Chapter 20 Of Course She Will Let This Child Go…

Chapter 20: She Would Spare This Child, Of Course…

"Where… is this? Who… are you?"

Xiao Lin Shi was still conscious. She remembered being nailed inside a coffin—the nails piercing her body had felt like searing flames.

This torment had plagued her relentlessly until one day, a cool, soothing fragrance reached her. That scent eased the burning agony, gradually clearing her muddled mind.

Then, she found herself in this unfamiliar place, facing a white fox.

"You don’t need to know who I am. Do you remember how you died?"

The fox, sitting human-like on a stool, suddenly spoke.

Xiao Lin Shi struggled to recall. She remembered being in a daze during those days, unable to sleep through the night, haunted by terrifying hallucinations.

She saw that what grew in her womb was not a child, but a monstrous fish—one that wanted to tear her open.

Driven mad with terror, her mind seemed to shut down. She found herself clutching a dagger and slit her own belly.

After that…

Xiao Lin Shi clutched her head, emitting an unearthly shriek.

She remembered now—she had died.

After death, her spirit remained trapped in her body. She heard Zhao Ming say he had sired a child with another woman.

Her death had been meticulously planned, all to legitimize his favored child’s rightful return to the Zhao family.

He had even hired someone to seal her spirit inside the coffin, tormenting her day after day.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Dark energy emanated from Xiao Lin Shi, her surging resentment barely contained.

"I remember… Zhao Ming killed me," Xiao Lin Shi’s voice was hoarse, dripping with venom. "They killed me—the Zhao family!!!"

"Then seek your vengeance," A Chan said, her vulpine gaze impassive.

"Vengeance? Yes… I’ll make him pay." The resentment on Xiao Lin Shi’s face dissipated, revealing her pitch-black eyes and corpse-pale face.

"At midnight tomorrow, the incense tethering you will dissipate. Once it vanishes, you’ll transform into a wrathful spirit. That night, you’ll have your chance to claim your due—a life for a life. When dawn comes, I’ll send you to the underworld."

"Why are you helping me?"

*Because you once helped me too, even if you mistook me for Ji Chan.* A Chan closed her eyes and gave no answer.

When she opened them again, she had returned to full awareness. She was still sitting in the lightless chamber.

But A Chan knew—Xiao Lin Shi had already come.

Now, she was gone.

The first stick of incense had burned out. A Chan lit the second. Another wakeful night awaited.

Xiao Lin Shi didn’t know how she had appeared on the street, just as she didn’t understand why she had been in that strange place earlier, face to face with a talking fox.

She didn’t need to think too much about it—she was already dead.

Her body floated wraithlike through the darkness. The buildings grew increasingly familiar until a crimson-lacquered gate blocked her path, its plaque engraved with two characters: Zhao Residence.

At some point, talismans of door guardians had been affixed onto the gate.

Xiao Lin Shi hesitated before the warding effigies, afraid to approach. Just then, an icy perfume enveloped her. Shrouded in that ethereal mist, she phased straight through the barrier.

Looking back, the door gods remained.

This was the home she had lived in for over a decade. Yet after being gone for barely a few days, it felt completely different.

Xiao Lin Shi haunted the Zhao manor. She first went to the main courtyard, its portals barred. Passing through, she entered the room where she clearly remembered dying.

The metallic tang of her blood still hung in the air.

She wandered her old room for a long time, even sitting for a while before the tarnished bronze looking-glass, which reflected nothing.

Then, she went to Zhao Ming’s study.

Being unlettered, she had seldom entered the study.

She remembered once discovering a maid serving there nursing forbidden desires. Before she could act, Zhao Ming had dismissed the girl.

When she asked why he hadn't kept the maid, he said he had no use for concubines.

Back then, Xiao Lin Shi had believed no man in the world could compare to Zhao Ming.

Now, in the study’s inner chamber, she saw the man she had once loved deeply—embracing another woman.

She recognized that face—Su Yao, the concubine Old Madam Zhao had selected for him, her husband’s distant cousin.

Xiao Lin Shi sat at their bedside, observing their intimate embrace until dawn.

When Zhao Ming awoke, an unnatural cold gripped him, making him shiver.

"What’s wrong?" Su Yao rubbed her eyes and sat up as well.

Dressed only in a thin undergarment, her exposed skin bore traces of red marks.

"Nothing. Don’t catch cold." Zhao Ming took an underrobe and tenderly assisted her into it.

Su Yao rose and dressed Zhao Ming in his official robes, cinching his sash. The two exchanged lingering caresses by the bed for a long while before finally parting.

Neither noticed Xiao Lin Shi sitting right beside them.

In the past, when in good spirits, Xiao Lin Shi had also helped Zhao Ming into his official robes—though never the belt.

But she remembered how he would always subconsciously raise his arms, as if waiting for her to tie it.

So this was a habit his dear cousin had cultivated.

During those nights he claimed to be out with friends—had he actually been with this woman?

Ah yes, they even had a child together, who was also in the residence.

