The three of them quickly retrieved the papers from the yard.

Xiao Jingzhao didn't even have time to count them before hurriedly putting them into the drawer.

Lin Xiangzhi sat down in the armchair next to the desk and leaned back lazily.

He turned to Xiangyang and said, "The gift for the young master is with the steward. Go and fetch it for him."

"What good things has Young Master Lin brought back for the young master this time? I'll go and see right away." Before Xiao Jingzhao could speak, Xiang Yang said happily and ran out in a flash.

Xiao Jingzhao glanced at Lin Xiangzhi and personally poured him a cup of cold tea.

Lin Xiangzhi took the tea, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "Long time no see, and you're not even a little affectionate towards me. We even slept on the same bed once."

"Go away, you're all so old. You still have no manners."

Xiao Jingzhao shot him a glare, and Lin Xiangzhi glanced confidently at the drawer in front of him. "Why did you specifically pick up the portraits just now, and then hide them? What shady things have you been doing while I was away?"

"As soon as you came back, it was pitch black and the wind and rain were blowing all the way back. Look how messy this house is."

"Tell me quickly, what strange and unusual things did you see on this trip?" Xiao Jingzhao wasn't angry and tried to change the subject.

Lin Xiangzhi looked at Xiao Jingzhao with a half-smile, then shook his head. "There aren't many strange tales, but there are plenty of rumors circulating about the heir."

"Tell me quickly, what exactly do you want to do? What do you need me to do?" Lin Xiangzhi leaned forward.

The two have been friends since childhood, and they can see right through each other with just a glance or a small gesture.

Xiao Jingzhao smiled without saying a word, and waited until Lin Xiangzhi sat back down and took a sip of tea.

Xiao Jingzhao said calmly, "It's nothing serious. The emperor is incompetent and foolish. I'm just planning to usurp the throne."

"puff!"

"Cough cough cough... Jingzhao, you're not joking?" Lin Xiangzhi put down his teacup, coughed for a while, and asked with a red neck.

"Look at me, I look like I'm joking."

Xiao Jingzhao pointed outside and raised an eyebrow mischievously, "Do you want to go to the capital and expose that I, the young master, have treasonous intentions?"

Lin Xiangzhi quickly caught his breath and glared at Xiao Jingzhao. "Do you still consider me a brother? Is that something a human being would do? The emperor is incompetent and the people are suffering. I've traveled all over the country with my uncle's caravan, and I've seen just as much hardship as you have for the people."

“What you did wasn’t treason, it was restoring order to the court. Do you remember the imperial edict we saw in the prince’s study when we were ten years old?”

Xiao Jingzhao certainly remembered that when he was ten years old, his father kept him in the study to read policy essays, and Lin Xiangzhi stayed in the study with him for half a day.

Since Lin Xiangzhi didn't need to read the policy essays, after the prince left, he touched and looked around in the study. He discovered a crack in the wall of the bookcase.

He even joked that the prince might be hiding some money in his study.

Curious, the two pushed open the bookcase and saw a hidden compartment behind it.

Xiao Jingzhao opened the hidden compartment and saw the imperial edict left by Emperor Renzong.

This became a secret between the two of them, and even now, the Prince of Yannan is unaware that Xiao Jingzhao has already seen the imperial edict.

The old ministers of the court knew of the existence of the imperial edict, but very few people had actually seen it.

Some speculated that it was just a rumor, while others believed that Emperor Renzong had the courage to burn his bridges.

"Jingzhao, then tell me, what do you need me to do? If you want to achieve great things, how can I stand aside?"

Lin Xiangzhi's calm reaction surprised Xiao Jingzhao. "Aren't you afraid of being implicated?"

Lin Xiangzhi lifted his robe, raised his left leg, crossed his legs, and shook them.

With a nonchalant air, he winked at Xiao Jingzhao: "What am I afraid of? I made a mistake in being born into this life, choosing to be a man. I can't share a bed with you in life, nor can we share a grave in death. But if I can do something earth-shattering with you, I'll die without regrets!"

"you……"

"He's loyal enough." Xiao Jingzhao said through gritted teeth.

He was initially deeply moved by his words, but then this guy's line about not being able to share a bed in life or a grave in death gave him goosebumps.

"Of course, don't you know who we are? If I were a woman, I would..."

"Shut up! Tomorrow I'll have your father find you a marriage partner."

Xiao Jingzhao could no longer stand this guy's nauseatingly sweet words.

"Jingzhao, you can't be so heartless. I came back home, took a shower, changed my clothes, and came to find you. How can you push me into someone else's arms? I'm still hungry."

Xiao Jingzhao glared at him irritably, then quickly called over a servant and ordered, "Go to the kitchen and have them prepare some good dishes, and then go to the cellar and bring me that jar of peach blossom wine."

Lin Xiangzhi smiled and said, "Jing Zhao is still the best to me."

Lin Xiangzhi was handsome, but not a great drinker. However, he loved to drink sweet peach blossom wine.

"There's only one jar left of the five-year-old peach blossom wine. We were busy with the refugee issue this year, so we didn't have anyone brew any more. You'd better drink it sparingly later."

Lin Xiangzhi: "..." This person is not easy to get along with. The wine hasn't even been served yet, and he's already limiting the quantity.

“You just mentioned that you would share hardships with me, and I do have something for you to do, something that only you can do.”

Lin Xiangzhi put away his playful smile and sat up straight. "Speak," he said, "I will go through fire and water for you if you need me, Your Highness."

"Go to Liang Kingdom to buy grain, buy as much as you can, and take my seal to Wantong Money Shop to withdraw the silver." Xiao Jingzhao said, opening a drawer and taking out a black jade seal.

Lin Xiangzhi recalled hearing people on the road speculating that Wanling Kingdom might experience floods and epidemics, as well as the notices that Xiao Jingzhao had issued.

Without asking why, he patted his thin chest and said, "Leave this to me. As for the money, I don't need it now. If I really need it, I can ask you for it later."

The Crown Prince wants to achieve great things, and his maternal uncle is a wealthy merchant. This opportunity to curry favor with his maternal uncle must be given to him.

Lin Xiangzhi's eldest uncle: "..." Thank you.

Lin Xiangzhi thought to himself, but didn't say it aloud.

Lin Xiangzhi pushed the ink jade seal back, and Xiao Jingzhao accepted it without ceremony.

"Master, look what good things Young Master Lin brought you!" Xiang Yang said with a big smile as he carried in a wooden box.

Xiao Jingzhao looked at Lin Xiangzhi, "What's inside?"

When Prime Minister Lin last went to Liang, he brought back several pieces of jade and some furs, and also gave gifts to the women of the royal palace.

Lin Xiangzhi raised his chin and said with a smile, "This time I went to the Nanzhao Kingdom and found some rare medicinal herbs for the eldest son. For the princess and the young ladies, I brought the Tianxiang Yunwu Brocade from Nanzhao. Here is your portion. You can see for yourself."

Xiao Jingzhao opened the wooden box himself, and found it filled with black and red items.

"What are all these? I don't recognize any of them."