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

"Oh."

Shen Jin chuckled lightly, his voice tinged with coldness, and abruptly tightened the reins, riding his horse toward the palace.

*

Lin Zhiyao had just sat down in her boudoir, and before she could even properly hold her teacup, Chunlan knocked on the door.

"Miss, Madam requests your presence."

Lin Zhiyao paused, placed the teacup back on the table, and stood up to straighten her clothes.

She changed into a light purple jacket, quickly tidied her hair in front of the bronze mirror, and then followed Chunlan through the corridor to the main hall.

Madam Shen was still sitting in that mahogany armchair, with a celadon teacup beside her, the lid resting on the rim, and wisps of steam rising upwards.

When she saw Lin Zhiyao enter, she raised her eyelids slightly, but didn't offer Lin Zhiyao a seat. She simply asked casually, "How have you been feeling since you stayed at the temple?"

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt. I'm doing well."

Lin Zhiyao stood with her hands at her sides, her gaze fixed on the tips of her shoes.

It seemed that only then did Shen's mother remember to ask Lin Zhiyao to sit down.

Lin Zhiyao bowed with her eyes lowered and sat down at the lower end of the table.

"The vegetarian food at Jin Guang Temple is light and bland. You've always had a small appetite, so you've probably lost some weight. Now that you're back at your residence, even though you'll be entering the palace soon, we'll give you a few days to rest and recuperate."

Madam Shen took a sip of tea and asked a casual question before changing the subject, "Jin'er is staying at the temple this time too. What is he busy with every day? He says he's controlling the floods, but I never see him sending any reports back."

Lin Zhiyao's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the handkerchief, but her expression remained calm. She said in a low voice, "My cousin... usually spends his days reading official documents in his room or going out on business. Sometimes he goes to the front to talk to the abbot. He leaves early and returns late, so I don't see him very often. As for his official duties, I don't know much about them."

She spoke in a proper and respectful manner, and her aunt did not ask any further questions after listening. She simply nodded and gave a few more instructions on what to prepare before entering the palace, what time to get up, how to greet the emperor, and where to look when meeting the emperor for the first time...

He explained everything carefully, one point at a time.

Lin Zhiyao listened attentively and responded to each question.

"Alright, go back and rest." Mother Shen waved her hand.

Lin Zhiyao curtsied and turned to walk towards the door.

As I reached the threshold, I heard my aunt behind me say in a low voice, "Perhaps you did well? Why did you go to the palace to report as soon as you got back without even coming to see me first?"

Lin Zhiyao didn't stop walking; she stepped out of the threshold and quickly walked away along the corridor.

*

It was evening.

A sudden commotion arose from the front yard.

Xiao Tao rushed in from outside, still out of breath: "Miss! The eldest young master has returned from the palace! And...and he brought an imperial edict!"

Lin Zhiyao, who was sitting in front of the bronze mirror combing her long hair, suddenly stood up upon hearing this, put down the comb in her hand, and walked out.

Before she could even reach the door, the gong in the front yard rang twice, and the eunuch's shrill voice pierced the twilight and echoed throughout the entire Shen residence: "Imperial decree has arrived—Lin Zhiyao, receive the decree—"

When Lin Zhiyao was pulled by Xiao Tao to the front yard, all the maids and servants in the mansion were already kneeling on the ground, including Shen's mother, who was kneeling at the very front.

She hurried to the front of the main hall, knelt down on the bluestone bricks, her knees hitting the cold brick surface, her eyes lowered, not daring to lift them.

The eunuch unfurled a bright yellow scroll, his voice drawn out: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lin Zhiyao, of gentle and virtuous character, and of prudent conduct, prayed for blessings at Jinguang Temple for three months, and her sincere prayers moved the Emperor… She is hereby granted a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, and is permitted to enter the palace through a side gate with wedding rites, as a sign of great favor…"

Lin Zhiyao didn't quite hear what was said after that. She only felt that the words "phoenix coronet and embroidered robe" were like copper needles piercing her eardrums, making her head buzz and her heart sink.

The emperor valued it so highly.

Can she really fool everyone after entering the palace?

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he rolled it up and handed it over.

Lin Zhiyao took it with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly when they touched the cool, smooth silk surface, her knuckles turning white.

Then, one after another, red lacquered chests were carried in from the accompanying sedan chairs and neatly stacked in the courtyard. When the lids were opened, the chests were filled with shimmering pearls and jade and dazzling silks.

