Jun Yilin thought to himself, "It's not convenient for me to reveal my true feelings now. As for who will be the emperor after this is all done, well, it's hard to say right now!"
Thinking of this, Jun Yilin said, "Your plan is very good. Let's act according to the plan. My Light Feather Guard is not lacking in talent. Although there are only 10,000 of them, they are worth 100,000. I will hand them over to you and let you do as you please."
After saying that, Jun Yilin took out a token from his pocket and handed it to Lin Zijin.
Now is the time when manpower is needed. Although the Dark Night Tower has many experts, it also needs a secret army. After thinking for a moment, Lin Zijing accepted the offer without being polite to Jun Yilin.
"Don't worry, after you ascend the throne, I will return to you a Light Feather Guard in perfect condition," Lin Zijing said.
Jun Yilin was very happy to see that he accepted it.
Lin Zijin stood up and said, "I'm planning to go to the Shu Kingdom."
Seeing Jun Yilin's puzzled look, Lin Zijin explained, "Since Shu submitted to Jun, it has been very quiet and has paid its tribute on time. Every year, Jun Yifeng demands that Shu pay tribute with large amounts of gold, silver, jewels, and silks, hoping to gradually deplete Shu's national strength. This puts a great strain on Shu, and they dare not resist. The Empress Dowager of Shu is not someone to be trifled with; can she continue to willingly let herself be exploited? I believe that on this trip we will gain a good ally!"
Jun Yilin also stood up and said, "Great! I haven't been out for a long time. This is a good opportunity to go out and relax."
Lin Zijing glanced at him and said, "You're going too? Okay, it's good that you come along. That way, she'll be more convinced of our sincerity."
The journey was tiring, and Lin Zijing felt her mindset had changed significantly compared to her last mission to Shu. Looking at the familiar scenery and the people sitting beside her, everything was the same as before, yet different.
Jun Yilin no longer disguised himself with a facade of frivolity and cowardice. Throughout the journey, he meticulously cared for Lin Zijin, handling matters with remarkable efficiency. Even when faced with difficulties, he treated them with nonchalance, as if any obstacle could be easily overcome. He introduced the local customs and traditions to Lin Zijin and her entourage along the way, and some of the stories left them in awe.
Watching Jun Yilin, who no longer concealed his brilliance, Lin Zijing silently imagined what this capable man would be like after ascending the throne. He would definitely be a good emperor!
They finally arrived in Shu. To make their journey easier, Lin Zijing and her group disguised themselves as jewelry merchants, which was also one of the businesses of Dark Night Tower. Lin Zijing was, of course, the manager, Jun Yilin was the appraiser, and the others were employees.
Of course, Jun Yilin grew up in the palace and has seen all sorts of rare treasures. Being an appraiser would be a waste of his talents!
More than a month had passed since Lin Zijin and his group arrived in Shu. They hoped to gain an audience with the Empress Dowager by presenting her with a treasure. However, despite submitting their visiting cards so long ago, they had yet to hear from her.
"Is that official from the Ministry of Rites reliable? Why haven't we made a move yet?" Lin Zijing asked An Li, the head of Dark Night Tower in Shu, with a serious expression.
The Ministry of Rites was established by Dark Night Tower's branch in Shu Kingdom under the guise of local big merchants. Usually, it was just to get them to patronize their business, but this time it came in very handy.
An Li respectfully replied, "Master, we've been following this line for a long time, and it's reliable! Every year we spend so much money cultivating relationships with powerful figures, hoping they'll lend us a hand in crucial moments. These people, I believe, can't do without us, their cash cow! Besides, presenting treasures to the Empress Dowager is a lucrative task, why wouldn't they be happy to do it? Please be patient and wait a little longer."
Lin Zijing leisurely admired the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, but what she said made An Li break out in a cold sweat: "Alright, wait another half month, and then you can go and follow up. If there is still no movement after half a month, then—you won't need to take charge of the Shu Kingdom."
Two beads of sweat quietly appeared on An Li's forehead. He knew that the boss never tolerated subordinates who made mistakes. If this matter was not handled well, he didn't know which godforsaken place the boss would send him to suffer!
An Li hurriedly and carefully replied, "Yes, Master, I will find a way to arrange for you to meet with the Empress Dowager as soon as possible. I will take my leave now!" After saying that, he bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Jun Yilin, who was sitting to the side as a decoration, put down his teacup and said to Lin Zijin, "Actually, it's not appropriate for me to be here while you're handling things in the building. Why don't you let me leave first?"
