Chapter 59 My husband, let Dai Dai dance for you.
Everyone standing in the court was a shrewd individual; they understood the emperor's deeper meaning almost instantly.
He was worried that Ji Yujing would become the second Wu Tingshan.
Ostensibly, this attack on Tianyun City is actually a ploy to incite two major powers to fight each other. Neither side is easy to deal with; in fact, they are arguably the two strongest armies in the Xun Kingdom.
Furthermore, without military funding, the power of both sides will be greatly reduced regardless of the outcome.
This move was absolutely brilliant.
But the emperor seemed to have forgotten that these two teams were the main forces fighting against foreign tribes.
If they weaken, it will be tantamount to giving two ambitious foreign powers the opportunity to invade.
Zhang Huining, the Minister of War, was well aware of the implications. He moved his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something more. However, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his old friend, the Left Chancellor Nie Hang, shake his head at him.
Zhang Huining hesitated for a moment, then changed his mind.
"I obey the order."
The second prince could no longer suppress his anger. He knelt before the emperor, his face flushed, and pleaded, "Father, please rescind your decree."
“My maternal grandfather served the country on the border his entire life, achieving numerous military exploits. How could he possibly want to rebel?”
"The matter of the warhorse is only Song Yunmian's side of the story. Isn't it too hasty to determine the life or death of a general based on this?"
Song Yunlan knew that Emperor Taining hated being questioned, especially in front of everyone.
But he had no choice; he really had no other option.
That was his maternal grandfather; how could he stand by and watch him be accused of treason?
Moreover, if this matter is classified...
He was thus forever barred from the position of crown prince.
Emperor Taining stared at him with icy eyes.
"You're questioning my judgment?"
Every word was like a thorn piercing Song Yunlan, sending a chill down his spine. His upper body lay prostrate on the ground, a posture of absolute submission.
"Your subject dares not, Your subject only hopes..."
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Taining's cold voice rang out.
"How about you sit on this throne?"
Upon hearing this, all the court officials knelt, their foreheads pressed against the ground.
Panic, fear.
In cases involving treason, emperors throughout history have preferred to kill the innocent rather than let the guilty go free. His Majesty is no exception.
Only Song Yunmian, out of everyone's sight, had a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. No longer gentle, but sharp and cruel.
He loved this scene so much.
Everyone who has harmed his mother, including this damned emperor, must die.
Time seemed to slow down, each breath feeling unbearable. But all they could do was endure it, waiting for the one in power to speak and break the stagnation.
After a long while, Emperor Taining finally spoke.
"Someone come here."
Qian Wei, the Silver Shield Army leader on duty today, stepped forward.
"Your subordinate is here."
Emperor: "Send the Second Prince and his wife to the Central Palace. From this moment on, they are not to step out of the Central Palace without my permission."
"promise,"
Having received the order, Qian Wei gave a wink to his subordinates scattered around him, and they all stepped forward to surround Song Yunlan.
"Second Prince, please."
Song Yunlan seemed not to hear, and continued to kowtow.
The blows were heavy, and blood marks quickly appeared on my forehead.
"Please, Father, rescind your decree."
"Please, Father, rescind your decree."
The second prince, who had always been refined and composed, was now acting like a madman, frantic and broken.
Since he wouldn't cooperate, we had no choice but to resort to force.
The guards forcibly restrained the second prince, then lifted him up and carried him outside.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free at all.
Only those sorrowful cries remained, echoing endlessly.
"Dismiss the court."
With such an incident, even the emperor had no heart to deal with state affairs.
He resolutely left the court, the rapidly swaying hem of his robes clearly outlining his displeasure.
As soon as the court session ended, Lin Yansen also left in a hurry.
His colleagues all thought he was worried about his daughter. Lin Er had already clashed fiercely with Ji Yujing, and now His Majesty had clearly expressed his fear of Ji Yujing.
That Miss Lin...
It's truly a dilemma.
Zhang Huining and Nie Hang left the court one after the other.
Once they reached a secluded spot, Zhang Huining finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind.
Why did you stop me, Brother Nie?
"We, as subjects, should protect loyal ministers and good generals for the sake of the world."
"If Wu Tingshan is gone, there's still Ji Yujing. But what if Ji Yujing is gone too..."
Based on his understanding of the Azure Kingdom and the Eastern Shao Kingdom, he knew that without a powerful general to keep them in check, it was only a matter of time before they broke through the eastern and western borders.
