"what to do?"
Lin Jiangnian's tone was relaxed and his expression was indifferent, as if he was joking an insignificant joke.
But Gao Boyan knew very well in his heart...the Prince of Lin was not joking.
There was no trace of joking in his eyes.
However, Gao Boyan had been prepared for this. As the Minister of Personnel, he held an important position in the six ministries. Naturally, Gao Boyan was not a person who showed his joy on his face.
He was also very clear that if the Prince of Lin believed him so easily, then there would be a problem.
"It is only natural for His Royal Highness to distrust me."
Gao Boyan still had a kind smile on his face. He said, "However, Your Highness is the future consort. Even if I had a hundred guts, I would never dare to deceive you..."
"I dare not plot against Your Highness. Your Highness can rest assured that I will not do such a thankless task!"
Gao Boyan's smile was sincere, revealing no other emotion. Having spent decades in officialdom, and having risen to the position of Vice Minister, he was definitely not an ordinary person.
Lin Jiangnian glanced at him quietly and shook his head gently: "That's not what I'm talking about... Lord Gao hosted a banquet for me today, and sent me such a beautiful couple for no reason..."
"Isn't that just showing kindness for no reason?"
Facing Lin Jiangnian's half-smile in front of him, Gao Boyan's heart sank, and he felt as if he was seen through and frightened.
The Prince of Lin before him was twenty or thirty years younger than him, yet he was so calm in front of him, showing no sign of stage fright at all. He had known long ago that this boy was no ordinary person, but only after meeting him in person could he be more certain.
"I dare not!"
Gao Boyan shook his head and said, "I have no intention of showing any courtesy."
"Then why is Mr. Gao like this?"
Lin Jiangnian glanced at the dazzling array of delicacies on the table. These were all the people's blood and sweat. Just this one table was equivalent to the annual food rations of many ordinary people.
Gao Boyan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Actually, the reason I'm hosting a banquet for Your Highness today is not only because I want to see Your Highness, but also because I want to apologize to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"oh?"
Lin Jiangnian just raised his eyebrows, looking interested, but didn't say anything else.
Gao Boyan was silent for a moment, then he sighed deeply. A look of disappointment crossed his face. He said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I believe you have heard that my son, Gao Wenyang, committed suicide in the Mi Tiansi prison out of fear of punishment, right?"
Committing suicide out of fear of punishment?
Lin Jiangnian watched Gao Boyan show off his acting skills with great interest.
Isn’t Gao Boyan the person who knows best whether Gao Wenyang committed suicide out of fear of punishment?
However, Lin Jiangnian did not expose his mistake. He nodded gently and said, "Indeed, I have heard about it... Sir Gao, may I accept your condolences?"
Gao Boyan sighed deeply, a trace of regret on his face: "It was my poor parenting that led him astray and ultimately to this point..."
At this point, Gao Boyan suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Jiangnian. "Wen Yang killed his friend and put the blame on His Highness, the Crown Prince. This is an act that is outrageous to both humans and gods. Although he is dead, it is the fault of the father that the son was not well educated. It is my fault for not disciplining him strictly. I bear a great responsibility..."
"Today's banquet for Your Highness is also to apologize to Your Highness in person. Wen Yang was ignorant and offended Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will forgive my misdeeds... I, your humble servant, am willing to bear all consequences!"
Looking at Gao Boyan, who was crying and looking like a loving father with a grief-stricken look, Lin Jiangnian couldn't help but sigh.
What great acting!
If I hadn't known Gao Boyan's behavior earlier, I would have been fooled by him. How could a ruthless man who could even kill his own son tell the truth?
With the way they acted, people who didn’t know them would really think they were a loving father and a filial son!
This Gao Boyan is really taking advantage of his son's life!
Gao Wenyang died a worthy death and died with his eyes open!
He sneered in his heart, but Lin Jiangnian's face showed no unusual emotion. Since he was willing to act, Lin Jiangnian naturally had no intention of exposing him.
"Master Gao, your words are too serious. There is no need to do this!"
Lin Jiangnian shook his head slightly. "The grudges between Master Gao and me were just some minor quarrels. Master Gao just lost his mind for a moment and made a mistake. Now that Master Gao is no longer with us..."
"The grudge between this prince and Master Gao has been written off. Master Gao does not need to take it to heart."
Upon hearing this, Gao Boyan quickly said, "Your Highness is kindhearted and generous, and never fusses over trivial matters. On behalf of Wen Yang, who is in the afterlife, I would like to thank Your Highness for his great kindness!"
"Hey, I told you there's no need to be so polite... Mr. Gao has been so warm and welcoming to me today. I should be very grateful for your hospitality!"
Lin Jiangnian's face was full of smiles.
Gao Boyan also burst into tears, but with an excited smile on his face, he nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness is right, you are right..."
“…”
Both parties enjoyed the meal very much.
