Zhao Mansion, inner courtyard.
In the quiet courtyard, the scattered dead leaves had been cleared away a few days ago. A few large, bare trees stood by the wall, giving it a rather desolate look.
The small stream under the arch bridge flows slowly, the water flow is much smaller, and the bottom of the stream is clear and smooth pebbles like jade can be seen.
The quiet environment was like a cold winter scene. Only the big tree next to the swing under the eaves not far away was still green, retaining a hint of the cold spring scenery.
Outside the hospital.
A little maid walked quickly into the eaves and to the door of the room.
"Miss."
In the room, a young woman was lying lazily on the couch, holding a poetry book that she had already read several times, flipping through it boredly.
The room was as warm as spring. The woman was wearing a simple and thin long dress and a pink gauze with a straight collar and a double-breasted button-down veil. She looked lazy and elegant.
Because she was lying sideways on the couch, the collar of her double-breasted shirt was slightly open, revealing her light green tube top and the large area of snow-white skin from her swan neck to her collarbone.
The untidy black hair was scattered, which made the delicate and casual face underneath the hair add a bit of messy beauty.
There is an indescribable surprise!
Especially when lying on the side, the hem of the long skirt slides up slightly, revealing a pair of snow-white, jade-like, slender and well-proportioned legs, which are white, tender, slender, and petite.
Her calves were well-proportioned and slender, the white skin imperfect of a single flaw, even up close. Rising above the calves were plump, smooth thighs, their skin firm and slightly fleshy, yet slender and long.
So beautiful!
Zhao Xi lay on the couch on her side and turned over casually. Her chest seemed to be more open, and her plump breasts became more and more visible.
She flipped through the poetry book in her hand again and again, looking uninterested.
Perhaps because I have been staying at home for too long, this winter seems a bit boring.
It's not just winter that's boring, the entire capital city seems uninteresting.
She didn't look up when she heard the maid's voice outside the door.
"What is it?"
The voice was somewhat weak.
Outside the door, Xiaoyue lowered her head and whispered, "Miss, early this morning, the master sent someone to the Jiang Mansion. I heard that he wanted to see the Prince of Lin..."
Inside the room, Zhao Xi, who had been lying languidly on the couch, instinctively sat up. As she stood up, the collar of her already open fronted dress ripped open, and her long skirt and coat slipped off her shoulders, exposing most of her light green tube top to the air.
At the same time, the fullness that the tube top could not fully cover was also faintly visible.
Trembling.
Zhao Xi's eyes, which had originally been dull, seemed to light up with a gleam of brilliance.
That guy... is here?
Dad wants to see him?!
So fast?
"Where is he?"
Outside the door, Xiaoyue said, "I just heard from the people in the mansion that Prince Lin has arrived and is now with the master."
Already arrived?
Zhao Xi's beautiful eyes flickered, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. She stood up and walked towards the door.
She wanted to see what that guy looked like when he went to see her father.
But after taking two steps, Zhao Xi suddenly thought of something and stopped.
That guy came to see his father. Would it be inappropriate for her to rush over there?
Also, I haven’t settled the score with him for what happened last time!
Thinking of what happened last time, a hint of shame and anger quickly appeared in Zhao Xi's beautiful eyes, and she gritted her teeth lightly.
She still holds a grudge against what happened last time.
While hesitating and thinking, Zhao Xi subconsciously glanced at the bronze mirror not far away, and then he saw that his clothes were in disarray. He hurriedly straightened his clothes to cover up his snow-white skin exposed to the air.
He gazed into the bronze mirror again, his tousled black hair and his somewhat unkempt, cold appearance. While he possessed a certain cool beauty, for some reason, Zhao Xi felt a little… disheveled?
Staring at the engraving on the bronze lens, Zhao Xi thought for a moment.
"Xiaoyue."
"Miss?"
"Come in."
Xiaoyue outside the door heard the young lady's words, pushed the door open and walked in, and found the young lady sitting next to the dressing table.
"Miss, what can I do for you?"
"Come here and help me with my makeup."
"yes."
Xiaoyue slowly approached the young lady, glanced at her through the bronze mirror, and blinked: "Miss, are you going to meet the Prince of Lin later?"
Zhao Xi looked at himself in the bronze mirror and asked, "Why do you ask?"
Xiaoyue blinked: "Miss, you suddenly want to dress up, isn't it..."
Zhao Xi glanced back at her and said, "Who said I dressed up just to meet him?"
Xiaoyue looked confused and innocent: "Isn't it?"
Zhao Xi raised her delicate chin slightly, a little proudly: "Does this lady need it?"
She is naturally beautiful. Even without any makeup, she still looks exquisite, has a beautiful temperament, and is naturally charming, yet graceful and elegant.
Xiaoyue thought for a moment, tilted her head, and asked, "But, isn't there a saying that goes, 'Women dress up to please themselves?'"
"Miss, isn't this what you are doing..."
"Xiaoyue, do you believe that I will sell you to Wang Er, the pig seller in the western suburbs of Beijing, as my wife?"
