After transmigrating into the body of a stepmother, I led the villains in a rebellion.

The next day, Lin Shu was woken up from his dream by someone.

She sat up with a sullen face. She didn't know if she had been too idle these days, but she was very sleepy and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bed.

Upon seeing her awaken, the palace servants hurriedly prepared palace attire for her.

As Lin Shu let them dress him, he couldn't help but ask, "What was all that noise outside just now?"

"We don't know," the maids said, bowing their heads in fear.

Seeing that he couldn't get any more information, Lin Shu didn't press the matter further.

Instead, she waited until the maids had left before approaching Zhao Jing and said, "The Emperor deliberately sent you to protect me, so your martial arts skills must be very high."

Zhao Jing looked at her with a doting expression, "Hmm, more or less!"

"Pretty much. So you must have heard what they were talking about outside, right? What was it?" Lin Shu quickly changed the subject and asked.

Zhao Jing hadn't expected her to have this idea, and didn't hide anything, saying, "I heard that Qin Zixuan attempted to assassinate the Emperor, was caught red-handed, and is scheduled to be executed on a chosen day."

...Lin Shu, that's really unexpected.

Is Qin Zixuan tired of living? Why does he have to be a suicide bomber instead of a decent person?

However, none of that was her concern at the moment. What she needed to focus on now was checking on the Emperor's injuries.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"The Emperor must be injured. I'll go check on him," Lin Shu said as he walked outside.

Lin Shu strode out of the palace. Those who knew her would think she was there to check on the Emperor, but those who didn't would have thought she was there to pick up some silver, given her eagerness.

As soon as I stepped into the Imperial Garden, I saw several ministers looking hurried and whispering to each other, seemingly discussing the events of the previous night.

Lin Shu deliberately slowed his pace, pretending to admire the flowers, but actually listening intently.

One of the ministers whispered, "Qin Zixuan has really eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, daring to lay a hand on the Emperor."

"That's right, the entire Qin family is pitiful, they've all been implicated by him."

"Alas, even heroes have difficulty resisting the charms of a beautiful woman. He ruined his life because of a woman."

"Who says it's not..."

As the conversation of the group faded into the distance, Lin Shu couldn't help but recall it in his mind.

Could it be that what Qin Zixuan said to her in the Xia Kingdom was that he owed her something—helping her kill the emperor?

But that doesn't make sense; she has no grudge against the emperor.

So, in that case, Qin Zixuan did it all for himself.

Oh, how pitiful, to ruin one's life for a woman who doesn't love him.

I wonder how heartbroken he will be after he finds out she is not the original Lin Shu?

Just as Lin Shu was deep in thought, Zhao Jing beside her spoke up to remind her, "Your Highness, weren't you going to visit the Emperor?"

Lin Shu rolled her eyes at him.

Lin Shu brought 'Zhao Jing' to the Emperor's Qianqing Palace. After the fire that day, the Qianqing Palace had been completely renovated, thanks to her.

Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, Lin Shu politely introduced himself to the guards, "I am Lin Shu, and I have come to visit His Majesty. Please inform him of my presence."

Upon hearing this, the guard dared not accept her greeting and was almost so frightened that he knelt down.

Recently, Lin Shu's affair has caused quite a stir in the palace; it's hard for them not to know about it.

Moreover, she was the Emperor's darling, so how could he dare to be negligent? "Your subordinate greets the Noble Consort, and will now take you in to visit the Emperor."

Inside the palace, the emperor lay on his couch, his face pale, but his eyes still sharp.

Seeing Lin Shu enter, he forced a smile. "Shu'er, what brings you here?"

Lin Shu stepped forward quickly and said softly, "I heard about what happened last night and was very concerned. I came to check on Your Majesty's health."

The Emperor was very pleased with Lin Shu's initiative in showing concern.

He immediately reached out and took Lin Shu's hand, saying, "I'm sorry, I made you worry."

Lin Shu shook his head. "Your Majesty, you said that there's no need for us to stand on ceremony. Besides, it's only natural for me to come and see you."

"By the way, have you caught the thief who injured you?"

The emperor was taken aback, a struggle flashing in his eyes, but he eventually regained his composure. "We've caught him. Don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shu immediately relaxed. "That's good. I was worried he would try to assassinate you again."

After speaking with the Emperor, Lin Shu noticed his tired expression and got up to leave the Qianqing Palace.

As she walked out of the Qianqing Palace, Lin Shu could tell whether it was her imagination or not, but she clearly sensed that 'Zhao Jing' was acting strangely.

She couldn't help but stop and turn to look at him.

Zhao Jing avoided Lin Shu's gaze, but Lin Shu had no intention of letting him go.

Lin Shu is not a lamb to be slaughtered. Anyone who dares to plot under her nose will regret ever being born.

"Do I know you somewhere?"

Zhao Jing's expression suddenly tightened beneath the mask. "What does Your Majesty mean by that?"

Lin Shu raised an eyebrow. "Don't you understand? Then let me ask you a different question: Have you seen me before, or do you have a grudge against me?"

Zhao Jing shook his head truthfully, "There's no grudge..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Shu swiftly ripped off his mask.

The moment the mask was removed, Lu Shiyuan's exquisitely handsome face was revealed.

Just as Lu Shiyuan thought Lin Shu would acknowledge him, Lin Shu looked indifferent, as if he were a stranger, and threw the mask in his hand to him, saying, "I thought you were ugly, but I didn't expect you to be so handsome."

Upon seeing Lin Shu's unfamiliar gaze, Lu Shiyuan panicked on the spot and quickly grabbed her, "You...you don't recognize me?"

Lin Shu looked at him with hostility. "I don't know you. And if you keep holding me, I'll have the Emperor kill you. I'm his imperial concubine now."

A look of disbelief flashed in Lu Shiyuan's eyes as he carefully examined Lin Shu with his deep gaze. However, the clarity in Lin Shu's eyes did not seem fake.

Has Lin Shu really forgotten him?

This answer caused him a sudden pang of pain. He stubbornly tried to grab Lin Shu again, but Lin Shu had already gone far away.

Watching Lin Shu's departing figure, Lu Shiyuan quickly put on his mask and chased after him.

Upon returning to Yikun Palace, they found Jiang Mubai waiting there.

Upon seeing Jiang Mubai, Lin Shu felt as if he had found a savior and pulled Jiang Mubai toward the main hall.

Lu Shiyuan wanted to continue following, but Lin Shu stopped him in his tracks with a single sentence: "I have something to say to Doctor Jiang, so you can wait at the door."

Seeing the unfamiliarity and alienation in Lin Shu's eyes, Lu Shiyuan felt his heart bleed.

He never imagined that he and Lin Shu would end up like this, nor did he ever imagine that Lin Shu would look at him with such unfamiliarity.

Despite having made thorough preparations before coming here, his heart still ached terribly when faced with reality.

Seeing that Lu Shiyuan hadn't followed, Lin Shu finally relaxed.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Mubai couldn't help but complain, "What's wrong? Have you seen a ghost?"