Chapter 45 The beauty is actually her sweetheart? No, it's the hero who saved her who's going crazy!
"These... these things! Where did they come from?! Tell me!" He pounced on the table like a nimble cheetah, slamming his hands heavily on the surface with a "bang".
Liu Yingying was startled by his sudden outburst, which was completely different from his previous lifeless demeanor, and took a half step back. But what welled up in her heart was more relief and excitement—the prince had finally... finally come back to life!
She quickly composed herself and replied clearly and swiftly, "Your Highness, it was purchased from a merchant caravan from the capital. According to them, these are the most sought-after items in the capital right now, especially this mirror and the white sugar, which are said to... have come from the palace and are exclusively for the royal family and top nobles."
"The palace?" Yan Linye's brows furrowed deeply. The imperial palace in the capital? Chu Yin, that debauched and tyrannical emperor? How could this be...?
Liu Yingying carefully observed every change in his expression, and cautiously yet guidingly continued, "Your Highness, take another look. Don't you think... the ingenuity behind these things resembles a certain person?"
Like a person?
In an instant, Yan Linye's mind was filled with a flash of inspiration! The boy with the sly smile and bright eyes seemed to be standing right in front of him again—the little guy who could produce "stewed soup seasoning" with miraculous effects, who could draw ingenious blueprints for farm tools that far surpassed the times, and whose ideas were always unconventional and imaginative!
Yes! Yes! Who else but Yun Zhan could possess such a style that reveals true talent in the ordinary?!
"Yun Zhan...it's Yun Zhan!" Yan Linye murmured to himself, his voice rising from a low murmur to a low growl filled with suppressed emotion. He suddenly looked at Liu Yingying, his eyes burning with fervor. "You mean...he might be in the capital?! He went to that den of wolves?!"
“I dare not make a rash judgment, but… all indications suggest that it is highly likely.” Liu Yingying nodded solemnly, “Young Master Yun is exceptionally talented and ingenious, and is by no means an ordinary person. The ingenuity contained in these things is exactly the same as what he showed in Hejian Prefecture. Perhaps… he went to the capital by chance.”
Hope, like a flood bursting its banks, swept away the dam of despair and self-abandonment that Yan Linye had built in his heart. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned to the door and roared in a voice devoid of his former authority, "Chen Feng! Where have you been! Get back here right now!"
"Your Highness! Your subordinate is here!" Chen Feng practically burst through the door, his face filled with barely concealed excitement. Heaven knows how anxious these old subordinates were as they watched their prince's decline and fall into despair!
"Immediately! Utilize all our hidden agents in the capital! As quickly as possible, at all costs!" Yan Linye spoke rapidly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. "Investigate all recent anomalies in the capital! Especially anything concerning novel objects, skilled craftsmen, and anything related to the palace! Focus on young men who entered the palace within the last seven months or so, or who have any connection to the palace! Be quick!"
"Yes, Your Highness! I will arrange it myself!" Chen Feng replied loudly, then turned and rushed out like a whirlwind, his footsteps echoing in the corridor, full of power.
For Yan Linye, the next two weeks were like being fried in oil. He forced himself to quit drinking, and although he still couldn't eat or sleep, the flame of "goal" and "search" had been rekindled in his deep eyes.
He mechanically processed the backlog of tasks, mobilizing all available resources, but his heart had already crossed mountains and rivers, flying towards the magnificent cage that imprisoned his beloved—the Imperial Palace in the capital. Every piece of news coming from the capital, no matter how subtle, could make his heart race uncontrollably.
Half a month later, Chen Feng rushed into the study again. This time, he was tightly clutching a sealed parchment scroll in his hand, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"Your Highness! A secret report from the capital! Details are here!"
Yan Linye snatched the secret report almost as if he were grabbing it, his fingertips trembling slightly with immense anticipation and fear. He took a deep breath, abruptly unfurled the parchment, and his gaze, sharp as a keen eagle's, rapidly scanned the densely packed characters on it.
The secret report was extremely detailed:
About seven months ago, the tyrannical Emperor Chu Yin's behavior took an "abnormal turn," and he began to unusually favor a beautiful woman surnamed Li (whose given name was Mu Yan).
Following closely behind, this emperor, who was known for his absurdity, seemed to have been enlightened by a master. He first used swift and decisive means to eliminate the powerful minister Li Gang and his faction who controlled the government, shocking the court and the public.
There was also a series of dazzling actions: vigorously promoting new agricultural tools with remarkable effects, rectifying the corrupt officials in the Grand Canal, and even recently producing a crystal-clear and expensive glass mirror to alleviate the national treasury crisis, as well as pure white and delicate refined salt that benefited the people, and pure and sweet white sugar that was popular among the nobility...
The matter sparked much discussion both in the court and among the people. Although they were surprised and suspicious of the emperor's change, most people firmly believed that given Chu Yin's previously pitiful intelligence and muddle-headed behavior, these inventions and creations that benefited the country and its people could not possibly have been his work. They were more likely the work of the mysterious and unpredictable "Consort Li," who was deeply favored by the emperor.
"Seven months ago... Lady Li..." Yan Linye repeatedly pondered these two key time points and titles.
Seven months ago! That was the time when Yun Zhan mysteriously disappeared!
The timing of this "Beauty Li's" sudden appearance coincides perfectly with the time when Yun Zhan disappeared!
Furthermore, considering the spy's indirect description of that "Lady Li": very young, with a striking and elegant appearance, a unique and extraordinary temperament, though she lived a secluded life, she enjoyed the emperor's "trust" and "favor," and was almost always at his beck and call...
