Faced with his aunt's sudden questioning, Lin Jiangnian naturally denied it flatly: "Absolutely not!"
"real?"
Jiang Yuxiang stared at him suspiciously, trying to read something from his face.
Lin Jiangnian sighed and said, "Is this how I am in my aunt's eyes?"
"Isn't it?"
Jiang Yuxiang sneered, staring at him with burning eyes: "You dare to say that you don't have this evil idea?"
"Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?"
"This is naturally a coincidence..."
Lin Jiangnian defended himself.
In this regard, he really has a clear conscience.
After all, he hadn't really thought about it in this way from the beginning.
When he had feelings for Liu Su and Zhi Yuan, he didn't know the relationship between them.
As for what happened after I learned about their identities, I naturally became... even more excited!
However, even if Lin Jiangnian explained, Jiang Yuxiang did not believe it.
She stared at Lin Jiangnian for a few seconds and angrily pointed out: "Don't try to trick me, you little brat, that's definitely what you're planning!"
At this point, Jiang Yuxiang remembered something and her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly: "If I remember correctly, the twin sisters named Jasmine and Fengling were also the ones you brought back last time, right?"
Looking at Jiang Yuxiang's questioning look, which seemed to ask, "Do you have anything to explain?", Lin Jiangnian sighed inwardly.
It seems that there is no explanation!
The Jasmine Wind Chime wasn't really brought back by him; it was given to him by Zhou Boyan. But it didn't seem to make much of a difference, did it?
Obviously, my aunt has already determined that he is trying to get both sisters!
This is really hard to clear!
However, Lin Jiangnian had no intention of clearing himself.
After all, this is exactly what he is thinking right now!
"Hmph, take it easy!"
Seeing that Lin Jiangnian didn't explain, how could Jiang Yuxiang not understand?
This brat really wants to take down Zhiyuan and Liu Su at the same time...
Why is he so greedy?
It really makes things difficult for myself!
"What are you going to do?"
Jiang Yuxiang looked at him and couldn't help asking, "Can you make them live in peace?"
"cannot."
"Then you still dare to think about it?"
“Isn’t this just a thought?”
Jiang Yuxiang: "..."
Jiang Yuxiang glanced at the neighboring yard behind him, her expression gradually becoming serious. "I don't care what you're up to, you need to figure it out yourself. No matter what, you can't hurt them! Whether it's Zhiyuan or Liu Su, they both lost their parents when they were young, and now... it's all in your hands!"
"In short, you can't let them down, understand?"
Listening to his aunt's serious warning, Lin Jiangnian also became slightly serious and nodded: "Don't worry, aunt, I will definitely not let them down."
Jiang Yuxiang's serious expression relaxed slightly. Then he remembered something: "Oh, and Liu Su..."
She sighed softly, "If you have time, have a good chat with her. It would be best if you could persuade her to stay... She's a girl from a poor family, and it's not a good idea for her to venture out into the world."
After learning about Liu Su's life story, Jiang Yuxiang had been worried and distressed. A child who had been without a father or mother since childhood, wandering alone in the world, was a worrying thing.
When she met Liu Su for the first time today, she liked this girl very much, and she felt more and more distressed for this seemingly weak girl.
She must have had a hard time living outside these years, right?
Now that the relationship between Lin Jiangnian and Liu Su has been confirmed, Jiang Yuxiang naturally doesn't want her to continue wandering outside.
If something goes wrong, the consequences will be disastrous...
"I will try to persuade her."
Lin Jiangnian spoke.
Although Liu Su probably wouldn't listen, he would still try again.
Like his aunt, he also hoped that Liu Su could stay, and it would be best if she could stay with him.
As for that Celestial God Cult...
Lin Jiangnian was thinking, should he ask someone to find a way to wipe out the Tianshen Sect completely?
If Liu Su's way back is cut off, then won't she have no choice but to stay here obediently?
However, as simple as it sounds, it is not easy to implement.
The Celestial God Cult naturally couldn't compete with the Lin Wang Mansion, but the most crucial person in the Celestial God Cult was still the Cult Leader! If they wanted Liu Su to stay, they would have to find a way to get rid of the Cult Leader!
Just as Lin Jiangnian was pondering the feasibility of the plan, Jiang Yuxiang rolled his eyes and said unhappily, "Alright, I'll go check on the kite first."
"You, take it easy!"
After giving Lin Jiangnian a final reminder, Jiang Yuxiang walked towards the next courtyard.
Lin Jiangnian stood there and couldn't help but sigh.
Although my aunt scolded him, she was actually on his side and hoped that he could find a way to solve the problem. However, given the current situation, it was probably unrealistic to expect Zhiyuan and Liu Su to live in peace.
How to solve this problem is a big question...
Thinking of this, Lin Jiangnian couldn't help but sigh deeply.
