Volume One, Chapter 1: Reborn to the Night He Gave the Crown Prince the Cure

A man's harsh, heavy breathing sounded in her ear as her clothes were torn open, a sudden chill making her shudder. Lin Qingwan opened her eyes from a deep sleep and gazed at the familiar face before her. Was this…? The day she gave herself to him in her previous life?

"Don't touch me, Chu Linyuan! I'll find you another woman!"

Seeing the man's bloodshot eyes, exactly as they had been in her past life, memories of being consumed by flames surged forth; this was the day all her misfortune began.

The man was burning hot all over. Sensing her resistance, he gripped her wrist with an irresistible force and pressed his lips fiercely against hers to silence her.

The dull pain beneath her brought tears to Lin Qingwan’s eyes. Had she not died in that fire? How could she have returned to this day again? Why not even one day earlier?

She couldn’t control the tears that streamed down her cheeks, leaving drops on the man’s arm. He paused, then kissed her tears with unexpected gentleness.

"Don’t be afraid. I’ll make you my consort. Whose daughter are you?"

The effects of the drug on Chu Linyuan ran deep; his mind was clouded, unable to distinguish her features, but her body—he was utterly enamored.

"I don’t want that. Let me go."

Taking advantage of his distraction, Lin Qingwan, unable to break free, remembered the agony of the previous life's flames. Hatred welled up as she bit down hard on his chest.

"How dare you hurt me? Do you believe I won’t kill you for this?"

Chu Linyuan bit her neck in retaliation. The pain made Lin Qingwan release her grip and cry out involuntarily.

Time blurred; when she awoke again, she was still caught in his grasp, unable to escape his relentless possession.

Dawn’s faint light crept in.

The man, satisfied as a sated cat, hummed contentedly, a hint of a smile on his lips. He placed a light kiss on her lips, wrapped an arm around her waist, and, lying at her side, closed his eyes to sleep.

She carefully pulled her wrist from his grasp, resisting the urge to land two punches on him. Glancing at the bracelet now fastened around her wrist, she tried in vain to remove it.

Why?

In her previous life, there had been no such bracelet—hadn’t he given it to another woman? Unable to remove it, she had no choice but to return to her room; if she lingered, someone might discover them.

She had to leave as soon as possible.

Forcing herself to rise, her aching waist allowed only slow movement. She pulled a piece of white cloth from the side to cover her face, then stumbled out the door.

She tried to take a hidden path, only to see a man in black standing under a nearby tree.

Hearing hurried footsteps in the distance, the man looked up at the disheveled, embarrassed woman before him.

How could it be her?

Mo Lingxuan’s eyes widened in shock, his heart as if pierced by a sharp blade.

Madame Lin had brought her here to discuss marriage and exchange betrothal documents—was this not the purpose?

He hid the dagger in his sleeve, bowed with fist cupped, and blocked Lin Qingwan’s way.

"I am Mo Lingxuan. Forgive my intrusion. May I ask why Miss Lin is here at this hour?"

The prince’s secret guard had informed him that the crown prince was drugged, urging him to bring the household physician to administer an antidote. When he’d arrived at the door, ambiguous sounds drifted from within—he couldn’t interrupt, so he waited on the path nearby.

The prince’s visit had been unplanned and secret; no one else should have known, so it couldn’t have been a plot against him. Now that the drug’s effect had ended, there was no more cause for worry. Yet, for a royal prince to be drugged in his house—it was a serious matter.

He’d assumed it was some fortunate maid from another courtyard who had caught the prince’s attention—never expected it to be his own fiancée.

Mo Lingxuan regarded the woman before him with suspicion. Despite her efforts to hide it, the signs of a night spent in a man’s arms were evident.

He forced himself to look away.

That afternoon, his mother had urged him to marry Lin Qingwan, and he’d been lost in childhood memories, content and unaware. Now, in one night, she had become another man’s woman. Fate’s cruel jest.

Lin Qingwan studied the man before her—so this was Mo Lingxuan? In her previous life, she’d often heard his name after entering the Eastern Palace, but had never met him. To be caught by him in such a shameful state—what should she do?

Slowly, she knelt before him.

If she couldn’t win his help today, she would be doomed to repeat the cycle of her former life, perishing in flames at the end.

"General Mo, would you kindly keep today’s events a secret? If word spreads, I would have no choice but to end my life to preserve my reputation."

Mo Lingxuan hadn’t expected such a gesture. He frowned, leaning carelessly against a tree, unable to conceal the disappointment in his voice.

"Why not ask the crown prince to make your status official? Or do you have feelings for another? If so, why climb into the prince’s bed?"

His expression was cold, fingers absently stroking the dagger hidden in his sleeve, unafraid of its edge.

