"Your Majesty, after this matter is accomplished, my king is willing to confer the title of hereditary Shu King upon the King of Shu, with the entire Shu Kingdom as his fiefdom, and bestow upon him a certificate of merit. In this way, someone will govern the Shu Kingdom, and the King of Shu will be able to live a life of wealth and comfort. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?" Lin Zijin pressed on while the iron was hot.
The Empress Dowager looked at Jun Yilin, who quickly said, "Young Master Lin's meaning is my meaning."
"Such conditions are indeed tempting. Young Master Lin must have thought this through long ago. I dare not underestimate Young Master Lin's talent!" The Empress Dowager stood up from her phoenix throne, walked down the jade steps, and stood in front of Jun Yilin, saying, "The entire Shu Kingdom is willing to obey Prince Lin's orders."
Jun Yilin smiled and said, "I will certainly live up to the Empress Dowager's expectations."
The two then made a vow by high-fiving.
In the main hall, the Empress Dowager and Jun Yilin wrote a covenant in the name of their respective kingdoms, affixing the imperial seal of Shu and Jun Yilin's personal seal. Lin Zijin, as a witness, also affixed his personal seal. Thus, Shu officially became an ally of Lin Zijin and Jun Yilin, taking another step closer to final victory.
After the ceremony, the Empress Dowager blinked and said to Lin Zijing, "Young Master Lin, can you tell me the truth now? That celestial book was fake, wasn't it?"
Young Master Lin smiled slyly: "Whether it's true or false, I've said it before, once the business is settled, the Empress Dowager won't need that thing anymore."
The Empress Dowager seemed to realize she had been tricked: "As expected, this was just one of your moves. Young Master Lin, what a clever scheme you have! No wonder you're so young yet already in charge of the number one restaurant in the world!"
Young Master Lin thought to himself, "He's praising me to his face, but who knows what he's really thinking, cursing my ancestors for generations! Jun Yilin came up with a great idea, but I'm the one who has to take the blame. Sigh!" But he said aloud, "I don't deserve it. Actually, the process isn't important. What's important is that we both got what we wanted!"
Ha ha ha ha……
Several bursts of laughter rang out from inside the main hall!
Young Master Lin remained oblivious to the fact that Jun Yilin had been gazing at him with tender eyes, eyes filled with doting affection and admiration!
☆、Nine、Secret Meeting
"Actually, with our current strength, even without the help of the Shu Kingdom, it makes no difference to us. Why are you so determined to seek the support of the Shu Kingdom?" On the way back to the Jun Kingdom, Jun Yilin asked Lin Zijin curiously.
Lin Zijing explained, “That’s true. Shu is far from our capital, and they might not be willing to help us wholeheartedly. But what I want is not how much effort Shu will put in, but rather that they won’t hold us back when our game comes to a close. The Empress Dowager of Shu is an ambitious woman. If it weren’t for her advanced age and her son’s frail health, I think she would be a formidable enemy standing behind us during the internal strife in China!”
“Well, now that we’ve made an alliance, we can focus on dealing with Jun Yifeng without worrying about trouble at home!” Jun Yilin immediately understood Lin Zijing’s intention.
Lin Zijing smiled: "I thought you would ask me why I agreed to give her such good terms? After all, I didn't discuss it with you beforehand."
Jun Yilin looked at him gently and said, "Zijin is so smart, how could she do a losing business? The conditions you agreed to for her, on the surface, make Shu Kingdom have all the advantages, but in reality, we are the ones who benefit. It can be said that we subdue the enemy without fighting, and bring the entire Shu Kingdom into the territory of Jun Kingdom without a single soldier. We exchanged a nominal title and some gold and silver for a country. Aren't we making a huge profit!"
Hearing Jun Yilin say this, Lin Zijin felt a sense of kinship and mutual appreciation. "That's right. This way, we can kill two birds with one stone. We can avoid the worries of confronting Jun Yifeng and also avoid the bloodshed and sacrifice that will occur when we unify the world. Although it is said that sacrifices are inevitable in achieving great things, I always hope to follow my master's instructions and resolve this peacefully."