Once Zhao Ming left, Xiao Lin Shi followed Su Yao. She watched as the household steward personally delivered meals, addressing her as "Madam."

A steward of her own choosing—truly a faithful hound.

After eating, Su Yao went to Hui’an Hall, the ancestral wing.

At this hour, Hui’an Hall buzzed with a child’s prattle and the elders' mirth.

Upon hearing that Su Yao had come to pay her respects, the elderly Mrs. Zhao warmly invited her in.

Xiao Lin Shi followed Su Yao, drifting into Huian Hall.

She saw her mother-in-law affectionately take Su Yao's hand, asking if she had rested well.

Noticing Su Yao's flushed face, the elderly Mrs. Zhao teased her, urging her to work harder and strive to bear another healthy grandson.

Once Su Yao sat down, the little boy who had been nestled beside the elderly Mrs. Zhao approached and called out, "Mother."

"Good boy, Qi'er. Have you been diligent in your studies lately?"

"Yes," Zhao Wenqi nodded emphatically. "Qi'er has been very diligent. Father said he will send me to study under Scholar Qi in a few days, and Scholar Qi has already agreed."

Xiao Lin Shi remembered Scholar Qi—he and Zhao Ming were close friends across generations. When Zhao Wensheng was ten, Xiao Lin Shi had once asked Zhao Ming to send their son to study under Scholar Qi, but Zhao Ming refused, saying the scholar did not accept young students.

Su Yao was delighted. "Really? My Qi'er is truly remarkable."

Zhao Wenqi said proudly, "Scholar Qi said I am clever and sensible, far better than Father's useless eldest son."

Hearing her grandson mention Zhao Wensheng, the elderly Mrs. Zhao scoffed. "Early in the morning, Qi'er, don’t bring up that jinx, don't let it dirty your ears."

"Auntie, such words shouldn’t be spoken outside," Su Yao reminded with a smile.

"I know," the elderly Mrs. Zhao replied, gazing fondly at Su Yao and her son. "It's fortunate you two weren’t kept in the residence these years, or else Xiao Lin Shi would have made your lives miserable."

Zhao Wenqi chimed in, "The books say what goes around comes around. She monopolized Father and kept our family apart, so she got what she deserved."

"Oh, my Qi'er knows so much! Even 'wretched death,' hahaha!"

Su Yao, however, tapped her son’s hand and scolded sternly, "Don’t ever say such things again, understand?"

"Understood, Mother. Don’t be angry," Zhao Wenqi quickly apologized. "I will study hard, and when I grow up and become an official, I’ll request imperial honors for Grandmother and Mother."

"My precious grandson even knows about imperial honors—so sensible!" The elderly Mrs. Zhao was delighted, then chided Su Yao. "Qi'er only spoke the truth. Why frighten him?"

In their eyes, Xiao Lin Shi had always been an unwanted nuisance, and her wretched death was well-deserved.

Xiao Lin Shi stood by the table, tears like blood streaming down her face, falling to the floor without leaving a trace.

The day slipped away. Xiao Lin Shi wandered through the entire Zhao residence, only avoiding Zhao Wenyue.

She still remembered the words Zhao Wenyue had spoken before her coffin was sealed.

As evening deepened, the incense clinging to Xiao Lin Shi grew fainter.

Zhao Ming finally returned to the residence, accompanied by Xue Mingtang.

Xue Mingtang was a Second Realm cultivator, his life force strong—he should have easily sensed the presence of spirits, yet he remained unaware of Xiao Lin Shi right beside him.

The two men went to the study. Xue Mingtang seemed to carry something that made her feel profoundly threatened, forcing her to listen from afar.

She heard them mention the forbidden vault and the Lin family, but their voices were low and fragmented—she couldn’t understand.

They didn’t stay long in the study before Xue Mingtang departed. On his way out, he encountered Zhao Wenyue.

From a distance, Xiao Lin Shi watched the coy Zhao Wenyue and Xue Mingtang, whose face showed subtle annoyance as she drew near.

She had never before wondered why Zhao Ming insisted so strongly on marrying his daughter to Xue Mingtang, nor why Xue Mingtang, who plainly disliked Zhao Wenyue, would agree.

Her husband clearly had many secrets she knew nothing about.

But it made no difference. After tonight, there would be no more secrets.

Darkness came.

The hours crawled by. Xiao Lin Shi felt the incense that had maintained her awareness fading, replaced by rage and hatred consuming her.

She arrived outside a side room in Huian Hall and, precisely at midnight, entered.

A child of seven or eight years old slept soundly on the bed. Originally, Zhao Wenqi had his own courtyard, but the elderly Mrs. Zhao, too protective to let him sleep alone, insisted he stay in her own quarters.

Xiao Lin Shi loomed over this clever yet venomous child, her long hair brushing his cheeks as she gazed at his peaceful sleeping face.

What a rare child—so young, yet already thinking of his mother’s welfare.

Of course, she would spare him. Not only spare him, but ensure he lived a long, long life.

The next moment, Xiao Lin Shi’s body seemed to lose control as she sank into the bed.

Zhao Wenqi opened his eyes—eyes completely black.