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Who Are You Originally: Book 1
墨書 Inktalez
By the serene shores of the azure lake, a gentle young lady stood gracefully at the water's edge. Her face resembled autumn waters, with a veil of mist lightly shrouding her eyes, and her brows seemed to pierce through the chaos of the world.
In her hand, she tightly gripped an intricately carved blind cane, her demeanor exuding an otherworldly calmness. There was neither urgency to explore the unknown nor a hint of nostalgia for the past. She stood there quietly, harmonizing with the surrounding landscape, weaving together a breathtaking tableau of tranquility that evoked both reverence and an irresistible desire to delve deeper.
At the lakeside, a group of onlookers had gathered, whispering among themselves. An elderly woman’s voice rang out like a morning bell, shattering the moment's peace: “Look here, is this not the daughter of Lin Xiangfu?” At her words, curious glances were cast toward the young lady.
“There is indeed a resemblance to Miss Lin, but why is she here alone?”
“Ah, how foolish you are! This scene clearly suggests a ‘standing by the abyss, intent on ending it all’ performance!” A storyteller pretended to be profound as he opened his folding fan and shook his head knowingly.
“The Consort Prime Minister treats her as her own, showering her with affection. How could she even think of such unfilial acts? Truly ‘blissful yet unaware of one’s fortune!’” That person sighed dramatically, while those nearby echoed sentiments of pity.
“Exactly! Just imagine a blind girl born into a poor family; she would have faced countless misfortunes and hardships. Fortunately, she was born into Lin Xiangfu, not abandoned by Lin Xiang, and blessed with a loving stepmother. She should be overwhelmed with gratitude; who would have thought she would entertain such thoughts? Truly ‘fate plays tricks on us, and human hearts are hard to fathom!’” Another chimed in, their words laced with discontent towards Lin Qingqiu.
Listening to the crowd's chatter, Lin Qingqiu felt a mix of emotions swirling within her. She had been waiting for Tong'er at home but was deceived by a maid into coming here. She bowed slightly toward the lake and stepped onto the bridge with her cane in hand. The people around her parted to make way.
Yet amidst this moment of tranquility, discordant voices emerged. A few individuals exchanged glances; seeing Lin Qingqiu about to leave, they began to jeer: “What’s wrong? Can’t continue your act? I’ve heard this Miss Lin is arrogant and unreasonable, bullying her sisters when she was younger. I knew she was just putting on a show!” Their words dripped with disdain and contempt. Lin Qingqiu chose to ignore them, but their irritation grew at her indifference as one person blocked her path.
“Ah!” A scream pierced through the silence as Lin Qingqiu fell heavily to the ground.
The sharp sound shattered the surrounding calmness; familiar mocking laughter pierced Lin Qingqiu's heart like needles. Clenching her cane tightly and enduring the pain, she maintained an air of composure and resolutely stepped away, leaving behind a tapestry of complex gazes intermingling on the ground.
Just then, among the crowd, a beautiful maid flashed a cunning look in her eyes. Silently extending a delicate foot, she discreetly tripped Lin Qingqiu once more, causing her to stumble and fall heavily again.
She struggled to get up, but her cane was nowhere to be found. She groped around on the ground, desperately trying to locate the lost cane, her face etched with helplessness and shock. This scene revealed the myriad expressions of humanity; sympathy and mockery intertwined as people wore various expressions, yet no one offered a helping hand. Only indifference and resignation quietly spread through the air around Lin Qingqiu, leaving her to bear this pain alone.
Finally finding her cane, she quickly rose to her feet, cautiously probing the path ahead, though her steps involuntarily quickened.
At the Prime Minister's Residence
"Father! It's terrible! Sister has jumped into the lake!" Lin Xue'er said, her brows furrowed with worry. "Rumors are spreading in the streets, claiming that our Prime Minister's Residence has put immense pressure on her, driving her to despair and prompting her to jump into the lake in public. Now everyone is saying that we at the Prime Minister's Residence are bullying her, a blind heiress!" As she spoke, Lin Xue'er’s tone grew more intense.
Lin Youquan's face turned ashen upon hearing this, his anger erupting like a volcano. "This unfilial daughter is simply defying heaven and betraying humanity! How could this be? The imperial marriage bestowed upon her, marrying a prince of unmatched nobility, and yet she still suffers?" Lin Youquan exclaimed with fury.
"Reporting to you, Chancellor!" A young servant rushed in, hands clasped respectfully before him as he bowed. "The eldest young lady has returned home; I am here to inform you." After saying this, he exchanged a knowing glance with Lin Xue'er, a sly smile creeping onto their faces.
Lin Youquan's expression changed drastically; his anger surged like a tidal wave. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted sternly, "Quickly bring that rebellious daughter to me! I want to see what face she has to step back into this Prime Minister's Residence!"
"Yes!" The servant responded loudly and promptly turned to leave the room with hurried steps.
As Lin Qingqiu stepped into the residence, still unsteady on her feet, she was immediately surrounded by a group of people. The atmosphere turned oppressive and tense in an instant.
Two maids flanked her on either side, ruthlessly gripping her shoulders with disdain and mockery in their voices. "Miss, the master has ordered us to 'invite' you over!" They deliberately emphasized the word "invite," their lips curling into sneers as if Lin Qingqiu was no longer the esteemed heiress of the Prime Minister's Residence but merely a plaything to be manipulated at will.
Lin Qingqiu remained silent, allowing them to push her forward quickly. She had grown accustomed to this feeling of being restrained like a prisoner. In front of outsiders, she was a highborn lady; within the Prime Minister's Residence, she was merely a fallen young lady—less than even the pet of her sister, Brother Jiu!
Upon seeing Lin Qingqiu brought before him in the hall, Lin Xiang furiously shouted, "Wretched girl, kneel down at once!"
The maidservants, upon hearing this, pushed her without hesitation. She fell to the ground like a soulless puppet, kneeling down uncontrollably. Her fair hands were quickly folded in front of her knees, settling into a nearly perfect kneeling posture.
At that moment, the thin veil over Lin Qingqiu's eyes slowly fell away, revealing her otherworldly dual-colored irises, breathtakingly beautiful. Lin Youquan's gaze met hers, and in an instant, a wave of guilt surged within him, washing away his anger and replacing it with an indescribable complexity. His voice softened slightly as he asked, “Do you know your mistake?”
Beside them, Lin Xue'er noticed the sudden change in her father's expression, and the hatred in her eyes sharpened.
“I am not at fault,” Lin Qingqiu replied calmly, though a hint of stubbornness was evident on her face. She had done nothing wrong; the emperor's decree was for the talented daughter of the Prime Minister to marry the prince. As a blind person who had only learned one piece of music, she was being forced to take her sister's place at the altar of marriage!
Zhang Baizhi hurried over upon hearing the commotion. As she reached outside the room, she could hear the argument within. Quickly suppressing the smile on her lips, she stepped inside and gently advised, “My lord, please don’t be hasty. Perhaps Qiu’er has her own difficulties. You know how sensible she is; she wouldn’t act against your wishes without reason!”
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