Chapter Two: Yan Lin

"I love her. Of course, I'll marry her."

Reborn. Eighteen and a half years old.

It wasn’t at the beginning, nor after everything had unfolded.

When she was fourteen, Jiang Xuening returned to the Capital, dressing as a man, pretending to be a distant cousin of a high-ranking official named Jiang. She followed Yan Lin, laughing, drinking, embracing the pleasures of youth. In September of her eighteenth year, she was summoned to the palace to accompany Princess Leyang in her studies. Then, in November, an accident shook the Yongyi Marquis' residence.

Jiang Xuening remembered clearly. In her past life, Yan Lin had always been by her side during her youth.

With him, she feared nothing.

Yan Lin was from a renowned military family, hardened by time spent at the border—a spirit and fire few in the capital could match. Clad in vivid colors, a sword at his side, he rode through the city with her, a figure of loyalty and protection.

If fate had remained undisturbed, he would have married her in due time.

That year, while shadowing Yan Lin, she encountered Shen Jie, the Prince of Linzi, who sought out Yan Lin.

Unaware of Shen Jie's identity, Jiang Xuening watched him, his elegance and refined bearing distinct among the men of the capital. Yet when Yan Lin saw this gentleman in splendid attire, the first words from his lips were, "How did you get out?"

What was Yan Lin's position?

The Yongyi Marquis' Mansion stood on equal footing with the prestigious Xiao family, with an heir directly appointed by the emperor. Yan Lin was adored in the palace, and wherever he went, people would address him with the utmost respect as “Little Marquis.”

Only a select few warranted Yan Lin’s use of the honorific "you."

Intrigued, Jiang Xuening discreetly inquired and discovered that Shen Jie was actually the King of Linzi, and whispers in the capital suggested the emperor, lacking a son, intended to make Shen Jie his heir..

What began as a chance encounter became a deliberate pursuit.

Soon after, when the Yongyi Marquis’ mansion met its tragedy, her goal was achieved—she married Shen Jie.

Within two years, the emperor died succumbing  to illness, and the throne passed to Shen Jie. Jiang Xuening became the empress.

Shen Jie, though raised within the imperial court, differed from his brothers. His kindness bordered on weakness, his gentle nature a hindrance in the ruthless court. He had the cunning to manipulate but could not stomach the cruelty it required. Thus, neither court officials nor the public were under his control. The newly appointed Grand Tutor, Xie Wei, frequently managed affairs, political situations, making decisions Shen Jie could not make.

In the end, Shen Jie was poisoned.

Jiang Xuening, then under house arrest by Yan Lin, never saw him again.

Those too gentle and kind cannot rule as emperors.

This was the one truth Jiang Xuening had gleaned from Shen Jie’s tragic fate in her past life.

Now, she had been reborn, meeting Shen Jie once more but blessedly unbound from his destiny.

She would never again enter the palace.

Kunning Palace was her tomb.

The room was simply furnished, yet elegant in the decor. The cool autumn air still faintly tinged with last night’s alcohol.

Outside, the bustling market echoed faintly through the tightly shut windows.

Yan Lin stood, sword in hand. Though young, his frame held the promise of strength, and when his lips set into a grim line, his gaze intense, his expression captivating.

He ignored Shen Jie, lowered his head and concentarted on Jiang Xuening.

"Which hand did he touch you with?" he asked coldly.

Jiang Xuening’s heart jolted as the shock of rebirth washed over her. Yan Lin's eyes, clear as morning stars, stared into hers, unmarred by the darkness of power struggles of the palace or the tragedies of his family.

Clean, bright, and dazzling.

Yet, his question...

It seemed as though he might sever Shen Jie's hand if she answered incorrectly.

Jiang Xuening broke into a cold sweat, quickly grabbing his arm. "No, no! It was a misunderstanding. I... I had a nightmare and mistook him for an intruder, I hit him in reflex. Please put down the sword before someone gets hurt!"

Yan Lin narrowed his eyes. "Are you certain?"

Shen Jie, having heard her hurried explanation, muttered to himself about his misfortune. Master Jiang was Yan Lin’s friend, he could hardly hold a grudge over a slap and appear ungentlemanly.

Even so, Yan Lin’s suspicion made him want to laugh and cry at once. "Do you really think I’d harm him? I had no intention of offending anyone. “. "Even if I had, would you really cut off my hand?" he asked.

Shen Jie was, after all, the King of Linzi.

A descendant of heavenly lineage.

Yan Lin, however, didn’t waver, his response as sharp as the blade he held. "Yes, I would."

Shen Jie’s eye twitched as he stared back.

But Yan Lin had already turned his attention to Jiang Xuening, his voice softening, melting as though years of winter thawed in an instant. "Are you alright? You drank a lot last night when I wasn’t paying close attention.. Let me take you back to your residence."

The simple phrase, "Yes, I would," stirred memories within Jiang Xuening. In her past life, when Yan Lin returned to court, he and Xie Wei worked together, pushing Shen Jie aside. Shortly after, Shen Jie was poisoned.

