She wasn't too clear about the matter of the jade talisman. In her past life, she was simple-minded and didn't pay attention to such things. But she remembered that one day, the Crown Prince, under the pretense of taking her back to his mansion to visit, was actually discussing the jade talisman with her father.
Because she was born foolish, there was no need to avoid her during their discussions. The Crown Prince had mentioned that the jade talisman was found in the south, while the place Little Six went to, Cong An, was in the north.
Lin Yanxi didn't know how to explain that she knew the jade talisman would be found in the south.
She took a deep breath and said seriously, "The jade talisman won't be in Cong An. I, I received news that the jade talisman should be in the south. There's only one possibility: Cong An was a false lead released by the Crown Prince's side, and those sent to search for the jade talisman might not return."
Shen Muzhou asked, "How did you get this news?"
Lin Yanxi's gaze flickered for a moment before meeting his probing eyes again. She said with utmost sincerity, "I can't explain it, but I just know. I don't know the exact location, but it definitely won't be in Cong An. Can you trust me? If Little Six really goes to Cong An, he might not come back!"
Shen Muzhou sat upright in the carriage. He placed his hands on his knees and tapped his fingertips rhythmically. His eyes were fixed on her face.
She seemed very afraid he wouldn't believe her. She wanted to explain but didn't know where to start. Her small face turned a little red with anxiety, and her dark eyes looked at him uneasily.
After a long while, Shen Muzhou lifted the carriage curtain and said to the An Ye Si standing outside, "Go. Tell them the situation has changed and recall Little Six immediately."
An Ye Si turned around, bowed with his sword in hand, and said, "Yes."
With that, he mounted his horse and galloped swiftly in Little Six's direction.
Lin Yanxi's taut nerves relaxed slightly. Her body was no longer so stiff, and she felt at ease.
Her voice was a little lost as she asked softly, "Then... do you still believe me?"
Shen Muzhou gently rubbed her hair and said, "I will always believe you."
---
Grand Tutor's Mansion.
The courtyard was a bit desolate. Lizi was sweeping with a broom that was almost as tall as herself. Tangchao sat on a swing, leaning listlessly against the thick hemp rope that held it, the swing swaying gently.
Tangchao glanced at Lizi and said, "What are you sweeping for? Miss isn't back yet. Who are you sweeping so clean for?"
Lizi continued sweeping the fallen flower petals and leaves in the courtyard dismissively. "Counting the days, Miss should be back soon. It's more comfortable for us to live in a clean place too."
Tangchao said nothing, her thoughts drifting far away. She was wondering about something.
She suddenly asked, "Lizi, do you think we'll spend our whole lives wasting away in the Grand Tutor's mansion?"
Lizi's movements paused slightly. She looked at Tangchao's lightly powdered face, her brow furrowed, and asked, "Did Eldest Young Master say something to you again?"
Tangchao retorted angrily, "Ah, what are you talking about? I told you, there's nothing between me and Eldest Young Master. We're not even familiar."
Lizi had caught Tangchao sneaking towards the back courtyard a few times. Eldest Young Master lived in the back courtyard. Moreover, she had recently acquired two or three new hairpins. Perhaps she was overthinking things.
Seeing Tangchao getting angry, Lizi quickly dropped her broom and coaxed her, "Alright, alright, I said the wrong thing. Good Tangchao, don't be angry."
"Who has made our Tangchao unhappy again?" Lin Yanxi entered from the courtyard gate, a large bundle on her back, her face beaming.
Lizi and Tangchao happily went to meet her.
"Miss, you're finally back!"
"Are you injured? You've only been gone six or seven days, but it feels like you've lost weight!"
Lin Yanxi happily pinched Lizi's cheek, teasing, "Really? I think you've gotten fatter."
Tangchao took the bundle from her hand and smiled. "It's great that Miss is back. I don't even feel like working without you here."
The few of them entered the house. Lin Yanxi first washed herself thoroughly from head to toe, feeling much refreshed.
She asked curiously, "Why don't I see Third Sister? Where did she go?"
Given Lin Ruoyan's personality, she would have been the first to find her upon her return.
Lizi brought her clean clothes and replied, "I don't know. Third Miss has been going out to play a lot recently. Maybe she's made new friends."
Lin Yanxi didn't think much of it and was rather happy. It was good for her younger sister to make more friends.
"Lizi, let me ask you, have you ever seen Granny Yu in the mansion?"
As soon as she asked, Lin Yanxi felt she was going mad. The Jiang family's affairs were a tangled mess with no clues. Now she was even doubting if Granny Yu truly existed.
She gave a self-deprecating laugh. What was she thinking so wildly about?
Lizi, who was helping her style her hair, paused her movements and asked strangely, "Miss, I actually wanted to ask since before you left the mansion, who is Granny Yu? I've never seen her."
!!!
Never seen her?
Lin Yanxi felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn't believe it. "How, how could you have never seen her? She, she was Mother's dowry maid."
Lizi thought back carefully and said, "Does Madam have a dowry maid? Miss, are you, are you too sad about Madam's passing? You'll be better after some time. Don't think about it anymore."
Lin Yanxi was so shocked she couldn't speak for a long time. Recalling Granny Yu's care for her, how she would cry with concern and plead for her when her mother was angry – how could all this be imaginary?