Lin Zijing sat down on the chair next to her, picked up a teacup with one hand and lifted the lid with the other. She blew on the hot tea, took a sip, and wondered why she had no suspicion of Jun Yilin. Wasn't she afraid of being betrayed again? But for some reason, she felt very relaxed and safe when she was with Jun Yilin, and instinctively didn't want to hide anything.
However, Lin Zijing still didn't reveal her thoughts. Instead, she said, "Once the big matter is over, I will hand over Dark Night Tower to you. Since it's bound to happen sooner or later, you should familiarize yourself with the tower's operations first!"
Jun Yilin knew that if this topic continued, it would come back to the idea of returning to the mountains to cultivate in seclusion and finding a disciple to pass on his mantle.
Therefore, Jun Yilin wisely refrained from continuing and instead brought up another topic: "How do you plan to persuade the Empress Dowager of Shu to agree to an alliance with us this time? Does she dare to oppose the Jun Kingdom?"
Lin Zijing seemed to have anticipated his question. He covered the teacup with the lid, placed it on the table, and said, "She has no other choice. Jun Yifeng has been pressing her step by step, and she has been retreating step by step. Now she has nowhere left to retreat! Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a heroine who once dominated the world. However, we still need to think carefully about how to get her to agree."
Jun Yilin smiled and said, "I have a plan that will leave her with no way out!"
Lin Zijing was very interested. She had been racking her brains for days but still had no clue, so she quickly said, "Oh? Do you have any good ideas?"
Jun Yilin walked to Lin Zijin's side, leaned close to his ear, and said, "Why don't we..."
Lin Zijin's expression changed.
☆、VIII、Alliance
Jun Yifeng and Lin Zijin stood very close. Lin Zijin's ears felt a little itchy and numb from Jun Yifeng's hot breath, which made her very uncomfortable.
However, after hearing Jun Yilin's plan, Lin Zijing immediately forgot her discomfort from before. Her expression changed several times, and then her excitement was palpable.
Lin Zijing stood up and said to Jun Yilin, "That's a good plan indeed, let's do it your way!"
Jun Yilin smiled and said, "I thought you wouldn't agree."
Lin Zijin said, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Why would I disagree?"
Jun Yilin simply smiled and remained silent; he was indeed much more decisive now.
Lin Zijing didn't mind Jun Yilin's silence and whispered, "This time, we'll have to make do with them." After saying that, she opened the door and said to the attendant standing at the door, "Have Anli come to see me."
Lin Zijin whispered a few things to An Li, who had rushed over, her eyes gleaming with calculation. An Li listened to the instructions without being surprised, only thinking to himself, "The Lord is too ruthless!"
In order to avoid being banished by the landlord to a desolate place to reclaim wasteland, An Li quickly completed the task assigned by Lin Zijin and also received a notice from the Ministry of Rites that they should go to the palace on the eighth day of this month to present treasures to the Empress Dowager.
The eighth day is auspicious and suitable for travel.
The sun shone brightly, and people strolled leisurely through the streets, a picture of peace and prosperity. Who could have imagined that the annual tributes paid to the Kingdom of Shu over the past few years had nearly emptied the treasury, and that if this continued, it would surely bring down the kingdom!
Led by officials from the Ministry of Rites, Lin Zijin and Jun Yilin rode in sedan chairs, carrying the treasures they were presenting, towards the palace.
Upon entering the main hall, the ornate palace remained unchanged, and the Empress Dowager still sat regally on her phoenix throne. However, this second meeting made Lin Zijing feel that the Empress Dowager of Shu had aged considerably and become much more haggard. The Emperor of Shu was growing old, but his health remained weak and unable to withstand the strain. Although he had consumed the Tian Shan snow lotus sent by the Zhou Kingdom, which had cured his ailments, his long-term illness and bedridden state had left him utterly exhausted. Because the Emperor was unable to govern, the Empress Dowager remained the de facto ruler of Shu.
After the group paid their respects to the Empress Dowager, an official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, auspicious omens have descended upon the Shu Kingdom. A celestial book has been discovered at the southern tip of the Shu Kingdom, containing the words of our Shu Kingdom. This is a blessing from Heaven! These two are jewelry merchants from our country. They passed through this auspicious place and, seeing this extraordinary sight, brought the celestial book back to Your Majesty to prevent it from being destroyed by ignorant children. May our Shu Kingdom prosper and endure for generations to come!"
