negotiation
Jiang Yi decided to take the initiative and rushed over to hug He Lin.
"My husband, you've finally arrived!"
He Lin: "..."
"Today, Xia Zhi and I were shopping together when we were kidnapped and brought here by the Second Prince's men. They were rude and insulting to me. You must stand up for me!"
Gu Ziyu rubbed his nose from behind, thinking to himself that the young mistress was really dramatic; no wonder the young master couldn't resist her.
He Lin did not push Jiang Yi away, but instead reached out and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Have you been drinking?"
"Oh, just one bite."
Have you eaten yet?
"Huh?" Jiang Yi didn't react for a moment, looked up at him, and finally shook her head: "No."
"I brought you some pastries, have some to tide you over."
Jiang Yi was stunned for a moment, then peeked behind him and saw that Shan Yanzhi was indeed carrying a food box.
A smile gradually appeared in her eyes. She hugged He Lin and nuzzled against his chest, sweetly drawing out the last syllable of her voice, "Husband, you're so good to me~"
Upon hearing this, Wu Wenpin, who was behind him, got goosebumps all over, shuddered, and rubbed his arms, clearly disgusted.
However, this perfectly achieved Jiang Yi's goal; it was clearly meant to annoy them.
Qi Junxu looked at the two people in front of him pretending to be deeply in love and seemed to find it very amusing, so he couldn't help but chuckle.
In the private room, the court proceedings were being held. Jiang Yi sat next to He Lin, enjoying her meal, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere among them. Every now and then, she would bring Xia Zhi a piece of pastry to share.
Qi Junxu smiled and said, "I remember Miss Jiang saying that Zhouji's pastries aren't as good as those from your General's Mansion. How come they're not as good now..."
Each package of pastries had a bright red paper with the words "Zhou Ji" in black characters pasted on it, exactly the same as the ones we ate at the Zhen'an Prince's Mansion, which was the pastry shop in the east of the city that Qi Junxu had mentioned, the one that served royal pastries.
Jiang Yi glanced at him, thinking to herself that he was simply humiliating himself, so she retorted without any politeness: "Your Highness is mistaken. Putting aside whether these pastries are delicious or not, how can what you gave me be compared to what my husband gave me? What he bought for me is naturally of the highest quality, and of course I like it."
Before Qi Junxu could react, Wu Wenping couldn't sit still any longer and roared, "Jiang Yi! How dare you! Do you know who you're talking to?! He Lin, you, you..."
He Lin's gaze fell lightly on him, and Wu Wenpin immediately stammered. His arrogance slowly faded, and he could no longer utter a word. It seemed that he had been thoroughly humiliated by He Lin last time, to the point that he still had a psychological shadow.
Was she wrong?
The private room was completely silent. Jiang Yi was secretly delighted. So this is what it feels like to have someone backing you up. It's awesome!
He Lin leaned back slightly, resting his upper body on the chair, his hands on the armrests, looking exceptionally relaxed.
"Your Highness invited me here today in my wife's name. It must be more than just a drink. Please speak frankly."
Qi Junxu chuckled lightly: "Young Master Lin speaks frankly, I admire him. I heard that when Ma Zhang, the Prince of Hannan, was beheaded some time ago, a woman braved the wind and snow to come and see him off on his final journey."
Jiang Yi stood there, stunned. Wasn't this describing her?
"I was very curious about who this extraordinary woman was, that she had the courage to go to the execution ground to deliver Ma Zhang. So I sent people to investigate. Young Master Lin, guess what? I never expected that this extraordinary woman was your wife, Jiang Yi."
After saying that, he picked up his wine glass, stood up, and paced around the room a few steps. His sharp, hawk-like gaze was fixed on Jiang Yi, carefully observing her every move.
"And that rumored Chairman Chen of Yu Ling Pavilion is even acquainted with your wife, Young Master Lin, don't you have anything to say about this?"
At this point, He Lin had already guessed that Qi Junxu knew his identity, while the person opposite continued, "What's even stranger is that when Miss Jiang was held hostage by Ma Zhang, Xi Chen shot an arrow at her in public. How could Miss Jiang still be so kind as to send Ma Zhang away and become friends with Xi Chen?"
Jiang Yi clicked her tongue and said, "Is it any of your business? Can't I do what I want?"
