Even though Xiao Yan hadn’t scolded her, she pouted in grievance, her watery eyes turning red.
That pitiful look was enough to stir anyone’s heart—not just men’s, but even her own from her past life.
Moreover, as Xiao Yan’s junior sister, she had deliberately tried to win his favor by befriending Liu Yiyi.
Knowing that Liu Yiyi had no friends in the capital, she had introduced her to her own circle and taken her out for fun.
When Liu Yiyi suffered from Heart Malady, she would occasionally send her expensive medicinal herbs.
In her previous life, before the coronation ceremony, Liu Yiyi, aware that she had completely lost, would often come to flaunt her superiority and torment her.
She had revealed many things, one of which was about her Heart Malady.
Her Heart Malady had long been cured by their master. The reason she remained so frail was because she had been taking medicine on her own—
medicine that made her appear weak but did not harm her fundamentally.
In her past life, because of Liu Yiyi’s Heart Malady, Xiao Yan had abandoned her countless times.
Recalling the scene from her previous life in the Cold Palace, where Liu Yiyi, heavily pregnant, had looked at her with contempt and mocked her for being foolish, a trace of self-mockery flashed in Lin Zhaoyue’s eyes.
What Liu Yiyi said wasn’t wrong—she truly was foolish. Otherwise, how could she have failed to see something as obvious as Xiao Yan’s affection for Liu Yiyi?
“I know you’re happy to see her. Go ahead, but be careful when walking. Don’t you know your health is fragile? Hmm?”
The man spoke, his tone seemingly reproachful but actually filled with concern.
Xiao Yan was by no means a talkative person. If something could be said in one sentence, he would never waste an extra word.
The most he ever said to her was: “Lin Zhaoyue, what are you up to again? Stop making trouble. Miss Lin, please show some restraint.”
But when facing Liu Yiyi, he seemed to possess endless patience.
Even his usually stern brow softened slightly.
Although Xiao Yan was the Crown Prince, he had fallen seriously ill at the age of ten. Emperor Xiao Zhang sent him to Huguo Temple, where he remained until two years ago, when he was sixteen, before being brought back to the Imperial Palace.
Perhaps because he grew up at Huguo Temple, he carried an air of Buddhist serenity. Even when his expression was cold, his dark phoenix eyes occasionally held a look of compassion for all living beings.
He was exceptionally handsome, with features as exquisite as a painting. At this moment, dressed in a dark python robe embroidered with gold thread and wearing a string of prayer beads around his wrist, he appeared even more noble, ethereal, and mysteriously ascetic.
Her initial attraction to Xiao Yan had stemmed not only from him saving her from under a horse during their first meeting but also from being captivated by his breathtakingly beautiful appearance. From then on, there were no stars in her eyes and no one else in her heart.
However, after her past life, Lin Zhaoyue knew that beneath his compassionate gaze and handsome exterior lay the coldest heart in the world.
Xiao Yan released Liu Yiyi and inadvertently met Lin Zhaoyue’s gaze. His dark phoenix eyes flickered slightly, and his brow furrowed.
Her expression…
Their eyes met briefly before Lin Zhaoyue calmly averted her gaze and bowed to him:
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Seeing Lin Zhaoyue’s action, Xiao Yan’s frown deepened, his eyes growing unfathomable.
Why was she like this today…
Had he gone too far yesterday?
At the same time, Lin Wan beside Lin Zhaoyue had the same thought.
Why is Zhaozhao acting so strangely today?
Normally, she wouldn’t even bow properly—she was always worried that Zhaozhao might get so excited she’d climb onto the Crown Prince’s head.
Others, hearing Lin Zhaoyue’s words, turned to look in their direction.
Upon seeing Xiao Yan, they all bowed:
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Rise…”
“Yue sister, I didn’t expect to run into you here. Yiyi is so happy.”
Without waiting for Lin Zhaoyue to respond, Liu Yiyi leaned close to her ear and whispered softly:
“Yue sister, I’m sorry. It’s all because Yiyi’s health is too weak. Just now, Yan brother only helped support me for a moment. Sister knows, Yan brother was just worried about me. Please don’t be angry, sister. Yiyi won’t compete with you for Yan brother.”
