Chapter Sixty: The Eve of the Wedding

Everyone froze, turning their heads to look in unison.

Mu Cenlin was already standing there silently, followed by Feng Li.

He was dressed in a dark-colored python-patterned casual suit, his posture as upright as a pine tree. He stood with his hands behind his back, his handsome face expressionless, except for a pair of deep phoenix eyes that were slightly narrowed. His gaze swept across the entire room and finally landed on Li Yan's face, which had instantly turned terrified.

Mu Cenlin walked slowly, the soles of his boots striking the bluestone slabs with a crisp yet unsettling sound.

He walked straight up to Li Yan, stopped, and looked down at her, a faint but cold smile playing on his lips.

"Just now, was it you who said... that my future queen consort should swallow her anger? Was it you who said... that General Wang couldn't accept a cup of your tea?"

His voice remained calm, without even a hint of anger, but the invisible pressure made Li Yan's legs go weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground. The smugness and color on her face instantly vanished, leaving only boundless fear.

"Your Highness Prince Jing..." Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

Mu Cenlin didn't even bother to look at her again.

His gaze finally fell on Li Xiangyuan, who was covered in cold sweat. His eyes were icy and piercing, showing no respect whatsoever for his father-in-law, only pure scrutiny and contempt.

“Prime Minister Li,” he said calmly, “you’ve become more and more of a slacker as prime minister. You can’t even control the wicked words of the women in the inner quarters, letting them bark wildly and insult Bao’er’s maternal clan and the reputation of my future queen.”

Mu Cen paused, his tone suddenly becoming even colder:

"Or do you think that just because your Li family has produced a concubine for the Crown Prince, you can disregard me, His Majesty's bestowed marriage, and the meritorious generals who defend the border?"

This serious accusation elevates the personal conflict to the level of disregarding imperial authority and military merit!

Li Xiangyuan's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down on the spot. All the color drained from his face, and even his lips were trembling: "Your Highness Prince Jing! I...I had no such intention! My daughter is ignorant, and I will definitely discipline her strictly! I will definitely discipline her strictly!"

"Ignorant?" Mu Cenlin scoffed, his laughter filled with undisguised mockery. "I think she knows her place all too well."

Wang Zheng looked at the young man in front of him with mixed feelings. Although he had only met this man once at Tianqian Pass and had little contact with him, he still remembered him.

How did this young prince eat and live with the soldiers, how did he stay up all night in front of the topographical map, and how did he use swift and decisive measures to enforce military discipline while ensuring that the compensation money was properly distributed to the families of the fallen soldiers?

Rumors throughout the capital say that Prince Jing, Mu Cenlin, is bloodthirsty and tyrannical, but Wang Zheng never believes them.

A man who could win the support of the border troops and revitalize a desolate border town was far more than the rumors suggested. He admired this ability and also vaguely sensed a wildness beneath that cold exterior, a wildness that was similar to his own, a wildness that refused to lie dormant.

Mu Cenlin met Wang Zheng's gaze, a fleeting hint of respect quickly passing through his cold eyes. He nodded slightly, his tone noticeably more respectful than when he spoke to Li Xiangyuan: "General Wang, how have you been?" He spoke in a tone of reminiscing, "It has been seven years since we parted at Tianqian Pass. It is truly fate that we meet again here today."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyuan and the surrounding crowd were utterly shocked! They...they actually knew each other?! And it sounded like Prince Jing was quite polite to Wang Zheng?!

Wang Zheng's heart stirred slightly, but he showed no sign on his face. He simply clasped his hands in return, his voice still loud and clear: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am well. I just never expected that Your Highness and my niece would be so destined for each other."

Mu Cenlin smiled calmly, then his gaze swept over the pale-faced Li Yan, and his tone turned cold again, "I am late, and some lowly people have disturbed the general's peace. General, rest assured, my queen is protected by me, and it is not up to a concubine without a real name to make any comments."

These words not only stated their position but also gave Wang Zheng a clear explanation and promise.

Looking at Mu Cenlin's protective attitude and recalling his past reputation in the army, Wang Zheng's worries about the rumors in the capital and Bao'er's forced marriage into the royal family unexpectedly dissipated by more than half. He said in a deep voice, "With Your Highness's words, I am relieved."

"I have come to fetch the Princess Consort to discuss the wedding arrangements. It seems that it is inconvenient for Prime Minister Li to come today, so I will come another day."

After saying that, he didn't even wait for Li Xiangyuan's response and said directly to Li Bao'er, "Let's go, I'll take you out for some fresh air."

As Mu Cenlin left with Li Bao'er, the powerful sense of oppression dissipated, leaving the scene in an awkward silence.

Li Xiangyuan's face was ashen, but he was helpless. He could only glare at Li Yan, who was almost limp in Aunt Zhang's arms, and then he shouted at the others, "What are you all standing there for? Disperse!" After saying that, he felt ashamed to face Wang Zheng and left quickly.

Wang Zheng snorted coldly at the scene, too lazy to pay any more attention to the chaotic situation, and turned to his sister Wang Qingzhi, saying gently, "Qingzhi, let's go back and talk."

Wang Qingzhi nodded, feeling both relieved and conflicted.

At this moment, Li Yu, who had been suppressing his curiosity, moved closer to Wang Zheng and asked in a low voice, "Uncle, Uncle! When did you meet... my future brother-in-law? You seem to know him quite well? He even greeted you just now!"

He simply couldn't reconcile the image of the cold, ruthless Prince Jing with the word "polite," especially since the person in question was his uncle.

Wang Zheng patted Li Yu on the shoulder, his gaze fixed on the direction Mu Cenlin had left, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration.

“I met him once a few years ago at the Tianqian Pass in the northern border.” Wang Zheng’s voice was steady, with a hint of reminiscence. “At that time, he had not yet been enfeoffed as a king and was ordered to patrol the border. I personally witnessed how he ate and slept with the soldiers at the bottom of the ranks, how he resolved a border trouble at a very low cost with his strategic planning, and how he dealt with the corrupt officials who delayed military operations with swift and decisive action, while ensuring that every penny of the generous compensation and reward was distributed to everyone who deserved it.”

He paused, then his tone became more serious: "Yu'er, remember this: those rumors in the capital about his bloodthirstiness and tyranny are mostly rumors spread by mediocre people who fear or hate him. A truly bloodthirsty person will not gain the loyalty of the border soldiers, and a truly tyrannical person will not bother to reform the administration and allow the people of the border city to recuperate."

If Bao'er were here, she would definitely nod and weep, saying that she shouldn't have done such a bad thing against her conscience.

Wang Zheng turned his head and looked at Li Yu seriously: "Mu Cenlin is a man with the treacherousness of mountains and rivers in his heart and the depth of his cunning. He is no ordinary person."

"He will be your brother-in-law from now on. This is your opportunity. Put away your wild thoughts, watch carefully, and learn well! If you can learn even a little bit of strategy, courage, and responsibility from him, it will be far better than making friends with ten纨绔子弟 (playboys) in the capital!"

Li Yu was stunned. He had never heard his uncle praise someone so highly, especially in such a solemn tone.

The image of Mu Cenlin's cold and powerful figure resurfaced in his mind. Originally, he only felt disgust for Mu Cenlin for marrying his beloved older sister, but now a hint of admiration had quietly crept into his mind.

Li Yu nodded emphatically, his eyes becoming serious: "Uncle, I understand!"

Wang Qingzhi listened from the side, her heart also filled with turmoil. Her brother had an excellent eye for people; if he could say such a thing, perhaps... Bao'er's seemingly difficult marriage wasn't all bad?