Waaah, I'm being forced into loving my yandere wife's brain.

Shen Jin leaned back in his chair, propping his chin up with one hand as he looked at her. His fox-like eyes were half-closed, and his expression was unreadable.

After waiting for a while, he finally spoke: "Yaoyao, you should know that I'm about to return to the palace, right?"

Lin Zhiyao's eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked up at him. This was something she had indeed been thinking about for a long time, and she still couldn't quite figure out what Shen Jin was thinking.

I couldn't find the time to ask proactively.

Shen Jin stood up from behind the desk, walked around the corner of the table, and stood in front of her.

Shen Jin was tall.

Lin Zhiyao had no choice but to look up at him.

His shadow completely enveloped her small face.

Lin Zhiyao's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Because the two were so close, so close that they could almost count each other's eyelashes, Shen Jin's fox-like eyes reflected her image, and in that deep, dark color floated something extremely faint and indistinct.

"Doesn't Yao Yao have anything she wants to say to me?"

Shen Jin gently stroked her cheek with his large hand, his voice soft, his androgynous face appearing even more enigmatic in the candlelight.

"This humble servant..."

Lin Zhiyao opened her mouth, her throat dry, not knowing what Shen Jin meant.

What could she say?

In any case, whatever ideas you have, you will ultimately have to listen to Shen Jin's arrangements.

Then why should she even think about it?

But Lin Zhiyao felt she should say something now, otherwise Shen Jin would probably get angry again, though she didn't know why.

Lin Zhiyao licked her lips and tentatively said, "Then... I wish you peace?"

Lin Zhiyao clearly felt Shen Jin's hand, which was gently stroking her cheek, tighten.

Lin Zhiyao felt a slight panic. Shouldn't she have said that? What else could she have said?

The main problem was that she didn't understand why Shen Jin asked that question, and she didn't know what his purpose was, so she didn't know how to answer.

"Then... there's more, there's more..."

Lin Zhiyao racked her brains, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "Um, I wish you great success?"

Shen Jin stared intently at her with his fox-like eyes, making Lin Zhiyao unconsciously shrink back. He suddenly chuckled, seemingly amused by his own anger, "Yaoyao, don't you want to go to the palace with me?"

Lin Zhiyao blinked and stammered, "Um, is this okay?"

Shen Jin countered, "Why not?"

Lin Zhiyao let out a soft "Ah," though she was actually reluctant to go. But since Shen Jin had said so, she couldn't refuse, so she could only say, "I thought this would be a burden and trouble for you."

She lowered her eyelashes, her gaze falling on her fingertips as she wrung out a handkerchief.

This wasn't entirely an excuse. The Lin family was already in dire straits, and she was an unofficial follower of the powerful Ninth Prince in and out of the palace. If someone with ulterior motives were to seize upon this and submit a report, it would be a ready-made pretext for their attack.

Shen Jin seemed to have heard something extremely interesting, and his expression brightened.

"What are you afraid of?" He lowered his head, the smile still lingering in his fox-like eyes, and gently leaned closer. "No matter what happens, I can protect you."

Lin Zhiyao didn't respond, but simply lowered her head and nodded slightly.

Shen Jin embraced Lin Zhiyao, tightening his grip on her back and pulling her closer. After a moment, he whispered, "Yaoyao, come with me to the palace."

Lin Zhiyao nestled in his arms, pressed against his chest, and slowly nodded.

The two embraced for a moment.

Shen Jin suddenly reached out and gently squeezed her fist that was holding the letter, pulled out the crumpled letter, and put it back on the table.

"Leave the letter with me for now."

Shen Jin looked down at her, then took her small, fair hand in his large hand, slipped it into his palm, and intertwined their fingers. "If you want to reply, I will have someone prepare pen and ink for you."

Lin Zhiyao looked up from Shen Jin's arms, her face full of surprise, "Is it okay?"

Shen Jin still held her tightly, his palms dry and warm, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Yes. If you want to contact your brother in the palace, I can do that too, but only if I watch you write the letter."

Lin Zhiyao didn't find it unacceptable. After all, she felt that even if Shen Jin hadn't said it, he would have definitely peeked at it after she finished writing. Now that it was out in the open, it actually made her feel more at ease.

So Lin Zhiyao readily nodded, "Sure."

At the same time, she couldn't help but think that Shen Jin's power had reached such an extent that it was far greater than she had imagined, to the point that he could freely communicate with people inside and outside the palace.

It's incredible.

Shen Jin kissed the top of her head, his voice filled with obvious pleasure, "Get a good rest tonight, I'll take you to the palace in three days."

*

On the morning of the day I entered the palace.

Before dawn, Qingwu brought in a copper basin to help her wash and dress.

Lin Zhiyao sat in front of the dressing table, and Qingwu combed her hair. Her fair and pretty face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

The carriage stopped at the back gate of the mansion. The black lacquered curtains hung down completely, with even the corners of the curtains weighed down by copper pendants, making it understated yet luxurious and extraordinary.

Lin Zhiyao was helped into the car by Qingwu. Shen Jin was already sitting in the car. He had changed into a dark purple casual outfit, with the cuffs tucked in, and was leaning against the car wall with his eyes closed, resting.

Hearing the noise, Shen Jin lifted his thin eyelids and glanced at her. He didn't say anything, but just reached out and patted the soft cushion beside him.

Lin Zhiyao bent down and sat down.

The next second, Shen Jin, with his eyes still closed, seemed to be able to see her, and with a large hand, easily pulled her into his arms.

The carriage stopped briefly outside Donghua Gate. The guards checked the waist tag and then let it pass.

Lin Zhiyao secretly peeked out through a crack in the curtain. The vermilion palace walls stretched endlessly in the morning mist. She couldn't help but feel a little dazed. Apart from entering the palace once when she was a girl, the Lin family had declined ever since, and even her mother had passed away not long after.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhiyao couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, and pursed her lips slightly.

Shen Jin suddenly reached out, pressed the corner of the curtain back, wrapped his arms around her waist, and slowly caressed her.

"Stop looking."

Shen Jin's voice was still slightly hoarse from the morning, but in the dimly lit carriage, his fox-like eyes shone with an astonishing brightness. "From now on, I'll show you how it goes."

The carriage stopped in front of a side hall on the west side of the Qianqing Palace.

Shen Jin got out of the car first, then turned around and reached out his hand to her.

Lin Zhiyao took his hand and jumped out of the car, looking towards the palace in front of her.

The side hall was small, but its furnishings were exquisite, with a rosewood dressing table placed under the window.

The lid of the magnificent dressing case was half-open, revealing neatly arranged hairpins and pendants inside.

Qingwu had arrived ahead of time and was leading two palace maids to sweep and clean the hall. When they saw them enter, she lowered her hands and stepped aside.

Shen Jin looked around, then looked down at Lin Zhiyao: "Do you still like it?"

Lin Zhiyao glanced at the dressing table, then at the corner of the eaves peeking out of the window, from which she could see the yellow glazed tile roof of the Qianqing Palace, which was extremely luxurious. The sunlight fell on the tile surface, making it look like scattered gold.

This place is incredibly close to the center of imperial power, as if all the wealth and riches in the world are within easy reach, making people afraid to look directly at it.

"...There's nothing I don't like," Lin Zhiyao said softly, lowering her eyelashes.

Shen Jin did not linger.

He still had to attend the morning court session.