Chapter 3: Identity on the Verge of Exposure
Lin Jiangnian had a dream.
In the dream, torrential rain poured down, thunder roared and lightning flashed. He found himself in a dilapidated temple, where a strange woman dressed in red grabbed his neck, forcing him to marry her…
The next moment, Lin Jiangnian jolted awake from his bed.
“Where is this?”
His whole body ached, and as he looked around, he saw an unfamiliar room.
The decor was antique and elegant—screens carved with exquisite patterns, sandalwood tables and chairs, even the doors and windows were edged with gold, exuding an air of nobility everywhere.
Even the bedding was made of silk, soft and smooth, and the bed itself was plush and springy.
A faint scent of sandalwood incense drifted through the room, soothing and peaceful.
The quiet and calm of this place starkly contrasted with the terrifying storm in his dream.
“This place is…”
As his consciousness gradually returned, memories began flooding his mind.
“Late night, broken temple, heavy rain, woman in red…”
Alongside these, some vague lingering memories surfaced.
Lin Jiangnian sat up on the bed, panting heavily, his gaze blank for a long moment.
It wasn’t a dream.
The woman in red from the dream—it was real!
And indeed, he had traveled through time or space!
He was now in the Da Ning Dynasty, a dynasty he had no recollection of.
Whether this was a parallel world or a new era after the collapse of the original timeline was unclear. But one thing was certain: this was a place utterly unfamiliar to Lin Jiangnian.
And his current identity…
Lin Jiangnian looked down at himself, deep in thought.
The Crown Prince of Lin Wang?
The true Crown Prince of Lin Wang had already died!
And he, Lin Jiangnian, under the coercion of that mysterious woman in red, was forced to impersonate the Crown Prince of Lin Wang.
They looked identical; even their names were the same…
If not for the memories lingering in his mind telling him he was not the real Crown Prince, he might have doubted if the one who died was the fake, and he was the genuine one.
Lin Jiangnian was dazed, his memories stuck at the moment he lost consciousness in that broken temple, only to open his eyes here.
Judging from the room’s decoration, this must be the so-called Lin Wang Mansion.
But Lin Jiangnian felt no joy; instead, he was filled with unease, confusion, and panic.
He had arrived in this strange world without reason and was forced to impersonate the Crown Prince—something he still could hardly accept.
Looking down, he noticed his clothes had been changed, his hair freshly washed. In the nearby bronze mirror, his reflection revealed a delicate, slightly pale face.
Though somewhat weary, it did not conceal his handsome features.
With sword-like brows and bright eyes, he bore the refined aura of a scholarly youth.
Lin Jiangnian exhaled in relief—he was still himself, at least in appearance.
Just as he was about to check if the rest of his body was intact…
*Creak!*
The door suddenly opened.
Still fumbling awkwardly with his waistband, Lin Jiangnian instinctively turned his head.
At the doorway stood a little maid with braided hair, her big dark eyes staring at him.
Their gazes locked.
The air froze in that instant.
Lin Jiangnian looked at the girl appearing suddenly at the door, then glanced down at his hands.
Who was this girl?
Before he could think further, the girl’s eyes widened in surprise, then joy.
“Your Highness, you’re awake?!”
She turned and quickly ran off, shouting as she went.
“Someone, come quickly! The Crown Prince has awakened!”
The clear voice echoed from outside the room, gradually fading away.
Lin Jiangnian was suddenly fully alert.
His current identity was the Crown Prince of Lin Wang?
But how was he supposed to impersonate the Crown Prince?
In the broken temple, the woman in red had briefly told him some clues about important figures.
“Lin Hengzhong…”
Lin Hengzhong, the Crown Prince’s father, was one of only two kings with a different surname in the Da Ning Dynasty.
Lin Jiangnian muttered to himself, and some memories of this Lin Wang surfaced.
Fifteen years ago, Lin Hengzhong had crushed the Nanzhao and pacified the Miao and Yue tribes, eradicating numerous small states that had existed for nearly a century in the southern border of the Da Ning Dynasty, achieving true unification.
For his great merits, the Emperor had broken protocol to grant Lin Hengzhong a kingship, making him one of only two non-royal kings of the dynasty, bestowed the fief of Linzhou to guard the southern frontier.
He stood alongside the other non-royal king in the northern Xuzhou, and the world called them the Southern and Northern Kings.
As for Lin Jiangnian, he was merely a spoiled second-generation scion basking in his father’s shadow.
Perhaps because his mother, the princess consort, had died early and Lin Hengzhong was often busy, seldom paying attention to his son, Lin Jiangnian was pampered from childhood and wild, becoming a complete playboy and bully.
