Lin Huiyin entered the room carrying a tray with a porcelain teacup that steamed, filling the air with the scent of chrysanthemum and something else Lin Qianxue couldn't quite identify.
"I brought you medicinal tea," Huiyin said, her voice honey-sweet. "The physician left strict instructions. You must drink it while it's hot for maximum effect."
She carefully set the tray on the bedside table, and Lin Qianxue watched the liquid inside the cup ripple with each movement. Dark amber, almost brown. The same color as the poison that had killed her in another life.
"You're so kind, cousin," Lin Qianxue said softly, making no move to reach for the cup. "But I've already had so much medicine this morning. Perhaps I should wait…"
"Nonsense." Huiyin picked up the cup and firmly pressed it into Lin Qianxue's hands, her fingers lingering on the porcelain just long enough to seem thoughtful. "You need your strength. After what you've been through, your body requires constant care. I would never forgive myself if you suffered a relapse because I allowed you to skip your treatment."
Their eyes met over the rim of the teacup.
Lin Qianxue saw it clearly now, the calculation in those doe-like eyes. This wasn't the innocent, devoted cousin that Lin Qianxue's memories painted. This was a wolf wearing sheep's clothing.
This was Xu Mei.
"You're right, of course," Lin Qianxue said, raising the cup toward her lips. She let the steam warm her face, inhaled deeply as if savoring the aroma. "You've always taken such good care of me, Huiyin. Ever since you came to live with us. I don't know what our family would do without you."
"And I don't know what I would do without this family," Huiyin replied, settling gracefully onto a cushioned stool beside the bed. "You've all been so generous to a poor orphaned relative. Giving me a home, treating me like a true daughter of the Lin family. I owe everything to your father's kindness."
Everything about Huiyin screamed sincerity and gratitude.
But Lin Qianxue had spent a decade in the corporate world learning to spot lies. The way Huiyin's left eye twitched slightly when she mentioned Lin Qianxue's father. The tension in her jaw when she said 'everything.' The fact that her hands, folded gracefully in her lap, had nails digging into her own palms hard enough to leave marks.
Huiyin hated the Lin family. Resented every moment of 'charity' she'd received. And was working to destroy them.
Just as Xu Mei had done to Lin Yue's company.
Lin Qianxue brought the cup to her lips, tilted it as if to drink, then jerked suddenly. The tea spilled across her blanket and dress in a spreading stain.
"Oh!" She gasped, pressing her hand to her heart. "I'm sorry, I don't know what…a sudden pain…,"
"Let me help!" Huiyin lunged forward, reaching for the cup, but Lin Qianxue had already set it down on the far side of the bed, well out of reach.
"I'm so clumsy," Lin Qianxue continued, breathing heavily. "The tea is ruined. And look, I've made such a mess. You shouldn't have to clean up after me, cousin. Please, call a servant…"
"I'll get you more." Huiyin's voice was slightly sharper now, a crack in the perfect disguise. "The physician said you must drink the full dose. Let me just…"
She reached for the teacup, but Lin Qianxue's hand shot out faster, gripping Huiyin's wrist with surprising strength for someone who'd been unconcious hours ago.
"Actually," Lin Qianxue said, her voice dropping its weak, apologetic tone, "why don't you drink it, cousin? You've been awake all night, caring for me. You must be exhausted. It would be rude of me to take medicine while you suffer from fatigue."
Huiyin's eyes widened. For just a second, her mask slipped entirely, and Lin Qianxue saw pure fury flash across that beautiful face.
Then it was gone, replaced by confused concern. "Don't be silly, Qianxue. This medicine is specifically prepared for your condition. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to…"
"I insist." Lin Qianxue's grip tightened, her thumb pressing against the jade bracelet on Huiyin's wrist. "Unless there's some reason you can't drink it? Some ingredient that might be... harmful?"
"You're being irrational," Huiyin said finally, pulling her wrist free with a graceful twist that spoke of training Lin Qianxue's memories didn't account for. "The poison clearly affected your mind more than the physician realized. I should call him back…"
"No need." Lin Qianxue released her and leaned back against the pillows, suddenly all weakness and confusion again. "You're right. I'm not thinking clearly. Perhaps I should rest more before attempting to drink anything. Could you... could you leave the tea here? I'll try again later when my head stops spinning."
Huiyin stood slowly, smoothing her dress with hands that trembled slightly. "Of course. Rest is important. I'll check on you again this evening."
She left without another word, closing the door with a soft click.
Lin Qianxue waited until the footsteps faded completely before moving. Then, she swiftly grabbed the teacup Huiyin had left behind.
The liquid inside was still warm. She held it up to the light, studying the color and consistency. Then, making a decision that would either confirm her suspicions or make her look insane, she dipped one finger into the tea and touched it to her tongue.
The taste was unmistakable.
Oleander. A slow-acting poison that would mimic the effects of a relapse from her previous suicide attempt. She would appear to grow weaker over hours, would die that night in her sleep, and everyone would assume her body had simply been too damaged to recover.
Lin Qianxue poured the tea into a small jade vial she'd hidden under her pillow, one of several the original Lin Qianxue had used for perfumes and cosmetics. Evidence. She might need it later.
Then she lay back and stared at the painted ceiling, her mind racing through scenarios and strategies.
Huiyin had tried to kill her, and this wasn't a moment of passion, she has planned it, which meant this wasn't about simple rivalry or jealousy.
This was about elimination.
But why? In the original timeline, the one Lin Qianxue's memories showed, Huiyin had stolen Chen Ziyang and then destroyed the Lin family's finances while rising to power herself. She hadn't needed to kill Lin Qianxue; she'd been content to humiliate her and let her suffer.
Unless something had changed.
Unless Huiyin also remembered dying in 2024. Also remembered being poisoned on that rooftop. Also knew that Lin Yue's consciousness now inhabited this body.
The door burst open without warning.
Lin Qianxue's heart jumped into her throat as she instinctively reached for the vial of poisoned tea, ready to hide it…
But it wasn't Huiyin returning.
It was a servant she didn't recognize, young and terrified, who threw herself to the floor in a kowtow so deep her forehead struck the wood with an audible crack.
"Miss! Miss, please, you have to help me! They're going to kill my whole family!" The girl looked up, tears streaming down her face. "The physician, the one who treated you this morning, he's not real! He's an imposter planted by someone in the household! And I heard him telling Lady Wang that you need to drink twice the amount of medicine tonight because…"
The girl's words cut off abruptly as a shadow fell across the doorway.
Lady Wang stood there, face pale with fury, with two large guards behind her.
"Insolent servant," Lady Wang hissed. "Speaking lies about a respected physician. Guards, take her to the punishment hall."
"No, please!" The girl scrambled toward Lin Qianxue. "Miss, the medicine is…"
One of the guards grabbed her, putting a hand over her mouth. The girl's muffled screams filled the room as they dragged her away.
Lin Qianxue started to rise, to protest, but Lady Wang's cold stare stopped her.
"You're clearly still too weak to receive visitors, daughter. You're imagining things, becoming paranoid. I'm increasing your medicine dosage immediately. The physician will return tonight with a stronger treatment. You will drink every drop. Do you understand?"
Lin Qianxue understood perfectly.
Her own mother was part of the conspiracy.
And tonight, they were going to make sure the poison finished what it had started.