Later that evening, Lin Ze returned home and went straight to Lin Yanxi's courtyard.
Normally, Lin Ze dined with the second branch. Only when Mother returned to the mansion would everyone gather at a large round table for a meal.
Lin Ze served her some dishes and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Don't you like it?"
Lin Yanxi smiled, a hint of loneliness in her eyes. "I was thinking of Mother. In the past, only when Mother returned from the estate did she dine at the same table as Father."
Lin Ze's smile froze slightly. He guiltily placed his hand on Lin Yanxi's and said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I promise you, from tomorrow on, we will eat together for every meal."
With tears in her eyes, she nodded and smiled.
After eating for a while and reminiscing about many past events, Lin Ze truly doted on his precious daughter. However, he seemed to have something else to say.
Lin Yanxi guessed he wanted to talk about Shen Muzhou, but after waiting for a long time, he didn't mention it, perhaps not wanting to break the current atmosphere.
"Father, are you trying to ask about what happened during my trip this time?"
Lin Ze faltered for a moment and said, "You should know that Father has cultivated informants all over Nan Min. It's not difficult to find out about those things. Father just doesn't want you to dabble in talismans anymore."
Lin Yanxi's chopsticks "clacked" onto the table. She asked in confusion, "Everyone tells me not to do this, not to do that. But what's the result? My mother is dead. Even though I clearly know that the Grand Tutor's mansion, Father, and I myself live in danger every day, am I still supposed to do nothing?"
What could be more painful than watching loved ones die before your eyes, unable to save them?
Lin Ze didn't quite believe in destiny either. How could his daughter be someone who brought disaster to Yue You?
But these were Jiang Wan's dying wishes. What if they came true?
"Zhaozhao, Father knows you want to confront those who hurt your mother. But Father doesn't want you to take any risks, not even the slightest one."
Lin Yanxi gazed at her father's profile. His temples were streaked with silver, and deep wrinkles had appeared at the corners of his eyes. His back was slightly hunched, and he had gained weight.
In her memory, her father had a straight back, was as elegant as a jade tree, wore his hair in a topknot, and was the most dashing scholar in all of Nan Min.
"If you know the outcome and do nothing, even if you live, you won't be able to overcome it in your heart, living with regret until you die of grief. Just like my mother! Father, do you really want me to live like this?"
Without waiting for Lin Ze to reply, she leaned on his shoulder and acted like a little daughter, pouting, "Besides, my father is the Grand Tutor of Nan Min. With Father's help, we can definitely overcome any danger."
Lin Ze's heart softened immediately. He always lacked principle when it came to his daughter. "Alright then, you can learn talismans. But there's one condition: you must not oppose the Crown Prince again."
"You don't like the Crown Prince and insist on marrying Shen Muzhou, and Father has agreed. Don't provoke the Crown Prince anymore. I will help balance the relationship between them and spare Shen Muzhou's life, making him a carefree prince."
But his father didn't know that Shen Muzhou's position was destined to be that of anything but a carefree prince from the start.
He was not born of the Empress, yet he was kept in the capital with great power. The Crown Prince was too suspicious and had already harbored murderous intent. How could he escape?
Trapped in a desperate game of chess, he could only fight to the death to break free.
However, since his father had finally stopped opposing her learning talismans, she could deal with the matter of the Crown Prince later.
She changed the subject and served him a large chicken leg. She was small, and her hands were small too. Holding the long chopsticks, she struggled to reach the large chicken leg in the dish. Her long sleeve was about to brush against the plate without her realizing it.
Lin Ze tucked her sleeve in for her to prevent it from getting dirty. Lin Yanxi obediently said, "Father, eat the chicken leg."
Her expression was docile, but her heart was cunning. She was thinking about how to make her father distrust the Crown Prince next.
Looking at her obedient and sensible appearance, for some reason, he felt old. Tears welled up in his eyes, and at the same time, he made up his mind that some things, once started, have no turning back.
They chatted about other things. Servants outside called out, "Greetings to Third Miss."
Lin Ruoyan hummed a little tune and pushed open the door to Lin Yanxi's room. She hadn't expected Lin Ze to be there. "Father. Second Sister, you're back!"
As she spoke, she hugged Lin Yanxi and sat down close to her.
Lin Ze asked, "Where have you been going wild every day these past few days?"
Lin Ruoyan feigned anger and said coquettishly, "Father is so biased. As soon as you come back, you spend time with Second Sister and scold me when I return."
Lin Ze smiled helplessly. "This isn't scolding you. Have you eaten dinner yet? Let's eat together."
Lin Ruoyan smiled, patted her stomach, and stuck out her tongue. "I've eaten."
A faint fragrance lingered on her, a scent that Lin Yanxi found very familiar. She looked at Lin Ruoyan with surprise and stared a little longer.
Lin Ruoyan raised her arm and took a osmanthus cake, smiling. "Even though I've eaten, I can still eat another osmanthus cake."
As she reached for the osmanthus cake, her sleeve slightly lifted, revealing her slender white wrist. A jade bracelet dangled on her wrist.
She had seen this bracelet in her past life.
Lin Yanxi suddenly grabbed her wrist and asked, "Who gave you this bracelet?"