When Su Muxue saw Su Yi, whom she hadn't seen for many days, she was overjoyed: "Brother~ you're finally back? Where have you been these past few days? It's been so hard to see you."
However, Su Yi did not respond to Su Muxue, but went straight to Mu Jin's side, took her hand, and asked urgently, "I heard that you were attacked at 'Xiangmingju' today. Were you injured?"
Mu Jin gently shook her head, but Su Muxue felt dissatisfied: "Brother, you only care about asking if A Jin is hurt, but you don't care about your own sister at all. Is this how a brother should act?"
Mu Jin awkwardly withdrew her hand. Su Yi glanced at her, and after confirming that she was not injured, he turned his gaze to Su Muxue.
"Didn't I tell you that the situation outside is chaotic lately and you should not leave the manor? If you hadn't insisted on leaving the manor, this wouldn't have happened today."
Su Muxue, however, didn't seem to care and said, "What's the big deal? Ah Jin is highly skilled in martial arts. The assassin was taken down by Ah Jin before he could even get close to us!"
Su Yi glared at Su Muxue: "Still trying to argue!"
Su Muxue pouted, her face full of displeasure, and said with a hint of mockery, "How can you blame me for this? Ajin said that the calamity we suffered this time was all because of your jealous cousin."
Su Yi quickly glanced at Mu Jin, and seeing that she looked perfectly normal, he gave Su Muxue a warning glare. Su Muxue knew that this incident was caused by her insistence on leaving the manor, so she shrugged and shut her mouth.
Seeing the brother and sister like this, Mu Jin couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing. However, noticing the unusual fatigue on Su Yi's face, she suppressed her smile and spoke to Su Yi.
"Today, while I was having tea with the princess at the teahouse, I met Lu Changwei's son. He mentioned that Nan Wenhui is planning to join forces with the ministers to enter the palace and force the emperor to abdicate. Be careful."
Su Yi said with a sneer, "Recently, the Lin family and their cronies have been spreading rumors in various prefectures and counties of Southern Shu, saying that I, a prince of the Eastern Yue Kingdom, am not legitimate as the regent of the Southern Shu Kingdom. There are even rumors that I have imprisoned the emperor, and some even say that I may have killed the emperor."
Mu Jin frowned: "Did the people believe it?"
Su Yi replied, "Why wouldn't you believe me? In the eyes of the people, the Lin family were the heroes who helped my grandfather conquer the country."
"So—" Mu Jin suddenly understood what Lu Changwei's son meant when he said in the teahouse today that it was common knowledge everywhere. She looked sharply at Su Yi and said, "They're planning to use public opinion to cover up the fact that they're about to rebel?"
Su Yi pinched Mu Jin's cheek and said with a smile, "Ah Jin is so smart." Mu Jin shook off Su Yi's hand and scolded, "What time is it? You're still joking with me."
"How could the Lin family be so shameless?" Su Muxue said angrily upon hearing Su Yi's words, "They actually dared to throw mud at my brother."
Su Yi, however, said dismissively, "They've all rebelled. It's either you or me. What's a little mudslinging?"
Su Muxue asked worriedly, "What should we do now?"
"We will remain unchanged in the face of all changes." Su Yi said calmly, "They just want to create public pressure, enter the palace and kill me and my grandfather. In the end, only Nan Wenhui will be left as a member of the royal family in Nan Shu. Then, in her name, Lin Zhengyong will be allowed to succeed to the throne and the surname of Nan Shu will be changed to Lin."
Su Muxue asked doubtfully, "Do they really have such great abilities?"
Su Yi scoffed, “Lin Zhengyong is the Grand General of Southern Shu. Half of the soldiers in Southern Shu are from the Lin family army. Although most of them are stationed on the border, it is easy for the court to discover them if they are transferred. So in recent years, he has been secretly recruiting soldiers and expanding his forces, and stationing troops in Nanyan Mountain.”
Su Muxue asked in confusion, "So, Grandfather just stands by and watches the Lin family's power grow stronger day by day without doing anything about it?"
Mu Jin raised an eyebrow and said, "Is Emperor Gaozong's leniency towards the Lin family's power a strategy of first praising them and then suppressing them?"
Su Yi smiled but remained noncommittal.
Su Muxue asked, puzzled, "What does 'praise first, then criticize' mean?"
Mu Jin smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Emperor Gaozong intends to give the Lin family a taste of sweetness first. Lin Zhengyong is, after all, Nan Wenhui's son. With such an arrogant mother, how could her son be an easy person to raise?"
"As his power grew, and Emperor Gaozong had no son, he naturally felt that the royal family feared and relied on him, thus becoming complacent and increasingly arrogant. Once his arrogance reached a certain level, he would slip up and then Emperor Gaozong would wipe out the Lin family in one fell swoop."
Su Yi looked at Mu Jin with an approving smile, and Su Muxue nodded as if enlightened.
"Wait a minute!" Su Muxue seemed to remember something and said, "But isn't Grandfather seriously ill in the Dragon Saliva Palace? How could he have wiped out the Lin family in one fell swoop?"
Su Yi and Mu Jin glanced at Su Muxue's puzzled expression, then exchanged a knowing smile and remained silent.
Su Muxue looked at the two people opposite her with suspicion. Just as she was about to say something, a guard rushed over and knelt down to report.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Lin Zhengyong has led a large army and is approaching the outskirts of Bianliang City. It looks like they are about to attack the city!"
The three men's hearts sank upon hearing this; Lin Zhengyong was actually so impatient...
Su Yi hurriedly summoned the old steward to lead Mu Jin and Su Muxue to hide in the underground secret room, but Mu Jin refused to stay in the Princess's residence: "I will go back to the palace with you."
Mu Jin's sudden words took Su Yi by surprise. He curled his lips and smiled at Mu Jin, "What? Are you worried about my safety?"
Mu Jin rolled her eyes at Su Yi, scoffed, ignored him, and walked towards the door.
Seeing this, Su Muxue couldn't help but insist on going with the two of them.
Su Yi exchanged a glance with Uncle Kun, who immediately stepped forward and pulled Su Muxue back. Watching Su Yi and Mu Jin's departing figures, Su Muxue grew anxious.
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