Gao Boyan was beaming with joy. He was a Minister of Personnel, yet he was being respectful and fawning in front of a young man several decades his junior.
But there was no trace of displeasure on Gao Boyan's face.
Lin Jiangnian was also very happy.
Although Gao Boyan did not say it explicitly at the banquet, Lin Jiangnian had already roughly guessed Gao Boyan's purpose.
Since someone took the initiative to curry favor with him, Lin Jiangnian naturally accepted the offer.
The meal was a joy for both the host and the guests.
After the meal, Gao Boyan suggested taking Lin Jiangnian for a walk around the manor to experience the snow scenery in the capital. Lin Jiangnian happily went.
The heavy snow gradually stopped, and the entire manor was covered with snow, and the weather was freezing cold.
Under the guidance of Gao Boyan, Lin Jiangnian looked around at the rare and exotic sights in the manor, listening to Gao Boyan's careful introduction.
It's true that there are many good things in this manor. Walking along the way, you can see that everywhere is decorated lavishly and is worth a fortune. How much silver must a minister of the Ministry of Personnel have embezzled to own such a manor?
"This manor was built by a merchant in the capital ten years ago. Later, he committed a crime and the manor was confiscated. After several rounds of transfers, it fell into the hands of this humble official... What do you think, Your Highness?"
Gao Boyan looked at Lin Jiangnian and asked cautiously.
Lin Jiangnian looked around, nodded, and praised: "Yes, it is indeed a good place."
Although it is far inferior to the Prince Lin’s Mansion, such manors are rare in Beijing, and it is indeed a good place.
Gao Boyan chuckled and said, "Your Highness, do you still like it?"
"Indeed..."
Lin Jiangnian just opened his mouth and glanced back at Gao Boyan: "What do you mean, Mr. Gao?"
Gao Boyan put on a smile and said, "If Your Highness likes this, I will give this manor to you. Please don't despise it."
Give a manor?
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes slightly: "Master Gao, why do you want to give this prince a manor?"
"This manor has been vacant all day long, and I have no use for it. Since Your Highness likes it, I will naturally make full use of it and give it to Your Highness as a favor!"
Lin Jiangnian looked at him and shook his head: "Master Gao, this favor is something I cannot afford!"
Gao Boyan did not answer. With a smile on his face, he walked to the door under the eaves of the backyard, pushed open the door next to him, and said, "Your Highness, please come in!"
Lin Jiangnian glanced at Gao Boyan, walked to the door and looked inside.
Just one glance, and Lin Jiangnian's eyes narrowed slightly.
On the ground in the center of the house, there was a dense pile of golden gold, neatly stacked there.
There is so much gold, it’s shocking at first glance!
In addition to gold, the room was also filled with various rare treasures, pearl necklaces, gold and silver jewelry, countless...
The things in the whole house are priceless and inestimable!
this……
Where did Gao Boyan get so many treasures?
How could he, a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, have so much gold, silver and treasures?
What does he want to do? !
In a brief moment, countless thoughts flashed through Lin Jiangnian's mind, and then he returned to calm.
Lin Jiangnian is very calm!
As the crown prince of Prince Lin, he had long since lost all concept of money. Although the room full of gold, silver and treasures before him looked extremely shocking, Lin Jiangnian's heart did not rise too much.
Compared with the Ruyi Tower in Linwang Mansion, it is far inferior!
The Ruyi Tower, which houses rare treasures from all over the world, must be many times more shocking than what we see before us.
Lin Jiangnian turned his head slightly: "Master Gao, what do you mean by this?"
Gao Boyan lowered his head slightly and said, "Your Highness, what do you think this humble official means?"
"Master Gao, you want to bribe this prince with money?"
"I dare not." Gao Boyan shook his head and then said slowly, "This is a small gift from me. I hope Your Highness will not despise it."
"A little token of my appreciation?"
Lin Jiangnian glanced around the room and chuckled, "Master Gao, this little thought is really quite a lot, isn't it?"
"I will never dare to neglect Your Highness!" Gao Boyan said.
Lin Jiangnian looked quietly at Gao Boyan in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh, what a generous move.
Gao Boyan really spent a lot of money to win him over!
If it were someone else, such a room full of gold, silver and treasures would be enough to tempt anyone!
Gao Boyan spent so much money to win over Lin Jiangnian, and his purpose... was definitely not small.
Lin Jiangnian withdrew his gaze from the room and chuckled, "Master Gao dared to give it to me, but I dare not accept it. With such a huge sum of money, why is Master Gao being so secretive?"
Gao Boyan was silent for a while, then waved his hand and drove away all the servants and guards behind him.
Then, Gao Boyan's eyes deepened slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Highness is so clever, I know I can't hide it from Your Highness..."
"My son has made such a grievous mistake this time, causing our Gao family's situation in the capital to be in a precarious and precarious situation..."