The Empress Dowager must have assumed that the treasures being presented were nothing more than gold and jade, but she was surprised to find such a peculiar item. She became very interested and quickly ordered the heavenly book to be presented.
Lin Zijing smiled, stepped forward unhurriedly, bowed and said, "The contents of the Heavenly Book are confidential. Please dismiss your attendants, Your Majesty, and I will present it to you."
The eunuch beside her shouted, "How dare you! What right do you have to order the Empress Dowager to dismiss everyone else!"
Lin Zijing raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "The Empress Dowager is a heroine; surely she wouldn't be worried about a villain daring to assassinate her?"
The Empress Dowager stared intently at Lin Zijin, as if trying to discern something from his face, then smiled, waved her hand, and said, "All of you, step back!"
Soon only the Empress Dowager, Lin Zijin, and Jun Yilin remained in the main hall. In the silence, one could even hear their breathing.
"Now—can we finally present the heavenly book?" the Empress Dowager said with great interest.
"Of course, Your Majesty, please take a look." Lin Zijing opened the box she had brought, took out a stone about one foot square, and stepped forward to present it to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked down and her face changed drastically. She slapped the armrest of her throne and said, "How dare you! What is your purpose in bringing this thing here?"
The stone has weathered many years, and the words on it are also mottled, indicating that it is an artifact from many years ago.
The stone was inscribed with the words: "After the second generation of the ruler, Shu took over the throne!"
The current emperor of Jun Kingdom is Jun Yifeng, who is the founding emperor of Jun Kingdom, the first generation. If what is said on the stone is true, then wouldn't it mean that after Jun Yifeng dies, his son will not be able to protect the ancestral foundation and will hand over the country to Shu Kingdom?
Seeing the Empress Dowager's reaction, Lin Zijing was very satisfied, but pretended not to understand and said, "This is a blessing bestowed upon the Shu Kingdom by Heaven! It is an auspicious omen! The Shu Kingdom will soon unify the world and achieve a great hegemony for all time!"
The Empress Dowager steadied herself, calming herself. Her phoenix eyes darted between the two men before her, as if trying to see through their thoughts. The man who presented the heavenly book was handsome, but was he truly as harmless as he appeared? The man beside him, though silent throughout, exuded an extraordinary aura, subtly displaying the presence of a monarch. These two were likely no ordinary people!
After a long pause, the Empress Dowager's gaze turned serious. She said, "You are no ordinary merchants. Both of you are very well-mannered and elegant. Although you are young, you show no fear in front of me. Tell me, who are you? What is your purpose in coming to see me?"
Lin Zijing admired the Empress Dowager's wit and immediately replied, "Who we two are is not important. What is important is what will happen to the Shu Kingdom once this heavenly book is revealed." After saying this, he looked directly into the Empress Dowager's eyes.
The Empress Dowager's expression changed, and she said, "You want to threaten me? I'll make sure you don't leave this hall!" She then clapped her hands and called for help.
Lin Zijing flicked her wrist, and a silver needle pierced the Empress Dowager's acupoint. The Empress Dowager's hand fell limply. Seeing that the Empress Dowager was about to get angry, Lin Zijing hurriedly said, "Wait a minute. Although we are not business people, we sincerely want to do business with the Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager agrees not to call anyone, I will release the acupoint for the Empress Dowager."
Countless thoughts raced through the Empress Dowager's mind in an instant, but she ultimately decided against acting rashly, otherwise she might be in more danger than they were. So she nodded and said, "In that case, I will reward you with a thousand taels of gold. Leave the Heavenly Book behind and leave!"
Lin Zijing smiled, withdrew his hand, and the silver needle returned to his palm. He said, "Business is necessary, but it's not about selling this heavenly book. The business we want to discuss with the Empress Dowager is about the world!"
The Empress Dowager frowned. This young man was so arrogant, talking about the whole world as soon as he opened his mouth.
Lin Zijing ignored the Empress Dowager's expression and continued, "Since we dared to enter the palace, we are naturally prepared to leave unscathed. Please, Your Majesty, do not focus on how to capture us. Please listen carefully to our suggestions!"
The Empress Dowager felt guilty; how could he know what she was thinking?
Lin Zijing took the stone in her hand and said with a smile, "This one is just a replica. We keep the real Heavenly Book in a safe place. However, I believe that once we reach an agreement on the Heavenly Book, the Empress Dowager may no longer need this thing."