All these characteristics perfectly match his Yun Zhan!
Yan Linye's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, and then suddenly released, his blood of ecstasy rushing to his limbs and bones!
He found him! He finally found him! His Yun Zhan hadn't disappeared, hadn't met with any misfortune, he really was in the capital! He was alive and well!
However, this wave of ecstasy that almost overwhelmed him lasted only a moment before it was completely replaced by an even more turbulent and violent piercing pain and raging fury!
His Yun Zhan... is in the palace!
Beside that despicable, shameless, licentious, and tyrannical ruler Chu Yin!
Not only was she forced to live in anonymity, but she also became the concubine of that tyrannical emperor... "Consort Li"?!
"Favor," "trust," "pampering," "obedience"... these words transformed into countless poisoned steel needles, piercing his heart and churning it repeatedly!
He could almost vividly imagine how his innocent, kind, intelligent, and charming Yun Zhan was forcibly abducted into the palace by that tyrannical emperor using some despicable means, imprisoned in that man-eating golden cage, forced to endure humiliation, and even had to exhaust his energy and use his extraordinary talent to stabilize the country for his enemy in exchange for a chance to live.
That's it! It must have been Yun Zhan's extraordinary abilities, displayed while helping me develop my power in Hejian Prefecture, that aroused the covetousness of that tyrannical ruler, Chu Yin! And then... and then, taking advantage of my unpreparedness, he kidnapped me using despicable means!
The thought of the torment and grievances Yun Zhan might suffer, the thought of his clear and bright eyes possibly filled with tears all day long, the thought of his lively smile possibly being replaced by fear and despair, made Yan Linye feel a violent aura that could destroy everything soar to the heavens, almost burning away his last shred of reason!
"Chu! Yin!!!"
He let out a roar like a wounded beast and slammed his fist into the heavy solid wood desk in front of him! With a loud, teeth-grinding crack, the hard desk was smashed open by his fist, which contained violent internal force, sending wood chips flying everywhere!
"How dare you... how dare you humiliate him! Force him! Imprison him!! I, Yan Linye, swear to the heavens that I will personally tear you to pieces! To avenge my Yun Zhan!"
The fighting spirit that had been suppressed for months exploded like a volcanic eruption at this moment! The Yan Linye who drowned his sorrows in alcohol was completely dead. Standing here now was the king of revenge who was determined to overthrow the imperial power!
"Chen Feng! Pass on my orders!" His voice was icy cold, carrying an unwavering and resolute tone. "All uprising plans are to be brought forward! Assemble the three armies and gather all necessary provisions and weaponry! Ten days! I'm giving you only ten days! In ten days, the entire army will swear an oath and march on the capital! We will punish the usurper Chu Yin, restore the glory of our Great Chen Dynasty, and save Yun Zhan!"
"I will obey Your Majesty's command!"
The generals who gathered outside the gate, hearing the commotion, saw that Yan Linye had not only regained his former heroic bearing, but his aura was even more resolute than before, as if he were unstoppable. They were all so excited that their blood boiled, and they shouted in unison, "I accept the order!" The long-suppressed Yan Prince's mansion seemed to be instantly infused with a burning soul. All the gloom was swept away, leaving only a fierce fighting spirit, ready to strike!
The prince is back! Their pillar of strength is back! And for a goal that would make all the soldiers willing to sacrifice their lives—to overthrow the Great Chen Dynasty and rescue the person who is so vital to their prince!
...
Meanwhile, far away in the imperial palace in the capital, Yun Zhan was frantically reviewing the flood of disaster relief memorials and urgent military reports from all over the country, while also complaining to the system in his mind about the frustrating efficiency of local officials and the endless stream of corrupt practices.
Suddenly, without warning, he shivered violently. A strange chill shot from his tailbone straight to the top of his head, and his back instantly broke out in a cold sweat. The vermilion pen in his hand fell with a "thud" onto the open memorial, staining a large area with red ink.
"Achoo!" He rubbed his itchy nose, then suspiciously tightened his dragon robe, looking utterly bewildered. "How strange! The stoves in this palace are burning brightly, and the doors and windows are all tightly closed, yet suddenly I feel like I've been thrown into an ice cellar, my neck is chilly... It's like I'm being stared at by something extremely terrifying and full of resentment?"
[Host, according to the comprehensive physiological scan data, your body temperature is normal and you have not been infected with any cold virus. Preliminary analysis suggests that it may be a neurological stress reaction caused by your recent excessive mental stress and overwork, or... it may be interference from some powerful resentment magnetic field that is beyond the monitoring range of this system.] The system analyzed in a flat electronic voice, and even made a rare cold joke at the end.
"A resentment field?" Yun Zhan curled his lips and rubbed his still cold neck. "It must be those old foxes from Li Gang who were knocked down, or their remnants scattered all over the place, stabbing me in some dark corner and cursing me!"
He shook his head, trying to dispel the inexplicable unease, picked up his vermilion pen again, and resignedly continued to bury himself in the seemingly endless political affairs concerning the well-being of the people.
He had no idea, nor could he possibly imagine, that his "ex-boyfriend," who loved him to the bone yet was also his adversary and who had automatically imagined a dramatic "forced marriage and emotional abuse" scenario, had completely ignited his inner sanity, mustered his troops, sharpened his weapons, and was poised to storm the capital to stage a spectacular "hero saves the beauty" drama.
Meanwhile, the man who was about to be "saved" was still worrying himself sick over how to feed the people, how to fend off the brutal enemies from within and without, how to balance the complex power dynamics in the court, and... how to pay off the huge, interest-laden system loan.
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