Jiangshan Dream - Chapter 14
"Where did that bicycle come from?"
"Your Highness, we were the ones who stopped you halfway. Your Highness doesn't usually use sleight of hand, so there aren't any in the manor."
"You saw them as soon as you went out?"
"Uh...Yes, Master, they are waiting for business at the door..." Han Qing was already sweating profusely. He understood what Lin Feng wanted to say. This woman was really scary, so sensitive even to such a small thing!
"Have your men arrest these sleigh drivers! Search that sleigh; if you find nothing, pay them off and let them go. If you find anything... well, you know my style, you'll have to deal with it yourself!"
"Yes!" Han Qing immediately gathered his guards and was about to step forward to arrest the man.
Upon seeing Lin Feng about to arrest them, the captives immediately showed fear in their eyes, dropping their harnesses and desperately trying to escape. However, this entire street belonged to Beichen Tian, and they had nowhere to run. Before long, they were caught one after another. One of them, seeing no escape, lunged at Lin Feng and the four weak women with a fierce glint in his eyes. Lin Feng stood coldly behind him, and Jin Zi snorted:
"Hmph! Overestimating yourself!"
Don't they realize they're women from the God of War's mansion? Are they really that frail and weak?
With a swift and skillful counter-kick, the imposter was sent rolling backward and was immediately bound by the guards who rushed up behind him.
Han Qing, having searched the place with his men, returned sweating profusely, reporting, "Master Lin, there's a potent sleeping potion inside. Inhaling even a small amount will render someone completely powerless and unable to get up. Two guards have already collapsed." He was utterly impressed by Lin Feng this time! If what happened today had actually occurred, even if Bei Chentian hadn't dismantled them, Lin Feng, once she regained her strength, would probably have turned them into human stumps. (Lin Feng: Protest! I'm not that violent!) (Author: Sigh… This is already a well-known fact, so just accept it…)
At this moment, Zhang Zhuo had already brought his horse over. He was stunned when he saw the scene here. He roughly understood what was going on and immediately walked respectfully to Lin Feng's side, afraid of angering this woman at this time.
Lin Feng stared coldly at Han Qing, making his scalp tingle and breaking out in a cold sweat. Suddenly, he heard her say calmly, "I'll help you this time, but only this once. If there's a second time, you'll be punished!" Han Qing hurriedly thanked her repeatedly. Fortunately, this woman wasn't too ruthless; being chopped into a human stick must have been an unpleasant experience.
"We'll deduct a month's wages from you, and deal with those people first."
Since these people were assigned to Lin Feng, their monthly salaries have been paid by Lin Feng. Bei Chentian gave her a considerable sum of money, but all these expenses have clear invoices. Lin Feng would at most use the money for investment, and it's impossible for him to embezzle it. This is also why she needs to make money.
Han Qing was stunned: "Master Lin, is there no need for interrogation?"
Zhang Zhuo scolded him from the side: "You just do whatever Master Lin tells you to do! Doesn't she have any sense of propriety and need you to remind her? Master Lin must know the details of those people."
Han Qing hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes!" He couldn't afford to make another mistake; he didn't want to work for nothing all his life.
Indeed, Lin Feng already knew the origins of those swindlers; they were either Princess Fengping or Princess Changle. Ordinary nobles wouldn't dare to do such a thing, so why would the people of Beichen Tian dare to make a move? Unless they were tired of living.
The two princesses who were entangled with Bei Chentian could use their limited power and some excuses to evade responsibility for Bei Chentian's betrayal. The emperor turned a blind eye to the matter, which suggests that he tacitly approved of it.
Well, Beichen Tian, are you deliberately testing me? If I can't make it to the banquet safely, it will prove that my value is nothing more than that, and then you don't need to care so much.
Hmph! Daring to scheme against me, Lin Feng, will come at a great cost!
"Master Lin, shall we mount our horses?" Zhang Zhuo asked hastily when he saw her standing silently beside the horse.
"Should I ride on it myself?" These subordinates are still too slow-witted. She needs to train a group of capable subordinates quickly. If it were Nangong Chuixue, she probably wouldn't be so stupid.
Jin Yi reminded her this time: "Master Lin doesn't reveal her identity when she's out. Do you want the whole world to know that she knows martial arts?"
Zhang Zhuo was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes! I'll make the cushion!"
Lin Feng glanced at the three girls and nodded slightly. The girls were quite clever, not bad. Jin Yi, this maid, was very good at seeing through people's hearts. She also needed to find another trusted maid. She was somewhat uneasy about using other people's people around her. Who knew if Bei Chentian would be fickle and change his mind?