The phoenix crown at the very top was placed in a brocade box. The phoenix, made of gold thread, held a pearl in its beak and glowed with a soft golden light in the twilight. The brocade robe was spread out like a brocade as bright as the clouds.

Madam Shen also stood up, supported by Chunlan. As she watched the loads of gifts being carried in, a rare look of genuine surprise appeared on her face.

She turned to look at Shen Jin, who was standing by the courtyard gate. His moon-white robe was stained with a faint scent of ambergris brought back from the palace. His expression was indifferent, revealing nothing about him.

Lin Zhiyao stood there holding the imperial edict, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on the phoenix crown, and remained motionless for a long time.

That very night, the news spread throughout the capital.

Shen Jin made no attempt to conceal his actions on the road, so even the common people knew about it.

In the teahouse, the storyteller pounded his gavel, spitting as he recounted how the Shen family's cousin had received imperial favor, donning a phoenix crown and embroidered robes, and was likely to be made a Noble Consort. The Empress's position was currently vacant, and who knew she might even be made Empress in the future.

In the tavern, several scholars held their wine cups and discussed in hushed tones about the vacant position of Empress. They said that the Emperor's move was brilliant, as it both elevated Shen Jin and paved the way for the orphaned girl from the Lin family, while suppressing other covetous nobles—a double win.

Some even calculated that Shen Jin had returned with such a favor after only half a day in the palace, indicating that Lord Shen was highly regarded in front of the emperor, and that the Shen family might produce a Grand Secretary in the future.

When the news reached the Shen residence, Lin Zhiyao had already returned to her room.

The phoenix crown and the bright yellow imperial edict were solemnly placed on the table, and the fiery red wedding dress was hung on the pedestal that had been brought over. The fabric was of the finest quality, and even under the candlelight, it shimmered and shone. One could not imagine how dazzling it would be in daylight.

Lin Zhiyao felt it was burning hot just looking at it.

I became increasingly anxious.

I can't find anyone to talk to.

The only person I could think of at the moment was Shen Jin.

Xiao Tao was tidying up in the outer room, still muttering about how good the fabric of the wedding robe was and how exquisite the phoenix embroidered with gold thread was.

Lin Zhiyao didn't reply, but stared blankly at the flickering candlelight on the dressing table, twisting her handkerchief and thinking about how to tell Shen Jin about this later.

Sudden.

A series of unhurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. The person did not try to hide their presence, and the sound was particularly clear in the night wind.

Lin Zhiyao was then startled to realize that, without her noticing, she had become so familiar with Shen Jin...

Before anyone outside could even make a sound, she could recognize that it was Shen Jin's footsteps.

Sure enough, Xiao Tao outside quickly greeted the young master.

Lin Zhiyao tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand even more.

Distracted and absent-minded.

Shen Jin stopped outside her door and knocked twice.

"Cousin." It was Shen Jin's voice. This time, he didn't barge in uninvited. His voice came through the door, gentle and warm, "Is the matter in the imperial edict to your liking?"

Lin Zhiyao's knuckles turned white as she gripped the handkerchief, but she did not respond.

She was still thinking about how to bring it up.

There was a moment of silence outside the door.

Then, Shen Jin chuckled softly, as if he had expected her not to answer, and casually found an excuse to send Xiao Tao away.

Xiao Tao glanced at Lin Zhiyao behind the beaded curtain inside the door.

Lin Zhiyao thought about what she needed to discuss with Shen Jin next, and her soft voice came from inside: "Xiao Tao, you go first."

Xiao Tao then left.

The courtyard fell silent again.

Wait until Xiao Tao walks away.

Shen Jin still pushed open the door and entered on his own.

The candlelight on the table flickered, illuminating half of Lin Zhiyao's profile and casting a silent silhouette on the wall.

She opened her watery almond-shaped eyes, pursed her pink lips, stared at Shen Jin, but still didn't say anything.

Shen Jin strode over to Lin Zhiyao and sat down next to her. He picked up the half-finished tea in front of her and drank it all in one gulp.

Lin Zhiyao's mind was in turmoil, and she still didn't know how to start the conversation.

Shen Jin's fox-like eyes pierced through the flickering candlelight, landing intently on Lin Zhiyao's face, which appeared even more gentle and serene under the candlelight.

"Cousin, this is a special gift I got for you. Shouldn't you let me see how you look in it... and whether it fits you well, hmm?"

He chuckled softly.

His voice sounded even more ambiguous in the dim candlelight.