Chapter 73 A painstaking plan to lure him into the trap.
After a long while, he barely managed to suppress the turmoil in his heart. He gave the order in a deep voice:
"I understand, you may leave now!"
Zisu sensed something was off about his tone and, not daring to ask any further questions, quickly withdrew.
Only Xiao Jingheng remained in the study.
A moment later, he walked to the window, his hands clenched into fists. Beneath his calm exterior, a torrent of emotions surged within him.
Lin Wan'er... how dare you reach out so far!
And that doctor, how much does he actually know?
"Long Wind".
Xiao Jingheng instructed him: "Go and find out immediately where that Divine Physician Crane has gone. You must find him and bring him back."
Although Changfeng was somewhat confused, he still accepted the order.
"yes!"
However, not long after, Changfeng returned empty-handed.
"Your Highness, our people have learned that after leaving the Marquis's residence, the Divine Physician Crane did not go to the Grand Tutor's residence. He went straight out of the city and his whereabouts are unknown. Our people were too late and failed to catch up."
Xiao Jingheng frowned: "Have you found out where he comes from? What is his background?"
Changfeng replied, "According to rumors, this person calls himself the Crane Divine Physician and comes from Medicine King Valley, but he seems to live in seclusion for many years and his whereabouts are unpredictable."
"Medicine King Valley?" Xiao Jingheng repeated in a low voice.
He had heard of this name before; it was rumored to be a sacred place of medicine, but its location was a mystery, and its disciples rarely traveled in the world. However, each of them possessed superb medical skills, and most of them had eccentric personalities.
Changfeng continued, "Your Highness, it is said that the disciples of Medicine King Valley are elusive and rarely seen. They are devoted to studying medicine and traveling around the world, returning whenever they wish. If Miss Lin hadn't used her connections, we probably wouldn't have been able to persuade them. Now that they are deliberately hiding their whereabouts, it will probably take some time to find them."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's heart sank.
This person has a mysterious background and is insightful about the secrets of heaven. Since he has chosen to leave, it is indeed difficult to find him in a short period of time.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly gave an order to Changfeng.
"Send an invitation to Miss Lin of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, inviting her to 'Qingyin Pavilion' for a chat tomorrow at 9:00 AM."
Since the person was brought by Lin Wan'er, she should know some useful information.
Inside the Grand Tutor's residence, Lin Wan'er received the invitation and was overjoyed. She examined the invitation several times and confirmed that it was indeed Xiao Jingheng's handwriting.
"He finally contacted me!"
She painstakingly set up such a grand scheme just to lure Xiao Jingheng into taking the bait, didn't she?
Lin Wan'er seemed confident of victory, smiled smugly, and instructed her maid to bring her clothes and jewelry. She carefully dressed herself in front of the mirror before heading to Qingyin Pavilion for her appointment.
When she arrived, Xiao Jingheng was already waiting in the private room. He was still dressed in a black casual suit, with a tall and straight posture and a cold and stern face.
This contrasts sharply with Lin Wan'er's meticulous craftsmanship.
Upon seeing Lin Wan'er enter, Xiao Jingheng did not stand up, but merely nodded slightly, "Miss Lin, please sit down."
Lin Wan'er sat down opposite him with an elegant posture, her voice so soft it could melt water.
"I wonder what brings Young Master Xiao here today with Wan'er?"
Xiao Jingheng didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "I do have a question. The doctor Crane whom Miss Lin invited yesterday has superb medical skills and unique insights. I wonder where Miss Lin found him, and where he went after leaving the Marquis's residence?"
Lin Wan'er's smile froze instantly, and her heart sank.
It turns out that he invited her out not to discuss the marriage alliance at all, but for that wretched maid Su Xiaoyu!
A strong sense of humiliation surged up!
Lin Wan'er suppressed the burning jealousy in her heart and tried her best to maintain a gentle smile:
"Wan'er heard that the young master risked his life the other day to save a maid from your household, single-handedly storming into Black Wind Stronghold. It was truly... a touching display of affection between master and servant."
"Now that the young master is so eager to find the whereabouts of the divine physician, could it be because of that maid? It seems that this Miss Su holds a very important place in the young master's heart."
