I still can't figure this person out!
Changchun Palace is located outside the East and West Six Palaces. It is a palace on the outer perimeter of the imperial palace. It was originally the residence of the princes, but now it is an empty palace.
Lin Zijing stayed in Changchun Palace for over a month without anything happening, and Jun Yifeng didn't come to discuss Buddhism with him either. He hadn't brought anything with him when he entered the palace, to avoid being recognized, and besides, he hadn't expected to go back. "Young Master Lin," he thought, "I didn't bring anything with me—my whip, my hidden weapons, my powder…nothing at all! How boring!"
Jun Yifeng ostensibly placed Lin Zijing in Changchun Palace, but in reality, it was a form of house arrest. Whenever he wanted to go out for a stroll, he would be politely ushered back by the guards. However, he dared not reveal his martial arts skills and could only pretend to be a weak scholar with no strength to even kill a chicken. Poor Lin Zijing's face simply screamed "delicate and frail!" He didn't even need to pretend.
Unaware of what was happening outside, Lin Zijing was extremely anxious, fearing that her confinement in the palace would disrupt her plans and force them to intervene, thus revealing a weakness in her scheme. However, she reassured herself that they weren't children anymore and should know what they should and shouldn't do. At this time, they had to be patient; if they did anything rash, she would be in danger! Surely Jun Yifeng wouldn't keep her locked up forever!
Bored, Lin Zijing leaned against the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sky as she counted the passing birds. "Hehe...you're that incredibly handsome man?" a woman's clear voice rang out.
Lin Zijing turned her head and saw a woman in palace attire adorned with pearls and jade. Behind her stood a row of palace maids, some carrying feather fans, some carrying palace lanterns... Judging from this procession, Lin Zijing knew who was in front of her.
"Greetings, Consort Jiang!" Lin Zijin remained still, only gracefully cupping her hands in greeting.
"How dare you! Why don't you kneel before Her Majesty?" a palace maid scolded coquettishly. She seemed to be a confidante of Consort Jiang, supporting the frail Consort Jiang with one hand and pointing at Lin Zijing with the other.
Lin Zijing frowned. Who was so arrogant? Did they have a death wish? Seeing the sharp look in Lin Zijing's eyes, the palace maid couldn't help but tremble.
"It doesn't matter, you are the person my brother likes, which means you are mine—hehe." Knowing that some things couldn't be said, Consort Jiang immediately stopped and covered her mouth to laugh.
Lin Zijing found her to be innocent, cute, bright, and lively, and indeed very likable! However, having suffered at the hands of women in the past, Lin Zijing never dared to underestimate them and still had to be on high alert to deal with them.
"I was curious when I heard that my brother had fallen for a man, and then I became even more curious when I heard that he was competing with General Ye for the same man. His Majesty allowed you to stay here, and I couldn't resist coming to see you, but I only found the opportunity today." Consort Jiang's eyes were full of curiosity as she looked at Lin Zijing's face without any hesitation, and she murmured, "You are so beautiful!"
He could accept anything a woman said in praise, except for saying he was beautiful. He was a man! Didn't these people have eyes? Lin Zijing grumbled inwardly, but still wore a charming smile on her face.
"Why is Consort Jiang here?" Lin Zijing was still enduring Consort Jiang's infatuated stare when Jun Yifeng suddenly appeared.
"Hehe, Your Majesty, I've come to see the man my brother has taken a liking to!" Jiang Yuyan didn't seem to know any restraint at all. She secretly came to see a man who wasn't her husband. Wasn't she afraid that Jun Yifeng would be angry? Lin Zijing thought in surprise. No wonder Jiang Yumin told her not to worry about her. Was she really that naive?
"Now that you've seen it, let's go back!" Jun Yifeng wasn't angry at all. Was Jun Yifeng confident in himself or in Jiang Yuyan? Was his face really that unattractive?
Lin Zijin let her mind wander aimlessly.
"Your Majesty, would you like to bestow him upon my brother?" Jiang Yuyan asked in a sweet and coquettish voice.
"You don't need to worry about that. Just make sure your brother is satisfied!" Jun Yifeng patted Jiang Yuyan's hand.
Jiang Yuyan left satisfied.
"Have you thought it through these past few days? Who do you really prefer?" Jun Yifeng asked Lin Zijin coldly.
Huh? Why is it this question again?
Before Lin Zijing could answer, Jun Yifeng continued, "Do you know which of the two of them cares about you more?"
Lin Zijing wanted to roll her eyes. Was the emperor too idle?
"Uh—" Lin Zijing was speechless.
"When you first moved in, they both came to me begging me to give you to them. Who do you think I should give you to?"
Seeing that Jun Yifeng hadn't finished speaking, Lin Zijing decided to remain silent.
“These past few days, they’ve come back saying they don’t want you anymore. Heh, how interesting!” Jun Yifeng’s tone was cold.
"You alone can stir the emotions of my Grand General and Minister of Works, you are indeed very interesting! Such an interesting person, even I am reluctant to let you go!"