Zhao Xi had a forced smile on his face.
Xiaoyue giggled, not worried at all: "I don't believe it, the lady will definitely not be willing to sell me."
Zhao Xi rolled her eyes and looked at herself in the bronze mirror again. Her beautiful eyes moved as if she was thinking about something.
To please that guy?
How is that possible?
snort!
“…”
On the other side, outside the yard.
Lin Jiangnian walked out of the yard, stood there, looked back, and his face was calm.
Although he failed to get a personal promise from Prime Minister Zhao, Lin Jiangnian had achieved his purpose of coming here today.
This Prime Minister Zhao has enormous power in the court, with disciples all over the world. He holds a vital position in the dynasty and is the backbone of the current Daning Dynasty.
If we can get his support, it will be of great benefit to the Linwang Mansion.
But obviously, this is not realistic, nor is it Lin Jiangnian's real purpose.
Prime Minister Zhao was a man of integrity and unwavering loyalty to the imperial court; naturally, he would never support any of the vassal kings. He maintained a neutral stance within the court and never explicitly stated his stance on reducing the power of the vassal kings. However, if the Lin family dared to rebel in the future, he would undoubtedly be the first to stand up and oppose it.
Lin Jiangnian came here today precisely because Prime Minister Zhao’s ideas and attitudes were consistent with those of Prince Lin’s Palace.
Prime Minister Zhao did not want the imperial court and the vassal kings to really break off relations, and Lin Hengzhong had no intention of rebelling and usurping the throne.
Just as Lin Hengzhong had mentioned to Lin Jiangnian, the Lin family now possessed almost everything the world could have. Why should they risk being criticized and condemned for eternity?
Lin Hengzhong obviously doesn't want to bear this stigma!
but……
If the imperial court was aggressive and really pushed the Lin Wang Mansion into a corner, the Lin Wang Mansion would naturally not sit idly by. But before that, before the imperial court truly made up its mind to reduce the power of the vassal states, there was still room for maneuver.
This is also the real purpose of Lin Jiangnian's visit to Beijing and meeting Prime Minister Zhao today.
For now, Prime Minister Zhao's attitude was positive, and he had no intention of targeting the Lin family. Although he hadn't given a clear answer, to some extent, Prime Minister Zhao's attitude seemed to be a tacit agreement.
However, before leaving, Prime Minister Zhao mentioned Lin Jiangnian meaningfully.
When Prime Minister Zhao asked about the grudge between him and the third prince, he showed a slightly complicated and worried expression.
Lin Jiangnian stood there and thought for a moment before turning around and leaving.
Zhao Jing stood outside the courtyard. When Lin Jiangnian came out, he walked up to him and said, "Your Highness, take care!"
Lin Jiangnian quickly waved his hand: "Mr. Zhao, there's no need to see me off. I'm familiar with the route. It's cold, Mr. Zhao, you should go back and rest first."
Zhao Jing stopped and said with a smile, "In that case, I won't see you off. Your Highness, be careful and walk slowly!"
Lin Jiangnian nodded, bowed to Zhao Jing, turned and left.
Zhao Jing stood there, watching Lin Jiangnian leave quietly, then turned and returned to the inner courtyard.
In a quiet room.
Zhao Jing stepped into the room. Prime Minister Zhao was still sitting at the desk with his eyes slightly closed, seemingly thinking about something.
"master."
Zhao Jing took a look, fell silent, and lowered his head and said, "Master, are you really planning to go with Prince Lin's Mansion..."
Zhao Chuan'an slowly opened his eyes and looked at this confidant who had been with him for many years: "What do you think?"
Zhao Jing hesitated for a moment before speaking, "This Prince Lin is no ordinary man, and is definitely not as despicable as the outside world has spread... The rumors circulating in the capital over the years about Prince Lin being unlearned and unskillful are hardly anything other than a deliberate attempt by Prince Lin to mislead everyone."
Zhao Chuan'an's eyes were cloudy, and he sighed: "Do you think the Lin family would have any intention of rebellion?"
Zhao Jing was silent for a moment, nodded, and then shook his head.
"Over the years, the Lin family has been deliberately avoiding conflicts with the imperial court. Lin Hengzhong is well aware of this and has been giving in. The Linzhou army has been reducing its troops and handing over a lot of power in recent years, all to avoid attracting too much attention and becoming a hidden danger to the imperial court..."
"But as long as this Prince Lin lives, no one in the court will sleep peacefully..."
"yes!"
Zhao Chuan'an said with emotion: "As long as he lives one day, many people will have trouble sleeping."
Zhao Jing was silent for a moment, then said, "Lin Hengzhong has made too many enemies over the years. They're eager to uproot the Lin family and completely eliminate them... Under such circumstances, it's hard to guarantee that the Lin family will remain loyal."
For the Lin family, if they didn't hand over power, they would die, and if they did, they would die. In this way, there would only be one outcome...
Zhao Chuan'an shook his head slightly: "Lin Hengzhong will not rebel."
Zhao Jing looked up, puzzled.
