lit in Tangli Residence. The imperial physician had come four or five times that day, each time shaking his head and sighing.

“Her constitution was already weak, and she suffered such severe injuries, compounded by shock and stress… This high fever… it’s hard to say whether she can pull through.”

Xie Zhizhou remained silent, only watching the time as he fed her medicine spoonful by spoonful.

The sun completely disappeared below the horizon, and night enveloped the earth.

Lin Shengshen had many dreams. In the final one, she dreamed she died in Tangli Residence, vomiting blood mouthful by mouthful. Her soul struggled to escape but was seized by the neck, unable to break free.

The bed in Tangli Residence was so cold. Trembling all over, her soul was torn into countless pieces before she finally broke free from those hands. She swam toward the light, like rowing against the current. Several times she wanted to give up, but a voice kept calling her: Shengshen… Shengshen…

Finally, she broke through the light, then moved her eyelids and opened her eyes. Her neck ached, but her palm felt warm. Lin Shengshen turned her head slightly.

“Xie Zhizhou…”

“Why are you crying?”