"Whatever you want to do, I will be with you!" Jun Yilin's smile was like a gentle breeze, refreshing and delightful.
Lin Zijing knew that this was Jun Yilin's wholehearted trust in her, and a strange feeling welled up inside her. She didn't know what to say, so she just nodded to Jun Yilin.
Jun Yilin smiled knowingly, and the two continued on their way.
After returning to China, Lin Zijing instructed Anmei to speed up the process of finding evidence of Jun Yifeng's crimes, and also contacted Ye Zhanqing to inquire about his placement of trusted confidants.
Ye Zhanqing explained the general situation: "There are many comrades in the army who have shared life and death with me. They are absolutely loyal to me. I take advantage of the annual rotation of generals to place them in mid-level general positions in various places. Although they don't have any real power, it makes it easier for them to place their own confidants in the next lower level of general. After several rotations, our people can be spread throughout the entire Chinese army. As long as time permits, even if the emperor removes me from my position as Grand General in the future, the entire army will still be under my control."
Lin Zijing nodded approvingly and said, "Zhan Qing, the experience of these past few years has made you who you are today. Your achievements and abilities are now no less than those of General Ye!"
Hearing Lin Zijing's praise, Ye Zhanqing felt a little shy, but when she thought of her father, her eyes reddened and a wave of sadness welled up in her heart.
Seeing Ye Zhanqing's appearance, Lin Zijing knew that he was reminded of the tragic death of his entire family, and she couldn't help but think of her own background, and felt saddened.
When Jun Yilin entered, he saw this sorrowful scene. Having already heard Lin Zijin recount his and Ye Zhanqing's ordeal, he felt great sympathy for them. Seeing their expressions, he knew they were recalling the past, so he quickly stepped forward to interrupt: "I've heard there's a martial art called the Heartbreaking Palm. Are you practicing this divine skill? You can't practice it secretly; you have to call me!"
Ye Zhanqing knew he was just trying to amuse the two of them, so he quickly said, "How could I possibly know this kind of skill? I think Zijing is the most secretive person around; maybe he does!"
Seeing Jun Yilin's concerned gaze, Lin Zijing felt a warmth in her heart and said, "I've heard that people who practice the Ecstasy Palm will have their hair turn white overnight, but I won't!"
The atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed. Ye Zhanqing remembered something and hurriedly said to Lin Zijing, "There's someone I hope you can meet. He might be of great help to our important matters. Would you like to meet him?"
Lin Zijing asked, "Who is it?"
Ye Zhanqing said, "The current Prime Minister!"
"Him? Why do you want me to see him?"
"To be honest, he was personally chosen by you from among those who came to the capital for the imperial examination that year. It was that opportunity that allowed him to distinguish himself and realize his ambitions. He has always been grateful for your recognition and support, and Jun Yifeng has distanced himself from him for this reason. Back then, when there was a great need for capable people, Jun Yifeng entrusted him with important responsibilities. Now that the world is at peace, Jun Yifeng is afraid of being accused of discarding him after his usefulness is over, so he doesn't dare to act rashly. Instead, he has gradually stripped Jun Yifeng of his power. The current prime minister is far less powerful than before. However, he is indeed a talented person. Because of you, we have always had a good relationship. When you passed away, he sensed something was wrong. Because he was afraid that I would ruin things, he secretly instructed me not to act rashly, but to secretly investigate the truth and avenge you. Now that he knows you are still alive, he will surely be of one heart and one mind with us."
Lin Zijing pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll meet him. He's quite talented, but a bit pedantic. I don't know if he'll agree—but it would be good to have more help, especially since he has considerable influence in the court. If he can help us, we can save some trouble. Go and make the arrangements. This matter must be kept secret!"
Ye Zhanqing agreed and left to make the arrangements, without further ado.
Jun Yilin smiled and said to Lin Zijing, "I am increasingly convinced that you are destined to be emperor. You have a natural political acumen, a shrewd mind, and the ability to judge people. If you want to be emperor, my brother will never be able to sit on that throne."