After all, it is because he is not strong enough at the moment and cannot take charge of the family!
His status as the Prince of Lin was totally insignificant in the eyes of the two of them!
If he had the strength to subdue them both, why would he need to go through so much trouble? With a simple jerk of his body, they would willingly and obediently submit, and then a scene of sisters serving each other would unfold...
The essence of the problem is easy to solve, but it is obvious that Lin Jiangnian cannot do it at the moment.
Then, he can only tread on thin ice for the time being, deal with things carefully, and try to keep pace... and not capsize.
…
New Year's Day.
This New Year was not peaceful!
The news of the Third Prince's rebellion spread rapidly throughout the capital area, like wings, causing an uproar no less than a major earthquake!
The entire capital, from the common people to the aristocratic families and even the imperial court, was shocked by the news. For a time, panic gripped the city. On the first day of the new year, a sense of oppression seemed to descend upon the capital, weighing heavily on everyone.
For ordinary people, this New Year is indeed still fresh in their memory.
When I woke up, the city was blocked.
The streets that should have been bustling with people in previous years were no longer bustling with people visiting each other to wish each other a happy new year on the first day of the New Year. The streets were empty, with only the debris of last night's fireworks and firecrackers mixed with mud and water. The entire streets of the capital were shrouded in a solemn and murderous atmosphere.
Fully armed city defense soldiers patrolled the city non-stop, and there were countless court spies hiding in the dark.
The city is in a state of panic, and every tree and grass looks like an enemy!
These people secretly inquired with each other about the major events that happened last night. They talked about it and were worried. Many people were worried that the third prince was rebelling and that there would definitely be a major purge in the capital. They didn't know whether they would be implicated.
Compared to the concerns of the common people, the aristocratic families and officials in the capital were clearly having a harder time. Especially those who had previously supported the Third Prince, now they were in a state of panic, as if doomsday had arrived.
The Third Prince's rebellion had failed, and the court's reckoning would surely soon fall upon them. Sensing that things were not going well, the entire court was in chaos, with undercurrents surging.
Countless people realized that this was likely another reshuffle of the imperial court in Beijing. How to survive this turmoil, or how to profit from it, was a question that these officials and members of the aristocratic families needed to consider.
As the troops stationed dozens of miles outside the capital were ordered to enter the palace to quell the rebellion, upon arriving outside the capital, the rebellion instigated by the Third Prince was finally completely quelled.
The court's reckoning also unfolded quietly and quickly.
In the capital, the Lu family.
Outside the dark and gloomy Lu family compound, the atmosphere was cold and deserted, and tense.
There was no trace of the joyful New Year atmosphere in the courtyard, and the entire mansion was immersed in an atmosphere that was almost extremely cold.
In the lobby.
Lü Fusheng, dressed in a gray official robe, sat quietly on the imperial chair, his face expressionless. His expression was gloomy, his face pale, and his eyes filled with uneasiness about his impending fate.
He had a gloomy face and remained silent.
"father!"
At this time, a figure hurriedly walked into the hall. It was Lu Fusheng's only son Lu Xuan.
"Dad, I've already followed your instructions and sent Mom and Tao'er out of the house. I'll also arrange for someone to escort them out of the city when the time comes..."
Upon hearing this news, Lu Fusheng's originally gloomy expression eased a little.
He looked up at Lu Xuan and said in a deep voice, "Xuan'er, you should leave here later and find a way to leave with your mother and the others!"
"Dad, I want to be with you!" Lu Xuan said firmly, "I'll face it with you!"
"Stupid! If you stay, you'll die!"
Lu Fusheng scolded with a sullen face: "You are the only blood of my Lu family, and nothing can happen to you."
Lu Xuan's face turned grim: "Dad, is it really that serious? Our Lu family has been in the capital for so many years and is quite powerful. Could it be that this time..."
"You underestimate the seriousness of this matter!"
Lu Fusheng interrupted him, his face dark and embarrassed, and said, "This is treason, a heinous crime punishable by the death of all nine generations of your clan!"
"The Third Prince's rebellion has failed, and the situation is hopeless. Our Lu family and the Third Prince are in the same boat. If he is finished, how can our Lu family survive?"
"Will our Lu family's rivals let us go? They'd hate to eat our Lu family up completely, leaving nothing behind!"
At this point, Lu Fusheng's face had turned completely pale.
He had already anticipated his impending end!
Wrong side!
The third prince’s rebellion failed, and everything is over!
They, the Lu family, must bear the consequences.
"father……"
Lu Xuan's face was completely pale. Who could have imagined that the Lu family, which was so prosperous just a few months ago, would end up like this?
A few months ago, Lu Xuan got married and invited almost half of the officials from the noble families in the capital to the banquet. The scene at the Lu family manor was very lively at that time!
But now...