The Empress Dowager was inwardly groaning. The Shu Kingdom's strength had greatly diminished, making it no match for the Jun Kingdom. If this heavenly book fell into Jun Yifeng's hands, there was no guarantee he wouldn't immediately send troops to raze Shu to the ground! But could she agree to anything these two wanted? She could only observe their intentions before making a decision.
"Tell me what kind of business you intend to do?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"It's very simple, just form an alliance with us and overthrow Jun Yifeng together!" Lin Zijing smiled contentedly.
"Haha, what a joke! What right do you have?" The Empress Dowager laughed in anger.
Lin Zijing didn't take it seriously and said with a smile, "With the support of Shu, the last edict of the late emperor of Zhou, the power of the Dark Night Tower, the number one tower in the world, and the complete control of the Jun Kingdom's army!"
The Empress Dowager withdrew her disdainful gaze and gripped the armrest tightly. If what the young man said was true…
"What was the last edict of the late Emperor of Zhou?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"It was ordered that Jun Yilin ascend the throne as emperor, but Jun Yifeng usurped the throne before the imperial edict was read. His imperial position is illegitimate and improper!" Lin Zijin said each word with conviction.
"Then—why did Dark Night Tower get involved?" The Empress Dowager had many questions.
"Because I am the owner of the Dark Night Tower," Lin Zijing said softly, revealing her identity.
The Empress Dowager seemed quite surprised. So that's how it is—no wonder!
"Then why should our Shu Kingdom get involved in this mess? Wouldn't it be better to sit back and watch the tigers fight?" The Empress Dowager still hesitated.
Lin Zijin said confidently, "Once the Heavenly Book is released, it will be difficult for the Shu Kingdom to remain in a corner of the world! Moreover, now that the Emperor's Kingdom is pressing us step by step, is the Empress Dowager willing to hand over the entire Shu Kingdom?"
Caught off guard by the question, the Empress Dowager was stunned. Indeed, if it were true, this would be a good opportunity.
"But—why should I believe what you're saying?" the Empress Dowager asked as her final question.
"I dare not disappoint Your Majesty. This is Prince Lin, the rightful ruler of our kingdom. His personal visit is enough to show our sincerity!" Lin Zijing had long anticipated this question.
After listening to Lin Zijing's words, Jun Yilin stepped forward, removed the human skin mask from his face, and bowed to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Junior Jun Yilin greets the Empress Dowager! Since our last parting, the Empress Dowager's elegance remains unchanged."
The Empress Dowager carefully examined Jun Yilin's face before nodding and saying, "Indeed, you visited Shu last time, and I saw you there! I heard that Empress Murong Qingluan, who accompanied you last time, has passed away. It's truly a tragedy that the heavens are jealous of such a talented woman. She was exceptionally intelligent and a rare gem!"
"I believe that my sister-in-law has already gone through reincarnation and been reborn as a human, so there is no need for the Empress Dowager to be sad!" Jun Yilin said with a double meaning, and after speaking, he glanced at Lin Zijing intentionally or unintentionally, with an ambiguous smile on his lips.
Hearing others praise her was certainly a pleasant experience, but it felt a bit strange in this situation. Lin Zijing quickly interrupted the topic and said, "I wonder what the Empress Dowager's thoughts are?"
The Empress Dowager looked serious and thought for a long time before saying, "Since you are able to gather so many forces, I believe you are very confident. I just wonder what benefits the Shu Kingdom will gain after the matter is accomplished?"
"I wonder what the Empress Dowager wants?" Lin Zijing was not surprised by the Empress Dowager's words. It was good that she was willing to negotiate, as there was hope for success.
The Empress Dowager was stumped by the question. She murmured to herself, "What do I want? Actually, my son has been frail and sickly since childhood. Although he has taken Tian Shan snow lotus, his long-term illness means he can only rest and cannot overexert himself. At my age, how much longer can I worry about him? I only worry about what will happen to my son after I pass away."
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was somewhat saddened, Lin Zijin quickly seized the opportunity: "Actually, being the ruler of a country is not necessarily a happy thing. Does Your Majesty wish for the Prince of Shu to live a carefree life, or does Your Majesty hope that he will toil for the country and die young after your passing?"
The Empress Dowager was startled upon hearing this: "No one has ever said that being an emperor is unhappy, but—what you said makes sense!"