After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 67

After two busy days, the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet arrived in the blink of an eye. Lin Shengshen sat before the dressing table in Shuying Pavilion, preparing her makeup.

Peilan smiled faintly as she styled her hair into a high chignon, then took out a set of twelve golden hairpins to try on.

Lin Shengshen asked, “These hairpins look familiar.”

Peilan replied, “Young Master gifted them to you a few days ago at the Xie residence.”

Lin Shengshen pouted, “He didn’t give them to me—Zhenhuan did.”

Peilan only smiled, knowing full well that Lin Shengshen understood the truth.

“Look, Miss, how beautiful they are! So golden and dazzling, and these rubies are utterly luxurious.”

Lin Shengshen nodded in satisfaction, suppressing her worries as she stood to dress.

Tonight was crucial. She and Xie Zhizhou would act separately—whether they were in sync would determine if the Lin family could secure their standing in Yunjing.

When the carriage stopped at Zhonghua Gate, Lin Shengshen stepped down and saw several familiar ladies and young misses gathered together, chatting and laughing as they waited for the eunuchs to escort them inside.

Lin Shengshen alighted without glancing around, but the ladies and young misses noticed her and immediately fell silent, stepping forward with smiles to greet her.

Not far away, Xie Yunshuang had also arrived. She glanced over from a distance but didn’t approach, only casting a fleeting look.

A few of her close friends asked Xie Yunshuang, “Yunshuang, isn’t that your sister-in-law? Why not go and talk to her?”

Xie Yunshuang sneered, “Her? My brother will divorce her by the end of the year. What would I have to say to her?”

Her friends laughed along.

Lin Shengshen observed the scene indifferently and walked over to another group of ladies and young misses.

“Miss Lin, your attire today is truly stunning! It must be from Golden Branch Pavilion, right?”

“I heard that this year, Consort Qi favored Jinzhi Tower’s craftsmanship and had originally settled on a set of hairpins and jewelry, but for some reason, she suddenly changed her mind. Miss Lin, what happened?”

“Miss Lin’s Baoxiang Tower has been quite close with Jinzhi Tower lately. Do you know any inside information? It would help us understand what Consort Qi truly intends.”

Lin Shengshen understood their motives—if Jinzhi Tower had offended the palace in any way, they would distance themselves immediately to avoid displeasing Consort Qi.

Lin Shengshen smiled. “Consort Qi never actually decided on which jeweler to use. She merely mentioned in front of Eunuch Qi that there was a place called Jinzhi Tower among the common folk. Somehow, word spread and made it seem as though she was set on Jinzhi Tower.”

The crowd nodded, half-convinced.

Lin Shengshen continued, “As it turns out, Shopkeeper Yin of Xiangyun Tower developed an exquisite set of designs, which Prince Su presented to the inner palace. Consort Qi was quite taken with them. I suppose we’ll get to admire them at the banquet!”

After a moment of contemplation, the group grasped the underlying implications: How did Xiangyun Tower manage to connect with Prince Su? Since Consort Qi had chosen Xiangyun Tower, they would need to frequent that establishment more often in the future.

They nodded with smiles, and one particularly familiar young woman stepped forward, tugging gently at Lin Shengshen’s sleeve. “Lin Shengshen, no matter how arrogant Xiangyun Tower becomes, we still prefer your Baoxiang Tower.”

Lin Shengshen accepted the compliment graciously. “Then Baoxiang Tower will rely on your continued patronage.”

She remained as composed and courteous as ever, unfazed by praise or criticism.

A fair-skinned eunuch with a delicate voice came out to escort them. The group dispersed into small clusters and boarded sedan chairs heading toward the palace.

Lin Shengshen shared a sedan with the wife of the third branch of the Yong’an Marquis household.

The wife, surnamed Feng, was plump and spoke in a gentle, amiable manner. The two had met previously at a celebratory banquet at the marquis’ residence and were somewhat acquainted.

Madam Feng made small talk. “It’s been some time since the banquet. How have you been, Miss Lin?”

Lin Shengshen knew she was referring to the incident with the assailant and replied with a smile, “I’m fine. I only suffered minor scratches that day.”

Madam Feng patted her chest, still shaken. “Has Young Master Xie identified the culprit?”

Then, recalling recent rumors, she realized her question might be inappropriate and quickly added, “My tongue moves faster than my mind. Please don’t mind me, Miss Lin.”