Qi Junxu raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
What do you want to do?
“It’s very simple. You, Young Master Lin, may not have this ability, but I believe Lord Xi Chen certainly does.”
Qi Junxu emphasized and pronounced the words "Lord Xi Chen" clearly, obviously on purpose for them to hear.
Everyone in the private room realized this, except for Xia Zhi and Wu Wenpin.
Jiang Yi couldn't help but turn her head to look at He Lin. Gu Ziyu and Shan Yanzhi frowned slightly, both with solemn expressions.
"Just say it."
Qi Junxu sat back down and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
"You should know my father's decree. As the year draws to a close, the Prime Minister is about to be executed. No matter what method you use, get him out. Although he has made a mistake, he is still my maternal uncle. I cannot stand idly by."
Jiang Yi was shocked. The Prime Minister was going to be executed? What about Shangguan Muya?
He Lin remained silent for two or three seconds before replying in a low voice, "So this is the simplicity Your Highness speaks of. However, Your Highness has mistaken the person. Treason is a serious crime, and even the Imperial Concubine is powerless to stop it, isn't that right?"
"That depends on how important Miss Jiang is to you. I trust Young Master Lin more."
He Lin frowned, his dark eyes fixed on the person opposite him, as if it were a silent contest.
Jiang Yi slammed her hand on the table: "Qi Junxu, what do you mean by that? What does it have to do with me? Are you using me to threaten him?!"
Qi Junxu stroked his chin and said, "Miss Jiang is right, so we can come up with a good solution that will be good for both of us."
"you……"
As soon as Jiang Yi moved, He Lin immediately grabbed her, his warm, dry palm enveloping her hand.
Qi Junxu glanced down at the spot where the two were holding hands, his eyes dark and unreadable.
He Lin gestured with his chin toward Wu Wenpin, who looked completely bewildered beside him, and calmly said, "Is Your Highness sure you want to discuss this matter in front of him?"
Qi Junxu didn't mind at all, and asked with a sidelong glance, "Young Master Wu, did you hear anything tonight?"
Wu Wenpin was stunned for a few seconds, then quickly bowed to Qi Junxu to show his loyalty.
"Your Highness, I...I didn't hear anything, nor did I see anyone."
Qi Junxu spread his hands and shrugged.
"I think it would be better to let Miss Jiang and Young Master Lin meet the two of them first, so that they can make up their minds."
He winked at Wu Wenping, who understood and immediately opened the door and went out. A moment later, he brought in two girls, one in red and the other in purple, their faces covered with white veils.
Jiang Yi was terrified, a bad feeling welled up inside her. She secretly tugged at He Lin's hand, but He Lin gripped it even tighter, as if to comfort her.
"Come, let Miss Jiang see your true colors."
The two girls obediently removed their veils, revealing tattoos on their right cheeks: a red butterfly and a purple auspicious cloud. These were the same Red Butterfly and Purple Cloud that Jiang Yi had helped before.
Ziyun bowed slowly to Jiang Yi first, followed closely by Hongdie.
"Girl, we meet again."
"Miss Ziyun, didn't you... leave?"
"Yes, we were saved by your people earlier, and my sister and I are extremely grateful. We had nowhere to stay in the capital and originally wanted to go to other places to seek refuge with relatives. Later, the Second Prince sent people to find us, gave us a release order, and brought us back to the capital. Now we work in the Prince's Mansion."
Jiang Yi took a breath.
This "Mirror Flower Water Moon" was originally run by Qi Junxu. He was the behind-the-scenes boss, so it was normal for him to have the release order for all the slaves. However, Jiang Yi was worried about something else: Master Zhou was dead!
The two of them probably don't know about this yet, and Qi Junxu is trying to use this to find them to be witnesses.
Just as Jiang Yi was stunned, Qi Junxu spoke up: "Have any of you ever received any favors from Miss Jiang, such as escaping from Master Zhou's clutches? We are all on the same side, and everyone knows the truth, so just speak frankly."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ziyun and Hongdie recounted the entire story from beginning to end, including the process of getting to know Jiang Yi, telling it all in great detail...
"Enough!"
He Lin abruptly interrupted them, startling the two. They took a step back humbly, lowered their heads, and dared not speak again.
