Flower Hidden
In fact, he had been working for Prince Mao for a long time.
Since Dou Yanxun's marriage, he has tried to sever all ties with the past. Especially the incident at Shaojing Garden when Prince Mao suddenly turned against him and ordered his men to hunt him down.
Prince Mao committed heinous crimes such as colluding with the enemy and selling out the country, and smuggling arms. However, he now holds a high position of power and is equivalent to a regent. Naturally, he can no longer act secretly without being detected as he did when he was guarding the border. Therefore, using Dou Yanxun, who was notorious at the time, to do things for him is a more discreet way to keep things under wraps for many years.
The Yu Dynasty has a vast territory, and since its founding, it has repeatedly recovered lost lands. In the Central Plains, the only country that can still rival the Yu Dynasty is its neighbor, the Yan Dynasty.
For many years, the two countries have been locked in a power struggle. The Yan Dynasty, unlike the Yu Dynasty, has a vast territory and is gradually showing signs of decline. However, the number of people secretly infiltrating the territory of Dayu is increasing day by day. The network of spies is spreading between the common people and the imperial court, gradually becoming deeply entrenched.
The Flower Hidden Society is one of them.
The group consisted entirely of women from the Yan Dynasty, all of whom were beautiful, graceful, and skilled in both medicine and poison. For many years, these women frequented various brothels and dance halls in Dayu, but in reality, they were secretly ordered to gather intelligence, intending to win over the powerful and influential and overthrow the Dayu court.
What Prince Mao was doing to coerce Dou Yanxun was simply to manipulate these women to exchange for intelligence, and then pass the information on to Dou Yanxun so that he could continue to sell arms and profit from it. And those women, once they were no longer of any use, all mysteriously disappeared one after another from Dayu.
From the once stunningly beautiful Sun Biying to the miraculous healer Fu Qing, they all vanished without a trace. No one knows whether they returned to the Yan Dynasty or were secretly eliminated by Prince Mao.
For years, Duan Jinru, the nephew of Prince Mao and now a rising star, was completely unaware of this. During the incident at Shaojing Garden, Dou Yanxun, unwilling to work for Prince Mao any longer, was nearly killed by him; it was only thanks to his valiant fight back that he managed to escape.
Thus, Duan Jinru, who was kept in the dark, believed that Prince Mao had been assassinated while he was away, and was ordered to pursue and capture the escaped assassin.
Prince Mao remained silent for a long time before speaking again, his expression cold and resolute:
Now that you have entered the Eastern Palace, you should have thought about this day coming.
The man in front of him, upon hearing this, did not get angry but laughed instead. His peach blossom eyes narrowed into a long, thin line, and a cold smile gradually appeared on his face.
"Your Highness is mistaken. Who does not know that His Highness the Crown Prince is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possesses extraordinary talent? He is quite similar to Your Highness, truly worthy of being... uncle and nephew."
When mentioning his uncle and nephew, Dou Yanxun clearly emphasized the words.
Prince Mao was not offended; instead, he let out a few low, cold laughs.
Dou Yanxun was frighteningly intelligent, and it was only a matter of time before he discovered the secret. As for whether his own elder brother—Emperor Su, who always sat in a high position looking down on all living beings—had already figured it out, he couldn't guess and was too lazy to investigate.
Having fought for many years, he now holds the most elite military power in Dayu, and even Emperor Su and his henchman Zhao Xiang have to be wary of him. What does he have to fear?
Although the Crown Prince is still young, he has been steadily scheming for many years thanks to the Empress's machinations, handling state affairs and secretly forming factions. The Emperor merely observes from the sidelines with a detached, mocking gaze. He is but a youth, not to be feared.
He had already laid out most of the game in the world; all that remained was to wait for the final game to be played.
As if seeing through his thoughts, Dou Yanxun sighed softly and smiled, "Since Your Highness summoned me here late at night and has been negotiating for so long, you probably don't really intend to take my life—"
Before he could finish speaking, Prince Mao interrupted Dou Yanxun with satisfaction. He had always enjoyed dealing with intelligent people—straightforward and unwavering. This was also why Dou Yanxun had survived under his command until now.
"I'll only give you three months."
Prince Mao spoke slowly, as if discussing a very ordinary business deal:
“Three months from now, you will help me ascend to that position—otherwise, the thing you care about most in this life, your wife and daughters, will roll their heads.”
The night seemed to sink for a moment.
Dou Yanxun's fingers twitched within his wide sleeves as he looked up at Prince Mao. Moonlight reflected in his eyes like a thin layer of ice, beneath which lay layers of surging undercurrents.
He smiled slowly, his lips clear as those of the penniless, ragged boy in the snow years ago:
"Your Highness is truly adept at making these kinds of difficult deals... I just wonder, what benefits will Your Highness be willing to offer me?"
.
In May, the long-delayed spring imperial examinations finally began as scheduled.
Outside the examination hall, before dawn, the long street was already bustling with people.
The candidates, coming from all corners of the country, arrived either alone or in groups of three or five, all carrying books on their backs, dressed in neat blue robes, and walking hurriedly.
The teahouses along the street opened early, even giving auspicious names to their ordinary snacks, hoping to bring good luck to the examinees. The air was filled with the aroma of tea, and the owners and their servants were busy as bees, barely having time to wipe their sweat. People occasionally peered curiously into the dense crowd of examinees heading towards the examination hall. Vendors selling writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones weaved through the crowd, their cries mingling with the clatter of horses' hooves, making the scene seem even more bustling.