Nie Hang chuckled, then stopped, turned sideways, and faced Zhang Huining.
“Hui Ning, I agree with everything you said. But at that moment, saying these things wouldn’t have gotten any results.”
He would only end up like the Second Prince, not only failing to help the situation but also putting himself in a desperate situation.
"Furthermore, Ji Yujing is not so easy to kill, and His Majesty does not intend for him to die."
"The marriage between Lin and Ji would be of such great benefit to him; it would be good to take advantage of this to curb his upward momentum."
Zhang Huining: "Ji Yujing is not someone who can be easily manipulated. If we keep pushing him, and he gets angry and Wu Tingshan is gone, who in this world can control him?"
Zhang Huining felt that His Majesty and Nie Hang had oversimplified the matter.
A person's heart cannot withstand repeated wounds, let alone a proud and arrogant genius like Ji Yujing.
"Don't worry, Xun Kingdom is vast and has no shortage of geniuses."
"Ji Yujing and Liu Tong'an are not irreplaceable."
Zhang Huining didn't know what to say, and finally realized that saying anything would be useless.
At the top of power, a decision has already been made.
...
As soon as Lin Yansen returned home, he went straight to his father Lin Zhenwei's study.
"Father."
Upon seeing him, she hurriedly called out to him.
Lin Zhenwei glanced at him indifferently, "What's the rush?"
"Sit down and have some water before we talk."
Lin Yansen followed his advice, and after a few sips of warm tea, he calmed down considerably.
"Is things not peaceful in the imperial court?" Lin Zhenwei asked.
Lin Yansen: "Yes. The Crown Prince accused Wu Tingshan of secretly purchasing warhorses. His Majesty was furious and ordered Ji Yujing to attack Tianyun City without any military funds."
"The Second Prince and his wife were sent to the Empress's palace and imprisoned with her."
The thing I was worried about has finally happened.
Lin Zhenwei sighed deeply: "The empress's tyranny ultimately brought disaster upon her family."
The royal family is now in complete chaos, a situation that was destined from the moment Lady Yan was poisoned.
Lin Yansen was too lazy to care about the mess between the Empress and the concubines; he only cared about the safety of the Lin family.
"Father, could His Majesty's next target be Ji Yujing?"
“That Dai Dai…”
Lin Zhenwei was silent for a while, "His Majesty would not dare to eliminate two great generals at once. Ji Yujing will be safe for a long time."
Besides the security of the border, the prestige of these two men among the people must also be taken into account. If the imperial court were to execute the two high-ranking generals stationed on the border in a short period of time, it would certainly incite public outrage.
When public anger rises, even Emperor Taining cannot control it.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yansen breathed a sigh of relief.
However, after a short while, Lin Zhenwei suddenly changed the subject, "But..."
"But what?"
Lin Zhenwei: "Ji Yujing has come this far from being an ordinary person, not just by relying on brute force and a pair of iron fists."
He is intelligent, decisive, capable, and has incredible endurance.
If you want to be above him, you must make him believe in you.
Now, the royal family can no longer convince him.
It's not hard to guess what he'll do.
Lin Yansen: "..."
Having a son-in-law who is too strong-willed can be a real headache, as he's always causing trouble.
"What about the Lin family's assets?"
Lin Zhenwei remained silent on this issue.
A once-prosperous family, which had flourished for a century, is now once again caught in the turbulent currents of the times.
Today's decision will affect the family for the next century.
As the head of the family, Lin Zhenwei had to be cautious.
The silence lasted for almost the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Lin Zhenwei spoke in a deep voice.
"Yan Sen".
"Um."
"Find an opportunity to meet His Majesty privately and tell him that the Lin family plans to withdraw from the capital and live in seclusion in the south. Half of the Lin family's assets will be left to His Majesty as a token of gratitude for his care over the years. The Lin family promises never to participate in any conflicts, but Dai Dai and Qing Wu are already married, and their behavior is beyond the Lin family's control."
Now that things have come to this, the only option is to cut our losses and survive.
Even if Ji Yu and Jing were to rule the world one day, the Lin family would still be able to stand at the pinnacle of aristocratic families.
"Father, can you bear to do this?"
Half of the Lin family's wealth is no small sum.
Lin Zhenwei subtly curled his lips. "What's half a fortune? As long as the Lin family bloodline remains, we can stand at the pinnacle of aristocratic families time and time again."