Lin Shengshen waved it off. “It’s fine. Young Master Xie figured it out long ago, but the matter isn’t to be publicized, so not many know.”

Seeing she didn’t mind, Madam Feng smiled. “You and Young Master Xie…”

Lin Shengshen said, “The marriage between the Xie and Lin families was arranged by His Majesty. How things unfold between us depends on His Majesty’s will. Let’s not dwell on it.”

Madam Feng noted how impeccably Lin Shengshen handled the topic and swiftly changed the subject. “Speaking of marriages, have you heard of the Zhou family who moved to the capital the year before last?”

Lin Shengshen’s heart tightened.

“I heard their daughter passed away a few days ago.”

Lin Shengshen quickly asked, “The Zhou family has two daughters. Which one died?”

Madam Feng replied, “The eldest Miss Zhou, who was to become Prince Su’s concubine.”

Lin Shengshen breathed a sigh of relief. “How did she die? If I recall correctly, she only entered the prince’s residence in the fifth or sixth month.”

Madam Feng lowered her voice. “I heard her legs were broken, and she was locked in the woodshed, where she starved to death.”

Lin Shengshen gasped sharply, “What crime did she commit?”

“What crime could it be? Everyone in the capital knows how ruthless Princess Su is. Haven’t plenty of favored concubines been carried out of Prince Su’s Mansion over these years?”

Lin Shengshen frowned.

Lady Feng continued, “Yet Prince Su pays no attention. In recent years, whether favored or not, those who were tortured to death were all given a few dozen taels of silver to their families and then buried carelessly.”

Lin Shengshen asked, “Didn’t Consort Qi try to stop it?” After all, if such matters were brought before His Majesty, it would be inappropriate.

Lady Feng shook her head, “Prince Su is now twenty-two, no longer a child. Why would he let Consort Qi interfere in the affairs of his mansion?”

Lin Shengshen fell silent.

She suddenly thought of Xie Yunshuang, whom she had seen today at Zhonghua Gate… Xie Yunshuang had frequent interactions with Prince Su and had even engaged in illicit affairs with him. Could Princess Su truly be unaware of it all?

Given Princess Su’s temperament, having endured it for so long, when would she finally erupt?

Xie Yunshuang had not attended any banquets for the past month, claiming illness and staying in her residence. Why had she suddenly gone out today?

Wasn’t this walking right into death’s embrace?

—

Xie Yunshuang sat in the sedan chair, feeling dizzy and nauseous.

The palace eunuchs were well-trained, carrying the sedan steadily and smoothly. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t feel dizzy, but now that Xie Yunshuang was pregnant, she couldn’t withstand even the slightest jolt, making the journey extremely uncomfortable.

As soon as they arrived in front of Jinyun Hall, she immediately stepped out of the sedan and stood to the side to rest.

Her friend Qian Zhiyi was deeply concerned. “Yunshuang, you look very pale. Go to the side hall and rest for a while.”

Xie Yunshuang was helped to the side hall, where she sat on a low couch and drank a cup of warm water before gradually feeling better.

“Zhiyi, you go to the main hall first. I’ll sit here a little longer.”

Though Qian Zhiyi was still worried, she thought of the group of young ladies in the main hall chatting and laughing to build connections. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Yunshuang, rest well here then. I’ll take my leave.”

Watching Qian Zhiyi’s retreating figure, Xie Yunshuang sneered mockingly. They were nothing but sycophants, yet they called themselves friends.

But it was just as well—she had important matters to attend to.

Xie Yunshuang straightened her dress and reapplied some lip color in front of the mirror to make herself look less pale. Then, she rose and slowly made her way to the small side room behind Jinyun Hall.

With a creak, the dilapidated door was pushed open. Xie Yunshuang took a moment to adjust to the dim light inside before squinting to make out Prince Su sitting in a grand chair nearby.

This meeting was the result of over half a month of secret communication. Ever since she learned that Qi Yan had taken an interest in her, Xie Yunshuang had been frantic with anxiety, wishing she could fly to Prince Su’s Mansion to ask what to do. But Prince Su seemed very busy lately and hadn’t responded to her letters at all.

After several letters went unanswered, she felt as if her heart had turned to ashes, resigning herself to misfortune. She had even considered taking an abortifacient and preparing for marriage. However, the Qi family had yet to send a marriage proposal, giving her a brief respite. Finally, she received a reply from Prince Su.