Lin Feng sat on his horse, with Zhang Zhuo leading it. They finally arrived at the Crown Prince's Palace in the Imperial Palace. Bei Chentian usually lived in his residence, but the Crown Prince's Palace had become the place of celebration every time Bei Chentian returned home after a victory.
This victory celebration banquet is truly lavish! Lin Feng pretended that he couldn't ride a horse and had Zhang Zhuo help him down. He then entered everyone's sight with three maids, immediately drawing gasps of amazement!
"This is the woman His Highness brought back; she is indeed an absolute beauty!"
"No wonder even His Highness, who is not interested in women, has been moved."
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on finding such a beautiful woman!"
The voices mingled incessantly, but Lin Feng seemed not to hear a word. He glanced calmly at each side of the banquet table; the head seat was empty, presumably reserved for the emperor, who had likely not yet arrived. At this moment, Bei Chentian was already seated in the second seat, smiling at him. On the other side, in the second seat, was Ouyang Xiao, also looking at him with a slight smile, presumably because he too had received some military merit and was to be rewarded.
Beside Bei Chentian sat two richly dressed men, lined up to the left. Lin Feng guessed that these two must be the First Prince and the Second Prince. Further down were Nangong Chuixue and his soldiers, as well as Ouyang Xiao's group. Each of these men was accompanied by one or two women, except for Bei Chentian, who was all alone.
Below the banquet table sat a row of beautiful women. Many of them were stunned when she entered. They probably never imagined that a woman could be so beautiful. Several women even glared at her with resentment, especially the two women sitting in front, who were probably the two princesses they had heard about before.
Chapter Seventeen: The Dinner (Part 1)
She glanced at Bei Chentian with a cold smile. "You're doing well, sitting here leisurely and dumping all the problems on me?"
Bei Chentian smiled and replied: "If I don't give it to you, who else would I give it to? Don't say I don't trust them; they don't have the ability to control everything!"
Bei Chentian didn't believe Lin Feng; he only believed in Lin Feng's abilities and that she couldn't leave his side for the time being.
Lin Feng snorted inwardly and walked into the banquet hall without saying a word.
Suddenly, one of the women in the back seats stood up: "Wait! Young lady, where are you going? There are rules for banquets. This is the imperial palace. Breaking the rules will be punished according to the law!"
Lin Feng glanced at her; she seemed to be the daughter of some high-ranking official. He sneered, “I’m not a member of the palace, but a merchant. Do I need to follow these rules?” Through his conversation with Qin Mujun, Lin Feng had come to understand that merchants had a rather peculiar status in the Yin Sang Continent. Apart from the emperor, they paid almost no heed to anyone else. Sometimes even princes had to curry favor with big merchants, let alone ordinary noble families.
Most people understand that in chaotic times, without substantial assets, one cannot succeed anywhere. Forget about wealthy merchants coming; some merchants simply ignore invitations, like the four major tycoons—even if they were to invite them, they probably wouldn't come. However, there's more to it than meets the eye. The spontaneous alliances formed by merchants themselves are a major reason; otherwise, in an era of absolute monarchy, they would have had no say.
The woman, even more enraged by this, retorted, "Don't lie through your teeth! You're no businesswoman, you're a prostitute! Who gives you the right to speak here? Aren't you afraid of being punished for deceiving the emperor? No one here is someone you can mess with!"
Bei Chentian, seated far away, spoke coolly: "Miss Yu Feng is joking. Does she think she has the right to speak if Feng has no right to speak here? She is someone I brought with me, and I can vouch for her as a wealthy merchant. Are you deliberately trying to disrespect me?" His cold, handsome eyebrows shot up, exuding an aura of dominance. His eyes gleamed with a chilling light, making it almost impossible for anyone to look him in the eye. Everyone lowered their heads, unwilling to provoke this lion, Bei Chentian.
Bei Chen Tian is the future emperor, that's for sure. Even now, his words carry a lot of weight in the court. I'm afraid no one would dare to disrespect Bei Chen Tian!
Yu Feng, the daughter of the current Left Prime Minister, had long admired Bei Chentian. She had always stayed in her boudoir, oblivious to the ways of the world. Now, she was instigated by others to rashly stand up, only to be publicly rebuked by Bei Chentian. Her heart was pounding, and she didn't know what to say.
Lin Feng wanted to give Bei Chentian a headache, so she looked around and slowly said, "What I want to tell you is that I am not protected by His Highness. If you don't believe I'm a businessman, just look at this document." She was prepared, and took out a document with black and white writing from her sleeve. It was signed by Qin Mujun.
Many soldiers who didn't recognize her immediately gasped in shock; this woman had such sharp eyes!