Everything changed overnight!
This is the court's party struggle. A single thought difference can mean the difference between life and death!
“Dangdangdang!”
Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the yard.
"Master, this is bad. Someone from the imperial court is coming..."
Anxious voices of servants were heard from the mansion.
Lu Fusheng's face changed, and he made a quick decision: "Xuan'er, go quickly... Live well and leave a legacy for our Lu family!"
Lu Xuan didn't expect that the people from the court would come so quickly?
Hearing his father's words, he felt frightened and sad, but he didn't have time to think too much at the moment.
"Dad, take care!"
With tears in his eyes, Lu Xuan spoke in a deep voice, walked quickly to the door of the room, pushed it open and prepared to leave.
At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside the courtyard. Immediately afterwards, countless elite imperial guards in armor swarmed in, surrounding the entire courtyard.
Full of murderous intent!
The bright cold light of swords and knives filled the entire courtyard.
"It's over!"
Seeing this scene, Lu Fusheng's face turned pale. He staggered and almost fell down.
He knew that the Lu family was probably completely finished this time!
"Master Lu, please come with me!"
An expressionless and cold voice came, and then waved his hand without showing any mercy.
"Seal the mansion, arrest everyone and bring them back!"
…
Such scenes are constantly being played out throughout the capital!
Columns of imperial guards dispatched from the palace and the city defense forces began to search and confiscate properties in the city.
As soon as the Third Prince fell, those forces that originally followed his camp became the first targets to be searched and captured.
Some tried to escape, some struggled desperately... but in the end, their fate was the same!
This time, the Crown Prince in the palace showed no mercy.
He seemed to have been waiting for this day for a long time. If he did, he would either not take action or strike with brute force, leaving no room for respite! He wanted to wipe out all the dissident forces in the court at once, completely eradicating them!
Fear, an atmosphere like doomsday hung over everyone's heart.
And days like this will probably continue for a long time.
…
"The army protecting the capital has arrived outside the city and is currently stationed not far from the capital. The commander of this army is a close confidant of the current crown prince and is loyal to him..."
"The Imperial City has been sealed off, and no one is allowed to enter or leave freely. Today, many officials wanted to enter the palace to inquire about the situation, but they were all stopped outside! Many officials are kneeling at the South Gate, begging to see Your Majesty..."
"Since this morning, many officials in the capital have been arrested by the Imperial Guards. The vast majority of them are from the Third Prince's lineage..."
"It seems that the Crown Prince in the palace intends to use this opportunity to drastically eliminate dissidents..."
“…”
In the front yard, under the eaves,
Lin Qingqing is reporting to Lin Jiangnian about the situation in the capital today!
Since last night, the prince's personal army in the city has been closely monitoring the changes in the situation in the capital.
With the failure of the Third Prince's rebellion, his lineage's power almost collapsed in an instant. Since dawn this morning, the palace guards and city defense forces have been working non-stop, searching and arresting people throughout the capital.
By now, I'm afraid the cells in Jingzhao Prefecture are overcrowded!
This turmoil was truly massive, nearly enough to impact the situation in the capital. More importantly, the Imperial Palace was still sealed off, with neither the Crown Prince nor the reclusive Emperor appearing.
So far, no one knows how long this reckoning will last, or to what extent. This has caused widespread panic, as no one knows whether this turbulent reckoning will affect them.
"Your Highness, the chaos in the capital is good news for us. Should we try to stir things up?"
Lin Qingqing asked tentatively.
The civil strife in the imperial court is indeed good news for Prince Lin’s Palace.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to escalate this civil unrest would certainly severely damage the imperial court and make it difficult to recover in a short period of time.
As a result, the imperial court would no longer have the energy to target Prince Lin's Mansion in the short term.
"Not for now."
Lin Jiangnian shook his head. The situation in the capital was still unclear, so it was best to play it safe at this time. The message Lin Hengzhong had sent to Dongfang Guanshan from Linzhou not long ago was also asking Lin Jiangnian to stay out of it.
Lin Jiangnian was not interested in the rebellion in the court. Now that the third prince's rebellion had failed and his goal had been achieved, there was naturally no need for him to bring trouble upon himself.
"Let's wait and see."
Lin Jiangnian paused, then instructed, "During this period, have everyone keep a low profile and secretly observe the movements of the various noble families and officials in the capital. Don't miss any signs of trouble."
"yes."
"besides……"
As if remembering something, Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes and said, "Go check on the Prince Xu who came from the north, and his sister!"
Lin Jiangnian thought of the brother and sister he had met in the early hours of the previous night. He had a feeling that things were not that simple. The brother and sister had suddenly come to the capital from Xuzhou, and their timing was too coincidental to make him more cautious.
"Keep a close eye on them and pay attention to their movements. Report any situation to me immediately!"
"I obey your command!"
“…”
