Chapter 12: Permission Granted
[I didn’t expect that to work!] Lin Xueyi cheered inwardly the moment Rong Shuyan allowed her to visit the library with him. [I honestly thought he would ask Eunuch Shen to drag me out of the library.]
[But why is this library so huge?] she wondered. [And the novel was right. This place really is so peaceful.]
The library was filled with the scent of old books, sandalwood, and freshly brewed tea. Warm sunlight streamed through the lattice windows, casting soft patterns across the polished wooden floor.
Tall bookshelves lined the walls from one end of the room to the other, each one neatly organized and packed with books on countless subjects.
There were books on history, military strategy, politics, medicine, astronomy, geography, literature, and even rare manuscripts that she had never heard of before.
In the center of the library stood a large wooden desk, where Rong Shuyan usually read and wrote calligraphy. Near the wide windows was a daybed covered with soft cushions.
"What kind of books are you looking for?" Rong Shuyan suddenly asked. He pushed his wheelchair by himself because, as he had said before, he didn’t like having too many people around him. That was why he had asked Eunuch Shen to wait outside the library.
"Are they medicine books?" Rong Shuyan said bluntly. "I thought you already had a broad knowledge of medicine."
[He really can’t stop talking in that sarcastic tone of his!] Lin Xueyi grumbled inwardly.
She stopped in front of the bookshelf with the ’Medicine’ sign hanging above it, but she hesitated to openly search for a book about the Golden Wound Medicine.
She had just remembered that, in the novel, it was considered a basic medicine, and anyone with extensive medical knowledge was supposed to know how to make it.
[Yanyan will definitely suspect I’m lying if he finds out I don’t even know how to make that medicine!]
Lin Xueyi clicked her tongue inwardly. [That novel should have explained how to make every basic medicine in detail!]
"There is no such thing as stopping learning, Your Highness," Lin Xueyi said with a gentle smile. "This Consort has always had a strong thirst for new knowledge. That is why I decided to learn more about medicine."
Rong Shuyan looked at her for a brief moment before letting out a soft hum. "I never knew you enjoyed studying," he said. "You never even touched the books on the shelves in your room."
[First of all, why was Rong Shuyan paying attention to the original Lin Xueyi’s room in the first place?] Lin Xueyi frowned inwardly. [The novel must have been wrong! Yanyan is actually a secret pervert!]
The corner of Rong Shuyan’s eye twitched. Apparently, ever since she had accused him of being impotent, she had now decided he was secretly a pervert as well.
But to tell the truth, the reason he had asked the maids to report everything that happened in his wife’s chamber was because he didn’t want her to cause any more trouble.
After all, the original Lin Xueyi had never hidden her hatred for him.
Whether it was smashing expensive vases, yelling at the servants, or throwing tantrums over the smallest things, there was hardly a day that passed without some kind of disturbance coming from her courtyard.
If she suddenly disappeared, met with suspicious people, or tried to sneak out of the manor, Rong Shuyan wanted to know immediately.
But now that the original Lin Xueyi was gone and had been replaced by another version of Lin Xueyi, perhaps he no longer needed to watch her so closely or perhaps he still should.
There was no guarantee that this Lin Xueyi wouldn’t do something reckless in the future. For now, keeping an eye on her still seemed like the safest choice.
On the other side, Lin Xueyi finally answered his question. "My parents used to forbid me from reading too much, Your Highness. That is why I couldn’t openly read books in front of other people."
[I honestly have no idea how Lin Xueyi’s parents treated her,] she thought. [But in the novel, they didn’t even try very hard to look for their daughter after she suddenly disappeared.]
So I think they really did treat the original Lin Xueyi badly.
Instead of searching for her, they spent more time trying to make Rong Shuyan the main suspect in his wife’s disappearance, but they had never truly looked for her at all.
Even until the very end, they had never shed a single tear for her.
"And now that I don’t live with them anymore, I don’t have to hide and read in secret," Lin Xueyi continued with a small smile. "Unless... Your Highness doesn’t like it either."
Rong Shuyan might have been a bitter person, but even he couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for her after hearing those words, even though he knew she wasn’t the original Lin Xueyi.
"Learning more is always a good thing," Rong Shuyan said after a brief silence. "It sharpens your mind."
Since he didn’t say anything else, Lin Xueyi took that as permission. "Does that mean... I can use this library whenever I want?"
A bright smile spread across her face as she thought, [Even though I came here to look for medical books, I can’t help feeling excited. There are so many interesting books here!]
[I used to read all the time in my old world. If I go too long without having something to read, I’ll probably go crazy.]
Rong Shuyan took a deep breath. He truly didn’t like having someone else in his private space, but since there wasn’t another library pavilion in the manor, he had no choice but to share this one with Lin Xueyi.
Besides, she would probably get bored of coming here after a week or two.
"Suit yourself," Rong Shuyan said. He slowly unrolled a scroll on the table before adding, "Just make sure you keep your voice down."
Lin Xueyi’s smile grew even brighter as she nodded quickly. "I won’t be noisy, Your Highness!"
Rong Shuyan slowly raised his head and looked at her with one eyebrow lifted, silently pointing out that she had just spoken far too loudly.
Realizing what she had done, Lin Xueyi quickly covered her mouth with both hands and whispered, "I promise I won’t be noisy, Your Highness."
Rong Shuyan finally gave a small nod. "Good."
After that, Lin Xueyi truly kept her promise. She stayed quiet and even walked as carefully as possible to avoid making any noise.
What Rong Shuyan forgot, however, was that her inner thoughts were much louder than a broken chimney.