Hearing such cold words, Lin Zijing felt a chill run down her spine, her inner shirt soaked with sweat. Could it be that he...? Does he have this kind of hobby too? No way!
"I have made up my mind and decided to bestow you upon—" Jun Yifeng stopped, looking at Lin Zijing's face, not missing a single change in her expression, but Lin Zijing still smiled faintly.
Lin Zijing maintained a faint smile on her face, but inside she was burning with anxiety. Ah! Couldn't you at least say something incomplete?
"Give it to Ye Zhanqing!" Jun Yifeng continued to stare at Lin Zijing's face with a probing gaze, as if trying to discern something from it.
Why? Lin Zijin wondered.
"You want to know why?" Jun Yifeng seemed to be able to read minds.
Lin Zijing could only nod.
“Giving you to Yu Mian will harm him!” Jun Yifeng said without looking at him, then turned and left, saying as he walked, “You can leave the palace now.”
Lin Zijing's heart leaped with joy; she could finally go out.
Then another message drifted over: "Ye Zhanqing will come to pick you up and take you to his residence in three days."
Lin Zijin's joyful heart immediately plummeted to an ice cave.
Sigh, marrying Ye Zhanqing is better than staying in the palace, Lin Zijing comforted herself, especially since it's fake! Fake!
What about Jiang Yumin? How will the Emperor respond to him? He just told Jiang Yuyan that he would be satisfied.
Lin Zijing didn't need to pack anything, since there was nothing to pack anyway. Hearing that he could leave, he took a step and left.
Sigh, who knows what kind of mess and storm it will be when I get back...
☆、18、Getting Married
Back at Fugui Pawnshop, everyone gathered together: Jun Yilin, Ye Zhanqing, Jiang Yumin, Wang Chenglin, and the stewards of Dark Night Tower... It could be said that everyone he trusted and who could play a role in his plans was here! Fugui Pawnshop had never been so lively.
As soon as Lin Zijing entered the room, everyone turned to look at him. Jiang Yumin rushed over and hugged him, saying, "It's all my fault. I made you stay locked up for so long!" Lin Zijing affectionately stroked his hair and said, "It's not your fault."
Jiang Yumin hadn't even had a chance to properly enjoy the warmth of Lin Zijin, whom she hadn't seen for many days, when Ye Zhanqing forcefully pulled her away. Ye Zhanqing anxiously asked, "Are you alright? We haven't heard a single word about you from outside!"
"It's nothing, I'm just incredibly bored. All I do every day is count ants or count stars!" Lin Zijin knew their anxiety was no less than her own, and she was touched, so she pretended to be nonchalant as she spoke.
Before Ye Zhanqing could finish asking, Jun Yilin pushed him away again. Jun Yilin cupped Lin Zijin's face in his hands, looked at him affectionately, and said, "You've lost weight. You must have been missing me, right?"
Jiang Yumin felt nauseous and hurriedly said, "Hey, let him go!" She tried to pounce again, but Anmei grabbed her collar, preventing her from getting close. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Anwu and the others surrounded Lin Zijin, kneeling and saying, "It's all our fault for failing in our duties, causing our master to be humiliated, and we couldn't even get any news about her!" Lin Zijin hurriedly helped them up, saying sternly, "What did I say to you on my first day as the head of the sect? My first order was that you were not allowed to kneel. What, are my words no longer valid?"
Hearing the host's stern rebuke, Anwu and the others obeyed and stood up, but dared not say another word.
"Alright, everyone, calm down. Our most urgent task is to figure out what to do next!" Wang Chenglin said loudly, seeing them in such a chaotic state.
Hearing him say that, everyone quieted down and sat down obediently. Lin Zijing also took the opportunity to get rid of Jun Yilin's hand that was trying to grab her and found a chair to sit down. Jun Yilin was not giving up and sat down next to her. Jiang Yumin also came over to join in the fun and sat down next to Lin Zijing on the other side.
So Jun Yilin and Jiang Yumin started their favorite game again: fighting with their eyes! Of course, in a place where Lin Zijin couldn't see them.
"What exactly is his purpose in doing this?" Wang Chenglin asked.
"I think it's a gesture to curry favor with me, but it's also a threat!" Ye Zhanqing analyzed.
“Otherwise, I think it’s to make Jiang Yumin take her anger out on you, so that you two will check and balance each other! To prevent either side from becoming too powerful, and also to prevent you from joining forces,” Jun Yilin said.
"I don't care about all that, I won't let you go to the General's Mansion!" Jiang Yumin tugged at Lin Zijing's sleeve and whispered.
"He promised Consort Jiang that he would satisfy you, but what did he reward you with?" Lin Zijing asked Jiang Yumin in a low voice.
Jiang Yumin was a little embarrassed and said, "You rewarded me with ten beauties, five men and five women! But I don't like them, I only like you! I've never touched them!"