"The descendants of the Lin family will always be the most important."
Lin Yansen suddenly felt a lump in his throat and his eyes welled up with tears. "I'll listen to Father. Shuming would be so happy if he knew. After all these years, he can finally see his parents more often."
"Make arrangements to have all Lin family businesses in the capital suspend transactions and enter the resale process."
"promise."
Lin Yansen returned to the courtyard where he and Zhuo Shuming lived. He had lived there since he could remember. It held his youthful years, as well as the mischievousness and cuteness of his three children.
If he could, he would like to live here for the rest of his life.
In the future, I will play here with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He will treat them patiently, just as he patiently accompanied his and Shuming's children back then.
Unfortunately, that's no longer possible.
In an unstable situation, holding a high position is dangerous. Staying away from the center of conflict is the best policy.
"Why are you only returning now? Did the morning court session go poorly?"
As soon as Lin Yansen entered the courtyard, Zhuo Shuming came to greet him.
Restless, she went out to check every now and then. After many times, she finally saw Lin Yansen this time.
"you……"
As soon as she approached, Lin Yansen suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his handsome face on her shoulder. He rarely did this, and Zhuo Shuming became increasingly worried, yet reluctant to push him away.
After he stepped back on his own, she reached out and gently stroked his face.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Yansen: "His Majesty ordered Ji Yujing to attack Tianyun City without providing any military funds."
"I need him, but I also fear him."
Zhuo Shuming led Lin Yansen back to the room, poured him a glass of water, and then said, "Hasn't His Majesty always been like this?"
That's not actually correct either.
Many years ago, when Song Qingwu first ascended the throne, his eyes shone with light.
He truly harbored the idea of enabling all people to live a good life.
But now, he seems unable to tolerate anyone who stands out.
But a great dynasty is never short of outstanding people, nor can it do without them.
"You just went to see your father?"
Lin Yansen gave a soft "hmm" and then told her about Lin Zhenwei's decision.
Zhuo Shuming remained calm after hearing the story.
This is the best method.
They wouldn't let their emperor leave the capital at this time without leaving something behind. The Lin family was good to have in his sights; he could use them to control Dai Dai in the future.
"What about the blue mist?"
"We can't expect the Su family to move to the south with us, can we?"
"Ask them. It's much easier for them to relocate than for us. They'll have company then."
"Okay, I'll go to the Su family later to talk to Hongfang and Qin'er."
...
Three days later.
After the morning court session, Lin Yansen followed Emperor Taining like a little tail. The emperor did not summon him, and he did not say anything, but simply followed him abruptly.
Anyone else would have been driven away by the Silver Shield Army long ago. But this man was undoubtedly special to the emperor, as evidenced by the fact that the emperor hadn't ordered him to be stopped even after he had followed the emperor for quite some time.
They followed him all the way to the imperial study. After the emperor sat down, he coldly stared at Lin Yansen.
"I think you're getting a little tired of thinking about your head."
Lin Yansen immediately knelt down, pressed his forehead to the ground, and kowtowed three times.
"Your Majesty, Yan Sen has come today to bid you farewell."
The emperor paused, then asked, "What is this farewell?"
Lin Yansen clearly stated: "The entire direct line of the Lin family has moved to the south, and Yansen is unwilling to hide the reason from His Majesty."
"The Ji family saved the Lin family's ancestors, and we should repay that debt of gratitude. We cannot avoid this marriage alliance. However, we are not Ji Yujing, and we cannot control his thoughts. He is a very wild person and will certainly not be able to please His Majesty in everything he does."
"With His Majesty on the left and his son-in-law on the right, Yan Sen is truly in a difficult position. But Yan Sen's heart will always be with His Majesty."
"The Lin family is willing to give half of its assets to Your Majesty to express its gratitude for Your Majesty's care over the years, and promises not to participate in any struggles or to help Ji Yujing in private."
"Yan Sen only wishes to preserve the Lin family's foundation and bloodline, and hopes Your Majesty will grant his request. If Your Majesty summons him in the future, Yan Sen will certainly return."
The emperor stared at him for a long time, as if to make sure he was telling the truth.
"Are you worried that the Lin family will threaten Ji Yujing?"
Lin Yansen: "No, no, no, Yansen had no such intention."
“If Ji and Jingzhen have any ulterior motives, given his current attitude towards Dai Dai, how could he possibly care about the lives of the Lin family?”