Lin Zijing's eyes reddened, and she rubbed the corners of her eyes with her hand, saying in a low voice, "So that means I am indeed a big threat, and it's my own fault that he wants to get rid of me?"
Seeing Lin Zijing cry, Jun Yilin panicked and fumbled around, wanting to take her hand but not daring to, so he could only say repeatedly, "Oh dear, that's not what I meant, Zijing, Zijing, don't cry, you're a man now, a man doesn't easily shed tears!"
Lin Zijing lowered her head, her shoulders trembling violently, as if she were crying even more bitterly.
Jun Yilin's face turned red: "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have said that. The more I said, the more wrong I became. Zijing, don't cry. As long as you don't cry, I'll do anything you want!"
"Really?" Her voice was choked with emotion.
"Really, really!"
"Hahahaha..." Lin Zijing couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Silly girl, you're too easy to fool!"
Jun Yilin was taken aback at first, then realized, "Zijin, you've become so much worse since you became a man! You weren't like this before!"
Lin Zijing was still laughing: "What was I like before?"
"So that's how it is—" Jun Yilin smiled sinisterly. He looked into Lin Zijin's eyes, slowly walked closer, cupped his face in his hands, and kissed him. Lin Zijin's body instantly stiffened, and he froze.
After a moment, Jun Yilin pulled away from his lips with satisfaction and said, "So this is what you've always been like—aloof, elegant, and not one for words!"
Outside the room, the maids were chatting when suddenly a roar came from the second manager's room: "You bastard!" Several sparrows pecking at insects in the yard were startled and scattered in all directions.
The maids looked at each other in surprise. Was this the same gentle and refined young master Lin who was even more beautiful than a woman?
While they were still speculating, another burst of hearty laughter rang out: "Hahahaha... You're allowed to tease me, but I'm not allowed to fight back?"
Everyone was quite surprised. Was this the same accountant, who was usually low-key and had an incredibly good temper, always obedient to the second manager?
From that day on, rumors began to circulate in the Fugui Pawnshop that the second manager and accountant Yi were at odds. It was said that the second manager was afraid that accountant Yi's achievements would surpass his own, so he tried his best to suppress him. As a result, he was retaliated against by accountant Yi, and the relationship between the two deteriorated rapidly. The proof of this was that after that day, the second manager would avoid accountant Yi whenever he saw him, which was clearly a sign of his guilty conscience!
From then on, the image of the handsome young master Lin, who had once been popular in the wealthy pawnshop, plummeted, while the gentle and polite accountant Yi, who was also good-looking, quickly gained a lot of support.
The girls who had almost fainted at the sight of Young Master Lin all turned their ardent gazes to the dashing Accountant Yi. Although the Second Manager was very handsome, he was just too handsome. Who would want their husband to be more beautiful than themselves? Accountant Yi was much better; he was handsome and had a good temper. He was truly the ideal man in every woman's heart!
Caught in the midst of their struggle, the two were completely oblivious to the misunderstandings their words and actions were causing. Lin Zijing noticed that fewer women were fainting at the sight of him lately, and fewer were deliberately creating opportunities to meet him, which brought her a sense of relief, and she didn't dwell on why. Meanwhile, Jun Yilin, facing the daily fervent gazes directed at him, while not feeling uncomfortable—after all, it was common for Prince Lin to receive such enthusiastic attention from women—couldn't help but wonder why these women were only now realizing his worth!
"That bastard!" Lin Zijing cursed Jun Yilin hundreds of times in her heart, but recalling that kiss, it actually felt kind of nice! No, no, she had to stop! Although she was a woman and had had intimate contact with Jun Yilin under duress before, this body belonged to a man! Two men kissing—how could that be proper?! Thinking of this, Lin Zijing got goosebumps all over. This was the true face of that devilish devil, Lin Zijing thought bitterly. She had been fooled by his harmless appearance recently, thinking his personality had changed after suffering a blow, but he was still the same bastard!