In her first life, she had attributed the events to Xie Wei.

Now, she wondered if it had been Yan Lin all along.

In her youth, she had taken his devotion for granted. But now, with a second chance, she could see its value.

Young man’s sincerity was fierce, boundless. When he loved someone, he would protect them, keeping them close.

She didn’t deserve such love.

Jiang Xuening stared at him, lost for a moment.

Sensing the tension, Shen Jie cleared his throat. "Master Xie is holding a lecture at Wenhua Palace today. It's starting soon, we should be on our way. Are you coming with me, Yan Lin?"

The words jolted Jiang Xuening from her reverie.

She wanted to return home, her mind a whirl from the shock of her rebirth.She needed time to process her situation and didn't want to talk to anyone. "No need to escort me," she said quickly. "Palace matters cannot be delayed."

In her previous life, she had been infamous for her stubbornness. Her father, Officer Jiang, had indulged her every whim, feeling guilty, and Yan Lin had always spoiled her.

Thus, if she wished to go alone, she rarely needed a reason.

As expected, Yan Lin didn’t press her, accustomed to her stubborn spoiled  nature. After all, she had always held a special place in his heart.  "Then I’ll have Qing Feng follow you from a distance," he said.

Qing Feng was one of Yan Lin’s personal attendants.

Jiang Xuening almost objected but, seeing Yan Lin’s expression, held her tongue and nodded obediently.

Shen Jie, watching, felt a strange tension between them..

He was mild-tempered, rarely angry.

Indeed, he was handsome—particularly when he smiled, his eyes crinkling, an elegance to his expression, like a polished jade.

After they married in her past life, Jiang Xuening had never quarreled with him.

The reason was simple: Shen Jie was gentle; he didn’t care for her, nor she for him. Her heart only chased the allure of power, leaving no space for love.

Outsiders would have seen them as the perfect couple, emperor and empress.

Jiang Xuening looked at Shen Jie,appologeticaly, her tone soft. " Please forgive my rudeness earlier. I’ll prepare a drink tomorrow as an apology."

Though angered by her earlier slap, Shen Jie found himself appeased by her gentleness.

Jiang Xuening’s voice was gentle as she spoke, her eyes glistening like they had been bathed in spring water. She appeared as a refined youth, with a rosy complexion, red lips, and pearly white teeth. Her features were still soft and youthful, likely due to her age, which only enhanced her delicate appearance. Her beauty was so strikingly androgynous that it blurred the lines between masculine and feminine.

Shen Jie could not stay mad. And Yan Lin was intimidating.

"You didn’t hit hard,anyway" he said with a gentle smile. "If you’re offering, I shall graciously await your invitation." He was never one to make things difficult.

Yan Lin shot Shen Jie a cold glare, wanting to strike him.

After issuing orders to Qing Feng, he led Shen Jie out of the inn.

…………………………………………

As they made their way back to the palace, Shen Jie couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling lingering from the events at the inn. Something wasn’t right. The moment when Yan Lin had drawn his sword and held it at his throat, defending the young master of the Jiang family, felt particularly unsettling.

Shen Jie furrowed his brow, feeling the weight of responsibility that came with his age and experience. Being a few years older than Yan Lin, he felt it was his duty to offer some advice. Gently lifting the curtain of the carriage, he spoke, “Yan Lin, I know there are scholars in the capital who are drawn to men, and the young master of the Jiang family is undeniably handsome. But you are the heir of the Yongyi Marquis. Eventually, you will have to marry…”

Yan Lin rode alongside, his face darkening. "Your Highness, I am not attracted to men."

"Then why this affection for the Jiang family's young master?" Shen Jie looked at him skeptically.

"He's not the young master of the Jiang family."

Yan Lin’s mind wandered back to the inn, particularly to the way Jiang Xuening had looked at Shen Jie. That gaze had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. His dark eyes flickered with thought before he turned to Shen Jie, his face clouded with worry.

"She's the second daughter of the Jiang family."

Shen Jie, who had just lifted a cup of tea to his lips in the carriage, immediately choked on his drink, coughing in disbelief. He stared at Yan Lin, wide-eyed. "You, you...!"

But Yan Lin remained unperturbed. Sitting tall on his horse, his black robe flowing around him, he seemed entirely unaware of the chaos his words had just unleashed.

"She enjoys lively places and her freedom, so I brought her out to have some fun," Yan Lin explained calmly. "Your Highness, you’ve always treated me like a brother and a friend, which is why I’m telling you her true identity now. She’s from a good family. Before, you didn’t know, so you didn’t think much of it. But now that you do, I ask you to be more mindful and avoid frightening her, like what happened this morning."

Shen Jie instinctively nodded in agreement, but then it dawned on him that something was amiss. "Wait... shouldn't you be the one paying more attention to propriety?" he asked. "If word gets out, how could she ever marry?"

Yan Lin's expression sharpened, a quiet intensity flashing in his eyes as he smiled. "I love her. I will marry her."