Chapter 30

At this moment, Li Mu could clearly smell the familiar scent of the calming incense she was used to, mixed with a faint, bitter medicinal smell. The calming incense was something she lit every night, and the medicine was what Lin Que drank daily. These were the intertwined scents of their shared life, usually ignored due to familiarity but now vividly clear, enveloping them in a warm, ambiguous atmosphere.

The carriage moved, and the slight bumps broke the silence inside. Li Mu lowered her head and deliberately distanced herself from Lin Que.

Lin Que’s hand, which had been on her face, slid to her ear, pinching and rubbing it before reluctantly withdrawing. Their clasped hands remained tightly held. It was too tight to suddenly let go without it being awkward, so they continued holding hands.

Li Mu tried to divert her attention from their clasped hands and asked Lin Que, “Where did the assassin come from?”

With the imperial entourage traveling, the entire station was so heavily guarded that not even a mosquito could get in. How did an assassin manage to infiltrate?

Lin Que replied, “It was an inner attendant released from the palace after the late emperor’s death.”

Six years ago, after the late Emperor’s death, Lin Que killed many eunuchs, leaving some and sending others to the summer palace or stations reserved for the royal family. The assassin had been at this station for six years. Except for last year, Lin Que passed by this place every year during the summer retreat. It didn’t make sense for the attendant to suddenly develop a murderous intent after so long; there must have been someone behind it.

“Yan’an is always looking for something to do, so I had him investigate,” Lin Que said.

That evening, Lin Yan’an brought the results to Lin Que, saying rumors had started at the station two months ago, claiming that King Yan had caused the late Emperor’s death. The assassin had once made a mistake in the palace and was forgiven by the late Emperor, feeling eternally grateful. Upon hearing the rumors, he decided to assassinate in gratitude.

Lin Que, bored, played with a hairpin he had just taken from Li Mu’s head, “What kind of rumor is that?”

The late Emperor was indeed killed by him.

Lin Yan’an seemed not to hear and continued, “Two months ago, His Majesty issued a decree for the summer palace to prepare for the imperial visit.”

This was an annual routine. The Emperor, who loved luxury and disliked hardship, insisted on having the best and newest of everything, even at the summer palace.

Lin Que said, “That makes sense.”

The method was naive and full of loopholes, very much in line with the Emperor’s style.

When Eunuch Duan’s head was sent over last time, he was clearly scared to death, as if he would never dare to have any more thoughts. How long has it been since then?

Lin Que couldn’t help but wonder whether he had mistakenly chosen such a foolish person to be a puppet on the throne.

“He just doesn’t learn…” Lin Que muttered, his gaze lowered as he fiddled with the tassel on his hairpin.

After that, nothing happened along the way. On the second day after arriving at the summer palace, the Emperor, having endured the unease of the journey, thought that King Yan hadn’t discovered his actions. He enthusiastically went to the hunting grounds to have fun. He rode out with a few teams in the morning, but within half an hour, he was carried back, with everyone saying that the horse had lost control and broken his leg.

“Heaven have mercy, why didn’t it kill him?” Lin Que remarked in front of the eunuch who was delivering the message.

The eunuch bowed and smiled apologetically, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, and asked how to handle the matter. He had previously asked Grand Princess Zhaoming, but she was busy discussing the new policies proposed by Pei Siyuan with the ministers. The ministers in the hall were almost fighting over their differing opinions and had no time to deal with this matter.

Lin Que had also reviewed Pei Siyuan’s new policies. Aside from the parts supporting the Emperor and restricting him as the regent, the rest were feasible. Lin Que had already sent his revised version to Grand Princess Zhaoming, waiting for the ministers to tire themselves out before presenting it.

At this critical moment, it’s indeed not suitable to be distracted.

Lin Que spoke up, ordering the recent favorites of the Emperor, who didn’t know how to advise him, to be executed. The accompanying guards were simply fined, and the leader received dozens of strokes administered by the Jinyiwei. Whether it was a “real beating” or a “careful beating” was known only to those being beaten and those doing the beating.

…

Li Mu’s life at the summer palace was just as Lin Que had said, merely a change of residence. Although many concubines and officials’ families accompanied them, and many people wanted to take this opportunity to interact with King Yan’s consort, no one managed to see Li Mu.

There was even an incident where a kite fell into Li Mu’s courtyard, but it was taken away without her knowing.

One day, the weather was bad. Lin Yan’an and a group of princes had just finished their lessons when they heard a rumble of thunder.

“It looks like it will rain tonight,” said the Seventh Prince, who was sitting behind Lin Yan’an.

Lin Yan’an responded with a “Hmm,” his face not showing the usual smile.