Linzhou, as the Crown Prince’s fief, naturally became a place where this Crown Prince acted with impunity, oppressing the common people—harassing men and women, abducting maidens… truly a den of all sorts of evils.
Of course, these were just folk rumors.
But they offered Lin Jiangnian no help at all.
He wasn’t sure what kind of person the real Crown Prince was, nor how to avoid exposing himself.
Before he could ponder further, urgent footsteps sounded outside.
Several figures crowded into the room.
“Your Highness, you’ve finally awakened!”
Two physicians entered quickly, smiling broadly. Before they came in, Lin Jiangnian hastily lay back down and pretended to be asleep.
The doctors paused, staring at the eyes-closed Crown Prince.
Hadn’t he already awakened?
Their faces grew serious. Not daring to delay, they carefully examined Lin Jiangnian’s body, then breathed a sigh of relief.
“Your Highness was just frightened and caught a cold from the rain, leaving him weak, but nothing serious.”
“We will prepare some medicine for Your Highness. After a good rest, you will recover fully.”
“…”
“Xiaozhu, go with the doctors to fetch the medicine.”
A cold, clear voice sounded in the room.
“Yes.”
A respectful reply came from the small maid by the door.
Then the cold voice spoke again.
“You may all leave now.”
“Yes.”
Footsteps receded, and soon the room fell silent.
Lin Jiangnian lay on the bed, eyes closed, pretending to sleep.
For now, feigning sleep was the only way to hide his identity and avoid suspicion.
As long as he didn’t interact with others, he wouldn’t be exposed.
Just as Lin Jiangnian was contemplating what to do next, the cold voice suddenly sounded again.
“Your Highness has been unconscious for three days. Do you wish to continue resting?”
The voice was close—right beside the bed.
Calm and serene.
Three days?
Lin Jiangnian’s heart jolted. He had actually been asleep for three days?
Wait…
Who was this voice?
Did she know he was pretending to sleep?
Lin Jiangnian tensed, a thousand thoughts flashing through his mind.
Then, slowly, he opened his eyes.
Since he had been seen through, continuing to feign sleep would only arouse suspicion.
He had no choice but to wake.
Before him stood a young woman dressed in a blue robe.
Her exquisite silk dress was embroidered with pale floral patterns at the hem, a silk belt cinched at her slender waist, accentuating her delicate figure.
She appeared about seventeen or eighteen, at the age when innocence fades, with a finely shaped oval face, stunning even without makeup.
At first glance, Lin Jiangnian felt immense pressure.
Her expression was cool and detached, standing quietly by the bed, neither cold nor warm, her gaze calm and serene.
Who was she?
Lin Jiangnian’s mind went blank.
He didn’t recognize her.
Not at all.
After a brief hesitation, Lin Jiangnian looked weak and avoided her gaze.
“I—I’ve been unconscious for three days?”
He tried to make his voice low and hoarse, feigning weakness to conceal his true self.
“Yes.”
The woman in blue seemed to remember something; a sharp glint flashed in her cold eyes.
“This attack was likely premeditated. I have sent people to investigate; I believe the results will come soon.”
“Hmm…”
Lin Jiangnian replied absentmindedly, uninterested in the assailant.
But…
What had she just called herself?
“Servant?”
Suddenly, Lin Jiangnian recalled something and cautiously tested her.
“Zhiyuan?”
The woman in blue reacted, raising her eyes to look at Lin Jiangnian.
“Your Highness, what are your orders?”
It was her!
The cold and aloof attendant mentioned by the woman in red.
“I’m fine, just feeling unwell. I want to rest…”
Lin Jiangnian made an excuse.
Having confirmed her identity, he felt slightly more at ease.
Zhiyuan gazed at him a few more moments, then slowly averted her eyes and said lightly, “Then rest well, Your Highness. I shall not disturb you.”
“By the way, the Prince is aware of the matter and will soon return from afar. This assassination attempt is a provocation against our mansion. We will not let it go easily!”
A cold light flashed in Zhiyuan’s eyes before she reined it in.
She turned and left.
Lin Jiangnian breathed a sigh of relief.
He had managed to bluff his way through for now.
But just as he relaxed, Zhiyuan paused at the door.
“Your Highness?”
“W-what is it?”
Lin Jiangnian’s heart tightened, and he kept his voice low.
“Nothing.”
Zhiyuan withdrew her gaze from him, shook her head lightly, and left.
In the room, on the bed, watching Zhiyuan’s cool figure disappear, Lin Jiangnian’s heart suddenly sank…