In fact, Zhou Lin had made up his mind from the very beginning.
Since it was an imperial decree that he had personally requested from the emperor, Zhou Lin certainly wouldn't dare to disobey it.
However... this means the opportunity to save people is entirely in his hands.
If he had acted sooner, he could have ensured the safety of Su Lin's army and the people of Nanshaping.
However, if Zhou Lin harbored selfish motives, just as he told Su Tiyue, it's entirely possible that an accident occurred during the support mission, causing him to be delayed on the way, and ultimately failing to save the entire Nanshaping.
After all, to Zhou Lin, Su Lin's 80,000 soldiers were not his troops, and those native people of the Southern Frontier were not his people either...
Ultimately, the King of Huainan didn't care whether those people lived or died; all he cared about was one word: profit.
Or perhaps it's power?
So at this critical moment, the first thing he thought of was to talk to Su Tiyue about terms.
Zhou Lin is an extremely wicked and despicable person, he doesn't deny it.
"What are the conditions?" Su Tiyue couldn't help but ask.
“Well…” Zhou Lin paused deliberately, his gaze towards her somewhat ambiguous: “I want Your Majesty to do me a favor. It might be difficult for others, but for Your Majesty… it’s very simple.”
Su Tiyue looked up at him blankly: "Your Highness, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Why beat around the bush and go through so many detours?"
"Then I'll trouble Your Highness to add this to Master Xiao's wine." As Zhou Lin spoke, he took out a small packet of powder wrapped in white paper from his sleeve and slowly pushed it in front of Su Tiyue.
"This...is poison?" She lowered her eyes, staring motionlessly at the 'poison' in front of her.
Zhou Lin neither admitted nor denied it; he simply smiled maliciously.
Su Tiyue lifted her eyelids, glared at him fiercely, and said, "You want to use me to get rid of Xiao Zhangyin?"
She shook her head, firmly refusing, "That's impossible. First, I won't agree to your condition, nor will I poison him. Second, Your Highness, are you perhaps underestimating Master Xiao? If he were so easily drugged, how could it be my turn?"
"Your Majesty, please don't get excited... I haven't finished speaking yet..." Zhou Lin said, standing up and slowly circling around Su Tiyue, who was sitting in the chair. Then, he walked slowly behind her, leaned down, and leaned close to her ear, gently sniffing the fragrance of her hair in an extremely ambiguous manner.
Seeing his rudeness, Su Tiyue moved closer to the table. But Zhou Lin didn't seem to intend to let her off so easily; he suddenly grabbed her thin shoulder, rendering her immobile.
A warm breath washed over him. He lowered his voice, speaking in a tone only the two of them could hear, "I didn't expect Your Highness to have the ability to kill him for me. Also... this isn't poison, this is..."
Zhou Lin spoke the last word very softly; if he hadn't been right next to Su Tiyue's ear, she probably wouldn't have been able to hear what he said.
But when she heard that word clearly, her expression became even more surprised than before: "Why, why do you want me to do this?"
Su Tiyue knew that Zhou Lin was no ordinary person; every action he took, every word he uttered, and even every glance he gave had a special meaning.
But Su Tiyue couldn't see through his thoughts.
Confused, surprised, but more than anything, uneasy and terrified.
The unknown is the most terrifying thing.
At this moment, Su Tiyue felt a slight chill on her back, the chill penetrating her bones and blood, and entering her internal organs.
Zhou Lin curled the corners of his lips, his face still showing no sign of concern: "This matter isn't too difficult for Your Highness, is it?"
Su Tiyue replied calmly, "It's not difficult."
"Then I'll take that as a yes?"
She paused for a moment, then reached out and grasped the things on the table in her hand: "If I agree, will Your Highness set off immediately to rescue them?"
"Of course. Let's set off immediately..."
"Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word? Anyway, once you're out of the city gates, how will you know whether I did it or not?"
Zhou Lin said, "I trust Your Majesty, and besides... this isn't some heinous crime, is it?"
Su Tiyue pursed her lips, but finally nodded in agreement: "I hope Your Highness will keep your promise."
After saying that, Su Tiyue didn't want to stay a moment longer. She picked up her feet and left without looking back.
As soon as Su Tiyue left, Prince Zhou Lin of Huainan turned off the lights in Yuhua Pavilion, then closed the door and headed out of the palace.
Seeing that the two had gone quite a distance, Jiang Min quietly emerged from behind the side window.
Clearly, she had overheard most of Zhou Lin and Su Tiyue's conversation.
Except for the whispered words Zhou Lin made in Su Tiyue's ear... she heard everything.
The rain gradually intensified, and Jiang Min walked back in the rain with her head down, looking somewhat disheveled.
Her mind is now filled with thoughts of... someone trying to harm that eunuch.
Chun Tao saw Jiang Min's appearance from afar and was terrified. She was clearly holding a bone umbrella, but she hadn't opened it…
Chun Tao ran over, snatched the umbrella from her hand, and while holding it over her, she whispered a reproach: "Miss, what's wrong with you? If you get caught in the rain and fall ill, how am I supposed to explain this to Master and Madam when we get back?"
Jiang Min ignored her and just kept walking forward with her head down, aimlessly.
"Miss, Miss?" Chun Tao was so frightened by her distraught appearance that she almost burst into tears.
A sudden clap of thunder in the darkness jolted her from her chaotic thoughts. Jiang Min raised her stunningly beautiful face and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Why... Chun Tao, tell me why?"
Jiang Min sniffed her slightly red nose and said aggrievedly, "I know he has no feelings for me at all, I know he is a eunuch, and there is no way it is possible for us to be together... I am the future empress, and my future is bright. But when I learn that he is in danger, I still hesitate and waver."
Chun Tao understood a little, but when it comes to matters of the heart, it's impossible to truly empathize. As a servant, she could only cautiously comfort Jiang Min, saying, "Miss, since there's no future, why not look forward? I think the Emperor is quite good, and the Empress Dowager treats you exceptionally well..."
“Yes, you’re right.” After a moment, Jiang Min suddenly stopped and said with a firm look in her eyes, “But I can’t just stand by and watch him die at that woman’s hands, can I?”
"What?" Chun Tao didn't understand the meaning of those words and asked in confusion.
Jiang Min did not explain the reason, but simply said softly, "Go back to Yongshou Palace. I won't be going home tonight."
...
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