☆、Ten、Old Friends
Under Ye Zhanqing's arrangement, Wang Chenglin was secretly taken to Jinxiu Garden, a winery under the name of Dark Night Tower. In order to test Wang Chenglin's intentions first, Lin Zijing decided not to reveal her identity, but to let Ye Zhanqing talk to him while she hid behind the screen to eavesdrop.
However, the plan took a small turn when Jun Yilin followed Lin Zijin behind the screen. The two were now in a cramped space, barely able to turn around, and could only huddle together, their breaths mingling. Seeing this, Lin Zijin was about to lose her temper and kick Jun Yilin out when the door creaked open, and Ye Zhanqing led Wang Chenglin in.
"Oh no, going out now will definitely cause trouble," Lin Zijing thought to herself. However, she was still unwilling to give up and glared at Jun Yilin, signaling him to behave. Jun Yilin understood, nodded with a smile, and covered his lips with his index finger, indicating that Lin Zijing should not make a sound. For the sake of the greater good, Young Master Lin had no choice but to endure it for the time being.
The two listened quietly to the sounds outside.
"It's been a long time since I last saw you, Cheng Lin. I'd like to catch up with you." Ye Zhanqing raised his wine glass to Wang Cheng Lin.
Wang Chenglin smiled and drank, saying, "Zhan Qing, we have a close relationship, so there's no need for unnecessary formalities. You look a bit off today, is something wrong?"
Ye Zhanqing hadn't expected him to be so blunt, and he couldn't continue what he had prepared. After a moment of hesitation, he could only say, "To be honest, Cheng Lin, I have a question that's been bothering me, and I have to get it out of my mouth. I hope you can help me figure it out!"
"No problem, no problem, tell me. If it's something obscure, I'll just let it go in one ear and out the other and forget about it tomorrow, haha..." Seeing Ye Zhanqing's predicament, Wang Chenglin took the initiative to express his concerns.
"Since that's the case, I'll be frank. Since the Empress's passing, I've always suspected the cause of her death. I believe she was murdered, but unfortunately, I lack concrete evidence. Now I've found a clue, and I want to ask Cheng Lin, do you still stand by your promise to avenge her and repay past kindness?" Ye Zhanqing looked at Wang Cheng Lin nervously. He hoped this man genuinely loved his sister and wanted to help her. If he showed even the slightest reluctance, then he wouldn't let him leave this room today—if he wasn't a friend, he was an enemy!
Upon hearing this, Wang Chenglin's grip on the wine cup tightened, spilling wine onto his moon-white robe, but he seemed oblivious. "Could it be—not because of the infighting in the harem?" Wang Chenglin asked hesitantly. "Could it be—who is this person? To elicit such a reaction from you, they are definitely not an ordinary person!"
Wang Chenglin looked at Ye Zhanqing, hoping to glean information from his eyes, but Ye Zhanqing kept his lips tightly shut and remained silent. A flash of inspiration struck Wang Chenglin, and his face turned deathly pale: "Could it be—him?"
Ye Zhanqing watched Wang Chenglin's constantly changing expression and knew that he had already guessed the person. He patiently waited for Wang Chenglin's decision. It would be a pity to lose this friend, but no one was more important than his sister.
Wang Chenglin had already guessed from Ye Zhanqing's expression and behavior that Ye Zhanqing was waiting for his decision, a decision that might affect his entire life. Wang Chenglin thought of that peerless beauty, slammed his wine glass heavily on the table, and said in a low but firm voice, "I will never forget the Empress's kindness. Please tell me the truth, Zhanqing. As long as I can help, I will do my duty without hesitation!"
Years later, Wang Chenglin sat in his plum grove, sipping tea and reminiscing about the past. He was still very grateful that he had made the right choice and had not regretted it for the rest of his life.
Seeing Wang Chenglin's sincere eyes, Ye Zhanqing felt relieved. It seemed that his judgment was correct. This friend was indeed loyal and righteous. However, since this matter involved so many lives, he might as well try him again.
