Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 584 - 582: Misunderstood

Lin Wanwan finally left the palace safely and without incident. Her projector wasn’t used because Zhangsun suddenly laughed and scolded her for being foolish. Since she and that young man from the Xiao family had already privately decided to spend their lives together, what couldn’t be said, why stubbornly resist the royal decree?

Lin Wanwan was shocked and quickly explained that she didn’t want to drag Xiao Chong down with her, but Zhangsun interrupted her, not letting her explain, and said to just go back and wait for good news.

Lin Wanwan left Lizheng Hall in confusion, and it was Changle’s personal maid who came to tell her the reason—Xiao Chong actually went to Li Shimin to petition for a marriage!

How dare he? How could he?

Lin Wanwan’s feelings were complicated, and she didn’t know what to say.

After leaving the palace, Lin Wanwan rode the carriage arranged by Li Lizhi back to the Bamboo Garden of the Xiao Mansion and heard three bad news.

The first was that Kun Lun had broken into the palace gates searching for her, and his life and death were unknown.

The second was that the mute girl, A Li, took an arrow in her shoulder while trying to rescue her. Because the Imperial Guard was arresting those with arrow wounds everywhere, they didn’t dare to call a doctor to treat her; they only removed the arrow. Xiao Yixun prescribed medication and used the inventory from her pharmacy to treat A Li, but the effect was not ideal. Currently, A Li was in a high fever, unconscious.

The third was that Xiao Yixun broke into the palace gates at night and got hit on her chest, was injured, and her luck was that she wasn’t caught on the spot. However, upon hearing that the Imperial Guard was searching for people, Xiao Shen immediately understood and ordered Xiao Yixun to be confined and not to step out of Bamboo Garden.

Lin Wanwan was both moved and overwhelmed. That foolish slave Kun Lun dared to force his way into the palace gates in broad daylight. She must find a way to inquire about his whereabouts and rescue him.

Xiao Yixun was equally foolish; breaking into the palace gates at night—was it really that ignorance is fearless, or was she really that important in Xiao Yixun’s heart?

Coming to the Great Tang and meeting so many people willing to risk everything for her, she was truly moved.

Lin Wanwan checked Xiao Yixun’s pulse; her internal injuries were not hard to treat, but the resentment from her confinement was difficult to cure.

A Li’s condition was due to infection and inflammation from the arrow wound. In the era of the Great Tang without antibiotics, it was almost a death sentence, but fortunately, Lin Wanwan could go to the modern era to buy medicine.

Though penicillin was not available over the counter, Lin Wanwan spent a bit more money and managed to buy it from a less strictly regulated small clinic.

Lin Wanwan moved A Li into a separate room to secretively test her skin and treat her, keeping people away.

After handling all these matters, Lin Wanwan received the decree for the betrothal, unsure at the moment whether to resist the decree or not.

Then she received an invitation from Aunt Xiao to go to the temple to offer incense with her. She initially wanted to refuse, but then thought she could use it as a cover to secretly meet Xiao Chong and get clarity, so she agreed to go.

As it turned out, Xiao Chong happened to go to the temple the same day.

Lin Wanwan wondered if this was a coincidence or if it was orchestrated by Xiao Chong. After all, with the minds of Aunt Xiao and her son, it’s not impossible for Xiao Chong to play them like pawns.

In the yet-to-bloom peach forest behind the temple, Lin Wanwan faced Xiao Chong, who was dressed plainly and looked calm, and asked, "Cousin, why are you doing this? I said I wouldn’t marry. Are you forcing me to resist the decree?"

Xiao Chong gave Lin Wanwan a complex look and asked in return, "Is that how insignificant I am in your heart?"

Lin Wanwan was taken aback by the pain revealed in his gaze and found herself at a loss for words.

Turning away, Xiao Chong looked towards the unknown depths of the peach forest and said indifferently, "Since your reason for not marrying me is simply because you want to be free and unconstrained alone, and it so happens I no longer wish to marry another, then I’ll use the title of Xiao’s wife to protect you for a lifetime."

"What... what does this mean?" Lin Wanwan was shocked, suspecting that she misunderstood.

With hands clasped behind his back, Xiao Chong said, "Instead of using an imaginary fiancé with nothing intimidating to use as cover, use me. Tomorrow I will leave Chang’an and set off for Mao County. You... if you encounter difficulties, seek Gu Feng at the Imperial Temple. He is my cousin and a close friend and will help you."

After speaking, he stepped out of the woods, never looking back at Lin Wanwan from beginning to end.

"Cousin!"

Xiao Chong stopped in his tracks, slightly tilted his head, but never turned back, his cold voice drifting in the cold wind: "Hide your weaknesses, take care."

Lin Wanwan stared at Xiao Chong’s increasingly distant figure, her throat seemingly blocked, unable to say a word.

Large strides carried Xiao Chong down the mountain, with eyes glistening. He didn’t want to turn back, for fear of exposing his own vulnerability.

Shortly after Lin Wanwan returned to the temple’s guest room, Aunt Xiao had also returned with the master’s interpretation of her fortune.

Seeing Lin Wanwan dressed in a blue robe, she sighed, "Wanwan, I didn’t expect you’d do so well."

Lin Wanwan raised her head vaguely, "Hm?"

"Ah, you silly child. Since you and Xiao Zifang from the Imperial Liang Mansion have had a secret engagement for a long time, what can’t you say to your aunt?" Aunt Xiao teased with a smile, "Being able to marry into Duke Song Mansion and be family with Princess Xiangcheng, your aunt is only happy for you."

At that moment, Aunt Xiao’s eyes and mouth were all smiles, completely showing none of the resentment from a few days ago when Lin Wanwan refused her.

It was as if she had never proposed for her son to marry Lin Wanwan, and Lin Wanwan was full of admiration for that shameless endurance.

She sighed quietly, realizing that the bustling world is all for profit. In the eyes of realistic people, no hatred is eternal.

The second branch of Duke Song’s Mansion and their family from the Pang Family were worlds apart, and Lin Wanwan, despite her low status, received such an esteemed marriage decree. Aunt Xiao was only worried Lin Wanwan might hold a grudge against her and couldn’t wait to mend the relationship, much less put on an aunt’s airs.

Not to mention the wealth of Duke Song’s Mansion, even the relationship that Xiao Chong’s father, Xiao Kai, as the direct supervisor of Pang Family’s eldest uncle, Aunt Xiao didn’t dare to offend Lin Wanwan anymore.

For the Pang Family, Lin Wanwan was now their opportunity to rise to new heights.

The Pang Family, by virtue of their humble origins, had no footing in Chang’an, making it exceedingly difficult for Uncle Pang to advance further. But if they could connect with Duke Song’s Mansion, it would be an entirely different story.

Lin Wanwan quickly understood from Aunt Xiao’s deliberate flattery that she was benefitting from the halo of being Xiao Chong’s fiancée.

She inhaled deeply, feeling that this favor was overwhelming, almost unbearable.

Why be so kind to her, even daring to wade into such muddy waters.

Xiao Chong’s hurried departure from Chang’an City certainly had to do with his indiscreet petition to Li Shimin for a marriage reward.

Having fallen out of favor with the Emperor, he might have to stay in the position of County Magistrate of Mao County for a long time. Despite having made many achievements, he now faced this outcome.

Was she really worth it?

Lin Wanwan walked to the window, gazing at the sky over the temple, her mind in turmoil.