The matter of the Duke of Protectorate coming to Beijing has been decided. Lin's father will naturally take his two children with him, but Lin's mother will stay at home.
The group traveled light, with a few dozen elite soldiers, all on horseback. As they said goodbye, Lin Su's mother stood at the door and said, "Be careful in everything you do when you go to the capital. If your father doesn't notice anything, be on the lookout for him. And take Ting'er's advice too."
"Madam, I am older than you. I don't need your son to tell me everything." Father Lin coughed and said.
"You only know how to use tricks on the battlefield. How can you see through the traps set by those people in official circles? If you really have some brains, my son wouldn't have to hide his talents for so many years." Mother Lin rolled her eyes at him.
Father Lin was speechless. "Are you planning to arrange Ting'er's marriage in the capital? Wouldn't it be better to go to the southwest?"
"What do you know?" Mother Lin looked at Lin Su and said, "My son knows this matter well. Although you need to be more cautious in your actions, you don't have to be afraid of others. With mother here, you don't have to be afraid if something really happens in the capital."
Lin's mother is a heroic woman. Although she lives in the backyard, her martial arts skills have never fallen behind. If they really fight, Lin Ting'er may not be her opponent. Sometimes, disciplining her husband is more than just a few words.
As for Lin Ting'er's marriage... the forces in the capital are complicated, and although it is not exposed in the open, the ministers have already taken sides in private. The Duke of Protector of the Country holds military power, and the southwest is his fiefdom, so there is a successor. Now that he has won the war, he is in the limelight, and there are many people in the capital who want to win him over.
The southwest region has little connection with the capital, so the most direct way to win it over is to plan the marriage of Lin Su and Lin Ting'er. Lin Su getting married is no match for marrying Lin Ting'er into the capital, who can both win it over and serve as a hostage.
Lin Su naturally understood what Mother Lin meant: "Don't worry, mother. I understand."
Southwest had no intention of rebelling. On the contrary, because of such a strong backing, Lin Ting'er would not be bullied no matter where she married. The most important thing was that no one in Southwest City dared to marry her, so they could only look for one or two in Beijing.
"I heard there are many handsome men in Beijing. I must pick out some good ones this time." Lin Ting'er said, smacking her lips.
"Of course, my sister wants to marry the best man." Lin Su said with a smile.
"Take care, madam." Father Lin and his entourage said goodbye and rode away from the southwest city at a rapid speed.
There was only half a month left until the New Year, and the group only took a short rest at the post station at night. The rest of the time they rode at full speed all the way, but they were already in sight of the capital in ten days.
Unlike the cities on the southwestern border, this place looked particularly prosperous and majestic from a distance. They did not hide their whereabouts along the way, and someone naturally reported their itinerary. When the group arrived ten miles away, the ceremonial guards in the city were already waiting.
Crown Prince Xiao Tang was the chief envoy and Fifth Prince Xiao Jin was the deputy envoy. The snow in the capital had not yet melted and the wind was quite cold. The Fifth Prince stood on the city wall in gorgeous clothes, looking heroic. The Emperor was also handsome, and the Empress Dowager was once known as the most beautiful woman in the capital, so her son was naturally handsome.
The prince was dressed in formal attire, a jade crown and flowing ribbons. Although he was also as beautiful as jade, his clothes and appearance were certainly not inferior to others. However, unlike Xiao Jin who could chat and laugh in the cold wind, he stood in the wind for only a cup of tea before he couldn't help coughing several times, and his already pale lips looked even paler.
"Your Highness, it's time to change your hand warmer." The attendant stepped forward and replaced the warm hand warmer in his hand. "If you feel cold..."
"It's okay. State affairs are more important. I'm fine." Xiao Tang took the hand warmer, and his body, which had been freezing cold, finally felt a hint of warmth spreading.
"My royal brother's old illness will relapse in winter. The Duke of Protectorate is just a vassal king. How can he be as important as my royal brother's health? It would be better for him to rest in the room first and come out after they really enter the city." Xiao Jin said.
"My father instructed us not to neglect this moment... cough cough..." Xiao Tang couldn't help but cough twice more, "Thank you, my brother, for your concern."
He was obviously in poor health, and all the accompanying officials saw it. In the eyes of the court officials, Xiao Tang was actually not suitable to be the crown prince. Not to mention that he was fond of poetry and painting, but also that his illness recurred every winter and he was bedridden. Such a poor physical condition made him unsuitable to be the crown prince.
But he happens to be His Majesty's only legitimate son and the eldest son. The eldest legitimate son is the legitimate heir. If the eldest legitimate son is avoided and a concubine's son is appointed instead, it will be unacceptable no matter which ancestral etiquette and laws are followed.
"I just feel uncomfortable seeing you, my brother, feeling sad too." Xiao Jin felt a little satisfied as he looked at his pale face.
Even if he is the eldest son, what does it matter? Although he will be reincarnated, he looks like a short-lived ghost, and his blessing will not last long.
The fifth prince is powerful, and the crown prince has to give way as the heir to the throne. Some people feel sad, while others have already understood the interests involved in the court.
The sound of horse hooves seemed to shake the earth. A group of people appeared at the end of the snow. The leader was the Duke of Protector of the Country. Even the snow could not conceal his fierce aura.
A group of people came walking on the snow, not affected by the cold wind at all. Xiao Tang looked at that place, but his eyes were attracted by the young man on the horse beside the Duke of Protector of the Country.
Riding a horse is the most enjoyable thing for a man, but it is also the thing that Xiao Tang cannot accomplish in his life.
The group of people got closer and closer. Although everyone looked heroic, the young man was tall and straight, and had superb riding skills. When you could see him clearly, his handsomeness seemed even more eye-catching than the white snow on the ground.
The reins were pulled tight, and the tall horse raised its head and neighed. Lin Su patted the horse's neck gently to comfort it twice, then looked up at the thin, snow-white figure on the city wall.
His gaze seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts. At that moment, Xiao Tang felt as if he was looking into his eyes. When their eyes met, he subconsciously avoided them, feeling a little shocked.
This person is definitely not someone to be trifled with.
"Good riding skills!" The general stationed in the capital couldn't help but praise him a few times.
"So that's the Prince of the Protectorate?" Xiao Jin looked at Lin Su and asked, "He's quite good-looking. Who's his sister?"
Why didn't he see the woman in the crowd?
"Open the city gate." Xiao Tang regretted that he had avoided it just now, but the group had already arrived at the foot of the city, and there was no reason to refuse them entry. He handed the hand warmer to the person next to him, straightened his clothes that were blown by the wind, and walked down the city wall.
The city gates were wide open, and a group of people rode in on horseback, dismounting only when they reached the ceremonial area.
It was a magnificent snowy scene. Snow covered the outside of the city, but the streets inside the city had been cleared of snow, leaving only streaks of snow on the road. The houses in the distance were all white, and the man in white walked down the city wall step by step, giving off a somewhat ethereal feeling.
Everyone else was dressed in colorful clothes, embellishing the bustling capital, but he was dressed in white, his skin flawless and snow-white, and his eyes were even darker than the night. But even though he was frail, he still retained the demeanor of a prince.
[06 System announces tasks: Task 1, survive as the original owner, Task 2, change the original fate of the male supporting character Xiao Tang.]
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