Lin Zhaoyue recounted all the major events she could remember from her previous life after marrying Xiao Yan to Lin Furen and Duke Lin.
After listening, the two exchanged glances.
It wasn’t a matter of whether they believed her or not—the whole thing was simply unbelievable.
After a long silence, Lin Furen looked at Lin Zhaoyue with concern and comforted her:
“Dreams are often the opposite of reality, Zhaozhao. There’s no need to worry too much.”
Seeing that her parents didn’t believe her, Lin Zhaoyue grew anxious:
“Father, Mother, what Zhaozhao said is all true. Please believe me.”
Lin Ruojing also wanted to believe his daughter, but:
“Xuan Ping Hou does not have a daughter living outside the family.”
Back when he and Xuan Ping Hou followed His Majesty to conquer the realm, they had always been at odds.
After the Emperor ascended the throne, to stabilize the court, anyone willing to offer their daughters or sisters to enter the palace was accepted without exception—all were taken into the imperial harem.
In his youth, His Majesty was the most handsome man in An Guo. Setting aside his strategies and methods, just his face alone could attract enough women wanting to marry him to encircle An Guo.
The current Consort Liu is Xuan Ping Hou’s sister, the Emperor’s first woman. She accompanied the Emperor in battles across the land and gave birth to the Eldest Prince in Du City, enjoying unwavering favor for decades.
After the Emperor named Xiao Yan, the son of the Empress, as Crown Prince, the court was divided into three factions: the Imperial Loyalists, the Crown Prince’s faction, and the Eldest Prince’s faction.
Regardless of the relationship between the Emperor and Empress, anyone with eyes in the court could see how the Emperor treated the Crown Prince.
Although Xiao Yan was sent to Huguo Temple for several years, his position remained secure, and no one could shake his status as Crown Prince.
If nothing unexpected happened, the next person to ascend the throne after His Majesty’s abdication would be the Crown Prince.
The greatest variable lay with the Eldest Prince’s faction.
The Eldest Prince’s faction was led by Xuan Ping Hou.
Having fought for so many years, Duke Lin knew not only how many people were in Xuan Ping Hou’s household but even how many kittens the stray cats in his residence had given birth to.
As for Xuan Ping Hou having a daughter living outside the family—it simply didn’t exist.
Hearing Duke Lin’s words, Lin Zhaoyue froze, her gaze sharpening with confusion.
“Father, what did you say? Xuan Ping Hou doesn’t have a daughter living outside the family?”
The moment she saw Duke Lin nod, Lin Zhaoyue’s ears rang briefly again. She felt dizzy and breathless, as if someone were choking her.
Her face instantly turned deathly pale.
She tightly grasped Lin Furen’s hand, her emotions agitated:
“Father, she really is Xuan Ping Hou’s daughter. Please investigate…”
Seeing Lin Zhaoyue’s agitated state, the couple immediately sensed something was wrong. Duke Lin reached out and knocked Lin Zhaoyue unconscious with a swift strike.
“Husband, you…”
“Zhaozhao isn’t well. Send for Imperial Physician Wang…”
…
Lin Zhaoyue’s Bedchamber.
Seeing Imperial Physician Wang’s grave expression, Lin Furen asked worriedly:
“Imperial Physician Wang, how is Zhaozhao’s condition?”
“Miss Lin the Second is suffering from excessive worry, which has stirred up her blood and triggered the Soul Separation Syndrome from her childhood. I will administer two acupuncture treatments and prescribe two doses of medicine. After that, she should be fine.”
After seeing Imperial Physician Wang off, Duke Lin recalled Lin Zhaoyue’s mention of Bei Jue’s invasion. Though he found it unbelievable, he still wrote several letters to his eldest son, who was guarding the border.
Better safe than sorry. He would rather it all be a false alarm…
…
Lin Zhaoyue woke up the next day. Opening her eyes, she saw Qingzhu lying beside her bed, likely having kept vigil since last night.