"Lin Hengzhong and I are old acquaintances. I know him well. He has feelings for the Daning Dynasty. He once mentioned that as long as he's alive, he'll never betray the dynasty... He's a man who values friendship and loyalty, and he wouldn't easily break his oath."
Zhao Jing was stunned: "Then Prime Minister Zhao, you are still worried..."
Zhao Chuan'an glanced at him and sighed, "I'm not worried about Lin Hengzhong, but...that Prince Lin just now."
"Prince Lin?!"
"This boy is not simple."
Zhao Chuan'an narrowed his eyes slightly. "Lin Hengzhong has kept him hidden for so long, he must have some ulterior motive... When he met me just now, he was incredibly thoughtful, not at all nervous, and completely composed. He's definitely not a simple person... Lin Hengzhong has raised a good son!"
"It's true that Lin Hengzhong might not betray the dynasty, but the same can't be said for His Royal Highness the Prince of Lin..."
Zhao Chuan'an's eyes showed a hint of worry: "When the Prince of Lin succeeds to the throne in the future, who knows what the outcome will be..."
Lin Hengzhong promised that he would not rebel easily, but who knew what the Prince of Lin was thinking?
After a brief exchange just now, Prime Minister Zhao had already discovered that this boy was extremely thoughtful, unpredictable, and quite... hypocritical!
Zhao Jing's face was slightly serious.
But Zhao Chuan'an shook his head again and sighed, "However, Lin Hengzhong is still in his prime, so there's no need to worry too much. What I'm really worried about is the other one."
"The one in the north might be the biggest hidden danger!"
Zhao Jing's pupils shrank slightly, as if he realized something: "Prime Minister Zhao, you mean... Prince Xu?!"
Zhao Chuan'an's expression was slightly gloomy, and he said in a deep voice: "That's right!"
His eyes were serious.
"Over the years, the King Xu in the north has been too low-key..."
"The court has been pointing the finger at Lin Hengzhong for years. Behind the scenes, there's a powerful hand stirring everything..."
"Most of the court's attention is focused on Lin Hengzhong, while ignoring the almost invisible Prince Xu in the north..."
"Don't forget, he is the most powerful vassal king under the dynasty besides Lin Hengzhong!"
Zhao Chuan'an's tone grew increasingly serious. "Back when Taizu founded the country, the Xu family was ennobled. It's been a hundred years since then. The Xu family's ancestors made great contributions to the dynasty, and through marriage with the royal family, they were deeply trusted by the emperor. Many officials in the court also had great confidence in Prince Xu..."
Zhao Jing said nothing, his expression solemn.
It is true that there were two kings of different surnames in the dynasty, but in fact, the King Xu in the north had almost no presence.
Faced with the voices in the court calling for the reduction of the feudal system, Prince Xu never showed any resistance, which earned him great trust from many ministers in the court. They often praised the Xu family for their loyalty and bravery, saying they were the cornerstone of the dynasty.
The problem lies here. Xuzhou, the fief of King Xu, is located on the northern border of the dynasty. King Xu is also responsible for guarding the border and maintaining peace in the north of the dynasty.
Over the years, the tribal forces of the northern grasslands have been eyeing the dynasty covetously. If the court wants to reduce the power of the vassal states and really reduces the power of King Xu, who will be held responsible for any chaos in the north?
Moreover, the Xu family had been operating in Xuzhou for a century, and their power was already deeply entrenched. Could the imperial court really successfully reduce the power of the vassal states?
Thinking about it carefully, that low-key King Xu is indeed a bit abnormal...
Zhao Jing was terrified when he thought about it, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
"Prime Minister Zhao, this..."
"Now, this Prince Xu is also considered a man of great talent and strategy. Over the years, intelligence from the north has revealed that Prince Xu has been secretly communicating with many officials in the capital..."
"If Prince Xu really has rebellious intentions, the Daning Dynasty will truly face national destruction!"
Zhao Chuan'an's voice was particularly solemn.
Zhao Jing said in a deep voice, "Prime Minister Zhao, why don't you report this news to His Majesty?"
Zhao Chuan'an's face showed a trace of fatigue. "The Xu family has a close relationship with the Tian family, and they have been hiding it too deeply over the years. Without solid evidence, who would believe it even if they told me?"
"It's even very likely to alert the enemy! Given the dynasty's current situation, if that Prince Xu really marches south to rebel, the world will be in chaos!"
"Prince Xu has occupied Xuzhou for many years. It's a border town, and his army is strong. Once they are fully prepared, who in our dynasty can stop them?"
"Then what should we do..."
Zhao Jing was about to speak when something suddenly flashed through his mind.
As if thinking of something, he suppressed his shock and looked at Prime Minister Zhao: "So, Prime Minister Zhao, you are meeting with His Royal Highness the Prince of Lin today, could it be that the reason is..."
Prime Minister Zhao's eyes were cloudy and deep, and his voice was low without a trace of emotion.
"In this world today, the only place that can stop the King Xu from the north is the Lin Palace!"
“…”