"Yan Sen made what I believe to be the right decision after weighing the pros and cons. If we go to the south, Shu Ming can come back to the Zhuo family for meals every day. My father is also getting old, and the mild climate in the south is extremely suitable for retirement."
"The other thing is that I'm worried that when His Majesty sees me, he'll think of my troublesome, fiery son-in-law."
After pausing for a moment, Lin Yansen decided to say a few good words for his son-in-law.
"But based on my understanding of him, he is just difficult to control and is unlikely to harbor any disloyal intentions. If he were to harbor such intentions, he would rather cooperate with Dongshao Kingdom than stay on the border to fight the enemy for so many years."
Sincerity, as always.
Because of this sincerity, Emperor Taining was not angered, but instead seriously considered the matter. After nearly half a cup of tea's time, he made a decision.
"Let's do it this way."
"I will give you another imperial edict; use it to save your life if necessary."
Lin Yansen felt relieved and kowtowed to Emperor Taining, "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty."
"If Your Majesty has any problems, just send a message to the south. Yan Sen will do his best to handle it for Your Majesty, even if it costs him his life."
After saying that, he remembered the important matter, "Whom does His Majesty want to handle the transfer of assets?"
Emperor Taining pondered for a moment, then said, "Let Yunyan handle this matter."
"Let's give him and Qingyu more time. Who knows when we'll get together again?"
Lin Yansen's face lit up with joy: "Good, good, good. I trust the Fourth Prince with his work."
If it were someone else handling such a huge amount of wealth, who knows if they would be tempted to cheat or do something wrong?
...
A few days later, the emperor's intentions were conveyed in several secret letters and sent to various factions.
Yong'an City, the main city in the northwest.
In a quiet corner of the Liu family mansion, Liu Tong'an couldn't help but curl his lips after reading the secret letter.
The strategist Jiu Lin asked him, "Why is the master laughing?"
Liu Tong'an handed the secret letter to the guard, who took it and delivered it to Jiu Lin.
Jiu Lin glanced at it all.
Liu Tong'an chimed in, "That old bastard Emperor Taining is only thinking about internal strife, and he doesn't care at all about the covetous eyes outside."
“Ji Yujing and Wu Tingshan are such talented generals that Canglan and Dongshao Kingdom are desperate to get them, but Emperor Taining sees them as a thorn in his side and is trying to destroy them.”
Jiu Lin: "Given His Majesty's current approach, any ambitious tyrant who dares to rise to power will likely not escape in the end."
"us……"
Liu Tong'an: "If I can't escape, then I won't."
"The Song family disregards the lives of countless people, so what gives them the right to occupy high positions in the prosperous Xun Kingdom?"
"Pass down the order: the army will be divided into two parts, one to guard the northwest and the other to stand by."
"With a major battle imminent, we must intensify our military training."
In the far north, Mu Qinghuai also received a secret letter.
Originally, I didn't intend to tell Leng Jialan, but considering how much she liked Lin Qingdai and admired Ji Yujing, if I didn't tell her, she would find out if Wu Tingshan and Ji Yujing went to war.
I'm sure I'll have to argue with him again then.
In that case, why don't we talk about it first?
During dinner that evening, Mu Qinghuai suddenly asked her, "Miss, how are you feeling today?"
Leng Jialan, who was happily eating, was speechless.
She swallowed the food in her mouth before staring intently at Mu Qinghuai. "Are you out of your mind? Or do you have bad eyesight?"
"I'm willing to have dinner with you, how could I not be in a good mood?"
That makes sense.
Mu Qinghuai was amused, and even the gloom in his heart dissipated a little.
"War is about to break out."
Leng Jialan was stunned after hearing this.
She remembered what Lin Qingdai had told her.
"Who's fighting whom?"
"Ji Yujing and Wu Tingshan."
Leng Jialan: "..."
It started with the sky falling and the earth cracking?
What are those two fighting about?
Mu Qinghuai explained it to her earnestly, and after listening, Leng Jialan began to curse the dog emperor. He was so incompetent; it would be better if the throne were abdicated to a more worthy successor.
After she finished scolding, she started eating again, much faster than usual. Normally, she would be frantic and screaming in a panic at a time like this, and she would be capable of rushing to Lingdong immediately.
This reaction is quite unusual.