Thinking of this, Ye Zhanqing said, "We only have some clues now, and we can't be sure yet. However, the people involved are of high status, so it's not too late for Cheng Lin to regret it now."
Knowing that Ye Zhanqing wouldn't easily trust him, Wang Chenglin decided to be frank: "To be honest, Zhanqing, your words and actions just now have already revealed this person's identity to me. His status is extremely high; there is no one in the world more noble than him—" Wang Chenglin paused, dipped his finger in wine, wrote the character "君" (jun, meaning "ruler") on the table, and then wiped it away. "I know this matter is of great importance. No matter what you do, the final result will be earth-shattering. Although I am a civil official, I also know the importance of loyalty and righteousness. My mind is made up. I will accept whatever comes my way, even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of fire. I just hope Zhanqing will tell me the truth. Am I right?"
Seeing Wang Chenglin's attitude, Ye Zhanqing realized he was sincere and nodded in response to Wang Chenglin's question.
Upon seeing this, Wang Chenglin broke out in a cold sweat, utterly dumbfounded. It was true! He muttered to himself, "Why? Why is this happening? Does he even suspect his own wife and son? Is this what a king is like?"
Ye Zhanqing looked worriedly at Wang Chenglin across from him, whose gaze was unfocused and who was talking to himself. He thought to himself, "He was fine just now, could he have gone crazy from being too frightened?" Just as he was about to ask, Wang Chenglin suddenly returned to normal. He said seriously, "I believe you must have solid evidence, otherwise you wouldn't say such things. But if we take action against him, what will happen to China? What will happen to the people?"
Upon hearing his question, Ye Zhanqing secretly praised him, saying that he truly deserved to be called a good prime minister who cared for the country and its people. He calmly replied, "Cheng Lin is indeed sincere. Since that's the case, I will no longer hide anything. I do have conclusive evidence that he killed his wife and children and committed atrocities. He is unworthy to be the ruler of the world. Moreover, I have learned that Prince Lin is the one destined by Heaven. He is benevolent and loves the people, and he will surely be able to shoulder this great responsibility!"
After a moment's thought, Wang Chenglin said, "This matter is of great importance. Could you let me see the evidence you have obtained? If it is as you say, I am willing to serve you wholeheartedly! But Prince Lin has been missing for a long time. Where are we supposed to find him?"
Ye Zhanqing thought to himself, "If you agree immediately, I wouldn't dare to believe you so easily. I saw you pondering for a long time just now, and your feelings were sincere. You are concerned about the country and the people. I think you are sincere. If I don't show my sincerity, I'm afraid I will hurt my good friend's feelings."
Ye Zhanqing smiled slightly and said, "Cheng Lin, you need to be mentally prepared. No matter what you see later, don't be surprised!"
Wang Chenglin suddenly felt a little nervous, nodded in agreement, and looked forward to what he was about to see, wondering what it would be.
Ye Zhanqing clapped his hands, and two elegant figures emerged from behind the screen. Lin Zijing thought to herself, "Finally, I can get out! I was so suffocated in there, unable to move, and I had to be so close to this bastard." Jun Yilin, on the other hand, thought, "How come they settled things in such a short time? I haven't had enough of being in there!"
Wang Chenglin was startled to see two people hiding behind the screen and stood up, but he managed to suppress his surprise as he remembered what Ye Zhanqing had said earlier.
Seeing that he had immediately calmed down, Lin Zijing nodded in satisfaction. She had heard their conversation clearly, and this prime minister was still capable of taking on important responsibilities in the future.
Lin Zijing said, "Aren't you afraid of being punished by powerful figures if you plot something here? I can get rid of you without anyone knowing. Are you afraid?"
Wang Chenglin was about to reply when he suddenly remembered something, his face turned pale, and his voice trembled. Wasn't this the sentence he had said when they first met? Why?
"Who...who are you? You're not dead?" Wang Chenglin asked in a trembling voice.
Seeing that Wang Chenglin was quite frightened, Lin Zijing stopped being mysterious and said, "You just said you would avenge me, so why are you asking me who I am now!"