Did she not recognize him? Why was she in the prince’s room? The guest rooms for women were far apart from his own.

Feigning surprise, Lin Qingwan said, "He’s the crown prince?" Then, as if shocked, she lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.

"My mother brought me here for marriage discussions. I merely wanted to catch a glimpse of my future husband beforehand, but was abducted unexpectedly."

Her body trembled as she spoke, as if recalling some terror; tears streamed from her eyes.

Hearing her words, Mo Lingxuan couldn’t help but feel guilty. He should have arranged different accommodations for the prince.

He took a woman’s embroidered handkerchief from his chest and handed it to her.

"Don’t cry. I will see that you are given justice. If the crown prince refuses to marry you…"

If the prince would not take her as his consort, he would marry her himself—for all this was his own oversight.

This woman was to be his wife.

Seeing the handkerchief, Lin Qingwan started. Wasn’t this the one she’d used as a child? She took it, noticing the lotus in the corner and the crooked character for ‘Lin,’ and looked up at Mo Lingxuan.

"Why do you have my handkerchief? Did you…"

A childhood memory flashed through her mind. She recalled a close childhood playmate who was always cleaning up her messes.

"Did you visit the Lin residence as a child, General?"

Mo Lingxuan chuckled, nodding as he placed a hand on her head and tousled her hair.

"Why are you still such a crybaby, just like when we were young?"

Lin Qingwan blushed and turned away slightly, trying to escape his touch. It was a grave offense to sully the inner chambers—how could he touch her so?

Damn, she had lived again, yet still thought of herself as a palace consort. She swore she would never enter that inferno again.

"We’re adults now—you cannot touch my head," she said softly.

Mo Lingxuan was silent for a moment. As a general’s son, he was used to speaking his mind.

"Today’s events are my fault. If the prince won’t give you a title, would you… still be willing to marry me?"

No title? Did this mean her fate could change—could she survive this time?

Lin Qingwan paused, lowered her eyes, and replied, "I dare not."

"Why not?"

Fearing she’d think him fickle, Mo Lingxuan hurried to explain, "A ruler’s heart is hard to predict, but since childhood, I have followed my father to the army and have never had another woman by my side."

"If you are willing to marry me, I will speak to my mother at once and ask her to exchange our betrothal documents with Madame Lin."

Thinking of what had just transpired with Chu Linyuan, Lin Qingwan bit her lip, glancing at the man before her.

"General, will you truly not mind?"

"I have lost my virtue, and am unworthy of you—this is one. A woman need not marry; she may devote herself to prayer and solitude—this is two."

Mo Lingxuan gazed at the woman who had occupied his thoughts since childhood, relieved when he realized her reluctance was only for his sake. His eyes sparkled with warmth.

"If I minded, would I offer to marry you? In the Mo family, a man may have only one wife. Only if she is childless for ten years and requests it herself may he take a concubine."

"Qingwan, try being with me. You’ll see what sort of man I am. Neither of us wished for this misfortune."

"As for losing your virtue, it matters not at all to me. A woman’s chastity lies in her heart, not her body."

Hearing her refusal, Mo Lingxuan’s heart ached. As a child, she had feared nothing and loved mischief—how had she become so careful and apprehensive?

He reached for her, wishing to help her up from the cold ground.

Lin Qingwan pondered his words. The Mo family had such a rule? No wonder her mother had always spoken well of him in her past life, but she had only ever cared for Chu Linyuan.

If she had met Mo Lingxuan first and fallen for him, perhaps she would not have died so miserably.

"Give me your hand. The ground is cold—don’t kneel."

Exhausted, Lin Qingwan tried to rise, but her aching waist and legs failed her. Looking at his outstretched palm, she took his hand for support, but her legs gave way and she fell into his arms.

Just as she was about to push him away, a familiar voice rang out from afar.

"What an enlightened statement—chastity lies in the heart, not the body! You’ve truly broadened my horizons!"

A man with loose hair and white inner robes, draped in a cloak and barefoot, strode toward them. The crown prince curled his lips in a cold smile, glaring at their joined hands with murderous intent.

Mo Lingxuan instantly released her and knelt in salute.

"Your Highness. I am guilty."

"Guilty, indeed—guilty beyond measure!"

Chu Linyuan’s gaze was piercing as he seized Lin Qingwan’s wrist and pulled her into his arms. Ignoring her struggles, he lifted her by the waist, kicked open the door, and carried her inside, pressing her down onto the bed.

Seeing her clutch her clothes in fear, her wary expression, Chu Linyuan was filled with an unspeakable sense of defeat.

He, the dignified crown prince, had taken a woman, yet she scorned him as if he were filth—what a humiliation.

"Do you want to die? After warming my bed, do you still dream of marrying another?"