These were the exact same words Liu Yiyi had spoken in her previous life.
Hearing her call her “sister” repeatedly, Lin Zhaoyue felt deeply uncomfortable.
She knew Liu Yiyi wasn’t genuinely explaining but rather signaling to her that Xiao Yan cared about her.
In her past life, although she felt uneasy hearing this, she foolishly comforted Liu Yiyi, unaware that her kindness was nothing but a joke to others.
Lin Zhaoyue’s expression remained largely unchanged as she spoke:
“Yes, I know. By the way, Miss Liu is older than me. From now on, please call me Second Miss Lin.”
After saying this, Lin Zhaoyue gently removed Liu Yiyi’s hand from her arm and wiped it with a handkerchief, as if it had been tainted by something dirty.
Once finished, she turned to Lin Wan beside her and said:
“Elder sister, let’s go in.”
Watching Lin Zhaoyue’s actions, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Liu Yiyi’s face.
Had this fool taken the wrong medicine today?
She gazed resentfully at Lin Zhaoyue’s retreating figure. When she caught the scent of ambergris nearby, she turned to Xiao Yan with a pitiful expression:
“Yan brother, did Yiyi somehow upset Yue sister? Why won’t she pay attention to me?”
Xiao Yan glanced briefly at Lin Zhaoyue’s back, his face expressionless, and replied calmly:
“It’s fine. Let’s go in first.”
…
After entering the Imperial Palace, Lin Zhaoyue remembered her promise to be the first to congratulate Xiao Ran on her birthday. Calculating the time, she realized Xiao Ran’s audience ceremony would begin in two more quarters of an hour. She needed to go see her.
In her past life, after Bei Jue retreated, to foster friendly relations between the two nations, a marriage alliance was arranged. Xiao Ran was sent away for the marriage but encountered bandits on the journey and was humiliated to death.
If her father and brothers did not suffer defeat in battle this lifetime, perhaps Xiao Ran wouldn’t be sent away for marriage, right?
In her past life, after her father and brothers died, the Lin family was executed, and she was stripped of her position as empress and confined to the Cold Palace.
She had no idea what truly happened during the battle at Bei Men Guan, but she knew her father and brothers were loyal and courageous, with unwavering integrity. They would never commit treason or collude with the enemy.
Regardless of whether the letter Liu Yiyi mentioned in the Cold Palace was truly forged by Xiao Yan, and regardless of who the culprit was, there must have been someone within the Lin Family Army with divided loyalties, conspiring with those behind the scenes to bring about the Lin family’s downfall.
She would find a way to expose that person…
No, after the coming-of-age ceremony ended, she must tell her parents about her past life.
But her parents had never believed in gods or spirits. Would they believe her?
If they didn’t, what should she do next?
Lost in thought, Lin Zhaoyue unconsciously loosened her grip on Lin Wan’s arm:
“Elder sister, I’m going to see the Princess. You and Mother should head to the main hall first.”
Lin Wan intended to suggest finding a palace attendant to guide her, but before she could speak, Lin Zhaoyue had already vanished in a flash.
Lin Zhaoyue had a poor sense of direction, but in her past life, she had walked through the Imperial Palace countless times and could navigate it with her eyes closed.
Her thoughts in disarray, Lin Zhaoyue walked with her head down, relying entirely on memories from her past life to guide her, completely unaware of the two people behind her who also intended to visit Xiao Ran.
“Yan brother, how did Sister Yue become so familiar with the palace paths?”
Just two days ago, when she had taken her into the palace to play with Princess Duanmin, she had gotten lost. Could it have been intentional?
Was it because she thought she was physically weak and wanted to deliberately wear her down?
If that were the case, then Lin Zhaoyue would truly be too foolish!
Looking at the person walking ahead with her head down, Xiao Yan’s slightly pink lips pursed slightly:
“Yiyi, you go to the main hall first.”
With that, he strode forward with his long legs and followed her.