Negotiation.
"This is a matter concerning my family."
Lin Zhenlie was concise and to the point, showing no intention of giving Xiao Zhian any face—at home, he obeyed his father, and no matter what, the Crown Prince couldn't control his daughter's marriage.
"General, you are mistaken."
Xiao Zhian adopted a businesslike attitude: "With the Southern Expedition imminent, I will soon appoint Lin Shifeng as the Grand General of the Southern Expedition. At that time, the position of Grand General of the Imperial Guard will be vacant, and I intend for Miss Lin to succeed him."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhenlie clenched his fists and widened his eyes: "The third brother is taking over?"
“Exactly.” Xiao Zhian nodded and gestured for Lin Zhenlie to sit down and talk.
"The Imperial Guards only recognize bloodlines. Now that Lin Shifeng is about to leave the capital and Lin Cuiyue needs to recuperate, and the position of General is held by the Emperor, after much consideration, only Miss Lin can succeed him. After the battle between the Minister of War and Heming Mountain, all officials praised Miss Lin, and the Imperial Guards also obeyed her. This matter is settled and there is no need for further discussion. The position of General protects the capital and allows entry and exit from the palace. My life is also entrusted to her. Therefore, I need to personally oversee Miss Lin's marriage."
After he finished speaking, Lin Zhenlie remained silent for a long time.
All Xiao Zhian can do now is this: under the guise of official business, interfere in Lin Huaiyin's marriage and force her to stay by his side.
The conflict between Pingyang and the Imperial Palace has not yet subsided, and Xiao Zhian is currently preoccupied with many matters, making it unwise for him to express his feelings to Lin Zhenlie and propose to Lin Huaiyin.
But he had to take action.
Even if Hu Shoulin Xieshi takes Lin Huaiyin away, Xiao Zhian knows she will find a way to escape.
Nothing and no one can hold her back. Her little mind is full of endless ideas, and she will definitely return to his side. Xiao Zhian has no doubt. He knows that Lin Huaiyin's only weakness has always been her family, so he must solve her worries while she tries to save herself, so that she is not caught in the dilemma between her family and him.
Since Lin Zhenlie was going to give her away to someone else, Xiao Zhian would deal with Lin Zhenlie.
Lin Zhenlie had anticipated that Xiao Zhian would come looking for him sooner or later, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Moreover, Xiao Zhian had come to give Lin Huaiyin an official position, namely, the Grand General of the Imperial Guard.
Even now, the temples of his hair still throb with excitement.
He was proud.
The daughter was deeply entangled in a conspiracy, how tragic it was; she saw through Shen Congyun's treacherous scheme, how indignant she was, yet she did not succumb to despair.
The daughter didn't even go home crying for help. She remained calm and fought alone in the Shen mansion, cutting off the Ministry of War's supply of military equipment, stealing the White Lotus Sect's secrets for attacking the mountain, making advance plans, and personally going to the battlefield. Afterwards, she was able to appease and subdue the rebels. Her resolute character, meticulous thinking, and broad-mindedness were all recorded in Xiao Zhi'an's letter, which made her father resolutely ask for the Emperor Taizu's Golden Spear and welcome her home.
She didn't return home in a sorry state and cry after discovering Shen Congyun's conspiracy. Although she could and should have done so, as a father, Lin Zhenlie hoped that his daughter would do so, return to his embrace as soon as possible, and live a peaceful life.
But her daughter embarked on a different path. She resolved everything herself, capable of personally slaying her enemies and walking home step by step.
Knowing all that, how could Lin Zhenlie not have hoped that his daughter would achieve something? But he missed his daughter too much, was too reluctant to part with her, and felt too heartbroken. He had to bring his daughter back to his side immediately, no matter what.
His daughter was his pride and joy, the most talented descendant of the Lin family in two hundred years. Lin Zhenlie placed high hopes on her, so he was determined to protect her and entrusted her with the important task of contacting Xie Xincun and investigating Hu Shoulin.