This made Mu Qinghuai even more worried, and her brows furrowed slightly.
"Ah, Leng Jialan."
"Um?"
"What are you thinking? Tell me. I'm very worried about you."
This time, Leng Jialan not only didn't scold him, but also answered his question very patiently, "During the martial arts tournament, I was alone with Dai Dai, on the night you and Ji Yujing went to meet the martial arts alliance leader."
Mu Qinghuai: "Yes, I know that."
Leng Jialan: "That night, Dai Dai talked to me about the current situation. At that time, she was worried that the world was about to change."
Mu Qinghuai: "..."
As expected of Miss Lin, she's always one step ahead of everyone else.
"Anything else?"
Leng Jialan: "Dai Dai told me that if war breaks out, let's join forces to lock down the far north."
"When war comes, locks are protection, right?"
Mu Qinghuai was silent for a moment: "You agreed to her request?"
Although it was an inquiry, Mu Qinghuai knew the outcome perfectly well.
The fourth daughter of the Leng family has always been a kind-hearted person, but of course, her mouth is also the most venomous in the far north.
Leng Jialan: "I can't refuse. The far north is my home. My family is here, and..."
She paused for a few moments before explaining what else was included.
"Mu Qinghuai".
"I also want to protect you. I've thought that since I was very young."
Throughout his life, Mu Qinghuai had fought against fate, his family, and his rivals, earning a reputation for ruthlessness. Now, some even claimed to want to protect him—foolish and laughable. Yet, at this very moment, Mu Qinghuai felt a warm current flowing into his heart, urging him to reconcile with the past.
From this day forward, we will no longer fight over hatred.
To stay by one's side for the sake of the one you love.
Despite the turmoil in his heart, Mu Qinghuai remained expressionless. He smiled and asked Leng Jialan, "So, how do you plan to protect her?"
"It's been two months since Lin Qingdai told you about the city lockdown? Have you made any progress?"
Upon hearing this, Leng Jialan perked up.
He immediately put down his chopsticks. "Here's what I'm thinking: you handle those officials and garrisons in the far north."
"I'm going to Beili."
What are you going to Beili for?
"Borrow troops to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. Defend against internal threats as well as external ones."
The northernmost region has more than just Beili as its neighbors; there is also Beiyan, which rarely shows its face.
After hearing this, Mu Qinghuai couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Leng Jialan clicked her tongue. "What are you laughing at? The situation is so tense, and you're still laughing."
"You think my proposal is no good?"
Mu Qinghuai quickly shook his head, "The plan is excellent, absolutely excellent."
"Then what are you laughing at? You should praise her."
Mu Qinghuai went along with her idea, "Miss Leng has thought things through very thoroughly. If everything goes well, your name will be included in the Chronicle of Xun Kingdom."
"I won't agree to it without it."
Are you serious?
Seriously.
In Lingdong, Ji and Jing received the imperial edict.
This time, he didn't even bother pretending anymore. He neither thanked anyone nor knelt down, and his expression remained cold and indifferent from beginning to end.
Seeing his demeanor, the official delivering the imperial edict dared not utter a single word of rebuke, fearing that he would lose his life if he did.
After the imperial edict was handed over, he led his team away from Lingdong in a hurry without even having a sip of tea.
That evening, Ji Yujing returned home. When he saw Lin Qingdai, she was mixing perfume in the flower room. The girl was wearing a light pink dress today, looking both noble and sweet, like a peach blossom fairy descended to earth.
She was very focused on his movements, which were very gentle, but when he appeared, she noticed him immediately and glanced over.
"Why has the general returned at this time?"
Ji Yujing: "You don't welcome me home?"
Lin Qingdai was amused by his nonsense. "I never said that. You said it yourself."
Ji Yujing reached out her hand, "Dai Dai, come here."
Lin Qingdai was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, put down the small bottle, walked closer to him, and took the initiative to hug his waist.
Her small face pressed against his chest. "Your heartbeat is heavy and slow. General Ji is in a bad mood."
One sentence made Ji Yujing laugh.
"Where did this fallacy come from?"
Lin Qingdai looked up at him, her eyes smiling.
"General Ji, why are you so easily fooled? I only used one sentence and you smiled."
Ji Yujing: "..."
He realized that he had no authority in this family.
"How did you intend to appease me, Madam?"
Lin Qingdai's lips landed on his chest, where his heart was: "Husband, let me dance for you."
...
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