On the Day of the Grand Wedding, My Wife Was Acting Strange - Chapter 41:

Chapter 41: If You Want to Kill Me, Then Don’t Bother Saving Me

The prince’s residence was vast, roughly the size of an ordinary university campus. Lin Zhen walked from the main gate for nearly half an hour before reaching the secluded courtyard where Haitang Duoduo lived.

The courtyard gate was open, with weeds sprouting at the entrance, giving it a somewhat desolate appearance.

Lin Zhen’s face was terrifyingly dark, as if anyone he glanced at would be pierced through.

Cao Xiong, who was following behind him, didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.

He thought to himself, when did the young master develop such an intense aura? He wasn’t like this a few years ago.

Without looking back, Lin Zhen ordered, “Have the brothers ready. If anything happens, rush in and kill her immediately.”

“Yes.” Cao Xiong responded cautiously, not daring to slack off.

Lin Zhen walked straight into the courtyard without announcing himself. There, he saw Haitang Duoduo sitting at the stone table in the middle of the courtyard, facing away from him, quietly wiping her bow, her movements elegant and serene.

Behind her was the bedroom, to the side was a pavilion, with a small stream flowing under it. If not for the resentment in his heart, Lin Zhen would have found this scene quite picturesque.

Haitang knew he had entered but didn’t turn around, her eyes filled with affection as she caressed the bow, as if stroking her most beloved person.

“It was me.” She seemed to know what Lin Zhen wanted to ask and took the initiative to speak.

Those simple four words made Lin Zhen furious.

He sat across from her, speaking coldly, “What is your relationship with Gu Beichen?”

“None at all.”

Phew.

Lin Zhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as they had no relationship, that was fine. Otherwise, she would have to die today.

“Then why did you do it?”

“You saved my life, so naturally, I should save yours too.” Haitang’s voice was faint, emotionless.

“You shot my blade with an arrow, but the one you saved was clearly Gu Beichen.”

“Gu Beichen can’t die yet. And I could see that you acted on impulse; you didn’t really want to kill him.”

Lin Zhen had expected this answer, but he hadn’t thought that someone like Haitang, an assassin, could have such delicate thoughts.

She actually knew Gu Beichen couldn’t die yet.

Wasn’t she just a silly girl in the original novel, falling in love with Gu Beichen because he saved her life?

Damn that author for deceiving him again. There couldn’t be so many love-struck fools and naive girls in the world!

Lin Zhen cursed inwardly, glancing at Haitang, who still hadn’t lifted her head.

If she hadn’t stepped in today, he might have made a huge mistake.

All his plans would have turned to ashes, leaving only rebellion as the last resort.

But he didn’t have military power, and Lin Zhenxian would never rebel. Life would have been extremely hard from then on.

Haitang, by saving Gu Beichen, had actually saved him.

Lin Zhen lowered his head, secretly looking at Haitang’s heroic face.

He wanted to say thank you, but the words stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

He just wasn’t someone good at expressing his feelings.

“I’m leaving,” Haitang said as she continued wiping her bow, as if all this had nothing to do with her.

Lin Zhen couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”

“We owe each other nothing now. Where I go is none of your concern.”

“I…”

What a heartless woman!

She reminded him of his former female bosses.

But then again, the two of them were strangers, and their meeting was something Lin Zhen had deliberately arranged. Parting ways was only natural.

And he had no reason to force her to stay.

Assassins feared no power, and women who didn’t covet vanity also couldn’t be swayed by money. Lin Zhen really didn’t know how to make her stay.

He could only stare at that massive longbow and say, “Next time we meet, I’ll give you a good bow.”

“No need.” Haitang stood up, slung her bow over her back, and coldly said, “Withdraw your guards. Next time, if you want to kill me, don’t bother saving me.”

No wonder she seemed so indifferent; she had long known he had thoughts of killing her.

Yet she didn’t resist, instead speaking softly, only expressing her stance at the end before leaving.

She had the air of a true hero.

Lin Zhen suddenly felt like a petty man judging a noble character.

He stared at Haitang’s departing figure and shouted loudly, “Haitang, thank you!”

Haitang paused for a moment, a stunning smile curling her lips.

Her expression was no longer cold, but graceful and unrestrained as she disappeared into the distance.

Lin Zhen sat on the stone stool for a long time, unable to snap out of it.

He had originally planned to use the hero-saving-the-beauty trope to win Haitang’s affection and keep her by his side to fight against Gu Beichen together.

But he hadn’t expected that some people were born to roam the world, never tied down.

Fine, as long as he was still alive, he would see her again.

Time flew by, and before he realized it, night had fallen. Lin Zhen had sat there all afternoon.

Huanbi, hearing that he had been sitting there all day, brought dinner over and softly called, “Young master.”

“Hmm?” Lin Zhen suddenly looked up, meeting Huanbi’s watery big eyes.

“You’ve been sitting all afternoon. It’s time to eat.”

Huanbi placed the dinner dishes on the stone table: a large bowl of noodles, egg sauce, diced radish, and a cup of tea.

Lin Zhen was indeed hungry. Without caring where he was, he picked up his chopsticks and ate heartily.

As he ate, Huanbi gently wiped the sauce from his lips with a handkerchief, smiling sweetly.

“Hou Chun’s mother was buried today, next to his father. Ergou, Han Zhong, and many soldiers from the Longxiang Camp also attended the funeral. The pile of spirit money was as tall as a hill. Hou Chun’s sister was also bought back by me. She fainted twice during the funeral. They just returned home and are waiting at the guard camp for orders.”

Lin Zhen wanted to pull this girl into his arms and kiss her.

Things were handled well, she was beautiful, kind-hearted, and deeply loved him. Not marrying her would be such a waste.

But this girl was only sixteen, though she had already reached adulthood, Lin Zhen still couldn’t cross that line in his heart.

“Burp~” Lin Zhen stuffed the last piece of radish into his mouth, crunching loudly. “What about Liu Shuyao?”

“I was just about to tell you. Today, Deputy Minister Liu hurried over to see the old master, but since the old master was at the barracks, he went to find the young madam. He stayed in her room all day and didn’t come out. I don’t know what they were discussing.”

“Hmph.” Lin Zhen sneered.

Of course Liu Hanyang was anxious.

Lin Zhenxian had just declared in court that he was useless, and immediately those who had once allied with the Liu family distanced themselves.

Even the Gu family now treated him coldly. He went to see Gu Yunting earlier but wasn’t received.

Lin Zhen remembered something his political mentor had once told him: Politics is always extremely dangerous. Unless you have strong resources and conditions, it’s best not to get involved. Someone without proper training or background who rashly enters politics will eventually be crushed, just like the national hero Zuo Zongtang who couldn’t outmaneuver the cunning Li Hongzhang.

The Liu family was a small noble house that only rose because the Lin family nurtured them. All their resources and background came from Lin Zhenxian.

Liu Hanyang failed to see that. He thought he was born to be a high official.

In reality, without Lin Zhenxian’s support, he was nothing.

And the Liu family was nothing.

Lin Zhen could guess without even thinking what Liu Hanyang said to Liu Shuyao. He definitely wanted her to persuade Lin Zhen not to let Lin Zhenxian target him in court, or something like that.

But how could things be that simple? There was no way to gloss over this.

From the moment he betrayed the Lin family and conspired with the Gu family, he had already lost any chance of redemption.

Lin Zhen, having eaten his fill, stood up and walked toward his own courtyard.

He wanted to see how that father and daughter would put on their act.