"This humble servant does wish to show goodwill to His Highness. On the one hand, I hope Your Highness will forgive my misdeeds. On the other hand, I also wish to establish a good relationship with Your Highness. If Your Highness needs anything, this humble servant will do his utmost..."
"I only hope that if my Gao family encounters difficulties in the future, Your Highness can help. Apart from that, my Gao family has no other requests..."
“…”
Gao Boyan is a very cautious and smart person!
The fact that he could stay in the court for decades without any harm and the Gao family could stand in the capital for many years were all closely related to him.
This time, Gao Wenyang framed the Prince of Lin and killed the son of a bureaucrat. Once the incident was exposed, it seriously affected the reputation and status of his Gao family.
Especially since the third prince is standing behind Gao Wenyang, the consequences will be unimaginable if it is exposed.
His entire Gao family will be doomed!
Gao Boyan had no choice but to make a decisive move and reluctantly give up Gao Wenyang. With Gao Wenyang's death, the Gao family was saved!
At the same time, he also took the opportunity to get a lot of benefits from the third prince.
On the other hand, his Gao family was completely tied to the Third Prince's camp. If the Third Prince joined the fight for the throne, if he succeeded, it would be good, but if he failed, their Gao family would be doomed.
Gao Boyan naturally couldn't tie the fate of the Gao family entirely to the Third Prince, so he had to leave a way out for himself and the Gao family.
The Prince of Lin is his best candidate.
This is also the reason why, even though Lin Jiangnian indirectly killed Gao Wenyang, Gao Boyan did not hold grudges and wanted to win over Lin Jiangnian at all costs.
Compared with his own life and the fate of the Gao family, the death of his third son was not a big deal to him.
Gao Boyan, who is at the center of power in the court, knows better than anyone the chaos and weakness in the court.
Calls for reducing the power of the feudal lords have been made for years, but to no avail. The power structures at court are complex and fragmented, each acting independently. The emperor is indifferent to state affairs, the crown prince is weak, and the third prince is ruthless. No matter who comes, it is impossible to rectify the government in a short period of time, let alone reduce the power of the feudal lords!
In addition, the Lin family is based in the south, has a strong army and horses, and its reputation among the common people is growing. At that time, the Lin family will inevitably become the biggest threat to the court.
As for Gao Boyan and the Gao family, they didn't care who owned the world. They just wanted to protect their own interests and preserve the family's prosperity and wealth.
Clinging to the Lin family is what Gao Boyan wants to do most now.
…
Street in Beijing.
A carriage slowly headed towards the west of the city.
In the carriage, Lin Jiangnian closed his eyes to rest. Outside the carriage, Lin Qingqing was driving, looking back from time to time.
"Your Highness, the Gao family didn't do anything to you, did they?"
"How dare they?"
Lin Jiang laughed young: "Gao Boyan not only warmly entertained me at the banquet, but also gave me the manor..."
"ah?"
Lin Qingqing was slightly startled, then her eyes fixed: "Your Highness, they want to win you over?!"
Lin Qingqing quickly guessed the Gao family's purpose.
"That's right."
"Then Your Highness..."
Lin Qingqing asked tentatively: "Your Highness agreed?"
Lin Jiangnian didn't answer, but asked: "Do you want me to agree?"
Lin Qingqing thought about it and shook her head: "I don't want that."
"Why?"
Lin Qingqing's face showed a worried and solemn expression: "Gao Boyan is a ruthless person. He even killed his own son. He has no bottom line in his actions. I am worried..."
"You're right."
Lin Jiangnian nodded. A person without moral ethics and who is as ruthless as a tiger eating its own cubs is indeed very scary.
"That's what I thought before I left, but now I'm starting to change my mind."
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes and said, "A person like this can never be a friend. However, he is a tool that can be used..."
“…”
The carriage slowly stopped outside the Jiang Mansion. Lin Jiangnian entered the mansion and returned to the courtyard.
In the small courtyard, a maid had been waiting for a long time.
"Your Highness, Miss Jiang asked you to go find her."
Aunt is looking for him?
Lin Jiangnian nodded, went back to his room to change his clothes, and went to his aunt's courtyard. When he passed Zhiyuan's courtyard on the way, he found that Zhiyuan and Xiaozhu were not there.
As soon as he stepped into his aunt's courtyard, Lin Jiangnian felt something was wrong!
There was something wrong with the atmosphere.
Very weird!
As I approached the eaves, I heard the sound of a door opening.
Lin Jiangnian looked up, and the next second, he was stunned!
"Why...are you here?"
Two girls appeared in Lin Jiangnian's sight.
Two girls who looked exactly the same and were wearing green skirts were standing at the door, looking at him timidly.
I feel pity for him.
Yes.
It was the twin sisters that Gao Boyan gave to the Gao family.
The guy surnamed Gao...really came to him?!
…