Lin Zijing wondered, Jun Yifeng said that giving himself to Jiang Yumin would harm him. Was he afraid that Ye Zhanqing would oppose Jiang Yumin? He really protected this young man very well! Was Jiang Yumin really only the brother of his favored concubine and a trusted confidant he had cultivated? Lin Zijing couldn't figure it out.
"Zijin, what do you think?" Wang Chenglin asked, realizing that Lin Zijin was lost in thought.
“I think all of the above reasons are possible, but I have a gut feeling there’s another reason,” Lin Zijing looked at Jiang Yumin, “He wants to protect Jiang Yumin!”
Everyone was stunned. Why? Why go to such lengths to protect a subject?
"I don't understand why either. It's just a gut feeling." Lin Zijing knew everyone's doubts. "Yumian, do you know the reason?"
Jiang Yumin was stunned. He didn't know why Jun Yifeng would treat him differently. Thinking back, his career had indeed been unusually smooth, too smooth. Why had he never reflected on this issue? Jiang Yumin felt a chill run down his spine, a feeling he couldn't quite explain.
If it's because of Consort Jiang, then isn't he at all worried about being elevated to such a high position?
If it's because of my talent, then why am I the only one among so many talented young people to be appointed as the Grand Secretary? Besides, my talent isn't even that outstanding!
Seeing Jiang Yumin's troubled and thoughtful expression, Lin Zijing felt sorry for him and comforted him, "Although I don't know why, at least I know he won't hurt you now. You don't need to worry for now. Things will always clear up eventually!"
No one could figure out the key to it, but the most pressing question was whether Lin Zijin really wanted to "marry" Ye Zhanqing.
The two parties involved were starkly contrasting: one calm, the other nervous. Needless to say, the calm one was Lin Zijing, and the nervous one was Ye Zhanqing. He was joking; he'd just offended two formidable men! He probably wouldn't even know how he died.
Jiang Yumin and Jun Yilin, who had just been exchanging glances, seemed to sense Ye Zhanqing's thoughts and both looked at him with chillingly cold eyes.
"It's none of my business! I admitted to Jun Yifeng that I like Zijing. I can't just do nothing this time, or people will suspect me!" Ye Zhanqing hurriedly explained.
"Alright, it's just a change of residence, not a real change. You all should focus on doing your jobs well. We don't have much time left! I need to speed things up; the game—is nearing its endgame!" Lin Zijin narrowed her eyes, suppressing her bloodthirsty impulses!
Three days later, a sedan chair from the General's Mansion brought Lin Zijin to the mansion, where a small welcome banquet was even held.
Seeing Lin Zijing's dark face, Ye Zhanqing explained with a wry smile, "We have to put on an act!"
Lin Zijing then reluctantly sat down.
The stewards, maids, and servants of the manor all came to pay their respects, treating Lin Zijing as if she were the mistress of the house. Moreover, to their surprise, although no outsiders were invited to the banquet, an uninvited guest still arrived—Jun Yifeng, who also brought Consort Shu with him.
When they saw Jun Yifeng's imperial carriage arrive, the two were already taken aback. When they saw Consort Shu following behind, their hearts nearly jumped out of their chests. It was her!
I've heard that Consort Shu was also favored by Jun Yifeng, but that was before Consort Jiang gained favor. It's understandable that Jiang Yuyan wasn't brought today, but bringing Consort Shu... what does this Consort Shu mean?
The two of them were on edge, exchanging worried glances.
"What, you're not welcome?" Jun Yifeng asked.
"How could this be? We couldn't even get her to come! Your Majesty, please take a seat, Consort Shu!" Ye Zhanqing said.
As he spoke, he secretly gave Consort Shu a wink, but the other woman was completely oblivious.
Lin Zijing also noticed something was wrong; it seemed like she didn't recognize her brother.
Indeed, this Consort Shu is actually Ye Zhanhong! This was completely unexpected for the two of them.
At the time, Jun Yifeng did not know the relationship between Ye Zhanqing and Ye Zhanhong. He only thought that she was Qingluan's sister. Otherwise, Ye Zhanqing would not be alive today!
But wasn't Ye Zhanhong already dead? How did she suddenly become Consort Shu? This was a question both Lin Zijing and Ye Zhanqing were wondering about. And if she wasn't dead, why did she never contact her brother?
Despite her many doubts, Lin Zijing still gave Ye Zhanqing a look that reminded her to stay calm and not to give Ye Zhanhong any more meaningful glances. Perhaps she had some unspeakable secret, or perhaps, she—was not her!
Jun Yifeng said, "On your special day, I've come to offer my congratulations! I'll also take Consort Shu out for a stroll. How about it, has the banquet begun?"
Lin Zijing and Ye Zhanqing simultaneously realized one thing: how could Jun Yifeng be so familiar with the arrangements in the General's Mansion? How did he know there was a banquet? They both felt a chill run down their spines!
Jun Yifeng has people in the General's Mansion!
Lin Zijing immediately wondered if her recent plans had been leaked. How much did he know? Why was he here today? Why did he expose her manpower?
Many questions flooded her mind, and Lin Zijing quickly came up with a solution.