Meeting in such a shabby place was something Xie Yunshuang had grown accustomed to. Prince Su was unpredictable, and his preferences were unfathomable. Once, he had even asked her to wait behind a secluded rockery in his mansion, where, under the moonlight, amidst weeds and trees, he had taken her and made her cry out loudly—hardly the behavior of a noble prince.

She suppressed her stray thoughts and threw herself at Prince Su’s feet, her eyes red as she asked, “Your Highness, when will you bring me into the mansion? Even if I can wait, our child cannot!”

Prince Su’s expression remained indifferent, as if the child were not his. “What’s the rush?”

Xie Yunshuang knew that this man only showed any emotional fluctuation toward her during certain activities, so she wasn’t angered. Wiping her tears, she continued to plead, “Does Your Highness have some difficulty? If the Princess Consort refuses to accept me, I will go and beg her myself.”

In all this time, she had never met the rumored venomous beauty—the Princess Consort of Su.

Hearing this, Prince Su frowned. His black boots embroidered with gold patterns pressed against Xie Yunshuang’s shoulder, gently pushing her back. “You—”

“Who wishes to beg me?” Suddenly, a deep yet soft voice rang out. A woman in dark blue robes, adorned with golden hairpins and jade pendants, her features profound and alluring, walked over slowly, step by step.

With just one glance, Xie Yunshuang understood why Prince Su had indulged the Princess Consort all these years.

She had always thought Lin Shengshen was beautiful—like a delicate flower blooming under the warm spring sun, vibrant and enchanting. But now she realized there was another kind of beauty, the kind the Princess Consort possessed: a sinister allure, like a poisonous flower sprouting from a damp, shadowy corner.

It captivated the soul, blatantly warning of its toxicity, yet one couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it.

Xie Yunshuang froze for a moment, then quickly knelt and prostrated at the Princess Consort’s feet. “Princess Consort, please have mercy on me and my child. This is His Highness Prince Su’s child.”

The Princess Consort chuckled softly. “A child… A child is good. His Highness and I have no child yet.”

She lifted Xie Yunshuang’s chin, making her rise.

The Princess Consort’s crimson nails traced circles over the fabric covering Xie Yunshuang’s abdomen. “What does it feel like to be with child?”

Her fingertip pressed down slightly, creating a deep indentation in the soft fabric.

“Does it hurt?”

She applied a bit more pressure.

“Or is it pleasant?”

Trembling with fear, Xie Yunshuang quickly glanced back at Prince Su, only to find the man’s gaze fixed on that captivating woman, a faint smile in his eyes.

Xie Yunshuang recoiled in terror, her back pressed tightly against the wall. Madmen—both of them were madmen…

Prince Su stood up. “Ah Luan doesn’t like this child of yours. Deal with it yourself.”

It took Xie Yunshuang a moment to realize he was speaking to her. Deal with it? How? Just because the Princess Consort didn’t like Prince Su’s child, he would discard it so easily?

Then, Prince Su wrapped an arm around the Princess Consort’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Ah Luan. I’ll find one that satisfies you.”

The Princess Consort looked listless, allowing the man to massage her shoulder. “If only Ah Luan could bear children, Your Highness wouldn’t have so many troubles…”

“What nonsense are you saying?” Prince Su kissed her cheek. “We’ll take our time searching.”

Then the two of them left, as casually as an ordinary couple picking vegetables at the market.

Xie Yunshuang felt dizzy. What did this mean? What about all the information she had passed to Prince Su before? Did none of it count? She was the one who had left the mark on Lin Shengshen’s carriage on its return to the Yong’an Marquis’s residence! Even if she had no merit, she had at least put in effort.

Tears suddenly streamed down her face as she gently caressed her belly. What was to become of this child?

Only now did she realize how powerless she was—used as a pawn by others and then discarded without being able to make a sound…

Lin Shengshen sat in the Golden Cloud Hall, listening idly to the chatter. The conversations among the noblewomen of the capital mostly revolved around trivial household matters. As she was usually busy with Baoxiang Tower and seldom attended banquets, she knew little of such gossip.

Listening now, she found it rather convenient to catch up.

“I heard the man the Zhou family’s second daughter married is quite promising—he might even earn a rank in this autumn’s imperial exams.”

“That girl is truly blessed. Rumor has it she was almost made a concubine for another family, but it fell through. In the end, she chose to marry a poor scholar herself. They say Madam Zhou was so furious she didn’t even provide a dowry.”

“Yet she has her own capabilities. After marrying, she managed several acres of fertile land and urged her husband to strive for success. Their future looks bright indeed.”