Now, Xiao Zhian is handing over the capital to his daughter and subtly mentions Lin Cuiyue, implying that he should step in to resolve the trouble caused by Liu Cang's death.
The Crown Prince used both kindness and force to sabotage his daughter's marriage.
Lin Zhenlie did not intend to accept. The capital was a place of trouble and it was not advisable to stay for long. His daughter was to serve as the Grand General of the Imperial Guards, and she would inevitably have to associate with the Crown Prince, which would surely cause controversy.
The Crown Prince's affections for his daughter are evident in the words of his letter.
Lin Zhenlie did not doubt Xiao Zhian's feelings, but he absolutely disagreed.
The ancestors of the Xiao and Lin families had a precept: never intermarry – the prince must not be immoral, and the Lin family must not become maternal relatives; otherwise, if the imperial guards support the prince, the empire will never have peace.
"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness." Lin Zhenlie bowed. "Once my daughter returns to her residence, I will certainly convey your instructions."
He verbally agreed, but secretly thought that since Xie Xincun wanted to take Lin Huaiyin away, no one could be kept. If they couldn't find her, the Crown Prince would be helpless.
Xiao Zhian knew he was being perfunctory, but he had come here specifically to hear this promise, and he didn't care if he paid lip service to it.
“Very well.” Standing up, Xiao Zhian continued, “In this campaign to eradicate the White Lotus Sect and expose the crimes of the Grand Secretary, Miss Lin has truly made great contributions. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances and to ensure that Miss Lin can take office as soon as possible, I will leave Qin Luo and Physician Lu here to appease the concerns of the officials. I hope the General will not take offense.”
After saying that, Xiao Zhian walked away.
Lin Zhenlie was slightly taken aback, then followed to see him off.
Qin Luo and Physician Lu, standing at the door, nodded reluctantly, indicating that they were determined to stay at your house.
Lin Zhenlie nodded in response, his old eyebrows standing straight up, a sudden surge of anger rising within him—Xiao Zhian actually pulled this stunt on him, planting two thorns in the Lin family for no reason. If Lin Huaiyin returned home, wouldn't she see it at a glance?
Especially Qin Luo, the Imperial Envoy. Although he is not of high rank, he has the power to take anyone at any time. He is the most shady weapon in the empire. Xiao Zhian even brought him along, which shows that he was planning to plant him and would not stop until he got Lin Huaiyin.
Xiao Zhian schemed against him, extending his reach to the Lin family, which angered Lin Zhenlie.
But as he continued sending gifts, his anger turned into inexplicable joy—a brief period of joy followed by even greater anger—the Crown Prince was going against him for his daughter's sake, and he felt that the Crown Prince was somewhat ill.
Looking at Xiao Zhian's back, Lin Zhenlie always felt that one day he would come to beg for forgiveness, and the thought of that scene was quite amusing.
Xiao Zhian paced ahead, his mind already wandering.
Earlier in the carriage, Yinyin mentioned the New Liao Kingdom and the Xie family of Hu Shoulin, repeatedly saying that the Xie family's divine physician was a century-old friend of the Lin family.
Later, Qin Luo also heard Yin Yin call out to that person in the East Palace – “Young Master Xie”.
Therefore, it can be confirmed that the person who kidnapped Yinyin was the young master of Hu Shoulin of the Xin Liao Kingdom.
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhian unconsciously quickened his pace.
He needed to rush back to the Eastern Palace immediately to summon the Secretariat and the Ministry of Rites for an audience.
He wanted to personally review all the information about Hu Shoulin of the Xin Liao Kingdom.
As Xiao Zhian boarded the carriage, Lin Zhenlie and his family saw him off. Xiao Zhian glanced back at Lin Zhenlie silently, a question rising in his mind: Hu Shoulin, whom Yinyin mentioned, was the top doctor in the medical field and had the ability to bring the dead back to life. Why did the Lin family never suggest inviting the Xie family's divine physician to treat the emperor when he was bedridden for nine years, and only waited for Yinyin to bring it up?