The Seventh Prince asked, “Do you not like the rain?”

Lin Yan’an smiled faintly, “I don’t like it much.”

Mainly because his father, Lin Que, extremely disliked the rain. Last year’s rainy season was concentrated in May, June, and July. After Lin Que and Li Mu married, the harvest season was in August, and it hardly rained. Moreover, Lin Que hid even his headaches from Li Mu when they first got married, so naturally, he wouldn’t let her know he disliked the rain. It was only later, when they went to the kitchen together to find something to eat, that he mentioned it.

Spring rain is fine and continuous, passing before one can feel it.

Therefore, Li Mu didn’t deeply feel Lin Que’s dislike for the rain until this night, when heavy rain poured, and thunder roared. Before the thunder woke her, Lin Que had already woken her up.

Li Mu, still groggy, hadn’t figured out what was happening when she heard Lin Que say, “It’s raining. Can you get up and keep me company?”

Li Mu: “Huh?”

Lin Que honestly added, “I can’t calm down. I’m a bit scared.”

Li Mu slowly sat up, tilting her head, with three big question marks popping up in her mind.

Outside, the sound of flower pots being blown over and the howling wind, with trees rustling loudly, could be heard.

Li Mu wasn’t afraid of rain and thunder; in fact, she thought rainy days were perfect for sleeping. But she still sat with Lin Que, thinking for a moment, and asked, “Why are you afraid of the rain?”

Lin Que replied, “It rained that day six years ago too.”

Li Mu: Is it post-traumatic stress disorder?

Li Mu couldn’t sit still. Her mind was awake, but her body was still tired. To keep herself from lying down, she ignored the need to maintain distance and moved to sit next to Lin Que.

Li Mu: “As long as I stay with you, will that be okay?”

Lin Que reached out and hugged her, responding softly.

Li Mu kept Lin Que company for most of the night, occasionally exchanging light-hearted chatter that made them both laugh softly.

Li Mu couldn’t remember when she fell asleep, but when she woke up the next day at noon, it was still raining outside, though the rain was light, with only a gentle patter.

The temperature should have dropped after the rain, but Li Mu felt hot, very hot, upon waking. She didn’t realize how close she was to Lin Que, and her vision was still a bit blurry. When she raised her hand, she touched warm, firm skin.

She was a bit confused, and after a moment, she realized Lin Que was holding her. One of his arms was under her head, the other around her waist, and one of his legs was draped over hers. They were almost pressed together; no wonder it was so hot.

Li Mu quietly tried to slip out of Lin Que’s embrace.

“Hiss—” A sharp intake of breath came from above her head. Li Mu looked up just in time to meet Lin Que’s gaze. Their breaths mingled, and they were almost about to kiss.

If Lin Que lowered his head a bit, or if Li Mu raised her face slightly…

Li Mu noticed Lin Que’s Adam’s apple move, and Lin Que noticed that Li Mu’s palm on his chest was sweaty.

Lin Que wanted to lower his head, wanted to tighten his arms and pull Li Mu into his embrace, kiss her, lick her, bite the neck he had bitten in his dream, and hear if Li Mu would make that trembling, irresistible sound again, and let her hands touch places other than his chest.

But…

Wudu’s medical advice timely surfaced in his mind.

Lin Que suppressed his inner impulse, raised his head, his gaze passing over Li Mu’s head, and said, “My arm is numb.”

Li Mu replied, “So is my leg.”

They both laughed softly, and the stifling fire in Lin Que’s heart subsided a bit.

They distanced themselves from each other, waiting for their arms and legs to stop being numb, then got up to wash and change clothes as usual.

Everything seemed the same as usual, except for the inexplicable dissatisfaction Lin Que showed when Li Mu wasn’t looking and the moment Li Mu almost stumbled when getting out of bed.

…

This time, only Gu Chi stayed in the capital. Grand Princess Zhaoming, Lin Yan’an, and Lin Qiwu all came along. The Grand Princess seemed intent on nurturing Li Yunxi, bringing her along to continue her lessons with Lin Qiwu at the summer palace.

Wudu also came, but he didn’t bring his wife and children, fearing they couldn’t handle the palace’s rules.

In the afternoon, Wudu came to check Lin Que’s pulse as usual, vaguely sensing that the patient was displeased with him. He wondered what he had done to offend him this time. As he packed up his medicine box to leave, a sudden realization struck Wudu. He understood that the aura surrounding Lin Que was one of unfulfilled desire.

Wudu couldn’t help but remind Lin Que repeatedly to restrain himself, emphasizing that health was most important and that a healthy body would ensure longevity. Before he could finish, Lin Que had him thrown out.