Some, however, scoffed disdainfully, “What good can come from a humble wife? Once the man achieves success and experiences the wealth and glamour of the capital, will he even remember the woman back home?”

Lin Shengshen gave a light cough and stood up. “I need to freshen up.”

Stepping out of the hall, she found the evening dusk deepening. The night banquet had yet to begin, and a few young ladies were gathered in front of the hall, admiring flowers by the lantern light, their laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere.

Lin Shengshen wandered aimlessly, relieved to be free from the incessant noise. She looked up at the scattered hues of the sunset, and a sudden melancholy washed over her. Perhaps it was hearing so many brief, simplified life stories today—none with particularly happy endings—that stirred a sense of unease.

She sighed deeply, then lowered her gaze to watch a few ants by the flowers, diligently carrying crumbs of pastry back to their nest. Though their strength was meager, their perseverance was remarkable.

A faint smile touched her lips. “It’s enough to live in the present. Why torment oneself?”

Shrugging off her sorrows, she followed the stone path winding through the flowers. As nightfall blurred the blossoms, they took on a uniquely beautiful charm.

Reaching a corner of the wall, Lin Shengshen intended to turn back when a strong force abruptly pulled her behind it. Before she could cry out, a fierce, domineering kiss overwhelmed her.

“Mmph… mmph!” The familiar scent slightly soothed her racing heart, as the crisp fragrance of Winter Plum Blossom enveloped her.

The man grunted when she bit his lip but refused to relinquish the sweetness, deepening the kiss instead. Their lips melded, tongues entwined, and the cramped space grew increasingly suffocating.

In the dim light, Lin Shengshen’s senses sharpened. Beneath the plum blossom fragrance, she detected a hint of bitter medicine.

When the long kiss finally ended, her legs trembled weakly. Xie Zhizhou held her by the waist, pressing her against his chest. From above, she heard a sigh of contentment and longing.

“Shengshen, I missed you.”

“I didn’t miss you.”

Xie Zhizhou seemed to chuckle; Lin Shengshen felt the vibration through his chest against her cheek.

“Even if you didn’t miss me, I’ve been thinking of you all along.”

Lin Shengshen had no retort. Gently pushing him away, she said, “This area is for women only. How did you sneak in? And you call yourself a gentleman.”

Ignoring her question, Xie Zhizhou bent down, his fingers caressing her cheek as he gazed into her pitch-black eyes. “Did you really not miss me?”

Scorched by his intense stare, Lin Shengshen lowered her lashes and whispered, “I did… but only a little—”

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Zhizhou kissed her again. Seemingly not wanting Lin Shengshen to strain her neck from looking up, he wrapped one arm around her hips and lifted her up, then tilted his head back to kiss her.

Lin Shengshen found her head immobilized by his other hand. Though the position made it appear as if she were the one initiating, she had no chance to resist at all. She could only allow the man to breathe his scorching heat against her, pry open her lips, and slowly steal the sweetness from her mouth.

Beneath her knees pressed something burning hot, pressing against her insistently. Lin Shengshen’s face flushed red. Her hands pressed against Xie Zhizhou’s shoulders but lacked the strength to push him away.

Outside the corner of the wall, a few people passed by in small groups, their idle chatter drifting over.

“I heard the Xie and Lin families are about to divorce. I wonder what kind of woman Young Master Xie plans to marry next?”

“Definitely not someone as unconventional as the Lin family. I bet he prefers gentle, virtuous, and understanding types.”

“I’ve long thought they weren’t a good match. In these six months of marriage, Lin Shengshen has probably cried herself dry waiting for Xie Zhizhou!”

“They say Young Master Xie is ascetic and doesn’t get close to anyone. Even if given another three years, Lin Shengshen wouldn’t succeed.”

“Forced melons are never sweet.”

The voices gradually faded away.

Furious, Lin Shengshen pinched the muscles on Xie Zhizhou’s chest. With her lips occupied by his, she couldn’t curse.

Who would have thought that the supposedly ascetic Xie Zhizhou was now unbearably hard? Disregarding the palace and its rules, he was entangled with Lin Shengshen in the corner, demanding kisses…

Xie Zhizhou, pinched like that, grew even more restless. As their lips parted, he held the person in his arms tightly, making her feel it even more clearly.

Lin Shengshen, her face flushed with anger, spat out hatefully, “Ascetic? I think you’re shameless…”