Summer was approaching, but the morning air was still chilly. Lin Xu wore a light smoky-colored long jacket, the fabric as thin as mist, with delicate silver crabapple blossoms embroidered on the cuffs and hem. Only a jade hairpin held her black hair in place, which made her appear even more elegant and graceful, with a beauty surpassing that of snow.
Mianxue was obediently held in Zhuling's arms, wearing a soft white bib and a light pink blouse. Her round little face was fair and bright, and she had grown more and more beautiful, just like a porcelain doll. Even the shopkeeper couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.
Lin Xu hadn't been to the market for tea in a long time and missed it terribly, so he ordered a pot of newly brewed Biluochun tea, a plate of crispy and delicate apricot blossom pastries, a plate of fresh dried apricots, and two light side dishes.
Before long, the sound of galloping hooves flashed across the road again, growing louder as it approached. A tall, handsome figure reined in his horse and stopped in front of the teahouse, dismounting with practiced ease, his boots still glistening with morning dew.
The man wore a dark blue round-necked brocade robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs, and a black rhinoceros horn belt around his waist. He was incredibly handsome and elegant. His dashing appearance dazzled the women on the bustling street. He strode towards the teahouse, attracting curious and inquisitive glances from the women behind him.
As if sensing that someone was watching, Liang Zhengyuan looked up and met Lin Xu, who was sitting by the window looking down at the building, with a smile. The two had not seen each other for a long time, and were naturally overjoyed to see each other again.
Liang Zhengyuan handed the horse reins to the smiling waiter, then quickly went upstairs and sat down next to Lin Xu.
"Who is this handsome young man who has dazzled all the young ladies on the street? It turns out to be a fine young man from our Liang family."
After several months apart, Liang Zhengyuan had become even more robust, his black hair tied up high. Compared to the humorous and witty young man he used to be, he was now much more composed in his every move. Even so, when he heard Lin Xu's teasing, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Along the way, he had long been accustomed to being the center of attention. Nowadays, there are many talented men in the capital, and even more noble ladies waiting to be married. He heard that a few days ago, someone even made a big fuss about the most desirable husbands. He himself was second only to Jiang Heng, who was known as the "Jade-Faced Fox," and even had a close relationship with Zhou Weikan, who was always favored by noble ladies, and once ranked second.
Liang Zhengyuan was already exceptionally handsome, but after achieving military merits and being personally granted the title of Marquis of Liangping by Emperor Su, and now holding the rank of General of Wu'an of the third grade, he naturally attracted even more attention.
Unlike others who become arrogant upon receiving their titles, this newly appointed Marquis of Liangping disappeared for several months, with rumors circulating that he was preparing to resign and return home. For some unknown reason, he has only recently reappeared in the public eye. This low-key and composed demeanor has made him even more appealing to aristocratic families seeking to marry off their daughters.
Ignoring Lin Xu's teasing, Liang Zhengyuan quickly picked up Mianxue, who was as soft and fluffy as a little glutinous rice ball.
Months had passed since they last saw each other. The last time, Lin Xu had bid him farewell with a large pregnant belly. Now, this tiny, adorable little girl in front of him—was this his little niece? It was the first time he had ever been in contact with such a small infant, and he was flustered and clumsy. He then carefully poked Mianxue's cheek, which made Zhuling, who was standing nearby, laugh.
"Young Master is even more careful than we are. He's not just holding a niece, he's clearly cradling a priceless treasure."
Liang Zhengyuan couldn't help but laugh, but when he turned to look at Lin Xu, his expression was very serious:
"She is a rare treasure."
This was her daughter, the one who had saved his life, their childhood sweetheart, the most cherished jewel of her grandfather, Liang Suzhi. How could he not cherish her? Moreover, he was determined to do everything in his power to ensure her and Mianxue's safety for the rest of their lives.
Lin Xu smiled and raised her eyes, her gaze meeting his. But when she saw the reluctance and tenderness in Liang Zhengyuan's eyes, she was secretly startled.
She lowered her head and took a sip of tea without making a sound, then smiled and said, "I thought that once my cousin returned to Hecheng, he would never want to go back to Mujing. You've been gone for months, which has made us worried."
Liang Zhengyuan's heart sank as he thought of Hecheng. This trip to the capital was the result of months of struggle and persistent persuasion of his grandfather... Before his departure, his grandfather, with tears in his eyes, repeatedly urged him to protect Yaoyao. Throughout the journey, from the dusty deserts to the water towns of Jiangnan, with their soft Wu dialect, he had always longed for the image of Lin Xu smiling.
Before he was even halfway back, he suddenly heard the news of Lin Xu's divorce.
At first, he was only stunned for a moment, then a sense of unease welled up in his heart. Didn't she love that person very much? How could she suddenly get a divorce? The only explanation was that Dou Yanxun had betrayed her. Just imagining Lin Xu's possible expression, those clear eyes that held a thousand words, perhaps now clouded with dust, made him feel as if his heart was being pierced, and he could hardly breathe.
He wished he could turn his horse around immediately and gallop back to Mujing via the official road.
Unexpectedly, there was no news of Lin Xu in the capital at that time. Various rumors were rampant, and some even said that Lin Xu had been secretly having an affair with Zhou Weikan, the number one merchant of Dayu. The two were in love and had already changed their names and lived together in seclusion.
He considered himself to have lived a carefree life, and as the most outstanding son of the valiant Liang family, he was always optimistic and easygoing, so naturally he didn't believe it. As soon as he returned to Mujing and finished the various tasks his grandfather had assigned him, he immediately began searching for her everywhere like a madman.
She must have been utterly disappointed, which is why she suddenly vanished without a trace in this vast city. He wished he could tear Dou Yanxun apart to vent his hatred. Yet, hearing those rumors every day felt like ice water being poured over his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
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