Xiao Zhian couldn't help but wonder: Did Lin Zhenlie not want his father to get better?
That's quite interesting.
The wheels rolled on, and Xiao Zhian sat calmly, his mind filled with memories of the past. Fifteen years ago, if Lin Zhenlie hadn't taken him away from outside the mourning hall, he might have ended up like Pingyang, imprisoned in the imperial mausoleum. But Lin Zhenlie intervened at the crucial moment and saved him, admonishing him to be patient and to keep his position as crown prince, telling him that only by being a good heir could he protect everything he wanted to protect.
Xiao Zhian clearly remembered that it was Lin Zhenlie who planted the seed of the crown prince being equal to a protector in his heart when he was eight years old.
Now, Lin Zhenlie is also coldly watching his father's serious illness and decline, refusing to offer any help.
The contrast between the past and the present gave Xiao Zhian a sense that Lin Zhenlie, or rather the Lin family, was not loyal to the Xiao imperial family. Just like Yin Yin's belief in eliminating treacherous officials, tolerating rebels, and protecting everything, what the Lin family was loyal to was perhaps the vast land and the well-being of the people that the Xiao and Lin ancestors had jointly built under the wheels of time.
Two hundred years have passed since the division of the family, yet the Lin family tradition remains ever new. This is probably because the Lin family members were born in the training ground, and generation after generation, they have wielded weapons and fought bravely, never forgetting their mission.
Fifteen-year-old Yinyin's fingers were already covered with thin calluses.
However, the Xiao imperial family, driven by supreme power and insatiable desires, became twisted and lost, giving rise to monsters like the Emperor and Pingyang.
The cycle of cause and effect in the world was witnessed by Xiao Zhian by chance. He lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the imperial city from afar.
The golden Taiji Palace revealed a hip roof, the highest hall where a new emperor ascended the throne and appointed an empress. Xiao Zhian thought: He is different. He has Yinyin by his side. If he doesn't act properly as emperor, Yinyin will beat him up, or even depose him.
——
The Imperial Palace, the Huitong Hall.
The young concubines and palace maids collapsed to the ground.
The girl's beautiful body was revealed again from her loose robe, like white jade radiating a soft glow, while the scar was like an oval impurity embedded in the jade.
Throughout the entire process, Lin Huaiyin remained calm and composed.
Xie Xincun narrowed his eyes, sometimes frowning, sometimes bursting with brilliance, and a silly smile appeared on his face, making him seem like a madman.
A spiral-shaped, indented scar is an arrow wound.
The mottled, curled, purplish-black marks are burns.
The conclusion was obvious; he could tell at a glance.
The problem is that with injuries to that extent, it's impossible for a person to survive.
The wound was extremely deep, and the arrow would have pierced through the body, leaving no chance for the internal organs to escape.
A fire wouldn't just burn one spot; such severe burns would inevitably spread throughout the body, turning the person into a charred corpse, with no chance of survival.
But the scar was only on her back, while the rest of her body was a clear, white white, like solidified milk. Lin Huaiyin sat perfectly fine in front of her, lively and energetic, making noise and fuss, and even asking Xie Xincun to pour her hot water.
What puzzled Xie the most was that the scar seemed to be hidden under the skin, visible but not touchable.
Unlike Xiao Zhian, he didn't need to touch it; he could judge it directly simply by the fact that the scar remained motionless when Lin Huaiyin moved.
“You should be a dead man.” Xie Xincun, his face flushed and neck red, stood three steps away and boldly drew his conclusion.
Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyin silently bit the rim of her teacup and held her breath.
He truly deserves to be called the leader of the medical profession. He is faster, more accurate, and bolder than I imagined. He doesn't care how shocking the conclusion is, he only cares whether it conforms to the observed "facts". Such a Xie Xincun is really terrifying.
Lin Huaiyin suppressed her tension, and the brocade ribbon hanging from her waist stopped trembling immediately.
Xie Xincun grinned and smiled slightly: "I was right, girl, you've died before, haven't you?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