Xiao Jingheng raised his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"Miss Lin, we invited you here today only to inquire about the whereabouts of Doctor He."
"If Miss Lin knows his whereabouts or how to contact him, I, Xiao, am willing to repay him with a favor."
"Human favors?"
Lin Wan'er let out a cold laugh, her face full of disbelief.
What she wanted was Xiao Jingheng's heart and the position of his legal wife.
Who cares about his vague and intangible favor!
"Young Master Xiao!" Lin Wan'er's tone carried a do-or-die determination.
"You know what Wan'er wants."
“At the last flower-viewing banquet of the Eldest Princess, I thought I had made myself very clear, but you refused me.”
"Fortunately, it's not too late. If the young master is willing to exchange his position as the heir apparent of the Marquis's mansion for it, I can tell you the whereabouts of Doctor He right now."
Lin Wan'er stared intently at Xiao Jingheng's face, not missing a single expression on his face.
"So, Young Master Xiao, how about you consider this deal?"
She's gambling!
It's a gamble on just how important Su Xiaoyu is to Xiao Jingheng, and whether she's worth trading his status as his legal wife for.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's expression remained completely unchanged.
It was as if they had already anticipated that she would do this.
After a moment, he parted his thin lips slightly: "Miss Lin, you seem to overestimate yourself."
"They also underestimated Xiao's bottom line."
Lin Wan'er's face stiffened, and she tried to increase her stakes:
"Your Highness, we both understand that families like ours cannot arrange marriages according to our own wishes. It is all about binding family interests and forming powerful alliances."
She continued to observe Xiao Jingheng's expression: "A marriage alliance between the Marquis's Mansion and the Lin Mansion would be the most advantageous choice for you, Young Master, in the court, or for the Marquis, in the army. I'm sure the Marquis and his wife would be happy to see it happen."
"As long as the young master agrees to this marriage, I promise that within six months at most, I will find a reason to bring Miss Su into the household and fulfill your wishes. I am not the kind of mistress who cannot tolerate others. I assure you that I will treat Miss Su well."
Lin Wan'er thought her words were perfectly reasonable and that Xiao Jingheng would definitely be moved.
However, after hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's lips curled into a very faint, cold smile, the smile not reaching his eyes.
The sarcasm in her tone was undisguised: "Miss Lin has indeed... planned things out very thoroughly for me."
"You think you can exchange a mere, vague piece of information for the position of the Heir Apparent's wife in the Marquis of Yongning's mansion? Miss Lin, are you so certain that I, the young master, will agree to this deal?"
Lin Wan'er felt a chill run down her spine from the look in his eyes, but she forced herself to maintain her composure. "Why must you speak so harshly, Your Highness? I am merely stating the facts. Your Highness cares deeply for Miss Su. Rather than being arranged by the Marquis and his wife to marry a noblewoman of unknown origin, and being controlled at every turn, it would be better for you to choose me."
At least, once I enter the palace, I can not only help the Crown Prince stabilize the rear, but also grant you your wishes. Isn't that a win-win situation?
Xiao Jingheng nodded as if he understood.
"So what Miss Lin wants is the identity of 'the Crown Prince's wife'? That's easy."
After a pause, Xiao Jingheng added:
"It just so happens that there is a cousin in the second branch of the family named Jingrui. He just came of age before the new year. He is handsome and has a very tender heart towards women."
"If Miss Lin desires the title of 'Crown Prince's Wife,' I, the Crown Prince, can petition my father to voluntarily relinquish the position. I believe His Majesty and the clan will grant my request. At that time, Jingrui will inherit the title, and Miss Lin will naturally become the rightful Crown Prince's Wife."
"My cousin is good in every way, but his only flaw is that he is too sentimental. Miss Lin will probably suffer some grievances after marrying him."
However, I imagine Miss Lin wouldn't mind. After all, you just said you only discuss interests, not feelings. For the sake of this honor, a little grievance is certainly no obstacle for Miss Lin.
Upon hearing this, Lin Wan'er froze on the spot, her gentle smile vanishing.
A profound sense of humiliation overwhelmed her.
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