Qi Junxu raised an eyebrow. "Go down. If you want to stay in my residence, shut your mouths, otherwise..."
"Yes, this servant wouldn't dare."
After Wu Wenpin led the two away, silence fell over the private room.
"What do you think, Young Master Lin? Is this arrangement acceptable? I've heard that Master Zhou's elder brother hasn't given up on finding the murderer. If Miss Jiang falls into his hands, I'm afraid her fate won't be much better than that of Hongdie back then."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yi broke free from He Lin's tight grip, picked up a glass of wine from the table, and splashed it directly at Qi Junxu's face.
"Shameless! Despicable! Vulgar!"
Jiang Yi wished she could throw all the foul language she had ever used in her life onto him with this glass of wine.
Qi Junxu remained unperturbed, maintaining his posture without moving. He simply blinked the wine dripping from his eyelashes and chuckled.
"I know that Miss Jiang helped people out of good intentions, but one thing is one thing. Master Zhou was indeed angered to death by you, so..."
Jiang Yi laughed angrily: "What the hell! Is this how you beg for help?!"
He thinks he can get He Lin to help him get his uncle out? Dream on!
"Of course not. I am proud by birth and have never lowered myself to beg anyone. So this is just an exchange with Young Master Lin."
As for whose life to use, it's obvious.
If He Lin saves Jiang Yi, she will be safe; if He Lin doesn't, Jiang Yi will fall into someone else's hands and be at their mercy.
This isn't an exchange at all; it's clearly a blatant threat!
He Lin calmly took a sip of wine and said, "I'm not entirely confident about rescuing someone from the Ministry of Justice prison."
"It's alright, as long as you—"
"Unfortunately, I won't make a move."
He Lin interrupted Qi Junxu, and an eerie silence fell over the private room. The atmosphere turned icy, and the two sides stood facing each other, neither willing to back down.
His refusal to intervene means that Jiang Yi is very likely in danger.
Jiang Yi herself hadn't expected this, but rather than letting Qi Junxu's scheme succeed, she didn't plan to embarrass He Lin in public for the time being. She would settle accounts with him after they left this room.
"That's right, Qi Junxu, you've miscalculated!" Jiang Yi mocked herself. "Although I'm He Lin's wife in name only, I'm not that important to him. Threatening him with me won't work!"
As she spoke, she felt a little wronged and sad. Just a few days ago, He Lin said he would never let this happen again, but in the end, she still couldn't escape becoming his pawn.
fraud!
As if on the same wavelength, He Lin got up and slowly walked to Jiang Yi's side, putting an arm around her shoulder.
He carefully corrected her, word by word: "No, you are very important to me."
Jiang Yi's eyes brightened slightly as she turned to look at him.
"Your Highness is indeed very clever to use my wife to threaten me. However, there is one thing Your Highness has overlooked: I may not have much else, but I am ruthless enough."
He Lin shifted his gaze, his dark eyes fixed on Qi Junxu, and said, "First, Shangguan Dehui and Ma Zhang's rebellion is a capital offense. His Majesty's decision to spare his life is already an act of great mercy. I have no reason to save him, nor will I. Second, as for my wife, I will not hand her over to anyone, and you should not even think about taking her."
“Master Zhou died of heart palpitations, which has nothing to do with my wife. If Your Highness insists on telling the truth to the man surnamed Zhou, so be it. Just kill all those who know the truth. At that time, Your Highness will probably be all alone in the hall. You can gamble on whether I have the ability to do so.”
Qi Junxu narrowed his eyes: "You're crazy."
The elder brother surnamed Zhou, a high-ranking official of the third rank, killed him without hesitation, showing contempt for the imperial court and acting utterly outrageous.
He Lin chuckled lightly, "Farewell."
After Gu Ziyu and Shan Yanzhi opened the door, He Lin walked to the door and stood there with his back to Qi Junxu, saying, "Second Prince, it's better to keep some things to yourself. Just like how the Prime Minister refused to admit to having accomplices in order to protect the person behind the scenes, it's the same principle. What's yours will be yours, there's no need to fight for it. And if it's not yours, there's no use in fighting for it."
As they descended the stairs, they could faintly hear a series of crashing sounds coming from the private room. Qi Junxu had swept everything off the table and kicked it over...
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