Looking at Qingzhu, her mind flooded with images of Qingzhu being brutally beaten to death before her.
Her thoughts were muddled and chaotic; Lin Zhaoyue couldn’t distinguish whether those were memories from her past life or merely a dream.
In her past life, Liu Yiyi was indeed the daughter of Xuan Ping Hou who had been lost outside, recognized by Xuan Ping Hou after the Lin family’s downfall, and later married and crowned as empress.
But her father said Xuan Ping Hou had no lost children—what was going on?
Having died confused in her past life, now reborn, she found everything far more complicated than she had imagined.
For instance, yesterday at Huguo Temple, and Liu Yiyi’s origins…
“Miss, you’re awake?”
Qingzhu, waking up to see her mistress watching her, exclaimed joyfully.
Qingzhu’s startled voice shattered Lin Zhaoyue’s thoughts. Focusing her gaze, she noticed Qingzhu had dark circles under her eyes, yet her eyes shone brightly.
“Miss, how are you feeling? Are you still uncomfortable anywhere? Madam and the Duke were terribly worried—Madam stayed with you all night yesterday!”
“Where is my mother?”
“Madam went to freshen up. Also, Doctor Wang prescribed two doses of medicine yesterday; I’ve prepared them. I’ll bring them over.”
Qingzhu left briefly and returned with Lin Furen.
Seeing the bowl of dark, murky medicine, Lin Zhaoyue’s delicate face scrunched up.
She couldn’t understand why something so bitter existed in this world.
Noticing her daughter’s expression, Lin Furen smiled, pulling out prepared candied fruits and coaxing her as she did in childhood:
“Drink it. Afterwards, you’ll get your favorite sour plum candies. Medicine makes illness fly away.”
Lin Zhaoyue:…
Mother! She was sixteen now, long past falling for such tricks!
But Lin Zhaoyue said nothing, taking the medicine bowl and drinking it.
Lin Furen sat by the bed watching her daughter drink the medicine. After she finished, she handed her the candied fruits:
“Last night, Doctor Wang said Zhaozhao’s excessive worries triggered an old ailment. Do you feel better today?”
“Old ailment?”
Lin Zhaoyue didn’t recall having any old ailment.
“Have you forgotten? After returning from Qingcheng Mountain as a child, you developed Soul Separation Syndrome.”
Hearing Lin Furen mention Soul Separation Syndrome, Lin Zhaoyue vaguely recalled some impression.
It wasn’t a serious illness; avoiding extreme emotional fluctuations usually kept it under control. She was young then and hadn’t paid attention.
“I remember now.”
After chatting for a while, Lin Furen sent Qingzhu out and looked at Lin Zhaoyue seriously:
“Besides that dream, did Zhaozhao have any other reasons for wanting to annul the marriage yesterday?”
Lin Zhaoyue pursed her lips slightly and shook her head.
Her parents didn’t believe what she said, so there was no other reason to persuade her father to annul this marriage.
Even though her father was a Duke commanding the ten-thousand strong Lin Family Army, he was still a subject, while Xiao Yan was the sovereign!
If Lin Zhaoyue dared to annul a marriage with the Crown Prince, not only would others judge her, it would inevitably tarnish her sister and the Lin family’s reputation. Moreover, how would her father explain it to the Emperor?
Could it provoke the Emperor’s suspicion?
She couldn’t be so reckless.
This marriage must be annulled by Xiao Yan himself!
Seeing Lin Zhaoyue’s troubled expression, Lin Furen said:
“Does Zhaozhao no longer like the Crown Prince?”
Lin Zhaoyue felt a slight surprise in her heart, looking up at Lin Furen in astonishment.
How did Mother know?
Lin Furen looked at her expression and sighed softly:
“Nowadays, when Zhaozhao mentions the Crown Prince, the light in her eyes has changed.”
In the past, every time the Crown Prince was mentioned, Zhaozhao’s eyes would shine brightly. But now, when his name comes up, the light in her eyes is gone.